Reunions
Stopping where he was Brian didn't want to believe what was happening. Suki and Keira both just looked confused, not understanding how the two knew each other. Dom and Brian both just continued to stare at each other, neither one knowing what to say. Realizing Dom had called him 'Spilner', Keira stood between the two and cocked an eyebrow before saying,
"Uh Dom? I think you're confused. Brian's last name is O'Connor."
"Nah Keira don't worry bout it. He's not confused." Brian answered, with a shrug before stuffing his hands in the pockets of his shorts. "So Dom, how've things been?"
Dom imediately tensed up as he heard this, and soon was trying to advance towards Brian. Seeing this couldn't end well Suki got in the middle with Keira and pushed Brian back, while Keira kept Dom where he was simply putting both hands on his chest. It didn't take long for Dom's voice to raise.
"You wanna know how things have been? You almost busted me, and you ask me that?"
"Wait a minute! I want to know what the hell is going on, and I want to know now." Keira said, growling the last word. She wasn't enjoying being uninformed and was ready for some answers. Looking at Suki, she could tell she felt the same, but could also see the underlying defensiveness she had for Brian. She didn't like when people came around and started threatening the people she loved and cared about. Backing off a bit more, Dom looked Brian in the eyes and asked,
"You want to tell her, or should I?"
"I will. Better she heard it from me anyway." Brian said with a sigh. Running a hand through his hair and looking at the ground, he took a minute to gather his thoughts. Once he looked back up, he began again. "After we spilt in L.A., and for a little while when we were together, I was working on a case to bust Dom and his team."
"For what?" Keira asked, crossing her arms over her chest, not waiting for him to elaborate. She was beginning to like this story less and less.
"For popping trucks."
"What Blondie is taking his sweet ass time saying is that when it came down to it he let us go." Dom interrupted, now with his arm folded across his chest.
"And you're still pissed at him why? He took the fall for you, didn't he? He coulda turned you all in." Suki said, confused and annoyed with the tall man standing in front of her.
"Because he betrayed us. He lied to us and we took him in. Well most of us, Vince was the only one who saw through it all. he's over it now, kinda has to be since you saved his life." He answered, directing the last part towards Brian. Keira's look had softened a considerable amount after hearing the whole story.
"I'm taking a guess on saying that's what you don't like being brought up and I totally understand why you don't like talking about it." She said, her eyes showing she was being completely honest. Dom just nodded in reply before saying,
"Good then you understand why I need to punch him one time too. Just to get it outta my system."
"Believe me when I say I do. Hell I'd prolly want to if I were you too, but I really can't let you do it."
"Nah Keira, let him do it. I know I deserve it just as much as you do." Brian said, side stepping his way past Suki and coming to stand right behind her. Knowing he had a stubborn streak when he chose to, she moved out of the way. She knew just as well as he did that there wasn't any way she'd be able to talk him out of it and wasn't even gonna bother to waste her time trying. Suki looked ready to try, but stopped when Keira sent her a look that said 'Don't bother'.
Watching as Dom pulled his arm back, she turned her head, not wanting to watch what was about to happen. As Suki joined her where she was standing they waited for something to happen. Both of them winced the second they heard Dom's fist connect with Brian's face, knocking him back a couple of steps. As Dom backed away, Brian holding his eye, Keira looked between the two and half asked,
"We done now?" Seeing both nod she pulled Brian's hand down and surveyed the damage. Sighing she said, "C'mon we need to get some ice on that. Dom, you wanna come in? Now would be a good time for you to talk to Tej about your race."
"Might as well." He answered with a shrug before following the three others in the house. As they all stepped into the kitchen Rome looked up and asked,
"What the hell happened to you?"
"He hit him?" Suki said, pointing back at Dom.
"Slow down Ro'. Brian let him." Keira said, anticipating what was coming and stopping it before it got started. Seeing him give her a skeptical look she held up a hand and said, "Don't ask."
Walking over to the refrigerator she opened the freezer door and started moving things around inside looking for ice. When she didn't find any she rolled her eyes and grabbed a bag of frozen vegetables. Not taking any time to be gentle about it, she moved Brian's hand once again and slapped the bag on his face. Groaning in pain he said,
"Thanks Keeks, made it feel that much better."
"Quit your bitchin'. You're the one who let him hit you in the first place." She answered with a shrug of her shoulders and a smirk. Not saying another word to anyone in the room she went upstairs to the room she was sharing with Haylee, and turned on a lamp. Seeing that her neice was still asleep she walked over to the dresser and grabbed a pair of short jean shorts that had grease stains on them and a white tank top. Puliing the clothes on really quick she walked out of the room and right into Tej.
"Whoa girl. Slow down. How'd your date go?" he asked, keeping her balanced so she didn't fall.
"I'm guessing Bri told ya'll. Good actually. Kinda headed south after we got back here though." She answered, falling in step with him as the walked down the hall.
"Brian catch ya'll?"
"Yup. I was letting Suks meet the guy, ya know, see what she thought. Next thing I know Brian's out there with us."
"Damn. Someone in this house has bad timing."
"Oh no... It gets better. Bri ends up knowing him from California. It's the guy he let go before he left."
"Your just playin', right." Tej asked, now giving her a look of total shock. Watching as she shook her head no, he took in a deep breath. "It's bout to get crazy 'round here, ain't it."
"Not too much, I hope. Bri already let Dom hit him."
"Are you for real?"
"Yup. Boy's gonna have one helluva a shiner tomorrow."
"Serves his dumbass right. What the hell was he thinking letting someone hit him?"
"Don't ask me. Tried to stop 'em both. Neither one would listen." Shaking his head, Tej watched as she walked towards the back door.
"You headin' out to the garage?" All she did was nod in reply before walking out the door.
She was about half way there when she noticed a dark colored sedan drive by slowly. Taking a few steps back she slid back around the corneer of the house so they wouldn't see her. She knew it was probably a little paranoid but she couldn't help it. Her worry increased when she noticed that the car was unmarked and was coming to a stop in front of the house. Hurrying back up the stairs and inside, she jogged into the kitchen.
"I thought you were going to work on your car." Brian said, looking up at her from the table where he and Dom had now taken seats. Leaning back on the counter, she took a deep breath and answered as calmly as she could,
"Well I was, but I saw this car driving by slow. As far as I can tell... they're headed for the house right now." No one got the chance to ask anymore questions though because at that second the doorbell rang. Looking at Brian, panicked, she was glad when he took charge.
"Everyone stay here. I'ma get that, just be ready to get outta the house if we need to." He said before leaving the kitchento answer the door. Looking around the room, Dom raised an eyebrow before looking at Keira and asking,
"What the hell is going on around here."
"My drama. The reason I left L.A."
Opening the front door, Brian couldn't believe who he was seeing. His jaw hanging open, he just stared at them for a few moments until one of them cleared their throats.
"O'Connor." Bilkins said simply, Markham standing stiffly next to him, not looking at all pleased to be there. Finally finding his voice Brian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, something he was begining to pick up from Keira lately, and ask skeptically,
"I'm curious... What the hell are you two doing here? My record's clean, I know Verone's out. Nothing new that you two can tell me."
"Yo Bri! What's going on out here?" Rome said, walking out of the kitchen, knowing it was too quiet for something not to be going on. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who wqas standing at the door. Looking towards Brian then glancing back at the two, "Why the hell are they here?"
"If I knew they wouldn't be standing here still. Go let Keira know its chill, she ain't got nothing to worry about." All Rome did was poke his head back through the door way and yell it to her. Rolling his eyes, Brian turned back towards Bilkins and Markham and waited for some answers.
"What, we aren't being invited in?" Markham half sneered, earning himself a look from Bilkins telling him to shut up. It was then that Dom and keira walked out of the kitchen. It was Bilkins turn to raise an eyebrow, staring at Dom in shock he asked,
"Is that who I think it is?"
"Yeah, it is. But that's not why you're here, so enlighten me."
"Fine. We want to post surveilance outside your house and where you work in case Verone shows up."
"Keep wishing. It ain't happening. We can take care of ourselves, and believe me we got enough eyes around this house to know if he's coming around."
"Listen, we just want to make sure no one gets hurt. Hell if Fuentes didn't think he's headed east for revenge we wouldn't be doing this." Markham said. As soon as they'd heard Monica's name mentioned both Rome and Keira looked at each other and snorted.. Walking up next to Brian she looked from Bilkins to Markham a couple of times before asking,
"Which one of you is the customs agent?"
"I am." Taking in the sight of him, Keira wasn't sure what to think of the short dark headed man standing in front of her. He seemed like an ass to her.
"Well let me tell ya something. Monica isn't as concerned with all of our safety as she is with Brian's. The girl is into him, and I'm willing to bet she only suggested this because she wants to be able to have all the information on Brian she can get. She wants to know his every little move, and trust me, that's the last thing the poor guy needs. We don't want your babysitting, so go offer it to someone else."
Rome was leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face, trying not to laugh While Dom just stood there looking impressed she'd had the balls to talk to a fedral agent the way she just had. Brian couldn't keep the boyish grin off his face as he looked at the two, still standing on the porch and asked like a smartass,
"Did she make it clear for ya? Thanks but, no thanks." Shutting the door in their faces, he turned around and Dom looked at the three,
"Should I even ask?"
"Probably not. Watch out for those two though, Bilkins isn't too bad but Markham... well he's just a pain in the ass." Brian answered, walking back into the kitchen with them.
"maybe he just needs to get a little. He should really talk to Monica, from what Rome tells me she sleeps with the enemy... Why not the boss?" Keira commented makig Rome laugh. Shaking his head at her, all Brian could do was look at her making her bat her eyes innocently, "What? You know I can't keep my thoughts to myself so don't give me that look! Besides... Rome thought it was funny."
It had barely been five minutes when Brian's cell phone was going off. Rolling her eyes at everyone as Brian walked out of the room to answer it, Keira groaned and said monotonously,
"I'll give ya three guesses on who that is, and the last two don't count."
"Umm... Monica?" Suki said in voice much like her own. Plastering a fake smile on his face, Rome pretending to be ringing a bell and said in a fake announcers voice,
"Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!"
I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that you guys don't like her?" Dom said, taking a drink from his bottle of Corona, something everyone had sitting in front them.Laughing Tej was the first to answer,
"Understatement of the year, bra."
"Oh yeah, understatement would be right. I've only met her once, and I can't stand her. She's so far up Brian's ass when she around him I don't know how the boy can move." Keira said, nodding her agreement with Tej. "Besides, she's a cop and you of all people should know that's about as taboo as it comes in the street racin' world."
As they continued talking, discussing how they felt about their 'favorite' customs agent, Brian was searching for any reason at all to get off the phone when Haylee came walking down the stairs. Thanking god for small miracles, he told Monica he had to go and take care of something and hung up. Watching as she came down the last step, rubbing her tired eyes and looking up at him he asked,
"What are you doing up?" All she did was shrug before asking,
"Is Aunt Kiki back yet?"
"Yeah she's back. Want me to get her for ya?" Seeing her nod, he opened the door to the kitchen and got Keira's attention. Coming out; saw her neice sitting on the bottom step, leaning against the bannister, ready to fall asleep and had to bite back the giggle trying to force its way out of her. Picking her up, she walked up the stairs, and laid her back in her bed before asking,
"What'd ya need Hayls?"
"I just wanted to say night." was all she said, letting out a big yawn and rolling over in her bed. Grinning, Keira kissed her forehead and pulled the covers up over her whispering 'Goodnight' and walking out of the room, leaving it cracked open to let in a little light.
A/N: Well... there's a new chapter... I know! It took forever... wasn't something I planned believe me. Didn't have internet for a LONG time... so its not like i could update. And then I had to start this chapter again... thank god that i didn't have a whole lot of it done or i wouldn't have and you all would be waiting for this think even longer. As for anyone who's reading my other fic 'Returning Home' don't expect an update on it for a while... I can't get the disks i saved it on to load the chapter to this computer and i had way too much done to start over... so until I get my other computer back nothing is gonna happen with it. This one will keep being updated tho... thats a sure thing. Wellz... plz.. I'm begging... Review... i haven't had one in a LONG time... talk about withdrawls... Oh and to my new readers who've sent me reviews in the last couple months... You guys rock! I was so shocked to see those in my mail... my jaw literally dropped. Kay well I'ma go now cuz this thing is a lot longer than i planned... Lova ya all! Oh and Review... yeah i know i said it already... i'm just stressing the point! Laterz!
Jess