Chapter 17

Farewell Brothers

The cold, lifeless body of a woman lay on the bed, photo clutched to her chest. Shots echoed in the background along with children screaming. I turned to see a blonde boy behind me, KG9 in his hand. He pointed over my shoulder, and as I turned, I was met with a bloody face, silently screaming, reaching...

I sat upright in bed, breathing heavily. I looked around, and saw Happy sleeping peacefully next to me. I quietly climbed out of bed, and crept to the bathroom. I turned on the light and looked in the mirror. There were dark circles under my eyes. It had been two days since we buried Arcadio and Darvany. As I leant over the sink, I felt my stomach lurch, and I turned for the toilet.

I rinsed my mouth, still feeling nauseous. I quietly got dressed, kissing Happy lightly on the cheek as not to wake him before I grabbed my things and headed out the door.

The open air as I rode helped shake the nausea, and by the time I reached the diner, I felt much better. I walked inside, smelling the freshly cooked pancakes. I ordered a takeaway coffee, and thought of ordering some breakfast. However, by the time my coffee arrived, the nausea was back, so grabbed the coffee and headed back outside, drinking what I could before I rode to TM.

Gemma was just pulling up outside the garage as I arrived. I backed my bike along the wall, the only one there yet. My phone rang in my pocket, and I waved to Gemma as she unlocked the office before answering it.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," I said with a smile, seeing Happy's name on the caller ID.

"Hey, it's not that late," he said. "You were up early."

"I couldn't sleep," I told him. "Figured I'd come into TM early, Gemma and I had some work to finish from yesterday."

Just then I heard Gemma yelling from the Garage. I ran over and pulled the roller door open, and gasped as I saw Wayne tied up to one of the lifts, cuts on his stomach. As I got closer, I saw the cuts were in the shape of a Swastika.

I pulled the phone back to my ear, and heard Happy calling my name.

"You need to get to TM now," I told him. "Wayne's been attacked."

I hung up the phone, running over to help Gemma. We carefully pulled Wayne down, all but carrying him to the lounge against the wall.

I ran to grab the first aid kit from the office, dialling Jax's number as I did.

"Hello?" Jax answered, sounding half asleep.

"It's Georgia. Someone attacked Wayne at the garage. We need Tara."

"We'll be right there," he said, and I hung up as I reached Wayne and Gemma.

"Jax is on his way," I explained, kneeling next to the couch, opening the medical kit. Gemma moved up towards Wayne's head, and I started pulling out gauze, packing it into the cuts on his chest.

"I'm ok," Wayne insisted, half attempting to sit up. He winced in pain, and I put my hand on his shoulder, pushing him back onto the couch.

"Don't be ridiculous," I said, shaking my head as I cleaned and dressed his wounds as best I could.

"Can I at least have a smoke?" Wayne asked. I shrugged, and Gemma disappeared off to Wayne's trailer. She was back a minute later, handing Wayne a joint.

The rumble of a motorbike outside made me look up. Happy was just pulling into the parking lot, Chibs just behind him. Happy ran up to the Garage, while Chibs went to the Clubhouse, gun drawn.

"Georgia?" Happy called, as he reached the Garage.

"We're here," I called over my shoulder, my hands still working on the cuts on Wayne's chest.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, seeing Wayne's chest. "What do you need?"

"I think I'm ok," I said. "Jax and Tara are on their way, and I'd rather leave it to the professionals before I start stitching him up."

As if on cue, I heard another bike, followed by a car. Happy looked out the door.

"They're here now," he said, walking down to meet Jax.

Jax and Happy soon returned, followed by Tara. I stood back, giving her the space next to Wayne. She inspected his wound.

"Nice work, Georgia," she said, pulling out the needle to start stitching him up. "Couldn't have done it better myself."

"Left the tricky part for you," I said as Chibs joined us.

"Hey, clubhouse is clear," he reported. "All the action happened in here.

"Your mom found him," I said, sitting next to Gemma. She looked pretty shaken by the whole thing.

"Found him hanging from the goddamn lift," she explained.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Most of the club had arrived by now. Phil and V-Lin were cleaning up the garage behind us, picking up bikes which had been thrown around during the attack.

Jax bent down next to Wayne. "Who was it?"

"Three of them. White, ski masks," he said. "Asshole did the cutting had these Nazi hooks tatted on his neck."

"Did they say anything?"

More bikes pulled up outside, Chibs went to see who it was.

"Yeah, there was some back and forth on how bad to carve me up." He chuckled darkly. "They didn't sound too organized."

"Sam Dino," Chibs explained, and went with Juice to meet the visitors

Jax nodded, and turned back to Wayne. "We're gonna find who did this."

"And then what?" he asked.

Jax ignored the question, and said to Tara. "Thank you."

"Yeah," she said with a sigh, and kept stitching up Wayne.

Tara finished stitching up Wayne in silence. When she finished, she covered the wound with a dressing.

"You need a tetanus shot and some antibiotics," she explained, taping the last of the dressing down. "Can you have somebody bring you by the hospital later this afternoon?"

"I'll get one of the prospects," Gemma said.

"Look, I'm treating him privately," Tara explained. "And... by 'privately', I mean "illegally." I think it'd be better to have somebody bring him by not wearing a cut."

"I'll get Chucky," Wayne suggested.

"I can take you," I offered. "Got nothing else planned today."

"Yeah," Wayne nodded. "Hey, Gemma... What if I had the boys this morning? I mean, you drop them by here sometimes. Early. What if I had Abel or the baby when these assholes showed?"

"But you didn't."

"This time. I mean, these aren't crazy hypotheticals I'm spinning here," he urged. "There's kids in the mix now -"

"My kids!" Gemma yelled angrily. Tara looked at her, eyebrows raised. Gemma corrected herself. "My grandchildren."

"Sorry, Gem," V-Lin interrupted. "Phone call. Line one."

Phil called V-Lin over. "V-Lin, come on. Jax needs us at the warehouse."

Gemma disappeared into the office, and Tara packed up her things. After checking Wayne was fine, I walked her back to her car.

"Bring him by the hospital after lunch," she said as climbed into the SUV. "I have a meeting at 2:30. Shouldn't take too long."

I nodded. "Stay safe."

She smiled, and I waved as she drove off.

I headed back to the Garage, and found Wayne sitting up on the lounge. I helped him up.

"Hospital this afternoon," I told him. "You should rest for a while. I'll keep an eye out around here."

He nodded, and I helped him back to his trailer. Once her was settled, I went back outside, and saw the Sons coming back out of the Clubhouse, making their way to their bikes. They were heading off somewhere.

"Any idea who's responsible?" I asked Happy, meeting him at his bike.

"Not exactly" he said, leaning on his bike. "But we know someone who might. Heading there now. How's Unser?"

"As good as can be expected," I said. "I've got to take him to the hospital after lunch, think I'm just going to hang out here until then. Still have that paperwork to do."

"Good," he said. "We're locked down till we know more. No one rides alone, you hear? Especially you. You take the truck to the hospital, and then you come straight back here. No bike - it's too much of a target right now."

I nodded. "All right. I'll wait here for you?"

"We've got a meet with the Irish later, don't know what time I'll be back."

I kissed him. "It's ok. I'll be fine. You just stay safe and handle business."

"I wanted to talk to you too," he said, strapping on his helmet. Jax and Chibs had joined the others, and they were ready to head off.

"About?"

"Making your move permanent," he yelled about the rumble of the engines, as the bikes started.

I stared after him, as he pulled out after Jax and Chibs, and rode off through the gates.

I walked back to the office, a million thoughts running around my head. I sat down at the desk, thinking about Happy's suggestion. I was surprised I hadn't considered it already, it had been a whole month since I left Australia, and hadn't really thought of returning. Sure, when I first arrived I had, but then I met Happy, and things just went from there. I had no real commitments in Australia, apart from the club. I had my house and my bike, but I could sell those things. I already bought a new bike here - I could buy a new house too. Charming did have one thing Australia didn't. One very important thing.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through until I found the number. It took a while before someone answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Macca, its Georgia."

"Georgia. Haven't heard from you in ages. Everything ok?"

"Yeah, it's been a big couple of weeks. Sorry I haven't called yet."

"Don't swear it, sister," Macca said. "Listen, I spoke to Jax Teller a few weeks ago. He was asking some questions about you. Hope it was ok that I told him some things..."

"It's all good, Pres," I said, smiling. That seemed like a lifetime ago. "I was the one who told him to give you a call."

"So what are you up to? When are you coming home?"

I sighed. "That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about..."

With my mind cleared, I got started on the paperwork I had to do. Gemma came in, sitting onto the couch, and lit a smoke.

"You ok?" I asked, looking up.

"One of the Diosa girls was found dead this morning," she explained.

"Shit," I said, shaking my head. "Do they know how she died?"

"Looks like someone killed her. Body was dumped on down 18, just outside Charming."

"Why do I have a feeling this is going to blow back on us, like everything else at the moment?" I asked, going back to the paperwork in front of me.

Gemma gave me a hand, and within a few hours we had it all done. I was just finishing off the last of the reports when there was a knock at the door, and Lyla poked her head in.

"Hey," I said.

"Oh, uh, sorry," she said, looking at Gemma. "Chucky told me you were here."

"No, no. It's all right," Gemma said.

She sighed. "Nero didn't want me saying anything."

"About what?"

"Sheriffs picked him up," she explained. "They think he had something to do with Erin's murder. He's been there all morning."

"Oh, shit," she said, looking at me.

I waved her off. "Don't worry about this. You just look after your man."

She nodded, and followed Lyla out the door. I checked the time. It was almost 1 o'clock. I finished the last of the paperwork, and went into the Garage to clean up. My phone rang in my back pocket, and I pulled it out. It was Happy.

"Hey," I said. "Did you get any leads?"

"Are you at the MC?"

"Yeah, I'm in the Garage still."

"Listen, do not leave, understand? We're on lockdown - all charters" he said, his voice panicked. "I'll be back in the next hour."

"Happy, what's wrong? Is this about the attack this morning?" I asked.

"No, this is Irish," he explained. He paused. "Phil and V-Lin are dead. I'll explain more when I get back."

"Alright," I said. "Happy?"

"Yeah?"

"Please be safe."

The boys arrived back, and I ran out to meet them. Happy scooped me up as I reach him, kissing me and holding me tightly.

"Im sorry about Phil and V-Lin," I said. "What's going on now?"

Happy shrugged. "We're going handle our Nazi problem, I guess. As for the Irish? I have no idea."

I left him with Juice, as they unloaded crates out of the van. I walked over to where Jax was standing with Tig and the two members from San Bernadino, Packer and Yates, near the picnic tables. I rested my hand on Jax's shoulder as I stood next to him.

Chibs walked out from the clubhouse, sliding his phone back into his pocket. "The charters have been alerted. Tacoma are on their way down to help."

"All right," Jax nodded, as Gemma's SUV drove in. He and Chibs walked over to meet them.

"How are you doing, Tiggy?" I asked, as he studied the map in front of him.

He shook his head. "This hurts the club. Badly."

I nodded. With the death of Phil, SAMCRO was down to just 5 patched members. Could the Original charter really be about to fold?

Jax and Chibs returned, followed by Happy and Juice. Jax walked over to the map on the table.

"Alright, from what Tig told us, their house is about 4 miles off the main road here," he said, pointing at the map. "Juice, load up the guns into the van. Rat's on his way back now. The two of you will go through first. We're only looking at about 5 or 6 guys, but watch your backs."

He looked around, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, let's move out," he said, and everyone turned to leave.

I followed the guys to their bikes, grabbing my helmet.

"Where do you think you're going?" Happy asked, as I pulled on my helmet.

"What? You told me I shouldn't be alone."

"That doesn't mean you are walking into the middle of a gun fight, Georgia," he said, shaking his head.

"The way I see it, the Nazi's haven't killed anyone today, the Irish have," I explained. "So I'd rather stay with you guys even if it is walking into a gun fight, than hang around here alone."

"It's too dangerous, Georgie," Chibs said, overhearing our argument.

"Well, then why are you all going?" I asked. "And I swear to god, if you tell me I can't go because I'm a girl, then I will kick you in the balls."

Jax shook his head as he walked over. "I'm not arguing anymore. If she wants to come, let her come. She knows the risks as much as anyone."

I smirked at Happy, and jumped on my bike, pulling my helmet on. Jax looked at me. "Watch your back. Nothing to prove today, G."

I nodded and started my bike, pulling out after the guys. I followed them out of town, out into the open farm land. We pulled over on the side of a dirt road, the boys all climbing off their bikes. They all walked over to the back of the van, where Juice was handing out KG-9s. I walked over, and Happy grabbed my arm, pulling me to the side.

"Here," he said, handing me a gun. Open bolt, semi-automatic KG-9. I loaded the magazine in that Happy handed me.

"32 round, 9mm?" I asked.

He nodded. "Do you know what you're doing?"

I smiled at him. "I have shot a gun before, Happy. Not just at a range."

"Its not a little handgun you've got there," he warned. "It might have a bit more kickback than you're expecting." He paused. "I don't like you being here."

I reached out and put my hand on his cheek. "I know. I'll be fine. I've got a surprise for you tonight too."

He kissed me fiercely. "Just make sure you get home so you can show me," he said, holding his head against mine.

He turned around, walking over to the van. He grabbed a gun, quickly spoke to Jax, before climbing on his bike.

He nodded to me, pulling out after Jax. I took a deep breath, before following after them.

The van crashed through the chained gate, the bikes close behind.

The van screeched to a halt as it pulled up to the house, the bikes filing in behind. I jumped from my bike, pulling my gun as I did. The boys all had their guns drawn, and opened fire on the house. People came running from the house, and I pulled the trigger. One by one, the Nazi's fell to the ground as glass and wood shattered around them. They never even had the chance to fire back.

As quickly as it started, there was silence. I slowly lowered my gun, staring at the destruction in front of me.

I felt a hand on my arm, and Happy carefully took the gun off me. He nodded, and turned toward the van.

"Wipe down the guns," Jax instructed. "Make it look like an internal beef. Stash the KG-9s in the house. Then burn it all down."

I sat on the swings of the playground, staring out across the lot. I had stayed with the guys, wiping down the guns while they moved the crates of KG-9s into the house. We had doused the house in petrol, before setting it alight.

Happy walked over, sitting next to me. We said nothing for the longest time, before Happy spoke.

"Do you want to be an old lady?"

The question caught me off guard. I thought about it for a while before I answered. "I want to be your old lady. But will I be content to just sit at home, waiting for you to come back to me? Could I sit at home, wondering when or even if you're coming home? Do I want to be surprised when shit from the club starts affect our families? No, I can't be an old lady like that. The club is in my blood, its who I am. And I would die if I couldn't be a part of that. But I would die if I didn't have you either."

Happy sighed. "It's you dying that I worry about, every time you put yourself in danger."

"And do you think it's any different for me?" I asked. "How do you think I feel when you leave? I know the kind of danger you guys face - I've been through it first hand, remember? That's why I can't be like the other old ladies. They can close their eyes and pretend their men are safe. I close my eyes and all I see is violence and death."

There was a long pause. "I'd die if anything happened to you. But I'd also die without you. So I guess we really don't have a choice, do we?"

I smiled, kissing him. "So you're happy with your old lady, even if she's a little different?"

"It may have scared the crap out of me, but there was something about seeing you our there today..." He shook his head. "Anyway, you said earlier you had a surprise for me?"

"I did," I said, grabbing his hand. "I thought about what you said this morning, about making the move here permanent?"

He looked excited. "And?"

"And I called the president of the Geelong charter today. He's going to sell everything for me - the house, the bike, all my furniture... It's time for me to set some roots here."

"Really?" he asked, grinning like a little kid.

"Really," I said, and he picked me up off the swing, spinning me around. He kissed me passionately, and for a moment, I forgot about all our troubles.

"I love you, Happy Lowman," I said, putting my head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. "And I would move anywhere in the world for you."

A loud whistle made me lift my head off Happy's chest, and Chibs waved us over.

We walked over hand in hand, and I felt the weight of today's events fall back over me.

"We're off to Oswald's," Tig said.

Happy nodded, and turned back to me. "You coming?"

I nodded, and as soon as Jax joined us, we rode out to the club's piece of land near the warehouse.

I grabbed a shovel and helped Happy as he started digging a large hole, as the others unloaded two crates from the van, carrying them over to a clearing. Juice grabbed the shovel from me and kept digging, while I returned to the van with Chibs. We grabbed the boys Kuttes, along with a can of fuel, and brought them back to where the boys were digging. Once the hole was deep enough, Happy and Juice carefully lifted both crates into the grave. I carefully bent down, resting the two Kuttes on top of the crates.

I stepped back, as Happy tipped petrol across the crates. Jax nodded to Chibs. He struck a match, lighting the whole matchbox on fire before throwing it into the pit.

The fire caught instantly and burnt ferociously, causing me to step back from the heat. As I watched the flames rage, I repeated a blessing we spoke at my Uncle's funeral.

"I shed not a tear for these brothers of mine,

For they lived free, as they rode the line.

So ride on my brothers, and rest in peace

Until we meet again, when my ride will cease

To those not with us or by our side,

May God be with you on your final ride."

We stood in silence, until Jax finally spoke. "Bury them," he said, before he disappeared into the darkness.

Happy grabbed a shovel, passing one to Juice and they covered the flames, burying our brothers.