Roots Run Deep

Chapter 17

**Shortie!**

After obsessing over the conversation with her father, Katie jumped in her car and drove from Jake's to the clubhouse. Katie didn't get out but she didn't see Jax, nor did she think she could see his bike, so she decided to go past his house. If she didn't find him she decided she'd go back, she'd just drive right to the airport and leave, but his bike was in the driveway and a few windows were open. Summoning her courage she headed up to his door and knocked. She was greeted with a sunny smile for her efforts.

"Hey," he looked equal parts surprised and happy to see her.  "You okay?"

"Yeah," she chuckled. "I think I'm leaving soon."

He nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "Sad to see you go."

"Before I do though," she cleared her throat. "I want to know about my dad."

"What about him?"

She looked around quickly. "Can we go inside?"

"Oh shit," he laughed, "Yeah, come in."

Katie and Jax sat in the living room, her on the sofa and him on the loveseat, the smell of bleach still thick in the air. "You doing some cleaning?"

"Gemma," he laughed. "Gotta get the place ready for Abel."

"Yeah," she smiled. "I'm sure you can't wait."

"I want him outta there but being a dad," he shook his head. "I don't know."

"You'll be great," Katie smiled. "Anyway, I just," she shook her head. "He's shady as fuck, and he's either bad at hiding it or he doesn't give a shit."

"He's shady, Kate," Jax said quickly. At that time he was supposed to be on his way to dinner but it swiftly left his mind as they chatted.

"No, I mean really shady," she said quietly. "He told me he didn't want me talking to you, seeing you, he said it's dangerous but I can't help wondering who is in danger, me or him?"

Jax leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and cocked his head to the side as he looked at her. "I don't know anything on him, nothing more than you," he said.

"Him and Clay," she suggested, "They have a past. Is Clay a good guy?"

"No," Jax said quickly. "Katie, he had you kidnapped."

"I know," she stammered, "Otherwise, I guess I mean."

"No, he's not," Jax told her. "What could he want to hide? What would -"

"My mom," she said quickly. "I'm not dumb, I know they weren't happy no matter how he tries to paint shit all pretty for me and Jake. I don't know if he cheated on her or he was abusive," she sighed. "She's the only person I care about to cut someone off for, you know? She's the only one I'd hate him for. It's something with her, it has to be."

"Be nice if we could just ask her," he groaned.

"Yeah," she sniffled. "There's a lot of shit I wish I could ask her."

"Sorry," he said sadly. "My dad died, I get it," he assured her.

"How?" Katie asked, wanting to share his sorrow, commiserate with him about their mutual loss.

"Car accident," he told her.

"My mom too," she said.

Jax was already thinking he had an idea of what dark secret Clay and The Warden shared. It fit but it was so outrageous, and could be terribly painful, that he kept it to himself. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too," she forced a smile. "There were lots of cops around," she admitted. Ideas began to come together in Katie's head but the picture that was forming was too much. She shook her head. "Wanna go for a ride?"

"Huh?" He sat up. "A ride?"

"Yeah, I want some air," she shrugged.

Jax smirked. "Alright."

Following him outside Katie climbed on his bike behind him and he took off down the street. Katie hoped it would distract her but she only thught harder and harder on the fact that she wasn't sure her mother's death was an accident, she wasn't sure her father was the loving man she always saw him has.

"Jax," she said loudly over the roar of his engine while they sat at a red light. "I think my dad killed my mom."

He looked over his shoulder at her and nodded. Switching lanes, he instead drove toward Piney's rather than aimlessly wasting gas around town. They parked and Jax turned his body halfway around to look at her.

"I was thinking that too," he cringed. "I don't know, though. I don't know a lot about your dad, but I think if we're gonna get some stories with any truth to em', we're gonna get em' from this guy." Jax said as he pointed at Piney's house.

"I don't...I don't know, Jax," she stuttered. "Is this shit I really wanna open up?"

"Is it?" He shrugged. "You lost one parent, you wanna lose another?"

"No," she sniffled."Its crazy. There's no way he killed my mom. There's just...no, I'm being ridiculous."

With a sad smile he nodded. "Lemme take you back." He clipped the helmet under her chin again. "Some shit's better not disturbed."

Katie just nodded sadly and the two of them made their way back to Jax's. She still had a pit in her stomach and distrusted her father but she didn't want to push it, she didn't want know the truth of her father's darkness. When they arrived Tig was sitting on his bike in Jax's driveway.

"Ah shit," Jax groaned. "Dinner."

"She's pissed," Tig said teasingly. "Sent me to get you."

"Sorry," Katie said to Jax quietly. "Lemme get outta here."

"Nah, bring her," Tig said with a smile.

"Gem would flip shit," Jax said to Tig. "You know it."

"It's fine," Katie said quickly. "I'll talk to you later."

"I think Gemma wants to know who kept ya," Tig shrugged. "Loyalties, ya know?"

"I don't wanna step on your mom's toes, Jax."

"Nah," Jax said, clearly full of spite. "You should come."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Katie laughed, although she didn't want to end their evening just then..

"I want you to come," he grabbed her hand.

Katie hesitated but relented, wanting to spend more time with him despite the high probability of drama. "I'll be on my best behavior."

Tig chuckled, "This is gonna be fun."