I'll Catch You

Chapter 25

Halfway down the block Mae stopped, wondering if maybe Jax was actually trying to help her, but when his bike roared behind her, she panicked. Making a quick right, with no idea where she was going, Mae hit the gas and sped further away from Jax. Seconds before she raced through the intersection, just as the sun was beginning to set, the van skidded to a stop narrowly missing a collision.

"Mae," Jax parked and jogged over to her car as Tig and Clay popped out of the van. "You should have just come with me."

"What are they going to do, Jax?"

"You're gonna be fine." He lowered his voice and leaned into her window. "Just act cool, do what they say and we'll figure it all out."

"Jax," she started but Clay interrupted her.

"Hey Mae," he smiled, "I have an old friend waiting for you."

Not sure if she entirely trusted Jax but knowing she had no recourse, Mae nodded and watched as Tig slipped in the passenger seat of her car with an exaggerated smile. "Hi, Mae," it was a show for the few people that may have been witness to the confrontation. He gave her a half hug and used her body to cover his gun as he pulled it from his cut.

"Hi," she said nervously.

"Follow the van," he said his voice a little bit dark. "We're gonna have a little reunion." The thud of his gun against the center console made her jump.

"Okay but listen," she was interrupted by Jax.

"Mae, I'll be right behind you. Just drive."

--

When Opie was wheeled back into his room Gemma was sitting by the window waiting with a sour look on her face. Gemma knew he didn't want her to see the struggle it was for him to get from the wheelchair to his bed but she didn't care, that was part of the issue. She didn't take her eyes off him as he stood, shaking on his weak legs, and shuffled his feet the few inches toward the edge of the mattress.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, exhaustedly throwing his head back onto the pillow, as she moved to sit beside him.

"I'm just checking in on you, sweetheart. How are you?"

"Tired." He shrugged. "Therapy is shit."

She nodded, sure it was difficult for him, and kissed his cheek. "I don't sugar coat things, Opie, you know that."

"Yeah," he laughed genuinely. "I know."

"Mae took off," she said flatly. "I've been watching those kids of yours and as much as I love you, it isn't my job."

Opie closed his eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry. Where'd she go?"

"I don't know." Her lips turned down as she shrugged. "I told her she better get her ass back here though and I'm telling you now that you need to talk to her."

"And what am I supposed to say?" He asked, his eyes cloudy and full of emotion, pleading with the only mother figure he had ever known to guide him. "I can barely fucking walk, I can't take care of you or my kids, but stick around in case it gets better."

"Yeah," Gemma scoffed. "That's exactly what you tell her."

"No," he was sullen, hopeless and looked exactly like the man he didn't want to be for Mae. "She doesn't know, she doesn't need to, I can do this."

The deep sadness in his voice touched Gemma. "Darlin', Mae wants to help. She loves you. You gotta know you're not alone."

"Right now, yeah, I am."

--

"Paul, this is the one you told us about right?" Happy shoved Mae forward as Clay presented a badly beaten Paulie. "You know him?"