Saturday visitation time came around, and Jax wasn't expecting anyone, so he didn't even have his shoes on when the guard came and unlocked his door, "You've got a last minute visitor, Teller."
Jax crammed his feet into his shoes and followed the guard down to the visitation hall. It was different on this side of the prison. There were tables with real chairs that weren't bolted to the floor. The inmates on this side of the prison weren't known for rioting or attempting escape, because most of them were looking to get out sooner, rather than later.
Jax was surprised to see Chibs when he enter the room. The rest of the room was empty, so Jax sat across from Chibs and raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't expecting you brother."
Chibs nodded, "I came at the last minute. Opie and I talked to Lowen."
Jax nodded slowly, "How'd that go?"
"Jackie boy, you know you've got our support if this is what you really want. You know once you're out, you can't come back though. And the tattoos have to go."
Jax slowly rose from his seat, so that he wouldn't alarm the guards, and lifted the back of his shirt to show Chibs the faded ink. "I've got another treatment on Monday," he explained. "Some fancy plastic surgeon from L.A. donates his time and machine to remove former gang members tattoos. I'm also one week away from completing gang rehab, so that I can qualify for grants and shit to go to school and start my own business. I have my GED test next Friday, and I've actually been studying this time. I've got certificates for completely typing classes, anger management, and conflict resolution. I've made a resume, taken interview prep classes and been fitted for a suit that they're giving me when they let me out. I'm all in brother," Jax explained.
"Then we'll vote you out brother. No one will argue. I'll talk to Ratboy and Kozy, fill them in, and we'll get it handled," Chibs said, smiling at his brother, a boy he'd once thought of as a son. "Opie's thinking he might want out too."
"The old man going to let him do that," Jax asked.
"I think Piney would like nothing more than for his son to get the fuck out of the club before it destroys the rest of his family," Chibs said.
"Tell Ope we're going to Portland," Jax said. "But keep it between the two of you. I don't need mom or Clay following me."
"Aye brother, you've my word," Chibs said.
The guard stepped into the room and called for the end of the visit. The two men stood and Chibs hugged Jax. "I'm gonna miss you boy," he said roughly.
"Thanks Chibs, for everything. Come visit us sometime ok? We'd love it," Jax said as he hugged Chibs tightly.
Chibs left the visitation room and Jax went back to his cell feeling lighter than he'd felt in a very long time.
Monday morning came around and Jax was once again taken to the infirmary for his laser treatment. No introductions were needed this time, he just stripped off his shirt and laid down on the table. The doctor got to work and once again, two hours later Dr. Rey slathered his back with ointment and bandaged it.
It was now week six of his gang rehabilitation program and Jax was excited. Saturday there would be a graduation ceremony and Jax had invited Tara and the boys to attend. He couldn't wait to see them again, and for Tara to get another look at how serious he was about getting them out this time. This weeks classes were just a review of the other five weeks, as well as filling out applications for grants to start businesses, go back to school, or even moving expenses to get the former gang members out of their neighborhoods.
Jax spent two hours every night reading his GED study book. He'd already read over it twice, but he was determined to pass the test this time. He worked all the math problems in the math section each time he read through it, and he was pretty sure he had a basic understanding of algebra now. He wanted his GED so that he could get into that automotive course in Portland. He also wanted it so that one day, when the boys were older, he could tell them that it's never too late to fix a mistake. He'd turn his life around so that his boys would grow up right, with both parents alive and there for them.
Jax wanted family dinner every night. He wanted to go to his boys soccer games and cheer them on. He wanted to read stories to his sons. He wanted to marry Tara and have more children with her. He wanted to be there for birthdays and holidays, not locked away in prison or off on a run for the club. Every day, he got closer and closer to his goal, and every day he was a little bit happier to know that he was finally doing the right thing.
Friday rolled around quickly and after lunch, Jax was taken to the prison library where a state proctor was waiting to administer his GED test. He sat down at a table in the quiet room and took a deep breath. The proctor laid a booklet and pencil in front of him. The man watched his watched and then nodded at Jax to begin. It took him nearly two hours to finish the test, but he checked and double checked every answer before turning his booklet in to the proctor. A guard escorted Jax back to his cell and he knew it'd be a week before he got word about his scores. He was nervous as hell, because he was really hoping to pass on the first try this time.
Jax alternating doing push ups, and laying on his bunk until dinner time. He'd already perfected the letter to Tara and written it out as neatly as he could. He no longer needed to read his GED book, or study for his rehab classes, so he really didn't have anything to do. The library cart came around after dinner and Jax took a thick book on auto repair from the cart, hoping to at least distract himself until lights out, when he could fall asleep.
The next morning, after breakfast and a shower, Jax and the other inmates who were graduating the gang rehabilitation program, were led to a conference room and were sat in chairs across the back of a platform at the front of the room. There were only seven other inmates, besides Jax, so it would likely be a short ceremony, but Jax was thrilled when Tara came in with both the boys in tow. "Daddy!" Abel squeaked out when he saw his father sitting at the front of the room.
Jax smiled and waved, but shook his head at his son. Tara sat Thomas' carseat on the floor beside her chair, and settled Abel into her lap. Thomas looked to be sleeping, so Tara pulled out a book and distracted Abel until it was time for the ceremony to begin.
The Warden, the instructor from the program, and a couple of other people stood up and said long winded speeches, and then they called the men up, one by one, gave them their completion certificates and congratulated them. Once all eight men had officially graduated, they were given an hour to spend with their loved ones.
Jax made a beeline for Tara and the boys, He scooped Abel into his arms and hugged him tightly. Tara slid her arm around Jax's back and squeezed him, "I'm so proud of you."
He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her back, "Thanks babe."
The little family settled in at a small table in the corner. Thomas started to fuss as they sat down, and Tara removed him from his car seat and handed him to Jax. She quickly fixed a bottle and handed it over, so that Jax could feed his son for the first time. Jax smiled over at her as he rubbed the bottle on Thomas' lips and the tiny baby greedily sucked the nipple into his mouth.
While Jax was feeding Thomas, Ally Lowen entered the room and made a beeline for Jax and Tara. She slid into an empty seat and grinned at them. "I have more exciting news."
Jax and Tara both looked at her expectantly, so she continued. "I made an appeal on your behalf, just your behalf, not SAMCRO's," she clarified before continuing. "Since you completed your gang rehab in the minimum amount of time, you've had nothing but good behavior, you're in the process of removing your gang tattoos, and you just tested for your GED, the judge has agreed that provided you finish your tattoo removal and passed your GED test, he's shortening your sentence to ten months, instead of fourteen."
"Oh my God Jax!," Tara nearly shouted. "Thank you so much Ally!"
"I want your family safe as much as you guys do, and since Jax is doing the right thing here, I'm willing to go to bat for him wherever I can," Lowen said with a smile.
Jax grinned at his attorney and thanked her. He couldn't believe it. Things were looking like they might really work out.
"Mr. Telford contacted me and asked me to relay a message to you as well. He says 'Strike three, you're out,' and that you'd understand what he meant," Lowen added.
Jax laughed happily, "I'm out of SAMCRO. Chibs and Opie took care of it for me. Chibs promised he'd make sure I got voted out before Clay got out, so that it would be unanimous."
Tara gaped at Jax. "They're really letting you go?"
"We know mom and Clay are gonna be pissed, but a vote is a vote. Clay can't force me back in, and even if he does try, I have enough intel to put him in prison for the rest of his life, so I'm not worried about it anymore. We're almost free baby," Jax said, the smile never leaving his face.
After Lowen assured them that no one would be notified of his early release, his exit from the club, or his gang rehab, she stayed for a little while and played with Abel, and held Thomas. She'd been instrumental in helping Tara communicate with Jax during her pregnancy and Thomas' NICU stay, and they thought of her as almost a part of their family.
When the celebration was over, Lowen helped Tara get the boys out to her Jeep, and Jax went back to his cell with a smile on his face. It would only be another couple of months before he was out of there. He couldn't wait to be at home, in Portland, with Tara and his boys.