The One With The Indecent Proposal

By: Jana~

Chapter Eighteen

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--"Ok," the sergeant ordered, "I want the civilians to be kept back and safe. We'll call them to identify the hostage once the area is secure."

Rachel and Ross watched from a distance as several officers, with guns drawn, headed down the semi-dark corridor accessed at the back of the game room.

Comforting her, Ross wrapped his arms around Rachel, pulling her tight to him as he whispered consoling words. "This is it," he said. "They'll find her, and she'll be safe, ok? Don't worry."

"Thank you," she whispered back, resting her cheek against his chest; with every ounce of her being, she focused her thoughts on that being true.

*

--"You know what I could go for?" Monica asked, playing along with the game Joey started, "A big juicy steak, with a side of those big hunkin steak fries."

"Mmm, yeah, that sounds good," Chandler muttered in agreement.

"I don't eat meat," Phoebe interjected, "But right now, even I would be tempted by a big 'ol cheeseburger with everything on it!"

"How about, once we get out of here, and get cleaned up and rested… how about we all go out together?" Chandler suggested. "You know, go to a nice restaurant and just make pigs of ourselves!"

"Sounds good to me!" Joey exclaimed, and Phoebe nodded along.

"Me too," she added.

"I'm in," Monica said as she semi-raised her hand.

"You know where we should go?" Joey asked. "We should go to that place that has that mountain high fudge cake! Man, that's a meal in itself-"

"Sshh, wait," Chandler announced in a hushed tone, waving his hands furiously, yet briefly. "Do you hear that?" he asked in a whisper, and everyone held their breath as they listened intently.

After several moments, Joey asked, "What is it we're listening for?"

"Ssshhh!" Chandler hissed again, helping Monica off his lap and standing; he wobbled slightly since his legs had fallen asleep yet again.

"There!" he whispered harshly when he heard the noise again. "Did you hear it?" he asked, and everyone nodded.

"Maybe it's Ursula," Monica whispered. "Maybe she's come back with friends, to kill us."

"If she was going to kill us, she would've done it before now, while she was still here," Chandler countered.

"Maybe she is 'still here'," Monica then offered worriedly. "Maybe she never left! Maybe she was waiting for her friends to show up!"

Chandler could hear the panic in her voice. "Calm down," he whispered consolingly, touching her back gently. "I will protect you with my last breath, should anything happen."

"That's not as comforting as you think it is," she returned sarcastically. "But thanks."

When the door latch clicked, they all jumped at the sound, all watching, barely breathing, as they waited to see who would enter.

*

--"Ok," the sergeant whispered, "Eyes and ears open, ladies and gentlemen. It's showtime."

At the ready, the first officer in the group slowly pushed the door open with his leg, his gun cocked, his fellow officers behind him, ready to provide backup.

Precisely, sharply, the policeman jumped past the door and into the room, his gun drawn as his eyes darted about the room, assessing quickly the situation.

"Oh my God!" Monica announced, "It's the police!"

At the sound of her voice came several other officers, all with guns at the ready, only to find the four individuals locked behind bars, excitedly hugging.

"You have no idea how happy we are to see you!" Monica exclaimed, and that started an avalanche of comments by the undeserving prisoners, about what happened, about who was responsible…

It was more noise than anything discernible, and the sergeant finally had to call out loudly to get their attention.

"We'll have time for what happened later," he informed. "First off, I need all of you to stand away from one another, and place your hands on your heads."

Chandler stared back incredulously. "But, we're the victims!"

"It's procedure, sir," Sergeant Cumins explained. "It's for our protection."

They looked at one another before slowly complying, Phoebe's robe then falling open a little, exposing the fact that she was naked beneath it.

"Ma'am," one officer asked, "Are you without clothes under your robe?" Phoebe nodded. Sympathetically, the policewoman said, "You can bring one hand down to hold it closed."

"Patterson," the sergeant called out, "We need bolt cutters for this lock, and bring the civilians in for identification."

The four captives glanced at each other, curious.

"Don't worry," Sergeant Cumins told them, "We'll get this all sorted out as quickly as possible." They each thanked him with a nod.

Ross and Rachel entered the room slowly, gasping when they saw what it contained. There was their friend and sister, locked up like an animal or convict, inappropriately dressed and shivering in the cold.

"Ross! Rachel! Thank God!" Monica sighed. "I have never been so glad to see you in my life!"

Tears sprung to Rachel's eyes as she started to approach the cage, but after a couple steps, an officer stopped her.

"Not too close please," he said. "We haven't secured the subjects yet."

"They're not subjects," Ross snipped. "They are people! That is my sister, and they…" He trailed off as he looked closely at the blond. "Oh my God! That's the woman from outside! The one that drove off in the taxi!"

All four prisoners shook their heads. "Twin sister," Phoebe spoke up, and the other three in the cage nodded.

"Oh my God!" Rachel then exclaimed. "That's Dr Drake Ramoray!" she announced, pointing at Joey.

"You're a doctor?" Ross asked, but Joey shook his head.

"No," he explained, "I just play one on TV. On Days Of Our Lives."

"Joey Tribbiani!" Rachel said excitedly, forgetting for a moment, the situation her best friend was in.

Just then an officer entered with the bolt cutters.

"Ok," the sergeant ordered, "Everyone back up and let the man work."

The padlock was off in seconds, freeing the captives from their hours-long ordeal.

*

--They separated the foursome during questioning, and asked Ross and Rachel to go on home, that they would see to it that Monica got home safely.

Shortly after questioning began, the call came in that Kyle Brock, while attempting to flee the scene at his house, was shot dead in a neighbors yard. Ursula was found tied to a chair in his livingroom, and was at the police station being interrogated.

--Every question answered twice, they were all free to leave, knowing that they would probably be receiving calls in the weeks to come, if more information of clarification was needed.

The house being a crime scene, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe were asked to find lodgings elsewhere, till the investigation was over. Monica wanted to help by offering them her and Rachel's apartment, but Chandler refused with a grateful smile.

"I'll just put us up in a hotel," he told her. "Don't worry about that at all," he added.

Escorted by officers, Phoebe and Joey went to their rooms to gather a few belongings, leaving Chandler and Monica alone for a moment.

"Well, I guess," Chandler offered awkwardly, "All's well that ends well, huh?"

"Yeah," Monica returned with a smile. "I sure won't forget this night anytime soon, believe me."

"Oh, I believe you," he chuckled. "Listen," he added after a moment, "I want you to know something. I really like you. I mean, really like you, but, I think maybe, we should spend some time apart, at least for a little while."

"I think," he continued, "That it would be better, in the long run, if there is to be a 'long run', that is. We will always wonder," he explained with a sigh, "If this- if these feelings, were because of what happened, the adrenalin rush and all, or because of something real, and true, ya'know?"

She slowly nodded, admitting, "I was having similar thoughts."

"You were?" he asked, and again she nodded. "So, um," he stammered, kicking at the ground, "Ya'know, we can still do that dinner thing, with Pheebs and Joey, but then, after that…"

"After that," Monica picked up the sentence when he trailed off, "We should take some time to determine what are feelings are."

"Exactly," he agreed, exhaling sharply. "I'm so glad we're on the same page with this. After the night you've had, the last thing I wanted to do was upset you."

"I know how you feel," she told him. "I, too have something I want to say- ask, and I was- I am, worried, about saying- asking, it."

"You can ask me anything," he assured her, and took her hand gently in his.

"I don't know how to say this, without sounding horrible, but, were you still planning on buying me, you know, the restaurant?"

He smiled, squeezing her hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckles. "Yes, I am still planning to do that for you."

Smiling appreciatively, she said, "Thank you. Not only for the restaurant, or for the way you put me at ease about asking, but thank you for your chivalry tonight."

"You're welcome," he accepted her praise kindly. "And, there something else I want you to know."

"What's that?" she asked.

"I would have given you the restaurant, even if you had turned my proposal down," he confided. "I just didn't know how else to get your attention."

"Well," she laughed, "You certainly got my attention, that's for sure. And," she added, "As long as we're being honest… I would have gone home with you, even if you hadn't offered me the restaurant."

His grin widened, and he leaned forward as he kissed her cheek. "We'll talk soon," he promised her, and she nodded before turning to walk away.

He watched discreetly as she climbed into an unmarked police car and was driven from his property, away from his sight.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Ok, another chapter on this one, is what I'm thinking. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me through this story, and who have reviewed. You're all awesome!

So, please review, and remember… the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about!

MTLBYAKY