A/N: don't own don't sue

Lyrics at the beginning are from Learn My Lesson by Daughtry

Set after Season One, before Abel is kidnapped and Gemma is raped and Jax turns into a jerk and the whole club hates each other. Generally back when the show had fun and all the coolest characters were still alive. Because I can, it's called artistic license.

Learn My Lesson

Chapter One

Tonight the sunset means so much
The one thing that you know you'll never touch
Like the feeling, the real thing I reach out for that sweet dream
But somehow the darkness wakes me up
And I've felt this emptiness before
But all the times that I've been broken I still run right back for more
You'd think that I've learned my lesson by now
You'd think that I'd somehow figure out
That if you strike the match
You're bound to feel the flame
You think that I'd learn the cost of love
Paid that price long enough
But still I drive myself right through the pain
Yeah, well it turns out I haven't learned a thing
Sometimes I think I'm better off
To turn out the lights and close up shop
And give up the longing, believing in belonging
Just hold down my head and take the loss
You'd think that I'd learned my lesson by now
You'd think that I'd somehow figure out
That if you strike the match
You're bound to feel the flame
You'd think that I'd learn the cost of love
Paid that price long enough
But still I drive myself right through the pain
Yeah, well it turns out I haven't learned a thing

"And we're protecting this bitch because?" Tig demanded grouchily.

Clay glared at him.

"Because I say so."

"It's a favour for Unser." Jax jumped in before things could get nasty. "She's a witness to some deep shit. He doesn't trust the guys they've put on her."

Tig swore under his breath.

"So we get stuck with babysitting duty? What do we get out of it?"

Clay leaned forwards in his chair, eyeballing his Sergeant-At-Arms until Tig fell quiet.

"Keeping her alive keeps Unser happy keeps him off my back. Chibs gets first watch." He declared, officially dismissing them.

Tig was still grumbling as they filed out of Church. Jax caught up to him and slapped him on the shoulder.

"You won't be saying that when you see her, brother."

"She hot?" Tig asked eagerly.

"You have no idea." Jax called over his shoulder.

Tig paused thoughtfully, then sidled over to where Chibs was receiving last minute instructions from Clay.

"Bring her here tonight then take her to a safehouse. Keep her occupied. Take her to the zoo. Put her to sleep. I don't really give a shit. Just keep her alive and keep Unser from bitching at me."

Chibs nodded, turning as Tig joined them.

"I figured I could help. Four eyes are better than two, right?" He beamed.

Chibs lifted his eyebrows suspiciously. Clay just shook his head and walked away, muttering under his breath.

Chibs pulled up at the station resignedly, sliding off his helmet and pushing his glasses up his forehead. He gave his name to the unpleasantly frowning deputy at the front desk and waited impatiently for Unser to arrive. Babysitting. Jesus Christ. Some teacher, too, probably a fat middle-aged bint with an attitude. He turned at Unser's approach, ready to tear him a new one for making him wait around this dump being eyed by cocky deputies. Instead he found himself face to face with a sexy little redhead in a tiny lacy dress and ridiculously high heels. His first thought was she was a hooker waiting to be processed. Upon closer inspection he figured the dress was too classy and the heels too expensive for her to be a hooker. She was too delicate looking, too. She cocked her head and surveyed him.

"Well either you're my new bodyguard, or you're the stripper-gram I ordered."

Her voice was laced with amusement and he scowled, turning to Unser for an explanation. He bobbed behind the girl nervously.

"Naomi. This is Chibs." Unser introduced and she waved at him lazily over the Sheriff's shoulder. Unser pulled Chibs to one side. "The trial's in three weeks. She's been put here for her own safety until then. She'll be shipped back to the city for the trial." He eyed the Scot seriously for a moment. "Good luck."

Chibs watched him leave and then jerked his head for her to follow him. Her heels clacked loudly as she followed him down the hallway.

"That your everyday wear?" He indicated the clinging red dress with interest as he held the door open for her.

"They picked me up at a bar on my friend's birthday. Didn't even give me time to change." She broke off, whistling appreciatively at the sight of his bike gleaming in the late afternoon sun.

Chibs took the opportunity to give her a thorough onceover. Now he knew why Tig had wanted in so badly. He'd never seen legs that went on for so long. Or eyes that vivid shade of turquoise. Her lips curled as she caught him looking and he lifted his eyebrows unapologetically.

"Looks like I'm going to get a chill."

He eyed her skirt sceptically. She was going to have to hike it up even further just to get one leg on each side of the bike. He climbed on board, waiting for her to get herself arranged. She slid one long slender leg on either side of him, a smooth tender thigh contrasting against each of his dark jeaned thighs. One small delicate hand rested lightly on his hips, warm through his cut, and the other held her heels to one side. He handed her his spare helmet. He could feel every inch of her pressed against him as he started the engine, her breath warm against his neck. One thing was for sure, she was going to cause havoc at the clubhouse.

It wasn't a particularly long trip and Naomi was too tired to really enjoy it, although his broad muscled back was quite interesting. When she clambered down off the bike she was cold but exhilarated, her hair a wild nest all over the place from the helmet and the wind. The Prospect was outside sweeping up the lot and he gawped at them as they approached. She smiled as they passed him, eyeing the interior of the clubhouse curiously. It was dinner time so the place was deserted, everyone scattered in the search of food or visiting neglected families. She tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a yawn. Chibs frowned. No one had mentioned sleeping arrangements. Well, he was nothing if not a gentleman. He led her back to his room. Her bare feet padded lightly on the slightly sticky floor, his jeans were rustling and the sound of Piney coughing gruffly echoed through the eerily quiet clubhouse.

He could sense her behind him, like a live flame and it made his nerves jumpy for some reason.

"Is this your room?" She asked in amazement and he bristled. "It's so tidy!"

He almost blushed, moving into the room to switch on the lamp.

"Take my bed."

She lifted her eyebrows in amusement but didn't comment, crossing the room and throwing herself onto the half-made bed. Her red dress and dark hair were a stark contrast to the pale blue sheets.

"So do I get any new clothes or shall I just sleep naked?"

His lips quirked into a smirk and she grinned at him. Then he sighed, moving over to root through his closet for something vaguely clean. He unearthed a mostly clean black t-shirt with a faded Samcro logo and tossed it at her. She held it up and sniffed experimentally. He glared.

"It smells just like your cut." He didn't know whether to be affronted or not. "I like it."

She dropped her heels onto the floor and climbed up off the bed.

"Do you mind?"

At first he thought she was kicking him out of the room, then he realised she wanted his help unzipping the lacy dress. He tugged off his gloves. He could see the barest hint of ink against her pale skin through the lacy material as he worked the stubborn zip.

"I hope it doesn't always take you this long to get a girl out of her dress."

She sounded amused again.

"Not usually darlin'."

She slipped out of the sleeves, tugged on the t-shirt and jimmied the dress down her legs from underneath the shirt. Chibs swallowed. There was something unbearably sexy about a beautiful woman wearing nothing but your shirt, he mused as she took the pins out of her hair and massaged her scalp with her fingertips. She circled around the room curiously, the t-shirt skimming the very tops of her thighs. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from her long bare legs, her smooth curtain of red locks contrasting with the black shirt. Her hair was tangled and wild from the bike ride over and he had a momentary flash of insight into what she must look like first thing in the morning. After making a short circuit of the room she returned and sat back down on the bed.

"I guess you want to know all the gory details, huh?" She eventually asked.

He looked at her steadily. She looked younger out of the dress, dark circles under her bright eyes, gnawing at her plump lower lip. Unbearably desirable, but young.

"Get some sleep, lass."

She stared at him in surprise.

"Thanks, Chibs." She rolled his name off her tongue curiously and he felt a little curl of heat ripple down his spine.

She heard him slip out of the room and she was grateful for the solitude after days of cops watching her like a hawk. She crawled under the blanket. The pillows smelt the same as the shirt; smoke and leather and something tangy and indefinable. Infinitely exciting. She curled up into a ball, staring at the lamp burning besides her contemplatively. She was bone-achingly tired. She'd been shunted from tiny room to tiny room for days, no contact with the outside world, everybody talking about her over her head like she couldn't hear them. In fact the most interesting thing about her entire week was the ride over here. She burrowed deeper into the pillows. How did this happen? Last year she'd been perfectly content working as a tutor, now she was running for her life. All because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She must have fallen asleep finally because a loud thundering on the door woke her up. She bolted upright but the banging had already stopped and when she managed to drown out her pounding heart, she realised the sounds of a raucous party were echoing around the dorm rooms. She slid out from under the blankets. She could put her dress back on but it didn't smell too ripe nowadays. She dug out a long black sleeveless shirt from one of his drawers and pulled it on. It fell halfway down her thighs, a little bit more decent than the t-shirt which she tucked under the pillow. She ran a comb through her hair and gathered her courage.

The clubhouse was overflowing with bikers and crow eaters and porn stars and she searched unsuccessfully for Chibs. She couldn't see him anywhere and the looks she was getting were alternately frightening and disturbing. She stuck close to the bar, chatting vaguely to Half-Sack as he unloaded the beers into the fridges. He mixed her a drink.

"Okay that, is officially the worst cocktail I've ever tasted." She informed him, swallowing her mouthful with a grimace.

"You can do better?"

"Hell yes. I used to tend bar in college."

He cocked his head.

"Well let's see it then." He held a hand out to her and she lifted herself up onto the bar, swinging her legs over and clambering down the other side.

"You're on."

"Where'd you find that?" Tig asked Chibs, slouching down besides him and sucking back some of his beer.

"That's the witness we're protecting." He muttered, following his gaze to the redhead handing out cocktails at the bar.

"She's cute." Chibs glanced at Tig, the word coming from his mouth seemed almost obscene. "If you like 'em like that."

"You mean one hundred per cent female instead of seventy five per cent?"

Chibs eyed Tig as soon as the words left his mouth, wary of a blow coming his way. Tig looked back at him, then shrugged.

"Don't knock it 'til you've tried it."

Chibs guffawed.

"No thanks, bro. You can have my share of he-shes." Chibs levered up onto his feet, tripped a step when the alcohol surged to his head, and headed over to the bar.

"Hey Chibs!" Half-Sack beckoned him over as he manoeuvred through the wall of crow-eaters trying to manhandle his business. "You gotta try some of these, man. They're insane."

Naomi looked more animated than he'd seen her yet, her cheeks were pink and her hair was curling over her ears with the heat. As he watched she said something to Half-Sack and the two of them laughed.

"Okay, I'm going to see how good you guys really are." She teased, clattering bottles behind the bar as she searched for what she needed.

Chibs could feel the beer swirling uneasily in his stomach as he watched her pouring alcohol into a pitcher.

"What the hell's in that?" He asked queasily as the bottles kept coming.

"Two shots of vodka. Two shots of tequila. Two JD, two rum and-" She rummaged around and pulled out a lemon, slicing it in two and squeezing both halves into the jug. "Lemon juice." She poured out three shots. "It's called a Kick in the Balls. I thought it pretty appropriate." She nudged Half-Sack with an elbow. "Would you like a half-measure?"

Half-Sack looked at Juice sitting next to Chibs and eyeing the shot as though it were poison. They took the shot and Juice nearly toppled over from the impact.

"Jesus!" He cursed, his eyes starting to water. "What the fuck was that?"

Naomi threw her head back laughing, licking a trickle of juice from the back of her hand.

"Can't take the heat boys?" She teased.

Tig and Jax joined them at the bar, thumping Juice on the back. Sprawling across the bar from the impact he noticed Naomi's bare legs with interest.

"You gotta try one of these." He managed to get out.

"Are you sure? Doesn't look like these two could handle them." Naomi indicated Juice and Half-Sack.

"But they're pussies. And we are men." Tig knocked on the bar and she smirked, pouring all of them another shot. "Holy mother of God." He ground out harshly when the liquor burned down his throat.

"Another?" Naomi asked innocently, holding up the jug.

They stared at her.

"I like her." Tig announced, pushing his shot glass back towards her. "She's got balls."

"Well that's one more than Kip here." Naomi giggled, sharing out the last of the cocktail between them.

"Hey! I'll have you know my little guy is more than adequate." Half-Sack argued.

"Little huh?" Naomi lifted her eyebrows at him and Chibs snorted in amusement.

"If you need me to prove it-"

They drowned him out with protestations. Chibs climbed up onto a stool before he fell over. Everything was starting to get a little hazy, he focused on Naomi. He'd thought her a little uptight and stand-offish at the station but now that she'd relaxed a little he was re-assessing. She was pretty. Not the pornstar plastic pretty you get used to when you're dealing with crow-eaters, a more wholesome pretty. He squinted at her. She even had freckles.

"Got any more of these, darlin'?" Jax wiggled the shot glass.

"How about a Panty Dropper?" She asked innocently, blinking her big turquoise cat eyes at him.

"Fuck I like this girl." Tig hollered, slapping the bar top.

Chibs watched hazily as she poured more and more alcohol into the mixer. By the time they reached their sixth cocktail, Half-Sack had passed out and Juice had given up. Chibs was watching her drink Tig and Jax under the table. The girl looked sweet and young and innocent, but fuck if she couldn't drink! She barely looked drunk at all and Tig was swaying like a tree in a hurricane. Eventually Jax wandered off and Tig admitted defeat. He kissed her hand and stumbled off.

"Here."

Chibs blinked blurrily, afraid to lift his head in case it fell off. He eyed the glass of water sitting in front of him, contemplating the effort it would take to lift his hand.

"It'll help."

She moved down the bar a little closer to him, stepping over Half-Sack's snoring form. Now that she was closer he could see the signs of alcohol, her cheeks were burning and her eyes were glittering.

"Where's the door?" She leaned closer to ask over the pounding music and he could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks.

He got unsteadily to his feet. She pulled herself up onto the bar, almost tumbling over the side until she steadied herself. He led her towards the door, bouncing off Sons and crow-eaters alike. It seemed an interminably long time before they reached the cold sharp slap of fresh air. Naomi wobbled slightly as she moved away from the door and sat on one of the picnic tables. He hauled himself up on the table besides her. She tied her long hair in a knot off her neck. Chibs tried not to notice her long slender neck and the curve of her chest. Her long legs were bright in the moonlight, her pale skin luminous.

"Here." He felt something nudge his hand. She'd grabbed two bottles of water on her way out.

He managed to unscrew it after several clumsy attempts and a string of muttered obscenities. He gulped it down gratefully. She sipped hers more slowly.

"You can take your liquor." He said after a few moments of tense silence.

"I used to tend bar in college. You wouldn't believe how much free alcohol you get if you wear a low cut top."

He laughed, immediately regretting it when his head started to pound.

"So. Chibs. That's an, err… interesting name."

He glanced at her. She wasn't looking at him, she was looking up at the sky.

"Naomi, huh?" He shot back.

"Hippy parents."

A half-smile flickered over her mouth, drawing his attention to a drop of water beading there from the bottle. They lapsed into silence again.

"What'd you do at college?"

She gave a little start, as if she'd forgotten he was there, and turned to look at him. He found it slightly disconcerting to have those strange coloured eyes fixed on him so intently.

"Languages."

He stared at her, gaze flickering down to her mouth again. He frowned. He offered her a cigarette and after a moment, she took it. He put his own to his lips, flicking his lighter and trying to aim at least one of the three burning red dots towards the end of it. After the fifth time he missed and nearly took off an eyebrow, she took it from him. She leaned in towards him and a thin ribbon of silken hair slipped from behind her ear and fluttered over his cheek. She shoved it back irritably, the knuckles of her hand brushing his cheek. Her brow was furrowed as she concentrated and he could smell a fading citrusy perfume and apple scented shampoo. She cursed as the flame flickered out, snapping the lighter open and closed until it caught again. He could see the freckles on her nose and the little silver stars in her ears. She was very close.

She grunted in triumph as she finally managed to light it and he drew in a breath automatically. When the smoke cleared she was puffing on her own. She tucked his lighter into the pocket of his cut. Her hand was cold against the sensitive skin of his belly through the inside of his cut and he watched her tuck it between her thighs to keep warm. Sitting down the shirt rode right up her thighs and he hurriedly averted his eyes.

"So what's with the protection detail?"

She blinked at him in amusement, dragging on her smoke thoughtfully. The red glow caught in her hair and made it glimmer red and gold.

"I was sleeping with my boss. Who turned out to be screwing any intern, secretary and barely legal sandwich girl he could get it in within a five mile radius. I was handing in my notice a block away from a drive-by."

Chibs frowned enquiringly and she grinned.

"I told him exactly what I thought of him and exactly what he could do with his job and his small dick by scratching it into his brand new car with the keys to his apartment."

Chibs choked on his lungful of smoke, struggling to laugh and breathe at the same time.

"What kind of car?" He asked curiously.

"Acura. Fucking ugly thing too, he always did have shit taste."

Chibs eyed her approvingly. She'd fit right in around here. She sighed suddenly, finishing her smoke and flicking the butt into the darkness of the yard.

"So why exactly does a Sheriff hand over a witness to be protected by a bunch of bikers?"

He mulled it over in silence. Telling her about their understanding with Unser would put all of them in the shit if she blabbed. She didn't seem to expect him to reply anyway, she'd tilted her head back to peer up at the stars broodingly. He could see the line of her jaw and the slope of her nose. She wasn't classically beautiful; her eyes were too unusual, her mouth was a little too plump and her nose too snub. But she was still the most attractive woman he'd ever met.

"Hey Chibs!" They turned back to the clubhouse. The door had been shoved open throwing a bright square of light across the lot. "You getting your dick serviced or what?"

Naomi laughed as Chibs swore, leaping down from the table and hollering a stream of obscenities at Tig. Chibs took her hand and helped her down from the table. She winced when her bare feet hit the cold pavement.

"You shouldn't be out here anyway." He said disapprovingly, casting a glance around the dark lot.

"You think they know where I am?" She asked sceptically, following his gaze.

She shivered, taking a minute step towards him. She didn't seemed to realise she'd done it but he could feel her body heat seeping through his cut from her close proximity. She was frowning, staring intently at the closed gates leading out to the street. She didn't look afraid, more resigned and he shivered.

"Come on, I think I'm sobering up."

"God forbid." She smiled, letting him lead her back into the clubhouse.

"You don't look like you're having much fun."

Naomi jumped, flushing embarrassedly. Half-Sack handed her a beer, sliding in besides her on the bench.

"Sorry."

Naomi slugged back some beer, peering across the room vacantly. Almost every other girl in the building was wrapped around a man, most of them minus at least one item of clothing.

"Why you hiding down here in the corner?"

Naomi fidgeted with her beer bottle. She didn't really want to tell him that this seemed the safest place to keep groping hands off her body. Chibs was being chatted up by a bottle-blonde in the corner and after standing there awkwardly for twenty minutes, Naomi had sought refuge in a quieter corner. She drank some more beer.

"So you're testifying, huh?"

Naomi nodded.

"Yeah, I guess."

"And you ended up in Charming?" Half-Sack lifted his eyebrows and she laughed.

"Not exactly. They figured I wouldn't get caught and executed out here."

"Come on, it's not that bad!" Half-Sack protested over the pounding music. "And you've been invited to the only party worth going to! Do you know how many people would kill to be here?"

She grinned.

"Uh yeah. Judging from what those girls are doing to stay here, I think I can guess."

She indicated the two topless strippers writhing on Happy's lap a few tables away.

"Come on, let's dance." Half-Sack said suddenly, taking her beer from her.

She goggled at him as he leapt to his feet. He was peering at her with big blue puppy-dog eyes.

"Dance?" She repeated as if she'd never heard the word before.

"What's the matter, don't you think I can dance?"

He hopped from one foot to the other and she laughed.

"I don't know if I want to take that risk."

He pulled his face and grabbed her hand, yanking her to feet. It was pretty hard to dance to the loud rock music pounding loudly enough to shake the furniture, but Half-Sack was just as terrible a dancer as she'd expected and it wasn't long before they collapsed into fits of giggles. Staggering across the sticky floor towards the bar, Naomi cannoned off someone's back and would have flattened a table had Half-Sack not caught her. She apologised profusely, squinting rather hazily at the wavery blonde figure glowering at her.

"What's your problem?"

Naomi tried to focus but the floor kept shifting beneath her. Figures were moving and flickering around her. She felt someone take her elbow, the lights and noise were receding slightly and she breathed a little easier. She took a few breaths and her vision started to clear. She was being led down a darkened hallway. A dark haired girl and a Son were ensconced in a dark corner. By concentrating, very hard, she could just make out the Reaper wavering just in front of her and she followed that.

"Here." Chibs propped her up against the wall besides a door.

She felt a little more clear-headed away from the heat and press of bodies. She watched him fumble in his pockets, looking for a key judging from the drunken mumblings. Another Son staggered down the hallway. Leaning to the side to get out of his way, she rocked into Chibs and they hit the door with a thump.

"Ow."

His mouth hitched in a half smile. His pupils were so big she could hardly see any of the irises. His cheeks were flushed and she could see his pulse beating mere inches away from her nose. She reared backwards to put some distance between them, leaning on the door handle. It twisted under her palm and sprang open, almost depositing them in a pile on the floor.

"You can take my bed." Chibs slurred, his brow furrowing as he tried to focus on her blurry flushed face.

He gave her a light push and she stepped into the room. Chibs grabbed the discarded shirts strewn across an armchair and dumped them on the floor, tripping over a pair of boots and swore loudly. Naomi opened the window a little to allow a breeze into the stuffy room.

"Sheets are clean. Honest."

Naomi grinned, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Thanks."

He wrinkled his brow in drunken confusion.

"What for?"

She shrugged.

"Being a gentleman and not pawing me."

"Well I'm gonna sit here for a minute." He muttered, slouching down into a worn patched old armchair behind the closed door.

His head fell against the wall, his eyes sliding closed and she grinned, lying back down on the bed.

"I think I'm dead."

Bobby cracked open an eye as Half-Sack staggered out from behind the bar holding his head as if it were a bowl of water he was afraid of spilling. Bobby shoved the crow eater off him and she flopped onto the worn sofa. He surveyed the damage fondly. Jax emerged from the hallway leading to the dorm rooms, pulling on a shirt. He stepped over Tig who was sprawled face down on the ground, tangled up with a stripper. He was followed after a moment by Happy and a crow eater.

"What day is it?" She groaned, leaning against the wall.

"Sunday." Bobby offered helpfully.

"Is that it?" She asked in surprise. "That was one hell of a long night."

"Nah. It only felt that way." Happy winked, then looked around the room. "Where's Chibs?"

"He disappeared after that girl drank him under the table." Opie muttered, scrubbing his hands over his face tiredly.

Tig muttered something and they looked at him.

"I said, that girl is fucking insane."

Jax lifted his eyebrows. Tig calling someone insane was sort of the pot calling the kettle black.

"I think he means insane in a good way." Half-Sack suggested, gathering the shot glasses spread across the bar into a bowl.

Tig grunted.

"Naomi!" The crow eater greeted as the redhead herself appeared behind Jax.

"Have you seen Chibs?" He asked her knowingly, quite unable to hide his smirk.

"Yeah. He said he was going to make sure no one bothered me. I didn't realise he meant passing out and using his dead weight as a makeshift door-blocker."

Bobby snorted in amusement and vanished into the depths of the clubhouse to retrieve him.

"Well I'm glad you don't work for anyone who doesn't like us." Jax observed, smirking as Naomi cocked her head inquisitively. "You managed to lay out at least three guys with nothing but a few cocktails."

She laughed and the crow eater groaned. Naomi made her way to the bar to get her some water.

"So you didn't?" She whispered pointedly when she returned.

"No. I'm guessing you did."

Naomi cast a bright green eye over Happy's shirt. The stripper grinned.

"Oh yeah."

Bobby returned practically carrying Juice who couldn't seem to control his limbs on his own, with Chibs trailing behind them.

"Those must have been some drinks, girly." Chibs growled as he helped haul Juice onto the sofa besides Bobby, almost squashing the crow eater who moaned in sleepy protest.

"Not really, these guys are lightweights."

Tig muttered something into the floor and Naomi grinned.

"Why aren't you suffering?" Tig croaked indignantly.

"Because I re-hydrated. Like I told you to do last night."

Noami turned to Juice as he finally started to stir. He turned big brown eyes plaintively on her and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Juice!" Silence descended as they waited for the owner of the voice to appear. "Juice, I need you to-"

Clay stomped into the room, eyeing his Sergeant-At-Arms kissing concrete and several others looking rather worse for wear.

"I need you to do some research for me."

Juice saluted a little weakly and got shakily to his feet. He swayed and Naomi steadied him. He grinned gratefully, limping over to Clay and following him into the office. They dispersed, heading in search of food or showers or beds. Naomi hung around, unsure what she should do. Eventually Jax found her.

"I don't think you should leave the clubhouse. Just hang around and if you want anything-" He indicated Half-Sack. "Just tell the Prospect."

"Thanks."

He winked and headed out to the garage. Not really knowing what else to do, she headed back to Chibs's room to take a shower. When she re-emerged she rummaged through Chibs's closet for something else to wear. She really was going to have to buy some clothes soon. None of his jeans came anywhere near her. She did find a pair of black sweat pants which fit a little better and looked like they'd never actually been worn. She slipped them on and pulled on a white wifebeater, tying it in a knot around her waist. She looked presentable enough although she couldn't find any shoes so she had to settle for bare feet again.

"Do you need any help?" She asked Half-Sack, although she was surprised at how far he'd managed to get tidying up. She must have been in the shower for longer than she'd thought. "Well at least give me something to do." She pleaded when he shook his head.

He held his hands out apologetically and she sighed. Most of them were working in the garage so she retreated back to the dorm room. It really was remarkably tidy. She found a bookshelf mounted on the wall. Not much really, a few manuals and tattered porn mags. She sighed, flopping down onto the bed and staring at the ceiling.

Chibs and Tig dropped in on Clay around dinnertime to fill him in on the details of the hand-off they'd just made. After they were done they wandered into the bar and Chibs surveyed the clubhouse. Piney was sitting at the bar chatting to the Prospect and Juice was tapping away at the computer. He frowned.

"Hey 'Sack!" He barked and Half-Sack nearly dropped the bottle in his hand. "Where is she?"

Half-Sack looked confused for a moment, then relief coloured his features and he grinned.

"Still in your room, I think."

"You think?" Chibs snapped. "You didn't check on her?"

"I took her some food at lunchtime but she was asleep." The Prospect stammered.

Chibs barged through to the dorm rooms, thrusting open his door with little ceremony. She stared at him in amazement, sprawled across his bed flicking through a Harley magazine. Her hair was tied up exposing her long slender neck. He could see right down her vest and it took him a moment to remember why he was there.

"Good. I'm starving." She announced, sliding off the bed. He did a double take when he realised she was wearing his clothes. "And I'm bored."

"The Prospect can get you some food." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and her face fell.

"I can't even go for a burger?"

He shook his head sympathetically and she sank back down onto the edge of the bed looking crestfallen.

"I'm serious, Chibs. I'm going stir-crazy." She pleaded.

"I'm sorry, lass. It's for your own good." She pouted and he returned to the bar to send Half-Sack for burgers.

"So am I staying here until the trial?" She asked when he returned with her food, sitting cross-legged on his bed.

"We can set you up in a motel."

She paused, a sachet of ketchup held to her mouth.

"I'd rather stay here."

He looked at her contemplatively.

"I can find somewhere else to sleep if you want your own bed back."

He laughed, scratching a hand over his chin.

"It's not that, sweetheart. It's for your own safety."

"And I'd be safer… on my own… in a motel… where anyone could find me?"

"You won't be alone. One of us will be with you."

She chewed her burger slowly, peering at him as if she could see right through him. He fidgeted.

"And is just one of you more likely to keep me safe than all of you?"

He could hardly argue with her logic. She licked a stray glob of ketchup from finger and he swallowed. He promised to talk to Clay about it, beating a hasty retreat out of the room before he did something he'd regret.