A/N 9/23/2018: Alrighty. As promised, a new chapter. This one was a bit harder to write as I have personal experience with the smell of burning flesh, and the memories are not ones I prefer to revisit. While my brother may not remember the events of the night he was burned, I do with quite a bit too much clarity. Any reminder tends to hit a bit too close to home. Anyway. I hope y'all enjoy. Peace Love and Pop Rocks. ~Angel

Jax spied Donna standing under a tree, watching her kids play with others in a water gun fight. This seemed to be a gift straight from the biker gods as a chance to speak to her about Opie. He was more than scared for his friend and he needed to set the record straight for her. Walking through the playing kids, he got sprayed by a few.

"Hey, stop," he laughed, making his way to Donna.

"Hey," he greets her.

"Hey."

"Little Harry looks like he knows his way around a gun," Jax joked. Donna's smile froze and she looked up at him a little scared.

"I'm kidding," he laughs. Donna gives a huff I response.

"Thanks for the crib money. Any little bit helps right now," Donna says, referring to the play pen he and Opie had dug out of the back shed for Abel.

"Yeah. I get how rough it is for you guys," he says, allowing a moment to pass. "I know you always had trouble wrapping your head around the MC life, but Sam Crow is the only-"

"Your mom has already given me the, 'Sam Crow is the glue' speech," Donna snaps.

"I'm not talking about you and Sam Crow. I'm talking about you and Ope," Jax placates.

"What happens with me and Opie is no one's business."

"You're wrong," Jax tells her lowly. "He's my best pal. I love that guy more than anyone. But I also see what's happening to him. And it scares the shit out of me. Opie can't be half in/half out. It'll get him killed, Donna." Donna had heard all of this before from Izzy Swan, but it hadn't hit home until a Son had confirmed it.

"Then I want him out. That other guy got out. Kyle."

"Kyle was kicked out," Jax says angrily. "You know why? 'Cause the night Opie got arrested for blowing up that truck yard, Kyle was supposed to be his get away ride. Only the asshole panicked when he heard sirens. Left Opie behind."

"Opie never said anything," Donna insisted.

"'Cause Opie's not a rat. Brothers don't turn on each other. He did the time. It's what we do. Opie will never walk away from the club. We both know that. He's like me. It's all we know. It's in our D.N.A. And if you keep pullin' him in the other direction-. We're not the glue, Donna. You are."

Donna huffs and smiles. "You know, I've heard that before. When I ran into Izzy and your mother. Told me in not so many words to figure my shit out for Opie."

Jax give a wry laugh. "Yeah. She's a smart one. It seems without even trying, she's become the club's center. Our moral compass. Just by being her charming little self." Jax squeezed her shoulder and walked away.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Jax found Opie and Kyle cleaning the blood off of themselves in the bathroom of the school.

"See you two have been talking," he says.

"Yep," Opie says, wiping his mouth and donning his shirt again. "You seem to be doing all right. New truck. Nice piece of ass."

"Yeah, I guess," Kyle sighs. "I miss it, man. I miss it all. I mean, when I had that kutte on, everybody knew who I was. Even if I never met 'em, man, I got instant respect. Now I'm just like every other shithead." Kyle walked over to a small bench and sat down.

"You started telling me something earlier. Stolen parts thing," Jax said.

"Yeah. I'd love to bring it to the club. Let you guys share in the pie. It's my way of saying sorry."

"We could run it by Clay," Opie said after studying Kyle. He could almost pity the fucker.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Jax confirmed. "It's kind of a complicated time for us right now. So we should probably do it tonight while you're still in town."

"Yeah. Absolutely."

"What about your kid's band?" Opie asked.

"Oh, he, it's cool. I can hear him some other time." Opie wanted to punch him again. That was one thing he managed at his best with the club that Kyle never did. A balance between family and duty. He walked away in disgust.

"All right." Jax patted his shoulder and they left.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Clay knew he would have to do something to get back on Gemma's good side. Though what at the moment, he couldn't figure. He was too pissed at having lost the money from the lady in the 'plum colored volvo' because Chucky boy couldn't stop himself from flogging his own monkey. That was a $400 job shot to shit.

His biggest concern though, was the blue sedan that seemed to have followed them from the prison when they picked up the new thorn in his side. They were half concealed in shadow, but he knew who they were. Looked like Henry Lin wasn't afraid of the Sons. Or at least, of the Sons knowing that the target they were protecting, was being tailed.

Now, because of that, they had to move up the extraction for the skim to now during the daylight hours, taking half of Gemma's work force with him. He felt his wallet scream at the clothes and diamonds he would have to buy to appease her. And he could almost feel his ears begin to bleed from the tongue lashing she would give him. Clay sighed. It looked like he may also be making use of the guest room for a few days.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Tig and Bobby Elvis gingerly approached Gemma, knowing she wasn't going to be happy about Clay's orders.

"You seen Jax?" Bobby asked.

"He's with Ope. Why?" she more demanded than asked, already having a suspicion.

"Boss wants us."

"You got two more hours in that booth," she snapped in frustration.

"Sorry, mother," Tig said with all respect before leaving.

"Sorry," Bobby said as he followed.

"Jesus Christ, Clay," he sighs.

"It sucks being boss, don't it?" Unser said, coming up to the booth with a half eaten corn dog.

"You know that fried shit's gonna kill you," Gemma said, diverting the conversation.

"Yeah. 'Cause the cancer's keeping me fit and spunky," Unser snarked. Gemma spied Tara walking through the people having a good time. It seemed she was looking for someone, and Gemma would bet good money on who.

Tara stopped dead though, and got really pale once she saw someone. Gemma followed Tara's line of sight to a man behind the grill at the booth the Charming P.D. were manning. He was average looking with short hair and aviator shades. Gemma didn't recognize him, but grew a little concerned when Tara turned and all but ran out of the vicinity. Tara had a bad habit of including the club in her drama.

"Who's that guy behind the grill?" Gemma demanded of Unser, keeping her eyes on the man. Unser turned to look and then directed his attention back to Gemma.

"That's our new best friend, Agent Kohn, A.T.F." It was made clear through his tone that Unser didn't like the man.

"The fed looking into the club is grilling sausages?"

"Must be part of his special federal training. Good chili," he complimented as he walked away. Gemma gave him a nod in thanks, before looking for Jax. She saw him, Opie, Kyle, Bobby, and Tig talking by the school building, but waited until they were closer to the booth before intercepting them.

"Jax, who is that guy? Is he looking at him?" Tig asked. Gemma stopped Jax and gained his attention by slapping both of her hands to his chest.

"You tell Clay I'm pissed off," she says angrily. "Bad enough his sorry ass isn't here. Now he's taking all my manpower." But Jax was still preoccupied seeing the man who was looking in on him and Abel in the P.D. booth.

"Who's that guy with the cops?" he asked.

"That's your A.T.F. guy."

"That guy was at the hospital last night watching me with Abel," he tells the others.

"That's dangerous, brother," Tig says.

"Shit," Gemma murmers.

"Well you keep an eye on him," Jax tells his mother. "He follows us out of here or leaves at any point, you give me a call."

"Prepay?"

"Yeah."

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Getting the money was easy enough. But now they had to deal with Lin. That jerk-off, Chucky, pun intended, lied about the money. Shit wasn't even real. The plates were good, but the Sons dealed in exclusively authentic green.

"Hold up! Easy," Clay shouted after satisfyingly taking his frustration out on Chuck with a swift punch to his jaw. "I think we can make a deal. I want to talk to Lin." Clay showed he was willing to make peace by throwing the back into view over the door of the van, where he was shielding himself. There was shouting in Chinese before a youngish, attractive, Chinese man in a pinstriped suit walked into view.

Clay himself came out from behind his protection, hands to his sides to show he was unarmed. Lin silently ordered his men to lower their own weapons.

"Here's your money," Clay said, throwing the duffel to the ground in front of Lin. "But I'm guessin' that's not what you're looking for." He then held up one of two counterfeiting plates.

"Where's the other plate?" Lin asked as Clay handed him the one he had.

"It's in the van. Look, we both got jerked around here. Now I need real cash. You need the cash maker. Hey, cops will be here in a heartbeat."

"I got the cops under control. Ten grand," Lin offered.

"Hundred."

"Thirty."

"Sixy, and I'll throw in the door prize," Clay countered his final offer. "Hey, Chucky!" Clay hollered behind him.

The others brought him out of the van, restraining him so he couldn't run.

"This was not our deal! I want to talk to Otto!" he plead.

"Shut up!" Bobby yelled.

"Pay Elvis and his friends," Lin said with a smirk to Bobby.

"Get the other plate," Clay ordered as well.

Clay and Lin's henchman traded off the money and the plate at the same time. Wild west style, with Chuck still pleading in the background.

"Pleasure," Clay smirked, seeing the real money was all there. "See you, Chucky."

"Clay! Please! Clay! Please, Clay! They're gonna cut me up into little pieces! I do not accept this!"

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Clay and the others made it back to the clubhouse, only to see Kyle waiting for them. Many were not happy at seeing the former Son.

"It smells in here. What could that be?" Tig said with no trying to hide the snide disgust in his voice.

"How'd it go with the Chinese?" Piney asked.

"Not too good," Jax answered simply.

"Well, where's Chucky?"

"That's the upside," Clay smiled. A smile that dropped when Kyle held his hand out in greeting. He ignored the outstretched hand and opened his beer, tossing the cap and rounding the bar.

"So I hear you got an offer I can't refuse," he said to Kyle, cutting to the chase.

"Something like that."

"Well, I'd better get back to the fireworks. Or your mom's gonna be stuffing gunpowder up my ass," Opie said, leaving. He knew what was about to happen, and was satisfied his revenge would be served, even if he wasn't the hand dishing it out.

"Yeah, I'm sure we're all on the Gemma shit list by now," Jax mused following him.

"I live on that shit list," Clay threw out.

Jax waited until they were in the hall before he stopped his friend and brother.

"Ope? You okay with this?"

"Yeah," Opie assured Jax. "You?"

"I'm good." Jax gave Opie a searching look.

"Look. About what I was saying earlier, it doesn't mean I don't want this."

"I know," Jax said.

"I'd rather be dead than be that guy," Opie said, and he and Jax turned to look at Kyle, who was drinking beer at the bar with no idea what was about to happen. In truth, he had gotten himself into this by not having his back piece taken care of sooner.

"Yeah, me too. You should get going. I can hear my mom swearing from here," Jax said, pushing Opie down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Do you know where Kyle is?" April asked Gemma when she spotted her.

"No, I don't," Gemma said, preoccupied at trying to find any member of the club within the fund-raiser.

"Bimbo's here. Truck's here. Can't find him," she said as she heaved a frustrated sigh. "He was with Jax and Opie."

"Well, it's about time. There's Ope. I'll ask him," Gemma tells her, making her way to the giant.

"Opie," Gemma said, getting his attention from the fireworks. He looked up as he lifted a box. "Where the fuck is everyone? Not even Kyle is here."

"If it's Kyle you're looking for, he should be at St. Thomas in about an hour," Opie said.

"Why? What are the others doing to him?"

"He still had his back piece," he said simply. Gemma paled, as Opie left her there. She didn't know the specifics of how the other Sons were going to remove it, but she knew it would be bloody and painful. She had no idea what she was going to tell April.

"Gemma?" she heard from her side. Bella came up to her. "Are you all right?" the young woman asked.

Gemma heaved a sigh. "Not really."

"What's wrong?"

"Kyle still had the reaper tat," Gemma tells her. Bella blanched a bit, knowing the methods used to remove such a piece. "I have no idea what I'm going to tell April. She is the one who asked for him to come."

"Would you like me to do it? I've done it before," Bella offered.

"Are you sure? This is almost like telling a love one their spouse didn't survive a simple surgery." Bella nodded.

"I got this."

Bella walked up to April. "Ms. Hobart?" April turned to the younger girl. "My name is Izzy. You were looking for Kyle?"

April nodded. "Yes. Do you know where he is?" Bella shook her head.

"No, but I know where he will be. Did you know he still had his reaper?" April shook her head.

"No, but it's a tattoo. I would have assumed he would've still had it," April tells her.

Bella gave her a sad look. "Ms. Hobart, when someone is kicked out of any MC, the first thing they are supposed to do, is black out any tattoo that they claim to be a part of. In case the person gets into trouble and it could lead back to the MC, you understand?" April nodded apprehensively.

"If they are caught with the tattoo intact, the other members will forcibly remove it. There are many ways to do this, and many MCs will give the person a choice. Considering this is a big tattoo, it will likely cause him to need medical attention. The boys will take him to St. Thomas when they are done."

April looked worriedly at her son, playing the drums on the stage, none the wiser to the turmoil he mother was going through. "Gemma will make sure your kids get home safe. I promise. But it would probably be best if you met him at the hospital." April nodded, gave her son one last tear filled look, and headed to her car. Bella sighed, and watched the band continue to play.

Just as the fireworks started going off, she felt a pair of arms come around her waist, and a gentle kiss to the junction of her shoulder and neck. She leaned into the touch, smelling his familiar scent of leather and Scotch.

"Filip," she breathed, looking up at him. "You're early." Chibs gave Bella a hard needy kiss, glorying in the feel of the small brunette in his arms.

"Aye. I missed you. What has such a rain cloud parked above you?" he asked her. Bella sighed.

"The club allowed Kyle Hobart into town to see his son play," she said, gesturing to the boy at the drums. "Only they discovered he still had ink he wasn't supposed to." Chibs growled at her news.

"They'll be removing it then. We usually give the choice of blade or burning," he tells her. Bella nodded.

"I saw one of the Wolf Pack excommunicated. Joshua Uley. They offered blade or acid," she tells him. Chibs's hold on her tightened in comfort. They looked up to see the fireworks start, and Bella smiled at the simplicity of the intimate atmosphere. Even surrounded by everyone.

"Come, lass. Let's see if I can't make that smile wider," he said, pulling her away. Bella had no doubt he was up to the challenge.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"So, Bobby. You tell Kyle about the Knucklehead?" Jax asked the man, after catching Clay's eye. It was time.

"Who got a Knucklehead?" Kyle asked.

"'48. Mint," the man dressed as Elvis said simply.

"Bullshit."

Bobby shook his head. "It is so beautiful, it'll blind you."

"Where?" Kyle asked excitedly.

"Come on. Let's take a look at it," Jax said, downing his last shot.

"You want to see it?" Bobby asked. Kyle voiced he did and they all filed out into the garage.

Kyle chuckled seeing an empty garage though. "Where's the Knuckle?" he asked. He got nervous and scared when Clay shut the door loudly and the others surrounded him.

"What is this?" he asked seriously. All laughter gone.

"Take your shirt off," Jax ordered. Kyle tried to stall for time. Knowing what they were looking for.

"Come on, Jax," he smiled.

"Take it off!" Jax yelled. Tig and Bobby didn't give him the chance to do it himself, however, as they pulled and tore his shirt right off his back.

"You son of a bitch!" Bobby exclaimed. They got the shirt off and turned Kyle to show the other's the piece. "You see that?"

They let him go, and Kyle rubbed his hand over his closely cropped hair. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry, Clay. I know I was supposed to black it out. And I tried, man. I went a bunch of times, and I couldn't-. I couldn't do it. This is the only thing I have left, Jax. Please, I'm sorry."

Jax was deaf to his pleas and excuses though.

"Fire or knife?" Clay asked.

"Jax?" Kyle tried once more. But Jax was silent. He breathed heavily before steeling himself. "Fire."

"All right," Clay said, nodding to Tig who readied a torch, as Bobby and Piney chained his hands up so he couldn't run, after Jax offered him a bottle of tequila.

Jax took his own swig before emptying the rest of the bottle onto Kyle's back. It took a moment for the smell of burning flesh to permeate the garage. Piney pushed his oxygen up closer to his nose to get a breath of pure air, though he was still able catch the smell of it in between breaths. Eventually, Kyle couldn't take the pain anymore and he blacked out in shock. Tig, Clay, and Jax are the only three not to show any emotion about the man's fate.

After making sure that every bit of the tat was burned off, they unchained him, wrapped him in a blanket, ordered Half-Sac to clean up the mess, and drove Kyle to St. Thomas's. All but literally kicking him out of the vehicle upon arrival. They had avenged their brother.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

They didn't even make it to the bed. Chibs had Bella undressed and took her against the wall, their breaths colliding in the air between them, making the air hot and heavy. Bella was continuously amazed by this man. She wasn't a big girl by any stretch of the word, but it took strength to hold a woman up as you pounded into her over and over again against the wall. Chibs was a new constant in her life. The one she looked forward to seeing everyday. The one to make her smile at his quirky little inputs to lighten the atmosphere in a tense situation. And the one to make her scream his name in pleasure whenever and however he took her.

She locked her ankles around him in an effort to bring him closer and deeper inside of her. A loud yell escaping her when he finally found that spot inside of her that caused her insides to tighten dangerously close to pushing her to climax.

"Come, mo leannan," he said in his thick accent, only made thicker by lust. "Let me feel you grip my cock as if it were the last time." One of his hands traveled from her ass to her breast. Teasing the nipple, as he nibbled and kissed at her neck. Bella wailed in pleasure and fell over the precipice, clenching around him and clinging to him like she could meld their very beings.

"Filip!" Chibs continued to piston his cock into her in increasingly erratic movements, before her climax drew out his own as her cunt gripped him as hard as ever. It was a miracle he could still work his legs, as he walked a still deliriously sated Bella to the bed and held her to his chest.

"What does that mean?" she asked softly once they were able to calm themselves. She looked up to meet his questioning gaze.

"Mo leannan," she haltingly said. "What does it mean?"

"My lover. Or my sweetheart, depending on how it's used." Bella smiled at him brightly.

"I like it," she said, laying her head on his chest as she cuddled into his side.

"I do as well, lass," he said, kissing the top of her head.