Chapter 11: The Frying Pan
Beep… Beep…Beep
Chibs Telford reached over the croweater that occupied the right side of his bed. He maneuvered his fingers to pick up the phone, knocking over a Beretta and a half empty beer bottle in the process. The alcohol fell to the carpeted floor and spilled. "Fuck" Chibs said as he fumbled with the phone, too hungover to function. He hit the answer button on his landline phone.
"Mornin'" He responded, his Scottish accent was soft, but it still reverbareted around the room.
"Chibs, it's Clay"
"Aye" The Scotsman stood and walked to the other side of the room, where his underwear was laying on the floor.
"I need you to hang up and call me from a pay phone" Clay said from the reaper room at the clubhouse, "Call me on the burner phone, and then I'll give you instructions. I'll be waiting." Clay closed the cell phone and grabbed the other from his pocket and set it down on the reaper table, waiting for his brother to call back.
Chibs meanwhile, pulled the briefs on and scratched his chest as he left his bedroom and walked to the kitchen. He had grown to love the house, he'd first mortgaged it out when he immigrated to the United States in the early ninties. He noted the picture on the kitchen table. Laying next to a bottle of scotch and a bowl of fruit, was a picture of his wife, Fiona Larkin, and his baby daughter Karrianne. Chibs smiled as he picked up the photograph and planted a small kiss on his two fingers and placed it to Fiona's face.
His smile turned sour, however, when he saw his reflection in the picture frame and spotted his two distinct facial scars. Even to this day, he could vividly remember being approached in the dirty alley in Belfast. He was leaving a pub, and had his motorcycle parked in the alley to keep it off the street. A Mercedes-Benz rounded the corner into the alley with it's high beams on. As he covered his eyes to see, the doors opened and a man in a suit stepped out.
Jimmy O'Phelan walked up to him, a small smirk lining his mouth. "Fillip"
Chibs had relaxed for a moment, since he still believed that Jimmy was a friend to him, and not the dirty bastard he knew he was now. "Jimmy O, you scared the shite outta me" Chibs laughed and took Jimmy's outstretched hand. "Ain't seen you in a while."
"Aye" Jimmy nodded "It still pains me that the Kings decided to bump you. Over a simple misunderstanding"
"Yeah, well, what goes around comes around ey?"
Jimmy nodded again, "So, you and the Sons? They treating you alright?" Jimmy tapped the Prospect rocker on the bottom of Chib's vest. "McGee told me you're about to become a full member?"
"Aye" Chibs smiled at his friend and licked his lips. "Beats cleaning up all the puke and shit from the floor, this last year has been hell."
"I bet" Jimmy smiled too "And what about that little family a yours ey? You headed back to em' now?"
"Oh yes" Chibs laughed "Fi's gonna be rightly pissed" He checked his cheap metallic watch. "I was supposed to be home a few hours ago."
Jimmy was stern as Chibs patted him on the back. "You know Fillip, a man with so much to lose, shouldn't be so eager to lose it." Jimmy leaned against the car and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "I mean, you have this wonderful family, yet, you rarely see them. Makes me think they don't really matter that much to you."
"Course they do, Jimmy, you know that they're everything to me" Chibs gave Jimmy a shifty look. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that Fiona just came to see me." Jimmy lit his cigarette and took a deep drag from it. He breathed out the smoke onto Chibs's face.
"What?"Chibs stopped leaning against Jimmy's car as the door opened, and two more IRA members stepped out of the Mercedes.
"Ya heard me" Jimmy and the other two men started walking towards Chibs. "Ya see Fillip, Fiona's decided, or rather, we've decided, that maybe you aren't as devoted to your family as you should be. And that maybe Karrianne needs a more positive father figure in her life." Jimmy took another long drag, and as the Mercedes headlights were switched off by the driver, the cigarette became one of the few light sources left in the dark alley. "And perhaps Fiona needs a more dedicated lover" Jimmy smiled, "Someone like me" he laughed.
Chibs, realizing what was going on, made a wild dash for Jimmy, managing to land a right hook onto the left side of his face. The ring that Chibs wore slashed into Jimmy's face, and drew blood. "You son of a bitch!" Chibs yelled as the other two men grabbed him by the arms and pinned him against the wall, beating him harshly.
Chibs tried the grab the knife that hung from his belt, but as he drew it, his arm was pushed back into the brick wall and the blade fell from his grip. Jimmy sauntered over to Chibs as his henchmen continued to punch him in the gut.
"You marked up me face Fillip." Jimmy looked at the small amount of blood that Chibs had managed to draw. He picked up Chibs's knife and tested the edge. "I think it's only fair I mark up yours, we're both Catholic boys ey? Eye for an eye and all." Jimmy tapped his henchmen on the shoulders "Put him on his knees, where he belongs."
They kicked out Chibs's legs and he was forced down, his jeans scrapped against the cobblestoned ground. Jimmy pressed the knife to Chibs's left cheek as the two men held his arms against the wall. "Let me tell you what's going to happen now Fillip" Jimmy slowly moved the knife down the cheek until he reached Chibs's mouth, the screams coming from Fillip Telford's throat should have alerted someone to the rescue, sadly, no one came."Fiona and Karrianne are going to come home with me." Jimmy moved the bloodstained knife over to the other side of Chibs's face. "Don't worry" He pulled back and sliced open another gaping wound, more blood poured out from Fillip's face and onto the stones. "They'll be well looked after. They won't want for anything."
Chibs looked up and scowled at Jimmy as the IRA boss lit another cigarette. "The only thing that you have to do is leave. Just go, and I promise that nothing else will happen to you and your family. Well, I suppose I should say my family now." He laughed and wiped blood off of his fingers. He used his hankerchief to wipe the fingerprints off of Chibs's knife and tossed it down the alley. "Leave Ireland, and don't come back."
"Because if you do, I swear to Christ" Jimmy pointed at Chibs's face. "I'll do both of them the same way I just did you."
Jimmy left Fillip in that alley. When he woke up in the hospital, he told McGee that he wanted a transfer to the mother charter in Charming. SAMBEL was more than happy to give Fillip away, since it ended their beef with the Real IRA. From then on, Fillip went by the nickname Chibs, Scottish slang for 'cut' and 'scar'. He boarded a plane for California the day after he left the hospital.
He put the picture down onto the table and grabbed the bottle of scotch. He drank deeply, needing it to wash away the pain. The extra alcohol would put his hangover on halt. He lit a Camel cigarette and walked to the bedroom again. "UP" he yelled at the croweater in his bed. "Get up darlin', I got places to be, things to do." He slapped her buttocks and gathered up her clothes.
"Alright alright" the brunette said, rubbing her head and taking the bundle of discarded clothing.
Chibs considered taking a shower but knew that Clay was expecting the phone call soon. He pulled a pair of jeans on and fastened a belt onto them. Chibs slipped on an undershirt and then a black button down shirt. He wiped hair away from his eyes and brushed his teeth. Chibs reached down onto the floor and grabbed the Beretta he'd dropped before. His cut was draped across the chair at the head of the kitchen table. Also on the table was his knife holster, which he slung over his shoulders. He carried his knives with him everywhere, like the rest of the SAMCRO members.
He put his leather cut on and placed the gun in the inside flap pocket. There was a payphone on his street, he could use that. He left and walked down the street to find the phone booth. He waved hello to his neighbor, Mrs. Adams. He actually liked his neighbors, and he got along well with them. Mrs. Adams actually had a granddaughter that went to school with Jax.
Reaching the payphone, he inserted a nickel and dialed the prepaid phone. "Hello?" he heard Clay answer.
"It's me"
"Chibs, I need you to go get Tig, then ride up to the storage yard in Stockton. There's a truck full of AKs waiting there for you guys" Clay paused, and Chibs assumed that the President was puffing on a cigar. "Drive it down the coast towards San Francisco, the Chinese are going to meet you halfway, there's a map with the location in the truck's glove box."
"You really think that's safe with all the niner' heat?"
"We need in influx of cash right now, the Irish knocked twenty five percent off this shipment. We're gonna sell them double price to Lin. That little yellow bastard is real desperate for guns right now, he'll be more than happy. The Irish'll be waiting to hand off the truck."
"Alright then" Chibs hung up and walked back to his house. He got on his motorcycle and took off at high speeds, heading towards Tig's condo.
"Airplane"
"Woodpecker"
"Songbird"
This had been going on for about an hour. Jax and Tara were laid out on a blanket, looking up at the sky, spotting random planes and birds. They were sitting close to Jax's bike, which was Tara's main form of transportation the last few days, spending much time clinging to Jax for dear life. She prided herself on being allowed to wrap her arms around Jax's abdominal muscles. The purr of the engine and the soft Italian leather of Jax's cut helped sooth a rough ride. To tell the truth, it turned her on.
Jax's cut was laid out behind them, cushioning their heads from the hard ground. They were overlooking a hill that was just outside the Charming town limits. A Californian redwood tree looked over them, a soft shade covering them from the harsh sunlight. Jax had planned this little excursion before he went on the raid on the Lodi precinct. He wanted to be with Tara one last time before he went on that little adventure breaking into a police station. He wanted one last kiss, one last meaningful conversation, before he went on a journey that could lead him to being arrested, or worse.
He was supposed to be in fifth period Algebra, she was supposed to be in French class. But they both relished in the opportunity to be together. They shared a few bottles of Coca-Cola, the glass kind, the ones that reminded him of his childhood, when his father would sit in the Teller-Morrow garage with him, looking over a Harley manual. If Jax managed to list most of the parts of the engine correctly, he would be rewarded with a coke and a bag of chips. John Teller was always busy, having to put most of his time towards earning with the club, and Jax loved the time that he got to spend with his father. Before his death, and especially before his brother's.
"You know" Tara smiled "I was never skipping class and getting into catfights before you came along." She placed her hand onto his chiseled chest and planted a small kiss on his bearded cheek.
"Yeah, well" Jax returned her kiss, "I'm a great motivator."
"My head still hurts" She wiped a strand of hair out of her eye.
"Yeah, getting punched in the face will do that to you" Jax said, they both laughed and shared another kiss.
"I think it's partly from riding around on that Harley of yours" She accused, chuckling to herself.
"Oh come on, you know you love being on the back of that thing." Jax smiled. "It's called being free, in the simplest and most complicated way that I know."
"Yeah, free to get booted from it and smashing your head on the pavement."
Jax bellowed out laughing, but then was reminded of what happened to Piney only a few days ago. "I suppose that's one way of looking at it." Jax kissed her on the lips again. "What about your Pontiac? Is it still running?"
"Barely." Tara said with practiced exasperation. "Damn thing almost never starts. Something's wrong with the ignition I think."
"Really?" Jax said "Why don't you bring it over to the garage one day? We'll take a look at it, we've got the best mechanics in San Joaq County."
"I can't afford it, I'm unemployed at the moment." Tara said, "I can barely afford gas, let alone upkeep."
"Come on Tara" Jax smiled and kissed her forehead "You honestly think I'll make you pay. Old ladies don't pay for service."
Tara was taken quite aback by the statement. She'd heard him refer to the wives and girlfriends of the SAMCRO members as 'old ladies' before, but she didn't think she fell into that category, at least not yet. "Old lady huh? What does that mean? Am I your… your girlfriend now?"
"I don't know" Jax pushed a deep kiss onto Tara's lips, and found himself sliding over and on top of her. He deepened the kiss, moving his hands up her hips and towards her midsection. She meanwhile, grabbed his buttocks and squeezed, feeling his tonned glutes underneath her fingers. Jax slid a hand down and underneath her soft cotton blouse, and reached up. Tara moaned as Jax grabbed a handful of her left breast. She'd never gone this far with a boy before, having only kissed three in her entire lifetime. Suddenly, Jax broke the kiss and pulled his hands away. "You tell me." He laid back down with a smug grin planted on his face.
Clay set the cellphone down on the table and left the chewed up cigar in the small ceramic ashtray. He got out of the large leather chair and opened the door to the bar, where Gemma was walking past. "Hey baby" She nodded towards him, changing direction. "I got some groceries" She shook the paper bags that she was carrying. Gemma leaned forward on her high heels and kissed Clay on the cheek. The SAMCRO president wiped pink lipstick off of his skin and sat down at one of the table. "You shouldn't do that, someone might see."
"Oh stuff it Clay" Gemma said "The façade has already been broken sweetie, the only person who doesn't know about us is Jax, and that's because he doesn't want to"
"What do you want me to say Gem? You want me to get on one knee and pull out a ring? We both know I'm not that kinda guy" Clay suddenly craved another cigar. He always did when he was agitated.
"I think that we should be more open with Jax, ya know. Let him in, stop messing around behind his back, we are the adults after all."
"What about the whole JT thing?"
"Whole JT thing?" Gemma laughed as she set the groceries down "JT has been dead for almost three years now." She walked over to Clay and sat down in his lap. "It's Jax you should worry about."
"I don't care about Jax" Clay said, Gemma frowned "That's not what I meant. All I'm saying, is that nothing in this world is gonna keep me from you, not Jax, not the club, not even JT's fucking ghost is gonna stop me from being with you."
Jax and Tara were heading back, riding down the highway. They were just outside of Charming, and were about to pass the town limits. "Babe" Jax shouted, "I gotta get gas, there's a station up there, we gotta stop real quick."
"Sure" Tara said, clinging even more tightly as they rode into the small Citgo.
"Here's a few bucks, you wanna grab a candy bar or something?" Jax handed her three dollars from his wallet and grabbed his debit card as well.
"Thanks, you want one?" She smiled and gave him a kiss.
"No, I'm fine." Jax swiped the card onto the pump and selected regular unleaded gasoline. "I'll be done in a sec."
"Ok" Tara disappeared into the small convenience store.
Jax pushed the gas pump into his tank and pulled the lever, the smell of gas flooded into his nostrils as the liquid flowed through the hose. Suddenly, Jax heard an explosion of engines coming up the road. He looked to his left, and saw his worst nightmare riding up. Chrome, loud engines, and long ape hangers handlebars gave it all away. Jax didn't even need to see the MAYANS top rocker to notice his club's mortal enemies riding down the highway. Tara was stepping out of the convieniece store as Jax replaced the gas pump.
"Get back inside Tara" He commanded with an authoritarian like voice.
"What?" She stammered with confusion.
"NOW" he yelled back with intensity.
They might have passed on if they hadn't seen his cut, instead, they turned into the station and circled Jax, parking their bikes dangerously close to his.
"Hello Jax" Their president, Marcus Alvarez smiled as he took off his helmet and stepped off of his bike. "I heard SAMCRO had just patched you in. You do look a lot like JT, I have to admit."
"Yeah," Jax scowled "I've been told." Jax shook his head "You're dangerously close to Charming ese. What are you doing here?"
"This is neutral territory homes" Alvarez said, "You know that. We stopped for gas, then we're headed back to Oakland."
"Then get your gas and go" Jax commanded, resealing the cap on his tank.
"I wanted to see the prodigal son for myself" The Mexican-American nodded "And you don't disappoint. Your straight to the point. You know, I respected your old man, he was smart, knew how to keep the peace way better than that new pres of yours."
"Listen Marcus" Jax pointed a finger at him "I'm in no mood to pick a fight, but you don't talk shit about a SAMCRO officer, or any of us for that matter, past or present. Now get back on your Harley's, and head back towards Oaktown, before I call Clay," Jax gave a death stare to his Mexican rival "And you'll see how straight to the point he can be."
That was one moment where Jax had to act harder than he really was. He was outgunned and defiantly out numbered. He didn't even have his gun on him, it was sitting in the TM locker. There were five angry, muscled mexi-assholes staring him down, and right now, he needed all the balls he could muster.
Tara watched Jax as he confronted the men that just rode into the station. She was worried, they didn't look like they were there for a friendly visit. She worried for his safety, they were connected now. Tara wasn't stupid, she knew what Jax and his 'club' did. She didn't really care that much. She wasn't close to the club anyway. But she didn't want anything to happen to Jax. She thought about walking out there, but knew it wasn't her place. Besides, the way that Jax had yelled at her, obviously meant trouble.
She let go of the deep breath she'd had in her lungs since she was commanded inside, because the bikers had gotten back onto their bikes and were riding away. Jax replaced his sunglasses, and didn't wave Tara over until he saw the Mayans disappear over the horizon.
Tig and Chibs pulled their bikes up the dirt road and parked them inside the weapons warehouse, where the large truck was parked. Two men were leaning against a Honda sedan parked just outside the large wooden structure. "Oh shite" Chibs scowled at the man on the right.
"What is it?" Tig asked his Scottish friend.
"Fucking bastard, Cutter" Chibs nodded at the bald man in the brown leather jacket. "He was the one holding me down when Jimmy O…" He pointed to his scars to finish the sentence for him.
"Shit man, you want me to just handle this, you can just head back to the clubhouse." Tig offered.
"No, its fine," Chibs clapped Tig on the shoulder. "Let's just get the guns and go."
Chibs rounded the passenger side and opened the door. He swung his leg up and brought himself up to his seat, while Tig walked over to the two IRA members.
"Gentlemen" Tig shook hands with the two men. "Is everything in there?"
"Three dozen AK's" Cutter said, rubbing his bald head. "Dozen MP5s, and twenty Glock handguns."
"Alright then," Tig said, "If I'm correct, you boys already were paid half upfront" Tig pulled a manila envelope out of his cut and handed it to Cutter. "Here's the rest of the payment."
"Aye," Cutter smiled. "Always good doing business with you Charming boys." Cutter nodded and started to walk away, when he took one last glance at the truck. "Hold on" He pointed at the windshield. "Is that Fillip Telford." He laughed, almost manically, "Holy shite."
Cutter began to walk over to the warehouse. Tig grabbed him by the shoulder, "Not a good idea pal."
"Fuck off" The Irishman almost spat in Tig's face. "I wanna see my old mate."
Cutter knocked on the passenger side window. Chibs glanced to his right, where Cutter smiled at him with an immense grin. Chibs looked away and held up his middle finger at the man. "Come on, Fillip" He yelled at the Scot and opened the door. "Lighten up."
"Fuck you Cutter" Chibs stepped out of the truck and pushed Cutter out of the way.
"Woah there, Telford." He smiled "Don't get cocky now. Unless you wanna get sliced again." Cutter reached inside his jacket and grabbed a pocket knife.
"Aye," Chibs scowled, "That's the only way you could possibly win a fair fight. Bastard."
"Come off it Fillip, it was a long time ago." Cutter waved him away. "It was on orders, for the cause."
"For the cause, is that what Jimmy told you?" he stammered. "And what does scarring me, a loyal soldier, and stealing my family have to do with the goddamn cause ey?"
"You didn't have the gumption to keep up with us Fillip." Cutter placed a finger on Chib's chest. "Jimmy saw that. And if you ask me, it's a good thing, because they are much better off with Jimmy than they were with you."
Chibs swung, and broke Cutter's nose.
Jax walked into the clubhouse at around four on Friday, after dropping off Tara at her house. It was the day they'd be going into the Lodi evidence locker. Jax was a bit worried, he hadn't been on a real SAMCRO run yet. Something where they were at risk literally all the time. He was nervous, about screwing up, or getting everyone arrested.
"Jackie boy" Chibs walked up to Jax and gave him a firm hug. "You feeling good"
"Man, I'm feeling sick to my stomach."
Chibs laughed and smiled, grabbing Jax by the back of the neck, "Your gonna do fine boy"
"Hope so" Jax said rather meekly as he walked past Tig and Bobby, who were cleaning, assembling, and loading several high power rifles. The war with the Niners was in full swing, and a member of the Tacoma, Washington charter of SOA had been killed the day before. Bobby Elvis swept a hand through his long beard and set down the gun and started on another. Tig licked his lips in anticipation of killing a few dumb gangbangers, should they dare to enter the clubhouse.
"So, what's going on now?" Jax asked Clay as he walked into the church room.
"We prepare" Clay took off his cut and slipped on a black sweatshirt. "It'll be like a goddamn military operation." He laughed and plucked the burning cigar from the ashtray in front of him. "Stop looking so damn glum." He smacked Jax lightly on the cheek. "We'll be in and out before you can say SAMCRO"
Clay absconded to the bar, where he started jotting things down on a yellow legal pad. Jax watched him leave and muttered "SAMCRO"
Wayne Unser liked his desk. It was made out of smooth redwood, very Californian. Whenever he felt down, which was often these days, Unser would sit in his confertable leather chair, run his hands down the desk until he reached the third drawer to the bottom, and pull out his favorite Johnnie Walker scotch. He'd place an empty glass down on the wood, with a coaster of course, and fill it almost to the brim. Then, whenever he read another report about a convenience store being robbed, or about a teenage party being broken up by one of his officers, he could sigh quietly and take a sip of his whiskey, telling himself that all will be well soon enough.
But just because Wayne Unser liked his desk, didn't mean he liked the people who sat across from him. Particularly the dodgy looking ATF agent sitting in his red felt chair. "Charming's a pretty peaceful town Agent Weller" Wayne scratched at his cheek. "Don't know what a bank robbery has to do with us."
Peter Weller chocked that up to incompetence. He couldn't be sure if Unser was dirty or not. But it wasn't his place to investigate the police chief, at least not now. "My priority is the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle club, I'm sure you're aware of their presence in your town."
"Of course I am" Unser gave an unconvincing smile. "You know how many charities and fundraisers they do here." He laughed "They raise money for orphans and cancer patients" He was one of those patients now, he tried not to think about it.
"Spare me" The ATF agent said glibly. "I'm sure you give that bullshit speech to every person who walks in here asking about the Sons." Weller looked down at a piece of paper, "I'm not here to uproot your small town or the people who live in it. All I want is the people that put that M4 in the hands of that bank robber, and that's all."
Unser swallowed a hunk of saliva that had been building in his throat. "I want you to know right now" Unser tapped a finger on his desk. "That your general disrespect to both me personally, and the badge I wear on my uniform is making it very hard for me to sympathize with you." Wayne stood up. "Now you get the hell out of my office!"
Weller stood up, fastened the buttons on his suit, and walked out. Unser sagged back into his seat and took another drink.
Jax, Chibs, Tig, and Clay were sitting inside the van outside of Lodi's 12th police precinct. They were about to break in. And as Clay gave the signal to open the door. Jax's heart almost stopped.
I want to apologize profusely for the extremely long wait for this new chapter. I hope this story is still interesting to you all. Please look forward to the new chapters, as there are more on the way!