A Fresh Start
Chapter 10
Brian/Dom
Everything became one gigantic blur for Brian as he sat back in the chair and enjoyed being mostly pain free. He had a strange tingling sensation throughout his body and felt the need to get up and watch whatever the doctor was doing to his baby daughter but he feared that he simply couldn't because his legs had become rubber.
Dom tried to stay in the background because he knew that he'd get upset if he watched the small girl getting prodded. Brian could handle himself but his niece didn't understand why anybody would hurt her. So when she started crying Dom's face became like an iron mask while a tightness in his chest made breathing hard.
Brian on the contrary darted up and walked over to the man with the stethoscope so fast that he ran into the coffee table, which man him stumble all the way across the room to the sofa where he was looking at Sienna and listening to her heart.
Brian narrowed his eyes to focus and see what he was doing, then slurred. "What's going on? Is she okay to come or not?"
Dom lost his nerve and got up, grabbed his future brother in law from behind and pulled him back. "Sit on your ass until he's done." With that he sat back down with his arms folded across his chest making sure Brian was behaving.
Mia
Brian was so drugged it was funny and yet she understood him. Mia eyed Dom and saw her brother's face when Sienna started to cry and then Brian stood up to fast plus the drugs in his system made him almost flew to the other side of where she was with the doctor.
She was glad her brother did something about it and make Brian stayed on the sofa. "So? What's going on?" she was a nurse but at the moment her mind wasn't functioning not when her daughter was crying and screaming at the top of her lungs and not when the patient was her little girl.
"Come on, help me out here…say something!" the last two words came out harsher than she wanted too but she was getting frustrated at this point.
Brian/Dom
Brian
The doctor took Sienna's temperature and checked for possible signs of pneumonia. Then he shook his head. Of course he understood the woman's nerves were raw.
"If you want my opinion as doctor I'm telling you to put her back in the hospital in an incubator. She might develop an inflammation of the intestines."
He turned around to face the shocked onlookers.
"I don't know what you have done that you have to hide but this little girl doesn't deserve having her life being out at risk over it."With that he stood up and let his stethoscope dangle from his neck."Your choice."
Dom's eyes had become slits by now and he looked very dangerous but Brian couldn't wrap his dazed mind around what the doctor had said.
"Can't you just give her some medicine? C'mon. You can help us if you want to."
Now it was the doctors turn to huff angrily at the American. "You have no idea. You're playing with her life."
Brian wrinkled his brow as if he didn't understand what the man meant and stood up again to take a closer look at Sienna as if he could see what was going on.
"Sit down, buster." Dom growled before he went over to Mia and looked at her seriously. "You make the right decision, sister." Then he turned to leave.
"I'll wait outside."
Mia
The air slammed out of her lungs so fast she was glad a sofa was nearby… just two days… that's all it took to place Sienna in more danger than she already was. "What…" she couldn'tspeak. She was at a loss of words… her entire body felt numb and when Dom approach is what like he wasn't there.
"I'll take her back to the hospital tonight. Thanks…" She took the small baby in her arms and stood up walking to the room. She took a diaper bag and started to pack the necessary placing Sienna on the bed between some pillows.
Her hands shaking placed the necessary, her hold tighten on the bag afraid she was going to throw it across the room, instead she sat on the bed next to Sienna, knees to her chest as reality hit her breaking down her walls. She covered her mouth as the sobs rocked her body and tears streamed down her face.
"Oh god…" she rocked herself back and forth, the patrols in the favelas, Dom and Brian had to leave, Brian's health wasn't that great and her baby had to go back to that place she didn't want to go back.
The pressure was so much that her stomach turned and in a heartbeat she ran to the restroom as she spilled out her breakfast on the toilet, she stayed on the ground as she flushed the toilet and waited for her dizziness to let her stand up.
Brian
Dom could barely keep it together himself. He knew exactly how desperate Mia had to be to take the baby out of the hospital but her health was more important than any of their freedom. He trusted his sister to realize that and gave her the room she needed even though he wanted to support her, which was supposed to be Brian's job.
Brian on the other hand had his troubles putting two and two together and sat on the chair dumbstruck when Mia dashed away with their daughter and then man started packing his stuff. "So you can't help her?"
"No." The man answered in a slightly milder tone. "Do the right thing and bring her to a childrens hospital." With that he left Brian sitting there who was starting to see the whole oicture through his clouded mind.
He struggled to get up to find Mia but only saw Sienna in between some pillows on the bed so he kept looking and eventually made it to the bathroom where he spotted her on the floor sobbing, Immediately he was down on his knees next to her and wrapped his free arm around her midsection from behind.
"Shhhh, Mia. It'll all be good. Don't worry." His speech was slow but sure.
The next second her sobs and tear streaked face made his insides crumble as well. Before he could fight it he was welling up. "Is this goodbye?" He could suddenly feel a jab in his heart that was much worse than his broken arm and wouldn't be cured by any painkillers.
Mia
She cried until she was empty from feeling those emotions thankful that Brian was by her side, she covered his hand with her own and waited a few more minutes on the floor until she was strong enough. "Sooner or later the police is going to start searching house by house in this entire favela and you can't stay,"
"I really don't want you or Dom to go," a new set of fresh tears filled her eyes. "But I do know that Sienna is not healthy enough to travel with us which means I need to stay to look after her. I have to take her to the hospital so she could stay for god-knows how long," she paused for a quick moment.
"I swore I'll never let you go knowing how hard it was for us to make it when Braga was around and with Letty's death… buy by not letting you go, that's… that's a selfish thing for me to do,"
"Not when your life's at stake," with the help of Brian she washed her hands and rinsed her mouth. They stood in the doorway of the bathroom. "I don't know how to say goodbye… I don't want to but I have to," crawling to bed taking a fussy Sienna in her arms.
Brian
Mia's cries drained every bit of energy from Brian and he was ready to tell her anything. So he whispered into her hair. "Shhh, please don't cry. I won't leave. Stop crying." It was literally tearing him apart on the insides to see her in such mystery.
Brian knew he had hurt Mia a few times before…when he didn't tell her he was a cop or left her but now he felt much closer to her and simply couldn't bare it.
For a while he rubbed her back and closed his eyes but everytime he did he got so sleepy that he had to force them open to stay awake.
Finally she pulled away from his arms leaving him standing there…empty. He followed her with his gaze. How to say goodbye when you don't know for how long? When you don't know whether you will ever see each other again?
Suddenly Brian felt like he couldn't do it even if he ran risk of being arrested. He'd rather go to jail than put Mia through so much heart ache. Then again if he had to go to prison she'd be even more devastated because he'd be put away for a long time…maybe until Sienna was a grown woman and she'd never know him.
"No." He gasped to fast but shaky steps he walked over to her and sat down next to his girlfriend. "I have to go. I'm so sorry, Mia but if they catch me, the two of you will be even more unhappy. It's just for a little while until she's okay." Even his clouded mind was able to comprehend that this way the best thing to do.
Carefully he picked up his baby daughter to hold her one last time…a least for a while. The thought alone brought tears to his eyes and her soft skin and fast breaths overwhelmed him. Instead of starting to cry himself he handed her back to Mia and fought against the lump in his he leaned down and place a long, passionate kiss on her lips. "We'll get married when she's okay."
Before the tears glistening in his eyes could drop he pulled away and turned around and swayed to the front door without another look back.
Mia
Everything happen so fast, to have his voice whisper to her as he caressed her back, his touch so warm. The drugs weren't wearing off that quick from Brian's body but he still comprehended what was happening.
She didn't say a thing when he carefully took Sienna in his arms and kissed her forehead, it was a bittersweet moment for the two of them. When he leaned down and kissed Mia, her hands took good hold of his shirt not wanting him to go from her side but her hands decided to loose the tight grasp she had on his shirt, she tried to shout the moment he turned around and walk out of the room but the lump in her throat prevented her from doing so.
She just hoped Dom took good care of him, she just hoped for Sienna to get well. She just hoped to have him back with her… she took the bag and Sienna as she walk to the kitchen where she spotted Rosa.
"Rosa, can you take me to the children's hospital, please?" Rosa didn't think twice and stopped what she was doing hurrying to Mia's side. There was no sound outside, Was Dom still outside with Brian? Did they go? Sienna started to cry and her breathing seemed a little faster than when Brian lift her smaller body. "We have to hurry,"
Brian
It took more than a few deep breath for Brian to regain his composure. In front of the door Dom was waiting so he had to pull himself together so he choked back the tears and wiped the few that had fallen from his face.
Dom would never understand why he was so weak but he didn't know how much it hurt to leave the one person behind he loved more than anything in the world even though he had just met her a day ago and on top of that the love of his life.
He turned away from Dom to hide his red face and was about to stumble down the stairs but instead of letting him pass Dom stood up from his seat on the stone stairs and turned Brian around, then wrapped his large arms around his friend. For a moment he just waited. "I understand."
A moment later he clapped him on the back and said. "Now blow your nose and let's go before you have a real reason to cry because the cops put a bullet between your shoulder blades."
Brian nodded at the unexpected emotions and cleared his throat. "let's go."
Together they made their way down the stairs without another look back, one of the fast, the other one swaying and slow.
Mia
She opened the door and didn't see Dom or Brian waiting for her, her heart ache for them she walked down the stairs and could see two figures walking away, definitely her brother and Brian. She turned to Rosa. "Can you hold her for a moment?" the brazilian woman didn't hesitate to take the baby in her arms.
Mia started to run towards them, she still had one more goodbye to say, a huge risk she was taking. "Dom!" she shouted his name, she was out of breath but that didn't stop her, lungs burning for air, legs screaming at her to stop.
When he turned she threw herself at him. "Take good care of him," she simply said. "… and please be careful," giving him a quick kiss on his cheek whispering in his ear. 'I love you'.
She then looked at Brian it was hard for him to hide how he felt. His beautiful blue eyes were red same as his nose, her hand wiped his cheek feeling the wetness of his tears. "It won't be that long," she said softly and spoke only to him. "Make sure you get well, don't worry about me or your daughter, we'll be fine," returning that long kiss he gave her back at Rosa's. "I love you,"
She turned when a car honk at her, it was Rosa with Sienna who was placed in a special seat in the back. "Don't worry about us," she spoke out loud so that Dom and Brian could hear her. "bye," removing her hands from Brian's face slowly walking down the steep street to where Rosa was.
Brian/Dom
Both men were surprised to find Mia run after them and give Dom one last, big hug. Dom quickly scanned the area to make sure his little sister wasn't getting in trouble by being seeen with him in public. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and enjoyed the hug. "I love you too, Mia."
The he gave Brian a mock hit on the back of his head. "I'll make sure he doesn't get behind the wheel any time soon...oh and that no cop gets his hand on this new outlaw."
Brian smirked at the weird sound of it. Not too long ago he had been the cop.
One more time he hugged and kissed Mia goodbye which didn't make it any easier and made his eyes sting again."Tell her I love her every day. I'll call you soon."
Mia ran off towards Rosas car and with that their ways parted.
Dom led Brian to a back alley where he had paid two teenagers to watch his car. It was an old beat up RX but nevertheless an RX.
Brian stopped to look at the vehicle and then at Dom. "Not riding in style any more, are you?" Dom just growled. "Get in." Then they were on their way through the streets of Rio.
Mia
The ride to the hospital was quiet and the moment the car stopped she took the baby in her arms and ran inside the hospital only to be greeted by a nurse, the nurse's smile disappear when Mia's worry words were heard. "I need help," just as Sienna started crying at the top of her lungs, her breathing becoming worse...
Dom
Driving through the streets of Rio was nothing unusual to him, what had his mind worry was her sister and niece. Not only him but Brian share that same feeling, he had no idea where he and Brian were going to end up staying not that he gave too much thought at the moment.
"She'll be all right," his unique voice told Brian in a way for him to ease his mind. If Letty was still alive and he was placed in the position where Brian was a few moments ago of leaving the love of his life and child, he would be tore too. He just prayed Sienna got better so he could hold that little girl in his arms and also to have his sister back too… for Brian's sake.
Brian
Brian heard Dom's words while his gaze was on the streets that were flying by outside the car window but they never reached him. He was too worried and right now caught up in his feeling of leaving Mia and the baby behind. He wished he didn't have to do that. Brian had promised mia to always be there for her and never let her down. Right now he was just to save his own butt and that feeling dragged him down like concrete tied to his feet in the ocean.
A deep frown had set on his face and his throat was tight and dry. Uneasily he shifted in his seat. The buzz of the shot he had received was slowly wearing off leaving him lonely and upset. At least his elbow didn't hurt much right now. Absentmindedly he cradled the cast in his other arm like he had done with Sienna before.
Finally he rolled his head to see Dom and asked. "Where are we going?" He purposely avoided talking about the girls.
At the hospital Sienna was immediately brought to the neonatal care where she got checked over, placed in an incubator and got some breathing assistance. It didn't take long for the samedoctor to show up and scold Mia for her carelessness. When he was done and Mia was completely down he assured her that Sienna would be fine though.
Dom
He didn't mention Mia or Sienna noticing how Brian was shutting down not wanting to go there. The sight from the Corcovado was barely visible as Dom kept driving out of Rio de Janeiro.
He thought about going to where Han and Giselle were since he couldn't drive to Mexico and the U.S. wasn't a good idea also considering the police were all looking for them. They were the closer ones to go and stay at the moment.
"Berlin. Han and Giselle are waiting for us…" that alone moment he had when Brian was inside with his sister he took the time to make a quick phone call to his friend telling him a short version about what had happen and when Dom finished talking Giselle spoke and ask him to come to Berlin to stay, once Mia had the green light then she was more than welcome to stay with them too.
Brian
Brian raised his brows in question "Germany?" Europe was one of the last places he had been thinking about because Interpol was very present there and it was probably hard to get in and out of it but it probably was as good as any other place.
"Sounds good to me." He nodded his approval. At least it was more civilized than some African countries with their poor infrastructure.
"We stashed some of our cash at an old ruin a few miles out of town. Let's grab that before we head out of the country."
Brian then resumed looking out the window and not talking much because he was too sad and worried about Sienna.
Only when they reached the old, run down farm house, did he get out to go and get the money.
The rest of the day they drove and drove to get as far away from Rio as they possibly could.
It was already getting dark when Brian sat up in his seat groaning a little because the medication was wearing off and asked Dom. "Can you call the hospital and ask how they are doing? There's a public phone over there."
Dom
He sat there thinking about it, he knew that if he picked his phone and contacted his sister, the news about his niece were not going to be something he was ready to hear and for him to tell Brian about it.
But if he didn't call his sister he was going to have to do it someday and the news might be the same. So, he took the chance and stopped the car getting out and picking up the phone as he dialed and placed a few coins.
Mia
She sat in the waiting area with Rosa, two hours and she still didn't know a thing about Sienna other than she was going to be fine, it was a good thing Brian wasn't with her but she also needed him so bad. She held Rosa's phone in her hands, the cell phone started ringing and Mia took the call, there was only one person who could be calling from a unknown location.
"Dom?" her voice trailed off a little and waited for Dom to finish.
"We got here just in time, she had problems breathing, the doctor told me she was placed in an incubator and had some breathing assistance." Dom could tell Mia was hurting and it was understandable. "How's Brian?"
"Worried," Dom said.
Dom
He exchanged a few words with his sister before hanging up and returning to the car. "Mia entered the hospital just in time, Sienna had difficulty breathing, she's now in an incubator with some breathing assistance, the doctor got mad at Mia but assure her my niece was going to be fine," he looked at Brian when he stopped talking.
Brian
Even though Dom remained very calm in his demeanor and voice Brian's gut dropped when he heard about the breathing assistance. Anxiety spread through him quicker than he knew how to deal with it and before Dom could even finish his words he desperately fumbled around on the door grip, pushed it open and was out of the car stumbling away from it.
He could feel the air getting sucked from his own body. All he wanted to do is crumble and cry. "Why? Not my little girl?"He found himself leaning his head against the wall of an old, run down restaurant and all he wanted to do is knock his own head against the stones for being so selfish and stupid to take Sienna out of the hospital.
If his head hadn't still hurt so badly from the crash he might have even done it.
Now he just hammered his good fist against it and cursed. "I'm such an idiot!"
If could make everything undone he would do it right now but then again there were many turns in the road, where he chose the wrong one. Never this fatal though. Tears started filling his eyes because of anger against himself and fear for his daughter.
At the hospital staff started running into Sienna's room quickly alarmed by one of the monitors. One of the nurses held Mia back and said. "One moment, just wait here." She motioned for a few seats in the hallway.
Dom
Dom approached to Brian's side placing him in a bear hug dragging him to the car, he understood his frustration, he felt the same way, he felt pissed and useless not been able to bring his sister and niece with him, but boy was Brian taking it really bad… he wished he could've take his words back and maybe if he share a little lie he'd believe it and wouldn't be like the way he was right now.
"Listen to me… Mia said Sienna was stabilized and was going to be fine," He offered Brian some water and waited a few minutes before he started to drive once again.
Mia
"No! I won't wait I need to know what's going on with my daughter!" When before she felt with no energy now had lots of strength, she ran to the window of where her daughter was to get a better look to the inside. There were lots of nurses inside and two doctors, she couldn't see Sienna and the curtains were being closed.
She leaned her head on the window. "I wish you were here, Brian…" shedding a few tears, her head was pounding with pain, she wouldn't wait, she wouldn't sleep, she wouldn't eat until she knew Sienna's condition better other than a 'she'll be fine'.
Brian
Dom's bear hug came as a surprise but even though it was meant in friendly way Brian felt restricted and dragged away against his will, which only added to his bad emotions. He pushed against Dom's tight grip but gave up as soon as the pain in his broken arm flared up. So Dom could pull him to the car to talk some sense into him.
"How can she know that she will be fine?" He asked with his brow wrinkled but a bit of hope in his heart.
He pulled the door closed and let his head fall against the headrest. A moment later they were on the road again headed for the border which was hours away, which Brian used to stare out the window and picture worst case scenarios, contemplated to beg Dom to turn around and then decided to let that thought go. The next few hours were tough and Brian was happy when they finally stopped for lunch so he could call Mia again.
By now the shot had worn off and he wished he had something to dull it again. Maybe Dom could hit him over the head. That would do the trick.
He crawled out of the car and walked towards a small restaurant on the side of the street, which had a few cars parked in front of it.
***
Hospital
The doctors did their best to stabilize the little girl. It took a while until her heart rate had return to an acceptable level and she was breathing fine. A nurse finally came to get Mia and nodded. "You can see her now."
***
Dom
He followed his brother-in-law, he didn't said anything but read his mind when he saw Brian walked to the restaurant. It didn't mean only a place to eat but also a place with a phone, he was damn sure Brian was going to call his sister, but if he tried to stop him it wasn't going to change Brian's mind. Dom just wish Mia would lie to Brian than to see him angry and desperate not being able to be with his daughter.
He ran to Brian's side. "Let's eat first before you call Mia," seeing Brian in a hurry, not to eat but to get to the phone. He was glad when Brian followed Dom and sat down across from him.
Mia
She walked carefully inside the room, she hated hospitals but Sienna needed to be here… "Hey you," Sienna was wide awake, her little blue eyes looking straight at Mia.
Sienna started to cry sensing how mommy was. "Shh… I'm not going anywhere," her voice trailed off. When did it all go downhill? She wondered how Brian was in that instant and what if he called her? He couldn't know she was crying, he had a lot in his plate and just imaging how his reaction was when Dom shared the news…
She walked around the room, her hand suddenly taking support in one of the walls, everything about her started spinning for a moment, she hadn't eat since knowing and seeing how Sienna stopped breathing... she didn't need a mirror to see she was as pale as a sheet of paper because she could feel it, her body started to show her.
Purple spots danced around her, every time she blinked there were more and more… she sat on the floor having notice a chair across the room but by the time she was near that chair she was going to faint, she leaned on the wall taking deep breaths. "Damn…." She muttered closing her eyes realizing it wasn't getting any better afraid a doctor or a nurse was going to walked in and find her sitting on the cold floor.
Brian
He wasn't in the mood for a delicious meal but knew he had to eat something to keep his strength up for the road ahead so Brian ordered meat and potatoes with green beans, which was about the only dish he recognized on the Portuguese menu.
Then he took a quick sip from a glass of water, which the waitress had placed in front of them.
"Excuse me." He got up to go and use the bathroom and possibly a pay phone if there was one back there before the food arrived.
On his way to the bathroom he could feel how the events of the past few days had drained all energy from him. Brian felt low and lost without Mia by his side. He had gotten so used to always being with her that it was as if one of his arms was missing. Even Dom couldn't replace his sister.
The ex-cop stopped at an old black phone on the wall near the bathrooms. Quickly he fumbled out a few coins and dialed the cell.
It rang and rang but no answer, so Brian tried again assuming he had the wrong number but got the same result. Nervously he tried again but the phone kept ringing.
"Damn, Mia, pick up." He barked into the phone.
A nurse was walking down the hallway and heard the reapeated sound of the phone. When she check what was causing it she spotted Mia on the floor, white as a sheet and in a position that had to be uncomfortable.
"Ajuda por favor." (Help please) She called for help before she addressed Mia and felt her pulse on her neck.
"São você okey? Você desmaiou?" The young woman wondered whether she fainted. In the background the baby had started crying loudly.
Confused and worried Brian returned to the table where Dom had already started eating his meal. "Mia's not answering her phone. I tried three times."
Mia
It was like she wished to be found, she opened her eyes, and shook her head to the nurse. "Don't call for help, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy, please don't call for help"
"No, I didn't faint." She answered in Portuguese trying to ease the young nurse's mind. She stood up from the floor and walked to the incubator.
"Shh…" she then turned to the young nurse. "If you can bring me a coke that'll be wonderful. I'm a nurse too, I'm okay" she explained again seeing how alarmed the nurse was.
She took out the phone from her pocket and noticed 3 missed calls. "Shit! Call again…come on, Brian…call again,"
Dom
"We'll call again once you're done eating," pushing the plate to Brian motion him to eat. "Unless you want me to feed you like I did with my niece," he kept eating.
It was weird for Mia not to pick up, maybe she didn't hear the phone? Hospitals in Brazil were known for always have emergencies, maybe because of the people she didn't hear the phone ring? He didn't think too much of it for now..he just wanted for Brian to eat something.
Brian pushed his jaw forward at Dom's reply and the plate that got shoved in front of him but decided that he might as well eat and then try. Maybe Mia had gone to the bathroom or had bad reception...but why not before.
With a sigh he grabbed the fork and shoveled some potatoes into his mouth in good old cowboy fashion. When it came to the piece of meat, that lay uncut on his plate, he was at a loss.
He took the knife in his left hand and attempted to cut the meat but with his arm in a cast at a ninety degree angle it was damn near impossible to use the knife and on top it hurt so he dropped the knife and proceeded to bite into the big piece of meat. Chewing on the big bite he muttered. "Don't even think about helping me!"
The nurse gave Mia a worried look but helped her up and let her be. "Sit down and put your feet up." She advised in Portuguese. "You're no help to your daughter like this."
She then came over to check Sienna's monitor. "It's okay now. But she needs to keep the heart rate monitor to make sure she's fine. When you're ready feed her."
She was too absorbed in her medical procedures to actually care about Mia's feelings unlike the nurse the day earlier.
Dom
"I won't," Dom replied still eating. His mind also trying to figure out about his sister not picking up the phone.
He kept looking at Brian and noticed he was almost done eating. "Good boy, Buster. You're almost done," he let out his unique laugh and continue eating, looking at the phone that was in a corner of the restaurant and as soon as Brian was done he was going to run to pick up that phone again….
Mia
"I will…" she sat down placing her feet up. She hated people like that nurse that just walked out of the room. She took out the phone again and looked at it for a minute. "Call again Brian…come on…" she placed her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. "Call again…"
Brian
Brian barely noticed how the food tasted because his mind was too preoccupied with Mia and Sienna. Every now and then he looked up at Dom and even though Dom's face rarely gave away any sort of emotion Brian could read some worry into her brothers face.
He only gave him a brief stare when he called him 'good boy' and his favorite nick name 'buster' that still stuck from eight years ago.
So when Brian was done he got up without a word and walked over to the phone again. He could feel the phone slip a little in his sweaty palms before he dialed Mia's number. "C'mon, pick up, please."It rang and rang.
Mia
The phone started to vibrate and ring in her hands, she immediately answer the call, only when she heard her name knew who was at the other end of the line. Her eyes filled with tears but he couldn't notice she'd been crying. "Brian, thank god… don't worry Sienna is fine…" she bit her bottom lip when she said her daughter's name.
"Where are you guys going to stay? Have you been eating? How's your arm?" Questions that she needed an answer a way for her to not break down. "How's Dom treating you?" she started a small conversation not giving him a chance to talk, she waited for his answer to every single question.
Brian
As soon as she picked up the phone Brian could tell by the sound of her voice that she was under stress yet Mia told him Sienna was fine.
Instead of waiting for Brian to ask how she was doings she bombarded him with questions, which was odd.
"Shhh, calm down." He quietly said into the phone. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dom watch him and raise his chin as if to ask if she was okay so Brian nodded over to her brother, then answered.
"I'm okay, no need to worry about me and your brother is unusually nice so...what's going on with you? i tried calling you before dinner and you didn't pick up. Are you okay? What exactly si going on with Sienna."
Brian's voice got a little harder when he demanded. "Tell me the whole truth, Mia."
Mia
"Brian, she's doing fine, yes she had a little problem breathing when I brought her back to the hospital, they stabilize her and she's in an incubator. She's fine…" A shiver traveled through her entire body when she heard the sudden change on Brian's voice.
"The hospital was full of people, emergencies kept coming in and I didn't hear the phone, I am in Sienna's room right now, she's doing fine, I'll feed her in a little bit and compared to the waiting area is quiet here…"
"Don't worry about me. I'm okay…" she spoke in a calm tone knowing Brian was lying about being okay. They knew each other like an open book but at the same time they weren't looking forward to stress each other even more by sharing how really they were both feeling.
Brian
"Well, you don't sound okay." Brian complained but he also knew they were both holding back on their true feelings.
"Just do me a favor and tell me if something major is happening. I'd do anything for you two." He then smooched into the phone and added. "I love you, babe. Both of you. Give my girl a kiss. I'll call you again tomorrow."
He then returned to Dom slightly relieved. "She answered now. To be honest Mia doesn't sound good but she said everything was fine...I'm not buying it."
Both men knew they had to head on so Brian waited for Dom to pay since he had no money on him because he was wearing Vince's clothes.
***
Mia
"I'm fine just tired," she started to say to calm his nerves. "I know you'd do anything for us, I love you too and I'll give her your kiss, take care" she ended the call and she was met with baby heart monitor and her heart broke all over again.
She approached the incubator. "Time to feed you, sweetie..." Her tired eyes kept looking at the little girl. "I couldn't worry your dad more than he already is,"
Dom
He frowned when he heard Brian's words. He knew his sister very well same as Brian and there was a reason behind every word she didn't share not when Brian or him weren't by her side, not to worry them more, there was something going on with his niece.
"Give her time, Brian…" he comment. He took out money from his pocket and paid for their meal, they got out of the restaurant and entered the car, once Dom started driving, each men lost themselves in their own thoughts.
Brian
It was a long drive to the border and they had to stop every now and then but the further they got away from Rio the more lost Brian felt, like there was no turning back.
If only he had known how right he was when he was standing on the side of the road taking a piss and looking back into the general direction of Rio. Not even a minute later he saw a car pass them and spotted the red break lights come on out of the corner of his eye. When he fully turned his head he froze because the car was a police car.
As fast but at the same time calm as he could he walked back towards the open car door when one of the officers addressed him.
"Desculpe-me, pare e levante as suas mãos portanto posso vê-los."
Brian had no idea what the cop said but he understood the word hands so he had to be saying 'hands up or I'll shoot'.
Instead of following the order he ignored it, jumped into the car and shouted at Dom who was snoozing. "Drive, man, cops!"
Little Sienna was lively enough to suckle on her mothers breast a little but had developed a bit of temperature so she was quite fuzzy and weak. Skin to skin she fell back into an uneasy sleep on her mother. Instead of taking her away the nurse place the comforter over the baby and left her on Mia. "Try again soon."
Dom
Dom was getting all comfortable taking a quick nap in the mean time Brian did his business; he was abruptly woken up by Brian. The only words that understood was 'cops' and without thinking twice he pressed on the gas making sure Brian closed the door. He kept speeding looking in the rear view mirror. Damn cops were still following them; he started to entered through different streets trying to get rid of the cops.
"Shit" he muttered under his breath, adrenaline rushing through every single vein in his body, heart pumping, legs shaking and speed. Speed. That's all he needed right now to get his butt safe as well as Brian's.
Mia
"Sienna…" she softly repeated the baby's name who was asleep in her arms. Her little forehead hot to the touch, she just wish to be with Dom and Brian, she just wish for Sienna to get well as soon as possible, daddy and uncle were waiting for them god knows where.
She took a deep breath; if Brian called her again… she wasn't sure if she could keep it together. Her daughter was getting worse and it didn't help she felt her hands were tied. She was a nurse, she knew what to do in this case, she'd seen cases and worked with children before but when it came to her own child, everything went out the window.
Brian
Despite his nap Dom had the engine howling in no time and took off from the emergency lane leaving the cops in a cloud of dust.
The seemed to have anticipated the move and were shooting onto the highway behind them. Brian turned in his seat to see what was going on and yelled at Dom. "Better put you pedal to the metal or they'll catch up. The driver is pretty good."
Of course both men knew that the driver wasn't a match for Dom and the car was fast from what the old Muscle car could do yet Brian was worried.
"getting out the guns, Dom!"
Next thing he knew he got thrown around so hard that his head connected the with window once again because the turn Dom had taken was so sharp that he was cutting across a patch of grass and the curb. Brian winced but kept glancing back. Netx thing he knew a bullet flew through the window right past his head.
"Shit" he cursed.
Dom
Dom duck as he heard Brian curse, he kept his foot on the pedal but the cops were faster. He kept trying to get rid of them by making turn every once in a while, he couldn't stop even when they had on their laps broken glass.
For about ten minutes… he kept trying to lose the cops and when he looked in the mirror, he couldn't hear or see any police cars, but still he didn't stop.
The enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer was nowhere to be seen. Were they out of Rio? Not uttering a word he kept driving as fast as he could.
Brian
Dom once again put his impressive driving skills on display when he gained more and more distance during the chase. It was clear right from the start that the cops didn't stand a chance against his car and abilities unless they ordered a helicopter.
Wearily Brian turned to see whether there were still cops in the area of maybe overhead when he suddenly spotted the search light above them.
"Helicopter!" He yelled at Dom.
It was crucial that they found some sort of dense grid of streets of a tunnel to escape the air surveillance.
As quickly as he could Dom pulled the brake to swing the back of his car around and go the other way to find a few back alleys. The roar of the engine brought chills to Brian's skin. His gaze fell on the fuel gaze, which was awfully close to Empty. "You might want to take a pit stop." He motioned for it.
Dom
"Are you kidding me!" when he turned directions he was greeted by a few alleys, hopefully the car would fit in so they could escape, but what worry him the most was how little fuel this car had.
The light of the helicopter kept searching around, he sped up he didn't know for how long he kept this game of running away from the cops but when he let his gaze take a quick peek at the sky it was dark, that explain the helicopter light looking for them.
Once the helicopter lights weren't a threat he followed Brian's advice not forgetting to take a quick look out the window every two minutes.
Brian
Carefully and with their lights turned off the two rolled into one of the next gas station to fuel up. While Dom was pumping gas Brian kept his eye on the sky and streets because he knew that if they sent a chopper after them, they wouldn't give up that easily.
"Hurry up." he told Dom who was about to pay. "They're only giving us a moment to breath. they haven't given up yet."
He was on edge, every muscle in his body tense while he waited for Dom to return, who had left the keys with Brian, just in case. Sure enough Brian could hear the helicopter before he could actually see him because he was flying so low. It would only be a matter of seconds before the search lights would be on them again.
"Dom!" He yelled on top of his lungs at the same moment he ran around the car and jumped into the driver seat.
The key was shoved in the ignition turned and his foot on the clutch and gas at the same time. Dom was barely in the passenger seat when he let go of the clutch leaving half the tire on the cement of the station. Easily he shifted into second and sped onto the main four lane road, which was filled with evening traffic.
"Told you!" He said while he was still wondering whether he'd wreck Dom's pride and joy with only one good arm to use.
Dom
From inside the small store he heard Brian's shout his name, he didn't wait to get his change back, he swung the door open and ran to the car whose engine was roaring thanks to Brian who was now in the pilot seat, he barely jumped inside the car and closed the door.
"Shit!" he cursed under his breath as he focus on the road ahead of him even though he wasn't the one driving the vehicle and to make matter worse they were going to get stuck in traffic if Brian didn't think of something quick.
He didn't care If Brian drove as long as he didn't kill themselves by wrecking the car, his gaze when to Brian's arm and to his surprise the ex-cop didn't winced, adrenaline took his body and he was glad for that moment, the pain was no longer taking control over him…
Brian
Brian was weaving in and out of traffic but shaking a helicopter was damn near impossible. He geared down to accelerate and overtake two cars that were sitting in the right lane when he spotted a red light ahead. "Damn." He muttered.
His eyes shot to the right and left in search for another route when he spotted a small side alley on the left, right across the opposite lane.
"Buckle up." he yelled at Dom just before he yanked the wheel to the left and shot through the oncoming traffic, slowed down and the accelerated just in time to avoid a collision with a truck and a small Chevy.
A moment later Dom's car raced into the small alley at way too much speed. The traffic cans on the right side went flying in the air as the right fender connected with them. At least the lines filled with clothing over head made it harder for the helicopter to see them.
Brian slowed down a little to remain in control in the narrow passageway but when he pulled the e-brake to slide around the next corner to the right his left arm with the cast slipped. The wheel turned just a little too much and Brian rammed a parked car. He could have stopped but decided to keep going as long as the American classic would allow him to.
Dom
He buckled up as he sat there with anxiety filling his body, lots of twists and turns and then the unthinkable happen… the buster rammed a parked car. He just shook his head but didn't say a word when Brian took control of the car and kept going, the helicopter could be heard not so near anymore that didn't mean O'Conner was going to stop the car.
He was in a hurry to get to Berlin to see Han and Giselle, but most importantly he needed to find out how his niece and sister were doing, Mia might hide things from Brian but not to her big brother and Brian didn't buy it either but Dom knew she couldn't worry Brian more but for now he let that thought slipped and focused on Brian who was still speeding through the streets.
Brian
A few more turns and Brian spotted a large warehouse construction that wasn't finished yet. The only thing that was standing were columns, some side walls but not all and the floors. The only thing between his bumper and the safety and shelter of the building was a red and white plastic tape. Without asking Dom for his opinion he turned hard to the left and shot through the tape just between two columns.
Then he hit the breaks and the car came to a sudden stop, with his heart beating in his neck and breathing as if he had just run a marathon he listened to the sounds of the helicopter. Could they possibly loose it that way?
"We need a way out…on the other side." Slowly he rolled forward trying not to get caught in some blocked corner of the construction site.
On the other side there was a gap in between two walls but outside was a five feet drop.
Brian rolled his head to the side, adrenalin still pumping through his veins. "May I?" If he wanted to jump with Dom's classic he'd better ask the guys permission. Otherwise he might break both of Brian's hands to make sure he'll never touch the wheel of his car again.
Behind the search light was now lighting the alleyway.
Dom
Hesitation could be heard in Brian's voice, but he was glad the guy asked for permission, he knew better than to do something "stupid" without asking specially if it was his "toy".
"Go for it…" were the only words that came out of his mouth. The sound of the helicopters sent goose bumps to his whole body; he just wished to be in Berlin with Han and Giselle. The adrenaline was not only felt by Brian but him too.
Brian
Brian just nodded, turned off the headlights to remain undetected and then hit the gas. Both hands were firmly gripping the wheel while he braced himself for the impact that would follow the jump.
A moment later the tires of the muscle car lost grip and went flying through the air. The drop was short but hard and shook them both up.
For a moment both of his hands took a hard impact to keep his forehead from connecting with the steering wheel. Sharp pain shot through his broken arm and made him wince but he kept both hands on the wheel to avoid a collision with one of the cars on the road he hit.
Quickly he turned the wheel to slide into traffic; hopefully still undetected by the helicopter that was circling above the alley they had been in earlier.
"Did he see us?" He nervously yelled at Dom.
Dom
Dom winced as the impact of the car finally touched the ground. It took him a moment to focus his gaze and when he did they were blended with the traffic. Dom took a look to see the helicopter still making circles on that alley.
"No, he didn't. We're good now," he sighed leaning his bald head on the seat and controlled his pounding heart, the only sound besides their faster heart beats was the helicopter still at the area they just got out, and the sound was getting further from the two men.
Brian
Another thirty minutes and they were out of the city and rolling along a country road. Only when they were far away from everybody and everything and the area around them was pitch black did Brian stop and relax visibly. With a sigh he leaned back in the seat and let his arms drop from the steering wheel.
After a few deep breaths he came out and stretched his back before he took a good look at Dom's pride and joy that had a few awful long scratches on one side and a dented fender on the other.
His eyes met Dom's darker ones and he instinctively pulled in his head. "Sorry about your car, bro."
Then he looked around. For miles there was nothing but stones, sand and a few plants under the moonlit sky. "We need a phone."
Dom
"Don't worry about the car, Han will be happy to help us heal this babe," he patted the seat he was on. There was no more sound or lights and that was so damn relaxing to both of them. For a moment he felt bad for Brian, all the guy could think about was about a 'phone'. He understood how worried he was for his sister, heck he was too worried about Mia and Sienna.
"Why don't we switch places and I drive to Han's. Once we get there you can talk with Mia all you want," he didn't move waiting for his answer.
Brian
Brian was relieved to hear that Dom wasn't going to kick his butt for damaging his brother in laws ride. He smiled a little and finally completely relaxed. "And...how did I shake that helicopter? Sweet driving, eh?"
With a smile he crawled into the passenger seat, shooting one last look at the dents.
On the road they finally had a moment to relax and talk. Brian shifted in his seat a little lower and nursed his injured arm, carefully wiggling it in the cast that was starting to become uncomfortable.
"Where have you been hiding while we stayed in the area, which, I must admit, was a stupid idea. Mia wanted to be near Rosa, she didn't completely want to leave her and we need a hospital nearby."
He shifted his gaze to Dom behind the wheel. "How have you been doing?"
Dom
"Show off," shaking his head as he heard Brian rambling about what had happen thirty minutes ago. Finally, Brian switch places and Dom was now behind the wheel.
"I decided to hide not too far from Rosa's home and I knew that'd be a place Mia would be at specially now that she's a mom and knowing Rosa and Nico are family, I couldn't stay with you guys, and just to think that I might be placing Nico and Sienna in danger because I was there?"
To hear Brian talk about how Mia wanted to be near Rosa, his sister always taking lots of good care of the people around her, it didn't matter if it was family or not. "How have I been? Glad that our family is getting together but we're still running,"
'Will we ever be normal again?' he thought to himself. A question that knew his sister had also thought about.
Brian
Brian raised his brow before he smiled a little. "And here I was thinking you're Uganda or something, maybe Europe. I should have known you'd stay close to Mia." Dom had always been the big protective brother watching over his sister and even now that the ex cop was there for here he'd be her shadow.
"I guess I haven't taken the best care of her..." Frowning he thought about the accident and the little bit he remembered. Some details were coming back to him.
Headlights, squeaking tires, the sound of glass and metal grinding and shattering...and then when he was trapped with a fire nearby. "I honestly have no idea how the accident happened. I can't imagine I caused it but who knows. I wish I knew. It's the reason why they're after us. I left something in the car."
Brian had no idea that it was actually Mia's wallet she had given to him to protect her real identity at the hospital that had the cops make the connection to him.
"Why was I so stupid?"
Dom
"Of course I'd stay close to Mia, she's my little sister…" he heard Brian blaming himself for not taking care of his sister. Brian's frown caught his attention for a little as he kept driving.
"You can't change what happen… we knew something like this could happen again," meaning one day they could start to run away from the law, for a moment a feeling of guilt came over Dom, his sister shouldn't be involved in this life like Vince said once neither Letty who was now six feet underground.
Even Elena… a cop that broke the rules she stood for… for him? He couldn't be away from his sister so he stayed in the favelas too with the Brazilian cop but why did it feel so wrong? He kept speeding wanting nothing more than to get to Han's place.
Brian
"Yeah." Brian admitted in a low voice. It didn't make him feel any better about what happened. he could only try to make the best of it now. At least with Dom he had an expert by his side when it came to running.
"Once we reach the border we have to call her though."With all the money they had both Brian and Dom had no trouble crossing the border at some small post.
As soon as they had reached Paraguay and the city of Iguacu Falls they found a cheap place to sleep and called Mia.
Only three days later both men were on a plane to Berlin where they were supposed to meet up with Han.