*Takes place just after Jax and Opie patch in*

Trigger warning: assault.

Description: Your stepfather Clay beats you and you turn to Jax, Opie and Piney for help since you know your mother will side with her old man.

"Gemma," Clays voice called from the door as he walked in.

"She's at the garage still," I said. "Dinner will be done in ten minutes or so."

"What?" He asked. I turned to look at him and realized he must've had a long day at the club. My mom always has dinner done when he gets home but she gave me pretty short notice about it today.

"Mom just called an hour ago. I'm sorry," I said. Before I could react he reached out and backhanded me. I yelled out and jumped back, reaching for the knife on the counter.

"You're a fucking sorry excuse for an Old Lady," he muttered as he slapped me again. "Maybe we oughta demote you to Croweater." I tried to get away but he'd backed me into the corner. His hands started carelessly running over my body and I tried to push him away from me.

"What? Don't like this kind of treatment?" He asked. I shoved him one last time with all the force I could muster and he backed up a little. I went to run for it when he grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back, shoving my upper body down onto the counter.

"You're lucky we have church tonight," he grumbled before hitting my face off the counter one last time.

"Go get fucking cleaned up," he said, pushing me towards the bathroom. I walked towards the bathroom, fighting back my tears. I grabbed my phone and dialed Jax's number.

"Hey sis," he said.

"Hey is Ope with you?" I asked.

"Yeah, what's up? Why're you crying?"

"Just come pick me up. I'm at home," I said.

"We'll be there in ten," he said. I hung up and cleaned my face up as best as I could. There would be some significant bruising by tomorrow. I ran to my room and quickly changed my shirt so I wasn't covered in blood.

I headed outside and sat down with my sunglasses already covering the bruises on my eyes.

"What happened sis?" Jax asked as they halted in front of the house.

"We're not talking here," I spat and headed over to Opies bike, hopping on the back. He handed me his helmet and we headed down to the garage. When they parked their bikes, we headed up to the roof to talk about what happened. When we settled on the roof, I pushed my sunglasses up and Jax instantly got pissed.

"Clay do this to ya?" He asked. I nodded and started explaining what happened.

When I finished they both wanted to go kill him.

"What the hell?" Opie asked.

"Guys, please, I just want to talk to Piney. He'll know what to do," I said.

"You gonna tell Ma?" Jax asked.

"Depends on what Piney has to say," I said. They agreed and each pulled me into a hug.

"Let's go see my old man," Opie said and we headed down and into the clubhouse.

"Pops," Opie said. Piney looked at us and instantly grew angry.

"Come on," he said and led us to one of the apartments in the clubhouse.

I told the story once again and Piney grew angry.

"We're taking this to the table," Piney said. "Tonight."

I nodded and he pulled me into a hug. I started crying for the first time. I tried to compose myself.

"What's going to happen?" I asked.

"If we're lucky he gets voted out. If not, everyone's aware of his abusing you," Piney said. I nodded and Chibs was yelling about church starting.

"I'll wait at the bar," I said. They all nodded and we headed down to the bar. The guys went into church and the door was shut.

"Can I get you something?" The prospect that was cleaning the bar said.

"You got smokes?" I asked.

"Just weed," he said.

"Then no, can't go into church stoned," I said. "Actually, a glass of water would be great."

He nodded and grabbed a glass. He sat the now full glass in front of me and continued his cleaning.

About an hour later, Jax walked out of church and nodded for me to follow him inside. I stood up and flattened my shirt out, wrapping the sleeves around my hand.

"What the hell happened to her face Clay?" Jax asked angrily. I pushed my glasses onto my head and everyone's jaws fell. Chibs was on his feet in second, running over to me.

"Let me see your eyes lass," Chibs said.

"More worried my nose is busted," I said.

"It is," he said. "Doesn't look like it needs set."

"That's good, right?" I asked.

"You might need a hospital," he said.

"Hospitals mean cops," I said. He nodded and stood beside me, forcing Opie to move behind me.

"Clay," Piney said.

"I don't know. Probably pissed some guy off."

"Yeah you," I said. "Either start talking or I will."

"Excuse me?" He asked.

"Okay, so you were pissed about something and came home swinging," I said. "Dinner wasn't done the second you walked in to door so you backhanded me and started groping me. Told me I was a sorry excuse for an old lady and you were going to demote me to croweater status. When I fought back and tried to get away, you bounced my face off the counter."

"Seriously Clay?" Tig asked. That surprised me. Tig is loyal as a dog when it comes to Clay.

"Ope, can I get a ride to the hospital?" I asked. "I'll tell em I got into a fight and don't want to press charges. Jax, handle this."

"With pleasure, darlin'," Jax said, moving away from me and allowing Opie to move up beside me. He wrapped an arm around me.

"Let's get you to a hospital," Opie said. I nodded and we headed out, getting on his bike and leaving.

When he pulled up to St. Thomas, we instantly headed into the ER. I was taken to a room quickly and Opie stayed with me. I told the doctor I'd been in a fight and she seemed to believe me. She did ask Opie to step out and when I nodded he agreed.

"Did he do this to you?" She asked.

"No, he's helping," I said.

"Okay, if you're in an abusive situation we can get you help," she said.

"I don't need your help. I just need my nose to not be broke," I said. "If it's going to heal just as pretty as ever I will be happy to leave."

She assured me that despite the break it would heal just fine and she discharged me with some bandages on my face.

I was getting ready to leave when my mom called me. I sighed and Opie took my phone, answering it for me.

"She's fine Gemma. She's with me. Well maybe he shouldn't have beat the shit out of her." He paused briefly for her responses after each sentences.

"Well," he said after a long pause. "Jax and Pops were handling it."

"Here's your phone back," he said as we headed out the doors of St. Thomas into the dark evening air.

"She doesn't want me to come home, does she?" I asked.

"You can stay with me," he said. "Jax can too."

"Ope," I said as we paused by his bike.

"I'm not letting you go back to that assholes house babe," he said.

"Aw, is the big bad Opie getting protective?" I asked.

"I like you a lot. Have for a while. It's pissing me off that he felt he could treat you like that and get away with it," Opie said.

I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I like you too Ope. Thanks for protecting me."

We headed back to Piney's place and we beeline for Opies room. He pulled me into his bed.

"Want one of my shirts to sleep in?" He asked. I nodded and he handed one to me before he left so I could change. He'd handed me some joggers too.

"Ope," I yelled and he and Jax walked into the room.

"What happened?" I asked as the two sat down on Opies bed with me. I sat up against the headboard and Opie wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Jax sat down at the foot of the bed.

"We can't remove him from the seat but I got a few good hits in before Tig and Bobby pulled us apart," he said. "Chibs and Piney are pissed. Piney wants you to move in here til you're on your feet."

"Well Mom won't let me go home," I said.

"Me either," he said.

"Pops will let y'all stay here," Opie said.

"We'll figure it out, but for now, let's get some rest," I said. Jax nodded and she'd his kutte before taking a pillow and blanket and crashing on the floor.

"Ope," I said softly after a few minutes.

"Hmm," he responded, opening his eyes.

"Thanks," I said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

"Anything for you babe," he said. We might not be together officially, but everyone thinks we're meant to be. And, who knows, maybe one day it will happen.