This unexpected attack only convinced Jax more about the rightness of his desire to end this partnership with Cartel, which brought them only blood, suffering and death for the last time. Any money don't cost this shit, especially when it's about someone's life we're talking now. He didn't know if it was the pure luck that no one got hurt or whoever did that only wanted to warn them, it doesn't matter, 'cause the message was clear: everyone who involved with Galinda Cartel somehow will die sooner or late. Jax helped Bobby to stand up and then it was like a lightning strike that caught him by surprise.

"Ellie!" shouted Teller as he run out of the room. At first he didn't notice her behind the bar and thought that the worst had happened. He didn't safe her. He wasn't there for her and she died alone for nothing. That's what were his thoughts like, a big instant mess of anger and regret, but suddenly Ellie appeared out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer, breathing out with relief, and tangled his fingers in her hair with little shards in it. "Thanks God you're okay. I was afraid you…" he whispered without strength to end this sentence, pressing his forehead to hers.

"Didn't see that coming, did ya?" she whispered, smiling with tears that started forming in her eyes. "I was in the kitchen when I heard gunfire and run here immediately as the shots stopped. I wanted to check if you're okay, I thought you could be dead," she started to shiver in his arms and he just keep petting her head, whispering that everything's gonna be okay.

"I won't let that happen again, Ellie, I swear," she nodded, pulling closer to him, trying to find protection inside his arms. Clay walked out of the room and noticed this scene with some idea forming in his head at the very same moment. He knew that this damn attack will convince other to support Jax in his will to end with Cartel and that pissed him off seriously. Morrow stopped Tig and said him to call Romero.

"Set up a meeting, tell him it's fucking important. And make it fast 'cause cops will definitely visit us very soon," then he hurried to walk out of the clubhouse but Bobby caught him.

"I warned you that something like this will happen but you didn't listen! Don't think, that because of this we won't have the vote. This time we will make it right," Clay clenched his fists and hissed to Munson with threat in his voice:

"Do not forget who you're talking to, Elvis, or I'll cut off you're fucking tongue," he left him and went to Tig, who ended his short conversation with Cartel.

"In half an hour at the warehouse," Nodded Trager, hiding his cellphone. Clay gave Bobby one more angry look and went out, not wanting to see that his theats had no effect. Munson just shook his head.

"Stubborn fool," He mumbled to himself, ignoring Tig's suspicious glance. Turning to Jax, he uttered, "Are you coming, son?"

Teller gave Ellie a protectionist kiss on a forehead and hurried to join others on their way to clearing everything. Nobody actually had a doubts that this shit was connected with Cartel and their partnership so they were looking forward to get some answers and, as an additional bonus, someone specific they could punish for attack. When they got to the storage it turned out that not only Romeo with his people were awaiting for them but Alvarez too.

"Shitty morning, isn't it?" He said as they approached and shook Clay's hand first.

"We've had worse," Jax replied without a smile, looking at Romeo and Torres. "But still it wasn't a good surprise."

"Yeah, much worse surprise would be your people's dead bodies?" Alvarez clicked his tongue. "Well, I've got such one."

"We were just lucky, but it doesn't have matter, we didn't sign up for this shit anyway."

"This shit is a usual thing in this kind of business," Romero made a little step forward. "But I understand, you didn't want troubles and this one is, I'm afraid, our mistake. We're pretty sure that those who attacked you were from Lobos Sonora."

"Aye, cartels' showdown," Telford, who stood a bit aside, grunted with displeasure. "Isn't it something you should warn us about?"

"Didn't thought they'll dare to show up in Charming," Torres was irritated as usual. "But as well as they did, it's a chance to deal with them. How many people do you have?"

"Not enough," Clay shook his head. "I understand this competitive shit but not when it touches my town. We're in quite bad standing with the police so we don't need hype."

"And you won't have it," Promised Parada. His right hand speaked again:

"We need to find out who helped them here, they couldn't just show up from nowhere. We'll find it out - we'll lure them and solve the problem by joint forces."

The plan seemed to be reasonable and they didn't have the other one anyway. But reasonable didn't mean simple, because finding out who stood behind the aiming Lobos on Charming took awhile. This hitch turned into another gunfire right on the streets and the need to act decisively. The first step of this kind of actions was to protect the club which meant to protect everyone who was connected with it somehow too. Gathering members and their families at the clubhouse was a clear sign that everything is petty bad and it made nervous those who understand it.

One of those understanding was Thea. When Kozik showed up at her doorstep, she immediately felt that something was wrong. They didn't have a chance to speak plainly lately but the fact that he was the one who came to her spoke volumes. Juice asked exactly Kozik to talk to Thea as well as he thought that he would be able to convince his stubborn friend about the necessity of gathering. But he miscalculated a bit, Martinez was as adamant as always, demanding full explanations before doing anything.

"It's cause of gunfire, isn't it?" She crossed her arms.

"Yeah, yeah," Herman pursed his lips. He knew she won't give up without a fight but luckily he had an experience in convincing her. "T, it's temporary. We know who standing behind all of this so we'll handle that shit very quickly, I promise. C'mon, girl, just let me take you to the clubhouse. We don't wanna get you hurt," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Thea squinted her eyes and smirked bitterly.

"We? Juice sent you, huh? Unbelievable…" she rolled her eyes and threw Kozik's hand away, leaving him in the room. Despite how hard she wanted to screw both of them and the entire club together, at this moment she understood that spending a few nights under protection won't be so bad. So when she came out of her bedroom with a small package , where was mainly the work stuff, Kozik met her with satisfied smile. "I'm still mad at you, so don't grin here, jackass."

"Don't be such a drama queen Martinez," he laughed and went out after her. Kozik ride right after her car, but both of them noticed a black tinted car that followed them straight to the club. Saying that Thea was scared as hell would be a huge understatement, 'cause when she and Herman finally got to the TM, she literally run out of her car and stared at their pursuers. The car ride away as soon as two prospects closed the gates but she coudn't make a move until Kozik returned her in the reality.

"Thea, who was that?" he sounded worried. She looked at him after a few moments like she was thinking if it was needless to tell him, but then she just shooked her head, trying to smile, and said:

"Nothing important, Koz. Let's go," Martinez took him by the hand and they walked together to the club where everyone were already gathered. Clay stood in the middle of the room, preparing for his supportive speach. Thea nodded Ellie, who was standing by Jax's side and then found Juice, who was standing near Chibs and Bobby. She turned away and stay with Herman.

"Okay, everyone," started Clay loudly. "I know this shit is quite unplesant for all of you, but we need to make sure that our family won't get hurt untill we take care of this problem. No one get out alone, women and kids stay here under the constant watch. We'll do our best so let's support each other here and show those bastards that we are not that easy to break," everyone cheered and clapped. This was hope everyone needed and so Clay gave it to them. After this speach Jax pulled Ellie away from the room for a moment and took something out of his pocket. Then he took her hand and placed a little cold gun in her hand.

"I want you to take it and carry with you no matter where you gonna go, okay? In a case if I won't be near," Ellie looked at the gun in her hand with mixed feelings. She swallowed hard and then nodded, lifting her head. "You know how to use it?"

"Well, the principe…" she said uncertainly.

"Let me show you," he helped her to take a gun right, then slowly showed how to remove it from the fuse. "It has no serial numbers and despite I hope you won't need to use it, you must be prepared for everything, okay? I don't wanna anything happen to you, Ellie," he hugged her tight and she leaned closer to him in respond. Meanwhile Unser, who was also at the clubhouse tonight, finally found Gemma.

"You've been looking for me, sweetheart?" he asked, approaching the table where she was sitting with Abel on her lap.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you but now…" She glanced at her grandson like saying that it was a wrong time but, for her luck, the boy just saw his father and Lynn who came back to the hall and shouted 'Ellie!' so she noticed him and came closer.

"Hey, what's up, cowboy?" She smiled widely.

"Could you look after him for awhile?" Using a moment asked Gemma. For the past time she quite got used to her presence and couldn't deny that Abel adored her so it was pretty convinient.

"Sure," Ellie's voice was giving away her emarrassement as well as she still was always awaiting for some kind of a trick. But seeing that there is no any subtext, she just took Teller jr. in her arms, giving Gemma a chance to look for some privacy to talk with Wayne. When they got to her office, she closed the door and, automatically, turned down the shutters.

"Is everything okay?" As always when it was about her, Unser was obviously concerned. "I mean, aside from this crazy shit with gunshots and stuff."

Gemma hesitated, sitting down on the coach. When she started to speak she wasn't looking at her friend, "I found something. Pretty long time ago, actually, but for some reason it started to bother me much only lately."

"And what is it?" He sat down next to her. "Something bad?"

"Maybe. I don't know, it's more like… neutral by itself? It's some letters and I guess they're nothing unless they get to the wrong hands," She shook her head nervously. "It's John's letters to his mistress."

"Uhm, Gem…"

"No, no, that's not the point," She prevented unnecessary words of pity. "The point is that they're not just love letters but kinda confessions, you know. Everything he thought is written down, every fear and suspect."

"Honey, I'm afraid I'm not quite following," Unser frowned, really trying to understand what she was talking about. Of course he had some guess but full picture still didn't reveal to him.

"He knew, Wayne. John knew what awaits for him, he wrote about that to her."

"You mean… He knew he's gonna die?" He was either confused, or shocked.

"I mean, he knew he's gonna be murdered. He saw that coming and he was right," After these words there was silence. Unser perfectly knew whose hand brought death to John Teller so it wasn't necessary to say it out loud. The only thing he couldn't understand is why Gemma's talking about it 'cause he thought that it didn't change much for her.

"You still have 'em? These letters?" She nodded. "Why?"

"I don't know. They might be dangerous, if only Jax will find them…"

"Then get rid of them!"

"I wanted to!" Gemma stood up. "I've tried but something stopped me from doing it," She approached the table and opened the drawer. Taking out the letters, she shook her head. "I know what it can bring to Clay and to the club itself very well, Wayne, I just…" She broke, running her fingers over the folder.

"Right," Was the only thing he replied. Sometimes lifeless things were carrying more life than alive one's and he understood it clearly.

And by the time Wayne and Gemma had a quite risky conversation, things were going right to another one that promised to end not so quietly. Juice caught Thea up at the corridor leading to the dorms and he didn't need to ask to understand that she's not excited about being captured here.

"I know you don't like stuff like that but it's for your own good, T," He tried to catch her by her arm but she stepped to the side. "C'mon, you know that your anger won't change anything. Stop being so stubborn!"

"So you can be obstinate and I can't?" She crossed her arms. "You're avoiding me since that bloody night and now asking me to be a good girl? Screw you, Ortiz."

"I won't let you go outta here anyway."

"Try to stop me," Cold metal was in her voice as she passed him by.

"Thea.."

"Leave her, man," It was Tig, who found this little scene and now chuckled. "She won't go anywhere, guess she's just trying to keep being warrior princess."

"Yeah," Said Juice when Traged tapped him on the shoulder.

"C'mon, I'll show you one lame hooker, you will definitely find common language…"

They went back to the bar and Tig spent the rest of the evwning trying to distract Juice untill he became the one who got distracted by some lovely ginger pussy. Soon as Tig left him to his own thoughts, Fil hurried to Clay with a report about sheriff's car waiting at the gates.

"Ladies, the escort is here! Be nice," smirked Clay and tell prospect to open the gates and let him in. Roosevelt unhurriedly walked to the clubhouse and came in, seeing everybody laughing, drinking and spending time too good for people whose club was under fire not so long ago. "Sheriff, what do we owe such a pleasure?" said Morrow, making a few sips from his beer. Eli took off his glasses and glanced over Ortiz, who he noticed immediately.

"Wanted to make sure if you didn't find out who might stand behind all of these attacks? Judging by your little family party, I could assume that some details you are certainly know," but Clay just threw up his hands and continued to drink his beer.

"Who knows. Could've been angry pirates, man," roared Happy with his usual face. Everyone laughed, and Roosevelt smirked as well, knowing perfectly that no one here will share a thing with him. Except one person, of course, who just don't have another choice.

"Ortiz! We need to make a pee-test, so you ride at the police station," he said, putting his glasses on. Juice swallowed hard, feeling how everyone turned on him immediately after those words.

"When?"

"Now," answered Roosevelt, shrugging his shoulders. Juice mumbled, that this is must be some kind of bullshit, but Clay ordered him to go and then ride to the warehouse and meet Tacoma there. Despite all of this shit with Lobos Sanora, the coke and guns still need to be protected. Juice nodded and went out after Roosevelt, feeling how his steps became heavier with every move. This meeting didn't take long, 'cause Potter was clearly not going to make any deal with Juice without a sample of mexican coke and Juice didn't want to give that sample without some assurances. A damn vicious circle. But yet Eli had a trump card and with its help he could almost force Juice to make everything he want. "I'll met you at our usual place. Bring me the sample and I'll set up the meeting with my friend," understanding that he has no way out, Ortiz nodded and walked out of police station with shaking hands and mess in his head.

Back at clubhouse Thea tried to concentrate for about the thousandth time by this moment, but it was quite hard to do, considering that this place was full of people who wanted to laugh and kick up a row instead of being silent at least for a moment.
"For fuck's sake," she whispered, angrily throwing away her papers and then literally run out of Juice's dorm. Without hesitation she came over to the bar and asked a prospect named Rat to make her a drink. After a few glasses she and Captain Morgan became best friends for this evening, but she wasn't about to stop at that point.

"So you're good now? I mean, this lockdown could be quite terrifying in spite that everyone trying to look carefree," asked Jax, wrapping his hand around Ellie's neck. She could sense his hot breath on her cheeks and unwillingly she blushed immediately. This closeness literally drove her crazy, trying to trow away every reasonable thought. He put his hand on her waist and pulled her even closer, putting another hand on her cheek. "It's gettin' louder here, babe," but right before he could kissed her Ellie sharply got rid of his grip and apologised nervously, saying some pointless drivel and trying to find a way to escape this situation. She looked like she was scared to shit and Jax was, lets just say, a little confused. Who knows what could happened in the next moment but Thea saved the day and took Ellie in the middle of the room right to the pool table.

"Hey, Koz, come here, sweetie, we wanna play with you," she grab Ellie by the hand and whispered her drunkenly, "It's gonna be strip-pool, shh," but Ellie seemed to be still somewhere else but here, trying to realise what just happened.

"She must be gay. Or a nun. Or a virgin. Or… all at the same time," giggled Tig, who decided to make a small break in his road trip to pussy-land and now was ending his second or third or whatever tequila shot. Today he was meant to notice every dramatic scene around here. "Such a mix, such a beauty", he mumbled, filling another glass. Jax replied nothing, watching Ellie smiling obviously nervous to Thea, who seemed to be not very bothered by it. He didn't need a long time to understand that drunk Martinez is something not everyone should see when she started to take off her blouse to the accompaniment of encouraging cheers. He decided that it'd be better to take her away before she did something she'll regret about in the morning. Along with it, it was an opportunity to avoid thinking about Ellie's actions which was obviously unnecessary.

"Hey, hey, wildcat," he called, approaching the pool table. "Don't you've had enough?"

"Not at all, Jackie-boy," Thea frowned with arms a-kimbo.

"C'mon," ignoring her protest, he took her by the hand and slung his own over her shoulder. "You'll thank me tomorrow."

"Ellie, tell him!" she tried to find some support in the face of her friend, but it revealed that Lynn was no longer within eyeshot. Not being able to question this absence, Martinez just sighed loud enough to let Jax understand how unpleased she is but he didn't care much and in couple of seconds they were already on the way back to Juice's dorm.

"Ruiner," Thea dropped when they got to the room. In private it seemed like she wasn't so drunk as she was in the saloon and it made Teller think that it was some deliberate game she played.

"What's wrong, T?" he asked bluntly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your little spectacle. Come on."

"Gosh, can I get drunk at least?" she folded her arms. "Or I'm really a fucking prisoner?"

"Jesus, what got into you, Martinez? What prisoner? You know perfectly that you're here for your own safety," Jax began to lose his temper. "And considering what you've told me I thought you won't mind being a bit protected."

"I don't!" her answer was quickly, like she didn't even think about it.

"Then the hell is your problem?"

"How do you think?" looking at him a bit wildly, in the next moment she seemed to loose all her ardor. She turned away, coming to the bed and sitting on its corner. "What happened to him, Jax?"

"Thea, it's…"

"Don't say it's not your story to tell," she interrupted not letting him to finish. "It's aboud goddamn club, it is your story."

Jax was about to argue with something but in the last moment he changed his mind and just sighed, "He caught a bullet when he found a rat."

"Rat? What?.."

"It's not the point. We've had some problems with our business."

"Is that all?" she couldn't believe that everything was that simple. There must've been something that made Juice to move away.

"No," Jax knew she's not gonna like what he's gonna say. He didn't like it either just as much as he didn't like everything about partnership with the Cartel and its consequences. "He killed him." He awaited for some loud reaction. Curses or recalls to God, attempts to ask again in case something could change but she was silent. He thought that she might suspected it by herself and now this truth wasn't so unbelievable.

"Are your problems solved now?" she said unexpectedly and he didn't quite follow it instantly.

"What?"

"Your business problems. They are solved after all?" Thea finally looked at him.

"Kind of," he couldn't say that this business is one whole problem. "We've just gone new one."

"Yeah, I guess I see that," she smirked bitterly. "Anyway, thank you for telling. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be on my own a bit."

"You're fine?"

"Aha. Don't worry," she was about to turn away again but then she remembered, "You better go find Ellie, she disappeared somewhere. And don't be insistent, not with her, believe me."

"I'm being a good boy," he chuckled. "Call me if you need anything."

She nodded and after the sound of the closing door almost fell down on the bed. She heard that sometimes people who requiers truth don't really want to hear it but only now she felt it on her skin. And while she was thinking about known night and the fact that she was washing away some Son's blood from Juice's face, Ortiz was giving a sample of coke to Roosevelt, nervously turning around each and every second as if he expected that in the next moment somebody will walk out of the shadow unexpectedly and catch him red-handed. He watched as sheriff checked the sample by tasting it and then hide it deep in his pocket. Just to be honest, Roosevelt hated what he was about to do. He hated being involved in this shit, he hated to play somebody's life like it was nothing. He wasn't like that, he always lived trying to be a good man and fair guardian of order, but at the some point Potter started to play with his life just like he was playing with Juice's and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Put your hands against the car," Eli said quietly, taking handcuffs from his pocket. Juice couldn't believe his ears. This must be all just a big stupid joke and the whole world couldn't imagine how funny it isn't.

"The hell are you doing?" said Ortiz, refusing to believe in what's going on here. Sheriff shook his head and grab him by his shoulders, making him turn around by force.

"You're under arrest for the possession of cocaine," said Eli unemotional. The game was well played and Juice performed his part splendidly without knowing that. He understood that at this point he can't walk away and moreover he can't refuse to help them and now even if he decide to go against them, call his lawyer and explain that he was threatened and manipulated no judge and no juries won't ever believe him 'cause he's a criminal and a killer, who was caught for possession. Sitting in the cell, he thought about how long will it take to club to realise that he is the one who's real rat. A rat and a murderer.

Eli came back soon with sort of a guilty look on his face. His conversation with Potter ended with ultimate disgust and hatred. The son of a dick didn't even denied the fact that he enjoyed this shit. And Roosevelt hated that guys like Potter were define themselfs as a men of law and justice.

"I…I don't know what they want from you," he started without looking at Juice. His voice was free of the usual mockery, this time he was almost sorry for Juice and for what he personally did to him. "But at this point you have no choice. You have to cooperate, Juan Carlos," he finally turned to Juice and find him smiling sadly, almost hopelessly.

"It doesn't matter anymore," was all he said before leaving. Eli breathed out heavily as if he knew that it will end badly.

Back at the club Jax finally found Ellie. She was sitting on the swings alone outside, being completely captured by her thoughts. She tried to understand herself, tried to figured out how to conquer those demons, that stuck mostly in her head. When the moment came she realised that no matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she got through it, left it behind and learned how to live with it, she didn't. She stuck in her past, in her moment of no return and the butterfly continued to wave its wings on the other side of planet, causing a storm now and here.

"Here you are, El," said Jax, sitting next to her, smiling as usual. He tried to act as normal as possible, like nothing happened, but it was clear that both of them gonna remember that minute every time they'll simply look at each other. Ellie turned her head and smilled back.

"It was too stuffy there, needed some air," Jax nodded, swaying on the swings a bit. The silence that fall after her words started to put pressure on the shoulders. Jax remembered, what Thea told him, and he understood himself that whatever happening in Ellie's head it's her own business. But yet he wanted to make it clear so both of them could decide who they gonna be to each other.

"Just so we're clear, it's okay, you know, I mean, what happened there. I get that, you have your right. I just don't want you to think that I'm some kind of dick who needs only one thing in his life," he got up and walked to her, pressing a light kiss on her forehead. Before he left, Ellie took his hand and looked in his eyes, what actually cost her a lot of strength.

"It's not because of you, Jax. I'd never thought about you that way, believe me, it's just…" she tried to pick some words, but none of them were not enough. An the truth was too painfull to share, too terrible. "I mean, I like you, okay? I really do. I just… I need some time. And if you're give it to me, that would mean a lot to me," saying that this sudden confidence only made everything more complicated would be a huge understatement. When she left, going back to the clubhouse, Jax took a cigarette from his pocket and tried to calm his thoughts with it.

"May I?" asked Ellie, opening door to Juice's room, where Thea was still lying on the bed with eyes closed. She nodded and moved, so Lynn could lie down next to her. "Are you okay?" Martinez took a deep breath.

"No… No, I'm not. And I don't know how to deal with this," she whispered, clinging to Ellie, searching for support.

"So am I, T," Lynn replied quietly. For couple of minutes they both were laying in absolute silence until Thea looked at her friend with a bit of uncertainty.

"Don't you wanna tell?" she asked, not really expecting Ellie to agree but feeling like she had to ask. But suprisingly, she didn't avoid the answer though before saying anything she made a hard pause that revealed how difficult saying what she was about to say was for her.

"Remember I told you that my father lost me in cards?" she wasn't looking at Thea. Her sight was directed somewhere up, at the ceiling, but Martinez doubted that she saw abything in front of her but some visions of memory. But when she nodded, Lynn definitely noticed that and continued, sounding unusually unamotional. "I said that the man who he lost me to wasn't quite nice but it was… It was an understatement, actually. But I guess it was obvious from that bruises, wasn't it?" she smirked bitterly.

"What did he do?" Thea's question was quiet as if she wasn't sure whether she wanted to know the answer. She had some guesses even before and they were one of the reasons why she never actually asked Ellie about that time. But suspect something and know it for sure is very different things; maybe it was enough of awfull truth for one day?

"He raped me," finally uttered El. Her voice was empty and lifeless, eyes still fixed on something Thea couldn't see. But being close to her, she could feel how she trembled. "I was his pretty toy for about a month, I guess. I don't even know for sure, can you believe? It was just an endless nightmare where I couldn't count down the days or even care about it much. At some point I've probably even stopped looking forward to the end of it 'cause it seemed like there won't be one. Fortunatelly, it appeared that he got bored of me pretty soon…" she shook her head. Weird smile stratched her lips when she turned to Martinez. "This fucking time is hunting me, T. I'm trying to ignore it, to act like it never happened like if it can erase everything but it catches me up over and over. And I'm scared as hell. Not my brain but something inside of me is almost screaming because of horror even if I know that I'm safe. Like with Jax. And I don't want to be, I'm tired of fear, T. I'm exhausted," she broke, closing her eyes and shaking more noticeable.

"Hey," Martinez lightly touched her forearm. "Everything is going to be okay. I know how it sounds, really, but that's true, I promise."

Ellie chuckled, turning away. She had to admit that this comforting hackneyed phrase had sense in some way because she understood that this all is just about time. But understanding didn't make anything easier. "Yeah," she almost breathed out.

One day it will. One day all of them will feel better. One day soon.