Chapter 8.

Brian opened the door on the house looked about. He saw Dom and Letty cooing over little Jason in one corner, while Vince and Leon sat in another watching TV. Jessie walked in from the kitchen and saw Brian.

"What's up. You look pretty grim." Dom looked round at this. Brian sat down.

"You remember that truck, they were going to hijack when we went after them. Apparently, not all it's cargo was there. Three of the chips had gone."

"What. You mean we're still not in the clear?"

"No, we're fine. But I thought you like to know. I got some info back today from a friend in the FBI, I'd asked to run a profile on Zander Burns. Apparently, Zander Burns is a known alias for Nightingale Russell Burner. Number seventeen in the FBI's most wanted list. He some young hi-tech thief. Stole a lot of secret processor designs a few years ago, right from the NSA's own computer database. The way the FBI figure it, he had the whole thing planned from the beginning. He had hundreds of people dancing round him, with no idea what he was doing." Dom sighed.

"So he used us just like Lexx and his lot."

"Yup. They reckon he rigged Elise's car, and emptied Lexx's NOS tanks."

"He some kind of genius alright. So I guess we ain't going to see him again." They all looked at Jessie. "I didn't think that story about the internet stocks sounded right." Dom dropped his head in his hand and groaned.

"I just realised. He told us who he really was, first time he called." The others looked at him confused. "He said his name was Nitrus Burn. I thought it was his accent when he said it, but he was telling us his name. Nitrus Burn. Night Rus Burn." Brian smiled.

"You should have been a cop Dom."

"Ha, yeah right."

"So, what are we doing tonight?" Vince was cut short by a knock at the door. Brian, who was the closest answered it. A guy in overalls stood in the door with a clip board.

"Delivery for one Brian Earl Spilner." The man said, and pointed to a large object under a sheet, being unloaded off a flat bed.

"That's me. Kinda." Brian said, signing the clip board.

"Thank you. Oh, and there is this too." The guy in the overalls, handed Brian an envelope, then turned, and climbed back into the flat bed, and drove off. He opened the letter and read it aloud."

"Dominic, Brian, Vince, Leon, Jessie, Mia and Letty. I am sorry I had to deceive you all, but it is what I do. I meant what I said, about wanting something like you had, though I doubt I can ever get it, around here anyway. To pay for the damages I included a check for four and a half million, it only seemed fair considering the part you played in helping me. And finally, I wanted to give Brian something to replace his Supra, as no doubt the semi left it in too many pieces to put back together. Enjoy it, and next time you clock up a 6.5, remember just what a special thing you have together, never break the Team. Zander." Brian's fingers shivered slightly as he fished a folded check and set of keys from the bottom of the envelope, then made his was down the drive to the covered car. He pulled back the sheet and stared at his reflection in the dark green paint. He turned to Jessie who'd appeared by his side.

"He gave me his Beamer." He opened the door and climbed in. From the steps Dom grinned.

"Hey Brian. You know technically, you owe me another ten second car." Mia elbowed him in the ribs and bounded down the path to Brian. She climbed in the passenger side, and Brian grinned and started the engine. They all felt the deep base growl rumble in the pits of their stomachs. Brian leaned out the window.

"Friday night guys. Anyone else feel like a race tonight." Jessie, Leon and Vince practically whooped and skipped as they ran to their cars. Dom looked at Letty, standing their holding the baby sleeping serenely in her arms. She nodded at him. He grinned, and jumped down the steps to his car. A minute later, all five cars pulled off down the road, music blaring out loudly.

Letty watched them go. She wasn't as jealous as she'd expected to be. She grinned to herself, thinking of the nights she'd make Dom stay in and watch the kid while she went and hand some fun. She reflected on Brian's entrance into their lives, and the strange, almost calming effect it had had, and now this guy Zander, or Nightingale, or Nitrus, or whichever, had stirred it up again. They didn't really have to worry about money anymore, the garage would bring in enough for the repairs and stuff. She wondered for a moment, if all the weird stuff had finished, and they'd finally reached a balance. She heard the sound of tuned engines growling out in the distance on the evening air, the sounds of cheers and laughter, then the sirens and chopper blades. She sighed.

"I guess not." She said to herself, and went indoors. Outside, a black Honda Civic, looking a little worse for wear, slowly trawled past, the window rolled down, and Zander looked at the house. He smiled and laughed. "Never forget guys. Never forget." He rolled up the window again, and hit the accelerator, and the car disappeared down the street.

(A/N) I just want to say, I had the name thing planned from the start, hence the incorrect spelling, but thanks anyway to . .Also, sorry for the slightly cheesy ending, but I thought it needed it after all the carnage of such beautiful machines in the previous chapter. All reviews will be welcome, thanks.