I'll Catch You

Chapter 28

Just so you all know this story is almost done! I'll be starting another Opie/Mae though so don't worry! Hope you enjoy! Xo

--

"You left one of my men on my doorstep with two bloody stumps!" Cucuzza shouted, his hands waving dramatically in the air around them, as he, Clay, Tig and an Italian lackey met by the train tracks to agree on some sort of peace.

Clay, pulling an amused face, listened to the rant, or hissy fit in his opinion, and tried to take the man seriously. "Do you know what started this?" There was disgust and disbelief in his voice as he spoke forcefully. "Did you see what your New York assholes did to one of my guy's old ladies?"

Already seeing Clay and SAMCRO's need for exactly what had happened Cucuzza's tone changed. "I heard about it but that wasn't my order, Clay. I'm out of that."

"Not your order but your men," Clay corrected him. "You need to keep them in line and when you don't; they pay for what they do. Beating and raping an innocent woman then you make us pay for evening it all out?" As he stood, his boots kicking gravel and broken glass as he paced in front of Cucuzza, Clay scoffed at his peer's fatuous views on the attack. "That's not how it works."

"Your man," he spoke in an almost reverent manner now, "The one who got hurt in the bombing, he gonna be okay?"

"He'll be fine," Clay spat. "And now, we're all gonna be fine, aren't we?"

Cucuzza remained silent, unsure if he truly wanted to give in, and watched as Clay and Tig murmured quietly a few feet away. "We'll be fine," he started slowly. "But I think a business deal may make soothe some of that pain. Don't you?"

"Business?" Clay hissed. "You want to do business with us?"

"I do," he stood now, face to face with Clay. "We've been wanting in on those damn Irish guns for years now. Our other dealers are raping us," He stopped, realizing his poor word choice gave Clay a very legitimate reason to decline. "I shouldn't have said that."

"I'll take it to my guys, we'll have a vote." Moving aggressively closer, Clay got in Cucuzza's face. "Try not to blow any shit up or rape any women while you wait to hear from us, got me?"

--

Slowly as he moved with the walker Opie's arms no longer shook under his own weight. He moved slow, but with larger steps than before, back and forth while his therapist spoke encouragingly. He was exhausted, his pride nearly obliterated, but he continued to push.

"You're working so hard and it's paying off," she said as he dropped down into his wheelchair.

"I just want to get home." He grumbled.

The woman scribbled away in his chart and smiled. "I'm not the sole decider on that but I'm going to suggest to your supervising physician that we send you home. You'll have PT, here or at home whichever you prefer, but you're really doing well." Slapping the file shut, she cocked her head to the side. "You weren't nearly as into this when we started. What changed?"

"I got shit I gotta take care of," he said simply.

--

"You're early," Gemma smiled as Mae stepped into the office. "Piney said you wouldn't be back for a few more hours."

"Yeah, I had two cancellations." Whomever it was standing before her, Gemma did not recognize her. "Thought I'd grab them early and take them out for pizza or something. Thanks for taking over for him, I'm sorry."

Waving off her apology, Gemma smiled a bit. "I'm glad you're feeling better about all this." Leaning back, the old desk chair creaking a bit, Gemma looked Mae over. "How much longer do you have?"

"I'm only 25 weeks," she chuckled, "I've got too long to go."

Standing, Gemma nodded and put her arm around Mae. "You'll make it," she winked, "You don't have a choice."

"Yeah," Mae pursed her lips. "Where are they?"

"Clubhouse," Gemma began walking Mae toward the building. "I'll talk to you later."

With a new perky attitude, she felt more confident walking into the clubhouse despite having avoided the club at all costs. Mae was still scared of most of the members, Piney the exception, but forced her head up as she entered the room.

"Come on, guys," she didn't walk very far in. "Let's grab some pizza."

Kenny and Ellie dropped what they were doing with Chucky and bounced over to Mae. She refused eye contact with the members, mortified and skittish to be around them, as the children gave her quick hugs.

"Hey Mae," Clay slithered over to her. "How you doing?" He was there for a reason, reminding her he was always watching, but also putting of a nice show of their family spirit.

"I'm great," she feigned a positive attitude, "Just busy."

"I'll bet," he smirked, winked and slipped away as Jax made his way over.

"I'm not interested in talking to you," she said coolly. "I didn't tell him," but she would as soon as she felt she could. "Your lie," she hissed and lowered her voice, "And that whole gun to my head thing, he doesn't know."

"Mae," Jax followed her out. "You don't have to act so shady when you come in here. It just makes the whole thing worse. No one is going to hurt you, I promise."

"You promise?" She asked incredulously. "You promised me before. You wouldn't hurt me physically, I know that, but otherwise I don't trust you. Clay was going to kill me and if he really wanted to, you know you couldn't have stopped him. Your promises are bullshit, Jax."

Furious, he followed her as she charged to the car where the kids sat already buckled in. "That's not true, I wouldn't have let him hurt you."

"He did though!" She snapped.

"So you gonna avoid us when Opie's back on his feet too?"

"No," she turned to look him in the eye. "But he'll be with me, he'll be able to protect me and I won't have to be scared. I know they wouldn't have pulled that shit if he was around and you know it too. Some brotherhood," she scoffed.

--

After pizza and ice cream, Mae and the kids went to visit Opie. He was cheery when they arrived, more than usual, and Mae cocked an eyebrow as she looked him over. "What's with the sunny disposition?"

"I got some good news," he hooked his finger into her belt loop and pulled her closer. "I'm coming home, tomorrow."

"What?" Mae almost shrieked as she stepped back, looking for him to crack and reveal that it was all some joke but he didn't. "Really?"

"Yeah," Opie couldn't look at her without suspicions nagging at him but he tried his damnedest to push it down and enjoy the moment.

The kids cheered and gave him excited bear hugs and kisses while Mae watched, finally feeling some peace concerning the situation. "I am so happy, Ope." She whispered, kissing him fiercely. "I'm not leaving the house, at least until you're back completely, one hundred percent, okay?"

"Yes, mother," he mocked. "I can't drive yet anyway so I'll need some help."

"You're actually using the word help, I'm impressed."

"Yeah, don't push it." His words were lighthearted as the two kissed again. "You should go, get them home, come by tomorrow around eleven?"

"Sounds great," she giggled and kissed him. "I love you, Ope."

"You too, babe." He mumbled, still uncertain about the lies but positive he was in love with her, his palm rested on her cheek as his thumb ran along her bottom lip.