Summary: Michael's actions are mysteriously absent while Kerry learns to fly. Meanwhile Geoff makes a tough decision, Ryan and Ray go shopping, and Gavin breaks a bunch of stuff.

Chapter 13

Plan A went well. Everyone hit the booze and Ryan spiked some of the green smoothie Lindsay kept on hand. Ray was not a drinker so he hit the bong and Geoff immediately went to the whiskey upon arrival, not even bothering to wait for the others. There was a healthy buzz all around which helped take the tension out of the air. That was important to the plan: no one could suspect anything was wrong.

"Michael the Vinewood sign is important, right?" Kerry asked as Michael stood up to start ushering everyone outside.

"Yes Kerry, it is," Michael replied exasperatedly.

Kerry giggled a little, peering through Michael's telescope. "I checked it out and it's good. Gave it an ocular pat down."

"Good job," Michael said, meeting Geoff's eye roll with one of his own. "All right, so let's head out and we'll get started. Ray, you and I will go pick up the tanks. Gavin, go to your garage and get your bicycle ready so you can have your mechanic deliver it when needed."

The gang hit the street with Michael still giving instructions. "Kerry, you need to get a helicopter, preferably one that can seat four people. Geoff, you need to get a car for Ray and Ryan."

Geoff nodded and made a quick call to his mechanic.

"Should I go in the base and get a tank or call the guy?" Ray asked, watching Kerry hijack a car and drive away while Geoff fought with his mechanic.

"We'll call the guy," Michael said. "We're doing a clean sweep on this one."

"Got it," Ray replied.

"These aren't my cars," Gavin said in Michael's earpiece.

"Did you go in your garage or my garage?" Michael asked, annoyance clear in his voice. Gavin was forever going into Michael's garage. They lived in the same building and had joining garages and Gavin could not for the life of him remember which door was his.

Ryan ignored the Gavin/Michael garage debate and got in his own vehicle. "Hey Ray, you and I are going to be outside so…we're probably going to need some kind of cover…or you know…camouflage."

"Ooh yeah," Ray said, catching Ryan's meaning. Ryan needed to get Ray alone to discuss their plan of attack. They both had suspicions about Michael and they needed to make sure that they would pull through this long enough to find out if their suspicions had merit. "You uh, thinking a new outfit? Maybe masks?"

Ryan grinned to himself. "I like it! The mask will protect us."

Ray laughed and checked his phone as he received a text. It was his Pegasus contact, letting him know where they had dropped the tank. Ray groaned. He had left it right outside the damn theater where everyone and their mother could see it. Ray pulled off as the tank came into view. "Well, my guy eft this in an interesting spot."

No, no, no AH!" Kerry accelerated around a corner a little too fast and slammed into a guard rail, denting the whole front half of the car and smacking hard into the dashboard.

"Kerry you ok?"

"Everything's fine," he replied hurriedly, wiping at the small bloody gash hurriedly and backing up his now severely dented car. On the way to the airport." He couldn't let them know he crashed or that he was anything less than perfect when it came to flying helicopters. He had to save face or they'd ever bring him in again.

Geoff's mechanic finally got with the program and delivered his car around the corner from Michael's apartment, well after everyone had left the area. The street was deserted and the mechanic grumbled as he tossed Geoff the key and walked off without a word. Geoff made well and truly sure he was gone before he reached into his coat and pulled out the pre-prepared ignition bomb kit that Michael had dropped at his house the night before.

Geoff stood there for a minute, staring at the small bundle in his hands. Was he really gonna do this? Was he really going to buy into Michael's plan and blow two of his gang mates to hell? He looked at the bright pink truck before him and listened for just a bit as his gang mates did their work. He heard Michael and Ray start their tanks and stash them around the corner from the banks. He heard the whir of a chopper as Kerry completed his objective. He listened to Gavin chirp excitedly as he found his garage and his bicycle. But most of all, he listened to Ray and Ryan joke and laugh as they browsed the mask store, picking out some kind of "Army of Two vibe" mask and chatting excitedly about their plans.

Geoff shook his head. He was better than this. The plan he had agreed to in anger was quickly losing its appeal. Yes the Crew had much to answer for, but not like this. He would deal with Michael and take the traitorous little shit out if necessary, but for now, he would take the high road.

Quietly, he withdrew his pliers and cut the cords on the ignition bomb. He swiftly disarmed and disassembled it before bundling it up and getting in his car. "All right boys," he said cheerfully. "I've found you a…incredibly pink getaway vehicle. Got some sweet armor on it too."

"Good job, Geoff!" Michael said immediately.

Geoff started the car and drove off, following the path Michael laid out for him. He did take one detour, around the PCH where he hopped out of the car and hurled the kit into the water.

"The stank shirt is tempting, " Ryan said to Ray, holding the shirt up and looking at it inquisitively.

"I could get behind that," Ray said, looking around to make sure they were alone.

"All right boys," Geoff said suddenly in their ear. "I've found you a…incredibly pink getaway vehicle. Got some sweet armor on it too."

"Good job Geoff!" Michael said quickly, too quickly.

Ryan looked around carefully before adjusting his ear piece subtly. He moved the small piece protruding towards his mouth so that it pointed up and behind his ear, well away from the direction hi voice would carry. Ray mimicked him.

"Yeah, that car's going to explode," Ryan muttered quietly.

"That or we are going to get gunned down by the cops while we're covering their ass," Ray said bitterly. "How convenient for Michael huh?"

"Fuck Michael," Ryan said viciously. "I'm more pissed off that Geoff is in on it."

"You think Gavin and Kerry are too?"

"Nah, Gavin has a conscience and Kerry is too stupid."

"So what do we do?" Ray asked.

"Well assuming we live through the cops and the motorcycle getaway, we head for that burner car," Ryan said simply.

Ray frowned at him. "We'll blow up."

"Or," Ryan said dramatically, "we blow IT up first. We blow it up, go radio silent. We meet them on the beach later and pick them off one by one."

"And if we don't survive?" Ray asked, doubtfully.

Ryan grinned showing all of his teeth. "Then we fucking haunt them until we're dead." He flipped his ear pierce back into position and held up another shirt. "What about the Signs V-neck. Kinda appropriate, don't you think?"

Ray looked at the shirt and couldn't help but snort and laugh at it. "Yes. I will absolutely wear that."

After finally making his way into his garage, Gavin manged to get his bike and plant it at the spot he and Michael agreed upon. He then ran back into Michael's garage and planted his too. Michael didn't have a lock on his and Gavin hope fervently that the bike wouldn't get stolen. It was stashed randomly outside of a street car tunnel. Who would look for bikes her?

Satisfied that the bikes were set, he put in a quick call and purchased a boat. He arrange to have it delivered to the docks and started to steal a car to get there. As he prepared to break the car window, he had a much more interesting idea.

Helicopter.

It came as no surprise that twenty minutes later, the Crew heard a horrible squawk and a loud explosion ringing in their ears.

"God damnit!" Michael shouted in frustration. "GAVIN!"

"I'm ok!" Gavin yelled back.

"What happened?" Geoff asked wearily.

Gavin was treading water by the docks looking at the floating, burning wreckage of his new boat, which drifted calmly next to the sinking pieces of the helicopter. He had forgotten that if he jumped from the helicopter it would cease flying and crash into him. Oops.

"I tried to jump into my boat with style," Gavin replied slowly, bracing himself for Michael's wrath, "but uh…"

"Did you blow the boat up?!" Michael asked.

"Yeah…" Gavin said, hanging his head. "Don't worry though, I'll get another one."

Michael swore.

"Michael, that was disappointment in your voice," Kerry observed smarmily. Although really, why was Michael disappointed? This was par for the course with Gavin. Michael replied with more swearing and did not answer.

"Kerry, I'm ready for pick up," Geoff said. "I'm at Trevor's airfield.

"On my way!" Kerry replied, turning the helicopter around and flying towards the airfield. Flying the helicopter turned out not to be that bad. Taking off and maneuvering was easy. As the airfield approached and he realized that he would have to land it…well that's where things got dicey.

"You're fine," he said as he slowed the chopper and started to descend. "You're fine, you're fine, you can do this—ugh!"

The chopper jolted heavily, but he was on the ground and Geoff chose not to comment on the less than perfect landing. "Ok, the burner vehicle is on Trevor's airfield, it's impossible to miss. It's pink as dicks."

"Pink as dicks," Ryan repeated, appreciating the simile.

"Yeah," Geoff replied, hopping in the chopper with Kerry. "All right Kerry, we should probably head to Ammunation so I can pick up some ammo."

"That's a good idea guys," Michael added. "Stock up on ammo, body armor, all the gubs."

That means you Gavin, everyone thought to themselves.

Geoff leaned out of the helicopter, looking at the tree tops passing under his feet. Like literally under his feet. Like if he had stuck his foot out of the chopper, he could have dropped kicked a pine cone.

"Kerry you sure are flying low," Geoff remarked casually, feeling regret build up. Had Kerry ever flown a helicopter before?

Kerry laughed nervously and pulled at the controls. They shifted a few times, as though the helicopter was as nervous and unsure as its pilot. Eventually they rose another foot or two in the air, still not high enough for Geoff's comfort.

Geoff attempted a joke to put Kerry at ease, or himself maybe. "You know what rhymes with Kerry—scary!"

Kerry laughed again and after a few nervous shifts again, they rose a bit more. Geoff didn't like this, not one bit. "Trees are a helicopter's natural enemy, Kerry. Just…remember that!"

Back at the Binco, Ryan and Ray were trying on camo shorts and arguing about the different shades of camouflage Ray wanted. He didn't care by Ryan kept saying "clothes make the man." After much debate, Ryan realized that they were in the city and therefore needed urban camo. They moved on to shoes but really what could you match with camo?

"OH!" Ray exclaimed excitedly after a minute. "Check these out!"

Apparently leopard print shoes went with camo because Ryan and Ray exited the store sporting the weirdest amalgam of clothes a heist had seen.

Gavin had finally gotten the boat back in place and had stolen a new car to regroup back at Michael's apartment, Ryan and Ray stopped by ammunition to load up as did Geoff and Kerry while Michael double checked the tanks positions. Everything was coming together, Michael did feel some regret about what he had planned, but not enough. Ray and Ryan were liabilities, risks to his own health. He couldn't let them get him.

"I wonder if this will be the first heist that is successful." Gavin wondered out loud.

He hoped so. Michael really fucking hoped so.

The Crew regrouped at Michael's apartment, an oddly dressed R Connection on their motorcycle next to Michael in a stolen "mom car" as he called it. Gavin was still fighting through traffic and Kerry and Geoff were inbound to pick him and Michael up to head to the bank.

"We look so good," Ray said excitedly. "We're matching, we're on a motorcycle that says Teserect. We're gonna be slaying the pink!"

"Dude don't slay the pink, lay!" Michael responded. He was grateful for the tinted windows of his mom car because his face was hidden from the duo parked next to him. Despite his easy joking tone, he knew his face would give him away. He had not expected to be alone with Ray and Ryan and watching them joke and laugh, he was feeling guilty. Not enough, but it still was unpleasant.

"Kerry," Michael said as a thought struck him. "You have a four seater helicopter right?"

"Yeah," Kerry replied.

"Ok you can pick me and Gavin up and fly us over the bank," Michael said. "Gavin and I can parachute out action style!"

Gavin whooped excitedly.

"So you guys we'll stay in the air, we'll run in, Ray and Ryan will take care of the cops outside."

"Fucking kill everybody," Ray agreed.

"Got it," Kerry said, reaching in his pocket for his notepad to edit his notes. His finger met nothing. "Oh damn, I left my notes back in the heist room!"

"Kerry evidence!" Michael shouted. "Damn it!" Michael gnashed his teeth angrily. Oh well, it didn't matter. He could destroy the notes later.

"So uh…were' gonna be there in the helicopter and then…" Kerry frowned trying to remember what he had written. "…what are we doing?"

"You're gonna give us covering fire until Ray and Ryan leave and Gavin and I get to our tanks," Michael said, very, very, patiently as he tried not to yell at Kerry for his lack of detail retention. "Then you guys are going take off, try to lose your wanted level…fuck!"

"What?" Kerry asked, jumping and making the helicopter jump with him.

"Someone needs to pit a car up near the Vinewood sign for you guys," Michael said. He knew he forgot something.

"I'll do it," Kerry said, whipping out his phone. "I'll just call…um…who do I call?"

Michael face-palmed and Kerry looked over at the heist leader nervously.

"Call your mechanic," Michael said, still trying not to yell.

"I don't have one…"Kerry said, scrolling through his contacts. "I'll call the insurance company. They'll know what to do."

"GOD DAMN IT!" Michael shouted, punching the helicopter's control panel. "Kerry, you're killing me!" Michael grabbed his phone. "I'll do it. My Bifta will be up at the Vinewood sign for you."

"Sorry guys," Kerry said, hanging his head. Geoff groaned internally. He really was missing Jack on this one.

Gavin came screeching around the corner in his 500th stolen vehicle that day and started burning rubber on his back tires and doing donuts wildly in a tight circle.

Ray coughed from the smoke Gavin was laying in the street. "Gavin you are gonna pop your tires if you keep doing that."

Gavin giggled. "Oh I'm so scared for my little Prius tires," he said in a high falsetto voice. Still, he stopped burning his tires and instead hopped out of the car and onto the roof while Michael called hiss mechanic. Instead of heading for the chopper, he punched through the sunroof, grinning at the satisfying sound of broken glass.

"Wow," Ryan said dryly. "You just bare-knuckle busted that thing. How is your fist?"

"GAVIN!" Michael was done with the mechanic, his Bifta in place for Geoff and Kerry, and he had noticed that Gavin had yet to get in the chopper.

"Stop punching a car and get in the helicopter!" Geoff yelled.

"I thought you were gonna come pick me up," Gavin grumbled, jumping down and heading to the helicopter.

"Yeah we're gonna move eight feet so you can kill yourself trying an action stunt," Michael snapped to laughter from the crew.

"Good point," he said, opening the passenger door to the cockpit and pulling himself inside. "All right I'm in!"

"All right!" Michael said, his palms sweating as his pre-heist adrenaline rush started to swing into action. "Heist begins guys. Let's head for that bank."

Michael carefully avoided looking at Ryan and Ray as they zoomed past in the motorcycle. He didn't look at Geoff either, or Kerry, or Gavin, or anything in particular. Instead he looked up at the sky and focused on the risk he was taking and the betrayal he would be responsible for.

It had to work. It all had to work or he was sure as shit a dead man walking.