Retaliation
"You okay kiddo." Haley nodded at her fathers question. Truth was though that she was far from okay.
Besides the drama of her kissing Jax and Sam coming home and he also kissing her the police had confirmed that they were taking no further action. So Steve was free, and for some reason Haley didn't know what to make of that. She knew he wouldn't come after her but knowing he had just got away with leaving her for dead just made her angry and angry was not an emotion that Haley felt often, but recently that was all she was feeling.
So no Haley was not okay. But this was her Dad and she could already see his worry. He too had not been happy with the news about Steve. But Haley wasn't going to let Steve ruin her.
"I'm going to pop to the market" She watched her dad give her a sceptical eye. "I want to cook us something for dinner, and we don't have anything in." She walked over to her Dad. "I leave for college in a week Dad, you won't be able to watch me every second of the day."
"I just worry especially with Steve..."
"Dad. I'm fine." She kissed him on the cheek. "Be home by 7:30 okay." She instructed before grabbing her bag from behind the counter and leaving the shop.
It had been three days since his kiss with Haley three days since he realised that his brother was still in love with her. He needed to stay away from her, but hearing what was happening, Haley was the only thing on his mind.
They were currently sat around the table in Chapel. Four weeks ago there had been a party out by the streams, a girl had OD'd and turned out the drugs were Darbys. Samcro retaliated by destroying their cook house. They had been expecting instant retaliation but nothing everything had gone quiet until this morning. Precious, Bobby's soon to be ex wife, had been run off the road last night, thankfully the kids weren't in the car but Precious was hurt badly. Bobby was currently at St Thomas and they all had a feeling that this was retaliation.
"We need to find Darby." Clay spoke from the head of the head of the table.
"Yeah, but he's underground." Opie spoke.
"I say we pay a visit to the Hairy Dog." Tig added knowing that this was a common Nord hangout.
"Okay, you and Ope head there see what you can find out." Opie nodded grateful for the opportunity.
"If they are going after families we need to lock down." Jax spoke before taking a deep inhale of his cigarette.
The table went silent. A lock down normally meant a war was brewing. None of them wanted that but Jax also didn't want anyone else hurt because if this was Darby then they were taking their retaliation out on Club Family.
"We need to know for sure son. Precious may have her own enemies."
No one could argue you with that. Precious had started working as a stripper across the border. It was a rough place and she had been leaving work when she claimed she was run off the road according to Bobby. But that didn't mean it was Darby's crew and if Clay was going to go to war he needed to be sure.
"Okay, so we wait for word." Jax pushed away from the table. "Lets hope no one else gets in an accident...We done?"
Clay looked around the table, all of his brothers were either avoiding his gaze or looking straight at Jax. Clay could understand Jax's anger but they needed to be sure. So he hit the gavel and Jax was the first leave.
Clay watched as his son stormed out of the clubhouse. He turned to Chibs. "Follow him."
Jax had parked his bike across the street. He knew that he was followed so he wasn't surprised to see Chibs pull up beside him.
"She okay brutha?" Jax didn't look away from the house. It was dusk and the light was on in the kitchen. He could see her moving around. With the no response Chibs continued. "I don't know wats happenin' here but the girl will be safe." Jax turned to look at Chibs. "But da club also needs ya."
"I ain't bailing on my club." Jax snapped. "Just needed to see she was okay."
"Eye."
Chibs did understand, the young Parker girl seemed to be a fixture in the Tellers life. She wasn't round the clubhouse a lot but all of Samcro knew who the Parker's were and more recently the fact that she had been Sam's girlfriend. But then Sam left and he remembered Clay coming into the clubhouse bitching about Daniel Parker. But knowing who Jax was he understood why he had come here because Chibs too agreed that Darby was out for a war.
"We'll get da prospect here to keep an eye."
Jax nodded knowing that Chibs was right. He took once last look at her before they both drove away.
Haley had spent the afternoon cooking and she had enjoyed it, although one handed did make it make a bit harder but with everything that had happened the last couple of days it was nice to just lose herself for a while.
While the pasta was in the oven Haley started laying the table. Her Dad always made them eat at the table unless they were having a weekend treat. She always moaned but truly she loved it.
Turning off the oven looking at her watch it was 7:45 which meant that her Dad was late. He wouldn't be late.
Picking up her cell she called the store but there was no answer. Haley tried again. But again she got the same response. Fearful Haley grabbed the keys off the side and locked up the house before running down the steps of her house and grabbing her push bike.
"Darby and his men haven't been in there in weeks...4 weeks to be percise." Opie confirmed, knowing that the dates were alining.
"We put the pressure on but nothin'. They don't know anythin'" Tig added.
"Okay." Clay ran a hand over his face. He spared a look at Jax, maybe his son was right maybe lockdown was the next option.
Before he could speak again there was a knock on the Chapel doors. "Yeah." Clay bellowed slightly annoyed by the disruption. Emily Duncan a regular hang around and a friend of the club cautiously pushed open the doors to the Chapel.
"Juice called the bar, there is a fire in the main street." At this point she directly looked at Jax. "It's Parkers Hardware."
Haley almost fell off her bike as she reached the store. The flames were high, emergency services were trying to calm them but all Haley could think about was her Dad.
She rushed towards and past the crowds that were gathered she was about to pass through the barrier when she we stopped.
"Miss you can't go in there."
"My Dad...MY DAD IS IN THERE!" Haley screamed as tried to free herself. She stopped however when she watched two fire fighters walk out carrying a body.
Hearing the words Jax jumped out of his seat causing it to the hit the floor.. He looked at Clay.
"Go. Everyone else get your loved ones here we're on lockdown."
Jax headed for his bike he heard footsteps behind him he turned to see Opie. "Im coming with you brother." Jax nodded and the two raced out of the parking lot and headed to St Thomas which is where Juice said Haley went.
Rushing down the corridors of the Hospital it didn't take Jax long to find her. He froze taking her in. She was pacing the floor, her shirt and face had blood on them. He knew that isn't wasnt her blood. She hadn't been there thank god, but this retaliation would hurt her.
"Give me a minute." Opie nodded.
Taking a breath Jax pushed open the door to the waiting room. "Hales."
Stopping mid pace Haley looked at him."Jax." Tears burned in her eyes and before she knew they were falling and she felt her knees give way. Before crashing to the floor she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her pulling her close. "He can't die Jax."
Three hours had passed. Both Jax and Haley were sat in the waiting room. After her breakdown in his arms Jax had told Opie to leave. He played the Donna card, she was pregnant and he needed to make sure she was protected. It hadn't taken much convincing.
Haley had barely spoken since he had entered. He knew she was scared and he understood. She had already lost her Mother, he imagined right now she sat thinking that she was going to lose her father.
She hadn't moved away from him in fact she kept close to him, they were practically sat on the same seat, but Jax didn't mind in fact he also wanted to keep her as close to him as he could. He had a bad feeling that Darby wasn't done yet.
"Miss Parker."
Both Haley and Jax were brought from their thoughts with the arrival of the Doctor. Jax followed as Haley got to her feet and rushed over to the Doctor.
"Is my Dad okay?"
"He has sustained some quite serious injures including burns to his skin. We have placed him in a induced coma so that we can manage his pain."
"Oh my god." Haley's hand covered her mouth as a cry escaped.
The Doctor reached out an placed a hand on her shoulder. "We are doing everything we can for your Father." The Doctors eyes left Haley to focus on Jax. "I advise to go home get some rest."
"No I want to stay." Haley spat not wanting to leave him.
"Haley." Jax lightly took her arm causing her to face him. "Let me take you home."
"No..."
"Miss..." Haley looked back at the doctor. "There is nothing you can do at the moment. We have your details. I promise to call with more news."
Haley had been reluctant to leave, Jax understood why, he would be the same, but he had managed to get her to come with him.
He was sat downstairs. Haley hadn't said much instead she went straight upstairs to shower. He knew that she was going to want to go back to the Hospital but first he needed to get her to the clubhouse and he knew that was going to be hard.
Hearing movement upstairs Jax realised that she was out of the shower so he made his way upstairs. He found her in her bedroom, she was dressed in a pink fluffy robe her wet hair falling down her back. Straight it was quite long almost reaching her lower back.
"You okay?" Startled Haley spun around to see Jax standing in her doorway.
"I'm going to change and then do you think you can take me back to the hospital." Haley spoke calmly walking over to her closet and pulling out some items.
"Haley."
"I'm going to grab a few of my Dads clothes. I'll be okay to ride on your bike with a bag right?"
"Haley."
"I won't pack to much."
Jax knew that she wasn't listening to him she was passing around the room. "HALEY, STOP."
"What Jax." Haley snapped but there was no anger there just sadness. He watched her wipe away the fallen tears. Jax felt his heart sink. She looked so vulnerable which reminded Jax of the weight of the situation.
"I need you to pack a bag for you." He noted her confusion. "Haley we are on lock down."
"Lock down...what does that mean?"
"There is a threat against the club." And suddenly it clicked.
"Is my ...The fire...Is my Dad hurt because of the club?" Jax ran his hand over his face. He didn't want to admit the truth because he knew she would most probably hate him for it, but she needed to know.
"I think so. This is why I need you to pack a bag and come with me to the clubhouse."
"Why? Why my Dad?"
"I don't think your Dad was the target."
Jax let out a breath. He had been thinking about this. If Darby's men were targeting people close to the club it meant that they knew who Haley was and that she meant something to them, to him. He wasn't sure if Daniel was meant to be a target or not, but he couldn't risk her getting hurt. He could see the realisation of his words hit her. He moved closer but she stepped back.
"Haley, I can't do what I need to do if your here." He reached out to her. "I can't protect you Hales if I don't know you are safe, protected."
"Why would someone want to hurt me, my Dad?" He could see the tears in her beautiful Hazel eyes. He moved closer so their bodies were touching.
"Because they want to hurt me." She furrowed her brow. "Hales they know that you mean something to me." His hand came to rest on her cheek he was grateful that she never pulled away.
Jax knew that he was about to step across a line. His brother was still in love with her but after today after the fear that he felt at the thought of her being in that fire Jax realised that he too loved her and he couldn't deny it any more. He didn't want to.
"Jax..." Her words were cut off as Jax kissed her.
Hearing him say that her Dad was hurt because of him because of the club she wanted to hit him but when she knew it was because he cared for her she knew that it wasn't on Jax because she cared for him too and when his lips touched hers she felt it.
When Haley kissed him back everything happened so quickly. His hands entangled in her wet hair as they stumbled back till Haley's back hit the wall. Jax moved his lips from her mouth and trailed done her neck. Jax heard her breath catch before she moaned in pleasure. Hearing it made Jax want her more.
Haley's heart was racing with each kiss that he placed on her skin. She cupped his face forcing their eyes to meet again. She could see it, she didn't know how to explain it but she could see he wanted her, he cared for he loved her and Haley couldn't deny her own feelings anymore.
Placing her lips softly against his Haley pushed back off the wall. She moved around him and took a seat on her bed, she watched as Jax watched her every move. Looking down Haley pulled at the tie on her robe causing the robe to fall open.
"Haley..." Jax spoke softly watching as she revealed her bare skin. She held out a hand to him. He walked forward taking hold of her hand allowing her to bring him closer to her. "Are you sure.?" Moving his hand and placing it on her waist he got the answer to his question and Jax captured her lips again.
