Charlie Bishop and Happy Lowman were childhood sweethearts as they grew up in Bakersfield, California, but fate intervened sending Charlie with her parents to Alaska. Now, several years later, they are both in the same place again, but will fate int...
Charlie clicked through the channels on the tv again, muttering to herself before tossing the remote into her lap. She was going to go stark raving mad if she didn't get out of this hospital soon. She could lay around at home the same as here, for God's sake.
"Wanna play some cards?"
Charlie shook her head and looked over to find Happy watching her, an understanding look on his face. "No. Don't you have somewhere to be? Some illegal activity that you're missing out on?"
Happy smirked and shrugged. "Nah, I'm good." He reached out and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Relax, babe. I'm sure they'll let you go home today."
Charlie nodded but said nothing as she let her eyes close. She knew that he was probably right, but that wasn't what was bothering her. Physical therapy was helping to build up the muscles in her leg after surgery, but so far nothing was helping with her shoulder. She couldn't grip anything with her left hand and that was bad for her job security. She was left-handed and had never been able to shoot worth a shit with her right. She hadn't let Happy in on that yet since he usually used her PT time to do what he needed to. She hadn't told anyone yet and she didn't even want to say it to herself.
Dr. Green came walking in with a smile on his face, making Charlie breathe a little easier. "Good morning!" He clasped his hands together and stood at the end of the bed. "Are you ready to go home?"
Charlie grinned. "I've been ready for two weeks now."
Dr. Green chuckled and nodded. "Yes, you haven't been the easiest patient. Ok, so everything is mending properly, your strength has come back well in your leg."
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I hardly even have a limp anymore."
The doctor nodded. "That's great. I am going to suggest PT four times a week until you're cleared by them. You can either do that here or set up to do it at home." He frowned a little as he continued. "Your shoulder... after reviewing the tests that we've done and talking to the physical therapist, I'm afraid it's not a muscle issue but a nerve one. When the bullet lodged in your shoulder, it severed several nerves that control your arm and hand movements. I would certainly suggest that you continue with the therapy, but I'm afraid that it's permanent."
Charlie sighed and nodded, refusing to look in Happy's direction. "That's what I was afraid of."
Dr. Green nodded and patted her on the leg. "I'll get your paperwork squared away so we can get you out of here. You'll get to sleep in your own bed tonight, Charlie."
When the doctor left, Charlie lay there quietly, waiting for Happy to process what had been said. She heard him sigh as stared up at the ceiling. "So... nerve damage. That mean what I think it does?"
She turned to look at him and nodded. "Yep." He opened his mouth to speak and she quickly shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it. Not now, okay?" She took a deep breath before continuing. "When I get released, I'm gonna want some time to myself, alright?"
Happy shook his head as he sat forward in his chair to get closer to her. "Babe, you're gonna need help and ... "
Charlie rolled her eyes. "For Christ's sake, I'm not an invalid, Hap! I can manage. Just give me some time. Please."
Happy looked at her for a long moment before finally nodding. "You hungry? I could go get you something."
Charlie shook her head. "No, not really." She sighed before turning to look at him. "Really, Happy. You don't have to stay. I can find a ride home."
Happy glared at her and shook his head. "Look, little girl, I get that you want space to work through your shit but I'm staying until I get you home and I know you're safe, alright?"
She nodded as a nurse came in with her discharge papers. She signed everything and promised to get her prescriptions filled, then got dressed. Once she was home, Happy made sure she was comfortable on the couch with a sandwich, then grabbed her prescriptions to give them to Gemma to get filled. Before he left, he leaned down and took her face in his hands, making her look at him.
"I'm going to give you the space you need to deal with shit but you aren't going to get rid of me that easy, you understand?" When she nodded, he leaned in and gave her a kiss before standing back up. "I'll have Gem handle these scripts and bring them to you. I'll be back in a few days."
Charlie nodded, still stunned from the kiss he laid on her as she watched him walk out the door.
When Happy pulled up at the clubhouse, one look at his face had Tig whistling through his teeth. "Someone is pissed."
Happy rolled his neck and glared at Opie, who was sitting beside Tig. "Where's your old man?"
Opie frowned. "He's inside, why?"
Happy nodded. "I have some shit to settle with him."
Tig and Opie scrambled to keep up as Happy strode into the clubhouse, finding Babby and Piney sitting at the bar. Before anyone could stop him, Happy punched Piney in the face, causing Tig and Opie to jump in and hold him back from the older man. Bobby glared at Happy as he grabbed a towel for Piney's now bleeding nose.
"What the fuck, Hap?"
Happy struggled against the guy's hold as he pointed a finger at Piney. "Because of his fuck up, Charlie has nerve damage in her shoulder."
Piney sighed and shook his head as Bobby groaned. "Damn, son. I... I don't know what else I can do to make up for that shit."
Happy snorted. "You can't make up for that. She doesn't want me or anyone else around." Happy glared at him. "I want you in the ring."
Opie shoved Happy back and shook his head. "You know he can't, Hap. I'll take his place, let you get some of this shit out of your system."
