AN: This story takes place before season 1, about 2 years after Tara left Jax. I haven't seen all of the seasons of the show yet so I thought this would be a good place to start. I might continue this story into a slight AU of season 1, but I haven't decided yet.

Devil's Backbone

Oh lord, oh lord,

What have I done?

I've fallen in love with a man on the run

Oh lord, oh lord,

I'm beggin you please, don't take that sinner from me,

Don't take that sinner from me,

Oh lord, oh lord,

What do I do?

I've fallen for someone who's nothing like you

He's raised on the edge of the devil's backbone,

Oh I just want to take him home,

Oh I just want to take him home

...

Haley blinked tiredly as put her car in park. It had been a long six days. From the moment she got the news about her mom to the moment she ran out of that house, her entire life had been in free fall. She grabbed the hat sitting on the passenger seat and tugged it on. She flipped the hood up on her jacket before climbing out of the car.

Haley leaned against the door for a moment to catch her breath. She pressed a hand to her side as she started toward the clubhouse. Her feet drug tiredly as she pushed the door open to the building. She knew from all the bikes in the yard that the guys were having church. Haley paused and looked around catiously. One of the prospects made his way toward her.

"I help you with some darlin," he asked.

"I need to see Piney and Opie."

"They're in church."

"Please, I wouldn't ask if it weren't an emergency," Haley pleaded, she looked up at him for the first time, letting him see the bruises on her face and neck.

"Shit, I'll see what I can do," he said as he made his way toward church. Haley leaned against a table as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"You mind? We're in church," Clay snapped at the prospect.

"I'm sorry, but there's a girl here, wants to see Piney and Opie," he explained. "She looks pretty bad."

"Jax, check it out," Clay ordered.

"Sure," Jax said as he pushed himself out of his seat. He followed the prospect out of the room, pausing when he saw the young woman. "I help you with something darlin?"

"Jax," she said weakly as she pushed her hood off. She threw the hat down on the table as she pushed her honey colored hair behind her ears.

"Haley? What the hell happened to you," Jax demanded as he rushed over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

Haley let out a yelp of pain and pulled back from Jax. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she tried to catch her breath. Jax stared at her for a moment before pulling up the front of her hoodie and shirt. Her ribcage was bruised black and blue.

"Guys," Jax shouted. There was a commotion in the next room as all the guys rushed out. Haley leaned into him slightly, as her dad and Opie came over to them.

"Baby, what happened," her dad demanded as he examined her.

"Mom, she died in a car crash six days ago, her husband, he...," she trailed off and stared down at the floor.

"He did this to you," Opie cried. Haley nodded silently before looking up. Her eyes were swimming with tears.

"That all he do," Jax asked. Haley met his gaze after a moment, and shook her head.

"Son of a bitch," Clay swore under his breath. "Someone call an ambulance, she needs to go to the hospital."

"I'm fine, really," Haley said as she pushed away from Jax. She wavered for a moment before collapsing back into Jax. She cried out in pain as Jax carefully lifted her up. "My car is outside, take that."

Haley dug her keys out of the jacket pocket and handed it to Piney. He nodded before pressing a kiss to her forehead. Clay led the way out of the club house, Jax climbed into the backseat with Haley as Opie took the front. The rest of the club followed on their bikes.

Haley let her head rest on Jax's shoulder as Piney drove. Her fingers tangled with his as he held her. "You ok Jax," she whispered.

"Fine baby girl, just fine," he murmured. He pressed a kiss to her hair as they rolled up to the hospital. Opie opened the door and took Haley from Jax. They all trailed behind him, as they headed into the emergency room.

The rest of the day was a blur for Jax. People kept asking questions, no one knew any of the answers. The entire club was sitting in the waiting room. Gemma showed up after awhile and began laying into the nurses to get some information. They let Piney and Opie go back to see her after that.

Jax was leaning against the wall in the waiting room. Gemma made her way over to him and leaned up next to him. "So, baby girl is back," Gemma said lowly.

"Looks like it," Jax replied.

"She say anything to you?"

"Same as she told everyone else, step-dad did it, mom is dead, she ran from him."

"You think he'll come after her," Gemma asked.

"I don't know, it will depend on what's in that will, her mom had money right?"

"Yeah, she was a lawyer or some shit. Its always somethin isn't it baby?"

"Yeah," Jax said as he ran a hand over his face.

"Jax," Opie called as he came out of the back. "She wants to see you."

Jax nodded before he followed Opie back. Opie waved him into a room before going to talk to his dad. Jax lingered in the doorway for a moment. Haley was tugging her shirt back on.

"What the doc say," Jax asked.

"Said I could go home, couple of broken ribs, I'll be pretty sore for a few days, no permanent damage."

"That's good," Jax said as she turned to look at him. "You ok?"

Haley stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head. "I'm scared, he's going to come after me Jax."

"We'll handle it, you tell your dad and Opie that?"

"Yeah, they know, but I wanted to talk to you before we left."

"What's up?"

"I wanted to say I'm sorry about Tara, I heard about her leaving and how hard that was for you. I'm really sorry you had to go through that," Haley said softly.

"Its over now, she's not coming back. It doesn't matter," Jax said with a shrug.

"I know how much you cared about her Jax, it wasn't nothing."

"Well, she left, so what am I going to do? Can't sit here and cry in my cereal."

"No, not that I can see you actually doing that, but I get what you are saying. Sorry I brought it up."

"Nah, its cool. So you staying with your dad," Jax asked.

"Until I can find a place of my own," Haley said as she came toward him. "Opie said I could stay with him and Donna, but with Ellie, I'd just be in the way."

"I'm sure Donna would love the help."

"Yeah, I mean, I'll help out, not like I have anything else to do right now. I... the doc said I need to rest, won't get much sleep with a baby in the house."

"You got that right," Jax said with a grin. "Its good to have you back baby girl, if you need anything, let me know."

"Thanks Jax," Haley replied. Jax slung an arm around her shoulders as he led her back into the hallway. She leaned into him, as they made their way down the hall to the waiting room. Piney and Opie joined them as they made their way out. Clay stepped up to Haley and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Darlin, you need anything, anything at all, you let us know. That shithead calls you, contacts you in anyway, you call one of us. She doesn't go anywhere on her own boys, I want someone watching her at all times til' we find this asshole," Clay ordered.

"Thank you Clay, I really appreciate it," Haley said before hugging him.

"You always were a good girl, I hate that this happened to you, we'll take care of it," Clay assured her before stepping back from her.

"Let's get you home baby girl," Opie said as he wrapped an arm around her. She nodded slowly before leading her out of the hospital. She glanced back over her shoulder long enough to meet Jax's gaze. He shot her a wink before climbing in the car with his mom.

The song is Devil's Backbone by The Civil Wars. Let me know your thoughts!