Here it is, guys, a little something to take with you while you wait for the next one... provided everyone wants there to be a next one?

Epilogue

Stahl was still furious the next morning. When Hale had brought her that fucking photocopy, she'd been unable to believe what she was seeing. It put Aisha's behavior at County into perspective, that was for sure. That little bitch, was all she could keep thinking. That little bitch sat there... playing with me. She remembered Otto's face, in Stockton, right before he'd grabbed the back of her hair, Trager's face as he told her he was walking out of there after giving her the single word "Russians." Sure, Russians, all right. There were no Russians anywhere near Charming. He'd dangled some fairytale in front of her.

She was packing her desk, Hale standing over her, trying to keep that smirk off his face as he watched her pile her folders into a box. She wondered idly, thinking of V and Aisha, which one of them he'd wanted to fuck this time—maybe both of them. He had a weakness for these biker skanks, just like he had for Tara. "What's wrong?" she said sweetly. "Sorry you weren't invited?"

He looked away from her. "Look, for all we know, there's some mix-up," he said uncomfortably. "I'll stay on it. Trager was in a bar last night telling anyone who'd listen that the girl wasn't anything to do with him, that she was with some biker buddy of his..."

Stahl rolled her eyes. Typical SAMCRO bravado, probably hoping it would get back to her, cover his trail... she stopped. Looked at Hale again. "They don't know," she said softly.

"I'll get on the phone and see what I can... sorry, what?"

She widened her eyes. "Oh, nothing. Nothing. Can you have one of your officers finish this packing for me? I have to do something before I leave town."

-0-

Clay smiled as he saw Stahl's dark sedan take the curve into the Teller-Morrow lot in a way that spoke of how furious she must be. This time, she didn't wait for him to come over to her, but had the door open and was walking up to him almost before she'd stopped the car. "Hello, Clay," she said conversationally. "I'm looking for your right-hand man. He around?"

Tig came out from behind one of the garage bays, dressed in his mechanic's shirt. He walked a little closer to her car, and rested his hand on it, almost protectively. "You need some work done?" he asked, leering at her in a way that gave an implied double meaning to the words.

She shrugged, friendliness coming off of her in waves. He couldn't stand this bitch. At least, he reflected, it was written out there on her face for everyone to see that she was a lying cunt. She didn't have eyes that told you that every part of her belonged to you, that you could see right through her, that you'd always be able to read her, and then hand you a cup of tea full of—he forced himself back to paying attention to what she was saying.

"-thinking I'd just stop by and let you guys know I was heading out, give you my best for Victoria's speedy recovery. A bar brawl, huh?" She clucked her tongue. "Although I'm not sure which one of you I should be passing on my good wishes too?" She gave them a clueless shrug. "No? Doesn't matter? All of you?"

"She'll be fine," said Clay, smirking at her. "I'll let her know you sent her your best."

"Right," she said with a breathy smile. "Mr. Trager, I wanted you to know the DNA team went through that apartment of yours with a fine-tooth comb, and apparently any evidence of sexual activity was, like you said, well after the girl was past the age of consent. You're in the clear. Not that that matters now, of course, given the circumstances," she said. She gave him her best cute, wrinkled-nose smile. "You don't like to use protection, do you Mr. Trager?"

She saw him freeze, the hand on her car turning into a fist, and an instinct of self-preservation told her it might be best to prepare for a quick exit. Staring at him, she opened the door of her car, meeting his eyes until he'd taken his hand off the car and stepped back. She sat down in the driver's seat, then pushed the button to roll down the window.

"Oh, speaking of which," she said offhandedly, as she started the ignition. "I really enjoyed meeting your wife in County lockup." She gave him a wink. "She's a cute little thing."

After that, she pulled out of the lot about as fast as she could. It wouldn't make up for having to leave Charming empty-handed, but that look on his face, not to mention on Clay's, was certainly something she'd remember.