Sons of Anarchy - Angel of Death
Previously…
Stevie fought back tears at the display of tenderness from the hardened man. She reached up and caught his arm as he turned away from the bed. "Thank you." She whispered.
Hap turned back towards her and nodded. He reached over and clicked off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. After double checking the front door to make sure it was secure and using the facilities himself, he returned to her bedroom. Maverick lay at the foot of the bed and raised his head when Hap approached the bed. Hap held out a hand to the dog to sniff again and the beast grunted and nuzzled his palm. "Good boy." Hap rasped, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He returned to the living room and settled down on the couch, stripping down to just a tank and boxers. The couch was comfortable, a little cool since it was black leather, but he found a blanket stashed inside the ottoman and pulled a decorative pillow from the oversized chair for his head. As he drifted off, he wondered how the hell he'd gotten to the point of crashing on this woman's couch instead of ravaging her in bed. His stupid ego, that's what. He sighed. His mother was right. Stevie Vale better look out, there was no way in hell she was getting rid of him now.
Chapter 11: Who We Are
The shrill ring of Stevie's burner phone startled her awake. She groped around for it, and flipped it open. "Vale." She groaned, rolling over onto her back.
"Stevie." It was Jax. She glanced at the clock. 4am. Their usual surveillance shift started in thirty minutes.
"Jax." Stevie acknowledged back, more for the benefit of the man who now occupied her bedroom doorway. Happy pulled jeans on as soon as he heard the phone ring.
"Hey, uh, I got a favor to ask." Jax murmured, watching Abel sleep in his crib. Tara leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before shouldering her bag. He smiled at her and she left the house with a small wave.
"Let me guess, doc's at the hospital and you're stuck playing daddy." She smirked, sitting up in bed, the covers falling away giving Hap a generous view of her cleavage.
"Yeah, on her way now." He confirmed. "Look, I know you're exhausted. I wouldn't ask-"
"If there was anyone else you trusted with this." Stevie finished for him, sliding out of bed. "I'm pulling clothes on and doing the run. Then you don't bother me until Noon. I don't care if the goddamn apocalypse starts. Deal?"
Jax sighed, "Deal."
Stevie locked eyes with Happy. "Uh Jax, Hap's-"
"There." Jax smirked. "I know. I trust him Stevie. You don't have to lie to him if you don't want to."
"Thanks." Stevie sighed. Then she clicked the phone shut.
"This why you're so beat?" Hap asked, crossing his arms, watching her pull on jeans.
"Yeah goes nicely with my PTSD." She scoffed, going to the front door. She shrugged on her double holster after securing her long blonde curls in a low ponytail.
Hap's voice turned deadly. "Booty call with the VP?"
Stevie grit her teeth. She knew that jab was coming. "No, asshole." She slid on her leather riding gloves and kutte. "I'm running surveillance on our new Neo Nazi neighbors."
"Surveillance?" Hap questioned, watching her secure a small camera to a neck strap and slide the strap around her neck. "The rest of the club-"
"Doesn't know." Stevie cut him off. Sure, she could use the help, but with Jax and Clay still at odds, it made sense to keep extra curriculars on a need to know basis.
Hap shook his head, "I'm coming with you." He slipped his boots on.
"Hap," Stevie groaned. "The point of surveillance is discretion. I can't be very discrete with a tail."
"Ride bitch with me." Hap shrugged, pulling his sweatshirt, holster and kutte on.
Stevie opened her mouth to protest, but yawned instead. Riding bitch would be the best chance she actually had at surviving this whole ordeal. "Fine." She relented, "Do most of the recon on foot anyway."
Hap smirked, stashing his gun in his holster. Damn, she looked so sexy checking her guns and securing them in her double holster. He found it incredibly hot that she double carried. Her guns weren't pea shooters either. Two Colt 1911 45s, stainless with pearl grips, gifts to her father from her grandfather.
Stevie filled Maverick's food bowl and refreshed his water. "Alright, Mav. I'll be back in a little while. We'll go for a walk this afternoon, okay?" She knelt down and kissed the dog's forehead, he nuzzled her neck. Hap felt a pang of jealousy as he watched the dog be affectionate with her. Now he was jealous of the mutt? Now? He mentally kicked himself, he needed to pull his head out of his ass and get this shit right between them. He leaned down and patted the beast's head before following Stevie out of the house.
Hap straddled his bike and brought it to life. Stevie slid on behind him, one hand resting gently on his shoulder, the other gripping his hip. "Industrial park, southside." She instructed and Hap nodded. He let go of the ground and sped off into the early morning fog.
"This is good." Stevie spoke into his ear. He immediately cut off the engine and rolled to a stop, backing the bike into the shadows. She hopped off the bike and cradled the camera against her chest, ready to fire when needed. Hap drew his weapon, not wanting any surprises.
They crept up the alley to the utility house. There was a fenced lot, similar to the one at TM, that they kept an eye on. She took pictures to document who and what was coming and going. "Hello, beautiful." Stevie mused, taking a few quick shots of the dark foreign sedan idling in the lot. She zoomed in a little and took a picture of the guard at the door. "Smile for the birdie, Hector."
"Hector?" Hap scoffed, glancing around the area, making sure they were still going unnoticed.
"Yeah." Stevie shrugged, "I like to give 'em nicknames." She pointed to a lookout on the roof. "That's Armando."
Happy shook his head. Trust Stevie to give the Neo Nazi's wetback nicknames.
The door opened and a man whom Stevie had deemed, second in command, emerged from the warehouse. Two other men were with him. They all carried white rubber masks, and after a moment of talking, all went their separate ways. The lot was now abandoned. Stevie pushed up from her crouched position and took off down the fence towards the street. She wanted to get a look at the front end of the building, at the slight chance whoever they had been meeting with might still be there. She slowed down, carefully inching her way around the corner of the building.
Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. Gemma's cadillac coupe sat in front of the building. Oh no. Shit. She quickly turned around and caught Hap before he could round the corner and see the car. "Too late," She sighed, keeping her eyes on her camera. "Why don't we poke around inside, see if there's anything we can use?" She brushed past him and headed toward the backside of the building. She climbed the fence and flipped over it landing softly on the other side. Hap didn't have a choice but to follow her.
Stevie pulled out her lock pick, causing Hap to chuckle. "What?" She scoffed, picking the lock.
"Always prepared, eh?" Hap teased.
"You make me sound like a girl scout, Killa." Stevie shot back as the door lock clicked. "Yahtzee." She pushed open the door and ushered him inside. She let her eyes adjust for a moment, drew her left pistol and crept forward into the darkness. Hap followed close at her heels, drawing his own weapon.
Inside the utility house was eerily silent. Just their boots on the cement and the occasional gust of wind broke the stillness. The main room was divided by a floor to ceiling chain link fence. Stevie's breath caught at the sight.
"Torture?" Hap scoffed, examining what could pass for restraints hanging from the chainlink. The dark stains on the concrete were a good vote for yes.
Steve crouched down to examine the stains. Definitely blood. "I usually don't leave such a mess." She shrugged, trying to remain aloof. She definitely had enough evidence to confirm her suspicions. Something awful had happened to Gemma Teller. As much as she wanted to let Hap in, she needed to figure out what the hell was going on. He wasn't SAMCRO, so he didn't technically need to know A car roared to life outside. Shit. "Let's get out of here before someone comes inside." She put of her best exhausted face and peered up at him through her lashes. "Take me home, Hap."
Happy stared down at the exhausted woman, silently cursing the SAMCRO VP. He should have done the run on his own and made her go back to bed. He wrapped his arm around her and propelled them back towards where he'd stashed his bike.
Stevie managed to keep her panic under control until they got back to her house. Maverick greeted them at the door with his leash in his mouth. "I'll take him." Hap knelt down and fastened Maverick's leash to his collar. He straightened up to find Stevie very close to him. She gripped the front of his kutte. "You okay?" He asked, watching her eyes droop with sleep.
"Perfect." Stevie nodded. Then she leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. She meant for it to just be a quick kiss. She should have known better.
Happy dropped the leash and wrapped his arms around Stevie. He groaned into the kiss, allowing her tongue to sweep in and tangle with his. He took a few steps forward, pressing her back firmly against the hallway wall. He kissed her harder, his teeth nipping her bottom lip, drawing a frustrated moan from Stevie's chest. As much as he wanted to continue this, he knew she needed sleep. The last thing he wanted to do was get all worked up and have her pass out in the middle of it. He pulled back, watching as her hand flew to her mouth, feeling her bruised lips, swollen from his kisses. "Sleep," He rasped. "I'll be back." He turned away from her and gathered up Maverick's leash and left the house. Maverick went without protest, it seemed he too knew that his mistress needed rest.
Once Hap left, Stevie pulled out her phone. First she dialed Jax. No answer. She didn't bother leaving a message, she had other people she could call. She found Tara's number and pressed send. The good doctor had been conveniently called into work at 4 am. Time to find out why.
"Hello?" Tara sounded groggy but awake.
"Hey Tara, Stevie Vale." She paced the floor.
Tara was currently driving to St. Thomas. "Oh, hey Stevie, what-"
"Is she okay?" Stevie cut her off, getting down to business.
Tara's breath caught. "Who? Is who okay?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Doc." Stevie sighed. "Gemma, is she whole?"
Tara gasped, "How did you-"
"Doesn't matter doc,"Stevie shook her head, "what matters is that she's still whole."
Tara didn't answer right away. Stevie could hear Gemma in the background asking who it was. Tara told her.
"I called Jax but he didn't answer. I was going to try Clay next-"
"Don't." Tara stopped her. "You can't. Gemma made me and Unser-"
"Unser?" Stevie questioned.
"Yeah. He's the one that found her." Tara grumbled. "Look, you can't say anything to Clay or Jax or the club. Gemma doesn't want anyone else to know."
"Aryan pricks." Stevie spat. "I can't just sit on my hands here Tara-"
"Stevie." Gemma spoke into the phone.
"Hey, Gem." Stevie sighed. "You whole?" She bit her lip.
"For the most part, yeah." Gemma smirked, wincing a little.
"Jax and I've been running a little surveillance of our new Neo Nazi neighbors. I took Jax's shift this morning since the Doc got called in." Stevie just decided to come out with it, no use in sugar coating it. "Saw your car sitting out front of the utility house off I 8 this morning. Figured I better check in."
"I'm okay, Stevie." Gemma insisted, exchanging a look with Tara.
"I'm not some naive croweater Gemma." Stevie growled. "Those bastards raped you, didn't they? Get the club all riled up by breaking the Matriarch. Fucking assholes."
Gemma gasped at hearing the words out loud, "Look, you can't say anything to the club. That's why those animals did this. If Jax and Clay find out, then they retaliate and-"
"Land their asses in jail." Stevie felt her heart lurch. "Oh Gem." She murmured, weighing her options. Gemma was right. Keeping quiet won for now. "Okay." She sighed, she started shrugging on her kutte. "I'm on my way-"
"Slow down, sweetheart." Gemma cut her off. "Tara's taking good care of me. You get some sleep, I know you're exhausted. We'll figure this shit out." She sighed, " You can't tell anyone, not even Hap. I gotta have your word, Stevie."
"Fuck, Gem." Stevie scoffed, Gemma was stubborn, but she was right. Telling the club now would just accomplish what those animals set out to do. If she told Hap, he'd just go out and kill 'em all. "Alright." She murmured. "I'm not going to just let this go, you know that."
"I know." Gemma nodded. "Business as usual, baby."
"Yes, Ma'am." Stevie answered.
"All good?" Tara had her phone back.
Stevie sighed. "For now," she glanced at the clock. 6:30. Ugh. "Thanks, Doc." She flipped her phone shut.
Now she needed to see Unser and find out all she could on these sons of bitches. First, she did need sleep or she was going to fall off her bike. She stripped down to just a tank and sleep shorts before crawling under the covers and passing out.
Stevie awoke to the sound of her burner phone only to realize it wasn't hers, it was Happy's.
"Yeah." Hap rasped into the phone. He ended up in bed with Stevie after he returned with Maverick. When they returned, Mav went straight to his mistress who was tossing and whimpering in her sleep. Hap tried to soothe her back to a restful sleep when she pulled him close and clung to him, finally quieting down. Stevie looked over at the clock. 10 AM. The phone call had to be Jax or one of the guys. "Yeah. Got it." He flipped the phone closed.
"Jax?" Stevie asked, leaning up on her elbow to look at him.
Hap nodded once. "Gemma's been in a car accident."
Stevie shot up to a sitting position. Bullshit. "She okay?" All she could picture was Gemma's car parked outside of that warehouse this morning and the evidence they found in the warehouse.
Hap nodded, watching Stevie get upset. "Yeah, a few cuts and bruises."
"We should go see her." Stevie moved to leave the bed when Hap grabbed her arm.
"Jax said to stay here until they know more." Hap explained, releasing his grip. "He knows you're beat."
Stevie yawned and settled back down on the mattress. "Do you have to go?"
Hap smirked. "Not yet." He slid out of the bed.
"Good." Stevie murmured, watching him stalk over to the bathroom. He shut the door and she flopped back down on the mattress for a moment, throwing her arm over her eyes.
Her conversation with Tara and Gemma this morning came back to her in waves. She understood why Gemma wanted to keep this quiet. But a car accident? Had to be Unser.
The bathroom door squeaked open and Happy returned to the bed. "You wanna talk." He stated, stuffing a pillow behind his back and settling up against the headboard.
"Guilty." Stevie smirked. "Thank you." She murmured. "Would've ended up shot this morning without you." She play punched him in the shoulder.
"Least I could do." Happy rasped. "I was an asshole."
"Yeah, yeah you were." Stevie nodded, trying to suppress her smile of relief. She sighed, "You want to do, whatever this is? Don't let it happen again."
Happy studied her for a moment, "What do you think, 'this 'is?" He motioned between them.
Stevie bit her lip. "Well, we're definitely flirting with friends with benefits territory, but..." She sighed, "I think we understand each other in a way our brothers just don't." She smirked, "Plus you're a lot of fun."
"Fun?" Hap repeated, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yep," Stevie nodded. "Flying down the highway at breakneck speed, boxing, burying bodies...oh and, semi public sex." She laughed on soft breath, "Yeah, you really know how to show a girl a good time." She winked. Happy chuckled. They really did have a lot in common. Not many chicks would list burying bodies or boxing as an enjoyable experience. "What do you think, "this" is, Hap?"
Hap's breath caught. He knew the question was coming and tried in vain to prepare an adequate answer. He cleared his throat, "You're beautiful, smart, and would do anything for the club." He rasped, shifting so he could look directly at her. "I like having you close."
Stevie's breath caught at that. "I like having you close too, Hap." She barked a laugh, "scares the hell out of me sometimes, but I do." She shook her head slightly, biting her lip.
"I don't share." He growled. He wanted to make that clear before going any further with her.
Stevie smirked, chin lifting a little. "Neither do I."
Suddenly he was kissing her, forcing her to lay flat on the mattress. His mouth was hot and urgent against hers while he loomed over her, knee sliding between her thighs. His hands seemed to be everywhere, blazing trail after trail of fire across her skin. "Been dreaming about you." He rasped, lips still attached to her skin.
"We're pretty good at that." Stevie murmured, leaning up on her elbow so she could lock eyes with him, enjoying the afterglow.
Happy grunted in response, giving her a smirk. He brushed a few curls away from her face, glancing at the clock. It was almost 11. As if on cue, his phone began to ring. He flipped it open, "Yeah." He listened for a moment. "Yeah, we'll be there." He flipped the phone closed. "The feds raided Luanne Delaney's studio."
"Shit." Stevie swore. "First Gemma, now Otto's Old Lady?"
Happy watched as Stevie pushed out of bed and padded over to the bathroom. "Gotta meet up with Jax after he sees Otto."
"He's going alone?" Stevie asked, starting the shower.
"Dunno." Happy grunted, sliding out of bed.
Stevie flipped open her phone and dialed Jax.
"You two kiss and makeup?" Jax answered his phone when he saw it was Stevie calling.
"Something like that." Stevie smirked, watching Hap climb into the shower. "You on your way to see Otto?"
Jax sighed, "Yeah, I'm about to head that way."
"I haven't seen Otto in years. My Dad would visit him every once in awhile." Stevie explained, "Could I come with you?"
"Sure." Jax smirked. "Better send Hap with the other guys though."
"Where are they headed?" Stevie asked.
"Most of them are headed back to the clubhouse to gear up. After I, uh, we meet with Otto, we're headed over to Luanne's studio." Jax explained. "Meet me outside the prison, we'll go in together."
"Alright, I'll tell him." Stevie agreed, "Thanks Jax. See you in thirty." She flipped the phone closed.
After a quick shower, Stevie pulled on jeans, a red tank top and gave her lashes a quick swipe of mascara. She found Hap in the kitchen. He pressed a mug of coffee into her hands and set a plat of eggs on the table. "Wow." Stevie exclaimed, "Three mind blowing orgasms, coffee AND breakfast? Wait till the club gets wind of this." She winked.
Hap growled, sinking his hands in the soapy water. "You wouldn't dare."
"Nah," Stevie chuckled, "my lips are sealed, killa." Maverick gave a bark of attention from the front door. She set the mug down and went to let him in. "Morning, Mav." The dog hardly paid her any attention, he beelined straight for Happy who was washing a few dishes in the sink. "Well, well." Stevie chuckled, "Someone's made a new friend." She marveled at how easy it was to have Hap around. He fed Maverick, took care of the dishes and even wiped down the counter before shrugging on his kutte.
"Thank you." Stevie murmured as she shrugged on her kutte. "Here." She handed him a key. "Don't lose it." Hap just nodded once, pocketing the key. "This way, when I'm out on a run but you're in Charming, you can crash someplace other than the clubhouse." Stevie explained, "Plus, it's nice to have someone I trust look in on Maverick."
They rode towards the prison. Hap insisted he accompany her there saying she was still exhausted. They pulled up and Jax approached Hap who sat idling his bike while Stevie settled hers next to Jax's. "Hey Hap." He nodded at the enforcer.
"VP." Hap answered, watching Stevie grin stupidly at the two of them.
"Head back to TM. The guys are gearing up, we're dropping by Luann's after Stevie and I meet with Otto." Jax instructed, clapping him on the shoulder. "We're gonna figure this shit out before it blows up in our faces."
Half Sack suddenly roared into view. Stevie slid off her kutte and secured her weapons. She passed them over to the prospect once he'd set his bike.
"Sounds good." Hap nodded as Jax stepped back, stripped off his kutte and tossed it at the prospect. Stevie made a kissy face at Hap and followed Jax towards the prison gate. He sped off towards Charming, glancing at the pair in his rearview mirror. What would Stevie tell him? Knowing her she'd confirm they were good, crack a joke and leave it at that. He found himself smiling at the idea that he'd no longer have to push some nameless bitch on her knees to find release. He was getting tired of the loneliness. Sure he had his brothers and any pussy he could imagine. He wanted more. He wanted it all to mean something. He never understood why his brothers insisted on taking an Old Lady, until he met Stevie. He needed someone other than his brothers or his mother as a reason to come back from a run.
Stevie could be that someone.
It scared the shit out of him.
Dearest Readers,
Who We Are - Switchfoot - I've seen Switchfoot live four times. Every time I see them, I'm blown away by Jon Foreman's ability to lead a crowd. Plus, they just rock. Love those guys.
The bridge says:
They said it's complicated
They said we'd never make it this far
But we are
They said the fight would break us
But the struggle helped to make
Who we are
Who we are
So perfect for this chapter AND this Season of SOA. Boom.
Up next is a little meet and greet with Big Otto. Then it's time to take care of business with Georgie before we get to my favorite SOA episode - Eureka.
xoxo
Lumora The White