Hope you enjoy this chapter. I have big plans for this story, can't wait to get there!

And a HUGE thank you to Dexter1313, FlyingFyreFlye, Kakyd, and lederra for your reviews. Seriously guys, reviews are what push me to update. :)

And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'

You'll be doin' alright with your Christmas of white

But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas...

-Blue Christmas

His eyes were tired and puffed from the nights of little sleep and endless stress. Juice stared at his reflection in the dirty mirror, but no self-pity came, just pure anxiety and loathing for himself that bubbled just underneath the surface. This whole mess had been nothing but his own making. Fuck, the second man he had ever killed had been his own brother in cold blood.

His phone vibrated softly in his grip. Looking down, the unknown number he had just called texted him, a short phrase displayed on the screen.

Half hour Juicy. Get your sweet ass down to Charming Heights or your VP's wife is dead. -Dion

He hadn't realized he had been in there over an hour, and he went cold, not sure he had read the text right. Juice glanced at it a second time, and after realizing he had, he rushed out of the bathroom. In his haste, he was unaware of his phone he had left on the sink.

"Hi, honey." Gemma said from over by the bar as she fixed the branches of the small tree she had just put up. Her skin was glowing softly from the Christmas lights. "You look sick, everything okay?"

"I'm fine," He told her, pretending to admire the tree, "Looks good, Gem."

"Thanks. Thought it'd help raise everyone's spirits." She smiled at him and placed an ornament on one of the branches. "You seen Clay recently?"

Juice shook his head and moved towards the door, needing to get to Charming Heights before his brother's wife was killed. It phased him that Gemma was completely blind to the danger her daughter-in-law was in, and that made him only move faster.

"No, I haven't. Sorry," He choked out. He swung the door open and rushed through, except in his haste, collided into someone's broad chest.

"Ah, shit," Jax said in surprise and as he stumbled backwards, he dropped the box of ornaments he was carrying, and they crashed to the ground.

Of all people to run into... "Shit, sorry, Jax," Kneeling over, he fumbled to pick up the decorations. His hands were shaking.

"You okay man?" Jax knelt down next to him and gave him a look.

Juice couldn't meet his eyes, feeling as if Jax could read right through him. "I'm fine. I, uh, I gotta go."

"Sheriff Roosevelt again?"

Juice stood up and shook his head, "Gotta go visit my family."

Jax's face became quizzical. "In New York?"

"Yeah. Flight's leaving tonight."

"Alright, bro... Stay safe."

Juice shot him an apologetic look and pushed past him, walking towards him motorcycle with newfound determination. The clock was ticking and he needed to get to Charming Heights.

00000

"Shit," Tig breathed out and stared at the bottle Captain's in front of him, "He go fast?"

"Yeah. Koz was dead before he felt it." Jax muttered. He downed his shot quickly, and poured himself another. His brothers sitting at the bar followed suit, except for Bobby, who's face was creased with anger.

"Everyone else whole?" He asked.

Clay shrugged on his cut and walked towards the chapel. The tension between him and Bobby was thick as they refused to look at each other. "Yeah. Lobos are finished. The Cartel feud is squashed." He shut the door hard.

Almost simultaneously, the door to the clubhouse opened and Chibs walked through, his posture hunched and his footsteps dragging in a sort of frustration. Jax looked at him questioningly.

"You need a drink, man?"

"Nah," Chibs said, and took a seat on one of the barstools. Tig pulled out a beer from behind the bar anyway, and slid it across the wood. The man nodded a curt thanks, and took a full swig.

Jax walked over and sat next to his brother, "You don't look too happy."

Chibs nodded, clearly stressed and irritated, "Have you seen Juice? I can't find him and he's not picking up his phone."

Something came sliding across the bar fast, and Chibs caught it before it slid off the table. Juice's cell. Tig was looking at him, and pointed to the phone. "Idiot left it in the bathroom earlier."

"Yeah," Jax said and took a drink of his beer, "Kid's out of it. Damn near ran me over, he left so fast."

Chibs brow creased, "Where did he say he was going?"

"Said somethin' about visiting his family."

"What?"

"Yeah, said he didn't know when he'd be back."

Chibs shook his head, his gaze becoming troubled. He played with the phone in his hands, flipping it open and shut as he thought.

"What?" Jax asked him.

"Don't make much sense, Jacky," Chibs murmured. He looked up at him, "That boy doesn't have a family. We're the only ones he's got."

Jax leaned forward. "You sure about that?"

"Aye." Chibs lowered his voice to keep the conversation between him and Jax only, "Only child. Never met his father. Mother was a junkie, left him when he was fourteen."

"Shit." Jax breathed out a hard sigh. A missing brother was the last thing they needed on their plate. "Where the hell did he go then?"

They shared a long, knowing look before turning their attention to the phone in Chibs' hands.

Tig was in the middle of pouring his fourth shot when a piercing, "Shit!" caused him to jump and spill his rum all across the table. Jax and Chibs had stood up so fast that their bar stools crashed to the ground.

"Call Tara, make sure she's okay, we'll get a head start." Chibs was saying as he all but threw on his sweatshirt; and Jax didn't need to be told twice - he had already dialed Tara's number and was anxiously waiting for her to answer. "Jesus," Chibs cried out, and his voice was tight as he said to the others, "We need to go, Juicy's in trouble."

They stood stunned for a moment, the sudden outburst had been so abrupt, but after years of surprises like this, their instincts kicked in and they all raced to the door after Chibs without question. It was a mad rush as he, Tig, Opie and Bobby moved to their bikes, and hurriedly threw on their helmets.

"What the hell happened?" Opie shouted.

"Dion." Chibs cursed.

"Dion?" Bobby's eyes were wild, "From Stockton?"

"He texted Juice. Threatened to kill Tara unless he met him at Charming Heights. Gotta get there before something happens."

Clutching the throttle, Chibs led the way through the open TM gates, and their engines roared beneath them as they raced to go find their brother.