Disclaimer: I do not own Friends.

Thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming, please. Hope you're liking the story.

"On the other hand, why should I care about you?" The intruder, turned deadly attacker smirked, while stepping carefully over toward Ross.

Ross' body was frozen with fear. Never had he been so close to death. Never had he thought that this could be his final minutes alive.

Maybe his final seconds.

Against his better judgement and the attacker's stern death threat, Ross decided to try and talk his way out of this frightening situation. "You don't have to do this man. You don't have to kill." Ross breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the attacker's face show a hint of interest in his words. With this conformation Ross continued. "I wont tell anyone about this. You can leave right now and..."

"I'll leave when I damn well feel like it. Who are you to tell me what to do? As you can tell I've got the upper hand." He darted his eyes toward the gun to show his point.

"Okay, okay. You're right. But let me ask you a question. Have you ever killed anyone?" Ross breathed steadily, however heavily, trying to control his nerves. And emotions.

"What kind of question is that? Have I ever killed anyone. Puh!" The attacker gave an inward huff and continued toward Ross, finally reaching him. He pointed the tip of the gun directly at his temple and whispered in his most vicious tone. "I kill for pleasure. You're just another obstacle in the way."

He pressed the barrel of the gun further toward Ross' temple, so it was against his shivering skin. The hairs on the back of Ross' head were standing like privates in an army at full attention.

He had never been so scared in his life.

Scanning the room aimlessly, Ross discovered a metal beach shovel Monica or Rachel had brought. The shovel was almost within reach to the right of him. Considering the attacker was standing slightly to his left, this was the window Ross could benefit from.

This was the window that would possibly save his life. Trying desperately for the attacker to look him straight into the face, Ross began talking once more. "Can I have some final words before you, um, you know?" While Ross said this he grasped the small shovel in a firm grip and continued to talk, buying time to figure out some plan after he hit the attacker.

"Sure, sure. Whatever. It is the final moments of your pathetic life." He grinned an evil, smirking smile.

"Do you know what courage is?" Ross laid his arm by his side to hide the blunt object.

"What? That's a random question." With one hand the attacker scratched his head in confusion.

Ross' voice got deep and very stern. "Courage is having the heart to do what's right. It's having the guts to follow through with anything. Courage is pushing past you're limits and facing the pain of any situation head on. Courage is what I'm about to show you." Barely finishing his last words Ross swung the shovel as hard as he could smack on the side of the attacker's face. He connected well and the attacker went down shooting erratically.

Ross winced in pain as he felt a powerful object slice through his left arm.

"Shit!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Now both the attacker and Ross were on the ground, drowning in their pain. Ross, noticing the other man still laying face down made his way towards the gun, which was now on the other side of the room next to the window.

He lifted himself up slowly and started to walk towards the gun. Not seeing the attacker waking from unconsciousness, he continued to walk. The man looked up and barely swiped Ross' legs from under him.

Ross fell to the ground and looked behind him to see the attacker gathering himself and streaming towards the gun.

He looked at the gun and then the attacker. Thinking quickly he put his body in front of his attacker. Both men fell to the ground and pushed themselves to reach the gun.

Ross scrambled on his hands and knees and almost reached the gun, but not before the attacker grabbed his ankles and forced him back to his level.

"You're dead!" The attacker had reached the gun and before he could get a shot off Ross slapped it out of his hands.

Ross jumped on the gun and pointed it at the attacker. However, before he could get a steady hold on the weapon the other man ran towards him and tackled him against the wall. The attacker balled his hand and swung fiercely, connecting with Ross' face. The gun flew down the desk, hitting the television.

Ross caught the next punch and used his free hand to clock him right between the eyes and then pushed the attacker on the bed. He instantly shot for the gun and turned toward the attacker.

"Freeze bitch!" He yelled pointing the gun directly between his eyes.

"Go ahead do it! You don't have the guts!" The attacker lifted himself so he was eye level with Ross. He was bleeding profusely, as was Ross.

Ross was not a cold-blooded killer. No matter who the person was.

"You're right, I can't kill you. It's not the right thing to do. No, you will be tried by your peers and convicted easily. That is a guarantee." Ross pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency," the woman on the other line responded.

"I have a robbery at..." Ross explained the situation and were he was located to the woman.

Shortly after the police arrived and handcuffed the attacker.

Still later, Monica, Chandler, and Rachel arrived back from eating dinner at a local restaurant.

Once Monica spotted Ross sitting on an ambulance car and being bandaged up, she ran over and greeted him, her voice out of control. "Ross are you okay? What happened?" She was staring intently into his eyes, ready for the answers.

"First of all. Everything's okay. I am fine. It's just a few stitches." Just then Chandler and Rachel joined Monica, just as eager to hear what had happened.

"Second of all it is a gun wound..."

"What, oh my god! Who did this? I'll show them that they should have never had messed with my brother." Monica rolled up her sleeves, anger mounting quickly.

This was her brother. She needed to protect him.

"Mon, I am touched by your eagerness to avenge what happened to me. But it's over. The person is caught and is going to go to jail for a long time." He put an encouraging hand on her shoulder to hopefully calm his enraged, passionate sister.

"But you're okay, right?" Rachel chimed in, looking very confused and concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine." A hint of sadness from the previous fight lining his voice.

"Then that's all we need to know. Everything else is secondary." Chandler shot him a warm smile and patted him on the back, forgetting Ross' current position.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry." Chandler said, slightly embarrassed.

A little while later, when the police had gotten their statements and everyone had left, the gang decided to retreat to Monica and Rachel's room.

Ross had told them everything and now they were seeing if anything was stolen.

Nothing was.

"Man Ross, I can't believe how brave you were." Chandler sighed thinking about his friend's bravery. "I could never have done that."

"Yes you could. Just think about your life. Put it in prospective. You have the will to live." Ross hugged his friend and Chandler returned the hug, making it even tighter.

"Well I have to tell you." Chandler's eyes began tearing up. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you man."

"I love you too, man." They continued their hug until Monica pushed her way through.

"I want a hug too." She squeezed tightly and cried softly into Ross' shoulder.

"I love you too, bro. I love you so very much." Monica looked deeply into his eyes. "This is so surreal. I don't know what I would have done if something would have happened to you."

"Well, thanks to you I am alive. You, Chandler, mom, dad, and Rachel all gave me the strength and courage to fight to survive." Everyone took the time to fully realize the statement.

Some time later, when Chandler and Monica had gone to bed, Rachel and Ross finally got up the nerve to talk with each other.

Ross was sitting outside his room against a post, contemplating the events of the day.

"Hey," a small voice interrupted his thoughts, arousing him.

"Hey," he retorted before motioning for Rachel to sit next to him by tapping his hand on the cement.

She sat down and positioned herself comfortably. She was to the point. No holes barred. "That was really brave of you Ross. I can't imagine being in that position. I think fear would have completely take over my body." She shivered at the thought of Ross fighting for his life. "I mean you had a near death experience. I know it's been said before, but I truly don't know what I'd do without you. You have been so kind and supportive of me and my baby. I can't thank you enough. I hope you know how much I appreciate your helping me." She scooted closer toward Ross, her body heating up intensely.

"I do." He gave her a simple smile for effect. "And I am sorry about yelling at you tonight. I am sorry about that whole conversation."

"You don't have to be sorry. It was my fault. I was the one that went off and flirted with some random guy."

"But I was overly jealous. I should have realized that you're your own person and you can do what you want." His voice trailed off, somewhat verifying his feelings for Rachel.

"You're right, I am my own person. And as my own person I chose you. You and only you. There is nobody else I see myself with."

Ross brought up a very good point. "But we're both so young. And you're my best friend. If this didn't work out..." He was defeated in his words. He didn't want to even think about that.

"Ross, don't worry about that. That's the future. You know me more than anyone in the world. Life is unpredictable. We can't keep worrying about the future or we'll totally miss the present. Let's just live in the now." She was convinced this was the best thing for the both of them.

Rachel slung her arm around Ross' neck and seductively ran her fingers through his hair. "What does your heart tell you?" She asked, thinking she already knew the answer, but needing conformation.

"It's telling me to stop being a pansy and kiss you." He wasn't nervous. He was confident. He had finally let the chip on his shoulder be removed completely.

He leaned in and touched her smooth lips gently, putting everything he had into it. It was a sweet, tender moment that was long overdue.

Rachel pulled back first needing air from the impassioned kiss.

"Wow," she said breathless, before sinking in to another kiss.

Breaking the kiss again, Rachel laid her head gently on Ross' healthy shoulder.

It was a beautiful moment. And there were no surprises. Just a simple kiss.

That meant everything.

To Be Continued...

Hope you like it.