Part 4: The Accident (Flashback)
[Well, now then, this is the next fic in the series. Thanks guys, for all the positive feedback! Hi to all my online buds, and especially those of you who helped me with this :) If anyone out there has AIM, I use the sn FRIENDSGIRL336 for friends stuff a lot, so talk to me! Well, In this fic, Hannah is 5, and Abby is 7 months. Read and review, please!! BTW, The crash is kinda far fetched, but go with the flow :)]
Richard walked down the street from his apartment. He usually drove his Porsche anywhere he needed to go, but his car had been screwy lately and it was in the shop. So, today taxi was his method of transportation. He hated taxis. Costly, hard to hail, and those cabbies who yap away, and some even into your personal life. But he had no other choice. His son, Tim, lives in Florida, and his daughter, Michelle, lives in Utah with her husband and kids. They had just moved there a few months ago because her husband, Gregg, had been transferred there, so they couldn't drive him. He hailed the a taxi, and got in.
The cabbie seemed to have been looking for him. Several other people had hailed a cab, but he ignored them all and went straight to Richard. Richard shrugged it off, and got in.
Hiya. Where to? the cabbie asked
The Museum of Natural History, Richard told him, and the cab pulled away. Richard noticed the cabbies name was G-Funk. [Okay, okay, weird name, I know, but I saw it in a movie once.]
Richard asked. That's an interesting name.
Thank you, G-Funk said, and drove on saying nothing more. He knew he hated when cab drivers chatted away, but he hated it more when there was an awkward science.
Nice weather, Richard commented.
I prefer rain, cold, G-Funk said.
Really? I love the sun. The warm weather. But then again, I grew up in California.
G-Funk said. He didn't seem to be a talker, and he seemed kinda gloomy. It made Richard wonder if he should be driving people around town.
You married? Richard said, noticing the ring on his left hand.
Yeah, if that's what you call it. I only did it cause my girlfriend made me. I'm still seeing other people. Don't tell her though, G-Funk laughed at his own joke. Richard made a face, and wished he was married.
I'm divorced, he offered.
Lucky you, G- Funk said, sincerely.
Lucky? It sucks. And the only other person I wanted to marry I let slip through the cracks, and now she married someone else.
Why did I let her go?
Yeah, why?
I didn't want to have more kids. I have two grown ones, and she was twenty years younger than me, and her dream was to have kids...... Richard launched off into the spiel of him and Monica, and G-Funk tuned him out. He went on for five minutes. I wonder if she has kids now. I mean, she must, but I've never heard about them, so who knows. Her father is my best friend, seems he would've told me.
G-Funk let out a little laugh. This man sure did have problems. Sleeping with your best friend's daughter was a little too much, even for him. Now, he had a job to do, and it wasn't driving a taxi.
He drove on in peace for five more minutes. Then he came across a large freeway divider. The wall was quite high, and it seemed like a good opportunity, few cars in the lane next to him. He was in the lane second away from the wall. Without hesitation, he slammed the car, rear end first, into the wall. Hopefully the blow would be cushioned by the back of the car, and he could survive. The car slammed into the wall, and another car coming down the freeway slammed into the mess.
It only took a few minutes before sirens could be heard, and news helicopters over the scene. The crash looked terrible.
* * * * *
Twelve hours later, Richard came out of surgery. He had a broken leg, two broken ribs, and had been stabbed by a piece of glass from the windshield in his chest, and needed surgery. His doctor, Dr. Hoppe, was amazed that he was still alive. He may even need plastic surgery on his face because of the deep cuts on it. They called his son and daughter, who lived out of state, but they couldn't get to the hospital soon. They agreed to tell his friends and family. Michelle called Jack and Judy, knowing they were good friends of his and would be able to visit him. When Jack and Judy got to the hospital, Dr. Hoppe told them that Richard couldn't live on his own for a month and a half at least, if not more, once he was released form the hospital, and he wasn't sure when that could be.
Jack and Judy wanted to take him in, but couldn't, because they had no room. Since they had sold their house, they moved into a one bedroom apartment. The doctor agreed that wouldn't work, and figured maybe his son or daughter could help him out.
G-Funk also had broken ribs, and a broken arm, but that was all his injuries. He went home later that day. That was usually how it went. The bad guy was never hurt, and the innocent guy was.
* * * * * * *
Jack didn't know why, but he decided maybe he should tell Ross and Monica about the accident. Monica had dated him, and she and Ross had known him even before that. It wasn't like they had to go visit him or anything, but he felt she should know.
Hi, Monica, Jack said when he called her that night.
Hi, Dad. What's up? Monica asked
Well, bad news, I'm afraid. I'm not sure if I should even call you to tell you, but I figured if you found out I didn't tell you, you'd be even madder. So, here it goes. Richard's been in a car accident.
Richard, as in Richard--
You slept with.
Gee, thanks Dad, she said, rolling her eyes.
Sorry. Okay, it was pretty bad. You don't have to come see him or anything, but I just wanted you to know.
Oh my God! Okay, well, thanks Dad, I guess. Is he okay?
Most likely. They don't know for sure. I'm going over to the hospital now, so I gotta go. He's at County General, in case you wanna know. Monica and her dad hung up. Chandler came into the room.
Who was that? he asked her.
My dad. He just called to tell me Richard was in an accident.
Richard Richard?
Oh my God! What happened?
I don't know, really. He's just hurt pretty badly.
So are you gonna go see him or what?
Well, no, Monica replied
Yeah. I mean, if I go see him, he's gonna think I still love him. I think we'll just leave him.
Are you sure about that? I mean, it sounds pretty bad, if he's gonna be there for a while.
Chandler, why would you even want me to go see him?
Mon, I'm not that shallow, he told her I mean, the man was in a car accident!
I guess you're right. I guess I should go see him, but I don't know, she sighed.
It's all your choice, Monica. If you wanna go, I won't care. If you don't, then I won't care, either.
We'll see, she told him. But if I do go, you're coming with me.
he said. Monica smiled.
A few days later, Chandler had convinced Monica to go see Richard. He wasn't quite sure why. He wasn't supposed to like him. But here he was, making Monica go visit him. They had the kids with them since it was Saturday. Chandler was carrying Hannah, and Monica had Abby.
Chandler, he doesn't even know we have kids! she whispered. Maybe we should just go. I mean he doesn't know we're here, and-- The doctor came out and cut her off.
Aaaah, here to see Mr. Burke? he asked them. Before Monica could respond, Chandler told him yes. The doctor told him of the injuries, and what to expect. Then they went into see him.
Monica? Chandler? Richard asked when he saw them. He could talk, but not much since he was on a lot of heavy medications.
Monica said.
What are you doing here?
Well, you know, after what happened, I thought I should see you.
Am I seeing things, or is that a kid in your arms?
Yeah, that's Abby.
So you have kids.....
Duh. Isn't that why we broke up?
Well, yeah, unfortunately.
Well, actually, it isn't too unfortunate, Monica said.
Right. You're happy now, he said, it was obviously hard for him to speak. And that is..... he said, pointing to Hannah
I'm Hannah Elyse, Hannah said to him. She was going through a phase of always using her middle name. Or, better known, Hannah.
Hi, Hannah, Richard told her, then shut his eyes in pain.
Okay, well, you shouldn't talk, Monica said. And we shouldn't stay too long.
Thanks for..... coming, he struggled to say.
Sure. I hope you get well soon, she added.
Daddy, what's wrong with him? Hannah asked
He was in a car accident, sweetie. And remember how we talked about not saying things abut people when they can hear you?
Hannah said to Richard.
It's okay, he assured them.
On their way out of his room, they encountered the doctor again. He talked to them for a while, and let it slip that Richard needed a place to stay for a few months. Monica knew he was trying to get them to do it, but there was no way.
* * * * * * * * * *
That night, after both Hannah and Abby were asleep, and Monica was in her and Chandler's room. He was in with Abby, since he had put her to bed tonight. When he came in, she knew he was thinking something.
What are you up to? she asked suspiciously.
Nothing. It's just that, you know about Richard.
What about him?
How he needs a place to stay.....
CHANDLER! Don't tell me you're thinking of here! Monica said
Why not, Mon? There's no one else! His kids haven't even come to see him. And since they live out of state, he can't live with them!
Chandler, you remember who RICHARD is, right?
Of course I do! But he's almost dead now!
Well, it's true, he said. I'm just saying. Maybe we should be the bigger people here.
This is the same guy who dated me, who I went to lunch with, and started that whole fight between us. The same guy that almost broke us up when you were gonna propose!!
Yeah, Mon, but he's a good guy. I learned that then, Chandler remembered.
WHAT?!?! HOW?
I've never told you this, but I went to go find you at his place. You weren't there.
she said.
And then we talked, and you know what he said? He said You go get her, Chandler. And if you do get her, don't ever let her go. Believe me.'
Okay, fine, he's a good guy. But have him living here? Having to take care of him?? That's nuts!
Maybe it is, Mon. Maybe it is. But maybe we owe him this.
OWE him? she asked. We owe him for deciding that yes, I could have you, after I was already with you for two years?
Okay, not owe him, but at least give him a chance. Otherwise, he'll be in that hospital forever.
So, let him be there, she said.
Oh, Mon, I know you don't mean that.
Okay, maybe I don't. But I don't want him here, either.
It took a few more days, but Chandler convinced Monica to give him a chance here. Neither were sure why he did it, but he did. They told Dr. Hoppe, and he was happy. He told Richard he found someone to care for him.
Really? Who?
Chandler and Monica Bing. Richard's heart dropped. He didn't want to stay in the hospital forever, but living with Monica, Chandler, and their kids would be torture. He always loved Monica, and he still did. Too bad he hadn't gotten amnesia.
* * * * * ** * *
Okay, Hannah, here's the deal. We're gonna move Abby into your room for a while, Chandler explained carefully.
How come? Hannah asked curiously.
Well, you remember that man we saw at the hospital? Hannah nodded He's gonna stay with us until he gets better.
That old man? Hannah asked
Monica couldn't help but laugh. Yeah, him.
I don't know if I like it, but I don't have a choice, do I? Hannah asked
Chandler told her.
Okay then. At least Abby doesn't cry as much at night anymore. I'll live. Monica was surprised by how easy going she was with this. But she didn't want to say anything to make her change her mind.
Thanks, Hannah, Chandler told her You really are a big help, you know that?
Of course, Daddy, Hannah joked. Monica smiled. She was just like Chandler personality wise. Which, it seemed more so after Richard moved in and she hated him.
At first, she was fine with him. She stayed out of his way, and they didn't see each other much. It wasn't until he was getting better, and around her more that she hated him. And maybe that had something to do with where she was now.
[Okay, that's it. Part 5 next!!!!! Leave a review, but I'm gonna tell you I already hate the whole crash thing, it seemed too unrealistic. Anyways, Thanks for reading!!!]
