A/N: don't own don't sue
Lyrics at the beginning are from We're Not Gonna Fall by Daughtry
Set after Season One, before Abel is kidnapped and Gemma is raped and Jax turns into a jerk and the whole club hates each other. Generally back when the show had fun and all the coolest characters were still alive. Because I can, it's called artistic license.
Learn My Lesson
Chapter Eight
It's a world full of heartbreak drive bys
We've seen our fair share of hard nights
Looked right into the face of a goodbye
While we walked on the edge of the dark side
After all this time
We're not gonna fall now
We're not gonna bleed out
Never gonna break down
No
'Cause when these four walls try to cave in
And the ground underneath starts shaking
It's the hope in your eyes that I cling to
And I hope to god it never leaves you
After all this time
We're not gonna fall now
We're not gonna bleed out
Never gonna break down
No
Even if they come for us
Everything, it turned to dust
You and I are never going down
The bullets and the bombs of love
Go ahead and fire at us
We will never give it up
We're not gonna fall now
We're not gonna bleed out
Never gonna break down
No
We're not gonna fall now
We're not gonna bleed out
Never gonna break down
"Okay seriously, stop with the staring." Naomi snapped as she lost her concentration again and jabbed herself with the eyeliner.
Juice flushed and turned away. He'd managed to scrabble together some makeup for her, digging up what the croweaters and sweetbutts had left hanging around over the years. He was sitting on the chair by the door watching her apply it, amused and slightly baffled by the methodical way she worked through what he'd given her. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the open wardrobe door so she could see herself in the mirror tacked inside it. She'd used the kohl pencil to outline her eyes until they seemed to jump off her face, layered on some mascara and painted her lips a glistening soft pink colour that drew attention to her plump lower lip. She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a piece of tissue and pouted at her reflection.
"So?" She asked Juice when she'd climbed back to her feet. "How do I look?"
Juice wolf whistled and she laughed, tossing a makeup smeared tissue at him. She'd managed to get Half-Sack to smuggle her in a dress she'd seen in a store window on her way back from the zoo. It was a clinging sleeveless t-shirt dress that fell to mid-thigh in a shocking yellow colour that clashed wonderfully with her hair. It cut away at the back in a diamond shape exposing most of her spine and the barest hint of ink under the two panels covering her shoulderblades. She'd braided her hair back in a complicated half French half fish braid, layered around her head emphasising the colour of her hair, and left the ponytail sleek and loose from the crown of her head. In the colourful dress, her battered Converse and with her hair pulled back exposing her face she was going to stand out a mile amongst the croweaters and strippers in their leather, skimpy dresses, stilettos and overly made up faces.
She shook her head embarrassedly at his obvious appreciation, leaning in to kiss his cheek and murmuring he was a sweetheart. For a brief minute Juice seriously considered turning his head and catching that kiss, but he pushed the thought away and accepted the brief flush of pressure on his cheek with grace. It would be wrong to take advantage when she trusted him so much. And Chibs would probably gut him if he found out anyway. She squinted at him as if she could read his mind, her vivid eyes flickering over his face. He shuffled awkwardly and she sighed, feeling her cheeks burning.
"Hey."
They both turned to look at Chibs leaning against the doorway, his dark eyes flickering between the two of them. Juice stepped away from her, scurrying for the door as if he feared for his life. Naomi laughed and shook her head affectionately at his retreating back. Chibs stepped into the room, lazily surveying her from head to toe with a long heated lingering look that made her toes curl. He looked entirely delectable in his jeans, boots, a black shirt and his cut, his long figure framed in the doorway emphasising every inch of his body. For once he was without his shades.
"Ya missing one hell of a party, lass."
She grinned.
"They always are." She winked, swinging one hip out until the fabric of her dress pulled tight against her navel.
His eyes darkened, following the crease of her dress and she swallowed against her suddenly dry mouth. There was an almighty bang that shook the walls and the two of them exchanged a startled glance and darted into the clubhouse. The pool table was on its side, Happy and Tig brawling happily, hollering incoherently at each other. Naomi rolled her eyes, slipping away from Chibs's side before she did something she'd regret. She stepped over the pool balls spinning wildly across the polished floor, ducking past the stripper pole with a brief wave at Bobby and Gemma on her way out.
She managed to spend most of the night with Juice, Half-Sack and Piney drinking, playing poker and dancing terribly with Half-Sack. She could feel Chibs's eyes on her every now and then, usually when she was switching groups. He was supposed to be her bodyguard after all. The party was the aftermath of some fundraiser Gemma had organised, the R rated reward for playing nice with the civilians all day and the guys were taking full advantage. It was even rowdier than usual. After a couple of hours of drinking Bobby, Jax and Opie under the table, Naomi retreated back into the clubhouse for a breather. The place was almost deserted, the unnatural heatwave keeping them all outside in the hopes of a cooler night or a break in the weather. She walked past Tig wrapped around a croweater on top of the once again upright pool table, Half-Sack being molested by a much older blonde woman over by the stripper pole and a couple of passed out lightweights who couldn't take the combination of heat and alcohol.
She tiptoed over snoring Sons and a sweetbutt sprawled on her back with her mouth wide open to get to the bathroom. Most of the party used the toilets attached to the garage so the clubhouse one was empty and she had time to straighten out her hair and check her makeup, enjoying the peace. She was on her way back when a hand grabbed her, an arm coiling around her waist and lifting her off her feet. She'd just drawn in a deep breath to scream when Chibs's familiar scent seeped into her and she relaxed. Well more accurately, she melted.
"Why have you been avoiding me all night?" She asked, a little breathlessly.
Chibs didn't reply, his lips were busy brushing along the back of her neck, his whiskers causing a delicious friction against the delicate skin. His warm breath was deliciously sensuous, lifting the hairs on her skin and making her heart leap against her rib cage. His hands had crept inside the gaps in the back of her dress, rough palms and fingertips grazing along her bare skin. She knew why he'd kept away. Clay had taken Chibs to one side when they'd got back from the zoo and whatever had been said involved a lot of frowning and serious looks. When it was over, Clay had given her an impatient look and Chibs had looked simply furious and glared at her. She figured he'd been told to behave himself again, their kiss at the zoo apparently being front page news before they'd even got back to the clubhouse. Small town.
One of his hands slipped out of her dress, toying with her ponytail then balling his fist into her hair and yanking her head back roughly. Her breath skipped, her excitement fluttering in her stomach. He'd pulled her head back against his shoulder and she could see the glitter in his eyes, part lust part alcohol. His mouth was at the delicate skin of her throat again, the tip of his tongue lingering against her skin beaded with sweat from dancing.
"Dangerous territory." She said warningly, her voice a little too breathy and faltering for the calm she'd been aiming for. "You're going to do something you'll regret."
She was doing her best to be the one with a clear head but his hand was sliding south from her waist inside the confines of her dress. He relinquished his grip on her hair and she used the opportunity to turn her head towards him, lips clashing feverishly.
"I don't-" She pulled away with some difficulty, struggling to get out of his grasp. "I don't want you to…" She was finding it hard to concentrate as he pressed every millimetre of his body against her. "Your boss guy said no." She finally managed to get out. "It seems like a big deal if you don't do what he says."
He paused, leaning his forehead against her shoulder. She struggled to catch her breath, her heart thundering wildly against her ribs and her knees barely holding her up. She could feel his heartbeat punching against her shoulder blade, his hand tightening on her belly briefly before he made himself let her go. She crossed the hallway and leaned against the opposite wall, hoping the distance would help clear her head. It didn't. The tension was shimmering between them across the narrow space like a heat haze. Her wrist felt unusually warm and she blinked at it in surprise. When Chibs had grabbed her he'd accidentally grabbed her injured wrist, re-opening the fresh wound. The alcohol had thinned her blood enough for it to be bleeding profusely through the bandage and she cursed.
"Oh come on." She sighed, holding her wrist away from her dress.
Chibs made a movement towards her but she waved him off, pointing out that someone would have realised they were missing by now and the re-applying bandage excuse probably wouldn't work twice. He pushed away from the wall towards her. She held out her spare hand, laying her palm against the centre of his chest as if that would stop him. He took the hand from his chest and lifted it to his lips. She couldn't help making a small noise at the back of her throat and he grinned at her over her knuckles.
"Go away." She ordered before her resolve faltered.
He smirked, kissed her hand again and sauntered off. Naomi leant back against the wall and took a few deep breaths to still her trembling heart and quivering belly. When she thought her legs could actually hold her again she moved down the hallway and into the bathroom to wash off the fresh blood and dig up a new bandage.
"That looks nasty."
Naomi looked up at the doorway to Chibs's room with some difficulty, the bandage she was wrapping around her wrist hanging out of her mouth. Gemma dropped her bag onto the desk near the door and walked further into the room. Naomi went back to struggling with the bandage. She had a feeling the indignant offended womanly values bit she'd used on Jax yesterday wouldn't wash with Gemma. The older woman always had a knowing look on her face that said she knew exactly what you didn't want her to. Gemma sat down besides her on the bed, unwrapping the bandage from her arm and starting again.
"I sure hope you know what you're doing, sweetheart." Gemma said quietly, glancing at the redhead as she wound the bandage around her wrist.
She didn't reply but Gemma could see colour creeping up her neck. From this close she could see the pulse beating in her throat, the flicker in her eyes.
"That, is a good man." Gemma said calmly, the winding of the bandage almost hypnotic. "If I find out you're trying to come between him and his family-"
"I'm not!" Naomi interrupted before she could stop herself, looking at Gemma with horror-struck eyes. "I would never—" She forced herself to stop.
Gemma was silent, finishing the bandage and pinning it in place.
"I sure hope so darlin', because I'd hate for anything to happen to you. It's a dangerous world out there."
Naomi swallowed, pulling her wrist back into her lap. She didn't think Gemma would actually damage her injured wrist at this moment in time, but she was one hundred per cent certain the older woman would do what she was threatening if she thought Naomi had hurt Chibs. The two of them silently assessed each other.
"Hey Naomi! Chibs said you'd hurt your wrist again-" Juice came to an abrupt halt in the doorway, the beer in his hand tilting dangerously. "Sorry."
Gemma got to her feet and retrieved her bag.
"I was just leaving."
She glanced at Naomi over her shoulder. Naomi nodded at her, both to prove she got what Gemma was trying to say and out of respect. Gemma tilted her chin and eyed the redhead consideringly. Juice peered from one to the other anxiously, not even knowing what he'd do if Gemma actually went for Naomi. Eventually Gemma's lips curled in the barest hint of a smile that could have been a smirk and she left. Naomi let out the breath she'd been holding in a whoosh. Juice grinned at her, handing over the beer.
"Pain killer." He explained cheerfully, eyeing her out of the corner of her eye warily.
She grinned, wrapping her arm around his waist and squeezing.
"Don't look so worried, Juicey. Everything's fine."
Somehow the party had kicked up a notch again, everyone reaching their second wind, and Naomi was happily bopping away with Bobby under the watchful eye of Chibs. Bobby begged for a reprieve, staggering off the makeshift dancefloor to catch his breath and Naomi wandered back outside to get some cool air. She moved away from the dwindling crowd, going around the building and leaning against the garage wall. Her dress was sticking to her with sweat and her feet were aching from all the dancing. She was contemplating taking off her Converse when she thought she heard something. Her skin prickled. Footsteps put her on guard for a moment but after squinting into the shadows cast by the various small fires still burning in the lot, she could just discern a woman's outline. Figuring it was a drunken croweater returning from providing her 'services', Naomi leant back against the wall. Her eyes were closed as she relished the cold brick against her bare skin so she didn't even see the knife coming. It didn't even hurt, not before or after it happened. She just felt an intense pressure in a spot just below her belly, like someone was pressing their fist deeper and deeper into her stomach, and then there was a strange trickling warmth like she'd spilt a drink. That was how the whole thing felt, like a serious of random events that could be explained away individually. She opened her eyes in surprise. The girl was much younger than any of the other croweaters but her face was haggard, the leather corset and denim miniskirt she was wearing just a shade too loose on her unhealthily skinny frame. For a strange minute Naomi wondered how she'd even got in, all of the croweaters and sweetbutts were varying degrees of hot, pretty and sexy. Her eyes were blank; no fear, no compassion, not even any hatred. Just something almost like interest and it vaguely crossed Naomi's mind that she'd probably been paid to do it, it wasn't personal. The thought was strange, for some reason she'd kind of prefer that whoever killed her was at least invested in the act on some level.
Pain flared then, white hot and searing as the shock wore off. She grunted as the woman yanked out the knife and stepped away. Naomi slid a little down the wall as her knees gave out. She pressed her hand to her side instinctively, feeling as if someone had just pulled the plug on her insides. Hot thick liquid seeping through her fingers made her feel queasy. For a second she thought she was going to throw up and dizziness surged through her head. She tumbled down the wall and hit the ground hard, her knees suddenly weak. The ground was strangely warm and it took her a while to realise that it was her blood pooling beneath her. She realised that if she didn't do something she was going to die. It took a moment for the fuzzy idea to form and then travel through her brain properly. She opened her mouth and screamed. The woman looked briefly surprised, the knife clattering to the ground a few inches away from Naomi's face. The woman gave her a last look and scurried off into the shadows, her heels clacking oddly as she tried to run.
Naomi lay on the ground and stared up at the garage looming over her. She could hear the distant sound of revelry, hooting and cheering and music but no running footsteps, no shouting voices calling her name. No rescue. No one had heard her. She was going to bleed to death. Strangely enough she didn't feel scared, she felt sad that she'd never see Dex again but not overwhelmingly afraid as she'd expected to be when this moment came. She wondered if her life was going to flash before her eyes. She was still pretty young, it probably wouldn't take long. The stupid thought made her laugh but that hurt so much it was like being stabbed again and she hurriedly stopped. She felt faint and vague, like she was a drawing and someone was rubbing her out around the edges.
"Mother of Christ." She felt hands touching her face, pushing her hair back and tilting her head. "Naomi?" Chibs's face swam into her field of vision and she struggled to focus on it but everything was going a little blurry now. "Shit. What happened?"
Naomi made a gargantuan effort to speak, searching for her mouth.
"A woman…" She flicked her gaze towards the knife. "That way." She managed to point after the woman but even that little effort made her feel dizzy.
"Jesus." She heard Juice mutter somewhere above her.
She felt Chibs lifting her arm gently out of the way so he could see the stab wound.
"That looks bad." Juice stammered.
Naomi figured she was fading in and out of consciousness, she heard Chibs as if he was miles away, sending a hovering Half-Sack for the others, ordering them to find that woman. Then she must have blacked out because the pain of being moved snapped her back to reality. Pain blazed through her gut and if she'd had the energy she was sure she'd have thrown up. She came to again on top of a big table, hazy figures bustling around her and low murmuring voices piercing the mist clouding her brain. The pain in her side went beyond agony and settled into numbness.
"Shit." Gemma's voice cut through the haze like a machete and Naomi twitched feebly. "What the hell happened?"
"Some skank knifed her." Tig ground out from somewhere to her right.
"You find her?"
"Yeah." Happy's gravelly voice was graver than usual and just for a second, despite the pain still twisting up her insides, she felt sorry for the woman incurring Happy's wrath.
Tig and Happy must have retreated because the room felt less crowded although she still couldn't see a thing properly. Everything had gone pink, a reddish tint marring the few shapes she could make out.
"Chibs." Her throat was raw, her voice croaky and painful as if she hadn't used it in years.
"Yeah, lass." He leaned over her.
"I can't see."
He brushed her hair away from her face, using a damp cloth to clear the blood off her cheeks and eyelashes. She smiled gratefully when she could see him again and he gave her one of his half-smiles. She flinched when he prodded her wound gently. He used his knife to slice open her dress, peeling the ruined material away from her body. She felt a strange flush of embarrassment at the thought of him seeing her in her underwear, the random emotion foreign and disconcerting under the circumstances. She coughed, pain blazing through her body until tears leaked from her eyes. Juice sat down besides her and she rolled her head towards him on the tabletop.
"Hi."
He forced a smile onto his face, the sight only making her want to cry even more. He leaned his arm on the table besides her head, propping his chin on his forearm until his nose was only inches away from her cheek. His big brown eyes were shimmering with worry and affection. She was sorry that he'd be hurt when she died, that he'd grieve. She didn't want him to hurt. Whatever Chibs was doing with her wound, pain was washing over her in waves, constant and agonising and her eyelids flickered closed.
"Oh my God!"
She didn't turn to see Half-Sack in the doorway, from his voice she knew he was there though and that was enough.
"'Sack, I need clean towels, hot water, that medical kit." Chibs ordered without looking up from whatever he was doing that was scorching pain into every inch of her body. Half-Sack must have hesitated because Chibs shot daggers at him over his shoulder. "NOW!"
"Is she gonna be alright?" Jax asked as Half-Sack ran past him into the depths of the clubhouse.
"I don't know." Chibs said grimly, exchanging a look over his shoulder with Jax.
Half-Sack bounced off the doorframe in his hurry to get Chibs what he needed. Naomi listened to what was going on in a vague sort of way, their voices like white noise as she concentrated on listening to Juice telling her one of his goofy stories. Every now and then Chibs would murmur something soothing in his deep burring voice, his hand smoothing over her forehead. She stared at the scar on the cheek closest to her, the lips curved into a frown of concentration, and tried to stay alive.
Chibs worked on her in silence, letting the mechanical work of his hands and brain override the stricken pounding of his heart and the sickening churn of his stomach. She looked pale, young and vulnerable splayed out on their table. Her ponytail had fallen out and her hair was streaked with blood and dirt, spread across the shining wood. Every now and then Juice would glance across her at him and Chibs would meet his gaze. Chibs could see how much Juice adored her; it was all over his every expression, every inch of his posture and the quiet thrum of his voice as he talked to her. Juice was their little brother, the one they bullied a little and made fun of and manipulated sometimes. They loved him but he was their newest brother and he really made himself such an easy target being so naïve. Naomi had taken to Juice, shown him genuine affection and taken pleasure in his company. She had won his loyalty and affection. Rather than the burning jealousy he could have been feeling, Chibs felt an overwhelming surge of love for his brother's good heart. Juice had hold of her hand, the one caked and slippery in her own blood. He had averted his gaze with a faint blush when Chibs had cut open her dress and exposed her half naked body.
Half-Sack was hovering behind Chibs, fetching what was needed when he needed it, his concern radiating outwards. She'd grown on them, gaining their affection and respect and the complete unwavering worship of both Juice and Half-Sack. It was easier for Chibs to focus on what she meant to the others, rather than try to figure out what she meant to him. Given the current situation, that could send him over a mental cliff.
By some small miracle, the bitch had missed anything vital. She hadn't been able to get the big knife in too far, the wound wasn't even that deep but she'd need stitches. If they didn't get the blood stemmed she could bleed to death he worried anxiously as he worked. She'd already lost so much; her yellow dress was drenched from the waist down, her long bare legs and arms splotched with it.
By the time he was done, she was out cold from the shock and blood loss. Chibs slumped into a chair, swiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. Juice clapped him on the shoulder comfortingly, rubbing a hand over his face tiredly. Chibs patted the hand lightly, looking up as Gemma walked in with a bowl of warm water and a towel. He lifted his eyebrows enquiringly.
"You guys wanna clean her up, or shall I?" She asked pointedly.
Juice scurried out so fast the breeze he caused lifted up her hair and she rolled her eyes, moving around Chibs towards Naomi. She soaked the towel in the water and set to work clearing away the dried blood.
"She good?"
Chibs looked at Gemma but she was staring intently down at the prone redhead.
"So long as she doesn't get an infection." He said quietly, exhausted from concentrating.
"You care about this one." Gemma observed in that tone of voice that brooked no arguments because she knew she was right. "She's hot. Smart. Tight little body." Gemma glanced over her shoulder, Chibs was peering at her intently with his mouth drawn into a contemplative frown. "I get it. You could do worse."
Chibs couldn't think of anything to say. Gemma finished cleaning Naomi up, dropping the bloody rag into the bowl of red water and turning back to face him. She crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back against the edge of the table.
"You okay, baby?"
Chibs leaned forwards in the chair and Gemma took his hand in hers.
"She's a good kid. She could do worse." She added with a smirk and Chibs chuckled. She grinned, leaning down and kissing his forehead. "Be careful, honey."
She shot a lingering glance at Naomi still sleeping behind her, squeezing Chibs's hand on her way out. Chibs sat where he was for a while, listening to Naomi's steady breathing. It was only now that he was finished that he allowed his hands to tremble slightly, the adrenaline, fear and panic he'd been squashing down surfacing.
"Here." He looked up at Jax, accepting the whiskey with a nod of gratitude. "Thought you might need this."
Chibs chugged some back as Jax studied Naomi. Gemma had pulled the ruined dress together to cover her modesty.
"She gonna be okay?"
Chibs repeated what he'd said to Gemma already, glugging some more whiskey.
"She's strong, she'll make it." Jax said decisively, shoving his hands into his pockets and leaning back against the table the same way Gemma had. "How you handlin' it, brother?"
Chibs looked up at him steadily, pondering the implications of the question. Jax merely looked curious and a little sad. Chibs nodded, taking another slug of the whiskey and handing it over. Jax took it. The older man looked exhausted; his shoulders drawn down as he brooded, his eyes flickering over the sleeping girl.
"You should get some sleep." Jax pushed away from the table, running his hand through his hair tiredly. "Been a long night."
"Aye." Chibs levered up out of the chair, his bones creaking in protest.
"You need a hand?"
Jax indicated Naomi and Chibs shook his head, scooping Naomi carefully up from the table. Her head rolled onto his shoulder and she stirred slightly. She fell back into a doze, her hand clutching the chain around his neck convulsively in her sleep.
