A/N: Thanks to Special2, venus as a girl, Vinces-Girl, 2furious4u and Sparkles2004 for their reviews!
Bad news: I failed my driving test. I actually did really well, except for one mistake. Just be glad you Americans don't have to deal with bloody roundabouts.
Anywhoo, I know I said there would be no 2F2F, but I decided that with a little modification, it would fit in well.
Review and Enjoy!
It felt good to be outta the hospital, but the Fort…it wasn't home. Not without Dom and Letty arguing or Leon and Jesse glued to the TV watching Bruce Lee kick ass. Even with the kid bouncin' around, it was too damn quiet.
Mia spent most of her time at the Café, tryin' to keep the business running. O'Connor was in and out with Alex, doing whatever it was that they were doing to try and fix things. Rae and the kid were around most of the time; at least until Rae got sick of him moping around and left.
Truth was, Vince was sick of moping around too. Rae had gotten rid of all the beer; condescendingly reminding him that he shouldn't drink with the meds he was taking. He couldn't drive, the cops still had all the cars impounded, and Rae and Alex flat-out refused to let him near their rentals. The garage was still closed, not that he would be much use with his right arm still messed up.
The cops hadn't pressed charges yet, but they were not-too-subtly watching him, and he had no doubt that if he made a break for it, they'd pick him up. He'd spoken to Dom a few days ago, he'd told Vince to do whatever Alex asked, and he had grudgingly agreed, but he felt pretty useless, sittin' around the house all week.
A week later, and not much had changed. Everyone was getting touchy, going a little stir-crazy. Vince's wounds were healing nicely, but he'd still need a shitload of physiotherapy before his arm would be back to normal. Jesse was still the same, which the doctors assured them was a good thing; that he was still stable, still hanging in there. The kid was a fighter.
Come Friday, Vince was feeling particularly surly. He'd run Rae off before lunchtime, and had been alone in the house for hours. He'd tried playing his guitar, but he couldn't even to that thanks to his arm. The only thing he wanted to do was get pissed, but Rae had found the stash Hector had smuggled in.
While he was sitting watching some stupid re-run on TV, O'Connor came in, pausing when he saw Vince.
"Mia here?" he asked quietly.
"Nah, she's at the store," Vince replied, feeling the familiar shot of jealously shot through him.
Brian nodded, sitting down next to him on the couch. "Alex is with the D.A. and the Feds right now."
Vince just grunted.
"Where are Rae and Bella?" Brain asked after a moment.
Vince's head snapped round. "What'd you care?"
"Just wondering."
Vince grunted again.
The was another pause.
"I'm a cop," Brian stated.
"Yeah, I already got that," Vince snapped.
"I'm good at read people, most of the time," he continued as if Vince hadn't spoken.
"Mia told me about how close she and Rae were, despite their differences. She also told me that Rae had the hots for you when she was a kid."
Vince just shook his head, not really refuting what Brian was saying, just not seeing where this was going.
"Seeing Rae, a lotta things about the team make a little more sense, especially Mia and you." He paused, watching Vince's jaw clench. "Is Mia really the one want, or is she just fillin' in for someone else?"
Vince stood, his fists clenching at his sides, "What you tryin' to say, O'Connor?"
Brian stood up, looking Vince in the eyes. "Just that you only started asking Mia out after Rae left. Bit of a coincidence, ain't it?"
Brian shrugged, then walked out the back door, headed for his car. Before he even reached the bottom step, Vince had ploughed into him, and they started swinging at each other.
That was how Rae found them a few seconds later.
Mia came home after the lunchtime rush to find Bella sitting in front of the TV. "Where's you mom, sweetie?"
"Outside, with Vince and Brian," the small girl blinked. "I'm not 'upposed to go out there."
Mia frowned, heading towards the backyard.
"Mia? That you?" Rae called from outside.
"Yeah." She yelled back, stepping into the kitchen.
"Do they do this a lot?" Rae asked as Mia stepped outside.
Rae was sitting on the railing at the top of the stairs; eating potato chips and watching Vince and Brian pummel each other on the back lawn.
"Jesus Christ! Not again!" Mia cursed, stopping next to Rae.
"Ah, so that would be a yes, then," Rae commented casually.
Mia looked at Rae in confusion, she didn't seem bothered by the fact that the two men were killing each other.
"We gotta do something, make them stop!"
Rae looked at her a moment, the rolled her eyes. "Yo! Would you guys mind taking off your shirts? I would make a better show for the rest of us. Maybe you could break out the baby oil too."
Rae's nonchalance was more effective than Mia's pleading ever had been. Brian and Vince stopped; breathing laboured, and stared incredulously at her. Mia tried to hold back her laughter at their shocked expressions, but lost the battle at the next words that came out of Rae's mouth.
"Maybe you should just whip 'em out and measure 'em, get all this macho bullshit over and done with," she gestured with a potato chip before taking a big bite and staring back at them unblinkingly.
Vince and Brian's expressions went from shocked to sheepish. There was still tension between them, but for now, tempers had cooled. Before they could say anything, Rae shrieked, dropping to the ground and spilling chips everywhere.
"What is it?" Vince demanded, rushing oven, closely followed by Brian.
It was her turn to look sheepish as she pulled her vibrating phone from her back pocket. "It's Alex," she informed them, glaring at Vince's bark of laughter.
"Yeah?" she answered. "Yeah," he repeated, frowning. She turned to Brian. "He wants to talk to you, says you ain't answering your cell."
Brian patted his pockets, then pulled out his smashed cell phone, shooting Vince a glare. Vince just glared back, unrepentant. Before they could go at it again, Rae snapped her fingers in front of Brian's face. "Phone."
Shaking his head, Brian took the phone, the conversation short. Snapping it shut, he handed it back to Rae. "I gotta go," he said, nodding at Mia before taking off.
"Come on, V. Let's get you patched up," Rae said, walking back up the steps. "Mia, can you watch Ella for me?"
"Sure," Mia replied, much preferring the sweet three-year-old to the less mature twenty-four-year-old.
"Ouch! Watch it, would 'ya?"
"Aw, shush. Stop complaining ya big baby," Rae said as she wiped the blood from his split lip.
Vince was sitting on the closed toilet lid as Rae got out the first aid kit and patched him up.
"What were you two arguing about anyhow?" Rae asked as she cleaned the cut on his cheek, leaning in close.
"Nothin'," he muttered.
Rae sighed. "Look, I don't know what the problem between you two is, but cop or not, he saved your life, and came through for the team. You gotta cut him a break. He gave up everything to help you all." Her fingers feathered over his face and into his hair, feel for bumps and bruises.
"It ain't that, he was just talking about things he don't understand," Vince replied, not meeting her eyes, his jaw clenching.
"What was he talking about, V.?" she asked, looking down at him. When he reluctantly met her eyes, she felt a shock cut through her body, settling low in her abdomen.
Snapping out of it, she realised she was positioned between his thighs, her hands practically cradling his head. She quickly stepped away, turning her back and re-packing the first-aid kit. No. No way I'm going there again. It took me way too long to get over him, I'm not going through that again.
"Nothin'," he repeated quietly.
There was an awkward silence, then Rae turned back with a smile. "You'll need to get some ice on that eye, Vinnie."
"Don't call me Vinnie. I hate when people call me Vinnie," he grumbled, standing up with a stretch.
"I know," she called back over her shoulder.
"Carter Verone," Agent Markham began, pacing in front of a large screen showing the photo and wrap sheet of said criminal. "Born in Argentina, but he's lived most of his life in Miami. Now he owns the biggest import-export business in the state. You see, unfortunately the Cartels have been successful in getting drugs into the state, but they've had a hard time getting the cash out. We've been surveilling him for a year, but we've never been able to put him, and the money together. We've swept his house, his warehouses…"
"Nothing," Bilkins interrupted the Customs agent. "Customs here has done a great job getting us this far, I'm just here to help get them over the top."
"I was able to get an agent in undercover, working travel and logistics for him. Recently Verone put her in charge of finding some new drivers."
"Right, although we can't confirm her status right now," Bilkins commented from behind Brian.
"What, you think she's flipped?" he asked, not yet understand why he and Alex were there.
"She one'a mine, she's alright," Markham defended firmly.
"She been in with Verone nearly a year, even lives at the compound with him now," Bilkins pointed out.
"Look, it was the FBI's idea to bring you in here. I'm against it, but we need some good drivers who can put this asshole and his money together. You're gonna roll with Agent Dunn here," Markham finished.
"And if I don't?" Brian asked, finally seeing where this was going.
"Well here's a list of laws you broke, not to mention the rest of the 'Team'," Bilkins replied tiredly, handing Brian a casefile. "Obstruction of Justice, Aiding and Abetting, you know the wrap sheet. Even with your games getting rid of the heists, there's still enough there to put some of you away from a good few years." Brian flipped through it, noticing everything; every speeding ticket, every misdemeanour that the committed while under surveillance. "Now we can make this all go away in the interest of Justice, ifyou're willing to play ball." Bilkins sat back.
Brian looked over at Alex. "If he does this, you'll drop all charges against all of them? And stop digging for more dirt?" Alex questioned.
Bilkins shrugged. "Believe or not, we've actually found someone more badass than Toretto. Now I'm sure you may have heard," he continued sarcastically, "Most of the six million dollars was found stashed at a warehouse rented under Johnny Tran's name. No one was killed during these hijacks, and as much as I'd like to see Toretto locked away, I much rather it was Verone. Now this is not an infinite get-out-of-jail-free card, but all the shit up to this point can disappear, providing you hold up your end of the bargain."
Alex looked at Brian. "It's your choice man."
Brian thought for a moment. It would be a big risk, but if Alex thought they were on the level, then it would mean getting the cops off their backs for good. "So what's the idea here? Dunn and I are supposed to be street racers?"
"That's right," Markham answered.
Brian looked over at Dunn. The guy was young, obviously a rookie, and by the looks of him had no idea about cars. He decided to test him. "So Dunn, looks like we're gonna be partners, bro," he said shaking the kid's hand. "Could you tell me right quick what would be a better motor for my Skyline, a Gallo 12 or a Gallo 24?"
Dunn looked towards Markham, then back at Brian. "Um," he cleared his throat. "twenty-four."
"I didn't know pizza places made motors," Brian replied, nodding at his soda. "See man, if this is what you're gonna give me, it's already over. I won't stand a chance. If you want to set me up, it's fine. But if you want me to get Verone, it ain't gonna work."
Markham grabbed the soda from Dunn irritably and Bilkins answered, "We'll get you somebody else."
"No way man. The only way I'll do this is if I get to pick the driver." He wanted to fix things for them all, but he needed someone he could trust riding with him, he was no good to anyone fed to the 'gators.
"You ain't getting Toretto, or any of the others. If you do this, you do it with out them." Bilkins replied.
"Not Toretto, someone else," Brian replied, his plan already forming.
"Alright O'Connor, who ya got it mind?" Bilkins sighed.
"This dude I grew up with in Barstow."
"Who's that?"
"Roman Pearce."
"Brian, you can't! You'll get yourself killed!" Mia cried.
"I have to. If I do this, we're all out of trouble, and Dom, Letty and Leon can come home. This is how I can fix it," he replied, gripping her by the shoulders.
"It's not your problem to fix! You weren't the one who fucked up! You don't have to fix everything!"
"Yeah," he said, cupping her cheek. "Yeah, I do."
Vince watched them, and realised that Brian was in love with Mia, and that as much as he himself cared about her, he wasn't. He looked over at Rae, and recognised her look. Give the guy a break, he's one of us. He nodded, understanding.
Mia continued in her attempt to talk Brian out of it. "So what? You sell your soul to the devil and hope for the best?!"
"It's more like I sell my soul to catch the devil. And I trust Rome, he'll have my back," Brian replied quietly. "Alex is working on the paperwork just now. I'll need hook-up with street racers in Miami, do you think Dom can swing that?" Brian asked, turning to Vince.
"Yeah."
Mia's eyes snapped to Vince. "You can't honestly be okay with this? This is bullshit!" She looked at each of them, as if searching for sanity. "You can't let him do this!"
"It's his choice, girl," Rae replied solemnly.
Mia shook her head, shrugging off Brian's hands and running upstairs.
"Let her be," Rae replied as he moved to go after her. "I'll talk to her in a minute."
Brian just stood there, watching Vince as he stood up, tensing as he remembered their earlier fight, bruises already blossoming across both their faces. Vince stood in front of him, watching Brian, trying to figure out what to say without fucking up.
"She's right," he said finally. Brian frowned. "You don't have to do this."
Brian squared his shoulders, sighing. "I don't wanna fight you again Vince. I know you don't want me here…"
"That ain't it," Vince interrupted. "This wasn't your mess. It was Dom's, and mine. We should be the ones to fix it, not you. D'you think Dom would let Leon run off and fix things by himself? Put him self in danger? You've proved your loyalty, man. That's enough."
Brian was speechless. So was Rae for that matter.
After a moment, Brian found his voice. "I appreciate that, but I'm the only one that can do this, so I have to. For the Team."
Vince nodded.
"You call Dom, I'll go talk to Mia, okay?" Rae said moving towards the stairs. Just as she was about to disappear from sight, she threw Vince a smile, and he knew he'd said the right thing.
"How can you want him to do this?" Mia began as soon as Rae entered the room.
"I don't want him to, but it's his choice," Rae replied calmly, not surprised by Mia's outburst.
"It shouldn't be. And Vince didn't exactly jump to stop him, did he?"
"Mia, after you left, Vince agreed with you. He made a pretty good argument for why Brian shouldn't go," she frowned. "Well, good by Vince's normal standards anyway."
Mia blinked in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah," Rae looked away, not wanting to know the answer to her next question. "Mia, has anything…happened…between you and Vince? I know the tension between him and Brian isn't just because of the whole undercover thing."
"No! Nothing!" Mia protested.
"But…" Rae prompted, knowing there was more.
Mia sighed. "He asked me out a couple times. Well, quite a lot actually. But I never said yes."
Rae just nodded, her face blank, but her insides churning.
"Rae, I said no because I never thought of him that way." She smiled sympathetically. "I think he was, I don't know, unconsciously substituting me for you. I don't think it was really me he wanted to go out with."
Rae snorted. "Yeah, right."
Mia placed a hand on Rae's arm. "I'm not just saying it 'cause you had a crush on him." Seeing Rae's surprised expression she continued, "Yeah, I know about that. You might have been good at covering it in front of the others, but not me. I am you're best friend, after all. He started asking me out just after we got that call from your brother, not long after my eighteenth. At first I didn't understand what had changed, but one night, when he was really drunk, he asked me why I left, that kind of thing. The next morning, he didn't remember, and I didn't push."
"What else did he say?" Rae asked, dread creeping up her spine.
"Nothing, really. Just 'why did you leave, why didn't you call', that kind of thing." Mia shrugged. Relief flooded through Rae. He hadn't told her.
Mia was looking at Rae curiously. Before the younger woman could ask anything more, Rae changed the subject back. "Brian's made his choice, you can't change that. But he needs to know that you still need him here. Let him know that he has a home. He needs you, girl. Tell him how you feel."
Mia nodded, then went to find Brian.
Vince stepped outside with Rae and Bella, giving them privacy.
"Mia…" Brian began.
"No. Let me speak," Mia interrupted. "I can't tell you that I'm okay with you doing this, because I'm not. But you've obviously made up your mind, so there's something you need to know."
She paused, taking a deep breath. "I love you."
