A nice big update seeing as I've been rather distracted from Lenny and Jax of late, so happy to see some more favourites and follows! Please leave reviews so I know what you think! Even if it's a tiny review with a smiley ,It honestly does help to know what readers think! Ive put the band responsible for the song I have used as a muse for this chapter because the song kind of inspired the feels behind this chapter, reslly love it and hope you guys do too!
I own nada! Even Lenny is her own person!
Strong (song by London Grammer)
Gina Sawyer sat at the oak kitchen table nursing a glass of whiskey, the clock that was ticking on the wall told her it was 2 in the afternoon and usually that was too early to drink. But today was an exception, today her only child was coming back into town after no contact for over a month and Gina wasn't too sure how she felt. Of course she was glad Lenny was safe but she was pissed that her daughter had lied about Texas and had been in Charming of all places and with her brother of all people.
The relationship Gina shared with Bobby was about as clear as mud, in her teens she would have died for her older brother but as soon he introduced her to Ray Sawyer and the world of the "Club" Gina should of known that it was the beginning of the end. Looking back she could see it but living it back then she thought she had it made. But sitting around this table alone drinking at 2 in the afternoon waiting for a runaway daughter was never in her visions of motherhood. But then neither had her poor relationship with her only child. Gina couldn't help but see her teenage self in Lenny, the devil May care attitude, the hot temper and burning need defy but most if all she saw the same strong attraction the Sons of Anarchy. She hadn't wanted Lenny to endure the heartache the club had brought her and Ray, the plan to send Lenny to Charming was so Bobby could try and set her straight after her father's death but to also show her just how sordid club life could get in an attempt to make Lenny chose another path. Little had Gina known she had sent her lamb to the slaughter, Lenny-Ray Sawyer chose club life and left Charming kicking and screaming with a new found resentment for Gina and her anti-club Attitude, even though Lenny didn't understand the reasons behind her mother's decision. From that day forward their relationship had been more strained than ever, the most they spoke was when Gina was expressing her concerns about her daughter's career choices and choice of company but Lenny never took any of the advice. And now Gina sat waiting for her daughter's return knowing deep down she was only bringing bad news, much like the days she would wait for Ray whilst Lenny was a child, she would play the role of supportive mother just like she had played the supportive wife. Gina filled her glass again in preparation for whatever Lenny had to tell her.
"You think you're Moms been approached by any one ?" Jax lay down on the bed in the motel they were staying at after Lenny refused to even consider bunking up in the Arizona charter clubhouse.
Lenny stopped fussing in front of the mirror and looked at Jax in the reflection whilst thinking about what he proposed, " Gina Sawyer isn't the kind of woman who you stop and question about her business, Jax. My Mom doesn't take any shit ,"
Jax laughed " unless it's from you!"
Lenny rolled her eyes as turned to face him and crawled up the bed to settle next to him , she felt his arm snake around her shoulder as he pulled Lenny in close enough to kiss her forehead.
They had visited the hospital like Jax had wanted so he could leave Abel in Gemma's care in his absence. He was grateful that Lenny didn't ask too many questions about his son, like she got more from what he didn't say, Jax loved Abel more than anyone on this planet but right now he didn't know how ready he was to be a father. He could barely help run the club with out conflict let alone guide an innocent baby along the right path. But Lenny didn't ask any of the deep dark questions his mother had or Clay or Tara, she had simply held Abel and sang him into a slumber like it was the easiest thing in the world to raise a child and maintain their lifestyle. The two didn't need to blur like Gemma and Clay wanted them to, did they? Jax knew his destiny lay in SAMCRO but he wasn't so sure he wanted it to be his sons legacy, at least not in its current state and that is where he had understood what Lenny couldn't with regard to her mother's choice about Arizona's MC after Ray had passed.
On the drive over Lenny had confessed to calling her mother much to Jax's surprise, she had told her where she had been and who with but no mention of why. They both silently knew Gina would want to know why as they were lying in silence on the bed.
"I don't think I can tell her, Jax," Lenny leant on her elbow so she was looking down at Jax.
"You trust her?" Jax knew not everyone could handle truths like the one Lenny was hiding, that's half the reason the girl ended up in Charming.
"I think so but I just know she's gonna freak out and blame it all on my dad's death and the influence SAMCRO had on us both. She won't have it that I pulled that trigger in self defence, it'll have to be linked to the club or Drink or drugs," Falling back into pillow Lenny groaned, she smiled as Jax rolled on top of her brushing her dark bangs out of her eyes.
" who gives a shit what Gina Sawyer thinks? The Lenny I know wouldn't , so just don't worry darling . You go see your mom, you do this show tonight, me and Tig collect the money and we're back in Charming for dinner at Gemma's tomorrow!" Jax kissed her way down Lenny's throat as he listed their to do list. Suddenly she saw no reason in leaving the hotel room at all.
Lenny knocked on the door before standing back and waiting, Jax had insisted he go with her not feeling totally comfortable with Lenny walking Arizona unprotected they had left Tig at the bar they were going to tonight knowing he could scope out Intel that might change their plans.
"Well, look who found their way home," Gina Sawyer stood blocking entry to her home as she regarded the couple on her doorstep.
Jax couldn't believe he was looking at Bobby Muson's kid sister, he was expecting her to be carrying a bit more weight and much bigger hair but if Gina was anything to go by then Lenny would only improve with age. Then only striking difference was her mother's blonde hair that hanging loose down her back.
"You gonna let us in or are we doing this out here for the whole neighbourhood to hear?" Lenny instantly got her attitude back as she pushed past Gina into the old family home.
Gina locked the front door behind them as she showed Lenny and Jax into the kitchen, Jax noticed how she regarded his cut, clearly the Sons were no longer welcome in the Sawyer household.
"So, who is your friend?" Gina sparked up a cigarette and Jax noticed how this woman was a lot like his mother in the way she spoke and held herself, maybe it was what become of old ladies of days gone by.
"This Uncle Bobby's friend, Jax," Lenny leant against the counter as her mother sat at the kitchen table, Jax didn't know where was safest so choose to stand in the doorway giving each Sawyer female enough space.
"So, you're Vice President of SAMCRO Jax? How's that treat you?" Jax knew to tread carefully, he'd had years of practice with Gemma.
"I enjoy what I do, much like the men in positions before me, men like your husband ma'am,"
"Jesus, don't flatter yourself Teller. I know what Clay has you, my brother and his henchmen doing. And that's why I didn't want Lenny going back to Charming," Gina had an accusing tone to her voice.
"Jesus Christ, Gina. Dramatic much?" Lenny laughed much to her mother's frustration, "You sent me packing to Charming knowing what shit went down! So if any one's,"
"I did what I thought was best for the family I had left," Gina cut across Lenny before she could say whatever she was thinking.
"We didn't come here to lay blame Lenny," Jax reminded Lenny before anymore words were spoken.
Lenny regarded Jax as she composed herself, her mother had this talent where she could provoke Lenny at the drop of a hat and where Lenny would usually stay cool and calm with others she had to bite every time where Gina was concerned.
"Mom, has any one been looking for me since I left?" Lenny noticed how her Mom slowly inhaled on the cigarette dangling from her mouth thinking.
"Jen came by a few times, girl was a wreck she's lost a lot of weight. But what can you expect from a junkie," Gina was quick to continue before Lenny could interrupt, " couple of guys asked at bar but no one special, why?"
"When did you last see Jen?" Lenny's voice was barely a whisper, she knew deep down she should have called but it was just too damn risky and she had risked enough for Jen and her drug habit. But old habits died the hardest.
"Musta been 2 maybe 3 weeks ago, you gonna tell me what the hell's going on Lenny-Ray? Is it drugs?
"God, no!," Lenny looked horrified and suddenly thought how she secretly wished it was something as easy as drug's this time, "Mom, I had to leave Arizona because Jen got attacked by some guy, a real nasty piece of work,"
Jax looked from one woman to another, Lenny looked she was barely remembering to breathe where as Gina looked as though she was about to breathe fire.
"So you had to skip town because Jen got tangled with the wrong guy?" Gina knew there was more but was growing impatient at Lenny's sudden inability to form a sentence, " Lenny, are you being serious? Jen gets involved with some creep and you have to pack up and run to Bobby to feel safe?" His name came out of Gina's mouth like a forbidden word .
"I shot him, Mom!" Lenny's outburst surprised even her self as she watched Jax wince at the brutal delivery of the truth that left Gina speechless." This guy, he drugged Jen and was attacking her when I came out, he threatened me and said he was gonna do the same to me. I had no choice. I had no choice but to run,"
Still Gina just sat at the table processing what her daughter was telling her, her daughter was a murderer, blood graced her babies hands. Suddenly she was mad at Ray again, not for leaving them but for allowing their daughter to be around this kind of life and for not being here in this kitchen to say the right thing and restore order with a plan.
Lenny knew her mother would react this way, just shut down like when her father passed, it was easier. "I'm sorry, Mom. I know you wanted me to be the good girl in town but I swear I didn't go looking for trouble this time. I didn't know what to do and I was scared of what Nate's friends might do to me or Jen or even you so I went to Charming to see if Uncle Bobby would help me, like Daddy would have," swiping at the tears on her face Lenny was thankful when Jax pushed himself from the door way to pull her in a tight embrace.
For a few moments the only sound in the room was silence until Gina lit another cigarette and the burning embers could be heard as well as the deep breaths Gina was taking.
"Does anyone know you were in Charming?" Gina broke the silence
Lenny shook her head, "good, we should keep it that way," Gina exhaled smoke, "I get why you left for Charming baby, you feel safer , closer to Daddy but I'm your mother and your my daughter. We need stop this shit, I've already lost the man I've loved most in this world and I came close to losing my only child without even knowing it and that shit is not okay," Gina stood from the table and pulled Lenny away from Jax as she held her daughter, stroking her hair like she would when she was a child and kissing her head.
"I'm sorry Mom," Lenny sobbed as her mother held her the way she had wanted when her father died.
Gina held Lenny at arms length before sitting her down and taking her own seat, "don't you dare cry anymore for this scum bag. Jax, sit down." Gina ordered.
"Is there anyway it could be traced back to you?" Gina couldn't help but think of the necessary risks that could implicate her daughter, Ray had always had a checklist he would follow to avoid any blow backs from situations like these.
"No, only person who knows is Jen but she was too wasted to know what actually happened," Lenny spared her mother the gory details, this was the most civil they had been in years and she didn't want to make it anymore screwed up than it already was. "Uncle Bobby's friends know too but they've been looking out for me," Lenny's smile at Jax didn't go undetected.
"Lenny's been staying at Bobby's and then she working at the garage where there's always a group of us, we've been in contact with the Arizona charter to try and find some info but we don't think anyone is actually looking for this guy, Nate," Jax explained as Gina sat taking everything in, formulating the next step.
"You think it's a good idea to come back, alert people of your return by doing a show Lenny?" Gina didn't think it was smart.
"Club needs money, Ma. And they've helped me out, I gotta return the favour some how," Lenny put it as simply as she could, that's what it really boiled down to, repaying SAMCRO. Even if she was terrified someone may remember her from that night.
"We sent Lenny with protection Gina , she's got me and our Sergeant of Arms looking out for her," Jax didn't like how Gina was trying to run down SAMCRO, they would never allow anything bad to happen to one of their own. Not with out a fight, any way.
"Tig?" Gina smiled at the mention of one of Rays friends, it was good to know Lenny had friends of Rays looking out for her. Her mother couldn't help but feel she would need it right now.
The tension between the trio dissolved as time passed, the plan was finalised and Gina felt confident Jax had her daughters best interest at heart. Lenny would do this gig tonight and return to Charming first thing in the morning, if any one asked she would be heading back to Texas to carry on as a support act for the tour she had been on and Gina would drive out to Charming in 3 days to make sure no one was snooping around asking questions.
Jax suggested they should head back to catch up with Tig before the show prompting Gina to show them out. Lenny stopped at the door and throw her arms around her mother holding her close whispering again how sorry she was, Gina held he rout at arms length and brushed the bangs out of baby's Crystal blue eyes telling her she was safe now and she had never stopped loving her. Wishing her luck for tonight Gina gently pushed her daughter out of the door smiling at her, Jax said his goodbye to Gina and turned to follow Lenny but he felt a hand enclose around his upper arm as Gina pulled him back to whisper in his ear.
"You make sure nothing happens to my Baby, Jax. She's all I got left," Jax nodded at Gina before he headed down the garden path to catch Lenny.
Gina shut the door before they drove off, she didn't like to see her baby girl go so soon after they had sorted things out but she knew she'd be seeing her again soon and her brother. She couldn't help but acknowledge she didn't feel any worry knowing Lenny had been in Charming she was only concerned she was back in Arizona. Before she had any time to think about the what ifs a soft rap at the door interrupted her thoughts, pushing her self from the table she made her way to the door laughing at how Lenny hadn't changed that girl would forget her head if it wasn't attached to her shoulders. Pulling the door open Gina didn't have a second to speak before whoever was on her front porch whacked her across the skull with the Glock of a gun. Immediately Gina fell to the floor unconscious, one intruder grabbed her up in a bundle whilst the other quickly checked the house. They bundled Gina into the back of a white van that had been parked out side Gina's house since Lenny had left Charming. They were closing in on their target and now that they had leverage the revenge was sweeter and their plan was slowly falling into place.