So Many Memories

Disclaimer: If I owned them, don't you think I would have had J&R together long ago?

A/N: Alright, this is a Friends/Dark Angel crossover. Joey is a transgenic (who also plays guitar & sings in his own rock band.) Joey and Rachel have a crush on each other, but neither of them know about the other. If you haven't seen Dark Angel, just go to darkangelfan.com, you should be able to find anything you need. Now on with the show.

~~

Joey quickly glances at the clock on the wall. It's only 9:00, meaning 20 more minutes he'll have to listen to Mr. Larkin ramble on about how important it is to pay attention during his lectures on algebra. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Rachel, his best friend since he was only six years old. They grew up right next to each other, and held no secrets, but one.

Joey was actually part of an experiment, that's run by a covert government agency called Manticore. He never even knew his parents. For all they knew, he had died shortly after birth. This came to an end when he and his "siblings" from the project decided they'd had enough. They made an attempt at an escape, but not everyone made it. In fact only 12 actually made it past the perimeter to the so-called free world. Little did they know they would be hunted down because they were too valuable to lose.

At long last, Mr. Larkin concluded his class with 15 minutes remaining, allowing them to socialize before the bell rings. Joey picks up his books along with the lyrics to the latest song he'd been working on, and moves to a seat right behind Rachel. As usual Monica noticed he'd been off in dream world again instead of listening.

"How do you two expect to make out of high school if you don't do what you're told?" she asked, fully aware that neither of her friends really wanted to be here.

"I don't know Mon, but I have the same attitude I had last year, which managed to get me a 75% average," Rachel quipped back.

"But it wasn't an A, now was it?" Monica snapped.

"Would you cut it out Mon? I mean, you give us the same speech every year! You should have learned by now that it doesn't go over well." With that said, the bell rings. Monica just glares at Joey, angry that she didn't get to defend herself.

~~

"Alright, another day down, only 175 to go," Joey said, coming up behind Rachel.

"Isn't it a little too soon to start counting down days now? I mean, come on, it's only the fifth day of school," Rachel replied, as they started walking down the hall toward Rachel's locker.

"Well, I just like to remind myself how many more days I'll have to put up with Chip." Rachel frowned.

"You aren't still upset after what happened last year?"

"Who wouldn't be? I mean, the guy totally humiliated me in front of everyone!" he fumed.

"But you didn't have to threaten him like that!" she answered while gathering things from her locker. "It's not like I was actually gonna plant a bomb on his car," he said.

"Yeah, well, the police didn't think so," she answered just as Chip and his fellow football players walked past. One of the larger guys came up beside Joey and shoved him up against a locker with his shoulder. Joey shot him a dirty look and Rachel grabbed his arm. "Don't let them get to you. You wouldn't want to get suspended again, let alone have to listen to Monica go on about how you didn't learn your lesson last year."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he groaned. She's always had a way of persuading him to do what won't get him in too much trouble.

"Alright let's go. Do you wanna take the bus or walk home?" she asked, as she slammed her locker shut. "I think I'll walk," he said as he swung his backpack over his shoulder. They began walking down the hall, and just before they take their final steps leading them through the door to freedom, Gwen Fitzgerald runs up to them.

"Hey Rach! I just wanted to let you know the election dance is next Wednesday, so you better hurry and find a date."

"Hi Gwen," Joey finally piped up, trying to get some attention. "Oh hey Joey," she said, her face getting red as a tomato. "Sorry, I didn't notice you there."

"So you mean you're not gonna run off screaming 'Look out! It's the mad bomber!' like some people I know?" Joey glared out the window at Chip and his pals surrounding two of the more vulnerable freshmen.

"No. Why would I do that?" she questioned him. "Well, it just seems as if some people get a real kick out of it." He said, still staring out the window.

"Come on Joey, we better get home or my dad will flip out. I'll see you tomorrow Gwen," Rachel said. With that they took off down through the parking lot, Rachel obviously in a hurry to get home, although they only live a couple blocks away.

"What's up with your dad lately? He seems to be a lot more strict than usual," Joey commented on their fast pace. "I don't know, I guess he might want us on our best behavior when my mom gets back from France. She left three years ago yesterday, which means she should be settled in by now and ready to make regular visits."

"That's great, Rach! But you mean you still haven't heard anything from her lately saying when she'll be here?" Joey said with a confused look on his face as they rounded a corner.

"Nope. Not a word. But I'm sure she's just busy. Hey, I thought you had soccer practice tonight?"

"They changed it around to Mondays and Thursdays," he answered, just as their front yards came into view. "That'll work out for the dance next week. Speaking of which, I was wondering if you might want to be my date?" she said sheepishly, trying to hide the identity of her secret crush.

"Really? Me? The Mad Bomber?" he asked surprised, and also a little relieved he wouldn't be left out.

"Yeah, why not? Chip dumped me last year for that slut, and you're the second most popular guy in school."

"I hope you meant that in a good way," he smiled. "But I guess whether I like it or not, I've made a name for myself. It's kind of grown on me." They reached their destination, and with a quick, "Call me!" Rachel was through her front door.

~~

She shut the door as quietly as she could in case her father was sleeping on the couch. He has changed a lot since her mother left for Paris.

"Rachel, get in here!" he bellowed from the kitchen. She obediently followed, knowing not to upset him more.

"What took you so long," he screamed in her face. "Well, I walked home with Joey," she said from the doorway, afraid to come any closer. She noticed an empty bottle sitting on the counter. "You really shouldn't be drinking like this. Mom could walk through that door any minute," she said, trying to avoid eye contact.

"You really believe your mother's coming home?" he laughed. "She said it would only be a few years until she insured a place on the board, and then she would be back," Rachel answered, barely above a whisper.

"It was all a lie! She's not coming back, and you know it! She made all that up so you wouldn't find out the truth. Why do you think she hasn't called? Or written?"

"You're the liar!" she screamed, not wanting to believe her ears.

"What did you just say?" Rachel backed up against the wall, fear visible in her eyes. "How dare you mouth back at me! I have had enough of this! You don't listen, your grades have dropped, and now you've got a smart mouth! It's time you learned who's in charge around here!" Rachel couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

Without another word, he took a swing at her. She ran to her room and locked the door. Rachel couldn't hide the tears that were now running freely down her cheeks. Her whole world was crumbling beneath her. Two of the three people she trusted most had betrayed her.

At least she still had Joey. The one and only person she could talk to. As much as she wanted to run to him now, she knew she couldn't let him find out what a monster her father had become. If word would get out, he would be furious. Although she doesn't exactly get along with either of her sisters, she didn't want to drag them into this, too. She knew full well what would happen to them if she told anyone the truth.