For fifteen minutes now she had watched Happy sleeping on the hard chair that was near her bed after refusing to sleep in her bed and taking away space. The position in which he slept couldn't be comfortable, that was for sureᅳ he had to get some proper sleep.

"Happy." She gently shook his arm after stretching it out. Thanks to the painkillers, she was able to move quite well. "Wake up, baby."

It didn't take a second before Happy was wide awake and sat up straight with his hand on his gun, ready to fight anyone. He was probably even more paranoid than his girlfriend was. She should be the one more paranoidᅳ but he was.

"What's wrong?", his gruff, still sleep deprived voice filled the room in which he looked around cautiously.

"Nothing, everything's fine." The brunette sat up, grimacing in pain when a sharp pain shot through her back because of the stitched cuts. Maybe the painkillers didn't take away all of her pain, but that was okay.

"Easy, little girl", Happy rasped, helping his Old Lady sit up properly. He eyed her concerned, and while she looked better, freshly showered and in her own clothes, she still looked exhausted and battered.

"Go home, Hap, please", she urged as she looked into his tired eyes, her hand on his cheek. The stubble tickled her palm as she ran her thumb across his cheek. "You've been sitting here for almost two days and haven't slept more than an hour or two. You need sleep."

"I can get enough sleep when you're back home with me", he grumbled while standing up, placing his hand on the back of her head. "Are you hungry?"

"Happy." Her voice wasn't so soft this time, there was more urgency and concern in it. "I'm serious, you need sleep."

"And I'm not fucking leaving you alone here, Madison", he retorted with a grunt.

“I'm not alone here, Hap. Jesse should be back in a minute, he's just getting us something to eat and Tara's shift starts in an hour”, she told him just as sternly, yet her tone was soft. “I'll be fine, but you won't be if you don't get enough sleep.”

After Jesse arrived yesterday, he, just like Happy, hadn't left her side once except to use the bathroom or get them something to eat or drink. It was like she had her own personal security. The brunette didn't mind though, she felt finally safe again with them around. But fact was that Happy needed proper sleep.

“And what if something happens, huh?” His intense, worried gaze met hers as a sigh slipped past her lips.

“I'll be fine, baby”, she assured him with a small smile and snaked her arms around his waist, looking up at him. “You're the first one I'm gonna call if there's something wrongᅳ go home, Hap.”

As he was about to give in, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Instead of Jesse, whom they assumed would come back with some food, it was Izzy who let herself in with two iced coffee's in her hands.

“Hey, I heard you're back”, the Latina smiled happily and placed a quick kiss on her brother's cheek before she sat down on the bed next to her friend, holding out the iced coffee. “I wasn't sure if you wanted visitors. So, feel free to kick me out if you want your peace.”

“You're an angel”, Madison hummed after taking the iced coffee. She took a big sip, letting the cool liquor run down her throat with a pleasant sigh. “God, I missed that. And I missed you. So no, I'm not gonna kick you out.”

“I missed you, too”, Izzy smiled sympathetically, putting a hand on her friends thigh. Happy had called her a few hours ago and filled her in. When she heard about all the injuries Izzy just wanted to come down and be there for her friend, offer her an open ear.

“See, now your sister's here, too. Go home and get sleep, baby”, with a pleading look she looked back up at him earning a deep sigh from the man.

Happy ran a hand over his bald head. “I don'tᅳ”

“You look like shit, Happy. Listen to her and go home. You're not a big help if you can't even keep your eyes open”, Izzy chimed in, hating to see her brother this exhausted and tired, yet she understood why he didn't want to leave. “I promise that I'll stay until you come back.”

“What about Rico?”, Happy rasped, his eyes on his sister. Honestly, he did feel better knowing she was here with Madison. Not that he thought Jesse wasn't good enough, but he didn't know the older Pinkman sibling good enough yet to fully trust him.

“He's with Gemma. She reached out to me and offered to watch him if I want to come here”, Izzy explained, smiling. “We'll be fine, Hap.”

“See, I'm in good hands”, Madison smiled up at him.

“You two are killing me”, he muttered under his breath but finally gave in. Bending down, he gave the brunette a quick but loving kiss making her smile against his lips. Then he placed a kiss on top of Izzy's head. “You call me immediately if there's anything. I'll be back in a few hours.”

“I love you, Hap.” That's all Madison said to that. Happy knew that he would be the first one she would call, that's what she already did after she finally reached St. Thomas two days ago. As much as she loved everyone around her, he became the person she would always call first.

“I love you too, little girl.” With another cautious look around the room and a stoic look on his face he left the two girls alone and made his way home to get some sleep.

“So, you wanna talk about what happened?”, Izzy asked sympathetically, hoping she wasn't crossing a line here. “If you don't that's also fine. I just want you to know that I'm here for you.”

“Thank you, Izzy.” Madison hesitated a moment, not sure if she wanted to traumatize her friend by telling her what she had been through the past four weeks. But she really needed to get a few things of her chest since she hadn't talked with anyone about it yet. So, the brunette took a deep breath and opened up to Izzy, who held her hand the whole time and just listened.

ᅳ

“No please, I wanna go with you guys”, Madison pleaded. Within seconds she was on her feet, ignoring the pain that shot through her body. “You promised me I can come with you!”

“I know that we did”, Jax sighed as he stood in front of the hospital bed, his arms crossed. “But it's been two days. If we don't handle this the neighbors gonna notice something, Mads.”

“Then let me talk to Tara. She can decide if I'm ready to leave the hospital already”, the brunette reasoned, looking to the side as she heard Happy growl lowly.

“You're not, little girl. There's no way I'm letting you ride with me when you can't even walk properly.” Happy wasn't going to give in this time. When it came to Madison's health and safety he would stand his ground.

“That's not fair, Hap”, she whisper-yelled at her boyfriend. It was one thing she was asking for and no one seemed to understand how important this was for her. “I just want to make sure he's dead!”

“We, uh, we could take a picture”, Juice suggested with a slight shrug while rubbing the back of his neck. “And you trust us, right?”

Madison let out a sigh, followed by a soft groan. “Of course I trust you guys, that's not the problem. I justᅳ I just need to see it with my own eyes.”

“Then we're gonna take a picture for yer', lass”, Chibs spoke up from across the room, a warm smile on his face. “But ye' can't come with us, not like tha'.”

“Look baby, they're right.” Gemma draped an arm over her daughter's shoulder to pull her a little closer. “As much as I want you to find peace of mind, this is too dangerous.”

“But a picture isn't the same”, the brunette mumbled, yet she didn't want to seem ungrateful or bratty. She wasn't.

“I still don't know what you guys do for a living and shit, but even I figured that you do some things that aren't always legal.” Jesse cleared his throat and stood up from his chair, joining the group of men in kuttes. “But can't you bring that guy to your clubhouse? Keep him there until Mads gets out and can see him with her own eyes?”

Jax let Jesse's words sink in, thinking about them for a moment. He then looked at all of his brothers to see what they were thinking about this. “The idea isn't bad, but if anyone finds him there we're fucked.”

“We just have to keep people away for a few more days”, Happy shrugged slightly. This would be something he could work with. This way Madison would see it with her own eyes without getting in danger.

Sighing, Madison shook her head and freed herself from Gemma's gentle grip to wrap her delicate arms around Happy's waist, who immediately put an arm around her petite, skinny body.

“The idea is good”, she stated matter of factly and shook her head. “But it's too dangerous for you guys. Maybe I just have to accept it. You guys can take care of him, it's fine.”

“You sure?” Happy lifted her head with a finger under her chin, gently forcing her to look at him. One of the many things he loved about her was how she cared for his brothers and the club's safety.

“Yeah, I'm sure”, she nodded slightly, folding her hands behind his back. “I know I can trust you guys. If you tell me he's dead than I know he is.”

“It's better this way anyway, Mads. Trust me”, Jax smiled briefly. Maybe Steven wouldn't look too horrible yet, but it definitely wouldn't be a pretty sight and the smell certainly would make her throw up, the blonde was sure about that.

“It is”, Happy grunted. His Old Lady was strong, stronger than any women he knew besides his mother, Gemma and Izzy. But that was something she didn't have to see, something he wanted to protect her from. “Juice, you're staying with her, Gemma and Jesse.”

The Puerto Rican nodded, giving the brunette a cheerful smile. “We can watch a movie or something. Or maybe they have some games here.”

“I can ask a nurse”, Jesse suggested, looking at his sister. He didn't like the disappointment on her face but he understood why she was. So it was Juice' and his job now to distract her.

“Yeah sure, why not”, she shrugged with the slightest smile, appreciating the guys' effort to cheer her up.

“Hey, look at me”, Happy demanded, giving her hip a gentle squeeze when her green eyes looked into his dark ones. Just like Jesse, he hated to see her upset. “It's better this way, little girl. I promise we'll make sure that he's dead.”

“I know”, she mumbled. Nuzzling her face against his shoulder, she hugged him tightly. “Be safe, okay? And make sure none of the neighbors get a look at you guys.”

“We know what we're doing, little girl”, he promised her before cupping her face in his hands. “And once we're home I want you to talk to me, understand?”

At his request, she gulped but nodded anyway. Talking with Izzy about a few things that had happened was okay, it was easier to talk about it then she thought.

But she knew Happy would struggle a lot more than Izzy because it was about his Old Lady, about the woman he loved. And she didn't want him to feel bad and guilty, but she knew he wasn't going to give in and if she was being honest, she wanted him to know. She certainly wasn't going to see a therapist, but she needed to tell someone about everything, not just the more harmless things Steven had done. And if anyone could handle listening to violent shit than it was him.

ᅳ

authors note; I'm deleting the last announcement chapter so I'll mention it here again. As you know I published another Happy story, feel free to check it out!! I hope you're having a nice day! 🖤