Skyler's Chance

Deeds

Flashback

Darby stands in the kitchen, bomb bag in hand, he carefully sets it on the table in front of him. After rescuing his babygirl from men he thought he could somewhat trust, he's ready to smash their skulls in. But instead, he would rather just blow the house up. Even if he dies as well, he knows Skyler will be taken care of. She is a Darby, after all. Remembering the code, 2156, he looks at the controls and comes up with a plan. Reaching into his pocket, he finds a nickel. Knowing the Sons are out of the house and the other men are tied up in another room, he doesn't want to take any chances of them escaping. He pushes in the code, then pushes the nickel next to the button that needs to be held in order for the bomb to go off. The nickel will hold the button in place while he runs out the back door. He watches as the timer starts counting down, he slips the strap off his arm very carefully, backs away quietly, and as soon as he gets to the back door, swings it opens and jumps off the porch. Taking off into the woods, he doesn't look back, even as the ground vibrates beneath his feet. Zobelle is a dead man, but for now, Zobelle needs to think that Darby is dead. Even if that means Skyler may have to think the same thing.

Present

Skyler looks ahead at the ocean, smelling the salt air, and feeling the breeze on her face. Closing her eyes, she processes her dad's account of how he escaped. He knew she wanted answer, so he invited her to go on a trip to the California beach. He rented a cottage and they've been enjoying spending time together, fishing, the boardwalk, pizza by the fire pit. She is lost in her thoughts, he reaches for her hand. "Skyler Marie, you in there ?" She opens one eye and looks at him. He smirks as she shakes her head, laughing. He always said that when she was younger and would play sleep in the morning instead of getting up for school. Being a single dad, he still did a good job. Opening her eyes, she looks at him. "Where is my mom ?" He sighs, "I don't know, baby. You know she took off around your first birthday and I haven't seen or heard from her since," he pauses, "But like I've been telling you, it wasn't your fault." She looks down at her feet buried in the sand. She doesn't remember her mom, she has only seen photos her dad tucked away. When she started learning about computers in junior high, and even more so in high school, she tried as much as she could to look for her mom, but no luck.

"There's something else I wanted to tell you. The cottage we are staying in?" He nods in the direction of it, "I didn't rent it. I own it." She frowns, "What ? So we have a vacation home?" "Well, you do. You are welcome here anytime. For me, it's a permanent home. " she nods slowly, then before she could ask, her dad says, "I'm giving you the house, and the bar. Up to you if you want to sell one, or the other, sell both, or keep them. Both are yours." Her mouth drops, "What ? I mean, thank you but wow dad. Are you sure ? " He nods, "Yes, I am sure. Both are paid off, and I have the deeds. They just need your signature, and we have to meet with the lawyers to finalize everything." Jumping up, she leans down to wrap her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek, "I love you dad. Thank you so much." He rubs her arm, kissing her cheek, "Anything for my babygirl. Let's go eat and walk the boardwalk." Checking her phone, she sees a text from Kozik miss you beautiful, when are you coming back ? Skyler answers in a few days she sends a selfie to him. I'll have to visit sometime with you he texts back.

Sitting around the Reaper table, the Sons just got word that the Mayans caught up with Ez and Angel Reyes, thanks to SAMYORK, Sons New York chapter. They drove cross country to avoid being close, and tried to catch a flight out of the country through NYC. SAMYORK has connections within the airport security, and were able to slip the brothers out of the back door. Now they are being held in an undisclosed location in Oakland, Mayan's territory. Clay lights up a cigar, looking over his men. " They've been working with someone named Potter, who's been trying to pin a RICO case on us. Feeding him information about both clubs, and since they don't have any family except each other, they gave Skyler over to Zobelle for some reason, in order for Potter to give them a wit pro type of deal. Only they got sloppy, and left a paper trail. Alvarez doesn't want them alive much longer." Chibs clenched his fist, "So we end dem." Jax nods, "Yes, but Alvarez asked us if Skyler wanted a hand in it, since they nearly got her killed." Kozik shakes his head, "Absolutely not." Bobby chuckles, "Like you would be able to stop her. I've never seen you with someone so bull headed." The others laugh as Kozik shakes his head. Piney speaks up when the laughter dies down, "Besides, she already knows."

The Sons turned to the elder. "She can be persuasive when she wants to be. She gave me a few beers and we bonded. Apparently a little too well, and she started piecing it together. She wants in." Before Kozik can protest again, there's a knock on the door. Opie opens it to see that it's Skyler. "Sorry, but Alvarez is here. I'm assuming it's urgent." The Sons stand to leave church, meeting  Alvarez in the parking lot. Clay shakes his hand, and they start to walk away from the group. "We have word that Potter is sniffing around. He's been looking for the brothers and Zobelle. We need to do this today. And I'd like to know if Skyler wants in, especially with all that she's been through." Clay nods, "Her old man is upset, but I'm sure we can get this finished quickly." About 15 minutes later, with Kozik by her side, she has decided that she wants to help. Kozik pulls her away from the group, hugging her close enough so no one will hear them talking. "Baby, this is some serious shit. If you don't want to, it's ok. I can do it for you." Shaking her head, she wraps her arms around his neck, "I'm fine babe. I'm ready."