A/N: I know that it has been forever since I have updated this story and for that I am sorry... The good news is that I am finally back with a new chapter for everyone... I am slowly getting some of my other Sons of Anarchy stories updated but I am also in the process of updating several other fandoms as well... Enjoy the new chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own SoA!

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Tara sighed as she sat back in her seat. Once again Jax was in visiting Marissa for a few minutes and then it would be her turn. It had been eight hours since Marissa had been moved from recovery to ICU and she knew that Marissa's half brother would be here soon. As soon as she had called him and told him what had happened to her he said that he would be there as quickly as he could. She had no doubt that he would be breaking several speed limits in order to get to St. Thomas. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she looked up and smiled slightly when she saw Clay looking down at her with concern in his eyes. "What can I do for you, Clay?"

Clay sighed and sat down next to Tara. "How are you holding up, sweetheart?"

Tara sighed and ran a hand through her hair as she looked Clay in the eyes. "I'm holding up alright Clay. I just wish now that I would have been a better sister to Marissa than I had been. I am the older one but yet I let her get in between dad and I when dad was on one of his rampages. I let her take the beatings that were meant for me. I warned her off Jax because I had thought that I wanted him for myself. I have not been the sister that I should have and could have been and right now that is eating me up inside. I hate that this happened to her and that I couldn't prevent it. I deserve Jax's anger and I deserve Marissa's half brother's anger which I know that I will get when he shows up here. He is very protective of Marissa and he is not going to take it lightly this happened to her."

Clay shook his head. "You can't blame yourself for what has happened to Marissa anymore than Jax can blame himself, Tara. Nobody could have known that this was going to happen to her. From what both you and Jax have said Marissa is a tough girl and she will come through this. You may not have been the sister that you could have been but that does not mean that you can't be the sister you should be now, Tara. You have a chance to make everything up to Marissa now. You have the chance to get to know your sister again. Marissa chose to step in between your dad and you. She did it because she loved and loves you, sweetheart. If she didn't love you then she would not have made sure to take the beatings meant for you. She must have had a reason for what she did. As for warning Marissa against Jax you will need to sit her down and tell her why you did it. I do not know the girl but hell I can see just how much Jax loves her. If I did not know my son any better I would think that he was the one lying in a hospital bed instead of her. This is killing him but I know that he will get through this. He will keep his shit together just because of the fact that Marissa needs him just like she is going to need you."

Tara smiled softly at Clay and leaned to the side and pressed her lips to his cheek. "You always have been a much better father to me than my own dad, Clay. Thank you for the words you have just said. I know that you are correct in everything you have just said but it does not make it any easier to bear. I honestly wish that I could take Marissa's spot in that hospital bed right now. I wish that I could take her injuries. I can only hope and pray that she will be able to walk by the time everything is all said and done with because if she can't then I do not know what she will do, Clay. She loves to walk, jog, and flat out run. If she can't use her legs it will kill her."

Clay sighed. "If she can't walk then we will come up with something to help her, sweetheart. You can't borrow trouble before it gets here. We will not know if she will be paralyzed for good until after the swelling goes down in her back and she comes out of the coma. I am pretty damn sure that if it turns out that she is paralyzed Jax will not let her wallow in self pity. He will do what he does best and that is argue and make her see the bright side of things. Right now you can only think positive and believe that everything will work out. I know that you love your sister, Tara. I can see that this is killing you but you need to remain strong. If you need to cry then do so but afterwards put your game face on and go see your sister and tell her how much you love her and need her. She will only keep fighting if she feels that she has a reason to do so. She will only keep fighting if she realizes that she is loved and needed in this world. Make sure that you tell her just how much you love her and have missed her. Make sure that you tell her how much you need her in your life. That is the only thing that you can do right now, sweetheart."

Tara took in a deep breath and let it out as she nodded. "Thank you for setting me straight, Clay."

Clay smirked. "It is what I am here for, sweetheart. Now do you want to tell me who Marissa's half brother is?"

Tara smirked but before she could reply a voice called out "Tara?"

Tara jumped out of her seat and hurried over to the man standing in the doorway to the ICU waiting room. "Lorca, it is good to see you again. I am so sorry that it is under these circumstances."

Lorca pulled Tara into a hug and ignored his brothers surprised looks and shock. "Thank you for calling me to let me know about Marissa. How is she? Where is she?"

Tara sighed. "I'll take you to see her and then I'll tell you everything that I know. But first you need to see Marissa with your own eyes so that you know she is alive and as well as she can be at this point and time. Okay?"

Lorca nodded and followed behind Tara as she led him to the room that Marissa was in. He nodded once to Jax who looked at him in shock and surprise and walked over to stand next to Marissa's hospital bed. He leaned down and kissed Marissa on the head even as he grabbed a hold of her left hand. "I am here now, Ris, and I promise you that I will make everything better. You just fight and come back to us. I love you, Ris, so fight damn it." He kissed her on the head once more and then stepped back and turned towards Tara once more. "Well?"

A/N 2: *grins* Wooohooo there is this chapter finished! Hope you all enjoyed it... Click the button and let me know what you think!