*New York, 1998*
Chandler and Joey sat in Chandler's apartment watching the Nicks game on TV. Chandler and Joey had become pretty good friends over the past two years, and they often got together after work to relax.
"Come on man, I'm not asking you to make a commitment to this girl or anything, its just a double date, Kerry said she wouldn't go out with me unless I could find a date for her friend, so pleaaassse?" Joey whined.
Chandler just shook his head. Joey had been bugging Chandler to go on a date since Chandler had confided in Joey that he hadn't been on a date since high school. "Joey, I told you, I don't date, and you know why I don't date, so pleaaaassse don't bug me about it"
"Alright, alright, I just think you should." Joey was interrupted by a series of knocks on the door, "you expecting company?"
"Yeah, the pope and the president said they'd stop by" Chandler replied sarcastically as he got up to answer the door. He pulled open the door and saw Monica standing on the other side. "Oh, hey Monica, come on in," Chandler said.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company," she said noticing Joey out of the corner of her eye, "I was just wondering if you had any milk.I'm making lasagna and I didn't want to have to run to the market,"
"Oh yeah, sure, take whatever you need," Chandler said motioning to the refrigerator. Joey stood up and cleared his throat audibly, "Monica, this is Joey, Joey, Monica" Chandler said rolling his eyes at Joey.
"Hey, how you doin'?" Joey asked.
"I'm okay, ummmthanks for the milk Chandler, I'll see you later," Monica said, feeling somewhat uncomfortable by Chandler's friend.
"See ya, Mon" Chandler said closing the door behind her.
"Now why don't you date her?" Joey began questioning, "Shes hot!"
"Thanks Joe, I'm not blind," Chandler said returning to the couch, "Monica is just a neighbor, a friend"
"Come on man, I saw the way you were looking at her," Joey said nudging Chandler as he took his seat in the other chair. "Is she single?"
"I don't know Joey," Chandler replied somewhat annoyed, "I told you, she's just a friend, It's not like I know every intimate detail about her life, and I don't want to either"
"Alright, I'll quit bugging you," Joey replied finally giving in. He couldn't help but feel bad for Chandler. He had heard all the rumors at work about his family being killed by an underground Serbian government known as the Black Glove. Him and Chandler had been friends for four years and Chandler had only once confided in him about what had happened. Joey knew that Chandler was worried about getting involved with someone and in turn putting their life at risk. But Joey couldn't help but wonder how he did it, sure, Joey had the same worries that Chandler did, but that didn't stop him from looking around for a future.
*****
It was 1:00 in the morning and Chandler had just returned from assignment in Rio De Janeiro. They had almost gotten caught at a formal dinner party where Chandler was supposed to tap into and download the files from a computer. Security had almost caught up with him and Chandler was forced to escape from a fourth floor window in a $20,000 tux. Chandler shook off his close call and collapsed into his bed without even climbing underneath the covers. He fell into a deep sleep and woke up with a shock to the sounds of screaming. He looked around him and saw that it was 3:00am. Then he heard it again, the screams, they were coming from outside his apartment. Chandler got out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. He went to his sock drawer and grabbed his small pistol, and then proceeded to his front door. When he got outside his apartment he waited, listening for more screams. That's when he noticed that Monica's apartment door was slightly ajar. He knocked on it quietly before entering. "Monica." He called quietly. He looked around and noticed that her bedroom door was open. He slowly made his way over to her bedroom while keeping one hand on the gun hidden in his pants. He called again, "Monica, are you okay?" He heard a muffled cry from her room and as he peered in what he saw made his blood boil. There was a man on top of Monica, and she didn't seem too happy about it. That's when Chandler noticed that the man was holding a knife to Monica's throat while he forced himself on top of her. The intruder was too busy ripping Monica's clothes off of her to notice Chandler's entrance. Monica's eyes pleaded with Chandler to help her. Chandler ran two steps and then lunged, knocking the intruder off Monica and tackling him to the floor. Monica didn't even take a second to recover before running for the phone in the living room. Chandler and the man struggled for almost five minutes before Chandler was able to gain an advantage and managed to knock the knife free. When Chandler had the intruder pinned he let his emotions get the better of him for a few minutes and unleashed his pent up rage. He finally stopped when he felt Monica tugging on him from behind, he hadn't even noticed that she had been screaming for him to stop. He quickly pushed himself away from the now bloody intruder who lay motionless on the floor. Chandler and Monica just stood there for several seconds, not knowing what to say or do next. "Are you okay?" Chandler asked after regaining some composure.
Monica nodded slowly, "Yeah, I think so, you came just in time."
They stood there for several more moments until they heard a loud knocking on the already open door. The police rushed into the room and Monica quickly began explaining what had happened. The first police officer called for an ambulance after noticing the condition of the intruder. "Is heis he dead?" Monica asked as she watched the officers checked for a pulse.
"Nope, still kickin'" the second officer replied, "sure did get the shit knocked out of him though, you did this?" he asked looking at Chandler.
"Uh, yeahwe got into a struggle," Chandler replied quietly.
"He saved me," Monica added quickly, "If he hadn't come in when he did, I don't know what would have happened," she said while looking at Chandler.
"Well don't worry, this will all probably get filed under self-defense," the first officer informed them. The officers asked several more questions before the paramedics arrived and loaded the now somewhat conscious intruder onto a gurney. After checking to make sure Monica was okay the paramedics suggested she go to the hospital anyway, at least to talk to an on call therapist. Monica refused; repeating several times that she would be all right. With that the paramedics left with the officers close behind. "We'll give you a call tomorrow, try and get some sleep," the first officer said before leaving.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Chandler asked again once the officers and the paramedics had left.
"Yeah, just a little shaken up," Monica replied, pulling her arms around herself as if she were cold. They stood there for a couple more seconds in an awkward silence. All of the emotions of the night suddenly surfaced and Monica began sobbing. Chandler, caught off guard, was somewhat unsure of what to do. He slowly made his way towards her, carefully wrapping his arms around her. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable, after nearly being raped, but Monica didn't pull away. Chandler was surprised when she hugged back, sobbing into his chest. After several moments Monica pulled away, "I'm sorry," she said somewhat embarrassed, "I guess I'm just a little more shaken up than I thought I was,"
"Oh, hey, don't be sorry," Chandler replied sympathetically. He wished there were something he could say to make her feel better. "Listen," he began, "If you want to stay at my place tonight you can, I don't mind taking the couch,"
"Yeah, thanks," Monica said wiping the tears from her eyes, "not that I'll be able to sleep tonight anyway, but staying here tonight is probably not such a great idea."
"Yeah, of course," Chandler said nodding his head.
"Just, umm, let me get together a couple of things," Monica said as she moved to grab some clothes for the morning and her pillow. When Monica had gathered the things that she needed Chandler led her back to his place. Once they were over there Monica helped Chandler change his sheets and set up his bed on the couch. "Thanks Chandler," Monica said while helping him set up the couch.
"Oh, hey, no problem" Chandler said while tossing his pillow onto the couch.
"No, I mean thanks for saving me tonight, I don't think I've thanked you for that yet, so thanks." Monica said as she moved in to give him another hug.
Chandler wrapped his arms around her for the second time that night, enjoying the way his arms seemed to fit around her.
Monica let herself relax into his arms, she liked the sense of security he provided. She suddenly pulled back surprised, "Oh my god! Chandler, you're bleeding!"
"What?" he asked, somewhat confused after being pulled out of a comfortable daze. He looked down to area on his abdomen that Monica was now inspecting and noticed that he was indeed bleeding. "Must have got me with his knife," he mumbled as he went to his bathroom and grabbed a towel.
"Oh my god, Chandler, I am so sorry," Monica said following him, "do you have a first aid kit?" she asked as she watched him wet the towel.
"Oh yeah, its underneath the sink in the kitchen." Chandler replied as he watched Monica look on with worry. He moved to his chair in the living room and applied the wet towel to the wound.
Monica quickly grabbed the first aid kit and hurried back to the chair where he was now seated. "I'm so so sorry," she said again.
"Don't be," Chandler replied with a chuckle, "It's just a flesh wound," he noted as he lifted the towel to show her. "See, not too bad."
Monica inspected the wound as she pulled bandage and alcohol. "Well, I don't care how bad it is or isn't, I'm still sorry," she said as she rubbed the blood away.
"Monica, really, it's okay," Chandler said. He had suffered worse before, but of course he couldn't tell Monica that. "Don't worry," he said noticing how cute she was when she was worried, "I think I'll live."
"There," Monica said putting the bandage on, "all done, are you sure your okay?" she asked him again.
"Monica, I swear, I'm fine." Chandler assured her, "are you gonna be okay?" he asked, still concerned about the ordeal she had just gone through.
"Yeah," she said standing up, "I'll be fine. If you're sure you're okay, I think I'm going to try and sleep," she added.
" Yeah, I'm okay," Chandler said standing up also.
"Thanks again, Chandler," Monica said. She moved in to hug him one last time, not being able to help the way he made her want more. The hug seemed to last forever, neither of them wanting to let go, but when it finally did end both felt it had ended too soon. Chandler watched as Monica walked away towards his bedroom. He wanted so badly to follow, to hold her and tell her that it would all be okay. They said goodnight one last time as Monica entered his bedroom and closed the door behind her.