Ross hadn't even bothered to pick up the phone, he and Rachel just raced down to the street for a cab. The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. Neither of them spoke, they couldn't concentrate on actually speaking words, the thoughts in their heads, the wondering of what had happened and the fear of the worst kept their minds busy.
When they reached the hospital Joey was waiting out front, ready to fill them in and lead them to the appropriate area of the hospital.
"Joey, what happened? Are they all right?"
"Well, they're not all right now, but the doctor is pretty sure they will be."
"Pretty sure? Joey, just please tell us what happened."
As he led them through the tense hospital corridors Joey told the story as he knew it.
***
Monica and Chandler's cab had hit the usual New York City traffic; they had planned for it though, and allowed plenty of time to make their dinner reservation. The cabbie was a very aggressive driver, switching lanes in traffic that barely moved, speeding up at the yellow lights, and basically laying on the horn. As they approached an intersection just two blocks from the restaurant the light began to turn.
"You know we're pretty close, we can just get out here," Chandler told the driver, rather anxious to get out of the cab where he felt much safer.
"No worries, I get you real close." The cabbie seemed very intent on showing off his horrible driving skills or running up the meter as much as possible, Monica and Chandler weren't sure which.
"No, really it's okay, you don't need to run the light, we'll just get out..." As he was speaking Chandler looked at his wife, intending to give her a can-you-believe-this-guy look but his gaze stopped at the window on her side, through which he saw another cab speeding towards them.
Before Chandler could say or do anything the cab slammed into them. Chandler flew against the left side of the cab; the door on the right side crumpled, throwing Monica against Chandler before she bounced back, her head crashing through the window.
Chandler didn't know what to do. He reached over to Monica, calling out her name-softly at first-but then so loud he was yelling, but she didn't respond. He was afraid to move her incase her neck had been hurt but he hated feeling so helpless, especially when his wife, the woman he loved more than anything, the woman he would give his life for, was so helpless herself and he had no idea how exactly what the extent of her injuries were.
What happened next was a blur to Chandler. After what seemed like hours an ambulance finally arrived. They pulled Monica out first but wouldn't tell Chandler how she was. It wasn't until the paramedic told Chandler that his arm was broken that he even realized that he had been hurt at all.
When they arrived at the hospital the nurse asked Chandler if there was anyone she should call. He couldn't remember Ross' number and since he hadn't updated his emergency contact information since his marriage Joey was still listed so the nurse called him. Phoebe had been with Joey when the nurse called and they raced to the hospital. Since Joey and Phoebe were not relatives no one would tell them anything. In all of the frenzy Joey didn't remember to call Ross until the nurse asked him if he knew Ross' number. After Joey got off the phone they finally let him and Phoebe into see Chandler. Chandler told them exactly what had happened, but his mind was obviously on Monica the whole time and as soon as he finished the doctor walked in and without a work Chandler followed him. Joey had no idea what the doctor said because they spoke in the hallway and as soon as they were done he took Chandler into see Monica.
***
Just as Joey finished telling Ross and Rachel what had happened the doctor walked by. It was Phoebe who stopped him. "Excuse me, sir. I know you can't tell us how Monica is doing but this is her brother Ross, he just got here and I know he's very worried."
"Thanks Pheebs. Dr...
"Howser."
"Dr. Howser, can you please tell me how my sister is doing?"
"Well, the good news is her injuries are not that bad. She's got a couple cracked ribs, a broken wrists, and a few cuts and bruises. There were no injuries to the spinal cord, which was our biggest fear. The bad news is that she is still unconscious and while we do not expect any long-term effects we cannot tell for sure until she regains consciousness."
"What about the baby?" It was the first time Rachel had spoke since she and Ross left the apartment.
Ross was a little annoyed. "Rachel, I know this pregnancy is a big deal for you but I'm sure the baby's fine. I really think it's best if we just focus on Monica right now."
It upset Rachel a lot that Ross thought she was that selfish but she decided to forgive him because of the circumstances.
"Monica's baby is fine for now, but the longer she stays unconscious the more dangerous it becomes for the fetus."
"Monica's baby? Monica's pregnant?"
"Oh my God, Chandler, I didn't see you there."
I know, I know, this one took awhile. Was it worth the wait? Do you want more? Do you have any suggestions (directions for this story to take--I'm running out--or for new stories)? Review! Review! REVIEW!!!
When they reached the hospital Joey was waiting out front, ready to fill them in and lead them to the appropriate area of the hospital.
"Joey, what happened? Are they all right?"
"Well, they're not all right now, but the doctor is pretty sure they will be."
"Pretty sure? Joey, just please tell us what happened."
As he led them through the tense hospital corridors Joey told the story as he knew it.
***
Monica and Chandler's cab had hit the usual New York City traffic; they had planned for it though, and allowed plenty of time to make their dinner reservation. The cabbie was a very aggressive driver, switching lanes in traffic that barely moved, speeding up at the yellow lights, and basically laying on the horn. As they approached an intersection just two blocks from the restaurant the light began to turn.
"You know we're pretty close, we can just get out here," Chandler told the driver, rather anxious to get out of the cab where he felt much safer.
"No worries, I get you real close." The cabbie seemed very intent on showing off his horrible driving skills or running up the meter as much as possible, Monica and Chandler weren't sure which.
"No, really it's okay, you don't need to run the light, we'll just get out..." As he was speaking Chandler looked at his wife, intending to give her a can-you-believe-this-guy look but his gaze stopped at the window on her side, through which he saw another cab speeding towards them.
Before Chandler could say or do anything the cab slammed into them. Chandler flew against the left side of the cab; the door on the right side crumpled, throwing Monica against Chandler before she bounced back, her head crashing through the window.
Chandler didn't know what to do. He reached over to Monica, calling out her name-softly at first-but then so loud he was yelling, but she didn't respond. He was afraid to move her incase her neck had been hurt but he hated feeling so helpless, especially when his wife, the woman he loved more than anything, the woman he would give his life for, was so helpless herself and he had no idea how exactly what the extent of her injuries were.
What happened next was a blur to Chandler. After what seemed like hours an ambulance finally arrived. They pulled Monica out first but wouldn't tell Chandler how she was. It wasn't until the paramedic told Chandler that his arm was broken that he even realized that he had been hurt at all.
When they arrived at the hospital the nurse asked Chandler if there was anyone she should call. He couldn't remember Ross' number and since he hadn't updated his emergency contact information since his marriage Joey was still listed so the nurse called him. Phoebe had been with Joey when the nurse called and they raced to the hospital. Since Joey and Phoebe were not relatives no one would tell them anything. In all of the frenzy Joey didn't remember to call Ross until the nurse asked him if he knew Ross' number. After Joey got off the phone they finally let him and Phoebe into see Chandler. Chandler told them exactly what had happened, but his mind was obviously on Monica the whole time and as soon as he finished the doctor walked in and without a work Chandler followed him. Joey had no idea what the doctor said because they spoke in the hallway and as soon as they were done he took Chandler into see Monica.
***
Just as Joey finished telling Ross and Rachel what had happened the doctor walked by. It was Phoebe who stopped him. "Excuse me, sir. I know you can't tell us how Monica is doing but this is her brother Ross, he just got here and I know he's very worried."
"Thanks Pheebs. Dr...
"Howser."
"Dr. Howser, can you please tell me how my sister is doing?"
"Well, the good news is her injuries are not that bad. She's got a couple cracked ribs, a broken wrists, and a few cuts and bruises. There were no injuries to the spinal cord, which was our biggest fear. The bad news is that she is still unconscious and while we do not expect any long-term effects we cannot tell for sure until she regains consciousness."
"What about the baby?" It was the first time Rachel had spoke since she and Ross left the apartment.
Ross was a little annoyed. "Rachel, I know this pregnancy is a big deal for you but I'm sure the baby's fine. I really think it's best if we just focus on Monica right now."
It upset Rachel a lot that Ross thought she was that selfish but she decided to forgive him because of the circumstances.
"Monica's baby is fine for now, but the longer she stays unconscious the more dangerous it becomes for the fetus."
"Monica's baby? Monica's pregnant?"
"Oh my God, Chandler, I didn't see you there."
I know, I know, this one took awhile. Was it worth the wait? Do you want more? Do you have any suggestions (directions for this story to take--I'm running out--or for new stories)? Review! Review! REVIEW!!!