"Ye' know, it's great t' have ye' back, lass. It would be even better if you'd stay," Chibs said with a genuine smile. They had to leave in a few minutes but he really wanted to spend them with Sage. "Yer' Ol' Man would love tha', too. Tig misses you."

She was always the one of Tig's daughters who was here the most, who spent the most time at the club. Dawn visited often too, but Sage was here the most. Well, had been before shit happened. He didn't even want to start with Fawn. If there was one thing the youngest Trager sister had always hated and judged it was her father's lifestyle.

And yet she was now married to a biker. How was someone supposed to understand that?

"I know he does." Sighing, Sage rubbed the side of her thumb against the back of her hand in a circular motion, her gaze trained on her black boots. "I miss him too, and the rest of you", she gave him a smile as she turned her gaze to him. "You guys have always been like a big family to me."

"We still are, lass", Chibs corrected her with a wink and lightly nudged her arm. "It's weird not having ye' here regularly anymore. Is there no chance you'll come back?"

"No Chibs, sorry." Sage rolled her shoulders as she saw Chibs' expression, but he also seemed to understand her decision.

"Jax really messed this up." The Scotsman threw his cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with the heel of his shoe after he stood up.

Leaning in, he placed a kiss on Sage's forehead. "Just know tha' we've always enjoyed having you here. Fawnᅳ not so much. We just accept her because we have t'. But you're the one that belongs here, sweetheart."

As Chibs headed back towards the row of bikes, Sage let his words sink in. It was nice and heartwarming to hear that she was and is always welcome here, that everyone missed her. And yes, it felt good to hear that no one really liked Fawnᅳ which Sage could totally understand. Fawn was arrogance in person. Actually the perfect match for Jax.

"Hey." Happy's voice made her look up. The moment she looked at him, a feeling of calm crept into her.

She smiled up at him. "Hey."

"We're leaving. Can I really leave you here alone?", he asked and Sage could swear she could hear some concern in his tone.

"I'm okay", she assured him eagerly before she stood up so that she was somewhat at eye level with him. "I'm going to join dad at St. Thomas anyway", she held up a hand when he was ready to protest. "I'll ask one of the prospects if he can drop me off. I'm not going alone, don't worry."

Sighing, Happy eventually gave in and nodded curtly. "Let a member take you. Juice and Bobby are here. No prospect, got it?"

"Okay, no prospect", she promised, one corner of her mouth lifting upwards before she looked at him with a mischievous grin. "Are you worried, Lowman?"

Happy narrowed his eyes at the sun shining directly in his face. Then he just grunted, unable to hide his own smirk. "I'm just doing my job."

"Uh huh, that's what I'd say now, too", she chuckled, eyeing him while he put on his sunglasses. "Hey", she carefully straightened his kutte. “Be careful, okay?”

Happy watched every move of hers closely, as her delicate fingers slid over the leather of his kutte before she finally slowly withdrew her hands and cleared her throat as if she got caught doing something wrong. Admittedly, he enjoyed her little gestures and that she was worried too.

The SAA looked down at her with the slightest grin, something teasing in his gaze. "You worried about me, Trager?"

"Don't be an asshole!" Laughing, she hit his arm with the back of her hand, earning a deep chuckle from him. The two of them didn't even notice that the others were watching them as they were already on their bikes, ready to leave.

"I'm just doing my job", she mocked him with a wink. "Now go before you get into trouble because of me."

"I'm happy to get in trouble if it's because of you", he rasped against her ear as he walked past her and gave her ass an inconspicuous slap before joining the others, leaving Sage with a huge smile on her face.

ᚔ

Three Days later

Hearing Dawn's laugh was probably the most beautiful sound Sage could imagine right now. Knowing that her sister was fit enough to crack jokes again was an immense relief and the redhead literally felt a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders.

Five days had passed since she was shot and the wound seemed to be healing better than expected. Even the doctors were surprised about it. Tig and Sage were just happy that Dawn was doing better.

"In two days I can finally get out of here", Dawn announced with a grin. "And then we have to get burgers or some other good stuff. I mean, nothing against the food here but...well.."

"Be happy you got anything at all", Sage chuckled with a shake of her head. "But as soon as you're out of here I'll take you to the best diner in town, I promise. And it'll be on me."

Dawn's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh shit, that sounds good. I know why you're my favorite sister."

"Because I'm paying for your food, that's the only reason?", the redhead asked, amused. "So let's just forget about the other things we've been through together. Giving  your food apparently is enough to make me the better sister."

"Oh come on, like you wouldn't be happy if I paid for your food", Dawn countered, grinning when she saw Sage's eye roll. "We Trager girls love good food, you can't deny that."

"You're already annoying again", Sage murmured with a chuckle before patting Dawn's hand. "Are you really okay? I mean, mentally too?"

This question had been burning on Sage's tongue ever since Dawn woke up and acted like nothing bad had happened. Sure, Dawn was a lively, extroverted person who almost always thought positively and simply lived life as it came. But an incident like that still had to leave its mark, right?

"I'm fine, Sage." Dawn sat up carefully, only grimacing briefly, and Sage immediately got up to help her sister. Dawn, however, just looked at her admonishingly. "Sit your ass down, Sageᅳ I can sit up myself."

"Okay, okay, sorry", Sage apologized with a sigh and slumped back down onto the chair. "I'm just afraid you're underestimating the wound."

Dawn just waved her hand. "It'll be fine. The doctors said that I can't do any sports yetᅳ but that I can slowly start doing normal things again, just more carefully."

One of Sage's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You and careful? They really don't know you."

"Hey, I can be careful", the older one defended herself with a smirk, then studied Sage for a while, who just looked at her in confusion.

“Is something wrong?”, the redhead asked.

"No", Dawn hummed. "But you seem more relaxed than expected. Is there a reason for that?"

"Uhm, yes, you're awake and feeling better. Isn't that reason enough to relax?" Sage replied, avoiding Dawn's scrutiny.

"Sure. But still, you'd normally be a lot more nervous. Especially since we're still here in Charming near Fawn", Dawn effectively argued. Now it was she who reached out her hand and held it out to Sage. "What or who is the reason you seem so relaxed?"

Sighing, Sage placed her hand in Dawn's, the elbow of her other arm resting on the bed so she could rest her head on her hand. "Happy", she admitted sheepishly.

"Happy? Happy Lowman? The Tacoma killer?" Dawn's eyes grew wide, almost impossible to suppress a giggle. "So that's why you've been daydreaming for the last few days."

"Yes, that Happy. Is there anyone else out there called Happy? Don't think so." Sage barely made a sound, instead she was chewing nervously on the inside of her cheek. Dawn's statement about  her daydreaming made her feel even more caught. "I'm not daydreaming", she huffed defensively. "It's just sex, nothing more, nothing less."

"Yeah, sure." Dawn rolled her eyes. The joy she felt for her sister was written on her face. "You can deny it as long as you want. I've known you for twenty-seven years and I know when you're falling in love."

"I'm not", Sage replied quickly, yet she became even more nervous. "I'mᅳ I'm just enjoying this."

"I knew it!" Tig had slipped through the door unnoticed with probably the biggest grin on his lips. "I thought I was the first to find out?"

He passed the two coffee mugs in his hand to his daughters before placing a hand on Sage's shoulder. "So you and Happy? That was quickᅳbut I like it."

"Oh my God." Sage massaged her temples, an indefinable sound leaving her lips before she looked between Dawn and her dad. "It happened quickly because it was just a bit of fun. As soon as I get back to Seattle it'll be over."

"That's what she says", Dawn chimed in, taking another sip of her coffee with relish. "But I don't believe her. She looks far too in love for that."

"Dawn", Sage growled before letting out a small whine. "You can't fall head over heels in love in a week. There's no such thing as love at first sight."

"Yes, yes there is." Tig sat down at the foot of the bed, the look on his face revealed that he was once again about to share one of his many stories, and the two women were not disappointed.

Tig began to tell the story, his tone full of enthusiasm. "I actually didn't expect to ever get in a relationship againᅳ too complicated for me and I enjoyed my single life. And then I met Ima."

Sage frowned. "Dad, you've known Ima for years and you two only started dating almost a year ago. So it wasn't love at first sight."

"That's not entirely wrong", he agreed before raising his hand. "Butᅳ I never talked to Ima before, no matter how often she was at the clubhouse. But at some point it came to that and then everything happened relatively quickly. That woman had wrapped me around her little finger faster than I could do something against it."

Dawn awed at that, chuckling. "Look how soft our daddy can be."

"The softest", Sage added with a giggle, her fingernails tapping against the to-go cup in her hand.

"I won't tell you two anything anymore", Tig snickered, shaking his head. "The fact is that a week can be enough. And I saw how the two of you interacted in the last few days. Definitely more than just sex."

Sage could only shake her head. Still, it was cute how attentive Tig and Dawn were. "Think what you want."

"We'll do that, don't worry", Tig said, still convinced that his daughter was lying to herself by claiming that she wasn't falling for Happy.

ᚔ

It had been hours before Happy finally showed up at the hospital. They had had another meeting today with the group or gang they were dealing with since the lockdown started. Admittedly, Sage had been worried about the killerᅳ even if Happy was probably the last person to worry about. Sage didn't know much about him personally, but she had heard of his reputation.

When he finally entered the room, Sage gasped, got up from her chair and rushed towards Happy. Carefully, she grabbed his chin and turned his head to one side, then to the other. The bruises covered almost the entire side of his face and he also had a few cuts on his face that still had dried blood on them.

"What the hell happened?", she asked, concern lingering in her tone, while Tig immediately made his way over to them.

"The hell, man? I thought this was just another meeting?", the older SAA asked, who hadn't expected that either. "Is everyone okay?"

"You should see the other one", he said to lighten the mood, grinning. With a gentle grip on Sage's wrist, Happy lowered her hand with gentle pressure, then looked at Tig and nodded slightly. "We're all okay, it just escalated a bit. But it was needed."

Even Dawn, who was supposed to go slow, dragged herself out of bed and approached the small group, whereupon she was scolded by Tig, who wrapped an arm around her waist to support her.

"I just got shot, dad. I'm not missing a leg or anything", she groaned, slightly annoyed. Yet she was still grateful to have her dad here.

"Don't take this lightly", he warned before looking back at Happy, straightening his shoulders. "What about the guy who shot Dawn and the Prospect?"

"We took him with us, he's waiting for you in the hut. He's all yours", Happy told the older man, and Sage noticed the murderous glint in Happy's eyes. The slight grin also indicated that Happy would like to join.

Maybe he was sociopathic like so many people said, yet that didn't scare her away. Happy was a good person, she had seen that for herself.

"Okay, that's good." For the first time in days, Tig's features relaxed slightly. "Can you stay here with the two of them? Then I can take care of the bastard."

"Dad, you don't have to do this because of me", Dawn said with a sigh, knowing exactly what would happen to the guy. "Isn't that just going to cause you more problems? I mean, the guy belongs to someone. Won't they retaliate or some shit?"

"What do you think we've been doing for the last few days and hours? Making sure we don't get any problems", Happy grunted as he sat down on a chair and stretched out his legs, cracking his neck to loosen his muscles a little. “By the way, the lockdown will be lifted tomorrow if nothing changes overnight.”

Sage's gaze rested on Happy for a while, who flashed her a smile when their eyes met. She tried to ignore the fact that her heart did a little flip. Her throat suddenly feeling dry as the desert, she looked back at her dad and Dawn.

"He deserves it, Dawn. You could be dead", she said dead serious. "I think the guys know what they're doing. And if even the lockdown will be lifted, that must be a good sign."

"We always know what we're doing." Tig placed a kiss on Dawn's forehead, then Sage's. "Get some rest and maybe get him something to eat", he lifted his chin, nodding towards Happy. "As soon as I get back you can go home."

"Take your time, we're here", Sage assured him with a smile and placed a kiss on his cheek before helping Dawn back into bed. Then she plopped down on the chair next to Happy, sighing. "What a day."

"Yeah", Happy agreed with a grunt, frowning when Dawn just grinned at the two of them. "What's the matter with her?"

Sage waved it off, rubbing her temple. "Don't even pay attention to it, she's a bit delusional. Probably from all the pain medications."

"You know I can hear you, right?" Dawn snickered, leaning back. "You'll remember my words, I'm telling you."

"Do I want to know?" Happy asked with a frown.

"No, you don't", Sage replied with a chuckle, holding her breath for a moment when Happy unexpectedly draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. But she didn't hesitate for a second and rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment. "Are you really okay? Or do you need me to patch you up?"

"You can do that later when we're back at my place", he muttered tiredly and allowed himself to close his eyes for a while after Dawn had turned on the TVᅳ without falling asleep, of course. Even if there was no longer any danger of anyone coming after Dawn, his job was to keep an eye on the two women.

ᚔ

authors note; this was kind of a filler, but they're needed, too! The next chapter, or the one after that, I'm not sure yet, will be more exciting again and will have a little surprise. 😌🥰