Author's Note: I don't own anything to do with any of The Fast and the Furious movies only Madison belongs to me.

Ok so it can't be all love and butterflies, right? How about a little drama?

Chapter 9

Two weeks had passed since everything with Tran and James and the house was finally getting back to normal. Jesse had went out and bought a second shower curtain saying how he wanted it just in case. I went back to working at the garage with the boys and Letty, though it wasn't completely my decision with Leon and Dom saying they wanted to keep an eye on me for awhile to be on the safe side. We closed the café for the first week so Mia could focus on finals before summer vacation and could run it by herself like she used to with Brian as her dish boy. My bruises had faded and I no longer had the bandage on the side of my head but not matter how many times the team asked me I still had no idea how I had gotten them.

I was sitting in front of the floor length mirror in our room brushing out my hair when Letty and Mia came in and sat on the bed.

"Celebrating already?" Letty questioned motioning to the Corona I had sitting next to me.

"Why not?" I shrugged, "it's not like I'm driving anyways might as well per-game."

"Don't let Dom see you or he'll make you stay home," Mia warned taking the brush from my hand and twisting my hair up in a loose bun before using a few bobby pins to keep it up.

"So, who's racing tonight?" I asked changing the subject as I finished my beer and tossed it into the garbage with a loud clunk.

"Brian's got the first race," Mia answered nervously and I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. He had been racing with the team for awhile now and every time she would be a basket of nerves until he crossed the finish line.

"Leon has second," Letty added, "and of course Dom will be in the final one of the night but the real question is when are you going to get back out there?"

"Well after taking off in Le's car, Dom won't give me the keys to mine and has been making someone ride with me everywhere," I replied in a frustrated tone as I threw a mesh top over my black bra so that I matched what Letty was wearing except she had on cargo pants and I had on low risers, "Wait, Le's racing tonight?"

"He didn't tell you?" Letty questioned surprised. It wasn't often he raced; usually he would be the one on the scanner keeping an ear out for the cops.

"No," I shook my head trying to figure out why he had kept it from me. Maybe he told me and I had forgotten? That must be it.

"You tired?" Mia asked watching me yawn as we made our way back upstairs where the boys were waiting impatiently for us.

"No, I'm good," I smiled hoping she didn't see through it and luckily she didn't press it. Truth was I was exhausted and no matter how much sleep I got it never seemed like it was enough.

"It's about time, let's go," Jesse exclaimed nearly running out the front door. I couldn't help but laugh that kid sure did live for racing.

As always Mia rode with Brian, I rode with Leon and everyone else drove their own cars to the warehouse.

"So, I hear you're racing tonight," I said casually not wanting to get into an argument before a race, his head needed to be on straight but the curiosity was killing me.

"Yeah, I've got an old friend from back home visiting and they wanted to see," he shrugged.

I nodded in response as my mind started spinning with a million different questions. Leon didn't like to talk much about his life before he moved to L.A. yet he just happened to forget to tell me he had a friend coming to visit. I wonder if Jesse knew this friend too, I mean after all they grew up together, I'm sure he'll be able to give me some insight.

After cash was handed over to Hector and Vince agreed to do the scanners we left to watch the races. As expected Brian won his race by almost a full car's length and Mia immediately calmed down and got into party-mode. Leon pulled put to the line next and I knew better than to talk to him while he was 'getting in the zone' as he so articulately put it in the past. I did however hear a distinct, "Go Leon!" being shouted from somewhere in the crowd but told myself to stop over thinking it. His race was a lot closer than Brian's but none the less he crossed the line first, winning the race. I rode to the finish line with Jesse and went to congratulate him when I saw some skinny blonde tramp hanging off his neck. It was par for the course, every chick wanted to sleep with at least one of the guys on Toretto's team, but this was different he didn't pull away like he normally did instead he spun her around in a circle.

I went to say something when Vince's voice boomed over the Nextel phones, "Cops, cops, cops!"

I hopped back in Jesse's car and we weaved in and out of the people to get to the side streets and head home to start the party.

"Whoo," Jesse cheered as we pulled up to the house the adrenaline still pumping through his veins from the excitement.

We weren't the first ones back, I saw Letty and Dom's car already in the driveway and Brian's on the street but Vince and Leon hadn't made it back yet. I was still pissed Leon for embracing that chick like he did and I stormed into the house and right into the kitchen where I snatched the bottle of tequila out of the cabinet.

"Going for the hard stuff tonight?" Brian tried to joke as he grabbed a beer from the cooler.

"Shut up," I growled not in the mood for anyone right now as I unscrewed the cap and took a long swig right from the bottle.

"Did something happen?" he questioned clearly taken back as I went to take another swig from the bottle.

"Don't worry about it," I stated nastily before walking out onto the front porch and sitting on the front steps to make sure Leon and Vince made it home ok.

I wasn't out there for more than ten minutes when they both pulled up in front of the house. I got up from the steps to go see Leon when I saw the blonde chick get out of his car and cling to his arm. He wanted to play, fine, but it was going to be war.

"Vince!" I exclaimed over dramatically as I ran and jumped on his back, "I was so worried about you."

He took the bottle from my hands took a swing himself before sliding me off his back and shaking his head knowing what I was up to. I looked over to Leon and his 'friend' and saw him getting angry.

"Madison, this is my friend from back home, Danielle," he introduced us hoping to clear up any misconceptions as we walked into the house.

I smiled sarcastically at her and made my way into the living room where some of Hector's boys were dancing and it wasn't long until I had worked up a sweat grinding on Edwin. By the point Letty had joined me half the bottle was gone and we were putting on quite the show for the men in the room, apparently it was too much for Dom as he threw Letty over his shoulder and carried her upstairs.

I stumbled into the kitchen looking for a beer for Edwin when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to see Malibu Barbie, Danielle, standing there with her arms crossed.

"What?" I snapped not wanting her to ruin the buzz I had going.

"I just want you to realize you are just a place holder," she said moving so her one hand was on her hip.

"Excuse me?" I asked knowing it must be the alcohol messing with my hearing.

"I'm going to get him back no matter what it takes," she said taking a step forward before adding, "tonight he raced for me…when's the last time he raced for you?"

It was like someone had flipped a switch and all I could see was red. I dropped the beer bottle causing it to shatter on the floor as I charged her. A few punches were thrown before we were being pulled apart but I had to turn around when the arm around my waist felt different, there was Brian struggling to keep me from going after her again.

"Enough!" Leon yelled helping her off the ground and rounding so he was in my face, "get your fucking temper in check she didn't deserve that."

"You're…you're defending her?" I stuttered out passing pissed off and going straight for furious.

"Dani, are you alright?" Leon asked as she over exaggerated how much she had been hurting.

"She…she just attacked me!" Danielle cried grabbing onto the front of his jersey.

Brian still had his arm around my waist not sure if I was going to launch myself at anyone else as Leon led her into the other room.

"Get off me," I growled grabbing the rest of the tequila and pouring it down my throat as I walked out the backdoor and over to the picnic table.

I sat there until I could hear the party dying down and realized it was time for bed when I almost fell asleep with my head on my arms. I stumbled back inside and down in the basement stopping for a second looking between the two rooms that was down there. I chose the door on my left praying Vince didn't have some racer chaser in his bed and sighed in relief when I saw him sprawled out on the bed by himself. I nudged him a few times to get him to move over and he grunted in response but held the comforter up anyway.

"What did he do this time?" he asked in a gruff voice and I knew he was barely awake. It wasn't often Leon and I argued but when we did I often found myself looking for comfort from my old coyote. Not that we ever crossed that line, he was my best friend, the extra older brother I never wanted and was always there when I needed him.

"Danielle," was all I had to whisper before he slung an arm over me and pulled me into his chest.

It was almost noon before I woke up the next day and was shocked to see Vince had already gotten up. I hesitated going next door in my room not wanting to face Leon just yet but I also didn't want to be in the clothes from last night anymore. I mentally prepared myself for a fight when I walked in our room but thankfully he wasn't there so I changed into an old baggy pair of jeans and ripped t-shirt. When I made it upstairs it was clear I was the last one to get up and I saw everyone watching me as I shuffled over to the coffee pot.

"Ow," I groaned leaning my head on Jesse's shoulder my head pounding from the night before. He patted the side of my head lightly before continuing to pick at his dry cereal.

"Leon going to get up at some point today?" Dom asked getting anxious to leave for the garage unaware of the fight from last night. I hated to admit it but I didn't even realize he wasn't in the room until I looked around.

"Um…he left with Danielle," Brian spoke up and before I had a chance to react he came strolling through the front door.

"Here, eat something it will make you feel better," Mia said setting some toast in front of me.

"Not hungry," I replied as Vince moved his hand to my knee to stop it from shaking up and down with anger.

"Morning," Leon nodded as he walked over to get coffee like nothing ever happened and everyone started finding reasons to leave the kitchen until it was just the two of us, "well, I sure know how to clear a room," he laughed.

"How's Dani," I spat out her name like it literally left a foul taste in my mouth.

"She looks like a goddamn raccoon," he answered turning to lean against the counter. Good, I thought not bother to hide the smirk on my face. "What the hell got into you last night?"

"Into me?" I shouted ignoring the pounding headache I had as I stood up and the chair flew backwards, "What the hell is up with you? She was all over you last night!"

"You don't see me throwing punches for you hanging all over those guys last night! Jealousy is not a good color on you, she's a friend Madison!"

"Just a friend?" I questioned as I paced the length of the kitchen, "because last night she made it seem like you two used to be more than friends."

"So, we dated awhile back," he shrugged, "it was a mutual decision to split and just stay friends. After everything we've been through you would think you would trust me by now."

"Then why Leon? Why didn't you tell me she was coming? Why did you race for her? And more importantly why did you choose her over me last night?" I screamed getting right in his face.

"I don't know."

Letty came in the kitchen and cleared her throat, "not to interrupt today's showing of 'Days of our Lives' but I'm heading to the garage, you want a ride?"

"Yeah," I nodded and followed her out the front door.

You could cut the tension with a knife at the garage that day even with me spending the first couple of hours in the office doing paperwork per Dom's request but I came out in time to hear Leon's cell phone ringing.

"Yeah?...Are you alright?...No, Dani, it's fine I'll be right there just sit tight," was his end of the conversation.

My temper got the best of my again as I picked up a wrench and chucked it at him just missing his head.

"What the fuck was that for?" he growled ducking out of the way as I picked up another this time hitting him in the leg.

"Why are you running off to meet her?" I yelled grabbing anything in my reach to throw at him which happened to be a few nuts and bolts.

"She got a fucking flat tire! It's not like I'm going to sleep with her!" he argued moving around the items that were flying in his direction.

"Madison, stop!" Dom hollered after I had thrown the crowbar.

"Oh, come on this is funny," Jesse laughed popping a pretzel in his mouth and offering the bag to Letty who took one as well.

"Where were you last night, Madison? Because I couldn't find you anywhere!"

"I slept with Vince!" I proclaimed and watched as both Leon's and Dom's face got red.

"You what?!" Dom bellowed turning his anger toward an unsuspecting Vince who put his hands up innocently.

"Not like that!" I yelled quickly not wanting them to kill him for being a good friend, "we slept together, we didn't have sex!"

"Look, I've got to go get Dani, we'll talk about this later," Leon declared loudly as he started for his car.

"If you choose her over me there will be no later!" I promised.

"She needs my help!" he argued as he opened his car door.

"What? I don't have enough problems for you to fix anymore so you're moving on to the next train wreck?" I screamed before storming back into the office and throwing myself down in the chair.

Everything's going to be fine, I told myself, he's going to walk through that door take me in his arms and it's going to be like nothing ever happened. I stared at the door almost willing it to open but instead I heard the tires of his car.