Chapter 5:

Unser nervously walked up to his daughter's home, where she stayed with her mom and fiancée. Della answered the door with a surprised look.

Unser: Hey sweetheart

Della: well, look at what the cat dragged in, what the motorcycle club didn't have anything for you to do or let me guess they all died or in jail.

Unser: No, I just wanted to see you and Casey. I missed you guys, ain't got a whole lot of time left, figure I use it to make amends.

Della: Make amends for not retiring when I asked you to. I sat back 35 years and watch the people of Charming, that motorcycle club, the trucking business come before Casey and me. And then for cancer to come in, all I wanted was our chance. A chance to enjoy each other before it was too late. But Clay and that Gemma women was more important.

Unser: Sweetheart, yeah I could blame the club for my mistakes, truth is when you wanted me to retire because of the cancer. I wasn't ready, I still wanted to feel needed, and the MC gave me that. I never meant for it to send you and Casey away.

Casey: (walking outside) hey dad, how are you, thought you would never leave charming. Good to see you daddy, you staying for dinner.

Tara was picking the boys up from daycare, when Abel and Thomas showed her the seeds all the kids receive in class.

Abel: Mommy, Mrs. Johnson said we have to plant them

Thomas: Mommy, I got some toooooooo… Can we plant them today

Tara: Okay, if you guys help me make dinner. Mommy feeling a bit better today

Abel: Good, because I heard Mrs. Johnson tell Mrs. Maple, the sun must be broke at our house because you are paler than usual.

Thomas: Mommy what's paler?

Tara look at her boys as she silently said Bitch under her breath.

Tara: she means mommy is pretty.

Abel: Maybe we can make cookies, and daddy came come eat them with us at bet time, like when I was in the hospital.

Thomas: Yayyy Daddy

Tara: We talked about this guys, Daddy is busy working but he loves you and misses you. How about we plant, the seeds, make the cookies, and call daddy so you guys can talk to him and tell him how much you can't wait to see him when you go to the doctor in three weeks.

Abel and Thomas: (both with their heads down Okay)

Abel: we can visit grandma to right.

As much as Tara didn't want to say yes, she conceded, knowing that Gemma was a big part of her boy's life and they had a right to miss her. A part of Tara missed the relationship that she and Gemma had made before, but Tara realize that most of Gemma's good relationship were only good as longs Gemma could control the person and if that change, that person became disposable. Tara feared that side of Gemma but trusted Jax and the distance to keep her safe. As Tara and the boys planted the seeds, Dyna ran around the yard, in the distance Tully was watching them in a car. Tara and the boys made homemade oven baked fried chicken strips, apple slices and mac and cheese with cookies for desert. Tara thought making the boys one of their favorite meals would help ease the pain of Jax not being there. As Tara fixed the plates, Abel and Thomas took turns slipping Dyna food under the table.

Tara: stop feeding Dyna this food, if you want to give him a treat, go get him a doggie treat out of the cabinet, and remember what the man at the pet store said, because Dyna is a puppy and still learning we should only feed him when he does something good.

As Tara washed the dishes, Abel and Thomas tried to show Dyna how to roll over as Tara watched in absolute delight. She picked up her phone to call Jax

Tara: Hey

Jax: Hey babe, it's good to hear your voice

Tara: nice to hear yours to teller, but what's wrong, you sound stress

Jax: (Jax looked up at the sky, with what just happened with Lin and waiting for his mother, he had forgotten to change the tone of his voice. Tara had been able to pick up on his moods since they were teenagers). Nothing babe, I just miss you guys

Tara: Are you sure Jax,

Jax: yes, how are the boys

Tara: they are good, we are getting settled just fine, they just missed their daddy.

Jax: me to

Tara: you wanna talk to them, Here's Daddy guys

Abel and Thomas: Dadddy, Daddddy (running to the phone)

Abel: Hey Daddy, we made you some cookies like when I was in the hospital, can you come?

Jax: Sorry Buddy, Daddy is really busy at work but if you wrap them up I will come soon as I can

Abel: Okay Daddy, we got seeds at school, wait Tommy I wanna talk!, Mommy helped us plant them

Thomas: Daddy, we are teaching Dyna tricks, the man at the store is helping us (screaming over Abel back)

Abel: yeah Daddy, we did and we painted the rooms, and watched the Lion King. I didn't like that movie Daddy, the daddy died, that won't happen to you right daddy.

Jax: (with a tear in his eye) No son, I love you son, (For the first time, it hit Jax how much his choices would really affected his kids, never more than at this minute, did he understand Tara decisions. The love and innocence in his son's voices made him joyful and broke his heart all at the same time. All the times that he missed with them flashed before his eyes. From their births, first steps, bedtime stories, he had missed because of the club)

Thomas: daddy, I made you a picture to take to work, I had to make another one because Dyna ate the first one. When you come can you play trucks with me?

Jax: yes son

Tara: okay guys tell daddy, I love you, it's time for bed

Abel: awwwwww, I love you daddy, gotta go to bed. Mommy is probably tired, she has been sick.

Thomas: yup daddy the teacher called her pretty, night daddy love you, come on dyna

Jax: I love you guys

Tara: hey, I don't think, they will be able to sleep with all the excitement.

Jax: me either, what's wrong, have you been sick, do you need me to send someone up there to help you, who is the guy at the store helping the boys.

Tara: (looking down at her slight bulge) Nothing, it's a cold, I'm better now, nothing to worry about. We are fine Jax, and it's a guy at the pet store, he works there, he is just giving us tips.

Jax: okay babe, I miss you

Tara: me too, I know we are coming in two weeks but do you think you could tear yourself away from the rebuild to come up here.

Jax: (not wanting to tell Tara anything to scare her) Maybe, I have something with the Chinese, I want to see how it plays out first.

Tara: (biting her lip) something bad

Jax: No, not really, just wanted to settle this. So what kind of panties you got on?

Tara: Oh Teller, such a class act, a man after my heart.

Jax: I thought your heart already belong to me, when you got that crow.

Tara: Funny

Jax: how about we get matching tattoo rings.

Tara: ohhh and a Tara tattoo.

Jax: sure babe, anything you want, I gotta go but I will call you tomorrow. I love you so much

Tara: love you too.

Jax had a feeling Tara would need help, he knew Neeta had taken another job, he wanted someone, who wouldn't report to Gemma. He asked Tig to get Venus on the phone

As Tully sat outside he called Gemma,

Tully: So just what am I supposed to be doing with Mrs. Tara, she seems nice, good mom, the dog reminds me of my rock Wellers.

Gemma: I'm not paying you to be a judge and jury, I'm paying to get my grandkids back here. If Tara is scared she will run right back to charming.

Tully: Really, people usually run to the pigs.

Gemma: Not my family, I need you to scare here, make her think she is not safe, so will come home.

Tully: and when you big, bad killer son comes, then what?

Gemma: he won't, if you're careful.

Tully: I'm going to need the rest of that money, pet store don't pay much.

Gemma: after the job honey

Tully: I guess I could call her son and ask for the money

Gemma: you could but we both be dead, and why the hell are you working at a pet shop

Tully: I miss my dogs, I'm going to need some type of seed money, I'll be talking to you. (Gemma, on her way to see Jax)

Gemma walked in the candy shop and could feel the tension and see the anger on Jax's face.

Gemma: Hey baby

Jax: What happened to your car again, I know you said someone hit your car, while you were in a store and totaled it? Something tells me that, story is not true. What do you know about a little girl and her mom? (Gemma could see the anger rising in Jax)

Jax: Tell me Mom, what are the chances your car gets totaled, around the same time a Chinese woman and killed are killed? Jesus Christ, what the hell have you done.

Gemma: I don't know what you are talking about Jackson

Jax: Oh really, funny how you left the cabin after an argument with Tara and Unser and magically on the same back road coming from the cabin is where a woman and her daughter a killed. You didn't think I heard about the little argument did you, I said nothing because I didn't have time. And a boy witnessed a guy in a cutte help the woman moved the bodies and what I can only assume is the evidence.

Jax: that woman and child was the WIFE AND DAUGHTER OF THE HEAD OF THE CHINESE, LIN! Now your going to tell us everything because this could probably ruin every peace treaty, every relationship, everything I have build.

Gemma: Baby, I'm sorry (licking her lips) after the fight I was driving the little girl came out of nowhere. I hit her and her mom attacked me baby, it was self-defense. I was scared and juice came along and helped me. I didn't say anything because, I knew you were busy, I didn't want to burden the club.

Chibbs: Jesus Christ

Bobby: Well he son was in the bushes and saw everything, how are we going to fix this with lin. No matter the reason, killing a kid and their mom calls for blood.

Jax: I know, We gotta get Gemma out of here, to buy us some time. Call Jury, he can hide Gemma, while we search for Juice. If we can atleast give Linn him.

Chibbs: Jackie Boy, you know that not going to be enough, Linn gonna want more.

Jax: We need to go on lock down, till we can figure this out. Call Nero, get Rat and the rest of the gang on Juice patrol.

Nero met up with Jax, who filled him in.

Nero: this is bad mano

Jax: tell me about, I can't let Linn kill my mother. My club can't handle a war with the Chinese right now. If this had been Tara and one of my boys, I wouldn't stop till I killed everyone.

Nero: Jax man I can't imagine, mano I love Gemma, but I got a boy and so do you. The end game, maybe it's time for Gemma to face up to what she has done. Turn her into the cops let her do the time. It keeps everyone safe.

Jax: the second I do that, Linn kills her, while she is in there

Nero: Yeah, I know, with this we may all be dead if we go to war. Everything you done for nothing. The end game Jax.

Jax: for now I gotta get Gemma out of here and find Juice

Nero: Just turn Juice over like that

Jax: Juice has turned on this club a long time ago, he stole from us, killed a brother, told secrets, he doesn't have what it takes to be in Samcro. He is not a Son anymore, he lost that a long time ago. I know we all have made mistakes but we never turned on a brother.

Nero: I hear you mano, but you running out of brothers to lose.

Jax called Jury to set everything up, and was met by August Marks.

Jax: What brings you here, let me guess you missed my warm hugs or need your car fix.

August: I hear you and Lin may have a problem. And as you know any problems hurt our little alliance. So I'm coming to you, to ask you to fix this Jax. Brown, white black, Chinese all in line has been great for everyone. I would hate to see something like a dead wife and girl ruin that. If you and Lin can't fix this, well Sons got a problem. You get me

Jax: yeah I get you

Nero went to see Gemma, who was getting some things together with the help of the new prospects. Gemma who had been hiding Juice in Jax's old room. Gemma was very extra cautious.

Gemma: So I assume you talk to Jax, didn't think you'd come around here anymore.

Nero: Yeah I did, Gem you need to turn yourself in. Your boy and the club is headed for trouble. All the work they have done will be for nothing if they go to war.

Gemma: that's not my decision, the club protects it's on or did you forget that. We have survived worst, we will get through this and move on.

Nero: The club doesn't have the IRA or anybody to back them. They will be out there on their on for your mistake Gem.

Gemma: Don't you have a farm or something to get too. I know there are fields for you to tend to. My family, the club is none of your business anymore.

Nero: I slept with Wendy, she was in a bad place, started using again and I helped her. I wish you would have come with me when I asked you. We would be far away from this and your boy wouldn't be about to lose everything because of you. Gem, Jax has a family, responsibilities, you're his mother, and you should be protecting him. And who are you kidding you and I both know you were probably high or drunk. Take care Gem, I'm selling my share in Diosa to Jax or Alvarez and leaving

Gemma: Maybe you should take the junkie whore with you since your into that sort of thing.

After Nero left Gemma made the prospect put her stuff in the car, while she snuck in the Jax's old room to talk to Juice.

Gemma: you have to leave, Jax and the club is looking for you. Lin has threaten the club, you have to go, here is some money leave tonight Juice

Juice: Maybe I can talk to the club, I don't do well by myself. I want to help

Gemma: Yeah that help is going to kill you and me both. Just Leave JUICE, nothing left for you here, go back home. Take the money, here are the keys to my car, get on a bus

Juice: okay

Jax and the guys set up a meet with Linn after they took Gemma to Jury to hide out. Gemma suggested Jax bring Tara and the boys to Jury's where they could be protected. Jax wouldn't hear of it. At the meet, Jury's men took Gemma as Jury stayed behind to talk to Jax.

Jury: We will protect her Jax, don't worry. JT would be proud of you.

Jax: Not looking for JT, just want to protect my mom. Did you know about his manuscript?

Jury: Yeah, he gave copies to Piney and me. Just wish Piney was here to see what you're doing with the club.

Jax: Me to, this isn't easy, I have a hard time looking at JT as a leader sometimes all I see is the way he left my mom when it counted

Jury: JT and your mom was going through some things, he made mistakes, nothing we haven't all made son. JT wanted better for you, he wanted you to have a better path

Jax: Clay destroyed that

Jury: Yeah there was some talk about that, but nothing ever came of it

Jax: you saying club members suspected clay and didn't do anything about it.

Jury: I'm saying JT knew bikes in and out, and he would have known if someone tampered with that bike the minute he got on. If Clay did make that happen, JT knew and went on that highway anyway. I guess it was his sacrifice for you and the club in his own way.

Jax was taken back by Jury's words, and begin to question everything he knew about his past, his dad, and the club. With all this revelation he needed to see Tara, to be honest with her, to let her know what he was headed for and if he died what legacy he wanted for the boys. Jax and the guys drove back to charming and had church, as they discussed what to do, what this meant for the club. Jax instructed Tig to reach out to the Italians, they were going to need guns. Jax had all the guys watching Lin, looking for Juice as he prepared to go see Tara. As he and Chibbs were about to leave for Oregon, the new Sheriff came to meet the club.

Sheriff Alethea: Hello, I wanted to introduce myself to the notorious motorcycle club and it's president. I don't know what type of deal you had with Sheriff Roosevelt but I find that things work a lot better if we work together. I do appreciate that we will be able to establish a new working relationship that profits us both. Maybe you can have irish boy here go through the lay of the town and what profits we can both gain. Do we understand each other?

Jax: yes mammm we do,

Alethea: bye the way I hear there may be trouble brewing between you and your Chinese counter parts.

Jax: Nope, don't know anything about that, I do love their food though.

Jax: Chibbs, seems like the Sheriff wants some irish boy charm

Chibbs: AYE, I'll oblige and take some profit too

Happy: it's like you're a hooker

Tig: the best kind

As Jax and Chibbs were on their way they were stopped by Margaret at the gas station. Margaret greeted Jax and told him she was glad Tara was flourishing in Oregon after all that she had went through. Margaret gave Jax a few of Tara things that she had left behind. There was an envelope with papers, an old bracelet that Tara's mom had given to her before she died, and an medical book.

Tara and the boys were about to go home from the clinic, when a women brought in a baby that was barely breathing and turning blue. The doctors all worked hard to help the baby but they couldn't get her to breathe on her on. The baby heart rate begin to drop as the mother and father scream, when Tara burst in and perform an emergency procedure that saved the baby's life and allowed her to be transferred to the local hospital. At the hospital the Dr. on staff asked Tara to sit in on the surgery. Tara informed the doctor that she was on probation and was not allowed to operate, but only to work under Dr. Molten, Tara was able to talk the Dr. through the surgery. After the surgery was performed, Tara went back to the clinic to get Abel and Thomas, when the parents of the baby girl walked in, they thanked her for her quick action and offered Tara a job at a new pediatric surgery center in Lodi. Tara was shocked an taken back by the offer. The couple happened to wealthy board members of the new pediatric center, the center was going to be designed to treat kids with special health concerns like Abel. The doctors would see the patients for their primary care and any surgical needs, each doctor would have special privileges to treat clients in Lodi, Stockton, charming and Oakland. This would be Tara's dream come true a chance to do what she loved and get her family back together again. Tara felt it was her duty to tell them the truth about her history, Tara shared all her achievements, her hand ordeal, pregnancy, and probation. The couple didn't care, Tara had saved their daughter's life and wanted to give her a chance, and the job would begin in two months. Dr. Molten, though sad to lose Tara would talk to the medical board on her behalf.

Jax and Chibbs arrive at Nate's house, Jax found it strange that Tara and the boys were not at home. Jax tried not to worry, so he sat down and started looking through the medical book that Margaret gave him for Tara. Chibbs played with Dyna and checked in with the guys back at home. The medical book made Jax uneasy, as he picture Abel on the operating table. Jax closed the book and begin to look around at the changes Tara had made to the house, he saw a framed picture on the counter that Abel must have drew and Tara had framed. The picture was of him, Tara, Abel, Thomas, and Dyna standing by a house, Jax instantly smiled. Jax was growing impatient as the minutes went by, he called Tara who assured him she and the boys were fined. He looked at the bracelet Tara mom gave her and it brought back a memory when they were teenagers. He had popped that very bracelet when he and Tara had a fight over his jealousy of her spending time with her new lab partner. Jax opened the envelope that Margaret had gave him for Tara, to Jax surprise it was copies of the letter Maureen Ashby had stuffed in his back pack when he was leaving Belfast. Jax wondered why Tara made a copy of them, though he had no interest in reading the letters again, Jax was about to throw the letters away, when he noticed one of the letters was different, he had never seen this letter. Jax sat down and begin to read, in this letter and three to follow it, JT laid out how Gemma and Clay had been sleeping together behind his back, how Gemma hated him and his apathy, the direction he wanted to take the club. The letters detailed times where JT knew Gemma was sneaking off to be with Clay, how he suspected Gemma and Clay of getting Unser and Lowell in on the plot to kill him. As Jax read the letter tears ran down his face, the hatred he carried for his father, for Clay, Gemma had avoided, how his mother's words had kept him from leaving with Tara all those years ago. These letters had, had a hand in the deaths of Piney, Opie and Tara's hand Jax got up and ran to the kitchen sink to splash water on his face, where he noticed Tara's prescription for Prenatal vitamins and nausea pills. He saw a Dr. Appt on the fridge, the anger in Jax mounted as he wandered what else had Tara been hiding from him. Jax punched the wall as Tara and the boys walked in. Abel and Thomas ran up to Jax immediately.

Abel and Thomas: Daddy Dadddy

Tara: Hey babe, this is a surprise, what are you doing here. (Jax could barley say a word to Tara, as the boys talked commanded all of his attention.

As the boys showed Jax and Chibbs around the house and the new tricks they taught Dyna. Jax couldn't take his eyes off of Tara, and the secrets she was keeping. Jax asked Chibbs to take the boys to the pond to go fishing much to the boy's dismay.

Abel: Daddy can you come with us please

Thomas: Yeah Daddy

Jax: I will be there in a few minutes, Daddy has to talk to mommy for a minute. But hey Uncle Chibbs has never fished before maybe you big boys can teach him.

Abel and Thomas: OKAAAAAAAY

Jax walked back up to the house and in the kitchen, as he sat down, he noticed that the pill bottle he was noticeably missing.

Tara: So wanna tell me what's going on, I love you for coming but I know something has to wrong

Jax: Gemma accidentally killed the wife and daughter of the head of the Chinese. Now Lin is demanding I turn her and Juice over. I am hiding Gemma with Jury in Vegas. Tara, I'm sorry for hiding the things I hide from you, I thought I was protecting you. JT said the only way an old lady makes it in a club is that you tell her everything. I wanted to hide this from you, I didn't want to see your disappointment; but I realize I could die in this fight and I wanted to see you and the boys one last time. Anything you need to tell me (as he slides the envelope from Margaret towards Tara).

Tara: (looks at the envelope) those are copies of the letter from Maureen Ashby, how did you get them.

Jax: Margaret gave them to me, more importantly I noticed a few extra letter in here, where you ever going to tell me Tara, and how about the prenatal pills that was on the counter, was that a secret too. (with tears in his eyes)

Tara: I, I, babe when I wanted to tell you, but when you got out, you wanted to leave and I thought it was finally our chance. Then everything just kinda happened one after the other, when the letter finally came out, I knew Gemma would take the ones out that implicated he. So I gave you the stuff to kill Clay so we could be free, but Opie died and your bond to the club became stronger. I knew, knowing that would make you hate Gemma and I know that the good man shouldn't have to hate your mom or worst kill her. The baby, I honestly just found out not to long ago, I didn't think you would believe me, I just wanted time to breathe and enjoy this life. Jax, I am finding the me that I had lost and it feels good. This me still loves you as much as I did when I was 16, but this me the Doctor and mom I was losing being involved in the club. I am so proud of and the changes you are making with the club, I even got offered a job in Lodi but I cant come back to that chaos.

Jax: Babe, there can't be anymore secrets, we won't make if there are. How far are you

Tara: eight weeks, Jax what are you going to do about the Chinese. You promised, you would never miss anything like this again. You asked me not to divorce you, you asked me to come home. I am giving you everything in me, how much more do you want me to take. Will you be here?

Jax looked at Tara with so much guilt and sorrow in his eyes for everything that had happen to her, to them. Jax and Tara stopped talking when Abel and Thomas ran in. They put the boys to bed, after a round of hide n go seek. Jax walked up and kissed Tara but before he could say anything Bobby called Chibbs, they had Juice. Jax and Chibbs had to go, as they left, Tully sat outside watching.