💘( Patching Up Old Wounds! )✨

ONE

[ Widening Gyre ]

( 🏍️💀💘👪💒🔫 )

" Do you even see what you've done to her?! She's terrified, Ma! She jumps at shadows, she doesn't trust anyone! And it's because of you! You let that monster raise her! You stood by while he twisted her up inside! Kerri carries scars you can't even see—and they're your fault! She may never heal from what you let happen to her, and I will never forgive you for that! "

~ ALFIE TELFORD to FIONA LARKIN 

☆《》¤

ALFIE STEPPED OUT OF HER TINY LOUNGE ROOM, closing the door behind her with a soft thud. She leaned against the wall, her breath ragged as she tried to steady herself. The sight of the injured boy she had just patched up haunted her, his face etched with pain and desperation.

Fiona emerged from the narrow hallway, her face lined with worry, "How is he?" she asked, her voice tight.

Alfie's eyes narrowed as her face was set in a hardened expression, "Burns I can deal with, but the eye...Think it's gone."

Fiona's face fell, "Jesus," she muttered, sighing deeply. "His older brother was tasked with watching us. He let us go so we could help him. Lad fought us all the way here, didn't want to disobey Jimmy."

Alfie raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "Can you blame him?"

Fiona sent her a stern look, making Alfie roll her eyes in frustration, "I gave him some painkillers. Should keep him quiet for a while, but he needs a hospital, Ma."

Fiona nodded, her expression grim, "I know."

Alfie's eyes flashed with exasperation. 

"Hey, this is not my fault, all right?!" Fiona snapped at the look her daughter was sending her. 

"Isn't it?" Alfie's voice was sharp as she pointed toward her sister, who sat at the small dining table in the cramped kitchen of Alfie's apartment, staring blankly into space as she hugged herself, rocking back and forth. "Do you even see what you've done to her?! She's terrified, Ma! She jumps at shadows, doesn't trust anyone! And it's because of you! You let that monster raise her! You stood by while he twisted her up inside! Kerri carries scars you can't even see—and they're your fault! She may never heal from what you let happen to her, and I will never forgive you for that--!" 

The door suddenly creaked open, and Fiona's panic was palpable, "Who's that?"

"It's fine, it's just Mo and Kell," Alfie said, trying to calm her.

Fiona's eyes widened, "You called the father?!"

"Will you relax? We can trust them."

Maureen Ashby appeared in the doorway, her face a mix of relief and concern, "Hey, darling." She enveloped Alfie in a warm hug, offering a brief moment of solace. 

"Father," Alfie greeted, her voice muffled against Maureen's shoulder.

Father Kellan Ashby greeted Alfie with a kiss on the cheek, before heading into the room where the injured boy was, "What in the name of Christ has happened?"

"Sharing a grievance with the police service," Alfie said, her voice dripping with bitterness.

Fiona interjected, her tone laced with disdain, "Jimmy has 'em all convinced that folks are just fat Irish sheep, moving with the loyal herd. They think every act of violence is their republic duty."

Alfie sighed, her eyes tired, "Why don't you go and wash up, Ma? Take a change of clothes."

"Aye," Fiona agreed quietly.

Alfie turned to Kerrianne, who had been standing silently in the corner, "Kerri, why don't you go with Ma, get cleaned up."

Kerrianne rose slowly and embraced her sister tightly, "Thank you for helping."

"Anytime," Alfie said softly, cupping her little sister's face and offering a small smile, "Now, go on then. I've got a few dresses you'll love."

With one final smile, Kerrianne allowed Fiona to lead her upstairs.

Alfie turned back to Kellan, her expression growing more serious, "I talked to Pa. He's on his way. He'll be here soon."

Kellan nodded, his face a mask of determination, "Good. Clean the boy up. Let him go back to Jimmy. 'Cause we can't stop him."

"What about my ma and Kerri?" Alfie asked, her voice laced with concern.

Kellan stepped closer, his voice soothing, "I'll stay close. Have a few of my men detailed here. I promise you, Al, I'll keep you all safe."

Alfie's eyes filled with tears, her voice breaking, "I'm not worried about me. Jimmy will come looking for them. They're my family, Kell. I couldn't handle it if something happened to them."

Kellan pulled her into a comforting embrace, his voice a gentle murmur, "I know. But I won't let that happen."

Alfie clung to him, the weight of her fears momentarily lifted by his promise.

Alfie and Kellan share a bond forged through years of mutual respect and deep-seated trust. To Alfie, Kellan represents the closest semblance of a father figure she's known since her own father was banished from Belfast. Kellan's steady presence and unwavering support have been a pillar of strength in her life, offering guidance and protection when she needed it most.

Kellan's role in Alfie's life extends beyond mere friendship; he has been a mentor and a surrogate father, providing the stability and encouragement she lacked from her own family. His pragmatic approach and genuine care for her well-being have earned her respect and affection. Unlike Jimmy, whom Alfie despises with a searing hatred that burns with the intensity of a relentless fire, Kellan is a beacon of reliability and trustworthiness.

Alfie's disdain for Jimmy runs so deep that it colours every aspect of her interactions and decisions. She views Jimmy not just as a distant figure but as a malevolent force, a source of trauma and strife. Her feelings towards him are marked by a profound animosity, a fire that refuses to be extinguished. In stark contrast, Kellan's influence has been a soothing balm to her fractured sense of family, offering her a semblance of the fatherly guidance she yearned for.

Kellan's unwavering loyalty and his role in her life have provided Alfie with the stability she craved, making him an irreplaceable figure in her world. In her eyes, Kellan is not just a friend but a guardian, someone who has stepped into the void left by her father and offered her the familial bond she thought was forever lost.

***

The abandoned lot in Belfast lay in silent darkness, its empty expanse illuminated only by the sporadic flicker of a distant streetlamp. The city's hum seemed distant here, swallowed by the oppressive silence that clung to the cold night air. It was the perfect backdrop for the clandestine meeting that was about to unfold.

Jimmy O'Phelan, his silhouette a dark smudge against the void, approached the rendezvous point with a deliberate stride. His sharp eyes scanned the shadows where Keith McGee and Liam O'Neill of SAMBEL awaited him. The three men stood in stark contrast to the desolation around them, their presence a palpable disruption to the quiet of the night.

Jimmy's voice cut through the stillness, a low growl laced with authority, "Anything on Fiona?"

McGee stepped forward, his expression masked by the dim light. He had the air of a man who dealt in secrets and half-truths, his face barely visible in the scant illumination, "She and the girl are with Alfie. The Priest has his men watching them."

Jimmy's irritation was evident. His face darkened, the lines of frustration etching deeper as he absorbed the news. The information was expected but still irked him. His eyes were narrowed with a cold, smouldering anger, "Of course they ran to Alfie," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Just like a rat scurrying to a hole when the lights turn on. She's always been a thorn in my side, that one. A Telford threw and threw. It's pathetic how they cling to each other like vermin, trying to find sanctuary in the shadows. Well, like father like daughter I suppose. But, no matter," he brushed it off as a sinister smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "I'll make sure they all learn there's no escaping what's coming."

O'Neill was standing off to the side, shifting slightly. His voice was calm but firm as he broke the charged silence that followed Jimmy's reaction, "Did you get a hold of Clay?" he asked his president. 

McGee's response was swift, his tone steady and unyielding. The mention of SAMCRO's arrival brought a glimmer of satisfaction to Jimmy's eyes, "Aye. SAMCRO is on their way. They'll be here tomorrow afternoon."

A cold, calculated smile spread across Jimmy's face. The promise of a confrontation was a welcome challenge, a chance to assert his dominance. He savoured the thought, allowing it to bolster his confidence, "Good. Let's make sure we send them a message - loud and clear. Once I'm done with her old man, he won't just be gone—he'll be erased from memory, made a ghost that even his precious little Rose won't be able to find. It's time to make sure Filip Telford is truly gone, for good." 

***

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