A/N: Hello again! So after a long while, I finally have Chapter 2 ready to post! Yay! So, we'll pick up where we left off. So happy to have your reviews and appreciate all the alerts and favorites you guys have done for this story.
Sorry for it taking so long. It's just hard to write with school and work and when my brain refuses to stay in SOA mode.
So here is Chapter 2 of "Here Without You"
Read, Enjoy and Please Review!
Love always.
Nicole
"My name is Kip Epps. I'm you're future brother-in-law."
Rae looked at him in shock. "What?"
"Kynan is my twin."
"You two look nothing alike."
Half Sack laughed. "I'm used to it. We may not look alike, but I was born an hour before him."
Rae leaned back into her pillows. She had come here to find her biological parents, yet she had managed to find her fiancé's brother instead. "Wow. So you're the oldest?"
He nodded. "Mhmm. How are you feeling?"
"Sore." She replied.
"I can get Tara to come give you something."
Rae cocked her brow again. "Tara?"
"The doc."
"You call your doctors by their first names here?"
"It's a small town, plus she's pretty well known."
"Oh. Okay. I guess I can live with that." Rae managed to smile lightly.
Sack excused himself and went to find Tara. The nurse explained that Tara had gone on an emergency call, but that orders were left to give Rae the medication if she needed it. The nurse got the medication and Sack followed her back to the room. Once Rae was settled, they set about talking. They talked about Kynan for a while. Sack explained that he had gotten the letter from Kynan so he was expecting her arrival.
That was when Rae asked. "Why didn't Kynan talk to you anymore? I wanted to invite you to our wedding, but he wouldn't hear of it."
Kip hung his head. "It's a long story."
Raelynn pointed at her arm in a sling and the IV. "I'm not going anywhere."
He laughed. "Fair enough. Well to start, you should know, all the men in my family served in the army. My dad was a Green Beret back in the day."
Rae nodded. She knew this part of the story. It always seemed to be the bright point of the Epps family history.
"Well as Kynan and I got older, we both wanted to serve. The only problem was that I wanted to be a Marine."
Rae's jaw dropped. It was all starting to make sense now.
"So I sent in my application for the Marines. I was shocked that I got accepted right off the bat. Kynan got his acceptance and a scholarship for him to study medicine to become a corpsman." Kip took a deep breath. "I hid my letter for a few weeks, but eventually Mom found it. Mom and Dad were a little disappointed but were happy because I was going to do something I wanted. Kynan, on the other hand, felt that I was betraying my family. We got into a huge ass fight, which resulted with black eyes, broken noses and some other injuries. He told me he never wanted to see me again. So I packed my stuff and headed out. That was about 10 years ago."
"Oh my God. I didn't know it was that bad." Rae exclaimed.
Kip nodded. "Mom and Dad had it hardest because they got caught between the two of us. They did come down here though, when I got sent back from Iraq."
"What happened out there?" She asked, without thinking. "You don't have to tell me. I kinda spoke without thinking."
"It's okay. I'll be straightforward though. I got half castrated by en IED."
Rae's jaw dropped. "Oh."
Kip blushed a little. "Yeah, so it's why everyone calls me Half-Sack or Sack."
"I see. Well I prefer Kip. If you don't mind." Rae blushed.
"It's up to you." He smiled. "Do you prefer Raelynn or Rae?"
"I prefer Rae. But you can call me Raelynn, if you'd like. Just, being called Raelynn reminds me of being a kid in trouble again."
"Okay. So glad I get to meet you. It seems you're the reason Kynan wants to mend fences. Any idea why?" Kip asked.
Rae knew why now. "Possibly because I'm trying to find my biological parents."
Kip scratched his head. So Rae went into details in the explanation of who she was and explained her desire to meet and get to know her real parents.
Meanwhile…
Tara was called to the OR for a crash C-section. When she arrived she was shocked to see that the mother was Wendy Teller. The procedure went as well as it could, considering the amount of drugs it seemed Wendy had ingested throughout her pregnancy. After bringing Wendy back to her room and setting her son up in the NICU, Tara was almost attacked by Gemma and Jax concerning the baby's health.
Before Jax tore out the hospital, he told her. "His name is Abel."
After he left, Gemma and Clay attacked her again. She tried to calm them down and explain everything but with little success.
"Dr. Knowles to room 3-51." A page came over the intercom.
She was a little shocked. That was Rae's room, and she had been doing fine when she left this morning.
"I have to go check on a this patient." She interrupted Gemma's rant.
Gemma and Clay were dumbfounded as Tara just walked away from them. They weren't finished with her yet so they took off after her. She went into another patient's room at the other end of the 3rd floor in the General Medicine wing. They stopped outside and looked into the window. Their jaws dropped when they saw the young woman in the bed. Clay was even more shocked to see Half-Sack sitting with her.
"It can't be!" Gemma exclaimed.
Clay, not wanting to make a scene, gently tapped on the window and got Sack's attention. Sack noticed, and excused himself from the room. "What's up Clay?"
"Who is that?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Her name's Raelynn O'Callaghan." Sack looked between Clay and Gemma. Something was off. "Why?"
Gemma, upon hearing Rae's name became hysterical. Tara was just coming to check up on Rae caught the scene outside her patient's room. "What is going on here?" She pointed to Gemma. "What's her problem?"
Clay put his arm around Gemma's weeping form. "You got somewhere that we can all talk, Doc?"
Tara nodded and led them to a private waiting room, usually used for families waiting on news of the fate of their loved one. She locked the door. "Care to explain what the fuck you two are doing outside a patient's room, especially since you don't even know her?" Tara snapped. She'd never really gotten along with Jax's mother and stepfather, nor how they operated, but there wasn't much she could do about it.
"I wanna know what the Prospect's doing in her room?" Clay growled.
"She's the girl I helped out the other day… and she's my future sister-in-law." Sack looked to the stricken Gemma. "What's the difference to you?"
Gemma and Clay looked between each other. He nodded. She slowly spoke. "Because she's our daughter."
Half Sack's jaw dropped then he began to laugh. "That's really fricken' funny guys. She's not even from here."
"We know. Her family's from Devil's Lake."
Sack's jaw dropped again. "How?"
Tara nodded. "Yeah, exactly how do you know that? Did you grab her chart, so you could sweet talk her into being one of you?" She accused Gemma. "I know your games. She's an innocent woman, and I won't let you ruin her life."
"I gave birth to her just over 22 years ago." Gemma sat. "I'll tell you the whole story…"
Flashback… 1986
"How long will you be gone?" She asked her husband, toting 2-year-old Tommy on her hip, while 8-year-old Jackson played with his toys in the corner.
"Not too long." John Teller stated as he closed his last bag. "It's just to set up the charter in Ireland."
"But we have a charter here, and you have a family." Gemma nodded at Jax.
John stood up and faced his wife. "We have to do it Gemma. I'll make sure Clay watches out over you guys til I come back."
"I don't want Clay!" She screeched. She'd had enough of this. She had suspected there was a crow eater in the picture, and she'd never be able to prove. "I want my family together! Send someone who isn't married with children to set up the new charter."
He shook his head. "You know that's not possible." He took Tommy from her, who had begun to whimper. "I'm the only one that can go."
"Whatever." She grabbed her son back and went to take him to bed. "Do whatever you want John. I'll just sit by and watch this whole thing self-destruct."
John watched as his wife left the room. Both sons were with her. She didn't get it yet. He prayed that maybe Clay could talk some sense into Gemma while he was gone. He heard a Harley pull into the drive. He looked out the curtain and saw Clay dismount. He went to the door with his bags. Clay walked in.
"How'd the Old Lady take it?" He asked.
John just shook his head. "Not good. She thinks that one of you single goons should be the ones to go."
"Why's that?" Clay made his way to the kitchen to help himself to John's beer.
"Because she thinks I should be with family."
"Well, you will be once the charter's up." Clay took a swig of the brew.
John grabbed one and popped the top. "I know that. I told her, but I think she's just being all woman, and flustered."
Clay just laughed. "Well have a good trip and we'll see you once SAMBEL is fully up and running."
With that John grabbed his bags and took off into the night. Clay was staying at the Teller's. He unpacked his small bag in the guest room and lay on the bed. He could hear Gemma weeping in the room next to his. He knew in a way she had a point that John should've stayed behind, but there wasn't much anyone in the club could do to convince him otherwise.
2 years later… 1988
Clay walked into the clubhouse. He saw Gemma at the bar with a bottle of Jack Daniel's in her hand. He walked over and saw most of the bottle was gone.
"Gemma?" He asked.
She turned to face him. She'd been crying and now she'd drunk half the bottle of whiskey. "He's cheating on me." She managed to say.
"Who? What?"
"John!" She cried out. "I just talked to him on the phone. There was a woman there, she answered the phone. The whole thing was off." She sobbed and went to take another swig of the whiskey.
Clay knocked the bottle out of her hand. "No more booze. Let's get you home."
"No!" She wept. "I want to drink. I want this to all just go away!"
She loved John, but obviously, he didn't love her anymore. He'd rather be with some Irish whore than with the mother of his children. He'd been gone way longer than what the club had said he would be. Her worst fears had now come true.
Clay understood her pain. He'd betrayed her. He'd get the club to look into it while he tended to her. He threw her over his shoulder and carried her to her car. He put her in the passenger seat and hopped in behind the wheel. Luckily Piney had Harry that was Jax's best friend. He'd make sure that the kids would be able to spend the night there, while he tended to what would be Gemma's bad day tomorrow. He brought her home and put her in bed. This was going to be a very long day and tomorrow would be even worse. He went back downstairs to make some calls so that the kids would be taken care. Now he just had to deal with comforting his best friend's wife.
The next morning, Gemma woke up with a splitting headache. Why had she gone and been stupid? She tried to get up but it hurt to move. She looked around to see if there was something that could help her get out of bed. She turned over to the other side of the bed and saw that Clay had slept on the floor next to the bed. "Clay? What are you doing here?" She asked.
He grunted and forced himself to open his eyes. "I'm doing my job." He moaned. "Your floor is hard as rock."
"It's not meant to sleep on." She tried to feel more humorous than she actually did.
"Yeah. I got that now." He looked up. Gemma's face was pained and white as a sheet. "You okay?"
She shook her head. "I think I'm going to be sick."
He groaned as he got off the floor. He helped her out of bed and then slowly guided her to the bathroom. He stood outside the door as she suffered the cruel effects of a hangover. He peeked in once the vomiting sounds had stopped. She was slumped against the tub. She was shaking and Clay knew she wasn't doing good. He went into the bathroom and reached around her to start the water running. "Come on doll, I'm gonna help you shower."
She weakly lifted her head. "I don't think that's necessary."
He contradicted her. "It is, and I'm going to do it." He stood his ground. "Now either you take those clothes off, or I'll do it for you."
She tried, but to no avail. He helped her get out of the clothes and then bathed her. Once she was cleaned, she felt better. She was still hungover, but at least now she could walk on her own. He followed her back to the bedroom. She sat on the bed. "Join me."
"I can't do that." He shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. He's gone, and he's with some Irish bimbo now. You can finally have me." She batted her eyes at him. "I know that you've always wanted me, Clay. Even if I married your best friend."
Clay hadn't told anyone of his longing for Gemma, and yet she knew it. "He's still my friend."
She slowly undid the towel and let it slide away. He fought his urge to jump her. Her body was perfect, even with the scar from her surgery. He fought. Finally she got up from the bed and slowly made her way to him. When he tried to back away, his back hit the door.
"Damn it."
"You know you want to." She kissed his neck then nibbled on his ear lobe.
"Gemma." He growled. His jeans were tightening. "If we start, we're going to finish, there's no going back."
"I know." She whispered in his ear. Her warm breath sent shivers down his spine.
"There's no going back." He tried to convince her that this was wrong.
There was no convincing her. He finally caved and pushed her to the bed.
Later on…
Gemma knew something was up. She looked at the calendar. "Shit." She said.
"What's up?" Clay asked as he walked in the kitchen, the boys in tow.
Ever since he'd been here to help, the boys had taken to "Uncle Clay", and they'd do whatever he asked them.
"Nothing."
He looked at her, and knew she was lying. "I know something's wrong."
She didn't know what to do at this point. "Jax, take your brother outside and go see if Piney's here with Harry."
Jax did as his mother asked and took Tommy to wait for his best friend.
Clay looked at her. "So what's wrong?"
"I'm late."
"For?"
She hit herself. "You're really that clueless. I didn't get my period."
"You think you're knocked up?" He scratched his face.
"It's the only logical answer. I'm too young for menopause."
"But…" He tried to figure it out.
"No, buts. If I'm pregnant, it's yours."
"Well, how the hell do we hide it?"
Gemma thought about it. Abortion was out of the question. She was too well known. "I say we give it up for adoption. We'll go out of town once I can't hide it anymore and deal with it that way."
"It's your choice."
"Well if we keep it, and John comes back, he'll know it's not his."
"I told you what we did was going to have consequences." Clay growled. He didn't want to give up his child, but they wouldn't have a choice. "I'll find someone who'll take it, and raise it right."
She nodded as he flew out of the house and collapsed. "What have I done?"
End flashback…
Tara looked at the couple. "So that explains how she came to exist, but how'd she end up in Devil's lake?"
Sack was thankful Tara had asked the question, and not him. Clay would've probably ripped his other nut off.
Clay sighed and continued….
Flashback… early 1989
He knew Gemma would have to go soon. The baby was due soon. She'd managed to keep it hidden all this time. She rarely went out, feigning illness, and the boys spent a lot of time with Piney and Harry. He'd finally found a way out of the situation, and now he had to deliver the news.
"Gemma?" He called into the eerily quiet house.
"Kitchen." Came the reply.
He led the couple to the kitchen. Gemma was busy trying to make pie dough and by the looks of the kitchen, it wasn't going well. "I brought some people you should meet."
Gemma looked up. "Who are they?"
"Declan and Mia O'Callaghan." Clay introduced them. "They're here because they'd like to adopt the baby."
Gemma knew that this was inevitable, but she hadn't thought it would happen this quickly. "Oh. I see. Well it's nice to meet you."
"We know the whole story." Declan extended his hand. "Our lips are sealed."
Gemma's mouth formed an 'O'. "Do you have other children?"
"A son." Mia spoke softly with a southern drawl, "His name is Connor. We've wanted more for a long time, but it hasn't really been possible."
"It's okay. I can see that you'll love this baby." Gemma said softly. "We'll be in touch."
"Actually," Clay said. "I was thinking you could stay with them until it's time."
"Where are you staying?" She asked the couple.
"San Diego." Declan offered. "We're going to be moving once I'm done with the Berets."
"You know Clay from 'Nam?" Gemma declared.
Declan nodded. "I know John too. Don't approve of what he's done but it's his life. We're willing to help you."
"Thank you. I think that should work. I'll send the boys to be with their grandfather for a bit."
"Okay. I'll go too." Clay said. "I'll work it up to something for the club."
"Okay. We'll head out the day after tomorrow. I have some stuff to finalize about our charter in Devil's Lake." Declan nodded.
"Why Devil's Lake?" Gemma asked.
Mia smiled, and spoke softly. "Because that's where we're headed once Declan's term is up."
"Oh." Gemma looked around. Part of her didn't want to give up her child, but to save her marriage, she needed to, even if her husband hadn't been completely faithful.
Mid 1989…
"Oh my God!" Gemma exclaimed. She looked at the nightstand. The clock's face read 11:50pm. She thought baby had just given a swift kick to her bladder, but it happened again. She thought the worst. Something was happening. Just then her water broke.
End Flashback…
"So my water broke and they took me to the hospital." Gemma sighed. "After 10 hours of labor, I delivered a little girl. We quickly saw her before she was whisked away." A tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of letting her only daughter go. "We didn't want to risk getting too attached."
"So you let her go with members of another charter?" Tata asked. The story had truly intrigued her.
Clay nodded. "Now, can someone please explain to me what the hell she's doing back in Charming?" The question was directed at Tara.
"I can't tell you that." Tara replied. "It's doctor-patient confidentially, you know that."
"She's our daughter." Gemma pleaded. "Is she sick?"
"Gemma, you gave her up for adoption. I can't tell you anything." Tara took that opportunity to take her leave. "If you want to know, go ask her, just don't upset her, or I'll have you removed from this hospital."
Gemma and Clay watched as her back disappeared. Half Sack tried to sneak away, but Gemma grabbed his arm. "How do you know her again?"
Sack couldn't say no, not if he wanted is cut. "My brother is her fiancé. He sent me a letter from Afghanistan, asking me to watch over her."
"Okay, but how did you find her?" Clay's eyes were steely.
Sack sighed. "I can't tell you." He knew that wasn't the answer the President of SAMCRO wanted to hear, but he too needed to protect Rae, and whether she was SAMCRO or not, she didn't know anything of her past.
"Prospect, you tell me the truth." Clay waved his fist in Sack's face. "Or else you're gonna regret even wanting to be part of SAMCRO."
"You want to talk to her, I can arrange it, but I can't tell you what she's got or anything else. It's not my business." Sack stood his ground. He knew it maybe wasn't the wisest decision but he still stood for family first. "All I can tell you is that she's happy, and she's had a great life with the family that raised her. She's happy with my brother and if it helps you guys, she's looking for her birth parents."
Gemma sighed in relief. "Can we see her now?"
Sack shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I'll ask, but I'm with the doc. Don't upset her. She doesn't need that shit."
The couple nodded as Sack went to find out if Rae was up to learning this information. He didn't know if her knowing was a good idea, but it wasn't his choice. He was also suspecting that maybe it was the club's fault her adopted family had almost been blown to smithereens.
He entered her room and she was slurping some chicken broth. "Hey." She smiled.
"Hey yourself." He sat next to her. "That soup any good?"
She shrugged. "Meh, I've had better. What took so long? Who were those people?"
"You ask a lot of questions, little sister." He laughed. "That guy's my boss. He needed to talk to me."
"I see." Rae put the soup down. "So what's with the serious face?"
"I found something out, and it's about you."
She cocked her head to the side. "Okay?"
"I think they'd better explain it, if you feel up to it?" He pointed to the doorway where Clay and Gemma stood waiting.
Rae nodded. "I guess."
Clay and Gemma came into the room. They introduced themselves and began to tell their story.
A/N: Okay, so it took a lot longer than planned to get this chapter up, but I had to get it perfect.
Thanks for all the encouragement and support for it, means the world to me.
Please let me know what you think.
Nicole