Chapter 9
Tara started packing away her personal belongings. It felt wrong that she was doing, it made her feel trapped. Oregon had pulled their offer. Not surprising, who would want to hire her now she was arrested for accessory to murder.
She always trusted Jax, she had run to him when her life was hitting an impossible point and he had protected her but over the years she had witnessed him get deeper and deeper into the club, and the club become more and more deadly. And she needed to protect her family, her sons.
Her thoughts were interpreted with a knock on the door, Tara smiled when she saw Margaret. She had been expecting her.
"Hey thanks for stopping by."
"Of course. I saw the boys downstairs. They looked happy, bet their glad to have their mother home."
Tara smiled. "Yeah they are doing good."
"Bet you missed them." This caused Tara to stop what she was doing. She had missed them more than anything and she couldn't wait to get home to them this morning but their family moment was interrupted. Tara didn't hear it all and didn't really care to. But it just confirmed that she had to get her family out.
Margaret could tell that Tara wasn't going to answer. Margaret hated seeing Tara like this. She was a young and very talented doctor who just happened to fall in love with the wrong man, or rather a man that was involved in the wrong life. Margaret had judged initially but over the years she had witnessed the love between the two, but Margaret hated how the life was effecting Tara. This being proved by her recent imprisonment and the loss of the Oregon offer. Margaret really thought that this would be it for Tara, a break out of the life.
"I'm sorry about Oregon."
"Thank you."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I do have a favour to ask."
"Of course anything."
"I need some blood work doing, confidentially."
"Are you ok?" Margaret moved closer into the room, Tara moved to close the door behind her.
"I need a pregnancy test."
"She ok?" Jax asked as he looked outside the kitchen window to where Nicole was sat on the porch. Her knees to her chest as she nursed a cup of coffee.
"Yeah." Happy answered, although he wasn't completely sure that was true.
He had explained everything to her, she hadn't said anything at first which was more unnerving to Happy but he presumed that it was because they had company. The only two questions that she did manage to ask, was about Juice's battered and bruised face and what was going to happen now.
To answer the first question Happy explained that it was some brotherly love between Juice and Chibs, and with Nicole being the one who had also expressed concerns about Juice he knew that she understood what he meant. The second question he couldn't answer right now. It was after that and hearing Nero try to fight back the tears as he sat in a room with his now dead cousin, Nicole had removed herself to outside to the porch.
Jax inhaled his cigarette as his eyes left his cousin to look at his brother. Happy's eyes remained on Nicole.
Jax hadn't spoken to Nicole since before she left for Tacoma. He had checked that she was ok after the accident through Happy but they hadn't had a face o face to yet and part of that was because Jax was still trying to keep his promise to Tara, but seeing her outside, faint cuts still displayed on her skin, protecting her from getting shot today, something inside him wanted to go out there, but times had changed and Jax knew that he couldn't just go out there. He felt like he had to as\k permission which felt really strange to him and he just couldn't do it.
"I'm gonna speak to her." Jax watched as Happy's eyes shot from his cousin to meet his stare. Jax still found it strange that the brother standing in front of him was now the man between him and his cousin. Although Jax wasn't going to let that let that control this situation he was still the President of this club. But he was relieved when Happy gave him a nod, which was his way of saying ok.
Nicole hadn't touched the coffee Chibs had made her but she enjoyed the warmth that it gave her hands.
Today had not gone as she had expected. She didn't expect to be shot at today or the revelations that came after from Happy.
It had scared her because now there was more than just her to think about. This was why she was sat outside. Jax had instructed, that her and Gemma couldn't leave till the car could be cleaned. That was what Tig was doing now along with a guy that she didn't know but presumed that it was one of Neros guys. Nicole was distracted from watching them when she heard the door creaked open. She was surprised to see Jax. She watched as he took the seat next to her.
The silence hung between them until Nicole broke it which surprised Jax.
"How's Tara?" Jax shrugged. He didn't actually know the answer. They hadn't spoken when she was inside and they had barely had chance to speak this morning before all this shit. "You ok?" Jax looked down at the hand that had come to rest on his arm. There was sympathy in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Nic. I'm sorry for Tacoma, I'm sorry for what happened in the clubhouse." She went to remove her hand at that point but Jax caught it in his. They locked eyes and he could see tears in them. "I never meant to hurt."
"I know." And Nicole did believe that but that didn't mean that it didn't happen.
"Nic, this shit with Cla..." Jax was cut off with the arrival of a vehicle approaching. he felt her hand grip his.
Jax got to his feet and stood in front of Nicole. Jax turned when he heard the door open. Happy emerged, his eyes going to Nicole's, but when they reached Jax's he nodded letting Happy know that there was no threat. Jax knew who this was.
Nicole watched Jax approach the new arrival. Happy stepping into the space in front of her. She got to her feet and stood beside Happy. She watched the exchange. It was a drug deal and Nicole knew exactly who that was for.
"Shit." Happy looked at her now and she returned his look. "Drugs?" Nicole had seen enough deals in her life to recognise one. "I'm not doing this." Happy moved so that he was in front of her blocking her from where she had been looking.
"She needs to be balanced out that's it." Happy knew she was probably flashing back to the Wendy thing.
"You don't believe that anymore than I do." Nicole ran her hand through her hair. She didn't agree with any of this but in order to keep her and her child safe Nicole had to pick her battles and this was one that wasn't one of them. She moved closer to Happy her hand resting on his side. "I just need to get out of here."
Happy couldn't agree more. So he nodded and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
"Al'right."
Happy waited and watched the exchange. When Jax broke away and headed back towards the cabin Happy approached him.
"Need to head out." He watched Jax's eyes move over his shoulder to Nicole for the briefest moment for returning to his.
"Ok. Will need you back here brother."
"I'll drop her off and then I'll back." Jax nodded, they embraced each other before parting. Happy turned to Nicole and motioned her over, she was by his side in a second.
No words were spoken apart from Jax leaning in to drop a kiss on Nicoles cheek. She stiffened at the gesture, she couldn't help herself. It had been a while since they had been close. She knew that he felt her distance. She felt bad and hoped one day they could get back to what they used to be.
Juice scrubbed his hands again and again. This was different and it didn't sit right with him.
After Nicole had left Jax had approached him. He wanted him to give Darvany the drugs given that she was currently tied to the bed, but what Jax didn't say in front on everyone and just to him was the club needed her to be silenced.
Juice knew that if he wanted back in the club that he had to do what ever Jax wanted, Jax had basically told him that, and Juice understood that because he had fucked up.
He took the brick, killed a brother, got Nicole caught up in that, almost aided the RICO case against the Sons, sided with Clay until Jax given him an ultimatum. If he wanted to be back in the brotherhood then he had to do what Jax said. So far that had led him to double crossing Clay, allowing a beat down from another brother which he was still carrying the bruises from and now killing an innocent woman. And that was why he scrubbing at his hands. That was a difficult kill. He had killed before but not like this.
Juice was struggling.
