CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Torture, I'm pretty used to that after my time with Craig. I grimace as I think of the horrible things that Jax knows how to do, they probably go with the darkness of some of the secrets he holds. I don't really want to know any of them but I'm interested in a completely morbid fascination.

Jax grins, obviously missing the terrified expression on my face, his hand going from my shoulder to my waist and as I click as to his method of torture I try to wiggle out of his grip, but before I can move his fingers dig into my side and I shriek in laughter begging him to stop, the joint I'm holding being squeezed tightly so that I don't drop it and set the house on fire.

Donna peaks her head in at the noise, and I am thankful the distraction causes Jax to stop, sit up straight and attempt to look innocent. I snort and pat the bed for her to join us; she walks over and curls against the headboard next to Jax. He throws his other arm over her shoulder and the pair of us look at each other and laugh. We can all hear Opie as he locks the doors and checks all the windows. He comes down the hall, stopping at the doorway where he glares at Jax before he sniffs the air.

"So you're smoking in my house, not sharing it and stealing my wife?" The grin in his voice spreads as he can't control the smile that wants to spread over his face.

"You better believe it bro." Jax replies, tightening both of his arms so Donna and I pulled in closer.

I wave the end of the joint I'd stolen off Jax and say "I'm only here for the drugs...just the drugs."

Donna snatches it from me and erupts into laughter "Sure you are."

Opie steps into the room, steals the very end of the joint from his wife, inhales and drops it into an ashtray before sitting down on the chair in the corner. "Why are we hiding in here and what are we talking about?"

"We were talking about nothing, I just got here." Donna says.

Opie stands and pulls Donna to her feet. "Well, it's 1am and some of us have things, like work, to do tomorrow...or today."

Opie and Donna head down the hall to their room when he calls over his shoulder, "Don't forget to lock the door if you're leaving Jax."

Jax looks at me and shrugs. I don't really want to be alone at the moment, I know having relived everything I have today I'll end up with horrible nightmares tonight, but I'm not sure if he'd be comfortable staying.

"I don't want to be alone, but Jax I don't want to lie. I'm probably not going to be able to sleep, and the likelihood is exceptionally high that if I do I'll have nightmares." I know I sound like a scared child when I say that and I'm not sure if the voice that makes up his mind, or the look of fear that I am sure is in my eyes.

"I'll stay. Just let me go see Ope for a second."

While he's gone I take the time to prepare for bed. Heading into the bathroom I wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, pulling my hair into a long single braid down my back before I change into the pajama pants and old t-shirt that I wear to bed on nights when I feel so unsettled. I slide into bed and move right over to the corner, within seconds Doj is on the bed and curled in a ball behind my legs.

Jax comes back in 10 minutes later, in a pair of Opie's sweat pants and his t-shirt, he looks at the bed and laughs when Doj lifts his head up looks at him and then sets it right back down again.

"I'd be worried about your dog, aye."

"Why?"

"He seems to think I'm an okay person to be getting in bed with."

I giggle, "You patted his head once, and he'll love you forever now."

Jax lifts the covers and climbs in beside me, flicking off the light he turns over to face me, the light from the outside coming in through a crack in the curtains "Does that work for you, if I pat your head will you love me forever?"

I lay there silently looking at him, thinking of the best way to answer that when his hand reaches over and brushes the stray hairs of my forehead. He grins, "Did it work?"

I smile, "Sure it did and if you're not sure I'll dribble on you and hump your leg just like Doj does to those he loves."

Jax laughs softly, moving around a bit to get more comfortable. "I think I'd like it if you didn't do that thanks."

"No problem."

A while later, I'm not sure how long but I'd guess that Jax is almost asleep when I whisper "Thank you."

The mumbled "S'fine." Is all I hear before he snores softly.

I stare up at the ceiling for a while thinking about all the things that I have to do over the following days. A trip to San Francisco to return the trailer, and the shopping I've let myself get roped into. Re-looking at the houses, though I'm pretty sure that Donna's order to buy the one round the corner still stands. Find a job; I guess that one is the most important. I mean, it's not like I'm going to run out of money, ever, my parents insurance policies have left me so that I never have to work if I choose to, but I can't stand sitting round doing nothing day in and day out.

I know at some point I'll have to ring the DA in New York and let her know where I am and that I'll be back for the trial at the end of August, 3 months away. I also know I'll have to face the music with Uncle Jacob at some time, and that JJ (Jacob Junior) will have plenty to say about me being back and staying with the Winston's, the only way it could be worse in his eyes would be if I was staying with Clay and Gemma.

Lying there staring blankly at nothing my mind wanders through the steps that brought me to where I am, and I can plainly see where I made the worst errors. I don't regret moving to New York, I met Al and Cam there, I got trained to do a job I love, and I did meet some amazing people.

Unfortunately I also met Craig there.

I roll over and face the wall, Doj inches his way up the bed till he's lying stretched out on his belly between me and the wall, his head resting on my arm. I scratch behind his ears and his tail thumps on the wall. "Shhh." I hush him, and he seems to understand, his tail starts swishing across the bed instead.

It's relaxing laying there patting his head gently, the sound of his tail soon fades out and all I hear were the occasional sleepy whimpers that he's always made, and Jax's breathing behind me, every now and then as he lets out a longer than usual breath and the loose strands of my hair flutter into the air before drifting back and tickling my face.