A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 24

Happy went to the hospital while Rogue River began the hunt for McGee and Tig made his way to Oregon. Until the fugitive was with the other charter and waiting for Happy’s wrath, Johnny and Jeffrey would remain alive. Although Happy told himself he’d start looking he had to follow the ambulance, he just needed to know if she was at least going to stabilize.

“Where are you going?” He asked stopping mid-step as the others tried following him. “Wait here.”

“I need to see her.” Johnny said frantically. “I gotta make sure she’s okay.”

“You did this to her!” Happy snapped, shoving the young man back into Jeffrey. “This is your fault.” Snatching the van keys out of his hand Happy was going to make sure they didn’t try to run. “Wait out here, my guy’s on his way.”

Running his nails over his scalp Happy marched in, asked the receptionist that he was waiting on news, and planted himself in the waiting room. All he needed to know was if she would die, it may sound callous to some but Happy was a simple man. Alive or dead, together or not, love or hate, he needed simple answers to be satisfied. With Rory he hoped it was positives; alive, together and in love.

He’d gone outside a few times, once an hour or so, for a cigarette and to check that his own bounty prisoners were still around. A few hours in he leaned against a cement pillar, smoke swirling around him, watching the other two as Tig finally arrived with Juice in tow.

“Brother,” they embraced violently. “Clay cool with you guys coming?”

Tig shrugged, the sun rising behind him. “He wanted us to watch your back. Where we at?”

“I got Rogue River looking for him. I wanted to wait to hear.” He pointed toward the sliding glass doors. “Asshole stabbed her,” he touched his chest and stomach to indicate where.

“Shit.” Juice hissed, his heart sinking for Happy and Rory. “I’m sorry, Hap.”

“She ain’t dead.” He barked.

“Alright,” Tig slipped between them. “Juice to keep an eye on those asshole and call Rogue River, see what they have.” Waiting until he was gone, Tig clapped his hand on Happy’s shoulder. “Let’s go see if there’s any news.”

They slunk in, Happy kept thinking she was going to die but he’d never say it aloud. Every time it entered his mind, he feared his own thoughts would make it come true. He couldn’t lose her.  Tig pushed Happy to sit and made his way to the nurse’s desk.

“Ladies,” he flashed a little grin, “I’m looking for some information on a patient; Rory Harvelle.”

Scanning the screen the older nurse peered at him for a second. “Rory?”

“Uhh, shit.” He snapped his fingers a few times before Happy appeared behind him.

“Aurora Harvelle.”

“I had to be sure, security purposes.” She explained. “She’s out of surgery; there should be someone coming to speak with you soon.”

“She’s alive?” He asked, hopeful and excited.

“Someone will be down to explain it all.” The nurse repeated the vague statement before turning back to her work.

“That don’t sound good, brother.” Happy mumbled as a tall man, head to toe in blue scrubs, entered the small surgical waiting area. He scanned the room, only Happy and Tig there, and gave them a tight smile.

“Are you two waiting for Ms. Harvelle?”

“Yeah, doc, we are. How is she?” Tig took the lead, he could be charming in a strange, off-putting way and Happy wasn’t good with words especially in this new and distressing situation.

“Blade wasn't large, she’s lucky. Nicked her diaphragm, a few blood vessels and popped her right lung but the damage internally is minimal. Most dangerous was blood loss and internal bleeding. I repaired the internal issues and drained all the blood from her chest cavity so she can actually breathe. She’s intubated right now, while her lung heals, and she won’t be awake for a day or two. It’ll be a recoup and she may have some shortness of breath for a while but right now I can’t see her not making a full recovery.”

Happy lunged forward and hugged the doctor with all his strength for barely a second. It was awkward and completely random but before any of them really knew what had happened he was back in his spot, stone faced. “Can I see her?”

The doctor smoothed his scrubs out and cleared his throat. “She’s in recovery right now but probably in ten minutes or so when she’s settled in a room.”

“Thanks.” Tig nodded and the doctor was quickly moving away from the leather-clad bikers. “Hap, I think you scared him.”

“Good.” He said roughly. “She’s going to be okay.”

“Yeah man, we get to kill some motherfuckers soon, huh?”

“Oh yeah we do.”

--

The nurse led Happy to Rory’s room and she gave him a sort warning about the tubes and monitors. He’d seen worse, when his mother was sick, but it still touched him to see Rory so damaged. It wasn’t the IVs or the humming and beeping of the monitors that hurt to see but the large tube down her throat helping her breathe.

Tig watched through the window as Happy leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He had never seen such gentleness and compassion from Happy; it was actually painful to watch. None of them could really believe he'd soften so much although he was capable of loving another human and already did, it just seemed unlikely. Tig turned away as Happy began whispering in her ear.

“You’re okay.” He looked at her and smiled a little. “I love you.” It was barely audible but it was there, lingering in the room. Happy had only said those words to his SOA brothers, mother and aunt but he almost couldn’t stop from saying them right then.

“You alright?” Tig asked as Happy joined him in the hall.

Happy shook his head. “She makes me feel shit.”

“Uncomfortable, huh?”

“Yeah. Let’s go kill some assholes. That’ll make me feel as comfortable as anything.”