💘( Mending the King! )✨

FIVE

[ Caregiver ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" He's like a dog—ignore him and he usually goes away. "

~ ALU ORTIZ

☆《》¤

ALU'S OUTFIT

ALU SWUNG THE DOOR TO HER SHARED APARTMENT OPEN, ushering Jax, Chibs, and Happy inside. The place was modest yet cosy, with evidence of shared living scattered about: framed photos, stacks of books, and mismatched furniture that gave it a comfortable charm. Alu led them toward the breakfast bar, where Juice was already stationed, fingers tapping rapidly on his laptop. His setup was mirrored by hers, cables snaking across the counter like veins.

"Come on in," Alu said, motioning them over, before nodding to the kitchen where Kimchee stood. He was dressed sharply in a polished suit, the image of professionalism, slicing into a loaf of bread as he prepared a sandwich for work. His briefcase rested on the counter, an unexpected contrast in a room now filled with leather cuts and hardened faces. 

"This is my roommate, Kimchee. He's like a dog—ignore him and he usually goes away," Alu quipped, smirking at Juice, who snorted in amusement. Memories of teenage years spent in their childhood home flashed between them, where Kimchee was as much a fixture as the worn leather couch.

Kimchee, unimpressed, lifted his eyes to meet hers, "Let me remind you, I'm letting you live here rent-free," he said, voice dry and pointed.

Alu grabbed a water from the fridge, leaning back against the counter beside him, "Oh, don't get all sensitive on me now." 

Kimchee's gaze shifted to the men standing behind the breakfast bar, taking in their cuts and assessing them with a lawyer's sharpness. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the counter as he observed them, "So, what is a motorcycle club anyway?" His question was as direct as his profession.

Chibs' eyes glinted with mischief, "Like a book club but for motorcycles." 

Kimchee scoffed, not buying it, "Oh, please. I'm a lawyer—I lie for a living. If you're gonna lie to me, baby, at least make it believable." 

A hint of a smirk tugged at Jax's lips, the glimmer of a challenge sparking between them, "We're just a group of guys who ride together." 

Kimchee raised an eyebrow, his expression practically begging for honesty. Juice, still focused on the laptop, let out a low chuckle.

Jax sighed, meeting Kimchee's gaze with sincerity, "It's a bond, a brotherhood. We have each other's backs, no matter what. It's not just about loyalty—it's about family. And when you're in, you're in for life. We don't leave our own behind." 

Kimchee's brow arched higher as he responded without missing a beat, "Ha, sounds like a cult." 

Alu, in the middle of taking a sip of water, choked at his comment. She spluttered, quickly recovering as she reached out to smack the back of Kimchee's head, "Kimchee! Do you want to die?" 

"Ow!" he complained, rubbing the spot with a scowl. "What? It wasn't meant as disrespect," he said, now glancing at the group with a mischievous smirk. "Just saying, if the rest of the club looks like these guys, I'd totally sell my soul to the devil." 

Alu's eyes narrowed as she groaned, "Kimchee! Don't you have work to get to?" 

Kimchee waved a hand, leaning more comfortably on the counter, "No, this is so much more fun." His eyes gleamed as he rested his chin on his hands, thoroughly enjoying the eye candy in front of him.

Alu sighed, turning apologetically to the men, "Sorry about him. He's been a little unhinged since his boyfriend, Jung, dumped his ass." 

"He didn't dump me," Kimchee protested, his voice defensive. "We're on a break."

Juice's laughter erupted, though he quickly ducked his head under Kimchee's glare.

"Yeah, a break," Alu muttered. "So, he can run around fucking bi-curious college kids."

Kimchee gasped, hand clutching his chest in mock offense, "Have I ever told you you're a bitch?"

"Yeah, this morning when I took too long in the shower," Alu said, a smirk forming.

"Oh, good. Here it is again: you're a bitch," he announced, grabbing his briefcase and turning to the group. "But, if you boys ever find yourselves in need of a lawyer, you know where to find me." He handed Jax his card with a wink, before heading for the door.

"Bye!" Alu called out, waving mockingly.

Kimchee paused at the door, turning with a grin, "Have your shit gone before I get back!" He stepped out, closing the door behind him. The tone was playful, their banter like that of siblings who knew each other's boundaries and pushed them willingly.

Alu shook her head, exasperated, "So sensitive," she muttered, turning back to the men, who all exchanged amused looks.

***

Alu's fingers flew across the keys of her laptop as she navigated through various records and databases. The soft glow of the screen lit up her focused expression. Around her, Jax, Chibs, and Happy leaned in, eyes scanning the information as it appeared. Juice, still at his own laptop, glanced over occasionally, nodding to himself when Alu's search pulled up a result.

"I got a hit for a Timothy O'Dell," she announced, breaking the silence. "Arbutus Lodge, Vancouver. Four days ago. Only stayed one night." 

Jax straightened his posture, hope sparking in his eyes, "Then what?"

Juice shook his head, the corners of his mouth tight, "Nothing after that," he muttered. The frustration was palpable in the room.

"Could he have gone on a plane?" Chibs asked, arms crossed over his chest as he processed the information.

"Not under that name," Juice replied. His tone was confident; they'd checked every flight database they could access.

Alu leaned back in her chair, "If it were me, I'd pick up another I.D. Keep the trail cold." And that's, exactly what she had been doing for the past six years, keeping a low profile, only using fake I.Ds. Her closest friends and family—in extension the club—were the only ones who knew who she really was—the people she trusted most. Anyone new she met always got a fake name. 

Jax's jaw clenched as he nodded, "Check into the port authority records, see if he registered another boat." 

A momentary pause hung between them, Alu's fingers hovering over the keys, before she sighed, the tension in her shoulders evident, "I can't," she said, looking up at Jax with an apologetic frown. "Limited access. Hunting bounties is an American privilege. I got no rights in Canada. I'm sorry, Jax."

"Shit," Jax muttered, running a hand through his hair as frustration boiled under the surface.

Happy, whose eyes were as sharp as his words, rasped out, "What do you do if you want to find somebody north of the border?" 

A mischievous glint flashed in Alu's eyes as a small, proud smile spread across her face, "Mercenaries, man. I got a great guy. No questions asked. First-rate tracker. Needs cash wired to him before he'll start looking, though. Ten grand a head." 

Jax didn't hesitate, "Do it."

Without another word, Alu leaned forward, the weight of their search pressing down on all of them as she prepared to set things in motion. The room crackled with a sense of urgency, every second ticking away as they pursued the faintest lead to bring Abel home.

***

The low rumble of a motorbike announced Alu's arrival before she even came into view. Jax's eyes lifted from his cigarette, following the sound as it grew louder. Chibs and Opie, seated on the park benches next to him, shared knowing looks as they watched Jax's expression shift from relaxed to captivated. Alu pulled up smoothly, the sunlight glinting off the chrome of her bike. She dismounted, pulling off her helmet in one fluid motion that sent her hair cascading down in waves, caught momentarily in the breeze.

Jax stood up, forgotten cigarette in hand. He approached as she locked eyes with him, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Hey, darlin'," Jax greeted, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"Hey," Alu replied, giving him a warm hug. She pulled back slightly, tilting her head with a hint of sarcasm, "So, what's up? Why did you summon me to this humble abode?"

Jax took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly as he met her eyes, "I gotta ask you for a favour. We got this opportunity with, um...the Chinese to get that money for your tracker. It's a private party kind of thing. And Juice mentioned you used to dance...Exotically. I thought maybe you could hook us up with some of your old friends. Five grand each. Party's this afternoon."

Alu scoffed, crossing her arms, "What, you think we're all part of an exclusive club—Pole Dancers 'R' Us?"

Jax's smile faltered, and he glanced away, taking a step back, "I'm sorry I asked."

"Wait, Jax!" Alu called after him, softening her tone with a sigh. "There's a couple girls who live nearby—still in the bis. I can give them a call, see if they're down. But I want to do it too."

Surprise flickered across Jax's face, followed by concern, "What? Why?"

Alu's eyes met his, "Arty croaked on the way to the hospital—shaved a fair amount off his bounty. I could use the extra cash right now." 

Jax's jaw tightened as he sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I let you do this, Juice will kill me."

Alu smirked as she remounted her bike, strapping on her helmet, "I'm a grown woman, Jax. I make my own decisions."

Jax watched her every move, unable to pull his gaze away as the engine roared to life and she sped off. He stood there a moment longer, lost in thought, until Opie's deep chuckle snapped him out of his trance like state. 

"You're done for, brother," Opie teased, a sly grin breaking his usually stoic expression.

"Aye," Chibs added with a playful nudge. "Completely smitten, our fearless V.P. And with Juicy boy's baby sister, no less."

Jax glared at them half-heartedly, the corner of his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile, "Shut up."

Opie and Chibs exchanged a knowing look. 

Since Abel's kidnapping, the tension between Jax and Tara had been impossible to ignore. The fights had become more frequent, and the warmth they once shared seemed to fade. Jax had started pulling away, spending more time with the guys and acting distant, almost as if he was shutting Tara out. She, in turn, grew frustrated, feeling increasingly alienated from him and his world—a world she could never fully accept.

The guys noticed Jax's attention shifting away from Tara, his eyes wandering back to the crowd of crow eaters and women that hung around the clubhouse. It wasn't a coincidence that this started happening around the time Alu arrived in Charming, but no one dared to ask if it was connected. Tara saw it, too, and it only pushed her further away. Jax seemed indifferent, and despite her best efforts to reconnect, their relationship was unraveling. The weight of the club, the kidnapping, and the people they were becoming was slowly driving them apart.

Opie and Chibs could tell, whatever this was with Alu—Jax was in deep.

***

The dim lights of the restaurant and bar were a blur of neon, pulsing in sync with the thumping bass that reverberated throughout the room. The air was heavy with the scent of sweat, alcohol, and cheap perfume. Members of SAMCRO lounged on plush couches, entertained by women draped in sequined bikinis and fishnets, laughing and grinding to the music. Jax stood apart from the scene, leaning against the bar, a bottle of beer in his hand. His gaze was fixed on Alu, giving a sensual lap dance to one of the Chinese businessmen, her movements both controlled and provocative.

Alu's skimpy outfit glittered under the coloured lights, hugging her curves and leaving very little to the imagination. Jax's jaw clenched as he took another swig of his beer, trying to ignore the heat building inside him. But when he noticed the man's hands wandering too far, gripping Alu's hips a little too tightly, his vision darkened. The man leaned in, whispering something into her ear that made her face go rigid, her smile faltering. The way he pulled her closer, rougher, suggested something vile, something that made Jax see red.

Without a second thought, Jax shoved through the crowd, grabbing the Chinese man by the collar and yanking him out of the chair. The man barely had time to react before Jax's fist collided with his jaw, sending him sprawling across the floor. The room exploded into chaos. Music cut off, and shouts erupted as Juice lunged from his seat, swinging at another man who had moved to defend his associate. The room devolved into a brawl, SAMCRO against the Chinese men, who were the guest of honour for this private party.

Alu stood frozen in shock, eyes wide as the scene unfolded before her. The shouts and the violent scuffle seemed to blend into a dull roar as she processed what just happened. She felt Jax's rough grip on her arm as he yanked her away from the fray, dragging her toward the exit.

"Jax, stop!" she shouted, her voice shaking. He didn't respond, his jaw set and eyes blazing as he forced her outside. The cool night air hit her face, snapping her back to the present, "Let go of me!" She pulled her arm back, shoving him hard.

Jax turned to her, chest heaving and eyes dark with fury, "What the hell were you thinking letting him put his hands on you like that?!" 

"I didn't let him do anything!" Alu's voice trembled, more from rage than fear. "I was handling it!"

"Handling it?!" Jax scoffed, running a hand through his hair as he paced in frustration. "He was all over you, Alu! God knows what he would've done if—"

"If what, Teller?" she cut him off, eyes narrowing. "If you hadn't come in with your hero complex? I don't need you to save me every damn time you get the urge to play knight in shining armour!"

Jax's eyes met hers, hurt flashing through them, "You don't get it. I can't just stand by and watch that happen."

"And why is that?" Alu's voice rose, the anger in her eyes sharper now. "What's it to you, huh? I'm not your old lady, Jackson. I could've fucked that guy if I wanted to! What right do you have to decide who touches me and who doesn't?"

The words hung in the air like a slap, and Jax's expression faltered, the anger giving way to something deeper—something raw and unguarded. He took a step back, his eyes softening as he realised the truth to her words—they weren't together—he had no right to act the way he did.

"Alu..." he started, but she shook her head, eyes glistening with a mix of frustration and something close to pain.

"Just stay the hell away from," she said, voice cracking as she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone under the cool glow of the streetlamp.

***

Alu swung open the front door and stepped into the darkened apartment. Her fight with Jax still playing on repeat in her head. Kicking off her high heels, they clattered against the floor, the sound sharp in the stillness.

The apartment was quiet, almost unnervingly so. Kimchee was likely pulling another late night at the firm, which meant she was alone. The silence wrapped around her, heavy and suffocating, but she welcomed it. She needed the solitude to untangle the mess of emotions that she felt in that moment. 

Reaching for the light switch, she flicked it on—and immediately froze.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her eyes locked onto the shadowy figure sitting in the armchair in the corner. The glow from the overhead light casted eerie shadows across his form, accentuating the sharp lines of his face. He sat back, legs casually crossed, a gun cradled in his hand as if it were an afterthought.

"Hello, love." 

The voice was familiar, dangerously so. A twisted smirk spread across his lips, making her stomach churn as her pulse pounded in her ears. It was him. The man she had been running—hiding from for six whole years. And now, he had found her again. 

Alu felt the colour drain from her face as if she'd seen a ghost, her hands trembling at her sides. The room seemed to close in around her, and all the air in her lungs vanished.

The smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and menace. The gun remained in his grip, a silent reminder of the power he held over her. 

***

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