Chapter 4

Courtney woke up in a room she hadn't been in before. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around. There was Jax, asleep in a chair next to the bed. She smiled at the site of him.

Jax stirred a little and opened his eyes. He sat up straight when his tired eyes focused on Courtney.

"Hey, how you feeling?" he asked taking herr hand.

"Really, really sore," she said but she had a smile on her face.

"The doctor gave you a perscription for the pain," Jax explained and startd to get up.

Courtney stopped him, "No, no pain medication," she refused.

Jax gave her a confused look as he sat back down in the chair, "Why?" he asked her.

Courtney looked down at their intertwined hand and explained, "After I miscarried...um...I got roughed up by some of Alcazar's men. The doctor gave me hydrocodine and I...and I got too dependant on them," Courtney didn't realize the tear that slid down her cheek until Jax leaned over and wiped it away with his thumb.

"I was in so much pain," Courtney continued, "and I would take it out on Jason, I'd start fights with him. He didn't deserve it. But it felt like whenever I took these pills there was no more pain. I finally told Jason and he helped me through it," She finished and looked up at Jax again.

Jax smiled at her and brought her hand up to his lips, "I'm glad he could be there for you," he said and Courtney knew he meant it.

"I'm glad you're with me now," she smiled at him.

"Me, too," he reached up and smoothed her hair back from her face and she leaned into his touch.

"So, what's going on? Where are we?" she asked him looking around.

"We're at one of Sonny's safehouses," he explained.

"Okay," she started to get up.

"Wait," Jax stopped her before she could throw the covers off her bruised body. "Don't get up. Whatever you need, I'll get it for you."

"Well...if you could go to the bathroom for me, that'll be great," Courtney chuckled.

"Oh," Jax said and Courtney's laugh was contagious.

"But you could help me up," she said.

"Yeah," Jax stood and helped Courtney out of a the bed. He tucked his arm around her waist and took her weight.

He helped her across the room as she limped on her sprained ankle. The look of pain on her face as she gripped her chest as she walked broke his heart.

It had him joking with her as they reached the bathroom doorway, "Need any help in there?" he grinned at her.

The laughter bubbled out of her, she was grateful for it despite the pain it caused in her chest. "Not on your life, bucko," she teased but leaned up to press a soft kiss to his lips. She disappeared into the bathroom with him smiling after her.