Fighting Back
Chapter 18
The next morning Nicole woke early. Unable to lie in bed any longer she dragged herself into the shower. After drying herself she changed into a pair of blue denim shorts and a fitted black tank top. Even though it was only 7.30 she could feel the heat, telling her that today was going to be scorcher. She scraped her long dark hair into a messy bun that rested on the top of her head. She applied light makeup before dousing herself in her favourite perfume Chanel No5. She grabbed her bag and headed to the bar.
It came as no surprise to her that the bar was empty. Taking advantage of the quiet she dropped her bag onto the top and walked around the bar grabbing a napkin and a pen as she started doing inventory.
"Your here early." Nicole almost jumped out of her skin. Jumping around she saw Tig standing on the opposite side of the bar.
"You scared the shit out of me Tigger." She said placing her hand over her heart.
"Sorry Doll." He took a seat on the bar stool. "So...?"
"I stayed here last night."
"You stayed here?" Nicole could see the disapproving look in his eyes.
"Nothing like that. But while were on that subject, I need to talk to you about Koz."
"Please don't tell me that you're falling for that dipshits lines sweetheart..."
"No." She basically shouted. Her and Kozik were a one time thing. The only thing she wanted from him was to hopefully get back the friendship they had before that night.
"Has he done something. If he's touched yo..." Tig was back on his feet and she could see the anger in his eyes. If Kozik was to walk in now she was pretty sure Tig's look alone would kill him.
"He hasn't done anything like that but..."
"What?"
"Will you just sit down please." Tig took a seat. "He told me something yesterday." She felt intimated as Tig's eyes narrowed in on her. "He's applying for transfer back to Charming. My guess is he's gonna do it today with Hap and the prospects." Tig didn't say anything at first he just kept looking at her. She couldn't help but fidget underneath his gaze until he finally spoke.
"Thats not gonna happen he ain't coming back here." He spoke firmly.
"Tigger don't you think this bullshit has gone on long enough. Everyone deserves a second chance."
"Not him."
"We all make mistakes Tig, you of all people should know that." Tig knew exactly what she was getting at.
"Careful sweetheart." He warned her. Knowing she was probably pushing her luck Nicole didn't try and push him anymore.
"Sorry." Tig watched as she looked away from him she could she was hurt.
"Why are you coming at me with this shit? He's got to you hasn't he?" He slammed his fist onto the bar. "Fuck.." Nicole placed her hand ontop of his.
"He hasn't got to me." Tig looked her dead in the eye. "He hasn't. I just thought I'd give you a heads up. This is your decision I'll stand by whatever you decide."
"Good."
Knowing that this was as good of place as any to stop this conversation Nicole took her napkin and pen and headed over to the kitchen to list what supplies they needed.
Tig watched her leave he couldn't quite get his head around the conversation he'd had with her, was she really trying to get him onside so he would allow Kozik to return. No...No way was he having that. He reached inside the pocket of his cut and pulled out a pack of smokes only to find an empty packet.
"Nic, you got a smoke?" He called.
"Yeah in my bag on the bar." She called back.
Tig leaned over pulling her bag towards him. He didn't like going in ladies bags, not because it was an invasion of privacy, it was because he was scared of what shit lurked inside. The bigger the bag the more girly crap was inside. So he blindingly shoved his hand inside as he tried to locate her smokes, but for the life of him he couldn't find them. So he reluctantly placed the bag on his knee and opened it fully so he could see inside and that's was when it caught his eye. It was the last thing he ever thought he'd find in her bag. A quick look over his shoulder to check he was still alone, he pulled out the pregnancy test and stared at the two pink lines. It was positive. The princess was knocked up but the question was, who the hell was the daddy.
Hearing the to the clubhouse open Tig quickly hid the test in the inside pocket of his cut before quickly placing her bag back to its original position.
"Hey man." He said as Jax walked further into the room. Jax tilted his head.
"Nic up yet?"
"Yes she is." Jax turned around to see Nicole exiting from the kitchen and walking over to the bar.
"Morning, sleep okay?"
"Perfect. You and Tara have a good night, manage to sort anything?" Jax just shook his head. Nicole placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah. What you up to today?" He asked.
"Well going to go and see Gemma get some supplies, why you need something?" Jax shook his head.
"You heading to the hospital now?"
"Yeah."
"I'll ride with you." He looked over to Tig. "I'll see you later for the vote."
"Al'right man."
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As Jax and Nicole walked down the corridor to Gemma's room they bumped into Stahl.
"Great just what we need." Nicole muttered under her breath.
"You go ahead I'll deal with her." Nicole gave him a sideways look. "Go on." As Jax stopped Nicole continued walking, casting a look at Stahl as they passed one another.
"Wow she's almost scarier than your mother."
"You have no idea." He quipped before leading her into the small Chapel. They took a seat.
"So my Super was impressed with Luke. Put me back on the Irish."
"Your welcome. So now how are you going to repay me."
"I've convinced him that I need Samcro out of jail right, your bail hearings been pushed back by 10days."
"Good. And my Mom?"
Stahl opened the leather folder she'd been carrying and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here." Jax took the piece of paper from her and started to read it. "This is Gemma's statement about what happened with Polly and Edmund up at the safe house."
"Wait this..." He looked from the piece of paper as his eyes met hers. "I don't get it."
"You don't have to. Just make sure that your mother feeds the details back to us. If you want her clear of the homicide get her on board."
"Okay." Stahl got to her feet and left.
Nicole looked back and watched Jax enter the Hospital Chapel after Stahl. Nicole didn't like what she was seeing didn't like what it looked like. She wanted to burst into the Chapel after them but she decided against it, there was no way in hell he was doing what she thought.
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It was a while before Jax caught up to Nicole and joined herself and Clay in Gemma's room. He didn't miss the questioning look Nicole was throwing in his direction but he did ignore it, now was not the time. He leant over and gave Gemma a kiss, he looked to Clay tilting his head in acknowledgement.
"Whats going on?"
"Clay's just been telling us how the clubs bail hearing has been pushed back by 10 days." A broad smile spread across his face as Nicole folded her arms across her chest looking straight at him.
"Really?" He asked pretending he hadn't already heard that piece of information a couple of minutes earlier.
"Yeah shocking isn't it?" Nicole quipped.
"Lucky I'd say." Clay added as he walked over to Gemma placing a kiss on top of her head. He looked at Jax. "We've gotta head back to the clubhouse we've got a vote to get in."
"Yeah." Jax agreed. "I just need a couple of minutes with Gemma." Nicole and Clay exchanged looks before staring back at Jax.
"What's going on?" Clay asked.
"Nothing." Jax answered. No one believed him. If Jax was doing something he shouldn't be there was noway Nicole was going to let Clay know that who knew what he would do.
"Come on Clay you can take me back to the clubhouse, I left my shopping list there." Clay felt his niece's hand on his arm but before he left he gave a Jax a hard look.
"What is it?" Gemma asked once Nicole and Clay had left the room. Jax pulled out the piece of paper Stahl had given him. Gemma started reading it. "What's this?" She asked looking up at him.
"It's your statement for the feds."
"Where did you get this, who worte it?"
"I can't tell you that. You just need to repeat this word for word."
"This is from Stahl isn't it? What have you done?"
"I'm protecting my family."
"Jackson."
"Mom this is none negotiable. Please just trust me."
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"You have any idea what that was about?" Clay asked as he opened the drivers side door to the Mustang.
"No." She answered as she casually threw her bag onto the passenger seat. "He's going through a lot latelty. You know he's always been a Mommy's boy, he probably just wanted a little one on one time with her." She said as she looked back at him. Clay smiled.
"Yeah, maybe your right."
"What else would it be."
"Yeah." She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. "Come on lets get back to the Clubhouse." She said pulling away from him.
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Andy 'the attorney' couldn't believe that he had managed to let Ryan get away. Zobelle was going to kill him. He racked his brains trying to think of what he could tell his boss, but nothing he came up with seemed good enough mostly because it wasn't he had basically fucked up. Biting the bullet he dialled Zobelle's number.
"Hey boss."
"Andy."
"We've got a problem."
"What?"
"Ryan's gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"I mean he's bailed. Gone." There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "Boss you still there?"
"Yeah."
"What should we do?"
"Stick to the plan for now."
"And what about Ryan. I could send the others to find him."
"You don't have to."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean he's probably already on his way back to Charming."
"Shit, he's going after the girl." Andy said as realisation finally hit him.
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"Chief." Unser looked up from the paper work he was going through to see his officer Candy Eglee standing in his doorway.
"What is it?"
"Think you better come out here." Rolling his eyes he reluctantly followed his officer out of his office.
His eyes widened when he saw the two officers standing in front of him both looking like the had gone 10 rounds with a brick wall.
"What the hell happened?"
"The van we were transporting the prisoner in, got rammed off the road."
"And your prisoner?" Unser asked already knowing the answer to question.
"He escaped."
"Who ever rammed us, they were coming for him." The second officer stated.
"Are you saying this was planned?" Eglee asked.
"There's no doubt about it." All three officers were now looking to their Chief for answers. Unser remained silent as the moments passed by.
"Chief you know what this means, you know who did this. This has Samcro written all over it." Eglee spoke finally growing tired of the silence.
"I know exactly who's behind this Candy, but I'll deal with it. You get these two cleaned up and I'll go pay a visit to Teller/Morrow.