A/N Thank you for the reviews and continued support. I love you all. Keep it up, I appreciate the wonderful feedback. :)

I don't own anything, nada, zilch. Except for Dixie, Maggie, and the chickens. Lol.

Chapter Eight

Telling Bobby was most likely the easiest part of the whole thing next to telling Maggie. That's what Dixie told herself. And it was for the most part true.

The next morning, after Maggie fussed over her the night before, Dixie decided to face it head on. This was easy part, telling people was just the beginning, and when she looked back on it...it was going to look like a piece of cake compared to the other things she would have to go through. For some reason that reasoning didn't help her much but it was all that she had so Dixie just went with it. She'd count the cards when they landed - not before.

She walked into the Clubhouse for the first time in weeks. It was early still but Bobby had said he'd be there bright and early. And she could see why. Maggie had missed a blow out the night before. Dixie wondered painfully if she missed a mini-celebration of some sort. She also felt out of place for the first time. Walking into an aftermath was a whole lot different than walking into it. It was something she had done before but...it felt this different this time. Maybe it was because she was wearing jeans, flats, and a long sleeved comfortable shirt. It was cold out or maybe she was just cold because of...well... it. Either way – Dixie had the sick card. If that meant anything – that meant she had a free pass on whatever the hell she wanted to wear.

Bobby ambled out, his hair and beard wet but fully dressed, of the back. She walked over to the kitchen and started making coffee out of pure habit.

"Mornin' darlin'. Good to see you up this early." Bobby greeted in a croaky voice. He slid onto the bar and she poked her head out of the kitchen.

"I'm putting coffee on," She said quietly, seeing a couple of sleeping members passed out on the sofa.

He nodded at her, waving his hand faintly.

Dixie poured them cups and prepared the words she had to say in her head. It wasn't like with Maggie. It wasn't just going to slip out. It needed...it needed to be said. Dixie just wasn't sure about how to say it.

She peaked out of the kitchen to see who was asleep in the corner. It was Chip, underneath a red-head. Dixie felt a smile tug on her lips. It seems he had fallen right in with them. She was glad that it looked like he wasn't having any trouble falling in with the rest of them. The other was Chibs, with this arms around a chesty blonde. She hoped that she could tell Bobby what she needed to tell him and then be able to work from there.

Dixie brought out their coffee and slid onto the stool next to him. He took a long drag and shook his groggy head.

"No one makes a cup of coffee like you, Dixie-girl."

Dixie took a long sip for courage.

Bobby set down his cup and leaned back a bit. "So what's this about? You're not usually a morning person and you certainly don't call one of us up out of the blue. Club's been a little worried about you with Tig being inside and your fainting and all -" He paused for a moment, reading her face, and then shook his head. "How far along are you?"

Dixie blinked for a moment and then shook her head quickly. "No-no...I'm not pregnant."

Bobby frowned but apologized. "I just figured that'd be the reason you'd ask to see me. Stripping while pregnant is kinda dangerous for the fetus."

That was probably true and it was still a valid explanation for Dixie summoned every single ounce of courage she had in her and formed the words carefully. "When I came back from the doctors and said that I was anemic I wasn't lying. I was anemic but..but...the doctors...wanted me to go in for testing. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for certain."

Bobby abandoned his cup of coffee and looked at her startled. "What kind of testing, Dixie?" She could literally see his mind whirring the possibilities, the effects that this had on Tig.

"They found a lump in my breast, Bobby. And...they did some tests and it's Breast Cancer...Stage Two B Breast Cancer."

Bobby's face paled and he shook his head in disbelief. "But...but you're just a kid, Dixie. You're not even thirty."

"It happens to twenty-somethings too. They were quick about getting me tested...Breast Cancer is apparently statistically more aggressive in my age group."

"Does Tig know?" Bobby asked quickly.

Dixie shook her head with guilt. "No. I wanted to know what I was dealing with before I said anything. I don't want him to know until I can tell him what they want to do about it. I'm going to St. Thomas next week to meet the Doctor whose going to oversee my treatment. I've been getting my testing done in the hospital in Sacramento. But they thought it'd be better if I did my treatment locally."

"So you...you don't know what kind of treatment yet?"

"Chemo first most likely. And then surgery to remove what's left. And then a round of radiation." Dixie shared. It was like a weight had lifted off her chest and her abdomen. She breathed deeply, letting the feeling sink into her, and quietly explained everything she knew to Bobby. She didn't want any secrets from anyone.

"Jesus, Dixie." Bobby said heavily, looking down at his coffee shaking his head. "This is some messed up shit."

"Tell me about it."

He looked back up at her. "I'll let the Club know and I'm sure I'm speaking on a Club level when I say that we are all here for you, whatever you need you let us know. And don't you worry about Tig. We're taking care of him while he's inside. He's going to come back to you whole. It's just your job to see that you're in one piece when he comes back."

Dixie nodded. "Thank you, Bobby."

They finished their coffee and she went back to her house before the Club started to stir. She knew by the end of the day that everyone would know. After telling Bobby and Maggie she felt an enormous relief. A month was all that she could stand to keep it a secret. She didn't want to do this alone. She just...

Dixie wasn't sure what she felt except that she felt scared and wanted Tig and didn't want to have to do this alone. But...how would he feel? Coming back to a bald, sick Old Lady where he had a young, healthy Old Lady before? Everything would be different, she would be different when he got out. Were they strong enough to handle this? He loved her and she loved him and she'd love him through anything.

She'd love him through decades inside and through cancer and through anything. She missed him, she missed the way he was always ten steps ahead of her. She missed the way it felt to wrap her arms around him. To ride behind him on his bike. She missed the way the way his blue eyes twinkled when he looked at her. She missed how safe she felt when he was around. There was a piece of her in that prison with him. A piece of her that she missed, that she needed.

The one thing she knew about him was that he was always ahead of her. Maybe it was the age difference or just the way they were together. She felt stronger when he was around and she hadn't realized that until now. The unknown of what she was facing, what was coming at her, was brutal. She didn't know what was going to happen, she didn't even know what this really, truly meant for her. Her entire life she had been going with the flow, taking it as it came, trying not to force things. She wasn't really used to fighting for something. Dixie could hold her own and she worked hard but she had never had to literally fight for something so hard like she knew she was going to have to fight this.

It was going to be a fist fight, a brawl inside of her body, and she had to get strong. Emotionally and physically prepared to do this. It was coming and there was nothing that she could do to stop it. She couldn't pack up and leave, she couldn't hide in the Clubhouse, she couldn't smother it with partying. She had to face it, she had to deal with it, and she had to face the daunting, aching possibility nothing would be the same no matter what happened.

She just...

Dixie didn't want to lose the life she had just found herself in. She hadn't had any time with Tig, she was just learning the ropes and the boundaries of her new role in her family. She was still so damn young for this shit.

XXXXXX

"We need another freezer." Maggie announced.

Dixie looked up from her sprawled, lazy position on her bed and groaned. "I can't look at another casserole. Don't get me wrong...I love the support but -"

"We're going to die of casserole OD before you even hit Chemo." Maggie finished for her, flopping next to her and picking up a magazine.

Dixie was flipping through magazines languishing and trying to avoid people. Bobby had told the Club and then the calls had started coming, the girls found out, Gemma found out, Tara found out. And that's when the casseroles started coming in. It wasn't just casseroles – it was cards, flowers, household items, gift cards, promises of support, cards for support groups, stories about mother's dying/surviving breast cancer. It was their entire world converging on her and it was amazing and warming.

And incredibly overwhelming.

And they needed another freezer.

"Maybe we can talk to Candy. She has a big freezer." She commented, thinking about the woman who lived on the corner. She had a huge freezer that she her ex-husband had used for his hunting meat. Candy had kept it out of revenge and rarely used it.

"I'll walk down and ask later." Maggie said helpfully. She rolled over on her stomach, her light strawberry blonde hair wrapped up in a scarf, and her body in comfortable cut offs and a bikini top. "I also talked to Mimi Sanchez and she said that she has extra space out by her Aunt's place."

Dixie turned and frowned. "You're selling the chickens?"

"No, just getting a business partner. She has some cash saved up and I've been looking into more farmer markets."

"You don't have to move them on the account of me. I can ask on Tuesday -"

"It's okay, Dixie. Beside, I was hoping to use the space by the coop to expand my garden. I was looking online for diet and nutrition advice for cancer patients. Veggies and fruits are an absolute must so I'm going to expand my vegetable garden. Nutrition is important before, during, and after treatment."

Dixie nodded knowing that she would soon not be worried about casseroles and soon be worried about the amount of vegetables and fruits and organic, vegetarian concoctions that Maggie put in front of her. Dixie was so lucky to have her. She hadn't ever had a real friend like Maggie before, at least not in Charming. Even with the changes in Dixie's life her friendship and status with Maggie had stayed the same behind the doors of their house. It was different when they were out with the Club, Maggie was a smart girl. She was laid back about the changes and went with the flow with an organic grace that most could aspire to but never get. Dixie was pretty sure that Maggie was here doing what she was doing because she really believed in the Club, loved her biker family. She could be a really sweet, loyal Old Lady except she probably wouldn't ever be unless the Club grew ranks and someone patched in who was looking for something serious. She hoped that if the time ever came that Maggie drifted out of their world she'd be able to keep her.

"Gemma wants to drive me to see Tig on Saturday." She said quietly, looking up at the ceiling.

"He'll be upset." Maggie stated but then she grasped Dixie's hand and squeezed. "But he's crazy about you and it'll be okay."

She turned her head and looked at her best friend. "Are you sure? I'm going to lose my hair and be all sick and they'll have to take a chunk out of my tits – and he loves my tits. I mean – he really, really loves my tits."

"Do you remember last year when he found that dog on the side of the road? She was so broken up that I was pretty sure that she wasn't going to make it. But Tig nursed her back to health, he saw her behind all the wounds and the broken bits." Maggie leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "I'll deny it if you ever repeat me but Tig is a very nice person inside."

Dixie fought a chuckle and hugged her friend.

And knew that she was right. Tig was so much more than he appeared and she of all people should remember that.

The doorbell rang for the fifth time that afternoon.

"Oh my God." She whispered in mock horror. "It's them. Run!"

Maggie giggled and threw a pillow in her direction. "Run is right, they're trying to kill you with all that processed crap in those casseroles!"

Dixie climbed off the bed and ran her hand through her hair to greet whoever had come to visit. She was surprised when she walked through her bedroom door and saw Tara Teller standing with a son on her hip.

"I'm sorry to barge in like this. I'm sure you're needing to rest right now. But I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd stop by and check in." Tara greeted, bouncing Thomas on her hip. The growing toddler grabbed at Maggie's dangly earrings (or maybe he was aiming for her rack – Dixie wasn't sure) and Maggie took him when Tara offered him.

"I'll just take this little guy out to say hi to the chickens."

"Don't let him into the coop, just let him look from a safe distance." Tara commanded with an appreciative smile.

"Yes, ma'am." Maggie said sweetly before whisking Thomas away for a mini-chicken observing adventure leaving Dixie alone with the President's doctor Old Lady.

"Can I get you something to drink, to eat? We've recently been overcome with a incredible amount of casserole."

"Coffee if you have it. You make a good cup of a coffee." Tara smiled.

"Make yourself comfortable." Dixie insisted waving welcoming at her living area. Tara made herself comfortable on Dixie's couch while Dixie hurried to make them coffee.

A few minutes later she was bringing the coffee tray out with cookies that Bobby had sent over with one of the girls from work. That man loved to bake.

"Oh you didn't need to go to so much trouble, Dixie." Tara insisted. "Just a cup was fine – it's important that you start to take it easy."

"I've been taking it easy. Maggie's been fussing over me since I came out. Bobby took me off the work schedule so I'm out of work for now. I'm actually glad for the excuse to do something."

"Are you going to be okay for money? For insurance?"

"Maggie's got plans to expand her chicken adventures and I have some money saved up. I think it'll all work out." She replied, she actually wasn't sure what she was going to do. She figured she should start putting in her applications in at the super market and gas stations. Something low key with manageable hours. The pay would be horrible but it'd be better than doing nothing.

Tara frowned a little and said. "I'm sure there's assistance out there for women in your situation. I'll talk to my friends at the hospital and see what they say. You obviously can't keep dancing but I'm sure you're relieved about that."

Not really, but Dixie didn't say anything.

"I was going to start taking over the management end so Bobby could focus on Cara Cara." Dixie shared, a twinge of sadness at her lost chance. She knew that once she got through this, if things were the same, she could probably pick up where she left off. But it still hurt.

Tara looked thoughtful for a moment, taking a sip of her coffee. "Well, perhaps you could answer phones at Cara Cara or something. It's such a lucrative business I'm sure they can find you some position that doesn't require...certain positions."

She wasn't sure that Tara could make those promises but it was nice that she was trying, it meant so much that she was here. In her living room. Dixie was reminded of the first time she woke up with a club member – Tig – next to her in her actual bed. It felt right but it was still incredibly new.

"That would be nice, anything that I can manage when I start chemo..."

"I'm not sure...most people don't work during Chemo." Tara said quietly. "But once you stop chemo you can probably return back to something to get money coming in. Some women return to work during radiation therapy if the work they do isn't too strenuous. A manageable part-time position would be best."

"I was thinking of seeing of the market was hiring. I worked there when I was a teenager."

"Well, the important thing right now is for you to know that you're not alone and you have all of us here supporting you." Tara said with sincerity. She leaned forward and surprised Dixie by giving her a tight, long hug. "You're young and you're strong. You'll get through this, Dixie."

A few minutes later Tara collected her son and left with words of support. Dixie watched her pull out of her driveway quietly. Maggie came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her from behind.

"Do you want some casserole?"

"Sure." She replied with a smile that didn't quite reach the corners of her mouth.