After Bilkins and Tanner called a truce at the house, Tanner left to go talk to Mia. He picked up his own coffee so that Mia didn't have to play hostess if she didn't want to, and knocked on the front door. He could see the crime tape still surrounding where their youngest team member got shot and luckily was recovering from the incident at the closest hospital; he also knew visiting hours were over and Mia would be home by now.

Mia answered the door on the third knock, looking weary and edgy. "What do you want officer? Haven't you people done enough?"

Tanner cleared his throat carefully and said in a gentle tone, "I'm Sgt. Nick Tanner. I'm...no I was Brian's boss. May I come in please?"

Mia opened the door further so he could enter the house. She asked, "Brian isn't with you guys?"

"No. He took off with your brother after they went through a rail crossing and flipped the Charger. Have you heard from your brother?" Tanner asked as she motioned to the kitchen table.

"No. I've been at the hospital and he hasn't left a message."

"Towards the end of this operation did you get any vibes off O' Conner about him turning?"

"We didn't know he was a cop until this afternoon after Race Wars when he saved Vince and helped Jesse as best he could."

"Didn't you and O' Conner date?" Tanner asked tentatively. He knew she was fragile and didn't want to upset her if he didn't have to.

"One date that he probably only did out of duty for the assignment. He loves my brother and my brother is very fond of him which is why Dom probably didn't kill him today." She said frankly as if that explained everything.

"What are you talking about Ms. Toretto?" Tanner asked wondering what happened to Brian this operation - he'd given no inclination that he liked guys or had any interest past the racing scene. He tended to have a different girlfriend every month or so, but that could be drawn from the fact that he was an undercover officer of a very high caliber - even Tanner couldn't pass for most of the stuff Brian could accomplish.

"The two have been in love since Brian brought the Supra to the garage. He'd already won Dom's respect by keeping him out of cuffs with the orchestrated police chase..."

"That's wasn't orchestrated. Someone called that in themselves." Tanner interrupted.

"Brian really did play his cards close to the chest then." Tanner could hear what he suspected was grudging respect. She explained a little more, " He led us to believe it was orchestrated."

Tanner could believe that Brian would use every little nuance to his advantage. It was clear at this point that once he'd revealed his status he was trying to do all he could to drive a wedge between him and the team. It spoke a lot about how he operated when he cared - they called him the snowman for a reason. He could be a special type of bastard to the rare few that got through his defenses. He'd explained it once to Tanner that it was best that he didn't have any ties as people could be used against him.

"Brian is one of the departments' best undercover officers. He knows what he's doing. Did Dominic have a plan if something like this were to happen?"

"Not that I know of but he didn't tell me anything about what they were doing. I only found out some of this stuff when I helped Brian rescue Vince from the truck."

"I thought you and your brother were close?"

Mia glared at Tanner and said, "We are close but he's not going to tell me that he's the one doing all the truck jackings. I didn't even know where he kept the cars until last night."

Tanner rubbed his face and sighed - Mia Toretto was being honest as he could spot a liar ten miles away, even Brian had to work at his to get passed him. He thought back to when he and Brian talked by the pool and he mentioned that it had been Toretto all along and Brian looked at him confusion evident as he left to get back to Racer's Edge for the night without a response.

Tanner stood up and held his hand out. "Thank you for speaking to me. If Brian calls you can you please have him call me. I won't mention any of this to the FBI but I want to know that he's safe."

"My phones aren't tapped?" Mia asked as she looked over the sergeant in front of her.

"No and I'll make sure of it." Tanner said resolutely.

"Okay but if they're tapped I won't play nice."

"I don't expect you too Ms. Toretto. I'll call if I hear any news." Tanner said as they shook hands and he registered the shock on Mia's face. He knew she knew a minute amount more than she shared with him but he knew it wouldn't help in tracking down Brian or Dom.

"I'll let Brian know you're looking for him and if he wants to call you he can." Mia said as she showed Tanner out onto the porch.

"Thank you Ms. Toretto." Tanner tried to offer a small smile to let her know he was going to help where he could and he hoped she picked up on it as he walked back to his car.

Brian had pulled back onto Interstate 15 and headed northeast towards Las Vegas. As they passed through the city Dom joked, "Why don't we get a room here?"

"No. Too many people." Brian said as he looked around at the scenery as he drove.

"Haven't you heard their slogan, 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas'?"

"Yes and we're still not stopping."

"This is ridiculous Brian. This city is perfect cover for a night."

"The amount of CCTV here rivals London." Brian growled. "Don't push it."

Dom pulled a map he bought at the Waffle House and looked over it. He didn't find anything until they were almost out of the state and pointed it out to Brian. He showed Brian their route and said, "We have to stop here if you want to sleep sometime soon."

Brian glanced at the map with their route in red ink so he could see it clearer and snapped, "Fine but we aren't staying at the Ritz."

"I got the idea but I think you're being paranoid."

Brian pulled off the interstate at the first sign of a crappy motel that looked like it would pass his inspection for the night. When he pulled into the parking lot by the office he went in and came out five minutes later with one key. He pulled them around to a back room and worked on pulling out one of the bags from the back floorboard. He watched as Dom eased out of the Jeep and he asked sweetly, "Happy now?"

Dom could hear the venom underneath but kept the playing up and said, "Very." He smiled and asked, "Which room are we?"

"Top of the stairs at the furthest end. I'll be up there in a few minutes." He said as he opened the bag up.

"Can I get the key from ya? Or do you want me to wait outside and sulk while you do whatever you're going to do?" Dom said as he felt some of his anger welling up.

"I'll be up there by the time you get up there seeing as how you're moving like a turtle. Now get going."

Brian had his back to Dom when he gave the order and he didn't see Dom move until he was pressed into the frame of the SUV. "You won't be able to get away with orders for long. I'm only listening because you're right, right now. Not any other reason." Dom said in a gravelly tone.

Brian swallowed the lump in his throat as inconspicuously as possible and said, "Dom I'm doing this for your own good."

"Bullshit Brian."

"Dom the less you know about what I do the better it'll be if everything comes crashing down on us." Brian tried to explain.

"Fine." He let go of Brian and noticed he didn't move until he'd stepped around the Jeep and head for the stairs. Dom needed to figure out what had made Brian this paranoid, as he showing a serious paranoia right now. His biggest problem though right now was showing a paranoid Brian that he was safe with Dom and could trust him.