Sorry it took so long to update. Gotta love when life catches up to you. Hope you enjoy. I got about 10 more chapter and then I'm stuck so hopefully my writer's block clears up soon. :(
A Week Later
I sit at my kitchen table listening to Jaxson tic off reasons why he's leaving SAMCRO. I keep any judgments and advice out of it; he can get that from his mother. Jax and I might have grown closer but it is hard feeling the split between Opie and Jaxson. Filip has been distant too.
"Between this shit with Luann's murder and now Caracara, I have no choice. I stay here, shit gets bloody." He finishes, running his hand through his hair.
"Jaxson, I get it. I'm here for you no matter where the hell you go. You're my brother. We grew up in this, lived it every day and look where it got us." I reach out and take his hand in mine. Somewhere deep inside I feel relieved that he'll be gone. Not that I won't miss him, but Clay will never let Jaxson lead this club in the right direction. Instead he'll slowly choke the life out of him, killing everything around him. Jaxson reads the expression on my face.
"Hey, tell me what's going on. Honesty, remember?" He jokes.
"I'm pissed Jaxson. I've never been so hateful and angry in my entire life. Clay killed my sister while trying to kill my brother, lied to everyone about it. Hell, he killed a part of Opie that night and you know it just as well as I do. He is reckless and selfish, a greedy bastard. He looked me in my face all my life and told me I was safe with him. He just keeps taking the people I care about from me. He stepped on Zoebelle's toes and then didn't do anything about it. He let this happen to me, to your mom and he provoked it." I allow a growl to escape from my chest.
"I know. He's dangerous. You need to stay away from him Bree. Keep Filip from falling into it." At the mention of Filip's name, my heart drops a little. More often than not, when I'd go visit him I found out Fiona had been there or was coming in later. I tried to swallow my jealousy but it was slowly eating away at me. "What?"
"Fiona." I sigh, getting sick of the constant chaos lately.
"Go get ready so we can bring your man home; I ain't taken your ass out looking like that." I laugh at him as he looks down at my PJ's. I stand up carefully, mindful of my still-tender injuries. While I was healing, most of my body was still stiff and sore. After I throw on a tank top and loose capris; Jax rests against the door frame of my room, watching me throw my hair into a ponytail.
"I'm sorry that happened to you." He looks down at his feet.
"I know you are." I don't look at him as I slide my feet into my shoes. "You can't blame yourself for this." I wave my hand over some of the more visible wounds.
"Yeah, right. Ready?" He avoids the subject and turns to leave.
Filip and Half-Sack barrel through the doors loudly at St. Thomas. I smile apologetically at Tara. The guys all surround him, giving him hugs and grief. I stand back, waiting for the rowdy reunion to finish up. Jaxson turns to me and lets me walk between him and Happy into Filip's waiting arms. He smiles down at me and leans in for a sweet kiss, bending me slightly backwards and taking my breath away. He's careful where he puts his hands, not wanting to cause me pain. When he moves down to my neck and collarbone, Happy breaks it up.
"All right. I am not here for the porn." He slaps Filip on the arm loudly. "Let's get the fuck outta this place man!" Filip walks next to Jaxson who is catching him up on club business. Tara and I lag behind until we get outside.
"Wanna wait up? I need to talk to you." Tara asks.
"Yeah, no problem." I tell her and run over to the guys. "Half-Sack, get my man to the clubhouse safely. I'm gonna hang back with Tara."
"Aww baby, Now?" He reaches out for me.
"Yeah, I won't be too far behind. Just some girl talk." I promise him. He kisses me deeply again, pressing me up against the van. I carefully touch his cheek, returning the passion.
"Jesus Christ you two. I'm gonna be sick." Happy shouts from his bike. Around Filip's back, I flip him off.
"Get there soon love." He whispers as he pulls away from me. He runs his hand over my cheek. "My guardian angel." He leaves another burning kiss on my lips and goes.
I head back inside with Tara and freeze when I notice the woman sitting in the waiting room. She keeps her poisonous glare on me and I dismiss my initial instinct to run in the other direction. I refuse to show her that she has any affect on me. She stands and crosses over to me gracefully.
"Yer Piney's daughter?" Her voice is low and serious.
"Aubrey." I keep my answers short, trying to gage her attitude.
"Ya've been visiting my husband an awful lot girlie." Her eyes narrow. "Now why would some young club whore chase a married man?" Her tone stays pleasant despite her nasty words.
"Maybe you should talk to Filip about that." I turn to leave and she grabs my arm. She backs me up against the hallway wall and speaks quietly in my ear.
"He will always be mine. That's never gonna change. Yer just some sloppy distraction for him. Ya just watch how he runs back to me. If ya know what's good for ya, ya'll leave my sweet boy alone." She whispers.
"Or what Fiona?" My eyes bore into hers with a challenge.
"We'll see who he ends up with." She turns and walks away.
We head back to Jax's house. I don't tell Tara about the confrontation but she can tell I'm distracted.
"What did you need to talk about?" My eyes stay trained on the houses passing by.
"Do you think we have to worry about this bail hearing?" She asks; her gaze trained on the road ahead when I turn to look at her.
"I don't know. If they go in, it won't be for too long. Not like Op." My head starts to hurt thinking about that court hearing. "We're all gonna get through this Tara. It's not like this is the worst thing that's happened recently."
"Yeah." She leaves it at that but I can tell her mind isn't in the car anymore.
When we walk in, Neeta greets us with a worried look. She turns her head to the living room and we walk in farther. That arrogant, shady ATF gash is sitting on the couch, her mouth curled up in a sickening grin. I lunge for her but she moves faster than my body allows.
"Now, now. You wouldn't wanna end up in jail while you're still recovering from that little 'burglary'." She stares at my forearms pointedly.
"Why the fuck are you here?" I ask her through gritted teeth. Tara ushers Neeta out behind me and races back in. She places Abel in my arms and pulls me aside.
"Why don't you take your nephew to the kitchen? I'll call Jax." She pushes me gently through the doorway. I place Abel in his highchair and sit down, dejectedly.
By the time Jaxson gets to the house, it's a blessing the bitch is still alive. I pace the kitchen. He stares at me, worried when he sees the lack of color in my face. I follow behind him as he steps into the living room; immediately pulling Tara close to him.
"Look at you. Ozzie and Harriet." Stahl coos at Jaxson and Tara
"Shut up bitch." I snap at her.
"I was just curious, Jax, why are you leaving SAMCRO?" She smiles again.
"Who the fuck told you about that?" I fail to keep my anger in check. Jaxson asks Tara to wait for him in the nursery and she grabs my arm on the way down the hall to drag me with. Not able to stand it anymore, I jerk away from her and head outside. The door slams loudly behind me.
The fresh air triggers my panic attack, the anger and hate I'm feeling bubbles up inside. I type out a quick text to Kip, asking him to come get me with the truck. By the time he arrives, I can't get away from the house fast enough. I just want to get to the clubhouse and find Filip.
He's sitting in the garage alone and miserable. I worry he might be still suffering from the explosion.
"What's going on baby?" I ask, jarring him from his thoughts.
"Just a shite day is all." He mumbles, turning his phone over in his hands. I reach over to him, letting his hair slide through my fingertips.
"You're home, how can it be bad already?" I ask. His phone comes to life and he looks down at it. The next minute he's on his feet and rushing out of the garage.
"I gotta go." He says; his face full of panic.
"What? You can't." I tell him.
"Fiona needs ta see me. Don't tell the guys. I'll be back." I'm left speechless, as he races off to be with his wife. Her words from the hospital echo in my head.
Jaxson arrives as Filip is leaving. He makes a beeline for me, grabs my arm and leads me away.
"Stahl bein here, that's no one's business." He tells me, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, I get that. Not good for anyone to find out she's here on top of everything else." I nod. He notices the look on my face. "What's goin on?"
"Filip got a text from Fiona and rushed off to be with her. I ran into her at the hospital you know? We had a rather interesting conversation." I explain. "Again, that's one of these many secrets we're dancing around here."
"Yeah. I know how that weight sits lately. I'm sorry you're under it with me." He kisses my forehead. "I gotta go take the wrath of my mother. Any advice?"
"Yeah send it to her in a postcard." I laugh and he walks away.
I sit in the clubhouse with the laptop and some inventory records. I'm lost in the music blaring out of my headphones and disregard everything going on around me. A few of the guys attempt to joke with me and stop when they see I'm not in the mood. I focus on the work in front of me and ignore the random thoughts that plague my brain.
The mood among the guys is heavy and tense. I know most of it has to do with Jaxson. Opie and I have barely talked; he's been on Clay's hip since he got back from his trip. I get sick of waiting for Filip to get back from his rescue mission with his wife and finally finish up my stuff. I leave without a word to anyone and go straight home.
I curl up in my recliner, trying hard to keep my sanity; everything falling down at once. I'm sick of all the secrets and lies. My family is falling apart in front of me and I can't stop it. I pick up a photo album from the table near by and rifle through it. The pictures hold less appeal now that I know the truth behind the bogus smiles.
My phone lights up and I groan.
I need to talk to you.
Gemma's text doesn't leave much room for argument.