"No!" Rachel howled as the phone went dead., "No! They can't do this!" Her body began to tremble so badly, Ross wasn't sure if she was going to remain on her feet and quickly went to her side.

"Rach, it's going to be all right." He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, but she did not return the embrace as tears came to her eyes. Ross was about to offer more encouraging words but just as he opened his mouth, two loud cracks shattered the silence. Everyone jumped, and Ross felt as if a huge bucket of ice water had been thrown in his face. Rachel felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. She couldn't breath.

A terrible sound erupted from Monica, some sort of shriek that almost didn't sound human. She clenched her fists, and held her hands in front of her face, as if she were trying to shield herself from reality. She continued to scream, which eventually turned into some form of crying.

Ross finally managed to get some air into his chest. "Oh, God no," he choked out. Hot tears squirted from his eyes and covered his cheeks. The four friends huddled together, their arms surrounding each other like a protective covering that would keep them from learning the truth. They didn't want to know they truth.

Just then, the phone in Lt. Daniel's hand began to ring moments later. He answered with a trembling hand.

"You're up to $70,000"

----

Chandler opened his eyes slowly. His heart was beating so quickly he thought it would leap out of his chest. When the gun was fired, he had thrown himself across Joey. He hadn't been entirely sure who the bullet was intended for. Both guns had been drawn and pointed, one the designated executor, and his reaction had been instinctive.

In the moment before the reality of what had just happened sunk in, Joey gazed in wonderment at his friend. Chandler had just volunteered to sacrifice his own life to save his. In the middle of the chaos and fear that surrounded them all, Joey suddenly felt more loved than he ever had in life. He had always known that their friendship was special, something that not everyone was lucky enough to find. He new that they shared the same belief that they would do anything to help each other, but thankfully neither of them had had to make good on that unspoken vow, until now. Chandler had just tried to take a bullet for him.

The moment passed, and the panic took over. Joey grabbed his shoulder as Chandler still laid in front of him.

"Are you okay?" he asked urgently. Chandler needed a moment to realize what happen, Joey did not get an answer. "Chan? Chandler? Chandler?!" he asked in a frightened voice.

Chandler groaned and rolled over, "Calm down man," he said trying to be somewhat playful, but Joey would have none of that. He picked Chandler up by the shoulders, and breathed a sigh of relief as he sat back in his old spot, uninjured.

Joey didn't say a word to Chandler, but spoke with his eyes. He knew that if he spoke any words about what Chandler did for him than he would break down in tears and was something he could not do in this situation. Chandler nodded in confirmation that he understood what Joey was thinking.

Joey and Chandler both looked over at the other hostages. They both looked over and saw the other woman who had been shopping lying lifeless on the linoleum. One of the thieves was in the process of dragging her out of sight. It wasn't that much better, she has left a big mess on the floor. Neither knew how much of this they could take, but both realized that there wouldn't be much more. There were only three hostages left.

---

It was Phoebe who had the courage to ask the question.

"Who was it?" They didn't even recognize her voice. It sounded dry and hollow, and full of defeat.

For a moment, Daniels just stared at her. Then he turned to his partner Stevens and nodded. Steven's dialed the number. Painful seconds went by before a voice answered.

"Do you have my money?"

"We need to know who died."

"Do you have my money?"

"We're still working on that."

"Than why should I tell you?!"

"For the sake of the loved ones outside!" Stevens spat.

The criminal became furious. He lunged across the room towards Chandler. He grabbed him by the arm, and without even allowing him to stand up, dragged him across the floor. Chandler let out a painful yell, and Joey stumbled to his feet in a mad attempt to stop him. Thief Number 2 was too quick for him. He shoved the gun to his forehead, slamming him back against the wall. Once he had Chandler over where he wanted, he kneed him hard in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him. He punched him in the face which left Chandler in a painful shock, knocking him flat.

Chandler gasped out in pain. It took all of Joey's self control to keep still. He was fuming with anger, and the helplessness of his position was killing him.

"You tell them that if they don't pay up, I will do more than just shoot you dead!"

Chandler glared up at him, his sides heaving.

"Go to hell." He could barely make out the words.

"Tell them!" He shoved the phone into Chandler's ear. Chandler said nothing. His tormentor kicked him savagely in the ribs, and he cried out in agony.

"Damn it Chandler, do it!" Joey cried. He couldn't stand this. Even as he said it, he knew why Chandler didn't answer. Joey would have done the same thing. He was too proud. At the same time, he couldn't handle watching his friend be beaten.

"I want to talk to Monica," Chandler rasped, as the crook prepared to deliver another blow.

"What?" he bellowed.

"Put Monica on, and I'll talk. You can beat me to death if you want if you don't."

The punch came hard and swift to his head. He rolled over, stunned, and lay there unmoving for several moments. A lump rose in Joey's throat, and his nails dug into his palms drawling blood.

"Put Monica on the fucking phone," he hissed into the mouthpiece.

Stevens raised an eyebrow. He had heard the commotion over the line, and knew things were going wrong, but he was unprepared for this.

"Do it!"

He handed the phone to a surprised, yet anxious Monica. She stared at it wide-eyed, and took it with a shaking hand.

"Hello?" Upon hearing the new voice, the thief once again thrust the phone down to Chandler, who hadn't moved. Joey was relived when he reacted, moving his head to accommodate the phone.

"Monica?" he cried out in a raspy voice.

Monica almost broke down at the sound of Chandler's weak painful voice.

"Hey Chandler," she said softly. "How are you? They treating you okay?"

"Just fine," he murmured. Monica could tell he was in pain.

"Is Joey still with you?"

"Yes he is"

Chandler heard the click of the gun being cocked near his head.

"Tell her."

Chandler squeezed his eyes shut, praying for the strength he needed and fighting back the hatred that was ready to consume him.

"They're telling me to tell you that if you don't come with the money, they are going to do more than just kill us."

A small noise escaped Monica's lips. She was filled with anger and fear at the same time. "We're going to get you out of there, don't worry. I promise, I love you, do you hear me? We will get you out." The sound of Monica's voice reassured him more than anyone except Joey could ever know. He hated the thought of upsetting Monica, or any one of them, as he was sure he was, but he just had to hear one of their voices. Knowing that the other four were out there, waiting for them, trying to rescue them was something he desperately needed.

"I hear you. Tell the others I say hi."

The foot impacted his back, and the phone flew out of his hands and clattered to the floor. His assailant scooped it up.

"There. You have 18 minutes. Get it done, or I'll make good on my threat."

Monica threw the phone forcefully to the ground, and turned away. She placed one palm flat on the trunk of a squad car and covered her eyes with the other, bent over in grief.

"Oh God," Rachel whimpered as she went over to where Monica was standing. "One of them is dead. One of them is dead. Oh God..."

"No," Monica croaked. "They're both fine."

"What happened?" asked Phoebe quietly.

"They put Chandler on the phone. I.. I think they were beating him." Monica continued on with the message given, not without difficulty however.

Monica turned to Daniels," Please stop them. Please get them out alive." She sounded defeated. Monica, who was never willing to give up at anything, had lost almost all hope in a good ending to all this.

"We will do everything within out power."

"And what if that isn't good enough?" asked Ross as he embraced his sister.

"Just pray that it is good enough."

"Well what do you plan to do, there's only 18 minutes left?" asked Monica

"I can't tell you everything, but we are going to escort her," he pointed to Rachel, "To the bank right now to get cash,. We wouldn't normally do that but the police station is farther away and in the morning rush it would be impossible to get another cop here with the money in time. You will be totally reimbursed, so don't worry."

"I don't care about that, now who's taking me? We need to go now." said Rachel who walked over to the cop that Daniels pointed to, Ross followed her.

"In the mean time we have gotten blue prints of the building, and we have found that there is a back door. We are just trying when and how to use it so that would put the remaining hostages in as little danger as possible."

"The only way they are in less danger is if they were out here. Any way you go in there, you're putting them in danger, but they're in danger now, so why don't you just go in ?" asked Phoebe who was getting annoyed.

Daniels sighed, "Okay, we're not going in because the criminals are getting more desperate. If we go in there, all three hostages are dead without a doubt. We're going to wait and see if this transaction works."

Monica and Phoebe had nothing more to say, they couldn't argue with that. They were just tired of not knowing anything. All they wanted was to see their friends again, alive

----

As soon as the phone was "disconnected" Thief Number One backed off of Chandler, but not before giving him a few spiteful kicks in the head knocking him unconscious, and signaled to his cohort. The gun was removed from Joey's face as we went over to his partner. It took all of Joey's restraint to keep from bolting over to Chandler, who was lying limp in a ball on the floor, but he couldn't help it. He began to get up, but the click of both guns made him halt.

"Don't bother, He's fine where he is."

Joey could feel his rage flowing through his veins like a disease. He had never known hatred like what he was feeling. He had never despised anyone more in his entire life. He continued to stand and stare at them for a moment, but a menacing thrust with one of the weapons forced him to sit down. He kept his concentration on Chandler now, hoping that he would get up soon.

Thankfully, for Joey's sake and for Chandler's, it wasn't too long before Chandler stirred. Joey was facing his back and couldn't see his face, but at least he was moving. He could see his friend crane his neck and head around and give out a low groan, not moving any other part of his body. He looked around for another potential assault before deciding that it was safe to get up. Convinced it was clear , he placed his hand on the floor, leaning heavily on it. He looked around and let his gaze settle on Joey, who flinched when he got a good look at him. Blood ran from a cut hear his mouth, and he could see bruises along his face already starting to form. Joey sat there paralyzed by his friend's gaze that expressed so much hatred and pain.

Chandler pushed himself painfully onto his knees, and paused a moment to shake off the dizziness he felt, and to maybe stop the massive headache he was feeling. He tried to get his feet underneath him, but Joey stopped him.

"Relax a minute Chan. Just give yourself some time." Chandler clearly hated the thought of allowing the abuse they had given him to stop him, but Joey was right. Chandler looked over at the source of all his pain, and saw both criminals on the phone. Although they were speaking, both were watching their hostages closely. Chandler's face hardened towards, he pushed the pain back inside of himself a little further, refusing to allow them to see it. He found his balance and rose to his feet, much to Joey's dismay, and walked unsteadily over to his former spot on the wall. They sat there quietly, both trying to find the best way to manage all of the extreme emotions they were feeling at the moment.

Joey eventually glanced at his watch. It was only a matter of time before they would have to go through that damn lottery again. He couldn't take any more. He had to do something. He glanced over at Chandler, who looked back questioningly.

"I don't like that look," Chandler said from beside him.

"What look?"

"That one. The look you get whenever you're about to haul off and do something stupid."

"I don't know what you mean." said Joey who pretended not to know what he meant.

"Yes you do. Please don't do something stupid."

"What if I tell you it isn't stupid?"

"I won't believe you." His voice grew stronger, and more determination came to his face as he objected. Joey was glad to see it, because he would need it.

"You give me no credit. None at all."

"Should I?"

"We'll see."

"Tell me. Tell me, then I'll tell you to forget it."

"There's a backdoor."

"What?"

"I saw it when we were moving shelves and stuff. I tried to hide it so they wouldn't see it."

"And?"

"It's locked from the outside, but not from the inside."

"How do you plan to get out the door without getting killed?" Chandler asked skeptically.

"I don't."

"Oh really. Than what was it exactly you wanted to do?"

"We'll get you and other hostage out. You tell the cops outside what's going on, and then they can figure out how to get me out."

"Oh no you don't. I am not leaving you here alone. They already don't like you very much from the phone incident and you might do or say something, there's no way you'll get out of here alive.. no" Chandler sounded sarcastic and patronizing, but it was nothing but a pathetic attempt to cover up his real feelings. The thought of leaving Joey was absolutely terrifying. He would not abandon his friend. He would never have considered it in a thousand years. He would not leave him alone, and that was final.

Joey took one look at Chandler's face and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"We have to do something Chandler. I'll be okay, it will work."

"Bullshit you'll be okay. No, and that's that. I think we should rely on the people outside. They won't let us down. We'll only fuck this up more."

"Ordinarily I'd say you were right, but look what happened last time. Okay, the lottery is coming up soon, and the chances of either one us getting picked is almost certain. Do you want to just sit here as some sadistic game pick our fate, do you want to die just sitting here waiting and hoping that $10,000 dollars will come along and save your life. We have to trust each other, it's the only thing we have. We have to make things happen for ourselves now.

"I guess," said Chandler helplessly.

"Exactly. This is what we are going to do."