Chapter 67

Jax pulled into the lot of the garage. All the guys were already here. Everyone was hanging around the picnic table talking.

"What's up?" Asked Jax as he got close.

"We'll discuss in chapel." said Clay as walked inside.

The guys followed, all taking their seats. Everyone looked on edge.

"So I got a call from the SAMBEL VP. It seems that McGee and O'Neil are working with Jimmy to make some bank behind the clubs back. The VP wants SAMCRO to handle this since we are the mother charter. I don't know what we will be facing over there so be prepared for anything. If McGee and O'Neil are playing the club, they aren't going to go down without a fight. Things could get bloody boys." Said Clay.

"But McGee is First 9." Said Bobby.

"He is. Which means that he will meet Mr. Mayhem. And so will O'Neil." Said Clay.

"When do we leave?" Asked Jax.

"I know you just got married yesterday but we really need to head out as soon as possible. I need you with me on this son. It will show them that SAMCRO isn't playing around with them. Each charter runs its the club the way they wants but we all know that whatever SAMCRO does is basically the rules." Said Clay.

"I'm with you. Are we flying commercial?" Asked Jax.

"I don't see any reason why we can't." Said Clay.

"Good thing those charges got dropped" said Chibs.

"Yeah, good thing because if they hadn't that would mean we would be going under the radar. Anyway, the VP of SAMBEL is keeping out visit quiet until we land. Then I'll call McGee myself and tell him we're in town to see what they go through to get us our guns" said Clay.

"Why not just tell them we're coming?" Asked Tig.

"Because if we surprise them, we can catch them while their hands are dirty. If they know we're coming, they will have a chance to get rid of any evidence of their involvement" said Clay.

"So when do we leave?" Asked Jax.

"Tomorrow morning. Get everything settled tonight and be here at the club house at 5:00 a.m. We will leave from her and head directly to the airport. Remember, no kuttes and travel light. We don't know if we will have to make a quick exit out of Belfast so the less you have to lug the better" said Clay.

"Ok" said everyone.

Clay banged the gavel in the table adjourning the meeting. Everyone got up and walked out of the club house. Clay was the last out of the chapel and he asked Jax to hang back.

"Thank you for this son" said Clay.

"No problem. I know you need me on this" said Jax.

"I know you just got married and I really hate to ask you to come but I feel like you being with us will be better." Said Clay.

"I get it. Do you know about how long we will be gone? I need to know what to tell Tinsley" said Jax.

"No more than a week. Will be be fine here?" Asked Clay.

"Yeah. I'll have Rachel and Sarah stay at the jose with her to help with the kids. Plus mom will be around" said Jax.

"I wouldn't count on that. Your mom is going to want to go with us. Tinsley probably will to come to think of it" said Clay.

"Tinsley can't go because of the kids and I don't want anyone keeping them and us being that far away. I would be one thing it we were just going to SAMTAZ but SAMBEL is a completely different thing. As far as mom, it doesn't surprise me that she would want to go." Said Jax.

"I know what you mean with the kids. As far as your mom, you know she does what she wants." Said Clay.

"That's the damn truth" said Jax.

"Alright, go home, talk to your wife, and meet me here in the morning. We'll talk more in the daylight." Said Clay.

"See you tomorrow" said Jax.

He walked out of the club house and over to his bike. Cranking it up, he climbed on and headed home.

*********************

When Jax pulled in the drive way he could tell the lights were all off. Tinsley must still be at Gemma's. He walked over to his moms and sure enough, Tinsley was still there. In fact, she was in the kitchen cooking. She hadn't had chance to cook much since becoming pregnant. She was on bed rest for awhile and the. She was in the hospital. Then when she got home, there was the whole adjustment period for the them and the kids.

She had made grilled chicken Alfredo with homemade noodles, and homemade sauce. There was also bread sticks and salad with a homemade raspberry and lemon vinaigrette. She made a treś leché cake for desert.

"You have been busy" said Jax as he walked up and hugged her from behind and kissed her neck.

"I had some pent up energy" said Tinsley as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I can tell" said Jax.

"Well you left me with all that energy so.." said Tinsley.

"Yeah, about that. I'll tell you all about it when after dinner." Said Jax.

"Ok. Is it bad?" asked Tinsley.

"No. Not really. It's not great but it's not bad" said Jax.

"Ok. Just tell me about it later. Dinner is ready. Will you help me carry all this RJ the dining room?" Asked Tinsley.

"Yep" said Jax.

They carried the noodles, sauce, bread, salad, and cake to the dining room table. Tinsley, Jax, Gemma, and Clay all day down to eat. Tinsley fed Abel some of the cheese sauce and little pieces of the bread. They all ate and held conversation like a normal family. As they were finishing up, Clay brought up the club business.

"Jax, don't forget to be at the club house no later than 5:00 a.m." said Clay.

"Why" said Gemma.

"Club trip" said Clay.

"Where to?" Asked Gemma.

"Belfast" said Clay.

Tinsley wondered why Gemma's whole expression changed at the mention of Belfast but she didn't ask. She figured if Gemma's wanted to talk about it, she would when she was ready.

"Why do you need to go to Belfast?" Asked Tinsley.

"Club business" said Clay.

"I'll tell you about when we get home" said Jax.

"Well that's not filling me in on shit. Why Belfast?" Asked Gemma.

"It seems that the president and Sargent at arms for SAMBEL are playing the club. They were working behind the clubs back to line their pockets with cash." Said Clay.

"Why would they do that?" Asked Tinsley .

"Well, if I had to guess it would be because they are nothing thinking of leaving the club and they wants to get as much money as possible. There isn't much of a retirement plan in this life" said Clay.

"We will find out more of why when we get there" said Jax.

"I'm coming with" said Gemma.

"I expected you would" said Clay.

"I'm coming too" said Tinsley.

"No, I think you should stay here." Said Jax.

"I've always wanted to visit Belfast and this is my chance. Think of it as our honeymoon" said Tinsley.

"We can't carry the babies that far and I don't know what we're going to face when we get there. I don't want to put you in any danger" said Jax.

"And I don't want you in any danger but it doesn't look like I'm gonna get my way now does it?" Said Tinsley.

"Can we do this later?" Asked Jax.

"No. You tell me you have to go to Belfast. Wait, no, you didn't tell me. Clay told me. Is this what you wanted to talk about when we got home?" Asked Tinsley.

"Yes" said Jax.

"Well I want to talk about it now. What kind of danger are you going to be facing? Will you end up being shot at? Will you end up with a razor wire around your neck because you went over there to settle someone else's beef" said Tinsley.

"I'm going to be fine. I can't say that I won't be shot at because I don't know. All I know is that I don't know what we're going to face over there and I'm not going to risk putting you in danger. Plus I don't want you so far away from the kids if something was to happen to them." Said Jax.

"But it's fine for you to go running head first into danger?" Asked Tinsley.

"It what we do" said Clay.

"I get that but that doesn't me I have to like it" said Tinsley.

"Let's finish this conversation at home" said Jax.

"Whatever. I done with this. Go to Belfast" said Tinsley as she got up from the table.

"I thought you had told her son. I'm sorry" said Clay.

"Not our fault" said Jax.

Tinsley came back into the dining room and asked Gemma for a cigarette. Gemma have her one and handed her the lighter. Tinsley walked out onto the back patio and sat down. She pulled hard on the cigarette, filling her lungs with the smoke. She hadn't smoked a cigarette since the day she found out she was having triplets. And if she was being honest, she really didn't want this one. She just wanted something to deal with the stress. It's not that she didn't want Jax to do his club work. She just didn't want him to end up getting hurt. She couldn't picture her life without him in it. They had just gotten married. How was she supposed to be happy about him traveling out of the country, leaving her with 4 kids, and running head first into danger.

Sitting back in the chair, she looked up at the sky just gazing at the stars. She heard the sliding glass door open but did t turn her head to see who it was. She knew it would be Jax.

"I should have told you when I got back and not waited to tell you" said Jax.

"Doesn't matter" said Tinsley.

"Obviously it does or you're wouldn't be so pissed" said Jax.

"I'm pissed because you're leaving. I'm pissed that you will be half way around the world and I won't be there to help you if your hurt. I'm pissed that at myself for being pissed" said Tinsley as she began to cry.

"I know your scared baby but I'm going to be fine" said Jax.

"You can't guarantee that" said Tinsley.

"No, I can't. But at the same time, I can't guarantee that I won't get killed walking home" said Jax .

"I know that. I just don't want you to leave me here" said Tinsley.

"Baby, I would love nothing more than for you to go with with me but I don't want to put you in danger. If something was to happen to us over there, who would take care of the kids? Like I said, I don't know what we're facing when we get there but I can promise you it's going to be bloody. I can't risk you getting hurt over me. It would kill me." Said Jax.

"I know and it's going to kill me if something happens to you" said Tinsley.

"I will be fine. I promise. Nothing is going to keep me from coming home to you" said Jax.

The two of them sat in silence for awhile before either of them spoke again.

"You better come home to me and you better be in the same condition as you are right now. So help me, if you come back in a box, I'll bring you back from the dead just so I can kill you myself" said Tinsley.

After they had both collected themselves, they went back inside. Clay and Gemma has disappeared leaving the triplets sleeping in one of the pack and plays while Abel played in the other.

"Let's go home" said Jax.

Jax gathered up Jagger and Abel while Tinsley carried Gracie and Lizzie and they walked back to their home. Jax laid Abel in his crib and then did the same for Jagger while Tinsley did the same for the girls.

Once everyone was in their cribs, Jax and Tinsley went up to their room. Tinsley grabbed Jax's backpack and packed him some clothes and toiletries for his trip. It was nearly midnight but the time she had finished packing the things for him.

"I'm serious Jax. You better come home" said Tinsley.

"I will. I promise" said Jax.

"I'm holding you to that" said Tinsley.

"Noted" said Jax.

Tinsley dropped his bad by the bedroom door and started for the bedroom. She wanted to shower. She needed the alone time to let her tears fall without anyone knowing. She needed to be alone for just a few minutes to get out all the fear she was feeling.

"I'm going to shower." Said Tinsley.

"I'll join you" said Jax.

"No, I need a minute to myself" said Tinsley.

"Are you sure?" Said Jax.

"Yes. Just give me 10 minutes and I'll be out" said Tinsley as she walked to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and quickly turned the shower on. She stripped down and climbed in even before the water was warm. But she didn't feel the cold. She felt numb knowing Jax would be leaving in just a few hours. She felt sad because he was willing to leave her only 2 days after getting married. She worried that he would be hurt. When she had got out the tears she needed to shed, she made quick work of washing herself.

She dried herself off and walked into the bedroom. Jax was sitting on the edge of the bed in nothing but his boxers. She climbed into bed without saying a word.

Jax climbed under the blankets and pulled her back to his front.

"I love you" said Jax.

"I love you too. So much" said Tinsley.

Tinsley rolled onto her back and looked up into Jax's eyes. She wanted to remember his face just like he was right now. She wanted to have it etched into her mind in the event that something happened to him while in Belfast.

"I'm going to miss you" said Jax.

"I'm going to miss you more" said Tinsley.

Jax leaned down and kissed her and kissed her again. The two of them made love as it it was going to be the last time they ever got the chance to. They devoured each other like it was going to be the eachs last meal. And when they both came, they just kept at it. They made passionate love until Jax's alarm went off signaling that he had to leave to go to the club house.

"I love you" said Jax.

"I love you too. Please be safe" said Tinsley.

"I will be. I'll be back in a week. Maybe sooner. I'll call you as soon as we land" said Jax.

"I'll be waiting" said Tinsley.

And with that, Jax kissed her one last time, grabbed his bag, and walked out the door. At the sound of Jax's bike cranking, the tears began to flow. She wasn't a religious person but she sent up a prayer to god to keep Jax safe and to make sure he came home unharmed.