After Harley spoke with Nora, she went back out to the main room where Lyla, Tara, and Gemma were all standing by one of the tables talking. Isabelle was with her mother for the day and since most of the guys were gone, there was only a few prospects hanging around as well as Bobby and Tig. Tig and Koz weren’t allowed to go on the same runs since they were at eachothers throats all the time. As Harley walked up to the women they all looked at her expectantly. They knew she had gone back there to talk to Nora, they just hopped it didn’t end in more fighting. The last thing anyone needed was an internal beef between the women.
“Well?” Gemma asked looking down at the younger woman. “Is little miss sunshine coming out?” she crossed her arms over her chest and popped her hip to the side as she stood.
Harley couldn’t help but let out a small laugh and nodded, leaning back against the table looking up at the others. “Yeah, we had a little heart to heart. Something made her think I was after Kozik but mostly she just felt like an outsider..”
“Well she did that all by herself. She secluded herself from the beginning” Gemma piped up again.
Putting a hand up to cut her off, Harley nodded “as true as that may be we didn’t exactly roll out a welcoming committee, but I did explain that there was a lot going on right now and she needed to pull her shit together. I guess Koz didn’t tell her anything about the club. ”
Lyla and Tara nodded in understanding. It wasn’t like Jax and Opie were open with them about the whole thing. Gemma just pursed her lips looking ready to say something so Harley spoke again, standing up straighter in front of Gemma with her arms crossed over her chest. “Look, this is scary for her and we need to bring her in and help her. If she’s going to be Kozik’s Old Lady, she’s going to need to know how to act. A weak old lady can ruin this club and that’s the last thing we’re going to let happen.” Tara and Lyla sat back watching Harley and Gemma talk. These women were the heart of this club. Seeing them talk so carefully about who to let in and how it would affect the club, always amazed them. Just like the SONS, Gemma and Harley’s decisions were always in the best interest of the MC.
Harley finally spoke up again after allowing Gemma to go over the idea. ”She did apologize to me and I accepted that. I think you guys should too. If they’re serious, then that makes her family and we protect our family.”
As the women thought it over, Harley bit the inside of her cheek. She never thought she’d see the day she’d be pleading the case of another woman in Kozik’s life. She always thought they’d end up happily ever after with two kids and a white picket fence. Unfortunately she got rid of those thoughts the moment she saw him in bed with someone else. She had to admit, Nora was a good girl. They were completely different, Nora was more timid where Harley was fierce, but she loved Kozik and for some reason that put her at ease. Knowing he was cared for put a small smile on her face.
The sight of Nora coming down the hallway caught everyone attention. She had showered and put on fresh clothes, fixed herself up a little. Harley smiled seeing the girl nervously walk over to them. “Can I..” She looked around at the serious faces of the women, even Tig and Bobby had her attention. She took a deep breath and straightened up, remembering what Harley said about weakness. “ I just want to come out and apologize to you guys for the way I’ve been acting. I know I’ve been kept to myself and came off rude when you have tried to reach out to me. I guess it’s because Kozik never introduced me to his family back in Tacoma, and seeing the sense of familiarity with you guys threw me off. I wasn’t sure how to react and I guess I was scared he’d see I didn’t fit in and he’d leave me. When I saw him with Harley and the baby yesterday, I guess it struck a nerve because I thought he’d never pick me over her.” She looked down towards the floor only to catch Harley’s eyes on her, nodding for her to continue. “Harley made me realize that it’s not a competition though. And I love how much of a family everyone here is. If you’re willing to give me another chance, I’d really like to be a part of that.”
Everyone held their breath looking between Gemma and the fidgeting woman standing in front of them. Gemma was Queen. It was up to her if she got another chance. She eyed the woman suspiciously. She knew Nora was a good girl but she knew she didn’t have what it took to be a good old lady to a SON. But seeing Harley vouch for her made the decision easier. Just because she might not make it as an old lady doesn’t mean she couldn’t be good for the family. Gemma approached the younger woman slowly and wrapped her arms around her into a tight hug. “Welcome to the family baby.” she said as she rubbed her back.
Lyla and Tara followed the hug as Bobby patted her back with a smile. Tig couldn’t be bothered by any of this so he took Bobby back with him to the bar. Harley stood and hugged her tightly as Nora whispered a thank you in her ear. “You’ve got a lot to learn, doll, but we’re all here for you”
A few hours passed and the women were hanging around and talking, telling funny stories, getting to know one another. Nora was really beginning to feel like one of them. She didn’t have many friends back home. Only a sister down in New Mexico. Having actual girlfriends to spend time with was different.
The sound of bikes pulling up to the lot them know the boys were home. As Nora, Lyla, and Tara stood to greet their men, the doors flew open with Tig in front to clear the way. Someone was hurt. Everyone knew it and they all froze the to see who it was.
“Harley!” Jax and Clay yelled out as Jax and Chibs carried in a wounded Kozik over their shoulders. Out of instinct Harley immediately ran to the storage room to grab a first aid kit before rushing back to redwood table where a barely conscious Kozik was laying.
Nora stood frozen. Her hands covered her mouth which hung open from shock. She could see people moving quickly around her but she had no idea how to react. Opie and Tara headed out the door in a rush, Lyla and Gemma ran to the bar, Harley and the guys were in the Chapel with Kozik lying back. All she could hear was screaming but she couldn’t make out the words being said. It was like she was out of her body watching everything happen but she couldn’t seem to move her legs.
The men sat Kozik up as best they could, removing his cut and and shredded hoodie. Harley placed both hands on his cheeks to hold his head steady as her eyes scanned him from head to toe. He had scrapes all over his face, clear burns and scrapes down his right arm and right side of his back, a bullet wound on his left side and another had grazed his shoulder. Tara and Opie had gone to Tara’s house to grab her medical bag while Lyla and Gemma ran to get some wet towels and liquor from the bar. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a wide eyed Nora just standing in the middle of the main room staring through the doors still in shock.
Chibs removed Kozik’s shirt and the man yelled out in pain. From the black bruising on his side, he must have had an injured a rib. Lyla came in with a bottle of Jack and handed it to Kozik who took a large swig while Gemma brought in wet cloths and handed them to Harley who immediately started cleaning off the wounds. Harley worked diligently to clean off the cuts while Chibs was working on trying to get the bullet out of his side.
“Shh, you’ll be okay baby. Just a little bit of pain and you’ll be up in no time.” Harley had begun whispering comfortingly to him. “It’s alright sweetheart, we’re all here for you, you’re going to be just fine. I’m here. I got you. You’ll be alright.” He grabbed one of her hands squeezing it tightly trying to focus on her words rather than the pain of Chibs digging into his side. “I’m here babe, you’re alright.” Her body was working on pure instinct: the words she was saying, the way her voice softened as she sang quietly to him, the way her hands were moving along his body, just like they had done numerous times before. She looked up at him before turning her attention to Gemma, “Go get Nora, she needs to be here for this.”
Gemma walked over to Nora who was still watching the scene like it was happening in a movie. Placing a hand on the girls shoulder, Nora jumped before looking up at Gemma. “Go on baby, he needs you right now. Go be there with your man.” Gemma nodded her head towards the door while Nora shook her head vigorously.
Hearing his screams only made her stomach churn. “Gemma I can’t go in there, I have no idea what I’m doing. Look! Harley’s got it all taken care of she knows what to do! I can’t go and do what she’s doing! I wouldn’t know where to start”
Gemma just shook her head rubbing the girls back softly. “Look baby, Harley’s done this for him thousands of times, that girl is working out of pure reflex on his injuries. Nobody’s telling you to go clean him up, but you’re his woman. Go in there. Hold his hand. Comfort him and watch what Harley’s doing. You’re going to be part of this club, you’re going to have to learn.”
Nora nodded hesitantly as Gemma lead her into the room. Seeing him up close only made her freak out more. “Oh my god! Baby! Herman! Who did this to you! We have to get you to the hospital! Call the police! This is not okay! Are you going to be okay!?”
“NORA!” Harley shouted silencing the whole room including Kozik who was wincing in pain. Nora froze instantly. She’d never heard Harley yell, even when she threaten her she spoke in a deathly calm voice. This side of her only scared her more. Nora just stared at Harley who continued cleaning his burns, her eyes locked onto Nora who had tears streaming down her face.
“Now is not the time for this shit! Pull yourself together. Hold his hand and just talk to him. Keep him conscious. He needs you now, you can cry later.” Harley spoke calmly again and Nora just nodded before sitting up on the table grasping Kozik’s hand tightly, letting him squeeze her when he felt pain.
Shortly after, Tara was able to give him a shot to calm his pain while she worked on removing the bullets and stitching him up. Nora was tucked against him as much as she could with his wounds, with Harley was working on bandaging the scrapes and burns.
While Nora was staring down at his hand in hers, Kozik’s eyes were on Harley. The sound of her voice as she continued to hum soothingly to him. How she moved with such familiarity around his body. How she commanded the entire room of people around in order for him to be relaxed and comfortable. How she touched him with such care. He missed her touch. Each time her fingers pressed against his skin he could feel the electricity through his body.
Once he was all patched up, Juice and Tig lifted him up bringing him towards his dorm room while Nora followed. With the help of Juice, she was able to get him into a fresh pair of clothes and tucked into bed, asleep from the pain meds Tara had provided.
Harley and Gemma sat at the bar while Lyla and Tara cleaned up the mess at the table. As Harley downed her whiskey, Gemma just watched her intently. “ He’ll be alright baby. You did good back there.” she asked noticing the blondes tired body.
Harley let out a low chuckle. “Yeah. It was weird patching him up again. I don’t know what happened Gem. All of a sudden, I hear my name, see him hurt. It brought back so many memories. It was like my body was moving without me even acknowledging it. Like my mind just kicked into overdrive and I had to make him better.” She lowered her head again, as Half Sack refilled her cup. She took a smaller sip this time, her eyes focused on the drink in her hands while Gemma watched her.
The older woman nodded. “That was your old man for 7 years Harley. He’s the father to your kid. You did what a good old lady would and took care of business. I know it must have taken a toll on you, but you two have so much history, you couldn’t not be the one to do it. Even you just being in that room made his whole demeanor relax. You know that man inside and out baby. He needed you and you went to him. No questions asked.”
Harley sighed reliving the same scene from so many different times during their relationship. Hearing Jax call her name and her rushing to help. She closed her eyes and finished the rest of her drink as Nora slowly approached the two. “We have to call the police. We need to find who did this to him” her voice full of concern as she looked up at the two women whose faces turned deadly serious.
“Look, I don’t know what Kozik’s told you about this club. But around here we handle our own. We don’t call the cops, we don’t speak to the cops, and we don’t open our mouths about anything that happens within this club. Got it?” Gemma’s cold tone went right through Nora as she nodded. “If they ask you to answer any questions, you simply say you don’t know nothin’. That should be simple enough for you seeing as you don’t. Because if anyone finds out you’re a rat. Not even Kozik would save you. Understood?”
Nora bit her lip hard to keep from crying and nodded quickly. “Good. The older woman spoke again. “Now have yourself a drink, and get back to Kozik, he’s going to need you. Harley’s spending the night in one of the dorms in case you need any help.”
Gemma and Clay headed out to go home as well as a majority of the guys. Harley, who was seated next to Nora, just looked over at her and smiled while she got off the stool. “You did good today, babe. Whether you think so or not, he needed you there for comfort. Don’t worry about the rest. There’s a time to freak out and a time to pull yourself together, but you’ll learn. Stop bringing up the police though, its bound to get you into shit you can’t get out of”
Nora nodded slowly as Harley kissed her temple before heading into one of the dorms. Her small figure looked so spent, like all her energy was drained from her.
All Nora could do was wonder how many times she’d had to do this. To fix him up. Nora had never seen him in that condition. Maybe that’s what he was going through when he wouldn’t come home for a few weeks at a time saying he was away for club business. What was he involved in?! It clearly wasn’t legal if calling the cops would get her in trouble. She was sure they meant killed, though nobody said the word aloud.