While Brian was in surgery getting the two bullets removed and sewn back up, Dom was pacing in the waiting room with Mia and the rest of the team watching him and waiting to see his reaction. Dom had his badge attached to his belt so that the doctors would give him information.

A half hour later, Sgt. Tanner came through the doors and found Dom and his group of friends in the waiting room. The sergeant looked at the officer pacing the room and noticed the worried look he was wearing. He went up to Dom and asked, "Toretto?"

Dom looked up and growled, "What are you doing here?"

"A fellow officer has been shot, where do you think I would be?"

Dom really wanted to tell Tanner off but he held it back and said, "I don't know."

"Do you know who shot him?"

"I've got an idea but this isn't the place to discuss this topic. I'm waiting on the doctors to tell me about Brian."

"We'll be talking soon, you know that?"

"Whatever let's you sleep at night." Dom said as he walked away.

A few minutes later Carter Verone walked into the ER's waiting area and found Dom in the hall staying away from the other officer in the waiting room. He got Dom's attention and held his hands up showing a peaceful gesture. Dom let him approach and Carter kept his voice low, "I'm sorry about what happened to Brian. I'm getting it taken care of so you two don't have to worry about a thing."

Dom raised a brow and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Your current circumstance. Just stay with Brian and help him get better and I'll keep things at bay. He didn't deserve any of what happened to him."

"How do you know what happened to him?"

"He wanted to start at the top and I should've been more aware of what Tran could and did do to him."

Dom knew Carter was trying to sound apologetic. He said, "We all learn but I think he's done with the police force."

"I don't blame him. He always did fight to do what he thought was right and without a badge, he'll be able to do more." Carter mused.

Dom could only nod at Carter's observation. He noticed the same thing over the last few weeks himself. Dom said, "Whatever you do I don't want to know, just that Brian's going to be safe."

"I can do that. Stop by with Brian in a few days when he's feeling a little better."

"Will do." Dom said and Carter left the hospital. Dom felt lighter knowing that Carter was helping Brian feel safer.

Sgt. Tanner watched from the waiting room as Carter Verone went directly to Dom and they had a quiet conversation before Carter left and Dom continued to brood. Tanner wanted to hit his head against the wall - he was getting played all around from Brian resigning from the force, Dom taking it upon himself to stay with Brian, and then the circle closing around Carter Verone. He didn't quite know Carter's angle but he knew the two men would protect and deal justice however they felt suited the circumstances involving Brian. He decided to leave the hospital and just call Brian in a couple of days to question him about the shooting.

The doctor came out a few minutes later and found Dom sitting next to Mia bouncing his knee. He was only holding it together long enough to be able to see Brian and get him back home so he could heal. He looked up at the doctor and asked, "How is Brian?"

"He's resting now. The surgery went well and he'll have to wear a sling for four to six weeks with physical therapy afterwards to make sure he retains his range of motion."

"Can I see him?" Dom asked as he stood up.

"Only a few minutes and then you can pick him up in the morning after a night of observation."

"Okay."

Dom followed the doctor down the hall and the doctor let him inside Brian's room. Dom saw Brian resting with his right arm in a sling with his shoulder and forearm patched up. His heart broke when he saw that and decided to sit next to him and hold his hand. When Dom was comfortable, Brian started to wake up feeling someone holding his good hand. He opened his eyes and found Dom sitting next to the bed.

"Dom?"

"It's me baby. How are you feeling?" Dom asked as he leaned forward.

"Pretty good with the pain meds in my system. When can I go home?"

"The doctor said you can come home tomorrow morning. They want you here for a night of observation."

Brian tightened his fingers on Dom's hand and asked, "Stay?"

"I don't think I can but I'll be here first thing in the morning to get you."

"Get the doctor. If he won't let you stay then I'm signing myself out. Not much else they can do anyways."

"Okay but they might want you here for a reason."

"It's a gunshot wound. They've taken the bullets out and now all I need is some pain meds and a few days rest. Nothing to observe unless they want a porn movie." Brian smirked.

Dom leaned over Brian and gave him a soft kiss and pulled away. Brian chased his mouth and Dom let him kiss him again before he pulled away and said, "I'll get your release papers for you to sign and the doctor can write you your prescriptions for pain and infection."

"Good. I just want to go home." Brian said.

"I'll see what I can do." Dom said as he moved away from the bed. Dom glanced back and seen Brian looking over his sling and resting his head back on the pillow. Dom left the room and got to the nurse's attention.

She asked, "What can I do for you Mr. Toretto?"

"Brian wants to see the doctor and get his release papers."

"I'll let the doctor know and he'll be with you shortly." The nurse sighed as she picked up a few files off the counter.

"Okay. Thank you."

An hour later Brian was leaving the hospital with Dom at his side. He got outside and took a deep breath. "It's a nice evening, don't you think Dom?" Brian asked as he looked at Dom.

Dom replied, "Since you're not laid up in the bed upstairs then yes it is. But you're going to take it easy when we get home."

"Where we going?"

"Wherever you want." Dom replied as he helped Brian over to the car.

"Your house. Let's go there."

"Okay."

After they got comfortable Dom drove them back to his house in Echo Park and Brian walked over to the area by the grill and asked, "Can you turn on the garage floodlight?"

"Sure. What are you doing?"

"Looking to see if they combed the area like they should have."

Dom looked over at his lover who had been shot twice earlier in the afternoon and he wanted to tell him to march into his house and sit on the couch and relax. Instead giving into his lover's stubbornness - he said, "Want some help?"

"Should only take a few minutes to go over the space and then I'll take a break." Brian said as he glanced at Dom and felt his heart thump a little faster knowing Dom wanted to take care of him.

"Okay. Just so you know Carter Verone visited me in the hospital."

Brian's eyes snapped up with a look a surprise, and a hint of anger, in his eyes and asked, "What did he want?"

Dom paused mid-step not expecting Brian's reaction and he said, "He apologized about getting you hurt and that he was taking care of Tran's gang. I told him I didn't want any details so we don't have to lie in court or anything if we're called as witnesses."

"So he's on our side?" Brian asked trying to wrap his mind around Carter helping them out.
"It's slippery but as far as I know, yes. He wants to see us in a few days when you're more rested."

"Let's see him now. I want to know exactly what's up his sleeve." Brian headed to the driver's side of Dom's Charger and Dom followed behind him.

Dom caught Brian's unhurt arm in his hand and he turned Brian around gently. "Just take a night and rest. We'll go around lunch time tomorrow."

"Breakfast time." Brian said resolutely.

"Okay. Breakfast time." Dom conceded. Brian, he knew, would win most of their fights in their relationship.

Brian seemed to relax at that and he gripped Dom's neck with his good hand and pulled him into a deep kiss. After they came up for air, he looked Dom in the eye and said, "I know you're trying to protect me but I have to know what is going on from all angles. I need to know how to play the hoops game and how much jumping I'm going to be doing in the near future while this case gets closed out."

Dom could understand Brian's perspective, especially with all of his UC experience and contacts, but he wanted to keep him safe. "Once this is done what do you want to do?"

"I don't know yet but I know I'll be good for a while…"

"We...Brian I'm not going anywhere."

Brian dropped his gaze to his shoes and said, "We'll see."

Dom wanted to clobber Brian but he said, "Let's get inside and we'll go see Carter in the morning."

Brian let Dom lead him into the house and they went to the living room where the rest of the team was sitting around. Leon and Jesse both moved from the couch to the floor so that Dom and Brian could sit down. Once Brian had himself sprawled on the couch Dom sat next to him and he eyed his teammates wondering what they knew about the drive by shooting and what might be happening between himself and Brian. Leon broke the silence and he asked Brian, "You okay brah? You seem to be running on some magic powder with your luck."

"I'll hurt later. Adrenaline is still high right now." Brian said resigned with the knowledge he'd probably have to face Tran and his gang one more time at trial.

"I can see that. You know who did that to ya?"

"I know enough that they could call me to testify if they catch who did this." Brian answered.

"Maybe that won't happen." Vince said. Both Dom and Brian looked at Vince and he continued, "You never know. Something might happen to them and then no one has to do anything."

Dom broke his silence and said, "You actually make sense Vince. Hopefully Brian nor I have to go to court to get this taken care of."

Brian looked at Dom and said, "Do you want to move that time up closer than what it is? I can still call a cab."

"Brian you're going to rest. You've been shot twice. Do it for me, yeah?"

Brian saw Dom was giving him a puppy dog look and caved, "Okay but as soon as we've eaten breakfast we're gone."

"I know." Dom pouted.

Mia looked between the two and asked Dom, "What's Brian talking about?"

"It pertains to the case we're working on and trying to prosecute quickly."

"Can't talk about it yet?" Mia asked looking between the two men.

Brian looked at Mia and said, "You seem nice enough but Dom knows only because we were paired together."

Mia felt annoyed because she was used to people just telling her things automatically. Seeing Brian's shoulders slump a little she said, "If you need anything you know where we are."

"Thanks." Brian said.

Dom saw Brian started to get fidgety and suggested, "Why don't we go upstairs and get ready for bed?"

"But I'm not tired." Brian said honestly.

Dom leaned over and whispered in Brian's ear teasingly, "But I don't have a headboard that needs breaking in."

Brian wanted to moan at the way Dom sounded but held himself together and said, "Help me upstairs."

"Gladly." Dom said as he helped Brian stand up and wrapped his arm around Brian's waist.

Brian wrapped his free hand around Dom's shoulders and pressed a kiss to Dom's head. As the two walked towards the stairs Vince said, "Damn must be love. I've never seen Dom so in touch with his cutesy side. It's disturbing."

Dom turned and flipped Vince the finger and said, "You're just jealous bro." Then he turned his attention back to Brian and asked, "Shall I find my nurse's uniform….?"

Vince stood up and waved his arms in surrender, as he said, "Way too much information." He went to the kitchen singing off key trying to forget that image of Nurse Dom.

Brian and the other team members cracked up and Brian said, "Maybe later. Let's go lay down for now."