Ally awoke roughly when a crashing sound interrupted her sleep. Her eyes settled to see she was not in her room, but at the cabin. She wasn't sure when or how she had gotten to the cabin.

"Dad," she called out, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and padding towards the door. "Juice?" She opened the door with a creak and peeked her head out. Nothing seemed unusual. Just quiet.

"Hello." She slowly made her way down the hall, trying to ignore the cold racing down her spine. She was at the cabin. Nothing bad could happen to her at the cabin. "Dad?"

When she got to the mouth of the hall and looked around the exposed living room and kitchen, nobody was there and nothing was out of place. Ally ran a hand through her hair and turned to go back to bed. She had been overreacting.

When she turned, however, there was the shadowy figure who reached out and grabbed her throat. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

Ally's eyes jerked open as she jumped awake.

It had been a dream. Just a dream.

She had been curled around a hard body and looked up to see Jax sitting in the bed with her, sound asleep; a slight snore coming from him. She looked around the dim room. The blinds were tightly closed and the curtains drawn so she wasn't quite sure what time it was.

Slowly, she untangled herself from Jax and limped out the door and across the hall to the bathroom as quietly as she could. Her jaw dropped as she flipped the light on and she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Her right eye was completely swollen shut and dark bruises stretched from her hairline to below her cheekbone and over to her nose. "Oh, my God." No sound came from her throat and the dark bruises in the shape of fingers around her neck were the culprits behind that. She crumpled to the floor, face in her hands.

The door opened, hitting her knee. Juice looked around the door to see Ally on the floor. "Wondered where you went," he murmured, coming in and shutting the door behind him. He squatted down in front of her and tried to tilt her chin to look at him. She kept turning her head away.

"Don't hide from me," he reminded her quietly, taking her face carefully in his hands. "Ally. I am so sorry. This is my fault, baby and," he trailed off and looked down before looking back into her sad, bruised eyes. "I didn't sleep with them. I let them suck me off but I never slept with them. Either of them."

Ally's face crumpled at his confession as she pulled her knees up and rested her forehead against them, silent sobs wracking her body. Juice immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Don't cry, baby. Please don't cry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have stopped you, I should have done something. Anything."

Ally pulled back, wiping the moisture away from under her eyes and shook her head. "I'm sorry," she mouthed. "I'm so sorry." Her mouth kept moving, but Juice couldn't make out what she was trying to say.

"Shhh." He pushed her hair out of her face. It was wild and mussed and had, oddly, never looked sexier on her. "Calm down, pretty girl. Relax." He stroked her good cheek with his thumb. "It's gonna be okay."

Ally sniffed and shook her head, carefully wiping her nose. She gestured with her hand for him to get out. She needed a few minutes. A little hurt by her short actions, Juice sighed and left, leaving Ally alone.

When she came out she tiptoed into the kitchen, still wiping her eyes. Juice didn't sleep with the tramp twins. But she had slept with Patrick and then rubbed it in his face. There wasn't anybody in the living room, but Juice was in the kitchen fixing two cups of coffee. Wordlessly, he handed her one.

Milk. No sugar. Just the way she liked it.

She nodded her thanks, but Juice turned to walk away. Ally reached out and grabbed his wrist. "I'm sorry," she croaked, her voice very raspy, soft and weak. She had to force her voice to be that loud. Tears had filled her eyes again.

"You're not supposed to be talking," he chided gently, removing her hand from his wrist to take it in his own. "What are we Ally?"

Ally didn't know how to respond to that. She sputtered and stepped closer to him. "I don't know," she mouthed carefully. "What do you want to be?"

Juice squeezed her hand and opened his mouth to answer when he suddenly moved away into the living room, giving her a quick glance over his shoulder before Jax walked in, rubbing his eyes. "Mornin'," he drawled, dropping a kiss on the top of Ally's head before fixing himself a cup of coffee. "How you feelin this morning?"

Ally shrugged. "Hungry," she mouthed, a small rasp coming from her throat. Jax threw a pen at her.

"Stop trying to talk. Doc said to keep quiet for a few days or you'll make it worse. Write it down." He handed her a half filled notebook. "I think all you have for now is pudding until Mom can get you some stuff. Want pudding?"

Ally shrugged before nodding. She accepted the cup of vanilla pudding and spoon from him. With her hands full, she plopped onto the couch opposite of Juice while Jax took the worn plaid chair. She stabbed her pudding with her spoon, slowly trying to swallow.

She took her pen and pad and wrote: 'What happens now?'

"We're gonna need to talk to you about last night," Jax told her, leaning on his knees and putting the coffee mug on the table. "We don't have to do it now, but I'm sure once Tig gets here, he's going to want some kind of answers."

Ally put her barely eaten pudding on the table and curled onto the couch. She had lost her appetite just thinking about recanting that event. Then there was a twitch of annoyance that Juice was sitting just a few feet away and couldn't go to him for any kind of comfort.

'Shower'

She tossed the notebook and pen onto the table and went back into the bathroom. The steam of the shower felt good on her body, but made her sleepy. As she stepped out and wrapped a slightly frayed towel around her body, she rolled her eyes when she realized they didn't pack her hairdryer.

She twisted her hair up into a knot and went into her room, shutting the door and pulling her bag onto the bed. Inside were her basic comfort clothes and a thick layer of panties. It looked like every pair she owned had been piled into the bag. Even the ones she didn't want whoever had packed it to see, like her teeny-tiny white sheer, very sheer, thong. Well, perhaps, except for Juice.

At the thought of Juice, Ally sighed and sat down heavily on the bed. She had screwed up. Badly. This whole mess was her fault. A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it away roughly, wincing slightly. She was tired of crying. She was tired of fucking up.

There was a swift knock on the door before Tig stepped in, a cautious look on his face. "Hey babygirl," he greeted softly, sitting down next to her on the bed. He wasn't sure if he should touch her or not. "Sleep okay?"

"Fine," she mouthed in response. "Except when everyone was waking me up."

Tig handed her the pen and notebook she had left in the living room. "Didn't catch that. Write it down. Try not to talk, okay." He nodded as Ally wrote her previous response. "Doc wanted us to make sure you didn't go into a coma or anything because of your concussion. It was just a precaution." He put an arm around her and was pleased when she leaned into him.

'I'm sorry'

"Me too, Ally cat," he murmured. "Me too. I want you to stay here until we find this guy. Got an excuse from school for the next two weeks and then the week after is Spring Break. We're gonna get him before then. I promise."

Ally nodded and wrote in the book. 'And my birthday :)'

Tig chuckled and squeezed her damp shoulder. "Yeah, that too. Gemma brought you some soft foods; yogurt and soup and stuff. You need to eat. Jax said you didn't even eat your breakfast pudding."

Ally shrugged and looked down at her hands. There were scrapes all over them. She picked a chip of polish off her thumb. Tig knew this position. She was withdrawing inward and would need some downtime. He kissed her temple. "Get dressed. We'll be in the living room. Oh, and you'll like this." He waited for her to look up at him. "Doc said no homework for a few days. Something about not concentrating too hard. Congratulations. You're a professional slacker."

Ally smiled weakly. 'My life's ambition'

"Like father, like daughter." He tapped his finger on the notebook. "The club needs you to write down what you remember from last night. I know," he turned her chin to look at him when she started to look away. "I know it's going to be hard, Al. But anything can help. You don't have to do it now. Take your time. This isn't going to go unanswered."

Ally nodded and Tig left the room. She tossed the notebook on the floor, the pen rolling away. She tightened the towel around her and curled onto the bed, her octopus against her chest. She didn't fall asleep, but she laid there for quite some time before another knock came from the door and Opie stepped in.

"Hey."

Ally waved over her shoulder and sat up, clutching her towel. She grabbed her bag and slid into a pair of panties and shorts under her towel while Opie took a seat in the chair in the corner. "How're you feeling?"

Ally had her back to him as she slipped a sports bra and shirt on. She gave him the bird. He chuckled lowly.

"Yeah, kind of figured that. Tired of hearing everyone ask it, probably."

Ally nodded as she sat in the middle of the bed and crossed her legs. She waved him over. He all ready had her notebook and pen in hand. Opie stretched out and handed her the utensils. "Want some good news?"

Ally arched an eyebrow before nodding.

A sly smile spread over Opie's face. "Haven't told anyone. Not ready to really, but seeing as you can't talk," he laughed as she whacked him in the chest. "Donna's pregnant."

Ally's jaw dropped and she pulled Opie into a hug. If she had her voice, he was pretty sure she would be squealing. When she pulled back, her eyes were wide with joy and she was grinning like a fool. "Yay," she mouthed, tapping her hands together in a quiet clap. She hugged him again and kissed his cheek. This was welcome, happy news.

"She's not that far along," he continued softly so they wouldn't be overheard. "We want to keep it quiet for a little longer, but figured you needed some good news and could keep a secret."

Ally nodded in agreement, her smile hurting her bruised face, but she didn't care. 'So happy for you! I'm #1 babysitter right?!'

"You know it."

'Can you keep a secret?'

Looking at her bearded pseudo-older brother, Ally needed to confide in somebody. "Well, yeah," he replied, propping his head on his hand. "What's up?"

Ally sighed, not sure where to start. She put the pen to the paper and started writing, Opie looking over her elbow to read.

'Been hooking up with Juice. I really like him. Dad will shit a damn brick if he knew.'

"Yeah, he would," Opie muttered.

'He went in the back with the slut sisters Friday. I guess I got jealous and left. Saw Patrick. Slept with him. Went on a date with him. Sucked. Super sucked. Juice said he didn't sleep with them, but I slept with Patrick. Feel like shit. Can't even talk to him about it. WTF do I do?'

"Oh, shit. Hell, Al, I dunno. Juice say anything?"

'Said he was sorry. Thinks all this is his fault when it's not. It's mine.'

"Bullshit. This is not your fault and I don't ever want to hear you say that again. How long has this been going on?"

'Since January'

Opie let out a low whistle. "Tig still doesn't know?"

Ally shook her head in response. 'I hurt him Op. I don't know how to make it better and trying to keep all this from everyone is driving me crazy and I've been dying to tell somebody. Gemma kinda has it figured out, but,"

"She can twist that shit," Opie finished. Ally didn't even have to finish writing that. She nodded in agreement. "Can't believe you're smashed from hell to back and worried about the feelings of the village idiot."

"He is not an idiot," Ally mouthed back, glaring at Opie, who laughed at her.

"I know, I know." Opie shifted so he was looking at he ceiling, hands behind his head. "You two need to work it out and you better tell Tig before he finds out on his own. He wasn't ever kidding whenever he said he didn't want you with a Son. Think you screwed up on an impulse? He's worse, Al. And you know it."

'I know'

"That explains the tender moment I walked up on last night and why he rode here from the clubhouse at four in the morning after he finished his research. He didn't have to come. No one told him to. He just did."

"Really?" Ally pulled her knees to her chest at what Opie was telling her.

He nodded, gently tugging on her hair, making her wince as her scalp was still tender from the guy yanking her down by her hair. "Sorry."

'There's one more thing'

"What? You're finally going to admit your feelings for me? I knew you were in love with me. That's why you have that little white thong." Opie winked at her in good humor. Ally rolled her eyes and kicked him.

'The guy from last night. I've heard his voice before.'

Opie rose up on his elbows. "What? Where? Who?"

Ally shrugged. 'I don't know. He was throwing it. Making it deeper, but I've heard it before. I know I have. But I don't know from where.'

"Write down everything you remember." Opie got off of the bed. "I'll be in the living room. Don't leave anything out."

Ally sighed and twirled the pen in her hand before putting it to paper. She was surprised how little time it took to write it all down. It flew out of her. She wasn't sure if she felt better or worse at the end. She got up, notebook in hand and went into the living room.

Gemma was in the kitchen stirring a pot of soup. Homemade chicken noodle by the smell of it. "Hey baby," she greeted, holding out an arm to hug Ally. She leaned into Gemma's body. "Soups almost finished if you're hungry. Know you haven't eaten today." She gave Ally a condescending look only a mother could give.

Ally shrugged sheepishly. 'Where's Dad?'

"Outside with the club," she answered, turning the heat down on the stove and putting a top on the pot. "Want me to come with you?"

After a slight hesitation, Ally nodded. When they opened the door, five pairs of eyes rested on her. Tig's, Clay's, Chibs's, Otto's, and Bobby's.

"Oh, sweetheart," Otto said, gently hugging her. "This bastard's dead for this."

Wordlessly, Ally handed Tig the piece of paper with her experience from the night before. Tig took it and scooted over on the rail to give her somewhere to sit. She perched next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

'Where're the others?'

"Club business," Clay told her, eyeing the paper Tig had yet to share. "Some should be here later." He handed the paper to Clay and put an arm around his daughter. "Call Juice," Clay told him as he read. "Give him this info. Tell him to start digging for something. Start with the people we know and don't trust and the ones that just got out with a taste for underage pussy." Tig patted Ally's hip and walked away to call Juice.

Having Juice do more digging and hacking would keep him at the clubhouse and far away from her, which is not what she wanted right now. She wanted to see him. Needed to talk to him. She missed him.

Chibs took Tig's spot and Ally leaned into him. Deep down, she felt she should be nervous around men after last night. But not these men. These men were her family, her protectors.

"And you have no idea where you heard his voice?"

Ally shook her head at Bobby's question. 'I don't know. I don't know if it's from around town or at the garage or maybe I just think I have. It just seemed familiar. That was the scariest.'

"He's looking into it. Not making any promises, though." Tig came back and leaned against the post closest to Ally and nudged her foot with his. "You need to eat. Gemma made soup." Ally nodded and headed in, sparing a look over her shoulder at the group of leather clad men.

Gemma fixed her a bowl of mostly broth and sat with her on the couch. "Haven't seen you cozying up to Juice."

Ally ground her teeth and swallowed thickly. She shrugged in response and resisted the urge to put the bowl down and walk away.

Gemma gave her an appraising look. "Trouble in paradise, huh?"

'Stop. It's complicated enough.'

"All right," Gemma surrendered, taking a sip of her soup. "How'd you sleep?"

'Dreams'

"I think Tig had some sleeping pills for you just in case. Has your head been hurting any today?"

'A little. Not bad'

They finished their meal in silence. Gemma cleaned up behind them while Ally laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling. She laid there for a bit before going back into her room and laying in the bed. She wasn't asleep, but she pretended to be when Tig or Gemma checked in on her.

She curled around Henry, her octopus, and stared at the wall. Every time she began to drift off to sleep, memories of the alley and the group home flooded her mind and shot her eyes back open. She wasn't sure how long she laid there and she heard vehicles and motorcycles coming and going.

She heard the door creak open and she looked over her shoulder to see Juice.

"What are you still doing up? It's three in the morning."

Ally shrugged and sat up against the headboard. Juice could see an overwhelming exhaustion, sadness and fear in her eyes, even in the dim light. She held a shaky hand out to him. The way it trembled showed him she was nervous as to what his reaction was going to be.

Juice pushed off the shut door and sat on the bed, bringing his knee up onto the mattress. He took her hand and kissed it softly before curling his fingers with hers. "We have some things to figure out," he told her softly, running his thumb over her knuckles affectionately.

Ally nodded and looked down at their intertwined hands. She put her free hand over them.

"We both fucked up," he continued. "We both did things we shouldn't of and we're not proud of. I want to forget about all of that. I want you Ally. Baby," he lifted her lowered chin. "Look at me. Tell me what you want, Ally. I know what I want. I want you. All of you. Just you." He ran a hand through her long, curly hair.

"I want you," she mouthed carefully. She grabbed her notebook and pen from the bedside table and began writing furiously.

'I'm sorry for what I did. I'm not exactly the best decision maker in the world. It didn't mean anything to me. I just wanted to get back at you and make you feel the way I felt. Like shit. I know that's stupid. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm scared Juice. This guy knew things about me. Things nobody should know except me. I've felt so alone and so scared since it happened and the only time I felt calm and felt safe was when you were near. Cheesy, yeah. But true.'

Juice had slid behind her, his arms wrapped around her and his chin on her shoulder, reading what she wrote. "What did he know?" His fingers were softly stroking the silky skin of her exposed stomach.

'Knew I was with you on Thursday night and Patrick on Friday night. He asked what was one more guy on Saturday?'

Juice ground his teeth as he read her words.

'He said he was going to kill me.'

"He is not going to touch you again," Juice growled into her ear, pulling him closer to him. "No one is ever going to touch you like that again. I swear to you baby. I'll die before he comes near you again."

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