Author's Note: People are going to start hating me for these

Author's Note: People are going to start hating me for these . . . Anyhoo, sorry I haven't updated lately. I got an idea for another story, and I just had to work on it. But, I'm going to start wrapping this story up.

Part Twelve.

Dominic turned around, put a hand over Nicollette's mouth and pushed her against the wall. The footsteps came toward them, and just before they reached the top of the stairs, they stopped and turned around, going in the opposite direction. Dominic looked down at Nicollette, her eyes wide with fright.

"That was close," Nicollette whispered when Dominic moved away from her. Dominic nodded. They slowly descended the stairs and made their way to the door that would take them outside.

Dominic opened the door, stuck his head out and after a moment, he stepped out into the brisk night air. He inhaled the fresh, tantalizing air and turned to Nicollette. He held out his hand, waiting for hers to slide into it. When it finally did, they started across the patio. Past the pool, past the tennis court, past the huge statue of an angel to the huge tree they would be climbing in a few moments.

The tree stood many feet in the air, and conveniently had branches for them to step on, and pull themselves up. There was a huge, thick branch hanging over the wall. Just perfect. Dominic could climb first, make sure Nicollette was safely climbing up. Then he could jump down and help her down.

Dom threw his duffle bag over the wall, and it landed with a thud on the other side of the wall. He reached for Nicollette's suitcase, but she was already throwing it over.

"Here we go. Be careful. Be quiet, and above all things, don't die. Brian would kill me," Dominic remarked.

Nicollette's heart nearly died when he said that. Brian would kill me. He didn't even say anything about how he'd miss her. But then again, Dominic might have been using her for sex. Nicollette was sure he hadn't been, but now . . . now that they were out of the bedroom, she wasn't so sure.

Dominic pulled Nicollette over to him, and lifted her up to sit on the lowest branch. He then reached up, grabbed the branch and pulled himself up. He stood, and held out his hand, helping her stand. He climbed another branch, turned to help her up before climbing yet another branch.

Ramon stood on the balcony of his bedroom, looking out over the back yard. He glanced at the huge Willow tree by the wall. He could've sworn he saw a flash of white. Or gray in the dark, ebony sky. Deciding it had been his imagination, he looked away. Then, as he was turning his head, he saw a flash of orange. Another of white, and another of orange. He ran through his room to his desk, grabbing his binoculars, and running back to the balcony. He focused them, and just barely through the dim, he saw Dominic and Nicollette climbing the willow tree.

"Toretto!" he cried into the silence.

"Hurry!" Dom said, grabbing Nicollette's hand. he pulled her up, and pushed her upwards onto the branch overhanging the wall. Nicollette pulled herself up onto the branch, and sat there for a split second before standing. She edged her way to the center of the branch.

Dom pulled himself up, and started after Nicollette. If either of them fell, it could be very dangerous. The height was alright if you were prepared, when climbing down of course, but to fall- that would be awful. Fatality wouldn't be anticipated, it would be present.

Douglass ran through his house screaming to guards to hurry up. To catch them. To stop them. They were his brother's ticket to getting out of jail. His ticket to freedom. At that moment, his ticket was escaping over the wall. He raced out toward the pool.

"What is it, boss?" Sven asked, bumping into him, in the process, bumping Douglass into the pool.

"Go!" Dominic said. Nicollette froze at the end of the branch. Dom sat, and swung himself down. Nicollette looked at him, but didn't move.

"Jump! Nicki, jump!" he urged her.

Nicollette could hear Dominic talking to her, telling her to jump. But for some reason, she couldn't. she heard a splash from the pool and the sounds of voices screaming, running, of guns being loaded. She knew she should jump, to escape with Dom, but some part of her wanted to know what was going to happen before she jumped into his arms.

She wanted to know if her life would go back to the way it was before, or if it would change entirely. If she would end up with Dominic or not. If he would feel anything but friendship for her. If she would be happy ever again. Brian was worried about her. That made her want to jump, to soothe her brother's thoughts. But her own problems, her own fears of the future, kept her from jumping. Kept her from making a decision that she didn't want to make.

Dominic looked up at Nicollette, who stood there. He couldn't tell if she was scared, or if she was just thinking. Whatever she was doing, if she didn't hurry up, she was going to get caught or shot. Two things Dom didn't want to happen. Two things that could ruin his plans. And Dominic couldn't stand for his plans to get ruined because she was scared.

"Nicki, baby. Jump, honey. You can do it. Jump!" she didn't move. "Baby, please, I love you too much to let you die for nothing. Jump Nicki!"

Nicollette blinked. She looked at Dom with wide eyes. He'd said he loved her. He said it. He really said it. And he sounded serious. She couldn't help herself but break out into a silly grin. She sat down and looked at him.

Faster and faster he ran, following Douglass' orders. Running after the girl. Running after the woman who'd been taken from her home forcibly. He had a plan. Get to the wall, climb the tree and let her go, while making it look like he was going to help. Faster. Douglass was yelling at him. faster. Faster. Faster.

Nicollette looked toward the house and saw a man running toward the wall. She looked at Dominic.

"Nicki, jump, baby." She closed her eyes and pushed herself forward, expecting to hit the ground. Instead, she landed in strong, loving arms.

"Dom," Nicollette breathed, throwing her arms around him.

Climbing the tree, the man pretended to look for her. To go after her. To kill her if necessary. To follow Douglass' orders. To make sure he himself didn't die. To do the right thing in secret.

He stood at the base of the branch and started walking out toward the 'escaped prisoners'.

Dominic lowered Nicollette to the ground. He leaned down and kissed her softly.

"Thought you were gonna stay."

"Nope." He smiled and retrieved the suitcase and duffle bag and turned to walk away with.

Sven had the man in his sights. His gun carefully aimed, he raised it, aimed and fired.

Dominic heard the shot ring out, heard Nicollette screaming. Nothing else.

TBC. . . (Soon)