Chapter 29

Brian jogged into the hospital that morning. He was brimming with excitement at bringing Mia home. He took the elevator to the ward she had been moved too a few days ago. In anticipation he tapped his foot on the floor and played with his hands. The elevator beeped on its arrival at Ward 4, and Brian squeezed out of the doors before they were even open. Calming himself down he walked into reception. "I'm here to pick up Mia Toretto," he told the nurse. She smiled broadly. "Right this way", she led Brian into the room and left when he was inside. Mia was throwing her clothes and belongings into a bag. When she heard the doors close she looked up. Brian stood at the doors. "Hey, you ready to go?" he asked. She just grinned at him. "Am I ever!" she replied. "Can you hand me that photo?" she pointed to a photo that was just to the side of him. He picked it up and looked at it. It was a picture of the old team. Dom was huggin' Letty round the waist, and Mia was sittin' between Dom and Vince. Leon was standing to the side of Vince and Jesse was squatting in front of them all. They were all standing around the red Mazda. He handed it to Mia and she looked at it too. She quietly laughed.

"Seems like years ago!" she said. Brian lowered his head. "Yeah, I know!" he agreed. Then she carefully placed the photo on top of her clothes. She zipped it up and Brian looked at her. "Let's get outta here," she half shouted. Brian took the bag off her and held the door open for her. At the reception area, she signed the discharge sheets. "Thanks for looking after me Anna" Mia gave the nurse a hug. "See you Mia. Take care" the nurse said as the couple headed for the elevator.

They got out to the parking lot and Mia looked around. "So where's this car then?" she asked. "Over here!" Brian told her. He led her to where the Eclipse was parked. "It looks great Brian. You did a great job here" she complimented him. She looked over the car for a few minutes then got into the passenger seat. Brian started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. A few miles along the main road, Mia turned to Brian. "Where's Dom and everybody else?" she asked with a puzzled face. "I thought they would be here as well?" "Eerrmm!" Brian was thinking of an excuse. "He couldn't make it!" he said slowly. He wanted to keep the party a surprise. "Huh? Why?" Mia asked, even more confused than before. "He had things to take care of! So I volunteered!" he looked over at her briefly before turning back to the road. "Why, you disappointed it was me?" he smiled. Mia laughed out loud. "No. Course not." Brian's hand was on the gear stick, and she placed her hand on top of his and rubbed it softly. He looked at her, and she returned the look. "I'll see him when I get home then!" she said quietly. She was glad of the time she had with Brian, when no one else was around. "So where you stayin'?" Mia asked, eager to know where she could find him. "Your place actually!" he stated proudly. She widened her eyes and looked shocked. "How'd you manage to swing that one?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't! Dom offered" he said with a straight face. Mia noticed the look. "So what's wrong then? Something tells me your not very pleased!" He jumped in straight after. "Nah, it's not that. Believe me I'm happy to be there. I am. It's just that nothing's like what I expected to be. Ya' know?" Mia said nothing but shook her head. He sighed heavily. "Well.." he paused. "I expected Dom to beat the shit outta me, and Vince to throw me out. But instead, I get a place to stay and a 'thanks'. I don't know where I stand with them!" he explained to her. Mia looked at him for a couple of seconds then looked out her window. "Damn girl, just say it!" she told herself. "Its because of me. That's why they're OK with it" Mia said, whilst looking out of the window. Brian looked at her, not understanding what she meant. "What d'ya mean?" he asked her. She paused, and didn't reply. "Mia!" Brian asked. He got no reply again, and he pulled the car over to the side of the road. Once it was completely stopped, he turned in his seat to face Mia. He brushed a strand of loose hair out of her face, and then she turned to meet him. He saw she was holding something back. "You can tell me" he comforted her. She took a deep breath. "When Dom found out that I called you, he went mad. We had a big argument and I told him..." she trailed off. Brian looked at her intently, urging her to finish. "And you told him.." he pushed. She looked away again. "I told him" she said slowly, "that I needed you." Brian laughed quietly. "You gotta understand Brian, I was alone down here!" she explained. "Dom had Letty, and Vince and Leon were always hangin' around together. I felt like I had no-one, plus I was in a mess over YOU" she laughed eventually. Mia leaned over and kissed Brian softly on the lips. He returned the kiss and soon it was full on. Their hands found their way all over each other's bodies. It would have gone further if it hadn't been for someone driving by, laying on their horn. Both Brian and Mia pulled back and sorted themselves, before Brian started the car and drove the rest of the way home.