One Rule

Chapter 11

I was still in bed the next morning when my doorbell rang. I groaned and looked at the clock, seeing that it was ten a.m. I'd slept okay with the meds, but I'd needed another pill around five that morning. I was about to get up when I heard the door open, at that point, I just decided to stay right where I was.

"Diana?" It was Gemma.

"Upstairs," I called, sitting up in bed. I was sore all over, and stiff.

"Hey sweetie," she said softly, stepping into the room. "How'd you sleep

"Okay. Better than I expected to, but stiff and sore now. I'm trying not to lean on the pain meds," I yawned.

Gemma sat down on the edge of the bed. "What can I do to help, baby?"

"I need to shower before Kozik gets here," I told her. "I'd like to not look like a total hot mess when he shows up. Can you take me to go pick up my meds once I'm cleaned up?"

"Sure thing. Why don't I make you something to eat while you shower?" she suggested.

"That would be great," I said getting up, while attempting to not put any pressure on my wrists. "I'm going to go shower."

I walked into the bathroom and disrobed. I took the splints off, and saw the bruises on my wrists. I'd have to ice them later. I showered quickly and got out to go dry off. I put on loose-fitting clothes, sweatpants and a t shirt, before heading downstairs. The shower helped a bit.

"Thanks, Gemma," I said when she handed me a plate of scrambled eggs.

"You're welcome. I figured you'd want something light."

"Much appreciated."

When I was done eating, she drove me to the pharmacy in town. Gemma waited in the car while I went and got my meds. By the time she got me back to the house, I was ready to go lie down and take a nap. I decided I'd wait to go see Chibs until I was feeling a little better. Tara had texted during the night, that he was out of surgery and stable for the time being.

Gemma tucked me into bed and left me alone. I'd determined that my left side was more comfortable this time.

That's where I was when Kozik got home. "Diana!" he called. I could hear him bounding up the stairs. It sounded like he was taking them two at a time.

"Here," I groaned.

He came into the bedroom, and dropped down on his knees in front of me. "Are you okay, baby?" he asked, brushing my hair out of my face.

"I'm tired, and I hurt," I yawned. "Will you stay with me?" I asked, trying to move over to give him room.

"Of course." He stripped off his kutte and his jeans. He must have taken his boots off downstairs already. Kozik got into bed and I cuddled into his side and attempted to get comfortable. Eventually, I fell back asleep in his arms as he rubbed gentle circles into my back.

Later that afternoon, he made me get up so that I would be able to sleep that night. We decided on a quiet night in that consisted of ordering pizza and watching movies down in the living room. When I changed for bed later that night, I let him see the stitches on my back, though I'm sure he'd felt them when he was rubbing my back earlier. He ran his fingers over each line.

"My god," he sighed. "I almost lost you."

"But you didn't. I'm still here." I turned and kissed him on the lips. We settled down into bed, wrapped in each other's arms, and my head against his chest. That was always my favorite way to fall asleep with him... 

It was a good thing that Kozik stayed with me, because that night, the rest of the guys were out to get revenge against the person responsible for the explosion. They thought they were walking into a crowd of former inmates, but ended up walking in on a family church dinner. Shit went sideways quick, and they were all arrested, except for Ope. We woke up to that phone call the next morning.

"How much do they need for bail?" I asked an agitated Gemma.

"Three hundred thousand," she replied. "I don't know where we're going to get that kind of money."

"Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Will do, sweetheart."

Opie called Kozik just after lunch. He needed help setting someone up. Ope mentioned that his kids were at the garage. I told him I'd go hang out with them until they were done.

"Your mom said to pick them up at Jax's later."

"Okay. See you there."

I got dressed and went to the garage. Kenny and Ellie looked so bored. I took them back to my place where we played games and watched movies all afternoon. My phone rang around dinner time. It was Gemma, telling me to bring the kids over, she was in the process of making dinner.

"Her cooking is better than mine," I promised when Kenny said he didn't want to go.

We'd finished dinner when the doorbell rang. Ellie was helping me with the dishes when I heard Tara call out that Lyla was there for the kids, except she didn't call her by her name.

"Stay here," I told Ellie. I turned off the water and grabbed a towel, drying my hands as I walked out into the living room.

She and Gemma were in the process of telling Lyla off when I got out there. "Come on, be nice. Her name is Lyla. Use it. She's just trying to help Opie."

"Yeah, sure," Tara said with an eye roll.

"I'm sorry Lyla," I said, turning back to face her, "We just finished dinner, but thank you for offering. Do you want to go get a drink tomorrow?" I asked.

"Sure. I'll call you and we can figure it out."

When she was gone, I closed the door behind me. "What is up with you two?" I asked. "She's never done anything to either of you! You don't get to hate her just because of her job!"

"You're pretty chummy," Gemma glared.

"She's my friend."

"Did you meet her when you were hanging out at the porn studio?" Tara asked.

"No."

I was too frustrated to deal with Gemma and Tara, so I took the kids back to my house, and texted Ope about the change of plans.

I was still seething on our drive back to my house. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that. That was not okay. It was completely disrespectful, and I hope you guys never treat someone that way."

"We know," Ellie replied.

"I was kind of excited to get to see Piper," Kenny replied.

"Wait, you've met her before?" I asked, turning back to look at him when I stopped at the stop sign.

"Yeah. She's nice," he replied. Ellie nodded in agreement.

"I'm glad you like her."

When we got back, Kozik was already home. "Hey guys," he smiled. We found a board game to keep them occupied until Opie came to get them.

When he got there, I stepped out onto the porch, and relayed the incident at Jax's. He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll deal with them. Thanks for watching my kids, Diana."

"Anytime, Ope. You know those kids are always welcome here. You're family."

"Thanks." We hugged and went back inside. The kids hugged me before heading out to Ope's car.

"Goodnight."

"'Night."

I closed the door behind them and turned to face Kozik. "I swear the women in my family are nuts," I said, shaking my head.

"Come on, it's time for you to get some sleep too," he replied, ushering me upstairs.

I changed into shorts and one of his shirts. I curled into his side and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Promise me if I ever get that crazy, you'll tell me."

"I don't think you have to worry about that. I've never seen you be unkind to someone without some form of provocation, but I promise I'll say something if I think you've gone too far."

"Love you, baby."

"Love you too."