A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 29

You know guys, I can't stop. Luckily the baby slept in so I could get this written! Here you go!

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*Three weeks later*

Feeling claustrophobic bored and fat, Rory decided to force herself out of her funk and go for a walk. She wanted to hit the gym, maybe run a mile to get back into it but she knew she couldn't handle that yet. All the fast food she and Happy devoured was dangerous and she knew she had to get back into her more healthy habits.

In a pair of leggings, a loose fitting tank top and sneakers, she left her building and crossed to the sunny side of the street. It was beautiful out but she still felt weak as she strolled along the tree-lined path down toward Main Street. Maybe she was looking for Happy but it wasn't a conscious thought. After weeks of no contact she figured that was it, they'd had their fun and it broke her heart.

The farther she walked the quicker her pace until she was actually jogging. Rory concentrated on her breathing to keep it steady and not too deep just to prolong the jog. It felt wonderful. Turning down Main she smiled, feeling better than she had in weeks until she saw four motorcycles coming in her direction. She gasped and panicked skirting off into the little alley between Floyd's and the gym. It wasn't like the alley she'd been attacked in, it was bright and clean, but it would hopefully keep her from being spotted.

Her chest was tight and her breathing became erratic as she obsessed on the sound growing closer and closer. Rory would blame seeing them for the searing pain in her chest not the jog she was obviously nowhere near ready to try. Beginning to cough, she watched as Clay, Tig, Happy and Opie rolled by and parked not far from her hiding spot.

The little coughs grew and she began to wheeze, her chest still on fire, as she peeked out around the bricks. Once they were in wherever they were going, she'd make a break for it but instead she glanced out and immediately made eye contact with Tig.

"Motherfucker." She whispered, just a second longer would have prevented that.

"Hey Hap," she heard Tig call loudly. "What's going on with that bounty hunter?" Silence. She was sure he'd mumbled something or just made a face but Rory's heart ached for something more.

Tig was a troublemaker, she knew that even from their limited time together, and he'd certainly take advantage of this. Stepping out onto the street again, she kept going rather than stay in that alley with nowhere else to go. There was no slow progression, she immediately broke out into a jog again, not wanting to look weak, and she regretted it. Her chest ached, forcing her to stop, and she leaned against the bricks struggling to catch her breath.

"Hey," Happy came jogging up to her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She choked out.

"Let me take you home." He offered his voice harder than she remembered. Rory didn't realize how much softer it had gotten while they were together; she smiled a little to herself.

"I'm fine." She repeated, that rusty taste creeping in her throat as her blood stained her saliva red.

"Don't be a b-" Happy stopped, attempting to work on his attitude and pointed to her mouth. "Bleeding?"

"Really, it's okay. Doc said it might happen, it's not bad just irritation and shit." She smiled sadly and pointed to the others behind him. "I can manage, they're waiting."

"You're not getting rid of me, Rory."

Her heart swelled when he said her name and she reluctantly nodded. "I thought I effectively did, it's been three weeks."

"I was pissed at you, upset I guess."

Her chin shook as she frowned, his admission hurting more than she would have imagined. "I didn't know you could be hurt."

"Let me take you home." He said again and she nodded as they started toward his bike.

--

"Thanks." She said, tossing her keys down and grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "I probably wouldn't have made it honestly."

"I know." He looked around the place and quickly noticed it was spotless. Happy knew what she had been doing to pass the time. "You shouldn't have been doing that shit, you're gonna fuck yourself up." She shrugged and he went on. "You working?"

"No." She chugged the entire bottle, a little drop rolling down her chin. "I'm nervous, scared a lot."

Happy shook his head. "Don't be. That shit wasn't your fault you're smarter than that. Besides pussy hounds and some small time robbery isn't going to get you killed."

"I know that it just doesn't help me." She reached for her gun on the table and raised it, aiming it at his chest and he saw her hand shaking. "I can't even hold steady let alone shoot; I don't know what's wrong with me."

His phone vibrated in his pocket and Happy knew Clay was pissed. "I gotta get back but tomorrow I'll take you shooting. You gotta work and you can't be scared, little girl."

"Really? You'll do that for me?"

Happy moved toward her, pressing her against the fridge and nodded. "Really." He kissed her, fleeting but full of passion. "I'll come by at noon." Then he was gone.

Rory sank down to the floor and began to cry for a multitude of reasons she couldn't pinpoint. Just being around him changed everything, even her memories, and she couldn't tell what was true and what was simply colored by his presence.