"And I thought I drive like I have a death wish," Will shakily whispered as Thomas whipped his convertible around Silver Spring's mountainous curves. Thomas wanted to laugh, but there was a steely determination that rested within him. Since Jax and Tara's return to California, Thomas and Will tried to settle back into some semblance of a routine, but Tara's late night phone call shattered any chance of regrouping. He could still hear his mother's tears.
Thomas had been lying in bed, curled next to Will's ever-warm caramel skin. Thomas bolted upright when he heard Tara crying, but he felt his lover's hand tracing the long, lean line of his back. His mind whirled with Tara's urgent demands, but Will always brought comfort. He was good for that. In the wake of all the secrets and lies he'd learned since Abel's wedding, it was the only thing Thomas could truly count on.
"Thomas, you need to get home," she'd cried. "You're closer than we are. You can help the girls. Abel—no one is really telling me how he's doing. I need you to lay eyes on him, tell me how he really is."
Part of him wanted to rail against Tara; after all, he'd had precious little time to process the gravity of his family's truth. For once, a calmer and steadier head prevailed. Thomas realized that this wasn't about him. It was about what he could do for his family. No matter what Jax and Tara had done, they'd obviously brought him up with compassion and love. That's what made Thomas pack his bags and flee South Carolina for the familiar hilly, green landscape that was Silver Spring, North Carolina.
Thomas' eyes darted quickly to Will. He'd been up the mountain with Will, for Abel's wedding, but he'd never quite had the bravery to bring him home—until now. Now, as Thomas stared ahead at the virtually unchanged landscape, he worried about what his partner would think of the tiny, time-warp town. Will's beautiful face was expressionless as they drove slowly through. Aviator sunglasses shaded the majority of Will's face, but if Thomas could see through the mirrored lenses, he'd see a strange mix of relief and wonder in his lover's eyes. He was grateful for Thomas' forced reduction in speed, but he marveled at how picturesque the little town was.
"It's Mayberry," Will whispered with a smile. It was true. Silver Spring, with its 10,724 person population, sat at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Will could already tell change was not something that was favored. Everywhere he looked, massive, beautifully sloped hills surrounded him, enveloping him in lush greenery. He felt incredibly small and almost insignificant as he took everything in. It makes sense, he thought. Witness Protection knew what they were doing when they chose this place. No one would find them here.
A shiver raced up his spine as he remembered the dead biker that had started this madness. Will Latrie had only seen one other body, and that was his grandmother's. He clenched his jaw as memories of Bette Jade Latrie assailed his soul. He could still see her stunning green eyes and her wide, brilliant smile. She was a gorgeous woman, even in her later years. She was a constant source of laughter and music and life—and that what made her death so hard to endure.
He remembered the day in vivid color. It was a blazing hot day, and the sun beat down on their majestic two-story home. The Reconstruction-era, white-columned confection was the epitome of Southern elegance and privilege. Had it been a century earlier, Will knew both he and his grandmother would have been servants in the stunning home. The daughter of Caucasian entrepernuer Emmett Latrie and African-American attorney Caroline St. Charles, Grandmere never shied away from both sides of her heritage, both black and white.
He still remembered the smell of her attar of rose perfume, just as he remembered tiptoeing into Grandmere Bette's front parlor that sweltering August morning. Bette always woke before Will, but he knew that, once awake and dressed, he'd join her in that parlor for rich, black coffee and biscuits. That morning had been like any other, until Will had rounded the corner of the couch.
"Grandmere?" A month shy of eighteen, Will had remained very sheltered. He loved Bette, and he'd been grateful for her taking him in and loving him after his parents' passing. Turning the bend of the couch, he gasped. Her eyes were lifeless and bulging. Her mouth gaped open, and her beautiful, graceful hands hung limply by her sides, fingers curled upward.
Will jumped; his body jolted him back to reality. He shivered as visions of Chibs and Grandmere Bette unraveled in his head. Two dead bodies, so different, yet so similar—both of their untimely passings resulted in massive change. I guess that's what the Grim Reaper does, Will thought cryptically.
"You okay?" Thomas asked. Will smiled brilliantly, grateful that his eyes were hidden. Instead of dredging up old ghosts, he focused on the quaint town square. He watched as people drove up and down the main strip. No one looked harried or tired. Everyone seemed to be fairly happy. It seemed like a strange, alternate universe.
"I can't believe this is where you grew up," Will breathed.
"Me either," Thomas quipped. Raising his hand and pointing in the distance, Thomas smiled lightly.
"That's my dad's shop," Thomas said solemnly. "The best body shop and garage in town."
Will watched as Thomas' blue eyes faded into sadness. As he laid his hand down on the gearshift, Will covered Thomas' hand with his own. Thomas swallowed the lump that raised in his throat. He was grateful beyond measure for the man by his side.
"Love you, Will," he murmured.
"I love you," Will returned. As they left the main part of town, the road twisted and turned more. Will's hand didn't leave Thomas' as they neared the house. Even as Thomas changed gears, Will held on. For a moment, Thomas blew the convertible wide open, careening down the middle-of-nowhere road. Will knew they were nearing when Thomas' speed dramatically slowed. As they turned into the gravel driveway, Thomas was shocked to see the police still present. Cop cars lined their long, gravel driveway. It was a complete and total opposite of the serene small town they'd just left. Thomas slowed to an almost crawl as one of the officers stopped him.
"Luke," the sheriff sadly drawled. Thomas blinked for a moment, confused by the name he'd gone by for the last almost twenty-two years. He has no idea, Thomas marveled. Of course they don't. Mom and Dad went to California from Abel's wedding. For some reason, it didn't even occur to him that Silver Spring didn't know the truth, even though the memories from Abel's wedding reminded him it was true.
"Jack Petty," Thomas said amicably. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."
The short and stout officer stared at him, his dark eyes were unfathomable. "I wish it would be under different circumstances, Luke." His face was humble and grief-stricken.
"I know, Jack," Thomas said.
"How's your mom? Lucius told Eric and Elizabeth are flying back from their getaway."
Again, Thomas blinked. It shocked him to hear his parents' old names. It amazed him just as much that he'd grown accustomed to Thomas so quickly.
"Yeah," Thomas said quietly. "Is everyone still inside?"
Jack Petty blinked, and his thin lips pursed in confusion. "Did no one call you?"
"Actually, no," Thomas answered. "I mean, Mama called me, but that was hours ago. She and Pop are waiting on a flight back. She told me to get here to help." A low whistle escaped Jack's mouth. "What's wrong?"
"It's your brother—" Jack started. "When he found that the home had been invaded, and Hannah was gone, he collapsed. His heart stopped." Thomas sobbed, then stifled it, allowing the officer to finish. "They got it beating again—but he's at the hospital. Your sisters are with him now."
"Does my mother know? My father?" Thomas' breathing was jagged and rough as he stared out. The only house he'd remembered from his childhood was surrounded by cops. He could see the kicked in door and the blood stained stairs. He didn't know what was more disturbing, the blood or the truth about Abel.
"I don't know, honestly," Jack answered. His eyes drifted over to Will, then back to Thomas. "All I know is that he's at Valley Memorial."
"Valley?" Thomas croaked. That hospital was two counties over, and Silver Spring residents only travelled to Valley Memorial Hospital when they were in serious condition. Thomas swallowed hard and closed his eyes. His fingers were white as they gripped the steering wheel.
"Yeah, man." Jack's voice was gravelly as he eyed at Will again. "Valley's far. Do you need help driving?"
"I got it," Will stated firmly. Gripping the door handle, he stepped out of the car. A dazed and completely dumbstruck Thomas mirrored Will's movements. Jack watched, equally confused. He knew something was different about the kid he'd known forever, he just couldn't place what was different. As the men switched places, Jack stepped back, knowing what was about to happen.
Will cranked the convertible to life and looked at somberly looked at Thomas.
"Just tell me where to go, love," he said low. Thomas stared ahead at the house, and Will felt the ghosts that surrounded them both. As Thomas blankly nodded, Will pushed the car into drive and turned around, leaving the demons and the past behind them.
#########################################################################
"What do you mean, he's in a coma?" Delylah's voice was haggard and tired as she stared at the diminutive doctor before her. There was a good eight inches separating the women, but the stare that radiated from the spritely beauty didn't make Delylah feel like she had any leeway.
"Your brother has endured a myocardial infarction—a heart attack," the doctor said calmly. The stood outside Valley Memorial's Cardiac ICU. Delylah stared at her badge. Maya Parker, MD, FACC, FSCAI. She looked far too young to have so many letters following her name. With long, wavy burgundy hair and dark brown eyes, and slender, tiny frame, she looked like college kid than cardiologist, but the emergency room doctor spoke highly of her, so she had to be good.
"He has a defect. It was caused by the hole in his heart." Ophelia said carefully. She stood on Delylah's right, and Victor stood on her left. Somehow, she felt stronger with them by her side. Lucius had gone completely MIA since everything had gone down. Both Delylah and Victor had searched high and low for him, and he had all but disappeared. Everything within her wanted to call non-stop, to search for him and find him, but Abel was more important than a boy that would run when things were difficult.
"Yes," Maya Parker said thoughtfully. "Yes, your brother has an atrial septal defect. It's a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of his heart. It appears that, as he's aged, the hole has enlarged. His lungs are now working overtime to make up for the problems his defect has caused. As a result of those issues, another complication has reared its ugly head, and he now has an atrial septal aneurysm. It's a clot in his atrium. He needs surgery, and even then, it may not completely fix it. He could bleed out. He could die on the table."
Victor's teeth clenched as he listed to the cardiologist. In the midst of all the insanity, he'd attempted to call Jax and Tara. When he was met with voicemail after voicemail, he knew that they'd already made it into the air. That meant that no one would meet them after they landed. He left message after message, and as Dr. Parker talked about Abel's surgery, he didn't know what the hell to do.
"I don't give a damn what you were told," an infuriated voice echoed through the corridor. Victor closed his eyes, and unable to help himself, he smiled. Thomas. I knew you'd come through. He looked over Delylah's head. Thomas charged forward, oblivious to the security guard that stood by the elevators. It was the guard's job to ensure only authorized people head towards the ICU entrance.
Ophelia had already began to run over to him. Victor's eyes rested on Thomas and Will. Thomas was bleary eyed as Will wrapped a protective arm around Thomas shoulder. Ophelia ran head-on into her older brother's arms, oblivious to the scene unraveling around them.
Thomas, fresh off a break-neck hour-and-half-drive across two counties, gingerly held his sister. Will carefully pulled away from Thomas and allowed him to have the family moment. As Ophelia and Thomas walked cautiously towards the doctor, who still stood by a surprised Delylah and Victor.
"How-?" Delylah whispered. Thomas didn't let her finish.
"Mom called me," Thomas explained, cutting her off. His eyes turned to Dr. Parker. "And you are-?"
"Dr. Maya Parker," the doctor stated, holding her hand out to him. Thomas took it and shook it efficiently. "I'm Adam's cardiologist."
Thomas wasn't surprised by the hospital using the Witness Protection name any more than he was surprised by Jack still calling him Luke. After everything that had happened, the reality of who they were was something they'd quickly grown accustomed to. The rest of their world would have to eventually catch up. He wondered if the girls had the presence of mind to use the WItSec names. Looking at their haunted faces, he doubted it.
"Luke Morgan," he returned carefully. He glanced at the doctor's face, quickly assessing her. "
Are you old enough to practice medicine?"
A sharp elbow to the ribs told him he'd asked the wrong question. An angry stare at Ophelia showed that he'd felt it, but that was the only indication. Eighteen years with fiery twin sisters taught him how to take a punch to the gut—or a shot to the ribs.
"I'm old enough to be your teenaged mother," she replied with a straight face. Her dark eyes blazed with fury, but she kept it hidden well. Thomas raised an eyebrow. If the situation hadn't been so dire with Abel, he would have continued the banter. Still, she didn't look a day over twenty-five, so he was impressed with the fact that she was in her mid-thirties and looked amazing.
"So what's going on with my brother?" Thomas drawled.
"He needs surgery," Dr. Parker began anew, skipping over the stuff she realized Thomas knew. "Basically, the hole in his heart is getting bigger, and it's hurting his lungs. We will attempt to close the hole and regain balance in the lungs."
"When is this happening?" Thomas asked. Will reached out and grabbed his hand. Thomas squeezed it, grateful for the connection.
"As soon as we can get a surgical suite," Dr. Parker replied. "I would say in the next hour or so. If you haven't called your parents, you should."
"I called them on the way here," Thomas said softly. "They were in California when this happened. They just landed in Greensboro as we were pulling into the parking lot. They're about thirty minutes away now. They're coming straight here."
"You called them?" Victor said, surprised. He reached down into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Four calls from Tara. Five from Jax. Victor closed his eyes. He hadn't even realized he put his phone on silent. They'd been calling for the last hour, at least. Guilt seeped into the soldier's veins as he tucked the phone back in his jeans.
"Yeah," Thomas answered with a tinge of venom. "Mom said she'd tried to call you. Dad too."
"Yeah," Victor replied with pure guilt. "I just saw that."
"Do you have questions for me?" Dr. Parker asked. Before any of the Teller kids could respond, the nearby elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Thomas, Ophelia, and Delylah turned in that direction. Victor's head followed. It was as if they were all possessed—or even programmed—to look that way. It was an almost magnetic pull that pulled them that way. More than a little annoyed, Dr. Parker turned that way as well. She had to see what the hell made her patient's family stop mid-conversation and stare into the distance. What she saw completely astounded her.
"What the fuck?" Thomas heard the words drop from his mouth before he could stop them. His eyes widened at the sight before them. A black leather clad biker stepped from the elevator. At his side was a tall, large-bosomed, obviously transgender woman stood by his side. Thomas immediately recognized Althea. Dressed in all black, her hair severely tied back in a tight bun, her eyes were shadowed and sad. Between the strangers and Althea stood Jax and Tara. Without even glancing at the guard, Tara charged forward with Jax hot on her heels.
"Oh my God," Thomas heard someone whisper. Thomas glanced just beyond Jax. The silver-haired biker stared openly at them. The unidentified woman by his side was taken aback by what she saw; that much was clear. Still, even through the astonished gaze, the woman's eyes filled with happy tears. Thomas felt a familiar pull in his gut; it was a pull he couldn't explain. He just felt as if he'd known the old man his entire life.
"My babies," Tara whispered brokenly. Without hesitation, she rushed towards them all, and once she reached them, she attempted to pull them all into a huge hug.
"Ahem," Dr. Parker cleared her throat. She was used to seeing brokenhearted family members; after all, as a cardiologist, it came with the territory; however, it was a rarity to be interrupted not once, but twice by what seemed to be dramatic, almost ostentatious entrances.
"Hello." Tara turned to face the doctor. The aggravation was palpable. Who the fuck is she to interrupt? Tara inwardly seethed.
"Mom," Thomas jumped in before Tara could introduce herself. Ninety-nine percent of the time, Tara was logical. Now, with her nerves at their breaking point, Thomas worried that she'd forget and introduce herself as Tara, not Elizabeth. "This Dr. Parker, Adam's cardiologist. Dr. Parker, this is my mother, Elizabeth Morgan."
"This is my husband, Eric." Tara didn't miss a beat, and Thomas exhaled in relief. "What's going on?"
Dr. Parker resisted the urge to roll her eyes and bit back her frustration. This is the third goddamned time I've explained this, she thought. She glanced in the direction of the elevators, waiting for another surprise to waltz out.
"He needs surgery," Dr. Parker began. "He has an atrial septal aneurysm that has caused a heart attack, and there is pressure on his lungs. We have to operate to fix it." Tara's brow furrowed.
"Are you sure?" Tara asked. Her mind was blown. She glanced at Jax, who now shook and was on the verge of tears. Then Venus, Tig, and Athea came into view. It was a horrible addition to their ever-mounting problems.
"I wouldn't be considering surgery if I didn't," Dr. Parker replied with a little more force than she'd intended.
"How big is the aneurysm?" Tara asked. No one else spoke.
"Two centimeters." Dr. Parker crossed her arms beneath her breasts and stared at Tara. A twinge of pity soared through the doctor, but it was more than annoying to be shaken down by a patient.
"It's a big problem, but that's not the only problem," Tara replied with a self-assured tone.
"Ma'am, we did a MRI and a CT. We saw nothing additional."
"Well, let me take a look at it—"
"You won't understand it," Dr. Parker said quietly. "It's very technical." Tara swallowed hard. Her frustration turned into outright anger. For the longest time, she'd kept her past a secret. Internally, she was furious.
"How the fuck do you know that, Dr. Parker?" Tara exploded. "How do you know I wouldn't understand it?"
"Look, I didn't mean to offend you—"
"Well, you did," Tara bit back. Her hazel eyes were alive with a mix of sadness and fury and hate.
"It's just hard for laymen to understand—"
"I'm not a goddamned layman, Dr. Parker." Tara leaned closer to her. Dr. Parker raised her eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" Dr. Parker countered. She was curious as to what Tara would say.
"What she means, doc, is that she knows all this medical shit," Jax finally quipped. "She probably knows it better than you. My son wouldn't be alive it wasn't for her."
"Babe, please-" Tara pleaded, but Jax continued.
"You see, Dr. Parker," Jax continued with disdain, "He was a preemie. With the hole in his heart, it only further complicated things. When she got to the hospital, my ex, a junkie heroin addict, was hemorrhaging, and they did an emergency c-section."
"Look, sir—" Dr. Parker began. He heard Ophelia whisper for him to stop, but he continued.
"No, you look," Jax interrupted him again. "My wife stepped in and saved his life. She repaired the hole in his heart. She sewed that kid back together and made him whole again, and you want to question her? Fuck you." The last two words were snarled.
As his tirade ended, Jax looked around at the kids, at Tara, at the doctor. With the exception of Dr. Parker, various stages of shock were etched on everyone's faces. Oh God, I just fucked up.
"Mom, you-? Thomas began. She nodded. Unsure of how to answer questions, she explained It the best she could.
"It's true," Tara said. "I was once Neonatal Cardiac Surgeon. Everything your father said is true. Your father was married before me. His ex-wife's name was Wendy. She was a heroin addict. When she was carrying Ab—I mean, Adam-she almost lost him."
The doctor blinked, instantly contrite. "I'm sorry, I didn't know-"
"Can we see our son now?" Jax asked. The disdain he had for Dr. Parker was instantaneous.
"Of course," the doctor said. "But only two at a time." Jax flared his nostrils and clenched his jaw, but he said nothing. The guard must've been listening. The doors opened to ICU, and Jax and Tara disappeared. Dr. Parker followed. As the doors shut behind them, Tara knew the turmoil that lived outside the doors. Now they know, Tara thought sadly. They know I'm not Abel's mom. I can't explain it all to them now. Abel is my concern. Hannah needs to be found.
Outside the ICU stood Thomas, Delylah, and Ophelia. Will, Tig, Venus, Althea, and Victor stood around, not sure of what to say. Another bomb had been dropped on Jax and Tara's kids, and they had no idea what to do. As they stood trying to comprehend the truth, each one of them wondered what was going to happen next. Would there be more secrets and revelations? None of them were certain, but it didn't change anything. Abel was still sick, Hannah was missing, and not a single one them could predict what disaster would show up next.