CHAPTER 8
Dom drove to the beach where he and Nikki had gone so many times -- with the whole team, with their girls, and alone together. They had even made love there several times -- both inside and outside of the car. Letty had been right -- Nikki's Benz was sitting in the empty lot. She wasn't inside of it and Dom followed her footprints. The beach was totally deserted and he couldn't help thinking how foolish it was for her to be out here alone. He saw her sitting on the beach, looking small and lost. He could kill himself for what he did to her. Dom walked up to her slowly. "Nikki." "Go away, Dom, there isn't anything left to say." "Everything I said was true, Nik, you did make a choice and you said you wanted me back to you. I'm back -- I've already apologized to Leon and Jesse and Letty and Vince." She looked at him in surprise. "I thought you might be hiding out at one of their houses -- Letty is the one who told me to look here." "Dom, I'm not being a bitch to you but I don't know how to fix what you did." "I don't either, babe, but can't we try?" He took her hand and was thankful when she didn't pull it back. "I don't know how -- I really don't. I can yell at you for the next ten years and it won't make a difference at the end because you believed those pictures." "Nikki -- were you worried tonight when I told you I was going to get laid and I was looking at a blonde?" She opened her mouth and closed it again. "Be honest." "Yes -- I had Jesse call me from that bar where the party was so I knew you didn't crash and I wanted to ask him if you were with someone." "So tell me that if you got pictures of me fucking some chick that you wouldn't have suspected that it was real .... or how about if they were pictures of me and Letty?" "I would have looked closer." "Positive about that? It was easy to do tonight -- you knew that it wasn't you in those pictures but if you had seen me?" He was making a point. "I guess I feel that we should have trust and ..." "And we do but Nik, every couple has jealousy too -- shit, if we didn't have jealousy about another person it wouldn't be much of a union. The trust is there all the time but so is that little fear that the person you love most in the world might fuck you over." Nikki nodded at that. "Let's get off this beach -- my ass is sore from the sand." "You gonna cut and run on me?" He smiled and she had to laugh. "No, you've got that race car and I don't think I could outrun you this time." They walked slowly up to their cars. Nikki started to tell him what Mia said on the phone but he wasn't listening -- he could hear them, the same way he heard them when Jesse was shot and almost killed. Then he saw them -- two motorcycles -- it was all playing in his head -- like a rerun -- Jesse hitting the ground, Dom thinking he had died in his arms, the blood, Mia screaming. He didn't even think -- he grabbed Nikki and threw her against the car hard, putting his body as much over hers as possible -- the gunshots rang out and Dom slid to the ground. "DOMINIC!"
CHAPTER 9
"They must have followed one of us -- can you get me in your car?" She opened the door and used all of her strength to pull him and push him -- he was bleeding too much from his back and she was terrified. He was so heavy and using his strength to help her, which only made him bleed more. Finally he was leaning across the seat and she shut the door. She ran around the car and got in and started to drive. "Not the hospital -- Nik, take me home." "NO! You've been shot several times. Dom, you are bleeding terribly." "They'll go to the hospital and I won't be safe. If we go home and then you ditch this car, it'll be okay." "You'll bleed to death." "Nikki, you told me your past -- I know you can get these bullets out of me -- you told me you did it for that guy in Jersey." "It wasn't deep -- I don't know how deep you are wounded Dom or if it is near an artery or how many or how bad you are bleeding. I don't even know how to get you into the house. We have to go to the hospital." "They'll kill me, babe. And the hospital has to report gunshot wounds to the cops." "What if I can't help you?" "Just drive baby -- fast -- get us home fast -- they won't even think to go there right away. Call Jesse and Leon on the cell and ask them to meet us there -- don't call Vince -- Letty needs him and this will only upset her." Nikki picked up her cell and asked Leon to bring Jesse and meet them at the house and asked Jesse to bring something with him that only she knew about -- it was a secret they shared. When she pulled in, they were there and carried Dom in and laid him on his stomach on the bed. Nikki and Jesse stripped him while Leon ditched her car. They kept off all the lights except for in the nursery and the bedroom and bath so it looked like an empty house. He had five bullets in his body -- one in his shoulder, two in his shoulder blade, one near the base of his back and one in the back of his upper thigh. "Oh guys, this is not cool -- he needs a doctor." "No, Nikki can get them out. Nik, do it." Dom said, his voice deep with pain. She looked at Jesse and Leon. "I can't, Dom -- I'm scared -- they might be deep. There's so much blood." "Fucking do it, baby. Tell them what you need and take them out." Nikki looked into his eyes and got all the strength she could from him. "Jesse, give me what you brought me." He handed her a prescription bottle. "Thanks, go downstairs and get the first aid kit and a bottle of Jack Daniels and a bottle of Vodka. Leon, I need a sewing kit -- there is one in the closet of the guest bedroom and some fishing wire -- I think there is some in the basement." They hurried off and Nikki went into the bathroom. Dom heard her rummaging around, knocking things down, breaking things. She came out. "This is going to hurt like a bastard." "What did Jesse give you?" "Xanax -- he's been on it since he was sixteen. He never wanted anyone to know. But he did tell me one night. It'll help you so much tonight." "Nikki, if something happens." "Don't you dare, dare say that or I will call 911." "Just tell me you forgive me." She knelt on the floor next to the bed so her face was right in line with his. "I forgive you, darling. I do." She tenderly kissed his lips. "I want you to put these under your tongue. They are gonna taste nasty but do it." "What is it?" "Vicodin -- they're from when I had Glory and had some pain afterward, but they're still good." She put six under his tongue, knowing it was too much, way too much, but that she was going to dig into his body. He was 225 pounds of muscle and she knew this amount would probably kill her but would only help him. "Now the Xanax -- put them under your tongue, too. C'mon, let me see that tongue I know and love." Dom smiled at her and stuck his tongue out and Nikki put four Xanax there with the Vicodin. "Don't swallow them, let them melt." "God." "I know, they're horrible." She rubbed his head and kissed his lips and stood up. She had all the clean towels in the house and clean sheets. She was going to have to pack these wounds well. Suddenly she thought of something and grabbed her cell. "This is Mrs. Toretto, please have Dr. Soma call me as soon as possible. I've got a fever of 104 degrees and a sore throat. Could he make it liquid -- my throat is really sore? Thanks." A few minutes later the phone rang. Nikki gave him the number of the pharmacy and Dom watched her, already feeling hazy from the meds she gave him. Jesse and Leon ran into the room with everything she asked for. "Leon, I need you to go to Barton's 24 Hour Drugs -- two blocks down and to the right and up one block. Pick up a prescription for Mrs. Nikki Toretto. Grab Dom's keys -- when you come back, pull around the truck and park your car where the charger was." Leon took off and Jesse stood looking at her. She grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels. "Honey, wake up a little bit. I want you to take a swig of this -- it'll help get rid of the taste of the drugs." He drank some and then some more. Dom felt he was just floating now -- he could barely feel the pain until she poured most of the bottle of vodka on his back. He was on fire now and she petted him, kissing his head, feeding him more of the Jack Daniels. She gave him two more Xanax, putting them under his tongue and he started to feel the floating again. "How can I do this?" "You can do it, Nikki. I'll help you. He's like an engine -- that's what I keep telling myself -- Dom is an engine." She smiled a sad smile and kissed Jesse's cheek. She looked down at Dom and saw he was very much out of it. Thank god for living in a chemical world. She opened the first aid kit -- it was well stocked for almost any emergency but probably surgery wasn't one of them. Before she did anything she taught Jesse how to take his pulse and watch the clock. She put on gloves and picked up a small knife wondering what that was in there for. Who knows, maybe this was for surgery? She started at the easiest -- the one on his shoulder. She knew that was basically muscle and she dug it out easily. He moaned a few times but for the most part, he was quiet. His pulse was good and strong and she pushed a gauze bandage in there to soak up the blood and moved to the next easiest -- the one high on his thigh. "Just missed your boys, baby." She whispered and Jesse offered a weak laugh. Dom was too out of it to hear or understand her. She dug, this one was a little deeper and he made a little more noise, but it came out too, and then she packed it. The two in his shoulder blade were grisly but came out easier than she expected. She stopped and Jesse stared at her. She was staring at the one in his lower back. "God, Jess, if I cut him here and make one little error, he could be paralyzed for life. I'm so scared." "You're doing great, Nikki. I'd let you operate on me anytime. Seriously, do it -- have faith in him and in yourself and in God. God didn't give you those babies to raise alone and you know it. Dom is right -- if he goes to the hospital, he will die. The Trans will make sure of it. Even if we take him 100 miles from here and put him in under another name, they'll track him down. Right now they think he's dead, probably. Plus, they report gunshots to the cops and Dom could be in trouble -- he was racing tonight and I don't think he's been the best boy on the block lately." She smiled and decided Jesse was right -- she had faith in him and would force it in herself to do this. Leon walked in and was stunned to see all the bullets out but one. "Nikki -- holy shit. Here, I got the liquid penicillin." She took the bottle and went to Dom's head. "Baby, you need to drink this. Dom!" He was so completely out. "Jesse, hold his head back as far as you can and Leon, hold his mouth open like a funnel ... yes, like that." Nikki poured half the bottle into his mouth slowly, rubbing his neck. They looked at her as Dom automatically swallowed. She shrugged. "Used to work on my cat." They all laughed as much as they could at such a horrible scene. They laid him back down and Nikki reminded Jesse to keep checking his pulse. It was still strong. "That's my boy." Nikki gathered up all the strength, all the faith, all the love she had for him and went in for the last bullet in his lower back. It was so close to the spine that her arm was shaking. Suddenly Leon put his arms around her gently and it gave her the strength to keep going. She got the bullet out and Dom let out his first and only scream of the night. She soothed him with words, not wanting to give him anything else and he fell back into his drugged stupor. She closed each wound with fishing line. She used antibiotic cream and bandaged him up as tight as possible. The bleeding was soon down to a bare minimum and his pulse was still strong. She sat down on the floor near his head and put hers down. She was crying and Jesse knelt next to her and held her. "You did such a great job, Nik." "It was amazing. Where did you learn to do that?" Leon asked. "Long time ago -- from my unlawful past, to tell you the truth." "Well, let's thank God for an unlawful past that just saved your husband's life. Jimmy Tran wants him dead." Nikki looked at Leon and her eyes lit up with fear. "What, honey?" "Give me my cell." Nikki dialed and she spoke to Mia. "You two need to stay at Brian's mother's house for a while. No, there is a problem with the Tran's again. Dom and I are fine, honey -- everything is fine. Leon and Jesse are here and Letty is talking to Dom a little again but I want my children and your Alex safe and I don't think they will be if you come home." Nikki waited and Brian got on the phone. "No Bri, we're safe here but if you hear, somehow that Dom was killed -- he is fine -- he was shot but he's okay. No hospital so you know it wasn't serious." She looked at Jesse and Leon and they smiled -- they would protect her lie. "I'm going to deposit some money in your bank account -- do you have your ATM cards with you? Cool -- where are the deposit slips?" She listened and told him she would send Leon with the money tomorrow. She hung up and yawned. "Nik, you are exhausted -- you need sleep, sweetie. We'll stay with him." "No, I can't leave him. Plus, I've got a few more phone calls to make." She dialed again. "Vince, it's Nik." She was quiet. "I know he was there and yeah, he found me. I miss you too, big bear. Listen to me -- Dom was shot and we don't know who did it -- no, he's fine -- we're not at the house -- we're in a hotel up out in the canyons." Once again she looked up at Leon and Jesse. Her lies were growing and she hated it. "I need you to do Dom and I a huge favor. I need you to go to the next race ..." she listened. "Tomorrow night -- great -- go and tell everyone that Dom is dead. I'm serious, V. It'll save his life, maybe all of our lives. Do it. We're staying in the hotel until he can figure out who did this to him. You can't talk to him -- he's in the shower washing it out -- it's just a flesh wound -- barely bled. He's going to come back quietly and call you and the two of you can find this person. Jesse and Leon left -- they thought it would be best to take the heat off LA." She couldn't even look at them this time, she looked at her sleeping husband and watched Jesse take his pulse. He gave her the thumbs up sign. "V, Dom is the one who told me to call you first and to ask you to do this for him. Yeah, the kids are safe in another state with Mia and Bri. I've gotta go and get him some food. He's cranky after being shot!" She faked a giggle and hung up. "I hate lying." "You're good at it, though." She looked up at Leon, who was smiling at her. "You need to let us in on your plan." "I will -- right now, we all need sleep. One more call and then everyone off to bed. Jesse, see that little alarm over there? It has some buttons that will make it ring every fifteen minutes but I can't figure out how to set it -- I bought it when Daisy was born but never used it. Could you set it to go off every fifteen so I can take his pulse?" "Nikki, you need sleep." "I'll sleep between. I'm not letting him die on me after he wouldn't let me take him to a hospital." Nikki dialed her cell phone again and asked for Derrick. "Derrick -- it's me, Nikki Toretto. Do you remember talking to me last year?" She waited and the guys looked at each other. "Yeah, that's me. I need your help -- are you still available?" She waited again and never looked at either one of them. "I need to meet with you at night -- somewhere not near my home. I'm not sure what night yet, but soon. Is that too complicated?" She laughed. "Sorry, I forgot you do complicated well. Cool. I'll have the money you need for everything. Thanks, Derrick." She smiled and hung up the phone. "I'm not even gonna ask about that until tomorrow." Leon said and Nikki thought to herself, you will get no answer, sweetie. "It's set, Nik." She smiled at Jesse -- such a brilliant mind. "Guys go find somewhere to sleep -- the nursery has a small couch, downstairs, the guest room -- good thing neither one of you had a chick with you tonight, huh?" "Actually ..." Leon blushed and she laughed. "You left a girl in your bed for me?" "Of course -- don't you know by now you are my favorite girl? I'd do anything for you or Big D." She kissed them both. "Don't turn on any lights downstairs or answer the phone if it rings. Remember after tomorrow people will think Dom is dead and I left town with my kids and you guys have split. The Trans will regret this, come what may." Nikki slept in fifteen minute shifts or less -- she kept getting up and checking his pulse. It was strong and sure. She changed the dressing on the wounds every two hours or so and made sure he was breathing normally. She would turn his head so his neck wouldn't get stiff. She couldn't stop touching or kissing him. All that fighting, the pictures, the last three months of torture they both went through meant nothing at this point. The only thing that mattered was that Dominic recovered completely.
Dom drove to the beach where he and Nikki had gone so many times -- with the whole team, with their girls, and alone together. They had even made love there several times -- both inside and outside of the car. Letty had been right -- Nikki's Benz was sitting in the empty lot. She wasn't inside of it and Dom followed her footprints. The beach was totally deserted and he couldn't help thinking how foolish it was for her to be out here alone. He saw her sitting on the beach, looking small and lost. He could kill himself for what he did to her. Dom walked up to her slowly. "Nikki." "Go away, Dom, there isn't anything left to say." "Everything I said was true, Nik, you did make a choice and you said you wanted me back to you. I'm back -- I've already apologized to Leon and Jesse and Letty and Vince." She looked at him in surprise. "I thought you might be hiding out at one of their houses -- Letty is the one who told me to look here." "Dom, I'm not being a bitch to you but I don't know how to fix what you did." "I don't either, babe, but can't we try?" He took her hand and was thankful when she didn't pull it back. "I don't know how -- I really don't. I can yell at you for the next ten years and it won't make a difference at the end because you believed those pictures." "Nikki -- were you worried tonight when I told you I was going to get laid and I was looking at a blonde?" She opened her mouth and closed it again. "Be honest." "Yes -- I had Jesse call me from that bar where the party was so I knew you didn't crash and I wanted to ask him if you were with someone." "So tell me that if you got pictures of me fucking some chick that you wouldn't have suspected that it was real .... or how about if they were pictures of me and Letty?" "I would have looked closer." "Positive about that? It was easy to do tonight -- you knew that it wasn't you in those pictures but if you had seen me?" He was making a point. "I guess I feel that we should have trust and ..." "And we do but Nik, every couple has jealousy too -- shit, if we didn't have jealousy about another person it wouldn't be much of a union. The trust is there all the time but so is that little fear that the person you love most in the world might fuck you over." Nikki nodded at that. "Let's get off this beach -- my ass is sore from the sand." "You gonna cut and run on me?" He smiled and she had to laugh. "No, you've got that race car and I don't think I could outrun you this time." They walked slowly up to their cars. Nikki started to tell him what Mia said on the phone but he wasn't listening -- he could hear them, the same way he heard them when Jesse was shot and almost killed. Then he saw them -- two motorcycles -- it was all playing in his head -- like a rerun -- Jesse hitting the ground, Dom thinking he had died in his arms, the blood, Mia screaming. He didn't even think -- he grabbed Nikki and threw her against the car hard, putting his body as much over hers as possible -- the gunshots rang out and Dom slid to the ground. "DOMINIC!"
CHAPTER 9
"They must have followed one of us -- can you get me in your car?" She opened the door and used all of her strength to pull him and push him -- he was bleeding too much from his back and she was terrified. He was so heavy and using his strength to help her, which only made him bleed more. Finally he was leaning across the seat and she shut the door. She ran around the car and got in and started to drive. "Not the hospital -- Nik, take me home." "NO! You've been shot several times. Dom, you are bleeding terribly." "They'll go to the hospital and I won't be safe. If we go home and then you ditch this car, it'll be okay." "You'll bleed to death." "Nikki, you told me your past -- I know you can get these bullets out of me -- you told me you did it for that guy in Jersey." "It wasn't deep -- I don't know how deep you are wounded Dom or if it is near an artery or how many or how bad you are bleeding. I don't even know how to get you into the house. We have to go to the hospital." "They'll kill me, babe. And the hospital has to report gunshot wounds to the cops." "What if I can't help you?" "Just drive baby -- fast -- get us home fast -- they won't even think to go there right away. Call Jesse and Leon on the cell and ask them to meet us there -- don't call Vince -- Letty needs him and this will only upset her." Nikki picked up her cell and asked Leon to bring Jesse and meet them at the house and asked Jesse to bring something with him that only she knew about -- it was a secret they shared. When she pulled in, they were there and carried Dom in and laid him on his stomach on the bed. Nikki and Jesse stripped him while Leon ditched her car. They kept off all the lights except for in the nursery and the bedroom and bath so it looked like an empty house. He had five bullets in his body -- one in his shoulder, two in his shoulder blade, one near the base of his back and one in the back of his upper thigh. "Oh guys, this is not cool -- he needs a doctor." "No, Nikki can get them out. Nik, do it." Dom said, his voice deep with pain. She looked at Jesse and Leon. "I can't, Dom -- I'm scared -- they might be deep. There's so much blood." "Fucking do it, baby. Tell them what you need and take them out." Nikki looked into his eyes and got all the strength she could from him. "Jesse, give me what you brought me." He handed her a prescription bottle. "Thanks, go downstairs and get the first aid kit and a bottle of Jack Daniels and a bottle of Vodka. Leon, I need a sewing kit -- there is one in the closet of the guest bedroom and some fishing wire -- I think there is some in the basement." They hurried off and Nikki went into the bathroom. Dom heard her rummaging around, knocking things down, breaking things. She came out. "This is going to hurt like a bastard." "What did Jesse give you?" "Xanax -- he's been on it since he was sixteen. He never wanted anyone to know. But he did tell me one night. It'll help you so much tonight." "Nikki, if something happens." "Don't you dare, dare say that or I will call 911." "Just tell me you forgive me." She knelt on the floor next to the bed so her face was right in line with his. "I forgive you, darling. I do." She tenderly kissed his lips. "I want you to put these under your tongue. They are gonna taste nasty but do it." "What is it?" "Vicodin -- they're from when I had Glory and had some pain afterward, but they're still good." She put six under his tongue, knowing it was too much, way too much, but that she was going to dig into his body. He was 225 pounds of muscle and she knew this amount would probably kill her but would only help him. "Now the Xanax -- put them under your tongue, too. C'mon, let me see that tongue I know and love." Dom smiled at her and stuck his tongue out and Nikki put four Xanax there with the Vicodin. "Don't swallow them, let them melt." "God." "I know, they're horrible." She rubbed his head and kissed his lips and stood up. She had all the clean towels in the house and clean sheets. She was going to have to pack these wounds well. Suddenly she thought of something and grabbed her cell. "This is Mrs. Toretto, please have Dr. Soma call me as soon as possible. I've got a fever of 104 degrees and a sore throat. Could he make it liquid -- my throat is really sore? Thanks." A few minutes later the phone rang. Nikki gave him the number of the pharmacy and Dom watched her, already feeling hazy from the meds she gave him. Jesse and Leon ran into the room with everything she asked for. "Leon, I need you to go to Barton's 24 Hour Drugs -- two blocks down and to the right and up one block. Pick up a prescription for Mrs. Nikki Toretto. Grab Dom's keys -- when you come back, pull around the truck and park your car where the charger was." Leon took off and Jesse stood looking at her. She grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels. "Honey, wake up a little bit. I want you to take a swig of this -- it'll help get rid of the taste of the drugs." He drank some and then some more. Dom felt he was just floating now -- he could barely feel the pain until she poured most of the bottle of vodka on his back. He was on fire now and she petted him, kissing his head, feeding him more of the Jack Daniels. She gave him two more Xanax, putting them under his tongue and he started to feel the floating again. "How can I do this?" "You can do it, Nikki. I'll help you. He's like an engine -- that's what I keep telling myself -- Dom is an engine." She smiled a sad smile and kissed Jesse's cheek. She looked down at Dom and saw he was very much out of it. Thank god for living in a chemical world. She opened the first aid kit -- it was well stocked for almost any emergency but probably surgery wasn't one of them. Before she did anything she taught Jesse how to take his pulse and watch the clock. She put on gloves and picked up a small knife wondering what that was in there for. Who knows, maybe this was for surgery? She started at the easiest -- the one on his shoulder. She knew that was basically muscle and she dug it out easily. He moaned a few times but for the most part, he was quiet. His pulse was good and strong and she pushed a gauze bandage in there to soak up the blood and moved to the next easiest -- the one high on his thigh. "Just missed your boys, baby." She whispered and Jesse offered a weak laugh. Dom was too out of it to hear or understand her. She dug, this one was a little deeper and he made a little more noise, but it came out too, and then she packed it. The two in his shoulder blade were grisly but came out easier than she expected. She stopped and Jesse stared at her. She was staring at the one in his lower back. "God, Jess, if I cut him here and make one little error, he could be paralyzed for life. I'm so scared." "You're doing great, Nikki. I'd let you operate on me anytime. Seriously, do it -- have faith in him and in yourself and in God. God didn't give you those babies to raise alone and you know it. Dom is right -- if he goes to the hospital, he will die. The Trans will make sure of it. Even if we take him 100 miles from here and put him in under another name, they'll track him down. Right now they think he's dead, probably. Plus, they report gunshots to the cops and Dom could be in trouble -- he was racing tonight and I don't think he's been the best boy on the block lately." She smiled and decided Jesse was right -- she had faith in him and would force it in herself to do this. Leon walked in and was stunned to see all the bullets out but one. "Nikki -- holy shit. Here, I got the liquid penicillin." She took the bottle and went to Dom's head. "Baby, you need to drink this. Dom!" He was so completely out. "Jesse, hold his head back as far as you can and Leon, hold his mouth open like a funnel ... yes, like that." Nikki poured half the bottle into his mouth slowly, rubbing his neck. They looked at her as Dom automatically swallowed. She shrugged. "Used to work on my cat." They all laughed as much as they could at such a horrible scene. They laid him back down and Nikki reminded Jesse to keep checking his pulse. It was still strong. "That's my boy." Nikki gathered up all the strength, all the faith, all the love she had for him and went in for the last bullet in his lower back. It was so close to the spine that her arm was shaking. Suddenly Leon put his arms around her gently and it gave her the strength to keep going. She got the bullet out and Dom let out his first and only scream of the night. She soothed him with words, not wanting to give him anything else and he fell back into his drugged stupor. She closed each wound with fishing line. She used antibiotic cream and bandaged him up as tight as possible. The bleeding was soon down to a bare minimum and his pulse was still strong. She sat down on the floor near his head and put hers down. She was crying and Jesse knelt next to her and held her. "You did such a great job, Nik." "It was amazing. Where did you learn to do that?" Leon asked. "Long time ago -- from my unlawful past, to tell you the truth." "Well, let's thank God for an unlawful past that just saved your husband's life. Jimmy Tran wants him dead." Nikki looked at Leon and her eyes lit up with fear. "What, honey?" "Give me my cell." Nikki dialed and she spoke to Mia. "You two need to stay at Brian's mother's house for a while. No, there is a problem with the Tran's again. Dom and I are fine, honey -- everything is fine. Leon and Jesse are here and Letty is talking to Dom a little again but I want my children and your Alex safe and I don't think they will be if you come home." Nikki waited and Brian got on the phone. "No Bri, we're safe here but if you hear, somehow that Dom was killed -- he is fine -- he was shot but he's okay. No hospital so you know it wasn't serious." She looked at Jesse and Leon and they smiled -- they would protect her lie. "I'm going to deposit some money in your bank account -- do you have your ATM cards with you? Cool -- where are the deposit slips?" She listened and told him she would send Leon with the money tomorrow. She hung up and yawned. "Nik, you are exhausted -- you need sleep, sweetie. We'll stay with him." "No, I can't leave him. Plus, I've got a few more phone calls to make." She dialed again. "Vince, it's Nik." She was quiet. "I know he was there and yeah, he found me. I miss you too, big bear. Listen to me -- Dom was shot and we don't know who did it -- no, he's fine -- we're not at the house -- we're in a hotel up out in the canyons." Once again she looked up at Leon and Jesse. Her lies were growing and she hated it. "I need you to do Dom and I a huge favor. I need you to go to the next race ..." she listened. "Tomorrow night -- great -- go and tell everyone that Dom is dead. I'm serious, V. It'll save his life, maybe all of our lives. Do it. We're staying in the hotel until he can figure out who did this to him. You can't talk to him -- he's in the shower washing it out -- it's just a flesh wound -- barely bled. He's going to come back quietly and call you and the two of you can find this person. Jesse and Leon left -- they thought it would be best to take the heat off LA." She couldn't even look at them this time, she looked at her sleeping husband and watched Jesse take his pulse. He gave her the thumbs up sign. "V, Dom is the one who told me to call you first and to ask you to do this for him. Yeah, the kids are safe in another state with Mia and Bri. I've gotta go and get him some food. He's cranky after being shot!" She faked a giggle and hung up. "I hate lying." "You're good at it, though." She looked up at Leon, who was smiling at her. "You need to let us in on your plan." "I will -- right now, we all need sleep. One more call and then everyone off to bed. Jesse, see that little alarm over there? It has some buttons that will make it ring every fifteen minutes but I can't figure out how to set it -- I bought it when Daisy was born but never used it. Could you set it to go off every fifteen so I can take his pulse?" "Nikki, you need sleep." "I'll sleep between. I'm not letting him die on me after he wouldn't let me take him to a hospital." Nikki dialed her cell phone again and asked for Derrick. "Derrick -- it's me, Nikki Toretto. Do you remember talking to me last year?" She waited and the guys looked at each other. "Yeah, that's me. I need your help -- are you still available?" She waited again and never looked at either one of them. "I need to meet with you at night -- somewhere not near my home. I'm not sure what night yet, but soon. Is that too complicated?" She laughed. "Sorry, I forgot you do complicated well. Cool. I'll have the money you need for everything. Thanks, Derrick." She smiled and hung up the phone. "I'm not even gonna ask about that until tomorrow." Leon said and Nikki thought to herself, you will get no answer, sweetie. "It's set, Nik." She smiled at Jesse -- such a brilliant mind. "Guys go find somewhere to sleep -- the nursery has a small couch, downstairs, the guest room -- good thing neither one of you had a chick with you tonight, huh?" "Actually ..." Leon blushed and she laughed. "You left a girl in your bed for me?" "Of course -- don't you know by now you are my favorite girl? I'd do anything for you or Big D." She kissed them both. "Don't turn on any lights downstairs or answer the phone if it rings. Remember after tomorrow people will think Dom is dead and I left town with my kids and you guys have split. The Trans will regret this, come what may." Nikki slept in fifteen minute shifts or less -- she kept getting up and checking his pulse. It was strong and sure. She changed the dressing on the wounds every two hours or so and made sure he was breathing normally. She would turn his head so his neck wouldn't get stiff. She couldn't stop touching or kissing him. All that fighting, the pictures, the last three months of torture they both went through meant nothing at this point. The only thing that mattered was that Dominic recovered completely.