AN: This is it. Thank you so much for everyone that has supported this story. It's truly meant the world to me but don't worry it's not over. I've got another story in the works that's a continuation of this one. And maybe a short epilogue on monday? I do want to get some of the story written before I upload any of it. So I think sometime in April is when it'll be posted. I hope you'll all follow and read that one. I'll post on this story when it's up so you'll all get alerts. So let's see what's up with Jax and Tara. -Lanie x
When she arrived at the hospital, she asked to use a phone and dialed the first number that came to mind. Since she had forgotten to do that before she left the house. Assured that everything was going to be okay, she went back to the waiting room as the tears continued to stream down her face.
Tara was sitting in a chair, holding her knees to her chest when she heard her name being called. Looking up to see a blonde rushing to her, she got up as he reached her and sobbed into his chest. Once she calmed down enough, he pulled her back to look her over. Running a hand across her cheek, he leaned down to kiss her.
Once she realized what was happening, she pulled away from him. Understanding, he pulled her back to the chair and on his lap. It was hard to think when he was around. But she did know that her Dad was in surgery, that she didn't know if he'd be okay. Not even Jax could make her forget that.
"How did you know?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"The cutlass was brought to the garage. Opie called me."
"I'm glad you're here."
"Tara, of course I'm here. I'm always going to be here for you."
Her eyes met his and before she got a chance to respond she heard a familiar voice.
"Tara?"
Her head turned to see who was here now. Luckily the hour passed for her to have gotten off of the plane. She climbed out of Jax's lap and ran to her arms. She let out a sigh when she felt familiar arms wrap around her. Angie. Maybe she only saw her around Christmas but it was reassuring to have a family member with her.
"What happened?"
"He ran a red light and got hit."
"Oh baby! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I wasn't there." She looked down at the tiled floor.
"Any news on Dean?"
Tara shook her head no and glanced back at Jax who was watching with a curious look. He wasn't use to her having anyone but her dad. When she turned back to Angie, she smiled at the younger girl.
"I'm assuming that's Jax. Anything happen there?"
"Yeah, we broke up though…"
"Later." She mouthed before she walked over to sit down.
Tara followed after her and sat next to Jax, reaching out for his hand she let out a sigh when it grasped her own.
"Have they told you what is going on?"
Tara nodded as she looked over. "All I heard though was crash and surgery."
"He's a fighter, y'know? Your dad will be demanding a beer by the time he opens his eyes. "
Tara muttered, "if he wakes up." But they both let that go. They let her sit in silence the entire time. They knew that it wasn't going to help to try to get her mind off of it.
Awhile later she felt her shoulder being shook. Though, everything was telling her not to open her eyes. She welt warm, and comfortable. It didn't take her long to realize that the heat was from being wrapped around Jax. When she opened her eyes, Angie was smile at her. "C'mon. He's in recovery."
Tara smiled so brightly as she pulled away from Jax's arms. It was hard to do so but she wanted to see her Dad. See that he really was okay. Once she was up and following Angie, she stopped and looked back at Jax.
"Go, I'll still be here when you get back."
Happy with that as an answer she smiled and nodded before continuing to follow her second cousin into her Dad's room. Seeing him asleep when tubes connected to him was almost unbearable. Once she felt Angie's hand in her own, she felt safe and okay.
"Dean has a collapsed lung which is being heavily monitored as well as a minor concussion. But he will be fine. He should wake up anytime, it all just depends on him right now," the doctor explained to them. "If you have any questions, Tara, I will be happy to answer." She shook her head. "Alright, I'll leave you two alone with him then."
"I just want him to wake up now." She walked over and sat in the chair by his bed. Closing her eyes, as Angie ran her fingers soothing through her hair.
"He will when the times right." She squeezed her shoulder before turning to go. "It's getting late, do you want anything from home?"
"Yeah some clothes an—"
"The infamous blanket?"
"Yes please."
"Jax will need to be leaving soon."
"I'll go tell him goodnight."
"Good."
Tara followed her out of the room as she gave her dad one last look. It was all scary to look at. Her dad looked so small compared to the equipment surrounding him. Jax looked up as she walked out of the room. Looking as concerned for her as ever. He stood up once she got to him and she wrapped her arms around him.
"How's he doing?"
"I think he'll be okay…I'm hoping so anyways."
"Dr. Knowles knows what she's doing." He teased her.
She smiled up at him before burying her head against his chest. It was soothing to have someone hold her. Even if she was wishing it was her Dad right now. Jax was certainly a good enough option.
"I should get going."
"Yeah, I'll see you later."
He kissed her head before nodding as he let go of her. "Yeah, bye."
She waved as he started to leave. "Bye," she whispered before turning to go back to her dad.
A few days and really uncomfortable nights on a chair later, her dad woke up. Grumpy as ever. Just how Tara loved him. The doctors had told him not to speak because of his collapsed lung. That only made him angrier. Though, she did let him talk to her every once and awhile.
"He leave's at the end of the week right?"
Before tara could reply, he answered. "As long as it all looks good."
"You aren't supposed to be talking."
"I don't care." He coughed through his reply.
"It's only causing you pain, Dad."
"So who's the parent here?"
"She takes care of me."
"He's kinda right about that. Now enough talking." She laughed.
The best part was she got to gossip to him and he couldn't say anything. It was nice. Or well he would try and she'd tell him to stop. Even if she did miss him butting in. Not that she would have told him that though. It was just good to see him lively.
As happy as she was that he was awake, she was still really afraid for him. It was scary for the one person she has to be fighting for his life. It's obvious that he's getting better but she wasn't going to be happy until the day she was driving him out of the hospital.
Looking at the clock she knew that Jax was going to be here any minute. Since that first night, he's shown up every day after school. Really it was when he was skipping the rest of the day. When she left her Dad's room, Tara forced a smile when she saw Jax walking toward her. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
"Probably." He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Come on, you don't look like you've been eating."
Tara looked down before looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "I was standing in this hospital when Dad told me my mom was never coming home.."
Jax wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Baby, he's going to be okay. You aren't going to lose him too."
"And if I do? What do I do then?"
"Don't worry about any of that right now."
"I'll have to go to San—"
Jax cut her off by kissing her. When he pulled away he was cupping her cheeks. "Everything will be okay. He woke up, he's getting better." He let go of her and took her by the hand. "Now come on, you need food."
Tara nodded and held his hand tightly as he led her down to the cafeteria. Right now she wasn't even going to complain that she was tired of the food here because she knew he'd take her somewhere. Right now, leaving her Dad alone was the last thing he really wanted.
"Is there anything you want in particular?"
"Anything is fine, I'll go sit down."
He nodded and watched as she sat down. It was clear that she was still worried Dean was going to die. All Jax wanted was to take her mind off of that for a little while. Going through the line, he got them both food before going to sit by her.
"Tara." She didn't look his way so he leaned over and took her hand in his.
They sat that way for a few minutes before she pulled away to start picking at her food.
"I'm not mad at you anymore.. I forgave you a long time ago.." She looked out the window and let her eyes close. "But thinking about him dying is overwhelming me…Being with you scares me. I don't know who I am with you and then I add my Dad on top of it and I just know I'm not ready to get back together."
Jax shoved his food aside so he could hear her speak. This is what he's been waiting for. "All of this is so new to me Tara.."
"Me too…When I think about my Dad dying…I think about how you must have felt and still feel.." She looked over at him. "I know you. I know that you didn't deal with it.."
"I think I know where this is going."
"When need some time apart. You need to stop bottling this up or learn to trust someone enough so you don't have to carry it alone. I don't want to see you in so much pain. I want to be there for you but—"
"I need to figure some of this out before I can open up to you…I don't even talk to Opie about this shit."
"And that's what scares me…knowing that this aggression and pain has to come out sometime."
"So you're not saying will never be together?"
Tara gives him a soft smile. "I'm pretty sure that fate has other plans for us."
"How long…?"
"I don't know."
"What do we do until then?"
"Focus on ourselves…Plus I think my Dad might need me. Just try to do things you love. Realize who Jackson Teller really is."
"I know who I am, I'm-"
"Jax, you think you're a bad kid that's destined to be part of an outlaw club…I think you're so much more than that. It's now time for you to realize that too."
"Tara I'm not—"
"Stop it." She glared over at him. Part of her had always wondered why he thought so little of himself. She's seen him be sweet and caring. The passion he has when he writes isn't something that she can just brush off. He's so much more than just the kid of the original president of SAMCRO. "I mean it. Stop thinking so lowly of yourself."
Jax clenched his jaw shut and closed his eyes. From the looks of it he was counting to ten. Tara was glad that he was trying to hold back his anger. Right now, she wouldn't be able to handle it real well if he snapped at her. When he looked at her, she could still see the trace of anger that creased at his forehead. "Just… don't shut me out again."
"Who else am I going to be spending lunches with, Jax?"
"Opie." He teased.
"Who eats with you!"
"We're going to be okay."
"Yeah, I'm telling you someday I'm doing to me, Dr. Knowles-Teller." She smiled at him before standing up. "I should get back before he wakes up."
"Yeah…okay. I've gotta get to work anyways."
"Bye Jackson."
"Bye Tara."
For the first time since any of this has happened, they walked away from each other at peace. Sure they had some battles that they'd be facing but Tara was right. Fate brought them together and fate would only force them back together when the time was right.
