Disclaimer: I don't own Fast and the Furious.

Parings: Mia/Brian, Letty/OMC, Dom/OFC

Rating: Strong T

Warnings: None really.

Chapter One: Start It Up

Even though Nix, Fox, Kane and Rei had insisted on how different the scene was now, it looked the same to her. Still the same supped up rides on display to impress other racers and the ladies. Racer girls and groupies still wore entirely too little clothing to not be mistaken for street walkers. The sound cars were supped up to look pretty and provide sounds for the night.

Things, however worked were different. For one instead of racers challenging each other upfront with no middle man, there was now a Race Runner who run the circuit and dictated which races would go down. Most would find it constricting but, surprisingly, it kept things in order. Sore losers didn't stiff their competition because the person handling the cash was the Runner. Even though there was somewhat an unofficial hierarchy of racers before, now there was a more pronounced and official list.

There were races according to the type of wages put up –whether pink slips or money. Then there were races to challenge rank, and those supposedly were the tension filled ones. Her race was a common wager, against 3 other racers. Entrance fee to the race was a grand and the wager was another five. How much would the Race Runner pocket from her race alone; Four large, plus another two from the winner making a nice 6,000.

Her blue '70 Camero was conspicuous among the imports and current models, when she drove to the starting line after parting with a six thousand awaiting the start. A clown in a Mitsubishi Evolution IX was running his mouth, about how bad he'd beat them and such crap, but to be honest trash talkers usually did nothing. It was all an illusion to make their opponents feel less secure and to build up confidence he didn't have. So his babble was white noise to her as she concentrated on the road, flexing her fingers awaiting the signal.

Was she nervous? Yes, but the trick about street racing was to remain calm despite the pressure from the outside. The calmer you were, the better you drove, the clearer your mind, the fast your reaction time and the clearer you were on the goal –to win.

A racer girl with a tiny plaid skirt that barely covered her ass, stripper heels and a bikini for a shirt walked onto the road in front of the two middle cars, with the checkered flag. Raising the flag above her head she yelled, "Ready," before bringing it down 90 degrees eyeing the anxious racers for a long moment to mount the tension, "Set." Biting her lip she waited a beat before dropping the checkered flag on the ground, "Go!" All that remained at the starting line were skid marks from the racers tires, smell of burnt rubber and smoke as well as a wind wept Sky.

How you came out of the turn after the first straight determined your place in the race, whether you'd be battling for first place or if it was a battle for third. Determination of that came quickly, as the red Celica and purple Lancer, over did there drifts letting her and all-talk-no-action take up the front. To their credit they put out a spirited fight, but it was already down to her and Evo IX.

The reason people called it street racing, it was because it sometimes got dirty, sometimes even downright nasty and therefore wasn't for the feint heart. Punk-with-the-import was trying his hand at scare tactics, swerving toward her try to box her into the wall so he could force her to stop, but he had no idea who he was messing with. Shifting gears, and stepping on the gas further, she bought her time, getting the slightest lead over him and swerving in front of him before steadying the car and pressing on the NOS, sending her sailing toward the finish line undisputed, as Evo IX tried –albeit sloppy –pressing on the gas himself and barely making it across the finish line in third.

Lesson to big talker was to spend less time trash talking and trying to make his competitors bow out, and more time on actually trying to win the race squarely. Her drift at the end was clean, if she did say so herself.

"Well damn, Novice won," Rome commented, watching the blue '70 Camero drift to a halt. "Wonder if she's as fine as Tej said."

Dom's ears peaked at the last comment. "Camero's female?" It was no offense to female racer that he asked, it was just the car wasn't something a female rider would typically chose. Most female racers, even Letty, preferred Imports. Second note to why he's asked, was that 'Novice' went up against three guys and out classed them all with a comfortable lead underneath her belt. Letty did it all the time, but it was nice to see other females who could hand loud mouths like Flash their asses on a silver platter.

"No way," Brian added, looking back at the car in awe as a congratulating crowd gathered around it.

Letty smirked, "Don't feel bad O'Conner, that only two girls now that can beat your ass in a race." Her comment earning sniggers amongst the guys.

"His looks like trouble," Vince predicted, watching Flash's trademark Evo cut off the Camero as it tried to drive through the crowd, then getting out of the car with a face that could only be classed as pissed the hell off and looking for trouble. The crowd still standing in his way getting a taste of his anger when he pushed them aside to get to the driver side of the Camero.

"Get out of the car, you stupid prick," Flash, banged on the roof of the car while pulling at the handle demanding the driver's presence. Punk had a lot of nerve after what he did, trying to run off like a coward. "What, scared jackass? Get out of the damn car and face me like a man, you punk."

The banging on the roof and shouting, startled her at first but the longer she remained hidden behind tinted windows the longer he had to get mad and god know what he would do then to get to her. Her heart was pounding and her mind was telling her to put this car in gear and get the hell out, even plough through his precious car if she had to, but that would be making a bad situation even worse. So with a deep breath and sigh, she unlocked the door ready to step out gracefully and handle it civilly.

That idea was shot to hell, when Evo IX snatched the door opened and yanked her out of the car pushing her back against the car.

"Well, well if it isn't the high class bitch herself," he sneered, tightening his grip on her arm even more and his sneer turned lecherous. "Think what you did back there was funny?"

She tried getting her arm free, but he held on tight. "You mean winning, yeah I thought it was hilarious," she bit back, sometimes her mouth was too slick for her own good, but lucky for the Calvary had arrived in the form of Fox and Nix. Don't get her wrong she could handle herself, but it was nice to know she had back up if needed.

"You're a sassy little bitch aren't you?" invading her space further, until he was pressed up against her. But the nauseous pressure of his body against hers was gone soon enough, when Nix yanked him back forcefully, before twisting his arm behind Flash's back and pressing him face down on the hood of the car.

"You okay Rayne?" Fox asked, taking up the role of comforter, touch her arm gently.

She nodded with a smile, "I'm good."

"Flash how about you apologize to my friend for your actions, before I decide you're better off not racing for a while," Nix asked, effectively holding down the struggling Flash. "Did I mention this offer expires in 3… 2…" twisting his arm further, the dark skinned racer emphasized his point.

It was enough motivation for Flash to finally spit out through pain, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Rayne," Nix corrected. "You do like a named apology right, Rayne?"

"I'm sorry… Rayne," Flash easily repeated, through cries and grunts of pain. As promised he was released immediately, but not before a small threatening twist of the arm. Unfortunately for him, Nix wasn't done yet and turned him around to face him, hand fisting Flash's shirt, his usually handsome face marred with a cynical smirk.

"Flash, you ever come near her again, hell, even think in her direction again. I won't stop him from coming after you, and he's less cordial than I am." Everyone in the crowd assumed he was talking about Fox, who was glaring a storm at the guy, but who was privy to Kane's existence knew better. Nix was a pit bull, but Kane was a pit bull on steroids.

The crowd got the stepping after that, not wanting any leftover wrath to be directed at them.

"You know I have half the mind …. I thought we agreed you'd wait for us," Nix turned his attention on her once the crowd had dissipated and Flash had disappeared from view. He was still angry, but not murderous as before, however still downright pissed.

Rayne closed her eyes, knowing how much having someone word meant to Nix, and how much breaking it stabbed at his rational side. "I'm sorry okay. I should've, what do you want me to say?" Not the words she should have used, because he sniggered.

"You know what, I need I drink," Nix announced, addressing Fox rather than her. "You deal with her," storming off the direction he came, rethinking his agreement in this whole mess. Maybe Rei and Kane weren't all that crazy when they suggested locking her up until she gave up on the racing idea.

Fox looked at her steadily with an eye that could get anyone feeling guilty. "I know stubbornness and rebelling are in your nature Ray, but this is just ridiculous." He told her barely keeping calm, but forcing himself to, two times this month alone she'd made him lose his cool. "I love you, but I'm not putting us through that again. If you want to do this, then you'll have to rail in the rebellious side or this is done."

"Fox, come on, don't look at me like that," she averted her eyes to the ground unable to hold the disappointed gaze. Sometimes he could make you feel two with the guilt trip he packed in his eyes alone.

Putting a finger under her chin, he lifted her face to look at him once again. "Then don't do things that make me," his tone soft. "Let's see your arm."

"Really?"

"You going to lift up your sleeve or am I going to have to do it for you?" he challenged, with a raised eyebrow. She conceded easily lifting her sleeve to show him the hand print of where Flash grabbed her. "You're going to have to –"

"Steer-clear of Kane, I know. For what its worth I'm sorry," she apologized again more sincerely. Hey, she just dealt better when people weren't shouting at her. Fox seemed to be the only one privy to that certain memo. "Think Nix will forgive me?"

"Depends on whether or not Letty's being nice to him tonight, and let's just say she isn't the sun shine and daisies kind of girl," he confessed.

She was about to inquiry on this Letty chick, but her question were suspended for the time being as the race runner came over with her winning for the night. 18 grand wasn't a bad win.

"Tej, my man what's up?" Fox greeted with his easy smile, bumping shoulders with the race runner.

Tej smirked, "Nothing, just here to give the lovely lady her winnings for the night, and ask if all's good?" well aware of the scuffle that took place a few minutes ago. Dom had already been halfway there to stop it, but Nix bulldozed through and handled it. Nix was just like Dom only less muscle mass, so he didn't feel the need to step in when the guy already had.

"I'm 18,000 kinds of good, thanks," she smiled her most engaging and charming smile, which was well taken by the guy. What, if Fox could use it on the ladies why couldn't she once in a while?

Tej chuckled, "don't spend it in one place."

"How about I take some of this and buy you a drink, would you call it a good investment?" She inquired with a flirtatious smile, wanting her interviews to begin pronto and why not the Race Runner himself? It was even lucky for her that he wasn't bad to look at.

Tej smiled, liking her tone and the look in her eyes even though it was nothing but flirtation. "I'd say it's the best investment you'll ever make," however money still needed to be made with two more races to go, "but, I've got two more races to oversee."

"Well, that's too bad," she sighed, "I guess some other time then?"

"I guess so, beautiful," Tej agreed, getting kiss on the cheek for the brunette that would have Rome green, and from his peripheral vision that assumption was entirely correct.

Letty wasn't at all impressed by the display earlier, and Dom was pretty sure Nix wasn't getting any type of affection from her. The reaction to the situation had been personal, which meant the brunette in the Camero meant something more to him than the usual racer girls and groupies. Dom would take the blame for that, because it was their relationship that led to the constant vigilance and distrust of men. But Nix was patient, so it was only a matter of time before he got the misunderstanding sorted.

"Hey Letty," Nix offered with a soft smiling, hoping for a good mood from her tonight after dealing with Rayne. He loved Rayne like a sister, but sometimes he wished she was male so he could ring her damn neck. Flash was a punk with too much testosterone and wasn't much of a threat, but there were other guys around much more dangerous and yet, she pulled her crap. But enough of that, he was with his girl and that was what he was going to focus on for the rest of the night.

"You lost your way," was the Latina's greeting not even sparing him a glace. She didn't need his attention tonight. If anything she wanted him gone.

Nix sighed, tonight wasn't his night. "Letty…"

"My race is up, I'm out," she interrupted whatever it was he was coming at her with. Just not tonight, besides she had a race that needed winning and he was in her way.

Once she was out of ear shot, and at the starting line, Nix couldn't help ask. "What did I do wrong tonight, 'cause I just got here?"

"I'd say the throw down," Mia answered, before Dom could even open his mouth. "Or rather, the person you were throwing down for."

Nix laughed, "You can't be serious?

"You asked," Vince added, "So who is she?"

"Does it matter?" Nix asked, suspicious of the interest the bearded man was showing. Heck, Rome, Han and Dom were looking a little too interested for information.

Dom was the one to answer. "If you want to get out the dog house, then yeah it does." He wouldn't deny he was interested to know about the brunette, Nix defended so violently. Not that he wouldn't do the same if someone tried the same thing with Letty or Mia, hell any woman for that matter.

"A friend," he stated, he stated not willing to elaborate. Yes, she wasn't married to his best friend anymore, but damn it, he still felt territorial for his best friend, especially with these guys looking for a lay. And as much as his heart was all Letty, he wasn't blind enough to not notice that Rayne was quite the sight.

Mia rolled her eyes, "you think she's going to buy the 'a friend' argument? Do you even want to get on her good side again?"

"I didn't even do anything, except help a friend from a bad situation. What was I suppose to do let Flash get fresh with her?" Nix asked a bit of his rage from before shining through as he remembered that punk's hands on Rayne. God help him, if he found him in a dark alley.

Brian snorted, "For a friend you're still seething pretty hard."

"It's not natural to get this pissed over a …friend," Rome added, getting a deathly glare from Nix.

"Let's put it this way," Nix sighed, "That girl's my little sister, go anywhere near or even think a dirty thought about her… I'll end you. Clear enough for you Rome?" his threat left hanging in the air, as he walked away feeling much calm.

-~*+*~-:Fast and Furious:-~*+*~-

The after party was at a local club, and Rayne was adamant about going to get more material for her growing article. She had already gathered quite a lot at the race venue just from observing and her brief interaction with the Race Runner and Flash. Not only that but the bits and pieces Fox and Nix added in were more than enough for an explosive first part. But, at the moment she was more interested in relaxing and having a little fun.

"So, I'm thinking of getting a drink," Tej mentioned loud enough to capture her attention. "You still buying it for me?"

She couldn't help chuckle at that, "I don't know if the offer is still on the table."

"Would it help if I apologized?"

She smiled, "You're lucky I like you Tej, so what are you having?" gesturing the bartender over, as Tej took the stool beside hers.

Nix found Letty easy enough, next to Mia nursing a beer and looking on to the dance floor, obviously battling boredom. He was prepared for her disinterested roll of the yes, but not at all deterred. Maybe it was his determination to finally have her that drove his actions; he leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "Can I talk to you?" she scoffed, but handed over her unfinished beer to Mia and led him outside.

"Talk," she ordered, leaning against the railing of the balcony staring him down, daring him to say the wrong thing so she can be done with him already.

He sighed, "She's just a friend, if anything a sister," it was bothering her he knew, so he went for it. "And I just did what Dom would do for Mia, or you for that matter."

"How come you never talk about her then, if she's like family you'd talk about her," she argued.

Now, she was grasping at straw and it was his opportunity to make things right. Taking a bold step toward her, until he was invading her space, he gently touched her elbows. "I don't know how many times I have to say it, but I only see you," talking to her crown because she refused to look him in the eye, in an effort to remain indifferent.

"Dropping lines now," she asked, finally looking up at him with a raised eyebrow in defiance.

He smiled, happy to have her softening even if it was a little bit. "On another girl it would be, but with you I actually mean it," lifting a finger to caress her jaw. Why she couldn't see how crazy she drove him, he didn't know but he wouldn't stop until she knew it with conviction. Daring further, he dipped his head and kissed her gently on the lips. "Now, can I buy you a drink?"

"I can buy my own drink," she countered, unable to let the fight in her completely dissipate.

He smirked, "I know, but I want to buy you one," risking it again, he kissed her. "Would you just let me buy you a drink?"

A small smile couldn't help tug at her lips, when he tucked her under his arm and led her back in.

"Let me get this straight, Nix is all threats and brimstone about me hitting on her, but Tej is kosher?" Rome commented, watching the brunette laughing haughtily at something the guy in question was saying to her, completely taken by the race runner.

Han sighed, throwing a peanut in his mouth. "Maybe, you're not as discrete as you think you are in ripping her clothes off with your eyes." Facts were all of them were looking but, Rome was practically salivating with his less than honorable intention plastered all over his face.

"Like I'm the only one," he mumbled, grabbing a couple of peanuts for himself, watching the scene critically. "Me and Nix in a throw down, who wins?" Nix walked around, all angry black man with a bone to pick with him, punk probably couldn't take him in a fist fight.

Mia was the first to put her two sense in it, "No question, my money's on Nix," stifling a smile, while Brian beside her didn't even bother being discreet, laughing out loud at Rome's incredulous face.

"That's just cold M," Rome told her, "downright cold is what that is," sipping his beer as consolation. "Figures you'd choose the pretty body, you're dating one after all." The dig directed at Brian, who was still cracking up.

"Just shows she's got class," Brian returned, with a boyish smirk winding an arm round Mia waist pulling her close.

"Whatever," letting go of the first verdict, women always choose the pretty boys anyway so hers didn't count. "Dom, what's your take on this?"

Dom was silent for a long moment, before dropping the bomb. "I don't know, are you ready to be Nix's bitch?"

"Siblings, your opinions don't count," he contradicted trying to save face in the aftermath of the comment. Brian looked like he was just about to fall of his chair laughing, along with Vince; funny how an insult at his expense brought the two together like old chums –jackasses. Mia to her credit wasn't laughing to loud, covering her tiny chuckles with her glass. Han had that amused half smile of his that was even worse than Dom's smug counterpart –ass. "Han?"

"You sure you want to go for a hat trick?" Dom interceded, knowing who Han would side with. The Asian lived to annoy Rome and one up him in everything, so to irk him he'd probably choose Nix out of sheer spite.

"…trust me when is say the tax breaks you'll get from investing in pension is immense," she assured him, like any good salesman. "First is the tax breaks from actually investing in a scheme, and all funds invested by a scheme are tax free."

Tej smirked, "all you have to do is smile and you'd probably get a guy to get insurance for his insurance," he commented when she took a breather.

"Hey you're the one who wanted to know about the boring, but lucrative world of pensions, why you think I retired so early." It wasn't an entire lie so Rayne didn't feel too bad about telling it. Her capacity as an Actuary was in all extensive purposes retired, and now she was a journalist who'd managed to talk some rather juice facts from the Race Runner who seemed to have a good foot in the grapevine. So far, her article was shaping up to be quite the dime. "But, before you derailed me we were talking about you investing some of that 100K in the stock market and making you more money."

"You bought me a drink to get to my money, didn't you?" he accused good naturedly, liking the fact that she was intelligent. With every beautiful woman was a small quirk. Some were air heads, some were vain and to most her quirk would be Rayne being a walking fact dictionary on investment and insurance. He liked it, gave her an edge over the rest in his opinion, but even he would admit she was out of his league and he'd made a friend impression, rather than a lover impression with her. Not all was lost though, because any association with her was a good one. Besides, the girl had some crazy racing skills.

She smiled, that smile that was a subtle mix of coy and seductive to reel him in. "What can I say, I like making people money, and you're tonight's lucky pick. Don't you feel special?"

Tej just laughed, "So what stock did you want me to invest in?" watching her closely as she went into a quick and sweet breakdown of the key stocks to aim for and why, also when to sell them.

"Do you have a phone?" she asked, holding out her hand expecting him to hand it over without question. Surprising himself, he did and she made quick work of entering her phone number –he guessed –in to his phone. "If you have any questions, just give me a call."

"Day or night," He dared ask with a raised eyebrow.

She looked at him with eyes that would make any guy gulp or squirm in nerves, as she leaned in. "If you can get through," She whispered into his ear, slipping the phone into his breast pocket with a soft kiss on the cheek before walking away.

-~*+*~-:Fast and Furious:-~*+*~-

Something had told her not to count Flash out for the night and she had been right, when she found the said male waiting for her when she exited the bathroom. Most were wise enough to take Nix's threats seriously, but it seemed the guy heard it through one ear and went out the other. Fox was busy being molested by five groupies in one of the many dark corners in the club; Nix was off with 'Letty' so it was up to her to take matter into her own hands if things got out of hand.

Like all cowards with something to prove and exude power, he grabbed her roughly by her arms slamming her into the corridor's walls, the distinct stench of alcohol lacing his breath assaulting her nostrils as he leaned in closed. "Not so strong and mouthy without your guard dogs are you?"

"Flash, let go of me," she asked, only give a small struggle since a big one seemed to excite him somehow. He was the domineering and dominating kind guy, who thrived on submission. But so help him if he didn't heed her request and let her go.

Idiot ignored it however, pressing his body into hers to hold her against the wall, trapped. "What's the matter baby, you scared?"His attempt to nuzzle her neck was enough to motivate her in actions. Somehow getting her leg free, she kneed him hard in the groin which got her released immediately as he fell to the floor clutching his crotch for dear life. But it seemed he was determined to keep her captive latching onto her leg when she attempted to walk away. Luckily, a pair of arms broke her fall, but Flash held onto her ankle using it as leverage to get to his feet even though he was clearly still in a world of pain.

"We ain't done bitch," he informed her through gritted teeth.

Her … she couldn't bring herself to call him savior, because she didn't need saving. It wasn't her stubbornness kicking in, just the facts. "Bobby, I think you are," an unfamiliar, deep baritone contradicted, vibrating against the firm chest she was still leaning against.

"Dom, this is none of your business," grunting, he tried working through the pain. "It's between me and this punta, here."

"We'll I'm making it my business," Dominic answered simply. He'd seen Flash disappear in the back soon after the brunette looking for all extensive purposes rather suspicious, and with her male companions otherwise indisposed he couldn't let the punk have an opportunity for something stupid. "You know how I hate sore losers, and you're being sore. She beat you, if you want to challenge that challenge her to a race, don't corner her in dark corridors like a coward."

His words were surprisingly sober for someone who was a racer. It was rare to find a racer that thought so maturely, yet kept his racer logic in his words. Even her body relaxed somewhat in his arms as he spoke, though her brain was telling her to push off him and walk away from the whole situation.

"She blindsided me –"

She could stand a lot of things, but not a liar. "Please, jackass, you tried to box me into a wall and when I turned it around, you get pissed? Oh man up!"

"Funny how you talk big when you have muscle to back you up," Flash took a threatening step forward, despite the wall of muscle standing behind the mouthy brunette.

"I'm just hitting you with the facts," she defended. "This is street racing, Flash, not go-karting; anything goes. Any racer knows issues with a race should be handled in kind. If it irks you so damn much that I cut you off, here's your chance to return the favor –like he said, challenge me."

Flash sniggered disbelievingly, "You've got to be shitting me."

"What, you scared I'll beat you again?" she challenged him, daring him to cower away from a direct challenge. Guys like him had too much pride in them to back off, but also feared getting shown up. So, it could swing ways, "time and place."

"Next Friday, and don't think of standing me up sweet cheeks because I will find you."

"Like I'm not itching to get you off my back already," she returned, with the same tense but civil tone. With a snigger he was gone, making a point to brush past her like that was meant to intimidate her –unknowing bugger. However, he was an afterthought now that she had to deal with Dom.

He oozed danger, she determined. His form bulky, muscular and strong warned any punks off and probably attracted girls like moths to flames; at least those girls that like the tall, dark, bulky and handsome. Because, yes he was nice to look at she admitted passively, so handsome was a good assessment. But mostly she was drawn to his eyes that were a chocolate brown and pierced her so intensely that if she wasn't so use to stare downs with Kane, she would have looked away. "Not that I couldn't have handled it on my own, but thank for stepping in."

He chuckled at her show of independence, not that she was bluffing because she wasn't the one who was rolling around on the floor in pain and walking away funny. And he was pretty sure she'd cause more trouble if left to her own devices, like for example punch the guy. "I don't doubt you can," he reiterated.

"Dom right," it was a statement rather than question, holding out a hand for him to shake. "I'm Rayne."

He didn't think twice about taking her offered hand, keeping his eyes locked on her own. The fact that she could keep his gaze that long was impressive on its own, but the colour and beauty of her eyes made it hard to look anywhere else. "Rain?" he question, knowing he'd heard wrong

"Raina was too generic, and it was raining a storm when I was born –I guess it kind of fits," aware that he kept hold of her hand and her gaze, not willing to let either go. The guy had a presence you couldn't help but feel and see and she was taken for a minute. "You going to let go of my hand now, or do I have to say please?"

"I don't know, you seem to be getting into trouble every time someone let's you out of their sight."

She shrugged, "What can I say trouble finds me disturbingly attractive."

"I'm sure it does," his words holding a double mean as he relinquished her hand.

Biting her lips, she bit back a smile, "I guess I'll see you around," walking past him and down the corridor, but not before taking one last over the shoulder at Dom to find him watching her.

A/N: That was chapter One. Reviews would be lovely, helps me know what you think. Constructive Criticisms is welcomed, because it helps me improve. Flames "to each his own".