CHAPTER 6
Orange, black and blue

All this had been an emotional rollercoaster for Elena - had been the minute she'd met Damon, not just because he was, as he said, 'candy for the eyes' but because he brought so much to her life, crazy things for sure, but challenging too- and she didn't think she'd be able to sleep but her body and brain shut down the second her head hit the pillow. No dreams or nightmares showed up and she opened her eyes at dawn.

Then everything came back flooding her brain. She groaned and sat up, she could let herself be mad or moody or she could toughen up and deal with the day and the next which would be a key one. She wasn't one to whine so she got out of bed and started her day with a long shower, coffee and the will to go through this trial, the MC and everything that would get in her way.

She looked at her phone and the app where Damon had typed what she needed to know about the highway guy, Troy Miller. Good thing he added up more info because it was a pretty common name if it was even his real name. Aaron's case was now as solid as it could get so she could spare a bit of time to check Troy's background and for that she'd need Martin, good thing she still worked for him, on paper.

Elena knocked at Matin's office and went inside, she didn't care if he was busy or not, Nancy was there and avoided looking at her, she excused herself and got out closing the door behind her.

-«She could at least not make it obvious she's scared of me.» She raised a brow. «Am I a criminal by association now? If I am then so are you, don't you think?» She crossed her arms and caught his eyes before he could look away. She'd always liked her former teacher, holding him in hight esteem, she didn't anymore and her tone when speaking to him changed, hell, she almost sounded like Damon though she didn't intend to add a belated «please» at the end of her questions. Martin was still ashamed of what he did and she'd use it to her advantage. «I need access to some files, there's no open case on that person but I need intel on them. I'm sure you can make a phone call and arrange this for me.» She didn't say it was about the MC but she didn't need to, he knew. He asked where she needed to go and made the arrangements for her. She left the office without thanking him, one day, maybe, she'd forgive him, right now she didn't need to, if his guilt opened doors for her she wouldn't relieve him from it. Those were MC methods that'd been used on her, she'd hated that, still she'd keep using them. Meaning to an end right? She'd set things right later.

Another thing she hated was having to ask if it was safe to go where she needed to to get intel on Miller but, if for whatever reason, it was one of Giuseppe's men and not Damon's that was on watch, going to the feds office would bring them troubles. She only needed access their archives but to the wrong «spy» it would look suspicious so with a heavy sigh she dialed Damon's number.

-«Damon?» first she had to make sure he was the one answering the phone.

-«I though you didn't want to hear about me.»

-«I don't, I just want to know if my handler for today is one of yours or not, I have to go to the feds' and I don't want to end up dead before the end of the day.»

-« You're a lawyer Elena, there are places you need to go to for your job but again, I like the fact you're not taking any risks. Your handler, as you call him, has my trust, you can wander around town as long a you don't plan on going on a date or anything that could jeopardize our plans.»

-«I'm not stupid, I know I have to put my life on hold. Ok, fine, I'll be on my way then.» She didn't let him say another word and hanged off.

He put his phone back in his leather jacket, he trusted the one who'd follow her today, tomorrow and most probably the day after that because he was doing it himself. She needed a breather, it was fair to give it to her, it was also fair to keep her safe, as he promised.

Everything that Damon knew and put on her phone about Troy she found. He'd been in jail many times, A few months here and there and served a 5 years sentence from 2001 to 2006 for almost killing a man on a parking lot, nothing after that, no wonder for one more infringement would have kept him behind bars for good. He definitely seemed to be a violent man. Cross referencing pictures, date of birth and a few other things she managed to narrow down her researches and found more about him. He'd been a marine, his first wife died when he was out of the country and after that he left the army. She searched more and found out the first wife, Anna, got shot, collateral damage in a gang war in Detroit. The definition of wrong place at the wrong time. Putting the pieces of the puzzle in the right order she got to the conclusion he joined the MC not long after Anna's death and his first time in jail was linked to the kind of deals Damon had told her the Club was into.

Those were facts now she could extrapolate and make a story out of this, it didn't mean it was the complete truth, it was just a place to start. So Troy was a pretty normal young guy - there was no mention of abusive parents or anything - who met a girl, married her, became a well trained marine and lost it then his wife got killed, joined a MC and, from there, became an outlaw. Now for what he was really capable to do would be left to her imagination but beating people to the point it took them months to get out of the hospital happened, at least, he got caught for that one time.

She hadn't met the guy - yet - and she didn't know if this would be useful to Damon but she'd done the job. She didn't want to call him again, she had had enough the day before and was still processing all he'd said to her. Right now, someone was waiting for her to get out of the building to follow her wherever she'd go and it'd be the same tomorrow, the next day and the next…and the next. She had over estimated how much control she'd have over things, a mistake she wouldn't do again. She'd see Damon and some of the MC members at the trial the next morning and from there she didn't really know what to expect, she only knew she'd have to be strong.

She was checking herself in the mirror making sure she looked professional in her black vest, black trousers and white shirt combo when she heard a knock at her door. It wasn't 7am yet and expected no one, she had to be at the tribunal in about two hours to meet with Aaron before the trial she didn't have time to waste on… Damon as she could see through the peephole. She opened the door sighing about to say something but stopping when she realized how tired he looked. She let him in. -«Can I take a nap on your couch?» He asked before yawning loudly.

-«You came to my place to take a nap?»

-«I could have asked when you got back home in the evening but you made clear you wanted to be left alone.» Making himself at home he kicked his boot off and laid on the sofa.

-«In the evening…? Wait, you've been the one keeping an eye on me?»

-«Hmmm…» He closed his eyes «Most of the time and I've barely slept it's not as if I live right at the corner of your street…" Or that it would have been wise to go home "everybody thinks I've been with you the past two nights, they won't ask anything but let them think I was.» He rolled on his side his back to her, one of her fancy cushions under his head. He fell asleep.

-«What the…» It was unbelievable. She had a MC VP who had spent most of the past 48 hours keeping an eye on her - when he could just have gone anywhere else, honestly, have some time off - asleep on her couch less than two hours away from his best friend's trial. How insane was that? But, even if she was sure he was a light sleeper and probably had a gun or a knife on him he trusted her enough to make himself vulnerable in her presence, in his own twisted way of thinking it probably meant a lot. She'd let him sleep for a hour. She secured her hair in a low bun and poured herself another cup of coffee as silently as possible but she was becoming nervous now, would every day be like that? Unpredictable? Full of new rules. The fact she sort of understood how Demon's mind worked scared her, She was sitting at the table, deep in thought when she heard him move, he was waking up which was good because she didn't know how to do it herself or how he'd react if she surprised him. He sat on the couch and rubbed his eyes.

-«Coffee's still hot but you better hurry if you want some cause I have to leave in ten minutes.» This made him look at his watch.

-«I'll give you a ride so we still have a bit of time. We're both going there and since I've spent the night at your place - supposedly - and you're my old lady - supposedly - and working for us - that, you actually do - it's kind of expected we show up together.» He got up, stirred then got to the small open kitchen to pour himself some coffee. How could he know in which cupboard the mugs were? No, idea but he did.

-«Yeah, let's sell it to the MC and completely kill my work credibility in the process.» She'd ride with him, obviously she had no other choice but it really would attract attention on her. A lawyer and a MC, great way to start a career. He smiled at her words and sat opposite her.

-«You'll impress them with the way you defend your client, who you're associated to doesn't matter, there are bigger sharks with low morals wandering the building, you're a small fish for now you can swim between side looks easily, yours are killers too. No one will dare give you shit.»

-«Careful there Damon, you're almost paying me a compliment.»

-«Not almost, it was a compliment.» He took a long sip of that much needed coffee.

-«Well since you're here and no one's listening, I found a few things about Troy, no 'smoking gun' but a full background check. Of course some things must be missing but you probably can add what you know to what I found and make something of it.» She had no time to pick a fight about anything - didn't really want to - so she didn't comment on the whole MC rules she had to follow. She just told everything she knew about Troy to Damon who looked at her and listened carefully.

-«Many guys in the Club have a sad backstory but I didn't know about his first wife. I don't know everything about everyone, would be too easy. Thanks for digging this out for me, if I can link this to anything I'll let you know. Don't get on his wrong side, just in case, not that you'll really have to talk to him.» He got up and put his mug in the kitchen sink. «Talking about seeing those people, clear your schedule, if things go right at the trial, we're celebrating at the bar tonight, time to see the real place and the real people.»

-«No pressure.» She sighed «And If I can't keep Aaron out of jail? Are they going to break my knees?»

-«First no one's allowed to break your knees but me so you know you're safe, second even if I want Aaron out of there, he broke his parole. If you manage to have him just finish his initial sentence it will be already something. You know that. If you don't get a big win you'll still be welcome at the MC, it won't be as cheerful as it can get - if you can call it that - that's all. It's time you join the ball don't you think? Come on, let's get the day started.» The breaking the knees had been meant as a joke, a stupid one, but she started it.

-«Yeah..» She got up took her satchel and house keys «I suppose you have a second helmet.»

-«Yes and I will as long as you'll be around, I'll probably get you a leather jacket too, more secure if you're riding at the back of a bike.»

Damon parked next to a row of Harleys, as if she wasn't already freaked out about pretty much everything that was supposed to happen today, she had to be introduced to MC members as Damon's girlfriend in front of the building where one of them waited for his trial to start. She removed her helmet and a lock of her hair escaped off her now messed up bun. To her surprise Damon removed the clip that held what was left of her attempts to tame her hair.

-«Keep them down, it suits you best.» He said just for her, his hand lingering at the back of her head a bit longer than necessary. Damned he was good at this, one small display of affection in public, a stray lock of hair, a light touch. She answered to that with a soft smile. « Come on, let's introduce you to the guys.» He held her hand as if he'd done it a thousand times and walked to the group of men wearing the Raven's color on their leather jackets, same as the one Damon was wearing but his didn't mean blind faith in their president, said president who was here too looking at them with those piercing eyes of his. «Tiny, Chad, Troy» yes, that Troy «this is Elena. Dad.» The VP nodded at his father who nodded back. The huge man greeted Elena the same way and she answered with a sharp nod.

-«Giuseppe,» there was no heat in her voice, she couldn't forget how she'd been 'hired' by the man and didn't think she had to fake being over it, no matter what she was supposed to be to Damon«guys.» She looked at Damon «I have to go see Aaron and fill him in about what my defense will be. See you inside.» He let go of her hand and she walked to the building, climbed the short flight of stairs and got out of those five men sight.

She found herself in one of the windowless rooms that looked like the one she had first met Damon waiting for Aaron. It was very weird she had been kept away from him before the trial. She had taken Damon's case last minute so it made sense she met him on the day but for Aaron it was something else, she could have met with him at the prison. When a police officer ushered him in it got clear why he hadn't been 'available', Damon's best friend was wearing an orange prison gown, his hands and ankles were cuffed - as if he was a dangerous prisoner - and, damned, he was really bruised. His face and arms were black and blue, he'd been beaten up badly. She immediately got on her feet.

-«Officer! Care to explain why my client is in such a bad shape?» She said in a hard voice, she was small and could look fragile but she was a lawyer and showed her authority without shame. The officer shrugged.

-«I just escorted him from the pit to here, I don't know.» The pit was the cell where prisoners waited before their trial, those who came straight from prison and were supposed to go back right after.

-«It didn't happen a few minutes ago, go get someone who can explain to me why I, his lawyer, haven't been made aware of what happened to my client when he was under the care of a state prison. Now!» The officer left, unmoved by her tone, yet he had to find answers for her which made Aaron smile.

-«So… you're my lawyer now.» His chains rattled when he sat on a chair.

-«As if you don't know who I work for now, but we'll keep the updates for later, who did that to you?»

-«As if you don't know what happens in prison.» Yes, he definitely grew up with Damon but she didn't let his sassy reply deter her.

-«Bad food and boredom? Now cut the crap and tell me, believe it or not it can be helpful, not that I'm glad this happened to you, we don't have much time now tell me your side of the story before the officer comes back with the prison guards version.» Would Aaron initiate a fight knowing it could end up badly or did he take the beating because he didn't want things to end up badly?

-«When you've been in and out for more than a decade you make enemies, on both sides.» Aaron said, he wanted to move his arms and legs but couldn't, cuffs weren't meant to be comfortable or do good for your blood circulation. A knock at the door and the policeman was back with the file that he laid on the table before going away. «I think you made an impression on that guy.»

-«I'm spoken for, by your best friend, that's a bit of the update, you'll have the whole story when you'll get out of prison now be more specific we don't have much time.» She opened the file and frowned. «At last they didn't write you fell down the stairs, it's a relief.» It was sarcasm but she didn't like what was there. « Have you really been attacked randomly by inmates? Sounds shady.»

-«Because it is a bunch of lies. As I said, I have enemies in and out, the bastards got me in kitchen duties with guys from another MC we basically helped getting caught, they put two and two together easily, when they got the occasion they showed their 'gratitude'five on one. »

-«Hmmm…» She kept reading the file and checked who had signed that fake report « Something like that happened to you before, when you got incarcerated?»

-«Nothing that bad, I have two broken ribs Elena and three missing teeth, I passed out for two days.» He wasn't whining, just stating facts, Elena looked up when he said her name, it was the first time he used it. How much did he know about her, what had Damon told him before he got back to jail? That he was going to use her ? Probably, but he didn't know she agreed to play that game, now wasn't the time but he'd have know, soon. She could see in Aaron what Damon could have become, the older Salvatore brother was no saint but compared to Aaron he got lucky. If the man that was sitting in front of her dreamed of a better life, wanted to break the loop she'd help him along with Damon. There were a lot of shades in life, if they really wanted to make amend and live what seemed to be a better life, she didn't care they had started on the wrong foot. It was't becoming mellow because a guy got beaten to a pulp, it was changing her perspective. She'd hold to her morals she was just going change the way she safely put things in boxes, add more shades in her own life.

She nodded looking at the bruised face.

-«I have a line of defense for you, I can't promise anything about the broken parole but I'll do my best. Now let's talk about how I'm going to process and what I expect from you.» And she did.

They got called to get to the courtroom and they went in under the eyes of the officer and The MC members who were sitting at the back of the room, one quick side look to Damon and Giuseppe let her know they were pretty angry to see Aaron in chains and bruised, one of the other guys, Tiny or Chad, she didn't remember who was who, groaned loudly.

Elena gave a side look to Aaron who nodded. Let the judge come in, they were ready.

First things first this wasn't a trial, the real one had taken place months ago and Aaron got in jail. This was about breaking the parole so she didn't have to go through the whole file all over again in front of the judge, she had to give a good reason why he did what he did and not get surprised by anything the state could come up with to add more time to the sentence, so the opening didn't take too much time. Yes, Aaron had crossed the border, it was a fact.

Now for the why, it got stated that, when crossing the border, Aaron hadn't enough money on him to settle anywhere, no clothes, no gun, merely a pocket knife in his boot, no phone. Though it wasn't enough to be sure he wasn't leaving the state and fleeing away it was something. Now for the roads themselves, the one he could have used to go to his cousin's house - for it was the story they were selling -, one couldn't be used by bikes for security reasons, one crossed private property, one was the highway and the last one was the one he's been arrested on. The last two crossed the border so why not the highway, it had an exit leading straight to where the said cousin lived? Traffic was crazy that day because a semi closed two lines, a tire literally exploded. Given it could have been easy for a bike to go though that little problem it was still annoying.

It was a bit shady but the accusation was too for there were no real reason for Aaron to leave. He'd moved back at home, one he was paying for, got back to his job - at the garage, better let the MC out of it, obviously - and had a girlfriend… sort of.

Now for something less shady, something she'd agree to bring up in court with her client in that windowless room earlier.

-«Now for something that everybody has eyes to see…» She raised the file the agent gave her earlier «but is a bit unclear in those documents, may I?» She asked and the judge let her bring the file to him «my client's safety can't be assured by the state prison, broken ribs, missing teeth, bruises and if those unnecessary cuffs had ben removed you could all see his ankle is twisted. As you can see, your honor, no one managed to identify those who sent my client to the infirmary for two days. It raises questions about a lot of things but it's not the matter now. The matter is that it could happen again so for the next three months, the time my client still have to spend in jail for the times he's been sentenced for and doesn't contest in any way, we would like to introduce a request for this time to be converted into house arrest. No further inquiries will be conducted about that vicious attack if we get to an understanding on that matter.»

Was it blackmail? Oh yes. Had the judge a choice on that matter? Most definitely, but what she was offering was clear and would push the attack and the fact the guards didn't do their job properly, legally under the rug, it was a win-win situation. Would the MC retaliate? She couldn't tell and it wasn't her problem right now, she wasn't going to turn and ask if Giuseppe was happy about what she was doing. Aaron wanted out, she promised to do her best and just did. Her last card was now on the table, she just sat back down on her chair her poker face on.

There was no jury to impress, just the judge and the man looked at the file and raised a brow. It was hard to get that kind of reaction in court so she took the little victory and put it in her pocket for what mattered now was what he'd decide in the end.

Aaron was still in his chair and the guys at the back of the room were stunned to silence, she'd know later if it was a good thing or not.

After what felt like a very long moment the judge cleared his throat.

-«In the light of the element which have been brought to my attention today,» He eventually said «in the name of the state of Carolina, let it be stated that mister Aaron Lopez will spend the three remaining months of his detention under house arrest…» He said more than that but the same two MC members at the back of the court room whistled and cheerer. Aaron was to be unchained, escorted back to prison to get his things then drove back home to be equipped with the tracking device.

This was definitely a win, of course it had more to do with the fight in prison than whatever she had said about the road and Aaron's will to put order in his life, she wasn't stupid, she knew that and somewhere in the back of her head she wondered is he hadn't been in a fight on purpose. Wherever the truth was, he was now out of jail - or soon would be - and it was more than great.

The over reacting MC members, Troy, Giuseppe and Damon didn't have the chance to talk to Aaron for he got escorted out of the room but she knew they'd be there to welcome him when he'd get home in the afternoon. She got a crooked smile and a thank you from her client though. Now allowed to get up and out of the room, Elena gathered her files and put them back in her satchel. When she looked up Damon was standing next to her, he pulled her to his chest in a tight hug and kissed the top other head.

-«You're impressive when you're threatening a judge you know that?» He said as he let go of her and Giuseppe, Troy and the two others joined them.

-«I wish I knew what happened to Aaron before I met him, I was ready for defense not that kind of surprise and having to do what I did, I better not have to face that judge anytime soon, I just got myself on his watchlist, I won't be able do that kind of stunt again. I'm glad it worked though.»

-«Great job kiddo.» Giuseppe said in his gruff voice and Elena looked at him in complete disbelief.

-«Thanks but my name is Elena, not kiddo.» She just couldn't help it, he was stepping on her nerves, from the corner of her eyes she saw Damon stiffen a bit but, to both their surprise, Giuseppe laughed.

-« If you say so, still, take the compliment, I don't give many.» As if she was fishing for compliments, especially from him but she let that one slide and since there was tension there Damon wrapped an arm around her again, this time around her waist in a silent demand not to push too far on that one but also to let his father remember the claim was a thing and wouldn't go anywhere. The cheers from the two others along with the silent presence of Troy partly diffused the tension.

-«We better vacate the place it's not as if other people aren't waiting for their trials to start.» She felt small surrounded by all these men in leather jacket but she wasn't going to show it. «Let's move the party elsewhere.» Damon kept his arm around her as they left the room and in the corridor some people gave them all nasty looks. «So what now?» She asked her non-partner in non-crime.

-«Now we wait for the notification on your phone that Aaron's on his way home and we join him there to celebrate. We probably won't be allowed in but we can have a few beers on the front porch. Until then we wait at the HQ and you're coming with us. Congratulation you're the hero of the day.»

-«Doesn't it bother you that I manage to get him out of there because he's been used as a punching bag?»

-«You've turned it to his advantage, for the rest, don't ask questions you don't want the answer to.» She sighed at his words, no, she didn't want to know what they'd do to those guys, the fact she could imagine a few scenarios was scary enough.

-«I won't be able to keep you all out of jail if you get revenge over your enemies, today was special and you know that.»

-«I know.» The smile that'd been lingering on his lips faded. They left the building and Damon led the doe eyed lawyer to his bike. Troy and Giuseppe were having a conversation they couldn't hear and the two others were already on their bikes, ready to leave. «I hope you cleared you schedule for today, you're leaving with us. Do you want to go back to your apartment to change clothes and pack a bag?»

-«Pack a bag?» She blinked a few times wondering where that idea came from. -«If we celebrate tonight I probably won't be in shape to drive you back home until I sober up. Since I have to keep an eye on you and I won't let you take your car - not today anyway - sounds like you'll need a few things.»

-«This is kidnapping Damon.» She half jokes. «Alright, but may I ask were I'll be sleeping? I suddenly feel like I need to buy a gun.» Another half joke but this one made him smile.

-«Somewhere safe, I promise you. My part is to keep you safe, remember?» His arm had been around her waist since they had gotten out of the court room, it indeed made he feel safe but it was only because other than him she knew none of the guys that were with her, she barely knew Giuseppe, It's not because she had gathered intel on Troy that she could pretend she knew him - Hell even Damon didn't know him - and the two others weren't too frightening but she'd been told not to underestimate a MC member.

-« It's not because, to my eyes, you're the least scary in a bunch of Ravens right now that I have to lower my guards or» She looked at his arm «that you have to keep me that close all the time .» She wanted to look strong. «I get the idea and I believe you. So let's do this, one night out with outlaws, it's going to be fun» He took a small step back since she'd asked him to, he didn't doubt for one second his presence gave her confidence, he felt calm when she was around, as if there was sort of a balance there. He offered her his spare helmet. «Tell me they won't all follow us to my place.»

-«No, we'll meet at the HQ, you're the bringer of good news, it's you they'll call to say when Aaron will be home so let's not keep my father and 'friends' waiting too long.» A few minutes later they did all they said they would, she packed a bag and off they went, on the road to Mystic Falls and the MC she was now a part of by proxy.

TBC