A Second Chance At Love
Summary: Mike owes money. How will they show him enough is enough?
Background: Jax calls off the bet because he's starting to get real feelings for Courtney. They decided to take it slow.
Chapter 1:
Courtney was walking to her loft from work and decided to take a shortcut through the park. She had another date with Jax tonight. He was going to bring take-out over and they were going to watch a movie.
She hoped he was patient with her and sticks with their decision about going slow. She cared a lot about Jax and with the divorce not too far away she wanted to take it slow, build the relationship so she won't mess it up. That was scary, not wanting to mess up their relationship. It meant she wanted to be with him for the long haul. It meant, she thought, she was falling in love with Jasper Jacks.
The thought made her stomach flutter lightly and she tilted her head back and looked up at the sky. The moon was full and bright and there were stars twinkling everywhere. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a minute.
Her eyes shot open and she jumped when she heard a noise behind her. She turned to see a guy with a backwards baseball cap on and he smiled at her. She could tell he was bald under that cap.
She smiled back and put a hand on her rapidly beating heart, "You scared me," she said.
"Sorry," he said with the same friendly smile and walked up to stand next to her.
He looked up at the stars, "Beautiful night," he commented, watching her out of the corner of his eyes.
Courtney looked up at the sky again, "Yeah, it is," she said.
"You don't remember me, do you?" he asked turning towards her.
"No, I'm sorry," she said now looking at him, trying to place a name to the face.
"My name is Mickey," he explained.
It only took a second to recognize who he was, "What do you want?' she asked him her smile falling to a glare.
"Well, you dear daddy has placed, and lost, another rather large bet," he said still smiling at her.
"How much does he owe and I'll pay it," Courtney told him.
Mickey let out a laugh, "That's not quite why I'm here. You see, this has happened too often and I'm a little fed up with it," he explained.
Mickey snapped his fingers and before she could do anything two guys came up from behind her and grabbed her arms. Courtney tried to struggle but they pulled her arms behind her back, pinned them.
Mickey stood in front of them and watched as she struggled against his men. He brought his hand back and backhanded her and her hand jerked to side from the impact.
"Feisty thing, aren't ya?" he commented and his two men laughed with him.
Courtney glared up at him with blood running down her chin from her split lip. She saw an opening when Mickey took a step closer and she reeled up and kicked him in the crotch. Mickey groaned and fell to one knee.
Courtney got free and elbowed one of the guys in the gut. The other one was too fast and he grabbed her from behind and held her with the help of his recovering partner.
Mickey stood up and sent a furious glare at Courtney, "Stupid bitch," he yelled but when he hit her this time it was with a fist instead of an open hand. She went limp in his men's arms but she didn't lose conscious.
Mickey straightened his jacket and looked at his men, "You know what to do," he said and with one last glare he left.
One of the men let go of Courtney and while his partner held her he slammed his fist into her stomach.
The guy holding Courtney up released her and she fell to the ground. He kicked her twice, in the side and ribs. When he went to kick her again she grabbed his leg and flipped him on his back.
She kicked him once and rolled away to try and stand up. The second guy grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her to her feet.
He brought his face close to hers, his breath coming out in pants, "Boss is right, you are a feisty thing. What do you say, should we teach her a lesson?" he asked his partner.
He hit her and she fell to the ground again. He flipped her over on her back and straddled her.
The black edges were creeping around her eyes and she fought to stay awake. She felt the guy start to unbutton her blouse. Tears started to fall down her face.
Courtney pushed at him, tried to get him off her but she was too weak. Her hands started to slide weakly back down to the ground and they hit metal.
She squinted through her tear-blurred vision and saw the gun strapped to the guy's shoulder harness.
The guy was too distracted kissing her neck to see Courtney grab the gun out of his harness. She pulled it out and jammed the barrel under the guy's jar.
"Get the hell off me or I'll put the trigger," she said fiercely through her tears.
The guy lifted his hands in surrender and started to get up. He stopped and grabbed for the gun. There was a struggle. Knowing she'd lose she drew in a breath and pulled the trigger.
The guy glanced down at his chest as the blood seeped through the bullet wound. He fell to the side and she pushed at him until he was off her completely.
The other guy advanced, she raised the gun and aimed it at him, "Get away from me or you'll end up like your buddy," she said.
The guy nodded, turned, and left the park.
She waited until she was sure he was gone before her hand started to tremble and she dropped the gun. She rolled to her hands and knees and used the bench to pull herself up.
Her ankle was sprained. Her arm was broken and she was sure that a couple of ribs were as well. She looked back at the guy that lay on the ground behind her. No, she told herself sternly, now's not the time for guilt.
She had to get out of there. His partner would tell Mickey what happened and they'd come back. She can't be there when they did. And they'll be after her for sure.
Jax. She's got to get to Jax. He'll help her. He'll take care of her. Thinking only of Jax she limped towards her loft.