Chapter 36

Bella POV

When I got to the garage this morning it was not pretty. Jax had stayed the night. Meaning that he and Tara were fighting. "Check on him." I told Ope. He nodded.

I was about to walk over to the office when I saw Tara pull in. "Hey girly." I said.

She gave me a weak smile. "Hey. You seen Jax?" She asked.

"Nope." I said. And it was the truth. Technically I hadn't seen Jax.

That's when Tara noticed his bike and made her way inside the clubhouse. I followed her. Ope stopped us. "Tara. He's not in there." Ope said.

"Where is he?" She asked him. "He didn't come home last night."

"Not sure." He said.

Tara pushed past him and I followed her. I wanted to know what was going on.

"Morning." Ima said coming out of Jax's bathroom.

I felt like I could throw up. "Get out." We heard Jax say. Then he looked at Tara. "I'm sorry Tara."

Gemma POV

"You doing okay?" Wayne asked me.

"I guess considering." I said.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be handling your transport to County this afternoon." He said.

"You request that?" I asked.

"Feds, uh asked us to cover." He said.

"What happened with that raid yesterday?" I asked.

"I told Clay…sheriffs initiated." He said. "We didn't find out till it was happening."

"You're a bad liar Wayne." I said. He chuckles. "You not working with us…I get that. You got a lot of eyes on you right now. But you letting us get hurt…that's bad. That's how you lose friends. I'd hate to see you lost."

Opie POV

Bells was worried about Jax. The little show that he'd put on with Ima at the clubhouse that morning told us that he was lost. Sure, things had been hard on him since Abel had been kidnapped but we knew where he was now (or at least what continent he was on). Bells had asked me to talk to him so here I was seeking him out. "Busy morning for you." I said from his doorway at the clubhouse.

"Little bit." He said.

"Ima." I said. "It's kind of a dick move."

"Yup." He said.

"You want to tell me what's going on?" I asked.

"Not really." He said.

"Well I hope you wrapped your shit. That was a high traffic zone you were rippin' through last night." I said.

"Hindsight." He said. I could tell that there was something else going on here than what he was telling me. "If a dick move could've pushed Donna away, would you have done it?" He asked me.

I thought for a minute. Things weren't always bad between me and Donna. Things have never been bad between Bells and I. Then I knew. "When I first went inside, I pushed Donna for a divorce. Told her the marriage was a joke, she should just take the kids and split. She knew what I was doing. She hung in." I said.

"Till you got out then she split." He said. I nodded.

"I think it's gonna take a little more than porn pussy to scare away Tara." Jax chuckles.

"We're at the table." I heard Juice say from behind me.

"All right." Jax said. "Come on. Let's go find my kid."

We headed to Chapel to figure out our game plan. "Oswald's cargo plane unloads in Manchester. He's got a guy who can get us all the way up to Stranraer. From there, we ferry to Belfast. SamBel's supposed to pick us up at the port. I got a call into McGee." Clay said.

"We still don't know if O'Neill can be trusted." Jax said.

"Well, I'll press McGee for that truth, but either way we got no choice. We need that Charter." Clay said.

"Okay, boys, now, we're traveling with bond restrictions right? No rockers. Our reapers are out the on the bar." Tig said.

"And travel light." Bobby said. "If it don't fit on your back, don't bring it."

"Right." Tig said.

"Boys…" Chibs interrupted.

"You reach out to Fiona?" Jax asked him.

"Yeah. Finally got through. That bastard O'Phelan's had her and my Kerrianne under lockdown." Chibs said. I just shook my head. I hated this for him. I don't know what I'd do if somebody took Bells and my kids away from me.

"She have any idea why Jimmy lied about Abel?" Jax asked Chibs.

"Sorry but she's not sure. She only knows… that Jimmy plans to push against Kellan Ashby, something to do with Belfast SOA." Chibs said.

"Kellan Ashby?" Juice asked. "The priest?"

"Yeah. Father Kellan Ashby. The real IRA consigliere." Chibs said.

"Kellan doesn't call any shots, but no shots get called without his two cents." Pop added.

"Well, whatever it is, Jimmy doesn't want us in Ireland." Jax said. "He finds out we're there, we could be up against IRA heat."

"Well, that's a risk that we're gonna have to take." Clay said.

Jimmy POV

"Still waiting for details but it looks like SAMCRO is planning a visit." Liam said.

"I'll put things in motion." I said.

"You got to keep me in the loop, Jimmy. Whatever goes down. The crew can't know information came from us." He said.

"That's a risk I've got to take." I said.

Gemma POV

Jax wanted me to call Maureen again. "Hello? Ashby's." Maureen said when she answered the phone.

"Maureen?" I said.

"Aye." She said.

"It's Gemma Teller. Can you talk?" I said.

"I'm here." She said.

"Clay wanted me to call. Let you know SAMCRO is on their way. Be there tomorrow, late afternoon." I said.

"Okay." She said.

"DO you know where my grandson is?" I asked her.

"No. But I know who does. I'll do whatever I can to help you." She said.

"Okay. My son? He knows nothing about John and Belfast." I said.

"Nor does my Triny." She said.

"Who's Triny?" I asked, curious.

"Trinity, my daughter." She said.

"What does she have to do with John?" I asked.

"Jesus Christ. You don't know, do you?" Maureen asked.

"My god. Oh, my…" I trailed off vomiting into the trash can.

Tara walked in a few minutes later. "You okay? Nausea? Might be the meds." Tara said.

"It's not the meds." I said.

"Dr. Gallagher has cleared you to leave." She said.

"Great." I said.

"We'll make sure you continue to get your medication. I'm sorry Gemma. I know this is hard for you." She said.

"Well at least I have a new grandson on the way." Tara was skeptical. "What?"

"I don't think Jax is ready for another baby." She said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked her.

"I walked in on him and that porn slut this morning. He's been trying to push me away. It worked. We're done." She said.

"He blames himself for everything that happened to Abel. Can't handle the thought that something bad might happen to you too. He's lost baby. You have to be the constant. Ride it out." I told her.

"I'm not as strong as you." She said. It broke my heart.

"He wouldn't be doing this if he knew you were pregnant." I said. And it was the truth. John had done the same thing and look what that got all of us.

"He can't know. What happens with this baby is my decision. I'm serious Gemma." She said. "No one can know."

"Secret babies are a bad idea." I said.

"Please." She said.

"You want my silence? I need a favor." I said.

Jax POV

When we were finished with Church, I headed to my house to pack for Ireland. I was surprised when I saw Tara's car in the driveway. I walked into the house and saw that she was packing her things. "You don't have to leave yet. We're heading out tonight. I just came by to pack a bag." I said sighing. "I'm sorry about this morning."

"It's what you wanted." She said.

"I didn't want you to get hurt." I said.

"Yes, you did. You think I am responsible for what happened to Abel. You hate me, and you just can't say it. Your mother thinks this is about protecting me." She said with spite.

"I am protecting you." I said.

"From what?"

"Donna split as soon as Opie got released. Bells and Abel got kidnapped. Sack and Hale were murdered. Take your pick." I said.

"You are so full of shit. You and I both know that nothing's going to happen to me. This is just about you needing a reason to feel good about failing. Well, guess what? The prince doesn't always get his way."

I headed back to the clubhouse to meet up with Clay so that we could head to the hospital to say buy to Mom. Bells was meeting us there. "We're gonna take the truck, go say good-bye to Gemma." I told the guys.

"I'm going with." Tig said. "Say by to Bells too."

"Meet you at the plane." Clay said. "Make sure these shitheads aren't late."

"They won't be." Bobby said.

Third Person POV

Tara had created a distraction faking a medical emergency with Gemma, causing staff to put her in an ice bath. Once it was just the two of them, she said "Coast is clear."

Tara handed Gemma her coat. "You calling Jax?" Gemma asked.

"Nope you are." Tara said.

Gemma took the phone from Tara and dialled Jax's number. "Hey." He said when he answered.

"It's mom. You at the hospital?" Gemma said.

"Yeah. You okay?" Jax asked.

"Just listen. Meet me outside the service entrance. I'll be there in a few minutes." Gemma said.

"What?" Jax asked.

"Just go. Now." Gemma said.

Jax hung up the phone. "What's the problem?" Clay asked.

"My mother. Come on." Jax said.

"Okay, I, uh, packed enough meds for a few weeks but if you're there longer you're gonna have to find a way to fill the prescription." Tara said as they stepped into the elevator.

"Yeah, I will." Gemma said to Tara.

"This elevator takes you down to the service level." Tara said. "The key card will get you out the back door. There's some cash in my pocket…it's not much…and … my car's in the service lot if you need it."

"I'm not sure the feds are gonna believe that Gemma held you at gunpoint." Bells said.

"She may as well have." Tara said.

"And I'll keep my promise. No one'll know about that baby." Gemma whispered.

"It's my decision Gemma." Tara said.

"What I suggest… is you wait till Jax gets back. Look into Abel's eyes before you do anything." Gemma said. "I'll be back in a week."

"Yeah." Tara said.

"Mom what the hell are you doing?" Jax asked.

"I'm coming with you." Gemma said.

"You made a deal with the feds!" Jax said.

"I don't give a shit! Those cuffs'll be waiting for me when I get back." Gemma said.

"Baby listen to me." Clay said.

"Don't even bother trying boys… trust me, I've been there." Tig said.

"Dad your not helping." Bells said.

"I'm going." Gemma said.

"I guess your fever broke. Some folks looking for you." Unser said.

"Tell'em I'll be back soon." Gemma said.

"Sorry Gemma." Unser said. "You come with me now, I'll tell them you turned yourself in, had a change of heart. No one gets in trouble for aiding and abetting."

"And if she says no?" Clay asked.

"Sorry. There ain't no options here." Unser said.

Bells POV

Dad had convinced Jax, Clay and Gem to take Tara's car while he and I took the truck. "If I end up in jail Ope is gonna be pissed."