I am truly blown away by all the reviews I received for the last chapter. Truly amazed. Thank you guys so much! Now since people seem to think my chapters are too short and I should make them longer - I tried. This has to be the longest chapter I've done. And if it's not enough, you'll just have to deal with it. Thanks again for all the reviews.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Waiting

Jax pulled into the lot and took off his helmet seeing a very angry Gemma walking up to him. He sighed knowing what he was in for. It was over an hour ago Lacey told him she was pregnant. He was shocked but not angry with her or hated her. It took two people to make a baby.

"Where the hell have you been?" Gemma scolded as she reached him.

He frowned not wanting to deal with the questioning and lecture she was about to put him through. He already knew he was in the wrong. "Out."

"Out where?"

"It's none of your business." Once he pulled out of the lot he went to the creek not really thinking about where he was going. All he knew was he had to get away to think about everything.

"I'm guessing she told you?"

He nodded.

"And you walked out on her?"

He nodded again and tried to defend himself even though it would be hopeless against his mom. "I had a million thoughts going through my fuckin' head. The only one I could really hear was the one telling me to get out."

"You're my son and I love you but sometimes you can be a real fucking idiot!" She glared at him, her hands were clenched into a fist. Jax could tell she was ready to smack him one. "You need to take responsibility. This baby isn't just Lacey's, it's yours too. Man up and do the right thing because she is going to need you more than she ever has before."

Jax knew his mom was right. He had just as much of a part in the baby's conception as Lacey did. She was his world and he wasn't about to give it up because he was the idiot that forgot to wrap little Jax. "Is she still in my room?"

She shook her head. "She left with the prospect ten minutes after you stormed off."

"I'll try call her." He said a few seconds before Wayne Unser pulled into the lot in his squad car. Wayne stepped out and walked over to him and Gemma. Jax didn't miss the expression on the Chief's face. It was a mixture of panic, sympathy and hurt. "What is it?"

"There's been an accident. Lacey's been taken to hospital. The prospect's dead." Wayne told them.

Gemma's hand flew to cover her mouth in shock, tears shortly followed. Jax got straight back on his motorcycle leaving Wayne to deal with his mother and telling the others. Chibs who had been in earshot of the whole thing wasn't far behind him.

It only took Jax and Chibs half the time it usually took to get to the hospital. Jax went straight up to the front desk with Chibs behind him. "Can I help you?" A nurse asked them before Jax could speak.

"We're here for Lacey Rodes." He told her. "Has there been any news?"

The nurse looked from Jax to Chibs and back to Jax. "I'm sorry but I can only give information to her family."

"We are her family," Chibs spoke up.

"She's my girlfriend and he's like a dad to her." Jax glared hoping it would intimidate her. Hospital protocol was the last thing on his mind. "Now tell us has there been any news on her?"

She looked scared but stood her ground. "I'm sorry but I can't tell you."

Jax slammed his hands down on the reception desk causing everyone to look at him. "I don't care who you are, how many kids you have at home that you need to support and what the fucking stupid hospital rules are, if you don't tell me what's happening with my old lady and unborn kid I'll make sure you can never work in this hospital again." He threatened not caring who heard him. The nurse looked terrified.

A male nurse, the same height and build as Jax walked over to them. "Sir you need to calm down. Threatening the staff isn't going to get you what you want."

Jax turned his glare to the man. He let out a sarcastic laugh. "You want me to calm down?" The man nodded. Jax growled at him. "Then go find out what the fuck is going on with my old lady before you end up next to your patients."

The man looked torn between standing his ground and doing what Jax said. He decided to take the easier route and go see what was happening. Jax looked back at the lady. "Has there been any news?"

She nodded still terrified of the fuming blonde. "She was taken straight into surgery when they got here. There's nothing more than that."

Jax nodded and walked into the corridor and sat in a empty seat.

Chibs sat next to him. "She's going to be fine, so is the baby."

"How do you know that?"

"Because it's Lacey. That girl has been through hell the last two years. She's tough."

"Did she tell you she's pregnant?" Jax asked him knowing Lacey always went to Chibs first if she couldn't go to him or if she didn't know what to do.

"It was news to me when I found out a few minutes ago." He said. "When did she found out?"

"Today. She told me and I walked out." He sighed. Guilt was starting to make its way through the panic he was feeling. If he hadn't walked out then maybe she wouldn't have left the clubhouse.

"Don't start that."

"Start what?" he asked frowning at the older man. Chibs knew Jax better thank he thought. He took Jax under his wing when he was prospecting, even when Jax's father died.

"Blamin' yourself. Whatever happened wasn't your fault." He told him. "Focus on blaming the person who put her in here."

"Is that what you're doing?" Jax asked him.

Chibs nodded. "When we find him, they'll be no holding back."

"I have an idea of who's behind this." He frowned.

"I think we all do, son."

They sat in silence as Jax thought about everything that was happening. He couldn't lose Lacey this way. He couldn't lose her any kind of way. He wanted to apologise for walking out on her. He wanted to tell her he'll support her in any decision she made regarding the baby. He wanted to let her know and show her just how deep his love for her is. He'd never felt so strongly for someone. Sure he loved Tara but it couldn't compare to the love he has for his childhood best friend - His soulmate, as cheesy as it sounded. She was his other half. She completed him and now she was most likely fighting for her life for the second time in just over a year.

"Jackson." he heard pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see his mom and Clay rushing over to him. "Has there been any news?"

"Not much. All I got from the stupid nurse is that she was taken straight into surgery."

"What about the baby?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No one's told me anything yet."

"He scared a couple of nurses though." Chibs spoke up.

"Can't blame him. I would've scared them too." Gemma sighed slumping in the chair next to her son. She took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She was scared for both Lacey and Jax. Lacey's like a daughter to her, always has been. It would kill her just as much as it would her son if Lacey died. "Lacey's a tough bitch. If Jesse or whatever his name is couldn't bring her down, a car accident definitely couldn't."

Jax leaned back resting the back of his head against the white wall as he looked up at the equally white ceiling. You couldn't escape the color being in a hospital.

"But losing the baby could."

"So you've changed your mind about the whole baby thing?"

Jax nodded, looking at her. "Like you said, I need to man up."

Gemma gave his hand another reassuring squeeze and a small smile.

"We need to talk." Jax heard Clay's deep gruff voice say cutting through his moment with his mother. Chibs and Jax stood up and followed him down the hall where no one could hear them.

Chibs spoke before Clay could open his mouth to explain he'd been told. "What did Unser say?"

"Someone shot at the car. The bullet hit the prospect and that's what caused the crash." Clay said looking between the other two men. "Unser said it's more than likely the prospect died before the car stopped rolling. Lacey was unconscious when they arrived at the scene."

"What are we going to do?" Jax asked him.

"Find whoever did this."

"We already know who fuckin' did this." Chibs said frustrated, his anger rising to the surface.

"And we'll find them. Jason can't hide forever." Clay said.

"Why don't we go straight for the main person?" Jax asked, his rage becoming harder to control.

Clay frowned and let out a deep sigh. He to was frustrated with the events. "Because we need to be smart. Daryl's a certified lunatic. He could cause more problems than he already is and the prospects death won't be the first."

Jax glared at him. "What about Lacey if she dies? That'll be two deaths, three including the baby."

Clay didn't say anything. He didn't have to. Jax knew his step-father cared but the club always came first to him so it was only natural for him to only be worried about the club over his Jax's old lady. It annoyed the hell out of Jax. Everyone was more worried about what will happen with Lacey, the girl most of them saw grow into the amazing young woman she is today, while Clay was only worried about how much of this would fall back on the club. To Jax, Lacey and the baby was his first priority.

He shook his head and walked back to his seat sitting down. He heard Chibs and Clay exchange a few words but paid no attention to what was said.

An hour went by without any news on Lacey's condition. Jax was about to stand up and walk out of the hospital to get some fresh air and have a cigarette when a doctor finally walked up to them holding a clipboard.

"Are you Lacey Rodes' family?" he asked when he reached the small group. It was only Jax, Chib's and Gemma. Clay had gotten a phone call that he needed to deal with.

Jax was the first to stand up and answer him. "Yeah, how's she doing?"

"Once again she's a very lucky woman. Due to the accident she sustained a small internal bleed on her brain. We managed to stop it. She has a little swelling but that should go down in a couple days. She most likely won't wake up until then." He begun to explain Lacey's injuries looking at all three of them with a reassuring look.

Chibs and Gemma let out a sigh of relief at the doctors words. Jax didn't feel so relieved as his mind drifted to Lacey not listening to the doctor continue to talk. He wanted to see Lacey for himself. He wouldn't relieved until she was awake and safe in his arms again.

Gemma's voice soon pulled him back to reality. "Okay, thanks Doc."

"Do any of you have any questions?"

"Did she lose the baby?" Jax spoke up again.

The doctor shook his head. "It doesn't seem like she has but we'll be doing an ultrasound shortly to make sure."

Jax nodded. "Can I go see her?"

"You all can but only two visitors at a time."

"I'll let you and Chibs go see her. I have to get home and do a few things. Call me if you need anything or if anything changes." Gemma told Jax. He gave her a slight nod. She kissed his cheek before picking up her handbag and left the hospital.

Jax looked at Chibs. "You coming?"

"You go be with her, I'll come back tomorrow. If you don't want to call Gemma you can call me." Chibs told him, pulling him into a manly hug and ruffled his hair slightly.

Jax gave him a small smile, "Thanks man." He watched Chibs walk away and turned back to the doctor. "I guess it's just me."

This story will be coming to an end soon [but not to soon] and I am planning a sequel. Is there anyone that would like to BETA it? I would greatly appreciate it if someone could. Also is there anyone who writes one shots? I'm trying to find someone that will write me one and I'm having no luck. PM me if you can.