6

Chapter 612 Going on a Run

"

Jax gassed up his bike before heading over to TM. He'd been looking forward to this run. This was what the MC was all about getting out and riding together as a brotherhood. That's what his father envisioned for the MC when he set it up according to his Sons of Anarchy Manifesto that he'd gotten from Piney. According to his father's history of the club, that's the way the MC was running when he was killed. When Clay took over, he made it all about guns and money.

It was hard to argue against guns now with their new set-up at the house and the new contacts thanks to Alvarez. The MC had never seen so much money and there was peace among the various MCs. With Scarlett and Decker's help they were going to launder some of the money through their house flipping sideline and then they would finally be able to spend it. The MC's future had never looked brighter.

He thought about Scarlett and wasn't pleased. He should never have punished her and he could have had sex with her that morning instead of having to imagine it. Damn, but he could be a dumbass sometimes. Well, he needed to focus on the run and quit thinking about sex or at least turn the volume down.

Riding into the parking lot, he parked next to Opie. He took his helmet off and hung it from the handlebars. There was a slight morning breeze that ruffled Jax's hair and he smiled inwardly anticipating the ride ahead.

Clay wasn't there, but he liked to be the last to arrive on a run as befits the king or president of the MC. Despite the MC's success, he was sick of Clay's my way or the highway attitude.

Clay forgot the MC wasn't a dictatorship but a democracy. He wondered how many years before Clay's hands finally gave out. One year? Two? It shouldn't be more than that. Even short runs were a challenge and he was too much of a coward to have the surgery he needed to fix the condition. He'd tried to tell him that shooting them up with steroids all the time could damage cartilage and tendons and other soft tissue. He'd ignored him and he'd given up trying to help Clay. No point in sharing internet facts with someone who refused to listen.

"It's been too long since we were on a run," Opie said.

"Yeah, we need to go out more."

"Donna's taking the kids to visit her parents. Tara wanted her to come over and keep her company."

"How did Donna take the news that Tara had returned from the dead?'

"She's glad she's not dead, but she's pissed that Tara didn't give her a heads up that it wasn't real. What about Scarlett?"

"Same with her. Tara thinks she's so smart, she should have figured out there was going to be blowback over her faking her death stunt."

"Wasn't it supposed to be Hale's idea?"

"Tara didn't have to agree," Jax pointed out. "I think she wanted to fake her death so she could return to life for the attention."

"Not many seemed to care, but that's partly because St. Thomas is a mess and she's getting the blame."

"That isn't her fault. I don't get how anyone can condone trafficking in baby organs," Jax said. He wondered if Bela could have been gutted for her organs before going to Skeeter's for cremation. He was OK with organ donation with parental consent but most of the parents didn't know much less give consent.

"The papers say that the Feds are getting involved in the investigation."

"Well as long as ATF isn't part of it, we should be OK," Jax said giving Opie a playful punch in the arm.

Chibs as road captain was already there making sure everything was ready for the run. It was his job to plan the route, where they were going to stop and where they would spend the night. He was talking to Miles and Filthy Phil who were leaning against the van that would follow them carrying extra gear.

"You guys got gas?" Chibs asked walking up to Opie and Jax.

At that moment Bobby rode his Fatboy bike out of one of TM's bays. It backfired loudly spewing fumes.

"He does," Jax said.

"Must have eaten beans," Opie added and all the guys laughed.

"Bobby, is that bike in running condition?" Chibs demanded. All the members were expected to have their bikes in top running order or there would be hell to pay.

"Yeah," Bobby assured him. "A little cheap gas I need to burn off. That's all."

Chibs gave him a skeptical look. Members were expected to keep their bikes in good working order at all times. A malfunctioning bike on a run would put Bobby in deep shit with Chibs and there would be penalties.

Kozik and Happy rode in together.

"About time we went on a run," Kozik said.

"Take your complaints to the prez," Chibs retorted. "If I had my way we'd go on a run twice a month." This run was SAMCRO only and not part of any charity run or bigger SOA event.

"Amen to that," Jax said. Chibs had said what they were all thinking. Clay's hands were impacting the club. They should be going on runs but his hands were preventing the entire club from riding together, but as long as Clay was able to physically ride, he would keep his hold on his gavel unless someone issued an officer challenge. He wasn't going to do that. It would be a tricky thing to pull off without more reason to strip the gavel from Clay's arthritic hands.

Piney rode in on his trike surprising the group. He did a minimal amount of riding, so seeing him was a welcome sight.

"Hey pops," Opie greeted his father, "haven't seen you on a ride in awhile."

"It's a great day for a ride and I got to keep my membership current."

Jax could see Happy was excited about the run because the muscles in his jaw clenched and unclenched and his dark eyes looked shiny.

Sack and Miles loaded coolers with soft drinks and beer into the back of the van. Sack walked over to join the group.

Juice rode in next closely followed by Mickey Smith riding a brand new Harley white Road Glide ST. Jax, Chibs and Opie exchanged looks. Kozik and Juice went over to admire the bike. Happy's face registered a faint frown of disapproval.

"What a douche!" Jax said. He wasn't jealous. The bike was flashy and the MC road black bikes that didn't stick out.

"Bet he's never been out of town on that bike," Opie said.

"At least we shouldn't have to worry about it breaking down," Chibs said with a shrug before heading over to talk to Mickey.

"That bike's almost 45 grand," Opie said. "Maybe more with the way it's tricked out."

"Douche," Happy said in an oddly talkative mood. "I hate show-offs."

"There's something about that guy I don't like or trust," Jax said.

"I agree, but Clay vouches for him so there's not much we can do until he does something," Opie said.

"Keep your eyes open," Jax said. "Wonder where the hell he's getting his money from."

"An undercover cop wouldn't ride a bike that expensive," Opie said.

"Just be careful around him," Jax cautioned.

"I hate rats," Happy said ominously.

The trio stared at Mickey Smith.

Clay and Tig rode in and the group set off on their ride. Chibs led the way as befits the road captain followed by the Clay, Jax, Tig and Bobby. Piney was next as a sign of respect for being 1st Nine with the rest riding behind. Mickey rode in the back just in front of Sack.

They made it out of town without incident, but soon the ride would turn historical, unfortunately it would become historical for all the wrong reasons.

"

Author's Note: I did some research on the order of riders in an MC. I learned that there is a road captain position for both outlaw and non-outlaw clubs whose duties are as I mentioned, so I created this position for Chibs since Bobby was treasurer and Juice handled club communications.

The road captain rides out first followed by the senior officers and then the rest of the MC.

The bike Mickey's riding is also a product of research. You can Google the model if you want to see it.

Also, the info on the steroid injections is medically accurate. You can only have so many before they can start to do damage. They also need time between the injections to help minimize damage. The show made it seem as though you could have them all the time without consequence.