The Return

The Note That Changed Everything

Jax woke to find himself stretched out on the sofa, the Vodka had taken it's toll and knocked him out. The room was now in darkness, and Jax knew it was late. He pulled himself up and grabbed his cell off the coffee table. It was now 10 pm but want caught his attention more was that his phone was clean. No missed no calls, no messages.

He couldn't wait any longer he had to see her. Deciding that he was ready to drive he grabbed the keys to his bike and headed over to Hannigan's hoping that she would be there.

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Happy pulled up outside his house, he checked the time on his cell, it was 10.15pm. That meant that Elena would still be at work which was good because he'd realised that he had their fathers blood smeared over his t-shirt.

Walking inside, he saw an envelope resting on the kitchen table, as he got closer he noticed that his name was written on the front in very familiar handwriting. Tearing open the envelope he pulled out the paper and started to read it.

Happy,

By the time you read this I will have already left Charming. I'm sorry that I'm telling you this through a letter rather than face to face, but I know that if I had you would have convinced me not to go and I really can't stay. I need to clear my head and I just can't do that in Charming.

I know that you will probably be pissed at me for bolting without telling you and for not telling you where I am, but right now I just really need to be alone.

I'm so sorry for doing this, but I hope you can understand why. I will call you as soon as I arrive to let you know that I'm okay.

Remember that I love you.

Elle xxxxxxxxxxxx

He had to re-read the letter a couple of times just to make sure that he understood what he was reading. His baby sister had runaway and from reading this letter he had no idea where.

She was right to think that he would be pissed, because that's exactly how he felt. But he wasn't pissed off with her he was pissed off with himself. He knew his little hook up with Kelly probably had something to do with her leaving, it may not be the main cause that was on Jax, but his behaviour defiantly hadn't helped.

He went to go to the fridge to get beer, but stopped when he heard a knock on the front door. When he answered the door he saw an agitated Jax standing in front of him.

"Where's Elena? And don't tell me she's not here because I've been to the bar and she's not there." The fact that he was shouting really pissed Happy off even more, which wasn't a good thing because he was already in a bad mood.

"What the fuck, don't come round here shouting the odds at me."

"Whatever man, is she here or not?"

That was it Happy lost it. It was all too much. This day had been one of the worst, first of all he finds out that his Dad is back and not only that, he'd been going to Elena's place of work trying to worm his way in with her. And then after a confrontation with him he comes home to find out that Elena had runaway and now on top of everything the guy who was the cause of his sister heart break was standing in front of him giving him attitude. Enough was enough, he had refrained from giving Jax the beating he deserved, because he knew Elena wouldn't want him to but now she's not here Happy couldn't think of a reason to stop himself.

He threw himself forward tackling Jax to the floor. Jax wasn't shocked by this in fact he had expected Happy to give him a beating a long time ago, he knew he deserved it. But tonight Happy had picked the wrong night. He was in no mood to sit back and take the beating, he had too much anger bubbling inside of him, this was a perfect way to release it.

The two wrestled around on the grass, both throwing punches hoping to make contact with the other. Although they were fighting one another, really they were both fighting themselves. Both of them knew they had done wrong by Elena and they hated themselves for that. The fight lasted for about 10 minutes, before Jax finally gave in.

"Okay...Okay...I'm done you win...you win."

Happy halted mid punch when he heard Jax's pleads. As he looked down at him, Happy saw it. For the first time Happy saw the despair in his eyes, and as much as he hated to admit it, he knew that Jax was hurting just as much as he was.

Letting go of him Happy stood to his feet. He saw the shock in Jax's eyes when he stretched out his hand to help up. He could tell he was hesitating, wondering if this was a trap.

"Come on get up." Happy ordered.

Jax finally accepted his help. Once Jax was on his feet Happy headed back into the house nodding his head for Jax to follow, which he did. Once they were inside Jax leant against the kitchen counter as Happy went to the freezer. He pulled out an ice pack and threw it to Jax.

"Thanks." Jax applied it to the left side of his face where he could feel the swelling already starting. Happy just nodded as he got himself an ice pack as well as two beers from the fridge. Jax takes the drink.

"Rachel lied about the baby, made it all up." Jax blurted out. Happy didn't answer but Jax knew he how had his full attention.

"Her and Kelly planned the whole thing..."

"Kelly was in on this?"

"Yeah." Happy shook his head in disbelief.

"Fucking bitches. They still around?"

"Nah kicked them both out, told them to get out of Charming."

"Good because if I got my hands on them two.."

He couldn't finish his sentence, couldn't find the words to explain what he would to them. This lie they had created had torn his sister in two. They would have to pay for that.

"That's why I need to speak to Elena. I left her a message telling her but I haven't heard anything. I know I'm asking a lot but if you could just tell me where she is I promise I'll make this right."

Happy had known Jax long enough to know when he was telling the truth. Happy knew now that all this bullshit was out of the way with Rachel that Jax really would do everything he could to do right by Elena, but the only problem with that was that Elena had gone, It's was too late.

Happy grabbed the note off the table and handed it to Jax. He watched as Jax read the note. Happy could see the hurt in his eyes, he knew that Jax finally realised he had screwed up big time.

"But I left her the message. She knows about Rachel and the baby. Why would she leave?" Happy knew that he wasn't really expecting an answer to that question but Happy was goning to try and give him one.

"Maybe it wasn't enough." Jax looked back at Happy. "She's been through a lot. Had a lot of people she loved shit on her, including me. I don't blame her for leaving."

"But I thought..."

"If this is what she needs, then we need to let her have it. We've both done wrong by her it's about time we actually started listening to want she wants."

"So your not going to try and find her?" Jax had to admit he was a little taken aback by Happy's attitude.

"She said she would ring me when she gets settled. She's a smart kid, she's not going to do anything stupid. Plus as much as I may not like it, I owe her this, we both do."

"I really don't think I can let her go."

"You have no choice, this is what she wants."

A silence took over the room with Happy's last words. Jax knew Happy was right. Even knowing about Rachel and the fake pregnancy, she had still decided to leave, which meant she didn't want him and after everything he had put her through he didn't blame her. As hard as it was Jax knew he had to let her go.