...Chapter 3...

Crystal felt a tapping on her arm, then she fluttered her eyes, and saw Jax looking down at her with a smile. "Hey." she said, with a yawn, then looked around. "What time is it?"

"After three am."

Crystal sat up. "And Nic?"

"She's still the same, she hasn't woke up yet." Crystal just nodded. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"I can't... I have to stay here."

"Nic will be fine."

"It's not that, Jax." she shook her head. "What if she does happen to wake up, while we're gone? She's gonna feel scared and alone. I can't leave her."

Jax nodded, because he knew she was right. "Do you want me to stay with you?"

"I'll be fine, go ahead. Get some rest."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, but if you see Cassie and Katie before I do, tell them I won't be coming into work."

"Okay." he bent down and gave Crystal a kiss. Little did they know, that Tara was watching them through the little glass window. When she saw them break from the kiss, she quickly walked away. "You sure, you'll be okay?" he asked again.

"Yes." she smiled. "I'll be fine."

"All right, I'll see you later, Babe."

"Bye." she waved and Jax walked out of the room. Crystal got up and fixed Nicole's blankets, covering her up better, then sat back down in the recliner, letting sleep take her.

Jax decided he was going to check on Crystal and Nicole's condo, to make sure everything was okay. When he pulled up, he saw Juice sitting on the steps with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of Jack in the other. Jax parked his bike, got off, and walked up to him. "Juice, what are you doing here?" he didn't respond. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital with my sister?"

"Jax, I can't go back there."

"Why not?"

"I doubt Clay wants me there."

"So what?" Jax shrugged. "Nic needs you."

Juice looked up at him with his eyes all glossy. "How'd you feel when Wendy told you she was pregnant?"

"Well, I bailed, then got back together with Crystal." he paused. "What? Are you thinking about bailing too?"

"I don't know, Man... I just don't know what to do." Jax just nodded, knowing what Juice was going through, because he's been in that same position, and he didn't even know what to say.

Marie walked into Nicole's room and opened the blinds on the windows. She turned around and saw Crystal stirring in the recliner. "Crys?"

"Yeah?" she mumbled, trying to open her eyes. "Turn off the light."

Marie laughed. "It's the sunlight, I can't turn off the sun."

"Well, you can shut the blinds."

"It's a nice morning, Crys."

"What time is it?"

"It's nine fifteen. You've been here all night?"

"Yeah." Crystal sat up. "I couldn't just leave her alone, she'd wake up, not knowing where she was at."

"Good point." Marie nodded. "I'll make sure you, Gemma, or anyone from the club is on the list to stay with her at all times, in case I'm not here."

"Okay, that would be great, because we still don't know who did this."

"Crys." Marie said, with a heavy sigh.

"What?" she noticed the serious look on her face. "What is it?"

"I have something to tell you, I left it out, when I was telling all of you about Nic. I mean, if had told Clay or even Jax, they would have gone ballistic, and maybe Juice too." Crystal just nodded, waiting for her to continue. "I did a rape kit."

Crystal gasped. "S-she was..." she stopped, she couldn't even finish her sentence.

"Yes." Marie nodded. "Nic was smart though."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she had skin under her finger nails and lose hair between her fingers that isn't hers." Marie paused, taking out a folded piece of paper. "I had these DNA samples rushed, so I got the results when I got in this morning."

"Who did it?"

"Do you know a Colin Brody?"

Crystal sat there, trying to think, then her eyes widened. "Are you telling me that Nic's mother's boyfriend... did that to her?"

Marie slightly nodded. "He's in felon in the database, because it's a match. The evidence and DNA don't lie."

"Oh, my God... she was all the way in Nevada?" Crystal whispered, trying her hardest not to cry. "I- I don't know what I should do? Tell Jax and Clay? Or wait until Nic wakes up?"

"I'm not sure what to do either."

"Okay, who all knows about this?"

"Basically... just you and I."

"Keep it that way, until I figure out what to say to everyone, all right?"

"Okay." Marie nodded. "I'll be right back."

"I'll be here." Crystal told her, then Marie walked out of the room. Crystal sat there, looking at Nicole, thinking about what she was planning to do next.

Gemma walked in, about an hour later. Crystal stood up and said "Good you're here."

"Yeah, I'm here... how's Nic?"

"The same." she grabbed her things. "Can you stay with her?"

"Sure, Baby, why?" Gemma asked, with her eyebrow raised.

"I have something to take care of." she said, walking out the door. "I'll be back later." then she walked out of the hospital, got into Marie's car, found the spare key, and drove off.

Marie walked in five minutes later and saw Gemma sitting in Crystal's seat. "Gem? Where's Crys?"

"She booked it out of here, like a mad woman... said she had something to take care of."

"Shit." Marie shook her head.

"What? What is it?" Gemma asked, then Marie told her everything she said to Crystal. After that, Gemma pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

Crystal grabbed what she needed, then she headed out of her condo, but stopped in her tracks when she saw Happy, Jax, Tig, Chibs, Opie, and Clay. "What are you guys doing?" she asked.

"We know what you're gonna do."

She glared at Tig. "And that is what, exactly?"

"Going to Nevada." Jax chimed in.

"Who told you?"

"Marie told Gemma." said Clay. "And Gemma told me to stop you, before you got yourself hurt."

"Hey, you're welcome to come with me."

Jax stepped up to her. "Don't do this... let the club take care of it."

"When do you think you'll take care of it? Huh?" the guys just stood there, not talking. "This sick son of a bitch hurt my best friend and almost killed her and it could of killed the baby too." she shook her head. "I'm not gonna just stand by and wait around for you all to do something." she paused. "I can't believe you... Jax and Clay, of all people are stopping me. You two should be madder than anyone."

"Oh, believe me... we are, Crystal." Clay nodded. "But we need to plan this out right, so none of our hands get dirty. But mark my words... that piece of shit is gonna pay."

Crystal nodded, in understanding. She didn't want herself or any of the guys going to prison for murder, so she decided that she going to stand down from what she was planning, then got into Jax's arms for a hug.

Crystal and Jax walked into Nicole's room, a little bit later. Marie looked over and said "Wow, Crys... I didn't know you added grand theft auto to your list of crimes."

"Oh yeah... that." Crystal chuckled. "My bad, I was on a mission, but I was stopped. Don't worry, your car is back in it's spot, like it never left."

"Good." Marie laughed.

"Where's Gemma?" Crystal asked, sitting down.

"Cafeteria."

Jax gave Crystal a kiss on the cheek, then said "I need to go talk to her, be right back." she nodded, then he walked out of the room.

Five minutes later, the door open. Both Marie and Crystal's looked over and saw Juice walking in, with his head down. When he finally looked back up, he has his eyes on Nicole, and he started to tear up. "Can I have a minute alone with her?" he asked, not looking away.

Crystal stood up as Marie walked out. "Uh... did anyone tell you what happened?"

"Clay told me."

"Okay, I'll be waiting outside." she nodded, then walked out behind Marie.

Juice slowly walked up to the side of Nicole's bed, he has his eyes on her stomach, looking at her little baby bump. A had a little smile on his lips, then he sat down, as close as he could, and grabbed her hand. "Look." he started. "I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but I'm just gonna talk anyway." he paused, thinking of what to say. "I've been doing a lot of thinking... about this situation and it scares the shit out of me. I don't want you to think I'm gonna bail on you, because I'm not. I want to be there for you... and the baby." he looked over at her. "Please, Nic... I need you to wake up. Everyone is worried about you and we want to know, if you'll be okay."

Seconds later, all Juice heard was the flatline. "Nic!" he yelled. "No!" then he ran out of the room as fast as he could.

Crystal saw the frantic and terrified look on his face. "What happened?"

"I NEED A FUCKING DOCTOR! NIC'S HEART JUST STOPPED!" he screamed, frantically.