[[Author's Note: Good morning, guys! I finished this chapter last night and may have to go back and edit it for typos but, I wanted to go ahead get it out for today. I'm so glad you are enjoying it. If I'm being honest, I never really expected people would like my first attempt at fan fiction...and posting it on the website. Let me know what you think! Again, some of the medical stuff may be BS. *shrugs* I hope this chapter conveys Opie and Charlie's relationship the way I picture it in my head. Anyway, happy reading and thank you so very much for your reviews! They mean the world to me. :)]]

Brother Bear

—Charlie—

Deep, rumbling voices brought me slowly back to consciousness. One voice belonged to the pillow I was laying on and it vibrated against my ear. The other one came from beside me and belonged to my brother. I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my face as he and Jax spoke quietly so they didn't disturb me. Jax still sounded tired but, not near as exhausted as he was when he arrived earlier. Opie sounded like Opie except there was a hint of anger barely detectable to anyone other than his little sister who had pissed him off more than anyone else. This time, however, he was pissed for me instead of at me. I remained where I was, my head still on Jax's chest, and listened to them talk about a bunch of stuff I didn't care about. Occasionally, Jax ran his hand along my back in a way that I knew was subconscious and if I were being honest, I had never felt more comfortable, more content in the midst of a storm than I did in his arms. Lying with him made me feel safer than I'd ever felt, as if anything that meant me harm would be stopped before it ever reached me as long as he was there….and that also frightened me. He would eventually go back to keeping a distance between us once I was better. I was broken from my thoughts by a deep growl from the stomach I was laying on. I started laughing and Jax rested his hand on my back.

"Little sneak," he muttered, "how long have you been awake?"

"Not long," I said with a yawn. "Deep, growly voices woke me up but I was too comfortable to move." A hand touched mine that was around Jax's middle and I raised my head to meet my brother's sad eyes.

"You okay?" His voice was soft and he used the same reassuring tone he used when our mom skipped town. Jax made me feel safe but, my brother was a bear and he was my ultimate safe place. I wove my fingers through his and shrugged.

"Not really. But I'm better than I was when Jax got here. I was kind of a train wreck."

"I think you earned that."

"Yeah, I guess."

"You were exhausted and they forced you out of bed," Jax said.

"You do become kind of a basket-case when you're sleep deprived. I imagine everything is amplified with the amount of pain you're in," Opie said. Before I could respond, Jax's stomach growled again. I looked up at him and saw his eyes were less tired and there was a slightly embarrassed grin on his face.

"I think you're stomach is trying to tell you to feed it," I said with a laugh.

"I forgot to eat before Church and after, I came straight here."

"Go eat, Jax." I rolled slowly until I was sitting up, pleasantly surprised that I didn't feel near as much pain as I did when he arrived. He kept his hand on my back, rubbing it in slow circles.

"I'm fine."

"So am I. Go eat something."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

"Opie is here. I'll be fine long enough for you to eat."

"If you're sure…"

"I'm stayin', man," Opie interjected. "Go grab a bite. No one will fuck with my sister with me here."

"Okay. I'll run out and bring it back." I thought about arguing with him to take his time but, I knew he wouldn't. He seemed to have a lot of anxiety about leaving me, even with my brother, and I hoped it was because he felt protective, not guilty. He stood and stretched his arms above his head, causing his white shirt to ride up and expose the skin of his lower abdomen. I found myself staring at the muscles and wanting to touch them. I bit my lip and glanced away for a moment. Regardless of the trauma I went through, I was still attracted to this man in every possible way and had been for longer than I cared to admit. To anyone. After he slipped his cut on, I raised my eyes to meet his.

"Where are you going?"

"Probably to get a burger or something. You want anything?"

"Whatever you get. Just a Dr Pepper instead of-"

"Instead of Pepsi," he said with a grin and rolled his eyes, "I know. I'll be back in a little bit." He leaned down and kissed my forehead before turning around to look at my brother. Opie had an unreadable expression on his face. "You want anything, bro?"

"Nah, I ate with Donna before she went to work. I'm good."

"Aight. I'll be back." I couldn't stop my eyes from following Jax as he swaggered from the room. When he was gone, I braced myself and moved until I was standing.

"What are you doing, Char?"

"I'm going to the bathroom," I grunted as I started moving my feet. Everything was still sore are hell but it wasn't near as bad as it was when Jax arrived.

"Do you need help?" I was about to turn him down but, I wobbled a little and thought my mountain of a brother may be of some use.

"If you could just walk with me there, I think I can handle the rest of it. I'm just not completely steady on my feet."

He jumped up before I finished speaking and grabbed my outstretched hand. I felt more secure with him beside me. He walked with me until I reached the metal bar beside the toilet.

"You good from here?"

"Yeah, I can do this part."

"Okay. I'll be right outside the door. Let me know when you're done and I'll help you back to bed," he said and stepped outside the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

I sat on the toilet, suddenly realizing I'd been in the presence of both Jax and my brother without a stick of clothing on aside from the hospital gown. Warmth flooded my cheeks at the thought of showing off my bare ass to the world, not that I could do anything about it. I had no clothes with me except the ruined ones I never wanted to see again. I grit my teeth and whimpered quietly as I relieved my bladder, the flow stinging the cuts I couldn't see. Since it was the second time using the bathroom, the sting didn't shock me as much and it was much more manageable. Cleaning myself, however, was still extremely painful and it brought tears to my eyes. I knew it had to do with the bruising from being raped but I still hated having to deal with it. When I finished, I flushed and washed my hands quickly to avoid looking in the mirror above the sink. Opie stepped up behind me, clearly ignoring the fact that my backside was exposed, and took my arm to guide me to the bed. I pulled my covers back and was embarrassed to see small blood stains where I had been sitting. Another side effect of the cuts and bruising from the rape. I ignored it and sat, using my feet, the rail, and my brother to get me in a comfortable position. He covered me up and sat in the chair he'd been occupying on my right.

"Thank you," I said quietly. He grabbed my hand.

"Sure thing, sis. I'm here for whatever you need."

"I'm just glad you're here. That's all I need." The chair moved closer to me and he squeezed my hand. I turned my head and my eyes met his.

"Listen, I didn't really get a chance to talk to you after all the chaos but, I owe you a massive apology."

"Opie, you didn't-"

"But I did. Let's cut the bullshit. We both know that if I'd have been there, you wouldn't be here right now. I promised you I would be at the graduation but, I forgot and then got stoned and shit-face drunk on top of it. I wasn't there for such an important moment for you and I broke a promise. I missed your speech, which Gemma said was awesome, and I didn't get to see you become what you always wanted to be. It's a moment I wish I could go back to and stand in the audience, cheering for my baby sister as she made her dreams come true. I am truly, from the bottom of my evil heart, sorry for not being there. I will regret it until I take my dying breath. I am even more sorry and horrified that my absence made room for this punk-bitch to assault and violate you. If I had been there, he wouldn't have been able to touch you."

"You can't know that," I said, wiping tears from my face. "If you'd have been there, he could have gotten to me after you left. I don't blame you or Daddy or Jax for what happened to me. And your heart isn't evil, Opie. I mean, I'm disappointed and hurt that you weren't there. I can't deny that part. And there is a possibility this wouldn't have happened to me if you had been there but, it's only a possibility. I forgive all of you for not being there."

"Just like that? You forgive us just like that?"

"Yes."

"We were so selfish and singularly focused that night. You're well within your rights to hold a grudge."

"Opie, when do I ever hold a grudge?"

"Hmm, true. Raised by bikers who definitely hold grudges and offer swift retaliation but, you don't. It's never been in your heart."

"And this time, yeah, it was really important to me and I may have been nursing that wound for a while but…"

"But what?"

"But when I was laying in the dirt, half-conscious and unable to move, I knew you'd come. The same people who missed an important moment and hurt me by blowing me off, didn't hesitate to come looking for me and bring me to safety when I was attacked…and who won't hesitate to deal justice the way it needs to be done. I forgive you because you're my brother bear and you will make sure that the man who hurt me will never be able to hurt anyone else…or come back to finish what he started."

"Over my dead body," he growled and kissed my hand and I laughed.

"I love you, Opie. And all the crazy men in the club too. You showed up when I really needed you."

"Well, Jax did anyway, since he's who found you."

"No, you all did. It could have easily been you who found me."

"Maybe but, you didn't see the determination on his face when we reached the school. He found you so quickly, it was almost like something else was guiding him to you."

"Maybe there was. There's no reason he should have been able to. It was dark and I wasn't anywhere he would have seen me."

"You may not be here if we had to wait until the morning. The bastard left you for dead."

"I think he thought I was already dead."

"I'm glad you're not. I love you, Char, and you will see justice for what was done to you."

"I know. It's why I told Jax who did it. I haven't even talked to the police yet and I'm not going to tell them I know who did it."

We got quiet for a while after the our stuff was settled between us. He continued to sit and hold my hand and we both watched the TV. I was glad Jax was bringing some food because I was starting to finally feel hungry and hospital food sucked. Opie cleared his throat and caught my attention.

"So," he said when I met his eyes, "what's going on between you and Jax?"

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I walked in here and you were both cuddled up in the bed. He's hardly left your side since it happened."

"I think he feels guilty," I said and looked away. "It'll wear off when I get better and everything will go back to normal."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. Why do you say he feels guilty?"

"We had a fight before my graduation. I tripped over his feet when I was rushing out of the clubhouse after I realized you and Daddy were too wasted to go. He was with some skanky crow-eater and I yelled at him when he said something I don't even remember. He got in my face, I yelled more, and then the bitch threw her drink all over me. They laughed at me and I left."

"Was he drunk?"

"Well on his way, I think. But I yelled at him in the clubhouse so, his reaction was to be expected."

"That's bullshit. For a crow-eater, yeah that's to be expected but, Jax wouldn't yell at you for any reason unless he was drunk. He'll probably never do it again even if he is drunk."

"He said as much. I still shouldn't have spoken to him like that at the clubhouse. I was being rude."

"Maybe so but, sober Jax would never get in your face."

"No, he wouldn't. But there was a crow-eater there and-"

"And nothing. He also wouldn't do it because of a crow-eater, even drunk."

"I guess."

"Char, he's been here with you through all of this. That's not just guilt. Not the way he was holding you. He's basically set himself up as your personal guard. No one is getting through him. Jax wouldn't do that out of guilt."

"Well, why else would he?"

"He loves and cares about you. You're probably his closest friend outside of me and not just because you're my sister."

"That's true. Once you and Donna hooked up, we started to hang out more."

"Nah, it was before that. You guys have grown closer since Tara left. Her being around was a dark time for both of you."

"Not for him."

"Yes it was. You know he wasn't himself with her. She made him feel guilty for being who he was. And you were dating that football playing douche bag who treated you like trash."

"Drew," I muttered and looked away. I tried to not think about my verbally abusive ex-boyfriend.

"You ever tell Jax about him?"

"I didn't need to. Jax is who got rid of him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. One night, not long after Tara took off, I had Drew drop me off at the clubhouse. He hated anytime I asked him to do anything but especially if it involved the club. Jax was sitting outside when we pulled up. We were arguing before we got in the car, arguing the whole car ride over, and when I jumped out of the car, Drew jumped out after me and continued to scream at me. That was the first time Drew raised a hand at me."

"He hit you?"

"Slapped me because I had the nerve to talk back to him. It was also the last time he raised a hand at me. Jax saw the whole thing and the minute Drew's hand connected with my face, Jax put his ass on the ground and beat the shit out of him."

"I always wondered what happened to that piece of shit."

"Yep. He dumped me as soon as he could scrape his ass off the ground. The rate I was going with that bastard, Jax saved my life."

"You guys definitely got closer after that, no doubt."

"Well, we were both going through break ups. Both our exes are pieces of shit. We had some common ground."

"You thought Tara was a piece of shit?"

"Yes. She always acted like Jax wasn't good enough for her. She kept trying to change who he was and it was constant conflict with them until she just up and left him. She thought she was better than everyone else. And she hated me when I tried to make nice with her."

"She probably saw what we all see."

"What do you all see?"

"It's obvious to anyone who knows both you and Jax that, one day, things between you will go beyond friendship."

"Oh, whatever Opie," I said and adjusted the bed to a reclining position so I could lay back without laying down. I was getting tired again.

"I'm serious. You're just dancing around each other now but, one day, you'll be dancing together."

"Okay, I don't know what you mean by all that. And you're wrong."

"I'm not wrong but, it doesn't matter at the moment anyway. It'll happen when it happens."

I grunted and changed he channel on the TV, ignoring his know-it-all big brother grin. I settled on a stupid TV show with a name I didn't remember and focused on it until Jax wandered in with a big brown paper bag and two Styrofoam cups

"Hey, you're sitting up," he said in way of greeting. Opie's attention switched to him and nodded.

"Yeah. She got up too."

"You did?"

"Yeah. I had to go to the bathroom," I said, giving a sheepish shrug. Jax hissed and placed the bag and the cups on the rolling table.

"How did that go?"

"Not as bad as when they got me up before but, it's still painful."

"I'm sorry, baby girl," he said and kissed the top of my head. Opie shot me a knowing look, which I strategically ignored.

"It is what it is. I'll get better. What did you bring?"

"Sadie's." His grin lit up his face because he knew how much I loved their food.

"Really?"

"Yep. She made you something special, too, when she heard you were in the hospital." He removed the two boxes from the paper bag as well as all the extra stuff Sadie's put inside it, and set it all out on the table. The bag flew across the room near the trash can and he gently rolled the table so it was over my lap and lowered it so it was move level with me. He sat on the bed by my feet and I opened the box to see three of Sadie's delicious blueberry pancakes. My mouth began to water. I looked up to Jax's face and watched him lift a fry to his mouth, grin still in place. He moved some plastic silverware and my favorite syrup where I could reach it and put a straw in my cup for me. I got my food ready and groaned at the first bite. He was officially my favorite person.

"You are seriously the best, Jax. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Sadie is actually the best."

"I won't argue that," I said and took another bite. Something about the comfort food and the company of my two biggest protectors brought a sense of peace. In spite of the lingering pain, the mental trauma I knew I would have to face later, and the reason why I was in the hospital…I knew I would get through it because I had them beside me.

Jax finished his burger and fries before I stopped eating and then finished the rest of the pancakes I didn't eat. We were quiet as we watched the TV and when I started to doze, a warm body crawled in next to me, pulling me in his arms. He'd taken his cut off again and my cheek was resting on the soft cotton of his t-shirt as I snuggled as close as possible. I cracked my eyes open and saw my brother grinning to himself and shaking his head. I couldn't help but wonder if what he said had real merit. He knew Jax as well as I did and even better when it came to how he was with girls. I shook the seed Opie planted from my head, knowing I shouldn't dwell on it. I had enough to deal with without dealing with any wayward feelings for Jax and whether or not he might feel the same. It was unlikely he ever would.

I catnapped the majority of the afternoon while Opie and Jax talked. Every now and then I'd wake up to join the conversation or get up to go to the bathroom. It was getting easier and easier to move and when the doctor came in and for his final round before the end of the day, he said it was likely I'd be able to go home the next day.

Then, the inevitable happened when around five o'clock, two police officers paid me a visit. I'd been sitting up and the nurse had just left the room when they came in. I'd hoped for it to be Chief Unser, who was a friend to the club but, it was one random guy I've never seen and David Hale, a guy I knew of who graduated from high school the same year my brother and Jax should have and with the same mindset that Tara Knowles had. He thought he was better than everyone else, too, and he came in my hospital room with an air of smugness that made me ill.

"Miss Winston," the unknown police officer said, "if you have a moment, we'd like to ask you a few questions about your attack. Alone." The last word he uttered sent my heart racing and I had to force myself to take deep breaths. Alone with strangers was not something I was okay with. Even if they were police officers. Apparently, neither were my protectors. Opie scoot his chair closer to mine and Jax ran a hand along my back.

"We aren't leaving," Opie said and rubbed his forehead, "I don't know why no one seems to understand that."

"These conversations are sensitive and of a private matter, Opie," David said.

"Miss Winston, if you just cooperate, we'll be out of your hair in no time."

"Cooperate?" My voice was raspy and weak, his words sending my heart racing faster.

"Cooperate with what?" Jax asked and he went very still, his voice the calm before the storm.

"With our investigation, Jax," David said. "We are trying to find out what happened."

"You already know what happened," Opie growled. "She was attacked and raped. Your job is to find who did it."

"Which would be easier if she told us who it was."

"I don't know. It was dark and he caught me off guard. I didn't see anything," I said, trying to calm my anxiety.

"What were you wearing, Miss Winston?" The older officer asked. He had a self-righteous attitude that put David's to shame.

"The fuck does that have to do with anything?" I grabbed Opie's hand to try to calm him even though I was hurt and offended by the officer's words.

"Answer the question," the officer said.

"I was wearing a blue dress. It was my graduation night."

"How short was it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Well, maybe you dressed a bit revealing. Maybe you flirted a little too much, accidentally placed a hand on his arm. Maybe he got a little angry that-"

"Okay," Jax said and stood, "You need to leave. Now."

"Jax, don't interfere with our-"

"You're not investigating anything. You're blaming the victim for being raped like she asked for it to happen when we all know she didn't."

"How do we know that? Especially given the company she keeps," David said, giving Jax a smug look. I couldn't hold the tears back any longer. Opie began yelling at them and Jax sat back down next to me, holding me as I wept against his chest.

"Gentlemen!" Nurse Sharon shouted from the doorway, glaring at the two police officers. "Officer Johns, Officer Hale, I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave."

"With all due respect Nurse, we-"

"You have upset my patient. And while we are at it, no one has ever 'asked for it' when they are raped. It is not anyone's right to take what they wants just because of perceived flirtations. And something tells me she was in no way flirting with the man who attacked her. Not if he attacked her in the dark. Not if he tried to choke her to death. Now, please leave so my patient can get some rest."

"I could have you arrested for obstruction of justice," David said, his tone threatening and angry. By then, I was near hysterics in a way I had never experienced before. I was finding it difficult to breathe and my mind was running in ten different directions. I was lightheaded and terrified for thousands of different reasons I couldn't begin to voice. In fact, I couldn't voice anything at all. My heart continued to pump faster and faster until I was convinced I was going dying. For the first time in my life, I was unable to calm myself and the only person who seemed to sense my distress was Jax. He held me tighter and spoke in a deep, soothing voice that everything would be okay. I wanted so badly to believe him.

"You just try," Nurse Sharon said, "and I will have every news channel in Charming in this hospital, telling them how you victim-shamed a nineteen-year-old girl and told her she was raped because she asked for it. Then you two will be the one's obstructing justice because the Charming Police Department will have to open an investigation on you."

The room was silent except for my muffled cries in Jax's chest and I knew that the nurse had won the argument.

"Miss Winston, if-"

"Do not speak to my sister again. You're done here," Opie said in a voice that would have frightened me to be on the receiving end of…and it gave no room for argument. Feet shuffled across the floor and a door closed a few seconds later. The negative energy seemed to evaporate from the room once they left but, I didn't move. I still couldn't breathe normally. Jax ran a hand through my hair and down my back, repeating the motion over and over.

"They're gone, baby. Everything is okay now," Jax whispered to me. I felt Opie's presence next to me and then he touched my arm, but what was happening to me still didn't stop.

"What's wrong with her? Why is she breathing like that?" Opie asked and I assumed he directed it to the nurse.

"It looks like she's having a panic attack. Something they said must have triggered it."

"How do I make it stop?" I cried in a high-pitched wail, lifting my face from Jax's chest. I didn't even recognize my own voice. The nurse moved closer to me, reaching on behind me to grab something I couldn't see."

"You'll just have to ride it out, honey. This will pass. In the mean time, I'm going to check your blood pressure so I need you to lay back, okay?" I nodded and laid back against the bed. Jax shifted so he was lying against the elevated back of the hospital bed, facing me, and caressed my other arm but, otherwise remained silent. Opie sat back and kept a vigilant eye on what she was doing. She put the blood pressure cuff around my upper right arm and then she grabbed an oxygen mask, putting it around my face.

"Why are you giving her oxygen?" Jax asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"It's just precautionary," she said and turned the valve. Pressurized air his my nose and my mouth and I tried to fight it. "No, no, honey. Just take a deep breath for me, okay?"

"I can't!"

"Yes you can. Just try it." It took several seconds but finally it felt like my airways opened up and the oxygen rushed into my lungs, instantly slowing my breathing. "That's it sweetie. In and out slowly. Good girl." She hit a button and the blood pressure cuff began to tighten but, since I was finally able to breathe, I didn't care. My racing heart finally began dropping back to a normal rhythm and I closed my eyes, willing the world to stop spinning. Jax continued to rub my arm, carefully avoiding my broken wrist, and Opie wove his fingers through mine on my right hand. I was suddenly exhausted and it must have showed to my brother.

"I'm going to step out and call Donna. I know she wants to see you but, I'll have her wait until we get you home tomorrow."

"No," I said, my voice hoarse and muffled by the oxygen mask, "she doesn't have to. I'm okay now."

"You're exhausted after all that. You need sleep. Pop will come in the morning and take you home and Donna can come by after you're settled."

"Opie," I said, ready to insist he tell Donna to come tonight but, I yawned instead. Jax chuckled quietly.

"Opie has a point. You need rest. What just happened took a lot out of you."

"I agree with them, honey," the nurse said. "Your blood pressure is a little higher than I like and your oxygen is a bit low. I think the visitors can stop for today."

"Okay. But can one of them stay?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Jax said and scoot closer. "I told you it's going to be impossible to get rid of me."

"I don't want to get rid of you."

"Then it's settled. I'm gonna head out then and let you sleep," Opie said and kissed my forehead. "Love you, My Lottie." I smiled at the nickname he hadn't used in years.

"Love you, Brother Bear."

"Jax, take care of my sister."

"Always, brother. Tell Donna I said hi."

"Will do. See you two tomorrow." And then my brother left.

"Okay, honey. I'm going to leave the oxygen on for about half an hour and then come back to take it off. I want you to rest and not dwell on anything those officers said to you. None of this is your fault."

"Thank you," I said and then she left the room. Jax moved a little closer.

"You okay?"

"I think so. That was just…awful. This whole mess is so fucked up, Jax. You see why I didn't want to do this through the police?"

"More than ever."

"I've heard horror stories of women who were assaulted or raped and asked about what they did that may have triggered the men. Like men have no goddamn self-control. Why does 'no' mean 'try harder' to so many people?"

"I don't know, baby."

"I grew up with a fucking motorcycle club and never had to worry about anyone hurting me like this. All the police cared about was why it was my fault because of my family." His arms wrapped around my middle and he pulled me closer as gently as possible.

"Fuck them. We will take care of it. It will never happen to you again. In the meantime, just rest, Charlotte. You're not alone."

"Okay. Thank you for staying."

"I'm not going anywhere."

I took comfort in his words and relaxed while he held on to me. Before too long, we were both asleep and I didn't even know when the nurse came in and removed the oxygen mask from my face.