Title: Paying Old Debts
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Notes: Hey I'm back on schedule! Hope you like!
Replies to reviews at bottom
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Chapter 8
"No," Billie stubbornly denied as she and Van squared off center stage in the Candy Store while Deaq silently sat on the side lines.
"You act like I have an option!" Van sallied back incredulously. "Things are real clear, Billie. Roberts will turn you over to the mob if I don't return their drugs. And the "only" way to get the drugs back is to make a deal with the Feds."
"And I said no!" her voice rising. "I made this mess, I'll clean it up. I'll make the deal with the Feds."
"Ya can't! You got nothing they want!"
"But you do," It was not a question but instead an accusation and a reprimand.
Van had been waiting for the disappointment to register in her eyes, in Deaq's eyes and now it had begun. Softly he asked, "You think I wanted to cut a deal with Cade? You think I woulda done that if there was any other way 'round this?"
"You could have come to me," Billie answered sharply.
Anger sparked in Van's eyes. "Why can't you admit that you can't fix this! Cade isn't some mark you can maneuver! The *mob* isn't some mark you can take on and live!"
Billie quietly countered, "I don't believe that."
At her words, Van's eyes darkened and he became still and quiet. His next words spoke only of despair. "I've known some people who thought that way....and they all ended up dead." Without another word, Van crossed over to Billie's desk, picked up her phone and dialed Captain Perish's phone number. At the Captain's greeting, Van announced, "This is Officer Van Ray. I want to cut a deal with the Feds."
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If cutting a deal with Roberts had felt like Van had sealed a pact with the devil, then cutting a deal with the Feds was like having an audit...on his soul. As he answered one question after another from the two Federal agents, he was increasingly glad that he had requested this meeting be privately held. The last thing he needed was to have Deaq or Billie here, though by his partner and boss's scowls at that request, he knew there would be hell to pay for cutting them out of the deal.
"So you stole cars for Roberts when you were sixteen?" the thin, red haired agent questioned, not for the first time.
Van leaned over the table and met the agent's eyes steadily, "I'm working on a time schedule here. You want my autobiography or do you want to cut a deal?"
This caused the older agent to cut in sharply, "You think you're holding some high card..you got nothing, kid. It's us that has something you want. Roberts' drugs."
Flippantly Van returned, "Fine. I got nothing you want then I'll walk," and he stood up swiftly and began to head out of the interrogation room.
"Wait," the older agent ordered.
At that one word, Van stalked back to the table and demanded, "The deal's simple. I want the drugs and you want Roberts. Give me the drugs and I'll get you Roberts' warehouse location."
The younger agent shook his head, "That's not the deal we're offering."
"But you said you wanted the warehouse location!" Van protested, his patience at an end.
"Yes," the older agent replied like he was talking to a toddler, "but the warehouse location that the drugs were originally headed to. The mob's warehouse."
The blood drained from Van's face. He had expected the Feds to force him to go after Roberts .....but the mob?!?! Swallowing hard he protested, "Roberts isn't having me take the drugs there...he doesn't trust me enough to tell me that location. And the mob, since the stuff's been in your possession, they don't want to chance taking the shipment back so they are selling it off as soon as possible."
"Interesting but not our problem. The deal's on the table, " and the older agent throw the keys to the tractor trailer that carried the drugs onto the table, "either take it or leave it."
Not for the first time, Van wished Cade had sunk the ice pick a little higher in his back. "I'm taking it," Van agreed as he picked up the keys and headed for the door.
"And Ray," the younger agent called and Van turned around to face the two agents one last time, "stealing cars wasn't all you did for Roberts. You don't come through for us and you'll be the one doing time."
"Funny that you'd have enough evidence to put me away but not enough to even touch Roberts?" Van challenged darkly before he yanked open the door and walked out of the interrogation room.
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2 Hours Later
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Van looked over to his two traveling companions with frustration. "You two are going to blow this whole thing! If Cade knows you went to the meet with me, he may shut down my deal."
"And the down side of that would be what exactly?" Billie acidly replied, as she maneuvered the tractor trailer onto the interstate.
Looking past Deaq, who sat in the middle of the tractor trailer cab, over to Billie, Van agitatedly countered, "Uh, well, how about you getting killed!? I think that's a down side but then again I'm kinda sensitive."
Deaq raised his hands, "Hold up you two. Does this argument have to last the *whole* trip?"
Two simultaneous "Yes" s answered Deaq's question.
Glancing between his partner and his boss, Deaq sighed and tried to be the peacemaker again. "This is getting us nowhere. None of us can undo what we did so let's move on."
"Move on?!" Billie bitterly repeated and shot Deaq an incredulous look. "Van is working for Cade Roberts..the guy who put an ice pick through his back, and if he plays him there won't be enough of Van left to bury. And then," here her look seared into Van, "you made a deal with the Feds to help them bring down Roberts ...and if you fail you're looking at jail time."
Van did not correct Billie on her perception of his deal with the Feds. He couldn't come to terms with the deal himself..to even consider ratting out the mob?! He was a cop and he tried to play it cool and unafraid but he had seen inside the mafia world and there wasn't a shred of him not terrified by the thought of betraying them. In their world, killing was just another business technique.
Instead Van countered with, "If you object to my deals then why are you here, Billie?!"
"Cause you couldn't drive the truck," she replied smugly.
"No, I said I haven't driven a truck in a long time.. not that I *couldn't* drive the truck," Van protested a little too dramatically.
"Give it up, Player!" Deaq cut in. "You didn't even know how to turn on the lights!"
Van turned accusing eyes onto his partner, "Like you did! You almost detached the trailer trying to start the engine." And some of the tension in Van eased at the easy banter he traded with Deaq.
Sensing the positive effect their argument had on Van, Deaq continued it with gusto. "Please, you're the one that coulda grounded hamburger getting it into first gear." Then Deaq imitated the sound that had emanated from the gears at Van's attempt to shift the gears.
A laugh, a true laugh broke from Van at Deaq's imitation. "Stop man," he said, trying hard to stop laughing, "it hurts to laugh," and he wrapped his arm around his waist and lightly braced his wound.
As if this were the opening he had been waiting for, Deaq dug in his coat pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills. "That's why good boys take their pills," he said tauntingly as he opened the bottle, grabbed Van's hand and shook out two pills onto his partner's palm.
Van smugly smiled at Deaq, "I can't swallow them without something to drink."
"I got that covered," Deaq returned, an evil glint in his eyes as he produced a water bottle from his other coat pocket and handed it to Van. "Bottle's up, Van," he sallied back with a wide smile.
Knowing he was out played and unable to ignore his growing pain, Van willingly swallowed the two pills and prayed they were fast acting. In half an hour they'd be at the meeting spot to make the drug deal and every sense that Van owned told him that things wouldn't go down smoothly.
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"Deaq should at least hang back," Van offered as a compromise.
But Deaq protested before all his words were out. "No way am I sitting this one out. We are going in there together, Van."
"But there are only expecting me to make the deal, that's what Cade would have told them," Van tried to make his partner see reason. "Having Billie show up is gonna freak them out enough without adding another player into the mix.'
Deaq's set look was answer enough for Van. "Well that's too bad for them cause I'm coming in."
"Fine, you wanna blow this sale, you wanna get me killed by Cade or the Mafia, then come on in, Deaq," Van sarcastically replied, even as he checked his gun for a full clip.
Deaq did the same check with his own gun as he flippantly groused back, "Yeah, Van, that's what this is all about." But then Deaq's eyes settled on Van and his voice turned deadly, "I didn't sit in that hospital praying you'd live so I could let you get wasted by some drug dealers. I'm going in Van, I'm gonna make sure everything goes down right and then we can move onto the business at hand: getting Cade Roberts the hell outta your life."
Stunned at Deaq's words, Van didn't know what to say and Deaq saved him the trouble, "Shut up, Van and let's get this thing done." And then Billie pulled the truck off the interstate onto a dirt path and after three miles their headlights reflected off another tractor trailer cab and a Porsche. Billie pulled the truck to a stop two hundred yards from the other truck and cut the engine but let the headlights remain on.
Three men stepped to the front of the other truck and one of them was holding a brief case. "Time to sell our wares at market," Van said a second before he opened the cab door and jumped down to the ground. A small groan of pain escaped him at the jolt to his body but he moved forward as smoothly as he always did.
But Deaq had heard his partner's grunt of pain and he clenched his teeth together and prayed that things would go down uneventfully. Van had seen more than his share of action lately and Deaq was hoping he could shelter his partner from here on out. Jumping out of the cab, Deaq made his way to flank Van as they approached the buyers. As planned, Billie stayed behind the wheel of the truck.
The dark haired man in the middle, spoke first, "Cade said you'd be alone, Strummer."
The use of his undercover name startled Van but he didn't let it show. "He tends to leave out some details," he answered, knowing all too well the truth of his words. It had never occurred to Van that Roberts would leave his cover unscathed, that he would, in some sick way, protect Van's real identity. No matter how well he thought he knew Cade Roberts, Van always found out he didn't know him at all.
In reply the buyer laughed, "Truer words have never been spoken. Let's get this deal done."
"You got the money then I've got the goods," Van said as he stepped forward and grabbed the briefcase the man held out to him. Taking a few steps back to be in line again with Deaq, Van squatted down amid the lights of the two truck's, sat the briefcase on the ground and opened it. A snake sprang from the case, striking for Van's throat. With a startled cry, Van fell backwards, eluded the snakes' teeth and impacted harshly with the ground. Agony tore through his back immobilizing his body even as his mind screamed for him to move, to crawl if he had to. But before he could convince his injured body to obey his mind, he felt the snake slither onto his leg. Van's blood froze in fear and he ceased all motion even breathing.
At his partner's cry, Deaq's attention had swung to Van. And that was all the distraction the three buyers needed to pull their weapons.
It had happened so fast. One minute Billie was convinced this would be a smooth operation and the next, a buyer leveled a gun at each of them. There weren't many plays she could make, sitting in the truck. Pulling her gun was useless. If she shot through the windshield, her accuracy would be lost and if she opened the door to take the shot, the second the door creaked open, the buyers would open fire. Using the truck was out unless she intended to run over Deaq who stood in the truck's path and Van who was lying on the ground with a snake sliding up his leg. Backing the truck up and bailing on Van and Deaq never crossed her mind.
Deaq had made a grab for his gun but that motion halted as the buyer closest to him shot at his feet. "Don't do it," the man threatened and Deaq raised his hands to his side to show he would not make that move again. Then his eyes refocused on Van and he couldn't help but shiver as he watched the snake slide onto Van's chest.
"Just stay still Van," Deaq instructed, his own worry for Van's situation unmasked.
Internally Van gave voice to Deaq's advice, 'Like I'm gonna move with a snake on my chest Deaq!' but externally Van remained silent, he was in no way gonna do anything to cause the snake to get pissed.
"Out of the truck, sweatheart," the leader called up to Billie even as his gun sight never left Van's chest. "Get out now or be prepared to bury your boys here. And no tricks."
Looking at the third man who had his gun sighted on her, Billie cursed. How had things gone so badly so quickly?! She opened the door slowly and immediately she was ordered to toss her gun which she did though she did so unwillingly. Then she jumped down to the ground and the third man came over and shoved her forward so she would join the rest of the gang between the two truck's headlights.
The leader squatted down and watched Van as the snake hissed on Van's chest. Van was so pale his blood vessels started to become visible and his breathing was shallow. The leader smirked, "Roberts cut us a sweet deal on these drugs tonight. He needed to move them fast, knowing that, I negotiated a good price. But for the first time, he came back with an even better number." With a smile the leader grabbed Van's leg and jerked him backward. The snake reacted immediately to the motion of his prey and rose up to attack position, hissing as it sighted on Van's face.
Van's heart pounded in his chest as his eyes stayed locked on the snake. This wasn't how he thought he'd go out. Like some Crocodile Hunter reject. But the worst part wasn't his dying, no the worst part was knowing Deaq and Billie were gonna die too...all 'cause of him.
Instinctively Deaq started to go to his partner, but a gun barrel came to rest on his chest, bringing him to a full up stop. They were truly driven hard on this one.
A laugh broke the tension as the leader stood up but still rested his look and his gun sight on Van. "Roberts cut my price in half, kid...as long as I'ld kill you when you came to make the deal."
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TBC
Hey since I didn't give you a decent cliffy for a while I felt I was cheating you (evil grin). Could things get worse for Van?! You gotta tune in to see!
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Replies to Reviews:
Fan4fastln: Well, to be honest, last chapter I did have a wee bit of writers block too. RL and writer's block..that's so unfair. Anyway, I've put the RL back in the corner it belongs in and knocked down the wall so here's chapter 8 on time! That's such a compliment that my other Fastlane story got you willing to check out the other Fastlane fic offerings. That little story practically wrote itself back when the show was on but I had no audience to show it to because ffnet wasn't putting up the show's category. I was tickled pink when, low and behold, a fastlane category materialized. (I love getting what I want). And I truly appreciate your every review so keep 'em coming!
DKM: Even I'm feeling sorry for Van at the end of this chapter. He's definitely not getting any breaks here. Glad you think it's plausible that he would blame himself for things that are going down. As for the lines of the show, I've been writing them down and been trying to use them in the proper context because, like you, I loved their dialogue!!! This show was cool from start to finish! As for the source of Van's psychological damage ...I'm trying to give it to you in pieces because I think that's how a person would reveal a dark past...hesitantly maybe unwillingly but somehow the past always come back to haunt you. Please drop me a review!
Almarmentini: Me?! Write a cool story?! Now that's an awesome thought! Thanks!! Hurting Van? That sounds like fun! (And I'm no psycho either! Really...I'm not!) Hope this chapter brought you some excitement. Give me a review and tell me what you think!
Mady Bay: You asked for more despair in Van...I'm more than willing to supply that!! Glad you appreciated the angst because I love putting Van through every moment of it! Hope to hear from you again!
Leann: Glad I'm keeping your interest. Your excitement for Van's deal with the Feds gave me the idea to really spice things up by having the Feds ask not for Roberts on a silver platter but the mafia. (Great inspiration on your part!! But Van is hardly gonna thank you). Keep the comments coming! They really help my storyline keep moving.
ZoZe: I'm blushing here! It's always such a thrill when someone actually enjoys reading something I've written and to hear you "soaked" up my words...I'm overjoyed! Sorry that Billie isn't in the story as much as you want her to be but I have a real hard time getting a good handle on her character. I don't know what she'd do in certain situations and I always like to know the characters cold. I've tried to study her but for all the airtime they gave her, I have to admit I spent my time focused on Van and even watching the show now I'm totally drawn to Van. I'll try to keep Billie a front line character for this story but please forgive me if her characterization is off! Thanks for your reviews!!!!
Ysabell: Your review had me grinning from ear to ear! The fact that you appreciate this story and yet have never seen Fastlane...I'm so flattered! And thanks so much for your review on the SW story! I truly love writing angst and I love also to read it. Some of my story getting started because I've read all the good angst stories on a fandom and need another *fix* so like any obsessed person, I make up my own angst story to tell myself. I hope you someday have the pleasure of seeing Fastlane but for now, I'm glad you're tuning in to this story! Love to hear what you think of this chapter!
Silent Typewriter: I'm worried about my punishment from chapter 7's wait so much so that I feared what would happen to me if I were even one day late on this chapter! And yes, you should worry for Van... every second he gets into deeper trouble. And he's got more severe consequences than rotten tomatoes if he fails to please. Please tell me what you thought of this chapter!
Lynne: Wow! I was so thrilled at your review I couldn't stop grinning myself. To think you enjoy my story that much...I am so pleased!!!! And thank you for recognizing the risk I always feel in posting another story. I feel like I'm making myself vulnerable and I am because I am so terribly thin skinned especially about my writing. Any criticism and I'm wondering if I should ever post another word again (I'm so dramatic sometimes It's disgusting). But then I get a fantastic review like yours and I know I can't quit just because I'm terribly offended at helpful criticism and even the not so helpful criticism. Reviewers like you make posting a story a real joyful thing! Thanks! Also I'm glad you liked my Deaq lines. And Deaq's loyalty to Van is as much of a must in this story as Van's angst. You just can't have one without the other the combination is just too great! And I'm with ya on the bursting into tears after that Cade met...course maybe that's cause I'm a girl too. (We are all just so soft sometimes) At least you didn't have to wait extra long for this chapter! Hope that earns me another review by you?! (Hint Hint)
Electricgurl: Yes, having to make a deal with anybody is always bad news. And for Van to have to make a deal with Roberts and the Feds?!?! His life stinks right now! Glad to have you back reading and sorry I haven't gotten as far in the story as you had hoped. But at least its moving forward, right? Thanks for the review!
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Till next time!
Cheryl W.
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Notes: Hey I'm back on schedule! Hope you like!
Replies to reviews at bottom
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Chapter 8
"No," Billie stubbornly denied as she and Van squared off center stage in the Candy Store while Deaq silently sat on the side lines.
"You act like I have an option!" Van sallied back incredulously. "Things are real clear, Billie. Roberts will turn you over to the mob if I don't return their drugs. And the "only" way to get the drugs back is to make a deal with the Feds."
"And I said no!" her voice rising. "I made this mess, I'll clean it up. I'll make the deal with the Feds."
"Ya can't! You got nothing they want!"
"But you do," It was not a question but instead an accusation and a reprimand.
Van had been waiting for the disappointment to register in her eyes, in Deaq's eyes and now it had begun. Softly he asked, "You think I wanted to cut a deal with Cade? You think I woulda done that if there was any other way 'round this?"
"You could have come to me," Billie answered sharply.
Anger sparked in Van's eyes. "Why can't you admit that you can't fix this! Cade isn't some mark you can maneuver! The *mob* isn't some mark you can take on and live!"
Billie quietly countered, "I don't believe that."
At her words, Van's eyes darkened and he became still and quiet. His next words spoke only of despair. "I've known some people who thought that way....and they all ended up dead." Without another word, Van crossed over to Billie's desk, picked up her phone and dialed Captain Perish's phone number. At the Captain's greeting, Van announced, "This is Officer Van Ray. I want to cut a deal with the Feds."
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If cutting a deal with Roberts had felt like Van had sealed a pact with the devil, then cutting a deal with the Feds was like having an audit...on his soul. As he answered one question after another from the two Federal agents, he was increasingly glad that he had requested this meeting be privately held. The last thing he needed was to have Deaq or Billie here, though by his partner and boss's scowls at that request, he knew there would be hell to pay for cutting them out of the deal.
"So you stole cars for Roberts when you were sixteen?" the thin, red haired agent questioned, not for the first time.
Van leaned over the table and met the agent's eyes steadily, "I'm working on a time schedule here. You want my autobiography or do you want to cut a deal?"
This caused the older agent to cut in sharply, "You think you're holding some high card..you got nothing, kid. It's us that has something you want. Roberts' drugs."
Flippantly Van returned, "Fine. I got nothing you want then I'll walk," and he stood up swiftly and began to head out of the interrogation room.
"Wait," the older agent ordered.
At that one word, Van stalked back to the table and demanded, "The deal's simple. I want the drugs and you want Roberts. Give me the drugs and I'll get you Roberts' warehouse location."
The younger agent shook his head, "That's not the deal we're offering."
"But you said you wanted the warehouse location!" Van protested, his patience at an end.
"Yes," the older agent replied like he was talking to a toddler, "but the warehouse location that the drugs were originally headed to. The mob's warehouse."
The blood drained from Van's face. He had expected the Feds to force him to go after Roberts .....but the mob?!?! Swallowing hard he protested, "Roberts isn't having me take the drugs there...he doesn't trust me enough to tell me that location. And the mob, since the stuff's been in your possession, they don't want to chance taking the shipment back so they are selling it off as soon as possible."
"Interesting but not our problem. The deal's on the table, " and the older agent throw the keys to the tractor trailer that carried the drugs onto the table, "either take it or leave it."
Not for the first time, Van wished Cade had sunk the ice pick a little higher in his back. "I'm taking it," Van agreed as he picked up the keys and headed for the door.
"And Ray," the younger agent called and Van turned around to face the two agents one last time, "stealing cars wasn't all you did for Roberts. You don't come through for us and you'll be the one doing time."
"Funny that you'd have enough evidence to put me away but not enough to even touch Roberts?" Van challenged darkly before he yanked open the door and walked out of the interrogation room.
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2 Hours Later
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Van looked over to his two traveling companions with frustration. "You two are going to blow this whole thing! If Cade knows you went to the meet with me, he may shut down my deal."
"And the down side of that would be what exactly?" Billie acidly replied, as she maneuvered the tractor trailer onto the interstate.
Looking past Deaq, who sat in the middle of the tractor trailer cab, over to Billie, Van agitatedly countered, "Uh, well, how about you getting killed!? I think that's a down side but then again I'm kinda sensitive."
Deaq raised his hands, "Hold up you two. Does this argument have to last the *whole* trip?"
Two simultaneous "Yes" s answered Deaq's question.
Glancing between his partner and his boss, Deaq sighed and tried to be the peacemaker again. "This is getting us nowhere. None of us can undo what we did so let's move on."
"Move on?!" Billie bitterly repeated and shot Deaq an incredulous look. "Van is working for Cade Roberts..the guy who put an ice pick through his back, and if he plays him there won't be enough of Van left to bury. And then," here her look seared into Van, "you made a deal with the Feds to help them bring down Roberts ...and if you fail you're looking at jail time."
Van did not correct Billie on her perception of his deal with the Feds. He couldn't come to terms with the deal himself..to even consider ratting out the mob?! He was a cop and he tried to play it cool and unafraid but he had seen inside the mafia world and there wasn't a shred of him not terrified by the thought of betraying them. In their world, killing was just another business technique.
Instead Van countered with, "If you object to my deals then why are you here, Billie?!"
"Cause you couldn't drive the truck," she replied smugly.
"No, I said I haven't driven a truck in a long time.. not that I *couldn't* drive the truck," Van protested a little too dramatically.
"Give it up, Player!" Deaq cut in. "You didn't even know how to turn on the lights!"
Van turned accusing eyes onto his partner, "Like you did! You almost detached the trailer trying to start the engine." And some of the tension in Van eased at the easy banter he traded with Deaq.
Sensing the positive effect their argument had on Van, Deaq continued it with gusto. "Please, you're the one that coulda grounded hamburger getting it into first gear." Then Deaq imitated the sound that had emanated from the gears at Van's attempt to shift the gears.
A laugh, a true laugh broke from Van at Deaq's imitation. "Stop man," he said, trying hard to stop laughing, "it hurts to laugh," and he wrapped his arm around his waist and lightly braced his wound.
As if this were the opening he had been waiting for, Deaq dug in his coat pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills. "That's why good boys take their pills," he said tauntingly as he opened the bottle, grabbed Van's hand and shook out two pills onto his partner's palm.
Van smugly smiled at Deaq, "I can't swallow them without something to drink."
"I got that covered," Deaq returned, an evil glint in his eyes as he produced a water bottle from his other coat pocket and handed it to Van. "Bottle's up, Van," he sallied back with a wide smile.
Knowing he was out played and unable to ignore his growing pain, Van willingly swallowed the two pills and prayed they were fast acting. In half an hour they'd be at the meeting spot to make the drug deal and every sense that Van owned told him that things wouldn't go down smoothly.
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"Deaq should at least hang back," Van offered as a compromise.
But Deaq protested before all his words were out. "No way am I sitting this one out. We are going in there together, Van."
"But there are only expecting me to make the deal, that's what Cade would have told them," Van tried to make his partner see reason. "Having Billie show up is gonna freak them out enough without adding another player into the mix.'
Deaq's set look was answer enough for Van. "Well that's too bad for them cause I'm coming in."
"Fine, you wanna blow this sale, you wanna get me killed by Cade or the Mafia, then come on in, Deaq," Van sarcastically replied, even as he checked his gun for a full clip.
Deaq did the same check with his own gun as he flippantly groused back, "Yeah, Van, that's what this is all about." But then Deaq's eyes settled on Van and his voice turned deadly, "I didn't sit in that hospital praying you'd live so I could let you get wasted by some drug dealers. I'm going in Van, I'm gonna make sure everything goes down right and then we can move onto the business at hand: getting Cade Roberts the hell outta your life."
Stunned at Deaq's words, Van didn't know what to say and Deaq saved him the trouble, "Shut up, Van and let's get this thing done." And then Billie pulled the truck off the interstate onto a dirt path and after three miles their headlights reflected off another tractor trailer cab and a Porsche. Billie pulled the truck to a stop two hundred yards from the other truck and cut the engine but let the headlights remain on.
Three men stepped to the front of the other truck and one of them was holding a brief case. "Time to sell our wares at market," Van said a second before he opened the cab door and jumped down to the ground. A small groan of pain escaped him at the jolt to his body but he moved forward as smoothly as he always did.
But Deaq had heard his partner's grunt of pain and he clenched his teeth together and prayed that things would go down uneventfully. Van had seen more than his share of action lately and Deaq was hoping he could shelter his partner from here on out. Jumping out of the cab, Deaq made his way to flank Van as they approached the buyers. As planned, Billie stayed behind the wheel of the truck.
The dark haired man in the middle, spoke first, "Cade said you'd be alone, Strummer."
The use of his undercover name startled Van but he didn't let it show. "He tends to leave out some details," he answered, knowing all too well the truth of his words. It had never occurred to Van that Roberts would leave his cover unscathed, that he would, in some sick way, protect Van's real identity. No matter how well he thought he knew Cade Roberts, Van always found out he didn't know him at all.
In reply the buyer laughed, "Truer words have never been spoken. Let's get this deal done."
"You got the money then I've got the goods," Van said as he stepped forward and grabbed the briefcase the man held out to him. Taking a few steps back to be in line again with Deaq, Van squatted down amid the lights of the two truck's, sat the briefcase on the ground and opened it. A snake sprang from the case, striking for Van's throat. With a startled cry, Van fell backwards, eluded the snakes' teeth and impacted harshly with the ground. Agony tore through his back immobilizing his body even as his mind screamed for him to move, to crawl if he had to. But before he could convince his injured body to obey his mind, he felt the snake slither onto his leg. Van's blood froze in fear and he ceased all motion even breathing.
At his partner's cry, Deaq's attention had swung to Van. And that was all the distraction the three buyers needed to pull their weapons.
It had happened so fast. One minute Billie was convinced this would be a smooth operation and the next, a buyer leveled a gun at each of them. There weren't many plays she could make, sitting in the truck. Pulling her gun was useless. If she shot through the windshield, her accuracy would be lost and if she opened the door to take the shot, the second the door creaked open, the buyers would open fire. Using the truck was out unless she intended to run over Deaq who stood in the truck's path and Van who was lying on the ground with a snake sliding up his leg. Backing the truck up and bailing on Van and Deaq never crossed her mind.
Deaq had made a grab for his gun but that motion halted as the buyer closest to him shot at his feet. "Don't do it," the man threatened and Deaq raised his hands to his side to show he would not make that move again. Then his eyes refocused on Van and he couldn't help but shiver as he watched the snake slide onto Van's chest.
"Just stay still Van," Deaq instructed, his own worry for Van's situation unmasked.
Internally Van gave voice to Deaq's advice, 'Like I'm gonna move with a snake on my chest Deaq!' but externally Van remained silent, he was in no way gonna do anything to cause the snake to get pissed.
"Out of the truck, sweatheart," the leader called up to Billie even as his gun sight never left Van's chest. "Get out now or be prepared to bury your boys here. And no tricks."
Looking at the third man who had his gun sighted on her, Billie cursed. How had things gone so badly so quickly?! She opened the door slowly and immediately she was ordered to toss her gun which she did though she did so unwillingly. Then she jumped down to the ground and the third man came over and shoved her forward so she would join the rest of the gang between the two truck's headlights.
The leader squatted down and watched Van as the snake hissed on Van's chest. Van was so pale his blood vessels started to become visible and his breathing was shallow. The leader smirked, "Roberts cut us a sweet deal on these drugs tonight. He needed to move them fast, knowing that, I negotiated a good price. But for the first time, he came back with an even better number." With a smile the leader grabbed Van's leg and jerked him backward. The snake reacted immediately to the motion of his prey and rose up to attack position, hissing as it sighted on Van's face.
Van's heart pounded in his chest as his eyes stayed locked on the snake. This wasn't how he thought he'd go out. Like some Crocodile Hunter reject. But the worst part wasn't his dying, no the worst part was knowing Deaq and Billie were gonna die too...all 'cause of him.
Instinctively Deaq started to go to his partner, but a gun barrel came to rest on his chest, bringing him to a full up stop. They were truly driven hard on this one.
A laugh broke the tension as the leader stood up but still rested his look and his gun sight on Van. "Roberts cut my price in half, kid...as long as I'ld kill you when you came to make the deal."
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TBC
Hey since I didn't give you a decent cliffy for a while I felt I was cheating you (evil grin). Could things get worse for Van?! You gotta tune in to see!
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Replies to Reviews:
Fan4fastln: Well, to be honest, last chapter I did have a wee bit of writers block too. RL and writer's block..that's so unfair. Anyway, I've put the RL back in the corner it belongs in and knocked down the wall so here's chapter 8 on time! That's such a compliment that my other Fastlane story got you willing to check out the other Fastlane fic offerings. That little story practically wrote itself back when the show was on but I had no audience to show it to because ffnet wasn't putting up the show's category. I was tickled pink when, low and behold, a fastlane category materialized. (I love getting what I want). And I truly appreciate your every review so keep 'em coming!
DKM: Even I'm feeling sorry for Van at the end of this chapter. He's definitely not getting any breaks here. Glad you think it's plausible that he would blame himself for things that are going down. As for the lines of the show, I've been writing them down and been trying to use them in the proper context because, like you, I loved their dialogue!!! This show was cool from start to finish! As for the source of Van's psychological damage ...I'm trying to give it to you in pieces because I think that's how a person would reveal a dark past...hesitantly maybe unwillingly but somehow the past always come back to haunt you. Please drop me a review!
Almarmentini: Me?! Write a cool story?! Now that's an awesome thought! Thanks!! Hurting Van? That sounds like fun! (And I'm no psycho either! Really...I'm not!) Hope this chapter brought you some excitement. Give me a review and tell me what you think!
Mady Bay: You asked for more despair in Van...I'm more than willing to supply that!! Glad you appreciated the angst because I love putting Van through every moment of it! Hope to hear from you again!
Leann: Glad I'm keeping your interest. Your excitement for Van's deal with the Feds gave me the idea to really spice things up by having the Feds ask not for Roberts on a silver platter but the mafia. (Great inspiration on your part!! But Van is hardly gonna thank you). Keep the comments coming! They really help my storyline keep moving.
ZoZe: I'm blushing here! It's always such a thrill when someone actually enjoys reading something I've written and to hear you "soaked" up my words...I'm overjoyed! Sorry that Billie isn't in the story as much as you want her to be but I have a real hard time getting a good handle on her character. I don't know what she'd do in certain situations and I always like to know the characters cold. I've tried to study her but for all the airtime they gave her, I have to admit I spent my time focused on Van and even watching the show now I'm totally drawn to Van. I'll try to keep Billie a front line character for this story but please forgive me if her characterization is off! Thanks for your reviews!!!!
Ysabell: Your review had me grinning from ear to ear! The fact that you appreciate this story and yet have never seen Fastlane...I'm so flattered! And thanks so much for your review on the SW story! I truly love writing angst and I love also to read it. Some of my story getting started because I've read all the good angst stories on a fandom and need another *fix* so like any obsessed person, I make up my own angst story to tell myself. I hope you someday have the pleasure of seeing Fastlane but for now, I'm glad you're tuning in to this story! Love to hear what you think of this chapter!
Silent Typewriter: I'm worried about my punishment from chapter 7's wait so much so that I feared what would happen to me if I were even one day late on this chapter! And yes, you should worry for Van... every second he gets into deeper trouble. And he's got more severe consequences than rotten tomatoes if he fails to please. Please tell me what you thought of this chapter!
Lynne: Wow! I was so thrilled at your review I couldn't stop grinning myself. To think you enjoy my story that much...I am so pleased!!!! And thank you for recognizing the risk I always feel in posting another story. I feel like I'm making myself vulnerable and I am because I am so terribly thin skinned especially about my writing. Any criticism and I'm wondering if I should ever post another word again (I'm so dramatic sometimes It's disgusting). But then I get a fantastic review like yours and I know I can't quit just because I'm terribly offended at helpful criticism and even the not so helpful criticism. Reviewers like you make posting a story a real joyful thing! Thanks! Also I'm glad you liked my Deaq lines. And Deaq's loyalty to Van is as much of a must in this story as Van's angst. You just can't have one without the other the combination is just too great! And I'm with ya on the bursting into tears after that Cade met...course maybe that's cause I'm a girl too. (We are all just so soft sometimes) At least you didn't have to wait extra long for this chapter! Hope that earns me another review by you?! (Hint Hint)
Electricgurl: Yes, having to make a deal with anybody is always bad news. And for Van to have to make a deal with Roberts and the Feds?!?! His life stinks right now! Glad to have you back reading and sorry I haven't gotten as far in the story as you had hoped. But at least its moving forward, right? Thanks for the review!
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Till next time!
Cheryl W.