Chapter: Collision Course

Brian was racing after the trucks. "Control put me through to the taskforce."

Brian was working on autopilot. It was amazing what things you never forget like shifting gears without looking whilst using a radio in the other hand. He was just lucky that it was not a patrol car and thus one where the radio was connected by the stupid ass wire. It had annoyed him so badly. It was easier to think about stupid random thoughts than Dom was racing into a hostile situation.

Bilkins was one the wire, "What we got O'Conner?"

Brian did not panic as that would do him no good. "Tran has split his forces. He is sending some to Echo park and the rest are on the highway to jack a truck."

"They've armed the truckers."

If he wasn't driving at high speeds he would have slammed his head against the wheel in frustration because of course they were arming themselves. They would want to make it that little bit more difficult. "Copy. Listen you need to send SWAT to both locations. Suspects are armed and intent on grievous bodily harm."

"They will be at Echo Park within five minutes." Bilkins notified him which was what Brian had expected. What he keenly noticed though was, "And to me?"

"You are too far away for quick support the only thing I can get ya' is air support quickly," even To Brian's ears that sounded apologetic.

Brian didn't care - if there were no witnesses then he had more room for leverage. He could see Dom's car up ahead with three infamous black cars weaving in and around a truck. He would take whatever support he could get but in truth he knew that it would be all over and done with before they get there - one way or another.

"Do what you can track the transponder signal for a lock on the location."

"Copy that Brian stay safe," and that was his Uncle and not Detective Tanner saying that.

He would do his best butBrian was not sure safe was on the cards. He would do what needed to be done. This time he was picking up Team Toretto's radio and thankfully it was working on a different frequency to the Police scanner, "Dom talk to me."

"They have him."

There was no question on who him was; they had Vince. Brian needed to cut through the fury and get at the information so that he could save them all. "Where are you Dom, tell me details?"

"The animals have him tied to the rig on the outside of the truck with barbed wire." Dom snarled.

Brian was guessing that the three cars were keeping Dom away. "I'm just behind you. We need to get the cars away from the truck."

It seemed to be enough to galvanise both of them into action. They shared the road and worked on eliminating the three cars that were weaving in around the truck like a pack of angry dogs. It was easy to take the first, Dom and he closed the gap and crunched the car between them like a sandwich.

The second car was riskier, he heard Dom, "We're gonna clip the front wheel, right hand side."

Brian knew what Dom meant to do. It was a risky as hell but would almost certainly see the other car wreck. He let Dom do his part and decided that he would take on the other car. He wasn't willing to play games, grateful that the Interstate was a straight road, he drove one handed. He used his other hand to draw his gun and come up firing. He targeted the wheel arches and watched in satisfaction as the wheels blew and the car cannoned off the road. If the situation wasn't so fraught he might have laughed at the way Dom's target managed to smack into the car that Brian had targeted. It just meant that all three cars were going to be distracted for the mean time. Still he would assume as he saw no bodies that they could return at any minute. After all, Brian had support coming, who was to say that Tran didn't have any support on the way either?

"Dom we need to be in your car."

"What the fuck do you suggest? I stop to pick you up!" Dom shouted.

Brian would let that comment go thanks to stress and what he had planned would likely raise his blood pressure. "Pull back and I will jump."

That was only the first part the idea. Brian was using his mirrors to look to see if he had anything big enough too wedge down the accelerator and to keep the wheel steady. He just needed it to stay straight while he jumped – afterwards, well they could always repair a car you couldn't repair a death.

He was relieved to find just enough to work with. "Get closer."
They were so close and despite the noise from the engines and the speed they were travelling at Dom could hear him.

"You are fucking nuts."

Brian rolled his eyes. Now was not the time for debates. "Closer. I trust ya Dom."

The car was as close as it was going to get. He had no choice as he could feel the steering start to sway. He jumped – aiming for the passenger seat. Brian felt the swat from Dom's other hand when he landed in a heap, "Bastard."

That was all that was said for now as Dom pulled their car up beside the truck. The trucker was freaked and therefore even more dangerous as he was unpredictable. He was sure that that could be forgiven as if Dom had had any hair it might have fallen out seeing him jump. Brian weighed up the options and he knew that inaction was not an option. He might feel the wind whistling past his ears, and the road gravel looked pretty close.

If he got this wrong he was going to be in a lot of pain for a while to come - if he was lucky. If he wasn't then he was dead and this worry would be for nothing. It didn't matter though as all he could see was Vince stuck to the door of the rig. He was groggy so the bastards had probably drugged him to make sure that he did not have the coordination to pull himself free.

Brian winced as Dom was going to give him so much shit. There was only way for him to get Vince free, the cables would not work. "Dom I gotta jump."

"Are you shitting me?"

"No baby … I gotta do it or he dies."

Dom wanted to slump. He wanted to do so many things; rail and shout. Scream at the universe but ultimately Brian was right. "Don't Die."

A look of understanding passed between them and Brian knew there and then that he would never love another man. He couldn't. His brief musing was broken by Vince's yell.

"Get out of here," even though he was slurring.

Brian shook his head, "Dom you gotta get me closer."

"This is crazy."

Brian wanted to scream, "Dom I can do it. Get. Me. Closer."

Brian trusted his lover to be the best driver he could be and they needed to be quick. They had only slowed Tran by taking out the cars. Brian was in no doubt that he would do his best to catch up and have his say. Sure enough, Dom expertly weaved the car closer even with the truck weaving all over the place and Brian knew that it was now or never. He took a deep breath ...

... and leapt.

He took a second to briefly thank whichever deity that was up there and still looking after him. He heard the shot gun cocked so shoved Vince under him and shielded them both. This pace was getting less safe the longer they stayed there. He looked at what was keeping Vince restrained and it was barbed wire. The speed of the truck must have contributed to it digging into its skin. "I'm sorry buddy this is gonna hurt."

"Not as ... much as… dying."

Brian didn't disagree, even if he could hear a vehicle racing up to their location. He was guessing that it was Tran. He moved quicker, gently untangling Vince and wincing on his behalf as he saw the flesh tear away with the metal.

He hollered, "Dom closer."

He saw Dom shift closer and knew that they would have one chance to get this right. He took a moment to be glad that Dom was driving a convertible. It was the last thing he wanted to do but if all else failed there was the option to jump and just land.

He got Vince in the back carefully but there was a gun fired. He didn't think about it - he jumped landing in an ungainly heap in the passenger seat. Brian rolled with the momentum. He needed to come up firing and he was aiming for the wheels of Tran's car. He kept his gun steady and with two bullets - he got lucky. He watched as Tran lost control of the car and cannoned off the side of the road.

Brian had jumped in the back to make an initial assessment of Vince's injuries. "We need to get off the road. You can yell at me later."

Dom would kill Brian later - right now they had to focus on Vince he was in a bad way. The wreck of Tran's second car didn't bother him. All he could see was Vince bleeding out on the desert floor. He raced forward pulling his belt out, using it as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. It would not work as a long term measure. He watched as Brian assessed all of Vince's injuries with a critical eye. He was using his mobile phone. "It's O'Conner we need a med evac."

Dom looked Brian in the eye, silently asking just how bad it was. He could get nothing from his lover.

"It needs to be here yesterday," Brian repeated.

A car pulled up and Dom knew that with that engine it could not be one of the good guys. The sound of gravel crunching would be seared in his memory along with Vince trying to talk but unable to do so as the blood bubbled up out of his mouth. He was scared fucking stiff that this would be his last memory of his best friend. He hoped for a miracle but somehow - he felt that Brian was his one miracle used up.

Tran screamed something aloud not that he could tell through the loudness of it. There was a pop as if a bullet had hit a target close to his head. Dom flinched thinking that he would be next but he watched Tran fall flat to the floor, like a puppet who'd had its strings cut. Brian was up, gun pointing calmly at Tran's heart as he stalked forward. For the first time that he could remember he saw fear in Tran's eyes.

It struck Dom like lightning bolt; there would be no more retribution. Tran was finished the minute he landed in a heap on the ground a pool of scarlet pooling around his shoulder. The only thing that Dom did not understand in this moment was why Brian hadn't killed Tran. Brian roughly cuffed Tran's hands behind his back. He couldn't read him his rights as he was no longer a cop but that didn't mean he couldn't have some fun. He needed Tran to know why he was still alive. Tran should not mistake Brian's act as naivety or a stroke of kindness for it was anything but kindness.

Having made sure Tran could no more harm. He went back in order to give as much medical assistance he could to make sure that he was in the best shape when the EMT's got him out of there. Brian knew that Tran would hate the disrespect of being spoken at, not to. It was a small distinction but to someone who had been raised to on respect it was vital. "You will know prison Tran. I wouldn't want my Uncle to miss out on the promotion and for you to miss out on the joys that is a SuperMax."

Dom chuckled seeing that actually Brian's plan was way more fitting than any other plan. "Yeah how slight you are ... You'll go down well in Lompoc."

Brian grins, "I'm sure he will make some lifer a good wife."

Dom shrugged, and he wasn't enjoying this, not even a little bit, "He will if he knows what is good for him."

Tran sneered, "You did the Jacking."

Dom's fists bunched up, "No I did one as you threatened my sister and I will testify to that. You will not threaten my team any longer."

Dom felt like there was a weight off his shoulders. He was so grateful to Brian for more than a few reasons. Brian had helped him to open up when he was sure that he would never be able to again. He'd been certain that his stay in Lompoc had stopped that. The cars and sirens coming closer made him realise that soon this would all be over. He was keeping his eye on Tran so that Brian could see to Vince. It was better this way and the lovers were playing to their strengths.

He could see the look of relief on Brian's face as he handed Vince over to the medics. Brian waited until Vince was in the chopper before turning his attention to the second chopper that had touched down. Brian was glad to see his uncle if nothing else, "Present?"

It seemed that neither Mr FBI Agent nor Mr LAPD Detective could hide their joy. Not that Dom blamed them and Brian just smirked, "I think my Uncle wants to talk to you."

Tanner couldn't hide his joy at having finally nailed the thorn in his side. He was accompanied by the FBI Agent Bilkins who also had a few things to discuss with Tran junior.

It was weird and Brian felt like his strings had been cut - this was the part of the operation that always sucked. The bit after where all his adrenaline had disappeared and he was left with the crash. He was so grateful for Dom, as the big guy was holding him up and stopping him falling to the floor in a tired heap. Dom felt him freeze up momentarily when the FBI agent came over to them,

"This was some good work O'Conner. You want to join the bureau the badge is yours."

Brian was stunned. It was what most cops dreamed of the chance to make it to the FBI. It was the best route if you were not ex-Army but damn it was hard. He had given up on the dream when he had opened up his bar. He thought briefly about his life and what would happen if he said yes. It was the easiest answer in the end. "Thank you I'm flattered, but I have a life I want to build. Still you should come and drink at my bar some time."

Bilkins looked rueful but figured that might be the answer. Still he was not an agent to be deterred - he would find a way. So instead he settled for a, "I just might do that when I am in town."

He waltzed off with his piece said, but Brian didn't care. He just wanted to know how Jesse and Vince were. "How is my friend?"

"In surgery at Gateway, a Jesse is it was caught in some crossfire but he is expected to pull through. Vince is heading there to." He saw how terrified they were and as such their statements could be collected at the hospital, "Go be with your friends. We will collect statements there."

Both of them collapsed in relief, as they had both been terrified that they were dead in the hail of bullets. Brian gave Dom his keys. "You can drive."

They said nothing on the drive, but they did not let each other go. It was fitting. Brian didn't much feel like letting Dom go and neither did Dom.

The excitement was over and now it was time to heal and enjoy life a little slower than ten seconds at a time.