Back To You

One Step Closer

It had been four days since my call with Maureen, and my anxiety was reaching its breaking point. I kept the burner phone charged, checking it obsessively, hoping for news, but nothing came. A part of me itched to call her myself, to see if she'd made any progress. I wondered if she was still talking to the Kings, trying to find a way to convince them to let Clay go. Or maybe she had been shut down completely. I didn't know, and that was what was driving me crazy. But I told myself to be patient. The waiting ate at me, but I knew I couldn't lose my cool, as this wasn't just about me... it was about getting Jax home.

The guys were on board, though. That much I was sure of. The minute I had told them about the call with Maureen, they said they were behind me 100%. This was the break they had been waiting for, just like me, so they jumped at the opportunity to get to Clay through Maureen, and get Jax out of the jam he was in. If she came through, if the Kings agreed to let Clay go, they said I had their full support. That was all I needed.

I was just walking into work at 7am, adjusting my lanyard and nodding to a few nurses who greeted me as I passed, when I felt a buzz in my pocket. My heart jumped as I immediately knew who it was. I kept the burner on me at all times, just in case Maureen called, so I knew right away that it was her. Pulling the phone out of my pocket, I checked the caller ID, and sure enough it was her name flashing across the screen. I quickly headed over to a quiet part of the hospital where I wouldn't be overheard, before hitting answer and pressing it to my ear.

"Maureen?" I asked, not even bothering to hide the urgency in my voice.

"Aye, lass..." Came her familiar voice on the other end. "Just callin' to tell ye, the plan's in motion. Ye'll need to talk to the club for the full details, but Clay... well, let's just say he's no longer in the IRA's good graces."

Relief surged through me, and I could feel my whole body loosening up as if a weight had been lifted. "How? How did you manage to make that happen?" I asked, curious about what had led to this.

"Kellan set him up. Framed him for the murder of a member of the organization." Maureen explained, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat as I understood what that meant. Kellan, a priest, had resorted to murder. He went against his own faith to take Clay out of the equation. He did it for Jax, Maureen, and John. I couldn't believe it, but I was grateful.

"That must've been a hard decision for him to make." I said quietly.

"It was, but it had to be done." Maureen said firmly.

"Thank you, Maureen! You and your brother. So much, for everything! I don't know how I could ever repay you for this! If you ever need anything from me, consider it yours."

"Just take that bastard Clay down, and get John's boy out of prison. We'll call it even after that." She replied and I promised her I would. I was determined to after everything I went through because of Clay.

When we ended the call, I felt a smile spread across my face as it hit me, that after two long, agonizing years, there was a real chance to get Jax out of prison, and make Clay pay for his crimes. After so long of thinking there was no way... a way had finally presented itself. I was about to go back to work but remembered what she said about getting in touch with the club for the rest of the details. So I pulled my main phone out and texted Chibs, telling him to come see me on my lunch break at 1:30.

The rest of the morning went by smoothly. I went about my job as usual, checking in on patients, administering medication, checking charts, and trying to keep my mind from being consumed by thoughts of Ireland, of Clay, and of Jax. During lunch time, I had just grabbed myself a drink from the vending machine, when I looked up to see Chibs, Bobby, Tig, Happy, Juice, and Rat walking toward me down the hospital corridor. Already knowing why they were there, I quickly walked over to them, and motioned for them to step off to the side with me, away from any listening ears.