Story Summary: Fall, 1966.  The US has sent over 300,000 troops to the war in Vietnam.  Air Raids, Chemical Warfare, and strained international relations are affecting domestic opinion more than ever. 

Monica, Rachel and Phoebe are on their way to California, following the death of Phoebe's grandmother, the discovery of Monica's pregnancy, and the (false) message that Ross had been killed in action.  In Vietnam, Chandler and Joey are working to get Ross and his Captain into friendly territory, as Ross struggles to bond with Chandler, the man his sister had been dating back home.

The Age of Aquarius

Chapter Eight: Break On Through To The Other Side

North Vietnam

"I thought we were supposed to be there by now," Ross huffed, as he followed Chandler through the thick of the jungle.

"The storm slowed us down a lot last night," Joey said from behind Ross.

"Well, are we going to—"

"Private," Chandler stopped suddenly, and spun around, "Need I remind you that we are in enemy territory here?  Your chattering is going to get us killed," Chandler glared at Ross for a silent moment, before turning and stalking forward.

Deflated, Ross continued forward, his brow furrowed in confusion.  What had he done to make Chandler hate him so much?  Perhaps it wasn't him; perhaps it was the situation.  Or maybe it had something to do with Monica.  Ross wondered how things were left between them; he wanted to ask, but was afraid of getting his head ripped off.

Chandler took a deep breath, and concentrated on clearing a trail through the foliage.  He knew he was being unfair to Ross, but he needed an outlet for his frustration, and Ross, being Monica's brother, was the unfortunate victim for his pent-up emotions regarding Monica's apparent blow-off.  He hadn't heard a thing from her since he'd left New York, and when he finally did receive a letter, it was not from Monica—it was from her mother:

Chandler,

Enclosed, please find the letters you have been sending to Monica.  As she is currently involved with someone else, and she has requested that you stop corresponding with her, and that you refrain from contacting her when you return.

Judy Geller

Chandler hadn't even told Joey about the letter.  He had been shocked, and angry, but kept it all to himself.  But his unexpected encounter with Monica's brother had brought out all of his emotions, especially when he had mentioned his sister's letter.  At first, he was relieved to discover that Monica had written to Ross about him.  But when Ross had later revealed that the letter had been sent only days after Chandler had left for Vietnam, it made him wonder; Had Monica really moved on?  Had she really forgotten about him?

He hadn't forgotten her.  She filled his thoughts daily, especially when he was standing waist-deep in stagnant water, or under a warm Asian rainstorm.  He wondered if she was happy, or if she missed him the way he missed her.

And he wondered if he'd live to see her again.

San Francisco

"Wow, this is unbelievable!" Phoebe squealed from the passenger seat, as Rachel pulled the van into a dirt lot adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

"It's so weird…it looks just like the ocean in New York," Rachel said.

"Nah, it's way more beautiful here!" Phoebe sighed, and tumbled out of the van.

Monica smiled, and watched her friend skip down toward the beach merrily.  She looked over at Rachel, and observed the far-off look she had on her face.

"Penny for your thoughts," Monica smiled, and placed her arm around Rachel's shoulder.

"I…I can't believe we made it," Rachel smiled sadly.

"I'm happy you decided to come," Monica said softly, and placed her free hand over her stomach protectively, "I have a feeling we are going to need each other a lot over the next few months."

"Yeah," Rachel said, and looked over at Monica.  She suddenly realized that Monica and Phoebe were all she had anymore.  They were thousands of miles from anyone else.  Rachel turned and watched Phoebe dancing around in the shallow waters on the shore.

This was her family now…and she would do anything to protect them.

Little did she know, that in the months to come, they would be fighting for their lives.

North Vietnam

The group stopped for a rest in a small clearing, just north of the border.  Ross made his way toward Chandler, who was doing a small inventory of their supplies.

"Sir," Ross said quietly, and sat down next to him.

"What can I do for you, Private?" Chandler said distractedly.

"I, uh, sir, can I speak plainly?"

"Of course," Chandler sighed.

"I just um, I just want to know if I've done something to offend you in some way."

"What?" Chandler looked up from his task crossly.

"Well, you just seem…mad at me," Ross shrugged.

Chandler put down his bag, and looked over at Ross, before sighing deeply.

"Private…Ross, look, I…you're right, I haven't been very fair to you.  The truth is…your sister blew me off, and I guess…I guess I'm taking it out on you.  Not very professional, I know," Chandler chuckled, and shook his head.

"Monica…Monica said she loved you," Ross said, confused.

"Well, her mother sent me back all my letters, and said Monica had moved on, so…"

"My mother…doesn't really get along with Monica…I…if I were you, I wouldn't put too much stock into what she says," Ross smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah?" Chandler smiled slightly.

"Well, I mean, my mom is—"

"Shh," Chandler held up his hand, and looked around quickly.

"Lieutenant," Joey whispered, and pointed to the trees on his left.  Joey and the Captain already had their rifles aimed at the trees.

Chandler slowly, carefully picked up his rifle, and slid to the ground.

"Stay low," He whispered to Ross, who had also grabbed his rifle.

Suddenly, a shot came from the trees in the opposite direction, barely missing Joey's ear.

"Shit," Joey muttered, as the group quickly grabbed their bags and headed south into the trees.

The shots seemed to be coming from every direction, and Chandler and Joey would turn around intermittently to fire back.  Another shot rang out, and Captain Harrison grunted and collapsed.

"Oh, God," Ross fell over the Captain.

"Sir?" Ross turned over the Captain, and saw that the bullet had hit him between the eyes.  He was clearly dead.

"He's dead," Ross said, shaking, as he pulled away from the body.

"Private, get up!  Get up now," Chandler yelled, and pulled Ross to his feet.  "Leave him!  We have to move!" Chandler fired a shot over Ross' shoulder.

They ran for several minutes, and soon, Ross was able to make out a clearing, several years away.  Two jeeps were sitting near the back of the clearing, and Ross turned to look at Chandler.

"Get to the Jeeps Ross!" Chandler screamed, as the popping from the guns seemed to increase.

"Come with me!" Ross yelled.

"We're covering you—get to the border!"

"You have to come with me!  You'll never get back to your Platoon!" Ross argued, as he shot into the trees once.

"Private, I am giving you a direct order.  Go!" Chandler pushed Ross toward the Jeeps.

Ross ran at full speed, and could feel the whizzing of the bullets at his feet and near his head.  Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg, and he collapsed into the mud.

"Aargh," Ross cried out, and pulled himself up.

He was now only a few feet from the border.  He looked back, and saw that the Viet Cong were closing in on Chandler and Joey.  He felt an officer pick him up, and carry him toward the Jeeps.

"You have to help them," Ross yelled.

A sudden explosion sent the officer, and Ross to the ground.  Coughing wildly, Ross sat up, and looked out into the clearing.

The field was scattered with bodies, and there was no movement anywhere.

The silence was deafening; the smell of burning flesh made him want to throw up.

He did throw up.  Then he sat up, and looked up at the smoke-shielded sky, and wondered why he was the only one that was spared.

You know the day destroys the night

Night divides the day

Tried to run

Tried to hide

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side, yeah

We chased our pleasures here

Dug our treasures there

But can you still recall

The time we cried

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

Everybody loves my baby

Everybody loves my baby

She get(s high)

I found an island in your arms

Country in your eyes

Arms that chain

Eyes that lie

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

Break on through!

Made the scene

Week to week

Day to day

Hour to hour

The gate is straight

Deep and wide

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

(Break on Through (to the Other Side), The Doors )