A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 23

When lunchtime rolled around, the prospect was tasked with taking everyone's lunch orders. Once he'd talked to all the bikers, he made his way into the office. Both women gave their order so he left to go fetch lunch. Gemma told Angelika to go ahead and take off for lunch since there wasn't much to do in the office at the moment. The blond moved to sit on the table outside the office and relax some. As she was sitting there, Deputy Chief Hale arrived in his Jeep and climbed out. The bikers all wiped their hands before standing there wondering what he was doing there. Gemma came out of her office to ask him what he needed.

"It's my understanding there's a vagrant in town." He eyed Angelika suspiciously.

"You heard wrong. And why would you come here looking for this person?" Gemma rested her hands on her hips.

"I have it on good authority that this young lady was panhandling outside the diner. She left with you about a week ago." Hale replied, "It's against the law to panhandle, you know."

"She works in the office with me. She's not panhandling anything." Gemma stated.

"Is that so?" Hale stated accusingly.

"It is so. I'm paid by the week." Angelika added in.

"There a problem here, Gem?" Tig inquired when he walked over.

"Hale being his usual pain in the ass self." Gemma retorted making Angelika smile slightly.

"Where are you staying? Because squatting is against the law too." Hale ignored Gemma's comment.

"I have a room at the clubhouse here." Angelika told him.

"Really now? Why would the local MC just give you a room in their clubhouse?" Hale accused.

"Watch what you say to me." Angelika stood up and moved to stand next to Gemma.

"Ok, you're under arrest." Hale stated, "Turn around and put your hands behind your back."

"WHAT? Why are you arresting me? I've done nothing wrong!" Angelika exclaimed.

"Put your hands behind your back or I'll add resisting arrest to your charges." Hale said as he pulled out his handcuffs.

"Don't worry, baby. We'll post your bail and this will go away." Gemma told her.

"The hell is he doing?" Jax asked as the group of bikers watched as Hale arrested Angelika.

Happy growled at what was happening. As Hale was leaving the lot with Angelika, Gemma and Tig walked over to the angry group of bikers. She told them the whole conversation and said Hale had no reason to arrest her. Angelika hadn't even threatened him, only told him to watch what he said to her. The only day she'd been panhandling was the day Gemma gave her a job and brought her to the clubhouse. Jax promised they would get her out of jail. Everyone said they'd put in money for her bail easing some of Happy's stress about it. Jax and Tig headed over to the jail to talk to Unser and get her bail amount.

Unser sighed when he watched the two bikers walk in. Jax explained the situation and that Hale had no reason or right to arrest Angelika. The Chief of Police sighed again. His deputy took things too far, especially with the Sons, and he was always having to smooth things over. He promised he'd let her go since there was no reason for her to be locked up. Hale sneered at the two bikers as he walked past them. Unser went to check out her in-take information and see what charges Hale had put down. He sighed yet again seeing he'd put her down as panhandling. She'd been on the Teller-Morrow lot working in the office. She wasn't panhandling anywhere.

As she was in a holding cell waiting to hear about bail and whether the bikers were actually going to bail her out or let her sit in jail, another woman there decided she'd pick a fight with the smaller woman. Angelika was defending herself when Unser and another female cop came in to let her go free. They had to pull the two women apart. Angelika was quick to let them know she'd been attacked and was just defending herself from the other woman. The female cop said she was adding another charge to the other woman while Unser escorted Angelika out the front to the two awaiting bikers. Jax's eyes widened when he saw the bleeding and split lip, rapidly forming black eye, and the blood that had dribbled down her nose.

"The hell happened to you, Darlin'?" Jax inquired as they stood there.

"The other woman in the holding cell with me jumped me." Angelika stated, "Can we go now. I don't like this place."

"Sure. Happy's gonna be pissed when he sees the state you're in." Tig commented, "Ever been on the back of a bike before?"

"No." She replied as he climbed onto his bike.

He explained to her how to get on and that she needed to wrap her arms around his waist and hold on tightly so she wouldn't fall off as he drove back to T-M. Happy wasn't thrilled to see his woman on the back of another's man's bike but knew she had to get back somehow. He was thankful they'd gotten her out without needing bail money. Jax walked over and told him that Unser had dropped the bogus charges and let her go. The blond looked back over at where she and Tig were still standing by the SAA's bike and told him to show her some extra care confusing the assassin. As he got closer to where she stood, he began to understand what Jax meant. He growled seeing the state she was in as he moved her face to get a better look.

"Who the fuck did this to you?" Happy demanded.

"Some bitch in the holding cell with me. Jumped me for no reason." Angelika explained.

"You fought back?" He asked.

"Of course. I'll always defend myself." She replied.

"Good girl." Happy told her making Tig smile, "Let's go get Chibs to look you over."

She just nodded as he wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her into the clubhouse with Tig following behind them. The assassin called out for Chibs who quickly walked over. His disapproving face made her look away. Happy explained what had happened and asked him to take a look at her. He had her sit on one of the couches while he got his medical kit. Happy sat next to her and draped his arm over her shoulder. Seeing Tig and Jax had returned, Gemma went to find out what happened at the police station. She was shocked to see Angelika so roughed up. The blond promised she was fine despite the pained look that went across her face as she turned to let Chibs check out her facial injuries.

Nothing appeared to be broken from what Chibs could tell. She was going to have a black eye, her nose and lip were going to be tender for a while, and her bottom lip had been split. Other than that, she appeared to be fine. Happy told her to go wash up earning a sigh as she stood up. The assassin grunted his thanks at his brother for looking her over. She walked into the bathroom and looked herself in the mirror. The black eye was already forming and she sighed. Her face was all bloody making her angry all over again. Who was that woman and why did she attack her? As gentle as she tried being, it hurt to wash her face and neck up. It pained her chest when she tried using her left arm as well as she moved about.

Happy was sitting on the bed when she exited the bathroom to her surprise. He tapped his knees so she walked over to stand in between them. Happy wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her chest gently. Not a word was spoken as he tried to show her how much he cared and had worried about her. She appreciated the gesture and how he knew actions spoke more to her than simple words. People lied all the time but their actions spoke their true feelings. He seemed to really care for her and her well-being. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against his head. It pained her some to do so but she didn't care. She needed to feel as close to him as possible in that moment.

A/N: Please review and vote below!