Disclaimer: I do not own Sons of Anarchy it is owned by FX, Kurt Sutter and everyone else that would kick my ass legally if I didn't put this in here. I only own Taru, her horse and just about every other random that pops up in the story. This has come from the depths of my sick, insane, twisted, depraved mind and my madness fuel's it to keep going. Yet again do not own SoA if I did I wouldn't have made Jax a little whiner baby, seriously is he in or out? Anywho... yes, only own my characters, most of the plot line except for the plots that were obviously taken from the series.

Note: Nasty reviews will be used to pack buck shot for the inevitable zombie apocalypse or they may be given to my two lovely little plot bunnies so they can turn it into something useful.

Carries on from the first story in the series Horsepower of a Different Kind. So if you haven't read that go and read it first.

Yes! me and my madness are back and kicking ready for a whole new season of Taru and Chibs. There will be no sexy fun between them for a while but something between Taru and another brother in a few chaps ;P Virtually cookies if you guess and get it right. Yet again this is rated for my profane use of the best part of the English language that some people may find offensive, others may not, but if you're reading SoA fiction you seriously shouldn't be offended by the language since I can only assume you've watched the show. Yes I'm still carrying on with the song lyrics at the beginning over every chapter, if you haven't read the oneshots for the first story then I suggest you do so, they'll highlight some details between the first story and this second one like Abel's homecoming, Taru smacking the crap out of a car with a crowbar... you know the usual things that happen. Enjoy my loyal readers and I do enjoy getting reviews but I do not need them to sustain my life force so review at your own will just please be nice about it.

Set mostly before Season 2 and during Season 2. First few are before the season hence the reason why Bobby isn't here and why Gemma's all hunky dory.

Disciples of Babylon – Dragonforce

Crying alone at night your destiny unknown
You're every being full of rage and hate
Seems like you're running but you just cannot hide
It's in a raging fear all solitude is left behind

Heading for the 494 Yard Home Stretch

=Taru's P.O.V=

"On the first circuit hold him in the middle of the group, keep to the outside and take Canal turn at an angle if you can, he's a big boy, he can't turn on a sixpence like some of the smaller horses but in saying that he can chew up the ground easily" I stated, my hands shaking slightly from my nerves. Today was the big day, the day that would make or break Dev and I. The day that Dev would either race into racing history as a legend or a runner up. Today was the god damn Grand National.

James nodded as we walked the course. "I'm bloody nervous Taru" He confessed.

I nodded. "You're not the only one, my insides are knotted beyond all hell," I stated and motioned towards Canal turn. "Do the best you can, Dev's a smart horse, he'll pull up if he thinks he can't make it," I took a sip from my bottle of water. "If he doesn't feel like he's running right pull him up, I'm not losing him over a god damn race" I stated hotly, my insides quaking with fear for my prized stallion.

James gave another nod and let out a shaky sigh. "It'll be a damn tough race Taru, but Dev's got a big strong heart and an excellent set of lungs, he'll put his all into it"

"Exactly, that's why you need to hold him back, this isn't just another race, it's four miles and four furlongs long, it's a killer race but if he can do this then he can do anything"

"You sure you want to retire him after this?"

I swept my eyes over the course and shrugged lightly. "He's a stunner but I don't want to put him through the hassle of all the racing again, I would love another chance to race this course but perhaps with another horse, after he's run this he's going to deserve a life of luxury, a nice comfy stall and paddock where he can run with the mares" I finished my bottle of water and let out a shaky sigh before lighting my sixth cigarette in the space of an hour since arriving at the track.

"If any fence is going to get him it'll be Valentine's brook," James nodded towards the jump as we arrived at it. "There's not much time to correct him if he faults at the turn"

I nodded slightly. "On the second circuit once you get past the turn get him closer to the head of the pack," I tried to quell the nerves jumping in my stomach. "Let him go for it and then rein him in"

"Is that a good idea? You know what he's capable of Taru"

I nodded lightly. "But I trust your judgement James, I know you'll be able to pull him down and keep him level, third or fourth at least until you get down to Melling road again then start bringing up closer to the leader"

James nodded as we started walking again, his hands shaking from nerves. "Do we seriously have a shot at this Taru? Because I'm shitting myself that something's gonna go wrong"

I stopped him and placed both hands on his shoulders looking into his eyes. "Nothing is going to go wrong, you and Dev are going to finish this race and you'll both be god damn legends" I stated, I couldn't figure out if I was trying to convince myself or him of it.

James exhaled slowly and gave me a smile. "Thanks gorgeous, I needed that"

I nodded and slung my arm around his shoulder before grinning brightly, my own nerves beginning to disappear. "You win this and there's a party in your honour tonight" I stated as we continued back towards the grandstands and stables.

The stables were a hive of chatter and excitement; several people were running around with blankets, feeds and buckets of waters.

I grinned towards Dev; his ears perked forward, nostrils flaring at the scents and sounds of everything happening around him, the occasional stomp of his hoof as a mare was led past him. I stroked the length of his face and leant forward giving him a sneaky marshmallow. "No more until after the race" I whispered into his ear as I ducked under the chains and ran my hands over his neck and shoulders feeling him quiver underneath my palm, the excitement starting to get to him.

"He seems pretty relaxed considering what's going on around him"

I nodded and smiled leaning against him and pressed my cheek to his neck giving a genuine smile to James. "That's my boy, aye Dev, calm and collected in all situations," I kissed his neck and felt him quiver again and stamp his hoof as a mare was led before him. "Keep it in your pants Dev at least until after the race"

Both James and I began laughing until Marcis came over. Marcis was Dev's strapper for the day, Elliot had let me whisk away the 19yr old apprentice jockey for educational purposes.

"Hey Taru, hey James"

"How's everything going?"

"Good so far, just getting everything set up and ready for the race"

I nodded giving Dev a kiss on the cheek. "Be good bub and I'll splash out and buy a brand new wardrobe for you" I whispered and scratched his forehead before ducking under the chains again and headed towards the bar.

By the time the horses were being paraded around for the spectators my nerves had returned ten times stronger than what they had been earlier in the morning. I clenched my fingers around the bottle in my hands, people were chattering excitedly around me, most of the woman dressed up in fancy bright dresses, the men in three piece suits and here was me, a pair of bright electric blue skinny jeans on held up with a silver studded belt, a black form fitting button up shirt tucked into my jeans, a tartan coloured waist coat, black high top chucks, a long white sheer scarf with black skulls draped around my neck and a black suit jacket with electric blue pin striping along with my cane and a black and grey Fedora, a band of red ribbon around the base of it with a fake black rose pinning it down.

I let out a low breath, my mind had been hyperventilating most of the past half hour now that the race was due to begin, my thoughts running from Dev and James to the race and from there to Chibs and if he was watching the race with the boys.

I glanced down the track from the owner's box I saw stood in, several other owners milling around talking with each other, taking bets about their horses and who had the better horse. So far I'd made no attempt to get to know them, most of them seemed like stuck up snobs anyway.

"Excuse me," I jumped slightly, my mind had been elsewhere and I hadn't seen the guy come up beside me. "Are you one of the owners?"

I nodded. "The Devils Gunslinger is my boy" I stated draining what was left in my beer bottle. Sods to anyone who thought I was an alcoholic loner.

"That big eighteen hand high black brute?"

I nodded and chuckled softly. "That sounds like him; he's not a brute though"

"Who's his trainer?"

"I am" I stated watching out the corner of my eye for his reaction.

"So you're the infamous Myrsky Mäki that's on everyone's lips then?"

I gave a light shrug. "I guess I must be"

"I'm John Young, I own Sea Captain's Revenge"

"The twelve year old chestnut with looks to boot and scope to kill?" I'd been eyeing the chestnut in the stables, if anyone could beat Dev it would be that gelding.

He threw back his head and laughed. "That's my horse," He stated before nodding towards the track. "Placed any bets?"

"Are you kidding?" I looked at him deadpan. "I always place a bet when I'm at the track"

He gave a nod and motioned towards my empty bottle. "Can I get you another?"

I looked to the bottle in my hands and nodded. "Thanks"

I waited for him to come back and watched everyone below us chatting excitedly about the horses and what was happening around them.

"Here," I took the bottle and nodded a thanks to him before taking him in properly, 5ft7, clean cut, nice well tailored suit, well groomed brunette hair and bright friendly steel blue eyes. "Should be a hell of a race"

I gave a nod. "It should be, the only horse I'm particularly worried about is yours, if any horse can be my Dev it's your gelding"

John looked up in surprise and grinned softly. "I don't know, your stallion's pretty fast"

"He might have the heart, lungs and legs but he can't turn as fast as the others, that canal turn is what'll get him"

I turned my attention back to the track as the starters called the race to an open and that the horses were waiting behind the tape ready to fly.

The second lap had started minutes ago; a roar going through the crowd reverberated through every bone in my body as the front three horses were coming around the final corner to tackle the second to last fence.

My heart jumped into my throat seeing Dev running in third, James egging him on with words and nudges of his heels. I clenched the bottle in my hands and downed the contents quickly watching him fly over the 4ft7 high 3 ft wide brush jump to head to the very last jump before he would have to start the 494 yard dash for the finish line.

My mind was froze as I watched, the bottle I'd finished long forgotten on my seat as I leant forward on the banister, the crowd's deafening cheers coming from the grandstands below me. "Come on Dev, come on," I whispered softly bracing myself on my forearms as I watched the three clear the final jump ahead of the rest of the field. The commentators words muffled by the cheers of the crowds. "Come on Devlin, you can do this," I leant forward a bit more, a cold wind sweeping over the grandstand earning a shiver of anticipation from me. "Come on Dev, that's it, just a bit more," I could feel the excitement brewing in my stomach, the horse in second place had lost his steam leaving just my gorgeous boy Dev and John's Sea Captain's Revenge to battle it out for first place. "Come on Devlin you can put more into it than that!" I yelled out, my cheers drowned by the crowds around me. I watched with eager eyes as the two horses came to race nose to nose. It was as if Dev had heard me, his ears perked and his gait changed, he was using up whatever of his reserves he had to boost himself.

I stood in a shocked silence as Dev slowly gained ground, first a nose, then a head, then a neck and shoulder and finally he surpassed the Chestnut gelding, he was streaking faster up the track chewing up the yards between him and the winners post, his legs moving in a blur as he and James headed down the track closest to the inside railing.

My heart jumped into my throat and stomach hit the floor, a scream following soon afterwards, my eyes wide as I watched both horse and rider. Oh my god. I felt an unfamiliar feeling settle in my chest, the screams of the crowd around me confirmed what I saw. How could this happen?

Oh yes! You know it, I'm a son of a bitch for doing this but I felt like it was a great place to stop, you shan't be waiting long though for the next one I promise.