***
"Okay Beth, would you care to explain to me just why the hell I had to come all the way out here?" Justin demanded as he stomped into the shop.
"We're going to get the kids," Beth smiled, happy for the first time in months, "You, Me, Dom, Mia, Jesse and Leon are gonna make a trip up into the states to pick up my kids."
"That's great Beth, really great, so you need me to route things for you?" Justin knew exactly what his sister was thinking, she might be the car genius, but he could navigate through hell.
And had on several occasions.
"Yeah, we're all sitting around the kitchen table with an atlas spread around us trying to figure this out," Beth laughed, leading him into the house.
"Cool, just let me grab a coke and we're good to go," Justin smiled, wrapping a brotherly arm around his sister.
A few minutes later they were sitting around the table introductions made and the maps spread out across the table.
"Okay here's how we do it, we break up into three teams of two and one car with one. Beth, it'll be you and Dom in one car, Jesse dude, you're riding with me, Brian and Mia, you two are together, Leon, I understand you're the scanner guy around here?" Justin looked over at Leon who nodded before he continued "We're gonna need you to ride behind Beth and Dom manning those scanners, making sure there's no heat on their tail."
"No problem," Leon smiled, he was used to being stuck on scanners, it was what he did well, must've been the six month phase when he'd actually thought about becoming a cop.
"Each team will be responsible for some small part of the trip, Leon's scanner guy, Jesse, I'm going to need you and Beth to make sure these cars are in top shape, this is a twenty-four hour drive in the best of conditions and we need as little trouble as possible," Justin muttered going back to his maps.
Beth looked at Dom as if to say, See this is why I keep him around but kept her mouth shut.
"Brian and Mia, you two are the most able to get Internet access without getting us busted, so I'll need ya'll to get us fake papers, passports, ID's that sort of thing. Dom, I'll need you to get us cells, preferably nextel so we can communicate, our radio's just won't cut it with the scanners," Justin ordered. "I'll get a route together, but right now it's looking like we take the 200 to the 50 through to Eagle pass, then go from there."
"Okay, when do we ride?" Dom asked, a little annoyed at being shown up, but not stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"I'd prefer to leave tomorrow night, that'll put us at the states by Monday and on into Kentucky early Tuesday morning, but whatever works best for ya'll," Beth finally piped in, on this she was an expert.
"I should have ID's ready for pictures early tomorrow morning, we can go through ID's then. But we might have to switch teams around just til we get into the states for a plausible story," Brian informed them holding Mia's hand.
"Shouldn't be a problem, it'd be for like what two hours?" Justin asked.
"If that long, just til we get over the boarder and closer to the nearest rest stop," Mia replied softly.
"Okay, well let's get cracking, what cars are we taking Dom?"
"Leon, your car is already outfitted with scanners, so you're driving yours. Beth and I'll take her Mustang, there's more cargo room, and it still has the backseat. You can decide what other two cars go between ya," Dom was popping his knuckles nervously. Who'd have though Dominic Toretto nervous about meeting a couple of kids.
***
"Ma, it's me," Beth muttered into the phone at the office of the shop. It might be Sunday morning, but she'd rather not call from the phone at her house.
"Hey babygirl, it's too early to talk to the kids, they're still asleep," Barbara admonished softly.
"No, not that, I'm sending a couple of representatives to Cali to pick of that C.A.R.E package for me," Beth smiled into the phone. They had worked out this code way back when, before she'd ever thought of hijacking cars, it had been a joke originally, but was coming in handy.
"Which two?"
"Letty and Vince," Beth replied, using the one name she knew her mother would know was a lie, this let Barbara know she was coming in herself. "They'll be arriving on TWA flight 718, send Marli and Bobby."
"No problem, I'll have 'em meet Letty and Vince out there. Be careful baby."
"I will Ma, you too. Love you."
Beth smiled as she placed the phone back down on the receiver and headed towards the back of the shop, "Okay everything's in place on mom's end. Cars are ready. What about paperwork?"
"All we need to do is take the pictures," Brian smiled before handing out packets of information to everyone, "Beth, you and Leon are crossing the boarder as Missy and Mark Shugart, of Nashville, Tennessee, a married couple who're on their way home from their honeymoon in Cancun."
"Missy? You named me Missy?" Beth groaned throwing her set of papers down on the table.
"Beth is married for Leon?" Dom laughed.
"Look it was the best I could come up with on such short notice. You, Me and Leon are the most whitebread of the group, so it was either him or me." Brian informed her before turning to Jesse "Jess you and I are heading in as partners down in Mexico on a business venture, Justin, you're a immigrant down visiting your family for the holidays, heading back home."
"What about Dom and I?" Mia asked softly.
"You are going in as Juan and Justina Rodriguz, twins from up north on their way home."
"Excuse me? You're giving them our ID's?" Beth gasped clutching her hands into a fist.
"Look they were already established and the easiest to come up with paperwork for," Brian explained laying his hand on Mia's shoulder.
"Alright, we roll out at midnight tonight, we'll stop an hour outside of Eagle pass and switch partners around until we get into the states, any questions?" Dom asked.
Everyone shook their heads no, took their pictures, and headed back to their respective homes to pack. This was going to be one helluva long trip.
***
12:00- the next afternoon: An Hour outside of Eagle Pass Tx.
"You ready for this Missy?" Dom asked a smirk evident in his voice.
"Yes, Juan, I'm ready for this, and I wouldn't be smirking if I were you, if any of us have the potential to get made it's you, why didn't you just fucking grow your hair out?"
"Cause it doesn't feel right. I tried, it lasted all of three weeks before I took out the razors and shaved the shit off," Dom explained softly.
"Whatever, at least you got the tat which'll throw 'em off as you didn't have one of those when you left," Beth sighed leaning her head back against the head rest. Dom had insisted on driving all the way, even though he knew she was better at evasive than he was.
"Yeah, I figured it was time I got one. And what better than the date I lost my first race," Dom informed her motioning to the numbers on his arm. He didn't have to tell her what the date was, it was burned into her brain indelibly. June 24th.
"Yeah sure, now send Leon over here so we can get this over with," Beth grumbled.
Five minutes later Leon had taken Dom's place in the drivers seat of the cherry red mustang, "Damn it feels weird driving without my scanners."
"I know how you feel, first time I drove without a two way in my hand I felt like I could crash at any moment," Beth laughed before slipping a set of golden wedding bands out of her pocket.
"What the hell are those?"
"Wedding bands, I bought these years ago to give to each of my kids on their wedding day. I figure this is as good a time as any to use 'em," Beth explained slipping her band onto her ring finger and handing Leon his. "I now pronounce us husband and wife for the next few hours."
"You my dear, are a bitch. I love it," Leon laughed softly leaning his head against the window.
"Thank you Leon, I take that as a compliment," Beth smiled before settling back down with her notebook. She'd been keeping a diary of everything that had happened to them over the last few years. Who knows maybe it would come in handy.
The next hour was spent in silence, and crossing the border was almost too easy. All the customs agents asked for were passports and drivers licenses.
"That was almost too easy," Leon winced as they drove on up into texas.
"It could've been worse, they could've searched the car," Beth replied.
"Yeah there is that," Leon shot back.
"You wanna really freak their asses out?" Beth smirked a few minutes later as they were pulling into a McDonalds for lunch.
"You really want to get me killed don't you?" Leon groaned, then thought smiled and said "Do your worst."
"When we get out, leave the ring on and put your arm around me."
Leon did her one better as he walked around the car, opened her door for her and helped her out of the car. They pretended not to notice the stares when they got in line to order and Leon pressed a soft kiss against Beth's neck.
"Would someone care to tell me what the hell is going on here?" Dom demanded, standing over both of them like a mountain.
"Well, Leon and I decided to go for realism, went out and got married last night," Beth smiled and looked at Leon lovingly.
"Who the hell do you think you are dude taking advantage of my sister like that?" Justin growled spinning Leon around to stare into his eyes.
"Honestly Justin, I don't see where it's any of your business," Beth stated coolly "besides if you want to talk about using me, try looking at yourself buddy!"
"But..."
"Chill man, it's not like your sister went into this blind, we thought it all out before hand." Leon was finally getting into the game.
"Thought it all out before hand and didn't think to tell me Leon?" Dom raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "What makes you think I won't beat the hell out of you for taking what's mine?"
"I haven't been yours for two fucking years Dom!" Beth shouted oblivious to the lunchtime crowd who'd gathered around to stare. "Remember you were the one who called it off!"
"You had my kids, therefore that makes you mine, and don't you forget it," Dom threw back.
"Oh well well well, Mr. Dominic Toretto has decided he knows what's best for the worlds as per always. Let's just set one thing straight Mr. Big Shot Toretto, you might rule the rest of your team, but I'm my own person, and just because I still love you, doesn't mean you have the right to try to take over."
The entire restaurant seemed to go silent as Beth rambled, and for a second she didn't realize what she'd said until Dom opened his mouth, "You still love me?"
"Oh just forget about the rest of what I said then."
"I mean it Beth, Do. You. Still. Love Me?"
"Yes Dom, alright, I still love you. Always have loved you even when I was hurting so bad I could barely breath," Beth admitted, fighting back the tears.
"And you're not married to Leon," Dom stated, knowing for sure it was fact. Beth wouldn't marry someone unless she was in love with them.
"No, that was just a joke," Beth sighed,
"Well then, I have something I have to do," Dom smiled, pulling her roughly into his arms.
The next few minutes were a blur as Dom placed his lips gently against hers and probed her mouth open with his tongue. It was if the world began and ended right there in his arms. She hadn't had this completely euphoric feeling in three years.
And knew now that no other man would do for her if Dominic was around.
****
"Okay Beth, would you care to explain to me just why the hell I had to come all the way out here?" Justin demanded as he stomped into the shop.
"We're going to get the kids," Beth smiled, happy for the first time in months, "You, Me, Dom, Mia, Jesse and Leon are gonna make a trip up into the states to pick up my kids."
"That's great Beth, really great, so you need me to route things for you?" Justin knew exactly what his sister was thinking, she might be the car genius, but he could navigate through hell.
And had on several occasions.
"Yeah, we're all sitting around the kitchen table with an atlas spread around us trying to figure this out," Beth laughed, leading him into the house.
"Cool, just let me grab a coke and we're good to go," Justin smiled, wrapping a brotherly arm around his sister.
A few minutes later they were sitting around the table introductions made and the maps spread out across the table.
"Okay here's how we do it, we break up into three teams of two and one car with one. Beth, it'll be you and Dom in one car, Jesse dude, you're riding with me, Brian and Mia, you two are together, Leon, I understand you're the scanner guy around here?" Justin looked over at Leon who nodded before he continued "We're gonna need you to ride behind Beth and Dom manning those scanners, making sure there's no heat on their tail."
"No problem," Leon smiled, he was used to being stuck on scanners, it was what he did well, must've been the six month phase when he'd actually thought about becoming a cop.
"Each team will be responsible for some small part of the trip, Leon's scanner guy, Jesse, I'm going to need you and Beth to make sure these cars are in top shape, this is a twenty-four hour drive in the best of conditions and we need as little trouble as possible," Justin muttered going back to his maps.
Beth looked at Dom as if to say, See this is why I keep him around but kept her mouth shut.
"Brian and Mia, you two are the most able to get Internet access without getting us busted, so I'll need ya'll to get us fake papers, passports, ID's that sort of thing. Dom, I'll need you to get us cells, preferably nextel so we can communicate, our radio's just won't cut it with the scanners," Justin ordered. "I'll get a route together, but right now it's looking like we take the 200 to the 50 through to Eagle pass, then go from there."
"Okay, when do we ride?" Dom asked, a little annoyed at being shown up, but not stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"I'd prefer to leave tomorrow night, that'll put us at the states by Monday and on into Kentucky early Tuesday morning, but whatever works best for ya'll," Beth finally piped in, on this she was an expert.
"I should have ID's ready for pictures early tomorrow morning, we can go through ID's then. But we might have to switch teams around just til we get into the states for a plausible story," Brian informed them holding Mia's hand.
"Shouldn't be a problem, it'd be for like what two hours?" Justin asked.
"If that long, just til we get over the boarder and closer to the nearest rest stop," Mia replied softly.
"Okay, well let's get cracking, what cars are we taking Dom?"
"Leon, your car is already outfitted with scanners, so you're driving yours. Beth and I'll take her Mustang, there's more cargo room, and it still has the backseat. You can decide what other two cars go between ya," Dom was popping his knuckles nervously. Who'd have though Dominic Toretto nervous about meeting a couple of kids.
***
"Ma, it's me," Beth muttered into the phone at the office of the shop. It might be Sunday morning, but she'd rather not call from the phone at her house.
"Hey babygirl, it's too early to talk to the kids, they're still asleep," Barbara admonished softly.
"No, not that, I'm sending a couple of representatives to Cali to pick of that C.A.R.E package for me," Beth smiled into the phone. They had worked out this code way back when, before she'd ever thought of hijacking cars, it had been a joke originally, but was coming in handy.
"Which two?"
"Letty and Vince," Beth replied, using the one name she knew her mother would know was a lie, this let Barbara know she was coming in herself. "They'll be arriving on TWA flight 718, send Marli and Bobby."
"No problem, I'll have 'em meet Letty and Vince out there. Be careful baby."
"I will Ma, you too. Love you."
Beth smiled as she placed the phone back down on the receiver and headed towards the back of the shop, "Okay everything's in place on mom's end. Cars are ready. What about paperwork?"
"All we need to do is take the pictures," Brian smiled before handing out packets of information to everyone, "Beth, you and Leon are crossing the boarder as Missy and Mark Shugart, of Nashville, Tennessee, a married couple who're on their way home from their honeymoon in Cancun."
"Missy? You named me Missy?" Beth groaned throwing her set of papers down on the table.
"Beth is married for Leon?" Dom laughed.
"Look it was the best I could come up with on such short notice. You, Me and Leon are the most whitebread of the group, so it was either him or me." Brian informed her before turning to Jesse "Jess you and I are heading in as partners down in Mexico on a business venture, Justin, you're a immigrant down visiting your family for the holidays, heading back home."
"What about Dom and I?" Mia asked softly.
"You are going in as Juan and Justina Rodriguz, twins from up north on their way home."
"Excuse me? You're giving them our ID's?" Beth gasped clutching her hands into a fist.
"Look they were already established and the easiest to come up with paperwork for," Brian explained laying his hand on Mia's shoulder.
"Alright, we roll out at midnight tonight, we'll stop an hour outside of Eagle pass and switch partners around until we get into the states, any questions?" Dom asked.
Everyone shook their heads no, took their pictures, and headed back to their respective homes to pack. This was going to be one helluva long trip.
***
12:00- the next afternoon: An Hour outside of Eagle Pass Tx.
"You ready for this Missy?" Dom asked a smirk evident in his voice.
"Yes, Juan, I'm ready for this, and I wouldn't be smirking if I were you, if any of us have the potential to get made it's you, why didn't you just fucking grow your hair out?"
"Cause it doesn't feel right. I tried, it lasted all of three weeks before I took out the razors and shaved the shit off," Dom explained softly.
"Whatever, at least you got the tat which'll throw 'em off as you didn't have one of those when you left," Beth sighed leaning her head back against the head rest. Dom had insisted on driving all the way, even though he knew she was better at evasive than he was.
"Yeah, I figured it was time I got one. And what better than the date I lost my first race," Dom informed her motioning to the numbers on his arm. He didn't have to tell her what the date was, it was burned into her brain indelibly. June 24th.
"Yeah sure, now send Leon over here so we can get this over with," Beth grumbled.
Five minutes later Leon had taken Dom's place in the drivers seat of the cherry red mustang, "Damn it feels weird driving without my scanners."
"I know how you feel, first time I drove without a two way in my hand I felt like I could crash at any moment," Beth laughed before slipping a set of golden wedding bands out of her pocket.
"What the hell are those?"
"Wedding bands, I bought these years ago to give to each of my kids on their wedding day. I figure this is as good a time as any to use 'em," Beth explained slipping her band onto her ring finger and handing Leon his. "I now pronounce us husband and wife for the next few hours."
"You my dear, are a bitch. I love it," Leon laughed softly leaning his head against the window.
"Thank you Leon, I take that as a compliment," Beth smiled before settling back down with her notebook. She'd been keeping a diary of everything that had happened to them over the last few years. Who knows maybe it would come in handy.
The next hour was spent in silence, and crossing the border was almost too easy. All the customs agents asked for were passports and drivers licenses.
"That was almost too easy," Leon winced as they drove on up into texas.
"It could've been worse, they could've searched the car," Beth replied.
"Yeah there is that," Leon shot back.
"You wanna really freak their asses out?" Beth smirked a few minutes later as they were pulling into a McDonalds for lunch.
"You really want to get me killed don't you?" Leon groaned, then thought smiled and said "Do your worst."
"When we get out, leave the ring on and put your arm around me."
Leon did her one better as he walked around the car, opened her door for her and helped her out of the car. They pretended not to notice the stares when they got in line to order and Leon pressed a soft kiss against Beth's neck.
"Would someone care to tell me what the hell is going on here?" Dom demanded, standing over both of them like a mountain.
"Well, Leon and I decided to go for realism, went out and got married last night," Beth smiled and looked at Leon lovingly.
"Who the hell do you think you are dude taking advantage of my sister like that?" Justin growled spinning Leon around to stare into his eyes.
"Honestly Justin, I don't see where it's any of your business," Beth stated coolly "besides if you want to talk about using me, try looking at yourself buddy!"
"But..."
"Chill man, it's not like your sister went into this blind, we thought it all out before hand." Leon was finally getting into the game.
"Thought it all out before hand and didn't think to tell me Leon?" Dom raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "What makes you think I won't beat the hell out of you for taking what's mine?"
"I haven't been yours for two fucking years Dom!" Beth shouted oblivious to the lunchtime crowd who'd gathered around to stare. "Remember you were the one who called it off!"
"You had my kids, therefore that makes you mine, and don't you forget it," Dom threw back.
"Oh well well well, Mr. Dominic Toretto has decided he knows what's best for the worlds as per always. Let's just set one thing straight Mr. Big Shot Toretto, you might rule the rest of your team, but I'm my own person, and just because I still love you, doesn't mean you have the right to try to take over."
The entire restaurant seemed to go silent as Beth rambled, and for a second she didn't realize what she'd said until Dom opened his mouth, "You still love me?"
"Oh just forget about the rest of what I said then."
"I mean it Beth, Do. You. Still. Love Me?"
"Yes Dom, alright, I still love you. Always have loved you even when I was hurting so bad I could barely breath," Beth admitted, fighting back the tears.
"And you're not married to Leon," Dom stated, knowing for sure it was fact. Beth wouldn't marry someone unless she was in love with them.
"No, that was just a joke," Beth sighed,
"Well then, I have something I have to do," Dom smiled, pulling her roughly into his arms.
The next few minutes were a blur as Dom placed his lips gently against hers and probed her mouth open with his tongue. It was if the world began and ended right there in his arms. She hadn't had this completely euphoric feeling in three years.
And knew now that no other man would do for her if Dominic was around.
****