[[Author's Note: Hope you guys like the last chapter! This one is a bit longer and I apologize if there are typos. I finished it last night and I'm in a rush to get to work. Let me know what you think! Happy birthday!]]

Facing Demons

—Charlie—

When I'd awoken the next day, Jax had been awake for a while. He was making breakfast when I finally crawled from my room.

"Good morning, sleepy head!"

"Coffee."

"Aren't we grumpy this morning," he said, a grin on his face. He put a spatula down and grabbed a coffee mug from the cabinet by the fridge as I sat at my old kitchen table. I stopped watching him and rubbed the sleep from my eyes for a minute, my elbows resting on the table top. The next thing I knew, the heavenly aroma of coffee was steaming under my nose. I looked down and the mug he'd grabbed was sitting in front of me. My eyes lifted to his.

"It's too early for you to give me that shit-eating grin.," I grumbled.

"It's nine-thirty. That's hardly early." He fixed a cup for himself and laughed when I glared at him. It was well known how much of a morning person I was not. Wordless, I took a sip and moaned as the first drop of caffeine touched my tongue. He cleared his throat and turned back to the stove. Something about his quick movements was a bit off but, I wasn't awake enough to comment on it.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Well, I had my mom take me to your school so I could bring your car home."

"Damn. I forgot about my car."

"I figured we'd go to the cabin in your car. I doubt my bike would be comfortable for you right now."

"I could catch a lift with Gemma so you could ride."

"No can do, babe. She's already gone. There something wrong with me driving your car?"

"Of course not. I just know that ninety percent of the time, you'd rather be on your Harley."

"I don't mind driving your car. I want you to be as comfortable as you can."

"Well, considering the wonderful fun it is just to sit down, I greatly appreciate you not making me ride the bike."

"I know she rides hard. I mean, your piece of shit drives hard too but, at least the seats are more comfortable."

"You leave my car alone. It does everything I need it to do."

"The front passenger window doesn't even roll down."

"I don't need that window to work," I said and sipped my coffee. "And is it my fault my mechanic can't figure out a window?"

"Your mechanic is me!"

"Hmm, maybe I need a new mechanic."

"Well," he scoffed, "someone is feeling herself today."

"I guess." I put my half-empty mug on the table in front of me, focusing exclusively on it for a moment until a hand touched mine. I looked up and met Jax's kind blue eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I sighed and sat back, grabbing the pack of cigarettes in the middle of the table.

"I'm okay. I'm still pretty sore but, it's not as bas as it has been. It's helped being in my own bed." He watched me light the cigarette I'd pulled from the pack

"The bruising on your face and your neck is starting to fade," he said and turned back to the stove. I inhaled the smoke deep into my lungs, nodding, as I watched him scoop out some fluffy scrambled eggs and put them on two plates.

"Yeah, I just wish other bruises would fade as quickly as the rest are starting to."

"Are they supposed to take longer?"

"They can. Especially given their location." I took another drag of my cigarette and lightly stamped it out on the ashtray as he walked up beside me and placed one of the plates, now with a slice of toast in front of me.

"Well, this isn't much but, it's breakfast that I actually know how to cook."

"It looks great, Jax. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said and kissed my forehead before he sat down in the chair next to me, his own plate in front of him. The small token of affection made me feel warm inside and I couldn't keep the smile from my face.

"When are we going to the cabin?"

"Soon. After we eat. Clay wants us there before noon."

I nodded but didn't say anything else. I focused on my food and finishing my coffee, pleasantly surprised that the eggs were as good as they were. I had no idea my badass biker could cook. I froze mid-bite as the thought hit me. My badass biker? Since when did I start thinking of Jax Teller as mine? A hand rubbed my back gently and I turned my head to see him staring at me in concern.

"It'll be okay, Charlie. You're not alone." My shoulders slumped and I took a deep breath. He misunderstood what my internal anxiety was about and for that, I was grateful.

"I know. Shit, I'll be the safest person in the cabin. I almost feel bad for him."

"Charlie-"

"I said almost. I almost feel bad for him. The guy has an outlaw MC planning on ripping him apart. Had it not been me he ripped apart, I might feel a bit of sympathy. As luck would have it, I want to see the prick mutilated and burned."

"I doubt it would benefit you to see what we do to him but, we can try to give you whatever closure you need."

"Closure? I need this to have never happened but, I suppose if I get to spill some of his blood, that will be good enough."

"Lucky for you, you're in good with an outlaw MC. I'm sure you'll get to spill your fair share of blood from the fucker who raped you."

"You think Clay will let me?"

"I'm sure he will if you ask. I just don't think you will," he said and stood, taking his empty plate to the sink. I swallowed the food in my mouth and furrowed my brow at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, as much as you want to hurt him, when it comes down to it, your heart is too pure."

"Oh whatever!"

"I'm serious, Charlie. You're built to heal and restore life, not take it."

"I don't want to take his life. I just want to make him bleed," I said as I took the last bite from my plate. He placed it in the sink for me and then came back to the chair beside me. He lit a cigarette for himself and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it distracting. Sudden warmth broke out across my skin as I watched his kissable mouth but, I quickly wiped the thoughts from my head.

"Trust me, babe. He will bleed for everything he did to you. That's not on you."

"Do I have time to change before we leave?"

"Of course. The drive is only an hour and a half. Just dress comfortable."

"I will. Thank you for breakfast, Jax."

"You're welcome."

"I won't be long," I said and stood. He stood at the same time I did and grabbed his cut on the back of the chair, slipping it on his shoulders.

"I'll wait for you outside," he said and kissed my cheek as he headed for the front door.

"Okay. I'll be just a few minutes."

The house was silent as I went back to my room and readied for facing my rapist. Opting for a flow-y blue skirt, a black tank top, and a sweater the same color blue as my skirt, I put on flip-flops and grabbed my purse. I slipped it over my neck so it hung across my body and walked through the house to the front door, making sure it was locked before I closed it behind me. The sight that met me in the driveway wasn't something I would forget. Jax was leaning against the driver's side of my car, smoke from a freshly lit cigarette billowing from his mouth, sunglasses covering his eyes, the leather cut making him look like some kind of bad boy supermodel. I'd never seen a more sexy man. I shivered slightly and made my way to the passenger side when he noticed me standing there. He lowered his glasses and stared at me as I walked. When he didn't move, I met his stare.

"What?"

He shook his head and said, "nothing."

"Why are you staring at me?"

"I'm not staring at you." He climbed into my car and I shook my head before following suit.

"Is this not okay?" I asked, gesturing down at my choice in wardrobe. When his eyes met mine, the only word I could find to describe them was smoldering.

"It's okay. Definitely okay," he said and his tone was unlike any I'd ever heard from him before. For the first time, I realized whatever feelings I was developing for Jax, I was not alone. We stared at each other for a few minutes until I looked away first.

"We should go," I whispered and then glanced at him again. The smoldering eyes faded back to normal and he nodded, adjusting his sunglasses.

"You're right. But you should know, you look beautiful, Charlie."

"Really? Even with the bruises?" I said and felt my face flush from his words. He smiled at me and grabbed my hand, pulling it until he kissed the backs of my fingers. A menagerie of butterflies erupted in my stomach.

"Even with the bruises, babe. Let's go."

The drive to the cabin was uneventful. Some good tunes on the radio provided a decent soundtrack that had us both dancing and singing in our seats. I was having such a good time with him, I'd almost forgotten why we were going to the cabin. However, the closer we got, the more anxious I became. About five minutes away from the cabin, I'd withdrawn and was practically gnawing my fingernails off. As Jax turned down the dirt road that would take us to the doorstep, he reached across the console until he grabbed the hand I was chewing on and pulled it away from my mouth. He kissed it and wove his fingers with mine, squeezing. The gesture alone served to calm me.

"It's going to be okay," he said quietly. "I'm not going anywhere." I squeezed his hand in return.

"I know you won't. That's pretty much what's going to get me through the door."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I can turn around right now." I looked in front of us and the cabin was within sight. Then I looked to him and his serious expression.

"I'm sure. We are already here and I'm not going to let you defy Clay's order. You have to be here and going where you are is much better than being home wallowing by myself."

His serious expression melted into something I didn't recognize and he squeezed my hand again.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone who has the strength you do, Baby Girl. You stand and face your demons, even when you're afraid of them."

"Well, I've always been of the opinion that people have to deal with their shit. How else are you supposed to get passed it?"

"Oh, many people use denial as a means of coping."

"I'd rather move past all that and get to the heart of my issues," I said as he pulled in the dirt driveway next to a row of Harleys. "It may still be a while before I get past this shit and fully move on with my life. I'll probably still need to see a counselor when it's all said and done. However, I don't need any of that to face this bastard. I don't need any of that to know my favorite men on the planet are going to make it so I don't have to be afraid to live."

"Surely, this isn't you putting an outlaw MC on some sort of pedestal?" he asked as he turned off the car, facing me as he spoke. I scoffed.

"Of course not! Do I look like Gemma? I know full well what's going to take place with Jeremy, which in a court of law would make me an accomplice. But, just because you're outlaws who dispense your own kind of justice doesn't mean you aren't good men."

I climbed from the car and turned to see Gemma, Clay, Opie, and my father standing on the porch together. I hesitated, waiting until Jax was standing next to me before I took a deep breath. He didn't say anything but, his hand on my upper back settled me a bit and I looked up at him. He smiled, nodding to toward the porch. At the same time, we walked together and his presence beside me offered me more strength than he would probably ever know.

—Jax—

It didn't escape me how easily she relaxed at my touch when we walked to the porch of the cabin. Feeling her withdraw into herself the closer we got to the cabin was painful to watch, but knowing I was able to bring her out of it a little made me hopeful that the trauma she endured would only strengthen her. Of course, things may still get more complicated after dealing with the piece of shit who hurt her.

When we reached the porch she hugged Opie and then was tightly embraced by Piney and he didn't immediately release her. For the first time in I didn't know how long, his eyes were clear of any intoxication and full of determination. She snuggled into his side in a way I hadn't seen from her since she was a little girl and chewed on her nails, her eyes slightly downcast. I suppose in this situation, she was a little girl and she trusted her father to take care of the bad man who hurt her. Well, her father and all his big, mean friends. I stood next to Opie, not far from where I could see her. I didn't have it in me to let her out of my sight yet.

"How ya feelin', Baby Doll?" Piney said, his usual gruff voice softened as he spoke to her.

"I'm okay. Moving better and better."

"I trust Jax has been takin' good care of ya?" Clay asked, his blue eyes focused on me for a moment before he smiled at her. She nodded and I swear, her face lit up. Her eyes met mine and the same pull I felt just before we left her house reappeared and, for the second time in less than twenty-four hours, I struggled with the restraint to keep from putting my lips on hers. It was exhilarating and disconcerting at the same time and both extremes were fighting for dominance. It was also the second time I was certain she was feeling it too. She bit her lip, fighting a grin, before she answered him.

"Yes, he has. He's actually been spoiling me so much, I may not let him leave my house."

"Not a problem here," I said and winked at her. Piney grunted and he glared at me but, he didn't say anything. Charlie nudged him and laughed. Then, she focused on my mom's husband.

"Is there a reason you wanted me here?"

"Well, for starters, I wanted to make sure we had the right guy before we roughed him up too bad."

"Okay, I get that. I'll identify him," she said and she wrapped her sweater tighter around herself. It took everything in me to not rush and hold her. I bit my lip to hold in the growl. Whatever was going on with me, it didn't need to show itself in front of them all. It wasn't the time for such things.

"Also," Piney said and rubbed her back gently, "we thought we would give you an opportunity to say what you need to."

"Not many people get the opportunity to confront a person who hurt them, baby," my mom said to her when Charlie didn't react. It was quiet for a minute but, I continued watching her face. She was nervous, of that there was no doubt but, I saw the moment she made up her mind and gave Clay a determined nod.

"Where is he?"

"The shed 'round back," Clay said and his voice softened. "You sure you wanna do this? No one is gonna force ya to get near the bastard. We can take care of things without you ever seeing him again."

"Actually, Clay," she said, "I think I need to do this. In case he's the wrong guy, I don't want you torturing someone innocent. If he's the right guy, I have something I want to say."

"All right. Whenever you're ready, kiddo."

"I see no point in dragging it out," she said and shrugged. I wasn't fooled by her nonchalance, however. The corners of her eyes were pinched with anxiety but, when Clay was the first to leave the porch, she took a deep breath and followed him. The rest of us followed around the back of the cabin to a pathway that lead to a shed. When we got there, Tig was waiting outside. Tig was a terrifying dude. Rightfully so. As the club's sergeant at arms, he was required to be terrifying. However, he had a soft spot for Charlie. In a lot of ways, I think she reminded him of his own daughters. His eyes and his face softened into a gentle smile when he saw her and she didn't hesitate to walk into his open arms.

"How ya doin', Doll?"

"I'm okay. Obviously not a hundred percent but, I'm getting better."

"Good, good. If you need anything, you don't hesitate to call me."

"Thanks Tig," she said and kissed his cheek. A low moan on the other side of the door rudely reminded us why we were there. She stepped out of Tig's embrace and looked around until she saw me. A weight seemed to drop from her when she realized I'd followed behind her. My heart rate sped up when it hit me that I really was who she was leaning on to help her through this. I stepped closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, squeezing her and pulling her closer at the same time.

"Are you sure?" I asked in a voice only meant for her to hear. She nodded and I turned to Clay, offering him a single nod.

"All right, here's what will happen. Charlie goes in and identifies our prisoner, she speaks her peace, and then she's out. Jax, you and Ope will go in with her but, you don't touch him. Yet. After she leaves the shed, we will have church up in the cabin before anything else is done. We go from there, understand?" A chorus of agreements sounded around us and I gently turned her to face the door, Opie coming up on her other side so she was surrounded by a wall of safety.

I'd never seen a stronger woman than the one who walked before me through the door. Chained to the wall on the right side of the shed was the most pathetic excuse for a human being I'd ever seen. Some of the guys had some fun dragging his ass from the van to the shed. He was scraped up, had grass stains on his clothes, his lip was split, and he had a black eye. He would moan occasionally as if in pain and it wouldn't have surprised me if Tig had taken a few liberties while he was alone with the bastard. When he looked up, recognition brightened his face when he saw her.

"Charlie," he muttered, "thank God. Tell them…"

"Tell them what?" Her voice was stone cold and hard. I took my eyes off the prick and looked at her. Her face matched her voice and she was not remotely afraid to be standing before him. She was pissed. I couldn't fight my growing smile and my eyes met Opie's. His smile matched mine and I knew he saw what I did. Trauma or not, pain or not, she was Samcro through and through.

"Tell them this is a mistake. I didn't force myself on you." His raspy, pathetic voice and his begging eyes made me see red.

"But you did, Jeremy, and you know you did. You just want me to spare you life. But I can't. The minute I told them your name, you were as good as dead."

"No, Charlie, this is a mistake. It's all a mistake."

"I thought about sparing you, you know? Outsiders seem to think the women who are close to patched members, the ones who are related to them, don't know what happens. Outsiders seem to think us women don't know our men are outlaws. I guess that spares us from being questioned by anyone because even though we know, we know nothing of the details and as you know, the details are the only things that matter. So, after they found me beaten, raped, and left for dead, I knew if I gave them the little detail of your name, you would disappear."

His eyes grew wide and the sudden stench of urine indicated he'd wet himself. He sputtered for a moment as tears filled his eyes.

"Please, Charlie. You don't have to do this. Don't let them do this."

"You didn't have to do what you did. I begged you to stop, but you didn't. I tried to fight you off but you were too strong for me. I'd told you for months I was not interested in being with you but, you didn't take my 'no' for an acceptable answer."

"Please, Charlie. I'll go to the police and turn myself in. I swear." Charlie laughed but there was no mirth in it.

"You might get a couple years of hard time but, you'll probably just walk out with probation and a slap on the wrist tell you to be a good boy and to not do it again. Meanwhile, I have to live with what you did to me for the rest of my life. I started thinking about the other girls at school you were harassing and it crossed my mind that I might not be the first person you did this to…and I might not be the last person you do this to. And that isn't something I can live with."

"Please, don't do this, Charlie."

"You told me you could save me from my family but, I don't need saving from my family. They're my backbone, my heart and soul, and they're the only thing keeping me together. I need saving from people like you who think I'm a blind little sheep caught in a trap with the big, bad, bikers. Let me tell you something, Jeremy. What you did to me, not one of these men would do to a woman."

"Please, stop this! Please, don't let them kill me!"

"At this point, even if I wanted to stop what was coming for you, I can't. What little control I had, I gave to the Sons of Anarchy. Goodbye Jeremy. I hope hell will be kinder to you than they will be," she and with her head held high she turned away from him. His pleading suddenly turned to growls as he started fighting his chains.

"You fucking cunt! Goddamn biker WHORE! You get back here you-"

Blind with rage, I rushed to him and punched him hard in his mouth. I lost count of how many times I hit him and didn't stop until I heard her yelling over the frenzy buzzing in my head.

"Jax! Jax, please! Stop!" The word instantly stopped me. I stepped away and pushed my loose hair from my face. Glaring at him, I spit on the man who lay groaning on his side, blood seeping from his mouth. A gentle hand on my arm got my attention and I faced Charlie. Her eyes were alight with an emotion I couldn't place. I looked at Opie, who looked as angry as I felt, and he nodded toward the door. I placed an arm on her back and guided her from the shed. Once outside, her steps faltered as her legs gave out. I caught her easily and lifted her in my arms.

"Are you all right?" I asked quietly. I hated that she saw me acting that way but, when her arms wrapped around my neck and she laid her head on my shoulder, I didn't think I had much to worry about.

"I don't know," she whispered, "thank you for catching me. And for defending me." I kissed her forehead and continued walking, Opie had already reached those who were waiting for us.

"No one is going to call you a whore. I'm sorry you saw my lose my shit but I-"

"I appreciate that. Your violence doesn't frighten me, Jax. Maybe it should but, it wasn't directed at me. It was directed to the one who hurt me. Thank you."

"Always, baby. I'll protect you against anyone who hurts you," I whispered, stepping up to the group.

"Are you okay, doll?" Tig asked. I felt Charlie nod.

"I think so. Just overwhelmed."

"Can you stand?" I asked.

"Yeah. You can put me down, I think." I did as she said and she didn't fall. Still, I didn't step away from her in the event she faltered again.

"Is it him?" Piney asked.

"Yeah, Dad. It's him."

"Are you okay with what's about to happen?" Clay asked her. She met his deep-set, blue eyes and never wavered.

"I knew what would happen the minute I said his name. I made my peace with that before now. If his blood is on my hands, so be it. It's better than him being allowed to walk and do this to someone else."

"His blood will not be on your hands, Charlotte," Piney said, his fingers pulling her chin until she was looking at him. "It will be on mine."

"You're Samcro family. Samcro takes care of its own," Clay said. Piney nodded, as did the rest of us.

"More than that, you're my daughter. I take care of you and this man will not be a threat to you ever again. I will see to that." Charlie nodded her head and she wiped her eyes. Opie stepped up to her and wrapped her in the embrace he always saved for his little sister. Since I was still standing close to her, I heard what he was mumbling to her.

"I'm so proud of you. You're the strongest person I know."

"I doubt that," she said with a laugh.

"No, you are. You faced your attacker and you didn't faint only days after it happened. Pop's right. He blood ain't on you. It's on him, it's on us, but it's not on you."

"All right. Church! Now!" Clay said and everyone filed inside one by one. I stood with her for a moment and she wiped her eyes again.

"They're right, Charlie," I said quietly. She turned to look at me. "He bleeds today and that's not on you." She just nodded, not saying a word. Before I could stop myself, driven by the same force I had to fight off before we ever left her house, I gently placed my lips on hers. She froze and then kissed me back but, it was over as fast as it started. I pulled back slowly, my mouth still tingling from the feel of hers, and our eyes met. There was much I wanted to say and I could see everything reflected back at me in her eyes. She smiled and then moved to kiss my cheek.

"You better get in there before Clay has your ass," she said. I laughed and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, you're right." About the time I was walking through the door, my mom was walking out. She reached out and kissed my cheek before I walked passed. With one look over my shoulder, I saw her with Charlie, hugging her tight. I made my way to the table in the kitchen and sat with my brothers. Time to make the bastard pay.