Disclaimer: Of course I own no TATF characters. I don't own any of the music or movies that may or may not be mentioned in this story. But I got some of my own shit in there… as I'm sure you can read.

Rating: rated M for violence, language, and of course scandalous sexual happenings. So don't sue me…please.

THANK YOU reviewers! I really appreciate it! I actually have the first few chapters written, it just took me four months to quit being a wimp and post it so… I'm glad people were receptive to it.

Snooze5- I do have some Brian in the mix, of course, I just love his sweet little ass! Haha!

Loveme- I love Dom and Letty, I think she is his match. And I love Dom in general, who doesn't? haha. In this story, however, I think they need sometime apart to heal and grow individually before they can move past the LA mess.

Thanks again guys! Keep reviewing please!

---Chapter 2: Somewhere in Mexico---

Dominic drove for what seemed like hours. His shoulder hurt like hell and his brain ached from thinking too much. This was the worst day of his life, worse than the day he beat the shit out of Kenny Linder, worse than the day he got sentenced to two years in the pen, and worse than the day his dad died. The love of his life was in the hospital with some doctor cutting into her. His best friend was also in the hospital; possibly dead by that point, he really had no idea. Leon hadn't been able to tell him much earlier before he tossed his phone. He didn't want the cops tracing it.

He made it to San Diego before he called Leon again,

"Yeah?" he heard Leon on the other end, he sounded like shit.

"It's Dom, you heard anything about Vince yet?"

"No, the jury's still out on that one"

"Well, can't you fuckin ask someone!" Dom was irritated; he needed to know if Vince was going to die.

"They won't tell me shit; I can't even visit him right now"

"What about Letty?"

"Yeah she's out"

"Well how is she?"

"She's awake, feels like shit though,"

"Well what'd they do? I mean, what happened to her?"

"I don't know, I think they removed something"

"Are you with her? Can I talk to her?"

"Hold on,"

Dominic heard the scratchy sound of her breath in the phone and almost started crying. "Hey baby," he tried to sound loving for her sake.

"Hey," Letty spoke into his ear, her voice was hoarse and hearing her pain was like a knife in the chest.

"How ya feelin'? They takin' good care of you?"

She described her pain and he could barely listen. Guilt overwhelmed him and he had to remind himself to breathe.

"I love you baby,"

"I love you," the only comfort he'd had all day was in that one statement.

"Put Leon back on the phone,"

Leon sounded pissed when he got back on the phone. Dom told Leon to stall on the Jesse issue and before he knew it they were in an argument.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, don't start shit right now!" he realized he was yelling and he noticed people were starring at him. He tried to calm himself as to avoid drawing anymore attention. But it was the shame that really kept his voice quiet, "I know you're pissed off and grieving and carrying the whole damn team right now, but don't turn on me… I need your help…" Dom thought that may have been the first time in his entire life he'd actually asked for someone's help. And it had to be Leon. He was the natural choice, not just because he was uninjured, but he was smart and level-headed. But most importantly Leon had the ability to be a leader and the strength to carry others. "I'm gonna get shit running down south and you guys can come down when things are better… I gotta keep movin though, I'll call you later… take care of Letty… take care of all of them."

Dominic hung up the phone not knowing what else to say. He had passed his torch. It was a strange feeling for him; he'd always been the alpha male, and all of the sudden he was running for cover. He no longer had control of his life or his family. All he wanted to do was hold on for dear life, but he knew it was the worst thing to do. There was no possible way to run things in LA and in Mexico. It was Leon's turn now. He had to step off.

The Supra raced down the highway until the sky grew dark. Dominic didn't even notice the hours ticking by. In fact he didn't even know where he was. He stopped in a small town and paid for a hotel room but barely slept. There was a lot of time spent trying to get Vince's blood out of his pants. He had been lucky one of Brian's t-shirts was in the back, but the blood seemed to soak in to the bone. Sins weighed heavy on his conscience. Jesse, Letty, Vince plagued his thoughts. He went from having six million dollars and a life that everyone in town was envious of, to sharing a room with roaches and the smell of stale vomit. Staring at the ceiling, he wished he had listened to Vince from day one. For once the dirty bastard actually knew something. Vince had caught on to something he himself had overlooked. He wished he had just listened for once. Mia, Let, and Leon were right too, that last night was the biggest mistake he'd ever made. He felt so guilty it made him nauseous. And the sun was coming so he got back on the road. Still with no idea where he was headed, he wanted to feel the open road. He wanted to feel free if only for a moment.

The sun was hot and beat down on Dominic through the open roof of the car. He was in a trance and the only thing that broke it was the smoke that began rising from the front of his car. He pulled to the side of the road and looked up at the sky.

"You've got to be kidding me…"

He stood on the side of the road waiting for anyone to drive by. It was hotter than hell and there was no way he was gong to walk to the next town. Finally someone pulled to the side of the road. He ran to the window praying for a ride. A woman sat in the driver's seat of the primer gray pick up. Dark hair pinned up, red lips, and dark skin… she reminded him of Letty. She asked if he was a psycho, he said no and then got in the front seat.

"I'm Nina," she looked over at him and smiled, much friendlier than Letty would have been in the same situation.

"Dominic,"

"Its way too fucking hot to have your shit breaking down," she joked, hoping to loosen the awkwardness in the cab.

"Yeah, no shit… just my luck though,"

"Well, no worries, one of my friends drives a tow truck, so when we get into town he can help you out,"

"Wow, thanks," he said sincerely. He was surprised that she was so nice. She was gorgeous and it didn't seem like a great idea for her to be picking up strange men on the side of the road, but he wasn't about to complain.

They weren't on the road too long before they hit town and she pulled up to a bar. The sign read La Estrea del Noche in tattered writing and the building looked like a shit hole, not unlike the other buildings they had driven past. They walked inside and for the first time the air seemed bearable. On the inside, the bar was much more appealing, fully stocked bar, pool tables to one side, and a dance floor. Toward the back it opened up, there appeared to be another bar and the dance area opened up onto the beach.

Nina went to two people who were playing pool. One was a very large man probably bigger than Dominic, and the other was a white woman. The three spoke for a moment before the other woman came over to the bar where Dominic sat. She took out two shot glasses and lined them up on the counter before filling them with tequila. She then motioned for him to drink one as she did, so he did.

"So, your car broke down?" The woman across the bar looked at Dom for a moment and a glint of recognition crossed her face. He dismissed it and decided the heat was melting his brain.

"Yeah,"

"Hey Miguel! Call your brother," she shouted across the room to the giant man talking to Nina.

"Fuckin you call him!" he bellowed back in a deep voice.

"Fuck you! You're fuckin fired!" she yelled before laughing hard. She phoned someone and then hung up.

"Pablo should be here in just a bit, he'll take you back out there to get your ride," she spoke to Dom, "by the way I'm Eva," her hand reached over the counter. He shook it with a firm grip.

"Dominic,"

"You want something else to drink?" still smiling.

"Corona?"

She rolled her eyes at his request, "damn Americans are all the same I swear," she was clearly joking with him.

She kept smiling as she grabbed his drink and popped it open for him. Dominic noticed she had dimples and green eyes. She was beautiful and appeared to be in good shape. Her skin was very tan, not a surprise to him, and she had brown hair with streaks of blonde from the sun pinned up off her neck. She was dressed similar to the other woman, Nina: tank top, short shorts and sandals. Every one was sweat soaked from the heat, and Dom was grateful the sun was starting to go down, but it didn't seem to change the temperature.

He'd finished two beers before another man walked in the door. He was tall and well built as well. He was wearing a white grease-stained t-shirt, Dickies, work boots and a trucker's hat. Sweat soaked through his shirt in a v-shape on his chest. He stomped to the bar.

"Hey Pablo!" Eva greeted the clearly worn out man. He grunted in response. Eva grabbed him a Dos Equis and put it in front of him.

"So are you the one with the broke ass car?" He looked over at Dominic.

"I guess that's me,"

"Pablo,"

"Dom,"

"I gotta have a drink before we go get you're car, its just too goddamn hot… hope you don't mind,"

"Hell no man,"

Both men sipped their brews. Dominic watched Pablo talk with Eva. Their interaction was comfortable and easy and loving and he was jealous as hell. That was once his. The two joked, teased, touched, and laughed, and watching them brought a wave of bombarding thoughts that almost sent him off his stool. While he was down there, where was the rest of his team? Dead, alive, in jail? It was too much to bear.

"Are you ok?" Eva looked at him like he was wearing a Cher shirt as she noticed his almost-dive. Dominic nodded with a smirk trying to play himself off as cool. No such luck, he looked like a moron.

"Let's go get the car," Pablo chimed in also giving him a strange look. The two men strolled out to Pablo's truck and drove off into the desert.

"Am I trippin, or is that the guy who is all over the news?" Eva turned to her other friends who were still chatting it up.

"Oh my god I know! Should we be creeped out?" Nina responded.

"I don't think he's a sicko, just a dumbass! I mean who robs a semi out of a rice burner?" All three of them erupted in laughter at Eva's comment.