Ari sat outside the sheriff's office waiting for Gemma to come out. Her skin was crawling, and she was worried for her mother. If Jarry could push her buttons so quickly, Gemma would not hesitate to throw down the way she did earlier. Ari was half expecting her to storm out with bloody knuckles too.
The chairs placed outside of Jarry's office was in a high traffic area and many officers passed while she waited impatiently. For the most part, they kept to themselves, but there were a few who threw her dirty looks as they walked by. She couldn't blame them. Wayne Unser was a good man. He might've been under SAMCRO's payroll, but he always had Charming's best interest at heart. The club was just the lesser evil he dealt with on a daily basis.
Charming needed more men like him. Men on the right side of the law. Jax, Chibs, Bobby...The rest of the guys as well. Ari knew that they were all good men, but they played the double standard. The lines they crossed were never black and white. Jax always had a reason for doing all the crazy shit he had to do. She couldn't take much more of this. Ari stood up and paced the small area the officers let her occupy, as her anxiety grew by the minute.
Two hours passed, and Gemma finally appears, pissed beyond description. She grabbed Ari by the arm and said, "Baby, get me out of here right now! If we don't leave this instant I will add another black eye to her fucking face!" She said through her teeth.
Arianne was more than willing to cooperate, but Jarry just couldn't help herself. She stood by her doorway and asked, "So you're willing to give up Ortiz, just like that?" She tsked at them. "Arianne, you have no loyalty. I mean, it must be nice having a den mother who always has your back and an outlaw president who keeps you on yours."
"Fuck off! If you can't accept the truth then that's your problem," Ari commented. "You're wasting your time trying to find an angle where I might fit in this fantasy scenario you've cooked up in your mind. You really should take a look in the mirror before you make any comments about my relationship with Jax. Because I still can't wrap my head around what Chibs sees in you. You are fucking nuts!" Gemma squeezed Ari's arm.
"C'mon Ari," she begged. Ari gave Jarry one last look before following Gemma out of the station. Had they been anywhere else but here, she thought. Arianne would've loved to wipe that stupid smirk etched on the sheriff's face.
The cool air hit their faces and Ari shivered. The sun had already set, and they still needed to head up to the cabins. Jax wouldn't be too happy if he got there first. Gemma's boots clacked on the pavement as she hightailed it to Tig's car. She saw her mom fishing through her purse for cigarettes and a lighter. If I make it out of this alive, Ari thought, I'll just end up dying from second hand smoke. She shook her head and jogged to catch up.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Gemma said when Ari was inside the car.
"Nah mom, you'd think I'd be used to the drama by now," Ari replied. She cleared her throat. "What did Jarry ask you? I didn't think making a statement would take that long."
"She didn't want to hear what I had to say about Juice. The one time I tell cops the truth, and they don't believe me! That woman is totally obsessed with you." She took a moment to catch her breath before she continued. "Jarry wanted to know your relationship with Jackson, Juice...the rest of the club. She asked me why I was protecting you," Ari quickly glanced at Gemma. "Sweetheart, don't worry. She's just trying to find a motive but the sad truth is there isn't! Wayne has never given you any reason to harm him. Juice will get his just due."
"They're like that, baby. You're the newcomer. They want someone insignificant. But Jarry barked up the wrong tree. She doesn't understand how deep you are tied to this club, Arianne. And to me," Gemma paused and took a drag of her cigarette.
"Mom, she seems to know a lot. She said she read my files. What files?! I've never been arrested. My brother and Jax took the rap for some stupid shit we pulled when we were younger, so there should be no mention of my name in that station. I don't understand how she could've gotten any info about me," Ari pondered.
Gemma offered her the cigarette. When Ari declined she said, "Suit yourself. I think the intel must've have come from Wayne. He got a new job as a consulting detective under our favorite maniac. He must've kept tabs on everyone known to have ties with SAMCRO. He told me he was assigned to help solve Tara and Sheriff Roosevelt's murders. She must have them now that he's gone."
It was at that moment when Gemma noticed that they were not heading back to Redwoody. Her triumphant expression changed to a look of worry. "Ari baby, you didn't say we were going anywhere else."
"Sorry mom. I couldn't find the right time to mention it. We got one more stop. Jax wants you up at the cabins," she explained.
Gemma perked up and eyed Ari. "Did he say what for, sweetheart?" She took a deep drag of her cig. The smoke crept up Ari's nose and made her eyes water. Smoking might be a crutch for her mother and Jax, but all it brought Ari was a reminder of the Triad kid. Thankfully Gemma took pity on her and flicked it out the window.
"I don't know for sure. All he said was it was mother/son problem," she finished. And there it was. When Ari turned to her, she saw the same reaction Gemma had back at the diner. Her face was guilt ridden, like she wanted to open the car door and jump out to bail on her.
"Baby, he tells you everything," Gemma pleaded. "I don't understand why you can't tell me the truth."
"They had other things to do. We couldn't sit and hash it out. But Jax said he would meet us there. I thought we'd get there first, but hey, I guess Jarry's got a thing for me," Ari said. She reached for Gemma's hand. "Mom whatever it is, it'll be alright."
Gemma brought Ari's knuckles to her lips. She gave them a little kiss and tried to smile. "I hope so baby...I hope so..."