Disclaimer: Kurt Sutter owns all recognizable characters and story lines.

"Fight the fight alone

When the world is full of victims

Dims a fading light

In our souls

Leave the peace alone

How we all are slowly changing

Dims a fading light

In our souls

In my opinion seeing is to know

The things we hold

Are always first to go

And who's to say

We won't end up alone"

-Alter Bridge "Broken Wings"

Madeline woke up bright and early—not that she wanted to. Since she got out of the safety of the hospital, opening her up to the danger of Kellin, she couldn't sleep. She was constantly terrified that he would find her—get his hands on her again. When she did sleep, she dreamt of Kellin, usually waking in a cold sweat.

She slowly rolled herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. After taking a long, hot shower, Madie slipped on the only other set of clothes she had, a pair of cut-off shorts and a fitted gray V-neck tee shirt. The moving truck with her belongings was supposed to arrive in the afternoon. Her first order of business this morning was to get a storage unit. She needed a place, but she wanted to wait a few more days, just in case she had to duck and run if Kellin found her.

Making her way through the clubhouse to the kitchen, Madie saw asses and tits splayed across the room –most on top of a Son in some state of undress and drunken stupor.

In the kitchen, a pot of coffee was already brewed and waiting. Happy was standing next to it. Shit, she thought, just what I needed first thing this morning. She figured she could just ignore him, get a cup of coffee and take off to get her shit done. She grabbed the closest coffee mug and tried to scoot past him without contact or disruption. The moment she attempted to get around him to the coffee pot, she tripped over her own feet and ended up in his arms.

"Thanks," she muttered, not even looking up at him. Madie grabbed the coffee pot and poured her cup. Setting it back down, she was walking away when he spoke.

"So who is it you're running from?"

She looked at him incredulously. "You don't get to ask me about my life. I have my shit under control, that's as far as you get to go."

"If it could blow back on my club, I need to know." He was staring at her sternly.

"If anything from my life starts to fuck with your club, I will pick-up and take-off so the club doesn't take any heat." Moving closer so their noses were mere inches apart, she continued, "Now drop it. I've dealt with my own shit by myself for the last 10 years. I didn't come here for help and I won't ask for it either. You won't be implicated by anything that is mine."

As she started toward the door again, he grabbed her wrist, holding her in place. "The reason you're running, is that how you those scars." Her face twisted in horror as he pulled her closer, lifting her shirt. His hands traced the pink lines that crossed her side. "I'm pretty sure you wouldn't carve the word 'slut' on yourself. Who did?"

Madie yanked herself away from Happy. Tears were silently rolling down her face, but she spoke calmly. "You don't know shit about me. And you'd be best served to keep this to yourself. Like I said, I'm not bringing my shit to the club, since that's what you're worried about. And the club won't have shit to do with any of it as long as you keep your fucking mouth shut."

She couldn't believe him. It was obvious she had been through some shit and all he could worry about was if the club would have to deal with. Happy rubbed his hand over his head. "I'm not trying to be a dick, Mads. Shit! Who did that shit to you? What the hell else happened?"

"I'm trying to get away from it. I sure as shit don't want to discuss it with you." She walked out of the clubhouse and headed to her bike.

It was noon before she was able to secure a storage unit. She waited patiently for the truck to arrive. It gave her time to think. She had a hard time wrapping her head around the conversation with Happy. She wasn't sure what to think of the entire situation. He was so hot and cold.

The truck arrived at the unit. They guys were really nice. They had allowed her to look through the boxes for a while gathering a couple of clothing items she needed before finishing the unloading process. Madie packed the clothes she had gathered into the bags on her bike and locked the unit before heading back to the clubhouse.

She wasn't prepared for what was awaiting her at the clubhouse upon her return.

AN: What could be waiting? Dramatic goodness to come, readers!