A/N: Thanks for the reviews of last chapter! I hope you guys enjoy this one just as much!
The next month went by quickly as Juice and Sara got to know one another better. They stayed at the cabin for a total of two weeks before returning to Charming. Juice was mostly healed and the heat from the county sheriffs died down.
It was then that Juice asked Sara to move in with him while she stayed in Charming. Sara was more than happy to agree. And so it went for the next three weeks. Sara and Juice lived together in his house like a real couple, and neither of them could have been happier. Juice went to work during the day, and Sara stayed at home working on her art or hanging out with Lola. But she always managed to be home when he got there.
Things weren't as good with the club. SAMCRO was looking for Darby and the Nords, but it seemed like they had vanished off the face of the Earth. It was like the club was in a holding pattern waiting for the Nords to regroup and come at them again. That, of course, meant Juice was spending a lot of time at the club looking up the records for all of the known members of the Nords. Because of that, Sara was spending a lot of time at the club getting to know all of the guys and their old ladies. The more time she spent at the club the more she realized that she could get use to this in the long term.
Lola and Sara walked through a superstore in Stockton. Lola was looking for a few cutesy items to spice up her apartment in Charming. Lola had made good on her promise to stay in Charming for the rest of the summer. "Ooh! What about these candles?" asked Lola, picking up a candle and sniffing it.
Sara laughed. "I don't know why you are decorating a furnished apartment that you barely see the inside of now. You spend most of your nights at Tig's place anyway. Besides what are you going to do with all of these kitschy accessories when you go back to Santa Barbara in August?"
"The place feels sterile right now. It doesn't say anything about me. It looks like I am a freaking squatter or something. Besides, Tig has spent a couple of nights at my place, too. He really likes my cherry blossom bubble bath." said Lola laughing softly. "And at some point you are getting your own place. I can give you all of my stuff for your guest bedroom so it will always be ready for me to visit. Which is why you are here to help me pick it out. Or are you going to stay with Juice forever?"
"Tig takes bubble baths? Somehow I didn't picture that," said Sara laughing at the mental image stuck in her head. "Well, I don't know what I am going to do at this point. I love staying with Juan. It is amazing. But he only asked me to stay for the summer, so I am still looking for house. I can't believe the sellers turned my offer down for that house. It was the perfect little place for me with great exposure to the morning sun for me to work on my paintings."
Lola laughed. "There is a lot about Tig that you just wouldn't imagine. But that is beside the point. Listen, I don't think that you should be putting in any offers on anymore houses. You don't want to be tied down to a mortgage payment if you and Juice move this relationship to the next level. Then you will be stuck with a house you won't be living in, and this economy is hard on the real estate market."
Sara frowned at Lola, but gave what she was saying some thought. "I don't want to freak Juice out by making it seem like I am trying to stay with him forever. It was a really big move for him to even ask me to move in for the summer. I don't want to push my luck expecting more."
"I am not saying drag your feet waiting for an invitation. Why not just rent an apartment? You could sign a 6 month lease and see where your relationship is at by then. I just feel like this relationship is going places. I see the way he looks at you. Better yet, I see the way you look at him. The two of you are smitten with one another." Lola frowned and asked, "Did I really just say smitten?"
"Yes, you did just say smitten. But I think it is an accurate description in this situation. There is nothing I like better than waking up next to Juice in the morning. You know he's been letting Freddie work on the tattoo of the drawing I did. I mean - the man is permanently marking his body with something I drew. That is incredibly sexy," said Sara laughing softly.
"My point exactly. You two are the cutest little couple I have ever seen. So just go with the flow, and see where this thing goes. But don't put any roadblocks in the way... like buying a house that is probably going to be unnecessary in a couple of months," said Lola.
Sara said, "There is a certain logic to what you are saying. I guess I just don't want to get my hopes up for something that doesn't happen. So if I just go on with business as usual, then I won't be as disappointed."
Lola shook her head and said, "You are delusional if you think you won't be just as heartbroken no matter what. Even if you won't admit it... your hopes are already up and you know it. You can lie to me Sara Jane... but don't lie to yourself. You are already in too deep for you to walk away from this thing unscathed."
Sara frowned at Lola and rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Dr. Joyce Brothers. Let me live with my delusions for a little while. It is June. I have until August to figure things out. And maybe Juice will have made his move by then. But I will take your advice about the house hunting. I will look for something a little less permanent like an apartment. Maybe we can come back out here next week and have a look around at apartments."
"Good. I am glad that you are taking my advice for once. From time to time I really do have good ideas." Lola paused, grabbed some curtains, and said, "Jared, called my cell phone yesterday. I hung up on him though. But he called back to back a number of times, and I ignored him. The last time, Tig grabbed the phone before I did. It was not pretty."
Sara started laughing. "Oh, man! To be a fly on the wall for that conversation. What did Tig have to say to Jared?"
Lola laughed and said "Let's see... I don't think anything Tig said can be repeated in public. It was more expletive laden then a rap song. I tried not to laugh because Tig was super serious."
She chuckled and shook her head "Wow. I can't wait til we get back to your apartment so I can hear this recap verbatim. So you and Tig are...?"
"Tig and I are just having fun. He is a big ball of fire and we are... explosive together. I like that a lot. He's funny, passionate, smart, and crude... which I sort of love. He is so different from all of the other guys that I have dated. He's seen all of this stuff in the world you know. He is a Marine. You know how I feel about military men. Getting to know him is like peeling the layers of an onion. The further you peel, the more you learn about him. And I feel... safe with him. Is that odd? Because it certainly feels odd. I don't know. It makes me worry that I like him for all the wrong reasons. When we aren't together, I... sort of... miss him. I don't know it is - just that Tig understands me in a way that no other man has really understood me. He understands my insanity and embraces it." Lola shrugged.
Sara quirked an eyebrow at Lola. "That sounds like way more than just having fun, Lola. You sound infatuated with him. I didn't think that you were into guys that much older than you."
"I didn't think that I was either. I normally refuse to date anyone more than six years older than me. Tig is 51. He is literally old enough to be my father. But oddly enough... I don't mind. Look, I know this ride is going to end eventually so I've just decided to enjoy it while it lasts."
"But it doesn't seem like you want it to end," Sara replied. "You've been really vague about you and Tig. I feel like there is something going on here that you aren't saying. Remember what you just told me... it is okay to lie to you, but I shouldn't lie to myself. Well, I am going to give you the same advice. Don't lie to yourself. You are far more invested into Tig than you are willing to admit."
"Let's just get back to shopping so that we can head back to Charming," said Lola with a cheerful smile.
"I am not trying to give you a hard time, Lola. I am just worried about you. How does Tig feel about you?" asked Sara.
Lola smiled and said "Tig isn't exactly big on talking about feelings. And what is there to feel? This is casual."
Sara decided to drop it. She could see that Lola wasn't willing to go there right now. The two women finished their shopping trip after a couple of hours.
"I can't believe I spent $1200 on bullshit. Why didn't you stop me?" asked Lola, laughing as they loaded the purchases into Sara's car. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and fanned herself in the hot summer air. "Okay. I am literally roasting right now."
Sara laughed and said, "How you survived the South for so long I will never know. And I didn't stop you from shopping because you are like a one woman wrecking crew." Sara helped Lola load the bags into the car. Once they were finished Sara climbed into the car and put on her seat belt. "Do you have everything you need? You know how forgetful you can be," said Sara with a smirk.
Lola put on her seat belt and said, "I have everything I need for tonight. This dinner is going to knock his socks off. Thanks for the help with the shopping, Sara." Lola put on her sunglasses and glanced at her watch. "We made really good time."
Sara smiled and said, "Yeah, we did. We still have enough time to decorate your new place before your dinner tonight. And I have enough time to get home and get ready for my night out with Juice. We are going to go to the movies tonight." Sara drove them back to Charming. "I need to stop home for just a minute. I need to pick up that painting that I finished for you."
"That is sweet that the two of you are going out to see a movie together," said Lola with an approving smile. "And that is great Sara. I have just the place for that panting. By the time we are in our thirties, I'll have several dozen of your paintings. If you ever hit the big time, I am going to be filthy rich." Lola flipped down the mirror and fixed her make-up. She paused slightly as she looked in the mirror. "Sara, that car has been following us since we left the superstore."
Sara glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned. She did remember the red Camaro pulling out at the same time they did. In fact, she remembered the Camaro pulling into the parking lot when they arrived at the store that afternoon. Sara sped up more and switched lanes.
The Camaro followed them easily.
Sara said "What should we do?"
"We are almost to Juice's house. Let's just go there and call him," Lola said as she glanced back at the car. She didn't like the look of the three guys in the Camaro.
Sara didn't like that option, but she couldn't think of a better one either. So she drove like a speed demon until they reached Juice's house. She whipped into the driveway and hit the button for the garage opener. She pulled into the garage and quickly closed the garage door. Sara hopped out of the car and unlocked the side door running into the house with Lola hot on her heels. Sara locked the door.
"Maybe they gave up following us..." said Sara.
She glanced out the window in the living room. She groaned when she saw the Camaro parked across the street.
Lola was already on her cell phone calling Tig. She grumbled, "Of all of the times for him not to pick up... this is not the time."
Tig finally answered. "Hey babe. What's going on?" he asked in a concerned tone, since Lola didn't usually call him during the day.
"This car followed Sara and me all the way from Stockton to Juice's place here in Charming. They are just sitting outside, but we are really scared. What should we do?"
Sara said, "Oh, shit! They are heading toward the door now. We need a weapon or something." Sara raced into the kitchen looking for anything to defend them if it came to that.
A moment later there was a loud crack as the three men kicked in Juice's front door.
Lola dropped her cell phone with a scream and ran into the kitchen where Sara had grabbed a carving knife. "Seriously? You come from a family that hunts and you grab a knife! Where are Juice's guns?"
"In the bedroom closet. I couldn't get back there without leaving you up here alone, you crazy bitch!"
"Oh... well let's run like hell together. I'm Black. I can't die in a gun fight wielding a knife. My people will make fun of my ass for years."
She crept to the kitchen doorway and nodded at Sara. They made a break for it down the hall toward Juice's bedroom.
Sara closed the door and locked it once they were in the room. She started pushing Juice's dresser in front of the bedroom door hearing heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.
Lola meanwhile threw open the closet doors and looked for guns. She grabbed a pump action shot gun and said, "I've only fired handguns before."
A man's voice was heard outside of the room. "If you bitches come out now we won't kill you. But if we have to break down this door you are going to suffer," said the man laughing. "We just want to talk sugar tits. We know you are banging the wetback. We just want a little information about the Sons. You give us that and we will go away."
The girls didn't say anything. They huddled together in the closet. Sara searched the closet for a handgun and made sure it was loaded.
It was eerily quiet for a moment until a gun cocked in the hallway. Then there was kicking at the bedroom door like they were trying to kick in the door.
"That door isn't going to hold. It is flimsy!" Sara muttered excitedly as she felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Lola pumped the shot gun and shot through the bedroom door.
There was a scream from the hallway. Lola had hit one of the men in the shoulder with the round, and wood splinters sprayed the hallway.
"Sounds like you hit one of the bastards. Shoot again. Maybe it might scare them the hell away for now," whispered Sara. She was prepared with the handgun in case they made it into the bedroom.
Lola said "Okay..." She stood up and shot through the door twice more.
The guy left standing in the hallway repeatedly fired through the door.
"Sara, are you okay?" asked Lola looking over at her friend.
Sara looked at herself. "I am fine. I didn't get hit." Sara looked at Lola and saw blood coming from her arm. "Lola? Oh, shit! Are you okay?" she asked, staring at her friend's arm.
Lola nodded and said, "It hurts really fucking bad." Lola put her hand over the wound to stop the blood.
Sara stood up and fired through the door several times with the handgun.
The shot hit the second guy in the chest. He let out a howl and hit the floor with a thud. The third guy shot through the door a couple of more times before picking up his injured comrades and leaving the house quickly. As they were pulling off, the roar of motorcycles could be heard in the distance.
Clay, Jax, Tig, Juice, Opie, and Miles arrived at the house. Clay nodded to Jax and Tig. "We'll go around the back," he said.
Opie said, "We'll take the front." Opie, Juice, and Miles approached the front door seeing that it had been kicked in. They walked into the living room and saw that it had been trashed. Opie didn't like how silent the house was. He didn't know what the hell they were going to find.
Juice had to resist the urge to call out to Sara to see if she was okay. He didn't know if anyone else was left in the house. Juice crept around the house with his gun drawn making sure they were alone.
Clay, Jax, and Tig did the same as they came through the back door. They met up with the rest of the guys in the hallway and saw blood on the floor and shell casings from a handgun. They made their way down the hall, checking the other rooms. They didn't find anyone. They came to a stop outside of Juice's room. Clay looked to Miles and Tig. "We need someone outside the window to try to see who is in there."
Tig nodded and took Miles outside with him. They stood in front of the window and peered in. Tig could see Lola's legs sticking out of the closet door, and he felt a chill go up his spine.
Inside of the house Clay nodded to Juice.
Juice said, "Sara... baby? Are you here?"
Sara jumped to her feet hearing Juice's voice. "Yeah! We are in here! I'm okay... but Lola is hurt."
Juice tried to opened the door but couldn't "What's wrong with the door?"
"Oh! The dresser is in front of it. Hold on. I will move it." said Sara.
Tig lifted the window from outside. "It's okay, girls." Tig climbed in through the window and Miles climbed in behind. He barked at Miles. "Move the dresser."
Tig rushed over to the closet to check on Lola. "Babe..." said Tig in a worried voice. He picked her up into his arms and carried her out of the closet. He saw blood covering her summer dress. "Where did you get hit?" Tig smoothed her hair out of her face so that he could see her face better. "Try to breathe calmly. I know it hurts," he said in what could only be described as a soothing voice.
Lola was trying to hold back tears but couldn't. She was in a lot of pain. "My arm..." said Lola, moving her hand to show him a bullet hole.
"Son of a bitch!" muttered Tig, taking off his cut and his work shirt from the garage. He used that to make a tourniquet for her arm.
Miles moved the dresser and opened the bedroom door, letting the other guys into the room.
Juice walked over to Sara taking her into his arms. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Sara nodded and said "I am fine. I didn't get hit. My ears are ringing, but that is all. Lola is the one that is hurt." Sara's eyes went to her friend laying on the bed in pain.
Clay said "We've got to get the girls out of here." Clay walked over to Sara and asked, "Darlin', do you think you'll be able to drive your car over to the club?"
Sara nodded shakily. "I can do that... I can do that."
"Good. Miles, help Tig get Lola into Sara's car, and we will trail them back over to the club."
Tig put his cut back on. "I don't need help." He lifted Lola into his arms and carried her out of the bedroom.
Juice walked with Sara out of the room and to her car. He looked into her eyes. "Are you sure that you are okay? I can leave my bike here and drive if you want me too, baby." He brushed a thumb over her cheek.
Sara shook her head. "No, I am okay to drive, Juice... I promise."
Juice kissed her softly and opened the car door for her.
Sara climbed into the car and looked back as Tig got Lola settled in the backseat. Once Lola was settled and the garage door was open, Sara pulled out of the garage and drove toward the club.
The guys trailed behind her Tahoe as she drove to the club. It didn't take long to make it to the lot. Miles was the last one in and he hopped off his bike closing the gates behind them.
Sara pulled up as close to the club as she could and hopped out of the car. She opened the back door to check on Lola.
Tig walked up behind her and said, "Let me get by you sweetheart." Tig lifted Lola out of the back of the car and carried her into the club. "Chibs!" yelled Tig.
Chibs rushed over with what medical supplies they had. "Okay. Set her down so I can get a look at her arm."
Tig had a seat in a chair and set Lola on his lap. "You're okay. Come on. You're okay." He lightly stroked her hair as her head rested against his chest.
Juice walked over and hugged Sara against him tightly. "Are you sure that you are okay, baby?" asked Juice seriously.
Sara said, "I am fine really. I am just worried about Lola."
He pulled back so that he could look into her crystal blue eyes. "I am sorry that this happened. I'm sorry." said Juice kissing her softly. "I love you..."
She froze slightly. She looked into his eyes and said "I love you too, Juice." She wasn't sure about saying it under these circumstances, but she could tell by the look on his face that he really meant it.
Juice pulled her back into his arms and just held her in his arms for what felt like forever. He didn't want to let her go. Finally, he asked, "What happened at the house?"
"We were headed home when Lola noticed that a car was hanging pretty close to us. We drove to the house, hopped out, and ran inside. Lola called Tig and then three guys kicked in the door. Lola and I ran to the bedroom to hide because I know you hide your guns in the closet. I pushed the dresser in front of the door since they kicked the front door in so easily. They shot through the door and Lola shot back with the shot gun. We heard someone scream like she hit one of them. We waited and then I told her that she should shoot again. So she did - twice. That's when they started shooting through the door, and Lola got hit. I shot through the door a couple of times. I think I might have hit one of them. I guess they left after that because the next thing I knew I heard motorcycles..." said Sara. "We didn't know what else to do but shoot at them. We didn't know what they wanted..."
The guys stood around listening to Sara recount the story of what happened at the house.
Juice hated that Sara had to fire a gun at all. He didn't want that for her. It normally wasn't like this.
Clay spoke up. "Well, there is blood in the hallway. At least one of them is definitely hurt. We are going to find these guys. You girls did the right thing protecting yourselves."
Jax nodded in agreement with Clay. "Definitely."
Chibs looked at Tig and shook his head. "I am not going to be able to pull this bullet out of her arm it feels like it is wedged in against the humerus bone. This is going to be something that I needed Tara's help for. The best I can do is give her something for the pain and try to stop some of the bleeding."
"Tara's at home with the Abel and Caitlin. I'll ask her to come down here." said Jax. Jax walked outside to call Tara at home. Happy was over there right now keeping an eye on her after the attack on Juice's house.
Tig stood up with Lola still securely in his arms. "I am going to take her back to my room." Tig carried Lola back to his dorm room.