Nine days of marital bliss was all he had. They had went shopping in Stockton for the baby, and for Madison, he had bought and put together in the yard a big swing set with the slides and the monkey bars and everything, a medium sized kid's pool that was still big enough for two adults to fool around in, he had put together the patio set Sailor bought, they watched a ton of TV, went for car rides, spent time together, Sailor was trying to teach him how to make the perfect sandwich wrap...
He had given the bedroom Sailor had picked for the baby a coat of paint, and he had put the crib together, helped her sand down the antique dresser she had picked up somewhere, and watched her varnish it. Barbecues.
And waiting on a phone call that anyone of his brothers, anywhere in North America had seen his ex or his daughter. The brotherhood would be far more productive than the Amber Alert that had been launched last month. After a month, every one had forgotten his daughter's face. With the Sons, Everett's photo was still circulating, and every one of them was looking for her.
That phone call came. On his tenth day as a married man, while he was patiently trying to figure out that stupid swing-chair Sailor had bought second hand and with no instruction on Craigslist, Kozik called him. He hadn't spoken to Kozik in ten years, but as soon as he saw "Kozik H" on the phone's screen, he knew this would be good. Maddie in the pool was screaming her head off because Sailor was spraying her with a little water gun, so he got in and closed the patio door to answer.
-Kozik, my brother! Long time to talk.
"You got that right. Straight to business, or can I get news of Silk? She keeps saying everything's fine, but I know how this life gets."
-Silk is good, she was at my wedding last week, she dumped Zack, she's getting cozy with one of Baptiste from Reno's guys. Grand-baby's fine. I heard you're babysitting her nightmare?
"My nightmare. I heard about this guy daily for fifteen years, then the fuck had to show up at the bar, and I had to break of a great relationship with a great woman to fucking babysit her ex and make sure he'd never get around her. B.T.W., Gianna's been taken care of. Florence had been owing me a few favors. Got one of her girls to shank the bitch before her release. When I told Silk, she blanked and hung up."
-She cried it out, probably, she's gonna call you back. You were calling for business?
"Don't murder me. I've had eyes on your ex for nearly a week. Your baby girl is fine, I've made contact with her, she said her phone was found by her mother, and she never memorized your number."
He wipes his lips, his heart is pounding, it feels like a hammer, resonating in his ears, his jaw is tightening.
"They are leaving Tampa, tomorrow. Esther's set out to do on a wild goose chase, but she met this dude, who I actually put on her route, who's supposedly a one percenter and can keep her safe, but only in his hometown. Gold Beach, Oregon. 117 Jerry Flat road, across from Motel 6. They're flying in, I've made a private jet happen for them, called in more favors. Baby's coming home, Hap."
-You're a real fucking brother, Kozik.
"Rogue River's on alert right now, I've already called it in. They're gonna facilitate you any way you need, brother. And this guy I got with them is ready for anything that could come their way, he's selling it perfect to Esther. She's nervous about being so close to the Rogue River charter, but Cam has got her where we want her. He's been flashing money at her and talking about big time security, so she's taking it."
-I'm on my way there. You, you. You are a fucking bro. You're my fucking bro.
"Hey, we signed up for the brotherhood, Happy. Charming and Indian Hills have been keeping an eye on the love of my life, well, Tampa's keeping an eye on yours. Your little girl's coming home, Hap."
Forget that stupid swing. Forget everything. Kozik hadn't called all week, because he was waiting to give something absolutely solid to Happy. Now, not only did he look out for Everett, but he had the exact place where she would pop up. He would forever be indebted to his brother.
Back on the deck, he's having cold chills, a huge pit in his stomach. As beautiful as Sailor is, he can't stay here a minute longer, he might shoot someone.
-Sailor! I'm leaving.
-Divorcing me already?
-Everett is going to be in Oregon within 24 hours.
-Go! Why are you still here? And don't you go alone, you hear me?
He mechanically walks up to her, crashes their lips together, before grabbing Madison by an arm in the pool, his mind's near blank, and he doesn't care that she's getting him wet, he gives a big kiss on her forehead and chucks her back in the pool, just to make her scream, she can swim, and she has floaters, she'll be fine.
-Suck it.
-Happy!
-Call... Anyone. I'm rolling in front of the clubhouse in six minutes, if no one comes out, I'm going alone.
When he passes in front of the clubhouse, Chibs is with him, not that he cares. Care left him when he started his bike. All he knows is all of his affairs are in order, in case Esther kills him, or the cops show up. Because he sure as hell did not pack a silencer. He hadn't even considered it.
Checked in the Motel 6, park their bike out if sight and covered, with their kuttes off, 117 Jerrys flat road, there was a for sale sign in front of it, Happy pulled it out, tossed it at the back of the house, and sat in the kitchen for a long while, smoking himself out. The house was empty, not even home staged, he sat on the counter. All notions of care or prudence had long left him. Esther was on her way. And this was the perfect ambush.
Finally, by mid-afternoon, after a sleepless night, he hears a car, Chibs in their room across the road, he calls to tell Happy it's them.
He hears the keys in the lock, butts his cigarette, footsteps, little footsteps, that's Everett. His heart jumps, staying his ass on the counter is becoming increasingly difficult as seconds pass. She runs up the stairs, comes back out, yells something at her mother outside, before coming this way. She gets into the kitchen, he's quick to raise a finger to his lips, he's fighting his emotions when she sees him and her little face lights up, her mouth open on whatever she was going to scream, she rushes into his arms, he hops off the counter and wraps his arms around her, she smells like sunscreen.
-I was getting scared, Happy. She's been saying some crazy things.
-I'm here, baby. I'm here and I'll make everything right. You want to live with daddy and his wife?
-You have a wife?
-Got married. You're gonna have a little brother or sister in six months. I married a nice lady that's going to take care of you if something was to happen to me or your mom.
-What's her name?
-Sailor. She wants to be a pirate. She's real fun.
-I want to live with you.
From his bag, he pulls the DNA testing kit Sailor saw at Wal-Mart and decided to buy, it had drove him crazy for five minutes, until she told him it was for Everett, not their baby. Esther would never allow DNA testing. Easy to use, he swabs, Everett swabs, they send it, they get results in 5 to 8 business days.
-Open, baby.
-What's that?
-I'm taking your mom to court. This proves I'm your dad.
He swabs her, himself, he's in a hurry, he hears Esther outside. The envelope, he seals it, before folding in it half and hiding it in Everett's waistband, she's wearing blue jeans.
-Remember my friend Chibs?
-Yeah.
-He's at the Motel six across the street. You're gonna give your mom a hug, and you're gonna go hang out with him. Her and I need to talk. And give him that test we just did, ok?
-Ok.
-I'm gonna make up for all the years I lost, baby, I promise. I love you.
She hugs him again, tightly, Esther comes in the house, he can hear her, she's calling for Everett, who isn't answering. Some bags get dropped, she goes up the stairs, comes back down, Everett still hasn't let go. He swallows that lump in his throat, Everett pulls even closer around his waist, when Esther comes in the kitchen. She bleached her hair, it's pale brown, on the verge of blond. And she's turning pale when she sees him, he's giving her a very hard look, chin resting against the top of Everett's hair.
-Everett, get away from him, he's going to hurt you.
There she starts, his heart fills with hatred, he had to use a lot of self control not to snap Everett in half from his hug. He would want to keep her there, but she has to get out of the house so he can put the fear of him back into Esther.
-Hug your mom and go see Chibs.
-She's staying here.
He opens his arms, Everett looks up at him, but he's busy staring a hole through his ex, so he doesn't look down at her expression. The guy comes in, now wearing his kutte, he probably wasn't thus far, he's a Son, from New Jersey according to his bottom Rocker. Kozik picked wisely, the guy's pretty much Esther's wet dream, long hair, no tattoos, big hands. Piercing green eyes. He looks at them all, before smiling at Happy, arms open to get a hug, even if they never met before.
-Got her home safe, brother.
-Thanks so much for getting involved, brother.
They hug, pat on the back, the guy turns around, and smiles at Everett.
-Didn't your uncle Herman tell you Cam would get you home?
-Thank you, Cam.
-Kozik? Kozik was in on this?
-He's good, isn't he? Got you fooled, you stupid gash.
Cam leaves, closes the door behind him, as Happy encourages his daughter to go and hug his mother, it's going to be a very long time before Esther sees their daughter. If she lives.
Esther has the same hard stare for him when she hugs their daughter, but for her, Everett pulls away after three seconds, she has to almost fight off Esther to be let go of. The door again, Esther looks like she could shoot him. So he just pulls the papers form his bag, tosses them on the side counter, halfway between them.
-You sign these, and I'll be lenient.
She has a scoff, brushes her hair back.
-I'll never let you be in her life.
-We can do this easy, Esther, or we can do this the hard way. I have plenty of contingencies in Charming to take care of Everett. I figured you'd like that, you're full of contingencies yourself.
-I'm not singing.
-I'll make you sign, Esther. You know I like the hard way. You know what I've been dying to do, since I last saw you at the bar? I've been dying to destroy these pretty little vocal cords of yours.
-No judge in their right mind would let you have my daughter.
-That's why I got myself a pretty little wife with an amazing set of parenting skills.
-Like that would be enough. If something happens to me, she's going to Kary's.
-Oh, you didn't know?
He smiles a genuinely amused smile, grabs his backpack and flips it upside down, the various tools and objects it contains are clacking on the floor, the hedge-trimmers, a hammer, some rope, tools, this feels so good already. And the expression of confusion that briefly crosses her face is beautiful.
-Katarina Pawlicki died during a home invasion gone bad, last month. They hacked her to pieces. Even cut her tongue and plucked those pretty little grey eyes of hers.
She hardens, calls his bluff, as he tosses his backpack aside, decides what he'll do to her first.
-Like you found her.
-Really? Juice found her in a matter of hours once Jack gave me her married name. And it would be enough, given that she's going to be a big sister in less than six months. Everett will grow up in Charming, Esther. With a little sister, and maybe a little brother.
Out of nowhere, she pulls a gun, stupid bitch left the safety on, he's not going to go easy on her, he thinks as he tackles her into the pantry door, and through it, she yelps, the gun clatters against the hardwood floor as he already pulls himself up and stomps her in the face. Just once. Because after nine years, it feels so good.
Maybe he stomped her a little too hard, because she's unconscious, her head hit the floor maybe a bit too hard, once they went through the cheap, hollow pantry door, his shoulder hurts from taking a blunt impact against the door frame. He rolls his shoulder a few times to ease the pain while getting himself back up, he's getting too old for this.
He wishes he could drag her down the stairs by her hair, and make her suffer there, but whatever he does to her, he has to keep it mostly clean. She has to be able to sign these papers.
He used to love her feet. They're going to be the firsts to suffer. Break her toes one by one, then maybe smash them with the hammer. That would be good exercise.
It took her six hours. Six hours to reach a level of pain high enough to scream for him to stop. Stop, she would sign! She would sign anything he would put in front of her. Her face was bloody, he was pretty sure he broke her cheekbone. And Happy was so nice that he let her take a shower, to wash up her bloody face and arms, he had inflicted a few nasty cuts on her.
-Can I have something to drink?
Not happening, not before she would sign these papers.
She did, signed and initialed, recognizing Happy as Everett Stars L Kerns' father, he pulled the papers, brought them downstairs, came back with a cup that he filled with water, let her have a drink. When she asked for more, he grabbed her by the hair, and smashes her face into the vanity twice, before proceeding to break her hip, she was howling in pain, holding her face, he didn't care. Once he was sure that her hip was shattered, he drew a bath, this was a deep bathtub, he grabbed her, she scratched at his neck enough to hurt him as he dumped her in the rapidly filled bathtub face first, bitch could drown for all he cared. He had what he wanted.
Once he got downstairs, holding his bloody shirt against his neck, he had a call for Chibs, to let him know he was done, and they had to go. The last of her screams had been plenty enough to alert the neighbors.
He had the time to wash up, before he heard their escort, pick up his tools and toss them in his bag, across the street, almost all of the Rogue River Charter, Chibs holding a clean shirt, he'd already checked out, and Everett, who ran to hug him, asking where her mother was.
-She's gone to see aunt Kary.
-In Washington?
-Yeah, baby. Anyone's got a spare helmet for my baby girl?
He wanted her to ride with him so badly, but one nod from Chibs was enough to convince him, there was an APB on him. Chibs had to take Everett. And the papers. He gives his kid a big hug, a big kiss on the forehead.
-You're gonna hop on with uncle Chibs, ok, baby? He's going to take you back to Charming.
-You're not coming?
-Yeah. I'll see you there, ok? Uncle Chibs is going straight home, I have to stop by the Rogue River clubhouse. Talk to uncle Monroe about some things. I'm gonna see you home.
Hopefully. Chibs had another nod at him, as he took the papers, put them to safety with the DNA test in his bag, there was no going to talk to Monroe, Monroe was right there with them, and splitting up was, in Happy's mind, the best plan. Because they could hear sirens already. He watched her go, arms holding on to dear life around Chibs' waist, a couple of guys as escorts, but her head trying to turn to an impossible angle to see Happy as long as she could. Once she was out of sight, he sat on a loaner bike, turns to Monroe, they're all ready. On his own bike, Cam, who's ready to go.
-Are you guys sure you want to have a hand in this? Could mean jail time.
-It's just aiding and abetting. Besides, we'd be the first place they would look.
-Cam?
-Yeah?
-Thank you, my brother. Thank you for getting my baby home.
-You would have done the same for any of us, brother.
He nods, yes, He totally would have. For any of these brothers right here, or any of the brothers he has across North America, Europe or Australia. The sirens get closer, he's anxious, anxious that Chibs left too late to avoid the heat. That he won't have the time to leave Gold Beach with Everett. He hopes Esther's going to drown a hundred times over, in the house. It's been at least three minutes, she's got to be dead by now.
Finally, after forever, the first response is in sight, an ambulance coming from the West, a cop car from the north. There's about thirty of them, and they all take off from the Motel 6 parking lot like bats out of hell, good luck finding which is Happy Lowman.
By the time he reaches Redding, California, he's split from everyone but a young prospect, and believes they are home free. He's about three hours away from home, and Jax is waiting at TM with the third garage bay opened, and Sailor's Navi to conspicuously get them out of there.
Then that stupid prospect loses control of his bike. Runs himself straight into a pole. Happy hits the break in a hurry, almost loses control himself, they were going a nice speed on the highway. Hops off his bike to go check on the prospect, he's just pulled him out of the dirt and checking on him when a highway patrol pulls over, cherries flicked.
-Play it cool, kid.
The highway cop comes over, asks if the kid is alright, Happy refrains from telling him to fuck off, as the kid gives himself the once over.
-Yeah. Yeah. Haven't broken anything. I think my bike's done for.
Looks that way, the fork is bent, he isn't driving off after this one.
-You had anything to drink, today?
-Sober as can be, officer. I think I hit a patch of oil, maybe? I saw a few in the past few miles.
-How about you?
-Haven't had a drink since my wedding, ten days ago.
-Congratulations.
-Thanks.
-I'll call you a tow truck. Stay here.
Happy isn't too happy, of what just happened, but at least, it's all playing out well so far. He knows however that this guy is going to run their plates. Make sure they don't have outstandings or anything.
-You got warrants, kid?
-Not that I know of?
-What do you mean, that you know of. Either you do, or you don't. Ever skipped court?
-Well, there was this one mix-up with the dates.
-God damn it.
He rubs his head, paces away impatiently, the highway cop comes out of his car, to let the kid know that he's driving with a suspended license. And asks Happy for his driver's license, since clearly, he's driving a loaner that's registered to a dummy corp. He raises his hands, gestures that he's going to reach into his pocket.
-You wanna earn your patch, kid?
-I'm sorry. More than anything, yes.
He pulls his gun, shoots at the highway cop twice, the highway cop falls to his knees, then on lays face first in the dirt, blood pooling around him already.
-Take his patrol car, and drive east. I'll make sure the brothers take care of you.
The kid has a nod, hops in the patrol car and pushes a few buttons until the sirens blare, he pulls away sharply and drives away, as Happy pulls on his own bike to head South. The highway wasn't exactly empty, but shit, he did what he had to do to make it home.
By the time he reaches Lodi, he's got eight cop cars chasing him. He had called Buka not long ago, once he passes her garage, he checks his mirror, she's backing up the biggest of her flatbeds to block the cops, that makes him smile, he knew he could count on her.
But by the time he's gotten to the Charming city limits, he's got four new cars on his ass, he emptied a clip towards them before tossing his gun, he's got to make it home. Make sure Everett is ok.
He's got mad love for his brothers, when he zooms past TM, and they all pull out of the lot, same tactic as when they pulled out of Motel 6 on Gold Beach. One makes it through before the boys cut the way, four minutes later, he reaches the house, he kills the motor but doesn't bother coming to a complete stop to jump off the bike and race inside the house.
In the house, Sailor was in the kitchen, he can see her startle when he barges in through the front door that slams behind him, she had a cup of tea in her hand, it fells to the floor and shatters "dude, man!" she goes both at him and at the hot liquid splashing her long pajama pants.
-Everett!
-She was here twenty minutes ago. Gemma picked her up and brought her and Maddie to her house for the night. Figured it would be best to...
He's on her in a flash, he hears the tires squealing outside of the house, cars and bikes alike, his brothers are only going to be able to buy him a very short moment, to avoid an aiding and abetting charge, either that or get soft time for it.
The plastic of her cup crunches under his boots as he wraps himself around her, cups her face to kiss her, he can't hope for soft time, he just shot a highway patrol cop.
-Happy!
-I love you, too, ok? Take care of Everett. Chibs got all the papers.
-I know! He gave them to me earli...
He doesn't care to let her finish, he captures her mouth ravenously again, before falling to his knees, hands reverently placed on Sailor's growing belly.
-You be good for mom, little Happy Junior. Daddy's going to come back soon. As soon as the heat dies down.
He kisses his wife's stomach through the Def Leppard t-shirt, pulls himself up to look at Sailor one last time, the back door is open, the deck is lit. His way to freedom.
-I'm sorry I'm ruining everything, babe. I'll be back. As soon as the heat's died down.
He pulls away, only to be pulled back, she grabbed him the the kutte, rips it off his back as she's taking her turn to capture his lips.
-I love you, take my hoodie on the hook, Gemma left keys in it, and her car at TM.
Means doubling back somehow, but he still rips the hoodie from the hook and has it tossed on before he even jumps off the deck and towards their backyard neighbor's house, he reaches into the front pocket, his heart jumps.
For their wedding, he gave Sailor a gun with no serial number on it. To defend their home. Just a little something small with not too much kick. She put it in the front pocket of her hoodie. He's got a chance, now. He has a set of keys, and a hand gun, as girly as it may be.
He's at the fence when he hears Sailor scream that he's upstairs, probably just after the cops burst in the front door. And in front of the backyard neighbor's house, there's Montez on his bike. Fuck this, he's gonna ride bitch.
Montez pulls off from the curb like a bat out of hell, God damn it, at the end of the street, a cop. He turns around, at the other end of the street, another cop.
-Screw that. Hold on, brother.
Through backyards it is.
Wow. I can't believe we"re so close to the end. I have just decided to post the last chapter without any disclaimers or A/N's,so I'm going to do a big list here, just now.
All of the characters that you recognize from the show, as well as locations, they belong to Kurt Sutter. I make mo money from this fiction story.
All of my own characters belong to me, the Gallegos, Jack, Esther and Everett. Sailor and Madison. Silk and Carla. The Russians, Buka, her sisters Svetlana, Klavdiya, as well as Lavrentiy, Krup and Vassiya.
Nixie De Angel, thank you so, so so much, darling, for allowing me to use Adara's name in this story. I don't think it would have been the same with a made up characters, you guys should check up Nixie's story. It's really good.
Thanks for putting up with my babble and my story. I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
~Mudd