Making Plans... And Following Through
By: LowRyderBabe69
It was early the next morning when Tess made her way out of the elevator. She was hoping against everything that no one would see her and stop her from getting in Stacey's room. She'd even had Blade drive her in their mother's car so none of the Toretto's recognized it. Slipping past the nurses at their station and walking down the hall, straight for her friend's room, she found Brian asleep in a chair outside the door. Grinning, she looked up and down the hall once more, checking for any part of the Toretto crew or nurses, before carefully opening the door and shutting it behind her the exact same way.
Walking over to the side of the bed, she gently shook Stacey's shoulder, hoping that they didn't have her so drugged that it would take much more force than that. She could see that her friend was in bad shape from the dark circles under her eyes, not to mention the countless scrapes and bruises that were beginning to heal. Noting that the first attemp to wake her had failed, she tried again, this time a little rougher. Stacey's eyes immediately popped open, as she sat up with a start and held back the scream that was caught in her throat.
"Oh my god! You scared the shit outta me!" Stacey exclained in a stage whisper, knowing they'd both be screwed if they were caught.
"I'm sorry, but I really wanted to talk to you. I've been trying to get in here for god knows how long." Tess answered, an apologetic look etched on her face, not knowing the hell the other girl had been put through.
"Let me guess, my brother and his flunkies wouldn't let you in, right?"
"Bingo. I've come here at least fifteen times in the past two weeks alone. This is the first time I've gotten any further than two steps off the elevator."
"Go figure. Trying to make my life more miserable than it already is." Stacey said, her tone sounding sullen and resentful at the same time. Furrowing her brow, Tess looked concerned when she asked,
"What the hell has been going on since you went missing? Nobody's let me know anything other than you were in the hospital."
"Sit down, cause girl, this is one helluva story."
As Stacey finished telling her what had been going on since the two had found Vince and Storm in bed together, leaving out the part about Storm being part of the mob, Tess couldn't help but let her mouth fall open. She didn't know how someone could survive all that for so long. Feeling the chills run down her body starting with her arms as she heard what Mia had done, she pulled on her cheerleading jacket, and looked at Stacey in shock. She didn't understand why anyone would want to hurt the girl, much less try to kill her, especially Mia. And the fact that no one would believe her, Save Storm and her family, was beyond comprehension to her, since Stacey had no reason to lie about it and the dark haired girl had even admitted it.
"So, what you're telling me is that Mia was in on you being kidnapped and Brian still is with her?"
"Basically, yeah." Stacey nodded, all of the resentment and hurt coming flooding back.
"Well, at least the dumb bitch is in a coma, for now. But what's gonna happen if she wakes up? They can't expect you to live in the same house as her."
"They do. Storm is taking care of that for me, she's helping her mom get custody of me. I don't know if I can wait that long though. I'm scared shitless that guy is gonna come back and the next time I might not be so lucky."
"Did you see what he looked like? I mean they can watch for people with that description and keep them away from you." Tess tried to reassure her, only half believing it herself because of how easily she'd managed to get in undetected.
"No, it was dark in here and I wasn't really paying attention to what he looked like while he was out in the hall. Besides, security is kinda lax around here, do you think anyone would notice if he was around? I mean, you got past my brother and all the nurses and nobody even noticed you." Stacey answered, voicing the doubts that she knew her friend was having. Neither of them were stupid, they knew about the only way anyone around the hospital would notice is if her vital monitors went off.
"What are you gonna do then? I mean you don't feel safe here, but what can you really do about it?"
"I wanna get outta here. That's the only way I see me feeling safe anytime soon."
"You're kidding right? C'mon Stace, you tried that once and it didn't work." It was time for the voice of reason to start kicking in, and that voice was telling Tess to try her damnedest to talk Stacey out of this.
"No. Last time I tried to do it pretty much by myself. I mean Tabby covered for me, but as far as the escape part went, I was by myself. Not only that, but Tay was here, watching our every move, and getting past him was tough enough."
"Please don't tell me you're thinking what I think you are. Storm will have you outta here in no time. You'll see, it'll be like a really crappy vacation, but you'll get outta here soon enough."
"Tess, please? You're my last hope. I can't take it here anymore. I can hardly sleep at all, and when I do its not for long and I always have nightmares."
"Stace I-" She started, but was cut short when they heard the door beginning to turn. Hurrying to the bathroom, Tess hid behind the door just in time as Brian walked in the room, watching what was going on from the small crack between the door and its frame. Looking around the room suspisciously, he stopped at the side of Stacey's bed and said,
"I thought I heard talking in here."
"Nope, you made sure the only people I see anymore are you and the team, remember? I was flipping through channels just so ya know. Wouldn't wanna have you start searching my room again." Stacey snapped, her tone icy and cold, the same attitude she'd had in place for while now still there.
"If you'd drop the attitude maybe you'd be able to have visitors. That's not why I'm in here though. Dom just woke me up, Mia's starting to show signs of waking up. She's starting to move her fingers."
"Great. Why don't you go visit the murderous bitch. Ya never know, your voice might make her come to quicker, then she can get rid of me for good."
"Cut the shit Stacey! I don't know where you're going trying to pin this on Mia, but you need to realize it wasn't her! You're right about one thing though, I might be able to help her wake up quicker if I visit her so that's where I'm gonna be. Don't try anything, I'll have the nurses watching your door."
Storming out of the room, Brian slammed the door closed, his anger starting to get the better of him as was now a normal occurance.Watching him walk past her door twice through the glass window panes, Stacey called out,
"It's all clear. You can come out now, but we don't have long. I never know when he's coming back." Stepping out of the bathroom the first thing Tess noticed was the fear that Stacey had done such a good job of hiding while her brother was in the room. The terror that was slowly filling Stacey's eyes was enough to convince Tess of what she had to do. Sitting on the edge of her friend's bed she looked her square in the eyes and said,
"I'll do it. I'll help you get out of here. We've gotta do it soon though. There's no telling when Mia might wake up, and I won't take that chance. I'm giving you Blade's two-way use it to talk to me. I'll let ya know when things are set. I'ma run before we get caught. I love ya girl." Giving Stacey a quick hug, she cracked the door open to make sure no one was coming or looking in the direction of the door, before she silently snuck out and hurried down the hall and to the elevators.
Walking to the black Lincoln Navigator that her brother was waiting for her in, she opened the passenger door and got in, throwing her her jacket in the backseat. Buckling her seat belt and putting the strap that came across her chest behind her, she waited for him to start the car so they could leave. When he sat there and looked at her, Tess turned her whole body to face him and raised an eyebrow. Still staring at her, he returned the action, knowing that something was going on inside his sister's head.
"So little sister, you wanna tell me what's going on in that over active head of yours?" Sighing, Tess decided that now was as good a time as any to tell him what she was planning to do. She knew she'd never pull it off without his help anyway.
"I gotta tell you something, but you have to swear you won't tell anybody. I mean it Blade, not a soul."
"Haven't I always kept your secrets. Who's the one that always keeps you outta trouble with mom and dad? Spill it."
"Its big, really big. Can we head out of here though, I really don't need to get caught." Nodding, Blade agreed and started the engine. Tess waited until they were out of the parking garage to start telling him what had happened to Stacey over the past couple months. When she had finished, they were pulling to a stop in front of his garage where she was helping him out for the day. Shaking his head, he knew there was more to it.
"What are you planning?" He asked, not bothering to waste any time. Stumbling over her words at first, she finally got up the courage to tell him, knowing he might blow a gasket.
"I'm helping her get out of there."
"Are you fucking crazy Tess? Don't answer that! I already know the answer!"
"I can't just leave here there! She's my friend Blade, and right now she's terrified that her brother's fiancè is gonna wake up and kill her! What the hell do you expect me to do?"
"Do you have any idea what kind of shit you'll be in if Toretto, or her brother, or any one who knows them finds out you pulled this? What the hell do you plan on doing after you get her out of that hospital? This is stupid and you know it!"
"I don't care! I'm not gonna leave her in there so Mia or anyone else has the chance to kill her, it's just not happening!" As soon as she'd yelled this, she started to feel bad about it. Deep down she knew how stupid it really was, but she could care less. Her friend needed her and she'd be damned if she was gonna sit around and not help her. Calming down, she looked over to her brother, her eyes a little misty and her voice cracking once in a while.
"Blade, I tried to talk her out of it. I really did, but she wasn't having it. And then Brian came in and told her Mia was probably gonna wake up soon. She was scared out of her mind. I can't leave her in there like that, I just can't do it."
"Tess..." Blade started, but trailed off, not finding the words he was trying to say. He knew his sister had a big heart, she always had, but he couldn't see why she was so willing to do something like this. He also knew that she was stubborn, more so than he was, and that no matter what he said to her it wouldn't change her mind. Sighing in defeat he asked, his voice now back down to a normal level and with a soothing tone to it,
"How can I help?"
It was two days later when Stacey felt the two-way pager vibrate against her leg. Thankful that no one was in the room with her, the team being too caught up with Mia to bother sitting in the room with her, instead just waiting outside, making sure no one got in, she flipped the screen open and read the message. It was short, simple, and to the point, reading,
'Tonight's the night. Be ready. 3 Tess'
Smiling an extremely small smile, Stacey knew to be prepared and wondered how Tess was planning on breaking her out. Sending back a short message, she turned the two-way off and settled back in her bed, playing her gameboy and listening to the tv. The feeling of relief washing over her was the best thing she'd felt since Storm had saved her from Carter, and for the first time in a while she had something to look forward to.
Almost halfway across town, Tess and her brother's crew were getting ready for the night ahead of them. Tess had already set it up so that her parents thought she was staying with Blade for the night and she'd be home the next day. Walking into the office of her brother's garage she sat down next to Brendan and watched as he navigated himself around the internet, hacking his way into systems to make a few changes. He was their in house hacker, a neccesity for any group of street racers, and extremely good at it. Looking over at her he sat back in the high backed office chair and said,
"Its done. Don't worry bout anything. While you're in that hospital no cameras will show you coming or going."
"Thanks Brendan. You're the best, you got the IDs?" Tess asked, the grin she'd had on her face when she walked in now gone.
"Would I let you down?" Handing them to her he looked her directly in the eyes, not blinking once and said, "Be careful. Blade'll never forgive himself if anything happens to you, or that girl for that matter."
"I know. And I promise, I'm gonna be extremely careful. Can I ask you a question?" As she watched him nod slightly she started again, "You don't think this is completely crazy, do you?"
"Tess, it doesn't matter what I think. You're gonna go through with it anyway."
"Just answer the question, please?" Sighing, he stood up and looked down at one of his best friend's little sister, running a hand through his dark hair. A girl he considered to be his own sister and answered,
"Do I think its crazy? Yes, but I really don't think you'd do something like this without a good reason so I'm gonna go against my gut and trust your judgement." Flashing a small smile, she stood on her tip toes and gave him a quick hug.
"Thanks. I'm gonna go talk to Tasha, go over things for tonight." Watching her walk out of the office in search of the only other person going into that hospital with her that night, Brendan couldn't help but worry about her. They all knew that if this went badly tonight not only would she be in a world of trouble, but things would get bad for the team too. Making enemies of the Toretto's wasn't something that was a top priority on their list. Shaking his head to rid himself of these thoughts he went to look for Blade, hoping he would have something for him to do to keep him from over thinking this.
Later that night, Tess was standing in the stairwell nearly perfectly diagonal from Stacey's room, waiting and watching for Tasha to show up. Leon was sitting outside of Stacey's room and she couldn't help but think that this night couldn't get any more perfect than it was. Leon had had a thing for Brendan's twin sister since the first time she'd been to the races, Tasha on the other hand, never saw him as anything other than a friend, half the time she considered him less. With the door cracked slightly, so that she'd be able to hear someone coming and what was said between the two she waited patiently for Tasha to get there from Mia's room. It was her cover story, and just so it didn't fall through and they got caught she'd went, be it unwillingly, to see the girl who she'd never really cared for in the first place only tolerated her.
She'd been standing in the stairwell for nearly thirty minutes when she finally heard Tasha's voice as she said 'Hi' to Leon. She'd barely kept from laughing when Tasha asked Leon to help her find the cafeteria, pretending to not understand when he tried giving her directions, if anyone in Blade's crew knew their way to the cafeteria in the hospital it was the dark haired girl standing in front of Stacey's door. When she'd finally convinced him, after a lot of 'begging' Tess watched them walk down the hall before making a dead run for Stacey's room. Getting in, she closed the door behind her quietly and looked at her friend befor tossing a bookbag on the bed at her feet.
"Hurry up and get dressed, we don't have much time." Tess said, already pulling the clothes out of the bag.
"I might need some help, I still don't have much movement in my arms." All Tess did was nod and wait til she was needed. Helping Stacey pull on the white and black Adidas zip sweatshirt on over the tank top she was wearing and slip on a pair of flip flops, she grabbed the book bag off the bed and both girls snuck to the door. Not seeing anyone, they went for it, but were soon stopped about halfway to the door when they heard Leon and Tasha talking, their voices getting closer.
"Oh shit!" Tess whispered, her eyes as wide and doe like as Stacey's. It didn't take her long to realize if they didn't move they were going to get caught. Pushing Stacey towards the door she said, "Hurry!"
Tess had barely managed to pull the door almost totally closed when she heard Tasha tell Leon that she had to go and heard her footsteps coming towards them down the hall. Letting out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding back and leaning against the wall, Tess looked over at Stacey from the corner of her eye. Neither one said a word, both just headed down the stairs silently, afraid that if they said anything one of the Toretto's might hear them and stop them. Getting down to the floor of the parking garage, Tess pulled out her phone and text messaged Tasha, it was how she knew they'd made it and could pick them up close to the door. Opening it, Tess looked around catiously and waited for the Navigator, which Blade still had at the garage to do repairs, to pull up. Once it had the two teens walked towards it quickly. Pulling out safely onto the road, all three let out a sigh of relief, knowing they were halfway there, and headed back to Blade's.
Pulling into the garage, the door was quickly shut behind them before they got out of the car. As she stepped out she noticed that other than Tess and Tasha, who she hadn't really met until tonight, the only other people there were Blade and Brendan. Half grinning at her Blade said in a serious tone,
"So you and my sis are running away huh?" Looking at him strangely and then turning her attention to Tess she raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Where'd you get an idea like that?"
"Pfft. You really think I'ma let you take off by yourself? Where are you gonna go? You don't have a license... Wait scratch that. You don't have a valid liscense only a fake." Tess answered, giving Stacey a look that said 'Don't even try talking me outta this', and handing her the ID that she'd had made for her.
"And what about clothes? It's not like I can go get my stuff from the house."
"Don't worry bout it. Tess packed enough shit to last you two a year. It amazing just how much she can fit into two duffle bags." Brendan said, remembering how heavy the bags he'd put in the trunk of her car had been. Sending a sarcastic look his way she looked at the clock hanging over her brother's office. Frowning she looked around at her friends and brother, before sighing for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day and turned towards Stacey.
"We better get outta here. We really don't know how much time we have to get the hell away before they realize you're gone."
"You two better be careful. Understood?" Blade said, pointing between the two and giving them an intense look. They both looked somber as they answered at the same time,
"We will."
"Call when you decide where you're headed. I want to know where you are at all times."
"Okay Blade. I'll make sure you know where we're at I swear it!" Tess said, her patience was thinning and he was starting to get on her nerves. She dismissed the feeling as much as she could though, knowing he was just worried about them. Hugging each one of them, she got in the driver's side of her car and waited for the door to be pulled up. They'd been on the road for nearly thirty minutes when Tess looked at Stacey, who at this time was far more relaxed than she had been in the hospital, and couldn't help but say something that had been weighing on her mind since they'd gotten out of the hospital.
"This doesn't feel right Stace."
"Don't tell me you wanna take me back. I won't go so if that's your plan drop me here." Stacey said stubbornly, not liking where this conversation was going.
"That's not what I was saying! I just think... Well I think its wrong you're taking off and not letting Storm know. You said she was like your sister, right? Don't you think she's gonna worry?"
"Yeah, I know, but what am I supposed to do. If I tell her she's just gonna tell me to come back and wait it out. I can't do that."
"Well, how bout this? Nat, left her phone in here and never took it out, text Storm from it then toss it out the window. That way she can't find us."
"Fine. Where is it?" Pulling it out of the glove compartment she handed it over and waited for her to send the message. It wasn't too long after that Stacey was rolling down the window and tossing the phone as far away from the car as possible as Tess continued driving. Looking at each other again, Tess smiled a small smile and asked,
"So where to?"
"Hmm. I hear Mexico is nice this time of year." Stacey answered back, a small smile of her own playing at her lips.
"For real?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Kay then. Mexico it is, thank god I grew up in L.A." Pressing on the gas a little more, Tess turned onto the highway and headed south.
Hearing her cell phone ring, Storm looked at the screen. Frowning as she didn't recognize the number she opened the text message and read,
'I'm gone. I'll call when I can. Luv Stacey.'
Shaking her head as she drove towards her house, she knew that no good would come of this. Hitting the steering wheel as she sat at a stop light she yelled out loud,
"Damn it!" Gripping the wheel tightly, she thought about going to the hospital and telling Brian about the message she'd gotten. Dismissing the thought as quickly as it had come to her she sped up, wanting to get home even sooner now, she needed to get a trace on the number so she could find Stacey. She couldn't keep from whispering to herself,
"What the hell have you done Stace?"
A/N: Well... what can i say? I'M BACK! Hehe couldn't help it... i missed being able to write. I kinda had to take a break due to not having the internet for an AWFULfew months, and for anyone out there who reads my own fics I plan on updating those soon too... if my computer doesn't screw me over as its prone to do. But yeah... enough of that... i hope ya'll liked it and since i'm not exactly sure who's taking it from here... i'm just gonna say here ya go! Don't forget to leave us lots of reviews... i missed those too! Later ya'll! LowRyderBabe