After almost getting in an accident on the way home, Ava firmly believes that next time she drinks, she should follow Gemma's advice and stock up on advil to avoid leaving her front door with a hangover.
Pulling into her driveway, Ava notices a tall and bruised up man on her porch. Getting out of the car, Ava sees him walk towards her.
"May I help you?" Ava says less than kindly.
"Are you Ava Blair?" The man asks coming towards her with a slight limp.
"Yeah. Who are you?" Ava asks keeping close to her car.
"My name is Steve Clyte. I'm a close friend of Garrett's. I talked to your mother. Seems he came to Charming for you." He asked extending his hand to greet her.
"Yeah, hi." Ava says shaking his hand. "He came to check up on me for my mom. I don't know where he is though. I already told the police everything I know."
"You sure? He called a while back and said you two got real close. He had a real soft spot for you. Even mentioned something about a bonfire that you two went to." Steve said taking a step closer.
"What" Ava asks wondering if Steve knew anything about the shit he's been trying to pull since he got to town.
"Listen, little girl. I know what you told the cops already. Garrett told me that if anything happens to him, you would know about it. Now, let's skip this bullshit chit-chat and you tell me what you know about his disappearance." Garrett says, his hands closing into tight fists.
"Are you shitting me? I already told you. I don't know anything about your friend. Now, I suggest you get off my property before I call the cops." Ava says trying to keep her head straight with a headache from hell.
"We'll see. Oh, and Ms. Blair? One last thing. About the bonfire, I thought you looked real good in those jean shorts. Real nice, honey." Steve said as he gave her a salute goodbye and started walking to a dark, green covered jeep across the street.
"Oh, shit." Ava says turning to unlock her door. Starting to freak out about what Steve just said to her, she slides down her door and takes deep breaths trying to get her head in order. Taking some advil, she stares at the hunting gun that her uncle keeps on display above the mantelpiece.
Steve's POV
Steve drives away from Ava's house with a venomous smile on his face. He is certain she knows more than she's letting on. But first things first. Garrett has been like his brother for much of his life and Garrett came to Charming to do one thing and that's stop the monopoly that the Sons of Anarchy are starting up on the gun business coming in from Kale. Ava Blair was a means to an end that Steve himself suggested. But first things first. Business comes before pleasure.
"The little bitch. Who knows? Maybe I'll finish what Garrett started with the little brunette," Steve murmurs to himself.
Teller-Morrow Garage
"Hey, got intel that Jones' buddy got released from St. Thomas." Chibs says telling Jax when he showed up at the garage.
"Really? Why the hell do we give a shit?" Jax laughs. "We have no business with Clyte."
"Just keepin bases covered. Clay said to let you lead this one." Chibs replies whipping the car oil from his hands.
"Nah. We're all covered. Nobody knows or saw shit. Now, come on. Let's get to work. We gotta get some of this shit done before the Old Ladies show up and start trouble." Jax says picking up some car forms laying around.
"You got it, V.P. How's Abel doing?" Chibs asks hearing about the festivities going on the night before.
"His mother decided to show some mercy this morning. You know what's wrong about this shit man?" Jax asks.
"What's that, Jackie-boy?" Chibs says taking the forms Jax handed him.
"When I was his age and suffering a hangover, she wouldn't let me sleep five damn minutes."Jax says taking his cut off to start working on a sedan that needs an engine fix.
"Huh. Jax, you and Clay married the two most unstable women I ever laid eyes on. You deserve this shit." Chibs replies laughing.
"Yeah, yeah. Damn woman is gonna bring me to an early grave." Jax says laughing knowing he wouldn't trade any of it for anything. "By the way, when's your new girl getting here?"
"Can't get here soon enough," Chibs says. A few years ago, on some business in Tacoma, Chibs meet a Washington native named Vanessa. All of 5'6", she is a short, haired blonde with close ties to the brothers in Washington since she is able to get the medical supplies that the brothers need on occasion. She is a fifteen year nurse veteran who wanted to play a game of pool at a bar and ran into Chibs. Although she hasn't been able to make the move to Charming as of yet, they've been making it work, but both are losing their patience with the long distance bullshit.
"You think she'll make the move down here? You switching charters is not the most favored course of action, bro." Jax says seriously.
"Ah, Jax. The divorce to Fiona is permanent now. Nothing stopping us, you know? Although, there is something I could live without when it comes to my Vanessa." Chibs states.
"I hope it's not the sex," Jax jokes taking the wrench from Chibs.
"Nah, brother. It's her goddamn cooking. Woman almost set the clubhouse up there on fire twice trying to cook. How the hell is that possible?" Chibs wonders chuckling.
"Women are mysterious creatures. They can do the hardest of tasks, but some of the easiest jobs just seem to slip their minds." Jax says getting to work.
"Hey, Jax?" The newest prospect, Benny, says calling out.
"Don't you got a dumpster to clean, Prospect?" Jax says in an annoyed voice.
"There's a guy here. Wants to talk to Clay, wants to get his possessions from his car. He said his car was the car that caught fire." Benny says trying not to piss Jax off.
"Really?" Chibs says looking at Jax. As the two brothers walk out to greet the newcomer, Jax immediately recognizes the guy as Steve Clyte from the picture with Garrett.
"Can we help you?" Jax asks.
"Hello, gentlemen. My name's Steve Clyte. As you aware, I had an unfortunate accident. I'm here trying to get any of my possessions from the truck in the accident." Steve says extending a hand to Jax.
"The car was towed to the yard. There wasn't much that survived." Jax says shaking his hand.
"Yeah, I just want to check. There were some sentimental items in the truck." Clyte responds coolly.
"Benny, here, can take you to the office and give you the address of the junk yard." Jax responds with just as much ice in his voice.
As Benny leads Clyte to the office, Chibs asks, "You think he'll be trouble?"
"Probably just a nuisance. He'll ask his questions, find no leads, and get the hell out of town. We'll keep an eye on him just in case," Jax says returning to work on the sedan.
Jax and Tara's house
"Hello," Gemma says walking into her son's house knowing both her grandkids are home.
"Gemma, I beg of you, for the love of God, don't yell," Maddie says coming out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hands.
"How you doing, baby?" Gemma asks giving her granddaughter a kiss on the check.
"I took pills, I took a shower, I've had two cups of coffee, and I still feel like I have African drums playing around in my goddamn head," Maddie says sitting down slowly on the couch.
"Shit, it was that bad, huh?" Gemma asks laughing. "Listen, I came over cause I want to know what you think about Ava. She's getting into some deep shit with Abel."
"Shouldn't you be having this conversation with the couple in question?" Maddie says hoping she can still get some sleep before Dean gets off from work.
"I saw Ava this morning and she looks like shit. I've seen strippers and hookers look more put together than she did this morning." Gemma says pulling out a cigarette.
"Hey, don't be so hard on her. She drank some of the strongest and weirdest combinations of liquor I have seen a girl drink in a while. She's good for Abel, you know? If she couldn't handle the club, she wouldn't let shit go on. She knows what she can and can't handle. Besides, she usually doesn't look like she did when you saw her this morning," Maddie replies pulling a blanket over her bare toes.
"Abel needs someone put together, you know? Like your dad did. He needs someone who can stand by his side cause if this shit is as permanent as Abel and Ava make it look like, there's no time like the present to show a united front. Jax will one day lead this club, and after Jax will come Abel. It's my job and Tara's to make sure that Abel chooses good because whatever he chooses, the club will have to choose." Gemma says speaking from wisdom.
"I like her. She's collected, knows what she wants. Who knows, though? But I'd like to believe that Abel will be a hundred percent sure before he starts drawing up a crow to put on Ava's skin." Maddie says honestly looking at her grandmother.
"Sometimes boys don't think with their brains. They like the feeling they get when they think with their dicks. I told Ava to stop by the garage when she gets ready. I gotta get over there." Gemma says taking a puff of her cigarette.
Back to the Garage
Ava shows up at the garage both showered and medicated.
"Opie?" Ava asks seeing Opie going over some papers with Benny.
"Hi. Thought you'd still be passed out," Opie asks laughing as he sees her glasses covering her eyes.
"Yeah, it was crazy." Ava says placing her hands in her back pockets. "Gemma told me to meet her up here. Is she here yet?"
"Yeah, just got here. She's in the office." Opie says telling her he'll see her later and getting back to work.
Walking into the office, Gemma tells her to take a seat.
"I'm not gonna give any long ass talk so let's just get to it. I've been here since the beginning so I know what I'm talking about here. Abel's graduating this year. You'll still have one more year to finish. What the hell are you gonna do when you graduate?" Gemma asks straight out rocking back and forth in the chair.
"What I do is up to me." Ava replies silently acknowledging she does need to figure out how life will be after high school.
"Bullshit. So long as you're with Abel, what you do affects this club. It affects him. You can't be both in and out. You're young, maybe not ready to settle down like you may think you are. You have to decide because Abel's gonna graduate and then he'll be a part of this club 24/7, every day of the week, every month and every breath he takes. Can you handle that?" Gemma asks.
"I'd like to think I can, but who knows, Gemma? Who knows what can happen? We're good now, him and me. Life can get rough and I know that." Playing with her sunglasses, Ava adds, "We are still trying to figure out how to work in sync. It's like you said. We're young."
"Hey, Gemma, Clay's out here. Wants to see you." Opie says coming in.
"I'm coming. Ava, think fast. The more time goes by, the harder it'll be at the end to make your choice, especially if it leads to the end of you and my grandson." Gemma says walking out with Opie.
As Ava gets into her car and leaves the garage, she sees Steve's green jeep parked at the Clifton Market. Driving by, she sees Steve Clyte shaking hands with her boss.