Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe waited anxiously for the squad car that was sent to pick them up and take them to the scene. It's not like it was a long walk, the store was almost visible from Monica's apartment window, but the police didn't want to take any chances. Ross agreed to this, despite Monica, Rachel's, and Phoebe's heated objections. They did not want to wait.

As soon as the squad car pulled up, two cops headed over to them.

"I'm Lt. Daniels, and this is Captain Tate. We're here to escort you over to the crime scene."

Ross extended his hand. "Ross Geller." He pointed to the others, "That's Rachel Greene, Monica Geller, and Phoebe Buffay. Do you have any information about the situation?"

"We've sent a small force over to assess the situation, and more are on the way," Daniels explained. "From what we can tell, two unidentified men tried to rob the store and wound up taking the customers hostage."

"Any casualties?" Rachel asked softly, trying not to let her voice break. She knew that if she lost her composure, Phoebe, Monica, and Ross could kiss theirs goodbye as well.

"We're not exactly sure how many people are in the store, but it is more than just your friends."

"Are their any casualties?" asked Ross this time, his voice beginning to rise.

"We believe their is one, possibly two."

Monica's eyes flew open, and she tried to make a run for it. Ross made a grab for her, and tried to stop her by grabbing her arms, but Monica was freakishly strong. It wasn't until Rachel and Phoebe helped out, that they were able to stop her.

"Get off me!" Monica screamed. "Ross, get the hell off me! I have to get to them.. We have to get to them. They could be hurt!"

"Monica.. Monica stop! You can't help them, none of us can. Let the police do their job!" Monica ignored her brother's angry statements and continued to struggle as the other three continued to hold her back. All her mind's eyes could see were horrifying images of what could be happening to Joey and Chandler. Chandler. She imagined him shot and injured, lying on the ground at the brink of death. This thought sent her back into a maddened frenzy, and she savagely tried to break free from her friends' hold.

"Monica! You haul off and do something stupid and you will get them killed!" This time Ross's words his home, as she stopped thrashing. They all eventually let go, confused about Monica's reaction. She collapsed on the ground trying to stop the tears threatening to fall from eyes. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I never say anything to him. She took a deep sigh, and sat there until she gained back some of her composure. As they got into the car, she tried not to think about that state in which Joey and Chandler could be in, and silently sat in deep thought as they made their way over to the crime scene.

----

Chandler sucked in a breath as the sound of police sirens greeted his ears. He was somewhat surprised that they were being so bold in announcing their presence, but he figured the element of surprise was not exactly an advantage in this situation anyway. Unless they freak and get a little trigger happy, he thought nervously. The "barrier" they had been ordered to put up was in place, and Chandler was forced to admit that it would do its job. It would be hard for anyone to get a look at was going on inside. That's going to suck for us if they decide to come blasting through here. He pushed the thought out of his head. That was not something that he wanted to think about.

"Everybody, move to the back of the store, behind the shelf there," the ringleader ordered. He and thief number two bickered for a moment. They were definitely amateurs, their squabbling proved that they were absolutely winging this. They had no idea what to do. That could work in their favor, but it could also get them killed. Despite this observation, Chandler could see that the "leader" was crafty, and a quick thinker. This worried him. He reluctantly obeyed his command as he and Joey sat down among the other hostages within the store. As he sat, Joey put his hand on Chandler's shoulder in a reassuring manner. Whether it was there to convince Chandler that everything was all right, or if it was just to physically reassure himself that Chandler was still alive and there with him through this nightmare, Chandler didn't know. He grabbed Joey's hand on his shoulder briefly with a soft squeeze. They were in this together, no matter what.

-----

The four of them stared in disbelief at the scene in front of them. This couldn't be real. About four squad cars littered the parking lot, lights flashing. Several of the officers that had arrived in them were crouched behind the vehicles, using them as a shield, with their weapons aimed at the store. Others milled around in the back, trying to get a handle on the situation. One of the cops was on a bullhorn, speaking calmly to the crooks inside.

"We have you surrounded. There is no way out. Please release you hostages and surrender peacefully!"

Yeah right. Phoebe thought to herself, Like that ever works. She paced back and forth, as the cop continued to speak, and began to grow angrier and angrier. She wanted to take the bullhorn and hit him over the head with it. There was no time to talk, Joey and Chandler were in there. She couldn't believe this was happening to her friends. Phoebe was used to losing people close to her, but no one in her life ever meant more to her than her five friends, and she didn't know if she would be able to handle losing two of them. She continued to pace back and forth, trying to remain optimistic about the situation, and not think of the worst.

Chandler and Joey are in there, Rachel thought bleakly. The question was, were they alive? She felt like she was living in some inescapable nightmare. How could something like this? happen? A lone tear streamed down her face as she looked at the store in which two people she loved more than life itself might be lying dead in. She couldn't think of her life without Chandler and Joey, and she refused to do so. Out of all the people she met throughout her life, no one, besides for Monica and Ross, had ever cared about her, supported her, and made her laugh as much as those two. She couldn't look at the store anymore, and tried to do anything that would take her mind off the horrible outcome that could very well happen.

Monica was clutching her cell phone now. She didn't exactly know why, but she hoped that maybe Chandler and Joey would call it. She knew it was long shot, but it was the only thing she could hold on to. They called the apartment, why wouldn't they call my cell.. if they're alive, she cursed herself for her last thought as she stood next to Rachel and stared fixedly as the building in front of them. She thought that maybe if she concentrated hard enough, she could make Joey and Chandler walk through it. Ross noticed how contorted her face was , and could see her knuckles were white from gripping the phone. He walked over to her, and wrapped her in a loose hug. Monica didn't seem to notice him.

"You're going to break that if you don't loosen up, you know," said Ross. Monica looked quickly up at him and then down to the phone in her hands. She immediately loosened her grip and looked up at him.

"Do you think they're all right?" she asked with a hint of desperation in her voice.

Ross sighed as he gazed up at the building that his two best friends within it and sighed, " I don't know.. I don't know." He took her hand and held it, as Rachel and Phoebe joined them. They all waited anxiously for anymore news about the condition of their friends.