A/N: Thank you again to everyone who is reading this story! If you feel so inclined, please review! A quick shoutout to my current reviewers:
Guest Reviewer ks: Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad you are enjoying the story and appreciating my writing style. Every comment like this one gives me more and more drive to tell this story.
Ghostwriter- I love your continued feedback, thank you so much! Gemma and Dani have a complicated relationship, but they definitely made a small step in the right direction, and what better way to bond than over a shared coffee preference.
Khyharah- Thanks for following! Glad you're liking everything so far. Jax is picking up his big brother role with ease. I've got a lot more Opie coming in this and the next few chapters. Dani and Gemma are complicated but I wanted to give them some progress. Dani's got a lot to work through but we'll get her there eventually.
Now on to the story!
Chapter Seven
The next few days passed without incident. Dani continued to have difficulty sleeping, but she hadn't woken up screaming for a couple of days and had convinced Jax he didn't need to stay with her at Opie's anymore.
Opie wasn't home much, busy with work and the club. When he was home he spent a lot of time in the garage working on his bike or truck. He did seem to try and hang around Dani once a day. Either at breakfast or dinner, depending on his schedule, he would sit at the table and read the paper or lean against the counter and just watch her cook as they talked. He had offered to help once but she just shoed him away. Their chats were simple, things that needed done around the house, how Opie's day went at TM, Dani's ideas for her garden.
Dani had picked the far corner of the yard for her project and was deciding how she wanted to lay out her garden beds and what she wanted to grow. She was fairly confident that Opie had no interest in gardening, though he still listened and asked her questions, just as she did when he talked about engines. She could not tell a carburetor from, well, she didn't know the name of any other parts, but it was just nice to have someone to talk about those simple things with.
Monday morning had rolled around and Jax had called to say he was leaving to come and pick her up to take her to her appointment. She went into her room to get her shoes and took a moment to look in the mirror. Her hair was pulled into a low ponytail what hung over her left shoulder. She wore fitted dark wash jeans, a white tank top under a purple Henley shirt, sleeves pushed up to her elbow. A lightweight brown scarf was wrapped loosely around her neck, which she adjusted and when she was satisfied with its appearance, she pulled on a pair of brown leather ankle boots. She grabbed her purse and sunglasses and went to wait for Jax on the front steps, making sure to lock the front door.
She jumped up from the steps as she heard the approaching motorcycle, and when she saw Jax coming around the corner she walked to the end of the driveway to meet him as he pulled up to the house. Pulling the long strap of her bag across her body to sit on the opposite shoulder, she climbed on the bike behind Jax, who had taken off his helmet and passed it to her. She strapped the helmet on and they were off.
Sooner than she would have liked they pulled into the hospital parking lot and Jax killed the engine. She climbed off the bike and removed the helmet, handing it to Jax with a nervous smile.
"You ok to do this Dani?" Jax asked her.
Dani looked up at Jax and nodded, as much as she didn't want to be there, she knew it was for the best. "I'm good Jax. I got this," she told him, and they walked into the building. They hopped on the elevator to the third floor and followed the signs, finding the office relatively easy.
Jax went to find a seat in the small waiting room as Dani stopped to check in with the receptionist. The woman smiled at Dani and gave her some paperwork to fill out. Dani filled in her name, address and phone number and returned the papers, explaining that she did not have any additional information. The woman nodded sympathetically as Dani said she had been missing and declared dead, therefore had no active social security number or identification. She showed her a copy of the police report Chief Unser had given her, and called Jax over to get the number for the attorney that was helping resurrect her.
The receptionist made a few calls, speaking to the hospital administration before telling her that everything was in order for her appointment and to please let them know when her identity had been reinstated so they could update their records.
It was only a few minutes later when Dani was called back. Jax squeezed her hand in support and she rose to follow the woman to the back.
Dani came out of the office an hour later, and Jax rose to meet her. "So how did it go?" He asked.
Dani shrugged. "I don't know. I mean she definitely agreed with the PTSD diagnosis, and she gave me some stuff that could be helpful, like breathing techniques and stuff if I start to feel panicky, she suggested looking into meditation too. But she said she thinks I should see her every week for a while, and I don't know how I feel about that, but I told her I'd make the appointment, at least. And she gave me a 'homework' assignment."
"Homework?" Jax asked as they stopped at reception to make an appointment for the following week.
"Something I have to do before my next appointment." Dani explained. "I mentioned the flinching thing. She suggested that if I am the one to initiate contact that I might be more relaxed and open to it. So I have to initiate a handshake or a hug or something like with someone I am 'reasonably comfortable with' three times before next week." Dani laughed when Jax asked when he was getting his hug. "You don't count." She told him. "Apparently, I have an inherent level of trust in you, and the homework is designed to push me out of my comfort zone in a safe way, or some crap like that."
"I gotta head into TM for a bit, you want me to drop you off at home or you want to come by and hang out for a bit?" Jax asked her.
Dani agreed to go with him and a little while later they pulled into the lot. Jax backed his bike into a spot and once again Dani was climbing off the bike, handing Jax his helmet. Jax was looking at something over her shoulder and then looked back at her with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Opie's over there." He told her nodding towards the garage.
"So?" Dani asked.
"So, you're good with Ope, right?"
"What are you getting at?"
"I'm just saying, you've got that homework assignment. Ope might be a good first target."
"Target? You sound like its an assassination, not a handshake."
Jax shook his head. "I was thinking a hug."
Dani stared at him. "Are you on drugs? I'm supposed to just randomly walk up to him and hug him in the middle of the garage?"
"Why not?" he asked as he turned and walked towards the garage. "Hey Ope!" He called out and Opie started towards Jax, meeting him halfway. They gave each other one of those man-hug, pat on the backs and stood there talking.
Dani felt her irritation grow that Jax could say hello to a friend so casually and the thought of her doing the same literally had her frozen in place. Shaking her head at herself she walked in their direction with determination. Without sparing her brother a glance she said "Hey Opie," and wrapped her arms around him.
Opie froze for half a second, then returned her hug. "Uh, hey."
Despite her irritation with her brother, she felt comfortable in Opie's arms and closed he eyes for a brief moment before taking a half step back and looking up at him sheepishly. She felt herself start to flush so to cover her embarrassment, she turned towards Jax and gave him a slap on the shoulder.
"Happy now, asshole?" She asked.
Jax just gave her a smirk. "So how was it?"
Dani stared as realization set in. "It worked! Wait, you did that on purpose so I wouldn't think about it."
"It's a brother's duty to know how to push his sister's buttons" he replied.
"Someone want to clue me in here?" Opie asked. When they explained her homework assignment and Jax's goading, Opie just shook his head and chuckled.
"Alright, we gotta take care of something in the club house. Gemma should be in the office if you want to say hey." Jax told her and pointed in the direction of the garage as he and Opie head towards the club house.
Dani headed towards the garage office and stopped at the doorway. She could see Gemma sitting at a desk working. She took a breath and stepped inside. "Hey Mom."
Gemma looked up. "Hey baby." She stood up and Dani told herself not to overthink, just go, so she walked to her mother and gave her a brief hug. It was less awkward than the previous contact they had, but still fount herself wanting something more out of her mother's embrace. "What are you doing here?" Gemma asked.
"I was with Jax, he said he had to stop by here for a bit. Thought I'd come and say hi." Dani hesitated a moment. "Is there anything I can help with?" She asked gesturing to the stacks of papers on Gemma's desk.
Gemma looked between her and the desk a few times. "Sure, I got something you can help with." She handed her a stack of invoices. "I've got these all entered into the bookkeeping software, if you want to file them for me by customers last name." She pointed to the filing cabinet behind Dani.
Dani nodded and took the stack from Gemma. She carefully filed the invoices as Gemma entered more into the system. When she was finished with the first stack Gemma handed her a second one. About halfway through the second stack, Jax walked into the office. He gave Gemma a kiss and came o lean against the side of the file cabinet Dani was working on.
"Some club business came up that I have to deal with." Jax told Dani. "You ok with Ope taking you home?"
"Sure." Dani nodded. Jax looked at her, then looked over at Gemma before looking back at Dani. His eyes held a question he did not ask. Dani nodded and held up two fingers indicated she had completed her second task of her assignment. Jax grinned, kissed her on the forehead and said goodbye.
A few minutes later Opie appeared in the door between the office and the garage. "Hey, I need to finish up with the Chevy in bay two. It will be about thirty, forty-five minutes or so." He told her. Dani nodded and held up her stack of invoices to let him know she could keep busy while she waited. He started to turn to leave but then stopped and turned back around. "I rode my bike in today. You ok to ride back with me?"
Dani looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, that should be fine." She said. He held her eye contact for a moment longer before he nodded and went back into the garage.
Dani turned back to the filing cabinet but felt another pair of eyes on her and turned to face Gemma, who raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" Dani asked.
"Nothing, baby," Gemma replied with a smirk.
Dani just shook her head and went back to work. A while later, Opie was in the doorway again. "You ready?" He asked her.
"Just one minute." She said filing the last three invoices she was holding. She turned to Gemma to make sure she was ok with having her leave.
Gemma went to a cash box and pulled out a few bills. "Thanks for helping today." She took Dani's hand and pressed the bills in her hand as she pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Gemma, you don't have to—this isn't why I helped out today." Dani said.
"I know, but you saved me a lot of time so you're gonna take it."
Dani assessed her for a moment before nodding and shoving the money into her bag. "Thanks. See you later." She said, then followed Opie to his bike.
Just as Jax had, Opie climbed on the bike and handed her his helmet. She snapped it on and tightened the strap. Climbing on the bike behind Opie, Dani's skin began tingling as she wrapped her arms around him. Opie started the bike, turned to ask her if she was set, and when she nodded, he took off. She turned her face to the side and pressed her cheek against Opie's broad back as they sped through town. Riding with Opie was entirely a different experience than riding with Jax. With Jax, she had felt like they were birds soaring, flying into the wind. With Opie, it felt like there was no her or him, they were like one and that one WAS the wind. She closed her eyes to savor the feeling of Opie, of the wind.
She was reluctant when she the motorcycle slow and come to a stop. She opened her eyes to see that they were home. Slowly she removed her arms from around Opie, and climbed off the bike, feeling a bit unsteady. She removed the helmet and handed it to Opie who took it, brushing her hand as he did. Opie was looking at her with those dark eyes of his, Dani unable to look away. She felt the heat on her face as she blushed, finally breaking eye contact and looking down for a moment. When she looked back, he had that half smile on his face and she felt the need to say something. "I'm not really in the mood for cooking, was thinking we could order some pizza or something."
Opie nodded. "Sure, order what you want. I've got something I need to work on in the garage til it gets here.
Dani went into the house still in the haze of a feeling she didn't recognize. She ordered two meat lovers pizzas, changed into a pair of leggings and an oversized tee shirt, and turned on the TV to find something to watch while she waited. She settled on a scary movie, Halloween. She queued up the movie but didn't start it yet. She set out a couple paper plates and napkins, poured herself a glass of Dr. Pepper, and set it on the coffee table. She was just pressing play when the pizza arrived. She tipped the driver and brought the pizza inside. Opening the garage door, she told him that food was here, and she was just starting a movie.
Opie came inside, washing up at the kitchen sink as Dani loaded her plate with a few slices. She carried her food into the living room and stretched out on the sofa, her back against the armrest, legs propped up on the cushion next to her. Opie came in with his plate in one hand, a beer in the other, and relaxes into the chase portion of the sofa, his legs so long that his heels hung off the edge of the built-in footrest.
They ate their fill and watched the movie in silence, Dani jumping occasionally during a scary moment. After a particularly gruesome scare, Opie reached out with his hand and rested it on the only part of her he could comfortably reach, the top of her foot. Dani turned her head to look at him and he raised his eyebrow in question. She gave him a small smile and turned back to the movie, blushing when Opie gave her foot a squeeze in response.
Dani heard someone chuckling and a voice say, "Well, isn't this cute?" She brought her hand up to rub her face and opened her eyes. Jax and Chibs stood in the living room and were looking at her.
She sat up, realizing she must have fallen asleep at some point. She looked to the opposite end of the couch to see Opie sleeping as well, hand still on her foot, head leaning back, snoring slightly.
She looked back to her brother, "Jax? Everything ok?" She asked.
"Everything's fine. We just need Ope. Go back to sleep." Jax told her.
Opie was just waking up. "Christ, man. What's going on?" he asked groggily.
"Club Shite." Chibs said. "Gotta go brother."
Opie was up in a flash, slipping on his kutte and shoes. Dani just sat there watching everything. "You sure everything's ok?" she asked sleepily.
Jax ruffled her hair, "Everything's fine." He repeated. "Sorry we woke you. You looked like you were sleeping well."
Dani just nodded, too tired to care about anything else.
"Go back to sleep" Jax told her again and she nodded once more as the three men headed for the door.
"Be safe." She called as they closed the door and she could hear Opie locking the deadbolt from the outside. She sat there for another minute, then crawled into the spot Opie vacated, letting the warmth he left behind lull her back to sleep before she could even hear the sound of the motorcycle engines roaring to life.