Author's Note: First, this chapter contains scenes and more specifically quotes that came from Kurt Sutter's amazing mind. No copyright infringement intended. Second, thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, followed, and set up alerts. Y'all are amazing!

Happy reading folks!

Chapter 14 –

Juice got up with Gracie at four, telling Kayleigh to stay in bed, and fed and changed her before laying her back in the crib. He went to shower once Gracie was asleep again. Kayleigh was awake when he came out of the bathroom to get dressed.

"Thanks for the sleep," she said softly with a smile.

"You're welcome, but I didn't really do it all for you. With the run, I'll be gone for a couple of days and I wanted to say bye to Gracie before I left." He replied, coming out of the closet while pulling his black shirt over his head.

"I'm gonna miss you, Juan Carlos, be safe. Don't have too much fun while you're gone."

"I'll try, baby. I'll miss you, too. You and Gracie."

He leaned down and they shared a passionate kiss. "I'll text when I can. Check in every now and then and let me know how you and Little Miss are, okay?"

Kayleigh nodded and squeezed his hand before he left for the warehouse to help load the guns.

Kayleigh was surprised when Chucky came in the bakery. He was normally at TM doing some task Gemma had assigned him. If he was out of the compound, she figured that meant he was with Gemma since the boys had already left for the run.

"Hello," he greeted with a wave.

"Hello, Chucky. Where's Gemma?"

"Oh. She's next door at the flower shop. Told me to come wait over here," he replied.

Goody, she thought. That meant Gemma would be making her next stop at Lynn's. It wasn't that Kayleigh didn't want to see Gemma, but she was knee deep in planning for the fundraiser to save the park that she really didn't have time for whatever it might be that Gemma had come by for, and Gemma always had a reason. She was not the type to just drop in and say hi for the hell of it.

"Why is she at the flower shop?" Kayleigh asked Chucky.

"Dead flowers, wanted advice. Do you mind if I have a cup of coffee?"

Kayleigh smiled, the poor man was a little on the odd side, but he'd been dealt a shitty hand by the club. She didn't really pity him, or feel sorry for him, but more or less felt the need to treat him like he was a person, not a weird anomaly with fake fingers.

"Of course you can, Chucky. Would you like something to eat? A muffin? Piece of cake?"

"Oh, your carrot cake is the best."

"Comin' right up."

Kayleigh served him and then lifted Gracie out of her playpen and into her arms. "Look who came to visit, Gracie Lynn. Chucky is here."

"She's precious," he said, waving at Gracie from across the counter.

Gemma came in after that and smiled at the little girl. She came around the counter and took Gracie from Kayleigh with a big grin. "Hi, pretty baby. Grandma Gemma is here, yes she is." Gemma continued to coo at Gracie.

"So, what's up Gemma? I didn't expect you to drop by today."

"Oh, yeah. Dead lily bulbs, thought I'd come by see if the Lieutenant's wife could help me out."

"Uh huh. Anything she can do to save the plants?"

Gemma pursed her lips. "Don't know yet, I'll have to bring them back by. Are you on the committee to save the park?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Just curious. I like that park. It needs to be saved from Hale's greedy plans. Gold Club member?"

"Gemma, I have a four month old, and Juice just spent fourteen months in prison. Does it look like I have five grand lying around?" she said sarcastically, then added, "No, not a Gold Club member, but I'll be helping out with a bake sale type deal the day of the fundraiser."

"Cool. Let me know if you need any help. I'll leave Chucky here."

"Thanks, planning everything out right now, but I may need some help when it gets closer to the day of the fundraiser. I appreciate that."

"I appreciate you," Chucky chimed in, making the two women snicker.

"Thanks, Chucky."

Gemma handed back over Gracie and then her and Chucky left to go do whatever it was Gemma Teller did during the day when she wasn't in TM's office.

Kayleigh greeted Tristen when she came in to work from school a few hours later. "Hey. I'm so glad you're here. I need like ten minutes with fussy britches over here and then I'll be back to man the counter. Think you're okay for ten?"

"Yes ma'am. Is she okay?" Tristen asked, motioning to the crying baby in Kayleigh's arms.

"Oh yes, hungry and wet and pissed that mama is taking her sweet time," she said with a smile and then headed to the bathroom.

Tristen and her had established a great routine during the second week she had starting working. She rarely ran the register, but could do it. Instead Tristen served dine-in customers, did the dishes in the back - keeping the front dish tray empty, and she cleaned the front of the store before closing each day she worked. She also helped put away any of the left over items for the night, organizing them just as Kayleigh did.

"How's school going?" Kayleigh asked when they had a quiet moment alone during a break in customers.

"It's good. I have a really hard history test coming up, but I've been studying a ton and mom quizzed me last night and I only missed three questions."

"You're a smart girl. You'll do great, I know it."

Tristen was silent for a while before she asked. "When did you know this was what you wanted to do? Like as your job…"

"I don't think I ever had a time when I said 'this is it' but I used to work at my grandparent's bakery, the original Lynn's, and I really loved it. I think you have to find something you love to do, and then go from there. What do you love to do?"

"I love horses and helping people and animals."

"Hmm. Veterinarian maybe? Or you could open your own shelter. You're young, Tristen, still in high school you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't decide now what you want to do in ten years. I remember the feeling, of wanting to be grown and out on my own, to have my own job and make my own career path and choices, but let me tell you… from experience. Life goes by too fast, these years – you'll look back on them and wish they'd lasted forever. Don't rush, sweetheart, you have plenty of time. Be young now, think of a career path when you're eighteen."

Tristen nodded and gave a small laugh, smiling at Kayleigh. "Thanks. I kind of feel like you're like a big sister I never had."

"Well, I'm not sure how great of a role model I can be, but I like that you feel that way. You can come to me anytime with anything, but I promise you can do the same with your mom."

"Did you? Talk to your mom a lot growing up?" Tristen asked, leaning against the counter.

Kayleigh shook her head. "No. My mom died when I was born, but I had my grandmother, her mother, and I did talk to her about everything, and she gave me some of the best advice. Your mom will do the same, but I'm here, too."

"Thanks. I'm going to go get started on the dishes." She picked up the tub that was half full of dirty plates and silverware and took it to the back, bringing a clean one out front before going back to do the dishes.

Kayleigh was sitting on the floor behind the counter, counting money to make a drop when the chime to the door sounded. "Hello, welcome to Lynn's I'll be right with you!" she called out.

When Gracie started cooing and giggling she looked up to see Juice leaning across the counter and making silly faces at Gracie, who was sitting in her playpen.

"Hey! Did y'all just get back?" she said, standing up and coming around the counter to hug him.

"Yeah," he said, sounding a little less than happy.

"Are you okay? Did everything go… okay?" she asked, keeping her arms around his waist and leaning back slightly to look at him.

"Yeah, yeah, that's all fine, everything is good with the cartel and the Mayans. Roosevelt met up with me before I came here. He has some sort of connect in Oaktown that told him a big player is moving in to North Cali. He knows about the cartel and probably the drugs and guns."

"That's not good. What does that mean for you?"

Juice shook his head slowly. "I don't know, baby but he wants a trade, my truth for him not telling the club I'm black."

"You're not black, Juan Carlos."

Before she could say any more Gracie let out a loud exclamation, demanding her parents' attention to be directed to her. Juice grinned at his baby girl and let Kayleigh go, moving around the counter and scooping Gracie up into his arms.

"Hi, baby girl! Daddy missed you! Are you happy to see me? Yes? Oh, spit bubbles again? Is that how you greet your old man?"

Gracie started babbling away, and Juice encouraged her to say 'da-da'. "Da… da… dada. Come on smart girl, you can do it!"

She made a sound close to 'ma' and Juice frowned. "No, not momma, dada."

She hummed, making an 'm' sound and squealed in delight, giggling at herself and Juice when he pulled a face.

"Hmm. Seems like my baby is still a mama's girl after all, and here I thought you'd won her over."

Juice ignored Kayleigh, rolling his eyes at her, and continued to talk to Gracie.

"When do you have to get back to the clubhouse?" she asked when he sat down in a chair, Gracie on his lap.

"Noon," he said. "Wanna close up shop and go grab a bite to eat before I have to go?"

"Sure." Kayleigh said, and quickly did the few tasks that needed to be done. She wrote a quick sign that said she'd return at noon and taped it to the door before grabbing her purse and the diaper bag.

Juice took the diaper bag from her and slung it over his shoulder before taking her hand and walking down the street with his woman and his daughter. Thoroughly enjoying the little family moment.

Kayleigh came around the corner of the hallway as Juice tossed his keys into the dish rather violently.

"What's wrong? Your text was rather vague. What the fuck did Roosevelt want this time?"

"He wants me to steal a gram of coke and bring it to him, so he can have it tested to find the source."

"He what?!" she screeched, then remembering that she'd just gotten Gracie to lay down, pulled him by his arm to the backyard where they sat next to each other on the swing, setting the baby monitor on the ground at her feet. "Please tell me you told him no!"

"I don't know what to tell him Kayleigh!" Juice snapped, running his hands over his mohawk. "He said he'll give me two days and then it's either I show up with the coke or he tells the club my dad's black. Either way I'm fucked!"

They were silent for a while, Juice thinking of all the ways everything had gone to hell since they'd gotten out and Kayleigh thinking of a way to save her family.

"You have to tell the club, Juice," she whispered.

"Are you fucking insane, Kayleigh?" he remarked, jumping up from the swing and pacing back and forth in front of her.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to not snap on him, knowing he was stressed about this situation. She also knew Juice could easily get lost in his head and thoughts and that was something she couldn't let happen.

Standing from the swing she stepped in his path and stopped him, putting her hands on his chest. "Juice, if they find out any other way than from your mouth that Roosevelt is trying to use you as a rat you are dead, Juice, and I won't fucking bury another man I love. If you tell them upfront the outcome could be different." She took another deep breath, unsure how he was going to take her next comment. "If you don't tell them I will. I won't stand by and watch you sign your death warrant."

"Kayleigh…" he warned, stopping his pacing and giving her a sharp stare, but she shook her head.

"I'm not backing down Juice. You tell them, we tell them together, or I go to the table and tell them myself. I will not let Roosevelt destroy you, or out you to the club and make you seem like a rat."

Juice was angry, at Roosevelt, at Kayleigh, and at himself for being mad at her and for getting into this whole mess. What would happen if they told the club? If she told them? Would they kick him out? Kill him? Or would the outcome be different like Kayleigh thought it would be?

"Think about it. I'm going to go check on Gracie and get a bag ready to go to the clubhouse. Come inside when you're ready, whatever your decision is," she said quietly, and then grabbed the monitor off the ground and headed inside.

Juice caught her arm before she could step inside. She turned around, closing the door back as she did so. "Kayleigh, if we do this, and shit goes south… I want you to take Gracie down to Texas with you and then to see my mom and sister, don't come back to Charming."

"Don't talk like th-"

"Say you'll do it," he demanded.

Kayleigh looked at him, and Juice could see the concern written clearly in her expression, but she nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Let's go then," he said, and Kayleigh thought she could hear the determination in his voice that hadn't been there just a second ago.

She restocked the diaper bag with necessities quickly while Juice started the truck and got Gracie strapped into her car seat. She wasn't the happiest she'd ever been, having been woken from sleep, but as soon as the truck started moving she was out again.

Juice called Chibs, who was at the clubhouse, and told him to call a meeting. Everyone with a full patch needed to be there and he and Kayleigh were on their way. When they arrived Kayleigh asked Jacqueline, one of the crow eaters that Kayleigh actually trusted, to watch Gracie for her. "She should just sleep, but if not the diaper bag is fully stocked. Thanks."

Juice wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple before pulling her into the chapel with him. She stood behind his chair when he sat and the guys gave her curious looks.

"What's this about Juice?" Clay asked. "No offense, Kayleigh, we didn't expect you in here again."

"She's here 'cause of what I have to say," Juice replied. He blew out his breath and then scanned the room. "I need you to hear me out and let me finish before you do or say anything. I need your word on that, please…"

A round of nods and okays followed. Kayleigh's hand squeezed his shoulder and he found his strength through hers. "Roosevelt's been making contact with me."

An eruption of what the fucks sounded and Clay smacked the gavel on the table. "Go on."

"When he picked me up the other day at Clear Passages, he had some shit about my dad that he said could use against me." Juice took a deep breath. "My father's black, and he knows that will get me excommunicated from the club. I'm telling you now because he picked me up again today and told me I have two days to deliver a gram of coke from the shipment or he'll tell you I'm half black himself. He wants to take down the cartel or some shit, stop the drugs from coming in. He already knew about the cartel being up north, some connect he has in Oaktown. I haven't told him shit. I didn't know what to do, didn't want to be here right now, but Kayleigh…"

"He's here because I told him too, because surely race doesn't matter that much that the color of his father would get him kicked out or worse. There has to be another way," she added.

Other than a muttered 'fucking a' from Jax, who leaned back in his chair, the table was silent.

"What do you think Pres?" Bobby asked after a few silent, tense minutes had passed.

Clay studied Juice and Kayleigh, and was reminded of Gemma standing strong behind John Teller years ago. The wheels were turning in his head. Jax wanted out of the cartel deal, and maybe this could be the way out. "I don't give a shit who your daddy is, and as for Roosevelt making you the rat, I say we use that to our advantage."

"How?" Bobby asked.

"You boys want out of this cartel deal with the drugs," Clay said, looking at him and Jax. "If Roosevelt isn't looking to hurt the Sons, and he wants bigger fish to fry, let's give them to him."

"How is that going to work?" Opie asked.

"Let him think Juicy-boy turned rat. Steal the coke, deliver it to him like he asked, get a feel for what he really wants, and we play both sides. Cops think Juice is in their pocket, cartel thinks we're all good, and we find a way to get out of this mess."

Jax leaned forward. "I have something else to add." He looked at Juice and Kayleigh. "It takes a strong man to walk in here and say the cops are trying to turn you rat. You can keep your kutte, brother. I vote we do away with this old bylaw about color. We've worked with the Bastards for years and ain't never had a problem. Besides, without Juice we lose our technology and hacking expert, and a valuable member of SAMCRO."

"Agreed," Chibs said, starting off the chorus of yeas.

"Do we tell the prospects? Miles? He's still at the warehouse," Tig asked.

"No. Fewer that know about this is less risk for the cartel finding out we're playing them. Let them stay in the dark, it might work to our advantage," Clay said, then picked up the gavel. "Let's vote. All in favor of Juice playing rat for the club's benefit, keeping his patch and remaining a member of SAMCRO, yea."

Around the table the chorus of yeas sounded and Kayleigh felt the relief wash over her at the same time the tension in Juice's shoulders lessened. The gavel smacked against the wooden disk and Clay spoke, "Unanimous. Juicy-boy, head up to the warehouse and steal a gram." Clay set the gavel down and leveled his stare at Juice.

"You did good, son. Kayleigh, you've proved yourself an asset to the club, but you –"

She chuckled. "I know. Heard it all my life, Clay. No cock, no kutte." The boys laughed, Juice shook his head, chuckling as he stared down at the table. He'd heard her say it before when she talked about her past. "Never fear, not looking to strike through that particular bylaw. I'm good with being an Old Lady, but this Old Lady couldn't back down this time."

"Understand, glad you didn't. Juicy, take your family home, then head up to the warehouse."

"Got it." Juice stood and wrapped his arms around Kayleigh, and they stood there lost in each other as the guys cleared out. "Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?"

"For being you, stubborn, strong willed, determined, hell, for believing in me that I can do this."

"Of course you can do this. I'm right here, you and me, baby. Hey," she said before he could turn around to leave the room. "Don't let this get to your head, okay. You talk to me, to Chibs, to somebody if this becomes too much, promise?"

Juice nodded. "Promise, Kayleigh. Let's get you and Gracie home."

"I'm just gonna do a walk through," Juice told Phil as he walked up to the warehouse.

Phil shrugged and let him pass with no issues. Of course, why would there be any issues, no one here knew what Juice was about to do. He went to the back and unlocked the door, flipping on the light before closing it behind him.

He was about to open one of the bricks when Phil hollered out for him. "Shit," Juice whispered.

He tucked the brick in the front of his pants, and opened the door. "What's up?"

Fucking Phil, he thought. As he was telling him he'd be out in a minute the Mayan on watch came in. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Just checking on my guys," Juice replied. "It's all good. See you in the morning."

Phil left, easy to fool, but the Mayan studied him for a second before leaving to go back to his post.

Fuck, he thought, heading for the woods with the brick still in his possession. He'd never be able to sneak it back into the crate tonight. Getting comfortable at the base of a tree, Juice stared at the brick in his hands. This was so fucked up. He would have to come up with a way to get the brick back before the Mayans showed up to get the shipment in the morning.

When Juice woke up to the sound of motorcycle engines rumbling, he knew he was screwed. "Shit, shit, shit, shit," he muttered, and sent a quick text to Chibs explaining what had happened so the guys were prepared.

Hide it, and we play it out cool, brother, was Chibs's response a few seconds later.

An hour later the Mayans and Sons were standing in the room with the keys set out on the table. Chibs made the count and the announcement that they were one key short.

It turned into a heated argument.

"We didn't take the blow!" Miles said.

"Well somebody did," Marcus Alvarez added.

Juice stepped up. "It was all there before ten. I came by after I hit the weed shop and did a walk-through. Ask him," Juice said, pointing at the Mayan lookout on duty last night.

He confirmed Juice's story, but Alvarez looked at Juice like he was the culprit. "So you were the last one here."

"Yeah, I stuck a key of blow down my pants and just walked out. Douche bag."

After an almost altercation, Clay ordered everyone out. Jax turned to Juice, "It's okay, bro."

Clay and Jax played it off, pretending as if they had no clue who it could be and defending Juice to Alvarez. Once Marcus left Jax turned to Clay. "We're going to have to pin it on one of the prospects if we can't figure this shit out."

"Yeah, I know. Miles doesn't know about Juice's deal either. Let's keep calm and we'll figure this shit out. Have Happy, Chibs and Juice press the prospects, make 'em sweat. It's the only way this will be believable."

After the Mayans left they started working on making the prospects crack. Tig and Bobby left after a call that Dawn, one of Tig's two daughters, was at the clubhouse. No one was cracking by the time Opie got a phone call.

"We've got trouble at the clubhouse," he said, snapping the phone shut and grabbing Jax.

"What kind of trouble?" Clay asked.

"That psycho porn bitch pulled a gun on Gemma and the girls."

"They okay?"

"Yeah, we're gonna go make sure."

"Kayleigh?" Juice asked.

"Everybody knows your girl can handle her shit, but I'll have her call you," Opie replied.

Kayleigh set Gracie's car seat down on one of the tables and checked to make sure she was still sleeping. Tara had a meeting to get to, Kayleigh was off for the day and had volunteered to hang at TM with Gemma to watch Thomas; Abel was with Elyda, the new babysitter and having fun learning Spanish. Tara was about to leave when Ima came out of the back dorm rooms.

Kayleigh didn't have a real problem with Ima, at least not a personal one, the bitch had kept her hands off Juice, and Juice had steered clear of the porn stars and crow eaters for a long time now. That didn't mean the other guys did the same, and Kayleigh knew for a fact Jax had slept with her at least once.

Shit hit the fan when Lyla pulled up looking for Opie. The girls didn't have to guess who Ima had slept with last night any longer. Before Kayleigh could intercept her, Lyla had spotted Ima's white car and headed into the clubhouse.

"Shit," Kayleigh muttered at the same time Bobby and Tig climbed off their bikes.

Kayleigh, Gemma, and Tara reached the clubhouse with Bobby and Tig hot on their heels at the same moment that Ima pulled a gun from her purse and pointed it at Lyla.

"You want answers, sweetheart? Go ask the cock that was inside me last night," Ima sneered.

Kayleigh moved to where Piney was guarding Thomas and Gracie with his body, ignoring the fact that Ima pointed the gun at her head as she walked past.

Tig told her to get out, and Tara stared her down. "Keep that .38 close bitch. You're gonna need it."

Kayleigh said nothing and waited for Ima to turn her back before following her out to her car. Kayleigh waited until she'd almost gotten to her car, the gun safely back in her purse before darting forward, and grabbing Ima by the back of her head at the same time she knocked her purse out of her hands. Kayleigh used every bit of force she could to slam the porn bitch's face into the side of her car. She yanked her up and repeated the motion, pleased when a smear of bright red blood was left behind on the paint. She pushed her over and laid her out of the hood, squeezing her neck and leaning in close to whisper in her ear.

"If you ever pull a gun, much less show up at this clubhouse again, I will fucking kill you bitch. You are nothing but a nasty whore and I will murder you. You could have killed my daughter today because of your stupidity."

"You won't kill me," the whore tried to speak through a mouthful of blood. "You're just an Old Lady!"

"Oh, don't test me bitch. I'm not Tara, and I'm not Gemma. You show your face at the compound and I will kill you, and no one will ever miss you. I have connections you can't even begin to imagine. Did you know hogs will eat anything, bones and all? Now, get in your car, and get the fuck out."

Kayleigh shoved her hard and released her, stepping back just far enough to pick up Ima's purse. "Oh, and I'm keeping this," she said, pulling out the handgun. "Dumb whores don't need guns."

Ima stumbled into her car and pulled out of the lot quickly.

"Juice is gonna be pissed," Bobby said. "But hot damn, sugar, if that wasn't the most badass thing I've ever seen an Old Lady do."

"Thanks, Bobby, and let's not tell Juice."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll hear it from someone, sweetheart. Better that it be you telling him you went WWE on the bitch and not one of the guys."

"Hey, baby," Juice said as he answered the phone. Chibs rolled his eyes at him and made a gag motion. Juice flipped him the bird. "Everything okay? Opie and Jax said some shit went down at the clubhouse. You and Gracie okay?"

"Yeah, we're both fine. That stupid bitch pulled a gun, but uh… Bobby said I should probably tell you myself. I mean, I doubt she calls the cops or anything, but I may or may not have slammed her face into her car and threatened that if she did it again I'd kill her?"

"You what?" he shouted, trying to stifle his laughter and pretend to be pissed instead of proud. "Hang on. Chibs is standing here, I'm putting you on speaker." He pulled the phone away from his ear and hit the button. "Now, say that again."

With a sigh, Kayleigh repeated herself adding on, "I really don't see why it was a big deal. I took her gun from her and she left and I'm sure with enough make up they can cover her broken nose. I mean, she's a porn star who needs to look at her face anyway?"

Chibs was dying laughing, clutching his sides as he tried to catch his breath. "Oh, lassie, that's… I love you, darlin'."

Juice shook his head and took the phone off speaker. "You're okay though? Gracie?"

"Yes, Juicey, we're fine. But I do have a message you can pass on. I've already told Clay, Jax, Opie, Tig and Bobby."

"Okay? What?"

"The next one of you who sticks your dick into that little whore… I'm going to cut it off, and an add on for you, Juan Carlos, if I so much as think about dicking around with that nasty whore I will rip your balls off and feed them to you, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am. Only one I'm dicking around with is you, baby."

"Good. Everything okay? Jax told me a little of what happened."

"Yeah, well… no, but it will be okay. I gotta go, no more WWE Raw shit okay?"

"Okay," she replied with a chuckle. "Be safe. I love you."

"Love you, bye Kayleigh."

"Bye."

When they got word that Romeo was on his way, Chibs came up with a plan. "Alright," he said to Happy and Juice. "here's what we do. Have the prospects starts searching the woods, Juice, go get the key wherever you stashed it and bring it back, put it away."

"Then what? Just tell them it magically appeared?"

"We'll think of that later. We do this now, while we have the time. Go."

Everything was working out perfectly to get the key back into the gun room until Miles came up behind Juice. "Hey, what you doing out here?"

"Cutting through from the guardhouse."

When a funny look crossed Miles' face Juice looked down and realized he could see the brick of blow on Juice. "Jesus, you took it?"

Miles pulled a gun as Juice reached for the brick. "Whoa, dude. I'm not carrying. You gotta let me explain."

He was going to tell Miles the deal the Club had made, the agreement they had come to, but Miles wasn't in a listening mood. "Back at the warehouse, let's go."

Juice said okay, trying to stay calm with a gun aimed at his face. He threw the key at Miles and lunged. The gun went off and he felt a searing pain shoot through his leg and he let out a scream. He scrambled for the gun Miles had dropped after Juice had knocked into him, but Miles hit him in the thigh once, and then again, sending blinding pain through his leg. Miles unsheathed his knife and moved at the same time Juice felt the hard metal of the gun, gripped it and rolled to his back, firing three shots into Miles. Blood spattered his face, and Miles hit the ground with a thud.

Juice laid on the ground, panting until he could hear Happy and Chibs calling. They helped him off the ground as Juice explained what happened. "He saw me with it, pulled a gun, I tried to explain what I was doing, but he wouldn't listen."

"Well, looks like we have our dead body to blame the missing coke on. We've got to get you to Charming, brother, get the good Doc to patch you up. Hap, get him to the van. I'll take care of this. Juice, the story is you found Miles with the brick, he started a fight, you won. Got it?"

"Got it."

Chibs drove the van as Juice dialed Kayleigh. He really didn't want to, but he knew it was better to warn her that he was coming home with a bullet wound that to surprise her.

"Hey, Juicey," she said when she answered on the third ring. "You headed home? Gracie just went down for the night."

"Yeah, um… look, Kayleigh I need you to call Tara and have her come to the house."

"Why? What's wrong? What happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'll explain when I get there, but tell her to bring the kit."

"What happened Juan Carlos?" she demanded.

"I got shot." He could hear her suck in a breath and before she could let him have it he kept going. "In the leg, I'm fine. Hurts like a son of a bitch, but I'm okay."

"I'll call Tara. Who's driving you?"

"Chibs."

"Tell him to hurry," she said before hanging up.

"Well, she didn't cuss me out."

"Oh, brother, that doesn't mean she's not furious. Women, especially women like Kayleigh and my Fiona, they act calm and collected, level-headed until you're left alone with them. That's when she'll let you have it."

Juice's phone buzzed and he looked down at the message.

Go to Jax's house. Easier for me to take one baby instead of her getting someone to watch two. – Kayleigh

Juice relayed the message to Chibs and then let his head thump against the back of the seat. "She's going to kill me," he muttered.

"Naw," Chibs replied. "She loves you to much to kill you. Now, she might slam her fist into your bullet wound, but she'll leave you alive." He chuckled and Juice frowned, not finding the humor in his statement, because he could see her doing it.

When they pulled up at the house Kayleigh was standing on the porch. She jumped off the top step and had the door open before he could reach for the handle.

"Jesus Christ," she whispered, seeing the blood that was still splattered across this face, on his shirt, and his own blood that covered the pant leg of his right leg.

He turned to be able to get out and Kayleigh threw her arms around his neck, he could hear her crying even as she tried to not make a sound. "Shh… I'm okay baby. Come on, let me get inside so Tara can patch me up, and we can go home."

Kayleigh nodded against his shoulder and stepped away quickly, turning her back and going into the house, leaving Chibs to get him out of the tow truck and into the house. Juice frowned after her retreating form and Chibs clapped him on the shoulder.

"She's strong, boy, doesn't want you to see her cryin' over you."

"I know."

"Let's go, Juicy-boy, so you can go home with your Old Lady and little lassie." With one arm around Chibs's shoulder to keep the weight off his leg, they walked into the house.

Tara made Juice clean the blood off his face first and Kayleigh waited in the living room, slowly rocking Gracie who was asleep in the car seat in front of her. Once he had washed the evidence away Tara made him climb onto the kitchen table and lay down on his stomach. She cut his pant leg up the seam far enough to reveal the injury.

"Come on, lass," Chibs said to Kayleigh in the living room. "He won't admit it, and you won't either, but the both of you need each other right now. There's always time to be pissed off."

"I'm not pis-" she started and choked back a sob.

Chibs made her stand and hugged her tight, whispering in her ear. "I know, lass. You're scared, but he needs you."

She nodded against his chest as she held onto him tightly. "He could have died, Chibs," she half sobbed.

"He didn't lass, now let's go. Tara was giving him some pain meds before she gets started."

Kayleigh wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffled, checked Gracie once more, and then walked to the kitchen. Chibs put a chair in front of Juice and Kayleigh sat down, letting her head rest against Juice's shoulder as Tara got to work.

Chibs perched on the counter and watched. He worried how Juice would handle the pressure of what the club was making him do, playing rat to the cops, living with killing Miles, but he was sure that with Kayleigh by his side he would make it through. He'd seen her strength when Juice was at Stockton and he could see it now. Despite her fears of losing Juice, she was staying strong by his side.

Juice stayed silent as Tara worked. "You're lucky, it went through and through, missed the major arteries, grazed the muscle but otherwise after I stitch you up, you'll be alright."

"Thanks, Doc."

"Thank you, Tara," Kayleigh said, and then was silent again. Juice lifted his right hand to brush back Kayleigh's long hair and she lifted her head to look at him.

She pressed a kiss to his forehead and took his hand in hers, leaning her head back on his other arm as Tara started to stitch his leg. By the time she was done it was late in the evening. Chibs helped Juice to Kayleigh's truck while Kayleigh helped Tara clean up really quick.

"Tara, I know you don't like doing this shit for the club, but thank you," she said softly, stopping Tara as she was putting supplies away.

Tara nodded. "You're right, I don't like it, but this time… I'm glad I could help, Kayleigh. Juice will be fine, watch for signs of infection, but there should be no problems."

"Okay, thanks. Goodnight." Kayleigh hugged her friend tightly and Tara hugged back just as hard.

Chibs took the car seat from her and snapped it into the base in the backseat while Kayleigh started the truck.

"I'll follow to help him get in the house," Chibs said and after nodding in reply, Kayleigh took off for their house.

She was silent the whole ride home, leaving Juice in the truck while she carried Gracie inside.

"She's pissed," Juice said to Chibs as he helped him hobble into the living room.

"No, brother. She's scared. Kayleigh's lost one husband, she doesn't wanna see you hurt, or worse. Today was an eye opening reminder for her of the danger we put ourselves in. She'll be alright. Want my advice, let her give you hell and then let her baby you, and then when you think you can, fuck the hell out of her. Because that's what she's gonna need, reassurance that you're okay and then proof, and nothing's better proof than a good fuck."

Juice chuckled despite how he was feeling and thanked Chibs.

"Any time brother. Have a good night." Chibs clapped Juice on the shoulder and then left.

Juice stood and went to make his way down to Gracie's room when Kayleigh came into the living room and shot him a glare. "Sit your happy ass down on that couch."

"Come on, baby, I jus-"

"I didn't stutter. Sit down," she said in a tone Juice hadn't heard her use with him before.

Instead of arguing with her, like his first reaction would have normally been, he held his tongue, Chibs' words echoing in his mind. He needed to let her have the lead this time, so he sat down like a kid scolded by their mother.

She slowly walked over and joined him, sitting on his left side. "You could have died today," she whispered, looking at the gauze wrapped wound. He hadn't changed out of his dirty clothes yet.

"I didn't," he said, and then wished he hadn't.

Kayleigh glared at him, her fist clenched at her side as she tried hard not to slap him or hit him. She took a deep, calming breath and said, "Tell me what happened."

Juice started from the beginning: stealing the brick, being unable to put it back, and then him, Happy, and Chibs working out a plan to be able to put it back, Miles finding him and the resulting fight.

"Miles?" she asked when he was done. "Damn…. So the club pinned it on him, the Mayans think he took it, but the cartel knows nothing?"

"Exactly. I'm sorry, Kayleigh."

"Don't be sorry," she whispered, finally looking him in the eye and he could see that hers were filled with unshed tears.

One spilled over and made a track down her cheek. "I can't do this without you, Juice," she whispered.

"You don't have to, baby, I'm not going anywhere."

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest, and she cried. Juice held her tightly, pulling her as close to him as possible, and buried his face in the thick mass of her hair. When she had quieted, Juice still held onto her until he heard her whisper.

"Let's go to bed, Juan Carlos."

Juice washed off in the bathroom before joining her. Instead of sleeping with her back to him, she turned to wrap herself around his front and kissed his chest. One of his arms wrapped tightly around her and he pressed his lips to the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent as he closed his eyes.