Waiting – Chapter 10

Taking a Stand

A/N: Argh. As if finals aren't enough, now I'm sick. So I have to study and I feel like shit. Lovely. I was supposed to see Harry Potter today, but my friend canceled on me so ::sigh:: I was really, really looking forward to that. But we rescheduled for Friday - our last day of school (and my birthday) – so if she doesn't cancel again, it'll all work out. This time next week, I will be free. FREEDOM! I can almost taste it. Thanks for the great reviews! :) It really makes me happy when people don't flame me. ;)

Yen: Okay, first of all, we've talked like twice this entire week – and when we did talk, I've been more than just a little distracted - when did you expect me to tell you I updated? Secondly, in response to, "'She was being incredibly careful to cover up any sign of the previous two hours' giggles He lasted two hours? Very impressive." The two hours includes the water fountain thing, you dumb pervert! Oy, what to do with you?

Monica paced the room as she watched a clock on her wall faithfully. Two minutes. Two minutes until Chandler's appointment would begin. Two minutes until she would see him again. She peered out into the waiting room and saw him sitting there, casually reading a magazine. Two minutes of waiting.

How could he be so casual? She stopped pacing now and gaped at him. Last time she checked, Chandler was the one who was 'the patient.' He shouldn't be the calm one! She shook her head at how silly her thoughts were and closed the door. She looked up at the clock. One minute and twenty-two seconds.

She began to fix her hair in the mirror. 'I can't fix my hair for him!' she scolded, before putting down her mirror and turning away sharply. Thirty-two seconds. She sat down at her desk and tried to read a patient's folder. She couldn't concentrate. Monica looked up at the wall clock again – it was time. She was not sure if this worried or relieved her. Stiffly, she walked into the waiting room and waved Chandler inside her office.

He stepped inside, but remained rooted to his spot next to the door. Now that he was inside, she could feel the tension coming from his end. Perhaps, he had not been as calm as she thought. He stared at her blankly. It began to make her feel even more uncomfortable.

"Okay, um, let's begin…"

She sat down and waited until, after a moment, he too sat in his usual seat across from her. He began to twist a button on his suit. She smoothed her skirt against her legs and leaned forward. She attempted to speak, but found her throat completely dry with anxiety. She licked her lips.

"So, how have you been?"

He frowned, not expecting the question. Inwardly, he scolded himself. It was the first question she asked at every session – how could that surprise him? He sighed. For some reason, he thought things would different now. That was all just wistful thinking.

"I've been better," he answered honestly, "And you?"

"Yeah," she replied quietly, "Same here."

His heart sped up. She's been better? But why? Was she upset, just like him? He tried to hide his apprehension as best as he possibly could.

"Why's that?"

She smiled wryly, "I broke up with my boyfriend."

Oh. It hadn't been about him. He felt as if he had been punched swiftly in the face. But wait! Wait! She had broken up with her boyfriend. She broke up with her boyfriend after they had been together! Could this be a ray of light in a darkened alley? He looked up hopefully, but she was already beyond the moment.

"So, how are things going at work?"

At work? He shrugged. He didn't want to talk about work.

"You don't know?"

"No. It's just, nothing's really happened – good or bad. Which I guess is actually good; you know, that nothing bad has happened."

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. What in the world was he rambling about anyway? He could barely hear himself over the pounding of his pulse in his ears.

Monica laughed, "That's good."

Then, came the uncomfortable silence. Chandler squirmed some more. It was the most unbearable silence ever. What could he say to break it? Looking at Monica, he could tell that she, too, was struggling to find something – anything – to make a conversation. However, nothing came. They ended up sitting in silence for the remainder of the session.

Chandler walked into his office building and took a deep breath. He felt confident, for once – like he was living in another man's skin. Maybe that was not so far off, though. He felt like a whole new person, all the sudden. 'Reinvented,' he told himself proudly, 'It's time to reinvent yourself!' With that thought in mind, he walked to his boss' office, ignoring the loud beating of his heart in his chest.

He knocked on the door and waited until he was called in. His boss seemed to be engrossed in some paperwork. He stood as close to the door as he possibly could and waited. Slowly, the man looked up and nodded.

"Bing, have a seat."

Carefully, eyes never leaving the face of the man, he sat down and nervously shifted until he was comfortable.

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, sir," he began, "I would like to report a problem."

"A problem?"

"Yes. You know Tyler O'Brien, works on the 10th floor…in my department?"

"Yes."

"Well, he's been harassing me a lot. Verbally."

Doug paused for a moment and averted his gaze from Chandler's, "Yes, unfortunately, we know about it. People have been filing complaints."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, people have been complaining that O'Brien's been messing with you."

"Really?" he choked. So people really did care? Why had they never said anything to him?

"Yes. But Chandler, the problem is…we don't really have much we can do about it."

"What? Why not?"

"Well," he began slowly, "O'brien's grandfather is quite an influential member of the board. There isn't much else we can do about the man. We know he's immature, we know he doesn't work to his potential – but keeping quite about what he does is all we can do from keeping the man from taking our jobs!" He shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry, Bing. If I could do something, you know I would. You're very valuable to this company."

Chandler's eyes flashed, "Right, but not as valuable as others" He paused, "You know what? I quit."

Doug dropped the pen he was holding to the floor, "What?"

"That's right, I'm giving you my two-weeks' notice."

"Bing – come on now! Please don't –"

"I'm sorry, Doug, but you leave me no choice."

"We could get you transported to another department!"

Chandler shook his head, "I'm not falling for that!"

"Come on, Bing, be a sport! Do you want a raise? I might be able to get a little something…"

"No," Chandler paused, "No. I came here to fix a situation and buying me off isn't gonna fix it. Unless you do something about Tyler, I quit. I don't like this job enough to suffer anymore." Doug remained silent, "All right then. Thank you for your time, sir." Chandler rose and, taking one last look at his former boss, walked briskly out of the office.

-

Chandler felt like clicking his heals together as he walked – no, as he skipped through the hallways. He truly felt invisible. Nothing could stop him now! He bounded down the familiar corridors, until he arrived at his destination.

"Mr. Bing, you can't go in there now!" the secretary attempted, but Chandler passed her, knowing fully well that she did not care enough to chase after him.

Chandler flung the door open, a huge smile on his face. A woman screamed in surprise, making Chandler jump slightly. Once he saw Monica though, he flew over to her and grabbed her wrist.

"Chandler, what in the hell are you –"

Before she could finish the sentence, Chandler's lips were on hers. Taken by surprise, Monica kissed back for a moment, before she realized the extent of the situation once more. Mustering up her strength, she pushed Chandler away. Slightly out of breath, she gaped at him.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm just –"

"Can't you see I'm in the middle of a session?!" Monica pointed to her distraught patient.

Chandler looked away sheepishly. "I know, it's just –"

"Can't this wait, Chandler?"

"No! Monica, I quit my job!"

"That's…great," Monica said slowly, wondering why he hadn't informed her of this decision beforehand, but then scolding herself for caring.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," he said, answering her unspoken question, "I was just trying to get my boss to make the guy who's always harassing me to stop, and he said he couldn't, so I quit."

Chandler was grinning again. Monica couldn't help but smile, too. "Look, Chandler, I'm very happy for you, but I have to get back –"

"Look, this is a sign!" Chandler continued, ignoring Monica's attempts, "This is a sign not to let things hold you down!"

"Okay?"

He continued in a somber voice, "We should be together."

"Chandler –"

"Don't let the opportunity pass you by, Monica. I know you want it, too."

"Just because you quit your job doesn't mean –"

"Stop making up excuses."

Monica's entire body was trembling now. All thoughts of her other patient were completely gone. "But –"

"Don't let yourself be bound by what you think is right, Monica. Just because you're my therapist, doesn't mean this can't work. Everyone has problems."

"Exactly!" Monica began angrily, making sure he didn't cut her off again, "We all have our problems, even me! Do you know any of them, huh?!"

Chandler paused pensively before shaking his head.

"See! How can you know we're right for each other when you don't even know the real me! I've got problems, too, you know!"

"Then tell me. Tell me everything. I want to know."

She shook her head, "I don't want to be your personal shrink. That's not a relationship."

"I would never expect you to be. We can help each other," Chandler grasped Monica's hands, "We can help each other get over everything. Love conquers it all."

Monica laughed sardonically, "Right."

"It does! True love does!"

"How do you know? Have you ever been truly in love with someone?!"

He nodded, "You."

"Wh – I – well," she stuttered incoherently before she quit attempting to speak.

"Just give it a try, Monica. Just give love a try."

She shook her head as tears began to stream down her face.

"Why not? Give me a good reason and I'll leave," she began to speak, but he interrupted her, "Besides that you're my shrink and I don't know any of your problems."

"But Chandler, if you don't know my problems, then how do you know the real me?"

"What?"

"To be in love with someone, you have to know their true side, don't you?" Chandler nodded hesitantly, "But you don't know mine. So how can you be in love with me?"

"I love the sides I do know."

"Yeah, the professional sides."

"No! The side you showed me when you can to visit me in the hospital! The side you showed me when we made love!" He brought a finger to her cheek and brushed away her tears, "I hate you as a shrink, Monica," he whispered, "But I know that Dr. Geller is not the same as Monica Geller. I love you when you're you."

Monica stared at him in a trance as her heart pounded heavily in her chest. She wanted so much to believe him. Suddenly, before she could make a decision, the patient who had been in the middle of a session began to wail. Monica turned her head sharply and was shocked, not by the sight of her sobbing patient, but to see one of the senior partners scowling at her. Slowly, Chandler turned his head as well and, sensing the trouble, walked toward the man.

"Sir, this is all my fault. Please –"

"I'd appreciate if you leave the premises immediately."

Chandler took a final glance at Monica, whose face had drained of all color, and dejectedly left her office. The man stared hard at Monica, and she quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Monica, this is very unprofessional."

She looked down at the floor, "I know, Michael. I'm so sorry -"

"We have a certain policy, in case you've forgotten."

"I know, again, I'm terribly sorry and if I could just explain –"

Michael shook his head. Monica had the feeling that, for the first time ever, her future was truly at stake.

A/N: Well, I haven't decided whether or not I'll just post one super-long chapter, or two shorter chapters to finish up this fic. So one or more chapters; hang in there. :) Please leave me a review, thanks! Back to studying, yay. :