36 Getting Ready
:Warning: Contains a Homophobic slur. It is not intended to offend anyone and it does not represent my views on people's personal choices but those of the characters in the story.
The garage was filled with the sounds and scents of man and machine. The only woman was Sarah and she was lost in her computer as she made up the designs for the Hummer. Tommy was in his paint booth, working on the color of Riddick's eyes.
He'd come out from time to time, compare, take it out in the sun and curse, then go back in and lock the door.
It was hot, sweltering actually, and most of the men had their shirts off. They didn't have an air conditioner yet. Taylor swore it was a waste of money and Dom said he was used to sweating his ass off while he worked on cars. Said it was all part of the experience.
Sarah wasn't so sure. She was dying. Her tank top was soaked and her lose fitting pants now clung to her moist skin. She wanted a shower and a cold drink in the worst way. She pulled her hair up off of her neck and giggled when Dom placed a quick, wet kiss there.
"How's it coming?" Dom asked as he peeked over her shoulder.
"It'd be better if I wasn't dying of heat stroke. Is it always going to be this hot?"
"No, Taylor's getting a small unit for in here soon. Don't worry, babe, you'll be nice and cool."
Tommy came storming out of his room, naked to the waist. His hair was pulled back in a bandana and he was scowling. "It's too fucking humid. I can't get the paint to set. Taylor, what the fuck? Where's my climate control?"
"Fuck man, I told you, it's coming." Taylor growled. He didn't know what the hold-up was. He shelled out over a hundred grand to have the proper paint booth set up and here they were, one day from opening and it still wasn't finished.
"I need it here now! I can't paint like this. The retarder doesn't even work in this kind of humidity." Tommy grumbled.
"Is it my fuckin' fault that it's 100 humility outside? You think I had something to do with the storm that's comin'?" Taylor roared.
"Yeah, Taylor, that's exactly what I'm saying." Tommy sneered and then drew a deep breath. This was his boss he was yelling at and they haven't even opened up yet. He needed to get a grip before he got fired.
Everyone in the shop was looking at the two of them and Riddick was frowning. Tommy wiped his forehead, leaving a streak of silvery-blue paint behind, "What the fuck? I know it's not your fault. It's fucking hot. I'm fucking hot! I can't fuckin' paint!"
"Then don't fuckin' paint!" Taylor roared.
"How about we all take lunch," Sean suggested before things got worse. Slowly, tempers cooled as a strong breeze picked up.
Riddick stood with his back to the counter as he watched Tommy and Sarah nit-pick her design and his paint scheme. Riddick found it all surreal. He'd never been a part of something this large. Never felt close to as many people as he did at that moment. And what really had him confused was that Tommy seemed to be the glue to it all.
Sure he kinda liked Taylor and Sean, even Dom. But the real reason he was there was Tommy. They had just met and they had nothing in common, but something about the younger man resonated with Riddick. Light to his dark. Subtle to his obvious strength. A counter balance. An opposite.
Riddick snorted to himself. He'd been hanging out with Sean too much and he started thinking like a sap.
Taylor was at his desk on the phone and scribbling something down. His shoulders were tense and he shook his head. He was not happy. Sean sat in the corner on the floor at Taylor's feet. His head was tilted back against the wall. His eyes were closed as the sweat ran down his chest in rivets. All of their chests.
It turned Riddick on. All of it. Heat and sex. Blood and lust. Temper and fear. Sexy.
Dom was still under the Hummer, cursing under his breath and ignoring everyone. It was times like this his missed the team. They knew each other so well, knew when to push and when to back off and let it ride.
Though to be honest, it appeared that everyone there did also. Tommy backed off when Taylor began to get pissy. Sean tried to defuse the situation. Riddick stood back and observed and Sarah was just hot. In more ways that one. Dom snickered to himself.
Fuck he wanted her in the worst way. It was just a sexual hunger either. He wanted her. In his life. Making him a better man. Building a family with him. Dom frowned and stopped working for a minute. Fuck me! How was he going to build a life with her when she hadn't even lived her's yet. Too young, Toretto, forget it! He heard her laugh and felt his cock jerk. He was so fucked!
The door jingled but no one bothered moving. They figured it was Shay or Mia. Only eyes glanced and then brows raised.
A small, dark haired woman stood there for a second, glanced around the room with a pissed off look on her face before her eyes settled over their target. She made her way over and looked up at him.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself." He rumbled.
"How you been?"
"Fine, you?"
"Been alright." She looked around, "Nice place you got here."
He shrugged, "I like it."
"You need me?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side.
He matched the movement, "Humm,"
Tommy and Sarah looked up from their work and Tommy stood to his full height, which wasn't that impressive, unfortunately. He watched as a small spit-fire talked to Riddick.
"What's with the goggles? You welding?"
Riddick didn't answer and she let out a huff. "You still pissed at me?"
"Probably. I still got a reason?"
Riddick was having fun now. Nothing like fucking with someone's head to make his day. He had no idea who this woman was but she clearly thought he was someone else. Probably Dom.
"I ain't with Jorge no more."
"Good for you."
She moved in closer and leaned herself against him. "I missed you."
Riddick grunted but didn't move. He noticed Tommy and Sarah moving closer and Taylor nudged Sean with his foot. Sean blinked and then smiled as he waited for the next round of fireworks.
"Wish I could say the same," Riddick rumbled and looked over at Tommy with a smirk.
"Who's this?" Tommy asked, trying not to sound like a jealous boyfriend. And failing.
The girl turned her head and looked him up and down, "I'm his girlfriend, Letty. Who the fuck are you."
Tommy's eyes snapped to Riddick's, "Girlfriend?"
Riddick just shrugged, interested to see what Tommy would do or say.
"You jealous?" Letty said with a small laugh and then turned back to look at Riddick, "What? You switching teams on me now? Is hanging out with those fag's Taylor and Sean rub off on you?"
"Wow, you're a real bitch aren't you? Just who the fuck do you think you are coming in here and opening that big fuckin' mouth of yours?" Sarah growled as she took a small step toward the woman.
She hadn't know Taylor or Sean all that long but she was best friends with Tommy and she would not put up with that language around her.
"Who the fuck do you think you are, skank?" Letty shot back hotly and the sound of a wrench hitting the floor echoed loudly throughout the garage.
A glide of wheels as the creeper moved out from under the Hummer and slowly Dom unfurled himself from it and stood.
He wiped his hands off on a red shop rag before he sighed and took a step in the direction of the latest upheaval in his life. Letty!
He stopped in the doorway and looked around the room before his eyes settled on Letty's back with a frown.
"Letty?" Dom said, his voice empty of all emotion.
Her head snapped around and she looked at him and then back at the man she was leaning against. She backed away and looked around the room. One, two, three... four.
"What the fuck, Dom? Who's that?" she asked, pointing to Riddick.
"You tell me, you were all over him." Dom replied with a smirk.
"I thought he was you."
Dom gave a small laugh, "Oh, so now you want to rub all over me? When we were together, it seemed you'd rather rub against someone else."
"Oh, like you never did it. Fuck you. You fucked anything that moved." Letty sneered, uncaring who heard her.
Dom's eyes cut to Sarah's and he saw her flinch. He shook his head, "You believe what you want, Letty. Nothin' I say is gonna change your mind anyway. What do you want?"
"Thought maybe you needed some help. Leon said you're opening up tomorrow."
"We are, but as you can see, I got all the help I need."
Letty scoffed, "You need the team, Dom. You dissed V, sold everything to Leon and didn't bother to say goodbye. You're lucky I'm a forgiving person."
Dom snorted, "Letty, you never forgave one God damn thing I've done wrong and Vince was hurting Mia. You'd've kicked my ass if I pulled that shit with you so get off your fuckin' high horse."
"Fuck you, Dom. You're the one that thinks you're too good for the rest of us now. You and your new house. You're new friends. You always wanted more, didn't you, Dom? Always looking for something better."
"Learned it from the best" Dom said with a great deal of disdain. Dom walked past and opened a small fridge to get a bottle of water. He got an extra one for Sarah and handed it too her before he kissed her on the cheek and whispered he was sorry.
Sorry for what, he wasn't sure. He had no reason to be sorry. He did nothing wrong but he didn't want Sarah to get the wrong idea about him. He didn't want her to see him as he used to be.
Letty straightened and shot Sarah a look that told her exactly how she felt about her. "You'll never be more than a grease-monkey. A second rate street-racer."
Dom threw back his head and laughed. He didn't give a shit who was in the room now. He was ready to rip Letty a new one. She had some balls and he really couldn't see what he'd ever seen in her.
"Second rate? Baby, I'm the fuckin' best." Dom told her as he spread his arms then pointed to her with the hand that held the bottle. "We both know it. And lets face it, that's why you wanted me. You never really loved me, Letty. You wanted me for the name. For my money. For a mentor. I taught you everything you know. Well, you've had your reign as queen bitch. You got your car and money. Now get out of my life and let me live in peace without your constant cuts and put downs. I'm through with you."
Dom started to make his way back in the garage, away from her. Away from everyone. He was sick of her already and she'd only been there for a few minutes. How had they lived together for as long as they had?
"You'll never have better than me!" She yelled and followed him. She wasn't done hurting him yet. Cutting him down. Trying to make herself feel better.
There was no way to keep their argument from everyone. The place was big but voices carried and Letty was never one to keep hers down. Especially when she was pissed.
"Anything would be better than what we had. Life ain't all about fucking, fast cars and cash."
"Since when?"
Dom let out a roar and turned to face her. All the pent up anger was boiling and threatening to come out now. He had some stuff he needed to get off his chest if he truly wanted to move on.
He hated that it was going to be said in front of others but there was no other option. He didn't enjoy embarrassing Letty, not like she did with him. He just needed her to understand. He changed. He grew and he wanted, no needed, a different kind of life now.
"Since it all fell to shit. Since I almost ended up behind bars for a minimum of twenty years while you fucked everyone behind my back. While I took the rap for all of you. And how do you all repay me? You leave me for some other guy. Vince started beatin' on my sister. Leon's the only one that kept on the path. Held it together and looked after Mia."
Dom was pacing now and he rounded on her, his eyes blazing with anger. It was all coming out now. No holds barred. He was only going to say this once to her and then he was done. He never wanted to see her again.
"I know you all blame me for Jesse's death. I didn't fuckin' kill him. He raced Tran for pinks. He did it to himself. Not me. I'm not living with that on my shoulders anymore. You miss Jesse so much? You loved him like a brother? Well that girl right there is his cousin. You remember him talking about her? Sarah?" He watched as the realization dawned in her eyes then continued, "But all you can see is a skank. Competition. Someone that needs to be kicked in the teeth just because she got the same parts as you and is near me. That ain't love, Letty, and you don't own me. You never have.
"Think of how Jesse would've felt if he heard what you said to her. Just fuckin' think once in your life before you open that fuckin' mouth of yours. Grow up and back the fuck off."
Dom took a deep breath and closed his eyes, all the fight draining out of him. "What you say might be true, Letty, but look a look around. I have more. I am more and I don't need you coming here and bringing me down."
"You're wrong, Dom. I did love you. I still do." Letty sniffed and put her sunglasses back on. "I'm sorry. I loved you the best I could."
Dom's voice was soft when he spoke to her. Tender. Full of regrets and forgiveness. "It's not enough, Baby. Not anymore."
She swallowed and nodded. She had her pride and she finally realized what they had was dead and gone. "Ok, well. Good luck then." With one long look around to everyone, she made her way to the car.
"Wait," Sarah called and ran over to her. "You were friends with Jesse?"
Letty nodded, "Yeah. He was like a brother to me."
Sarah bit her lip and Dom had to stifle a groan. The situation could quickly turn volatile and he had no business standing there lusting after Sarah when Letty was standing beside her.
"Thank you for that. I'd like," Sarah sighed and looked over at Dom. She couldn't read his expression so she just continued, "I'd like to talk to you about him sometime if that's ok?"
Letty sagged slightly, "Yeah. Ok." She looked over and Dom and gave him a nod. "Your boyfriend has my number."
Before Sarah could reply Letty got in her car, fired it up and sped away.
There was a collective sigh before Dom spoke. "I think we should call it a day."
Dom turned and went back in the garage and began to clean up his tools. Fuck, if everyday was like this, they'd never get anything done. Thunder rumbled loudly, reflecting his mood and he just wanted to take a shower and drink himself into a stupor. He was so tired and his head pounded.
He was pretty sure Letty just ruined any chance he had with Sarah. Probably for the better. She was too young but damn, he still wanted her.
"You alright man?" Sean asked him and Dom just nodded.
"Yeah. Sorry you all had to see that."
Sean snorted, "Shit, that was nothing compared to what happened when Taylor told Matty. Man, it was a fucking mess. Seems we can't keep from airing our dirty laundry around each other."
Dom sighed and rubbed his head, "Fuck. I don't want Sarah to see me like that. Like I used to be."
Sean nodded, "I know, Dom. You should have seen me before Florida," he took a seat on the hood of the Hummer Dom had been working on. "I was a wreck . Drinking and generally wasting my life away. I tracked down the fuck that killed Stacey and then I had nothing. I did nothing. I'd go days without a shower. It was just too much work." Sean looked up as Taylor came to stand by him.
"Go talk to her Dom. We'll finish cleaning up here." Taylor told him but his eyes stayed on Sean. No matter how many times they talked about before, he just ached for him. For what he lost.
Taylor leaned against the car between Sean's legs and he felt Sean relax and put a hand on his hip.
Dom shook his head. "You don't know where to put my shit."
"Then leave it. Fuck it, Dom. You'll be here tomorrow morning anyway."
Dom dropped the wrench he had in his hand and sighed. He turned his head toward Sarah and found her looking at him. She waited for him to reach her side before she walked out to her car and handed him the keys. Dom cupped her face in one large hand and kissed her forehead before he opened the door for her. They drove off without a backward glance.
Riddick and Tommy stood there, watching them drive off along with Sean and Taylor.
"His ex is a feisty little chit isn't she?" Riddick mused.
"It's the Latino blood. It burns hot." Sean said with a grin and looked at Taylor.
Taylor snorted, "I think we've had this conversation before."
"Yeah. A few times." Sean agreed. "Come on, lets lock up and get home. They'll be plenty of drama to deal with tomorrow. Leon was right. It's like a soap opera around here."
Tommy laughed, "Yeah we got three-ways, bi-sexuals, pregnant women. Doppelgangers, spys and murderers. You couldn't make this shit up."
"Dead wives, homophobic best friends, washed up cops. Maybe I can become a writer and turn it into a TV show. Heard Hollywood is hurting for material with the writers strike going on." Sean laughed and looked at Taylor. "You think anyone would believe this shit?"
"No fuckin' way." Taylor laughed and shook his head. No fuckin' way.