The following late afternoon, which was also the day before Ben's wake, Ross was released from the hospital. Rachel had accompanied him home in a cab, and now they were walking down the hall to his apartment. Rachel used her own key to let them in.
Ross was surprised when he saw the inside of his apartment. To him, it felt like he had just moved in a few weeks ago. Obviously it had really been more than a few years.
Rachel's voice broke into his thoughts. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Ross turned around and looked at her, nodding absently. Then he sat down on the couch. Rachel sat next to him and placed an arm over his shoulders.
"Are you sure?" Her other hand lightly rubbed his forearm.
Ross sighed and leaned his head back against the couch. "I don't know. I just want to go to sleep and never wake up. Or if I must, I just want to forget about everything that has happened."
"Oh, I know, honey," Rachel murmured softly. "You do look tired. You should get some rest."
Assuming that she intended to leave, Ross opened his eyes and gripped her arm.
"Rach?"
"Yes?"
"Umm, would you, uh, mind staying here with me tonight?"
"Oh, Ross..." Rachel sighed and took his hand. "Ross, honey, under the circumstances, I'm not sure that would be such a good idea..."
"No, no, I don't mean it like that, Rach," Ross quickly interjected. Suddenly, he felt his throat tighten and unexpected waves of panic creep over him. "Please, Rachel, all I meant was that I didn't want to be alone and..."
"Hey, shh, shh, relax, it's okay." Rachel drew him into her arms. Ross sighed against the warmth of her sweater and slowly calmed down, feeling her hand stroke all over his back. "Of course I will stay with you. Nothing would make me happier."
Rachel tucked the pillows on the couch behind her and laid back, taking Ross with her. She then pulled down the blanket draped over the couch and spread it over them. His head rested on her chest and hands lay on her upper arms. For several minutes they remained like that, never having felt more comfortable.
"Oh, do you want to take off your shoes or something?" Rachel whispered.
"No," came Ross' response. "I'm perfect."
Rachel couldn't help but smile. "Me too."
A contented silence stretched. Rachel's hands roamed involuntarily over Ross' back and through his hair. Her heartbeat sounded relaxingly under his ear.
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Rachel added, whispering and breaking the silence.
"No," Ross repeated. "Just being with you is enough. Good night."
"Good night, sweetie."

Meanwhile, Joey, Phoebe, and Mike were upstairs in the opposite building, not saying much too one another. They were all well aware that Ross was too ashamed too see or talk to anyone but Rachel. With Monica and Chandler busy moving into their new place, they hardly had time to be involved in the situation. Although Monica had been tremendously worried about her brother, she had understood and accepted that he needed time. For now, she had decided to maintain her focus on running her new family and life.
Phoebe sighed sadly. She had been aware that change was underway, but this was too much. It was desolate enough without her friends across the hall who had moved and her friend across the building who was so miserable he couldn't even talk to her. She missed Chandler's uplifting jokes and Monica's upbeat spontaneity. She missed Ross rambling on about paleontology as well as his caring nature and helpful advice. She missed the lost life that had defined her for the past ten years.