The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting warm hues over the sandy shoreline as Brian O’Conner and the crew settled onto the beach. Dom and Letty were already at the grill, the familiar scent of charcoal and sunscreen thickening in the warm air, while Mia and Vince unpacked a cooler of drinks. Jesse was crouched by an old radio, fiddling with dials to blast music, his excitement bubbling over as he flipped through new songs. Leon, however, had only one plan.
"Catch me on those waves!" Leon called out, already halfway to the ocean, surfboard tucked under his arm. His carefree grin was infectious, his laugh carrying over the rhythmic sounds of the waves. But Brian, lingering back from the shore, found himself holding steady in the sand. The rhythmic crash of the surf and the scent of the ocean were almost enough to tempt him in, but the sea had never been a place of peace for him. Too many memories churned up in those waves, too many things he couldn’t control.
“You’re not going in, huh?” Letty asked, noticing his hesitation as he gazed out at the water.
Brian shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Nah, I’ll pass.”
Letty didn’t press further, but Dom gave Brian a steady, knowing look. Brian’s wariness around water wasn’t exactly a secret. Surviving Hurricane Katrina had left a mark he couldn’t wash away—a deep, instinctual pull to avoid open water, a reminder of times when escape seemed impossible. But as he watched Leon paddle out, that familiar pull to look out for family edged forward.
The day slipped into a relaxed routine. The smell of grilling burgers mixed with the salt in the air, and laughter rang out as Mia and Jesse bickered over the music choice while Vince wrestled with the cooler lid.
Then, a shout echoed across the sand.
Out on the water, Leon was floundering.
At first, it looked like a typical wipeout. A massive wave swelled behind him, and Leon angled his board to meet it, but he misjudged, sending him crashing into the sea with a splash. Brian didn’t think much of it; surfers fell all the time, and Leon knew the risks.
But seconds passed. Too many seconds.
“Where is he?” Jesse squinted, a shadow of concern flickering across his face.
“Maybe he’s just catching his breath,” Mia offered, though the worry in her voice betrayed her words.
Brian’s instincts kicked in, every fiber of his body alert. The hairs on his arms stood on end as he scanned the water. Something was wrong. Leon should have resurfaced by now.
Before he knew it, Brian was on his feet, sprinting towards the waves. The roar of the ocean filled his ears, blending with the faint shouts from his friends behind him. He plunged into the surf, the icy water slicing through the warm sand's memory, a sharp reminder of where he was headed.
“Brian, wait!” Dom called, starting to follow, but Brian was already chest-deep, fighting through the current.
Every step into the water tugged at memories he tried to forget—the rising floodwaters, the frantic struggles, the helplessness of the storm. But Leon’s face in his mind’s eye drowned out the fear, locking him into focus.
He spotted a flash of movement beneath the surface and dove, the cold engulfing him. Panic flared, sharp and instinctual, but he pushed it aside, focusing. His hands swept through the water until his fingers brushed against Leon’s arm.
Leon wasn’t moving.
With all the strength he could muster, Brian pulled Leon up, breaking the surface with a gasp. He slung Leon over his shoulder and swam, every stroke fueled by adrenaline. By the time he staggered onto the sand, the others had rushed to meet him. Dom’s face was pale, Letty’s hands trembled, and Mia’s gasp was muffled behind her hands.
“He’s not breathing!” Mia’s voice cracked, panic edging each syllable.
“Back up. Give me space!” Brian ordered, his voice steeling as he lowered Leon to the ground. The emergency responder in him took over, blocking out the chaos around him. He tilted Leon’s head back, feeling for a pulse—nothing.
The world faded as Brian began chest compressions, his hands moving automatically. The sounds around him blurred into a distant hum as he pressed down on Leon’s chest, counting each compression. Every few beats, he leaned down to breathe into Leon’s mouth, willing him to come back.
Come on, Leon. Breathe.
The seconds stretched painfully. The crew hovered nearby, Dom pacing, Vince knelt beside Mia trying to keep her steady, and Jesse stood with his hands on his head, unable to look away.
And then, just when the silence felt like it might last forever, Leon’s chest jerked. A sputter, then a cough, water spilling from his mouth as he gasped for air.
“He’s breathing!” Brian announced, relief flooding him. He rolled Leon onto his side, guiding him as he coughed up more water, his breaths coming in sharp gasps.
Dom dropped to his knees beside Leon, his hand gripping his shoulder. “You scared the hell out of us, man,” he said, his voice thick with relief.
Leon, still groggy, managed a weak grin. “Just… keepin’ things exciting.”
Brian let out a shaky breath, collapsing back into the sand. His heart was pounding, his body aching, but Leon was alive. That’s all that mattered.
As the sun dipped lower, casting soft purples and pinks across the sky, the crew sat together in the sand. The beach day hadn’t gone as planned, but it had reminded them of what mattered most—family. And as they leaned on each other, silent but together, they knew that whatever challenges came their way, they’d face them as one.
YOU ARE READING
Through the storm
Fanfiction"As storms rage outside, both literal and emotional, Brian grapples with his past trauma while striving to support his loved ones through their challenges."
