:hi again! I've had the flu over the last few days so updating took longer than planned. The end is near with this fanfic. I am really bowled over with the response to this one; I'm hitting the 100 reviews target!!! That would be pretty cool if that happened, not to mention flattering. One other thing...Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama...MATTHEW PERRY!! for the West Wing! You go Matty! The Emmy's actually did something RIGHT for once. I still think he got ripped off in the Comedy Actor department though..grr.
Anyway, here we go here is chapter 8 and when you've finished reading, help me hit that target! Lol
Love and White LiesChapter 8 – They're Just Jobs
"So you're saying we should make an announcement to the robbers over this megaphone thing?" Chandler asked doubtfully after Paul had finished explaining his plan.
Paul nodded and eyed him seriously, "Yes but we've got to run it by the boss first," he replied, "He might have other ideas."
Chandler looked suspiciously at Paul, "What other ideas?" he asked slowly.
"I don't know whether I should tell you," Paul said hesitantly, shifting his eyes away from Chandler.
Chandler's eyes narrowed and folded his arms, "What's going on man?"
Paul sighed and bent his head closer to Chandler's, "In situations such as these, we usually organise a raid," he whispered, glancing around.
"What?!" Chandler yelled, "You can't do that! Monica could get hurt!"
"Shh!" Paul hissed, "Keep your voice down! We don't want to cause a panic and besides, raids only occur in worst case scenarios…hopefully Monica will be out of there before it comes to that."
Chandler groaned in dismay and paced around, "This has got to be the worst night of my life," he moaned, "I should be in bed by now…" he swallowed hard, "with Monica beside me."
Paul laid a hand on Chandler's shoulder and looked at him sympathetically, "Maybe you should go home," he suggested, "Get some rest…I'll call you with any more news."
Chandler looked at him with horror, "No way!" he burst out, and "I'm not going anywhere! Just get her out of there!"
****
"Looks like things are beginning to calm down," Rachel observed, her eyes on the TV. Even though it was now 2.30am, she and Joey had stayed up to watch the night's events on the television.
"Yeah, maybe Chandler will be home soon," Joey said hopefully.
"Hey, here's an idea, why don't we go down there and pick him up?" Rachel suggested brightly, "I bet he could use the company in the cab."
"Sure," Joey agreed, picking up his jacket. He paused and widened his eyes a little. "Hey do you think Monica knows anything about this?" he asked.
"Yes I'm sure she's watching the TV just like we are," Rachel said thoughtfully, "I bet she's worried sick about Chandler!"
****
"So…are you guys going to let me go anytime soon?" Monica asked nervously, interrupting the argument going on between the criminals.
The blonde turned to face her and laughed. "Yeah, you wish." He answered scornfully, "You're not going anywhere until we get what belongs to us."
The red head sighed and shook his head. "This isn't going to work Toby," he told him, "Why don't we just let the girl go and sneak off? She's not going to say anything…are you?" he glared meaningfully at Monica.
Monica immediately began to nod her head, "I won't say a word," she whispered, "Just please let me go…my family and friends will be so worried."
"Too bad," Toby said sarcastically. He turned to the red head, "Roger, go to the door and see if you can hear what's going on."
As Roger started to walk towards the door, a squeaky vibrating sound came from outside. He stopped in his tracks and turned to Toby in a panic. "What…what was that?" he hissed.
"We know who you are," a voice blared from outside, "Just let Miss Geller go now and come out with your hands up!"
"We're surrounded!" Roger exclaimed, peaking through the closed blinds of the windows.
"Don't you see you've got to cave in now?" Monica pointed out, trying to wriggle free of the ropes, "If you don't, the consequences of your actions will just get worse."
"Shut up!" Toby yelled, waving his gun in her face.
"Toby, what are you doing with that thing?" Roger asked nervously, "Come on man, calm down."
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down!" Toby blustered, glaring angrily at his friend, "I'll calm down when I want to calm down!"
****
"What's going on over there?" Ross asked Phoebe nervously, seeing a growing crowd of armed police officers surround the bank.
"I'm…I'm sure they mentioned Monica just then," Phoebe said, turning pale.
"You mean she's in there?!" Ross squeaked, swallowing hard. "With…with those men?"
"It certainly looks that way," Phoebe answered quietly.
"Chandler!" Ross shouted, running over, "What have those guys done with my sister?"
Chandler looked unhappily at him and shook his head, "I don't know." He said, "I'm worried sick."
Lowell walked over and stood alongside him. "She's going to be ok Chandler," he told him.
"How do you know that though?" Chandler demanded, "God knows what those guys are doing to her in there!"
"Everything is under control Chandler," Paul said firmly, "She'll be out soon."
"I hate all this waiting," Chandler muttered, walking away.
"Chandler where are you going?" Ross called.
"Leave him Ross," Phoebe said, "Just give him a bit of time on his own."
Chandler walked a block down the road, and, making sure no one could see where he was going, turned back around and walked quickly to the rear of the bank. He saw a fire exit round the back and tried to pull it open. It was locked.
"What's the point of a fire escape if it's locked?" he said in disgust, stepping back. His eyes caught a window slightly open and looked grimly at it. "Ok, we'll do it the hard way then," he said, jumping up and pulling himself through. He squeezed past the gap and landed in a heap on the floor inside the building. He noticed he was in an office. His eyes roamed around it, taking in the messy desk with it's disorganised papers and files. He shook his head and smiled wryly, walking swiftly towards the door. He put his ear against it and to his terror; he heard voices coming from the outside.
"Look Toby, lets just leave the girl and go!" a voice shouted, "Is a few thousand dollars worth risking your freedom over? Armed robbery and hostage taking can get you up to 20 years!"
"Look just shut up and let me think!" a voice bellowed back.
Chandler turned the door handle with trembling hands and opened the door very slightly. He peeked his eyes through the gap and saw two men with their backs to him standing in front of a woman strapped to a chair – Monica.
****
Monica almost screamed in delight when she saw someone open the door ahead of her. Seeing who it was, she widened her eyes in horror. She saw Chandler walk very slowly behind the men, putting a finger to his lips to gesture to her to keep quiet.
"Er…guys, I really don't see why you need that gun in your hand," Monica said, laughing nervously, "I'm not actually going to go anywhere, am I? I mean, I'm tied up."
Toby studied her a moment then nodded. "That makes sense." He admitted. He tossed the gun behind him and it landed on the floor with a clatter.
"That's the most sensible thing you've done all night," Chandler's voice said behind him a second later.
Toby and Roger turned around and looked at Chandler in horror. Chandler's hands were visibly shaking as he pointed the gun at them. "Mon…are you ok?" he asked, never taking his eyes off the two men.
"I'm fine," Monica said with emotion, "Be careful, you don't know what you're doing with that thing."
"She's right, you don't." Toby said dangerously, staring at Chandler with menace.
"Give it up Toby," Roger said wearily, "We're caught and you know it."
"Just…just keep still." Chandler said quietly as Toby advanced on Chandler slowly.
Toby laughed scornfully and shook his head. He lunged for the gun and he and Chandler landed on the floor in a heap. A shot rang out.
"Chandler!" Monica screamed.
****
"What the hell was that?" a police officer asked as everyone turned in the direction of the noise.
A hand flew to Paul's mouth. "It sounded like a gun." He whispered.
"Where did Chandler actually disappear to?" Lowell asked suddenly.
"The idiot!" the officer in charge yelled, immediately grabbing his phone to radio in to the armed officers. "Get in there now! MOVE!" he ordered.
****
"Chandler, are you ok?!" Monica yelled.
"I'm fine…this guy isn't though." Chandler said shakily, looking at Toby lying still on the floor.
"What the hell did you do to him?" Roger whispered.
"I didn't pull the trigger," Chandler explained, "He pulled the gun out of my hand and shot himself accidentally." He studied the wound in Toby's stomach. "God, there's blood everywhere!" He pulled off his coat and pressed it hard against the wound. "Get out there and get help!" Chandler yelled at Roger, "This guy needs to get to the hospital right now!"
Suddenly the front door burst open and an army of police officers descended on to the scene.
****
Half an hour later, Chandler sat wearily on the wall outside the bank. Toby was taken into hospital and Roger had been arrested – the siege was over.
"Hi," Monica said quietly in front of Chandler. He looked up and smiled a little at her.
"Are you ok?" he asked tenderly, wrapping his arms around her.
Monica nodded silently, and began to cry into his shoulder.
"Shh," he soothed, "It's all over now."
Monica looked up at him and stepped back uncomfortably. "I'm…I'm so glad you were in there." She said shakily, "I'm so sorry about what happened earlier…"
"It's ok," Chandler whispered, brushing a finger across her lips. "I'm sorry too."
"Chandler!" a voice yelled across the road, "what the hell has been going on?"
Chandler and Monica looked up to see Joey staring at the area in disbelief. The damaged cars were being towed away and dozens of officers and doctors were still wandering around.
"Is that Monica?" Rachel asked in surprise, "What is she doing here"?
"She's a cop," Chandler answered, smiling at Monica, "and I don't care."
"You don't?" Monica asked, relief spreading across her face.
"I don't care what you do for a living!" Chandler exclaimed, causing everyone look up from what they were doing, "because I'm in love with Monica…you could work in the salt mines for all I care!" He kissed her passionately on the mouth.
"And…and I'm in love in Chandler." Monica said back, tears streaming down her face, "Not the doctor." She giggled, "Although I admit it is a improvement on the orderly career. I just can't understand why you own a Nova."
Chandler laughed, "Believe me, I've got a better car than that!" he told her, "Audi TT."
"Oh is that it?" Monica joked, "I've got a Porsche!"
"You've got a what!" Chandler said, his eyes widening.
"Oh yes, didn't I ever tell you that?" Monica said innocently, smiling mischievously.
"Whoa…ho." Joey said, impressed, "Can I drive it sometime?"
"Forget that," Chandler cut in, shaking his head at Monica, "He owes me ten speeding fines."
"I let you drive my Nova and this is all the gratitude I get," Joey said, grinning. "I'll see you later."
"Do you want to go home?" Chandler asked after Joey and Rachel, and Phoebe and Ross had left.
"That'll be good." Monica said, taking his hand and walking away from the scene.
"Why are our careers so complicated?" Chandler asked in the comfortable silence, shaking his head.
Monica stopped walking to turn to look at him, "Maybe they're not," she said slowly, "We just made them look that way."
"Not any more," Chandler told her, leaning in to kiss her softly. "After all, they're just jobs." He smiled sweetly at her.
"Just jobs," Monica agreed, wrapping her arms around him for another embrace.
The End:epilogue coming soon!: