Disclaimer: I own not a drop of SoA. That's all KS.

OMG – over one hundred reviews, over one hundred followers and over 10,000 views. No words. You guys are just too fantabulous. Thank you so much for all your support :*

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Whoa, ya'll are not happy with Colette's appearance. That's okay. I feel the same, but she's a ho. One that's not worth the stress, especially since trash always gets thrown out in the end ;)

Now on to more important things – please do not skip the End Notes (Don't skip ahead and read them first either LoL). There is a method to my madness. I promise.

Chapter Soundtrack ~ Behind Blue Eyes: Limp Bizkit cover

Leaving Margaret at the nurses' station, Tara rushed through the halls of St. Thomas looking for Jax.

She was coming out of her office to start her morning rounds when her boss stopped her to give her the news. Her ex and his mother were in the surgical waiting room with some of their "associates" as Clay underwent emergency surgery.

Honestly, Tara could care less about Clay, she was worried about Jax. A gut feeling was telling her that this somehow involved him. That he had made good on his promise.

She walked into the room to see it full of some of the toughest guys she knew, looking like they were either on the verge of crying or putting their fist through a wall. She found Jax sitting next to a distraught Gemma and nodding to the few that greeted her, she made her way over to them.

"Hey."

Jax looked up to see Tara standing in front of him and he cracked a small smile, his body relaxing at the sight of her.

"I heard about Clay. I'm so sorry." She said to both Jax and Gemma and sat down in the empty chair next to him. "Any news?"

"No. He's still in surgery."

She nodded. "What happened?"

"We're not sure. Only Clay really know." He replied vaguely.

Earlier, while Gemma was going over the details of the surgery with a nurse, Jax filled his brothers in on what happened at the warehouse. Though they understood his position in the incident, there were a lot of mix feelings in regards to Clay. Hurt, confusion and anger. Until he woke, they'd be in limbo as to how to handle this, but even if he made it though, things were not looking good for him.

Tara could tell that Jax was lying and that only compounded the nagging feeling she had. Of course, he couldn't discuss it with her now, if at all so she played along.

"Okay. Well I have rounds so I have to go." She said looking at her watch. "I hope everything goes well." She told them. With their thanks and partings from the guys, she left the room.

She only made it a few feet down the hall before she was stopped.

"Tara." Jax called out and swiftly caught up to her. "I need you to do me a favor?" She nodded. "Send Devon a text. Tell her to go over to Opie's. Now. No questions asked. He'll explain when she get there."

"Okay." She agreed, but she looked at him suspiciously. "When will you explain what really happened to me?"

Jax smirked, happy that she could see this situation for what it really was. "As soon as it's finished."

Again, she nodded, giving him her silent acceptance. "I'll see you later then."

While he headed back into the waiting room, she went back to the nurses' station, pulling out her cell in the process.

Jax wants you to go to Opie's now. Don't ask why. Just do it. Trust me

.

.

Having just woken up, Devon was pit patting around before she headed to the shop when she got the text. Her first instinct was to call Jax and find out what the hell he wanted. Tara's insistence and the fact that the message was coming from her directly, told her to keep her mouth shut and just do as she was told.

She got to the house and found it empty. She heard music playing from outside and followed it to the garage. Opie was there, tinkering with his junker bike.

"Hey." She walked over to the radio and turned it down. "What's going on? Why did Jax want me to come over here?"

He put down the wrench he'd been using and wiping the grease from his hands, he said. "Because I might need you as an alibi."

"Why? What'd you do?"

"Clay's in the hospital. He was shot."

Devon was taken aback and not by the news. It was the way he was being so cavalier in his delivery, downright cold even.

Opie could see the questions in her eyes and didn't hesitate to clarify. "Jax and I settled a score with Clay last night." Devon's face dropped into utter shock. She didn't know what to say. Opie took the opportunity to have his say. "I've never forgiven Clay for what he did to us. It just needed to be handled in the right way." He explained Jax's plan for the club and how he agreed with it. The timing was right and together with Piney, they took advantage. "I couldn't risk him hurting you." He affectionately drew a finger across her lower belly. "Or you."

Looking hopeful, she asked. "So Clay's dead?"

"Not yet." He stated. "Right now, the less you know the better." When the dust settled, Jax wanted to be the one to tell her the whole story. Especially JT's death. It was more his story to tell than Opie's anyway and Devon was a part of Jax's family. She deserved to know what really happened to the man who was like an uncle to her. "All you need to know is that we turned our phones off and we've been here together all night."

"Okay." If it meant Clay would finally be gone, she'd say just about anything he wanted.

"There's nothing for you to worry about anymore alright?" He assured her, cupping her cheek and brushing it with his thumb.

"Then ask me again." She said, her face bright with relief and happiness.

"What?" She gave him a knowingly look and it clicked in place. "Ask you to come home?" She nodded giddily and grabbed a hold of his hand that was still on her face. "Will you come home?"

She wrapped his arms around her back and then hers around his waist. "Yes and I'm never leaving this time."

"Until I piss you off again." He jabbed and she hit him, making him laugh.

Biting her lips, she looked up at him with her chin on his chest. "You love me."

"Always have, always will." He stooped down to kiss her. "Don't ever doubt that again."

"I won't." She no longer had a reason to, he had proved his love. "I love you."

Smiling, Opie pulled her into another kiss. She giggled happily and threw her arms around his neck when he picked her up off the ground and carried her inside.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

After a successful surgery, Clay was transferred to a private recovery room.

Jax sent the club home for the tonight, vowing to stay and get an explanation from him as soon as he woke. To no surprise, Gemma refused nothing less than being by her husband's side; which suited Jax just fine. She played a part in this betrayal and he wanted her front and center while Clay's reign came to an end.

.

One on side of Clay, Gemma had fallen asleep in a chair, holding his hand. On the other, Jax patiently waited, aimlessly flipping through TV channels.

Suddenly, he heard a groan coming from the bed and all his attention turned to Clay, watching him began to stir.

"You awake?" He asked. "Huh?" He repeated, kicking the side of the bed forcefully, jarring Clay's broken body.

"Argh!" Clay exclaimed loudly as pain lanced through his body and he was fully conscious.

Hearing her husband and feeling his grip on her hand out of distress, Gemma woke as well. "Baby, you okay? What's wrong?" She quickly fired off. "Jax, go get a nurse." She ordered, stroking Clay's face, trying to sooth him.

Jax went to the door and locked it. He closed the blinds and reaching into the back of his jeans, he turned to his mother and Clay.

"Sit down, Gemma." He said, his voice eerily calm.

She swung her gaze to him and stopped at the cold fire in his face. Her eyes widened when he removed his hand from his back to point his glock at her.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I said – Sit. Down." He seethed.

With his aim steady on her, Gemma knew he was completely serious so she took a seat.

"Thank you." He said politely and walked over to the bed. Replacing the gun, he traded it for his knife and in the blind of an eye, he lunged at Clay, shoving the knife into his throat.

"Jackson, no!" Gemma yelled, jumping out of her chair. As she reached to pull her son away, he growled.

"If you get out of that chair one more time, I will slit his gotdamn throat."

With her hands raised, she backed off and complied. "What are you doing Jax?" She asked, fear trembling her voice.

He grinned at her cunningly. "Just finishing the conversation we had earlier, right Clay?" He turned to the older man. "See, Clay here got caught trying to fuck the club." He weaved his story for them. "He took some of Galindo drugs so we'd be indebted to him and then he could renegotiate a new deal to settle up with the old one." With his empty hand, he removed the mask from Clay's face. "At least that's what we're going to tell the club, isn't it?"

"No." He shook his head. "You set me up."

"Oh I did?" Jax's face morphed viciously and he leaned closer. He dug the knife in, piercing his skin and Clay winced, arching back as blood trickled down his neck. "Well if you tell people that, I guess I'll have to tell them what really happened to my father." At first Clay frowned with confusion, but staring into his stepson's penetrating eyes, realization came over him. "That's right. I know you killed my father."

"Oh God."

Jax heard across from him and looking to his mother, more of the truth was revealed.

"You knew."He said rather than asked. When she didn't refute, he was overwhelmed with hurt. He had suspected as much, but he hoped, he prayed that he would be proven wrong. "You knew." He spat at her.

Seeing the stricken look on her son's face, Gemma ignored his warning and almost leapt out of the chair to get to him. "No. No!" He backed away from her and she rushed to place herself in front of him so he'd have to listen to her. "Jax, I swear to you I didn't know." She insisted honesty and pressing her hands together, she pleaded. "Please listen to me. I did not know Clay was going to hurt your father…but I-" She stuttered for a moment, knowing that this would forever change things between them. But there was no going back, Jax wouldn't settle for anything, but the truth. "I always felt like- like Clay had something to do with his death." She admitted.

"And you never said anything because it was too convenient for you." He gathered bitterly. "No more banging Clay behind Dad's back. You could do it out in the open. Even though everyone already knew, including Dad."

"Jax-" She touched his arm when he turned away from him.

He whirled on her and grabbing her shoulders, he firmly set her arms length away. "Don't touch me."

She began to cry, feeling her son slipping through her fingers as he stared at her with hatred and anguish. She could feel her heart breaking inside her chest.

Jax couldn't bear to look at her another second so he turned back to Clay. "Decide." He told him. "Either I tell the club what you did to my father and we kill you or you tell them you stole the drugs and you'll live, but you're out of SAMCRO and Charming forever."

"Please."

"Decide." Jax growled, not willing to hear any excuses.

Clay knew there was nothing he could do or say to make Jax hear him out. There was no forgiving what he did. Either way the club was lost to him, but he was given a way to walk out of this with his life.

Swallowing thickly, he conceded sorrowfully. "I stole the drugs."

"Smart decision." Stepping around his sobbing mother, Jax swiped Clay's cut from the back of her chair. He dropped it over his chest and making sure he was watching, he cut his President's patch off.

Clay grimaced, watching his final hold on SAMCRO being ripped away, but the pain ran deeper when Jax picked up his cut to take with him as he prepared to leave. He knew what would happen to it and it was sure sign that he was forever barred from the club.

"I'm sorry son." He said, trying once again, using familial loyal to get a reprieve.

"Jax scoffed incredulously, knowing he wasn't sincere or remorseful. "Fuck you." He sneered and spit in his face.

He headed for the door and his mother tried to reason with him. "Baby."

He glared at her. "You can go with him if you want, I mean you did kill a man to be with him right?" She may not have known that Clay was going to kill his father, but if she hadn't been screwing around with him, JT might be alive today. Her acceptance and silence over the years told of her guilt. "If you go, you will never be able to come back. You will never see me, Abel or Thomas again. You will be dead to us all." He snarled in her face. "Or you can stay and maybe one day, I'll be able to stand looking at you again."

Tears filled Gemma's eyes again, watching her son stare at her with disdain one last time before he back out of the room. The door closed and she dropped down on the end of the bed, sobbing into her hands.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

On the way out of the hospital, Jax called Opie. "You at the clubhouse?...Good. We'll have a full table. Clay made the right choice." He informed his best friend knowingly. "Thanks Op. I'll be there soon."

Leaving St. Thomas, Jax took the scenic route to the clubhouse, needing a few moments to get himself together. It was one thing confronting Clay about the murder of his father, confronting his mother was different. Her betrayal stung the worse and he didn't know how to reconcile himself with the fact that whether she stayed or left, he'd never be able to trust the one person he always thought he could.

As easy as it would be for him to wallow in his hurt and anger, he had to take care of the club, see the plan through and seal Clay's fate.

.

When he walked into the clubhouse, all of his brothers were there waiting in the uncomfortably silent room. He didn't have to say anything as he stood in the entryway with Clay's cut in his hand. He took the lead and went to chapel. Opie was the first to fall in line behind him and the others quickly followed.

To everyone's confusion, Jax sat at his usual spot and not knowing what to hell was happening, they all set to default, taking their usual seats as well.

Once they were settled, Jax laid Clay's cut and the President's patch on the table top for all to see. No one spoke, too rocked by the meaning of his display.

"We all know he didn't want SAMCRO dealing with Nero." Jax began, breaking the silence. "I thought it was pride getting in the way. Turns out he wanted another deal with Galindo." He said, his voice genuinely forlorn, the confrontation at the hospital still at the forefront of his mind. He let those emotions show, making his story more plausible. "Our vote screwed up his plan so he decided to sabotage the shipment, make us indebted to Galindo. Then he could make another deal with him."

Incredulous and angry muttering bounced from brother to brother as they processed the reason for Clay's betrayal. It only deepened the cut.

"Nero would have backed out. Taken Izzy and Devon, and the rest of us would have been fucked." Tig surmised heatedly, looking at Opie in shared unease.

Jax nodded sullenly.

"Jesus." Bobby exclaimed.

Shaking his head regrettably, Jax declared. "Clay can't be a part of the club if we can't trust that he won't set us up to get killed." He paused, feigning discomfort in voicing his next words. "I say we vote him out. He leaves SAMCRO, he leaves Charming."

His proposition wasn't argued. Clay had set them up, he put their lives at risk and ruined the trust. There was no coming back from that. Everyone's casting was hesitant in the wake of the loss of a brother nonetheless, but in the end the vote was unanimous.

"So what now? Who takes the President's patch?" Bobby questioned, looking at Jax expectantly.

They all were giving him the same look.

He sighed. "I may be VP, but I can't make the choice for you. I won't." Everyone had a say in how the club ran, he wouldn't take that right away from them. "You want me to take the gavel, I will. If you don't-"

"Yea." Opie interrupted.

"Yea." Chibs added.

"Yea." Bobby said.

The voting continued and when it was finished, SAMCRO has a new President. The Prince of Charming finally took his rightful place.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tara was up late, writing some follow up notes for her post-op patients when there was a knock at the door. She wasn't surprised when she saw who was on the other side.

"Hi." She greeted him softly, looking at him sympathetically. He looked completely worn out. She stepped aside to let him in.

"Hi."Jax replied and ambled inside. He sagged down onto the couch, letting his head fall back.

She closed the door and sat next to him, tucking her leg under herself. "So what happened?"

He shifted and catching her off guard when his head fell into her lap. She didn't protest and instinctively reached out to run her fingers through his hair soothingly. She said nothing, ready to listen if he wanted to talk.

"I didn't shoot Clay on accident." He admitted aloud.

"I know." She countered and questioned. "Was he supposed to survive?"

"Yeah, for now." He muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "I almost slit his fuckin' throat in the hospital, but Gemma was there and I couldn't make her watch that. Despite the fact that she-" He struggled to say the words, but he needed to get it out. "She pretty much knew all this time that he killed my father."

"He killed your father?" She repeated, stunned by this revelation.

He turned his gaze on her. "He had Lowell Sr. fuck up his bike, made it impossible for him to avoid that semi."

"Oh my God."

"The club wouldn't survive the truth about my father." He explained. "But that doesn't change the fact that he killed him, he betrayed SAMCRO." Anger flashed across his face for a moment before he quelled it. "We voted him out, but that's not enough for me, Tara. He's getting escorted out of Charming and no one will ever see him again." He continued to look at her, willing her to understand. Relief washed over him when she did so with a nod, her own eyes remaining focused on him.

"Does that mean you're-"She paused and looked down at his cut to find the answer to her unspoken question.

His VP patch was gone. By tomorrow, she knew it would be replaced with another.

At a loss for words – Jax being President could be a good thing or a bad thing – Tara stayed quiet and grabbed a hold of his hand. He gripped it tight in both of his, feeling just as on edge as she was about everything that was about to change.

It seemed like hours went by as they sat there in silence, staring into space and holding on to each other.

When Tara felt Jax's grip on her loosen, she glanced down to find him asleep. He needed the rest now more than ever so she gently slid out from under him and replaced her lap with a throw pillow. She went to the hall closet to get a blanket and draped it over him.

For a moment, she stood there staring down at him, so many thoughts running through her head. His life had been thrown through a loop and now he had the world on his shoulders. She could only pray that he made it through and didn't get crushed under the weight of it all.

.

The next morning, Tara woke up and after cleaning up, she went to check on the boys. She got Thomas up first and took him with her to get Abel, but his bed was empty. She found him asleep on the couch with his father. It was an endearing sight – Abel splayed out on Jax's chest, his arm wrapped gently, yet protectively around his son.

Only one this was missing.

"Go wake up Abel and Daddy." Tara whispered to Thomas and set him down on the floor.

Giggling madly, the little boy quickly crawled over to them, using the edge of the couch to pull himself up. Once he was stable on his feet, he reared back and smacked his father's face with all his might.

"Shit!" Jax yelled, startled awake.

Tara had to cover her mouth to quiet her laughter.

"Tommy." Jax groaned, but he ignored him and moved onto his next target.

"Ow!" Abel cried. He turned over and saw his little brother was the culprit who pulled his hair. "Tommy!" He outraged.

"Let's get him." Jax said to Abel and scooped Thomas up, dropping him on top of them so they could tickle him. The tables were soon turned on Jax and the boys ganged up to attack him. "Ah!" He yelling in mocking fear, making the boys laugh. He wrapped both of them in each arm and pulled them down to the floor, taking turns tickling and wrestling each of them.

Leaning against the doorway, Tara watched them, smiling and laughing. After last night and whatever was to come, it was exactly what Jax needed – and oasis from the chaos. A reminder of the good he still had in his world.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Five days after his surgery, Clay was discharged from St. Thomas. While he was glad to be on the mend, he had no idea what he was going to do now that he was out. He hadn't had any visitors so he knew what decision the club had made. He hadn't seen his wife since the first night he woke up, but she had dropped off a change of clothes with the nurses. The message was loud and clear there as well. His only choice was to get on the road and see where it took him.

"Here you go Mr. Morrow." The nurse said as she stopped his wheelchair at the entrance.

"Thanks." He replied hoarsely and placed his feet on the ground after she moved the footrests aside. He stood and took the discharge paperwork she handed him.

"Take care, sir and don't forget your follow-up appointment next week." She reminded cheerily and walked away, pushing the chair along.

Clay hadn't heard a word she said. He was too busy staring at Jax who sat on his idling bike in front of a pickup truck that was empty, but running. This was obviously his escort.

Jax said nothing to him as he walked to the driver's side door, but he knew he was watching every move he made from behind his sunglasses. He had nothing to worry about, he wasn't going to fight this, there was no point. Especially given the President's patch he saw stitched on Jax's cut.

He was already replaced and forgotten.

Clay got in the truck and pulled away from the hospital headed for the Charming town line. He wasn't planning on looking back as he crossed, but surprisingly, he still heard Jax following. Guessing he wanted to make sure he was far enough away before he turned back, they continued on for a few more miles.

The truth was revealed when another bike flew by him and into his lane, boxing him in. The rider wore a SAMCRO cut and Clay quickly recognized the Dyna as Opie's.

This wasn't an escort.

With Jax at his back, he had no choice, but to follow Opie off the highway and onto a dirt road that lead into a wooded area. They pulled over in a clear and Clay saw Piney there waiting.

This was his reaping.

"Get out." Jax said, standing next to his door.

He complied and began to walk in the direction Jax motioned with his drawn gun. Looking ahead, he saw their destination.

A hole in the ground.

"Turn around." Jax ordered next.

Again, he did as he was told and faced his stepson, seeing Opie and Piney, both armed, standing by watching.

He smirked at Jax. "You did good son." He had to admire his work. The boy had gotten exactly what he wanted – his revenge and his club.

"I know." He responded. "And I'm not your son." He grinned and lifted his gun, firing one shot in between Clay's eyes.

Yo Clay….Bye Felicia LoL

Ready for a long End Note? Yeah? Okay, good because I want to explain something so you don't come after me with pitchforks LoL. Here it go:

So I love Hamlet, it's my favorite Shakespeare play. It's the 2nd reason I started watching SoA (Charlie Hunnam being the first; been in love with him since back in '02 when my roommate and I specifically went to see Abandon because of the hot blonde guy in the trailer LoL). Prior to Season 4, I had a love/hate relationship with Gemma, same as with Gertude in Hamlet, but at the end of the play I think Gertude actually redeemed herself when she drank that poisoned wine meant for her son. To me, that was her atonement to him for her betrayal. And I don't think that betrayal had anything to do with killing his father, but cheating on him and marrying his brother. Since this is an AU, and I prefer SoA when they were still a semblance of a family, I'm actually going to cut Gemma some slack and make her more of a Gertude than the black widow, crazy ass, murdering bitch that she was. As you can see, this doesn't mean Gemma's going to have it easy. She's been knock off her throne, but most importantly, she's lost her son's trust, his respect and her sway over him. [Side Note - So glad Jax killed her in cannon, but it took too long to happen. By the time he did it, it seemed like it was more about how her actions affected the club and not Tara. WTF ever. That plus Jax referred to the boys as "our sons" to Wendy – UGH! - ho-ing it up with her and the hooker; my girl Tara still got no respect in the end. Smh…..Anywho, things are different in my world :) ]

So there it is. Have at it. Let me know what you think. Feedback feeds the muse! :)