A/N 9/20/2018: So this episode covers one chapter because it felt really slow to me. I don't want to delve too deep into Tara's part in the story, because she's not going to be in it much longer. She'll be gone by the end of the season. I REALLY don't like the woman, so she's being offed. Spoiler Alert! lol I managed to get this chapter up because they let me out of prison, I mean, work early. One of the saws decided to chew up the parts rather than cut, so they're trying to figure out what the people who made the material did wrong. As it is, they called O.T. tomorrow as well, so here's hoping I get another chapter up within the next couple of days. I'll have one for y'all on saturday for sure...maybe...if they don't call it for work. lol Love you guys so much! And thank you for the reviews. Oh! angel897...My fellow angel, feel free to share random thoughts, they are sometimes the best source of inspiration. southerencutie23, I may not update everyday when I work O.T. but I will post at least one chapter a week in those cases, so you won't have to wait long. lol Peace, Love, and Pop Rocks y'all!

A.T.F. Agent Kohn was currently standing in Deputy Chief Hale's office in the Charming P.D. building. This whole visit was a rouse for him. Pretending he was looking officially into Sam Crow all the while keeping an eye on the girl that he couldn't get out of his head. He was obsessed, he'll admit, but it was important to have an outlet. What he learned about his Tara though greatly concerned him. Such a fine specimen of a woman shouldn't be hanging around with the likes of Sam Crow. His talk with Hale wasn't easing his mind any at all either. Apparently, Charming's stagnation when it comes to progress was almost single handedly due to the Sons of Anarchy, but according to Hale, they were getting inside help from certain members of law enforcement as well.

That is when he got the idea, to start following his Tara's old beau. See what kind of man this Jackson 'Jax' Teller was.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Ah. Gotta bring it in through here," Jax was telling Clay as they worked on a bike that was brought in that morning. "Afraid the amped-up carb's gonna throw too much heat on the line."

"Might. That new Graytex cable can take a shitload of heat though," Clay put in. They both looked up to see Tig pull right into the garage next to them.

"We got troubles," he says.

"In what form?" Clay asks.

"Feds," Tig says.

"God damn it. Church. Now. Call everyone in," he orders as he heads into the club house.

Ten minutes later, everyone was gathered around the Reaper's table.

"We've taken every precaution to stay out of A.T.F.'s crosshairs. No busts, no investigations, for five years. We don't know this guy's here for us," Clay tells the others, trying to find an out.

"Hale flagged Bluebird as our gun warehouse. He's pissed off we made Unser crush the case, and he called in the feds," Jax says. "I think it's gotta be about us."

"Be my guess," Bobby affirmed.

"And we've got a garage full of 25 to life," Tig reminds them.

"Any legit place we store those guns is a straight line back to us," Clay tells the others.

"Can't Rosen get us some storage short term?" asks Bobby.

"He's killing Bluebird, man. He's setting up a dummy corp. It takes a few weeks," Clay said.

"We got that call from Jury last week," Jax says as he thinks. "Mayans pressing the Devil's Tribe to pay a vig… to keep running book and pussy out of Nevada. Look, maybe I do head to Indian Hills, offer Jury some advice. He offers our Aks a safe house."

"No. No. That's a risky ride, brother," Juice says. "Northern Nevada is Mayan territory. They're still looking to settle a score from our little raid."

"The Mayans know that the Tribe's a brother club. Part of asking for that vig is about shitting on us," Bobby informs. "They knew Jury would call. They're gonna be watching."

"That's what I'm saying. That's why just me and you go, under the radar," Jax says to Bobby. "We'll bring the guns in the same way."

"And you think you could bring Jury on board?" asks Clay.

"Shit. My dad saved his ass in Tây Ninh. He owes the Tellers a chit." Clay didn't look convinced. "Look, man. We're not gonna go cowboy. I promise."

"Promise," Bobby says, putting his hands up then crossing himself.

"Low profile. I don't no wetbacks knowing we crossed into N.V. They pull this off, I want you and Juice driving the barrels," Clay says to Tig.

"Done. We'll need something big though," Tig says.

"I'll call Unser."

Jax got up and went to his dorm to pack. Looks like he was taking a road trip.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Bobby and Jax were just about to head out when they saw Tara pull into the Teller/Morrow lot. Wondering what was up, Jax turned to Bobby.

"All right. Give me a minute," he says, climbing back off his bike.

"Yeah, I'll find you," Bobby says, pulling out.

Jax heads over to Tara. "Everything okay?" he asks curiously.

"Yeah. I was hoping you could help with the Cutlass. It's in pretty sad shape," she chuckles.

"Shit. This was your dad's, right?" he asks, the memories they had shared in this car running through his head.

"It was in the garage under two tons of old newspapers," she affirmed.

"Why don't you brink it in back. Have Lowell take a look at it," he says, looking in on the interior.

"Okay. Thanks," she says, walking around him. "I was hoping you could give me a lift home."

Jax pulled a face, but it seemed she didn't take it as the grimace it was. He didn't harbor any ill will towards her. He just wasn't interested anymore. "Actually, I'm just heading out for a couple of days."

"Okay. Anything come up with the baby, who should I call?" she asks.

"He's out of the woods, right?" Jax asks worriedly.

"Yeah. Yeah. Just in case of procedural stuff," she says as they hear a car horn honk. Jax waves at them over Tara's shoulder.

"Just let my mom know if you need anything," he says, gesturing to Gemma as she pulled in with Bella in the passenger seat. Bella frowned at seeing Tara there, but she could hardly ban the woman from the garage. One, she had no actual reason to other than she didn't like the doctor. Two, it wasn't her business to ban others from.

"Everything okay?" Gemma asks.

"Yeah, fine. She's just here to get her car fixed," Jax tells her. "Actually, could you give Tara a ride home? She's gotta leave the Cutlass here."

"No, that's okay. I'll just take a-" but Gemma cut her off.

"Love to give the good doctor a lift. Where you goin'?" she asks Jax.

"Visit Uncle Jury," he says simply.

"Nevada? By yourself?" she asks concerned, knowing that that was not Sons territory.

"With Bobby," Jax eased. Gemma huffs in annoyance.

"Does Clay know?"

"Relax, mom, it's gonna be fine," Jax says before he bends down and kisses her cheek. "Take care of her for me, Izzy?" he asks. Bella smiles and nods. He then turns and waves to Tara before walking back towards his bike. Bella and Gemma had a hard time containing their smirks. She had obviously been expecting more of an intimate good bye.

"I'm just going to pull this around back, then I'll meet you here?" Tara asks.

"Sure thing," Gemma nods before going parking her car. Bella turned to Gemma.

"I don't know about you, but my bull-shit-o-meter is going off like crazy," she tells the older woman.

"Mine does whenever the tramp sets foot on Teller/Morrow property," Gemma confirmed.

"Please be careful, Gemma. I don't trust her not to do something incredibly stupid." Gemma smiles at Bella.

"It's all right, sweetheart. I just want to see if I can pick up her angle," she says, trying to ease Bella's worries. Bella nods and opens her door.

"I'm just going to get some work done, then. Hopefully, I can distract myself enough not to think about Chibs every other minute for an hour or so." Gemma's smile turns predatory.

"You've got it bad." Bella nods.

"I do. Which is why I need a distraction," Bella says. "I'd call him if I was sure he wouldn't get shot in the process."

"I'll get him a message to check in. It has been a couple of days," Gemma offers. Bella hugs her really quick.

"Thanks, Mama Gemma," she says before she hot foots it into the garage office.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Bobby and Jax were riding the long stretch of road on the California/Nevada boarder when they catch site of a group of bikers heading their way.

"What do we got?" asked Bobby over the rumble of his Harley.

Jax cranes his neck to look. "Mayans."

"So much for low profile," Bobby mused.

Bobby and Jax close in on the group, seeing one riding in their lane. Jax doesn't deviate however, and the Mayan, that they can now see had pulled a gun, had to place both hands on his handle bars to keep his bike right up as he quickly changed lanes. Bobby and Jax pass them putting on speed once they do. Looking into the small circular side mirror, Jax can see three of the group split off and turn around to follow them.

"Two on three?" Jax asks. Bobby nods and they ride a bit farther before they hit their brakes. The Mayans slow to a stop as well, but Bobby and Jax had open fired on them, causing them to continue to ride forward if they didn't want to get riddled with bullets.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Jax and Bobby stop at a gas station a few more miles up the road.

"Give me the prepay," Jax demands, holding out his hand for the phone. Bobby slaps it into his hand, and Jax calls Clay.

"So, Mayans spotted us," Jax tells him as he answers.

"Well this forces our hand. Can't risk bringing those Aks in, wit the Mayans onto our visit. We need a bigger presence."

"Well, I'll have the Vegas boys head up," Jax offers.

"No, no. I'm talking about a permanent presence," Clay clarifies. "It'll be months before the warehouse is up and running. Indian Hills could be real useful."

"You talking patch over?" Jax asks incredulously. "I don't know Clay. Tribe might've started outlaw, but now? I mean, shit, they're bookkeepers and bouncers."

"They're earnin' outlaw-size money. It's just a matter of time before the Mayans push 'em out. They need us for their ow protection."

"Jury was a real good friend of my old man's, Clay. I don't feel right slamming a patch, no warning," Jax said.

"It's good for both clubs. Now, if you don't want to break it to 'em, I'll tell 'em myself at church," Clay said curtly, before hanging up. Jax looked at the now silent phone in his hand and sighed.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"We're ridin' to Indian Hills. Mandatory," Clay informs the members in his garage. "We're patchin' over the tribe."

"Are you serious?" Tig said excitedly.

"Do I look serious?" Clay deadpanned.

"We're- We're shot. I mean, Chibs, he's up north with McKeevy," Tig says.

"Anybody visiting?" Clay asks.

"Uh, Happy's down from Tacoma with Charlie, doing an autism run. They were gonna stop in later so Charlie could see Izzy. They've got Lorca, Bowie, Donut, couple of prospects with them," Juice puts in.

"Get them," Clay orders. Juice immediately heads off to do just that and Tig steps up to Clay.

"Okay, well- Wow, Jury's got all that beautiful pussy, man. It's gonna be a four-shot patch over party," Tig says.

"Unfortunately, you're driving the precious cargo," Clay informs him.

"No, no. Christ, Clay. Come on. You need me," Tig started.

"Hey. Hey. Last time you had free range on pussy, you throat-pumped two brownies," Clay said sternly. Your D.N.A. almost brought us down." Tig groans and looks to the floor. "Besides, you're the only one I can trust to handle this," Clay says, grabbing the back of his neck.

"Come on! Hauling barrels. Let the prospect go with Juice!" Tig pleaded.

"What prospect?" Clay said. He had been practically ignoring Half-Sac since the kid had made his ill advised comment about how Gemma would give him a hard on.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Bobby, Jax, and Jax's new side piece, Suzie, whom they picked up at the gas station after laying out her boyfriend, walked up to the bar that housed the Devil's Tribe.

"Just don't ask any questions, okay. I'll let 'em know you're with me," Jax tells her, as he guided her with his arm around her shoulders. He gave her a languid kiss before walking side by side with Bobby.

"You know, you are the James T. Kirk of the M.C. world," Bobby tells him.

"Going where no man has gone before," Jax says smugly.

"Let me tell you, brother, I think every man's gone there before."

"Jackson Teller!" Jury says, stepping out with his V.P. Needles.

"Uncle Jury," Jax says before embracing the man firmly and laughing at the reunion. "You guys remember Bobby."

"Bobby," Jury says, shaking his hand in a friendly manner.

"Needles, how you been?" Bobby asks, shaking his hand.

The three new comers enter the bar, where Jury introduces them.

"M.C. royalty in the house, folks. Jax Teller and Bobby Elvis of the Sons. Let's make 'em feel at home."

"Welcome."

"Good to see you, man." Came the responses.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Bella was going nuts. She normally had not trouble keeping busy and herself reasonably happy, but since Filip had gone up north for who knew how long, she felt a little lost. She knew what she could do, work in the office of the garage, check in on Opie and see how his work on her dad's roof was going, but she missed her Scot. Bella heard a knock on the office door and looked up to see Charlie standing there.

"Dad! Hey. I didn't know you were back in town," she said, standing up and rounding the desk to embrace her father.

"Clay called. Said there was a shindig he wanted us for in Nevada, so I thought I'd stop in for a few minutes on the way and say hi. How're you doing?" he asks.

"Great. Got the roof of you house started. And I've been hanging out around here. Helping in the office and feeding the boys." Charlie gave her the dreaded look of parents everywhere. It was like he was looking into every good or bad decision she had ever made.

"Uh huh. I hear you and Chibs have gotten really close," he said in a probing manner. Bella blushed a little but nodded.

"Yeah. He's a great guy."

"He's also about my age," Charlie said. Bella huffed.

"And? My choice dad. I don't nit pick yours, don't nit pick mine," she snapped. Charlie held up his hands in surrender.

"No nit picking. Just wanted to make sure you were sure. Chibs is a good guy. A little blood thirsty at times, but a good guy," Charlie says. Bella's countenance became soft.

"Yeah. Yeah, he is," she said. Charlie looked at her over his sunglasses.

"Let's move out!" they heard Clay call through the lot.

"That's my cue. I'll come back by, check in on you from time to time, all right kiddo? We'll go for breakfast next time,"he promised. Bella smiled and hugged him again, before he left. She hung out in the office for a little while, but she just couldn't focus at all. She really missed the thick Scottish bur of her lover.

Bella's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell. Looking at it, she saw it was her friend Angela calling.

"Hey, Ang. What's up?"

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Next time this gavel slams down, will be the last for the Devil's tribe," Clay says, holding up the gavel belonging to the Devil's Tribe. "History between our clubs. Jury and John Teller were in the same platoon in Nam. Needle's brother's a 20-year member of our Fresno charter. We have a deep respect for each other. Now… it's time to become brothers. I know some of you look forward to wearing the reaper. Others of you are afraid of it. That's a choice each man will have to make."

Jax steps forward with a leather kutte. The Sons of Anarchy reaper on the back with a Nevada rocker below it.

"From this point on, we're family. Indian Hills, Nevada charter, Sons of Anarchy. Congratulations." Clay hands the gavel to Jury. "It's my personal hope that every one of you wears this kutte. I know you got a lot to talk about. I'll leave you to your business."

The Sons from Vegas, Tacoma, and Charming all file out of the bar to let the Devil's Tribe decide it's fate.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Bella knocks on Gemma's door. It was answered a moment later by the woman herself, wearing a small, thin, black robe and smoking a joint.

"May I come in? I have a question to ask," Bella said nervously. Gemma looked at her for a moment.

"Sure. I'm just cleaning my party favors," Gemma said, holding the door open a little wider. Bella stepped in and followed the woman into the dining room, where she had an old hat box out that housed a good handful of guns. Bella giggled.

"Party favors?" she asked.

"A girl needs her toys," Gemma smirked. "Actually, I found little Tara carrying. A little Tom Cat Beretta. Problem is, little miss sunshine has it registered." Bella smiled.

"I have one of those. Then Chibs gave me a Jericho. He told me it was wise to carry one legally, and one with no serial numbers." Gemma nodded.

"Smart man. You said you had a question for me?" Gemma asked. Bella nodded.

"Yeah. I have a friend that wants to visit. Angela. Problem is, she's affiliated with one of the M.C.s in the area dad and I moved from."

"Is she planning on bringing the whole club to our doorstep?" Gemma asks. Bella shook her head.

"No. They tend to stay on their reservation. I'm surprised she's with them to be honest. The reason I left was because they deemed me a 'pale face.' The entire club is exclusively for Quileute Natives."

"Now that's a mouthful. What do they call themselves?"

"The Wolf Pack. There are a bunch of legends surrounding wolves, and I suppose they thought it would be a cool name," Bella shrugged.

"Well, I don't see an issue. So long as she keeps the drama to a minimum." Bella chuckled.

"I have a feeling she'll be stirring up her own kind of drama just by being here."

"How?" Gemma asks.

"She's the reverend's daughter," she says. Gemma stopped.

"She's not going to go bible crazy on us is she? God and I have an accord, it won't do to have another Tara Knowles on the lot." Bella shook her head.

"No. She's chill. But she's a reverend's daughter, and last I knew a virgin. For many in the club, prime pickings."

"Ah, shit!"

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"How do you think this thing'll play out?" Jax asks Clay.

"Half. Maybe more will stay. Maybe that pack'll thin out once the Mayans come a-knockin'. Which will be real soon," he answers.

"We can't leave these guys with no backup. Vegas can hang," Jax says.

"Indian Hills is gonna have to learn how to protect their ground. Best way to thin out a herd."

"Herd's already pretty thin, Clay. I want to be here for Jury when the shit goes down."

"I ain't worried about Jury. He can handle himself," Clay says. Just then the door opens and a few men walk out, throwing their denim Devil's Tribe kuttes to the ground in anger.

"Looks like the vote's in, huh?" Clay asks Jax. They walk back into the club to find the remainder of the men standing there waiting for them. Jury lets them wait a few moments.

"We're in," he says, and everyone embraces. Some taking off their denim kuttes and donning leather ones. The tense atmosphere breaks when Clay and Jury embrace. Everyone breaking out into cheers.

"Patch over party!" yells Happy, as drinks are passed around and the girls start coming out.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Tig and Juice walk into the bar that housed the mess from the party the night before. Tig sees a bottle of tequila on the bar and takes a deep swig. As everyone began coming out, Tig would say he hated them. Cherry, the sweet butt that Half-Sac had taking a liking to the night before followed Clay out of the back, and he gave her a look of betrayal.

"I thought you liked that guy?" Suzie asked Cherry.

"I do."

"Then why did you sleep with that old dude?" Cherry wanted to laugh at the cluelessness of this doe eyed girl. She really had no idea how life within an MC worked.

Tig was still pouting even a couple hours later.

"He still pouting?" Clay asked.

"Who, Tiggy? Why don't you give him the sweet butt?" Bobby asks, holding up two shot glasses to his eyes like binoculars.

"Nah, I'm good with Half-Sac. That score's settled," Clay tells him. His phone rings, and he sees that it's Jax.

"Where the hell are you?" he asks in answer.

"Yeah, looks like Jury's gonna have some backup when the Mayan shit goes down," Jax answers.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm on my way back, and I'm not alone."

"Shit," Clay exclaims. "Mayans!"

"Where?" Tig asks, putting down the bottle of tequila he had been nursing.

"Pack of 'em trailing Jax."

"Get rid of the god damn truck," Clay orders Juice.

"Got it."

"Mayans? What do you want to do?" Jury asks Clay.

"Weapons behind the bar."

By the time Jax pulls his bike, literally into the bar, all of the girls had been cleared out, the bikes were put into the garage, and every man was armed to the teeth. Some were in the bar, and others were in the sparse trees surrounding it. The Mayans open fired first, emptying their guns into the building, hoping to blindly hit someone.

When their clips were beginning to empty, Clay ordered those outside to begin their assault, as more than 30 men open fired on the maybe 15 Mayans on their bikes. No one was killed on either side, but Jury and one other member of the Tribe had been hit, and two Mayans were sporting new holes in their bodies too.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Everyone was getting patched up in the bar later as the local P.D. was taking a statement. Once Jury was done with his he walked over to Clay and Jax.

"Cleared his book debt. We're good," Jury tell them in reference to the officer.

"What happens now? I'm probably gonna loose a couple more guys 'cause of this."

"Well, there won't be another hit for a while. That, uh- That pop off was just about dick size. They want to let us know they're watching."

"Vegas will stick around for a while," Jax tells him.

"Appreciate that," Jury tells the young son of his friend.

There was a moment of tense silence before Clay broke it. "Brother," he says, standing up to embrace Jury. "Yeah."

The hug Jury gives Jax is much less tense and friendly.

"I'm sorry about all this, man," Jax whispers to him. Not only about the shoot out, but the unexpected patch over as well.

"It's all right, son."

Jury and Jax separate. Jax goes to walk away opposite Jury when Clay stops him with a hand to his chest.

"You wanna tell me what happened out there?" Clay asks.

"I went for a ride to clear my head, and the Mayans spotted me. You saw the rest." Tig and Bobby join the conversation.

"Juice will, uh- stick around and watch over the AK assembly."

"I'll have Vegas, you know, bring up some illegals, help him out," Tig offered Clay.

"Oh. I, uh- I got some helpers for you," Clay says to Tig, and pointing behind him. Tig turned to see Needles come out with three very scantily clothed girls.

"Really? Oh, I love you," Tig tells Clay.

"I know. You don't deserve all this," Clay jokes.

"I love all of you. Yes, I do. I love all of you. Come on. One, two, three," Tig counts the girls as he throws his arms around two and leads them into the back.

"Look, I want to go back and see the kid," Jax tells Clay. "I'll ride back with Happy and his guys." Clay nods and Jax leaves, joining Happy out in the lot.

He sees Suzie waiting out there as well, and smiles at her, knowing that she has had all she could take of the MC life. Jax climbs onto his bike and puts on his helmet.

"I thought that bitch was with you?" Happy asked, as some douche bag on a crotch rocked pulls in in front of her.

"Nah," Jax says as they start their engines and head for home.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Jax enters St. Thomas hospital in the early hours of the morning, and heads straight to the NICU, where he finds his mom.

"Hey," he whispers.

"You okay?" Gemma asks.

"I'm fine," Jax assures his mother.

"Think maybe someone could've called. I've been sitting-" she goes to rant, but Jax cuts her off with a sweet little kiss to her cheek.

Gemma gives her son a look that says she knows what he was attempting, and he chuckles, knowing he's gotten away with it, before going up to the incubator that housed his son.

"Hey, little guy," Jax whispers to him, with a big shit eating grin on his face. Since the moment Jax worked up the nerve to visit him, he has been over the moon about his little boy. The smile didn't even abate when he looked up to see Tara watching the scene.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Out in the hall, Tara watched Jax visit with his newborn son, as she opened an envelope that was left for her at the front desk. Inside was a picture of Jax, having sex, or fucking would be a better word, with a strange blond. The top of the photo read, 2:23 am Last Night.

Tara was furious to see Jax with another woman, and terrified because she knew the photo came from Kohn. Which means he was once again stalking her. It seemed that even if the restraining order was still in effect here in Charming, he really didn't care any more about being caught. That thought more than anything terrified her. She originally tried to get back in touch with Jax to see if he was still interested in her. Now she tried to be close to him for protection. But it seemed that he had truly lost all interest in her romantically. Giving a huff of annoyance and anger, she stuffed the photo back into it's manila envelope and stomped away from Abel's incubation room.