***Readers, If you have not read Chapter 15 Princes of Anarchy: Aiden and Amelia (Book II) you might want to do so before proceeding with this chapter. There will be some flash backs posted to this Chapter from Aiden and Amelia but true to my promise many chapters ago I would not double post in both books as I did with Chapter 6 (JAX TARA) and Chapter 7 (AIDEN AMELIA) being duplicates. The stories do run parallel to one another and many times certain subject matter is answered in or the other. Example a section is posted in that Chapter that includes a continuation of the club house meeting of Jax and Tara after a long absence. I will try and go back over past chapters and post at the ends where you continuation in the next book might occur, and will make it a habit in the future for easier reading. I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading.***

Chapter 17

~December 14, 2001, 8:37PM, St. Thomas~

"Did you approve the blood bath that arrived the Emergency Room earlier this evening?" Dr. Martin spoke the words calmly as if discussing his grocery list.

"Depends on what your Webster definition of blood bath is Martin." Conor sat up in the bed rousing from the first sleep he had in two days. The metal bed frame creaking in protest.

"Don't give me your Webster dictionary crap Conor." Dr. Martin responded the agitation now clear in his voice. "The girl is not dead."

"I don't understand." Conor replied squinting in trying to adjust to the dim lighting of the make shift bedroom. "Clean shot to the head right?"

"Conor she's bleeding to death they beat her severely and that's not all..." His voice dropped off and he could feel the rise in his blood pressure as his temples pulsated.

"What?" Conor inquired his eyes now wide open.

"They not only beat the hell out of her Conor but she was raped...Jesus Christ she was 8 months pregnant..." His words halted as the vision of her body entered his mind. He recalled years earlier when she entered the ER with her wrist cut bleeding to death than from a failed suicide attempt. The entire staff had fought hard to save her life and now he wondered if she would have been better off dead.

"Bloody hell!" Conor yelled into the dark empty concrete walled room the sound of his voice echoing into the hallway. "I told that big goof a shot to the head quick, painless, humane! DAMN IT!" He raised his voice a rare occurrence which was becoming habit since arriving Charming.

"Yeah well it seems a lot of mishaps have occurred lately." Dr. Martin shot back. "Any change in our other situation?"

"No." Conor replied flatly disconnecting the call.

Pulling the thin blanket from his fully clothed body Conor dangled his feet over the side of the rickety metal framed bed for a moment lost in deep thought before reaching for the bottle water on the cardboard box that sat beside him in lieu of a nightstand. He preferred the comforts of the luxurious house he had rented but after the Hells Angels Biker Rally that had ensued on the front lawn he felt it was time to pull up stakes. The current situation required his undivided attention and the abandoned warehouse they had rented on the outskirts of Charming offered seclusion. He inhaled deeply the biker convention had not disturbed him as much as the man with the intense green eyes. He knew eyes that recognized what lay beneath the surface of another person. Unscrewing the lid to his water, he took a drink swishing it around ridding himself of the sour taste that had coated his mouth as he slept. Standing stretching his arms above straight above he lowered them and picked up his Walther PPK stashed in its holster flinging the straps over his shoulder before retrieving his Colt 45 and placing it to his ankle.

He loathed insubordination plain and simple. Raping and beating the Tate girl had not been his orders a clean merciful shot had been his instructions. Many of the targets that the Marchese's had put a hit on were to his disliking and he had questioned the cold-hearted bitch that placed herself strategically between the brothers. Her insistence on using an amateur that hadn't even been able to keep their cocaine safe in Southern California was illogical to him. Conor had only agreed to go ahead with the big goof in place because the bitch had assured him his orders for the type of death the girl was to receive would be carried out explicitly. A grimace over took his features as he thought about the fact he only thing he hated more than insubordination was lies. The bitch had lied and his gut screamed she had something more to gain in the death of the innocent faced blonde-haired girl than payback for the lost shipment of cocaine. It was no secret the Marchese's had been trickling their way into the west coast territory eventually planning to set up permanent shop with their own connections both legal and illegal for sometime. The heist of the cocaine by the SAMCRO Nomad member had simply sped up the original plan by a year or so. They could have come in and wiped out just those involved but instead had chosen to use the opportunity to their advantage and chip away at the aged foundation of the largest west coast MC. Conor knew they expected the heir and younger SAMCRO royalty to fail miserably at holding the club together. The Marcheses had after all had their own rats with in the MC community for years.

He hung his head for a moment in regret he was a hit man but even a person in his profession had a certain code of ethics. Beating and raping a woman especially a pregnant woman was not on his on his ethically ok to do list. Her blood is on your hands you stupid fucker, he cursed himself silently knowing that if it had not been for his involvement with Hannah Marshall he wouldn't be debating or regretting. He never would have inquired about the additional hits. Walking towards the door the image of the New York bitch filled his mind Conor Mc Gregory normally would not raise a gun to a woman but she would be the exception to his rule. The bitch needed a bullet right behind the ear.

~9:00PM~

Jax walked along the long corridor that led to the waiting room Opie formed up to his left and Happy to his right. He felt like a man walking the miracle mile the gravity of what had occurred in less than 48 hours as well as the last several months crushing him. Crushing them all. Their forceful strides upon the sterile white tile flooring mimicking each man's rage and anger. Jax however felt not only rage but also regret that he hadn't taken the bloody road when Clay and Piney were killed. He had hoped to contain the bloodshed and prevent a full on scale war, and the fact that they had been unable to surface who was behind the hits had prevented retaliation as well. He knew though that all eyes were upon him it was one thing for a brother to fall no one liked it but it was part of the life and a risk they all took the recent attacks though had a more personal ring to them. There was no way around it the situation not only had their women been attacked; Clay and Piney killed but Mike had put a bullet in the head of the Mayan President Jose Gonzales. They had walked from the meeting that had been nothing but distraction with no one left standing. Four Mayans dead, splattered on the walls of the shitty room.

~Flash Back 5:45PM, Oakland~

Cheap wood paneling lined the walls of the Mayan temple as they called it. To Mike it reminded him of smoking pot in his foster parents basement when he was 12. The small, dark room was dank and musty, reeking of cigars. The Latin has loved their stogies, Mike thought to himself, must be a dick thing. He knew it was always a dick thing with these guys. He smiled faintly at the thought, the smile fading quickly as he stared into the eyes of some taco with a scar across his forehead. Jax sat to his right, on his right sat Opie. Tig and Happy stood on guard behind them. Tension filled the air as neither side of the table had any love for the other.

"My sister is missing fuck head, Otto's been attacked at Stockton and then there is the matter of Clay and Piney." Jax hissed the words. "If you are involved you are going to pay with your own blood and if you aren't involved but have Intel you better start singing like a fuckin' canary cause I am getting tired of this shit." He pressed his lips together grinding his teeth for a moment as his blue eyes glowered at the Mayan President.

"Ese a pale mamacita goes missing you look to us." Jose Gonzales the current Mayan President rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Accusations are insulting." He curled his upper lip up.

Mike barely heard the words his mind drifted to his talk with Nicky earlier Conor Mc Gregory was haunting him. He inhaled the shitty smoke attempting to clear his mind. Amelia and the baby, and getting out of the life for good entered his mind next. It was dangerous to drift in these meetings and he pushed the thoughts from his head.

"Fucker!" Jax jumped up reaching across the small table for the man's throat only to find himself looking down the barrel of the VP's gun.

Opie and Mike stood there weapons drawn immediately. Tig and Happy already had guns pointed before they ever cleared the table.

"Put your gun down." Opie spoke the words cold and callus. "We will have you splattered all over that back wall before you even squeeze the trigger."

"See what I mean about accusations Ese they can lead to fatal misunderstandings." The Mayan President paused for a moment nodding to the VP to lower his gun a cheeky smile crossing his dark face.

Opie, Tig, Happy and Mike lowered their guns in response.

"Besides we all know that the white-haired pussy is the primo stock anyway. Isn't right Ese?" His gaze locked with Mikes as he asked the question.

"What did you say?" Mikes eyes zeroed in on his black beady ones a sense of dread rising from the pit of his stomach as his finger curled around the trigger of his Sig at his side.

"The blonde Ese the one you are fuckin' word on the street she is dying tonight but not before she is fucked well." He responded an eerie cackle escaping his lips. "Why do you think we called you here tonight? Not to negotiate but to get you all out of Charming."

"MOTHERFUCKER!" Mike raised his gun and squeezed the bullet lodged itself in the center of the Mexicans forehead.

His green eyes stared intently at the double door she had disappeared behind what seemed an eternity ago. Mike sat surprised that the doors hadn't spontaneously combusted from the fury his glare emitted.

"Mike any word brother?" Jax asked as he approached.

"Baby didn't make it something about placenta getting ripped fuck I don't know." He paused reaching in his pocket for cigarettes only to notice the no smoking sign that hung on the wall next to him. "Motherfuckers don't know how to speak English." He stashed the pack back in his pants pocket before nervously tangling his fingers in his already wind tousled dark hair. "She's in the operating room now they can't stop the bleeding."

Opie looked up just as Donna entered the double glass door of the ER entrance with Gemma. His heart clenched in his chest, as he looked at her rounded body, Christ it could have been Donna. Without a word, he moved across the room toward her wrapping his gigantic arms around her sweeping her feet slightly off the ground his mumbled words falling into the strands of her brown hair.

Mike looked away from the scene and for the first time in his life what felt like hot tears threatened to form under his lids. Christ why didn't I just go home with her and send someone else! She fucking' begged me to go home with her! FUCK! The words screamed out in his subconscious.

~Flash Back 3:00PM, Teller-Morrow Parking Lot~

"Call came brother." Jax called over as he headed to his bike.

"Don't go. Please come home with me." Her voice pleaded.

"Baby I have to go this is important but I promise you just a few more weeks." Mike nodded his head, as she looked at him hopeful. "Go home I'll be there as soon as possible I promise.

"Brother we are here for you." Jax laid the palm of his hand on Mikes leather clad shoulder jolting him from the memory of her that flooded his mind. "And once we get things settled here and she is ok we are going to fuck up whoever did this. I promise you that. They will pay with their motherfuckin' blood for every loss we have felt." His jaw clenched tightly as the last words left his mouth.

~9:05PM~

He studied every intricate feature of the statue of Jesus hanging on the cross in the small chapel of the hospital. The mutilation and stains of blood glared back at him accusingly and silently he cursed himself for not arriving to her house earlier than he had. Once again, the club priorities had come first and this time it may have cost him the only person that made sense in his life.

"Fuck me." He mumbled burying his head in his hands. The stench of dried blood permeated his nares as he ran his palms from his forehead over his face. Nothing could have prepared him for the horrific scene he had walked in on in the elaborate living room of the cathedral. Aiden knew the image was etched in his mind where it would remain forever he could only imagine what had occurred before he arrived.

~Flash Back 5:46PM, Charming Cathedral~

Amelia heard the doorbell chime throughout the Cathedral as she sat on the black granite top counter in front of the refrigerator, licking chocolate icing off her fingers from the cupcake in her hand, as Marie cooked dinner. The motherly housekeeper looked over at Amelia with her fingers in her mouth, a broad smile crossing her face it reminded her of when she was a child. She missed having a baby around, and was ecstatic that one was on the way.

"Are you expecting someone Amelia? I set the code on the gate earlier." Marie inquired.

"It's Aiden, Marie he has the code." She smiled before turning her attention back to the treat in hand. "He's going to have dinner with us keep me company till Mike gets home." She peeled the cupcake wrapper back while calling the words over her shoulder.

Marie looked back at Amelia smiling, before exiting the kitchen. They had seen a lot of Aiden lately, unfortunately a lot more than they had seen of Mike, and that concerned her. She knew Mike and Amelia were in love, she could see it when they were together. It lit up the entire room, but it was clear that since returning to Charming stress had entered their lives for the first time in the little over two years they had been together. Marie knew Mike was a good man, but more and more Amelia was taking a back seat to the club. She recalled how he had even forgotten a Doctor's appointment two weeks earlier. It had been Aiden who had shown up that night to comfort a crying Amelia. Lost in thought Marie never even noticed the gun pointing at her when she opened the door.

The sound echoed from the foyer, and Amelia sat stunned for a moment, Christ that sounded like a gun. The sound of many heavy footsteps in the entryway drawing closer to her with each step. She darted to the drawer across from her where Mike had stashed a gun for her use just in case her hand never reached the knob before being halted abruptly. The fingertips dug into her flesh turning her around forcibly. Amelia blue eyes grew wide with fear for the first time in over two years.

"How … How…. did you get in here?" Amelia's heart pounded in her chest as she looked in the face of the big man that had attempted to rape her on the beach the night she met Mike.

"Where's the fucking Nomad, bitch?" One of them asked from behind him. She recognized his voice from that fateful night also.

"W..h..o?" Her attempt to control her voice from quivering failing miserably.

"The fucking Nomad, you little cunt." The big man spit the words in her face.

"I don't know. I mean … He just showed up out of no where that night … I didn't … I don't know him," He released her arm, and Amelia felt relief followed by the most excruciating pain she had ever experienced shooting through her abdomen as he punched her hard. She immediately fell to the ground breathless.

"Whore, we know he's your man. We have seen you together." He paused looking at her hands clutched around her abdomen. "Saw you two fucking on the beach few months back rubbed a good one out while you two were getting it on." The other two men in the room laughed loudly.

"Tell us where he is!" The shorter man walked over grabbing Amelia's hair making her look at him as he spoke the words.

"I … I don't know where he is, he is out. I don't know when he will be back…I swear." Amelia struggled to get the words out the waves of pain now more intense. She watched in horror one of the men pointed his gun in her face.

"Fuckin' whore, I will splatter your ass all over, just like that other bitch who answered the door." He pressed the cool metal to her forehead.

"Please … Please it's the truth I don't know when he will come back." Amelia looked him in his eyes pleading for mercy but no emotion was present. For the first time since she had found out about the baby, Amelia felt the motherly instinct that everyone talked about flood over her. The pain throbbed through her as she placed her hand protectively over herself tighter. Christ I have been so stupid. The hot tears began to stream down her cheeks blurring her vision.

"Please, don't do this. I am not begging for myself, but please don't do this I'm pregnant … please. He was just protecting me that night. Please!" She looked up her eyes continuing to beg as the largest man stepped forward his deep baritone evil laugh echoing through the kitchen.

"Take that fucking gun away from her," He spoke to the smaller man, "You expect us to believe this is all a coincidence?" He hissed the words at her.

"Please I don't know what you mean?" Amelia tried hard to keep her voice steady as the throbbing pain began to feel as if something was ripping.

"This isn't all about that night, bitch! It's about your man's business dealings in fucking Laguna. So, this baby is it his?" He eyed her. "Don't lie bitch … we see the other pretty boy here all hours of the fucking night and day! Is this that cock sucking Nomads baby or pretty boys?" Amelia looked at the large man helpless unable to answer from the shock. "BITCH WHOSE BABY IS IT?" The words resonating around the room as he pulled his own gun.

"Yes! Yes, it's his baby the one on the beach." Amelia looked down at the ground the tears flowing from her eyes as she spoke the words.

"LOOK at me you sniveling bitch!" Quickly Amelia looked into his eyes, her vision blurred from the warm tears, "You tell him we said, FUCK YOU!" Amelia opened her mouth to respond as the man kicked her in the abdomen with his boot sending her petite body flying back into the refrigerator door. She attempted to scream, but no sound came as he kicked her again. The pain coursed through her as the blows continued to come one after another.

"Please … God … please stop." She held her arms around her body attempting to shelter herself as she felt a warm liquid begin to ooze from between her legs. The almost unbearable pain as if something was ripping away.

"You don't want to play like this anymore." The giant man growled. "I got another game we can play." He turned to the other men an evil smile cast upon his lips. "Take her in there on the couch I think I should get a little sample of what that fuckin' Nomad cheated me out of on the beach.

"Man she's pregnant." The smallest guy blurted out.

"More than one way to fuck a woman." He shot back. "Get her to the fuckin' couch before I fuck you up the ass!"

~9:10PM~

"Have you put the other charters on alert?" The monotone words escaped Jax's lips followed by his heavy breathing as he approached the remaining crew.

"Aye." Chibs replied his body covered in dark red patches of dried blood. The vision Amelia laying wrapped in Aiden's arms still playing through his mind. The thought of his own daughter entered his mind as he closed his eyes for a moment and rage consumed him.

"What about Tara is she protected?" Jax glanced around not seeing her present.

"Sent prospects over to her dad's house immediately." Opie chimed in as he approached his brothers once again.

"Where's Aiden?" Jax inquired to no one in particular his eyes fixated on the blood staining Chibs cut.

"Was in th' chapel lest Ah saw heem."Chibs replied. "It was a bludy scene jax."

"Man I ain't every seen anything like it." Juice wrung his hands together as he spoke the words his voice shaking. "Who would do something like to a woman …" He paused for a moment his eyes glazed over. "A pregnant woman."

"Jesus Fucking Christ." Jax hissed the words angrily as heads of waiting patients turned their way.

"Fuckin' Mexicans we should have stuck it up their ass long before now!" Tig shot back his eyes shifting to Jax briefly as he spoke the words. "Mike made the right move blowing that Mayan Presidents head the fuck off. Taunting him and bragging like he did about Amelia cocksucking motherfucker!"

"Shut the fuck up Tig." Jax spit back noticing the civilian eyes upon them before turning his head Opie. "Make sure it was made clear I want the Nomads, SAMREN and the other charters a day or so travel from us to be on their way here now." He looked over towards Gemma and Donna. "We need to get every ones family safe also. Lock shit down I won't have another of innocent blood on my hands."

"Sure thing brother SAMREN is on the road now should be here shortly." Opie replied. "Do you think the Mayans are the only ones behind this?" His head tilted toward the double doors of the emergency room.

"I don't know brother but they sure in the fuck knew about it." Jax replied strutting back towards Mike without making eye contact.

~9:15PM~

Gemma watched as her son approached with a scowl upon his face and a hint of sadness. Her eyes shifted to the man slumped in the seat with his eyes fixated on the doors of the emergency room. She knew full-scale war was headed for them any vote that would take place was simply a formality. The bloodshed at the Mayan meeting and the attack on Amelia had assured that. Not to mention the deaths of the Clay and Piney. Now they had firm proof who to go after. She looked over at Tig leaned up against the wall talking to Happy his eyes catching hers for just a moment.

"Sweetheart." She reached out pulling her son to her bosom wrapping her arms securely around him.

Jax allowed his weight to fall against his mother closing his eyes breathing in her essence and strength. Christ when did shit get so complicated. It was a question he knew he had asked himself for the last several years, but just when he thought things couldn't get any worse it always escalated to the next level. He found himself longing for childhood. To have days filled with Opie and Aiden on their bikes dreaming of they would own a Harley and wear a cut. Shifting his gaze, he eyed Mike's somber profile reminding him of a statue he sat so still. Jax opened his mouth abruptly closing it unsure what he could say that would make a difference.

"Jax." The feminine voice trailed from the doorway as she made her way towards him.

"Tara." Jax released Gemma immediately and moved towards Tara meeting her halfway pulling her into his arm.

"Jax is she…" Tara pulled back enough for their eyes to meet.

"In surgery…" He paused his blue eyes not breaking away from her hazel ones as he continued. "The baby didn't make it."

"Oh god." She fought the tears pooling under the lids of her eyes.

"Sweetheart" Gemma approached nodding at Tara her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Jax I hate to interrupt the moment you two are having but we need to go check on Aiden."

Tara raised her eyes to the stoic matriarch her mind reflecting back several years earlier when they had gathered in the same area awaiting news of Aiden. The stone cold bitch had been less than kind to her that evening treating her as if she were a doormat. She remembered every bitter hateful word the bitch had spoken to her that night and on all the other occasions. The silent vow she made herself as the bus pulled from Charming rang in her mind. "That won't be necessary Gemma I'll check on him with Jax have a seat or better yet get some fresh air." She smiled sweetly repeating the words almost verbatim that had said to her years earlier.

"Excuse me?" Gemma placed her hands on her sensuous hips casting a challengingly glare at Tara.

"I am sorry." She inhaled feeling the release wash over her. "Did you not understand what I said?" Tara paused smiling sweetly her voice steady and confident. "Have a seat or get some fresh air. I am here now to take care of things."

"You little fuckin' bitch …" Gemma countered her voice rising.

"Shut the fuck up Gem or go home. Now is not the time for your bullshit jealousy. Tara is here offering her compassion and time to our club members. The six of us go way back Amelia, Donna and Tara have a history you just don't understand. We all history you don't understand. Now sit down she will go with me to check on Aiden." Jax narrowed his eyes as he spoke.

Mike glanced over at Jax grinding his teeth as he spoke the words to Gemma. That's right Mike you are just a visitor Amelia and Aiden they are the A team and you … you are nothing. You don't fit in the equation you never did. The voice chanted mockingly in his mind as shame washed over him for allowing even momentary jealousy to course through him.

"If that's what you want sweetheart." Gemma relaxed her stance an insufferable smile crossing her face as she cast Tara one last look before moving towards a waiting room chair.

Donna watched Tara in amazement as she handled Gemma slyly without even the slightest look of irritation on her face. "Checkmate." She mumbled the almost inaudible word as her lips curved upwards in a smile. Shifting her eyes to Opie who had just joined her side he acknowledged her with a wink. Tara's back new and improved. His eyes spoke the words to Donna that his voice did not.

"Donna are you feeling ok?" Tara walked over hugging her dear friend. "You need to think of the baby." She spoke the last word quietly praying they hadn't drifted to the man she vaguely remembered the one that Amelia was now apparently engaged too. Tara eyes shifted to Gemma who glared daggers before looking at the man sitting almost helplessly staring at the doors awaiting news. The realization hit her that although many things had remained the same others had drastically changed.

"I'm fine Tara." She hugged her back. "I am so glad you are here." She leaned into her friend crying softly.

The door squeaked softly as he pushed it open allowing her to enter first. The smell and glow of the candles filled the room casting light on the figure staring straight ahead at the wall before him. Jax walked forward before being halted by Tara's soft touch.

"Let me." She whispered the words.

Jax nodded in response as he watched her move down the small aisle and slip into the pew beside Aiden. He hadn't expected Tara to be so willing to help where Aiden was concerned especially given the circumstances of the last time they had all spent together at the bus stop. It seemed however something she was determined to do and he decided that he was going to trust Tara that she knew the right course.

"Aiden." Tara spoke softly as her hand moved towards his rugged one stained in red.

"Is she dead…" He choked on the last word.

"She's still in surgery Aiden we don't know anything new yet." She laid her hand over his giving him a reassuring squeeze.

"I never should have let her get on my bike Tara." Aiden spoke the words as his brown eyes glared straight ahead. "But she was so beautiful standing there in front of me in the parking lot that day …" He lowered his head inhaling deeply. "I fell in love with her the moment she reached her dainty little hand out to me but I had no right to bring her into this life. If I had just let her walk away her life would be so different now."

"Aiden she never loved until she met you." Tara replied pausing for a moment. "It's true you, we were the first family she had ever had other than Marie. You were the first person she ever really loved and that loved her in return. What you had was real hold onto that. I know she wouldn't change meeting you and deep down I don't think you would change it either." Tara looked behind her to where Jax was sitting their eyes locking as she spoke the next words. "Some people live their whole lives and never love like that Aiden."

"I would die for her Tara. I would gladly trade places now." He choked on the last words as his shoulders sagged and body began to tremor.

"Shh it's ok." Tara pulled Aiden close to her as his tears fell.

Jax could feel his heart being ripped from his chest as he watched his brother weep openly. They had grown up together and in all the years never once had he seen Aiden shed a tear even the time he had fallen from the tree in their front yard and broken his arm.

"Christ." He muttered as all the memories they shared came flooding back to him.

He studied Tara as she held Aiden firmly supporting him as his body shook with grief and in that moment he realized that as much as he had loved her all those years ago it was nothing compared to the emotion that coursed through him as he watched her. Jax Teller realized he had just fallen helplessly in love Tara Knowles shifting his eyes ahead to the figure hanging on the wall he prayed silently that she too would fall in love with him.

~10:00PM~

They walked from the chapel together towards the group standing in the ER waiting room. Aiden cringed as the cotton material of his T-shirt pulled at the flesh of his chest. He looked down at the red stains of her dried blood that covered him.

"Where's Mike?" Jax looked over at the vacant seat.

"Had Juice and Tig take him outside for a smoke." Bobby replied leaning his head against the waiting room wall.

"You ok baby?" Opie whispered the question to Donna tucked protectively under his arm.

"I'm ok." Donna peered up at him her eyes hazy from crying.

"When's the baby due?" Tara asked immediately regretting the question.

Aiden felt a wave of anger and grief wash over him at the words. The grief was for Amelia the anger was for the Fucko whoever he was that was going to die.

Mike walked back through the door with Juice and Tig his eyes immediately diverting to the ground as the question rang through his subconscious.

"Couple of weeks." Donna muttered uncomfortably as the sound of the double doors leading from the emergency room opened.

The group fell silent as a white coated figure followed by another dressed in light green surgical scrubs approached them.

Mike felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs as his green eyes searched the expressionless faces searching for a glimmer of hope.

"Tara?" Dr. Martin stared in disbelief as the color drained from his face.

Jax's clear blue eyes narrowed at the man standing before him staring a Tara. The look upon his face was both indescribable and eerie.

"Is she ..." The two male voices spoke in unison.

Dr. Martin looked from Tara to the two men standing before him heir eyes glaring in urgent demand.

"We were able to stop the bleeding and she is being transferred to the intensive care floor..." The surgeon began.

"So she's going to be ok?" Mike asked his voice ringing with hope for the first time in hours.

"Can we talk privately for a moment?" The tall skinny man who resembled the jolly green giant scanned the crowd of piercing eyes all looking intently at him.

"Sure." Mike stepped away from the group.

"The damage from her injuries were more severe than we thought originally. We were able to stop the bleeding but the long-term severity we won't know for a while." The doctor paused for a moment inhaling deeply. "To be honest if she were older and already had children we would have chosen other solutions."

"What the fuck do you mean other solutions?" Miles clenched his fist his loud voice echoed through the waiting room. "Do any of you bastards speak English?"

The surgeon looked at Dr. Martin a distance away before returning his tired weary eyes back to the furious man before him.

"She may not be able to have children. We almost had remove her uterus, which would have left her unable to have a baby. Still we don't know if the repairs ..."

Mike raised his hand motioning for the man to halt his words. "I don't give a fuck if she can have kids or not is she going to live?"

"If we have no other complication arise yes she should recover." The surgeon replied.

"Can I see her?" Mike ran his fingers nervously through his dark hair.

"Yes but just for a few minutes follow me." He replied.

"I am going also." Aidens gruff voice came from behind them.

"That not possible just immediate family until we have her condition more stable." The Doctor responded.

"I am just as much her family as he is." Aiden spit out. "They aren't even fuckin' married for Christ sake."

"Aiden I am warning you do not start your tug of war bullshit now. I am grateful for what you did … more than you know but just back the fuck off please." Mikes green eyes stared at him intently lowering his voice. "She doesn't even know about the damn baby yet."

Dr. Martin watched as the three men spoke briefly and two walked towards the double doors his eyes returned to Tara a smile growing across his lips. "Can we talk for a moment?"

"Of course." Tara replied giving him a genuine smile.

Jax face grew more pensive he remembered her mentioning the good Doctor during the brief time she volunteered at the hospital but the cocksucker in front of him was addressing her, as they were old friends.

"Hey I don't know if you remember me or not you saved my life that day." Aiden cut in as he approached from behind. "I need to see her … Please."

"I remember you and I remember her as well." Dr. Martin studied the man in front of him that had been in under his care years earlier. "I remember her approaching me just as you are now."

"Then you understand." Aiden's brown eyes implored. "I need to see her."

She looked small and dainty laying in the hospital bed the unfamiliar beeps and sounds of equipment the only sound as he stood over her.

"Jesus Christ." He muttered staggering back almost falling into the seat at the bedside his eyes taking in the bruises that covered her arms and face.

Mike knew he had inflicted far worse on men before finally sending them on to meet the grim reaper but despite that fact, he couldn't help but stare with a stunned expression. Leaning into the bed from the straight back chair, he reached his fingers out brushing them against her ice-cold ones. He continued to caress her hand tenderly warming it with his own thanking a God he never acknowledge much that she was alive.

"Someone will pay." He spoke the words and the darkness that had been at bay for so long awoke.

"You promised to never come back here." He spoke the words in an almost urgent tone.

"Are you not glad to see me?" Tara arched her brow.

"No, not here." Dr. Martin narrowed his eyes as he spoke. "I prefer seeing you in Chicago where you belong not here in Charming Tara."

"Maybe I belong here Nathan." She replied.

"We have been over this before you don't belong here Tara!" He paused lowering his voice before continuing. "Charming is poison Tara you have no future here. Look at your friend she lost her baby and almost lost her life tonight. Why? Because of this place and that gang."

"They aren't a gang." Tara corrected him.

"The hell they aren't Tara. They are outlaws, criminals even your beloved Jackson Teller and you know it. You are better than he is you are better than this. Now please before it's too late leave and go back to Chicago." He hissed the words at her.

"You are wrong Jax is different my friends are different. I can change things I can change him." Tara shot back.

"No, Tara you can't and if you stay Jax, the club and your friends it will eventually be your demise." He spoke the words flatly his eyes never leaving hers.

Aiden stood in the distance out of site where Dr. Martin had indicated waiting for Mike to leave so he could sneak into Amelia's room. He had already been waiting what seemed an eternity when he saw him exit the room and head towards the lobby. Quickly slipping towards the door he knew his time would be short that there would be a Chapel meeting soon even if it was in the parking lot of the damn hospital. Slipping in the doorway he stood speechless unable to move his legs towards her.

She could hear his voice screaming begging her to wake up but regardless of how hard she tried the lids of her eyes refused to open. There were other voices but she just couldn't make them out. Then she heard Mike's screams from afar.

The pain coursed through her as the darkness began to break and his silhouette appeared in the harsh lighting. Each flicker of her eyelashes felt as if knives were being stabbed into her flesh.

"A" He gripped her hand as he spoke the singular word.

"Aiden what happened." The memories rushing back to her even as she spoke the words. "The baby Aiden …" She struggled to continue as the pain began to grip her. "Is the baby ok?"

Holding her hand tighter he opened his mouth to speak but no sound would come.

The nurse came rushing to the room as her screams filled the air.

~11:59PM, December 14, 2001, St. Thomas Parking Lot~

"Damn you Janowitz!" Mike pushed him up against the brick wall of the hospital.

"Kiss my ass man." Aiden pushed back as he hissed the words. "I had every right to see her I have been there for her more than you have lately and you know it!"

"Yeah let's talk about that motherfucker!" Mike squared off with him. "I smelled your body wash, cologne or whatever in the fuck you wear on her when we were in the parking lot this afternoon!"

"I was there this morning Fucko when the security man arrived to check the alarm system what of it!" Aiden spit back.

"Jesus Fucking Christ." Jax spit the words out as he walked up to the men. "You two get your fucking shit together where she is concerned once and for all 'cause we are in the middle of a full-scale mountain of shit here!"

"Wait… what did you say?" Mikes expression changed immediately.

"The security guy you called to check the alarms." Aiden's brown eyes studied Mikes green ones. "What's wrong?"

"Mickey." Nicky's deep voice drifted from behind him his arms open for a brotherly hug of support.

Mike turned to find his former President standing behind him with Clean his VP and Meeks the intelligence officer. "Nicky." The two men patted one another on the back.

"What's happened Mike?" Clean inquired.

"Not sure. Fucking Mayan called us down to Oakland to get us out-of-town then the bastard told me that Amelia was going to be attacked." Mike rolled his eyes towards the heavens for a moment recalling the event. "I blew his goddamned head off."

"Mike did you call the security guy or not?" Aiden cut in his tone curt.

"What?" Mike snapped his head back reminded of the conversation they were having. "Fuck no I didn't call anyone to check the alarms."

"What about the alarms? Your house Alarms?" Jax arched his brow.

"I was with Amelia this morning." Aiden began noting the sly smirk that crossed the SAMREN VP's lips. "This guy tall, lean, brown beard, strangest goddamned whistle you have ever heard was checking the alarm system said Mike called him."

"Did you say whistle?" Mike asked his green eyes flashing to Nicky's brown ones.

"Yeah whistled as he was leaving." Aiden replied.

~1:00am, Teller-Morrow clubhouse~

The think smoggy smoke of the clubhouse hit Tara in the face as soon as the door opened and she was reminded of the times they had partied until dawn. The times they had made love in the back room. Tara kept her hazel hues straight ahead and her face devoid of emotion as she stepped once again over the threshold.

Jax studied Tara out of the corner of his eye remembering the first time he had brought her to the TM for a Halloween party so many years ago. The woman standing beside him was different from the girl that had nervously fidgeted in the parking lot. He reached down taking her hand interlocking their fingers together squeezing tightly.

She looked down at his hand securely placed in her own before raising her hazel eyes to his clear blue ones a slight smile curving her straight lips.

"Listen up!" Jax called over the noise. "For you that don't her know this is Tara Knowles and when she is here you treat her with respect as if she were my old lady." He paused for a moment as the hushed whispers began to circulate through the room like a brush fire. "Let me add to what I just said when she is here you treat her with the respect that you give Gem."

Casting his eyes quickly upon every person in the large crowd, he gripped her hand tighter coaxing her gently to move with him in unison towards the bar.

Tara glanced at Jax for a moment before walking with him. She had not expected nor required him to make such an announcement they had after all not even talked about the future. A future that if she decided to pursue with him would not be one-sided but a two Way Street there would be no negotiations on the matter. She sighed lightly knowing that was even if she even decided to stay.

She tilted her chin up her face crinkled in response to his words. Fucking cunt Gemma spoke only to herself as she stood across the room listening to her son make his arrogant remarks comparing the respect he expected for Tara to her.

"Gem are they back together?" Luann tilted her head in Gemma's direction.

"Not if I have anything to say about it. Fucking cunt needs to high tail it back to Chicago." Gemma narrowed her eyes as they moved together towards the bar.

"She always seemed so nice then all that ugliness when with Aiden and Roxy." Luann added.

"Tara has been nothing but a problem since he first brought her around." Gemma responded flatly.

"Shit Jax don't need a woman that's a problem with all the responsibility of the chair." Luann sucked in a breath.

"Don't worry Lu she won't make it past "Go" in my game of monopoly." Gemma arched her brow an evil smirk crossing her lips.

"What can I get you. " The prospect spoke respectfully as he looked from Jax to the woman he had identified as Tara.

"Coffee please." Tara spoke in a courteous manner a polite smile upon her lips.

"Nothing for me." Jax responded releasing her hand to fish for the pack of cigarettes and fathers zippo lighter in his jean pocket. "Can we talk in the apartment maybe? I don't have long we are just securing everything here and heading back up to the hospital. I can't get Mike or Aiden to leave so we are going to have our brotherly talk up there."

"As long as it's a productive talk." Tara replied.

He shifted his weight nervously unable decide if the words she spoke were good her body language revealing nothing. Damn he thought.

"Oh it will be productive darlin'" Jax responded with a cheeky smirk that quickly fell flat when he was met by her serious hazel hues. Lifting the coffee mug from the old wooden bar, he handed it to her before turning in the direction of the room they had frequented together on many occasions.

Tara followed the warmth of the liquid inside the cup radiating to the palms of her hands as they walked down the long hallway to the apartment room. Her eyes locked on the striking blue Harley that was on display at the end of the hallway. She thought of Jax's father for the first time really, since they had known each other. Like everyone, she had heard about the legendary John Teller and she vaguely remembered seeing him on the streets of Charming when she was younger. She found herself wondering what his father's true feelings were about the outlaw life. Rumors had after all swirled around the streets of Charming prior to his death about conflicting feelings between the President and a few of his members about illegal endeavors. Everyone's ears perked up even the young of age when there was discussion about whoever sat at the head of the table. The leader of SAMCRO was an unofficial elected official and spokesperson for the town. She wasn't completely naïve and like Donna and Amelia knew what SAMCRO was and what their role was in the Charming scheme of things.

Her mind drifted back to Amelia who had become hysterical before they left the hospital when she had discovered the baby boy she didn't survive. Tara couldn't imagine suffering such a loss and was unsure how her friend would handle such a tragedy. Tara walked into the room sitting on the side of the bed her chest tight with grief as the image of Aiden crying in the Chapel of the hospital filled her mind. They had their differences in the past that was true and she didn't know how that would affect the future of their relationship but he had apologized and honestly she knew if had not been for his phone call she wouldn't be sitting where she was.

~December 1, 2001, 0800~

"Tara." The familiar voice filled her ear.

"Yes, this is Tara." She replied with a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Can I ask who is speaking?"

"This is Aiden… Aiden Janowitz." Tara sucked in a breath and her eyes grew big in shock as he began to speak. "Listen I know you have every right to hate me for how I acted at the bus station that day without talking to you first and for threatening you with the coke issue. I … I … am sorry truly sorry about how things went down between us." Aiden choked the words out apologizing was harder than he expected. "This call isn't about us though it's about a person's future I know we both care for."

"You're calling about Jax?" She inquired quizzically.

"Yeah, Tara he needs you, he needs a solid woman to stand beside him." Aiden replied.

"He has plenty of people to stand beside him." She paused for moment. "He has a damn fortress of people to stand beside him he doesn't need me."

"He's sinking…." Aiden began.

"Can Gemma or Hannah not throw him a life-preserver?" Tara cut his words short responding hatefully.

"Gemma ain't the right person for the job and you know it Tara." Aiden shot back. "Hannah she's fucked up in the head now."

"What do you mean?" Tara asked arching her brow.

"Some fuckin' douche really messed with her head earlier in the year led on her dumped her when he found out Jax was her brother." He replied in a monotone voice. "She been acting real secretive and stuff lately. Jax don't know this but she and Happy have been fuckin' around on the side." He reached out lighting a cigarette inhaling deeply and releasing the plume of smoke into the room before continuing. "Besides we both know Hannah's never been who Jax needs."

"Aiden I don't have time for him I am in medical school making something of my life." Tara spit the words into the receiver hatefully. "I am truly sorry for what you are all going through but he will have to figure it out himself now I need to go."

"Tara wait please I know what it's like to have the missing piece of the puzzle not there. Amelia has come back with another man I just don't want that for you and Jax. Tara I thought her leaving was hell it ain't nothing like the hell I am going through now. He needs you and you need him and would be completely honest with yourself you know I am right." Aiden ran his fingers through his curly tangled hair.

"How do you know I haven't found someone I am happy with?" Tara replied evenly.

"Wouldn't matter if you were married Tara listen we aren't so different in the way we have loved someone. You know as well as I do there is no moving past that…."

"Babe are you ok?" Jax sat on the edge of the mattress gently touching her shoulder.

"Yeah was just thinking of Amelia." She mumbled the words staring blankly ahead. "Jax what happened… why would anyone do that to her?"

"We don't know why she was the target but that damn Mayan earlier made it a point of letting us know she was going to get hit. Could be some old payback for the shit that happened when we were younger. Mike and Tig did sort the Mayans to end the war with a certain uniqueness. " Jax scooted closer to her the warmth emitted from her flesh sending a calming wave throughout his body. "Tara are you going to stay in Charming?" He asked gently changing the subject.

"I don't know." She replied honestly turning her head to look him in his eyes.

"Babe if you do there is going to be bloodshed payback for this." Jax paused before continuing. "Something happened with Mike and one of the Mayans before we left that would have guaranteed it even if Amelia hadn't been hurt. We heading for a bloody war with them and I don't know who else but there is no way around it." Jax lowered his head

"Why are you telling me this?" Tara tilted her head to capture his gaze the coffee mug shaking nervously in her hand despite her attempt to hold it steady.

Reaching out Jax took the cup from her turning and placing it on the cheap press board nightstand to the side before shifting his body back in her direction and facing her fully.

"Tara if you stay I want you to know everything I am doing. Not bits and pieces that you hear from club gossip." He looked into her hazel eyes that pierced his armor.

"What are you saying Jax." Tara felt her heart skip as his blue eyes searched hers.

"I am saying if you stay I want to start over do whatever I have to do to prove I am worthy of you." He interlaced their fingers. "I fucked up royally was stupid, young and arrogant."

"Jax I was seeing someone else." Tara interjected. "We had been living together the last few months actually."

He felt his heart sink in his chest suddenly finding himself more compassionate of Aiden's plight. "Is … Is it that serious… you said was, had" Jax implored with his blue irises.

"Jax I'm …" Tara began.

"Jax!" Opie flung the door wide open his chest heaving up and down rapidly.

"Fuck Ope what the hell?" Jax shot up from the bed.

"It's Donna her water just broke!" Opie answered his voice filled with both excitement and fright.

"Holy shit." Jax mumbled as a crooked smile formed in the corner of his mouth.

"Oh my God we are going to have a baby~" Tara bellowed out in excitement standing from the bed before she remembered the loss just suffered looking from Opie to Jax.

"Jesus Christ." Jax mumbled.

~1:01am~

"Can you get it open or not?" The anxious gruff voice spit out.

"Bingo." He chided triumphantly opening the door. "There ain't shit I can't get into brother."

"So putting up with your pretty boy ass has some quirks." Mike smirked at Aiden pulling his Sig from the holster.

"Yeah one or two." Aiden nodded smugly pulling his own gun.

"You sure about this Mickey?" Nicky asked in his deep voice.

"I am sure saw it in his eyes." Mike responded casting his troubled greens towards Nicky's dark brown ones.

"Why Mike? Why her." Aiden mumbled studying the two men.

"Let's get this fuck head sorted and then we will talk Janowitz." Mike stepped into the dark kitchen.

~1:02AM~

He heard their voices drifting to him from the distance as he walked stealthy towards the bedroom door his Walther PPK drawn the silencer attached ready for the targets.

~1:03AM~

"Doesn't feel right Mike." Aiden whispered as they filed in unison behind the other walking up the staircase.

"Shut up." Mike mouthed facing him quickly before turning his head and continuing up stairs down then down the hall towards the bedroom.

~1:04AM~

"Top av de mornin' ter yer." Conor smirked as he squeezed the trigger hitting his target between the eyes.

~1:05AM~

"MOTHERFUCKER!" Mike screamed at the top of his lungs.

~1:06AM~

The scream bellowed through the air like a wounded animal as she attempted to push the dead weight off the top of her. "Please oh God please don't kill me." She wailed.

"I am not going to kill you." Conor peered down at the naked woman attempting to claw her way to freedom his accent and appearance shifting instantly.

The panicked woman paused staring at the man before her in disbelief he didn't even sound or look like the same person who had just blown the brains all over her naked body.

Reaching down with his gloved hand Conor pulled the smallest of the three stooges that the Marchese's had assigned to attack the Tate girl from the woman's body. Her screams and pleas once again piercing his eardrums.

"Hush." He pressed his finger to his lips as the body crumpled onto the dirty shag carpet. The woman stared at him defenseless and in shock. "Get your clothes on." He picked her cheap dress from the side of the mattress tossing it her way.

Her fingers shaking she grabbed the skimpy dress from the strangers hands slipping it over her head quickly. "Please… Don't kill me."

"I am not going to kill you dear girl but I do have a few questions before we part ways." Conor replied giving her his charismatic smile.

The woman trembled in terror as she watched his appearance shift once more as the most attractive smile she had ever seen crossed his lips. "Anything. I will answer anything." She scanned his frame. "Do anything."

Conor smirked, Whores, all the same he thought to himself. "Your services will not be required." He smirked. "Where are the other two men?"

"You mean his two friends?" She asked.

"Yes, I am especially interested in the largest of the three. Have you met him?" Conor inquired with a smile.

"Yes he was a giant and a brut. Bruised me up a little in bed." She looked over at the dead body on the floor. "He was the runt of the liter boring fuck but hey his money spends the same."

"I am sure it does." Conor reached into his pocket pulling out his expensive leather wallet removing several crisp bills. "For your troubles my dear girl, now where are the other two?"

"Gone. They left said something about heading south. He just stayed to make sure of something. I couldn't hear them talk from the other room and well for one last…" She diverted her eyes down to the ground. "Fuck before heading home to his wife he said."

"Aren't you the Gent" Conor spoke the words to the dead corpse kicking him with his leather shoe. "How long ago did they leave?"

"Few hours ago." She replied hugging herself with her arms.

Turning without another word Conor retraced the footsteps that lead him to the skinniest of the three fuck heads. "One down two to go." He mumbled pressing his lips together the sound of his whistling floating in the air.

~1:15AM~

"If the man calling himself Conor Mc Gregory is the Whistler Mike he either knew you were onto him and disappeared or he was the one that attacked your girl and disappeared. Either way he's gone this place is clean as a whistle." Nicky paused at the irony of his statement. "Sorry."

"The real question Mike is why would an assassin on that level be after our girl? Or fucking SAMCRO for that matter." Aiden arched his brow his brooding brown eyes fixed.

"You took it didn't you Mickey." Nicky exhaled shaking his head regretfully. "I don't know many people who could lift that much blow without getting caught. It's why some of our mutual off the grid contacts disappeared from Nevada ain't it. You got a crew set up around Laguna don't ya you're the Southern Cali mystery man." He shook his head a wry smile creeping across his lips. "Son of a bitch."

Aiden holstered his gun standing calming for a moment. "What the FUCK asshole!" He shoved his palms into Mike's chest the unexpected blow pushing him back. "You chastised me about having her around the club in the parking lot that night but YOU…" He clenched his fist preparing to throw a punch.

"That's enough!" Nicky yelled his stormy hues glaring at the men. "Shit Mike you gotta come clean with Jax about this with the damn Mayans pointing their fingers at us for the heist the club has suffered because of your shit."

"You stupid Fucko! You will be lucky he doesn't have you killed for this! FUCK!" Aiden hissed the words loudly pacing back and forth.

"What the fuck do you care pretty boy just opens up the Amelia door for you and you alone." Mike paused for a moment. "Oh wait I forgot you already been opening my girls door."

"Fuck you Mike." He spit the words back at him. "I care because she almost died and because whether I like it or not she loves your stupid fuckin' ass." He hissed the words in fury. "We almost lost her because your stupid bullshit."

"I was trying to get out of the club life I needed to be able to support her for fuck sake! We were this close to being free from all this shit and you." Mike spit back spreading his thumb and index finger apart indicating how close. "What the fuck Janowitz would you have been content shacked up in the fucking cathedral living off her millions?"

"Man I would just be content to wake up next to her every day for the rest of my God damned life fuck the rest of your caveman bullshit." Aiden rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Your pride almost killed her. Oh, and who in the fuck are the Marchese's? Why does that name sound familiar?"

"Shut the fuck up both of you." Nicky scolded. "We got other shit to be concerned about then this little sharing is caring threesome ya'll got going on here."

The offensive words were plenty of incentive to turn the anger from one another as their head shot simultaneously towards Nicky's direction their fury shooting daggers in his direction.

~4:00AM~

"She's so beautiful Donna." Tara smiled as she peered down at the small swaddled bundle in her friend's arms. "I am so glad I was here."

"Me too Tara." Donna eyes shimmered as she spoke the words.

"Congrats brother." Jax hugged Opie. "Jesus Christ we needed something good to happen to us after all the shit these last few days."

"Jax we want to name her Hannah for your sister and Eloise for my grandmother." Donna smiled gently before looking towards Opie who nodded approvingly. "We are going to call her Ellie for short."

Haziness like clouds covered his sky blue irises for a moment before the sunshine of his smile finally broke through. "She's going to love that when we find her."

"Yeah." Happy spoke the single word as he walked in. "She's going to love it." A certain hope ringing in his words. They had to find her alive. They had to. He shut out the thoughts that threatened to creep into his subconscious that they would find her any other way.

~4:30AM~

"She's our only hope to find out for sure if it was him." The almost inaudible words escaped his mouth as he leaned up against the white wall watching her sleep.

"I know." Mike caressed her hand.

"Mike." Amelia's eyes fluttered open the tears falling instantly from the pain and loss.

"Shh its ok baby." Mike brushed back the stray strands of blonde hair that hung in her face.

"The baby…I'm so sorry." Her chest began to heave as she spoke. "I begged them…" Her voice broke off as the memories came flooding back. "I'm so sorry it's my fault we lost the baby…"

Aiden clenched his fist looking away the need for revenge consuming him. Motherfuckin' savages!

"Amelia I want you to listen to me. I don't care about the baby. I just want you." He gently touched an area of her forehead that wasn't bruised with his lips. "I am sorry... I never should have…" He paused the regret filling him. "I never should have pushed you into the baby to begin with. I was stupid so stupid and fucking arrogant. Jesus Christ I only want you." He lowered his head before meeting her sorrowful ocean blue eyes. "Forgive me baby. None of this is your fault."

"I love you." She reached up touching his face the pain coursing through her from the slight movement.

"I love you Amelia more than anything else in this fucked up world." Mike whispered the words.

She cracked her lips attempting to smile the pain sweeping over her just as he came into view. Their eyes locked and even though she didn't speak, the words Aiden knew she loved him too.

"When you get released baby we are leaving going back to Laguna and then far away." Mike interlaced his fingers with hers squeezing tightly. "Just the two of us."

Aiden pushed his weight off the wall to interject about Mike taking Amelia away from him just as her screams began to bellow from the room and he saw a look of fear in her crystal blue hues he had seen only once before. What the fuck?

"NO! NO! Please promise me you won't go to Laguna Mike." She clawed at his arm in desperation despite the pain that racked her body. "PROMISE ME!" She screamed.

"I am sorry but you are going to have to leave until we can get her calmed down." The nurse rushed in the room with a team of personal behind her.

"NO! PROMISE ME!" She continued to scream as the drug induced calm began to sweep over her.

~4:40pm Hospital parking Lot~

His hands trembled as he brought the cigarette to his mouth. Inhaling deeply he allowed the nicotine to course through him as he tilted his head up looking at the stars twinkling back unaware his life was crashing around him.

"Mike I have only seen fear in her eyes like that once before." Aiden popped a cigarette from the pack tossed to him flicking his lighter waving the flame underneath before snapping it closed. "We gotta find out who it was."

"You saw her she's not in any shape to discuss it at the moment. FUCK!" Mike paced around in a circle. "FUCK!"

"Man without her help the trail is gonna run cold quick it's not like we can have Juice help us here. Maybe Meeks could help?" Aiden brought the cigarette to his lips inhaling deeply releasing the smoke into the night sky. "Jax can't know about your Laguna escapades brother they will throw your ass to the dogs literally."

"I am going to lay the cut on the table walk away from this shit Aiden." Mike flicked the cherry ash the sparks flashing as they hit the pavement.

"These off the grid men that Nicky mentioned can they help us sort this shit?" Aiden asked nonchalantly.

"Us?" Mike crooked his head to the side. "Did you not hear what I said I am laying the cut down to reap this revenge?"

"I heard you." Aiden responded flatly.

"You telling me you are willing to go there First Nine Prince." Mike eyed him curiously. "You up for what I have in mind?"

"Yeah." Aiden replied flicking his cigarette onto the pavement extinguishing it with his boot. Pretending it was whoever attacked Amelia. "I need to be a part of this."

"You know this whatever it is between the three of us is only going to end shitty right?" Mikes green eyes narrowed in Aiden's direction as he spoke the words.

"Maybe not." He replied his voice monotone. "But either way I am willing to take the chance."

"Alright." Mike nodded. "The Laguna guys are very skilled but before we can make a move we gotta find a place to stash her that's safe." Mike replied looking once again up into the heavens. "And I gotta bury Marie … and my son."

"I know a place when its time." Aiden bowed his head remembering Marie's bloody body on the sprawled out on the expensive marble floor.

"FBI who is your contact?" The voice, which sounded like an answering machine, rang in his ear.

"Yeah can you connect me to Agent Montgomery?" He shifted his eyes from side to side, as he spoke the words to make sure for the 100th time no one was close.

"Can you hold one moment?" The voice on the other end replied.

"Sure I'll hold." Nicky responded.

~6:00AM~

"Thank you for seeing me home Jax." Tara smiled softly as she turned and unlocked the front door of her father's home.

"Your dad here?" Jax asked captivated my her slender fingers working the key in the hole.

"No probably left for work an hour ago." She responded as she turned the knob opening the door to the dimly lit room. "Would you like to come in for a minute?" She turned looking at him over her shoulder.

"More than anything but I know if I do Tara talking isn't going to be enough for me." Jax replied honestly. "I want you so fuckin' bad and I know I don't deserve to want you like that after all the shit that went down."

"Maybe for tonight we can pretend none of that happened." Tara responded reaching down taking his hand into her own.

"That's just it babe." Jax squeezed her soft hand against his own. "I don't want to pretend. I want it to be real and I want it to be forever."

"Come in with me Jax." Tara breathed the words against his lips as she pulled him into the door.

Jax stumbled in the door kicking it closed with his white canvas shoe the loud noise echoing through the silent room. Releasing her he cupped the sides of her face pulling her lips to his own and when they met Jax thought he would collapse from the pleasure. His body grew rigid in response. "Babe I want to be inside of you." He breathed the words against her lips.

"I want you Jax." Tara breathed the words against him.

The sound of the lamp being switched on filled the room followed by the burst of light that caused both of their eyes to squint as if they were standing in front of the headlights of an automobile.

"What the fuck?" Jax mumbled raising his hands to shield his eyes that were struggling to adjust.

"Looks like I spoiled your fun." The masculine figure rose from the couch. "Allow me to introduce myself." He extended his hand as he approached. "Josh, Josh Kohn."