Instead of the happy feeling of returning home. There was a somber mood after finding out about Tara's kidnapping. Which seemed to thicken the tension as they arrived onto the lot.
Tig opened the van's back doors, welcoming them back home before stepping aside to let them get out.
Carrie thanked him as he helped her out, before rushing and throwing her arms around Donna.
"Missed you," Donna stated tightening her grip.
"Not as much as you missed my brother," Carrie teased while pulling back from the hug.
They both laughed before Donna spotted Opie. Carrie watched as she ran and jumped into his arms before kissing him, before looking where Jax took the Moses basket, carrying Abel, from Gemma. Her eyes briefly met his before Gemma captured his attention.
Now that they knew about Tara's kidnapping, Carrie didn't want to get her hopes up about Jax's promises in Belfast. He said that he and Tara were done but something like this was bound to reconcile them.
"Hey anything on Tara?" Jax questioned Tig.
"No brother, I talked to Unser. There's nothing new," Tig explained. "I'm sorry."
"Alright." Jax patted Tig on the back.
They both started walking towards the clubhouse when Jax noticed the wooden swing set.
"What's that?" he questioned nodding at it.
"Prospects spent all morning on it," Tig answered looking at him. Before they made their way into the clubhouse and into the chapel.
"ATF and Charming PD are digging into Salazar," Tig informed them, looking around the table. "They talked to that aunt that owns the house and they're rattling a few of the Calaveras. So far they got nothing."
"Alright, I'll check in with Unser and you see where Stahl is at," Clay stated pointing at Jax. "Maybe check in with Hale, see if he'll cooperate with us on this."
Jax nodded getting ready to stand up when Kozik spoke up.
"We got a complication," he stated nodding at Tig.
"Yeah. Alvarez found out that the cops are all over Salazar. If Hector gets picked up he could blow a serious whistle on the whole heroin operation," Tig explained.
"If the Mayans are looking for Salazar. They're not going to give a shit about protecting Tara," Jax pointed out.
"Call Alvarez and set a meet," Clay ordered pointing at Tig before looking back at the rest of them. "And let's find this aunt that owns the house. Maybe we can convince her to share some information on little Hector."
Clay smacked the table and everyone jumped into action.
Carrie had finished making a pot of coffee, as the club walked out of the chapel, in case anybody needed the caffeine boost of energy.
She had just poured the hot water over the tea bag in her mug when Jax walked into the kitchen.
"Hey," he softly said resting his hand on her right hip.
"Hey. Coffee," Carrie answered pointing at the pot.
"Yeah."
Grabbing a mug she poured him a cup as he moved to wrap both arms around her waist. Her back to his chest, with his hands on the slight curve of her small, barely noticeable, bump.
Jax kissed her head. "I love you, this doesn't change anything I said back in Belfast."
Jax walked back into the main room in time to hear part of the conversation between Gemma, Bobby and Clay.
"Piney's already up at the cabin waiting for you." Bobby pointed out.
"Let him wait. Nobody knows I'm back," Gemma answered as she gently rocked Abel. "I just want to sleep in my own bed."
"We'll lock down the garage," Jax suggested. "She'll be safe."
Clay sighed and briefly shook his head, "Okay, for now. Let's head to the station."
"Let me just dump my shit and we'll go yeah," Jax said grabbing his bag before turning to walk down the hall to his room.
Looking at Carrie as she exited the kitchen, he gave her a wink and a smile before disappearing.
Gemma didn't miss the change in her son's walk or the look on Carrie's face. "Here take the baby," she told Donna handing Abel over to her. Before following after her son.
"Hey baby," Opie softly said as she looked down at Abel. "He looks happy to be back home."
"Isn't he a cutie," Donna said not taking her eyes off Abel and rocking him as he started to fuss. "Makes me want to have another one, give the twins a younger sibling."
Missing the look of love and adoration that passed Opie's face as he looked at her interact with Abel.
"Where's O'Phelan?" Stahl asked as soon as Jax had shut the office door.
Jax sighed as he sat down. "MIA. Just like Tara."
"Alright look. Salazar is still in the area. We've got it locked down. We will find her," Stahl explained. "I know that you're taking a bit of an emotional beating here Jax. I get that, but you and I have a lot at stake here. We need to get it sorted."
"The Irish gave Jimmy safe passage out of Belfast in exchange for my kid," Jax explained. "He's up North with the Russians."
Stahl furrowed her brow. "Putlova?"
"Yeah," Jax answered. "We're onto it. We got a brother in maximum security. Lenny 'the pimp'."
"Lenny Janowitz?" Stahl looked at him in disbelief. "The scumbag who killed 3 ATF agents?"
"Allegedly," Jax argued. "Lenny's got direct ties to the Russians. He's a real source, but he's got no visitation rights, so we're going to have to use Otto to reach out to him."
"Otto's in the hole," Stahl stated.
"He's out tomorrow," Jax pointed out. "If you can arrange for Lenny and Otto to get some yard time together. We might get a lead to where Putlova had Jimmy stashed."
"Alright well. I'll see what I can do," Stahl said standing up. "In the meantime, I'd like you to take a look at these. Former high ranking leaders of the IRA, now they make up the ruling council of the Real IRA."
Grabbing the file he opened it up to see the pictures of Peter, Declan and Brendan.
"Did you have any contact with any of these guys?" She questioned as he flipped through the file.
"A few of them look familiar," He closed the file. "I'll be able to focus when Tara's safe."
"We don't have time for this," Stahl argued.
"The sooner we find Tara, the sooner we find Jimmy." Jax retorted, dropping the file onto the desk. Walking away and glancing at her incredulous expression before shutting the door behind him.
"What's happening?" Clay questioned as he and Jax walked up to Unser and Stahl.
"Sherriff's are taking over. Negotiator said not to call Salazar," Unser answered.
"If it was Tara who killed his girl. The negotiator ain't going to do shit," Jax stated.
"Jax they know what they're doing," Unser answered.
"Salazar is going to hurt her," Jax said raising his voice.
"Alright. Alright," Stahl said trying to keep the peace. "As far as we know. Tara is fine. If he was going to hurt her, he would have done so already. Now we will get her back."
"You need to keep it together son," Clay stated, patting him on the back as they walked back to the club.
"Yeah."
Jax didn't like the fact that he didn't know exactly what was going on and the feeling of being helpless. Just because he wasn't in love with Tara or with her, didn't mean that he wanted her to get hurt.
"What are we going to do about them?" Bobby questioned as they looked at the Mayans.
"Buy them some popcorn," Clay sarcastically replied. "Ain't nothing he's going to be able to do now."
"You sure you should be here?" Unser said as he stood next to David.
"That's my brother being held hostage. I'm not moving until he's safe."
Unser sighed before looking around. "Yeah, well pretty soon you and I are just going to be bystanders. Seeing as how your brother got the city council to vote on the SANWA sheriffs taking over."
David sighed, before shaking his head. Knowing what Jacob had done, letting his emotions run rampant and making decisions based on them.
"Look, this may not be the right time. But I need to let you in on a secret," Unser said before sighing. "That corporation who has been buying up the stores on Liberty. Your brother is named as one of the buyers under it."
David narrowed his eyes. "What are you getting at?"
"Lumpy didn't want to sell and Darby paid him a visit because he was paid by Jacob to scare Lumpy into selling. Darby didn't try anything, he must of grown a conscience and felt bad for Lumpy. So he warned him telling him to sell otherwise someone else would pay him a visit and they wouldn't be as generous," Unser held his hands up before shaking his head. "Then Lumpy's is vandalized and Lumpy is roughed up. The damage to the gym forced him to sell before he died from complications. But before that happened he mentioned the assailant being Mexican."
"Mayans?"
Unser shook his head. "They have a deal with SAMCRO , they're on good terms now. The only they have beef is with-"
"Salazar," David said cutting him off.
Unser nodded. "But other than word of mouth. I don't have any concrete proof that it was Hale who hired Salazar, which resulted in the death of Lumpy Feldstein."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"
"Because you were recuperating from a dislocated shoulder and a concussion," Unser answered. "You needed the time off to heal."
"Yeah, well it all went to shit didn't it? If you had told me sooner, I could have talked to Jacob and possibly prevented all of this," David argued.
"Yeah, well, if we can get to Salazar and have him confess and point the finger to your brother, we might be able to save Charming PD. I'll be stepping down and you can assume the position of Chief, like you were going to do before it all went to shit."
"Got his list of demands?" Clay questioned as Unser, Stahl and Hale walked up to them.
"He wants a free ride to cartel country. Going to give us Jacob for that," Unser answered.
"What about Tara?" Jax questioned.
"He only lets her go if he can trade her for you." David stated looking at Jax.
"Let's do it," Jax answered.
"Jackie," Chibs protested. "The minute he sees your face, he'll gun you down."
"He's right. We ain't going to let you take that chance," Clay said.
"Salazar needs a hostage to make it out of there alive. He ain't gonna kill me." Jax argued.
"It's too risky and it's against policy," Stahl said. "I'm going to call in FBI and we'll let tactical handle it."
"Look he's desperate. He ain't going to give us time to plan. I'm doing this," Jax stated looking between Unser and Stahl.
"They're sending in Jax," Hale said as he hung the phone up.
No one said anything as Salazar opened the duffle bag and took a knife out.
"You are going to kill him," Tara said, watching him.
"First I'm going to kill you. Make him watch. Then I'm going to kill him." Salazar corrected. Plunging the knife into a book as they heard someone pound on the door.
"Come on," Salazar demanded as he pointed the gun at Jax. "Come on."
Jax walked in and shut the door behind him after Salazar demanded him to do so.
"Get 'em up," he ordered waiting for Jax to hold his arms up, before searching him for any weapons. Satisfied that he didn't have any, he pushed Jax into a chair after he didn't sit down when he ordered him to.
"Let her go," Jax said, causing Salazar to laugh before gun butting him.
"YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Salazar yelled pointing the gun at him.
Jax watched as Salazar held a knife against Tara's throat as he said how he had watched his lady bleed out. Jax knew that if he didn't do something the same thing was going to happen to Tara.
He saw Hale grab a pen and knew he would cause the distraction he needed. As soon as Hale stabbed Salazar with a pen Jax threw himself at him. Making him drop the gun and knife before he ran out the room.
Jax picked up the gun before turning to Tara.
"You kill anyone who's not a cop," he ordered her handing her the gun before kissing her forehead. Grabbing the knife Salazar had dropped, he ran out of the room after him.
"They're in the office," Jax called out not slowing down, intent on not letting Salazar get away.
The club stood outside anxiously waiting for news. Before hearing the Sheriff announce that Salazar was on the move and that the hostages were safe.
Now the only thing they had to worry about was Jax making it out alive.
"Salazar attacked Teller with a fire axe," the sheriff informed them. "Teller killed him with his own knife."
"Sorry," Clay muttered at Unser after the sheriff had walked away.
Unser was disappointed, shaking his head as he called it out for the rest of the team to make it back to the front. "Guess we're out of job," he said as David stood next to him.
"We'll see about that. It's not over yet."
Unser shook his head."Salazar is dead, he was our proof."
"Let me talk to my brother. If there's anything I know about him, it's that he folds under pressure."
"Thanks for rescheduling the appointment for me."
Donna waved her off. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad all of you came back whole."
"Believe me, so am I. There were a few close calls though but luckily we're all here," Carrie answered.
"Wouldn't be SAMCRO if there weren't," Donna teased, causing Carrie to laugh before she spotted Tara. "Oh shit."
Carrie furrowed her brow before looking where Donna was staring. She sighed before turning to Donna. "Give me a couple of minutes."
"You sure?"
Carrie looked towards Tara who, was walking towards them. "Yeah, we're at the hospital. I doubt she'd cause a scene here."
Donna nodded. "I'm going to go look for Jax or maybe David in case someone needs to break it up. Just in case."
"I'm pregnant," Carrie reminded her.
"Yeah but you also turn into a gremlin, so I'm just trying to avoid shit from happening," Donna said, before walking away.
Carrie watched as Tara and Donna nodded in greeting before Donna left, but not before she turned back around and warningly pointed at her.
"I see that you made it out alright," Carrie said as she leaned against the wall, crossing her arms.
"Sorry to disappoint."
Carrie sighed. "Look, even though I don't like you. That doesn't mean I would wish anything bad onto you."
"Yeah well that's rich coming from you."
Carrie narrowed her eyes. "What the hell is your problem?"
Tara clenched her jaw, before sighing. "My problem is that everything between me and Jax was going fine until you found out you were pregnant. Everything started to go down the drain afterwards."
Carrie rolled her eyes. "It's not my fault that Jax chose not to be with you. I told him that he didn't need to leave you, when he told me about it. But ultimately it's up to him and you can't blame him for changing his mind."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, that ever since you showed back up, nothing but trouble has followed," Carrie said letting her arms drop.
Tara shook her head. "Everything that has happened isn't my fault."
Carrie nodded. "You're right, not everything is your fault. With the exception of Kip's death and Abel's kidnapping."
Tara looked at her in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. An innocent man and an innocent baby were lost on the same day, because you didn't try to intervene. That's on you."
Tara shook her head. "I was held at gunpoint, I tried to move or do anything he would have shot me."
"Yet Kip, knowing the consequences and outcome, risked his life trying to protect Abel. Can you say the same?" Carrie questioned shaking her head. "You can't because you were too afraid to do anything but look out for yourself and ensure your own safety."
"You're judging me but you would have done the same thing."
Carrie shook her head. "That's where you're wrong, I would have tried my hardest to make sure all of us got out there alive, even if that meant risking my own life. But that must be the maternal instincts in me because a mother always fights for her kids."
"Abel isn't even yours," Tara reminded her.
"You're right, but he carries the same blood as my own does and while he may not be mine, it's a common instinct to protect a child. But you wouldn't know about that would you? About caring and thinking about other people. You're too selfish for that." Carrie turned to walk away before being yanked back.
"Don't you walk away from me."
Carrie shook Tara's grip off of her, before pushing her back. "Don't put your fucking hands on me. This is the only warning I'm giving you, next time I'll make sure you land on your ass."
"Jax is never going to love you. Not the way he loves me."
"Is that why he left you?"
Tara shook her head, before glaring at her. "He was just upset about Abel but now that he's back, we're going to go back to how it used to be."
"Really? Because he told me you two were done. That he's letting go of the past, letting go of you. He told me he loved me and would always choose me from now on."
"You know he didn't mean that, how many times did he feed you the same line? Only for him to end up choosing me. I know it and you know it as well. It has always been me and it will always be me, he chooses," Tara argued stepping closer towards her.
"You're a delusional bitch, you know that?" Carrie shook her head. "People change Tara, they grow up. Obviously you haven't since you can't seem to let him go. What's it going to take for you to understand it? How many times is he going to have to reject you?"
Carrie wasn't angry anymore. All she felt was pity for Tara because she was still holding onto the love that Jax had once felt for her. The same love that she could clearly see wasn't reciprocated anymore.
"I pity you," Carrie softly stated. "I really do because you're so caught up in old feelings that you can't see that he doesn't love you anymore."
"Well you can take that pity and shove it," Tara retorted. "Because I don't fucking need it."
"I'm done trying to reason with you Tara," Carrie shook her head. "I'm going to be late for my appointment and I'm not getting anywhere with you. There's no point in this conversation, we're just going to keep going in circles."
"What's going on?"
Carrie and Tara turned to see Jax walking towards them, followed by Donna.
"Nothing, we were just clearing some stuff up," Carrie answered looking at Tara. "Now that the conversation is over, I'm leaving."
Jax watched as Carrie and Donna left before turning back to Tara. "What was all that about?"
Jax sighed as Tara recounted everything back to him. He knew not to fully believe everything in case she had changed some of it to benefit herself. But he knew he had to set the record straight.
"Tara, we were kids when we started dating and fell in love," Jax sighed. "We were still basically kids when you left. We both grew up and we live different lives. You're a surgeon and I'm a criminal."
Jax shook his head. "It didn't change before you left the first time and it's not going to change anytime soon. While I do love and care for you, I know I'm not in love with you. If we stay together because of how we felt when we were kids, later on we're both going to be miserable."
"That's not fair to either one of us. I'll always care and love you but just not in the way I did before. I don't want to hurt you but I love Carrie," Jax said before shaking his head. "I was just too caught up in old feelings to realize it before and I ended up hurting not only Carrie but now you as well."
"So after everything, you're choosing her?"
Jax nodded. "Yeah, I am," Jax softly answered before pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry but we both have to move on or we'll end up hating each other down the road."
"It doesn't make any of this easier," Tara said tightening her grip before pulling back."
"I know but maybe if we had talked it out back then, instead of screaming at each other and then you just packing up and leaving," Jax shrugged. "Maybe we would have had this conversation back then. It would have given us closure and we would have moved on sooner, instead of falling into the same old patter."
Tara crossed her arms in front of her, before she nodded. "Even though we're not together, I might still stay in Charming. St. Thomas needs me and I don't know if I could just leave anymore."
"I'm not going to run you out of town Tara but I also don't want any more issues or problems later on."
"There won't be any, I'll keep my distance and we'll see what happens down the line."
Jax nodded. "Take care of yourself Tara."
"You too Jax."
Carrie turned to look at Jax as he sat down next to her. "What are you doing here?"
"You have an appointment."
Carrie shook her head. "I know but I just thought-"
"I told you, I choose you. You wanted me to prove that I'll choose you," Jax shrugged before getting comfortable in the chair. "So here I am. Besides I'm not missing seeing my kid."
Carrie turned back to stare ahead, a soft smile on her mouth, as she felt Donna nudge her. Turning towards her, Donna gave her a look just as her name was called.
"Everything is looking good," Dr Miller said as she moved the transducer wand around. "Baby is measuring where it's supposed to be for 12 weeks, has a strong heartbeat."
As soon as she said that, a whooshing sound filled the room. Carrie glanced up at Jax, who was standing next to her, to see him staring intently at the screen.
Jax looked down at her, giving her a smile, before he leaned down and kissed her. "I love you."
Carrie stared into his eyes, seeing the honesty in them. "I love you too."
Jax opened the door letting Carrie go in ahead of him. Closing the door behind him as he saw his mother standing by the stove holding Abel. Jax motioned for Carrie to sit down at the table as he took Abel from Gemma.
"How's the baby?"
"Baby's doing good," Carrie answered before reaching into her bag for the ultrasound pictures. Handing them over to Gemma, as she sat down.
Gemma looked down at the pictures before looking up at Carrie and Jax. "What about the heart?"
"Strong heartbeat, Doctor Miller said everything looks fine but she'll keep a close watch on it since there's history on our side," Jax said, as he slowly rocked Abel when he became a little fussy.
Gemma nodded before reaching over to squeeze Carrie's hand. "Thank you, for letting me see these."
Carrie nodded, giving her a smile, before looking up at Jax. Watching him with Abel, feeling her heart skip a beat as he looked at her and gave her a smile.
Gemma looked between the two, leaning back in her chair as she watched the same look reflected across their faces. Gemma smirked, seeing the love they both had for the other, knowing that they'd be okay.
~*~*~ So I was listening to the soundtrack for Sons of Anarchy on Spotify, when I was writing this. And "Never My Love" by Audra Mae came on. I wasn't really paying attention until I was like halfway done with it. Figured it fit the scene, so if you want to listen to it while reading this part go ahead.~*~*~
Carrie was worn out by the time they got back to her apartment. Kicking off her shoes, as she pulled her hair up in a messy bun. She motioned for Jax to make himself comfortable as she walked towards her room.
Grabbing a hair tie to secure the bun, she quickly found and changed into a pair of shorts before walking back out into the living. Finding Jax holding a still awake Abel while he flipped through the channels.
She gently took Abel from him, before settling into his side, as he chose to leave the TV on a Nicholas Cage movie.
"What movie is it?" she questioned as she handed Abel a small stuffed toy.
"National Treasure," Jax answered before looking down at her.
"What?" Carrie questioned looking up at him.
Jax shook his head. "Nothing. It's just that I could get used to this."
Carrie gave him a soft smile, before turning to watch the movie. Both of them settling in, watching in silence, absorbing the moment.
"You know what would make this even better?"
Carrie glanced at Jax. "What?"
Jax looked at her seriously. "Marry me."
Carrie moved from her positions against his side, staring at him in disbelief. "Where is this coming from?"
Jax sighed, before leaning his head against the back of the couch. Rubbing his hands down his face in frustration, letting them drop before turning to look at her. "I'm going to be doing some time. That's a fact, how long of a time I'll do is still up in the air."
"I know, but we just managed to talk it out," Carrie shook her head. "I don't even know what this is, I have to work through my issues on trusting you."
"I know babe, and that's on me because I'm the one who broke that trust in you. But I love you and I want to be with you. Is that what you want?"
Carrie looked him before looking away. "I do," she softly admitted. "But I just don't know if I can trust you."
Jax nodded. "And I'm sorry for that," he said before sighing. "I'm goin to tell you something but it stays between us. I don't want you to feel pressured on saying yes, after you hear it but I want you to know in case anything happens."
"What's going on Jax?"
Jax looked away before looking back at her. "I made a deal with Stahl. I give her the information she needs on the Irish and she clears my mom on the murder charges along with reducing the time the club serves in jail."
Carrie stared at him in disbelief. "If the club finds out-"
Jax shook his head, before cutting her off. "They won't find out about it."
"But if they do, we both know what will happen," Carrie argued, shaking her head. "They'll kill you Jackson."
"I know," Jax nodded before sighing. "But it's the only way to protect my mom, my family and the club."
Carrie shook her head, still trying to wrap her head around what he'd just told her. Before standing up, Abel still in her arms, as she started to pace. Jax silently watching her the whole time as she mulled everything over.
"This is crazy Jax," Carrie said, shaking her head, putting a stop to her pacing. Turning to face him.
"I know but like I said. Don't let this pressure you into a decision," Jax shook his head before shrugging. "If you don't want to do it. It's fine, I'm not going to change my mind on wanting to marry you. And it's not going to change the way I feel for you either. I'll love you no matter what you decide."
"What if we do this and the club finds out about the deal?"
"Then at least I got to marry you before it happened. I got to enjoy loving and marrying you, no matter how short that may be," Jax answered as he stood in front of her. "Lyn, don't overthink it. I know this is out of left field but at least promise something."
"What?" Carrie whispered, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.
"Promise me you'll look after Abel no matter what happens. And when lil bit comes along you'll raise the both of them together. Because whether we get married now or we don't, Abel is now yours just as much as he's mine," Jax answered before kissing her, pulling back to wipe the tears as they silently fell down her cheeks. "I love you Lyn no matter what, I'll always love you and I'll always choose you from now on."
Jax slowly took Abel from her arms. "Choose what you think is best, based on the way you feel. Not because of all this shit happening, don't let what I told you influence your decision. I told you because I wanted you to know. I didn't want anything to come between us anymore."
"I need to think about it," Carrie whispered.
Jax nodded. "I'm going to put Abel to sleep but you take all the time you need."
So there is the second to last chapter.
Will Carrie decide to accept Jax's proposal?
Let me know what you guys think. Also let me know what your theories/suggestions are on the next chapter as well as the sequel. I'm also going to do an extra chapter with extras based on the time when the club is in jail. Co let me know what you'd like to see it in it.