Ok, here we go. Thanks for hanging with me.

Angie

March 11, 2012

Dani hadn't heard from Happy more than a few texts. He had text and told her he was ok. He was getting stronger. He had gotten the stitches out. And several thank yous. She had tried to call, but they hadn't actually talked.

She needed to talk to him. She needed to tell him. They had agreed that if either one of them had a change in feelings, they would be honest and tell the other. But she couldn't do it via text, and she really didn't want to do it over the phone. She wanted to do it face to face.

It had now been 2 weeks since Hap had been shot, and if there was any blow back from whatever they had been up to, it would have happened by now. So she figured it was safe to ask him to come see her.

She picked up her phone and sent the text. 'Hey, where are you?'

Happy heard his phone beep. When he pulled it out he smiled at first, because it was Dani, but then sighed because he was going to have to disappoint her, again. He had wanted to get to Redding to see her since she had patched him up, but their little job, while having no blow back, had exposed some serious problems he was knee deep in solving.

'Durango' he sent back. He knew she wanted him to come see her. But he was no where close.

'Oh. Was hoping you were close. Wanted to see you.' Dani sent back.

'Wish I was. Would like to see you too.' Happy sent back.

Dani contemplated her next message. She needed to tell him. She had been mulling this around in her head for 2 weeks. She wasn't sleeping, she was struggling to focus on work. She needed to tell him. She needed him to know. She needed to know what he thought.

'got time to talk?' Dani sent back.

Happy smiled. That he could make time for. He was all by himself in his dorm at the Durango club house. 'sure, give me 5 min. I will call.'

'ok'

Dani went out on her patio. She was probably going to need to chain smoke through this. She had thought back through all of their interactions. She had analyzed in her mind how Happy had changed with her. She wasn't for sure, but she thought he had feelings for her too. He might not love her, but she had convinced herself it was more than casual for him too.

Dani's phone rang and she picked up the phone. "Hello Happy," Dani said softly.

"Hello girl. How are you?" Happy said.

"I am good. How are you? How is your shoulder?" Dani asked.

"Better. Getting better every day." Happy said.

"Good." Dani was struggling to make conversation. She didn't know how to start this.

Happy, for his part, noticed she wasn't her chatty self. "Something wrong girl?" Happy asked.

"Just wish you were here. Have something I need to talk about," she said softly.

"Well, I ain't going to be back in Cali for at least 3 weeks. Sorry girl." Happy said. He heard her sigh. "Want to talk about it now? You are always pointing out I am not much for words. That means I listen well." Happy laughed. He had no idea what she wanted to talk about, but he could tell it was bothering her. Maybe it was something at work and she just needed to vent.

"3 weeks? Really?" Dani said back.

"Yep. At a minimum. Girl. What is it? Just spit it out. Ain't nothing made better by keepin it in." Happy said.

"Ok. Here goes. You know we said when we started this that if our feelings changed we would be honest and tell the other person. Well, when you left here last time it hit me like a freight train. Hap, I don't know when it happened, but, Jesus. How do I say this. Shit Happy at some point my feelings turned into love." Finally Dani stopped talking.

Happy just sat there. He didn't say anything. He was trying to make sure he had heard what she had said. No he had heard it. Dani loved him.

"Hap? Are you there? Did you hear me? I said I love you." Dani said after more than a minute of silence.

"I heard you girl." Happy said.

"And?" Dani asked.

"And I am not sure what to say. I am glad you told me. I need to process this girl. Fuck this was so not what I thought you were going to say." Happy said.

"What did you think I wanted to talk about?" Dani asked.

"Fuck I didn't know. I figured something with work. Holy Shit Dani." Happy stammered.

"Fuck I shouldn't have told you." Dani said softly.

"No, No Girl I am glad you did. I I I, shit I just don't know how to reply." Happy said.

"Well, you could tell me how you feel?" Dani said.

BANG BANG BANG.

"WHAT!" Happy screamed at whoever was banging on the door of his dorm room.

Kozik flung the door open. "They found that little fucker, they have him cornered Hap. We got to roll. NOW." Kozik said and turned around to leave.

"Fuck, Girl. I got to go. Look. I heard every word you said. We will talk more. But I got to roll now." Happy said.

"Hap wait." Dani cried out.

"What girl."

"Be safe." Dani told him.

"I will." Happy hung up.

March 18

Dani hadn't heard a word from Happy. She had text several times. But nothing.

She sent at text.

'Let me know when we can talk'

Happy felt his phone beep. He opened his phone and saw the text from Dani. He hadn't responded to any of her texts. He didn't know what to say. He didn't even know where to start about thinking about what she had said to him. He didn't do love. Worst. The last time he had seen her he had brought the danger of the club to her doorstep. Every time he tried to think about it all he saw was his smeared thumb print of blood across her cheek.

What if they hadn't eliminated all the threat? He had delivered her right to them so to speak. If he was on the road as a nomad how was he supposed to protect her?

But most of all, he kept thinking about himself. He was not a good man. Dani had never seen his dark side. Sure she had seen his dominant side. And she 'understood' what he did, what he was. But she had never seen it, in her face. If she knew, she would never feel the way she did. Moreover, she would run from him in a heartbeat. She deserved someone who didn't have those dark moments. She deserved someone better than him.

Happy deleted her message.

March 25

'Hap can you call?'

April 4

'please at least let me know you are ok'

April 11

Happy was just finishing up an interrogation. He had almost gone too far. He had gotten so lost in the inflicting of pain, he had almost killed the Nord before he extracted any information from him. Had Quinn not stepped in, he would have.

Happy was standing outside the old barn smoking a cigarette. Quinn came out, less than pleased. "What the fuck happened in there?" Quinn asked.

Hap shrugged his shoulders. "I got what we needed." Happy grunted.

"Only because I stopped you. Look Hap. You have been on a god damn terror for a month. I don't know what is under your skin but get your shit together. You are starting to scare even people who know you."

Quinn turned around and walked off.

April 27

'Hap, please call me, its important'

May 14

'let me know you are ok'

May 18

Quinn leaned against the picnic table as he watched Happy in the ring. He was watching him beat the crap out of a Prospect. He nodded at Tig to break it up. The prospect was the 3rd person Happy had taken to the ring tonight, and he was the 3rd he had turned into a bloody mess.

When Happy stepped out of the ring, Quinn walked over. "Get it out of your system?" Happy just grunted at him. Quinn had tried to talk to his friend a couple times, but he had gotten nothing from him. Whatever was bothering Happy, he didn't want to talk about it, and it wasn't getting any better.

May 31

'We really need to talk'

June 13

'thought I might hear from you today.'

Donut helped Happy to bed in the Tacoma clubhouse. He had sat at the Tacoma bar and gotten piss drunk. He hadn't said anything and when anyone had approached him he had yelled at them and told them to leave him the fuck alone. One sweetbutt who over the years had spent quite a bit of time with Happy had approached him and he had backhanded her. That was when Donut had stepped in and told Happy it was time for bed.

June 29

'give me a call,'

July 27

'just checking to see if you are ok'

"Do you realize you walked in there without any recon? You are lucky." Quinn was screaming at Happy. "Do you want to get killed? No wait. Don't answer that. But listen to this. The rest of us don't. So next time. Do it right or stay the FUCK home."

Quinn stormed off. Happy had walked right into a Heroine warehouse without checking ahead of time for the number of people who were in it. Had Tig and Kozik not spotted what he had done and jumped up and rushed in, he would have been killed.

August 28

'I wish you would answer'

September 30

'Please call, it is important'

"Get your guard dog under control," Clay said to Quinn.

"What are you talking about?" Quinn asked.

"Happy nearly killed a croweater last night. She pushed up on him and he choked her. Told her he wouldn't fuck a gash like her. She would never be his little girl. Had Tig not pulled him off her we would have been burying her in the woods."

"Fuck. Ok."

October 31

'going to a Halloween party as Dorothy'

November 4

Happy was in the ring with Kozik. Except for Quinn, Kozik and Tig were his best friends. All Kozik had said was Hap needed to not be such a sour puss and now they were in the ring. Happy looked like he was trying to kill him. Quinn had never seen him like this. He had slowly watched him get angrier and angrier, but he was crossing into dangerous, for his brothers and himself. He didn't know what was going on, but he had a feeling who might.

Quinn grabbed Tig and got up into the ring. They broke up the fight. He grabbed Happy. "I am not telling you this again. Get your emotional shit in check, or you are of no use to me."

Quinn walked over to his bike and left.

Dani heard a bike but didn't think much of it. She had long since stopped running to the window to see if it was him. When her doorbell rang, she hoped for a minute, but she stamped that hope down. As she opened the door and saw Quinn, a whole different set of emotions washed over her.

"Oh God, is he?" she asked.

Quinn stepped in and closed the door. "No. But not for a lack of trying."

When Quinn said no, Dani started crying. Quinn stepped forward and pulled her to his chest. "Hey Hey. Its ok. I just came to talk to you. Dani, do you know what is wrong with him?"

"How would I know? I haven't seen him in months?" Dani said as she wiped her face.

"WHAT?" Quinn said. 'Well that explains his mood and attitude.' Quinn thought.

"Let's go smoke," Dani suggested. Quinn nodded in agreement.

As they sat down and relaxed Quinn looked at her. "So why hasn't he been here?" Quinn asked.

"Quinn. If you don't mind. I would rather not talk about this with you. And I KNOW Happy wouldn't want me to talk to you about it." Dani said.

"Well, he has been on a 9 month anger bender. He is taking unbelievable risks. He has beat the crap out of his best friends. He is a danger to himself and others. So if you know anything that can help me, I would appreciate it." Quinn said.

Dani sighed. "I might be able to help. But Happy won't answer my texts, or my phone calls. I am sorry Quinn, but I don't know what I can do to help you."

"Do you know what this is about?" Quinn asked.

Dani nodded. "I have an idea at least. It is about us. About how we feel about each other. About how he doesn't love me."

Quinn nearly choked on the drag he was taking. "He told you that?"

"He hasn't told me anything. He won't answer my texts or calls."

Quinn nodded. Although he didn't know everything, he was getting the picture. "Dani. I have known him almost 20 years. I am going to tell you this. He loves you. What he is, is all jacked up in what that means."

"Well, I don't deserve to have been left hanging like this." Dani said.

"No, No you don't. Do you want him back?" Quinn asked.

"Not if he doesn't want me?" Dani said. "And not because he feels some guilt or obligation."

Quinn nodded. "Anything else?"

"He has to TELL me how he feels. I am not going to him and begging." Dani said.

"What if you go see him and tell him that?" Quinn asked.

"Quinn, I have no idea where he is?" Dani said.

"But I do. He is in Charming. And will be for at least 2 weeks. Longer if I decide he needs to be." Quinn states.

"I don't want to talk about this at a clubhouse." Dani says softly.

"Then tell him you want and answer, and that he needs to come to you and give you one." Quinn said.

"I did that. And look where we are." Dani said.

"Well, put some teeth behind it. Give me an answer or…. I am sure you can figure out something to persuade him with." Quinn said.

"What do you get out of this?" Dani asked.

Quinn chuckled. "Hap said you were a smart girl. But its not just what I get, its what you get too. One way or the other, Happy's attitude improves. You find out where he stands toward you and you can move forward, I no longer have to worry if Hap is going to kill Tig for a casual comment."

"I need to think about this Quinn." Dani said softly.

"I am sure. You do what you think is best. But my offer stands. I will keep him in Charming as long as you need me to.

Quinn and Dani made their way back inside and to the front door. "Let me know what you decide and if you need anything. Do you still have my number?" Quinn asked.

Dani nodded. "Thanks Quinn.

Dani went and sat on the couch. Should she go confront Happy? If she did, she could move forward. She had been clinging to the idea that Happy just didn't know how he felt, but maybe he didn't feel that way. Either way, she could move forward.

November 11, 2012

Sitting in her car down the street from Teller Morrow, Dani had watched the comings and goings for almost an hour. She was hoping he was in there, so why was she still sitting out here? 'Should have ridden my bike,' she thought to herself, but then she remembered, this was not about making any more or a scene than necessary, and a girl riding in on a Harley always made a scene at an MC clubhouse.

Sitting up and starting the engine of her car Dani said out loud, "remember Dani, he pushed you to this. Be strong." And with that, she pulled out of her spot and drove the block and a half, turning into the lot of Teller Morrow.

Getting out of the car, she spotted his Dyna immediately. The paint on it was as dramatic as the ink on his arms and suited him well. She looked around the lot, and into the garage bays, hoping to spot him without having to ask. Just as she caught a glimpse of him picking up a wrench and returning under the hood of the car he was working on, a voice spoke to Dani.

"Can I help you Darlin?" Gemma asked. Dani looked over at her and smiled. She knew who she was, he had talked about her enough. Not wanting to give anything away, but not wanting to ruffle feathers, Dani replied, "No ma'am. I know where I am going. But thank you."

Dani turned and walked toward the bay, taking a deep breath, and preparing herself. No turning back now she reminded herself. Walking into the bay she noticed his Glock on the tool cart right by the car, and stepped over, picking it up, just to be on the safe side. And then Dani cleared her throat to make her presence known. When he looked up at her, his eyes widened and he stood up, with a look, she was not sure about, but she knew one thing, he was not happy.

"Well, good to know you aren't dead," she started with and followed it up with, "And it at least appears you recognize who I am, although I wasn't sure you would since you haven't answered the phone, or a text, or stopped to see me in 9 months."

He stalked towards her, towering over her, "WHAT" he barked, and then pulled it together, "What are you doing here" he said softly.

"Back off. I am not one of your targets, or those silly girls that hang around the club that you can intimidate." Dani said standing her ground with him, even though he towered over her 5'5" frame.

Stepping back a bit, he looked at her, "Why are you here?" he asked.

"Like I said, wanted to make sure you were alive. And then, wanted to know, what crawled up your ass to make you cut me off completely."

"Look Dani what we did was casual, we both agreed to that at the beginning…" he started.

"No. We agreed to casual but if something changed for either one of us we would be honest. I was honest, and you.. you… you were Houdini."

"What I do, is none of your business," he said. Looking around the lot he saw most of the club watching what was going on with him and Dani, "And I told you, I didn't want the club fucking knowing about you!"

"I am VERY aware of what you have said you want. But," she said stepping right into his face as he leaned on the car he was working on, "but now you are going to hear what I want."

"I am not looking for you to profess your undying love for me, ESPECIALLY if that isn't how you feel," Dani said, looking him straight in the eyes. "But I deserve better than this. The last time I saw you, your shoulder was bleeding and the big ass scary dude told me to take care of you. So I did. Then, we talk on the phone, I tell you what I did, and POOF, you are gone."

"NO ONE needs to know about me being at your house that night." He growled.

"Jesus, would you stop worrying, I am not here to threaten you," Dani quipped back.

"Why are you here then?" he asked.

"An answer. You don't have to answer now, but you owe me an answer. I have been NOTHING but honest with you about having fun, spending time, caring for you. I don't know when my feelings for you changed from casual to more, but I know when I knew. When I opened the door, and you were bleeding. And I realized that day could come, where you were not around. So I told you." Dani knew she might be crying a bit, but she wasn't going to acknowledge that by wiping a tear away.

"I accept what you do, and I did what we agreed to. All I want is you to do the same. And if you can't, that tells me just as much about you as anything else." Dani said, turning to head for her car.

"HEY" he barked at her.

She whipped around facing him. "I am not your dog, don't bark at me. You know where I am when you decide to answer. But make no mistake, I will get an answer." She said, wiggling the Glock in her hand, showing him she had his gun.

Club's POV

Gemma walked over to the picnic table where several guys were sitting, "Any of you know who the gash is?" she asked.

They all looked toward the bay, and Bobby commented, "That doesn't look like a gash Gemma. That woman looks….."

"More than Capable to handle her shit," Quinn commented.

They all watch the exchange from the tables, as Dani holds her own with him. When she starts to walk away, and then turns around flashing his gun at him Quinn just chuckles to himself.

Getting up from the table Quinn strode toward the bay as Dani was leaving. Approaching her he held out his hand.

"Here, don't give this back to him till I am gone, he may want to shoot me right now." She said to Quinn.

"Nice to see you Dani. And he doesn't want to shoot you. He loves you." Quinn said with his quirky smile.

"I hope this works Quinn," she said. And He winked.

"One way or the other we are going to know. Either way. You move forward, and we stop suffering from his pissy attitude."

As Dani drove off, Quinn stepped into the bay, and looked at him. "What did she want?" he asked him.

Happy turned around, "Did you tell them who she is?" he asked.

"NO. Don't take this shit out on me. Whatever she said, that's on you. Whatever you tell them." Pointing to the club, "is on you. What it is not is on ME. I have kept this damn secret all along. Now I don't know what is between you 2, or what she wanted today, but fucking figure it out, because I am not going to be your fucking punching bag on this one."

And with that, Quinn laid his Glock on the tool cart and walked out.

"FUCK" he screamed, kicking the tool cart. How the hell did a simple conversation about Vance and Hines vs. D&D pipes 2 years ago turn into Happy in the Garage at Teller Morrow finally having to face his feeling for a woman?