A/N: Things at this point are starting to pick up a bit. Everyday that I check up on this I'm amazed to see the growth it's had. Truly I'm in awe of all the support and time given to this.

Thanks for all the reviews so far. Chapter 22 is in the works already.

Hope you enjoy this part of the ride.

Tish.

"This is your stop baby, I don't mean to cause an issue but this is something I need a minute to take in. Charlie was a cousin. Pale face or not, he was as close to us as a brother. After everything he gave, sacraficed. You were his little girl. It was Billy's position from the beginning. when you needed help. Family protects family."

"Billy and Sam knew, they knew Tigger was part of why I came here. When I found out Paul, I - I couldnt agree to be where I was anymore. Renee, Logan, Charlie, Leah, Jared, Mike, Tyler, fuck, Even Angela and her unborn. No one has lost more to this damn bullshit than I did. All because of Cullen. Because I loved a leech. Got involved with a family who took me in and dropped me like I was nothing more than waste at their curb. A broken toy that failed to capture their attention anymore. They found me too broken to deal with and ran. Leaving me behind to deal with their mess. I never wanted a single person to feel any of what I felt. To lose even a fraction of what I did because this," I pointed sharply to my heart, " Is nothing more than a black hole. It sucks in everything in it's path. You think I don't want to get to know the man that was my mothers supposed best friend. The man that was my real father. Those guys are big and mean, but they are nothing compared to that bitch and the vendetta that took those people from me. I won't let it take them, not a single one. They are no match for this bullshit. You know that. I called you here to help get a few of them off me. Happy, Juice, Half-sack, Tigger, Jax. They aren't all buying into this facade and wall I created. They want to get closer. Fuck, A part of me longs for it. To have any kind of connect again. But I can't. Paul. Not only do I refuse to let this dragged out war have another casulty, but I'm numb. Empty. What little I have left is all I have to give. You think I laid down my life for Rach out of sheer loyalty alone? Think again. I was begging for it to end, Paul. You want to go, fucking go. But if you do, you should stay gone. I'm not afraid of any reaper. Mine or them."

"Fuck you, Bella."

"Been there done that, not riding that carosel again. Thats rachels painted horse. I prefer a little more metal involved with my horse power. Goodbye, Paul. Go live your life. Love Rachel. Have a damn litter of pups for all I care. But ... Just. LIVE, please. This is where it ends for me. I've known it all along. I'm prepared." His face was hard and I knew it was his way of grieving. I lifted myself from his bike, lifting his hand to my lips I pressed a kiss at his knuckle. I needed to say good bye for good. The pack couldn't do their intended work if they chased after me. Friend or not. My battle was no longer theirs to fight. I was resigned to this.

He nodded and didn't say anything else, before he took off. Hopefully, that closed one chapter. Everything is almost in order.

~~~ SAMCRO POV ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watched as Bella argued with the behemouth named paul outside her place. Tig had let the club in on his concerns at the last sermon in Church. He was worried that her sudden apperance her had more to do with a reach out for help than she was willing to admit.

I couldn't argue with the crazy bastard on that one. From the few encounters she let happen between us, something was definitely up. She was hiding something from everyone. Everyone but that oaf she was hanging off of. Tig was concerned tonight that he may have something to do with it. Said that she admited he had some knowledge to his daughter and what she was dragged into that made her a raging gash.

I got to admit I found her spunk a bit different. She could handle anything the guys threw at her. She was observant, but she didn't question shit openly. And she certainly didn't flinch.

She was a ball buster. Tried and true to what ever she believed in, including keeping this secret that was eating her alive.

Tig told stories about her and her spunk even as a kid to us, before asking the club for help with her. That the woman she was now, was a far cry from the girl he knew. What ever this chick had been through, and seen, was hard. Something we try very hard to keep our old ladies away from. Rules of the fairer sex and all.

I parked a block down seeing them stop, and I got off, noticing them getting into a more heated conversation.

I hopped into the shrubs that lined the outskirt of her corner property and inched closer to hear more. Maybe she'd give a little more insight.

Only what I heard was not what I could have imagined. This girl didn't witness her parents murdered but friends and other family members it seemed. For something she thinks she caused. The guy gave it to her just as good as she gave. He definitely knew more like Tig suspected. Once he drove off, I pulled out the pre pay and called Tig.

"Tig, It's happy. He knows. Bring him in, he's headed your way. Meet you at the garage."

The guys had a road block set up and planned on doing what they could to get his ass in. Half-sack had the econoline and Tig was with him. While the others were fanned out ready to intercept in any way they needed.

I arrived at the garage just as the van and the guys pulled in, lugging a very drugged out Paul.

"Fucken aye. This man took enough tranq to down an elephant. He's as heavy as a fucken horse. Git yer Happy ass o'er here and help Boy!" Chibbs yelled out, and Paul began to resurface just as I took his left arm.

"I thought you said you gave him tranqs, Brother."

"We did, twice. I dont know what this guy is made of. " Jax spoke up behind us then rushing in to gather some chains for the bastard struggling in our arms. It was as if he was vibrating he was so tense.

I quickly jabbed at his face once, twice, three times hoping to knock some sense out of him and get him to stop struggling.

"I wouldn't keep doing that, Happy, is it?"

"You're in no position to be making any request." I spit in his face as chibbs and I stood him up to one of the lifts while Bobby and Jax worked to chain him to it.

"See thats the thing, fellas, Dogs dont take well to being chained up. You think a wolf would?"

"What the fuck do you mean." Jax demanded.

"You fucked up, messed with the wrong bitch boys, and I'm her gaurd dog"

The man shook like damn bullet vibe, until his skin and flesh audibly tore and before us Stood a silver wolf pinning Jax to the ground with his muzzle at Jax's neck while his eyes pierced into us all. We all took stock quickly, there was no way in hell that one bullet would take this p.o.s down and should we shoot, Jax was gone before we took the hell hound down.

"Call Bella." Clay ordered the grunt. "Tell her that we found her dog, and she needs to come tag it before I put it down myself."

The wolf growled tightening its jaws at Jax's throat.

"Hurry!" Clay insisted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bella POV ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had Just laid down, fitfully trying to find sleep after turning away one of the strays that I truly had a heart for.

I was just about out when my cell phone rang.

It was 3 am, acording to my alarm clock and when I checked the Caller ID it said Teller-Morrow Auto.

"shit!" I groaned sitting up, swinging my legs off the side of my bed before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bella, It's uh- uhm Half -sack. Some very interesting events happened tonight. Clay said to tell you they found your dog and you needed to come down here to get it before it's put down."

"I don't have a..." I stopped talking as it clicked. Fucking Paul. Of all the bullshit.

"Fine, Tell him I'll be there shortly and I'll pay him extra to spay the bitch for this. Just wait for me, I want to watch."