Tig Trager's sister Jessie has been around the club as long as she can remember. She's always held her own with the men and croweaters alike until Happy walked into the clubhouse. Can she handle the killer, or can he handle her?
...
Jessie walked into the office of TM the next day with a smile on her face until she noticed the complete lack of noise coming from the garage. She turned to Gemma with a confused frown on her face. "Where is everyone?"
Gemma sighed and hooked a thumb toward the clubhouse. "Church with Rosen." When Jessie opened her mouth to speak, Gemma held up a hand for silence. "Don't panic. Do you remember last month when the guys mistakenly raided that church service looking for Zobelle?"
Jessie nodded. "Yeah, but Unser got them clear of charges for that."
Gemma shook her head. "Yeah, but Stahl got the weapons charges reinstated. They're in there discussing turning themselves in." At the look of horror that must have been evident on Jessie's face, Gemma wrapped an arm around her and led her outside toward the clubhouse. "Come on, you sit out here at the picnic table and I'll get you a beer."
Jessie just nodded and let Gemma lead her over to sit at the scarred wooden table as she hurried inside. She didn't even argue about drinking this early in the day. She had a feeling she was going to need it since she knew that Happy had been involved in the incident from last month. She looked up at Gemma when she came out carrying two beers and a pack of cigarettes. She took one of each, and once her cigarette was lit, she nodded to her friend.
"Does Tara know?"
Gemma nodded after lighting her own smoke. "Yeah, I called her. She should be here as soon as Neeta shows up to take Abel." They both smoked in silence for a moment before Gemma spoke up again. "You'll be ok, darlin. You've been here before."
Jessie shook her head, letting her foot tap nervously on the bench seat in front of her. "Yeah, with Tig, but not as a... "
Gemma smirked. "Not as an old lady?" She nodded as Jessie shrugged. "Yeah, it's different, but you won't be by yourself. You'll have the rest of us old ladies to help you through."
"How long are they looking to be in?"
Gemma shook her head. "Not sure yet. I'm sure we'll find out when they come out of church."
Jessie nodded and jumped down from the table. "Ok, well, I might as well get some work done while we're waiting."
Gemma nodded and Jessie walked back to the office as Gemma went back into the clubhouse. She knew it would do no good to get upset over something that she couldn't control but she couldn't really help it. She honestly didn't know how well she and Happy would do being away from each other for any significant amount of time, but she supposed they would find out.
Jessie heard the office door open and shut and turned to see Happy standing there with a look on his face that she couldn't place. She cleared her throat and nodded. "So... "
Happy nodded back and stared down at his boots for a moment. "Yeah, so... "
Jessie sighed as she sat down in her chair. "How long?"
Happy finally looked at her as he sat on the corner of the desk. "Fourteen months, less with good behavior."
Jessie leaned her head back against the back of her chair and closed her eyes. "Fuck."
"Yeah." She felt him take her hand and opened her eyes to see him staring at her, that look she couldn't decipher still firmly in place on his handsome face. "Look, it won't feel like that long at all, little girl. We'll be back home before you know it."
Jessie nodded, trying to push the tears back. There would be plenty of time for those after they left. "When?"
It was Happy's turn to sigh before he answered her. "We turn ourselves in tomorrow morning." He squeezed her hand before continuing. "Gemma wants to throw a party tonight before we go."
Jessie looked at him before standing up and stepping closer to Happy. She stood between his legs and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his neck as his arms came around her. "Do we have to go?"
She could feel Happy chuckle as he pulled her closer. "Not if you don't want to, Jess. What did you have in mind?"
"Take me home. Make love to me."
Happy tugged on her hair just enough to get her to lift her head to look at him. "If that's what my woman wants, that's what we'll do. All day and all night long, baby."
Jessie nodded as she stepped back and took his hand in hers, leading the way outside. She was absolutely certain no actual work would get done today.
Happy stood against the side of the garage, Jessie wrapped around him sobbing as he tried to comfort her as much as he could. He knew it sucked, for everyone concerned, but there was no getting around it, and the sooner they got started, the sooner they would be back with their families. He looked around as he watched Jax going through something similar with Tara. The only ones that seemed unmoved were Clay and Gemma, but he knew that was only because they'd done this more times than they could count.
Happy tilted Jessie's head back to make her look up at him as he leaned in to kiss her. "Shhh. Come on, baby, listen to me, ok?" When Jess nodded, he continued. "Chibs is going to keep an eye on you while I'm gone, make sure you don't need anything. I want you to do what he tells you, ok? Don't argue with him. Are you going to come visit me?"
Jessie nodded. "Every week, yeah."
Happy grinned at her and leaned in for another longer kiss. "Ok, good. I'm going to miss you, little girl. You still going to be here when I get back?"
Jessie nodded as she traces his face with her fingers. "Where else would I be? I thought I might move your stuff into the house if you wanted while you were gone." She sniffed once more. "I'm going to miss you too."
Happy nodded. "I know, but it will be over with before you know it, and yeah, move my shit into your place. That sounds great."
Before they could say anything else, the van was pulling in and it was time for all of them to leave. Tig got a quick hug from his sister before Happy grabbed her for one more before climbing into the van.
