Silver Lining

'I won't get left behind

when the walls come tumbling in

I'll keep climbing,

I'll keep climbing'

Storms Brewing

Clay marched into Charming Police Station, Tig, Happy and Lip falling into position around him as they came to a stop. It didn't take long for Clay's eyes to find Jax. He was sat alone at one of the officers desk, his shoulders hutched as he tensely twirled one of his many rings around his finger.

Eating the ground that lay between himself and his son, Clay clasped a large hand on his shoulder, causing the blondes head to immediately shoot over his shoulder. Letting out a heavily sigh Jax got to his feet and embraced the man he looked to as a father.

"You okay Son?" Clay asked as he broke from the sort embrace, his hand lingering on his shoulder. Clay could see the tiredness in his eyes whatever had happened tonight was seriously starting to take its toll on the younger man. "What happened?" He asked after Jax had finally nodded his head in some sort of answer to Clay's first question.

"I don't know man..." Jax stopped abruptly.

He didn't know how he didn't notice him straight away he wasn't exactly hard to miss but Jax had finally noticed Happy.

"It's okay son." Clay spoke squeezing his shoulder before removing his hand. "You done here?" When Jax didn't answer him he realised that Jax's attention was focused on something else. "Jax."

The volume of Clay's voice finally gaining Jax's attention. "What?"

"You good to get out of here, we need to take this to the table."

"Yeah come on Jax." Tig said trying to coax his brother out of whatever daze he had currently slipped into.

"I can't." Jax spoke sombrely as his eyes again found Happy's.

"Is it your bike?" Lip asked.

"You can ride bitch with me Jacky." Tig teased laughing at himself, but he was the only one Jax didn't even crack a smile.

"No..it's..."

"What?" Happy rasped. It hadn't gone unnoticed by him the fact that Jax kept looking at him, a weird look in his eyes. A look of pity, unease two things that he rarely saw from the young VP especially towards him.

Hearing him speak, having his dark eyes trained on him made the guilt inside of him overtake his body and his was no longer able to look at him. Obviously since the accident he had done nothing but think about Happy, his mind working overtime trying to figure out what he was going to tell his brother, how he was going to explain that he had fucked up and endangered his Old Lady. Happy could kill him, and Jax couldn't help but think that he'd be justified.

"Hap, I'm sorry man." Jax spoke his voice barely audible. Finally looking up Jax watched as the three sets of eyes of his other brothers flit between himself and Happy like they were watching a game of tennis. "I tried man, but they came out of nowhere. They shot at me made me serve I didn't mean to cross in front of her but I lost control, she tried to control the truck but..."

Happy listened as Jax rambled, he wasn't making much sense but that didn't bother Happy it was the look in his eyes the sheer panic, regret that Happy didn't understand or why he seemed to be directing this all towards him but then he heard the fateful words her, she. He could only be referring to one person, but he couldn't be he didn't know her didn't know who she was. Plus she wasn't even in Charming she was in Oakland.

Oakland, no she wasn't. Momentarily he had forgotten about Kozik's earlier findings. The fact that she had not turned into work, no call nothing. Her apartment was empty but there was glass on the floor. Was she running from something? He thought. Was she coming for him? But what was Jax doing with her, why was she calling him? She didn't even know him.

Happy was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt someone shift next to him, a quick sideways glance and he saw Lip. As the only other person who knew about her it was obvious to him that Lip's mind was thinking the same as him but when he saw the slight wave of fear flash in the younger man's eyes, he was brought straight back to frightening reality.

"Where is she?"

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Liv picked at the Styrofoam that was now empty. She had no idea how long she had been coped up in the small interview room, but it felt like forever. Her head felt like it was about to explode from the pounding inside. And every square inch of her body ached so much even muscles she didn't even now she had burned with pain.

She didn't want to be here. She just wanted to go somewhere so she could wash everything away, all the blood all the memories and all the guilt. But for some reason this Agent seemed to have a hard on for her as was determined to save her from the clutches of the big bad biker. If only he knew she thought.

The fed who went by the name of Agent Felps had left the room for a second time a little over 10 minutes ago, when an officer called him out. She thought about taking advantage of his absence and leaving but just as she was about to put that thought into action the door came flying open. Agent Felps had returned.

Adjusting herself in the uncomfortable plastic seat that she had been sat on for way to long in her book, she watched as he dropped a large brown folder onto the table in front of her, the thud echoing around the small room.

Letting her eyes glance briefly towards the folder before returning to his she realised that something had changed, shifted in the man. His sympathetic eyes replaced with a hard yet satisfied look. She was confused but when he spoke everything suddenly became clear and now instead of being annoyed by the chivalrous act he'd been laying on thick she was nervous about what was to come.

"Seems you've been holding out on us Mrs Lohman." Liv tried to keep her face free of any emotion as he called her by her martial name rather than her maiden name that she had introduced herself as. "When were you planning on telling us that your married to a member of the Sons?"

"I didn't see the relevance. My marital status has nothing to do with what happened tonight." She answered simply, hoping that she kept any emotion from her voice.

Being in the force for over 15 years Agent Daniel Felps prided himself on the skills he had honed over the years. And one of the areas that he prided himself on was being able to read people. He had put many a man away, because of it.

When she had first stepped into the interview room he thought something was odd with her, but given what she had been through, he put it down to the fact that she was still slightly traumatised. But as the interview progressed he realised that she was on auto pilot, never really answering any of his probing questions and it clicked with him, this wasn't her first time doing this.

Always going with his gut he made an excuse to leave by offering to get her a drink. Really he wanted to get a little more background on the young woman. And judging by the file the officer hand handed him this young woman had definitely been holding out on him, and again his gut had been proven right this was not her first time.

"Sure about that? Because I think your relationship with the Sons and Ernest Darby may have everything to do with the murder of your friend." Liv swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat as he threw some pieces of paper from the file in front of her. "Yes we know all about Darby. So how about you stop wasting our time and start from the beginning Mrs Lohman." He threw another item at her this time it was a photograph.

In front of her lay a picture of Jessica, her tiny body covered in blood. Felps threw more pictures towards her. Some were zoomed in on certain areas of her body where she had been shot but it was the close up of Jessica's face, her eyes open and soulless that made Liv use every fibre inside her to stop herself from reacting and breaking just like he wanted.

Felps leant back in his chair satisfaction clear on his face, he was getting to her. The friend was obviously a chink in this girls armour. A little bit longer and maybe a few more photographs then he might just get what he wanted. Get one of the biggest busts in his career, not only the Sons of Anarchy but Ernest Darby and associates aswell.

"She was innocent in all this. She was 22 Oliva she was just at the start of her life. She died because of the people you both had somehow managed to get tangled up." He leant on his elbows that were on the table as she looked at him from beneath her lashes. "No one blames we all now how convincing these men can be how they can manipulate people especially young attractive vulnerable women..." Liv shook her head. She couldn't believe what he was saying, he was crossing lines, referring to herself and Jessica as attractive implying that they were weak, he had no right he didn't even know Jessica and he certainty did not know her. "You could change all that, you could make it so her death wasn't for nothing. All you need to do is give me the information you have on the Sons and Darby and they could go away for a long time, they wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else again, they wouldn't be able to hurt you, your brother." Liv threw a deadly stare at the mention of her brother. Finally ready to break, to let lose and tell this asshole of an Agent exactly where he could shove his concerned, you'd been honouring her memory bullshit when the door swung open drawing both of their attention away from one another.

Happy eyes landed on the Sheriff first as he jumped to his feet but when he heard her breath catch in her throat his eyes immediately found hers.

She looked skittish, nervous, rattled and her eyes were full of upset. This prick had obviously been putting the screws on her and that infuriated him. No one got her twisted up like that.

"You can't be in here." Agent Felps snapped harshly. Happy shot a poisonous look at him before moving over to her, grabbing her by the arm as he pulled her to her feet.

"We're leaving." He said to no one in particular.

"You can't do that we're not done." Happy stopped as the suit with the stick up his ass and the man who was five seconds away from making himself another smiley face blocked his path.

"She under arrest?"

"No." Felps spluttered as he watched his promotion and the biggest bust of his career slipping through his fingers.

"Then your done." Happy nudged him out of the way his shoulder knocking agiasnt his as he left, Liv trailing behind him. Her feet scrabbling to keep up with his massive strides.

"We're far from done. I'll be seeing you soon Mrs Lohman." Agent Felps called from the doorway. "Oh and don't plan on the leaving the state." Happy shot him another look. This prick was seriously pushing the wrong buttons. But Happy reminded himself that the Police station was no place to rip an Agent limb from limb. Feeling the quiver underneath his hand he let his eyes fall to hers again. This time he finally took a proper look at her. She was covered in scrapes and bruises and there was blood, lots of blood too much even for him especially when it was covering most of her petite frame. Tensing his hand around her quivering arm he led her out of the police station. The suit would keep for another day.

#############################

When Jax had told him where she was he told them all to leave that he had it. Of course he could see the disagreement and questions arising in Clay but for once in his life he turned his back on his brothers, his President not caring nor wanting to explain.

Walking outside to his bike, he wasn't surprised to see Lip sitting there but was thankful to see the others were gone. Jax had probably pleaded his case to Clay and Happy was thankful for that but that didn't mean he was off the hook. Jax still had a lot of explaining to do.

"Shit Liv.." Lip started to dismount his bike but Happy stopped him.

"Were leaving. Now." Happy left no room for argument. He knew Lip was concerned for her and he respected that but there was no way he was about to let his brother get all touchy feely with her making a fuss asking her if she was okay, especially when he hadn't even had the chance. Although he wasn't planning on getting all mushy with her they needed to talk for a whole different set of reasons.

########################

The ride back to the clubhouse felt like longer than the 10 minutes that it actually took. Helping her off the bike and taking the helmet she was offering him he turned to Lip who was awkwardly waiting near his bike.

Happy shook his head, his patience wearing thin. When lockdown had been called he thought about her, even went to Jessica for help, asked his brother to take a detour so obviously he wanted to make sure she was safe and he knew that he probably would have made her come to Charming for lockdown, which meant that questions and answers were going to be asked and forced to be answered and he was ready for that. But not for this.

He could never have predicted the shit storm she would bring with her.

Biting the bullet he turned round to grab her by the arm again but stopped when again her took her in. She was already going to get stares but if she walked in there in her current state then all eyes would be on her.

Shrugging off his cut and hanging it on his bike he unzipped his black hooded jumper and wrapped it around her shoulders. Giving him a tight lip smile she shrugged on the jacket and zipped it up.

Happy pushed open the door leading into the bustling clubhouse. Music and chatter engulfing the room. Keeping his eyes and mind focussed on where he was heading Happy manoeuvred his ways through the crowd making sure to keep Liv close to him.

They were just about to head down the hallway to the dorm he was occupying when the voice behind them stopped Happy mid stride. Turning on his heels he pulled Liv behind him so his body was covering hers.

From the doorway of the stockroom Clay leant against the frame staring at the couple in front of him. He tried to get a look at the mysterious girl who Jax had told him was apparently Happy's Old Lady but he barely managed to get a glimpse of her as Happy took a protective stance in front of her.

Obviously they had shit that needed to be sorted but Clay didn't give a dam the club came first, and after tonight's events, The Bandits taking a strike at the VP they needed to take to discuss the course of retaliation, plus they also needed to discuss the matter of his Old Lady and the part she played in this whole scenario.

"Church 5 minutes." Happy nodded to his Presidents order.

#########################

Happy stared down the table at his President who was in the middle of lighting a cigar. Happy was not delusional Clay would want answers and not just the simple she's my Old lady answers. Liv was standing right in the middle of a shit storm that could blow all over the club. If Clay thought that she was a threat to his brothers...Happy had to shake the thought from his head he couldn't let his mind go there plus he didn't have to Liv wasn't a threat.

"So." Clay blew the smoke slowly out of his mouth before looking at Jax. "Who's the girl?"

"Her names Jessica Manning. She works at Deuces."

"Stripper?" Jax shook his head to answer Clay.

"Works the bar."

"So I take it this is how your Old Lady knows her?" Clay stated as he looked over at Happy who gave a curt nod of his head. Clay looked back to Jax, cocking his eyebrow encouraging him to continue.

"Darby's right hand that dick Danny he's her old man. He's a prick been beating on her for ages but this time he really went to town on her." Jax shook his head as his shaky hand pulled a smoke out of the pack in front of him. "I should have beat that piece of shit first time I realised, this would never of happened." Jax turned to Clay, a hard look on his face. "He needs taking out for this Clay.." Clay waved his hand.

"Easy there Son. Way he's gonna see it is we've just got his Old Lady killed. We need to make sure we handle this shit properly we've already got enough beef we don't need to start a war with the Nords." Clay again looked to Happy. "Your Old Lady, we gonna have a problem there. No blow back from Darby or woman scorned issues to deal with?"

"I handled all that."

"Handled?" Clay furrowed his brows he knew how Happy dealt with things.

"Came to an arrangement with Darby. He was fine with it agreed when I told him this didn't involve the Club. Danny on the other wasn't so willing had to make it a little clearer."

"Yeah." Jax cocked his head at his brother before taking another drag of his cigarette. "How?"

"Bullet to the knee." Happy admitted as his eyes moved to Clay. "I'll handle any shit that comes from this personally I won't let it blow back on the Club. This is an outside problem."

"That I'm positive of but you don't have to worry she's your Old Lady which means she part of this family she's protected. We look after our own, anything blows back from this we'll deal with it together as a family as brothers. This is a club issue now."

"Thanks." Happy was a little shocked, he thought it was going to be a lot harder than that to convince his President that their was no threat, and he also thought he was going to get a little more heat for knee capping Danny not the smirk that Clay gave either way he was way to tired and for once distracted to think anymore about this.

"Well it's been a long night." Clay wiped a hand over his face. "We'll bring this to rest tomorrow. And we'll set up a meet tomorrow with Darby maybe we can stop that fire from spreading." Stubbing out his cigar Clay looked at Happy. "Go check on that little lady of yours. By the sounds of it she's also had a long night."

Jax pushed away from the table about to follow Happy out when Clay stopped him. Looking over his shoulder he stared back at Clay.

"Send Juice in will ya." Jax turned around giving his full attention to Clay.

"Why?" Clay's silence and facial expression told Jax exactly what he suspected. "Hap has already told us..."

"Hap told us what he wants us to know." Clay snapped as he cut Jax dead.

"Clay, you could start something here..."

"Enough." Clay shouted as he got to his feet and pointed to the sign on the wall. "Brains before Bullets Son. I'm just making sure that she has no more surprises up her sleeve, she's already brought enough heat with her."

"This isn't on her Clay, what happened tonight..."

"Maybe not but she's clearly connected."

"What about that shit you fed him, about her being protected about her being family that was all just a lie"

"No. But like I said Brains before Bullets I'm just thinking about the safety of this Club, something you should have thought about before you went rogue on some bullshit night in shining armour run."

"You're blaming me for this?" Jax scoffed. Clay remained silent. "Whatever. But when this blows back, when Happy finds out your digging..."

"He won't find out. Now just do as I ask for once and get Juice." Jax tried to stare him down but Clay broke eye contact. Jax headed for the door pissed. Listening to Clay tell both him and Happy that he wanted to prevent a war sounded hypercritical now because if Happy found out Clay was digging around into his private life, digging into Liv then he was bound to cause a war.

#########################

Happy left the Chapel and headed for his dorm but he was stopped by a self made three man wall.

"Not now." Happy told them as he tried to pass but the three of them remained glued to the floor.

"Tough." Lorca ordered. They may not be in Tacoma but he was still a VP that meant he still had pull something he knew Happy respected that because the ruthless killah seemed to step down. "She okay?"

"She's fine." He answered flatly.

"Lip said she was covered in blood." Kozik stated as he folded his arms over his chest. Happy shot a look at Lip, kid did always have a big mouth. When Lip cowered away from his dark intimidating stare Happy answered.

"Not hers."

"The Bandits?" Lorca asked.

"Think so. Clay's bringing it to the table tomorrow. We done because..."

"Yeah we're done. Go check on your girl." Lorca stepped aside allowing Happy to pass.

########################

Liv stared at her reflection wondering if she was finally broken. She had just watched her best friend die and she hadn't shed a tear.

Even when she arrived at the Hospital and stared into the eyes of the Nurse who only hours before had helped them escape, confirming that Jessica was dead, nothing. Staring at the photos Agent Felps threw at her, nothing. And after watching her friends blood swirl down the drain she still couldn't cry.

Pulling one of Happy's t-shirts over her head she left the bathroom only to come to a complete stop when she saw Happy sitting on the edge of the bed his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at her.

She noticed his eyes linger on the t-shirt she was wearing before meeting her eyes again. They hadn't spoken to each other yet not even a hello and the tension was suffocating. It made her nervous and when she was nervous around him she rambled.

"Is this okay, I didn't have anything else." She silently cursed herself as the words left her lips. The fact that she was wearing his t-shirt was the least of their worries and probably the last thing he cared about.

"It's fine." He muttered.

Happy watched as she half smiled at him and moved over to the dresser. She was trying to make herself busy occupy herself so they didn't have to have the talk about what they both knew was coming.

Liv heard the creek of the bed, five seconds later she felt him behind her. His breath tickling her neck before two hands came to rest on the dresser either side of her. Liv didn't make an attempt to move.

"You had no right involving Jax. Our shit is that ours. You need help you call me." Happy snapped roughly into her ear. He felt her head brush against his chin and knew she was nodding in agreement.

He was about to push away from her when he felt her shoulders shudder and then he heard he familiar intake of her breath. Her whole body starting to tremble. She was crying.

Liv felt his strong arms wrap around her as he pulled her flush against his chest. She couldn't help it she finally lost it. Her tears were falling fast and hard, her sobs getting louder with each second that passed.

His arms gripped her tighter as they dropped to a heap on the floor.

He said nothing, no cooing or reassurances he just held her and for Liv that was all she needed, she just needed to be held.