Chibs took his sunglasses off as he sat back on his bike, stretching out as he looked at the strip joint. It looked run down, tired, in need of a lot of love. Happy groaned as he followed Chibs' gaze.

"These places, you know the girls are the same as the building."

Chibs laughed at that and stroked his Harley as he stood. "Oh, aye, and this one's... sagging."

They chuckled as the walked together up the path towards the sad-looking block. The fluorescent lights flashed even in the bright daylight, a dancing girl making a half-ditched effort as she flicked between the two settings. Chibs rolled his eyes, this was exactly the kind of place Tig would bury himself for a few days of feeling sorry for himself.

Piggy looked up from the front desk with wide, coked-up eyes. Happy looked at him dismissively, flexing his fingers as Piggy scrambled up. He recognised the cuts instantly and grinned.

"You guys here to party?"

Chibs shook his head. "Just here to collect a friend," he said, sneering at a couple of girls as they leaned around the doorframe, whispering excitedly about the bikers at the door. "Dark hair, blue eyes."

"I got every colour you want," Piggy grinned. "But I think I know who you mean. Come with me."

Happy and Chibs exchanged a look as they followed him along the corridor. Happy pulled a face as the base of his boot stuck to the floor, this place was pretty gross. Piggy knocked on the door of the red room before giving it a shove open.

"Shake up, princess, you got company," he snapped as he saw Nina almost comatose with exhaustion, stretched out on the bed. Tig was dressed, sitting on the end of the bed, his fingers knotted in prayer, and he looked up to see Piggy standing there.

"Company?"

He took to his feet as Happy and Chibs barrelled into the room. Shielding Nina from Chibs' immediate view, Tig motioned for Piggy to go before he spoke.

"Shit, am I glad to see you assholes," he said, staring at them both. "We got a problem." He tested the door with his hand before motioning to the girl on the bed. Chibs lifted the blanket to take a peek and his contemptuous expression changed as he saw Nina. Tig could see his face softening as he recognised her.

"What is this?"

Chibs didn't mean to sound so gruff. He sat down on the bed beside her, his hand running over her arm. She hardly responded to his touch, her skin was cold, she wasn't well. Tig grimaced as Chibs turned her arm outward and saw the needle marks in the crook of her elbow.

"Her ex," Tig muttered. "Took her out of Charming, got her fucked up on some LSD shit and..." He didn't need to say it, they all knew. Chibs' hands were shaking as he tried to bring her around, but she was exhausted and starving. His thumb moved over her mouth, her lips were dry from dehydration.

"Shit." Happy stood on guard at the door, last thing they needed was a disruption. "She okay?"

"I don't know." Tig had tried to talk to her but from the second they had both come, she had done nothing but hold onto him fearfully. "I can't get anything out of her. I tried to call but I wouldn't leave her."

"That was the right thing to do," Chibs said staunchly. He wanted to wake her, to kiss her, to let her know she was safe and he would never ever let her out of his sight again. "Thank you."

"We have to get her out of here." Happy was thinking practically, this place was already making his skin crawl. "Get you home."

Tig nodded. "These guys are pretty simple. Did they take your guns?" Chibs shifted to show his still at his side, Happy raised his shirt to flash the same pushed against his tight pelvic bone. "Good, this is good. Bald guy, Piggy."

"Out of his skull," Chibs muttered. "He won't be a problem."

"The other girls?" Happy looked at Tig. "We can't just leave them."

"I don't give a fuck," Chibs snapped, suddenly angry as he scooped Nina closer to him, furious that she had been treated like this. "She is the only thing that's important here."

"She's safe, brother," Tig assured him. "We're taking her home, and you and her will be good from the second we cross the border. But there're other girls here, other people's daughters and girlfriends and moms. Let's get them home."

Chibs swallowed as he stroked her cheek. His girl, the one he had fallen head over heels in love with, she was hurting. He pulled her tighter against him, he couldn't bear to let her go. "I won't leave her."

Tig nodded and took a step to the side. He motioned for Happy to join him and they leaned together conspiratorially.

"We kill every asshole that did this to her," Happy muttered darkly, the excitement sparkling in his eyes. Tig shook his head.

"It's not that easy," he whispered. "Jax. He fucking sold her out to this guy. They recognised my cut, put me in this damn room with her as a goddamn thank you gift." Happy almost growled in rage but Tig motioned for him to keep it from Chibs, at least for now. "We get these girls out and take them to Nero, he'll take care of them and he's gonna need them. Chibs, he can take Nina, hold her hostage. Get the place emptied out."

"Those guys?"

Tig smiled. "We kill them, and then we deal with Jax."

Happy motioned to Chibs with his eyes and Tig followed his gaze. Chibs was lovingly trying to bring Nina around, whispering to her softly, his lips nibbling her skin as he tried to kiss her awake. She was coming to, smiling in his arms, not entirely aware of who he was but happy to have him holding her so adoringly.

"He's not going to hurt her," Happy muttered. Tig pinched his nose, it was clear that was the case. Happy took a moment and then gave Tig a supportive slap as he squeezed past him.

Happy leaned over Chibs and yanked Nina away from him, dragging her to her feet. She sure woke up quick enough, Chibs objected loudly and Nina squealed as Happy pulled out his gun and held it to her head, his arm tight around her throat. As he unlatched the safety, that crazy look in his eyes, Nina screamed and Chibs clamped a hand over her mouth in panic to quiet her.

"Jesus Christ, what are you doing? Let her go!"

"I gotta take her," Happy said staunchly. "Freak them out."

"I'll take her," Chibs insisted, pulling her back towards him and holding her close, hushing her gently. "It's okay, Nina, I'm not going to hurt you. None of us will."

She looked with fright towards Tig, Chibs felt her shivering in his arms, her body rigid with fear. He wanted to soothe her but she didn't seem to believe him. Tig gave her a supportive smile and stepped forward, Happy's little tactic had worked perfectly.

"You can trust Chibs, okay? He won't hurt you." Tig swallowed, hating to admit the next phrase. "He loves you. Whatever he does, whatever it is, you can trust him." He stroked Nina's cheek and locked his eyes with hers, making sure she understood him. "Okay?"

She nodded shyly and Happy lowered his gun. Chibs sat Nina on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of her. He slipped his crucifix from his own neck and put it onto her carefully, pressing it tenderly between her breasts as he held it to her.

"I'll never hurt you, I swear to God," he said, taking her hands in his and kissing her knuckles. She blushed and nodded, sure he meant it, and closed her eyes as he pressed a kiss on her forehead before standing to join the other two. "So she's with me, what's the rest of the plan?"