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Chapter 585 Downloading

"

"I'm going to grab some coffee," David said. "You want anything?"

"I'm fine."

He returned shortly with a large cup of black coffee.

"How's Tara doing?"

"She is either in surgery or is going soon. They fixed the internal bleeding yesterday, but she has a compound fracture. The really good orthopedist is back from vacation today, so based on their recommendations, I decided to wait."

"So you're completely in charge of her medical care?"

Scarlett nodded. "Yeah, it was a surprise to me too, but she doesn't really have anyone else. Jax and I left as soon as I got the call. We stayed overnight because it's such a drive and I want to be close at least until she's out of ICU."

"How does Jax feel about you talking to me?"

"This is too big for SAMCRO to handle and I'm doing this on Tara's behalf, so I'm not breaking any MC rules."

Since she'd changed her blonde hair to deep reddish brown, she was even more beautiful. The darker color suited her exotic blue-green eyes and bone structure. He could just stare at her for hours.

He didn't have much opportunity to talk to Scarlett alone and he didn't know when he would get another chance. She was so amazing, smart and charming; he hated to see her throw her life away on Jax. Their romance could never have a happy ending. Sooner or later, Jax was going to end up dead or in prison. Few made it out of the outlaw biker life without experiencing one or the other. She deserved better even if that meant it was with someone other than him.

He knew only too well what girls saw in Jax Teller. He was tall, blonde, handsome and he had charisma. Every girl in high school wanted to be with him and if Jax Teller wanted to be with a girl; it happened. Simple as that. There was just no competing with him.

He didn't blame Scarlett for falling for Jax's looks and charm. He'd hoped that she would be the exceptional woman who would see beyond all that, but he wasn't surprised when she fell for Jax. It still hurt to lose another girl to Jax.

He'd had a crush on Tara back in high school. He actually thought he was making progress. They were having good conversations and she seemed to enjoy his company. She wasn't the prettiest, funniest or most popular girl in school. She was the smartest and that wasn't a desirable trait in a girl back in high school. He'd liked her intelligence though. He'd finally worked up the nerve to ask her out and was walking to her locker when he saw her with Jax. For some reason, she'd caught Jax's eye and that was the end of his romantic dreams with Tara.

He wasn't under any illusions that any words he might say would cause Scarlett to come to her senses about Jax, but he felt compelled to warn her. Maybe one day, his words might sink in. He wanted to save her from what life with Jax was going to be like. She might not see it now, but she wasn't going to have a happy life with him at least not long term.

"You know being the old lady of an outlaw biker isn't an easy life," David said gently.

"Still not used to the term old lady," Scarlett admitted with a smile. "As far as the outlaw part, there are outlaws everywhere; some are just more obvious about it. Jax owns who he is not like a lot of people. Look at that crypto crook. He was on the cover of major magazines hailed as some boy wonder genius. It turns out he's a garden variety crook. He just wasn't wearing a cut and he stole billions."

"And if my father were sentencing him, he'd be spending decades behind bars."

"I think I'd like your father."

"Seriously, Scarlett, the difference is Jax's world is more violent than a white collar crypto criminal. I don't want to see you caught up in something that could get you hurt or killed."

"I appreciate your concern, but I feel safe. Jax is very protective."

"What if you need protection from him?"

Scarlett appeared to think that over for several moments.

"I'll come to you," she said softly. "I know it will never come to that, but I know that if something happens, you'll help me."

David felt a surge of heat spread through his body. Damn Jax Teller! Scarlett should be his. Sooner or later, it was going to happen. She'd practically said so.

"Most outlaw bikers end up dead or locked up," he pointed out gently.

"Are you going to try to lock up Jax?"

"I really hope it doesn't come to that, but if he commits a crime, I won't have a choice," David said sincerely. He didn't want her to think that he was out to get Jax or that would drive her closer to him, but he wanted nothing more than to slap cuffs on Jax Teller and lock him up.

"I understand," she said. He was sure he heard a trace of heartbreak in her voice. She must realize that he was right about how things would end with Jax.

"You can always count on me."

"Thank you for that. I know Tara trusts you too. She told me to come to you if something happened to her. She doesn't trust Unser since he's in SAMCRO's pocket; he could be in someone else's pocket too."

"And Jax is OK with this?" David repeated his earlier question.

"This is too big for SAMCRO to handle and it's really not their area. And I'm not doing this as Jax's old lady. I'm handing you something Tara told me to give you," Scarlett said. She pulled out a thumb drive from her shoulder bag and handed it to David.

"Do you know what's on it?" David asked taking it from her.

"Yeah. There are copies and a back-up in the cloud just in case. I looked at one of the copies. Tara was worried that her investigation into St. Thomas might cause someone to try to hurt her. She wanted to make sure that her investigation didn't die if she did."

"Can you give me a preview?"

"Tara's boss Dr. Namid has been doing illegal things with babies including killing some of them. It's kind of a mercy killing business. No insurance and the parents never sue when the risky surgery with few benefits goes wrong and their seriously ill baby dies. He also has a shell company that the parents donate the bodies of their dead babies to. Tara suspects that the organs are harvested and sold on the black market."

"Proof?"

"She's got a lot of the connections and proof you'll need. You should be able to get subpoenas to wrap up the case."

David felt a mix of emotions. If Tara was right, this was going to devastate the hospital. It would be the biggest scandal in Charming history. And it could make his career and shut up anyone that doubted his ability to take over for Unser when he faced facts that his health prevented him from doing his job and retired.

"Now I get why she didn't tell me of her suspicions."

Scarlett nodded.

"And it is going to be hard for her. I don't see St. Thomas neonatal department surviving this. Tara won't have a job and even if they create some position for her at the hospital, others will lose their jobs and there will be a certain group who will hate her for revealing the ugly truth."

"To some, she'll be a hero, but you're right; others will blame her for exposing the truth and hurting the hospital. It's the same with being a cop."

"I talked to her this morning to make sure she still wanted me to give you the information and she said to do it. She knows if she doesn't get the word out, they'll be another attempt on her life. She is a no contact patient. I requested that so no one from St. Thomas can find her if they call looking for her."

"Good thinking. I wonder if I should stay around to talk to her."

"I don't know when she's going to have surgery or how long it will take. I think she will be out of it most of the day. She can call you or I can call you when she's ready to talk. For now, maybe you can start with looking at the information on the thumb drive."

"OK, I'll do that and give Tara a few days. I'm assuming she's expected to live."

"Unless something goes wrong in surgery or she gets sepsis. She was lucky Steve was with her and shot at the driver to keep him from running over her."

"That the guy she's seeing?"

"For now. They aren't serious."

"Is he around so I can talk to him?"

"No, I suggested he leave the hospital until he hears from Tara. He's going to tell people she's at Queen of the Valley Hospital near Napa. They won't find a record of her and then they won't know if she's under an assumed name or is a no contact patient."

"I'd still like to talk to him."

Scarlett pulled out her phone and read off Steve's number to David.

"Thanks. Will you text me when Tara's out of surgery to let me know how she's doing."

"Of course."

David finished the last of his coffee before standing up and putting his hand on Scarlett's shoulder.

"You take care of yourself."

"Thank you David."

He left feeling optimistic about his chances with Scarlett. All he needed to do was lock up Jax. Scarlett would see him for the criminal that he is and she'd dump his ass.

And then she would be all his.

Author's Note: Thanks to the efforts of readers/writers led by FanFicITSucksBig, the view/visitors counters have finally been fixed after over three months. Will be posting more often now.