The Final Ride

Chapter 7

When Rory finally came out of her drug induced slumber, she was not greeted by good news. Tara informed her that Knox did in fact need the surgery but that his odds of him coming out of it perfectly, were unbelievably high. It was wonderful to hear such a prognosis but when it was explained that they'd need to shave the child's head, Rory was crushed. It seemed so trivial but Knox's hair meant so much, she loved it so dearly, the idea of cutting off her baby's locks broke her heart.

"I can get a few curls for you to keep, not exactly the best first haircut memory, though."

Rory nodded, understanding the need but despising it intensely. "I love his hair, he always asks me to twirl it when he's not feeling well."

"It's funny, the weird little things we hold dear as mothers, you can't really explain it." Tara smiled nostalgically.

"Can I see him?" Rory asked desperately. "Before they take him?"

With a sympathetic smile, Tara nodded and led Rory down to imaging where Knox was having even more scans to prepare the doctors for surgery. Tara gave Rory what details she could about the surgery but it was really all a matter of the damage. They couldn't see exactly how much needed to be done until they were already in surgery.

"Is Happy coming?" She asked softly, seeing Rory begin to, crumble again.

"Yeah," Rory mumbled. "He stopped home to see the kids and talk to Jax I think."

"Tig?" She asked cautiously.

Rory shrugged. "If he shows his face here I'll fucking kill him myself."

"I'll have security keep him out," Tara assured her.

"Thanks." Rory mumbled as she watched her son in one of the giant CT machines. "I mean it, Tara. Thank you."

With tears in her eyes, Tara hugged Rory and saw herself out quietly. Halfway down the hall she called Jax, worried about Rory, hoping to get Happy back there as soon as possible.

--

At the clubhouse most everyone was already gathered, Tig noticeably late, and in their spots at the table. When Tig finally did arrive Jax was quick to quell Happy's rage with a firm look after already having discussed the situation.

"Sorry," he was very clearly frazzled. "Shitty morning, someone fucking slashed my fucking tires."

The other members looked around, not surprised by the news but that the fact that was what ruined his day, but Happy was the only one to say anything.

"Slashed tires?" He growled, slowly standing from his spot on Jax's right. "How about your kid in the fucking hospital?"

"Cause I fucking forgot?" He shouted. "You think I'm NOT thinking about Knox? What kind of father you think I am?" As soon as the words lefts his lips Tig regretted them.

Happy laughed darkly. "I think you're a shitty dad and that kid's head is smashed in cause you're lazy and irresponsible."

Had their emotions not been skyrocketing, everyone would have not only been impressed by Happy but shocked. He was not the man they once knew and it was never more apparent.

"Don't talk about MY kid," Tig spat. "Don't fucking talk about him, Hap."

"He's got your blood but you ain't a dad," he growled, about to take his seat again until Tig charged. Jax leaned back in his chair watching as Juice jumped in first then Kozik, to pull the two apart.

"Enough!" Jax bellowed. "Domestics don't come to church," he chastised. "We had enough of your shit Trager, that mess is done and I don't want to relive it. Everybody sit."

Slowly they took their seats, dark stares between Happy and Tig as they straightened themselves out and leveled their breathing. Before the bust up, Tig was hoping to talk to Happy, admit his dilemma, and hopefully settle it all but now, he refused. Too much had happened, he'd caused far too much and after all that he risked losing now he'd hold on to the club as tight as he could.

"You weren't the only one who woke up to slashed tires," Jax grumbled. "All of us, prospects and full patches. Everyone."

"That's petty shit," Kozik threw in. "Someone piss off some middle schoolers?"

A few of them grinned but overall the room was still painfully tense. "That an option?" Juice asked with a hopeful tilt in his voice.

"All our bikes, here and at home, with nothing and no one else; I doubt it." Jax would have been thrilled had it turned out to be kids or some random attack but he knew it wasn't. It felt too ominous.

"So who then?" Happy grumbled. "You think the Niners are sneaking around to fuck with our bikes?"

"We wouldn't see em' at night," Tig said petulantly.

"We got no-" There was a knock at the door. "What?"

The prospect stuck his head in chapel, "It's Tara. She said to tell you uhh," he looked at Tig and Jax sighed as he stood.

"What is it?" He asked in a hushed tone.

"Knox is having the surgery. She said Rory needs Hap and that Tig isn't allowed in the hospital."

Jax exhaled a large puff of air. "Great, yeah, thanks." He didn't exactly disagree with keeping Tig away but Jax knew it was an accident and there was no real reason, other than anger, to ban him.

"Hap," Jax motioned for Happy to join him by the door and the prospect scurried away. They stepped out of the room and Tig jumped to his feet, assuming correctly it was about Knox.

"What is it?" He asked urgently. "Is he okay?"

"They're gonna do the surgery," Jax said solemnly. "Rory wants you there Hap," he looked at Tig, but she doesn't want you."

"He's my kid," Tig snapped.

"Back off," Happy shoved Tig back. "You almost killed the kid."

"It was an accident!" Tig squared up to Happy. "Shit, you're probably lovin' this ain't ya? You never even wanted me to know."

"Yeah," Happy growled, not backing down. "And now Rory wishes she never told you. What's that say? Huh?"

Tig leaned back and slammed his forehead into Happy's nose with an animalistic grunt. Happy stumbled back but didn't lose his balance as he immediately recovered and lunged at Tig. Jax groaned and stepped back, exhausted by the eternal battle, emotional and physical.

"Rory needs you," Jax barked.

It was just barely enough. Happy climbed off Tig after a swift, but solid number of blows, and wiped the blood from his knuckles on his jeans.

"I need the van," he spoke calmly, despite the sweat on his brow, as if nothing had happened.

"Take it, good luck man." Jax hugged Happy before sending him back to the hospital. "Tig, go home."

"Jax, if I can't be there I gotta be here." Tig was suddenly desperate and so clearly heartbroken. "I fucked up. He's in there cause of me. If she's gonna try to take him form me the clubs all I got left."

With a heavy sigh Jax relented and agreed. "Alright," he gave Tig a rough one armed hug. "If I hear anything I'll let you know."

"Thank you," he uttered sadly. "Really, I need this, thank you."

--

Sorry for the wait!! Xoxo