Cadence stood at the edge of the hole where Joe Lempke was being buried. The funeral service had been long, and she was extremely tired. Her usually bright eyes were red rimmed and swollen. She wore a black pantsuit, and even her arm sling was black. Joe's sister Margaret sat in a chair under a canopy. She stared at the coffin sitting in front of her from disbelieving eyes. Cadence understood the feeling. Joe had been her partner for five years. Hell, he'd been the one to introduce her to Izzy's father; Renato Alverino. They'd made him Izzy's godfather. He'd been there as her friend when Renato had been shot in a convenience store robbery. He'd held her hand at Renato's funeral. Joe had been a good man, and now he was gone and it wasn't right.

Cadence wasn't naïve, she knew that the world wasn't a fair place, but sometimes it felt a lot more unfair than it should. She looked down at Isabella who stood at her side so quietly. The priest would be starting the service soon. Cadence looked up briefly to see Dominic, and his entire group making their way to the gravesite. That was nice, she thought. Joe deserved the respect they were showing him, and it brought fresh tears to her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Finally, the priest spoke, and as he did so Cadence thought of the man Joe had been. She still felt guilty. Thoughts came into her mind such as why didn't she send Joe to the diner? Why didn't she just send back up to the diner? She'd had to do it all herself, and in her mind it had gotten her partner killed. Even if no one else believed it.

Now would be the start of a new era. Her partner was dead and she was retiring from the force. Ridley didn't want her to, but she had done it anyway. She couldn't keep walking through those doors with everything that had happened. She'd agreed to consult with LAPD on occasion, but none of that would include her being in the line of fire. At least she'd be safer for Izzy.

Ridley had called to tell her that they'd found the body of Jessica Lynn Maddox in the basement of Maddox's country home. It was obviously where he kept many other secrets. They'd found a collection of child pornography, torture devices, and video tapes of Maddox with his many lovers which bordered on abuse far beyond sado-masochism. He was a sick man.

Both Izzy and Cadence dropped their roses on top of the casket and walked a short distance away. "Would you like to visit your Papa's grave while we're here Isabella?" Cadence asked her daughter quietly.

Izzy nodded. It was always peaceful when she and Mama went there.

They'd only walked a short distance when George called out to them. The redhead hurried up to them. Gone was the super thin woman Cadence had first seen. She still had a long way to go, but she looked so much healthier.

George looked at the grief stricken agent. Former agent now she supposed. "Cadence?"

"Hello Georgia. You look wonderful." Cadence smiled at the younger woman. "Isabella, you know which one it is don't you?"

Izzy nodded. "It's the one with the pretty cross on it." The little girl walked off leaving the other two alone.

"How are you?" Cadence asked.

"I'm doing good. Better." George smiled softly. "I still have nightmares, but even those will get better and go away."

"Yes, they go away eventually. Sometimes they'll come up and bite you, but it'll become rarer."

"Cadence, I'm so sorry about Joe." George began softly. "I'm so sorry for everything you lost because of me…"

"Georgia. None of this is your fault. This is all because of the evils of one man and his influence on men like him." Cadence sighed. "Hempstead cut a deal with the DA in Texas. Even with Maddox dead they kept the deal. He's signed a statement detailing everything that happened."

"How much time will he serve?"

"Twenty five years. With good behavior, it's possible he'll be out in ten."

"Gotta love the justice system." George smiled wryly then took a deep breath. "It's okay though. Me and Mo, we've got new lives now. What're you planning on doing now?"

Cadence looked away from George and saw Dom and the others talking to Izzy. She seemed to be happy to see the big man. "I don't really know. I retired from the Bureau." From the look on Georgia's face Cadence could tell she hadn't known. "Some freelance profiling for LAPD on occasion. I guess I'll have to make the rest up as I go."

"You could keep in touch?" George sounded so hopeful.

"No I can't." Cadence gave the woman a sad smile. "I would love to, but I can't do that. It's best if it all ends here today. But you take care of yourself Georgia, and if you ever need me you know where to find me." She reached out and squeezed George's shoulder gently with her good arm. Then she turned and headed over to her daughter.

"I've missed you Dom." Izzy said in her sweet little voice. "Mama's always so sad, and I know it's because Uncle Joe went to stay with Daddy in heaven and now Mama don't know what to do no more. I heard her crying last night."

Dom cleared his throat. "Your Mom's tough kid. She'll be okay when everything's done."

Izzy looked at him for a moment. "This is my Daddy's place." she told him and pointed to the lovely dark gray granite headstone. It read, Renato Giovanni Alverino, Beloved Son and Father.1969 -2001. "Mama! Look who I found."

Dom looked up to see Cadence joining them. She looked horribly ill. Her face was pale, and deep lines were cutting into her face from pain and stress. Her dark eyes were filled with pain and sadness. "I see that. You found the whole gang didn't you?" she smiled down at her giggling daughter.

"Uh huh." Izzy agreed.

Cadence nodded hello to everyone. "Hello Toretto."

"Lake. You look like shit." he said bluntly after making sure Izzy was out of earshot.

"Always say the sweetest things don't you?" she smirked. "Guess we can't all be as pretty as you huh?"

"You look tired chica." Letty murmured to her.

"Just living Letty, just getting through the days after this fiasco."

Vince had joined them. "Thanks for saving my life Agent Lake. I heard that you told them to take me first."

"It's not Agent anymore De Laurio. Just Cadence Lake." Everyone seemed stunned except for Brian and Dom. "You guys take care of yourselves. You've got yourself a good family." She turned to Izzy. "Ready to go home Isabella Elaine?"

The little girl kissed her hand and put it to her father's headstone. "Bye Papa." she murmured. "I'm ready Mama. Is Uncle Jeremy taking us home?"

"Yep, he's waiting over there." They looked over to see a tall, handsome, blonde man waiting for the two. Cadence nodded once more at the group and walked away from them.

&&&&

Dom threw the wrench down and cursed. He couldn't concentrate and he didn't know why. This was ridiculous. It had been three weeks since Agent Lempke's funeral and he couldn't get two sets of golden brown eyes out of his head. Vince looked over from the CRX he was working on. "You okay Dom?"

"Yeah, just tired." he ground out. If he was honest he knew part of the reason. It was like Love City around his home and business lately. Everyone pairing up, everyone all lovey dovey and crap. Leon and Letty, Georgia and Vince, Brian and Mia, hell, even Jesse and Mo were making eyes at each other. It was as if someone had spiked the water with something.

Leon pulled up outside and he and a triumphant Jesse walked into the garage. "It's official!" the youngest man said with a huge smile. "No more wheelchair for me!"

Dom grinned. Finally. "That's great Jess!" Brian walked around the Miata he was tuning up to slap Jesse on the shoulder.

"We should celebrate!" Vince was smiling from ear to ear.

"Doc said Jesse was a miracle, and he was amazed by his progress and determination." Leon spoke with the pride evident in his voice.

"Well, hell, we could've told him that." Brian laughed, but then his phone rang. He walked off, leaving everyone to buzz about the excitement while he took the call. "What! Yeah, I'll go right over there." Brian looked grim as he flipped the phone closed and walked back over. "I have to check out now Dom. I'll be back in a little bit." his voice was hesitant and there was something in it that caught everyone's attention.

"What's going on Bri?" Dom asked. It didn't look like it would be good.

"No time to explain. I just have to go man." Brian was peeling off his coveralls.

"Then I'm going with you." the big man said stubbornly.

Brian frowned at him, but Dom just stared him down. Finally Brian just sighed and nodded. They were in the car moving before he spoke again. "We're going to check on Cadence. Mia got a call from Izzy's school and Mia went to pick her up. Izzy told Mia she was worried about her Mama because she wasn't eating. Good thing the kid is bright." he murmured.

Dom was surprised when they pulled up to a high priced condominium complex. They went right in and rode the elevator up to the fourth floor. There was complete silence in the apartment and Brian knocked loudly. No response. "Cadence, open the damn door! I know you're here. I saw your car." Brian yelled. "Goddamn it Cadence open the door! Mia was called to pick up Izzy!"

The men heard a stumbling inside and several moments later the door opened. It was completely dark inside the apartment, and the woman in front of them looked nothing like the woman they'd seen just weeks before. Her skin was pale, her hair was messed up and looked unbrushed. Dark circles ringed her eyes which seemed dull and lifeless. Her cheeks looked hollow, and her normally fit and athletic body was gaunt and dressed in a baggy white man's t-shirt and boxers. "Where's Izzy?" she asked hoarsely.

"Jesus Cadence." Brian muttered and pushed into the apartment. He could see where there were child's dishes that had been eaten from. "When's the last time you ate?"

"Not hungry, where's Izzy?"

Dom walked into the place following after Cadence as she trailed Brian. "Mia's got her."

"They tried calling you Cadence. You didn't answer." Brian was angry.

"I must've been sleeping. I'm real tired."

"Too tired for Isabella!" Brian shouted.

"I'm a good mother Brian!" She shouted back. "A damned good mother. Don't you tell me I'm not!"

"You're killin' yourself." Dom said quietly and the entire room stilled as Brian looked at Dom, and Cadence looked at the ground. "Not eating, not sleeping right. You're just going through the motions and it's killing you."

"What would you know about it." she muttered under her breath.

"Grab her some clothes Brian. She's coming back with us." he ordered.

"The hell I am." she snapped.

"Oh, it'll be hell all right." he said grimly, "but you're going. Even if I have to carry you out of here. Grab Izzy's stuff too Bri."

Brian was already moving into the master bedroom. Cadence felt overwhelmed and she dropped onto the couch. She just sat there staring into space. She didn't have the energy to fight him. Couldn't find the injury to do much really. "I love my daughter." she whispered.

"I don't doubt it for a minute." Dom responded. "But this isn't helping your daughter. And that's what I'm gonna do now."

The ride back to the Toretto home was silent. Izzy was already in bed by the time they got there. They'd put her in the small bedroom that Mo and Georgia had shared, and Mo bunked down with Georgia in her room. George had taken over Leon's room when he and Letty had moved out.

"You guys go to bed now." Dom spoke softly, but his voice was strong. "I'm gonna take care of this now." They all dispersed leaving him there with Cadence who sat quietly on his couch now. "First thing's first Lake. Time for a bath."

Cadence was practically catatonic as Dom carried her to the bathroom and removed her clothing. He stripped her down not saying a word. The water was running hot and steaming into the claw footed tub, and her gaze seemed caught by it. He set her in the water and went about carefully washing her body and her hair. Dom made sure to be extremely gentle washing around her gunshot wounds. They were more scars now, but were angry and raised. "Wash your face Cadence." he ordered and was surprised when she did it.

As soon as she was clean he let the water drain, and stood her on the yellow bathmat Mia kept so no one slipped. Cadence watched him from dark eyes as he dried her off carefully and then dressed her in a white t-shirt and a pair of boxers. He led her into his own bedroom and shut the door behind them. "What're you doing to yourself? What're you doing to your daughter?" His tone was questioning, not condescending or judgmental.

Tears started to leak out of the corner of her eyes. "It all fell apart. I didn't do the right things and Joe died. Vince got hurt, hell, Georgia could've died. I screwed it all up Dom." She told him in a voice raw with anguish. "I was in charge. I should have had better control of the situation."

Dom leaned forward. "Some things are beyond our control."

"But they depended on me."

Dom's mouth twisted wryly. "I know how it is to have everyone depend on you. I've been head of the family for a long time. When my Dad died, I raised Mia." Dom seemed to contemplate for a moment then must have made an inner decision. "No one wanted to go on the last heist. Jesse had lost his race to Tran and sped off and Tran had picked a fight with me. I told them get ready, and they argued. We were a man down and it was dangerous out there with truckers starting to arm themselves. I didn't care. We were doing this last job and that was that." Dom sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his hands wearily over his head. "Everything went to hell. Vince got stuck on the truck with the driver shooting at him. Letty flipped her car, and my car died. If Mia and Brian hadn't shown up when they did Vince would have died and so might the rest of us. Brian saved V's life."

Cadence approached his side and sank down next to him staring straight ahead.

"Brian found me when I was going to find Jess. I'd already made such a mess of things, but I knew I needed to find him. We were arguing when he pulled up and approached us. He was stammering, and close to tears. I heard the sound of cycles and Johnny and Lance turned the corner firing. Brian and I went after them while Mia got help for Jess. The Trans ended up dying that day, and Brian let me go." Dom looked over at the woman staring at him with rapt attention. "Jesse and Vince could've died that day. Me and Letty were beat up pretty bad, and I almost let my pride stand in the way of a true friendship with a good man. All of that was screwing up Cadence. I made those decisions when there was no need to do that shit. You; you didn't screw up, you were just doin your job."

She looked at him quietly while staring into his dark eyes. "Thank you." She murmured.

"For what?"

"For trusting me." She told him. "For sharing that with me, and for taking care of me and Izzy."

"Well, you know, that Izzy is a bit bossy." He grinned. "She'd have probably made us take care of you."

She laughed shortly. "She is a bossy little thing. I don't know where she gets it from. Probably her father."

"No, I have a feeling that trait is all about her mommy." He teased. "You have a beautiful little girl Cadence. Time to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and start thinking about her." When it looked like she was going to protest he held up a hand. "I'm not saying you're a bad mom. Anyone can look at Izzy and see she's a healthy, happy kid, if a little serious. But if you aren't taking care of yourself that's gonna affect her. Don't do anything that'll take you away from her."

"Why are you doing all this Dom? After everything we said the last time we talked, why are you here?"

"Because any way I looked at it I couldn't turn my back on you. I couldn't turn my back on Isabella."

Her heart beat frantically in her chest. Cadence hesitated for an instant before moving forward and putting her lips to his. She kept one hand on the bed, and the other steadied herself by resting on his chest. She kissed him gently, exploring his mouth slowly. Dom didn't pull away, but neither did he touch her. He returned her kiss, but stayed in his spot. Finally she pulled back ending the kiss. His eyes were hooded and she couldn't read them. Cadence was confused. Past confused really. She didn't know what the hell she was doing any more. "I'm tired."

"We're going to sleep." He told her getting up. "Then in the morning you're eating something."

She stood looking at him. "Where am I sleeping?"

"Here…with me." He told her bluntly. "I'm going to make sure you get sleep, and get food before letting you out of my sight."

"You don't trust me?"

"Nope." He proceeded to strip down to his boxers and crawled into bed. He looked at her with no expression showing on his face. Slowly she moved to the empty side and crawled in between the sheets. She could feel the heat radiating off of his body. She knew she shouldn't do it, she knew she should keep her distance, but she was so tired of being cold. Cadence moved over on the bed and curled into his warmth. Dom didn't hesitate to put his arms around her and pull her closer. She was asleep within moments.

&&

She rounded the corner to see Joe lying in his own blood. Another man lay dead but Cadence didn't care about him. She knelt down using the frame of the garage as cover and felt for Joe's pulse. It fluttered faintly under her finger. She looked around the corner keeping low, and saw the other man standing outside of the office door. She could hear voices inside and they were raised in anger.

The man standing guard saw her and started moving forward as if in slow motion. Tires squealed behind her and she turned to see Dominic jumping from his car and rushing forward. She heard her voice slow and strange yelling at him to get down, but then shots rang out and she saw them rip through Dom's chest and throat. Bullet after bullet popped into him and his body jerked with each hit. His body dropped to the ground with blood running thick and dark from his mouth. Cadence screamed and ran.

She jerked up in the bed screaming. Sobs were already tearing at her throat, and Dom shot up in the bed next to her. His arms were immediately around her, and he rocked her back and forth trying to soothe her. Her tears splashed against his chest

"It's okay, shhh, it's okay Cadence." He murmured. The only thing he could think was that she'd had a bad dream. "It's okay baby."

"They killed you, they killed Joe and then they killed you." She managed as the sobs wracked her body. "You both died and it was all my fault."

"I'm okay Cadence. I didn't get shot. It was just a dream baby. Just a dream." He reassured her. "It wasn't your fault Joe died. He chose to be an agent and unfortunately he was shot by a very bad man. That man's actions weren't your fault." Dom kept his voice calm and her sobs were quieting.

"It was so real, seeing you die. I don't even know you and it felt like it ripped me apart." She sighed out slowly.

"I don't know what it is either Cadence." He told her truthfully. "Sometimes people just have a connection. Whether they should, or shouldn't."

"And that's us?"

"Yeah, that's us." Dom slid back down and pulled her with him until they were both lying on their sides. His arm rested on her hip and he watched as her eyes drifted shut again.

"Brian was right." She murmured as sleep started to claim her. "You're a very good man Dominic Toretto."