I thought up this chapter after the first 2 episodes of season 5. It seemed to fit in to my story very well considering Tig was Gabby's father. If you recall I asked my readers if any of you weren't watching season 5 and a few of you said you weren't or that is was delayed, so I didn't write this or post it but after all these months I still missed it. So here you go; the Happy and Gabby version of Pope going after Tig's daughters.
This sits in between chapters 8 and 9. I kind of mentioned aspects of this when I got more into Fresno's story, that they all liked Gabby and wanted her to be part of Fresno.
Disclaimer: do not own, not for profit - getting bored with that, how about a contest for a new funny disclaimer idea?
2012
Age 20
Happy was at a complete loss at what to do. He had just gotten word from Bobby. Pope had burned Tig's daughter alive in revenge for Tig killing Veronica. He had threatened to do the same to Fawn. Happy swallowed nervously as he got off his bike and ran up the stairs to Gabby's apartment. Pope hadn't mentioned Gabby; she wasn't on the books anywhere as being Tig's daughter. Not even all his brothers knew the truth, hell Gabby may still not know. It didn't matter though, Hap wasn't taking any chances. He didn't bother knocking, just jammed his key in the hole and pushed the door open.
"Umm, hi." Gabby said half sarcastically. She was sitting on the couch with her laptop doing one of her online classes.
"You need to pack a bag." He walked over to her and grabbed her laptop off her and hauled her up off the couch.
"Okay, dad chill. Is it a lockdown? How many days?" He didn't answer as he pushed her toward her closet and grabbed her old book bag out. "Dad?!" Gabby yelled trying to get his attention.
"Pack Gabby." He thrust the bag at her and pointed to her dresser before turning around and grabbing 2 pairs of jeans out of her closet with such force he snapped one of the hangers in half. He jammed them in the bag and turned to grab shirts. Gabby followed suit and grabbed a hand full of underwear throwing them in her bag and going back for bras and socks.
When the bag was full he threw it over his shoulder and pushed her toward the door. She grabbed her keys and a hoodie and put it on as she was pulled down the stairs.
"Bike." He spoke forcefully and snagged her elbow when she turned for her car.
"Dad I'll follow you, I'll need my car to get to work." Gabby tried to calm her father. She had never seen him like this and his obvious worry was scaring her. Happy was always calm, even when angry he was still contained. But now, her father looked….scared.
"We're not going to TM." Happy continued to talk as little as possible. He didn't have answers if she started to ask questions. He couldn't tell her the truth about Dawn without telling her the truth about Tig.
"Well where the hell are we going?" She asked; slipping her helmet on as Happy tied down her bag.
"Fresno."
Gabby gratefully took Vin's hand as he helped her off Hap's bike in the SAMFRES clubhouse parking lot. Happy had made the 2 ½ hour trip in about an hour and Gabby had spent the entire time clinging to him for dear life.
Happy climbed off and started removing Gabby's bag from his bike. He didn't bother removing his own helmet however. Vin stroked Gabby's back to comfort her as he saw the worry plastered on her face. Happy handed him the bag and turned to his daughter.
"Stay here till I come for you. HERE Gabby, this property. You don't leave, you don't get left alone."
"Okay dad." He kissed her forehead and turned to Vin.
"You don't have to say it brother. I'll watch after her like she's my own." Vin assured Hap.
"Closer." Happy emphasized before getting back on his bike and speeding out without a second look.
Vin shouldered the bag and steered Gabby toward the clubhouse. "Don't suppose you're gonna tell me what's going on." Gabby half mumbled as they reached the doors.
"Hap didn't tell you?"
"Hap shoved me out the door and told me we were going to Fresno."
"Right…well there's ah, some stuff Charming has to deal with. That's all." Vin opened the door for her and walked her inside. It was a little past 4 am now and the clubhouse was empty. "The guys are just cautious."
"Vin." Gabby turned to face him. "I'm the only person here from Charming. Gemma, Tara…" Gabby looked around. "No one came with us."
"You're a smart kid." Vin sighed and stepped forward so he could face her. "Look, honestly, I don't know. Hap called, said that you specifically might be in danger."
"Why, from who?"
"From black, and I honestly don't know why." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked toward the dorms. "Come on, I'll get you set up in a room. I'm staying here tonight. We'll assign someone to your ass in the morning."
Happy raced back to Charming. He and the others were supposed to be at the clubhouse waiting for word from Chibs on what Jax wanted done. He pulled into TM just as Frankie Diamonds was pulling up to the gate.
"Perfect timing brother. Got the word. Swinging by to pick up Juice on the way." He called over the bikes and Happy gave him a nod and circled the lot to follow him back out onto the road.
The description of events they had gotten over the phone had been brief. A daughter for a daughter, burned alive, in front of Tig. Watching Gabby screaming in agony would destroy Hap. As he walked into the brothel and spotted Tig numb on the couch, he could truly feel for his brother.
Hap tore his eyes off the broken man and watched Chibs approach them after speaking with Jax. "What's the plan?" Frankie Diamonds asked the SAA when he got closer.
"Got Fawn's address. We're gonna pick her up; get her out of town." Chibs quickly filled the men in. "You look rough Hap." Chibs observed of his usually unflappable brother.
Hap glanced at Tig only 2 feet away before answering. "Took Gabby to Fresno." Tig's head shot up and he locked eyes with his brother. Neither had ever discussed Gabby, it was an unspoken rule between them. Tig nodded at Hap, his eyes gleaming with appreciation.
"Good move." Chibs clapped him on the back.
"A little overprotective don't you think?" Juice asked oblivious to the truth.
"No." Chibs Happy and even Tig all answered at once.
"Rough night?" Vin teased a very unhappy looking Gabby as she walked out of her dorm into the main clubhouse.
"And morning. Just had to explain to my boss why I won't be at work for an undetermined length of time." She answered him and took the coffee offered to her by Tom Tom. She settled onto the stool next to Vin. "Any word from Charming?"
"Nothing, why, you sick of us already?" Vin smiled at her over his own coffee mug.
"Just worried. Since I'm somehow involved with all this."
"SAMFRES will keep you safe honey." Gabby looked up at the new man that had spoken to her. "Chris." He offered her his hand.
"Morning Pres."
"Vin." Chris acknowledged his SAA. "Just got off the phone with Bobby. Charming's a mess. Few of the boys are looking at jail time. Not Hap." Chris assured Gabby immediately. "Some Oakland player is making life difficult in the meantime. You're gonna be here for the duration."
Gabby slowly nodded her head. "Why just me?"
"Not just you honey. Charming is on lockdown now too. You're dad's just a little more overprotective." He patted her on the shoulder and grabbed a coffee from the waiting prospect. "Vin, chapel, now." Both men gave Gabby a smile before retreating behind the double doors.
"What's up pres.?" Vin asked as soon as the doors closed.
"You're on Gabby duty. I know its prospect work." Chris paused and held up a hand as he sat down. "Tig Trager killed Damon Pope's daughter." Vin blew out a breath and sat down as well. "Pope burned Trager's daughter alive. In front of him."
"Jesus Christ."
"He threatened to do the same to his oldest. He's trying to get Tig in jail so he can have black kill him. Along with Jax and Chibs."
"Holy fuck pres. We sending guys up there?"
"No. Bobby said less bikers around the better. He also said Gabby might be a target for Pope. Don't know if Hap was involved or whatever, but she stays here till a deal is brokered. And no one finds out she's here."
Vin slowly nodded his head. A lot of things were suddenly clicking into place in his head. Her lack of similarity to Happy and her glaring resemblance to Tig. Happy's worry over her safety because of Tig's actions. And his parting words to him this morning. 'Closer.' As in closer than is Gabby was his own. Because she wasn't Happy's either. Vin couldn't help but wonder how in the hell the Tacoma Killer had ended up raising Tig's kid. Or if Gabby knew.
Happy couldn't help but stare at Fawn as Tig tried to explain what was going on. He had never met either of Tig's girls in person before to be able to compare them to Gabby. Fawn and Gabby looked fairly similar. Similar enough to be half-sisters he supposed. Her actions however were dead on. All the Tragers' seemed to have the ability to switch moods on a dime. Fawn's worry switching to anger midsentence reminded Happy so much of Gabby. When she started crying and hitting Tig he couldn't take it anymore. Happy had made a lot of women cry in his life and it never fazed him. Yet Gabby crying always made him feel like he was being stabbed in the gut. And Fawn, Jesus those 2 girls seemed to cry the exact same way.
He pulled her off Tig with help from Frankie Diamonds and walked her to the kitchen before pulling her against his chest. He shushed her and gently rubbed a hand over her back as he kissed her head. The same way he always comforted Gabby. He dared a glance at Frankie whom didn't seem bothered or surprised by Happy's apparent paternal side and simply went about pouring Fawn a glass of water.
"Alright, come on, sit." Happy pulled the girl that was now clinging to him down into a chair and squatted down in front of her. "You need to breathe Fawn." He spoke slowly and quietly, the same way he always spoke to Gabby when she was in this state and it seemed to work. Frankie handed him the glass of water and Hap pressed it firmly into her hand making sure she wouldn't drop it. Her boyfriend walked in clutching a wad of cash Jax had no doubt given him.
"We gotta pack baby." He pulled her up out of the chair and kissed her cheek. Happy watched them walk out before following his brother back to the living room for further instructions. Hap hoped he'd be left here to get them safely out of town. He wasn't sure he could just walk away at this point.
Vin closed his phone and walked over to his president. "Chris." He whispered and nodded his head toward the chapel. Chris nodded back and folded his hand, walking away from his poker game with Gabby Lenard Tom Tom Casper and formerly Vin.
"Hap called." Vin spoke as he closed the doors and sat down on the edge of the table. "Boys are home from Stockton. Gabby's safe to go back."
"He coming down here today?" Chris asked peering out the window at Gabby.
"No. Asked us to bring her up with us."
"Didn't realize we were going up there." Chris turned back to Vin for what he wasn't being told.
"Opie didn't make it out of Stockton." Vin said simply.
"Shit! How the fuck did Opie end up taking that hit? I thought Tig started all this shit!"
"Hap didn't have the details. The service is tonight."
"Alright. We need to round up a good size to go. Jesus. Opie was second generation." Chris started to rant.
Chris looked back out the window and watched Gabby smile as she took her phone out of her pocket. Her smile disappeared however as she folded her hand and got up from the table retreating to her borrowed dorm. Casper started to get up to follow her but Lenard pulled him back down with a glance at Chris watching through the blinds.
Chris shook his head and turned to Vin. "One of us needs to check on the girl, the other needs to alert the rest of the guys."
Vin nodded. "I'll get the phones going and call church. You tell the guys here so they can start preparing and I'll go check on the crying teenage girl." Chris offered him a faux shutter at the idea and both men left the chapel.
The door to Gabby's dorm was cracked open when Vin reached it and he peeked in. Gabby was off the phone. Her bag sat open next to her though nothing appeared to have made its way in yet. He couldn't see her face but he didn't hear crying so he gave a quick knock and pushed the door open further.
"You alright girl?" Gabby turned to face him and slowly nodded her head. She had a single large tear making its way down her cheek that she quickly wiped away.
"He said you would bring me up for the service." She swallowed to prevent her voice from cracking as she spoke.
"We're all going up for the service." Vin walked in further and grabbed the folding chair from the desk and sat down in front of her. "Didn't realize you were so close to Opie."
"We had our moments. I grew up around him and Jax. Used to watch his kids. He was always looking out for me. More than the rest."
"Always the family man. He had a big heart." Vin agreed and Gabby nodded. "Take your time packing." He patted her hands folded in her lap. "We're not leaving for a couple hours."
Gabby nodded again in acknowledgment and Vin stood and squeezed her shoulder. Vin didn't have kids of his own and the art of comforting an upset female was lost on him. Truthfully Chris should have done it. At least he had an old lady and knew something about the emotional needs of women.
Gabby had been relieved to spend the trip back to Charming in a van with 2 of the prospects and the only Fresno old lady. The Fresno queen, Vivica gave her some space, understanding that she was grieving. Vivica had come over to the club house a few times to visit Gabby. She had been thoroughly upset at her husband for not telling her they had a visiting 'princess' under lockdown in the clubhouse. She had immediately gotten her fresh sheets and stocked the fridge with girl friendly food. She had wanted to bring her home or at least have a dinner in her honor but Chris had put his foot down. Gabby wasn't sure what exactly was said between the 2 of them but Vivica stopped pushing, and started looking at Gabby as if she were on her death bed.
They all pulled into the TM lot after dark and Casper walked around to the side door to let the ladies out. "Here." He quickly slipped Gabby's bag off her shoulder. "Let me stash that for you."
"Thanks. You can just set it on Haps bike." Vin walked over to the group and led the women inside.
Gabby didn't make it 2 feet inside the door before she was pulled into her father's chest. She clung to him tightly and he cradled her head against his chest. Happy looked over her and met Vin's stare.
"Thank you brother." He said sincerely and Vin stoically nodded his head. Happy slowly pulled her away and led her further into the clubhouse until she was stopped by Chibs whom grabbed her and held her tightly as well. Bobby was next and then Clay who each hugged her just as close to themselves. Chris watched the greeting and took note. Desperate times were one thing, but that girl was important to the Redwood Charter.
Tig watched Gabby hug each of his brothers and suddenly found himself walking across the room and pulling her into his own arms as soon as Clay let go of her. He felt her stiffen at his touch but couldn't bring himself to let her go.
Happy finally stepped up and pulled Gabby back as Chibs patted Tig on the back and handed him a beer. Gabby looked to her father for an explanation but instead got pulled back in for another hug.
"It's been a bad week sweetheart. A bad fucking week." He whispered in her ear to explain his brothers' actions.
"Chris." Jax came out of the back and greeted the visiting president. "Thanks for coming bro."
"Of course. Still don't understand how all this shit ended up on Opie." Chris hugged him and shook his head.
"Ain't no reason to it man." Chris followed Jax as he made his way across the bar. "Hey little sis." Jax stopped in front of Gabby and engulfed her in a hug. "I'm so sorry Gabs." He whispered into her hair. The 2 stood for several minutes taking comfort in one another. Besides Happy, Opie and Jax were amongst the only Sons Gabby really had a connection with. And even then it was Opie more than Jax. But her memories of them were mostly intertwined and she knew for Jax it was the same. Jax couldn't remember a time he saw Gabby that Opie wasn't at his side.
Chris stood off to the side listening to the 2 of them whisper. After several long minutes Jax led Gabby into the chapel to see Opie.
"What you starring at Pres.?" Vin walked over and looked towards the chapel. Jax was again holding Gabby as she cried and said goodbye to Opie.
"I want that girl in Fresno." Chris said quietly to his SAA.
"What?" Vin turned and looked at Chris.
"Daughter of the Tacoma Killer. And the god damn mother charter president calling her sister. I want her in Fresno."
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Vin asked but Chris simply walked away. "Right. I'll get right on that one boss." Vin called out to his departing president. "As soon as I get a fucking clue how." He added under his breath.
I know the guys all hugging Gabby like that may seem a little bit of a stretch but I took it from Bobby getting out of jail and immediately wanting to see Abel and Thomas. I described Gabby as being Happy's escape and I feel like the rest of the guys see that with the kids in the club as well. Plus all the brothers that I mentioned hugging Gabby except Jax knew that Gabby was Tig's daughter and seeing her safe and sound after what had happened to Dawn would have been a relief, whereas Juice and Phil who don't know the truth yet didn't hug her.
updates: thanks to one of my readers Slayer's Angelus I now have a complete list of The Reluctant Lion Heart and Lion Heart putting each chapter/one shot in order. Slayer's Angelus put in order everything i had published so far which i had never thought to do, so i went ahead and put the last few one shots in order. Once i am done posting the one shots the timeline will be up on my profile for a while for anyone who wants to go through and read things in order or anyone who was curious about events taking place.
also for those interested Heart of the Lioness, the final Gabby story is coming along nicely. I am currently working on chapter 3. Everything is still on paper in rough draft form though. I'm hoping to be pretty far along once i finish posting so i can post on time.