In A Lifetime
Chapter 4: A Warning Sign
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never were, never will be. But if I have my way.....
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, to everyone who submitted one. If you could do so again, that would be swell. (Swell? What the hell? Hey, that rhymed.)
I never told people this.... but this fic is named after the song In A Lifetime by Clannad, an 80's group, from Ireland, I think. My dad liked them, and had the CD, so I listened to it, loved it, and many years later, heard it and used it here. The chapter title is from that song.
Okay, Monnie says to talk about tacos.... I haven't eaten any of those in ages. And I love Mexican Food. Almost as much as Italian. Ooh, I want pizza! *steals Monnie's pizza*
Hugs to all the 3rd floor people at FB, especially my roomies, Airy, Andy, Becca, Elle and Monnie. (See? Alphabetical order. No favouritism. Why are all our names at the beginning of the alphabet, except Monnie's? Weird. o__O)
*~*~*
Joey took the cup off the counter and sat down on the couch next to Phoebe. Ross coughed as he read a magazine in the armchair.
"Hey, do you think they're alright?" said Joey, breaking the silence. Around them, there was a soft murmuring from other people sat in the coffeehouse. It was mid-morning, however, and most were at work. Outside, a bird hopped down the street, its chirp reaching Phoebe's ears, who awoke from her reverie and sat up.
"What?" she asked, looking dazed.
Joey looked around, sipping his coffee. "I said, do you think they're alright? Chandler and Monica, I mean."
Phoebe looked at him. "Sure they will," she said simply. "I mean, it's Chandler and Monica, right? Nothing can hurt them. You look at them, and you see them together, and you know they're gonna be together forever. Nothing is stronger than true love. Well, except squirrels."
Ross frowned, but his concern for his sister made him let it go for once. "But, wh- what if they're not?" he asked, shifting his position so he sat nearer. "Chandler's always been so afraid of commitment. How do we know this won't be too much for him?"
Joey coughed. "But have you seen him with her? I mean, he's become a different person. I mean, it was great living with him, but he seems to have grown so much since then. He's so much happier, and I don't think there's any way he'd give that up. She needs him, and he knows that."
Phoebe nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Ross, don't worry so much. We'll all be here as well, won't we?"
Ross sighed. "Yeah. I guess you're right. I just always remembered Chandler as this scared guy who never thought he could stay with a woman properly. I guess I haven't realised properly that... he's changed."
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, you're often dumb like that," she said.
Ross gasped silently in offence, but kept it to himself. "I just hope he realises what a special person he has to look after. I used to do that. She used to be my sister. But now he looks after her. Are you sure he knows how lucky he is?"
"I'm sure," said Joey, picking up a magazine. "Now, stop worrying. That's not what she wants."
Ross sighed, but let it go.
*~*~*
Chandler swallowed and squeezed Monica's hand under the table.
The doctor had been called away just as he'd sat down to talk to them, so they were left waiting in the office, their fear growing. Monica squeezed Chandler's hand harder, and he smiled at her.
"It's going to be alright, Mon," he whispered, looking at her confused eyes lovingly.
She looked down. "Are you sure?" she asked in a worried voice.
He put his hand gently on her forehead and whispered into her ear. "I'm sure," he said.
They both knew that that wasn't true. But Monica found a strange comfort in Chandler's words- to her ears at that moment; they were the truest words she'd ever heard.
As they sat together in the room, silence descended upon them. Neither of them felt the need to talk. It was a kind of understanding silence, where they both knew what the other felt like, and didn't have to talk. Chandler felt Monica's body tense, and he put his hand on her cheek warmly. She looked down at it, and then kissed it lightly. He smiled at her, and her body warmed up at his warm look.
They both looked around sharply as the door creaked open, and the doctor entered. She smiled briefly at them, and sat down at the desk opposite where they sat, hands still entwined.
"So," said the doctor, shuffling some files. "How are you?" she asked Monica.
Monica breathed deeply before she answered. "I'm okay. I- I told Chandler and my friends about it, like you said..." she said nervously.
The doctor nodded. "Nice to meet you, Chandler," she said, shaking his hand over the desk. "I'm Dr. Waingrow."
Chandler stifled a laugh, and smiled back. He looked at Monica, who grinned slyly.
"Nice to meet you, too, Dr... Waingrow," said Chandler slowly. She smiled unknowingly back.
Reaching up to grab a file from the top of a filing cabinet, the doctor coughed and looked at a sheet protruding from the file. "Yes, well, I suppose you're here to find out more," she said simply. "Well, Miss Geller, I can't say what you want to hear. Your condition is, however, in its early stages, and we may have caught it in time."
Monica looked a little relieved, but Chandler still felt her body was tense.
The doctor continued. You have what it is known as invasive carcinoma,
Monica swallowed. "So.... what does invasive mean? Is that fatal?"
"No..." said the doctor, slowly. "It can be, but it depends how far the cancer has spread. Invasive means the cancer has spread beyond the milk ducts, and may even have the potential to spread beyond the breasts. We're lucky- we seem to have caught it relatively early. We looked at the cells under a microscope, and no tumours have formed.... so you're not at a serious stage. However, they do have the potential to spread further and maybe even form tumours, so we need to treat you as soon as we can."
Chandler nodded, and squeezed Monica's hand. "So... what treatment is there?"
"Well, there are many treatments for cancer. Now, you said you wanted me to choose the best treatments for you. Are you still sure about that? You are welcome to be more involved in the process, if that's what you and your fiancé want."
Monica gave Chandler a silent look, and he nodded.
"Yes," said Monica simply.
The doctor nodded. "Okay, well, we need to remove the cancerous area of the breast and any affected glands, which would require surgery. Are you okay with going through with that?"
Chandler swallowed. He was starting to feel disorientated, and his vision went blurry. He heard Monica speak, but he couldn't make out the words. The room went a brilliant white, and Chandler gasped.
"Chandler?" he heard suddenly, the words reaching his ears as clear as glass, echoing through his head. The white in front of his eyes started to fade, and the room slowly came back into normal vision.
"Chandler?" he heard again, more urgently, and Monica came into view, looking frantic, and waving her hand in front of his face, her other hand on his leg still.
He sat up straight. "Yes?" he said.
The doctor looked understanding. "I know this can be hard," she said softly, making Monica and Chandler turn from each other, "but you need each other to get through this. The best cure, is having someone, whether it's a partner, parents, or friends, to get you through this. And it's just as hard for them, if not harder, to see what you're going through. She'll be able to cope as long as you're there."
*~*~*
Chandler threw the keys down on the table.
"Chandler, don't," said Monica in exasperation, as he disappeared into the bathroom. She followed.
"Don't what?" he said innocently, splashing his face with water slowly, leaving the tap running slowly, its trickle an attempt at meditation.
Monica sighed. "Don't shut me out, for a start," she said, standing in his way as he tried to leave. "We need to talk about this, or it will all fall apart."
Chandler looked scornfully at her. "That's easy for you to say, you didn't have a panic attack in the middle of someone else's doctors appointment." He tried to leave, but she blocked him again. "Am I allowed to leave?"
"No," said Monica immediately. "We are going to talk about this. We need to be able to talk, or... I don't know what will happen. Now, you're obviously not okay with this-"
"I'm fine with it!" Chandler exclaimed. "I understand, and am totally supportive, there for you one hundred percent."
Monica folded her arms. "No, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be being so dismissive. If you were, you wouldn't have had a panic attack in the middle of my appointment." She softened her voice. "Chandler, it's okay that you're not okay with this. I know it's hard. But I need you. And I need you to be able to talk with me, and support me, and worry with me."
He relaxed his hard expression, and it turned to one of worry. "I just- just didn't want you to be concerned with how I feel. I am totally there for you, and you know that. I know you know that. I'm sorry," he said, kissing her lightly on her lips. He started to move away again, but she leaned in, and kissed him harder, pushing him backwards.
He broke away again. "Are you sure you want to?" he asked.
She nodded. "I want YOU," she said simply.
*~*~*
Monica pushed the money into the payphone and dialled, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Hello, Chandler Bing," she heard.
"Hey sweetie, it's Monica," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Where are you?"
Chandler sighed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, but I'm stuck in a huge traffic jam, and it'll be ages before I get out. Will you be okay by yourself?"
Monica shook her head furiously, but spoke calmly into the phone. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
"I'm really sorry," he said again, over the sound of car horns and exhausts. "I knew I should have left earlier. Look, I've got to go, it looks like we're gonna move another two centimetres," he said. "I love you, okay?"
Monica smiled. "I know," she said. "And I love you more."
"Not possible," he said, and she heard his phone go off.
She put the payphone back down and sighed.
"Monica Geller to Dr. Garner," said the receptionist on the intercom. Monica sighed again, and walked down the corridor to the office. She breathed deeply.
Chapter 4: A Warning Sign
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never were, never will be. But if I have my way.....
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, to everyone who submitted one. If you could do so again, that would be swell. (Swell? What the hell? Hey, that rhymed.)
I never told people this.... but this fic is named after the song In A Lifetime by Clannad, an 80's group, from Ireland, I think. My dad liked them, and had the CD, so I listened to it, loved it, and many years later, heard it and used it here. The chapter title is from that song.
Okay, Monnie says to talk about tacos.... I haven't eaten any of those in ages. And I love Mexican Food. Almost as much as Italian. Ooh, I want pizza! *steals Monnie's pizza*
Hugs to all the 3rd floor people at FB, especially my roomies, Airy, Andy, Becca, Elle and Monnie. (See? Alphabetical order. No favouritism. Why are all our names at the beginning of the alphabet, except Monnie's? Weird. o__O)
*~*~*
Joey took the cup off the counter and sat down on the couch next to Phoebe. Ross coughed as he read a magazine in the armchair.
"Hey, do you think they're alright?" said Joey, breaking the silence. Around them, there was a soft murmuring from other people sat in the coffeehouse. It was mid-morning, however, and most were at work. Outside, a bird hopped down the street, its chirp reaching Phoebe's ears, who awoke from her reverie and sat up.
"What?" she asked, looking dazed.
Joey looked around, sipping his coffee. "I said, do you think they're alright? Chandler and Monica, I mean."
Phoebe looked at him. "Sure they will," she said simply. "I mean, it's Chandler and Monica, right? Nothing can hurt them. You look at them, and you see them together, and you know they're gonna be together forever. Nothing is stronger than true love. Well, except squirrels."
Ross frowned, but his concern for his sister made him let it go for once. "But, wh- what if they're not?" he asked, shifting his position so he sat nearer. "Chandler's always been so afraid of commitment. How do we know this won't be too much for him?"
Joey coughed. "But have you seen him with her? I mean, he's become a different person. I mean, it was great living with him, but he seems to have grown so much since then. He's so much happier, and I don't think there's any way he'd give that up. She needs him, and he knows that."
Phoebe nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Ross, don't worry so much. We'll all be here as well, won't we?"
Ross sighed. "Yeah. I guess you're right. I just always remembered Chandler as this scared guy who never thought he could stay with a woman properly. I guess I haven't realised properly that... he's changed."
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, you're often dumb like that," she said.
Ross gasped silently in offence, but kept it to himself. "I just hope he realises what a special person he has to look after. I used to do that. She used to be my sister. But now he looks after her. Are you sure he knows how lucky he is?"
"I'm sure," said Joey, picking up a magazine. "Now, stop worrying. That's not what she wants."
Ross sighed, but let it go.
*~*~*
Chandler swallowed and squeezed Monica's hand under the table.
The doctor had been called away just as he'd sat down to talk to them, so they were left waiting in the office, their fear growing. Monica squeezed Chandler's hand harder, and he smiled at her.
"It's going to be alright, Mon," he whispered, looking at her confused eyes lovingly.
She looked down. "Are you sure?" she asked in a worried voice.
He put his hand gently on her forehead and whispered into her ear. "I'm sure," he said.
They both knew that that wasn't true. But Monica found a strange comfort in Chandler's words- to her ears at that moment; they were the truest words she'd ever heard.
As they sat together in the room, silence descended upon them. Neither of them felt the need to talk. It was a kind of understanding silence, where they both knew what the other felt like, and didn't have to talk. Chandler felt Monica's body tense, and he put his hand on her cheek warmly. She looked down at it, and then kissed it lightly. He smiled at her, and her body warmed up at his warm look.
They both looked around sharply as the door creaked open, and the doctor entered. She smiled briefly at them, and sat down at the desk opposite where they sat, hands still entwined.
"So," said the doctor, shuffling some files. "How are you?" she asked Monica.
Monica breathed deeply before she answered. "I'm okay. I- I told Chandler and my friends about it, like you said..." she said nervously.
The doctor nodded. "Nice to meet you, Chandler," she said, shaking his hand over the desk. "I'm Dr. Waingrow."
Chandler stifled a laugh, and smiled back. He looked at Monica, who grinned slyly.
"Nice to meet you, too, Dr... Waingrow," said Chandler slowly. She smiled unknowingly back.
Reaching up to grab a file from the top of a filing cabinet, the doctor coughed and looked at a sheet protruding from the file. "Yes, well, I suppose you're here to find out more," she said simply. "Well, Miss Geller, I can't say what you want to hear. Your condition is, however, in its early stages, and we may have caught it in time."
Monica looked a little relieved, but Chandler still felt her body was tense.
The doctor continued. You have what it is known as invasive carcinoma,
Monica swallowed. "So.... what does invasive mean? Is that fatal?"
"No..." said the doctor, slowly. "It can be, but it depends how far the cancer has spread. Invasive means the cancer has spread beyond the milk ducts, and may even have the potential to spread beyond the breasts. We're lucky- we seem to have caught it relatively early. We looked at the cells under a microscope, and no tumours have formed.... so you're not at a serious stage. However, they do have the potential to spread further and maybe even form tumours, so we need to treat you as soon as we can."
Chandler nodded, and squeezed Monica's hand. "So... what treatment is there?"
"Well, there are many treatments for cancer. Now, you said you wanted me to choose the best treatments for you. Are you still sure about that? You are welcome to be more involved in the process, if that's what you and your fiancé want."
Monica gave Chandler a silent look, and he nodded.
"Yes," said Monica simply.
The doctor nodded. "Okay, well, we need to remove the cancerous area of the breast and any affected glands, which would require surgery. Are you okay with going through with that?"
Chandler swallowed. He was starting to feel disorientated, and his vision went blurry. He heard Monica speak, but he couldn't make out the words. The room went a brilliant white, and Chandler gasped.
"Chandler?" he heard suddenly, the words reaching his ears as clear as glass, echoing through his head. The white in front of his eyes started to fade, and the room slowly came back into normal vision.
"Chandler?" he heard again, more urgently, and Monica came into view, looking frantic, and waving her hand in front of his face, her other hand on his leg still.
He sat up straight. "Yes?" he said.
The doctor looked understanding. "I know this can be hard," she said softly, making Monica and Chandler turn from each other, "but you need each other to get through this. The best cure, is having someone, whether it's a partner, parents, or friends, to get you through this. And it's just as hard for them, if not harder, to see what you're going through. She'll be able to cope as long as you're there."
*~*~*
Chandler threw the keys down on the table.
"Chandler, don't," said Monica in exasperation, as he disappeared into the bathroom. She followed.
"Don't what?" he said innocently, splashing his face with water slowly, leaving the tap running slowly, its trickle an attempt at meditation.
Monica sighed. "Don't shut me out, for a start," she said, standing in his way as he tried to leave. "We need to talk about this, or it will all fall apart."
Chandler looked scornfully at her. "That's easy for you to say, you didn't have a panic attack in the middle of someone else's doctors appointment." He tried to leave, but she blocked him again. "Am I allowed to leave?"
"No," said Monica immediately. "We are going to talk about this. We need to be able to talk, or... I don't know what will happen. Now, you're obviously not okay with this-"
"I'm fine with it!" Chandler exclaimed. "I understand, and am totally supportive, there for you one hundred percent."
Monica folded her arms. "No, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be being so dismissive. If you were, you wouldn't have had a panic attack in the middle of my appointment." She softened her voice. "Chandler, it's okay that you're not okay with this. I know it's hard. But I need you. And I need you to be able to talk with me, and support me, and worry with me."
He relaxed his hard expression, and it turned to one of worry. "I just- just didn't want you to be concerned with how I feel. I am totally there for you, and you know that. I know you know that. I'm sorry," he said, kissing her lightly on her lips. He started to move away again, but she leaned in, and kissed him harder, pushing him backwards.
He broke away again. "Are you sure you want to?" he asked.
She nodded. "I want YOU," she said simply.
*~*~*
Monica pushed the money into the payphone and dialled, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Hello, Chandler Bing," she heard.
"Hey sweetie, it's Monica," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Where are you?"
Chandler sighed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, but I'm stuck in a huge traffic jam, and it'll be ages before I get out. Will you be okay by yourself?"
Monica shook her head furiously, but spoke calmly into the phone. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
"I'm really sorry," he said again, over the sound of car horns and exhausts. "I knew I should have left earlier. Look, I've got to go, it looks like we're gonna move another two centimetres," he said. "I love you, okay?"
Monica smiled. "I know," she said. "And I love you more."
"Not possible," he said, and she heard his phone go off.
She put the payphone back down and sighed.
"Monica Geller to Dr. Garner," said the receptionist on the intercom. Monica sighed again, and walked down the corridor to the office. She breathed deeply.