A/N 9/23/2018: Happy Mabon! I was hoping to get this chapter up yesterday, but they called OT at work after all. For all the good it did. Because no one actually cleaned up, we had to wait an hour for maintenance to fix the frame hotmelt. Not that any of you know what that's for. Anyway! I'm so glad to be writing again. I have the Mummy now, and I have already started on it, I just need to make up my mind if I want Bella to be reincarnated or a mummy as well...we'll see. I just wanted to get this up. I should have the second half done by the end of the day. For now though, I'm going to sleep. I need it. Peace, Love, and Pop Rocks. ~Angel
The quiet atmosphere of the Teller/Morrow Auto Service Garage was broken by the ring of the phone. Bella, who was so close to being done organizing the messed up mass of files she could taste it, reached over and answered.
"Teller/Morrow Auto, Izzy speaking," she answered in a pleasant voice.
"Good mornin', lass," said a familiar cheerful accented voice.
"Filip! How are you," Bella said warmly.
"Fine. I'm fine, lass. But how are you? Gemma said you wanted to talk, but didn't want me shot for speaking when it wasn't the right time."
"I'm good," Bella smiled. "Though I find myself hungry all the time now without you here to remind me to eat."
Chibs chuckled at her joke. "May have to ask someone to keep an eye on you when I am away, if that's the case. How were you able to keep a normal eating schedule when you were growing up?" he asked curiously.
"Remembering to feed Renee and Charlie actually reminded me. Now that they aren't here either, I seem to just get lost in my work," she shrugged, though he couldn't see it.
"Please tell me you are doing something other than working in that tiny office all day," Chibs said.
"Yeah. I'm helping Gemma with her Taste of Charming fund-raiser today. I actually have to get over there soon to help, or I'm afraid I'll royally piss her off. Something tells me that's not something I want directed at me."
"That you don't. She can be a right nasty piece of work when angered."
"Any idea when you're going to be heading this way? I miss you," she said softly. Almost nervously.
It was the truth. She did miss him. The feeling hit it's peak when all out loneliness hit her so hard in the middle of the night, it woke her. That feeling was immense and surprising. She tried calling her dad, but he was either on a run or taking care of his own loneliness in ways she didn't want to comprehend.
"Aye, should be headed back in the next few days. I've missed you as well, mo leannan," he said. There was some indiscernible chatter on his end of the line before he spoke again. "I need to go. I'll talk to you again later, all right?"
"Yeah. Be safe," she said.
"Alway am," he said before the line went dead. Bella sighed and cleaned up her work. She really needed to find another distraction, and Gemma and her fund-raiser were perfect for that.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Chibs hung up the phone and sighed. The chatter Bella heard was a sweet-butt from the Tacoma. She had been trying to get into his pants since he arrived earlier that evening, his business with the Irish having finished the previous day. Though it seems she had managed to find her courage and began undoing his belt and jeans. He shoved her off in annoyance.
"Leave me be, woman. I'm not in the mood," he growled. Happy looked at him.
"Since when? I don't think I've seen you turn down a woman in your down time ever," he said.
"Bella," Charlie said, sitting, or falling rather, into the seat next to Chibs. "You've been with my daughter." Charlie looked at Chibs, and the Scotsman shifted a bit uncomfortably.
"Aye," he said lowly.
"Interesting thing about being an outlaw and a cop, you learn the best of both worlds. How to get rid of a body, and how not to get caught. Ever," Charlie said, taking a swig of his beer. "And you make the connections to make sure there isn't even an investigation. Not even a post-it note reminder on someone's desk."
"Is that why you let the arse that hurt her get off scott free?" Chibs asked.
"Not the time to get smart, Chibs. I told Clay why I didn't do anything to them. Besides, I've checked in on them. They're reaping their own as we speak."
"Aye. Then I understand you perfectly," Chibs tells the other man. Charlie nods and then looks at the sweet-butt still all but draped over Chibs.
"How about you come with me, darlin'. Chibs here has someone on his mind already," he smirked at her. The sweet-butt giggled and went with Charlie. Chibs sighed and got up.
"If he asks later, tell him I rode on ahead. I want to get home and tell Clay what I know. Then I want to bed my woman. I may actually go see her first, truth told." Happy nods to him.
"Chibs Telford, a taken man. Never thought I'd see the day," Happy says. "Will do, brother. Have fun." Chibs nods to Happy and leaves the bar that was home to the Tacoma chapter of the Sons.
He had never expected to feel so much for Izzy. It had come on rather suddenly, and their relationship was progressing quickly, but he would challenge anyone to find a relationship within the Sons of Anarchy that hadn't been rather quick. Then there was the problem of Fiona and Kerrianne. He hadn't seen either in over a decade. Not since Jimmy O had taken them from him. Bastard had stolen his family and kicked him out of Ireland.
It's not that he actually ever loved Fiona. They had married because her parents were traditionalist and refused to let the child either be terminated or be born out of wedlock, so he married the woman. But there was no love there for either of them. When Jimmy O came into the picture, she made her choice. Kerrianne didn't even know him as her father. She knew of his name and that was it. It pained him that he had missed out on her life, but comforted himself in the knowledge she was healthy and happy.
But with Izzy. She was fresh. Pure. In both spirit and in her emotions. They were true in a way he had never found with anyone else. He had told her it would be another day or so before he would be in Charming again, but he couldn't wait that long. If he rode hard through the day, and most of the night before stopping to rest, he should make it by the time Gemma's fireworks are let off, or just after. Chibs kicked his bike to life and kicked up gravel as he tore out of the lot, speeding all the way in the direction of home.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"Tell everyone to leave room for the buses," Gemma tells Luann.
"Who are we bussing?"
"Oakdale Assisted Living. Seniors are all compulsive gamblers. Triples our raffle dollars. God bless Social Security," Gemma snarks as she lays out bowls for the chili booth she was manning that day.
"Gemma," said a dark haired woman walking up to the booth.
"Oh. Hey April. Appreciate you comin' to help," Gemma said.
"No problem. Can I ask you something?" April asks.
"What?" Gemma asks a bit apprehensively.
"Charlie's band's playing during the fireworks tomorrow night. He really wants his dad to come."
"Oh. Shit, April. I- I don't think Clay is gonna go for it," Gemma says, trying to dissuade the woman.
"Oh. I would never ask anything like this. Me and you, we understand what went down. But my kids- Charlie doesn't know. It breaks his heart that his dad can't come to anything around here. Not baseball games, no school stuff."
"All right, all right, all right," Gemma says, cutting her off. "I'll bring it up to Clay."
"Thank you," April sighs.
"I can't promise anything," Gemma reminds her. April shrugged before going back to work in another booth.
"Who was that?" Bella asked Gemma.
"April Hobart. Her ex-old man used to be a Son," Gemma explains.
"Used to be?"
"Clay kicked his ass to the curb when he left Opie high and dry. Left him to rot in Chino."
Bella growled at that. Opie was one of the most gentle people she'd ever laid eyes on. Sure he was a giant and hirsute on top of that, but unless you pissed him off, which was extremely hard to do since he was so laid back, he was rather calm.
"You said he was her ex?" Bella asked her. Gemma nodded.
"When Clay and the club passed judgment, she sided with the Sons. They divorced and she got primary custody," she explained. "Izzy, do you think you could stay here? Make sure the tables have coverings? Use as much duct tape as you want underneath the table to keep them in place. This wind is a bitch."
"Sure thing, Gemma. I'll be here if you need me," Bella said with a smile. Gemma returned it and walked off. Apparently she had a club president to nudge in the right direction.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"As I rid along, I hear a great sound. What could it be? What could it be? It's a merry-go-round," Jax read to his son in the incubator. "I'm sorry, little man. I'm not as good at this as grandma," he smiles. He turns the page and goes to read some more, when a movement catches his attention in the corner of his eye. He turns to see a man at the observation window of his sons room.
Jax nods his head in greeting and the man returns it, but he doesn't leave them in privacy, as Jax thought he would. Not liking how closely the stranger was observing him and his son, he set aside the book after one last look at Abel, and exits the room to face him.
"Can I help you?" Jax asks him.
"That's a- That's a beautiful boy," the man waffles.
"Thanks," Jax says, accepting the compliment. The man turns and leaves Jax in the hall, bemused by the stranger's attitude. The man's entire demeanor was off to Jax. He didn't like how closely he was studying Abel, nor how he just suddenly appeared and then just as suddenly, leave. It set his teeth on edge.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"Chuck's been cookin' the books for the Asian mob. Skimmed 400K off of Henry Lin's crew. Otto was keepin' him safe up at Stockton, but he gets out tomorrow morning. So we protect him, we pick up the cash, we get him out of Cali," Clay says to the table.
"We're gonna split the cash with Chucky boy. Twenty-five percent goes to us. Otto wants his twenty-five to go to Luann," Jax puts in.
"It ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Lin's a dangerous cat. Sneaky little bastard," Bobby says.
"That's why we're gonna work three man shifts. We're gonna keep this place locked down. Chuck never leaves the clubhouse. And the garage is open for pickups only," Clay orders.
"Skim's hidden in one of the restaurants Lin uses as a front. We're gonna keep Chuck here until Sunday. Go pick up the money when the place is closed," says Jax.
"Good, good," says Tig, happy with the simple plan. Everyone moves to get up.
"Uh- wait a minute. Wait a minute," stalls Clay. "There's uh- There's one more thing. April Hobart wants to know if her old man can come to the fund-raiser, see his kid's band play."
"You gotta be kidding," says Jax incredulously.
"That's done, brother. That's done," says Tig with finality.
"I know. No, I know. But, you know, she took a big hit staying behind. She supported the club. It's for her, not Kyle. And I figured I'd throw it up for a vote," Clay says.
"Let him come," Opie states. This surprises everyone at the table.
"Are you serious?" Jax asks.
"This can't be about getting even. Not at the school," warns Clay.
"It's not about that," Opie says lowly. "The guy's got nothing, right? No club, no family. Do me good to see that. Appreciate what I got." He takes a drink of his beer after he says what he needed to.
"Anybody opposed?" Clay asks.
"Yeah, me," Tig says loudly.
"I don't agree with it," Piney wheezes.
"Oh, this is wrong, man," Tig puts in when no one else speaks up.
"Majority rule. Vote passes. Let him come," Clay orders. They all get up to leave. "Hey! You all better be at that fund-raiser tomorrow unless you want a size nine high-heel boot up your ass."
"You coming?" asks Bobby.
"I'd rather have my balls cut off," Clay snarks. Tig laughs all the way out the door.
"What? What? Too soon for that joke?" Clay laughs.
"Hey, watch Kyle tomorrow, all right? I don't want anything going down at Gemma's gig," he asks Jax at his side. "Keep him away from Ope."
"All right." Jax agrees.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
The door locks buzz as a guard opened it and a small balding man with a paper bag stepped out of the darkened hall door. He nods his thanks to the guard as he passes. He sees a tan van with an Asian driver behind the wheel and panics, running back to the exit door of the prison and attempted to get but in. Looking back at the van, he sees the driver get out with a handful of dry cleaning. Breathing a sigh of relief, he sees another van, black this time, pull up with two men on motorcycles. The side door opens to reveal Half-Sac leaning out of it.
"You Chuck?" he asks.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks," Chuck says, running to the van and hopping in.
"Thank you," he says, shaking Jax's hand. "I'm really, reallin in your debt. You got no idea how much I appreciate you helping me out."
After shaking Jax's and then Clay's hands, he sticks his hand in his pants and begins rubbing his cock, masturbating in the back of the van. Jax looks at the man in disgust and disbelief, and Clay raises an eyebrow at the man getting his rocks off right in front of them. It looks like this was the 'tic' Otto had explained to them earlier.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
The fund-raiser the next day was more of a small sized festival for the town. Kids were having fun in the bouncing ring, throwing eggs with their parents, or having water gun fights. The parent's themselves were enjoying the time to catch up with teachers and the parents of their kids' friends.
Tig, Bobby, and Jax rolled into the school parking lot to witness the man who left Opie to hang greet his kids and be chewed out for bringing the 12 year old looking bimbo with him by his ex wife.
"Check in with Gemma," Jax tells Tig to distract the man from his anger. He walks off taking Bobby-Elvis, who looked the part today, with him.
Gemma, Luann, and Bella were manning the chili booth when Luann pointed Bobby out to her.
"You are late, Elvis," Gemma hissed.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get this into a helmet?" he asks her, pointing to his styled hair.
"The kids are waiting."
"I know, I know, I know," he says as he steps behind a curtain, only to step through to the other side, surprising the kids.
"Oh! Bless my soul! Oh, look at all God's children. So tell me, who wants to look like Elvis?" he asks the kids. Some in Elvis costumes themselves.
"Me! Me! Me!" came the chorus of voices.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Opie and Donna pull into the parking lot with their kids. They see Kyle and his current piece of arm candy a few spots down, and Donna recognizes him.
"Isn't that guy Sam Crow?" she asks.
"Not anymore," Opie says.
"He got out?" she asks surprised.
"Sort of. Why don't you take the kids. I'll catch up," he says, gently leading her away.
"Okay. Okay. Come on, babies." She leads her son and daughter towards the fund-raiser. They were met by Jax, who greets Harry, Opie's son, kisses Donna's cheek, and talks beside Opie.
"She know about Kyle?" he asks.
"No. Kyle looks like he's doing all right," Opie says, looking back at the former Son. Jax pats him on the arm and then pushes him towards the gate.
"Go hang with your family," he urged. Opie nods, and leaves.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
They finally got a bit of a break just after lunch. They must have sold over 300 bowls of chili, and Bella was surprised that there were that many people in this part of town.
"You never said, doll, when your friend was due to drop by for a visit," Gemma said.
"Oh! Ange said she had a couple of things to tie up in Forks before she headed down. Said she didn't want to bring the drama you were afraid of," Bella tells her.
Gemma raised an eyebrow. "Did you warn her or something?"
Bella shook her head. "No. Of all of the people I met in Forks and La Push, Angela was the most genuine and level headed out of all of them."
"That town is now doomed if it's lost it's two best examples of common sense," Gemma mused.
Bella chuckled at her. "Thank you for asking Chibs to call."
"He finally got a hold of you then?" Bella nodded.
"Yesterday, just before lunch. He said he should be home soon."
"Good. Lord knows I love Clay, but it's Chibs that is the biggest voice of reason in the club. Clay can be an angry ass who acts on that anger without a counter balance," Gemma says.
"I can see it. But with you and the club at his back helping, Clay is one of the most loyal and stalwart people I know. He is like an Uncle to me. You, though, you are the mother I wish I had," Bella smiles at Gemma. Gemma smiles back.
"Love you, too, baby girl. You're a bit too sweet," Gemma jokes. "But I think this club needed a little bit of compassion from an outside source." Gemma cupped her face on one side, and kissed the other.
"Now, this lull won't last long. Come up here, and help with unpacking some more bowls and napkins," she orders.
Bella groans. "How can there be this many people in such a small town?"
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"This is a really nice place. Thank you for having me," Chuck says as he sits at the bar. Half-Sac sets a beer down on the bar for him.
"Thanks," Chuck says, trying to hand him some money.
"No. It's on the house, man," Sac says, in truth not wanting to touch the money after knowing where the man's hand had been.
"Oh, that's very nice of you." Chuck takes a drink. "Excellent draft."
"So, you really got 400 thou stashed away, huh, Chucky?" Clay asks, loading a clip into an AK.
"416 thou," corrected Chuck, as he stuffed his hand down the front of his pants again. Clay immediately lost his smile, and Piney, who hadn't seen him do it before, just stared.
"Jesus," Piney said, as he watched the man rub his own cock, still talking as if he wasn't getting his rocks off at the same time.
"Lin was real sloppy with his money. Arrogant, wasteful prick. There's so much of it too. Counterfeiting, prostitution. So I cooked his books for about a year. Skimmed a little, hoping he'd fire me. But no body noticed. So I kept on skimming."
"What'd you get busted for?" Clay asked, going behind the counter of the bar.
"Lin's lawyer finally caught on. I got scared so I blew the whistle. I cut a deal," Chuck said, still rubbing his cock.
"Oh. So you're a thief and a rat," Clay said.
"I accept that."
"The- uh- The hand on the dick, what's the deal," Clay finally asks. Chuck finally looks down as if he just notices he's masturbating.
"I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry. Sorry. I have this condition. I'm not even aware of it," Chuck says, pulling his hand out and holding both hands up.
"Condition?" Clay asks.
"C.M.D. Compulsive Masturbation Disorder. I couldn't get the right meds in Stockton. So it's a little out of control right now," Chuck tells them.
"You know, I used to have that. And then, uh, hell, I turned 13," joked Piney. He began to laugh and Half-Sac let out a chuckle.
"Well, it's a lot more common than you think," Chuck said as Piney continued to laugh.
"It stems from childhood trauma. I was sexually abused," Chuck continued, trying to make the man understand.
"Hey, Chuck," Clay said harshly. "I don't give a shit about your childhood trauma. If I see your hand dance in your pants one more time, I'm gonna tie you up and I'm gonna throw you in the goddamn closet. Are we clear?"
"I accept that," Chuck said nervously. To drive the point home, Piney cocked his AK.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Tara had just gotten out of another surgery, and stepped out of the elevator, only to come face to face with none other than Agent Kohn. He steps forward with a smile.
"Can we talk?" he asks. She lead him into a small waiting room. He holds up both hands in a form or surrender. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Let you know I'm in town. I'm here on A.T.F. business."
"What business?" demanded Tara.
"It's an interstate weapons case. I, uh, shouldn't be telling you this. Originated in South Chicago, big arms deal. Led back here. Sons of Anarchy are involved."
Tara nods. "The rose petals and the sick photo, they business too?"
"No. I just really know you love pink roses. And I don't want to see you get hurt, Tara, not by that guy," Kohn says.
"I'm not with him." Kohn smiles wryly.
"First love dies hard."
"That restraining order is still in effect. You come near my house or you come to my work again, and I will file a police repor-"
"Okay. Okay. Actually, my federal jurisdiction take precedence over state-ordered mandates. But I understand how you feel," Kohn says. Tara gives an almost imperceptible huff, knowing this whole thing was a charade for him.
"And I promise. No more contact." There was a moment, a heartbeat or two of silence. "It's been good talking to you. I miss that," he says before turning and walking out. Tara watched him from the window of the room. The safety she had felt in the hospital had been completely blown to shit.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Opie was watching the former Son and his daughter take part in the egg toss. It pissed him off that the man who stiffed him out of a relationship with his own kids was having so much fun with his. Because of that asshole, his baby girl went from coming to him first when she fell, to feeling awkward in his very presence.
"Yo. You bow out of the egg toss?" Jax asked, getting his attention.
"Yeah. Yeah, I did," he said, sitting down. "I wanted the guy to be a miserable, broken piece of shit without Sam Crow. I tell you, I'm having a hard time, man," Opie admitted.
"Thanks," he says, accepting a cigarette from Jax, and lighting it. "You know, this club means everything to me. The only thing I ever wanted from the time I went here. But everything else- Donna, the kids, work- are all headed in the opposite direction. I just can't hook shit up. I feel like I'm missing on every front."
Jax scoffs. "I got no answers. My family plan is right out of the Sid and Nancy handbook. I'm so used to shit moving in the other direction, I don't know what I'd do if something actually hooked up."
They watched to see Kyle's daughter throw the egg too high and too hard, making it crack open and ooze all over Kyle's sweater.
"You think he's happy?" Opie asks.
"I don't know," Jax admits. They watch him put his daughter down from a victory hug, and his barbie doll girlfriend pull off his sweater. It catches his t-shirt underneath and they can see the bottom of the Reaper tattoo on his back. Both men are incensed at seeing the ink.
"Still has that tat," observed Opie.
"Yeah," Jax growled throwing down his cig and getting up, ready to let his fists fly. Opie gets up right behind him, and stops Jax with a hand to his shoulder.
"This is me."
Opie follows Kyle and his son into the school's gym where they were picking up the band's gear for the performance that night. Kyle sees him and tells his son that he'll catch up to him with the rest of his gear. Opie closed the door after the boy, before taking off his hat, overshirt, and rings.
"Hey, I've been doing what Jax asked. I'm staying clear of everyone," Kyle says.
"I think you and I need to settle a few things," Opie said calmly.
"Yeah, I guess we do. I wanted to come up to Chino to try to explain what happened."
"But you didn't," Opie said walking towards him.
"Coming up on family day didn't feel right. You know, taking time away from Donna and the kids and-"
Opie let his fist fly, years of pent up anger just adding to the blow. Kyle fell, and Opie followed him. He was going to show this bastard one way or another that there would never be any forgiveness.