Happy strode briskly down the polished hallways of St. Thomas, his heart racing with each step. Jax was close at his side, the rest of the club trailing behind them, their expressions a mix of concern and determination. Earlier that day, Tara had called Jax, her voice laced with urgency as she relayed unsettling news about Alyssa. She had insisted that they come immediately, and the gravity of her tone left no room for doubt that something was seriously amiss.
As they navigated the hallway, Happy's mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Could her scumbag ex-husband be behind this? The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine, igniting a fierce protective instinct within him. The vibrant ambiance of the bustling hospital felt oddly jarring against the heaviness in his chest, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were racing against time to uncover the truth.
As he strolled down the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway of the hospital, a knot of anxiety tightened in Happy's stomach. He spotted Tara leaning against the wall just outside Alyssa's room, her expression a mix of concern and exhaustion. The faint beeping of medical equipment echoed in the background, heightening the tension in the air. "Hey, Tara," he said, his voice steady but laced with urgency as he stepped closer.
"What happened?" He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself, trying to keep his emotions in check despite the storm of worry and anger brewing inside him. He studied Tara's tear-streaked face, searching for answers in her eyes as he braced himself for the news he dreaded to hear. pment echoed in the background, heightening the tension in the air.
Tara let out a heavy sigh as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her jaw clenched in frustration as she glanced over at her sister, Alyssa. "Brian attacked her again and almost killed her," Tara said through gritted teeth, her voice barely concealing the rage bubbling beneath the surface. This morning, after dropping the boys off at school and knowing that Neeta was nearby to watch little Sabrina for the day, Tara had felt a sense of urgency to check on Alyssa before heading into work. As she stepped through the threshold of the familiar home, though, an icy wave of horror washed over her. There lay Alyssa sprawled on the living room floor, her body surrounded by a pool of crimson that starkly contrasted with the pale beige carpet. Alyssa was barely breathing, her face bruised and smeared with fresh cuts, the remnants of a brutal encounter. Panic gripped Tara as she rushed to her sister's side, her heart racing.
"Jesus Christ," Jax said with a heavy sigh, his breath warm against the cool evening air as he pulled Tara closer to him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, feeling the weight of unspoken words lingering between them. "I'm so sorry, babe," he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He could see the sadness in her eyes, a reflection of the close bond she had shared with Alyssa. Jax knew this moment was a crushing blow for Tara, and the ache in his chest deepened as he sensed how deeply this was affecting her.
"Where is he at this moment?" Happy insisted, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
Tara let out a heavy sigh, running her fingers through her tangled hair. She shook her head slowly, her brow furrowed in worry. "I don't know," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "He could be anywhere..." As the weight of her thoughts pressed down on her, she drifted off, grappling with the horrifying reality of Brian's actions after he left Alyssa alone, vulnerable and in grave danger. Suddenly, her eyes widened in realization, and she instinctively clutched Jax's arm, her grip tightening with urgency. "Oh my God, I think I know where he went," she gasped, panic lacing her voice as a chilling realization dawned on her.
"Where? Tara, what is it?" Jax asked, his voice tense with concern as he observed the color drain from Tara's face, leaving her pale and shaken. The panic reflected in her wide eyes sent a chill down his spine, echoing the same terror he had witnessed the night they received that devastating call from St. Thomas. It was the night their lives had been forever altered when they learned their sons had been involved in a serious car accident. The memory flooded back—hours of uncertainty, the rush of adrenaline, and the paralyzing fear that had gripped his heart. Jax reached out, instinctively placing a hand on her shoulder, desperately trying to anchor her in the present.
Tara closed her eyes and took a deep, ragged breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. "Neeta's home with Sabrina, Lydia, and Nathan," she said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "They spent the night with us, remember?" She glanced up at Jax, hoping to find a shared memory in his eyes. The warmth of those moments flooded back—the laughter that filled the room, the late-night snacks, and the stories that bound them together. But before anyone could respond, Happy, with his characteristic impulsiveness, was already striding away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the hallway, leaving the fragile moment hanging in the air.
"Call Neeta and let her know we're on our way," Jax instructed, his voice steady despite the rush of activity around them. He leaned down to plant a quick kiss on Tara's forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin against his lips. As he straightened up, he could see Happy and the rest of his gang waiting for him a few yards away, animatedly discussing their next move. With a determined nod, he turned to join them, leaving Tara to pull out her phone and dial Neeta, her expression a mix of eagerness and anticipation.
Tara quickly pulled out her cell phone, her heart racing with concern, and dialed Neeta's number. As soon as Neeta answered, Tara's voice was laced with urgency. "Hey, are the kids okay?" she asked, her mind racing through all the possibilities of what could have gone wrong. She could almost hear the faint sounds of children playing in the background, but the worry in her stomach made it hard to focus.
"Yeah, they're fine. They're watching Cartoons. Is everything okay? Tara, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Neeta asked with concern as she could tell by the tone of Tara's voice something wasn't right.
Tara looked over at Alyssa when she answered Neeta's question with a question of her own." Has Alyssa's ex-husband come over to the house yet?"
"Yes, it happened earlier today. But don't worry—the kids are safe, and I made sure not to let him inside the house. He seemed agitated but kept insisting on seeing Lydia and Nathan. Before he left, he warned me that he would return later to pick them up, which made me uncomfortable. I've already locked the doors and I'm keeping a close eye on the windows."
Tara sighed in relief when Neeta informed her that the kids were safe. However, she wasn't pleased to learn that Brian would return. "Jax and the club are on their way. Keep the doors locked until they arrive, and Neeta, no matter what happens, don't let Brian anywhere near those kids," she instructed before hanging up and walking into Alyssa's hospital room.
Opening her eyes, Alyssa was greeted by the sterile scent of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines nearby. As her gaze adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights, she noticed Happy sitting at a small, round table in the corner of her hospital room, the sunlight filtering through the window and casting a warm glow around him. "Hey," she croaked, her voice raspy and strained. "Why are you sitting all the way over there?" She winced slightly, trying to shake off the lingering fog of medication that clouded her mind.
Happy looked up from his phone as soon as he heard her voice. He placed his phone in his pocket and stood up. Walking towards her, he said softly, "Hey," as he leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead. He felt relieved that she was awake.
"How are you feeling?" Happy asked as he sat down beside her on the hospital bed. "You really scared me, babe," he said, gently placing his hand against her cheek. Happy usually didn't scare easily, but today, he was terrified that Alyssa might never wake up. He wasn't sure what he would have done if he had lost her.
Alyssa closed her eyes, leaning into his warm touch as she placed her hand over his. She pressed her lips gently against his palm, feeling the steady pulse beneath her fingers. "I'm not going anywhere, Happy," she whispered softly, locking her fingers with his and creating an intimate connection that made the world disappear.
A warm smile spread across his face as he leaned down, capturing Alyssa's lips with a kiss that was both deep and passionate, igniting a spark between them. After lingering for a moment, he pulled back slightly, resting his forehead gently against hers, their breaths mingling in the soft glow of the fading evening light. A sigh escaped his lips, heavy with unspoken thoughts, as he straightened up, the weight of the moment pressing on him. "There's something you should know," he said, his voice steady but tinged with an air of seriousness that contrasted with the earlier warmth of their connection.
Alyssa glanced at Happy, her brow furrowed with worry and concern. "Happy, what is it? Are the kids okay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as her mind raced with anxiety. Images of Brian looming large in her thoughts filled her with dread—fear that he had taken the children away, whisking them off to who knows where and that she might never see their bright smiles again. The heavy weight of uncertainty settled in her chest, making her breathing hard.
Happy shook his head, a reassuring smile on his face. "The kids are wonderful," he said warmly. "They're staying with Tara and Jax for the weekend." His tone was calm, intended to set her mind at ease and dispel any lingering worries she might have had.
Alyssa sighed in relief, knowing that Nathan and Lydia were safe and that Brian hadn't done anything to harm them. "Then... what's wrong?" she asked, still feeling that something had happened that she wouldn't like.
"After Tara shared the news of your accident, we immediately set out to find Brian, but despite our efforts, we could not track him down."
Alyssa sighed heavily. "This means he could still be out there. Damn it."
"We'll find him, and I'll take care of it," Happy said, reassuring her.
Alyssa sighed and nodded. "Yeah, okay." She wasn't sure what would happen or what Happy would do to question it. Alyssa wanted Brian out of her life for good and didn't care what Happy had to do to make that happen, as long as she never had to see that asshole again
It was around 2 a.m., and Tara couldn't sleep. No matter how hard she closed her eyes and tried to drift off, she couldn't shake the image of her little sister, all bruised and bloody, lying unconscious on the living room floor. Tara had promised that Alyssa would be safe, no matter what, and now she felt she had failed. Tara had let her little sister down.
While Jax, Happy, and the club were out searching for Brian, Tara remained by Alyssa's bedside, waiting for her to wake up. As she sat there, watching her little sister lying unconscious in the hospital bed, Tara began to recall the day their mother passed away from cancer. Tara was only ten years old then, and Alyssa was just seven. Tara had been the only one in the room with their mom. Alyssa was too scared and upset to stay, so Gemma offered to keep her company, which Tara was grateful for, especially since their father left the hospital to get fresh air and never returned. He didn't come back to say goodbye.
Tara took a deep drag from the joint she had been smoking for the last fifteen minutes, and her mind wandered back to the first time she returned to Charming in ten years for her father's funeral. When Gemma called to let her know that her father had passed away, Tara made a flimsy excuse, telling Gemma that she couldn't leave Chicago at the time. However, when Alyssa called, begging her to come to the funeral, Tara realized she needed to set aside her personal feelings about their father and be there for her little sister.
"Babe, what are you doing up?" Jax asked as he walked into the kitchen. He approached the kitchen table and sat down beside Tara. Jax sighed deeply, took the joint from Tara's hand, and puffed before stubbing it in the ashtray. "You need to get some sleep."
Tara shook her head, rubbing the space between her eyes. "I can't, Jax. I can't sleep. Every time I try to close my eyes, I keep seeing my little sister lying on that damn floor, covered in blood. All I can think about is the possibility of losing her. I've already lost my parents, Jax. I can't bear the thought of losing her too."
Jax quickly took Tara's hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles, kissing her hand tenderly. "Tara, Alyssa is fine, and you won't lose her," he said reassuringly. He could already sense that Tara was blaming herself for what happened to Alyssa, and he hated seeing her like this.
"I was supposed to look out for her, but instead, I failed. I failed today just as I did twenty years ago," Tara growled. She took a deep breath, exited the kitchen table, grabbed her purse and car keys, and walked towards the front door.
Jax quickly got up from the kitchen table and ran out. "Hey, where are you going?" he asked, grabbing Tara's wrist to stop her from walking out the door.
Tara let out a deep sigh as she looked up at Jax for a moment. "I need to clear my head, so I'm going to drive around for a bit. Don't worry; I will be fine," she said softly. Leaning up, she kissed Jax gently and tenderly before pulling her wrist out of his grasp and walking out the door.
"Damn it," Jax sighed, running his hand down his face in frustration. He walked toward their bedroom and called someone to watch the kids. He knew Tara needed some space, but Jax couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone. She wasn't thinking clearly, and he was worried about her.
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AN: First, thank everyone for the new favorite and follow. Also, here's a brand new chapter for you all to read. Feel free to leave some reviews!