Dom couldn't believe his eyes. He was furious and confused at the same time. This was the man who'd lied to him, the man who'd broken his little sister's heart, and the man who'd saved his life.
"Arizona, what the f- what are you doing here? The Jason kid is yours?" He said, finally finding words.
"Yeah, your kid kicked his ass," Brian's eyes were laughing, even if his face was serious. "Hey Sport, go sit in the main office for a second, I need to talk to Mike's dad."
"Alright Pop," Jason said, adjusting the ice on his face.
"How's Jesse? He didn't..." Brian left the question open, but Dom knew what he meant.
"Jess is alive, paralyzed from the waist down, but he's alive."
Brian just nodded. "What about Vince and Leon, and Letty, and Mia..."
"Don't, I told you before Brian, you break my sister's heart, I'd break your neck. You can't really talk to me right now...fucking cop..." Dom said, muttering the last statement.
"Ex-cop, Dominic. I was arrested and kicked off of the force once you took my keys and ran off."
"Thanks again man, for the ten second car, I wouldn't have my kids if you had sent me away. That's the only reason I haven't put you through the principal's desk yet." Dom looked at Brian. He hadn't changed much, even if it'd been almost 13 years. His blonde hair was still wavy, and his baby blue eyes still twinkled childishly; he still looked like a surfer wannabe.
"I had to. Even though you guys were guilty, I couldn't put you behind bars, too much was going on, with Vince, and Jesse getting shot...I just couldn't let you go out like that."
Dom smirked at Brian. "So are you still gonna send my boy to Juvenile hall, or are we gonna sit and talk about this at the store? I know you want one of our nasty ass tuna sandwiches."
"Yeah, I mean I think it's a tradition now, an O'Connor has to end up getting his ass beat by a Torretto before they could be friends. I'm just glad it happened in grade school before your kid started pumping iron and turned into a bald meat head like you were when you beat my ass." Brian chuckled, holding out his hand.
Dom looked at Brian, thinking. It was a risk bringing him back into their lives. Mia still wasn't married, and she had no kids. She was a nurse at the hospital, and she helped out with Danny and Mike. But deep inside, Dom knew she was still heartbroken. She didn't show it, but Dom always knew when it came to Mia. Dom reached out and shook Brian's outstretched hand. At that point, Mr. McMahon walked in. He sat behind his desk.
"Mr. Torretto, Mr. O'Connor, I've talked to both of the boys, as well as Danielle. And from what they've told me, it appears that both boys will be suspended for three days. Jason for provoking Michael, and Michael for attacking Jason." The principal said, filling out the suspension papers.
"I assure you, Jason will be dealt with, this will never happen again." Brian said, scratching his head.
"Yeah, the same with Mike. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. I'll definitely be talking to him tonight." Dom agreed, looking extremely pissed.
"Well Mr. Torretto, we think that your son has a terrible temper, and..."
"I know, it's the Torretto Temper. Every member of the Torretto family has that temper. It shows up early in the males though..." Dom said, suddenly getting agitated.
"Don't I know it," Brian muttered, smirking at Dom. Dom just pushed him a little, smirking at him.
"Shove it, Arizona."
"Mr. Torretto, we want your son to visit our district psychiatrist. Some of our teachers believe that he may have ADHD. He's extremely hyper, and he doesn't pay attention in class. He has trouble sitting still and he also fidgets."
"Doesn't every ten year old?" Brian said suddenly.
"There's nothing wrong with my boy. He's just energetic. He likes being around cars and he loves to skateboard. Neither of the things that he's interested in includes sitting still. He's a little rambunctious, but hey, so was I when I was his age. So was his aunt, so will his sister. He's just the average 10 year old. He just happens to have one hell of a temper." Dom said, looking the principal directly in the eye. The old man got a little intimidated, but who wouldn't? Dominic Torretto looked the exact same way he did when he was racing; he just had an older looking face. His build was exactly the same.
"I understand that Mr. Torretto, but he has a severe anger problem. I suggest Anger Management, or he can't return to Fulton Academy. I'm sorry, but we can't risk another incident like what happened. He caused a student to need stitches. If he were a bit stronger, those knots on Jason's head would have been a concussion."
"Well, after what he said to Mike, I think Jason deserved to get some sense knocked into him. Besides, what Dom did to me is nothing compared to what Mike did to Jason." Brian joked, looking to Dom.
"I've said what I needed to Mr. Torretto. When Michael starts to go to an anger management councilor, he can come back to school after his three day suspension."
"Alright, I'll take him to a councilor, even thought he doesn't need one."
With that, Dom and Brian got up and walked out of the office. Sitting in the chairs, their children were talking, rather, Danny and Mike were talking, and Jason was listening.
"What's wrong with having AEPD? Jesse has it, and he's just fine." Mike was saying to Danny.
"I know, do you think you'll have to take the same medicine Jesse does?"
"I dunno, maybe. What's an Anger Management Councilor?" Mike said suddenly.
"That's this guy that tries to help you stop being mad and junk, dad had to go to one once mom died cause he used to try to beat up Uncle Tej and Uncle Rome, and even Jimmy. The judge sent him to one. Then we moved here from Miami last year." Jason said quietly.
"Really? That's not so bad, I can deal with that."
"I'm sorry about talking bout your mom and junk, I just miss mine so much, and your's is still alive. I'm just jealous I guess," he said, looking down.
"Sorry about beating the snot outta ya." Mike said, noticing that Jason was about to cry.
"And I'm sorry for kicking you where the sun don't shine," Danny spoke up.
"So we friends?" Jason said hopefully.
"Yeah, were cool." Mike agreed.
"Me too," Danny piped up.
"Good, cause I couldn't put up with you beating me up everyday for the rest of the school year." Jason laughed.
Dom and Brian looked at each other. Then they went into dad mode.
"Michael, Danielle, let's go. Now." Dom said, his voice a low grumble. Mike and Danny jumped up quickly.
"You too Jason." Brian said.
Dom and Brian both got into their cars Brian followed Dom down the familiar streets toward the diner. The kids got out of their parents cars and walked into the diner. A cheerful voice greeted them when they sat down at the counter.
"Hey big bro, what're you doing here so early? You and the boys don't usually show up till..."
Mia froze when she saw who was behind Dom. Brian smirked, then looked down.
"What is he doing here Dominic?" Mia said in a voice that scared Mike and Danny; Aunt Mia never talked to dad like that...dad was always the one to talk in the dangerous gravely voice.
"Well, Mikey here, decided to beat his kid up, so I'm making it up to him by taking him out for lunch. So, I'll have my usual, three ham and cheese sandwiches for the munchkins, and one of our crappy-ass tuna sandwiches." Dom said, smiling at his little sister. Mia shot him a 'we're gonna talk later' look, and started fixing the sandwiches.
"Dad, can I go out back with Danny and Mike?" Jason looked at his father.
"Alright sport, just don't break any bones or nothing. We can't afford to go to the emergency room today," Brian joked to his son.
Brian then turned back and continued his conversation with Dom.
"So Arizona, what you been up to since you bailed me out of trouble?" Dom said.
"Well, I moved out to Miami after I did a year in prison for obstruction. I got pretty big on the racing scene, and ended up getting mine and my best friend Roman's records cleared by helping the cops in this operation. After that, while still racing and what not, I started working as a Mechanic at this garage run by a pretty good friend of mine named Tej. I met this girl named Cameron, and we fell in love and got married. Ended up having Jason and everything was great. Then when Jason was 6, Cammy died of breast cancer. I lost it; I even beat the shit out of my best friends. Judge sentenced me to Anger Management classes, and I went to them. Since then, I've made up with Tej and Rome, and I moved out here with Jason and my cousin Skye. She's a hand full, reminds me a lot of Letty now that I think about it. But what about you? Where'd you go when I gave you the keys?"
"Uh, went down to Mexico with Letty, Mia and Leon. Vince caught up with us in Tijuana, and when we got back to LA a year later, Jesse contacted us, Letty was pregnant with Mike, and after he was born, every thing was cool. We were racing again, and I was a dad. Then Letty got pregnant again, and Danny was born. When Mike was three, and Danny was about six months, Letty just picked up and left, leaving a letter saying that she wasn't ready to be a mother and she was too young to be tied down. I was broken, and I haven't raced since. I speed a lot, just to get the rush, but I haven't raced in seven years. I just don't see why she left Bri. I mean, yeah, I cheated, I did my dirt, but once Mike was born, I stopped. I was good to her." Dom looked down at the counter and took a deep breath. He couldn't deal with this shit right now. "Enough about her. Mia, where's our food? The men are hungry." He joked, changing the subject.
"Whatever, Dom, but here's your Meatball hoagie. Bri, here's one crappy-ass tuna sandwich." Mia grinned, setting the plates down. Then she went out back, and shouted. "Michael, Danny, Jason, come and eat!" The kids stampeded into the house. Once they were finished, they went back outside, where Mike was trying tricks on his skateboard, Jason was shooting on the makeshift basketball hoop, which was an old crate with the bottom cut out, along with Danny.
"It's funny, when you're kids, you can beat someone's ass one minute, and be their friend the next." Brian said, breaking Dom out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, I know. Talk to my sister, Brian. She hasn't been the same since you left." Dom said, rubbing his bald head.
"I dunno man, I'm not sure about that one Bro, she looks pissed at me dude."
"Well, you lied to her, what do you expect her to be, happy that you betrayed her trust and really were a cop?" Dom said, laughing at Brian's obvious observations.
"Your sarcasm isn't needed, and you're not helping." Brian said, flipping Dom off. Just then Brian's cell rang.
"Yeah?"
"Bri, it's Rome. Verone's out. He's looking for us. He sent his friends, Elian and Fidel to look for us. You know which ones I'm talking bout, right?"
"Yeah, the two that he sent to ride with us."
"They came by the shop looking for us. Tej said we weren't there. He didn't know who they were, but I knew. The didn't see me, cause I was in the back eating lunch."
"Roman Pearce, you are always eating something. But you're sure it was them? I mean, I couldn't have just been a couple of ese's from around the races looking for us?"
"I'm sure man."
"Fuck," Brian said quietly, earning a glance from Dom. "Be careful man, and you know my address in LA if you need anything."
"Alright, say what's up to little man for me."
"Will do."
"Peace man"
"Later dude"
Brian hung up the phone and swore under his breath.
"What's going on Spilner?" Dom said, growing more anxious with the minute.
"Carter Verone is out of prison. He's sending people after me and Rome because we put him away. Remember the operation for the cops that I told you about?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
Brian launched into the story of how Verone was into everything and how he and Rome put him away.
"Now, I'm guessing he's out of jail, and he's coming after us for revenge."
"Damn, Spilner, ya boys okay, any of them hit or anything? Cause if so, then they can come up here, as long as they're not fallowed, and that shit's not brought around my kids." Dom said, thinking hard.
"Deal. Let me call Tej, cause if they're coming out here, he's gotta close up the garage." Brian whipped out his cell phone. "Tej...yeah man, it's Bullet. Come on out to my place in LA... yeah Suki can come...not in my house, garage or car though, I got a very curious 10 year old son, remember that Tej...call Rome and Jimmy and tell them what up. Alright man, Bye."
"So how many people are gonna be chilling with us at the house? Like a number?" Dom said.
"Well, Tej and Suki are definitely coming, Roman and his niece Kelly; she's 9, and Jimmy. They'll probably bring their cars; Tej has this truck that has the Louis Vitton print painted on it. Suki has this pink Skyline, Rome has a Spider, and Jimmy has a RX-7. Only Suki and Rome race though. Tej hit a wall during a race; he hasn't been the same since then, and Jimmy is Miami's Master Mechanic. So five extra, well, seven if you count me and Jason."
Dom nodded, then he walked to the backyard where the kids were playing some mindless children's game or another.
"Michael, Jason, I'm going to the garage, do you want to come?"
"YEAH!" the boys yelled, along with Danielle. She was a tomboy, and she hated anything that had to do with Barbie's, and dresses. She played sports with her brother, and no one expected her to do any different. For school, she wore shorts underneath her uniform skirt.
"Well let's go munchkins. The kids ran to Dom's car, and they all buckled their seatbelts as Dom sped down the street. Mike loved it when his dad drove like this, so did Danny. Dom must have been doing about 120, and Mike and Danny loved going this fast. It felt like they were flying. When they got to the garage, The kids got out laughing.
"Dom, tell me your kids aren't speed junkies already. They're 10 and 7." Brian joked, pulling in beside Dom.
"What can I say, I like going fast!" Dom said, laughing. As the walked into the garage, Mike, Jason and Danny instantly ran over to Vince and Leon, who were talking, standing over a car.
"Hey Uncle Leon! Hey Uncle Vince!" Mike and Danny yelled at the same time.
"What's up little dudes?" Leon said, ruffling Mike's hair and kissing Danny's forehead.
"Nothing. This is my friend Jason. Oh, I got suspended for beating Jason up, and I gotta go to anger management classes. The teachers think I have AHDD." Mike said.
"Do you mean ADHD Shorty?" Vince said, smirking at the 10 year old.
"Yeah, that. Doesn't Jesse have ABCD?" Vince just laughed. Mike and Jesse were alike, so it was possible that Mike had ADHD. There wasn't anything wrong with it though.
"Yeah, he has it, and he's perfectly fine. Now go change your clothes, and I'll teach you some junk so's you and your sister can run this garage when your dad is old and bald."
"Dad already is old and bald." Danny said.
"I heard that," Dom said, walking over along with Brian.
"Spilner" Leon said.
"Brian, what the fu..." Vince stopped him self. He never cursed around the kids. "Shorties, why don't ya'll go in the back and change your clothes, okay? Get Jason her some clothes too." When the kids left, Vince went off.
"What the fuck are you doing here? Filthy pig, don't say shit to me, cause I ain't trying to hear it. You lied to us, and you nearly got Jesse killed! Don't say shit to me Brian, I'm not trying to hear it anyway. Dom might have forgiven you, but I sure as hell haven't for what you did to Mia."
"Guys, Arizona's back, like it or not," Dom said, eying Vince.
"Are we cool now fellas?" Brian asked, putting out his hand.
Leon, walked over and punched Brian in the stomach, HARD. While Brian was doubled over in pain, he looked up at Leon.
"No. NOW we're cool." Leon said, sticking out his hand. Brian smiled weakly. "Hell, at least it wasn't Dom that hit you."
Just then, the kids came out of the back and climbed onto the stools that they used so they could see the inside of the cars; they were kind of short to reach in and to anything.
Jason stood on the chair that Danny was on. Vince and Leon were showing them different things inside the car and talking about how things worked. In about an hour, Danny, Mike and Jason were all able to change a car's oil.
"Damn, Spilner, you got a sharp kid there," Dom said, smirking.
"Well, so do you, Especially that Danny. Reminds me a lot of Let...sorry man; I forgot." Brian said suddenly.
"It's cool man. Don't sweat it. Let's go see what exactly needs to be done to this '79 Charger."
"This mean I have a job here?"
"The fuck do you think Brian?"
"I'll take that as a yes."
"So when will your friends be here?"
"About a week."
"Well, we got a week to get everything set up. Better get started."
With that, they set to work, not seeing a pair of eyes watching them from a black Escalade with tinted windows.
A/N: Who's in the car? Is it Verone, or Elian and Fidel, or what? Find out next chapter.