...Chapter 3...

Jax found out what room Cassie was in, then knocked on the door a few times, before he let himself in, then Crystal looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing? Did you leave Steph by herself?"

"Nah." he shook his head, walking closer to her and Cassie. "Kozik's in there with her."

"Is she okay?"

"I promise... she's fine, he's keeping an eye on her." he looked at Cassie, pointing at Crystal. "So, how is she doing, Sis?"

"Well." Cassie started. "She's dehyrated, like Stephanie... and both of them need to eat, but other than that, they'll be okay." Crystal let out a breath of relief, because Cassie didn't tell Jax everything.

Jax nodded. "When can they leave?"

"In a little bit."

"Okay, when they're released they can come over to the clubhouse."

"Clubhouse?" Crystal gave Jax a funny look.

"It's where we hang out and it's next to the auto shop we work at."

"Oh." Crystal nodded.

"Jax?"

He looked at Cassie. "What?"

"I think you should tell Tig about Crystal and Stephanie, with Katie there." Cassie shrugged. "She should be at Mom's by tonight."

"Who's Katie?"

"Tig's Old Lady." Crystal looked at Cassie in confusion. "That means girlfriend... or wife even, but in their case, she's his girlfriend."

"So where is she?"

"She went to visit her mother in San Francisco."

"All right, Cass." Jax nodded. "I'll talk to them before we eat, I guess."

"Okay." she nodded, then look at Crystal. "I'll come back to check on you later, then soon both you and Stephanie can go."

"Awesome."

Cassie smiled, then as she was walking out, she smacked Jax in the back of his head. "Brat." he mumbled, then Cassie laughed walking out of the room. Jax went up to Crystal and sat down in the chair. "I looks like you're gonna be fine."

"Yeah, I'm glad." she nodded, then noticed the serious look on Jax's face. "What?"

"I need to know everything that happened." Crystal didn't respond, she just looked at him with a blank stare. "Stephanie told us some stuff, but I want to hear it from you."

She looked down. "I don't want to talk about it right now." Jax reached over and was about to rest his hand on hers, she flinched. "Sorry, if I'm a little jumpy."

"It's okay, you don't have to be sorry... it's not your fault."

She looked up at him and nodded. "Okay." she was sitting there and her eyes wondered at his leather vest he was wearing. "What are you a V. President of?"

"The motorcycle club I told you about, we're called Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original or SAMCRO."

"That's cool."

"Yeah." Jax nodded. "We're more like brothers and like a family."

"Oh... the only family I got is Steph and now Tig."

"Not anymore, you and her have all of us now as your family."

Crystal smiled and the way she smiled at Jax, made him feel something he hasn't felt in a long time. He was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. Even though he just met her, he couldn't explain it or ignore it, but he knew one thing, he was going to keep her safe and protected from whoever tries to fuck with her.

Stephanie chuckled a little, letting go of Kozik. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Getting tears all over your shirt."

"It's fine, I'll just throw it in the washer."

She nodded, then rubbed her eyes. "So you're from Tacoma, Washington?" she asked, looking at his leather vest.

"Yeah." he sighed.

"Then what are you doing in California?"

"Happy and I came down for a few weeks to do some shit for the club and we we're supposed to go back there earlier, but we came to the hospital to see what Jax was doing instead."

"Kozik, I don't want to keep you, if you have to get back."

"No, no." he grabbed her hand. "It's fine... I'd rather be here anyway."

"Why?"

"So I can keep you safe." he moved inches from her face. "Nobody will hurt you again, not if I can help it." she smiled, then nodded, as he moved back from her. "Plus, if I have to go back to Tacoma, you'll be coming with me."

"Hmm." Stephanie started to think. "I've never been there before." then she looked down. "Hey, Kozik?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you being nice to me and wanting to protect me?" she looked back up at him, with sad eyes. "If you actually knew the real me and known what I've done and what I've been through." she shook her head. "You wouldn't want anything to do with me... I'm damaged goods, so why would anyone want me or even be my friend?"

Kozik didn't know how to respond, he opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. So he started to think of something to say, choosing his words carefully, then looked up at her. "Look, Steph... I don't care about any of that. I don't, I mean, everyone has skeletons in their closets and nobody's perfect, I know I'm not." he paused. "So how about you start off with a clean slate, just forget about the past and move on. You'd be starting off in a new place with a better life, that I can give you." her eyes started to well up. "I will protect you and I will be there for you, whenever you need me... that son of a bitch has to get through me to get to you and I will not let him try."

"Okay." she said, in a soft voice.

Kozik caught the tear that was about to fall. "Baby, don't cry... you have nothing to be scared of or nothing to worried about anymore." he smiled. "I'll take care of you."

Stephanie nodded and smiled back. She thought there was something about this guy, that was willing to go above and beyond for her, and it made her feel like she actually mattered in this world. She wasn't quite ready to open her heart or take down her walls, just yet, since Vince made it impossible for her to trust anyone. But her gut was telling her to trust Kozik and she hopes he doesn't let her down.

Jax's phone rang, then he took it out of his pocket, looking at Crystal. "I gotta take this." she nodded, then flipped it open. "Yeah?"

"Hey, it's Tig... Juice told me to call you."

"He did, did he?" Jax groaned.

"He said that it was very important or something."

"Yeah, it is."

"Well, what is it, Brother?"

"I was gonna tell you tonight at my moms, but scratch that."

"What the hell are you talking about, Jackson?"

Jax groaned again. "Just get to St. Thomas... there's something you need to see."

"I'll be right there." Tig told him, then Jax hung up the phone, shaking his head.

"What?" asked Crystal. "What is it?"

"Your big brother is on the way." he flipped open his phone again. "I gotta let Koz know."

"Why?"

Jax sent Kozik a message. "Tig's on his way here, he don't know about the girls, but he's gonna find out." then looked up at Crystal. "Bad beef, remember?"

"Oh, right." she nodded.

Kozik replied a few minutes later. "Let the bastard come, I don't give a fuck... and you can tell him that I ain't leaving Steph."

Jax laughed. "Wow, this is gonna be fun." he put his phone back in his pocket. "I can tell already."