AN: After this chapter, I'm going to be swaying a little from the events in the second season and I might disregard the third altogether. I LOVED the third season, personally, but there are some things I wanna do that the third season would mess up. And, I don't think I have the heart to kill off Half-Sack.): I loved him sooooo much.
No! It was happening again. She was hanging by wrists on the chain link fence, but this time she completely naked. She could feel the restraints cutting into her wrists. Her nose was broken again and the hot blood that poured from her nose seemed never ending. Three men stepped forward with white masks, but this time they were wearing SoA cuts. She closed her eyes tight, refusing to open them. Her worst nightmare was coming true.
"Ope your eyes.." One of them growled into her ear ear. That voice. Happy.. She reluctantly opened her eyes. Tig, Juice, and Happy stood before her. She let out a blood-curdling scream..
"Harlie!" Someone yelled in the background. "Harlie! Wake up!" Clay shook her shoulders.
Harlie opened her eyes, panting. She wasn't in her bed like she expected to be. She was in one of the dorm rooms at the clubhouse, but didn't know whose. She slowly sat up, her hands shaking. When she looked over at the door and saw Happy standing with Juice, the nausea took over. She rushed from the room, shoving them out of her way. She slammed the bathroom door.
Happy cringed at what he heard. He could kill a man, but the sound of someone vomiting was one of the only things that grossed him out. "Harlie.. What's wrong?" He knocked on the door.
"She just had a bad dream. It's happened before.." Clay sighed, leaning against the wall.
"Want me to go find Krys, man?" Happy asked.
"Nah, just stay with her for a few minutes. I'll go."
Happy nodded, knocking on the door again. "Harlie.." He frowned, just deciding to open the door.
Harlie was sitting on the floor, leaning back against the wall. Her arms were wrapped around her knees. He sat down on the floor, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She tensed up, staying quiet. "You alright, babe?" He asked quietly.
"I-I'm fine.. I had a dream about last night.." She leaned her head on his shoulder hesitantly. 'Just a dream..'
"Hey, ain't nothing gonna happen to you.." Happy squeezed her arm. "I won't let it.." He frowned as she began to sob into his chest, soaking his dark shirt with tears.
"Hey.." Gemma stepped around the corner into the bathroom. "You better go, loverboy. The guys are about to head out." She looked down at Happy, crossing her arms. "I'll take care of her for ya, don't worry.."
Happy stood up, nodding. He locked eyes with Harlie for a split second and disappeared from the bathroom.
"Sweetheart.." Gemma held her hand out to Harlie. "Maybe some retail therapy could help ya out."
Harlie took it and pulled herself up. "Sure.." She said quietly.
"First, we gotta talk.." Gemma closed the bathroom door. "I'm glad you found someone you feel safe around, darlin'. But, are you thinking straight? Happy? Your dad would kill him, baby girl."
"I'm not in love with him, Gemma.. He's just easy to be around." Harlie shrugged.
"You might not love him yet, but you care about him. You've got him twisted. When did this start?" She asked, sitting down on the edge of the counter.
"Cara-Cara party.. I mean, we've always been close. We just got closer after the party. He was the only one I opened to after the rape.."
"He's more than twenty years older than you. You just gotta be careful. Don't let him push you into shit you don't wanna do. I know how these men can be. Especially ones like him." Gemma stroked her cheek. "You're a beautiful girl, Harlie. You're smart, you're funny, you know how to put up with Tig, and you can defend yourself. Don't let him change you."
"He wouldn't hurt me.." Harlie shook her head. "I trust him." She knew Krys wouldn't ever try to play the age game with her. Her dad would do anything to keep her away from someone like Happy.
"Make sure he keeps it in his pants, girlie." Gemma kissed her cheek. "Now go get dressed."
"You not gonna eat?" Gemma asked, noticing that Harlie was just picking at her salad.
"Sorry, I'm just out of it." Harlie shook her head, taking a big bite.
"Your mom's worried about you." Gemma leaned back in her chair, taking in the California sun. They were eating outside at a small cafe in Lodi. "She tells me you haven't been eating right and you're not really talking to her anymore."
"I-I.." Harlie had no idea how to answer. She hadn't told her mom anything about the attack because she knew her mom was a worrier. She worried about everything.
"I'm not telling you what you need to do, but you need to tell her something." Gemma took a sip of her water.
"I don't know what to tell her." Harlie sighed.
"You're strong. You're gonna make a damn good Old Lady one day." She kissed the back of Harlie's hand.
"You ready to go?" Harlie asked, pulling her jacket on.
"Let's go buy some clothes." Gemma smirked.
Harlie walked out of the fitting room in a pair of pair of tight light-colored denim jeans, a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with her black leather jacket, and a pair of black stilettos. "So.. How's it look?" She circled in front of Gemma, looking at herself in the mirror..
"'Looks great, baby.." Gemma smirked, looking her up and down. "You gonna get it?"
For the first time since the rape, Harlie felt beautiful. The heels made her legs looks never ending and the shirt made her breasts look great. It came down a little low, but it looked good. "Yeah, I.. I think I am." She smiled at herself in the mirror. She was healing.
"I never realized how tall you were." Gemma chuckled.
"Eh, heels helps with that." Harlie laughed, sliding the shoes off.
"Now, it's my turn.." Gemma grabbed her clothes of the chair beside her.
"What would you think if I dyed my hair? Not today, of course. I was gonna get my mom to do it." Harlie handed Gemma the first shirt on top of the pile.
"What color?"
"I'm thinking red. Maybe a dark red." Harlie ran her fingers through her curly locks.
"That would look great with your skin tone." Gemma tossed the shirt back over the fitting room door.
"I sure hope so.." She needed a change.
Harlie climbed out of her car at T-M wearing her new outfit. The heels were giving her stability issues so she tried to do her best not to trip. She snagged her phone out of her back pocket when it start vibrating and flipped it open. "Hello?"
"How ya feelin', doll?" She smiled when she heard Happy's voice.
"Better than this morning, that's for sure. You guys heard anything about Chibs?" She asked, trying to change the subject. She didn't feel like talking about her dream, especially not to him. She trusted people too easy sometimes, but she felt like she could really trust Happy.
"No news just yet." He sighed.
"I see your bike. Where are you?"
"Look up." He laughed.
Harlie did as he said, seeing him standing not even twenty feet away from her. She closed her phone, tossing it into her purse. "Well, hey."
"Hey." Happy greeted with a small smirk. "You look taller, but you're still short."
She felt her cheeks flare up when he kissed her cheek. "Oh, shut up! You guys and your being tall. At least I don't have to dunk my head to go in a room."
"At least I can reach the top shelf." He laughed.
"Uh-huh, bite me." She punched him in the arm, wincing when she knuckles popped instead of causing any harm.
"That can be arranged, Princess." It was cute when she tried to get mean. Wait, did he just call someone cute? The word didn't exist in his vocabulary.
"Here, let me just bend over. I'd rather have you kiss my ass instead." She said sarcastically.
"Well, bend over." He smacked her ass lightly.
"Maybe later." Harlie grinned, walking into the clubhouse.
"I'll hold you to that, Princess!" Happy yelled after her, watching her ass as he went. It was almost like it put him in a trance.
"You better be hittin' that, killer." Tig stepped up behind him.
"What?" Happy looked over at him in disbelief.
"What do you mean what?" Tig laughed. "I would."
"Freak.." Happy laughed, shaking his head.
Later that night, Harlie was sitting in the kitchen with her mom when they got the visit from Opie saying the guys had gotten arrested. The only words that flashed through her head was that it was her fault. Everything that had happened was her fault. She paced around the kitchen table. What if something happened to her dad? To Jax? Tig? Bobby? Juice? Happy? What if she never saw Happy again?
"Krys, they have no protection." Opie sighed, running a hand down his face.
"Goddamnit.. I honestly have no idea what to do." Opie had seen his sister cry before, but never like this. She was scared to death.
"Harlie, can you call Gemma?" Opie glanced over at his niece. She seemed to be wrapped up in her head.
"Here, I'll do it.." Krys grabbed her phone out of her purse and made her way to the living room.
"Hey!" Opie stood, grabbing her shoulders. "Take a breath.." She studied Opie's face. He looked so much older, worn down by Donna's death. She could still see the depression looming in his eyes. Donna was his other half, they were perfect for each other. She could see he wanted to be a better father, but didn't know how. It seemed like he didn't know how to function without her. But, did he know it was Tig? Harlie knew. She had heard her parent's talking the next morning. She saw her father cry for the first time.
"Sorry.. I'm just worried." Harlie mumbled, sniffling to hold back her tears. Her family seemed to be falling apart at the seams. They needed a healing. Something that would bring them together. Donna, Chibs, the feds.. So many things were laying on the club's shoulders. The tension between Jax and Clay had grown since the last run. You could hardly put them in the same room together without an argument. Jax wanted peace. He wanted the club to go back to the way it began. Not the criminal organization it became after her father took over. Everything became about money, guns, and blood. In Harlie's mind, it was essential for the club to change. She believed if they hadn't, they would have been pushed out by clubs like The Mayans.
Opie wrapped his arms around her. "It's gonna be alright.."
"It's almost like a domino effect.. Donna, the feds, Chibs.." Me. The urge to tell was drowned out quickly when she heard Opie wince at the mention Donna's name, the wound was still fresh. It would never fully heal.
"That's just the way shit happens sometimes.." Opie kissed her forehead.
"Gemma and I are gonna set up a meeting with Rosen tomorrow morning." Krys sighed, seating herself at the table.
"Good. I dunno if they're gonna be able to reach out or not, but if they do.. I'll let you know." Opie stood to leave.
"Where are you staying, Opie?" Krys grabbed his arm before he reached the door.
"With a friend." Opie frowned.
"Stay here tonight. Go get the kids, bring them here." Krys suggested.
"Krys, I'm fine.."
"Opie.." Krys scolded. "I'm worried about you."
"You don't need to worry." He said a little more firmly than he meant to.
"Goddamnit, boy.. Go get the kids and bring them here. Do you honestly want them around Mary?"
"Fine.." Opie sighed in defeat.
"I love you, little brother." Krys kissed his cheek. She smiled in satisfaction knowing Opie could never win an argument with her.
"Harlie.." Kenny whined, tugging at her arm. "Stay with me.."
"I have to go help my mom, lovey." Harlie laughed quietly. This kid was too damn cute. He was a miniature Opie.
"Can I help?" He sat up on her bed.
"Kenny, stop being a baby." Ellie snapped at her brother.
"Hey, watch it." Harlie gently smacked Ellie in the back of the head. "Don't be mean."
"But he's acting like a baby!" Ellie crossed her arms.
"Don't you need to get a bath?" Harlie asked Ellie, running a hand through the girl's dirty blond hair. She loved her cousins and had almost become a second mother to them after Donna's death.
"Do I have to?" Ellie pouted.
"Now who's being a baby." Harlie shook her head, leading Ellie to the bathroom. She turned to walk back into the kitchen and almost tripped over Kenny in the hall.
"C'mon.." Harlie took his hand and led him to the kitchen. "You hungry?"
"He should be in bed, Harlie.. School tomorrow." Opie said from the table.
"Not tomorrow. It's a grading day." Harlie sat him up on the counter.
"I can make him something.."
"I got it, Opie. I love taking care of my little buddy." She grinned, pouring Kenny a glass of orange juice. "I'll set you up with a move in the living room."
"She's really good with them." Krys took Opie's empty beer bottle out of his hand.
"She is, isn't she?" Opie smiled.
"He's always clung to her like that." Krys laughed.
"I remember when Harlie was born." Opie looked over at her.
"Yeah, you told me she looked like an alien." Krys stuck her tongue out at him.
"She sure as hell doesn't look like one now." He shook his head. "Don't you worry about her being around the guys?"
"To be honest, it scares the shit out of me. But, she's a smart girl." Krys looked down at the cigarettes on the table, yearning for one.
"What about guys her own age?" Opie asked.
"Yeah, right.. She's not gonna put up with their bullshit. She wouldn't put up with the guy's shit either. I've seen her put some of them in their place."
"She's a mini-you." Opie grinned.
"Just what everyone needs." Krys laughed softly. "You need anything while I'm up?"
"Nah, I'm good." Opie shrugged.
"It's been a long day. I'm gonna head to bed." Krys kissed his cheek.
"Night, sis.." Opie smiled up at Krys as she headed down the hall.
A few minutes later, Harlie sat down at the kitchen table beside Opie. She looked over at him nervously. "Hey, Opie.. Can we talk?" The time had come. She couldn't hold it in any longer.