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BACK IN TOWN
He'd arrived. Brian slowed the car as far down as he could. Now he was here, he didn't want to arrive. Vince shot him a frustrated angry look
"Hey cop, that snail just passed us!"
"I'm driving"
"Is that what ya call it? How about ya pick up the pace a bit so that we can arrive at the house before sundown?"
Vince studied Brian as he spoke, making Brian uncomfortable. Vince could read a lot about him without Brian's consent which always irked at him.
"You're scared aren't you?" Vince said suddenly "you're scared of what Toretto's gonna do to your ass when you get there"
"I've seen his temper Vince"
"What..Race Wars? That ain't nothing, what he did to get inside was..."
"I've seen the photos of that too"
Something thick and heavy descended on the car. Almost an agreement, a consensus of what had gone on. Brian sighed, running a nervous hand through his golden curls. He had to face Dom if he wanted to see Mia and truth be told; he wanted to be friends with Dom again. He didn't believe in miracles but maybe if he prayed real hard, something would happen. Besides, Vince looked like he was gonna knock Brian on his ass out of the car unless he sped up a bit. With an inner creasing, Brian hit the accelerator and kept his eyes fixed on Dom.
With a small swish of grass and sand, the car parked a little way in front of the house. Brian could feel his heart rate started to pick up speed very quickly. Forcing unpleasant imagery from his mind and refusing to look at Dom, he got out of the car and walked around it just as Vince opened his door. Despite the dirty looks and muttered curses, Brian grabbed Vince's arm and carefully helped him out of car. From the grimaces of pain on Vince's face, it was a good thing he helped too since Vince was in a lot of pain. He didn't even attempt to swat Brian away from him now, instead allowing the former cop to guide him carefully towards the house. Brian could see Letty slowly straightening out from getting out from under the car and looking at the two of them as though they'd come back from the dead. In a way they had and certainly it must have been a surprise for her to see them walking together side by side with Vince depending on Brian so visibly.
Dom was silent
Vince was the first to speak, his words coming out cracked
"Good to see you brother"
"You too Vince, pretty banged up" Dom finally spoke, his words almost as though they were back at the garage
"Gimme a hand into the house will ya? Is Leon here..."
His words seemed to fade away to Brian as he took in the house. It seemed big and probably spacious as well. The cars outside, lovingly cared for, were evidence enough that it was a Toretto property. Letty looked at him out of strange misted eyes, as though she was assessing things about him. Brian turned slowly towards her and tried a tentative smile.
"You'd better be worth it Spilner"
He smiled a little, almost relieved to hear that name again. The name the team, bar Vince who knew both names, knew him by. Almost like coming home, strange since it wasn't even his real name
"O'Connor Letty, that's what my real name is, Brian O'Connor"
"Whatever your name is, you'd better be worth it"
Letty had lost none of her bite Brian noticed wryly. She was like a lioness, fiercely protective of her pride. Her fists were clenched at her sides and her anger was unnervingly quiet, though it flashed in her eyes. Brian knew he had to tread carefully, especially considering that Dom had not even acknowledged his presence yet. Letty was a strong barrier and he wanted her to trust him again. He'd have to start explaining and asking questions himself
"Worth what?
"Worth all she's been through for you, I know you didn't come here just for the scenery and the sea air" Letty smirked at him though there was no hint of humour in her face "I know you came back here for Mia, she's been pining for you like a lost love so you fuck this up and I will no hesitation in running your ass down ok?"
Not waiting for an answer, Letty turned her back on him where she popped the hood of the car and began working intensely on the innards of the machine. Brian smiled a little. Usually that volume of Letty's anger was reserved for the skanks Dom was fond of flirting with at the races. Something told Brian that he wasn't going to get any sort of easy ride here.
"It's good to see you too Letty" he said softly before walking into the house
It was like being back home again. The place was messy but at the same time clean. The TV had a games console attached to the front of it and Corona bottles strewn everywhere. He could smell cooking, Mia's cooking. It made his heart skip a few beats. Vince was now lying out on the worn sofa, a look of relief on his face. Brian had to grin at that. Vince was finally back where he belonged and was loving it. Brian could tell that any vestige of friendship he'd managed to drag out of Vince might just disappear here to turn Dom further against him.
He gave a small half hearted wave at Vince who smirked back. He could tell how nervous Brian was from the way he jingled his spare change in his pockets and constantly looked around.
"Hey V, heard you were back here....."
Leon trailed off at the sight of Brian
"What the hell's he doing here?" he asked, directing his question with furious intensity at Vince
"He got me out of that hospital and on your doorstep" replied Vince "if he hadn't, guess I'd be banged up for all your asses"
Leon assessed Brian who looked right back, watching and waiting. Finally Leon extended a hand which Brian shook firmly, allowing a small smile to mar his face
"For Jesse" Leon said as way of explanation, his eyes unreadable "he liked you"
Dom was no where to be seen though heavy footsteps could be heard above them in what Brian guessed were the bedrooms. Leon began talking in a low voice about all that had happened to Vince as he sat down beside him on another worn chair.
Brian's concentration was elsewhere
Stood in the doorway from the hallway was Mia, pale and pretty as she looked at Brian and waiting for him to speak.
BACK IN TOWN
He'd arrived. Brian slowed the car as far down as he could. Now he was here, he didn't want to arrive. Vince shot him a frustrated angry look
"Hey cop, that snail just passed us!"
"I'm driving"
"Is that what ya call it? How about ya pick up the pace a bit so that we can arrive at the house before sundown?"
Vince studied Brian as he spoke, making Brian uncomfortable. Vince could read a lot about him without Brian's consent which always irked at him.
"You're scared aren't you?" Vince said suddenly "you're scared of what Toretto's gonna do to your ass when you get there"
"I've seen his temper Vince"
"What..Race Wars? That ain't nothing, what he did to get inside was..."
"I've seen the photos of that too"
Something thick and heavy descended on the car. Almost an agreement, a consensus of what had gone on. Brian sighed, running a nervous hand through his golden curls. He had to face Dom if he wanted to see Mia and truth be told; he wanted to be friends with Dom again. He didn't believe in miracles but maybe if he prayed real hard, something would happen. Besides, Vince looked like he was gonna knock Brian on his ass out of the car unless he sped up a bit. With an inner creasing, Brian hit the accelerator and kept his eyes fixed on Dom.
With a small swish of grass and sand, the car parked a little way in front of the house. Brian could feel his heart rate started to pick up speed very quickly. Forcing unpleasant imagery from his mind and refusing to look at Dom, he got out of the car and walked around it just as Vince opened his door. Despite the dirty looks and muttered curses, Brian grabbed Vince's arm and carefully helped him out of car. From the grimaces of pain on Vince's face, it was a good thing he helped too since Vince was in a lot of pain. He didn't even attempt to swat Brian away from him now, instead allowing the former cop to guide him carefully towards the house. Brian could see Letty slowly straightening out from getting out from under the car and looking at the two of them as though they'd come back from the dead. In a way they had and certainly it must have been a surprise for her to see them walking together side by side with Vince depending on Brian so visibly.
Dom was silent
Vince was the first to speak, his words coming out cracked
"Good to see you brother"
"You too Vince, pretty banged up" Dom finally spoke, his words almost as though they were back at the garage
"Gimme a hand into the house will ya? Is Leon here..."
His words seemed to fade away to Brian as he took in the house. It seemed big and probably spacious as well. The cars outside, lovingly cared for, were evidence enough that it was a Toretto property. Letty looked at him out of strange misted eyes, as though she was assessing things about him. Brian turned slowly towards her and tried a tentative smile.
"You'd better be worth it Spilner"
He smiled a little, almost relieved to hear that name again. The name the team, bar Vince who knew both names, knew him by. Almost like coming home, strange since it wasn't even his real name
"O'Connor Letty, that's what my real name is, Brian O'Connor"
"Whatever your name is, you'd better be worth it"
Letty had lost none of her bite Brian noticed wryly. She was like a lioness, fiercely protective of her pride. Her fists were clenched at her sides and her anger was unnervingly quiet, though it flashed in her eyes. Brian knew he had to tread carefully, especially considering that Dom had not even acknowledged his presence yet. Letty was a strong barrier and he wanted her to trust him again. He'd have to start explaining and asking questions himself
"Worth what?
"Worth all she's been through for you, I know you didn't come here just for the scenery and the sea air" Letty smirked at him though there was no hint of humour in her face "I know you came back here for Mia, she's been pining for you like a lost love so you fuck this up and I will no hesitation in running your ass down ok?"
Not waiting for an answer, Letty turned her back on him where she popped the hood of the car and began working intensely on the innards of the machine. Brian smiled a little. Usually that volume of Letty's anger was reserved for the skanks Dom was fond of flirting with at the races. Something told Brian that he wasn't going to get any sort of easy ride here.
"It's good to see you too Letty" he said softly before walking into the house
It was like being back home again. The place was messy but at the same time clean. The TV had a games console attached to the front of it and Corona bottles strewn everywhere. He could smell cooking, Mia's cooking. It made his heart skip a few beats. Vince was now lying out on the worn sofa, a look of relief on his face. Brian had to grin at that. Vince was finally back where he belonged and was loving it. Brian could tell that any vestige of friendship he'd managed to drag out of Vince might just disappear here to turn Dom further against him.
He gave a small half hearted wave at Vince who smirked back. He could tell how nervous Brian was from the way he jingled his spare change in his pockets and constantly looked around.
"Hey V, heard you were back here....."
Leon trailed off at the sight of Brian
"What the hell's he doing here?" he asked, directing his question with furious intensity at Vince
"He got me out of that hospital and on your doorstep" replied Vince "if he hadn't, guess I'd be banged up for all your asses"
Leon assessed Brian who looked right back, watching and waiting. Finally Leon extended a hand which Brian shook firmly, allowing a small smile to mar his face
"For Jesse" Leon said as way of explanation, his eyes unreadable "he liked you"
Dom was no where to be seen though heavy footsteps could be heard above them in what Brian guessed were the bedrooms. Leon began talking in a low voice about all that had happened to Vince as he sat down beside him on another worn chair.
Brian's concentration was elsewhere
Stood in the doorway from the hallway was Mia, pale and pretty as she looked at Brian and waiting for him to speak.