❛ This is my way of healing
past shit between us. ❜

chapter eleven.

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

      THE NEXT DAY, Scarlett waves after Luke and Camille as they leave the trashed Clubhouse together. Cami had dropped by to pick up Luke after all the shit with the feds, and she ended up getting caught in a conversation with her best friend. Eventually, Luke managed to stop the conversation and drag his girlfriend away.

"See you later, bro," Jax claps his hand on Luke's back as they pass one another before he trudges his way over to Scarlett with his usual stagger in his walk.

She raises an eyebrow at him when he leans forward on the bar, a cheeky smile growing on his face while he stares at her.

"Yes, Jackson?" She asks, "You need something?"

"Are you okay?" His brow furrow in concern, noticing how her statue is harder than before the raid, "You knew that ATF agent, who is he?"

Scarlett swallows thickly, "Just some dick."

"He was watching me with Abel on the hospital the other day, Scarlett. If you got something going on with him, you really should call it—"

"Jesus christ, Jax," Scarlett laughs in annoyance, "I'm not fucking every man I talk to."

"I know that," He softens his tone, "He's just bad news, Scar."

"Mhm. I'm aware," She hums, "Which is why I kneed him in the nuts." They share a mischievous smirk before she sighs, leaning down onto the counter exactly like him, their faces suspiciously close, "What are you here for?" She motions around the messy Clubhouse, "I have some cleaning to do."

"You don't have to clean all this shit up," Jax shakes his head, "One of the prospects will do it. Half-Sack, probably. Don't wait bout it. Plus, I want you to come see Abel," He says simply, standing straight and running a hand over his hair, smoothing it down.

She sighs, spinning around and placing a few sturdy tankards back on the shelf, "Jax—"

"Don't bother arguing, aright?" He stops her, already being able to sense where her sentence was heading, "This is my way of healing past shit between us."

Scarlett laughs, throwing her head back at his cliche words, "You can't be serious," She spins around to face him, suddenly finding out he is, in fact, serious, "Jax, I don't think that's a good idea, okay? You sure you want a whore, like me, near your kid?"

Jax let's out a breath, remembering back to their conversation a few weeks previous, where he may have gone slightly overboard with the misogynistic insults, "Scarlett, I mean, you have yet to change my mind." Jesus fucking christ.

Her gaze hardens and she stares at him in completely shock at his words. Her face pulls up into a grimace, and she turns away from him again, not barring to look at him for one moment more. She stays silent, and Jax curses at himself.

"I'm joking," He chimes.

"You keep digging your hole deeper, Jackson Teller," Scarlett scoffs, "Obviously I knew you were joking, it just wasn't funny so I didn't laugh. I hope you don't teach your son to speak to chicks like that when he's older, cause that won't get him anywhere."

He shakes his head, "Come on, Scarlett. Don't play that card."

"What card?" She looks back at him.

"The fathering card."

"You a father, ain't you?"

He squeezes his eyes shut, hating how all he can see is her back whilst she reaches up to shelves and piles dishes up on the counter, "Scarlett."

"Jax," She mocks his low defeated tone.

"Let me bring you to see Abel," He breathes, "Please."

"If I do this will you stop calling me a whore every time we speak to one another?" She raises her brows in questioning, hands falling menacingly on her hips as she faces him again.

"Jesus christ, yeah, alright. No more slut comments," He nods his head towards the door as he moves away from the bar, "Come on, then. I'll ride you down."

Scarlett slides from behind the bar and follows after him outside the Clubhouse. She smiles with excitement as they near his bike, "It's been a while."

He throws his leg over the back, "It has," He pats the space behind him with a soft smile, before he holds his helmet out to her, "Come on, Scarlett. There is set visiting times."

She takes the helmet from him politely and pushes it onto her head, clicking the strap into place below her chin. Her hands rest on his shoulder whilst she gets seated behind him, then her palms run down his body and circle his waist.

"Don't you need a helmet?" She questions, as she revs the bike and she notices the absence of protection on his head.

"You're wearing mine," He shrugs, "I've fallen off my bike dozens of time without a helmet. I'll be fine, but if we do crash, you're more likely to go flying."

"I never used to fly off when we went riding when we younger," She sighs.

He hums, "That's when you had your own bike, though."

She purses her lips, suddenly missing the motorbike Jax fixed and gifted her when they were teens. She'd been riding on Jax's bike since he learnt how to ride, but he thought it was time for her to ride with everyone, on her own bike.

Using his feet, Jax slowly pushes the bike out from it's parking space. He stops for a moment, his hand falling from the hand grip to Scarlett's wrist. He gently pulls her arm tighter around his waist before patting her hand, silently telling her to hold on. She the pats his stomach in understanding, and a moment later they're leaving the Clubhouse.

Riding always used to be something Scarlett enjoyed, especially when she was on Jax's bike with him. Having the wind flowing in her face and her hair flapping behind her was something unexpectedly relaxing. Since she moved to the city, she hadn't touched a bike, not sure of how to get back into the swing of riding with Jax. It was only when she first moved away when she noticed how much she depended on Jax in just everyday life. It humbled her slightly.

She places her chin on his shoulder as they ride down the busy streets of Charming. Her eyes fall closed in relaxation as they wind blows against her skin. Since the raid on the Clubhouse the day previous, and her interaction with Kohn, she'd been on edge slightly, but riding with Jax immediately removed any bad thought that was lingering around her head.

Meanwhile Jax is trying to think of the longest route to the hospital so that he could have Scarlett wrapped around him for longer. He feels as her body relaxes and he smiles, knowingly she's loving this moment just as much as he. Sure, nothing was the same between them anymore, but riding together now takes them both back to their childhood, and it feels just like when they were teenagers.

Jax pulls up to the hospital, parking his bike in it's usual place by the doors. Scarlett sighs quietly as she climbs off the back, carefully placing his helmet on his handles like he always does. Jax's brows furrow when he notices a stray tear roll down her cheek before she discards it with the back of her hand.

Silence lingers between them as they enter the hospital and Scarlett follows him through the halls. He nods courteously at the main receptionist, and she allows them both to pass without a word. As they step into an elevator, Scarlett subconsciously crosses her arms over her chest whilst Jax buried his hands into his deep jeans pockets.

"It's been a long while since I've been here," Scarlett says quietly.

"Last time would've been when Jamie was born, right?" He asks.

"Mhm," She agrees, knowing full well the last time she was in St Thomas' was when her father stabbed her in the thigh when she was 19 and she limped herself to the hospital all by herself. She played her absence of as family time to Jax and the east of her friends.

The doors ding open, and the pair stroll forward into the waiting room of the children's ward. Tara spots the pair through a window opposite the elevator and is quick to meet them in the middle of the room.

Scarlett doesn't fail to miss how Tara gives her a dirty look before giving her full attention to Jax.

"Hey, you okay?" Tara questions him.

"Yeah," He nods, "Why?"

"I was going past the clubhouse yesterday. I saw all these cops," She answers.

"Ah," He waves her off, and he turns towards another hallway, the two woman by his sides as he strolls, "That was a bunch of bullshit. Got this ATF agent harassing us. Following me. Showed up here. The guy's nuts. Looking for dirt that doesn't exist."

Scarlett clears her throat, causing Tara's eyes to flick to her as they walk. The pair of dark haired woman share a knowing and slightly terrified look. Tara comes to a slow stop, causing the other two to do the same.

"I'm, uh. . . I'm just finishing up my rounds. Do you mind giving me a ride home," Her gaze flicks to the woman beside Jax, "Scarlett?"

"Me?" Scarlett's brows shoot up, and she tries to ignore how Jax's head snaps in her direction, "Well, Jax brought me here but I could get Cami to bring the truck down and pick us up, if that's okay." She digs her phone into her jeans pocket, pulling out her cellphone and flicking it open to Camille's contact.

Tara nods, "That'd be great, thank you."

Jax looks quizzically between the two woman, his forehead cinched in confusion, "What's going on?"

Tara shakes her head, "Shitty day. My nerves are kind of shot."

Jax hums in understanding, before moving his hand to Scarlett's back, "Well, we'll be with the kid," He pushes Scarlett down the hallway towards Abel room, whilst she taps a quick message onto her phone for Cami.

Scarlett throws Tara a thumbs up whilst Jax continues to lead her forward. Once Tara disappears back around the corner towards the waiting room and Scarlett puts her phone away, Jax sends her a look, "What was that about?"

"Nothing," She shrugs.

He chuckles, "Bullshit. You and Tara never used to like each other. Mind telling me what's changed?"

"I'm just trying to heal past shit between us," She mocks his words from earlier whilst sending him a smirk.

"What, by getting Camille to pick you both up?" His brows raise as he slowly pushes open Abel's door.

She hushes her voice, "Every little helps."

He shakes his head in confusion, now turning his full attention to his son laid out on the bed in the middle of the room. Every light from the ceiling pointed his way. Scarlett stops by the doorway whilst Jax moves to the edge of his son's bed.

He looks over his shoulder, spotting her in the corner and rolling his eyes. He holds his hand out to her, "What you scared for?"

She grinds her jaw, "I'm not scared," She takes his hand, allowing him to pull her closer, "Just wary." Whilst their interlocked hands hang between their bodies, she raises her free hand and rests it gently on the glass as she looks down at Abel. Jax watches her as her face slowly contorts and a smile shows on her lips.

"Whatcha you think?" He asks, "You think I did good?"

She snorts, "You do good at everything. He's beautiful, Jax. He's a lucky one to have you as a dad, I hope you know that."

At hearing her words, Jax's lips lift upwards with joy before his gaze moves to his son. Releasing Jax's hand, Scarlett steps away from them, allowing him to have a moment with his kid. She looks around the small room, spotting a few children's picture books piled up.

"You read to him?" She asks quietly, motioning to the books.

"Yeah. Doctor's said he can hear me a little," He beams down at his son more, "I want him to get used to my voice, you know. So he knows who his Dada is."

"I'm sure he knows," Scarlett says softly, patting his back.

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

SCARLETT SITS between Camille and Tara in the truck while her eyes flick from the road and up to the rear-view mirror every few moments. A car's been following them since they left the hospital, and the only person who could possible be behind the wheel is Joshua Kohn.

Fortunately, just behind the ATF agent's vehicle, is Jax Teller on his bike. He waved the girls off as they left the hospital car park, and he watched as Kohn pulled out after them, following them down the road.

"He's behind us," Tara shakes.

"Sure is," Scarlett shuffles in her seat, hands tapping anxiously on her thighs, "I think Jax is gonna find out, you okay with that?"

Tara shrugs, "It was gonna happen at some point."

Camille grinds her jaw, "This boils my blood. Like really pisses me off. How can a fucking creepy stalker manage to get a job in the law? Surely you're restraining order against him would've been someone on his paperwork."

"I don't know the ins and outs of this mess," Tara bites her lip, "I tried to forget him, and then there he was in the hospital."

"Tara, I know you're going to hate the idea, but maybe it's best for you to leave," Camille sighs, glancing momentarily at the woman sat closest to the other window, "I know here you have Jax, but it's not safe. The Club shit just adds more danger."

Slowly nodding, Tara takes in her words, "I know. I. . . I've been looking at work placements at a hospital in Orlando. They need another surgeon there."

Camille pulls the truck up into Tara's driveway in front of her house, and Scarlett watches through the rear-view mirror above her as Joshua Kohn parks his further car down the road as Jax rides past him. He pushes his bike into park beside the truck, nodding his head at the woman inside to get out.

"Here we go," Scarlett groans, "Prepare yourself, ladies."

Taking a deep breath, Tara pushes open the door closest to her and steps out, while the other two clamber out from the driver's side. The pair round the truck, standing at either side of Tara whilst Jax throws his leg over his bike and moves away from it before narrowing his eyes at the ladies opposite him.

He glances around the driveway, noticing the absence of Tara's own vehicle, "Where's the cutlass?"

"It's at the hospital," She breaths.

"Still not running right?" He questions.

She looks down the street for a moment before shrugging, "It's running okay."

Jax's brows furrow and he pulls an uncertain smile over his face as he points between the three women, "This worry I'm getting here, have anything to do with that car that's been following us?" As they all pretend to share a clueless look, Jax points at the grey car, "The compact parked halfway down the block."

Tara's eyes land on it once more, and in a moment of second's, she's grabbing her house keys and backing up to her front door. Just as Scarlett goes to follow after her, Jax jumps forward and catches her wrist, whirling her around to face him.

"What the hell's going on?" He demands.

Scarlett shakes his grip off, before looking over her shoulder at Tara, who's messing with her door lock, "Tara, tell him."

As Jax's brows furrow in concern, Tara's key jingling comes to sharp halt and she slowly turns on her doorstep, looking down at the confused blonde man in her driveway. She raises her hands to her hair, anxiously running her fingers over her scalp.

"That ATF agent that's been looking into you guys," She bites out, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as her fists curl around her handbag strap, "I think he's here for me. And now. . . her," She waves a loose hand at Scarlett.

Jax looks quickly between them, the worry in his chest starting to grow as he recognises the anxiety riddling both of them, "What are you talking about?"

"I was with him in Chicago," She rushes. She momentarily flicks her gaze to Camille, who motions for her to keep going, "It got violent. I tried to end it. He started stalking me."

Jax head snaps to Scarlett. He clenches his jaw before grinding at her, "He harassing you too? That what that shit during the raid was?"

He already knows the answer, she knows he does. So she just silently nods, confirming his suspicions. She steps back beside Camille, whilst he quickly whirls around on his heel and charges back down the driveway.

"Jax!" Tara shouts, "Don't! He's dangerous!"

"Go back inside, Tara! Lock the door," He shouts over his shoulder, "Scarlett, don't you dare move."

Whilst Tara rushes to unlock her door and step inside, Camille lazily throws her arm over Scarlett's shoulder and pulls her into her side as they both watch Jax go work his magic with Kohn.

He marches along the tarmac, his stride firmer due to his growing anger as he approaches the car. Once Joshua John's view comes into focus, he smirks menacingly and slides his knife from the holster around his waist. Noticing him approaching, Kohn rips his earphones from his ears and jumps out of the car when Jax sends his blade directly into the car's front grill.

"Vandalism, deadly weapon," Kohn rounds his car door, and paces closer to Jax, "That's six months in county, asshole."

Jax close the distance between them, their chest practically bumping as he spits in Kohn's face, "Violating a restraining order, groping someone driving an arrest, you'll be in the cell next to me. They teach you how to suck a dick in ATF school?"

Kohn scoffs, "Badass biker."

Jax chuckles, "You guys gave it your best shot. You got nothing on Samcro. And you harassing Tara and Scarlett, that ends here, or next time it won't be your piece of shit car I'm draining fluids from."

"You and Scarlett sure are alike. You threatening a federal agent?" His brows raise daringly, as if he expects Jax to step down and let him win.

"I'm threatening you," Jax smirks, "Go away. It's my last warning." He slowly back up before completely turning and making his way back to Tara's driveway.

Scarlett steps out onto the sidewalk so she's in Kohn's full view. She grins sarcastically and raises both of her arms to wave at him, whilst he grimaces down the street and returns to the seat behind his wheel.

Jax's hand grabs her waist, walking her back up the driveway a few steps before he plants himself in front of her, his eyes narrowing, "Why the hell didn't you tell me that asshole was harassing you? This is the kind of thing I can help you with. I gotta know this shit, Scar."

She rolls her eyes, "Why the hell would I tell you? Plus, it's really Tara—," She jabs her finger towards the living room window behind her, where Tara's peaking through the drapes, "—you should be speaking about this whole thing with, okay?"

Jax rolls his jaw, moving around her to his bike. He throws his helmet onto his head, leaving the straps undone by either side of his chin. He swings his leg over the back, looking at Scarlett one last time, "I'm off to have a little chat with Hale. I'll see you later."

"Hale?" She throws her arms into the air before whirling around to her best friend, "You hearing this idiot?"

Camille pushes away from the truck where's she'd been leaning on. She purses her lips as she looks at Jax, "I must say going to the Sheriff about an ATF agent probably isn't the smartest idea you've ever come up with in that head of yours, Teller." She shrugs, holding her hands up in a careless surrender, "But if sure ain't the dumbest."

Jax nods at her, before pushing his hike slowly out of the driveway before driving away, not even bothering to offer Scarlett a goodbye or, at least, another glance.

Scarlett throws her head back and plants her hands over her face with a groan. She manages to hear Jax's bike ride into the distance.

"Come on, Scar," Cami calls, known ong her knuckles on the bonnet of the truck as she moves around it to the driver's side, "Let him take care of Kohn for you."

Scarlett trudges to the truck, "For Tara, you mean."

Camille snorts as she watches her claim in, "No. I know what I mean. Notice how he didn't even mention Tara once during that conversation, didn't even look at her. He cares much more about you, even if he doesn't know it yet."

Thinking about her best friend's words, Scarlett realises Cami's right. Jax didn't say anything about Tara after his short conversation with Kohn, even though it's her that Kohn's so obsessed with. Scarlett drops her head back against the rest, her leg bouncing as her mind runs rapid.

. . .

this is the only book i've updated in literally months so count yourself lucky

word count,
3602

not at all proof read