AN: I hope you guys are enjoying. Reviews motivate me and help reassure me that you guys are still connecting with the story. I don't want to lose you! I'm working on the next chapter but could definitely use a little feedback to help push me along. Much thanks to elbeewoods for the motivation!

Tara POV

By the time we made our way back to Jax' house, the guys were already back. Cartons and cartons of Marlboro Reds were stacked high on the granite counter top and there were at least three or four 18 packs of Ice House on the floor. The fresh rush of adrenaline had pumped new life into them and their bursts of laughter and liveliness were too much to absorb after the somber walk that Kris, Adam and I had just endured.

"Did you see the glass shatter?" asked Ryan. "Pshhhhhh!" he imitated glass breaking, moving his hands to mimic an explosion.

"Where did you even find a brick?" Jax questioned.

They chattered nonsensically as we approached and Opie reached deep into one of the trash bags and handed me a carton.

"Marlboro Methols for you and….." he dug further into the bag and produced a carton of Marlboros Lights. "Lights for you," he said, handing the carton to Adam. Adam took them silently and started working open the box.

"I didn't forget about you, Rocky," Ryan spoke up, digging around in the trash bag. "There's some cigarillos for you in here somewhere." He finally gave up and emptied the contents on the floor. An assortment of lighters, Zig Zags, Black and Milds, and candy bars scattered across the tile.

I felt like my brain was on overload.

Finally, Jax looked at the three of us. "What's wrong?" he asked, immediately clueing in that we were not in the same celebratory mood as they.

I looked at Adam but he didn't say anything. I turned back to Jax. We had everyone's attention now.

"We were wondering if you could call your dad or if maybe Frankie could take us by the club house. Adam's mom… she's not home. The house is trashed. His car's gone…" I trailed off, not even sure what more to say.

In a twisted way, I hoped something had happened to her; that someone had barged in in the middle of the night, grabbed her in her stupor and stolen the car. But I recognized the trademark of grief scattered in the destruction of Adam's house. No, she had raged over something and the real cause for concern was that she (and Adam's car) was probably dead in a ditch by now.

The guys got quiet and looked at Adam for more information. He was staring at his shoes. Their prying eyes turned back to mine.

"I think we're just wondering if she's sleeping it off in a bar somewhere… or maybe somebody's seen her… at a… friend's house or something," I continued feebly. The truth was, I always jumped to the worse of conclusions and I didn't mean a word I'd just said. Jax and Opie knew it too. The set of Opie's mouth and the hardened, take no prisoners look in Jax' eyes told me we were on the same sad page.

Frankie spoke first. "You wanna call him?" he asked Jax.

"Naw, the old man won't answer. Even if they're still wildin' no way he held onto his phone all night. You mind running us over there?"

"Yeah, man. No problem," Frankie agreed, scooping up a carton for himself before handing Adam the 40oz he'd requested.

"Are you okay to drive?" I asked him, knowing the answer he'd give but asking anyway.

Frankie laughed at me. "Little Tara, always so worried. I'm good, we ran out of booze more than an hour ago. I got this."

With that, we headed out the door.

XOXOXOX

By the time we got to TM, it was nearly 4am. There were still signs of life on the lot, though I quickly averted my eyes when I realized what the scantily clad croweater and burly, bear of a biker were doing against the boxing ring.

We walked through the club house door and the smell of alcohol alone stung my eyes. Mixed with the stench of vomit and sex, I wondered how all these people could sleep like this. A few prospects were still drunkenly playing darts, more like arguing over darts. We walked around looking for someone that might be of assistance. No one wanted to go knock on the King's door.

Adam walked behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of cheap whiskey, swigging directly from the bottle. I grimaced at the thought of who else's dirty mouth might've touched that spout but I didn't say anything. He saw me looking at him and offered it to me but I shook my head to decline.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jax shaking an older man lightly. The man, who slightly resembled a young Elvis Presley, shook his head disoriented. Jax put his hand on his shoulder and said something to him. The man rubbed his face and stood up slowly. He looked like he might tip over and Jax reached out a steadying hand.

They walked over to join the rest of us at the bar.

"What in the hell are you kids doing up right now?" he asked squinting at the neon clock behind the bar.

"I told you, Bobby. We need you to call our friends at Charming PD. What's wrong? Hang over kicking your ass already?" Jax replied, laughing at the older man.

"Still drunk," Bobby commented. He turned his squinting eyes to Adam.

"When was the last time you heard from her?"

"I don't know. It was probably around 8:30p. She was totally smashed, pissed off, the usual. We argued; I left. Me and the girls went to grab the car around, what? 3:15a?" he asked me and I nodded.

"Yeah, around 3:15a. Walked up to the house, no lights, door's unlocked, car's gone. She took the spare key. Place was a fucking disaster," he explained.

Bobby nodded, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. I walked behind the bar and handed him a glass of water which he drained immediately. I filled it up again and he smiled.

"Thanks, sugar. Alright, well. Let me make a couple calls. Maybe Rufus over at Lizard's let her sleep it off."

He walked out into the parking lot and started making calls. He took forever.

"You guys want me to go ahead and drop you at home?" Frankie asked.

"No," I answered quickly. "I'm gonna stay until we figure out what's going on."

Kris turned without a word and sought out an unoccupied couch. Right before her face hit the cushion she sat up, startled. "You guys have a blanket or something? I'd rather not have crow eater germs all over my face."

Opie laughed. "Sure, let me grab you one from the back."

I plopped down on a love seat next to her and Adam joined me. I was almost asleep when the clubhouse door opened and the rising sun penetrated the caverned club.

Bobby walked toward us, joined by Officer Unser and a lady I didn't recognize.

My heart sank. Something about the slant of their gait, the way their shoulders hunched… something wasn't right.

Adam and I both stood and the guys hopped off their bar stools to join us.

"Morning, son," Officer Unser greeted Adam. "You mind if we… talk alone for a minute?" he asked, surveying our group. I gave Adam a gentle push toward Officer Unser but he didn't budge.

Adam's voice was tight as a quiver. "Whatever you're gonna say, you might as well just say it. They're gonna find out anyway."

Unser and Bobby shared a look.

The nameless lady spoke. "Adam, I'm sorry, but I really think it would be better if we took this conversation… elsewhere." Her eyes roamed around the clubhouse uncomfortably. Normally I probably would've felt for her, but I just didn't have the energy to care.

"And you are?" asked Adam unkindly.

"I'm sorry about that." She extended a hand. "I'm Ms. Blackmon, Michelle Blackmon - Child Services."

"Excuse me?" Adam recoiled.

The lady looked at Unser for help.

"Son," he started again, looking around at our disheveled group. "Why don't we all just have a seat?" When Ms. Blackmon cleared her throat, he grunted.

"Maybe we can take this outside? You all look like you could use a little fresh air."

We started making our way toward the door and Bobby broke away.

"I'm gonna go grab your pops real quick," he told Jax. Jax just nodded and kept following Unser.

We made our way to one of the picnic tables stationed right outside the door. Adam stayed standing… shifting his weight from foot to foot like he was ready to pounce.

"Adam," the lady started. "Your mom is okay but, there's been an accident."

Adam sagged a little and leaned his hand on the table top for support. I carefully snaked my arm around his waist as he leaned into me.

"Where is she?" he asked, sounding more defeated and tired than any seventeen year old should.

"She's at St. Thomas under observation," Ms. Blackmon continued.

Adam's head whipped up to look at her. "I thought you said she was okay?"

"She is, dear. She is. She's got a little bruising, a couple of cracked ribs. She'll most likely be released tomorrow or the next day."

Adam exhaled in relief.

"Can we see her?" I asked.

Ms. Blackmon and Officer Unser shared a look. About that time, John and Gemma walked hurriedly out of the clubhouse toward us.

John shook Officer Unser's hand and Gemma gave him a curt, but friendly nod.

"Son, I don't really know how to say this, so I'm just gonna say it," Officer Unser started. "Your mom, well, she was in a bad way last night." He looked at Gemma and it was obvious he didn't want to say whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

"Your mom got a little out of hand down at Deer Crossing Saloon. They put her out, called her a cab. You know they don't really keep tabs on folks over there…" he shrugged, at a loss. "Your mom, well she didn't want to wait for the cab. Guess, she, uh, took your car? Did you know that?"

"Yeah," Adam laughed sourly. "I figured it out."

Unser sighed. "Well, about 2-2:15a we get a call; accident over on FM 3009. Bad shit," he says, shaking his head. "Your mom hit a family, head on. Flipped her car, rolled three times," He paused, looking at John and Gemma like they could give him something.

"The family in the car… mom and dad died on impact. Two kids…one of 'em held on til the hospital, died on the table. The little one's still in ICU."

I felt the breath exhale through my lips, but it felt like I was in some kind of nightmare. My brain wasn't processing what Officer Unser had just said.

I looked at Adam as he stood frozen. No one spoke so Ms. Blackmon decided it was a good time for her to do so.

"Your mom is going to be… tied up for a bit," the euphemism came too easily, it was unnatural. "They still need to ask her some questions and there will be an investigation." She paused. "She won't be coming home for… a while."

Finally, Adam thawed and looked at Unser.

"She killed that whole family?" the agony in his voice was excruciating

"There's still hope for the little one. But yeah, kid. She did," Unser confirmed his voice thick.

Adam stepped away from me to pace, cracking his knuckles. Gemma tried to put her arm around him but he slowly backed away.

He lit a cigarette and turned his back to us, face to the sky. Ms. Blackmon made eyes at Unser, silently asking why he was allowing Adam to smoke but Unser just shook his head. Clearly that was the least of Adam's worries right now.

Eventually, he turned back to us, his face ashen.

"So what do you want?" he asked Ms. Blackmon pointedly.

Again, she looked nervously at Unser. I could see the set of Gemma's lips harden, challenging her.

Ms. Blackmon stepped toward him and reached out a hand to place on his shoulder. About mid-way, she thought better of it and brought it back to smooth her bottled blonde hair.

"Well, Adam. You're still technically a minor in this situation and, as such, it's my responsibility to check in with you and figure out the next steps."

"Next steps?" questioned Gemma, confused.

"You see, in cases of neglect-"

"Neglect?" Adam shot back, bewildered. "I'm a grown ass man, there's no neglect."

"I understand your anger, Adam. But technically, the position that your mother has put you in, put herself in, could be, according to certain interpretations of the law, be considered neglect, even if you are seventeen. And, if a judge rules that's the case, you'll be placed in guardianship home."

"Are you talking about a god damn foster care?" Gemma practically shrieked.

Adam, along with the rest of us, stared in disbelief. Was this really happening?

"Temporary, of course," Ms. Blackmon continued. "You'll be eighteen in the summer and then you'd be free to go on your way. We would, of course, provide some social services to help get you on your feet."

"I'm not going to no god damn foster care," Adam seethed.

"Well, unfortunately, you might not have much of a choice. With your mother in custody, whatever income she made won't be available anymore and the moment the lights or water are turned off in the home, you again classify as being neglected."

"I've got a job, lady," he spat. "Who do you think's been keeping the lights on anyway?"

"Officer Unser," Gemma spoke, completely ignoring the empty-headed case worker. "Adam can stay with us until this whole mess gets sorted out. There's no need to make him go somewhere he doesn't want to go."

Somewhere in my brain, I sensed a chain reaction was starting to set off. I could feel the switch ignite.

"Mrs.?" Ms. Blackmon queried.

"Teller. Gemma Teller." She informed her.

"Ah, Mrs. Teller. That's a very generous offer. We, of course, would have to get approval from Mrs. Woodley for her son to enter into your care."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Gemma coughed. "First you accuse her of neglect and now you need her permission? What kind of circus are you running here, lady?"

John clamped an arm on her to keep her from scratching Ms. Blackmon's eyes out. He diverted his attention to Officer Unser.

"Wayne, surely you and Ms.?" John asked.

"Blackmon."

"Surely, you and Ms. Blackmon wouldn't mind giving the boy a few days to visit with his mom and get a plan together. Everyone is still in a little shock here. You can give the boy a few days to sort things out, can't you?"

"Sure, John," Unser agreed though it looked like Ms. Blackmon wanted to argue. "It's been a rough morning." He turned his attention to Adam. "You're on the visitor's list, son. No one else is allowed into see her; just you, her public defender, and Charming PD."

Adam nodded as Gemma scoffed. "Public defender," she hissed.

Unser ignored her. "You need a ride to the hospital, son?"

"We'll take him, Wayne," John offered. I'm sure the Chief's got you working on other things."

A look I didn't understand passed between the two but I couldn't bring myself to care.

Ms. Blackmon looked like she was going to protest but Officer Unser took her by the elbow and led her back to his squad car.

Adam pulled out another cigarette then handed one to me, which I accepted willingly.

He pinched the filter of his so tightly I thought he might crush it.

"Frankie, you mind taking the rest of you kids home? You all look wiped," John requested.

"Yeah. No problem." The guys stood up to move but Jax stayed where he was.

"You too, son. Club house is a mess; you might as well go sleep in your own bed."

Jas shrugged and started toward Frankie's truck. I felt Kris behind me but I didn't want to leave Adam.

"You want me to go with you?" I asked, smoothing an out of place tuft of hair from his face.

He held my hand and met my eyes.

"No. It's okay. You've been awake for more than 24 hours and I know you didn't sleep the night before. Go home. Get some rest. I'll call you when I get shit figured out." The tone of his voice made it sound like he wasn't sure he'd ever figure it out. I couldn't blame him.

"It's gonna be okay," I reassured him before giving him a heartfelt kiss. "Go check on her. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

He laughed. "Right."

"I mean it. These kinds of things… they tend to wake people up a bit. Go see her. We'll figure out all that social services shit later. You know I love my research" I added with a playful wink.

He laughed a genuine laugh that time. "My little bookworm," he replied, hugging me tightly to him. "I'll call you later," he whispered, gave me a kiss on the head and then turned back to John and Gemma.

I watched them walk to Gemma's SUV and pull out of the lot before I finally made my way to Frankie's truck.