Chapter 9

"He's getting out Isla! Bobby is coming home tonight!"

Isla looked up from the files she was holding to see Gemma stood in the office door way and she couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty. Bobby had been locked up by some ATF bitch for weeks and she'd barely even missed him, she'd been so caught up in her own little world. Suddenly feeling horribly selfish, she pushed the invasive thoughts from her head and turned her attention away from her work.

"That's so great! What—"before she could ask what they were going to do to celebrate, Gemma cut her off

"Seriously? Are you really going to ask that? Put those files down and come on! We've got a party to organise!" Isla at least looked sheepish as she put the files down. It was a pretty stupid question, so enough she was in the club house counting up kegs and making a list of things for the sweet butts to go and pick up before Bobby arrived back. Gemma watched with a slight smirk thinking how if she wasn't careful Isla would be doing her job without even knowing it. The girl sure seemed more comfortable with club life than her mother had been.

Only a few hours had passed when Isla spotted the unmistakable cop car pulling into the TM lot, using her fingers she let out a piercing whistle, catching Clay's attention who was standing with a beer already in his hand. She nodded towards the car that had rolled to a stop before them. The blonde ATF agent that had been snooping around the club got out the front seat, her colleague out the driver's side. When they opened the back door for none other than Bobby Elvis to get out a cheer went up from the group of people that had gathered outside the clubhouse in wait.

Isla couldn't help but laugh in delight. She jumped down from her perch atop one of the picnic tables and darted through the crowd to the grey-fuzzy haired man that was the centre of everyone's attention.

"Welcome home Bobby!" Isla gave him a quick hug which left the older biker reeling with surprise. This was not the same girl he had seen some week previously, but there was no time to think about that as he was pulled into the arms of his brothers and welcomed home in true SAMCRO fashion.

"No what could a pretty little thing such as you possibly be doing hanging around with a bunch of bikers like this? And wearing so many clothes?" Isla looked around to find the ATF agent practically breathing down her neck. She took an immediate step back from the woman suddenly feeling very uncomfortable

"Umm...—"

"Isla?! Come on lass!" She shrugged apologetically at the agent and went to greet Chibs at the entrance to the clubhouse where a few other bikers stood, shooting daggers at the ATF agents who had clearly overstayed their welcome.

"Stay clear of that crazy bitch, you hear me lass?" Isla rolled her eyes as Chibs scolded her but she nodded anyway, glancing back at the woman who was still watching her closely before stepping into the safety of the clubhouse.

"Thank me later!" Jax muttered as he grabbed Isla by the shoulders and pushed her towards the ladder that led to the roof. "I just figured you wouldn't want a repeat of your birthday!" The blonde biker smirked down at her as the passed the bar where a row of shots had already been lined up. She blushed and climbed the ladder without protest, hoping that Jax wouldn't notice the pink flush of her cheeks.

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"Yeah well maybe your son just has mad love for me, I mean who wouldn't?!" Isla giggled and took another swig from the bottle of whiskey she was holding in her hand and Jax couldn't help but grin at her. He had to admit she'd got him there. The two of them had spent the last two and a half hours sat on the rooftop talking whilst the party carried on down below them.

"You don't have to tell me!" Jax rolled his eyes at her and smirked for a moment before snatching the whiskey back and taking a long slug. When he put the bottle back and looked back to the girl perched on a ledge beside him he found her staring intently right back.

"What?"

"Jax why have you been ignoring me for the last two weeks?" he sighed, the alcohol was making her brave.

"It's not that I've been ignoring you Isles...I've just had a lot to do, with the club. You know?" she raised one perfectly arched eyebrow and shrugged.

"Sure" Jax knew she didn't believe him.

"Look, I've just had a lot to think about with the club. The direction that Clay is pulling us in. I just don't feel as though this is what my father had in mind when he started this whole thing." Why was he telling her this? Next he'd be telling her about the old journal's he'd found in the storage locker.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Isla's curiosity was getting the better of her already. Jax just shrugged and smiled.

"I dunno, like I said, just been doing a lot of thinking." Seeming a little more satisfied with his answer Isla huffed,

"Yeah well next time, think you could possibly take 2 minutes to drop me a text?" she smirked and leaned over to grab the bottle from the other side of Jax. As she did Jax breathed in letting that scent he loved so much invade his nostrils

"You wanna get out of here?" The words were out of Jax' mouth before he even realised he'd spoken. Isla looked at him for a few seconds before nodding and following Jax down the ladder, leaving the bottle of whiskey forgotten on the rooftop.

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"Jax don't let me fall off okay?"

Jax was glad Isla couldn't see the grin on his face as he wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Darlin' you have nothing to worry about" he smirked and pulled out the lot, leaving the party to continue behind them.

As Jax drove through the streets of Charming, Isla held on as if her life depended on it. She could still feel the buzz from the alcohol in her system, with the wind wiping around them and the smell of leather and cigarettes filling her nostrils she couldn't help but smile at how the night had turned out. She flexed her arms thinking about the different emotions running through her at the moment; was it just from the alcohol? Was it just because she'd been spending so much time with him? Suddenly it hit her and Isla felt giddy from the realisation. She loved him

As they pulled into his street Jax spotted a very familiar cutlass parked on the street behind his mother's Cadillac and his stomach rolled. Why was Tara here? Deciding not to say anything he parked his bike on the drive and made his way to the front door, feeling more and more nervous every step he took.

"Hello ma?" he called out to Gemma and when she appeared he let out a sigh. Gemma teller did not look pleased.

"Hiya Gem!" Jax hadn't realised Isla was so close behind him, before anyone could say anything else Tara stepped into the light.

When Isla spotted the brunette, she froze. Why was Tara here? Hadn't Gemma told her there was nothing going on between her and Jax anymore? Suddenly she wondered if the whiskey she'd been drinking earlier that night was going to be throwing in another appearance.

And apparently Tara wasn't too pleased to see her either as the doctor looked as though she had swallowed something sour.

"Oh hello Isla, I didn't realise you were here too." Something in Tara's tone made Isla feel like she was still a child getting scolded for getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar. It was only when Gemma nudged her that Isla realised she hadn't responded to her.

"Sorry! Yeah, Jax was just giving me a lift back here so I could get a ride home with Gemma." She couldn't even look at Jax, scared of what she'd see in his face.

"I see" Tara didn't sound convinced "Well I just came over to talk to Jax."She looked to Gemma whose lips were set in a grim line.

"See you later baby" She kissed her son's cheek before taking Isla's hand "Come on sweetheart, you look dead on your feet" Ignoring the third woman, she led Isla out to the car, waved goodbye to Jackson and got in the car.

Tara had shown up at the door earlier that evening and confessed to Gemma that she and Jax had been spending a lot of time together since he'd found out she was back in town and she'd come over to tell him that she didn't think they should spend any more time together after seeing how much time Jax was also spending with Isla. Tara felt as though she might be getting herself into something that was trickier than it looked. Gemma had no problem admitting that didn't like Tara and whilst that was the case she agreed that it was wise for her and Jax not to spend any time together when he was obviously still struggling with parenthood and although Gemma wouldn't say anything she was still secretly hoping her son might find an old lady in Isla now the girl seemed to be growing into such a fantastic young woman after everything she had been through.

As they drove, Gemma kept stealing glances over at Isla who just stared distantly out the window.

"Everything okay baby?" She asked raising her eyebrows when Isla looked at her "Enjoy Bobby's party?" she turned her eyes back to the road, slowing at the upcoming stop sign.

"Yeah, I had a great time Gem. Me and Jax—"before she could finish her sentence a young blonde appeared at Gemma's window.

"Please help me! My baby is choking!" she cried hysterically. Isla and Gemma both unclipped their seatbelts and got out the car rushing to the minivan parked behind them. Gemma leant into the van with the tear stained blonde looking over her shoulder. Isla peered inside the van to see a plastic baby strapped into the car seat.

"What the-?" she heard Gemma's confusion and then her world went black.

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"I said knock her out, not kill her!" The girl sighed in frustration, looking down at the unconscious woman at her feet with a bloody gash on her forehead, her accomplice just shrugged uncaring.

"Do we take her as well?" He asked in his gravelly voice, the girl ran a hand through her short blonde hair thinking for a moment, she recognised this woman from the papers. She'd heard about what she'd been through.

"No. We don't need her," She made a final decision, knowing what was in store for the biker queen decided that this woman had already felt enough of that pain.

"Come on let's get out of here!" Leaving the older girl on the floor she ran back to her minivan, making sure their target was completely unconscious before speeding away.

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Wayne Unser closed the door to his car and looked around the lot, there were no cars or people anywhere in sight, and he pulled his gun just to be sure before proceeding cautiously towards the abandoned warehouse. Checking the door only to find it locked, he started to bang on the door.

"Gemma?!" He yelled out, having received an anonymous tip off that she may need his help Wayne wanted to make sure he was as thorough as possible in checking this out.

"Are you in there?!" he paused for a second and was about to go when he heard it.

"Way-Wayne! Wayne!" That was definitely Gemma's voice. Without a second thought he shot the lock to pieces and carried on inside, keeping his gun in front of him.

It didn't take him long to locate Gemma and when he did, the older man was shocked to his core,

"Oh my god!"

"Get-Get me out of here!" Gemma sobbed and he agreed running over and helping her cover herself, he got Gemma to her feet, quickly grabbed her scattered clothes and shoes and led her away from the grimy old building.

"How'd you know I was in there?" Gemma asked as they made their way back towards town.

"I heard it over the radio" Wayne seemed hesitant to tell her

"Anonymous tip?" he nodded sadly

"Yeah." He paused trying to think of the right words "You gotta tell me something here Gemma?"

She ignored him and looked around as they sped through the dark streets

"Where you goin?"

"St Thomas" came the clear reply and Gemma sighed, leaning back against the head rest.

"No." Wayne turned to the woman and looked at her as if she had just sprouted horns.

"We gotta get you to the hospital!"

"No hospital" Gemma sobbed a little as she shook her head, she hated to admit how much pain she was in.

"Well uh what am I supposed to do here Gemma?" Unser smacked his hands against the steering wheel in exasperation.

"Give me your cell." She muttered and dialled a number, the phone rang a couple of times and Gemma hated to admit she was nervous the good doctor wouldn't answer

"Hello?" Relief washed through her, quickly followed by annoyance as she could hear her son's sleepy voice in the background. That wasn't how she had hoped things would work out, and then she gasped.

"ISLA!"

"No. This is Tara" Came the annoyed response from the other end of the phone.

"Yeah I know!" Gemma spoke quickly before hanging up.

"Wayne, you need to take me home quickly! Tara will meet us there. Have you heard anything about Isla she was with me!" The woman couldn't hide her panic as she realised nothing had been mentioned about Isla since Wayne had found her. Unser nodded with understanding and stepped on the gas a little more.

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Gemma licked her lips as Tara gently cleaned the wounds on her cheek.

"Did Jax see you leave?" she asked and was glad when Tara didn't even try and deny her whereabouts of the evening

"Told him that was the hospital" she muttered not wanting to touch that subject. "You need to tell me what happened so I can help you!" Gemma closed her eyes for a moment and took a small breath

"Use your imagination." She mumbled which made Tara stop and look at her with unmasked horror. At that moment Unser burst through the back door supporting Isla who was holding a piece of cloth to her own forehead. Gemma gave the younger girl a quick glance and let out a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding when she saw that aside from the gash on her head, Isla didn't look hurt.

Tara glanced up at the two of them, frowning at Isla who threw herself down on other couch across from them.

"Maybe we should let them rest?" Wayne piped up, and shrugged when Tara shot him daggers.

"We need to get her to a hospital"

"NO!" Gemma was firm about that,

"I can't treat you in my living room!" Tara was almost indignant

"Gunna have to check in, with all the insurance and shit. Everybody will know." Gemma licked her lips again and the room went quiet until a strange noise came from Isla making Tara get up to take a closer look at her head.

"Well, we'll just have to figure it out. I think Isla is concussed. I need to get her to a hospital! Isla! Stay with us! Don't fall asleep!" Wayne leaned over and pulled Isla up into a standing position as Tara started to pack up her stuff again.

"Promise me, you won't tell anyone."

"Gemma—"

"Promise!" Gemma cut Tara's next words off.

"We gotta tell Clay!" Wayne couldn't believe what he was hearing

"Not Clay, Not Jax. No one" Wayne sighed and shrugged knowing he wasn't going to win this battle.

"Alright." Tara sighed and nodded in agreement as she gathered up the rest of her stuff. "They're going to see their faces!" She whispered to Unser who was looking between the two injured women uneasily.

"I know. Just stay with them!" he told her firmly and turned to leave, a plan already formed in his mind.

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"Hey!" Jax strode up to Tara, who smiled brightly back at him, pressing a small kiss to his cheek. Jax blinked at her.

"How are Isla and my mom doing?" Tara's smiled faltered ever so slightly at the obvious concern Jax had for everyone's favourite little blonde.

"Gemma is fine, just a few cuts and bruises, nothing that won't heal" she lied quickly with a tight smile. "Isla took a pretty hard bash to the head, doctor is seeing her now, thinks she may be suffering with some mild concussion, but doesn't look like anything too serious either!" Tara watched as Jax' shoulders seemed to loosen and he visibly relaxed.

"That's great. Thanks for this Tar. I'll catch you later okay" He flashed her one of his brilliant Jax Teller smiles before turning on his heel.

Jax opened the door and crept into the room where the doctor was finishing up his examination on Isla.

"If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, or anything odd please come straight back to us" he heard the doctor say in a very firm voice "We'll be keeping you in for the next 24 hours just to make sure there's no swelling or bleeding, but providing everything looks okay, you'll be free to go tomorrow." He finished up and Isla nodded.

"Okay thank you" Once the doctor had left, Jax was able to get a proper look at Isla. The gash on her head didn't look so bad anymore now all the excess blood had been cleaned off her.

"How you feeling Darlin'?" He could tell as he sat down that she was exhausted, but even with a large cut on her forehead and deprived of sleep Jax couldn't help thinking of how pretty the girl in front of him looked.

"I'm fine, honestly!" Isla smiled softly up at Jax and rubbed her forehead, "How's your mom doing?" Although Isla hadn't said anything she remembered the conversation between Tara, Gemma and the police Chief earlier that day. Jax assured her that his mom was okay too and although Isla didn't completely believe him she sat back and let herself relax, drifting in and out of sleep with Jax clutching her hand and rubbing his thumb over her knuckles soothingly.

With Isla soon asleep and Jax watching her so intently, neither of them noticed the brunette doctor watching from outside the hospital room, her hands stuffed in her white coat pockets. As Tara stared through the window she realised that she wasn't the only girl in Jax Teller's life and it almost seemed to her, this innocent little thing Jax wrapped round her little finger without even knowing it and for that Tara resented her. With one final glare through the window, she stalked off in the direction of her office still thinking about the man she thought she loved and the girl she seemed to be competing against.

A/N: I know this is my longest chapter yet and I'm a little worried it may seem rushed, so please bear with me! Obviously I've changed things slightly from how they were in the show. Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts!