Chapter 27

Nero sat in his cell. It wasn't looking good for him, Patterson was really riding him since he had been in here to the point where she had stopped the visitation. Nero knew she was trying to isolate him, so she could press him harder on Samcro and the KG-9s, the school shooting and he didn't know how but she was making the murder of Erin stick.

He was innocent. Innocent of the murder of Erin but he was not an innocent man. He had a past.

The Byzlats, He started that crew and he had spent 30 years in prison because of all the things he had done during that time but when he got out he had cleaned himself up he was out of the life and it had been good but then Gemma Teller walked through his door and his life got messy. He knew he should of walked away from Gemma once he knew who she was connected to, because he didn't want want to go back into that life. But he loved her.

Patterson threatened that she would start digging into the Byzlats, bringing them in on any little infraction, and that was not good. Everything that had happened with the school shoot, Happy's cabin, Nero couldn't afford for her to go digging, but he also couldn't give up the Sons. So Nero could only see one way out. He had to confess.

He looked up as the cell door opened. He smiled to himself. Patterson had given him a deadline. 6Hrs to decide his fate and just as he imagined she was a woman of her word. Following the guard to the interview he sat alone as he waited. He didn't have to wait long before Patterson entered.

"I hope you have something for me." Patterson spoke firmly as shr stood infront of Nero.

"I do."

"Good. Where's your lawyer?"

"Don't need one."

"So..."

"I'm ready to give up the source of the KG-9s."

"I'm listening." Patterson spoke as she took a seat across from Nero.

"That fucking bitch." Nicole jumped as Gemma slammed the papers onto the kitchen counter. She watched as Gemma reached for her bag.

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" Nicole shook her head and stood in Gemma's path.

"You know that's not a good idea. You go running round to Tara you're just going to put a bigger wedge between you and Jay."

"It wasn't Tara I was going to see."

And then it dawned on Nicole, Gemma was going to go to the person who she could break. Wendy.

"No Gemma, you can't have any involvement in this. Promise me."

"Well what am I suppose to do?"

"You let me handle it."

"Nicole..." Gemma looked at her pregnant niece, she loved her for what she was trying to do but this shouldn't fall onto her.

"Look there are two ways this whole thing can go. Jay will believe Tara and we're cut from his life forever, or at least until Tara screws him over..."

"Or..."

"Or we play this right and make Jay see the truth before he loses those boys. But right now you need to stay out of this." Nicole was firm in her words. She could tell her aunt was having an internal debate with herself but all she was hoping for was some small acknowledgment that this was the right way to handle it, and as she watched Gemma place her bag back down on the counter Nicole nodded.

Nicole walked up the steps to Wendy's apartment after following the instructions Gemma had given her. Wendy would be the best play here. Nicole knew Tara was a no go and after this morning Jax was also not willing to listen to the truth. Lowen and Margaret loyalties lay with Tara so that just left Wendy.

Standing outside of her apartment Nicole knocked on the door but there was no answer so she knocked again this time a little harder. Still no answer.

Growing impatient Nicole walked to the window. As she looked peered through she couldn't see Wendy and she was about to walk away when she caught the sight of blonde hair on the floor.

"Fuck..." Nicole looked around and saw a rock. She grabbed the rock ready to launch it through the window when she noticed a silver key underneath it. Grabbing the key she quickly opened the door and rushed toward where Wendy lay.

She was dressed in black underwear and a patterned robe. But Nicole eyes were drawn to the strap around her arm. Her eyes went to the table and she saw the needle and drugs. Wendy had fallen off the wagon. Fuck.

"Wendy..." Nicole lent down beside her putting her hand under head. Her free hand resting on the side of her face lightly tapping her cheek. "Wendy...come on. Wake up."

When there was no response Nicole's hand moved from her face to her neck. There was a pulse but it was weak, Nicole manoeuvred her onto her side and opened her mouth. "Christ Wendy..." She mumbled to herself before taking a breath and sticking two fingers down her throat.

At first nothing happened so Nicole did it again and this time Wendy retched causing Nicole to quickly recoil as Wendy threw up.

"We need to get you in the shower."

"Nicole..." Wendy slurred her eyes barley focusing on her before they closed again.

"Great." Nicole got to her feet reaching down she tried to pull Wendy to her feet but she was like a dead weight so she had no other choice but to drag her.

Dragging her the short distance down the hall Nicole stop laying Wendy back on the floor causing her to moan. Nicole shook her head. She couldn't believe that Wendy had done this, and although Nicole wasn't in the best condition to be dragging someone around she couldn't just leave Wendy. She had to help her just like she had helped her.

Opening the door to the bathroom Nicole stepped inside and went over to the shower. Turning the shower on she adjusted the temperature before going back to Wendy. Dragging her to the shower Nicole took a deep breath before stepping into the shower bringing Wendy with her. The cold water hit the both of them and Nicole bit down on her lip to not let a scream out. Wendy on the other hand reacted to the cold water just like Nicole had hoped.

Wendy let out a squeal and tried to shoot out of the shower but Nicole stopped her.

Wendy fought in her arms for a what felt like a lifetime until the screams turned into tears and they both just held one another. Nicole had to choke back her own tears as the memories overcame her, this was not the first time the two had them had been in a shower together but the situation was reversed.

Patterson looked at the file in front of her. Toric killed Erin Bryne. In anger she threw the file across the room.

Nero's confession, although she already knew it, was a lie. But she would push forward with his deal because she knew that he wasn't innocent in the school shooting he had an affiliation with Samcro but she was holding him on the charge of Erin's murder which now was worthless which meant his confession was useless especially given the requests for his confession.

Patterson knew she had no choice she had to let him go which meant that she had nothing or rather no one to hold accountable. She knew this was Samcro but that meant nothing without evidence.

If she couldn't get them on the school shooting than she would get them on something. Samcro had to pay for their sins.

Nicole stood in the living space as she used the towel to dry her damp hair. Wendy had borrowed her some black leggings as they were the only things that would fit over her bump, she also gave he a black vest that also stretchered over her bump, although unlike the leggings Nicole wasn't sure this top would stretch back.

"It suits you." Nicole looked over her shoulder at Wendy who walked into the room now dressed in some sweats.

"What?"

"Being pregnant."

Nicole smiled as she ran her hand over her bump, she was 26 weeks now and she had to admit that she was enjoying watching her belly grow. But Nicole hadn't come here to talk about her growing bump, no Nicole had come here to talk about Tara.

"Why did you do it Wendy?" She saw the confusion on her face. "Why did you get high?"

Wendy shook her head. The reason was complicated and even she was getting lost in all the chaos. She just wanted the opportunity to be a part of Abels life. But yesterday crossed the line and it made Wendy question everything.

"You all need to understand that I didn't know she was going to do what she did?"

"Tara or Gemma?" Nicole countered.

"Tara."

"So is this you confirming that the miscarriage was a set up?" Wendy looked to the floor. Walking forward Nicole closed the gap between before hooking her finger under Wendy's chin making her look at her. "What did she promise you?"

"That I could be in Abel's life." Wendy answered honestly stepping

"Guardianship?"

"Yes. I just...I just want to be in my babies life, I know I messed up but how long should we both be punished."

"Abel really what you want?"

"Of course he is."

"Then why get high?" Nicole asked for the second time.

"Because I loose either way right. Gemma is never going to let this go and...and Jax he hates me. They both probably want me dead."

"So you give up that easily on Abel."

"Im sick of being hated Nic. I know I didn't do right by him but I want to change that, I've been trying to change that." Nicole watched as the tears escaped.

She hated Wendy for what she did, but having her own experience with drugs Nicole finally understood the addiction. Yes Wendy could have fought harder against it but Nicole got it and now that she was expecting her own child Nicole felt for Wendy. She just wanted to know her son but siding with Tara in whatever game she was trying to play wasn't the way to do it, and she was right she would lose either way.

Nicole stepped closer to Wendy. "You want Abel." Wendy nodded. "Tara isn't your way to him, not after yesterday. Jax will hate the betrayal and if your on the side with that, he'll hate you even more."

"What am I meant to do, It's not like Gemma will forgive me."

"Leave Gemma to me. What you need to do is get yourself to a meeting and stop being Tara's bitch. But if she reaches out to you, you let me know." Nicole watched Wendy nod, but then her eyes went to the table. It was her drug kit. Nicole didn't think twice she grabbed her bag and then grabbed the kit and the drugs and put them in her bag. "Promise me this was a one off."

"I promise."

"Get your shit together Wendy."

And with those words Nicole grabbed her wet clothes off the back of the chair and headed for the door.

"What about Jax?" Wendy shouted as Nicole reached for the door. Nicole looked over her shoulder.

"I'll make sure he doesn't kill you."

Gemma had stayed put all afternoon following Nicole's request, but she hadn't heard anything from her and she was growing impatient. She looked up at the clock, if she timed it right one of them would be there.

Walking down the familiar halls at St Thomas Gemma stopped when she came eye to eye with her son.

As she met his stare Gemma felt the blood drain from her body, he gave her a look that was so cold but as she steadied herself and took a step closer to him she saw a glint of sadness which which she hoped meant that there was still some hope for them, for the truth.

"Why are you here?" Jax asked stunned by his mothers appearance but he shouldn't be surprised by her arrogance.

"I got the restraining order but I just had to see you."

"I've got nothing to say to you."

"I know. But I need you to look at me when I tell you that I did not hurt Tara. I did not cause that miscarriage..."

"You're a liar." Jax seethed quickly silencing Gemma. But he continued the anger consuming him. "And you're a sick twisted bitch."

Gemma felt the sadness sink inside. Tara had really done a number on him and it made her heart break for her son.

"You hate me all you want Jackson, but im telling you the truth." She went to reach for him but Jax grabbed her arm,

"I dont know how to make this clear, but you're never gonna see my wife or my kids again...Grandma .. is dead."

Jax roughly let go of Gemma's wrist before heading towards the daycare. He felt angry. His mother...Nicole, both were saying that Tara was lying. He didn't know what game they were both playing but Gemma had gone to far this time. He wanted nothing to do with her. He didn't want his children to have anything to do with her. She was toxic.

Gemma watched as he turned his back on her and disappeared towards the daycare. Hearing those words felt like he had just hit the wind of her.

Nicole was right he wasn't going to listen to them. Tara had him to twisted up

Nicole ran a brush through her hair, her natural curls coming out from her hair drying naturally. She had changed into one of Happys samcro t-shirts, her legs left bare apart from a pair of white sport socks.

Reaching for the door handle Nicole opened the bedroom door but the breath caught in her chest when Happy was standing in front of her.

"Jesus, you scared me Hap." The shock was quickly replaced with a warm smile, she had missed him, but she noticed that he never returned her smile. Something was wrong.

Before she could speak Happy removed his hand that she had realised had been behind his back to reveal a black pack. She recognised the pack instantly.

"Ha..." Her words were cut off when Happy's other hand came up and grabbed her chin firmly

"What have you taken?" He spoke roughly his dark eyes boaring into hers.

Nicole tried to pull his hand off her but it wasn't working instead they just stumbled further back into the bedroom.

"What have you taken?" Happy seethed again.

"NOTHING..." Nicole shouted her frustration clear. But she took a breath trying to calm herself although the accusation really hurt. "Let go of me Hap."

Happy eyes continued to bore into hers and Nicole knew that he was checking her pupils to see if she was high. She wasn't and once he saw that he let her go.

They stood silent for a minute before Nicole raised her hand and slapped Happy across the face. His head went to to the side before he looked back at her. His was mad but she was madder.

"I wouldn't use while pregnant even if I wanted to and trust me that's a fight I fight every day, so don't ever question me again." Happy said nothing so she continued. "its Wendy's." Nicole knew that saying her name wouldn't improve Happy's mood but she wasn't going to lie to him

"Nicole."

"We better sit down, a lot happened while you were gone."