Hi everyone! So it's Monday night and I meant to get this out yesterday, but I kept tweaking and tweaking until I could live with it. Ergh. Hopefully it is worth it! Anyway, thanks for being so patient. I am finally getting back on track! Yay!
Enjoy this chapter and send me lots of love in the form of reviews and messages.
The Return
Chapter 7
Tara
Tara sighed tiredly as she collected all the medical supplies that were reusable, sealing them up in a contamination bag before carefully packing it away. The man should live if infection didn't set in.
Jax walked in and asked, "How's he doing?"
"He should live if infection doesn't settle in," Tara told him, slinging the bag on her shoulder.
Jax nodded and studied Tara as he asked, "And her?" glancing Gemma's way.
"She still wants me dead," Tara said, smirking, "You know that right?"
"I'll handle my mother," Jax said, sighing in exaggeration.
Tara smiled and said, "Some things never change."
Jax looked at her and asked, "We okay?"
Tara shrugged, but looked up at him with an odd look on her face and quietly said, "I guess we'll see if infection settles in." Her tone and the look on her face suggested that she wasn't talking about Cameron or his ass. She was talking about them.
Jax smiled and said, "Good. So will you come by later? After your shift?"
"Here?" Tara asked, looking around, remembering when they were younger and this was the only place they could come to be together.
Jax shrugged and nodded and said, "I won't be done dealing with all this until late."
Tara nodded and smiled and said, "Sure. I will come by after my shift."
Jax nodded and leaned forward, pecking her lips softly. As he let the kiss linger, he saw Gemma watching them from the corner of his eye.
Tara pulled away finally and said, "I should get back if I am coming around later."
Jax nodded and said, "Thank you for your help, doc."
Tara nodded and said, "See you tonight."
Jax nodded and Tara smiled, feeling uneasy but not exactly sure why.
Jax pecked her lips one final time and Tara smiled and flushed as she turned and walked out of the clubhouse. Gemma eyed her the entire way out. Tara was just glad the back of her shirt didn't have a target on it.
Jax
It had been going smoothly for a week with Tara. It was low maintenance and exactly what he needed right now. He had told Tara he needed to not get heavy and she seemed to get it. She had been with him every night now at the clubhouse and Jax couldn't be happier.
He could tell Tara was curious about his life now that he was a ranking member of the club, but she refrained from asking, which he really appreciated. The more he explained to her, the higher the chance was that she would run again.
His mom was right about one thing when it came to the women involved with Samcro. Either you tell them everything or nothing. Opie had decided to tell Donna nothing. But it put a noticeable strain on their relationship. And Jax could see that becoming a problem between him and Tara since he pulled her in once already to save the club's and his ass with Cameron.
Jax rolled over to find Tara spooning him from behind, sleeping soundly. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, but sleeping with her for the past week he knew she was prone to nightmares. And he could guess what might be behind them.
Which reminded him that he needed to check in with Hale about Kohn. He wondered if he was still in the hospital or if he had been moved to the county jail.
Tara knew Kohn was crazy, but what she didn't realize was that someone like Kohn never ever went away permanently until he went away permanently. Jax wanted to make that sick fucker go away permanently. It was just an added bonus that he was a fed.
Jax leaned forward and kissed Tara's soft shoulder, causing her to snuggled deeper into the sheets. He really wanted to wake her up and make sure they had a really good morning, but she looked so comfortable.
Jax rolled and sat up, stretching before he went into the bathroom.
Jax began brushing his teeth when Tara came in, looking sleepy but satisfied.
"Morning," she whisperer in a raspy voice.
"Morning, babe," Jax said around his toothbrush, rinsing it off before dropping it in the cup.
Tara stood on her tiptoes to reach his lips and pecked them softly before grabbing the spare toothbrush she brought with her a week ago. She began brushing her teeth as Jax studied her, his eyes lingering over her bare legs, and her ass, barely covered by his too-big t-shirt on her.
Jax wrapped his arms around her pulling her close as smiled around her toothbrush, never stopping her movements.
"You look insanely sexy in my Samcro shirt, babe," he whispered huskily in her ear.
Tara giggled and spit out a mouthful of toothpaste and said, "That's exactly what I was going for."
Jax smiled against her neck and said, "Why are you up? You looked so comfortable."
Tara rinsed her mouth out and then turned in his arms and said, "I need to get to work."
Jax groaned in frustration, and said, "Work, Schmerk, get some more sleep. Play hooky."
"You forget that I almost never played hooky with you and Ope," Tara said, smiling up at him teasingly.
Jax pinched her butt lightly in admonishment, causing Tara to yelp and laugh, "Hey!"
Jax kissed her lips deeply, massaging the spot on her ass that she had just pinched and said, "Let me kiss that for you."
"Jax," Tara said, her eyes closed as his lips kissed along her jaw, "I really need to get going."
"Not even a little time for me to wake you up?" Jax was, pushing her underwear down her ass and stroking the smooth skin beneath.
Tara arched her neck so Jax could nibble down her throat and she said, "I guess I can be a little late."
"Come on," Jax said, pulling her towards the shower, "I can multitask."
Tara
Tara bounced into the hospital twenty minutes late, but she had phoned in on her way saying she was having some car trouble.
"Sorry I am late," she said to Dr. Namid, slipping her name tag onto her lab jacket.
"No, car trouble is car trouble," he said without looking at her as he wrote into a chart.
"What's today's schedule?" Tara asked, motioning for a nurse to hand her a pile of charts her and Dr. Namid were responsible for getting through.
"Parkers need to be walked through the procedure this morning and then we go into surgery at 9:30. I am going to have you do the follow up with Brady for the rest of the morning. And then we will meet after lunch to go over the patients we can begin to discuss discharging patients, including Baby Teller."
"Abel Teller?" Tara asked, shocked, "You really think he is ready."
"I reviewed his chart last night and despite the huge odds against him, he has recovered beautifully. And I know his family is anxious to get him home," Dr. Namid said, looking up from his chart to study her.
"Do you not concur? Is there something I have missed to indicate sending him home would be a mistake?" Dr. Namid asked, concerned.
"No," Tara said, her voice unsteady, "No, I just...I just have become invested in this particular case and-"
"You've gotten attached," Dr. Namid said, nodding in understanding and smiling at her kindly.
"Yeah," Tara said, thinking, 'You have no idea'. Abel Teller was by far the most involved case she had ever been on. She had even ended a relationship over her need to heal Abel and see him live.
"I will see you after our rounds," Dr. Namid said, splitting the pile of charts in half and going to his first case.
Tara nodded and sighed as her head raced for any indication that Abel needed to remain safely in the NICU, but she couldn't come up with any. Abel was as strong and determined to live as Tara was to have him survive the odds.
"Dr. Knowles?"
Tara spun to Margaret Murphy stood there, looking extremely concerned.
"Margaret, good morning," Tara said as she shifted the charts in her arms, wondering what was making Margaret have that expression on her face.
"I am sorry to bother you before rounds," Margaret said, "But there is someone here that insists on speaking with you."
"Oh?" Tara asked, glancing around for Jax, assuming it was him. Who else would need to see her?
"Her name is Agent Stahl," Margaret said, "She is some kind of law enforcement office. She wouldn't go into detail."
Tara nodded and set the charts down on the counter and said, "Oh...of course."
Margaret led the way to a conference room where a tall blond woman in a pantsuit was pacing, a badge attached to her belt. ATF...shit.
"Dr. Knowles," she said, training her eyes on Tara as if she was a case to crack, "My name is Agent Stahl. I was hoping you had a few moments to talk."
Tara nodded and looked to Margaret whose eyes were bouncing back and forth between Agent Stahl and Tara, obviously concerned and wondering if she was needed for support.
"Thanks Margaret," Tara said, "This shouldn't take long."
Margaret nodded and smiled before closing the door behind her as she left.
Tara turned back to Agent Stahl who was still studying Tara, wondering how she could crack her.
"Should we sit?" Tara asked, gesturing towards the table and chairs.
Agent Stahl nodded and slid the chair closest to her out and said, "I want to talk to you about your involvement with Jackson Teller and the Sons of Anarchy."
"My involvement?" Tara asked, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs, going for a look of nonchalance.
"I have recently been made aware of a relationship between you and Jackson and that you have been spending a significant amount of time at the compound," Agent Stahl said.
"Compound? Do you mean the lot? Teller-Morrow?" Tara asked.
Agent Stahl smiled an indulgent smile and said, "Yes, Teller-Morrow Garage and the base for the Sons of Anarchy."
Tara bit back her frustration at Stahl's condescending tone and said, "I am not sure what 'significant amount of time' means, but yes, I have been there recently. Within the past week. Can I ask what this is all about?"
Agent Stahl inhaled deeply as if weighing her words, taking a pause before training her eyes on Tara's and saying, "I am investigating the Sons of Anarchy for Gun Trafficking and a string of illegal activities. You're smart. A doctor, Loyola med school, San Diego undergrad...so I am not going to mince words. As a doctor, you have a lot to lose if you get mixed up with this group."
Tara was shocked by her blunt statement. And by the fact that she had obviously researched Tara. Tara crossed her arms over her chest and said, "That sounds like a threat, but I am still not sure what you want."
"Information. Jax doesn't even have to be involved in any of the information you give to me," Stahl said, "Just general club information."
Tara smiled and let out a guffaw and said, "You seem to be confused. I have just been sleeping with Jackson for a little over a week now. If you think anyone in the MC is shooting the shit with me, you are sorely mistaken."
Agent Stahl smiled and leveled Tara with a glare...like she was the cat that caught the canary.
"You're involvement with Jackson Teller isn't limited to this past week," Agent Stahl said, smiling knowingly, "You have history. And I don't think you are just casual either."
Tara did a big mental gulp and reassessed. She needed to be strong. She couldn't be a loose thread this woman would continually try to pull. Tara squared her shoulders and straightened her spine before saying in a stern voice, "My relationship with Jax, no matter how long, is between me and Jax. And none of your business."
Agent Stahl smirked and said, "Spoken like a true Samcro woman. Gemma Teller would be proud."
Tara bit back the bile she tasted on her lips at that statement, and stood saying, "Is that all?"
"For now," Agent Stahl said, grabbing a card from her pocket and sliding it across the table towards Tara, "Don't hesitate if you get smart."
If Tara 'got smart' it was the same thing as getting dead. The club, no matter what her involvement with Jax, would kill her for ratting. The answer was simple.
Tara took the card and walked out of the conference room, leaving Stahl behind. She shook as she walked to the nearest supply closet to call Jax and have a nervous breakdown.
Jax
Jax strode through the halls, keeping an eye out for Tara. He had received her call and immediately panicked and came right away. She sounded so freaked.
Which caused him to freak and panic that somehow it was about Cameron and Tara's involvement with that janky clubhouse surgery. If Tara had been connected with that, she could be charged with harboring information on an internationally wanted
Then he called Gemma who told him the probability was that Agent Stahl was harassing Tara. The ATF were going at the Sons of Anarchy from a different angle… by interrogating the women of Samcro. Gemma, Cherry, Donna, and now Tara. Annoying, but at least it was manageable.
Jax just needed to talk to Tara. Which he dreaded. Would this push her over? He felt like every time anything for the club came up, he would wonder if that would be the last straw. It was nerve racking and exhausting.
Jax spotted Tara chatting with the doctor that helped care for Abel at the nurses' station. She looked calmer than he had predicted to find her, but he could tell she was still frazzled from her earlier.
Tara glanced up, catching his eye and looked back to Dr. Namid and excused herself. She walked towards Jax and pulled him towards a waiting area that was behind some closed doors.
"How are you?" Jax asked, grabbing her hands in his own and guiding her over to a set of chairs.
Tara shrugged and said, "I guess. It freaked me out. She sounded like she was threatening my career or something."
"What did you tell her?" Jax asked, wondering if Tara had given anything away.
"Nothing," Tara said, looking at him in frustrated disbelief, "I told her that our...whatever we are...is none of her business. I told her that I want' involved at all in the MC. But she knew about our history. She knew that I had been staying at the club…I don't know what to do."
"You did good, babe," Jax said, running his hands through her hair in an attempt to comfort her, "Just stick with what you told her."
Tara nodded but her eyes were bouncing around the room, and Jax could tell her mind was spinning. She didn't look any less worried. In fact, she looked more worried than she had before he had showed up.
"Just stay calm," Jax said, "Gemma told me that Stahl has been trying to go through women tied to members of the MC. Donna and Cherry are also being hit hard by Stahl right now."
Tara focused on him for a second, studying him as if she didn't know who he was. This is it, he thought, She is going to end it...she will say being with him just wasn't worth it.
Tara looked down at her shoes, nodding slightly as she processed everything Jax had told her and the shocks that being associated with the Sons of Anarchy brought.
She stood suddenly causing Jax to follow suit.
"I should really get back," Tara said, avoiding eye contact with Jax.
Jax nodded, fiddling nervously with the rings on his fingers that once belonged to his father.
Tara turned to leave the room, but Jax reached for her elbow, desperate not to let her walk out on him without some resolution.
Tara looked at him uncertainly, but he pulled her to him anyway and kissed her lips softly. She didn't respond to his kiss though, which only doubled the growing ball of anxiety he felt in his stomach.
She broke the kiss and gave a tight, forced smile before darting out of the room and walking towards the nurses' station. Jax watched as she grabbed some charts and strode down a different wing, disappearing from sight.
Jax rubbed his face, thinking of a solution to his problem. He couldn't think of shit though.
He decided to go check on Abel as he thought about it.
He walked to the NICU and entered the little room where Abel was napping. He looked so good. He loomed over the crib staring at his as he slept.
"What do you think I should do little man?" Jax whispered quietly to Abel.
"Even though Abel has improved by leaps and bounds, it might be awhile before he can give you an answer."
Jax turned to see Dr. Namid standing in the door, smiling kindly at Jax as he looked over Abel's stats.
"Hi Doc," Jax said, smiling, "How is he doing today? He looks good."
"He is doing very well," Dr. Namid said, jotting notes down on something as he read off the screens attached to Abel, "Should only be a couple days now."
"A couple days? For what?" Jax asked, concerned. Did Abel need another surgery? He wasn't ready for that. Hell Jax wasn't ready for that.
Dr. Namid looked up in confusion and said, "To go home, of course. I thought Dr. Knowles had told you earlier today."
"Oh," Jax said, shaking his head as if to clear it, "Yeah, she did...I...I just forgot. But I wanted to ask...um, some questions. So when he comes home, in two days…" Two fucking days this fragile tiny human was coming to live with him! Jax would be responsible for taking care of him.
"Will we need to have a nurse or someone come check in on him or..."
"We will go over all that when we set discharge date and give you specific instructions. We want you to be very comfortable and secure when you go home. So don't worry," Dr. Namid said, closing Abel's chart and walking out of the tiny room.
Don't worry? He had to be kidding. It just occurred to Jax that he was a father. He was responsible for the care and wellbeing of Abel.
This week he had too much on his plate. The ATF bugging all the women in his life, Abel coming home, and Tara wigging out about the ATF and how complicated things got now that she was with Jax.
His cell phone rang and he growled in frustration, glancing once more at Abel before leaving to deal with the next crisis.
Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you enjoyed this long awaited update. Please leave a review or a message.