To Be Needed
Part 9
Jesse opened his eyes in shock when he felt Dominic hugging him.
"Jesse, you're the best little brother anyone could have. I love you and don't you ever forget it." Dom stated matter-of-factly.
Tears fell from Jesse's eyes. "You never say that except to Mia and the baby." Jesse said, his voice cracking a slightly.
Dom looked taken back. He glanced over at Ashby, who nodded her agreement with Jesse's statement.
She stood and headed out the room quietly. As she closed the door behind her she heard Dom's response to Jesse.
"Jesse, bro. I know I don't say it much, but it's true."
Ashby headed down to the living room to look for Leon and Vince.
They were both sitting on the couch.
Leon had a beer. Vince was just staring at the TV.
"You guys all right?" She asked, looking at them worriedly.
"Ask me tomorrow," Leon said numbly.
Vince reached for her hand. Ashby grabbed his and then yelped in surprise when he pulled her down to sit next to him.
Ashby frowned at him. "V? You okay?" She asked again, speaking more softly.
All Vince did was nod. "Yeah, I'm watching TV." He said nonchalantly.
Ashby continued to watch him, but didn't say anything. If he didn't want to talk about it she had no right to force him.
So instead she snuggled closer and settled down to watch TV in silence.
She sat staring at the TV, unseeing. There were many things running thru her mind. Ashby knew moving into the Toretto home wasn't permanent. It was a temporary situation until they didn't need her anymore. Which, to Ashby, looks to be sometime soon.
Mia is getting over Brian. She was finally working thru her depression to end it. Dom is finally able to sort out his feelings for Letty. Even if it didn't turn out the way he expected. Soon Dom would be all right. Ashby knew Vince was fine. He hardly ever has real 'headaches' anymore; the ones he's had lately have been him faking it. Leon was fine too. Leon didn't really need anything.
And then there was Jesseā¦
Ashby sighed inwardly.
She knew saying good-bye to Jesse was going to be hardest of all. Ashby wished she hadn't let him get so attached to her, but she knew he needed that. He needed her because he thought he had no one else. Ashby knew Jesse needed her to show him that he did have people who cared about him.
It was almost time. The 'team' was getting to the point where they could function without her.
Ashby closed her eyes and snuggled a little closer to Vince's body.
At least I knew what it was like. To be needed, she thought before falling asleep.
Ashby woke up after only being asleep for a few hours. She realized it was Jesse, because he was shaking her slightly. She looked around and saw she was in her bedroom, not in the living room.
"What's wrong, Jess?" Ashby asked him as she rubbed her eyes.
"I can't sleep. Can I sleep with you?"
Ashby smiled gently and flipped back the covers.
Jesse climbed in and settled into a comfortable position. "Will you sing me the song you sing to Maria?" He asked, hopefully.
Ashby chuckled. She could never deny Jesse anything. "I should have known that was coming."
Jesse turned so he was lying on his side facing her profile.
"Close your eyes Jess." She instructed.
After Jesse complied, Ashby began to sing the familiar song from the Disney movie, 'Beauty and the Beast.'
The song had the same effect on Jesse as it did on the baby, because Jesse was asleep before the song was over. Ashby smiled at him went back to sleep, content that Jesse was happy.
A little later Ashby felt Vince climb into the bed on the other side. She moved a little to give him room. Vince wrapped his body around hers, like he's always done. She rubbed his head for a moment.
"You okay?" She mumbled, still half asleep.
"Yeah, baby. Go back to sleep. You'll wake Jesse." Vince whispered.
Something in her sleep hazed mind told her to make one of the grown men go their own room, but she didn't have the heart to kick anyone out. She soon fell back asleep.
Ashby almost groaned out loud when she heard her bedroom door creak for the third time that night. She opened her eyes and saw Dominic's silhouette.
"Looks like you've got a full house." He said in amusement. He spoke low so as not to wake anyone.
Ashby nodded. "Yeah. You wanted to talk?" She asked.
He shook his head no. "No, I was just checkin on Jesse. He wasn't in his room. I wanted to make sure he was okay." He explained.
Ashby glanced down at the blonde-haired boy sleeping next to her and then back up at Dom.
"We'll have to talk tomorrow about Letty." She said.
Dom nodded and sighed. "I know. Night Ash." He said and then left her room.
Ashby watched him go. Soon, she wouldn't be needed anymore. Once Dominic had the mess with Letty straightened out, the Toretto 'team' wouldn't need her anymore.
Ashby glanced down at Jesse again. Poor Jesse. I'll have to start preparing him. He needs to get use to life again without me.
She thought sadly.
"You better let me in before I kick your ass, you stupid slut!" Letty shouted at Ashby.
Ashby stood in the doorway. The screen door was locked, which Ashby was grateful for, preventing Letty from coming inside. The last person Ashby expected to see was Letty when the door bell rung at eight-thirty in the morning.
Vince stood behind Ashby in case Letty got any bright ideas. He knew Letty would try to get inside the house one way or another.
"I was nice yesterday, but I've moved on from that frame of mind. Leave before I call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing." Ashby stated coldly.
Vince crossed his arms across his chest and glared at Letty added emphasis to what Ashby said.
Letty opened her mouth to say more, but Jesse had shoved his way in front of Ashby.
"Just leave Letty. Dom doesn't want you here anymore and neither do we." He yelled at her.
Letty still hadn't moved. She seemed frozen to the spot.
Leon pulled Jesse away, only to stand in the doorway himself. "Go, Letty. If the cops come it will be all bad." He said, adding his own two cents.
Letty watched them, not able to speak.
For a brief moment Ashby might have felt sorry for her, but then it was gone. Letty brought it on herself. She ditched them, not the other way around. She swore she would stick by the team, but she lied. From what Dom and everyone else told her Ashby knew Letty lied about quite a few things. If the 'team' chose not to forgive Letty, then there was nothing Ashby could do about that.
Mia stood in the doorway next. She had tears in her eyes. "You never cared about us, not once. You only cared about yourself. Don't you dare ever show your face again." Mia said, angrily.
Letty looked at Mia stricken.
Ashby knew the thoughts that must be running thru Letty's head now. Letty thought she had everyone wrapped around her finger like she did Dom. She never thought they would turn against her.
Letty turned another evil glare at Ashby. "You better fucking watch your back bitch! I don't know who you are, but when I do watch out!" Letty bit out venomously.
Vince moved forward, towards Letty, but Ashby held him back.
Ashby turned and laughed at her. "What's the matter Letty? Can't remember who you went to school with because you were too caught up in yourself?" Ashby asked, sarcastically.
Letty frowned. She didn't recognize her.
Ashby knew she wouldn't. Letty never looked at anyone twice unless they tried to get at Dominic.
"Try real hard. I'm sure you'll remember. In the mean time, I do believe you've been kicked off the 'team'. So I suggest you leave before things get real nasty." Ashby said, firmly.
Vince was impressed. Ashby had that 'my word is law' tone. Mia tried to pull it off, but could never quite get it right. It was eerie how much Ashby sounded like how Dominic's mother used to.
Letty turned away and headed for her car. She let out a horrified cry when she saw Dominic standing next to it. He was pulling off the 'team's decals from her car. She ran over to stop him, but he was already done.
"Dom, what are you doing?" She demanded, trying to salvage the decals and put them back on, but he had snatched them from her.
"Don't come around here again." He told her coldly.
Letty looked at him with tears in her eyes. Maybe if she played it right he would forgive her.
"Save the tears Letty. They won't work this time. Do you know what a team is, Letty?" he demanded harshly.
Letty looked down at the ground, no longer able to look at his hate filled eyes.
"Do you?" He repeated, when she didn't speak. He glared at her, waiting for her to answer him.
"A team works together. A team supports each other." He said matter-of-factly.
The tears in Letty's eyes fell down her cheeks. She really was getting kicked off the 'team.' Something that she thought would never happen.
"As far as the 'team' and I am concerned, you don't do either. We don't need someone who is only concerned about themself. Stay away Letty, far away. If you come near us or Ashby again, you'll be sorry." He told her coldly. He looked away. He was no longer able to stomach the sight of her any longer.
Letty's eyes widened at the mention of Ashby's name. She remembered who she was now. Ashby was that shy quiet girl in high school, no would talk too because she wasn't 'cool' enough. Ashby was the girl Mia befriended when no one else would. Ashby was the girl Letty made fun of Mia about because Letty said Mia was wasting her time with someone as unimportant as Ashby. Since Ashby wasn't apart of the 'team,' therefore she didn't matter to Letty.
Letty glared at Dom. "So that's the skank you were fucking when you weren't home with me before we left for Mexico." She yelled at Dominic, thinking she knew everything.
Letty turned when she heard the screen door slam. She saw Ashby come running out with Vince close behind her.
"Dom, NO!" Ashby yelled as she headed for the two.
Letty turned and saw the look on Dominic's face. Not once during her relationship with Dom when they fought was she ever afraid he would hit her. But in that moment Letty was afraid. She knew the only thing keeping Dom from hitting her was Ashby who had pushed herself in front of Dom and held on to both his wrists.
"Dom, don't. She's not worth it. It doesn't matter what she thinks. Just let it go." Ashby pleaded with him.
Vince stood next to Ashby and held on to Dom as well. He knew Ashby couldn't hold him back if he wanted to get to Letty he would.
Vince turned and looked at Letty. "Get the fuck out of here Letty! And don't come back!" He snapped at her.
For once Letty didn't need to be told twice. She ran for her car and sped off.
Ashby looked at Dom. "You're such an idiot. What the hell were you thinking, Dominic? What were you gonna do? Hit her just because she called me a skank? What would have that done, huh?" Ashby practically yelled at him.
Dominic sighed and looked down at the ground, ashamed of what he had almost done. "I don't know." He muttered.
Ashby sighed and looked at Vince, who didn't seem to know what to do either.
