The Sons Princess
Chapter 20: Teamwork (Part 1)
"Somewhere you can't see. Allegiances have formed your destiny."
GPOV
~7 years ago~
Wandering into the clubhouse, I had heard that Jax had stayed in his dorm room since Maddie had packed her things up and left for college. Making my way to his dorm room, I was curious as to what state he was and knew he hardly moved from his room. Only to do what the club needed done. Knocking on his door, I heard a voice tell me to come in. "Baby, what are you doing here?" I asked him, he was laid out on his bed, in only his underwear. Like I hadn't seen him like this before.
Worried about him, I knew that he was only moping around because he was sad and felt alone. But, it worried me more that he didn't know we were all here for him. "Moping around, doing nothing," he answered my question. Sighing, he was laid on his back, head tilted as he looked at me.
The room was in a terrible state. Food everywhere, clothes lying around all over the place and it looked like it had ten inches of dust on every surface. Jesus Christ. "Exactly," I grumbled as I removed a pizza box and placed it in the garbage. "You should get out, live your life," I encouraged as I tried to clear the room a little. To make it at least, decent. "Are you still upset about the whole Tara thing?" I asked him as I took a seat at the end of his bed.
Not meeting my gaze, Jax hid his eyes from me and there was a sad expression on his face. His lips pouting a little, which was indication enough to know it was certainly a girl that was on his mind. "I don't know mom, I'm just...down," he mumbled with a shrug and finally met my gaze. It's about Maddie, isn't it?
Pursing my lips in a small smile, I knew that Jax was only like this because he missed Maddie, as she was like a sister to him since the day she was born. It was only natural for him to miss her. "Whenever I'm feeling a little down...you know what cheers me up?" I asked him, curious to know if he knew me as well I knew him.
"A new haircut or bag?" replied skeptically, which was true but it wasn't the only thing that made me feel happy after feeling sad.
Chuckling, I smirked at him and raised my eyebrows at him. "That too," I agreed with his answer. "What cheers me up, is knowing what I value most in this world," I stated as I crossed my leg over the other and leaned in closer to him. "What do you care about Jax?" I asked him, curious to know if he knew what he cared most about in his life.
Pondering for a second, when he found his answer, he looked directly into my eyes and kept his tone serious. "The club, my family," he listed the things that he valued most in this life. "The road and my bike," he stated the things that gave him reason to feel happy, which was exactly what his father once told me. He looks and acts more and more like his father every day.
Nodding, I smiled and liked his answer. Knowing that this was the right path to go on, that this was what he was and was meant to be. "Exactly," I chuckled. "Hold onto those things and it will always make your life worth living," I encouraged him. "There isn't anything more important to us in life, than our family," I stated what was true in life, what was important to us and what we both valued. Jax means the world to me.
Present day...GPOV
Fixing my jewlery for the day, I was dressed and ready to go to work. Even though, Clay and the rest of the boys would be gone for a blood run, I knew that a few days wouldn't help me recover from the mental breakdown I was having lately. Hearing Clay cursing and hissing, I found him in the bathroom, trying to inject his fingers with what he needed for his condition. Insisting to help him, as I normally did, he gave me the needle and allowed me to inject his hands equally. "Cortisone helping?" I asked him.
"I'm fine without it," Clay grumbled his reply.
He could hardly look me in the eyes, I wasn't sure why, but I knew it had something to do with our relationship. Only recently I was able to kiss his lips without feeling the need to run away from him. But, I knew I wasn't capable of taking him to bed. Only recently, I was attempting to fall asleep beside him, but some nights I'd wake up, a hot sweat covering my body from the horrible nightmare I had. It wasn't a nightmare, even if I wished it was. It was always the same scene. I was back in that abanadoned building, the white masks and that never forgetting tattoo on the man's neck.
Glancing up at Clay, I pulled myself out of my thoughts and memories. Forgetting the lack of sleep and how I'd go sleep on the couch with those reoccuring nightmares appearing. "I know," I agreed with a nod of my head. "Good," I mumbled when I was finished medicating his hands. "When you back?" I asked him.
"Tomorrow," he answered quickly.
A moment of hesitation led to me leaning in and placing a kiss against Clay's lips. My hands gently cupping either side of his face, I knew my lips were stiff and dry, but I didn't feel as drawn to him, with the secret and the thoughts that ran in my head after what happened to me. "Be safe," I encouraged him kindly.
Placing the needle to one side, I knew my task was finished and I knew that he would have to leave soon. As did I need to leave to go to work. "Thanks," Clay thanked me, his eyes glued to mine and a small smile appeared on his face. "Maybe some time away will help you. Get past whatever this is," he encouraged me to take advantage of this time away from him, which made me realize he was desperate for things to go back to the way they used to be.
I had moved out the door, to walk away from him and no longer be in such a small space with him so close to me. Turning to face him, I noticed how he looked hopeful, yet sad at the same time. "Maybe," I agreed with a nod of my head. Without another word, I wandered back into my room and out the door, getting into my car, Clay rode his bike and we both made our way to TM.
MPOV
Entering the bedroom with a cup of coffee, I knew Jax had been ready before I was. Considering I had woken early to take care of Abel before Jax could go. He had showered and decided to have breakfast after it. So, I took the hint and looked after Abel whilst having my breakfast at the same time, only to wait for him to finish his shower, so that I could have my turn. Wandering into the bedroom, I took a sip of my coffee and smiled at him.
Jax's hair was wet and slightly messy, but his eyes were kind and his smile sweet. He was slipping into his hoody, his necklace was on the drawer counter and he had slipped it to dangle around his neck, as usual when I wandered over to him. "What's the run?" I asked him softly, smiling at him as I couldn't help but admire the wonderful man I could call 'mine'.
His bullet necklace dangled loosely around his neck, making his hair form a strange type man-bob. Even with his hair caught by his necklace, he still looks hotter than me. "Blood drive, children's hospital in Eureka," he informed me of what this run was about. Which should have come to my mind instantly, as I had heard my father and brother discussing it after a church meeting.
"SAMCRO, community servants," I giggled with a small smirk, biting my bottom lip, Jax's eyes shone as they looked at me. His bright hazel eyes were a calming blue, his smile made his eyes crease around the corner and I knew that he was happy in that moment.
Jax chuckled, his lips pulling apart to show me his pearly whites. "That's what we're all about, baby," he teased as he moved closer towards me. Placing my coffee cup to one side, I smiled and slowly walked closer to him.
As though he was the flame to my moth, I followed his lead and wandered over to him. Meeting him in the middle, I stopped in front of him and bit my bottom lip a little harder. The smile I was trying to contain was becoming impossible to resist. "Don't I know that," I mumbled as I stared into his eyes.
Gently, his hand cupped either side of my face as he leaned in and brought our faces closer together. My fingers gently ghosted their way to his hips, gently curling as they took hold of his cothings. When our lips connected, my eyes instantly shut and I couldn't help but smile as we kissed. Jax's lips were gentle, but he too was pursing a small smile as we kissed. The sound of gurgling then turned into a baby's cry. Abel. Humming against my lips, Jax pressed another few kisses to my lips and pulled away. "My boy, the master of timing," Jax smirked as he pulled away and stared down at me.
Smiling up at him, I slithered my hands up his sides to rest against his chest. Jax's hands were carefully pushing my hair back, away from my face and his thumbs would rub soothing paterns against my cheek. Gently, I pushed him away and moved to take care of Abel. Turning my back, instantly, I felt a hand reach out for mine and pull me back to him. Pulling my body to come back to him, he smiled at me and gave me a look that screamed he loved me. Following his lead, I moved back to be in his arms, his arms wrapped around my waist and our bodies flush against one another. "I love you," he spoke clearly, with pure honesty and with a serious tone in his voice.
Staring up at him, I examined his expression and knew he meant exactly what he was saying. I knew that he was truly in love with me and it seeped in every expression, every look and every gesture. He's left me speechless. "I love you, too," I replied as a smile began to grow along my lips.
Leaning in, he smiled once again and went to place a kiss to my lips. But, the crying continued and Jax pulled back before our lips could meet. "I got him," he said as he walked away and left to take care of his son. Glancing around, I felt content, like I belonged here with him and I knew that this wasn't perfect, but it made me happy. Jax makes me happy. Abel makes me happy. We're like a small, dysfunctional family. That makes me his- "What?" Jax had pulled me out of my thoughts.
Through my subconscious moment, I had been so deep in my thoughts that I had moved to sit on the bed. My hand gently placed over Jax's cut and I hadn't heard him come over to me with Abel in his arms. The realization hit me like a slap to the face. "I'm your old lady," I spoke my thought aloud, smiling to him and realizing that my place meant I was his old lady. The woman he'd always come back home to. The woman he loved, who loved him back.
Jax gave me a slightly proud and cheeky smirk. Abel bounced lightly in his arms as Jax calmed him down from his tears. Blowing me a kiss, he turned to leave me there, shocked by my eureka moment. "Come on," he encouraged his son. "Let's get you some breakfast," he would mumble to his son as they wandered down the hall. "Make you big and strong," he cooed, trying to convince him that eating breakfast would in-fact make him a strong, healthy boy. I can't believe I've been so blind.
JPOV
After feeding Abel, I had noticed Maddie had gone to shower and decided to check in on her before I left. Watching her figure, I saw how beautiful she was and couldn't help but admire her. I'm a lucky man. Her golden locks were cascading down her back, slick and wet from the water that poured down her body. Her curves blurry from the fog, but her skin was still the light brown tint she always had. Leaning against the door frame, I watched as her body tightened as she stretched a little to slither her fingers into her hair. My eyes trailed along her frame, before I decided I needed to go, or I wouldn't make it to the ride on time.
Leaving Maddie a note, I gave Abel a final kiss goodbye and left. Riding to TM, most of us were ready to leave, the only person who didn't look to be there yet was Clay. Parking up beside Opie, I looked to him and saw he was sat, waiting patiently for the blood drive to begin. "Hey," I greeted him kindly. "Didn't know you were riding."
Opie would hardly talk to me these days, sometimes, it made me wonder what was going on in his mind and other days, I wondered if I should reveal things to either him or his sister. All I knew, was that something had to be done. "Clay wants me on the relay," Ope informed me.
Wind was blowing my hair everywhere, so I tried to push back any strands that got in my face. "Mary with the kids?" I asked him, knowing that someone had to look after the kids. Unless Maddie had made an arrangement to look after the kids without discussing it with me. Lately, neither of us made decisions without consulting the other.
"My kids are fine, Jax," Opie grumbled firmly. As though he wanted to stop the conversation from going any further.
The sound of an engine jumping and roaring made us all look to where the noise was coming from. Listening closely, I knew the sound was familiar and I knew instantly what it was. Jesus Christ. "Chitty, chitty, bang bang," Chibs teased as Bobby appeared with his beloved fat boy.
Some of us whistled, most of us just stayed silent and watched as Bobby pulled up in front of us. "All right," Half-Sack cheered teasingly as he watched Bobby show up with his beast. Didn't he say he was going to put it to sleep? Or was it all something I had imagined? "It's an old fat boy on an old fat boy," Half-Sack joked, making a few of us laugh at the teasing. "Sorry," the prospect instantly apologized as he saw Bobby glare at him. Always respect club members.
Pulling out a cigarette, I placed it between my lips, got off my bike and walked over to Bobby. Lighting my cigarette, I took a deep breath and enjoyed the relaxing sensation it gave me. "Thought you put that beast to sleep," I mumbled with the cigarette between my lips.
"This fat boy ain't even reached its prime," Bobby spoke confidently.
Truthfully, the bike looked old and could hardly function. The smoke that left through the exhaust was black, which was never a good sign. "Barely looks like it can reach the end of the lot," Opie joked, making me chuckle softly.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Piney was watching us closely and enjoying the playfull banter that was going on between us. "Best bike for a long ride," Bobby mumbled. "And I put it up against any of your pretty Dynas," he pointed towards our bikes, which were a new model, compared to his antique.
"You hitting a gay rodeo on the way?" I asked, making a few others joke about what Bobby looked like and what he was wearing.
Bobby was wearing the usual, jeans, cut, shirt, leather boots. But, he was wearing a cowboy like leather that covered his legs and most of his pants. Some of the boys made cowboy sounds, yelling 'Yehaw' and making Bobby wave his arms around as though he didn't know what to say to that. "Cowhide protects the man hide," Bobby excused what he was wearing.
"Get in line, Brokeback," Tig called out, making me laugh loudly, a wide smile on my face and my body curling forwards as I clutched my cigarette between my fingers.
Climbing onto his bike, Bobby made the engine roar to life. The bang and cloud of black smoke escaped once more. "Shit," I cursed, worried for Bobby and ourselves. How the hell is Bobby going to ride that piece of shit?
Most of us complained, some of us coughed up the shit that escaped into the fresh air. Attempting to breathe, I took a few steps back and saw how the prospect couldn't help but get up and complain. "Really?" he grumbled. "Goddamn, man," he waved the smoke away from his face. "Come on, I gotta ride behind that thing?" he questioned us all, annoyed that Bobby was ahead of him in the formation.
"Shut up," Chibs ordered loudly. "You should be used to getting sprayed in the face," he teased, hinting that the boy may of been doing something a little more personal, rather than something friendly. Hinting that the boy could have been gay for all we knew.
"Usually by Bobby," Tig joked along with Chibs.
Laughing, I watched as the prospect moved to stand in front of us and follow after Bobby. "Eat me, Chibs," he threatened as he took hold of his crotch and wriggled it in his hands. Making the gesture for him to snack on something that was only half there.
Playing along with the joke, Chibs was keeping cool about it all. "See, the thing is," Chibs began as he looked to the young prospect. "I like a full scrote when I snack on someone," he teased the boy, who only had half a nut and made a nibbling noise towards the young boy.
The mention of a 'full scrote' made the boy get a little shy, as though he was deliberating telling us something that he may of been holding back. "Is that right?" Half-Sack questioned Chibs, to which our Scott friend nodded at him. "Pretty soon you can have that," he spoke confidently, yet awkwardly.
Crossing his arms, Tig got comfortable as he leaned against the railing. "What? You gonna spontaneously sprout a nut?" he questioned the young prospect that was claiming he was going to have a full sack.
"Boing," I joined with the playfull teasing, making a few of the guys around me chuckle or laugh.
Pursing his lips, the boy looked around a little awkwardly, as though he shouldn't be sharing this information with us. "No," he answered Tig's question, to which Tig then asked a string of 'What?'s "I'm getting a Neuticle," Half-Sack shrugged.
Thinking I hadn't heard him correctly, I wanted him to repeat it so that it was true what he was saying. Does this surgery even exist? "Getting a what?" I asked him curiously. "You're getting a musical?" I questioned him, surprised he'd been offered such a thing. Chibs repeated my joke, making everyone else laugh along with us.
No longer was Kip awkward, it had been overpowered by the anger and irritation he was getting from our conversation. From all our teasing and joking. "A fake ball. A Neuticle," he spoke slowly, clearly. "It's an implant. Give me a sense of symmetry. Balance," he explained further of what he was planning on purchasing and going under the knife for.
Taking a step closer, the others were all laughing and I couldn't help the chuckles that escaped me. A smile plastered on my lips from all the teasing and the strange conversation we were having about his plan. "Are you for real?" I asked him.
Looking to me, his hands were shoved deep within his pockets and he looked more irritated than ever. "Yeah," he answered my question. "I'm just waiting for the VA insurance to clear," he told us what was keeping him from doing the surgery. He really wants a fake ball in his body? Who is he trying to fool?
"You're getting a glass ball?" Opie asked him curiously, his tone skeptical and I couldn't help the chuckles that escaped. So stupid. Half-Sack then began to argue at us, trying to explain the texture of the fake ball he wanted to get. All of us trying to figure out what the ball would feel like. What made us all burst out laughing, were the noises that Tig was doing. Sounding like a cow being milked, he and Bobby were playing around, making noises as they joked about the boy's planned surgery.
Coming closer to us, Clay had rode up to us and stopped beside us. Tig and Bobby were both trying to get a hold of Half-Sack's sack. Seeing Clay follow after my mother, she parked her car and walked towards the office. "What?" Clay asked as our laughter began to die down.
Smiling, Bobby looked between Half-Sack and the rest of us, before his gaze met Clay's. "You don't want to know," Bobby replied quickly. "Really," Bobby spoke with a shake of his head. Glancing at us again, Bobby moved to his bike and had a smile upon his face.
Just as Bobby turned around, Clay decided to speak up. "Hey, Bobby," Clay called to our old fat boy, Bobby. "Shoulder gonna hold up?" Clay asked, remembering about the shot Bobby had to his shoulder the day he got out of his cell. Shit. I almost forgot about that.
"The shoulder's good," Bobby assured him with a nod as he gently touched his shoulder and rolled it comfortably.
PPOV
Watching the boys joke around and tease one another was a nice sight to see. It showed they still talked, had fun and enjoyed each others company. Even if they were sometimes the target of the verbal abuse. Wandering over to Clay when he looked to me and Gemma walked past me, I knew we needed to discuss things business wise for our garage. "Hey, I, uh," Clay began. "I appreciate you taking care of the garage while I'm gone," he thanked me for stepping out of this ride.
Smiling, I wiped my hands and acted like the man who didn't know what he did. I knew what he did, I was simply waiting for when Jax would decide the truth should come out. Or when Clay would or Tig reveal the truth. "No problem," I assured him it was not an issue.
Truthfully, I wasn't up for going on a run with the boys while doing a blood drive. I wanted to be close to the kids and stay here to support Maddie through the lies she was weaving out of. I'm keeping something from both her and her brother. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. "Tell the boys they can log some OT," Clay instructed. "I don't want to get buried," he explained as he looked in the direction of Gemma.
Gemma was stepping into the office, which made me wonder how she was and if she was any better from when I had last seen her. Lately, she'd been distant and hesitant. Not comfortable or easy going as she always had been. She seems tense and strange. "I'll keep an eye on her," I assured him I could look out for his old lady. "I know she's been-" I went to explain how she was acting, but Clay stopped me before I could finish.
"She's fine," he cut me off. "You just worry about the cars," he ordered for me to place my attention on the cars, the work that had to be done and busting my ass off without them there. Great. Not only has this asshole killed my daughter-in-law, he has manipulated my son a few times and is now ordering me around like his personal bitch.
Staring him directly in the eyes, I wiped at my greased fingers and glared at him. Not liking that he was giving me orders with no respect, a part of me wanted to remind him that I was one of the founders too, not to mention the first Vice-President before John died. "Got my full attention," I grumbled.
Moving away from him, I watched as Clay rode back to the gates and stopped a few meters away from the clubhouse. Happy was stood before him and stared down at my President. "What do you say, prez?" Happy asked Clay expectantly.
Jax and the others then began to get in their line, creating a tight formation, they were ready for the long road they had on their way. "Let's go save the children!" Clay yelled, causing Happy to shoot twice to the distance and declare that this ride was about to begin. The boys then rode out, leaving me along with Gemma, Dog and a few other of the guys from TM. Assholes. Both Tig and Clay.
OPOV
Riding out of Charming, we had seperated from the group of bikes, riding towards the meeting point where Edmond and Cameron were hiding our stash. Secretly and wisely enough, they were using the building as though it was a military surplus shop. There were a few cops inside, looking at weapons when Clay arrived, he somehow convinced them to leave. "Military surplus shop as cover. Wish we thought of that," Jax commented as we followed behind the Irish.
Edmond's father took credit of the idea, that he was the one to come up with it and that he was a genious. After Chibs was joking around with them, they teased back and we all were finally in the storage room. "How do we carry?" Clay asked.
Cameron was the one to pull out the weapons, showing them to us and handing it to us as we'd slip them into the false bed rolls. Edmond was the one to roll out the cloth to show us how we'd place them into the material. "Ten guns in each. Roll it up, strap it on," Edmond informed us of how to hide it effectively.
"Just a biker with a bedroll," Bobby caught onto the idea behind it.
Tig was slipping his guns into the bedroll material and we all saw how it snugly fit into the pouches. The presentation was affective and the low expectancy of it being in the material really made the boy a genious. "Six riders, five dozen. That's a good haul," Tig commented.
Examining the guns, I saw how the make was, how clean and perfect the guns looked. Which was overall, a brilliant plan, if it all worked out well and there were no interuptions. "Runs are set up for the next three months. One every two weeks," Edmond began to make negotiations.
"We'll try to cover as many runs as we can with charity rides," Clay assured them that we could get this done, with a good reason to travel long distances for two good causes. For the Irish and for the people we were supporting. Such as Eureka and the donation we would give them.
To prevent Edmond or his father for questioning us, I decided it be best to be pointed out why this was a better time for us to travel. To deliver the haul to those who could take their products for our pay. "Cops never mess with us when we're serving humanity," I explained why it was beneficial for us to go when there were charity rides.
Clay turned his head to me, his eyes covered by his sunglasses and his expression was one that was neutural. As though he didn't care less if I sided with him and saved his ass from explaining to the Irish. "Rest of the time, travel in twos. Stay off the main roads. Should be no problem," Jax agreed, already coming up with another plan for us to go along with.
Thankful that we were all working as a team, I knew that we were better when we were working together. Not when we were pulling each other apart. "The thirty-two, they're pleased the way this worked out with SAMCRO," Cameron told us proudly.
Clay looked down, shuffling on his feet and keeping his Prez voice on. "Well, you tell the scabby fence boys, I'm all about the cause," Clay encouraged them to keep being positive, to keep selling to SAMCRO and that our bonds were still close to the IRA.
"You can tell 'em yourself," Edmond said suddenly, making the whole room silent in confusion by this sudden outburst.
The one person who tensed the most, was of course, Chibs. "Edmond," Cameron scolded. "Jimmy O, some of the Falcarragh crew, might be coming stateside, time allows," Cameron tried to brush it off as quickly and calmly as he could. Talking to us as though this information didn't mean anything to us. It means something to someone. Chibs.
Chibs then said something in a foreign language. I wasn't sure if it was Irish or Scottish, but I was guessing it was Irish Gaelic by how Edmond and Cameron's expressions changed. Their slightly happy expressions turned dark, as though they were expecting this to come from Chibs. "Their day'll come," Chibs told us, which was what I was guessing was what he had said to the others in Irish Gaelic.
GPOV
Trying to help a customer, I heard the office phone ring and I knew I had to find a way to do my work while answering the phone. "Shit," I cussed, knowing that there was too much work to be done and that I was only one woman. "Yeah," I answered the call, to which a voice spoke and responded to me. "Hold on," I told the potential customer as I saw Piney wander into the office.
Before being interupted by the call, I was trying to find the keys to the woman's car. Thankfully, I had Piney and a few others to help me out whenever I needed them. "Mail," he told me as he raised a yellow enveloped letter of some sort. What the hell can this be?
Glancing up at the old man, I put the person on the line on hold and moved to pull out the file from the cabinate. "Just drop it there," I ordered of Piney as I turned my back to him. Truthfully, he was being a great help to me, especially now that our kids were together. He cares, but I know he doesn't care for Clay.
"Anything I can do?" Piney asked, as though he hadn't a clue of what to do next for me.
Pulling out the file, I threw it onto the desk and looked up to Piney once more. Knowing that I could have done it myself, I knew that I needed to take help when it was being offered. "Hunt down the keys to the gold Sebring," I suggested a task for him to do, so that I could go back to our customer on hold.
Piney, of course, didn't need to be told twice. He simply did as he was told when it came to me. I knew Piney was close to Jax, but I wasn't sure if it was his history with John, or my son, or simply because my son was with his daughter. "Sure, darling," he agreed with my offered task. "Right this way, sweet cheeks," he began to flirt with the woman as he gestured for her to go first. Only, so he could check her out and hum with satisfaction.
Flicking the file, something caught my eye. The mail. It had 'CONFIDENTIALITY' written over it. Which made my interest peak. Picking up the envelope, I pulled out what was inside it and noticed it was a Sherman's paper bag. Something inside me, made me want to be sick as I slipped my hand into the Sherman's bag and pulled out a rubber material. This, was the type of material that I could imagine in a re-occuring nightmare. When I pulled the content out of the bag, I saw what I had sensed and suspected to be inside the bag. Yet, even with my suspicion, I was still surprised to find that this what was inside the mail. It was the same mask the animals had worn when they raped me.
Feeling a lump form in my throat, it made it hard for me to breathe. My body was tense and I felt my private parts want to crawl deep within myself, as to never be used for such actions ever again. My heart was pounding harder than ever before, while my fingers shook and body was coated in sweat. Just when things were slowly getting better for me, this had to happen. Determined to find out who had done this to me, I got my bag and took the mask, in the Sherman's bag, with me.
Telling Dog to talk to whoever I had put on hold, I told them I needed to get out for a while, that I didn't know when I'd be back. I made an excuse, saying I needed to go to the store and head home quickly, that I wasn't feeling too good. Driving out to Sherman's, I parked close by and wandered over there with a march in my step. Who the hell did this to me? I want to know. Now. When I wandered over to Sherman's, the sign made me slow my walk and I was stunned to find that Sherman's was closed.
But, it wasn't only closed. It was changed to 'Impecable Smokes', a cigar shop. Not only that, but when I got closer to the store, I found a suited man, a man I had seen before, but I wasn't sure where. He seemed familiar, but I wasn't sure where I had seen him. "Good morning," the man greeted me. "You looking for Sherman's?" he asked as he noticed the paper bag in my hands. "They closed last month. Hope it wasn't a return," he smiled falsely, which made me suspect he knew something about what was inside the paper bag I was clutching to my gut and crotch.
Licking my lips, I wasn't sure where I had seen him, but I was certain that he knew something of what happened to me. Turning around, I wandered back to my car as quickly as possible. Ready to go to Unser and tell him all about what was in the bag. In my tracks, I was side stepped by a guy I felt I had seen before too. My eyes quickly flashed to his chest and I instantly remembered where I had seen him. There was the exact same tattoo on his skin that I had seen the night I had been raped. "Sorry, ma'am," his sickening voice made a shiver run down my spine. It was you. You did this to me.
The words reminded me of the night. As though I could see the mask, hear his words just before he entered me. It was as though I was back in that place, but, instead of that, I could hear his voice and see his face. Then, we were transported back to earlier that same night, when he bumped into me outside of the clubhouse, after threatening Clay and the boys. Oh my God. Its them. They did this to me, to get back at Clay for selling to black and brown.
Smiling as he walked past me, I followed him and saw him exchange a pat on the back with the guy who owned Sherman's, which was now a cigar shop. Surprised to see that they were the ones behind what happened to me, I felt like I was going to be sick. Rushing to the car, I didn't know what to do. Mentally, I was all over the place, physically, I stayed seated in my car, watching the store, so that I could follow the one who did this to me and get my revenge.
Staring down at the mask, I decided to take a smoke and knew what I had to do. I was going to make them pay for what they did to me. The sound of a horn and calling, made me look over eventually and the woman asked me if I was leaving. Tired of her bullshit, I knew how to make a statement of if I was leaving or not. Pulling out my gun, I wasn't sure if it was the anger inside me, or the fact that I knew something like this would bring Unser right to me, rather than me look for him. Pulling my gun out, I aimed it at the woman and squinted at her, challenging her to question me again. "Shit!" she cussed before she drove off and I was finally left in peace.
JPOV
Riding along with everyone, we had caught up and everything seemed to be running smoothly. No one had been injured, we would be at the meeting point soon and we'd be there in time to party until late. Suddenly, Bobby's engine began to backfire. Black smoke was being coughed out of Bobby's exhaust pipe and I could hear Tig screaming. Attempting to see where he was going, Bobby too was finding it difficult to keep control of his fat boy. Next thing I saw, was Tig collide with something, sending him flying down a hill and along with that, one of the other guys slid off his bike. Jesus Christ.
Parking as quickly as we all could, we rushed over to where Tig was. He was rolling over, bleeding and screaming his lungs out. In the matter of seconds, everything went from peaceful to shit. Bobby was pleading for Tig to be okay, while they tried to help us bring him to a hospital. Following Tig, we took him to the closest hospital and stayed with him. At least, until we heard news for if he needed surgery or simple stitching.
GPOV
Sat, staring at the cigar shop, I was ready for whatever was going to come my way, which was hopefully soon, the man who had raped me. The guy with the tattoo on his neck. Waiting, made me zone out as I focused all my attention on the cigar shop. The sound of a familiar car park a few cars down beside me, made me turn my head to see it was in fact, Wayne. He wandered over to my car, knocked lightly on my window and waved at me sheepishly. "Got a disturbing call from a woman, says you pulled a gun on her?" he asked after I had rolled my window down to have a better conversation, rather than the pair of us staring awkwardly at each other.
Keeping my eyes glued to him, but mind alert for when and who was leaving the shop. Glued to anything that allowed me vision to the building, I kept checking to see if the rapist would exit the building. "Yeah," I mumbled with a nod of my head.
For me, there was no point in lying to Wayne, especially when he already knew so much and once I'd tell him why, he'd understand what was happening to me in that moment. Instead of asking me the right questions, he kept asking the wrong ones. "That's it? Just 'Yeah'?" he questioned with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I didn't shoot her," I agrued. Bitch was annoying. She's lucky I didn't pull the trigger. I mean, I was having a breakdown, could she not see that?
Confused as to what I was trying to say, I knew that it was me being obvious. That it was better to have a gun aimed at her, rather than pulling the trigger and shooting her down for the only reason being, she was being annoying at the wrong moment in time with me. "What the hell am I supposed to do with that?" Wayne challenged. Ignoring his stuttering, I reached into my bag and pulled out the Sherman's bag. Handing it to Wayne descretely, he pulled out the mask and glanced up at me skeptically. "You gonna hit a bank or something?" he questioned me teasingly.
Not taking his teasing kindly, I knew it was simply because he was too blind to see and that he didn't know what this really meant to me. How this had played a part of my re-occuring nightmare. "That's what they were wearing," I growled quickly.
His eyebrows furrowed whilst he glanced at me, before glancing back and forth with the mask. "Who?" he tried to push answers out of me, but I simply stayed silent and gave him a look that revealed all. "Oh, Jesus," he cussed as it struck him, who exactly wore these masks and why this had me all shook out of place.
"Someone dropped it in our mailbox today. In the Sherman's bag," I concluded how this came into my grasp, not needing to add further details to my mostly boring morning.
Dropping the mask back in the bag, I placed it on the seat beside me. Tired of holding that object, which only made my body react in unhealthy ways, unfamiliar ways, that only were associated to the incident. "They're just trying to rattle you," he tried to brush it off of me. "Sherman's?" he questioned himself. "Holy shit. Zobelle," he pieced together the pieces of some, now solved puzzle.
Knowing I had done wrong, I was only stressed and all over the place in that moment. I had needed to do something, but I knew that my actions earlier were bad. That I shouldn't have lost my temper that way, but it happened and I had to apologize for what I did. "Look, I'm sorry about the gun," I apologized whole heartedly, knowing it wasn't like me to get rattled and pull a gun on some random woman.
Glancing around, Wayne took a step away from my window and offered me a small, sad smile. As though he had everything I could need to help me through whatever was running through my head and rumbling my mixed up emotions. "Come on. Let me take you home," he stuttered as he pointed behind him, gesturing for me to get into his cop car.
An image in my side mirror made my eyes flash to what I could see. The guy with the tattoo stepped out of the shop and climbed into his car. I have to follow him. "I got something I got to do. I'll be okay," I assured him quickly, getting myself ready to follow after him and leave Wayne all alone. I need to kill that son of a bitch.
Surprised by how quickly I was trying to get Wayne away from me, to brush him off, he wasn't completely fooled. Although, he gave me a confused expression as to my determination and my hurry. "Want to give me the gun?" he questioned me, making me mumble a fast 'Sure,' as I handed him the gun I had used. I've got another one anyway. "I'll return it later," he informed me as I agreed with a nod and drove away, following the asshole as quickly and safely as I could. You're not getting away from me, not this time.
OPOV
We had helped follow the ambulance as they took Tig to the hospital, needing to make sure he was in good hands and could get patched up quickly. Although, none of us liked how everything had turned out and were all worried for our brother needing stitches. "You tend to his every beck and call," Clay began to order Bobby, who had caused this mess in the first place. "And wipe his goddamn ass if that's what he wants you to do!" Clay shouted at Bobby as we made it
Wandering over to my bike, I took my gloves and put them on. Then, I pulled on my helmet and moved to get onto my bike. All whilst Clay, Jax and Chibs were getting themselves ready to leave. "Call Piney. Tell him we got two bikes down, gonna need the flatbed," Jax called out instructions for my father and the others to follow.
Bobby mumbled something to the prospect, making Happy chuckle and the rest of us get to it. Trying to leave, I waited for Jax, who had pulled off Bobby and Tig's bedrolls. Which, were actually filled with guns that needed to be taken to the drop point. Catching one of them, Jax then took the other to place it on the back of his bike. "I got it," Clay spoke confidently as he wandered over to his bike, extra bedroll in his hands.
"I can take it," Jax tried to argue.
Clearly, Clay wasn't taking any of it. The pair of them lately had been always either arguing, or about to rip each others throat. Second guessing each other, I knew they were having issues. I knew it was some type of 'daddy' issue, but I wasn't sure exactly what it was. "I said I got it," Clay barked back as he strapped the extra bedroll onto the back of his bike.
JPOV
Riding a few more miles, we were parked to get some gas in our bikes, but Clay had to take an urgent call. Apparently, it was Bobby. "Where the hell were you guys? And you just let 'em...you just wait there. You've done enough goddamn damage today," he yelled into the phone as he would pace around and scream down the phone. Someone clearly ain't happy.
Curious to know what was going on, I knew that it was something bad and it definately didn't please Clay. Not even in the slightest. "What?" I asked him, wondering what exactly had gone wrong for him and what happened on the other line of the call.
From how angry Clay sounded, the way he snapped his phone shut, I knew something was badly wrong. He was fuming and I wasn't sure if everything was truthfully at all good. Tig is down and something bad has happened. What else could have gone wrong in that moment? "Bounty hunters..." Clay began. "Just picked up Tig," he informed us. Jesus Christ.
"The hell for?" Opie questioned, stunned that there was a big enough bounty for people to get Tig for the money on his head. Tig is a sick and twisted man. Nothing surprises me, he's capable of anything by what I've seen and known about him lately.
Clay looked more angered and irritated than what he should have. Of course he's this way. Tig is his bitch. Considering he was the one who killed Donna. Wonder what he did this time to make him have a bounty on his head. Probably screwed some rich man's old lady. "They didn't stop to say," Clay grumbled. "Half-Sack's trailing 'em," he spoke in an ashamed tone.
"Jesus Christ," Chibs mumbled, surprised. "How does that happen?" he questioned how the hell this happened in the first place. Like I said. Nothing about Tig surprises me anymore.
"Ask the jew in leather," Clay grumbled.
Clay had been pacing around, as though he didn't know when to stop and I was starting to wonder if he would walk the rest of the way to find Tig, or get onto his bike and try to find him. Can't he stand still? "It'll have been the hospital. Bounty hunters'll pay admins to call in names and nefarious types," I informed them, knowing that this type of thing happened. It had happened before, and we all knew it could happen again.
Surprised by my words, it only made Clay angrier than before. "If Tig had an outstanding warrant, I'd know about it," he spat at me, as though I was being an idiot for even considering the possibility. Bounty's don't sprout out of thin air. Tig did something and these people have connections. Just like we have Unser under our thumb.
Knowing that Clay only wanted to get into a fight, I decided to keep it all civil and calm. It was an argument, but I wasn't going to try and rip his throat out. Only discuss the possibilities that Clay was blocking out in that moment. "Might be out of state. If the bounty's big enough, they could be hauling his ass to Maine," I argued with a leveled tone.
"We got to go after him," Chibs decided encouragingly.
But, of course, Clay was having none of it. "We got a delivery to make," he argued back bitterly, as though he was a wounded man with lost pride in his choices. He is acting like a child.
Chibs, being the brother he was to all of us, considered what could happen if we didn't go to save Tig. This was the only shot we had at getting him back, even if I didn't like the guy, I knew I couldn't hate him. Why exactly, I still was trying to figure it out. "The bondsmen have no jurisdiction. There's nothing to stop us taking him back," Chibs argued back.
"What's stopping us is six bedrolls full of illegal handguns," Clay growled as he pointed down at the bedrolls on the back of bikes. He has a point. But, we don't need bedrolls to save Tig from the bounty hunters.
Having a small plan, I knew that we could simply place the bedrolls somewhere safe, until we got to the place we needed to and get Tig back. The charter we had waiting for us, could wait for us to reach them and then take the bedrolls from us, so they can sell it to whoever was buying. "We go after him now, we got a chance. He crosses state lines-" I tried to come up with something to convince Clay this was the right thing to do.
Clay was only getting more and more anxious. More and more angry as the moments passed on. "If Tig was here, he'd vote to deliver the guns!" Clay spat back, like he knew Tig and what was going to happen to him. By tomorrow, Tig could be dead for all we knew. God knows where he'll be, what state he's in and if we'd ever see him again.
"We dump the bedrolls somewhere safe. Relay gets pushed by a few hours," I argued, trying to make him see a different way we could all win today. We never leave a brother behind. It's not what this club is supposed to be about.
Acting like the big baby he was, he didn't take a second to think everything through. Clay had always been the stubborn type. Nothing like Opie, Piney or Maddie when they were being stubborn. Clay was less stubborn than they were. That, was obvious. "We're going," Clay already made up his mind.
Not even considering the possibilities that came along with the problems we'd face if we didn't save Tig, Clay was being dumb and acting out of anger towards us and our choices. I may not like Tig, but I could never leave him behind. "Maybe we should call a vote," I suggested calmly.
Wandering back to his bike, he slung one leg over it and sat down quickly. He was ready to go and he had already made his mind up. "You vote all you want. I'm delivering the guns," he informed us of the choice he had made. The engine roared to life, he was about to ride off, when the bike fell to its side and I noticed how Clay's hands curled up. "Goddamn it. Shit," he cussed as he tried to hold onto the bike in any way he could. "I got it. I got it," he grumbled when he saw Opie make his way over to help him, making Opie step away and offer him the space he needed.
After attempting to pull the bike up, Clay couldn't and I saw how his hands were giving up on him. How eventually, he would no longer be able to ride. You can't ride, you can't lead. "On three. Ready," I encouraged Chibs and myself as we pulled the bike up, after all the attempts Clay had done, but hadn't prevailed with his state.
OPOV
Seeing our leader struggle, it wasn't easy, but we all understood his condition and offered to help. The way Clay was convinced he had it all under control, reminded me of whenever myself or my family were trying to do something alone. Taking that thought, I knew I had to step away from him and give him the space he needed to focus on lifting up his bike alone. When he wandered off and gave up, I followed after him. "Some days I can't even get my dick out of my pants," he grumbled as we sat down silently.
Knowing that what he needed, was gentle guidance, I also knew he needed to cheer up after what he had just gone through. He's trying to be tough, but it isn't easy with his condition. "That's what prospects are for," I joked. Remembering a time they joked about myself and Jax possibly having to do that when we started off as prospects.
Clay chuckled, smiling and his fingers gently rubbed his knuckles. Personally, I didn't know what it felt like to be him, but I knew it musn't have been easy. "Yeah," he agreed with a smile on his face. "You all right? Family?" he asked me slowly, as though cautious to ask me such a question.
I knew he was concerned. As any other brother would be. My relationship with my kids is rocky. My mom is always nagging me. My pop is always shouting in my ear. And I keep trying to push Maddie away, simply because I fear for her. "I guess," I shrugged. "The road helps. Reminds me why I signed up for all this bullshit in the first place," I grumbled as I moved my eyes to look away from his gaze.
They way he would look at me sometimes, made me wonder what was really going on behind those shades. Made me wonder what he was trying to hide from me, like he knew something that I didn't. "Amen, bro," he agreed with a nod and small sigh.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I knew that we needed to do what was right. Even if Clay thought it was wrong. Jax was right this time, we needed to save Tig before he would slip through our fingers. "We got to go get Tig," I told him honestly. "This thing between you and Jax...I don't know what it is, but it's pulling focus from what we are," I stated. We're a brotherhood. Meaning we don't leave anybody behind. "I'm with you either way," I assured him he had me beside him, no matter what he'd choose.
"He okay?" Jax asked me as I approached them.
When I looked to Jax, I noticed him glance between myself and Clay. Something in his expression wasn't right. It was as though he was keeping something from me. Like he was angered at Clay for something behind those eyes of his. Something's not right. They need to fix this thing soon. "He just needs to know we've got his back," I encouraged Jax to follow my lead this time.
Allowing Clay to ponder about what I had said for a few moments, when he was ready, he made his way back to his bike. Sitting on it, he wrapped his hands around the handles and was ready to get back on the road. "Let's go get Tig," he decided was the best choice. Good choice Clay, I knew we could count on you.
MPOV
Wandering around in my office, I was fixing files and clearing up the mess of papers I was leaving over my normally clear desk. Placing the last piece of information of my last case, I opened my cabinate and heard a knock on the door. Calling to them, telling them to come in, I looked to the door and smiled at the sight of Emma at the door. "I finished the last file for Mr Grogan," I told her, waving the file around as I slid it into the according alphabetical slip.
Emma was acting a little strange ever since my birthday party, espeically with the mess that I seemed to be pulling Anna into. Considering, she had been working in the hospital for only a few weeks and already, drama was rising to the roof for her. With the whole Gemma incident and my constant irritiating conversations about my relationship with Jax, she must be tired of my visits. "Good to hear," Emma smiled tightly, coldly, as though she was being distant and stiff on purpose. "Chief Unser is looking for you," she informed me.
Worried about the woman that was like a role model, I furrowed my eyebrows and blinked a few times. Since she had been in Charming, our relationship, both professional and emotional, had been on a bumpy road. Some days, she was happy, others she looked like she wanted to run away from me. "Is everything okay?" I asked her curiously.
Trying to be serious, she brushed it off and looked at me with a tight lipped, strained smile. As though she was forcing herself to be nice and calm about it all. "You tell me, Maddie," she encouraged me falsely. "You seem to get a lot of visitors. From both sides of the law," she commented bitterly, which was like a slap to my face. What is she trying to indicate with that?
Feeling a little defensive, I didn't like how she was keeping something back from me. I knew that she was itching to say something, but I wasn't exactly sure what it was. Does she not like the fact that I still have connections with the sons? "What are you trying to say, Emma?" I asked her in a serious, slowly getting more defensive and speculating tone.
Her lips pulled back, revealing a wide and false smile appear on her face. It was forced and bitter, which was confusing as Emma was always the kindest person I knew. But something told me she was keeping something from me, what exactly? I wasn't sure. "Nothing," she replied quickly. "The Chief is waiting for you," she reminded me coldly.
Knowing that Unser was the type to wait patiently, I knew he had better things to do than to sit around and talk to me. "Please, let him in," I encouraged Emma kindly, nodding, she looked to where I presumed Unser was standing and waited for him to enter. Trying to muster a genuine smile, I stood beside my desk and attempted to clear up my desk as best as I could. "Chief," I greeted as I saw him enter through the door.
Unser looked exhausted, as though he could hardly stay awake for another moment. Or, as though he didn't know what to do with himself any longer. I could tell something was bothering him. "Didn't mean to pull you away from anything," he apologized, looking to see if anyone was in the corridor as he walked in, he closed the door shut behind him and offered us some privacy.
When he turned his head to look at me, I offered him a kind smile and directed him to sit down on the chair in front of my desk. "Please, sit," I offered him the seat and sat at my desk seat, slowly he wandered over to the empty chair and pulled it out, thanking me in a mumble before he sat down. "What is it?" I asked him, folding my hands and allowing them to rest on my desk.
"Gemma," he answered bluntly.
Worried for the name he had said, I knew that Gemma was in a fragile state and some days, she was better than most. But, I knew there were days she just froze up and had some type of breakdown. "Did something happen?" I asked, leaning closer and worried for the woman I saw as my second mother.
Unser sighed, looked around and looked like he didn't know what to say to me. Like he was trying to find the right way to word what he was thinking. "She's out of sorts," he informed me. "Matter of time before she hurts someone. Herself," he tried to predict the future. "Not sure how to help her," he revealed to me bravely, honestly, seeking for my help.
Not entirely sure myself, I knew Gemma and I knew she was a strong woman. But, I knew that something like this never happened to her and that she must have been fighting with herself mentally and possibly emotionally. "She has to talk to somebody about what happened," I stated what had to be done. "I've tried. So has Anna," I tried to break the news lightly to Unser.
Truthfully, I stressed over what happened to Gemma, more than I could ever have believed possible. Gemma was someone I loved, cared about as I had grown up with her being a strong, fierce woman that she had always been. Seeing her in this state, was crumbling, but I knew I could shed her load and be the rock she needed me to be. "You care about her," Unser pulled me from the thoughts and memories that ran through my mind.
Not only was holding this sad secret for Gemma heartbreaking on her part, but it was a stressfull load to hold on my soulders. The reason for that, were two people. Jax and Clay. I had to see their faces almost every day and keeping the secret from them, was making it unsettling. Not to mention, how mine and Jax's relationship was meant to be fueled by truth. Honesty. "Of course I do, she's like a mother to me," I argued defensively, calmly and kept a sad smile on my lips.
Memories and thoughts of fears had clouded not only myself, but Unser too in that moment. "I know darlin'," he agreed kindly. "I've known her since she was twelve," Unser began to go down memory lane. "Me and Emily Koza's the ones that tried to talk her out of running away. She split when she was sixteen. Came back ten years later with a baby and a motorcycle club," he retold me the story I already knew of Gemma. "Sort of like you did, except without the baby and such," he mumbled nervously with a small, awkward laugh as he waved in my direction. "You and Jax seem to be doing okay," he noted.
Smiling, the thought of Jax was mostly always comforting. He loved me, cared for me and always knew how to make me feel like the woman I was. He knew me, respected me and stood by me through the toughest of my moments. He was always there for me, just as I was always there for me. Currently, there was nothing that could go wrong between me and him. "We're trying to figure it out," I told him with a nod and a smile. Fumbling awkwardly, he cleared his throat and said his goodbye.
A sudden thought came to my head, a question I had been dying to ask someone. But, I had been too afraid for an honest opinion, as I seemed to only get encouragement and some signs of concern. "What do you...make of us? The lawyer and the biker?" I asked Unser cautiously as I saw him wander over to the door. His hand touched the handle and opened the door slightly.
Turning to me, he offered me a small smile and chuckled. Taking a moment, it was as though he wondered if I was being serious or if this was a joke. Keeping a serious, but nervous expression on my face, I knew that he would give me the answer I needed to hear. As he wasn't someone who needed to encourage me to be happy with him, as he knew it all without needing to be involved with us in some way. "I've seen stranger pairings," he assured me that what was going on between myself and The Prince was normal.
A small knock on the door made Unser open the door slightly, while another pushed it opened and Emma's small head popped into the scene. "Excuse me," she appologized as she glanced between myself and Unser. "Judge Johnson is waiting for you at court," she informed me of what I was going to be late for. Shit! I have a court session to be at in less than half an hour.
Blinking dazed, I was surprised that Emma had interupted our conversation to kindly inform me of the job I was meant to be doing. Reminding me that I had to be somewhere. "Oh, thank you," I thanked her kindly, nodding, she hid away and left myself and Unser alone once more.
Sighing, I began to pull the papers together and get ready for the case I was going to need to go to court for ready. Unser watched me for a few seconds as he held the door opened a little and smiled at me. "Don't think on it too hard, princess," he spoke to me kindly. "Come across something that don't make you miserable...enjoy it," he advised me in a sweet tone, before he gave me a single nod and walked out the door. That was very nice of him.
Hope you liked this half of the chapter. The next half will be up as soon as possible. P.S. Happy late new year!
Until next time,
Much love!
HeroJustInTime90 xxx