Chapter 67: Ablation

A/N: Okay so just wanted to take a minute to say that I'm amazed at all of the reviews that I still get on this story. Thank you to everyone who still reads it. It's hard to believe that I've been working on this story for 4 years.

Gemma POV

"Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me? You've been in a car accident and I need you to stay calm and hold still so we can help you." Someone said. "What's your name? The name, can you tell me your name?"

Just then I saw Abel go past me on a stretcher. "Abel! Oh, my…oh my god!"

Jax POV

Some jackass had run us off the road. We'd managed to get ahold of him and kill him but then we had to put him in the back of Tara's car. She wasn't going to be happy about that. "Back to the cabin?" Tig asked me.

"Yeah. I'll drive Tara." I said.

"Okay. What are you going to tell her?" He asked.

"I'm gonna tell her there's a dead black guy in the back of the car." I said.

"Yeah, uh…" Tig trailed off.

Clay POV

"Get out of here Juice. No more questions." I said.

"Someone went after Jax. Tried to blow him and Chibs off the road." Juice said.

"Shit. They okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. That ain't all, Clay. St Thomas just called. Gemma got in an accident." Juice said.

Tara POV

"How did they know where to find you?" I asked. "Did they follow you?"

"I don't know. They were probably trailing us from the clubhouse." Jax said.

"Jesus. Was it Frankie?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." Jax said.

"If the other Nomads went after Unser…" I trailed off.

"We'll find out." He said.

"These were other members, Jax. SAMCRO. This isn't supposed to happen." I said.

"I know. Hey. I need you to stay in here." He said.

"Why?" I asked.

"We got to take care of this guy." He said.

"Oh…Christ." I said, realizing what he meant. He turned some music up loud. I guess so I wouldn't hear what they were doing.

Jax POV

"How's she doing?" Bobby asked when I walked outside.

"She'll be fine." I said.

"Couple of prison tats. Black Nation, that's it." Chibs said.

"How do you want to do this, Boss? Pieces? Wrap him for a hole?" Tig said.

"Other one. Take one to Unser, have him ID the prints. I want affiliations, who he works for, everything." I said.

"What's the other one for?" Bobby asked.

"Damon Pope. Same request." I said.

"Why Pope?" Tig asked.

"Because if he hired him, he'll probably lie about who he is." Bobby said.

"I'm tired of watching my back." I said.

Just then Tara came running outside. "We have to go." She said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"My babies." She said.

Bella POV

I'd just given Hap a beer to drink while I cleaned up the kitchen when his phone rang. He wasn't on it long before he came in the kitchen. "What is it?" I asked.

"Gemma was in an accident with the kids and someone tried to kill Jax and Chibs." Hap said.

"That's horrible. What do we do?" I asked.

"We have to get to St Thomas." He said and I nodded.

Jax POV

"Jesus. How long does this take?" I asked as we watched from the gallery as they performed surgery on Abel.

"They run the wire through his leg, up to his heart." Tara said. I sighed. "It's gonna be okay baby."

"Like this kid hasn't been through enough shit." I said.

"This is on Gemma." She said.

"Yeah." I said.

"If she was drunk or high, I swear to God, Jax…" She said.

"I know. I know." I said.

Clay POV

When they'd gotten Gemma moved into a room, I'd decided to wait with her until she woke up. I knew that she'd want to know about the boys as soon as she woke up. In the middle of the night she came to. "You're at St Thomas." I said.

"The boys…" She said.

"They're fine." I said.

"Abel…Abel, he was bleeding." She said.

"He's gonna be okay. Just a cut on the head." I told her.

"Oh, my god."

"What happened Gem?" I asked her. She started crying.

Bobby POV

Jax had met me outside the operating room to give me an update on Abel. I headed back to the waiting room where everyone was waiting. "All right, Abel's heartbeat went irregular. They got to do a thing to reverse it." I said.

"Oh, shit, man. That poor kid." Juice said.

"Yeah." I said.

"How's the baby?" Chucky asked.

"Tommy boy…he's golden. He didn't get a scratch." Chibs said.

"Gemma's banged up, but she's gonna be okay." Tig said. I noticed that he'd glanced over at Bella. I assumed that things weren't any better between them.

"How about you guys?" Phil asked.

"Fine." Chibs said.

"We know who the shooter is?" Hap asked.

"Jax is gonna bring everybody up to speed. Just stay available." I said.

I stood there and took a look around the room. Especially at Bella. She'd been through so much. I wondered if there was something going on between her and Hap. I'd have to ask him later.

Tara POV

"I fed him. Put on a fresh diaper." Margaret said handing me Thomas.

"Thank you." I said.

"Abel did great. His heartbeat is stable. Keeping him here a couple days is just a precaution." She said.

"Appreciate that." Jax said.

"Let me know if you need anything." Margaret said.

"Is my mother awake?" Jax asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll find out." She said.

"Thank you." Jax said.

A few minutes later, Bobby poked his head in. "Jax. Unser's here. He's got some info." Bobby said.

I told Tara that I'd be back soon. I walked with Bobby back to the waiting room where everyone including Bella was waiting. I walked over to where Unser was standing. "It was an easy trace. Charles Turner. Been inside more than out. Armed robbery, assault, domestic violence…" He said.

"What about his affiliations?" I asked.

"Nothing on the outside. Black Nation in Chino. He just got out two months ago." Unser said.

"No ties to Pope?" Tig asked.

"Ain't from Oakland. San Diego. Long Beach." Unser said.

"Okay. Thanks." I said.

"Hey, next time, few fingerprints on a glass will suffice." Unser said.

Just then Margaret poked her head in the waiting room. "Jax?" I turned to look at her. "Gemma's awake." She said.

"Okay thanks." I said.

I started to make my way out of the waiting room when I heard Bobby. "This ain't gonna be good." Bobby said.

"No, it ain't." Unser said.

I made my way down to Gemma's room. Surprisingly, I found Clay sitting with her. "Let me know if you need anything at all." The nurse said to Gemma.

"What happened?" I asked. "Were you drunk?"

"Guys in a van came after her. Ran her off the road, just like you." Clay said.

"Jesus Christ. Did you get a look at them?" I asked.

"No. Happened, uh, happened really fast." Gemma said. "Van just came out of nowhere."

"Oh, my god. I'm sorry mom." I said.

"Are my babies okay?" She asked.

"Yeah. They're fine. This is my fault." I said.

"Oh no. No, I-I'm okay, sweetheart. You just go take care of business, all right?" She said.

"Only one guy we know gets off on dead kids." Clay said.

I made my way out to the hallway where the guys were waiting. "Pope wants to meet. Train yard." Bobby said.

"Tiggy, you need to stay here." Chibs said. "I'll grab Hap."

"You keep an eye on my family." I told Bobby.

"Always."

Bella POV

I was sitting in the waiting room when Hap walked over to me. "Hey." He said.

"Hey. How's Gemma?" I asked.

"She's okay. A little banged up. Listen, I gotta go with Jax, you gonna be okay?" He asked me.

I nodded. "I'll be fine."

Jax POV

"My company just closed the deal with the city on this property." Pope said. "Five years from now this will be affordable housing. Multi-family units. Retail…park…Metro station."

"Where do they put your bronze statue?" I asked.

"Someplace where no one can chop the hands off. I'll chalk that off to a decision made under duress. Don't test me again." Pope said.

"He was black, what the hell was I supposed to think?" I asked.

"That someone wants you dead, and hired a black guy to do it." Pope said. "Unemployment's crushing the hood, brothers need work."

"Well, you were right." I said.

"Huh?"

"Attacks were coming from the inside. But how do I know the orders aren't coming from you?" I asked.

"The hand belonged to Charles Turner. Tyler has the intel on his known associates. I assume one of them will be the second shooter. Maybe they'll provide the truth you need." Pope said.

"Look, man, if I get a member trying to take me out, I got to cross everyone else off the list before I go there." I said.

"Understood. Betrayal's an awful thing."

"Maybe I should get me one of those goon squads." I said.

"Stay close, Jax. You won't need one." He said, before he climbed into his car and left.

"So, what do you know about Turner?" I asked Tyler.

"He ain't local. Got a brother-in-law lives on the six-six. That's it." Tyler said.

"All right, let's go." I said.

Gemma POV

I was sitting in my hospital bed when Nero walked in. "I'm sorry this happened to you." He said. I started crying. "Hey, it's gonna be alright. What?"

"I was stoned driving those kids. I thought I'd be okay. I drive high all the time." I said. "And I-I didn't want to miss my chance to be with them."

"I hear you. It's okay, baby. It's okay." He said.

"No, it's not. Clay lied for me. Told Jax someone ran me off the road. I let him believe it. Jax and Tara are never gonna forgive me if they find out." I said.

"That'll come back Gemma. You know how that shit works. You gotta get in front of it. You tell 'em the truth. You tell 'em the truth." He said.

Chucky poked his head in. "Clay's coming. Thought I should tell you." He said.

"On that note, I'll check in on you." Nero said.

"Yeah thanks."

Clay POV

"I'll walk you out." I said when I walked into the room and saw Nero standing there. Once we were in the hallway I looked at him. "Whatever it was with you and my wife, it's over." I said.

"Well, maybe we should let her make that call." Nero said.

"I know you and Jax are tight and club appreciates your pussy salvation, but make no mistake, you get in my way with Gemma, I'll kill ya." I said.

"Don't worry, mano. I don't make mistakes. Not like you." He said.

Tara POV

"Hey. They released you?" I asked Gemma when she walked into Abel's room.

"Yeah. Pretty soon." Gemma said.

"How you feeling?" I asked her.

"Little sore. I'm okay." She said.

"Jax told me what happened." I said.

"Yeah."

"Thank you…for keeping them safe." I said.

"I hit a goddamn tree." She said.

"I'm so glad it was you behind the wheel. It could have been so much worse." I said.

Just then Jax walked in. "Hey. You doing okay?" He asked Gemma.

"Yeah. Where you been?" She asked him.

"Looking for the guy who tried to kill both of you." I said.

"Any luck?" She asked.

"We're still putting it together. Do you remember anything from last night?" Jax asked her. "Make or model of the van?"

"No."

"Color?" He asked.

"Dark. Brown maybe." She said.

"Don't worry. We'll find this guy." Jax said, as his phone started ringing and he walked out.

"Can I see Abel?" She asked me.

"Of course." I said.

Jax POV

"Oh. Yo, anyone home?" Bobby called when we walked into Diosa.

"Back here, mano." Nero called.

We followed the sound of his voice. When we found him, he was being held by gunpoint by Frankie Diamonds. "Guns and knives." Frankie said.

"Jesus Christ." I said.

"Drop your clips, slide 'em across the floor. Now!" Frankie said.

"Okay!" I said. We did as Frankie asked (demanded). "These two have nothing to do with -" I started but Frankie interrupted me.

"Shut up and get on your knees. Put your hands behind your heads!" Frankie said.

"Come on, Frankie, what the hell is this?" Bobby asked.

"What do you think?" Frankie asked. "I want money! I know you got cartel cash in the chapel safe." Frankie said.

"We ain't a bank, Frankie. Drug money comes from the Mayans." I said. "Cash from the guns goes straight to the Irish."

"Hey, I don't give a shit where you get it. I need 200 grand, or I kill Chibs' whore."

Chibs was trying so hard not to rush over and beat the living shit out of Frankie. "I got that, I got that." Nero said. "In my studio, there's about 130 in cash, couple of good watches. You want that?"

"Yeah." Frankie said.

"Just take that gun out of her mouth, okay." Nero said.

"All right. Elvis, get up off your fat ass and go get it- move!" Frankie said. "You try anything, I'll kill 'em both."

"The safe is in my closet. 10-19-0-3." Nero said.

"How do you think this ends, Frankie?" I asked.

"This wasn't my idea, kid." Frankie said. "Clay promised us shit he couldn't deliver."

"You're telling me Clay was behind the break-ins?" I asked.

"Come on, Jax, you know Clay. He'd do anything to get the gavel back, and his cash points." Frankie said.

"He sign off you going after me and my family?" I asked.

"I never went after your family." Frankie said.

"Someone went after Gemma and my kids last night." I said.

"Now, why the hell would I do that?" Frankie said.

"'Cause you're a greasy scumbag animal." Chibs said.

Just then Bobby came back with the money. "On the table." Frankie said. "Get back on your knees. Is that your truck out back?"

"Yeah, homes. Here - key's in my pocket." Nero said.

"Get the keys." Frankie said. Then he looked at Chibs. "Get up Scotty." He said to Chibs. Lyla whimpered.

"Frankie…" I said.

"Get back Jax! Get back." Frankie said.

"Jackie…" Chibs said. I knew what he meant. If he didn't come back he wanted me to take care of Lyla.

"You're driving. Let's go." Frankie said.

"All right." Chibs said.

"You come after me, I'll kill him." Frankie said.

"Your making a mistake." I said. Just then Frankie shot Lyla in the leg. Chibs cussed. "Jesus Christ."

"Oh Jesus!" Chibs said as Frankie pushed him out the door.

"Is he gonna kill Chibs?" Lyla asked.

"No, he'll - he'll prbably just let him out when they get far enough away." Bobby said.

"I got a doctor on the way. He's a client. We're fine." Nero said. Then he looked at me. "You remember what you promised?"

"I know." I said. "I'm sorry this shit landed here."

"We ain't even open yet and I got an employee with a bullet in her leg." Nero said.

"I know. I'm gonna handle it." I said.

"How you gonna handle it, more bullets?" He asked.

"Come on, man, it's a club problem." I said.

"No, no, it's - it's your problem." He said. "And now it's my problem. That's the way this whole partner thing works, man."

"I got it. And I'm telling you, it's not gonna happen again. Okay?" I said.

"But we both know that's a lie, right?"

"So what you saying man? You want out?" I asked.

"Yeah, I do. That's why we got into this, remember? You got a beautiful wife, you got two healthy kids - you need accelerate the endgame, Jax. Get away from all the shit that's trying to kill you." He said.

"I know. I know what I have to do." I said.

"And what about the rest of them? 'Cause if Clay set these guys in motion, brother on brother, shit, mano, you ain't got no trust to lean on." Nero said.

"I'm gonna get together the cash we owe you." I said.

"What are you gonna do about Gemma?" He asked.

"Now, that's not your concern, Nero." I said.

"Oh you got to be kidding me with that shit, right? After all this, I think I earned a little concern. Clay lied about her being run off the road. She wanted to tell you the truth, but she got caught up in all that stuff going on with Tara…"

"She almost killed my kids!" I yelled.

"Okay, I'm not saying that she didn't make a mistake - but the lie, that was because she was scared." Nero said.

"Yeah, she should be." I said.

"Really? Well, what are you gonna do, Pres? You gonna beat the shit out of your mom? Ain't that been done enough by your family?" Nero said.

"You wanna be with Gemma? Be my guest! She's your problem now. Partner." I said.

Tara POV

"That's a good boy. That's a good boy." Gemma said rocking Thomas.

"Could you give us a minute?" Jax said to Margaret.

"Uh, sure. I'll be in NICU." Margaret said.

"Okay. What's the matter, baby?" I asked.

"I got some new information." He said as he walked over and took Thomas from Gemma. "Are you gonna tell her or should I?"

"I love him so much, baby." Gemma said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"No one tried to run me off the road. When you called last night, I was getting high with Unser. I thought I'd be okay to drive. I just didn't want to miss my chance to be with them." Gemma said. I walked over to her and slapped her. "I'm sorry."

"You're done. You don't call…see or come near my kids again." I said.

"Tara, please." She said.

"Get out!" I yelled and Thomas started crying as did I.

Jax POV

"Just tell them about Frankie and Chibs." I said to Bobby.

"What about Clay?" He asked.

"We don't know anything yet. Not until we can prove it. Until then, he can't know we're on to him." I said.

"However this thing unravels with Clay…it's got to come to the club." Bobby said.

"I know." I said.

"Do you?" Bobby asked.

"You just bring the guys up to speed." I said.

Later that night…

"Do you ever regret coming back?" I asked Tara.

"To Charming?" She said. "No…Sometimes…I wonder what would have happened if I never left." She said.

"Yeah, I think about that too. I think about all those choices lately." I said.

"You want to tell me?" She asked.

"I'm pretty sure Clay was the one calling all the shots with the Nomads." I said.

"How do you know that?" She asked.

"We caught up with Frankie. Clay was using the home invasions to create a shitstorm, hoping the noise in and out of the club would push me out of my seat." I said.

"What do you do now?" She asked.

"I gotta prove it. Let the Club make the call?" I said.

"What call?" She asked.

"To cut him out and kill him." I said.

"How do we do that?" She asked.

"I have a plan. You may not like it." I told her.

Tara decided that she was gonna stay with Abel at the hospital and they opened the daycare center for her so Thomas could hang out there. So I decided to go pay Clay a visit. "I got calls into everybody. We're gonna find Frankie, put this shit to bed." Clay said.

"I know." I said.

"What'd Pope have to say?" He asked.

"Gave us some good intel on the second shooter." I said.

"Uh-huh."

"My guess is that Frankie hired black to put us off the truth. Got some facts straight." I said.

"Oh, yeah. And what's that?" Clay asked.

"No one went after Gemma or my kids. I know why you lied for her. I'd have done the same thing to protect Tara." I said.

"Does Gemma know?" He asked.

"Yeah. Tara's cut her out. She's dead to my family." I said.

"Shit." He said.

"You're the only thing she's got left." I said.

"She don't want me." He said.

"I'm worried about her, Clay. She's already on edge. I'm not sure what happens to her without family. She's gonna need you." I told him.

Gemma POV

"Somebody to see you babe." Nero said. I looked at the doorway and saw Jax standing there. "We okay here?"

"Yeah. I heard what you said." Jax said to him.

"Good. Be civil." Nero said before he walked out.

"I didn't feel like going home." I said.

"You want to fix the damage you caused?" Jax asked me.

"Yes, of course I do." I said.

"Then you need to prove to Tara that you can be trusted." He said.

"I'm cold turkey, Jax. No booze. No weed. I'm serious." I said.

"It's not that easy." He said.

"Then how? Just tell me." I said.

"Clay was the one that put the Nomads in motion. The home invasions, attack on me and Chibs, everything." He said.

"Oh, my god." I said.

"I need proof. You're gonna get it for me." He said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"He'd do anything for you. Let him in. Get his trust." Jax said.

"You want me to spy on him?" I asked.

"I want you to be with him. Sleep with him. Make him feel like a king. The dirty secrets will start to flow just like they always did." He said.

"What if I can't do that?" I asked.

"Then get used to living in a brothel. Because hookers and bangers are gonna be your only family." He said.

Bella POV

"Thanks for coming back to get me." I said.

"Your welcome." Hap said as I unlocked the front door.

Once we were inside, I turned to look at Hap. He had a strange look on his face, one that I didn't recognize. "What?" I asked.

"How are things with Tig?" He asked me.

"I really don't wanna talk about my dad." I said.

"Okay…then what about us?" He said, shocking me.

"What about us?" I asked.

He closed the distance between us. "Bella, come on…I know you feel the connection between us." Hap said.

"Hap…" I tried to say but wasn't sure how to form the words that I wanted to say.

"Just tell me what's on your mind." He said.

"I'm not good for you Hap. I'm damaged goods. I'm raising Ope's kids." I said.

"Do you think that matters to me? I'm crazy about you Bella. And that's never happened before. I've never wanted a relationship with any woman. But you…I want everything with you." Hap said.

"And if I can't give you everything?" I asked.

"Then we'll figure it out…together." He said.