Chapter 31- Fast Car
As he held Nelly in his arms, her long graceful limbs wrapped around him, Harry felt that something changed tonight. Before Nelly, SAMCRO was the place he wanted to belong, but now he belonged to her, and suddenly the club didn't matter as much anymore. The love and devotion he had for the club paled in comparison to what he felt for the girl in his arms. He felt all grown up, as if overnight he became a man. And for her, he wanted to be a better man.
Harry was sure that he could share with Nelly thoughts he would never voice to anyone else. She was the only one he could tell about doubts weighing on his mind, "You know, maybe I should stick with football, fight for that scholarship..."
"Is it because of what your mother said?" Nelly's eyebrows creased, a hint of anger in her voice.
"No, I've been thinking about it for a while. Remember when you asked me months ago about plan B?"
"I didn't say that to change your mind, Harry."
"I know you didn't," He was certain of that and pulled Nel closer to reassure her. "But it's been on my mind. Since Cliff died."
Nelly settled in against him, her fingers resting lightly over his heart, her eyes serious on his, "Think about where you want to be in ten years, Harry. Do what's right for you, what would make you happy."
After everything they've been through, months of Nel treating him kindly, loving him the way no one else ever did and being a good friend, he wanted her to know. "You make me happy, Nel, you would in ten years."
He could tell by the way her eyes filled with tears and her lips curled in a smile that it would make her happy too. It gave him courage to continue, "I know we're young, but I want you for the rest of my life."
She looked up into his eyes, joyful tears overflowing, "Oh, Harry..." She whispered and kissed him fiercely, "Sometimes I think that it doesn't matter where life takes me, as long as I'm with you, it'll be okay."
Harry hoped Nelly would feel this way, but hearing it from her, said clearly and plainly, suddenly redefined his life.
"Let's start now," he said and saw his own determination reflected in Nelly's eyes, "Move in with me, Nel."
"Are you serious?" Her face was a mixture of excitement and caution.
"Totally serious. Most days I have the house to myself. Pops is hiding out in the cabin, running from my mother."
"Don't you need to ask him first?"
"Our house is your house. Besides, he thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread." Harry smiled, knowing how much Piney adored Nel.
"I'll chip in with housework, clean and cook for us."
He obviously had her convinced, but didn't want her to feel like this was some kind of a trap, so he added, "You don't need to do anything. I want you to have a place you can call home, Nelly. There's an extra bedroom for you, so you know, you'll have your space..."
"If we're going to live together, then I want to sleep next to you." Nel interrupted in a whisper and made him blush.
"Nothing I want more." Harry couldn't help but kiss her again. His mind raced ahead, new opportunities unfolding, "After high school we can go to college together, me on that scholarship and you to become a teacher. Maybe I could go pro, and if that doesn't pan out, we could always come back to Charming."
"I'll teach English in Kennedy High and you'll be Jax's VP." Nel said with a cheeky smile.
"That'll be plan B."
"And you know what?" She beamed at him, "I'll be happy either way."
Harry felt so lucky, and suddenly he was hopeful about the future. Whether he'd end up playing football or fixing cars or back with SAMCRO in Charming, he'd have Nelly. And right at that moment, there was nothing more he wanted out of life.
+0+
Nelly woke up to a knock on the door. She felt Harry's body spooned behind her, his arm draped protectively over her shoulder. He was sleeping deeply and was undisturbed by the noise. Nelly slid out of his embrace, and pulled on his Aerosmith shirt before she went to the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's Tara. Jax and I brought you some breakfast."
Nelly opened the door a crack, "I'll be right out."
Tara looked at the t-shirt, and then gave her a big smile. "Had a good night?"
Nelly smiled back, unable to contain herself. "Yes, a very good night."
"I can tell. Come on, we've got enough food to feed a small army."
Nel took a quick shower, but Harry was still asleep by the time she was done. She leaned over his sleeping form, stretched out on his stomach across the bed, her hair dripping water on his bare back. He twitched and scrunched up his face, but still slept. Nel smiled, trying to decide if it was worth waking him, but she was starving and was sure he would be too. She kissed his neck, right under his ear, and whispered, "Good morning, sunshine. Breakfast's here."
Nelly and Harry sat at the bar next to their friends, devouring breakfast of bagels and scrambled eggs and muffins, while Tara updated them on Linda's condition. She was seriously hurt, but the doctors were hopeful, and Nelly was anxious to see her as soon as possible. It seemed that most of the Sons were sleeping off last night, as only one of the prospects and Bobby were around. As they were finishing their coffee, Bobby got off the phone and called out, "Simon's gone."
"Gone? As in, to Seattle?" Asked Jax, his eyebrow cocked.
"As in, you don't need to worry about him anymore. Nelly's free to go." Bobby said it without malice, but also without satisfaction. Everyone at the bar counter gave a relieved sigh.
"Do you think I could go to the hospital now?" Nel asked Bobby.
"You can do whatever you like, sweetheart." He smiled at her kindly, and then poured himself a shot of whiskey. The boys and their girls were gone before he had a chance to pour it down his throat.
+0+
It was a quiet Sunday morning, most people were still lounging around or out in church, and traffic was light. Harry was driving Nelly to the hospital, his hand intertwined with Nel's, and he felt happy to be close to her, content in the innate knowledge that they belonged together and nothing was going to change that. Still, he could sense the nervous tension in her body, see the anxiety in her face.
The eerie hush and antiseptic smell of the hospital made Harry's skin crawl. It was too vivid reminder of the mess he got himself into a little while ago. It brought up conflicting feelings, the terror and helplessness of being half dead as well as the joy of having kissed Nelly for the first time. Now his girl brought him back to the present, her hand closing tighter around his, as if she was trying to find courage in the strength of his touch. They entered a quiet airy room, where only one of three beds was occupied. The woman in it could hardly be seen behind machines and bandages. Nelly let out a quiet sob, and tried to muffle it with her free hand. Harry wasn't surprised at her reaction, knowing she was ravaged by guilt for leaving Linda behind. He put his arm around Nel and held her to his side, but said nothing. Nel wiggled out gently of his embrace and walked up to the bed, took her aunt's hand, but the woman did not even stir. Nelly just stood there and Harry didn't want to do anything to interrupt the silence. They hardly noticed a nurse enter the room.
"Are you family?" The plum, middle-aged woman asked quietly.
"Yes, I'm her niece." Nelly said.
"I can see you are concerned, but let me put your mind at ease. She may not look it, but your aunt is doing well. She's in medically induced coma, so that her internal injuries can heal. It'll be a long road, but the doctors are expecting full recovery, as long as there are no complications."
"Thank you," Nel tried to smile, but failed, "May I stay with her for a bit?"
"Of course." The nurse smiled back warmly, "Visiting hours end at four in the afternoon. You can stay until then."
Nelly pulled up a chair to the bed and sat down, never letting go of Linda's hand. She was very quiet and still for a few long moments as she watched the ventilator do its dance and heart monitors blink and beep. Then she rested her forehead on their intertwined hands and sobbed again.
Harry couldn't bare to see Nel so broken, so he said gently, "She'll get better, just give it time, sugar."
"It's my fault..."
"Not yours, Nel. Simon's."
"I shouldn't have left her..."
"If you didn't, you'd be in the bed next to her, or worse." His skin prickled with anxiety at a thought of Nelly being hurt. "She took care of you, because that's what we do for people we love."
Nel took a few deep, steadying breaths, and then her green eyes turned to him, tears still fresh on her eyelashes, "You're right. I'm not doing her any good sitting here." She stood up, suddenly determined, "Can you take me to aunt Linda's house? I'm sure it's a mess after what happened. I'll clean up, make it tidy and welcoming for when she gets out of here."
It was better than mourning and casting blame, thought Harry as he gave Nel a quick nod of agreement and a warm smile. Harry was amazed to find that just when she seemed most fragile, Nel would find an iron backbone to help her deal with any kind of crap life threw at her.
Nelly was right, Linda's house was a disaster. The kitchen seemed to have taken most of the abuse, with splintered kitchen cabinets and scattered pots and dishes.
"I'll stay, help you out." He offered, the stale aftermath of violence making him worry.
"Thanks, Harry, but it's something I need to do. It'll be all right."
"Okay," he agreed reluctantly, but he understood. And Nel had a way with him. "I'll be back soon."
"Give me a couple of hours." Then she reached up to Harry's face, tracing his lips with her fingers, "You know, you are amazing." And then she kissed him deeply. His knees buckled for a moment, and in an instant, Harry was reminded of last night and the feel of her naked skin against him... Harry had to pull away fast, before he got a chance to unbutton her jeans.
"And don't forget to pack your stuff. You're moving in with me today." He smiled as his hands moved away from the curves of Nel's body and to the soft skin of her face. He tingled with happy anticipation, "I'll see you later, beautiful."
"Can't wait, big guy." Her eyes flashed playfully as Nel smiled at him. She stretched up on her tiptoes to kiss him again, "I love you."
+0+
After he dropped Nelly off, Harry headed straight to the tattoo shop, where a lot of SAMCRO tattoos were done. He was familiar with everyone working there, and most of them knew him well enough.
"You know it's permanent, right?" Thor, the most artistic of the bunch, slurred around his cigarette once he heard what Harry wanted. "Believe me, boy, women are fickle. They come and go."
"Whatever happens, I'll love her for the rest of my life."
"Fine. It's your dime, brother, but you've been warned. No refunds, no returns." he smacked his lips as long, daft fingers placed the cigarette in a heaping ashtray and swiftly picked up pencil and sketchpad. "All right, give it to me. What d'you want? What's she like?"
While Harry told him of Nelly, the man doodled on the sheet of paper, drawing sirens and vines of roses. But once Harry was done, he turned the page and quickly made a new sketch.
And that was what Harry got inked on the curved crest of his left shoulder, at the top of his arm. The letters "Nelly" were written in a flowing script, following the natural curve of his body, the flourish on the letter 'y' forming number eight lying on its side just under the crescent made by the name. Thor called it an infinity symbol, the never-ending. Harry had no idea this was exactly what he wanted until he was looking down on the finished piece, his skin raw and puckered. It was perfect.
Harry drove back to Linda's house like a bat out of hell, his truck groaning in protest, but he was eager to share the tattoo with Nelly. He parked in a hurry, ran to the front door and was surprised to find it ajar. Something stirred in his gut as he barged on in, calling Nelly's name, but the house was quiet and still. In the kitchen, he saw sink full of soapy water and a shattered shell of a coffee mug on the floor. Nelly's bag was where she left it on the kitchen table. Cold panic seized him, his lungs refused to expand, take in another breath. Something bad happened here, Harry felt sure of it. He frantically searched the entire house and then asked the neighbours, but no one had seen anything. His Nelly was in trouble and he couldn't find her. His shaky fingers refused to work as he dialled Jax and Tara. Then each of them went looking any place Nel could possibly had gone. Troy Hathaway's house was Harry's first stop, but it was also empty and dishevelled. It was hard to tell whether it's been abandoned, ransacked, or if this was its natural state. While Harry drove from one place to the next, his hand unconsciously stroking the brand new sting of his tattoo, as if Nel was close enough to touch, as if he could conjure her up with some pagan magic. Jax was already waiting for him when Harry finally came home. His blonde brother got the word out to the Sons and Chief Unser, while Tara checked at the hospital and called Donna. Piney and Gemma joined the search too, but Nelly was nowhere to be found.
Thank you all for reading and returning to this story after a long break between updates. Real life has kept me insanely busy, but I will do my best to update soon :)