Part 3 The Letter

He hadn't thought he'd been able to rest. It hadn't felt like it – with all the noise and the lights he would have thought it impossible - but it was, according to the next nurse on duty, six hours later when his parents came in to see him.

What time is it?' Ross asked.

Don't bother,' his father said, They've got nothing worth watching on TV at nine in the morning or at any other time.' Ross frowned.

So six hours ago it was three o'clock,' he said.

At least we don't have to worry about brain damage,' his father said.

Emily came to see me at three o'clock in the morning,' Ross said. She really does care, he thought.

She's here all the time,' his mother said. Mind you, seeing as she was the one who got you run over, so she should.'

Don't blame her,' Ross said at once. 'It wasn't her fault. She was upset.'

Well it was an accident,' his mother conceded.

'You'd better stop upsetting your wife. What with this and the wedding, which I have to pay for now, no-one can afford it,' his father said.

Your sister's here too,' his mother added.

She seems a little preoccupied don't you think?' his father added.

Her brother was nearly killed, of course she's preoccupied,' his mother said. Your friends are here too, but the nurses won't let them in. They've only let family in. But they've sent cards in.' Ross noticed for the first time that in the small space allotted for personal items there were four cards among the flowers.

When he had the chance to read them he noticed one was missing. Why hadn't Rachel send him a card? Surely she would know by now what had happened to him? Then he wondered whether she had, and whether Emily had removed it. It was not a question he felt comfortable asking her.

He was moved from intensive care to a quieter ward. Emily visited again, looking a little better but still pale and tired. They had just begun to take up their conversation where it had been left when Joey turned up.

Hi Ross, Emily.' Joey gave Emily a hostile glance.

Joey!' Ross said, You're still here. I'd have thought you'd be back in New York by now.' He couldn't afford to miss any calls from his agent.

Yeah. Well I didn't have to get back straight away and I really wanted to see you.' Joey gave Emily another hostile glance and she said,

Perhaps I'd better leave you for a bit. Joey hasn't had a chance to see you yet.'

After Emily had gone, Joey said,

That woman never leaves you alone.'

She is my wife,' Ross said.

Who got you run over,' Joey said.

She didn't do it on purpose,' Ross said, And she didn't really get me run over. She didn't ask me to run over the road after her,' he added which was as close as he could get to admitting that perhaps he should have watched out for the traffic. Joey shrugged. After asking after Ross and explaining that he'd be leaving for New York later that afternoon, now that he'd had the chance to talk to Ross, he said,

Rachel's been really upset. First you leave her stranded at the airport and then this. She didn't know what to do. No-one's been allowed to see you except for Emily and your family up until today so there was no point her coming back just so she could be kept out, and Phoebe needs someone with her right now.'

Of course,' Ross said.

If she sent you something Emily would have thrown it away. So she didn't waste her time.' Ross felt relieved. At least Emily hadn't done anything, even if the only reason was because she hadn't had the chance. She sent me this to give to you in private.' Joey handed Ross a letter.

After Joey left, Ross opened Rachel's letter. She loved him. Look at all the good times they'd had together, as friends, as lovers. Look at how no matter how often they left each other they kept coming back. His saying her name had to mean something. Ross felt a shiver when she pointed out that it hadn't been just anyone's name he'd used. She was in agony not knowing how he was. Rachel finished up by saying they were destined for each other, they couldn't and shouldn't fight it. He should call her as soon as he got this letter