I sat at the table in the room long enough that I started to get antsy. That turned into me pacing the length of the room on my side of the table.

"Mia?" Lowen called out as she entered the room. "Are you alright?"

"No," I answered automatically. I could tell that my lawyer didn't fully understand what I meant. "I was violently awoken during a much needed nap after taking a potent pain killer and a sleeping pill. My face hurts and I really want to make sure to take my antibiotics after what that bitch of a DA did to me."

"What did she do to you?" Ally asked as she sat down and started jotting down some notes.

I pointed to my cheek once I was stationary and answered, "She threw a glass of water in my face. I guess no one ever explained to her that you aren't supposed to soak stitches. Seriously, if I get an infection, I will sue the County to fix my face."

"Don't worry, I'll start working on that right away. But back to you, antibiotics and painkillers… Do you NEED anything else?"

"Food… so that I can take my pills," I replied earnestly. "Do you really think they'll let me have my prescriptions?"

"They have to. Not allowing you to take your antibiotics would be neglect. And ignoring the pain you are in could be considered cruel and unusual punishment."

I sat down at the table across from where she was seated. "I like the way you think. So…? Have you been about to find out why I'm here. I mean… I'm not stupid, I understand the charges, but the police report won't support the charges, so why am I here?"

"I've read the report, so I know that's true, but how is it that you know that?"

"Just a hunch."

"A hunch?" She narrowed her eyes and let her suspicions be heard when she added, "That's quite the educated guess. What aren't you telling me, Mia?"

"Well… At my house, Cane said he would fight the DA if she tried to say it was anything else. And then at the booking counter, Deputy Menottes said that everyone who was at my house felt the same way as Cane. Since Cane was the first at scene, he would be the one writing the report, right? So, I don't get how… why I'm here now if all of that is true."

"In all honesty, I don't either. She's scheduled a meeting with us tomorrow, so we'll see what she had to say then."

"That means I'm spending the night here, right?"

She reached over and squeezed my hand when she heard a quiver of tears in my voice. "It does. But you've never been arrested before, so I should be able to get you out tomorrow. You just have to get through tonight, okay? Is there anything I can do or get for you to make it easier on you?"

"My pain meds should help. They usually knock me out, so maybe I'll wake up and this will all just be a bad dream."

"I'll try my best to make that happen. Wait here and I'll go speak with the Lieutenant."

"Thank you, Ally."

After she left the room, Deputy Menottes stepped through the door. I stood up and walked around the table to where she was standing. She still hadn't said anything, so I turned around and press my wrists together near the small of my back.

"It's alright, Mia. I think it'll be better if your other visitor doesn't see you in cuffs."

"Shit. They… they aren't being dicks to you guys, are they?"

"No, he isn't and I'd really like to keep it that way. Just promise me that you won't try to escape, okay?"

I made the sign of a cross over my heart then said, "I promise."

She then opened the door and walked beside me towards the front of the office. As we made our final approach, my feet started to slow down. The deputy didn't notice until she was with the Lieutenant and my visitor that I wasn't right beside her anymore.

"Daddy?" I called out hoarsely as tears started to stream down my cheeks.

He ran over to me and hugged me so tight that I could barely breathe. I would have been content to stay like that, but my dad had a different plan. He loosened his hold on my torso and took a step back so that he could more easily see my face. He then dried my cheeks with the sleeve of his hoody and then held my had so that he could inspect my latest battle wound.

When I heard him let out a sound that could be classified as a growl, I tried to move my head so that I could look him in the eye. He tightened his hold on my face to an uncomfortable degree, so I stopped struggling.

"They said it was your cheek, but… Mia… shit… It's from your ear to your lip."

I closed my eyes to try to keep myself from crying again. "He used a scalpel, so it sliced through my face like a hot knife through butter."

He turned my face and ran his thumb back and forth over my unblemished right cheek and pensively asked, "He was going to cut this side too?"

"From what he was saying, that was the plan. But after the first cut, he had to run to the sink and throw up."

"Weak ass little bitch."

He let go of my face, so I kissed his cheek then quietly said into his ear, "He went down like one too."

He laughed softly at that. When I was back on flat feet, he traced my stitches with the back of his bent index finger, musing, "You let him off easy."

"I know. But they had a plastic surgeon stitch me up. Chibs and… and Juice made him promise that I won't end up with scars like Chibs has. But… then again… if I go to Stockton, maybe I'll look tougher if I do have the scar."

"You're not going to have a scar. I don't care how much it costs, I'll pay for plastic surgery to make sure that your face looks as beautiful as you are." He hugged me tightly then added quietly into my ear, "And you aren't going to jail. I don't care what I have to do to keep you out, you are not stepping foot in that hell hole."

"Daddy. Don't do anything stupid or…"

He looked me in the eye and tried to interrupt me sternly saying, "Nena…"

"No, Daddy, I mean it. Lowen just confirmed that the police report doesn't support murder one charges, so none of this can go far. Please, let Lowen do her job. Just focus on the club and keeping everyone safe. Please?"

"I don't care about the club, I care about what happens to you, Maria."

I pulled him into a hug and said in a chiding tone, "Don't lie, Daddy. You love the club and all your brothers. And they need you more than I do right now. Look around… I'm safe here. And… I'm among friends. Please, focus on keeping our family safe. Please?"

"Okay… okay. I love you, Baby Girl. If you need ANYTHING, you let me know. Understood?"

"Absolutely." I pulled his face down so that I could kiss his forehead and make very direct eye contact with him. "I love you more than anyone on this planet, Daddy. I promise, I'll be okay. You don't have to worry about me."

"Yes, I do. Look what happens when I leave you alone." He kissed my left eyebrow to drive home that point. "I'll visit you tomorrow."

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

He then turned and walked over to where Eli was standing. I stayed and watched as they had a quiet conversation because I really didn't fully trust my dad. I was completely convinced that he was going to do something regretful. But I let out a relieved breath when I saw Dad shake hands with the Lieutenant before he turned to blow me a kiss before he left.

"The kinder side of Happy." I jumped at the sound of Cane's voice. He chuckled then pointed behind him saying, "Sorry, I'm supposed to escort you to your room."

"Don't you mean cell?" I asked as fresh tears formed in my eyes.

"No, Mia. He said room because he meant room." I turned to look a question at Eli. "Mia, you don't belong here and I refuse to treat you like you do."

Cane gripped my wrist softly to get my attention and then led me down the hallway. We passed most of the rooms that could be viewed by the public, so I was just about to ask where the hell he was taking me. After we went up a flight of stairs, he slipped a key into a lock to open a door that had slats instead of a huge window.

I started to walk through the door, but stopped when a weird thought hit me. "Juice told me about how AUSA Potter would make him disappear for a couple of days. He was staying in here, right?"

Eli barely nodded before he answered, "We could put you in a regular cell if it would make you more comfortable."

I took a step further into the room and then turned to him and replied, "No, I can't… this will be fine. But… what will you tell the DA?"

Eli stepped just inside the door and gestured with his head for Can to leave us alone. "If she asks, I was going to tell her that you were on suicide watch, so this would be easier to monitor you. Despite your ties to the MC, you aren't 'one' of them, so being brought up on bullshit charges… well I know it can be difficult."

I sat down on the bed and looked over at the flat screen TV on the wall. "Thank you for looking out for my mental health."

XXXXXX

I woke up the next morning to the sound of someone opening the door to my room and the welcoming scent of coffee. Despite having taken my antibiotic and a painkiller, I hadn't slept all that well through the night. When I opened my eyes, I immediately remembered where I was, so I was just as happy to roll over and pretend that I was still asleep.

"Good morning, Mia. Your lawyer is supposed to be here in a couple of hours. I thought you'd want to have a proper meal before she got here."

I rolled over then saw Eli holding a tray with toast, scrambled eggs and a fruit cup on it, along with the mug of coffee. He walked over to a table in the room and set the tray on it.

He then pulled out a pill bottle and said, "And that way you can have your meds too."

"Okay… Thanks Lieutenant."

XXXXXX

I sort of lost time while I was in that room, but neither the DA nor my lawyer had shown by after my second day in custody. The only way I knew that I had been here that long was by the number of meals I had eaten. But I couldn't figure out why I was still here. I thought by now that I would have at least gone before a judge or been transferred to Stockton. But no, it was like they had forgotten that I was here or something.

The door opened and Can walked through with another tray of food. I stood where I had been pacing and watched him as he placed it on the table. He didn't seem to notice that I hadn't moved until he had everything laid out on the table.

I sat down where he had served my meal and just stared at it. Cane sat down beside me and asked, "Not feeling hungry?"

I stabbed my fork into the salmon steak answering, "Not really. But it looks great, especially for jail food."

I have a confession to make. This isn't what we usually feed our prisoners. I've just been doubling up what I usually make for myself so that you can have proper food to eat.'

"Wow. That's… that's… really sweet of you, Deputy Cane."

"Gideon." I just stared a question at him causing him to laugh. "It's my first name."

"Oh. Gideon. I like that. Is your family religious?"

"Not really. My mom just picked it out of a book of baby names. I think she liked the meaning of it or something. But back to you. Is something on your mind?"

"How can you tell?"

"Your forehead crinkles when you're deep in thought. The look on your face right now reminds me of the one you were wearing when you were writing notes in the garage… and that sounds creepy. I meant from the surveillance video, not that I hide at the garage and watch you work or anything."

"You don't?" I questioned with a laugh.

"No, I don't. Plus, I don't think I'd have an easy time hiding at TM."

"That's true. You are way taller than any of the guys that work there."

"True. So? What's on your mind this evening?"

I let out a heavy sigh and pushed my chair back a bit. "By my count, tomorrow will be day three here. Is the DA trying to fuck with my head? Or is she just a sadistic bitch?"

"I honestly don't know, Mia. But LT said that no matter what, tonight is your last night here."

"What? How…? What does that mean?"

He reached over and took my right hand into his left. "If you don't go for your bail hearing, he's going to release you."

"Wow. Really? But won't he get in shit with the DA?"

"He really doesn't care. He… we all still can't believe that she took you into custody in the first place, so he sees it as her getting what she deserves."

"Shit… well… Color me grateful you guys are on my side."

"You didn't do anything wrong, so there's no other place we be. Now eat up, you need to keep your energy up so that you can heal… and take these."

I took the two pills form him with a soft smile and a quiet "Thanks".

"Just one more might, Mia. Stay strong."

I started to dig into the meal he had prepared for me when a thought hit me, "Gideon?"

He paused at the door and answered, "Yes, Mia?"

"if you made this when you made your own dinner, why don't you join me?"

"Oh… I… I already ate. But… maybe tomorrow?"

"Alright, sounds good. Thanks everything, Gideon."

XXXXXX

I had a hard time falling asleep that night, even after taking my medications and a sleeping pill, so I was awake when my door opened in the middle of the night. I rolled over on the bed to check who it was. When I saw it was Deputy Cane, I started to perk up. But then I saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I sat up.

He sat down beside me before he answered, "First, I want to assure you that everyone is okay."

"What? Why…? Why wouldn't everyone be okay?"

"There was an explosion at the clubhouse tonight."

I jumped off the bed then nearly shouted, "An explosion? But everyone was there! All the kids… DAD! My dad…!"

Cane caught me in a hug and then looked me in the eyes as he very calmly and slowly stated, "Mia… EVERYONE is okay. Some ringing in our ears and a couple of scraped knees, that's it. Your dad is fine."

I let out a shaky breath as I hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Gideon. Do…? Do you think I can see him?" I stepped back so that I could look up at him. "Please?"

"He said he would come by tomorrow. But I told him not to bother."

"WHAT?! Why…? Why would you do that?"

He rubbed his hands up and down my arms to try to calm me down. "Because it'll be better for him to go straight to the courthouse."

"Court? Really?"

"Yes. LT put his foot down and convinced the DA that if she didn't take you in front of a judge that she would be finding herself on the wrong side of a lawsuit."

I stared at him for a second. This whole ordeal had been so surreal that I was having a hard time processing it all.

As I opened my mouth to speak I heard a couple of the deputies yelling, "Stop! Stop it now!" That was followed by a woman's voice, but I couldn't make out what she was saying. Since it was all coming from a floor below me, I knew there had to be some kind of a fight for them to be so loud.

When Cane didn't offer any explanation, I asked, "What the hell was that?"

"We… uhh… We were at the clubhouse because we arrested Nero for the murder of Erin Byrne."

"You what?"

He shook his head sadly then replied, "You heard me right. And I don't think Gemma is impressed with us."

"I can't imagine she would be." I flopped down on the bed and head to crane my neck back to look up at his face. "She's going after all of us until someone breaks."

Cane got a pensive look on his face as he sat down beside me. "She? Who do you think is coming after you?"

"The DA."

He got this look on his face that I couldn't quite decipher until he asked, "And why would she do that?"

I gave him a cheeky smile and almost didn't answer him because I knew he knew the answer. "Alright, I'll humor you, Deputy Cane. That school shooting has everyone breathing down the DA's neck for her to lock up the monster who gave that little boy the gun. In her mind that's SAMCRO. So she's trying to divide and conquer." That's when I had a 'Eureka' moment that would have knocked me off my feet if I wasn't already sitting down. Instead I just let out a very impassionate, "Fuck."

Cane's eyes widened and all of the teasing from his tone disappeared when he asked, "What was that for?"

I stared at him for a second because I honestly couldn't believe he hadn't connected the dots like I had. "You really don't see it, do you?"

"No, sorry Mia, I guess I don't."

"That's why I'm here Even though there's absolutely no evidence on your guys' end to support the charges, but here I am. AND she hasn't taken me before a judge OR sent me to County. Fuck… if my dad figures this out…"

"What? What will he do, Mia?"

I turned as I felt a cruel smile spread across my face. "He won't have to worry about paying for plastic surgery. The lawsuit settlement should be more than enough to cover the cost."

He smiled then said, "Now that's a court case I would be more than happy to give testimony at."