Authors Note: Phew this chapter was just plain hard to write. Hope you like!

Brian waited for his call to connect to his boss. It was stupid - he was undercover but they were still protocols he had to adhere to. He was just glad his life wasn't immediately at stake, or you know - he'd be dead. Thankfully, Penning came onto the phone relatively quickly, "What's going on O'Conner?" He asked in his usual brusque manner.

"Relax I'm okay as Dom rescued my ass from Verone." Brian tried to be reassuring.

"You were kidnapped?" Penning all but screeched and Brian held his cell away from his ear.

Brian blew him off, "Aww not important. What is important is that Campos wants me to kill Verone to get a place at Braga's table."

In Brian's dreams, Penning gives him a sanctioned kill of Verone. It had been known to happen in the high profile UC cases but it was rare, and Brian knew they would never go for it.

He heard Penning's sigh of frustration, "How did you go from wheels man to hired killer?"

Brian chuckled darkly and he really wished that he would be there for the ensuing fight. "He got a hold of my firearms certification, and knew of the Weapon master waxing lyrical about my skills."

"You're saying your record was leaked?" The anger was clear for all to hear, and Brian figured the whole office had heard that bellow – good for the office cooler gossip.

"I'm saying he talked about things that were in my confidential LAPD file." Brian said deadly serious, and it was serious. For it wasn't too far a leap to go from Officer O'Conner to Agent O'Conner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Brian held the phone away from his ear as Penning yelled, "Stasiak get ya butt in her now!"

Dom watched as Brian seemed to frown, the longer the phone conversation went on. Brian knowing that while Stasiak bitched he was unlikely to miss anything new. "I swear I'm, losing IQ points," he couldn't help but snark to Dom.

Brian trailed off annoyed, "Now hang the fuck on. I didn't say I should kill him. I kind of want to, as he doesn't take no for an answer but I'm just relaying the order."

Dom hated being reminded of Brian being snatched, he still owed Fenix one for his part in Brian being snatched. Still in the very near future he would be taking care of that with interest. Brian wondered why exactly he was doing his bosses job, "Look, he wants my ass – literally, so I was going to suggest he meets me and then I was going to drug him."

Dom perked up with this plan, he could definitely get behind this. Brian was still distinctly unimpressed given the massive amounts of eye-rolling. In any other situation Dom would have probably teased him for acting like a prima-donna. He listened as Brian cuts off the other person, "No I'm saying that if you get the makeup people in place we can stage the whole thing and then have him shipped up north, further the better - like Alaska."

For the plan to work though Fenix needed to be out of the way, and Dom was determined that little miss prissy would help if she truly wanted to break free. Personally he wasn't too sure exactly which side of the fence she was playing on, and it made him nervous. He opened his cell and rang the number, "Yeah we need to meet?"

"And what would Mr O'Conner say?" It wasn't hard to miss the humour evident in her voice.

Most of the time, Dom would have laughed. "Well, he's planning to meet Verone so I want a dance partner."

It was ironic how he made it sound fun, and it wasn't so obvious that what they were actually discussing was theoretical murder. After all, even Verone a man whose guts he quite literally hated had said that the walls had ears.

"Well let's meet at that quaint restaurant and you can buy me lunch."

He loved the way she was the one who wanted something in, but he was the one who was going to pay. Women these days, he was glad that he was with Brian.

Giselle swanned into the restaurant as if she didn't have a care in the world. Dom would have dearly loved to rattle that calm but sadly now was not the time - it wasn't smart.

Giselle started off the conversation, "What can I help you with?"

Dom had a wry smile, "Well I'd like Fenix's head on a spike."

Giselle said nothing knowing it was more of a whimsical musing on his part than a serious request, "What can I actually do?"

"I want Fenix's location - since Brian the fucker has gone to ground." He said not bothering to hide his annoyance.

Giselle snorted so at least Fenix had a few brain cells, he knew he was living on borrowed time. Still he was stupid enough to have given Giselle his whereabouts so that when the boss had cooled down he'd be available. Giselle had failed to mention that there would be no cooling down on the boss's part as he was still pretty pissed by the whole affair. She slid the piece of paper over the booth, "Done."

Dom looked hard at her, still trying to figure out just what her game was. He didn't much care what it was, as long as she didn't screw him and Brian over then they would be all gravy. It just so happened that the not so 'safe' house was on his way to the meeting where they would be collecting Verone. If all went well today - Dom had feeling that he would really enjoy the day.

Dom casually strolled up to knock on the door, "Supplies."

He shouted only marginally changing his voice, but just enough for Fenix not too question opening the door. Dom's smile as he opened the door was wider than his Plymouth. He won't lie that it was particularly satisfying punching Fenix's nose so hard that it broke - audibly. The gun Dom brandished seconds later stopped Fenix from moving anywhere, the bully was frozen. Dom really wanted nothing more than to put a bullet between his eyes. After Lompoc, and all the shit he'd put him and Brian through - even now, Dom didn't so why he shouldn't. Except he knew why he hadn't - Brian's bosses were annoyingly noble - fucking white hats.

So he found himself gagging the bastard and tying him up better than a medieval torture specialist. If only he could indulge in a spot of torture he'd feel better. No he wouldn't, he wasn't sadistic he needed Fenix dead or far away, and if the FBI didn't do the latter then he would do the former.

He was glad that the street was empty as he dragged Fenix' sorry unconscious ass into his truck. For once he well and truly obeyed the speeding laws as he really couldn't afford to be found with an unconscious pistol-whipped Fenix in his trunk. He pulled off even using the mandatory correct signals.

Meanwhile, Brian had phoned Carter desperate for him to come and get him. He had put on an Oscar worthy simpering performance. And it just went to show how far gone Carter was because he would never have accepted such a simpering fool in his bed. One of the reasons why Brian had attracted him so was because he never backed down from any of the shit that he flung his way in Miami.

Stasiak and Penning were in a work van across the street with a team ready to go when the signal was given. Penning already knew that Toretto was coming back with Fenix. It was kind of sad how efficient he and O'Conner worked. Seeing the black convertible pull up the side of the walkway they all went onto high alert, "Show time."

Stasiak watched in disbelief as the unflappable agent he tried to bait transformed before his eyes. He saw O'Conner the guy who'd been a gangsta's moll for all intense purposes. And grudgingly he started to respect how hard O'Conner's job was and that was definitely a bitter pill to swallow.

Brian flung his arms around a surprised but clearly smug Carter, who took a liking to the position and engulfed him. Stasiak got a little uncomfortable as Verone started to pepper kisses over O'Conner's face. All Penning could think was that it was good job that Toretto wasn't already on the scene, as there would be no scene to fake – Verone would be dead.

The scene played out in front of them, and they watched chuckling as a supposedly lust filled O'Conner dropped Verone with an injection of a powerful sedative. For all intense purposes - until the antidote was injected Carter Verone was dead. Brian motioned for the crew to get to work, and almost as if his timing was impeccable Dom pulled up. He got out of his car to be greeted with a kiss from Brian. Brian didn't much give a fuck at the moment for the delicate sensibilities of the agents around him.

Dom reluctantly pulled away and smirking, just a little, said to Penning, "I brought you a gift, it's in the trunk."

Penning walked over cautiously, he wasn't a stupid man and knew that Toretto had every right to hate the FBI, but once he looked in the trunk his whole demeanour changed. "Son you give great gifts."

Stasiak hated that the couple could seemingly do no wrong. He wanted this wrapped up so at least he could get back to the office, "Sir O'Conner should see his killing first hand."

Brian rolled his eyes, it was not like Stasiak ever got his hands dirty, "lead the way."

Brian looked at 'dead' Carter and took a few snaps, zeroing in on the bullet wound in his head. The FBI definitely did good work in terms of making up a murder scene - he supposed it was all the scenes they saw - made it easier to recreate. Dom was standing next to him, as he'd already 'dealt' with Fenix. It was rather impersonal and highly staged but Brian had argued that they both needed to see the scene in case they were asked questions.

Dom personally didn't give a shit, as long as the Feds kept better care of their prisoner this time. He knew for certain that if Carter Verone escaped a second time then there would be no third chance because he'd kill him first. Dom hadn't forgotten the haunted look in Brian's eyes after he'd gotten him back from Carter. He knew that if Verone escaped then he would kill Verone himself.

Penning looked at the glossy photos, even knowing they were sanitized - they look macabre and vicious. Still they would serve their purpose. He handed them over to O'Conner, "Go do what you have to do but bring me Braga - 72 hours."

Stasiak unable to get at least one jab in, "Yeah O'Conner, your dirty rep should get you right in the door."

Others sucked in a breath, Brian's cool blue eyes assessed him, amusement glinting clear for all to see. "Yeah Stasiak but because I got from behind a desk I actually catch bad guys. Night."

Brian's barb hit closer to home, and Stasiak made an aborted attempt to punch him. Penning deftly blocked him. "Don't son. O'Conner will wipe the floor with you."

Penning was right that he could wipe the floor with Stasiak. He also was glad that Verone was out of the way. Whilst he had a fleeting desire that Verone's death hadn't been staged because somehow he didn't think he'd seen the last of Verone; he couldn't kill in cold blood. Obsessions that deep and dark never really ended until one of them was dead. And Brian had made a solemn promise to himself that it would not be him who ended up six feet under.

They went back to the club, photos in hand and slammed them down on the table as they slid into the booth. Already at the table was Campos and Giselle, the former was perusing the glossy photos with a thinly desired glee. Already people in the club were looking at Brian differently, like at any minute he'd put a bullet in their brain. He wouldn't unless they tried to kill him, or Dom, but they didn't know that and as that was the role that Campos and Braga wanted him to play - he would.

Dom had noticed the change in how people reacted to them. He supposed it was only natural they'd risen fast and 'killed' their competition to get there. It reminded Dom that Brian was a damn good actor, but ironically it reminded Dom that Brian couldn't fool him. He may be acting the badass killer but to Dom and boy was it marginal. He could see the spark in Brian's eyes that should warn Campos to sleep with one eye open.

Campos spoke up having placed the photos down. "You should know now that we will have an operation that I will be starting in 48 hours. It will mean that all 3 of us will be going down to Mexico."

Brian leant forward wanting and needing the confirmation he expected to hear now. It made so much sense, too bad he could never get around Stasiak to Penning. He played it coy, "Braga needs us all down in Mexico?"

Dom felt Brian's hand surreptitiously move to his knee, and he went onto even higher alert. Dom watched the second squirm, "Hey I'm just the guy organising the drivers. How many and for when?"

Campos sighed, "Braga is needed in Mexico and so I must go."

Brian rolled his eyes but feigned shock, "You're saying your Braga?"

Campos stared at him, trying to gauge his reaction but getting nothing behind those blue eyes. Brian wasn't reacting because he was trying to ensure that Dom didn't kill him there and then. He could understand the desire to kill him there and then, but they would struggle to get out of the club alive.

Dom, who was showing a surprising amount of level headedness, considering his desire for revenge, "Have Giselle text us with the info. Is that all?"

Giselle using her own considerable will power hid a smirk, "I can think of nothing else, best to have, 10 drivers ready in 24 hours."

Dom had to leave now and Brian sensing this grabbed his hand in a rare show of public affection. As soon as they were well away from the club, Dom pulled Brian into an alley way. "What do we do? I need to kill him but your bosses won't agree." The sheer need and frustration was clear for all to hear and Brian looking at his distressed lover had only one answer.

"So we don't tell them," was the simple response.

It sounded so simple but it would be anything but simple.