Authors Note: Usual disclaimers apply. I still don't own Knight Rider, or Fast and the Furious. Thanks to Tempest-Races for beta-ing and fixing my mistakes, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 19: These Are Painted Lines, And I Walk The Line, Without Fearing No-One

As Knight walked up to the house, Jade stepped out of the shadows. "Hey."

"Hey yourself. Wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Normally I wouldn't be," Jade smirked slightly. "But I've always been curious about Toretto parties. I figure now I can get in."

"All we can do is see what happens," Knight replied, stepping to the door, glancing back over her shoulder at the Trans-am, its scanners rippling back and forth slowly. "Shall we?"

Knight was aware of the eyes watching him, and more importantly Jade as they joined the party. He glanced around, but there was no sign of Dom or Letty. The quick glance at Vince gave away the muscle bound meatheads feelings. He was furious. And just barely held back by an obviously disapproving Leon and a concerned looking Brian.

It was at that point he noticed Jesse approaching. "Hey Knight. Some party huh?" The wiry man suddenly realised Knight had company. "Jade? Never seen you at one of these before. How's things?"

"Great thanks Jess," Jade replied. The younger man grinned, swigging a Corona, apparently spotting someone over the duo's shoulders. "Oh hey, I'll catch you guys later," he said, moving around them. Knight half turned to watch the mad scientist approaching a brunette. He shook his head slightly with amusement and looked back at Jade. "Well that was easy."

"I've spoken to Jesse a few times in the past. Before he got warned off speaking with me anyway," she replied with a shrug. "Team loyalties."

"Well, at least Jesse is fine with you being here."

"Yeah, I noticed that Dom's over-compensating side-kick wasn't happy I was here." Jade replied with a wry smile. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

"Want to leave?"

"I'm not sure yet." She shrugged. "Let's just see how it goes."

"Sounds like a plan," Knight nodded, looking around the room, spying Kat and her crew. He gently steered Jade in that direction, figuring a warmer reception might be had there.

Knight jumped down the last couple of stairs, stumbling slightly. Mia shook her head slightly, an amused grin on her face. "Jumping down the last few stairs, while pulling a t-shirt over your head, wasn't really a smart thing to do."

Knight shrugged and grinned boyishly, hiding his embarrassment. "You heading out?"

"Yeah. Gotta open the shop for the breakfast crowd," she smiled. "See you at races tonight."

"Fair enough," Knight replied. "I'll catch you later."

"You'd better bring Brian too then," she winked, and headed out the door. Knight watched her drive off, and shut the door with a small smile. His smile faded as he entered the living room.

"What was that stuff with Tran's bitch last night? He and her were pretty tight last night Dom," Vince said.

Knight' jaw tightened, and he saw the 'here we go again' look on Nyssa's face as he turned and squared off to Vince. "What did you just say?"

"I asked what you were doing with her punk."

"How is that anything to do with you?" Knight replied, his voice humourless.

Vince shrugged. "What, you and Tran's bitch? Nothing so long as you and her both know your place."

Knight hauled off and slugged him in the jaw. Vince reeled, before coming back in with a right hook. Knight half turned to lessen the impact, hitting back with a quick left jab, and a right hook. Vince waded in, knocking both of them to the floor. Knight cursed himself slightly. His training told him he should have kept his distance slightly, giving more techniques and tactics he could have used, rather than getting into this, trading blows at close quarters with Vince on the floor, each delivering restricted ineffective blows to the other. A quick jab with his knee, and then applying leverage flipped Vince over and off, putting some distance between them as they both got to their feet, lunging at each other again, Knight ignoring his self admonishment in favour of the fight. The two locked horns, trading knee's to the midsection, shoving each other away, flying back at each other. It barely registered that Leon and Jesse had grabbed at Vince, and were trying to hold him back. Knight felt someone grabbing at him, jabbed an elbow backwards and felt it connect, heard a horrified gasp. As he was released, he lunged forward again, flying at Vince, the two trading blows momentarily. Next thing he knew, he was hurled backwards, landing in a chair with almost sufficient force to tip the chair over, Dom glaring down at him with a murderous look on his face. Knight started to rise, and Dom shoved him back down, his voice calm and level as he glanced over his shoulder. "Get him in the other room."

Knight moved slightly, seeing Leon and Jesse drag Vince out of the room, Nyssa following, before Dom spoke again. "You need to watch your step."

"No, that asshole does," Knight said, starting to rise, before seeing Brian shake his head slightly. "What I do is none of his goddamn business."

"You make it his business when you bring one of Tran's followers into my house," Dom countered. "This is my house and my team, and she's got no call being up in here."

"Still doesn't make it any of Vince's business," Knight replied calmly.

"Maybe not. But this is his home, and we don't play nice with Tran or his underlings. And none of that changes that you need to watch your step," Dom told him. "This is my team. Which means you play by my rules."

"I'm not on your team."

"Then maybe you oughta find someplace else to stay. Because if you ever hit me again, I will beat you down."

"I didn't hit you, I hit Vince," Knight retorted. Dom glared straight at him. "Who do you think you elbowed in the head?"

"Ahh," Knight replied. "Sorry," then got to his feet. "But I'm not sorry for hitting Vince. And I won't apologise for it. He started this," he told Dom and headed out the door. "See you at the races."

That night

The black and silver Trans-am pulled up to the races alone, not a part of Team Toretto. The team hadn't arrived yet, but competitions were already being organised. Knight headed the Trans-am forward, turning its nose in towards the parked Mustang, its slender brunette owner smiling as he got out of the car. "Hey. Here alone?"

"Not any more," Knight smirked.

She smiled, a quirky little smile. "So why not with your team?"

"Its Dom's team, I'm not part of it, I'm just a guest of Brian's," Knight explained. "Plus I hit Dom."

"You hit Dominic Toretto and lived to tell about it?" a blond girl, hair down to her waist and swaying, with big blue expressive eyes, wearing a blue bandana around her neck, twine bracelets, a cheerleading style sports bra top, and flared jeans asked. "How'd you do that?"

"It was an accident," Knight explained. "He was trying to separate me and Vince. Who are you?"

"I'm sorry, that's my fault," Jade said. "Ian Knight, this is Sonja. Sonja, this is Ian."

"Pleasure to meet you Sonja," Knight offered, extending a hand. The girl shook his hand warmly. "Please, my friends call me Cheer. And you being…friends with Jade, that includes you."

"Thanks," Knight replied. "And please, call me Knight. Everyone does. I prefer it too."

"Ass," Jade rolled her eyes at him. Knight gave her a mock annoyed look. "At least I can race."

"So can she," Tempest said from behind him, popping him in the back of the head with a fist, not hard enough to hurt.

"Not well enough apparently," Knight grinned. "good to see you Temp," then glanced at Sonja's Spyder. "You race?"

"Not really. Leave it to these two," Sonja replied. "Obviously you do."

"Yeah," Knight replied. "Even if the car doesn't look the part."

The Trans-am's gold light rippled once, and Knight knew Karr had heard him. Was probably planning revenge too. Tempest raised an eyebrow at him. "So are you racing tonight?"

" I'm challenging Toretto tonight," Knight replied. "Show him that he isn't as good as he thinks he is."

"He is," Sonja said insistently as Tempest and Jade laughed, Tempest explaining. "Cheer has the hots for him."

"Wouldn't let Letty find out," Knight replied dryly, glancing around at the other cars. "Like the DB9."

"It's Craig's," Tempest told him, pointing out a guy with short hair, shiny flicks over his forehead, wearing Ray Ban sunglasses, shirt, trousers and shoes rather than trainers. He looked stylish, but somewhat out of place amongst the rest of the racers. On the other hand, it did draw attention to him.

Knight raised an eyebrow. "Good racer?"

"He's good," Tempest admitted. "He hasn't gone up against Toretto yet though. Or me since we're on the same team. He's got enough challengers tonight. Including his brother, Dan."

"The guy with the Ferrari."

"That's the one," Jade smiled. "And he has to be a good racer. He's a paramedic. Barrels through the city in an ambulance during the day."

"Hence the nurse paintjob," Knight laughed. "I get it."

A growl of engines in the distance attracted everyone's attention as the team's cars pulled up, led by Dom's red RX-7, with Brian's R34 in the middle of the pack, the cars pulling to a halt as the RX-7 glided forward, engine roaring right into the high revs. Knight shook his head slightly as Dom got out of the car, the rest of the team getting out of their cars. Kat had turned up with them tonight too, her black Nissan Skyline gleaming under the street lamps, the tiger design looking ready to pounce.

Tempest rolled her shoulders. "I guess it's on."

"Let's head over," Knight suggested.

Tempest glanced at him. "You trying to take over my team?"

"Just a suggestion," Knight said, holding his hands in surrender, Jade rolling her eyes and flashing a smirk at Tempest. As they got within earshot, they heard Edwin ask how things were working that night.

Dom looked around. "One race, two g buy in."

"C'mon man," Craig protested. "Lots of people want to race tonight."

"I meant for me Cowell," Dom replied. "How many races are set up?"

"I don't know," Craig answered. "I got a few challenges tonight."

"Alright, you're the front runners," Dom said.

Knight pushed his way forward. "Me and you tonight Dom."

"You're challenging me?" Dom asked, amused. "With that?"

"Unless you're too chicken."

"Don't get me wrong, it's in good shape, but you can't beat me," Dom replied. This'll be the easiest money I ever made."

"I want her," Letty butted in, glaring at Sonja. "Blondie hasn't stopped eyeing you up since we got here."

"No confidence in your ability to keep your man?" Sonja shot back quickly, earning a look of hatred from Letty.

"Why would he want you, he's already got better, his own racing queen?"

"Leave it alone Let," Dom told her.

Letty glared at him, then at Sonja. "Racer chaser."

Tempest stepped up. "You want to step up."

"And here's the other one," Letty replied, "can't she solve her own disputes?"

"I suppose it would be fair," Tempest replied, her tone icy. "She doesn't race, and you don't seem to either, trophy girl."

Letty snapped and lashed out at the other girl. Tempest didn't take it lying down, flying back at her with an elbow to the face, the two going at it tooth and nail. Dom grabbed Letty round the waist, pulling her back, Sonja and Jade doing the same with Tempest as the Canadian girl shouted. "You want me on the track, I'm all yours. I won't even charge you for the privilege, it'll be that much fun watching your ass crawl over the finish line."

"iChingate tu madre, cabrón!," Letty hurled back. "You gonna look funny with my tread marks over your face," trying to break loose from Dom as the two team's separated.

Knight gave Brian an apologetic look. "My car's parked over there bro."

"I'll try smooth it with Dom," Brian offered.

Knight shrugged. "Why, I'll just ruin it later when I hand him his ass."

"Don't be too confident, Dom's the best there is," Brian warned, heading back towards his team. Knight frowned slightly, feeling more isolated than ever before, and headed back towards his Trans-am as the racers started pulling out.

Knight sat back casually on Karr's hood, knowing the trans-am would make him pay for it later. Still, it was better than standing, he mused to himself, watch as Craig lined up his Aston Martin, the F-40 belonging to his brother pulling in alongside, along with the grey-black Impreza from the night before and a Porsche. Dom called the go, and the cars took off, engines roaring above each other. The cars stayed level for a couple of seconds, feeling each other out, before the cars began to separate, the two brothers level with each other as the other two cars fell behind. The Impreza was at the rear of the pack, just behind the Porsche as the Ferrari began to streak away, getting into the lead. A second later, the pace of the Aston Martin picked up, catching up to the F-40. The other two cars hit their nitrous, pulling level with the two brothers, momentarily. As the Ferrari began to pull away from the other cars, just edging towards the line, the Aston Martin surged forward, leaping into the lead as the cars crossed the line, snatching the win. Knight stayed silent as the crowd cheered and roared with approval, but kept an easy grin on his face as the cars came back to the starting line, their drivers taking praise or jokes at their expense from the other racers. Knight watched from the sidelines as Tempest, Sonja and Jade congratulated Craig and Dan, laughing and joking. Part of the same team, he mused to himself as Tempest headed for her car, and Jade came back over to him, Craig with her. "You know, you're supposed to congratulate the winner."

"I like to focus before a big race," Knight shrugged, and shook hands with Craig. "Good race man, congratulations."

"Thanks," Craig replied. "We'll have to go up against each other sometime. See if you're worthy."

"I thought I already proved that challenging Toretto," Knight answered. Craig laughed. "Worthy racer, sure. Worthy of our girl Jade, well, we'll see."

"Looks like Temp's about to race," Jade interrupted.

Craig smiled easily. "Catch you later." He moved over to the girls surrounding his car.

Knight shook his head slightly. "Guys a character."

"He's got a lot of style. And charisma," Jade grinned. "Race is about to start."

Knight slid sideways on the Trans-ams hood so she could sit. "Reckon she'll win?"

"Easily," Jade replied as they watched the two purple cars, so disparate in style line up.

Dom called for the go, and the two purple cars started off with a roar of engines, the tyres screaming as they broke from the line. Knight wished he could make use of Karr's systems to analyse the two cars as they raced, but with Jade present, it'd blow their cover. The two cars were dead level, neither girl conceding an edge to the other. The Silvia's exhaust seemed to change colour and with a squeal of tyres, the purple Nissan took the lead. Tempest dropped her car down a gear, and floored the gas, the RX-7 edging up on the other car as it accelerated. The engine started to whine, and she changed back up quickly, and after a few seconds, hit her NOS system. The RX-7 rocketed forward, the neon lights under the Silvia, and on the surrounding buildings blurring into lines as the car roared onwards. Tempest didn't even have to look back to know that Letty had used her Silvia's second shot of NOS as the purple Nissan drew up alongside her storm car.

Tempest grinned to herself. "Time to go to school girl, lessons just beginning." She fired her second shot of NOS, flipping the switch she'd used for Knight. She looked back as the distance between the RX-7 and Silvia grew, laughing as she saw Letty spluttering about the display the RX-7's rear lit up with. She turned her attention back to the front, pressing the car's gas pedal down further. She closed her eyes briefly, feeling the rush of adrenaline as her car flew down the stretch, knowing that Letty couldn't catch her now. She opened her eyes and laughed as her car crossed the finishing line two car lengths before Letty, yelling with pride as she spun the car round and headed back to the start. She got out of the car, as both Jade and Sonja grabbed her in a congratulatory hug and yelled over at Letty. "How'd that exhaust taste una puta?"

Letty looked like she about to start something before Vince and Nyssa dragged her off. Tempest flashed her a triumphant smile, accepting congratulations from the other racers when Kat came over. "Good win girl."

"Thanks babe," Tempest replied. "How you living?"

"I'm good, great actually, apart from not having raced," Kat replied. "My Skyline needs a good workout."

"I'm sure you'll give it one when you get chance," Tempest replied. "Letty spitting mad?"

"Hell yeah," Kat laughed. "Speaking of, Dom wants you to move your car."

"He can come ask himself," Tempest replied, "why'd you come over for it?"

"Coz we're friends, and the team is showing loyalty to Letty," Kat told her. "Beside," she pointed at the RX-7 that belonged to Dom, its owner sat inside, glaring out of the windshield, Knight sat in the black and silver Trans-am next to it, the gold light on its front ripping back and forth malevolently, almost impatiently as Kat finished. "These two are ready to go at each other."

"I can't wait to see this," Tempest grinned, looking at Jade. "Put some money down on him for me."

"Sure," Jade answered as Tempest slid back into the RX-7, backing it out of the way. As soon as she finished, the two waiting cars glided forward, halting on the line, the curves of Dom's RX-7 a smooth contrast to the Trans-am's sharp angled nose, the golden lights mounted in the Ram Air hood rippling with anticipation.

End of Chapter 19…