Angela held Evie tightly through the chaos that was currently surrounding them. Evie had only cried a little after the initial blast, scared by the rapid movement and probably by the heat that had come from the explosion, but she wasn't crying at all now. In fact, she was sleeping soundly which scared the shit out of her mother. How could her child sleep through all of this? Had the blast hurt her in some way? Was she going through some kind of shock? She looked up at Juice who looked just as worried as his eyes went from her to the clubhouse that was still engulfed in flames. Firemen and policemen were walking around the lot, interviewing everyone to see if they knew what happened. She wondered if they'd find out anything helpful. Everyone knew what happened, except for maybe the newer sweetbutts, but they all knew better than to say anything. This was a matter for SAMCRO to deal with, not law enforcement

Juice turned to her, his hands reaching up to frame her face and keep her eyes trained on his. "Are you okay?"

She looked at the wreckage of the clubhouse for a brief moment before meeting his eyes again. "Yeah," she said on a breath. "Yeah, I think so. I mean...are you?"

He nodded once, swallowing hard as his hands left her face, one brushing over Evie's head. "She's okay, right?"

"I don't know," she answered, her voice cracking a little bit and showing just how worried she was. She was scared as hell because there was no way for her to know how her own daughter was affected by the blast. The feeling of uselessness overwhelmed her, bringing frustrated tears to her eyes. "I don't know how to tell. I can't...I can't ask her, and I can't...I don't know."

Juice's eyes scanned the parking lot for a brief moment. "Chlo!" he shouted, catching the nurse's attention. She was standing with Happy, her hand in his as they talked. When she heard him calling, they dropped their hands. He gave her a quick peck on the forehead before pushing her towards them while he went to go talk to Jax.

Chloe quickly walked towards them, a worried look in her hazel eyes. She held out her arms for Evie, but Angela only held her closer to her chest. They'd been seconds away from the clubhouse exploding with them inside of it, there was no way she was going to let her baby girl go. "Have you taken her earmuffs off yet?" she asked, not pushing it.

"No, I didn't want to...I wasn't sure it was over," Angela answered.

"Okay, let's take them off, then," she said, using her soft nurse tone. If Angela wasn't in such a panic mode, she would've been all over her for using that tone of voice with her, but she was too worried, and it was actually kind of soothing.

Carefully, she pulled the earmuffs off, handing them to Juice who was at her side, shifting nervously. "Now what?" she asked. Chloe snapped her fingers by one of Evie's ears, watching as the baby flinched at the loud sound. She did it again in the other and Evie's face started to scrunch up before she started to cry. Angela held her closer to her chest, glaring at Chloe. "What the fuck, Chlo?"

"I'm checking her ears. That's what I'm most worried about. I think we ere far enough away that we don't have to worry about smoke inhalation, but that was a loud blast and it could've royally messed up her hearing," she explained patiently. "But she's responding well to those loud noises, so I think her hearing's just fine. Take her to the hospital tomorrow. I'll set her up with an appointment, and we'll make sure. Right now, I think she's fine."

"You're sure?" Juice asked.

Chloe gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes, sir," she said on a nod. "You don't have to worry about traumatizing her either. She's too young to remember any of this."

"Thank God," Angela said under her breath. Her dark eyes swept over the crowd of people, clearly searching for someone. It took her a minute to find whoever it was she was looking for, but when she did, she handed Evie over to Juice. It didn't take Chloe long to realize her friend was heading straight for Happy.

Happy held his little cousin for a moment, dropping a kiss to the top of her head before pushing her away, his dark eyes searching over her every feature. That was the man Chloe was starting to fall for. The loving man who was constantly worried about his family, though he'd never admit it. It was watching him with Angela that made her realize she didn't give a shit about his assassin title, it didn't change anything.

Happy studied Angela's face for a brief moment, seeing the pure fear in her eyes, fear he hadn't seen in them for a long time. "S'okay, kid. You're okay," he told her, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. He could tell she was starting to split at the seams and close to a breakdown. This was something he hadn't trained her for. Something he couldn't train her for. It was new ground for the both of them, but he wasn't going to let it get to her. He was going to treat it like he did with everything else and not let her give in to her fear. She was strong enough to handle it. "Hey, hey, stop cryin', kid. You're okay. The brat's okay. Nothin' happened. Breathe. In. Out."

She listened to him, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Her tears subsided and the shaking in her hands lessened a bit. He could see her starting to put that wall up and strengthen herself against her fear. He was proud of her for it; it showed how strong she was. Wiping at her face, she gave him a small smile. "I'm good. I'm good," she said, holding up her hands.

"You sure?"

Angela nodded, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. "Yeah. Got it," she said, her voice still a little shaky. "Thanks. I needed that."

"I got you, kid."

Angela stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Love you, Hap."

"You too," he said on a nod of approval as they walked to where Juice and Chloe were talking. He nodded his greeting to Juice. "You should get 'em home."

Juice nodded in agreement, using his free hand to grab Angela's. She slid her fingers between his, leaning her head onto his shoulder. "Yeah," he rasped, turning his head to kiss her forehead.

"Take care of 'em," Happy told him, as he always did.

"Always," he answered, squeezing Angela's hand before letting it go and slipping his arm around her shoulders instead.

Chloe watched them walk away, the three of them pressed so tightly together it was hard to see where one ended and the other one began. "She's not okay, is she?" she asked Happy without turning to look at him.

"No," he answered honestly, his hands deep in his pockets as he searched for a toothpick. "Neither is he."

She nodded slowly in agreement. There was something in Juice's eyes that put her on edge. The wheels were turning in his head, and she worried that whatever he was working on would eventually hurt Angela. "What now?"

Happy shrugged a shoulder. "I'll take you home."

"Okay."

The ride to her house was longer than usual. Happy drove at a slower pace knowing he didn't have a place to stay for the night. He could drive the few hours it took to get to his Ma's place and stay there, but it was a long ride, and he was exhausted. He knew if he asked Chloe to stay, she'd let him, but he didn't want to impose. After what they'd just been through, he wouldn't blame her if she didn't want anything to do with him anymore.

He finally pulled up in front of her house, stopping the bike and waiting for her to get off. She looked confused for a brief moment when he made no move to get off the bike. The moment passed and a knowing look crossed her face. Without a word, she grabbed his wrist and gave it a tug, nodding her head towards her house, a silent invitation.

He nodded, taking off his helmet and hanging it on his handlebars before following her up the walk to the front door. Once inside, he took a heavy seat on the couch, tilting his head back against the headrest and closing his eyes. He felt something cold and wet lap over his hand and opened an eye to see her pitbull, Hades, staring back at him, his tongue hanging out. He smirked and ran a hand over the dog's head, scratching behind his ears.

Chloe bouncing around the house with a nervous kind of energy. She handed him a beer before she started to pace. His eyes followed her for a moment, giving her some time to work out whatever was going on in her head before he asked, "You okay?"

She stopped pacing and stared at him, eyebrows raised as if she was surprised he was still there. "Yeah, I guess. I'm just...trying to convince myself that the whole thing was a gas pipe leak that caught fire."

He shook his head. "It wasn't," he replied honestly. It was better for her to know than to kid herself into thinking something different about it. "Irish keg bomb."

"Irish keg bomb," she repeated slowly. "Well, that's a St. Patty's day drink waiting to happen."

Happy chuckled at that. He couldn't help it. It was such a ridiculous thing to say considering what just happened. He hooked a finger around her belt loop, tugging on it to pull her next to him. She fell onto the couch cushion beside him with a surprised gasp. Sitting up, she moved closer to him, their legs just barely touching. "The brat okay? Didn't get a chance to check."

Chloe blinked at him for a brief moment before nodding. "I think so. She had those ear muffs on, and they're pretty protective. I'll check her out at St. Thomas tomorrow."

He draped an arm over her shoulders, his hand playing with the ends of her short hair. "Why'd you get 'em?"

" 'cause they don't make Kevlar vests for infants," she answered, only half joking. At his raised eyebrow, she sighed. "I know Ang's life is...dangerous. Hell, she came in a few months ago with a stab wound and a bullet in her calf. I just...I wanted to give Eves something that would protect her in some way. Figured her life was loud, she could use something to quiet it a bit."

Happy leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple. She leaned into his kiss, so he let his lips linger against her soft skin for a moment longer than usual. "Thanks."

"Mmm," she hummed, closing her eyes as she let her head rest on his shoulder. She sighed lengthily before she remembered what she'd talked about before. Setting her hand on his thigh, she gave it a loving squeeze. "So...you're the Tacoma Killer, huh?"

Happy tensed at the nickname. He wasn't that surprised she'd found out about it. She'd been in such close quarters with a good chunk of his brothers, it had to have caught her attention some time. In fact, he thought she'd learn it sooner. "The kid tell you?"

"No, Ang doesn't tell me anything about you that I don't already know," Chloe answered on a light laugh. "She should've, but she doesn't seem to think it's a big deal. Tara told me, actually."

He sighed lengthily as he rubbed a hand over his face. "You want me to leave?"

"No," she said, squeezing his thigh. "Stay. Just tell me something...the happy faces...are they up to date?"

He smirked as he thought about it. The Croweater that used to do them had gone and gotten herself an Old Man in a different charter, and he didn't trust anyone else to do them without asking their meaning. He knew Angela would, but it didn't feel right for his little cousin to be tattoo his kills on him. "Nah. Missin' a few," he answered honestly. "That scare you?"

A soft laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "No," she said on a breath. "It should. But it doesn't."

His eyes met hers and he leaned forward, putting his forehead to hers for a brief moment. "Ain't ever gonna hurt you," he promised, his hands tangling in her hair.

"I know," she replied, boldly closing the space between them to kiss his lips. She pulled away, patting his thigh before she stood up. "C'mon, killer, I need a shower."

He smacked her ass before getting to his feet and draping an arm over her shoulders. "That an invitation?"

She smiled up at him and nodded. "You're not as dumb as you look."

"Shut up," he muttered, pressing hard on the bruise he had left on the side of her neck with his thumb. She let out a yelp of pain, but her smile didn't waver.

She led him into the bedroom, surprised when he stopped at the threshold of the master bathroom. His dark eyes looked her up and down in a way that made her shiver. "What?"

"You with me?"

That question carried more weight with it than anything he'd ever asked her before. Every instinct Chloe had in her told her to run. This man was a killer. He admitted it. But she didn't see that when she looked at him. No, when she looked at him she saw the man who loved and cared about his family above all else. Who would do anything for them, no matter the circumstance. He was a good man, a great man even. She found herself smiling as she nodded, "Yeah, Lowman. I'm with you."

-----------------

Angela sat in the passenger's seat of her Mazda, staring numbly out of the windshield as Juice drove through the quiet downtown area. They were both silent as they passed empty shops with 'for sale' sign hanging in the windows, a sign of the changing times; Hale was slowly buying out everything. All of the quaint little stores and restaurants would be replaced with chains. She was dreading it. There were a lot of changes happening in Charming as of late. After seeing the clubhouse go up in flames, Angela was starting to understand Tara's need to get out. As safe as she felt in that sleepy town, the reality was they weren't safe at all.

A sigh of relief left her lips as they passed the "Welcome to Charming" sign. Clearly, Juice needed to get out too, if only for a moment. She reached out a hand, grabbing his and squeezing it tightly. Without looking at her, he brought her fingers to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.

When he finally parked on their little mountain overlook, he let go of her hand and got out. She looked over her shoulder at Evie, whose face she could see in the little reflective mirror. She was sleeping soundly, the ugly bulldog Kozik had won for her the day he died tucked safely by her side. Angela was thankful she'd forgotten it in the car now; she would've hated to lose that little piece of her fallen brother. She sighed as she got out of the car and went to join Juice who had opened the hatchback and was sitting on the bumper.

They both sat there staring at the sleeping town for a minute before she cleared her throat. "Well that was...a blast," she said flatly.

Juice hung his head as he tried not to smile. That comment was so inappropriate in the wake of what had just happened, but also so like his Old Lady to say. He couldn't help but laugh. "Jesus Christ, baby," he said on a chuckle, draping an arm over her shoulders and pulling her towards him to kiss her temple. He loved her for that comment. Loved that she could make him laugh when he was feeling like his world had just exploded...because it almost had.

"Sorry," she said, smiling a little herself. She sighed as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "In all seriousness though, that was scary as hell."

"I know," he agreed softly. He felt like the worst father in the entire world. His daughter was barely two weeks old and had already survived her first bombing. What the hell was wrong with him? How could he put his family though that kind of shit? It'd been proven time and time again that as long as he was a Son, their lives would constantly be in danger. "I'm sorry, Angel. This shit...it's not right."

She got to her feet, moving to stand between her legs. "That wasn't your fault. You know that, right?"

"My fault you were there. My fault that you and Monk coulda been-"

"Stop!" she exclaimed, cutting him off quickly. "Don't go there, Juice. Nothing happened. We're here, we're alive. Don't start with the 'what if's'. Please."

If he was paid for the amount of times she had to remind him of that, he'd be rich. Angela didn't think on the past, she didn't see a use in it. Juice found it hard to think like that, though; especially when the past had a habit of turning around and biting him in the ass. "You two aren't safe here, Angel," he told her softly.

The look in her eyes told him she agreed with him, but he knew she wasn't going to tell him that before she even opened her mouth. "Yes, we are. Why wouldn't we be?"

"Because shit like what just happened has been happening on a constant basis. This is the first time its reached you guys, but it could happen again."

"It could," she agreed on a nod. "But what are those chances?"

Juice shrugged a shoulder as he put his hands on her hips, his thumbs rubbing over her warm skin. "I dunno. Pretty fucking high, I'd say."

"I'm not going to leave, Juice. Not without you. That's not the way this works. Evie needs her dad."

He shook his head miserably. "You two would be better off without me."

"No, we wouldn't," she said stubbornly. "Juice, don't push me away. Not now. I need you."

"What could you possibly need me for, Angel?" he asked, softly. "All I do is put you and Evie in danger. What good am I?"

"Juice, you're everything to me. You...I need you to make me feel wanted and loved, to give me strength, to...to complete me. We've tried being apart, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I need you because without you, I'm lost."

He understood those feelings because he felt them himself. Being without her for just a week had nearly killed him; he couldn't imagine being away from her for longer. But if it meant she was safe, he could suffer through that. He could live without her if it meant she got to live. He knew there was no way to make her see that, though. She wasn't going to just leave him because he told her to. He had to find another way to get her and his daughter away from all of this danger they were in. From the bombs and the bullets. He had to protect them, no matter what the cost. "Feel the same way, baby," he said, standing and pulling her into his arms. "I love you, Angel. So much."

Angela nodded, her ear pressed to his heart. She could hear its strong beating, too fast for the normal resting rate. Something else was going on in his head, something that he was keeping from her. "Love you too," she said, tilting her head back to look at his face. She connected their lips in a quick kiss before pulling away with a sigh. "We're going to be okay, Juice. It's going to be all right. All of this shit will work itself out. It always does."

Juice smiled grimly at that. It was a lie if he'd ever heard one. The shit they were going through would take months, maybe even years to work out, and the little family he'd worked so hard to get would be stuck in the middle of it. The bomb was a clear wake up call; Charming wasn't safe anymore. His family wasn't safe anymore. He had to get them out before they got hurt. He just didn't know how to do it.