Fire & Ice
Chapter 18- HELL WEEK (our version of Better Half)
By BG and Reaper
PART 3: WEDNESDAY Under Pressure
Trace Cope had his muscular arms folded across his chest and his long legs propped up on the coffee table before him. He was nursing a beer in the 'Bama SOA clubhouse around 2am. The chapter Vice President couldn't help but laugh as Motor Johnson, the SAA, failed miserably at playing darts.
Motor shot Trace a harsh look and grumbled, "Why don't you just go on home?" He narrowed his eyes in concentration for his next shot…and missed again.
"Cause watchin' you hit the wall instead of the damn dartboard is way more fun than taking the ass chewing I got waitin' for me at home. It's really kind of shockin' how bad you are. How in the hell you manage to hit a target with a damn gun is beyond me." Trace stood up and stretched his 6'6 frame. He pulled his dishwater blonde hair, which flowed midway down his back, into a ponytail, getting ready for the ride home. "I guess you're right though…I'm just postponing the goddamn inevitable. Guess I'll pack it in."
"Me too. I's just keepin' you company." Motor replied and threw his remaining two darts on a side table.
Trace smiled. "Aw come on now…you're not going to stay and practice? You might make the Olympics one day."
Motor flipped him the bird, a fitting silent reply.
As the guys walked to the bar to clean up for the night, Trace's cell phone rang. He told Motor that BB was calling. "What's up, brother?" Trace asked with concern in his voice, it was a little late for a friendly chat.
Trace and BB had been best friends since they were little kids, the two were pretty damn near inseparable. It was very fitting that the pair had been running the 'Bama chapter of the Sons together for years. They considered themselves brothers anyway but the bonds of the MC had solidified those feelings.
Motor watched with a frown as Trace listened and nodded to BB over the phone. Something was wrong, he could tell by Trace's silence. Usually that guy was talking a mile a minute, his nephew Dean, Jaci's ex, was the same way, regular chatterboxes.
"Don't worry about it, brother. We'll take care of it. I'll go right now. Give our love to the girls. Tell Jaci to keep her head up." Trace said as he ended the call. He blew out a deep breath and turned to relay Vix's critical situation to Motor.
"Girls can't catch a damn break." Motor said with a sigh as Trace finished his update on the medical and legal woes of the girls. The thought of his cousin being handcuffed to a hospital bed while fighting for her life made Motor want to hit something. HARD! The pair locked up the clubhouse for the night and walked to the parking lot to their bikes.
"BB wants one of us to go out to his place and be there with Roxy when he calls to tell her the bad news. You know Roxy is a going to pitch a fit." Trace said as he mounted his bike.
Motor nodded and fired up his bike.
"So, uh, I guess let me know how that goes." Trace said with a shrug.
Motor frowned. "Me? You go…you were heading home that way, anyway.
"Exactly…I got a hysterical woman waiting on me already. One's enough." Trace smiled. "Besides, Roxy's your cousin."
"We're all family, brother." Motor pointed out by tapping the leather cut he wore. "BB called you."
"Well, hell. Let's just throw down for it then, alright?" Trace offered. Motor nodded his acceptance. The guys proceeded to quickly throw down three rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Trace won every round. "Damn, you suck at that as much as you do at darts!" He fired up his own bike and his tone changed quickly to somber. "If you need anything, you call. Get Roxy to her girls." After a quick fist pound, the pair went their separate ways.
Motor tore out of the parking lot and headed out of town to BB's house. There was never a question in his or Trace's mind who would escort Roxy to California. The mock arguing over the task had just been a way to temporarily diffuse the worried emotions both men felt. Roxy was Motor's cousin by blood, which made Vix and Jaci his family by marriage but he loved the girls fiercely.
The front porch light flipped on as Motor killed his engine in the driveway. He wondered for a second if BB had jumped the gun and called Roxy before he could get here. He walked up the steps of the huge front porch and Roxy opened the door with one hand, in the other was her Colt .45 the barrel reflected the moonlight nicely.
She frowned at him, switching the safety back on. "Motor, what are you doing out here in the middle of the damn night?"
He drew in a deep breath, realizing that she didn't have a clue what was going on out in Charming. Before he could open his mouth to fumble a response, his cell phone rang. He answered it and heard BB's voice asking if he was there yet; Motor grunted in the affirmative. BB had never doubted who would be coming to Charming either. Motor handed the phone to Roxy, told her it was BB and walked over to sit on the porch swing.
Roxy took the phone and tried to remain calm; she was being babysat while her husband called her at quarter 'til 3 in the morning…had to be bad news. She plastered a smile on her face and hoped it carried to her voice. Suddenly, she had no desire to hear the bad news coming from the other end of the line and after saying a quick hello, she tried to pump BB for information on Vix's new guy. She hit him with a barrage of questions but he answered only with a summary statement.
"Rox, you know with Vix every decision is a crap shoot." BB answered.
Roxy groaned. "He's that bad, huh?"
"Well, the most constructive thing I can say about him right now is all his tattoos are spelled correctly."
"Oh. Well, does he seem to care about her? You know, feels the same about her as she does about him?"
BB thought about how defensive of Vix Juice was when discussing her arrest and how completely upset and worried he seemed to be about her current medical drama. "Yeah, I think he genuinely cares about her but I haven't had time to really talk to the guy, babe."
Roxy started to ask something else but he cut her off. He knew what she was doing. She knew no call from him at this hour could be good and he was actually surprised she hadn't taken the bull by the horns and demanded to know what was wrong from the get go.
"I didn't call to discuss Vix's love life, Rox. I...I um." He let out a sigh and ran his hand thru his short grey hair and then down his face. He was trying damn hard not to break down cause Roxy would freak out all the more but the news rushed out of him before he could censor it. "Vix's damn appendix burst while she was in the feds custody. She was sick as shit and they didn't do a motherfucking thing until it was too late." It was his turn to ramble. "We need you here...I just need you here babe. Vix and Jaci need you here. You need to get here, right now…yesterday even. I already called the club house, that's why Motor is there; he'll be comin' with you. Just make sure you are on the next flight, baby."
Motor watched as the dire news hit Roxy. She leaned against the house, covering her mouth with her free hand as she listened and then she wiped tears away as she spoke. "Ok, baby, ok. I'll be there. You just take care of our girls till I can get there, ok?" She took a deep breath. "I know you ain't one for praying, Billy Bob Parker, but you better start! You hear me? I mean it!" She nodded a few times, telling him she loved him and to kiss the girls as she ended the call. She walked over to Motor and latched onto him. He smothered her in a tight hug.
She pushed away from him after a few moments and inhaled deeply. Her resolve was set…time to get to her babies. She looked up at Motor. "Well, I guess you're my traveling companion. Go home, pack some shit and get your ass back here ASAP. I'm getting the earliest flight out of here."
Motor raised his eyebrows in alarm. "Flight??"
"Yeah…flight. You know…airplane ride? You didn't think I was going to let you drive me thirty something damn hours to California, did you? I gotta get to my girls NOW!"
"Give me an hour." He replied and headed toward his bike as Roxy went back inside the house. As he fired up his bike he tried to start thinking of ways to fight his anxiety. There were few things in this world that Motor Johnson was afraid of... God was one of them…airplanes were another.
The hope that the ruptured appendix wouldn't lead to infection and organ deterioration was short lived. Somewhere around sunrise one of the ICU interns came into the waiting room – he addressed BB, Jaci and Juice and after explaining that the infection had taken hold and that they were administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to try to minimize the effects and morphine for pain, he had a nurse take them back to see her. The nurse informed them that normally the ICU limits visitors to 2 at a time in 15 minute intervals, but she'd make an exception.
None of them were prepared, really, to see Vix in her present state. She had enough wire and tubes running out of her; she looked like she was gearing up to take off to the moon. There was a tower of monitors and machines beside her, all of them flashing various numbers and gridlines that were tracking the infectious holy hell that was raging inside of her. She looked so small lying in the bed with a plastic oxygen mask strapped to her face, motionless but not at all peaceful.
Juice shakes his head and muttered, "Oh man." He leaned up against the wall with eyes closed trying to get a grip.
Jaci squeezed Juice's shoulder and glanced at BB sadly. "Here we go again?" BB nodded, both of them thinking back to several years ago when they had almost lost Vix to a car wreck.
It was just past noon when Tig and Bobby backed their bikes into parking slots at St. Thomas Hospital. As they were walking across the parking lot, Bobby asked out of the blue, "So are you going to punch me if I hug her?'"
Distracted, Tig frowned and asked, "What?"
"Jaci. I mean since it turns out she's your girlfriend or whatever."
"Don't say girlfriend." Tig snapped back automatically. He thought about the question and realized he actually he needed Bobby to hug her, cause then he could do it too.
"So can I still have dinner at her house? We do that a lot, you know. I don't want you getting pissed." Bobby asked as they reached the doors to the hospital.
"Have I been pissed up till now?" Tig stopped and smirked at his friend. "You're shopping with her, Half Sack boxes with her…as long as you're not fucking her, I really don't care what you do with her, Bobby. Keeps me from having to do shit I don't want to. Not gonna see my ass running around IKEA."
The main ICU waiting room was nearly empty. Apparently is was a slow day for critical patients in Charming. Two ATF agents stared at the Sons has they walked past and made notes on their clipboards. Bobby rolled his eyes and asked them in passing, "You guys need height and weight measurements for your little notebooks?"
Tig laughed and cupped his crotch. "Might take both of you to measure this."
The guys continued walking and laughing until they spotted Jaci. She was seated in a chair with her legs stretched out onto the chair across from her. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She was wearing jeans and a zip up hoodie and currently had the hood pulled up over her head.
"Awww, she's sleeping. I don't think we should wake her up." Bobby whispered.
Tig frowned and walked closer to her. He smiled slightly and pointed at her. "She's not asleep. Look, she's tapping her fingers." He spotted the white wires of her earbud headphones. "Fucking iPod." Tig muttered. He kicked at her feet gently and she jerked her head up and her eyes shot open. A huge smile spread across her face when she saw the pair of men standing in front of her.
Jaci pulled the buds from her ears and slipped her iPod in her pocket as she stood up to greet the guys. "Hey guys."
"You going gangsta on us now?" Tig asked as he nodded toward her hood. She lowered it from her head and they shared a smile.
"They keep this place like a damn meat locker. I've been freezing my ass off all day."
"What's up with the hall monitors?" Bobby asked as he nodded back toward the agents.
"They set up camp this morning, compliments of Stahl; keeping track of anyone that comes through. Did you guys give 'em shit?"
"Of course." Bobby answered as wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her from the side; kind of hard to hug from the front with that big Buddha belly of his.
A hug from Bobby was nice and comforting but she wanted Tig. She wasn't sure of the public protocol though so she just stood still and glanced at him. He nodded his head ever so slightly to let her know it was ok and they wrapped their arms around each other. Jaci closed her eyes and breathed deep as she squeezed him fiercely. To the agents watching them, it looked like a normal hug between friends, they couldn't see Jaci's hand slide down his chest or the look that she gave him as she pulled away from him. "You look pretty good." He whispered as she sat back down.
She frowned slightly. "You sound surprised. What did you expect?"
"A crumbled crying mess." Tig blurted back an honest response.
"Tig!" Bobby reprimanded. Tig shrugged like What did I say?
Jaci actually laughed. "Sorry, I don't do crumbled crying mess. Last night was rough but things are looking up today. They've got her on high powered antibiotics and pain meds. So there is an action plan." She patted the laptop that sat next to her. "Juice and I have been researching Vix's condition online, so we have a better idea of what we are dealing with."
Bobby glanced at Tig and then to the seat next to Jaci. He whispered, "Uh, you wanna sit by her or should I…"
"Jesus, just sit down already." Tig hissed as he took the seat across from her. He rolled his eyes as a small smile eased across Jaci's face. She seemed to be amused by the silly awkwardness of the whole situation. "So she's better?"
"Ehh, she's tried to wake up a few times today. Opened her eyes long enough to call me a motherfucker. I think that's a good sign coming from Vix."
Bobby laughed and nodded in agreement. "Did you get lawyered up?" Jaci nodded. "Rosen?"
"He wants some distance but he gave me one of his associates."
Tig interjected. "He any good?"
She shrugged and corrected him. "SHE is supposed to just as good, only in a skirt and heels. Jason says he has better hair than her though."
Tig rolled his eyes at her using Rosen's first name and the cute remark. Asshole. But he couldn't be too pissed at the guy, at least he was helping.
Jaci made sure her voice was low. "Juice said Stahl was sniffing around the Justin Darby thing too. But it doesn't matter, anything she throws at us, we've got a buffer now if we need it."
"So where is everybody?" Bobby asked as he looked around the deserted room. Jaci had just told him Juice and Ruby were in with Vix when as if on cue, Juice came walking quickly into the waiting room. The guys stood up and greeted their brother warmly.
Jaci watched him carefully. "What's wrong?" She asked.
He ran his hand over his head and grimaced. "The doctor wants to talk to your uncle. She's hallucinating again; they want to up the morphine."
Bobby smiled. "Awe man that is some good shit! Who ever said laughter is the best medicine has never had morphine." Tig nodded with enthusiastic agreement.
"BB's on his way back from the airport with Roxy and Motor." Jaci stood up. "Maybe it's the morphine causing the hallucinations. They tried to give that to her after her car accident and she kept seeing munchkins."
Bobby's stomach growled involuntarily. "Man, I love munchkins - powdered, glazed… chocolate glazed are the best"
Jaci shook her head and clarified. "Not the donut holes; Vix was seein' the little people from The Wizard of Oz." She started walking toward the ICU door.
"Yeah, well now she's having an argument with your guys' mom about her not being at field day." Juice called after her with a heavy sigh.
Jaci sucked her breath in sharply and stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to look at Juice. "Our Mama died when Vix was seven."
Juice nodded. "I know. This is worse than two hours ago when she freaked out about there being snakes on her bed."
"I'll go talk to them. Stay here, talk with the guys."
Juice glanced at the guys but followed Jaci. He caught up to her. "I can't leave her like this Jaci ... she's freaked out and scared."
Jaci smiled and put her hands on his shoulders. "Sweetie, you can't fight what is in her head. Right now the best way to help her is to let her rest." She turned him around to face the guys again and shoved him lightly in their direction. "Go, talk…I'll fix this."
Juice shuffled back to the guys who did their best to take his mind off the situation by filling him in on the bar fight they staged from the night before. Bobby's imitation of Tig takin' hits off Piney's O2 tank actually brought a smile to Juice's face. Ten minutes later, Jaci returned to the waiting room with Ruby in tow. Jaci explained that after a lengthy discussion with the doctors, Vix was now receiving Ativan instead of Morphine and they were letting her rest ALONE; hopefully that combination would help the hallucinations to subside. Ruby said her goodbyes to the group and left to find Henry Darling who was visiting a friend in the hospital with pneumonia. She needed a ride to church; it was time to pray her little Catholic heart out.
Tig raised his eyebrows as glanced at Jaci as they all sat back down. "You sound like a doctor."
She shrugged. "Well after all of the info Juice and I have read in the last 24 hours, I could probably play one on TV."
"Now, now…your ass spent the night in a hospital waiting room, NOT at a Holiday Inn Express." Bobby's joke got a laugh from everyone, even Juice. They sat and talked about random things for a few minutes more until Jaci's cell phone beeped. She had a text message and slid her phone open to reveal its keyboard and began typing back a response. Everyone turn their attention to her since there was nothing else to do.
Jaci felt eyes on her and looked up into three staring faces. She ducked her head and started to type again. "It's Dean…wanting a Vix update." She sent her reply and a moment later her cell beeped again and again she typed a reply. Tig watched with mild annoyance but he figured communicating with Mr. Infinity was a necessary evil right now, besides at least they were only texting, no long heartfelt phone conversations were happening. A few minutes later Jaci's cell actually rang and Tig frowned. Asshole. But after a moment it was clear that it was her uncle on the phone and not her ex.
She hung up her cell. "BB's in the parking lot. They'll be up any minute." She made a point to make eye contact with all of the guys but especially Tig. "Ok, just a warning, when I see Motor, I am going to bear hug that boy. I don't want anyone freaking out or getting jealous. And Juice, a warning about Roxy, she's a hugger and trying to get away with just a simple handshake would insult her."
Juice nodded his understanding. He was nervous about meeting Roxy- Vix's stand in mom. So far the meeting with BB had been less than perfect. "What about Motor?"
Jaci laughed. "Oh, I don't think you should try to hug Motor; he might rip your arms off! Let him lead that little moment." She stood up and began to walk around the waiting room. Juice soon followed suit. She was so ready to see her family, having them here would be a big step in the right direction.
The crew soon heard voices down the hall and Jaci and Juice stepped into the main hall in time to see BB and Motor both giving the ATF agents a disgusted stare down. The woman keeping pace with the two men beamed when she saw Jaci. Tig watched as a smile spread across Jaci's face in return. She walked quickly and wrapped her 'mom' in a hug.
"Baby!" Roxy breathed.
"BB's Ol' Lady is hott, man." Bobby whispered to Tig, who nodded in agreement.
Roxy was a beautiful lady, about the same height as Jaci with long, sandy-brown hair. She was slim and wearing trendy clothes like Gemma might wear. Good thing Half Sack wasn't around, he might have made another MILF comment.
They watched as Jaci let go of Roxy, both ladies were wiping tears away but laughing slightly too.
Roxy noticed Juice standing there and smiled. He was exactly how the girls had described him. "And you must be Juice." He had no sooner nodded his reply than she had him wrapped in a hug. She pulled away, once again dabbing her eyes, "You make Vix very happy." Juice managed a nod and then looked away down the long hall that leads to the ICU.
Jaci turned her eyes on Motor and the serious look melted from his face, he raised his eyebrows and opened his arms. A huge smile blossomed on her face and she grabbed him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezed, and lifted her off the floor for a moment.
She whispered to him, "How was the flight?"
Motor shook his head and set her back down on her feet and whispered, "Nothing a shit load of Jack Daniels couldn't fix. The flight attendant took a shine to me; gave me a few free ones."
"Did you get her number?" Jaci teased and punched at his arm.
"Uh no…" His looked turned serious again. "It was a dude."
Roxy and Jaci both busted out laughing but one stern look from Motor shut them up.
Jaci quickly introduced Roxy to Tig and Bobby but she was only paying half attention. Her eyes were on the ICU door. "Excuse me fellas, I don't wanna seem rude but I need to go see my baby girl first. I'll shoot the shit with ya'll in a little bit." BB wrapped his arm around his wife and took her to see Vix, leaving Motor behind. Jaci moved on to her next introduction.
"Guys, this is my cousin Motor. Motor, this is Juice, Bobby and Tig." Jaci pointed out the guys as she named them off. Motor clasped hands with Juice and gave him a half hug, which was a huge gesture coming from Motor. Juice looked a little nervous but managed to mumble, "Nice to meet you." Next he gave a handshake and friendly nod to Bobby. When it came to Tig, the friendly look left Motor's face and his eyes turned a little colder.
Tig noticed the change and smirked. BB must have shared the good news about him and Jaci to the resident 'Bama psychopath. He extended his hand and Motor gripped it, hard. They shook hands, both trying to exert a death grip on the other. A smile played at Motor's lips while Tig's smirk stayed intact as they pulled their clasped hands back and forth. Bobby and Juice glanced at Jaci and she rolled her eyes. She knew neither man would back down so she took a step and put her hands on top of theirs, whispering, "Ooook. The pissing contest can stop now, boys. Play nice." The guys ended the hand 'shake' but continued to size each other up. Motor was honestly surprised by the "look" of Tig; not at all what he pictured as a companion for Jaci.
The guys and Jaci all sat back down in the waiting room. It was awkward for a moment but then Bobby started asking Motor questions about his bike and what the other 'Bama guys rode and the ice was officially broken. Everyone was happy to talk about something other than jail time and sickness for a change, even Juice engaged in the conversation, although he kept staring at the ICU door longingly.
A few minutes later Jaci's phone started beeping again…more texts from Dean. Jaci's thumbs flew about her phone's keyboard sending responses. Motor looked a little amazed at her ability to text so quickly. His amusement faded when she told him she was talking with Dean. Tig noticed the change in Motor; her cousin obviously didn't like Mr. Infinity either.
Tig stared at Jaci texting and fell out of the conversations going on around him. Finally he couldn't stand it anymore when she smiled yet again at the conversation taking place via keyboard and blurted out, "Does he have anything better to do than text you all day long? Like work maybe?"
Jaci cocked an eyebrow at Tig, chiding him for his obvious jealousy. Before she could say anything, Motor surprisingly piped up with a snort. "He works…if you can call running a nightclub working."
"Some people work with their minds instead of their hands." Jaci reminded her cousin.
"Dipshit ain't working anything but his dick." Motor retorted which got a smile from Tig.
"Hell that's what I would be doing if I ran a nightclub." Bobby commented.
Jaci noticed the smile from Tig and decided to force a bonding moment. "Aww, that's cute. You both have little nicknames for my ex." She glanced between the guys. "Tig likes to call him Mr. Infinity because of our tattoos. Motor is less formal and prefers Dipshit."
Tig shrugged. "I just don't understand why he needs to text you thirty times. How is Vix…she's stable…end of conversation, 2 texts tops."
"Trying to weasel back in." Motor muttered and crossed his arms over his chest. Talking about Dean always got him mad.
Tig noticed Motor's annoyance at the mention of Dean. He decided to see what he could find out since Jaci had declared Dean an off limits subject since coming back from 'Bama at Easter. "You two ever get into it about her?" He cocked his head toward Jaci.
"We've had words but I can't lay hands on him." Motor shook his head in disappointment and then explained. "Dean's uncle is my VP so between that and the fact that J made me swear on my mama's grave that I wouldn't hurt him…I can't touch the little fucker."
Tig sneered and offered assistance. "Haul his ass to Cali…I'll touch him. I don't have any restrictions." Motor nodded and with that moment a bit of the automatic dislike he felt for Tig faded. Any man that was willing to beat Dean's ass just on principle, having never had the displeasure of actually meeting the prick, couldn't be all bad in Motor's book.
"Ok, guys…I'm sitting right here so stop talking about me and stop beating a dead horse. Dean is a non-issue." Jaci warned playfully.
"Yes, mother." Motor replied quietly and sarcastically drawing a laugh from all of the guys.
Jaci rolled her eyes but laughed too. It was so good to have him around.
BB and Roxy returned to the waiting room and sat down with the rest of the crew. Small talk was made and Tig and Bobby were actually getting ready to leave when Juice randomly said, "Fucking bitch. Stahl's coming."
Everyone jerked their head to the hallway where his eyes were glued. Walking toward them was Agent Stahl and one of her minions. The motley crew stood up and glared in unison at her. Quickly eyes started to dart to other faces in the crew. Everyone was trying to figure out who was going to be the first to unload on Stahl.
Jaci took a deep breath, "Let me handle this." She stared down the other guys. "Please."
The guys all shared a look, seemingly taking a silent vote amongst themselves and BB finally nodded his permission to her. Jaci walked a few steps away to meet Stahl head on.
Stahl flashed a big fake smile and extended her hand to Jaci. "Jaci Parker, it is so nice to meet you finally. I'm Agent Stahl."
Jaci ignored the outstretched hand. "I know who you are. What do you want?"
"I heard you didn't like your sister being cuffed? Just wanted to tell you personally that unless that warrant of her's magically disappears… those cuffs are staying on."
Jaci had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. That beloved warrant would soon be toast and Stahl would be eating those words.
Stahl continued. "I heard you're getting a lawyer. That's a good idea because you and I need to have a little chat...about Justin Darby. I was going to ask your sister but seeing that she is comatose, I guess you'll have to suffice. So you're place or mine?"
"Doesn't matter...I've got nothing to say either way." Jaci replied coolly with a shrug.
"Well, we'll see about that. I've got a few things to show you, might change your mind. It's amazing what can come crawling out of the woodwork after all these years. There is no statute of limitations on Murder, but I bet you knew that. Smart girl, college graduate, savvy business woman, I am guessing you got the lion's share of the brains in the family." Stahl grinned and hoped that Jaci bought her bluff. She hadn't been able to find shit on the Justin Darby case, there was a reason the girls had never been charged with anything…there wasn't any hard evidence to be had. No body, no witnesses.
Jaci rolled her eyes but resided herself to just letting Stahl blow all the smoke she wanted.
Motor watched his cousin closely. He noticed the way her jaw was clenched, her eyes were steeled, and she held a cocky posture. He stood between Bobby and Tig and mused, "J's got her hackles up... doesn't happen very often ... never a good sign."
Tig nodded and whispered, "'Last time she looked like that she beat the fuck out of a chick and I had to spend the night in jail with her." Motor glanced at him as if to say no shit. Tig nodded once.
Stahl let out an exaggerated sigh. "Too bad your sister wasn't as fortunate as you. Poor little Vix is gonna wake up to the world gone topsy-turvy. Handcuffs, murder charges and looks like she's going to be down a BFF when she wakes up."
Jaci frowned, "What are you talking about?"
"While your sister went for a dramatic exit... Ms., well I guess you'd know her as Cherry; her real name is Rita, by the way. Rita decided to channel Houdini and pull a vanishing act."
Jaci couldn't even hide her obvious confusion. Cherry busted out of jail?? What the fuck? She took a second and then asked, "Where did she go?"
Stahl cocked her head. "Thought you might be able to tell me that."
Jaci scoffed, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"Well…" Stahl clapped her hands together. "looks like Vix's little fan club is getting restless and I have to go anyway. So you think long and hard about all of this and when you're ready to talk… you come see me. Maybe we can deal." Stahl was sure to raise her voice so that the Sons heard the deal offer.
Jaci shook her head and felt her fists clench automatically. "Lady, and I use that term very loosely, I wouldn't make a deal with you if you were Monty-Fuckin'-Hall."
"That's cute." Stahl winked at her. "You keep up the hardass act for a bit. We'll see how tough you are when your sister's looking at life in prison." Stahl waved to the crew that was now starting to edge closer and then she turned on her heel and walked back down the hall.
Roxy stared after the agent. "Oh my god, that woman... I mean what would possess a person to be like that to a perfect stranger?"
Bobby shrugged and offered up a suggestion, "Maybe she was abused as a child?"
Jaci glared in the direction of the empty hallway. "God, I fuckin' hope so."
A muttering of cursing could be heard from the gathered crew. Jaci's attention snapped to Tig and her eyes widened. She edged closer to him and whispered, "Cherry?? What the fuck?"
Tig looked at Bobby who shrugged. Tig whispered back cryptically, "Couldn't stand the heat, had to be removed from the kitchen."
Jaci's eyes bugged thinking the Sons had somehow killed her friend. "Removed??? Did you…?" Tig shook his head and frowned to let her know that Cherry was still alive and kickin'. Jaci nodded her understanding and went to sit back down. Tig shot out a hand to stop her and in the same motion, slipped a pre-paid cell phone into the front pocket of her hoodie.
She glanced at him questioningly. He whispered, "It's a pre-paid. Untraceable. Bobby and I are heading out but you can call me later. If you can drag yourself away from texting Dipshit." As if on cue Jaci's cell phone chimed with a text message, Tig rolled his eyes, "Speaking of the asshole."
Jaic pulled out her phone and quickly read the text. A huge sigh of relief escaped her lips. "The warrant is no more… thank you, Baylor Cope."
BB nodded in exasperation, "Five minutes too late to shove it down the throat of that cocky ATF bitch."
"She'll choke on it soon enough. Dean said the court clerk faxed the nullification order to Charming PD." Jaci smiled.
"Well, let's go tell Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb to take the fuckin' cuffs off." Tig nodded towards the feds camped out in the hall.
Later that night…
Jaci stood waiting for the elevator doors to open. It had been a hellish day. Stahl's appearance was just the first shock. Later came a deterioration of Vix's condition, some tough medical decisions, and a near fist fight between BB and Juice.
Roxy had threatened Jaci with physical violence if she didn't leave the hospital and go home to get some sleep. She should be dragging Juice home with her; that boy was way worse off than her, but he was NOT moving from Vix's side; physical violence wouldn't even make him blink. The doors slid open and she stepped inside, hitting the button for the ground floor without even having to look, practice did make perfect. She walked to the back of the elevator slowly and turned around to lean against it for the ride down. She wasn't alone in the elevator as the doors slid shut. Ernest Darby stood in directly front of her. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and she choked back a startled scream.
"Going down, Miss Parker?" Darby unleashed his trademark sleazy smile. "Here you are again. Is it your family's personal mission to fund St. Thomas hospital?"
Jaci forced herself to stay calm and swallowed hard. "Damn, you're pretty sneaky, Darby. They teach you stealth skills in skinhead school?" She knew a face to face with Darby was bound to happen but had stopped worrying about it since she and Vix had made it so many months back in Charming without a run in with him. "What do you want?"
The elevator was making its descent but Darby slapped the emergency stop button between floors. Jaci's heart dropped knowing that she was trapped alone until he decided to let her leave. Darby's voice was full of fake friendliness. "Just thought we could have a friendly little chat. Been meanin' to look you up since you got back in town. You know, maybe my memory is getting rusty in my old age, but I could have SWORN that you girls weren't supposed to set foot in this town again."
She shrugged. "Extenuating circumstances, Darby."
He smiled and nodded. "True, true. That junkie sister of yours sort of forced your hand on that one maybe. You came back to take care of family, see little Jax Jr. I'll give you that one. But you damn sure had control over STAYING in town, buying a goddamn house and settling in with SAMCRO, didn't you?" Darby stepped closer to Jaci. "So I got to thinking…if you girls could renege on our little agreement from all those years ago, maybe I could too."
"The agreement was that we would leave town and you would stop painting us as murderers."
Darby shook his head and rubbed his stubbly chin. "Mmm…the way I remember it, you left town so I didn't take an eye for an eye. And seeing you girls around here again has me really…missing that poor nephew of mine." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Grief is just building up inside of me again all of a sudden. It's weird, really. But I'm older and wiser now, so I've changed my mind about a few things."
"Oh really?"
Darby nodded, "Yeah, you girls are piss ants really. I mean, I hate you and all… but I want the whole damn club brought down more…so you're going to help me."
"How do you figure that?" Jaci crossed her arms, trying to appear relaxed. She really wanted to punch him in the face and run but there was no place to go.
"From what I hear, SAMCRO has ATF just crawling all over them, just looking for one tiny little thing to grab onto. So you're going to give it to them. You're going to come clean about killing my nephew. I don't care which one of you bitches really did it, figure you were probably both there so one's just as guilty as the other. But you're going to sing like a little bird."
Jaci shook her head and lied for the second time today about Justin. "How do you know he's dead? You find a body the cops don't know about?"
"You and I both know Justin's dead. Drop the bullshit act."
"I've got nothing to sing about…sorry."
"Oh maybe not right this minute, but you will." Darby stepped even closer to her and cocked his head and a fake voice of concern sounded from him. "You ever get nervous, Jaci? I mean one sister in Intensive Care, another in rehab, and then there is that fragile little nephew of yours. All your near and dear in and outta the hospital. I mean people DIE in hospitals all the time when they are supposed to getting better. Just freak occurrences. You must worry about that sort of thing a lot."
She gritted her teeth and moved her hands to clench the rail behind her. "Never really crossed my mind, Darby." Her heart pounded in her chest with anger and fear but she tried to appear calm.
"Well, it better start. You better give up the ghost pretty quick or you're going to see just how dangerous this place can be." Darby wanted to grab her and shake her but he knew better and kept his hands off of her…for now.
Jaci frowned at his threat. "Are you stupid? You want to start a war with SAMCRO? You touch any of my family and that's what you're going to get."
"War's been brewing for years honey, just a matter of time anyway." Darby extended his long arms for a second in a sort of bring it gesture and then dropped them. He cocked his head again. "But you really think Clay will risk his little empire for YOU? Right now with the big Fed spotlight on them? I think you girls know way more than you should; might even be a bit of a liability. SAMCRO might be happy to see both of you have a little accident." He winked at her. "The loving arms of the Feds might be the safest place for you. Just think about it, darling."
He reached over and hit emergency stop button to release it. The elevator opened at the next floor. He smiled at her and stepped out. "Hope your sister gets better; your nephew too, heard that little guy was a fighter but you just never know do you? Take a day; think over what you need to do."
The elevator doors slid shut behind him and Jaci was alone again. She let out a gasping breath and ran her hands over her face. She would have loved to sink to the floor and had a full on crying fit but instead she made herself hold it together until she could get to her car. Then the angry tears flowed hot down her face.
Jaci sat on the side of her bed and stared at the clock…1:30am. She couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she thought about Abel in his toaster or Vix lying paralyzed in her hospital bed and Darby's threats. She hadn't told anyone about the elevator confrontation; that situation needed to be handled very carefully. Just blurting out his threat could set off World War III and no one could survive that right now; death and jail time would rain down on the Nords and SAMCRO alike.
Not that she trusted Darby, but she felt she had a bit of time before he started making any moves against her. She had major decisions to make, life changing ones. The grip of control she thought she had over this whole situation had slipped away today after Darby's chat. She needed something to calm her down tonight. She would have loved to drink herself into a completely shitfaced stupor but that probably wouldn't really help anything. She let out a sigh and switched to staring at the phone on the nightstand. She picked up the prepaid and considered all of the Fed attention she was getting. Oh what the hell, give it a try. She called Tig.
"Yeah." He answered on the second ring.
Thank God he had answered; just hearing his voice on the line was a comfort. "Hey. It's me. Were you asleep? I mean, are you at home?"
"Yeah I'm home. Wasn't asleep yet but I was headed that way. What's wrong?"
She told a half truth. "Can't sleep. All I think about is Vix and the shithole mess we've gotten ourselves into."
"Well, you need to take a pill or something. You gotta sleep. You're gonna start to look like shit."
Jaci frowned; not exactly the comforting words she was hoping for. She snapped back, "Thanks. You're always so helpful." She knew Tig was concerned about her but just once she would like to hear it expressed in a normal damn way. She wanted to defend herself by saying consenting to paralyzing your sister and withstanding a Nord threat tends to have a negative effect on one's appearance but remained quiet.
Tig cleared his throat. "Well, I'm just saying you're burning your candle at both ends and the middle right now. It's gonna catch up."
Jaci ignored his attempt at wisdom. She took a deep breath and blurted out the real reason for her call. "I want to come over." That was what she needed…to be with him, where she knew she would be 100% safe and protected. It might be the last time they had together if her plan worked out.
"Like now? Here?" Confusion came through his voice. "That's not happening."
Her heart sank again. She was losing count on how many times that feeling had hit her today. "Why not? You're alone aren't you?"
"Yes, goddamnit, I'm alone. Are you alone?" He snapped back, offended at the accusation.
"Yes, utterly and absolutely." Jaci replied sadly but then bristled slightly. "Who the hell would I be with?"
"Well, isn't Motor staying at your house?" Tig asked coldly. "You two are pretty fucking chummy."
"Yeah, he is staying at my house, along with my aunt and uncle." Through gritted teeth Jaci asked, "Are you implying that I am fucking my cousin?"
"By marriage…he's your cousin by marriage. There's no blood relation holding him back." Tig continued to elaborate. "You're a hot ass damsel in distress and he's got a dick. You go crying on his shoulder, shit could happen….that's all I'm saying."
"Oooh, jealous much?" Jaci closed her eyes and shook her head and started her rant. "Ok, I don't know what vision you have of the South in that little closed off brain of yours but contrary to popular belief, we do NOT fuck our cousins, by marriage or otherwise! Motor is FAMILY, end of goddamn story! And furthermore, it wouldn't matter whose shoulder I was crying on- I wouldn't fucking cheat on you!" Jaci took a deep breath again and growled, "Why are you being such an ass right now?!"
"I don't know!!" Tig roared back with an honest knee jerk response and went off on a rant of his own. "Shit…I know you aren't fucking around with Motor…I don't know why I even said that. Fuck, don't tell him I said that shit…I don't want to have to throw down with him in the middle of the ICU waiting room. It's just…you got your ex goddamn fiancé bending the law for you and texting you every other fucking minute, your aunt, uncle and cousin all swooped in from across the damn country to help you…and I can't even be in a room with you without using the fucking buddy system. How fucking useless is that?"
"Well then, be useful right now…let me come over." Jaci said.
"Look, I wouldn't mind you being here, but there is probably a Fed parked in a car watching your house right now. Coming over here would be like fucking Christmas for them." Tig explained.
"I wouldn't come straight to your place. I'm not fucking stupid. I could park a couple of blocks away and walk into your place the back way." Tig's reaction was not the one she was hoping for and his tone hit her like a slap to the face. She was too damn stressed, she needed some nice from him. Things had been so hectic since Vix was arrested; she and Tig had had zero alone time together. Things with them were tense and a little strained due to the stress and they needed to reconnect, even he was feeling that. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to keep her voice calm and delivered the understatement of the year. "It's been an awful day…you have know idea how awful. I just want…I need to see you." She sounded a sad laugh. "I'm a little shaky, you know?"
Tig wanted to see her too but was thinking more clearly than she was. She was a big ole emotional wreck. "Too risky; until all of this blows over, we're on ice, you know that."
"I'm talking about sneaking around here, Tig; not holding your hand down Main Street." She forced a laugh. "Come on, outlaw…bend the rules a little."
"Can't do it. I'm not getting the club's balls in a ringer over a piece of ass." He wanted to add again but thought better of it.
Annoyance came alive in her again. "Piece of ass?! Tig, I'm not wanting fucked tonight. Quite the damn opposite."
Tig let out a frustrated sigh. "I KNOW THAT but a Fed that follows you over here is going to be thinking booty call and that's what is going to get around. It's not happening, whatever it would be…end of story. The Club can't stand any more heat."
It was Jaci's turn to sigh as she wiped away tears. The Club, the Club, the Club, gotta protect the Club. How many times have I heard that over the span of my fucking life? I am TRYING to protect the damn Club; I just need some shelter right now!! She choked out, "Fine."
"Are you crying?" Tig gripped the phone and waved it around his head in frustration before continuing. He hated this whole damn situation. Things had been good between them before the wave of ATF arrests. Coming out to the club should have been a relief and maybe even a good thing for them but under the circumstances it was driving a serious wedge. "Look, I know you are all messed up right now, but just go to sleep. Things will be better tomorrow. I'll try to get Bobby to come with me to the hospital, like we're checking on Juice and stuff again. You'll see me then."
"You'll try …damn, I feel so special…all my burdens are lifted. I can totally go to sleep now." Jaci spit back with sarcasm.
"Don't get pissy. It's just the way shit is right now." Again he minded his words and didn't remind here that her and her sister had created this little mess in the first place. No one had made them skip out on a warrant or kill a guy all those years ago.
Jaci was defeated and wished she hadn't even called. Now she would be up thinking about problems with Tig all night too. "Alright, never mind…forget I called. I'll see you when I see you."
"You'll see me tomorrow. Go to sleep." Tig said with a softer voice but it was too late for that; the damage was already done for the night.
Jaci fell back on the bed with her palms pressed to eyes. Damnit!! She was so frustrated with Tig she wanted to scream. Would it fucking KILL him to be normal and supportive just ONE fucking time??! She pushed out a breath and was instantly frustrated with herself for being such a whiny bitch. That was NOT who she was under normal circumstances but normal had left the party until further notice. She had to blame herself a bit. Tig would have been a hundred kinds of supportive if she would have told him the truth about the Darby confrontation…well, he would have be homicidal, not exactly supportive. He would have been at her house in a heartbeat, Fed babysitters be damned, he would have came to protect her.
She banged the back of her head on the bed headboard repeatedly in frustration. Ugh…Tig…why did things have to be so HARD with him? Nothing ever comes easy. It's all drama-drama-drama with little moments of pure happiness and then more drama. Damnit.
The more she thought about all the shit happening in her life, the more upset she got. Finally the tears started pouring out of her. She had the good long cry she had need to have all week; the kind of cry where your body is racked with sobs, snot pours out of your nose, your head throbs and feels like its going to explode. Through the crying she was able to gain some clarity on her situation and she knew what she needed to do to make everything right. No one would be happy about the solution and it would change her life forever but it had to happen.
The great thing about a cry like that…at the end of it, you're fucking sleepy. As she lay in bed in the last few moments before falling into much needed sleep she though, Damn you, Tig. You little shit…you helped me get to sleep after all.
Stay tuned for the rest of HELL WEEK…