CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
After last nights episode I can't...I don't...I'm not sure...It didn't really happen did it?!
A couple of days later I have another good morning, Al rings not long after I wake up to ask how I am and claps happily when I tell her I feel semi-human. Cherry and Lyla are still on babysitting duty and between the pair of them they talk me into eating some toast and drinking a glass of juice.
There's an almost thundering rumble of the pipes of Harley's pulling into the drive not long after Cherry had taken the tray away, leaving me with my cup of fruit tea and the stack of mail. Lyla's sitting quietly in the chair with the laptop open, browsing through some more websites, occasionally asking my opinion on if we should stock something in a particular colour range, and what size to go up to. Both of our attention moves from what we'd been doing, though the food magazine I'd been reading had barely been holding my interest as the huge amount of noise continues through the front door, the sound of at least a half dozen pairs of feet running up the stairs.
Looking up from under my thoroughly creased forehead "The reason for running inside better be a good one." I mutter under my breath when Jax comes straight to the side of the bed, kissing me on the forehead.
"Al said you were awake, just as well. We finally got around to watching the footage from the store this morning." Jax sits on the side of the bed, dropping his face into his hands where he rubs his face for a second before looking at me "You're gonna have to pack a bag."
"Why?" I push up a little more "In case you hadn't noticed, I haven't been exactly well lately. What am I packing for?"
Jax shakes his head once "No arguing babe. Just pack a bag, then pack one for Abel."
I bite down on the tip of my tongue to stop the protesting words that want to escape, simply nodding "Okay baby. Can you get the room empty so I can get up then?"
The five Sons that had all been standing around the room suddenly look up with a realisation that I'm still in bed. Watching Chibs, Miles and Kip back up makes me smile. The fact that Tig's trying to peer into the washing hamper makes me roll my eyes but Happy simply folds his arms and stalks towards the SaA, Tig backing up rapidly till Happy's standing blocking the doorway.
Lyla follows them out, brushing past Happy with a quiet apology and as I'm throwing the blankets off my legs and getting up I hear two bikes start and lift an eyebrow at Jax, ignoring Happy who's paying little to no attention to me. "They're going to sort stuff for Lyla and Cherry, they'll stay together till they get back to TM."
I nod and open the wardrobe, pulling a bag down "So how long am I packing for, and what's happened."
"We know who burnt your store down. Clubs going into lockdown while we sort it out." Happy answers, while Jax goes into his side of the wardrobe. The sounds of him packing some clothes stun me, normally he'd wait and I'd do it.
"Who?"
Happy shakes his head "Not happening Cupcake. You'll find out when Clay wants you to. Now get a move on. I know it takes chicks ages but it shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes to pack for you and Abel."
20 minutes later Jax and Happy are carrying 2 bags each down the stairs, I'm walking slowly behind them, carrying a backpack jammed with the mail I was reading, laptop and cell phone and chargers. Chibs is sent back upstairs for Doj's blankets while Tig retrieves his food bowl and the container of food from the laundry for him. Dumping everything into the back of Jax's Ram while Doj dances around our feet it takes a few minutes to sort everything before ordering him into the backseat.
Jax leads the way to TM while Chibs and Tig pull in behind me, putting me in the centre of their formation, like I'd forget where I was going. Clay doesn't order lockdown's often. Thinking about it I can only think of one other time that I remember a lockdown being mentioned, which was during the war with the Mayan's in 1992, before I came to Charming.
It's obvious when I pull into the car park that the lockdown was ordered that morning. There are bodies everywhere; one of Unser's trucks is backed into one of the bays, boxes of supplies being unloaded by a line of the mechanics, their families and some of the hangers on. Bobby's standing infront of one of the bays directing where everything is being put while Gemma is in the office, the phone at her ear, four people in front of her waiting for car collections. Jax directs me to the bay right by where Bobby is standing and as I get out of the car he smiles at me and winks behind the Elvis glasses that appeared at his seat in Chapel.
Smirking back at him he directs a few more boxes before crossing to my side and hugging me "Glad you're feeling better and thanks."
Shrugging in his arms I squeeze his middle tightly "Not a problem Uncle Elvis."
I'm still standing in the circle of Bobby's arms when Donna's new car pulls in with Piney in front and Opie behind, Al's car behind her with Lyla and Cherry in the backseat, Kip and Miles behind them, Happy in front.
Clay's standing by the office, watching in all directions, when the last of the customers Gemma was talking with leaves he waves his arm in the air and the huge gates are rolled closed. A few of the faces I now recognise from nearby charters take positions overlooking the compound, two on the roof of the office where they can see down the street. Clay gestures towards the clubhouse and the mass of bodies start moving. Hovering at the back I look around quietly till Jax returns to my side and guides me towards the clubhouse, stopping to lift Abel from his mom's arms he tucks his son into the crook of one elbow and tightens his other arm around my shoulder.