A Family Man

by osborne, Sarah

  “Are you Mr. Samson’s family?”

  Joe didn’t hesitate. “He’s my brother.”

  The young doctor walked to the edge of the bed, trying, and failing, not to appear intimidated. “He’s very sick right now, but hopefully we have caught the infection in time, and he should make a good recovery. There were signs of necrosis around the wound, which have been cut away, and there may be long lasting nerve damage. The biggest issue is septicemia, we will keep him on intravenous fluids and antibiotics for the next few days, and with luck that will be enough. His vital signs are good and there’s no evidence of organ failure. He’s lucky you brought him in when you did. If you’d left it even for a few more hours, the outcome could have been very different.”

  ~ oOo ~

  Samson couldn’t remember the last time he was ill. He had had a few beatings and laid his bike down a couple of times, but had never actually been sick. The first few days of his hospital stay had been pretty much a blur. The only reason he was aware of the passage of time was that when he woke, there would be someone different at his bedside. As he started to grow stronger, though, he became more and more impatient. He knew he was still very sick, but he didn’t care. He needed to get out of there.

  “You can’t just discharge yourself, Samson.” Beth fluffed his pillows and helped him get more comfortable. “Have you any idea how close you came to dying?”

  “Yeah, but I’m okay now.”

  “Stop pouting. If you discharge yourself I’m not taking care of you. It’s only few more days and the drip will come out, and we’ll discuss it with the doctor then. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to see the back of your miserable face by then.”

  “Fine.” He sighed. “I thought you were my friend.”

  Leaning over, she kissed his now cool forehead. “I am. Now try and get some sleep. I have to get to work, but Amy will drop by after school.”

  Even before she had left the room he felt his eyes closing. Shit. He really hated this.

  “Hey, Uncle Samson.” Amy perched on the edge of the bed and kissed his cheek. “I brought you some stuff.” Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out some magazines and candy.

  “Gummy bears?”

  She grinned. “I like gummy bears.”

  “I like scotch.” He pulled himself up into a sitting position. “I guess since you haven’t brought me anything I actually want, I’ll have to make do with a hug.”

  Amy allowed him to pull her into his arms, before making herself comfortable next to him and switching on the TV. “You’re looking a lot better now.”

  “I’m feeling it, baby girl.” He pulled open the bag of gummy bears and stuffed a handful into his mouth, chuckling as she scowled. “You did buy these for me, right? So, how did your date go? You tell Tiny?”

  “It went okay.” Actually it had been a bit of a disappointment. The men in Amy’s life were strong and decisive. Compared to them, Andy had been a bit of a let down.

  “And Tiny? You tell him? Shit, Amy, you didn’t, did you?”

  “I would’ve, but you were sick, and he had enough to worry about.”

  “Oh no. You don’t get to use me as your excuse. Either you tell him or I will.”

  “There’s no need. I won't be seeing him again.”

  “Why? What did he do? If he….”

  “He didn’t do anything.” She sighed. “Nothing at all.”

  “You wanna talk about it?”

  “To you? Oh sure, I’m just itching to talk about boys with the president of the most notorious chapter of an outlaw MC.”

  “Has anyone ever told you what a sarcastic bitch you are?”

  “It has been mentioned.”

  “Well if you don’t want to talk about your sex life.”

  “I don’t have a sex life. Never fucking will, if Joe has his way.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. How ‘bout you tell me about your plans for your birthday.” His eyes closed as she chatted, about her plans, until it dawned on her that he wasn’t really paying attention and she fell silent and with her head on his shoulder, watched MTV while he slept.

  Finally and somewhat reluctantly, the doctor agreed to discharge him, with strict instructions to rest for at least another two weeks and to come back in once a week, for the next month for his dressing to be changed. And of course no riding for at least six weeks. If he was honest he would have agreed to anything to get out of there. He felt a little guilty about imposing himself on Beth and Tiny for so long, but they both insisted he was welcome to stay for as long as he needed to, and truthfully, there was nowhere he would rather be. Maybe he was getting soft in his old age, but he was extremely fond of Tiny’s little family.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Amy didn’t particularly enjoy her Saturday job, but it did mean she didn’t have to go to Joe or Beth every time she needed money. Joe was paying for someone to go in every day and take care of his mom, and she guessed they weren’t rich. She would always be grateful to him for taking her in, and she knew he was sending money to her brother’s foster parents, so she liked to be able to help out as much as she could. She was less than an hour away from the end of her shift and all she had left to do was wipe down the shelves and sweep the floor. She heard the door, but ignored it. The new girl was working behind the counter today. “Hey, sugar. How ‘bout you get your skinny ass over here and serve us.”

  She looked up and frowned. The new girl was nowhere to be seen. “Hey Joe, Barney.”

  Joe paid for his gas and looked around. “You on your own, sugar?”

  “No, the girl I’m on with must be out back.” She looked out to where their bikes were parked. “You going on a run?”

  “Not really, just thought we’d take advantage of the sunshine. What time do you finish? I’ll swing by and give you a ride home.”

  “Thanks. I finish at four. I’ll call Samson and tell him he doesn’t need to come get me.” She smiled and watched them leave. It was worth lending her truck to Samson if it meant she got to ride home with Joe.

  ~ oOo ~

  At the sound of the bikes pulling away, her new workmate crept out of the back room and she sighed. “Shit, Candice, where the fuck were you?”

  Amy gritted her teeth. This was only the second time they had worked together and already the older woman was grating on her nerves. Despite being at least fifteen years older than her, Candice was nervous and shy with the customers. Even around Amy, she was twitchy. “You can’t just disappear like that.”

  “I know, I'm sorry, really I am. Those guys that came in…Do you know them?”

  “Yeah. They’re my dads.”

  “What, both of them?”

  Amy laughed. “I guess. Barney, the dumb blonde one, is my biological father. But Joe, the big scary-looking one with the ponytail, raised me. He’s my real dad.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you hid out back? Cuz you saw them coming?”

  “I….They….I”

  “Fuck, Candice, If you’re going to work here you better get used to the idea of Freaks coming in. Their clubhouse is less than a mile away.” She frowned. “This about more than you being uncomfortable around bikers isn't it?”

  “I….It’s just….I…” She looked down, not wanting to look Amy in the eye. “It’s complicated.”

  “Please tell me Joe hasn’t fucked you.”

  Candice sighed. “No, it’s nothing like that. What I did was much worse. I betrayed him and Samson.” She looked up and her eyes met Amy’s. “They know. I confessed to Samson and he gave me the chance to get away. I was going to make a new life across the border, and then I found out that Samson was staying here and, I dunno, I wanted the chance to see him again.”

  “Betrayed them how?”

  Candice shook her head. “I can't tell you.”

  Amy frowned. “Why did you want to see Samson again?”

  “He was kind to me. He could’ve….” She wrung her hands. “I just wanted to thank him.”

  “So write him a
fucking note. You betrayed them. You really think he’ll want to see you? Samson gave you the chance to get away. I suggest you take it.”

  “Spider said he was hurt.”

  “He’s fine.” Amy started to tidy up behind the counter. She looked up and scowled. “You still here?”

  “You want me to go?”

  “You’re a rat. What do you think?”

  “Shit, you really are Tiny's kid.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “So if he asked you to betray the club, would you do it?”

  “It would never happen. Joe would rip out his own heart rather than betray his brothers.” Her scowl deepened. “I can’t make up my mind whether you’re incredibly stupid, or your planning on ratting on them again.”

  “To who? They killed him.”

  “Good.” Amy smiled. “Now leave.”

  “You can’t make me go. You’re just a kid.”

  “Not just a kid.” Her smile got wider. “Joe’s kid.”

  “Why are you being like this?”

  “When you said they knew. Did they find out or did you tell them?”

  Candice looked away.

  “Thought so. Look, I’m doing you a favor. How do you think Joe will react when he knows that I’m working with you?”

  “I didn’t know. Honestly. There was a sign in the window. If I’d known who you were I would never have taken the job.”

  “And now you do know.”

  “Please don’t say anything to Joe. I’ll find something else, I swear. It was stupid of me to come here. But really I meant no harm.”

  “Then you will be okay with me talking to Joe, won't you?” Amy turned on her heel and as she pulled out her cell, everything stopped.

  ~ oOo ~

  “Oh shit, shit.” Candice dropped the fire extinguisher and backed away towards the rear exit, her eyes never leaving the crumpled body on the floor. There was so much blood, it oozed slowly from the gaping wound in Amy’s head and spread across the floor. “Oh shit.” She spun and grabbing her coat and bag, ran out through the back door, jumped in her car and, wheels spinning, sped away. She was so fucked. This was all Dixon’s fault.

  When Spider had handed her back her cell after they had been holed up just outside Seattle for a week, he had told her Dixon was dead and that she was free to go wherever she wanted. Seattle had seemed as good a place as any. Maybe she would bump into Samson. She meant what she said about him being kind. The last thing she’d expected was for Dixon to call. She owed him, he’d made it abundantly clear. All he’d wanted was Tiny and Samson, and all she had to do was find out where Tiny was living then get her ass out of there. He would do the rest.

  Her plan had been simple. Spider had mentioned that Tiny’s kid was working at the local gas station, so she’d taken a job there and had planned to follow her home, or maybe hand her over to Dix so he could use her as leverage.

  Hindsight was a wonderful thing and as she sped out of town, it was obvious it was a stupid idea. Dixon was right, she really was a stupid whore.

  ~ oOo ~

  Joe grinned as he took the bend slightly too fast. He was late and Amy was going to rip him a new one. As he rounded the last bend, his grin faded. Why was an ambulance parked outside? And where the fuck was Amy? He pulled up and dismounted.

  “Hey, hey.” He grabbed the arm of a paramedic as he jogged to the front of the ambulance. “What’s going on?”

  “Kid that works here had her head caved in. Customer found her and called us.”

  “Fuck! Amy.” He dropped the paramedic’s arm and ran to the back doors of the ambulance and pulled them open. “Amy!”

  “Hey, you can't….”

  “She’s my kid.” Ignoring the paramedic’s protests he climbed inside.

  “Okay. You can travel with us. But please give us some space to help her.” Joe nodded and sat opposite where she was lying. “Just don’t let her die.”

  The paramedic nodded but said nothing, just turned back to his unconscious kid.

  ~oOo ~

  No one spoke. The only sound was the ticking of the clock and the footsteps of people as they hurried along the corridor past the waiting room door. Barney sat, head bowed, his forearms resting on his thighs. Next to him Samson, oblivious to the dull ache in his leg, sat with his eyes fixed on the door. On the opposite side of the room, Beth and Happy sat, hand in hand, their fingers entwined. Both drawing strength from each other and both knowing they were a hair’s breadth from falling apart. For hour after hour, they sat in silence. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened and the grim faced surgeon walked in.

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Forty-eight hours. That’s what the doctor had said. If the scan showed nothing after that time they would have to reassess the situation, whatever the fuck that was supposed to mean. Amy lay, surrounded by her family. She had been placed on a ventilator. Machines were keeping her alive and monitoring her vital signs, an intravenous drip was supplying her fluids, and the medication that would hopefully take down the swelling in her brain.

  Joe swallowed the lump that seemed to have taken up permanent residence in his throat. He couldn’t stand this. His kid, his little girl looked so tiny and helpless, her head swathed in bandages and one side of her face a mass of bruises. He stood, pushing his chair back so violently that it fell, crashing to the ground. He had to get out before the pressure in his chest overwhelmed him.

  As he turned to leave, Beth reached out to stop him, only to be stopped herself by Samson.

  “Let him go. He needs some space. He won't go far and he will come back.”

  She nodded and sat back down. “I know. But this isn’t something he can run away from.”

  It was two miles from the hospital to the gas station where he had left his bike. Joe walked through the streets, ignoring the late night revelers as they spilled out of the bars and oblivious of the frigid night air that clung to him. All he knew was that he had to get to his bike and as far away from that hospital ward as he could.

  He rode out of town towards the mountains, desperate to shake off that feeling of helplessness. The doctor's words playing over and over in his head. They had managed to stabilize her, but her condition was still critical and he couldn’t give her more than a twenty percent chance of making a recovery.

  He was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe. He had no idea who was responsible for hurting his little girl, but he would find out and he would hunt them down and kill them.

  On and on he rode, along deserted highways, praying to whoever would listen and doing deals with both God and the devil. He doubted he had a soul, and if he did, it was already blackened and corrupted. But if there was one lurking deep inside him, he would gladly give it away, if it meant Amy could live.

  Slowly the sky lightened, changing from inky black to pink and, one by one, the stars disappeared and as the last of the night vanished, he pulled over at a lakeside stop, dismounted and, squatting by the water’s edge, lit a cigarette. He pulled out his wallet and unfolded a sheet of paper that he always kept in there.

  She had been about four when she’d drawn it, but he could remember it as if it was yesterday. He had been away and hadn’t been back home for months and, as usual, Beth and his mom had been taking care of her. He’d been sitting watching TV at his ma’s when she had walked in clutching the drawing and, climbing on to his lap, had handed it to him. “I drawed this for you Joe.” He’d grinned as she had explained in that earnest way of hers. “That’s me an’ I am sad cuz mommy is sick. An’ that’s you.”

  “And what’s that, sugar?”

  “That’s a unicorn. You’re bringing it for me, to stop me feeling sad.”

  “You know I’d bring you a unicorn if I could, sugar.” Her faith in his ability to make everything alright had killed him.

  “Don’t be silly, Joe.” She’d rolled those remarkable blue eyes. “It’s only pretend. Everybody knows there ain't no such thing as unicorns.”

&nb
sp; His tears burned like acid on his cold cheeks as he scrunched up the drawing and brought it to his lips. “Please.” He whispered. “Just let her be okay.”

  ~ oOo ~

  Beth sat and held Amy’s hand in hers. There had never been a time she hadn’t loved her. From the moment she has came into the world, that tiny, angry creature that had been born addicted to heroin, Beth had loved her. She had never really been Maria’s kid. It had been her and Sophia that had raised her. Joe too, when he’d been around. It had been them that had ensured that she was the bright, well balanced kid that she had become. And now it seemed it had all been for nothing. As she gazed at her niece, lying there, attached to the wires and tubes that were keeping her alive, it seemed impossible that she would survive. She closed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening, not to Amy. How the hell were they supposed to get through this?

  “Samson.” Her voice was hoarse from crying. “You have to find who did this.”

  “No question, sweetheart.” He touched her arm. “Whoever did this is a dead man walking.”

  She nodded and fell silent again, her eyes never leaving Amy’s face. How could someone do that to her beautiful niece? She blinked as her tears rolled, unchecked down her face. “Please.” She whispered. “Just open your eyes.”

  Samson watched as Tiny’s old lady struggled to hold it together. He wondered if his brother appreciated what a remarkable woman she was. Life for old ladies was tough. They were expected to stand by their men, no matter what, and it wasn’t long that most developed a hard edge. Years of not knowing whether your old man would be coming home every time he walked out of the door would do that to a woman. Beth, however, was the exception. She was tough; of that, there was no doubt. But she was also one of the most caring people he had ever known. Family was everything to her, and he would always be grateful for the way she'd taken him in. His gut twisted as the tears started to fall down her cheeks. If the kid didn’t make it, it would tear her and Tiny apart.