Whispers of What We Were

Chapter 18

"When can I get out of here Doc?" Jax asked from his new home, his hospital bed. "I'm going stir crazy in here."

"It's only been three days Jax." Tara said. She was in her scrubs, visiting him on her lunch break. She had been with him everyday since he came out of surgery.

"You are healing very nicely Mr. Teller. If I know you have some support at home, I could let you go home later this afternoon." Dr. Lennox said, flipping through Jax's chart.

Both Tara and Jax looked at each other. This was something that they hadn't talked about. The day after Jax was shot, Clay got some prospects to tear up the carpeting in Tara's bedroom and she was able to return to the house with Emily and Abel that night.

"Don't worry Dr. Lennox. He'll have plenty of support at home." Tara said.

"Great. I'll get started on your discharge papers right away."

After Dr. Lennox left Jax turned his attention back to Tara. "I have plenty of support at home do I?" He asked playfully.

Tara smiled. "I'm sure Gemma will be more than happy to move in for a while." She joked.

"That's not funny."

"Don't worry Jax. The kids and I will stay at the house for a little but until your back on your feet. You're not going to be able to do the stairs anyways so you'll have to sleep downstairs. Emily and Abel will love it." She gave him a quick kiss. "I gotta go baby. I have surgery in twenty minutes. I'll take you home after that."

Jax nodded and smiled. At least he got Tara back into the house. Now all he had to do was think of a way to keep Tara at the house… their house.

SOASOASOASOA

ELEVEN YEARS AGO

"Are your eyes still closed?"

"Yes Jax, they are… But considering I'm only in town until Sunday night I really didn't want to spend the time with my eyes closed if you know what I mean." Tara replied teasingly.

"Well, we're here now. Open your eyes."

Tara opened her eyes and looked around. "We're in the middle of the sidewalk Jax."

Jax rolled his eyes. "Look a little harder baby."

They were standing in front of a house with a SOLD sign on the front lawn. It was a beautiful two-story white house. Tara took it all in, a little confused. She turned to Jax. "Did you buy this place?"

Jax nodded, came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "For us."

She turned in his arms. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's a lot better than the clubhouse or my mom's house."

"But I'm never here. I'm always in San Diego." She said sadly. She had been away at school for a year and every time she came home it was harder and harder to leave Jax behind.

"The house will wait for you. It just went on the market and I wanted to get it before someone else did." Jax smiled. "Do you like it?"

Tara smiled back at Jax. "You're really cute when you're nervous baby." She jumped into his arms. "I love it. It's beautiful."

Jax's eyes lit up. "C'mon, I'll show you the inside… It's got three bedrooms on the second floor and a den on the first and a huge backyard-"

"You trying to tell me something Teller?"

"Just thinking of the future baby." He said, kissing her.

"I love you."

"I love you too. C'mon. Let's christen some of the rooms." Tara laughed as Jax carried her into their new house.

SOASOASOASOA

"Hey baby."

"Hey Ma. Where are the kids?"

Gemma walked into Jax's room and took a seat in one of the many chairs that accumulated next to his bed. Last night SAMCRO had church in there. "They're with Donna. Apparently she's more fun that this shit hole."

"I hear that. I'm getting sprung in a couple of hours though."

"What? Really?" Jax nodded. "Who's going to stay with you?"

"Uhh… Tara offered. She and the kids are going to stay until I'm back on my feet."

Gemma raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah Ma, really."

"So you two trying to work things out? Gonna play house and hopefully everything goes back to normal?"

"Jesus Christ. Why do you have to be such a downer huh? I'm trying to put my broken family back together."

"I know you are Jax. I just don't want to see you hurt again. You remember what you were like when Tara left the first time. Now you've killed the evil boyfriend… How do you know she's not going to leave again?"

"She's now. I know she's not. You should be happy about this."

Gemma sighed, "I am happy baby. You know that; and you know how much I love Tara and the kids." She kissed her son on the cheek. "I'm glad you're getting out of here."

"Me too."

SOASOASOASOA

FOUR YEARS AGO

"Where's Tara?"

Jax looked up at his mother, his eyes red and blood shot. Gemma had been looking for her son all day. She finally found him on the rooftop of Teller-Morrow. "She's gone."

"What? What do you mean she's gone?"

"She took the kids and went to Chicago." Jax whispered, taking another swig of the beer he had dangling between his fingers. There were about ten others strewn around the rooftop. "What happened to Abel freaked her out. She told me at the hospital she was leaving but I didn't believe her. Thought she just need some time to calm down."

"Jax, she can't do this. You are Abel and Emily's father. That little bitch has to bring them back. Make her bring my grandchildren back."

"Don't call Tara a bitch." Jax said stiffly. "I let her go… Maybe she's right. This place…" He gestured to the clubhouse, "was no place for me to raise my family."

Gemma stayed silent, a hatred slowly building for Tara; the young girl she had thought of as a daughter since she was sixteen. She pulled out a joint, lit it, took a drag, and handed it to Jax.

SOASOASOASOA

"Dr. Knowles, there is someone waiting for you in your office." One of the nurses told Tara as she pulled off her mask, gloves and gown when she exited the Operating Room.

"Ok, thank you." Tara made her way to her office. Opening the door she saw Gemma sitting at her desk. "Hey Gemma."

"Hello Tara. I just saw Jax. Hear he's getting out today."

"Yeah. He's been healing rather quickly. It's great news."

"I also hear he's going to have his own live in doctor." Gemma said, leaning back in Tara's chair.

"Do you have something to say Gemma?"

"Actually yes; I do. I am glad you and the kids are back in Charming and I am happy that you and Jax and working your shit out but… The club hasn't changed Tara. It's still the same hell hole you left."

"But I've changed Gemma. I was wrong to leave. My family and I belong here. In Charming and in SAMCRO." She said with certainty.

Gemma smiled. Back was the tough daughter she knew and loved, as well as helped raise. "Well alright then." She stood from the chair and walked to Tara. "Let's get my boy out of here."

END CHAPTER.

A/N: Screw final exam studying… Haha