❛ I'll always be here for you, Scarlett. Always. ❜

chapter forty four.

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A COUPLE DAYS LATER, The Sons returned from the run with Tig injured, Clay and Jax's relationship strained and everything slightly more messy than previously. Unsurprisingly, Scarlett managed perfectly fine in an home with just Abel for one night. She changed her own bandage, took her meds whilst also remembering how to care for a baby. The routines gave her a sense of independence and it also allowed her more time to settle down with Abel. Gemma and Neeta the nanny stopped by occasionally, but each time they were both pleasantly surprised by Scarlett's feats with the small boy.

This kind of domestic life took Scarlett pleasantly by surprise. She's still experiencing nightmares and occasional small panic attacks, but knowing that she'll be able to go and out and live a beautiful life with Jax, Abel and the rest of the Sons keeps her more than happy.

Scarlett scrapped her sling after only having it on for a total of ten hours. She spoke to Alex over the phone and he gave into her complaints and said she'd be able to function fine without it.

Now, she's leant against the skin with her hands in a warm soapy bowl of washing up whilst Jax cleans out the garage. She relaxes in the current feeling in the air. She's at peace in a happy home with a happy family. She hears the front door open and after refocusing her mind to the footsteps on the welcome mat, she concludes that Gemma's just arrived.

"Hey," Gemma greets, removing her sunglasses.

"Morning," Scarlett peers over her shoulder.

"Baby with Neeta?" She questions, heading straight for the coffee machine.

Scarlett removes her hands from the washing bowl and turns around, grabbing the towel to dry herself, "At the park."

"Jax?"

Nodding her head towards the back door, Scarlett answers, "Cleaning out the garage."

Slowly, Gemma slides down into a chair at the dining table. She grunts lowly as she makes contact with the woods before she drops her handbag onto the table. With narrowed eyes, Scarlett watches her carefully, catching onto her pained expression.

"You're still sore?" She asks, somewhat surprised that Gemma was feeling such immense pain that it's still hindering her movement so drastically.

Gemma purses her lips, "It's gettin' worse. I'm just so goddamn stiff."

"Maybe you should speak to Alex," Scarlett says, throwing the hand towel back onto the counter behind the sink, "He could get you a prescription."

Before the two ladies can continue their conversation, Jax bangs open the back door and stumbles in with a cardboard box in his arms. He spots his mom and sends her a smile, "Hey, Ma," He drops the full box onto the floor by the door before leaning against the wall and looking over to Scarlett, "You take a box from the garage?"

She shakes her head, "Haven't touched anything out there."

His confused frown deepens and his eyes drift to the floor as he thinks about the box's whereabouts, "I'm missing a box."

"I cleaned some shit out there before the baby came home," Gemma explains before taking a small sip from her coffee, "There was a box of laundry. Had a serious stink to it."

"Well, where is it?"

"Tossed it," Gemma shrugs carelessly, causing Jax's eyes to widen slightly, "Just a bunch of old t-shirts, funky underwear. Why? What are you looking for?"

Scarlett studies Jax carefully as he takes a few moments to reply. It's obvious that he doesn't believe his mom just tossed it. He wipes his tongue over his lips before saying, "Old Harley manual. Hard to find."

Gemma tilts her head, "Sorry."

Breaking the growing tension between the mother and son, Chibs let's himself into the house and Scarlett silently thinks him for his perfect timing, "Hello, children!" He calls out before stepping into the kitchen.

"Hey, Chibs," Scarlett replies.

Still leant against the wall, Jax says, "Thought the prospect was with you."

"Oh, no, no," Chibs shakes his head before lifting his shades from his eyes, "The wee man goes under the knife today. He's getting his sack filled."

Gemma head snaps over to look at him in shock, "Excuse me?"

"He's. . . completing himself," Chibs reiterates, causing Scarlett to snort, before he looks back to Jax, "We're supposed to meet Clay at the shop."

"Oh, yeah. I'm ready. Lemme dump these in my truck," Jax leans down to pick up the large overflowing box once more, but before he has chance to straighten up again, Chibs moves behind him and grabs his hips, teasingly jutting him back sexually. Jax's shoots up again, shoving him away with a laugh.

"Remembering breakfast with daddy?" Jax's brows raise as he passes the box into Chibs' arms.

"Oh, yeah," Chibs hums, "Kippers and oat cakes. Delicious," He sends Scarlett a goodbye wink before leaving out of the front door with a small giggle passing his lips.

Jax quickly shoves his arms through his leather holster before bouncing towards Scarlett. He catches her face in one of his palms before pulling her gently forward to capture her lips in a short kiss. He then turns back around and grabs a bag from the floor before finally looking to his mom, "See you later," He nods.

"Bye, babe," She smiles as he disappears out of the door, leaving the two women to sit in adoring silence.

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A FEW HOURS LATER, Gemma and Scarlett wander out of the pharmacy together. After a quick quick call with the doctor, Alex prescribed the older woman some more antibiotics and Scarlett decided to come into town with Gemma to collect it. Due to her body's state; the bandage still on her shoulder and the fading scars on her cheeks, Scarlett's tried to refrain from mooching around town as much as she used to because by now everyone and their dog has heard about her father. Gemma's car was totalled after her event, and Scarlett always used to borrow Cami's truck, but now that she no longer lives as close to her best friend, she's having to drive Chibs' car around.

"And I'm just supposed to rub this shit on?" Gemma glances down at the paper bag in her hand before shoving it into her handbag.

"Apparently," Scarlett shrugs, pulling the car keys from the back pocket of her jeans, "Alex said a hormonal spike means too much."

Gemma grunts, moving around to the passenger seat side of the car, "My whole life's a hormonal spike, sweetheart."

Scarlett fiddles with the lock and key for a moment before throwing open her own door but when she glances back up and over the roof of the car at Gemma, she notices that the older woman has her backed turned to her as she looks over fat something on the other side of the parking lot.

Eyebrows furrowing, Scarlett asks, picking up on Gemma's tight shoulders and clenched fists, "What is it now?" Not bothering to reply, Gemma suddenly breaks off into a sprint after a young-ish blonde woman as she darts away from the lot, "Fuck," Scarlett mutters before slamming the car door shut once more and racing behind the pair.

Rounding the corner onto main street, it doesn't take long for Scarlett to catch up to Gemma and suddenly both women skid to a stop on the corner of the sidewalk, watching as a green Cadillac rolls down the road with the same blonde lady driving it away with a smug smirk.

Scarlett takes a step closer to Gemma and her hand raises to tap her shoulder, "Gem—"

Before Scarlett has the chance to even get out a full word, Gemma whirls around with her elbow in the air and the sharp bone flies back into Scarlett's nose. Grunting painfully, Scarlett drops her hands to her knees and immediately feels as blood flows from her nose and down over her mouth before dripping to the concrete.

"I'm sorry," Gemma apologises, wincing when she notices the amount of blood, "Oh man, I am sorry."

"Jesus fucking christ," Scarlett snarls, straightening back up and raising her hands to her nose. Feeling the large amount of liquid, she glances down at her palms and clenches her jaw at the sight of that much blood. Her hands begin to shake as her mind throws her straight back to the basement, "Fuck."

Gemma's brows furrow as she notices Scarlett's shocked eyes and quivering lips, "Hey, what's wrong? I know that ain't your first time with a bloody nose."

Ignoring the older woman, Scarlett's hands begin to shake as she looks up and down the street frantically. After a moment of thinking, she steps around Gemma, "I'm heading to Cami's," She announces with a quavering voice, "The car's open and the keys are ok the seat. Drive wherever you want," She shrugs at Gemma.

Surprised by Scarlett's mood change, Gemma eyes soften, "Look, I'm so—"

"I know," Scarlett nods in sincere understanding with blood still streaming from her nostrils, "And I'm fine. I just want to— to catch up with Cami." She then rotates on her boot's heel and rushes down the street towards the suburbs, leaving Gemma stood in stunned silence watching her head off.

It takes a total of ten minutes for Scarlett walk the twenty minute route to Camille's house. Seeing the truck in the driveway she exhales in relief before jogging up the porch steps and letting herself into the house. She wipes her bloody hands on her jeans and turns the door knob, keeping the metal clean before she enters the hallway and slams the door behind her with her foot.

"Cami— Camille!" She attempts to shout, but the name just leaves her lips as a choked call.

"Scarlett?" Camille wanders out of the kitchen and immediately her brows shoot up and concern takes over her expressions.

Scarlett let's out a sob and the pent-up tears begin to plummet down her cheeks and mixed with the blood on her face, reminding her even more of that haunted basement, "I— I can't breath," Scarlett waves her hands towards her chest as it pumps up and down relentlessly.

Instantly, Cami is at her best friend's side and wrapping an arm around her body, she lowers them both of the welcome mat on the floor. It's not the first time Camille's been present during one of Scarlett's panic attacks. She had them a lot when they were teenagers, so Cami knows how to care for her without making the situation worse.

"Hey, hey, hey," Camille takes Scarlett's face in her hands and makes her look directly at her while she pants for breaths. Cami has to tighten her jaw to refrain from showing surprise due to the blood on her face, "You're okay. You're at home. I'm here with you, okay?" Then she drops her face and shuffled closer before hugging her.

Scarlett rests her cheek against Camille's chest and squeezes her eyes shut, trying to ignore the feeling of the blood and tears on her face. She tightens her fists around her best friend's jumper while cries rack her body back and forth. Very slowly, she begins to calm down and the familiar scent of Camille's home relaxes her thoughts and removes her from the basement.

Feeling her begin to breath once more, Cami pulls away slightly and looks at her, completely ignoring the blood now staining Luke's jumper, "What happened?" She asks quietly, motioning towards the blood.

"Gemma," Scarlett sniffs, "I came up behind her and she clocked me," She purses her lips, "Bitch."

Chuckling, Camille nods in agreement before pointing to the living room, "Wanna cuddle up and watch a movie? Luke's gone for the day so. . . ladies night?" She grins.

Smiling gently, Scarlett nods before shuffling and slowly standing from the floor and heading towards the stairs, "I'm gonna go and clean up. Do you mind if I steal some of your pyjamas?"

"Nope."

Scarlett travels up the first few steps before rotating, "Thank you," She whispers.

"No problem at all," Camille winks, taking small steps towards the kitchen, "I'll always be here for you, Scarlett. Always."

After splitting off to different rooms, Scarlett stands in front of the mirror in the bathroom and she stares coldly at her face. Her nose has stopped bleeding but the red liquid continues to stain her face like a constant reminder that she'll never escape from that basement. With her hands curled around the edge of the sink, her eyes run across her whole reflection, including the bandage wrapped on her shoulder. She'd changed it a few moments before leaving the house with Gemma, so thankfully it doesn't need to be uncovered for a few more hours. Scarlett had spent years grimacing at the name tatted on her whilst she was in the city. She despised the site of it, but now she wants nothing more than to look at it and smile as she's reminded of her now amazing life with Jax.

A small creak of the door causes Scarlett's eyes to
snap up in the mirror and she noticed Camille stood behind her in the doorway.

"You can always get another one," Camille shrugs, having noticed how Scarlett's eyes were trained on her covered shoulder, "Maybe on your arm. To match his placement."

Remembering Donna's imaginary words whilst she was in the basement, Scarlett bites down on her lip to refrain for releasing another cry, "Yeah. Maybe," She mutters.

"I just came to ask what movie you want to watch."

Scarlett taps her fingers on the ceramic sink, "I don't mind. Anything," She looks over her shoulder, "Surprise me."

Camille sighs, "Oh god, okay," She steps back from the doorway and turns on her heel, "Surprise you, got it."

When her best friend has disappeared downstairs again, Scarlett makes a huge effort to not look at her reflection again and instead begins to run the tap before ducking her head and soaking her face with the warm soothing water. She squeezes her eyes shut, not wanting to watch as the blood flows from her face and downs the drain. Once she feels satisfied with the cleanness of her face, she straightens back up to finally look back in the mirror, and immediately she prefers the woman stood opposite. She raises a hand to her sore noise and winces quietly as she pushes at either side of the bridge.

Knowing where everything in kept in her best friend's house, Scarlett ducks down and opens the cabinet under the sink. She sighs in relief when she spots the first aid kit and grabs it before standing back up. Resting it on the corner of the sink, she grabs some nose tap before carefully laying a single strip over her bruised bridge to relax the pain somewhat and keep it still. As Gemma said, Scarlett's had dozens of nose injuries from her stupid amount of brawls, and this one was just another casual one to add to the list.

Shoving the med kit back into the cabinet, Scarlett leaves the bathroom and heads towards Cami's bedroom to retrieve some pyjamas. She walks inside, ignoring the conceding amount of condom boxes piled up by the bed and the slightly disturbing sextons lined up along the drawers. Scarlett shakes her head to keep her from gagging and carefully pulls open a drawer, praying it isn't also filled with sex related products.

Thankfully, it's not and instead there lays a set of cute pyjamas. Both best friends are the exact same size in almost everything, except bras because Camille was more gifted in that area. But when the pair were teenagers sharing cloths and shoes was a regular occurrence for the pair, and as Scarlett slips into Camille's pyjamas she can't help but feel like a teenager once again about to go enjoy a childish movie night.

"Hurry up!" Camille shouts from the living room.

As Scarlett travels down the stairs and around the corner into the living room, she looks at her best friend with a raised brows, "Those things are not to be used as decorations, Cami. I walked into your room and thought it was a fucking sex shop," She drops down onto the couch and slides a blanket over her legs, "And don't even get me started on the seven full boxes of condoms."

Camille laughs, throwing her head back as she places a bowl of popcorn between them, "I've ran out of places to put them, okay? I get them for free from work."

Scarlett sighs, "I really have no clue how you manage to have sex all day at work, then all night at home. Seriously. How does your body cope?"

Camille shrugs with a smile, "Good genes."

Rolling her eyes, Scarlett waves her hand towards the TV screen, "Just put the movie on before I start imagining you and Luke having sex."

. . .

not sure what to think about this chapter

word count,
2847

never ever proof read