[[Author's Note: Hey! I know it's been forever! But, I finally have an update for you. Life has been busy and I didn't get this one finished until I was off a few days for Thanksgiving. I tried to update the other day but, the website has been a pain in the butt lately. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and please don't forget to let me know what you think of it! Happy reading!]]

Damn Rooster

—Charlie—

They called him Rooster. When I asked him why, he just laughed and said 'the cock crows at dawn.' Needless to say, it didn't take a genius to figure out the meaning…or one to come up with such a lame joke. He wasn't an officer of the club but, it was clear the Oregon charter held him in high regard. The 'Men of Mayhem' patch had definitely earned him some extra respect. It was a common misunderstanding that every member of the Sons of Anarchy had a mayhem patch but it wasn't the case. However, ownership of that patch earned the respect of the ones who didn't. Unfortunately, it also meant that I couldn't just up and leave the conversation…or what Rooster thought was a conversation. All he talked about was his bike, like he didn't have any other hobbies. I tried to pry for more topics to talk about but, he would just avoid it. I knew the last thing he wanted to do with me was talk. If I were being honest, he was an asshole. Yet, I remained seated and allowed his arm to lay across my shoulders.

"So, what do you do? I mean besides the Club, what do you do for work?"

"I'm a mechanic, darlin'. That's what most of us are. You're from around here, surely you know that."

"Do you like it?"

"It pays the bills. Allows me the free time I need for the Club and to ride."

"Do you-" I was cut off by his face burying itself in my neck. The next thing I knew, he was slobbering and licking, biting and sucking all up and down my shoulder and across my neck. When he'd kissed up to my ear, he whispered words I wouldn't soon forget.

"Come on, Darlin'. Why don't you use that pretty little mouth for somethin' other than talkin'?"

"Wait…Rooster, I-"

"In fact, let's make this a little more private. There's a dorm around the corner the mother charter lent me. Come on," he said and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. I quickly glanced around, looking for anyone who could help me out of the mess I put myself in but, I didn't see Jax anywhere…or Opie. And the rest of the guys were too drunk to pay attention. Rooster's much stronger form dragged me to the room two doors down from Jax's. I heard moaning, of a feminine sort, as we passed his door and my stomach dropped even as I knew it was going to happen. I felt suddenly weak and was pulled inside Rooster's door with little resistance. It slammed shut and then he was upon me, his mouth forcefully on mine. I responded until he pried my mouth open with his tongue and practically touched the back of my throat with it. I was not opposed to making out with anyone. Or giving the occasional blow job. I'd done it before. What I was opposed to was someone not knowing when to back off. He pushed against me and I felt his hard member against my hip and I froze.

"C'mon, Baby," he mumbled against my mouth and began to unbuckle his belt. My hands began to shake and I pried my lips from his, shaking my head.

"No," I whimpered.

"C'mon," he said in a tone that was coaxing but, I detected the undercurrent of frustration. He tried to kiss me again and I pushed against his shoulders.

"No, please stop." He growled.

"Oh, come on. The hottest crow-eater here and she turns out to be a fuckin' prude." I tired to get around him.

"I'm sorry. Please just-" He cut me off and blocked me from getting around him.

"Oh no. You're not leavin' yet, sweet-butt. You have a job to finish."

"I'm not a sweet-butt," I said but my retort was weak. I couldn't believe I was in the situation again.

"Yeah, I heard that before. You're definitely not an Old Lady. Get on your knees, sweet-butt."

"I'm not a sweet-butt. Or an Old Lady."

"Then you got invited to the wrong party, Darlin'. Consider it your initiation to the MC lifestyle. I got a hard cock and you got a sweet mouth. Get to business, Bitch."

"No, please. I'm a First Nine's daughter. My dad is Pine-"

"Oh that's a new one," he said and laughed in my face. Then his expression turned dark…dangerous…and I knew what it would be like to be on the outside of the Club, as a stranger to them. "You do as you're told, Bitch. Now get on your knees."

"Please, I don't-"

"Sweet-butts never say no to Rooster. On your knees."

"No, I can't do-"

"Get on your knees!" His yell terrified me and I screamed.

"No, please stop!"

"The fuck is wrong with you, Bitch!"

Suddenly nauseated, I pushed him away from me and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door shut and locking it. I barely managed to make to the toilet before I hurled my guts up.

—Jax—

I tried to ignore the nasal sound of the crow-eater's voice. She was laying next to me, panting and I reached for the pack of cigarettes on the nightstand on the other side of me. I lit one, tuning out her words and, not for the first time, wished I was lying next to Charlie. I wished I'd made up with her instead of fighting with her more. I wished I'd have told her that her clothing made me want to do such naughty things to her and that she was the hottest thing to walk into the clubhouse. Instead, I punished her by pushing up on the crow-eater who hadn't shut up the entire night. Then I had to watch her flirt with one of the Sons from the Oregon charter, the one I knew for a fact was an asshole. I stood, grabbing my underwear and jeans, disposing of the soiled condom, and started dressing again.

"Where are you going?" The crow-eater asked, leaning up on one elbow with the sheet still draped over her. I gave her my best fake smile.

"I gotta get back out there, Darlin'. Best you get dressed."

"We gonna have another round?"

"I don't think so. Get dressed."

I'd just finished putting my shoes on when I heard yelling and then screaming. I'd recognize her voice from anywhere and I barely registered grabbing my cut and slipping it on before I ran from the room. Two rooms down from mine, I heard the one they called Rooster yelling and then kicked the door open.

"Hey! What the hell, man?!"

"Where is she?"

"That sweet-butt bitch?"

"She's not a sweet-butt, asshole. She's Piney Winston's daughter," I growled. There was a strong presence behind me and I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"What's going on?" Opie asked. We both heard sobbing from the bathroom and I didn't hesitate. I tried the knob and it didn't budge.

"Charlie?" I called. The crying grew louder and then I heard her vomiting. I knocked. "Charlie, it's Jax. Open the door."

"The fuck did you do to my sister?" Opie's voice was deadly calm and I turned to glare at Rooster. He held his hands up.

"I didn't do anything. I thought she was a sweet-butt who didn't know her place."

"Did you try to force her?" I asked, her cries on the other side of the door shattering my heart into a thousand pieces.

"I thought she was a-"

"Did she say 'no' and you kept pushing?"

"Look man, I thought she was a crow-eater."

"Well, she's not and she was recently attacked."

"Then what the hell was she doing here?"

"Just get out of here for now, all right. We'll deal with you later," Opie said and pushed the large man through the door. I knocked again.

"Charlie? Will you please open the door?"

"You got this, bro? I don't want to leave Donna alone with men like Rooster running around."

"Yeah, man. Go get take care of her. I've got Charlie."

"I know you do, brother. Let me know if you need help."

He left the room and it was just Charlie and me, a door between us.

"It's just me, Baby Girl. Please open the door."

The toilet flushed and then I heard the locking mechanism in the door click open and I twisted the knob. She was sitting on the floor next to the bathtub, her knees drawn to her chest and her buried face in her arms. She was still crying but she was otherwise in tact. My best guess was that he scared her but didn't actually hurt her. I walked to her and sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulled her until she was crying in my chest. The tension in her relaxed some and I wrapped my other arm around around her.

"I'm here," I whispered. "It's okay. No one is going to hurt you again."

"You were right, Jax!" she cried between sobs. "I shouldn't have worn this outfit!"

"There's nothing wrong with what you're wearing."

"There must be! He thought I was a crow-eater, just like you said."

"No, baby. I was being an asshole earlier. You're beautiful and the clothes are perfect on you. He only thought you were a crow-eater because you were unattached to anyone."

"Maybe the cops were right. Maybe I did ask for this to-"

"No! You didn't ask for that prick to rape you, Charlie. And you didn't ask for this tonight. It doesn't matter what you wear or who you hang out with. No one has the right to touch you, especially after you say no. Don't listen to those pathetic excuses for law enforcement."

"I shouldn't have flirted with him!"

"Did you tell him to stop?"

"Yes."

"Then if he pushed, that's not on you. Whether you flirt with someone or not, when you say no, that should be good enough."

"Then why does this keep happening to me?" She had reached a level of tears that I would almost call hysteria and her words sent a dagger straight to my heart.

"I wish I knew, baby. The world is a sick and cruel place," I said and held her as tight as I dared. She deflated against me and I felt her arms wrap around my middle in a weak embrace. I kissed the top of her head. "But I'm here and I will do everything in my power to stop bastards like Rooster from taking anything else from you. I'm so sorry for picking a fight with you today."

"I think you were right, though," she whispered, her sobs tapering down to light sniffles.

"I wasn't. Not about your clothes."

"Maybe not but, now I just feel dirty. Trashy."

"No, babe. You don't look trashy in that. I shouldn't have been fighting with you. I should have told you how beautiful you looked."

"I did?"

"You still do, Baby. The hottest thing that walked into the clubhouse tonight."

"Now that's bullshit," she muttered but I heard her laugh a little bit and I knew I was drawing her back from the edge she'd been pushed to.

"It's not and I got put off by the idea that I wasn't the only one who would see how beautiful you are. I shouldn't have left your side. Not for one second."

"That's not what I was expecting from you, Jax. I knew you'd find a pass-around to occupy your time. God knows I've taken enough of it and you aren't getting what you need from me."

Stunned, I looked at the top of her head. I pulled back and forced her to look at me. Even with red, tear-stained, mascara-lined cheeks, she was still stunning and the loveliest creature at the clubhouse. It took every ounce of self-control I possessed to not put my lips on hers.

"What is it you think I need from you?" Her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Well, I don't know that you need it from me, exactly…but, you know…."

"What do I need?" I fought a grin as she fumbled with her words a little bit. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I just wanted to hear her say it.

"Ugh, fine! Sex, Jax. I know you aren't getting that and I would never presume to think you needed it from me. I just know you're frustrated and I didn't know why until I talked to Donna. And I'm going to shut up now," she muttered, cutting off her rambling when she noticed my amusement. The truth was, even though I'd spent the evening with a crow-eater and got rid of my sexual frustration, her face was all I saw.

"Well, I'm not frustrated anymore."

"I know." She looked away and the bitterness in her voice made me smile.

"Why, Charlie Winston, I do believe you're jealous."

"What! I'm no such thing."

"Yes, you are."

"I am not!"

"You are. I know you are."

"How can you know that?"

"Because I was jealous when I saw you flirting with Rooster." She shuddered and burrowed closer as if my touch could wipe away his.

"Something I will forever regret. Wait…you were jealous? Seriously?"

"Of course. I told you, you were the hottest thing in the clubhouse tonight. I'm not just saying that. All of the Oregon charter was drooling over you. And you would pick their biggest asshole to flirt with."

"Well, he was hot and you pissed me off. How was I to know he was such an asshole?"

"Because we are all assholes, baby. You just don't see it because Samcro adores you and would never talk to you the way Rooster did tonight. Crow-eaters know their place here and you aren't a crow-eater."

"I suppose he really had no way of knowing that. I tried to tell him."

"But, the reality is, no one from another charter is going to take a woman's word for anything. It has to come from another member."

"That's so stupid."

"I know it is. What he did was still wrong."

"Thank God you were here," she whispered. I exhaled a laugh and kissed the top of her head before burying my nose in her hair.

"Thank God you had to throw up and you were able to get away. Although, it would have been hilarious if you'd have thrown up on him."

"Jax!"

"What? It would have served the fucker right."

"My luck it would have sent him into a violent rage and he would have beat the shit out of me."

"Which would have gotten him murdered. I'm pissed enough he raised his voice to you and scared you. If he'd put a violent hand on you, he'd be a dead man."

"Don't you have to vote on that shit?"

"Semantics. I'd have dealt with the consequences and I'm fairly certain it would just be a slap on the wrist. Especially if it involved the asshole hurting you."

"He didn't hurt me."

"Thank God. Come on, let's go to my dorm and get you away from anything to do with him," I said and reluctantly pulled away from her long enough to get up off the bathroom floor. I reached down and pulled her to her feet, guiding her from the room. My room was only two doors over but, when I opened my door, the crow-eater I'd occupied my time with was still sitting on the bed. Thankfully, she wasn't naked. She was at least wearing a bra and panties. Charlie and I both froze. The girl just smiled at me seductively like Charlie wasn't standing there with me. I found her disregard for Charlie's presence annoying.

"Uh-oh," Charlie muttered and I heard faint amusement in her tone.

"I thought I'd wait and see if you wanted another round, Sugar." Those words spoken in front of Charlie were a harsh reminder that I almost got her seriously hurt again.

"Get out," I growled to the blonde dumbass on the bed.

"If it's about her," the girl said and pointed at Charlie, "she can join in. I don't mind, baby." Charlie scoffed.

"That will never happen," she muttered under her breath.

"Not gonna happen. We're done here. Get out."

"But-"

"Get out!" She jumped at my raised voice and Charlie put a hand on my arm."

"Okay, just let me get dressed."

"No, now. Get dressed in the hallway."

"But-"

"Now!"

She quickly gathered all her belongings and fled from the room. I tried to bite back my frustration as I went to the chair next to the window and sat down with thump. Resting my hands on my knees, I buried my face in my hands. I heard rather than saw the door to the room shut and then the woman who was probably my favorite person on the planet sat on the arm of the chair and placed an arm around my shoulders. All irritation fled at her touch.

"Well, it looks like we both had issues with the people we chose to waste our time with tonight."

"We could have avoided all of that bullshit if we'd have just hung out with each other. But no, I had to go and pick a fight and be a dumbass."

"You can't get it right all the time." I lifted my head and looked her. She had a goofy smile on her face and it brought a smile to my own. After what happened tonight with Rooster, the fact that she could joke about any of it brought hope that she really would be okay. I couldn't help but think about how beautiful she was and she didn't deserve to have her face lined with mascara. I stood and went to the bathroom, wetting down a clean washcloth with warm water. When I came back, she'd taken the chair for herself and silently, I went to her and bent over until I was on my knees in front of her.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was soft and she watched me with inquisitive eyes. I remained silent as I took the warm cloth and gently wiped the dried mascara from her cheeks. When the black marks were gone, our eyes met and hers were lined with tears. I kissed her forehead, which brought a smile back to her face, and then she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and buried her face in my neck. Of their own volition, my arms wrapped around her waist and I pulled her close. After minutes of silence, I spoke.

"Do you want to go home?"

"Yes, but Donna drove me here. I should see if she's ready to go," she said and we reluctantly pulled away from each other.

"Unlikely since I saw her drinking with Opie. They're likely staying here tonight."

"Shit." She gave side glance to the bed and I knew she was weighing whether or not she was willing to stay at the clubhouse. I was not going to let her sleep on my dirty sheets.

"I'll take you home, babe."

"Don't you have to stay because of-"

"No. The main reason for their visit was over this afternoon. I'm not needed until tomorrow, if that."

She looked at her watch and groaned. "It's barely ten o'clock! I'm so lame."

"Hey," I said and ran a hand through her hair, "you're not lame. You've been through a lot and tonight hasn't done you any favors."

"Not really. I definitely believe now more than ever that men are generally pigs and don't have much self-control…and don't care who gets hurt. Present company mostly excluded."

"Mostly?"

"Well, you did pick a fight with me because you were sexually frustrated," she said and from the smile on her face, I knew she wasn't upset anymore. I kissed her forehead again and stood, pulling her to her feet.

"A mistake I will never make again."

"True, you may be a pig but, at least you can still be taught."

"Exactly. I learn from shit. Are you okay to ride?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I mean, you aren't still sore, are you?"

"Not really. It's been three weeks, Jax."

"Yes, but it's only been three weeks."

"I'll be fine. But I don't have to leave if you don't want to."

"No, I'm ready to get out of here. Right now, I still might kill that asshole if he looks at you sideways." She slumped against me and I couldn't resist holding her tighter when her arms wrapped around me loosely.

"Thank God. I just want to go home. Today was bullshit."

"Hmm, I couldn't agree more. Let's get out of here." When she made no move to head for the door, I kissed the top of her head and buried my nose in her hair, momentarily intoxicated by her smell.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?"

"Everything. I couldn't ask for a better friend than you."

"That feeling is mutual, babe."

After a moment, we pulled away from each other and I guided her from the room. The party was still in full swing but I found Clay hanging out by the bar with the president of the Oregon charter…and Rooster. Clay nodded for me to bring Charlie over and I had a feeling I was about to get real pissed off.

"Hang on," I said to her and she looked at me curiously. I nodded in Clay's direction and glanced over. "Clay wants us to go talk to him."

"Okay," she muttered but, her whole body shuttered when she saw Rooster. I grabbed her hand, weaving my fingers with hers and we went to Clay.

"We gotta problem?" Clay asked as soon as we were close. He focused his eyes on Charlie, assessing her.

"No," she whispered. Clay and Jimmy, the Oregon president didn't move but Rooster took a step toward her. She immediately took a step back and his face turned feral a for split second. He was clearly not used to being told 'no'.

"The hell we don't. Bitch doesn't know her place."

It took everything in me to keep my fists from his mouth. Clay took his eyes off Charlie and looked to our guests.

"And what place is that, Brother?"

"Sweet-butts do as they're told," Rooster said. Jimmy looked at him incredulously.

"She ain't no sweet-butt, Rooster! She's a founding member's daughter. She's basically MC royalty."

"She came to a club party unattached. How was I to know?"

"You know," I said, not even bothering to hide my anger, "it's because of people like you that MC's get such a bad reputation. It's not enough we do outlaw better than most people but assholes like you can't seen to accept that no means no. It doesn't mean you take it by force."

"She was unattached."

"That doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if she was with someone or wasn't or if she was a crow-eater or not. She told you to stop and you tried to use force. What you guys do in Oregon is on you but in Charming, we don't rape women. There are plenty of girls who are willing. When one says no, move on."

"So she shows up alone, dressed like that, flirts with me, and then says she doesn't want to do anything and I'm just supposed to walk away?"

"Yes," Jimmy said. "You walk the fuck away. Whether it's her or any other female, when they say no, leave it alone. This one, you especially shouldn't have touched her."

"Come on, Boss! She's just pussy!" I growled and just as I was gearing up to beat the shit out of him, Charlie placed a hand on my arm. When I looked at her, she shook her head although her eyes were shining with tears. Instead of hitting him like I wanted, I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. Clay cleared his throat and we all looked at him.

"How long you been a member, Brother?"

"Two years."

"Ah, you're still new and still haven't encountered a lot of 'no' when it comes to pussy."

"No one tells me 'no' since I put on the cut."

"Then you must not get out much. There are some women who are unimpressed by the leather. By the bike. Charlie is one of those girls but, more than that…she's one of our girls. She deserves that same respect you would give a member's Old Lady because her father is a First Nine. Her brother is a patched member. Her best friend and protector here, well, he's the legacy and son of the first man at the gavel. You keep talking about our girl over there like she's just some gash, I'm gonna look the other way when they beat you to a pulp."

"Same here, Rooster. This girl is off limits to you."

"You don't look at her. You don't talk to her. You don't talk about her. You don't even have to offer an apology because we all know it would just be empty words. Just leave her alone."

"But-"

"Leave. Her. Alone." I said through grit teeth.

"Fine," he muttered. Just like that, the conversation was over and I was, once again, leading her out the door. Once we reached my bike, I wrapped her in a brief but tight hug and then handed her a helmet.

"Are you sure the bike is fine?"

"Yes. It's going to be a thousand times more comfortable than that conversation in there." We both climbed on the bike and she wrapped her arms tightly around my middle.

"Of that, I have no doubt. Damn Rooster."

"Damn Rooster indeed," she said and I could hear the amusement at my words in his tone. I revved up the bike and then we were on our way to her house in hopes of a much quieter night.