Some old Volkwagen*Fast and Furious*

Chapter 10 - Doorbell, Part 2

She didn't know how long he'd been standing there and she didn't realise the door was once again bouncing off Brian's shoe - but Dom caught it before it could whack her head. She couldn't figure out the look in his eye, he seemed slightly astonished. Then he gripped her wrist so firm it almost hurt and pulled her out of the way and slightly behind him. Then he opened the door and stood square in front of Brian - who hadn't seen him before, since the door had been blocking his sight. "You've got some weird kinda courage, O'Connor, turning up here like that. Or is it a death-wish?" - Brian held his palms up, backing away. There was real fear in his eyes and Nelly tried to hold Dom back via the strong grip he still had on her arm. She wanted to tell him he had to go before Brian was calling for back up, but for some reason she couldn't get a single word out. By now the others had also noticed something was wrong and started to fill up the small hall. Mia pushed through and when she saw the officer, a choked "Brian?" escaped her lips. Dom half-turned towards the guests. "Movie's over," he just stated and they shuffled out past Mia, Dom, Nelly and Brian. Some of them threw angry looks at the cop; Vince even jostled him in passing.

"You here to arrest me?" Dom asked and Nelly felt him shaking from containing rage. Brian sighed. "If I had wanted to arrest you, I'd have come with back-up; I ain't stupid, Dom." - At that, Dom just lifted his eyebrows disdainfully. "Why are you here, then?" - "I'm trying to help. But you will have to let me come in - I won't talk about this in the street for everyone to hear." After a few seconds that seemed to last long as ages, Dom finally let go of Nelly's wrist and pulled Brian in by his collar. He used so much force that Brian almost stumbled over the step. When Dom let go of him, Brian straightened himself and took his time pulling his t-shirt to rights. All the time there was a glint in his eye, as if he were a school-boy annoying a teacher on purpose. - "Kitchen," Dom just said and then "Sit," when they had all found their way into the small room. Sitting round the table - Dom opposite Brian - Dom asked again: "Now. What do you want?" - Brian sighed. "There've been police-cars with valuable cargo that have been stolen..." - Dom jumped up without warning and sent his chair flying a meter backwards. "You ain't pinning that on me, O'Connor! I've been stealing no cars, not anything since I've been back in town!" - Brian had stood up as well, he was shouting now, too. "I'm not! If you would listen for one second, I am not trying to pin it on you!" It was silent again, but Dom didn't sit back down. Brian's eyes flickered over to Mia, who looked like a child torn between two things. Or perhaps not, to Nelly's mind her expression was a lot more desperate than any child's should ever be.

Brian sighed. "Look, those cars have been stolen and the police think it was you. And regarding the whole truck-thing, you can't blame them for suspecting it," he added with a hint of anger to his voice. "Anyway, the thing is they don't have proof. They sent me to get back into your favours and get a confession." - Dom crossed his arms, frowning. "And you think this is the way to get it? You think I'll just admit to something I haven't done? - Or have you brought a recording device with you hidden in your pocket and hoping I'll just tell you tonight, in the spur of the conversation? - Now that I you're back in my favours," he scoffed. - "No," Brian defended himself vehemently. - "Then why are you here?" - "I told you. I want to help." - Dom shook his head, his face a cold mask. "And why would that be," he asked without making it sound like a question. Brian sucked in a deep breath. "Because my last year has been a huge pile of shit! - Yes, I was admitted back into service even after letting you go, but that's about it! Police records never forget and in every department I've been in, every boss I've had since then, they always look at me with that pity and contempt in their faces and I know very well they all think I should have been dishonourably discharged or something. But I ain't kissing their feet to try and make up 'for what I've done'. I'm tired of being made feeling guilty about something I... something I don't regret." Brian seemed surprised at himself when the last words left his mouth - as if they were true, he'd just never realised it before. "But you see, Dom, you've made some pretty fierce enemies during the last two years. The police want to arrest you and should they ever succeed, they will pin everything on you. As revenge, because they believe it was you and because you can't prove it was not you."

The room was very quiet again; Nelly didn't know what to make of Brian's story. He sounded honest, but she wouldn't be stupid enough to trust him because of that. After a while, Mia leant forward, towards Brian, ignoring Dom's warning look. "What are you, Brian? - Are you the cop pretending to be one of us? Or are you one of us pretending to be a cop?" Her voice was slightly higher pitched than usual and her eyes were cold, but Nelly knew Mia still loved this guy. She just knew. Brian lifted his shoulders. "I guess that sort of depends on you guys. See, the police don't expect immediate results from me - re-gaining one's trust does take time, after all. But Mia's right, I can't be both. So if you decide to cast me out - I won't risk my career a second time. Now that I have laid all my cards open like that, I won't ever get a confession, but then I'll have to try and arrest you, Dom - for real this time." - Dom glared at him and all muscles - that had started to relax slightly - were tense again. - "Don't look at me like that, it's neither threat nor blackmail. You know better than I that you could run away from me where I'd never find you. Or at least where it would take me very long to find you. So you need not worry. But if here's no place for me, I can't ruin the only other option I have." And then, suddenly, Brian grinned. "Or of course, you could take me back."

*Hi guys, what do you think about Brian's return?! Do you believe his story?! Loove, Jazzlin xxx*