1997
Brenda battled addictions to pain pills and Sonny, while Jax struggled with his feelings for Brenda and Miranda. Jax and Miranda divorced, but she didn't give up on him. Then, while trapped in the underground catacombs, Brenda and Sonny had sex. Miranda tried to use the tryst to get Jax back. After the ploy backfired, she took off. Brenda reunited with Sonny, devastating Jax.

Though he still carried a torch for Brenda, Jax became good friends with a feisty lady in blue, Officer Venus (a.k.a. V.) Ardanowski. V. fell hard for Jax, but they kept their relationship strictly platonic. Brenda and Sonny prepared to marry, but Sonny stranded the bride at the altar, leaving Jax to come to Brenda's emotional rescue once again. She suffered a breakdown, and Jax vowed to help her through it.

1998
During her recovery, Brenda realized that she wanted Jax. He remained skeptical, but she proved her love when Sonny came back and she told him good-bye. Jax accepted Brenda's marriage proposal. Not long after that, Brenda's presumed-dead mother, Veronica, showed up with a degenerative mental illness that could be inherited. Brenda went along for the ride when her suicidal mom fled town, and Veronica caused their car to go over a cliff. Brenda's body was never found, and she was presumed dead. V. stood by Jax's side and offered a shoulder to cry on, despite the fact that she had fallen in love with him. Although the duo did kiss, they remained just friends.