Chapter 18, The Talk.
A few days later Torrie and Dom were lying in bed. He was beautiful while he slept. So young and peaceful looking, like a child, innocent. She was awake but Dom was still asleep. He woke up to find her staring at him intently.
"Good morning sunshine." He smiled up at her and kissed her gently on the nose.
"Good morning Gorgeous."
"What time is it baby?"
"About 8. What do you have planned today Dom?"
"Nothing, well work. I want to do some work on the Mazda and we have to get that skyline done today. Other then that nothing."
"Dom, do you have any regrets about your life?"
"Where did that come from?"
"I was just thinking and wondering if there is anything you regret about how you have lived your life. Like I wish I had told my parents I loved them more. I wish I was closer to my girlfriends. You know any regrets about stuff like that? Humour me I am strange and I think about weird things. No real reason, it is just how I am."
"Well I wish I told my mom and dad that I loved them more too. I regret not treating Letty better. I don't regret the fact that we broke up just the way that it happened. We should talk about that anyway I guess. You should know all the sorry details."
"Only if you want to tell me Dom. I am with you now. What happened with you and her is really none of my business." She did not really feel that way but thought it was the best thing to tell him.
He looked at her with new respect, he thought that like most women she would want to know all about it. Most women did. "Well I will give you the short version then. We got together too young. But we were so in love it seemed like a good idea. She was only 16 when we hooked up and I had just gotten out of prison. I was good to her for the first year or so but then I cheated on her. And she caught me. From that point on no matter what she was always suspicious of me. I guess since she had already found me guilty I cheated on her again and again. It took her years but I finally drove her to the point of no return and she left. But she was always pushing me too. Trying to make me angry and do stuff I would regret so she could tear me up over it. We were always doing that. We did not have the most mature relationship in the world. I thought you should know."
"Well Dom I am glad you trust me enough to tell me that. But it changes nothing between us. I won't judge you on mistakes you made with another girl when you were young and foolish." She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words and kissed his lips.
Dom continued, "But most of all I regret the fact that I wrecked and lost dads car."
Torrie knew his dad died in the wreck that made him beat that guy up but she wondered about this other car. It could not be the car his dad died in. Dom would not have lost that, it burned at the track.
"Oh ya, what kind of car was it?"
"A black Charger. 900 horses of Detroit muscle. We built it together before he died. I miss that car. I never drove it but that one time I wrecked it but I use to go sit in it and it reminded me of him you know?" Dom's face was wistful as he spoke of his dad's charger. The fact that he missed it was obvious by the way he talked about it.
"I know." she hugged him. "Poor Dom, I still have the car I built with my dad and it does help when I sit in it and remember building it with him. I am sorry you don't have yours anymore. Especially since I only still have my Nissan because of you."
"Thanks baby. I'll tell you what I don't regret."
"What's that?"
"Meeting you."
It was hours later when they got out of bed. They had spent the time kissing and cuddling and acting like a couple very much in love. While no words had been spoken on that subject Torrie knew she loved him. She hoped he felt the same but it was hard to know. She was scared to be in love for the first time and have no idea if the man returned her feelings. She hoped so. Their talk earlier had given her an idea. Maybe she could show him without saying the words. Dom went off to the garage but she told him she wanted to take a bath first and that she would catch up to him later. Then she went and found Brian who got to do a lot of work at home from his laptop.
"Hey Bri."
"Hey Torrie, what's up?"
"I have a strange question but before I ask it can you keep a secret?"
"Sure I can, look at what I do. And I never told a soul it was Dom behind the truck thing. The other cops and the FBI all think it was Tran framing Dom and I will take that with me to the grave. The only ones who know the truth are the Team. You can never tell either."
"I care for Dom too much to send him to jail and I like you to much to see you fired. Here is what I am wondering. What happens to cars that the police confiscate or whatever?"
"They go to police impound."
"And even if they are damaged they go there?"
"Yep, that is where they all go."
"So what if the police have a car there that the owner wants back and he was cleared of any wrong doing?"
"Then if the car is still there he can get it back."
"If they had a car of Dom's how many questions would trying to get it back stir up?"
"No many, the whole force knows I live here with Dom, they knows he street races but he is just a petty small time racer to them now. Why?"
"Brian, I want to get Dom's Charger back. I want to fix it up and give it back to him. He misses it cause it brought him closer to his Dad and I want to give it back to him."
"Jesus Torrie I never even thought. You are the best most thoughtful girl I know." Brian looked around nervously. "Well next to Mia of course, but even she never thought of that. I know it is still there. I could probably get it back. Where would you work on it?"
"I never thought of that. Dom goes to the garage too much. What about the shed where he use to keep the thing? He never goes there. He has no reason to."
"Good idea. I will call down to the station now and we can try to have it towed here while Dom is at the garage. But Torrie it is in really rough shape and Dom was hurt in it. It has his blood in it. I guess I knew it was too important to crush which is why it is still there but soon I would have let them crush it. "
"Well since he is still very much alive I guess I will be upset by the blood but it will be ok. I see Dom and he yells at me too much to be dead or hurt."
Brian laughed. "If you're sure I will try to get it sent over here for you."
"Ok Brian." Torrie was jumping up and down she was so excited.
Brian made his calls and within 10 minutes had made arrangements to have the Charger brought to the house at a time when only they would be home. Torrie realized Dom was waiting for her at the garage. The last thing she wanted was for him to come home and see the car. She called him.
"Hey baby, sorry I'm late but I got talking to Brian about something. I am heading down now ok."
"Sure, I was wondering if you went back to sleep or something."
"No I'm just gabby. Be there in 3 ok?"
"Sure see you then."
She headed down and they worked together on the skyline. She called Brian when she was taking a break and he said the car was there safely out of sight and no one has seen it arrive. She could not wait to get started on it. She might have to get Vince to help her but she did not know if he could keep a secret from Dom. Wait, Brian knew lots about cars and he was already in on it. She told Brian he could not tell anyone on the team, not even Mia and Brian agreed with her. They both knew Mia could keep stuff from Dom for about 3 seconds if he asked her point blank. She finished talking and went back over to Dom to help him finish. They finished up and headed home. She left her car there and they took his.
"Man you seem happy today princess, what is up with you."
"What am I not happy all the time?"
"Not this happy."
"Well I am just finally starting to live again Dom and it feels good. And I feel like I really fit in with the Team now. Everyone seems to like me and I like them. It is nice to have family again. Vince and Leon and Jesse are like the brothers I never wanted but love anyway and Mia is like the best older sister a girl could ask for. Plus having you in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me. I wish I was as good for you as you are for me."
"Baby you don't know the half of it. Having you around is great. I love it. You make me laugh more in a day then I did in months before we met. You are teaching me patience too."
"Are you implying that I try your patience you beast?"
"In so many delicious ways baby girl." He showed her several at lunch since they were all alone. Torrie was not use to talking about such things freely and blushed a deep pink. Dom laughed at this. She was not shy or embarrassed when stuff was going down but talk about it after and the girl turned red.
A few days later Torrie and Dom were lying in bed. He was beautiful while he slept. So young and peaceful looking, like a child, innocent. She was awake but Dom was still asleep. He woke up to find her staring at him intently.
"Good morning sunshine." He smiled up at her and kissed her gently on the nose.
"Good morning Gorgeous."
"What time is it baby?"
"About 8. What do you have planned today Dom?"
"Nothing, well work. I want to do some work on the Mazda and we have to get that skyline done today. Other then that nothing."
"Dom, do you have any regrets about your life?"
"Where did that come from?"
"I was just thinking and wondering if there is anything you regret about how you have lived your life. Like I wish I had told my parents I loved them more. I wish I was closer to my girlfriends. You know any regrets about stuff like that? Humour me I am strange and I think about weird things. No real reason, it is just how I am."
"Well I wish I told my mom and dad that I loved them more too. I regret not treating Letty better. I don't regret the fact that we broke up just the way that it happened. We should talk about that anyway I guess. You should know all the sorry details."
"Only if you want to tell me Dom. I am with you now. What happened with you and her is really none of my business." She did not really feel that way but thought it was the best thing to tell him.
He looked at her with new respect, he thought that like most women she would want to know all about it. Most women did. "Well I will give you the short version then. We got together too young. But we were so in love it seemed like a good idea. She was only 16 when we hooked up and I had just gotten out of prison. I was good to her for the first year or so but then I cheated on her. And she caught me. From that point on no matter what she was always suspicious of me. I guess since she had already found me guilty I cheated on her again and again. It took her years but I finally drove her to the point of no return and she left. But she was always pushing me too. Trying to make me angry and do stuff I would regret so she could tear me up over it. We were always doing that. We did not have the most mature relationship in the world. I thought you should know."
"Well Dom I am glad you trust me enough to tell me that. But it changes nothing between us. I won't judge you on mistakes you made with another girl when you were young and foolish." She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words and kissed his lips.
Dom continued, "But most of all I regret the fact that I wrecked and lost dads car."
Torrie knew his dad died in the wreck that made him beat that guy up but she wondered about this other car. It could not be the car his dad died in. Dom would not have lost that, it burned at the track.
"Oh ya, what kind of car was it?"
"A black Charger. 900 horses of Detroit muscle. We built it together before he died. I miss that car. I never drove it but that one time I wrecked it but I use to go sit in it and it reminded me of him you know?" Dom's face was wistful as he spoke of his dad's charger. The fact that he missed it was obvious by the way he talked about it.
"I know." she hugged him. "Poor Dom, I still have the car I built with my dad and it does help when I sit in it and remember building it with him. I am sorry you don't have yours anymore. Especially since I only still have my Nissan because of you."
"Thanks baby. I'll tell you what I don't regret."
"What's that?"
"Meeting you."
It was hours later when they got out of bed. They had spent the time kissing and cuddling and acting like a couple very much in love. While no words had been spoken on that subject Torrie knew she loved him. She hoped he felt the same but it was hard to know. She was scared to be in love for the first time and have no idea if the man returned her feelings. She hoped so. Their talk earlier had given her an idea. Maybe she could show him without saying the words. Dom went off to the garage but she told him she wanted to take a bath first and that she would catch up to him later. Then she went and found Brian who got to do a lot of work at home from his laptop.
"Hey Bri."
"Hey Torrie, what's up?"
"I have a strange question but before I ask it can you keep a secret?"
"Sure I can, look at what I do. And I never told a soul it was Dom behind the truck thing. The other cops and the FBI all think it was Tran framing Dom and I will take that with me to the grave. The only ones who know the truth are the Team. You can never tell either."
"I care for Dom too much to send him to jail and I like you to much to see you fired. Here is what I am wondering. What happens to cars that the police confiscate or whatever?"
"They go to police impound."
"And even if they are damaged they go there?"
"Yep, that is where they all go."
"So what if the police have a car there that the owner wants back and he was cleared of any wrong doing?"
"Then if the car is still there he can get it back."
"If they had a car of Dom's how many questions would trying to get it back stir up?"
"No many, the whole force knows I live here with Dom, they knows he street races but he is just a petty small time racer to them now. Why?"
"Brian, I want to get Dom's Charger back. I want to fix it up and give it back to him. He misses it cause it brought him closer to his Dad and I want to give it back to him."
"Jesus Torrie I never even thought. You are the best most thoughtful girl I know." Brian looked around nervously. "Well next to Mia of course, but even she never thought of that. I know it is still there. I could probably get it back. Where would you work on it?"
"I never thought of that. Dom goes to the garage too much. What about the shed where he use to keep the thing? He never goes there. He has no reason to."
"Good idea. I will call down to the station now and we can try to have it towed here while Dom is at the garage. But Torrie it is in really rough shape and Dom was hurt in it. It has his blood in it. I guess I knew it was too important to crush which is why it is still there but soon I would have let them crush it. "
"Well since he is still very much alive I guess I will be upset by the blood but it will be ok. I see Dom and he yells at me too much to be dead or hurt."
Brian laughed. "If you're sure I will try to get it sent over here for you."
"Ok Brian." Torrie was jumping up and down she was so excited.
Brian made his calls and within 10 minutes had made arrangements to have the Charger brought to the house at a time when only they would be home. Torrie realized Dom was waiting for her at the garage. The last thing she wanted was for him to come home and see the car. She called him.
"Hey baby, sorry I'm late but I got talking to Brian about something. I am heading down now ok."
"Sure, I was wondering if you went back to sleep or something."
"No I'm just gabby. Be there in 3 ok?"
"Sure see you then."
She headed down and they worked together on the skyline. She called Brian when she was taking a break and he said the car was there safely out of sight and no one has seen it arrive. She could not wait to get started on it. She might have to get Vince to help her but she did not know if he could keep a secret from Dom. Wait, Brian knew lots about cars and he was already in on it. She told Brian he could not tell anyone on the team, not even Mia and Brian agreed with her. They both knew Mia could keep stuff from Dom for about 3 seconds if he asked her point blank. She finished talking and went back over to Dom to help him finish. They finished up and headed home. She left her car there and they took his.
"Man you seem happy today princess, what is up with you."
"What am I not happy all the time?"
"Not this happy."
"Well I am just finally starting to live again Dom and it feels good. And I feel like I really fit in with the Team now. Everyone seems to like me and I like them. It is nice to have family again. Vince and Leon and Jesse are like the brothers I never wanted but love anyway and Mia is like the best older sister a girl could ask for. Plus having you in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me. I wish I was as good for you as you are for me."
"Baby you don't know the half of it. Having you around is great. I love it. You make me laugh more in a day then I did in months before we met. You are teaching me patience too."
"Are you implying that I try your patience you beast?"
"In so many delicious ways baby girl." He showed her several at lunch since they were all alone. Torrie was not use to talking about such things freely and blushed a deep pink. Dom laughed at this. She was not shy or embarrassed when stuff was going down but talk about it after and the girl turned red.