AN: Still don't own much. Still want your comments. :)
-----
Chapter III:
'Within'
--
"Get some sleep Brian.. you'll need it. The deposition will be a.. lengthy and.. uncomfortable process." Tanner took his hands off the steering wheel, putting the car into park outside Brians apartment complex.
Brian looked morosely over at Tanner, "They're going to tear me apart, aren't they?"
"Don't take it as a personal attack Brian. Anything they say is just protocol - its just required to flush out all the details, and make sure none of the evidence is or can be compromised in the court. Some of the things they say may be upsetting.. but its better to get those things dealt with now, rather then leaving it to the defence lawyer."
Brian nodded, then sighed, "Will they-" he started.
"Yes.. they will Brian. They'll ask about EVERYTHING." Tanner interrupted, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning."
Brian nodded, looking downward. Tanner sighed, rethinking, "I'll come by and pick you up tomorrow." he changed his mind.
Brian smiled, "Thanks." Feeling somewhat relieved, he didn't want to face the looks.. or the questions from the other officers. He just wanted some peace.
That's what he'd always wanted. Peace. A stillness within.
----
Tanner had been right, as always, about the deposition. They asked about EVERYTHING. No detail was spared, while their decorum certainly was. Brian sighed to himself, reliving the deposition over again in his head. He sat there, alone in front of short, cold, steel table, while 7 people sat at a long table matching his own, facing him. Tanner and Bilkins were part of the 7, and the others were Sergeants and directors that Brian hadn't met before. He wore a lapel mic so his every word was recorded, thankfully there was no video camera - as often Brian felt his face betraying him in blush.
'What is the nature of your relationship with Mia Toretto?' they had asked towards the end, after all the useful case information had been dealt with.
Brian didn't fumble with this question. He had talked about it the night before, after inviting Tanner in for a drink. And he'd thought about all night, and that morning. And he was certain, he had come to the right conclusion. Tanner had assured him everything was okay - and that it was natural. Brian took comfort from that, Tanner was right.. he was always right.
'Mia was Brian Spilners girlfriend. I, personally, have no relationship with her.' He answered formally, gazing across the divide at the 7 people appraising him. 'At first, I thought it would be a good way to get some inside info on Dominic' Inwardly, Tanner had smiled at that comment. Brian had stopped referring to him as Dom, he was now putting distance between himself and Dominic Toretto. Part of it, Tanner knew was due to himself calling him Dominic over and over the night before while he had talked with Brian, and the way he had conditioned the conversation to elucidate the differences and the divide between Brian O'Connor and Dominic Toretto.
'And then, as it started to work I thought I had real feelings for her. I did become immersed into their world. When I blew my cover to Mia I told her that the things I felt for her were real. And at the time, I thought they were. But the truth is, I was still partially Brian Spilner when I said that. Now I'm back to my real life, I see that she isn't and I wouldn't WANT her to be a part of that'. Brian had answered calmly, confidently, but most of all sincerely. Tanner nodded his head thoughtfully, his aversive conditioning the night before had worked. He had bought up how he had been mocked by other officers about Mia, and how Tanner had himself had demanded of Brian that perhaps he wasn't thinking straight because he couldn't see past Mia. With a little alcohol Brian had relaxed and fallen straight into Tanners skilled palm. Tanner justified it to himself that he was helping Brian, SAVING Brian.
'Did you have sex with her?' they had asked next.
Brian had shifted uncomfortably in his chair at that, colouration appearing on his face. 'Yes' he'd finally answered, his voice slightly quieter.
'More then once?' Brian frowned at that, what did that matter? He took a calming breath, like Tanner had advised him if he got stressed. 'Yes'.
'Exactely, how many times did you have sex with Mia Toretto?' they finally had the audacity to ask.
Brians face hardened, 'Why does it matter?! I mean does this serve any purpose? I mean what the hell ELSE are you gonna ask? Was it good?! I mean-" Brian exploded, but was interrupted mid-rant by Tanner holding up a hand.
'Alright Brian.. alright.' He eyed him firmly, but no anger in his eyes.
Brian averted his eyes from everyone else in the room, except Tanner. 'He's the only one on my side' he told himself.
Tanner looked down the table at the 6 others, 'I think we've heard enough for today, if we need to flesh out any more there'll be time for that in the pre-hearing prep.' There were murmurs of agreement.
Tanner looked back to Brian 'You can go now Brian.'
Brian removed the lapel mic and dropped it to the table, standing up from his chair, he nodded towards the 7 of them and headed to the door. Just as he opened the door, he turned to regard them once more. 'It was twice.. if you must know.' A hint of cheeky-grin on his lips and with that, he was gone.
--------
Brian sighed to himself, running a hand over his hair and taking another sip of his beer from the bottle. The silence in his apartment was heavy and oppressive - he didn't even know what to do with himself. He'd forgotten what it was like to just... be.. to be able to let his guards down. It felt good in a way, but the emptiness persisted all the same. Tanner had advised him to leave town, and that's exactly what he was going to do. He'd called a car rental place and booked himself a car for pickup the next morning. And he knew just where he was going. Miami. But the morning was still many hours away and Brian felt restless, he glanced over at the TV - but didn't feel like turning it on. He wanted music.. atmosphere.. some more beer.. and maybe a blonde. Or two. "Get your ass up Brian" he said aloud to himself, pausing a moment before sliding out of the chair. He glanced in the mirror, and shrugged, he couldn't be bothered changing. He headed for the door, then paused once more. Thinking about the women, he decided he would change.
It was another 45 minutes before he pulled up outside 'The Darwin' a local nightclub, known for it's good music. He handed the cab driver a $10 and left the cab, heading straight for the door.
Brian stood in the corner, beer in hand, gazing out at the swarming mass on the dance floor. Things hadn't gone too well, he'd been too cocky and was having a hard time picking up. He downed the last of his beer and left the bottle on top of one of the speakers and pushed back through the crowd. He stumbled past the bouncers, out onto the footpath, leaving the club unenthused, alone and nowhere near as drunk as he wanted to be.
---
Okay, I did my bit. I wrote my piece - now its time for you to do the same! Leave me a note :)
~Ice
-----
Chapter III:
'Within'
--
"Get some sleep Brian.. you'll need it. The deposition will be a.. lengthy and.. uncomfortable process." Tanner took his hands off the steering wheel, putting the car into park outside Brians apartment complex.
Brian looked morosely over at Tanner, "They're going to tear me apart, aren't they?"
"Don't take it as a personal attack Brian. Anything they say is just protocol - its just required to flush out all the details, and make sure none of the evidence is or can be compromised in the court. Some of the things they say may be upsetting.. but its better to get those things dealt with now, rather then leaving it to the defence lawyer."
Brian nodded, then sighed, "Will they-" he started.
"Yes.. they will Brian. They'll ask about EVERYTHING." Tanner interrupted, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning."
Brian nodded, looking downward. Tanner sighed, rethinking, "I'll come by and pick you up tomorrow." he changed his mind.
Brian smiled, "Thanks." Feeling somewhat relieved, he didn't want to face the looks.. or the questions from the other officers. He just wanted some peace.
That's what he'd always wanted. Peace. A stillness within.
----
Tanner had been right, as always, about the deposition. They asked about EVERYTHING. No detail was spared, while their decorum certainly was. Brian sighed to himself, reliving the deposition over again in his head. He sat there, alone in front of short, cold, steel table, while 7 people sat at a long table matching his own, facing him. Tanner and Bilkins were part of the 7, and the others were Sergeants and directors that Brian hadn't met before. He wore a lapel mic so his every word was recorded, thankfully there was no video camera - as often Brian felt his face betraying him in blush.
'What is the nature of your relationship with Mia Toretto?' they had asked towards the end, after all the useful case information had been dealt with.
Brian didn't fumble with this question. He had talked about it the night before, after inviting Tanner in for a drink. And he'd thought about all night, and that morning. And he was certain, he had come to the right conclusion. Tanner had assured him everything was okay - and that it was natural. Brian took comfort from that, Tanner was right.. he was always right.
'Mia was Brian Spilners girlfriend. I, personally, have no relationship with her.' He answered formally, gazing across the divide at the 7 people appraising him. 'At first, I thought it would be a good way to get some inside info on Dominic' Inwardly, Tanner had smiled at that comment. Brian had stopped referring to him as Dom, he was now putting distance between himself and Dominic Toretto. Part of it, Tanner knew was due to himself calling him Dominic over and over the night before while he had talked with Brian, and the way he had conditioned the conversation to elucidate the differences and the divide between Brian O'Connor and Dominic Toretto.
'And then, as it started to work I thought I had real feelings for her. I did become immersed into their world. When I blew my cover to Mia I told her that the things I felt for her were real. And at the time, I thought they were. But the truth is, I was still partially Brian Spilner when I said that. Now I'm back to my real life, I see that she isn't and I wouldn't WANT her to be a part of that'. Brian had answered calmly, confidently, but most of all sincerely. Tanner nodded his head thoughtfully, his aversive conditioning the night before had worked. He had bought up how he had been mocked by other officers about Mia, and how Tanner had himself had demanded of Brian that perhaps he wasn't thinking straight because he couldn't see past Mia. With a little alcohol Brian had relaxed and fallen straight into Tanners skilled palm. Tanner justified it to himself that he was helping Brian, SAVING Brian.
'Did you have sex with her?' they had asked next.
Brian had shifted uncomfortably in his chair at that, colouration appearing on his face. 'Yes' he'd finally answered, his voice slightly quieter.
'More then once?' Brian frowned at that, what did that matter? He took a calming breath, like Tanner had advised him if he got stressed. 'Yes'.
'Exactely, how many times did you have sex with Mia Toretto?' they finally had the audacity to ask.
Brians face hardened, 'Why does it matter?! I mean does this serve any purpose? I mean what the hell ELSE are you gonna ask? Was it good?! I mean-" Brian exploded, but was interrupted mid-rant by Tanner holding up a hand.
'Alright Brian.. alright.' He eyed him firmly, but no anger in his eyes.
Brian averted his eyes from everyone else in the room, except Tanner. 'He's the only one on my side' he told himself.
Tanner looked down the table at the 6 others, 'I think we've heard enough for today, if we need to flesh out any more there'll be time for that in the pre-hearing prep.' There were murmurs of agreement.
Tanner looked back to Brian 'You can go now Brian.'
Brian removed the lapel mic and dropped it to the table, standing up from his chair, he nodded towards the 7 of them and headed to the door. Just as he opened the door, he turned to regard them once more. 'It was twice.. if you must know.' A hint of cheeky-grin on his lips and with that, he was gone.
--------
Brian sighed to himself, running a hand over his hair and taking another sip of his beer from the bottle. The silence in his apartment was heavy and oppressive - he didn't even know what to do with himself. He'd forgotten what it was like to just... be.. to be able to let his guards down. It felt good in a way, but the emptiness persisted all the same. Tanner had advised him to leave town, and that's exactly what he was going to do. He'd called a car rental place and booked himself a car for pickup the next morning. And he knew just where he was going. Miami. But the morning was still many hours away and Brian felt restless, he glanced over at the TV - but didn't feel like turning it on. He wanted music.. atmosphere.. some more beer.. and maybe a blonde. Or two. "Get your ass up Brian" he said aloud to himself, pausing a moment before sliding out of the chair. He glanced in the mirror, and shrugged, he couldn't be bothered changing. He headed for the door, then paused once more. Thinking about the women, he decided he would change.
It was another 45 minutes before he pulled up outside 'The Darwin' a local nightclub, known for it's good music. He handed the cab driver a $10 and left the cab, heading straight for the door.
Brian stood in the corner, beer in hand, gazing out at the swarming mass on the dance floor. Things hadn't gone too well, he'd been too cocky and was having a hard time picking up. He downed the last of his beer and left the bottle on top of one of the speakers and pushed back through the crowd. He stumbled past the bouncers, out onto the footpath, leaving the club unenthused, alone and nowhere near as drunk as he wanted to be.
---
Okay, I did my bit. I wrote my piece - now its time for you to do the same! Leave me a note :)
~Ice