Disclaimer: own nothing
It was going to be a day of tests. Brian knew that by the time he was making his way to the hospital entrance to go and visit Vince again. He'd been working in 'The Racer's Edge' earlier, stacking the metal shelves with parts. Harry had been serving the counter as usual, cracking jokes with the racers who came in to buy from him. It was the place every racer came to buy their parts. What was it Harry had said to him when he'd first started work here? That Dominic was golden and everything he used, was snapped up by the hundreds by the racers. Everything he touched turned to gold for Harry. Brian smiled slightly as he racked up the engine parts; he wondered who now turned Harry's stock to gold for him? There had been no new king of the race track crowned as far as Brian could tell. No one dared try and take Dom's place due to the firm belief that he'd return soon and kick the pretender's ass. Brian wiped his hands on an oily cloth he kept threaded through a belt loop and headed back to the counter to help Harry serve customers. He turned away to pick up his coffee mug when he heard a voice he didn't think he'd hear for a long time
"Hey white boy, can I get me some service over here?"
Brian paused. Hector. He wondered if Hector would slug him when he realised who it was. Brian was sure that word had got round the racing circle that Brian was the one who'd pretty much forced Team Toretto to move on and that he'd been a cop all along. Brian turned and nodded to Hector. He knew that he himself must look pretty much the same; a fresh white t-shirt and blue jeans worn so much that the knees were wearing through and the same golden curls and vivid blue eyes. Hector hadn't changed either, a sloppy brown shirt and black jean cut-offs and the same tanned skin and smart-ass smirk characterising his face. He regarded Brian for a long minute, his friends chattering around him to Harry and checking out the display equipment
"I heard you were doing things no racer's supposed to Spilner" Hector said finally
"It's O'Connor now and yeah I was a cop"
"Why the past tense?"
"They kicked me off the force when I wouldn't say where Dom was heading"
"Why would a white boy like you do a stupid thing like that?"
Before the conversation could go any further, Harry intervened, stepping up beside Brian.
"How about you two take this out the back? Hector you got a list?" he asked
"Right here brother" Hector replied, handing a folded piece of paper to Harry
He turned and let off a stream of jumbled Spanish to his friends which Brian couldn't follow. The Latinos at the races had their own language, part Spanish, part jive, part Ebonics. He couldn't understand it if he tried. Hector turned back to Brian and walked round the counter and to the back without a word. Brian followed him after a confirming nod from Harry. He took a deep breath as he did, running a suntanned hand over his unruly curls as he did.
Hector stood leaning on a table and turned an expectant face towards Brian. He wanted an answer to his last question
"Because I cared" replied Brian "I cared about Toretto"
"Nah you cared about Mia" countered Hector with a ghost of a smile "you cared about her"
"I cared for Dom too Hector, why else would I give him my car, let him get away and then not tell the cops where he went?" said Brian, wondering why he was so desperate to regain Hector's trust
"I believe you Brian, not coz I want to but because I have to" Hector said "I have to buy my parts from you and I don't want to be not trusting my dealer"
"Thanks" Brian felt like it was a small step back in
"Now you and me, we were friends, I'd like that again" Hector continued "but you can't ever return to the race scene here, you know that? There are people who want your blood coz they all know how drove Toretto out of town"
Brian nodded slowly. He hadn't dare show his face at the street race tracks. He knew some smart guy would rush him with a knife and who knew what would happen. Brian sighed a little. He still raced when he found an empty care lot and turned fancy loops, remembering the night he rescued Dom. But it wasn't anything compared to being on the tracks with NOS filling your engine. But he couldn't have that here, not where people knew who he'd been before and what he'd done.
"OK, then we can get back to business" Hector announced, pushing himself off the table and punching Brian lightly on the shoulder.
Brian grinned and returned the gesture as Hector moved in front of him to get back to his friends and his supply of engine parts Harry had waiting piled on the counter.
Now here Brian was, going back into hospital ready to do something that could get him arrested. He sighed as he entered and signed in. He asked if Vince had been moved. He hadn't. With a friendly smile at the receptionist, he headed to the ward where he knew Vince's bad temper was being contained. He knocked lightly on the door. Vince looked up and managed a small scowl. Brian grinned inwardly, Vince had barely any visitors except the waiting police and Brian had a feeling that he actually looked forward to seeing Brian since it meant someone to insult and some company. He ignored the scowl and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.
"How's it going Vince?" he asked
He didn't dare try calling him V. That was what Team Toretto called him, only those close enough to really know him called him that. Not anyone else. So Brian settled on Vince and Vince settled on O'Connor, Brian if he was feeling friendly. Today didn't appear to be one of those days
"As good as it fucking can be while I'm stuck in a small room and seeing no one" he spat
"Then I guess I have good news"
"What? You're moving away and I never have to see you again?"
"No, I'm going to cut you a deal"
Vince looked at him slowly. Brian looked back, blinking slightly as he did. Vince liked to psyche people out.
"What sort of deal?" Vince asked grudgingly
"I get you out; you take me to the Torettos"
"And see you make a move on Mia, forget it"
"Vince I'm offering you your freedom, the police are going to take you away soon and you're going to take the rap for everyone, you could go away for a very long time" Brian said imploringly "I know you couldn't care less about me but I want the chance to go and straighten things out ok?"
There was silence, thick heavy silence. Vince was lying staring at the ceiling. Brian couldn't detect any emotions on his face, just a cold hard stare. Vince had never been good at suppressing his emotions; he would fly off the handle usually, not caring what people thought. But time in a tiny room by himself had given him the chance to practice. Brian waited patiently. He knew if he rushed Vince then he'd come against a brick wall that wouldn't budge. Vince's stubbornness was legendary. Finally Vince looked at the man who'd saved his life.
"How are you going to get me out?"
Brian smiled and nodded. He produced a back leather wallet from his pocket. The same one that Vince had managed to dislodge from his pocket when he and Brian fought on the first day they met. The one that Jesse had handed to Dominic to inspect before he passed judgement. Brian could still hear Dom's mocking words
"Brian Earl Spilner; sounds like a serial killer"
Shaking off the past, Brian flipped open the wallet to reveal a card and a police badge
"I've still got my police badge"
*
There was a lot of silence out in Mexico. Mia sighed to herself as she sat out the front. Letty had been spending every day here since they'd arrived. When she was asked by Leon what she was doing, she said was watching and waiting. Mia knew what she meant now. She was doing the same for Brian. He would come back, he would come back. She kept repeating the phrase to herself as she sat, slipping her feet out of her sandals. Letty understood. Dom could have disappeared, found a new place to settle into with no ties left to Team Torretto. But he'd come back to his family. Brian would too. They were his family.
"Mind if I join you?" a soft voice asked
Mia didn't turn around but nodded once. Her eyes stayed on the horizon.
"Sure Leon"
Leon nodded and sat down on a rock beside her, a brown glass bottle resting in his hand.
"You takin' Letty's place now?"
"Looks that way"
"You're keepin' faith he's coming back aren't you?"
It wasn't a judgement. Just an observation.
"I'm keeping hope that he's coming back" she corrected
"You mean I'm not enough for you?" Leon joked, nudging her "I'm hurt chica"
"You know why I need him" Mia turned to him finally and smiled, Leon thought her eyes looked soulless "why did you come out there anyway?"
"I thought Letty and Dom needed some time together" he winked slyly at her "make up for lost time and all that"
"You mean we can't use the house tonight"
"We can use the kitchen"
Mia smiled at Leon. He was a good friend to her. True it had been hard when Vince was always slouching around, hitting on her at every opportunity. But now, she and Leon could properly talk. Mia felt like she owed it to him to tell him what happened when Jesse died, maybe they could share memories. She got to her feet and gesturing towards the house
"C'mon then lets go"
She could leave the horizon for now. But she'd be watching it again later
*
Letty flicked the channels on the TV. All boring. She flicked it off with a sigh. Then she was aware of silence. Since he'd started speaking again, Leon had been chattering as usual but now, nothing. She looked out the window and saw Mia sat out the front, Leon beside her. She smiled. Now Mia was the one watching and waiting
A pair of arms suddenly grabbed from her behind and she found herself lifted high up into the air. She looked down to see Dom's laughing eyes looking up at her.
"Put me down Toretto" she ordered firmly, suppressing her laughter "c'mon put me down"
"Why should I?"
"Because I damn well ask you to, that's why"
"Nah that ain't a good enough reason"
Letty lunged down suddenly and managed to kiss him, followed by a not-so friendly smack to his head. He let her down immediately and pulled her in close to continue. She pulled away teasingly
"Ha! You on a leash boy" she said with a laugh
"Nah, just very horny" laughed Dom
"How bout we go upstairs and you give me a massage?"
"That your solution to every problem?"
"You complaining?"
Letty raised an eyebrow at him, her face totally serious. Dom grinned and slinging an arm around her, followed her upstairs.
It was going to be a day of tests. Brian knew that by the time he was making his way to the hospital entrance to go and visit Vince again. He'd been working in 'The Racer's Edge' earlier, stacking the metal shelves with parts. Harry had been serving the counter as usual, cracking jokes with the racers who came in to buy from him. It was the place every racer came to buy their parts. What was it Harry had said to him when he'd first started work here? That Dominic was golden and everything he used, was snapped up by the hundreds by the racers. Everything he touched turned to gold for Harry. Brian smiled slightly as he racked up the engine parts; he wondered who now turned Harry's stock to gold for him? There had been no new king of the race track crowned as far as Brian could tell. No one dared try and take Dom's place due to the firm belief that he'd return soon and kick the pretender's ass. Brian wiped his hands on an oily cloth he kept threaded through a belt loop and headed back to the counter to help Harry serve customers. He turned away to pick up his coffee mug when he heard a voice he didn't think he'd hear for a long time
"Hey white boy, can I get me some service over here?"
Brian paused. Hector. He wondered if Hector would slug him when he realised who it was. Brian was sure that word had got round the racing circle that Brian was the one who'd pretty much forced Team Toretto to move on and that he'd been a cop all along. Brian turned and nodded to Hector. He knew that he himself must look pretty much the same; a fresh white t-shirt and blue jeans worn so much that the knees were wearing through and the same golden curls and vivid blue eyes. Hector hadn't changed either, a sloppy brown shirt and black jean cut-offs and the same tanned skin and smart-ass smirk characterising his face. He regarded Brian for a long minute, his friends chattering around him to Harry and checking out the display equipment
"I heard you were doing things no racer's supposed to Spilner" Hector said finally
"It's O'Connor now and yeah I was a cop"
"Why the past tense?"
"They kicked me off the force when I wouldn't say where Dom was heading"
"Why would a white boy like you do a stupid thing like that?"
Before the conversation could go any further, Harry intervened, stepping up beside Brian.
"How about you two take this out the back? Hector you got a list?" he asked
"Right here brother" Hector replied, handing a folded piece of paper to Harry
He turned and let off a stream of jumbled Spanish to his friends which Brian couldn't follow. The Latinos at the races had their own language, part Spanish, part jive, part Ebonics. He couldn't understand it if he tried. Hector turned back to Brian and walked round the counter and to the back without a word. Brian followed him after a confirming nod from Harry. He took a deep breath as he did, running a suntanned hand over his unruly curls as he did.
Hector stood leaning on a table and turned an expectant face towards Brian. He wanted an answer to his last question
"Because I cared" replied Brian "I cared about Toretto"
"Nah you cared about Mia" countered Hector with a ghost of a smile "you cared about her"
"I cared for Dom too Hector, why else would I give him my car, let him get away and then not tell the cops where he went?" said Brian, wondering why he was so desperate to regain Hector's trust
"I believe you Brian, not coz I want to but because I have to" Hector said "I have to buy my parts from you and I don't want to be not trusting my dealer"
"Thanks" Brian felt like it was a small step back in
"Now you and me, we were friends, I'd like that again" Hector continued "but you can't ever return to the race scene here, you know that? There are people who want your blood coz they all know how drove Toretto out of town"
Brian nodded slowly. He hadn't dare show his face at the street race tracks. He knew some smart guy would rush him with a knife and who knew what would happen. Brian sighed a little. He still raced when he found an empty care lot and turned fancy loops, remembering the night he rescued Dom. But it wasn't anything compared to being on the tracks with NOS filling your engine. But he couldn't have that here, not where people knew who he'd been before and what he'd done.
"OK, then we can get back to business" Hector announced, pushing himself off the table and punching Brian lightly on the shoulder.
Brian grinned and returned the gesture as Hector moved in front of him to get back to his friends and his supply of engine parts Harry had waiting piled on the counter.
Now here Brian was, going back into hospital ready to do something that could get him arrested. He sighed as he entered and signed in. He asked if Vince had been moved. He hadn't. With a friendly smile at the receptionist, he headed to the ward where he knew Vince's bad temper was being contained. He knocked lightly on the door. Vince looked up and managed a small scowl. Brian grinned inwardly, Vince had barely any visitors except the waiting police and Brian had a feeling that he actually looked forward to seeing Brian since it meant someone to insult and some company. He ignored the scowl and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.
"How's it going Vince?" he asked
He didn't dare try calling him V. That was what Team Toretto called him, only those close enough to really know him called him that. Not anyone else. So Brian settled on Vince and Vince settled on O'Connor, Brian if he was feeling friendly. Today didn't appear to be one of those days
"As good as it fucking can be while I'm stuck in a small room and seeing no one" he spat
"Then I guess I have good news"
"What? You're moving away and I never have to see you again?"
"No, I'm going to cut you a deal"
Vince looked at him slowly. Brian looked back, blinking slightly as he did. Vince liked to psyche people out.
"What sort of deal?" Vince asked grudgingly
"I get you out; you take me to the Torettos"
"And see you make a move on Mia, forget it"
"Vince I'm offering you your freedom, the police are going to take you away soon and you're going to take the rap for everyone, you could go away for a very long time" Brian said imploringly "I know you couldn't care less about me but I want the chance to go and straighten things out ok?"
There was silence, thick heavy silence. Vince was lying staring at the ceiling. Brian couldn't detect any emotions on his face, just a cold hard stare. Vince had never been good at suppressing his emotions; he would fly off the handle usually, not caring what people thought. But time in a tiny room by himself had given him the chance to practice. Brian waited patiently. He knew if he rushed Vince then he'd come against a brick wall that wouldn't budge. Vince's stubbornness was legendary. Finally Vince looked at the man who'd saved his life.
"How are you going to get me out?"
Brian smiled and nodded. He produced a back leather wallet from his pocket. The same one that Vince had managed to dislodge from his pocket when he and Brian fought on the first day they met. The one that Jesse had handed to Dominic to inspect before he passed judgement. Brian could still hear Dom's mocking words
"Brian Earl Spilner; sounds like a serial killer"
Shaking off the past, Brian flipped open the wallet to reveal a card and a police badge
"I've still got my police badge"
*
There was a lot of silence out in Mexico. Mia sighed to herself as she sat out the front. Letty had been spending every day here since they'd arrived. When she was asked by Leon what she was doing, she said was watching and waiting. Mia knew what she meant now. She was doing the same for Brian. He would come back, he would come back. She kept repeating the phrase to herself as she sat, slipping her feet out of her sandals. Letty understood. Dom could have disappeared, found a new place to settle into with no ties left to Team Torretto. But he'd come back to his family. Brian would too. They were his family.
"Mind if I join you?" a soft voice asked
Mia didn't turn around but nodded once. Her eyes stayed on the horizon.
"Sure Leon"
Leon nodded and sat down on a rock beside her, a brown glass bottle resting in his hand.
"You takin' Letty's place now?"
"Looks that way"
"You're keepin' faith he's coming back aren't you?"
It wasn't a judgement. Just an observation.
"I'm keeping hope that he's coming back" she corrected
"You mean I'm not enough for you?" Leon joked, nudging her "I'm hurt chica"
"You know why I need him" Mia turned to him finally and smiled, Leon thought her eyes looked soulless "why did you come out there anyway?"
"I thought Letty and Dom needed some time together" he winked slyly at her "make up for lost time and all that"
"You mean we can't use the house tonight"
"We can use the kitchen"
Mia smiled at Leon. He was a good friend to her. True it had been hard when Vince was always slouching around, hitting on her at every opportunity. But now, she and Leon could properly talk. Mia felt like she owed it to him to tell him what happened when Jesse died, maybe they could share memories. She got to her feet and gesturing towards the house
"C'mon then lets go"
She could leave the horizon for now. But she'd be watching it again later
*
Letty flicked the channels on the TV. All boring. She flicked it off with a sigh. Then she was aware of silence. Since he'd started speaking again, Leon had been chattering as usual but now, nothing. She looked out the window and saw Mia sat out the front, Leon beside her. She smiled. Now Mia was the one watching and waiting
A pair of arms suddenly grabbed from her behind and she found herself lifted high up into the air. She looked down to see Dom's laughing eyes looking up at her.
"Put me down Toretto" she ordered firmly, suppressing her laughter "c'mon put me down"
"Why should I?"
"Because I damn well ask you to, that's why"
"Nah that ain't a good enough reason"
Letty lunged down suddenly and managed to kiss him, followed by a not-so friendly smack to his head. He let her down immediately and pulled her in close to continue. She pulled away teasingly
"Ha! You on a leash boy" she said with a laugh
"Nah, just very horny" laughed Dom
"How bout we go upstairs and you give me a massage?"
"That your solution to every problem?"
"You complaining?"
Letty raised an eyebrow at him, her face totally serious. Dom grinned and slinging an arm around her, followed her upstairs.