A/N: Hello all! So it's been a long time so if anyone is still reading then that's awesome. It's been a hectic year, but I'm hoping to stay on track. Here is the next chapter! :) :) I listened to Bad Blood by Bastille while writing this chapter. LOOOVE IT!

With Gemma out of the room, Tara turns to Jax.

"She's not really going to kill her is she?"

Jax chuckles and shakes his head. " I don't know Darlin', but I wouldn't put it past my mother."

Tara took a deep breath and decided she didn't want to think anymore of it. Before she could change the subject, Jax brought her out of her thoughts.

"So what do the charges against Wendy look like."

"Well, the child endangerment one alone would probably be considered a misdemeanor, but added with the attempted manslaughter and she's looking at maybe four years in prison. But attempted manslaughter is something that is hard to sentence. I think that since it's a child who is completely helpless in this situation, people might be more sympathetic to that."

Jax looked at her, confused. "How is it that you know so much about this?"

Tara's snort caught Jax off guard. "Honey, you have to remember I came from Chicago. This is shit that we see unfortunately way too much of. Witnessing what I have, I'd say that she has a 50/50 shot of being sentenced."

Jax and Tara talked a little more about Wendy's case, when they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hey guys! Can we come in and see the baby?" Donna's voice came from the doorway.

"Donna, Op, hey. Yeah I wanted to talk to you guys about something anyway. Tara, can they be in here at the same time?" Jax asked, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"You probably have ten minutes, and then someone needs to leave. I'll stall one of the other nurses for ya." With that, she made a quick exit out of the room.

Donna hugged Jax and then walked over to Abel's incubator.

"My god. Opie said he was small, but I had no idea. Is he okay?"

Jax grinned down at her. "Doc said he's getting stronger by the hour."

Getting right down to business, Opie asked Jax what he needed to talk to them about.

"Well there's a couple things really. Firstly I was wondering if you guys would be willing to help me get the house done. I don't know when the little man will be home, and I need it to be done when he's ready. I'm not making him wait because his mother was a junkie whore."

"Absolutely. I only volunteer three days a week and even that is only for half days. I'll still do that and I'll take the kids with me to the house to finish stuff up. Opie here doesn't have a choice, we're in."

Both Jax and Opie looked at Donna with shocked faces. Lately Donna has been a little leery about making decisions when it involved Opie, but this was important and she was putting her foot down.

"Well, that seems settled," Jax laughed. "The other thing is I wanted to fill you guys in on Wendy, before anyone else found out. Hale came and met with Tara and Ms. Murphy. It seems that the good ol' police department is going to do something right. They are charging Wendy with endangerment and attempted manslaughter."

"Manslaughter?! That should be homicide! Manslaughter is doing something that could be unintentional. That bitch knew she could kill her baby and she didn't care!" Again, the men were shocked by Donna.

"I know sweetheart, but at least it's something. I just want to know that something is going to happen from the way she treated my son. I had no idea she started using again and-" before Jax could finish, alarms starting going off in Abel's room.

Jax stood around his incubator and frantically moved his hands around, as if he could do something to help. Tara rushed in and moved out Opie and Donna before other staff saw them. She tried to push Jax out, but he wouldn't budge. After a minute Dr. Nameed came in and they rushed Abel out of the room. After the room was clear, Jax just sat there dumbfounded. It took him a few minutes before he was able to move his feet into the waiting room. When he got there, he wasn't at all surprised to find Opie, Donna, Kozik, and Chibs still sitting there. As soon as they saw Jax, the were out of the chairs running for him.

"I don't know anything yet. They just rushed him out of the room."

The five of them sat there for half an hour before Gemma showed back up.

"Hey, who's in with the baby?" Seeing only the concerned faces of the group, Gemma immediately knew that something had happened. Jax explained the best he could, but knew that Gemma had more questions. Hell he had a ton of questions. While the group was sitting there waiting to hear any news, Gemma approached Jax with a very sensitive subject.

"Hey Jax, you know how my fundraiser is tomorrow?" Gemma asked.

"Yeah, Ma, we wouldn't miss it."

"Well I got a visit from someone and I need to talk to you about it. April Hobart asked me if you'd be willing to let Kyle come. His kid is playing a show during the fireworks and Kyle hasn't ever gotten to see him play. I told her it'd most likely not happen, but I wanted you to know."

The tension that enveloped the room was immediate and heavy. Gemma knew of the past with Kyle and Opie, so she anticipated this to happen.

"Gem, Donna can you guys go get us some drinks?" Jax asked, barely able to contain his rage.

Knowing she was being dismissed, Gemma put her hand out to Donna. "Sure thing. Come on Sweetheart."

After making sure Gemma wasn't in ear shot, Jax exploded and threw his fist into the wall he was closest to.

"God dammit! Why now? I want to rip that guys fucking throat out, but his timing sucks."

"Jax, it gives us the perfect opportunity to get justice for Tara." Kozik reasoned.

"No, Gemma would kill me if we retaliated during one of her functions, even if it were off site." Jax explained.

Opie spoke up, seeming to be the clear minded one of the group.

"How about we take it to the club? Tell them that all we want to do is send a message to him about what we know. We won't hurt him, just let him know what his fate is." The guys all nodded in agreement. Opie, Chibs, and Kozik stood up to make their exit.

"Jackie-Boy. You stay here and I'll have Clay set up chapel for when visiting hours are over, so you don't have to leave your little one. Op, can Donna stay here with him? I have a feeling if it's just him and Gemma, we'll be visiting the hospital for whole other reasons."

"Yeah man, not a problem. I'll go pick the kids up from daycare and they can hang out at the clubhouse til Donna gets back."

"Just tell Clay we have intel on Kyle, don't breathe a word about anything else until I get there."

"Alright brotha, see you tonight." They were all giving Jax hugs when Donna and Gemma returned with their drinks.

"Hey babe, I'm going to pick up the kids and take them back to the clubhouse. You mind staying here with Jax until visiting hours are over? We have some club business to take care of after that." Opie informed Donna.

"Yeah, no problem. See you tonight." Donna kissed his cheek before he walked away, leaving Chibs and Kozik to say their good-byes.

"I was planning on staying here for a while." Gemma stated, a little put out.

"Yeah, ma'am, we know. That's why Donna's here." Chibs winked, patted Kozik on the back, and the two made their exit as well.

"Asshole" Gemma muttered as she sat down next to Jax.

The three made small talk for nearly four hours about house renovations before Dr. Nameed came back out.

"Mr. Teller, I'm sorry for the wait. I hear you've been waiting quite anxiously."

Jax turned and glared at his mother. "Yeah, we have. I have already apologized to the receptionist about that. My mother doesn't do well with being kept in the dark about things."

"No need to apologize, I understand. The reason the machines went off is because Abel's blood pressure dropped. When investigating why this occured, we found that he has an arrhythmia in his heart. We ran some tests on your son that we weren't able to yesterday, and found out that your son has HCM - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy."

"Yeah Doc, we know what that is." Gemma pulled at the top of her shirt to show her scar. "It's the family flaw."

"Well with his age, we can try to go in and repair it. We can't do anything until he is stabilized, but the second he is, we will go in and do the surgery. I'm hoping that it can be done tonight, even if it's the middle of the night. Nurse Knowles told me to let you know that she will be out shortly, but if surgery is scheduled she will be here with him so that he is not alone."

"Thanks Doc." Jax shook his hand and turned to the rest of the group.

"I knew I liked Tara." Gemma stated.

"Oh shut up Ma. I know you've had your reservations about her returning. You knew how I felt in high school and you thought I'd get my heart broken."

"Well you kind of did. She jumped ship five years ago and didn't tell you. You were tore up about it. She could have at least fucking called."

"Ma, shut up right now. You know NOTHING about what happened five years ago. Tara didn't break my heart, I did, by thinking that I hurt Tara when in reality someone else did. How about you make yourself useful and go tell the club what's going on. I'm going to wait for the heart breaker." Jax turned his back on his mother and sat down. Gemma stood there flabbergasted for just a moment before she turned around and left.

Jax sighed when Donna sat down next to him.

"I know Gemma doesn't hate Tara, but she holds a certain amount of animosity towards her for leaving. Gemma just doesn't understand, and if she did, then I know for certain that she'd change her tune about Tara." Jax admitted to Donna.

"Yes, but that isn't our story to tell Jax. Gemma shouldn't just assume she knows what's going on. I know she's the Matriarch for all intents and purposes, but she's still an old lady. We're not privy to everything that happens in the club, only things you guys want us to know about, or think we need to know. I used to hate it, then Opie and I tried an open honesty policy. Yeah, I shut that shit down after the first night. It's better for me not to know and live in sublime denial." Donna smiled, and Jax laughed.

It was only about another half hour before Tara came out.

"Tara, thank you for offering to stay with Abel during surgery. You don't know how much that means to me that you'd be willing to do that with him. Can I see him?"

Tara just shook her head, trying to hide her tears. "I'm sorry, but they are keeping him in the nursery where sound is limited. Which means that contact is also limited. You can see him through the window, but that's only for a minute, at most."

"Okay, let's head out, and stop and see my boy before we go."

The three headed to the window that peered into the nursery where Abel was being kept. Jax had to hold back tears seeing his son in a room, completely isolated and alone. Donna and Tara, however were openly crying. After a minute, they all walked away, without speaking a word to each other. Tara and Jax went to the clubhouse on his motorcycle, while Donna followed in her truck. Jax had offered to take Tara home, but Tara figured she'd rather be with Donna and the kids at the clubhouse then alone in the house.

Once they arrived at the clubhouse, Jax immediately went to the table. The rest of the guys were already convened there.

"Alright Jax, what's this intel you have on Kyle?" Clay asked, always right to the point.

"Gemma came to me when I was at the hospital with the kid. Opie, Chibs and Kozik were also there. April Hobart asked Gemma to talk to us about Kyle coming to the fundraiser tomorrow. Their boy plays in the band that Gemma has playing during the fireworks show. I think that this is the perfect opportunity. I wanted to just deny his coming here, but Op had a good idea." Jax nodded his head in Opie's direction, telling him to continue.

"Gemma would have our balls if we did anything that jeopardized her fundraiser. So I think that we should use this as the perfect opportunity to let him know that we are aware of what happened. Scare him a little and make sure he's knows his fate so he can come to terms with his life and the things that he has done." Opie did his best to stay emotionally detached. He didn't want the guys to know that it was killing him that Kyle was coming back and Opie couldn't touch him.

"If we do this guys, there has to be no violence. No blood shed what so ever." Clay informed the guys.

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"Do we need to vote, or is it understood?" Everyone let out a resounding yay, and Clay adjourned the table.

Piney stood up to Jax and patted him on the shoulder. "Jax, just wanted to let you know that I'm hoping for the best for your boy. If you need anything, myself, and the club, are here for you son."

"Thanks old man. I appreciate it."

As Jax was exiting the room, Tara was talking on the phone while running around wildly trying to collect her things.

"Hey, what's going on?" Jax asked, concerned.

"That was Dr. Nameed. They don't want to wait anymore on Abel's surgery. He's stable, but just. They can't wait any longer Jax. I'm going there. I won't be able to assist, but I'll be there for whenever there's news. I'll call you with any updates as they come in!" she said as she hurried out the door.

Jax sat there dumbfounded. They hadn't even left the hospital an hour ago. What had changed since then? Jax wanted to fill in Tara on the whole situation with Kyle, but now he wouldn't get the chance until tomorrow.

-AHW-

Tara had been in the lounge for close to two hours before she heard any news. Things were progressing very well and if things stayed the way they are, then Abel would make it through. After getting the update, Tara decided to go and get something to eat. Not wanting hospital food, she went to the closest restaurant to the hospital. Knowing there was a fast food joint down the block, Tara took off in that direction on foot. After ordering her food to go, she decided to walk back to the hospital and eat in the lounge.

Halfway between the restaurant and the hospital, Tara heard footsteps behind her. She didn't think anything of it since it was a residential road, but she still picked her pace up, out of habit. When she was about 100 feet from the entrance of the hospital, someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the alley.

"Damn Tara, you're as gorgeous as ever."

If Tara had been afraid before, it was nothing compared to what she felt now. Knowing that is was Kyle who was behind her. She felt a sharp jab to the side of her head, then everything went black.

-AHW-

Back at the clubhouse, everyone was sitting around talking about their tasks for the fundraiser tomorrow. Opie would be doing the fireworks, which Donna found immensely amusing. Bobby would be doing an Elvis booth, Gemma would be handing out food, and the rest of the guys and old ladies would be in between caring for children, cooking, and security.

The atmosphere at the clubhouse felt lighthearted yet heavy at the same time. Jax had been waiting on word from Tara for nearly three hours, when he realized that his phone was dead.

"Hey Ma, you got a charger here? I just realized my phone was dead and I need it for when Tara calls about Abel."

"Yeah baby, there's an extra one behind the bar."

As Jax was walking to the bar to plug in his phone, the clubhouse phone rang. Chibs being the closest answered it.

"SAMCRO" he greeted.

"Hello, this is Margaret Murphy from St. Thomas. I was trying to reach Jackson Teller."

"What is it ma'am?" Chibs asked, concerned for Abel.

"Well, he needs to get here as soon as he can. Tara was injured outside the hospital and is in the emergency room. It's not-" Chibs cut her off letting her know they'd be right here.

"Jackie Boy, let's go we need to get to St. Thomas."

"Abel?" Jax questioned.

"No brotha, Tara." Jax didn't need to hear anymore. He ran out of the clubhouse, failing to notice that anyone who could ride was right behind him.

Entering the hospital, Jax was met by Margaret.

"Jax, thanks for getting here so fast. The doctors are finishing up with Tara and then you can go see her."

"What the hell happened?"

"She won't say. She went out to get food about an hour ago. The ambulance was bringing in a trauma when the lights shined on the back alley. Tara was laying in that alley. She had bags of food with her, so I'm guessing it was on the walk back that she was attacked. She wouldn't tell me anything, just demanded that you get down here."

"Alright, thanks."

Jax turned and most of SAMCRO was already convened in the waiting room. More time passed then Jax liked, and he was starting to grow impatient. Two hours after getting there, the doors to the E.R. opened and Tara stepped out. She had a bandage around her head and small superficial cuts on both her face and hands. There was also a small bruise forming on the left side of her face.

"Jesus Christ. What happened to you?" Jax asked putting his hands on Tara's shoulders. She flinched involuntarily and it hurt Jax to know that she was afraid of him.

"Can we go outside? I don't want to talk about it in here." Jax nodded and pulled Tara into his side.

"Opie, Donna, Chibs, can I see you guys outside for a minute?" Wordlessly they followed Jax and Tara outside.

Once they were outside, Donna enveloped Tara into a hug, letting Tara cry on her shoulder.

"Darlin' we need to know what happened to you."

"Kyle."

With one word, all three men saw red.

"What do you mean 'Kyle'. He isn't supposed to be in town." Opie asked.

"Well he is! I was walking back from getting food. I only left because I heard that things were going well with Abel's surgery. I wouldn't have left if I didn't know how he was-" Tara was becoming hysterical.

"Sweetheart, it's alright. You've done so much for him, and I am so thankful. You have to take care of yourself too. Now what happened when you were walking back?" Jax prodded her to continue.

"I heard footsteps behind me so I started walking alittle faster. Before I know it, I was being dragged into the alley. That's when I heard Kyle's voice. He told me I was as gorgeous as ever. Then he hit me in the head and everything went black for a few minutes. When I came to, I was sitting in the alley still and Kyle was looming over me. He told me that he'd be at the fundraiser tomorrow to see his kid play. He also asked if I'd told anyone about what happened and I denied it. He punched me in the face and said that he didn't believe me. I got up and attempted to fight back, stupid I know, but I am so sick of being a victim. I refuse to let Kyle have a hold over me anymore. When I got up, and slapped him, he pushed me down into the gravel and told me that he would see me tomorrow and if he thought I'd said anything to you guys, then he'd end me like he should have done five years ago."

Everyone was floored. Kyle had the balls to come into Charming and hurt Tara. He shouldn't have been into town until the fundraiser started tomorrow and he was to leave directly after it ended.

"That's not all Jax. When he was walking away he pulled his shirt off. He showed me the tattoo on his back and said that he may not be in the club anymore, but that tattoo still represented something within him. Something that he'd never let go of. He said if he still had his cut, it'd had the Men of Mayhem patch. He told me that patch meant that he's done horrible things to people and he wouldn't be afraid to do it to me too. I'm scared Jax."

The guys were now angrier then they had been. Not only did he assault and threaten Tara's life, but he also still bears the reaper tattoo. He was supposed to have that removed or blacked out. He is to have no affiliation with the club. Him having that tattoo means that he is using it for his own gain, and that's something that doesn't sit well with the club.

"Tara, you have nothing to worry about, I promise you that. This club will protect you. Why don't you go back inside with Donna and get your things and we'll wait in the NICU for word on Abel. I'll send everyone else home, alright?"

"Yeah, okay."

Before they could make it inside, Chibs spoke up.

"Hey Doc, why do you have blood on the back of your shirt?"

Jax hadn't noticed it before, but in the light you could see blood on her shirt by her rib cage.

"I think he must have kicked me when I was unconscious because I have a fractured rib and there was a small piece of steel in the cut. The cut wasn't bad, none of them are, just together they all hurt really bad." Tara turned back around and walked into the hospital with Donna.

"Mother fucker." Jax swore under his breath.

"Aye. Jax, we need to do something about this." Chibs said.

"I know brotha, but what can we do? Unless we follow him home from the fundraiser, there isn't anything we can do but scare the little fucker."

"Then that's what we do. We stick to the plan, but I doubt he'll show his face." Opie admitted.

"Yeah, but there's a chance he'll think he scared Tara enough so that she wouldn't say anything. All I know is that one way or another, Kyle's tattoo gets covered tomorrow. That shit is not okay. I'll have to keep Tara by my side tomorrow, or with someone who has a cut. If he is able to get to her there, there is going to be nothing that stops me from putting a bullet into his head."

A/N 2: Alright guys! There's chapter 6! I wanted to cut it off halfway, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't really like the cliff-hanger deal. This story has angst, but it's not going to be horrible drawn out angst. Tara isn't going to get kidnapped or beat up fifteen times. Once that loose end is tied up, this story becomes on of healing and prospering of relationships. Mostly based on Tara/Jax, Opie/Donna, and then the characters of Chibs and Kozik, only because I love them so much!