Present: Monster
"Lucy? Is everything okay?" Tig asked and laid his hand on her shoulder. Quickly Lucy pushed the photo into her purse and turned around. She didn't want to tell Tig about her discovery. First she had to talk to Jax and they had to figure out what to do next. Keeping the club out of what was inevitably going to follow, might be a good idea.
"Yeah. Everything's fine. We should go," She got up and took Abel from his arms. He looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. He followed her outside and waited until she had closed the shutter. Then they walked to her car. While she strapped Abel into his carrier he leaned against the car and spoke up: "Are you sure everything is fine, sweetheart?" Lucy closed the car door and faced him: "I'm sure." She forced a smile but knew he didn't believe her.
"You know you can also talk to me," he laid his hand over her cheek and looked her in the eyes: "After everything that happened to you, I understand that you trust no one, except Jax and maybe your daddy."
She put her hand over his and smiled. Tig and she had always been close.
"I know I can trust you. I'm fine. Really!"
He nodded, put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the driver's side. She kissed him on the cheek before getting into the car and starting the engine.
Lucy directed the car towards TM and thought about calling Jax to tell him about what she had discovered. But he had sounded very busy before and she needed to organize her thoughts before talking to him.
She thought about the photo in her purse and a shudder crept up her spine. She knew exactly who had tried to kill her just a few days ago but she didn't know what her mother's death had to do with all of it. Nothing made sense. She had seen her attacker only once in her life and never even talked to him. Abel started fuzzing in the backseat and her thoughts were taken off the subject for a moment. She sang for him the rest of the way but the last few miles strained her patience because he just wouldn't stop crying.
When Lucy arrived at the clubhouse she found Gemma and the girls in the kitchen. They were preparing food for the evening. Just then Lucy remembered the party planned later tonight. Abel was crying on her arm so she excused herself to feed him. Lucy went into the apartment and lay down on the bed. While her baby was drinking she thought about all she had detected today: the dead security guy, the weekend in Nevada and the boy in the picture.
She pulled the onesies from her purse and folded them neatly before placing them on the nightstand. Then, she smoothed out the picture and looked at it more closely. It had been taken the day she arrived back in Charming, in front of the bus that had taken her to Nevada. She was standing next to a brown haired boy that grinned happily into the camera. He had his arm around her shoulder; she stood close to him with crossed arms and smiled just as brightly.
Just then the apartment door opened and Jax walked in. He seemed stressed and on edge. He grunted as he let himself fall onto the bed next to her
"Hey baby," Lucy greeted him.
"Hey," he gave her a quick kiss then nodded towards the stack of baby clothes on the nightstand: "What was that about?"
Lucy shrugged: "Abel's doctor was all bruised today. I think her husband's a dick. I thought if I give her some of Abel's stuff she'll talk to me and maybe even let me help her."
"Please be careful. With all the stuff going on right now we can't have you stirring up trouble."
Lucy frowned: "I never get into trouble."
He pulled up his eyebrows: "Right."
She giggled then her gaze fell upon the picture, she held it out to Jax. He seemed confused as he took it from her and looked at it more closely.
"Who is that? Why are you showing me this?"
"I know who attacked me." Lucy got out of bed and fixed her shirt. Abel had fallen asleep while nursing, so she put him in his crib.
Jax stared at her wide-eyed. She skidded towards him and pulled him into a sitting position.
"Who?" he pressed through clenched teeth. The way he bit his lower lip and flared his nostrils, Lucy knew he was furious.
"Before I tell you everything, I need you to promise me something."
"You better fucking tell me what is going on," he hissed.
"Promise me!"
"Fine," Jax barked: "I promise."
"We'll decide every step from now on together. No pushing me out and making this club business."
Jax grunted but didn't say anything.
"Okay?" Lucy asked again and Jax finally nodded reluctantly.
"Now tell me everything!" He demanded.
"Okay," she inhaled and exhaled deeply: "I found the photo in storage. Together with other pictures from the time before all the shit that happened. The photo was taken after my weekend in Nevada. The boy in the picture is Dylan Johnson. I met him on the bus from Charming to Nevada. Remember? I told you about him."
Jax thought about it for a second, then nodded: "I remember him. We met him at a party a few weeks later."
"Exactly. This picture was taken by his uncle. He was the one that picked him up at the bus station. I don't know why, but I am absolutely positive that the man who took this picture," she tipped onto the picture with her index finger: "is the one who attacked me."
Jax put the photo down and looked at her: "Why?"
"I have absolutely no idea. We need to find him. He's probably the one responsible for everything that happened to us!" Tears started filling her eyes. Putting a face to horrible past events was almost too much to take.
Jax pulled her into his arms and kissed her face: "We'll find him. I can't take this uncertainty anymore. I need to know you're safe."
Lucy snuffled: "I just wanna go home."
He nodded.
"What are you going to do?" She asked, putting her hand on his cheek.
"I'm going to find him and then we'll discuss our next move. I'm going to speak to Unser. Maybe he can give us some input."
Lucy nodded: "You should. I have this feeling that it all has something to do with my mom's death."
Jax took her hands into his: "We'll figure it all out."
He kissed her hand softly then leaned into the crib to place a soft kiss on Abel's forehead, before heading towards the door. She knew he was boiling of anger but was trying to hide it form her. His breathing was calm and his face relaxed, but she knew him very well.
"I'll be out in a moment," Lucy smiled as she watched him leave the room.
Lucy was sitting on the bench in front of the clubhouse with a coke in her hand and watched as Tig and Happy fist-fought for everybody's amusement in the boxing ring. Jax stood on the other side; he was drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette. He winked at her and she smiled back. Gemma was sitting next to her. She was sharing a joint with Bella and Cherry. Lucy kept looking towards the gate because Unser had promised to come by as soon as he had more information about Dylan Johnson, his uncle and the security guard that her father had killed.
"Will you finally tell me what's going on?" Gemma suddenly asked.
Lucy frowned and kept quiet.
"Since when do you keep things from me?" Her mother-in-law questioned angrily.
"I don't know what you're talking about. My family, my problem. Why can't you just back off?"
Gemma snorted: "Your family? You're talking about my son and my grandson. I have a right to know. What are you not telling me? What are you pulling Jax into? He hasn't talked to Clay about anything yet. He needs to talk to his brothers. This is club business. If you get him in trouble, so help me god, I will….."
"What?" Lucy interrupted, her eyes narrowed to slits: "They're mine! This is my responsibility." She pushed herself off the bench and got up close into Gemma's face.
"Back off or so help me god, I will make you," Lucy hissed, her voice a low whisper.
Cherry and Bella eyed them closely, just like many of the people standing around them. When the Queen and the Princess butt heads nothing is more interesting.
"You'll make me?" Gemma snapped.
Lucy shrugged: "I've warned you once, I won't do it again. You stay out of this until I say different!"
"If it wasn't for me, you'd have neither of them!" Gemma snapped.
Lucy's eyes widened: "Excuse me?"
"Oh don't act so surprised. You played Jax for months. If I hadn't taken care of you, you'd still be fucking a ten years older Diner owner and Abel would be Wendy's little boy."
"How could you say that?!" Her mother-in-law always had a mouth on her but she had never said something so horrible. For a second Lucy thought about punching her but her cat fighting days were behind her, she would never sink that low again. Bella and Cherry were eyeing them nervously and the prospect, which had just put his arm around the latter, seemed undecided about his next move.
Jax had realized what was going on and was now stepping in between his wife and mother. Both women were giving each other deathly looks over his shoulder but slowly backed away from each other.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jax hissed.
Neither Lucy nor Gemma said anything. They might be fighting at the moment but they'd never dump their conflict onto Jax. This was between the two of them and they didn't want Jax involved. Lucy, because she had to own her place, and Gemma because she feared her son might side with his wife.
"You go check on the baby," Jax ordered Lucy, then he turned towards his mother and lowered his voice so only she could hear: "Next time you wanna get in my wife's face like that, you answer to me. She's been through enough." Gemma held her head high and crossed her arms. Jax gave her another warning look then turned to follow Lucy into the clubhouse. He watched her snap at Clay and push one of the hang-arounds out of her way. He sighed, realizing how angry she was. The last months had been extremely hard on her and he didn't understand why his mother always had push her further. He closed the apartment door behind himself. Lucy turned to look at him. Her eyes glistened with tears.
"Your mom can be a cruel woman."
Jax pulled her into his arms: "What did she say?"
"Doesn't matter," Jax pulled up an eyebrow.
Lucy sighed: "It really doesn't." He kissed the top of her head and wiped away her tears with his thumb.
A knock on the door broke them apart.
"Yes," Jax called and Bella entered.
"The Chief is here. Said he needs to talk to you and Lucy," Bella explained.
"Ok," Jax nodded and pulled Lucy into the hallway. Unser was waiting for them at the bar.
"Let's talk in the office," Jax suggested. They walked past Clay and Gemma, who threw Lucy a nasty look, crossed the lot and entered the office. Jax leaned against the desk, while Lucy took a seat on the chair standing next to the door and Unser got comfortable on the sofa.
"You find anything?" Jax asked. Lucy was nervously tooting her feet.
"A lot, actually," Wayne stated: "The security guard and Dylan Johnson are father and son."
"What?" Lucy cried out. She hadn't expected that.
"What are you talking about?" Jax seemed just as shocked as his wife.
Unser leaned forward and clasped his hands: "I read the Police Report. The Security Guard was called Robert Johnson. There is one detail that never got out to the public: the night he was shot, his twelve year old son Dylan accompanied him. He saw the whole thing while hiding in the back seat of his car."
"Oh my god," Lucy threw a hand over her mouth.
"What about the uncle?" Jax asked.
"The uncle's name is Xavier Johnson. He's been in and out of prison the last ten years. He's Robert's brother. Right now he's living back at home with his mother."
"You have an address?"
He slowly pulled out a piece of paper and reluctantly handed it to Jax: "I never gave you this."
He nodded in agreement and shoved it into his pocket.
"That's not all," Unser continued: "Dylan joined the Army only weeks after Mira's death. He got killed six months ago in Afghanistan."
Jax glanced at Lucy. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her lower lip trembled as she spoke up: "Dylan saw my dad that day. He must have recognized him. Oh…..oh god." She buried her face in her hands. Wayne pulled her hand away: "I know what you're thinking sweetheart. But this is not your fault."
Lucy looked at him, tears streaming down her face.
"He's right baby," Jax got on his knees in front of her. She pressed the back of her hand to the bottom side of her nose and tried to steady her breathing.
"I'm sorry I don't have any better news." Unser sighed. Lucy forced a smile. Wayne got up, patted Jax' shoulder and opened the door.
"I assume this conversation's supposed to stay between us?"
Jax nodded: "Please. We don't know how we'll handle this, yet."
Wayne left the Office and let the door thunk shut. Jax pulled Lucy into a standing position and took her face between his hands.
"What do you want to do now?" Lucy asked her husband.
"We find Xavier and we make him pay." She looked into his eyes which were dark with rage. He kissed her.
"We talk to him first," Lucy said after he had removed his lips from hers.
"You want details?"
Lucy nodded: "I need to know everything."
"I won't tell the club," Jax stated and Lucy looked at him in surprise.
"What we're planning is nothing less than murder. This is between our family and theirs."
He laid his arm around her shoulder and walked her out of the office into the lot. They ignored everyone around them as they made their way to the apartment.
There Lucy changed into her PJs while Jax took of his cut, shirt and jeans and put on grey sweat pants and a white muscle shirt. He got into bed and smiled as Lucy took the sleeping baby out of the travel crib and carefully lay him onto Jax' chest. He started softly caressing his son's back, while Lucy climbed into bed and cuddled up against him. She took Abel's small hand and kissed it gently. He was vast asleep and didn't even stir. Jax looked at Lucy, his eyes saying more than words ever could.
"I love you, Jackson." She kissed him passionately then let her head rest against his shoulder. Things were going to change soon, but she didn't fear any of them because she knew Jax would always protect her. He'd never let anything happen to her or their child.
The next morning Jax asked Lucy to go about her day as usual. He'd call her as soon as he knew more about Xavier Johnson. She asked Bella to watch Abel because she was still angry with Gemma, and wanted to go visit Dr. Cooper. As she crossed the lot, to get some work done in the Office before noon, she ran into her mother-in-law, who seemed extremely worried.
"You okay?" Lucy stepped in her way. She knew they were fighting but she cared too much not to ask.
Gemma sighed: "One of the CaraCara girls called. Luann was arrested for possession with intent to distribute. That crazy ATF bitch is going after the women."
Lucy angrily crossed her arms: "Shit. Do Clay and Jax know?"
"I'm on my way to the store. I'll call Clay on the way."
Lucy nodded and walked past Gemma towards the Office.
"Maybe we should talk later," Gemma called after her.
"We talk when I see fit," Lucy replied and shut the door behind her. Through the blinds she watched Gemma throw her a nasty look and hurry towards her car. She got in, started the engine and left the lot. Lucy's thoughts traveled to Donna so she pulled her phone out and dialed her number.
"Yes?" Donna answered.
"It's me, Lucy. You okay?"
"Yes. Why?" Donna asked sounding nervous.
"There's this ATF agent. Her name is Stahl. Nasty bitch. She's talking to the ladies. Luann's been arrested. If she comes to see you, you call me. She's unpredictable and she'll do anything to bust the club."
Donna sighed: "Fuck. Does this have anything to do with the money Opie gave me this morning?"
"I know nothing about money," Lucy answered. She made a mental note to ask Jax about it.
"Oh. Yeah, well. Thanks for calling."
"How are the kids?"
"They're good. We're gonna stay with my mom for a while."
"You're leaving Ope?" Lucy barked.
"None of your business," Donna snapped.
"Oh honey. What do you think you're doing? Do you think this is a good idea?"
"I gotta go." Donna hung up the phone before Lucy could say another word. She stared at it for a while before dropping onto the chair and starting the PC.
An hour later Gemma arrived back at the Office and let herself fall onto the sofa.
"Things are turning ugly," she stated. Lucy pulled up an eyebrow and looked at her.
"What happened?"
"Cherry was just arrested. Her name is actually Rita. She's wanted for Grand Theft and Arson."
"What the fuck? Grand Theft and Arson? Really?" Lucy was shocked. This day was turning into a nightmare. "Seems like Stahl is moving fast. Won't be long before she talks to me."
Gemma nodded: "Clay called a meeting to discuss everything. That bitch is using RICO. I know it."
Lucy nodded: "What the hell is going on?"
At one o'clock Lucy told Gemma, that she had to run some errands. She walked out of the Office and towards Jax, who was sitting on his bike.
"Where're you headed?" He asked.
"Hospital. I want to talk to Abel's doctor."
"You going by yourself?" He frowned.
"I'm going to ask Tig. He'd want me to."
"Okay. Good."
"How was the meeting?"
"We're taking care of everything tonight," he leaned in closely to her: "I'll call you afterwards. We might meet somewhere."
Lucy nodded and kissed him. He put on his helmet and left TM with Bobby and Chibs tailing him.
She walked into the clubhouse and found Tig and Clay in the backroom. She knocked and waited for them to ask her in.
"Hey. I'm sorry for interrupting." She smiled.
"No worries, doll," Tig said and Clay smiled as well.
"I need to drive to St. Thomas. Could you take me?" She asked Tig.
"We done here?" He asked Clay and pushed back the chair.
"Yes."
Tig followed Lucy out of the room: "Where's the baby?"
"Oh I'm not taking him."
Tig pulled up an eyebrow: "Do I ask?"
Lucy rolled her eyes: "Why does everybody always think I'm in trouble. I just wanna talk to a new friend."
Tig grinned.
Lucy told him she'd meet him outside and got the onesies from the apartment. Outside she talked to Bella, who was pushing the stroller back and forth to get Abel to fall asleep.
"Are you okay with him?"
Bella nodded and Lucy hugged her, before walking to her car and getting in. On the drive from TM to the hospital she thought about the best way to approach Dr. Cooper, but she'd probably run into a brick wall any way.
At St. Thomas she waved at Tig, who had already lit a cigarette, before entering it and taking the elevator to the second floor.
"Excuse me, my name is Lucy Teller. My son is Abel Teller, I'd like to talk to his pediatrician Dr. Cooper," Lucy said to the receptionist.
The woman flipped through her calendar: "She's still in surgery. But you can wait over there." She pointed at the waiting area. Lucy took a seat and waited until she saw Abel's pregnant doctor walk down the corridor in scrubs.
Lucy jumped up and followed her into her office. Dr. Cooper pushed the door close but Lucy stopped it and entered.
"Mrs. Teller? Is everything okay with Abel?" Dr. Cooper seemed confused.
"Yes. He's perfect," Lucy smiled. The doctor looked better than the day before, but her face was still bruised.
"How can I help you then?"
Lucy rummaged around in her purse and pulled out the onesies. She held them out for Dr. Cooper, but she didn't move.
"I thought I'd bring these by. Baby clothes are so expensive. It's better to get them used. I have more stuff at home. You can come by anytime."
Dr. Cooper crossed her arms: "I don't need anything. Thank you."
"Oh come on. I like to help."
"I don't need your help. I'm fine."
Lucy put the bodysuits down on the desk. She read the name tag: Dr. Karen Cooper.
"I can't help it. I'm a giver." Lucy grinned.
Dr. Cooper rolled her eyes and leaned against the desk.
"Listen, I just wanted to bring those by. Didn't wanna be disrespectful."
She stepped out of the office and walked back to her car. The conversation hadn't really gone the way she'd hoped. She'd have to be persistent with this one.
When she left the hospital she saw Agent Stahl lean against her SUV. She stopped for a moment but then continued her way. She knew that the ATF was going to talk to her, she just didn't know they were actually following her.
"Agent Stahl," Lucy faced her with a polite smile.
"I have some questions for you Mrs. Teller," Stahl stated and took back the hand she'd held out for Lucy to shake.
"Can you tell me anything about the gun-running activities the members of the Sons of Anarchy are involved in?"
Lucy acted surprised: "Guns? For heaven's sake what are you talking about?"
Agent Stahl frowned: "Mrs. Teller, are you aware that we've arrested Luann Delaney and Rita Zambell?"
"I've heard about it," Lucy replied, trying to swallow her anger.
"Well, what happened to them could easily happen to you."
Lucy put her hands to her hips: "I'm just a wife and mother. Nothing more."
"Funny. That's exactly what you're mother-in-law said," Agent Stahl took a step forward: "Seems the Queen has taught you well."
"Agent Stahl, do you have anything real here? If you wanna arrest me, go ahead. But you'll just have to let me go again. Didn't do your little officer any good to bring me in, did it?"
Agent Stahl eyed her intently but didn't say anything.
"I thought so." Lucy stepped around her, unlocked the car, opened the door and got in. She closed the door with a loud thunk, then she stepped on the gas and drove of the parking lot.
Back at TM Lucy relieved Bella before going into the garage and talking to Jackson. She parked the stroller in the shade and approached her husband.
"That ATF bitch talked to me at St. Thomas," Lucy said, while crossing her arms and leaning against the car he was currently working on.
"How did she know where you were?"
"How the hell do I know? ATF must be tailing me."
"Shit," Jax cursed and cleaned his hands on an already greasy towel.
"Asked me questions about guns. I told her off. But if the FBI is following me, we need to be real careful tonight."
"They won't be observing you 24/7. Bitch probably followed you from here. Wanted to talk to you alone."
"Maybe," Lucy mumbled. Before she could say anything more her cell rang: "See you, baby." She kissed Jax and answered the phone, while walking towards Abel's stroller.
"Hello."
"It's me, Donna. ATF was just here. You're right. She's a nasty bitch."
Lucy groaned: "She must have gone from me straight to you. You didn't say anything, did you?"
"Of course not. Opie doesn't tell me anything anyway. Even if, I'm not a rat."
"Okay. Well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens next."
"I hate this shit. That's why I'm leaving him Lucy. I couldn't take it if he went back inside."
"Leaving him is the wrong thing. He loves you. If you leave him, it'll break him. He needs you around."
She could hear Donna cry at the other end of the line: "I know. That's why this is the hardest thing I'll ever do."
"I'm begging you to reconsider," Lucy pleaded, but Donna had already hung up the phone. Lucy pushed the stroller back into the clubhouse. There she took Abel out of it and sat down with him on the sofa. She let him kick and play with some wooden toy blocks, while she caught up on some reading.
At seven, Gemma entered and sat down on the other side of the couch. She took Abel into her arms and looked at Lucy.
"Can you watch him for a while?" Lucy asked.
Gemma nodded and watched her get up. Lucy was still angry with her mother-in-law, but she didn't want to start a war with her. Keeping Abel from her would be the wrong thing. Lucy walked into the kitchen and made some tea. She went back outside with two cups and placed one in front of Gemma.
"Thanks," she smiled and took a sip: "About yesterday…."
Gemma started but Lucy cut her off: "Not tonight. Please. I have other things on my mind."
"Anything I can help with?" Gemma asked.
Lucy's eyes fell upon Abel: "Can you take him home with you? I've started using supplements in addition to breastfeeding, so I'm more flexible. He doesn't mind. He's just like his daddy, as long as it's eatable he'll take it."
Gemma's eyes lit up: "Sure. I'd be happy to."
Lucy smiled softly: "Thanks."
"Anytime," Gemma answered: "I'm gonna leave right away then. That way you can still have some time for yourself."
Half an hour later Gemma had left with Abel and Lucy was in the clubhouse almost by herself. The only people still around were the prospect, who was worrying about Cherry; Bella and another crow-eater. Lucy kept checking the time because she knew that Jax and Opie with Unser's help were trying to talk to Luann at around this time. At eight-thirty Jax finally called.
"Finally," Lucy exclaimed and the prospect was by her side in an instant. "You did what?" She cried out after Jax had told her, that Cherry was in the car with him.
"She threatened to rat. I didn't wanna let her rot in prison. Opie's taking her up to the cabin to the Irish. She'll leave Charming with him tomorrow. Tell the prospect to meet them up there as soon as Tig and Bobby arrive. They're on their way back. I'll call you later, baby." The Irish had been shot while she was in the hospital and she'd never even met him. She knew how important the true IRA and it's guns were to SAMCRO but she just didn't trust any of them.
"Will do. Talk to you later," Lucy replied and hung-up. She filled the prospect in who didn't seem enthusiastic about Cherry leaving Charming. When Bobby and Tig arrived he left instantly. Tig, Bella and Lucy decided to order Pizza. It took the delivery guy only thirty minutes to get there with their food. They ate at the bar, joking and laughing. The whole situation took Lucy's mind of everything for a while, but her ringing cell pulled her back into reality. It was Jax. She excused herself and went into the kitchen.
"It's me, babe. I've got him."
This chapter was so much fun to write :) Thanks for reading in until the end, despite its length. What do you think about everything Lucy and Jax found out? Did you expect any of it? Let me know what you think about the chapter!