A/N 9/26/2018: Oy! I need a vacation...All right, so I'm trying to work out a writing schedule. So far it's whatever I feel like writing that day, that's the one that get's the update. lol Since my Mummy fic got such good reviews, I'm keeping it as is, BUT! since I'm doing that, I will go another round with Bella and Imhotep. I just have to figure out where I want the story to go, and I'll start writing it. Pinky promise swear. It just may take longer than originally anticipated. The second part of this chapter as well, may be written for later today, or I may write it this weekend...who knows. I'll update something for tomorrow morning, though, that I also promise. Much love guys! ~Angel.

P.S. My internet was shut off, so please bear with me as I figure out how to work my phone's hot spot feature.

Jax drove Tara home. He was uncomfortable with how closely she was holding on to him. They weren't that familiar with each other any more. And should he pass Izzy or Angela, he didn't want them getting the wrong idea, especially Angela. But he eventually decided that there may have been something to Tara's strung out demeanor when he spotted a compact following them from the hospital.

Jax pulled up to her house and cut the engine. Tara climbed off and as she was taking off her helmet, said, "Appreciate the lift." She gave him a smile, hoping he would stick around.

"No problem," he said, standing. "Where's the Cutlass?"

"Oh, it's at the hospital," she sighed.

"Still not running right?"

Tara looked around, trying to see if Kohn was around, but then remembered she had to answer Jax's question. "It's running okay."

Jax looked down the street himself, where the car that had been following them parked.

"This worry I'm getting here, that have anything to do with that car that's been following us?" Tara paled and began looking around again.

"The compact parked halfway down the block," he said helpfully. Tara gets a look at it, and turns to go straight into her house.

"Tara!" Jax demanded. If she was just using him as protection, he'd rather not get into her drama. She didn't stop. She just unlocked her door, went inside, and shut it, all in a heartbeat. Jax was left in her driveway stunned at her odd behavior, but as he thought earlier. He'd rather not get into her shit if it was going to drag the club into it. He shrugged and then hopped back onto his bike, and headed towards TM.

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

"Half-Sac, boomaye! Get in there, kid!" Chibs encouraged.

"Hands up, Lowell," Bobby advised.

"Keep your hands up, Lowell," Tig repeated when the kid wasn't able to get the up.

"Now you're getting cocky. Anyone can beat up a junkie, prospect. It doesn't mean shit," Chibs heckled. Bella came out and handed him a beer, kissing his scarred cheek before going to the picnic table to give Tig and Bobby theirs.

"So. Guess you guys are getting ready for a fight," Bella smiled.

"Aye. We want to see if we can make the prospect have any kind of a use after all. Not just pulling lace knickers out of the toilet," Chibs smirked. Bella choked on the mouthful of beer she had just taken. She raised an eyebrow. Chibs shrugged. Tig caught sight of Clay coming into the clubhouse.

"Things all better with the little missus now?" he jibed.

"My balls are still attached," Clay said. "Shit, Lowell. Get out of there. Who's idea was this?" he demanded.

"Tig's."

"Bobby's."

Bella chuckled. "What are they, seven?"

"I don't mind it, Clay," Lowell said. "I'm just helping Half-Sac train."

"Yeah, well, you killed enough brain cells. Come on. Come on. Back to work," Clay tells him.

"Okay," Lowell says.

"Thanks," Half-Sac tells him as he gets out of the ring.

"How's he doing?" Clay asked Tig.

"Well, the latest round of rehab seems to be sticking. He hasn't missed any work," Tig tells him.

"If I could get A.A. to kick up a vig, Lowell could make us all rich."

"He's always been a freak. Damn good mechanic though. I guess you taught him that," Bobby said. Bella throws her bottle cap at him, but didn't say anything. She didn't like people calling others names. Never had.

"How's Sugar Ray One Nut looking?" Jax asked.

"He's wicked fast. Got a great right hook," Chibs tells him.

"How much money gets thrown around at these bare-fist things?" Clay asked.

"The purse is okay, but it's the betting that's gone crazy. I know a couple of the guys last year who made six figures each," Tig tells him.

"Really?" Clay asked.

"The prospect can knock any one of those lightweights out, any day of the week," Chibs says.

"Absolutely."

"What'd we pull together for McKeevy?" Clay asks.

"A hundred and 20," Bobby says. "You ain't thinking about betting on the prospect."

"You know, if Half-Sac takes his first five fights, and looks strong going into the finish, we control how it ends, it could be a huge payday," Tig says.

"What do you think?" Clay asked his V.P.

"I don't know," said Jax. "But I do know there's no way we're raising 80 grand in the next four days, so it might be our only shot."

"I'm in," Clay says after looking at the prospect.

"I'm in. Done," Chibs agrees.

"All right, I'm in," Bobby agrees.

"Take 50 grand. I wanna see it triple. You're gonna train him," Clay says, pointing to Chibs. "No booze. No weed. No pussy."

Chibs turns to walk away, but Bella had a thought. "Wait," she said, gaining all of their attention. "Whatever you put on the kid, match it for me and bet the other way. I'll pay it. I have it up front if you want it. Bad business to think it's a guarantee, and not have a contingency. This way, if I lose, no harm done. If I win. I get my money back and whatever else the club can have. Easy peasy. Win win for everyone. Chibs can handle the whole thing for me." She said, looking to Clay.

"Smart. But why would you risk this for us? What do you want?" Clay asked with a hard look. Bella sighed.

"To help my family in whatever they're doing. You guys sound like you need the money for this McSkeezy guy, or whatever his name is. And it won't even put a dent in what I have, so why not help?"

"What do you mean, 'won't even put a dent in what you have', lass? What do you have?" Chibs asked.

"Gran Swan left one hell of a college fund. Do I look like I'm in college?" Bella asked raising an eyebrow at Chibs.

"If you're so worried about me wanting something out of it, then give Chibs one day off for me," Bella shrugged, turning back to Clay. "Call it even."

"Deal. But Chibs handles the cash, and you need to give it to him up front so we know you're not jerking us around," Clay says. "Pleasure doing business with you," he smirks.

Bella rolled her eyes. "I was the one to suggest him in the first place. Wanna hit the bank with me, later?" She asked her lover. Chibs smiles and nods at her, kissing her on the forehead before going over to Half-Sac. Bella gives an inaudible sigh.

"Well, I've butted in enough, I should think. Sorry, Clay. Just thought I could make it a win-win-win situation. You may think you can control the outcome, but it's all up to Sac in the end. This way, you're covered. I actually didn't hear anything else, other than you needed more money for McCreepy," Bella said with a small blush.

Clay chuckled. "You're all right, kid. Just don't make a habit of it. We don't need a jealous ex spreading our business if you and Chibs don't work out."

Bella crossed herself over her heart. "Cross my heart, sure to die. By a bullet to the eye," she said with a smile.

"I like that," he said. Bella laughed and went to find Angela. Her friend said she wanted to buy some things for her room at Charlies. Said it was way too much of a bachelor pad.

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

"Wheeling out two bodies," Jax said as he, Clay, and Tig watched the local CSU dig up the bones. He thought the other two's attitudes towards these bones was peculiar.

"There should be three," Tig corrected.

"I'm afraid to ask," Jax said, looking to Tig.

"Don't be. There it is," he said, pointing to more men carrying a stretcher.

"Is this us?" Jax asked Clay. Clay took a breath.

"Yeah," he said, remembering just who was in that hole.

"Aw, shit," Jax sighed.

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

"And all three of them were Mayans?" asked Jax when he and the others got back to the table.

"Yep. Back in '92, Mexicans tried to expand their Oakland dope base, set up a charter in Lodi. We couldn't let that happen. It was a bloody two years. Bodies dropped," Clay said.

"Yeah. I remember. That was right around the time my old man died," Jax says.

"That's right."

"We got to stop the P.D. from I.D.'ing those bodies, man. If they flag the Mayans, we're their next stop," Tig says.

"Well, we can pull teeth to stop the I.D., but they can still D.N.A. test," Jax tells him.

"Forensic tests on three bodies," Bobby chuckles. "That would blow half of Unser's yearly budget."

"Yeah. But if Hale thought it would hurt us, he'd get his new fed buddies to float the costs," Clay corrects him.

"Shit, man, that was pre-O.J., right? We weren't thinking about D.N.A. back in '93," Tig says with a smile that immediately drops to horror. "What kind of clues we got burried with those Mexicans?"

"If they don't know they're Mayans, they won't take it any further," Chibs tried to calm him.

"We stop the identification, we stop the investigation."

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

Chibs, Bella, and Angela walked into the bank, and Bella couldn't help but notice that people seemed a bit uncomfortable with Chibs around.

Bella chuckled. "You've never held this place up before, have you? Because that will make this trip REALLY awkward."

"No. But they may think I'm trying to swindle your money out of you. I could be holding someone you love hostage, and I want you to empty your account for me in return for their safety," he joked back. Bella laughed hard, earning more curious stares.

"Maybe you should wait in the car, then? Don't want to give other people the wrong idea."

"Stay in the car? Like some damsel who can't take a slap without throwing a bitch fit? Never!"

It was Angela's turn to laugh. "Are you two always like this?" she asked.

Bella thought for a moment. "Actually, this is the first time the both of us had a moment to relax around each other in days. The first time we got to just joke and talk. It's nice," Bella smiled at him. He returned it, then kissed her temple, not saying anything.

"What do the two of you do if you don't talk?" Angela asked. Bella raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"Do you really need me to answer that?" she chuckled. Angela shook her head as Bella filled out a withdrawal slip and took it to the nearest available teller that had a desk. Something like this isn't an over the counter withdrawal. She decided to take out 150 grand and change, just in case. It was just over a quarter of what her grandmother left her, but she just wanted to be safe. Besides, it wasn't like she was rushing out to blow it all. The change bit was going to be so she and Ange could just do something, and she wouldn't have to worry about paying.

"Miss. Swan. What can we do for you today?" the teller asked once he pulled up her account. Bella slid the withdrawal slip across the table.

"I need to take a bit out," she smiled. The teller spluttered at the amount she wanted. He then looked at Chibs and then to the girls.

"You two aren't in any trouble are you? Do you need help?" he asked worriedly. Bella laughed.

"Oh no! We're just fine, thank you. We're just going to be gambling it away," she said happily. Chibs froze beside her. The teller looked at her, then chuckled.

"Weekend getaway to the casinos?" he asked, as he started typing away.

"With my best friend in town, we thought we'd see how lucky two young women could be," she said, sending a wink to Chibs. He seemed to relax a bit, happy the man thought they were going to do something so mundane and frivolous with the cash.

"You'll have to come back and let me know," the teller said. "How would you like the money?"

"Large bills are fine. I'm sure the people that are going to take my money will appreciate it being easier to count that way," she tells him.

The teller went to the back to get her what she needed, and Bella put her leather satchel on the desk. Less conspicuous that a briefcase, any day.

"You just about gave me a heart attack there, lass. Don't ever do that again," he growled in her ear sternly. Bella took a breath to calm her suddenly hyperactive hormones, and looked at him.

"No one would think that two innocent girls would be using the money for a bare fist fight," she whispered to him just as lowly. "Add the fact that we are laughing and happy, and they all but forget you are with us. Shit, Angela doesn't even know what it's for. Just that I'm loaning you guys some cash. Just relax." She gave him a quick chaste kiss before sitting up straight in her chair just as the teller came back with a few large envelopes.

"Here we are," he said. "I just need your signature, and you're good to go," he said, placing the envelopes in front of her and handing her a form. Bella signed it, and put the money in her satchel.

"Thank you so much! Any suggestions for the casino?" Bella asked. The man shrugged.

"I'm a horrible gambler. I stick mostly to penny slots. With that kind of cash though, I'd try the poker or roulette tables once at least," he says with a smile. Bella nods to him and waves, as they all leave the bank. Bella takes out a 10 grand stack, puts it in her purse, then hands the satchel to Chibs.

"There you go! Have fun," she says with a smile.

Chibs takes the bag, but before she drops her hand, he tugs her to him and plants a deep, grateful kiss to her lips. "Thank you, mo leannan. You have no idea how much this helps."

"You are my lover. They are our family. It's not a hard decision to make," she says dazedly.

"We will be talking about that first remark later, mo leannan. I think it's time," he says before he gave her one last kiss and left. Bella was confused. Time for what?

"You okay?" Angela asked. Bella shook herself out of her reverie, and looked at Ange.

"Yeah. What do you say we go do some shopping. I suddenly have a fondness for leather."

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

Tara was trying to get some much needed sleep in an isolated on call room during her shift. The hospital, despite Kohn being there before, was still the only place she felt semi safe. Everywhere else she was alone. She had thought Jax would have pushed the issue, but he had left without getting any information out of her.

She heard someone enter the room, and looked up to see Deputy Chief Hale enter.

"Why didn't you tell me it was Kohn?" he asked her.

"How do you know that?" she deflected.

"The man had a tendency to disappear at the oddest of times. I got curious and followed him when Jax gave you a ride home yesterday. It seems I'm a better tail than he is, or he was too focused on you, because he didn't realize I was there. I watched your reaction when I saw Jax point him out down the block. You were terrified," Hale explained. "Why didn't you just tell me? I could have-"

"You know, I tried getting help in Chicago. Complained to his superiors- Made things worse. I went through three precincts before someone would even give me that restraining order. I doubted you could do anything."

"Tara. Kohn's boss doesn't even know that he is here. This guy is in deep shit. He is done," Hale tells her.

"Really?"

"He is leaving Charming. I promise. And I am sorry."

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

Clay walked into the office where Gemma was working on paperwork. Things were definitely more workable now that there was some sort of order. Little Izzy certainly did wonders, but her attention wasn't on her work. Gemma's attention was on her husband.

"Town's talking about the skulls that rolled out of that hole," she said.

"I'm sure they are."

"Have you thought about damage control?" she asked him.

"Tig's the only one that knows the truth. Everybody else thinks all those bodies are Mayans," he tells her.

"And how do you stop that truth from spreading?"

"I've got it covered," he assures her. "All right? Don't worry. This shit stays in the rearview."

Clay exits the office and walks to Jax, who had just gotten off the phone. "So I talked to Trammel. The Sanwa County Coroner's clearing space, but bones stay local tonight," Jax tells him.

"Good. Now I have to get into the lower level of the hospital. You, uh, think the old squeeze might be able to hook a brother up?" Clay asked playfully. Jax just barely withheld a groan. He didn't want to have more to do with Tara than the bare minimum.

"I'll see what I can do," Jax says, hoping he could think of another way.

"All right." Both men started to go about their business when Lowell called out.

"Sorry. Clay? I, uh- I just asked Gemma. Just- Wanted to make sure it was cool with you that I have Moby here. Only during my break. He- He likes to watch me work," the young man said pointing to the boy sitting on an oil drum.

"Sure. It's fine," Clay said. He looked at the kid like a high noon stand off. He pulled his fingers up, but not quick enough as the boy fired his finger gun first. Clay clutched at his chest as if he had been hit.

"Hey, Lowell, you're dong good work," Clay tells him as he walks away.

"Thanks, man!" Lowell had the smile plastered on his face for the rest of his shift.

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

Jax entered Abel's nursery to see Clay looking at his grandson in the incubator. He was happy he was able to figure something out other than getting in touch with Tara. Though he didn't expect Tig to end up flashing the two med students he asked him to distract.

"Hey. Managed to steal a key card from an intern. Hopefully it gets us below."

"Yeah. Me and Tig'll take care of this. Why don't you stay here and run interference," Clay suggested, as Tara entered.

"Hey. Doc. Kid looks strong, huh?" Clay asked.

"Yeah," she said. Then the atmosphere in the room turn awkward.

"Well, you have a good night, all right?" Clay said as he left.

"You too. Nurse said you wanted to see me," she asked Jax once they were alone.

"Yeah. I was just checking in." There was a heartbeat of silence before she spoke.

"You know, I thought- I thought you would push. When we were followed to my place, I thought you would push to know who had followed us," she said.

"I was curious. But I figured you had it handled when you didn't tell me. Thought that if it became something you would tell me," he said. "Has it become something?"

Tara shook her head. "No. No, that should be well and over now." Jax nodded.

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

The soon to be former A.T.F. Agent Kohn managed to break his way into the home of Jackson Teller. Looking around, he soon spotted the room set up as a nursery for the baby he had visited at the hospital. He was still sore at the little bitch that had threated to tell his boss when she caught him with the baby at the hospital. Not that it mattered anymore since Agent Stahl had called him herself.

He saw a mobile hanging above a crib with little motorcycles on it. Turning the peg, it began chiming the ABC's. Singing along, Kohn undid his pants and pulled out his cock as he started urinating on the floor in the middle of the nursery. He was going to send a message to that asshole who dared get too close to his Tara.

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

Bella was laying on her stomach in the middle of her bed reading. She was dressed in a black leather and lace corset, a lacy pair of hip huggers with a garter belt, stockings, and fuck me heels. She didn't plan on walking far, so the heels should be okay. She covered it though, with a blue silky robe. Chibs had said he wanted to talk tonight. Wouldn't do to have him distracted before then. Angela had been a real life saver in helping her pick something out. Both of them were rather clueless when it came to sexy underthings, but between the two of them, they were both able to get something. Bella had asked who Angela was buying hers for, and Angela shot back that she just wanted to feel sexy under her clothes. Bella couldn't help thinking there was more there, but didn't want to push her friend.

Looking up when she heard the door open, she saw Chibs freeze at the sight that was waiting for him. The man in question swallowed hard, seeing his lass wearing what she was, and he hadn't even seen beneath her robe yet.

"I had hoped to talk to you tonight, but that get up is a serious distraction, mo leannan," he said in a husky voice.

"I could change if you want?" she offered.

Chibs growled. "Don't you dare. Just give me a moment to compose myself." Chibs took off his kutte and laid it across the back of a chair near the door, and then moved to sit on the bed.

"Come here, lass. I have something I want to tell you," he said, holding out his hand. She took it, and he brought her to sit in his lap. Chibs took a deep breath after a moment.

"I love you," he said simply. Bella was stunned, then looked at him bemusedly.

"Have you been hit in the head by Half-Sac too many times today? We've only known each other about a month and a half," she said.

"No, mo leannan. My head is fine. I know it is fast. I know that 20 to one, you won't say it back. But I know how I feel. I love you. Since you came, you've brought more than a little common sense to the club. You've gotten Opie to start taking the club seriously once again, and gotten his old lady off his back. You've gotten Jax to look in a direction other than Tara Knowles. Now, you are ensuring that no matter what happens in the bare fist fight the prospect is now in, the club comes out on top," he explained.

"Add to this, you even considered looking in my direction. A man twice your age, married with a daughter he hasn't seen in over a decade, and who has made no allusions of being anyone other than an outlaw with a leaning towards blood lust. You, mo ghràdh, you've only made things better since you've come. And I'm a selfish enough bastard to hold on to you for as long as you'll let me."

Bella sat again, stunned. Chibs let her sit there quietly, as she process what he said to her. He was right. Bella couldn't say the words back yet. She wasn't even sure she loved him, yet. She knew that what she felt for the man was beyond friendship. But she didn't know if it was only to warm his bed and scratch an itch for both of them, or if it was something she could commit to as a relationship full stop.

"You are right. I can't say it back yet," she said softly. Chibs nodded.

"Dinna fash, yersel' abou' it," he said thickly. His accent becoming so thick in nervousness. "I'm more wonderin' if yeh would stick around long enough teh see if it becomes anythin'? If you'd be mine exclusively 'til yeh know." Bella looked up at him, studying his face. She had to admit, while she liked knowing that Filip Telford had a softer side to him, she didn't much like seeing someone she was used to seeing so strong about to break down because of her.

It wasn't a hardship, really. She had planned on staying with him to where it went anyway. That's all he was asking. Bella smiled, and kissed the underside of his scruffy jaw, just where it met his neck, before kissing his scarred cheek, then the corner of his mouth, then full on his lips, in a soft and sure answer.

"I'll stay with you, Filip. Until I figure out what I want, I'll stay," she promised softly. Chibs moaned lowly in his throat in relief and wound his arms about her. One at her waist, the other, traveling up to the base of her skull, where he grabbed a fistful of her hair firmly to keep her in place.

She was his.

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

"Why was Lowell's dad buried with the enemy?" Jax asked Clay. It had been a nasty shock to him when he had met Clay and Tig in the morgue to stop the I.D.'s of the bones from being found out, only to have the first one they came across already done. Now he just had to figure out why a mechanic was in that hole with two Mayans. Only, Clay was never truly forthcoming about anything. He tended to tell half truths and the occasional white lie to keep the younger members protected.

"Casualty of war," Clay answered. "Mayans took him out."

"He worked at TM. He wasn't patched," Jax said, trying to get more info.

"Mayans went after everybody. Family, friends. Didn't matter," Clay said.

"Lowell thinks his dad just split. Poor bastard's convinced he's still out there."

"I know," Clay said with remorse.

"So why the same grave?" Jax pressed.

"Disrespect. I know. It was a crazy two years. I didn't have time to think a lot of shit through."

"Is that why you didn't want me in the morgue? Protect that secret?"

Clay scoffed. "I got no secrets from you," he said, walking away, towards the elevator.

"You know, with the Mayans I.D.'d too, I can only imagine the poison Hale's gonna pour in Lowell's ear," Jax warned.

"I'll handle Lowell," Clay promised, entering the elevator that just arrived.