Sapphires and Whiskey

Book 4

Prologue:

It's been a very long time since I've written about Kate and Tig. So many things have been happening that I just couldn't sit and write. I missed it, and realized I still have lots of things I want to continue with that story. So here goes…I am going to start up again. Not sure how many people will still be into SOA fan fiction at this point? I just know I want to continue the story. If you're new to this story make sure you go back and start from the beginning.

Chapter 1:

The hallway was quiet, the bright white lights and the sterile walls held no comfort for Kate as she walked next to Chibs towards the elevator. Every step was heavy, weighted with doubts, fears and the unknown. Would her plan save Alex? Could he pull out of the tailspin of despair that the accident and loss of his leg had created?

The elevator dinged loudly, its metal doors opening as dread filled her soul. Feeling Chibs lightly touch her back he urged her to move forward. "Lass, it's not to late to call off this plan of yours." His voice was harsh in the quiet void of the elevator.

Kate felt his censure knowing he didn't agree with her idea. But she had called in all old debts to get him and the rest of the Son's to sign on. Damned if she was going to let Alex slip away without a fight. He just needed a push in the right direction.

"I'm going ahead with it Chibs. I will not let him quit, I can't." She looked into his dark brown eyes seeing his unease. "I'm going in to see him for a few minutes before we start. Please make sure everyone is ready, and Fawn is awake."

"Och, aye. You're daft trying to play this game." His voice shook with emotion.

"I can't just let him go. I finally remember everything and he pushes me away. I know he is hurting, thinking he will never be a full man again. I know Alex, when he gets it in his head it takes a jolt to make him see reason. I'm going to give him that jolt whether he wants it or not. If I am damned for it, so be it." Her chest hurt so badly, every breath an effort as her emotions nearly took her to her knees.

Stopping in front of Alex's room Chibs grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. He grabbed her face gently between his hands holding her still. She watched as he swallowed hard tears rolling down his cheeks. "I know your luv fur him is powerful, will you be able to furgive all the insults and horrible words he has hurled at you these past few days? Or all the words he might spew in the future?"

Shrugging her shoulders she looked into his eyes, "I've become numb to them. I know in my heart he is coming from a very dark place. They are words of fear and pain." Stealing herself she pulled out of Chibs hold. "Give me 5 minutes. Then send in Quinn." Turning away from him before she lost her nerve she opened the door to Alex's room.

The lights were dimmed, the few machines that were attached to him beeped softly in the heaviness of room. Walking slowly towards his bed she saw how far he'd fallen since yesterday. She had taken time to be with Brody, and gone to the Chapel to soul search and recharge knowing the next hour was going to be hell. His face was sunken, dark marks under his eyes, his lips chapped from the fever.

Reaching out with a shaking hand she played with his unruly curls as she leaned over him to kiss his forehead. His skin hot and dry from the raging fever. Anger coursed through her veins; he had given up.

Taking his hand, she spoke softly to him. "I'm not ready to give up on us. I fought so hard to come home, come back to you. And now you're just letting it all mean nothing." Tears fell on the blanket, wiping furiously at her eyes she continued pleading with him. "I'm yours!" Memories of them saying the words in the shower after she'd made her way back from Declan tore through her making her knees weak.

Sighing she stood up. Reaching deep into her soul she found her inner bad ass once again.

The door opened slowly as Quinn entered carrying the small metal trash can. "You ready Kate? Everyone is in place."

Nodding yes Kate walked toward him.

Setting the can on the floor he began unpacking the contents. Holding up duct tape and a plastic bowl he pulled a chair over to the fire alarm. Covering it with the bowl he tapped it to the ceiling. "We tested this and it works."

Kate found a couple towels already rolled held with duct tape. She headed into the bathroom to get them wet. Laying them on the chair as Quinn moved all the machines back towards the wall she grabbed a lighter from inside the can which was filled with paper and kindling. Her insides churned knowing what she planned. "No time to have second thoughts," mumbling to herself as she put the lighter in her pocket.

The door opened again and this time Fawn entered carrying a bag full of more supplies. With tears in her eyes, she gave Kate a quick hug. "I'm ready," her voice waivered as she looked around the room. Walking towards her father she leaned in giving him a quick kiss on his cheek.

Turning back towards Kate she held out the bag. "The stuff from Anna is in here along with that perfume you asked for."

Taking the bag from her Kate took a deep breath silently giving thanks to Anna for her help. A quick phone call had secured her help. She had agreed with Kate's idea, and had offered to give her some herbs and a few other tools to use in her attempt to bring him back. Pulling out a small black bag, she put that in her pocket, then took out the herbs and a few pages of hand writing with instructions she read quickly.

The remaining items, a tape recorder and smelling salts, she lined up on the windowsill within reach. Looking at Quinn, giving him a nod she swallowed hard shoving back tears. "Thanks, we've got it from here. Just keep the nurses and doctors out until one of us opens that door."

"Nona already spoke to them, asking them to let you be with him with no interruptions." His deep voice rang strong giving her momentum to go forward. "Give 'em hell Mac."

After Quinn left the door shut softly, the room quiet before the coming storm. Grabbing the wet towels Kate shoved them against the bottom of the door. Turning quietly, she walked towards Fawn watching her face, knowing what they were about to do would be hardest on her. "Are you sure?", taking her hands she squeezed them tightly offering her support.

"Yes. He just needs us to remind him what he has left to fight for. He can't see past the pain and the fear of loosing his leg." Her voice shook but she squeezed Kate's hands back. "At least we will know we tried, even if…" swallowing hard she stopped gathering her composure, "even if he dies."

"Okay, then let's get this started." Letting go of Fawns hands she walked towards the window opening it as far as she could.

Fawn moved over to the bed next to Alex, gripping the rail.

Taking the metal trash can she pulled her lighter out of her pocket and walked towards the bed. "Talk to him, see if you can wake him."

As Fawn leaned over him she took his hand. "Daddy? Can you hear me?"

Watching him closely Kate realized he wasn't responding. Fawn shook her head no as tears rolled down her face. "Honey if you can't do this I will handle this alone."

"No. Start the fire, I will get the salts." Fawn reached behind her to grab them off the window sill.

Kate sparked the lighter to the paper and a small fire leap to life. Taking the black bag out of her pocket she waited until a good strong blaze was going. Looking at Fawn she nodded, "do it."

Dropping the metal bars on his bed Fawn then broke the salts, holding it under Alex's nose, waiting for him to come around. His head turned away and she followed his movements making sure he kept smelling the awful odor. His hands came up to push it away, but he was too weak to stop her.

Kate dumped the black bag onto the fire and fanned it towards the bed. The smell caused her to gag, it was horrible. Her eyes began to tear up from the smoke, but she kept fanning the flames. She was counting on the smell to enrage Alex.

Fawn began crying, whether it was her acting or if it was real Kate couldn't tell. It didn't matter. With a shaky voice she began yelling out for him.

"Daddy! Help me." Crying harder she continued screaming over and over Daddy help me as she moved to the foot of the bed.

Alex began thrashing around in the bed. Failing his arms he tried to sit up. Mumbling incoherently at first his voice grew stronger "Dawnie? Oh god! Dawnie?"

"Daddy!" Fawns voice cracked as she cried even harder. Going to the window she stuck her head outside gasping for fresh air.

Kate joined in "Alex! Help me! My car! It's on fire! I can't…" Choking on the smoke Kate fought through her own tears to continue. "The Nos! Oh god…Help me!"

"Katie? NO!" Alex's voice grew in volume as he struggled to sit up. "Dawnie? Kate? Oh God, noooo!" His voice broke as he sobbed. "No! I can't fucking get to you! No! not again."

Hating herself as Alex continued yelling and trying to get up Kate forced herself to keep going. "Alex! Help me. You promised me you'd always be there to protect me! You promised!" Gagging again Kate swallowed hard.

"Daddy!" Fawn moved closer to Alex, letting him grab her arm.

"Dawnie?" At this point Kate saw Alex's face contorted in confusion and pain as he pulled her into him rocking them both. "Baby, I got you. I won't let anyone hurt you."

By now the fire and smoke was slowing down having used up most of the paper and kindling, Kate knew she had to keep pushing him. Motioning for Fawn to pull out of his grasp she reached for the recorder.

"Noooo…Dawnie! Fuck!" Alex roared. His voice stronger than it had been. He had managed to get into a sitting position with his good leg dangling off the edge. He kept looking around the room, trying to reach out into the smoke.

Cringing she fumbled with the recorder finally finding the right button. Wailing filled the room as Brody's voice called out "Dadda, Dadda, I want my Dadda!"

"Brod?" Alex's voice shook but it was stronger. "I can't find you! Noooo! Brody!"

The recorder kept playing Brody calling out for Alex. Her stomach flipped and she threw up into the trash can. Catching her breath, she heard Fawn calling out to him again. She stopped the recorder waiting and watching.

"Daddy, it's Dawn. I'm okay now. I don't hurt anymore." Fawn was sobbing now uncontrollably.

"Oh God baby, I'm so sorry. I fucked up so bad and you paid the price." Sobbing Alex grabbed the edge of the bed swaying.

"Daddy, if you want to make it better you have to fight. You have to be there for Fawn to help her find her way. Daddy promise me!" collapsing to the floor Fawn coughed as she begged.

Shaking his head Kate watched as Alex used his palm to smack the side of his own head. "I want to, but everything is wrong baby." Realizing he was semi-lucid she stood back up preparing for the last part. They had to keep pushing him.

"Alex! I'm so scared. Declan has me. I remember us…I remember everything but I can't get away!" Sobbing in earnest she let her control slip feeding on the past fear she had felt. "Why won't you come?" Walking back to the windowsill she dropped the recorder, grabbing the perfume that he loved. She spritzed it into the smoke near the bed.

Reaching out into the smoke Alex yelled, "Katie! I'm here. Why can't I find you?"

The confusion and pain on his face nearly broke her. Doubt filtered into her brain. "Alex? Love? I can hear you." Lurching towards the bed she reached out to catch Alex as he tried to get up.

Catching him as his weight took them both to the floor, She did her best to insulate his fall. They ended up laying next to each other as she gulped for air. He'd knocked the wind out of her and she was seeing stars.

Surprising her he pushed to a sitting position reaching out for her and pulling her into him. "Katie? Honey? I've got you sugar."

"Alex? I need you, Brody and Fawn need you. You can't give up. Please." She pleaded with him as she cried real tears. Had they reached him finally?

"I will try sugar. But I'm so lost…" His voice broke as he held her. He swayed, and righted himself.

"I will be here, Fawn and Brody too. We will help you get stronger again. You will ride again, be with the club. Please Alex, please…" She coughed up more phlegm as she lay trembling in his arms.

Gently touching her face she felt Alex wiping away her tears. "I won't give up. Don't, don't cry. I'll be here for all of you." He swayed again, "so tired." Falling backwards Kate jumped up catching him into her lap.

"Easy honey, I know." Leaning down she gently kissed his forehead discovering he was sweating and felt cooler. Hopeful he was breaking the fever, she looked across the room. Kate met Fawns eyes giving her a weak smile. Maybe, just maybe they had sparked a fire back into his soul.

Fawn took a fan placing it in the window to suck out the remaining smoke as she gathered all the things they had used to get him to respond dropping them into the metal waste basket. "I don't ever want to see that thing again."

"Let Chibs and Quinn in please so we can get him back into bed."

Stroking his hair she looked into his bloodshot eyes giving him a smile. "I love you Alex."

He turned into her hand and closed his eyes sighing. "I love you Whiskey."

The sound of his voice filled her heart giving her hope for the first time in weeks. Exhausted, beyond anything she had ever felt before she swayed fighting to stay upright as she held onto him. Suddenly she felt someone holding her arm.

"Easy luv, we've got 'em, you can let go." Chib's voice shook with emotion as he supported her. Then she felt the weight of Alex being lifted off of her.

She watched as Quinn carried him gently back to the hospital bed as Fawn fluffed pillows and arranged the bed again. Her head hurt so badly she was seeing double, she knew then she was heading into another episode, "Chibs? I don't feel very good." Barely coherent she mumbled.

"Ya daft stubborn woman!" Chibs tsked making a purely Scottish noise. Reaching into his pocket he opened a small tin pulling out one of her pills and gave it to her as the tremors began.

"Katie?" Alex's voice filtered into her brain but she couldn't talk.

"I've got her Tig." Chibs wrapped his legs around her as the tremors became stronger.

"No, it should be me." Trying to get up Quinn held Tig down gently.

"You need to rest brother. We will take care of her for you till you get on your feet." Standing by the bed he waited for Tig to settle as Chibs held Kate during her episode.