Just before dinner, Happy was busy working on her motorcycle. The frame was up on the lift as she mounted the engine. The door creaked open and she sighed.
"So are you here to stress how wrong I was at your office?" Happy said without looking back.
Toby listened to the clicking sound of the ratchet as she tightened one of the bolts into place.
"I was going to talk with you about that, yes." Toby said as he moved forward. One of her detail agents had entered with him.
"Save your breath." Happy said.
"Happy, we need to talk about it." Toby told her as he sat down on one of the stools.
"No, we don't." Happy said a bit louder.
"Happy, you can't do what you did today." Toby continued.
"I didn't come over to do what I did." Happy rolled her eyes.
"Then what did you come over for and why did you do it?" Toby asked, staring at the back of her head.
Happy looked back at him for a moment and then went back to work.
"Come on Happy, talk to me." Toby told her.
"I'm tired of this one sided relationship." Happy said finally.
"One sided? How do you figure that?" Toby asked.
"Very Easy." Happy said.
Toby rolled his hands as she was silent for nearly a minute after that.
"Well, care to elaborate?" Toby asked finally.
Happy slammed her wrench down and spun around on the stool she was on.
"Do you not see it? Honestly can't fathom what I'm talking about?" Happy asked.
Toby frowned but shook his head.
"We've known each other face to face for almost two years now." Happy said as Toby nodded. "In that time, I've never once been allowed into "your world", it is always my world we're in." Happy said harshly as she saw his puzzled expression. "You've never let me come over to your apartment, never got to see your office. Still wouldn't have if I hadn't come over and forced it. As far as I know you have a whole secret life you hide from me. Meanwhile I have to share everything about me with you."
Toby sat there staring back at her stunned.
"So I came over today, so I could see where you worked. To gain just a little information about you that you've denied me all this time." Happy told him bitterly. "And what do I get for wanting to know a little more? For being curious of my best friend's life? You deliberately being short with me. You wanted to know what I was doing there. Worrying over everything else but me. You couldn't even give me five minutes. Just had to push the issue of why I was there. Like I didn't belong or have a right to know anymore than what you gave me." Happy huffed.
She sat there looking at him, sitting there bewildered, unwilling or unable to speak for several minutes. His silence gnawed at her even more. As a tear ran down her cheek she spun back around and began tightening bolts again.
"Why did I do it? Because you pissed me off. Putting me on a backshelf. I wasn't important enough to be included while always sharing everything about me." Happy said as she continued working. "Do you even realize I've never even ridden in your car? I've barely seen you drive. It just reeks like I'm just a surface friend to you, I'm not important enough to know anything deeper about you."
"I-I, I didn't know or realize." Toby finally said.
Happy shrugged as she kept working.
"Happy, I mean that. I didn't realize you felt that way." Toby told her again.
Happy just shrugged again.
Toby rolled over on the stool and touched her arm.
"Hey, look at me, Happy. Talk to me." Toby said softly.
"Oh now you want to talk." Happy's eyes rolled. "Oh, what a coincidence I'm sure, we're back in my world. Just go on up to the house and leave me alone." Happy said without looking at him.
"No. I made a big mistake with you and I want to correct it." Toby said as his hand rubbed up and down her upper back.
Happy ignored him as she stood and walked over and got the exhaust pipes out of the box and brought them over.
Toby just watched as she sat back down and began working to fit the pipes into place.
"After what Jeremy did, after what that woman at HR tried to do, I was worried. While I do care about my position at the hospital, that's not what I was worried about the most." Toby told Happy as she continued to work. "Having the hospital misunderstand and firing me would be bad. But what would be worse is if the authorities got involved. Like we talked about before, even though they couldn't show we did anything wrong, a judge could order me not to have any contact with you. And that wouldn't sit well with me."
"That's the only reason I acted like I did. Same with my apartment. Could you imagine what they'd say in court if they knew you were at my apartment?" Toby asked.
"That's not a defense." Happy barked. "I've got agents guarding my every movement when I'm not in the house." Happy screamed as she pointed back at agent Williams standing at the door watching them. "You think they would let me break the law in front of them? That they'd let you do something inappropriate with me?" Happy was glaring at him.
"You keep hiding behind the law, the consequences. What is it about you that I don't know that you are scared to show me? I know about your drinking, your gambling. I know the horrors of your Dad, the difficulty dealing with your Mom's condition. What is so much worse that you want to keep me at arm's length? Are you really married? Got kids?" She stared at Toby as he sat there shocked. She shook her head.
"You are giving me a headache, just go up to the house and wait for dinner. Let me work in peace." Happy said finally.
"I…Let me massage your neck for a moment, see if I can help your headache first. Then I'll go." Toby said softly.
"Fine." Happy said as she turned facing away from Toby. More so agent Williams could see that he didn't touch her inappropriately.
"Tomorrow my 1 p.m. appointment has been canceled. If you'd like, you can come over and I can show you around the hospital." Toby offered quietly after about ten minutes of massaging her neck.
"Maybe." Happy said non-committedly.
"In fact, if you get there by noon, we can go have lunch in the hospital cafeteria. They will have the orange roughy you like. My treat, it can be a lunch date." Toby told her.
"Hrmmm…I might have to check my schedule." Happy said as she began enjoying the massage. She sighed as her phone rang. "Hey Mom." Happy said as she answered the phone. "Yeah, he's here trying to get rid of the headache he caused." Happy listened for a moment. "Okay, we'll be up in a moment." Happy hung up. "Dinner's ready. Thanks for helping my headache."
"Knock knock." Ralph said as he stepped into the open doorway of Happy's bedroom.
"Hey Dad." Happy said and then looked at him. "Come on in."
Ralph walked in and sat on the side of her bed, not far from where she sat at her desk.
"What's going on?" Ralph asked.
"What do you mean?" Happy frowned and looked back at him.
"Your Mom said you told her Toby gave you a headache earlier." Ralph told her.
"Yeah." Happy looked down. "I just don't get it Dad. I know we have to be careful, but everything we do is in my world. If you understand what I mean. Nothing is in his. So I went to visit him this afternoon. He couldn't stop worrying about the what ifs. He couldn't just appreciate that I came to see him. Couldn't give me even five minutes. Just, "What are you doing here?" Like I can't know anything about his life except that he graduated from Harvard and he's got a high IQ."
"All I know about him…is what he's told me. I have no first hand knowledge of his work, well not counting what he did to save your life. I have no knowledge of his apartment or even where he lives. Hell I haven't even seen a picture of his parents, let alone met them or ridden in his car. Meanwhile he's been to Callan with us three times. He's been all over both of our homes, all over the school I went to in Callan, he's been all over MIT with me. It just feels like I'm not good enough to know anything more." Happy sighed.
"Huh…Well I certainly hadn't thought that was the problem sweetheart. Would you like me to talk to him?" Ralph asked.
"Would you punch him?" Happy asked as she stared at the floor.
Ralph laughed.
"No sweetheart, I promise not to punch him." Ralph continued chuckling.
"Then no." Happy smiled as she looked up at him.
Ralph began laughing harder.
"He's invited me to come to the hospital tomorrow for lunch and to see his office since his patient for 1 p.m. canceled." Happy sighed.
"Alright, well you know I'm here if you need anything sweetie." Ralph told her and stood up.
"Thanks Dad, I appreciate it." Happy smiled as he bent over and kissed the top of her head.
"How's the bike coming?" Ralph asked as he stopped at the door.
"I mounted the engine and hooked up the exhaust pipes today. I'll probably put the front end on tomorrow morning. I'll put the rear end on tomorrow before dinner." Happy told him.
Ralph nodded.
"I'm really looking forward to taking it for a test ride with you when you are done." Ralph grinned.
"Does that mean your friend said I can practice riding it on his property?" Happy asked excitedly.
"Once you get it all put together, he'll come over and examine it. As well as check the height difference. He recommended a specialty store that sells basically platform boots for riders who are a bit too short. He said they might have to make up two inches and that wouldn't be a big deal. He'd rather you do it with the boots than to try a different seat or shock absorbers. But he'll want to see you walk around in them and then practice sitting on the bike without the stand." Ralph told her.
"Then he'll take it for a test drive. So long as it meets operational standards and after he goes over the operation and safety manual with you. Which includes a test that I'm sure you could pass this minute and that I'm always with you, yes." Ralph told her.
"Thank you!" Happy squealed as she launched out of her chair and jumped into his arms.
"You're welcome sweetheart." Ralph told her as they hugged.
Next Morning:
The sharp smell of wood polish and leather struck Happy as the door of the shoe store opened.
"Welcome to Willard's, my name is Fred. How can I help you?" A young man said as Happy walked in with her agents.
"Happy." Happy told him as they shook hands. "I was told to come here to see about a pair of boots to help make up my height difference for riding a motorcycle." Happy told him.
"Oh, you need to speak with Claire then. Come on back here with me." Fred told her.
Happy walked through the store with Fred and her agents, she was looking at everything as they passed through.
"Hey Claire." Fred said to a young red haired lady at a desk. "This is Happy, she needs a pair of platform riding boots. Happy, this is Claire. She's the best and can help you." Fred smiled at Happy and left.
Claire smiled as she stood up.
"Hello Happy, it's nice to meet you." Claire said, extending her hand.
"You too Claire." Happy smiled.
"What's the seat height of your bike?" Claire asked as she looked Happy over.
"Twenty seven point eight inches." Happy told her a bit uncomfortable with the way she was looking at her.
Claire nodded as she turned and scribbled on a pad of paper.
"What kind of bike?" Claire asked.
"A 1985 Honda VT1100C Shadow." Happy told her.
"I'll need to get your inseam." Claire said as she picked up a measuring tape from her desk.
Happy slightly blushed as Claire knelt down in front of her and used the tape to measure her leg.
Claire smiled as she looked up and saw the blush on Happy's face. She slowly stood up and turned back to her desk. She opened a book and checked some figures.
"Well, based on your inseam and the bike's height and width, I'd recommend a one inch soled boot. Do you have a preference of color? Most just go with black, but we can order a few other colors." Claire said and then looked back at Happy with a smile.
"Black's fine if that's what you have in stock." Happy said nervously.
"Please have a seat." Claire said as she sat down on a small rolling stool.
Happy stepped over and sat in the chair and watched as Claire slid a small wooden, sloping bench over. Claire put one of Happy's feet on the slope of the bench and began removing the work boot.
"Red Wing does make an excellent work boot." Claire smiled as she pulled the boot off.
Happy nodded nervously even as Claire pulled her other foot up and removed the boot. Claire smiled as she moved the bench and then sat the Brannock Device on the floor and sat Happy's right foot in it.
"Please stand up for me." Claire smiled.
Happy swallowed but stood up. Claire leaned in far too much, and way past Happy's comfort zone as she adjusted the slides. Happy looked up at her agents and mouthed. "Rabbit."
"Excuse me ma'am." The closest agent moved in instantly. "I'm agent Williams with the Secret Service and you are being too forward with Ms Dineen, who is a minor in our care." Agent Williams said forcefully to the woman even as he pulled against her shoulder making her sit back on the stool away from Happy.
"How dare…Minor?" Claire started to complain and then was surprised as she looked at Happy and saw Happy nod. Having thought of them being in a college town, Happy being there in the middle of a school day for motorcycle boots, Claire had just assumed she was at least 18. "I'm so sorry. I-I…thought…never mind. Would you like me to get another employee to finish?" Claire asked as she became embarrassed.
"I think it will be okay if you finish." Happy said feeling a bit better.
Claire nodded even as she began to finish measuring both of her feet.
Happy looked at agent Williams as Claire was measuring her feet and mouthed, "Thank you." Agent Williams nodded and then stayed right with Happy the rest of the time as Happy chose the style of boot she wanted.
Toby walked out of his office five minutes before noon and was immediately engulfed by Happy who buried her face in his chest and began shaking.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - Yup, he does. And the impending birth of his child amplifies that immensely. As for the news people, that remains to be seen. lol Yep, our Toby has changed a good deal from his canon counterpart thanks to the early addition of Happy & gang! Happy is definitely happy with her bike...with Toby and Claire, not so much. But she definitely went to Toby for solace. I man, I hope not...Toby's old enough, the delivery guy is even older...let's not go there! lol
LouBe - Angst did you say? You wanted some angst? One order of angst has been served. lol So glad you enjoyed the EQ moment between Walter and Cabe! lol Yup, you did remember one of them! I had wondered if it was the same mansion, but the Muse refused to answer me. lol
Pearliegirl - Well I hope you do try! We need more art in the world! I believe the Muse will find you...when your level of passion for something rises up to an available Muse, they'll move in and make themselves at home! hehe Glad you are enjoying the little arcs...Maybe this one you won't? Thank you!
Chipbass - That she is brother! lol Let's hope it doesn't start any fires and that Ralph doesn't find out. Toby thought the bookie was bad enough...LOL
Marie Mac - Oh no, so sorry to hear that! Man, I hate when things get corrupted like that. So frustrating. It happens to pictures to me so often. And what gets me more is, when I get new pics I'll create a zip archive of them for "safe keeping" and when a picture does get corrupted I can delete it and copy it out of the archive to replace it and invariably it is corrupted too. Almost like the computer puts a "expiration date" on it or something. I can't blame you for not wanting to try putting it together again. It is a bit of an annoyance saving works from this web site. AO3 makes it much easier to save them, I think you can save it out as a pdf even. So you might take a look over there. "Callan" is current over there. I'm still very slowly moving stories over there, neither of the Knight stories are there yet though.
To the Adventure! -Tim