Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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Tej was playing poker, but it was a good thing it was a dollar night. His mind wasn't on the game or even the conversation his friends were having, and he knew they could tell it because he was losing in a pretty major way.

Julio was just glad to have a chance for a change in their weekly poker game and was obviously smug he'd won two hands so far. He was shooting Tej a glance once in a while but mostly just talking with Suki and Jimmy. Julio had stuck around even after Tej told people to clear out, and Tej let him because Julio was family. He and Jimmy met Julio even before they bought the lot for the garage, and he had been right there helping out ever since. Julio and his family knew a lot of people and had made it a lot easier for Tej and Jimmy to settle in and make Miami home.

Jimmy kept giving Tej little sidelong looks, but he didn't say anything about how quiet and serious Tej was because they had already talked a little bit earlier. Tej didn't give him any details, but he knew that Brian was on the way and that he had been through something that had Tej worried about him. Jimmy was the best friend Tej had ever had besides Brian and he knew Tej almost as well as Tej knew himself. Jimmy knew that Tej had worked so hard to be the best on the circuit because he had a goal in mind, a plan that was worth anything to him, and he knew that Brian was at the heart of it in a very literal way. Tej had told him about Brian years ago when Jimmy first noticed that Tej seldom even looked at the women who threw themselves at him after he started winning on the circuit.

Suki was trying to pretend everything was normal, but her eyes had glittered with anger while she listened to Tej talking to Brian to give him directions, and she was still pissed twenty minutes later. Suki didn't want Tej getting too close to her, she hadn't even let him really kiss her yet, but she was possessive as hell if he tried getting close to anyone else. Usually it wasn't a problem, Tej was stupidly hung up on her and didn't even look at other girls, but Brian was a completely different story. She had seen him talk to Brian on the phone twice now, and he had been affectionate enough both times that she was already pissed at Brian even though she hadn't even met him yet.

Tej wasn't really thinking about Suki just then either, though. He was remembering when Rick called him the night before and worrying about Brian. Brian hadn't said anything to Tej about being fresh out of prison, just told him he needed to get out of California, but Rick had told Tej more than he really wanted to know about what Brian had been through in the last year. He had no idea what kind of shape Brian would be in when he got there, but was ready to do anything he had to do to make Brian feel safe even if that meant turning the garage over to Jimmy for a while and taking Brian out to a quiet little rent house he owned on the Gulf coast. Jimmy would understand.

Tej had been brooding about what Rick told him all day, and by the time he knew Brian would be getting close, he was expecting the worst. He hadn't forgotten what Brian was like when he moved to Glendale after juvie, remembered all too well how sad and withdrawn he had been and how he'd shy away from being touched and never got close to people he didn't know well, especially men. Brian had grown to trust Tej close to him within just a few days but it had been weeks before Brian would let the guys who worked with him get within arm's reach without tensing up and backing away.

Tej thought Brian might be able to trust Jimmy, who was so calm and always cheerful but never got too close to anyone, but he fully expected Brian to avoid everyone else. Rick said he'd been spending almost all his time locked up in a garage with his Mustang unless he was racing, and that Brian always came back from racing exhausted and looking kind of haunted, which made Tej really worry about him. Brian was like him, his favorite thing in the world was driving fast, and for even that to be an effort meant Brian was truly messed up.

Tej heard a big engine approaching and looked towards the sound, eyebrows going up a little at the sight of the sexy silver Mustang that was pulling into the lot. He grinned, wide and pleased as the car rumbled across the lot towards one of the bays in the garage, and Tej didn't even notice the others talking to him as he dropped his cards on the table and stood to head for the Mustang. He barely noticed the car anymore once it moved into the bright lights, his gaze on Brian's wide grin and sparkling blue eyes.

After talking to Rick he had expected anything but to see Brian looking happy. Brian hardly seemed to be watching where the car was going, his gaze on Tej as he parked and opened his door to get out, and Tej was beaming as he crowed, "Twinkie!"

Brian laughed, bright and joyful, and Tej couldn't stop himself from hugging Brian tightly. Brian hesitated an instant before he was hugging back, but Tej wasn't sure if he had imagined it as Brian picked him up and swung him around, sounding fond as he murmured, "Hey Swiss Roll."

Tej laughed, pulling back just enough to see the wide happy grin on Brian's face. He had expected Brian to be a little different, but he was surprised by how much more muscle Brian had now and how easily he was holding Tej up off the ground. Brian acted like Tej was light as a feather, holding him tight and giving him that grin that always made Tej want to call him a goofball. He looked older, but if anything he was even more beautiful than Tej remembered, and being in Brian's arms again felt so much like coming home that he had to fight the urge to just start kissing him and forget the rest of the world.

Brian was still grinning wide and goofy as he stared into Tej's eyes, and Tej couldn't do anything but grin back as he decided to just try to forget what Rick had told him, teasing Brian, "Man, that is so racist!"

"Oh, and like callin' me Twinkie ain't," Brian replied, still grinning and holding Tej up so his feet were off the ground.

Tej felt like it had been forever since the day he left Brian behind to go on the circuit. His plan had always been to ride the circuit roller coaster for a few years and invest everything he could in their future then go back for Brian, though he never told Brian that because he didn't want to disappoint him if it didn't work out. The crash had forced Tej to walk away from racing before he was ready, but it had left him so messed up it took him a long time to feel like he wouldn't just be a burden on Brian if they did get back together. He was finally recovered enough and settled, though, had finally found them a home where he thought they could both be happy, and as he hung there in Brian's arms looking into his sparkling eyes, Tej felt like it had all been worth it.

"You are a Twinkie, Bri," Tej pointed out, grinning, and then he let himself kiss Brian for just a moment before he swatted his shoulder. "Now stop bein' an ass and put me down."

Brian snickered and finally put Tej down, blue eyes bright with laughter. "Whatever you say, Swiss Roll."

Tej let out a snort of a laugh, grinning at Brian as he stepped back mostly so he wouldn't forget to keep his hands to himself. "It took you the whole drive to think of that one, didn't it, baby boy?"

"Maybe," Brian admitted, laughing slightly.

"For damn sure," Tej corrected, grinning wider.

Brian finally noticed Julio, Jimmy, and Suki then, but he didn't seem worried at all as he watched them approaching, and Tej decided right then that he'd have to call Rick tomorrow and give him a piece of his mind for making Tej worry so hard. Brian was doing fine from all he saw, much better than when he got to Glendale despite Rick's gloom and doom about worrying Brian was at the end of his rope. Brian had never been able to hide anything from Tej and he couldn't even begin to fake that happy sparkle in his eyes.

Suki stalked over to stand next to Tej, hooking her arm possessively through his and giving Brian a flat stare. "Baby, who's your friend?"

Tej smirked at Suki's transparency even though he was ready to step between her and Brian if he had to as he said easily, "Suki darlin', this boy is the white bread version of me. We go way back to right after high school. Name's Brian, but I just call him Twinkie 'cause he's all golden and buff on the outside, but inside he's all sweet fluffy whiteness."

Julio and Jimmy started laughing at that, and even Suki giggled a little, but Tej saw her angry eyes didn't change at all as she stared at Brian and he was sure she'd be causing trouble soon. He just hoped she had really listened to him when he told her to be careful of Brian because he'd been through Hell.  He didn't give her any details, but he had made it as plain as he knew how that if she hurt Brian he'd never forgive her. Tej had never expected to fall so hard for her, but he still had no doubt of what he'd do if she made him choose.

"Nice to meet you, Brian," Suki said then, trying and failing to seem friendly.

Brian smiled at Suki and seemed not to notice her anger as he said cheerfully, "Hey Suki. My friends call me Bri, mostly, but sometimes people call me Bullitt." He reached out to pat the Mustang he was still standing next to, grinning. "I think it's the car."

Jimmy moved closer to the Mustang, barely glancing at Brian before he went back to looking admiringly at the car, and Tej smirked a little wider. Jimmy loved classic American muscle and Tej could tell he was impressed. "She got Nos?" Jimmy asked as he stepped past Tej and Suki like they weren't even there.

Brian laughed, watching Jimmy duck his head to look in the driver's door. "Yeah, she's got everything. And you are?"

"That's Jimmy," Tej said with a laugh. Jimmy really looked at Brian then, and Tej could tell he was a little embarrassed he had mostly ignored Brian in favor of the car. "He's the best mechanic on the east coast, even with me an' you here."

"Damn," Brian said with a grin, eyebrows going up. He grinned at Jimmy, offering him his hand as he said, "Glad to meet you, man."

Jimmy shook Brian's hand, smiling quickly at him. "Same, bro." He jerked his thumb at the Mustang, looking hopeful. "Care if I pop the hood?"

"Nah man, go for it," Brian said easily. "If Tej trusts you, that's enough for me. Just don't change anything, I got her right the way I want her."

Jimmy grinned, obviously pleased. "Deal." He reached in the car to pull the hood release and then quickly moved to the front of the car, and Tej could tell he was already sliding into the zone where nothing mattered but the car.

Tej chuckled and looked at Brian, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement. "He'll forget we're even here now."

Brian grinned. "Gotta remind you of somebody."

"Yeah," Tej said with a laugh. "You! Jimmy don't drool on sexy cars, though. He just talks to 'em."

Brian grinned and didn't deny it, instead nodding towards Julio. "You ever gonna introduce your other friend, Tej?"

Tej laughed and pulled away from Suki, turning to grab Julio's arm and pull him past her. "This here's Julio, better known as Orange Julius. He's shy, white boys in sexy American muscle scare him."

Julio laughed and shoved Tej. "And you're full of shit, Tej." He gave Brian a slight nod. "Hey man. Heard Tej talkin' about you some the last few days. He says you're the best."

"Nah man," Brian said instantly, "Tej is the best. I just do okay." He smirked. "Win more than I lose."

Julio's eyes looked a little surprised when Brian said Tej was the best, but he was still smiling as he said easily, "Can't wait to see you prove it. I'm plannin' to bet on you when you run his Skyline, she is gonna be sweet."

"Oughta be a good investment," Brian agreed, still grinning, and then he caught Tej's eye. "You got somewhere safe I can park my baby so I can get some shuteye? I've been up like thirty hours and I'm beat. I'll find a place to live tomorrow."

Tej snorted. "I already got you a place to live, baby boy."

Tej ignored the way Suki stared at him. He loved her more than any other girl he ever knew, enough that he'd bought a ring for the first time in his life, but he refused to change his relationship with Brian to please her. Tej had just wanted to hear Brian's voice when he started looking for him, needed to make sure he was happy and safe and set Tej's mind at ease before he asked Suki to marry him, but then he heard Brian's voice and everything changed. He had been inviting Brian into his life again without even stopping to consider what that would mean for him and Suki, but thinking about it later hadn't changed his mind. Suki would either have to accept how much he loved Brian or Tej would return the ring and learn how to live without her again. It would hurt like Hell to lose her, but if she made him choose, she was making the choice for him.

Tej stepped closer to Brian as he added, "Just chuck Jimmy your keys and come with me. He'll lock your lady up in the bay I promised you when he's through checkin' her out."

Jimmy leaned around the hood to look at Brian, who laughed and tossed him the keys. "Watch her if you take her out," Brian said as Jimmy caught the keys. "She likes to fly."

Jimmy grinned. "I bet, she's sweet."

"Thanks," Brian said, grinning smugly as his blue eyes sparkled bright with happiness. "I did it all myself, even the paint."

Jimmy eyebrows rose in surprise. "Tej wasn't joking about you being good. I couldn't have done much better."

Tej felt pleased and smug that Brian had gotten Jimmy's respect so quickly. He vividly remembered when he started teaching Brian about cars, beginning with where to put the oil and how to change the filters. Brian had been scarily good behind the wheel even then, but he knew nothing about what went on under the hood when Tej met him.

"You're gonna have to tell me sometime what you'd change." Brian leaned into his car to grab the duffle and the paper bag laying in the back seat and then looked back at Jimmy. "I'm always glad to learn from another pro."

"Sure," Jimmy agreed, and he was so obviously pleased by the idea that it made Tej grin. "Tomorrow?"

That he was willing to show Brian any of his tricks was enough to tell Tej that Jimmy had already decided he liked Brian. Other mechanics had kissed up to Jimmy for years on the circuit to try and learn his tricks, but Jimmy had seldom let them even watch him work and never offered to teach them anything.

Brian smiled as he replied easily, "Sounds good, just not early. I'm prob'ly gonna sleep half the day. I'm beat, I haven't even seen a bed in a few days."

Tej reached out then to put his hand at the small of Brian's back as he said cheerfully, "Then let's get you into one, baby boy." He gave Brian a gentle push to start him walking, smirking at the little grin Brian gave him. He had seen that grin a thousand times before and it sparked the same heat and need that it always had, making Tej suddenly in a hurry to get Brian alone. He didn't even glance back as he waved vaguely at the others with his free hand and said, "Night, y'all. Lock up when you're done, Jimmy."

"Sure, boss," Jimmy agreed, sounding surprised, and Tej was sure Jimmy hadn't expected him to be quite so open about sleeping with Brian. It was sure to cause him some trouble, mostly with Suki, but Tej wasn't going to live a lie, especially not in his own home. He wasn't ashamed of anything he had ever done with Brian.

Tej didn't look back as he ushered Brian towards his houseboat, still smirking slightly and pleased by the look he had seen in Brian's eyes. After Rick called him earlier, Tej had expected anything but to see Brian so happy and relaxed when he pulled in. Rick had warned Tej to be very careful with Brian, told him Brian had spent the last year going through hell in Chino and it left him broken and scared of being touched even by his own dad, but Tej wasn't seeing it. Brian seemed to welcome Tej's touch just like he always had after they got to know each other, which was completely the opposite of what Rick told Tej to expect and made him wonder if Rick was just trying to keep him away from Brian for some reason. Brian hadn't gotten close to Julio, it was true, but Julio hadn't tried to get near him, and Brian didn't hesitate to shake hands with Jimmy, easy and cheerful about it.

Brian stepped down onto the boat and then stopped and looked at Tej, smiling but not saying anything. Tej stepped down onto the boat with Brian, moving close and then murmuring with a soft smile, "I missed you so damn much, baby."

"I missed you too," Brian agreed quietly, "every day." He swayed closer and leaned down to kiss Tej, soft and sweet, and when he pulled away he was smiling crookedly, blue eyes shining even in the moonlight. "I'm glad I was so worried for nothing."

Tej's eyebrows rose. "What were you worried about?"

"If it would be the same," Brian murmured, his smile fading away along with the light in his eyes. "I spent the last year in Chino and it...  made juvie seem like summer camp. I wasn't sure I would be able to stand being touched at all until you hugged me." He licked his lips and then admitted, "It still feels like coming home."

Tej lifted his hand to Brian's jaw, enjoying the way Brian moved slightly into his touch and trying not to let Brian see how it hurt to realize that Rick might not be completely wrong after all. Brian's eyes had lost their sparkle and gone dark and sad, and Tej wondered when Brian had learned to hide his feelings so well, and more importantly why. It hurt to think that Brian was hiding what he was really feeling, and hurt even more that Brian had been made to feel like he should hide. Even right after juvie and losing Rome, Brian had always been as transparent as glass, every emotion plain in his eyes for anyone who cared enough to really look.

"I felt the same way," Tej murmured gently after a few moments as he stroked his thumb across Brian's cheek, grateful that at least there was still no fear in Brian's eyes when he looked at him. He wasn't sure he could take it. "I'm glad you still feel safe with me."

"I do," Brian said softly, leaning a little more into Tej's touch. "Safer than I have in a long, long time."

"I'm glad, baby," Tej murmured. "If I do anything you're not comfortable with, I expect you to tell me."

"I'm sure you'll know," Brian admitted softly. "I've... been kind of a wreck." He closed his eyes, rubbing his cheek against Tej's palm as he whispered, "I almost forgot what it's like for being touched to feel so good."

Tej swallowed hard, needing a moment to get control of himself as he blinked quickly a few times, and then Brian's eyes opened to look at him. Tej smiled softly at Brian, sure Brian could see the pain in his eyes but trying to ignore it as he slid his hand around to the back of Brian's neck and murmured, "Then it's way past time I remind you, baby boy." He tugged gently and Brian didn't resist at all, letting him pull Brian down into a slow, loving kiss.

Brian let out a soft little sound after a few moments, sounding almost like it hurt, and then he pulled away suddenly. Tej let him go and watched, concerned that he had triggered a bad memory, but Brian just looked around and then dropped his duffle and the paper bag into the chair beside the nearby doorway. He stepped closer to Tej again without a word then, pulling Tej into his arms as he leaned down for another kiss.

Tej smiled against Brian's lips, relieved and resting one hand on the side of Brian's neck as his other hand settled on Brian's hip, encouraging him to stay close. Brian deepened the kiss after a few moments, and he groaned softly at the way Tej just opened up and let Brian take control, responding hungrily but not asking for anything more than Brian was offering so freely.

They stood there kissing in the moonlight for what seemed like forever to Tej before Brian finally pulled away, breathing hard as he stroked one hand over Tej's back and just stared into his eyes. Tej licked his lips, loving the warmth and need he saw in Brian's eyes as he pressed closer to rub against the erection that was nudging at his belly. Brian's hips jerked slightly against him as Brian gasped, and Tej smirked as he kissed under the corner of Brian's jaw and then licked up to his ear and whispered, "Think you could do somethin' for me, baby boy?"

"Anything," Brian breathed out softly.

Tej bit Brian's earlobe gently, enjoying the way Brian shuddered as his cock twitched against Tej's belly between them, then he murmured, "It's been way too damn long since you fucked me."

Brian groaned softly and pulled back, and Tej barely got a glimpse of Brian's hungry blue eyes before Brian was kissing him like he might devour him. Brian's hands slid down to his ass a few minutes later, stroking and squeezing, and Tej let out a low purr as he tried to press even closer, sucking at Brian's tongue. Brian kissed him hungrily a moment longer and then suddenly slid his hands lower, grabbing Tej's thighs to lift him up high enough his legs were against Brian's sides just above his hips.

Tej laughed into the kiss, ignoring the sudden ache in his bad knee and moving to wrap his arms around Brian's neck as he looked down into Brian's eyes. "Getting impatient, baby?"

Brian licked his lips and then grinned at Tej, starting to walk into the darkened boat. "Tell me you got a bed on this thing."

"I do," Tej agreed, smirking. "Straight ahead, baby."

Brian barely glanced around the dimly lit living room of the boat before he stretched up to kiss Tej again, walking quickly towards the curtained doorway across the room. Tej reached back to shove the curtain aside when it hit his back, tongue stroking against Brian's, and he had just realized Brian wasn't going to stop when Brian ran into the bed and then they were tumbling onto it, both laughing as they bounced. The moonlight streaming in the open blinds on the canal side of the boat was enough to give them light to see by, and Tej was glad to see the light was back in Brian's eyes, making them sparkle.

"Found it," Brian murmured, grinning wide and happy down at Tej.

Tej smirked and was opening his mouth to suggest they should get rid of their clothes when Brian kissed him again, slower and more gently than before. Tej let out a low pleased purr, hips lifting to grind up against Brian, who shuddered, his hips moving slightly in response, and then he pulled back to stare down into Tej's eyes as he murmured, "We forgot to get rid of the damned clothes."

"I was gonna suggest that about the time we fell on the bed," Tej agreed, smirking up at Brian as he lifted his hips in a slow dirty grind again.

Brian groaned, thrusting against him, and then he kissed Tej hard before he pulled away, rolling off of him. He sat up to drag his t-shirt up and off as he murmured, "You keep that up and you'll be waiting until round two for me to fuck you."

Tej's smirk shifted into a wide, pleased grin, unzipping his coveralls as he watched Brian stand to kick off his shoes and start unbuttoning his pants. "I don't remember you having such a hair trigger, baby."

"It's been a long time since I was with someone I really wanted." Brian didn't look at him, pushing down his cargo shorts and underwear and then kicking out of them as he admitted more softly, "The last time was with you."

It had been most of four years since they were together, and Tej hated realizing that Brian had been alone all that time. He had been sure Brian would find someone new after he left, sure he'd be okay, but he realized finally that he'd been lying to himself. Brian was the kind of person who thrived on knowing he was loved and wanted, and it hurt to think of him having to live without that for a few months, much less years. Tej had no idea how Brian had managed to survive a year in Chino with no one waiting for him, nothing to look forward to afterwards but being alone. It was no wonder Rick said he was a wreck.

Tej wanted suddenly to be sure Brian knew how he felt and he scooted to the edge of the bed, shrugging impatiently out of the top half of the coveralls when they fell against his arms and then reaching for Brian's hand. "Baby, look at me." Brian turned towards him, blue eyes gone dark and pained, and Tej wasn't at all surprised that Brian's erection had faded. Thinking about Brian so hurt and alone had killed the mood for him, too. "The last guy I was with was you too, Brian. You're the only guy I've even wanted since the day I met you."

Brian's grip tightened on Tej's hand and he looked away, trying to blink back sudden tears as he whispered roughly, "God, I wish you were the last guy for me." He looked at Tej again, his eyes shining and wet. "I lost count in Chino."

Tej stood, ignoring the way his coveralls slid down to the floor as he reached for Brian to pull him into a hug. Brian curled around him, hiding his wet face against Tej's neck as he held on tight, and Tej closed his eyes against tears of his own as he said, "I'm so sorry, baby."

Tej had thought he was doing the right thing, leaving Brian in Reseda with Rick, but he felt suddenly like he should have made Brian go with him no matter how much Brian disliked the circuit. He had believed Brian was doing fine without him right up until Brian gave up racing, and even that he had convinced himself wasn't a bad thing, not after he called an old racing buddy who told him Brian had nearly died crashing the Trans-Am. Tej had thought he understood when Brian went into the Academy for Rick after that and began to pull away, sure Brian wouldn't be able to give up racing if Tej was still reminding him of it all the time, and he had tried hard to do like Brian seemed to want him to do and let him go. It had hurt more than anything he had ever done except for driving away from Brian to start with.

Brian let out a soft little sad sound. "None of it was your fault."

"Still sorry it happened," Tej murmured, stroking Brian's hair and holding him close. "And I'm sorry I made you think about it."

"I'm gonna think about it," Brian replied softly, pained and sad. "Mostly it's been all I could think about unless I was busy with my car or racing." He shuddered slightly, admitting in such a soft whisper that Tej could barely hear him, "Sometimes I just want it all to be over."

Tej pulled back, moving his hand from Brian's hair to his jaw to make Brian look at him and praying Brian didn't mean that like it sounded. "You weren't thinking about it a few minutes ago."

Brian's expression softened as he murmured, "No, nothing mattered then but you." He pressed closer, kissing Tej softly, then pulled back to meet his gaze again. "You always could make me forget everything else."

"Then I'm fallin' down on the job right now, baby," Tej murmured, moving his hand to the back of Brian's neck to pull him down into another kiss.

Brian kissed him slow and easy and Tej didn't try to rush him, just going with it and letting Brian explore his mouth like they might spend the rest of the night kissing. He wanted more, had been wanting Brian back in his arms and his bed ever since he had to leave him behind, but nothing was as important to him as what Brian needed from him. If kissing was what Brian needed, then Tej would go with it and enjoy every moment of it.

Brian's hands began to roam again after a few minutes, stroking over Tej's bare back and then lingering over the scars, exploring with his fingertips in a way that made Tej shudder. Brian pulled back, looking at Tej with concern as his fingers stilled and he murmured softly, "Do the scars hurt still?"

"Not anymore, baby," Tej murmured with a soft little smile. It wasn't completely true, but what Brian was doing didn't hurt at all so he didn't feel bad about it. "Some places are still pretty sensitive, though. In a good way."

Brian smiled suddenly, blue eyes going warm. "Good." He kissed Tej again, fingertips ghosting along the edge of the scars again, and Tej arched slightly into Brian's touch with a soft low groan when Brian found an especially sensitive spot. Brian chuckled into the kiss, fingertips stroking and circling across the ridge of smooth skin as Tej's grip tightened on him and Tej pressed closer, sucking hungrily at his tongue with a little needy sound. Brian teased him a moment longer and then moved on, tracing down over the scars all the way to Tej's hip and then pushing Tej's boxers down to let them fall before he palmed Tej's ass, rubbing and squeezing gently as Tej let out another soft little hungry sound.

Tej broke the kiss after a moment, muttering, "Such a fuckin' tease."

"Love touching you," Brian replied softly, kissing him again. "Those noises you're making get me so damn hard."

Tej bit Brian's lower lip gently, then murmured with a smirk, "Promise I'll be noisy when you fuck me too, baby boy."

Brian let out a low pleased hum, kissing Tej hard and hungry, then he murmured with a wicked little grin, "Prove it."

Tej laughed. "Love to." He pulled away to sit on the edge of the bed and untangle the coveralls from around his boots as he murmured, "Go grab the lube off the kitchen counter, baby."

"Seriously?" Brian asked quietly, surprised and amused. "The kitchen?"

Tej looked up, grinning as he untied his boot and loosened the laces so he could get it off. "Told you there haven't been any guys since you, and damn few women, for that matter. I didn't even have rubbers or lube until today." He dropped the boot and then his sock, switching feet as he smirked at Brian. "They're still in the bag with the other stuff I got."

Brian stepped closer, leaning down to kiss him quickly, sucking at Tej's lower lip, then he pulled away to walk into the kitchen, grinning. "Scary how special I feel that you bought them just for me."

Tej watched him go, trying not to think about the pale scars littering Brian's skin as he teased, "You're not gonna top all the time, baby. I plan to use some too." He noticed Brian was still wearing his socks and grinned as he looked down and dragged his boot off and then his own sock, remembering so many nights that Brian had ended up naked in his bed except for his socks. They hadn't bothered with condoms for long before, not after they got tested together at a clinic so they could stop wasting money on them, and he wondered if they would be making a trip for that again soon.

"Looking forward to it," Brian said as he walked back into the bedroom, looking serious again. Tej worried for a moment that he had spoken aloud before Brian added more softly, "I can't wait for you to remind me what it's like to be with someone who loves me."

"Next round, then," Tej murmured, smiling again.

Tej wanted to distract Brian from remembering what it had been like with other men, and it only took him a moment to decide how. Brian had been used badly in Chino, but there was one thing Tej could do that he was pretty sure would have no memories of Chino at all attached to it. He reached out to grab Brian's hips and tug him closer as he leaned to lick the tip of Brian's cock, making Brian gasp as it moved against Tej's lips. He moved one hand to hold Brian's cock steady and licked across the tip again, enjoying the low noise Brian made.

"Not that I'm complaining," Brian murmured huskily, "but I didn't think you wanted to suck me off first."

Tej smirked up at Brian and then sucked the head of Brian's cock into his mouth, tongue swirling against the underside as Brian groaned softly, then Tej sucked hard as he pulled off with a wet pop. "Just making sure you're good and hard for me, baby boy."

Brian let out a strangled little laugh, watching Tej with desire and something more making his blue eyes intense. "That's not gonna be a problem."

Tej grinned. "Good, 'cause I want you balls deep in me like five minutes ago."

Brian bent down to kiss Tej hard and hungry, earning a low groan from Tej after a moment, then Brian pulled away and murmured with a smirk, "Then get your fine ass the rest of the way up onto the bed unless you want me to do you right here."

Tej laughed softly, giving Brian's cock a twisting pull that made his hips move slightly, then he kicked out of his coveralls and boxers and scooted back to get comfortable against the pillows. "C'mon, baby."

Brian tossed the bottle of lube and the box of Trojans onto the bed by Tej's hip and then climbed onto the bed, and Tej spread his legs gladly for Brian to move between them, sitting up as he reached for Brian to pull him into another kiss. Brian was smiling as he pressed closer, pushing Tej back down onto the bed without ever breaking the kiss as Tej let out a low pleased purr and shifted to brace his left foot on the bed and grind up against him.

Brian groaned, hips flexing, then pulled back and grinned at Tej. "Can't wait, huh?"

"I been waitin' for this for years, baby boy," Tej said with little smile. "Now I got you here, I'm fed up plumb full with waitin'."

"Gonna be full of something else soon," Brian promised, kissing him again and then settling back onto his heels as he reached for the lube and started to unwrap the plastic outer seal off the cap.

"Promises, promises," Tej murmured, smirking as he grabbed the box of condoms to get one out.

Brian watched him toss the box into the floor next to the bed, smiling as he drizzled lube onto his fingers and asked softly, "Is your knee gonna bother you?"

"Nope," Tej said firmly, sitting up and leaning to kiss Brian quick and hungry. He smirked at him, opening the condom and then reaching for Brian's cock, stroking it firmly a couple times and then starting to roll the condom on as he murmured, "Gonna put that leg over your shoulder this time. As long as I'm not bending the knee too far it oughta be fine."

"Good," Brian murmured, shuddering slightly at the sensation as he watched Tej putting the condom onto his cock.

Tej took the lube from Brian and slicked up the condom, smirking at the soft little noise Brian made, and then he capped the bottle and dropped it by the condoms in the floor as he settled back on the bed again. Brian reached for Tej's right leg, helping settle it on his shoulder, and then leaned forward against it as he looked at Tej and murmured, "Gonna take my time fingering you, since it's been so long."

"Probably a good idea," Tej agreed, reaching for Brian to urge him to lean down more as he murmured with a smirk, "I'm still bendy, though. Get down here."

Brian grinned and leaned more against Tej's leg as he glanced down to get his fingers lined up and then met Tej's gaze again and let Tej pull him down as he murmured, "Always loved this part." He kissed Tej then, licking into his mouth to explore as his fingertips stroked against Tej's ass for a moment before he pressed one finger into him slow and easy.

Tej hummed into Brian's mouth, enjoying the slow deep kisses Brian was giving him, but after Brian teased him with just his fingertip for a few minutes, twisting and stroking without going in deep, Tej was getting impatient and trying to lift his hips. He remembered then why he had never liked putting his legs on Brian's shoulders. With Brian leaning against his right calf and thigh he had pretty much no leverage, making him have to let Brian do as he said he wanted to and take his time. He braced his left foot against the bed and tried to thrust up anyway, but all he managed to do was just lift Brian too.

Brian chuckled, sucking gently at Tej's lower lip and then murmuring teasingly, "Getting a little impatient, baby?"

"Try a lot impatient," Tej corrected with a soft laugh. "I'm not made of glass, damn."

"Glass wouldn't be so hot and tight," Brian agreed, smirking. He pressed his finger deeper, earning a low groan from Tej as he added, "I'll stop teasing you so much, though."

Tej's back arched as Brian's finger flexed, stroking across that spot inside him and triggering a spike of pure pleasure that made him gasp. Brian chuckled softly again, leaning down to kiss Tej as he twisted his finger and then rubbed against Tej's prostate again, this time going more slowly and making Tej shudder and moan into his mouth. He began to really work on stretching Tej then, pulling his finger back to go back in with two, and Tej was soon making soft little hungry noises, his hips moving with every flex of Brian's fingers as Brian kept going back to that spot.

Brian pulled back to watch after a few minutes, blue eyes intense and hungry as he watched the way Tej arched, groaning soft and low. He didn't tease at all anymore after that, fingers flexing and spreading several times before Tej met his gaze and growled softly, "Fuck me already."

"Okay," Brian agreed quietly, leaning to kiss Tej quickly as he tugged his fingers free and then pulling back a little as he shifted on the bed.

Tej felt Brian's cock nudging against his ass a moment later and then groaned as it slowly slid into him, his back arching as he tried to lift his hips. Brian began to pull back and then thrust in again slow and easy, going a little deeper each time, and Tej was barely aware he was speaking out loud as he murmured, "Missed this so fuckin' much."

"Me too." Brian was watching Tej intently, loving the intense pleasure on Tej's face and the way Tej was trying to move to meet every flex of his hips. "So perfect."

"Yeah," Tej agreed, reaching up to grab the back of Brian's neck and pull him down into a hungry kiss. Brian began to relax his careful control and put a little more muscle into it, and Tej was making soft noises with every thrust when he felt Brian's hand close around his almost painfully hard cock. He moaned at the doubled sensations of Brian thrusting balls deep into him, every stroke dragging against his prostate, and Brian's strong work-roughened hand jerking him off. Brian came with a shuddering groan a little while later and then Tej was following him with a low ragged whine, hips flexing with each pulse of his cock.

Brian leaned down to kiss Tej after a few moments, both of them still breathing raggedly, and then Brian was pulling away. Tej made a low unhappy noise when Brian pulled out, then Brian was gently lowering his bad leg to the bed as Tej finally noticed his knee wasn't exactly happy with him. He tried to ignore the pain, concentrating on Brian instead as he watched Brian tug off the condom and then move off the bed. "Where you going, baby?" Tej asked softly, concerned.

"Be right back," Brian murmured with a quick little smile, and then he was walking out of the bedroom.

Tej shifted his bad leg to get more comfortable, wincing at a stab of pain in the knee as he flexed it, but once he had it settled just right the pain started to fade and he relaxed. He was just starting to think he should go after Brian when Brian walked back into the bedroom with his duffle in one hand and a wash rag in the other. Brian dropped his bag in the floor and then moved to kneel on the side of the bed near Tej, smiling lovingly as he reached out to run the warm damp rag over Tej's chest and belly, cleaning up the pale streaks Tej hadn't really even noticed until Brian was already wiping them away.

"Thanks, baby," Tej murmured softly, smiling. Usually Tej had been the one to handle the clean up after sex when they were together, and it wasn't the kind of thing Tej would have willingly let anyone else do for him, but with Brian it didn't bother him. He shifted his good leg to let Brian get to his ass easier, unable to keep back a soft noise at the feel of the washcloth against delicate skin that was still hyper-sensitive, and then Brian was tossing the rag towards the hamper in the corner.

Brian leaned to kiss him slow and easy, and when Brian finally ended the kiss he pulled away only a few inches, staring into Tej's eyes as he said quietly, "It's crazy that I just came and kissing you makes me already want you again."

"If that's crazy, baby, we can be crazy together," Tej murmured, smiling as he reached for Brian to tug him closer.

"God, I missed you," Brian whispered, moving to kiss Tej so lovingly that it made Tej's heart clench in his chest and he let out a low noise that was almost pained.

Brian finally ended the kiss a moment later, and Tej gently brushed back Brian's shaggy curls as he whispered, "Stay with me, Brian."

"Got nowhere else I want to be tonight," Brian murmured, leaning to kiss him again and then giving Tej a sweet little smile.

"I wasn't talkin' just tonight, baby boy," Tej murmured, stroking Brian's jaw lightly with his fingertips. "I've missed you so damn much, you have no idea. Hardest thing I ever did was leavin' you."

"No, I think I know," Brain disagreed, leaning into Tej's touch. "It was just as hard letting you go. I was proud of you and so happy that you got your dream, but I missed you so bad after you walked away."

Tej pushed up off the bed with his free hand, drawing Brian closer with the hand on his jaw for another slow loving kiss, then he whispered, "I won't ever leave you behind again, Brian."

Brian just smiled, blue eyes sparkling bright as he kissed Tej again instead of trying to talk, and it only took Tej a few moments to decide Brian had the right idea.

Talking was overrated.

~*~*~

It was nearly two the next afternoon when Tej and Brian finally got hungry enough to leave the bed, heading for the garage and walking in one of the open back doors. Brian hesitated just inside the door as he looked around, surprised and obviously unsure.

Tej moved closer to look past Brian as he rested his hand reassuringly at the small of Brian's back and checked who was there, not really surprised to see so many of the regulars. Word had surely circulated already that Tej's new driver had arrived, and it wouldn't surprise him at all if half the racers in the city knew Tej had spent the night with him, too. If they didn't before, they would soon. Suki was there with her girls and they were the biggest gossips in Miami.

Julio was there at one of the tables with Jack, Jack's girl Rachel, and Suki's friend who helped out with the computers, Kali. A few of Suki's girls were leaning into her Honda nearby watching as Suki did something with the computer, Michelle next to her in the passenger seat leaning over close to watch too. Rico was in the wash bay but he wasn't really doing anything, just standing there with a bottle of SoBe and supervising as Rabbit waxed Jack's car. Jimmy was looking under the hood of a dark green GTO out in the open bay, talking quietly with someone Tej didn't recognize as he inspected the car's engine with a practiced eye.

Tej looked at Brian as he moved up next to him and saw Brian's uncertainty, blue eyes a little wary, and he immediately murmured, "Why don't we take your pony out, baby boy, go get something to eat?"

Brian looked at Tej, smiling suddenly with a relieved look in his eyes. "Sounds good, I'm starving."

"Then that's what we'll do," Tej murmured, smiling warmly at Brian, his hand still on Brian's back. He glanced towards the private bay in the corner behind the wash rack, which he had built into the garage just to keep his personal racing car secure, and smiled a little wider when he saw it was open with Brian's gleaming silver Mustang parked neatly next to the darker gunmetal grey Skyline, which looked very ordinary in comparison. He looked towards the GTO again calling out, "Hey Jimmy! What'd you do with the Mustang's keys?"

Everyone looked towards Tej and Brian then, most of them looking surprised, but Tej just looked at Jimmy and pretended not to notice it or the way Brian shifted a little closer to him. "I still got 'em," Jimmy called back, "just a sec." He looked at the guy who was standing close by, murmuring something to him, then walked quickly towards Tej and Brian.

The garage had fallen silent as Jimmy walked over to them and Tej was sure Jimmy was just as aware as he was of the way everyone was listening interestedly. Jimmy smiled at Brian when he got close, reaching into his pocket for Brian's keys and then holding them out as he said, "I filled the tank and topped off the fluids while I was checking her out her last night, she was a little low on coolant."

"I crossed a lot of desert the last few days," Brian replied as he accepted the keys, smiling. "What did you think of her?"

Jimmy grinned. "You did awesome on her, Bullitt. She is choice."

Brian grinned at Jimmy, pleased and seemingly forgetting their audience. "You really think so, man?"

"Wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," Jimmy said quickly, grinning a little wider. "She handles like a dream, and you're gonna have to show me how you got her jumping up off the line like that, it's wild."

Brian laughed, blue eyes brightening. "She's got a trunk full of tools and spare parts. All the extra weight is popping the front end up any time you really kick her right now." He grinned. "She'll do it empty, too, but you gotta work harder for it."

Jimmy laughed. "I'm still gonna hold you to showing me your tricks, brother. I saw a lot under her hood I want to know more about."

"Glad to," Brian agreed, still grinning wide and happy, and Tej said a silent little prayer of thanks for Jimmy. "I'll be wanting to learn from you too, though. Tej tells me you're the best there is."

"I'm good," Jimmy admitted, smiling, "but there's still stuff I got to learn." He jerked his head towards the Mustang. "She's proof. You've done some stuff on her I never seen before."

"There's a lot I don't know too," Brian pointed out. His grin faded away, and Tej wondered what he was thinking about. "Guy I used to know was raised on ten second cars. He taught me most of his tricks and I used them all on her."

Jimmy grinned. "Whoever he is, he taught you good. That pony is definitely a ten second car."

"She'll do nine if I get everything exactly right," Brian admitted. "Back in the day, Tej could have probably gotten eight out of her. I'm not fast enough for it."

Tej laughed. "Don't even front, baby. You beat me near as often as I won when we raced each other."

"That was the cars, though," Brian said. "You kept giving me the faster one to run against you."

Tej grinned a little bit wickedly. "I like how excited you get when you win, baby boy."

Brian grinned. "You should get me in some races, then. Haven't lost yet in the Mustang."

Tej smirked. "Oh yeah. I gotta get you on the street."

"You know me," Brian murmured, grinning wider. "Just tell me when and where you want me and I'm there."

Jimmy laughed and said softly, "Something tells me you're not talking cars anymore, which makes that my cue to go back to work." Brian blushed slightly, laughing, and Jimmy smirked at Tej. "Go on, boss. Get him out of here. I got things under control."

"Thanks, Jimmy," Tej said easily, smirking. "Remind me to give you a raise."

"What would I do with more money?" Jimmy asked, laughing as he turned away. "Let me borrow Bullitt later instead, I want to hear what he thinks of the Skyline."

"It's a deal." Tej was grinning as he gave Brian a little push towards the private bay, adding more softly, "C'mon, baby. I'm starving."

"Me too," Brian agreed, starting towards the Mustang with a pleased grin and not even thinking anymore about the way people were still watching them.

~*~*~

Tej was sprawled in his favorite chair at his table late that night, smiling as he watched Jimmy and Brian leaning under the hood of the Skyline together, deep in discussion about something. He couldn't hear them, but he didn't need to. Brian was in the zone and so was Jimmy, and nothing existed for them for the moment except for the car and each other, and he was glad to see it even if it meant they were ignoring him completely.

Tej had been glad to see Brian didn't mind the crowds while they were out having lunch at his favorite barbecue place out by the beach, and by the time they returned to the garage most of the people loitering there had cleared out. Jimmy had told Suki in front of her girls that Tej and Brian would be gone all day and she had stormed off in a tizzy, taking the girls with her. Jack and Julio had left soon after that, bored with hanging around without the girls to watch, and when Tej and Brian returned it had been just Jimmy still there working. Rico and Rabbit only handled washing cars and doing tires or routine maintenance Jimmy and Tej didn't want to be bothered with, and there were none on the roster for the day so Jimmy had sent them off in Tej's pickup to hunt down several parts for the Skyline.

After lunch Brian and Tej had spent half an hour or so unloading the crates of tools and extra parts for the Mustang out of her trunk into an empty corner of the private bay. Brian was getting quiet and a little tense by the time he and Tej sat down at the table after they unloaded the Mustang, though Tej wasn't sure why, and then Brian had surprised Tej by quietly asking him to put him to work so Brian could get out of his head. Tej didn't argue at all, relieved that Brian had told him what he needed, and headed over to where Jimmy was replacing the head gaskets on the GTO he had been looking at that morning. Half an hour later Brian was under a pale green Civic he had up on one of the lifts, relaxed and calm again as he worked on the suspension while Tej sat at the table nearby with his laptop, taking care of paperwork.

Jimmy had noticed the change in Brian while he worked too, and after Brian finished the Civic he hadn't bothered to ask Tej before he pointed Brian towards a Nissan 240SX that was in to have a problem with the cooling system fixed. Tej had finished his paperwork soon after that and picked out a car to work on too, and the rest of the afternoon and evening went by quickly for them all. Tej had glanced over to check on Brian often and usually found him working with that little half smile that Brian always got when he was in the zone, oblivious to everything but the car in front of him, and by the time they were done for the day Tej was planning to have Jimmy make sure there was always something around the garage for Brian to work on when he needed it.

Tej was so absorbed in watching Jimmy and Brian talk that he didn't hear a car pull up into the lot, so it surprised him when Suki was suddenly in front of him, upset and looking like she had been crying. "Baby girl, what's wrong?" he murmured, concerned. "Are you okay?"

Suki stared at him a moment, her unhappy frown fading into confusion, then asked softly, "What do you even want from me, Tej?"

Tej stared at Suki a moment and then stood and offered her his hand. "We obviously need to talk."

Suki hesitated and then finally took his hand as she said softly, "Alright."

Tej led her towards the back of the garage, calling a little loudly, "Suki and I need some time to talk, baby boy. You stick with Jimmy, I'll be back."

Brian and Jimmy both looked up, surprised. "I'll be here," Brian agreed with a quick smile. "Take your time, we're just getting started." Jimmy just grinned and nodded and went back to whatever he had been talking to Brian about, and Brian looked back at Jimmy as he listened, intent and curious.

Tej led Suki out to the party barge and sat in one of the chairs, turned mostly sideways with his bad leg stretched out, his left foot tucked up under him in the chair. "Have a seat, Suki darlin'."

Suki sat down in the chair he was facing, frowning again. "I'm not your darling anymore, not if you're sleeping with him."

Tej sighed softly. "I was always honest with you. I told you about him when you asked if I had ever been in love." That was actually what had made him decide to find out where Brian was and if he was alright. He paused, considering how honest to be, and then decided he'd rather know her reaction now and added quietly, "Me and Bri, we got a lot of history and I won't ever just forget that we were together for a couple years, Suki. I'm not made like that."

"So what, you just expect me to share you?" Suki asked, upset. "He breezes into town and decides he wants you back and I'm just supposed to be your girl on the side, all smiles while you're fucking him every night?"

"It's not like that," Tej said, frowning. "And it's not like you're really with me anyway. You've turned me down every time I tried to get a date with you."

Suki glared at him. "I'm not sleeping with anyone who expects me to share him."

"Brian just got here," Tej pointed out quietly, trying hard not to get mad too. It wouldn't help, he knew. "What was your excuse for tellin' me no when I wanted to take you out last week?" He snorted softly. "Or last month? You hang around here tellin' everyone that I'm your private property, but you're so busy with your girls you won't even go to lunch with me. I even tried beggin' you and I never begged anyone else for anything in my damn life."

Suki glared at him a few moments longer and then her shoulders slumped as she settled back into the chair, looking away at the water. "You never even look at other girls. I... thought there was time for us to get on the same page."

"I'm not even sure what book you're readin' from," Tej said more gently, making her look at him. "I got not prayer of figurin' out the page you're on unless you start talking to me."

Suki just gazed into Tej's eyes for a little while before she finally said sadly, "You'd probably think it was just a silly romance novel anyway."

Tej smiled crookedly, thinking about the ring box hidden in his only pair of dress socks. "For the right person I can get pretty silly and romantic myself, baby girl."

"But is that me or him?" Suki asked, her eyes starting to shine a little too brightly. "Or someone else I won't know about until they show up?"

"There's no one else, Suki," Tej said, quiet but firm. "Never has been, not really. You're the only girl I want." He paused and then added more softly, "And there's never been any other guys, either. Just Brian."

"So you really do expect me to share you with him?" Suki asked softly, lifting one hand to wipe at her eyes.

Tej couldn't do anything but be honest and hope she loved him enough to try to understand. "I hate myself for hurtin' you even a little bit, but right now he needs me a lot more than you do." He hesitated and then added softly, "He's hidin' it pretty good most of the time, but they broke him, baby. If I don't help him get past the shit that he went through this last year, help him remember all he has to live for, I'm afraid we might lose him."

"What happened to him?" Suki asked, wiping her eyes again.

Tej hesitated and then murmured, "You can't tell anyone, okay?"

Suki nodded. "Promise. Not a soul."

"Brian just got out of prison and they hurt him really bad in there," Tej said softly, pained and sad as he looked away. "He's near as scarred up as I am, they were so rough on him." He looked back at Suki. "He told me last night that he had forgotten what it was like to be touched and have it feel good, baby. The last time was with me, and that was years ago." He swallowed hard, blinking a few times to clear his eyes and glad the tears stinging them didn't quite fall, then murmured, "He just needs me so damn bad right now. I can't turn away."

Suki stared at him for a few moments, wiping her eyes again, then finally whispered, "Okay, baby. You do what you have to do, and I'll try not to hate either of you for it."

Tej reached for her hand, tangling their fingers together. "I'm sorry it hurts you. I just...  I gotta try and help him get past this, baby. He's the best friend I ever had."

"Is that all he is?" Suki asked, wiping her eyes again with her free hand. "'Cause from where I'm sitting, it's looking like he's the one you're in love with."

Tej couldn't lie to her. "I fell for him right from the start, baby girl." He tightened his grip on her hand. "Just like I fell hard for you that night you were broke down and I happened to go by." He wanted to make her understand, but he wasn't sure how other than being honest. "It's not about lovin' him more than you, baby. He just needs me takin' care of him right now, more than he even realizes he does, and I made him a promise a long time ago that I would always be there for him when he needed me."

Suki stared into his eyes for a few moments and then suddenly let go of his hand and stood as she said softly, "Baby, right now I need for you to hold me. Can you do that for me?"

Tej was surprised, she had barely even let him hold her hand yet, but he didn't hesitate at all as he turned in the chair to put his left foot down, holding his arms out to her. "Of course I will, darlin'. Gladly. Come here."

Suki sat sideways in his lap without a word, draping her legs up over the arm of the chair and sliding her arms around him as she laid her head on his shoulder.

Tej wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, savoring the chance to finally hold her as he whispered softly, "I'm so sorry for all this, baby. I do love you, I don't even have words for how much, but I just can't turn my back on him."

Suki was still and quiet for long enough he didn't think she was going to answer at all, and then she whispered, "I love you too, Tej."

Tej closed his eyes, tightening his arms around her slightly. He had hoped she felt the same way, thought maybe she really did, but it was still a relief to hear her say it. "Long as we remember that, we can get through this."

Suki nodded slightly and then they were silent and still, just holding on to each other.

Tej wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but he knew one thing like he knew his own name.

He didn't want to lose Suki or Brian.

~*~*~

Tej was sprawled in bed with Brian's cheek in the middle of his chest right over his heart later that night when Brian asked softly, "Why were you and Suki crying earlier?"

Tej stared up at the ceiling, running his fingertips slowly along Brian's upper arm as he replied quietly, "She was upset, and you know me, baby boy. I don't let people I love cry alone."

Brian lifted his head then and Tej met his gaze as Brian said quietly, "Yeah, I did know that. Now you can answer the question. What was she crying about?"

Tej sighed softly. "She didn't understand. She got it in her head that me sleepin' with you meant I don't really love her."

"I thought so," Brian murmured, pained. "I'll move up into the garage tomorrow."

"No, you won't," Tej said firmly, frowning. "You said this morning you slept better here than you have in years."

"I did," Brian admitted quietly, "but you love her. I won't make you lose that."

"I love you too," Tej pointed out, "and besides, me and Suki straightened it out. She understands that I need to take care of you right now, and it's not like me and her are really together anyway."

"I don't want to hurt her, Tej," Brian said softly, sad and pained.

"Just give it some time," Tej murmured. "She'll be okay, baby."

Brian looked into his eyes for a few moments and then said quietly, "A few days, but if she's not doing better by then I'm getting my own place."

"If one of us needs to go, then I'll go," Tej corrected. "I already have a house a few miles from here, I just haven't been bothering to go there." He moved his hand to stroke Brian's hair, adding softly, "And I want you here where you feel safe, baby. I can sleep anywhere."

"Alright," Brian agreed, laying his cheek against Tej's chest again. He was silent for a few minutes before he murmured, "She and I should be family, Tej."

"You will be," Tej replied quietly, stroking Brian's hair again and praying that he wasn't lying to him.

~*~*~

Tej slept with Brian again the next night, but Suki was obviously upset the next day and Brian felt so bad that Tej let himself be talked into going to his house the fourth night Brian was in Miami.

Despite what Tej had told Brian about sleeping anywhere, he couldn't sleep at all and laid awake all night in his empty house, missing his boat and the quiet sounds of the water and the way it rocked him to sleep right up until he finally ended up dozing off just before dawn. He had remembered to set his alarm and made it to work just before they opened at ten, and then he had a good day working with Brian, who stuck close to him and seemed to be doing fine, smiling and relaxed all day.

Suki was smiling too when she came in late that evening and Brian quickly made himself scarce, working on rerouting some wiring in the Skyline to make room for the Nos system they were going to add. Tej and Suki had talked quietly together for over an hour before she left for the night, and she seemed to be doing a lot better with everything even though she caught him watching Brian work several times.

Tej considered the day a win and went home smiling that night even though he really wanted to be with Brian on his boat instead. He still couldn't sleep, though, and he forgot to set the alarm too so he woke up well after eleven, tired and grumpy. He was on the way to the garage when he saw Suki's car parked at a Starbucks and decided he desperately needed coffee and some food. It was almost noon by then anyway, and he figured he could afford half an hour to have some breakfast.

Tej parked his pickup next to Suki's car and walked inside to order a triple espresso and a cinnamon roll, then walked over to sit with her where she was at a table drawing. He was pleased by how glad she was to see him and enjoyed the chance to just be with her for a little while, lingering over the cinnamon roll and his coffee while they talked. He didn't realize how long they had been talking until she told him she had to go and he realized he had been there over an hour. She had to get to her mom's nail salon to help out with a special client who wanted something fancy for her fingernails, which was what she had been drawing. She kissed him before she left, the kind of kiss that left him half hard and wanting a lot more, and he climbed into his truck grinning and thinking that maybe sleeping - or really not sleeping - in that empty house was worth it after all.

It was well after one when Tej parked his truck at the side of the garage and headed inside, still grinning and feeling pretty pleased with life for the moment even if he was several hours late. He was the boss so he was allowed, and he knew Jimmy didn't need him anyway. Jimmy didn't much like running a garage by himself, he preferred being a mechanic and leaving the rest to Tej, but Jimmy could do it all in his sleep when he needed to. He had been the one to teach Tej how to run the place.

Jimmy was near the back of the garage under the hood of a distinctive yellow and purple Chevy Luv pickup that had the hardtop off. He was reaching down into the guts of the truck with Brian on a mechanic's dolly underneath it at the same time, and Tej wondered what the problem was. He had just worked on the Luv, which belonged to Julio's older brother Oscar, a few weeks earlier. Oscar kept having trouble with the truck randomly just refusing to start the last time and didn't want to work on his own truck after working all day as a diesel mechanic, so Tej had Julio bring it in and traced it pretty quickly to a faulty solenoid. The truck started right up a dozen times after he replaced it, so he had sent Julio to take it back to Oscar and hadn't heard anything else about it.

As Tej walked further into the garage he realized Michelle was crouched next to the Luv talking to Brian, and the expression on her face made him sure that whatever she was there about, it was nothing good. Michelle said something then that he couldn't hear, but whatever it was it made Brian roll out from under the Luv and then walk away quickly, heading out of the nearby back door.

"You need to go," Jimmy said firmly, giving Michelle a hard glare that made Tej frown. He wasn't sure he had ever seen Jimmy mad before, but he definitely was now. "Just get the Hell out of my garage."

"You may think it's okay he's helping Tej cheat on her, but I don't," Michelle said pointedly, glaring right back at Jimmy.

Jimmy snorted. "Suki's done nothing but turn Tej down since he met her. If she wanted Tej, she should have said something before he was taken."

"She did, Jimmy," Michelle said angrily. "Everyone knows she's crazy about him!"

"Does she know you're here?" Tej asked suddenly, making Jimmy and Michelle both look at him in surprise. He realized they hadn't noticed him walking up then, but he didn't care as he frowned at Michelle, waiting for an answer. He had seen Suki texting a few times while they were talking, and he wasn't sure what he would do if she had sent Michelle to harass Brian while she kept Tej busy away from him. Just the idea made him angry at her.

"She's been too busy crying her eyes out all day to care what I do," Michelle said sharply, glaring at Tej.

"Bullshit," Tej said with a snort. "Suki's not crying, you damn drama queen."

"Fuck you, Tej!" Michelle said quickly, angry. "How would you know anyway? You've been too busy fucking around with some random guy to care what she's going through because of you."

"I know because I just ate lunch with her," Tej said dryly. "And going by the kiss she gave me after we left Starbucks, she can't be too upset with me. I can still taste her caramel macchiato."

Michelle stared at him as Jimmy said suddenly, "I don't even care what Suki wants." Michelle and Tej both looked at him in surprise as Jimmy gave Michelle a hard look and said firmly, "I meant what I said, Michelle. Get out."

"You can't kick me out, it's Tej's garage," Michelle said quickly, scowling. "You're just the hired help!"

"If Jimmy wants you out, you get out," Tej said firmly. "Going by the way Brian reacted to whatever you said to him, you want gone before I find out what it was anyway."

"She called him a whore," Jimmy said, still annoyed. "And you got ten seconds to get out, Michelle, then I'll throw you out."

"No, fuck that," Tej said, scowling and angry. "Try two seconds, bitch, before I forget I don't hit women. Nobody treats him like that."

Michelle glared at Tej and then turned away without a word and stalked quickly out of the garage.

"And don't come back," Jimmy called after her.

Michelle flipped Jimmy off and then got into her little Tracker and drove away.

Jimmy looked at Tej then and said quietly, "You're gonna have to have another talk with Suki, boss, find out if she was behind that. If she was, she doesn't need to be around here anymore either."

Tej stared at Jimmy, surprised. "I always thought you liked Suki."

"I like Brian more," Jimmy replied very quietly, "and he needs you." He turned back towards the Luv, adding in a more normal tone, "You should go find him. I still can't figure out why this truck only starts about half the time, but Bri said he's seen the same problem before."

"Sorry," Brian said quietly, walking quickly past Tej towards the truck, and Tej realized he had been right outside. Brian moved back to the dolly, not looking at Tej or Jimmy as he laid down on it and rolled back under the Luv. "Last time it was a loose wire that had gotten scraped down to the copper somehow. Every time the truck hit a bump the wire would shift, and when it was touching metal it would short out the solenoid and starter."

"That actually makes sense with how it's been acting," Jimmy said, making a face. "Only problem is there are half a dozen wires to check that could do that, and they run all over."

"Yeah, you might as well go work on something else," Brian agreed. "It might take me hours to find it."

"I'll help, baby," Tej said quietly, moving towards the Luv.

"If we all look, it'll go faster," Jimmy pointed out, leaning into the side of the hood to get a better view as he reached in to start tracing the ground wire from the battery down with his fingertips, feeling for damage.

Tej moved to the front of the hood to start doing the same thing without another word, checking the wires that ran down to the solenoid. He was going to have another long talk with Suki the next time he saw her, but he didn't want to stop then to call her. She didn't interrupt him while he was working, and he tried not to bother her either. Her job took a lot of delicate skill, painting tiny intricate designs on fingernails, and the last thing she needed was to worry about her cell phone.

~*~*~

Brian was quiet the rest of the day, losing himself in working on anything Jimmy or Tej pointed him at but not saying a whole lot. He was avoiding having to talk at all when he could, and when they did make him talk he didn't have much to say, keeping his attention completely on work.

By the time Suki pulled her Honda into the garage just after eight, Tej was pretty worried about Brian, but the worry was turning into anger at Michelle and even Suki. Tej noticed the Honda just before Suki parked it near his table, and when he realized Michelle was in the passenger seat, he forgot all about the paperwork he had been doing. He jumped up to stalk towards Suki's car as he said angrily, "Oh Hell no."

Suki stared at him, shocked and confused as she said, "What, baby?"

Tej ignored Suki, glaring at Michelle as he said firmly, "Get the fuck out of my garage, woman. You make me tell you again and I'm calling the goddamn cops."

Michelle looked at Suki instead of making a move to leave, and Suki gave her a dirty look. "Michelle, what did you do?"

"She came to my garage while we were at Starbucks and treated Brian like shit," Tej said sharply, looking at Suki. "And she blamed it on you. If that was really your idea, me and you are going to have words, Suki."

Suki looked at Michelle, surprised and annoyed. "What did you say to him?"

"Nothing that isn't true!" Michelle said quickly, scowling. "He is a cheating whore!"

"That is it! " Tej moved quickly around to the Honda's passenger door and opened it, pointing towards the street as he glared at Michelle. "Carry your skanky ass out of my garage! If you're here in five seconds, I'm calling the cops, I swear to God."

Michelle looked at Suki, still scowling, and Suki said sharply, "You heard him, bitch. Get the Hell out of my car. And don't bother calling me anymore, either. We are done."

Michelle climbed out of the car and started towards the road as she said bitingly, "Fine! You deserve each other!"

Suki watched her go until Michelle was crossing the lot towards the street and then she looked at Tej. He met her gaze, frowning and angry still, and she asked softly, "Are you really mad at me, too? I didn't even know she was here."

"That depends," Tej said quickly, still frowning. "Are you gonna say that kind of shit to Brian too? 'Cause I am not gonna put up with that kind of bullshit, not from anyone."

"I hadn't planned to," Suki murmured, looking a little sad. "I was kind of hoping I could steal you away to go out to dinner."

Tej looked at her a moment and then turned his attention across the garage towards where Brian had been working on the Skyline, and he sighed when he saw Brian was gone. He looked back at Suki, meeting her gaze as he said quietly, "Lemme check on Brian first. He's been havin' a real bad day, I'm not sure if I should leave him."

Suki nodded, looking down at her steering wheel as she finally turned off her car. "I'll wait."

"We could take him with us," Tej offered, hating himself a little for how unhappy she looked.

Suki swallowed hard, then murmured, "If that's what you need me to do." She looked up, meeting his gaze as she added softly, "I was hoping we could be alone though. I had fun at lunch."

"I did too, baby," Tej admitted. "Let me go find him, see what I'm dealing with." He didn't wait for her to answer, turning away to head for the back door.

Brian wasn't out on the pier or the party barge, but he could see a light on in the bedroom in the boat so Tej walked quickly towards the boat's entry deck and stepped down onto it, ducking past the curtain into the doorway. He was almost across the room to the bedroom door before Brian murmured, "You didn't have to come after me."

Tej looked towards his voice and saw Brian was sitting on the end of the old couch in the dimly lit room, his feet up in the seat and his knees against his chest, both arms wrapped around them. He hadn't seen Brian sitting like that since just after juvie, when Brian used to wad himself up into as tight a ball as he could most of the time. Brian had tried to pretend nothing was wrong then, too, right up until Tej caught Brian crying late one night on Tej's couch when he thought Tej was already asleep. Tej had told Brian about his own stint in juvie then, and Brian had finally started to open up to him about juvie and how bad he missed Rome.

Brian rubbed at his face. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm fine."

"Bullshit," Tej said quietly, walking over to sit on the couch next to Brian. He reached out to brush back Brian's unruly curls, noticing the dark circles under Brian's eyes and how tired he looked as he murmured softly, "You look like Hell, baby boy."

Brian let out a tiny little huff of a laugh, propping his chin on his knee as he met Tej's gaze. "It's been a long day."

"I'm sorry," Tej murmured, stroking Brian's hair again. "If she comes back, she's going to jail. I won't have anyone around here that treats you like that."

"Jimmy said the same thing earlier," Brian murmured, leaning into Tej's touch slightly as he closed his eyes. "I think he likes me."

"He does," Tej agreed, still slowly stroking Brian's hair. They hadn't touched much that day and he had missed it, but Brian had obviously missed it even more. Tej could see the tension easing out of Brian's body as he started to relax, and after a moment he asked softly, "Did something else happen today, baby? Before I got in?"

Brian shook his head very slightly, opening his eyes. "No, it was just me and Jimmy this morning until that girl showed up and started in on me." He bit his lip, then asked softly, "Did Suki really send her to talk to me?"

"Suki was having lunch with me when Michelle showed up here, baby, and she just told the girl she never wants to talk to her again," Tej replied, quiet but firm as he kept stroking Brian's hair. "I saw her face when I told her what Michelle did. She had no idea."

Brian looked a little bit relieved. "Well, that's good, at least." He paused and then asked softly, "Did Suki leave?"

Tej shook his head. "No, she's waiting on me, wanted to know if you're okay." He hesitated and then added, "She was hoping I'd go to dinner with her."

Brian pulled away from Tej's hand, lifting his head. "I'm fine, go on, spend some time with her. She's probably been missing you since I got here, I've been taking up all your time."

"Maybe," Tej admitted, "but she understands that you need me right now, baby."

"I'm not five," Brian said quietly. "I don't need a babysitter, and even if I did, Jimmy's here. Go eat dinner with your girl."

Tej looked at Brian a long moment and then murmured, "I don't like leavin' you when you're so upset, Bri."

"I'm fine," Brian repeated again, moving to put his feet in the floor and then standing up. "I'm going back to work. You should go eat with Suki."

Brian started to move towards the door and Tej stood quickly, grabbing Brian's hand. Brian looked at him again, trying hard to just look curious, but Tej could see how tired he was and the dull look in his eyes, like Brian had pushed himself just about as far as he could. "You could come with, baby."

"Dates aren't any fun with three people," Brian pointed out softly. "I'll be fine here, Jimmy said something earlier about ordering pizza tonight. Some local place he wants me to try, says it's the best in town."

"That'd be Gallo's," Tej agreed, relaxing just a little because he knew how Brian loved a good pizza.

"After he finishes that Eclipse he's working on, he's going to order," Brian murmured. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"Alright, baby boy," Tej agreed, moving closer as he let go of Brian's hand and reached for his neck instead, tugging Brian down into a slow, loving kiss. When they finally parted after a few minutes, Tej looked into Brian's eyes from only a few inches away as he murmured, "You call if you need me, okay? For anything."

Brian smiled and that time it finally really reached his eyes, making them go gentle and warm. "I love you too."

Tej kissed him again, then murmured, "Love you like breathing, baby boy. Don't ever doubt it." He kissed Brian once more and then let him go, moving towards the door as he added in a more normal tone, "But I was serious."

Brian followed him. "Okay, Dad. If the monster in the closet scares me, I'll call."

Tej snorted, amused. "There ain't a closet anywhere on the property. I never saw the point."

"Sounds like there's no closet monster either, then," Brian pointed out, and when Tej glanced back he saw Brian was smiling slightly. "Just go! I'll be fine."

"I'm goin', damn," Tej agreed with a little laugh, heading for the back door further down the building, which was near where he left Suki waiting in her car. When he got inside he glanced towards the brightly lit private bay and saw Brian was already ducking under the Skyline's hood again, his back to the rest of the garage.

Tej looked towards Suki's car, walking around to the passenger side to get in as he smiled at her and murmured, "We can go, baby girl."

Suki smiled back, looking pleased as she started her car. "I wanted to go down to the Keys tonight, show you a little place I like in Islamorada. Do you mind?"

"Nah, baby," Tej agreed as he settled into the passenger seat and shut the door. "A long drive and dinner with my girl sounds good."

Suki beamed and leaned to kiss his cheek, then twisted to look behind the car as she started to back out of the garage.

Tej glanced over at Brian to check on him one last time and saw Brian watching them with a little smile. Tej lifted his hand to wave to him and Brian waved back, then turned away to go back to work.

Tej turned his attention back to Suki, smiling as he asked, "How was your day, baby girl?"

"It was good," Suki replied, smiling as she stopped the car and shifted into drive. She started out of the lot as she began telling him about a client she had that afternoon, painting tiny little dragons on each nail, but Tej only half listened as he relaxed, just enjoying seeing her smile.

~*~*~

It was nearly one when Suki dropped Tej off at the garage again, kissing him good night before he got out of her little Honda. He was still smiling as he walked into the garage, but he was surprised to see Jimmy all alone at their table, doing something on the laptop.

Tej walked over to sit next to Jimmy, sprawling comfortably in his chair as he asked, "Whatcha doing?"

Jimmy didn't even glance at him as he said a little pointedly, "Finishing your paperwork."

"Where's Bri?" Tej asked quietly, wondering if maybe Jimmy had argued with somebody or something. He knew it wasn't the paperwork that was really bothering Jimmy, he did it half the time anyway when Tej was busy with networking a race meet or handling some other business. He had been the one to teach Tej how to run the garage, after all.

"I sent him to bed about an hour ago," Jimmy replied, giving Tej a flat look that made Tej realize Jimmy was unhappy with him. "He's exhausted."

"He never was good with stress," Tej murmured quietly. "I don't think I ever saw him in bed before midnight, though."

Jimmy snorted. "He hasn't slept much more than a couple hours in two days." He pushed the laptop aside, leaning his elbows on the table as he met Tej's gaze and added, "You do know about the nightmares, right?"

Tej frowned. "He hasn't mentioned having nightmares again to me. What did he tell you?"

"Nothing," Jimmy said a little pointedly, "I heard him. Night before last he was yelling about someone named Dom, and then last night he was crying out like someone was killing him in his sleep. I saw how wrecked he was when he came in after both of them. The kid is hurting bad."

"I had no idea," Tej murmured, rubbing at his eyes to try and get the stinging to go away. Thinking about leaving Brian alone with nightmares so bad Jimmy heard him all the way up in the garage hurt, and explained Brian's behavior that day completely. "He was fine with me." He remembered something Brian had said then and swallowed hard. "Said he slept better than he has in years."

"Then you need to get your ass back into his bed," Jimmy said firmly, making Tej look at him. "The kid is hanging on by his fingernails. He tries to hide it from you, but when you leave, it's like all the light goes right out of him. I would bet cash money that the only thing keeping him going right now is you." He paused and then added quietly, "He hasn't even looked at his car in two days, and he wasn't interested when I asked earlier if he planned to race her tomorrow night."

"Damn," Tej murmured, pained. "That's not good."

"Not even a little, going by what you've told me about the kid," Jimmy agreed softly. "He barely eats or sleeps unless he's with you, and every time he stops working I can see the demons in his head getting to him again." He waved towards the parking lot. "Everything out there is finished, and there's nothing left to do on the Skyline until I get some more parts sent over. I had to give him my work tonight so he could stay in the zone and not have to think."

"And he's not eating either?" Tej asked quietly, rubbing his eyes again.

"He had a donut for breakfast, and one slice of pizza tonight," Jimmy replied, "and I had to practically make him finish the piece of pizza." He hesitated, then murmured, "Tejuan, look at me." Tej moved his hand to meet Jimmy's gaze, surprised he was using his full name. He hadn't even known that Jimmy knew his name, he didn't use it anywhere. Even his driver's license said he was Tej Parker, not Tejuan. "I know you fell hard for Suki," Jimmy said gently, "but if you keep fucking around trying to please her, we're gonna be going to Brian's funeral."

Tej shuddered and looked away as his eyes blurred with tears. "That ain't happening." He swallowed hard, wiping at his eyes. "If I gotta choose, there's no question."

"I'm sorry," Jimmy murmured, reaching out to rub Tej's back. "I know you love her, but I've been listening to you talk about Brian for years. Losing him like this would kill you, and I'm not gonna let that happen."

"No, don't be sorry," Tej said quickly, wiping his eyes again. He looked at Jimmy, hoping Jimmy would see how sincere and grateful he was as he murmured, "Thank you."

Jimmy grabbed the back of his neck, leaning closer as he pulled Tej over to kiss his forehead. "Just go take care of your heart, little brother. He needs you."

Tej nodded, wiping his eyes again as he muttered, "As soon as I get the waterworks under control. Seeing me cry would just upset him more."

"It would," Jimmy agreed softly, moving his hand down to Tej's back again to rub slowly. "I hate hurting you, but you had to know. I'm afraid if I kept my mouth shut, I'd end up losing you both."

"Probably," Tej admitted softly, not looking at Jimmy. "I know he's been riding close to the edge, but he was talkin' about getting his own place to try to make Suki happy. That's why I been sleeping in that house I lived in before I got the boat. He loves it here and I didn't want him feeling like he had to leave."

"Suki is either gonna have to learn to deal, or move on," Jimmy said firmly, "and I'll tell her so next time I get a chance to talk to the girl alone." Tej looked at him, surprised. "I like her, and I know you love her, but she can go on without--" Jimmy broke off, frowning as he looked towards the back door.

"What?" Tej asked softly.

Jimmy shook his head, just listening a moment, then murmured, "Maybe I imagined it." He looked back at Tej. "She can live without you just fine, Tej, but I'm pretty sure Brian won't."

Tej swallowed hard, looking down at the table, and then in the silence he and Jimmy both heard a quiet, pained-sounding cry from the direction of the houseboat, followed a moment later by Brian's voice saying just loud enough they could hear him, "Dom, no!"

"Damn it," Jimmy murmured, pained and sad. "Get out there, Tej."

Tej was already getting to his feet. "I'm going. Thanks, Jimmy."

"Just take care of him," Jimmy said quietly.

"I will," Tej promised, walking quickly towards the back door and ignoring the flaring pain in his knee as he pushed it a little too hard.

Tej walked out of the garage, crossing the pier to the boat and stepping down onto it just as Brian cried out again, sounding like he was in pain. Tej didn't even notice the tears on his face as he hurried through the living area towards the bedroom, and he heard Brian crying as he reached for the curtain. The bedroom was lit only by the faint moonlight coming in through the shades, but Tej didn't really need to see where he was going as he moved towards the bed.

Brian was still dressed for the day, curled up on his side with his back to Tej as he cried, and when Tej sat on the bed behind him Brian jerked away towards the wall, whimpering and twisting as he rolled over. He was cringing away with such obvious fear that Tej felt like something inside him shattered as he stared into Brian's tear-filled eyes. There was no sense in them at all yet, just pain and fear, and Tej hated himself for leaving Brian alone with whatever horrors waited in his dreams.

"Baby, it's okay, it's just me," Tej said gently, pained and sad. "You're safe."

Brian just stared for a few moments before the fear in his eyes faded and then his expression crumpled as he started sobbing, reaching for Tej.

Tej pulled Brian into his arms, holding him tight as he hid his face against Brian's hair and whispered, "Let it all out, baby. I got you." He began to rock Brian gently without even really noticing it, rubbing his back as they cried together.

Brian finally cried himself out after what seemed like hours to Tej, exhausted and trembling as he pressed a soft kiss to the side of Tej's throat. His voice was still thick with tears and pain a moment later as he whispered, "I'm sorry."

"You got nothing to be sorry for," Tej murmured raggedly, pained. "I'm the one who left you alone with whatever it is that's hurting you so bad."

"Memories, mostly," Brian whispered, still hiding his damp face against Tej's neck. "That time it was two big guys beating me down and then fucking me dry, only in the dream they weren't the guys who really did it. It was Dom and Vince."

Tej tightened his grip on Brian a little, closing his eyes against fresh tears. Brian had mentioned Dom only once by name and Tej hadn't asked any more because he could tell just thinking about the guy hurt Brian. "Will it help to talk about it, baby? About them?"

"I don't know," Brian admitted so quietly Tej barely heard him. "I haven't really tried."

"I'd like to know who Dom is, if you wanna tell me," Tej murmured gently, moving one hand to stroke Brian's hair. "Maybe it'll help you forget the nightmare."

"Not sure remembering him would be much better," Brian admitted quietly. "He's why I went to Chino." He sniffed hard, then he took a slow ragged breath before he started to talk. "I was barely out of the Academy when I bought this Eclipse for next to nothing from another rookie 'cause the idiot had seized up the motor, running it with oil so cruddy it was like tar. I rebuilt the engine and got her running, and she was so quick and agile that I started thinking about racing again. I started playing with her, tuning her up to go faster, and then one Friday night I was out cruising around just killing time before work and I saw these slick street racing cars ahead of me. Another one joined them a block later, and I followed them to a meet that was just coming together when I got there."

Brian paused, sniffling again, then went on. "It was like going home. I don't even know who raced that night, I was just walking along this line of cars people were showing off, listening to the engines rev and breathing in the smell of exhaust and Nos and burning rubber." He shifted to get more comfortable, settling more against Tej's chest, and Tej gave him a squeeze. "After that, it was all over but the screaming and I started spending every night roaming the street, following any racers I saw hoping for another meet. I was at a race a few weeks later when there was a scramble, and one of Dad's cop buddies saw me. He told Dad and I started catching hell every time I left the house except to go to work, but I wouldn't stop going 'cause it all made me feel so alive again."

Brian paused again then, and Tej was surprised to realize he sounded almost proud when he went on. "I was watching a meet come together about a month later when the crowd parted like the fuckin' Red Sea for this team of drivers that pulled up in a flying vee, all five of them in these hot imports. People were cheering and calling out to them, and when the lead car stopped the team lined up in pairs behind him so perfect they had to practice that shit." Brian lifted one hand to rub at his nose, then wrapped his arm back around Tej. "The leader was in this really sexy red Mazda RX-7, and when he got out it was like everything else faded out. I just, I don't even know what it was, but I couldn't take my eyes off of him. People were all over him, treating him like he was king or something, and he was just talking to them all easy and calm. His team gathered around him and then he got a race set up within a few minutes, and when I saw him drive... Jesus. You talk about me being good, but Dom, he's amazing. Nobody beats him at a quarter mile."

"Did you go introduce yourself, baby?" Tej asked softly, stroking Brian's hair. Brian wasn't crying anymore and had stopped shaking, but he still sounded kind of sad.

Brian let out a little ghost of a laugh. "God, no. That Eclipse I was driving was nowhere near his league then. He'd have laughed if he saw her and thought I was just some stupid kid with a crush." He hesitated slightly, then actually sounded a little amused as he admitted, "Which was true, but I've never actually approached a guy because I wanted him and Dom, he's almost my height and muscled up like a bull. Hitting on him never even occurred to me. I just wanted to keep watching him." He hesitated, then asked softly, "Why don't we lay down?"

"Sounds good," Tej agreed, and when Brian pulled away he smiled softly at him. "You should get rid of those clothes, baby. You'll be too hot in them with both of us in bed."

Brian nodded, his eyes still a little too shiny and sad as he gave Tej a ghost of a smile. He tugged his shirt off without a word and then reached for the waist of his cargo shorts. Tej stood and moved to the windows to make sure they were open, then leaned back against the narrow dresser as he bent to untie his boots, glancing at Brian when he heard his cargo shorts hit the floor.

Brian was already lying down on his side, naked and watching Tej as he said softly, "I thought you were staying at your other house now."

"Suki dropped me off here to get my truck after we got back from dinner in the Keys, and I was talkin' with Jimmy when we heard you having that nightmare, baby boy," Tej said gently, straightening again as he toed off his boots.

Brian closed his eyes, hiding his face against the pillow as he mumbled, "God. I didn't think anyone would hear me back here."

"Well, we did," Tej said softly as he stripped off his shirt, tossing it towards the hamper. "And Jimmy heard you the last two nights, too. He was giving me hell for leaving you alone with them when we heard you tonight."

"You didn't know," Brian said quickly, lifting his head to look towards Tej again. "I didn't want you to know, you've been worrying about me enough."

Tej started unbuttoning his jeans, the faded old black button-fly pair that were his favorite. He had overheard Suki tell her girls one time that they made his ass look so good she wanted to just take a bite, but they were also broke in perfect and fit him like a glove, comfortable enough he didn't bother with underwear. "Baby, it's just gonna make me worry more, knowing you're not tellin' me what you really need."

Brian stared into his eyes a moment and then looked down at the bed. "I just... I feel so safe here, I thought maybe they'd go away."

Tej kicked out of the jeans and his socks and walked to the bed, climbing onto it to lie down facing Brian as he murmured softly, "You should have told me after the first one, baby."

"I don't want you to lose Suki because of me," Brian murmured, reaching out as he shifted closer. "I know you love her."

Tej pulled Brian into his arms, letting Brian curl in close and tuck his head under Tej's chin. "It's time you knew something, Brian. If she makes me choose, then she already made the choice for me." Brian's arms tightened around him, and Tej stroked his hair slowly. "I do love her, baby, but you and me got a lot of history together and no matter how hard I fell when I met her, she just can't compare. I've only known her a couple months."

"I love you too," Brian whispered, kissing his chest softly. "I just feel so guilty, coming in here and making you hurt her."

"You can't make me do anything," Tej pointed out, quiet but firm. "I told her about you before I even started looking for you. She's just gotta decide if what I can give her is enough." He paused and then added softly, "Goin' by today, I think it'll all work out okay. She actually went out to dinner with me and kissed me a couple times, real kisses that left me wantin' her, and she never did that before."

"I hope so," Brian murmured, sounding a little relieved.

Tej kissed the top of Brian's head, changing the subject. "Forget about Suki for right now, baby. I wanna hear more about Dom. I kinda doubt it ended with you just watching him race."

Brian let out a soft little strangled noise. "No, that was just how it started. I was taking the long way home from work a few days later, cruising through Echo Park and enjoying the sunshine and the way the Eclipse was driving after some changes I made to the suspension, and I saw his car. I followed him, wondering where he was headed, and he pulled up to this little market with a lunch counter. I kept driving, but I didn't make it three blocks before I was circling back. I went in to get lunch and see if maybe I could meet him, and that's how I started eating the worst tuna sandwiches on the planet for lunch every day while I watched him sit in the office with his back to me and ignore the world."

Tej let out a soft little amused snort. "Tell me you at least talked to him."

"Not until the fifth time I went there," Brian admitted, soft and amused. "Mia - she was the girl working the counter, I found out later she was his baby sister - kept telling me the special was the tuna every day, and the fifth time I ordered it, Dom got up and went to the cooler for a Red Bull. He stopped by the office door on his way back, giving me this sweet little smile and telling me she was lying about the special just to fuck with me. I told him I liked the tuna just to see what he'd say, and he laughed and said he spoke up too late, she'd already killed all the taste in my mouth."

Tej snickered. "I think I'd like him."

"You would." Brian gave him a squeeze, sounding amused and fond as he went on. "I was done for, right then. Mia started in on him, giving him Hell for talking bad about her tuna, and I just watched him tease her thinking I wanted to spend the rest of my life making him smile. I'm sure I was grinning like an idiot the whole time, but Dom didn't say anything, and neither did Mia."

Tej stroked Brian's hair, glad that Brian couldn't see his face. The last thing he expected when he asked about the guy Brian was having nightmares about was to find out he was in love with the guy. Bad dreams about someone Brian had a crush on would be bad enough, but dreaming about someone he loved hurting him had to be tearing Brian to shreds inside. He was proud of how normal he sounded as he asked softly, "So... When did you two get together?"

"We didn't," Brian said softly, and the amusement was gone out of his voice just that quick. "I got hauled in by the FBI the next day after I left the market, and Dad was there wanting me to help them on this case they were working, trying to pin a string of truck robberies on Dom and his team. They wanted to boost my pay to detective level and put me in undercover, and if I got them a conviction they were gonna make it all permanent and I'd be Dad's new partner, working with him instead of pulling graveyard shift on patrol." He fell silent a moment, then went on in little more than a whisper, "I had disappointed Dad so many times, and I wanted to prove they were wrong about Dom, that he was innocent, so I agreed."

Tej stroked Brian's back slowly, fingertips ghosting over smooth muscle littered with scars as he asked softly, "So what happened?"

"I went under working at a performance parts place and the FBI put like forty grand into my car, making her the fastest thing I ever drove up until then," Brian replied softly. "I started going to Dodger stadium to practice with the car every morning before work and kept going to the market every day for lunch, and it all felt more right than being a cop ever did. I was enjoying life again, living and breathing cars like I used to with you, and then about a week later when the team was at the market for lunch the same time I was, Mia started flirting with me. That pissed off the guy who was in love with her, Dom's best friend Vince, but the FBI guy in charge, Bilkins, he liked it and told me later that day to get with Mia to get in with Dom's team. I started flirting with her and Vince and I argued a few times over the next week, then one day Vince jumped me and was kicking my ass when Dom jumped into the middle of it and put a stop to it, then told me not to ever come back."

"How did the FBI guy take that?" Tej asked softly.

"Bilkins told me to get in with them or die trying," Brian replied softly. "I went to the races the next night and put up my pink slip to get Dom to let me run against him, and I made every mistake I could have because I was freaking out, wanting so bad to impress him. I nearly blew the engine, I fucked up so bad, and after Dom won the car he tore me up one side and down the other in front of everyone for using her so bad, but he was smiling at me the whole time and I couldn't even really get mad about losing that car I put so much time and money into." He let out a tiny little laugh. "I was glad I made him smile, and he was so amused that I was smiling after I lost that it just made him smile more."

Brian moved one hand to trail a fingertip very slowly down along the scars the right side of Tej's chest as he continued talking. "About that time the cops showed up and we had to scramble. He parked his car and took off on foot, and the cops nearly got him before I found him. He jumped in my car - well, his car, he won her - when I told him to, and then I had to do some fancy driving to get us out of there with the cops swarming all over. He told me he knew I had been in juvie, Bilkins used my real record for my cover mostly, and then told me he did two years in Lompoc, and I was so distracted by talking with him about it that I got us lost. We ended up in Korea town, and this gang he had pissed off led by a guy named Tran surrounded us on racing bikes with machine pistols and made us go with them to this parking lot. They let us get out of the car and made some threats, and then just as we were about to get back in and go, Tran and his cousin Lance started shooting and blew up the Eclipse."

"Jesus," Tej murmured, surprised.

"Yeah," Brian agreed softly. "Dom and I started walking, and we were talking the whole time but I don't even remember what we said, just that I was happy walking with him at like one in the morning on deserted streets. We finally stumbled across a taxi after about an hour and got a ride back to his house in a quiet little corner of Echo Park, an old two story with a battered barn of a garage and like no yard, but it was home to him and the team. He invited me in for a beer and his team freaked out that he invited a stranger into the only safe place they had, and Dom got pissed and told them that at least I didn't abandon him like they did." He let out a little huff that wasn't quite a laugh. "He gave me Vince's beer right after that, pissed at Vince for leaving him behind with the cops, and after that the guy hated me even more."

Brian fell silent then, just tracing the scar on Tej's side where a metal pole went through him when he flipped his car in that race that ended his career, and after a minute or so of silence Tej asked softly, "How did you get from there to going into Chino, baby?"

"By doing everything wrong," Brian admitted softly, sad and quiet. "Dom invited me into his home and his family like it was where I belonged, and it wasn't long before I felt like I really did. I was so deep in love with him I couldn't even imagine him being guilty even though Dad kept telling me to stop lying to myself. Dom had me working half days at the parts store and spending pretty much all the rest of my time in a garage with him, building me a car together, a Supra that was so fast it made the Eclipse look like a go-cart, and I loved it. Everything was great until Bilkins got impatient and started making threats. He pushed me into getting in deeper with Mia to try and get her to talk to me more, and then even that wasn't enough. He called me one night talking about taking Dom down himself, going in guns blazing, and I knew Dom would die before he let them take him."

Brian swallowed hard, then went on. "Dom and I went out in the Supra the first time the next day, and I pushed him hard because Bilkins had given me just a few days, freaking out that Bilkins would kill him if I didn't get answers fast enough. I was sure he had to know who was doing it all, even though I still didn't believe it was him, and he promised to tell me everything after Race Wars, which was gonna start the next day. Then I heard Dom and Mia fighting in the middle of the night at Race Wars, she was yelling about him hitting a truck and that she wanted him to stop, and then he and the rest of the team stormed off. I ended up breaking my cover with Mia, which broke her heart when she figured out it was all a lie, but she still believed me when I told her I just wanted to stop Dom and the team before someone got hurt."

Brian took a shaky breath. "Without Mia, I never would have found them. She helped me trace the burner phone Dom carried that night and I drove as fast as the Supra would go without wasting all the Nos, hit one-sixty most of the way, but when we got to him everything had already gone to shit. The trucker turned out to have a shotgun and Vince had been shot and was hanging tangled in this wire on the side of a semi going eighty while he was bleeding to death, one of the others had rolled her car, and Dom's car had blown an engine, so there was nobody left to help Vince but me and Mia. I ended up getting Mia to drive the Supra so I could jump onto the truck with this guy shooting at me while I tried to get Vince loose and save him. After we got Vince safe on the ground and the truck was gone I had to call for a life flight for him, and by the time it took off the team was long gone so I headed back home to try and find Dom."

Brian wiped at his eyes again, sad and pained as he murmured, "Right after I got to the house Tran and his cousin Lance showed up on their racing bikes and murdered the youngest member of the team right in front of me and Dom. Jesse was this sweet, funny kid with an I.Q. of like two-forty who had a crush on me and had been following me around since the day I met them, and I kind of lost it. I jumped in my car and went after them alone with them both shooting at me, and then they split up and got me in between them, and I had just realized Lance was about to kill me when Dom came flying in out of nowhere and rammed Lance's bike, killing him. I ended up shooting Tran right after, and then I saw Dom waiting for me in his car and I took off after him. He led me to this quiet stretch of road and then just waited for me to pull up by him and told me he wanted us to run one last race together there where he used to run as a kid, a straight quarter mile stretch between a stop light and some railroad tracks."

Brian swallowed hard, hesitating a few moments, and Tej was sure Brian was right back there in the car. "I knew the cops would find us soon and I wanted to be with him as long as I could, so I went for it. We flew over the tracks side by side at the end, me in my Supra and him in the Dodge Charger his dad built before he died, and an express train screamed by behind the cars so close I could feel the heat of it going by. Dom and I looked at each other and he smiled at me, and then this semi came out of nowhere and hit his car." Tej closed his eyes and rubbed Brian's back, praying Brian hadn't had to watch Dom die. "The Charger flipped up in this crazy barrel-roll over my Supra and then slammed into the road and rolled again, and I was losing it as I got out and ran to the car, sure he'd be dead, but somehow he made it. He was hurt, busted up his shoulder, but he was feeling good enough to joke about it not being the way he planned ending the race."

Brian paused again, turning his face towards Tej's chest and taking a shaky breath. "I helped him out of the car and then we heard sirens, and Dom and I just stood there looking at each other until I offered him my keys. He asked me if I knew what I was doing and I reminded him I owed him a ten second car, and then he took the keys and he left." He let out a little hurt sound, and Tej stroked his hair as he felt Brian's tears falling hot on his skin. "And then when I realized that he was really gone I started thinking how everyone I love always leaves, and I went a little crazy. I met the first cops that got there and told them to arrest me for aiding and abetting an armed robbery, and then I confessed to everything I could think of and threw my life away to try and pull the heat off Dom long enough for him to make it to Mexico."

"Damn, baby," Tej murmured, nuzzling Brian's hair as he tightened his arms around him. "Did he at least get away?"

"He made it to Mexico, I know that much," Brian replied softly, his voice choked with tears. "I talked to Mia a couple weeks later and she screamed at me about Vince going into Lompoc and how it was all my fault she was alone because her family was in Mexico at Letty's place and she couldn't even see them because the FBI was watching her." He paused, then added, "Letty was Mia's best friend, Dom's girl, she was the one who rolled her car that last heist. The other one who got away was Leon. I was probably closest to him, besides Dom and Mia. Leon decided he liked me early on because I spent so much time with Jesse, who was like his baby brother, and he always had my back, even when it meant fighting Vince to keep him from killing me over Mia."

"What happened to Vince and Mia?" Tej asked softly.

"Vince got three years in Lompoc and two hundred grand in reparations to pay," Brian replied very quietly. "The cops took his house and cars and everything he owned. I don't know about Mia. She hasn't talked to me since that one time during my trial."  He sniffed, then added softly, "I know things must be really rough for her, though. I went through Echo Park the day I got out of Chino and saw she sold Dom's garage and the market she loved, and she's trying to sell the house their grandfather built, too. She must be trying to help Vince pay off his reparations, that's all I can come up with for why she'd do that to Dom." He started crying again, his tears hot on Tej's skin as he added a little raggedly, "The garage was his dream, but he treasured that house, it was the only home the team had and he used to talk about wanting to raise his grandkids there. It even felt like home to me, that's part of why I went back after Chino. I knew he wouldn't be there, but still I wished I'd see them all there together, see it was all worth it." He sniffled and then whispered, "And instead I found out I made him lose everything."

Tej closed his eyes, holding Brian close as he said softly, "Baby, no. They got themselves into trouble, you just got dragged down with them."

"It feels like my fault," Brian whispered, sad and pained. "If I had done things different, told Dom the truth that day in the Supra before Race Wars, I could have gotten him to stop before it was too late. He would have been pissed at me for all the lies I had to tell him, but we were close enough I think he would have listened to me, too." He let out a sad little huff. "But I didn't trust him enough until it was too late."

Tej nuzzled Brian's hair, rubbing his back slowly as he murmured, "None of it was on you, baby. Rick never should have let them drag you into that. You're one of the most loyal people I ever met in my life. There was no way you were gonna betray a guy you love."

"I couldn't," Brian agreed. "Mia knew it, too. She told me one time that Dom owns me, and I couldn't argue with her 'cause it was so true." He let out a soft little sad noise that was more a sob than anything else, and his voice was thick with tears as he whispered, "I betrayed everyone for Dom, even me, and the stupidest part is I still love him. After I went to Chino over him I should hate him, that's what Dad says, but I just miss him so damn much."

Tej didn't know what to say to that, couldn't find the words to make any of it better, but after a minute or so he murmured softly, "You never betrayed me, baby."

Brian's arms tightened around him and he lifted his head, meeting Tej's gaze. "I would die first."

Tej stroked Brian's hair, staring into his eyes as he murmured, "You'd die for me?"

Brian didn't even think about it. "In a heartbeat. I wouldn't even regret it."

Tej swallowed hard, taking a shaky breath because he didn't doubt Brian meant it, really would die for him without hesitating if he thought it was necessary. "Can you do something even harder for me then, baby boy?"

"Tell me," Brian said softly. "Anything."

"Stop hating yourself for shit you can't change and live for me," Tej murmured. "If I lost you, it would kill me."

Brian let out a soft pained sound and kissed Tej so sweet and gentle that it made Tej's eyes sting, then whispered, "I'll try."

"Try hard, baby," Tej murmured softly.

Brian kissed him again instead of speaking, and Tej put his heart and soul into kissing back, wanting Brian to feel just how much he needed him.

~*~*~

Tej wasn't sure if it was because Brian had finally talked about some of the shit that was bothering him so much or if it was just that Brian was so glad to sleep with him again, but whatever the reason, Brian was obviously doing better the next morning. He wasn't awake yet when Tej left the bed, but he was smiling slightly even asleep and he looked a hundred percent better than he had the night before. He was obviously relaxed and sleeping peacefully, and the dark circles that had been under his eyes were gone like they were never there.

Tej was smiling as he headed into the bathroom for his morning routine, and he had already shaved and brushed his teeth and was getting into the shower when Brian walked into the bathroom. Brian looked half awake but was smiling all soft and sweet, which made Tej grin as he closed the shower and stepped under the water, eyes closing as he just relaxed under the hot spray a moment and silently thanked whatever deity might be listening for sending him Jimmy.

It had become a habit over the last two years. Without Jimmy, Tej wouldn't have survived much past hearing the words 'never walk on it again'. Tej was ready to give up then but Jimmy wouldn't let him, pushing Tej hard to keep fighting and even hunting down doctors that would actually help instead of just giving up on him. Tej owed his life to Jimmy, but more he owed Jimmy for saving his sanity, and now he owed him for helping Brian, too. He could never repay Jimmy for all he had done, all he could do was try to be there for Jimmy the same way if Jimmy ever needed him.

Brian used the toilet quickly and then moved to brush his teeth, and then he disappeared back into the bedroom. Tej was nearly done with his shower a few minutes later and had his eyes closed and his face tipped up to the hot water when Brian suddenly opened the shower door behind him. Tej wiped the water out of his eyes, surprised Brian was stepping in with him as Brian murmured, "Morning."

"Mornin', baby boy," Tej replied, smiling as he looked over his shoulder at Brian. "Couldn't wait for your own shower, huh?"

"Didn't want to." Brian slid his arms around Tej as he moved in close, one arm going around Tej's waist to pull Tej back against him, his erection nudging against Tej's back while the other hand stroked down Tej's belly to his cock. Brian trailed his fingertips teasingly light along it, making Tej's cock throb as it started to harden, and then closed his fingers around it to stroke slowly while he murmured into Tej's ear, "If I ask real nice, would you fuck me good morning?"

Tej laughed softly, leaning back against Brian as he turned his head to look at him, loving the desire so hot and bright in Brian's beautiful blue eyes and the little smirk he had going on. "I ever tell you no, baby boy?"

Brian grinned, blue eyes sparkling. "Not yet." He kissed Tej then, making a low happy noise when Tej responded hungrily.

Brian closed his fingers tighter around Tej's cock after a few moments and stroked firmly from the base towards the crown. The hot water running over them made Brian's work-roughened hand feel very different than it usually did, and Tej growled as he thrust into that tight, wet grip. Brian purred, breaking the kiss to nuzzle at Tej's ear as he whispered, "I want you fucking into me like that."

"Just tell me when and where, baby boy," Tej responded, running his hands along Brian's forearms and fighting to hold still as Brian stroked his cock again.

"When would be immediately. " Brian bit Tej's earlobe, sucking on it and stroking Tej's cock again as Tej groaned, then he released it after a moment and murmured into his ear, "And I'm good with anywhere you want me."

Tej twisted a little in Brian's arms, reaching for him with one hand to pull him down into a hungry kiss before he murmured, "Counter or the bed, baby. Your choice."

"Counter's closer," Brian replied without hesitation, kissing him again as he released Tej's cock and reached for the water to turn it off. Tej turned to face Brian completely and reached behind Brian to push the shower door open, still kissing him, and then Brian was pulling Tej out of the shower with him, both of them smiling into it as they kept kissing. Brian backed up to the counter and sat on a towel that was lying there, pulling Tej towards him as he spread his legs, and Tej pressed in close, their bodies still slick with water.

Brian groaned softly and slid his hands down to Tej's ass, squeezing and earning a low growl as Tej thrust against him. Tej pulled away from the kiss, already breathing hard as he said softly, "Be right back, baby. I gotta get the stuff."

Brian took one hand off of Tej's ass to reach for the counter behind him, showing Tej a condom. "This is all you'll need. I got ready for you while you were in the shower."

Tej groaned and kissed him again, hard and hungry, then murmured, "I fuckin' love you, baby boy."

"Right now I'd love you fuckin' me," Brian replied with a wicked grin, blue eyes sparkling with desire and sudden amusement.

Tej laughed and kissed him again, then pulled back. "You puttin' it on or am I?"

"I am," Brian said firmly, still grinning as he leaned forward to kiss Tej again, his hands busy between them opening the foil packet. He reached for Tej's cock again a moment later and Tej groaned into his mouth, pulling back to look down and watch Brian stroke his cock again and then put the condom on him with efficient skill. Brian usually wanted to do it when they used them and Tej gladly let him, enjoying Brian's touch at least as much as Brian enjoyed how he reacted to it. He still wasn't sure if they would be going together to get tested again or not so they could stop using them. Brian hadn't said anything and Tej didn't want to be the one to bring it up. Tej was sure he was clean, he hadn't been with anyone without a condom since Brian, but Brian had been through Hell in Chino.

Tej looked back up to meet Brian's eyes, smirking as he murmured, "Now, where were we?"

"You were about to fuck me," Brian replied with that wicked little grin, stroking Tej's cock lightly again and then letting it go to reach for Tej and pull him closer as Brian kissed him again. Tej reached for Brian's thighs, lifting, and Brian gladly wrapped his legs around Tej's waist, using the leverage to help pull him closer as Brian moved one hand between them to guide Tej's cock where he so badly wanted it. Tej's cock was slowly sinking into him a moment later, both of them groaning at the sensation, and then Brian broke the kiss to rest his forehead against Tej's as he whispered, "Just go for it, babe. I need to feel it."

Tej pulled back, making a quiet little noise at how good it felt, and then went in harder at a slightly different angle, loving the way the clinging heat surrounding his cock clenched even tighter as it rubbed against that spot that made Brian whine and buck against him. Tej began thrusting slow and easy then, his hands gripping Brian's hips to keep the angle right as he leaned in for another kiss, and he loved the soft noises Brian was making into his mouth with every jerk of his hips. Brian was kissing him like he wanted to devour him, needy and hungry and so eager that Tej was soon thrusting harder and faster without even noticing it.

Brian's hands slid up to Tej's shoulders to hold on as he broke the kiss to tip his head back, wordlessly offering his throat, and Tej leaned in to lick and bite at Brian's neck as his hips jerked quick and hard, loving the way the tiled walls made every sound Brian made seem twice as loud. Tej could tell by the noises Brian was making that he was getting close, and he paused to shift Brian's hips slightly, then thrust in again and smirked against Brian's neck at the way Brian cried out in pleasure. Tej bit Brian's collarbone then, loving the low whine Brian let out as his cock twitched between them, and after a few more hard thrusts Brian's ass was clenching tight as Brian came with a low shuddering moan, making Tej growl and thrust quickly until he came so hard it made him lightheaded.

Tej just leaned against Brian as he came down, breathing hard, and Brian was still trembling a little as he shifted after a few minutes, his hands moving low on Tej's back to keep him from pulling out. Tej nuzzled the side of his throat and Brian kissed his cheek, then Tej moved to kiss Brian's mouth with a soft low purr, enjoying how sweet and loving Brian always was right after he came. Tej slid his hands up from Brian's hips around to his back, holding him close as they kissed slowly for a little while, and when they finally parted again he rested his forehead against Brian's as he whispered, "Love you."

Brian kissed him again, soft and lingering, and then he smiled, blue eyes sparkling and warm as he murmured teasingly, "Love you more."

Tej smirked. "Completely im-fuckin'-possible, baby."

Brian laughed and kissed him again instead of protesting. It wouldn't do any good anyway. Tej had never let him win that argument.

~*~*~

Jimmy came back from making the daily breakfast run in Tej's truck with two boxes of sausage biscuits and a squeeze bottle of grape jelly, and Tej and Jimmy were both pleased by the way Brian dug into his share of breakfast like he was starving. Brian had laughed and teased Jimmy for putting jelly on sausage biscuits until Jimmy got him to try it, and then Brian started putting on even more jelly than Jimmy did, making Jimmy and Tej both start picking on him about his sweet tooth. Brian gave as good as he got, pointing out they both bought donuts for breakfast more often than not, and soon the three of them were cheerfully arguing over what counted as a real breakfast while they ate.

They were through with breakfast and lingering over their chosen sources of morning caffeine - coffee for Jimmy and Tej, a bottle of ice cold Sunkist for Brian - discussing which cars to work on first that day when Tej's cell phone suddenly started to play music.

Tej made a face after the first few notes and looked towards where his phone was docked on the counter that held the coffee machine, grumbling, "Just who I wanna talk to first thing in the morning." He was in no hurry as he got up to walk towards the phone, hoping that Rick would give up.

'I ain't never gonna be who you want me to be, ain't giving up the wheel. There's no denying, baby, I'm done with your backseat driving.'

Jimmy snickered as the snippet of song started to repeat, and Brian was grinning wide as he asked, "Aren't you gonna answer it?"

Tej sighed and picked up the phone, thumbing the accept button as he started back towards the table. "Hey Rick." Brian started laughing and Tej smirked slightly. "Whatcha need?"

"Brian hasn't answered his phone in a few days," Rick replied immediately. "The only reason I'm not panicking is that I know he made it there and you'll keep him out of trouble."

Tej laughed softly. "Yeah, he hasn't left the garage." He wasn't going to go into the problems Brian had been having with Brian sitting across the table from him. "He's been busy playing with anything that me and Jimmy point him at."

"Better than therapy," Brian said cheerfully, smiling wide and happy, and Tej had to laugh softly.

"At least he sounds happy," Rick said, obviously amused. "Would you please make him find the damn phone though, and maybe actually carry it for a change? I'd like to talk to him once in a while."

"Sure," Tej agreed easily, "I bet it's in the Mustang's floor still. That's where I saw it last." He moved the phone away from his mouth a little, smirking at Brian as he said, "Baby, poppa bear wants you to find your phone."

Brian blinked and then laughed as he stood up to walk towards the private bay, which was still closed. "I think you're right, it probably is in the car. I haven't seen it anywhere else."

Jimmy chuckled and stood. "I'm gonna get started on that Mazda." Tej smiled and nodded, and Jimmy walked off towards the office to go get the keys for the first car he was working on that day.

"How's Brian really doing?" Rick asked, more serious than before.

Tej watched Brian run the wide bay door up, murmuring, "He's better today."

Rick was quiet a moment and then asked, "Have the nightmares been bad?"

"Only when he's alone," Tej replied very softly, still watching Brian as he opened the car door to lean into the Mustang. "You should have told me about them."

"I figured you'd see them for yourself," Rick pointed out. "I wasn't expecting Brian would ever sleep alone once he got there, Tej."

"Things were kind of complicated," Tej murmured, "but he won't be alone again."

"Good," Rick said firmly. "Have you gotten him racing yet?"

"Not yet, but I set up a meet for tonight," Tej replied quietly, lips twitching as Brian flipped the Mustang's driver's seat forward and started pulling trash out of the back floorboard. He had noticed on the way to get barbecue the other day that Brian had been throwing empty drink bottles and food wrappers back there for a while, judging by how many were there. He had teased Brian then about losing shit under the mess, and sure enough, Brian was digging through it to look for his phone. "He's gonna get to introduce himself and his pony to the folks here."

Rick let out a little huff of a laugh. "I'd say to tell him to be careful, but I followed him and watched him race that car a couple weeks ago. The kid is scary good behind the wheel. He had it jumping up off the line like a damn funny car and the guys he was racing had no prayer at all."

"He's the best," Tej agreed, smiling. "He doesn't believe it, though. He'll tell you that it's me, or that guy Dom, but that's his heart talking."

Rick was silent for a moment and then asked softly, "He told you about Toretto?"

"Who?" Tej asked, a little confused.

"Dominic Toretto," Rick replied, "the guy who got him sent to prison."

"Some," Tej said, watching as Brian finally laughed and backed out of the car with his phone.

"Found it," Brian said, grinning at Tej.

"Awesome," Tej called with a laugh. "Now pick up all that trash you just spread everywhere, baby boy. This is a garage, you slob, not a landfill."

"Bite me!" Brian said cheerfully, but he pocketed the phone and headed for the shelves where they kept the cleaning supplies and several sizes of trash bags.

"Later, baby," Tej said, smirking. "Clean out the rest of that trash in your car while you're at it. Last thing you need is shit flying around while you're racing tonight."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Brian replied with a grin as he started back towards his car with a trash bag. "You want me to detail her while I'm at it?"

"Naw, you got real work to do today," Tej replied, still smirking. "You can detail her on your own time."

Brian just laughed and moved to start picking up the trash he had scattered.

"I'm glad you called him out there, Tej," Rick said then, and he sounded relieved. "He sounds better than he has in over a year."

"He's doing good today," Tej agreed softly, smiling as he watched Brian kneel to chase a rolling plastic bottle under the Mustang. There was no denying how much happier Brian was that morning, how much more relaxed and at peace, and Tej was determined to make sure he stayed that way. He wasn't sure if it was because Brian finally talked about some of what was tormenting him so much or if it was simply sleeping with Tej and then being reminded how much Tej loved him, but he figured he could make sure both kept happening. Suki would be unhappy, but the more Tej saw of how badly Brian needed him, the more he realized that he would give up even Suki if he had to for Brian. It would hurt, and he'd probably never stop missing her, but he knew what his choice would be if it came down to it. Jimmy was right, Suki could go on without him, but Tej was pretty sure that Brian couldn't.

"The happiest I've seen him in over a year was after he decided to head out there," Rick said quietly. "He missed you even more than he misses Rome."

"I missed him too," Tej murmured, not really surprised. Brian had missed Rome, but he hadn't been slow to give Tej his heart and his trust. "Leavin' him behind to try and make us a future was the hardest thing I ever did."

Rick was quiet for a few moments before he asked, "You planned to come back for him?"

"Always," Tej replied quietly.

"He didn't know that, though," Rick said, sounding a little annoyed. "You never told him you'd be back for him."

Tej hesitated, not wanting to risk Brian overhearing, but then Brian climbed into the Mustang after the rest of the trash and he said very softly, "I didn't want to disappoint him if it didn't work out, Rick. The circuit's nothing like racing in the desert. If things had gone bad, I didn't want to go home to find him as disappointed in me as I woulda been in myself."

"You were that sure he'd wait?" Rick asked.

"I decided before I left that I'd take just having him as my best friend if I had to," Tej admitted softly. "As long as he's somewhere close enough I can take care of him and watch him bein' happy, I'm gonna be fine."

Rick fell silent, thinking about that, then asked suddenly, "Did it work out? On the circuit?"

"Yeah," Tej replied. "I had to quit before I planned, I wanted to finish out that last season, but we're good. I invested most of what I made in real estate, rental properties scattered all over California, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Even if we never make another dime off racing or the garage, we're set."

"And you're just going to share it all with Brian?" Rick asked, sounding surprised.

"I pushed so hard for Brian," Tej murmured softly. "I damn near died in the wreck that ended it, and I near gave up after because I ended up in a wheelchair a while, but I filed a will before I ever left, Rick. If something happens to me, Brian gets everything."

"What kind of everything are we talking here, Tej?" Rick asked, curious. "Just how good did you do?"

"I got six figures in the bank right now," Tej replied quietly, watching Brian head out towards the dumpster with the bag of trash. "The rentals bring in about twenty grand every month, and the garage and a couple other businesses I have are making a profit now, too. Like I said, we're set for life."

"Jesus," Rick murmured, sounding shocked. "How did you do all that?"

"I'm good with numbers," Tej replied, amused. "And I won a lot. I didn't do like most drivers and waste it on women and fancy shit I don't need, Rick. I got an uncle who's a real estate lawyer, and he got me in with a financial advisor he knew. My uncle is overseeing the rentals for me so I don't have to mess with them, takes his cut off the top before the rest goes to my bank, and the finance guy still gives me advice if I need it." He paused and then added, "While Bri's out tossing his trash, I gotta ask you a favor."

"Shoot," Rick agreed.

"Find out the details on Dom's house for me," Tej said quietly. "Bri's all tore up about it."

"He blames himself," Rick said with a sigh. "Visiting him in Chino I never once saw him cry, not even when he was hurt so bad he nearly died, but when he found out that house was for sale he was a wreck."

"I need the address," Tej murmured, watching Brian walk back into the garage. "I know you got that somewhere."

"What are you planning, Tej?" Rick asked.

"To buy it," Tej replied very softly. Brian was heading quickly for the back of the garage, and he pulled the phone away from his mouth a bit as he raised his voice, asking, "Where you going, baby?"

"To check my bag for my charger," Brian replied with a little laugh. "It's not in the car."

Tej laughed. "If you lost it, we prob'ly got another in the office. I keep a box of extras, folks are always wanting one."

"Good deal," Brian said easily, walking out the back door.

"You're just gonna buy him a house?" Rick asked him then.

"If it makes him happier right now, I'd buy him five," Tej replied truthfully. "If I gotta sell something else to make it happen, I will. It's not like the rentals are important to me. They're just numbers in my books, but Dom's place felt like home to Brian and he's hating himself because Dom lost that house his grandfather built. I can't fix everything that's hurting him, but I can fix that."

Rick was silent a few moments and then murmured, "I'm glad he's got you taking care of him, Tej. Thank you."

"I'm not doing it for you, Rick, or even for him," Tej pointed out quietly. "I'm doing it for me."

"How do you figure?" Rick asked, surprised again.

"I can't be happy unless I know he is," Tej said simply. Brian walked back into the garage with a tangle of wire in one hand, grinning and looking pleased, and Tej smiled. "Text me that info when you find it, poppa bear," he added in a more normal tone. "Bri and I need to get busy, we got an engine to rebuild this morning."

"Alright," Rick agreed, then added soft and sincere, "I owe you, Tej."

"Not a thing," Tej disagreed, smiling at Brian as he walked towards him. "Bri's gotta charge his phone, but then he'll have it with him if you wanna call him later."

"Sounds great," Rick said quickly, pleased. "Talk to you soon."

"Anytime," Tej replied, then Rick hung up and he shut the phone off, smiling up at Brian. "There's an extra outlet by the coffee machine, unless you want it in your bay."

"Out here's good, we've got that engine to do," Brian said, smiling as he moved towards the counter that held the huge coffee pot that was perpetually making another pot.

Half the people who came by the garage got themselves a cup of coffee and one of the variety of creamers Tej kept stocked in bins next to it, but Jimmy drank more of the coffee than any of them so Tej figured it was a good investment. Jimmy lived on coffee some days, it was his favorite thing besides pizza or donuts.

~*~*~

They finished the cars that were in for actual work to be done on them that day long before the official closing time of six. They started the day with nothing left over from the previous day and just three jobs that had come in that morning, and only four more came in during the course of the day so it was easy to stay ahead of them. Tej even had time to finish all the paperwork and start the ball rolling with his uncle on buying the house in Echo Park, talking with him in the office while Brian was busy fixing a problem with the timing chain on a classic Corvette.

Rico still had half a dozen cars lined up to be washed and detailed, but that was normal for a night when there were races scheduled and Rico's brother-in-law Mitch was there to help out so they were making quick work of them. There would probably be more cars join the queue to be washed before the garage locked up at ten to get ready for the races across town, but everyone knew Rico and Mitch charged double for anyone who showed up after-hours. Tej let them use the wash rack right up until he locked up before races, but after six Tej wasn't in it and let Rico and Mitch keep everything they made.

It had been a slow day overall, mostly because Brian was there now. Nobody really recognized his name so people weren't scheduling repairs with Brian yet and he ended up either working cars that came in with no preference or helping out Tej and Jimmy on their jobs, which made them go twice as fast. Tej loved finally working alongside Brian again and how Brian still seemed to read his mind, knowing what they needed to do and how without ever needing told. Brian was as quick and efficient at making most repairs as Jimmy was, and Jimmy was enjoying working with him more than he enjoyed working with anyone except Tej.

Jimmy had already claimed Brian as part of his tiny family, accepting him freely and easily, and he and Brian were trading secrets back and forth almost constantly. Brian had been good even when Tej had been teaching him about cars, always quick to pick up anything he was shown, but sometime after Tej left, Brian had surpassed him by quite a bit. Tej had overheard Jimmy tell one of their regulars earlier that he could already tell that working with Brian was making him a better mechanic, which was kind of scary if Tej thought about it too much. Jimmy was one of the best mechanics alive, a legend out on the circuit where people had called him 'the Wizard', and the fact he learned anything from Brian said all Tej needed to know about Brian's abilities.

The Skyline was Jimmy's pet project at the moment, the platform that he and Brian used to demonstrate things and to share ideas, and Tej was very sure that when they finished her she'd be the fastest thing on the road. Jimmy was one of the best at tuning a car for top speed and power, and Brian had become an expert at tuning for sprint speed and agility, and when they put their heads together, they were coming up with new ideas that left Tej in awe. They hadn't actually tried the Skyline out yet, she hadn't left the bay since they began, but her onboard computer's diagnostics programming was some of the best available and already had several ultra high performance hacks in it, and Jimmy had told Tej earlier that afternoon that he needed to tweak it even further. They had maxed out what the computer could understand in half a dozen areas, and Jimmy wanted Tej to up the possible maximums in every category.

The garage was empty that evening other than the people loitering around out front, so Brian and Jimmy had drifted to the Skyline again. They were leaning together under her hood, both of them grinning while they talked about something, and Tej was sure that whatever they had come up with was probably going to cost him more programming time. Every time he saw them looking so excited and happy so far they had maxed out at least one category, and they had only been working together a few nights. In a month Tej was going to be writing brand new programming for the Skyline just to keep up with them, he was sure, but for now he was just going to tweak what was there.

Tej got so distracted thinking about how to shift the upper limits in the diagnostic program that he didn't notice anyone approaching him until Suki suddenly leaned down in front of him, looking unhappy. "Hello?"

"Hey baby girl," Tej said quickly, surprised. "When did you get here?"

"About five minutes ago," Suki replied softly, frowning slightly as she moved to sit down next to him. She looked towards Brian and Jimmy and then back at him, asking, "Is he really that fascinating to you? I said hi twice and you didn't even hear me."

"I was thinking about the computer in the car," Tej replied, amused. "Jimmy wants me to tweak her diagnostics and I've been trying to decide how high I need to ramp up the max values."

Suki blinked and then her frown cleared and she looked a little sheepish. "Oh! Why don't you just put in Kali's hacks?"

"We started with her hacks, baby girl," Tej pointed out with a little laugh.

Suki's eyes widened and she stared at Tej. "And Jimmy suddenly figured out how to max them out?"

"Jimmy and Brian did, yeah," Tej corrected, a little surprised by the way she seemed to just completely dismiss that Brian was working on the car too.

Suki looked skeptical. "Jimmy is the best, how could Brian possibly be helping him?"

"Because he's even better at some things than I am," Jimmy said dryly, dropping into one of the other chairs. "He's been teaching me all kinds of stuff."

Tej looked towards the bay, wondering what Brian was doing, then looked towards Jimmy, surprised. "Where did Bri go?"

"His dad just called again," Jimmy replied easily. "His phone gets crappy reception in here, so he went out back to talk."

"Brian actually knows something about cars?" Suki asked, looking at Jimmy. "I thought he was just doing the gravy work."

Jimmy laughed. "He knows more already than you probably ever will, Suki girl." Suki looked annoyed, and Jimmy added a little more pointedly, "Brian is as good as I am on most things, even better on some of it. You can't even come close. He knows imports and classic muscle like the back of his hand, and he's not even twenty-five yet. Give him a few years and he'll be one of the top wrenches in the world."

"Brian's not here just to hang out and be beautiful," Tej said then, frowning. Suki looked at him quickly, obviously hurt by the hint she was, but Tej was annoyed enough not to care too much at the moment. "He's been my equal under the hood since he was nineteen, and he's always been a better driver. He'll tell you he's not, but that's his heart talking, not reality. He was seventeen the first time he beat someone I couldn't beat, and he did it with my car."

Suki stared at Tej, still looking a little upset but mostly looking surprised. "In your car?"

Tej nodded. "He had only raced a few times then and the guy thought he was going to make some easy money, but Brian beat him without even trying hard. I was so damn proud of him."

"And Brian's learned a lot about cars since Tej was teaching him," Jimmy added then, making Suki look at him again. "Tej is good under the hood, but Brian makes him look like an amateur now. If I took him out on the circuit and let them see how good he is, they'd be fighting to get him to wrench for them." He let out a little huff of a laugh. "Especially on the sprint circuit. The kid knows tricks I never saw before, and his car is amazing. I never drove one that's so fast off the line."

"So he really did everything on the Mustang?" Suki asked, looking from Jimmy to Tej and back.

"My dad's got pictures of her the day after I bought her," Brian said suddenly. Tej looked towards him and saw Brian was frowning slightly as he walked towards them, his phone still in hand. "I found her next to a junkyard right after I got out of Chino and she was in sorry shape except for the engine. Dad took a lot of pictures before I got started on her, he was hoping I'd need them for a resume. No one has touched her since but me, except when I let Jimmy check her out."

"And Brian has turned her into the sweetest Mustang I ever saw," Jimmy added, giving Suki a dirty look.

Suki looked at Jimmy a moment longer and then looked at Brian. "It is beautiful," she admitted quietly. "I'm sorry, Brian. I didn't realize you really know so much."

Brian walked around the table to drop into the empty chair between Tej and Jimmy, looking at Suki a little pensively. "I know you don't like me, Suki, and I get why, I really do, but I wish you had at least given me a chance before you decided I'm just here to be an easy piece of ass on the side for Tej."

Suki blushed very red at that and Tej snorted, looking at Brian. "Don't make me kick your ass, Twinkie."

Brian laughed and looked at Tej. "Bring it, Swiss Roll. I'm only easy when I want to be."

Tej looked at Brian a moment, trying to stay serious, but he couldn't and after a moment he laughed too, then said firmly, "Stop talking shit about my baby boy. I'm picky as Hell , for your information. Ask Jimmy, I haven't touched another guy since I left Cali."

"And damn few girls," Jimmy agreed. "Like three." He laughed. "Including Suki."

"Makes two of us," Brian pointed out, amused.

Tej laughed. "You left California a week and a half ago."

"I meant since you left," Brian said, looking a little more serious but still smiling at Tej. "I'm not counting Chino, none of that was my idea."

Tej was surprised Brian mentioned what happened in Chino in front of Suki and Jimmy, but he was pleased, too. He wanted Brian to feel like he didn't have to hide anything from them, good or bad. "I don't count Chino either," Tej agreed. "So you've dated what, one person since me?" He remembered Brian talking about Bilkins making him date that girl Mia, but Brian hadn't mentioned anyone else.

"Yeah. I dated her a few times, slept with her once," Brian said quietly, smiling as he gazed into Tej's eyes. "Mia barely counts though."

"Yeah, you don't even really notice women, baby boy," Tej said, amused. "Had to be her idea, like those three girls back in high school."

Brian let out a little bit of a laugh. "Well yeah, but I could have said no."

"So she doesn't count either," Jimmy said then, making Brian and Tej both look at him, and he smirked. "Y'all are pitiful. I got more play this month than both of you put together got in the last four years, and I don't get out much."

Tej laughed. "Oh shut up. I can't help it I got plumb ruined by this sweet, beautiful kid who proved to me it really is better with someone you love."

Brian smiled wryly, blushing. "You make me sound like such a girl, Tej."

Jimmy laughed as Tej smirked at Brian, suddenly wicked. "No, baby boy, you're all man. Last time I was still feelin' it the next morning."

Brian laughed, surprised and blushing even redder. "Jesus, Tej!"

Tej just smirked at him, dark eyes sparkling. "Just the truth, baby."

"I think I should go," Suki said suddenly. Tej looked towards her and saw she was upset. "I was going to ask about dinner, but I'm not sure I want to anymore."

Tej sighed, his amusement fading. "Don't be like that, baby girl."

"How do you expect me to feel?" Suki asked, frowning. "If I was talking about how much I enjoyed another man in bed in front of you, you'd never want to see me again!"

"I never said a word about you and your girls, though," Tej pointed out with a frown, making Suki's eyes go wide. "I'm not stupid, Suki, or blind. Rachel told me she gets with you, and I kinda think you've been hookin' up with Michelle too, the way she is about you." He snorted. "And Kali wouldn't surprise me any, I know she gets with Rachel too. They let Jack watch and he was telling anyone who'd listen about how hot it was for a solid week."

Jimmy snickered, nodding. "Until Kali heard and kicked his ass."

Suki ignored Jimmy as she stared at Tej for a moment, blushing, then said quietly, "That's not the same."

Tej laughed, surprised. "How do you figure that?"

"Guys think two girls together is sexy," Suki replied, still blushing. "You probably just want to watch too, like Jack."

"If you ever saw Brian like I've seen him, baby girl, you'd be begging us to let you watch," Tej said firmly, amused. "And for the record, Rachel and Kali both got nothin' I want except for you."

Suki looked at Tej for a moment and then looked at Brian, frowning slightly as she just stared at him. She finally shook her head and looked at Tej again. "I don't think so. He's just not sexy to me. He's like an overgrown Golden Retriever."

Brian laughed, amused even though he was blushing. "Don't worry, Suki. I don't understand what he sees in me either."

"Stop that shit," Tej said firmly, giving Brian a dirty look.

"That's just the truth," Brian said quickly with another little laugh. "I don't understand it, I never have."

"You don't have to understand, Bri," Jimmy said, amused. "Just accept that he loves you."

"I know he loves me," Brian said quickly, surprised. "I never doubted that for a minute. He loves me just as much as he loves Suki. I just don't get why. I've been messed up since before he ever met me."

"It doesn't bother you that he loves me?" Suki asked, frowning at Brian.

"Why would it bother me?" Brian asked, confused. "It doesn't mean he loves me less now or that loving you will make him forget about me. Tej ain't like that, Suki girl. He's like me, if he loves you, it's forever. He just loves us different ways."

Suki stared at Brian for a long moment and then murmured, "I hadn't thought of it like that."

"Well, you should," Brian said, bemused. "It's like comparing apples to oranges."

"Bananas and peaches," Tej corrected with a little smirk. "I'd say melons, but I don't like nibbling on them as much."

Brian laughed. "Don't start down that road."

Tej grinned wickedly. "But I like that road. It's my favorite road."

Brian snorted, trying not to grin. "Yeah, I know, but you're gonna get yourself into trouble with your girl. Again."

Tej snickered. "Prob'ly, I'm good at that." He gave Suki a wry little smile and noticed that she was blushing. "She still doesn't really believe you're my best friend."

"People don't sleep with their friends," Suki pointed out quietly.

"I'm sure Rachel will be sad to hear that," Tej replied, amused. "According to her, you're so amazing you should offer Jack lessons."

Suki blushed even redder but she giggled, too. "No, Jack's just that horrible."

Jimmy and Brian both laughed as Tej smirked and said, "That's not what she said."

"Stop listening to her." Suki was still blushing and looking embarrassed. "She won't be with him much longer anyway, she's got a new guy she likes a lot more, this cop she picked up." She giggled slightly. "He stopped her for speeding in her 'Vette the same day Jimmy got it running for her."

"Knowing her, I bet she didn't get a ticket," Tej said dryly, amused. Rachel had bought an ugly old Corvette for a song because it had been wrecked and then the motor seized up from being parked too long. Jimmy had gotten it running in just a few hours and was working on the body a little at a time for her, working bondo into deep scratches and dents and pounding out the worst of the damage. She couldn't afford to get all the work done at once, even with Jimmy only charging her for parts and supplies. Rachel didn't believe in working for a living and was perpetually broke. "That girl gets around." He laughed. "Everyone."

"Yeah, he got laid instead," Suki agreed with a little smirk. "She didn't give him her name or anything, so he stopped her again next time he saw her car. He's pulled her over like a dozen times now, she says he's fantastic."

"Cops can be pretty spectacular in bed," Tej said, smirking.

Suki looked surprised. "How would you know?"

Tej looked at Brian, still smirking. "Personal experience."

"I used to be a cop," Brian admitted with a little laugh, blushing. Suki stared at him and Brian explained, "Dad's a cop, and after Tej left he drove me nuts trying to get me to go into the Academy. I wanted to make him proud of me so bad I finally caved, even let Dad talk me into not talking to my racing buddies, that's how Tej and I lost touch." He smiled crookedly, sad and a little wry. "I hated it. Didn't even make it a year before I was tuning up a fast car and going to watch the races, disappointing Dad again."

"You're a top wrench and Tej says you're the best driver he's ever seen," Jimmy pointed out. "Why would your dad make you give that up?"

"Dad doesn't see racing as a career," Brian replied quietly. "Not unless I want to do it on a track, and I don't. He thinks street racing is just a dangerous hobby, something I oughta grow out of." He smiled wryly. "At least he's finally given in on me being a grease monkey and isn't trying to make me get a real job anymore." He looked at Tej, adding, "Speaking of jobs, though, he called again because he wanted me to know he'll be heading here in a couple weeks, he just gave his notice. The closest station here was all over it when he called to see if there were any openings for a detective with fourteen years experience on the force, said they'll put him to work as soon as he gets here."

"What's he going to do with his house in Reseda?" Tej asked, surprised.

"I dunno, he didn't say," Brian said with a little shrug. "He was already talking coming out here with me when I left, though. Said if I'm staying, then he wants to be here too."

Tej smiled, forgetting all about Rick and his house for the moment. "So you are staying?" He had asked Brian to stay with him, but Brian hadn't ever actually answered him.

Brian smiled, his blue eyes going soft and warm. "Yeah. I told him that when he called earlier. Being here feels more like home than anywhere I've been in a long time."

"I'm glad," Tej murmured, smiling a little wider. "Havin' you here makes it feel more like home for me, too. I've been missing my best friend for a long time."

"You won't be any more," Brian said, his smile widening into a grin as he looked at Suki, teasing, "As long as your girl doesn't kill me."

Tej looked at Suki too and laughed at the look on her face. She definitely looked annoyed, and he grinned at her as he said easily, "Don't worry, baby boy. I won't let her hurt you. If she wants to beat on somebody, she can hit me, I won't mind."

Suki stared at Tej, eyes widening, and Jimmy laughed.

"That is so much more than I wanted to know about what y'all do, Tej," Brian said, still grinning.

"We don't do anything!" Suki said quickly, blushing.

"Dammit," Tej added with a wry grin. "I'm lucky just to get a kiss every once in a while." He looked at Brian. "She makes me crazy sometimes, walkin' around so sexy and teasin' me with that gorgeous little body of hers, then laughin' in my face and breezing off with her girls when I try to get with her."

"I know," Brian agreed, grinning. "I'm gonna have fun watching her lead you around by the balls."

"If you encourage her doing that shit, you're paying for it with your ass," Tej said quickly, laughing.

Brian smirked. "Y'know, threats are supposed to be scary."

"That wasn't a threat," Tej pointed out with a smirk of his own. "That was a warning. "

"Promises, promises," Brian replied, looking over at Suki with an easy grin, changing the subject abruptly. "Where did you want to get dinner, Suki girl? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm starving."

Suki gave Brian a cold look as she said, "I was hoping Tej and I could go out together. Alone."

Tej frowned slightly at her, surprised and a little annoyed. She might as well have slapped Brian.

Brian let out a little snort of a laugh, trying to act amused even though his blue eyes were a little pained as he looked at Jimmy. "Alright then, where would you like to get dinner, bro?  My treat."

Jimmy gave Suki a dirty look, then looked over at Brian. "I don't care, those biscuits we had for breakfast were so long ago I'd eat McDonalds right now."

Brian smiled a little more sincerely. "No man, real food. You know any decent steakhouses or something?"

"There's a great place out by the beach," Jimmy replied, grinning suddenly. "A steak sounds good, especially if I'm not paying."

"Count me in, too," Tej agreed, making Brian look at him in surprise. Tej looked at Suki, asking a little pointedly, "You coming, Suki?"

Suki stared at him for a few moments and then finally said, "No, I'll just get something by myself."

"Suit yourself," Tej agreed, then added, "Just remember that Bri and I always want you with us."

Suki frowned at Tej for a few moments and then looked at Brian. "Do you really want me to come? You're not just saying it for Tej?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," Brian replied, surprised. "You're the one with a problem here, Suki, not me. Tej loves you and that makes you part of my family as far as I'm concerned. Anyone that makes him happy is gonna make me happy."

"Right back at you, baby boy," Tej said, smiling when Brian looked at him. "I just wanna see you happy and safe. As long as you are, I'm good."

"I'm working on it," Brian said quietly, smiling. "You've already helped more than you realize."

"Still not out of the woods yet, though," Tej pointed out gently.

"No, but I can see the sun again," Brian murmured with a sweet little smile, his blue eyes going gentle and warm. "Before you called, I wasn't sure there even was any light left in the world, not for me."

"It'll get better, baby," Tej said softly, smiling at Brian even though it made him sad to think about Brian losing hope like that. "We'll get rid of those demons pulling you down, just gonna take a little time."

"I actually believe that now," Brian agreed quietly.

"You better," Tej said firmly. "You promised me you wouldn't give up."

"I remember," Brian replied. "You promised never to leave me behind again, too."

"Miami's home," Tej agreed. "The only way we're ever gonna split again is if you leave."

"I can't think of anything that could make me want to go," Brian murmured with that sweet smile that always made Tej want to kiss him. "Not for long, anyway. I might visit Grandma Lily or something, but I'll always come back."

Tej smiled wider. "Glad to hear it." He just gazed into Brian's sparkling blue eyes a moment, enjoying the warmth and love so bright in them, then finally dragged his gaze away to look at the clock over the coffee pot, then at Suki. "It's almost eight already, we should get going if we're gonna eat in a real restaurant before the meet. You coming?"

Suki was obviously unhappy, her eyes a little sad, but she said quietly, "If you really want me there."

"I always want you with me," Tej pointed out.

"Not always," Suki disagreed. "Not when you think Brian needs you."

"I know Brian needs me right now," Tej corrected. "But what part of wantin' to spend my life with you don't you get, baby girl?"

"You want to spend your life with him, too," Suki pointed out softly.

"I'm his best friend, not the girl he's in love with," Brian said gently, making Suki look at him. "I hate that I'm the cause of you getting hurt, Suki, but..." He hesitated, blushing and looking away as he admitted very quietly, "I've been trying to get by alone and it's just not working." He looked back at Suki, obviously embarrassed and sad. "I don't want him to lose you because I'm such a wreck, but right now I need him.Tej can pull me out of the shit in my head and keep me out of it, and nobody else has ever been able to do that for me."

Suki stared into Brian's eyes for a few moments and then said softly, "I don't want to lose him either, Brian, but it's really hard to see how much he loves you."

"He loves you just as much," Brian pointed out. "Prob'ly more. You just don't see it because you keep trying so hard to keep him at arm's length." He smiled crookedly. "I was never that strong. When I love someone, I want to show them how I feel. It's just how I am."

"It's not a bad thing, baby boy," Tej said then, standing up. "At least I never have to wonder where I stand with you."

"In front of me," Brian said immediately, smiling. "I've always got your back."

Tej laughed. "You should drive your pony to dinner, then we can go straight to the meet after."

"Fine with me," Brian agreed, standing up too. "I never mind driving. You riding with me or Suki?"

Tej looked at Suki, not saying anything, just waiting. Suki looked at him a few moments and then said softly, "I'd like you to be with me."

"Good," Brian said with a wide pleased smile. He started toward the Mustang, adding, "Jimmy can give me directions."

"Yep, easy," Jimmy agreed, moving to follow Brian.

Tej offered Suki his hand, smiling at her as he murmured, "Come on, baby girl. I want to get there soon so we have time to enjoy dinner instead of rushing through it."

Suki stood and took his hand. "Sounds nice."

Tej started towards her Honda, smiling as he looked towards the wash bay and called, "Rico, lock up when you get done. You and Mitch can meet us with the trucks later."

Rico looked up from the car he was washing, lifting one hand to give Tej a thumb's up. "You got it, boss! We'll be there."

"See you," Tej replied. He walked with Suki to her Honda and then let go of her hand to head for the passenger side. He had just reached the door when he heard the Mustang rumble to life and he paused there to watch a moment as Brian pulled out into the main bay, stopping to wait while Jimmy closed the private bay and locked it. Seeing Jimmy lock the door made him remember he needed to get copies of his set of keys made. Brian still didn't have any and Tej wanted him to have keys for all the doors, his truck, and the Skyline just in case Brian needed them.

Tej got into the car with Suki, smiling at her as he murmured, "I'm glad you decided to come."

Suki smiled slightly, but her eyes were unhappy as she started the car. "Sometimes I want it to be just us, though."

"Of course," Tej replied, surprised. The Mustang pulled out of the garage past them and Suki started after it, but Tej barely noticed, too busy watching her as he said gently, "I just don't want Brian getting lost in his head before he races, baby girl. I don't want him thinking about going into a wall anymore."

Suki looked at him, surprised. "He's suicidal?"

"He has been," Tej admitted softly. "His dad was really scared for him, darlin', and after some of the stuff Bri's told me, I gotta think he was right to be. Brian's putting up a good front, better than he ever could before, but he's been just barely hanging on a long time. He was deadly serious when he was talking about feeling like he had no hope left."

Suki thought about that a few minutes and then finally said quietly, "I don't want him to die. It just hurts that you love him more."

"Not more, baby girl," Tej disagreed, making her look at him. "Just different. He was right about that."

Suki looked ahead of them and watched the Mustang for a couple of minutes before she said, "He's never going to stop needing you."

"No, probably not," Tej agreed quietly, watching her. "I won't ever stop needing him either, but I don't think he'll be in my bed for long."

Suki looked at him, frowning. "Why not? He's crazy about you."

Tej smiled, wry and a little amused. "Because he likes you, baby girl, and he knows I love you. He won't want to get in the way once he's good on his own. He tried to tell me he'd be fine sleeping alone already, but he was lying. The nightmares were tearing him apart and he didn't sleep for two days, but he still wanted me to stay in that empty house of mine because he didn't want to upset you."

Suki didn't say anything else, and Tej wasn't sure what else to say that might actually help, so they were both quiet as they followed the Mustang towards the beach.

Tej laughed softly when the Mustang turned into the parking lot of an Outback Steakhouse a little while later. "All the fancy steak houses out here on the beach, and Jimmy wants to go here."

Suki didn't reply and Tej looked at her, his amusement fading away as he watched her park the car and turn it off. "I'm not getting with you until it's over with him," Suki said then, still not looking at him. "I won't share you with him."

"Okay," Tej agreed softly, thinking about the ring he bought for her. "But when the time comes I expect the same thing from you, darlin'." Suki looked at him, surprised, and he added, "I won't share you with your girls, either."

Suki looked into his eyes for a few moments and then nodded. "Okay." She turned away to get out without another word, still looking unhappy and serious.

Tej sighed and got out of the car, wondering if he should have just let her go eat somewhere else. The last thing Brian needed was to go into a race feeling like Tej might be better off without him.

~*~*~

By the time Suki stormed out of Outback Steakhouse, Tej wanted to give her a piece of his mind in a major way.

Brian had tried hard to pull her into a conversation at first, but Suki obviously didn't want to talk to him and after a little while he gave up. Suki tried to talk to Tej without including Brian or even Jimmy, who had made it pretty plain he thought Suki was being rude, but Tej wasn't going to let her play that game. While they waited for their food he got Brian and Jimmy started on a conversation about what to expect from the races that night instead, which led to talking about how Brian would need to drive. He was used to California street racing, which was almost always a straight sprint under a mile, but Miami street racing was usually between three and five miles and seldom straight.

Tej had expected Brian might be worried about the idea of racing in a completely different way, but Brian was grinning before long and telling them about stealing cars as a kid. Jimmy and Tej were soon grinning too and asking him questions to keep him talking, and Brian seemed to forget all about Suki snubbing him as he shared a few of the crazy stunts he had done in a car. Tej had known Brian used to boost cars and that he was fearless behind the wheel, but hearing some of the things Brian had done surprised even him. He would never even consider jumping a car over an irrigation canal or off an embankment, but Brian had done both.

Suki ended up just watching them talk for a little while, and it was only a few minutes after the food had arrived at the table when she suddenly spoke up, frowning. "I'm done." She stood and tossed her napkin into her plate of steak and lobster, adding, "I'm going to go pick up Kali."

Jimmy was fed up with her by then and ignored her completely, but Brian smiled at Suki and said, "Have fun."

Suki ignored him, looking at Tej. "I'll see you at the races."

"Maybe," Tej agreed coolly, annoyed she had been so obnoxious and ordered an expensive dinner not intending to stay. Fighting with her wasn't going to help, though, especially with Brian right there, so he tried to keep his temper under control. He didn't want to provoke her into being cruel to Brian instead of just rude. "Enjoy your girls."

Suki stared at him a moment, looking surprised and then angry as she turned and stalked out of the restaurant without another word.

Tej watched her go with a frown until Brian said suddenly, "Next time, go out with just her, Tej." Tej looked at Brian quickly, still frowning, and Brian added softly, "She doesn't want anything to do with me, and I can't really blame her."

"I can," Tej said firmly, frowning. "I don't treat Rachel like crap for sleeping with her, and she's not gonna treat you like crap either."

"Suki didn't even act like she really wanted to get with Tej until you showed up," Jimmy added, making Brian look at him in surprise. "She's just being a jealous little brat, Bri. She wants to make all the rules and keep Tej at her beck and call, but I bet cash money if he did do exactly as she said she'd start ignoring him again."

"You really think so?" Brian said, surprised.

"For sure," Jimmy said firmly. "She wouldn't even go eat lunch with him until she saw you two go out the day after you got here. After you left her girls started talking about how Tej never takes her anywhere, and I heard her tell them Tej will do anything she wants him to do, she just hadn't wanted him to take her out yet. Rachel told her to prove it, and Suki's been wanting him to go out ever since."

"Seriously?" Tej said, surprised and frowning. It hurt to realize Suki might have so suddenly started wanting to spend time with him just to impress her girls, not because she really did want to be with him.

"Yeah," Jimmy replied, giving him a slightly regretful look. "That's part of why I told you to stop worrying so much what she wants. I'm afraid she's been playing you at least some of the time." He paused and then said quietly, "The night Bri got here, after you two left, Julio said something about not knowing it was like that with Brian, and Suki told him it wouldn't be for long."

Tej snorted. "If she pushes too hard, she's going to get a rude awakening. I don't like games."

"I think she's really been upset," Brian said quietly, looking concerned and serious. "Maybe she just didn't realize what she had until she saw me walk off with her guy."

"That's still just jealousy, though," Jimmy pointed out quietly.

"She said she loves me the other night when we talked," Tej said, still frowning slightly. "She seemed sincere, and I know she was really hurting."

"Brian loves you," Jimmy said, meeting Tej's gaze. "He puts what you need first and wants you to be happy even when it hurts him."

"Tej hasn't hurt me," Brian protested, frowning at Jimmy.

Jimmy looked at Brian and said gently, "I heard the nightmares, Bri, and I saw your face when you came in the garage afterwards. There was a lot of pain involved."

"They're not Tej's fault, though," Brian said quickly. "I've had them for months, he didn't cause any of it."

"No, but he can stop them," Jimmy pointed out softly. "When Tej is with you, the only noises I hear are the good kind."

Brian blushed very red. "Oh God. You can hear us?"

"I've heard you two a couple times," Jimmy said, obviously amused by Brian's embarrassment. "Stop trying to change the subject, though." He looked back at Tej, adding, "Until I see a lot more love and a little less jealousy out of Suki, you're gonna have to forgive me for not being as nice as I used to be, little brother."

"I hear you," Tej replied quietly. "You've got a point, but so does Bri. I believe she is hurting, but she does want things her way. She keeps telling me she's okay with everything and wants me to take care of Brian, but then the moment he's around she acts completely the opposite."

"I just need to not be around so much when you're with her," Brian said quietly, making Tej and Jimmy both frown at him. Brian met Tej's gaze and pointed out, "It's not so much for her to ask, not wanting to watch how much you love me. Would you want to watch me with another guy?"

"If you were happy and he treated you good, I'd buy him rubbers and lube and make sure he knew how much you like fingers and having your collarbone nibbled on," Tej said quietly, making Brian blush very red again while Jimmy fought not to laugh. "Jimmy made a good point, baby. You love me enough you want me happy more than anything and I feel the same way about you, but Suki, she's still thinking only about what will make her happy."

"Might be time to point that out to her," Jimmy said, still a little amused.

Tej nodded slowly. "Yeah. She and I need to talk. When we're alone she keeps telling me she's good with me being with Brian, but the way she's treating him, she's lying to me."

"Maybe she's lying to herself, too," Brian pointed out. "And she's not being that mean to me. She just doesn't want to spend time with me. I get it, even if you two don't."

"Baby, I love you, but you'd let her beat you to make her happy right now because you think making her happy will make me happy," Tej said quietly, making Brian look a little sheepish. "I don't want to get with her if it's always going to be a one way street, me doing everything she wants and her thinking it's just how things oughta be. I won't play like that. I'll give her the world, but I expect her to give back, too."

Brian was quiet for a few moments and then admitted, "That is how it should be."

"If it's not, then it's not love," Jimmy said firmly, making Tej and Brian both look at him. "I've driven this road before." He smiled wryly. "Trust me, you want to figure out if it's real before she can take the house and garage."

Tej laughed. "I still say you needed a better lawyer."

Before Jimmy got married, he had owned his own house and had a small garage on the back of the property, restoring classic cars. After the divorce, he had just enough left to get through college for his master mechanic certifications, and then he hit the circuit at twenty-seven, jaded and determined not to make the same mistake ever again. Ten years later he was the Wizard, walking up to Tej after his third win and telling him that he was going to dominate and Jimmy wanted to help. At the end of that season, Tej let his crew chief go and Jimmy took over, and they hadn't gone more than a day or two apart since. Tej had been surprised at first by the way Jimmy acted half his age with strangers, playing like he was a dumb kid, but he was even more surprised that most people fell for it. Only family saw the real Jimmy like Tej did, the extremely smart man who had been around the block enough to not be surprised by much anymore. Jimmy was real sometimes around Suki for Tej's sake, but he liked Brian enough he treated him like family.

"Probably," Jimmy agreed, amused. "But if I had someone to give me a little tough love and point out she was a manipulative bitch before I got in so deep marriage seemed like a good idea, it would have saved me a lot of pain." He laughed. "And money."

"I really do think Suki's just hurting," Brian said, looking bemused. "I don't think it's an act, her eyes look too sad sometimes for her to be faking it."

"How many women have you dated, Bri?" Jimmy asked, smiling.

"Define dated," Brian replied, smiling wryly.

"Took them out somewhere at least three times and kissed them at some point on the date," Jimmy said quickly, amused. "Bonus points if you got laid."

Brian laughed, blushing and looking wry. "By that standard, just one. And… that was kinda because the FBI told me to get with her."

Jimmy laughed and then gave Brian a wide, amused grin. "Kid, I think you're awesome, but you don't get to give girl advice."

Brian smiled wryly, still blushing a little. "Yeah, I hear you."

Tej chuckled. "The scary thing is by that standard, I'm pretty sure Bri's only dated one person besides the girl."

Jimmy looked at Tej, surprised, then back at Brian. "Really?"

Brian smiled crookedly. "The guy before Tej never kissed me except while we were in juvie together, and since Tej there's been nobody but Mia." He looked at Tej, still smiling crookedly. "Though Tej and I didn't call it dating."

"If you made out or ended the night in bed together, it counts as a date," Jimmy said, amused. "Sex always trumps 'just friends'."

Tej laughed. "Not always, brother. If it did, Bri and I wouldn't both be in love with someone else."

Jimmy's eyebrows went up and he looked at Brian. "You left someone behind in California?"

"He left me behind," Brian corrected, his smile fading away. "I told him to go, though. Even gave him my car so he'd get away. That's why I went to Chino."

"But you still love him," Jimmy said quietly, still looking a little surprised.

"Yeah," Brian said simply.

"I thought you said there hadn't been anyone since Tej," Jimmy pointed out.

"There hasn't," Brian agreed quietly. "Dom never knew I was crazy about him." He paused and then added, "He's the one who taught me so much about ten second cars."

Jimmy frowned and murmured, "The same Dom you have nightmares about?"

"The nightmares are all Chino ," Brian said very quietly but firmly. "Dom never hurt me, not even the day he found out I was an undercover cop who had lied my way into his home and slept with his baby sister to try and get them to trust me more. Even after he knew what I had done he still saved my life and treated me like a friend."

"Damn, kid," Jimmy murmured, looking sad. "If not for bad luck you'd just have none at all."

Brian smiled crookedly. "I wouldn't say that. I met Tej back when we were kids, and then he came looking for me again right when I needed him most. I think that makes me pretty lucky."

Jimmy still looked kind of sad as he said quietly, "You can't think of any other good things?"

"No, I can," Brian disagreed. "He's just most important right now. Without Tej, none of the rest would matter. I wouldn't be here."

"That's not healthy, Brian," Jimmy said gently.

Brian smiled wryly. "I never claimed my mental health is all that good. I know I'm screwed up, but it's getting better."

"We'll get you there, baby," Tej aid quietly, giving Brian a reassuring smile.

"I know," Brian agreed, smiling back.

Tej's phone beeped then and he reached for where he had laid it on the table, tapping the dismiss on the alarm, then looked at Jimmy and Brian. "We should get going. It's a bit of a drive to the meet and we need to go back by the garage first. I forgot to grab the cash for Bri's buy-ins."

"How deep are pockets out here? Brian asked, curious.

Tej smiled. "Usually two large a run, sometimes as high as five for heavy hitters."

"I got it covered then," Brian said, grinning. "I got seven grand in the console, and it's not like I'm gonna lose it all. My baby can fly."

"Yeah, he's good," Jimmy agreed, grinning. "Not much in Miami that can really even compete with her. She's fast and the way he was talking about driving, nobody'll be able to out maneuver him."

Brian grinned. "I promise to drive it like I stole it."

Tej and Jimmy both laughed.

~*~*~

The race meet that night went well overall, though by the end of it Tej was starting to wonder if keeping Suki was worth putting up with her attitude.

The night started off with Brian in mile-long match races with three people that didn't believe his Mustang was anything more than a show car, including Jack. Brian told them he'd race them together or separate, he was cool with either way, and Tej stepped in to say they should do three separate races, each with a two grand buy-in. Tej took bets on all three races and Brian ended up winning them by narrow margins, which made Julio and two other guys who had beaten Jack before want in on the main race for the night, which Tej had scheduled from the start with Brian in the lineup.

Tej was busy officiating for other match races for a while then, so Brian took a seat on the hood of his Mustang back from the line out of the way, watching and talking to Jimmy quietly about the other racers and what they drove. Jimmy had at least looked under the hood of every car there and had an almost photographic memory, letting him give specifics on all the major players that Brian listened to intently. Everyone knew Brian was Tej's new driver, but mostly people were ignoring him and Jimmy in favor of watching the races. Most of what Jimmy was telling him was either too technical for others to understand or something people already knew.

Tej thought the night was going great and stole frequent glances towards where Brian was obviously relaxed and enjoying himself with Jimmy, right up until Suki walked up to Brian after the last short match race for the night.

"I want you to race me," Suki said loudly, glaring at Brian and drawing attention from the people nearby. "Just you and me on the long run."

Tej frowned and moved closer, not liking the idea of Suki racing with Brian at all. She had risked killing another driver twice he was sure of and Julio said that there had been at least one other time when Tej wasn't around that someone Suki didn't like got hurt racing her. Tej was sure she knew what she was doing, too. He had found vivid pink paint off her car in the same spot on the rear quarter of both cars she had crashed while he was running things, proof she had hit them on purpose to spin them out. One guy had ended up with a broken arm and a concussion because he rolled his car, but the other guy just got his pride hurt and some expensive car repairs. Spinning someone out at over a hundred miles an hour was never anything but deadly serious, though, and just because no one died yet didn't mean no one would.

Brian stared at Suki, surprised and a little upset as he said, "Naw, Suki girl, I don't want to take your money."

"Bitch, please. You couldn't if you tried," Suki said scathingly. "You just don't want everyone to see me kick your ass, making you run a real race instead of those sprints you like."

Tej knew Brian would back down if he didn't make it plain he supported him running, and he suddenly wanted to see Brian beat her so bad he could almost taste it. "Show her what you can do, Brian."

Brian met Tej's gaze a moment and then sighed and slid off the hood of his Mustang. "Alright, Suki. I don't want your money, though."

"I want yours," Suki said sharply. "Five large."

Brian looked at her a moment and then nodded. "Okay. You win, I'll give you five grand, but if I win, I want some respect, not money."

"You won't win, bitch," Suki scoffed. "You're all big talk."

Brian snorted, finally starting to look a little annoyed as he looked at Tej. "The course is already cleared, right?"

"Roads are closed and there's signs where to turn," Tej agreed, giving Suki a glare as he added, "And I want this race clean, Suki. You pull any dirty tricks and I'll call the cops myself."

Suki glared. "I don't need dirty tricks to beat him, Tej!"

Tej snorted. "No, you need a miracle." He turned away, raising his voice as he called, "Alright people, clear the line! We got one last match race before the big event. Suki has challenged Bullitt to run the long course, one-on-one!"

People started clearing the line so that Brian and Suki could move their cars into position, many of them calling encouragement to Suki, especially her girls. Only a few called out to Brian, mostly people who didn't like Suki, but he barely noticed them. He was frowning a little and kept looking towards Suki, his blue eyes unhappy and sad, which bothered Tej as he watched Brian move the Mustang back onto the line.

Within just a few minutes Suki and Brian were in their cars side-by-side and Brian looked over at her as he called, "You know this is ridiculous, right?"

"You just know you'll lose!" Suki called back, giving him a superior look. "You're all hot air and flashy paint!"

Brian snorted, giving her a dirty look. "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, girl."

"Fuck you, bitch!" Suki yelled quickly, angry and glaring.

"No thanks," Brian replied instantly, starting to look annoyed. "You're not my type!"

"Jimmy, take over for me," Tej called suddenly, holding out the starting flag to Jimmy and making Brian and Suki both look towards him.

Jimmy moved to the line to take the flag, frowning. "What're you thinking, boss?"

"I wanna see all of this, and the only way I'm gonna do that is if I ride along," Tej replied, heading towards the Mustang. "You can handle the start."

Suki glared at Tej as she watched him get in the passenger side of the Mustang, and Tej looked at her a moment before he looked at Brian and murmured, "Get out of sight of the crowd and then show her what you and your baby can really do."

Brian looked a little surprised, but he agreed, "If you want."

"I do." Tej looked at Suki again, adding more loudly, "And when she loses, she's gonna stop this bullshit or find another garage."

Suki stared, angry but obviously hurt too as she looked away at the road and revved her Honda's engine up loud, making her girls cheer where they watched from the other side of her car. It did sound pretty good, compared to other imports. The problem was, she wasn't racing another import this time.

Brian just let the Mustang idle for a minute or two, rumbling quietly while he let Suki show off, then he finally put his foot on the gas and the Mustang's engine roared, drowning out the sound of her car completely while he looked at her. Suki glared at him and Brian smiled, letting off on the gas to call cheerfully, "Don't worry, sweetheart, your little pink Honda is still cute!"

The crowd hooted and cat-called at that and Suki let out an angry squeal, so pissed off she couldn't even find words.

Tej laughed as he looked at Brian and murmured, "She pissed you off."

"Yeah, she kinda did," Brian agreed, not looking at Tej. "You need to belt in. She's about to get her ass handed to her."

Tej snickered and put the seat belt on. "She deserves it."

"We ready?" Jimmy called, holding up the flag Tej used for starting races, and when Tej looked towards him he saw Jimmy was grinning.

Brian revved the Mustang's engine up to a roar again, nodding to Jimmy.

"Ready to kick his ass!" Suki yelled, revving her Honda while her girls and some of the crowd cheered.

Tej had to laugh again at how small the Honda sounded by the Mustang's big engine. "She's gonna hate us both after this."

"If she does, she never really loved you," Brian murmured, making Tej look at him quickly.

Jimmy waved the flag overhead and then dropped it and Brian let off the brakes, making the Mustang leap off the line fast enough the front wheels left the ground.

Tej's eyes widened a little as he grabbed the door and held on, feeling the g-force push him back against the seat. The Mustang's nose dropped again and he could feel her steadily accelerating as he looked towards the side for Suki, then checked the side mirror, surprised. Suki was already well behind them, looking pissed off as she tried to catch up, and Tej looked towards Brian as he asked, "Is this top speed?"

"Eleven second start, maybe twelve," Brian replied, checking the mirror and then Tej saw him let off on the gas. Brian looked at him then, adding, "Don't freak out no matter what I do, okay? I got this. I would never risk you."

Tej laughed, a little surprised. "I trust you, baby."

Brian grinned. "Good."

Tej looked back towards the side mirror and realized Suki was right behind them now, then looked ahead and saw they were coming up on the first turn way too fast for his peace of mind. Tej braced himself and then Brian was doing a powerslide through the corner, accelerating out of it an instant later.

Tej looked back again and saw Suki was falling behind again, then looked at Brian, watching him looking in the mirror at Suki with a measuring look in his eyes.

Brian glanced at him suddenly, smirking. "I used to do this to cops." He looked at the mirror again, then at the road ahead, asking, "We got what, another mile to the next turn?"

"About that now," Tej agreed after glancing around.

"Gotcha," Brian replied, then he was popping the brake and Tej let out a little surprised squeak as Brian spun the car abruptly, shifting into reverse. They were suddenly facing Suki, who looked totally shocked as Brian grinned brightly at her, sticking his hand out the window to flip her off. "All talk my ass." He accelerated away, still driving backwards, and Suki just stared, wide-eyed. "I can drive better backwards than she can forward."

Tej laughed and then Brian was whipping the car around again, slinging him against the belts, and Tej realized Brian was taking the next turn backwards. Brian slid the car through the turn and then on around to face down the road again, shifting back into drive and then making the Mustang leap forward, and Tej realized he was hard. He looked at Brian and saw he was still grinning, blue eyes bright and sparkling, and then Brian looked at him.

"What?" Brian asked, grinning and not even looking at the road even though they were going well over a hundred miles an hour. "She asked for it."

Tej laughed. "I want to fuck you so hard right now, baby boy."

Brian laughed too, looking back at the road. "Not while I'm driving, I'd kill us for sure."

Tej laughed again and looked at the road, then glanced at the side mirror and saw Suki was about five car-lengths back and steadily falling further behind. "Later, your ass is mine."

"Now that's my kinda prize," Brian agreed, and when Tej looked towards him he saw Brian was smirking and looking happy.

Brian didn't bother with anything fancy for the next turn, downshifting and taking the corner like normal people, and Tej looked back to see Suki still well back behind them. Tej looked at Brian again and said, "Not much farther, baby. One more corner, then the line."

"I know," Brian agreed. "Jimmy told me a little bit about how he laid out the course after he sent Rico and Mitch to put up the roadblocks." He glanced at the mirror, watching as Suki hit the Nos and rocketed towards them. "How bad do you want me to beat her?"

"If you show your hand too much, I won't be able to get you many races," Tej replied. "She's not a top driver, but there's only a dozen or so who can beat her every time."

"Got it," Brian agreed, letting Suki get right behind the Mustang before he floored the gas.

The Mustang leaped under them and Tej saw the corner coming up ahead and braced himself as he held on tight. They were sliding sideways through the corner an instant later and then heading towards the line a block away as Suki hit the Nos a second time to try and pass them.

Brian tapped the Nos, just a short burst, and then watched her in the mirror, staying just ahead of her up to the line. He took his foot off the gas then, downshifted, and hit the emergency brake, spinning into a sliding stop about thirty feet beyond the line while Suki flew past the crowd.

Brian looked at Tej then, ignoring the cheering people crowding into the road around them and grinning as he said, "How was that?"

"Sexiest fuckin' thing I ever saw in my life," Tej replied, grinning at Brian as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "I'm glad these damn coveralls are so loose, baby boy." He shoved his erection down against his thigh and then got out, smirking when he saw Suki had turned her car around another hundred feet down the road.

The crowd was cheering, most of them looking surprised, and Tej looked around as he called, "Come on, now! Give it up for Bullitt!" The crowd cheered again, except for Suki's girls and a few of her friends, who all looked surprised.

Brian got out of the Mustang and walked around the hood towards Tej, grinning at the people who were crowding close but not stopping to talk to anyone and neatly avoiding most who tried to touch him.

Suki pulled up next to Tej then, looking upset but grudgingly impressed as she said, "Maybe you're not all talk after all, Bullitt."

Brian laughed, stopping by Tej too. "Maybe?"

Suki looked sheepish. "Okay, yes, that was pretty amazing," she admitted. "The only place I ever saw people drive like that is on television." She let out a tiny little laugh. "Or video games."

Brian grinned. "Thank you, Suki."

Kali climbed into the passenger seat of the Honda, grinning. "Tell me you had the dash cam running, Suki."

"I did," Suki agreed, looking at Kali. "You'd never believe me until you see it."

"Yeah, just don't be showing the whole world," Tej said firmly, making Suki look at him quickly. Her girls were crowding around the far side of the car and he didn't want her showing them all what Brian could do. If she did, he'd never get another race. The video would make it blindingly obvious Brian had just been playing with her and could have beaten her by a mile if he wanted to. "You owe him that for not making you pay up on that stupid bet you made."

Suki blushed, nodding. "I'll only show Kali." She looked at Brian, adding, "And I'm sorry I was such a bitch, Bullitt, you just made me so mad at dinner, I wanted to make you eat your words." She suddenly looked wry. "And you made me eat mine. I'll pay the bet, if you want."

"It's forgotten," Brian said easily. "And you just did. I told you, all I wanted is a little respect."

"You've got that," Suki agreed quietly, obviously a little surprised.

Brian smiled. "Then we're good."

Tej reached out to put his hand on Brian's shoulder as he looked at Suki. "Send that video to my laptop, Suki. I was in the car but I still wanna see it."

"I will, baby," Suki agreed, giving him a hopeful little smile. "Maybe we could watch it together later?"

"Nah, I got things to do tonight," Tej disagreed, smiling at her even though he didn't miss the look Kali shot at Suki or the way Suki flushed slightly as her smile faded away. There was no way he was inviting Suki back to the garage to spend some time with her, not that night at least. He'd end up giving her a piece of his mind and then it would be over. "Tomorrow? We could do lunch at that barbecue place I like." She didn't much like barbecue and he knew it, but after the way she acted all evening he figured she deserved a little payback.

"Okay," Suki agreed as she shot a glance at Brian and then looked back at Tej. "I'll pick you up around two?"

"Sounds good," Tej agreed. He looked away, raising his voice. "Alright folks, let's clear the line for the final race of the night! Cars to the line!" People started moving back out of the road and Tej gave Brian a little push, starting him moving back towards the front of the Mustang. He leaned close as they walked and murmured quietly, "Don't show off for them, baby."

"Not even a little," Brian agreed, smiling. "I better be one of the things you plan to do later."

"Top of my list, baby boy," Tej agreed, smirking as he let his hand slide down to rest on Brian's ass for an instant and then fall away. "Bottom of the list, too, and everything in between."

"I'm liking that list," Brian said with a wide grin, moving to get into the Mustang and move her back to the line.

Tej laughed and continued to the side of the road by the line, where Jimmy was waiting.

Jimmy waited until Tej got close, smirking as he murmured, "So, is the kid really that great of a driver or were you just that happy to get out of the car?"

Tej laughed, glad it didn't show much as he felt his face heating up. He had hoped the coveralls would hide how hard he was when he got out. "He's amazing, brother. I'm glad Suki had her dash cam going, or you'd never believe me if I tried to tell you about it." He laughed again. "Hell, I was in the car and I'm not sure I believe me."

Jimmy laughed. "Can't wait to see it, boss."

"Me either," Tej agreed, grinning as he watched Julio pull up next to the Mustang in his RX-7.

Julio grinned at Brian, calling, "You gonna get a real race now, Bullitt. No more skirts!"

Brian laughed and called back, "Bring it!"

An Asian racer that Tej had seen race a dozen times but still knew only as Kim pulled up beyond Julio in his tricked-out black and gold Honda Civic, revving the engine a few times and then calling, "Come on, let's get this show on the road! I got a girl waiting!"

People along the sides of the road started laughing as Julio called back, "Hold your horses, Kim! Joaquim is still trying to find 'drive'!"

The crowd hooted and jeered as a black Firebird with a phoenix on the hood and flames trailing down the sides pulled up to the line, and Joaquim called, "Fuck you very much, Julio!"

"Naw, man, I got a girl!" Julio called back quickly. "Thanks anyway!"

Tej laughed and started forward as he called, "Alright, ante up, boys! Gonna cost you just two large 'cause I'm in a good mood!"

Brian laughed, reaching into the console for a roll of cash and waiting until Tej paused near the front of the Mustang, then tossing it to him. "You might wanna count it, I won that from Slapjack!"

People laughed as Jack called from the sidelines, "It's all there, damn! Count wrong one time and even the new guy is giving me shit!"

"That's cause you can't count, Jack!" Tej called back, laughing. He moved to the front of Julio's RX-7, catching the roll of cash Julio tossed to him, then continued to Kim's black Civic.

"Make sure you stay close with my money!" Kim called as he tossed Tej a folded wad of bills in a rubber band. "I'm out of here after I collect!"

Tej laughed. "You just try not to be last place again like last week!"

"It was that damn pothole, man!" Kim called back, laughing. "I nearly rolled the car!"

"Yeah, uh-huh," Tej called, smirking as he walked to Joaquim's Firebird. "Somehow nobody ever sees those potholes but you, Kim!"

The crowd laughed and hooted as Joaquim tossed Tej a bundle of cash, and then Tej continued to the side of the road.

"Alright!" Tej called, pulling the flag out of his back pocket. "Let's get it on, boys! Bullitt, you ready?"

"Always!" Brian called back, grinning wide as he revved the Mustang's engine.

Tej grinned at him, then looked at Julio. "Orange Julius, you ready?"

"Let's go !" Julio called back, revving his RX-7.

"Kim!" Tej called, and Kim lifted one hand out his window, thumb up as he revved his car. Tej looked at Joaquim. "And you, Phoenix?"

"Hell yeah!" Joaquim replied quickly, revving up the Firebird.

"Ready!" Tej yelled, lifting the flag. All four drivers revved their engines higher. "And….   Go !" Tej swung the flag down and the cars leapt forward, the Mustang and the Firebird going immediately to the lead with the RX-7 and the Civic right behind them, and it was only a few moments before they all rounded the first corner.

Tej crossed the street back to Jimmy, stopping beside him, and Jimmy leaned closer as he murmured with a grin, "Bri wasn't even pushing her, he kept all four on the ground."

"I know," Tej agreed, smirking as he looked at Jimmy. "It'll be a close one."

Jimmy laughed. "Nice."

Tej and Jimmy just stood quietly waiting after that, Tej opening the stacks of money to count them while Jimmy watched and people milled around talking. The money was all there and Tej looked around to check out the crowd, surprised to see Suki's girls across the road but no sign of her or Kali. He was wondering if Suki and Kali really were a thing too when there was a shrill whistle from up the road where Rico was watching the last turn.

"Clear the road," Tej called loudly, "here they come!"

People started running for the sides of the road just as the Firebird slid out of the side street into view with the Mustang so close on her heels that it looked like they were touching. The Firebird swung too wide coming out of the corner and the Mustang shot into the gap, the cars roaring up the road side-by-side until the Mustang edged ahead just before the line, taking the lead by only a few feet while the crowd went crazy. The Civic was next over the line with Julio's RX-7 bringing up the rear, one side of his car scraped and dented.

Jimmy leaned close to Tej's ear and said, "He's good! I almost believe he was working for that."

Tej laughed and patted Jimmy's shoulder, leaning to murmur into his ear, "That's the idea." He winked at Jimmy and then moved towards the line where Brian was just pulling up with the Mustang, grinning and pleased. The crowd quieted as Brian climbed out of the Mustang, and Tej offered him the stack of cash as he said loudly, "To the victor go the spoils!"

Brian laughed and took the stack of cash as he said easily, "Thanks, man." He smirked. "I'm gonna enjoy my prize."

Tej grinned. "No doubt!" He looked around, calling, "And that concludes the racing for tonight, folks! Feel free to follow Jimmy and the trucks back to the garage to hang, it'll be opening up when he gets there until he decides to chase y'all out!"

People cheered and started towards their cars, and Brian laughed as he stepped closer to Tej. "People are going back with us?"

"With Jimmy," Tej corrected, smirking. "I think you can get us home ahead of the pack. I got a set of keys. We lock up the Mustang in her bay and nobody'll know we're around."

Brian grinned. "Get in the car." He turned to get in.

Tej laughed and moved quickly to the passenger side, getting in as the Mustang rumbled to life again. Brian started forward slowly until they got past the last of the people milling in the street and then he hit the gas while Tej grinned wide, glad they were on the same page.

~*~*~

Life settled back into a routine over the next few days, and then suddenly over a week had passed without Tej really noticing it.

Tej had made sure he was close to Brian most of the time, but it was easy to do. Brian thrived on working in the garage, even relaxed enough he started to enjoy when people showed up to hang out, so Tej could stay close to him without changing his life at all. The only person Brian really still avoided was Suki, and that was because he was trying to stay out of her way so maybe she wouldn't hate him so much. It worked to some extent, though the time Suki walked into the garage without them noticing it while Tej and Brian were flirting had ended with Tej taking Brian out to dinner because Suki pissed him off by calling Brian bitch again.

Several girls tried flirting with Brian after he started winning races, particularly Rachel, but Brian wasn't even a little bit interested. Mostly he pretended to not even realize he was being hit on and after a few tries they gave up, but Rachel was more determined and pushed him hard enough to annoy Tej one evening. Rachel sat in Brian's lap without even saying hello to him first and tried giving him a lap dance, smirking over her shoulder at him while Tej fought down the impulse to tell her off. Brian had just laughed after a moment and picked her up, then stood and put her in his chair and walked away to go get a bottle of the hard lemonade Tej drank sometimes while he was working. When Brian came back he put the table between him and Rachel, standing between Tej and Kali and acting like nothing had happened.

Rachel pouted for half an hour, but finally she took the hint and stopped bothering him. Suki's girls started spreading the word that Brian was gay right after that, though Tej was pretty sure Kali was behind it. Kali had talked with Brian, Jimmy, and Tej several times when Suki wasn't around, hanging out with them, and she seemed to really like Brian. She was nicer to him than any of Suki's other girls, and Tej figured she told the other girls he was gay so they'd leave Brian alone. Kali had taken Brian's side a few times when Suki's girls were talking crap about him, and Tej had decided she was on his short list of people who got free repairs when they needed them, though he hadn't told her that.

That's why it meant even more to Tej when he heard Kali defend Brian one night when Suki came in and made a comment that made Brian's smile disappear as he quietly left the table. Tej didn't hear what was said, he was getting a drink and walked up just as Brian left, but whatever it was had bothered Brian and annoyed Kali, who told Suki to give Brian a chance. Suki was snippy with Kali over it, and then a few days later when Suki came in and said something that made Brian leave, Kali had given her a dirty look and went with him. Kali and Brian were soon laughing over something, and then they both looked at Suki, which made Suki glare at them.

Suki made a few pointed comments about Brian a few days later after a race and Kali called Suki out right in front of all their friends and told her to stop being such a jealous little bitch. Everyone was surprised when Brian asked Kali to ease up on Suki, but it had just made Kali even more determinedly on Brian's side. She began showing up whenever she wasn't in classes at the local college, reprogramming the Skyline for Brian and Jimmy in her free time. She had even asked Brian to make her a list of musicians he liked so she could download them on her home system for him and put them in the computer.

Brian had been in Miami a little over two weeks when Tej found a large envelope from his uncle in the mailbox one morning, and he was grinning as he opened it. There were a few papers inside for his records, copies of long-term lease agreements mostly, but there was also a second plain white envelope. Tej dropped the mail and the paperwork in the office on his desk and then glanced in the plain envelope and grinned. He took it and headed for the garage, where Brian was eating a bowl of cereal while Jimmy and Julio ate donuts.

Brian had said something about missing a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles the day before when they were having breakfast burritos, and when Jimmy went out to grab breakfast that morning he came back with donuts along with a box of Cocoa Pebbles, a gallon of milk, and a stack of disposable bowls. Brian was obviously enjoying his cereal, grinning and munching happily while Jimmy and Julio talked about what still needed done to Julio's car, and Tej dropped the envelope by Brian's bowl on the way to the coffee machine.

"What's this?" Brian asked, surprised.

Tej glanced back, smirking, then filled his mug with coffee before he turned with it to look at Brian. "Open it and find out."

Brian laughed slightly and opened the envelope, pulling out the folded paper inside and staring at it in shock for a moment before he looked at Tej. "Is this really what it looks like?"

"Pretty sure it is," Tej agreed, still smirking as he sipped at his coffee.

Brian stared at the deed for a moment longer and then put it on the table as he jumped up, walking quickly to Tej and grabbing Tej's face between his hands to kiss him thoroughly. Tej chuckled into the kiss, blindly setting his coffee on the counter behind him and then sliding his hands into Brian's back pockets, squeezing as he sucked on Brian's tongue gently, thinking that the Cocoa Pebbles really were pretty good. Brian purred into the kiss and tilted his head for a better angle, nudging a little closer to push Tej back against the counter behind him, and Tej forgot all about the cereal.

"Aw come on, guys," Julio said then, "I don't need to see that!"

Brian pulled away from Tej, blushing but giving him a kind of awed smile as he murmured, "You really bought it?"

"We can always use another rental in L.A. anyway," Tej replied quietly, smiling. "It'll be there if you ever figure out how to get it back to him."

Brian let out a soft little laugh and kissed him again, then murmured, "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."

"Just breathe, baby boy. That's enough," Tej replied, smiling as he lifted one hand to tug Brian down into another kiss.

They had been kissing for a minute or so when Julio suddenly blurted, "Holy shit, Tej! You bought him a house?"

Tej and Brian pulled apart and Tej looked past Brian's shoulder to see Julio was holding the deed, wide-eyed. "Keep that to yourself, Julio," Tej said firmly, patting Brian on the ass gently and then grabbing his coffee and moving towards the table. "You start running your mouth and your free labor's gonna evaporate."

"Fast," Jimmy added dryly. "I'll forget how to keep your car one of the fastest ones in town, too."

"I'm not gonna tell anyone," Julio protested quickly, "but seriously, mi hermano, a house?"

"It's a long story," Tej said easily, sitting in his usual chair. "And most of it's none of your business." He leaned to take the deed out of Julio's hand, reaching for the envelope to tuck it back inside.

"I screwed up, back in Cali," Brian said, moving to sit back down with his bowl between Tej and Jimmy. "A really close friend lost his house because of me, and Tej bought it back. That's all."

"That's all?" Julio repeated, wide-eyed. "Do you know what houses cost?"

"I have a decent idea, since my dad's had me checking out real estate here for him," Brian agreed. "I already owe Tej my life, though, and I know him well enough to know he'd have a fit if I tried to pay him back for the house."

"You already did, baby," Tej said easily, setting the deed back down by Brian's bowl. Brian didn't need to know that the two bedroom single-story houses Rick had Brian looking at there in Miami were a lot cheaper than the house in Echo Park had been. Tej would have paid twice as much if he had to. "You just didn't know it."

Brian smiled wryly at Tej. "I'm sure I'm gonna regret this, but I gotta ask. How did I do that?" Tej smirked, wicked and dirty, and Brian laughed, blushing very red. "That's where I thought you were going, don't say it."

"Yeah, please don't, no details," Julio said quickly, looking at Tej like he was nuts. "Just…  Is he really that awesome in bed, Tej? I mean, seriously?"

Brian hid his face in his hand as Tej smirked at Julio. "He could turn you if he wanted to, Julio, and you're one of the straightest guys I know. There ain't nothin' that compares to Brian when he's all willin' and eager, beggin' for it."

"Jesus, Tej!" Brian exclaimed, beet red as he reached out to swat Tej's shoulder lightly. "He does not need to know about that!"

Tej smirked at Brian, teasing, "You ashamed of wanting me, baby boy?"

"Not even a little, but that doesn't mean I want you telling Julio I beg for it," Brian replied quickly, beet red and embarrassed.

"I didn't wanna hear it either," Julio said then, making them both look at him. He was making a face as he dropped what was left of a donut on the napkin in front of him. "Now I got that mental image in my head, Tej. Thanks a lot." He gave Tej a dirty look, adding, "Someone change the subject."

"We got the new decal in for your car," Jimmy said, grinning wide and amused. "Just gotta clean up the last few dents and repaint, then we can put it on before we do the clear coat."

"Why not get Suki to do the decal?" Julio asked, surprised. "She's better at it."

"You want her doing it, you ask her," Jimmy replied with a little laugh. "I'm on her shit list."

"What'd you do?" Julio asked, amused.

"I called her a spoiled brat," Jimmy replied, grinning as he reached for another donut. "She squealed like a wet cat. It was funny as Hell."

Julio laughed. "Oh yeah, she won't be working for you anytime soon."

"Nope," Jimmy agreed, amused. "Not a big loss for me. I don't want to put up with her playing diva today anyway."

"She's a total diva," Julio agreed, amused. "She's sexy, sure, but hot only goes so far. I don't know how Tej puts up with her being such a bitch."

"Hey!" Brian said, making Julio look at him in surprise. Brian was frowning as he said, "Don't talk like that about Suki."

Julio stared at Brian. "She talks shit about you constantly, Brian. Why would you defend her?"

"She's allowed," Brian said, still frowning slightly. "I get why she's mad at me. I deserve it."

"Baby, do not start that bullshit again," Tej said quickly. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"Not wrong, maybe, but I get why she hates me," Brian said, meeting Tej's gaze. "You should too, you don't share either."

"It's not sharing if she never had me to start with, baby," Tej pointed out. "She wouldn't even get coffee with me until after I got back with you, and besides, she's got at least two girlfriends on the side herself. If anyone should be pissed about it all, it's you."

Brian blinked, surprised. "Why would I be mad?"

"Maybe because you've been with Tej for years and Suki's trying to take him from you," Jimmy said dryly, amused.

"But it's not like that," Brian said quickly, still surprised. "Tej falling for her doesn't mean he loves me less. If it did he would have never bothered to invite me out here. He was already crazy about her then, he told me so."

"What would you be doing if he didn't?" Julio asked, curious.

"I'd probably be dead," Brian admitted. "He didn't know it when he called, but I was... in a really bad way. I was alone and messed up and going into a wall at one-sixty was looking like a viable option."

Julio frowned at that, looking concerned.

"And you're still a little shaky," Tej said quietly, making Brian look at him again. He tried hard not to think about Brian hurting so badly he just wanted to die, reminding himself firmly that Brian didn't feel that way anymore. "You think I don't see it, but I got you figured out now, baby boy. She's not making me step back until I think you're good, and right now you still need me."

Brian looked at Tej for a long moment and then asked very softly, "What if I don't get any better, Tej?"

"I'll be there for you when you need me until the day I die, baby," Tej said gently. "I already told her that."

"I love you too," Brian said softly. "You just proved my point, though. I get why she hates me. She's in love with you."

"She says she is," Tej agreed, "but if she really loved me, she'd stop hurting you. Seeing her treat you like shit hurts me more than it hurts you. You accept it because your idea of what's fair is all screwed up, but for me, she's hurting someone I love who she knows is already on shaky ground to start with. Her being such a bitch to you isn't helping you at all."

Brian just looked at Tej for a few moments and then said softly, "I'm sorry."

Tej sighed. "Brian, none of it is your fault." He leaned towards Brian, reaching for the back of his neck to pull Brian over and rest their foreheads together as he murmured softly, "It'll all work out like it's supposed to, baby boy. I got faith. If I'm supposed to end up with her, I will, and if not, then at least you won't make me sleep lonely."

Brian let out a tiny little huff of a laugh. "You and your faith."

"Got me this far, baby boy," Tej murmured with a smile, then kissed him softly before he let Brian go and sat back in his chair, looking at Jimmy as he changed the subject. He trusted Julio not to run his mouth, but Brian needed distracted, his eyes were starting to dim again. "While you and Julio work on his car, I'm gonna take Bri to get that custom body kit for the Skyline. Fran called this morning and said she got the last piece finished." He paused, then corrected, "Well, he's gonna take me, I'm making him drive 'cause I still wanna be able to walk when we get back, but yeah."

"Works for me, boss," Jimmy agreed easily, smiling. "We don't have much for today anyway. If you two stick around working, you'll be done by three, easy."

Tej laughed. "Yeah, no. Not happening." He looked at Brian, smiling. "We'll have to take the truck. It won't all fit in the Mustang."

"That's fine," Brian agreed.

"He didn't even ask if you wanted to go, Brian," Julio said with a little surprise, "and you're just gonna go with it, just like that?"

"There's nothing Tej can ask me for I don't wanna do for him," Brian replied easily. He stood with his bowl, adding, "Lemme clear this away and we can go."

"Sure, baby, no hurry," Tej replied easily. "We got all day and Bonita Springs isn't all that far." He had a thought then and added, "Go grab your phone before we go, though. I plugged it in by the bed last night. Your dad was supposed to call when he gets on the road."

"Yeah, probably a good idea," Brian agreed as he dropped the remains of his breakfast into the trash barrel by the back door. "Thanks." He stepped outside, heading for the boat.

Tej looked at Julio then, not very surprised to see Julio watching him thoughtfully. "Spit it out, bro."

"Which one of them are you really in love with, mi hermano ?" Julio asked softly. "Every time I think I got it figured out, you do something that makes me change my mind."

Tej smiled crookedly as he murmured, "There's a reason nobody can figure that out." He got up, carrying his coffee mug towards the sink as he added in a more normal tone, "We'll be gone most of the day, Jimmy. Decide what you want for dinner tonight, my treat."

"Italian," Jimmy replied instantly. "I'm craving some pasta in a major way."

"Pick somewhere and we'll go," Tej agreed, putting his mug in the sink and then walking back towards the table. "Brian loves Italian, he won't mind."

Julio glanced towards the back door, then looked at Tej and asked very softly, "If you love them both, how are you gonna choose?"

"I'm not," Tej replied quietly. "I'll end up with who I'm supposed to, and until then, I'm going to keep taking care of Bri. He needs me right now."

Brian walked back into the garage and Tej smiled, walking towards the front as he said easily, "I guess it was there, huh?"

"Yeah, right where you said," Brian agreed, walking quickly to catch up with Tej and then slowing to walk next to him. "You keep track of my phone better than I ever did. That's why it was usually in the car. At least then I wouldn't lose it."

Tej laughed. "If you lose it I'll just get you another one, baby."

"If I lose it, people can just call you," Brian corrected with a laugh of his own as they walked out front. "You'll know where I am."

"Definitely," Tej agreed, digging into his pocket for his keys and thumbing the button to unlock the truck, then reaching out to offer the keys to Brian with a smile. "You're driving."

"I remember," Brian agreed, accepting the keys and moving towards the driver's side of Tej's pickup.

Tej walked to the passenger side to get in, looking forward to spending the day alone with Brian. He could have called Rabbit in to have him run across to the Gulf coast for the custom body panels, but Tej and Brian had both been working every day for a couple weeks and he figured they had earned a day off together.

Tej settled comfortably into the passenger seat, stretching his bad leg out and glad of the extra leg room in the truck, then looked at Brian. He was just watching with a soft little smile, and Tej smiled back as he murmured, "Might help if you start the truck."

"Might," Brian agreed, his smile widening slightly as he finally put the key in the ignition and started up the truck. "I have no idea where Bonita Springs is, though."

"Just head west, baby," Tej replied easily, smiling. "When we hit the Gulf, it'll be either north or south, depending where you find the coast highway."

Brian laughed and started the truck moving towards the street. "That's easy enough. Is there a particular road you'd take if you were driving?"

"I don't drive it, but the best way is 41 all the way," Tej replied, amused. "It's easy to find and the least traffic once we're out of town."

"Sounds good," Brian agreed, smiling as he stopped at the edge of the lot, looking at Tej. "Which way?"

"South," Tej said, "all the north-south roads cross 41."

"Awesome," Brian said, turning to the right and and heading out. "It's a couple of hours over to the Gulf, isn't it?"

"Yeah, about that," Tej agreed, relaxing in his seat, looking over at Brian with a soft smile.

Brian's smile widened a little and he looked at Tej again. "Are you gonna watch me drive all the way?"

"I might," Tej agreed, smiling wider. "It's a beautiful view."

Brian blushed slightly, his smile softening as he reached towards Tej with his free hand and murmured, "I love you too."

Tej took Brian's hand, tangling their fingers together as he said cheerfully, "Of course you do, baby. I'm awesome."

Brian just laughed.