Disclaimer: Though I wish I owned this entire series, I don't. All original characters are mine. None of the songs used belong to me.

Summary: After he loses Gisele, Han finds himself picking up the pieces without her in Tokyo. Tired of living in her sister's shadow, Joanna decides starting over in a new country would be a fantastic idea. Neither of them expects to cross paths, nor do they expect the sparks that come with it. But he's got his secrets, and so does she and when their two worlds collide in a spectacular way, it's enough to leave them shaken, reeling, and utterly breathless.

A/N: I'm still here! I've just been absolutely swamped with work and school as well writing two other stories, but I'm not abandoning this story. And I'm pleased to announce that after this chapter, we get into the movie plot. Which means Shawn and Neela! Applause! So, enjoy and be sure to read and review!

Chapter Eight

Mad World – Jasmine Thompson

When Han walked into his garage to get away from the headache-inducing music of the nightclub, he hadn't expected to find the hood of the Silvia up and he certainly didn't expect to see Joanna in a tank top and shorts leaning inside of it.

"Looks like the party is better in here," He smirked and she looked up from the engine and grinned, "You feeling better?" He hadn't seen her in a couple of days and would only admit to himself that he had been worried sick.

"I wasn't sick, Han, but I'm okay." She still wouldn't open up to him. Shaking his head he walked over and grabbed her arm. She protested as he pulled her away before closing the hood of the car. He silenced her when he pinned her against the car and kissed her fiercely. She returned the kiss with as much fervor but neither of them closed their eyes, as they searched for something in each other.

Breaking apart, Han shook his head, "This isn't going to work…"

"Excuse me? You kissed me." Joanna snapped but he held up a hand, silencing her.

"I meant…we keep too many secrets. It just can't work like that."

"Oh."

Joanna smiled softly as she walked out onto the balcony of her villa, white curtains billowing around her. Madrid was such a beautiful city and she felt like she could stay here forever. The night before had been a rush, racing through the streets and claiming her first victory. The extra cash was nice and she planned to have a shopping trip with it.

"Mi amor…come back to bed." Glancing back, she gave Lucas a teasing wink.

His green eyes were piercing as he stood at the door to her bedroom. The curtains blew around him as he smiled at her. He was gorgeous and part of what made this city so great for her. She loved him. She had never felt this way about any guy before, but she was sure. Lucas was her one and only.

"I want to buy a new dress for the races tonight, come with me?" She walked up to him and let him take her into his arms. He smelled of vanilla and spices, it was intoxicating. She could stay like this forever and ever, she didn't mind at all.

He chuckled, "Anything for you, mi amor."

Joanna sighed as she let Han lead her up to his loft, gesturing to a couch that she could sit on. His words from earlier still rang in her ears. They kept too many secrets, which was fine if they barely knew each other. But they had spent a night together and it was obvious his desire to be more than friends matched hers. They could not go on like this, keeping walls up and defenses out. They'd destroy each other.

"Her name was Gisele," he began, not bothering to take a seat, "I met her in Rio while I was doing a job. She…she was beautiful. And funny. And witty. And she knew her way around a gun better than any man." Joanna watched as he closed his eyes smiling at the memories, "We were supposed to settle down here in Tokyo. She knew how much I wanted to live here."

His voice caught in his throat and Joanna fought the urge to get up and reach out to him. He had to do this, she thought, because he needed closure. If she stopped the process, he'd probably never open up again.

"I had never loved a girl before. I never felt the need to, but Gisele…I loved her. I loved her so much and she loved me too. I can still see her eyes right before she took the fall. She saved my life that night," He paused, "We searched all night long but never found her body. I think that's the worst part. I didn't get to bury her."

There were no tears shed, Joanna mused, he most likely didn't have any tears left. As they dissolved into silence Joanna realized she had been given something special. Han didn't wear his heart on his sleeve, ever. She remembered the cold, guarded look in his eyes when she had first met him.

"Why me?" Her voice was small, "Why tell me all of this?"

Han smiled sadly, "The first night I saw you, I thought I was seeing a ghost. I thought that maybe she had made it out alive and had come to find me. Except, you look nothing like her." He laughed at this, "Gisele was cold, harsh, and no-nonsense. You're the exact opposite, but you reminded me so much of her that I thought I could use you to ease the pain. I didn't expect…you're Joanna, not Gisele."

"You said I wasn't her replacement," It wasn't an accusation but a quiet observation, "Do you still love her?"

"Part of me always will, Jo, but I don't want you to replace her. It took me some time to realize that."

Joanna smiled, "Thank you, for telling me everything."

"You trusted me the other night; I figured it was time I returned the favor."

"Grace, hide! Mom and Dad are coming!" Joanna giggled as she and her sister scurried through the corridors of the large house they lived in. She could hear her parents talking as they walked through the front door. Knowing that they' be reprimanded for playing around the expensive furniture, both of them hurried to their bedrooms.

Neither expected to hear the crash of a vase as they rounded a corner. Grace's eyes went wide when she realized what she had done. Tears began to form as they heard the voices of their parents growing louder, knowing that they were looking for the source of the crash.

"What in the world? Girls! Who did this?" Their mother demanded and Grace shrunk back, absolutely terrified, "That was a $5,000 vase! Someone better tell me how and why it is now in pieces!"

"I did it."

The eyes of their parents focused in on Joanna as she looked at the floor, "It was me. I'm sorry."

The smack across her face left her ears ringing as she could hear her father shouting at her mother for being so violent. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Grace trembling and she offered a comforting smile. She'd do anything to protect her sister.

Han sat quietly as he read the letter Joanna had handed him. She had kept it safe in her wallet, unwilling to let something bad happen to it. He held it as though it was were a delicate piece of glass, knowing that it was special to her.

Her sister was having a baby. Joanna had a sister.

"Grace is older than me," Joanna spoke softly, "She's my mother's favorite. I always thought it was unfair that Grace never seemed to get in trouble often, nor was she punished very severely, but I never knew why…until I left."

"What happened?"

"My mom…when I was in Madrid, she found me. It had been an accident; I was out shopping with Lucas when I ran into her. I found out she had left my father. She had only been waiting for Grace and I to get married and live on our own before she filed for divorce," She took a deep breath, "I guess I was feeling brave that day and I demanded to know why. Why had she always hated me?"

A single tear cascaded down her face and Han reached out to wipe it away.

"My dad had an affair right after Grace was born, and the woman he was with became pregnant. She didn't want me, but my father refused to let her have an abortion. He confessed everything to my mom and begged her to take me in. She told him she would but that she'd never consider me her child…"

"I'm so sorry, Jo."

"She told me she was free now and that she wished me well. I haven't seen or heard from her since. I don't think she ever told Grace."

Wrapping an arm around her, Han pulled her close to him. Placing a kiss in her hair, he held onto her, unwilling to let her go.

"If you go back, to see the baby, I'll go with you."

Joanna didn't respond but Han didn't expect her to. He was okay with this, them simply being together. He still loved Gisele, but he knew he would come to love Joanna just as much.

"I'll let you tag along on one condition," She said after ten minutes of silence, "You have to teach me how to shoot a gun."

Han laughed, "I'm still trying to get you to master drifting. One step at a time, girl."