He stared grimly out the window. Nothing but brush, cactus and dirt as far as he could see.

Dominic Toretto was a man on a mission, but he had no idea how he was going to make it happen. His "family" was scattered. Letty left him in Mexico. After telling him he should've listened to her and the team.

"We told you we shouldn't do it that night. We told you it felt wrong." He could still hear her voice yelling at him as she walked away. He knew it had been over between them for a while, but she was his only link. Watching her walk away was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Not because he cared anymore. But without her, he was all alone. With his thoughts and his memories.

Mia was still in LA, but he couldn't risk calling her much. He knew she was probably being watched.

Leon was only God knew where.

Vince - dead. Maybe the best thing for him since he was so messed up after... If he'd lived, they would've sent him to prison. Not sure he could've handled that.

Jesse… he still saw Jesse laying in Mia's arms as the blood seeped onto the sidewalk… onto Mia's shirt…

And Brian. Not sure how to feel about Brian. He was a cop. He lied. But…he gave up his career... his life…for him. There was no doubt in Dom's mind that Brian was also on the run – or doing time.

His plan was simple. Not earth shaking. But maybe impossible. He wanted a new life – a fresh start – with Mia. She was all he had left. And he'd do it right this time.

They'd need a new last name. He considered Mussolini – Mia was always calling him a dictator – but he didn't think she'd go for it.

Maybe go to Texas or New Mexico – or even Florida. He'd talk it over with Mia and let her help decide. She'd be surprised at that.

Dom wasn't really sure Mia would go with him, but he didn't want to dwell on that possibility. He'd called her to check on her and she'd always say she was fine and then hang up. When he told her about Letty, she said, "Good. I'm fine." And hung up on him. He didn't know if that was a reflection of her opinion of Letty getting smart and leaving him – or if she was just glad Letty was no longer around. Letty and Mia were never close – they were too different. He wasn't gonna dwell on that either.

The bus pulled into one of the many bus stations in and around L.A. Dom stood up and got off with the other passengers. He didn't have any luggage – he came back just as he'd left. Nothing but the clothes on his back and a little money in his wallet. But he still had his pride, his arrogance – and the determination to get it right this time.

Dom's cell phone rang. At first, he didn't realize it was his – no one ever called him. And only Mia had the number.

"Hello?" he said.

"Dom?" Mia's breathless voice met his ear. "Dom, I need you to come home. I can't go into it over the phone, but I really need you to get here. Okay?"

"Okay," he replied. "Mia, what…" He looked at the phone in disbelief. The little brat had hung up on him. He knew she'd never pick up even if he tried calling her back.

After a quick stop at a little store to pick up some munchies, a drink, a stocking cap to cover his bald head and a light jacket to camouflage his muscular frame – he started walking towards home. No sense advertising his return. Plenty of people knew Dominic Toretto on sight.

As of right now, the plan was to get home, deal with whatever Mia was into and then get out of town. They'd discuss where they were going as they traveled.

And he was definitely going to talk to her about her phone manners. Definitely.

Dom stood on the sidewalk, staring at the house. He never thought he'd really see it again. And now that he was here, the thought of moving on - to Texas or Florida or wherever - didn't seem quite so attractive.

"Face it, Toretto," he told himself, "you can't stay here. Someone would spot you and turn you in in a heartbeat."

He walked slowly up the drive to the back door - who ever enters their own home by the front? That was for guests.

"New paint job. Wonder how Mia swung that?" He'd sent money to cover the bills and payments that would be due - and a little extra whenever he could - but he didn't think it ran to a new paint job. And new windows, if he wasn't mistaken.

"Mia!" he bellowed as he entered the back door.

There was a woman at the kitchen sink, but it wasn't Mia. He took in her slender figure and long red-gold hair pulled back into a ponytail. As she turned, he saw she had a dark tan - odd for most red heads, but it looked good on her - and she was drop dead gorgeous.

She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her beautiful green eyes. "And you are?" she asked in a husky voice.

"Is Mia here?" he countered.

At that moment Mia came running into the kitchen and jumped into her big brother's arms.

"Dom! I heard you bellowing clear upstairs." She hugged him tight. "I can't believe you're really here." Catching sight of the redhead at the sink, Mia said, "I guess you've already met Miranda. Miranda Devereaux, this is my brother Dominic."

"Are you living here with Mia?" Dom asked Miranda. Her eyebrows raised and she shot Mia a look. "What? Mia, what's going on? Spill it."

"I almost lost the house and garage and diner in foreclosure. Miranda bought them."

"What?!" Dom couldn't believe his ears. "What happened to the money I sent you? If you spent it on the paint job and windows - of course, it wouldn't cover..."

"No! I didn't spend it on that. Miranda did all that when she bought the house..." Mia was crying, barely able to speak. "But the plumbing messed up and I had to fix that. And then something happened to the electricity and the electrician said the whole house needed rewired or it could burn down around me... I was working two jobs ... I quit school... but it just wasn't enough."

"Mia, baby, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't...I didn't want to worry you. I knew you were doing without stuff to send me money and... I just couldn't tell you." Mia looked at Dom through her wet eyelashes. "I'm so sorry, Dom. I'm so so sorry."

He held her tight. When did she grow up on him anyway? Didn't want to worry him so she dealt with all this by herself.

"Dom," Miranda's voice broke into his thoughts. "You're staying here. Mia's got your room ready for you." She grinned at him. "We're running a full house these days, but Mia says you're used to that."

Before he could respond they heard someone yelling for Miranda.

"Better go see if he's okay," Miranda said as she left the kitchen. She shared a smile with Mia as she walked out.

"Who else is staying here?"

"Me, for one," a very familiar voice said.

Dom looked at the doorway into the living room. A tall blond young man stood there. Nervously, if Dom was reading him right.

"Brian. What are you doing here?"

"Miranda needed mechanics for the garage. I applied and Mia told her I'd worked there before. And that I was...dependable," he added with a cocky grin.

"Does she know..."

"No," Brian and Mia both answered.

Dom nodded. He was beginning to get the picture. Brian had Mia call him and tell him to come home - but why? Much as he hated to admit it he trusted the guy. He needed to get Brian alone and find out what was going on.

Over Brian's shoulder, Dom saw Miranda walking back to the kitchen with a young man leaning on her arm. Brian turned to see what Dom was looking at, and moved out of the doorway.

"You remember this guy," Brian said. "He stayed here before, too."

Dom stared in disbelief. No, it couldn't be. All that blood...

"Dom! I knew you'd come back! I knew it." The young man reached for him, tears rolling down his face.

Dom put his arms around him and held him tight. He realized he was crying too. As was everyone else in the room.

"Jesse. God, Jess, its so good to see you."

"So, are you gonna tell me why you had Mia call me?" Dom and Brian were on the back porch. Supper was over and Mia was doing dishes while Miranda helped Jesse back to bed. It had been a little over a year and a half now, but Jesse still tired easily. He was alive, though, Dom was so thankful for that.

And Leon. Leon had come in right as they were sitting down to eat.

"Dom?! Oh my God!" Leon rushed over and threw his arms around him. "What're you doing here, man? Not that I'm not happy to see you..."

Dom glanced at Brian who gave a slight shake of his head.

"Just checking up on my baby sister," he replied. "And it's really good to see you and Jesse here, too."

During supper, they filled Dom in on all the news from the neighborhood and the racing scene. Miranda, basically a newcomer, didn't add much to the conversation unless she was spoken to. She seemed to set back and take it all in. Dom caught her glancing his way more than once during the meal.

After supper, Leon excused himself - said he had a date and they weren't to wait up on him. He left, humming happily under his breath.

"He's staying here, too?" Dom asked.

"Told you it was a full house," Miranda said. "Why don't you and Brian go outside on the porch and catch up? Mia and I can take care of clean up tonight." She grinned at Dom. "Don't get used to it though. You stay here, you pitch in."

Dom and Brian grabbed there drinks and headed outside.

"So...," Dom prompted Brian.

Brian sighed. "You're not gonna like it."

Dom's laugh held little humor. "I'd figured that out already. Just tell me."

"Someone's hijacking semis - using your m.o. Word on the street is that you're back in business."

"And what do you think, Brian?"

"I think you're not stupid. Besides...," Brian hesitated, running a hand over the back of his head, "whoever's doing this is killing the truck drivers. I know you. Even if you were jacking the trucks again for some reason, you wouldn't kill anyone."

Brian began to pace. "Unfortunately, some of my superiors don't agree. They think you're angry and that you've lost it..."

"So why am I here?" Dom asked.

"Because Special Agent Bilkins, my direct superior, agrees with me. At least, he trusts my judgment on this." Brian smiled, "I'm not sure why, but he does.

"Someone's setting you up, Dom. I need you to help me figure out who. Bilkins says if you help us out, he'll fix it so you won't have to serve any time over the original heists. You'll probably have to be on probation, but... that's better than having to serve time somewhere, right?"

"He can do that?" Dom was sceptical. "You trust him?"

"Absolutely," Brian responded. He told Dom how Bilkins had helped him and Rome.

"Okay, I'm in," Dom said. "What about Leon? You didn't want me to say anything in front of him."

"Leon is one of the few who knew your m.o., Dom. We need to keep an eye on him."

"Brian, you know Leon wouldn't do anything to hurt Dom," Mia said angrily from the kitchen doorway where she'd been listening.

"No, Mia," Dom sighed. "He's right. It's not you or Jesse. And Vince is gone..."

"There is someone else," Brian didn't sound like he wanted to bring up this possibility.

"Who?" Dom and Mia asked.

"Letty."