Disclaimer:I cannot be held responsible for anything in this chapter.It was written in a turkey induced haze.Gobble gobble.
Lynn awoke in Chibs' dormroom bed, she reached for the warm body pressed against her. Rather than her Old Man she found a beagle curled up in the spot that he would typically occupy. Blinking away sleep she bolted upright. Where was Chibs!? He was supposed to return to her sometime late last night or early this morning, something must have gone wrong. Reluctant to wander into the clubhouse in nothing but panties and one of Chibs' SAMCRO t-shirts, she pulled out a pair of shorts and slipped on some flip flops. Her shoes slapped against her feet as she hurried down the hall towards the main room of the clubhouse, Dotty hot on her heels. She saw Bobby first sipping a cup of coffee at the bar, his reading glasses low on his nose as he perused the morning newspaper. "Bobby!" Lynn called out as she approached. He smiled widely at her, alieving some of the anxiety that had built up since she had awoken.
"Mornin' Pumpkin." Bobby stood as she approached.
"What happened? Where is he?" Lynn skipped morning greetings.
Bobby used his folded newspaper to point in the direction of the couch. Lynn's gaze followed where he indicated. On the couch Chibs looked like he'd slumped over from a sitting position, his face buried in the couch cushion, one arm tossed over his head. "I'll take your pup out." Bobby offered.
As Lynn approached she saw that he was gripping his phone. "Hey, Baby." She sat down next to him and he roused slightly. "You never came to bed, you worried me."
He flipped his phone open and saw no missed calls or messages. Chibs scooted his body so that his head was lying in Lynn's lap. He sighed contentedly and closed his eyes again as Lynn ran her fingers through his hair. He was tired to the bone. The lack of sleep over the past several days was catching up with him. "Sorry, Lovely. I got back late and was waiting to hear from Half-Sack. He's tailing Ralph. Seems like I tipped over out here." He looked up at her for a moment. She leaned down to capture his lips in a chaste kiss. "Did you hear from Shannon last night? She was a no show at the cabin. Thought Ralph wanted her to be there. Suppose he didn't need to coppers knowing about his connection to her."
Lynn simply shook her head.
She thought he'd fallen asleep again after a long silence until he said "When this is all over I'm going to do nothing but sleep, eat, and make love to my Old Lady for a week." He continued to lay peacefully in her lap. She watched Bobby fuss over the beagle allowing her a peaceful moment with her man.
After only 30 minutes of peace Jax and Tig entered the clubhouse looking annoyingly well rested, causing Chibs to rise to his feet.
"You look like shit." Tig jibbed at the Scotsman. "Doll, when are you going to leave this asshole for me?" Tig held out his arms gesturing to himself.
Lynn came to her man's defense immediately. "Shush, Tiggy. He looks sexy, he always looks sexy." She pressed a kiss to his scarred cheek.
Chibs' phone began to trill. He let the phone ring a one more time while he prepared himself to head right back out the door.
Lynn entwined her fingers with his, listening to his conversation with Half-Sack. She wasn't ready to let him go just yet, but she knew he'd be headed out at any moment. "Listen in, but don't get spotted we'll be there shortly." When he hung up the phone, she held her breath waiting for an update. "Ralph was released by the cops this morning. Prospect followed him to a motel outside of Lodi. Shannon is there too." He gripped Lynn's hand tightly.
Jax clapped his hands together. "Alright. Let's get this over with." He turned on his heel and gestured for Tig and Chibs to follow him.
Lynn squeezed her man's hand more tightly and pulled him closely before he departed. "You call me…. You call me when you get him. I want to be there. I need to know it's done."
Chibs shook his head. "No, Lovely. That's not something you need to see. Just trust in me. I'll take care of him. We won't have to worry anymore." He not only wanted to save her from being witness to anymore violence, but he also didn't want her to see Ralph die at his hands. He often feared that Lynn might see him as a monster if she knew what he was capable of doing. "Please?" He plead seeing the argument in brewing in her.
Lynn released a shaky exhalation. She honestly wasn't sure what made her say that in the first place. She felt like it was something she needed to see, not something she wanted to see. Lynn agreed, a strand of hair escaped her loose bun as she nodded her head weakly.
"I'll be home tonight." He pressed a gently kiss to her forehead and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I want to sleep with you in my arms."
"I want that too." Lynn whispered into his shoulder as he held her.
Their moment was cut short when Jax called out from the door. "Come on Brother."
**SOA**SOA**SOA**
Half-Sack jogged to meet the three patched members on the blind side of the motel. "Ralph is pissed. I've been camped out by that window over there." The Prospect pointed at the window at the very end of the single story motel. "Last few minutes he's been yelling about how Shannon must have ratted to you." He gestured towards Chibs. "Sounds like he's knocking her around a bit. Shit's escalating, I don't think she's safe in there."
"You two around back. Jimmy open that window." Jax ordered to Tig and Half-Sack. "You and me. Let's go knock on some doors."
Chibs followed Jax, they inspected the parking lot that was thankfully empty except for a few cars. They knocked on the doors near the room that Ralph and Shannon occupied. The rooms seemed to be vacant, saving them from the possibility of a nosey guest calling the cops. Chibs stood in front the door at the end of the motel and rapped at it with a ringed finger.
A muffled voice from inside called out in irritation. "Who is it?"
Jax spoke up. "Front desk. You were supposed to be checked out an hour ago. If you want to stay you're going to have to pay."
"That's bullshit!" An angry voice called out, they heard rapid footsteps come to the door. "I'm paid up through Thursday." Ralph yanked open the door and immediately realized his mistake. He tossed the door shut as quickly as he could but it flew open with force as it was violently kicked. With unexpected speed, Ralph grabbed Shannon by the hair and dragged her over to him. She screamed out in pain and shock when Ralph stumbled backwards with her in a choke hold and the muzzle of a handgun pressed against her temple.
Chibs trained his own weapon at Ralph's head, but he was moving too much to risk a shot without hitting Shannon. He noted Shannon's bruised cheek and split lip. Ralph had worked her over a bit already.
"Put your guns down or I'll blow her fucking head off." Ralph threatened.
Jax shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, once that's done we'll shoot you. Or option two. You let her go, we all put our guns down, and have a conversation."
Ralph scoffed. "Yeah right. SAMCRO ain't the type to have conversations. I'm not sure you're willing to let this bitch die, so I'll stay right where I am."
Shannon let out a pitiful sob and through blubbering lips she begged quietly. "Please no. Please, I beg you don't hurt me."
Chibs saw movement out of the corner of his eye, seeing the bathroom door open behind Ralph. He willed himself to keep his gaze locked on the stocky man with the hostage, and not alert him to the two others that had crept in through the window in the bathroom. Jax put down his gun and motioned for Chibs to do the same.
"That's what I thought." Ralph sneered. "You're going to let me and Shannon here take off and you're not going to follow us. Understood? Or I'll fucking kill her."
Ralph stiffened when he felt cold metal press against the back of his bald head. "That's no way to treat a lady." Tig quipped. Half-Sack rounded to pull the gun from Ralph's hand.
Despite the tense situation, Jax found himself needing to stifle a laugh. Tig of all people shouldn't be telling anyone how to treat a lady in any situation.
Ralph released his hold on Shannon. She ran into Chibs' arms and her legs gave out on her. He held her tightly to his chest to keep her upright. Chibs was more than a little surprised that she ran to him for safety and comfort. He had less than a week before held a knife to her throat. Shannon wept against him, sobs wracking her body. Chibs called the Prospect over. "Take her home, Sack." She shook her head vehemently. He handed her off to Half-Sack now that her legs seemed to regain strength.
In nearly a whisper she said, "I don't want to be left alone."
"Shannon, Sweetheart, would you like the Prospect to stay with you for a bit?" She nodded. Again, Chibs was surprised. The Prospect had detained her outside of Slattery's. How terrified was she of Ralph that she felt safer with two men that had recently threatened her? The Prospect led her out closing the door behind them.
Ralph stood shaking with Tig's pistol still firmly pressed to the back of his head. "You don't have to kill me." The stocky man said with hope.
Tig put the gun down to his side. Ralph visibly relaxed a bit. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you." Ralph turned to look at Tig who was wearing a sinister smile. Motioning with his free hand Tig pointed to the Scotsman. "He's going to kill you."
As the former bookie's enforcer turned back to face Chibs he was sent reeling backwards by a vicious punch to the face. When Chibs initially received the news of Ralph's location he itched to drive a knife into the man's heart after cutting him up in the warehouse. At this moment though, he didn't want to wait. The longer it took to dispatch the man that'd caused so much disorder in his Old Lady's life, the longer it took to clean up the scene, the longer it would take for him to be back in her arms. Once Ralph was on the floor Chibs descended upon him, gloved hands squeezing the bald man's throat. Chibs could feel the cartilage of the larynx crush beneath the pressure of his thumbs. Ralph flailed and scratched at his attacker, eyes bulging, face turning beet red. Chibs growled with the effort as he pushed the weight of his upper body into the assault. The body below him relaxed and the eyes fixed into an unfocused stare. Chibs stood pushing back his hair that had fallen forward. Moments like this, he knew he was a bit of the monster that he tried to hide from Lynn. He'd just choked the life out of a man and he felt not only relieved but also invigorated.
Tig rocked back on his heels. "Hey! Easy clean-up, nice work, Chibby." He said cheerfully. "Let's dump this body and go get some pancakes or something. I'm starving." Tig stepped towards the body and dug through Ralph's pockets coming up with a wallet. Pulling out a few twenties he gleefully stated. "Breakfast is on him."
Author's Note:I really don't know why it's taking me so long to crank these chapters out.Maybe I'll blame holidays or winter or rabid squirrels.
