Chapter 9: The Fast Chevy Impala and the Furious Ford Mustang

"Party in the city where the heat is on

All night, on the beach till the break of dawn

"Welcome to Miami"

"Bienvenidos a Miami"

"Everywhere I turn it is Will Smith and this damn song." Dean huffed as he turned off the radio and took another turn. It wasn't really the song that was upsetting him, it was the fact that there was a case, in Miami of all places and Sarah wouldn't let him go alone. Sam and Juls were on another case across country and when Dean got a call, he wanted to try and handle it, but Sarah wouldn't hear it.

And she did have some good points. Like that no one should go on a hunt without back up. And that she knew Miami, growing up in the big city. And that she had abilities that could help. Ok, so maybe she was right. Doesn't mean Dean had to like it.

People seemingly dropping dead, on the streets, in dead of night, their insides frozen solid, not a simple salt and burn.

Dean posed as an FBI agent Smith, like the last time he was in Miami and got more information out of the cops and the coroner. Apparently, there were a multitude of cameras all around each of the three deaths, but magically none worked for a few minutes when the victims took their final breath.

Deep tire tracks were found at each scene, but we're unidentifiable due to some added substance that was found in the tracks. There were no witnesses, or none came forth. The coroner said that while it was true that their insides showed signed of crystallization, that all deaths were in fact simple cardiac arrest. Simple... For perfectly healthy people in their late twenties to just drop dead. Right.

The only viable thing Dean had to go on were the tire tracks. He spent the entire ride back to their motel room trying to figure out how could he learn more about that clue, who could help him, but he came up with nothing. Still, when he told Sarah everything he found out, she knew exactly who could help. Dean knew there was a reason he brought her along.

"Pablo, estas aqui?" Sarah said as she entered the mechanics garage, looking to him. Dean followed close behind, still remembering his previous meeting with Pablo. A grunt echoed from under a car, followed by a sound of a rolling trolley or something. Then there was a loud this followed by a shout before Pablo finally emerged from under a car, holding his forehead that probably had a bump right now.

"Where else would I be?" The mechanic sounded, his Latin accent accentuating his annoyance. He approached the pair, smiling kindly at Sarah and at the same time throwing Dean dirty looks, how the hell he was able to do that, Dean had no idea. The short man pulled Sarah into a short hug, transferring car oil on her shirt. "Sarita... It is good to see you. Your perro, too."

"Pablo." Sarah said with a doze of warning and the man lifted his hands in surrender, laughing and saying he was only joking. They made small talk for a few minutes before Sarah showed him why they came to him.

"These look like Westlake SA07 Performance Radial Tires - size 255/40ZR19. Here, you can find them on Toyotas, and Mustangs, mostly. And that is about all I can tell from the picture. There looks to be something in..."

"Yeah, that is some strange substance they found in the tracks, but used up all of it for testing and didn't have any left. The rest was just smeared on the road." Dean said with a huff. Pablo squinted his eyes at him, then turned to Sarah.

"Fuiste a ver Dominico? Él podría decirte más." Pablo told her and she scoffed at him for using Spanish.

"No, I didn't go to see Dominic. What more could he tell me that you already don't know, huh? You just want me to go to him so that he could..." Sarah cut herself short and glanced at Dean. He could see she was getting pissed, but also determined. "You know what?! Dean is a man I chose. If anyone has a problem with that, they have to go through me. Not you, not Dom, not anyone has the right to tell me who I can and can't see and how to live my life. You got that?!" Pablo hung his head low, not sure what to say. Sarah seemed to be ready to leave.

"And you know what else?! Don't bother running off and saying this to Dom. Tomorrow, I will come find him myself." She said, turned on her heal and left, leaving a very embarrassed mechanic and a slightly confused hunter behind. Dean knew Pablo didn't like him and probably thought Sarah was too good for him, and as true as that may be, she had a point. It was her life and her choice.

Still, wishing to solve this, and not be the cause of the fight between two friends, Dean asked Pablo where he could find this Dominic and if the man would be willing to talk to him. Dean's Spanish was more then rusty, but if he understood the mechanic right, maybe this Dom character could help them with the case? Pablo just gave him a street name on the outskirts of the town and said he would find him there.

Dean dropped Sarah off at the hotel and told he he would go and pick up dinner and some other supplies they needed. He knew well she wouldn't want to go out when she was this angry, she would just fume silently until Dean found a way to make her laugh. Still, somehow this felt like a bit more serious matter, and he wasn't sure he could turn her mood around that easily, so he decided to go and try to talk to Dominic now, and if they find common ground, then maybe it would lift Sarah's spirits.

Dean thought he made a mistake when he got to the directed street only to find a huge crowd. Strangely enough the crowd parted when he arrived, letting him pass until he came up to two cars. A neon green 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2G GS and a black 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Some very nice wheels.

Dean put the car in park and got out, immediately sporting the head of this... Gang. Broad shoulders, big muscles and a serious, calculating look in his eyes. The fact that he was bald took nothing out of his mean apperance. Next to him stood a guy, blond hair, squared jaw and a slightly less intimidating blue eyes. Could be second in command. What the hell did he get himself into?

"Um... Hi there. I'm looking for a Dominic." Big muscles flexed his... Big muscles as he crossed his arms and raised a curious eye brow at Dean.

"You are have to be a bit more specific then that. Because there's a Dominic, and there is another Dominic and here is a Dominico..." The guy said moving only his head in various direction.

"I um..." He had no idea about the guy he was looking for except his name and the fact that Sarah knew him.

"But no matter which Dominic you're looking for, you ain't gonna find him here. So run along, cop." The man said and started to turn around, to indicate the conversation was over.

"I'm not a cop!" Dean said and the man paused, his expression turning amused. "Sure, I impersonate one from time to time, but come on. A cop driving this beauty?" Dean said as he motioned for his car, thinking they would appreciate a good set of wheels. But the man just scoffed.

"That hunk of junk? Maybe if you greased your elbows from time to time and tuned her up, she could compare..." the guy said looking over at what was probably his Dodge and Dean snapped.

"Now, look here. I don't mind being treated like an outsider, and be dismissed, but you can't talk about my car like that. Baby would beat your ass any day." Dean said with a threatening look, but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the whole crowd suddenly grew silent.

"Is that so?" The man asked with a raised brow.

"Yyy... Yes." Dean confirmed sounding less certain. Clearly these guys were racers and what the fuck was he even thinking?

"Well, then... Why don't we find out? Tommorow night, at the marina. If I win... I get your car." Oh shit, oh shit, oh, shit... "And if you win... Dean... You get Sarah." Oh freaking hell. They duped him.

When Dean returned to the motel room later, he knew he had to face the music and tell Sarah what happened. Still, he waited till she finished her dinner before talking to her about it, because she needed to eat, and he was worried she might not have much of an appetite after he told her what he had done. He expected her to be furious with him, yell and shout, but she just... Froze. Stared at a spot and gritted her teeth for a few minutes and Dean didn't know if he should say or do something, he didn't want to trigger her.

"That... That bastard. Who the hell does he think he is, using me as the prize in his stupid race?! I am not property to be moved around and sold! Come on. Let's go!" She said and stood up. As much as Dean agreed and was frankly pissed at that Dominic guy for treating Sarah like this, it was almost midnight and Dean wanted to protest and tell Sarah she needed to rest. She was pregnant after all.

But he had a feeling that if he told her that, she might punch him, or worse, smite him and he did not want that. So instead he followed her out and into the car. She instructed him to drive back to Pablo's so he did.

Truth was, he had never seen Sarah so angry before and he didn't know what else to do but to just let her do what she needed to do, that always worked best for her.

"Paaaaabloooooo!" She screamed as she entered the garage and made Pablo drop a carburator on his foot. "You! You sent him there on purpose, didn't you?!"

"Sarita, I... I had to..."

"No! No! Don't give me that crap! You know what he did? You know what Dom did?! He tricked Dean. He tricked him into a race with the Impala and me as the fucking prize!" Wow, Dean didn't think he ever heard Sarah drop the F word before.

"This is your fault!" She said with a threatening finger and a slight glow in her eyes that only Dean knew what it really was. Pablo looked to be scared shitless so he just stared at her. "This is your fault, so you're gonna help us beat Dom. You are gonna add nitrous oxide to the engine, a turbocharger, and make alterations to the exhaust system. You got me?!" To that Pablo could only nod, then to do what she said.

"Don't worry, honey, he is going to put everything back the way it was once we finish this race and win." Sarah said with much more kindness. She came closer and kissed Dean, smiling up at him.

"You think... You think there is a chance we could win?" Dean asked. Sure, he wasn't too thrilled about having someone else tamper with Baby and her private parts, but if it would put that ass Dominic in his place, he would let it happen. For Sarah. No matter how protective the guy is of her, what he did, was completely uncalled for.

"With the current alterations, no. We would have to replace the whole engine and probably some of her suspension and do a lot more work before she could compete in something like this." Sarah replied softly. "But I am hoping we stand a chance with these minor updates and the small surprise I am cooking up. It just might be enough to throw Dom of his game."

Next evening a crowd gathered down at the marina in expectance of the new race. Or better said - to see Dean crash and burn. Because they all knew there was no way he could win, especially not against Dominic Torreto.

Brian was by Dom's side, trying to persuade him not to go through with this, because Dean didn't seem like a bad guy and they both knew Dom could get a little over protective. Dom just smiled at him and went to his Dodge.

Truth was, Dom had no intention of taking the guy's Impala, thought it was a good car. He just wanted to see his reaction to the whole 'Sarah as the prize' thing and how he would conduct himself after he looses.

Dom just wanted to make sure Dean was in fact a good guy.

The Impala roared as it approached the starting line, right in time for the race. AC/DC's 'Back in Black' blared out of the car's speakers and Dom smirked, thinking how typical. But then the car rolled to his Dodge and he looked over at the driver and his face fell.

Because there, in the driver's seat, sat Sarah, pissed, silent, deadly.

And he knew there was a chance she wouldn't talk to him ever again, but he just had to play it cool.

"You letting your girlfriend drive ya?" The man teased. Dean leaned forward from the passenger seat and raised an amused brow at the man.

"I told you my baby would beat your ass any day. Isn't that right, baby?" Dean said, directing his question to Sarah. The girl's smile grew into a grin as she replied "That's right, babe."

Okay, Dom did not forseen this turn of events. Sarah was good, he taught her how to drive himself. But his car was far superior then theirs, so logically, Dom would win easily.

But the question is, would he let her loose?

He stared at them far too long, thinking what to do and he completely missed the starting cue, almost startled as the Impala roared and left him in tire produced smoke and exhaust fumes.

Yeah, but even with a few seconds head start, they had no way of winning. Still Sarah was good and blocked his every attempt of surpassing them. But he was better and knew that Sarah wouldn't risk scratching Dean's car.

So he wiggled he way through and put the pedal to the metal. He left them far behind and glanced at the rearview mirror, smirking to himself. Something very green was suddenly in his view, and he hit the breaks hard, coming to a stop only inches from a Mitsubishi.

He glared daggers at Brian as the young blond excused himself, muttering something about making a wrong turn somewhere and backed up the alley only to let the Impala zoom pass Dominic.

The man cursed and hit the gas, catching up to them fact. They danced around again till Dom blew past them and left them far behind, this time more focused on everything around him, so that Brian or someone else didn't make another 'mistake'.

He was winning. And then guilt kicked in. Because if they list, Sarah would demand he got the prize, which was her and the car. Damn, this was too messed up. His thoughts caused him to slow down, not feeling too good all of a sudden.

He reached to set the air-conditioning, only to frown at it for being turned to heat when it was so cold in the car. The radio went on, then off and on again.

Suddenly something bright red appeared in his vision and he hit the breaks, his car swaying on the road. He watched, eyes wide as a fury red '67 Ford Mustang appeared out of now where and ran straight through the lamp post.

The Impala caught up and stopped right next to him, Sarah rolling down her window. "Dom! You okay?!"

"Yeah, I... I don't know what happened or where that car came from... I..." The man replied, confused.

"It is leaving the same marks as the other crime scenes." He heard Dean's comment and was confused about it.

"Okay, Dom. Listen to me." Sarah said turning his attention to her. "Stay put. We'll handle this." And with that, she drove off. Dom stayed out for about a second before both curiosity and worry took over and he ran after them.

He was amazed by Sarah's driving now that he had an opportunity to focus on that, but even she wasn't a match for a car that disappeared and reappeared on the road at random and was able to run through things.

Still, she seemed to be right on his trail, as if she knew where he would pop up next. The Mustang, sometimes immaterial could actually switch to being completely tangible and tried to run the off the road a few times, but Sarah held on.

One second the car was right there, the other it was behind Dom, finally spotting him there too and trying to get him off the road too. Dom thought he heard Sarah curse at him, but was too focused trying to fend the Mustang off. It seemed like Sarah was way better at it then him, because he took down a lamp post and a fire hydrant trying to stay on the road.

Something blue erupted from the Impala and it was like the Mustang was drawn to it, instantly abandoning Dom in favor of Dean's car. When all attempts to run the black beauty of the road failed, the mUstang disappeared and Dom sighed in relief.

But it wasn't over yet, not by a long shot. The red fury appeared a mile upfront, facing them and roaring. Tires screeched as it let go of the brakes and hit the gas, gunning for them. Dom looked over, and was amazed to find both Sarah and Dean focused on it, serious and determined.

Sarah out the car in gear and rocketed towards the Mustang, accepting a game of chicken. Only neither seemed to chiken out of the possible crash.

The blue light erupted out of the Impala once again, just as the Mustang was about to crash into them and Dom didn't know what happened, was it the light or was it the Mustang, but the car dematerialized as it ran through them, and drove off in flames, slowly burning out of existence.

Calmly, the Impala reached him and both Sarah and Dean came out of the car, like nothing happened. Like that wasn't some sort of an apparition and it didn't just went up in flames.

"You good?" Dean asked, his face stoic as Dom got out of the car.

"What the hell was that?" He asked, glaring at them and Dean just nonchalantly shrugged it off.

"Just another run of the mill ghost.

Dom stared at him for a while. He had his people look into the guy when he first learned of him and the background came sketchy at best. He was reported dead several times, wanted in multiple states for various crimes and was even involved in a presidential assassination.

It all seemed a bit too farfetched, so Dom naturally thought the background was fake, that the guy was a cop or in witness protection. He never thought that the background might actually be true.

"And we won." Sarah commented looking over at the marked finish line. Dom huffed a laugh, shaking his head.

"You sure did." Dom said lifting his gaze at the pair, smiling proudly.

"And just for the record, you wouldn't be able to keep us apart. Sarah wouldn't have let you." Dean said. Sure, he would protest and fight and kill whoever he needed to get to her, but he knew she would be a much bigger fight to Dom. Gotta live a strong powerful woman.

"I suppose you're right." Dom said, then shook Dean's hand.

They went and joined Dominic's friends, declaring truce and not speaking of the red Mustang ghost. Dom learned Sarah was with child and congratulated them, drinking to their name and promising to teach the kid how to properly drive. Dean laughed him off, and Dom settled to buy a kid a car when he or she was of age instead.

Before Dean and Sarah left Miami, they said their goodbyes and explained to Dom that if he should ever encounter anything strange or unexplainable, he should contact them, and he agreed. Cars, races and thefts were more his game then ghosts and apparitions and all that weird stuff.

To each their own.