Again I own nothing :)

this chapter is very dialogue heavy which is struggled logically with, but felt is was important to get a little out of Jarry's head alone and was needed for where I want to take it.

thanks for reading :)

Chapter 4

It was weeks before she spoke to him again. Of course she'd seen him around town, the sons were hardly subtle flying around on Harley's in black leather. She saw him on Main Street coming and going from scoops. She'd get a knowing, sad smile from Tig and usually a nod from Quinn but the president didn't look at her. It sent a hot flush of anger and shame up her spine, setting her jaw higher and lighting her eyes on fire. Who the hell did he think he was? She ended things with him. And he came back that night...saying things. Why did she now feel like one of the girls that hung around them, happy with whatever attention they threw at them when they wanted to? Get a fucking grip she told herself, you're getting out of this. What did you think was going to happen when you bedded, not only one of them, but the now King?

It wasn't until his scheduled drug test from his parole officer that she spoke with the Scot. What made it even worse was that she'd deliberately stopped making an effort to keep track of him, so she'd missed the date coming up until one of her new deputy's knocked on her door.

'Philip Telford's here for his PO? I haven't seen Peters here yet though. I wouldn't bother yah, I know you're busy today, but he's kinda making people restless waiting out the front'

Her stomach dropped 3 floors but she hid the flash that crossed her face. She saw the nervous look in his eyes and took pity on him, after steeling herself that this was still her job. And nobody, not even the Scotsman, was going to get to her today.

'Don't worry Eddie, I'll handle the guy'

The click of her steps alerted him to her approach as he flicked his cigarette towards the gutter

'Member of an outlaw motorcycle gang waiting outside the cop shop is making people stare President. Why can't you wait inside like every other parolee that comes to give a sample'

'You can say sample as much as yah like Sheriff, doesn't change the fact I'm pissin in a cup and handing it to another person'

'That's true'

His eyes finally made contact with hers and saw what she could only pin down as guilt in them. She tried to ignore the heat that crawled up her neck as he held her gaze before finally looking away towards the road and standing up from leaning against his bike.

'I figured that, I might not be the most welcome face for yah, and since yah armed most of the time, self preservation told me I was safer waiting outside until the muppet got here for my 'sample'

'Please, I wouldn't waste a bullet on you Filip'

She saw the moment the barb hit him, and almost felt guilt for the demeaning insult. Almost. But spoke again, ignoring it, but pulling the punch back a little.

'Besides, department issued fire arms make a very long paper trail when they're used. I don't have the stomach for extra work'

'Noted Sheriff. Guess I'll just follow you inside now I know my safety is assured'

He spoke the words casually, in the way only he could, but she saw the hurt pinned behind his eyes, and turned before she betrayed herself again and faltered to him. She could hear his boots just behind her and they took the steps into the station house.

'How the hell did you know Peters wasn't here anyway?'

'The cars here' He waved an arm to the parking lot.

'His aint one of them'

She turned her face slightly towards him, an eyebrow arched towards her hairline. She didn't even want to know how he knew his parole officers number plate. He just chuckled knowingly.

'You ain't talkin to the paper boy Althea'

'You can wait in my office, no surprise that few people here trust you to sit and wait in the open pen'

'Now you're just breaking my heart'

Her feet stumbled beneath her at the casual way he used a too close for home expression. Instinctively she grabbed at his kutte, feeling his arms on her in a heartbeat, steadying her.

'Woah Sheriff, getting sauced during the day now?'

'Shit, thanks. And no, not all of us practise drinking before lunchtime. Go and sit I'll be there in a minute. There's no way I'm leaving you unsupervised in my station house'

'Says the drunk Sheriff' he mumbled, but followed her instructions, walking towards her office, supplying the watching deputies with an arrogant smile had nod. She held her face calm, she wasn't giving anything away that he got under her skin in such a strong way. Stronger than anyone else had before she acknowledged, but only in her most brutally honest moments alone.

'Get your feet off my desk'

She slid into the chair behind her desk, appreciating the distance between the two and pretended that if he couldn't physically touch her, he couldn't touch her at all.

'Just stay out of my way. I've got work to do while you wait. They guys are calling Peters and seeing where the hell he is'

She laid her directions sharply between them, knowing she was close to snapping already and angle of her jaw giving that state away to him immediately.

'Easy Sheriff, I'm doing what you ask. You can't stay mad at me forever. I'm not going anywhere'

'I'm not mad at you. Like you said, I'm a cop and you're a criminal. To be mad at you, I would had to have expected anything different from you. And I didn't'

'Jesus, it's not like that Althea and yah know it. It was just, it was right when, I just needed...'

'Don't. I get it. You were in your definition of hell. I get that, I wish I could say I didn't. I was necessary collateral in the end. It was never going to work'

He stood up at that, palms on her desk and an angry flush up his neck that could have frightened a smarter woman.

'Shut up Althea it wasn't like that and yah know it. I went to you because, you're you and I'm me for fucks sake. You're a part of this as much as me so you don't get to sit there with dead eyes like I'm some vile thing that happened to you, like this is all on me!'

'Lower your voice this is my work place! I didn't ask anything of you. You and I have spent a total of maybe 10 nights together I'm not creepy feelings woman who says things and does things to try and get a man to stick around. You came over we said things we shouldn't have, we fucked and you left. Sure maybe I was a little surprised at first. But I bounced back. I poured a drink, I had a smoke. because that's how it is when you have your big girl pants on'

'You know the shite I had on my plate, what I've still got on it! I couldn't add you too it, I didn't want you hurt by it. I'm not saying I did things right but I ain't heard from you either Sheriff'

At that the thin razor wire keeping her in check snapped, taking skin and logic with it, leaving an open would she could do nothing but bleed from.

'You know I hated what you threatened to me that day. I hated you. But then I realised what you were doing, big picture, and I thought how hard that must have been for you. And I thought this, this is what a man does. This is how a man protects those around him. This is how a man stays loyal. But coming back and then leaving before I woke up and ignoring me for the last 3 weeks. That is not being a man Filip - '

'I'm trying to give you your space from this shit Althea! Look at it!'

'I don't need you to give me space from this, I am a grown woman! I don't need you to hide from me. To run away from me to keep me from doing what I need to do. I played your biker whore for awhile, I didn't need you to save me from it'

A fury she'd yet to see in him rose at that comment and she finally got a glimpse of the anger that the Scot held within him, and he seemed to grow inches higher with it.

'This isn't that, don't make it that. It's insulting and beneath both of us. And designed to drive me away, I'm not going away'

'I don't have to drive you away. You're a criminal, you're the president of the Sons. You are away. By those definitions you're away. This was never going to end differently'

'What the hell is wrong with you Althea?

'What are you talking rabout? You opened this conversation. I knew we shouldn't talk about'

'You're not just angry because of me. It's more than that. Your eyes give it away'

'Lets just drop it. Go back to where we both belong. Sit down and wait'

By then she was shaking, a thin layer of sweat glistening her brow, the truth crawling over her tongue and without grabbing a strong hold over it, would fall over her teeth. He stormed around her desk, eyes locked on her and hands coming to her elbows, forcing her to stand. He took another step, not letting go of her arms, now inches from her face.

'Tell me what's going on Althea'

The anger wasn't completely extinguished, but was being mixed with what could only be described as the beginning of panicked concern. She was too practised at hiding truths to fall immediately though. Too practised at reciting what needed to be said without breaking composure, now she'd reigned it back it.

'You're mad because I pointed out exactly what we are?

'Not mad, concerned, wary, suspicious'

'Don't be. If this conversation showed anything it's that even if something was going on, it would be no longer any of your damn business'

'You forget how well I know you already. You this angry. You have something to hide. So if there is, tell me now while I still have a chance to help you'

The sharp knock on the door pulled them from each other's gaze and dropped his arms from hers. She stood back and pushed him away, he followed her silent instructions and stood back around the desk.

'Come in'

'Sorry boss, Peters is here for Mr Telford'

Chibs took a deep breath and nodded at the deputy whilst she did the same, directing her hand to the door.

'This conversation isn't over' he whispered whilst turning on his heels and past the deputy. Eddie shut the door behind Chibs, staying inside her office.

'So, you need a hand packing any of your stuff?'

'No I'm not much of a pack rat, most of this is staying here for Cliffords to take over on. It's pretty much just my bag left'

'Okay boss, well we're still having a drink, after we clock off, still coming to say goodbye aren't you?'

She smiled up at the innocent young man in front of her, and couldn't help but wonder how long it would take this town to snuff that optimistic light out.

'Of course'

Filip walked slowly down the steps towards his bike, the conversation looping over in his head. Everything in that town ran through them, and he'd been doing this too long to miss the signs of something going on. The sight of Eglee exciting the patrol car forced a small smile on his worried face. She'd always been kind to them. Despite their geographical differences when it came to lift styles. She was Charming born and bred.

'Afternoon sweetheart. feeling okay?'

'Still standing. You coming to say goodbye to the Sheriff?'

She passed an all too knowing smile towards the older man. But watching his face fall, just tilted a confused head and continued towards the steps. Chibs froze. So sometimes it's just one thing that tips you off he thought.