16th April- Los Angeles, United States
Toretto house
Dom’s POV
“These stairs are going to kill me.” I groaned as I slowly forced my way up them.
“What are you an old man?” Brian laughed as he followed me up with my hospital bag.
“Some days I feel it O’Conner, some days I feel it.” I winced as I paused on the top step.
“You all good?” Brian asked seriously as he stopped beside me.
“Yeah. I swear there never used to be that many steps.” He laughed as he left my side and started towards mine and Letty’s room.
I had spent a full week in hospital and they had wanted me in for more time but I had put my foot down and all but begged to go home. I was done with hospitals. Indefinitely.
“Where is everyone?” I finally asked as it occurred to me how quiet the house was.
“Um…” Brian trailed off and I was instantly suspicious.
“Brian…” I pushed.
“They’re at the garage…”
“As in DT’s?” I whispered.
“Yeah. It’s in worse shape than the house. Hobbs came around a couple of days ago and handed us the paperwork. It’s in your name still, like the house but I think he feels bad about you getting shot on his watch.”
“And he’s trying to impress Lotty.” I finished.
“Well that thought had crossed our minds a few times.”
“Shit. When we bargained to come home I never imagined coming back to this place or the garage.” I spoke lightly looking around.
“Yeah Hobbs has really gone all out.”
“Where’s Letty?”
“She’s at the garage, with Mia and the girls. You made me promise not to tell her you were getting released. Which by the way when she came home last night from visiting you she seemed to be under the impression the doctors were keeping you in longer.” I shrugged but it was now my turn not to look at him.
“Dom you were released weren’t you?” He pushed harder for a honest answer and I shrugged.
“I signed myself out.”
“Dom.” Brian scolded and I raised an eyebrow at him in return.
“Sorry. Practice for when Lexie’s a teenager.” He grinned and I laughed then winced.
“Ah fuck, ok no laughing. Let’s go meet everyone.”
“But seriously brother don’t you think you should do what the doctors told you to do? You know, stay in bed? Like a recovering shot wound patient would do?” He asked as he followed me back down the stairs. Why I had come up these stupid things I had no idea now but it was less painful to walk down them then up.
“No. I’ve been in a bed for a week. I’m done with bed rest.”
“Okay but it’s your funeral not mine when we get to the garage because I am not letting your sister and your girlfriend go ape shit on my ass. I’ve said my bit so whatever happens next is all on you.”
“Actually do you think we could make a stop off before the garage?” I asked as I made it to the bottom of the steps.
“What kind of a stop?” He asked suspiciously.
“A secret kind. Get Lotty on the phone for me will ya?” I asked as we walked out of the house.
“Uh okay… Where exactly are we going?” My brother-in-law asked again.
“A lawyer.”
“A lawyer… ah is there something I should know?”
“Nope, just drive.” I grinned watching as he grumbled under his breath. I had spent all week thinking about this and I knew if I wanted it to happen, then I needed to get started now.
16th April- Los Angeles, United States
DT’s Garage
Letty’s POV
I screwed my nose up at the smell of engine grease and eased backwards towards the open window. I had been like this for over three hours now, cringing and gagging whenever the smell got too much. Why I didn’t just take Ava and go to the hospital to see Dom I had no idea. It could have had something to do with the fact that she was totally engrossed with Tej, sitting on the work bench as he talked cars with her. She was gunna be a grease monkey. I could already see the ‘look’ on her face.
“You all good mama bear?” Leon asked as he finished off clearing a nearby work bench.
“The smells getting to me.” I mumbled.
“You should head home. We don’t need you here.”
“And take her from her fun?” I asked pointing over to Ava.
“Nah she’s good here. Besides you could use a rest.’
“I’m pregnant not disabled.” I muttered again.
“Seriously Let go home.” He spoke softer this time and I knew he was begging. I looked like shit. I had barely slept more than two hours in the whole week and for the first three nights I had kept all the house up with my nightmares. After that I refused to sleep for long periods, Leon was happy to stay with me but it wasn’t fair on him, Elena and especially Dom or myself. He wasn’t who I wanted comforting me. I had to learn to do this on my own.
“I’m good. It’s almost lunch time anyway so I’ll offer to take the lunch run.”
“Okay if you’re sure but I still think you should go home, or even to the hospital to see Dom. These fumes can’t be good for you.”
“Dom and I agreed for me to go tonight. He said something about tests, I wanted to be there but he wanted me here.” I shrugged half-heartedly.
“Everything will be fine.” Leon spoke, dropping a kiss on my head before wandering off, yelling as he went for lunch orders.
“And this, this belongs in the engine. Without this the car doesn’t work.” Tej whispered to Ava secretly and I couldn’t help but smile as I made my way over to them.
“CAR!” Ava squealed and I smiled wider as I watched her eyes light up with excitement.
“What’s uncle Tej teaching you?” I asked as I stopped beside her.
“Car.” Ava smiled cheekily at me as she held her arms out, waiting impatiently for me to pick her up.
“All about cars huh?” I asked with a smile.
“She’s gunna be a natural.”
“Oh yeah, don’t we know it.” I shared a laugh with Tej before grabbing his lunch order.
“Right I’ve got everyone’s orders let get out of here for a while.” Mia bounded up to me with Lexi in tow.
“I wonder how Rosa and Elena are getting by with the shop?” I spoke quietly as we walked down the street in comfortable silence. Along with the garage Hobbs had also gotten us back the shop. It was run down, a complete mess with graffiti and vandalism but it was still part of us and selling it didn’t sit well with any of us. To get it up and running though was going to be a huge job, probably harder than the garage.
“They said they got most of the rubbish out now, and Roman, Tego and Ricco went over about two hours ago to give them a hand. It seems a shame we’ll have to gut the entire place.”
“It didn’t really bring in a lot of business back then, maybe after it’s refit it’ll draw some crowds.” I spoke as we walked towards our old eating place- Fat burgers.
“Still can’t believe this place is still up and running.”
“I know, especially after we all left town. We brought them in a lot of business.” I laughed as I adjusted Ava on my hip. She was getting almost too heavy for me to carry this way anymore. A few more months and I just wouldn’t be able to do it.
“Feeling okay?” Mia asked casually.
“I’m okay.”
‘How much sleep have you gotten?” She asked out right and I sighed.
“Not a lot. I don’t like keeping you all up at night so I’ve been staying up, sorting through old photos and letters.”
“Letty.” Mia scolded but I just shrugged.
“It’s not fair on any of you to keep you all awake with my demons.”
“You should have told me. I would have tried to help.”
“I know Mia.” I gave her a soft smile and she returned it reluctantly.
“Um don’t take this the wrong way but have you thought about counselling?” She asked as we walked into the busy fast food shop.
“It’s crossed my mind a few times recently. I just don’t know how to start.”
“Well maybe you should start off small, you know do a session or two with Dom.” She offered as we waited in line.
“As in couples counselling?” I asked confused.
“Well yeah, I mean I know you guys have talked through some of your problems but maybe you guys could use a little bit of help. Especially with the whole Michelle thing.” She spoke softly and I sighed. Yeah that was kind of a big one.
“Yeah, yeah it might help.”
“When we get back to the garage we can look up a nice nearby counsellor on the computer, then when you’re ready to make the next step you know who to call.” She offered supportively and I smiled slightly.
“That would be nice, thanks Mia.”
“That’s what sisters are for.” She grinned and we shared a laugh.
“Speaking of sisters, when are you and Brian going to give Lexi a sibling?” I asked jokingly as she laughed.
“If Brian had his way I would be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen right now as we speak but this little miss here is enough for me right now. Who knows maybe should continue with the tradition.”
“Tradition?” I asked confused.
“Yeah you have this one and then I’ll have one another five months apart. They could Ava and Lexi juniors.” She laughed and I joined in with her.
“Yeah well I hate to tell you but after this one, that’s it. I think I’m done with kids.” I smiled as she looked horrified.
“Letty no you and Dom have to give me at least three nieces or nephews. You guys make such cute kids.” She begged, even going as far to pull out her puppy eyes.
“That shit still doesn’t work on me.”
“No but you know who it does work on? My brother.” She smirked before walking up to the counter to order.
“Your aunt does not play nice.” I whispered to Ava as she grinned, wrapping her hand around my dog tags as she rambled along to herself.