Ana was asleep on Juice's bed when she heard someone open the door quietly. Ana grabbed her gun from the table, and sat up instantly, pointing it at whoever was coming in.
"Easy," Happy's raspy voice said in shock, turning on the light and shaking his head. He still wasn't used to Ana having a gun. "Juice asked me to check on you."
Ana groaned and put her gun back on the table. She looked at the clock, which read 4:30. Were they really just now getting back?
"Everyone okay?" she asked, drawing her knees to her chest as he sat on the bed.
"Yeah," he said, eyeing the gun curiously. "When'd you get that, anyway?"
Ana looked over at the gun and back at Happy, who didn't look too pleased about the gun being in the room. That in itself was odd, since he was the guy who did most of the killing for the group, it seemed. He even documented the kills on his skin with happy faces.
"Some time ago, Hap. What's wrong with that?" she asked, putting it away in the drawer. He shook his head and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Just seems out of character. Nice teacher girl packing heat," he said. "Just gotta get used to it, I guess. Safety on it?"
Ana nodded, then grinned when she found out what he was really doing. It wasn't that he didn't like her having the gun. He was just wanting her to be careful with it. He was showing actual concern, and he confirmed that suspicion with his next question.
"You took the safety course, right?"
Ana smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Happy. I even took the safety course. I know how to hold it and shoot it and keep it safe," she replied reassuringly. Happy's mouth curved up into a half smile, satisfied with her answer.
"Good," he said. "Juice is getting patched up, but he'll be in here later. You should probably go back to sleep."
"Patched up?" Ana said, worried. "You said everyone was okay!"
"They are. They're alive, ain't they?" Happy asked. Ana shook her head, remembering that Happy's definition of okay and hers were two very different things. "Just don't worry about it. Go back to sleep, he'll be fine."
Juice winced as Tara put the last bandage on his cheek. The cut stung like hell, and his knuckles hurt even worse. Tara had already doctored those, muttering about stupid boys.
He'd definitely fared off worse in the fight among the club, but he could at least say the other guy looked worse. He took Jax's advice and used his rage to his full advantage. Now he was focused on getting some sleep while he could, because they had to be at the station to see what was going to happen to Weston and Zobelle.
He smirked at the memory of seeing Polly Zobelle's face. It was still healing from Ana's assault, and she had bruising around her mouth that hadn't faded yet. He didn't know how hard Ana had hit her, but if she was still healing up from it, then Ana must have used some serious force.
Ana. He could still feel that kiss she'd given him earlier. There was something about a kiss that could change your entire outlook on life, of course if it was coming from the right girl. Ana was definitely the right girl. Even in the shitstorm that the club was facing right now, Juice was steady and on his feet, which is something that he wasn't sure he could say if Ana wasn't in the picture.
He'd sent Happy to check on her for him when they got in. Most of the kids were sleeping on the floor, and the women were either on the couches or in the dorm rooms. Juice made sure that Ana was the only one allowed in his, so he was pretty sure she was in there.
"Okay, you're done," Tara said, waving Clay forward. Juice yawned and side stepped a crow eater to go back to his room, and ran into Happy coming down the hall.
"She asleep?" Juice asked, yawning again. Happy shook his head apologetically.
"Was. I woke her up checking on her. Got a gun pointed at me for my trouble." Juice's eyes widened as Happy actually looked embarrassed. "She's not a morning person," Happy continued. "Just a heads up for the future."
Snorting a little at the image of Happy being held at gunpoint by anyone, Juice walked carefully to his room. He peeked in, and saw Ana lying there on top of the covers, with a Harley Davidson blanket wrapped around her. She was obviously trying to go back to sleep, so he opened the door as little as possible so he could walk in. He took off his kutte and his shoes, and carefully laid down next to her.
"You got hurt?" he heard her ask in the darkness of the room. Juice smiled a little and shifted where he could cuddle her from behind.
"Yeah, babe. I'm fine, though. We all are, but we still have a lot of work to do before this is over," he whispered as he laced his fingers through hers.
"Okay," she mumbled back, throwing the blanket over him as well before taking his hand again. She lightly brushed her fingers over one of the cuts on his knuckles. "Did you at least kick some ass?"
Juice grinned and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You better believe it."
After that, they got quiet, both alone in their thoughts. Juice thought about the way things were right now. While he was laying with Ana, he didn't have to worry about Zobelle or Weston or people getting raped or blown up. It was just him and her. Juan and Ana. Juice liked the way it felt.
He felt Ana's steady breaths against his arm and smiled in the darkness before falling asleep, himself. Yeah, a guy could get used to this.
They both woke up a couple hours later to a pounding on the door.
"Come on lovebirds, heading to the station," Jax's voice called out. Juice groaned and Ana mumbled something incoherently.
"What was that babe?" Juice asked, getting up and stretching.
"I said give me my gun and I'll make him go away," Ana moaned sleepily.
Juice laughed a little as he sat on the bed. She looked at him and her eyes widened at the cuts and bruises on his face. She sat up and touched the one by his mouth softly.
"Please tell me the other guy looks worse," she said.
Juice thought back to the night before, how the other guy's nose was broken and was missing a few teeth. He didn't remember much, just had Jax's words ringing in his head about using his rage to his advantage.
"Yeah," Juice said, pressing a kiss to her palm before standing up. He looked in a dresser for a hoodie she could wear, and then tossed it to her.
She held it up, questioningly.
"You're aware it's fucking August, right?" she asked in disbelief. He smirked and nodded.
"Yep. It gets cold in the morning on the bike," Juice replied. "You're riding with me."
After they were dressed, Juice and Ana emerged from the room into the clubhouse, where Jax, Happy, and Chibs sat drinking coffee. Ana noticed that they looked as if they hadn't slept all night, which was probably true. Chibs handed Ana a cup of hot coffee and gestured for her to sit down next to him. Juice took a cup from Half Sack, and he sat next to Jax, who filled him in on what happened while he was sleeping. Unser was on his way to the station now, to see what was going on with the Zobelles and Weston.
"You guys ready?" Opie said, tossing Juice a helmet, who then put it on Ana, making sure it would fit.
"Looks like it," Jax said. "Tara and Mom are riding there now, couldn't wait for the Sleeping Beauties over there to get up."
"Fuck you, Teller," was all Ana said before following Juice out of the clubhouse.
Riding with Juice was one of the most exciting experiences of her life, and that was counting the stupid shit she did in college. She had her arms wrapped around his waist, hands under his kutte so they wouldn't get cold, as she watched the scenery fly by. Sure, it was chilly, but between the hoodie and his body heat, she stayed pretty warm the entire ride over.
She was also able to cop a bit of a feel as they rode. She could tell that he'd either lost some weight since the diaper fiasco, or he'd hit the gym, because all she felt through his shirt was abs.
Juice was enjoying the feel of her arms around him as well, and he could feel her body pressed against his back as they rode together. Her hands were casually roaming his stomach, and that made it a little hard to concentrate. Happy looked back at him as they road and shook his head. Juice knew he looked like a smug little shit right now, and he didn't care.
Once they reached the station, they were greeted by the rest of the club and Tara and Gemma. All of them looked too tired to make conversation. Tig was actually asleep on the bench outside the door. Everyone just found a place to sit, or stand, and wait until there was news. Juice sat on the steps and pulled Ana gently to sit in between his legs so she'd be close by. He ran his fingers through her hair absentmindedly as she dozed off again, her head resting on the railing of the steps. Chibs sat next to him and watched the couple.
"She makes you happy?" he asked Juice softly, so he wouldn't wake up Ana. Juice just nodded, and Chibs smiled at the look on the kid's face. Juice looked at her as if he couldn't get enough of her, like she was the most important thing in the world. Chibs knew that look well, it was the one he'd give Fiona when they were younger. Juice was in love, even if he denied it. It was good to see in the hell that had happened the past few months. Everyone could use a little love.
Thirty minutes later, Unser emerged, and Juice nudged Ana awake. They walked up the stairs to see what he had to say.
"Still got nothing," Unser said. "FBI and ATF's been in with them for hours. Sorry."
Clay groaned and looked at Gemma.
"You should get back to the clubhouse," he said. "Take the girls with you."
Juice kissed Ana quickly. "See you later?" he asked.
"Yeah," Ana said, squeezing his hand as she walked away.
Ana got in the backseat of the Cutlass as Gemma took shotgun. Tara started the car and they headed back to the clubhouse.
"I'm assuming you're with Juice for real now?" Gemma asked casually. Tara looked in the rearview at Ana, wanting an answer, too.
Ana nodded.
"Yeah, I am," she said, smiling a little. "What does that mean?"
"It means that you're with Juice," Gemma said nonchalantly. "And that you take shit from no one."
"It means you're owed respect once we get to the club," Tara added on. "Let the girls do shit for you, like pour your coffee and all that."
"I don't drink coffee," Ana replied. "But I think I get the gist."
"You're not exactly an Old Lady yet, but you're getting there," Gemma continued. "The main thing is you're there for him no matter what. You're his rock, like I told you yesterday. You make sure things stay good at home while he's doing club shit."
"Is it always this bad?" Ana asked, looking out the window with worry.
"No. You just picked a weird time to show up," Tara said, with a look at Gemma. "So did I. Most of the time it's just them riding and doing runs and things like that."
The conversation ceased after that, and the women spent the rest of the ride in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, the club members were at a stand off with the Mayans in front of Zobelle's store. It seemed as if Marcus was protecting his investment with Zobelle by providing an escort for their Aryan friend.
Juice didn't care about any of that, though. He was dealing with the fact that Ana was probably going to end up helping bait Weston after all. He was listening in as Jax and Unser were talking. Weston was headed out of town, but was going to see his kids, first. Jax nodded the rest of the club over so they could talk as Unser walked away.
"Weston's going to be jumpy, and I can't let him get away again," Jax said. "Juice, you need to let me ask Ana if she can help."
Juice swore and put his hands behind his head. He didn't want Ana being brought into this bullshit, but he also knew Weston needed to die for what he did to Gemma. Ana was beautiful, and easily underestimated. He knew she could do it, and would if she was asked. He didn't have to like it, though,
"If she says yes, then go for it," Juice said. "Tell her to take her gun in case it goes south, though. But if she says no, then that's it. Don't push her to do it."
"I'll go with them," Opie said.
"And me," Chibs said, looking at Juice. "I'll make sure nothing happens to the girl."
Juice bit the inside of his jaw and nodded grimly. Jax touched his shoulder.
"Nothing's going to happen to her, man," he said. "I promise."
Ana was putting beer cans in the trash when Opie, Jax, and Chibs walked in. Jax strode over to her with the other two on his heels, looking determined but worried.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I need your help, Ana," Jax said desperately. "I have to get Weston, and I need you to help me do it."
Ana bit her lip as she mulled it over. "Juice know about this?" she asked. All three of them nodded, Chibs a bit grimly.
"He's not too happy with it," he said.
Of course he wasn't okay with it. Ana wasn't too happy about it either.
"He said to take your gun," Opie said, questioningly.
Ana patted her jeans, and they could see a bit of the gun in her pocket. This is what she was here for. Helping wherever she could, and if that meant bringing Gemma's rapist to justice, then she was all for it.
"What am I doing?"
Ana, Opie, Jax, and Chibs watched as Weston and his kid walked into the tattoo shop. Opie called the owner, and then nodded, saying the plan was a go. The plan was for her to pretend to want a tattoo added on, and when it was noticed she had no real ink, Opie pulled out a fake tattoo he'd nabbed from the porn studio and told her to pull up her shirt. He then dabbed it onto her lower back, quickly.
"Lead him to the bathroom," he said. "Distract him long enough for us to get there. Oh yeah, gun," he said. Ana handed it over with confusion, and he handed back a switchblade. "If he sees the gun, he's going to know something is up. Use this if he lays a hand on you before we get there."
Ana nodded as she tied up her shirt and let down her hair.
"Okay fellas, how do I look?" she asked the three guys as she stepped out.
"Young, fuckable, and barely legal," Jax said, nodding in approval. "Don't tell Juice I said that."
"Yeah, boy's got some balls now, may punch you again" Chibs said to Jax. Ana rolled her eyes with a grin as she walked across the street to the shop.
She walked in and put her hand on her hip, and pretended to look nervous as she looked at the designs on the wall.
"Help you, sweetie?" the owner said. She laughed and turned around where he could see the tattoo. This was signalling who she was.
"You think I can add on to this?" she asked with a flirtatious giggle.
"Certainly. Go to the back and wash the area, and we'll see what we can do," he said. Ana blew the owner a kiss and walked past Weston, swaying her hips as she did. She reached the bathroom and then waited. She hoped that Jax would get here in time, because Weston scared the shit out of her.
Sure enough, Weston appeared at the door.
"Nice ink," he said appreciatively, staring at her ass more than the tattoo.
"Drunken mistake," Ana said, shrugging. "Tequila and Vegas."
"Looks good, though," he said, stepping closer to her and touching it. Ana bit back the bile that rose into her throat and reached for her knife as his hands drifted to her ass.
She didn't have to wait long. The back door burst open and Opie, Jax, and Chibs burst through. Ana pushed Weston against the wall and ran behind Opie, her knees shaking now that it was over.
"Ana, split," Jax said without looking at her.
She didn't have to be told twice. She bolted out of the bathroom and ran to get in the van, trying to get the feeling of that prick's hands on her ass out of her mind. She was shaking, and she felt sobs rising in her body. She hugged herself, trying to stop the tremors racking her body, and screamed when she heard a knock at the window.
She looked up to see Jax and the others, and she hit the unlock button on the door. They all piled in, and Jax took her hand gently.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked gently. She shook her head, trying to calm down,
"No. He grabbed my ass, but that's all he did before you came in," she replied as Chibs touched her shoulder.
"I'll text Juice, tell him it's done," Opie said from behind them. "And that she's okay."
"I'm not okay," Ana snapped, then hated herself for doing it. "I..I don't know why, but I'm not okay. The last thing he did before he died was grab my ass. How am I supposed to deal with that?"
"He's gone, and he can't hurt anyone again," Jax said, driving away. "That's all I can say. How you deal with it is up to you."
They arrived back to see most of the club at the bar. Ana went to Juice's room without addressing anyone else. Juice wasn't with them, which meant he was probably still at the cigar shop. She curled up on the bed and tried to make sense of what had happened.
She knew they killed Weston, and that he deserved to die. She'd just never been that close to a dying man before, knowing even before he did that he was a goner. It was an eerie feeling, and it didn't help she could still feel his grimy hands on her ass.
Ana jumped up and took off the shorts. She tossed them in the trash as she headed to the shower in Juice's dorm. It didn't even help. After an hour, when most of the hot water was gone, she realized she still couldn't get the feel of Weston's hands off of her. Sighing, she turned off the shower and slipped on a maxi skirt and a black tank top. She would try to handle that shit later.
She walked back into the main room of the clubhouse to see the guys all grabbing guns.
"Juice called, said they were on the move," Lyla said, her worried eyes following Opie as he loaded one of Ana's dad's shotguns.
"Where's Tara and Gemma?" Ana asked, looking around for them.
"Went to get more supplies right before you got here," Lyla replied, distracted. Ana could tell she was scared, and tried not to let it show as Opie kissed her. Once his back was turned, however, Lyla's face went from optimistic to one of sheer worry.
Ana put her hand on Lyla's shoulder, comforting her as they watched the men leave the club, ready to settle this one and for all.
This chapter was tough to write. I don't know why, just most of my creative mojo has left, or, rather, is a few chapters ahead than where this story is now. Also, my depression decided to rear its ugly head again, and my daughter has a cold. Yay, mommyhood. Not for the faint of heart.
This is actually half of what I've written today, which means today is another two chapter day. Hooray!
Also, shoutout to the lovely stormdec23, La Vik, and tumblr user whatthehelllexy. You are all awesome.