Up In Flames

Chapter 45

For weeks Happy did a good enough job hiding his drug use and partying. He dove into the club and work while cutting lose at night with Tig. When Rory needed him, he was there, but other than that he was on runs and taking every job he could he keep out of the house. Maybe if Rory wasn't so exhausted and preoccupied she would have noticed something before four months in but she only felt the distance and blamed it on her own deteriorating condition.

After a nap she stumbled into the bathroom and washed her face. As she began to comb out her hair and braid it. That was when her worst fear, the one she avoided for months, became a reality. A few chunks came out into her hands and Rory instantly broke out into hysterics.

"No." She whispered holding the strands tight as the doorbell rang. "Goddamn it." Carefully she pulled her hair into a ponytail and headed down the stairs.

"Sorry." Tara began to apologize before the door even opened fully.

"Oh, hey, is she okay?" Rory gestured to Emma sleeping in Tara's arms.

"Yeah, she's great. Neeta told Happy she had an appointment but he never came by to pick her up. I'd stay but I have surgery."

"Where is he? Shit I am so sorry." She took Emma into her arms and welcomed Tara into the house. "That's not like him. I hope he's okay. I should call him."

"Rory," Tara grabbed her shoulder to still her. "How are you?"

"Jax told you?" She spoke softly as to not wake the toddler.

"He did, I'm sorry. Only he and Clay though, I promise."

"I'm okay. I'm just concerned about Happy now."

"I'm sure he's working hard." Tara knew he wasn't but she kept quiet not thinking it was her place or just too scared to hurt an already fragile woman. "I can't really talk, I have work, I just wanted to see how you were doing and let you know I'm here for you."

--

Once Emma woke up from her nap and Rory fed her, the girls prepared for a trip to the clubhouse to find Happy. On her way out her phone buzzed in her purse.

"Hopefully that's your daddy and I don't have to go over there looking like such crap." Fumbling for her phone, Rory blindly answered. "Hello?"

"Miss Harvelle? This is Dr. Sandusky, do you have a minute?"

Rory's heart was in her throat. "Yes, just one second." Setting Emma up in front of the TV she slipped into the kitchen. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is great actually. We got your blood work back from yesterday and your numbers are incredible. I'm amazed at how you're responding to treatment."

"What? Really?"

"Yes. I'm not an optimist by any means, in this field it's hard to be but I want to monitor your numbers over the next two weeks and skip your next chemo treatment to see where we are."

Her knees felt weak and Rory stumbled down into Happy's chair at the table. "Are you saying it could be in remission?"

"Let's take it a day at a time, maybe we can switch your treatment to give your body a break since you're responding so well. Come in tomorrow for more blood work and we'll go from there."

--

Overjoyed, Rory raced to the lot to share the good news with Happy. When she arrived, Emma in tow, she felt suddenly awkward when they all stared at her.

"Hey Tig, is Hap here?" Knowing him best she went right to the bar where he stood.

"He's uhh, in the apartment. He's been working his ass off and he's really tired."

"Can we see Daddy now?" Emma asked with her little lisp as she tugged on Tig's cut.

"Yeah we can baby." Rory handed Emma to Tig with a dirty look. "Let me go wake him up first. I don't know what we'll find and I don't want you to see that okay?"

"Rory, it's not like that." Tig called after her as she charged toward the apartment.

She opened the unlocked door, terrified and nauseous, only to find him alone in bed. "Thank fuck." She kicked his hip gently as she looked around at the empty bottles and filled ashtrays. "Wake up."

"Huh?" He rolled over and shot up at the sight of her. "Shit. Hey."

"You're supposed to be with Emma. Tara dropped her off a few hours ago and said you were MIA. What the fuck are you doing? Crow eaters and blow are higher on your list than Emma?"

"Crow eaters? I haven't touched anyone, Ror."

"Tell me what the fuck is going on, Happy."

"I needed a break." He said sadly. "I thought you were sleeping."

"And you thought someone else was caring for your daughter." Rory startled to feel light headed. She closed her eyes to keep the spinning walls from making her sick and Happy jumped to his feet and helped to sit. "The doctor called." She sniffled with her eyes still shut. Happy looked at her, pale and weak, and felt his heart swell and guilt surge through him. "She got the results of my most recent blood work." Although her tears were mostly joyful Happy didn't know that. He was waiting for her to say she was dying.

"I'm sorry baby. Maybe you were right in Arizona. Maybe we should just get married."

"What?" Despite her dizziness she opened her eyes and looked at her with confusion. "Shit, Hap, I said because I thought I was dying. I love you but it's not something I would force you into."

"You're not dying?"

"I don't think so." She smiled and took his hand. "My blood work is great. Sandusky wants to postpone my next treatment and watch my levels before we go on. It's good news, Hap."

"Goddamn it." He shouted. "I fucking love you."

"I love you too." She laughed. "But Hap, this shit," she gestured around the room. "What is this?"

Just shaking his head he dropped down to the floor between her knees. "I fucked up."

"Did you fuck anyone?"

"No. Just did drugs and killed like," he stopped and counted on his fingers. "Six people."

Rory smiled and nodded. "Then it's fine." She slapped him hard across the face. "Don't fucking do it again, Happy."

"That's why I fucking feel shit with you." He reached up and kissed her for the first time in months.

"I turned you inside out, didn't I?" She asked between kisses. "I didn't even know you had the capacity to be half the man you are right now."

"Thank you." He cupped her face and slowly stood up, laying her back on the bed. "You feeling okay?"

"Just be gentle, please?" Her voice was tiny and weak and Happy nodded as he sweetly stroked her face. "And don't touch my hair."

Not caring why, Happy proceeded to slowly and gently kiss and caress Rory and eventually they made love. It was sweet and like nothing either of them had experienced before.

"I hope I don't die." She said, rolling over to cuddle with him. "And if this all works out, I want another baby. Okay?"

"Only if you let me make an honest woman out of you."

"Seriously?" She drew her head back. "Hap, you don't have to do this. I thought you didn't do the whole marriage thing."

"I just want you to be a Lowman married or not."

"If I get through this you give me another baby and I'll marry you. I don't want to do this shit because you think I'm dying. Deal?"

"Deal."