Apologises! The end of 2012 was very busy for me. Thanks for all the reviews, I appreciate the time everyone takes to do them!

Bran pushed her overfill cart into the check out lane, once she was in line she browsed the candy and magazine rack beside the counter. She read the cover stories that were printed on the covers of the glossy paper. She was about to pick one up when the lady that was one person in front of her was finished with the cashier and had gathered her bags full of food.

Bran moved her cart forward and put down the separation bar down on the counter, as the lady before her started to get rung in. She started to unload her over flowing shopping cart, trying to group the food into their appropriate categories, meats with the meat, dairy with the dairy and so forth. By the time she was even half way through, she heard an exaggerated throat clear in front of her. She looked up to see an older lady, in her forties staring down at her. The cashier was also looking between her and the other women.

The woman starring down on her, had blonde hair and blue eyes. Bran could tell she caked the make-up on to hide the wrinkles that were becoming more and more apparent as the woman got older. She was dressed in a pair of slacks, and a semi dressy blue top. She had a name plate on, reading Tina and from reading the top of the name plate, Bran knew she worked at the Charming Royal Bank branch.

"Your new in town, aren't you." Tina said the question more like it was a statement as she stood before Bran holding her wallet open like she was about to pay for her grocery's. " It's a small enough town that new people stick out real well, specially when they associate themselves with certain people."

Bran straighten her back as she stood up from leaning over the cart, she let the bag of corn rest back in the cart. She didn't know this women and had no idea what the hell she was spouting off about. The snotty, know it all tone set her teeth on edge and she frowned when she replied, in an equally snotty tone. "Here I thought, I blended in real well."

She watched Tina buck at her tone in her voice and her clipped words. The polite frown Tina wore before turned into a nasty sneer as she replied. " I saw you earlier, with those men. Seeing as your new I feel like I need to warn you because I'm a good Christian soul. I'm sure every woman at one time or another has the urge to associate themselves with a good looking man with dark tendoisces but that road only leads to destruction."

"I don't think I'm really following you there." Bran told her cocking her hip and adjusting her purse on her shoulder. She was not in the mood to be preached at. "If you have something to say, why don't you do both of us a favour and spit it out or shut up and pay."

"The Sons of Anarchy are a plague in this town. They are responsible for some of the most horrendous events in our town. Slipping into bed with one of them will only get you two things. Sure he'll tell you he'll always be there, protect you but if he doesn't throw you away like a used rag at the end, you'll end you with a bullet in the back of your head like Donna Winston did. And she was a the wife of a member, mother of his two children and she still ended up dead a few months back. And here we all thought Opie was a nice boy, after all with his daddy belonging to the Son's and his mama a drunk he never had a chance."

Bran stared at this lady, who was spouting what sounded like Opie's personal business around the grocery store with little compassion or sympathy. She knew nothing of his situation nor knew him personally but the sad look he gave her yesterday haunted her now. This good Christian woman was two words from getting knocked on her ass.

"What a good Christian woman you must be to feel like you need to flaunt someone else's personal tragedy and use it to pad your moral high ground. Don't talk about something you know nothing about. Don't preach to someone who wants to hear nothing that comes out of your narrow minded, self serving mouth. Lady, I don't give a flying fuck about what you think, of me or who I associate myself with. You can take your high and mighty self and go fuck right off." Bran clenched her purse with a white knuckle grip before bending down and grabbing what was left in her cart and placed it on the check out belt, each item banging on the counter with a thud.

She probably just bruised the shit out of her apples, but she was to pissed to give a shit.

"Of all the nerve! Your going to regret not taking my advice. Honestly, is it a crime to help someone." Tina through money at the checkout girl before grabbing her grocery's and storming out of the store.

Bran shook her head as she pushed it ahead of her and watched the cashier run her items through the scanner. She caught the nervous look between the girl ringing in her purchases and the shopper behind her. Bran had no doubt that the little incident between her and Tina would be around town in a mere hours.

The woman gave Bran her total and she opened her purse and dug out her wallet. She was counting out the bills on the counter in front of the cashier when the woman spoke.

"Not all of what Tina said was true, but a fair chunk of it was." The cashier didn't meet her eyes when she spoke but her voice was low when she spoke as she rubbed her hands against her uniform. "Samcro isn't want it was back in my papa's day. The clubs changed, and what happened to Donna Winston is a shame. It hurt this town, and the town hasn't forgotten."

"I think it's a matter of opinion and choice. My business, my choice." Bran collected her bags of grocery's and set them into the cart in till there were none left. She walked briskly out of the store pushing the angry to the back of her mind, determined to forget about the ugly scene and focus on cooking Juice a delicious dinner.

While Bran was driving home, Juice was sitting in meeting room of Samcro looking over the other faces of brother's. Most were determined, as this meeting was one of revenge for Opie's wife who most only knew in passing as the woman wasn't very friendly to club members after Op's five year stint in jail. She was family, and Samcro looked after it's own.

This church session was a long time coming, and it seemed everyone was more on edge then normal. The are was smoking, a combination of cigarette and cigar smoke hung in the air, creating a hazy like atmosphere. It seemed like son in the room had a smoke hanging out of his mouth or resting between his fingers.

Juice looked away from the faces of his brothers and down at his hands, as he remembered the anguish that he saw on Opie's face when he cradled Donna's bloody body in his arms on the dirty street. It was a memory that he knew wouldn't fade from his mind any time soon. Nor should it. It was a grim reminder exactly how dangerous this life was.

"I haven't been able to say this on a club level, but we're all broken up about what happened to Donna. She was a great girl, and we know how much you love her. She sure loved you." Clay's deep voice brought Juice's attention from his hands in front of him to the head of the table. It was quiet, there were no jokes, no harassing of the fellow brother's, this was not a lighter time in Church. The quiet was heavy, weighing down on them like the matter they were here to discuss.

Retaliation for the death of Donna Winston, and the hit gone wrong on her husband Opie. A act of violence against the club that could not go unanswered.

Donna was always nice to him, a little cold at times but she wasn't hostile towards him like she was others. He was not as close to her as Jax was, as he only in the last few months became closer to Opie. He had fond memories of her before Opie's jail time and fewer after it. But she brought a special light to his brother's eyes and it was sad to know that she would never do that to Opie or their two children.

It hurt him to think of Kenny and Ellie. Having spent a little time around the Winston household in the last months before Donna's death, he had interacted with Opie's children and he had no words to comfort either child. No child should loose a parent that young.

"Thanks." Opie said. He nodded in Clay's direction, knowing some kind of acknowledgement was due. It felt like he was always on auto pilot all the time. Not just with the kids, but here with the club. He was numb for so long after that horrible night, it was only in the last few weeks that the need for revenage burned with in him all the time. Like a consuming fire, eating at him from the inside out.

Juice was all for revenge and if Opie wanted him there, he would be there in a heart beat. Like he knew Opie would do the same for him if the situation was reverse.

"Now we have to deal with the underbelly of this. Those bullets that killed her, were meant for you." Clay spoke from the president's chair, taking a drag of his cigar. He needed to handle this situation with care. This was a fucked up situation he and Tig were in. The last thing he needed was Opie and the rest of the club finding out just how bad he fucked up. "We have to settle that."

"Had to be the Niners. Unser said it was a gangsa black SUV, black guy driving." Opie's large hands reached for the pack of smokes that rested on the table a few inches from the ashtray that was always present on the redwood table. He flicked open the lid and pulled out a smoke. Reaching for the lighter that was between him and his father with one hand, he brought the smoke up to his lips with the other. He lit the smoke and inhaled deep.

"No one saw who was driving Op." Tig replied, looking down the table at his brother. The guilt he felt for killing an innocent woman, his brother's old lady was easier to deal with while Opie was away. But now, having his brother in his face every day, looking so fucking miserable, it ate at him. "No one. We are pretty sure that the guy wasn't black."

"He was brown." Clay told them before taking a puff from his cigar. He rubbed his salt and pepper hair before setting down in his chair. He needed to sell this story.

"Mayan's? How do we know that?" Opie asked taking a drag from his smoke. He was so sure, that from the description Unser gave of the vehicle that it was Leroy's gang who had gunned Donna down.

"Jax and Piney talked to Leroy, so we know it wasn't the niners." Chibbs turned to inform Opie. He felt for his brother, knowing all to well what it was like to be parted from someone you love.

"That's right. As far as he is concerned, the Niners and Samcro are good." Piney looked over at his son, rolling a smoke between his fingers, and reached up to adjust his oxygen. Piney knew he wasn't all that good at handling his son. He knew that Opie had round up bringing between Mary taking off and his need for the bottle. He hadn't always been there for his kid, and when he was he wasn't parent of the year. He hated swollowing what Clay and Tig did. But this was the best thing for Opie.

And he was going to do right by his boy, just this once.

"And you believed him?"

"Yeah, we did." Jax weighed in, looking at his best friend from the other end of the table. He knew Opie needed this to move on, and as much good as the months on the road did for him, putting a bullet into the head of someone he thought was responsible would be better for him. Even if it was the wrong person. " I know the truth when I hear it."

Tig, shifted in his seat. He needed this to be over, it was harder to lie to Opie knowing what he did. "It's got to be Alvarez. He thinks we set up him, we took his money and left him behind to get shredded by the Niners."

Clay unfolded a single sheet of paper from his cut, and laid it out on the table. "I had Tremmal look into it. Black range rover, got jacked outside a bar in Alema. Turns up two days later a few miles from the mayan club house in Hayward. Mac ten cases on the floor, same kind of gun that killed Donna."

"By the end of the day, we'll know who's prints are on the dash board." Tig nodded to his brothers.

"I convinced Tremmal to let us handle the arrest." Clay ashed his cigar as he watched what he was telling Opie sink it.

"I am the one who kills him." Opie said, each work firmer then the one before. He looked into each of his brother's eyes, watching the nod in agreement.

"Agreed." Clay bit out like it was even a question. Opie needed this. Everyone knew it. " You, Tig and Chibbs."

Jax shook his head, " And me." There was no way he was letting Opie do this without him.

"Yeah, I want Jax." Opie looked down the table at Clay.

Clay nodded. "And Jax. Juice, when Tremmal comes through with the name I want you to run it. I want to know where this guy takes a shit."

Juice nodded, knowing he would have to cancel on Bran because he needed to be at the club house when the information came down the pipe.

Clay's gavel rang out in the silence of the room, calling an end to Church.

Bran fiddled with the half empty mug of tea, pushing it back and forth a few inches at a time on the dark brown desk in her safe room. She stared at the lap top screen before her, reading page after page of information on the organization known as Sons of Anarchy, and it's present members. Dinner was made and was just waiting on the last minute touches that she would put on just before Juice arrive.

Although she had no moral objections to those who played on the wrong side of the law she like to be educated. Bran had no desired to draw heat, suspicion and curiosity her way by becoming involved in any way in a bad situation. After all, this was suppose to a sabbatical of sorts for her.

Bran didn't kid herself, she knew regardless of the fact she was interested in Juice, if it was not in her best interest and poised any threat to her family or to the business she would cut it off short before it even began.

She wasn't stupid, she knew a well used line like the one that came out of Juice's pretty lips. ' Harley enthusiasts' her ass. Most of the shit she read, was what she expected. Burglary, arson (Opie like to blow shit up apparently), assault, a few weapons charges scattered upon the members etc. Some members rap sheets were extensive and others had charges scattered throughout the years. All had served some length of time on the inside, some pulling longer stints, like Opie's five year bid for arson.

A few of the members had outstanding warrants most for the usual stuff. B & E for Bobby 'Elivis' Munson, a couple assault charges for Filip ' Chibbs' Telford, and then there was Tig. Alex 'Tig' Trager had five outstanding warrants. Most like the others were nothing unusual but the one that stood out was his assault and public nudity in an agriculture barn.

She almost wanting to know what the hell he was doing naked as a jay bird in a barn enough to ask.

Both Opie and Jax's were second generation SAMCRO, both their fathers the deceased John Teller and the still living Piermont 'Piney' Winston were founding members of the organization. It was suspected that Samcro was in bed with the Real IRA back in the green isle as their brother charter Sambel and other Irish charters all had close ties with the IRA.

Bran exited the folder that held the information she had been sent by her cousin Lucy earlier in the day. She owed Lucy a favour for putting together the information quickly and quietly. She pulled up the article on the Donna Winston murder that happened months before. Gun down while driving her husbands truck on the way to the store, sent a clear message that the hit was meant for Opie.

There wasn't any doubt that Opie must be carrying a shit load of guilt inside. That explained the sad look in his eyes very well and proved the local gossip true.

The Son's were serious players, small time players they might be but they handled their shit.

Checking the time on the bottom of the computer screen, Bran exited out of her programs, closed down her laptop. Juice would be here for dinner in forty minutes. She wanted to have enough time for a quick shower and a few changes of clothes as she had no doubt that her nerves would get the best of her.

Grabbing her mug, Bran left the safe room, keying in the code to close the door behind her. She placed her mug on the counter before shoving the table back into place, and arranging the chairs back into their place. She pulled the heavy curtain back from the kitchen window and shoved mug of tea into the microwave to warm it up.

Hearing the beep of the microwave, she opened it and took a drink from the hot tea. She walked over to the oven, opening it slightly to check on her lasagne baking in there. There was Caesar salad in the fridge, and when Juice got there she would just have to put the garlic bread in the over to bake for 15 and everything would be ready to eat.

Juice had texted her earlier, so that she would have his number. It was a dorky, cute message that she would expect him to send. And when her phone began to ring, seeing his name flash across her screen made Bran breakout into a smile.

"Hello?" Bran tried not to sound excited that he was calling her. Shit, she was pathetic.

"Hey Bran." Juice's voice was low, as if he was whispering into the phone. She could hear various voices in the background, loud enough to hear but quiet enough not to be able to make out what they were saying. "It's Juice, which I am sure you know. So I don't know why I said that."

Bran chuckled at the way he sounded." Calling for directions?"

"No, actually." Juice soft laughter made her smile more, but the way his voice changed caused her to frown." I'm actually calling to cancel."

Bran couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice. "Oh okay."

"I'm really sorry, I want to come for dinner. But something came up at the garage so I have to stay." He couldn't very well say the clubhouse without trying to explain what the hell was keeping him here." I know it's last minute and all, I hope you didn't go to a lot of trouble."

"No, it's no big deal." Bran said starring at the oven, feeling a little bit like a idiot. The feeling of rejection weighed heavy in her stomach. Juice wasn't the first man to put it there. She forced a nonchalant tone in her voice when she spoke to him next. "I didn't really have anything pulled together."

"Oh, okay. Maybe we can try this again later this week, I mean if your free. I told you that I had a day off this week pretty soon, so I can stop by for sure to help you out. If you want me too." he was rambling and he couldn't get his mouth to shut up. He hated that she sounded so disappointed and he didn't want her to think he wasn't interested.

"Sure that's fine. I've got to go. I left something on in the kitchen." Bran lied just wanting the conversation to end, as she started to put away the long french loaf. She was enough lasagne to feed six people, she didn't need the bread.

"Okay. Bye."

Bran hung up and sat down at the table, and stared at the oven for the next forty minutes trying to figure out why the hell she was so sad.