CHAPTER 4

Six weeks had passed since the gang had received the news that Monica's illness was terminal. Her husband, brother, and other three best friends had hung in there, and Monica was relieved that they would at least have each other, as her time was nearing. Three weeks ago, she had requested to go home to live under hospice care. She wanted to resume what normal life she could and also was sure that she didn't want to die in the hospital.

One rainy, comfortable Sunday afternoon, the gang was seating in the living area of Monica and Chandler's apartment in front of the television set, sharing a delicious, quaint lunch. Monica glanced around at the five people she loved more than anything in the world, and everything felt right. This was just how she wanted to leave things on Earth. All of a sudden, she felt a horrible pain in her head and seized her temples.

"Honey?" Chandler said, putting an arm around her shoulders. "You okay?"

"Oh, sweetie... my...my head..."

Rachel immediately stood up. "I'm calling Stanton," she announced. Dr. Kimberly Stanton had been Monica's home doctor, who came at least twice a week to the apartment to distribute her pain medication.

Chandler lifted his wife off the couch and carried her to their bedroom. Laying her down gently, he winced at her pinched white face, which was the portrait of wrenched pain. He sat down on the edge of the bed and held her hand until Dr. Stanton at last arrived. Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey had all crowded in the room as well, their faces anxious.

"Bad headache?" the doctor questioned. Monica wondered why she would ask such a thing, unless she was blind. To weak to argue, however, she nodded.

Dr. Stanton extracted a syringe from her bag, pulled back Monica's sleeve, and injected the needle in her vein. Normally, Monica hated these shots, but she was too sick to feel them anymore. The doctor also measured her temperature and blood pressure. Chandler looked at his wife's doctor and didn't like her expression.

"Is it time?" Monica asked what was on all of their minds.

Dr. Stanton gazed at her grimly. "I'm afraid it's near, dear. Your blood pressure and temperature are dropping."

Rachel felt Ross grab her hand and cling to it desperately. She reached her other hand over and placed it soothingly on his shoulder. She herself was taken aback. They had all been preparing for this moment for over a month, but now that it was actually here, they were in a state of shock and disbelief all over again.

"So, what happens now?" Monica asked after a moment of silence. It was amazing that she was the only individual in the room able to find her voice.

"We keep you in bed and as comfortable as possible." Dr. Stanton said. "Your friends and I are all here." The rest of the gang nodded in agreement. "You may or may not slip into a coma. If so, your lungs will fill with fluid, and you'll just stop breathing."

Whether it was visible or obscure, everybody else in the room shuddered.

Monica cleared her throat. "Can I be alone with my friends?" she asked her doctor.

"Of course," Stanton replied. "I'll be in the living room if you need anything." She got up and left. Rachel pulled Ross over to the bed and sat beside Chandler. Phoebe and Joey climbed on the other side.

"How do you do this, Mon?" Rachel asked, reaching for her friend's hand and rubbing it.

"Do what, sweetie?"

"How do you just accept that this is happening to you?" Rachel tried desperately to hold back the tears lingering in her throat.

"I have you guys with me, and that makes all the difference in the world."

Chandler suddenly couldn't hold it back any longer. He burst into tears and fell into his wife's arms. She held him close, stroking his back.

"Shh, sweetie..." she whispered calmingly.

"I love you s-so....m-much, Mon," he sobbed. Phoebe, Joey, and Ross had also let their dams disintegrate and leaned in to hug the couple. Rachel put her arms over Ross and Chandler's backs and joined the group embrace.

"Oh, you guys," Monica spoke from within the huddle. "I love you all so much. You've been my reason to even bother living these past weeks. I couldn't have done it without any of you. Now just do me one last favor and be there for each other, too."

They all pulled back slightly. Rachel rested one hand on Chandler and Ross' shoulders, and Phoebe and Joey had an arm around one another. They all nodded to Monica wordlessly.

"Good," she said. "Cause you know I'll be watching." She smiled despite her pain and frailty, then drew her friends into a hug again.

By the time an hour had passed, Monica had said separate goodbyes to Phoebe, Joey, and her husband. Her parents, Ben, and Carol were also there. As Chandler had just come out, he motioned to Ross and Rachel, seeming to choked with emotion to say anything. For some reason, Monica had wanted them to come in together.

As Chandler sat down between Joey and Phoebe, Rachel gently took Ross' hand and pulled him to his shaking feet. She led him into his sister's room and quietly closed the door. Monica motioned for her brother to come closer to her and grasped his hand.

"Ross," she whispered feebly. "You have been the most wonderful brother anyone could ask for. Emma and Ben are very lucky to have you for their father. I'm going to miss you and your caring personality, which I feel I took advantage of. I love you so much."

Ross bit his lip and his eyes brimmed over with tears. His couldn't stifle the tremors that longed to escape him. Rachel held his free arm and was stroking it gently. Monica turned to her best friend.

"Rachel. You are my best friend and like the sister I never had. You have always been there for me when I need you. Now, do the same for my brother, please. He'll need you now more then ever." Rachel turned and looked at Ross with tear-filled, tender eyes, gave him a weak smile, and then looked down at her dying friend.

"Of course," she whispered. "You have my word. I'll take care of him." She slid one arm around Ross' back and placed her free hand securely on his shoulder. Monica smiled softly and, apparently, for the last time. She drew in a deep breath and was then eerily still.

Ross buried his face in his hands and shook with sobs. Rachel put her arms around him for support, and stared ahead with tears stinging her own eyes. Then Ross fell to his knees, and Rachel immediately went down as well, whilst she enfolded him in her arms. His sobs were muffled by her chest and tears soaked through her shirt. Rachel held him tightly and closely, tears slowly running down her face.

"This can't be happening," Ross sobbed. "My sister, my little sister, is dead."

"I know, Ross," Rachel choked, and began to cry herself. "But think of it this way: she's no longer in pain, and finally at peace." She struggled to control her sobs, and focused on providing comfort for the broken man in her arms. Rachel rubbed his back and gently rocked him back and forth. Some time later, through tears, her eyes caught sight of two paramedics lifting Monica off the bed and onto a stretcher. Rachel hadn't even realized that the door had been opened. Ross, who had apparently noticed, pulled abruptly away from Rachel.

"No! Please don't take her!" he screamed at the paramedics, who were covering his sister with a sheet. Rachel stood up and pulled him back as he tried to restrain the carrier they were about to transfer out.

"Ross, sweetie, there's nothing you can do. Let them take her." Rachel persuaded, trying to sound soothing at the same time.

Ross broke down again, swaying and nearly collapsing, but Rachel held him up. Once the paramedics had gone to store Monica's body in a freezer, Ross turned around at looked at Rachel, his pale, blotchy face streaked with tears. She reached over and placed her hand on his cheek, brushing off the tears. She then hugged him tightly again. Shaking, he hugged her back and clung desperately.

Rachel sat down on the bed, taking Ross with her. He hid his face in her shirt and sobbed uncontrollably. Rachel just held him and left him cry in her arms, having never felt more empty in her life. However, being needed and providing comfort for her dead friend's brother filled the void somewhat, as she knew she was keeping the promise she had made. Also, she hated seeing Ross this way and wanted to do anything she could to make him whole again. It now was the bitter end of a memorable era.