Chapter 24
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends.
~*~
"Clear the way sir." A nurse pushed Joey hastily outside, and slammed the door in his face. He pressed his nose up against the tiny windowpane and watched as the Drs. urgently tried to save his precious Phoebe. He held onto that door for dear life, wanting to break through it and hold her; tell her everything was going to be ok, but he couldn't. He could see the blood soaked bed sheets she lay in, and the Drs trying in vain to jump start her heart again, jolt her back to life.
Monica was still waiting at the reception 15 minutes later. The Dr was taking his time at the emergency patients room, and so she decided to go look for Phoebe on her own. He had probably forgotten about her? And it couldn't hurt to disobey his orders to stay where she was?
She set off in the same direction as she had seen Dr. Phillips walk, thinking that's where the maternity ward must be.
She looked down the long corridor and saw Joey standing at a brown wooden door.
"Joey?" Monica was puzzled to see him there.
He spun around and looked at her dreadfully.
"Monica she's dying," He sobbed.
Monica ran the length of the corridor as quickly as she could to see what Joey was talking about. She pushed him out of the way to see through the glass, and got a shock at what she saw.
She threw her body into Joeys, clasping him tightly. She dug her fingernails into him, trying to stay compos mentis, but instead both broke down.
"Monica don't let her die. She can't leave us again, we just got her back." Joey cried like a little boy while Monica could only nod and hug him tighter. She couldn't promise anything, the situation was too serious. They might lose her forever this time.
~*~
The family room was filled with silence.
Rachel sat bent over, twiddling her thumbs, frightened to speak for fear that she would be ignored by both Ross and Chandler.
She needn't have worried. Ross reached over and put his arm around her, pulling her close into his body.
"Its ok I understand" He whispered into her ear, sending her into thankful tears of relief.
Rachel sat back up and looked at a half asleep Chandler who was seated across from her.
"Ross, I never meant to hurt you, I promise. You're the last person in the world I would ever hurt." Rachel felt like she had to explain but Ross just looked at her sympathetically; full of understanding.
"Rach you did hurt me, but I forgive you. I realised when I saw you at the door tonight that I could never be mad at you, I thought I could, but I cant. I love you too much."
Rachel reached up and ran her hand over his cheek.
"I love you too. More than you will ever know!"
Ross leant down and kissed her gently on the mouth, allowing his hands to run through her sleek brown hair.
Their kissing was growing more and more passionate when they were interrupted.
"Phoebe's in a coma," Monica stated sombrely, before collapsing in a chair next to them.
"They don't know if she's going to make it through the night," Monica's face was expressionless, her voice monotone.
Rachel clung to Ross, burying her head in his chest.
"What happened?" Ross' voice was cracking with fear, again trying to stay strong for Rachel.
"She haemorrhaged again. But this time the strain was too much for her body to cope with. Her heart stopped, twice. They have her stable again, but as I say, she's unconscious. They don't know when, or if she will wake up. Joey's in sitting with her just now. He's refusing to leave." Monica couldn't bring herself to cry, crying meant things were bad, and she couldn't let herself believe that. Phoebe was going to ok! She had to be! She couldn't die, could she?
~*~
Joey held Phoebes hand so tight it was turning white. His free hand stroked her sweat-matted hair.
"Phoebe, its Joey. Im so sorry for shouting at you. I didn't mean anything I said, please come back to me, please, I need you!"
There was no answer, not even a flicker in her eyes, or a movement in her hands.
He studied her intently for any sign or movement, but it never came. She lay there, motionless and unresponsive.
He sat in silence for a moment and began to sing smelly cat to her, but after one verse he changed the lyrics, tears streaming his eyes.
"Baby girl, baby girl, why are you leaving me, baby girl, baby girl, its all my fault."
He couldn't stand it any longer. He stood up and walked away from the room, heading for the nursery.
~*~
Almost 2 months later the gang, minus phoebe and Joey, gathered in Central Perk.
Things had started to return to so kind of normality, if you could call it that. Everyone was speaking to one another, Ross had returned to work, and he and Rachel had started to date again, but both on the agreement it would be casual, to start with at least. Rachel was terrified to get serious with him; she knew she adored him, but what if she managed to break his heart again? How could she live with herself?
"Hey, you all ready to go?" Chandler was stood at the door, waiting patiently on his friends. Central Perk had now become their daily meeting point, not for drinking coffee or gossiping, but for trips to the hospital to see Phoebe.
She was still in a coma, but they still visited at least once a day, to talk to her and fill her in on their day. The Dr. had told them she could hear everything that was said, and talking to her would heighten her chances of waking up. So that's what they did, holding onto hope that it would be soon she would once again be able to answer them when they spoke, instead of chatting to her lifeless body.
Everyone collected their belongings, joined Chandler, and set off to see their friend.
~*~
Joey was already at her bedside. In fact, he very rarely left it. Only going home to shower and change his clothes. When he remembered to, he would eat at the hospital's small café-cum-restaurant, but again that was once in a blue moon. The last thing on his mind was food; Phoebe was all that mattered to him right now.
The room was semi-dark, only lit by a small bedside lamp that hung over Phoebes head. Joey sat in an undersized plastic seat cradling Phoebes 2 month old daughter in his arms, watching her peacefully sleep. This had become his daily ritual in the last few days. Phoebes Dr. had informed him the baby was no longer in danger and her weight was increasing rapidly. She was growing faster than they had imagined, even although she was still a tiny little thing, only a few inches bigger than Joeys hand. She was now able to be removed from her incubator and be fed in person, rather than by machine. Ever since that day Joey had never let her out of his sight. She needed love, and if her mom were too sick to give her what she need, he would have to be the next best thing.
He gently rocked her back and forth, swaying ever so slightly with her. "How's my little cutie pie today?" He rhetorically asked her as he saw her eyes open and stare back at him intently.
His heart skipped a beat as he felt her little hand wrap itself around his index finger, and grip on for dear life. A single tear dropped from his eye and fell onto her clean pink baby-grow. That one little movement had touched him in a way he never knew possible. He gently leaned down and kissed the baby on her tiny noise, her free hand coming up to brush his face.
"You're the most beautiful baby in the world. Did you know that cutie? Well you are! Your adorable, like a cute little teddy bear! When you come home with your Mommy I have a present for you waiting at my apartment. His name is hugsy and your going to love each other forever!" Another tear fell from his eyes. She continued to study his face with her big blue eyes.
"You're so gorgeous, just like your Mommy!"
"She's gorgeous, just like her Dad!"
Joey jumped up nearly dropping the baby.
"Phoebe!"
~*~
sorry for the little delay, I promise ill be quicker with the next chapter.
Please keep the great reviews coming.all feedback is more than appreciated. If you enjoying this leave me a note to let me know, come on, don't be shy :o)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends.
~*~
"Clear the way sir." A nurse pushed Joey hastily outside, and slammed the door in his face. He pressed his nose up against the tiny windowpane and watched as the Drs. urgently tried to save his precious Phoebe. He held onto that door for dear life, wanting to break through it and hold her; tell her everything was going to be ok, but he couldn't. He could see the blood soaked bed sheets she lay in, and the Drs trying in vain to jump start her heart again, jolt her back to life.
Monica was still waiting at the reception 15 minutes later. The Dr was taking his time at the emergency patients room, and so she decided to go look for Phoebe on her own. He had probably forgotten about her? And it couldn't hurt to disobey his orders to stay where she was?
She set off in the same direction as she had seen Dr. Phillips walk, thinking that's where the maternity ward must be.
She looked down the long corridor and saw Joey standing at a brown wooden door.
"Joey?" Monica was puzzled to see him there.
He spun around and looked at her dreadfully.
"Monica she's dying," He sobbed.
Monica ran the length of the corridor as quickly as she could to see what Joey was talking about. She pushed him out of the way to see through the glass, and got a shock at what she saw.
She threw her body into Joeys, clasping him tightly. She dug her fingernails into him, trying to stay compos mentis, but instead both broke down.
"Monica don't let her die. She can't leave us again, we just got her back." Joey cried like a little boy while Monica could only nod and hug him tighter. She couldn't promise anything, the situation was too serious. They might lose her forever this time.
~*~
The family room was filled with silence.
Rachel sat bent over, twiddling her thumbs, frightened to speak for fear that she would be ignored by both Ross and Chandler.
She needn't have worried. Ross reached over and put his arm around her, pulling her close into his body.
"Its ok I understand" He whispered into her ear, sending her into thankful tears of relief.
Rachel sat back up and looked at a half asleep Chandler who was seated across from her.
"Ross, I never meant to hurt you, I promise. You're the last person in the world I would ever hurt." Rachel felt like she had to explain but Ross just looked at her sympathetically; full of understanding.
"Rach you did hurt me, but I forgive you. I realised when I saw you at the door tonight that I could never be mad at you, I thought I could, but I cant. I love you too much."
Rachel reached up and ran her hand over his cheek.
"I love you too. More than you will ever know!"
Ross leant down and kissed her gently on the mouth, allowing his hands to run through her sleek brown hair.
Their kissing was growing more and more passionate when they were interrupted.
"Phoebe's in a coma," Monica stated sombrely, before collapsing in a chair next to them.
"They don't know if she's going to make it through the night," Monica's face was expressionless, her voice monotone.
Rachel clung to Ross, burying her head in his chest.
"What happened?" Ross' voice was cracking with fear, again trying to stay strong for Rachel.
"She haemorrhaged again. But this time the strain was too much for her body to cope with. Her heart stopped, twice. They have her stable again, but as I say, she's unconscious. They don't know when, or if she will wake up. Joey's in sitting with her just now. He's refusing to leave." Monica couldn't bring herself to cry, crying meant things were bad, and she couldn't let herself believe that. Phoebe was going to ok! She had to be! She couldn't die, could she?
~*~
Joey held Phoebes hand so tight it was turning white. His free hand stroked her sweat-matted hair.
"Phoebe, its Joey. Im so sorry for shouting at you. I didn't mean anything I said, please come back to me, please, I need you!"
There was no answer, not even a flicker in her eyes, or a movement in her hands.
He studied her intently for any sign or movement, but it never came. She lay there, motionless and unresponsive.
He sat in silence for a moment and began to sing smelly cat to her, but after one verse he changed the lyrics, tears streaming his eyes.
"Baby girl, baby girl, why are you leaving me, baby girl, baby girl, its all my fault."
He couldn't stand it any longer. He stood up and walked away from the room, heading for the nursery.
~*~
Almost 2 months later the gang, minus phoebe and Joey, gathered in Central Perk.
Things had started to return to so kind of normality, if you could call it that. Everyone was speaking to one another, Ross had returned to work, and he and Rachel had started to date again, but both on the agreement it would be casual, to start with at least. Rachel was terrified to get serious with him; she knew she adored him, but what if she managed to break his heart again? How could she live with herself?
"Hey, you all ready to go?" Chandler was stood at the door, waiting patiently on his friends. Central Perk had now become their daily meeting point, not for drinking coffee or gossiping, but for trips to the hospital to see Phoebe.
She was still in a coma, but they still visited at least once a day, to talk to her and fill her in on their day. The Dr. had told them she could hear everything that was said, and talking to her would heighten her chances of waking up. So that's what they did, holding onto hope that it would be soon she would once again be able to answer them when they spoke, instead of chatting to her lifeless body.
Everyone collected their belongings, joined Chandler, and set off to see their friend.
~*~
Joey was already at her bedside. In fact, he very rarely left it. Only going home to shower and change his clothes. When he remembered to, he would eat at the hospital's small café-cum-restaurant, but again that was once in a blue moon. The last thing on his mind was food; Phoebe was all that mattered to him right now.
The room was semi-dark, only lit by a small bedside lamp that hung over Phoebes head. Joey sat in an undersized plastic seat cradling Phoebes 2 month old daughter in his arms, watching her peacefully sleep. This had become his daily ritual in the last few days. Phoebes Dr. had informed him the baby was no longer in danger and her weight was increasing rapidly. She was growing faster than they had imagined, even although she was still a tiny little thing, only a few inches bigger than Joeys hand. She was now able to be removed from her incubator and be fed in person, rather than by machine. Ever since that day Joey had never let her out of his sight. She needed love, and if her mom were too sick to give her what she need, he would have to be the next best thing.
He gently rocked her back and forth, swaying ever so slightly with her. "How's my little cutie pie today?" He rhetorically asked her as he saw her eyes open and stare back at him intently.
His heart skipped a beat as he felt her little hand wrap itself around his index finger, and grip on for dear life. A single tear dropped from his eye and fell onto her clean pink baby-grow. That one little movement had touched him in a way he never knew possible. He gently leaned down and kissed the baby on her tiny noise, her free hand coming up to brush his face.
"You're the most beautiful baby in the world. Did you know that cutie? Well you are! Your adorable, like a cute little teddy bear! When you come home with your Mommy I have a present for you waiting at my apartment. His name is hugsy and your going to love each other forever!" Another tear fell from his eyes. She continued to study his face with her big blue eyes.
"You're so gorgeous, just like your Mommy!"
"She's gorgeous, just like her Dad!"
Joey jumped up nearly dropping the baby.
"Phoebe!"
~*~
sorry for the little delay, I promise ill be quicker with the next chapter.
Please keep the great reviews coming.all feedback is more than appreciated. If you enjoying this leave me a note to let me know, come on, don't be shy :o)
