Life Across The Finish Line (Or J2 Does The Fast And the Furious) 3 of 5 J2, Brian/Dom
Title: Life across the Finish Line (or J2 does the Fast and the Furious)
Author: KliqzAngel
Genre: Crossover with The Fast and The Furious
Characters/Pairings: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Dominic Toretto/Brian O’Connor.
Minor appearances by: Nick Stokes/Greg Sanders, Don Flack/Danny Messer, Tony DiNozzo, Christian Kane/Steve Carlson, Agent Bilkins
Mentions of: Michael Rosenbaum, Tom Welling, Sterling Brown
Content: M/M Relationships and Sex, RPS, Light Angst, Language,
Rating: R
Summary: Federal Agent Jensen Ackles life is a disaster. He’s had two partners accused of being dirty. His boss wants him gone. His co-workers don’t trust him. He has no friends left and his family is clueless. What happens when an agent he isn’t even connected to sends him to his former mentor when he’s handed the assignment of a lifetime. Will he grab the lift at the across the finish line? Or will he crash and burn before he can get there?
Notes: Ok, so this is a crossover with tFatF, but only Dom and Brian make an appearance. The second movie is pretty much ignored as is the third. I’m going on the assumption that Dom eventually got caught and went to prison for a ridiculously short period of time. Brian did some time working with the FBI, but eventually left to go work with Dom at the garage. I have mentally altered Jensen and Jared’s ages. Jay is the older one in this. I just thought it worked better, but I don’t think there’s any real mention of ages, so you can imagine it for yourself however you’d like.
Master Post Chapter One Chapter Two
Chapter Three
When they reached the garage, Jared headed immediately to his tool box and then under a car leaving Brian and Dom to get the day’s events out of Jensen, preferring to give himself time to consider what he’d heard first. He knew people thought he was stupid. In fact, it was a misconception he had been known to encourage, using it to his advantage when he could. Dom though was the first who had never bought the act, letting him know real quick that the dumb hick routine wasn’t gonna fly with him.
Stokes was the second, and Jared wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
He knew it was mostly his own fault. He hadn’t been able to hold himself back as he should have, not sure why. Still though, it wasn’t the first time he hadn’t had to hide his intelligence to keep its secret safely under wraps. This time though, even though the other man hadn’t said a word, Jared knew he’d had his number from second one. Not only had Stokes gotten his number, but he’d eventually backed down, a move so unexpected, Jared still didn’t understand why. People of authority, especially cops never backed down from him, they always just had to push and prod to prove they were bigger and badder than him. Dom said it was his size that did it, but Jared still wasn’t sure that he understood.
Then there was that creep Sterling, Jared wasn’t sure if they knew he’d been listening or not, but he had been, and something about what they’d been discussing clicked in his head. He just couldn’t figure out what it was.
~~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~
He should have known that his silence would get him noticed, but he was too busy concentrating, working on the car on auto pilot to be thinking about other shit, and it got him busted. He was standing in the parts room looking for a clamp, mindin’ his own business when Dom came in lounging against the doorway. “You’re bein’ awfully quiet, Jay.”
Startled, Jared almost dropped the parts he was holding before giving Dom a glance shrugging his shoulders for good effect. “Thinkin’,” he admitted knowing he couldn’t fool Dom. Once he noticed there would be no letting it go until Jared just ‘fessed up. “Saw somethin, just can’t remember where.”
“And if you can remember where you can remember what,” Don finished for him and Jared nodded absently taking down a belt adding it to his pile. “This about their case?” Dom asked quietly and again Jared nodded turning around, his arms full. Stepping forward to leave, Jared slipped and would have fallen if Dom hadn’t been there to catch him. “That fuckin’ hose,” Dom cursed bending to pick it up, then straightening to show it to Jared. “This is why parts shouldn’t be on the floor. Where the hell did it come from anyway?” He grumbled, but quickly shut up when he saw Jared’s whole attention focused on the offending object.
“Some racer brought it in,” Jared said quietly as the memory came back to him. “Idiot bought the wrong one. Came roarin’ in here all balls and attitude demanding you, but you weren’t here. T’was one of your date nights with B. Jackass came in, said he had a fix he needed done right then. Had a busted hose, but he had the wrong one, so I came back to get the right one and threw that one down cause I was pissed.”
In his mind, Jared could see the night.
He was hot and irritated enough, swearing at the damned civic that just would not cooperate. He’d been growing tired of fixing things only to find out they weren’t the big problem when the car had pulled up outside, lights shining in his face as he looked up to see who it was. For a second he was afraid the prick was gonna hit the car he was working on, going too fast and braking too late, and that would really have topped off his day.
“Where’s Toretto?” The asshole shouted getting out of the car, smoke coming out from under the hood.
“He ain’t here,” Jared replied. Wrench firmly in hand as he walked around the Civic and outside to check out the car. The paint job was pretty sweet if you liked flashy. Pink dragon design on a black paint job, windows tinted black, hot pink glow underneath. “I fuckin’ need him to fix somethin’, now! I ain’t got time for bullshit!”
“He. Ain’t. Here.” Jared growled quietly wishing desperately that he was because the sweat was running down his back under his shirt as his little voiced screamed that this was no good in his head.
“I NEED THIS FIXED!” The asshole yelled moving around the car to get in Jared’s space. It was all that Jared could do to not start swinging, only the surety that Dom would kick his ass outta his life faster than he could whistle Dixie stopped him.
“Pull the car into bay #2 and pop the hood,” Jared finally said stepping back and heading into the garage, putting distance between himself and trouble as quick as he could. “And tell whoever is in there to get out.”
“No one in the car fuckhead,” the asshole spat and Jared stopped turning back around cocking his head to one side and crossing his arms.
“Let me put this real simple like,” Jared drawled all easy like and Texan. “Tell whoever is sitting in that fuckin’ passenger’s seat to get the fuck out of the goddamned car or I don’t. Do. SHIT!” Then Jared stomped back to the back wall to open the door, watching the car pull into the bay and the side door open as…
“There was a girl in there,” Jared said sharply as the memory came into focus. “Don’t know how I knew she was there, but she was. Didn’t seem to speak a lick of English either. Poor thing seemed scared as hell, and the asshole was ‘bout as jumpy as she was.
Moving to the receipt drawer, Jared ruffled through them ‘til he brought one out holding it up for Dom. “Here he is.”
Smiling proudly Dom slapped Jared on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Jay.”
He said before heading out shouting for Brian, and Jared couldn’t help but feel warm inside at the praise.
~~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~
Jared knew he was hiding, but if asked he had a perfectly valid reason for being in the parts room all day. Inventory hadn’t been done for weeks and they were running low on things. Of course, it didn’t really take all day to do unless you were seriously OCD, or trying to avoid the world in general like Jared was trying to do, in which case it could really take all day.
It’d been three days since he’d remembered the girl in the car, and since that time, Dom, Brian, and Jensen had been all involved in trying to find the punk and coming up with ideas on how to move forward with Jensen’s case. Now, Jared knew perfectly well they weren’t leaving him out intentionally or unintentionally and all Jared had to do was sit down and offer something up and he would be immediately included. The thing was that first off Jared didn’t really feel like he had anything of value to offer. Brian was a former cop, Jensen a Federal agent and Dom had more street smarts than any other person Jared ever met. He however was not much more than a small town Texas boy who broke the law and got lucky.
Then there was the Jensen effect.
Jared had found that he couldn’t be anywhere near the man without his brain completely shutting down and ceasing all functions beyond breathing and getting hard. He wanted the man. Jared was more than man enough to admit that to at least himself, and if truth be told, he wanted more than just some random roll in the sack. In Jared’s humble opinion that was what had led to him hiding in the inventory room checking stock while the garage wasn’t even open, because it was much safer there than risking temptation and ending up fucking the man raw on Dom’s living room floor.
Having been not much more than a child when he went to prison, Jared had never had anything more than a one night wham bam thank you man, and frankly had never even met anyone who he wanted anything more than that with grease monkey in high school notwithstanding. So, it was just his luck he figured that the first one he finds is so far out of his league he needs a telescope just to see the guy,
He was sulking.
OK, so what. It was better than doing something stupid, or at least that was what he was telling himself.
“So, Dom wants to know how long you’re gonna stay here hiding like a little girl,” Jared heard and turned to see Brian standing in the doorway watching him, arms crossed in front of his chest.
“M’not hiding,” Jared grumbled frowning at the belts he’d been counting for the last 20 minutes. “M’doing inventory.”
“I can see that,” Brian said, head tilted to one side. “But I am not sure that he was necessarily referring to today. I think it has something to do with the fact that you haven’t spoken to any of us for three days now.”
“What’s there to say?” Jared asked somewhat huffily. “You guys don’t need me to find the bad guy. I cain’t figure there’s anything I could come up with that’s better than any of you have already thought of. I figured it was better I just stay out of the way and make sure things are ready for Dom when he’s ready to reopen.”
“How do you know?” Brian asked softly, concern showing in his eyes, if Jared would only look at him to see it. “We wouldn’t even have a starting point if it wasn’t for you.”
“Jensen would have figured it out,” Jared shot back equally as soft. “He’s smarter than I am, he doesn’t need me.”
Brian sighed and looked down at the floor hating the fact that Dom’d been right. He and Dom had been debating for two days what was going on with Jay, and it had been Dom who had stubbornly insisted that it had something to do with Jensen and how he felt about him.
“I don’t think you can really appreciate what it’s like for a guy like Jared to find himself attracted to someone like Jensen who is so much further up the social scale than him. Bluff and bravo may get you through a rough spot in front of a crowd, but they don’t do a damned thing when the battles you’re fighting are inside your head.” Don said quietly.
“Jensen is a law abiding citizen who puts his life on the line to protect people. As far as the world is concerned he’s a hero, where as Jared is just some ex-con whose good intentions so far have only landed him in a federal prison. It doesn’t matter how smart he is, how capable he is, how far he’s come, all they see is some kid who drove the getaway car for a bank robbery-a dumb con who probably will end right back in prison if given enough time.”
“It doesn’t matter that he was abandoned and left to search for anyone who gave a damn. Jared doesn’t have the self confidence to see anything but not good enough when he looks in the mirror.”
“Is this Jared we’re talking about Toretto?” Brian had asked rolling over to look down at his lover as they lay in bed. “Or you?” And it was the look in Dominic’s eyes that had led to Brian volunteering to find Jared when they’d realized he’d gone AWOL.
“You know, Jay, I think you should give both yourself and Jensen a break,” Brian offered clearing his throat. “I think you’re doing both of you a disservice by assuming he sees nothing more than an ex-convict when he looks at you.”
“And, I think you have plenty to offer this investigation. You’re one of the smartest guys I have ever met. You have a way of looking at a situation and taking your book smarts and combining them with life smarts that provide an outlook on things the rest of us wouldn’t consider. Come back to the house. Hang out; give Jensen a chance to prove he’s as interested in you as you are in him. Stop letting small minded people run your life. You aren’t in that little town anymore Jay, and I would never encourage this thing with you two if I thought both of you weren’t equally as invested in it.”
“Why would he want me?” Jared demanded wanting to buy into Brian’s words, but scared to let himself do it.
“Well first off like I said you’re smart. Jensen’s a pretty intelligent guy, so finding someone who is as smart as or more so than himself is a big turn on for him. You’re funny, another important item, but I think the one that really seals the deal is the fact that you make him feel safe.” Seeing Jared’s surprised look, Brian grinned and shrugged.
“You know, being in law enforcement you get used to being the one that everyone depends on. You’re the one that people expect to make the bad things go away, you’re the strong one. Most of the time no one questions it, and most of the time you don’t mind it. However, every once and awhile there comes a time when you need someone to look after you, whether it be for an hour or a day or an indefinite period of time. The problem is you don’t always have someone who is willing to step up and do for you what you do for them. So, when you find that person who is willing to cherish and protect you, you learn to grab hold and not let go.”
“And you’re saying that Jensen… that I make Jensen feel safe?” Jared asked doubtfully, but Brian just nodded seriously. “It’s something he hasn’t had a lot of as of late I don’t think either. That’s why it would mean a lot to me if you would just… give this thing that’s happening with you two a chance.”
Quietly Jared nodded, setting his clipboard aside and following Brian out of the shop and then back to the house, each man in his own car.
TBC...
Author: KliqzAngel
Genre: Crossover with The Fast and The Furious
Characters/Pairings: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Dominic Toretto/Brian O’Connor.
Minor appearances by: Nick Stokes/Greg Sanders, Don Flack/Danny Messer, Tony DiNozzo, Christian Kane/Steve Carlson, Agent Bilkins
Mentions of: Michael Rosenbaum, Tom Welling, Sterling Brown
Content: M/M Relationships and Sex, RPS, Light Angst, Language,
Rating: R
Summary: Federal Agent Jensen Ackles life is a disaster. He’s had two partners accused of being dirty. His boss wants him gone. His co-workers don’t trust him. He has no friends left and his family is clueless. What happens when an agent he isn’t even connected to sends him to his former mentor when he’s handed the assignment of a lifetime. Will he grab the lift at the across the finish line? Or will he crash and burn before he can get there?
Notes: Ok, so this is a crossover with tFatF, but only Dom and Brian make an appearance. The second movie is pretty much ignored as is the third. I’m going on the assumption that Dom eventually got caught and went to prison for a ridiculously short period of time. Brian did some time working with the FBI, but eventually left to go work with Dom at the garage. I have mentally altered Jensen and Jared’s ages. Jay is the older one in this. I just thought it worked better, but I don’t think there’s any real mention of ages, so you can imagine it for yourself however you’d like.
Master Post Chapter One Chapter Two
Chapter Three
When they reached the garage, Jared headed immediately to his tool box and then under a car leaving Brian and Dom to get the day’s events out of Jensen, preferring to give himself time to consider what he’d heard first. He knew people thought he was stupid. In fact, it was a misconception he had been known to encourage, using it to his advantage when he could. Dom though was the first who had never bought the act, letting him know real quick that the dumb hick routine wasn’t gonna fly with him.
Stokes was the second, and Jared wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
He knew it was mostly his own fault. He hadn’t been able to hold himself back as he should have, not sure why. Still though, it wasn’t the first time he hadn’t had to hide his intelligence to keep its secret safely under wraps. This time though, even though the other man hadn’t said a word, Jared knew he’d had his number from second one. Not only had Stokes gotten his number, but he’d eventually backed down, a move so unexpected, Jared still didn’t understand why. People of authority, especially cops never backed down from him, they always just had to push and prod to prove they were bigger and badder than him. Dom said it was his size that did it, but Jared still wasn’t sure that he understood.
Then there was that creep Sterling, Jared wasn’t sure if they knew he’d been listening or not, but he had been, and something about what they’d been discussing clicked in his head. He just couldn’t figure out what it was.
~~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~
He should have known that his silence would get him noticed, but he was too busy concentrating, working on the car on auto pilot to be thinking about other shit, and it got him busted. He was standing in the parts room looking for a clamp, mindin’ his own business when Dom came in lounging against the doorway. “You’re bein’ awfully quiet, Jay.”
Startled, Jared almost dropped the parts he was holding before giving Dom a glance shrugging his shoulders for good effect. “Thinkin’,” he admitted knowing he couldn’t fool Dom. Once he noticed there would be no letting it go until Jared just ‘fessed up. “Saw somethin, just can’t remember where.”
“And if you can remember where you can remember what,” Don finished for him and Jared nodded absently taking down a belt adding it to his pile. “This about their case?” Dom asked quietly and again Jared nodded turning around, his arms full. Stepping forward to leave, Jared slipped and would have fallen if Dom hadn’t been there to catch him. “That fuckin’ hose,” Dom cursed bending to pick it up, then straightening to show it to Jared. “This is why parts shouldn’t be on the floor. Where the hell did it come from anyway?” He grumbled, but quickly shut up when he saw Jared’s whole attention focused on the offending object.
“Some racer brought it in,” Jared said quietly as the memory came back to him. “Idiot bought the wrong one. Came roarin’ in here all balls and attitude demanding you, but you weren’t here. T’was one of your date nights with B. Jackass came in, said he had a fix he needed done right then. Had a busted hose, but he had the wrong one, so I came back to get the right one and threw that one down cause I was pissed.”
In his mind, Jared could see the night.
He was hot and irritated enough, swearing at the damned civic that just would not cooperate. He’d been growing tired of fixing things only to find out they weren’t the big problem when the car had pulled up outside, lights shining in his face as he looked up to see who it was. For a second he was afraid the prick was gonna hit the car he was working on, going too fast and braking too late, and that would really have topped off his day.
“Where’s Toretto?” The asshole shouted getting out of the car, smoke coming out from under the hood.
“He ain’t here,” Jared replied. Wrench firmly in hand as he walked around the Civic and outside to check out the car. The paint job was pretty sweet if you liked flashy. Pink dragon design on a black paint job, windows tinted black, hot pink glow underneath. “I fuckin’ need him to fix somethin’, now! I ain’t got time for bullshit!”
“He. Ain’t. Here.” Jared growled quietly wishing desperately that he was because the sweat was running down his back under his shirt as his little voiced screamed that this was no good in his head.
“I NEED THIS FIXED!” The asshole yelled moving around the car to get in Jared’s space. It was all that Jared could do to not start swinging, only the surety that Dom would kick his ass outta his life faster than he could whistle Dixie stopped him.
“Pull the car into bay #2 and pop the hood,” Jared finally said stepping back and heading into the garage, putting distance between himself and trouble as quick as he could. “And tell whoever is in there to get out.”
“No one in the car fuckhead,” the asshole spat and Jared stopped turning back around cocking his head to one side and crossing his arms.
“Let me put this real simple like,” Jared drawled all easy like and Texan. “Tell whoever is sitting in that fuckin’ passenger’s seat to get the fuck out of the goddamned car or I don’t. Do. SHIT!” Then Jared stomped back to the back wall to open the door, watching the car pull into the bay and the side door open as…
“There was a girl in there,” Jared said sharply as the memory came into focus. “Don’t know how I knew she was there, but she was. Didn’t seem to speak a lick of English either. Poor thing seemed scared as hell, and the asshole was ‘bout as jumpy as she was.
Moving to the receipt drawer, Jared ruffled through them ‘til he brought one out holding it up for Dom. “Here he is.”
Smiling proudly Dom slapped Jared on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Jay.”
He said before heading out shouting for Brian, and Jared couldn’t help but feel warm inside at the praise.
~~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~
Jared knew he was hiding, but if asked he had a perfectly valid reason for being in the parts room all day. Inventory hadn’t been done for weeks and they were running low on things. Of course, it didn’t really take all day to do unless you were seriously OCD, or trying to avoid the world in general like Jared was trying to do, in which case it could really take all day.
It’d been three days since he’d remembered the girl in the car, and since that time, Dom, Brian, and Jensen had been all involved in trying to find the punk and coming up with ideas on how to move forward with Jensen’s case. Now, Jared knew perfectly well they weren’t leaving him out intentionally or unintentionally and all Jared had to do was sit down and offer something up and he would be immediately included. The thing was that first off Jared didn’t really feel like he had anything of value to offer. Brian was a former cop, Jensen a Federal agent and Dom had more street smarts than any other person Jared ever met. He however was not much more than a small town Texas boy who broke the law and got lucky.
Then there was the Jensen effect.
Jared had found that he couldn’t be anywhere near the man without his brain completely shutting down and ceasing all functions beyond breathing and getting hard. He wanted the man. Jared was more than man enough to admit that to at least himself, and if truth be told, he wanted more than just some random roll in the sack. In Jared’s humble opinion that was what had led to him hiding in the inventory room checking stock while the garage wasn’t even open, because it was much safer there than risking temptation and ending up fucking the man raw on Dom’s living room floor.
Having been not much more than a child when he went to prison, Jared had never had anything more than a one night wham bam thank you man, and frankly had never even met anyone who he wanted anything more than that with grease monkey in high school notwithstanding. So, it was just his luck he figured that the first one he finds is so far out of his league he needs a telescope just to see the guy,
He was sulking.
OK, so what. It was better than doing something stupid, or at least that was what he was telling himself.
“So, Dom wants to know how long you’re gonna stay here hiding like a little girl,” Jared heard and turned to see Brian standing in the doorway watching him, arms crossed in front of his chest.
“M’not hiding,” Jared grumbled frowning at the belts he’d been counting for the last 20 minutes. “M’doing inventory.”
“I can see that,” Brian said, head tilted to one side. “But I am not sure that he was necessarily referring to today. I think it has something to do with the fact that you haven’t spoken to any of us for three days now.”
“What’s there to say?” Jared asked somewhat huffily. “You guys don’t need me to find the bad guy. I cain’t figure there’s anything I could come up with that’s better than any of you have already thought of. I figured it was better I just stay out of the way and make sure things are ready for Dom when he’s ready to reopen.”
“How do you know?” Brian asked softly, concern showing in his eyes, if Jared would only look at him to see it. “We wouldn’t even have a starting point if it wasn’t for you.”
“Jensen would have figured it out,” Jared shot back equally as soft. “He’s smarter than I am, he doesn’t need me.”
Brian sighed and looked down at the floor hating the fact that Dom’d been right. He and Dom had been debating for two days what was going on with Jay, and it had been Dom who had stubbornly insisted that it had something to do with Jensen and how he felt about him.
“I don’t think you can really appreciate what it’s like for a guy like Jared to find himself attracted to someone like Jensen who is so much further up the social scale than him. Bluff and bravo may get you through a rough spot in front of a crowd, but they don’t do a damned thing when the battles you’re fighting are inside your head.” Don said quietly.
“Jensen is a law abiding citizen who puts his life on the line to protect people. As far as the world is concerned he’s a hero, where as Jared is just some ex-con whose good intentions so far have only landed him in a federal prison. It doesn’t matter how smart he is, how capable he is, how far he’s come, all they see is some kid who drove the getaway car for a bank robbery-a dumb con who probably will end right back in prison if given enough time.”
“It doesn’t matter that he was abandoned and left to search for anyone who gave a damn. Jared doesn’t have the self confidence to see anything but not good enough when he looks in the mirror.”
“Is this Jared we’re talking about Toretto?” Brian had asked rolling over to look down at his lover as they lay in bed. “Or you?” And it was the look in Dominic’s eyes that had led to Brian volunteering to find Jared when they’d realized he’d gone AWOL.
“You know, Jay, I think you should give both yourself and Jensen a break,” Brian offered clearing his throat. “I think you’re doing both of you a disservice by assuming he sees nothing more than an ex-convict when he looks at you.”
“And, I think you have plenty to offer this investigation. You’re one of the smartest guys I have ever met. You have a way of looking at a situation and taking your book smarts and combining them with life smarts that provide an outlook on things the rest of us wouldn’t consider. Come back to the house. Hang out; give Jensen a chance to prove he’s as interested in you as you are in him. Stop letting small minded people run your life. You aren’t in that little town anymore Jay, and I would never encourage this thing with you two if I thought both of you weren’t equally as invested in it.”
“Why would he want me?” Jared demanded wanting to buy into Brian’s words, but scared to let himself do it.
“Well first off like I said you’re smart. Jensen’s a pretty intelligent guy, so finding someone who is as smart as or more so than himself is a big turn on for him. You’re funny, another important item, but I think the one that really seals the deal is the fact that you make him feel safe.” Seeing Jared’s surprised look, Brian grinned and shrugged.
“You know, being in law enforcement you get used to being the one that everyone depends on. You’re the one that people expect to make the bad things go away, you’re the strong one. Most of the time no one questions it, and most of the time you don’t mind it. However, every once and awhile there comes a time when you need someone to look after you, whether it be for an hour or a day or an indefinite period of time. The problem is you don’t always have someone who is willing to step up and do for you what you do for them. So, when you find that person who is willing to cherish and protect you, you learn to grab hold and not let go.”
“And you’re saying that Jensen… that I make Jensen feel safe?” Jared asked doubtfully, but Brian just nodded seriously. “It’s something he hasn’t had a lot of as of late I don’t think either. That’s why it would mean a lot to me if you would just… give this thing that’s happening with you two a chance.”
Quietly Jared nodded, setting his clipboard aside and following Brian out of the shop and then back to the house, each man in his own car.
TBC...