Jax watches you leave the room, and for a moment, he almost seems reluctant to let you go. He looks at his little son and then at the door you just disappeared through.

He sighs softly and turns his attention back to the baby in the incubator.

The silence in the room is broken only by the faint beeping of the medical equipment. Then, suddenly, he hears footsteps from the door, and when he turns, he sees Clay. His stepfather studies him silently for a moment before asking, "Was that the pregnant woman we were talking about?"

Jax nods slowly, but says nothing. He knows Clay already knows all the answers, and that the question is really just rhetorical.

Clay slowly enters the room and walks over to Jax, his gaze fixed on the baby. "I saw her holding your baby," he states, his voice calm and controlled.

Jax shrugs slightly, unsure where this conversation is going. "Yes, she did. And?"

Clay continues to stare at him intently before answering, "She was good with the baby, wasn't she? Like a mother."

Jax frowns, still unsure where Clay is going with this conversation.

"Yes, she was," he says slowly. "Why do you ask?"

Clay shook his head, as if it were obvious. "I just noticed how good she was with your baby. It was... almost like it was her own."

Jax stiffens slightly at those words. "What are you saying, Clay?" he asks, eyeing the man across from him suspiciously.

Clay shrugs, still casual. "Only it's obvious she's a natural with babies. And... well, the little one in her belly is going to come out soon, isn't it? She's going to have a baby, and your boy is still going to be here at the hospital... There's a certain... benefit that could be gained from that."

Jax feels his hands clench into fists. He understands exactly what Clay is getting at, and he absolutely doesn't like it.

"Spit it out, Clay," he says through gritted teeth. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Clay takes another step closer to him. "I'm saying she's a good girl. A good mother. A good home. And your boy here... he needs a good home. She could be that. For your child, and for hers."

Jax shakes his head, his voice strained with suppressed anger. "You want to give my child to her? As... what? A replacement for Wendy?"

Clay shrugs, his expression unchanged. "Life isn't fair, Jax. We both know that. Your boy here deserves a good life. And she... she seems capable of giving him that, doesn't she?"

Jax sets his jaw in a hard line. "She's no fucking replacement for my ex-wife, Clay."

Clay smiles slightly, but it's not a friendly smile. "No, she's not. But that's the point, isn't it? She's different from Wendy. She's... trustworthy. And she loves children, as we saw today. She could be a good mother to your child."

Jax shakes his head slowly, anger burning in his eyes.

"That's out of the question, Clay," he growls, his voice deep and cold. "My boy belongs to me. And this woman... she has nothing to do with this. It's a crazy idea, even for you."

Clay shrugs, unfazed by Jax's dismissal. "Maybe it's crazy, but it's also sensible. Your boy needs a good upbringing, a good home. And she... she could provide that. You know that, Jax. You know damn well."

He knows Clay is right. His boy needs a good home, and this woman could provide that. But the thought of doing that, the thought of leaving his child in someone else's care... it's like a knife being stabbed in his chest. "No," he says slowly. "It's simply out of the question."

Clay sighs, as if he'd expected Jax's decision. He eyes the man he's known for so long critically. "Jax, listen... I get it. I understand your desire to provide for your boy. But be realistic. How long will Wendy be able to handle withdrawal? And what do you think it will be like being home alone with the little one? What if the club needs you?"

Jax's jaw tenses. He knows Clay is right. His job at the club, his work as a member of the Sons of Anarchy... it takes up a lot of his time, time a child needs. And Wendy... he knows she won't make it. She won't make it through withdrawal. "Shit," he curses quietly.