GGS: Good Gaelic Souls A Biker Saga (G.G.S) (26 page)

"Understood," she said. Once again, she reached out and squeezed his hand. She looked up into his worried eyes and in an attempt to encourage him, said, "Baby, there was a day when Da, and people like him felt exactly like we do today. Probably on the day that they shipped out for the first time. Can you imagine those few hours before their worlds changed, and they came face to face with kill or be killed? We could never be more fortunate than to be surrounded by people who have lived through that and are here with us right now, to share their knowledge and teach us how to do the same."

Blinking back tears for her father, she continued, "Earlier this morning you mentioned our ancesters and how they fought together to survive. Damn it, isn't that proof that survival is in our blood? It's a good, strong, hearty blood that's running through our veins and we will get through this. Just like those before us we will survive, and in turn we will teach the next generation to do the same." She was getting emotional now, "Strangler, look how many children we have here. When this is over, they will have the basic knowledge of what it takes to survive, they will learn so much by living though it! Can you imagine the stories they will pass down? And what if a civil war or something does break out in the future, who do you think will be most likely to make it? Damn, those old men were smart!" she exclaimed, "For fuck's sake, we are ready because they taught us to be ready. Look around this room again and tell me that you are still worried. Those twisted, no-name mother fuckers have no idea what they will be facing when they decide to come for us! They are the ones that should be worried, they are the ones that should fear
us
!"

"
Aye lass, your Da would be so fucking proud hearing them words come from his own baby girls mouth. I got me own tears running, come and give an old Gael a hug
." Moby said, as he and Rage walked into the room. "
We've been meaning to bring you in here brother, and let you get acquainted with the boys
." Rage informed Strangler, a smile spreading across his face as his waved his arms to indicate the arsenal that they had amassed. "
Times been too short my brother, to get it all in. We figured you knew we was handling it so you could take care of other business. Just you wait 'til you see what Mac can bring to the table. No worries my brother, no worries."

Moby looked at the both of them, smiling his most wicked smile ever, just as Griff joined them in the Armory. "
Strangler, I am going to say this to you, with the utmost respect. It's my hope that you take only my meaning and no offense, as it comes straight from these old Gaelic hearts
." Moby stopped to give Strangler a way out, but he didn't take it. "
Alrighty then,
" Moby began, "
Without getting mushy or pushy, here it is. We are proud of you laddie, so much so that we've had many disscussion of it. You have surpassed all of our hopes and expectations, and it breaks our hearts to the bone, that Slider has to miss out on watching how strong and willing you are."
He paused to give him a hug and kiss, the other two men following suit.

Again Moby spoke, "
That said brother, we've also discussed another important thing, and that would be your safety and the safety of this precious soul who belongs at your side." S
till speaking he gave Stax a quick wink, "
So here goes Prez. Your old Trio does not want you involved in the outside fight, if it does indeed come down to that.
" Watching closely as Strangler's face told him what he was thinking, he put his hand up quickly and stopped him as soon as he started to object. "
I said, 'With respect laddie,' be so kind as to show me the same
." Waiting until Strangler nodded his agreement, he continued. "
We know for certain that you're capable and willing to fight, but it isn't about your abilities right now. We  truly need you to give deep thought to what I am about to say.
He paused for a second, his voice changing to a stronger tone "
What this is about Prez, is the possibility of losing yet another club President, or just as important, our Founder's only child."
The emotion in his voice was not lost on Strangler, he listened respectfully as Moby spoke, sharing the Trio's concerns. "
This club couldn't take another loss like that laddie, not so soon, not like this. We need for you to assure us, for the sake of the family, that unless they actually breach the courtyard and make it inside, you won't throw yourself into harms way. Know this, if they do make it inside, it will only be because we will have fallen. But you, you will be fresh and have a better chance at a final stand. You would be the one to give the others a chance to make a break for it. Your family needs you at the head of the table, it's where you belong. The three of us, we've had our day, losing us wouldn't be near the tragedy as losing either of you would be, you understand." For a quick minute he slowed his roll,
searching for the hint of an answer in Strangler's face, "
We got this part brother, like Stax said, we've already lived it. It's the thing that what we know how to do best. We've spent our lives preparing for a day like this, and we have damn good soldiers to fight with us. What we truely need, is for you to lead us. Agreed
?"

Strangler stood there, trying to find flaw in the old fucks way of thinking. He wasn't pissed, but he wasn't thrilled either. Moby was basically saying, that they would each die to protect what was inside this Castle, and then it would be left to him to take care of what remained. What bothered him so much, was that he had never seen Moby show this much emotion, with the exception of Slider death, of course. What he suggested made perfect sense, but Strangler wasn't sold on the idea of laying low and having other's fight
for
him, as opposed to
with
him. He was way too much of a control freak for that. One thing was for sure though, he wasn't about to agree to anything without proper time to consider the consequences, advantages and limitations.

The Trio knew that an instant agreement was not about to happen, they knew that going in. Each of the three believed that what they said was truth, and it should at least give him pause long enough to give it fair consideration. That in itself is how we grow, they had reasoned amongst themselves. Either way, it would certainly make him think harder about keeping a close eye on Stax. The little shit had calmed down alot since she hooked up with Strangler, but she was still her father's daughter, and they knew all too well what that meant.

Strangler looked at the faces of his elders and skillfully replied, "Respectfully, I will only agree at this time to take your concerns and give them fair and proper consideration. Know that you are loved." Turning around abruptly, he walked out of the Armory, leaving them all standing there pondering what his next move might be. "
That went better than we expected
." Griff stated to the other's. Rage nodded, making eye contact, and then looked over at Stax to remind Griff that she was still in the room. "
Lass, you may want to catch up with him, he made need another mind to bounce his thoughts off of.
" He said to Stax, who was still standing there trying to figure out how they had all ended up here at the same time.

"In a minute," she said, "But first, which one of you old bastards are gonna tell me exactly how we all happened to stumble into each other, in the fucking armory, at the same time, for a conversation of military nature?"
She recognized the trickster's smile that appeared on Moby's face again, "
Nay lass, you'll not be talking to your elders so rough, you understand. You'll find no appreciation for the feel of the fire that your a'lighten under your own arse.
" She stood there, looking at these men that she loved, knowing that they had orchestrated this little chat. She had sensed a conspiracy from the very moment that Griff had shown up, and she knew that Strangler had too.

"My
arse
can handle more heat than you would care to know, thank you all very much. And your threats of a spanking stopped working on me a long time ago." She sassed them. Knowing that they weren't going to answer no matter what she said, she turned to leave, but when she caught a glimpse of the walkie-talkie in Griff's back pocket, she turned on them again. "Oh you assholes!" she exclaimed, "You've been having us watched from the secuity room, haven't you!" Seeing their faces, she knew that she was right. "Shame on you, he already has enough on his mind."

"
Aye, lass, he surely does. But sometimes, we allow so much of the little shit to get in our way that we lose our focus on what's most important. A nudge in the right direction, with a little visual to bring things into perspective, is sometimes just enough to adjust our way of thinking."
Rage openly admitted this to her, without shame nor apology, "
He can't do it alone. We are all here and we all have certain skills to offer. He needs to delegate and lead, and he's been doing just that, very well, we all admit. But the reality is that this club is a well built unit lass, and we've spent years choosing the right people, with the right abilities and frame of mind. Everyone here knows their function, just look around you. All they require is daily instruction and strong level-headed leadership. If he is physically fighting for his life on the front lines lass, he can't lead."
             

Strangler had left the armory and headed back to the office, jaw clenched and mind whirling.  He needed to be alone to think. So much was at stake and so much could go wrong if he made even one bad decision. Before he could make it to his sanctuary, he was stopped by Della who was waiting to show him her revised menu. "Looks real good," he said absently, his mind elsewhere, "Your on the right track, sister. When you start the lunch menu, keep it simple too." Kissing her on the cheek, he made a quick exit and stopped at the bar. No one was there, so he made himself a stiff drink. Grabbing a bottle of moonshine he headed back to the office. The Castle was quiet at the moment, the majority of the club had teamed up and headed out to the various out buildings to gather what they could. Those that remained were busy unpacking and stocking. It looked like he was actually going to have a minute to himself.

The Trio was right and he knew it. He did feel better knowing exactly what the armory held for their protection, then again, who wouldn't? Shit like that could make any man feel like 'King of the Mountain.' Stax was right too, she had hit home when she made her ancestrial speech, it had reminded him how so few had became so strong and what his people had  accomplished in the past. It also forced him to look past right now and a little further into the future. He understood what they were saying, but wondered if he would be able to live with himself if he sat out, when and if an actual battle took place.

"What?" Said one side of his brain, "When and if, my ass. It's going to happen and you know it. You wouldn't be a true man if you didn't go down protecting your own." Then, from the other side of his brain came this, "If your out front, and you do go down, what happens to Stax? The children? The women? Who else can think like you, or act as quickly as you can? Who would everyone trust enough to follow in the middle of something like that? If some of the women should lose their men, who would they have turn to if you were taken out too?" He had never felt so confused and uncertain in his entire lifetime.

Stax came in and found him once again, sitting at the table, arms crossed and head down. She walked over and rubbed his back. He didn't move, speak, or respond in anyway. She kissed the back of his neck and walked back through the door, softly closing it behind her. Walking to the bar, she asked Serenity to fix her a drink. Giving Stax an update, Serenity advised her of what was happening Bar-side. "Lee went to check the upstairs bar and try to figure out what we need to take up there to get it stocked before we have the overflow stored. Della went up with her to see what the upstairs kitchen needs." She handed Stax a drink and a shot, "Look's like you could use a little extry." She stated enthusiastically, referring back to a childhood language that they used to share.

Stax smile at the memory, "Extry, is always a good thing." She said with a wink and a smile, acknowledging Serenity's attempt to lighten her mood. "So you know, the upstairs kitchen shouldn't need too much of anything," Stax advised, her mindset still on all that was going on around them. "Everything that needs to be cooked, will be cooked downstairs and sent up in the service elevator, that kitchen is basically for staging." Her phone received a text from Strangler as she was speaking, '
Come back-bring ice
' it read. She replied
'On the way
' and asked for a bucket of ice. "Thank you sister, for all that you and Lee are doing, thank you." She said, taking the bucket.  Just before she reached the office door she heard footsteps behind her, as she turned to look behind her she saw Samson and Twitch, followed by the Trio, also heading for the office. Heart pounding, and mind going in several directions, she opened the door.

Strangler was sitting there with his cell phone, staring at an empty glass. She saw that he had set out a glass for everyone. As she walked over to put the bucket down, the other's filed into the room behind her. "Make us all a stiff one Angel, the Sheriff is on his way." Strangler advised, "He bringeth fresh tidings." Pouring himself a shot before she could get the ice in the glasses, he further advised. "I also recieved another message from the hospital, Slacker is out of surgery and resting comfortably." Looking at Twitch, he instructed, "Change the guards, but send only one this time. Send Rascal, and tell him he is to be stationed inside Slacker's room. I want to know anything he says, even if it's a fucking mumble in his sleep. Tell him the deputy will be outside the door and he's gonna be there awhile, so make sure that Rascal knows to advise the deputy outside before he decides to get some sleep." As he made his next statement, he slid a shot of Moonshine over to Twitch, "You make sure that they brief each other at change-over and relay it to you when they get here. You can advise me of anything important and make a note of what can wait."