Fighting Back

Chapter 2

Clay looked through the window to Nicole's room, his heart warmed at the sight in front of him. Juice was sat in the chair next to Nicole's bed cradling her hand in his. He hadn't left her side since he arrived last night. It was now mid afternoon the following day.

Clay headed over to the coffee machine down the hall not wanting to interrupt them. Although he was still angry with Juice for not telling him about Nicole and Ryan, he knew that just like Happy and Jax he had done what he thought was best by Nicole. It may have been the wrong decision in his eyes, but at the end of the day he had been trying to protect Nicole and Clay couldn't argue with that.

As his poured himself a steaming black cup of coffee, he saw Hale out the corner of his eye. Clay straightened up, he knew by the look on the officers face that he had news, and Clay knew it wouldn't be good, not with there luck.

"How's she doing?" Hale asked looking towards the door to Nicole's room.

"Still out." Clay paused for a moment as his eyes to fell on Nicole's door. But after a moment or two he looked back at Hale. "Haven't had a chance to thank you." Hale looked at him confused. "Happy told me you covered for him. The club really appreciates..."

"I didn't do it for the club." Hale snapped back. He didn't want Clay to think he was going to make a habit for lying for the club, he wasn't Unser.

"Well whatever the reason thank you." Clay took a sip of his coffee. "Something tells me though your not just here to check on Nicole."

"No I'm not. Got a call that Ryan is out of surgery and he's awake." Clay felt his blood boil. "Clay I don't want you doing anything reckless."

"Reckless...You have seen what he's done to my niece. He needs..."

"Clay I have this. He will pay for what he has done but it will be the right way not the Samcro way." Hale spoke firmly. He let his eyes linger on Clay. "There are armed officers posted outside his doors. If you or any member of Samcro even attempts to get in I will arrest you." Hale walked away.

Clay took a seat in the chair next to the coffee machine. He hated that this was happening to his family, and the thought that the man who was responsible for Nicole's attack was in the hospital and he was powerless to do anything killed him. He was starting to feel helpless.

"What's up?" Clay looked up when he heard the raspy tones of Happy. Clay stood to his feet.

"Just spoke to Hale that piece of shit is awake."

Happy looked at Clay with cold eyes. He didn't utter a word instead he went to walk straight pass Clay and finish what he had started. Clay grabbed his arm stopping him in his tracks.

"Nothing we can do here brother. He'll keep." Happy again remained silent, he took one last look down hallway before turning his attention back to Clay. "Any word on Jury?" Clay asked.

"Yeah should be here in a couple of hours."

"And how's things going back at the clubhouse?"

"Not good that's why I'm here. We could use Juicy boys' computer skills."

"Right." They walk back to Nicole's room stopping just outside her door as they stared through the glass. "Not sure how much use he'll be though, hasn't left her side since he got here yesterday."

"Them two properly hooked up then?" Happy queried as he continued to look through the glass.

"Why are you so interested?" Clay turned his head towards Happy.

"Just a question." Happy spoke as he continued to look through the door at Nicole and Juice.

Clay was confused by his sudden interest in Nicole's love life. Happy was never a man to get into anybody's business unless he had to, or he was ordered other wise, so this new concern was intriguing.

Clay entered the room, Happy following right behind him. Juice barley acknowledged their presence, he full attention was focused on Nicole, watching her carefully for any sign of movement.

"Juice your needed back at the clubhouse." Clay spoke. Juice finally looked at him.

"But.."

"But nothing. I'll come with you. Hap can stay with Nic. Now come on lets go." Juice knew there was no room for negotiation. So he got up from his seat, placed a liss on her forehead and left.

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Hale arrived outside of Ryan's room he couldn't stop thinking over what Clay had said to him. They were right Ryan did need to be taken care of. He nodded to the two police officers that were stationed outside his room before he walked inside.

Ryan stirred when he heard someone enter the room. Hale noticed that Ryan relaxed when he saw that it was him.

"Hale."

"That's Deputy Hale to you." Ryan nodded as he struggled to sit up in his bed. "You in pain?"

"I got shot twice, what do you think?"

"I think your lucky." Ryan let out a small laugh, as Hale walked to end of his bed.

"This isn't funny. Nicole..."

"How is she?" Hale shook his head, he was shocked the guy actually looked concerned, even though he was the one responsible.

"Alive. Just let you know were going to charge you with Battery." A smug smile etched onto Ryan's face. "What?"

"She won't press charges." Ryan spoke confidently.

"She doesn't need to. Plus I think she will. You may have been able to scare her into keeping quiet before, but this time she's not alone. Her whole family knows about you and what you've done. They'll make her press charges." Hale replied before he went to leave.

"Is she here?"

"What?"

"Nicole is she here, in this hospital?"

"There are armed guards outside your door, their not just there to keep someone from killing you, there here to stop you from leaving so if I were you I wouldn't try anything, understand." Hale threatened getting into Ryan's face.

"Understood." Ryan replied.

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As Clay arrived back at the Clubhouse he was greeted by Bobby. "How's our baby girl doing?"

"No change. You heard from Tig?"

"Yeah. They've moved Gemma to a Motel, in Rouge River, Don't worry it's club friendly." Bobby looked at his President he could see the distress and worry lingering in his eyes. "Gemma's going to be okay. The guys will look after her."

"I know."

Their conversation was interrupted when the Clubhouse door opened, Jury and his VP Neddles walked inside.

"Clay, we got here as soon as we could." He walked over to Clay and shook his hand, Needles did the same.

"Thanks for coming. We should take this to Church."

Jury and Needles followed Clay into Church. Clay took his usual seat and the head of the table while Jury took the seat that was normally reserved for Tig, his Sergeant-of-Arms. Needles took the seat next to him. They sat in silently as Clay lit up his Cigar.

"Okay start talking." Clay ordered as he slowly exhaled the smoke from his cigar.

Jury started to explain. He explained to Clay how Nicole had come to him needing a place to stay. She was a mess. She stayed for a few days before she broke down finally telling him that she couldn't go back to Charming and begged him not send her back. Hearing her pleas he knew he had no choice to help her, so that's when they came up with the plan of giving her a fake name and fake back story.

"How long had he been..." Clay struggled to complete his sentence. Jury realised this and answered the question he knew Clay was trying to ask.

"Not sure, they were together for over year. I swear Clay we had no idea what was going on." Jury apologised.

"But the last time he beat her up pretty good, there was no way she could hide it. We made arrangements for her to come back to Charming, made sure Ryan didn't know where she had gone." Needles added.

"But he showed up Jury, someone must have talked."

"No, noway. Me and Jury were the only ones who knew."

"Then how did he find her?" Clay barked his aggravation becoming obvious. He looked at both men, knowing that neither of them had an answer for him.

"I'm sorry a member of my charter did this to Nicole, I'm ashamed. How ever you want to deal with this, we will back you." Jury spoke. Clay shook his head.

"We can't do shit right now. His rooms being watched 24/7 we have no way to get inside."

"How is she?" Needles asked.

"Not great, he really did her over."

"I'd like to see her." Clay looked over at Jury.

"I'm going back there later. You can come with me then." The two men rose from the seats, but they stopped as they got to the door when they heard Clay speak.

"You know you handled this all wrong. Keeping her secret from me will have consequences." He warned before he waved them out of the room.

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Clay returned to the Hospital later that evening along with Jury. Needles had stayed behind helping the rest of the guys. As Clay entered the room he saw Opie sitting in the chair next to Nicole's bed, he had taken over from Happy. Clay took the available seat next to him.

"Jesus Christ." Jury muttered underneath his breath. He couldn't believe the state she was in.

Clay watched him, he was glad that he seemed to be reeling from the state of Nicole. Jury was partly to blame for this, and he knew it himself, Clay could tell this by the guilty looked that was etched over his face. Clay knew this shock and guilt was worse than any punishment he could deal out.

"Jax was allowed back in the house this afternoon." Opie spoke, drawing Clay's attention onto him.

"How's he doing?"

"Not good. Asking where Nic is."

"What did you tell him?"

"Told him she's gone with Tig to see Gemma."

"He buy it?" Opie shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah. Could tell he was pissed though." Clay frowned at him, not understanding why Jax would be pissed at the thought of his Cousin going to visit Gemma. "Think bout it Clay. Any time bad shit has gone down, they've always had each others back. Now all of sudden when he needs her most she's gone." Opie rubbed his hand over his beard. "It will be the same when she wakes up."

"Yeah well we'll deal with that shit when we have to."

"Well I think you might have to deal with it sooner than you think." Jury stateed gaining both men's attention. "I think she just moved."