AN: This is fiction. I don't own the obvious characters, or the 'fast and furious' franchise. That is owned by some very wealthy people reclining in their mansions as you read this. So.. don't ask me for nothing! (Nothing besides updates.. in return for your comments :P)
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Chapter II:
'Spilling'
"Brian?" Tanner interrupted Brians reverie, bringing him back to dim reality. Brian raised his head to look his ex-father figure in the eye once more. He didn't know where to start... he didn't want to tell Tanner the thoughts inside his head. Didn't want to tell him how he was about to let Dom go... didn't want to let him know he almost flipped.
Tanner sighed again, then turned towards the looking glass, "lets go off the record." He spoke towards the mirror, looking at his own reflection; knowing that behind it the two officers would be giving him sceptical looks.
Officer Williams leant towards the tape recorder, giving the other officer a short look before stopping the recording.
Tanner turned back towards Brian, "We're off the record Brian. Just you and me Brian. Just us." He gazed directly in Brians crystalline eyes, making sure to use his name as frequently as possible. Tanner was getting back inside Brians head, bridging their breaking relationship once more, making their connection active once more. 'Just us' to give Brian the sense that he was still on his side. Brian gazed back at Tanner, feeling his insides fragmenting... he felt himself struggling for air. "I... something happened." Finally Brian spoke, his thoughts racing to fast to harness them into a coherent sentence.
Tanner leaned forward, "What happened Brian? Tell me..."
Brian ran his tongue across his upper lip, then rolled both lips together thoughtfully. "I couldn't change him." He said suddenly, the look on his face that of surprise, as if his own lips had betrayed him.
Tanner watched, not giving away anything. "You couldn't change Dom? Did you expect to change him?" Tanner replied slowly.
Brian shook his head, another world-weary sigh deflated his muscular chest. "Can you unhancuff me?"
Tanner watched Brian a moment, "Yes... I'll handcuff you, and then we'll talk." He rose to his feet and moved behind Brian, pulling out a ring of keys. He released Brian of the handcuffs and put the handcuffs into their holder on the back of his own belt.
Tanner sat back down to face Brian, his gaze already set on his; maintaining eye contact, keeping it personal.
"Tell me what happened with Dom, Brian." Tanner repeated himself.
"I was so close... Dom was really letting me in. I was almost there. But then they decided to pull a job, and left me out of the loop - and I had to step in and blow my cover to Mia."
Tanner nodded, that had already been assumed, but he accepted the information as if it was new.
Suddenly Brian stopped, "What... whats happened to Mia?"
Tanner coughed into his fist, "She's been detained for questioning Brian-" Tanner began, but Brian interrupted.
"She's going to go down as an accessory?" he questioned, he wasn't emotional about it, as if he was discussing just another case.
Tanner shrugged, "That depends what information we get from her... and you. Brian, she helped you find Dominic. In light of her aiding the course of justice, her sentenced will be shortened. Or possibly erased." He raised his eyebrows.
Brian nodded absently.
"So.. what happened Brian?" Tanner reminded.
Brian took a deep breath. "I returned to the Toretto house, to find Dom about to leave in the Charger. That was his Dads charger, he told me it ran-" he started going off course.
"Brian." Tanner broke into his train of thought.
Brians eyes snapped up to meet Tanners, "Sorry." He mumbled.
"Anyway, I tried to get Dom to finish it.. to come with quietly. But he wouldn't listen. He wouldn't let me... he wouldn't let me help him." Brian looked down slowly, a sadness on his face.
Dom was just another father abandoning Brian to a loneliness that existed within him.
"He wanted to escape... to find Jesse, and then escape. Probably to Mexico.. to follow Leon and Letty." He looked up to meet Tanners eyes once more.
Tanner nodded, as if to say 'go on'.
"Jesse returned, then the Trans showed up and started shooting the place to shit as they drove by. Then I left to apprehend them. And Dom followed." Brian shook his head. "I should've called for back up... but I, I didn't have time. I had to chase them down.."
Tanner nodded, "In the heat of the moment, we often do things we wish we hadn't done in hindsight." He dished the fatherly condolence.
Brian shook his head, "I wanted revenge on them..." He raised his eyes cautiously to Tanner, "I wanted them for my own reasons.. not for the law."
Tanner observed the worry lines on Brians face. Again, so worried of letting him down.
Tanner chose not to answer him.
"So I chased them and shot down Johnny Tran once I had him in range. Then I left the body and went after Dom. He challenged me... to a race. At the end of the quarter.. he crashed out." Brian stopped, as if that was the end of the story.
Tanner sat back in his chair, sighing and eyeing Brian thoughtfully.
"And then?" he lifted his eyebrows, "I need you tell me as clear as you can what happened."
Brian leaned forward and rested his elbows on top of the table, running his hands over his already messy hair. "I got Dom out of the car and he didn't run. I.. I was expecting him to run, but he stood there. He.. just stood there, like a man, ready to take what was coming for him." Brians head remained downward, not daring to take his eyes to Tanner.
Tanner watched on, listening carefully to Brians words, noting his word choice, what he said - and what he didn't. The tones in his voice and the pace were equally important, the way he had said 'like a man, reading to take what was coming for him' indicated a sense of awe, Brian saw him as inspiring despite walking on the other side of the line.
Tanner remembered telling Brian 'There's all types of family Brian' when he had started noticing Brian assimilating Dom into his father-role, he know wished he had been a little clearer, maybe a little harsher with him.
"I.. I felt guilty. I felt GUILTY, about how I manipulated his trust.. his family. Everything. And after all he had taught me.. how he'd taken me under his wing..." Brian trailed off.
Tanner continued watching Brian, his remorse was written in his posture. He could be salvaged.
"So.. I handed him the keys to the Supra. It was a split second decision. I don't know what I was thinking - maybe I thought someone else would pick him up so I wouldn't have to be the one that put the cuffs on him... maybe something else." Finally he raised his eyes to meet Tanners, the blueness now appearing as dull concrete.
Brian didn't say anything, but Tanner could read him - he needed someone to tell him it was okay. Brian.. NEEDED, full stop. Tanner nodded, "I understand what you did Brian. It's hard to betray someone so openly. You did good work while you were in there Brian, you're a good officer Brian. And you know right from wrong. That's what matters." Tanner held full eye contact, while he filled the holes in Brians weak defence.
"What's going to happen?" Brian asked, sitting up straighter now.
"With what?" Tanner replied.
"With me... the case... them." He was slowly detaching himself from Toretto now, labelling him and the team as 'them'.
"Both Torettos are under arrest and are in questioning as we speak. The boy, shot outside the house is the O.R. and the subject you had airlifted out is post-op care last I heard." Tanner answered honestly, giving those details first to prompt Brians 'survival instinct' to ask about himself, and to help Brian to bypass his affections for 'the team' as he had called them.
"What about me?" he took the bait.
"You will be required to testify against the Torettos in the case. You will be required to give your legal deposition for us, in front of witnesses and it will be recorded as evidence first thing tomorrow morning. Further to that, you will have to give the deposition again, in person at the hearing. Until further notice you are on paid leave."
Brian leaned forward, "Leave?" he looked sceptical.
"Brian, under the circumstances, suspension from duty is indicative. It's not a stab at you Brian and personally, I think it's for the best. You've done a hard job with this case, and you need some time to unwind, re-coop and get back into being Brian O'Connor again." Tanner leaned towards him, resting his head on one hand.
Brian nodded pensively. Tanner smiled, "C'mon.. we're giving you a paid holiday... I've got people lined up to trade lives with you already!" he tried to lighten the mood.
A smile cracked across Brians face, and Tanner broadened his own as he rose to his feet.
Brian followed suit and they shook hands across the table, then Tanner lead the way to the door. "You did good." Tanner patted Brians shoulder. "Thanks Tanner." Brians smile grew, and he headed out the door ahead of Tanner. Tanner smiled to himself. Hook, line and sinker. Brian was definitely salvageable.
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So that's Chapter two for you :) As always, I'd love you to review. It really helps me out -and I want to stay connected with my audience! :) Leave me a shout out.
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Chapter II:
'Spilling'
"Brian?" Tanner interrupted Brians reverie, bringing him back to dim reality. Brian raised his head to look his ex-father figure in the eye once more. He didn't know where to start... he didn't want to tell Tanner the thoughts inside his head. Didn't want to tell him how he was about to let Dom go... didn't want to let him know he almost flipped.
Tanner sighed again, then turned towards the looking glass, "lets go off the record." He spoke towards the mirror, looking at his own reflection; knowing that behind it the two officers would be giving him sceptical looks.
Officer Williams leant towards the tape recorder, giving the other officer a short look before stopping the recording.
Tanner turned back towards Brian, "We're off the record Brian. Just you and me Brian. Just us." He gazed directly in Brians crystalline eyes, making sure to use his name as frequently as possible. Tanner was getting back inside Brians head, bridging their breaking relationship once more, making their connection active once more. 'Just us' to give Brian the sense that he was still on his side. Brian gazed back at Tanner, feeling his insides fragmenting... he felt himself struggling for air. "I... something happened." Finally Brian spoke, his thoughts racing to fast to harness them into a coherent sentence.
Tanner leaned forward, "What happened Brian? Tell me..."
Brian ran his tongue across his upper lip, then rolled both lips together thoughtfully. "I couldn't change him." He said suddenly, the look on his face that of surprise, as if his own lips had betrayed him.
Tanner watched, not giving away anything. "You couldn't change Dom? Did you expect to change him?" Tanner replied slowly.
Brian shook his head, another world-weary sigh deflated his muscular chest. "Can you unhancuff me?"
Tanner watched Brian a moment, "Yes... I'll handcuff you, and then we'll talk." He rose to his feet and moved behind Brian, pulling out a ring of keys. He released Brian of the handcuffs and put the handcuffs into their holder on the back of his own belt.
Tanner sat back down to face Brian, his gaze already set on his; maintaining eye contact, keeping it personal.
"Tell me what happened with Dom, Brian." Tanner repeated himself.
"I was so close... Dom was really letting me in. I was almost there. But then they decided to pull a job, and left me out of the loop - and I had to step in and blow my cover to Mia."
Tanner nodded, that had already been assumed, but he accepted the information as if it was new.
Suddenly Brian stopped, "What... whats happened to Mia?"
Tanner coughed into his fist, "She's been detained for questioning Brian-" Tanner began, but Brian interrupted.
"She's going to go down as an accessory?" he questioned, he wasn't emotional about it, as if he was discussing just another case.
Tanner shrugged, "That depends what information we get from her... and you. Brian, she helped you find Dominic. In light of her aiding the course of justice, her sentenced will be shortened. Or possibly erased." He raised his eyebrows.
Brian nodded absently.
"So.. what happened Brian?" Tanner reminded.
Brian took a deep breath. "I returned to the Toretto house, to find Dom about to leave in the Charger. That was his Dads charger, he told me it ran-" he started going off course.
"Brian." Tanner broke into his train of thought.
Brians eyes snapped up to meet Tanners, "Sorry." He mumbled.
"Anyway, I tried to get Dom to finish it.. to come with quietly. But he wouldn't listen. He wouldn't let me... he wouldn't let me help him." Brian looked down slowly, a sadness on his face.
Dom was just another father abandoning Brian to a loneliness that existed within him.
"He wanted to escape... to find Jesse, and then escape. Probably to Mexico.. to follow Leon and Letty." He looked up to meet Tanners eyes once more.
Tanner nodded, as if to say 'go on'.
"Jesse returned, then the Trans showed up and started shooting the place to shit as they drove by. Then I left to apprehend them. And Dom followed." Brian shook his head. "I should've called for back up... but I, I didn't have time. I had to chase them down.."
Tanner nodded, "In the heat of the moment, we often do things we wish we hadn't done in hindsight." He dished the fatherly condolence.
Brian shook his head, "I wanted revenge on them..." He raised his eyes cautiously to Tanner, "I wanted them for my own reasons.. not for the law."
Tanner observed the worry lines on Brians face. Again, so worried of letting him down.
Tanner chose not to answer him.
"So I chased them and shot down Johnny Tran once I had him in range. Then I left the body and went after Dom. He challenged me... to a race. At the end of the quarter.. he crashed out." Brian stopped, as if that was the end of the story.
Tanner sat back in his chair, sighing and eyeing Brian thoughtfully.
"And then?" he lifted his eyebrows, "I need you tell me as clear as you can what happened."
Brian leaned forward and rested his elbows on top of the table, running his hands over his already messy hair. "I got Dom out of the car and he didn't run. I.. I was expecting him to run, but he stood there. He.. just stood there, like a man, ready to take what was coming for him." Brians head remained downward, not daring to take his eyes to Tanner.
Tanner watched on, listening carefully to Brians words, noting his word choice, what he said - and what he didn't. The tones in his voice and the pace were equally important, the way he had said 'like a man, reading to take what was coming for him' indicated a sense of awe, Brian saw him as inspiring despite walking on the other side of the line.
Tanner remembered telling Brian 'There's all types of family Brian' when he had started noticing Brian assimilating Dom into his father-role, he know wished he had been a little clearer, maybe a little harsher with him.
"I.. I felt guilty. I felt GUILTY, about how I manipulated his trust.. his family. Everything. And after all he had taught me.. how he'd taken me under his wing..." Brian trailed off.
Tanner continued watching Brian, his remorse was written in his posture. He could be salvaged.
"So.. I handed him the keys to the Supra. It was a split second decision. I don't know what I was thinking - maybe I thought someone else would pick him up so I wouldn't have to be the one that put the cuffs on him... maybe something else." Finally he raised his eyes to meet Tanners, the blueness now appearing as dull concrete.
Brian didn't say anything, but Tanner could read him - he needed someone to tell him it was okay. Brian.. NEEDED, full stop. Tanner nodded, "I understand what you did Brian. It's hard to betray someone so openly. You did good work while you were in there Brian, you're a good officer Brian. And you know right from wrong. That's what matters." Tanner held full eye contact, while he filled the holes in Brians weak defence.
"What's going to happen?" Brian asked, sitting up straighter now.
"With what?" Tanner replied.
"With me... the case... them." He was slowly detaching himself from Toretto now, labelling him and the team as 'them'.
"Both Torettos are under arrest and are in questioning as we speak. The boy, shot outside the house is the O.R. and the subject you had airlifted out is post-op care last I heard." Tanner answered honestly, giving those details first to prompt Brians 'survival instinct' to ask about himself, and to help Brian to bypass his affections for 'the team' as he had called them.
"What about me?" he took the bait.
"You will be required to testify against the Torettos in the case. You will be required to give your legal deposition for us, in front of witnesses and it will be recorded as evidence first thing tomorrow morning. Further to that, you will have to give the deposition again, in person at the hearing. Until further notice you are on paid leave."
Brian leaned forward, "Leave?" he looked sceptical.
"Brian, under the circumstances, suspension from duty is indicative. It's not a stab at you Brian and personally, I think it's for the best. You've done a hard job with this case, and you need some time to unwind, re-coop and get back into being Brian O'Connor again." Tanner leaned towards him, resting his head on one hand.
Brian nodded pensively. Tanner smiled, "C'mon.. we're giving you a paid holiday... I've got people lined up to trade lives with you already!" he tried to lighten the mood.
A smile cracked across Brians face, and Tanner broadened his own as he rose to his feet.
Brian followed suit and they shook hands across the table, then Tanner lead the way to the door. "You did good." Tanner patted Brians shoulder. "Thanks Tanner." Brians smile grew, and he headed out the door ahead of Tanner. Tanner smiled to himself. Hook, line and sinker. Brian was definitely salvageable.
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So that's Chapter two for you :) As always, I'd love you to review. It really helps me out -and I want to stay connected with my audience! :) Leave me a shout out.