New chapter - it's short, I apologize, I've got like a million things going on... I guess I should also start adding to these that I don't own ANYTHING, except people and canines you don't recognize ;) Any likeness to real people, living or dead, is clearly coincidental.

Opening the door to the house, it dawned on Alina that Kozik didn't have a ride back, and there wasn't a single sober body back at the clubhouse. "Come in," she practically shouted over the screaming dogs. "Stay, and I'll take you back in the morning. I have a couch," motioning to the soft leather couch against the adjacent wall, facing the television. Livid had greeted them at the door and was busy hopping around and soliciting attention from Kozik.

"Hey there," he chuckled, rubbing her sides as she brushed up against him like a cat. "I assume this is the old hound dog?" Alina nodded as she let Mano out of his crate, and walked to the kitchen door with him to let the dogs inside out to potty, and brought Ese in from his kennel outside. "You kennel him?" Kozik asked. Alina sighed.

"Someday, I hope that I won't have to. For now, he is like a hurricane if left indoors, and I have yet to find a crate he will respect." Kozik chuckled.

"Sounds like a Dutchie." She nodded her agreement, and yawned.

"I have got to sleep," she said tiredly. "I feel.. drunk." She poured a glass of water from the kitchen and downed it quickly before opening the hall closet, and tossing a pillow and quilt at him. "Goodnight, sir", she said almost teasingly. He grinned back at her.

"What if I get lonely?" She shrugged.

"There's enough dogs, I'm sure one would cuddle with you." She winked at him as she sauntered off to her bedroom. He watched her go, eyes on her ass as she made her way to the stairs and disappeared from view. He heard her door shut. Kozik ran a hand through his hair, backwards, smiling to himself, as he exhaled and flopped onto the couch. Mano was sitting in front of the door, staring at him.

"She's a piece of work, isn't she?" Mano cocked his head. "It's ok, creeper dog," Kozik said, "I've got a creepy, staring dog too." He lay back and pulled the quilt over himself, drifting off to sleep and mulling over the events of the day.

In her room, Alina stripped down to her underwear and climbed into bed.

"It's taking all of my self control not go out there," she murmured to the dogs. Livid snored, Ese wagged his tail. "How often do I meet a sexy badass who's also into dogs?" Ese's tail swished across the bed. "You wouldn't think I was a total slut, right?" the thump thump of Ese's tail was her only reply. She yawned, snuggling into her sheets and comforter. "Too much effort," she said quietly as she fell asleep.

Alina woke up too soon - Ese was jumping on and off the bed, wagging his tail wildly. She groaned. "What the fuck, dog?" He barked at her. She swung her legs out of bed, yawning and stretching her arms. Pulling a hoodie over her underwear, she opened the door and padded out into the hallway, Ese barreling along in front of her, Livid at her heels. She smirked as Ese leapt onto Kozik's sleeping form. Instinctively, he jumped off the couch. Sometime overnight, he'd been reduce to just his jeans and socks. Alina crossed her arms and looked appreciatively at his body. She wolf whistled, "that's what a girl likes to see first thing in the morning," she said teasingly as he smiled.

"Morning, cutie," he greeted, his grin becoming wolf-like as he took in the sight of the woman in front of him in her black boy short underwear and hooded sweatshirt. She blushed.

"You're not too bad, yourself." she said quietly, raising her eyebrows. He shrugged.

"I work out." He said pointedly.

"I can tell," she said, grinning. "Coffee?"

"Please" he answered, pulling his t-shirt over his head. She opened the kitchen door, the pointy dogs sprinting into the yard, Livid plodding quietly after them. Alina started the coffeemaker and leaned her back against the counter as Kozik entered the kitchen, running a hand backwards through his hair. "Thanks for not making me walk back to TM" he quipped. She giggled.

"You make a good houseguest. Albeit a tempting one." she said, blushing and avoiding eye contact. That caught him off guard.

"Is that so?" he asked, grinning and letting his eyes wander down her tanned legs. Alina shrugged.

"I was drunk, so, part of me was thinking of sneaking back into the living room with you, but then I decided I was more tired." She was trying to play it off like it was no big deal. Kozik shook his head, smiling.

"Kinda glad you didn't… I don't want you to think I'm bad because you're drunk." Her cheeks flushed darker. Ese came running into the kitchen, demand barking at Alina. She sighed.

"Really dog? Here." She tossed him a roast that had been thawing in the sink. He ran to his kennel; she followed, locking him in. "We can leave as soon as I feed the others" she called from outside. He was too busy staring at her legs under the hoodie that just barely covered her ass. If you're not bruised and bloodied, you're not training a real dog! the back of the hoodie read. He laughed to himself. She turned and came back into the kitchen, the other dogs in tow. She frowned. "What's so funny?" she asked, pouring him a cup of coffee.

"Your sweatshirt. I like it." he took a sip of coffee. She relaxed, giving him a smile and bringing the mug she held in two hands to her lips.

"I'm gonna go put on some pants," she said as she retreated back to her bedroom.

"Wish you wouldn't," he said softly to himself as he watched her go. Mano wagged his tail.

"Well, I guess I'll see you next weekend at practice?" Alina said, dropping Kozik off at TM.

"I think so," he nodded. "Here, let me get your number so I can let you know for sure," he walked around to the driver's side and handed her his phone through the open window. She punched in her number.

"Slick," she grinned, handing it back. He feigned innocence.

"I'm just keeping you in the loop, I'm back and forth between here and Tacoma." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "See you later, Alina. Mano." He gave the dog a silly salute and turned around, grinning and walked back to the clubhouse. Her cheek burned as she pulled out of the lot, smiling to herself.

Gemma Teller-Morrow let the blinds in the office snap shut as the girl drove off the lot. She scowled, thinking she'd have to ask Kozik about her later. If he was serious about being patched in, he needed to spend more time with the club, and less time chasing pussy.

Kozik shook his head as he walked through the doors of the clubhouse. Juice was passed out on the pool table with a croweater, and the couches were all occupied with sleeping girls who hadn't been able to hook up for the night, or passed out club members who hadn't managed to make it to a bedroom. Only the prospect, Half-Sack, was awake and cleaning up around the bar. Kozik nodded to him. "What's goin' on, Sack?" The prospect shrugged.

"Just cleanin' up. Wild night, man! Hey - how'd it go with that girl?" Kozik grinned and took a seat on a barstool.

"You really wanna hear the gory details?"

"Yea man, absolutely!" he leaned across the bar. Kozik slapped him upside the head.

"I slept on the couch while her guard dog stared holes into my skull, dumbass." Half-sack laughed; Kozik joined in.

"Man, what'd you do to piss her off?"

"Nothing," he said honestly, "she was… really drunk. Didn't want her thinking I'm shitty in bed cause she can't remember it." He chuckled. Sack raised his eyebrows.

"Only matters if you plan on keepin' her around…" he trailed off. Kozik shrugged.

"I may have to see her on a regular basis to train dogs, rather not make enemies." he replied, by way of explanation. He thumped the of the bar twice, standing, "I'm gonna go try to catch some sleep and take off before Tigger wakes up," he pointed a finger at the prospect, "keep your head down and take care of your shit." He liked the SAMCRO prospect.