Operation: Jackpot

The blue van sped around the corner, almost knocking down an orange stand. As people cursed and waved their fists, Monica pressed the gas with her foot harder. Rachel was hyperventilating due to Monica's recklessness, but Monica didn't care. She had to get back to the gang to tell them the horrible news: Joey was wanted for questioning. Out of everyone in the group, Joey! Sure, Joey could be a good 'actor' when called upon, but he would crack under the pressure! He would cave in! If he was caught, no one knows what would happen. Finally, Monica sped into the hotel parking lot.

"What- what's going on!?" Ross inquired. Monica calmed herself, but Rachel got to the answer quicker.

"The police are after Joey! They want him in for questioning!" Rachel freaked. Ross sat down. "Ross, this is a sign! God is telling us that this job is too big, we cannot do it!" She added.

"Maybe you're right." Ross said.

"NO!" Phoebe and Joey said in unison.

"What? Joey! They are after you! When we take all this money they will come looking for you!" Monica said. Rachel and Ross agreed, along with Chandler.

"Come on, let's just get back to New York." Chandler suggested.

"That's easy for you to say! You're not wanted!" Joey cried. Ross rubbed his temples. "Plus." Joey added, "We need money to get back to New York."

"What are we going to do? We need to do the job to get money and we need money to get to New York." Rachel enlightened them. Ross finally stood up.

"We're going to do it." He said. Mouths dropped.

"We can't!" Monica shouted.

"YES we can. Plus, it will cover our trail. Police will be here while we get to New York. And then..." Ross paused to look over at Rachel. "And then I retire." He finished. Rachel smiled.

"So, what?" Chandler asked.

"So everything goes according to plan, no changes." Ross smiled a bit. "Every one rest up. We've got a long day tomorrow."

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July 4: Operation: Jackpot 9:45 PM

"Binoculars?"

"Check."

"Leather gloves?"

"Check."

"Change of clothes from party?"

"Check."

Ross and Rachel went over their checklist one more time.

"Everything is here and ready." she said. Ross leaned over and kissed her on her cheek.

"Let's go, Mrs. Jameson." He joked. They were pretending to be a couple on their honeymoon. Rachel looked up and noticed Joey give the signal. He was in his waiter's outfit. Rachel nodded.

"Ok, Mr. Jameson."

Peach and light yellow colored lights and decorations dressed the entire hall. Tuxes and beautiful formals graved the dance floor. Rachel looked over at Ross and smiled.

"Hey. We should go somewhere like this sometime." She said sweetly. Ross laughed.

"Oh we will. On our honeymoon." He said. Rachel laughed and leaned her head on him as they continued to walk.

"Invitations, please?" The doorman asked. Ross handed him their fake invites and continued in.

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"Are they in?" Chandler asked climbing back to the back of the van next to Monica. Monica was eating Snickers and watching the screen.

"Yup." She said. "Rachel just gave the signal. We have exactly 20 minutes until I have to start freezing screens in the Eastern Corridor. Ross and Pheebs will be there soon." Monica said to Chandlers, who only had to worry about the driving.

"Okay. I'll set my watch."

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Phoebe got the page from Monica while sitting in the bushes. She used a pulley she had installed only seconds before to shimmy up to the third floor. Luckily, the guard making his rounds around the building was busy watching a football game, so she was able to get into Ross' room easily. Now she had 5 minutes until Ross was there to greet her and then an additional 10 minutes to get to the East corridor at a time where the screen freezing was in process.

"Pheebs?" A voice called. Phoebe was surprised to see that Ross was already there.

"Let's go."

Ross and Phoebe raced down corridors and hallways. Since everyone was down at the party, no one noticed them.

"Mon? Come in Mon." Ross said as they jogged down the hall.

"I'm here." She responded.

"Is it in process?" He asked referring to the screen freezing.

"Affirmative." She said. Ross nodded to himself.

"Thanks. No contact for 20 minutes." He said before turning off his headset. Ross and Phoebe entered a series of doors before finally getting to the safe.

"There she is." Phoebe smiled. She walked over to it and knocked on a few random spaces before nodding. Ross always liked watching her door this part. She pulled out some detonation devices and began sticking them to the safe with putty.

Soon, she sat in the back of the room and pressed a button. One by one, the bombs went off and the door became ajar. Ross and Phoebe both hurried in, seeing mountains of cash, jewelry and golden bricks. As Phoebe began shoveling cash, Ross looked around. He finally nodded and shoved a little object into his pocket before starting to help her.
"Okay Pheebs, get the cash to Chandlers and Mon in the van, all of you get dressed and meet us inside." Ross said once they were back in the safety of the hotel room. Phoebe began to climb out the window and Ross quickly got back into his tux.

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"Operation?" Rachel asked.

"Jackpot." Ross smiled. He looked down at his watch and smiled. 11:15. They had pulled of one of the biggest money runs in years. Ross looked over at Rachel. That was the life she deserved, He said to himself. Fancy places, money. She didn't need to be on the run anymore. She held her close and they waited for the others to join them. Ross soon found he couldn't wait anymore. The fireworks were started and the group wasn't there yet. He looked Rachel in the eyes and smiled.

"Marry me?" He asked. Rachel smiled big.

"Yes." She replied. Ross pulled out a ring that he had gotten from the safe. It was a beautiful ring. He slipped it onto her finger sweetly and kissed her on the lips passionately. Soon the others met out onto the balcony. Together, they watched to fireworks.

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The group made their ways back to the van. Phoebe and Joey looked extremely edgy, but everyone else was excited to get going. Police were just starting to show up, so they made it their best bet to become scarce. Ross leaned down to hide his money better when he felt something on his back.

"Give me the money."
XOXOELIZABETHXOXO