Hi guys, so sorry for the long delay. I have been having some difficulty with the fanfiction site, I have not been able to access my story. Finally got it all worked out! I am so appreciative to all of you that have been here waiting. You have sent encouraging messages and heartfelt emails. You are the best and I love you all!
I hope you like these next few chapters! We are finally getting to some LOVE words!
Chapter 53
Melissa narrowed her eyes as she stared at one of the two men. The younger one to be exact, he had some nerve coming here. Arrogant prick. She'd made a mistake the last time she had dealt with him. Hadn't told her brothers or family either. Maybe it was time to let Happy work off a little of the pent up energy that seemed to radiate from him. Glancing over at him she could tell that he was on edge as he glared at the two men.
"William. Nice to see you." She acknowledged the older of the two men before motioning to the younger man. "You though, you thought you could just walk in here, that what you did I would forget about." Melissa watched the arrogant little asshole stand there and glare down his nose at her. A flicker of anger flashed in the older man Williams eyes as they focused on the younger man standing beside him. Happy's eyes locked with hers and the look he gave her was one that she understood, 'you better tell me what you meant, right now' was what that look said and he meant business.
"Happy, this is William," she gestured to the older man. "He is one of my lawyers." Melissa looked at Happy and knew that he wasn't satisfied yet. His jaw was clenched and eyes hard. Taking a breath she continued. "The other one, is not my lawyer and never will be."
Melissa looked at Happy and then at William as she explained that the last time she had came to the offices that the younger man had grabbed her ass and made some very inappropriate suggestions. When those suggestions were rejected he had made sly threats. He was the son of Williams partner and a spoiled man. When Melissa finished, she turned to Happy, "I should have told my brothers, or William, someone. I didn't though and I regretted it. I should have stood up for myself."
With a nod at her Hap turned and stalked over to the young guy and jerked him up by the throat, growling something low that Melissa couldn't hear. They left the room with Happy dragging him while he tried to resist.
"Little punk had it coming." William snorted, which earned a small chuckle from Melissa. "You should have told me Melissa. I wouldn't have tolerated such behavior, neither would his father. I will talk with Joe about his son as soon as I leave here. In the meantime, I'll let your man, and I'm assuming that's what he is by the way he looks at you, take care of the little prick. Let him learn a lesson."
"Happy is my man." She told him, waiting to see if any judgement would show in his eyes. But William was smart and knew what she was doing.
"My dear, this is a cruel world we live in. You of all people have experienced more than your fair share of it. If that man loves and protects you, makes you feel safe, then I could care less about anything else. Your happiness matters to us, not because you bring us ridiculous amounts of business, it matters because we care about you."
Accepting his answer as truth was easy, he never lied to her, "So William what brings you here. I thought we had everything wrapped up when we talked last."
"We did. I just came to check on you, we were in the area and one of my sources told me that you were missing." He came over and sat by the bed. "How are you doing?"
Snorting out a laugh, "I've been better but I've been worse too, so I guess I can't complain."
Leaning forward William looked serious, "The problem, it's been taken care of?"
"Yes." Melissa understood what he was asking and knew honesty was the only answer. She had known William and Joe for so many years that she had learned they were as ruthless as her brothers and the Sons were, maybe even more. They knew how to get things done and what they couldn't do legally they usually found a way around and covered it in legalities that were hard to unwind. They were ferocious.
Melissa hadn't heard Happy step back into the room. Didn't see that he still looked tense. He watched them making sure that Melissa was okay. William noticed the intense stare of the silent man. He bit back a grin, he'd been around long enough to know when a man was protecting what was his. Good, Melissa had been through hell and she deserved a man who could hold his own.
Finally seeing Happy standing in the doorway, Melissa motioned for him to come in. She made the introductions again and talked to William about the Feds and how it was all wrapped up. She was surprised when Happy asked a few interesting questions that her and William hadn't thought of. This seemed to impress William who made sure that he would check into what Happy had asked. Standing up, the older lawyer looked at Happy, "I hope you gave the little shit a well deserved lesson."
It was the first time in a while that Melissa saw Happy look a little like his old smug self as he nodded with a smirk. Funny that it just took a little violence to put that look there.
"Her brother and cousins are looking after him now." He grinned and moved the toothpick he had in his mouth around. That earned a low chuckle from William. Happy stood and walked to the door with him.
"I'll make sure that he is punished for his behavior. Melissa won't have to deal with him again." They stepped out into the hallway and William studied the quiet man briefly, "I asked Melissa if the problem she had was dealt with, you sure it won't be bothering her anymore?"
With a nod Happy confirmed what he was asking, "I made sure of it."
Reaching into the pocket of his suit jacket William pulled out a small card and handed it to Happy, "Keep this in your wallet, it's my contact information if you ever need it. You call me first and never say a word until you talk to me." When Happy didn't immediately reach for it, "Melissa is the one who told me to make sure you had this." That seemed to be what he needed to hear and he took the card and slid it in his pocket. Melissa watched them from her bed and felt satisfied that she had done what she had set out to do, take care of the people she loved.
Moving around trying to get comfortable with the amount of pain that was starting to ache in different places wasn't easy, but she was determined not to let anyone see, just in case Auggie changed his mind about the three days. Looking up her eyes met Happy's, she knew that he'd caught her struggling to get comfortable by the way his eyes slightly narrowed and swept over her. Good grief, the man never missed a thing.
-xx-
Happy listened with only half of his mind on what the lawyer was saying, the other half was watching Melissa try to make herself comfortable in her bed. The more he watched her struggle the angrier he got. Not at her, at himself for not making Creagen suffer longer. He'd got off easy, how could he have let that happen. Snapping his mind back to the lawyer as he held out a card Happy took it. He knew that this man was someone who could destroy people with a phone call and it'd be in his best interest to have him on his side. Hap had to give Melissa credit, she was very good at covering their asses.
Leading him to the waiting room Happy smirked when he saw that the guys had worked over the smug little asshole lawyer that had messed with Melissa. Hap had been the first to give him a few hits, but in the mood he was in he knew he'd better hold himself back. His anger was too close to the edge and it wouldn't take much for him to lose his grip on it. Plus, with her family around they'd want their fair share of him too.
Hearing the older man beside him snort out a soft chuckle Happy looked over at him to see a sly grin on his face. It was a look that Hap knew, William enjoyed seeing the little fucker getting what he deserved. No wonder Melissa liked her lawyers, they understood how things worked.
The little fucker tried to say something to William but William just turned his head and ignored him, speaking to Shep, "I had no idea that he'd made such inappropriate advances toward Melissa. I assure you, we, his father and I, will also make sure it is quite a learning experience for the little prick. We allow no mistreatment of our clients, especially our female clients." He turned and glared at the young man with eyes full of anger, "And most especially Melissa, who has endured the most horrendous of abuse."
By now the younger lawyer was looking a little worse for wear than when he walked into Melissa's hospital room. Happy was also certain that William meant every word he had said about punishing the little asshole too. As the older lawyer turned to leave Shep stepped forward and thanked him for the work he had done to get them all out of trouble with the Feds.
"Just doing my job. It's always interesting when Melissa brings us problems that require," He paused and looked around at them, "a little creative problem solving. Shakes up our day, keeps us on our toes." Nodding at Happy as he moved to the door, "Tell her that when she is at home and feeling better that I will come back so that we can go over a few things."
Hap nodded back and watched as William turned to leave, snapping his finger at the younger lawyer to follow him. Happy grinned because it looked like the older man was looking forward to punishing the little fucker. He guessed that men like William didn't get as far as they did without learning to deal with problems in an effective way.
Letting his mind drift he still wasn't able to shake the edgy feeling he had. Giving that asshole a few good hits had eased it a little, enough to lift his mood, just not enough to get rid of the edginess he felt pulsing through him. If they hadn't been in the hospital waiting room he would have beat him to a bloody pulp and not cared if the shit had lived or not. Now that, that may have gotten rid of some of his frustration.
Turning to head back to Melissa's room Jax stopped him as he got out in the hallway.
"Hap. I need you to do something." Jax told him. Happy could tell by the tone of his voice and expression on his face that it wasn't going to be anything quick or easy. He silently listened to his president and what he needed Happy to do. When Jax was finished he nodded his head in acceptance and then once again headed to Melissa's room. His day just got a lot longer.
-xx-
His eyes met hers as he stepped back into her room, there were no emotions showing on his face. The edginess was still there, Melissa could tell by how controlled his movements were. Most others wouldn't have noticed but she did. Happy sat down on the edge of bed instead of in the chair.
"Thank you for taking care of that for me." She told him and before he had time to fuss about her not saying anything sooner she added, "I had forgotten about it until he showed up here." Judging by the look on his face she wouldn't get off with just that thank you. Rubbing her fingers softly against his forearm didn't totally distract him but she knew he was aware of what she was doing when he raised a brow at her.
"Anything else you ain't told us?" He asked.
"No Happy. That's it."
"Good." He leaned forward and kissed her. It was a quick kiss but still made her want more. Letting out a breath and rubbing his neck he looked at her.
"Say whatever it is you need to say Hap."
"I gotta leave in just a little bit. Need to do something for Jax and the club."
Melissa hadn't expected that. She tried to make sure that the disappointment didn't show on her face. Staying in the hospital was miserable and Happy being here had been a comfort in more ways than one. It only took a second or two before her mind panicked about how long he would be gone and if it would be after she went home. Would she have to go home alone?
"Hey." He gently squeezed her hand. "I won't be gone long, should be back tomorrow evening."
"I understand." She did, but it didn't make it any easier.
"I know you do." His thumb was moving back and forth across her wrist. "I'll be back before you go home. Just a few more days in here and then we'll be at home."
Melissa smiled a little at the we'll be at home part. "Who's gonna help me with my pajamas?" She smirked at him and watched his pupils flare instantly as he remembered exactly what that meant.
"Nobody unless it's one of those female nurses." He growled and leaned closer to her, his lips almost touching hers. "Behave, try to rest up while I'm gone." When his lips touched hers Melissa let him deepen the kiss and returned it eagerly. Pulling back after a few minutes Happy slid his hand to the back of her neck and into the edge of her hair. "With what I have to do, I don't know if I'll have time to talk tonight."
"I don't have a phone anyway. I lost it sometime after Creagen took me." She cringed slightly at the mention of the last part of her statement not realizing Happy caught it.
"I'll have Juice get you a new one." Sliding closer he wrapped his arms tighter around her. "Now, kiss me and tell me bye. I gotta go."
Rolling her eyes while she laughed a little, "Bossy man." He didn't argue it, maybe because he was busy kissing her, but most likely he didn't argue because they both knew it was true.
After saying goodbye she watched Happy leave. He was a little more relaxed than when he came in but she could still see that he had a tightness to how he held himself. Knew that it was some sort of tension or anxiety, he just wasn't saying what it was about.
-xx-
Walking down the hall of the hospital took more energy than it should have, but Happy had came here without stopping to get any sleep. He had stopped only long enough at the clubhouse to shower and put on clean clothes. It should have only taken him one day to get the job done. Instead it had taken all of two whole days. When he got to the waiting room he noticed that it was full and even Auggie was sitting around, none of them looked happy either. That was a little odd, he figured at least one of them would be in the room with Melissa. Chibs had went with him and neither one had talked to anyone here, that's how damn busy they had been. Now he wondered if that had been a mistake. They would have called him or Chibs if something serious would have happened. Wouldn't they?
"What's going on?" He asked, not sure if he should be worried.
"It's about damn time Happy! You're woman is being a pain in the ass. We ain't going back in there." Kozik grumbled and Shep voiced his agreement.
In his mind it didn't make sense. She should be in a pretty good mood, it had been three days and she would be going home. Glancing over to look at Auggie, even he looked like he was in a bad mood.
"What'd you do to her?" Hap groaned.
"Ask Dr August over there." Shep muttered sarcastically.
A short disgruntled snort came from the man in question before he spoke. "Look man, I had to do it. It was a medical decision not a personal one."
Already tired and not wanting to deal with whatever was going on, he snapped out a little harsher than he planned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Auggie straightened up in his chair, "Yesterday, when I sent Melissa up to have some scans to check and see how everything was healing, I noticed one area didn't look quite right. I ordered an additional test, it requires a dye infusion to be circulated through her system. The whole process takes about twenty four hours. I had to tell her she has to stay an extra day." The doctor let out a long sigh. "She didn't take that well. Been in a pissy mood since then."
"Is it serious?" Hap wanted to know. "The place that didn't look right."
"I don't think so. I just need to be sure. If it is something, I can catch it early and deal with it." Auggie looked at him. "It was the right call and once she settles down she'll be fine. I know she hates hospitals but it's just one more day."
He looked around the room and shook his head. If he wasn't so fucking tired he would laugh at all of them, bunch of grown ass men hiding from a woman. Happy left the room and walked to her hospital room, the door was shut so he opened it as quietly as he could. Melissa didn't hear him, which surprised him. Her fingers rubbed back and forth across the blanket that covered her and her eyes were unfocused. She was lost in her thoughts. It was obvious that at some point she had cried, her eyes still had that glassy sheen to them.
When he made it to the bed he stood there for a second before touching her moving fingers. Her head jerked up and her eyes met his.
"You're back." She smiled a little.
He nodded while he took off his kutte and draped it over the back of the chair. With his hand he patted her leg motioning for her to slide over. Lowering down next to her she leaned up so that he could slide an arm behind her and then made herself comfortable against him. With his other hand he tipped up her chin and lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and Hap had to make himself keep it that way. If he didn't, he may just have her stripped down naked and doing her right now. Pulling away was harder than he wanted, somehow she seemed to understand though.
"You look tired." She breathed.
"I am. Now, tell me what's up." He shook his head when he saw her make a face. "I talked to Auggie before coming in here and I agree with him. It's just one more day."
Seeing her look away and feel her body stiffen just a little, Happy didn't expect her to answer him. At least not without a fuss. When she started to speak, it caught him off guard. She stared out the window as she spoke.
"I know it's only one more day. It's just-" She let out a breath and seemed to be thinking about what to say next. "It's just that being in here makes me feel like the nightmare hasn't ended yet. I'm on display for everyone to see what they did to me."
Happy didn't say anything, just thought about what she'd just said. Waited for her to say more.
"I know that it has ended, this is the last part of everything they put me through. I just want to go home."
Still not knowing what to say, what was there he could say, Hap just pulled her in a little closer and felt her rest head against his chest. Maybe it was because he was tired or maybe something else but at this moment he couldn't help being a little surprised at the picture he must make. Him, the Tacoma killer laid up in a hospital room that wasn't even his with his woman snuggled up to him. The most surprising part was that he didn't want to be anywhere else right now. He'd like to think that this, holding her, knowing she was safe, that all the bullshit was done, would be enough to calm some of the the rage that had been growing inside him. Growing each time he looked at her struggling to hide her pain, grew each time he saw the marks on her, the stitches, the bandages. And it grew because he hadn't made Creagen suffer for what he'd done. Him of all people, he was the best there was at making someone suffer, thrived on it more often than not. The one time when it was personally important to him to do what he was good at and he had reacted so fast that he'd not really thought about it until after it was done. Something about that day kept nagging at him though. Couldn't put his finger on what it was, if it was something Melissa had said, something they had done. Hap hadn't had a minute to himself hardly, much less time to sit and focus on what it was his mind was trying to grasp. Maybe he'd go talk to Lee, just to go over things.
"I can feel how tense you are Happy-"
"I'm just tired." He interrupted before she could say anymore. "Was a long couple of days."
She looked up at him for a second, let out a sigh, and then rested her head back against him. Hap knew she didn't fully believe him but wouldn't push him to talk. It was that about her he loved, that she didn't try to make him talk, he almost told her what was eating at him. Almost.
Both laid there silent, lost in their own thoughts until the buzz of Hap's phone broke the silence. After he had answered it and hung up, Melissa leaned up for him to move. Sliding out from under her he moved, instead of getting up though he leaned over her as she laid back down against the pillow looking up at him.
"I guess you gotta go."
"Yea." He mumbled as his hand slid under her top and moved up her skin to the crow that rested there and stroked his fingers over it. His thumb stroked the underside of her breast, he felt her heartbeat quicken as she drew in a soft breath. That soft sound told him how much she liked his touch which made him so damned hard he could barely stand it. When he kissed her this time he didn't keep it soft, it was a long deep kiss, that had them both breathing heavy by the time he pulled back. Jesus Christ he'd be glad when she was home so he could do the things he wanted to do to her.
Giving her crow one last squeeze before sitting up, "Baby, I gotta go, I'll be back in a few hours."
"Okay."
"You know they're all out in that waiting room, hiding from you." He grinned at her.
Nodding yes, "I knew they wouldn't go far." Seeming to think for a minute, "Will you tell them I'm asleep or something? Please. I really don't want to talk to anybody, probably just going to sleep for a while."
Watching her while he put his kutte back on he shook his head that he would, "It'll cost ya." He smirked at her.
"Oh really?"
"If I gotta cover for ya, it's gonna cost ya." He told her, liking that it made her smile a little.
"So, what's your price?"
"Not decided yet, so you'll just have to wait until I decide." Hap answered, knowing that it would drive her crazy trying to figure out what he'd ask for. He liked when she got flustered and this would definitely do it.
Snorting out a laugh, "If I say no?"
"I think most of them will fit in here." He shrugged and watched her roll her eyes.
"Fine. I'll owe you." She said and then added, "Within reason."
Laughing a little as he bent to kiss her, "I do like when you owe me."
"I noticed that." She said after he kissed her.
When he left and passed by the waiting room Hap told the guys to give her a few hours to rest before they went back in. No one questioned him, they understood what he was saying.
-xx-
Melissa sat quietly listening to the machines in the room softly beep and make noises. Happy had left a few hours ago and she had spent some of the time trying to figure out what was making him so tense. Finally giving up on that she had let her mind drift to some of the conversations she'd had over the days that Happy had been gone.
She'd had visitors of all sorts, some more surprising than others. The lady sheriff had visited both officially and unofficially. When she had come for her unofficial visit she had asked Melissa to call her Thea and they had spent a pleasant time learning details about one another. Melissa was very impressed that not once did she ask anything about the Sons. Thea genuinely seemed interested in being nice. She was a very funny and easy going woman and Melissa knew why Chibs liked her. Thea had asked to come by and visit when Melissa left the hospital. After hearing that she could the lady sheriff had left.
Lee's woman Sonia had visited. Melissa knew she was being sized up, judged, or whatever you wanted to call it. Sonia was like Gemma in a lot of ways, except she wasn't as straight forward. She patiently answered the questions Sonia had until finally Melissa had bluntly asked.
"So, have I passed your test yet."
With an arched brow and a soft chuckle, "Sweetie, you passed any test I may have had the day I heard Happy had an Old Lady. If you can make that man become a one woman man, there is something special about you. I saw how he looks at you, what he's done for you. And you're the same, how you look at him, what you did for him." She stopped for a minute. "What if I would have said no, you didn't pass?"
"I would have said, you're entitled to your own opinion, and don't let the door hit you on the way out." Melissa smiled sweetly when she finished.
Sonia had laughed so hard it took her a few minutes before she could speak, "Oh, I like you. Gemma said you were good and she wasn't wrong."
They'd spent time talking after that until she'd left to go check on Lee. After that some of her cousins came. Loken stayed the night in the recliner, his visit had been the best. Allen had spent a lot of time the next day until Shep came. The SAMCRO guys had been in and out the rest of the time.
The one thing that bothered her the most though was that no one mentioned what had happened to her. She had only told Happy and Auggie the exact details of what had happened to her. Everyone else that had asked got just a general rundown of things. Nobody told her exactly what had happened when they had got to the building, took care of Creagen, or when they found her. Not even the Sheriff had went into detail. All she knew was that Creagen and those with him were dead. Nothing else.
Melissa was so deep in thought that she hadn't heard Chibs come in until he cleared his throat.
"If this ain't a good time I can come back later." He'd said.
Smiling at him, "It's a good time. I was just thinking."
"Seemed like some serious thoughts lass. Anything I can help ya with?"
"Happy's edgy." Melissa said. She was curious to see how Chibs would answer. Would he evade the question or answer?
Chibs stared at her, almost like he was deciding what to do. With a sigh, "I've noticed it too. He won't say anything until he's ready or until he's taken care of it."
"I know. I just don't like seeing him like that."
He'd agreed and they spent the next little while talking about things in general. She had told him about the lady Sheriff visiting both times. Chibs had seemed a surprised when Melissa had told him that she liked her. She didn't push it any further than that though, that was his business.
Finally deciding that there were a few questions she could ask him, he was the Vice President of SAMCRO and her friend. Plus, he didn't seem to try and gloss things over to keep her from being upset.
"Chibs, can I ask you something?" She asked, not noticing that she'd spoken hesitantly.
"Sure love, go ahead."
Sitting up a little and taking a breath to steady herself, "What happened to that guy, I know he wasn't a Son or even a prospect. But he wanted to be, that's why he was a hangaround. I know how things work in El Paso, just wondering about in Charming."
Melissa watched Chibs sit forward slowly and rest his palms on his knees, "What guy are you talking about?"
Although he'd asked calmly Melissa could hear a hardness in his voice that hadn't been there until just now.
"One of the guys with Creagan, who helped him do this to me." She watched him become even more still, if that was possible.
"We took care of everyone there." He answered in very controlled voice.
Something had changed. Melissa could feel it, she didn't understand it but she felt it. Pushing any further or asking anything else didn't seem like her best option.
When the door opened and a young nurse came in to give her medicine, Chibs stood quickly and said goodbye, leaving her in a puzzled silence. Melissa had a bad feeling and she recognized the look that Chibs had had. It meant something serious was about to happen and more often than not she wouldn't be in the loop of information. It would be Son's business.
-xx-
