Chapter 38

Rowan's Point of View

The end credits of the movie my mom and I had been watching played illuminating the dark hospital room. I glanced over my laptop screen to see her eyes closed. She'd dozed off about half way through the movie. I smiled inwardly because for once she looked peaceful lying there. I wondered if that's what dying would feel like? Peace. For her sake I hoped it would. Shaking my head I reigned in my faltering emotions and opened the CD drive on my laptop and pulled out the disc I'd just burned. I slipped it back into its case and wrote 'Jax' on the slip cover.

To keep my mind occupied I decided to make Jax a mix CD of newer country songs that I thought ranked with some of the older greatest hits. A little Tim McGraw. Some Florida Georgia Line. Brett Eldridge and Thomas Rhett among others. I even tossed in a Taylor Swift song just to mess with him. It was totally cheesy and one of the stupidest things I've ever done; but I was desperate for the distraction. If Lena knew I made the guy I'm seeing a mix tape she would probably disown me as a best friend.

I sat my laptop down on the chair as I stood up quietly, making sure I didn't tangle myself up in the power cord and wake my mother up. I checked my phone to see I had a new text message from Jax. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it. Abel wants to see you… it read. I smiled liked an idiot and slipped my phone into my back pocket. I never thought I'd be that girl that smiled like a moron at her phone when she got a text from a guy, but yet here we are. Honestly I didn't care. Jax was the one decent thing to happen to me in a long time; I might as well let myself enjoy it. Him. Us. At least the possibility of an us.

I grabbed the tattered giraffe stuffed animal I picked up when I stopped by the house earlier to do laundry out of my bag and crept out of my room and headed towards the NICU. "It's time to hand you off to a new generation little guy." I told the stuffed animal once I was tucked inside the elevator; thankfully alone. I've the old thing since I was a baby. I honestly for the life of me can't even remember who gave it to me. It was always just there. I thought Abel might like it since it was just collecting dust in my room. "And I just talked to a stuffed animal…" I shook my head as the doors glided open and stepped out.

I made my way down a few hallways and smiled when I saw Jax in Abel's room. The door was open just ajar and I could see him sitting in the chair beside his incubator holding a book in his hand. I crept closer not wanting to disrupt the moment between them and stood just outside the door momentarily.

"As I ride along, I hear a great sound. What could it be? What could it be? It's a merry-go-round." Jax read aloud from the book. My heart swelled instantaneously. Who knew reading could be sexy as hell. I bite my lip and snuck in the room behind Jax. He chuckled to himself. "I'm sorry, little man. I'm not as good at this as grandma."

"I think you did pretty good. Although, I'm sure Abel would have liked some cute little voices." Jax turned around in his chair and smiled at me. He rolled his eyes and closed the book standing up to greet me. I tucked the giraffe and CD behind my back. "How's the little guy?"

"Probably wishing he were deaf so he didn't have to hear me read that." Jax chuckled, walking towards me. Each step making my heart go into a beating frenzy. If I were hooked up to Abel's heart monitor it would be going nuts right about now.

"What do you got back there?" He gestured towards my hands behind my back as he slipped his hands around my waist pulling me closer into him.

"I come baring gifts, one for Abel," I revealed the giraffe stuffed animal, shaking it making the arms move. Jax smiled taking it from me. "It was mine. I've had it since I was a baby. I thought he might get better use out of it than me." He sat it on top of Abel's incubator so he could see it when he opened his eyes. "You didn't have to do that, Ro. But thank you."

"And this is for you." I handed him the CD already feeling stupid for doing this. My cheeks heated up as he stared down at it.

"You made me a mix CD?" He arched an eyebrow.

"I know it's totally high school and cliché but I had some free time and wanted to do it. It's the newest country hits. I'll make a fan of you yet! Don't read to much into it though." I played coy. I glanced up at him with a smirk before stepping around him to get a better look at Abel.

Abel was sound asleep in his little toaster as Jax calls it. All warm and snuggly. And safe. I had to fight the urge to climb inside there with him. I yearned to be that little again. No worries. No bills. No life threatening diseases like cancer. No stalkers. No Deacons.

I felt Jax behind me. His hand on my hip and his warmth pressed against my back. He kissed the back of my shoulder gently. Even through my shirt it sent shivers down my spine. "Thank you," he whispered into my ear, holding the CD in front of me. "I've never had anyone do anything this cliché for me." He smirked, leaning in to kiss me.

Our lips met briefly and he drew back with a tender smile, but I wanted more of this sweet madness. Our noses brushed against each other as we took a breath and then I pressed my lips to his again. He slowly sat the CD down on the table beside him and then held my face in his hand gripping my hip tighter with the other one. I closed my eyes and let him take as much of me as he wanted. Our tongues met and drew back and met again. Warmth pooled between my thighs as chills rolled across my skin in waves. Whenever we were like this I felt alive. It was like every nerve ending in my body had been awakened from a deep sleep and they were buzzing with energy.

I wanted to continue this but knew if we stayed like this much longer we'd be in a lot of trouble. I could already feel his hard on pressing against me only making me want him that much more. It was surprisingly satisfying to know that I made him react that way. It was a definite confidence booster. I pulled back slightly opening my eyes, only for Jax to nip at my lip, pulling it between his teeth sending a shot of pleasure straight through me. I laughed letting him deepen the kiss one more time. I caught sight of a figure out of the corner of my eye in the window to Abel's room and turned my head causing Jax to kiss my cheek.

My entire body tensed at the sight of Jerry standing outside of Abel's room. I froze staring at him. He wasn't looking at me though, he was looking down at Abel. "Who the hell is that?" Jax mumbled, stepping away from me slightly.

The cheesy chicken penne I ate for dinner threatened to make appearance. "You know that guy?" Jax questioned noticing my sudden change of demeanor. Jerry's eyes met mine briefly through the window and I felt paralyzed. He's stare was menacing if only for an instant. It was like he was challenging me to say something. To rat him out.

"No," I shrugged blowing it off, clenching and unclenching my fists at my sides. Everything in me wanted to tell Jax everything. But my brain was having trouble forming coherent sentences.

Without a word Jax stepped out into the hallway.

My heart ceased in my chest as the two of them spoke momentarily. I couldn't hear what they were saying because Jax closed the door on his way out. Why the hell is here? Why is he doing this? I wanted answers. But most of all I wanted it to stop. This sick twisted little game that he was getting off on was getting old. Rage and fear mixed together like the perfect cocktail coursed through my veins.

Jerry glanced back at me through the window as Jax walked back into the room, giving me a smirk before walking away.

"You okay, darling?" Jax asked, snapping me back into reality by placing a hand on my cheek.

"W-what did he want? That guy?" I stuttered out.

"I don't know," Jax shrugged, "said he was just admiring Abel." Disbelief was evident in his voice. Admiring Abel, yeah, I wish that was just the case. More like he was enjoying the show we put on for him making out.

"You sure you're okay? You look really pale." Jax brushed his thumb over my cheek. I mustered up a smile and nodded. "I'm fine. Actually, I just remembered I was supposed to get my mom a Jello from the cafeteria and I completely blanked. I'll be right back." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before flying out of the room before he could protest.

I went down the hall Jerry went down in search for him. My pulse raced as I rounded a corner, practically getting clipped by a nurse pushing a cart. I spotted Jerry at the end of the hallway and picked up the pace. I walked up behind him and grabbed the side of his jacket causing him to spin in my direction.

"Stay the hell away from Abel!" I was fuming. I was also scared to death, but also completely enraged. I tapped into my anger verse my fear and went with it.

Jerry feigned shock as he stared back at me, his eyes lingering on me in places longer than need be. If I could puke on command I'd do it right now. "He's a beautiful baby boy. To bad he'll end up just like his father."

"Stay the hell away from me! Stay away from Jax! I talked to the cops and I have a protective order! If you come near me again I'll call the cops!" I seethed.

Jerry grimaced shaking his head. A few nurses rushed down the hall forcing Jerry to step into me shoving me against the wall. To anyone walking by it looked like we were just having an intimate conversation, but for me it was enough to make my skin literally crawl off my bones. His breath smelled like he drank enough alcohol for a year. He placed a hand on the wall over my head and leaned down into my ear. "You don't have shit."

"Besides, my federal jurisdiction takes precedence over any state-ordered mandate." He said, calmly. Did he just say federal? I scoffed, attempting to push him away. He placed his hand on my stomach and pushed me back against the wall gently.

"Federal my ass!" I shoved his hand off my stomach. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a black wallet and opened it up, revealing a badge. "ATF, sweetheart. I'm working a interstate weapons charge and the SONS are involved. You sure you wanna end up on the wrong side of this? I'd hate to see you lose your mom and go to jail for being involved with the likes of Jackson Teller."

I shoved him back again and got away from the wall, taking steps away from him. He's an ATF Agent? How is that even possible? He doesn't look smart enough to be a fucking Federal agent. This guy can say and do whatever the hell he wants. That badge he's wielding makes him virtually untouchable. "I can protect you, Rowan."

I shook my head and glared at him. I didn't want to believe anything this bastard said. I turned on my heel and ran back to the one person I knew could protect me. Jax.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! A little bit of Rax since we didn't have any in the last chapter! I'm so astounded by all of your support for this story and just wanna say ya'll are the bees knees!

I promise Jax is going to find out about Jerry soon and he's not going to be happy about it! Like AT ALL. I'm trying to build up the creepy.

Question: Do you guys like longer chapters or are chapters like this okay? I can do longer chapters they'll just take a bit longer to get out.

Leave a review if Halloween is still on the 31st this year! ;p