AN: I hope you are all enjoying the story so far!

Guys, I would really love it if you left a review!
It helps me become a better writer for all of you.
It would mean a lot!

Please and thank you! :)

Several nurses had to restrain Ross as he thrashed around like a wild bull. Rachel was aghast at the sight before her; his entire body shook and spasmed, he fiercely gasped for air and growled while he drew an angry expression on his face. Quickly, a nurse filled a syringe with liquid and jammed it in his arm, injecting him with sedative as carefully as she could. Within seconds, his body drooped as if his heart had stopped. Thankfully, it didn't. Ross's heart rate decreased dramatically and breath returned to him.

Rachel cautiously stepped toward Ross's motionless body, fear clouding her mind. The nurses stepped away to check his vitals, noticing her now pale face.

"W-What happened to him?" Rachel demanded, glaring at the nurse across from her.

"Mild panic attack, most likely." He calmly stated, confusion hidden in his tone.

"Mild? He nearly fell off the bed!" Rachel shouted angrily, hands flying downward.

"Ma'am," A nurse next to her said, "Please remain calm. It could be any number of things. We're looking into it right now. Please take a seat." Her voice became more agitated.

Rachel grunted and stomped to her chair. She couldn't believe what she just saw.

"Panic attack, my ass..." She whispered, maliciously.

What happened to Ross? Just yesterday, he smiled at her, kissed her, stroked her hair, and even told her he loved her. Ross was supposed to be better, she thought. But now, he was helpless again. This was killing Rachel. She leered at her beloved, concerned. Something about all of this was very wrong.

Rachel couldn't fall back asleep. Not after that. That traumatized her to her very core, nearly as bad as when Ross had gotten mugged. She was broken and alone now. Holding Ross's hand did not bestow the comfort she needed. It was like he wasn't even there. Just like in her dreams, it was an illusion.

Her dreams.

The very thought of her dreams sickened her. They were much too clear to be completely random. They were imprinted in her mind, and were scalding hot. Rachel thought over the most recent one.

"Don't cry," She pondered. "Don't cry, Rach." She whispered to herself. What had her vision of Ross meant by that? She hadn't cried since she read Ross's letter. Her sadness and disgust swarmed into confusion. Defying him, she began sobbing uncontrollably.

A wave of emotion crashed against her. Rachel figured things wouldn't be this simple. She realized Ross had almost gotten past the physical pain. The psychological agony, however, would do it's best to drive both him and Rachel toward their breaking points. She would stay by his side through it all. She had to. Their love could climb any mountain, and leap the largest valleys. Ross had always been there for her. Now, she was going to return the favor, at all costs.

It was at about 6 o'clock when the door to Ross's room creaked open. Rachel's eyes had been shut at her feeble attempt to sleep. She lazily attempted to focus on who was visiting so early; it was none other than Carol, followed by Susan and Ben.

"Carol?" Rachel inquired sleepily.

"Rachel, hi." Carol replied, sympathetically.

Rachel stood up and Carol gave her a quick but reassuring hug.

"Monica told us what happened, I'm so sorry we couldn't come earlier. We were visiting Susan's parents in Connecticut," Carol continued, concerned. "How is he now?"

"He's heavily sedated, he had what the hospital believes is a panic attack a couple a hours ago," Rachel's voice became mocking. "But I call BS."

"I heard he was getting better though?" Carol said hastily, walking over to Ross. Susan followed her, holding Ben.

"He looks so... defenseless." Susan declared, sadness flowing through her words.

"Da-ddy?" Ben uttered, confused.

"Yes honey, daddy." Carol's throat closed up as tears began to fall from her eyes.

Susan rubbed her partner's back, holding back her own sobs.

Susan could not believe how angry she used to get with Ross, fighting over Carol, Ben, and everything in between. While she was mad at him for so many things, she admired his fiery demeanor and his loyalty to Ben and his friends.

Rachel glanced at the couple. "Do you guys, um, want some coffee?"

"That'd be great, Rachel, thank you," Carol smiled weakly. "We'll both take it black." Susan nodded her head in agreement.

Rachel walked out of Ross's room, but not without feeling the pain of leaving his side. Is this how he felt when he left her that night? Countless thoughts went through her mind as she walked down the hallway towards the coffee machine. The path to recovery seemed to stretch out endlessly. Rachel was traumatized beyond belief, but she couldn't even comprehend the pain that Ross was possibly feeling. All she expected to happen was that he was going to get better, her and Ross would be back together, and everything would go back to normal with a happy ending. That was nothing but a fleeting dream now. Something was wrong with her, and Rachel wasn't even the one who was mugged that night. Why was she feeling this? It was Ross who was hurt, not her. But seeing him toss about like a fish out of water, to watch him writhe in pain, it made her die inside. She loved him so much, his malady was hers. What was causing all of this emotional havoc?

Guilt. Sorrow. The longing for forgiveness of everything that had happened. Rachel's mind wreaked with possibilities. A stupid fight that led to a tragic accident that neither of them will ever forget. Could she have prevented this? What if she hadn't told him to leave that night, only 2 and a half days ago, but what seemed like years? Was all of this her fault? Why did this have to happen to Ross? If only it had been her instead of him. Maybe it would have been better that way. Maybe...

Rachel began pouring coffee, her hands shaking. She hadn't slept comfortably in almost a week, between work, the breakup, and the accident.

Her entire body ached, and she grieved heavily.

Work.

Rachel hadn't called into Bloomingdale's since that night. Not even to tell Joanna she was taking personal days off. God, she thought, how could she have let work get in the way of her relationship with Ross? If she'd only been more attentive. Work isn't everything. Sure, her friends told her to follow her passion, but her passion was Ross.

And then there was Mark. Mark, who had given her a job that was perfect for her. Rachel was beginning to see exactly why Ross was so jealous of him in the first place. Mark's attitude toward her, the fact that he spent every day with her, and how he understood her when she was angry at Ross. Then came the night when she wanted a break, when Ross called while Mark was at the apartment. He drank a lot and he thought she was cheating on him with Mark, and Mark was at her apartment. To Ross, it didn't look good. If only she understood, they wouldn't have taken a break. They wouldn't have broken up, and the future would've been bright.

But it was time to stop wondering what could've happened. Rachel had to live with the choices she made. Of course, this was easier said than done.

Her feet dragged their way back to Ross's room, where she looked in the window. Susan was sitting in Rachel's chair, feeding Ben. Carol was standing over Ross, mulling. Rachel could see the hurt in Carol's eyes. Even though she left him, she had always cared about him. This was something that had affected everyone Ross loved, because he himself was just so lovable.

Rachel sighed and entered the room, and handed Carol and Susan their coffee. She went to Ross and grabbed his hand, hoping that he would wake up soon, she wanted to gaze into his chocolate eyes. She wanted to see that smile that made her heart skip a beat.

She had to know what happened to him earlier. It was worse than any nightmare.

"Are you feeling alright, Rachel?" Carol wondered, worried.

Rachel shook her head. "I... I love him so much Carol."

Carol set her cup on the bedside table. "I know, honey. He loves you too, more than anything in the world." She paused, and walked around the bed and put her hand on Rachel's shoulder, holding back tears. "I saw the expression on his face when I left him. You have the exact same look."

Rachel looked at Carol, wiping her misty eyes.

She continued. "He'll be okay, Rachel. He's a fighter. And, he's got things to fight for." Carol pulled Rachel into a brief hug, and rubbed her eyes when they broke off.

Carol looked over at Susan talking to Ben, motioning Rachel to look as well. Rachel smirked. She walked over to Susan, who took a sip of her coffee.

"Susan?"

Susan craned her neck backwards to look at Rachel, smiling. "Yes Rachel?" She picked up Ben and stood up.

"D-Do you mind?" Rachel held her arms out.

"Of course not," Susan handed Ben to her. " Ben, can you say Rachel? Ra-chel?"

"Ra-chel..?" Ben whispered, tired.

Rachel grinned broadly. Even if Ben wasn't her child, she was more than happy to take care of him at every chance she could.

As Rachel coddled Ben, she could see Ross in him. Ben had Carol's hair and nose, but his eyes, his gorgeous eyes, belonged to Ross. She kissed Ben on the forehead, and went back to Ross.

Rachel petted Ross on the cheek with her free hand, and saw a bright flash in the corner of her eye.

"I should've told you to smile, but surprise is a good look too." Carol chuckled, as her polaroid printed the photo.

As Rachel looked at her holding a sleeping Ben and stroking her beloved, she smiled at the epiphany she had.

They made a magnificent family.