Chapter 53: Kiss (Season 4 Episode 9)

A/N: I need to make something clear, because apparently its not already. Opie is one of my favorite characters. I made it clear that this story would be slightly AU because it is a crossover. I also made it clear that I had to change certain things on the SOA side because I needed to make it work with my story. NOW, that being said…I love it when you guys leave me reviews…good, bad, and ugly however, if you don't like my story. DO NOT READ IT. Rant over! On to the next chapter.

Tara POV

"Morning." Margaret said.

"Morning." I said.

"You still upset with me?" She asked.

"No. Come in." I said.

"It was hospital policy. Any threat against personnel had to be reported." She said.

"I know. I'm fine." I said.

"There's a neonatal conference tomorrow. Providence is hosting."

"I'm going." I said.

"Good. I'm happy to hear that. They'll be a great fit for you Tara." She said.

"Yeah. I have a favor to ask." I said.

"Of course." She said.

"I'm going to leave something with you." I said. I pulled the thick envelope out of my drawer. "If anything happens to me."

"What do you mean? What's going to happen?" She asked.

"No, no, no. Nothing. Um, just if it did… I … I want you to give it to Jax." I said.

"Hmm?"

"If not Jax, Piney Winston. Can you do that?" I asked.

"Okay." She said hesitantly.

Gemma POV

Nobody had heard from Piney all day. So I drove up to the cabin to check on him. When I walked up the front porch steps, I noticed that the front door was open. "Oh Jesus." I said to myself as I stepped over the lifeless body of Piney Winston. He had gunshot wounds to the chest. "I told you. Goddamn it, I told you! You s…stupid old man!" I said crying.

"Jesus." Unser said from the doorway.

"How did this happen, Wayne? This had to be Clay. He lied to me last night. Told me he was at the clubhouse. We burned those letters. There was no proof. Why would he have to do this?" I asked aloud.

"Clay read the letters. The ones you saw burning were copies. He thinks…Tara and Piney have the originals." Unser said.

"You son of a bitch."

"I thought I could prevent this." He said.

That's when it all clicked. "That's why you've been hovering over Tara." I said.

"Clay is like a wounded animal, Gemma. He's gonna rip apart anything that comes too close. Including Tara. I can't protect your Old Man anymore. I'm calling this in to the Sheriff's. Have 'em pick up Clay." Unser said.

"No."

"The next corpse you're gonna be standing over is the mother of your grandchild. Are you ready for that? Clay cannot be saved."

"You're right. He's a wounded animal. And he needs us, Wayne, more than ever. What kind of wife would I be if I …If I turn on him now?" I said.

"One that wanted to survive." He said.

"I love him. We are all responsible for this. Our hands are just as bloody as Clay's." I said. And it was the truth.

"Did you lie to me, too? Did you know the real reason why Clay wanted JT dead? Him…ending guns?" Unser asked me.

"I supported Clay's decision. I knew it was the best thing for the town… and the club… and my family. I never knew the details." I said, looking at the ground. Even after all this time JT was still a sore subject.

"I'm gonna choose to believe that." Unser sighed.

"We have to find those letters, Wayne. I can prove to Clay that there's no threat. I know I can bring him close again, I know I can. Please, Wayne?" I asked.

"It, uh, looks like…Clay made an attempt to point this at the Cartel shit. I can help with that. And make sure it doesn't blow back on him…or the club." Unser said.

"Thank you." I said.

When I got back to TM, Tara was waiting for me in the office. "You waiting on Jax?" I asked.

"No." She said. She looked pissed. "You took the letters from my office."

I sighed. "I had Unser take 'em. He burned 'em before I could read any of it. Also told me they were copies, which means you still have the originals. You have no idea what you just stirred up." I said.

"I haven't done anything with them." Tara said.

"You let Piney read them." I said.

"No, I didn't. I-I asked him about John, told him I read some things. Did he say that he read them?" She asked.

"You want out of here?" I asked her.

"Don't you?" She asked. "Look at the last three weeks Gemma. We are all in danger. How could you want your grandchildren to be raised in this chaos?"

"Then why didn't you let Jax read those letters?" I asked her. What was she getting at?

"You were right. Things John wrote about would be very painful for Jax to read. The truth about Clay…"

"You're afraid Jax would kill him." I said. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah. Finding out how John really felt at the end - it would break Jax's heart knowing how he had be hating his father so…deeply. Th- the, the guilt would push him deeper into the club and… I'd lose him."

"What about me? What would he feel about me if he read 'em?" I asked. I was honestly curious to know what she thought.

"He'd learn some hurtful truth. You being with Clay before John died." She said.

"I made some mistakes."

"Did you know that Clay tried to kill JT?" She asked me.

"I know what everyone else does. John went out the way they should all go out- on two wheels at high speed." I sighed. "I don't know if Clay killed JT. All I know is, he brought me back to life. What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna drive up to Oregon tomorrow. Surgical conference. Give me some time to think." She said.

Bella POV

I was sitting on the couch, drinking a beer when Dad and Hap walked in that evening. "You okay?" I heard one of them ask me.

I shrugged. "Gave Ope divorce papers today." I said.

I felt someone sit on the couch and wrap an arm around my shoulders. "It'll be okay."

"I hope so."

Clay POV

"Little late for legos, ain't it?" I asked.

"I guess."

"Rough day?"

"Yeah. I live with so many lies, Clay. So many things I …can't ever speak of. I'm okay with that. I do it to protect what we have. But I can't lie to you. You're the only truth I have." Gemma said.

"I know baby." I said.

"I went to the cabin today. I know why you did it. I know you read JT's letters. Burned the copies." She said.

"So…what do we do with this truth?" I asked.

"Nothing. Stays between us. Piney wanted a hard way out. Going down defending John was probably the noblest way for him. But it stops here. I talked to Tara. She's never gonna tell Jax about those letters. She knows it would push him deeper into the club. She's heading out of town tomorrow morning. Going up to Oregon for some hospital thing. When she gets back, I'll get the letters. And I promise you…I won't let her hurt this club or our family. But you have to promise me…you won't hurt Tara." Gemma said.

"Okay." I said.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me." She said.

"I promise…I won't hurt Tara. I love you Gemma. Everything I do is for you." I said.