Thanks to HermioneandMarcus, loveorpain, and Legolas' Girl 31 for the reviews! I have actually already finished writing this story and started on the next one. This will be part of a trilogy, the third one will pick up with the show. I've also started working on a Juice and Chibs love triangle story, which will also follow the show.

Chapter 8

Falling

Haven't you seen me sleepwalking

cause I've been holding your hand

haven't you noticed me drifting

let me tell you I am

Tell me its nothing

try to convince me

that I'm not drowing

oh let me tell you I am

A knock at the door was meant to wake them, but somehow they slept right through it. Chibs heaved a sigh as he tried to peer around the curtains on the window. He shook his head when he caught a glimpse of two sets of feet, obviously tangled together, at the foot of the bed.

"I warned him not ta do it," he muttered under his breath. "Jacky boy never listens."

"Never listens to what," Bobby asked as he joined him.

"They're in there together," Chibs said as he gestured to the door.

"Yeah, that's kind of the point of them sharing a room."

"No, I mean, in bed together!"

"There's only one bed!"

"I mean together," Chibs cried with a series of wild hand gestures.

"Oh, oh shit. I'll go get a room key."

"Do that," Chibs snapped as he turned back to the door. He pounded on it again, watching the feet shift ever so slightly. He heaved a sigh and rested his head on the door. "Jesus Jackie boy, always thinkin with ya little head instead of ya big one."

Bobby came back after a few minutes with a room key. "They still asleep?"

"Apparently they wore themselves out last night," Chibs said as Bobby unlocked the door. They stepped inside and sunlight flooded the room.

"Oh, thank you god," Bobby muttered when he saw Haley was wearing pajamas. The sheets were much too neat for them to have had sex.

"Hey, you two plannin ta sleep all day," Chibs shouted.

Haley's eyes fluttered open and she screamed as she sat up. Jax jerked awake and pushed her behind him as he grabbed his knife.

"Really," Bobby asked as he shook his head at them. Haley glanced over Jax's shoulder and realized who it was.

"Jesus christ, what the hell are you two doing in here," she demanded.

"Seriously, a knock would have done the trick," Jax added.

"We knocked, for about ten minutes boyo," Chibs snapped.

Haley and Jax exchanged a glance before smiling apologetically at them. "We'll be ready in a few minutes," Jax assured them.

Chibs and Bobby left the room, shaking their heads as they went. Haley met Jax's gaze and let out a soft giggle once the door was shut.

"I guess we're both pretty heavy sleepers," Jax teased.

"You do make an excellent pillow."

"Yeah, yeah, get dressed sleeping beauty, we've got a long way to go."

...

The rest of the trip to Chicago went easily. Haley didn't have anymore nightmares, she and Jax kept their distance from one another. They still shared a bed, ending up tangled together before they woke up.

They pulled up in front of her house and Haley stared up at it from inside the van. Jax and Chibs climbed off their bikes and waited for her to join them. Bobby and Haley climbed out of the van, slowly making their way toward the house. Haley climbed the stairs on the porch and unlocked the door.

Haley stepped inside first, pausing in the doorway. Jax put a hand on her shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze. She took a few steps forward and let the rest of the guys in the house.

"Check it out," Jax ordered. Bobby and Chibs went around them and began searching the house. Haley took a few steps forward, glancing around as she did so.

"Its all still here," she muttered. "I thought he would have gutted it."

"Probably hasn't had time," Jax commented.

Haley turned and went up the stairs. Jax trailed behind her as she went. She paused outside a door and pushed it open. She stepped inside, freezing when her gaze landed on the wall. "Oh my god," she gasped.

On the wall, there was large picture of her, she was on top of the dining room table, everything on display. She darted forward and grabbed the picture. She ripped it off the wall, shredding it to pieces. "He took pictures," she said as she looked at Jax her entire body shaking. "Jax, he took pictures."

Jax moved forward and caught her as her legs gave out. She fell into his chest, her hands clutching at his cut. Jax lowered them down to the floor, holding her tight to his chest.

"Jackie, you should come see this," Chibs shouted up the stairs.

"Gimme a minute," Jax shouted back. He lifted Haley off the floor and carried her out into the hallway. He set her on the floor, pressing his lips to her forehead. "I'll be right back. Stay right here. Please?"

Haley nodded silently, her hands covering her face. She drew in a ragged breath, as she drew her knees up to her chest. Jax stared at her for a moment, before rising to his feet. He jogged down the stairs.

"Where are you," Jax called.

"In here," Bobby replied.

Jax entered the dining room, his eyes widening in shock. The entire room was covered in pictures of Haley. "Holy shit," Jax said under his breath. "There was one upstairs in her room too."

"That fucking bastard," Chibs said lowly. "Who the hell does this?"

"A very sick man," Bobby replied.

"Get em down, all of em. Don't say a word to her about it. See if you can find a camera, anything that he might have used. Check the tvs too, there might be video," Jax ordered. "Jesus, this is bad."

"Take care of her, we'll hand this," Bobby replied.

Jax nodded before going back up the stairs. He found her still sitting on the floor in the hallway. She glanced up at him, tears running down her face.

"I'm gonna make sure there aren't anymore in there. Wait out here," Jax said gently.

"There were more downstairs weren't there?"

"No, its fine, they found some blood on the floor. They're cleaning it up."

"Jax," Haley said as she grabbed his arm. "Don't lie to me."

Jax knelt in front of her and put his hands on either side of her face. "Baby girl, don't do this. Just let me check your room."

Haley stared at him for a moment before nodding. Jax rose to his feet and went in her room. He checked everything, the picture frames, the walls, the closet, the bathroom. There weren't anymore pictures. Jax heaved a sigh of relief and went back into the hallway.

"All clear," he said as he offered her a hand. He pulled her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and ushering her into the room. She went over to the bed and sat down. She ran a hand through her hair before meeting Jax's gaze.

"Why would he do this? What does he get from this?"

"I don't know baby girl, he's a sick fucking bastard."

Haley ran a hand down her face and heaved a sigh. She fell back against the bed, her eyes shutting tightly. Jax went over to the wall and flipped the light off. He sat down next to her, sliding his cut off his shoulders. He placed it on the floor next to his feet and toed off his sneakers. He tugged Haley's shoes off and set them next to his.

Jax slid back on the bed, settling against the pillows. "Come 'ere."

Haley glanced up at him before moving up to lay next to him. Jax slipped an arm around her shoulders as she rested her head on his chest. Jax let his chin rest against the top of her head. His fingers brushed through her hair as he held her.

"We're going to take care of this. No one is going to see the pictures."

Haley nodded slowly, her cheek rubbing against the soft material of his worn t-shirt. He wasn't sure how long they laid there, but eventually Haley fell asleep. After awhile, Chibs appeared in the doorway and motioned for Jax to come with him. He slid away from Haley and trailed after him.

"We got em all down. Checked everywhere, no camera, no tapes, nothing," Chibs explained.

"We burned them, she won't know," Bobby assured him.

"She already knows. I told her not to worry about it. We have to find the originals."

"We find him, we find the originals," Bobby suggested.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Jax replied. "All right, lets give her the night. In the morning, we'll pack up the stuff she wants and get out of here. The sooner we get back, the sooner we can end this."

Chibs and Bobby nodded before going into the kitchen. Jax went back upstairs and found Haley sitting in the floor in front of her dresser. She was folding her clothes into a suitcase. Jax watched her for a moment before going to her closet and doing the same.

"You don't have to do that, I can do it," Haley told him.

"You have a lot of clothes, it will be faster if I help you."

"You'll get tired of helping me soon." Jax knew what she meant when she said it. He was going to get tired of taking care of her. He would get tired of being the one she leaned on. She knew what kind of guy he was, the type of guy he'd grown into. He didn't make promises to women. He couldn't keep them, no matter what his intentions were.

"Never," Jax said as he shot her a reassuring grin.