A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 32

When Rory went back to Oregon for her six-week checkup, Happy stewed. He knew she had to go but he never got a good feel from that doctor once she was awake. He wasn't going to go with her; he didn't even want to, he just wanted to cripple the guy. There was no fear of what Rory would do but the blatant disrespect was what got Happy so hyped up. She drove off, leaving him at the clubhouse, shaky and anxious.

Nothing had changed since the murder, at least not the way Happy said it would. She was having constant nightmares that ended with one or both of them dead. She'd noticed it was beginning while she was awake; the feeling of someone watching or following was ever-present.

She signed in and waited quietly, her eyes darting to the door every time it opened. It was exhausting being so paranoid.

"Miss Harvelle, you can follow me." The nurse's assistant took her back the long corridor to the last open exam room. "The doctor will be in shortly."

Rory expected a wait; the little experience she had with doctors always included a lengthy wait but Dr. Goldstein was in the room quickly.

"How are we feeling?" He beamed as he entered the room. It was strange, she was used to him in scrubs but that was clearly only while he was on rotation. "You look like you lost weight."

"I'm okay and I did lose some. I put on a few extra pounds right before the attack so as soon as I could I worked to take it off."

"Nothing too strenuous, I hope."

Rory smiled to herself. "Nope, it was more a change in diet than anything."

He instructed her to take slow, deep breaths while he listened to her heart and lungs. "You sound great."

"So I can go back to all my rigorous activities?" She asked with a grin.

"Has the boyfriend showed his nurturing side?"

Taken aback, Rory hesitated and gave the doctor a disapproving stare. "Is that a medical question?"

"No." He said, placing her file on the counter top. "But I wonder about your mental health. I've seen you eyeing the door and when you shook my hand yours was clammy."

"My nerves have nothing to do with Happy."

"Then what do they have to do with?"

"The fact I was stabbed in an alley on a job. I've been doing shit like this my entire adult life and I never had something like that happen." As she spoke, Rory looked down at her hands. "This isn't me, doc, and I don't know how to move on."

"Call me Brad." He said and took a seat on the rolling stool by the window. "You can't move on without working through it. Do you mind if I ask what you do?"

Rory laughed a little and shrugged. "I was a recovery agent, you know, a bounty hunter, but I left that to start doing PI work." Her cheeks flushed and she turned away from his prying eye. "That sounds ridiculous. I just caught cheating husbands really. Now though, I just can't get any confidence back."

"No, it doesn't sound ridiculous." He wheeled closer to her. "I'm not a psychologist but it seems like you might need more than some physical recoup time. I have a friend; he works specifically with trauma victims. I think you'd benefit from seeing him."

"Oh shit, no, I don't do the whole shrink thing."

"But you're content with doing the paranoid, terrified thing?"

"No, but I think there might be a better way for me. No offense I just came to get the okay so I can go back to my life."

"I can give you a clean bill of health physically." He said, seemingly giving up on the idea of therapy. "But I wish you'd reconsider."

Rory shrugged and gave him a tight smile. "Sorry."

"Alright, well don't jump into anything too crazy. Take it easy and slowly work up to your usual activities, and again, if you have any problems head to the closest ER immediately." He extended his hand, "Good luck, Rory."

They shook hands and Rory turned to open the door. As she did, a nurse passed her unexpectedly in the hall and Rory stumbled back, a tiny yelp leaving her lips.

"Jesus." She tried to save face but Dr. Goldstein could see how genuinely scared she was. "I didn't expect that."

"Here." He pulled the other doctor's card out of his jacket pocket. "Please, call him."

--

Rory didn't toss the card but she was still unsure what she'd do with it. Pulling into the parking lot she parked and walked up toward the clubhouse with a fake smile on her face.

"Hey." She was sincere in her excitement when she saw Happy lingering outside by the picnic tables.

"Hey." He grumbled as usual. "How'd it go?"

"I'm good to go. He said to take it slow but I can get back into my usual routine."

"Guess he didn't know you've been at it for weeks now?"

"I didn't tell him that. I played innocent." She hooked her hands behind his neck. "You know how innocent I am."

"Yeah, you're innocent alright, little girl." He slapped her ass hard. "I got a job for you."

"You have one?"

"Well, I heard of one for you."

"Who? I don't know how I feel about you involving yourself in my work. I'm an independent woman." And not feeling at all confident enough to work but Rory refused to tell Happy that.

"Vivica. She's having some issues and she needs you to pull a little recon. It's hands off really. She's got an army to deal with it but those boys don't do stealth." Happy hooked his fingers in her belt loop and led her into the clubhouse. "Good money. It's time you got out there again."

Rory nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'll talk to her."

"What are you doing now?"

"Gym." She said. "I feel disgustingly out of shape then I'll call Viv. Did she give you a number?" Taking the crumbled piece of paper from his cut, he slipped it into her jeans. Rory did not want to call this woman and she didn't want to go to the gym. "Maybe I'll stick around, have a beer or two, how's that sound?" Rory smiled bright, feeling safe around Happy, and hoped he wouldn't mind the intrusion. She made a point of giving him his time with the club but she needed him now.

Snapping at the prospect, Happy got them each a beer. "I got my girl back 100%, it all sounds great."