AN: Sorry about the delay in posting - enjoy! :)

Jax,

If you're reading this, then Abel is safe.

I know you're furious at me right now, but I can handle it. Even now, before whatever comes next, I can hardly wait to see the look of relief on your face.

I didn't make this decision lightly. But Peter presented me with an opportunity that was too good to resist, especially once Jimmy got involved. If he'd been allowed to take Abel anywhere, you would never see your son again.

Let's be honest, too - if I'd been better, faster, smarter in those last moments with Cameron, none of this would've happened. Now, I can correct that failure. Peter gave me that opportunity the day he stormed into Maureen's apartment. There's something wrong with his mind, Jax, it's like he's lost some tether on reality. Once I realized that, it was only a matter of time before I figured out how to use it.

You should also know that I know about your plan with Stahl, or at least the broad outline. I don't know how everything will go down, so it's hard to guess how you'll move forward, but know that Jimmy is working with the Russians in California. He wants to cut the Sons out of guns entirely. Now, the Russians can be bought, but be careful what you agree to.

If all goes as it should, I'll be on a plane to California by the time you read this. Eventually, I imagine we'll end up in South America. At least, that's where I would hide if I were Jimmy. Please don't think I've given up - I will try as hard as I can to get back to you guys, Jax. SAMCRO has become my family.

And please, for me, keep an eye on Filip. Make sure he's okay, Jax. He's going to blame himself for this, and if it gets to the point where he no longer cares for himself, I need you to make sure he's happy.

Keep your family close, Jax. Keep Tara and the kids safe, and don't let your brothers get drawn into the darkness.

Mac

—

My Filip,

I don't know how to write this letter. I don't know where to start, I'm not even sure if you care anymore.

I may make it back to Charming, I may not. I wrote Jax the details. But either way, no matter how it goes down, I want you to look forward.

We had this spectacular connection. I'd never felt anything like it, and I doubt I will again. I fell in love with you. I still love you - I can't write that in past tense, because even after everything, it's still true.

But more than anything, I want you to be happy. Please don't feel guilty. You have earned your happiness, earned the right to be with your family. Let go of any lingering feelings you might have about me, and keep your family safe. Be with the ones you love.

Be happy, Chibs. Be at peace. Don't worry about me.

Mackenzie.

—

Jax read the majority of his letter out loud to his brothers, leaving out the parts that needed to be kept secret.

The guys listened in tense silence, no one more so than Chibs, who had read his own letter, cumpled it up, and then smoothed it back out, equal parts furious and devastated.

He just felt useless. Felt like crawling out of his skin. Helpless.

Chibs had left Fi and Kerrianne in Ireland. Kerrianne had begged to stay, and Chibs wasn't going to disrupt his daughter's life any more than it had been. So long as Jimmy could be taken care of, his girls would be happy. He would miss his daughter with all of his heart, but he'd see her as often as he could travel, and he prized her happiness far above his.

Leaving Fiona was easier. Neither he nor Fi had lied to Mac - they were't in love anymore. Besides the kiss in Charming before Abel had been kidnapped, there had been nothing physical between them. And even that kiss had just been… friendly. Their physical connection was gone.

Chibs had Mac. She was it for him.

Or so he'd thought.

Chibs had spent a lot of his time in Ireland reflecting on how different his two relationships had been. It was more stable with Mac, and had grown deeper. He and Fi had had a lot of fire, and they'd run with that for a long time. But Fi hadn't wanted to be an old lady, hadn't really wanted the club. When the fire had run out, they'd fought, fallen apart, and hadn't been whole since.

They'd started the divorce paperwork just before he'd left Ireland.

Chibs knew in his bones that he and Mac had had a connection that would go the distance. With her gone, it felt as if he was missing an arm. Maybe he hadn't deserved a chance to explain himself, but Jesus Christ, did he wish he'd gotten one. Chibs wanted her back - wanted her to take his crow, wanted to marry her, wanted to have more kids.

Christ, he was too old for that.

It was too much, having all these dreams make themselves known only now that she was far out of his reach.

He'd been furious after reading his letter. Had almost thrown it away before realizing it held what might be her last words to him. Her arrogance and stubbornness were on full display, though he couldn't downplay his own role in the guilt she still seemed to carry. And it was her confession of love that made him flatten the letter back out and tuck it away.

Jax's letter, on the other had, had him ready to explode.

"We gotta save her, guys." Jax said, after reading it outloud.

Everyone nodded - there was no one who wasn't on board with that idea. But it was tricky. Chibs could see that Jax had a plan, or at least an idea, but Jax had been playing his cards close to the chest, no doubt leaning on secrecy as a tool.

"We know that Jimmy is getting his hands on all the cash he can, and Juice found the same with Peter. That must be for the Russians, to buy their way out of the country."

"Jimmy always has an escape plan." Chibs growled.

He knew it wasn't helping, the way he growled at everyone these days. But besides the fact that he might never see Mac again, there was also the problem of what would happen if he did.

How would she react? Her letter hadn't been optimistic enough for Chibs to guess. With the way she told him to go back to his family, he expected that Mac wouldn't expect to find him in Charming again, much less intent on bringing her home.

Christ, he'd made so many mistakes. Caused so much pain, so much anger.

He needed to find some internal equilibrium if he was going to be even remotely helpful. The plan that Jax had begun to describe was risky and easily fucked up. But it was a chance to get his girl back, and to destroy Jimmy once and for all.

Then he could think about whether he was worth a second chance.

—

Mac's fingers ghosted over her new scabs.

The inital sharp pain of the wounds had faded, only to be replaced with the dull burn of healing skin. They'd been mostly inflicted by Jimmy, though Peter hadn't gone out of his way to be gentle with her - or stop Jimmy.

The anger that seemed to sweep Jimmy away would come almost randomly, though in the weeks she'd spent with them, Mac had learned some of his triggers. Perhaps there was still a little of the old Peter left, too, because he would often watch Jimmy beat the shit out of her, a slight smile on his face.

But she was still alive. Still fighting.

They'd made it to the US without issue, which spoke volumes about her safety, and about the power that Jimmy wielded. Now, as she'd guessed, they were planning to flee to South America, with the help of the Russians.

The days had dragged. Outside of the physical injuries, Mac was mentally tested every single moment that she had to spend with Peter. His mind had gone far enough not to notice the way she shuddered at his touch before controlling herself, but eventually, he was going to notice her complete disinterest.

Jimmy already did. Mac was certain that was why he'd made a sort of game, dragging her away when Peter would get to handsy, only to take out his own rage on his new personal punching bag - Mac. And the torture wasn't limited to Jimmy's hands. No, he was extraordinarily creative.

Even with Jimmy's interference, it wasn't easy to avoid being physical with Peter. He kissed her often, and Mac was still learning to suppress her revulsion. She'd managed to keep him otherwise at bay, feigning injury during her time with the Sons. More and more, though, she found herself thinking of Chibs to bring any sort of joy to her face, despite knowing there was a distinct chance he was gone from her life forever.

Mac spent most of her time planning her escape. The note she'd left with Jax had thankfully proven to be prescient, and now it was about getting out. She was sure that the Sons were working on it from the outside, and so there was also the matter of aligning her plans with theirs. That meant a lot of waiting for some sign from them, some hint that the time was right.

The waiting had proved excruciating.

But her patience had paid off.

When their new identities had been delivered by the Russians, Mac's package of documents had contained a little gift. Undoubtedly paid for by the Sons, and surreptitiously delivered by Putlova.

Putlova. Perhaps the only man Jimmy was actually afraid of, and damned if the Russian didn't work that fear for all it was worth. Jimmy had searched her completely before their flight to the US - she'd carried no weapons at all. Now, Putlova's bullying had given her the chance she needed.

It had come with a note: You'll know what to do.

There was packing to finish, but Mac knew nothing else really mattered. She didn't have anything personal with her, anyways.

All that mattered was the package in her bag.

—

The car ride was tense.

Peter, perhaps aware of the tension between Mac and Jimmy, tried to make small talk. Mac would respond, but then they would all lapse back into silence.

It had been a long time since Mac had found herself so completely on edge. She hated not being completely in control of a situation, and hated even more that she really wasn't sure what she was supposed to be looking for. So much of this relied on the Sons.

In the end, it was obvious.

Their van turned off the main road, obviously a departure from the plan, judging by the fury on Jimmy's face. But with the Russians driving, there was nothing that Jimmy could do.

And when Mac looked out of the window, SAMCRO was there.

Her heart soared, taking in their pissed-off faces.

She pulled out her gift from the Russians, and pointed it at Jimmy's head.

Mac watched his eyes, and saw the moment that something vital seemed to disappear. Correctly predicting what his reaction would be, she pulled the gun's hammer back.

Across from her, Peter's hands fisted, white-knuckled.

But he and Jimmy were well and truly trapped, even more so once the car stopped and they were forced out by the Russian goons and angry Sons.

Mac gave Peter a brief, sardonic smile. He was undoubtedly more dangerous now that she'd betrayed him, but he was also fucked. Peter knew her well, understood her skill with a gun. If he made one wrong move, Mac would shoot him, and she did not miss.

The trade went down with a fair amount of tension - more from the Sons than the Russians, Mac noted. A certain stiffness entered Jax's posture as they looked over the money, but before anything could come of it, the money had been tossed in the Russians' van. The Sons stuffed Jimmy and Peter into a van of their own.

Jax swept her up in a hug the moment the door closed behind them. Mac let out an involuntary grunt as he pressed on some of her still healing wounds. Luckily, he didn't hear.

"Jesus Christ, Mackenzie." he said, thickly.

"Hello, Jax."

"Christ, I don't know what to… if you ever pull anything like that again - "

"I would do it again in a heartbeat." Mac said. "How's Abel?"

"Safe at home, thanks to you. Tara's been beside herself - I think she might be even more pissed at you than I am."

Mac grinned. She greeted the rest of the guys quickly, but there was little time to spare. As the left the meeting site, Jax filled her in on the rest of the plan.

It was certainly audacious.

The changeover happened at the bottom of the incline, and Mac helped the guys get Peter - now tied up - safely into Tara's trunk. Only then did she turn to give her friend a hug.

"You utter moron." Tara said in greeting. "If you ever do something so fucking stupid again…"

Tara embraced her. This time, Mac swallowed her groan.

"God, I'm so glad you're okay. I was so fucking worried."

Her anger had given way to tears.

"I'm fine, Tara. You understand why I had to do it, right?"

Tara nodded.

"Thank you, Kenzie. Thank you for giving us our son back."

"I would've set the earth on fire to find him, Tara."

While they were talking, Tig had moved a similarly tied-up Jimmy into Donna's trunk, and Donna herself had walked over to greet Mac with a similar mix of enthusiasm and anger as Tara. It was lucky that both women were willing to help. The plan that Jax had devised depended on them.

Both Tara and Donna were quickly on their way, cargo safely in their trunks. The Sons followed a bit later, Mac on the back of Tig's bike. As they passed through Stahl's ATF barrier, Mac slid the visor on her helmet low, hiding her face. She didn't look back, though there was a distinct sense of celebration, having deprived the bitchy agent of her prize.

The ride to the clubhouse was fast, leaving Mac without much time to prepare herself. When they arrived - too soon - Mac's mind went blank.

Because there was Chibs, waiting for her as she swung off of Tig's bike.