The more things change... (Jax)

[drownedindreams]

Tara doesn't know what time it is - it's dark outside, and she's fumbling for her keys. She's exhausted.

She's also two hours late - maybe more - and covered in blood, in various stages of drying. It's smeared her cheek, soaked into her clothes, on her hands - mostly gone from her hands, but she didn't do a surgical scrub so it's under her nails, it's everywhere.

Her phone's dead - she'd thought she'd go home to charge it, but she'd been ten minutes - maybe less, from being in a bookstore with a guy with a gun. Russell'd gotten shot, instead, and Derek-- and other bystanders. She'd helped however she could, nevermind that she was 35 weeks pregnant and had all the dexterity of a land whale.

It brought back bad memories. Bad, bad memories, and she couldn't seem to get the key in the lock. She should be able to, but she just kept missing it, even though she tried.

Comments

[consciencedcowardice]

"Baby-sitter," Jax promises. He leans in close and cups her face, smoothing thumbs over her cheekbones. "I was gonna go pick them up...I can call..."

Tara looks like she could crumple at any second and it hurts Jax to see that. He doesn't know what scares him more, the way Tara gets cold and steely or when she looks so fragile.

[drownedindreams]

That's all she needed to hear, so she could take a breath, and she could nod and then get this taken care of. "Good, I just didn't want them to see this." She turns her face to his hand, pressing a kiss to his fingers. "It's okay, baby. I put him back together, I just want to get the blood off before you go get the kids. Alright?" She could act like this was normal, just like he had for so long, back home.

[consciencedcowardice]

"Why the fuck do you think we got that giant tub?" It's a pretty damn bad joke, though he likes to think they've enjoyed the tub plenty since they chose it. Not that he'll immediately admit to the multitude of benefits that come from living on Tara's dime. Pride still has a place.

"Get cleaned up. I'll bring out boys home."