Venomous (Jax Teller)

eight

Julia smiled when she saw Tara at one of the desks, looking through a few clipboards, "Hey, Tara. How you doing? How's Abel?"

Tara looked at her suspiciously when she noted the tone of her voice, "He's doing fine...What do you want?"

Julia leaned against the desk, "What do you mean? Just wanted to swing by and check on the kid, maybe ask if you wanted to go out for dinner or something."

"No, don't lie to me. You have that look on your face and your making that sweet voice that you only make when you want something. What?"

Julia lowered her voice, "I need to talk to Tristen. Karen's daughter."

Tara shook her head, "No. I can't do that, Jules."

"I found her, Tara. Laying there in the fucking leaves like a piece of trash. She was bleeding and had her pants pulled nearly off her fucking body. I had to pull them up and carry her back to her parents. I don't mind doing this the hard way and getting pulled out in a pair of cuffs if I have to. I'm not backing off until I know who did this."

Tara was quiet for a moment, "I need Karen to fill out some forms anyway. I think I can keep her busy for a while."

"And if Hale comes in?"

"I can handle Hale for you too. Just...make it quick."

Julia grinned and placed a kiss on Tara's cheek, "Thanks, Tara. You're a doll."

Tara grabbed the insurance forms and led Karen away from the room, allowing Julia to slip inside and close the door behind her quietly. Tristen was awake in her hospital bed and she looked exhausted and traumatized.

"Hey, Tris," Julia spoke softly.

Tristen looked almost relieved to see it was her, "Jules..."

Julia sat in the chair that was next to her bed, "How are you holding up?"

Tristen shrugged, barely able to make eye contact.

"I know there's a lot of people coming around and asking you questions. Your mom's been telling people you don't remember...is that true?"

Tristen shrugged, "I guess."

Julia leaned forward and took Tristen's hand, "I know how hard this is. I know you're probably scared every time you see that door open. I know it's hell to even think about sleeping. You feel like a prisoner in your own head. And you feel like your mom cares more about what everyone else is gonna think rather than you, huh?"

Tristen shifted uncomfortably, but didn't deny a single thing.

"I know exactly how you're feeling right now, Tristen. When I was your age, I was in this spot too. No one knew about it. They still don't. And it sucks. Because what was worse than it having happened, was no one knowing about it. You gotta talk to someone. It doesn't have to be your mom or your dad or even me. But keeping it all bottled up like this is only going to make it worse."

Tristen's lip trembled as she tried not to cry, but then she looked up, "I remember..."

"Who did this to you, Tris?"

~

Julia found Jax looking into Abel's room and stood herself beside him, her shoulder brushing against his. He stared down at her, part of him wanting her to speak so they could finish the job, but another wanted her to just stay quiet. He wanted the peace. He wanted to see her smile, see her happy. If she was quiet, then that meant nothing bad was going on.

"I got Tristen to talk. It was one of the carnies. Some fat guy wearing a clown costume."

Jax sighed, "Shit. I know who that is."