Chapter 26- Half

Jax was relieved they were able to secure protection from the Latinos while inside. As soon as they walked in the common area, the blacks were starting to approach them. To his surprise, the Latinos stood up for them. He didn't think the Galindo cartel had time to get things in order for them. Hopefully they will get out of this stint alive and he could see his family again. While having a conversation with Chibs a guard called his name and told him to follow him. Jax was hesitant and wondered if this was Pope trying to get at him. The guard took him to an office and when he opened the door and escorted him in he saw a young black man who he believe to be Pope sitting on a couch waiting for him. As Jax sat down in front of Pope, he accessed his surrounding and shifted a little in his seat. Pope told him to relax and Jax thought to himself how in the hell was he suppose to relax when this man had his life in his hands.

"I just want to talk Jax." Pope told him.

Jax scowled a little as he asked was that what Pope told Tig's daughter before he burnt her alive.

"We don't need to talk about the loss of dead girls because Jax you would lose that argument."

"I tried to reach out to you and make all this right….What do you want Pope?"

"I see the relationship with Galindo cartel has been profitable as you were able to get protection inside. That is real IRA, guns and coke. You guys are very resourceful, smart and to valuable kill."

Jax looked at Pope, this man had all the Sons information.

"What's your end in the coke business?" Pope asked. Jax told him it was hundred thousand per shipment. Pope told him half was his for now on. Jax tried to argue and tell him that the decision had to be voted in by the club and Pope told him it was not up for discussion.

"I want Trager in prison for life. I want to know where he is at all times." Pope ordered. "I was going to tell you I need a dead son for the cop and Niner you killed but it has come to my attention that we know someone in common. My associate who was quite close to Ms. Monroe has asked that I do not request a dead son. I will have to find another way to maintain my relationships without causing Ms. Monroe more pain as she has suffered enough with her association with the Sons."

Jax gritted his teeth as he held back his desire to tell Pope not to speak of his woman.

"You are aware Ms. Monroe and my associate Marks have a history?"

Jax nodded his head yes still trying to keep quiet.

"You know I am surprise you and Jade are together and have lasted as long as you have. She did not seem like the type to fall for a white, outlaw biker…..Your members did not have a problem with you dating a black woman?" Pope asked.

"Who I date is my business." Jax told him.

"So yes…they did have a problem." Jax just looked at Pope. He needed to get away from this man before he punched him in the face and cause more trouble for the Sons.

"You guys can get out soon to earn but remember I want Trager inside for life."

"Pope, I need Trager out and at the table. He will be more beneficial to me and help get the club to sign off on your cash. I will have an advantage in him knowing I saved his life. After I am done you can do what you will with him." Pope pondered Jax proposal.

"Sounds good, the witnesses will disappear but you keep an eye on Trager."

"Will do. These home invasions have to stop. My mom's house was hit recently.

"That's not my doing Jax or the Niners."

"Jade and Michael said that was not your style."

Pope smiled.

"It's not….. Jade and Michael were right."

"I'd like to call her and let her know I am safe."

Pope motioned to the phone and told Jax to help himself.

Pope got up to leave and looked at Jax just before he opened the door to exit.

"Jax be smart…it's who you are and tell Jade, August and I said hello."

Jax watched him leave out the door and then dialed Jade's cell phone.

"Jade you need to sit down before you wear a whole in the floor." Happy told her as he watches her walk back and forth in the kitchen for the hundredth time. It was obvious she was worried about Jax.

"Jax will be fine. They have protection inside."

"I know Happy, I just can't stop worrying." Just as the words came from her mouth, her cell phone rang. Jade ran so fast to her cell it did not even make it to the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe…it's me."

"Oh thank God! Are you okay?" she asked as she looked over to Bobby and Happy to nod and let them know he was on the phone.

"I'm fine. We will be out tomorrow morning."

Jade sighed with relief. "Thank God."

"I love you Jade."

"I love you too Jax." They hung up the phone and Jade was so happy he was safe and okay. It was time for a drink.

When Jax returned from the office, he spoke with Tig alone.

"Tig it was not black who shot Clay. It was Opie revenging his father's death. Clay had killed Piney." Jax sat and looked at Tig for a moment to let the info he told him to sink in.

"I killed an innocent girl?"

"Yes you killed an innocent girl." Tig could not believe what he was hearing.

"Why didn't you tell me Jax?"Jax shook his head and did not answer Tig.

"You will be leaving with us."

"You got me cleared with Pope?"

"Yes and for now on you are going to back my every play and support all me deals. Tig, you will never vote against me."

"You got my word Jax."

The next morning Jade packed the boys up and headed to the clubhouse to meet Jax. Kim, Opie and the rest of the gang were already there. Hearing the choppers pull up Abel started to jump up and down with excitement as he was going to see his daddy. Jax ran straight to his sons. He picked up Abel and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. He leaned over and kissed Nathan in his stroller, walked up to Jade and wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her butt.

"I have missed you." He told Jade as he planted a kiss on her lips. "We have church in a few minutes and when we are done I want to talk to you about Pope." Jade looked at him questionably.

"Did you meet Pope?" she asked concern.

"Yes we met and he and Marks says hello." Jade studied his face to see how he felt about that and she could tell he was not happy. So Jade did not offer a response to what he just told her. Jax gave Jade a peck on her forehead and walked into the clubhouse for church.

When Jax got home he found his family in the boy's room on the floor with Abel putting a Spiderman puzzle together and Jade bottle feeding Nathan. Jade had finally weaned Nathan off milk and he was not as fussy with the bottle milk as he was in the beginning. Jax took off his cut and sat on the floor with them and helped Abel with his puzzle. He looked over at Jade and smiled at her. This is what he needed more time of time like this with his family. He vowed to himself he would spend more time with them and take them out more. He has been so busy in club business he has neglected them a little.

"Babe what would you like to eat tonight?" Jade asked thinking of what she had in the fridge to cook for him. Jax smiled a wicked smile. Jade laughed oh she knew what he was thinking of eating.

"Food wise Jax."

"You know you are a food group for me." He told her smiling even more.

"Jax! Focus!" she demanded with a smile on her face.

"I can't." he told her. She handed Nathan to him and kissed his cheek.

"Well you are going to have to try. How about stir-fry with beef?"

"Sounds good babe….. You know I will eat anything you cook."

Jade went into the kitchen to prepare their meal. After about an hour and a half she was done and Jax was still in the room with the boys. She called for her family to come eat as she set Jax and her plate. Abel was having a small portion and she had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese on standby just in case he did not like it. While they ate, they stayed on a light conversation but Jade knew the Pope conversation was coming soon and she dreaded it. After dinner, Jax took the kids to put them to bed while Jade cleaned up. She eventually heard him in the shower. She checked on the boys, grabbed his cut to hang up, and then used the second bathroom to take her shower. When she was done, she threw on one of her many tank tops and boy shorts. She was too tired to try to twist her hair so she just left it out. She knew it would take extra effort tomorrow to fix in some style but she didn't care. She found Jax in the bed sitting up, talking on the phone. She crawled into bed, wrapped her arms around him, and laid her head on his shoulder as he continued talking on the phone. She gathered from his conversation it was Opie. A few moments later Jax hung up the phone.

"Is everything okay?" she asked as she snuggled to him closer. Jax leaned over and put his phone on the nightstand.

"Yeah, he and Kim got into their first lovers quarrel and he wanted to know how I handle you when we have arguments." Jade smirked as she lightly punched his chest.

"How you handle me? That's funny. Wait until I see Ope again. Kim cannot be handled."

"Neither can you." He said as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Women are not supposed to be handled…..except maybe in bed" She told him before she planted a quick kiss on his lips.

Jade moved to look at her phone to see if Kim called her and she had two miss calls from her. She must have called when she was in the shower.

"I need to call Kim back."

Jade could tell Kim had been crying. She summarized to Jade what had happened between her and Opie. Kim rationalized it was just pregnancy hormones and she was being over sensitive. "Honey welcome to the world of dating a Son…it will be okay and it will work itself out. Remember when you feel like you are going to explode or snap at Ope just think of the calming techniques we learned. That's what I did." Jax leaned in to the phone at Jade's ear and yelled in the phone that the techniques did not work for Jade. Jade playfully pushed him away and told him to shut up. After she hung up from Kim, she hit Jax again.

"You are mean! I was not that bad when I was pregnant." She defended.

"Oh yes you were. Don't be in denial babe."

"Whatever."

"We need to talk about Pope." Jax suddenly became serious.

"Ugh….Ok."

"He had a few demands"

"I'm not at all surprised. To be honest I am surprise Tig is still alive."

"He wanted Tig inside for the rest of his life but I talked him out of that. He wanted one of us dead but he said Marks talked him out of it as he did not want to cause you anymore pain."

Jade nodded her head as it sounded just like Marks. He always tried to protect her and he was protecting her now even though she had not communicated with him in a long time.

I know it has not been a picnic being with me Jade but you know I love you and will try my damnedest not to let anything happen to you." Jade knew he would always protect her but some things were out of his control like stray bullets and crazed Irish men. He could not be everywhere at once.

"I know Jax."

"He also wants half of our coke money."

"Really? That's 50 grand!" Jade didn't care about the money as she made money on her own but 50 grand! "Has the club signed off?" she asked.

"Yes…they really did not have a choice…..You know it is only a matter time before I meet Marks."

"Yes I know." Jade leaned her head on his bare chest. "Jax try not to do anything stupid…okay."

She felt his head nod.

"Can we not talk about them anymore?" she asked hoping he would say yes. He did and Jade sighed with relief. They both laid down in bed and Jax held her tighter in his arms.

"I'm still hungry you know." He whispered in her ear. Jade giggled as Jax moved down her body to satisfy his hunger. Jade closed her eyes as the wave of pleasure took over her body.