Out of the Blue

"You betrayed me."

Jax's words hit Juice like a knife in the heart. The words not fully registering at first, he said nothing, just staring back at the steely-eyed Jax, stunned and speechless. Jax stood there with him, holding him there, making sure Juice got his message. Without another word Jax left him, heading back inside the shop, leaving Juice in the street, devastated. Jax had taken away Juice's entire life with three agonizing words. His mind a blur, Juice wandered off into the street, still trying to wrap his head around what Jax had just said to him. His death sentence had just been signed, and he didn't even know how to react. Without even thinking about it he had gotten on his bike and was driving away, no destination in mind, but he knew he couldn't stay here. His world falling apart around him, Juice went looking for Gemma. Something told him that if anyone could help, it would be her.

His head still spinning, Juice pulled up in front of Jax and Tara's home. Maybe Gemma was here? He didn't know, he couldn't even think straight. He saw Eli Roosevelt walking out, having half a mind to gun him down in the street right here. He was the one who made Juice steal that brick of coke in the first place, started him down this path of self-destruction. Juice shook the thought from his head. His fuck ups were on him. Instead he avoided Eli, making a beeline straight for the door. His mind was going in circles a thousand miles per hour What was Jax talking about? Was it that thing with Nero? Had to be. That son of a bitch. He cut ties with Jax, all over a stupid junkie whore. Now he was a dead man, all because he couldn't keep his fucking mouth shut. He loved Jax and the brothers, but the guilt of killing Darvany, selling out Clay, stealing from his brothers and murdering Miles had all piled up on him. It was all just too much. He had tried his best to make things right, but his conscience had gotten the better of him again. Now he was fucked.

He stumbled right in, not even bothering to knock.

"Juice!" came Eli's voice, who had noticed him. Juice didn't even hear him, or maybe he just didn't care, kicking the door shut behind him.

There was no way out of this one, no way to redeem himself this time. He didn't even know why he was here. What made him think Gemma could help, or even would want to? So consumed with himself, Juice was barely paying attention to the world around him, his mind not registering the sounds of a struggle as he entered. Now he found himself watching Gemma viciously attacking Tara in front of him, and for a second Juice just stood there, the disturbance enough to grab his attention, but so out of it he couldn't process what was happening.

"JUICE!" came Tara's scream, having seen him standing idly in the doorway.

Her cry for help brought Juice back into this world, now fully realizing what he was witnessing. Gemma slammed Tara's head into the sink and then dunked her in the water. With no time to think, only act, Juice burst forward toward Gemma. She grabbed a sharp fork from the side of the sink, about to bring it down on Tara's head before Juice took hold of Gemma and pried her away from her victim. Tara fell from the sink, slumping to the ground, gasping for air.

"Get the fuck off me! Don't you know what she's trying to do you idiot?!" Gemma roared, plunging the two pronged fork into Juice's side.

Juice cried in agony and threw Gemma against the wall, knocking the wind out of her, to say the least. Gemma slid down the wall, in pain and cursing.

"What the hell is going on?!" Juice yelled at her, pulling the fork from his side.

"Fucking...psycho...bitch," Tara got out in-between gasps for air.

"You dumb Puerto Rican fuck!" Gemma swore, "Tara made a deal! She ratted! She sold Jax out to save herself!"

Juice just stared at Gemma, shaking his head. "Tara didn't rat Gemma, Jax turned himself in. To protect her."

Gemma looked at Juice with a blank stare, then to Tara, who just stared back with daggers in her eyes.

"Oh shit," Gemma said, realizing what she had almost done.

"You almost fucking killed me!" Tara screamed, climbing to her feet.

Gemma said nothing in return, letting her head rest on the wall behind her as she caught her breath. She had almost killed her daughter in law over a misunderstanding. Would Jax ever forgive her for this? She really fucked up on this one.

Juice looked to Tara, holding his hand up to her. "It's okay, it's over. Everyone's still alive."

"Yeah, thanks to you," Tara said, looking to her rescuer. "You just saved my life Juice. I owe you everything."

Juice didn't know how to react to that, and before he could say anything Eli came rushing into the room, hearing the commotion from outside.

"What the hell happened in here?!" he demanded, looking at the scene.

"Nothing," Juice said, "I got it."

"Yeah, cause it sure looks like nothing," Eli said back, seeing Juice's wound. He looked to Tara, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Tara assured him. "Just a misunderstanding with my mother in law," Tara said, shooting a glare in her direction.

Gemma turned away, nothing to say.

Eli looked back at Juice, pointing to his wound, "Did Gemma do that to you?!"

"I'm fine dude, really. No one's gonna be pressing charges here, so let's just forget about the whole thing, okay?"

"Doesn't work like that Juice," Eli said, "None of you are leaving here until I get to the bottom of this. This wasn't just some ordinary family feud."

"It is if your last name is Teller," Tara said, leaning back against the counter, exhausted. "Another magical day to be alive."

About an hour passed before things started to settle down. Eli had called for backup and declared the place a crime scene. Juice, Tara and Gemma had all been questioned, and they all did their best to play down what happened. Despite this, Gemma was still being brought in for questioning, even though Tara and Juice had made it clear again and again they wouldn't be pressing charges. Practically the whole club had gathered in front of the house, including Jax. When Jax saw Juice, he wasn't sure what to think, until he finally got to talk with Tara. Juice watched at a distance as Tara told Jax everything. He couldn't hear them, but he had a good idea what was being said. When she finished, Jax looked astonished, dumbfounded even. Jax looked over to the man he had just given the kiss of death to with a look of wonder.

When it was all over, when the cops were gone and Juice and Tara were free to go, Jax made his way over to Juice, sitting down next to him on the couch. Juice sat hunched over, rubbing his hands anxiously.

"Figured you'd be halfway across California by now, running like the coward I thought you were. Instead you're here. Tara says you saved her life, and I don't what to make of that," Jax said honestly, shaking his head.

"Just...right place, right time man. Anyone woulda done the same."

"No," Jax said, "Anyone else would have turned tail and ran like hell the moment I said what I said to you." He sighed, staring at Juice, who had only taken a few nervous glances at him. "Look at me," he demanded.

Juice winced, bracing himself, and rose to meet eyes with Jax. "I don't know what to do with you Juice. I can't tell if you're just trying to save yourself, or if you really do give a shit. Out all the fucking people, it's you I can't make heads or tails of. You saved my wife's life Juice, I gotta thank you for that, but I don't know if I can trust you. Can I trust you Juice?" Jax asked him honestly, hoping he would return the sentiment. "I need to know brother."

Juice breathed in, taking his time with how he formed his response. Only one thing came to mind. "Blood family, my hometown, all that shit moves back a row. Once you're patched, the members are your family. This charter is your home." he recited the words Jax himself had told Juice now years ago. He recited them once before four years ago to keep Jax from going nomad, a time that seemed like a lifetime ago now. "I still remember what it means Jax. I need you guys. You're all I've got."

Jax actually smiled, chuckling a bit. "I told you that fucking forever ago. Shit was so much simpler back then."

"Yeah, it was," Juice agreed, smiling back.

Jax nodded, seeing the old Juice for once in a long time. "Bobby and Chibs are the only ones I told. I'll tell them I was wrong that you were the leak, that Nero figured it out for himself, and I blamed you too quickly."

Juice looked astonished. "You serious?"

Jax's face became stern again. "This is your last chance Juice. No more breakdowns, no more fuckups. Miles, Darvany, you need to put that shit behind you. You understand?" Juice nodded, biting his lip, about to cry from sheer relief. Jax embraced him, giving him a firm pat. "Don't make me regret this brother."

Jax walked Juice out the door, making sure the club outside knew where they stood. Chibs gave Juice a confused, conflicted look as he passed. Juice said nothing. He didn't have the energy right now.

"Get some rest man, you look like you're about to pass out," Jax said as Juice left.

"Yeah," Juice said simply, getting on his bike.

Chibs watched Juice ride off, then turned back to Jax. "Jacky, what hell is goin' on?"

Jax sighed, shaking his head. "I was wrong. Juice wasn't the leak."

"Then who was?"

"No one, Nero's just smarter than I thought. He figured it out."

"Jesus Christ," said Bobby, "You almost got a brother killed, Jax."

"I know, that's on me," Jax admitted. "Luckily the gavel's going to you now."

"Hey," said Chibs, patting Jax on the chest. "You sure about this? You sure we can trust Juicy?"

"He just saved Tara's life even after I told him he was a dead man. That tells me he cares about this club no matter what. So yeah, I'd say we can trust him," Jax said firmly.

Chibs breathed in, and then nodded. "Alright." He turned, looking at Juice ride off into the black.

So, for now, this is just a one shot. But, if people like it, I'll consider continuing, and make an AU version of what Season 7 would be like if Tara were alive, Jax went to prison and Juice was still in SAMCRO. Mostly though, what motivated me to do this was because I felt Juice always got the shit end of the stick, he's my favorite character, and I'm really into redemption. If I don't continue it, I hope you enjoyed this fic.