A/N at end. Thanks to Robin D. for reviewing the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this latest addition.
Bobby pulls another tray of muffins out of the oven and smiles to himself. Pumpkin, he'd made them specifically for SAMCRO's new house guest after Chibs mentioned the girl had practically inhaled the one from the night before. It had been a long year and baking was one of the only pleasures Bobby Elvis had left that made him feel like things are getting back to normal. He knows all signs point to things getting worse before they really get better but he's willing to take his peace where he can.
Clay had started shutting them out in Stockton right after Jax was shived by the Russians. They'd all watched while their President drifted across the yard to talk to the Mexicans and considering the dangerous look on Clay's face none of them had been surprised when he'd come back with promises of protection. There had been surprise though a week later when the news of their now expanded gun trade was shared. Then the news had gone quiet and stayed quiet, they were protected and things calmed down but Clay clammed up.
Bobby has been a Son for over half his life and he's seen what happens when a President holds it all in and locks out the brothers. He'd watched it happen with JT and sometimes he feels like they are still dealing with the repercussions of that mess. He knows Clay will never recognize it but sometimes Bobby feels like he can see the same fire in Jax's eyes he'd seen in his step-father's twenty years before. It scares him more than he'd like to admit. Clay isn't the type to back down and find a new family to keep him occupied the way JT had.
The sudden revelation that the new Cartel deal included muling coke did not sit well with Bobby and he was starting to feel an itch he hadn't experienced in years. The itch to escape, the desire to get away and find some time to center. This newest Cartel favor felt like the last straw last night in chapel. The way Clay had presented the facts as though there was no alternative, maybe there wasn't.
It had been the woman, a girl really, she couldn't be more than 30, that had changed Bobby's mind. Rushing out of church to find her looking so fierce while she stood over Miles had put Bobby's back up but then she'd started signing. He could tell she knew they didn't understand and the small trace of vulnerability that had floated through her eyes as she got more and more frustrated had locked him in. It really wasn't her fault Clay was being an ass.
Bobby had participated in over a hundred hospital visits and toy runs during his life in the MC and several of them had been to schools for the deaf and blind. It had taken him a moment to recognize the sign language outside of the school context but once he'd realized he knew what to do. All morning he'd been wracking his brain in an attempt to remember any old signs. Most of what he'd learned back in the day was kid related but he was pretty sure he remembered how to introduce himself and maybe a few basic words.
He looks down at the fresh muffins, now dumped out of their pan and onto a clean dish towel before glancing up at the clock over the stove. Ten a.m., probably time to have someone go check on the girl. Chibs said he'd given her a few pain killers, and Bobby has no doubt she needs to sleep, but at some point they're going to have to figure out what to do with her and no less important who she is. Juice had stayed up late trying to find her online by description but it wasn't much to go on and there was no new progress.
Bobby adds the newest batch of muffins to his already sizable pile and backs out the swinging kitchen door into the main clubhouse. Several of the guys are out on business but there are still a few brothers hanging about. He remembers Jax and Ope saying they were running up to the reservation to pick up a new stock of bullets but Chibs and Tig are playing pool while Juice fiddles with a laptop on a nearby couch. Piney is already at the bar, his tankard full of amber liquid and Bobby shakes his head. They're all due to start shifts at the garage in an hour so they'd best eat.
He's just gotten everyone's attention and is trying to dodge around grabbing hands to get the muffins onto the table before they're all gone when a noise from the back hallway draws his attention. She's standing in the hallway opening, JT's bike at her back, wrapped in the comforter from the dorm room bed. Her short hair is sticking straight off her head on one side like she'd slept on it wrong and he can just make out bare feet trying to tuck themselves into the folds of the dragging blanket.
"Who's the gash?" Piney grunts the words from the bar and Bobby is momentarily glad the girl is deaf.
"Ah, tha's our newest gift from the Cartel." Chibs speaks through a mouthful of muffin.
"They're giving us pussy now?" Piney is squinting at her and Bobby doesn't miss the way she returns the old man's stare with wide dark eyes.
"Not exactly brother, they want her protected while they figure out if she's worth anything to some rival group that set up in Lodi. Jax and Clay picked her and half a mil in protection cash up last night." Tig quickly summarizes the events of the night before and Piney just grunts before turning back to his tequila. Bobby can't blame the man, of them all Piney was the most upset about the Cartel situation. The old guard is nervous about the changes coming to the MC courtesy of Clay.
Deciding he's let her stand there looking confused long enough Bobby pushes away from the table and moves towards her trying to step slowly. She doesn't look scared but for some reason this is more disconcerting than the alternative. Shouldn't she be at least a little intimidated by a collection of armed bikers. He stops at the end of the bar and waves her forward. She doesn't move.
"Good morning. There are muffins if you're hungry." He motions back to the table where the quickly shrinking pile of baked goods sits. "Are you okay?" He tries for the OK hand signal as he talks and her big eyes track his hand. "Are you cold?" He motions shivering to try and get his point across. He feels like an idiot.
She shakes her head no and then surprises him by pulling the blanket open to reveal that she's only wearing a bra, panties, and the rib wrap underneath. The covers close around her body as quickly as they opened and she raises her eyebrows at him in question.
"You don't have any clothes?" He speaks clearly maintaining eye contact. She nods eagerly. "Right. Hold on." He holds up a finger to indicate one minute and turns back to the guys.
"What's the matter?" Chibs is looking at him closely as he walks back towards them.
"She needs clothes. Makes sense, there was blood on everything she was wearing last night." Bobby runs a hand down his face as he talks not sure where they're going to come up with clothes. They could call Gemma but with all the excitement last night there had been no discussion of how secret this new visitor is supposed to be.
"Ah, aye. Jackie boy keeps some shite for Tara in his room?" Chibs throws out the suggestion and Bobby nods along. "I'm sure the doc will understand." The kitchen timer interrupts the conversation and Bobby looks back to the kitchen torn.
"Think you can help her find something while I get that?" He smacks Tig's hand away from the last of the muffins as he speaks. "Leave some for the girl."
"What she's a little thing!" Tig's voice trails Bobby into the kitchen and despite the smell of new baked goods he can feel the weight of everything starting to sink down on to his shoulders. Mysterious naked kidnapped women in the clubhouse, drug running, and a very drunk Piney. They'd only been out of jail a week and things are definitely going to get worse before they get better.
I know things may feel a little slow. There's some action coming soon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are still looking forward to more. Reviews and feedback are always welcome.