Chapter 4

Room 203

11:30 PM

Same Day

Jax is now walking to the ICU dressed as a doctor. His doctor badge is labeled Doctor Abel Thomas. Eglee leads him through the ICU to Tara's room at the end of the unit. As he opens the curtain surrounding her bed, he is terrified by the sight of his beloved Tara. She looks so pale and tiny in the bed, and there are all kinds of machines making beeping sounds hooked up to her body through tubes.

Jax pulls up the nearest chair and sits next to Tara. He picks up her tiny hand and holds it in his hands. "Tara, I am here and I want you to come back to me. I will go anywhere you need to go. I will stay with you in college. I will always protect you. Please, babe, hang in there. Don't leave me." Tears fall from his eyes. He lays his head down on the side of her bed.

Next day, 4:00 AM

A loud alarm goes off in Tara's room. Jax jerks awake feeling very disoriented. Two doctors and three nurses rush into Tara's room. They ask Dr. Thomas to please leave. Jax shakes his head, thinking who in the hell is Dr. Thomas. He starts to laugh out loud as he remembers, that's me.

Eglee comes running into the unit to escort Dr. Thomas back to room 203. Jax tells Eglee, "Thanks for the escort service, but I ain't leaving until I know Tara is safe and out of danger." Eglee is exhausted and says, "Jax, it's your choice."

Dr. Hamilton, Tara's doctor, leaves Tara's room. Jax is standing outside the wall of her room, and he approaches the doctor. Dr. Hamilton stops in his tracks, looking at Jax, wondering, who is Dr. Thomas? Dr. Hamilton asks, "Who are you?" Jax wants to burst out laughing, but instead he whispers, "I am Jax Teller, doc. Remember, room 203? They made me wear this outfit as a disguise." The doctor says, "Of course they did," shaking his head in amusement. "I can't think of a more appropriate way to hide your identity. I will walk you back to your room to give you an update on Tara."

The guard opens the door for them to enter. The Winston family is sound asleep. Jax and Dr. Hamilton sit at the far end corner of the room, away from the sleeping family. Quietly, they begin to talk, hoping they don't disturb the Winstons.

The doctor tells Jax, "The alarm that went off in her room was not an alert. It was triggered by a mistake at the nurses' station." "Geez, doc, that scared me half to death," sighed Jax in relief.

"Sorry about that, Jax, it is a crazy problem that happens too frequently. Tara is doing better than expected. Her blood pressure is normal. She is now breathing on her own. There is no swelling of her brain. I am frankly surprised at her ability to heal so quickly."

Jax thinks, that's my amazing Tara. She can overcome anything...even a bullet to the chest.

The doctor continues, "We have brought her out of the medically induced coma. Now we just have to wait for her to wake up on her own," reports the doctor.

Jax asks, "Can I stay with her?"

"I think that will be fine as long as Dr. Thomas maintains his new identity." The doc can't help but laugh after making his comment. Of course Jax gives his trademark smirk to the doc. "No problems here, doc, the now famous Dr. Thomas is here to stay for as long as necessary," retorts Jax, oozing sarcasm.

Jax continues, "I am going to take a shower and get a bite to eat before I go down to see Tara." "Jax, you have to wait for Officer Eglee to escort you. You are still in danger," commands the doctor. Jax says, "Danger from who or what?" The doctor looks at Jax, with sad eyes, stating, "You will find out soon. You also need to know that room 203 is bulletproof and sealed with surveillance equipment. This is the only safe room we have at St. Thomas." Jax just shakes his head, knowing he is even more confused than before. All he can focus on for now is Tara.

After his shower, Jax transforms into Dr. Thomas again. The Winston family are awake and Donna is making coffee while Opie feeds baby Ellie. Opie yells, "Hey, Donna, Dr. Thomas is back!" laughing hysterically. Jax flips him the bird (naturally). Donna just shakes her head, wondering what will happen next.

Moments later, Eglee enters room 203, asking, "Jax, are you ready to go?" Jax responds, "No darlin, but Dr. Thomas is raring to go see Tara!"

Jax makes it to Tara's room with ease. No one even looks at him (which of course is unusual for the Prince of Charming). At least he is well hidden in his disguise. As he enters Tara's room he notices fewer machines. He grabs a chair to sit next to the bed. He sees more color in her beautiful face. He reaches for her hand and she grips his hand tightly. The relief he feels is palpable. He says, "Tara, I'm here, babe." Tara opens her eyes, looking straight at Jax, and she says, "Who are you?"

Oh no! She doesn't even recognize me. The doctor did mention possible brain damage.

Suddenly, Jax remembers to take off his face mask and cap. Tara's beautiful green eyes sparkle as she smiles that special smile only for him and says, "Jax?" Jax is so overwhelmed with her response he bends over to kiss her lips gently.

Tara intensifies the kiss, like they always did before. The kiss is long and hard, tasting each other with thrashing tongues, exploring the other's mouth like long lost lovers.

The nurse walks into the room, saying, "Excuse me, Dr. Thomas, I have to check Tara's wound."

Tara looks up to Jax in total confusion. Tara asks, "What happened to me?" Jax tells her, "We will tell you everything soon."

Tara pulls Jax's face close to her lips and whispers, "Who in the hell is Dr. Thomas?" Jax smiles and whispers back, "That would be me. We are pretending. Just play along, okay." Tara nods her head in agreement. She feels like she has been run over by a truck. Thinking clearly doesn't appear to be possible right now.

At least Jax is at her side!

10:30 AM

Tara has just been released from ICU. They moved her to room 202. Jax is by her side cognizant of every moan and grimace Tara tries to hide with a smile. Jax tenderly holds her hand asking, "Babe, I am going to request some pain medication from the nurse, okay." Tara looks anxiously at his eyes, "Jax, what happened to me?" Jax looks at her guardedly. He has no idea of how to answer. Finally, he responds to her query, "Tara, what do you remember?"

Tara is hesitant, "I was driving. I remember feeling sad and wiping the tears in my eyes. I actually had trouble seeing the road through my tears. I saw a rest stop sign and decided to get off the road to use the rest area to dry my eyes. I went in to use the facilities. When I was done, I saw a payphone in the lobby. I wanted to call Donna." Tara looked puzzled, "I did feel a sharp pain go through my body. I think I screamed and looked up and saw David Hale. Why would David Hale be staring down at me? After that I don't recall anything. It seems like everything turned dark."

"Tara, I don't know why you got hurt. I do know you sustained a bullet wound." Tara was confused, "Shot, you mean I was shot...who shot me? What is happening, Jax?" They are both bewildered and plagued with unanswered questions.

Jax looks lovingly into Tara's eyes, "I know we have a ton of information that will be given to us soon. To be honest, I'm kind of worried because the police and DA Patterson are all around us. They say it is for our safety. We have been told to talk to no one. I have not talked to my mom or Clay. No one at the club knows we are here. I am staying here at the hospital in a safe room with an armed guard outside my door. Opie was the one who told me you were shot. He was told by David Hale. I was at TM getting ready to tell my mom what was going on when Unser and two other police cars drove in to the lot. Unser approached me quickly, and said, 'Get to St. Thomas asap.' Opie and Donna are also here with baby Ellie. Op came with me to St. Thomas."

"Jax, I'm scared!"