Chap 21: The Path Not Taken

Season 1 Episode 8 (The Pull)

Episode 9 (Hell Followed)

A/N: Well, well, well…chapter 20 seemed to have hit a nerve with the Jax and Tara fans! What is it about chap 20 in fanfic? I notice that is when all of the Jara fans come out of the woodwork. Thanks to all my reviewers who love the story and recognize this is a Jax and Wendy AU story. I write for you and me (tee hee) .

The only thing I want to point out is that with the exception of being inside of Tara's thoughts on a couple of occasions throughout the story, I have kept her true to character up to this point. While she was Jax's true love, I believe she also contributed to his downfall with her indecisiveness and manipulative behavior in later seasons. She was meant to save Abel's life. However; she had several chances to leave or accept him for what he was. She had the opportunity to leave in season 1 and then during the end of season 4 when Jax told her to take the boys. Remember SOA was built on Hamlet. While her character was named Tara, she was really Ophelia. I told you I was an SOA Fanatic. :-).

I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's shorter than usual but it's been a while since I've updated and I changed the middle and ending of this chapter many times.

P.s. It's been suggested I get a beta. I have joined the FB fanfic site and have a request pending. I suspect there aren't a lot of Jax/Wendy fans out there. So please let me know if you are interested. Enjoy!

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***Tara's POV****

"Stay with me sweetheart okay? We have just a few more questions." Unser said compassionately as he patted Tara's hand.

"Wh…when can I go home?" Tara asked.

Just as soon as you tell us the truth about what happened last night. How did Agent Kohn ended up shirtless and dead in your bedroom? Why was the first call you made to the infamous Jackson Teller and not 911?" Stahl interjected before the corrupt 'Andy Griffin' could respond.

Tara sighed, wiped the sweat off of her brow and sat back straight in her chair as she slammed her hands on the desk before retelling the story. " I…I've been over this a thousand times…" Tara started.

She immediately realized she wasn't alone and attempted to leave her bedroom. Kohn grabbed her, pulled her down on the floor and covered her mouth as she screamed praying that Jax would hear her before he rode off. She wasn't that lucky.

"He wanted to try to fix us and start over." She told Unser and Stahl. " I finally decided to go along with the plan and you know pretend that I forgave him. I just didn't want him to hurt me again. I couldn't live through that." Tara sniffled before she continued.

"I was able to grab the gun and I shot him in the stomach. I panicked after that. So I called Jax. He… is, I mean he…he was the only person I considered family here….but he didn't answer. Kohn started yelling at me and calling me a biker whore. I think I was in shock. When I finally came out of it, I realized he was bleeding out and I tried to save him. I did, I swear and that is when I called 911".

Tara threw her head into her hands and started sobbing again in front of Stahl and Unser. They exchanged looks and exited the room.

"So what do you think? Is she telling the truth?" Stahl asked Unser.

"We've grilled her all night and her story hasn't changed. She didn't request a lawyer. It's time to let her go!" Unser replied.

Stahl hated to admit it. It was clear her fellow agent was bat-shit crazy and stalked his Vic and was about to rape her (probably again) if Tara didn't kill him in self-defense.

"All right, let her go."

Unser went back into the interrogation room and told Tara she was free to go.

"Thanks, I just don't know where I belong anymore." She mumbled more to herself than to Unser.

"You sure you okay sweetheart? Is there anyone you want me to call?" Unser asked her.

"I'll be fine. It's time I figure it out. Thanks Unser." Tara gave his a small but sad smile and headed out of the station house. As she walked outside and down the jailhouse steps she had to cover her eyes as they adjusted to the morning sunlight.

Just as Tara was walking down the courthouse steps, Gemma was driving by. She was out frantically buying to more supplies for Chibs. He had worked all night on Cameron and things didn't look good. She didn't think before she slammed on the breaks and honked the horn to get Tara's attention.

"Dam it! I'll deal with Jax and Wendy later if all hell breaks out, but right now a friend of the club needs medical attention." She thought to herself.

"Looks like you need a ride Doc!" Gemma said.

"I do. Thanks." Tara said as she hopped into the SUV.

"Well we need to make a pit stop by the clubhouse first. The boys need a favor. You know as a friend of the club helping them out and all. But first you need to tell me what happened that landed you in there. From the looks of it you've been in there all night. Does Jax know?" Gemma asked as she arched an eyebrow at Tara waiting for the response she already knew. Of course he didn't. When he came back to the clubhouse last night with the supplies he dropped them off and went into the dorm room with Wendy and had not been seen since.

"No I tried to call him but he didn't pick up." Tara said looking down at her hands.

"Sweetheart. We've been through this. Jax has finally moved on. You came back about a year and a half too late. His priority now is his family and the club. As his first love, he'll always love you in some way, but he's in love with his wife. They didn't have it easy because of the ghost of you in the beginning. They are solid now and if you can't accept that, then things in Charming will not work out well for you."

"Is that a threat?"

"No sweetheart, a promise. I'm just not sure who should be more afraid of Jax or Wendy. She had to prove she could hold her own and be a true old lady. She did it hard and fast when they first started dating. Beat a few bitches' ass when people got out of line and assumed her good heart and demeanor meant she was soft. Today's on me, I'll explain why I bought you by".

Tara just nodded her head. It looked like it was finally sinking in. Gemma decided to pull over and turned to look at Tara. "So now that I think we finally have that covered, spill it!"

Tara began her story….again.

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The sun started filling through the haze filled clubhouse dorm room. Jax woke up to find Wendy still sleeping peacefully. He would have thought she was dead to the world and hadn't moved all night if it wasn't for the fact she was no longer clutching Abel's baby blanket. He unraveled himself and was about to get up when Wendy cuddled into the crook of his arm.

Jax smiled and puller her closer. "I figured I would let you sleep, take a shower and go grab us some breakfast."

"Now that sounds like a plan." Wendy said as she turned and looked up at Jax. He kissed her and pushed himself up on the bed so he was pressed against the headboard. He checked his phone to switch it off from vibrate back to the ringer setting. He remembered the miss call and noticed the message from Tara. He decided to call her later, he knew Wendy was tolerating the whole Tara thing out of gratitude for saving Abel and how she helped the club but he didn't want to push it.

Jax ran his hand down his face and beard. He proceeded to tell her everything that happened when he was at Tara's, the condition Cameron was in when he returned with the supplies and the fact the Tara called just as he got back into the door room. Wendy nodded as she listened and was clearly annoyed. " No secrets!" Jax said has he kissed her forehead.

"No secrets!" Wendy responded and swatted at his ass when he got up from the bed. The sound of the water flowing in the shower almost lulled Wendy back to sleep.

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Jax was just drying off when he heard someone banging on the dorm room door. He heard Wendy call out to him. "I got it!"

"Wendy got up and stifled a yawn. She ran her hands through her hair in a failed attempt to tame the wild bed head look she was wearing. She opened the door to fine Gemma on the other side.

"Jesus Gemma! What is so urgent?" She stepped aside to let her in.

"Look I just wanted to let you know that Tara is here and she is working on Cameron." Gemma blurted out.

Wendy took a deep breath and started rubbing her forehead in bewilderment and frustration. She started gathering her things around the room.

"What the fuck ma?" Jax asked as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. Gemma looked on as he paced in the room clearly agitated as he put on his socks and Nikes.

"Before you go all crazy, I saw her coming out of the jailhouse this morning while I was out getting more supplies for Chibs and I spotted her. I figured she could help you know." She threw her hands up in peace and walked toward Jax in an attempt to calm the storm she could see brewing in his eyes.

She patted his chest with the palm of her hands and hugged her son. "Honey it is for the club. We need her right now. Okay?"

Jax looked down at his mother and nodded in agreement. "Wait did you say jail?"

Gemma was about to respond when they heard Wendy moving about. For the first time they both took notice to what she was doing.

They were both caught off guard to see Wendy moving around the room. Her hair was now in a messy bun and she had thrown on some loose fitting cargo pants, t-shirt and a pair of Timberlands.

She flung the door to the dorm room opened and walked out. "Enough is enough! I think it's about time I remind her of what it means to be an old lady and how it feels to cross one." Wendy said to no one in particular as she stormed down the hallway.

Gemma and Jax looked at each other with their trademark Teller smirk. "Oh shit!" They both said simultaneously and raced out of the room.

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I hope it was worth the wait! I really struggled with creating my AU version of the Kohn and Tara episode.