Rise Above The Storm

Striding into the sandwich shop, Lauren saw Mia behind the counter taking and looking bored as ever. Smiling she hugged her before going into the office seeing Dom burried into the paper work in front of him. "You are here earlier than usual. What is up?" Lauren questioned staring at him.

---

Brian took and ran a hand over his face sighing. Walking into the shop he sat down ordering his usual. Though he'd gain the trust of Dom and the rest of the crew minus Vince. He still ate at the shop. Leaning back into the seat he saw Mia laugh as he grinned eating his sandwich and drinking his soda.

Paperwork. Dom hated paperwork and yet, here he was surrounded by it. He had worked hard to build the small empire he had going and he was proud of how far they had come, but he could probably enjoy it even more if he didn't have to spend hours filling out forms.

"Nothing is up, just needed to get these forms filled out and sent off," Dom answered as Lauren entered, glancing up and greeting her with a smile, "What brings you by this way?"

***

Addison rarely came to this part of town, but she had been walking and it was where she had ended up. Not many of the shops were open for business any longer, but she soon spotted what looked like a small cafe and, with the agreement of her rumbling stomach, made her way inside.

"Hey there," a brunette haired girl greeted as Addison approached the counter, "What can I get you?"

"Could I get a chicken salad to eat in?" Addison inquired quietly.

"Of course, take a seat and I'll bring it over when it's ready."

Walking over, Lauren looked at him. "Checking on you." Lauren smiled softly. "Do you want me to do the paper work for you?" She offered smiling at the man she'd been with since she was sixteen. Nearly a decade later, they were still going strong. "You go hang out with the men?" She smiled leaning down kissing his lips softly as she pulled back staring at him.

---

Brian looked at the girl that had walked in. He hadn't seen her around before. Clearing his throat he looked at her and scanned her. He could tell she'd been through something. But unsure of what it was. He took a bite of his sandwich and watched her closely.

With a grin, Dom kissed her back and stood up to allow her to take a seat. "You really are the best, you know that." As he walked away he couldn't help thinking about how lucky he really was, he had Lauren, he had his family and his business, not many people like him could say that.

"Hey Dom, can you take this out to the girl in the corner?" Mia inquired, handing him a plate and motioning to the front of the store with her thumb, "I need to get these sandwiches sorted for collection."

"Sure thing, little sister."

***

This place was nice, it was quiet and the atmosphere was peaceful. Aware of someone staring at her, she looked up and found a pair of piercing blue eyes staring back at her. "You know, it's rude to stare," she mumbled with a frown, looking up as someone placed her food in front of her, "Thank you."

Brian cleared his throat a little bit, "Sorry." Brian told her seeing Dom shoot him a look. "I said sorry." Brian told Dom seeing him walk off.

Sighing he got up and paid Mia for the girl's food as he smiled at her. Walking over to her he looked at her, "I'm Brian, by the way. You're new around aren't you?" Brian questioned her.

***

Finishing the last paper up quicker than Dom ever dared to do. She filed it in his file cabinet. Smiling she felt her stomach drop as she held back the urge. Pushing the file cabinet up she took and saw her phone flashing from the desk. Grabbing it she took and saw the number and sighed. Declining the call she erased the number and blocked it.

Moving around Dom's office she grabbed her phone putting it in her back pocket. Walking out and over to the counter, she looked at Mia. "I need a sprite please." Lauren told her with a smile seeing Mia hand it to her.

Sipping it she noticed Dom slowly walking towards them narrowing his eyes at Brian. Unsure of why he was glaring at the newbie she shook her head a little sitting down on one of the stools and letting a soft sigh escape her lips.

Dom liked Brian, he had invited him into their family and despite Vince's misgiving, he had let the man stay. Everyone liked him, he was charming and those blue eyes allowed him to get away with a little more than DOm was comfortable admitting. So the fact that he was speaking to the girl wasn't the issues, it was the look in that girl's eyes that screamed fragile and broken that bothered him.

***

"Depends what you mean by new," Addison replied with a frown, "I've lived in Los Angeles my entire life, but I've never stopped in this part of town... so, I guess that makes me new to the area. I'm Addison."

This guy was handsome and his eyes were captivating, but Addison didn't like pretty boys. His dirty blonde hair was a mess, which gave him a bit of an edge and she found herself wanting to get to know him. shit

"I see." Brian smiled at her. "Well, Addison it's nice to meet you." Brian told her writing his number down. "Ever need anything just give me a ring. I gotta get going. I am late from my lunch break and my boss." Brian pointed at Dom. "Will kill me. It was nice meeting you." Brian smiled walking out of the shop and heading back to the garage.

"Nice to meet you too," Addison mumbled, glancing over at the man that had served her lunch and offering him a small smile. She ate in silence after that, feeling a little self-conscious and keeping her eyes on the table.

***

Dom watched the girl from the corner of his eye, noticing the way that she refused to look around and kept quiet as if trying not to exist. "Somethings not right about her behavior," Dom commented quietly to Mia, "It's like she's trying to be invisible... seen and not heard kind of behavior."

Brian took and did his job as he took and sighed to himself. He took and headed back to the shop stopping at the way Addison was sitting there with her eyes downward. Wondering what was going on with her, he stepped into the shop making his way to Dom.

"You're going to ask me what's going on with the girl in the cafe," Dom stated as soon as he spotted Brian walking towards him, earning a nod from the blonde and sighing, "I don't know for sure, but it's something that I've seen before and I don't like it."

"What is it?" Brian questioned leaning into the counter sighing. "She seems like she's been abused, or something." Brian looked at him frowning.

"That would be my guess," Dom admitted with a shrug, "Maybe not physically, but most definitely emotionally and mentally."

***

Not wanting to outstay her welcome, Addison quickly finished up eating and left some money on the table... not wanting Brian to think that she was some kind of charity case. She was far from it, she earned every penny that she spent and wouldn't accept anything from anyone unless she could afford to pay for it.

Brian took and looked at him frowning, "That is horrible." Brian admitted as he took and rushed over grabbing her money. "It's on the house." Brian told her.

"I don't need your charity," Addison replied, refusing to take the money and walking away before anyone could stop her.

***

Dom watched as the girl walked away, glancing over at Mia and noticing the look on his sister's face, "She'll be back."

"How can you be so sure?" Mia questioned Dom looking at Brian. "Besides pretty boy here." Mia giggled softly. "Hey Dom you might want to check on your fiancee. She was looking pale when she came out of your office." Mia told him before going to clean up the mess from Brian and Addison.

Dom chuckled, before glancing over to where Lauren was sitting and making his way over. "You don't look too good," he said with a frown, "You okay?"

***

Addison arrived home, hearing the television on in the living room and heading straight to her room. If she stayed out of her mom's way, then maybe she wouldn't get yelled at and could have a quiet night.

Brian looked at the two, and shook his head. Shaking his head a little he headed back to the garage to finish out his day. He smiled finshing up and glad that Jessie had gotten the information he had needed. He took and drove towards Addison's home and glanced at it. He took and drove onward to his apartment to turn in.

***

Lauren looked up at Dom, "Just queasy." Lauren told Dom as she sipped the sprite. "I'll be fine." She assured him. "Are you racing tonight?" Lauren asked laying the ink pen down on the paper she had before her staring at him.

"I am," Dom answered with a nod, "Me and Bri are both racing, they needed some extra people and we bring people."

***

Laid on her bed, Addison stared at the ceiling and sighed as she heard the handle of her door turn. It could only be her mom, so she sat up and looked over as the door opened.

"Get ready, you're racing tonight," her mom ordered, earning a nod from Addison and walking away.

Lauren smiled, "I will try to be there." Lauren told him getting up slowly as she felt dizzy and felt sick. "Dom." She looked up at him. "We've been together over 10 years now. What would you say about a baby coming along?" Lauren questioned him right as the office door opened and Vince walked in.

"Hey bro. Bout ready?" Vince smiled hugging Lauren before looking at Dom.

***

Brian finished working on his own car and Dom's. Getting them ready for tonight. He was excited to race. But nervous as well.