Chapter 12

It was after 8pm when Jax and Tinsley arrived at Saint Thomas. They walked hand in hand into the hospital and took the elevator up to the 2nd floor where the NICU was. They made it to the room Abel was in and saw Gemma sitting in the chair reading to Abel. He wasn't allowed to be held yet because of his size and compromised immune system. Jax walked in first, pulling Tinsley in behind him. She tucked into his side and just stared at Abel in the incubator. He was so tiny. Tinsley had seen rats at Sunny Side Diner bigger than what Abel was.

"How's he doing?" Jax asked Gemma.

"He's a Teller. What's that tell ya?" Said Gemma.

"You really think he can hear ya?" Asked Tinsley.

"Sure. Wanna read him some? I need to talk to Jax alone" said Gemma.

Gemma handed Tinsley the book.

Jax and Gemma walk out into the hallway leaving Tinsley in the room with Abel. She scoots her chair closer and lays her hand on top of the incubator. She could stare at perfect little boy all day long. He had Jax's hair and his nose. Tinsley could already see Abel as an adult, breaking all the girls hearts and causing all grades of mayhem. Thoughts of her and Jax's slip up for the night before rush back to her. What if she if pregnant? Tinsley could already see a little girl running around with her hair and Jax's eyes.

"You sweet baby boy" Tinsley said more to herself than to Abel. It still broke her heart to know the rough start Abel has had already. Wendy was going to pay when her day came when it came to how she had treated Abel while she was pregnant. The fact this little boy was even alive was a miracle in itself. Tinsley had read numerous articles and seen plenty of clips on the news about babies dying from their mother using while pregnant. Not all had died, but some the birth defects caused by the drug use was sometimes worse and no one suffered more than the child who was innocent in all of it.

Outside in the hallway, Jax and Gemma are having a conversation. Tinsley can see them but can't hear them since the door is shut.

"Where you going with that Jax?" Asked Gemma, nodding her head towards Tinsley.

"Mom, she's my girl. I'm sure you heard all about my actions today at the diner. We're taking it a day at the time but she knows I'm fully committed to her. Mom, she makes me feel things that I haven't felt since tara. You know better than anyone how Tara's leaving fucked me all up. After 10 years, I've finally found someone worth taking a chance on and Tinsley is it. I'm not saying she's gonna get getting my tattoo anytime soon, but I'm willing to see where it goes." said Jax.

"Baby, I know tara fucked you all up. I'd still love to get my hands on her because of it. Tinsley seems like an ok girl but honey, you don't know her that well. Can we trust her? You know the things we do Jackson. Can she be trusted to keep her mouth shut?" Said Gemma.

"I have no reason to believe she can't be trusted. She'll know what we want her to know mom. You know that. And you don't know her either and offered he a job on the spot." Said Jax.

"Yea, but I'm a good judge of character and answering the phone and filing paperwork is a whole different world from guns. All I ask is that you be careful. I can tell you really like her and that she really likes you too. All I'm saying is that I don't want to see you getting hurt all over again." Said gemma as she kisses Jax on the cheek and went back into the room with Abel and Tinsley, Jax walking in behind her.

Grabbing her purse, Gemma said "I'm gonna head out. See you both tomorrow. Tinsley, what time can you be at the garage tomorrow?"

"I can be there at 8:00 when y'all open but I need to be off at 4:00. I've got to work the night shift at the diner. I've already spoke to Mr. Miles and told him I would need to work the evening shifts from now on so I can work at the garage during the day. Starting next week, I won't have to be at the diner until 5:30. Just in time enough for the evening rush" explained Tinsley.

"Sounds good. We will talk about your pay and all tomorrow. See you both later." Said Gemma as she walked out the door.

Jax walked over to Tinsley and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. They both just stood over Abel's incubator and looked at him. He had a tube down his throat and wires all over everywhere.

"Why does he need the tube down his throat? Can he know breath on his own?" Asked Tinsley.

"Since he was born so early, his lungs are fully developed. They are giving him steroids to boost his lung growth. But that's not the only thing he has wrong. He has a heart condition and some fancy word for his stomach being outside of his body. The heart condition is genetic but the stomach issue is from Wendy's drug use." Said Jax

Tinsley got pissed all over again. She wasn't a fighting person but she knew that when she ever did lay eyes on Wendy, it wasn't going to be pretty.

"My god Jax. I want to kill her myself. How could she do this? How can someone be so weak that they do this to an innocent child" said Tinsley, he voice cracking.

"Baby, I've been trying to figure out that very same thing. But wendy can't take all the blame. I knew she was using and I did nothing to help her. Like I said, I went by her place a couple times to check on her but it looked deserted. I really thought she had went back to Virginia. I could have done more." Said Jax.  Turning in Jax's arms, Tinsley saw a tear streak down Jax's cheek and her heart shattered. Grabbing his face in her hands, she made him look her in the eye and said "Jax, this isn't your fault. You didn't fill that needle for her. You didn't stick it in her vain. What happened isn't your fault. I understand why you feel like you need to take the blame but it's not on you. She shot that needle in her vein.. You can't let this eat you alive Jax." Said Tinsley.

Jax hugged her tight and tucked her head under his chin. He didn't say anything but Tinsley could already feel the tension in his body releasing. They stood like that for some time, just holding each other. Tinsley wanted to be Jax's soft place to fall when he needed it.

Visiting hours were over at 9. At 8:54, Jax and Tinsley both kissed the top of Abel's incubator saying goodbye to him and walked out to the nursing station to let them know they were leaving for the night. As they walked down the hall towards the elevators, someone yelled Jax's name. He stopped, looking back the way he had cane for the person calling him. He finally caught sight of who was calling him and instinct had him tucking Tinsley behind him. Her face in his back, Tinsley could feel all the tension that had been released came back ten fold. You could almost see the tension rolling off his shoulders. Tinsley wanted to peek around him and see who it was but she couldnt gather the nerve to do it. Jax must have thought she needed protecting if he was shielding her from whoever was calling him.

"What!" Said Jax

"We need to talk" said some woman.

"We have nothing to talk about" said Jax.

"Yes we do. There's some stuff back at the apartment. Unless you forgot, yours name is on the lease. If the cops find drugs in the apartment, you're looking at charges. Wouldn't want that to happen now would we!?" Said the lady.

"Wendy, you have got to be fucking shitting me. How much shit? How do you know the cops aren't already there?" Asked Jax.

"I don't know if they are but Jax, you need to get rid of that stuff. They are already talking about charging me with child endangerment." Said Wendy, trying to get some sympathy out of Jax.

Just then, Tinsley flew from behind Jax and got within inches of Wendy's face.

"I feel sorry for you bitch. You endanger the life of an unborn child just so you can get high and then have the nerve to try and get someone else to clean up your shit? I don't think so sweetie. You better call your dealer and have him do your dirty work because Jax isn't gonna fucking do it. Jax did everything for you to make sure you had what you needed but apparently what you needed was the high because you were oh so quick to but your son in danger." Said Tinsley.

"Look, I don't know you are or who you think your talking to but I'm Jax's wife. That piece of paper says that it is his obligation to clean up my shit. And who are you to judge me? You don't know me." Said Wendy.

"No, I don't know you. I only know what I've head and based off that alone, I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire I unless I had drank a gallon of gas and could watch you burn in hell were you belong for doing what you did to your child. Right now, I want nothing more that to knock the fucking hell out of ya but you ain't worth the effort it would take and I don't look good in orange or stripes." said Tinsley.

"Jax, you gonna let this slut talk to me like this? Why's she even her? Who the fuck is she?" Asked Wendy.

"She's not telling you nothing that you don't deserve to hear. She's here because I want her here. And as far as us being married. Our divorce is final in 2 months. Babe, don't waste your time on her. She ain't worth the bail money or the record. Come on, let's go" said Jax as he grabbed Tinsley by the hand wand walked to elevator. Wendy was still yelling at them in the hallway as the loaded the elevator but just before the doors shut, Jax saw 3 nurses headed towards wendy, no doubt about to restrain her to the bed.

It was a quick and quiet elevator ride. Tinsley couldn't believe she had just went off on Wendy like that. She wanted to punch her. She wanted to claw her. Hell, she wanted to kill her for the things she had done to that precious little boy. But Jax was right, she wasn't worth the mark on her clean record. And she hadn't lied, he fair skin clashed with the color orange and stripes did nothing for her figure. Tinsley wasn't usually the type to want to cause harm to anyone but Wendy was one of those special cases where she deserved to be treated with as little regard as possible.

As they exited the elevator, Jax took Tinsley's hand and led her to the chapel of the church. They walked and they were alone finally alone so they both could cool down.

"Want to tell me what that was?" asked Jax, a slight smile on his face.

"I don't even know where that came from to be honest. I'm not a violent person but seeing what she caused as far as Abel is concerned, I guess it's triggered something in me. Jax, she doesn't deserve to get off this easily. Let her get caught with the drugs. Can't you explain to the cops that you didn't know anything about what was going on in that house?" asked Tinsley.

"Well I could." Said Jax.

"There sounds like a but is coming" said Tinsley.

"There is. Being my name is on the lease, I could face drug charges because on paper, I'm the one living there, not Wendy. Telling the cops I knew nothing about her habits wouldn't help because I'm the lease holder and it's my responsibility to go by the lease. The land lord specifically said no drugs. That's why I got this place for her because I figured for once she would follow the rules. Guess I should have know my better." Explained Jax.

"So what you're saying is that you have to go clean up her mess" said Tinsley, shaking her head.

"Yea, I do. I don't want to. I want her rot in jail for what she did but I don't want the heat one me either. I'll drop you off at your place, go take care of this, and come back. I need to explain some things to you about me and what I do. Sound good to you?" Asked jax.

"No, let me help. I'm to anxious to sit at home. I'll drive myself batty while your gone trying to figure out if your ok or whatever.

"Tins, if the law shows up while I'm there getting rid of shit and you were there, you could be charged. I don't want you getting in trouble because of that junkie bitch. She ain't worth it" said Jax.

"I guess your right. Drop me off at my place. I need a shower, a shot of Early Times, and some comfy clothes after dealing with that dumbass." Said Tinsley.

Jax took Tinsley back to her apartment and walked her to the door.

"Hey" said Jax as she was about to walk into her door.

"Don't let Wendy get under your skin. She's trash. I just wish I had known that before I married her ass." Said Jax.

"You can't wish things like that. If you could change marrying Wendy, there's a chance you would have Abel. And Jax, that boy is prefect. He's absolutely perfect." Said Tinsley.

Jax pulled her in for a kiss, holding her tight against him.

"Give me an hour tops and I'll be back" said Jax.

"Ok. Call me when your on the way back incase I fall sleep" said Tinsley.

"I will. See you in a few" said Jax, kissing her one last time and walking to his bike. He stared the beast up and headed off, the sound of his bike the only thing that could be heard in the quiet of the night.