Disclaimer: I do not own the Fast and the Furious, it's characters or situations. I don't have any stake in any of the car companies for that matter. Don't sue me.
Chapter 4: Discord
I walked purposefully keeping my stride long, the gait even and assured. Inside I felt like I could easily float into the sky which seemed endless after my confinement. I refused to look back at the guards or the gates that I knew were behind me. It was symbolic. I was leaving that all behind. Instead I looked forward, letting my gaze sweep the parking lot before it landed on a car I knew only too well. Grinning I approached the blue Maxima, making out the figure slumped in the driver's seat clearly taking a nap. Two years had made him look more menacing than I would have believed. His face was slack at the moment but I could tell from the faint lines in his forehead that he spent more time scowling than smiling. He was sporting the stubble of more than a five o'clock shadow but much less than a full grown beard on his jaw. His hair was also cut short but stuck out in an artful carelessness. To top it all off I could see a white bandage circling his exposed forearm. My shadow at the window startled him into waking, his face going from slack to scowl to excitement in three seconds. Without hesitation, Vince threw open the door and embraced me.
"How ya' doin' brotha?" Vince asked me, patting my back before releasing me.
"Much better now that I'm out," I replied, heading swiftly to the passenger side of the car and wrenching the door open. Vince frowned at me then fired up the Maxima. We were on our way within moments. It wasn't until we hit the 101 going south that I breathed a sigh of relief, letting the tension drain out of me. I finally let myself believe that this was not a mistake. I was free, no guards were going to come looking for me. I had truly been released from confinement. I watched the scenery taking in the vibrant colors of fall, the fashionable new colors of cars buzzing in the opposite direction, the familiar shapes of the speed limit signs, the speedometer needle reflecting Vince's disregard for those limits. I felt Vince glance at me then turn away.
"What?" I asked my voice so deep now that it seemed angrier than I felt.
"That all you got?" he asked his gaze shifting quickly to the small shopping bag I had on my lap. In my haste to see all the changes, I'd forgotten to put the bag down.
"Yeah. I'm not bringin' that place home," I told him, shifting the bag to my feet. I turned back to stare at the cars. Ford. Honda. Subaru. Ford. Chevy. Ford. "Lots of domestics out today," I added conversationally. I could feel Vince's grin.
"About that…"he hesitated. I could tell he was gearing up to tell me something he thought I might not like. I felt myself tensing. Was he going to talk about the charger? "Dom, a lot happened in April…" I waited patiently for him to get to the point. I heard him sigh.
"I can tell," I said dryly. I finally shifted my gaze to his bandaged forearm again. He gave me a sideways glance then noticed where I was staring.
"What that?" he sounded incredulous. "Nah, this is just another tattoo. I'm strictly talking about the garage."
"What about the garage?" There was an edge to my voice. What was wrong with my father's garage?
"Business was heavy so we hired two guys to help," he admitted, a telltale sniff telling me he was flexing his muscles spoiling for a fight.
"Do I know 'em?" I was trepidatious about two random guys in my garage. What was Vince thinking?
"Nah, but I checked them out. They're good Dom."
"So you brought some random guys into DT?" I felt Vince getting angrier beside me.
"They're legit Dom. Jesse's too innocent to be a threat and Leon, well…" he tapered off again, a tight grin on his face, "you might remember Leon."
"Oh yeah?" My curiosity was peaked.
"Leon's Skyline used to sit in third at races," Vince replied. I tried to picture it but the whole racing scene was stuck in a time which seemed so far away in my memory.
"They at the garage today?"
"Yeah," he said, wary again.
"Fine. I'll check them out first," I told him, turning to look out the window again, then added as an afterthought, "you can relax Vince."
We rode in silence for another half an hour before he spoke again. "A lot of shit has changed, Dom."
"I figured that." I let the bitterness that statement cost me come out. Vince wouldn't judge. After five minutes I prodded, "you gonna tell me or…"
"Nah. I warned you." Vince and I rode in silence for the rest of the ride, each of us sure that he wouldn't say anything else. I let my anticipation build as the miles between me and the garage decreased. I was surprised I didn't jump out of the car as it slowed to pull into DT's driveway. Oh it felt good to be home.
Walking in felt familiar. Music was wafting from a radio in the corner, tools were clinking, and the smell of oil hit me in the face. Three cars were in progress but there were only two sets of people tinkering. A pair of legs stuck out from under a Toyota. They looked too short and skinny to be anyone's but Letty's which made me want to grin. But I wouldn't let the grin show on my face. I needed to assess the two guys I assumed were Leon and Jesse who were tooling around under the hood of a Saturn. They were so engrossed in their discussion that I was able to walk up silently behind them.
"…I don't know why this kid even bothers," the mousy extremely skinny kid said, his tone almost depressed.
"God, this is painful," the other more toned guy agreed, his inconspicuous muscles sticking out from a basketball jersey.
I peeked over their shoulders to see the makings of a ricer and immediately pinched the bridge of my nose. I understood the appeal to God. What would possess someone to do this to a Saturn?
"Well that's a mess," I groaned out. The two guys turned around, the skinny kid immediately getting jumpy and nervous. I heard the creeper sliding from under the Toyota but I refused to acknowledge it. Business first.
"Da…Da…Da…Da…uh…Dominic?" the kid sputtered. I gave one nod to show my assent.
"And who are you?" I asked crossing my arms.
"Uh…ah… ah... ah.. ah," the kid stuttered, his incoherent words coming faster and more panicked as he struggled to get his name out.
"His name's Jesse and I'm Leon," Leon told me, sticking his hand out for a shake. I raised my right eyebrow.
"And what are you doin' in my garage?" Leon laughed.
"Workin' dawg. You sizin' us up?" He was smiling earnestly now. Jesse was looking nervously between Leon and me, trying to gauge what his panic level should be. I took a moment to assess the question. I heard the crack of Vince's knuckles. He was stretching again, prepping for the fight he thought we'd staved off earlier in the car. I wondered if we might fight not because I was angry with his decision but because he was offended that I was questioning the decision he had to make while I was gone. I decided to go easy. If Vince, who trusted very little, vouched for them then I wouldn't make it an issue. I shook the proffered hand and the tension in the garage released.
"Nah." I pinched the bridge of my nose again and focused my concerned at the Saturn. "So what is this?" My comment sent Leon's eyes heavenward. Jesse turned back to the task at hand and started rattling off specs and the customer's concerns. I was impressed by his knowledge and the fact that talking about engines had changed him into a more confident and calm person. Vince came over to view what Jesse was describing before rolling his eyes too.
"What?" I asked Vince. I knew exactly what but I wanted someone to say it out loud.
"What is this?" Vince asked appalled.
"Well when we finish it will have a better fuel management system and nitrous," Jesse replied innocently.
"But that won't change the fact that it's in this…this…" Vince waved his hand agitatedly in the vicinity of the car.
"Monstrosity," Leon supplied stuck somewhere between distress and sadness. I agreed. What sort of misguided soul would spend the time modifying a Saturn?
"Are we going to finish working or can we leave early since the boss is back?" a sarcastic voice sounded from the vicinity of the Toyota. We turned our heads to see Letty standing carelessly next to a large rolling toolbox. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. Her arms and face were covered in sweat and grease. Her expression gave nothing away like this was another day in the garage and our conversation was disturbing her work.
"You finish that Toyota?" I asked coolly. If she was going to act as if nothing was out of place then I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing I missed her.
"Yeah, I'd already done the brakes and I finished the oil while you were interrogating Leon."
"Then you're free to go." Letty immediately moved to the sink to scrub up, grabbed her jacket, and rolled out. My temper rose slightly.
"Yo, you ready to go?" Vince asked me to cover up the awkward moment. He had warned me that the State of the Toretto Union would be different. I wished someone would just give me the whole address instead of letting me find out piecemeal. I nodded my assent then stood back to watch Vince, Leon, and Jesse close up shop for the night. Half an hour later Vince and I pulled up to the café. I exited the Maxima, keeping my eyes trained on the woman I knew to be my sister.
Mia had changed. She no longer could be considered the little girl who had taken care of me and my father up until two years ago. Her hair was longer, her gait more purposeful, her smile wiser and haunted. She made it around the corner to launch into my arms by the magazine rack. I picked her up, our hug conveying the excitement of finally being face to face for the first time in twenty-four months. I felt her tears on my cheek seconds before she whispered in my ear, "oh Dom, don't let go. Don't let go." The tortured relief in her voice scared me.
"What's wrong baby girl? I'm here now," I whispered to the best of my ability. My voice was much deeper than when I left and I rarely spoke to people in prison so I was still unused to the modulation necessary for a true whisper. My question sent her into a painful sob. The way she was crying was causing me physical pain because I knew I was partly to blame for her distress. Still holding her I carried her to one of the stools at the counter, taking care to set her down before I gently pulled back. Around me I could hear Vince starting pull the chairs and tables in, prepping to close the café.
"Oh Dom I couldn't write you anymore after what happened in April," she started, gulping in spurts of air. My feeling of unease intensified. I didn't think she was talking about Leon and Jesse coming to work at DT's. I rubbed her knee, bending over to look into her soggy eyes.
"What happened in April?" She started crying harder. Meanwhile Vince had shut the big metal door and was locking it, before moving to lock the side doors. I was surprised by the level of helpfulness Vince was putting in here. Then I remembered. "Where's Daphne? I thought she was helping you out over here?"
Vince froze for a second then he came to stand behind Mia. Mia went back to sobbing uncontrollably. Vince patted her shoulder stiffly until she got herself under enough control to stutter out, "Daphne died Dom. She and the baby died."
The floor underneath me felt like it was giving away. "I…" I didn't know what to say. 'What happened?'surfaced first but the question was irrelevant considering the answer wouldn't bring her back. The news had my mind blown. I felt dizzy. "Let's go home Mia," I croaked out, my thoughts swirling around my last conversation with Daphne. She'd been so giddy about the baby that even I had gotten excited about the prospect of being an uncle. My shocked mind recognized that if I was feeling loss and hurt then Han, Daphne boyfriend and the father of her child, would be feeling even worse. This helped me tamp down on the bitter regret feelings I was having for not being here. This wasn't about me. Vince helped Mia into the Maxima and the three of us rode in silence back to the house.
Pulling into the driveway was not how I envisioned it last night. Much had changed a mere 148 miles from Lompoc. I was tense and on edge. What emotional state would I find my best friend in? Han's absence from the garage hadn't been telling considering he had other obligations that often had taken him away from the routines and rituals the rest of us observed. Mia was drained of tears by the time we walked in the house. She sat on the couch next to Letty who had showered since our reunion at the garage. Vince took the spot next to Letty's right side. I was feeling confrontational enough to sit on the coffee table but I tapped into my patience and sat in an arm chair instead. Bracing my arms on my legs I raised my head to look at the faces of my family. Letty's indifferent face was bothering me. Didn't she care if I was home or not?
"So…" I started but Letty cut me off.
"…Mia told you about Daph," she stated, a frown of distaste marring her face as she looked at Mia's red rimmed eyes. I nodded. Her attitude was starting to make me feel sick. Was Letty going to blame me for not being here to help them through the loss of a member of this family? Was she disgusted enough with me that she didn't want to be with me anymore? I could play indifferent too.
"Han home?"
"Probably. He is sixteen hours behind us."
"Huh?" This made Letty sigh.
"Han left for Tokyo right after Daph's funeral." My mouth fell open. Han left L.A. The final pictures of what should be in my makeshift photo album took form in my mind: Han, Letty, Vince, and Mia dressed in black at Daphne's funeral; Mia and Letty graduating with weary faces; a subdued Fourth of July spent in the empty back yard; and Han missing from every other picture. My head started to hurt. I sat in that chair for two hours after Letty's announcement, but the others moved to the fringes. Mia made dinner. Letty ran upstairs and Vince faded to another part of the house. We only got back together to eat the meal Mia put in front of us.
Afterwards I didn't try to front that I wanted anything other than solitude and time to think. I trudged upstairs to my bedroom stopping just inside the doorway to take inventory of this space too. I knew that Letty had been sleeping here but I was surprised that there were minimal changes to the space. In fact, until I opened one of my drawers and pulled out a black lacy thong, I wouldn't have though she was staying in here at all. I'd paused in my inventory to get a good look at her thong when she walked in. Our eyes met and she smirked.
"You want your room back?"
"Why, you scared to share my room with me?" I countered. Her attitude was really rankling my nerves. I wasn't up for any more surprises today.
Letty ran her tongue over her upper teeth, and looked up at me without moving her face. The movement was filled with arrogance. "No."
"Then no." I put her underwear back in the drawer then left the room to take a shower. When I returned Letty was sitting in the bed, the covers pulled back, in a pair of my boxers and one of those girly spaghetti strapped tank tops. Her hair was still pulled back into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. I closed the door, turned off the light and took the familiar steps to the bed, hearing the groan of the springs as I lay down. At last, something familiar. I pulled the covers over both of us and we lay there on our backs, each occupying separate space. I exhaled loudly then put my arms behind my head. Here I was, practically naked with the girl I loved, and we were acting like we needed to make space for the universe between us. I got ready for my mind to wander like it did in prison.
"Dom?" Letty whispered, her voice sounding little and scared. My skin started to crawl again. I really couldn't take any more bad news tonight. Letty didn't do vulnerability and her non-committal attitude all day had made me think she didn't want nor need me back. I rolled to my right side to look through the darkness to her body outlined by the moonlight. The movement was all she needed before she turned to snuggle my chest. I felt the warmth of her tears though she didn't sob like my sister had. I rolled onto my back again, my arms bringing Letty with me so she could settle her head on my shoulder and continue to cry. The silent tears fell for less than five minutes. When she made to wipe them away, I did that for her. I let my hands rub themselves up and down her arm and back, soothing her to sleep even though I was now wide awake.
My homecoming had been stressful for them. They'd had life altering details to share and I could feel the discordant notes settling in my chest. Vince had managed the garage, house, store, and family better than I had done. Then again, he had two years more practice than that one week following my father's funeral. I envied how easy it was for him to be in command of this life and vowed to do my best to keep things running as smoothly as he had been. Mia'd lost two more family members which could easily be unraveling her sense of stability and security. I'd have to work hard to build that trust for her. I didn't want her thinking that she should expect to lose members of her family tragically on a regular basis. I would fill in the gap of the ones she missed. And Letty. She probably hadn't been this open with anyone ever. Letty'd been forced to be strong for Mia for far too long, her hurts piling up with no outlet to release them. I was eager to relieve the burdens from her shoulders that forced her to maintain a scorching personality to keep others far away from her feelings of hopelessness and vulnerability.
I finally fell asleep at three a.m. with plans to be as good a head of the family as my father had been, to include calling Han and persuading him to come back.