Author's Note: Hey guys I'm so glad people are enjoying this story so far! Don't worry, Brian is going to show up more in this story and eventually rejoin the family, but I have to lay the ground work for that since I didn't have Letty die in 4 - which is really the movie where Brian and Dom bond over revenge and man pain? Idk, I think it's a fair trade off to delay the other characters coming into the story in order to keep her alive. I'm still laying down the plans and the roles a bit. I promise we will eventually get to some action once all the pieces are on the board. :)

Chapter 4 (The first part is the Plan)

It was early the following morning by the time they all got settled into the new place. The cousin of a friend of a friend's Uncle happened to have an empty warehouse down by the waterfront, where all the boats came in to unload their goods.

The space was basic, but large, with offices above the large loading bay and a functioning break room with a fridge and microwave.

Mia spent the morning turning some of the office space into sleeping space for everyone while Han and Vince ran down to a local bodega to pick up breakfast for everyone.

"I can't believe Brian warned you off like that," Mia said when they were all sitting around over sandwiches and bitter coffee.

"He was a good guy, you saw that when I didn't," Vince told her.

"He let Dom go before, after all," Letty pointed out.

"Still works for the feds though," Dom sighed.

"Maybe he'll help us out," Han said. "You told him to look into this Reyes guy. If he's as bad as you said I'm sure the FBI won't want him to keep operating here."

"They don't have jurisdiction for that," Mia pointed out. "I mean… probably not."

The others shrugged.

"We still need to get this plan underway," Dom said. "It won't be long before the feds come looking for me again. I'd rather be gone before then."

"We need more people though," Han pointed out. "What about Leo and Santos?"

"They should be here soon," Dom said, then sighed. "I mean, maybe. You never know with them."

"Well, we know where this Reyes keeps his money at least," Vince said, going to pull some large sheets of posters from the back of his Jeep. He laid them across the table. A map of downtown Rio de Janeiro.

"He owns this building here," he said, pointing it out. "There's a vault in the basement, and an underground garage we could use as access."

"Access how?" Letty asked. "We'd need to blow through a wall."

"Yeah, explosives will set off too many alarms. I'm thinking maybe ramming power might be better."

"And then what?" Mia asked. "We won't be able to get into the vault and load up all that money before the police show up," she said, pointing to the map. "The precinct is only a few blocks away here."

"Plus he'll probably have his own security on site," Dom said. "Better if we take the vault."

"Take it?" Han asked. "How?"

"We drag it. With cars," Dom said. "It's too heavy for a single driver. Probably need two."

"Needs to be two people who can drive together well," Vince said. "I'd like to put my name in the hat but honestly brother I'm gonna say it's gotta be you and Letty."

"I don't think so," Dom said.

"Why the hell not?" Letty demanded.

"You know why." He told her.

Han looked between them, then popped another chip in his mouth. "Discounting whatever you guys are talking about… I think Vince is right, Dom."

"We'll table that for now," Vince said, reading the stubborn expression on his friends' faces. "Let's say we do pull this off, and drive off with Reyes' vault, then what? A merry chase around Rio with the cops?"

"Probably," Han agreed. "We'll need some other drivers to run interference. Maybe fix up a couple of cop cars, or boost a couple."

"That's a good idea," Vince said.

"Where are we gonna take the safe?" Letty asked. "I doubt we can just drive off with it. That's one hell of a huge moving target."

"Yeah, we gotta figure out what to do about that one…" Han said. "Maybe some sort of magic trick?"

"Just need to find a magician," Dom agreed.

000000

"I don't really think it's unreasonable for me to not want you driving for this, Letty," Dom said with far more patience than he felt.

Han and Vince had left to go look for some cars and Mia was off finding them some groceries which meant they were finally alone for the first time since he'd shown up in Rio. They were more than overdue for a conversation.

"I still know how to drive a car, Dom," she said slowly, her face impassive.

"It's going to be dangerous." He pushed himself to his feet, rubbing a hand over his head.

"Life is dangerous," she told him. "Being here is dangerous. Walking across our block in LA is dangerous."

"Yeah, shit can happen anywhere at any time. But that doesn't mean you go looking for it. Jesus, Letty I keep trying to get you to think about your own safety and you won't listen to me. Will you listen to me now, please?"

"Why, Dom?" she demanded, glaring at him. "What have you done that should make me want to listen to you? You've disregarded what I wanted, again and again. Maybe you'd have some say about this if you had decided to stick around and handle shit together. Instead of leaving to 'keep me safe'." She shook her head.

"You can't act like I don't have a say, Letty," he told her. "Like I'm not part of this equation."

"Why not?" she asked. "That's what you did to me."

He sighed, dropped to sit down on one of the metal chairs. Letty crossed to the wide windows. The panes of glass were smoky and cloudy with age, but they still let in the sun, which fell across her face and lifted the rich brown tones in her hair. Her arms were folded across her midsection protectively and her jaw was set. He knew her well enough to know that they would go round and round in this discussion and neither one of them would give in.

At the moment he just wanted desperately to cross the room and take her into his arms. But he just couldn't. There was a chasm between them, wider than an ocean. And he knew it was his doing.

"Letty," he stood, crossed towards her. She didn't turn towards him but he knew she was listening. "I just… felt like all the bad decisions I made were dragging you down with me," he finally said, tucking his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her. "First in LA, with the trucks and Jesse died. Vince almost got killed even after all of you were telling me we shouldn't be pulling the job. I did it anyway. And dragged you along with me. You were hurt pretty bad after that."

She turned to look at him, but didn't say anything, just waited for him to finish.

"In Mexico everything fell apart with us. Leon went his own way. I sent you back to LA to check on Mia…"

"And disappeared on me," she interrupted, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I had to move on, you know that," He smiled a little. "Besides, I told you where I was eventually."

She rolled her eyes and didn't smile back. "I always found you just in time to catch you with other girls," she said. "Do you think I liked that, Dom?"

"No," he admitted. "I was stupid. I felt like it didn't matter so long as I didn't sleep with them."

"Stupid is right," she said, then sighed. "Dom, I can forgive the stupid. I could let go of all of that shit. But I can't forget the fact that you walked out on me after I told you I wanted to stay together. You walked out on your *wife*. Not your girlfriend, not your fuck buddy. Not your convenient lay." She narrowed her eyes at him. "How could you? I thought you were finally going to take us seriously."

"I was. I am," he insisted. "I just needed things to cool down a bit, is all."

"It was always about what you needed. What about what I needed?" she asked. "I needed to be with you. I chose to be with you. I didn't want to be in LA with Mia slowly going crazy. What the hell was I going to do there?"

"I wanted you to come join me eventually," he told her. "When it was safer."

"What if it never was? What if it never is? We'll live our lives apart waiting for a future that never comes. I don't want to do that, Dom. I can't do that."

He was silent a moment, then took a step towards her and another until they were only an arm's length apart. He could reach out and touch her. But he didn't.

"I hear you," he said. "I don't know if I'd do things differently if I had another chance but… I understand what you're saying and how you feel."

"Good," she said. "But I'm still driving."

000000

Mia found the quiet lane off the trail that led past the Favela where Rosa and Vince lived. There, beneath a twisted, gnarled old tree sat a figure. He looked up when she approached and then stood, wiping his hands on his dark slacks.

Mia moved her eyes over him slowly. He was a bit older, a bit leaner. She supposed they both were. It seemed she'd been so young and naïve when she'd met Brian O'Conner. His arrival had changed her life. She didn't know if it had been for the better. Things with the truck-jackings would have gone south whether or not he'd been there. And if he hadn't then probably Vince would have died. Maybe the others would have too, or hurt worse. Maybe Dom would be in prison now instead of on the run.

Still, she hadn't been able to forgive him for lying to her and using her. And he didn't blame her for that.

Still, Mia knew they were better off if they could get him on their side for this. Dom and the others didn't know she was here. No one but Rosa knew she'd arranged this little meeting. But she had to do something to help. She wasn't the best driver, and she wasn't great with planning heists. But this, this she could do.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Hey," Brian replied, then motioned to the bench he'd been sitting on. "Have a seat."

She sat, smoothing her hands over her dress. "So…" she looked over as he sat beside her. "Did you look into him?"

Brian didn't have to ask who she meant. He just nodded. "Yeah. He's definitely bad news…" he said. "As a matter of fact, we suspect he was responsible for the deaths of a couple other agents here recently."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They were here investigating a suspected trafficking ring. He might be involved. He's a dangerous man, Mia."

"Does that make him someone the FBI might want taken out?" she asked.

"We don't have jurisdiction," he said. "He's Brazil's problem. And their politicians aren't willing or able to deal with him."

"The people are suffering."

"That's how it goes, usually."

"I don't remember you being so cynical…" she said softly, frowning at him.

"I'm not I'm just…" he trailed off. "Realistic."

"Maybe you're in the wrong field, Brian," she told him.

"I might be. Look…" He handed her a flip phone. "This is a burner. I'll contact you. There's one other number in there and I want you to call it."

"Who is it?" she asked.

"A woman named Gisele Yashar," he told her, then smiled a little at the flash of jealousy in her eyes. "We worked together a couple months ago on a drug-running operation crossing the border. She'd got a lot of skills and she's not a fed. I think she could help you guys."

"Yeah, okay," Mia replied, still frowning. "But I think we need someone on the inside. He's got security and dirty cops."

"I'm working with a few of the locals. I'll put out some feelers," he said. "But don't forget Mia… my bosses are still here looking for your brother."

"Why do they want him so bad? Bad enough to chase him here and extradite him?"

"Someone's looking for a quick promotion and Brazil is hoping to get some brownie points with the US," he shrugged. "Sometimes all you need is one guy in power with a specific bug up his butt about something."

She couldn't help but laugh about that, then sighed. "Whose the guy with the bug?"

"His name is John Towers."

"Wow, even his name is douchey," Mia said.

Brian laughed at that one, then sobered. "Yeah, he really doesn't plan on going home without Dom in cuffs."

"Well then I guess we just have to make sure he's gone before Mr. Douchebag finds him," Mia said, standing. She tucked the phone into her jacket. "Thanks for meeting with me, Brian."

"You're welcome, Mia." He stood as well. "And… I'm sorry, you know? About how things turned out."

"Me too," she said softly, and gave him a wistful smile before heading back down the street to Rosa's house.