The sound of the heart monitor faded in the distance along with the panicked voices of the medical team working to revive her. Dani's pupils adjusted to the blinding light as she took a tentative step forward.

"Is this...Heaven?" Dani asked in awe.

"No, it's not," a female voice answered.

Dani turned to see what she could only describe as an angel. Her eyes widened as she took in the familiar blonde hair and tranquil expression.

"Vivian?"

The woman gave a small smile, "I see you know who I am."

"Of course I know. You're Vivian. The woman Jax loved enough to want to marry. How could I not recognize you? If this isn't Heaven, where are we?"

"It's like a limbo of sorts," Vivian tried to explain. "I cross between reality and fantasy."

"Like Purgatory?"

Vivian's smile grew, "No. This is more of a dream-like place."

"Dreams?" Dani took a step back, "Is this a nightmare?"

Vivian's lips turned upward, "It's no wonder he's been spying on you. You seem so naïve."

Dani frowned, "What are you talking about? Do you mean Carter?"

Vivian sighed and looked away, refraining from answering Dani's question. Instead she glanced at Death, "Calvin's a strange character, isn't he?"

"Why are you asking me about Calvin when I want to talk about Carter?"

"He's come here several times trying to coax me into helping him. I admit I was slightly touched to know that he was so concerned. Maybe it's because he's your brother, but he has a soft spot for you. I have a feeling that most men do after meeting you."

Dani shook her head in confusion, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You have a light around you. You can't see it, but surely the people around you can feel it. It's very warm...comforting even. I'm glad Jax gets to experience that warmth."

"Vivian-"

"Maybe it's because of your gift that you have the light. In any event, don't be so cruel when it comes to Calvin. I know he came here because he was looking for you. He was hunting you down by trying to figure out where your dreams were. Imagine his shock when Death made an appearance."

"Why are you telling me this?" Dani asked.

Vivian shrugged, "I just thought you should know. It can be lonely, can't it? Having a gift no one else has? Having secrets? It's another reason you shouldn't be too hard on your mother. She can help you if you let her."

"You're bringing up my mother now?"

"Forgiveness is hard to give and sometimes even harder to receive. I know that."

"What do you mean?"

Vivian gave a sad smile, "I've always wondered why Carter became so twisted. I thought and thought about it."

"Because he's a psychopath?" Dani suggested.

"Possibly, but I think he's living up to the idea of what Jax must think of him. Perhaps he doesn't want his brother's forgiveness. Maybe it's easier to just keep living the way his brother thinks of him."

"Do you feel bad for him? The man that killed you?" Dani asked, aghast.

"I'm not exactly innocent in all this. Although I won't admit my role, I'm party responsible for what happened the night I died. Carter wasn't always the way he is now. To say he killed me is wrong. It was more like a double homicide that night."

"Because he killed the good in himself? Is that what you're going to say?" Dani asked, watching Vivian look away again. "Can you tell me about Carter? Why does he hate Jax so much?"

"Carter doesn't hate Jax."

"You could've fooled me," Dani scoffed.

"He doesn't," Vivian insisted. "Carter loves Jax. He loves him to the point of obsession. To the point where his love became wicked. Do you believe that's possible? That love can become twisted? Twisted enough to ruin a man? Yes, you could say it ruined him."

"Wicked? Ruined? What do you mean?"

"Ever since they were kids, Carter looked up to Jax. He loved him. Things wouldn't have gotten so complicated if it hadn't been for me."

Dani stayed quiet, hoping Vivian would continue.

"I'm not sure what Jax told you about me, but I'm not the woman he thinks I am."

"I don't understand."

"There's a reason Carter hated me. Before dating Jax, I was Carter's tutor. I admit, I thought he was attractive and he was rich. That was enough for me. I knew he liked me, so when Carter asked me out, I said yes. Then I met Jax and it was like a switch was flipped on inside of me. I did things I wasn't proud of."

"Brothers?" Dani cringed.

"Again, it's not something I'm proud of. I had to eventually make a choice...and I chose Jax."

"That's horrible," Dani murmured. "Did Jax know you dated Carter first?"

Vivian lowered her head, "No."

"I don't know how you had that conversation with Carter, but it takes a lot of guts to dump a guy for his brother," Dani said, her voice full of censure.

"You can judge me all you want...I deserve it," Vivian whispered.

"Vivian, where's Carter? He's been after Jax and everyone we know. He has to be stopped. I was going to try and hunt him down in his dreams like Calvin did to me but he said I need something important of his...or something that meant something to him."

"You have something."

"No, I don't," Dani argued.

"You have me. Do you want to know Carter's biggest fears? His most painful memories? I can help you."

"How?"

Vivian held Dani's hands and placed them on her cheeks, "Just how Calvin did it. I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on Carter."

Dani closed her eyes, her hands still on Vivian, as voices without images floated around them.

"I told you, I'm breaking up with you."

"Viv, please don't do this. You can't," a male voice, disguised in anguish, begged.

"Yes, I can."

"What about...what about the baby? Are you going to try and pawn him off as my brother's? I won't let you do that Viv."

"What baby?"

"Don't act stupid. I was with you at the doctor's when he said you were pregnant!"

"Carter, there is no baby. Not anymore."

"Not anymore? Did you get an abortion? No. You're lying! You couldn't have!"

"I was going to say I'm sorry but somehow I don't think you'd believe it. Goodbye Carter."

Dani shuddered before taking a step back, "You're lying."

"No," Vivian shook her head. "I'm a horrible person. I had Carter but I wanted Jax and I wasn't afraid to destroy his brother to get him. My love was dangerous."

"That wasn't love," Dani disagreed. "That was greed."

"You're probably right," Vivian looked at Death. "I think we've had her here a bit too long. Should we send her back?"

"Wait! I still don't know where to find Carter!"

Vivian reached out and touched Dani's temple, "My last gift to Jax. Consider it my apology for deceiving him."

An image of an old warehouse revealed itself along with men dressed in white tanks and gray pants.

"Goodbye Dani," Vivian whispered.

------------------
Carter stared down from the roof of the warehouse as he watched his brother fighting with members of Los Lobos Locos. He was outnumbered but he was holding his own.

"I should've sent more men," Carter sighed. He looked down at the wolf tattoo emblazoned on his forearm and frowned. It was time to move on. Playing with Jax wasn't fun anymore.

He picked up a bottle of clear liquid and poured it over his arm before wiping away the temporary ink that proved he was a member of Los Lobos Locos. He looked back to where Jax had been and chuckled. The gang members were on the ground, unconscious.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the gasoline he had poured everywhere before patting his pocket which held a small box of matches.

Carter smiled, "I guess it's time for a family reunion."

-------------------
"Dani, how are you feeling? Do you know how scared I was?" Roberto Montoya was leaning over Dani as she opened her eyes. "The doctors said you were clinically dead for a minute."

"Dead?"

"I've been trying to call Jax but he's not picking up. He said he was going to go after his brother."

"Jax," Dani whispered. "Roberto, I need to warn him."

"Dani, you can't move around like that. Stay still," Roberto tried holding her down. "I'm sorry but you're not leaving this hospital."

"Let her go," Tristan's voice said from the doorway.

"Tristan, what the hell are you doing here? This isn't any of your business!" Roberto frowned.

"Your partner only ever thinks about himself. Your'e the same. You never worry about how Gladys would feel. She'd want you to help her. She'd want to catch the man that took her baby."

"I'll be fine Roberto," Dani assured him.

"How can you be fine?"

Dani pushed herself up, "I'm all stitched up now."

"We don't even know where Jax is at right now," Roberto reminded her.

"I know. I know where he's at," Dani pleaded. "Let's go."

---------------

"Carter! Where are you?" Jax's shout echoed against the walls of the empty warehouse.

"I'm right here, brother dearest," Carter cackled from behind Jax.

Jax spun around and took a step back.

"Miss me?" Carter asked, a sly grin on his face.

Jax scowled, "Who misses the boogeyman?"

Carter tossed his head back and laughed, "The boogeyman? That's fair enough I suppose. I'm the monster hiding in the darkness...waiting to hurt you."

"You've been a part of Los Lobos Locos," Jax said. It was a statement not a question.

Again, Carter grinned, "It took you long enough to put two and two together. I was beginning to doubt your abilities. I guess this is the part where you give me a lecture about how wrong I've been and that you're going to toss me into jail. Save me the long speech, I have-"

Jax felt something uncoil inside him and his features twisted into a painful expression, "Why?"

A single word was all he could spare as Jax tried to compose himself.

"Why?" Carter repeated.

"Why do you hate me so much? I'm your brother."

"I don't hate you, Jax. I love you."

Jax choked back a sob.

"It's true. You have no idea how much I've protected you."

"How? By killing the women I love?"

A corner of Carter's lips twisted up, "The women you loved? Do you think a heart can be split into pieces Jax?"

"What?"

"Growing up, you did everything for me. I looked up to you and you...you were always there for me."

"Of course I was. I'm your brother," Jax reminded him.

"Do you think that's what love is? Sacrifices?"

Jax gave a slight nod.

"If you had to sacrifice yourself or the person you love, who would you choose?" Carter asked.

"I'd choose to sacrifice myself,"Jax answered.

"Is it so hard to believe that I'd do the same?" Carter's mouth trembled. "What you must think of me."

"Carter, you're not making any sense."

"I know and it's so tiring."

"What is?" Jax asked.

"Living up to your expectations of me! For years I've been protecting you and I'm so tired of being the bad guy. At first it was freeing. There are no worries being the devil and all that. Then this resentment started to fester in me. I used to be good. Somehow I became what I am today and I realized something."

"What?"

"This is all your fault. If you had stopped pretending to be so good all the time, I wouldn't have spent the last few years in hell. I came back to finally end this with you and that's when I found out you were in love again. My happiness ended when you made me the bad guy and now...now I can't stand to be anything else. The fact that you were happy while I was in hell pissed me off. So I decided to make you miserable just like me. It's why I went after Gladys, the old waitress, and Dani. If I could hurt the people close to you, they'd eventually leave you. You'd be alone just like me."

"You're insane," Jax whispered.

"Probably. My plan would've worked except your friends are too stupid to realize this was all your fault! Even your girlfriend wouldn't give up on you. I would've given up on Vivian if I had known there was someone as faithful as her around. Why did you make me the bad guy?"

"I made you the bad guy? How is that my fault? You killed Vivian! Dani is lying somewhere in a hospital bed, fighting for her life! If you wanted my attention so badly, you should've just turned yourself in!"

"Dani-"

"Don't even say her name!" Jax shouted. "You don't deserve to say it! All these years you claimed to be protecting me. What about me? Having to live with the guilt of letting you go...and for what? Because you're my brother? You don't give a damn about me!"

"Is that so?" Carter pulled out the matches from his pocket. "It sounds like we're in the same boat. We started this together, how about we end it together?"

"Are you trying to escape prison? I don't care if you're my brother! I'm bringing you in!"

Jax lunged forward as Carter lit a match and tossed it to a gasoline-drenched corner. Flames quickly sprouted and Carter laughed as Jax tackled him to the ground.

"Jax, stop!" Dani shouted.

"Dani?" Jax turned for a brief second, giving Carter the opportunity to punch him and roll away. He pulled a knife from his back pocket.

"Stay back Dani!" Jax shouted as he and Carter circled one another. "Carter, don't do anything stupid."

"Carter?" Dani took a step closer, taking a long look at Jax's brother, her eyes widening. "No, it's impossible."

"Dani, get out of here!" Jax shouted, not taking his eyes off Carter.

"Hi Dani," Carter spit blood from his mouth. "Surprised to see me?"

"Donovan?" Dani  took a step back, "I thought you were dead."

"Donovan?" Jax asked, remembering the name as one of Dani's co-workers. "You've been working with her all this time?"

Carter ignored Jax, "Sorry Dani. I planned on leaving but you kept talking about us being friends so I had those men wait until you were around. I needed you to think I was gone for good."

"But there were men after you and some guy named CJ," Dani said.

"I'm CJ," Carter laughed. "I hired those men to attack me. I must admit, I was touched by your actions. You really wanted to help me. It's a shame you love my brother. I wanted you for myself."

"Dani, get the hell out of here!" Jax shouted. "Stop chit-chatting and leave! He's dangerous and there's a fire! Go get help!"

"Roberto already called back-up," Dani said, sweat forming on her forehead. "I know the truth, Carter."

"The truth?" Carter sneered.

"About Vivian."

"What are you talking about?" Jax asked, his eyes on his brother.

Flames were eating at the walls of the warehouse and the smoke was making it hard to see.

"He didn't want you to marry Vivian because she was a bad woman, Jax," Dani said, her eyes on Carter.

"Shut up!" Carter shouted.

"No! It's about time you both stopped living with these secrets. Vivian dated Carter before meeting you, Jax."

"What?" Jax turned back to Dani.

"I said shut up!" Carter ran forward his knife drawn.

Jax side-stepped his brother and Carter grabbed at Dani, placing the knife at her neck, "Say another word and I'll kill you."

"No, you won't. You're just as tired as Jax is. He's stronger than you think, Carter. If you really love him, let him know the truth. It's the only way for him to ease some of his guilt. For you too. How long are you going to live as a monster for your brother?"

Carter's hold on Dani loosened and she continued.

"Vivian was pregnant with Carter's baby. She had an abortion. Say what you want, but she lied to you Jax. To both of you."

"No, you're wrong."

"She told me herself Jax," Dani admitted. "All this time, Carter didn't want you to know what you cost him. She met you and dumped him. She killed their unborn child!"

"Is this true?" Jax asked his brother.

"Something that happened years ago...what does it matter?" Carter shrugged.

"It matters to me dammit! I would never have gone after her if I had known."

"I know that!" Carter spat. "Don't you think I know that? Still, I couldn't sit quietly with it. I couldn't eat my anger and let her marry you so I killed her! She expected me to sit back and watch you marry her. I couldn't do it. You're my brother. Despite everything, I love you."

A fiery beam fell from the ceiling.

"We need to get out of here," Jax coughed. "Carter, Dani, let's go!"

The sound of sirens was growing louder in the background.

"No, you two go," Carter released Dani. "I'm not going to prison."

"I can't leave you behind!"

"Yes, you can. Don't you see? I've spent so many years being the bad guy, it's who I am now. I'm not the old Carter anymore."

"Donovan, please," Dani said. "I thought you were my friend. I don't want you to die."

Carter laughed, "Donovan isn't real, Dani. He's just someone I made up. Someone that really liked you. He was a good guy but he doesn't exist. Go!"

"No! We're not leaving without you!" Jax shouted.

"Then I won't give you a choice," Carter jerked Dani back and stabbed her in the abdomen. "Take her and go!"

"Dani!" Jax picked up Dani and looked at his brother in disbelief.

Carter backed away. "Get the hell out of here! Save her!"

Jax gave his brother one last look before running towards the exit, Dani in his arms. He was greeted by Roberto.

"Where the hell did she run off to?" Roberto was yelling at Tristan. When he spotted Jax carrying Dani, he yelled for a medic.

"It's going to be okay, Dani. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Never again," Jax whispered. "Just stay alive for me, okay."

She was placed on a gurney before the sky lit up in flames as the warehouse continued to burn in the background.

"Jax," Dani groaned.

"I'm right here Panda Eyes."

"If I don't make it...I w-want you to know s-something."

"Don't say that. Of course you're going to make it," Jax wiped away his tears. "You have to make it. How else are we going to get married and have a baby Panda Eyes? Who else is going to call me Jaxass?"

"Jax-"

"You have to make it, Dani. Carter...Carter's gone now. No one else will bother us. Promise me you'll make it, Dani. Promise me."

He was gripping her hands in his.

"We have to put the Oxygen mask on her," one of the medics told him.

"Jax..." Dani whispered, "I love you."

Jax heaved forward as she closed her eyes, his declaration of love drowned out by the foreboding siren of the ambulance.

He bent down and whispered in her ear, "I know you're just pretending not to hear me right now because you want me to repeat myself, Panda Eyes. That's okay. I promise I'll tell you I love you everyday as long as you stay alive."

He swore he saw a shadow of a smile cross her face and he relaxed. She was going to be alright. She had to be. After all, his Panda Eyes was a survivor.

-The End-