A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 21

After he'd finished eating, Happy got up to go confront Jax. The blond biker leader didn't want to believe his wife was harassing Angelika. His mother had already come to him with what she'd heard with her own ears making it hard for him to not believe. When Happy walked over, he knew what the assassin wanted to talk about. Jax promised he'd talk to his wife and do his best to keep her away from Angelika. Happy told him he'd better do something or Angelika was going to get tired of the harassment and go after his wife. She didn't put up with being bullied and he wasn't going to allow her to be bullied. Jax just nodded in understanding and promised he was going to talk to Tara that night.

Tig and Angelika remained quiet as they sat at their table waiting for Happy to return. Gemma smiled at the young blond when she walked past to get a refill on her drink. Tig eyed the love marks Happy had left on the light skin of the blond and shook his head. Happy was getting possessive over her it seemed. Happy finally returned but remained quiet. After a little while, Tig asked if anyone wanted to play pool. Angelika was starting to like the game, even if she wasn't very good, and said she'd play taking both men aback. He said he'd set up the game as he stood up. Happy gave her a half smile as she stood to walk over to the table. He moved to sit by the table to watch the game.

Chibs walked over and had a seat next to the assassin to watch the game between Tig and Angelika. He was happy to see she was socializing some even if she weren't really saying much. She eyed the marine tattoo on his arm as he stood near her to take a shot. Her experiences with the ex-military members of the homeless community had been good. It was them who had taught her to fight. Seeing that Tig had been a marine made her apprehension about him ease up some. He noticed her eyeing his arm and thrust it out for her to get a better look. "Did six years before I left." he told her as she checked out his tattoo more closely. She nodded her head at him before moving to take her next shot.

Happy wondered what was going on with Angelika as she eyed up his brother's tattoo. The game went on with no other words spoken between the pair. Gemma looked over to see Angelika playing pool with Tig and smiled seeing her interacting with the boys instead of hiding in her room like she seemed to prefer doing. Jax and Tara were in his dorm arguing over Angelika and of Tara keeping her mouth shut and staying away from the younger blond. The doctor didn't know why everyone seemed to like her so much when clearly she was a threat to everyone seeing how violent and psychotic she was. Jax shook his head and told his wife to just leave her alone.

Tara despised the blond even more for coming between her and her husband. She didn't want to let it go so he stormed out of the dorm. Chibs asked to play the winner but Tig, who'd won, gave his stick over. Jax walked straight to the bar to get himself a drink so Tig wandered over to check on his brother. "Just a fight with Tara." Jax told him when Tig asked what was wrong. Quinn sat at the bar thankful he didn't have a nagging woman irritating him. Tig had the prospect get him, Jax, and Quinn a shot to Tequila earning a thanks from the blond biker leader. Chibs walked over to get himself a beer as Angelika was taking a shot. Tig got him a shot as well. All four slammed their shot glasses down before Chibs took his beer and walked back to the pool table.

Quinn finally made his way over to sit by the pool table with Happy and watch the game. Tig sat with Bobby talking about a run that the FO wanted to do in the near future. Angelika was starting to have a good time playing pool with the bikers. Quinn asked if he could play next. When the game ended, Chibs handed off his stick to the long-haired blond and had a seat on the couch next to Happy. She was racking the balls and not paying attention to anything but the task at hand. Happy let his eyes wander her body, thoughts on what they could be doing instead of playing pool. He was glad she couldn't read his mind or else she'd probably run away from him.

"So. I see you've marked the lass." Chibs quietly stated making Happy turn and raise an eyebrow, "The two huge marks on her neck?"

Happy just shrugged, "People need to know she's taken."

"I don't think that'll be much o' a problem, brotha." Chibs chuckled, "If she's not working in the office with Gemma, she's in your room or stuck by your side."

"People still need to know." Happy grunted making Chibs laugh.

Tig won, as Angelika figured he would, but both were in good spirits as he set up their next game. Happy just turned his attention back to his woman. The SAA wanted to know more about Angelika but didn't quite know how to go about asking without her shutting down on him. It was more than evident that Happy and Chibs were feeling over-protective of her because of her past and they hadn't disclosed everything that happened to her that morning. He wanted to know although he was sure she was no real threat to the club. Maybe to Tara if the doctor didn't leave her alone.

Chibs and Happy finally found themselves playing pool while Tig and Angelika sat on the couch watching their game. She was quiet as she watched her 'ol man playing against his friend and listened to the friendly trash-talking between the two. It made her smile slightly. Quinn sat at a table near the pool table and watched the game and every so often glanced over to where Angelika and Tig sat. He was curious about her and her past. All Chibs had told them was that she'd been abused as a child by both parents but what all did that entail? How badly had she been abused?

"Tell me something Doll. Why did you open up to Happy of all people?" Tig suddenly asked making her look over at him.

"He forced me to." She shrugged.

"You two bonded over whatever you told him." Tig commented.

"I can't be responsible for how he felt or how he reacted after I told him all about myself." She replied.

"They were pretty vague about what all you've gone through this morning." He started out, "Will you tell me?"

"I don't feel comfortable in talking to you." She stared at Happy.

"Understandable. Not trying to pressure you." He quickly replied, "Hopefully one day you'll become comfortable enough with us all that you'll open up to more than just Chibs and Happy."

She shrugged not sure that would ever happen.

"As Happy's 'ol lady, you have the entire club to look out for you. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call on any one of us. Ok?" He stated.

"Ok. Thanks." She quietly replied.

Around midnight, Angelika decided it was time to head to bed. She leaned over and told Happy she was heading off to bed earning a grunt from him. He wanted to play another game of pool with his brothers before heading to bed. She just nodded in understanding before getting up and walking to the dorms. It had been a rather quiet evening after dinner with people sitting around chatting or playing pool. Jax was certain the lockdown could be lifted the following morning. Tara was still seething in Jax's room as she went to bed. Angelika took herself a quick shower then got settled in bed. After his last pool game, Happy decided to turn in as well.

The work day would start again tomorrow and Gemma would expect everyone to be at work. He stripped down and slid into bed. She was already laying on her side so he scooted and spooned up behind her before tugging her back into him as he wrapped his arm around her waist. His face was buried in her hair at the back of her neck and he inhaled the scent of her shampoo and smiled. She always smelled so good and he was rapidly falling in love with her scent. It didn't take him long to drift off to sleep as he cuddled with her in his arms.

A/N: Think things are over between Tara and Angelika?

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