A/N: don't own don't sue

Lyrics at the beginning are from 'What About Now' 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 Eighteen

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading
From all the things that we are
But are not saying
Can we see beyond the stars
And make it to the dawn?
Change the colours of the sky
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive
The ways I loved you
For all the things that never died
To make it through the night
Love will find you
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late
What about now?
The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace
Shadows fade into the light
I am by your side
Where love will find you
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late
What about now?

Naomi slept late the next morning, waking feeling like she'd been hit by a truck but glad to be alive. She stretched luxuriously and climbed into the shower to check over her bruises. She had a few scrapes and a nasty bruise on her leg but miraculously nothing she couldn't hide. She twisted her damp hair into a knot at the top of her head and pulled on some sweats and one of Chibs's vests. They were in church when she padded barefoot into the clubhouse, circling around the bar to grab a drink. She perched on a stool at the bar and flicked through a paper someone had left there absently, trying to ignore her throbbing knee. The doors opened and they flooded out, faces grim and drawn. Chibs emerged looking tired and weary and bruised. Their eyes met briefly then he disappeared into the garage with Happy and Tig. Juice joined her at the bar, sliding onto a stool and scrubbing his hands over his face.

"You okay?" She asked quietly, looking at his worried face with some concern.

He shrugged and offered her a forced smile that she didn't buy for a second. She leaned over towards him slightly, putting her head so close to his he could feel her breath against his cheek.

"Give it up, Juice."

Juice shook his head, making the mistake of meeting her gaze. He sighed, running the palm of his hand over the back of his head.

"We need money. A lot of it."

He drew away from her as Clay and Bobby walked towards them looking just as serious as the rest of them.

"Don't worry." He said quietly, dropping a kiss on her cheek as he walked away.

She gulped down the last of her orange juice and climbed down from the stool, slipping into the garage. It was a bustle of activity; guys working on cars and bikes, machinery whirring loudly and voices calling to each other across the echoing space. Chibs was talking to Happy and Tig in the corner, their faces tense. She sidled over and bumped her hip into Happy's. He scowled for a moment and then his face creased into something almost like a smile. His big tattooed arm coiled around her waist and he tugged her against him. Chibs's fingers twitched but he made no comment.

"You boys look serious." She mocked, pinching Tig's cheek.

He made a kissy face at her and she laughed, letting her back rest against Happy's hip and his arm drape over her shoulder. She could feel Chibs's gaze burning into her cheek, could see his jaw tight with tension.

"It ain't nothing for you to worry about, darling'." Tig said, slightly patronisingly, eyeing Happy's hand dangling inches from the curve of her breast.

"Uh huh." She rolled her eyes.

"Happy!" Half-Sack called from the front of the garage. "Your ten o'clock is here."

Naomi lifted her eyebrows at him and then glanced at Happy. He did not seem the type to take appointments. He drew away from them, squeezing the back of her neck lightly as he walked away. Tig followed mumbling something under his breath. Chibs was watching Happy's broad back as he examined the bike he was supposed to be fixing.

"He's got a thing for you." Chibs observed without looking at her.

"Has he?" She glanced over at Happy consideringly, taking him in from head to toe. "I hadn't noticed."

Chibs stared at her and she laughed. She glanced around, made sure no one was watching them, and then took a step closer to him. His eyes immediately darted over her head to ensure they weren't being watched.

"Don't get jealous, Scottish. Happy's a sexy teddy bear, but I'm somewhat invested already."

He lifted his eyebrows, his mouth contorting as he struggled not to smile at her.

"A sexy teddy bear?" He repeated in disbelief.

She laughed at the look on his face, her fingers dancing along his bare arm.

"I hear you need money."

He frowned, opening his mouth but they were interrupted by a worried looking Half-Sack.

"Hey, Clay needs you in the office."

Chibs sighed, pushing his hand through his hair irritably. Naomi touched his arm and he blinked, suddenly realising that Half-Sack wasn't looking at him but gazing in anguish at Naomi. Chibs felt her fingers linking into his, brief pressure that told him he couldn't come with her, then she followed Half-Sack across the garage.

Her heart was thudding painfully against her ribs, her palms were damp and her mouth was dry. Whatever this was, it wasn't good. She followed Half-Sack across the yard and into the small garage office she'd never actually set foot in. Gemma was in the doorway facing into the office as Half-Sack went ahead to speak to Clay. She must have looked as terrified as she felt because Gemma's angular face softened and she put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, baby." She squeezed her shoulder and smiled, stepping aside to let her into the office.

Clay and Unser were waiting for her in the small box of an office. Clay was sitting on the desk looking impatient and irritable. Unser had such sad eyes, it was hard to tell what was natural and what was sympathy for somebody else. She was chewing on her lip so hard it was hurting, her nails digging into her palms. She could feel her body trembling from her head to her toes. She heard Half-Sack pull the door closed behind her.

"I had a call from the feds today." Unser started gruffly, looking from her to his hands clasped on the desk and back again. "Their other witness…"

"The homeless girl who identified the car?"

Unser nodded, his eyes darting over to Clay.

"They lost her." Unser said awkwardly, his palm grazing the top of his balding head.

"Lost her?" She repeated, her voice coming out croaky.

She saw the two of them exchange a glance.

"She's dead, isn't she?"

Unser didn't reply, merely stared at her with those sad eyes.

"What does this mean?"

Unser sighed.

"They might have to drop the case."

Her heart stopped, her head swam and nausea clogged up her chest. She must have stumbled because Unser was on his feet and Clay had steadied her with a big hand on her elbow.

"They know I'm a witness." Unser nodded sadly. "If they drop the trial the first thing they'll do is kill me so they can't file again."

Neither man argued with her.

"What do I do?"

Unser moved towards her, his hands on her shoulders and his sad eyes gazing at her endearingly.

"The lawyers are looking at what they have, the feds are following some leads… it's not over yet, darlin'."

Naomi was numb. She barely heard what either of them were saying. They were arguing over where to keep her. Clay wanted her out now that she had no use to him as leverage with Unser, Unser was determined that she stayed her until the feds decided either way.

"You turn her out, she'll be dead within a week and you know that." Unser snapped at Clay. "Let her stay here, for now. The trial's been pushed back another week to give them time to look at what they got. Another two weeks, Clay. That's all I'm asking."

Clay looked thoughtful for a long moment, eyeing the desperate Sheriff and the numb young girl standing staring at the wall contemplating her death sentence. Clay pursed his lips and scratched his chin.

"I think we can work something out, Sheriff."

Unser's face clouded over, his sad eyes turning angry and wary. He touched Naomi's shoulder again.

"Go on back to the clubhouse now, sweetheart."

Naomi turned in a daze and walked back out into the yard. Past Tig and Bobby who called out to her. Past Juice working on a car who waved. Past Half-Sack who was talking to a client by the main garage. She was walking like a zombie, eyes huge and staring and her movements stiff and uncoordinated. She was so out of it she walked right into Happy. Literally. She fell backwards into the yard, pain shooting through her already bruised body. She lay on the ground, staring up at the brilliantly blue sky. Happy's face loomed over her, blocking out the sun, as expressionless as always. He hauled her to her feet non-too-gently, murmuring something indecipherable. Naomi could see Chibs in the gloom of the garage. She burst into tears. Happy frowned deeply for a long moment, then his big muscled arms went around her and she bumped into his sculpted chest. Her arms went around her waist and her wet cheek was pressed against the plane of his chest. She felt like her heart was breaking, she couldn't stop her panicky ugly sobs, her body trembling against Happy's.

The entire garage was goggling at them. Jax was standing besides Chibs gaping at Happy holding a sobbing girl gently and not looking the least bit uncomfortable. Out of the corner of his eye Chibs saw Clay and Unser emerge from the office. Half-Sack finally got rid of the soccer mom with the station wagon and scurried over to Chibs and Jax.

"What's wrong with Naomi?" He demanded worriedly the moment he was within earshot.

Jax didn't reply, disappearing into the clubhouse to find Clay. Chibs watched as Naomi drew away from Happy, saying something to him that almost made him smile. Almost. She tipped onto her toes and kissed him briefly on the gritted cheek, walking away towards the clubhouse. Chibs walked away from Half-Sack while he was still talking, following her into the depths of the deserted clubhouse. She was sitting cross-legged on the end of her bed, her face red and puffy and streaked with mascara, her eyes blood-shot and staring blankly at the picture of a topless blonde broad tacked to the wall. He closed the door behind him and leaned against his, hands thrust into the pockets of his jeans and his shades around his neck.

"I'm going to die, Chibs."

Chibs's first instinct was to lie and tell her everything was going to be okay, not to worry about it and that they'd find a way to make everything alright, but something in her frozen stare told him that wouldn't work this time.

He crossed the room towards her, sitting on the end of the bed beside her. She was silent for a long time, staring at the grotesque posters without seeing them. Eventually, she told him what had gone on in the office. Chibs knew enough about this life to know that she was fucked. Whoever she was testifying against obviously knew she was a witness, if the case got tossed they'd kill her in days so she couldn't help them re-file. Right now the only thing keeping her alive was their protection and the feds supposedly keeping her location a secret. If they lost the case she'd be out on the street with no protection and no leverage. He brushed her damp hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

"I'm going to die." She repeated, as if she was trying to get her head around the idea. "Chibs?"

She was still staring at the wall and he was starting to get concerned. She looked spaced out and he wasn't sure he could pull her back.

"Yes lass."

She finally looked at him, her big eyes trusting and desperate.

"I'm not ready to die." Tears were rolling down her cheeks again, following the black tracks already streaking her face from earlier. "I'm so scared."

Chibs reached for her, pulling her against him. She crumpled into his arms but she was beyond the heart-wrenching sobs that had stained Happy's shirt with her mascara. He held her tightly as she shuddered against him.

"We'll fix it, lass. Don't you worry."


She was failing to sleep when a racket made her jump and she hurriedly scrambled into a pair of discarded jogging pants. People were rushing around the clubhouse and in and out of the garage. She bumped into Gemma on her way out of the garage. Gemma glanced at her distractedly.

"What's going on?"

Gemma pushed her bangs away from her face, her hand brushing over her forehead as it always did when she was stressed.

"It's a long story, baby."

A scream split the air and they both turned towards the big room they used for church. Naomi could see someone lying face down on the table, Chibs and Juice hovering over them and blood everywhere.

"Do me a favour, darlin'." Gemma said quietly, her gaze fixed on the table. "Help the Prospect."

Naomi nodded and Gemma gave her a half smile before dashing away. Naomi headed for the garage, coming to an abrupt halt at the chaos before her.

"Is that a goddamn ambulance?" She asked no one in particular.

Half-Sack's head appeared out of the back doors and she circled around towards him. She bumped into a bucket of bloody water and rags, splashing the water onto her grey sweatpants. Half-Sack was sweating as he splashed bleach all over the interior of the ambulance, scrubbing it in to disguise any blood.

"What is going on?" She asked, wincing at the bloodied water staining her bare feet.

"It's a long story." Half-Sack panted, scouring the back of the ambulance for any spots he'd missed.

"Yeah. So I hear." She muttered, grabbing a sponge and climbing into the ambulance.

Naomi lost track of time as she scrubbed every inch of the ambulance with bleach and then left Half-Sack to dispose of it. She poured the bloody water down the main drain in the yard and piled the sponges and rags and her sweat pants into a small ditch and set fire to them. By the time she showered and changed it was morning and she was cobbling together some breakfast when Unser marched in with two deputies on his heels. She felt her heart leap in her chest but he didn't even look her way. He disappeared inside as the deputies hovered in the clubhouse. She finished the bacon and forked it onto a plate besides some eggs as she waited for the fresh coffee to finish brewing. She watched Unser escort Clay into his car as she took the tray of food and coffee into church.

She knocked on the door and Bobby opened it. She took in the chaos, an unconscious man bleeding out on the table and Chibs and Juice covered in blood trying to keep him alive. She put the tray down on one of the chairs.

"I brought you breakfast." She said quietly, not sure if the guy would wake up.

Juice immediately fell on the food but Chibs had his hands full so she held out the coffee for him to sip. His eyes met hers over the rim of the cup gratefully. She smiled. The man on the table stirred with a heavy groan and Chibs nodded at the half finished bottle of Jack Daniels. Naomi grabbed it and helped the guy take a gulp. He blinked at her dazedly and she tried to smile at him but it came out kind of wavery. He mumbled something but it came out garbled and his accent made it hard to understand. His head drooped and he passed out again.

Tara and Jax burst through the door and Naomi hurried out of the room while Tara got to work. Chibs emerged a while later looking utterly exhausted. He practically staggered towards the bathroom, stripping off the bloodied gloves and tossing them into the trash. She followed him into the bathroom, worried about him after a night struggling to keep a dying Irishman alive. She watched him wash the blood from his hands in the sink and splash his face with cold water. His gaze caught hers in the chipped mirror on the wall. She looked young and vulnerable leaning against the door in his sweats that hung off her slender frame.

"You okay, darlin'?"

She nodded, fiddling absently with a strand of hair.

"It's just that room." She shuddered. "I nearly bled to death in that room. It gives me the creeps."

Chibs continued to look at her. She was pale; there were dark circles under her eyes from the sleepless night and she'd made her lip bleed chewing on it earlier. He turned away from the sink and crossed the small bathroom, taking her face in his hands and brushing his thumb over her cut lip.

"You should sleep, lass." His eyes were sad and her exhaustion made her teary eyed. "It's going to get worse, before it gets better."

She stared at him.

"That's what I'm afraid of."