Firefly

Chapter 28

*Don't miss the last few lines of page three guys!*

-

Juice's smile was bright although not nearly as much as it would be if Amelia was on his arm. He strutted into the clubhouse and at first no one even looked up. Glancing around he was pleased to see that at least they all seemed somber.

"Hey assholes." He shouted with more exuberance than he really felt. His arms extended out as if to showcase himself. "I'm home."

"JUICY!" Chibs, of course, was the first to greet him with a rough bear hug. "Brother, it's great to have you back."

"You're telling me, man."

They all hugged one by one, thrilled to be reunited with their brother. "She was meant to call." Bobby said with a grin. "But I guess you had other ideas."

"Just wanted to get back here and tell you all myself."

"Can't keep the Sons down." Clay announced as he hugged Juice. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Prez."

"Somebody get this guy some shots!" Tig ordered and pointed toward Half-Sack. "You need a girl?" He asked, noticing Amelia wasn't there. "We got plenty."

"I don't need a girl but I'll take some fucking whisky."

After a few beers and a handful of shots Juice was feeling really good. It was easier to think of talking to Amelia with some alcohol loosening his tongue.

"Another round!" Bobby called out but Juice raised his hand and shook his head.

"No." Juice waved his hands in the air. "I'm done. I gotta go."

"Go?" Happy barked. "Where you gotta go?"

"Ahhhh," Jax and Opie began to laugh uproariously. "Fucking whipped. Juicy has a date with Ginger."

They gave him a rigorous chastising and made crude jokes as Juice said his goodbyes and headed for his bike. He mounted and started the engine before taking a second to text Amelia. She had no intention of going to sleep but he didn't know that and spent the two minutes waiting for her response with bated breath.

"I'm up. Door's unlocked."

-

Juice wasn't drunk. Buzzed, yes, but not drunk. He knocked lightly on the front door, his lips curling into a smile as he heard her shuffling toward the door.

"Hi." She stepped aside to let him into the apartment. "Drunk?" Examining his eyes as she asked Amelia could see he'd definitely had a few drinks. "That's not safe, driving around like that. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I know." He took off his cut and boots, comfortable in her place, and sat on the couch. "I had to see you though. We have to talk, Meels."

She nodded and joined him but sat as far to the end as she could. Close proximity did something to her, it clouded her judgement. "Yeah we do. You lied. You promised me you wouldn't lie again. Not only that but you're obviously a criminal of some type. I don't know what to with all this, Juice."

Hearing her use that name with such an angry tone burned deeply. Usually she said it jokingly but now he knew she was trying to distance herself emotionally.

"I am. The club, we're one percenters, outlaws."

"One percenters?" She asked with her nose screwed up.

"A lot of bikers get a bad wrap but truth is, 99% of MCs are legal, nonviolent guys. Sons of Anarchy are not part of that percent."

"Oh." Curling up, Amelia tucked her knees up under her chin. "What do you guys...do?"

Taking a deep breath, Juice turned to face her. "I need you to promise me you won't repeat this, to anyone, Amelia."

"I would never." She looked slightly offended. "I just lied to the district attorney to get you out, I'm not going to blab to anyone no matter how this ends."

The constant reminder that she still had yet to decide terrified Juice. "Alright. We run guns; we buy from the IRA and sell them to a few other crews, our protection runs are legit sometimes. We do cover some of Chief Unser's deliveries but we also help other charters and brother clubs. The club owns part of a porn studio, that's all straight, we provide muscle for them too if they need it."

Taking a moment to repeat his words to herself, Amelia nodded as it slowly began to sink in and make sense. "Okay." Finally she looked at him. "Have you ever killed anyone?" She'd never think it before but now it was a real possibility.

"No." He said quickly. "I've hurt people, seen lots of people die, never killed anyone. I did talk to Tyler, I did try to scare him and," he stopped. His eyes filled with tears. "His accident wasn't an accident. It didn't go according to plan so they got creative. He was drunk but the spin out happened with a little help."

"Jesus." She stood up and walked to the other side of the room. "That was your call, right? You set that up?"

"I did." Juice stood but gave her the space she needed. "I did it for you."

"No. Don't you put that on me." Vigorously she shook her head. "I didn't want you to do that. I didn't ask for that."

Juice nodded. "I just meant I did it to protect you."

Amelia couldn't stop the way her face twisted up in pain. She turned, not wanting him to see, and desperately tried to hold back her tears. "Is there anything else?"

"No."

"You should probably go then."

When she looked at him again Juice began to despise himself. She was so obviously heartbroken, the pain she was all over her face. He knew he didn't deserve her but that didn't mean he didn't love her and need her.

"Amelia, I'm sorry."

"I know you are. I am too. I didn't want any of this."

His face screwed up as he began to cry. Only two silent tears fell down his cheeks but it touched her. She still couldn't put it together, she couldn't see him doing the things he admitted to.

There was no pleading, Juice had already begged and he didn't want to pressure her or become the annoying needy guy like Tyler. He accepted his fate, if only for the evening, and slowly nodded. Sinking back down, Juice put his boots back on and grabbed his cut. Making his way to the door Juice looked at her. "I'm sorry, Amelia. Don't doubt that I love you because I made mistakes. I have no excuses for this I'm just sorry I hurt you."

"Can you just tell me the real reason you lied though? The real reason you didn't want to tell me."

His hand fell from the doorknob. "I was scared. At the very beginning I didn't know if I could even trust you. After the shit with Kelly I knew I could but I didn't want you to run or hate me or be scared of me. You don't have to be scared of me, I would never hurt you." She looked at him, clearly hurt, and he rolled his jaw. "Well, other than this, I guess."

"I'm sorry." She walked over to him and kissed him, fleeting and gentle. "Please be careful with all that shit. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Juice didn't say anything, he didn't response to her request in any way. He opened the door and quickly shut it behind him. He was devastated and severely pissed off as he trudged down the hall with tears still burning his eyes.

Amelia knew that was the smart decision, the mature one and most likely what was best for her future but it was crushing. She made her way to the sofa and as she heard his bike rumble on the street below she wailed and began to sob. Smart and mature meant nothing if she was miserable and alone. The decision was ripping her to shreds but she had a million reasons not to go after him. A million reasons that didn't really matter.

-

What do you think? I can end it here or keep it going! I have tons of ideas but I'm not sure how you all feel about it. I'm also thinking about a Mae/Opie like this, a much different view than we see in my series. Would you guys be interested in that? Xoxo Please let me know. Thanks!