A/N: Sorry I made you wait so long for the next chapter. I've been focusing on my original work, so my fanfic kind of fell to the back burner. I would like the thank my beta, Smittenskitten10, for sticking with me after my long hiatus. Also, I appreciate all the reviews I've received. I glad there are still some Jason/Tara fans out there. I'm so shocked that there aren't more Jason/Tara fics out there. Maybe we can all do something about that. Anyways, here's the next chapter and I hope you enjoy reading.

Chapter 2 - Never Again

Jason's eyes darted from shadow to shadow, listening for any signs that they weren't alone. Silence filled the muggy night air. Except for the occasional shriek from a bat flying overhead or the buzzing of insects, the rock quarry was completely deserted. He watched the flames and smoke billowing out from a rusty tin barrow that he and Tara found and filled with paper, debris, and blood soaked clothing.

He threw Franklin's cowboy boot into the fire. "I think that's everything," he said, watching the flames, shoot up and spark under the moonlight.

"Not everything," said Tara. "I still got him in my head." The flat, emotionless tone of her voice made him pause and turn to look at her face. She was staring into the fire, but not truly seeing what was in front of her. It scared him, seeing her that way, knowing her mind was someplace he couldn't reach. He'd seen that same haunted look on her face at Sookie's house the day after Egg's was shot. Guilt had lodged a big lump in his throat then, the same way it did now.

"You're safe now, Tara, you know that don't you?" he said tentatively. "It's over."

She remained silent, staring into the crackling fire, her arms wrapped snug around herself as if she wanted to curl into a tight ball. He wanted to go to her, pull her to him, and comfort her. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Mentally, he wasn't in any better shape than she was. His mind was still trying to digest what had happened earlier tonight. He killed someone…again. Sure the vampire was trying to kill Tara, but that didn't change what he'd done. It didn't lessen the blood on his hands. He closed his eyes and a nightmarish reel played in his mind. He could hear Eddie's scream as Amy staked him, saw the gaping hole in the back Egg's head after he shot him, and Franklin's body exploding into a geyser of blood and guts right in front of him. Blood. So much fucking blood.

Jesus! He would never be able to sleep again. He tasted bile in the back of his throat. He squeezed his eyes tighter and pressed a hand to his churning stomach. The nausea was overwhelming and intense. He staggered backwards and doubled over, feeling like he was going to puke. He quickly moved away from Tara to a nearby bush. Bending forward, he took in several gulps of air until the nausea slowly subsided. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Tara was still standing in the same position as he'd left her.

"Tara?" He called.

No response. Was she in shock? He heard about victims going into shock after a major trauma from his combat and rescue training with the Fellowship of the Sun, not to mention, he'd watched a Trauma Unit marathon on television last night. He'd have to snap her out of it some way. They needed to leave. Get away from this place before someone noticed the fire and smelled the smoke.

He approached her with caution like a young fawn in the woods. "Tara…you alright? I think it's best if we get goin' now," he said in as gentle of voice as he could muster.

Finally, she turned her head and looked at him, her big doe eyes reflecting the firelight. "You seen a vamp die before?" she asked.

The question halted him in his tracks. Eddie's pale face flashed across his brain. He swallowed. "Yeah. I seen it before. Ain't somethin' I ever wanted to see again."

"Funny," she said, though her voice held no humor. "…that something that can cause so much fuckin' pain and destruction turned out to be just a big pile of …of nothin'."

Jason didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet.

She stared off into space. "Franklin told me he loved me and in his crazy screwed up way I think he believed it. He tied me up, tortured, and raped me, and the whole time he kept tellin' me how much he loved me and that it was meant to be." She turned to face him, her dark gaze holding him where he stood. "He told me I was misery personified and that was why he wanted me. Ain't that some fucked up shit, even for a vamp?"

She looked back at the fire. "I think he was right though. I am misery…my whole fucked up life ain't been nothin' but misery." Her chin quivered. Tears streamed down her sharp cheeks. Jason's heart twisted. He went to her, placing his arm around her shoulders and stroking the long braids that fell down her back.

"It ain't true, Tara. Sure you had yourself a run of bad luck, but that don't mean that things can't change."

She looked up at him with liquid eyes. "Sometimes I feel like just givin' up. That life ain't worth the trouble."

Jason wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. His stomach tightened, wishing he could take her pain away. "I know you, Tara, you're not a quitter. You're tough. You, Gran and Sook are the strongest women I've ever known. You'll get through this, Tara. Somehow, we both will."

They stared at each other for a long time. The moment was changing into something else entirely. His body tensed. This wasn't the first time he'd felt a pull towards Tara that wasn't altogether brotherly, but he chose to ignore it now as he did those other times when he'd been tempted by her unconventional beauty. She was Sookie's best friend and like family to both of them. He wanted to remain her friend, her protector, nothing more, at least that what he kept telling himself. He pulled away from her, putting a safe distance between them. Tara straightened, sniffled and wiped her nose.

"You want me to take you back to Sook's?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "She's probably there with Bill and I swear I can't be in the same room with that vamp unless I got a damn stake in my hand."

Jason worried his bottom lip, thinking. "We can go to my place and get cleaned up. You could…uh..." He touched the back of his neck, feeling the heat rising under his collar. "…sleep in my bed. Of course, I-I'll take the let out couch."

Tara rubbed her bare shoulders and stared at the ground. "Alright."

Jason and Tara climbed into his truck. Right before he placed the key in the ignition, Tara slid her hand over his and squeezed gently. He turned to look at her face which was filled with gratitude. He gave a slow nod in return then started the engine. He knew if he had to do it over again, he would. For her. No other words were spoken as he drove her back to his house.

-Flashback-

Jason floated on his back in the water, staring up at the cloudless sky.

"You comin' in or what, Tara?"

"I told you I ain't gettin' my hair wet." She snapped.

Jason swam towards the dock where Tara was sitting with her long, skinny legs hanging over the edge and her feet hidden beneath the water's surface. She leaned back with her arms stretched out behind her, eyes closed and face tilted up towards the sun.

"Aw c'mon," he pleaded. "I don't wanna swim by myself."

"Then wait for Sookie. She'll be back in a sec."

"I don't wanna wait for Sook. Let's play Marco Polo like we used too."

She opened one eye with a raised brow and pursed her lush lips. "I'm almost fourteen, Jason. Marco Polo's for kids."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

Jason frowned. He moved his arms and feet, treading water. Girls, he thought with a frustrated sigh. He wondered what happened to the old Tara who used to wrestle, catch crawfish, and play hide and seek with him in the woods. This Tara hardly ever laughed anymore, would snap at him faster than a rattle snake, and didn't like to get her hair wet.

"Then let's race," he said, trying again.

"I don't want to."

"You scared I'll beat you?" He said smiling, knowing that his comment would at least get a rise out of her.

"Boy, I could beat you with my hands tied behind my back."

"Then get in and prove it," he dared her.

"I told you I don't wanna get my hair wet. It gets all big and nappy and takes me all day to straighten it."

Jason got out the water and climbed up the bank to the dock's ladder. Once on top, he shook himself like a wet dog and came to stand over her. Water dripped from his body on to the heated wood planks.

"Why you keep lettin' Sookie straighten your hair anyway?" he asked. "I like how you used to wear it." Tara had done away with the plaited pigtails a long time ago. In fifth grade she started wearing her hair in a tight curly bob that fell just below her ears. He remembered how the other kids teased her, telling her it was too big and too kinky, but Jason liked the look and texture of it. Now, Tara spent an hour, two or three days out of the week, in his sister's room, having Sookie press and style her hair.

Her brows creased. "You drippin' water on me, Jason." She still had her eyes closed.

"Why the heck you come to the pond if you didn't wanna get wet?"

Tara turned to look up at him then. Her eyes went to his bare chest then slowly down to the wet cut-offs clinging to his lower body. Her mouth hung open slightly before she quickly looked away. Jason bit his lip, trying to hold back a smirk. He wasn't vain, but had gotten used to girls looking at him that way ever since he turned thirteen. Now that he was two years older, he'd shot up like a weed, his shoulders were broader, his taunt muscles more defined, a thicker dusting of hair trailed down from his belly button past his waistband. He could tell from the longing looks he got from the opposite sex that he was much closer to becoming a man, according to most of the females in town, a handsome one at that.

"I just wanted to get away from my mama for a few hours. Is that a crime?" She sounded annoyed.

"Nope. I think it's a crime you gotta deal with that crazy woman at all."

Jason sat down on the edge of the dock beside her. She seemed to stiffen before scooting a couple inches away. Maybe he'd misjudged the look she'd given him. Jason bent his head towards his arm pit to check for any traces of BBO (Bad Body Odor). Tara had been acting so strange around him lately. One minute she was sweet as a bear meat, than the next, meaner than a pitbull chained to a shithouse outside Mexican restaurant.

"That's my mama you talkin' about, Jason. I can say those things, but you can't."

"Jeez, Tara? Did I do somethin' to make you mad?"

"No," she mumbled, giving him a sideways glance.

"Then what's the problem with you today?"

"Nothin'. I just don't feel like swimmin' right now."

He looked her over curiously. "You on the rag?"

"What?" She shot him a look that could have turned him to stone. He shrank back a little, worried she might hit him. Tara could hit pretty hard for a girl.

"Sorry, I didn't mean nothin' by it. It's just that Sookie don't like to swim when she's on, so I just figured-"

"Well, I'm not," she snapped, cutting him off. "And how the heck would you know when Sookie's on her period? I thought you boys didn't like thinkin' bout stuff like that."

Jason shrugged. "I don't, but we live in the same house so I can't help but notice. Plus, she yells at me a lot and it's always around the same time every month. I usually try to stay out of her way best I can."

Tara rolled her eyes, but he could see a ghost of a grin. He stood up, feeling the warmth of the August sun on his back. "Well, if you not gone swim with me than I'll just…"

He dived of the dock, slicing through the water like a sharpened spear. Instead of swimming immediately to the surface, he kicked his powerful legs underwater and headed in the opposite direction. When he did poke his head above the surface, he was in a shrouded area close enough to the pond's edge that Tara couldn't see him, but he could see her. He watched as she stared out at the water, obviously waiting for him to reappear.

"Jason?" She called out.

Jason stayed completely still, not uttering a word. Tara rose to her feet, shielding her eyes from the sun. He observed her from head to toe. He tried not to notice, but he couldn't help seeing the subtle changes in her body. She was wearing a bright yellow, floral two piece handed down from his sister. Though the bikini had become a size too small for Sookie a summer ago, Tara small, budding breasts barely filled out the top. Yet, below her hips were more rounded and accentuated a flat, hollowed stomach. Her arms and legs were on the skinny side, but toned. It was not hard to imagine that one day she'd have a body that would draw most men's attention. He shook his head once. She's like a sister to me, he reminded himself. He sank deeper in the water.

"Jason?" This time she sounded more frantic. Seconds, later she jumped into the pond with a considerable splash. She reemerged, sputtering water and wiping hair out her eyes. She turned in each direction, looking for any signs of movement. "Where are you, Jason? Quit playin'. This shit ain't funny."

Jason snickered before holding his breath and dipping his head under the water. Stealthily, he swam towards her. As he drew closer, her bright yellow bikini became a beacon directing him through the murky pond. He wrapped his arms around her legs and pulled her down with him. She twisted and pushed at him, but he didn't let go. Kicking his legs, he brought them both back to the surface.

"Jason Stackhouse! I'm gonna kill you," she screamed, struggling against him.

Jason laughed. "I knew you'd come save me."

She swatted him with her hand, "I swear to God if you ever do that again."

Jason couldn't stop laughing. "The look on your face was priceless."

"It's not funny, Jason. I thought somethin' really happened to you. That was a shitty thing to do."

Suddenly her expression turned from anger to sadness. A lump lodged in his throat and his heart skipped a beat as her brown eyes brimmed over with tears.

"Tara? Why are you cryin'?"

She looked away from him, sniffling. "What if you really had drowned, Jason? I'd have to be the one to tell Gran and Sookie that you were gone. Did you even think about that?"

"It was just a joke, Tara."

"You think it's a joke to make me worry about you. You and Sookie are my best friends. I can't stand the thought of losing either one of you. It would hurt like hell." She tried pulling away, but he tightened his arms around her waist. His heart twisted with guilt. He never imagined that she'd be this upset.

"I'm sorry," he said, cradling her head against his shoulder. Her body trembled against him. "I promise I'll never scare you like that again."

Looking down, she licked her lips and swiped the heel of her palm against her cheek. He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I mean it, Tara. The last thing I ever wanna do is hurt you."

"I know," she said, then lowered her head back to his chest. He felt his breath catch. Everything came to a stand-still, the wind, the chirping of birds, and even the creaking of insects. The only sound that filtered through his ears was their synchronized breathing. He became acutely aware of the bare skin he held beneath his fingers. He meant to let go, he really did, but for some reason he couldn't. His heart was racing, not because he'd upset her or that he was afraid she wouldn't forgive him. He was seeing her for the first time, not as Sookie's best friend or the scared, big eyed eight year old who ran to his house for cover and slept between him and Sookie when they were kids, but as a young, attractive teenage girl. Warmth flooded his body and shot straight between his legs.

Her head shot up and her eyes widened. "Jason? Is… that your…"

His cheeks heated. "S-Sorry. I.." He pushed away from her to get some needed distance.

Her eyes shifted away from him, tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't think you…thought of me that way."

If he did ever drown, he wished it would be at this very moment. "I-I don't..I-I just can't control it sometimes. That's all. It doesn't have anything to do with you." Not able to bare the look on her face any longer, he turned away and swam toward the dock as fast as his arms and legs would carry him. He climbed out and grabbed his towel, holding it against his shameful erection.

Sookie came running down the dock. "Sorry, I took so long. Hey, where you goin'?"

He tried to rush pass her without stopping, but she grabbed him by the arm and gasped.

Fuck!

One look at his sister's face and he knew she read his thoughts and seen what he had wanted to do to Tara. His face flushed hot, reminding him of the time Gran caught him pulling out a stash of Playboy magazines from beneath his mattress. Why did he have to have a sister who could read minds?

"Jason, you should be ashamed," she hissed. "Gran would tan your hide if she knew what you were thinkin'. Tara's like a sister to us."

He snatched his arm away. "I don't need you to tell me that."

"I know what you do with those girls on Grover's Lane," she said. "You better not try nothin' that disgustin' with Tara."

Jason backed away, shaking his head. "You don't have to worry, Sook. It was just in my head and it ain't never gone happen, I can promise you that. I won't let it."

He ran back to the house and upstairs to the privacy of his room. He fell on to his bed, not caring that he was wearing wet clothes or that Gran would be mad if the blue from his shorts bled onto his white sheets. When he closed his eyes, all he saw was Tara's face and her big, haunting brown eyes staring back at him.

"Never again," he told himself, but deep in his heart he knew it was a lie.

Thanks for reading. If you like what you read so far and want me to continue, please leave a review. Feedback is what let's me know if this Tara/Jason fic is gaining any interest.