Chapter 12 – Freedom of the Road

Wayne Unser sighed as he stared at the vast array of office supplies, hung up and displayed on the shelves before him.

This wasn't his first time he had come to, Charlie's Charming Office Emporium, to buy supplies for the task before him.

Several times when he was still employed for the Charming Police Department – back when it still existed – he had bought the exact same materials that he had come to buy today. In fact, he had made such a purchase so many times that he didn't even need to write down a shopping list.

The older he got, the more he hated making his usual purchase. When he retired, he had hoped that these shopping trips would be behind him.

At the end of the day though, he was cop and would never stop being one until the day he died. So, until the day rolls around when his only use is for him to become food for the worms – he would keep on making these trips.

Kozik was smiling like a child when the large black sign with green lettering, that read, K&A Garage: Custom Motorcycle Building and Automobile Garage came into view.

After several hours, he had finally made it to his destination. He was hyped up on enough sugary energy drinks and greasy fast food, that his indescribable exhaustion didn't even affect him.

It only took about thirty seconds after he had parked his truck in a stall between the garage office and the actual garage, for his brother to appear. Kozik climbed out of his truck and walked towards Nathan. When they met up, they immediately pulled each other into a tight embrace.

"Glad you're here, Manny. It's been way too long," Nathan told Kozik, as slapped his on the back.

"I'm happy to be here, bro," Kozik replied as the two men broke the hug.

"How was your drive?"

"Long, but really relaxing," Kozik bit his lower lip in nervousness. "It actually feels really good to be away from Charming, and the club."

Nathan's heart skipped a beat. Never in a million years would he have thought that he would ever hear Manny say that he enjoyed being away from the MC. Despite his shock; his facial expression remained positive as he replied, "Well, everybody needs time away from the daily grind occasionally."

Manny nodded in agreement, wondering if Nathan knew just how true his remark was.

"You look really beat brother. How about you go back to the house and sack out for a while? Sarah won't be home with the kids until four o'clock." Nathan suggested.

As much as Kozik wanted to visit with his brother, he knew that the second he hit a soft surface, he'd be out like a light. After letting out a disappointed sigh, he agreed, "Alright, but tonight we have a shit load of catching up to do."

"At least!" Nathan chuckled. "You remember how to get there, right?"

"Totally, dude."

"Okay well see you tonight," Nathan said as he pulled his brother into a hug once more.

"Sounds good dude," Kozik replied. He didn't realize how freeing it felt to of Charming, until he saw his brother.

Hopefully once he told Nathan about Allison – the remaining weight hanging off of his shoulders would completely dissipate.

After Wayne made a stop back at this trailer to drop off his office supplies, he reluctantly made his way over to TM. As he geared his pickup truck into park, his nerves started to kick in a little bit. The impending tantrum that Gemma was sure to throw would be at the very least, terrifying.

When he got out of his truck, he quickly scanned the compound with his eyes. He was relieved to see that it was pretty much empty. A few if the hang arounds working at the garage but other than that it was deserted.

He walked across the lot to Gemma's office. He let himself in the open door without so much as a knock.

"I've got what you wanted, Gemma," he announced himself, as Gemma looked up from her computer monitor.

"Is that the gimp's file?" Gemma asked eagerly as she sprung to her feet, and grabbed the brown legal envelope from Wayne's hand.

"If you mean Allison Lowrance, then yes," Wayne replied. He narrowed his eyes at Gemma in confusion and asked, "Gimp?"

As Gemma ripped open the envelope, she explained without even looking up from what she was doing. "Her legs look like she was on the wrong end of a medieval torture device."

Wayne scrunched his eyebrow in confusion, making a mental note of Gemma's statement for later. He then launched into the explanation that he had been rehearsing to himself, before he drove into town see Gemma.

"It looks like most of the information was wiped from her file a few days ago. Most of the charges were cleared except for that one imperfect self defense charge. I asked for more, but I was too late Gemma. I'm sorry," Wayne lied through his teeth.

Gemma gripped the paper until her knuckles were white, and glared at the ex-sheriff in derision. She was trying to read his body language and see if he was lying to her. She was unsuccessful however, as Wayne's stone cold expression didn't falter.

"I can see that. So there really was nothing else in that file. Don't lie to me, Wayne."

"I swear on my Mother's grave," Wayne replied in a rather sardonic way.

"See what else you can dig up on this bitch. All this told me was that she was locked up because she killed somebody, whose name is not even listed!" Gemma demanded.

"I'll see what I can do. But I really don't know why you care so much," Wayne decided to pry.

"You really expect me to let this outsider just move into Juice's house, without me checking into who she is? Juice has been here for years, and has never mentioned this bitch once. Something is fishy, Wayne."

"Right," Wayne nodded, knowing that arguing further would only go nowhere and cause more problems. "I'll see what I can do."

Gemma nodded in agreement and turned back around to her computer.

Wayne took that as his cue to leave, so he made his exit and headed back to his truck.

He was pleased that the interaction had gone just as he had expected it too. Now that he had got one over on Gemma, he could begin dissecting the pages of testimonies, reports, letters of appeal that were included in Allison's file.

When he skimmed it over initially, he wasn't too surprised to find that Allison was a former old lady of a SAMTAC member, and that the marriage ended badly. The one account he read about how Allison had to submit to months of abuse due to "meddling with Mr. Maganoli's business affairs", made him sick to his stomach. Just that one story, combined with his years of experience dealing with gang violence told him that there was way more to the story than what was documented in court. It was his mission to find the missing pieces to the puzzle before anybody else got hurt.

Kozik woke up with a start on his brother's couch to the sound of children giggling and little feet clambering into the front door. He had been out like a light for the past eight hours.

"Uncle Herman!" The two voices of his niece's rung out simultaneously as they charged toward the couch where he was laying.

Just as Kozik has sat up, he was fiercely hugged by his nieces. He couldn't help but to chuckle. He was glad that even though it had been more than a year since he'd visited, that they still remembered who he was.

"Mommy said that you were going to be here, and here you are!" Seven-year-old Bonnie, stated very happily as the trio broke their embrace.

"Uncle Herman, look at what I get to leave out for the Tooth fairy tonight!" Five-year-old Adeline beamed as she produced a small tooth from the back pocket of her pink overalls. "Isn't it cool?"

Before Kozik could have the chance to answer; a serious expression overtook Bonnie's face as she stated, "Gregory in my class, says that the Toothfairy isn't real, but I don't believe him. Me and Adeline always get money when we lose a tooth. What happens when you loose a tooth Uncle Herman?"

"I'm usually flat on a barroom floor, getting the crap punched out of me." Kozik thought immediately. He of course didn't speak his mind, and instead formulated a more child-friendly answer. "It's been a long time since I've lost a tooth sweetie. But I always got visited by the Toothfairy, when I was your age."

"Really?" Adeline blurted out, like the news that Kozik was once five years old too, was the most shocking revelation of the twenty-first century.

"It's the truth," Kozik could help but to chuckle.

"All right girls, you leave Uncle alone and go play. You have one hour before it is time to do homework," Sarah Kozik cut in, before anything else could be said.

"Come on let go play princess Barbie grocery store! I'm going to be the cashier this time!" Bonnie said to her sister before they both ran down hallway to the immediate left.

Kozik and his sister in-law both smiled as they watched the girls disappear into the play room at the end of the hallway. Once they heard the door close, Kozik stood up and pulled Sarah into a friendly embrace. After they broke apart, Kozik ran his hand through his messy blond locks and asked, "Nathan told you I was going to be here, right?"

"Yes he did. I must admit I am surprised though," Sarah said truthfully.

"Yeah well, it was kind of a last minute type thing."

"Hey," Sarah said as she put a comforting hand on his forearm, noting his apparent discomfort, "don't worry about it at all. We are happy to have you here."

"Thanks," Kozik smiled.

"Why don't you have a shower. It'll be a bit yet before Nathan gets home from work. Towels are in the closet, in the bathroom down the hall."

Kozik nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed knowing that must stink after his nap and driving all night long.

He couldn't wait until after supper when he and Nathan could slip away, and he could vent to his big brother about how upside down his life in Charming had become.

Alison stood in her kitchen, as she surveyed her day's work of cleaning up Juice's, living room. She knew that it looked five million times better than the last time Chibs had been over. She had spent all day cleaning up the kitchen, bathroom, and guest room as well.

It was time for her to stop moping around and get her shit together. She started her classes in only a few short days, and she wanted to have her head together beforehand, which meant a clean house.

She remembered Chibs' bachelor comment from the last time he was over, so even if her cleaning job wasn't perfect, it wasn't like she was going to be entertaining the Prince of Whales or some other up tight prick.

Allison was showered, and was actually wearing a pair of jeans, not sweatpants, like she had been for the past week or so.

Her top was a black, flowing, shark tooth hemmed tank top. There was a hint of silver thread weaved in and out of the fabric. Allison wore her hair red hair in messy bun, which complemented her minimal, neutral toned eyeshadow.

All day she had been going over and over again in her mind, about just how much "truth" she was going to tell Chibs. As frightening as the thought of spilling her dirty laundry to a man she had only know for a matter of weeks – she knew that it would be better in the long run to tell Chibs now, rather than the club coming at her once they figured out the truth by themselves.

She could definitely tell that Chibs and Juice were close, so if Juice trusted him – she should as well.

The chiming of the doorbell brought Allison out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath before she walked up to the front door and opened it.

Chibs was leaning against the door frame, with his sunglasses on top of his head, a grin on his face, and a paper covered bottle of some sort of booze in his right hand. He immediately stood up right, and eyed Allison from her feet to her face. Chibs took the liberty of lingering a little bit when taking in her chest.

"Ya look lovely, darling," Chibs couldn't help but to blurt out.

Allison wasn't sure if it was her nerves, or the fact that she hadn't been around a man who was so obviously attracted to her physically in seven years – but she her cheeks growing warm.

"Thanks," Allison said as she stepped aside, and beckoned the Scotsman inside with a wave of her hand."

"Wow," Chibs paused and took in the sight before him, "Ye've been a busy little bee."

"Yeah, I know," Allison chuckled, "I actually cleaned. Believe it or not, I'm not a total slob, Scotty."

Chibs raised an eyebrow at her and smirked, "I never said one wee word."

"Uh huh," Allison replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she turned around and walked towards the kitchen.

Chibs kicked off his boots with his heels, and followed her into the kitchen. If somebody were to ask him, he wouldn't deny that he was more than curious, as well as nervous, about whatever past Allison had invited him over to hear. The only thing he knew for sure was that Kozik's name would be mentioned.

"What's in that brown paper goodie bag of yours?" Allison asked once she reached the kitchen, and turned around to lean on the counter.

"Whiskey. I noticed last time I was here you were quite fond of it." It was now Chibs' turn to bug Allison.

"Whiskey cures all maladies. As a Scottish man, I'd thought you'd know that?"

"Aye," Chibs laughed, "This ain't that Tennessee syrup yer' fond of though. I'm more of an Irish man myself."

"Why the fuss?"

"Because," Chibs' smile slowly disappeared as he continued speaking, "by the tone of your had the other night, I figured that you would need some strong spirits tonight."

Allison looked down at her feet and nodded in silent agreement. She then turned around, opened up the cupboard door in front of her, and picked out two short, glass tumblers.

"Straight or on the rocks?" Chibs asked as he walked to stand beside her.

"Straight, is fine by me."

Chibs nodded and poured them each a fair sized glass. He handed one to Allison as she turned to face him.

They both took a rather large sip of their drinks, each as apprehensive as another about the conversation that was about to take place.

Allison picked up her glass, then sat down at the kitchen table. Chibs followed her lead and sat down on the chair to her right.

Allison took a few moments, and silently but intently studied Chibs' face. All day she had mulled over again and again, whether she should trust him with the truth.

She had gathered that he cared about Juice a lot, because of how he went out of his way to help her and get her the keys to Juice's house. He had had to of stepped on the Queen of SAMCRO toes to do it; another sign that Chibs wanted to help Allison.

Even though she knew that what she was about to tell him was mostly likely going to open up a can of worms, which would most likely have SAMTAC come and pay SAMCRO a visit – she knew she had no choice.

She needed a member of SAMCRO on the outside to know the truth, to relay to the club members on the inside that what Juice's story of their connection was the truth.

Chibs could see the fear in Allison's eyes, as she looked at him. He instinctively put his hand over top of her hand that resting on the table.

"It's alright love, just tell me what you need to."

Allison closed her eyes, and let out a heavy sigh. She had to do this – for her safety and for Juice's. She opened her eyes, and began to tell her tale.

The warmth of Chibs' calloused hand, gave her a feeling of comfort let her secrets slip out of her lips.

"As you know, I knew Juice from many years ago. My ties to the Sons of Anarchy MC are far more complicated than just Juice. My ex-husband was a man by the name of Paul Maganoli. He was a patched member of the Tacoma charter of the Son of Anarchy MC, for fourteen years.

I gave birth to our daughter Briella three months after we got married.

For years, I had my suspicions that Paul was stealing from SAMTAC, and doing business on the side with that money for his family and their affiliates back in Chicago, and New York. I did not interfere and kept my distance from the club expect when necessary, for the safety of my daughter."

Chibs pulled his hand away from Allison's in shock. He looked at her, his slightly dropped jaw and raised eyebrows mirrored the disbelief in his mind. He was about to ask about what she meant by the safety of her daughter, but she beat him to the chase with the answer.

"Paul's Uncle, is one of the heads of the families of the Italian-American mafia. Paul always threatened that if he wanted to, he could take my daughter away from me, as punishment for being a rat wife – he could have done it with one phone call. He liked to use his fists to let me know whenever I started question the game of limbo he was playing between the MC and his family. "

Chibs began to tremble with rage. He knew how crippling the fear can be, of the prospect, of having somebody stealing your family.

Jimmy O'Phelan was the bastard who taught him that lesson.

He bit his tongue though, knowing that if he lost his cool about her bastard ex laying his hands on her – it'll cause Allison to stop talking.

"In 2000, Manny Kozik transferred up to SAMTAC. He bought the house next door to mine. As the years went on, we became good friends and eventually lovers. In 2004, Manny and I put things in motion for me to divorce Paul, and start a fresh life with my daughter.

Manny was finishing up his last bit of club business in Tacoma, before announcing that he was turning in his patch, when the club found out about Paul's side business. Let's just say that shit went sideways in more ways than one.

Two other members of SAMTAC were working with Paul. Before they met the Mayhem, they outed Paul, whom at this point had gone M.I.A for a day and a half. It turned out that he went underground and with the help of his cousin Johnny, and Jimmy Cacuzza – found out where my daughter and I were hiding.

He found the house, broke in drunk and high on speed, then began to savagely beat on my daughter. I grabbed the hot frying pan I was using to cook supper on, and beat Paul until his face was unrecognizable.

In county jail a few days after my arrest, Lee, the SAMTAC President assured me that if I went away quietly, the club would look past how I let Paul, steal from the club for years without saying anything. I told him that I wasn't going to hurt the club, but I wasn't going to go down without a fight either. Lee assured me that I would rot inside for my betrayal.

I didn't know what that meant until it was time for Manny, to testify at my trial. He skipped it however, which meant that the only hope of having a decent chance of winning my freedom was down the drain.

Several appeals later, here I am – free, with only a count of imperfect self defense. Juice helped me win my freedom by providing a good character witness."

Chibs let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in. The cold and calculated way Allison, spoke of such traumatic events told him that she had pushed aside her emotions along time ago. The woman was no stranger to pain and betrayal.

"That explains the other day at TM with Kozik then…" Chibs muttered as the gears in his brain turned. "Now that yer out, I'm afraid that SAMTAC may not be too happy with that."

"I'm not here to cause any trouble Filip. St. Thomas is my only chance, of hanging on to the last shred of my life I had before I went inside. Beside giving birth to my daughter, moving out to California from Queens, to pursue my dream of becoming nurse is the only thing I've done that I am proud of.

Take my story to the table if you want. I'm sure that this will rock the boat a bit but that is okay. I don't give a shit what anybody with a reaper on their back thinks or wants. I did what I had to do back then to keep my family safe…" Allison closed her eyes and visible shuddered.

She knew that her last statement was a total lie. Briella was permanently physically disabled from the attack. It was no doubt that she was probably mentally scarred too, by having seeing her mother beat her father to death like a savage.

"I payed my dues by giving up my daughter, and my credibility as nurse anywhere outside of St. Thomas. I'm nobody's old lady, so I don't answer to the club. Juice is the closest thing I got to family."

Allison really couldn't tell what the Scotsman was thinking as he looked her up and down. She knew that she had just taken a gamble by telling him her story – well the Clipnotes version that is.

"What information did Juicy boy exactly give the court to help you with appeal?"

"None of the information had anything to do with the Sons of Anarchy. Juice knew shit about everything, except that Paul and I had marriage troubles. To this day, he doesn't even know that the man I was going to run away with was Manny… let alone the fact that he was a member of the MC."

"Aye," Chibs sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He ran his fingers through his beard as he thought of how he was going to bring this all to SAMCRO's table tomorrow morning.

"Juice said he was going to explain who I was and how he helped with my appeal to your President, Clay, last time I saw him at Stockton. Judging by your expression he hasn't had the chance yet." Allison said the obvious.

If Clay had become aware of her presence in Charming, shit surely would have hit the fan before the present moment.

Chibs responded with a simple nod.

Life had been simple in Charming as of late. True to the nature of life in a an MC, the blissful simple period had just ended.

He had so many questions for Kozik, once he go back to Charming. Hopefully he could control the rage he currently felt inside, and wouldn't beat the blonde to pile of mulch the next time he saw him.

"If you no longer want to talk to me I understand. I found the key to Juice's gun safe, so if you your piece back you can." Allison said before she downed her whiskey .

Chibs looked at her, and saw the fear in her eyes that she was trying to hard to not to show. He softened his composure and gave her a small smile.

As he wrapped his hands around hers, he firmly swore, "I promised I'll make sure the shit that bastard of an ex-husband and Kozik did ta ya' in the past won't come crashing down. I told Juice, my brother, that I'd look out for you. You wanted a friend, so here I am – I'm not going anywhere, Allison."

"Holy shit dude," Nathan Kozik sighed as he leaned back in the patio chair he was sitting in, upon hearing that Allison, was out of prison.

It was sunset and the two brothers were sitting outside of the deck on Nathan's house.

"I know, I still feel like I've been living in one long nightmare lately…" Manny revealed before he took a swig of his beer.

"Have you talked to her yet?" Nathan asked.

Manny sighed and pointed to the fading cut on his forehead, "We accidently ran into each other. She flipped out bro, and smashed a bottle over my head."

"Shit, Manny…"

Nathan was at a loss of words. He remembered Manny saying that one day there could be a possibility of Allison being freed.

He knew that his brother barely survived when she went inside. Now that she was out, and he had made the effort to come all the way down state to see him – he had to address the elephant in the room.

"Have you used at all since she's been out?" Nathan asked, referring to Manny's drug riddle past.

"No," Manny shook his head. He looked down at his feet, unable to look his brother in the eye as he revealed, "but it's been so damn close. It's been on my mind every damn day." He paused and looked back up to his brother beside him, deliberately making direct eye contact with him. "I'm here because if I stayed in Charming, any longer – I'd be passed out with a needle up my arm by now. I would never bring drugs around Sarah and the girls, you know that."

Nathan nodded and put a hand firmly on his brother's shoulder.

"Your welcome here as long as you want to be here."

Manny nodded, relieved that his brother believed his was sober.

"I love you man," Nathan said and he stood up and gave his younger brother a firm hug.

"Love you too big bro."

A/N:

I was so excited to see that many people were still interested in my little tale.

Apologies for the delay in the update – midterms got the better of my writing time.

Next chapter, Juice finally get to tell Clay about Allison and Chibs brings Allison's story to SAMCRO's table. There's gonna be more brotherly bonding with the Kozik's so stay tuned!

Thank so much for reading. And I want to say thank to everybody who has followed/favorited/reviewed since my last note.

Have a great Valentines day