...Chapter 2...
For the past forty five minutes, Jax sat in the chair, bouncing his knee, anxious to find out how Melanie was doing. He's known her since she was a baby and when Gemma would babysit her for Tony, he'd always volunteer to help.
But he hasn't seen Melanie since Tony died over a year ago, and last he heard, Renee had Stan move in and got married to him, less than a week after the funeral, and he knows that Stan is the reason why Melanie hasn't had any contact with anyone.
"You okay, Jackson?" Gemma asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." he said, looking at the ground. Gemma nodded, but she knew better.
Dr. Nelson walked into the waiting room with his chart, five minutes later. "Okay." he started as Jax stood to his feet. "Miss Brooks will be okay. She sustained a concussion, bruises and cuts on her face, arms, and back, plus a broken rib, that slightly punctured her lung." he paused. "But with the right pain medicine, anti-biotics, and a few days resting in here, she should make a full recovery."
"That's good." Gemma nodded. "Thank you."
"Can we go see her?"
"Sure." Dr. Nelson smiled at Jax. "She's on the third floor, room three-twenty-two."
"Thanks, Doc."
"No problem." Dr. Nelson nodded, then walked out of the waiting room.
Jax took a deep breath. "I'm gonna go see Mel."
"Okay." Gemma nodded and Jax walked out. Seconds later, Gemma chuckled. "My Jackson has a soft spot for that girl."
Jax quietly walked into Melanie's room and slowly went up to her bed. He winced as he took a good look at her face. He didn't realized how bruised it was. A part of him wanted to go back and kill Stan, but the other part, made him want to stay by Melanie's side, not wanting to ever leave her.
"How she doing, Jax?" Gemma asked, walking in.
"She's asleep, right now."
"Poor girl." Gemma moved the stray hairs from Melanie's face. "You staying with her?"
"Yeah, I can't leave her." he shook his head.
"Okay, at least I'll know she'll be safe." Gemma paused, then looked through her clothes on the counter. "Now that I know what size she wears, I'm gonna head over to the store and buy her some things."
"I would say to take it to my place, but Wendy's there."
Gemma rolled her eyes. "I'll set up your old room, at my house, for her."
"Have the Prospect and Juice help you paint it or something." he paused. "And have Juice install a new TV for her.
Gemma nodded with a smile, then gave Jax a kiss on the cheek. "See you later."
"Bye, Ma."
"Text or call me with an update." he nodded. "And let Mel know that I was here."
"I will."
"Okay, Baby.." she smiled again and walked out.
Minutes later, Chibs went into the room. "How is the Lassie?"
"Asleep for now."
"You gonna be in here?"
"Yeah." Jax nodded. "I ain't leaving her."
"Aye... we're gonna get back to T - M, Clay called."
"A'ight, thanks, Chibs."
"You're welcome, Jackie Boy." Chibs nodded, then as he left, Jax leaned back into the chair, and sighed.
Melanie fluttered her eyes, moving her head side to side, but she didn't feel any pain. Once she focused her eyes, she realized she was in a hospital bed, then looked to her right, and raised her eyebrow. "Where am I? What the hell is Jax Teller doing here, asleep?" she thought to herself as she was staring at him. She carefully reached over and tapped him on the arm. "Hey, Jax?"
"What?" he mumbled.
"Jax!" she raised her voice, startling him a little.
"Huh?" he quickly stood up. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I was waking you up. How'd I get here?"
Jax sat back down and scooted closer to the bed. "Gemma, the guys, and I, brought you here from your moms." he paused. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Melanie started to think. "Calling Gemma, then getting thrown into the bookcase." Jax growled, shaking his head. "Everything after that is a blur." she paused, looking at Jax with fear in her eyes. "What if Stan comes after me?"
Jax rested his hand on top of hers and lightly squeezed. "He won't... he'll have to get through the club, your godmother, and he'll definitely have to get through me, to get to you."
"Okay." she nodded. "Where is Gemma?"
"She's at the store, buy some stuff for you... but she wanted me to tell you that she was here."
"All right." she looked at Jax and frowned. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Bringing you into this." tears started streaming down her cheeks. "I just needed to get out there and I didn't know who else to call that would help me."
Jax reached up with his free hand and gently wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Don't be sorry, none of this is your fault, and I will do whatever I can to keep you safe from him."
"Thank you, Jax." she smiled.
"You're welcome, Doll."
"So, what's gonna happen when I get out of here?"
"You'll be staying at my moms, in my old room... she'll have it all fixed up by the time you get out." seconds later, both of them heard someone clearing their throat, and looked over. "Hey, Tara." he quickly let go of Melanie's hand. "Um, what's up?"
She walked up to the bed, glaring at her the whole time, then looked down at the machines. "Everything looks good, I'll be back later to check your vitals."
"Okay." Melanie nodded, then Tara walked out shaking her head. Melanie turned to Jax. "Uh, what was that about?"
"Nothing." Jax sat back in the chair. "I wouldn't worry about her."
"I didn't even know she was back in town."
"Yeah, it was a surprise to me too." Jax sighed. "I never thought she'd ever come back here, since she's the one that said that she couldn't handle it."
"Tsk, tsk." Melanie shook her head, with a little laugh. "I haven't seen you in over a year, how have you been?"
Jax rested his hands behind his head. "I've been doing okay, just working at the shop, and doing club business."
"Any girlfriends?"
"Nah, just Wendy, but the divorce will be final in a few months or so." he paused. "What about you?"
"Every boyfriend I did have, Stan scared them off."
"Well, he isn't gonna scare me off." Melanie's eyes widened, and before she could respond, Jax's phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and flipped it open. "I gotta take this." he told Melanie, then got up, and walked over to the window. Minutes later, he walked back over to Melanie. "I'll be right back."
"Where you going?"
"Meeting the guys... don't worry, I'll be right outside your door." he smiled. "Yell if you need me." she nodded, then Jax walked out, and shut the door behind him. Melanie closed her eyes and sighed.
