Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Author's Note: Hi! Here's the second chapter... just so you know where I'm headed.
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Three Years Later….
"Daddy, I don't like these shoes, they pinch. I want sandals."
Brian sighed as he looked into his daughter's big blue eyes.
Tessa Maria O'Connor was six years old and quite aware of the power she held over adults—beginning with her father.
Big blue eyes framed by long lashes, honey blonde curls framing a pixie face and a pert little mouth that could form into a perfect pout— at seven years old she had yet to meet an adult she couldn't charm.
"We'll be late if we go back inside, kid," he told her as they walked down the dock towards the car.
She sighed dramatically, "I guess it's okay than." After a moment she added, "Tonight Daddy, will you put ice on my feet?"
Brian held back the groan as he glanced at his watch, "Do they really bother you?"
She nodded solemnly.
"Okay, I'll take you to school; check in at the garage and then take you some sandals so you can change there, deal."
Tessa grinned, showing one missing tooth in the front, "Thanks Daddy."
Brian nodded, resisting the urge to laugh at her obvious manipulation of him—it would only encourage her.
He loaded her into the car and sped off to the school. Tessa chattered as he drove, about nothing and everything. He listened absentmindedly, trying to focus, but focus had been hard the last week and was hardest today.
He was almost glad when he was able to leave his precocious daughter in the hands of her teacher. He loved his daughter; more than he'd thought would be possible when he'd first started caring for her.
But sometimes he just needed time alone. Time to remember, to think about where he was in his life—how far he'd come.
He'd done it.
He had swum. Three years ago today, his mother had placed her in his arms and demanded that he take responsibility for his daughter.
He'd been scared shitless; but he'd done it.
He'd had help though; Suki, Tej, Jimmy, even Rome had helped… they were a ragtag family, but they were more real to him than his blood relatives.
He couldn't really complain though, his blood relatives were great— to Tessa.
She had loving grandparents and a doting uncle—until she screwed up of course, but that was years away…
Right now, his daughter was the apple of everyone's eye… she was happy, healthy, and well-adjusted just like his mother had demanded that she be.
It hadn't been easy but definitely worth it. He sighed as he pulled into the garage, already knowing what was coming.
"Yo, B, we gotta talk!" Tej yelled as soon as he saw him. Brian rolled his eyes and kept walking, nodding towards Suki who was already working. He went over to the assignments board and was scanning the duties listed under his name when Tej caught up to him.
"Guess what I found still sittin on the office desk," Tej hissed at him.
Brian sighed, turning to face the man, "I told you I'd think about it, not that I'd do it."
"It's been like five fuckin years!"
"It's been less than four," Brian stated, trying to remain calm; raising a child did amazing things for a person's calm—it made you get some.
"Dammit Brian, you'd win enough to buy that house," Tej said seriously.
"I have enough to buy that house," Brian reminded him; referencing the money he and Rome had kept from their job years.
"You can't touch that and you know it. In the meantime your daughter's growing up on a dock."
Tej Parker was the level headed one in the family. On the outside it looked as though Brian could claim that title—but only on the outside. Those on the inside, those who knew the team, knew that Brian went off fast and loud when provoked.
Jimmy attention was only held if it was mechanical/electronic, Rome was impulsive, Suki led by her heart—only Tej was able to think with a clear head. And Tej's clear head had decided two years ago that Brian needed to go to Race Wars on the west coast and win some money.
Money he could actually use; his brother, a chief investigator for FBI, had kept a close eye on him and Rome since they'd wrapped up their case.
He knew there was money unaccounted for, and he knew that the most likely people to have it would be Brian and Rome.
And nothing would please Bradley O'Connor more than having his little brother under his thumb.
"Tej it's too early for this."
"Today's the last day to sign up, B," Tej insisted, following Brian as the man made his way over to the first car he had to work on, "The application ain't gettin filled out sittin on my desk…"
"I'm still thinkin," he grumbled.
Tej rolled his eyes as he glared at the man's retreating back, "You're stubborn as a fuckin mule, that's what. You know I'm right."
"And you know he doesn't want to risk running into those people," Suki piped in, "Stop buggin him about it."
"Baby-girl's gotta have a yard to play in," Rome added, agreeing with Tej.
"She swims," Brian stated, then groaned, "Which reminds me, I gotta go to the boat and get'er sandals… she decided last minute that her shoes bothered her."
"I'll do it," Suki offered, "I could use a break anyway… been here since six-thirty."
"Shit," Brian muttered, "Why?"
She shrugged, "Couldn't sleep." She answered simply, her gaze averted.
They all left it alone.
Brian nodded, "Thanks." He said handing her the keys.
Brian went to work and for the moment Tej dropped the issue. For his part, Brian did his best to put it out of his mind, to concentrate only on the car in front of him. Unfortunately, the job he had to do didn't require any thought for him and his thoughts wandered.
Wandered to LA and tuna fish and angry dark eyes filled with the pain of betrayal. They wouldn't necessarily be at Race Wars, they might not even be in LA or hell even in the US for all he knew.
… No, that wasn't true, without evidence they wouldn't have been convicted—and there was no evidence—he'd made sure.
Still there was no guarantee they would be at Race Wars; but if they were, he would see them. He wasn't naïve enough to think that he'd be able to win and not run into Team Toretto if they were there.
If he went and they went, they'd meet.
The simple solution was to not go—he wasn't ready; might never be. Not because he was afraid, although he should be, if they got wind of him they'd track him down and beat the shit out of him; but that wasn't the reason he didn't want to run into them. The reason was simply: shame.
It hadn't been his first undercover job; on the contrary it had been one in a long line. He was good at it.
Still it had been different; he was used to infiltrating criminal gangs, drug and prostitution rings, black markets—but this time he'd infiltrated something different.
He'd infiltrated their family.
He had been a cop, a professional—but he'd let it get personal…
… much too personal…
"I brought lunch!" Suki called as she bounded into the garage and Brian was startled to see that it was past one o'clock.
"Good thinkin, I was 'bout to suggest that," Rome said practically leaping over the hood of the car he was working on.
"Like you weren't just stuffin your face wit chips," Jimmy commented lightly as he too went towards Suki.
Brian took his time getting up and wiping his hands off.
"You went to the school?" he asked Suki without looking up.
"Yep, baby-girl was real happy to see those sandals," she paused, "They do match her outfit better than the shoes."
Brian's head snapped up, "I knew those shoes didn't pinch her; she wore them last week." He grumbled.
"Conned again, huh?" Rome said around a bite of fried chicken, "Dat girl runs wild over you…" he said grinning.
"Your one to talk," Brian shot back with a smirk.
Suki giggled, "Face it guys, Tessa has you all in the palm of her hand."
"And she deserves a reward for bein so damned smart," Tej stated pointedly.
Brian rolled his eyes, "Drop it Tej."
"Come on B, you'd win."
"No."
"So that's it, you're done thinkin. You ain't goin?"
Brian nodded, "Yeah, that's it. I ain't goin."
"You're a fuckin moron!" Tej growled at him, "You need to get over it!"
"I'm over it, which is why I don't want to go!"
"They might not even-"
"Just drop it Tej," Suki interrupted sweetly, "He doesn't want to."
Tej glared at from Suki to Brian for a moment before making a growling noise and throwing his hands in air, "Fine, whatever," he reached over and snatched up a chicken wing.
They all concentrated on eating for awhile before Jimmy broke the silence with an update on something new he was trying with the race cars. They were all so focused on listening they missed the young women who'd walked in and was studying them with interest.
It wasn't until she cleared her throat they saw her.
Suki jumped up, "Can I help you?"
"Yes," the woman answered seriously, "I'm looking for Mr. Brian O'Connor."
Her words were crisp, though not unfriendly.
"That would be me," he said jumping and heading for the woman.
She appraised him coolly for a moment, "I need you to sign here, Sir." She told him, holding out a clipboard.
"What am I signing for?" he asked as he took the clipboard and scanned it quickly.
"Custody papers," the woman stated simply.
"What?" Brian asked alarmed, his gaze shooting to hers.
"Custody papers, sir." She repeated.
He stared at her blankly and the woman sighed as though he were making her life more complicated.
"If you sign, Sir, I can hand you the documents and you can look them over."
Brian immediately scrawled his signature on the page in front of him and traded the clipboard for a manila envelope.
He turned away immediately, barely registering the woman's 'have a nice day' and quite aware that everyone was staring at him.
Roughly he yanked the documents out of the envelope and scanned them.
"That bastard," he hissed a moment later before dropping the documents and heading for the phone.
"What's up, cuz?" Rome called before Brian could reach the phone, but the blonde man didn't stop.
With furious actions he picked up the phone and jabbed a number into it. Three rings later a calm voice answered.
Hello.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
You don't have to be vulgar, Brian. I assume you've gotten the documents.
"Brad this isn't fuckin funny. What the hell is this?"
I'm not trying to be funny Brian. We've all given you time to get your life together and you simply haven't. Rachel and I have been married for over a year now; and I think we'd be able to provide Tessa with a much more healthy environment-
"Have your own fuckin kid! Tessa is mydaughter, Brad!"
And you'll be able to see her whenever you wa-
"Fuck that! You can't be serious! I'm her father!"
And I'm her uncle. I want what's best for her…
"I AMWHAT'S BEST FOR HER!"
There was a pause, than a frustrated sigh.
Be logical Brian. Friday and Saturday nights are nothing but raves. The child spends more time around barely dressed women and foul-mouthed thugs than she does at school. She sleeps three out of five days a week at the garage, knows the names of all the major beers in the state and probably the taste too. And you live on a freakin boat.
"Dammit Brad! She's always got food, clothes, a roof over her head, and more love than she knows what to do with! I'm a good father!"
I didn't say you weren't. I said Rachel and I could give her a more stable environment.
"I can do stable!"
Than do it. We've been waiting for three years to see it, and you haven't.
Brian took a deep breath trying to settle his racing heart as the implication of that statement hit him, "This is Dad's idea isn't it!"
We want what's best for Tessa. A little girl deserves a kitchen table where she can sit and draw, her own room where she can have a stuffed animal collection, a backyard where she can hang a swing...
"She's my daughter, Brad."
Again there was a pause, and Brian paced back forth as he waited for his brother to speak. When he did the words were soft and almost caring.
The court date isn't for three months Brian. Those papers are just a preliminary thing… maybe if you get it together by then… maybe I'll change my mind.
The phone was silent for a moment before the dial tone kicked in.
Brian stared at the phone in his hand; and for a brief moment wondered if the tidal waves would ever stop coming.
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"He can't really be serious?" Suki said as she examined the papers for the hundredth time; they were gathered around Brian attempting to process all that Brian had told them, "I mean not even Brad can be this much of an asshole."
Brian ran his hand through his hair, unhelving it even more, "Wanna bet?" he growled, his pacing picking up speed.
He hadn't stopped pacing since he'd gotten off the phone with his brother forty-five minutes ago. He couldn't... all he could do was think...
...if you can get it together...
...two months...
...get it together...
The words kept swirling around his head with ominous intentions.
"A good ass kickin is what he needs," Rome hissed.
"That won't help," Tej answered, "If this actually goes to court he has a fuckin good chance of winnin..."
"How the hell would you know," Brian growled at him, pausing long enough to shoot his friend a heated glare.
"Television dude," Tej replied, "... ain't ya ever seen The Guardian or some shit like that. The stable people get the kid nine outa ten times."
"I'm her freakin' father!"
"They're plenty of kids who don't live with their dads." Tej reasoned.
"This is fuckin unbelivable!" He growled again.
The others remained silent; watching him pace.
"Cuz, it's like two o'clock." Rome reminded him.
Brian stopped pacing, all anger draining from his face. He had to go pick Tessa up. He faced his friends now, the expression of a lost child stealing over his face, "What am I going to do?" He whispered hoarsely.
Suki stood, "You're gonna go pick her up and be normal... tonight after you put girly to bed, we'll have a meeting 'bout it where Tej can tell us what to do."
Brian took a deep breath and let Suki's calm voice wash over him. He had to stay calm; he didn't want to worry Tessa. He couldn't worry her, she was just a kid.
He nodded, muttered something and headed for his car. He made it to the school in a trance and it wasn't until his child put her hand in his that Brian snapped out of the stupor he'd fallen into.
"Today we practiced our handwriting, and I got a star because I did such a good job. And annoying Jeremy got a demerit for talking during story time and the story was boring, and dumb but I didn't talk or tell the teacher that little kids can't fly... it would be cool if we could though, right Daddy? Daddy?"
The girls' chatter ended abruptly as she realized that her Dad hadn't really responded to her.
"I'm listening, baby-girl," he said and shot her what he hoped was an encouraging smile.
"Are you mad?" she asked sweetly.
"At you?" he asked the familiar question, hoping to distract her, "... never."
He could feel her eyes studying him as he drove--the child was much too perceptive for her good.
"You know, baby-girl, if you use your imagination-- kids can fly," he told her, referencing her story.
They were at a stop light and he got to see the way her eyes lit up, "Uncle Rome makes me fly..."
Brian chuckled, "Don't let Suki see..."
"She screams," Tessa said giggling, "She brought my sandals..."
"Yeah, did you thank her?"
"'course."
Tessa continued to talk about her day, and Brian did his best to focus; he allowed himself to get drawn into his daughters world and he was surprised to realize that by the time they made it garage he was calmer.
True, it was an icy calm, but calm nonetheless. Tessa was his daughter. His family had demanded that he take responsibility for her and he had, he'd be dammed if he lost her because they'd changed their minds.
He wouldn't lose her. He'd do whatever it took -- even getting it together.
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"She asleep?" Rome asked Brian as he stepped into the garage again. It was standard question; asked every night when Brian came back out to the garage after putting Tessa to bed.
It was part of their routine; once he picked the girl up from school he'd bring her to the garage where they would all look after her.
Around five-thirty he took her home to do homework, take a bath, have dinner, and go to bed--not necessarily in that order.
Around nine-thirty every night he would join the festivities outside. Usually it was just a race or two, some music... Tessa always slept right though it.
Tonight though... tonight there was no races, no music -- and tonight... he was acutely aware that she wouldn't always sleep right through it.
That he'd been blessed with an exceptionally obedient child, who went to bed when he ordered-- but that things wouldn't necessarily stay that way. He was aware that his daughter would grow up and that the same men she chattered happily with on her way through docks to get to their boat-house would one day leer at her, that the races which right now didn't hold much interest would definitely one day appeal.
Tonight Brian was looking at his life through the eyes of a stranger, through the eyes of a social worker.
And things didn't look good.
"Cheer up, bro, I've got a solution." Tej said. His expression decidedly smug.
Brian sighed and lowered himself into a chair, accepting the beer that Rome handed him, "What's the solution?" he asked.
"Race Wars."
Brian spit out the beer in his mouth.
"Shit, Bro!" Rome shouted, "That's fuckin unnecessary."
"Sorry," Brian muttered, than shot a glare at Tej, "We talked about that."
"Yeah, but that was before. Now you need to settle down, and with the money from Race Wars you can do that."
"Tej-"
But the man didn't let Brian continue, "You kid's at stake here, B."
"I was on your side Bullet, you know that... I know you don't wanna run into them... but this is for girly... for girly you gotta risk it." Suki stated kindly. Her hazel eyes warm on his face.
Tej slipped an arm around her, pleased that she agreed with him.
"It's in LA!"
"You could use a vacation," Tej said.
"I could too!" Rome stated, his grin widening, "... bet they got some hot as-"
Suki's arched eyebrow stopped him, "...rides..." he corrected himself, "over d'there..."
Brian huffed, "There has to be-"
"You live too damn close to here... it's 'kay for you to be a mechanic. But you gotta put distance between the kid and your life here."
"She can't come here after school everyday," Suki added, "She needs a babysitter or somethin... or you to stay home wit her."
"You gotta give her stability," Rome continued.
Brian glared at them, "When the hell did you all become experts at this."
"Television." They answered in union.
"You're manipulating me." He growled at Tej.
"I'm telling you the truth. I'm tryin to help."
"And you're doin a good job, baby," Suki purred at him; than looked back to Brian, "You know it's all true, Bullit. You can't touch the uhhhhh other money. Racing scene here is pretty thin lately--especially this time of the year, we're heading into hurricane season. You need the money. You have three months, Race Wars starts in two weeks... you'll be back in plenty of time buy the house and get settle before the first court date."
"Yeah, cuz, and didn't Brad say he might drop it if you got it together?" Rome offered.
"Yeah," Brian answered on a weary sigh, "He did."
"This is the solution." Tej said confidently.
"Last day to sign up was tonight."
"I got connection, B, if you want in. You're in."
Brian remained silent a moment, than stated softly, "Fine, I'm in."
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