THE INSIDE OF SAMCRO'S NEWEST CLUBHOUSE WAS EERILY SILENT.

Scoops and Sweets, Jacob Hale's ice shop had become the clubs new location for their temporary clubhouse after the Irish blew up the one that had been a steeple in SAMCRO since the beginning.

A lot had happened in that clubhouse — many good and many bad. Riley had practically grown up in that dusty old place. It was where she had her first taste of alcohol, where she had her first kiss, and where she punched her first croweater, and now it was all gone all that remained was debris and charred reminders — much liked her family.

SAMCRO had ruin her family — especially her older brother. The club was falling apart and Jax was at the head of everything. Her sister in law had been killed at the hands of her mother, and in turn Jax had shot their mother dead along with Wayne Unser — he shouldn't of stood in his way was all Jax said when Riley asked why.

The club was crashing down around Jax and he kept making poor decision after poor decision. It was only a matter of time before it all caught up with him, and killing Jury was exactly how it all caught up to him.

It was common knowledge that one couldn't kill the President of another charter without a vote. Hell, Riley knew the rules but Jax was so full of anger, sorrow, and paranoia that he couldn't keep his head straight. The club had become a disease and it had taken over Jax.

"What's the best case scenario?"

Riley heard Montez questioned, his voice being the one to finally break the silence. A scoff left her mouth as she stared at the man. There was no 'best case scenario' in a situation like this.

Chibs caught her eye before turning his attention back onto Montez. "Best case they strip him of his patch and kutte." The Scottish man spoke in a dark tone.

Chibs knew that Jax without his patch and kutte would be a dangerous and sad thing, but it would be the better option.

"Worse case?" Montez wondered as his eyes looked around the room at the stoic eyes of his brothers.

"Stop talking." Happy growled as he sat down next to Riley, placing a comforting hand on her jean clad thigh.

Riley turned her head towards the tattooed biker, the Tacoma Killer as she learned his nickname many years ago. He wasn't an overly talkative person nor an emotional one, but Riley and he had a close relationship. They didn't need words to communicate all the time or long emotional talks. Most times just a small touch or look was enough for them.

She didn't even want to think of worse case but she knew this wasn't just Jax getting stripped of his patch and kutte. Mr. Mayhem and Jax Teller would be meeting each other soon.

Riley looked away from Happy at the sound of the door opening, she watched as Jax exited chapel  with Packer following closely behind him.

The Teller siblings eye's connected and Riley knew just by the look in his sorrow filled blue eyes that this was the end of Jax Teller. Riley shook her head lightly as she blindly reached for Happy's hand. She needed to hold onto something or she felt as though she would float away.

Happy squeezed her hand which she was thankful for as she kept her eyes on Jax who was now talking to Packer, the latter placing a hand on the SAMCRO'S President shoulder before giving a nod to the others before exiting the ice cream shop.

"We need to have one last church." Jax announced once Packer was gone. "You all have to vote." He stated while running a hand over his slicked back hair.

Riley immediately shot up at Jax's words, her hand still tightly holding onto Happy's. "Jax, can I talk to you first?" If there was anyway for Riley to change Jax's mind or change whatever it was he planned on saying then she would. She needed her brother around — without him she had no one.

He had taken their mom from her, their father had died years ago along with their brother, and now he himself was well on his way to meeting death. What was to become of her if he were to leave her too?

Jax looked over at his sister, her hand tightly holding onto Happy's.  The Tacoma Killer had become somewhat of a lighthouse to his younger sister since they met each other. Jax didn't know what it was that made them drawn to each other but, Gemma always said, "you can't help who you find your peace with."

The look on Riley's face made his chest hurt. Her green eyes were watery and there was a deep frown on her face that seemed to be there since Opie died.

Jax knew he wasn't just leaving Abel and Thomas behind but also Riley — his baby sister and partner in crime. Riley, who always had his back no matter what shitty thing he did. If he could go back and change things he would, but this life didn't allow you to fix the problems you created for yourself.

"After church." His voice was firm as he walked back into the temporary chapel, the others following closely behind him.

A sigh left Riley's lips as she sat back down, disappointed as she felt Happy release her hand. She felt so useless. She couldn't save her mother, she couldn't save Tara, and she wasn't going to be able to save Jax. What good was she? She picked up the half full bottle of Whiskey from in front of her, pouring it into a cup not noticing the look Happy gave her before quickly throwing back the shot.

Jax was already treating today like his funeral so she might as well too.

____

RILEY HAD DOWNED ABOUT FOUR SHOTS by the time the doors opened again and the club filed out of the room. The tears were enough alone to tell her what she had already known.

"Jax wants to talk to you." Happy rasped as he stood in front of Riley, grabbing the bottle of alcohol from her.

Riley nodded and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She didn't think there was enough time to tell Jax everything she wanted to tell him. There was so much she wanted him to know and so little time. What if he didn't know how much he meant to her or that she didn't blame him for anything. The things he did didn't make him a horrible person, that he did what he could have with the situations he was put in.

Tears filled her green eyes as she walked towards where Jax sat, fully aware of all of the eyes watching each step she took.

"Hap said you wanted to talk." Riley's voice wavered as she spoke, staring at her brother with tears threatening to spill from her eyes at any moment.

A sigh left Jax'a mouth as he lit a cigarette and motioned for Riley to take a seat next to him.

"The club voted." Jax spoke once Riley sat down. "It's Mr. Mayhem." His tone was one of numbness and sorrow as he placed his hand on top of Riley's.

He was suppose to protect her yet here he was hurting her like he had hurt everyone in his life.

It shouldn't have shocked her to hear those words but it did, feeling that it was going to happen and actually hearing it confirmed were two different things.

"No." Riley shook her head as the tears finally spilled from her eyes. "You can't leave me too! Just tell them they can take your kutte! What am I suppose to do without?" A million emotions rushed through Riley's body as she pleaded with her older brother.

Jax watched as tears fell from her eyes and her desperate tone pleaded with him. He knew telling Riley would be the hardest part, and for a second he thought about just leaving after church — not saying a word to her and letting Happy hold onto her as she tried to go after him, but he couldn't do that to her. She deserved more than that.

"I chose this, Ri." Jax's voice was soft as he watched many emotions cross her face before settling on anger.

"What?" She felt betrayed. How could he have picked this. "What is wrong with you?" She raised a balled fist to his chest. "Why?" She hit her fist against his chest as he sat there allowing her to get all of her emotions out. "Why? Fucking answer me?!" She yelled as she continued to hit at his chest.

"It's the only way." Jax stated simply as he finally pulled her fist away. "I wrote this for you." He pulled an envelope from inside of his kutte. "Don't read it until I'm gone."

Riley eyed the simple white envelope in his hand before grabbing it from his hand. She stared at it, her mind racing with wonder as to what could be inside of it.

"Jax," She began ready to tell her older brother how much he meant to her. She needed him to know this much before he was gone.

"Riley, it's okay. I know. I love you too, sis." Jax smiled as he pulled her into what would be their last hug.

Riley held tightly onto Jax, knowing this was the last time she'd ever get to hug him, see him, and talk to him. It would all be over too soon and soon enough it would be only known as the day Jax Teller died and a large part of Riley Teller did too.

_____

AN —
finally a bishop fic! I've been wanting to write one forever and I've finally had a decent idea for one! Riley is going to be a very complex character and I already knew I'm going to love her so much she's gonna be my bby.