Yes, finally an update for you all. I hope it was worth the LONG wait. Sorry about that! Life is a pain in the booty.
XOXOXOXOOXOXOX
"No," Jax howled, practically in agony. Opie grabbed for his arm as Jax raised his gun.
Opie knew Jax wasn't thinking properly. How could any man? He was just told the love of his life, his children, his entire fucking world was dead. That he'd never laugh with them again. Or cry. Or even just be quiet in the same room together. Of course he wasn't thinking rationally and by the sobs behind him he knew David wasn't either. He was thankful that Bobby and Chibs were holding him back.
"He's bluffing. He wants you to fight. To test you. Don't let him." Opie said against Jax's ear.
But judging by the blank expression on Jax's face he wasn't hearing Opie. He was sure all he could hear was the end of his world crashing around him.
Tig laughed, almost a cackle. He was taunting Jax, wanting to die, knowing if he pushed him far enough Jax would do it. Jax would lift the gun he was struggling to push upward and blow his motherfucking head off.
"Think about it in your soul, Jax. You know they aren't gone." Those simple words registered and Jax's face smoothed out and he nodded.
"Oh, how I love seeing pain that deep." Korzha murmured, a grin plastered against his face. "I can't wait till it's the only thing you feel, Teller."
"I didn't kill your brother." Jax said through clenched teeth. "It was him. He wanted me to hurt so he knew the best way to do it was hurt my family with an outside source I couldn't possibly take down by myself."
"I did nothing! He's using me as a scapegoat! I watched him do it! He killed your brother."
Jax slid his gun away, pulling his knife free and slamming it into Tig's back. In a spot he knew would cause him to collapse but still keep him alive. All that free time reading medical books to feel close to Tara wherever she was in the world had paid off.
"He can't move. You do with him as you will. I however want my fucking family." Jax said calmly, sliding the knife away. "I didn't kill your brother. Think about this.. why would I? What reason would I have?"
Korzha waved his hand, beckoning Jax to follow him toward the living room. Jax did as he suggested, following and looked back as men came out to block the others entrance into the living room.
"Kill him," Jax mouthed to Opie, nodding down at Tig before the doors of the living room were shut.
XOXOXOXOXO
Things had happened so quickly Tara was still unsure of how she had ended outside and her kids not in her sight.
One second the door was opening and the kids and her were slicing up anyone who came near by and the next gun shots were going off and Tara was shoving the kids down the hall toward the back door.
She remembered the fait aroma of blood somewhere. She just wasn't sure who or what exactly.. she hoped it wasn't the kids. Why were things so fuzzy? Was she in shock from killing not one but two men? She could still feel their blood on her fingers.
She pulled her hand back examining the deep red coating her fingers. God, that was a lot of blood. She felt her stomach roll. She had made a vow to save lives and now she had been forced to kill.
Her knees gave way, her mouth opening against her will and liquid flowed freely. She coughed, and stared at the red mixture in the sand. Had she just puked blood? Why was she puking blood? Had she accidentally swallowed some?
God, she was going to need a HIV test. I mean she had to be careful. Right?
She couldn't think straight. Where were the kids?
She heard noise in the distance and turned as she saw Abel stumbling out of the back door, his entire body covered in blood from head to toe. She couldn't see a single inch of clean skin. Her color drained and she struggled to stand, wanting to check on him, especially when she saw the look of horror on his face.
He was saying something but her ears were so fuzzy she couldn't hear him.
"Abel," She managed to gurgle out as she finally stood. Her legs shook as Abel finally reached her and she collapsed forward, finally noting the aching pain in her chest.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOX
Jax sat down against the sofa, staring at Korzha who was watching him with an amused look. "You have blood on your tennis shoes."
Jax glanced down, noting the red smear on the top of his all white sneakers. However, he didn't comment on it, he simply turned his eyes back to the monster holding his family.
"You wanted who killed your brother to pay and he's in there and you still won't give me my family."
"Your word verses his." Korzha murmured as he picked up his tumbler of Brandy. "I have to know the truth before I allow your family to be free. Or even you for that matter."
Jax heard gun shots and his head whipped to the door of the living room as he went to stand.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Korzha said, his gun out and pointed at Jax. "Not unless you want your family to suffer the same fate your friends just did."
All the air in Jax's lungs had left and he was staring at the door. His friends.. his family were dead on the other side and it was because of him. He had brought them here to die. He had brought them here to be slaughtered. He knew they were in over their heads and he still brought them. He was responsible and he hated himself for it.
XOXOXOXO
"How bad is it?" Jenna asked, her hands shaking on the steering wheel as she drove down the dirt road toward freedom.
"I don't know. I just see a gaping hole in her chest and she's wheezing! I don't think she can breathe, Jenna. Can you hurry for fuck sake!"
"I'm hurrying!" She screamed, her eyes heavy on the road in front of her. "Just keep pressure on her chest."
Jenna had never imagined a future without her mom. Sure, she knew someday when she was old, very old, Tara would pass. Probably in her sleep and Jenna would be heartbroken. But, not now, not when she still needed her. Not when Jenna was a kid herself.. with a kid on the way. She was selfish damn it and she needed her mom and she refused to let her die.
"Jen," Abel said suddenly.
"What?" Jenna asked.
"She's.."
Jenna heard Abel's voice crack and slammed on the breaks. She refused. God damn it, she refused. She ripped the driver's door open, getting out fast and coming back to the back seat.
"You don't get to die!" Jenna cried as she lifted her fist and slammed it against Tara's chest.
Tara gasped in a breath, her eyes snapping open.
Jenna started sobbing the instance her mom's eyes met hers and she collapsed practically half on top of her.
Abel in tears, stumbled out of the car, climbed into the front seat and took off, refusing to let the only woman who'd ever loved him when she didn't have to die. It was the only mother he had. The only one he needed and he refused to let her die. He refused.
XOXOXOXOXO
"I didn't kill your brother." Jax said again, his emotions all but gone. He wanted to cry, scream, kick, act like a child who's toy was taken, but, he couldn't. He had to do what he knew Opie would and remain calm.
"I.." Korzha never got to finish before the door slammed open and Opie was raising a gun, shooting the man in his chest.
Korzha screamed in agony, grabbing weakly at his chest as his body crashed back into a glass coffee table.
The sound of the crushing glass was music to Jax's ears.
XOXOXOXOX
"Jax," Opie said, stepping up toward Jax as he watched the mansion burn. They had tore the place apart on clues about his family but found nothing. He currently had Juice hacking every single program in Korzha's computer and phone. No matter what it took he'd find his family.
"Yeah?" Jax asked, seeing Opie was holding a phone.
"It's Jenna and it's bad." Jax's eyes widened and he took the phone.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Jax sat quietly between his children. Both had fallen asleep against his shoulder, waiting on Tara's all night life saving surgery. No doctor had come out yet but he had to believe that meant good things. If she was dead, he'd know by now. He wouldn't be still waiting.
The doctor had told him and the kids that Tara's lung and heart had been nicked by the bullet of a shot gun. They had no idea how she had made it out of the house let alone how she was alive. But, Jax reassured the doctor he didn't know his Tara. That her will to stay alive had kept her fighting for years. Even in the darkest of times Tara had the will to live and that's why she was alive in that operating room.
"Mr. Teller?" Abel and Jenna both lifted their heads, letting Jax stand.
They had to be a sight to see. All three soaked in blood. But none of them cared. They knew why the blood was there, had even told the police when they came on three separate times to ask. All they cared about was Tara.
"Yes?"
"Tara's alive. We repaired the damage to her heart and lung. She's going to take a while to recover but we believe she will fully."
For the first time since Jax had been told Tara was hurt he felt like he could truly take in a breath. The idea of her not being in the world was too dark to even try and imagine. He couldn't live without her and now he wouldn't have too. They'd have a long and happy life together.
Jax hugged both his kids to him, all three sharing tears of pure joy. The hell was over and they were all safe. Korzha and his men were dead and the family was safe and could go home.. actually, Jax knew where they were going. New York it was.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
That is NOT the end. I have a few more chapters to go. But I needed to get Jax/Tara and kids in the direction toward the end. Hopefully you liked it! :)
