I wake up to an empty bed and a quick note.

Bree,

I'll be home as soon as I can. Don't give Rat a hard time.

Love you baby.

Filip

I can't hide my disappointment as I move through the house. Rat tries to make small talk but quickly gives up when he realizes my mood. I focus on cleaning and organizing everything in the house, things I forgot we even owned. By the time I make it to the nursery, the tension radiating through my body is crushing. I spy an old photo on Micha's dresser.

In the picture, Opie stands behind Donna, his arms wrapped around her waist. Jax's arm is casually tossed over my shoulders. It was taken sometime my freshman year. We stood outside the clubhouse at TM like we owned the place. We pretended we were older, that it was Jax and Opie's club instead of JT and Clay's. We were on top of the world. I'd give anything to go back to that time, to feel that peace again.

I can't stand to be in this house alone. It's a cruel taunt of what my future could look like. Everyone and everything I love ripped away from me before I realize what's happening. I try to remember how we got here from that point when everything seemed right. I don't think before moving, just planning my quick escape without alerting Rat to anything.

Filip's POV

I barely park my bike before I'm running for the door. Rat waits inside, a look of pure terror on his face. He rambles to himself.

"Chibs, I swear I thought she just went to take a bath or something. She was in the nursery and then she went into the bathroom and closed the door. I heard the water running and didn't question it. When she didn't come out, I went to check on her. She didn't answer so I broke the door." Sweat pours off the prospect as he starts to stutter. "S-s-she was j-j-just gone!"

"Jeysus Christ." I push past him and head toward the bathroom. The tub sits full of water. The window is propped open and the screen pushed out. "SHITE!" I fish my phone out of my cut and dial.

"It's Bree, leave a message." Her perky voice greets me immediately. I dial another number as I run my hand through my hair. Another voicemail.

"FUCK!" I slam the bathroom door against the wall and storm down the hall. "Call her brother, tell him what's goin on and tell him ta go check the fuckin cabin."

"Where are you goin?" He asks as I head outside.

"Ta find my fuckin wife." I mutter, letting the anger get the better of me.

Bree's POV

The gravel crunches under my tires as I come to a stop. This place carries a certain kind of peace. When we were kids, dad brought us camping out here and we'd sneak off to get high. We were too cool for all of it then but now all I want is to go back to that time and listen to my dad drone on and on about the war and our country.

The door sits open when I get up the steps. I stop, waiting to hear my dad stumbling around or the radio playing. Instead, silence greets me as I push it slowly open. My father's lifeless body lies against the opposite wall, blood covering his chest. My breath stops and my legs go limp. Sharp pain rushes through my hands when I catch myself before hitting the floor. I crawl toward my dad, my mouth open in a silent scream.

I lean over him, trying to feel even a fading breath against my cheek. The stench hits me, making my stomach roll. I lean over and heave, emptying my stomach against the hardwood floor. My body screams with pain and the room spins before fading away.

Filip's POV

I race through town, darting in and out of traffic. Thoughts of Bree laying in the hospital bed next to Tara or spread out over the pavement like Donna have me on edge. I hit every spot I know she'd go to, even swinging by Opie's house just in case. No one has heard from her all day.

It's dark by the time I head back to the clubhouse. "Find her?" Rat greets me when I pull in.

"Does it look like I found her Rat boy?" I ask through gritted teeth.

Opie rushes into the parking lot after me, his face burning red. "Opie just found out. He didn't answer earlier."

"You lost my sister?" Opie roars, heading for Rat's throat with his massive hand.

"Op, that ain't gonna help." I pry his fingers off the terrified boy. "She snuck out the window."

"You better hope nothing happened to her." Opie seethes. "Where'd you look?"

"Everywhere." I sigh. "Just gonna head up ta the cabin, see if Piney heard from her."

"I'll go. You go check in with Precious and the kids. See if she's heard from Bree." Opie jumps back on his bike and peels out of the parking lot.

Bree's POV

I sit on the top step, a half-empty bottle in my hand. My hair is matted to my head in a mix of dirt, blood and tears. The chill of the night air barely registers in my drunken state. The sound of a bike does nothing to move me.

My brother stops at the stairs when he sees me. The look of terror on his face reflected the screams echoing in my head. "Dad?" His eyes dart to the open door. I don't acknowledge him, taking another long sip. My throat is numb to the burn I expected to feel. Opie bolts past me, pushing his way inside.

Another set of lights hits me, blinding me for a moment. Wayne jumps out of his truck, glancing around for my brother. From inside, a hollow wail fills the air. Wayne rushes past me. I keep my eyes locked on the ground in front of me.

They say that when you die, your life flashes in front of your eyes. I sit, imagining the things that went through my father's mind. Did he regret any of it? I see every moment of my life with my father, watching it on repeat. Every unkind word he ever spat in a drunken childish fit, every kiss on my temple and every time he told me he was proud; I watched it all and each one broke a piece of me away until nothing was left.

"What are you doing here?" Opie screams from somewhere behind me. I take another long sip of the warm liquid and tune out the words I suspected hours ago. Clay just kept taking; he robbed my family over and over again.

Opie steps back outside and sits next to me on the step. I hand him the bottle without a word. He finishes the liquid in one gulp, tossing the bottle to the ground. I curl into his side. "Filip was out of his mind." He whispers. "You can't disappear like that again. I can't lose you."

"Yeah." I don't look up at him.

"I'll call him; tell him you're all right." He offers. "We need to keep this to ourselves for now. Anyone else knows and I won't be able to get at Clay." The plan forms between us without words. There is no question about our next step. My big brother is going to make sure I'm safe. I let the ideas run rampant, knowing that it's all false promises.

We sit in silence long after the sun comes up, both of us lost in our anger and loss. My brother's face is contorted in rage and pain that reflects my own. He only moves to go inside and grab another bottle. We take turns swallowing the liquor that barely numbs us. Eventually he stands up, reaching out for my hand.

"Let's take care of this." He leads me to the tow truck. "I'll go see Gemma."

"Take me to Dad's house." I mumble incoherently as I climb into the passenger seat. He doesn't argue, closing the door behind me. "I don't wanna see anyone right now."

We ride back to town in silence, my forehead pressed against the cold window. Shivers that have nothing to do with the temperature ripple through my body. Thoughts of Tara, Donna and my father overwhelm me.

Skeeter's takin care of dad at 6.

I toss my phone back to the table in front of me and sink into the couch. Nothing about this house changed in the fifteen years we lived here. Most of those years I spent searching for a way out of this house, this town. I just wanted a chance to leave all this behind. Now all I see is a safe haven. Nothing can reach me in here. Dad is alive in all the things that held his scent, his memory.

The doorbell rings and I jump, startled at the interruption. I push myself off the couch and make my way to the door. I peek out the window to see Filip's worried face. "Bree, it's me. Open up sweetie."

I turn the knob, letting the door pop open before walking away. I'm not ready to look at him yet. My horrible nightmares are present even when I am awake. He closes the door but doesn't move away. "I'm sorry I scared you." I mumble, running my fingers through my filthy hair.

"What's going on baby?" He watches me. "I want to help." I don't answer him, instead focusing on a spot on the rug in front of me. "Don't push me away Bree. Not after all the shit we've been through."

He wraps his arms around me from behind and the chatter that's haunted me all night finally stops. My mind goes blank. I spin around and bury my face in his chest. "I love you."

"Yer my world. You and those babies, whatever ya need me ta do." He doesn't make sense. I gaze up at him as his tears start to flow. "Let me help."

"I need to see Donna." I tell him. He drops his arms with a sigh.

"Go take a shower and I'll follow you over there." He offers. I nod, turning back down the hall and heading toward the bathroom. "Don't sneak out the window." He calls and I let the corner of my mouth curl up in a quick smile.

"Wanna come babysit." I don't have to look to know he's following behind me.

"You were the glue Donna. Not this club. You're gone and everything is falling apart." I sit in the grass, my legs folded under me. I stare at the cold words etched in stone. "I was wrong and I can't make it right. This shit running through my head, it's not right. It's not healthy."

"You keep talking to yourself, they're gonna lock you up." My brother's voice interrupts me.

"I'm talking to her." I shoot back.

He sighs, dropping to the ground next to me. "How did this get so fucked up?"

"I don't know. I've been working on that for months." I shake my head.

"I'm surprised he let you go this far without a babysitter." He chuckles, glancing back at where Filip paces near his bike. He watches us carefully. "He's worried about you."

"He's scared of me." I correct him. "Hell, I'm scared of me at this point."

"Need a favor." He mutters. "If this goes wrong, if something happens to me, I need you to take care of Kenny & Ellie."

I don't try and talk him out of whatever he has planned. It would be a waste of my time. Instead, I lean into him. "When Mary took you and left, I knew you'd come back to me. I knew you'd never let this world hurt me. You're a good brother Op."

"You made it easy." He kisses the top of my head. "Can I have a few minutes with my wife? I'll meet you over there." He nods his head toward the crematorium. I kiss his cheek and stand up, dusting off my legs.

"Bye sweetie." I run my fingers over the stone. "Watch over him. He needs his angel."

I trudge away from my brother, my head hanging low. My feet turn to lead with each step. Filip meets me in the parking lot. "Ya gotta tell me what's goin on with ya love."

"Stay." I urge him. "You'll see."

"I ain't leavin ya." He pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me.

Filip doesn't ask questions. He stares at Opie and I as we said our goodbyes. His mouth twisted in unrecognizable fear. I bury my face in his chest and even his touch can't quiet the chaos in my head. We don't move, staring at the fire as it lapped at the box that now held my father.

The door opens and I finally turn away. A cool breeze hits my face. Jax freezes in the doorway, his mouth hanging open. He catches sight of Dad's cut clutched in Opie's large hands.

"What happened?" He asks, staring at the three of us.

Opie turns back to the furnace. "Found him at the cabin. Shotgun to the chest."

Filip's arms tighten around me. My head is spinning and the voices rush at me, drowning out the rest of their conversation. The sound of Filip's phone reaches me. He pulls it from his cut. Clay's phone number scrolls across the caller ID.

"I gotta get this." He steps away from me and answers the phone on the way out the door. I squirm under Opie's steady stare. My hands shake uncontrollably. I shove them in the pocket of the hoodie I'm drowning in.

"You ok?" My brother asks, reaching out for my hand. I shake my head, tears already forming.

"I gotta get outta here." I murmur. "I just can't. . ." My heart leaps into my throat and cuts off the words I couldn't manage to get out.

Opie stops me, grabbing my wrist before I make it to the door. "I love you." He wraps me up in a hug. "You know that right?"

I nod and bury my face in his shoulder. The familiar scent of my brother takes me back to when my family was whole, untouched. I push myself away from him and toward the door without another word.

Filip waits outside, his back toward me as he finishes his conversation on the phone. I sneak past him to my car and climb in. He doesn't see me as I drive out of the parking lot.