Caged

"What'd ya' want, Took?"

"Well … I wouldn't mind knowing what exactly is going on."

"You know what's going on."

"Not everything," said the little guy. "I get the feeling there is more that you're not telling me."

Dom narrowed his eyes. "What's bothering you?"

Tookie blinked. He pursed his lips and nodded his head toward Eddy. "I smell trouble brewing. Be careful around him." Tookie's face took on a thoughtful look. "Every day that goes by, he reminds me more and more of Shelly."

Dom nodded. "I think so, too." His eyes rested on the young man who was once again working on the serving line, dishing out lunch. "Keep a close eye on him, would ya'?"

"I have been. Saw him to whispering to Stan Vesneski again this morning."

"So that's why he asked to work with JamJimmy on the serving line." Dom closed his eyes as if in pain. "Any idea what he said to Stan?"

"Nope, but I got a bad feeling. A real bad feeling," Tookie muttered as he went back to work cutting up tomatoes for the afternoon meal.

~*~

Later that day in the weight room Eddy sidled near to Brian. "I need to talk to you," he whispered in Brian's ear, "but not here." His big brown eyes flicked fearfully around. "Someplace private."

"What about?" Brian asked as he lifted the weight in his right hand high above his head.

"You know, what we talked about the other day? Me leaving Jones?"

Brian dropped his arm and turned to the young man.

"You still got a few connections in the Department don't you?" Eddy whispered. "You know who I should talk to? If I wanted to work a deal and give up Jones?"

"Yes, but --"

"Shsh, not here. We could go to the library while they're working out." Eddy motioned toward Dom and the others. "Couldn't we? Just you and me?"

Brian got thoughtful. This was everything he had hoped for. Why didn't it feel better?

"Look, O'Connor," Eddy said softly. "I know you were framed. You were a good cop and if you help me we could both come out winners. You could get back on the force and I …" Eddy's big brown eyes were wide and completely open. "Please help me get away from Dev." Tears began to well up. "He hurts me; you've seen the things he's done to me -- the scars." A single tear rolled down and Eddy swiped it away and sniffed. "I need you to help me to do this -- I'm frightened -- he has men watching me." Terrified brown eyes swept the room suspiciously.

"I guess," Brian said slowly.

Eddy nodded eagerly and hurried away; Brian followed more slowly.

He should tell Dom, he knew he should, but Eddy was ready -- now. He might chicken out if anything delayed this, if he had too much time to think about it. And Dom … he liked the boy; he'd try to protect him. Maybe Dom'd even tell him not to narc out Jones. Shit, Brian thought as he hurried after Eddy. Who knows what Dom would do if he knew what was about to go down. Brian wasn't even sure what he was going to do.

He liked the boy too, but this was what was best for all of them -- Eddy included. Once he started spilling on Dev Jones, Eddy'd be under protective custody, away from the sadistic bastard. The FBI would keep him safe -- he'd be a lot better off -- and he'd be away from Dom. Brian thought that the big man's feelings were going way beyond mere protectiveness. The sooner Eddy was yanked out from under Dom's wing the better as far as Brian was concerned.

Brian hurried through the narrow corridors of Rumsford's lower levels to catch up with Eddy. He caught a glimpse of him just as the boy turned into the library.

One of Vesneski's men was working in the passageway and Brian paused.

The short man was mopping the hall that led to the small prison library. He looked up from his task. His scruffy beard revealed a leering smile that chilled Brian's blood. The tobacco-stained teeth were only briefly glimpsed before the man dropped his eyes to the mop. He dunked the mop head into the water then put it in the wringer to squeeze the excess water of it. He lifted the mop and swirled it expertly to loosen the cords as he plopped it back onto the floor. He began to make sweeping figure-eights on the tiles as he backed away.

Brian swallowed his anxiety and walked past him to enter the little used library. Eddy stood against the far wall. His big brown eyes were huge in his pale face. He licked his lips nervously and twisted his hands as he fidgeted.

Their eyes locked and held.

Brian heard the wump thump wump thump of the rolling mop bucket as it approached the door, then silence as it stopped there, blocking his retreat.

Eddy's lips curved upward in a smile and his eyes began to gleam.

Brian had time for a deep breath, but that was all before they were on him.

He never stood a chance.

Vesneski and his men had been behind the single row of books. They lunged at him and in the small room he wasn't able to maneuver. Rough hands grabbed at him, hit him, lifted him, and slammed him down onto the table. They had him face down on it, his hands bound behind his back, his dungarees down around his ankles, and his ass exposed before he even had time to cry out.

Brian's head was jerked backward roughly as hard fingers yanked at his hair.

"Remember me, darlin'?" Vesneski sneered into his face. "I'm the one that won ya' -- fair and square it was too. Time for me to finally collect my winnings, ain't it?" He pulled Brian's head back so far that the blond man expected his neck to snap at any moment. "Toretto's got you trained good now, ain't he? Yer gonna moan and scream when we fuck you -- just like ya' do fer him when he pounds inta ya'." Vesneski's face was so close that Brian gagged from his stinking breath. "Yer gonna use yer sweet mouth to beg us fer more, ain't ya'?"

"Fuck you," Brian hissed as he spat into Vesneski's ugly face.

Brian's head was slammed into the marred surface of the tabletop.

"Oh, I intend to," Vesneski snarled. "But first let's get ya' ready fer us. Le'me see that mop," his words were directed to someone outside Brian's line of sight, but the evil leer that twisted the ugly face was meant for him.

Brian twisted his head to the side so that he could see as the man snapped the mop's wooden handle in two over his knee. Vesneski tossed the portion with the mop head carelessly away; he stroked the other half lovingly in his hands.

"Ya' better be goin' now, boy."

Brian jerked his head around; he had forgotten about Eddy.

"Y-yes, sir," Eddy's eyes flicked back and forth between Brian and the broken mop shaft. He bit his full lower lip in uncertainty and hesitated.

"Git!" Vesneski snarled and took a menacing step toward him. Eddy squeaked and scurried away.

"I suppose ya' think he's gonna run and get help?" Vesneski moved out of Brian's line of sight, behind him. "Not a chance. He's the one what set this up -- all he asked was that I make sure ta' kill ya' when we're done wit ya'." Vesneski laughed cruelly. "That won't be no trouble; yer gonna be dead long before we're through wit ya'."

Brian gasped as he felt the rough, jagged end of the mop shaft spreading the cheeks of his ass. He bucked, desperately trying to get fee, but two men leaned their weight on his shoulders and kept him pinned as he felt his body being violently breached.

~*~

"Where ya' been?" Dom asked Eddy with a scowl.

"I had to go pee."

"Where's Goldie-Locks? He went with ya,' right?" Dom looked around the weight room.

"Well, um, actually, he did, but he's, um, still there … sort of," Eddy stuttered out.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Dom asked in exasperation and he wiped the sweat off his face with a dingy towel.

Eddy's shifted nervously from foot to foot. "Please don't make me tell," he begged.

"Tell me what?" Dom loomed over the shaking boy. "Where the fuck is Brian?"

The loose skin under Eddy's chin bobbled as he gulped. "He went to Mark's cell," Eddy managed to get out in a strained whisper.

Dom stiffened and looked around the gym. Markus and Brian were both gone. With a muttered oath he tossed the towel down and was just beginning to move when the sounds of commotion caught his attention.

The cons within the weight room all stiffened in apprehension at the unmistakable sound of numerous running feet. Shouts could be heard as guards began to round up the prisoners.

Rumsford's ancient warning system shrieked to life. The strident tones of the Lock-Down siren began echoing through the stone building signifying that something was wrong, very wrong.

Dom tried to get out of the weight room but the door was blocked.

"Everyone to their cells!" Guards seemed to materialize out of thin air as they began to herd the prisoners back to the cellblock.

"Brian," Dom whispered in horror as he was led away.

.