Hello. So as you've proably noticed this story is going to run a little
longer than I said but I hope you can bare with me
because i'm nearly there. Thanks again to everyone who has
reviewed and added this story to their favorites.
It all helps me and encourages me to continue writing.
xxxx
Fighting Back
Chapter 31
Nicole walked from Jax's dorm, dressed in a fresh pair of light skinny jeans and a low cut grey v neck t-shirt and a cute pair of black ankle boots. As she walked into the bar she noticed part of the bar was covered with food meaning that Gemma had obviously arrived.
Throwing her long silky straight dark hair over her shoulders she took a deep breath before she made her move towards the door, only to bump straight into Gemma who was carrying a tray full of food.
"Damn it." Gemma snapped as she almost dropped the tray.
"Sorry." Nicole grabbed the tray stopping it from falling.
"Here." Gemma rammed the tray into Nicole's hands. "Take this and lay it on the bar." Nicole went to open her mouth but Gemma had disappeared back through the door before any words come out.
"Yeap still pissed." Nicole mumbled to herself as she headed to the bar like Gemma had directed.
"Morning." Nicole looked over her shoulder towards the kitchen when she heard the chirpy voice.
"Morning." She replied as Tara walked towards her. "By the smile on your face I take it everything went okay with Jay last night." Her smile widened.
"You could say that. We made up last night twice and this..." Nicole raised her hand.
"Woah...woah...waoh...As happy as I am that you and my cousin made up I really don't want to know the details."
"Sorry." Tara blushed.
"It's okay, I'm glad someone's in a good mood this morning."
"Ah I take you've run into Gemma then?"
"Could say that." Tara gave Nicole a quizzical look. "We kind of had a fight this morning."
"Was it bad?"
"Yeah. So how about you do a girl a little favour and make a little announcement today, deflect the heat from me for a little bit."
"Uh no. Sorry me and Jax have decided were not telling anyone until I'm 3 months, we don't want to jinx anything." Their conversation was interrupted when Gemma came barging through the door, muttering to herself about some croweater who had managed to screw something up, that was all Tara and Nicole were able to make out.
"You sure about that?" Nicole asked.
"Pretty sure."
"That's just because for once your not the one who's on Gemma's shit list."
"Yes and I have to say it feels pretty good."
"Now i know how Jay feels. Well thanks for nothing T." Nicole joked. Her smiled faded fast when Kozik walked out of his dorm room.
"You okay?" Tara asked noticing her smile fade.
"Yeah I'm good. I just have to pop to the office I'll be back to help." She said as she watched Kozik pour himself a cup of coffee.
"Yeah right." Nicole looked back at Tara. "You just want to avoid Gemma, but you can't hide forever you know."
"I can try." She replied with a half hearted smile.
"Nicole." Gemma snapped as she came out of the kitchen. "Here." She said shoving her car keys into Nicole's hand. "There are some crates in my car that need bringing in."
"Okay." Nicole answered as she rolled her eyes to Tara.
"And don't take all day about it."
Nicole made her way over to Gemma's car when she saw Juice parking his bike. She smiled to herself as she walked over to him.
"Hey." She spoke as he took off his helmet.
"Hey." Juice replied without even giving her a second look.
"You okay?" Juice just nodded his head. "Okay then." Nicole wasn't in the mood to argue with anyone else so she turned away from him and went to head back to Gemma's car.
"Can I ask you something?" Nicole turned back to face him.
"Sure."
#####################
Happy tried to close his eyes and go to sleep but there was too much noise, and it wasn't just the racket outside his dorm that was keeping him awake it was the noise in his own head. And that just pissed him off more.
After a quick shower and a clean change of clothes he headed out of his dorm where he was met with Old ladies and a few croweaters running around the clubhouse as they faffed around with trays of food and cleaning. He really didn't need this shit.
Escaping from the chaos inside, he took a seat on top of the picnic bench just outside the clubhouse. He pulled out his cigarettes from his cut. He was about to light one up when she caught his eye.
He couldn't help but watch her especially when it seemed that she was annoyed. He leant back so he could see who had got her attention and more importantly who had caused the scowl on her face, and that's when he saw Juice.
##################
"So what do you want to ask?"
"Are you sleeping with Hap?"
"What?" She asked in complete shock. She couldn't believe this was the second time that she had been asked this question.
"You heard." Nicole just lowered her head as she rested against the bike opposite him. He took her silence as a yes. "Were you ever going to tell me?"
"Yes...no...maybe."
"Which one is it Nic."
"No." She answered honestly. Juice couldn't believe after everything she was still willing to lie to him. Nicole knew this. "Juice I didn't think of telling you because it's nothing."
"Why him?"
"And not you?" She just asked the one question he had desperately wanted to ask but didn't have the nerve to. "Your not that guy Juice. It's just sex Juice, nothing more."
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Because last night I witnessed him almost rip Dougie's throat out."
"Why?" Juice shrugged.
"Don't know but Hap doesn't just lose his shit."
Nicole noticed Gemma storm out of the Clubhouse and stare at her, just as Happy stormed inside. "I think I'm needed." Juice turned around and saw Gemma standing outside the clubhouse her hand on her hip and a scowl on her face.
"She looks pissed." He said looking back at Nicole as she pushed herself away from the bike she was leaning against.
"She is." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are we okay?"
"I know you think I'm just jealous and maybe I am a little." Nicole laughed a little when she saw him smile. "I just worry about you I don't want you getting hurt any more than you already have." Her hand moved from his shoulder to his cheek.
"You don't have to worry about me I'm okay. Honestly." She looked over at Gemma again. "I have to go."
"Yeah."
"Don't say anything okay." Juice silently agreed.
####################
Hap lit his cigarette as he continued watching them. He didn't like what he was seeing, he didn't like the look that was on her face. 'What the fuck am I doing' he cursed to himself, 'She's just a fuck.' He tried to tell himself as he turned away from them and rubbed his forehead. 'Juice would be better for her, you'll just fuck her up even more.'
When Jax walked out of the Clubhouse he was meant with Happy sitting on the table in front of him his hand rubbing his head as he stared at the floor. Jax was actually glad to see him he had been wanting to have a quiet word with him.
"You avoiding the madness in there to?" Jax asked cocking his head back towards the clubhouse. Happy looked up at his VP.
"Yeah." Jax took a seat next to him. Happy offered him a cigarette which Jax accepted. He watched as Happy's gaze left his and drifted over towards the garage before he quickly diverted his eyes back to the floor. Jax looked over to where Happy had been looking. He saw Nicole talking to Juice.
"She's seems to be coping." Happy didn't need to look up and see Jax staring at Nicole to know that he was on about her.
"She's tough." He replied simply.
"Not as tough as she makes out." Happy gave his full attention to Jax. "She may seem like she's dealing with all this but my guess she's tittering on the edge and whatever it is that seems to be keeping her up, if that fucks up she'll break. You understand what I'm trying to say?" Happy nodded as he took a drag from his cigarette.
Happy knew exactly what he was trying to say. Jax was not so subtly telling him that he was the thing that was keeping Nicole level and if he (Happy) was to mess that up then her free-fall would be all on him. 'Talk about no pressure' Happy thought to himself.
Their arrangement was meant to be a bit of fun, but somewhere along the way that changed and now this talk with Jax reminded Happy of the seriousness of what he had been doing and how complicated everything had become, and it wasn't just because his VP was sitting next to him basically warning him off her, no, the complications were that of his own developing feelings towards her.
"I don't know what is going on between you two and to be honest if it's what I think it is, I don't like it." Jax watched Happy's eyes narrow on him, but he didn't give a shit he needed to say this. "She ain't just some random chick, some sweetbutt she's my cousin. She's been through enough man, she needs someone who's gonna protect her, be there for her not someone who's gonna hurt her..." Happy shook his head in disbelief before he looked away from Jax and back at Nicole. "As a brother I couldn't ask for anyone better. Your loyal, trustworthy and I admire how the club is your number one priority..."
"But?" Happy asked looking back at Jax. Jax shook his head flicking his cigarette to the floor as he stood to his feet. He looked down at Happy.
"I know what your cable of. End it now. It's the perfect time. By the end of the day were gonna be banged up in Stockton. Go easy on her." Jax headed back inside the clubhouse.
Happy should have been pissed off with Jax's talking down and demands but strangely he wasn't. Happy had no qualms about who he was or how he treated people but Nicole was an exception in some ways she always had been. Jax was right, Nicole deserved someone who could give her everything and Happy was just not that guy. He didn't do relationships hell he didn't sleep with the same croweater if he could help it. He looked over to Nicole and he knew what he had to do and Jax was right, now was the perfect time.
Happy threw what was left of his cigarette away. As he headed into the clubhouse he bumped into Gemma who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.
"You seen Nicole?" She snapped. Happy nodded his head over his shoulder in the direction of Nicole. "Thanks."
########################
Tig watched Gemma from his seat in the corner of the room. He had been thinking all morning how he could dig Nicole out of this mess, a mess that in some ways he was partly to blame for.
Gemma had been carefully watching over Nicole all morning, watching how she interacted with each Son probably hoping to pick up on some sort of sign to give her an indication of who had fucked her under-age niece. But Nicole had been giving nothing away.
Not only had she followed Tig instructions to stay away from Kozik this morning, but she was keeping her distance from all the guys including himself. In fact the only son who she seemed to be talking to was Jax and when he was occupied by one of his brothers then she turned Tara. Tig had to smile to himself the girl was smart.
"Hey..." Opie shouted. "Lyla's got something she wants to say." Tig turned his attention to his brother as did everyone else.
"We're getting married." Lyla announced as she raised her left hand showing off her new engagement ring.
Tig walked over to the bar to line up the celebratory shots while the rest of his brother went to congratulate Opie and Gemma, Tara and Nicole went to inspect Lyla's ring.
As Nicole hugged Lyla she caught Opie's eye as he nodded for her to come over. Pulling away from her Nicole kissed her on the cheek and walked over to Opie.
"So you popped the question then." Nicole crossed her arms across her chest as she looked up at him.
"I know you don't agree but..."
"Hey." Nicole took a step closer to him. "I know what I said but if you remember I also told you that I'd stand by you whatever, didn't I?" Opie nodded. "And I meant it. I support your decision, although I still can't believe your marrying a porn star."
"Me neither." He pulled her into a hug. "Thanks Nic." He kissed her forehead as he pulled away from her.
"Life's too short to worry about what other people think." As the words left her mouth her eyes landed on Happy who was talking with Chibs and Bobby by the pool table. "Some time you just have to take risks right?" She looked back at Opie.
"Yeah." Opie looked over her. "Think I better go save Lyla." Nicole turned around and noticed that Gemma had trapped her in a corner.
"Yeah, or you're wedding will be Gemma-fide."
Nicole spun back around and again her eyes landed on Happy, but this time he was looking back at her. She motioned her head in the direction to the dorm rooms, silently asking him to follow.
########################
Nicole was only alone in Happy's room for less than five minutes before Happy entered.
As Happy walked into his room, Nicole instantly jumped from the bed to her feet. As she stood in front of him he could tell by her body language that she was nervous. But he fought the urge to ask her what was wrong.
"We need to talk." Four words a man never wanted to hear even the Tacoma killer.
"About?"
"Us." Happy took another long swig of his beer. This was it, this was the moment.
"There is no us." He spat out. Happy didn't like the way she was looking at him, she looked hurt. But he had to continue. "Our arrangement is over."
"Okay." She replied shocking Happy. Even though they were in his room Happy headed for the door thinking now would be a good time to leave. "Hap..." He froze in the doorway, he knew it was too good to be true, it was to easy. He walked back into the room closing the door behind him.
"Yeah."
"What happened with Dougie?" Even though she had asked him a question she didn't give a chance to answer. "Juice said you attacked him, tried to strangle him, why?"
"He disrespected you."
"Okay I get that but why did you attack him? Why didn't you let someone else do it?" Happy shrugged. "And why did you pull me back into your bed the other night when I was about to leave? Why did you let me spend the night?"
"I don't need this shit." Happy went to leave again but this time he felt her hand wrapped around his wrist.
"Hap." Her voice was so sweet. He knew if he turned around she'd have him, lately no matter how hard he tried to fight it she always seemed to have him.
"I'm not that guy Nic." He told her firmly as he kept his back to her.
"And I don't want you to be that guy. I know who you are, what you are and I don't care. I just love who you are when your with me and when your with me you are that guy."
Happy felt her finger tips unwrap from his wrist, before she trailed her fingers up his arm which caused the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and the familiar feeling in his gut. But he couldn't do this so he turned around and grabbed her arm forcefully pulling her hand off him.
"I don't know how to make this any clearer to you. There is no us." He growled, his grip tightening around her wrist. "I knew you wouldn't be able to handle no strings..."
"Hap your hurting me." Happy ignored her.
"I shouldn't have let myself get involved with you it wasn't right. Your kid."
"Hap." She tried pulling her wrist fee but his grip kept getting tighter with each word he spoke.
"It was just sex, you wer..."
"HAP." Nicole screamed.
Happy froze when he heard her scream his name. His eyes went straight to hers which were now glazed with tears, which he could tell she was fighting back. He dropped his grip on her immediately and. As he watched her rub her arm with her other hand he saw the red finger marks that he knew were going to leave a bruise. In that moment he hated himself. He took a step closer to him but Nicole stepped away from him. He didn't blame her.
"Nic..."
"It's okay." She took a second to compose herself before straightening up. She sucked up her tears and raised her head. "Arrangements over, we're done." As she went to walk pass him she saw him twitch and she could tell he was going to stop her, but she threw him a 'I wouldn't dare' look before she stormed out.
#######################
Tig saw his moment for the first time during the party Gemma was alone. Taking advantage of this he walked over to her.
"Can I have a word?" Gemma turned to face him, she could see the urgency in his eyes.
"Sure."
"Not here?" Tig lead the way outside, Gemma following behind him.
"So what's this about?" She asked as she stood in front of him as he took a seat on top of the picnic table.
"Nicole and what she told you this morning."
"About?" Gemma asked playing dumb.
"About sleeping with a Son when she was 16." Gemma shook her head in disgust.
"Please...please don't tell me it was you?"
"It wasn't."
"But you know who it was right?" She closed the gap between them. Tig nodded. "Who?"
"If I tell you, you have to promise to leave this shit alone."
"What? She was 16 it was illegal, you can't just expect me to ignore that shit."
"If you want to protect this club, then yes."
"No." Tig got to his feet.
"Look I dealt with this shit 9 years ago." Suddenly everything fell into place for Gemma.
"Jesus Christ it was Kozik wasn't it, that's why he transferred? That sonvabitch." Gemma went to head back inside and give him a Gemma style kick down but Tig quickly blocked her path. "Get out of my way Tig."
"Gem, you can't do this."
"Why the hell not?"
"You'll ruin this club." Gemma folded her arms across her chest as she took a step back. "If you go in there now and kick off at him Clay and Jax will want to you know and when they find out..."
"They'll strip him of his patches or kill him either one is fine by me, although I prefer the last option." She went to head inside but again Tig stopped her.
"And what about me?" Tig saw her confusion. "What do you think they'll do when they found out I knew."
"Clay will understand." Tig shrugged.
"Maybe. But Jax you think he will. And then there's what Jax will do to you and Clay"
"What do you mean?"
"Kozik and Nic are in a good place their finally talking. So if the shit hits the fan she's gonna defend him."
"And?"
"And the night they slept together was the night Clay hit her." Tig saw the realisation sweep over her.
"Jax would kill him."
"Yeah he would." Gemma knew he was right and she couldn't stand the thought of Clay and Jax being locked up in Stockton with this hanging over them. Gemma contemplated her options.
"Okay." Her hand went to her hip. "I won't say anything. You're voting today right?"
"Yeah."
"I don't want him voted in."
"I wasn't going to. But when we go inside there's a good chance he could get voted in anyway." Tig took a step closer to her, his hand touching her cheek. "Doll, if that happens I'm gonna need you to let it."
"Tig the man basically raped my niece." Tig tilted his head.
"Hardly."
"Well maybe not be in the eyes of law..."
"When have we ever followed the law? I'll agree what he did was wrong but trust me when i tell you he didn't force her or take advantage. You might not want to believe it and I didn't at first but she wanted it to."
"When is that girl going to learn." Gemma mumbled to herself. This time it was Tig's turn to be confused. "Seems she's developed a taste for the older man. She's fucking Happy." Tig laughed. "This isn't funny. She thinks they have an arrangement, but he's just treating her like a whore."
"Hey, if it was any other girl I'd agree, but not when it comes to Nicole."
"What you think he actually cares for her?"
"In his own way yeah." He could tell Gemma didn't agree. "Gem, their both old enough to make their own decisions. And deep down you know he wouldn't hurt. Plus don't you think Nicole deserves a little bit of fun?"
"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut but don't expect me to play nice with him."
"With Koz, or Hap?"
"Both of them."
#########################
After the party had died down Clay called church. All the members went inside leaving the women to clean up.
Once everyone was seated around the Redwood Table Clay began.
"Whatever happens with these charges we're looking at time. Now we've got a game change with this new Irish opportunity from Belfast. Now I'm not going to let that slip through my fingers, even if I've gotta run it out of Stockton yard. Which means Samcro needs bodies if were going to make this work."
Kozik looked over to Tig. He had to admit he was more confident than he had been in a while when it came to this vote. Him and Nicole were back on talking terms even becoming friends again, and himself and Tig could finally bare to be in the same room together without attacking one another so their relationships were defiantly improving.
"We have six bodies willing to make the transfer."
"Voting them in is gonna have to take place after we're on the inside." Bobby added. Clay turned to Tig.
"Which means we're gonna need to vote in a new member before we go away. We need Kozik to stay whole." He told Tig. "Piney's proxy's yay. Me, yay."
Tig knew he was next and knew he had the full attention of the table. This morning he had woke up knowing he was going to vote yay but in a few short hours his vote had been changed. Although he knew Clay would be pissed the alternative worse, so worse it could break the club. He had no choice.
"No." Tig spoke firmly as he got up from his chair and walked out, leaving Kozik and everyone else completely confused.