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

Lyrics at the beginning are from 'Torches' by Daughtry

Set around 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 Nineteen

All the hate and lies around us
Like an ember in the brush
And can you picture a world without it?
And turn it all to ash and dust
We keep waiting on a day that never comes and never comes
Too late is not a thing and we just gotta be stronger
Love is like a torch that's burning bright
Carry it on, carry it on and you'll see
Fire will shine a light on the darkest side
Carry it on, carry it on
Cause we can never right all the wrongs
So leave the past well enough alone
And say
Take a look at what we started
Oh, spreading kindness all around
Don't you know it's so contagious? Yeah
Take a hit and pass it down
We keep waiting on a day that never comes and never comes
Too late is not a thing and we just gotta be strong
Love is like a torch that's burning bright
Carry it on, carry it on and you'll see
Fire will shine a light on the darkest side
Carry it on, carry it on
Cause we can never right all the wrongs
So leave the past well enough alone

Chibs was beyond exhausted, he was running on fumes. Hayes was sleeping on the table and heavily medicated for the next few hours. Naomi had been passed out in his room for the whole day. Clay was out of jail and church had been a long painful meeting heading in a dark direction. The party had been more subdued than normal and was thankfully petering out enough for him to slip away. This whole week could vanish from existence and he wouldn't give a shit. He paused outside of his room, glancing around but the corridor was empty. Jax's door was at the end of the hallway, cold and lonely. He thought about it for a few moments, then he pushed the door to his room open. The room was dark but he could see her outline under the sheets, could smell her scent slowly taking over the room mixing with the oil, leather and smoke scent he carried with him. He stripped off his boots and cut slowly and methodically, discarding his jeans and shirt and shades and sliding under the cool sheets with her. She stirred slightly in her sleep at the disturbance and in the dim moonlight he could see her brow furrowing. The cool sheets felt good on his aching naked body. He felt every one of his years after the last few days. He looked across the pillow at Naomi's sleeping features. Her eyelids were red and swollen even in the dark and he felt guilt churn in his gut. She'd been crying again. She was so scared and short of waging a one man war against the crew on her tail, there was nothing he could do. He rolled over towards her, coiling his arm around her waist. He blinked when he realised she was naked, his tiredness falling away. She was lying on her front, her arms curled up under the pillow exposing the entire length of her body. He traced his fingertips from the base of her neck down the length of her spine, grazing his palm over the curve of her buttocks. He drew back the sheet, pressing feather-light kisses on each knob of her spine, his broad hand stroking the backs of her thighs.

She stirred slightly in her sleep, her lips pursing into a sly smile. He kissed her shoulder-blade, tasting the strawberry body lotion she used. He traced his fingertip over the curve of her shoulder, along the edge of her arm and across the swell of her breast pressed into the mattress beneath her. She shivered, her lips parting slightly. He used his teeth to nip at the sensitive flesh of her ribs, his hand tracing shapes on the back of her thighs. She was awake now, he could see the glimmer beneath her eyelashes, but she didn't move. She allowed him to continue his ministrations, the torturous barely there touches that had her skin singing. He dragged his fingertips along the length of her thigh from the back of her knee and over her buttock. He traced his finger over the line between her buttocks until she shivered. He could feel the heat radiating from between her thighs but he deliberately avoided it, his fingertips dancing over her skin until she was squirming. Her lips were pursed impatiently and he smirked. He rolled onto his front beside her, brushing her lips with his, his hand tangling into her hair.

She stared at him entreatingly, sucking her lower lip between her teeth as he pressed against her. Her eyelids fluttered as his hardness dug into her hip, his fingers finally sliding between her thighs. She rolled onto her side, her fingers tracing his features in the dim light. He grinned, pressing a kiss between her breasts. She slipped her fingers into his hair, her nails teasing his scalp. He lifted her leg and pulled her towards him, hooking her leg over his hip. He reached between them, positioning himself so he could slip inside her and she gave a breathy sigh, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Keeping in mind their bruised aching bodies, he rolled his hips languorously, gripping her hip for leverage. She was holding onto his shoulders as she rocked against him, he could feel her breath against his scar, her eyelashes against his cheekbone. They restricted themselves to breathy gasps and grunts, both of them aware of how important it was to stay quiet. The party had all but stopped in the background but the distinctive creaking of the bedframe would give them away if anyone stopped to listen. Chibs didn't care. Let them get caught. He cared for this girl and right now he didn't care who knew it.

She came silently, her eyelashes fluttering and her body clenching around him and he buried his face in her neck as he followed her. They held onto each other tightly as their breathing steadied, Chibs breathing in her distinctive scent, listening to her heartbeat slowing gradually against his scar. They were still entwined, he was still inside her but neither of them had the energy to move. She stroked his hair, her lips brushing against his forehead.

"I'm sorry I had a breakdown." She murmured.

"I think under the circumstances, I would have, too." He said scratchily, rolling onto his back and taking her with him.

"I'm scared."

His fingers were trailing up and down her spine, his heartbeat was loud and comforting in her ear.

"I know, baby." He said softly, staring up at the cracked ceiling above them.


Naomi stretched and yawned, turning to the empty pillow beside her. Chibs was gone but the imprint of his head was still there and she grinned. Yes, she was likely to die by the end of the month, but there was nothing she could do about that. If this was where her life choices had led her, fair enough. She'd make lemonade. She pushed back the sheets and crossed the room towards the bathroom. She was practically there when the door flew open and Juice bounced into the room with her lunch. He skidded to a halt when he saw her standing in the middle of the room completely naked. He continued to stare as she glared at him, taking in every inch of her including the bruise on her leg, the scrapes and bruises from the accident and the love bite on her left breast.

"Juice?"

He managed to drag his eyes up to her face on the third try.

"Sorry." He muttered, putting her lunch on the chair.

"Juice!" She snapped as he continued to goggle at her. "Please."

He darted out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Naomi couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face, feeling more than a little smug at the effect she had on him when he was around pussy all day. She climbed into the shower. Nothing relaxed her more than a long hot shower. She allowed her mind to race as she shaved her legs, skimming over all the evidence she knew they had and wondering if it was enough. Half-Sack had grabbed her some of her favourite strawberry body lotion on the last grocery run and she covered every inch of her body in it, letting it soak in as she lathered up her hair with vanilla shampoo. Maybe after the trial she could stay here, but then they'd all be in danger, she mused as she rinsed out her hair.

She was so deep in thought she didn't even hear the shower door open. His familiar hands were caressing her shoulders, brushing away the soap and shampoo. She felt his goatee tickling the back of her neck, his hands kneading her breasts.

"Isn't this dangerous?" She said quietly above the thundering of the shower. "They could catch us."

"Let 'em." He grumbled into her ear, his accent making her quiver against him.

He'd spent all morning in the garage, his mind on Happy and Opie's missions and what they meant for the club he loved. The garage was closed for lunch and he'd taken the opportunity to slip into the dorm rooms. He was expecting to find her still in bed or reading one of the books Juice kept bringing in for her. It had been a bonus to find her in the shower. A bonus, he fully intended to take advantage of. The shower-stall left little room for manoeuvre as he rubbed her back and shoulders, pressing his erection against her buttocks. Just the image of her body through the frosted glass of the steamed up shower had been enough to get him going.

"You don't mean that." She sighed as his hands drifted down her ribcage and probed between her legs.

"I only say shit I mean, lass."

She was squirming, her hips rotating against his hand, her breathing was speeding up and she arched her back against him.

"What happens then?" She panted. "I get kicked out."

Chibs adjusted the angle of his fingers slightly and she whimpered.

"Half the club's in love with you and the other half want to fuck you. No chance they're letting you go."

She opened her mouth to reply but her words were swallowed up in a surprised squeak when he pressed into her. She had her hands flat on the wall to keep her balance, he was gripping her hips as he rocked into her in time with the pounding water. It wasn't long until she collapsed back against him, trembling and gasping for breath. He held onto her, his steady pace never faltering as he built up slowly. He came suddenly, taken by surprise and he held her tightly against him, her arms coiled back around his neck and her fingers stroking the back of his neck.

He brushed his hands over her ribs and belly, pressing rough kisses into the hollow of her throat. He drew away reluctantly, pressing a last kiss to the back of her damp neck. They had had all the time in the world during those few days they'd had in that shitty motel room, but now there was always a deadline for their time together.


"I don't like this."

Naomi rolled her eyes, shooting a glance over her shoulder at Chibs. He was puffing on a cigarette, looming in the doorway with his arms folded and his eyes narrowed. Naomi finished tying her hair into a knot in the bathroom mirror and turned to face him.

"I've been working on the cars since I got here, Half-Sack and Juice have taught me a lot."

Chibs snorted.

"Half-Sack is a half-assed mechanic." He grumbled uncharitably.

"Which is exactly why Happy and Lowell have been giving me lessons."

He mumbled something under his breath, dropping the smoke and crushing it under the heel of his boot.

"It's not safe."

Naomi sighed.

"I'm going to be with Opie and Juice all day. I doubt they'll even let me out of the truck."

Chibs was still frowning and she pouted at him. It had taken over a week of subtle hint-dropping, mild flirtation and big puppy-dog eyes to persuade Tig and Happy to convince Clay to let her tag along on some of their jobs out. He'd finally broken and said yes… well there were more four letter words involved but she'd gotten his permission that was enough. She had managed to keep it away from Chibs until this morning, when she was due to head out and recover a broken down car in town.

"Chibs, please trust me. I'm not dumb. Trust Opie and Juice to watch me." She put her arms around his waist. His arms remained firmly folded and his jaw stubbornly set. "Come on." She wheedled, pressing her lips against his. He didn't move an inch, his lips immovable against hers. "Chibs." She knew he could never resist hearing her say his name in that soft sweet tone of voice. "Chibs." He was relenting, she could feel his lips softening and his arms weren't crossed quite so rigidly against her chest.

"Naomi!" Opie bellowed from the front of the clubhouse.

"Sorry, baby." She tugged his lower lip between her teeth. "Mama has to go to work."

She grinned, sliding past him and pinching his butt on the way out.


Just as she'd suspected, she was confined to the hot sticky cabin of the truck. Opie and Juice were having their ears bent by the owner of the station wagon they were trying to hook up to the tow. Opie had firmly told her not to move an inch and she was currently melting into the ripped leather front seat as she watched Juice hook up the car. She kicked open the door and clambered down from the truck. Opie lifted his eyebrows at her questioningly over the guy's shoulder.

"I'm going to the store to grab some drinks." She told him, already crossing the street before Opie could reply.

The store was blessedly cool as she headed straight for the big refrigerators at the back of the store. She grabbed a cold drink for each of them and a box of frozen ice pops. The leering guy behind the counter bagged it all for her and asked for her number, which she politely declined, unwrapping an ice pop and shoving it blissfully into her mouth.

"Excuse me."

Naomi blinked against the sunlight, sucking absently on the cold ice as she struggled to place the woman in front of her. She knew her from somewhere, she was sure of it. She was like a scarecrow, tall and gangly and ominous.

"Can I help you?" She asked politely around the ice pop.

"I certainly hope so." She ducked her head to look at the name badge stitched onto her shirt. "Donald."

Naomi didn't correct her, she could feel the hairs standing up on the back of her neck and her skin starting to crawl.

"You work for Teller-Morrow?" She asked.

Naomi glanced down at the sleeveless stained borrowed shirt Juice had got for her this morning. It quite clearly had Teller-Morrow stitched onto the faded blue fabric. The ice pop was hurting her teeth and she pulled it out of her mouth quickly. The woman smiled, pushing her sunglasses up into her hair and revealing the scary sly eyes of a fox.

"I'm June-"

"You're a fed." Naomi blurted out as realisation struck like lightening.

She laughed, reaching out a bony hand and tracing her fingers over the stitched letters on her chest. Naomi stared at her.

"June Stahl. ATF."

Naomi remembered her now, dragging Clay out of the clubhouse yard in handcuffs. This was a bad idea, anything she had to say would not mean anything good.

"How long have you been working at the garage?"

Naomi didn't reply, her mind racing as she tried to think of the best way out of this. On the one hand, being a federal witness meant Stahl couldn't touch her, on the other she'd have to tell her who she was and Stahl would want to know why she was with the Sons.

"Not long." She finally said, deciding on playing dumb.

"They advertise the job in the local paper?" Stahl grinned, showing all of her teeth.

"Not exactly."

Stahl lifted her eyebrows expectantly.

"You don't seem like the mechanic type." She commented, eyeing Naomi in her oversized shirt tied in a knot at her navel, denim cutoffs and clunky Doc Martens.

Naomi bristled.

"Oh so because I'm a girl I can't be a good mechanic?"

Stahl laughed, pulling her sunglasses from her hair and running the leg across her lower lip.

"Not at all. I'm sure you're a fine mechanic. Just… a pretty little thing like you, I'm sure there were other options." Stahl had leaned in far too close and Naomi had to fight not to take a step back from her. "I'm just curious about what brought you here. Your accent says you weren't born here. It's very strange to end up in this little pocket of the world, at that specific garage."

Naomi wanted to smack her in the face. How dare she make assumptions about her. Entitled bitch.

"If you must know, not that it's any of your business, I'm fucking one of the mechanics and he hooked me up." Naomi leaned in a little closer, until their noses were millimetres apart. "I'm real good with my hands… June."

Stahl's mouth curled into a smirk.

"Well now, I have no doubt you are." She brushed a strand of Naomi's hair back from her face; and she forced herself not to flinch. "So, just between us girls, this mechanic sugar daddy, does he own a certain sexy black leather item of clothing?"

Naomi didn't reply, fear starting to squeeze her belly.

"What do you want?"

Stahl smiled in that creepy way again, stepping back from her slightly.

"Just girl talk."

Naomi felt hate starting to bubble at the base of her spine. This woman was after her boys? No fucking chance.

"Well let me help you." She said sweetly. "My hot mechanic has a big dick and he knows how to use it. I got no complaints. There. Girl talk over." She eyed Stahl from head to toe. "Nice to meet you."

Stahl pursed her lips, eyeing her speculatively. Naomi stepped around her and hurried across the street back to the truck, her ice pop dripping all over her hand. The station wagon was hooked up and ready to go and the owner was signing off on the form. Opie glanced at her as she tossed a cold drink into the cab for Juice. He jerked his head a little in question and she waved him off, climbing up into the truck.

"Thanks." Juice waved the half empty bottle at her gratefully.

She shrugged, scanning the street for Stahl. She was standing outside the store exactly where Naomi had left her, watching them without even trying to hide it. Opie finally climbed into the truck and Naomi handed him his bottle, watching as he slugged it down.

"You okay?" She asked as he started up the truck and headed for home.

He mumbled some generic rubbish that she didn't buy for a second. She let it go. She had a feeling it was club business and they were all determined to keep that from her. She liked it that way, plausible deniability and all that.


"Hey baby." Chibs grunted without looking up from the car he was working on. "I'm not forgiven then, no?"

He continued to ignore her and she sighed, watching the muscles in his back working underneath the shirt that was sticking to him with sweat. She wanted very much to molest him but there were too many eyes around. She turned to walk away, sure she could win him over in the bedroom later. She stumbled right into a tall dark man who didn't try to help her at all. In fact, he glared and brushed imaginary dust from his jacket.

"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to come with me."

Chibs was by her side in a flash, demanding to know what was going on and exuding moody menace. For a split second of utter terror, she thought that this was it and she was about to be dragged off to testify and she'd never see him again. When her panic cleared and she could see straight again, she realised he had ATF emblazoned on his navy windbreaker.

"What for?" She snapped, feeling Chibs's hand on her waist supporting her.

He eyed Chibs distastefully but he didn't budge an inch, matching him glare for glare.

"Ma'am, this way please."

"Is there something going on, here?"

Naomi had never been happier to hear Unser's voice. He was looking at the guy doubtfully, crossing the yard as quickly as he could with Gemma at his heels. Chibs's grip on her waist tightened minutely.

"We just have some questions." He said firmly, barely glancing at Unser.

"About what?" Chibs and Naomi demanded in unison.

"That's not for me to say."

Unser touched her shoulder after a long minute of silence.

"Come on, I'll go with you." The guy opened his mouth to argue. "We're going to the same place, for Christ's sake." Unser laughed mirthlessly. "We'll be right behind you."

Naomi turned and brushed her lips against Chibs's cheek.

"Don't worry, I don't know anything they're after." She breathed against his earlobe, inhaling his scent.

The ride to the station was quiet and brief and fear was snaking through her veins as Unser led her towards the interview rooms. Her heart was beating insanely fast as she waited, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She looked white and scared, still in the much too big Teller-Morrow shirt with her hair in a messy knot. Stahl practically skipped into the room, tossing a file across the desk at her. Naomi flinched but didn't try to catch the flying file, letting it skid across the desk and bounce onto the floor.

"Why am I here?" She asked in a scratchy scared voice.

"That." Stahl smiled that goddamn creepy smile. "Is a very good question." She pushed her hair back from her face, pacing slowly around the room. "What exactly is a federal witness doing working as a mechanic with a criminal gang?"

"They're a motorcycle club." Naomi snapped automatically.

Stahl lifted her eyebrows.

"I see. Still…" She put a thoughtful finger to her mouth. "That didn't answer my question."

"I'm a witness. I wasn't arrested. I can be wherever the hell I want to be."

"Very defensive." Stahl pointed out politely. "Is that bravado to protect your boyfriend?" She looked up at the ceiling for a moment. "The boyfriend with the big dick who knows how to use it?" She repeated mockingly. "Wouldn't happen to be a member of this gang now, would he?"

She tossed a couple of old mugshots onto the table, Chibs stared up at her and Naomi felt all the blood rush to her face.

"I thought so." Stahl smiled.

"I already told you, I'm working as a mechanic. I don't know anything about the club. I can't help you."

Stahl sucked loudly on her teeth, her eyebrows arched high in disbelief.

"I think you can do better than that." Stahl leaned towards her across the table. "So, let's start at the beginning, shall we?"

Naomi looked at the picture of Chibs, imagined him being taken away and locked in a cage with the kind of people who were trying to kill her.

"No, you listen." Naomi leaned towards her, her face flushed with anger and her eyes sparkling with hate. "There isn't a goddamn thing you can do to me. You need me to testify too much. Without me as a witness you can't put the psychopathic leader of a dangerous gang in prison. You can't touch me, no matter how much you threaten me. You haven't got shit on the club or you wouldn't be dragging random people in here, shaking us to see what falls out. You don't even know my name. Stay the hell away from me." She got to her feet, her shaking hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Am I under arrest?"

Stahl looked inexplicably pleased with herself as she leaned back in her chair.

"Not at all."

"Good." Naomi crossed the room and banged on the door. "I'm leaving." A deputy opened the door, glancing from Stahl to Naomi warily. "You can put it on the record that I don't have anything to say. Except…" She stopped, watching Stahl tense expectantly. "I sincerely hope you take a long walk off a short pier at some point in the not too distant future."

Stahl showed her teeth again with a grin.