Chapter 6: Who is playing who?

Brian had nothing much to say and just spared a look to Carter hoping that his husband had a few ideas to help. He got nothing but a smirk and a look that suggested - these are your friends and therefore your problem. It was at times like this that he was reminded as much as he loved his husband he could be a huge bastard. Just as he finished patching up his best friend the two Interpol agents re-entered looking the textbook definition of grim.

Tej sighed, falling back on sarcasm as a defence mechanism, "Well that's reassuring."

Brian snorted, loving how his friend always had such a positive outlook. He also adored the sheer level of understatement in one sentence. He decided not to let the people get sucked into such an argument. "So what did they take?"

Hobbs was still looking grim, "the chip they need to fuel the device."

Rome did not look impressed but he would learn soon enough. "Why are we scared of magnets?"

Tej's look made Dom laugh setting off a small pang in his shoulder. He picked up where he left off in Rio, "Do you ever think before you speak, like ever?"

Dom chipped in, "I'm guessing no, Brian?"

Brian snickered remembering nearly the exact conversation being had with his husband, it was uncanny. "Nope but he sure learnt to fight quick - it was out of necessity."

Tej nodded, "well, what do we know about the crew?"

Carter kicked off, "I called around my associates, he has gone to ground, but the custom cars are new."

Riley was amazed by this rag tag crew as they identified the car and several leads by just what they'd seen, and heard. Truth be told, she got a little worried by the leaps they'd made in ten minutes. She watched as Tej took everything said and crunched some numbers - throwing out an address. She was scared, they were closing in too quick. She saw Giselle, Han and Rome heading off to the address, and knew she had to be there as well so neatly inserted herself with Giselle, Tej and Rome. She left with a glare at Brian and Carter as she couldn't help but feel that they were not enough to protect Shaw.

Brian waited until they had driven off before calling Hobbs and Dom over to him. These were the show runners and needed to know, he wouldn't say anything about Riley's duplicitousness to the whole team. Hobbs was curious as to what the criminal couple would want to say, "What's up?"

Brian shared a look with his husband before sighing, "Take this which way you like. I hope you're not sharing your inner secrets with mini-me."

Hobbs sucked in a breath, catching the implication, "You saying she isn't playing for the home team?"

Carter chuckled darkly, finding his twisted sense of humour, "Sure she is - just the team captain is Shaw not you."

"We don't say a word ... we'll strike when it is most useful." Dom said, already clearly planning all kinds of torments. Brian and Carter shared matching grins of glee - it made Hobbs glad that they were running on their side and not Shaw's.

Brian decided to add his last part, looking a little more coy than he really could carry off. "Oh and Shaw seems to think we're on his side."

"Oh."

Brian snorted amazed at the sheer level of suspicion Hobbs could generate in one syllable. Carter squeezed his shoulder, "Hey not our fault that GI Barbie is a duplicitous bitch and assumes everyone is the same."

Hobbs' face looked positively feral, starting to like the couple more and more. "So let me guess she made assumptions and you didn't care to correct them?"

"Exactly!"

Dom grinned, "Buster up to old tricks."

Brian grinned having made peace with his past a long time ago thanks to Carter's help. "Well I didn't know if it would come in handy, beside Carter wants to kills his ass."

Carter hissed, "Shouldn't write cheques his ass can't cash."

Hobbs had gleaned enough to know that there was some sort of working relationship between Shaw and the couple - only for Shaw to somehow sour it. And it wasn't hard to guess what - he assumed that Shaw had made a pass at Brian only to have it vehemently turned down.

Riley did not like just how close this motley crew was getting to Shaw. They had no right, there was no planning, no precision it wouldn't be right for them to bring him down. She was about to get involved but saw the weedy dealer activate his phone, letting Shaw hear exactly who was asking questions about him.

... That wasn't to say she appreciated the shock of the automatic weapons being sprayed all over the room. She didn't get any warning and could have been killed. She flushed realising that he was obviously unhappy with her for letting the team get so close. Seeing that the women would likely survive, she decided to tear off after Letty. They would trade blows, and she could get her to pass a message back to Shaw.

Meanwhile the guys were having their own little battles. Rome now knew what it must feel like to battle the damn terminator. Whoever the dude was - he was built like a tank, and it took as many hits to put him down. He was grateful that he had a buddy with him, even if it was only to share the shame of having their asses handed to them on a plate.

He manfully helped Han to his feet even though it strained his already injured shoulder. They were limping out of the underground station - taking one look at each other they agreed, "We don't need to tell anyone right?"

Han worrying about Giselle, but knowing that his tough girlfriend would tease him fervently agreed, "With you on that one bro. Come on let's go see what has happened with the others."

Han didn't bother to hide his relief upon seeing Giselle looking a little bruised and battered, but otherwise okay. Running over and engulfing her in a fierce hug might have expressed all of the emotions he was feeling at the time of the attack.

Rome looked around seeing the major players but two were missing, Hobbs and Brian. Rome was not amused, mainly because he could guess what his fool ass friend had done.

"Don't tell me the idiot has taken the Hulk and met with Shaw?" All the outrage and his opinion on the statement just poured out in one sentence.

Dom shrugged, "Okay I won't tell you!"

Rome was not amused - surely he wasn't the only one, who could see how bad this could go. And for once in his life - Rome was right.