CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THREE

A short one, I'm sorry my lovelies. On a side note, I'm a little distracted from writing at the moment so updates will be once a week instead of twice.

Al's sitting on one of the barstools in the relatively empty main room. The Redwood Sons are all around the room, glancing over them I see that Donna is curled in Opie's lap but Jax, Chibs and Kip are missing along with Juice. Opie looks stunned, Piney and Clay are both sitting at one of the tables by the bar, stressed looks on their faces. The door slams open and Kip comes running through, a box in his hand. Opening the door of the chapel I barely see Jax and Chibs at the table, my attention fixed more on their bloody hands and the pile of bandages stained a deep red on the floor at their feet.

Wrapping my arms around Al I don't say a word, stroking her hair when she turns and burrows into my arms, her tears soaking my shirt in a few seconds.

Looking up at Gemma I raise an eyebrow "What the fuck happened, will he be okay, do they need any more help?"

Gemma shrugs "On the first two, no idea. Third, nope they've got six hands in there. Chibs will yell if they need any more."

I nod, continuing to run my fingers through Al's hair, pulling the knots out as she sobs.

The sun is rising before the doors open again, Al and I had moved to one of the sofa's about 3am and just after 4 she'd finally fallen into an exhausted sleep, her head resting on pillows in my lap. Jax and Chibs both come out of the room, their shirts soaked with blood and exhausted looks on their faces, Kip not far behind with a black rubbish bag that he heads straight outside with.

Shaking Al's shoulder lightly I wait till she stirs and looks up at me "Chibs is here Ali."

Al sits up, her eyes focusing on Chibs as he collapses into a chair, a beer already halfway to his lips "What happened? Is he okay? Is he awake? When can I see him?"

Chibs holds up his hand "Hang on a second." Finishing his beer in a long swallow he accepts the second one being offered to him, holding it loosely between his fingers. "Juice got shot. You got that much, right?" Al barely moves her head in confirmation and Chibs nods "Good. Bad news first, he won't be going anywhere for at least 24 hours."

Al inhales rapidly "But he's alive?"

Chibs laughs and nods "Course he is Lass. He took a bullet to the shoulder which got lodged right in the major muscle that's why it took so long to get out. We had to make sure not to nick the artery that was less than an inch away. He's going to be immobilised for at least the next two days, then he's going to have to take it very easy. No riding for at least 3 weeks, and I need to check on it every couple of days. You make sure he complies, cause he'll fight like a bitch to ignore it."

Al nods, her eyes wide as she watches Chibs down the second bottle of beer "Go on in there, don't wake him though and don't touch his arm. You'll know which one."

Al nods again, getting slowly to her feet and walking towards the doors; she's almost there when Clay stands up and moves in front of her "He did good today." Clay says, jerking his head towards the room "He took a bullet that would have killed the person it was aimed for." Clay's eyes flick towards the sofa tucked in a Juice's tech corner where Opie's holding Donna against his chest, neither of them having moved since I came out.

Opie looks up and catches Chibs' eye, the silent question and answer that happen between them occurring over Donna's head as she sleeps in his arms obviously oblivious to the danger her husband faced.

Jax finishes his beer and reaches for my hand, pulling me to my feet and across the room to where Clay and Gemma are sitting "Neeta's coming by today isn't she?"

Gemma nods "She should be here shortly." Glancing at the watch on her wrist she nods again "She's due in about 30 minutes. Abel still sleeping?"

I lift the monitor up and chuckle "Not a peep out of him since you woke me up. Typical, he sleeps for almost 10 hours straight and I'm awake almost the whole time."

Gemma chuckles, patting my hand and pulling the monitor from it "its okay baby. I'll come get him till Neeta gets here. You go get some sleep."

Shaking my head I start to protest but Jax cuts me off mid-word "Ma that would be great. She's still sick but refuses to admit it."

Gemma rolls her eyes, looking at me with an arched eyebrow "You actually thought you were fooling anyone?"

Shrugging guiltily I sigh "I thought I was doing okay. Guess I'm not as good an actress as I thought."

Gemma laughs at me, shaking her head "Baby you're the world's worst actress."

I stamp my foot and pout "There goes my dreams of an Emmy."

The door slams open again and all our heads swing in that direction, Happy on his feet and halfway to the door while my brain is still working out who it is.

Cam hugs Happy briefly before pulling away and looking around the room "Where is she?"

Jax nudges me in that direction and I grab Cam's hand, pulling her with me towards the Chapel, Happy trailing behind us. Cam stops at the door and leans back whispering "Am I allowed in there?"

Happy chuckles, setting his hand over her hip "Babe you're allowed in there. I'll be out here."

Chibs clears his throat and gets our attention "Just stay as quiet as you can. He needs his rest."

Cam nods and pushes the door open to the room that smells of blood, sweat and antiseptic.