Chapter 8

Haley shot up from her kneeling position and took a few steps back.

"How'd you…." Started Haley trying to add distance between her and Carter.

"How'd I what? Find you?" chuckled Carter stepping toward her. "Please Haley. Let's not act like I'm stupid. The people you grew up with have to have had records."

"Carter…."

"I see you are still pregnant."

Haley could hear the engines in the distance.

Please God hurry. She thought taking more steps backwards. Carter stopped advancing on her and smiled as he backhanded her across her face, forcing her to fall back against the refrigerator.

"Don't think this is over." He announces as he backed toward the exit, knocking everything from the shelves on the way out.

She cried into her hands as she slid down the door and sat on the ground.

"What the hell?" asked Vince creeping into the diner. "Haley, where are you?"

Vince could hear her crying. He rushed toward her when he saw her on the ground.

Ring Ring

"Torretto's." answered Letty.

"Letty…" started Vince. "It's Haley. Dom needs to get to the diner fast."

He hung up and returned his attention to Haley.

"You ok Haley? Look at me." Instructed Vince pulling Haley's hands away from her face.

"Dom!" shouted Letty from the office.

"What!? I'm busy." He shouted back popping his head out from under the hood of a car.

"It's Haley. There was some trouble at the diner."

"Is she ok?" asked Leon sliding out from under another car.

"I don't know. Vince just called." Explained Letty.

Dom and Leon didn't ask another question they just ran out the door.

Vince helped Haley off the ground and toward the stool behind the counter. He ran and got some ice for her swollen cheek.

"Do you want me to call the doctor? Or the police? This guy is going to die." Growled Vince placing the ice on her tear stained cheek.

The bruise began to really show, making her look like she had a black eye.

"No V. I'm ok." Answered Haley placing her hand on Vince's shoulder trying to soften him. "I know how to take a hit. Remember that night you got me right between the eyes with the basketball?"

"Nice try but this is not the same." He said sitting next to her.

"I'm just glad you got here when you did."

"It wasn't soon enough."

"You saved me and this baby, V." said Haley resting her head on his shoulder.

They both looked toward the door when they heard that engine.

"Haley." Said Dom.

Leon stood to the side and watched. You wouldn't have known he was racing to the diner to get to her.

"I'm ok Dom." Said Haley pulling her face back as Dom touched it lightly.

"Haley, stop fighting. I have to make sure your cheekbone isn't shattered." He explained kneeling in front of her. "I want you to go home and put a pack on it. Doesn't feel broken."

"It's not broken. I know how it feels broken." Mumbled Haley.

Vince, Leon and Dom all looked down feeling guilty for not protecting her.

"I'll take her home." Offered Leon speaking up.

"Ok. Head home. V and I will close up." Demanded Dom helping her off the low stool and toward Leon's car.

"What about my car?" asked Haley sitting halfway in the passenger seat.

"We'll take care of everything." Started Dom. "Just go home and ice up."

Dom kissed her forehead and closed the door.

"Thanks V." she said through the open window.

Vince smiled before leaning in and kissing her forehead. Leon started toward his car when Dom stopped him.

"Don't fight with her please." Asked Dom.

"I just want her home and safe." Said Leon continuing to walk away.

Haley gave them a sad wave as they drove away.

Haley emerged from upstairs in capri sweatpants, shin high socks, tank and an oversized hoodie. Her freshly washed and dried hair was thrown up in a wifey bun. The bruise on her cheek now a shade of deep purple and made Leon flinch when he saw her.

"Trust me. It feels as bad as it looks." Said Haley sitting on the couch.

They sat quietly on the couch and just watched tv.

"Has it been kicking and moving?" asked Leon shyly.

"Oh ya." Said Haley uncovering her belly. "Feel."

Haley took Leon's hand and rested it where she could feel movement. At the feel of his hand the movement went crazy.

"It likes you." Said Haley, with a big yet sad smile on her face.

"I'm a likeable guy." He said pulling his hand away feeling the same way she felt. "When's your next appointment?"

"Tomorrow actually." Started Haley. "I get to find out what it is too."

"Are you hoping for anything in particular?"

"I think I would be happy with either but part of me is really hoping for a girl."

"I can see that."

"Really? You can?" asked Haley unsure. "I just hope I'm a good mom."

"You're going to be a great mom Hales." Reassured Leon.

"Thanks."

"Ok so obviously you need protection whenever you leave the house." Said Dom as they passed dinner around the table.

"We need to find out where he's staying." Added Vince.

Leon watched Haley shut down. He watched her poke at her food.

"Your appointment is tomorrow too. I think one of us should go with you. I know you and Mia had this whole pregnant day planned for you but I think…." Explained Dom.

"I'll go with her." Blurted Leon before he realized what he was saying.

Everyone looked at him stunned by the outburst. Leon could tell Haley wasn't thrilled with the idea of having a bodyguard and he knew if Dom or Vince went she would feel stifled and trapped. At least if he went, maybe she wouldn't feel that way.

"Oooookay then." Dom said slowly, letting his eyes linger on Leon.

"I don't need babysitting 24 hours a day." Mumbled Haley knowing she wasn't winning the protection argument.

"I know you don't. Just when you're not home… safe and sound."

Haley didn't like Dom's patronizing tone. She had a staring contest with him before shoving her plate forward and excusing herself from the table. Everyone remained in an awkward silence until they heard a door slam.

"Dom, did you really…" started Mia.

"Don't Mia. She needs protection until Vince and I can find this guy. She has to realize it's for her protection." Explained Dom. "At least with Leon being near her she won't fight as much as she would it being me or Vince."

For the first time in days the doors to their conjoined bathroom were open. Haley got up and paced her room a little debating whether or not to go talk to him. Finally she walked in the bathroom, smack dag into Leon who was walking toward her room.

"I was just…"

"I uh…"

They both chuckled and Leon gestured for her to go first.

"I just wanted to thank you." Said Haley hoisting her and her pregnant belly onto the counter.

"For?" he questioned.

"For volunteering to be my bodyguard. Dom and Vince would drive me crazy."

"Oh. It's no problem. I know they would."

They fell into an awkward silence for a little while.

"What were you coming to see me for?" Asked Haley.

"Oh I uh… I was… just coming to see how you were… If you needed anything." Started Leon. "Just letting you know I'm right here if you need anything."
"Thanks." Said Haley with a sweet smile.

Another silence fell on them. Not as awkward.

"I'm sorry about the other night." Whispered Leon as he leaned against the wall looking down.

"Leon… it was an argument that was going to happen eventually. It needed to happen and quite frankly… I'm glad it happened sooner rather than later." Reassured Haley.

"Really?" asked Leon watching her face.

"Yes." She laughed. "We can move forward now."

Leon stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Haley, burying his face in her hair. Haley let him rest between her legs and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry for everything Hales." Leon mumbled into her hair.

"Me too LeeLee."

Haley groaned at the subtle pound in her belly. Leon backed up and placed his hands on her belly, smiling.

"I think it really like some LeeLee." Chuckled Haley with her hands resting on top of Leon's.

Carter sat in front of the house for yet another day. Watching. Waiting. He'd learned about their habits from all of his watching.

"Ah, we're out and about earlier today." Carter said to himself as Leon emerged from the house stopping at the top of the steps and looking out at the horizon.

Haley emerged moments later, stopping to lock the door behind her before sliding her hand into his arm and slipping her aviator sunglasses over her bruised eye, but her cheek was still noticeable even under make up. Carter watched their movements. He could see them talking and laughing but couldn't hear them. Oh he wished he could hear them.

"Who do they think they are? Ashton and Mila."

He laughed at his own joke as he watched Leon and Haley. They wore matching dark denim jeans and white tees. He wasn't sure it was done intentional but it seemed like it. Haley wore her hair in a side braid the way she use to cause he loved it. Maybe she was sending him a message. He could see her belly protruding under the cotton v neck tee she wore and softened. It didn't last long when he saw Leon put his arm around her shoulder, guiding her around his car to the door he had opened for her.

"Why the hell wasn't that stuff good enough when I did it?" he growled hitting his steering wheel.

Carter grew more and more furious. He dropped down in his seat when Leon backed out of the driveway then headed down the street. Carter stalked behind.