I hope you all enjoy. This probably was not what you were expecting.

Angie

November 16, 2012

Dani had been home about 36 hours. Her head still hurt, and her hip was killing her. She had pretty much done nothing but lay on the couch and doze. She had picked up the phone 6 times in the last hour. Should she call?

The cops had visited her in the hospital, and again here at the house. But she had told them both times she didn't remember much. And at the time she really hadn't. But now, she remembered a lot more.

2 days ago, Dani had been out riding her old bike, the Heritage. She rode it sometimes, to keep it in working order. She had been out on Route 56, past Jack's, enjoying the curves. There was a car behind her, but this was a tough road to pass on because of the curves.

Things were still pretty blurry, but she was pretty sure the car had run her off the road. On Purpose. She had racked her brain the last 3 hours trying to figure out why. She could not figure out one thing in her life that would cause people to act that way. She had no enemies. Or at least she couldn't think of any.

It had crossed her mind that maybe this was related to Happy. Sure. Pretty much no one knew about her connection to him, but he had come and gone for over a year. Maybe she was on someone's radar. It made her head hurt to think about it more. But he hadn't been here in almost a year. But Quinn had been. And she had been to Teller Morrow.

It also made her, rattled. This was new territory for her, even with her military experience. She could protect herself. And her Beretta laying on the coffee table was proof of that. But, if someone was after her would they try again? Should she tell Happy? Is that what they wanted?

It didn't really matter if they wanted her to tell Happy. He wasn't answering. She had tried the texts of 'its important' over the last 9 months and she had gotten nothing. But he needed to know if this was club related. And well, she might really need some help.

Finally Dani picked up the phone, She pulled up Quinn's number and sent the text. 'Something has come up. Need to see you. ASAP'

Quinn's POV

Quinn was in Charming. Since Dani's appearance at the shop, SAMCRO had been a buzz of gossip, wanting to know who the woman was. Quinn hadn't said a word. But he had stayed around. Not so much for SAMCRO's benefit, but for their protection. If Happy's mood and attitude had been dark and moody before Dani's visit, now it was downright scary.

When his phone beeped, he opened it up. He saw the text from Dani. He was instantly concerned. He immediately sent back a text. "You OK?"

'No. Too hard to explain via text. When can you get here?' Dani sent back.

Dani's message made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. '2 hours.' He sent back.

'Great. Please don't tell Happy till we have talked.' Dani sent back.

What the fuck? Quinn thought. 'Ok, but no promises after we talk.'

'ok see you soon.'

Quinn flipped his phone shut and walked over to Jax. "Got to roll Jax. But I will be around if you need something. I have 4 guys in Reno too."

"Hey, what is going on?" Clay asked.

"Nomad business." Quinn responded. He was already headed to his bike. When Clay objected, Quinn whipped around. "Look Clay. We know we are here to support other charters, but we also have our own business. So, unless you plan to put food on my guy's plates every night. I will take care of what I need to as president."

He didn't wait for Clay to answer and walked to his bike, riding off.

Dani's POV

She had drifted to sleep while she was waiting and had woke up about 20 minutes before Quinn should have arrived. She got up and went and freshened up. Lord she was sore. She heard his bike come down the street, and then shut off in her drive. She got up slowly from the couch and made her way to the door. She was reaching for the knob as he rang the doorbell.

When Dani opened the door Quinn's reaction was immediate. "What the fuck happened?" he said as he stepped into her house and closed the door.

"I laid my bike down. Well more accurately. I think I was run off the road."

Quinn held her chin, looking at her face. "What else is hurt?" he asked.

"Just bumps and bruises all over." Dani replied.

"Come on, let's sit." Quinn turned them and led her over to the couch, helping her sit. "Now, tell me what happened."

"2 days ago, I was out on my heritage, riding 56 east of town. Do you know that road?" Dani asked. Quinn nodded. "Well it is all still pretty blurry, but I know there was a car behind me for a long time. It had plenty of opportunity to pass me, but it didn't. Then when we got to that triple switchback? I just remember feeling crowded by the car. Then trying to avoid the car. Then next thing I remember I was at the ER."

"Where is your bike? Did it total it?" Quinn asked.

"Insurance wants to total it because it is so old, but the tow guy says it is not that bad. He told me he would deliver it to a shop if I decide to fix it." Dani said.

"So why did you call?" Quinn asked.

"I haven't told any of this to the cops. I, I just can't figure out why anyone would do this to me. Quinn, I know they wanted to run me off the road. And since I can't find a reason in my life, I didn't know if maybe it was, you know, because of, well, because of Hap." Dani finally stammered out.

Quinn nodded. It was a logical conclusion. Especially if anyone had put her connection to Happy together. Anyone wanting to cause trouble would know this was a good way to push Happy Lowman's buttons. "Ok Dani. Here is what I want you to do. Make me a list of all the things you are involved with. Work, fun, volunteer shit. Make note of anything or anyone you can think of that might be an issue. I will look into those things, and we will look into the club angle too." Quinn said.

Dani nodded. "You are going to tell Happy aren't you?" she said softly.

"I have to darlin. If this is club related it most likely has something to do with him. Besides. He is going to want to know. He is going to want to handle this personally, even if it is not about the club." Quinn said.

"You know he hasn't reached out to me since I was in Charming," Dani said softly.

"I figured. Its only been 5 days. And trust me, he is taking what you said serious. His mood is even worse. He knows he has to do something, and I told him it had to be soon." Quinn said.

"Quinn, I don't want him to come to me if it is only because he thinks I am in trouble, "Dani said with conviction.

"I know. But I can't not tell him. Besides, we may need some information from him about why this happened." Quinn replied.

Dani nodded.

"Now I need to go. I am going to go look at the bike, so give me the address of the tow place. Then I am going to go see Hap. I will be back tonight. Till we know more. I am staying here." Quinn stated.

"Ok, I will get the guest room ready." Dani said as they got up, heading toward the door. Dani stepped into her office and got the tow company's address. She wrote it on a piece of paper and handed it to Quinn.

"I'm sorry about this Quinn. I I just didn't know what to do. I didn't want to get Hap in hot water if it wasn't club related."

"You did good darlin. Lock the doors. Keep that gun handy and I will be back in about 6 hours." Quinn stated.

"I will. See you soon." Dani said as Quinn went out the door.

Quinn sat on his bike in the driveway of the Towing company. Dani was correct. She had been run off the road. There was some blue paint on her back fender, definitely a rub mark from another vehicle. The tow guy had been right, the bike was not in bad shape. Quinn had given the guy an address of a great bike shop Quinn knew about and was having the bike delivered. He knew Happy would want that. And, he needed the bike at a shop so the club could look at it more carefully.

He called Loco. Quinn knew Hap had used Loco for some intel research on Dani, and Quinn trusted his intel officer implicitly. Loco was rolling for Redding. He would check out the bike, and then when they got the intel from Happy and Dani, he would dig into things. Loco would be there late tonight.

Quinn pulled out and headed for Charming. He was not looking forward to this conversation. Happy was going to blow his stack for a variety of reasons and he needed to keep his shit together. Quinn knew at this point it was guilt that was making Happy not act on his feelings, and if this ended up being club related, Hap was going to rip himself up for not being there to protect her. But Quinn needed information, and Happy deserved to know what was going on.

Quinn sat at the bar at the Hairy Dog. He had text Happy and told him to meet him there. If this was not club related, no one in SAMCRO needed to know this shit. When he saw Happy walk in Quinn watched as he walked over and sat down.

Happy looked at Quinn and knew immediately this was not 2 guys getting a beer. "What's up Quinn." Happy asked.

"I need you to stay calm, but I have some heavy shit to talk about. Its about Dani." Quinn said.

Happy's fist clenched. "Is she ok?"

"No. Someone ran her off the road on her bike 2 days ago. Physically she is fine, just lots of bumps and bruises. She doesn't remember a lot of it, but she is sure they ran her off the road. I looked at her Heritage, there is paint from a car on it. She was definitely hit." Quinn said quietly.

"Why did she call you?" Happy growled.

Quinn gave him a look of, 'are you serious?' "Would you have answered if she had called you?" Quinn all but barked. When Happy basically shrugged a no, Quinn continued, "That's why she called me."

"Do you know who it was?" Happy growled lowly. It was taking everything he had to stay in control.

"Dani is working on a list of her activities. But, Hap," Quinn paused.

"It could be me they were after." Happy said.

"Exactly. Or her connection to the club, albeit distant. She is a smart girl. When she started to remember about the car, she didn't tell the cops, she called me." Quinn said.

"Started to remember? She doesn't remember the accident?" Happy asked.

"It's a little fuzzy still. When she woke up in the ER she didn't remember anything, but it is slowly coming back to her. Happy, I need you to think. Could this be about you and the club? Have you done anything lately to make new enemies? Who might know about her?" Quinn looked at him.

Happy nodded. "Well there are usuals, Nords, One Niners, Mayans. But honestly, I have been out east in the Rockies, avoiding Dani so much I can't imagine anyone around here doing this, unless they are carrying a long-standing grudge. Although, lately, I have been pretty.." Happy said.

"Brutal," Quinn finished. Happy just nodded.

Who is staying with Dani?" Happy asked.

"I am heading back up there as soon as we are done. Didn't figure you wanted the entire club knowing about this," Quinn said.

"I'm coming with you," Happy said.

"No you aren't." Quinn said. Happy just looked at him with those dark eyes of death. "Look, she doesn't want you to come if it is only because she is in trouble."

"She said that?" Happy asked

"She did. Look. I am going to tell you something. Jesus. I swore to GOD I wasn't going to get involved. But, I have seen what is going on. That woman loves you. And I am pretty sure you love her. So whatever happened, get the fuck over it. She is scared, and she needs you. But do not go to her and then leave. She is a strong woman, almost as strong as Katherine, but if you did that to her it would crush her." Quinn said.

"She already told me," Happy said softly

"Told you what?" Quinn asked.

"That she loves me." Happy said.

"When?" Quinn asked shocked.

"Last March, a couple weeks after you dumped me on her step with the bullet hole? She told me she loved me. Until she showed up at TM, I hadn't seen her since then." Happy told Quinn.

"Why the fuck not?" Quinn asked.

"Jesus Quinn. It's ME. I don't DO love. I sure as shit don't do love with a woman like Dani. At first, I didn't know how I felt, then I knew I had to let her go, she deserved better." Happy said.

"Happy, you are an idiot. She kept calling and texting didn't she?" Quinn asked.

"For a while about once a week, then every other week, then once a month. Then she showed up at TM." Happy said.

"Do you love her?" Quinn asked. He looked right at Happy. Happy nodded.

"More than I thought I could love anyone," Happy said.

"Then you are going to have to tell her if you want to help protect her," Quinn said. "Her conditions, not mine."

Happy nodded. It was time for Happy to man up.

"But Hap, I may have to tell the club depending on what pans out of this." Quinn stated.

"Yeah, I know. Let's just take this one step at a time. Loco working on it? You know, he kind of knows about her. In an indirect way." Happy said.

"He's rolling right now from Seattle, be in Redding later tonight. I had her bike taken to Rusty's shop. I will get him to look at it." Quinn replied.

"Ok. If you need more from me, just call me," Happy stated. They stood up. "I need to run an errand, and then I will get hold of you, probably early in the morning."

Quinn smirked, he knew where Happy was going, well he knew either of the two places Happy was going. Either was a good place for him to get his shit sorted. Either woman was going to read him the riot act, feed him a home cooked meal, and then kick him out and tell him to go be the man Dani needed him to be.

Quinn called his wife before he headed to Redding. She was going to want to know all about these new developments. And, if this was about the club, Quinn wanted his wife to be on high alert.

When Katherine heard the motorcycle pulling into her driveway, she got up and headed to the door. She knew where Quinn was, he had called about 3 hours before. It was not unusual for nomads to stop at their house. Sure the Reno clubhouse was where they usually stayed, but especially for the couple of nomads who were married, sometimes they liked the quiet of a home versus the debauchery of the clubhouse.

However, with Quinn having told her about what happened to Dani, Katherine looked out the peephole before opening the door with her Glock in her hand. When she saw Happy standing on her porch, she was confused and a bit worried. She opened the door. "What are you doing here?" Katherine asked.

"He's fine." Happy said as Katherine ushered Happy into the house.

"I know, I talked to him a little while ago. But I am guessing you aren't. Why aren't you in Redding?" Katherine asked.

"She doesn't want me to come," Happy said. "Well she doesn't want me to come if its only because she is in trouble."

"Oh Hap. Come on. I'll get some coffee." Katherine pointed Happy out to their porch as she put on some coffee. When the coffee was ready she stepped out with 2 cups. She set one in front of him and then sat down. "Now tell me what is going on with you."

"I assume Quinn told you we went to Dani's when I got shot last February." Katherine nodded. "Well, we chased that shit afterwards, and ended up in the Rockies. I wanted to go see her, but it didn't work out. She called. When I was no where close and couldn't come see her, she told me, over the phone, she loved me."

"And what did you say?" Katherine asked.

"I stammered. I was shocked. Before I could even get my shit together to answer, we had to roll. I told her we would talk more….." Happy trailed off.

"AND YOU HAVEN"T TALKED TO HER SINCE?" Katherine yelled.

Happy just shook his head.

"Fucking idiot." Katherine said. "This woman loves you to her core if she did what she did at TM."

"I think she is just mad now." Happy said.

"Wouldn't you be?" Katherine said. Happy nodded. "Now we can't go back, so tell me Hap, what is it that has you all tied up in knots. It should be simple. If she is just some gash, you have hit it, now quit it and move on."

"SHE IS NOT SOME GASH." Happy screamed at Katherine. She just laughed at him.

"Well Well Well. So you may not be able to express it, but we definitely know how you feel." Katherine smiled.

"Not funny K," Happy said. "It doesn't matter how I feel about her. Its about… Its about being good for her. About being good enough for her."

"Happy look at me. What makes you think you are not good for her?" Katherine asked.

Happy leaned forward, his arms on his knees. He stroked his thumb on his cheek. Katherine just sat there watching and waiting. "It was the blood." Happy said softly.

"What blood Hap?" Katherine asked.

"Every time I have thought about her since she told me all I could think about was that blood. On her face." Happy said softly.

Katherine finally leaned forward, and tipped Happy's head up. "What blood?"

"When she was patching me up, I had reached up and caressed her cheek and smeared my blood on her cheek. Its all I see now when I think of her. How I put her in danger." Happy said as he looked at her.

Katherine nodded. She understood now. "Hap, listen to me. What do you see when you think of Quinn and me?" Katherine asked.

"You 2 are locked. Inseparable. Nothing is getting between you 2. Even the club." Happy said.

"Do you think I haven't had Quinn's blood on me before? That I haven't patched him up?" Katherine asked. "When Quinn and I first got together he had the same fear. That I was going to always be in danger, and vulnerable. But you know me. Do you ever think of me as vulnerable when you think of me?"

Happy shook his head no. "But Quinn doesn't do what I do. He calls me to do that shit. I am a dark sick mother fucker." Happy said.

Katherine laughed. "Look Hap, I don't know everything, but Quinn has told me some things. Dani isn't some innocent wall flower you plucked from a meadow. She has life experience. And keep in mind a couple things. She didn't ever chase your kutte. And she stood up to my husband when he dropped you at her house. She knows how to navigate this life naturally. She isn't going to get mowed over."

Happy just nodded his head. Katherine's phone rang, and she stepped away to take the call. When she came back and sat down.

"That was Quinn. He is at Dani's," Katherine said.

"How is she?" Happy asked.

"Resting. Quinn said they may have a hint of a lead." Katherine said.

"Is it the club?" Happy asked.

"He said the lead didn't look like it was us." Katherine said. She saw Happy sigh. "Hap look. Dani was fully capable of taking care of herself before you came into her life right?"

Happy nodded.

"What makes you think she won't still be just because you 2 are together? Remember this. You are not just attracted to her looks, and body. I am guessing you like her independence and self reliance."

Happy looked at Katherine and nodded. He didn't want to mention the dynamic between him and Dani, but another part he liked so much was the contrast in how independent and capable she was compared to how submissive she was, caring for him, meeting his needs.

"She caters to your needs, doesn't she?" Katherine said. "But also gets you to meet hers." Happy nodded.

"Katherine, I love her. So much it hurts. I don't know what to do with this kind of emotion." Happy finally told her.

"Oh Hap. It hurts because you haven't told her. And it hurts because you have let all this other bullshit convince you loving her is somehow wrong. Love, is just that. Love. You have to just grab it. It doesn't happen like this very often, if ever."

Happy just sat there, nodding.

"I'm gonna go make up the bed in the guest room. You sit out here as long as you need."

Happy grabbed Katherine's hand. "Thank you."

Katherine kissed the top of his head. "You are welcome. In the morning you can roll for Redding,"

After Katherine stepped inside. Happy leaned back in the chair. He thought about Dani and forced himself to think about times other than the last time. When he had surprised her in Farmington. How she had smiled when she saw him.

He didn't know how long he sat out there, but he finally went in and laid down in the guest room. He wanted to roll early. He needed to get to Redding. He needed to see Dani.