hey, thanks for reviews! sorry this chapter's a bit short, but i didn't have alotta time to write a long one...so please review it and make me write a long one, lol! anyway, please read and review!

disclaimer: not mine! except alana!

Part Eleven

Monica raced into Columbia Hospital's waiting room, nearly knocking down an orderly in the process. In the waiting room, she saw Alana, curled up in a chair, her face ghostly pale. She jumped up as she saw Monica enter.

"Alana!" Monica said, "What happened, honey?"

"Dad-he...he went the bank," Alana whispered, the threat of tears clearly evident in her shaky voice, "And there...there was a robbery. The robber shot the person who was closest to the teller he wanted to rob. Dad was the person closest."

Monica choked back her own sob and pulled Alana in for a hug, "Have the doctors said anything?"

Alana shook her head, "I guess Dad was conscious enough to tell them what hotel I was at, and they called me and I took a cab down here. But they said right after he told them that, he went out. They haven't said anything more." With that, Alana broke down completely, sobbing hysterically.

"Oh, honey," Monica said, rocking her back and forth, "It's gonna be okay," she soothed. But in her heart, she wondered if it really would be.

"Who's with Chandler Bing?" Three hours after Monica arrived, a doctor finally appeared, and spoke those words.

Monica and Alana jumped to their feet. "We are," Monica said quickly, "This is his daughter."

"And are you his wife?"

Monica looked at Alana and she nodded her head, knowing the doctor was more likely to divulge information to a spouse. But Monica didn't want to lie completely. "Fiancée," she sputtered, and a small smile graced Alana's lips.

The doctor nodded, "Mr. Bing was brought in from the robbery unconscious and he was shot very close to the heart. He's in surgery right now, and we're removing it. He should be out of surgery soon, but for right now it's very touch and go. We honestly don't know how he'll do once the surgery is over."

"When will it be over?" Alana whispered.

"In an hour or so, we'll know more," the doctor said, "I'll come talk to you then. For now, think positively. He was only shot once, and we can be thankful for that."

Alana and Monica nodded and sat down. Monica looked over at a shaking Alana and instantly felt horrible for her. Any second now, she could become an orphan. Alana seemed to realize it the stakes at hand as well.

"Monica," she said, turning to her, "I can't--I can't lose him. I just can't. He's all I've got."

Monica pulled Alana into her arms. "That's not true, honey," she whispered softly, "You've got me. But you know what? Your dad-he's a fighter. He's not giving up any time soon."

Alana smiled a bit at that, and Monica got up. "I'm gonna wait this thing out with you, sweetie, but I've got to make a few calls, okay?" Alana nodded and Monica left for the pay phone. She called her restaurant, and told them she wouldn't be in. She called the friend she was supposed to meet with for dinner. Then, on a last minute impulse, she checked her messages to make sure no one had called. There was one message-from Rachel.

"Hi, Mon, it's me," the message said, "I'm just calling because I thought of a bit of advice. I think in this situation it's best to follow your heart-not your mind."

Monica hung up the phone. That was all she needed to hear. Suddenly she knew what she had to do, what she had to say. But for now all she had to do was hope Chandler would be alive to hear it.

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