A/N: Hey! Look at that, two updates on the same story in less than one week. That's probably a record for me… I'm sorry, but don't get used to it. The inspiration has struck pretty heavy this week, but it will probably be a little while before I update this one again. I've got a few others to focus on, but I hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it. You should know that while I will be sticking to most points in Fast and Furious, some details will be altered or omitted, so please don't get caught up on the specifics. Thank you and please let me know what you think!
…
JJ closed yet another file and tossed it in the backseat. "We can cross that one off the list." She and Brian were sitting in one of the bureau's Fords after he suggested they get out of the office for a bit. They were currently parked on a street corner about six blocks from headquarters while they continued reading through the seventeen files they had managed to narrow the search down to.
Blake had styed behind in order to coordinate with Garcia on Braga's known associates. That was fine with JJ as she didn't really care to be couped up in the small space with the brunette anyway. She was exhausted and her patience was wearing thin.
It was almost seven o'clock in the evening, which meant it had been nearly thirty hours since she had gotten any sleep… but as Brian let out a yawn from the driver's seat, she figured it had probably been longer for him.
He closed his own file, tossing it in the same direction as hers before turning to look at her. "You hungry?"
"Starving. I think the last thing I had was a protein bar about six o'clock this morning."
"Well, we can't have that. C'mon, I know a place that has some of the best subs you'll ever taste."
"That's a pretty big statement. You sure you can back it up?"
"Is that a challenge, Jareau?"
"I guess we'll see, O'Conner."
He gave her an amused glance as he started the car.
JJ continued to read aloud from the files while he pulled away from the curve and navigated the streets of L.A., but it wasn't long before they came to a stop in front of a small sub shop. They both went inside, JJ immediately noting that it was a lot busier than a place like this would be in D.C. this time of the evening.
She scanned the room, then noted Brian doing the same thing. Chuckling to herself she though 'Hazards of the job.'
"You okay with eating in the car?"
"Yeah, of course." She didn't blame him. She didn't exactly want to discuss the case matter here in public, and they couldn't really afford to take the time for a break. "Now, what do you recommend?" She nodded at the counter in reference to what she should order.
He told her his usual, which she agreed to try, before placing a hand on her arm to halt her as she reached for her wallet. "Nah, I got it."
"Bria-"
"Please, it's the least I can do… but just for the record, I owe you a proper dinner." Before she could respond, he stepped up to the counter and ordered their two subs.
JJ stood back as she waited. In her mind, he didn't owe her anything, but the thought of dinner with the breathtakingly handsome agent wasn't something she would consider a bad idea. 'Really, Jareau? You're here for one evening, and that's where your mind goes?' She shook her head.
Brian joined her over to the side.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, no problem. I'm kind of an expert at finding convenient places to eat." He reached into his pocket as his phone started ringing, however upon reading the caller ID, he hit decline.
JJ was curious but it wasn't her place to ask.
It wasn't long before their subs arrived and they were headed back out to the car. Once they were seated they unwrapped their food, and the aroma made JJ's mouth water. She took her first bit and moaned at how good it tasted. "You weren't kidding, this is amazing."
He chuckled at her reaction. "I told ya. I'm sorry, though. I know this isn't exactly dinner at a 5-star restaurant… or 1. It's probably unhealthy how used to doing this I've become… eating dinner in the car, that is."
"Believe me, I've had my fair share of these meals. It definitely comes with the job. Most days I'm lucky to even get to eat when we're on a case, and then it's either in the car or the precinct."
Brian smiled in understanding. "Yeah, well I had to get out of the office for a while. I've seen that place enough in the last two weeks to do a lifetime."
They tossed a couple more files in the backseat, each wondering if they would ever get to the end of the list. After a few minutes, the ringing of JJ's cell phone pierced the mostly quiet atmosphere. She read the caller ID before turning to Brian. "I'm sorry, I need to take this."
"You're fine, go right ahead." Brian tried not to pay any attention to JJ's side of the conversation, after all, it wasn't any of his business… but it was hard not to hear given the confines of their current location.
"Hey, Mom…Yeah, are you sure you're okay with that?... Okay, he's not asleep yet?... Let me speak to him for a minute… Hey, sweetie, how are you?... It's late, why aren't you in bed?... I miss you… Yeah, Mommy will be home in a few days, okay? Okay, you be good for grandma and I'll see you soon. I love you…"
Brian hadn't realized JJ had a child… but then again, what did he know about her other than the fact that she was a stunningly beautiful agent that worked for the BAU?
He did know the smile that graced her features and the love that filled her voice upon speaking with her son over the phone. He felt guilty knowing he was the reason she was away from her him right now.
She wasn't wearing a ring, but now he wondered if she was married. The thought disappointed him. 'Don't go there, Brian. It's none of your business. Just stop eavesdropping on people's conversations and get back to work so you can close this case and get her home to her kid.'
By the time he pulled himself out of his head, JJ was wrapping up her phone call.
"Thanks, Mom, I'll let you know what's going on… Okay, good night." She grew quiet as she stared at her phone for a moment.
"You okay?"
She looked up and gave him an unconvincing smile. "Yeah, all good."
"So, you have a kid? I'm sorry, I promise I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
"No, it's okay. Yeah, Henry. He's eight." This time her smile was genuine as she turned her wrist to show him the picture on her lockscreen. Brian grinned at the sight. The young boy looked just like JJ with his blonde hair and blue eyes.
"He's adorable. I'm sorry you're not there with him."
"We make it work. He knows Mommy has to leave to catch the bad guys. It doesn't mean I don't miss him like crazy though. He's with my mom right now since she's been in town visiting. I had texted her earlier to let her know about this case, but they had been busy at the park. She doesn't get to see him very often, so she's enjoying having this time for just the two of them. He's enjoying it too because it means he gets to stay up late at night."
"Oh yeah, the time difference. That makes it-" He looked at his watch, "nearly ten in Quantico? Yeah, I bet he is loving that."
"Oh he's most definitely being spoiled. I may never get him to go to bed early again."
They shared a laugh and Brian realized he enjoyed seeing JJ light up at the mention of her boy.
"I'm glad he's getting to see her though."
"What about his father?" Brian sighed, mentally chastising himself. "Again, forgive me, that's none of my business."
JJ laughed. "Brian, it's okay, I promise. We're not together anymore. We split up last year but we share custody of Henry. What about you… married, kids?"
"Nah, it's just me. I've just been so focused on the job that I've never really taken the time to think about either of those. It's not that I don't want them… I don't know. I would imagine this job is hard on the family life."
"It is. It's hard to find that balance sometimes…some days it's unbearable, but I know how important the work I do is, and I just pour all of myself into it when I'm on the job, and I do the same with Henry when I'm at home."
"Thank you for being here. I'm sure if it wasn't for this case you would be back home with your son, so I'm sorry. It may not mean anything, but I do appreciate it." Brian held her gaze, hoping to convey his sincerity.
"No, it does mean something, Brian, so thank you for that."
He just smiled at her. Finishing the last bite of his sub, he realized he had done that more in the past few hours than he had in the entire two weeks since receiving the devasting news of Letty. In a way he felt guilty. Why should he be able to laugh or smile when it was his fault that his friend was killed?
JJ watched as Brian's eyes went from light to haunted in the matter of seconds. "Hey, what's wrong?" She could guess it was about Letty Ortiz, Brian's informant and one of Braga's victims. She could tell earlier that her death affected him deeply. She wondered how close they had been.
"I just… I can't help but think of how I should've handled this… the situation with Letty, I mean. If I hadn't sent her in…" He shook his head.
"How did you know her? I take it she wasn't just your informant."
"She was my friend. I don't know how much she would've agreed with that statement." He let out a small huff that couldn't quite pass as a laugh before going quiet for a moment. He could see her as clear as day, pissed at him about how things ended with his undercover assignment years ago. "I met her during a… case. Let's just say at that time cops weren't exactly her best friends, but… I like to think that over time we developed a mutual respect. I did think of her as my friend though."
"I'm sorry. I know that's hard."
"I'm sorry, too… for so many things. I should've known. I should've done things differently… I should've protected her. She didn't hesitate to jump in, she was so brave. This case, yeah, Braga needs to be charged for all of his crimes, but to me, seeing this through to the end is personal. Catching Braga means justice for Letty… at least some anyway."
"Well…" JJ wiped her hands on her napkin and reached for the next set of files. "Let's make this happen… for Letty."
"Yeah, thank you." They were down to the final four names, and they were screwed if they couldn't find the correct David Park within one of them. The sun had already started to set, so it was getting darker in the car. Brian knew if they kept this up for much longer he would have to start the car and keep the interior lights on, but just as he tossed the most recent file he had finished, JJ spoke up abruptly.
"Hey, this one looks promising. David Park, 29 years old, multiple charges related to both street racing and possession. He has multiple vehicles registered to his name, but was fined three months ago for his '98 Nissan 240 with an illegal mod."
Brian perked up, reaching for the file JJ was reading from. "Let me see that… that's it. That's him."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because that's what I drive." He threw on his seat belt before turning the key in the ignition. "Buckle up."
JJ did as she was told before grabbing onto the door while Brian peeled out of the parking lot. He obviously knew exactly where he was going, but JJ was stuck on his little comment. "What you drive? You mean the 240 itself or one with an illegal mod?" She gripped the door handle a little tighter as he made a particularly sharp turn. "Never mind, I think I can guess."
He just looked over at her and grinned, but she could've sworn she heard him mumble "Oh this is nothing, sweetheart."
