Apologies this took so long and is shorter than usual. I lost interest and inspiration if I'm honest so feedback is much appreciated. Enjoy! :)

Away chapter 17

Rolling up to the hospital gates, Jax, Tigs, and Opie slowed their motorcycles to a crawling pace. They navigated the parking lot until they found a space big enough to park together in a far out corner that would attract little attention. They had chosen to forego their Club Kuttes so as to go unnoticed in their quest, and the scorching summer sun beat down on them unforgivingly. The heat served to make Jax even more irritable and he snapped when he heard Tigs question him.

"You okay with this?" His deep voice portrayed genuine concern.

"I'll be fine. Let's just get this done so I can get home to Jules." Jax answered back, tucking his helmet into the hidden compartment beneath his seat and pocketing the keys.

"It might not be that simple, Jax." Opie started, one hand on his best-friend's shoulder as he looked up at the impressive grey and white building. "It's been a long time. You might be wrong about this."

"She's here. Trust me."

"And if she doesn't want to help?"

Jax clenched his fists and tried to ignore the ball of emotion deep in his gut that made him feel like he was betraying the woman he would soon call his wife. His chest also beat quickly and he had goosebumps despite the heat. His palms were sweaty from nerves and he cleared his throat forcefully to stop it drying up completely.

"She owes me."

"She probably doesn't see it that way." Mumbled Opie.

"I don't give a shit what she thinks. I won't let Jules go down for this and I can't do time. She'll help because she won't have a choice."

Entering through the automatic doors, the three men kept their voices low and went in search of the main reception. They found it manned by a young, blonde woman in floral scrubs with her hair in a high ponytail that highlighted her youthful complexion. Her eyes met Jax's and instantly her smile became wider. He noticed how she leaned closer to him and saw the blush that crept into her cheeks. He sighed inwardly. To most women he was just a pretty face; something that he immorally used to his advantage whenever it suited him.

"Well, hello there, sweetheart. I'm trying to track down someone and you look like you could help me."

"Oh um… what's the patient's name?"

Jax shook his head and leaned so close over the counter that he could smell the eager woman's citrus perfume. "She's not a patient. She's a doctor."

"I'm really sorry. I can't give out staff information. It's hospital policy."

"Of course, darlin'. I wouldn't dream of getting a pretty girl like you into trouble…" he whispered, flashing her a wicked smile. "But she's actually my sister. I'm only in town for a couple of days and I want to surprise her. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Just trying to be a good brother."

"Oh my god. That's so sweet!"

Jax nodded in fake agreement before trailing the tips of his fingers over those of the young woman. "I just need you to page her. That's all. No rule breaking required."

For a few seconds the blonde woman gazed longingly at Jax as she seemed to contemplate her options, but with one wink and a graze of his hand down her face her resolve caved.

"No problem. What's your sister's name?"

"Knowles. Tara Knowles."

Careful not to make a sound, Jules tiptoed through the common room and down the corridor; grabbing a half empty whiskey bottle on her journey that had been left abandoned on the bar. It was the middle of the night and the last thing she wanted to do was alert anyone to her presence. Her own bed was too daunting. The eternal silence and loneliness had pressed on her until she felt boxed in and had to escape. Still, though, she needed to be close to Jax and this was the best she could do.

She had tried calling him but they always seemed to miss each other. She had already faced two days without him and her body was wound up and tense every minute of the day. She was like a junkie and the withdrawal symptoms from Jax were unwelcome yet familiar. Jules had thought he would have at least left her a voicemail or sent a text. Anything just to let her know he was safe. All she had had was radio silence.

So she found herself, at 4:03am, lying on crumpled sheets in the room Jax used to occupy, sipping lazily on whiskey and staring at the screen of her phone; her face glowing under the artificial light.

When are you coming home?

I miss you.

Whatever you're doing please be safe.

Jax?

Gemma is driving me insane with this community picnic stuff.

Answer your damn phone, you jackass!

She hadn't meant to lose her temper with him but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was eating away at her; gnawing on her insecurities like a parasite. It left her constantly exhausted and she had started to question her own sanity at allowing herself to be pulled back into this life.

She woke, groggy and disoriented, to the sound of glass shattering and indecipherable yelling. Without a second thought, she flung back the bedsheets and stumbled down the hallway to the common room. There had been enough fights, raids, parties, orgies, and arguments within the grounds of the SAMCRO Clubhouse that the noises did not worry her; she was fuming that her turbulent sleep had been interrupted.

Shards of glass littered the floor and the morning sun made them glitter; an odd sight in the usually drab room. Rubbing at the sleep in her eyes, Jules adjusted to the bomb site before her and was only minimally surprised to find her father and step-mother at the epicenter of it.

"I can't believe you would be so stupid!" Gemma seethed, her face glowing red as she held another glass in her hand; poised and ready to throw.

Across the room, Clay kept his distance. "It isn't any of your business."

"He's my son! His whole life is my bloody business! You sent him to that…that…woman! You know what she did to him!"

"Jax will get the job done because he has to. You're blowing this way out of proportion!"

"I swear to God, Clay, if anything screws up this wedding I will-"

"You'll what, woman?" Scoffed the man, rolling his eyes and grinning at his wife's threats. "Seems to me that you don't trust your own son."

"I trust him." She argued, folding her arms and scowling at him. "It's that damn whore I don't trust."

Emerging from the doorway, Jules shouted to gain their attention and eyed them carefully. They both shifted and avoided her gaze; looking as if they had both been caught red handed by a disappointed parent.

"One of you had better tell me where the hell Jax is."

"Jules, this doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't, Clay! Don't treat me like a child. Jax isn't answering any of my messages. Even Opie won't answer his phone."

"I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Gemma. Club business has nothing to do with you. You're an Old Lady so learn your place and stay there."

With his parting words, Clay stormed out of the room. Stung, Jules remained on the spot until the sound of Gemma calling to her finally broke through the haze.

"Come with me, baby. Someone else can deal with this mess."

Crest-fallen and desperate for answers, the young woman lifted her heavy eyes and frowned when her voice came out a whisper. There was weakness in her and she wanted to tear it from her bones and set it alight until it turned to ash.

"Gemma, have you heard from him?"

Her silence was all the acknowledgement Jules needed and she felt herself begin to crumble.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?" Muttered the younger of the women.

"We have a wedding to plan."

Answer your damn phone, you jackass!

Jax's thumb hovered over the digital keypad of his phone as he typed and retyped his response. He lay alone in a cheap motel bed, sheets scratching at his skin, with Tigs snoring away in the bed situated a few feet away from him and Opie on the couch; one leg dangling off the edge and the other touching the floor as the furniture struggled to accommodate his height. Sunlight was creeping through the crack in the curtains and it lit up the dust in the air. Soon they would be leaving. Their return to Charming was upon them. The unbridled joy Jax knew he would feel once Jules was back in his arms was all that was keeping him from going insane. He was itching to leave. To put Chicago and Tara as far behind him as possible.

They were safe. That was all that mattered… at least that what he kept telling himself; kept reminding himself every time he looked in the mirror or someone mentioned his fiance's name. What was done was done. There would be no changing it. It had to be done. By any means necessary, Clay had told him. Jax had known just what his step-father had meant. Maybe one day, the blonde-haired man thought, he would be able to forgive himself.