A/N: Thanks to everyone who reads this story. After finally finishing the previous chapter I feel like I'm gaining momentum again. Here's the next one. Enjoy.

Chapter 17

We sat there for what seemed like hours. Gemma made us all some coffee and we played cards. It was what we did as good Old Ladies. Gem, Donna and I were used to this but this was a first for Alex. Everytime I looked over at her, I could see how nervous she was. "Al, you okay?" I asked her.

"I think I am. I mean, still trying to process everything." She said.

"That's understandable." Gem said. "It takes a lot to be able to handle this life, I won't lie. It took me a while to not stress when they are out handling things." Gem said.

"She's right. Every time Jax comes home, I'm checking him for battle scars." I said.

"I'm the same with Opie. It never gets easier you just learn how to deal with it better." Donna told her.

"How're things with you and Hap?" I asked her.

"Their good. I told Daddy that I was seeing someone and now he wants to meet him. Hap doesn't think that it's a good idea." Alex said.

"Why not?" Donna asked.

"Knowing Hap the way I do, it's probably because of all the tats he's got." I said.

"It is. He thinks that Daddy's gonna think that he's a big time criminal." Alex said.

"He's not completely wrong. All of the guys have done some kind of time. It just comes with the life. One thing you gotta remember though. If you do introduce him to your dad, you don't say anything about the club. For all he knows, the guys are just mechanics and Harley lovers." I told her.

"She's right. If you love the guy, you find a way to love the club. And always remember…club first, then family." Gem said. "The club will always come first, it's how they protect us. Then everything else comes after the club. That's why it's important to have strong Old Ladies. I have taught these two everything that I know about being a strong Old Lady. Just follow their lead and you'll be just fine." Gem told Alex.

Alex nodded. "I guess I'm just scared. This life is completely different than the one that I grew up with." Alex said.

"The only one of us that grew up in this life is Jax, Opie and Kris. Their SAMCRO babies. I think that's why Kris is so strong in this life. She's been around it her whole life. Gem practically raised. Was able to teach her how to be a strong Old Lady from the very beginning." Donna said.

"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you ladies." Alex said.

A little while later, we were sitting around drinking shots when there was a loud bang on the clubhouse door. The SAMTAC guys pushed us into the chapel and closed the door. A few minutes later it opened and they said that we could come out. We walked out and I immediately started scanning the room. I found Jax and I ran across the room to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he wrapped his around my waist, pulling me to him as close as he could get me. "You okay?" I asked him.

"I'm fine." He said, when he put me back down on the floor.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked noticing that Chibs, Tig and Hap were missing.

"Their cleaning up. They'll be here soon. It's over babe. They're taken care of. All we have to do now is get through the trial." He said.

I nodded. Alex walked over to us. Jax looked at her. "He's okay. He'll be here soon. He said wait in his room for him." He told Alex and she nodded.

There was something else. Something they didn't want Alex to know. "What is it?" I asked. We walked over to the bar where Clay was standing with Gem. Clay sat some pictures on the bar. I looked through them. They were pictures of me standing in the lot. Some with Jax. Some with Gem. Some with various members. The Russians had been following me. "Where did you get these?" I asked.

"We found them in their office. There's something else. We found stuff about Alex." Clay said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"How well do you know her?" Clay asked me.

"We met at the community college. Became fast friends then we got an apartment together. I know that her is an attorney in LA. Her mom took off when she was little. Why?" I said looking around at my family.

Clay ran a hand over his face. "Clay, what's going on?" Gem asked him.

"Alex is half Russian on her mother's side." Clay said. "We think that the Russians have been tailing you since before you left Charming. We think that they sent her there to spy on you."

"Babe, we think that she might have a connection to Lenny the Pimp." Jax said.

Lenny the Pimp? Really? "What can I do?" I asked.

"We want you to talk to Alex. See if any of the names ring a bell." Jax said and I nodded.

I grabbed a bottle of vodka (Alex's favorite) and made my way to Hap's dorm. When I opened the door, Alex was sitting on the bed. "Everything okay?" Alex asked me.

I held the bottle of Vodka up. "I need to talk to you." I said grabbing the chair from the desk and sitting on it.

Alex let out a sigh. "They found out about my lineage didn't they?" She asked.

I nodded. "You knew?" I asked, opening the Vodka.

"I don't remember much about my mother, but I found one of her journals when Dad and I were cleaning out the attic once. She was Russian. Her father is Russian and a member of the Sons." Alex said.

"Lenny the Pimp?" I asked, she nodded.

"Yeah. I don't know anything about him though." Alex said.

I nodded. "Al, You should have told me. I don't know if I can protect you. I don't know if Hap can protect you. They think that the Russians sent you to spy on me." I told her, taking a shot of Vodka.

She took the bottle from me and took a shot. "I would never. I've never met any of my Russian relatives. Hell, I don't even know where my mother is." Alex said.

I nodded. "Come on." I said, standing up. She followed me out to the barroom. I looked at Clay, "Before you do anything, hear her out." I said and Clay nodded. He knew that I didn't want more blood. Alex told him everything that she'd told me. "So now what?"

Clay ran a hand over his face, then he looked at Alex. "That's everything. There's nothing else that your hiding." He said.

"That's everything." Alex said.

"Tomorrow, we go see Lenny." Clay said.

"Clay, Lenny's in solitary. Always is." Jax said.

I thought for a minute. "What if me and Alex go?" I asked. Everyone turned and looked at me. "Hear me out. Lenny's not gonna think something is up if I'm bringing his granddaughter to see him. Jax and Hap could go with us and see Otto. Who would know?" I said.

Clay looked at me for a minute before he walked over and hugged me. "Have I told you how much I love you, smart girl?" He asked me.

"From time to time." I said, before I leaned against Jax and he wrapped his arm around me. "Can I go home now?" I asked.

"Yeah. Get some rest. I want you guys down there bright and early." Clay said.

I tilted my head up to look at Jax. "Take me home."

"My pleasure."

A/N: And the drama unfolds.