Chapter 29 – Home to Rest

"Well, it's not everyday that friends sleep together."

"No it's not." I answered in a matter of fact tone of voice. I was not defending myself to Rome when I'd done nothing.

"So you admit it?!" Rome asked in an incredulous tone.

"Admit what?" I asked in a very bored tone. I was more then a little hurt that not only did he think I'd sleep with my best friend from childhood just because Vince showed up, but that I'd sleep with that same best friend after I'd sort of had a thing going with Rome. I wasn't going to let him know that though. It was just like with Dom, I was right back into the same situation.

Only now I was the one being accused of things, but I was still pretending the whole situation didn't hurt me. I couldn't let on because if I did I wouldn't be tough, I'd be weak and that could not happen.

"That you slept with him." Rome hissed back

"You knew that when you came up here didn't you? I mean, Fiona told you so of course it must be true right? Would you listen if I told you I didn't, or would you believe her anyway?"

"If you didn't then tell me you didn't." Rome said, still angry.

"I'd like to tell you that, but I can't because he did sleep in my bed, just like she told you, and I know I could tell you nothing else happened till I was blue in the face but you'd still believe her, believe I fucked Vince last night. But you know what? Believe whatever you want."

With that I walked up to the stereo I had playing in my bay where I was working and I turned it up. I was more or less trying to send the message that his presence was no longer wanted or needed so he should just shove off.

It was blasting out one of my favourite songs; it was my own mixed CD, not the stupid radio that always played pathetic pop music. The song was Not Falling by Mudvayne. As I turned it up it was playing the chorus.

'I, I stand, (for nothing) not crawling,
(but myself), not falling down
I, I bleed, (for no one), the demons,
(but myself) that drag me down
I, I stand, (for nothing) not crawling,
(the center), not falling down
(of calms within the eye)
I, I'll bleed, (for no one), the demons,
(but myself) that drag me down
(for me and no one else)'

I'll bleed for no one but myself for me and no one else. I'm done bleeding for other people, done selling myself short for other people, done taking crap for other people to keep the peace. Everyone says I'm the tough girl, I'm the one with the attitude, the one that doesn't take shit, who gives it. Why am I the first one to try and keep the peace, even if it means selling myself down the river over it?

Rome walked up to me closer, obviously ready to try and talk to me over the music. I started to sing along hoping that he might yet take the hint.

"I'm over, personalities, conflicting. I don't need you, or anyone, by me. I'll just be, living my own life."

The song ended and he was still standing there. I looked at him again, but didn't say anything. I tried to put 'what, are you still here?' in my look. I guess he picked up on it. He looked like he was going to say something else but then he started to walk away.

Letty the bad ass took over, I couldn't help it. I called after him sarcastically, "Does this mean lunch is off?"

He turned around to look at me and with an enigmatic look he just continued to walk away.

You know what? Fuck him. Who needs him? I don't love him anyway. I love Dom. I hope to god that Dom is doing his thinking because now that I know what it's like to be judged and convinced for something you never did all without the chance to defend yourself, and even when you force someone to listen to your side, knowing they didn't really listen because they'd already decided you were guilty anyway I was going to be more receptive to listening to Dom.

I just hope in our time apart he's learned to listen to me too, and include me in more, not just let stuff slide and take it for granted I didn't care or didn't want to know. That and that my opinion matters and I do know better then him about some stuff.

It really, really hurts that Rome believed what he did all without ever talking to me. I know he doesn't know me that well, but even still, it hardly seems right. He has no reason to believe that of me. It's not like we have a history of having that happen between us. It doesn't matter anyway because I'm not in Miami to make friends. I'm here to let Dom get his life together and maybe find a piece of myself I lost too. If I happen to go home a more confident mechanic then that's just a pleasant byproduct.

Tej came up to my bay then and turned down the stereo. I looked up in annoyance. I like to have loud music playing while I work. Helps me concentrate.

"Got some good news today." Tej started.

"Yeah?" I blew some hair off my forehead.

"Yeah. Car's done, it's coming back today." Tej was smiling.

"That's good."

"Only 4 days left of your two weeks. You gonna be done on time."

"Yep." I answered and went back to reinserting pistons after putting the new rings on them.

"You sound sure of that." Tej looked at me. I raised one eyebrow in my typical quizzical fashion.

"You know of some reason why I shouldn't be sure?"

"No. Not at all. Just thought I'd let you know." Tej said and started to walk away.

"Cocky muthafucka." I said very low under my breath and turned my music back up. The song changed over to Jay-Z, Nigga please. I'd forgotten this song was on the CD. I'd loved to do sexy little dances to this song for Dom. It just has one of those stripper beats to it. I sort of started to just move in place still working. I looked up and caught Suki sending me more of her patented dirty looks. Likely just cause I had the moves that drove all the guys crazy and she couldn't get a girlfriend to save her soul.

I was sort of ashamed for laughing out loud at my own mental joke. Ok, fuck it, I should have been sort of ashamed of myself but I totally wasn't. I came up with some funny shit and I was only upset no one else but my own warped brain had heard it.

About 5 songs later I had the last piston back in the engine and I was finally ready to bolt the heads back on. I'd ground and seated all the valves, ordered brand spanking new titanium valve springs, cleaned every last bit of dirt off the heads, had them sent out to be planed just to be sure they were flat and ordered the best head and valve cover gaskets money could buy. Not only that but I had the valve covers polished to an almost chrome like shine.

I'd painted the block dark blue, because I had a few ideas for the colour of the car and I'd decided that blue was going to play into it heavily. Plus chrome looks awesome on dark blue or black.

When I started to bolt the heads back on I'd pretty much forgotten about Rome and our fight. I remembered the whole issue when I realized Fiona was gone and that might mean she was alone with Vince in the boat telling him all sorts of horrible things. Or telling him all sorts of the truth. I didn't know which would be worse at that point in the day.

I guess I really should go check it out, I told myself and wiped off my hands on a nearby rag. That done I headed down to the boat. I found Vince all alone watching the TV.

"How's it goin V?"

"Bored." He answered.

"Well, what did you think would happen when you came here? You knew I was working when you headed out to come here."

"I didn't know you'd still work when I was here, I thought you'd leave and come home with me."

"Oh Vince." I sighed and sat down beside. "I'm not ready to go home. I'm in the middle of something important here. I can't leave at least till it's done."

Brian had told the rest of his team not to tell anyone anything about him right? So Vince technically could safely come up to the garage with me and no one would say anything to him right? I could just introduce him to them as Vince my friend and let him assist me for the afternoon right? What harm could it do?

Lots, but I really didn't want to think of him sitting around here bored. Who knew what trouble he'd get into and that wouldn't be good either. Plus if he was in my sight then Fiona couldn't tell him anything, or say anything, or plant anything in his fertile brain like she had Rome. And if Vince was with me I was willing to bet Rome would stay the fuck away and I wasn't ready to deal with Rome again yet.

The wounds he'd inflicted on my heart were still too fresh and I had no Mia to run to, to make them better. She'd told me it was ok for me to like Rome, but what she'd never told me was how to deal with it if he treated me bad or hurt me. If she was here I know she'd make it all better, or try her best to put it in perspective at least but all I had was Vince. He wasn't the best person to go to with issues like this, but he'd keep me entertained at least.

Hell, if I told him what Rome had said, how he'd treated me, Vince would just find Rome and beat the shit out of him. And ok, it might look like they're fairly well matched, but they ain't. Vince is the toughest man I know. He looks like a thug because he is. He's just a thug who loves his family and friends. Don't let that make you think he's soft. He's not. Not even close. He'd beat the shit out of Rome and not even blink.

You know how when some people go to prison they become someone's bitch for protection from the rest of the slime in jail? Well, Vince was never anyone's bitch because he didn't need any protection and he even had people offer to be his bitch for his protection. Dom took care of himself in jail but he never had anyone offer themselves to him just for his protection, not like Vince.

Vince didn't take anyone up on their offers, he just kept to himself. I know because he told me. I think I'm the only one he told that story to. We tell each other things we can't tell anyone else. Just like the time I cried in front of him and it was ok. He's the only one. I know he'll never tell, just like I never will.

Ok, I know I just told in a fashion but it's not like anyone will ever read this thing.

"You wanna go get something to eat then you can come assist me with my project this afternoon?" I asked reluctantly. He perked up at the mention of lunch and then got really happy at the mention of going to the garage.

"Hell yeah, anything's better then sitting around here all afternoon."

"Ok, let's go then." I picked my keys up and we walked up to my car.

"Can I drive?" Vince asked hopefully.

"Nope." I answered, quashing his hopes.

"Please?" That's pretty much as close as he'll ever come to begging. He's the only person other then Dom and of course me that has ever driven this car. And that's not totally true but Dom's dad doesn't count because I would have given Van anything in my power to give him. He was like my saviour for a lot of years, like the father I should have had, so of course I let him drive the car once.

He just smiled at me and said in Italian "È selvaggio, come vento, giusto come voi amore." Dom told me after that meant 'It's wild, like the wind, just like you my love.' I wish I'd learned Italian, it's a beautiful language. Still could learn I guess. Dom could teach me. I always imagined he'd be teaching our children some day, even though I never saw myself with kids, I always figured I'd have some with Dom someday.

"Alright, but just this once and don't tell anyone." I caved and handed over the keys.

"Thanks baby girl, I'll be good."

"No you won't." I laughed, no way would he be good, but he'd be careful and that was good enough for me.

"Ok, you caught me." He grinned and climbed in the car, whacking his knees on the steering wheel then sliding the seat back with a curse. I laughed at him trying to fit into the seat the way it was set for my much smaller frame.

When I was in he started the car and it roared to life. We peeled out and Vince turned on the stereo. The first song cued up, much to my embarrassment was 'Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through' by Meatloaf. Yeah, I know, I know, pathetic to listen to Meatloaf after like '92. But this song is one that Vince use to play for me. He use to give me music when I was feeling down or bad.

He let the song play, surprising me because I thought he'd skip it in favour of something else.

"'Member when I use to play that song for you?" Vince asked me with a fond smile.

"Yeah. You said see, you're never alone if you can put on the 'phones and let the drummer tell your heart what to do."

"Well, it's cheesy but it's true."

"Sure is." I didn't want to talk about it anymore. "So, what are you in the mood for?"

"Food." Vince answered. Helpful V, real helpful.

"Ok, any preference or should I just pick?"

"You pick. You know I'd eat just about anything."

I named a little restaurant I'd been eating at a bit. It looked like a dive outside but it was run by a familia, just like Toretto's and the food was just as good. I gave Vince directions and we got there in one piece and ate mostly in silence. But it was that good kind of silence, the kind you can only have with someone you know really well, and you're so comfortable with you don't have to fill up every moment of time with them with talking, you can just be quiet together.

Then we drove back, parked the car and headed up to the garage. No one but Suki was around. I introduced Vince to her and it went pretty uneventfully. But of course, Suki wouldn't be too interesting in Vince. He doesn't have the 'right tools'.

He helped me with the engine and when the car arrived he ohhed and ahhed over it with me. It was a totally different looking car. Of course it was all in one piece. Even if it didn't have any wheels or suspension or most of its brakes. We started to drop the engine back into it right then, I was so excited to have the car back, and well, looking like a car. They set it on jackstands right off the wrecker truck for me so that I wouldn't have trouble getting the new, upgraded Koni shocks and HKS springs under it.

"What a car!" Vince exclaimed.

"Yeah. I can't wait to have it done. You ready to head home V?"

"Sure. Let's go. So, what's for supper?" Vince asked, arm around my shoulders as we walked to the boat. If he didn't think with his stomach he wouldn't be Vince.

"I don't know. We should go out to eat then go out to some club. What'dya say? Be like old times."

"Ok. Let's do it!" Vince whooped almost like a kid. "I haven't had time to go out in forever."

"Ok. Well, let's get ready and we'll go out and find some trouble to get into." I grinned and Vince grinned back

I caught Rome watching us within hearing distance with a dirty look on his face. I tried to convince myself his continuing believe I was having some hot affair with Vince didn't bother me but I knew it did bother me. But like I already said fuck Rome. I don't need his shit right now. I'm gonna have a good time with my boy and if Rome thinks I'm fucking him because of that Rome can go fuck himself.

On that note I pushed into the boat to get ready, dragging V in with me.