AN: Sorry it's been so long—still having beta problems. I apologize for the typos. I'll clean it up when I have the chance. Anyway, this chapter is still more intense Dom/Letty stuff so if their angst isn't your thing then don't torture yourself. But if their angst is your thing then please proceed…

Thanks again and again and again for all you folks reviewing and those lurkers out there reading. I hope you're liking the ride.

I still don't own anybody from TFATF although CJ is mine.

-Y-

Growing Up Fast

Chapter 4

The ride to the cemetery was completely silent. Dom found himself frequently glancing over at Letty but she wore the same blank stare as before. He was starting to get really worried. He knew that this was going to be a hard time for her but he had no idea that she would shut down like this. God knows where her father was and he wasn't sure if he could handle it without his dad for backup. But he owed it to CJ to try, so he was going to do his best.

They finally made it to the section of the cemetery that they both knew so well. Dom had only been here once and as far as he was concerned, once had been enough. It was a beautiful spot really; lots of green and away from the street so that at 5:00 in the morning, it was as quiet as one figured a cemetery should be. When Dom stopped the car, he expected Letty to immediately run out to CJ's grave but she hung back. He could see the fear in her eyes mixed in with the sadness and that awful longing that he himself felt every time he remembered that his best buddy CJ was never coming home.

"Do you want me to come with you or..."

She shook her head no and reached out for the door handle, although she continued to hesitate. After about five minutes he saw her close her eyes and when she reopened them another set of fresh tears seeped out and down her cheek. She blew out a deep breath and opened the car door.

Dom watched through the passenger side window as she slowly made her way to CJ's final resting place. Her pace was slow but steady and through the thickness of the early morning mist, he could make out her determined stance as she finally stood in front of CJ's headstone. He still felt the urge to go with her, to hold her hand while she remembered and grieved but he knew this was something she wanted to do on her own.

He watched as she stood there looking at the headstone as if it were the body of her dead brother himself. He remembered the funeral and the look of horror on Letty's face at seeing her brother so cold and lifeless in his casket. He was wearing his uniform, of course, and if you were standing far enough away, it looked like he was simply lying down for nap. His uniform was crisp and neat--the military people made sure of that. Everything was in its place--except for CJ's dog tags.

The only lucky thing in that whole sad ordeal was that by some stroke of fortune, one of their neighbors had directed the officers who came to return CJ's personal items, to the Toretto house when they received no answer at Letty's. She had gone through everything so carefully with Mia, Dom and his dad giving her all the space she needed. When Letty had received the plain, medium-sized box, she took every article out and inspected it, some of it making her smile sadly while others brought so many tears that they thought they were going to have to intervene. When she was done, she placed everything carefully back in its place--all except for the dog tags which she slid around her neck and hasn't taken off since. No one protested. They all just nodded in understanding.

But he recalled so vividly seeing her bend over to give CJ one last kiss on the cheek in his casket. he recalled every detail of those dog tags brushing gently against CJ's body and shining in the light. Why CJ? He used to be so full of life and important to so many people yet there he lay. Gone forever.

Dom got out of the car, closing the door and leaning against the roof as he continued to watch Letty. At some point she had lowered herself to the ground kneeling on the damp grass that covered CJ's grave. He could see her talking softly to him, wiping endless tears away and stroking the ground lovingly with her open palm. She had loved him so much--and he had adored her too. But the Letty that had CJ in her life was never coming back and Dom had to find a way to make her happy again. She was too precious and he couldn't let her slip away if he could help it. It was the least he could do for CJ--taking care of the one thing he cared about most in all of his too short life.

A small noise brought his attention back to Letty as she continued to talk to her brother. He saw that her crying had increased, her shoulders wracked with heavy sobs over the private conversation with her dead brother. Suddenly, he saw her break down as she leaned over and clutched the ground. He didn't know if she was trying to get as close as she could to him or if her grief had exhausted her to that point. His instincts had him going to her before he even really realized it.

He jogged over to where she lay, his stomach clenching with every heart-wrenching cry she let out. He could barely make out the words for all of her weeping and sobbing. Maybe he didn't want to hear her but after a few moments, these words became clear.

Over and over again she said it: she had nothinhg--nothing without CJ.

He tried grabbing her and pulling her away from the ground but she wouldn't budge thinking that Dom was going to take her away from her lifeline and the only physical connection she still had with her brother.

"Let me go!" She pulled away and screamed at him to let her be with CJ but Dom was having none of it. He roughly pulled her into his arms still sobbing uncontrollably and muttering unintelligibly about CJ and having nothing without him. Yet again, her tears were soaking through his thin t-shirt as he tried to comfort her.

"I'm not letting you go baby. Don't leave me okay? I'm here for you. I'm always here for you." He didn't know if she understood him or if she was even listening but he was going to say whatever he had to to get through to her. Her grief completely consumed her. She was holding onto him so tight as if he wasn't real; as if she would be as lifeless as CJ if she let go of him. But Dom held her just as tightly showing her that he wasn't going anywhere.

After a few minutes her wails subsided slightly and she simply cried for everything she had lost a year ago today. Her family, her world, the one person that she could count on to love her and take care of her. But she hadn't lost that, she had to know. CJ wasn't the only one who cherished her and as long as he was around, he was going to make sure she never doubted that.

Although her sobs didn't let up, he could feel her shivering in the cool morning air. At this hour, the day was damp with morning mist and neither of them was dressed appropriately for it. Dom picked up Letty and made to leave but she gripped his shoulder and wailed even louder.

"No, don't take him from me! I'm not ready, just a little bit longer." Dom could feel her scrambling to get out of his arms so that she could return to CJ's grave.

But Dom held on tight. He hated to do it but Letty was weak and irrational, not that he blamed her. He needed to get her out of there. This wasn't good for her.

"Letty, baby, he's already gone. Please, let's go so I can take care of you." Letty wasn't trying to hear it, shaking her head vehemently and finally succeeding in getting out of his grasp. But instead of running back to CJ, she simply stood there letting the damp mist fall on her shoulders.

After a few moments, Dom joined her in looking at CJ's final resting place from afar. He gently held her from behind and rested his chin on top of her head.

"Letty, I would never take CJ from you but we can't stay here. Please, Letty, come with me." He felt the rise and fall of her shoulders as she continued to cry for everything that would never be because her brother wasn't there to share it with her. Dom could tell that she understood him so he didn't rush her. He just held her in his arms and rocked her while she found yet another way to say goodbye.

Finally, she stepped out of his arms and walked slowly to CJ's headstone. "I love you. I'll never forget..." the rest of her heartfelt confession was lost to him in her weeping. But she stood tall and kissed her dogtags before placing a final caress on his headstone and walking back to where Dom stood watching.

Dom opened his arms for her and she fell right into his embrace again crying softly and holding onto him so tightly.

"I'll take care of her CJ, I promise," he thought to himself.

Dom hushed Letty and spoke soft words of comfort in an attempt to stop her never-ending flow of tears. But she was exhausted emotionally and physically so Dom scooped her up and carried her back to his car. He placed her in the front seat and buckled her in before getting in himself. As he drove off, he thought that he would always be there for Letty but after all that he had experienced here, he never wanted to come back to this cemetery ever again.

After driving for a little while, Dom found himself taking a familiar path in the opposite direction from his house. He didn't think Letty was ready to go home, certainly not her own house and he knew she wouldn't want to explain thing to Mia just yet. Mia was going to feel so bad for not being around for Letty today. Besides, he knew the perfect place to take her. It was where he went to deal with a lot of the things he didn't want to share with the world.

He kept hold of her hand as much as he could while driving to his spot and neither said a word to each other during the ride. It wasn't the time for conversation just yet but the physical contact seemed to be enough. He pulled into the parking lot of the little beach area and cut the engine. The continuing silence loomed over them as they sat in the fading moonlight thinking their own thoughts.

"What is this place Dom?" Letty said. She sounded exhausted, like she barely had the energy to even ask that simple question. Her demeanor of numbness still hadn't changed but her grasp of his hand was strong and sure. He discovered this spot right after his mother died and it had become a safe haven for him ever since. He could sit and think or grieve or just get away from the pressure of his daily life on the streets. He had never brought anyone else here but it seemed like the right thing to do for Letty, especially tonight.

Dom didn't answer her but instead unhooked her seat belt, gently grabbed her arm and motioned for her to take a seat on his lap. She complied immediately putting her arm around his shoulders. She leaned into his chest resting her head right below his chin. She was still awake and alert but she had curled herself into a little ball on his lap breathing evenly and looking blankly ahead. Dom sat quietly and watched her, stroking her back and her hair as she lay against him.

"It's going to be okay, Letty, I promise. You've got a lot of people who care about you and who don't want to see you hurting. Mia loves you to pieces you know. She can't do anything without you. And Pops, he loves you like a second daughter. He wouldn't want to see you tearing yourself up like this." He watched as Letty closed her eyes briefly and nodded slightly in acknowledgment of his words. "And don't forget about the guys. What would Vince and Leon and Jesse do without you kicking their asses everyday? You be as sad as you need to be because you loved CJ so much but just don't check out on us alright?" He moved his fingers to her face and gently stroked her cheek. "Don't leave ME because I need you too much. You're family to me. You know that." A fresh string of tears ran from Letty's eyes but this time, Dom's fingers were there to catch them and wipe them away.

"Sometimes, I forget he's gone." Her voice was hoarse and husky but no less lovely to Dom's ears. "I think about things that I want to tell him or something that would make him laugh. And then I remember and it's like I just found out, you know." Dom didn't miss the way her voice broke as she finished off her thought.

Dom sighed deeply and held her tighter. "Yeah, I know," he returned. And he really did understand. He felt the same way about his mother sometimes. He thought she was going to say more but she again fell into that exhausted silence. "I tell you what Letty. Whenever you have one of those moments, you just come and tell me okay. I know I'm not CJ but I want to be there for you. Always." Letty gave him another slight nod and reached up to squeeze the hand that was still stroking her cheek.

They sat like that for long moments relishing each other's touch and presence. He had gotten so much closer to Letty in the last year. He didn't know if it was because of CJ and they were helping each other deal with his death or if it was just because they were getting older, but there was a deeper connection between them somehow. Until recently, Dom thought it was a completely platonic, familial connection but as he sat there comforting her, he didn't know what to think about it. It was so confusing but damn if it was also a bit exciting too. Under different circumstances...

"You know Letty, I meant what I said before. You're the strongest person I know but let me be the strong one right now. You can't be little miss tough chick all the time, especially today of all days."

"I know," she whispered. "Thanks Dom."

"Anytime, baby." Although he hadn't meant for it to come out sounding so...intimate, he still felt a delicious chill at the endearment.

Letty turned her head so that she was looking up at Dom. "I mean thanks for everything. For ... everything." For the first time in what seemed like forever, she smiled. It wasn't a big one but to Dom it was the sweetest thing he had seen all day.

Dom once again brought his hand up to her face first touching with his thumb, the edge of her mouth where her smile ended and then tracing her hairline with his index finger. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you earlier. I didn't mean to forget," he choked out. "I loved CJ like a brother you know."

"I know Dom. He loved you too." She reached up and softly rested her hand on his arm. "You gave me what I needed tonight and I'll never forget that. And let's face it, I wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows with you today." Her smile widened slightly and he felt his chuckle vibrate against her while he continued to hold onto her body.

They looked into each other's eyes and the same feeling from before took over--the warmth, the promise and the sense of comfort that neither even knew they were seeking. Letty turned in Dom's arms, straddling him and even though he knew he should have stopped her, Dom's only reaction was to grip her tighter and pull her to him. Now it was her turn to reach up and stroke his face as he held her.

"Letty..." Dom meant for her name to come out scolding but to his ears, it sounded more like an invitation. "Letty, we--" He felt one of her fingers against his lips hushing him before she moved it away to trace his chin and neck. He couldn't deny his urge to take that finger between his lips and taste her but he had to be the strong one no matter how hard she made it for him. And if things kept going the way they were, she would be making it plenty hard.

He ran his hands up her body and realized that he was feeling first hand how much of a woman she had become. He could feel her breasts pressing into him and the delicious curve of her back which no doubt led to the sweetest ass that was at that very moment grinding against his legs as she moved around on his lap. Her knee had risen up to carefully rub against his thigh and he could feel her silky hair brushing against his fingers that were lying at the nape of her neck. Their foreheads rested against each other and it felt as if they were sharing one breath while they looked deeply into each other's eyes. It wouldn't take much to just let go and touch her even more intimately, taste her with his tongue and show her exactly what she could do to a man. He was so close--her lips were only inches away and with his hand still cradling her head, it would be nothing to just pull her mouth to meet his. He knew she was willing by the way she moved against him and looked at him so invitingly, almost pleading for him to touch her and make them both feel good even for a few moments. He felt his breathing getting heavier as was hers and he licked his suddenly dry lips in anticipation of what was to come.

But as quickly as his desire for Letty had been ignited, the image of CJ's grave and a vivid memory came flooding back to him.

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It had been a week before CJ was set to leave for the Army and he and Dom were sitting in the garage having an unauthorized beer while Tony was out running errands. They had been shooting the shit about girls and cars and whatever else crossed their minds, just chillin' really. So Dom hadn't been expecting it when CJ got serious all of a sudden.

"Yo Dom, you're going to look after my sister right?" CJ asked in a sober tone.

Dom rolled his eyes tired of CJ worrying about Letty. Of course they were going to take care of her. She was family. "For the fiftieth time you fucker, yes, yes and yes. Don't worry about Letty, me and my dad, we'll take good care of her. You know I'm not going to let anything happen to that girl."

"I know, I know. I just worry about her. She's my heart, you know that." CJ chuckled a little but Dom and everyone else were aware of how much Letty meant to him.

"Look, she'll be fine, you'll be fine. We'll all be fucking fine. Now shut up and pass me another beer will you?"

CJ grinned and passed Dom another beer hoping that Tony didn't get pissed when he came back to the garage. But still, CJ looked worried as he stared at his friend.

"What!" Dom asked looking over the rim of his beer.

CJ suddenly looked uncomfortable and got up from where they had been lounging. He paced a little and ran his hand through his short hair. Dom wasn't used to CJ looking this awkward talking about something, especially with him. "Look Dom, I'm just gonna spit it out. I know you'll look after Letty. But just don't look after her too good, you hear me?"

Dom almost spit out his beer at that statement. "Are you kidding me? We are still talking about your 14 year old sister right?" After the initial shock wore off, he busted out laughing. "You MUST be kidding because that's the craziest thing I've ever heard." He took another swig of his beer shaking his head at his clearly delusional friend.

"Hey, don't laugh! She may be 14, scrawny and annoying to you now but you just wait Dom," CJ replied still looking pretty serious.

Dom just kept chuckling. "Yeah, yeah, she's drinking milk and all that. Look, if that's what's bothering you, I can tell you right now that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Man, does the military know what a fucking headcase they're getting?"

CJ didn't look amused or convinced. "All I'm saying is that Letty may seem like a little girl right now, hell she is a little girl although she'd kill me if she heard me say that. But you mark my words--she's going to turn into a real beauty." He sat back down next to Dom and looked off at nothing in particular. He got quiet like he was remembering something meaningful. "She looks just like our mom you know. That's how I know she's going to be gorgeous--because our mom was so beautiful."

Dom didn't know what to say. CJ had only once before willingly talked about his mother and then it was just to say that he didn't want her ever mentioned again. This must be something important if he was bringing it up now.

But just as quickly, CJ snapped out of it. "I'm not trying to get into it, alright. I'm just saying that WHEN Letty starts to blossom a little bit, I don't want you anywhere near her pants. You're my boy and all but you know how she is with you and I don't want you anywhere near her heart like that. She's had enough to deal with in life and I WILL kick your ass if you add to it...no offense, of course," he added quickly.

Not wanting to downplay the trust CJ had shown him in sharing a little bit of information about his mother, Dom decided to play along even though the idea of hooking up with Letty was completely ridiculous to him. "No offense taken, buddy. I'm a dog, I'll admit it. I know all about Letty and her little crush." He turned and looked directly at CJ. "But I would never, ever hurt her CJ. Not for anything. She's my little sister too you know." In that moment, Dom was completely serious. "I wouldn't jeopardize your friendship or Letty's for anything cheap, or anything that would break her heart. That's a promise." He couldn't imagine him ever putting this promise to the test but if it made CJ happy then he'd assure him that Letty was off limits.

CJ was silent as he returned to staring off in space. But then he lightened up. "Well alright then. Now that that's settled, let's get some work done so your dad won't kick both of our asses when he gets back."

----------------------

They never spoke of that conversation again. They never had a chance to really. But dammit, he had been right. Letty was growing into a real beauty and right now, he wanted her more than anything.

As Dom held Letty and fought with his hormones to keep control, he remembered his promise and swiftly pulled away from Letty lest temptation make him forget the last request his friend made of him. He couldn't even risk a kiss because then it would be over. That's how much he wanted her right then. It would start with a kiss and then it wouldn't quit until they had completely explored and consumed each other. He could never just kiss Letty. It wasn't going to happen.

However, Letty wasn't going to make it easy for him to be the noble one. She held on to him and although they weren't as close as before, he was still within the danger zone.

"Dom, please..." Letty moaned in a quiet and completely seductive whisper. It was enough to make Dom hold his breath with need but it wasn't enough to make him break his promise. He released his grasp of her and gently pushed her off of his lap and back into the passenger seat. The funny thing was that even though he wanted her so bad right then, he knew that it wasn't him that she wanted. True she had a crush on him but at 6:00 in the morning on the anniversary of her brother's death, it wasn't sex that she was looking for from him and it certainly wasn't what she needed. She wanted CJ and having him as close to her as she could might fill the horrible emptiness she felt without her brother. And honestly, as her pseudo big brother of so many years, he couldn't say that it wasn't his need to take care of her that was feeding this attraction. Given the thoughts he had recently been having about her, he doubted that was the case but this was all moving too fast.

Dom turned his head away from Letty and took a deep breath. "Bad timing, Letty. Terrible. You don't need this right now." He didn't look back to her, he couldn't. He didn't know if she was devastated or resigned. A not so small part of him hoped that she was as disappointed as he was but he knew that wasn't really fair. "I'll take you back to the house now. You can get some rest and tomorrow we'll do something special." He tried to start the car back up but something held him back. Something physical. It was Letty who had his hand and had a solid grip on it at that.

"I understand." And when he looked into her eyes, which for the first time that night weren't blank or filled with tears, he could tell that she really did.

They drove home again in silence but this one more comfortable than the last. Regret, sorrow and a little bit of lingering desire hovered in the air and when they pulled up to the house, they just sat there contemplating the range of complex emotions they had gone through in one night.

Finally Dom got out of the car and trotted over to the other side to let her out. She didn't protest when he took her by the hand and quietly led her into the house and up the stairs into his bedroom. When he took off her shoes and then guided her into his bed, she stared at him a little quizzically but seemed too exhausted to question him. Dom placed his comforter over her and watched her cuddle into it, seemingly taking in his scent as she burrowed further into his pillows. When she stared up at him sleepily, it was with the recognition that he wouldn't be joining her.

He turned to leave but again, he felt himself thwarted in his escape and pulled back to the bed. Just that quick, Letty had removed her hand from under the covers and had grabbed his, not forcefully but with enough strength to halt his progress.

"Could you stay with me for a little while," she asked shyly. "Please. I promise to behave." She gave him another one of her smirks which made him weak in the knees yet again. Staying with her was a supremely bad idea, he thought. He didn't know what would happen if he was forced to lie next to her and hear her soft breathing and smell the alluring scent of her long brown tresses. There were 500 reasons why he needed to walk out of that room right now and leave Letty to her grief.

But those big, brown eyes were so imploring and inviting and left Dom no choice but to turn around and return to her. Instead of sitting at the side of the bed again, he kicked off his shoes and crawled into bed behind her, pulling her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and smiled as he felt her fingers intertwine with his. He just couldn't help himself.

Although he wanted to deny it, she felt so great in his arms. Letty was halfway sleep already but Dom's consciousness lingered while he continued to hold her and stare into her beautiful face. Even now after what had to have been an emotionally trying day, dirty and exhausted, she looked so calm and innocent in her sleep.

At some point, he must have fallen asleep himself because he awoke to a clicking sound at his door. Letty was still sound asleep in his arms. Dom looked up sleepily towards the door and saw his dad looking in, first annoyed with seeing a girl in his bed and then outraged when he recognized who the girl was.

Before his dad could cause a scene, Dom raised his hand and put his finger to his lips, motioning for him not to wake up Letty. His dad closed his mouth that had been prepared to bellow out a harsh reprimand but still glared at his son for what he saw as seriously reckless and irresponsible behavior. His dad loved Letty like a daughter and was seriously pissed at the prospect of Dom using her like one of his regular groupies.

Dom stared by at his dad and vigorously shook his head trying to convince him that nothing happened. However, his dad wasn't buying it at all. Why would he? He had walked in on his son and his close family friend wrapped around each other in a very intimate embrace looking as comfortable as any romantic couple would.

Dom moved to get out of bed and explain but he felt Letty grab onto his hand and stir a bit in her sleep. He really didn't want to disturb her since she needed the rest after the day she had had. Instead Dom looked back at his dad who was standing at the door with his arms crossed and pointed to his calendar at the entrance of his room. His dad glanced at it and when he turned back to Dom, the younger Toretto mouthed the word "CJ."

Only then did it click for Dom's father and his face instantly softened, now focusing on the sleeping girl in Dom's bed. She still looked pretty worn out but seemed to be doing much better in Dom's arms.

Dom's father sighed and glanced back at Dom nodding. He then turned around and walked back out of the room but not before sparing the two young people one last glance. Letty was still asleep of course but it was the look on Dom's face that alarmed him. He was falling for her. It was so clear. This was not good. He watched as Dom lightly kissed Letty on the top of the head and lay back down to hold her in her sleep. He was going to have to have a talk with him and soon.