A/N - Thank you all for the notes and feedback. I've got to take a pause to just thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the constant support, I've had so many amazing reviews on this project and I have loved writing it. It's not finished yet, there's lots to go, but just wanted to really pass on my appreciation. You're, frankly, quite brilliant.

Notes about Jax/Tara and Happy/Tash duly taken on, I think you'll like where it's all going. I never said it would be easy though... ;)

S x

When Natasha awoke, she murmured sleepily, perfectly comfortable in Happy's grip. She didn't need to look, she didn't need to check, she already knew it was him, just from the way he held her so intimately. His palm was pressed flat against her stomach and the regular sound of his breathing made her smile a little, content.

She was in the apartment, she had already worked that out, and as she carefully rolled onto her back, she felt a numbness in one of her legs. She winced as she put the pressure on the other side, it was probably because Happy had been crushing that one limb with the weight of his own. Her movement awoke him instantly and he tensed over her for a second before he let go, seeing her light little eyes gazing up at him serenely.

"Hey."

He smiled sadly as his hands moved over the dark bruises on her face from the impact of the ambulance being catapulted into the ditch, and he sighed. "I should have been there." She could see him, immediately getting lost in his own head, frustrated by his inability to protect her and she shook her head, caressing his cheek.

"You were, when I needed you." They both knew what she meant, he had been there when Tig had almost lost his goddamn mind with her. Happy could feel the growl grumble through him, if it was up to him, he'd have torn Tig apart with his bare hands, but things just weren't as simple as he wished they were. Natasha could see him growing dark inside of himself and she shook her head, giving him an easy smile. "Hap, it's good." She tugged on his hand lightly, encouraging him to sit up with her, and Happy frowned as he noticed her nose wrinkle as she righted herself on the bed, collapsing into her left hip as she tried to sit up.

"Are you alright?"

Whatever Natasha tried to hide in her expression, he spotted instantly. She forced a smile and started to stand but immediately noticed the lack of sensation in her right leg. She switched her weight to her left, hovering for a moment before she sat down again, trying to cover herself.

"Maybe you could just get me a beer or some chips or something," she said quietly. "I'm so hungry, I swear I haven't eaten a thing for days."

Happy's eyebrows furrowed but he instantly went to go and get her something. As he left the room, Natasha gave her right thigh an almighty smack and frowned as she didn't feel any of it. That should have hurt, it should have really hurt, but there was nothing, she simply couldn't feel it at all. She tried to stand again, pressing her weight through her right heel and feeling her knee buckling, unable to support her weight. She whimpered slightly as she lowered herself once more but forced a smile as Happy returned with a drink.

"There's no food here," he said with a frown. "Everyone's been a bit upside-down since, well, you know. Come on," he added, taking her hands and giving her a tug. "Let's go and get something, whatever you want."

He didn't realise quite how strong he was as he tugged her up, and Natasha was dragged up to her feet. She wobbled, unable to control her weight with his fierce determination to get her up and out, and she staggered forward as her leg collapsed beneath her in an instant and she fell forward into him. Happy grabbed her quickly, stopping her from falling, and Natasha let out a choked sob.

"Shit," she whispered, using the wall to hold herself up but Happy gently lead her hand back to his shoulder, determined to give her the support she needed.

"What's happened?" he demanded. "What's hurting?"

"I… can't feel it." She patted her leg as she looked at him. "It's like it's not there, Hap, I can't… even…" She tried to demonstrate to him again but nearly careered into the wardrobe in her attempt, and Happy scooped her up in his arms. Natasha felt herself begin to cry, mostly in frustration, but Happy nuzzled her hair gently.

"Don't, Tash," he said softly. "It's probably just injured, we'll get you to a doctor. It's fine," he assured her. Seeing her hesitation, he pushed a kiss onto her mouth, his fingers knotting in her hair as he drew her to him, and she whimpered longingly into his mouth. Happy's tongue felt like velvet against hers as he licked her gently, caressing her protectively. "It'll all be fine."

"What do you mean, he's been held?"

Tara's eyes were almost frightening as she listened to Rat trying to explain Jax's absence. It was meant to be a routine drop-off - Sully was often left at the clubhouse before Tara hurried off to Saint Thomas - but the second she saw Rat, she cornered him, demanding to know why Jax wasn't there too.

"I don't know, Tara," Rat said, his eyeballs nearly popping out of his head as she moved to corner him in the garage. Her lips were curled into a bit of a snarl and good God, he was scared. "We were just told to go, we didn't know we'd be released. We tried to stay," he added insistently. "Happy got the guard to put him in isolation, he'll be okay."

Tara was less convinced. Her finger jabbed into Rat's chest, her nail scratching him as she did. "I've already lost my son, Rat, I won't lose him too." She turned as she heard Gemma come in, blowing the air out of her cheeks as she tossed her keys down on the desk and groaning as she saw the mounting paperwork. All she could do today was try and pretend everything was normal, but Tara wasn't accepting that. "Have you heard this?" she demanded, motioning to Rat. "They're holding Jax on bullshit charges."

Gemma barely absorbed Tara's angry tirade, too distracted. That Russian, Pelekov, his damn name alone had got her spooked. "Is Chibs here?" she demanded. Tara put her hands in her hair, frustrated.

"Are you even listening?" she demanded. "Jax is-"

"-inside and in iso, where he's safe," Gemma snapped abruptly. "I got the memo, things don't just stop. You've been around long enough to know that, Tara."

Tara's eyes narrowed as Sully catapulted over from outside where he had been playing with Juice, and gambolled straight into Gemma, wrapping his arms around her legs. "Grandma!" he bleated cheerfully. "When's Abel coming back?"

Gemma put her hand on the back of his head as she hugged him, and looked at Tara accusatorially. "You haven't told him?" Tara didn't say anything, and Gemma scowled but crouched down in front of Sully. "You just wait until your Daddy gets home, okay? He'll talk you through everything."

Sully wiped his nose on the back of his hand and beamed at her. "Okay." He paused as he saw Chibs striding out of the club towards the bikes and hid a little behind Gemma's legs, fearful of the SAMCRO president. Gem followed his line of sight and pulled him away as she jogged out.

"Chibs."

He looked up at her, his eyes looked tired but he forced a polite smile. "Aye, Gem, y'alright love?" Gemma rested her hand on his arm.

"You didn't sleep either?" she asked quietly. Chibs chuckled and shook his head, scuffing his boot against the dirt.

"Tash's only just waking up, and I don't know where Nina is," he explained, almost embarrassed. "Not a lot to sleep on, you know?" Gemma smiled a little.

"I can solve one of those. Nina, she's at Diosa." She lowered her voice and frowned. "I think you need to keep an eye on her, she was a mess last night. Out of her head kinda mess, she was on something, I'm sure. I know she's not a junkie but she was sure as hell having fun." She debated mentioning the unwelcome suitor but changed her mind. "You need to keep her close, Chibs. Losing her daughter? I don't know what that's going to do to her."

Hearing that made Chibs feel a little sick. The grief on Nina's shoulders was crushing, and that was without her even knowing the complete truth.

"I'll talk to her," he said assuringly. Gemma pulled a face as she saw him looking towards the clubhouse as Tig came outside, his arm draped around some blonde croweater he'd dug out of somewhere the night before. The girl was still purring and pandering around him, but Tig seemed disinterested, he'd had his fill.

"I'm guessing they're, you know, done?"

Chibs shrugged. "God only knows. Grief does funny things." He motioned over at Tara as she continued to chase Rat around the garage, swearing at him and hurling things at him in frustration as she tried to get some sort of answer out of him. Gemma groaned, she'd have to go and sort that out.

"Yeah, it does. Just don't… don't judge her," she said softly, leaning in and kissing Chibs' cheek gently. "Nobody's got an easy right ride now."

"Hey!"

They all stopped short as Thomas came peeling out of the club after Tig, his eyes bloodshot and red. Gemma turned, about to go towards him but Chibs held her back, latching onto her arm as he saw the rage pulsing from Thomas as he stormed out. Tig had only just managed to extricate himself from the blonde when Thomas threw the first punch, landing it squarely on Tig's lip. Tig groaned as he staggered back, clamping his hand to his mouth.

"What the fuck?" he demanded, picking himself up and looking at the youngest Teller as he stood, vibrating with anger. "What the hell?"

"You," Thomas barked. "I can't get right with what you did."

Chibs heard the words and pushed Gemma back, telling her to stay put as he hurried across the lot to get between the two. He put a firm hand on Thomas' chest, holding him back, and glanced between them as he lowered his voice.

"Not here," he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Thomas. "Don't, Tommy, you know the deal."

"He killed her," Thomas spat, keeping his voice just enough of a whisper for the words to slam hard against Tig's heart. "I'm not okay with that." Tig put his hands up, the first to admit his error.

"Don't," he said, touching Chibs' shoulder gently. "Later, Teller," he added, looking at Thomas. "When the lot's clear, and everyone's drunk. Then you can do what you want but you don't make a scene, not now," he added, glancing towards Gemma and Tara as she started out of TM with Juice behind her. "I'll take what you've got, nothing you could do'll hurt me more than I'm already hurting."

Satisfied by his assurance, Chibs nodded and patted Thomas' shoulder. "Listen to him, prospect," he said quietly. "Go inside, pretend this shite didn't happen. You'll get your chance, but do it right."