Chapter 54
Chibs pulled the door closed and just stood there. Stunned. His heart was pounding as he tried to make sense of what Melissa had just said. Stepping across the hallway and looking into the room he nodded at Juice to come to him out in the hallway.
"What's up man?"
"Go sit with Melissa. Make sure she stays in her room." Chibs told him in a voice that couldn't be heard by anyone else.
Juice immediately stiffened. "Is something wrong?"
With a strained breath out, "I'm not sure. She said something that doesn't make sense. I need to find Happy, ask him and the others. After I do that, Happy will come straight down here. When he does, just leave." At the worried look on the younger Son's face Chibs reached out and patted him on the back. "She's fine."
"I haven't seen Hap. Jax may have, he's down at the end of the hall with Tara." Juice said as turned to go to Melissa's room.
Not wasting any time Chibs turned back to the waiting room and caught Shep's attention, motionied for him to come with him, they started down the hall and found Jax.
"You seen Happy?" Chibs asked Jax.
"Yeah, just got back. Headed down to talk to Lee." Jax looked at Chibs for a long minute. "Why? What's up?"
By now both Son's presidents were wearing the same questioning look.
"Probably best to talk in Lee's room."
Reaching Lee's room quickly, Chibs looked around. Hap was standing with Tig and Lee's woman was sitting beside the bed.
"Sonia, ya mind giving us a few minutes?" Chibs asked her. Shaking her head she stood up to leave.
"Sure. Just come get me when you guys are done."
Shutting the door behind her, Chibs turned to Happy.
-xx-
Happy watched Chibs turn to him. Something was up, he knew that look on his brothers face. It was serious.
"I just came from Melissa's room." Shaking his head when Hap went to move. "She's fine, just said something that didn't make sense."
"What do you mean?" Happy asked and the edgy feeling he'd been keeping at bay started to move through him. He had a bad feeling.
"Melissa asked me about how we dealt with one of the guys that was with Creagen. Said she knew how El Paso would take care of it, wanted to know how we would. She said that since he was not a Son or prospect, just a hangaround, she wasn't sure." As he finished no one said a word, it was a silent shock they all didn't know how to respond to.
If what Chibs said was true, that meant they should have recognized one of the guys that was with Creagen. They had killed the two men that were with him and they hadn't known who they were until Juice had found out that.
This wasn't good. It could only mean one thing.
"You remember how many were with Creagen?" Happy asked Lee.
"Had to be three with him. Two in the van with Creagen and one was in the truck that hit my bike." Lee answered.
Fuck, that couldn't be right. If it was that meant a guy had gotten away. Worse than that it was someone they knew.
Happy heard a collection of harsh cuss words being uttered around the room.
"You don't remember seeing anybody that looked familiar?" Jax asked Lee.
"No man, happened so fast when they hit me and threw me in the van I didn't really get a good look. When they had us in the room it was only two of them that took turns coming to get Melissa." Lee told them.
"Melissa hasn't mentioned any of this?" Chibs asked Happy and Shep at the same time.
"No, we decided not to press her too much in the shape she was in, since we had killed everyone that had been there. At least we thought we had. We were gonna wait until she had healed some more." Shep answered.
Happy stared at them, "She only told me about the things they did to her, didn't tell me anything else." Rubbing his hand over his head in frustration, he knew this was bad if they didn't get it dealt with. "I'll go talk to her."
They all turned at a sound by the door. Auggie stood there, stepped in and closed the door.
"Came to check on Lee, heard most of what you just said." He was quiet for a second. "You can't tell her that you may not have gotten them all."
Hap was getting ready to say otherwise.
"Listen to me for a minute. She's on a very fine line, the comfort and safety she feels right now has been a long time coming. And even that little bit she feels now is very tenuous. If we jerk that away from her I'm not sure she'll fully get over it, especially with the physical injures she's dealing with too. She's been medicated, so that can distort the way she processes information. I know that she's frustrated about having to stay here but truthfully, I should have made her stay longer. If something upsets her, I'm gonna keep her here until I decide otherwise."
Happy didn't know if being told what to do about his woman by somebody else pissed him off or not. Deciding that Auggie may be right, "What should we do? We gotta find out what she knows."
"Don't tell her there may be someone who got away. Just ask her to describe the people that were there." The doctor told them. "Try to make it as unobtrusive as possible. She's smart she'll know if you are trying to trick her. You gotta keep this between just a few, that way it doesn't slip out by somebody on accident."
It was true, Happy knew that what the doctor was saying was true. Focusing his eyes, he noticed everyone looking at him.
"What?" He demanded.
"You seem a little on edge man." Jax said. "More than usual."
"I'm fine." He grunted. Didn't need them in his business. Hell what was he supposed to say, I'm fucking pissed off because I didn't make the bastard who hurt my woman suffer enough, when all she does is suffer because of him. Or was he supposed to say that he was a fucking mess because he hated hospitals and just wanted Melissa to be at home, he was tired of the crowd here. In the end all did was stick to I'm fine. They knew if for the lie it was but didn't press him.
"Go talk to her. Let us know later what we are gonna need to do." Shep said.
Walking slowly to Melissa's room took some control. Hap had wanted to run and demand that she tell him what he needed to know. That wasn't what he would do though. She'd hurt enough, he wouldn't cause more by scaring her. Lying to her wasn't what he would do either, she wouldn't forgive him for that when she found out. How he was going to approach this was going to be important. Hap was used to using his physical strengths and techniques to get information from people, this wasn't his area of expertise. And to add to that, he was so damn tired, all he wanted to do was get some sleep.
Stopping outside her door he took a few controlled breaths and tried to relax. She'd noticed he'd been tense earlier, now he was even worse. He couldn't have her focused on that.
-xx-
Melissa watched Happy open the door, he had that no emotion look in his eyes and on his face. It was that Happy that always made her uncomfortable, not scared like it did most people, just weary because she knew it meant everything wasn't okay. He'd been tense earlier, quiet, and now this. It worried her. Maybe he had decided that all this was just too much for him. He hadn't said that he loved her, not once, not ever. She'd been trying to convince herself that it didn't matter. It was becoming clear that it did though. Happy cared for her, that much she knew. Shaking herself before she got lost in that mess of thinking Melissa focused back on Juice and Happy. They were talking softly at the door and she couldn't hear what was was being said. When Juice left Hap came to her bed and sat on the edge facing her, not like the usual, letting her rest against him as he sat beside her.
"I didn't think you'd be back this early." She cautiously said. His expression didn't change.
"Came to check on you." Was his simple reply.
Somehow that didn't feel like that was all. So she waited and when he didn't say anything it worried her even more, aggravated her a little too.
"What do you want really Hap? I can tell by the look on your face and the fact that you haven't touched me since you sat down that you didn't just come to check on me." She huffed. He reached for her hand but she moved it away. He raised brow at the action.
"Juice is tying up the loose ends on the guys with Creagen, trying to run their identities and make sure everything is locked down. We've waited a little bit so that you'd have time to rest and recover before we asked you anything." He told her, still had the expressionless face though. His business face. She'd known this was coming. But something was off, like it wasn't the full truth.
"If I don't want to talk about it?" She asked.
Happy took a measured breath and let it out. Melissa knew she was pushing his patience. He was used to getting his way when he wanted something. Melissa didn't want to change who he was, but he did need to learn that with her he couldn't always be like that. It was more personal between them.
"Melissa." He started and then stopped, rubbed his hand over his head. "I know you don't want to. Honestly I wish we never had to talk about it again. We both know that's not how it is though." This time when he reached for her hand she didn't pull away, "It's okay if you're scared, I'll be right here."
It didn't surprise her that he would know that she would be a little scared. When she didn't answer and looked away from him that seemed to make him change his approach. Letting go of her hand he moved to sit beside her, gathering her up close to him. With one hand he turned her face to him.
"All I want to do is touch you, everywhere, every way that I can. Don't ever question that." He kissed her then and she knew that not only had she pushed his patience, she'd made him mad. Whatever was going on with him it was only getting worse. Biting down lightly on his lip she heard him groan and then push her back against the pillow, he wasn't as gentle as he had been lately. It was what he needed, they both knew it. And, she gave everything she had until a slight wrong movement caused her to jerk back in pain.
"You okay." He asked with his lips still touching hers lightly.
She nodded yes. He readjusted them so that they were back to her resting against him. His heart was beating fast, same as hers.
"What all do you want to know?" She softly asked.
His hands tightened on her before rubbing up and down her back. It was a soothing gesture, calmed her.
"Everything you can remember about the men with Creagen. How many were there?"
Closing her eyes, she let her mind drift to what he was asking, "There were three men with Creagen." From her position and with her eyes closed she missed Happy's eyes flare and jaw clench and unclench.
Melissa talked and when Hap wanted more information on certain things he would gently guide the questions to get the answers he needed. She was unaware of just how detailed her descriptions were, which meant she gave Happy more than he had even hoped to get. When she was done and wiped her face, she realized how exhausted she was. Watched Happy press the medication button.
"You did good." He touched her face and was getting ready to say something else.
"Go ahead and go. I know you need to talk to Juice and the others." She interrupted him. "Plus, you hit the pain med button. I'll be asleep in just a few minutes."
"I'll be back tonight." He promised. Kissed her forehead and gently moved off the bed. Melissa didn't point out that she could see how tense he was.
"Happy." She said when he got to the door. "I get to go home tomorrow."
That got a small grin from him. "I know sweetheart."
-xx-
The information Melissa had given him was exactly what they had needed. Happy hadn't been able to recall the hangaround that Melissa had described, but Tig had. He knew exactly who he was. Problem was they'd have to track him down. They'd come to the conclusion that the guy hadn't been in with Creagen long, probably got in with him after Randal died. Creagen must have been paying him to keep tabs on Melissa and feed the information back to him. Hap had surprised them all when he had said that he would let them find the hangaround, he was staying with Melissa.
He'd thought about it. They didn't want Melissa to know what was going on, at least not yet. If Happy was gone it would be suspicious since she had just gave them all the new information. Hap had made it more than clear that when they found the fucker, no one would touch him except for Happy. If they did, they'd suffer.
He'd spent the rest of the night, what was left of it, in the room with Melissa. She'd been asleep, so he made a few calls and then fell asleep in the uncomfortable recliner.
While Melissa was gone to do the test Auggie had ordered the next morning, Hap had seen Tara and Auggie huddled together talking outside the room. He wondered why Tara came in later to talk to him. By the time she left, all Hap could do was shake his head. He had no intentions of doing what she'd just asked.
-xx-
Pulling up to her house was the best feeling. Somehow, and Melissa couldn't figure out how, Happy had managed to get everyone else to let them come here alone. Melissa had expected at least half her family to be here.
"How'd you do it?" She wanted to know.
"Do what?"
"Get them all to not come here today."
"Told them they could come over tomorrow after lunch and stay for a few hours." He snorted.
"Thank you." She smiled as he got out and came around to her door. When he opened it and went to carry her she tried to refuse.
"Hush." He muttered as he scooped her up and headed for the house. When he got to the door Melissa looked up at him.
"Put me down Happy. I can walk from here." She tried to move so he'd put her down.
"Why?" He wanted to know.
Melissa didn't want to explain that she didn't want him to carry her like a bride into the house. She may be okay with some stuff but that was something that one day she would like to do. She just felt silly saying it or trying to explain it to him.
"Because I can do it myself." She avoided answering his question.
"Nice try." He smirked and walked in with her. Instead of putting her down he went straight to bedroom, then put her down.
"Okay. So here's the deal." He stood looking at her as he spoke. "Tara told me that I should let you rest for a few days that way you wouldn't over do it. And by that she meant that I shouldn't be touching you. If you agree with her I'll do what she asked." He ran his hand down her arm.
"And if I don't agree." She whispered as her stomach clenched at the look he gave her.
He didn't answer with words. His lips were on hers before either could say anything. She thought he'd rush, maybe even hoped he would, they both wanted the same thing. But she was wrong, slow wasn't the word to use, more like thorough. With his lips on hers she moaned at the first touch of his tongue when it met hers, his hands sliding under her shirt and making contact with her soft skin, even felt his fingers flex at the contact. Melissa needed this, she knew Happy needed it more. It was his way of expressing his emotions, his way of easing his mind that she was okay and she was his, he was hers.
Backing up slightly he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Reaching for hers it followed his to the floor. Melissa slid her hands up his stomach and chest, listened to him suck in a breath as she stepped closer and pressed herself against him, her fingers rubbing his shoulders and back of his neck. Strong arms locked around her and his hands moved down to squeeze her ass as he pulled her close enough that she could feel how hard he was. It gave her a powerful feeling knowing that she did that to him. It was getting harder to think as his lips moved down her neck. She wasn't sure when but at some point her bra and pants had come off and she was on her back with Happy between her thighs, looking at her as his hand moved along her jaw.
"I missed you Happy." She whispered, feeling his thumb rub her lower lip. It wasn't something she had to explain, knew he understood. Even though he'd been with her at the hospital, it was crowded with so much other stuff going on around them, it wasn't quiet and private like this moment. That's what she had missed.
"Missed you too." He murmured before his lips were back on hers, his hand moving into her panties. When his fingers slid across her clit and between her lips, he felt how wet she was for him and the mood changed. His kiss was more demanding, his touch more urgent. Standing up to take off his pants and boxers made her squirm on the bed a little. He stood watching her, could see how much he wanted her, which intensified her feeling of excitement. Reaching his hand out he caught the edge of her panties and pulled them down her legs. Again she lay still as he watched her. She hoped he wasn't going to change his mind after looking at all her injuries. That would just be cruel.
-xx-
Happy let his eyes travel over her. Her smooth skin had bruises, cuts, scrapes, and marks spread out everywhere. It didn't matter though, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever known. The only mark that mattered to him was the one he had put on her. His mark. She was his. When he'd felt how wet she was it had been all he could do not to just move her panties, unzip his jeans and shove his cock in her. He was so horny, had been for days, it shocked him in that instant, he realized that not once had he thought of going to someone else. Truthfully, he hadn't thought of going to anyone else since the day he kissed her on the side of the road.
Easing back down on the bed between her thighs, he propped up on his elbow to look at her, twisting a piece of her silky hair around his finger. When he kissed her this time she rocked her hips up into him and he couldn't help the groan he made. He slid his cock between her wet lips and over her clit a few times.
"Please, Hap." She whispered.
He didn't need the plea, he was almost at his breaking point already. Hap had wanted to take it slow, but knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her kinda shot that plan to shit.
Moving off his elbow and spreading her thighs a little wider, he pressed himself into her slowly. Holy shit, was the only coherent thought he could pull together. She was so damn hot, wet, and tight, it was all he could do to hold himself back. But, fuck, it felt good.
Melissa's leg wrapped around his hip and he pushed deeper. She moved with him, met his strokes and matched them. His lips had found one of her nipples and he sucked on the tight bud. One hand was wrapped in her hair, tilting her head back while the other hand smoothed up and down the thigh that was wrapped around him. He could feel her pussy start to tighten around him, her breathing start to change, all of this made him aware of how close to the edge he was himself. He wanted to come but not before he made her come first. Pushing deeper into her, slow and hard would do it. Rubbing against her clit while he did made her move a little more frantically against him.
When she started to moan his name and beg him not to stop, he didn't. The feeling of her muscles clenching around his cock, pushed him over the edge with her. He pumped into her hard with her name on his lips. The only thing he remembered for the next little bit was shifting so his weight wasn't on her and pulling her against him.
-xx-
She lay quietly, snuggled against him listening to his slow steady heartbeat and quiet breathing. He'd fallen asleep after he'd pulled her against him. Melissa knew that he hadn't been sleeping, he'd either been working or with her at the hospital. So she enjoyed this peaceful time, being home, in the bed they would now both sleep in. It was a medicine that helped heal a part of her soul that had been hurting.
It was the first time in a very long time that she just let her mind go. Let it go back and remember the attacks that had happened, the hurt and pain were still there, it was just softened around the edges. The feeling of constant paranoia, worry, and anticipation about the unknown was getting dimmer. She'd forgotten how free a feeling that was.
Getting out of bed was a little trickier than she would have figured, he seemed to unconsciously tighten his arms when he felt her move. Eventually she made it off the bed and then picked up Happy's shirt from the floor and slid it on as she left the room. Making her way down the hall she went to a closed door and went inside. After that, time slipped away, she didn't know how long she was there, it didn't matter. She'd felt Happy there too, didn't need to look. He never said anything and when she finally turned around the room was empty.
Heading back to bed she knew he had been up, both doors were all the way open, she'd closed them almost completely so she wouldn't wake him up.
-xx-
Waking up, Hap had almost panicked when he felt the empty bed. Melissa was gone. Then, he heard it, it was soft, getting up and sliding on his boxers he opened the bedroom door. He followed the sound down the hallway to a door that was almost closed. Silently pushing it open Happy watched her, she sat in the almost dark room, no lights on, just some light from outside shining in as she sat at the piano, playing. Her eyes were closed, but he could see the shine of moisture on her cheeks, the music was sad but pretty. He leaned against the doorframe and just listened. Interrupting her seemed wrong, like it would break the moment she was having. He left the door open and went back to bed. Leaving both doors open he was able to lay in bed and listen.
He couldn't hide the grin when she creeped back into the room. When she saw him she stopped.
"Sneaking around?" He teased.
"I guess I was. I was trying not to wake you up." Standing next to the bed she took off his shirt and slid under the covers with him. "Looks like I did though."
"I don't mind. It was worth it, you're good." He leaned on his elbow to look at her.
"You've heard me play before."
"That was different. You were doing it for everybody. Just now was private, only I got to hear."
She smiled at him, "I understand. I'll play for you anytime you want."
"Really? What if I ask you to play naked?" The thought turned him on.
Snorting out a laugh, "I might be open to being persuaded."
It was his turn to laugh, she always kept him guessing.
Drawing in a breath he looked at her. "About that morning,"
"Happy. We've already talked about that." She tried to stop him.
"I know. I just wanted to make sure that you know I didn't mean it, those things I said. I'm sorry."
Melissa looked at him, "You've already apologized. We're good. How about this, new house, clean slate. None of that crap comes here."
"Deal." He smirked at her. "So business lady, do we shake on it?"
"How about a kiss?"
"I can do better than that." He growled in her ear as he covered her body with his.
All the other things he had planned to say to her got put aside. He knew he needed to say them, just needed a little more time.
-xx-
To say the next few days went as Melissa would have hoped was as far from the truth as you could get. The tenseness that she had noticed in Happy while she had been in the hospital had gotten worse. He was edgy, hardly spoke to her and when he did it was short and clipped. And then she'd catch him staring at her with that emotionless look. It didn't take her long to figure out that he was hiding something from her, the phone had been buzzing nonstop. Most of the time he left the room to talk. He'd not usually done that. There were even a few times that he was just gone. When he had club business he always told her he was leaving and when he might be back. The times he just left he did none of that.
She could see that something was very wrong. The one thing that kept her from totally believing that was when they were in bed he couldn't keep his hands off her. Well maybe just not in bed, there were plenty of other times too.
Maybe he'd changed his mind about living here with her and just didn't know how to tell her. The thought hurt, made her cry, which made her feel stupid, and then pissed off. Picking up her phone, she thought about calling Loken or Shep, just to talk. But they had been moody lately too and she didn't feel like dealing with it.
Standing up and heading to her room she made a plan. If she wanted to find out if Happy wanted to leave her she was going to have to ask him. First, she needed to change. He may be a cold blooded killer but she knew how to push his buttons to make him boiling hot. Her family had taught her to use everything she could to get an advantage when necessary, that's exactly what she planned on doing.
-xx-
Sitting out in the garage messing with his bike wasn't helping Happy at all. Not one fucking bit. He'd been so damn wound up he could barely see straight. Watching Melissa struggle everyday to get better made it worse. Made him feel like shit, he hadn't made Creagen suffer. But his woman suffered. He'd made her a promise and not kept it. And the worst part was, they hadn't even finished the job.
They had found out who the hangaround was, one of the crow eaters who fucked with the lowlife had given up that information. Not without a great amount of coaxing from Hap. That bitch had known what was going on and hadn't told any of the Sons. She'd said Melissa deserved what she got for coming into their clubhouse and taking one of the SAMCRO guys away from them. Happy had left without telling Melissa that day to take care of that problem. He didn't want her to know about what was going on. When the guys called him to let him know when they found out anything new he left the room to talk.
Tig and Kozik told him he needed a few rounds in the ring to get rid of the anger he felt. Hap was afraid he might just kill them if he got started in the ring. He'd been a jerk more than once over the last few days, hurt her feelings. He hated himself for that, just couldn't figure out what to do about it, besides telling her the truth. Then she would really hate him for not keeping his promise.
Hearing the door slam open he jerked his head up. Melissa stood in the door wearing one of those dresses that drove him fucking crazy and she looked mad. For a second her attention was focused on the floor of the garage. It was the place that the prospect had died. This was the first time since that day that she had been out here. Shaking her head to refocus herself, she walked over to him and stood in front of him. He was rock hard just looking at her, from her expression he was betting she didn't come out here to give him some though.
Putting down what was in his hand he leaned back and met her eyes. He could see hurt, anger, and worry. It hit him hard knowing he was the cause.
"Are you going to tell me what's up with you?" She asked.
When he didn't answer, she continued. "I know something is going on. And since I'm the only one here, that means the problem must be with me."
He was getting ready to at least deny that last part but she held up her hand, "Happy, if this isn't what you want, to be here with me, you don't have to stay." She drew in a shaky breath that made his stomach drop. "I've seen the way you've looked at me over the last few days, it's full of anger and hate."
Happy was shocked, couldn't utter a single word because he was so stunned. His silence must have made her think that she was right because she turned around and left the garage without saying anything else. He didn't miss that her eyes had that glassy look before she had looked away.
Jesus Christ! How could she even ask him those questions? Had she lost her fucking mind? There was no way in hell that he was leaving. The more he thought about what she had said the more his already on edge nerves stretched tighter, and he got even more pissed off.
Slamming the garage door as he left he stormed across to the house, muttering under his breath as he went. Jerking the door open and slamming it shut, he found her in the kitchen. Melissa didn't turn around to look at him, she had her hands resting on the counter and head bent. Stepping up behind her he placed a hand on each side of her, caging her in. He'd be damned if she went anywhere before he had his say.
"Melissa." He said. When she didn't turn around or answer, he took a deep breath, "Look at me."
When she didn't do it, he repeated it. "Look at me." He waited impatiently until finally she turned around. Hap's stomach clenched at the tears he saw and the sadness behind them.
"I'm not going anywhere." He growled. "Do you know why?"
She shook her head no.
"I'm staying because I want to be here. Because when you love someone you stay with them." Happy watched her eyes widen in something close to shock. At that moment he understood that he'd hurt her by not telling her sooner. It was up to him to make it right. Moving one hand up to wipe the wetness from her cheek, he leaned a little closer.
"I love you." He let his lips touch hers and then pulled back. "You're mine and I love you." His hand rested on the spot where his crow was and he lightly squeezed it.
"I love you too Happy." She whispered and she stepped in closer to wrap her arms around his neck. Her lips had just touched his when his phone started to go off. For the first time in longer than he could remember he ignored it and kissed his woman. When it stopped, her phone that was on the counter started to go off. That couldn't be good. She pulled away and picked up the phone, looking at it she handed it to him.
"What?" He snapped into the phone.
"Hap, we got him. On our way to the cabin now man." Kozik shouted. "Get your ass moving!"
Hanging up the phone, he looked at her. He put a hand on each side of her face, "We're not done with this." He watched her smile and the heavy tension he'd had lately started to ease a little.
"I'll be back later tonight, and then I'll tell you what's been going on." He told her. She deserved the truth and he wouldn't lie to her, even if she did get pissed off at him for not telling her sooner.
She nodded her head. When he got to the kitchen door before heading out he turned around, "Keep the dress on, I wanna take it off you." He smirked and ran to his bike. On his way there he decided that when he got home he had one more surprise for her.
-xx-
