Back in LA, Tanner and Bilkins were at the safe house, where they were running the operation and Bilkins yelled at Tanner. "What the hell happened today?"

"I don't know. LAPD got to the scene and only to find the Charger smoking and neither at the scene."

"So you think they ran together?" Bilkins blanched.

"Must have." Tanner shrugged. "We've got tabs on Mexico but no one's seen them cross the border if that was even the plan to begin with." Tanner said trying to keep some dignity.

"Maybe your officer turned native and is helping out Toretto's people?" Bilkins suggested.

"I don't know." In truth he was pissed at Bilkins, "The kid was a lone wolf who did things his own way but he got the results we needed." A sneer thrown in for extra measure, "Well until you charged in, wrecked the trust I built up, and dangled his shield like a cool toy!"

Bilkins pushed his chair back and as he rounded his desk the chair crashed to the floor. He got in Tanner's face and growled, "The kid didn't need my help to switch sides! He jumped into this case without so much as a question..."

Tanner said with a coolness he was learning from Brian, "Because you dangled his Detective's shield. Now get out of my face."

The others involved with the operation looked over at the glass divider and saw the two men standing with next to no space between them having a pissing contest it looked like to them.

Bilkins took a few steps back and rolled his shoulders while taking a deep breath. He looked over at Tanner and saw that he was making another decaf coffee and asked with better discretion, "How many undercover operations were under his belt when you nominated him for the job?"

Tanner sighed and said, "Once he got off the mandatory rookie patrol he was tapped every few months for different operations in different departments because he could play the many parts so well. He could slide in and out without much of a ripple and snag people we didn't even know about."

"The kid doesn't look like he's past 18 or 19. How old is he?" Bilkins asked curiously trying to peg how long he'd been a part of the LAPD.

Tanner let out a sad laugh. "Brian's going to be 29 soon and he's been with us since he graduated from the academy and took extra courses at the community college, on our dime, for a criminal justice degree on top of his training."

"He's smarter than he looks." Bilkins said as he leaned against the back of his desk and braced his hands on the edge. He wanted to keep himself as receptive to Tanner's information about Brian O' Conner, if that was even his real name, so that he could relay possible plans to his superiors.

"Yeah he is and for good reason. You live his life and see how you go about your days." Tanner said enigmatically.

Bilkins frowned, "And what the fuck is that suppose to mean?"

Dom took a few minutes before he followed Brian into the small restaurant and saw him sitting in a back corner booth with the least amount of light possible. He ambled over to his seat and found Brian ordered them coffees as he got comfortable in the small space. This wouldn't have been his first choice if he was driving but what did he know about running from the law. Brian took a drink from his coffee cup and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I fucking flipped my car. How do you think I feel Brian?" Dom snapped.

"We don't have to talk, I'm just trying to make conversation." Brian said before he opened up his menu even though he knew he was going to order his usual - Waffle Houses or their equivalent played a big part in undercover work. They offered a uniform protection for the anonymous and let him keep one place under lock and key. In fact he'd made more than a few shady deals here as no one paid attention to you as long as you ordered coffee and a special. You were just one of a crowd too lazy to cook.

Dom made his coffee the way he liked it and looked at the baseball cap that Brian chose to cover his distinctive curls, a classic Brooklyn Dodgers hat. He thought it apropos that they were running from LA and Brian still managed to bring a piece of it with him. "Nice hat." Dom said as he set his coffee down and opened his menu up on the table.

Brian glanced at Dom over the top of his menu and said, "Thanks."

The waitress came around to take their order and Brian rattled off his order, "I'll have the short stack pancake platter with two eggs over easy, two orders of bacon well done, and a large orange juice."

Dom just stared at Brian wondering where he'd put all that food he ordered. The waitress turned to Dom and Dom said, "I'll get the pancake platter with scrambled eggs and an order of sausage."

"Anything to drink sir?"

"I'll stick with my coffee."

The waitress nodded and said, "Coming right up."

After she dropped their order with the short order cook, Dom asked, "Where do you store all this food you eat?"

Brian was still standoffish, but there was the hint of the smartass lurking beneath, "My line of work is very stressful. Burn a lot of calories. Keeps my girlish figure."

Dom snorted, "So what you're saying is you stock up when you can."

"Now you're getting it." Brian said as he fiddled with the dessert menu display and looked out the small window next to his seat.

Dom finished his coffee trying to decide how to go about cracking Brian's facade. He wondered what the guy in front of him felt the need to keep locked up so tight he had a snowman persona at the drop of a hat.

The waitress brought Dom's plates first and refilled his coffee. Then another waitress had Brian's plates and set those in front of him. Dom watched as Brian started to pour syrup over everything but his eggs. Those he poured tobasco sauce and pepper all over and ate his eggs first.

"It's not going anywhere Bri."

"I despise cold eggs." Brian stated as he finished off his eggs.

Dom set up his dinner and started to eat as he watched Brian polish off his first helping of pancakes. The waitress brought another stack to Brian and he continued to eat. Dom just watched as he ate and wondered if he knew what a tease he was being.

It was a very different Brian from the one that had driven him there; gone was the snowman even just momentarily. He was eating the pancake, which he soaked in syrup almost fellating his fork. He could feel his own arousal stir and he wondered if Brian ever sucked dick. He'd already thought if they crossed the line to being lovers - Brian wouldn't be the only one on his knees but he needed to break through some of what Brian was hiding first.

After their food was finished Brian dropped fresh bills on the table and stood up waiting on Dom to follow his lead. Dom eased up out of booth and followed Brian outside. "So was that our first of many on the run dates?" Dom asked light-heartedly.

"Looking forward to fucking soon?" Brian asked stiffly.

"No...well yes but I ain't making a move until you can lighten up. Maybe I can teach you how. You've got everything going for ya except for that glacial heart of yours." Dom spilled before he could stop himself.

Brian pushed Dom against the Jeep mindful of Dom's injuries and said, "My heart is what will keep us alive and I wouldn't be thinking of fucking until you can move faster than a turtle."

Dom didn't say anything because beneath the snark he'd let something slip - he hadn't said no. He took his good arm and wrapped it loosely around Brian's waist not moving him and said, "I might move like a turtle but I've got the arms of an ox."

"One arm and you really have to work on your game." Brian chuckled as he slipped out of Dom's embrace.

"I got you to laugh. Mission accomplished." Dom replied with his crooked grin.

"Yeah well consider me an easily entertained person." Brian moved over to the driver's seat and Dom got in his own seat.