Simple Fire

Clearing the air

She was getting antsy with nothing to do. After what felt like forever, the doors opened up revealing Clay, Jax, Tig, Chibs, and Bobby. Tig winked at her as he moved to take a seat with Chibs. Clay went to see his wife and Jax moved to the couch where his boys were coloring again. Bobby sat at the bar with her and she wondered what he had to say. They remained quiet until Clay came out of the kitchen. She asked him if they could speak in private.

He took her to their chapel and shut the door before having a seat. She found a seat on his right and looked around. She wanted to shake her head at the reaper carved into the large wooden table.

"Well? You said you wanted to talk to me." Clay took out a cigar before lighting it.

"Look, I'm not like most of the women you apparently know. I was raised to be headstrong and very independent. I look after myself and don't depend on anyone to defend or protect me." She started, "I can't help how I was raised. My daddy taught me and my older brother how to fight and shoot as we were growing up. He treated me more like a son than a daughter because he wanted me to always be able to protect myself when they weren't around."

"Ok."

"I'm not a damsel in distress always needing a man there to help me. It's not in my nature." She told him, "If we butt heads on that, it's because I was raised to protect myself."

He just stared at her.

"Respect with me is earned not just given. I can't help that either, it's the way I was raised. You show me a little respect and I'll show you some respect. You guys act like I need you around when I don't and it pisses me off." She stated.

"I can deal with that. As long as you reach out to us when you do need help. We protect our own. As you said, it's in our nature." He stated.

"If and when I need your help, I'll be sure to let you know. I don't know what Tig says, but please quit having people babysit me at my shop. It's distracting and very annoying." She stated making Clay laugh.

"He just wants to protect you. But I'll have a talk with him." Clay told her.

"Are we good?" She asked.

"We're good." He nodded making her nod back.

"Alright then. I'll try to keep my temper in check." She said as she stood up.

"And try not to pull a gun on me again." He stated making her laugh this time.

She winked before leaving the chapel. Tig watched as she left the chapel and found her seat back at the bar. Clay came strolling out and seemed more relaxed than what he'd figured he would be after chatting with Teegan. Both seemed to be relaxed and in a bit of a better mood. Happy didn't know what was said but Clay wasn't angry when he left so he decided to leave well enough alone. Clay pulled Tig aside to have a chat.

"Look, the girl is fiercely independent. She says having someone at the shop with her all the time is distracting." Clay told him.

"I just want to..." Tig started out.

"I know. But she swears she can protect herself. Give the girl some breathing room. She promised me if she needed our help, she'd reach out. We have to give her a little trust here." Clay told his SAA.

"I know she can protect herself from most people. But Weston and his goons broke into her house without her knowing, her own admission on that, and beat her and then sexually assaulted her. She wasn't able to protect herself from that. She's in danger because of the people we deal with, Clay!" Tig exclaimed.

"No more than Gemma or Tara. It's a risk we all took. It's a risk they take. Just give her some space, ok? She ain't going anywhere, brother." Clay gave his shoulder a squeeze making Tig sigh.

Gemma called everyone to dinner so the bikers all lined up to get themselves a plate. Teegan looked to where Tig and Clay had been having a quiet discussion and wondered if they were talking about her. The biker leader had said he was going to talk to Tig about her. She turned her attention back to the line she was in to get a plate. The SAA moved to stand with her. "We gotta talk later." Tig leaned down and whispered in her ear.

She looked up to try and figure out what he might want to talk about but he was talking with Quinn about something making her sigh. When she had a plate full, she found a seat and tried to have a quiet meal. Tig sat with her and motioned for Quinn to join them. They continued their discussion from earlier as she ate in silence. She looked around and wondered how these people could just be "on lockdown" and it didn't bother them. She had a life to live!

Once she'd eaten and thrown away her trash, she headed to Tig's room. Figuring he'd stay out in the clubhouse with his brothers, she grabbed her pj's and showering essentials and headed into the bathroom for a well-earned shower. It had been an eventful, if not educational, day and she was almost emotionally drained from it. Her dad was not going to like hearing she was in a shoot-out in her boyfriend's clubhouse and she debated on whether she should tell him or not.

Tig entered the room and waited for her to get out of the shower. He slid his kutte off and draped it across the chair by the desk before taking his boots off. The shower turned off and his mind immediately went to her being naked and wet in his shower. He was still smiling when she exited the bathroom dressed with the towel wrapped around her hair. He motioned for her to have a seat next to him.

"Clay talked to me earlier. I understand you're a fiercely independent woman. Most of the women in our lives depend on us to take care of them. To make sure they're safe. Gemma is one of the few who are actually feared around here. (He chuckled) I can't help but want to protect you, to make sure you're safe, to try and keep you from harm.

We deal with people who aren't as kind towards most women as we are. You've already met with Weston and know what he's capable of. It's just...I can't help it. In my head I know you can handle yourself. Especially after seeing how good you are with a gun today. But my natural instinct is to protect you.

All I'm asking is that you give me a little slack in this department. I'll try to do better about giving you space and not smothering you. Be patient with me. Most women I've been with want to be with me because of the status of my kutte or because I can protect them. You are the complete opposite of that and it throws me for a loop." He told her.

She sat there and listened without saying a word. He finally looked over to where she sat to see her looking at him.

"As long as you'll let me be me. I'm a natural fighter, Tig. It's in my nature to look after myself and not depend on a man for anything. That's why I butt heads with your club so much. I'm used to looking after myself. And from what I've seen, I can do a better job of that than they can." She chuckled, "But if you can give me some space and let me protect myself, then this might work out between us. As I told Clay earlier, if and when I need y'all's help, I will come and ask for it. Until then, leave me alone."

"I'll try and do that." He told her, "But can I still hang out at the shop if I'm not busy?"

"Maybe." She laughed.

"Good. I like watching you work." He grinned making her roll her eyes with a smile.

A/N: Think this relationship is going to work out after all? Think she'll finally let the club in or will she keep them at arms' length?

Please review and vote below!