Previously…
The door to Stevie's dorm swung open and Happy nearly had a heart attack. Standing between him and the floor length mirror was a beautiful angel, clad in barely there black lace. He kicked the door shut and locked it. Stevie whirled at the sound of the door and fought the urge to cover herself.
"Sweet Jesus." Hap groaned, setting the water bottles down on her dresser. Stevie nervously ran her hand through her hair, not quite meeting Hap's heated gaze. "I'm one lucky bastard."
Stevie scoffed, feeling her cheeks heat. "Yes you are, baby." She murmured, letting Happy pull her into his arms.
Happy kissed her hard, hands roaming down to her ass giving it a firm squeeze. "You look incredible." He murmured against her lips before holding her at arm's length so he could look her over. "This all for me?"
Stevie caught the double meaning in his question. "Oh yeah," She breathed. "All for you Hap."
Chapter 14: ANGEL OF THE CITY
Stevie Vale couldn't remember a time when she'd been so happy. Even growing up, darkness seemed to linger at the edge of every memory. Lying in bed, wrapped up in Happy's arms she found herself feeling a joy she'd only ever read about.
Hap leaned up on a elbow to stare down at her. "What?" He asked, fingers smoothing away the crease in her brow.
"I'm happy." She murmured almost as if she didn't quite believe it. Happy grunted. "I mean it." She smirked. "You make me happy."
"Good." Hap murmured, leaning down to claim her mouth in a soft kiss.
"Are you?" Stevie asked between kisses.
Hap paused and pulled back a little. "Yeah," He murmured. "First time in a long time."
Stevie swallowed the sudden rush emotion clouding her eyes. "After Eureka we should go see your mom."
Happy studied her for a moment. Then he nodded before kissing her fiercely. Speaking of Eureka, they had a long day ahead of them to prepare for the run tomorrow. But first, he was going to show her just how happy she made him.
"Incredible." Happy murmured, coming up behind Stevie. She stood primping in the full length mirror, getting ready for their run. She wore a charcoal grey thermal long sleeve v-neck, dark jeans and boots topped off by her kutte. She'd twisted her hair back into a french braid, the tail stopping between her shoulder blades.
"Yeah?" Stevie scoffed, turning to face him. He looked delicious, stonewashed baggy jeans with a grey sweatshirt topped off by his kutte. "Don't look too bad yourself, Hap."
Happy grunted, pulling her in for a fierce kiss. They'd spent the last day getting the garage in order so nothing would be left undone while they were gone. Even Hap pitched in on changing tires and oil. Now it was showtime. The charity ride was a cover for their gun pickup from the Irish. Then they'd transport the goods to the Oregon Charter.
"Ready?" He asked, taking a step towards the door.
Stevie took one glance around the room and shouldered her overnight bag. Happy had made the bed and even taken out her trash. Tara offered to stop by and let out Mavrick so she was ready to hit the road."Yeah," She dropped a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth, "Let's ride, baby."
Opie was right. Bobby should've left that fat boy in the garage. After picking up their haul from the Irish, SAMCRO returned to the larger group of bikers on the charity ride. Not even five minutes into their last leg of the journey and Bobby's bike started acting up, spewing black smoke. Stevie rode beside Happy behind Tig who was right behind Bobby. Tig swerved to avoid the parts coming off the back of Bobby's bike.
Stevie immediately hit the brakes, trying to get her bike safely to a stop. The smoke made it almost impossible to see causing the bike behind her to clip her back tire. She pushed up and away from the falling bike, hitting the pavement with enough force to knock the wind from her lungs.
Tig flew over his handlebars and down the embankment alongside of the road. Another bike went down and Bobby got his spewing ride to a stop. Stevie skidded to a stop on the shoulder of the road, clutching her ribs. Ears ringing, she blinked up at the men standing over her, trying to draw a breath. Happy hit his knees beside Stevie, trying to take inventory of her injuries. Stevie had road rash on her left hip where she'd hit the pavement, tearing her jeans open. Her elbow looked a little worse for wear, probably from smacking the pavement. The side of her face was scraped and her bottom lip was split.
"Easy, babe." He murmured, cradling her in his arms. "Don't panic." He tried to get her to calm down so her breathing could return to normal. Getting the wind knocked out of you sucked.
"She okay?" Jax asked, kneeling down next to his brother. Stevie lay gasping, eyes watering as she tried to make sense of what the hell just happened.
"Got the wind knocked outta her." Hap explained.
Jax pursed his lips."Ambulance is on its way."
"D-don't need a goddamn ambulance." Stevie murmured, trying to sit up on her own.
Happy loosened his grip, and let her move a little to feel out her injuries.
"How's my bike?" Stevie asked after dragging a shaky palm down her face.
Happy chuckled while Jax scoffed, "Really? Your bike?"
Clay came into view next. "Bike's fine." He assured her. "A few scratches, but nothing we can't fix." He knelt down and extended his hand. She looked like she wanted to try and get upright. Stevie took his hand and with Jax and Hap on either side of her, got up to her feet.
"Thanks." She murmured, wincing against the stinging in her hip. Hap pulled her arm over his shoulders to support her she could take weight off her injured hip. Stevie carefully brought her free hand up to feel the tender spot on her cheek. "Fuck," she swore softly, feeling the torn flesh.
"You hit your head?" Hap asked, guiding her over to his bike to sit down and wait for the ambulance.
"I-I d-don't-" Stevie started to say but was suddenly sick, all over Hap's boots.
"Guess so," Hap mused, pulling a bandana out of his pocket, offering it to her.
"Jesus." Stevie swore, "Sorry Hap." She groaned, eyes squeezing shut.
"Don't gotta be sorry." Hap murmured, "You're hurt."
Stevie pursed her lips, willing the world to stop spinning. She didn't say she was sorry again, but Hap could tell she wanted to. She was probably sorry for barfing all over his boots and crashing her bike in the first place, even though that wasn't her fault to begin with.
The ambulance arrived and Tig was loaded first due to his leg injury bleeding badly. The EMT that came over to look at Stevie guessed she probably had a concussion just by the way she reacted to light. He cleaned the cuts and scrapes on her face and patched up her hip. He also insisted she get in the back of the ambulance along with Tig.
"N-no." Stevie shook her head, "I'm fine, really."
"Ma'am, I insist." The EMT spoke firmly.
Happy pulled Stevie into an upright position. "Lead the way, doc." Hap instructed, guiding Stevie over to the ambulance, not giving her much choice. She went without much resistance since the world started to spin again.
"I'll follow." He told her once they got her settled and secured. Stevie nodded in understanding and before Hap left the ambulance he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"You okay, doll?" Tig asked softly, turning his face towards her.
Stevie swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. "For the most part."
"Shit." Trager swore, staring at the ceiling. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault, Tigger." Stevie shook her head a little. "Bobby's the one who wouldn't listen."
Tig scoffed, eyes finding hers again. "He's definitely stubborn."
The pair was silent the rest of the way to the nearby hospital. True to his word, Happy rode behind the ambulance, Bobby and Half Sack right with him. The rest of the crew continued on to complete the run.
"You definitely have a concussion, Ms. Vale." The attending doctor informed her and Happy after completing a thorough examination and examining her x rays. "You need a few days rest." He sighed, as if he was afraid to say the next part, glancing over at Happy. "No riding."
"Not possible doc." Stevie murmured. "I don't do cages."
The doc cocked an eyebrow at her. "Cages?"
"Cars." Happy explained.
The doctor sighed. "I know there's no use in arguing with you, Ms. Vale." He glanced over at Happy, "At least ride bitch with your Old Man here for the time being."
Stevie scoffed. "I'm not an Old Lady, doc." Happy caught her eyes and smirked, twirling a toothpick between his lips.
The doctor held up his hands in a surrender gesture. "Just don't go joy riding for a week or so, alright?"
"You got it." Stevie conceded, giving the doctor a nod. The doctor gave them a tight smile and swept from the room.
Stevie moved to stand up from the bed and Happy rushed to her side. "Easy Hap, I'm concussed, not paralyzed." She gave him a weak grin. "Hand me my bra?" She chewed her bottom lip, enjoying watching Happy pick up said garment from the back of a chair. It wasn't extravagant, just simple black with some lace.
Happy picked up Stevie's bra and passed it over to her. "Need some help?" He asked, hands going to the tie of the gown at her neck.
"I think I got it, Big Guy." Stevie chuckled, covering his eager hands with her own. "Go watch the door, will ya?"
Happy's lower lip gave her an adorable pout but he did as she asked. He turned away and went to the door, drawing it shut behind him.
Stevie shook her head at Hap's eagerness. She'd pegged him as being protective, but he had yet to leave her side since the accident happened. She appreciated the support, but was a little apprehensive of the attention. They needed to complete this run without incident to ensure everything remained intact with the Irish. As much as she was hurt, she was also concerned with making sure things with the club went well too.
After settling back into her clothes, Stevie went to the door and pulled it open. Hap turned and reached out for her, wrapping his arm around her waist. He guided her over to where Tig sat in a wheelchair. It looked like his wound hadn't been stitched up yet.
"HMO bullshit!" Tig shouted, earning a glare from the nurses on duty.
"Gotta move him to a different hospital." Bobby explained.
"Jesus Christ." Stevie swore. Her health insurance wasn't the greatest, but at least it had broad coverage, especially for hospitals.
Bobby got him some advil from the nurse and then proceeded to wheel him outside so they could transport him to St. Thomas. Stevie sat down on the bench under the covered entrance to await Happy pulling his bike up for her. Instead of rendezvousing with the Oregon Charter, they would head over to Eureka for the night.
A dark van pulled up to where Bobby and Half sack were waiting with Tig. Three men jumped out, guns drawn and caught the bikers on their heels. Stevie reached for the gun tucked in her waistband that Hap gave her when he went back inside for Tig's insurance card. She stood up from the bench, took a shaky step forward and promptly fell to one knee. As soon as she stood up, the world tilted and the edges of her vision dimmed.
"Stevie!" Happy cried as he emerged from the hospital entrance, rushing over to her.
Stevie ground her teeth together as the occupants of the van pulled Tig up from the wheelchair and loaded him into the van. As soon as the door slammed shut, Bobby and Sack were off and running for their bikes to follow the fleeing van. Bobby's bike sputtered and refused to start so it was up to Sack to keep up with the van.
"Follow him!" Bobby shouted as Half Sack roared out of the parking lot, "Don't lose him!"
Stevie took a moment to sit on Hap's bike while Bobby called Clay. The SAMCRO President was not happy with this new development. He told Bobby to wait for instructions.
"Hey," Bobby gave her a tight smile, sitting on his incapacitated bike.
"Hey, yourself." Stevie spat, glaring at him.
Bobby sighed, shaking his head a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't think-"
"No, you didn't." Stevie cut him off, Hap's hand on her shoulder kept her from jumping to her feet.
Bobby pinched his nose, "I'm really sorry."
Stevie sighed, "I know." Happy squeezed her shoulder for support. "I forgive you, Bobby."
Bobby nodded, fishing his ringing cell phone out of his pocket. This time it was Half Sack. He was keeping up with the van and would call as soon as they stopped for gas or food. As soon as Bobby hung up, Happy's burner rang. It was Clay.
"Hey Pres." Happy rasped, turning away from the group. He paced a little, while listening to Clay on the other end. Happy flipped his phone shut and secured it back in his jeans pocket. "They called off the run, gotta meet at a gas and sip about ten miles from here." He looked pointedly at Stevie as if to ask if she'd make it that long on the back of his bike.
"Again, I'm just concussed, not paralyzed." Stevie scoffed sliding on her helmet. "Let's go get Tiggy."
"I'm fine." Stevie assured Jax after dismounting Hap's bike. Jax had come over to presumably check up on her.
"And I'm a brunette." Jax smirked, "Just take it easy, darling. We'll get Tiggy back in one piece."
Stevie nodded, leaning into Hap a little. The sooner they got to Eureka the better. She was definitely having trouble staying upright.
"They got Tig at a motel about half a mile down the road." Half sack explained, setting his helmet on his bike.
"Why'd they stop at a motel?" Chibs asked what they were all wondering aloud.
"Don't know, they beat the shit out of Tig on the side of the road." Half Sack shook his head, "Motel was their next stop."
"That crazy prick must've provoked 'em." Bobby mused, "Cant' bring him in beaten to a pulp."
"So they're patching him up." Ope nodded.
"Alright, let's go handle this." Jax sighed.
Clay shook his head, "They stopped at a motel, they're gonna be there awhile." He looked at Happy, "Call off the run, call the boys from Tacoma, get 'em back down here."
"That's gonna take hours." Jax protested, "If we're gonna do this, we gotta do it now."
Stevie turned away from the men, suddenly sick to her stomach. She limped over to Hap's bike and sat down. The men continued to argue about what to do next.
Suddenly Jax exploded at Clay, "You lay goddamn hands on me!" He shrieked as Chibs held him back, Bobby stepped in between the President and Vice President.
"Whoa!" He shouted, "Everybody's got to calm down." He sighed, "Take a walk, have a smoke…"
Stevie watched as Happy tapped Clay on the elbow as he passed to show his support. Jax was behaving like a prima donna, but he was also right. She could feel it in her bones. They needed to get Tig and they needed to do it sooner rather than later.
"Chibs! Sack!" Jax called out from the now moving flatbed piloted by Piney.
"What's up?" Hap called to Jax who'd jumped up on the back of the flatbed.
"Shit kicking." Jax answered, cocking his rifle.
Stevie smirked. Jax could never just leave things alone. Lately it had been more obvious, especially with the secret hit on Opie gone wrong. Things between Jax and Clay were reaching a boiling point.
"I'm in." Hap responded, dropping a quick kiss to Stevie's mouth before striding over to the truck and climbing on the back. Chibs and Half Sack joined him and they four of them with Piney at the wheel roared out of the dusty lot.
"Whoa, where you going?" Clay shouted, then when the truck turned down the road towards the motel, he swore, "Shit!"
The crew got Tig back in one piece and sent him back home to St. Thomas with Piney. He'd confirmed Stevie's suspicions to Clay. If they hadn't gone after him, he would've been in Oregon by the end of the day. Clay still seemed upset by the whole ordeal, but led the crew to rendevouz with the Oregon Charter and pass off the guns.
Stevie and Hap didn't make the exchange. Instead, Hap drove them straight to the Eureka clubhouse. They arrived after the main parade of bikes and were welcomed warmly into their ranks.
"Follow me," Eureka's queen bee, Sasha, led them personally back to a dorm room that they could stay in. The bed had been freshly made and it looked like someone had even vacuumed. "Let me know if you need anything." She gave them a warm smile then swept from the room, closing the door behind her.
Stevie sat down on the edge of the bed and let out a breath with a harsh whoosh. "You should go enjoy the party, Hap." She murmured, shrugging off her kutte, tossing it at the overstuffed chair in the corner. She moved to strip off her boots, but Hap sunk to his knees before her and untied them and gently removed them for her. He set them at the foot of the bed and returned to kneel before her.
"You want a shower?" He asked, nodding towards the attached bathroom.
Stevie bit her lip. She didn't want to be the reason Happy missed an epic party. Yet, here he was, tending to her every need like she was the only person in the whole world. "Sure." She nodded.
Happy watched as Stevie contemplated whether or not to let him help her or not. When she'd relented, he felt relief wash over him. He wanted to make sure she was cared for and safe. Nothing else mattered at the moment. Even if Eureka did throw an epic party.
Stevie let Happy strip her out of her clothes. It felt weird at first to be naked before him and not being engaged with him sexually. Hap stripped down as well and joined her in the shower. He washed her tenderly, holding on to her to keep her upright and whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
"So beautiful." He whispered, soapy hands gliding over her breasts. "All mine."
Stevie was helpless against the emotions of the intimate moment. Tears spilled down her cheeks and were thankfully masked by the shower spray. She didn't need Hap to know she was getting emotional. He didn't know what to do when she cried. He usually just held her, waiting for her to stop. She didn't cry often, but the first time she did, he'd told her he wasn't good with that kind of shit. Then he'd just held onto her, stroking her hair. She'd thought he'd been perfect.
After the shower, Hap helped her dress in fresh clothes from her saddle bag and settle under the covers. He redressed in his old clothes and slid his kutte back in place.
"Gonna check in with Clay." Hap explained. "Won't be gone long."
Stevie smirked, "Have a couple of drinks and relax." She pulled him down for a quick kiss, "Do it for me since I can't, big guy."
Hap swallowed against the lump of emotion in his throat. He loved when she called him that. He just hummed in response and left the room, pulling the door shut behind him. He was tempted to post the prospect by the door, but he knew that since the queen bee had set them up, Stevie wouldn't be disturbed.
Still, he wouldn't be gone long anyway. He'd check in with Clay, have a beer and return to his own queen bee. Having her so close to him and naked and wet had almost been his undoing. She was hurt, so he had to man up and control himself. He could have any pussy at this party and even if she caught wind of it, Stevie would look the other way. He knew her ability to do that came from growing up in the life. It still unnerved him. Little did she know that because she never made a big deal about road pussy, he just didn't want it anymore. He'd wait for her to be whole. After all, it's what she'd do for him.
"Stevie okay?" Clay asked as Happy approached.
"Yeah," Happy answered. "Run go okay?"
Clay nodded. "All good, brother."
Happy returned the nod. He took a drag of his beer and glanced around at the party. There were a few women that would've caught his eye if there wasn't a badass biker chick waiting in his bed.
"Relax, enjoy the party, Hap." Jax nodded to the barely organized chaos.
Happy scoffed, "You sound like Stevie."
Jax smirked, "Smart woman."
Happy grunted in response. He knocked back the rest of his beer. Then without so much as a glance around, headed back into the clubhouse.
Jax let loose a low whistle. "Wow."
"Aye." Chibs agreed. "The killa is pussy whipped."
"I think we all are." Opie scoffed, nodding pointedly to the sweet-butts curled up to each of them.
The men all shared a laugh.
"Good for her." Clay murmured, letting loose some smoke.
"Aye." Chibs nodded. "Good for 'er, indeed."
Dearest Readers,
This is my favorite episode of the second season. I'm not very happy with how this chapter turned out, but alas, here it is. I've been editing it long enough, *sigh*
I recently purchased the entire SOA series digitally since it disappeared from Netflix last month. I used some Christmas money! Now I don't have an excuse to not be able to finish this fic anymore. Other than life and mental illness, but having you guys on this journey with me makes it seem possible.
Thanks for your continued support!
xoxo
Lumora The White