"33 year old female, hit by a car. Massive internal injuries, broken bones and possible head trauma. I want a portable x-ray, CT and a full panel done now. She is critical people. Let's go "
The stretcher containing the unconscious body of Gina Caralino was quickly rushed into St. Thomas. The doctor was highlighting her injuries to the ER staff who had gathered around the moving gurney. Thanks to the deafening screams of Tara, the scared cries of Thomas and Abel and the squealing tires of the Black Tahoe as it made its way out of the parking lot, two doctors rushed outside to see what the commotion was and were able to tend to Gina almost instantly.
From what Jax could see, as he was shielding his sons from the horrific site of their aunt crumpled on the ground, Gina was covered in blood and her left leg was bent at an unnatural angle. Her arm was failed over her head and she was not moving.
"She has a faint pulse." One of the doctors yelled as they kept moving the gurney into the hospital.
Jax could not forget the sound that she made as she crashed back towards earth. It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a bag of oranges. Jax was so shocked by the site that he didn't even realize that Tahoe has raced out of the parking lot and disappeared from site until it was too late.
As soon as Gina hit that ground, Tara had tried to jump out of the wheelchair and run to her injured friend, but instantly became dizzy and was overcome by a fresh wave of nausea that crippled her. She was forced to retreat back into her wheelchair and watch as Don and Mickey had emerged from a car in the parking lot and ran to Gina's side, along with Chibbs, who kept calling saying her name over and over again and had to be told to step back by one of the doctors.
Jax carried his crying children as Don pushed a shocked Tara quickly behind the stretcher that was already moving at lightning speed through the halls of St. Thomas. Chibbs was running behind the stretcher as it made its way through the swinging wooden doors that ultimately closed in Tara's face. Tara knew in her condition that going beyond those doors, she would be instantly asked to leave, so she let Chibbs go with Gina. As the doors closed, she caught Chibb's eyes. Was that love she saw behind the fear? Whatever it was, she knew Chibbs would protect her best friend. But still, she felt nothing but hopelessness and helplessness. She put her face in her hands and tried to swallow back the deluge of tears that were pooling in her eyes.
Behind her, Jax was trying to juggle his horrified children. Jax knew his wife would not leave Gina's side. He turned to Mickey and Don who were now standing besides Tara.
"Take my boys home. They don't need to see this. I will have one of my people meet you there." Jax said over the cries of his boys.
Mickey turned to Jax.
"We can't leave her. "He said, with a mix of fear and sadness in his voice. Jax realized that Mickey and Don had one job to do: keep Gina safe. And they failed. No amount of reassurance would ever make up for that.
Jax looked down at his sons. Thomas had calmed down but Abel was still crying. Jax knew that Tara would be the only one who would be able to settle the boys, but she was in no shape to do so. The car had hit Gina head on. It would be a miracle if she survived. Jax knew that this was moment he needed to step up and be the strong parent. He put the trembling Abel down on the floor and knelt down so he could look his son in the eyes.
"Abel listen to Daddy."
Abel looked at Jax with wet blue eyes. He stopped crying but kept hiccupping as he tried to control his little tears.
"Mommy and Daddy need to stay here and make sure Aunt Gina gets better. "
"Daddy, that car hurt Aunt Gina." He said with an audible lump in his throat.
Jax's heart broke at the violence his five year old just witnessed.
"I know buddy. I promise Mommy and Daddy are going to do everything we can to make her feel better."
Thomas blew Abel a raspberry and for a moment, Abel was distracted. Jax looked up at Mickey.
"Please, take my boys home. I know you will keep them safe. Gina trusted you to keep them safe."
Jax noticed as soon as he said Gina's name, both of the men's faces seemed to fall.
Jax continued.
"As soon as my people get there, come right back. My wife will make sure that everything that could be done is being done."
Mickey turned to Don. Don nodded. Without saying a word, Mickey reached for Abel's hand. Abel put his little hand in his and Don took a squirming Thomas from Jax's arms. The two men then took the boys out of the hospital
In the midst of Jax trying to figure out care for his traumatized sons, Tara had wheeled herself over the ER doors. As if she could see through the wooden doors that had only moments earlier welcomed her dying friend, she parked her wheelchair in front of the door and stared.
Jax walked over to her. He knelt beside the wheelchair and put his hand on her arm.
"Babe?"
She did not turn to him.
Jax knew that no words would reassure her. All he could do was stay with her and stare at the same door.
At an abandoned factory in Stockton, Gemma and Collete sat in the deserted parking lot in a red BMW, compliments of the Teller-Morrow Garage. The owner had brought the BMW to TM to replace the brakes and balance the tires. Gemma had another uses for the car.
The two women sat in silence and watched as a Black Chevy Tahoe turned into the empty parking lot.
It seemed like they were staring at the door for an eternity when Chibbs came through them.
Tara looked for some sort of hope on his face. Her stomach dropped when she didn't see any.
"It's bad. Took her into emergency surgery."
"Jesus Christ," Jax muttered, running his fingers through his hair. He had started thinking about who would do this. He knew this was no random accident; the car was speeding through the parking lot and went straight for Gina. Was it someone with a grudge against SAMCRO? Or was it someone from Gina's past? Whoever it was, they needed to have bullet lodged in their brain.
Chibbs went to walk past Tara, but he stopped and looked at her. He put his hand on her shoulder and for a brief moment, stood there.
Tara put her hand on his and looked up at him. They both looked at each other and Tara once again saw a brief flicker of love behind the fear in his eyes. She would have kept on staring at him if her phone did not ring. She looked down and saw a Chicago area code. Without saying anything, she wheeled herself over to an isolated corned and answered the phone.
Gemma and Collette made their way back towards Diosa.
"Did we do that right thing Gemma?" Collette asked.
Gemma slammed on the brakes and turned to Collette.
"It is a little too late for cold feet."
"I thought it was Tara we were gunning for," Collette said staring at Gemma.
"Does it really matter? They both need to go. Now one down, one more to go. " Gemma said as she starting driving again.
Both women were quiet for a bit.
"I am just scared we opened up a can of worms. " said Collette as they pulled up in front of Diosa.
Without looking at Gemma, she got out of the car and slammed the door.
Gemma would never admit that she had been thinking the same thing herself.
"Who would do this?" Chibbs asked Jax.
Jax was staring at Tara who took a phone call in the corner of the waiting room. He wanted to go and see who she was talking to, but her body language and hushed tones caused him to stay right where he was.
"I don't know, but we need to figure it out. My sons just witnesses someone they love get hit by car. Abel has seen so much in his life…"
Jax stopped as he thought of the violence his son had already been a part of and he was only five. He could not let himself think about the danger he has put his own family in. He shook the thoughts out of his head and turned his attention back to Chibbs.
"We find the bastards responsible and you let me deal with them." Chibbs said.
The fear in Chibb's face was now replaced with blind hatred and fury. Jax knew Chibbs did not get this way over just anyone. He finally had to ask.
"Are you in love with her?"
Chibbs just stared at Jax and Jax got his answer.
"Ok." He knows what he would of done if it was Tara who was lying on an operating table like Gina was. What he did to Kohn would be a summer breeze compared to what he would do to those bastards. He would help not only his wife, but his best friend get the retaliation they needed.
Chibbs was about to walk away when they both heard Tara hang up with phone. She slowly got up from her wheelchair and unsteadily walked towards Jax and Chibbs. They both went to meet her halfway.
"Babe, you need to stay in the chair. I know you are worried about Gina, but you need to…"
"We have bigger things to worry about then me."
Tara's voice was shaking and she reached for Jax's hand.
"Dad is on his way to Charming."
And with that, the dam of tears broke and Tara collapsed into Jax's arms.
