Time
"How is he?" Gemma asked as soon as Wayne Unser entered through her door.
"He's going o be okay. Few stitches but he'll survive." Unser could see the relief in Gemma's eyes. "Do you want to tell me what this was about?"
Gemma looked back at Clay who was entering the kitchen "Retaliation from brown." Clay confirmed.
"Anything I need to be worried about? This going to blow back in Charming?" Wayne asked.
"No." Wayne just shook his head at the one word answer from Clay but he knew that he wasn't going to get anymore.
"Okay. He'll be out of the Infirmary in a few days."
"Thanks Wayne." Gemma placed a kiss on his cheek before he left and Gemma turned her attention back to Clay.
"It's only been 8 months Clay. What happened to his protection?" Gemma snapped, her fear for her son clear.
"Alliances have changed." Clay walked over to his wife and pulled her close. "Don't worry nothing else is going to happen to him."
"You better promise me Clay." Gemma removed herself from her husband grasp and walked over to the counter and grabbed her bag."
"Where are you going?" Clay asked.
"To speak to Lowen see how she is getting on with reducing his sentence." And with Gemma was gone.
"She's pissed." Clay turned around to see Sam standing in the hallway. "Why did you lie?" Sam asked moving further into the kitchen.
"Last thing your mother needs to know is that brother has a death wish." Sam just nodded because the truth was Jax wasn't attacked because of a change in alliance Jax initiated the fight like he had the last two, but this one was the worse, this one Jax got shivved.
"It's because of her." Sam spoke.
"Maybe. But she's gone so your brother needs to get over this shit and remember that this club, this family, is what matters."
"Yeah he does." And Sam actually couldn't agree more.
When Jax had told him that he had let Haley go Sam was pissed. Not because they were over, in all honestly he was glad about that but it he pissed because his brother had done everything that warned and criticised him for doing. He had hurt Haley but when Sam questioned him on it he said nothing and now she was gone from all of their lives.
"Haley, your cells ringing."
"Coming." Haley shouted from the bathroom. She quickly wrapped a towel around her and exited to bathroom smiling at Joey as she handed her her cell.
After her visit with Jax Haley had been so upset she needed space, space from everyone. so she applied to college again. She knew that her place at UCLA was gone and she tried many others, she almost gave up until she received an acceptance letter from Berkeley.
She was nervous at first but her Dad agreed that it was the right thing to do. So they packed up her things and her Dad drove her out of Charming.
It had been 8 months and it had taken her some time but Haley was finally starting to move on and enjoy college. Joey was her room mate, she was nice. All the people she met were nice. It was a far cry from Charming High School. There were no Chrissie's or Lizzie's to speak of. Haley actually fitted in.
She was moving on.
Entering her dorm Haley finally answered her cell but she was surprised by what she heard. "Um yes I accept the charges." Haley felt her breath quicken.
"Hey." Haley just stood there in shock. "Hales?"
Haley looked over her shoulder at Joey who was looking at her curiously. She created more of a gap between them. "Jax?" Her voice was just above a whisper. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah.'
"Liar."
"I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Jax what's going on?"
"Miss you Hales."
Haley fell silent she wanted to say she missed him too but what would that achieve. He broke her heart and Haley had spent 8 months trying to mend it but hearing his voice she knew that she still wasn't over him.
"Hales..."
"Jax, I...I"
"Look I know what I said and I'm sorry Hales"
"Jax..."
"No Hales I messed up. Can I see you."
"Jax I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"Please." Again Haley fell silent for a moment before answering and going against her better judgement.
"Okay."
Three days later Haley took a deep breath as the guard led her inside and pointed her in the direction of Jax. Straight away Haley saw the bruises littering his face. She almost ran over to the table and by the time she reached him he was on his feet and they quickly embraced one another only pulling away when Jax winced in pain.
Haley stepped back and watched as Jaxs hand went to his side.
"What happened?" Jax motioned her to sit down which she did but before he joined her his eyes met the guy who had been on the delivering end of his stabbing. Jax noticed him eyeing Haley and Jax just glared at him.
"Jax?" Haley could tell his attention was somewhere else so she followed his eyeline. She saw a man in the corner who was looking at them. He too had bruises visible on his face. "Is he the guy that hurt you?"
Haley's last words drew Jax's attention back to her. He could see the worry. He finally took a seat. And for the first time he really took her in.
She was dressed in light blue jeans and a grey ribbed v-neck top which clung to her small frame, although he noticed that she had gained back a bit of the weight she had been missing the last time she was here. The biggest difference to Jax was her hair, It was shorter, still long but her natural mass of curls we gone and her hair was straight. He'd never seen it straight, it looked good.
"So that guy over there...?"
"We had a misunderstanding, but it's all good darlin'." Jax flashed her his famous smile but it faded when she didn't return it.
"Is that why you called me?" Jax could hear the seriousness in her tone.
"Yes." Jax answered honestly. "This place, it can really fuck with your head Hales, makes you question everything. You have nothing but time to think." He reached out for her hand that was resting on the table. "I've missed you Hales."
Haley nodded her head, hearing and understanding his words. She felt for him she really did, and she hated seeing him hurt in the way that he was, but for the last 8 months she had been trying to mend her heart, tried to get over the man that sat before her and it had been hard.
Pulling her hand away and resting them on her knees Haley sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry you got hurt Jax."
"But..." Jax had hoped that all would be forgotten but looking at her he realised just how much he had hurt her and he hated himself for that.
"What is this? I mean the last time I sat here you told me to go off to college, live my life."
"I know and maybe I'm just finding life without you hard. I mean I've known you my whole life Hales didn't realise what it would be like not having you around."
"I get that." Haley actually spared him a smile. "It's hard not to think of a memory without you or Sam in it." They smiled at one another until Haley spoke again. "I miss you too Jax. But I have spent the last 8 months trying to move on..."
"Is there someone else?" Jax blurted out unable to stop himself.
"No." Haley admitted. "But I'm at Berkeley, late start so a lot to catch up on but I'm enjoying it. I'm living in the dorms. I have a room-mate, her names Joey she's nice. And my lecturers, they are so inspirational...What?" Haley questioned watching as a smile graced Jax's face.
"You look happy."
"I am, but it's taken a while." Haley looked around needing a second to compose herself before looking back at Jax. "I will always be here for you."
Jax nodded. It hurt to hear her words, how happy she was without him but he did this and he had no one to blame but himself. He had her and he let her go. But he knew that he would never be able shake the need to protect her. He lay out his hand and was grateful when she placed her hand on his. He gave her hand a tight squeeze.
"I'll always be here for you too Hales."
"I know."
They fell silent for a moment until Jax started asking about her lectures and college life in more detail. Although she had started with tears in her eyes, he watched as her eyes started to light up the more she talked about and her lessons he could tell she was where she needed to be. He enjoyed the conversation but then the bell rang signalling end of the visiting. He watched Haley look around as people started to get to their feet.
"I guess that's my cue to leave." Jax nodded getting to his feet.
"Can I get a hug?"
Haley nodded her head and made her way to him embracing him. She took in his scent and unbeknown to her Jax was doing the same.
Haley went to pull away but before she could Jax kissed her and she couldn't help but kiss him back.
When they broke away Jax rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you." Jax admitted
"I love you too."
"I need to let you go now don't I?"
"I'll always be here if you really need me." Haley whispered as Jax kept her close.
"Same here. If you're ever in trouble or you just need someone you only have to reach out to me."
She nodded and they shared one last kiss before Haley was ushered away
28 Months Later
Jax tucked his blonde hair behind his ear as he waited for the doors to open and when they did he took a deep breath as his eyes closed. He was free.
Walking down the path he saw his brothers waiting for him, he even spotted his bike amongst them.
As the gates opened he was embraced by Clay first, then by Chibs who handed him his cut. It felt good to have the leather back on his back, he had missed it.
Jax moved around and embraced the rest of his brothers but there was someone missing. Otto had been arrested for second degree murder 2 years in Jax's sentence. It felt good to have a fellow brother inside but at the same time it was not good for the club and Jax now being out already felt his void.
"Keys." Jax looked towards not only his brother but his best friend.
"Thanks Ope." They smirked at one another before exchanging a hug.
"Missed you brutha."
"Missed you to Daddy." Jax remarked pulling away. "How's Donna and Kenny." Kenny was Jax's godson even though he was inside Opie had wanted his best friend to be part of his his first born life and of course Jax had happily agreed as long as it meant no dirty diapers. They both agreed on that.
"They are all good."
"Here." Jax turned around to face Sam who was holding out a helmet, which Jax accepted.
The last 3 years the brothers had gone through a range of emotions. A lot had happened but as Jax looked at his younger brother all he felt was love and he pulled him into an embrace.
"Love you Sammy."
"Love you too brother."
So I want to say thank you as always for the support everyone is providing. I love to hear your reviews on this story so keep them coming. As you can see we are jumping ahead a little in the story line. I will link back to time that we have missed where needed. I hope you are are all enjoying this still.
Love Becca x
