AN: While I am using much of the series' timeline, Phoebe is not pregnant, and she and Rachel are going to be in London.

~One For The Road~

Chapter Three: A Life Less Ordinary

The sight was centered on its target.  There was not a doubt in his mind that he had his man.  He licked his dry lips, and wrapped his finger around the trigger.  He pulled back on the trigger.

Crack

Whoosh

Thump

He peered through the site, wanting to confirm the kill.  It was then that he knew that something was wrong.

Had he blinked?

Had he jerked back the gun?

What had he done?

He felt his throat close up, and he struggled to erase his presence.  He touched his face, and as he pulled his hand away, he saw that his fingers were covered in blood.

Blood.  Suddenly, it seemed to be everywhere, drowning him, consuming him, eating him alive.  He tried to scream, but no sound emerged. 

Chandler woke up screaming, his body dripping with anxious sweat.  The Nightmare had haunted him for years, and it never changed.  He struggled to get the image of the young girl's limp body, her blood soaked hair, out of his head.  He had killed an innocent.  And as his breathing slowed, he realized that the nightly torture he went through, the agonizing dreams that would plague him eternally, were well deserved.

He crawled out of bed, and made his way into the bathroom, where he heaved, and threw up, twice, into the toilet—it was a side affect of the horrid dreams, and another punishment he was willing to accept.  He looked at himself in the mirror, and grimaced at the sight before him.  He sometimes did not recognize the man that was reflected—and it had nothing to do with his extensive plastic surgery.  He sighed, and placed his hand onto the mirror.

"Chandler Bing—You are a vile human being," he whispered, before clicking off the light, and crawling back into his bed, and into a restless sleep.

~****~

"Chandler!" Ross waved enthusiastically, and walked toward his friend.

"Hey, man," Chandler smiled, and hugged Ross quickly, before moving on to his other friends: Rachel, Phoebe, Joey and Monica.  His hug with Monica lingered, though he tried not to make that noticeable.  There was just something about her, and even though he knew that he could never have her, it seemed he just could not resist her.

"How was the flight?"

"Ugh," Phoebe complained, "Horrible.  They showed the worst movies!"

"It was okay," Monica shrugged.

"Yeah, you slept through most of it," Rachel pointed out.

"Well, let's get to the hotel," Chandler smiled, trying to sound casual.  The less time he spent in large public places, the better.

The group checked into the hotel, then washed up, and headed out to dinner.

"So, Ross, the wedding is next Saturday?"

"Yup!" Ross grinned, and Chandler noticed Rachel roll her eyes.

"It sounds like you are excited!" Chandler grinned, while keeping Rachel in the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, it's gonna be great.  I am meeting up with Emily later to see the place where she wants to get married.  Her parents booked it for us."

Chandler nodded blankly, all the while wondering just what had been going on after his move to London.

The Ross and Rachel saga had been long and dramatic, and it didn't really surprise Chandler that Rachel was less-than-thrilled to be attending Ross' wedding.  As the group left the Soho restaurant, Chandler fell into step with Rachel, intentionally trying to hang back a bit.

"So, Rach, you seem a little down.  You okay?"

"Yeah," Rachel sighed, less than convincingly.

"Hmm, you are gonna have to lie better than that," Chandler smiled.

"Well, would you be happy if it were Monica getting married?" Rachel arched her eyebrow.

Chandler was completely taken aback by Rachel's comment.  She knew?  Did they all know?  Were his feelings for Monica really that obvious?  He swallowed hard, and did his best to cover his feelings with a joke.

"If Monica were marrying Ross I think most people would have a problem with it," he laughed.

"That's not what I meant," Rachel smiled slyly.

Chandler's cell phone rang, and Chandler was sure he'd never heard a sweeter sound.  He smiled, his relief evident.  Rachel rolled his eyes and caught up to Phoebe and Joey, as Chandler answered his phone.

"Hello?"

"Nicholas," Penelope said quietly, and with one word, Nicholas was sucked back into reality.  He had allowed himself to become immersed in Chandler's life again, even if it was just for an evening.  He sighed, and slowed his pace, ensuring that his friends were slightly out of earshot.

"What is it, Penny?"

"Yuri has been making moves.  We think he's heading your way."

Nicholas' heart stopped.  This was the worst-case scenario he had been trying to avoid.

"Nicky?"

"Yeah, I heard you."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Then I'm coming out there.  You need all the help you can get."

"You can't.  My friends are here.  Your cover will be blown."

"Yours will too, when people start shooting at your head," Penelope replied.

"Not funny, Penny."

"Look, I don't need to blow my cover.  I'll just say I came out for the wedding."

"Why the hell would you come out for Ross' wedding?  I mean, they will ask," Nicholas whispered.

"Make something up," Penelope said, and hung up.

"Great," Nicholas muttered, and jogged toward his friends.

"Who was on the phone?" Rachel asked.

"Oh, uh, no one," Chandler smiled, and avoided Rachel's eyes.

How was he going to explain this?

AN: I know, I know.  Just review, and you'll see.

©2002