Blue Angel

The Return of Scarlet

The clubhouse was buzzing with the usual post-church activity. The air was thick with the smell of beer and weed, and the low hum of conversation filled the rest of the clubhouse but Jax was hidden away in his apartment alone. Jax was deep in thought, staring at a stack of papers on his desk. The weight of club politics and family issues, mainly raising Abel alone, had been increasingly heavy, and he was just beginning to catch his breath when he heard a light knock at the door before Chibs entered the room.

The grey-haired Scot looked uncharacteristically tense, his normally easy-going demeanor replaced with a very serious expression. Jax noticed immediately.

"Chibs," Jax said, his brows furrowing as he turned in his desk chair, looking up from the mound of papers in front of him, butting out the half smoked Marlboro into the overflowing ashtray as he walked in. "What's goin' on, brotha?"

"Jax, we need to talk," Chibs replied, his voice shakey and low. He closed the door behind him, ensuring they wouldn't be interrupted and to keep Jackson contained if he lost his shit with the information he was about to unleash on him. It had been three days since Chibs received the call from Jax's ex, the woman that had captured his young brother's heart like no other. He struggled to keep it from him, fighting within himself to stay quiet and let Jax move on but something in his heart told him that Jax deserved to know, despite the outcome that may ensue. 

"It's about Scarlet."

The name hit Jax like a freight train. Scarlet. The woman from his past and the only daughter of their late brother, Otto. A name he'd tried to push out of his mind and his heart but could never fully escape. Their history was filled with turmoil, love, and ultimately, violence. He had pushed her away, and their final encounter had ended in a brutal and fatal confrontation that left them scarred, both physically and emotionally.

"What about her?" Jax asked, his tone guarded. He could hear the sound of his molars grinding together with just the sound of her name. Yet he didn't know if it was coming from a place of anger or absolute pain.

Chibs took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto Jax's. "She wants ta reach out to ya, Jackie. I didn' wan' ta say anyt'ing but fuck, I can' keep shit from ya." Chibs could feel his heart start to pick up the pace as Jackson aggressively stood from his chair, kicking it aside and he began to pace. "I got a call from 'er three days ago."

"What the fuck does she want?!" Jax's eyes narrowed into slits as he stared down his VP. His last words to Chibs on that fateful night was to get rid of her and he meant it. But obviously he couldn't do what Jax had asked of him.

Chibs shook his head. "Aye, she's in pain, Jackie. Just like ye are, my brotha." The middle aged man reached out and clapped his club president on the shoulder, only moving it when Jax shrugged and forced it away.  "I didn't wan' to stir up old wounds or put ya in a position where ya had ta relive all tha' pain."

"You ain't got no fuckin' idea what I'm feelin'. And it sure as fuck ain't no pain over that bitch." Jax spat out, his glare still locked onto Chibs. The thought of her trying to contact him now was a jarring reminder of the past he had desperately tried to move on from.

Jax's mind whirled. The memories of Scarlet's fiery spirit, their intense relationship, and the disastrous ending to it all came flooding back. The way things had ended between them was ugly, and he had planned to never see her again. But hearing her name stirred something deep within him—a mix of old feelings, the pain of losing their son, the love they shared and even his own lingering guilt.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?! Why now, huh?" Jax asked, his hands balling into fists at his side as he continued his pacing over the aged carpet of the apartment. "Like I ain't got enough shit on my fuckin' plate right now." 

"I wasn't sure what to do," Chibs admitted. "I knew ya have history an' had a lotta love for 'er, Jackie. I didn't want to stir up old ghosts but ya deserved ta know. I'm sorry, brotha."

Jax rubbed his temples, trying to process the flood of emotions and thoughts racing through his mind. He wanted to hate her. He wanted to keep her out of his mind and his heart but she was engrained in his soul and as much as he wanted to deny it, he couldn't. She was part of him, dead or alive, she would truly never be gone from his life. "Where is she?"

Chibs hesitated. "I don't know. I told 'er to stay the fuck outta Charmin' and she had...until now." He scrubbed his hand down over his salt and pepper goatee. "Ye told me ta get rid a 'er...but ya know I couldn'. She's Otto's daughter, Jackie..." Chibs paused, swallowing thickly before continuing. "And she was once th' love of yer life." 

Jax nodded, the abundance of emotions that were pooling within him began to settle. Chibs was right, Scarlet was the only woman he had truly loved. She consumed him fully in every way. That was until they lost their son, Cain, and Jax became totally unhinged leaving a path of destruction in which Scarlet took the brunt of. He could never apologize for their past. He could never ease the pain they were both dealing with. Instead of facing it together Jax chose blame and anger and pushed the only person that could help him heal away. Deep down he missed her. He knew how he handled every bit of the situation was wrong but there was no fixing it. There was too much wreckage and he had to live with that. They both did. 

"Find her and bring her here." The back of his hand swiped across his cheek and Chibs noticed the wetness rolling down over Jackson's face before he turned away to try in an attempt to hide it from him. He momentarily thought back to the day Scarlet showed up at the clubhouse, clutching Otto's letter to her chest and the way Jax looked at her, even though back then he considered her off limits. Eventually it hadn't mattered though. Scarlet had found her way into Jackson's heart and she never left despite everything they had gone through. She was still there and Jax knew it as much as Chibs did. 

"I know what I said before, Chibs. I wanted her gone, out of the picture, for good." His voice low, controlled, but with a dangerous edge. "I think I need to see her."

Chibs raises an eyebrow, cautiously. "Aye, but ya know wha' you're askin', Jackie? Bringing her back... it's not gonna be easy, brotha."

Jax looks away for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then locks eyes with Chibs. "I don't give a shit. I need her here now. I fucked up, a'right? That what ya wanna hear?" Jackson exhales a heavy sigh, running his hand through his dirty blonde hair. "Bring Scarlet to me, no matter what it takes."

The scot nods in understanding. "Alright, Just remember, brotha...ya might be openin' a door ya can't close."

"Maybe. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. Just make sure she comes alone." Jax commands.

Chibs turns to leave but pauses at the door. "I love ya, Jackie. Ya need this ta heal, ya know?" He looks back at Jax and smiles briefly. "Ya need 'er." 

Jax mutters to himself after the door latches behind Chibs' departure, finally starting to come to terms with the biggest mistake of his life. "I know."