Okay, this chapter gets back to some of the boosting and away from the silly stuff. Hope you like it. Thanks for the reviews and the support. It means the world.


Boosting and Anatomy 101

Sphinx worked quietly on getting the 69 Roadrunner to crank, mentally listing the things he needed to do to get it running. All that was left was to stick the thin metal piece into the ignition and it should start. Even with all of the damage to the wiring in the steering column. Jesus, those two idiots had all but fumbled this boost but good.

He sighed. Atley and Mikhail were now the designated keepers of Tumbler and Kip. And though both were excellent boosts in their own right, Tumbler had convinced the younger Raines brother to start teaching Toby to boost. Which wasn't that big of a deal, but the boy knew next to nothing about cars and the inner workings of them.

Oh, he knew computers like they were nothing, and had shown the crew how to reprogram a car's computer and the chip to negate Governors and GPS locaters alike . . . but they really needed to start the boy on something around the shop or one of their own vehicles before they sent him out to do a proper boost. Because something like this could and would happen.

Toby, to his credit, was watching Sphinx work, committing everything his stoic "mentor" was doing to memory. Sphinx sighed. He would apparently have to keep a closer eye on the five of them for a while. Though he knew Atley and Mikhail were capable, he really didn't need any of them going to jail because the idiots and the novice got them caught.

Besides, Chaosia would kill him if he let he brother go to jail when her brother was due in town in less than seven days. Even if she is still pissed at said brother about the whole fiasco with Monique the night before last.

Sphinx smirked to himself as he showed Toby how to crank the motor, hearing and feeling the rumble of the 426 CID Hemi. Toby looked to him, smiling as he nodded.

"Thanks, Sphinx. It means a lot that you came and helped. Tell Chaos I said sorry for interrupting your night."

Sphinx waved it off; thankful that the boy was at least intelligent enough to realize he'd just had his ass saved. Maybe teaching the kid a thing or two wouldn't be so dreadful. He didn't really chatter away like the others. He was actually kind of quiet and reserved unless it was about computers. . .

"Oh thank God, he got it to start. See Tumbler. That's why you let the people who know how to do something do it and don't tear out half of the damn steering column. What were you two thinking?"

Sphinx rolled his eyes, watching Kip and Tumbler dip their heads and shrug as Atley tore into them. Mikhail, ever practical, nudged Atley.

"Hey, let's finish this at the shop. Okay? We've been here a while and the neighbors are bound to be suspicious by now. Let's go."

Atley nodded, throwing Toby a look. "You ride with Sphinx. Watch how he drives the thing and remember it. He's the best with muscle and classics for a reason."

He turned, cuffing the muttering Tumbler in the back of the head as he got into Mikhail's carbon black Escalade. The younger boost yelped as Kip snickered. "Shut up, both of you. Memphis is going to have kittens when he hears about this. You know how he feels about you idiots boosting close to home. Even if it is educational."

As the Escalade pulled off, Sphinx shook his head and got in the Roadrunner with Toby following suit. At least the boy had taste.

On the drive back to the garage, Sphinx's phone went off, Staind's Pressure filling the cabin of the car. He sighed. Chaosia hadn't been happy when she'd been asked to change her ringtone. But after hearing about the incident in the morgue, she'd relented and picked the older rock song out as a big joke. He hadn't liked it one bit when he heard it at work the next day, but he got the joke. Toby looked at him amazed as he answered the phone, but Chaos hadn't been feeling well when her brother drug him out of her apartment. She'd woken up with a migraine bad enough that she had only gone to class and called off her practice scrimmage before coming back to her home and holing up on her couch until he'd gotten off work to join her.

"Yes, Chaos?"

She snorted, causing him to grin. She hated it when he did that and he knew it.

"Did you save their asses or do I need to start pulling money out of savings for bail?"

He chuckled, noticing that the rookie was about to die. Poor lad honestly looked like he'd stepped into the Twilight Zone with the way he was staring at him. Better keep this shorter than usual.

"Yeah, Love. Got the lad Toby with me now."

Chaos, quick on the uptake snickered quietly. "Oh, well let me let you go since you have your reputation as a bad ass to protect. I'd hate for them to think you say more than eight words a year. Oh wait. You don't say more than eight words a year do you? Unless we're in bed, that is."

He snorted, planning to make her eat those words when he got back.

"Don't need to. You talk enough for both of us."

She chuckled, knowing she was in trouble and not sounding a bit like she cared. "Look, I've got to call Dad back but I wanted to check on you. Tell Toby I said hey before you go all silent again. I'll see you later, Sphinx. Miss you."

He nodded, taking the turn onto the back service road. "Will do, Love. Miss you too."

With that, he shut the phone, glancing at Toby. The boy was still shocked at seeing him talk. Lord, maybe he needed to start talking more if this was the reaction he was going to get every time he had something to say . . . NO. Let them worry about the rest. He'd talk when he felt like it and the rest of them could kiss his ass.

"Chaos said hello."

Toby snapped out of it, nodding as he sat up straighter in his seat, looking out the window to see the garage coming into sight. And the Escalade already parked with the others waiting. He looked back to Sphinx, sighing.

Sphinx raised a brow at the boy, silently asking for him to elaborate on the despondent look on his face. Toby cleared his throat.

"I don't know if I'm cut out for this but Tumbler insists on it. He says that it'll just make me feel more at home with the whole crew if I understood what they were always doing and talking about."

He shrugged, but continued. "Kip almost had a panic attack when Tumbler told him what he was planning . . . but Tumbler has this way of getting you to agree to what he wants you to do and make you feel okay about it. I guess not even the infamous Raines brothers are immune when Tumbler really wants something. It's just insulting that Kip still thinks I need to be babysat. I mean, I know I got shot but for goodness sakes, it was so long ago and I want to at least try to learn now that Tumbler's offered."

Sphinx just shrugged, pulling the car in beside the Escalade but not getting out. He turned to Toby, knowing that if Chaos ever got word of what he was about to do, he would never live it down. She would gloat for weeks about how she knew he was a decent person and he cared about other people. Yeah, right. He just didn't want to hear the boy whine or deal with repercussions of a low self-esteemed boost on a future heist.

"Look, lad. They'll coddle you forever if you let them. If you want to learn then serve no master save your own ambition. It's your life and they'll either get over it and support you or they won't. If they don't, then you're just cutting away dead weight. Got it?"

Toby nodded, feeling better as he saw the others looking at the car expectantly. He looked to Sphinx. This was the second time that the stoic boost had helped him feel at ease over something the others were torn and tip toed around. When he'd gotten shot, Sphinx's first words to the rejoicing crew had helped to take the spotlight off of his injury and allow him the peace of mind that someone else saw it as something to take pride in. He'd survived and his injury (while painful and horrific at first) had helped the other members of the younger crew see that boosting was serious and help get Kip under control. Now, he'd told him to do what he thought was right and follow what he wanted.

"Hey, Sphinx? Thanks."

The silent boost nodded, opening the door and getting out leaving Toby to do the same as the others approached the car. Otto came out of the garage, shaking his head.

"I called Manday's and he said to drop it by. He had a long standing order for one of these bad boys anyway. Memphis and Kip are going to run it with Atley and me following to bring them back. Toby?"

The boy looked up, listening eagerly as Memphis walked out of the garage looking darkly at Kip and Tumbler. It was apparent that their leader was not thrilled about this. "Yes sir?"

Otto sighed, motioning him to the parked Jeep beside Mikhail's Escalade. "You're going too. This was your boost after all. The payoff is yours to do with as you see fit. But you have to go collect it."

He nodded, waving to Sphinx before getting in the SUV. Sphinx nodded once to Memphis and Atley before going to get in Mikhail's vehicle with him. The boy had to take him back to his apartment. He'd been so frantic when t they'd called him earlier he hadn't even let Sphinx get his car. He'd just come running up to Chaos's apartment and practically grabbed him off of the couch. He'd yelled to Chaos that they'd be back soon and left, dragging Sphinx with him.

Now as they went to make their way back to the apartment, Mikhail actually looked sheepish as he looked at the larger boost. "Is she still mad at me for Monique?"

Sphinx gave him a deadpan look before nodding his head once. Mikhail groaned, laying his head back momentarily before returning his eyes to the road. "Of course she's still pissed. Damn it. I told Monique not to say anything to Ripley. Period. She already hates it when I date anyway."

Sphinx looked at him like he was crazy but refused to get drawn into another conversation. What was he? Everybody's sounding board? The shrink of the Long Beach boosts? Well thank you, bloody well no! He rolled his eyes, turning his head to look out the window as Mikhail continued to grumble making the fifteen minute ride to his complex seemed to take an hour.

Chaosia opened the main door to her apartment, letting her weary and aggravated boyfriend in before almost shutting the door on her annoying half-brother. She looked at him, brow raised at his attire. Did these people think that dressing in all black made them seem cool or something? The Old School always wore darker but casual non-descript clothing to boost, Sphinx had even explained that it helped even him blend in around a mark to not look out of place in all black.

Mikhail, however, seemed to have adopted Kip and Tumbler's habit of dressing in all black for a job, which made him look more like some punk rocker than a car boost. She shook her head, opening the door wide as she said, "Come on in, goober."

He shuffled past her, dropping his black zip up jacket on the arm of the couch before flopping onto it, feet thrown up on the coffee table. Sphinx watched, amazed as Chaosia's face darkened and she smacked him. "Boots off the table jackass. I am not cleaning whatever you stepped in off my table again."

He grumbled, closing his eyes as he kicked his boots off then put his socked feet up, sticking his tongue out at her. She glared but shook her head, going into the kitchen to get them something to drink. When she returned, Sphinx was stretched out along her sofa, head tilted back and looking all the world like he was asleep . . . but Mikhail was sitting up straight with his feet down and on the floor, eyeing Sphinx like a scolded kid. She raised a brow and shook her head. She'd find out later.

Mikhail accepted the beer, saying thank you loudly before sitting he bottle on a coaster. Chaos stopped, looking at her brother amazed. "Okay. Who are you and what've you done with my brother?"

Mikhail blushed as Sphinx piped up, eyes still closed. "The boy is practicing his manners."

Chaosia turned, knowing her boyfriend definitely had more to do with this than he was letting on. "Really? Why?"

Sphinx cracked an eye at her, shrugging as she stared at him perplexed. He looked way too innocent.

Deciding to let it go, she sat beside Sphinx, settling in laying her head on his shoulder. He dropped his arm around her and snatched up the remote, flipping to find something on the tele worth watching. She sighed, kissing over his heart before closing her eyes.

Mikhail watched them, amazed at what he was seeing. He really hadn't gotten to see much of their interaction since they'd been dating; only catching them in public settings and out on the group date the night before last. Chaos was at ease with the Sphinx in a way that he'd never seen her. She was content in the silence that was now dominant in her home, the only sound coming from the TV. Sphinx sat there, his sister almost in his lap, acting like it was normal. Occasionally, his hand would move and twirl in her hair or rub her arm, causing Chaos to snuggle a little closer.

He had definitely misinterpreted the kind of affection Chaos had for his older crew member . . . and he didn't know if it was a good thing or not. Especially with the way that Sphinx seemed to return it, in his own weird way. Finally, Sphinx tossed him the remote, nodding his head to the set.

Mikhail took the hint scrolling through the menu, which Chaos and Sphinx both refused to use, finding a comedy. As they watched the show, Chaos slept, Sphinx rubbing her back every once in a while when she'd move to get comfortable. Mikhail kept shooting glances to the couple on the couch until he finally had enough.

He turned looking to Sphinx. "How do you feel about my sister?"

Sphinx looked at him like he was crazy then shook his head. He looked down at Chaos, shrugging as he ran a hand through her curls. "We're together, boy. That should say a lot. Besides, what's it to you?"

Mikhail bristled. He knew he wasn't always the best brother but damn it he would keep Chaosia safe if he could. Sphinx seemed to sense the change in attitude and chuckled darkly.

"Settle, Boy-o. Didn't mean it anyway other than curiosity."

Mikhail nodded, some of the big brother instinct dying down as he sat up and decided to explain. "Look, Sphinx. I'm cool that you two date or whatever. And trust me; I do NOT want to know anything other than you date. I just want to make sure she isn't going to get hurt. If she wants you to meet her dad then that's big. She's never wanted to introduce him to anyone. And whenever he'd ask, she'd always weasel out of it. My step father can be judgmental to say the least. And his new wife is a real bitch. Bigger than the one my Dad married."

Sphinx looked at him, interest piqued. "So?"

"So just be careful. Ripley is a big girl but when she and Selene get near one another she just . . . Selene brings out the worst in her, you know? She thinks that she should come to London and live there. That she should do all of the society shit that our Mom fought to keep us out of and be thankful she's from a 'well off family'. Needless to say, Ripley hates her and her step sister. I honestly think she stayed in her old apartment because Selene hated it so damn much. But with you having to meet them . . . I'm just worried about the stress she'll be under. I'm pretty sure Selene expected Ripley to marry some freaking Lord or something."

Sphinx nodded, looking down to Chaosia as she slept. He knew her father was some big to do across the pond but he never thought that she'd suffered because of it. Apparently, she had. Her almost vicious attitude towards people not changing anything and being themselves regardless started to make more sense. She wanted for other people what she expected for herself . . . and apparently hardly ever got.

"And now that she's with some boost there'll be hell to pay, right?"

Mikhail nodded. "Pretty much. But don't worry, Ripley can put her in her place if need be. I just want to make sure you understand that that's not the way she feels. She can kind of forget that everyone else doesn't know she isn't some stuck up blue blood like her eldest half-brother."

Sphinx nodded. Mikhail was actually trying to be decent as both a brother and a friend. So he could do something in return for him . . .

"Thanks,Boy-o. I'll talk to her about Monique if you want."

Mikhail smirked, nodding. "Yeah, I'd appreciate it. I really don't think she meant anything other than being an airhead. She's really book smart but not so much with other people, you know? Hell, at first I thought she was dumb as dirt and then she started spouting out about quantitative theories and artist motivation and how she used both in her actual artwork. I hope that if they spend time together they might be able to get along."

Sphinx shrugged, knowing it would be a cold day in hell before Chaosia would willing agree to being near Monique for any reason. Mikhail seemed to share the opinion because he added, "You know, when penguins inherit the seventh ring of hell."

He quickly bid his goodnight and, after shaking Chaosia awake to say good bye, left. Sphinx picked Chaos up and carried her to her bedroom, letting her go and get undressed in peace as he went back to gather up their beer bottles.

He was leaning against the kitchen counters when Chaos came in and leaned against his back. "Hey handsome. Coming to bed?"

He turned back, smirking over his shoulder at her before nodding. To hell with her father and everything else. If they didn't want to be a part of her life with him in it then they'd deal with that later. But for now, he was going to enjoy having her.

As Chaos laid her head on Sphinx's bare chest, she sighed. She'd heard most of his and Mikhail's conversation while she'd dozed and she would have to remember to cut her brother some slack where Monique was concerned. If she really meant something to him . . . he could and had done worse so she could be a little more tolerant. Plus, he'd taken care of explaining a good portion of the history between her and Selene so she was eternally grateful for that. She hated having to think about the woman, much less discuss her in detail.

Sphinx shifted, running his fingers through her hair. She smiled lazily as she looked up at him, knowing he wanted to ask a million questions and wouldn't. He always played with her hair when he was in deep thought and she had a good idea what he was thinking about.

"My Dad isn't that bad, Sphinx. I mean, he can be but . . . when he's Stateside he relaxes so much it's almost like he's two different people. He lived here until after my Mom died. When he moved back to London for business and the whole family heritage crap, he started to change a little but he's usually still pretty cool with me. Selene is the one to watch out for."

"What's her deal then?"

Chaosia shrugged, kissing his chest before setting her chin against it and looking at him. "No idea, really. I just know she's never liked me. Her daughter, Jacqueline is just as stuck up as she is and just as status hungry. What amazes me is that Mom and Dad both despised people like that when I was growing up . . . so I keep hoping that maybe there's something to them that I just don't see because I live across the freaking Atlantic."

Sphinx shrugged, still petting her hair but she could feel some of the tension he'd come to bed with ebbing away. Finally, after a few minutes, he asked, "How's your head then? Better?"

She nodded, snuggling closer to him as she answered.

"Yeah, a lot better. I took another shower after you left and laid back down . . ."

He looked down, wondering why she'd stopped. She looked at him, suddenly bashful. "And?"

She blushed dark as she nudged him. "Just accept that I figured out why my head hurt and move on."

He looked at her, perplexed before she finally rolled her eyes and explained. "It a girl thing, okay? Please tell me I don't have to explain that to you. I already feel bad enough as it is."

He started to chuckle then gave up and laughed, long and hard. She blushed darker as she buried her face in his chest, hitting him hard as she ground out, "It is NOT funny, Sphinx."

He settled down, rubbing the spot she'd hit. She could pack a punch when she wanted to . . .

"So that means I can't pick a fight for how long?"

She glared. "Four days asswipe. Now go to sleep."

He chuckled, at least she would be back to normal before her father got to town. Thank God for small miracles there.

Sorry, but a friend of mine threw down the gauntlet and i wasn't about to let her win. She does that enough as it is. Now, to the next chapter . . .