Living with the Club

Capybara Sleep

Veronica was home alone when she got the call from Juice.
"I won't be home tonight. Bobby's been arrested."
"Just be safe," she said, half asleep.
"Love you, bye."
"You too."
He hung up.
Veronica fell back asleep almost instantly.
Clay called her the next morning to do a check on Opie. She was hesitant but did as he asked. What she found was a a chunk of debt paid off. Juice joined her by the computer.
"Can you tell Clay," she says, handing him a printed copy of the finances.
"Shit, yeah," he squeezes her shoulder and walks off.
She runs her hand through her hair and wonders what shit Opie had gotten into.

The next day, Juice tells Veronica Opie's story of being framed as a rat.
"You don't seem to believe it," she said to Juice.
"I don't know what to believe," Juice says.
"I've know him a long time. He wouldn't lie."
"I have no pull. We'll see how it goes," he says.
"Okay, I'll be home at 8," he adds.
"Okay, baby," she says.
Veronica hung up.
She decided to cook up lasagna and chicken for dinner, thinking of middle school with Opie.

Juice got back earlier than he said. It was just seven when he walked into the house.
"Baby?" He calls.
She walks out of the bedroom in a towel. She had just gotten out of the shower.
"Hey," she smiled.
"I guess I missed the good stuff," he said, tugging at her towel.
"I guess you did," she smirked.
He slings his hands around her waist.
"I made lasagna and chicken," she added.
"You're the best. I'm starving."
"Let me slip on something and I'll make us a plate," she says.
"You could go nude," he jokes.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" She laughs.
"I would," he smiles, giving her a smooch.
She laughs, pulling away.
She walks back to the bedroom, shaking her ass at him.
"You're killing me, baby," he says, liking what she's doing.
She smirks and pulls on a pair of yoga shorts and Juice's SOA T-shirt.
She returns to the kitchen where Juice pulled out some beer and was sitting at the table.
She makes them both a plate of food and they sit down at the kitchen table.
"Abel goes home tomorrow, Jax's is having a party. We're invited," he tells her.
"Sounds fun."
Juice takes a bite and makes a face.
"What's that face for?"
"This is ridiculously good."
"It's just lasagna."
"How did you learn to cook like this?"
"May."
"I should make you enchiladas," he tells her.
"I've had enchiladas before."
"You've never had mine before though."
"What's so special about them?"
"An old Ortiz secret," he smiles.
"We'll have to make a day of it," she smirked.

Juice went to bed at ten, but Veronica wasn't ready to sleep. She kissed him and went out to the living room. She saw his cut and picked it up. A box of blue camels fell out. She didn't know he smoked because he never did it around her. She opened it, almost a full pack. This told her that it was either a new pack or he only did it periodically. She didn't believe in drugs like marijuana or coke but she did smoke blue camels fresh out of high school. She fiddled with the box for a long time before she pulled one out. She ran it under her nose and smelled it. She looked at the clock it had just hit twelve in the morning, she knew Juice was fast asleep. She debated having one for long time.
Veronica thought about when she quit. She had just graduated college and had heard a seminar about nicotine that she didn't particularly like so from that day she went through a process of detoxing from nicotine. She sat on the couch holding the box and single cigarette until she fell asleep.
"Baby?" She heard a low mumble.
He took the box and cigarette, setting them down on the table.
He picked her up and carried her to bed.
"What time is it?" She asked in a sleepy voice.
"3."
"Oh."
"I didn't know you smoked camel."
"I only do it when club is on high alert and I'm stressed."
"So new or old pack?"
"A week old."
"I used to smoke camel."
"Did you?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her.
She snuggled into him, nodding.
Then she fell asleep again.

"Wake up, beautiful. We have to be at Jax's in an hour and a half," he said into her ear.
"What time is it?"
"3."
"I slept more than 12 hours?" She asked, sitting up quickly then feels a headache coming on.
"apparently so, I went to the club at 8 and I just got back. Are you feeling okay?" He asks, resting his hand on her forehead to check for a temp.
"Yeah. I do have a headache though."
"I bet," he says.
"Also starving," she says.
"I'll grab you a protein bar," he says, looking at her with a worried gaze.
"Not a gross one," she says.
"Yeah, okay."
He returns a few minutes later, holding two protein bars.
"Chocolate cliff bar or special K mocha?"
"Cliff" she says and he tosses it to her.
"You know you bought those special K ones," he says, skeptically.
"They are gross," she says, taking a bite of the cliff bar.
"So I should throw them away?"
"Or give them to someone."
He shakes his head at her.
"You love me," she smiles, kissing his cheek between chews.
"You know I do."

Veronica and Juice get to Jax's late at 5:15 because she made a point of getting Juice in the shower. They enter Jax's and see that most of the club and old ladies are already there. Juice plops on the couch next to Tig. Veronica greet Jax who was on the other couch.
"Hey Jax, congratulations and thanks for inviting us," she says, resting her hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, doll," he said, resting his hand on hers.
"Help yourself to beer or snacks in the kitchen, I think we've got plenty," he smiles.
"Thank you," she smiles.
She walks toward the kitchen.
"Beer?" She directs her question at Juice.
"Yeah," Tig says.
Juice gives her an apologetic smile and nods.
She gets the three beers and brings them back.
She hovers over the couch.
Juice gets up for snacks soon after she got him the beer and he drags her to the kitchen with him.
"You know I never told you," he started, looking from her then over her shoulder.
"Hmm?" She asked.
"You look hot tonight," he smiles, giving her a long luring gaze.
She was wearing her high-waisted, black skinny jeans and a red crop top which read 'biker girl.'
She laughs, "thanks, babe. You don't look too bad yourself."
She turns around when she hears, "Tara!"
Tara pushes Juice aside, grabbing her purse. Jax was behind her, looking frustrated.
"Do me a favor. Make sure Tara gets home okay."
Juice gives him a questioning look.
"Don't ask."
"Okay," Juice agrees, handing Jax his beer.
"Do you want to come?" Juice asks.
"Would you come back if I didn't stay?"
"Probably."
"I'll stay, hurry up before she leaves."
"Love you," he kisses her and she nods, watching him go.
Opie approaches Jax, "what happened?"
"I've got no idea."
"Sorry," he says, covering up a chuckle.
"Yeah, I can see that," Jax smiles.
"I have an idea," Veronica says to Jax as Donna approaches Opie.
Jax enters the kitchen, "do you?"
"She may or may not be threatened by Wendy."
"Bye Jax..bye Roni," Donna waves.
They wave from the kitchen.
"Why would she be threatened by Wendy?"
Veronica sees Tig walk out after Opie ans gets a strange feeling but shakes it off, returning her attention to Jax.
"I don't mean to speak out of place but Gemma has a lot of influence over a lot of people. That could have something to do with it but I don't know I haven't been around in a long time."
Jax nods, "I see your point."

Juice gets back a half hour later with a look of pure hatred on his face.
"What's wrong, baby?"
Then the whole house is chaotic and Juice rushes me outside.
"Talk to me?" She begs.
"There was an accident. Get on," he growls at no one in particular.
They drive down to Adams Boulevard and she can see cops and ambulances.
"Babe."
"Some mother-- they killed a woman-- Donna. We don't kill woman or children," he says half to himself half to her.
Opie is crying over his dead wife.
"I can't see this," Veronica says, getting a glimpse of the gun shots.
She notices Clay pacing, he looks guilty.
"I'll be right back, baby."
He joins his brothers.
She sits on the curb, feeling sick to her stomach.
She didn't know if it was retaliation or an internal thing.
Juice joins her again looking distressed.
"I'm staying at the clubhouse tonight," he tells her.
"Just take me home," she said.