A/N: The first weeks of school had the evil homework demon taking over my laptop. I am going to try updating whenever possible.
Chapter 3- The Search For Abel
August 31st, 2009.
Boston, MA.
Brooke was up before everyone else. She hadn't been able to sleep well as of late. The events of Half-Sack's wake played in her mind like a tape on rewind. One minute she had been standing outside the funeral home next to Chibs, the next gunshots had been fired. She could still remember Chibs throwing her to the ground and shielding her from flying bullets. She had still seen and heard everything, including the sickening crunching noise when the guy driving the van had run down David. Her friend had been killed instantly.
Brooke jumped in the shower, allowing some tears to fall but she refused to break down completely. To let out her grief would pose disaster. Tara and Lyla were in Charming and Gemma was on the lam. To the guys, Boston was a strange place. Brooke knew she was all they had to get through whatever came next and was grateful that Chibs didn't know just how affected by everything she was. He didn't need any distractions. When she got out of the shower she noticed her eyes were red from crying and immediately splashed some water on her face.
When she looked in the mirror again, she didn't recognize the woman staring back.
SOA
The guys were soon up, and everyone was cursing themselves for not making a shopping trip the night before for food.
"There's a bagel shop near my old high school, Taylor and I used to sneak the goods into the building with us all the time," said Brooke.
Taylor nodded.
"Brooke and I'll get the bagels," said Taylor.
"Sure the place is even still there?" said Chibs.
"The bagels were that good, so it betteh be," said Brooke.
She headed out with Taylor. They had gone to a rental shop the night before and rented three Ford F150s in green, white, and blue. Taylor had almost grabbed a red one, but Brooke had told her no. Otherwise all that "Captain America" spiel would've been going through her mind. That horrible night haunted her both in the daylight and her dreams.
"Which set of keys did you take?" said Brooke.
"Green one," said Taylor.
They jumped in and drove to the little bagel shop. It was ten in the morning and Brooke knew her sister was sitting in class right now, and unlike most of her peers was actually paying attention to what the teacher was saying. Haley had her whole life ahead of her, and would go far in the world. After buying enough bagels and the shop's signature large cookies to last a month, Brooke left Taylor holding the large bag while she got in the driver's seat.
"You gonna let me drive?" said Taylor.
"No," said Brooke.
"You gonna let Chibs drive?" said Taylor.
"No, that's a definite no," said Brooke. "He gets road rage in the passengeh seat, and you're just a nutcase wheneveh I give you the keys."
"No I'm not," said Taylor. "Hand 'em oveh."
They switched seats, but five minutes later Taylor was using the horn with pride and cursing anyone who cut her off, which was pretty much everyone in Boston. Brooke saw that there was a gap in one of the roads being built, to make matters worse the construction made it so that they had to take the long way back to the hotel.
"We gotta hit the supermarket for food anyways – doesn't matter what a man's career is in life, they'll always be bottomless pits," said Brooke.
They turned around and went to the supermarket, and after buying more food they were able to get back to the hotel. Brooke made breakfast while Juice and Taylor looked up the charges on Cameron's credit card as well as the phone calls he had made on his cell.
SOA
Taylor noticed there were only two names on Cameron's call list: Dylan Callahan and James O' Phelan. Taylor knew who Dylan was – he ran an Irish pub in South Boston called Sullivan's, it drew cops, firemen, EMTs, nurses, college students, and Irish ex-pats.
"So, who is James O' Phelan?" said Taylor.
"Jimmy O – he's someone we… do business with," said Juice.
Taylor caught the scared look on Juice's face. It had appeared and disappeared just as quickly.
"Jimmy O… sounds like a nasty villain who just sits on his ass all day petting a fat cat," said Taylor.
"He's more dangerous than you think, and if Cameron called him then he's probably already here trying to do damage control… it could be bad for Brooke," said Juice.
"Why?" said Taylor.
Juice didn't answer right away, so Taylor brought out her Desert Eagle and pointed it at his crotch.
"I got ways of making you talk," said Taylor.
"He's the one who gave Chibs… well… you saw the scars," said Juice. "His wife cheated on him, he was banished from Ireland so he never got a chance to divorce the bitch. His daughter was a kid at the time and they made sure he wouldn't be able to see her again."
"What did they do to her?" said Taylor.
"Nothing – they locked her bedroom door, and Jimmy hurt Chibs pretty bad. Jimmy's the leader of the True IRA," said Juice. "He's one sick fuck, and the last thing he'll allow is Chibs to be a happy man for once… which means Brooke might not make it out of Boston alive."
SOA
Brooke listened as Taylor told her everything about Jimmy. The Sons were eating breakfast and talking about where to go from here, unaware of the heated discussion the women were having.
"This is stuff I already know," said Brooke.
"You're kidding me, right?" said Taylor. "You're my best friend, Brooke. I can't lose you too."
"You're really gonna drag Sam into this?" said Brooke. "It's been three years."
"Still feels like yesterday," said Taylor. "What those men did… and why that bitch brought it on. I can't forget. I won't forget. She needs to pay for the pain she's caused me… I loved him, Brooke."
Brooke gave her best friend a hug.
"I know, Taylor," said Brooke. "I know."
SOA
The day wore on as Juice and Taylor made a list of places that were on Cameron's credit card. One was a store that sold baby items, a grocery store where he bought baby food, and various restaurants where customers could take their orders to go, ranging from fast food to sandwich shops.
"He didn't put down a deposit for an apartment? Anything?" said Jax.
"No," said Taylor.
"Sorry," said Juice.
Jax went back into his own hotel room, distraught. Brooke was worried about him. He barely ate these days. He probably wouldn't have showered either if Tara was with them.
Tara. That was another can of worms. Brooke had no idea how Tara had just been able to let Cameron take Abel – for all her talk of how she had thought of Abel as her own she sure hadn't acted like it when it had counted the most. After Half-Sack and David Hale had been buried, Brooke hadn't paid attention to what was going on, trying to grieve quietly. Half-Sack and David had been her friends, but to talk about her grief of the latter was impossible right now. Frankly, Brooke could care less what happened at this point, considering Gemma was also partially at fault for shooting Polly. She was pretty sure Stahl had shot Edmond, and told Juice and Taylor as much.
"That bitch sure knows how to fuck up people's lives… and kill them too," said Taylor.
"Whoa, what's with all the hostility?" said Juice.
"That ATF agent, Stahl, set my boyfriend and me up to get killed," said Taylor. "I lived, he died, end of story."
Tig had a feeling there was more to Taylor's story. He didn't know, but he planned to find out. Meanwhile, Juice and Taylor decided she should check out Sullivan's. Taylor was looking at another bar on the map.
"What is it?" said Juice.
"The bar across and two doors down… it's on the docks," said Taylor. "I've heard rumors about this place. It's called Collins'. Posh place with a cheap coveh… well, not really posh but it looks a lot betteh than most Irish bars in Boston, or so I've heard."
"How cheap is the cover?" said Juice.
"Two dollahs, or so I've heard," said Taylor.
"I know that place," said Brooke. "My dad used to go drinking there all the time when he was single, took my mother a few times when they were dating and she liked it, which is saying a lot because she prefers restaurants, he said the money went to the IRA."
"You're shitting me," said Taylor.
"It's Boston. Beggars can't be choosers, only cheap," said Brooke.
It mad eher think of Charming, of how simple things had once been there.
Chibs walked in and began laughing at that last statement.
"Which bar was it?" said Chibs.
"Collins'," said Brooke.
"That's Jimmy's pub here… Taylor, ye better be careful if yer goin' in there," said Chibs.
"I'm not… I think Cameron's hiding in Sullivan's bar," said Taylor.
"Aye, he probably is," said Chibs. "Dylan provides shelter for Irish ex-pats on tha run."
He remembered all too well, arriving in Boston all those years ago. Dylan had let him stay in a room over the bar for a couple weeks while Chibs had made arrangements to go to Charming.
That was when he remembered something else – Jax's friendship with Brooke. He remembered the younger biker saying he couldn't resist telling a friend in Boston about Chibs.
"Relax – she's four years younger than me, she wouldn't know who to tell," said Jax. "Opie and I tell her shit all the time."
He realized it was Brooke Jax had told, and asked her about it later that night as he watched Brooke make dinner.
"He thought you were very fascinating," said Brooke.
"What did you think?" said Chibs.
"I agreed," said Brooke.
"I gotta talk with Juice and Jax about tonight," said Chibs.
He kissed her and Brooke hoped to hell she hadn't burned anything after he took off.
SOA
The three of them talked, then told Taylor she'd be checking Sullivan's out that night to scout for Cameron.
"Tig will be around if there's any problems, lass," said Chibs.
"Can we set something straight?" said Taylor.
"Aye," said Chibs.
"I know you love Brooke… but I don't want to see her hurt," said Taylor. "She's my best friend."
"I know," said Chibs. "She talks about ye a lot."
"If anyone tried to hurt her, you'd stop them right?" said Taylor. "You love her as much as you say you do, if someone tried hurting her you'd put a bullet in their head, right?"
"Aye, I'd die for Brooke and I'd kill fer her too," said Chibs.
"Glad we established that," said Taylor.
SOA
Taylor walked around, slipping into Sullivan's as if she were there all the time. Juice had doctored up a fake ID for her. She was Katie O' Malley, her age was 27, and she was a nurse at Boston Children's. It had been the only hospital Juice had been able to come up with off the top of his head.
"Figures," Taylor muttered.
She noticed people milling about Collins'. A guy who seemed to be dressed in Armani was sitting in a booth, looking out the window. Taylor only noticed because it seemed the man was staring at her.
"Blech," Taylor muttered.
She hated men who dressed flashy. They were arrogant and completely clueless in the bedroom or were compensating for a very small penis. Taylor quickly reminded herself of what she was doing, and walked into Sullivan's with a picture of Cameron. She then ordered a whisky straight up.
"Somethin' tha matter lass?" said a voice.
Taylor turned around and realized it was the same guy in the photograph, so it had to be Cameron.
"Had a really bad day at work," said Taylor. "I… I just need to get drunk."
"Sure ye don't need ta talk?" said Cameron. "Besides, I got a free bottle of Jameson upstairs if yer interested."
"Fine, but only drinking and talking," said Taylor. "I'm not in the mood for anything else."
"Aye, okay," said Cameron.
He took her upstairs. Taylor wasn't bothered only because she had pretended to be a hooker once before. She smiled when she saw Abel in a crib.
"Aw, what a little cutie! Is he yours? Can I hold him?" said Taylor.
"Aye, he's mine and ye can hold 'im," said Cameron. "His mum… she overdosed."
"I know what that's like," said Taylor.
Her parents had been junkies. As a result she had often stayed with Brooke's family so she wouldn't have to be in foster care. Her memories of living with the Monroes were warmer than any other. Taylor could recall Julia's delicious sugar cookies, Keith's hilarious stories, Louie and Connie living in the apartment across the hall, Danny and Haley following her everywhere, and the best part had been having Brooke around.
When Taylor left and began walking towards the hotel, she saw a car following her. She hoped Tig would arrive soon. Right when he did, four men jumped out of the car and opened fire. Tig and Taylor fired back. Eventually all four men were dead.
"Who are these pricks?" said Taylor.
Tig pulled one man's wallet out and checked the ID.
"Irish," said Tig. "Guess Jimmy has his sites set on you too."
"Great," said Taylor as she rolled her eyes.
The two of them went back to the hotel, making out like animals in heat. Tig wanted to take her to his room when Brooke interrupted them both.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Taylor," said Brooke.
"Why?" said Taylor.
Then she remembered the way Juice had been looking at her, ever since she had gotten on the back of his bike in L.A. Both the bikers wanted her. Not knowing what to do, she followed Brooke back into the guestroom she was currently sharing with her sister and Chibs.
"Why can't I just do them both and decide for myself?" said Taylor.
"'Cuz ye won't be givin' Juicy-boy a fair chance," said Chibs. "Tig's always yankin' chicks out from under 'im."
"No taking off each other's clothes before you decide which one you want, Taylor," said Brooke. "Otherwise, you'll cause problems. Just trust me on this."
"Alright," said Taylor.
SOA
Chibs was in bed, waiting for Brooke to finish brushing her teeth. He was glad when she joined him. She looked cute in the pajamas she was wearing. Her dirty blonde hair was all over the place.
"How was tha shoppin' trip?" said Chibs.
"Crazy Boston drivers all around," said Brooke. "You'd have hated it."
"Were ye drivin' them all crazy too?" said Chibs.
Brooke shrugged and lay down. Chibs put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. He smelled of soap and cigarettes. The closeness made Brooke feel a better about things as they talked.
"I got a nasty dilemma on my hands," said Brooke. "I'm supposed to race at Lime Rock this month."
"Don't ye mean next month, luv?" said Chibs.
"It'll be September when we wake up tomorrow," said Brooke. "I almost forgot about it then when Taylor was out I was checking on some stuff when I realized I was in it. It's in Connecticut. It's an American Le Mans race."
"Hopefully we'll have Abel back safe an' sound by then," said Chibs.
"I'd feel guilty racing and knowing he isn't here," said Brooke. "I'm going to think about it, because it doesn't seem right doing what I love while Jax's son is missing."
"Aye, okay," said Chibs.
They began making out, then Brooke's cell phone rang. The first notes of "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay permeated the silence.
"Teenage hotline – it's Haley," said Brooke.
"Damnit," Chibs muttered.
Brooke answered the call, hoping this wasn't about boys. If it was she was going to be more than a little annoyed. When she heard her younger sister answer in a seemingly stoic manner, Brooke knew right away that this wasn't about boys. Something was very wrong.
"Haley, it's me," said Brooke. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I need your help," said Haley.
Chapter 4 will be in flashback. Review, it feeds the muse!