Ana woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon cooking and the sound of someone singing. She rubbed her forehead and tried to process what had happened the day before.
Gemma killed someone, and she was now on the run from the law. Half Sack was killed by an Irishman, the same Irishman who had kidnapped Abel. She'd brought Juice home last night, and he'd stayed on her couch.
Ana grabbed a t-shirt and threw it on over her cami before walking into the living room. She heard Marvin Gaye's "Heard It Through The Grapevine" coming out of the radio on her counter, and Juice was actually cooking breakfast and singing along to whatever was playing. He was singing softly, and was concentrating really hard on not letting the bacon burn.
"Motown, huh?" Ana asked with a smile, crossing her arms.
"Shit!" Juice said, jumping ten feet. "You were seriously out cold when I went in there to wake you up the first time. And the second. I didn't try for a third because, you know, you point guns at people who wake you up."
"Not at all people," Ana said, grabbing a cup and pouring some orange juice. "Just people who I don't want to be woken up by. What did you make?"
"Just bacon and eggs. It's all I really know how to do," Juice said, shrugging as he took the last pieces out. "And yes, to answer your first question, I do like Motown. It calms me down. Saw you had a few CDs so I popped one in while I cooked. Hope you don't mind."
Ana shook her head as she made herself a plate of food. "I don't. Anything except my paints you're free to. How'd you sleep?"
"Okay, I guess," Juice said, sitting down with his plate. "Your couch is a little uncomfortable."
Their conversation lagged as they ate. More or less, Juice ate and Ana just played with her food. Juice could tell something was bugging her. Her eyes were far away, and she looked really sad. Opie had mentioned she'd had a rough time with what happened to Weston yesterday, and he'd meant to talk to her about it, but then the shit with Abel happened.
"Babe," he said, putting down his fork and taking her hand. "What's wrong?"
"I led a guy to his death yesterday," she said, more to herself than to him. "Like, I know he wasn't innocent. I know that. But I led him to his death, and now I'm sitting here eating breakfast like a normal person who doesn't lead people to die."
"You are a normal person," Juice said. "You don't have to do that again. This is the shit I was afraid of-"
"He grabbed my ass, Juan," Ana said. "I don't know if Opie filled you in on that, but I can't stop feeling his hands fondle it. Knowing what he did to Gemma...I know that if Jax was a few minutes late, he'd done the same thing to me. Or tried to, anyway. I was armed."
Juice just watched her, not knowing what to say. Opie hadn't mentioned all that, and he'd be talking to him about it, later.
"I'm sorry babe," Juice finally said. "I'm really, really sorry this is getting you down. If I'd known it would do this to you, I wouldn't-"
"It's fine. It's my shit," Ana said, beginning to eat. "I'll work through it later. So, what's on the agenda for today?"
Juice shook his head before telling her about looking for places Cameron might have gone with Abel. He knew that Ana was going to have some problems adjusting, especially with her depression, but if she kept pushing everything aside the way she was doing, there was going to be some serious issues in the future.
The next couple of days went by in a blur for Ana. She began pulling some serious weight at the office, and then when she was done there, she'd go and help Tara at her house. She'd also help Clay around his, mainly by keeping Gemma's plants watered and her birds fed. She even helped Chibs and the club plan Half Sack's funeral. She called guests, booked the funeral home, and put down the deposit on the casket.
Juice stayed out with the club, looking for leads on what was happening with Cameron, but much to their dismay, they kept coming up with nothing. They found someone that Cameron sold the boat and car to, but other than that they had nothing. Zero. Squat.
Ana spent the day of Half Sack's wake at Tara's, helping around the house now that Jax was finally out of his comatose state. She felt a pang as she cleaned the carpet in the nursery, knowing that Abel was somewhere out in the world, in danger. She hoped he would be found soon, because everyone was falling apart.
"I'm done," she said to Tara, putting up the steam cleaner. "Anything else you need done?"
"No, thanks Ana," Tara said, drinking coffee and staring at the bloodstain on the floor. "You've been a big help these past couple days, and I really appreciate it."
Ana shrugged as she took a seat. "Don't mention it. I need to keep busy so I don't have to think about shit."
Tara gave Ana a strange look as she took the seat beside her. "Things like what?"
"Just shit I don't want to deal with. You don't need it on your plate," Ana replied, fiddling with her chain.
"We've cleaned this house top to bottom twice over," Tara said. "I think it's time we faced that shit."
Ana sighed, and realized Tara wasn't giving up. Like it or not, Gemma Teller had really made her impression on Jax's old lady.
"I was used for bait to get Weston out. He grabbed my ass, and I was ready to kill him, if Jax hadn't gotten there first. I've never wanted to kill anyone, not even my father," Ana said, talking fast. "I wanted my father dead, sure, but not by my hand. But Weston? I wanted to kill him. And I just don't know how to deal with that."
"You talked to Juice about this?" Tara asked quietly, taking in what Ana'd said.
Ana shook her head.
"No. He's too wrapped up in what's happened, I don't want him worrying about me. I'll figure out how to deal, I guess. But that's just what's been bugging me. First world problems compared to the shit you've been through," she said. The front door opened, then, and Jax came in, looking every bit the sad and angry father. His expression softened a little when he saw Ana and Tara at the table.
"Hey," he said to Ana, smiling a little. "Thanks for helping us out around here."
"Don't mention it," Ana mumbled, noticing how stiff Tara had gotten. "I think I need to split. Get ready for tonight. Thanks for the talk, Tara."
"Don't mention it," Tara replied softly. "See you tonight."
As Ana left, she noticed the look in Tara's eyes as she looked at Jax. She recognized the guilt in them, and realized that Tara was still blaming herself for Abel disappearing. Ana felt even more horrible for unloading her petty shit on Tara. The woman was going through hell, and Ana had a feeling things would be getting worse before they got better.
Juice and Ana walked hand in hand up the steps to the funeral home. She was wearing a black blouse and skirt with the boots she normally wore when she was teaching, and he was in a black t-shirt and jeans with his kutte on.
Ana didn't talk to Half Sack much, but when she did, he was kind and considerate. He'd given his life trying to save Abel, and Ana was glad to have known him. She looked at Juice and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back, smiling sadly as he kissed her cheek.
They walked into the viewing room together, and Ana felt nothing but pain as she looked at his service picture combined with a full patch kutte. She wiped a tear away as she kissed her hand and placed it on the casket.
"I'm sorry, Kip," she whispered tearfully as Juice rubbed circles on the small of her back. She looked back at him. He was looking at the casket with a look that most would say was emotionless but she knew him better. She knew Juice was torn up over it, he was just hiding it very well. "You need a minute?"
Juice just nodded, and she walked out of the room, but stayed by the doorway and watched as Juice dropped to his knees. He was praying, which shocked Ana. She couldn't hear the exact words, but they weren't in a language she understood. That was something she'd ask about later, she decided, when they weren't surrounded by death and calamity.
He rose and did a symbol of the cross before coming back to her, wiping his eyes carefully. He took her hand and stepped aside so someone else could pay their respects.
"Juice," Clay said from the entryway. Juice nodded and kissed Ana's cheek.
"I'll be back in a minute, babe," he said before going to see what Clay wanted. Ana decided to find someone else to talk to; she knew they were going to be busy for a while.
The wake was simple, but so many people had come to it. Other charters, the men Half Sack had served with, and even a few people from Charming. Jacob Hale even made an appearance, though it was obvious hell rising would have been a more welcome distraction than the wake of a SAMCRO member. Juice stood with his brothers as others came to pay their respects, and he noticed Ana helping Tara and Lyla with any comfort concerns the guests may had. She held children as their parents talked to the other adults, she fetched drinks or tissues. She offered sympathy and support. She, along with the other two, had stepped up in Gemma's absence and Juice was so proud of her.
Juice was talking to Jax and Tara about that after the wake when he heard gunfire. He hit the deck without thinking, looking around for any sign of Ana. Last he saw, she'd been talking to Lyla by the bikes. Once the gunfire stopped he looked up and looked for her in a panic. He heard screams coming from every direction, and then heard his name. And it wasn't Ana calling it, it was Opie.
Juice looked over to see Opie and Lyla holding someone who was crying out in pain. The whole world faded to black when he saw it was Ana. Her face was screwed up in pain, and he rushed over, knocking Clay and Tig out of the way to get to her.
Juice reached them and kneeled down to her level. He looked over Ana to see where she was hurt.
"Baby, where are you hurt?" he asked frantically, not seeing anything around her chest or stomach and breathing a sigh of relief..
"My leg," Ana whimpered painfully. "My thigh."
Juice looked and saw the darkness on her skirt. He pushed it up and saw a mess of blood coming from her upper thigh. Ignoring the tears in his eyes, he pressed his hands to the wound. "Chibs!" he yelled. "Tara! Someone help me!"
Ana looked up at him and brought her hand to his face, trying to calm him down without words. He pressed a kiss to her palm and kept pressure on the wound. He didn't feel any blood rushing, which he assumed was good, unless a bullet was in her leg. He knew Ana was in pain, and he tried not to move so he wouldn't cause her any more pain.
"Juan, calm down," she said, trying to calm down. "You're shaking, and it's not really helping me. I think I'm going to be okay."
"Yeah, well I want to be sure," Juice said severely as Chibs came over.
"Ah, lass, not you too," he said desperately as he looked her over. He made Juice move his hands, so he could see what was happening. He wiped the blood away with a cloth he'd nabbed from Tara and let out a relieved sigh.
"Looks like a bad graze, sweetheart," he said as he waved a paramedic over. "You're going to be okay. There's no entry or exit wound, and that's good. They'll take you to St. Thomas and stitch you up."
Juice choked out a relieved laugh as he kissed Ana. She kissed him back as the paramedic put her on a gurney.
"Make sure he's careful, Chibs," she said firmly as they loaded her into the ambulance. Chibs blew a kiss at her as they closed the door.
"Come on lad," Chibs said angrily, going to where the rest of the club was. "Let's go see who's responsible for this shit."
Jucie nodded, anger fueling him like he'd never known before. He saw Jax pummeling one of the shooters into the ground and Juice went to join him. Chibs pulled him back as the rest of the club went to get Jax.
"She doesn't need you back in jail, kid," he said. "Be smart."
Juice nodded, still angry as the cops arrested Jax and another cop called for an ambulance for the beaten Mexican. Yeah, he'd be smart for now, but whoever did this shit was going to die.
Ana winced as the doctor put the final bandage on her leg.
"No driving until that heals," he said. "Do you have someone coming to get you?"
Ana didn't, but she nodded anyway. "Yeah," she said, taking the cane he offered her with a grin. "Thanks, doc."
She hobbled to the waiting area, about to call Juice when she saw him waiting there, reading a magazine. She cleared her throat and he looked up. His eyes traveled to the cane and sadness came to his eyes as he walked toward her.
"You okay baby?" he asked, hugging her carefully.
"I'm fine. I just can't drive for a while. I got something to beat up Happy with, though," she joked, nodding to the cane. He laughed a little and helped her out to where her car was waiting.
"I figured you needed a ride home," he said. "My bike's at your place and once you're settled in, I'll head back to the club."
"Okay," she replied as he handed her cane to her. He closed the passenger door and got in behind the wheel.
The drive back to her house was silent. She could feel her painkillers kicking in, and she felt really light headed.
"Babe?" she asked. He looked over at her and fought back a grin. She was definitely feeling something, he thought as he took her hand.
"Yeah, beautiful," he said, turning onto her street.
"You were praying or something...at the casket."
Juice nodded, pulling into her driveway. "Yeah. Ma was a Catholic. It just felt right. My Latin sucked, though, I couldn't remember half the words."
Ana smiled lazily as he helped her out of the car and up the steps to her house. He unlocked her door and helped her in. He took the cane from her and put it by the door with the rest of her stuff.
"I need that," she protested weakly.
"No, you don't," he said, picking her up carfully, and laughing as she smacked his arm lightly. He carried her to her room and laid her on her bed gently. He pulled her shoes off, and pulled the covers over her.
"You're sweet," she whispered softly, closing her eyes, gripping his hand in hers. "Stay, please."
"Baby, I can't," he said. "I wish I could, but-"
"Just stay until I fall asleep," she asked him. He sighed and pulled out his phone. He sent a quick text to Clay and then he laid down next to her.
"I'm here," he said, kissing her forehead. "I'm right here."
Juice walked into the clubhouse an hour later. Ana had fallen asleep not even thirty minutes after he laid down with her, but he stayed to make sure she was asleep for the night. He'd even put her cane at her bedside so she could get to it in the morning before he left.
"Juicy boy, how's the girl?" Chibs asked lazily, watching TV as Happy and Tig played pool.
"She needed a few stitches but she's fine. Home and asleep. Any idea when Jax is getting out?" Juice asked, sitting next to Chibs.
"Yeah. Tomorrow," Chibs replied. "Unser's dropping the obstruction charge, under these circumstances or some shit. We're going to find out about the bastards that did this in the morning."
"Good," Juice said, scowling. He could still hear Ana's screams of pain ringing in his ears. Oh, yeah, he had some nice words for the people responsible. If they couldn't find Abel, they damn sure were going to find the ones who shot up their brother's wake, and wounded women and children. And they were going to pay for it.
Okay, so, here's the new chapter. Sorry if it sucks, I've just had the crappiest weekend. I'm down with bronchitis, my daughter was sick, my teams have been losing, my depression is getting bad, and I'm moving again. I did get to watch the google hangout with Theo Rossi, and that man is adorable when he sees dogs and kids.
We found out the 12/27/80 mess, I'm not a huge fan of the story behind it, but whatever.
Thanks as always to you beautiful people. You are so awesome.