Walk Away from the Son

by BG.0715

As the events of Season 2 unfold - and the going gets tough for the folks of Charming, when loyalties are tested and relationships pushed to their brink, will the Parker Sisters be able to hang on or will they be forced to walk away. Tig/OC, Juice/OC

15. Chapter 12

Walk Away from the Son
Parker Sister Saga continues - Season 2 of SoA
Chapter 12- Sweet Sacrifice

By BG and Reaper

Fear is only in our minds but it's taking over all the time.

I dream in darkness...I sleep to die,
Raise the silence...erase my life,
Our burning ashes...blacken the day,
A world of nothingness...blow me away.

You poor sweet innocent thing...dry your eyes and testify.
You know you live to break me, don't deny

Sweet sacrifice.

XXX

"What the fuck was that?" Jax yelled as Jaci left the salon.

Clay nodded toward the back door and then looked at Tig, thinking you're tappin' it again, go fix it.

"That's you again, right?"

"NO! I'll get it." Jax interceded. "Tig's the last person to calm someone down."

"I got it." Tig seethed. Little prick.

When Tig stormed out of the salon after Jaci, she was pacing in the courtyard, righteously pissed. "Leave me alone." She warned as he approached.

"Gimmee your keys." Tig demanded. She gave him a dirty look but he shot her one right back. "Don't fuckin' mean mug me, hand 'em over." She reluctantly pulled the keys from out of her pocket and threw them at him. He caught them, clicked open her doors and pointed toward her car. "Get in...NOW."

She stopped pacing and started to protest but something in his voice warned her not to fight him on it. She stalked to the car and threw herself in the passenger seat. Tig dropped in the driver's seat without a word and and pulled out of the lot, burning rubber.

"Where are we goin'?" Jaci asked through gritted teeth.

"Away." He answered curtly.

XXX

Jax contemplated Vix, who stood seething and shaking, covered from head –to-toe in soot and dirt and grime, as much from her clean up efforts as her tangle with her sister. He shook his head. "What the hell is wrong with you lately? One minute you parade around with fuck-you indifference and the next you're sunk deep into a moody sulk. Now you're pickin' fights with Jaci?"

She glared at Jax. "Oh yeah judge ME cause you got such a great handle on your emotional shit, right?" She tossed up her hands. "Ya know what, Jax? I've had enough of the Bertha-Better-Than-You Act. Why don't you clean up your own backyard 'fore you come knockin' on my door." Vix shook her head and grumbled, "Worst god damn mistake of my life was stepping foot back in this godforsaken town." She turned and stormed out through the back door of the salon.

Juice rolled his eyes at his VP, "Seriously? I'm sorry dude, but there's merit in that whole Don't go kickin' a dog when it's down. At some point it's bound to get back up and it's gonna come back and bite ya." Juice followed after Vix. From where he was standing smoking a cigar, Clay chuckled. Jax glared at him as he exited out the front door of the salon.

XXX

Thirty seconds into their drive, Tig launched a tirade on Jaci. "What the fuck is wrong with you, going at Vix like that? Her mouth, as big as it maybe, didn't get your shit torched. You fuckin' know that."

"Ungrateful little shit." Jaci muttered as she stared out the windshield. She was literally vibrating in the passenger, so riled up from residual adrenaline. Her hands shook and she squeezed them into fists to try to get a handle on herself.

"She's scared...the last fuckin' thing she needs is her big sister jumping her ass."

Jaci let out a snort. "Yeah, like YOU'VE never flew off the handle, lost your temper."

Tig glared at her and pushed harder on the gas pedal. They hit the highway out of Charming in no time. He sped a few more miles, glancing over at her every few seconds. Suddenly he slammed on the brakes, downshifted hard and slid the car to an abrupt stop on the side of the road. "Get out." He snapped.

"What the fuck are you doing? Are you crazy? You coulda wrecked my damn car, asshole!" She snapped back but he just repeated his demand of GET OUT as he flung the driver's side door open and started to walk around the front of the car. Fucking dick! She watched him with a frown as he walked to her side of the car. She unbuckled her seat belt and bolted out the passenger side door, fully ready to match any yelling he was going to do.

As she slammed the door shut, Tig stepped in front of her, looked her in the eyes and said plainly, "Punch me."

She frowned at him, "What?"

Tig stood completely serious and up nodded at her. "Hit me...anywhere you want, hard as you can."

Jaci grimaced in confusion, "I don't want to hit..."

She started to take a step backwards but Tig grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him slightly . "Fuckin' hit me."

"Tig quit being stupid." She said as she moved away from him. He took a step to follow her and shoved her.

"Hit me!" Tig yelled. "You're all pissed off, you know you want to hit something. Come on badass, let's see it." Tig watched as Jaci frowned at him, she needed a bit more provoking so he shoved her hard one more time.

That was enough for Jaci. She stumbled back a half step and then drew back, hitting Tig in the face a second later with a loud grunt. He let out a laugh along with an OW! Even though he had been begging for it, the punch took him by surprise. He took a few steps back to catch his balance and touched his cheek with his knuckle. He grinned at Jaci. "In the face, seriously?"

She was stunned by the whole event and struggled for an answer, "You...you said anywhere."

"Well yeah but I thought you'd pick an arm or something." Tig replied, still half laughing. "Shit." Jaci just stood there, still stunned, but that look of rage had disappeared from her face, replaced by worry for him. He smirked at her. "You got a solid right hand though...that's pretty impressive."

She shook her head and stepped forward to try and take a hold of his hand. She tried to get a look at his face. "Shit...I'm so sorry. Tig, I didn't mean to..."

He grinned and shook his head once, "Nope...no sorry. It worked...you were about to blow a gasket, man. Gotta let that shit out. Best way's sex or violence...but I didn't think you'd go for a hookup."

"Hence the punch." She smiled slightly as it dawned on her what he had been trying to do by pushing her.

He smiled back at her and echoed, "Hence the punch." Tig didn't have any degree in behavioral science, his people skills were crude and questionable at best but he knew how to keep from melting down so he tried to help her in the only way he knew how. He watched her for a second. "Better?"

She took a deep breath and could honestly say that the heavy overwhelming feeling of RAGE was gone. "Yeah." She paced a few feet away from the car for a moment, letting them both calm down then looked at him. "So um...now what?"

He looked around, he wasn't even sure what road he had taken, he had just drove. "Uh...well...looks like we're headed to Lodi. How bout some lunch?"

They loaded back up in the car. A few miles down the road he glanced over at her. "You need to clean up." Jaci frowned as she checked herself in the mirror. It was THEN she saw the black soot on her face that she must have gotten from rumbling around with Vix at the salon. She muttered 'holy shit' and grabbed a mini bottle of hand sanitizer from the console and some napkins from the glove box.

XXX

Clay eyed Bobby and Chibs as the trio stood in the middle of the salon, taking in the fight that had just taken place. "I'm heading back to the shop. Chalk this place up as a lost cause for the moment 'til this insurance stall gets figured out. Have Juice keep a close eye on Vix. Jax may be all over the board on certain things but he was right on the money about her… she's unstable."

The SAMCRO President exited the salon with a smirk given in the general direction of the smoke shoppe, fired up his bike and rode away. Bobby and Chibs stood inside the burnt out salon and stared at each other. Without a word, Chibs shrugged and took a last drag off his cigarette. He tossed the butt to the floor, crushing it out with the toe of his boot.

Bobby chastised him. "Chibs?"

Waving an arm around at the mess covering all possible surfaces, Chibs frowned and replied, "Do ya think anyone'll notice?"

Bobby just glared. With a sigh, Chibs rolled his eyes and stooped to pick up the cigarette butt. They headed out back to check on the two lovebirds.

XXX

Juice found Vix sitting on the back stoop. She glanced back at the sound of his footfalls, "I'm not apologizing to Jax… him being Vice President does not give him the right to be a dickhead."

He shrugged and muttered, "Okey dokey" as he sat down on the stoop next to her. "We should get outta here anyway. We've made some headway in clean up..."

"I should know better then to even try and worse to drag my sister along for the joy ride." Vix said randomly. "The closer I get to what i want... it just ALWAYS ALL goes wrong."

By the look in her eyes, he knew she had included THEM in that statement. He shook his head. "Our deal, Vix… we evoked the Power of Amnesia."

She shrugged, only half listening. "Maybe if I wasn't how I am..."

Juice groaned and silently cursed Jaci under his breath, "I LOVE how you are! There ain't too damn much I would change if given a magic lamp and a genie with three wishes."

She cocked an eyebrow. "A genie and three wishes?"

He grinned and shrugged, happy to have broken her seriousness for even a second. "I'd definitely spend one to fix this shit, set you back to good. This ain't your doin', babe. You talkin' trash to those assholes didn't cause this. This is 'bout pissin' on the club... and I'm sorry. And those threats from Weston, that's because of me… and again, I'm sorry."

"I need to get away, Juice. Like outta here... I feel like this town is closing in on me."

"Away… where? 'Bama?" Juice felt himself panic. "Vix please... ju-just…... Christ… I'm doing everything I can to fix this ok? Let's just. .. let's just be UN us... and… and think shit thru, ok? What will running do but make them think they won. All that shit your sister said will still be true even if you bail. All the money and stuff, that will still need paid. Running ain't the answer."

"Are you done?" Vix asked with a frown. "All I was gonna ask for was if you'd take me for a long bike ride. Being on a bike with you is like therapy and I could desperately use some right now. I'm not stupid, Jean.. I know running won't fix nothin'."

He nodded in relief. "A bike ride? Yeah… THAT I can do."

Just inside the salon, Chibs and Bobby exchanged amused glances. Chibs mouthed "The Power of Amnesia?" Bobby shrugged and the two scurried away to avoid getting busted for eavesdropping.

XXX

Tig pulled in the lot of the BBQ place they had eaten at once before. He winked at her as he climbed out of the car, she shook her head at his choice of restaurant but followed him inside. Surprisingly, all the fighting with Vix and punching Tig had made her hungry. They grabbed a booth and waited silently for a waitress to show up and take their order. Tig ordered a rack of ribs and a beer and Jaci ordered a salad and water.

He looked at her like an alien had just sat down in front of him. "A salad? Are you fuckin' kidding me? Drag you all the way here and you order THAT? Fuck that." He waved her off and told the waitress, "She wants the smoked chicken and a beer."

Jaci tried to cut him off, "Really, a salad is fine." The waitress was stuck in the middle as Tig and Jaci argued back and forth. He shot the waitress a stern look and she walked off, accepting Tig's version of the order; his stare was more fear inspiring.

"Tig, I can't eat that stuff."

"What's your problem?" Tig asked. "You quit drinkin' now you on a diet or something too? That why you're so cranky?"

She put her hands over her face and leaned her elbows on the table. She had a million reasons to be cranky. But the reason for the drinking and diet changes were strictly related to her blood pressure drama. She didn't want to have to cop to her problem, especially not to Tig, but she had a feeling he was going to keep harassing her. Things with him were so fragile, she had no idea where they really stood with each other. She didn't want to scare him off but then again maybe he needed to hear some of her reality. She sighed and dug in her purse finally sitting the bottle of pills down on the table in front of him.

"What're these?" He looked them over and then glared at her. "If these are diet pills, Jaci, I swear to God..."

She shook her head, "No...I have... a little problem. All the bullshit over the last couple of months, it's making me sick...like for real. I had to go to the doctor a while back."

He frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"I'd been having bad headaches and feeling...I dunno...weird for a few months. The day of the salon grand opening it kinda came to a head. Tara and Half Sack busted me having a 'spell' and she made me go to the doctor. Turns out my blood pressure is threw the roof. I'm sorta like a ticking time bomb." She smiled to break the seriousness. "I mean, I always knew I was HOT but..."

Tig mulled over what she'd just said, made some quick connections, and didn't see the humor. "Your old man died of a stroke."

"I'm aware of that."

He was a bit floored and sat thinking about her being way too young to be on pills and how she was always taking on everyone's problems and how much stress he'd probably caused for her. "So... you were fucked up before the fire? Is it just because of work or Vix or me or what?"

"Its work, Vix, you, Abel and club stuff and salon remodels and just...everything." She answered with a nervous shrug. Silence hung between them and Jaci stared at the table top.

"So what now?" Tig asked with an uneasy look. " You gonna die or something?"

"NO! I mean, I hope not." Jaci snorted. God bless Tig and his bluntness. She had never met a guy so unable toproperly convey concern and worry. "They've got me on a pill and I'm supposed to change some bad habits. Smoking a pack a day, drinking like a fish and not sleeping while trying to conquer the world really isn't the PRESCRIBED way to deal with stress." Jaci explained and then dropped her eyes. "Looks like you were smart to bail on me. All that shit I told you...that I wouldn't break? Obviously that's all bullshit. I think punching out my sister constituents breaking."

"Bobby says I'm the source of all evil for you."

"Bobby is overprotective." She smiled slightly at her friend's chiding of her ex. "Us breaking up...that did fuck me up more than I care to admit...but that's not my only problem. I mean, you didn't make Wendy a meth head, or make me move halfway across the country to help out with Abel, or pop Vix's appendix or torch the salon, etc etc. But I'm supposed to watch my stress level and I guess the stress I CAN control...that's where YOU come in. No more screaming or getting up in my face. I guess my heart literally can't take it. We need to... play nice."

Tig just watched her with a weird look, trying to comprehend all that she was saying. "That's it? You do all this stuff...chill out or whatever and take a pill and your fixed?"

"Yeah...well, he gave me some anti-anxiety med but I'm not taking it."

"You need to start."

"Oh really, Dr. Trager?" Jaci asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Yeah, really. You need to chill the fuck out. You're not acting right."

"I'M not right? This coming from YOU, the epitome of NOT RIGHT?"

Tig just smirked. "Don't get all defensive. Listen...you're NOT a bitch. Today's a freak occurrence. You're usually cool as fuck, that's what I liked about you,...but right now you're goddamn hostile. Maybe that pill'd take the edge off."

"Take the edge off?" Jaci started to get riled up and had to keep her voice down. It was one thing to know you were bitchy and out of control, it was another thing to hear it from someone else. She glanced around to make sure no one was paying them much attention. She glared at Tig and hissed, "You ever wonder WHY I'm edgy? I swear since Vix and I stepped foot back in town, I go to bed worried, pissed off or scared about something damn near every night. And just when I think I've got one thing handled, something else rears its ugly head, like this goddamn fire. So I'm so fuckin' sorry if I'm not COOL anymore. Maybe if the world would back the fuck off me for five minutes I could settle down!"

"See? Hostile." Tig watched her with partial amusement then asked, "What are you scared about?"

"Want me to make you a list?" Jaci hissed. "Number one...someone tried to set us on FIRE."

He rolled his eyes, "You and your goddamn lists."

Jaci let out a sigh, embarrassed to have gotten so angry all of a sudden. She had had things lined out and then the fire had yanked the rug out from under her again. She suddenly felt stupid for telling Tig anything about her medical issues and had the urge just to go home and crawl into bed ALONE and never crawl back out. After a moment it was Tig's turn to check for nosy eyes in the restaurant as he suddenly reached across the table and took a hold of her hand. Jaci froze. Oh shit...what's he doing? Why's he holding my hand? We're in public, did he forget we're in public?

"It's gonna be ok." Tig held her hand and looked in her eyes. "Shit will work out, you know that right?" He stared at her until she nodded then a more stern look crossed his face. "And those pills that you need...I'll make you take 'em if I gotta shove 'em straight up your ass."

All the hopefulness for a sweet moment vanished in an instant. She smirked at Tig. "Shoving those pills up my ass wont work unless they are in suppository form. I can't believe YOU'RE telling me I need to be on drugs. You should probably be on anti-psychotics."

"Yeah so." He gripped her hand harder. "Don't test me on this, Jaci."

They were staring each other down when the waitress showed up with their food. He let go of her hand. Jaci asked for a glass of tea as the waitress walked off. Tig nodded at her. "Eat." He pulled her beer to his side of the table. "I'll drink your beer. Gotta follow doctor's orders right?" He said with a wink.

XXX

Vix and Juice reached the scenic overlook and climbed off his bike. The sun was full and high in the sky but there was a rough wind whipping about the large open expanse. Vix shivered as she climbed up on a huge bolder to stare out into the distance. Juice looked over at her. "You cold?" He watched her shrug and pull her hands up inside the sleeves of the extra-thick SAMCRO hoodie she'd liberated from his closet earlier that morning. He sighed. "You know I think February is Mother Nature's best bait n switch. Between the cold snaps and everything sorta seeming like it's in limbo between winter and spring... it feels like the longest month even though it's the shortest."

Leaving Juice to wax poetic on his current topic, Vix's mind tried furiously to sort out everything that had happened up to and including this latest fight with her sister. She recalled all the damning words and bleak forecasts that Jaci had spat at her. She drew in a ragged breath as she stared at a cloud formation. She wasn't the least bit surprised that her mind's eye seemed to decipher a hangman's noose out of the angry, grey puff. She felt Juice wrap his arms around her and pull her back against him as he sat behind her on the bolder. Vix fought her first instinct to stiffen at the touch and pull away. She felt herself edging towards a dark place and the last thing she wanted was to take Jean with her.

He felt it too, her initial reluctance, and he fought back his initial surge of irritation and was glad for it when she leaned back into his embrace. He sighed and planted a kiss on her temple.

"Your nose is cold." Vix commented absently.

"I love this place. "

Vix couldn't help herself and blurted out, "I'm so fucked, Jean. My sister.."

"Jaci didn't mean …"

"Yeah she did... she meant every damn word."

XXX

They ate quietly for a few moments but then curiosity got the best of Tig. "So how do they know what's wrong with you? They just put the cuff thing on you?"

Jaci shook her head and swallowed a bite of chicken. "Oh no...MUCH more FUN involved than that. I had blood work and an EKG, had to have a ultrasound to check my kidney function. I'm up to about a thousand dollars...all for them to say, 'yep its high blood pressure, you're too stressed and you have bad genes' and shove pills at me." The waitress brought her glass of tea. Jaci dumped a packet of Sweet n Low into it. As she stirred she decided to test the limits of Tig's concern.

"They even made me take a pregnancy test...apparently being knocked up can jack with your blood pressure." She finished stirring her tea and looked up to see Tig just staring blankly at her. He was utterly frozen, his hand was held in midair holding a rib. It was obvious big bad Tigger was scared shitless. A grin spread over her face. "Yeeeeah...that sinking feeling you just got in the pit of your stomach? Try having THAT for twenty minutes while you're waiting on results. And YES, asshole...it would have been YOURS. I haven't been with anyone else."

Tig managed a nod although it was accompanied by a frown. His heart had stopped beating when the words pregnancy test had crossed her lips. An odd mix of emotions flooded over him, relief was first and foremost. Jesus, I need a kid like I need a hole in my head. He thought about all the times they had been together, they were inconsistent at best about protection. Stupid, stupid, stupid. His brow furrowed as he wondered why he was so damn careful with other bitches but not with Jaci. A little voice in his head whispered, maybe you're not careful on purpose.

Tig's eye twitched and he glanced at Jaci, Goddamn mother of the year material right there. Damn, just think of the eyes our kid would have, some crazy crystal blue green shit, would be fuckin' beautiful. He shook his head. Oh fuck that. Don't snatch out now, that picket fence bullshit ain't happening, asshole. He was instantly mad at himself for even thinking it. He waited for his heart to start beating normally again and then reacted in true Tig Trager fashion, deflect all serious feelings and say something smartass.

"Haven't been with anyone else? Seriously? That's sorta sad." Tig said with a smirk. "But I guess that means I'm special right?"

"Yeah...you're special alright." Jaci replied with a roll of her eyes. "Short bus special."

They spent the next several minutes in silence. Both just letting their minds wander over all that had been talked about so far. Tig had dodged the pregnancy scare pretty deftly but Jaci felt like he was still open to talking. She felt bad for just tossing out the pregnancy test thing, that had been a bit mean of her. Jaci sighed and tapped her plate lightly with her fork before laying it down. "Ok, look...I have to ask you something. I know I should probably just let it be, I mean it doesn't matter at this point probably but...I can't not know. Just be straight with me, ok? That night at Big Daddy's, I got this vibe that..."

Before she could finish her thought, Tig swallowed his gulp of beer and blurted, "I fucked her." He watched Jaci frown. He shrugged. "I hadn't planned on it but then you made that limp noodle comment and pissed me off so I did her out of spite."

He thought about how crazy that night at Big Daddy's bar had gotten, with the two of them in each other's faces screaming. "Goddamn I wanted to beat your skull in that night...was so fucking mad. I know that's stupid but it's like I said earlier...I get pissed off, its either punch or fuck and hitting you wasn't really an option." He looked at Jaci, who just sat in the booth across from him with her mouth slightly agape. It suddenly dawned on him he had seriously fucked up. He dropped his eyes to the table top. "That's not what you were going to ask about was it?"

"Nope." Jaci answered weakly.

"Shit." Tig mumbled.

XXX

Juice sighed as he lean around to look at Vix. "You know I love your sister, right? But we both know she's a bit anal retentive. Yeah, this whole mess may call from some...creative financing but..."

Vix scoffed, "Creative financing? That's apparently a pipe dream, baby. Finance and credit and math and numbers that is Jaci's WORLD. She knows it inside out and sideways. I never really took an interest in all that, mostly because it annoys the shit outta me and even when I tried I'd get it all wrong, fuckin' transposed numbers, and I end up going to her anyway so it became just easier to eliminate the middle man, ME, and let her do it. She was happy crunching her little numbers and I was relieved as fuck not to have to do it, WIN/WIN. Maybe if I'd understood all that better I'd know for myself just how fucked we are... but as it stands I'm just gonna have to believe my sister." Vix rubbed her hands over her face. "I seriously fucked up her life, just like she said...'cause her family, her credit and her word are three things that Jaci holds fast."

She could HEAR Juice roll his eyes so she continued. "I'm serious, Jean. Back when she was in college...she once lived off SpaghettiO's for three months straight just to make sure she could pay her bills. When Aunt Roxy found out, her dorm room suddenly overflowed with food. Then when Rox told Uncle BB, he tossed a fit and wrote her a check. But you know Jaci paid BB back every dime with self-imposed interest."

Vix sighed, "She went out on a limb with me so I could open Twisted and POOF it is gone. And WE, she and I, are still left holding the bag... MORE SHE than I, I guess, right? Seeing as how she has a job and all and I ain't got no money coming in and none to fund rebuilding, and I would... I would swallow my pride and go work at one of them chain salon chop shops, but a lotta people are outta work and jobs are hard to find. In the meantime, my vendors and the loans still need paid." She paused shaking her head with a sigh, "I've booked my sister and I passage on the express train to bankruptcy."

"Don't go boarding any trains, not just yet ok?" Juice asked. "Just maybe something will pan out." He hugged her closer against him.

"Sure... maybe that genie lamp thing will happen." Vix said unconvincingly.

XXX

Tig and Jaci finished eating in relative silence, only making small talk when necessary and staying away from any topic of seriousness. Tig paid the check and they walked outside. He lit up a cigarette as he leaned up against her car. She took up the same position next to him and crossed her arms over her chest. He blew out a stream of smoke and felt a twinge of guilt. He glanced quickly at Jaci, she wasn't supposed to smoke, but he could, right? It wasn't like he had her trapped in the car with the windows rolled up. "Hey, we get back to town, you're getting those other pills filled."

"Ok." She sighed in resignation. "But I'm not really sure how going from a bitch to a zombie is gonna help matters."

"Couldn't hurt anything. Might keep you from punching out your sister again."

"Yeah." Jaci sighed again. Lately it seemed to be her favorite activity beside frowning. "Shit, I've made a mess of things. Vix has to be so pissed at me. I have to fix that...didn't mean to go off like that."

Tig could hear the anxiety come to life in her voice again and looked over at her. "It's gonna be fine, Jaci. Just calm down."

She rolled her eyes, "It's NOT fine, Tig. Nothing is fine."

"It will be... it'll work itself out." He took another pull from his cigarette. "And if it don't...I'll MAKE it work out, alright?" Despite all his problems,he didn't make statements like that without being able to back them up so she sorta nodded along. He gave her a smile.

"Hey, could you please keep this blood pressure shit to yourself? No one knows but Tara and Kipp. Everyone has enough to worry about these days." Jaci ventured and was relieved to have Tig nod his agreement without a fight. She muttered thanks and then took a deep breath and stared back at the restaurant. "Wow...its been a wild ride since the first time we were here, huh?"

He nodded and blew out a stream of smoke, "If you knew how shit was gonna go..."

Jaci half smiled, "Would I have still done it?" She thought for a minute and answered honestly. "I'm gonna say no." She left off the part about it hurting too much.

He snorted, "Mmph, I would have said yes."

She felt about an inch tall. Here he was TRYING, took her to their one and only date-ish place and was saying he would have walked through all the pain and drama again. She played it off as a joke. "Yeah, but you're a masochist...you LIKE pain. But all that's beside the point...shoulda, woulda, coulda...we DID and now we're HERE...where ever HERE is."

"WHATever here is." Tig corrected with a smirk.

"How long are we sticking together?" Jaci asked suddenly, unable to help herself.

"I don't know." Tig answered with unease. He tossed his cigarette to the pavement and crushed it under his boot. He turned to face her and propped his elbow on the roof of the car. "With the fire and shit...probably need to stay close until its all figured out. Get the salon put back together and stuff." Jaci nodded in agreement. Tig rolled his shoulders. Chickenshit. He chided himself for taking the easy excuse for being with her. He ventured a more truthful answer. "And besides all that...I'm...I'm just tired, you know?"

He glanced at her for only a split second but her heart kinda squeezed. He was being HONEST and OPEN with her and it had been a long time since he had done that. She nodded again, "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean." He started to move away from the car but she stepped toward him suddenly and put her hand on his chest, keeping him in place. "That question I wanted to ask earlier? Before you blurted out that stupid confession that I sooo didn't need to know about?" Jaci bit her lip and then looked at him seriously, albeit nervously. "What I wanted to know...did being with me...losing me...did that even put a dent in you? Did you even feel it?"

The blunt severity of the question hit him hard. One part of his mind started screaming YES, DENT! HUGE FUCKING DENT! But he searched for a more subtle answer. He thought for a second and finally nodded., saying simply, "I felt it."

She smiled nervously, needing a bit more info. "Sooo...what're we talkin' here? Big dent? Little dent? Scuff mark? Scratch? Could you buff my damage out or would it require part replacement?" She smiled slightly and dropped her eyes, "Just trying to put it in lingo you are comfortable with."

Tig just smiled and dodged the answer. He kissed her quickly on the forehead and then pushed off of her car and opened the passenger side door for her. "Better get back. You've got some apologizing to do." She sighed and made a move towards the car but he stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder. He turned her to face him and leaned his forehead against her, his left hand cradled the back of her neck. "Hey...I'll make you a deal. No more wrecks for me, no strokes for you...everybody's happy...and alive, ok?"

She smiled and quietly said, "Deal."

He leaned in and gave her a solid kiss on the lips before he had a moment to second guess it. He got her in the car, shutting the door behind her. She ran her thumb over her lips as he walked around to the drivers side. Here we go again...so much for staying away from bad habits.

From inside his car across the street, the young ATF agent tried to control his excitement. He thumbed the review button on his digital camera and looked over the ten pictures he had managed to snap of Tig Trager talking to and then kissing Jaci Parker. Two of the pictures were absolutely perfect and utterly damning. Agent Stahl was going to be ecstatic. He had thought she was crazy for wanting to tail the two Parkers sisters, but now he completely understood why she wanted to play her hunch.

XXX

Vix was exhausted, mentally and emotionally drained. She had Juice drop her off at his place after swearing at least five times that she would be FINE. He had to head back to TM to check in for the afternoon. She could have went home to Parker Place but she had zero desire to face Jaci. Hell she wasn't entirely sure she was even welcome there right now. She settled in on the couch with Spawn and tried to turn her brain off.

XXX

After dropping off Jaci at the salon and grabbing his bike, Tig rolled up in the parking lot of Half Sack's small apartment complex. He didn't even know why the stupid kid paid rent, he spent 99% of his time at the clubhouse, which was where Prospects belonged. He climbed the stairs to the apartment and banged on the door. "PROSPECT! OPEN UP!"

Several minutes later, Kipp pulled open the door with a grimace on his face. Walking was not exactly EASY for him right now. He frowned when he saw Tig. "Um, hey man."

"We need to talk." Tig growled.

Kipp swallowed hard and somehow managed to keep HOLY SHIT from flying from his lips. "Uh, ok...come on..."

Before he could finish, Tig pushed past the kid and into the apartment. Kipp shut the door behind them. He watched carefully as Tig scanned the room and then turned to face him. The SAA did NOT look happy. Kipp frowned deeper, "You look mad...why are you mad? What did I do?"

Tig waggled his finger in front of the Prospect's face. "It's not what you DID, Kippy. It's what you DIDN'T do." Tig didn't even give the kid a moment to respond before he grabbed him by his t-shirt and slammed him up against the front door. Kipp groaned involuntarily with pain from his nether regions. He was healing but it was slow going. Tig brought his face close to the kid's. "You knew about Jaci being sick and you didn't tell me?"

"What? Sick? Oh um well...yeah, I guess so...but she told me NOT to tell and the last time I ran my mouth about something Parker related...well, we all know how THAT went so I wasn't gonna..."

Tig flexed his grip on the kid's shirt."How's your new ball?"

"What?"

"I SAID...how's your new nut? Do you like it? Wanna keep it? Wanna prevent me from removing it through your goddamn throat?" Tig seethed. The kid nodded vigorously causing the SAA to grin coldly.

"I didn't think you'd care." Kipp blurted out, "You guys weren't together...I thought you hated her."

"Well I CARE until further notice. If it's remotely life threatening and concerns her...I better be the first to know. You got me?'"

Kipp nodded profusely. "I got you...totally got you."

Tig released his grip suddenly and patted the kid on the chest. He sneered, "Good boy." He stepped away from the Prospect and reached past him for the door knob. "When you coming back to work full time?"

"Um...um...day after tomorrow." Kipp muttered, amazed at how quickly Tig went from hostile to completely calm. The SAA simply nodded and gave him a friendly slap the shoulder then walked out of the door.

The kid leaned his back against the door, tried to catch his breath and cupped his swollen, throbbing nut sack. "Goddamn."

XXX

As the hours clicked by, Vix gave up on trying to nap on the couch and moved to the bed. But after an hour or so of tossing and turning, she sat up. She was starving and there was nothing in the apt to eat, well nothing that appealed to her. She checked the time; there was no way that any of the eateries in town would be open but maybe she had time to grab some stuff at the little mini-mart store before they close up. She grabbed Spawn and loaded up into the Jeep and dipped into town.

She had hit the junk food goldmine at the mini mart and was on her way out the door when she ran smack into AJ Weston. Spawn was locked inside the Jeep, growling and barking. Weston was with his kids so he was on semi-good behavior. He smirked as he snaked out a hand and grabbed hold of Vix. He waved his kids on inside the store. "Not so cocky when Brown's not around?"

Vix wrenched her arm free but couldn't help but focus on Weston's odd throat tat, some sort of red circle thing. It creeped her out but she didn't show it. She sneered. "I don't need Juice or any of the other SONS to handle my shit. They are heaping on the protection though, so it'd be real unlucky for you if one of them rode by right about now." Vix was normally not scared of any damn person but AJ Weston was like the Devil incarnate. In all honesty she was sending up a barrage of prayers that that very thing would occur, any SON any SON at all- just pass by NOW. But no such thing happened. She shrugged. "Your lucky day apparently, AJ."

"Luck is for the unprepared." Weston smirked as the Parker bitch took a huge step backward. "I happen to know exactly where the SONS are ... hidden away in their little club house."

"So me needing some stuff from the store... being here to run into you.. is just pure luck... or UN-luck?"

"Whatever lets you sleep at night, Vix." He replied and she cringed for the second time that day at the sound of her name coming from him, "Or keeps you awake.. more like it hmm?" He proceeded into the store, speaking without looking at her. "Be seeing you, Miss Parker."

XXX

Jaci had wanted to apologize to her sister as soon as she had gotten back from lunch with Tig but had decided to let things cool off first. The tricky thing was, how long was long enough to cool off? She dropped by the pharmacy and got her prescription filled for her anti-anxiety meds. She popped one and admittedly felt like a bit of a failure for having to have HELP controlling herself. They're just for NOW...I'll get past all this fire drama and then no more pills. I'll get back on track.

She paced in the living room damn near all night, waiting for Vix to waltz through the door or call. After a while, Jaci's unease and worry and guilt had turned to annoyance. Why wasn't Vix calling HER or coming home to apologize to HER? Hell, after all, Vix had rushed her first. Jaci gave up on pacing and slumped off to bed. While Vix was snagging junk food and staring down the devil, Jaci laid in her bed staring at the ceiling. She had spent an insane amount of time chanting, don't worry, don't be mad, don't worry, don't be mad but the mantra wasn't sticking. She sighed and turned onto her side and prayed for daylight.

XXX

"Who's there?" Vix called out… no reply.

She squinted at the alarm clock, trying to see through the darkness of the bedroom. The display read 3:55. She sat up and reached for the bedside lamp. She turned the switch but nothing happened, she reached higher and found the bulb was missing. Her heart pounded in her chest. Carefully... slowly... she eased open the drawer of the bedside table. Reaching inside, she felt for the .45 she knew Juice kept inside...but the gun was gone. She was aware of something moving in the darkness.

"Juice?" She called out. "Spawn?" Again no answer. She took a deep breath and held it and listened hard for the faintest sound.

A low chuckle came from nearby and suddenly the alarm clock, the only light in the room, went out. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as sweat trickled down her spine. "I've got a gun!" She hollered in the darkness. Another faint chuckle... followed by another swift movement, closer this time.

Her heart was pounding, pumping ice through her veins, yet she sweated profusely. Where was Juice? He'd never play games like this. Who ever was in the apartment, in the bedroom was not Juice. Juice wasn't here but someone else was and she was trapped. She failed at trying to will her mind to come up with an escape plan. Panic was setting in. Getting out of the apartment was her only chance. She knew she needed to run hard and fast and not look back; make it off the bed, around the decorative screen wall, across the living room and make a bee-line for the front door. But then what? Leave a building full of senior citizens to the mercy of a crazed lunatic? She'd deal with that when she got out of the apartment but she had to get OUT first. The threat was INSIDE, very close, over by the closet was her best guess. She slowly drew back the covers and eased one foot off the edge of the bed but it didn't come in contact with the carpeted floor... it came to rest on the chest of the man with a knife who was lying on the floor beside her. Glancing down, her eyes zeroed in on that tattoo on his throat. "Hello Vix… I said I'd see you soon." AJ Weston smiled sinisterly.

Vix screamed and woke herself up. In a quick reflexive movement she had the bedside light on and the .45 in her hand. Her breath was anything but steady, it was coming in ragged gulps and she felt like her heart was going to explode.

"VIX!"

The sound of Juice's sharp voice broke through her panic. She looked at him, sitting up in the bed, his eyes were wide as he saw the gun shaking in her hand. "Vix... put the gun down, baby. Come on."

She looked down at where his eyes were focused... on the gun in her grasp. "Jesus Christ." She tried to put the gun back in the drawer but her fingers wouldn't let go. She had to pry them off with her free hand.

Juice didn't draw an easy breath until the gun was back in the drawer. "What the fuck was that?"

"I.. I..was having a bad dream." She said softly.

"What were you gonna do, Vix? Shoot the bad dream?" He ran a hand over his head in an attempt to contain his irritation and fear at the situation. "Come here."

XXX

The next day:

Vix was beyond exhausted, beyond stressed and beyond caring about Business Law. What the fuck did any of it matter any more? When the professor advised that the day's class would cover insurance, Vix felt physically ill. The last thing she felt like hearing about was insurance. She was literally being fucked over by that industry. Only the knowledge that Uncle BB and Aunt Roxy were on the line for her education and she couldn't face the prospect of pissing on their generosity kept her in her seat. However, halfway through the lecture, Vix was glad that she'd stayed. Well, GLAD was not the correct word but suffice it to say she had a light bulb moment. Before the lecture had ended, she gathered her things as quickly as she could and exited the class room, the questioning glances from the professor and her classmates bounced off her back.

Vix navigated the roads back to Charming almost on auto-pilot, her mind was anywhere but focused on driving. A feeling of relief tinged with regret blossomed inside her as she pulled the Jeep to a stop in the driveway of Parker Place. The house stood empty just as she'd suspected it would, hoped really. She made her way inside, a rapid successions of beeps broke through her distracted mind and she glanced over at the panel of the house alarm. Her sister was setting the alarm now? Jesus Christ...shit, what's the disarm code. Vix tried to think. She visualized the code and after two failed attempts and a few choice words regarding her dyslexia she entered the code correctly and proceeded down the hall to her sister's room. She struggled her way through another set of numbers and after a few minutes of digging she found what she was looking for. She leaned up against her foot end of her sister's bed and stared at the papers in her hand. She couldn't make heads nor tails of the crazy jargon…but she knew someone who would be able to.

XXX

Henry Darling opened his front door only to be greeted with papers thrust into his face and Vix Parker inquiring, "Hey Judge.. what does this legal mumbo jumbo mean?"

He took the papers from her and adjusted his reading glasses as he took a step backwards. He shook the papers and then looked at where Vix's turquoise painted finger nail was pointing. "Double Indemnity?"

Vix nodded, "I've seen the movie. Old… classic, right?"

He chuckled. "Well in this case, when this policy was set up there was an additional clause added to it. That if the insured, in this case you, were to die and your death was ruled accidental, the insurance company would have to pay the beneficiary, in this case, um, your sister Jaci, double the face value of the policy. In this case... well, your policy is for $100,000.00."

"Wait." Vix interjected, "So if I die by accident, Jaci gets $200,000.00?"

"In theory." Henry nodded. "But deaths are very rarely ruled accidental.. probably less than 5% of all the deaths in a whole years time in the entire country are ruled as such." He removed his glasses. "Now that I've answered your question, you mind answering one for me?" She shrugged then nodded.

"Why are you inquiring?"

She shrugged. "I have that class on business law this semester so I thought... well an insurance policy is a contract of sorts, right? So I figured I would try to read it... didn't get very far. Guess I'll be coming to see you a lot."

Henry smiled. "I look forward to it." But he knew she was full of shit. You don't sit on a circuit court bench for twenty five years without being able to spot bullshit in all its forms. "You be good now."

"I will." Vix replied and faked a smile.

She left Henry's apt and walked back up to Juice's place. She was freaking out and not in a good way. Her heart was thumping in her head as she walked around the apartment. On the fridge, she spotted a few pictures of her and Juice. She pulled one of them off and wandered into the bedroom area. She grabbed his hoodie off the chair it was thrown over and pulled it over her head. His scent was still thick on the material. She hugged it around her and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She began tearing up as she curled up on his bed. She had found an out for to save her sister from ruin...but the end picture for herself wasn't so rosy.

XXX

Jaci had spent her entire work day sneaking glances at her cellphone, just waiting on a call from Vix but it never happened. It was clear now both sisters were going to be stubborn but Jaci knew she would win that fight, although she had not been showing it lately, she was immensely patient, she could outlast Vix with no problem.

After she got off work, Jaci figured since her favorite sister was mad at her, she might be better off checking in on her other sister...Wendy. Jaci took a drive to her sister's current abobe, a halfway house

thirty minutes from Charming. After an awkward forty five minute visit, Jaci hit the road back to Charming and regretted wasting her time. Wendy was distant and a bit offended that Jaci had come to "check up on her". She didn't ask nearly enough questions about Abel in Jaci's opinion, didn't seem overly concerned that she had been separated from her son for MONTHS.

Wendy's apartment was shabby at best and Jaci couldn't shake a bad feeling that Wendy was giving up on staying sober. She was also concerned that Wendy was starting to dance on the line of maybe giving up her rights to Abel and that notion scared the hell out of Jaci. If Wendy gave up her rights, she would essentially be giving up Jaci's and Vix's rights to Abel as well. Grandparents had a hard enough time having their rights respected, aunts were going to be shit out of luck if Jax got a wild hair up his ass and didn't want them around Abel.

XXX

After spending the afternoon curled in a ball alone in Juice's bed, Vix lifted the blankets off her body and forced her feet to the floor around 6pm. She decided tunnel vision was the only way she would make it, if she looked around she'd see remnants and reminders, things that would distract her from her course. She focused straight ahead, feeling so empty that her bones themselves felt hollow. Somewhere off to her left the apartment phone rang, she ignored it, didn't even glance in it's direction. Keep moving or it will be too late. When she made it around the wall of decorative screens and into the living room even tunnel vision failed her. Juice was everywhere. She clamped her eyes shut and tried to hurry. Her heart was thudding so hard against her chest she'd be amazed if it didn't burst through her rib cage and fly out of her body. She swallowed hard and tried to force in at last one breath but she couldn't. Her body was alive with fear and her nerves were a hot wire mess. She forced her eyes to open, focused them on the front door and propelled herself towards it. All she had to do was keep moving. She grabbed her purse off the coffee table then covered the space between it and the door. She made it out of the apartment and down the first flight of stairs. As she was descending down the second flight she ran into Millie.

"Well hey, Vix. How are you doin' sweetie?" The woman's smile faded and her face held a concerned look as she watched Vix put her hands over her ears.

One more word might make everything go wrong Vix muttered in her brain. She hurried down the stairs more quickly. Millie's voice called out from behind her. "Vix... Vix! Is everything alright?"

She offered no reply as she headed for the exit. In a little while everything would be alright. She would set everything right... but to do that she needed a little help.

XXX

As the work day drew to a close at TM around 5pm, Tig had called Jaci. They chatted about nothing for a few minutes and he had asked what she was doing that night. She knew he wanted to come over but after her shit can of a visit with Wendy, she wasn't in the mood for company. Well, she was in a mood, but it was a bad one and she figured Tig had seen enough of those from her lately. She dodged a visit from him by saying she was heading to Jax's house to play with Abel for a bit. And that was the truth, being around a sweet baby was about the only thing she could think of to cheer her up right now. Tig said alright and to have fun but she could tell he was annoyed, maybe even disappointed.

Jaci knocked on the door to Jax's place and was greeted by Neeta a minute later. The nanny gave her a big smile and held the door open wide for her, "Well hey there, Miss Jaci."

"Hey, how's our boy?" Jaci replied as she walked into the living room.

Neeta shut the door behind them. "Our boy is just about to wake up from a late nap. You can do the honors if you like."

Jaci smiled. "I LOVE when he wakes up...so damn cuddly." She headed down the hall to Abel's nursery but called over her shoulder. "When's Tara getting home?"

"Should be any minute."

Jaci leaned over the side of the crib and ran her hand over Abel's belly. He was already starting to stir and popped open his eyes at her touch. He screwed up his face for a moment with a whiny cry and she scooped him up and nestled him in her arms. "Hey baby boy. Shhhh. Did you have a good nap?" She felt him snuggle his face in the crook of her neck and she wrapped her arms tighter around him as she soothed him. This was exactly what she needed to feel better.

By the time Tara arrived, Jaci had sent Neeta home for the night and was laying on the floor playing with Abel. He was fully awake and extremely happy to see his Aunt J, he smiled and cooed and Jaci was in heaven, deciding nephews were the best things in the world. Play with them, spoil them and then hand them back to their parents...well PARENT and step parent? Tara was a quasi step mom, right? Oh hell, don't worry about all that shit right now. Just play with the damn baby and be happy!

"Having fun?" Tara asked with a smile as she walked into the living room.

"Tons." Jaci answered from where she lay on her stomach on the carpet.

They made small talk about work and Abel for a bit before Tara jumped into the more serious topics of the fire, Jaci's health and the sister fight. The pair were quickly becoming what could only be described as best friends as lame as that sounded since they were 30 somethings. But in the SAMCRO world, they were sort of misfits and the misfits needed to stick together. So they hung out a lot, even if it was just at the house while Jaci spent time with Abel or snagging lunch together or something. They would hang out and vent about the odd lives they had chosen for themselves.

"Jax said you guys really went at it. Have you made up yet?"

Jaci sat up and held Abel in her lap as he messed with a tiny stuffed animal. "Nope...I haven't talked to Vix since it happened. We're being mutually stubborn and stupid...but its ok. We're sisters, it happens...only I don't think I've punched her since I was like 12."

"I know your frustrated and all but I really would have thought the meds would have kept you from going off like that."

"Yeah...well...pills only work if you take them I guess." Jaci replied with a wince. "I sorta didn't start taking that other med until um, yesterday."

"JACI!" Tara exclaimed. "You are NOT a doctor...things are prescribed for a reason..."

"I know, I know! My blood pressure has been fine, I thought I was ok but obviously I'm not so I'm taking care of it." Jaci tried to defend herself but it was a lost cause. "Oh hey, by the way...our little secret circle has increased by one...I told Tig about my little issue."

Tara frowned. "You did?"

"Yeah...after the fight he drug me off...to freakin' Lodi of all places. Took me to lunch, calmed me down and I just felt like I owed him an explanation."

Tara took a long minute to process what Jaci had said and smiled slightly. "Tig as a calming force...not something I would have ever associated with him."

"Yeah, he has his moments." Jaci laughed a bit. "He got pretty pissed when I told him I wasn't taking all my pills, said he'd shove them up my ass if he had to but I was going to take them one way or another." She looked at Tara who was shaking her head. "Ok, you're doing the confused sour face thing, what is it?"

"I'm...I'm just oddly impressed with his concern."

Jaci rolled her eyes, "I've told you...He DOES have a heart, Tara. Its just tiny and blackened and he doesn't show it to people very often."

"I thought you hated him." Tara replied. She had been more than a little disappointed when Jaci had told her about the hookup with Tig the night of the fire. That guy was the last person Jaci needed to be messing with again but who was she to judge? Nine out of ten people would say that Jax was a bad decision too...but Jax and Tig...those were two VERY different poor decisions.

"I did hate him...at the time I said it. But when shit's gone sideways with us lately, we've stepped up and had the other's back." Jaci shrugged. "I don't know what's going on...but that has to mean SOMETHING. It feels like something anyway."

XXX

Vix parked her Jeep on the street, a block from the SAMCRO clubhouse. She attempted to steel herself, dug deep to find some calmness. She knew what she needed to do and further more, who she needed to approach to see it done. Spawn whined where he sat in the passenger seat and she glanced over at him, "It's ok, baby boy. You're gonna love your new home. His nickname may be Dumbass, but Nolan is a good guy... he'll take real good care of you." Vix leaned over and rubbed noses with the pup, who promptly licked her across her face. She sighed and muttered, "Two tears in a bucket... Mother-fuck-it!"a fave line from ironically enough, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Vix stepped down out of the Jeep followed by Spawn and the two made their way quickly towards the SONS compound. As she strode along, she pushed down the nerves that were threatening to undo her. She needed to get this right and she was glad she didn't spot Juice, seeing his damn Harley parked in line on the lot was making it difficult enough. There were a lot of people hanging out but finally she saw Tig laying on top of a picnic table under the pavilion. He was smoking a joint and had a bottle of whiskey next to him. She walked over and plopped down beside him. "Hey."

Tig looked up at the youngest Parker sister and rolled his eyes. Vix was a piece of work by anyone's standards and a pain in the ass by his. It didn't help that he was in a bad mood. Jaci had blown him off when he had called her earlier. He was used to being the one to pull away so it unnerved him to no end that she was doing it to him now. Knowing the night he had in mind was trashed, he enacted Plan B. He was laid out on the picnic table drunk, slightly high and more than a little sexually frustrated.

"What do you want now, Parker?" Tig snapped. He raised up slightly for a second and noticed the dog, "Keep that little beast clear of me."

Vix didn't really want to argue the fact that Spawn was all of two feet tall and hardly constituted a beast so she pushed ahead with her plan. "Gotta ask you somethin.'"

"What?"

"Could you kill me and make it look like an accident?"

Tig had long learned to expect the unexpected outta Vix Parker, he had no clue what she was gonna ask him but that question was a bit shocking. He propped himself up on his elbows and eyed her .She appeared completely serious and waited for a reply. He repeated her question to make sure his baked mind had got it right. "Could I kill you and make it look like an accident?" She nodded and he shrugged. "Sure thing, doll...absolutely."

Vix released the breath she'd been holding. "It has to look like an accident." She watched him nod.."And if I didn't want to know it was coming... just like surprise me?"

"No problem" Tig nodded.

"Ok thanks." Vix replied quietly.

Tig watched her stand and go to walk away. He took another hit from his joint and held it for a moment before blowing it out and hollering after Vix. "Hey, you and your sister fix the shit between the two of you?"

"I'm working on it."

"Good." Tig nodded. "Jaci's stressed the fuck out... she doesn't need to be."

"I know." Vix disappears into the mild crowd of people. She bumped into Chibs and touched his arm. "Hey, Chibsy."

"How ya doin', luv?" He replied as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a slight squeeze.

"Getting there." Vix sighed. "Um, let me ask ya somethin'... how can you tell if Tigger is lying to you?"

Chibs chuckled. "If his lips are movin' its a good bet he's probably spreadin' fertilizer."

Vix rolled her eyes. "That's what I thought." She groaned and quickly pushed her way towards the clubhouse, thinking Contingency Plan.

XXX

"What you tell Vix got her pissed off?" Chibs asked as he plopped down across from Tig and took the joint that was held out to him.

Tig frowned. "Not a motherfuckin' thing. She asked me some fucked up questions and then split."

"What she ask?"

"Wanted to know if I could kill her and make it look like an accident." Tig replied bluntly.

"Huh?" Chibs stared at Tig in disbelief. "What the hell? Are you serious, brother?"

Tig nodded. "Mm hmmm."

Concern blossomed inside of Chibs. "What did you tell her?"

"Said absolutely... sure thing."

"Oh my sweet Christ." Chibs shook his head and cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled. "BOBBY! Get your arse over here!"

Bobby looked around to see who had yelled at him and spotted Chibs waving at him. When he finally made it to the picnic table, Chibs shoved at Tig. "Tell him what Vix asked you."

"This ought to be good." Bobby snorted.

"Oh for fuck's sake." Tig grumbled and sat up. "She asked if I could kill her and make it look like an accident."

Bobby slowly turned his what the fuck gaze on Chibs. The Scotsman nodded along. "Tig here told her SURE he'd do it!"

"I did not!" Tig slurred.."I said I COULD do it. That is what she asked, COULD I kill her and make it look like an accident." He pointed his finger for emphasis. "COULD... not WOULD... big difference. Even drunk and high I got that. Probably one of her stupid school projects."

Bobby shook his head and frowned at Tig. "Where's she now?"

"The fuck am I supposed to know? Do i look like the keeper of Vix Parker?" Tig snapped. His Plan B night was getting shot to hell. "Go ask, Juice."

XXX

Vix sat slumped down on the sofa next to Happy. He tossed her a sideways glance and muttered in that deep gravelly tone of his, "What's up, buttercup?" When he noticed that his playful reference to BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP, Vix's god awful choice in favorite songs didn't even garner a grin or a giggle, he ascertained that her mood was as dour as her expression.

"Can I ask you a question?" Vix said with a frown.

XXX

Bobby finally spotted Juice and hollered for him. "You seen Vix?"

"I think she just got here. She's in the club house talkin' to Happy." Juice answered. "Why?"

"Jesus Christ!" Chibs roared and eyed the doorway to the club house with unease.

Tig laughed. "Now HE may not know the difference between WOULD and COULD."

Juice looked confused so Bobby and Chibs filled him in on Vix's plan with drunken interjections from Tig coming at every few intervals.

XXX

Hap sat staring at Juice's old lady, he sensed a few things and none of them made him very Happy. Vix was batass crazy, serious as hell and determined. He frowned and asked. "Why?"

"Nothing else left to do." Vix stated matter of factly. "You love SAMCRO, right?"

"What?"was the only response he could muster to her unusual question.

"You'd do anything to protect them, right? You'd do whatever you needed to, to see them kept whole and out of harm and ruin?"

He nodded slowly. "I have no idea where you are going with this... but this club is my life, my family. I will protect it as such... from ANY threat."

She nodded. "Exactly... that's what I am trying to do here."

Happy's gaze found The Prospect behind the bar. He stared at Half Sack and then rolled his eyes towards Vix, still seated next to him, and then looked hard at the door. He watched Sack nod understanding and then creep out to find Juice.

XXX

When they finished explaining Vix's crazy questions, Juice looked incredulously at Tig. "Why would you do that? Tell her you'd do that?"

" COULD not WOULD! " Tig clarified once again and took a huge swig from the whiskey bottle before he began musing, "Could you, would you in a car...could you, would you near or far ... could you,would you on a train... could you, would you in the rain." Tig recited and then cracked up laughing.

Everyone stared oddly at the SAMCRO S-A-A. Bobby shook his head and muttered, "Great! Drunken Tigger Seuss!"

Chibs eyed Juice, who was a mix of emotions with confusion and worry duking it out for top billing.

Half Sack peeked his head out the club house door. "Psst.. hey, Juice! Hap's lookin' for you. He's in there with Vix and he looks more UN-HAPPY than usual."

"Shit." Juice rubbed his hands on over his head and followed the Prospect inside.

Tig stood up and moved to follow, only to have Bobby frown at him. "Where you going?"

"Amoron and a retard walk into a clubhouse to deal with a suicidal...drunken .. most likely armed chick. Why the fuck would I miss that?" Tig quipped with amused delight.

Shrugging in agreement at at least the entertainment value of the moment, Chibs and Bobby followed him inside.

XXX

"I made a list... ya know suggestions?" Vix lifted a shaky hand and held out a folded piece of paper to Happy. "I...um...I really don't want to know the details. Surprise and quickness are key, this really can't drag out. I need it done fast, tonight would be probably the best. I .. I don't want to think about things, ya know?" Vix held up the half full bottle of Jack Daniels. "Um, you mind? Can I finish this? Oh can you do me one other favor?"

"That depends." Happy replied, playing along for the time being.

Vix drew an uneasy breath. "Juice is the soft spot in my armor. I've got to avoid seeing him, Just tell... um, tell him... um, ... his smile made it all worth it. And I'm sorry."

"You know anything happens to you… it will fuck up your old man's head beyond fixable."

"You can't let that happen, Hap."

"I won't be able to stop it… but I can stop you." Hap noticed Juice and company advancing across the clubhouse main room. Vix looked up at the sound of their footfalls and knew the gig was up, so to speak.

Juice's face was a mix of worry and anger and confusion. She knew instantly that Tig ratted on her plan and she glared at the SAA. "I told you he wouldn't do it."

Tig snorted. "You didn't ask me if I WOULD ... you asked me if I COULD."

Vix rolled her eyes and started to stand up but Juice barked, "Park your ass!" His harsh tone surprised everyone and she complied instantly. "Better yet, come with me. Now!" H reached out and grabbed her around the wrist. He yanked her to her feet and tugged her across the main room headed for the dorms.

Jax entered the club house just in time to see the manhandling. "What the fuck?" He eyed the group of onlookers.

"Princess needs an intervention." Tig announced.

"Princess don't want to be saved!" Vix seethed as she was being tugged away. "Very much the opposite. So DO WHATYOU PROMISED, TIGGER!"

"I didn't PROMISE TO DO SHIT!" Tig yelled back. "How many times do I have to fuckin' say it? You asked COULD I…. and YEAH, I COULD… but I WON'T!"

"What!" Jax asked with utter confused. "Do what?"

"None of us know what is going on...exactly." Bobby said quietly. "But someone better find out before this shit escalates."

Juice pushed Vix into an unoccupied room, slammed the door and locked it.

XXX

"How serious do you think she was?" Bobby asked as the guys stood around. Hap handed him the list that Vix had given to him. They crowded around to read it but then Tig snatched it and stared at it.

As he read off the numerous "accidents" Vix thought could be fall her, Tig shook his head. Little sister acting like big sis, goddamn lists. If Vix was thinking about OFFING herself, what the hell mind set was Jaci in? He ran his hand over his face and felt his anger begin to flare. What a fuckin' clusterfuck. This whole goddamn situation is boiling over. He wanted to go to Jaci's and bang on her door and yell at her for jumping Vix but that wouldn't solve anything, hell he might give Jaci a fuckin' heart attack. He wanted to beat the shit out of Jacob Hale for screwing around with the girls but that would probably get him thrown in jail. He felt like his hands were tied and besides he couldn't do any of it anyway cause he was too goddamn drunk.

He left the guys to talk about the situation and stomped off toward the bar. "Prospect...make some fuckin' coffee, would ya?" He needed to sober up quickly. SOMETHING was getting fixed tonight if it goddamn killed someone. He pulled his cellphone out of his cut pocket and hit the speed dial for Jaci's number. He rubbed his forehead as he waiting for her to pick up. She had to be waffling cause it took her eight rings to pick up. "You need to get your ass to the clubhouse...I don't give a shit what kind of mood your in...this doesn't have shit to do with ME, your sister needs you. Get down here."

Bobby cocked an eyebrow as he walked up in time to hear the one sided phone convo. Tig slammed his phone down just as Half Sack slid a cup of coffee in front of him. Bobby cleared his throat, "Jaci on her way?"

"Yeah." Tig spat.

XXX

Jaci pushed through the clubhouse door fifteen minutes later with concerned etched on her face. Her worry only increased when Bobby gave her a polite worried look. "What's wrong? Where's Vix? What the hell did she do now? I've been waiting for two damn days now for her to apologize..."

Before Bobby could explain the situation in a calm manner, Tig pushed in front of him and grabbed Jaci by the arm. Unlike Bobby, who was a complete drama queen, Tig had thought about shielding Jaci from all the harsh details and just let her know that Vix was in a bad place but as soon as she started her rant, Tig lost his patience. He hissed in her ear, "You need to watch your goddamn tone. She showed up here tonight willing to end it all to save your ass from bankruptcy." Jaci just frowned and tried to pull away from him slightly but he held onto her. "Yeah your ungrateful little CURR of a sister. You better consider yourself real damn lucky that she came to ME.. and to Happy and didn't decide to OUTSOURCE."

Jaci was just staring at him, shaking her head. He was pissed and nothing he said was making any sense. He slammed a piece of paper in her hand. "Here... she made a list. Suggested ways to OFF her. A motherfuckin' list! Sound familiar? You're pissed at the way Vix is?"

"Tig...calm down." Bobby chided and stepped in between his friend and Jaci.

"Time to open your eyes, Professor Frankenstein." Tig spat as he pointed a finger at Jaci. "Vix is partly a MONSTER of your OWN creation. You coddle her and protect her and do everything for her then get pissed when she doesn't know how to help herself. Well, she's by God figured it out now!"

"Tig, BACK OFF!" Jax shouted as he made his way over to the bar.

"I...I don't know what..." Jaci was shocked by Tig's sudden fury toward hers. She looked to Bobby for a better explanation. He quickly told her what he thought to be true, that Vix had some weird suicide plan in her head. Jaci put her hands over her face. "Oh shit...Jesus Christ. Where is she?"

"She's in the back, with Juice." Bobby said.

Jaci made a move to go to her sister but Tig stepped in front of her. "You stay put...you've done enough."

"Just sit tight for a bit, J." Bobby held a hand up to keep her in place. "You know I love you girl... but when it comes to your sister lately, you aren't as wise as you think you are."

"Come on, Bobby." Jaci pleaded.

"I don't know if she wants to see you right now. I mean hell, she was willing to END her LIFE... just so your credit score didn't suffer due to this whole salon fiasco. You two don't need to be fighting again. Just stay in neutral corners for a bit." Bobby shook his head in disbelief of the current situation. "I'm just damn glad she came here tonight, instead of somewhere else."

Bobby's words hit home for Jaci but sparked confusion. "Wait...you said Vix had a suicide plan...but he said she went to him and Happy. What's the deal?"

"She wanted us to make it look like an accident." Tig said and watched as Jaci gave him an evil look of epic proportions. "She didn't MEAN it and Hap and I wouldn't have really popped her so there wasn't any need to tell you specifics." He up nodded at her, "See? Now you're all wiggin' out and shit. Calm the fuck down!"

"Stop YELLING AT ME! I'm just trying to figure out what the hell is going on! " Jaci spat back as she tried to comprehend why Tig would call her down here, then scream at her and then try to calm her down.

"Look, NO ONE knows what's going on." Jax yelled. "So let's just ALL calm the fuck down and wait."

XXX

After an hour alone with Vix, Juice finally emerged from the back of the clubhouse. Jaci shot to her feet from her perch next to Bobby on the couch. "How is she?"

"Sleeping." Juice replied quietly as he glared at Jaci.

"Care to enlighten us, brother?" Chibs asked.

Juice went behind the bar, poured himself a drink and downed it before he replied. He rubbed his eye and then said, "Apparently there is a life insurance policy with a Double Indemnity clause... pays twice the face value to Jaci if Vix dies by accidental death."

Jaci's shoulders slumped and she sat down suddenly on the arm of the couch. "Shit."

Tig's eyes snapped onto Jaci, watching to make sure she was ok, wasn't going to pass out or anything.

He was mad as hell at her for the whole fight with Vix which had forced the current situation they were all in but that didn't squelch his concern for her.

She couldn't wrap her head around what Juice was saying. Vix...my little sister...was going to have somebody off her...for money? Jaci stood up again and looked Juice dead in the eye. "I want to see her."

"No." Juice replied coldly.

Jaci took a threatening step toward her sister's boyfriend. Jax saw the move for what it was and stepped in between them. "No, it's ok." Jax looked at his sister in law. "Don't wake her up if she's sleeping, just watch her ok? And NO FIGHTING. Got it?" Jaci nodded and took off toward the back of the clubhouse without a word or glance to anyone.

Jax eyed his brothers. "So now what?"

Tig nudged Happy with his elbow and locked eyes with Juice. "Up for some cage rattling?"

"Absofuckinglutely." Juice replied, his jaw clenched.

XXX

After pinching the bridge of his nose and powering down his computer, Jacob Hale gathered a few things and pushed through the door of his office. Another late damn night at the office, but in Jacob's mind if you wanted anything done right, you had to do it yourself. Besides, the projects he was working on, he didn't need outside eyes seeing. He was walking across the outer lobby area of his floor when out of the corner of his eye he saw a startling sight. He stopped mid stride and made a tsking noise, "Seriously Ortiz? Adding unlawful entry to yours and Parker's growing criminal resume?"

From where he stood half-perched on the arm of the overstuffed leather couch, Juice just glared at Hale. All he kept seeing in his head was his girl. Vix, burned and covered in soot, sitting on the curb outside her burning salon. Vix, tonight in the dorm room at the club house, that errie look in her eye when she'd told him about the insurance policy and her crazy Vix Fix. He thought about the sinister stares and verbal threats from LOAN. He was the reason behind all her grief and suffering. He was the one who needed to fix things. He felt so goddamn helpless, but his frustration was warping to hate as he stared at Jacob Hale. A while back, Happy had asked him if there was ever a person that he'd be willing to kill for, his answer at the time had been non-committal, just a nod. But as he stood here, he was far from non-committal in his thinking. Vix, he would kill for Vix and he felt an anger come bubbling up in him now that had never before sprung to life. He hadn't even known he was capable of visualizing the things he wanted to do to Jacob Hale at the moment.

Hale returned the stare, " Look, I presume this is about Vix's insurance claim…"

"Shut the fuck up, Jacob!" Came a command from the other side of the room. Hale snapped his attention in the direction of the sound and his jaw slacked a bit at the sight of Tig Trager, previously unseen, kicked back in the chair of the receptionist's desk. "You know why we're here, cuts out that part of the conversation, saves us some time."

"I'll save us some time… you all need to leave, now." Jacob seethed and nodded towards the exit. He suddenly stopped when his vision settled on another SON standing silently in front of the double doors leading out of the office. If Trager and Ortiz had unsettled Hale, the sight of Happy was enough to stop his heart.

No one moved… the air in the room seemed to thicken… you could feel the pressure of it. Out of the corner of his eye, Jacob saw a flashing light. He glanced in its direction and was shocked to find Tig opening and closing his Zippo lighter, while staring straight at him with a devious smile. Flame on, flame off, flame on...

Jacob eyed them cautiously, "Look, what happened at that salon was arson. Open and closed case of it. I can't overlook the facts."

"Not really askin' you to overlook anything." Juice interjected. "But EVERYONE present knows Vix and Jaci aren't responsible."

"If that's the case… I'm sure the arson investigator will determine that." Jacob scrambled. "But EVERYONE present I am sure knows that an investigation takes time…."

Juice nodded. "Yeah I bet, lots of red tape and stuff?" He shook his head and looked confused. "You know...I can't help but think someone torched her place because she's with me. Just because some people don't like SAMCRO or have a problem with Vix and I blurring some ethnical borderlines I would hate to think that will get to be the norm around here. That if you don't like someone you just light their shit up."

Jacob swallowed hard. He was all talk and badass with Zoebel but face to face with the Sons, he found it hard to be so cocky. He understood the point Juice was trying to make and managed to croak out, "That would be unfortunate."

A chuckle came from Happy and made Jacob's blood run cold. Tig stood up and slipped his lighter into some inner pocket of his cut. "You're lookin' a little faint, Jake. Maybe a little fresh air..." Jacob watched Tig walk over, unlock and push open the window to his left.

Before Jacob knew what was happening Juice came up behind him and grabbed hold of a fist full of his hair and wretched him around to face him. Releasing his grip on the hair, Juice took up fists full of Jacob's suit shirt and jacket and bulldoze-pushed him across the space. A second later Happy was beside him assisting. The two flipped him around and Hap gripped the back of Jacob's shirt and took hold of his right leg, Juice took hold of his left and the two hoisted him up and stuffed him head-first half-way out the window.

Jacob Hale had a clear view straight down to the back parking lot below. He began to scream, short little screams one right after the next.

"Eight stories down, Jake. Fall like that probably do more than maim ya." Juice said playfully. "'specially someone of you're …um, stature?"

"No shit… you ain't missed many meals have you, boy?" Happy stated rhetorically.

Jacob held his body very rigid, frightened that struggling would cause them to lose their grip on him. He reached back slowly, desperately trying to find something to leach onto.

Standing inside the window, Tig mused, "The view from this floor is fantastic. Bet you pay extra for the unobstructedness."

"Wh-what the fuck do you want?" Hale panted between short screams.

Tig shrugged. "I could go for a blow job … and I'd love to get my hands on an original copy of The Beatles, The White Album."

"Wha- what?" Jacob cried. Tig nodded at Hap and Juice and they hauled Hale back in part way. His head was still sticking out of the window and his chest was resting hard on the window sill… his screams had dissolved into gasps for air.

"What do you think we want?" Juice hissed. "Pay out on the Parker insurance claim, FULL PAY OUT. You got 'til end of business on Friday or you and gravity are gonna duke it out. Guess who's gonna win that one, Jakey."

"Tha-that's three days from now.." Jacob panted incredulously.

"Then you'd better get busy slashing through all that red tape." Juice smirked.

"I was serious about that album. Helter Skelter is on that one." Tig added. The three other men in the room stared at Tig who shrugged. "What? Fuckin' fantastic song."

Juice shook his head and focused on Jacob Hale. "That Friday deadline is non-negotiable."

Jacob went to speak but Happy cold cocked him with such precision that Hale doesn't have time to blink.

"Daddy ain't gonna be pleased." Tig rolled his eyes. "I promised Clay we'd only rattle…"

Hap shrugged. "He'll have a sore jaw…minimal swelling ... nothing too obvious or noticeable."

The guys cleared out, leaving Jacob Hale slumped on the floor unconscious under the still opened window.

XXX

Vix had only been faking sleep so when Jaci walked in, she sat up in bed. The sisters had a good long CALM talk about everything that had happened between them lately. Apologies were made and accepted by both sides and the girls decided that their world maybe taking a turn for the worse but it certainly wasn't OVER. They were going to make it through the mess together. Vix promised her search for a hitman was over and Jaci promised an end to her bitchy rants. Vix finally did fall asleep with Jaci curled up next to her, just like they had done as kids.

Jaci snuck out of the room a bit later only to find the contingent of Sons had changed slightly. Gone were Happy, Tig and Juice but Clay and Opie had arrived and regarded her with a nod. She nodded back and sat down at a table with Chibs. He gave her a small wink to make her feel better. "Where are the guys?"

"Had something to do. They'll be back in a bit." Chibs answered cryptically.

A bit ended up being a half hour. Happy and Tig went straight to the bar and to answering hushed questions from some of the other guys. Jaci stood and walked over to Juice.

"I talked to Vix...we're good. I'm gonna take her home. She'll be ok. I'll watch her."

"Nah, I got her... she's been staying at my apartment." Juice shook his head.

Jaci glared at him. So much for being nice and polite. "She's totally withdrawn Juice. Really I think its time to start thinking with the big head."

Juice cocked his head and bore holes into Jaci. He lowered his voice so the others couldn't hear the rant he was about to unleash. He was still riled up from the Jacob Hale rattling and resented the shit out of Jaci. "Fuck you for thinking that's what I'm after. You've been so wrapped up in your woe-is-me bullshit you don't know the half of it. She hardly sleeps, has crazy nightmares. I catch a few z's in between calming her down. In the last week I've been kicked, punched, slapped, had a gun pulled on me and her damn fuckin' dog has tried to bite me no less than 8 times. She's sobbed on my shoulder, shook in my arms. Even if she wanted to have sex, which she admittedly isn't ready for, I don't think I honestly have the energy. So don't stand there and fuckin' cheapen what I have with her."

Jaci wanted to scream at Juice, to point out the fact that he had just recently waltzed back into Vix's life so what gave him any right to tell her off...but he did have every right to be mad. Jaci of ALL people was supposed to protect Vix, not pick fights with her, not push her to crazy desperate decisions. Hell maybe the best place for Vix right now was with Juice. Jaci gritted her teeth. "FINE. Call me if you need anything. I'll be at the house."

Juice just nodded and let Jaci brush past him as she headed for the door and the parking lot. Tig watched her leave. He wanted to talk to her but thought better of it. He walked over to clapped Juice on the shoulder. "You did good tonight, Retard. I thought you'd snatch out but you didn't." Juice smiled humorlessly and went to check in on Vix while Hap gave Clay a play by play of the Hale handling.

Chibs had walked outside to get some air and looked over when the clubhouse door pushed open. Jaci stepped outside with her head hung low. She felt like an absolute heel. Juice was mad at her, Tig seemed to be pissed at her, her sister hated her or loved her enough to want to kill herself but currently was such a mess she could really only be comforted by a damn puppy.

"Eh, you fucked up, J. But no need for the head hangin', it'll be better tomorrow."

Jaci stopped and stared at Chibs, who just blew a stream of smoke into the air. "Wow, that's profound, Chibsy."

He shrugged. "Its the truth."

"I hope so." Jaci replied and walked to her car. She sat with her hand on the ignition for a couple of minutes, hoping Tig would walk outside to talk to her but he didn't show. She fired up the Mustang and headed home alone.

XXX

"You should have heard him screaming." Happy said with a laugh.

"Like the little bitch he is." Tig added. "Really surprised he didn't piss himself hanging out the window like that."

"Good thing...I woulda dropped his ass for sure." Hap snorted.

Clay shook his head. "Ok, so his cage is effectively rattled. Do you think he'll pay up?"

Tig shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not."

"Great. So you threatened him for nothing." Jax spat with a harsh look to Tig.

"Wasn't a THREAT...he doesn't pay, Juice and me are throwing him out that goddamn window." Tig spat back. Jax rolled his eyes and headed out for the night, tired of the damn drama.

Op frowned. "So is Vix out of the woods or should we still be worried? She knows no SON will help her out with her little plan, what happens if she takes it outside the club?"

"What are you talking about?" Juice asked as he walked back into the main room.

"Don't be a blind dumbass, Juice. She knows who is behind the fire at Twisted. I don't put it past her to make a self-serving visit to Zoebel or Weston, kill two birds with one."

"Shit." Tig said with a shake of his head. "She can't get the accident angle to work, she goes for just death."

"Would get her a hundred grand." Bobby chimed in.

Clay held up a hand, cutting off all the death talk. "Op's got a point. Starting now until she somewhat resembles her former pain-in-the-ass self, Vix Parker is on SAMCRO Suicide and Stupidity Watch. She's to be protected from herself and anyone else that might hurt her. And if Jaci falls in that category right now, so be it." He pointed at Juice. "You got shit to do though... have the Prospect babysit her."

The other guys dispersed, leaving Juice and Clay alone at the bar. Juice sighed. "Fuckin dog started barking, wouldn't let me near her when I went to check on her."

Clay snorted. "When I hooked up with Gemma... she had a dead kid, a dead husband, and JAX, a livng,breathing head-strong pain-in-my-ass. A 15 year old SAMCRO legacy for me to deal with. Vix and her little dog, big fuckin' deal. The thing is this; Vix has baggage. They ALL have baggage and in this case, you have your own retarded self to thank for a lot of that. I'm gonna warn ya... if you can't deal with something like THIS, I have serious concerns about your usefulness to this club. Cause when push comes shove, that Reaper on your back comes with A LOT of BAGGAGE too."

XXX

Tig walked outside to his bike and scrolled through the list of numbers in his phone as he sat down. He found the one he was looking for and punched SEND. He was probably going to take a lot of shit for making this call but he really didn't care. At this point, all options had been tried and failed. He didn't care about club politics or hurt feelings anymore, he could honestly use all the help he could get.

"Yeah?" A voice on the line answered.

"Hey man, its Tig."

There was pause of confusion followed by, "Hey...everything alright?"

"Not really, things are pretty fucked up." Tig answered honestly. "Look, I don't want to sound dramatic but if you want to keep BOTH of your cousins breathing...'Bama is gonna need to make an appearance in Charming. All the King's Men can't fix this for them, we've tried. Sorry, man."

Motor nodded his head as he held the phone. "I'll see what I can do. I'll holler back at ya in a bit."

Tig pushed END and sighed. He took a deep breath and then called Jaci. The phone rang and rang and she didn't answer. He couldn't say he blamed her, not after everyone had ganged up on her tonight. He normally never left messages but he waited for the beep then said, "Hey...its me. Look, I shouldn't have jumped you like that tonight but shit got out of hand. But I'm doing everything I can to fix all this bullshit for you. OK? You just gotta trust me...give me a couple of days and things will be straight again." He punched END and stared across the parking lot. Just as he was starting to worry that Jaci might not be alright, his phone vibrated in his hand. The text message from her stated simply, 'OK'.

To be continued...

Song selections for this chapter, links provided in our folder at TigNation.

Juice and Vix

Her Diamonds, by Rob Thomas

Sweet Sacrifice, Evanescence

Tig and Jaci

Bent, by Matchbox Twenty

Feel Better, by Steven Tyler and Santana