Photo is of Jay Ryan, the man picked to be Raphael!

The next morning the clubhouse was busy with everyone preparing for the fight ahead, they all had a job to do and did so without complaint. Working in a tandem of silence with each other, the women and children did their part by settling everything into one room of the compound. Should the war come to them everyone was instructed to be waiting in the basement and only come out for the animals.

Zeke waited until Ty had stepped outside before searching for Wolf, he found him in the main room surrounded by a few other men. Iris was balanced on his hip and he pointed to a map. Raphael had agreed that he would lead their brothers from out of town so that Wolf could concentrate on his own men.

"I want two men on this rooftop, anything that comes out of the building that's not wearing our colors, I want dead." Wolf said.

"You got it, we'll put three men up there."

"Wolf, can I talk to you?" Zeke asked.

"Sure."

Wolf sat Iris on a stool and gave her a pat on the head, walking towards Zeke. The two started walking in no particular direction.

"I haven't been told what I'm doing tomorrow," Zeke said.

"That's because you're not going, you're staying with the women and children."

"Bullshit."

"You're too weak to go into a war," Wolf stated.

"I'm strong enough to fight, I can't stay here. Not with Ty going to war."

"Ty is the one who asked that you not be sent."

"Wolf please, let me go. I need to be there for him."

Wolf stopped walking and turned to face him, seeming to think it over. Zeke knew he probably wasn't in the best shape to be fighting but he was not going to let Ty go alone.

"We would need someone else to stay and watch the women and kids."

"Then let it be Ty, please? He's my only real family. I've dedicated my life to this club and being your right hand. You owe me."

"Fine, but you tell your brother and you deal with him."

"I will," Zeke promised.

"Very well."

Wolf turned and went back inside without another word and Zeke sighed heavily. He was relieved to know that Ty wouldn't be going to fight but he couldn't help admit to himself that he probably wouldn't be back.

Demon paced the hallway, flipping his phone from one hand to the other, he wanted to call Lacy. He wanted to hear her voice one more time, he wanted to talk to her but he knew he couldn't. He'd said his goodbyes last night and he had to stick by it.

"Hey, what's going on?" A voice asked.

He looked up to see Morgan walking down the hall, carrying a sleeping Iris. He smiled and shoved his phone in his pocket.

"Nothing at all."

"She's still not taking your calls?" Morgan asked as she reached the door to her room.

"Who?"

"Come on Demon, I'm not stupid."

She moved into the room and he hesitantly followed her, watching her tuck Iris into the bed. The small child didn't even stir.

"Has she talked to you?" He asked.

"No, I tried calling a few times and nothing. Is it true you've been sleeping with her?"

"Yes."

"Demon....I know you love her but it's not worth both of you being killed."

"If I just really knew what was going on I could make peace with it."

"What are you going to do?"

"The only thing I can do, I'm going to go to war with my brothers and if I have to kill her I will."

"I'm sorry it had to come down to that, she was my friend too." Morgan said.

"Me too."

"Was she at least happy the last time you talked to her?" Morgan asked.

"I don't know, I hope so."

Morgan smiled sadly at him and then walked over and gently squeezed his arm. He sighed, there was no point in telling Morgan that Lacy knew she was going to die soon and that they're last conversation had been a half assed, broken goodbye.

He checked his watch and with a heavy heart turned and walked out the hall, Morgan followed. The crew would be preparing to leave any minute.

"Ty, can I talk to you before you leave?" Zeke asked.

"Sure thing," Ty turned from packing his saddle bags to Zeke.

The older man threw his arm around the younger one leading him towards the garage. Ty followed, completely trusting his older brother and not even slight suspicious that he was being led away from the group.

"Ty, you know I love you right?"

"I know, I love you too."

"And you know I would do anything I had to do to keep you safe."

"Look, if this is about you not being able to go today...."Ty started.

"I just need you to understand that everything I've ever done is for you."

"I know," Ty promised.

Zeke paused next to the small utility closet, there was a lock on the outside because the door wouldn't stay closed on it's own. It was cramped and tiny but would have to do. Zeke gripped the back of Ty's shirt in a vice like fist but Ty didn't appear to notice.

Without warning he pulled open the door and using the element of surprise shoved his brother inside. He slammed it closed and had to brace his full weight against the door to hold it while he slid the deadbolt home.

He took a minute to lean against the cheap wood, the door shook with Ty's insistent pounding from the other side.

"Zeke! Zeke, don't do this! Please! Let me come with you!" Ty begged.

"You have to stay here, it's too dangerous. I can't lose you." Zeke said softly.

"Zeke! Please we can look out for each other!" Ty promised.

"You look after Becky, that's your job now."

"Zeke!"

"I love you, Ty."

He pushed away from the door, ignoring the anguished yelling coming from the closet. He hoped the door would hold, it wouldn't do any good if Ty got loosed and followed him. He walked out of the garage and saw Becky rushing towards him.

"Is that Ty yelling?!" She cried.

"He's fine," He replied.

She attempted to rush passed him, with every intention of freeing Ty. Zeke caught her arm as she neared him, jerking hard enough it pulled her off balance and she had no choice but to change directions and walk with him.

"Let go of me!" She hissed.

"He's fine, leave him be."

"Let go!" She struggled to pull free but he tightened his hold on her arm.

"Stop it, he's fine. I'm keeping him safe."

"What did you do?"

"Don't worry about it, he's safe that's all that matters."

"Zeke....what's going on?"

They entered the clubhouse, he was still holding her arm but she was walking along beside without a fight now.

"I lost my parents, I won't lose my brother."

"Zeke...."

"He was going to go fight a war without me, he can't go there. It's too dangerous, he can't just throw his life away."

"You're too weak, Zeke you can't go."

"The hell I can't."

They turned down the hallway, it eventually led to a small fenced in area behind the clubhouse. It was primarily used for locking up bikes but for now was empty.

"Zeke, don't do this. Please," She begged.

He opened the back door and together they walked down the steps into the fenced in yard, he released her and she took a few steps away.

"I can't protect him there," He said.

"Don't go, please? I can't....I can't lose you."

He sighed heavily, feeling his chest constrict painfully. There was a time when her silent pleas would have been enough to stop him, there was a time before his parents died when they were close. He thought those days were long gone but it was obvious they weren't over for her.

He had paused in thought long enough that she'd approached, she reach up and gently rested her palm against his cheek. For a minute he let himself relax, but only a minute and then the walls came back up where they belonged.

"Don't." He said, pushing her hand away.

"Please, don't go."

"I have to," He said.

"They'll kill you," She said, tears in her eyes.

"Probably, but they could have killed Ty as well."

"He's strong and he's a good fighter. He stands a better chance of survival than you."

He started to walk away and she caught his hand, pausing his movement. The bikes out front roared to life and he knew they were getting ready to ride out.

"Please, stay with us." She said, meaning her and Ty.

"You two will be so good for each other," He said.

She looked confused and he wished that Ty wasn't such a damn coward and would tell her how he felt. She couldn't return feelings that she didn't know existed.

"Goodbye, Becky."

He shrugged her off and started for the back of the building, it took only a second for her to follow him. He knew she was going to try and stop him, knew if she could get to Ty she would let him out and he couldn't have that. Before she reached the edge of the fence he slammed the gate and spun the padlock.

"No!" She gripped the chainlink, shaking it with all her weight.

The fence was high, well over ten feet high but when he glanced at her she had found a foothold and was trying to scale the side.

"Becky, stop."

"Damn you!" She cried.

"Becky stop!" He yelled.

She dropped to the ground, gripping the fence and staring back at him. She had tears in her eyes and running freely down her cheeks but it was the anger that burned the brightest.

"I need to know you're both safe, promise me you'll keep him here. If you care for him at all, promise me."

"I promise," She said.

He reached out where her tiny fingers gripped the diamond shaped wire and gently placed his hand on top of hers. Her fingers gripped his as if she could keep him there with just her willpower.

"Be careful," She said.

He gave a grim nod, almost positive it was pointless. He was already feeling breathless and weak from being up so long. Nobody could afford to go into this war without bringing their best and he didn't have the strength for his.

He let go of her hand and turned walked up the back steps into the building. He stepped into the parking lot where the other men all sat on their bikes. Some saying good bye to loved ones. Wolf held Morgan in his arms, Sky was letting Jenny cry into his shoulder. Only Demon say alone and Zeke swung onto his bike next to him.

"Are you ready for this?" Zeke asked him.

"As ready as I can be, are you sure you're up for this?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Wolf pulled out first, followed by Raphael and then the rest of the Animals. They didn't know what lay ahead but they could almost be positive that some of them wouldn't be back.