Chapter Two – Reality Settles in.
Monica was frozen, her body numb as time seemed to stand still for hours. Part of her thought it was another sarcastic joke of Chandler's that she didn't understand but the grief on her friends faces told her otherwise. She tried to question the situation but she was unable to form a sentence with Ross's words dancing in her brain.
"She must be in shock" she heard Phoebe say.
The sound of her name brought her crashing back to reality "Mon? Monica" Joey said waving her hand in her face.
"Don't wave at her like that" Ross said pushing Joey away.
Tears welled up in Monica's eyes as she looked at her friends crowded around her. She was still sitting in the dining room of her apartment and she noticed that everyone was watching her every move. She was touched that everyone would think of her above their own grievances, he was their friend too after all.
"Monica sweet heart, are you ok" Rachel said finally breaking the silence.
Monica was now hugging herself tightly and quickly shook her head. With all the evidence written on her friends faces, she still refused to believe what was going on. "No?" Joey said. "Was that a No?" he added.
"No" Monica screamed. "Just stop playing games, it isn't funny anymore. For the last time I saw Chandler late this morning." She added standing up to escape her friends.
"Monica we would never make a joke out of something so serious, why don't you just come down to the hospital sweetheart and we can see him.?" Rachel said putting one hand on her shoulder.
Monica turned around and faced everyone as a tear rolled down her cheek. "This can't be happening can it?" she said slowly.
III
The cab ride to the hospital was silent except for the odd direction from Ross to driver. Monica kept replaying the last moments she had with Chandler in her mind. Was this really happening? It wasn't exactly adding up. Had she mistaken the time she left the house for work?
Monica was almost unconscious as she moved from the cab to each section of the hospital to Chandler's room. Everything was in slow motion as direction was given and friendly chat exchanged. She felt like screaming to the top of her lungs but no one would hear her. Her view didn't matter, as far as they believed, she hadn't seen Chandler that day.
As they entered the room number 693, there standing in front of Monica was her worst nightmare. A bruised Chandler dressed in bandages, and hooked up to machines.
Monica felt her world crash down around her ankles, and a huge lump formed in her throat. She heard faint noises around her.
"She is going white" Phoebe stated loudly.
"Monica, are you ok?" Ross asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Water" Monica managed to choke out finally.
"What was that" Ross jumped in.
"I can't breath I need water" Monica screamed louder.
"Water!" Joey said jumping up.
"Sure we can do that" Phoebe joined, following Joey out of the room. Finally they returned with a doctor by their side and as they handed over the water Monica skulled it down at once.
"So how bad is it? People wake up from this all the time right?" Monica spoke slowly with a hint of expectation in her voice.
"Well it's hard to say Mrs Bing" the doctor began, "The machines are pretty much breathing for him at this point, so it is up to your husband to pull himself out of this."
"This can't be happening…it just doesn't add up" Monica said, turning to look at her weak husband. She rushed to Chandler's side and held onto his hand tightly and whispered in his ear. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you."
III
Chandler stood in front of the restaurant, his wife's work with no memory of why or how he got there. He entered the restaurant to find complete chaos, disaster from distressed staff to angry customers.
"Excuse me" he tried to get the attention of Monica's manager whom he knew personally, however the crowd made it impossible for him to be heard.
"I am sorry to inform everyone that there will be a slight delay in the reservations line up this evening due to short staff. Thank-you for your understanding" he stopped the announcement and there was groans from the customers.
"Short staffed?" Chandler thought for a second, and it was then he remembered Monica having to leave the house because of an emergency at work. He decided to go home and wait for her there.
III
Monica awoke and she found herself alone in the white hospital room, watching her husband as the machine breathed for him.
"No matter what it takes you have to pull out of this, its not your time damn it" she said beginning to cry.
Monica heard her name from behind from a familiar voice. "Chandler?" she whipped her head around.
"No sweetie it's Ross" he said. "I brought you some dinner, you haven't eaten all day".
"No thanks" she said briefly looking at him before turning back around.
"Hey Mon, I know this must be hard but maybe you should go home and get some sleep?" he said. "You look exhausted and I am sure it is what Chandler would want."
"No, I have to stay here in case he wakes up" Monica said.
"Come on Monica, when have you ever known Chandler to get up before 9am unless he has had to?" Ross said attempting to lighten the mood.
Monica smiled briefly but as quick as it appeared, it disappeared. "Ok, but only because I know there is a mess left in the kitchen from breakfast" She added before gathering her stuff and walking out the door.
III
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you tonight" Ross said as he finished the rest of the dishes in the sink for his sister.
"No it's ok, I have Joey and Rachel across the hall, and besides I have to redo those dishes which you are not cleaning right and I cant very well do that with you here." She added.
"The point of me doing this is so you can get some sleep Monica" Ross said in his defense.
"It's not my fault, it is either let me stress clean or sit by my husband's bedside. Since you won't let me sleep at the hospital, this is what you force me to do." She said taking over the dishes from Ross.
"Are you sur…" Ross began.
"I'm fine, just go" Monica said as she watched her brother let himself out of her apartment. There was a few minutes of silence before someone finally spoke again.
"Monica" a voice said from behind her.
"I told you Ross, I'm fine…" Monica said as she turned around and she dropped the dish which she held in her hand. "C-chandler?"
To be Continued…
III
Wow…So I haven't updated, well anything in a really long time! I guess I got re-inspired in this story when I got a review asking for me to continue (thanks NaylaS2 :)*) Anyways, I have no idea where this story is going but I guess one day it will come to me.. Anyways have a lovely day, hope you liked my update.