Out of the Blue

Chapter 4

Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, Courtney sang to herself as she walked in to the clubhouse carrying the latest supermarket supplies. "Ain't no river wide enough," Tig unexpectedly added behind her, both frightening and embarrassing her. "Scare me much?" she wondered. "Bok-bok-bokaaaaa!" he teased. Courtney 'lightly' punched him on the shoulder. "Ow! What was that for? Juice control your girl!" Tig told Juice who was walking through from the back part of the joint. His face lit up the second he saw his girlfriend- as it always does. "Hit him harder," he replied, aiming his world famous smile at Tig. Tig glared in return. "You have gotten me into so much shit right now," Juice admitted as he put his arm around Courtney's shoulder. Courtney held his hand. "I'm great at that," she grinned, kissing him on the cheek and walking off. "She's a good one," Tig mentioned to Juice. Juice slowly turned his head to Tig. Tig double took his expression. "What?" he asked, confused about the blank face. "You are talking to her boyfriend you know?" "I am aware of that." "Good. Anyway, Jax needs to see you." "Ok.... where are you going?" "To go give my girl a kiss," he teased. "How does that work that you get a girl and I have to hear the news that I could potentially be blown up?" Juice shrugged and winked as he strode off to find Courtney.

"Hi dad!" Courtney greeted her father as she walked to the sitting area in the back. "Hey baby. Where have you been all day?" he replied, kissing her on the cheek. "Shopping," she bluntly answered. "You did get me the lollipops didn't you?" Happy asked curiously. "Yes dad. I did. I'm not as forgetful as you remember?  I do remember things you ask me to buy- unlike you, 'dad, can you please get me a birthday card for such and such so I can send back to Sacramento', 'sure thing kiddo'. Two weeks later now, I ain't got no birthday card that you were supposed to buy me," Courtney pointed out. "I'll  buy it for you later, ok? Happy now?" Happy decided, putting his arm around Courtney. "Do you really think I would have waited for you to get it for me?" Happy rolled his eyes. "Ok ma'am. I got you," he stated.

Jax waited at the head of the table with the rest of the SAMCRO members surrounding him. "Alright boys, we have a new troublemaker on our agenda. I've been talking to Alvarez and he even says these guys will cause us a problem. Angeles Muertas. An Ecuadoran drug-running gang. Their head honcho is Anastasio Enrique Cardona, known simply as..." Jax began to explain in his classic, low, husky voice, as if he was speaking under his breath. But the intimidation flew out the window the second he had to say Cardona's nickname. Happy and Chibs glanced at each other oddly. Puzzled glances flung across the room. "Sorry, Cardona, is quite, simply, known as.... Puggles!" He burst out laughing. Rat and Juice chuckled to themselves, unsure whether to start laughing properly or not. Chibs, Happy and Tig were uncontrollably laughing. Bobby sat by Jax, shaking his head whilst smirking, confused as to how such a threat could have a nickname like Puggles. And then Jax, well, Jax was completely lost. 

"How does a so-called massive threat, like Cardona, have a nickname like Puggles? " Chibs asked curiously, wiping the corner of his eye from tears of laughter. "I don't even know man. But boys, getting serious now, this guy is crazy. He blew up four cop stations in the capital of Ecuador- within 2 days- no survivors. The DEA got him- he escaped. A few of his boys took down the entire entourage carrying him- choppers and all. This guy is a crazy shithead and he's gunning for Charming. Apparently, us being out of the drug business has cost him a minor fortune and he ain't happy. According to Alvarez, he ain't the diplomatic type either," Jax mentioned. Chibs rolled his eyes. The rest of the boys thought the exact same as him. "So we are dealing with John Wayne on steroids," Tig clarified. The group stopped on thought. "Yeah." "But what's he supposed to do with us?" Juice asked. Jax paused. A pause with Jax meant problems. "Does anyone know?" Happy questioned. Jax shook his head. "We are sitting ducks boys. No one knows how, where or when these guys are going to come after us.  And one more thing, we got the DEA and FBI behind us. If we help them get these sons of bitches, we get acquitted of all past charges," Jax added, leaning back slightly against his chair. "So that's how bad the shit we are dealing with is," Tig muttered, one arm on the table while the other was swung around the top of his chair. Jax nodded in displeasurement. "Shit," Bobby blurted out. "What about families?" Juice wondered. Jax sat up hesitantly. He bit his lip before answering. "We sit tight for now. Keep this under wraps and don't go telling everyone. When the time is right, we get them to a safe place. I'll talk a few other charters and we can arrange accommodation- temporarily while we sort this shit out." The rest of the group nodded in accordance.