So when I checked my e-mails after posting the Author's Note, I was floored at the support that I received through e-mails and through reviews. By the end of this chapter you will know which choice won... I hope you like this chapter and I hope that you review and tell me what you think...

Thank you again guys for all the reviews that you sent and the few e-mails that I received concerning the story!

Oh Yeah by the way this chapter contains one of the choices from the last chapter... but I can't tell you which one, because it would ruin the surprise... Be ye warned!

'This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you want
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know'
(Nickelback - Far Away)

One Month Later...

Brian opened his eyes as the sound of his alarm clock ran through the room. He went to swat at the clock with his right hand, and groaned at the pain it caused. He had been going through physical therapy for his arm and shoulder, because the bullet had torn tendons and pulled ligaments, as well as breaking the bone. With time he might regain the full use of his shoulder, and arm, but there was no guarantee; he was just going to have to work his hardest and pray that he could regain the full use.

During the past month Dom had been great. Rome had been watching him, along with Sean, and both were being helpful and trying not to hurt him, but they were coddling him; and that wasn't what Brian needed right now. Dom treated him like he was a normal person, like he wouldn't break if he touched him wrong or said the wrong thing. He had been the one to take him to most of his therapy appointments, and the one to sit with him afterwards, as he waited out the pain in his shoulder and mind. He had never brought up the subject when he heard the sobs, or had seen the tears, he had just been there for him, been the shoulder that he could cry on, or the person that he could talk to about his problems.

Sighing, Brian used his other arm and hit the 'SNOOZE' button on the alarm, to stop the blaring noise that swept through the room and lower the pounding pressure in his head. He rolled to the side of the bed, careful not to jar his already aching shoulder, and slid out of the queen size bed, that he had been sleeping in for the last three weeks, since he had been released from the hospital. He had been staying at Dom's house, along with his brother, Rome, Leon, Vince and Jesse; and the place still had room to spare. His room was huge and warm, decorated in earth tone colors, and upon being grilled by Dom; it had an ocean view at his request.

Brian grabbed a clean pair of jeans, a shirt and a pair of boxers; then made his way into the bathroom to clean his shoulder bandage and take a shower. As the hot spray of the water washed over him, Brian leant his head back and let out a content sigh; that to anyone else would have sounded like he was purring. The vivid images that tried to invade his mind every time he was naked, were harshly suppressed as he tried to sooth out the kinks in his neck and back without causing further pain to his shoulder.

After he had stayed in the shower for about ten minutes, Brian stepped out reluctantly, not wanting to let go of the comfort the small cubicle held, before facing yet another new day. He got dressed, and carefully adjusted the straps of the sling that held his arm to his chest; but hooking over his shoulder and around his back, then strapped his arm in place around his torso. The stark white of the sling shone bright against his dark blue shirt, and he knew that when he and Sean went into town today to pick up Mia at the airport, she would notice and he would never be let alone again. She would mother him till he dropped and the rest of the team along with Sean would just think that it was sweet, or hilarious and Brian was not ready for that.

He and Mia had talked and though they thought of each other as nothing more than brother and sister, they were still very protective of each other, and Brian knew she would freak when she saw him. But then again since Sean was going with him to the airport, maybe he could pawn Mia off on him, and if everything went right; maybe Sean wouldn't be so lonely anymore. If Brian could get Mia and Sean together he could kill two birds with one stone, and maybe have some free time to ponder his own relationship issues. He may not be ready to get physical at the moment, but he was ready for a relationship and he really liked one other person in the house, but didn't want to make the first move, for fear of rejection; he would just have to wait and hope that the person he liked got the message and made their move.

Brian made his way down into the kitchen and saw that Vince, Leon and Dom had already started the day; though Rome was still sleeping, the lazy ass. All three that were sitting at the table acknowledged him in their own way, Dom with a light smile, Leon with a small hello, and Vince with a curt nod. He poured coffee, and with a small mumble about where he was going, he walked out and sat on the porch steps. Watched as the colors streaked the sky, and as the colors slowly faded to a pale blue.

He felt a presence behind him and looked up to see Dom standing there, a thoughtful looked on his face, and Brian just turned back to watch the sky. Dom sat down beside him, and they just sat there in silence for a while, until Dom cleared his throat and said; "We need to talk, Bri."

Brian shuddered at the man's husky tone and turned to lock his blue eyes onto a pair of sensual brown ones. Emotion filled and swirled in the depths of the dark brown eyes, and Brian felt his breath catch in his chest. "What about?" Brian asked in almost a whisper.

"Brian, for the last few months, since the first time I met you, I felt something different for you. You're special and back when we were pulling the heists, I couldn't decipher what I was feeling; and back then I didn't want to; because I was with Letty and had been for years; and I wasn't going to ruin that for something I couldn't figure out. But as time moved on, and as I got closer to you, I started to push Letty away, and I pulled you closer, clinging to you as if my life depended on it. Brian, I'm not good with words, but..." Brian felt his heart clench in his chest, and hope rise high into his chest, "I think I'm in love with you." His voice was low and his eyes glistened as he looked at Brian, praying for the man to believe and accept him.

Brian looked into his eyes for a long moment, before he lowered his head to the Italian's and placed his lips gently, yet firmly onto Dom's. It took a moment but Dom responded and pushed against Brian's and licked Brian's lips asking to be accepted and Brian opened his mouth in answer. Dom took his hand and ran it up Brian's arm, over his shoulder and up his neck, until it twined into Brian's curls.

They stayed locked with each other until they had to get air. Dom looked into Brian's eyes and gasped when he saw them darkened with desire to a stormy blue, that held him captivated. "I think I love you too." Brian said his voice low and it vibrated through Dom, and Brian watched as Dom's eyes turned from brown to almost completely black and filled with passion.

Dom pulled Brian to him, so the man's head rested against his chest, and hooked his arms around Brian to keep him close and safe. "We don't have to do anything that you don't want to. I just want to be with you, and keep you as mine. I can't wait for as long as you need, Bri; just let me be there for you." Dom brushed a kiss into the man's curls and felt Brian nod and then snuggle deeper into Dom's arms, the coffee sitting on one of the wooden planks of the porch, long since forgotten...

'That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I kept dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore...'

A/N: So what did you all think? The majority of the vote was for slash... so there it is; and since there were a couple of votes for het. I will try and add some in the next chapter...

Love you all

Review and take care...

Ana