Katie arrived at Imperial Hospital alone, Charlotte stayed with Angel until her mother was sure how bad the injuries were and if the child could handle the situation. Unlike in Charming, Katie wasn't known to any staff and couldn't prove she was family so she was left to wait for information.
After a little less than an hour, Opie arrived with a clearly distraught Tara. Katie, surprised by Tara's presence, stood and waved at them despite being incredibly anxious as to how Tara would react.
"Kate," Tara said, her voice cracking, as she hugged her. "You're alive!"
Relieved, Katie hugged Tara back and began to cry. "I am. Barely," she laughed. "How did you get here so fast?"
"I left before I even got the call," she said. "When I heard you and Charlie were here I came right down. How are they?"
"I don't know, they won't tell me shit," Katie huffed. "My ID doesn't say Lowman so I have nothing to prove I'm family."
"Are ya?" Opie scoffed. "I'll tell em' you're here, Tara," he added before bumbling away.
Katie gave Opie a dirty look when he walked away but quickly turned her attention to Tara again. "Angel said there was a fight," she remarked. "Long time coming I guess."
"Yeah," Tara paused. "Wait, who the hell is Angel?"
"Oh," Katie laughed nervously. "That's a story," she rolled her eyes. "We should focus on Jax and Happy."
"We should talk," Tara said sternly. "As soon as we get some word on our guys."
"Yeah," Katie agreed but the designation Tara assigned Happy made her stomach churn.
Thanks to Opie, the doctor came out and explained the conditions of both Happy and Jax. The former had a broken hand, concussion as well as a few wounds that needed stitches but the latter was not as lucky. Jax had a broken orbital socket, severe concussion and a skull fracture.
"Oh my god," Katie whimpered. "I'm sorry, Tara."
"This isn't your fault," she said, blotting some tears from her eyes. "And you're done apologizing for Happy's actions."
Katie nodded somberly. "I'm going to go see him."
"Wait," Tara grabbed Katie's hand. "Maybe we should talk first."
"Don't you want to see Jax?"
Tara's jaw tensed. "He can wait."
Finding a small lounge that was luckily empty, the women sat and Tara proceeded to question Katie on her lost year. She was honest, more honest with Tara than she had been with anyone else.
"I don't know if I can go back, Tara. After everything. I want to get my boys and come back here. I know it's not as nice as Charming but I'm content here, it's peaceful."
"And Angel's here," Tara reminded her.
"Yeah," Katie smiled at the sound of his name. She showed Tara a picture on her phone and Tara smiled at the joyful smile Katie has as she posed with Angel. "I don't smile like that back home."
"Happy doesn't smile at all," Tara sighed.
"Do you think you could tell me what his year was like?" Katie knew she'd regret the details but she also knew she'd never get the truth from Happy.
"Yeah, of course..."
*A few months after the kidnapping*
"How is he?" Tara asked Gemma quietly as she joined her at the kitchen table. She was there at the house to provide a bit of relief for Gemma. Even with daycare, taking care of both boys was difficult, especially once Ana left out of fear, and as old ladies they came together to help the club.
