Chapter 8

Jax pulled up to the cabin. Parking his bike he removed his helmet, fingers sliding through his hair as he took a moment before going inside.

What Galen was asking was a hard ask. Jax needed Clay to be gone but it seemed no matter how hard he tried Clay just seemed to cling on, he was a disease, he had destroyed his family, killed his father, tried to kill his wife, beat the shit out of his mother. Clay should be in a shallow grave. That what everyone wanted, Tara, Hap, Gemma, Nicole they all wanted him gone and Jax did too but the pull of the Irish the pull of Galen made that impossible, but Jax didn't have time to think about that he had to deal with a junkie who's 9 year old son shot up his classmates with one of the clubs KG9s.

Wiping a hand over his face he dismounted his bike, as he did looked over his shoulder to see Tig and Chibs pull up, Jax nodded before turning away taking the steps, which felt heavy, up to the cabin.

Walking into the cabin he was greeted by Happy before Nero as Arcadio rounded the corner. "How she doin'?" Jax's question was directed to Nero but it was Arcadio who answered as he entered the main room from the bedroom.

"She's fine." Jax looked at him but quickly but shifted his gaze back to Nero looking for a little more of the truth.

"She's level, need to keep her that way I have my guys doing a run." Jax was grateful for the honesty but he knew what that meant. She was on a come down and the fact that Nero was gathering another hit for her meant one thing to Jax that this shit was just going to get worse, she was untrustworthy.

Hearing the chair shift behind him Jax locked over his shoulder his eyes making contact with Happy's.

If Jax was feeling the weight of the current situation then he knew that Happy was. After their talk that morning Jax was sure that Happy's mind was on Nicole or rather her own past addiction, and he looked pissed.

Jax understood that because he would be a liar if he said that his mind hadn't flashed back to his cousin and Wendy but Happy had confirmed just before they sent Nicole off to Tacoma that she was clean, which was good. But this was very close to home.

As Jax went to make a move towards his brother he stopped when he heard a car pulling up. Juice who had been lingering in the background stepped forward and looked out of the window. "It's Gemma." Juice confirmed looking back at Jax.

Jax nodded but his eyes were drawn to the bruises that littered his face. Jax didn't need any confirmation as to who was responsible. This was Chibs, He knew that his VP didn't agree with his decision to let him back into the brotherhood and this was must have been how he needed to get right with the situation. And as he looked over to Chibs the look on his face only confirmed this to Jax.

"I'll go an see what she wants." Jax sighed before heading back outside. Could this day get any worse

Nicole asked no questions on the drive she just directed Gemma to where she needed to go, but Nicole couldn't stop her mind overthinking the reason as to why Jax would be at Happy's cabin. It made her feel uneasy, Happy's cabin was just that his cabin. To her knowledge she had been the only one who knew where it was and had been allowed inside. And for Nicole that cabin meant a lot to her, it was where he saved her after Jax found out her secrets.

As they pulled up to the cabin Nicole took in the amount of cars and bikes that were parked outside, this was big, whatever was happening it must have been bad.

As Gemma parked up, they watched Jax and Nero exit the cabin, their eyes connected for a moment before Gemma stepped out of the car drawing both of their attention to her. "I need to talk to you." Gemma spoke existing the car.

Jax looked over his shoulder at Nero who nodded in understanding that he was clearly not needed for this conversation. Nero wasn't happy about it but he knew when and when not to get involved in Teller drama. Once Nero was inside Jax made his way over to them. Opening her own door Nicole started to follow Gemma. But Nicole didn't want to hear what Clay had said, she wanted Happy.

Jax was surprised to see Nicole with Gemma. He knew that he had asked his mother to see Clay, but had Nicole seen him too? even after the warning from Happy. As he approached he noticed that Nicole was starting to take a different path from him and Gemma, so Jax quickly moved into her path blocking her from going any further.

"Happy here?" Nicole asked her eyes lingering on the cabin behind Jax.

"He's inside." Nicole nodded and started to make her way around Jax but he stopped her again. "You can't go in." With what was happening inside Jax didn't want her going in blind. Happy may have confirmed that she wasn't using but Jax was worried this could trigger her. "I'll grab him in a sec."

With her cousins words Nicole's fears were confirmed something big was happening. Unable to respond Nicole just nodded. Jax placed his hand on her arm briefly before looking over to his mother. "So what did he say?"

"I found out who's protecting Clay."

"Who?"

"That nurse that Otto killed it's her brother. "

"Shit."

"He's a Marshall." Gemma took a breath, the memories of Clays words had constantly be replaying in her head she had to tell Jax, warn him. "Clay was spilling all this shit about how he forgives me, loves me, us..." Gemma gestured to the three of them. "He said he's sorry."

"Doesn't sound like Clay." Jax mumbled under his breath.

"No it sounds like someone bleeding guilt because he made a deal. You need to go and see him Jax. And maybe you do too."

Nicole looked up to Gemma as Jax's gaze moved to Nicole. Nicole just shook her head but before any more words could be spoken, the sound of a gunshot echoed from inside.

Nero returned into the cabin, he knew they needed to talk about Clay, Nero just hoped that Clay hadn't tried to screw with Gemma. Nero had no doubt in their love but Gemma and Clay they had some deep rooted history that could easily still screw with her.

Happy watched as his brothers tried to relax. Part of the club he always hated along with his brothers was babysitting duty. It was tedious, especially when the person being babysat was a strung out junkie, and it was in his space. Although he agreed that they could use his cabin, because he would always do what was best for the club, it didn't mean that he had to like it. This cabin was his private space the only person he allowed into this space before was Nicole.

With that thought he checked his cell for the first time and realised that he had a missed call off her and a message, he was just about to listen to it when he heard the glass smash. Happy instantly knew what it was knowing exactly what glass was in the room Darvany was in. It was his gun cabinet. He instantly reached for his gun, his action making his brothers do the same. His gut hadn't failed him because Darvany came rushing into the room wielding a shot gun, which Happy knew was loaded. He always kept them loaded, saved time. And if any of them thought it wasn't she proved them wrong when she fired of a round off in the ceiling.

Jax instantly drew his gun and move forward placing himself in front of Nicole and Gemma.

Nicole felt a hand on her arm, she looked at Gemma before quickly returning her eyes to the two people who stumbled out of the cabin. She didn't recognise either of them but watching the girl wield the shotgun, she was clearly deranged and all Nicole could think about was the fact that Happy was in the cabin.

Nicole pulled her arm free from Gemma. "Nicole..." Gemma spoke causing Jax to look over his shoulder.

"Get back..." Jax ordered as he watched Nicole move towards.

"Hap." Jax shook his head. He understood her worry, Jax to wondered if that shot was fired at one of his brothers but right no he had to deal with this situation and he wasn't about to let his cousin get hurt. "Jay."

"Just get back." Jax demanded as Gemma stepped forward and took Nicole by the arm pulling her back.

The commotion caught Arcadios attention as he followed his girl and that was when he saw Jax's gun, but he was distracted which was good because this was getting out of control. He had hoped that bringing her would solve his problems. As soon as he heard about the shooting he was devestated and then he realised the gun he used, the heartbreak was to continue because he knew that Samcro were not going to just this lie it was their KG9, guns that they had begged for and Nero had vouched for. The heat the club could get for this could land them all in jail. But Darvany was his girl, the love of his life and that was her kid, she had a right to be strung out right now. He needed to protect her. So when he saw Jax's attention return to her and him point his gun at her Arcadio raised his own gun.

"No Jax...Drop the gun...DROP IT." Arcadio shouted. His screams catching Darvany's attention. She turned her gun on Jax and started screaming at him which left Jax with no but to drop his gun and raise his hands in surrender.

Happy was the first to react after being held at gun point and forced to lower their guns. He was pissed, she was clearly strung out and clearly in a panic and all of that added to a bad situation.

As soon as her and Arcadio were out of the house Happy retrieved his gun from the floor and headed outside, his brothers and Nero hot on his heels, however when he stepped outside they were all greeted with another shot being fired off. The shot was aimed at Gemma but all Happy saw was Nicole.

It was a reflex. Happy pushed forward towards the threat with his gun raised.

Nero had felt the same reflex when he saw the shot fired towards Gemma but seeing Nicole and knowing Happy like he did he knew that Happy would protect her so when he saw him push forward Nero shouted at him.

"NO..."

With the sound of Nero's voice Arcadio spun around his gun still raised and he came face to face with Happy moving towards him. He looked more murderous than normal and Arcadio was very aware that his girl had just shot at their president and his mother and Arcadio had to guess the other girl was club related. He needed to get her out of here, he needed to try and control this situation.

"Dav, come on, we can't do this." He pleaded sparing a glance at her over his shoulder at her before returning back to Happy who has stopped moving towards him but his gun was still raised.

"They're going to kill us!" She shouted as she spared a look at him too before looking back to Gemma. "Keys."

"Ignition." Gemma shouted as Jax moved his body in front of hers.

Daverny rushed towards the SUV her gun still trained on Gemma, Jax and Nicole. She managed to get the door open while still holding the shotgun. She looked back at Arcadio he wasn't looking at her instead his attention was on the all the men that were now pointing guns at them. She felt the tears burn in her eyes. She had to get away from then.

"Baby please...Come with me."

Arcadio looked back at his girl. Right now he was torn. She was his girl and she was grieving, but now she had threatened and shot at Samcro, they were never going to let them walk away. So maybe leaving with her was the right thing to do. Throwing one last look at Nero, Arcadio followed his girl but he never reached the truck.

The shot echoed quickly followed by the heart breaking screams which captured everyones attention.

The shot came unexpectedly but just like that Arcadio was dead and it was Nero's gun that was responsible.

Taking advantage of everyone's sudden state of shock Jax moved towards Daverny but when she caught sight of his advances she ran.

She kept a good pace but Jax was quicker and he quickly got the advantage tackling her to the ground. He tried to wrestle the shotgun out of her hands, she gave a good fight but Jax was stronger, sober so he managed again to get the advantage, and when the gun was in his hands he stood to his feet standing over as he pointed the gun in her face.

His finger itched over the trigger. It would be the easiest option right now. She would be silenced, they could dispose of their bodies and case would be closed, this problem would be over but he never had a chance to pull trigger as he felt a strong arm grab his and when he looked up he saw Nero.

Everything for Nicole was happening so fast, Nero shooting first and killing the guy and then Jax tackling the girl to the floor before shoving the shotgun in her face. Nero stopped him from pulling the trigger but this just left Nicole with more questions.

"You ok?" Pulled from her thought Nicole spared a quick glance to Gemma, nodding in answer Nicole looked back over her shoulder to where Happy was and straight away she started moving towards him and it was like Happy sensed her because as she took the first few steps he turned around and started matching her step for step until he reached her.

"You ok?" He asked as his eyes roamed over her. Nicole knew that that he was looking for any injures.

"Im ok." His hand reached out to her arm pulling him closer to him.

"What you doin' here?" She could tell he was pissed but Nicole wasn't sure if it was because she had turned up with Gemma or if it was to do with whatever it was that was unfolding here.

"I went with Gemma, to see Clay." She noticed the flex in his jaw but she never got to say her next words as Gemma cut her off. Nicole didn't even though that she had followed.

"She came to support me. Is that a problem?" Happy's eyes went to Gemma but he never answered.

Happy was surprised by not only the way Gemma was looking at him but the way she spoke to him. Her eyes went to his hand that was resting on Nicole's arm. He didn't like it, Gemma could be a nosey bitch and right now he and Nicole didn't need her nose in their business. But she was Gemma, high raking Old Lady so he simply answered "No"

It was only when he felt her fingers on his ribs, that he turned back to Nicole. He registered the fear in her green eyes.

Looking over her shoulder he watched as his brothers dealt with the girl and that was when Jax looked at him, Happy watched his eyes dart between him and Nicole before giving a nod which Happy returned. It was an agreement which Happy accepted.

"Come on." He rasped guiding Nicole away from Gemma and towards the woods where neither of them would have to listen to the screams coming from physco bitch and no one could hear their conversation.

Gemma watched them leave but she was intrigued with what was going on between the two. But when she looked away she saw Nero kneeling by his cousins dead body. She was needed

"Whats going on Hap?" Nicole finally asked when they were alone. But Happy had a question of his own.

"Did you see him?" Nicole didn't need clarification on the question.

"No. I just went for Gemma." She could tell he wasn't impressed about her answer. "She needed me Hap. Clay...he still gets in her head."

"What did he say?"

"I don't know he spouted some shit to Gemma about forgiving her. It was after that was concerning."

"What'd you mean?" Nicole sensed his concern.

"Lee Toric turned up. He's the brother of the nurse Otto killed. Gemma's told Jax."

Happy knew that this was just about to drop a whole new level of shit onto the club. And again it felt like his girl was getting dragged into it. He moved her further away from everyone his finger coming to rest under her chin making sure she was looking at him. .

"You stay away from him."

"I intend to." He gave her a nod. But now it was her time for answers.

"So...What's going on here?" Now it was time for Happy's truth.

"School shootin' it was her kid." Nicole frowned at first it still didn't make sense why she was here, why was Samcro so involved but then it was like a light bulb.

"Oh my god. The gun, it was...it was ours?" She spoke almost in a whisper. Happy never spoke but the look in his eyes confirmed the answer. Nicole's hand instinctively went to her stomach as she let out a shuddered breath.

Happy knew what his girl was thinking. There was a change between them now when harm came their way. The kid was a thought and how they could protect it but Happy main goal was still to protect her.

"What happens now?"

"That's on Jax." Nicole nodded before her eyes fell over shoulder just as Tig and Chibs were moving the lifeless body. She looked back at Happy.

"Why did you bring this here?"

"Club needed a place off the grid."

Nicole nodded, she knew what the club was like, It had been her whole life but right now it felt different. It wasn't just her anymore.

She felt Happy pull her to him and she went to him easily.

"Let's go home." Happy rasped causing Nicole to nod.