Chapter 2
Accidents happen
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends
A/N: Its been a week or two since I've updated this one, so I decided to get my finger out and get this chapter up. It's a bit of a transitional one...with Phoebe's POV on the accident. The next chapter will be much better and much more detailed. There's a lot more angst to come! :o)
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The window began to steam up with unwelcome condensation due to the clammy weather from outside and the boiling hot heat from the hairdryers inside the salon.
Phoebe reached out her hand and vigorously rubbed it across the huge glass pane, making herself a visible clearance so she could keep an eye on the street.
"Oh, my God, was that lightening I just saw?" Rachel held on tightly to her seat and coward backwards towards Monica for unconscious protection.
Before anyone could answer the deafening and unmistakable rumble of thunder echoed and confirmed her worst fear. She jumped up as quickly as she could and moved herself as far away from the window as was strategically possible.
"You guys should move too...it's really not safe to sit by a window during a thunderstorm!"
Monica followed Rachel over to where she was now standing in the corner of the salon by the coat rack, but Phoebe remained exactly where she was, much to Rachel's horror.
"Phoebe!" Rachel's eyes almost popped out of her head as she exclaimed her friends name in disgust, finding it hard to believe she was foolish enough to stay seated.
"Oh, Rachel, calm down! It's perfectly safe. The odds of being struck by lightening while inside a building are like a million to one. I have more chance of winning the jackpot in the state lotto than of being..." The sudden sound of screeching horns and metal smashing violently together stopped her mid sentence, making her stomach churn and almost lurch into her throat.
The whole salon fell eerily silent for a few seconds while everyone digested the situation, before they joined in their synchronised mumbling, each offering up an explanation as they fathomed out what had gone on outside.
"See! I told you both no good would come of that storm! I knew it was dangerous!" Rachel huddled closer into Monica and pushed her towards the door
"Mon, go see what happened."
"Why do I have to go? Can't you go yourself!"
Because...well, because, you have better eyesight!" She threw her hands up; knowing her excuse was pathetic and no one would believe it.
Monica drew her friend a dirty look and edged herself towards the open half wooden, half glass door, where a crowd had by now gathered, both inside and out of the hairdresser's.
She pushed herself forcefully through the mass of bodies' struggling until she finally made her way out onto the sidewalk.
So many people had gathered it was hard to make out exactly what was happening, or who was involved, but she suspected it was something to do with the bright yellow taxi which was strangely positioned across the roads two lanes.
Her eyes drifted down and rested on the cabs front wheels, where a tiny set of legs were visible. She clasped her hands tightly across her mouth to stop her from vomiting and swiftly turned her head away so she could no longer see the disturbing vision in front of her.
The roaring siren of the ambulance grew audibly closer and soon she could see it's flashing blue light beaming in the distance, growing brighter, and becoming almost blinding as it neared.
It came to a screeching standstill and immediately the paramedic rushed from the back, towards the taxi that was less that 5 feet from a terrified Monica, dropping their bags of equipment onto the sodden tarmac in great urgency.
She was transfixed by the sight of the heroes at work, trying desperately to save the little person, tragically trapped beneath the vehicles wheels
It made her want to run-run back to the safety of friends.
But before she could bolt she heard a familiar voice that was nearby calling her name.
"Monica!" Chandler spotted his wife standing on the opposite end of the street and instantly made a dart for her, leaving Joey alone in his despair.
He couldn't stay with him like this any longer. He needed Monica's comfort now more than anything else he could imagine. He needed her arms to be wrapped around him, to take away the agonising pain that was breaking his heart in two.
This was exactly the kind of situation he just couldn't cope with...not like she could. Monica had the reasoning and maturity that he so desperately wanted, but lacked.
If anyone could make everything ok Monica was the one to do it. He had to believe this for the sake of his only God daughter...the apple of his eye.
"Chandler?" She knew it was him even although his cries for her were dulled by the street noise. She stood on her toes, frantically trying to make herself taller than her normal 5 feet 4 in order to see over the massive crowd of heads that towered above her.
"Chandler, where are you?" Panic was now beginning to set in. Claustrophobia engulfed her as the strangers drew closer to her, invading the tiny piece of space she had created for herself, banging into her as they tried in vain to get nearer the accident to satisfy their need for gory gossip, making her feel almost invisible and extremely uneasy.
"I'm here!" He stretched his arm out as far as it would go and managed to barely touch the top of her shoulder. He pulled himself towards her, ignoring the cries of "Hey, watch where you're going!"
He bundled his wife into his strong arms and fully intended never to let her go.
She welcomed his warm embrace and the familiar scent of his aftershave that transported her back to a happier time and place.
"Are you okay sweetie?" As her head rested in the crease of his shoulder she felt his body shudder and tremble uncontrollably as though in spasm.
She reluctantly yanked herself away, needing to see his face, and she almost wished she hadn't.
Her worst fear was confirmed. Tears ran the length of his cheeks as he sobbed freely, for once not caring who was watching.
"What's wrong honey?" She couldn't believe her eyes. Never in her 15 years of knowing him had she seen him get in such a state. Chandler never, ever cried. He was a self confessed unemotional man, but here he was, on the verge of becoming hysterical.
He desperately wanted to tell her as she was clearly still in the dark as to who was involved in the accident, but the tears had allowed a lump to form over his vocal chords, so as hard as he tried no words would leave his mouth.
"Shh, take it easy. One word at a time" She clasped her hands patiently on his wet cheeks and waited on his answer.
"The baby!" He took a deep breath, choking back his tears.
"The baby!" He could say no more. Instead he lifted his hand and shakily pointed to the car's wheels, where the paramedics had now set up their equipment and were battling to save a life.
Monica quickly spun around and again met with the sight of the child's lifeless feet. What was he trying to tell her! He wasn't making any sense.
She remained fixated, hoping something obvious would jump out at her, and it did, much to her horror.
The sudden realisation of what he meant hit her like a ton of brick to the stomach. Her body halved in two as she bent forward, vomiting onto the pavement in front of her before she could stop herself.
The baby's boots were the exact pair she had bought for summer in the Bloomingdales sale just a few days ago. She had fallen in love with them the minute she had seen them on display and their huge price tag was no deterrent-only the best was good enough for her favourite little girl.
She wiped her mouth and brushed away her own tears. Within seconds she had found an inner strength she didn't think she was capable of, but there it was, urging her to carry on and not crumble into an uncontrollable mess. Her husband and friends needed her to be strong now more than ever.
"Chandler, go get Phoebe!" Snapping into controlling mode was her own coping mechanism, and Chandler, fully aware of this complied with her wishes.
He rushed through the salon's door, and like his wife had to do earlier, powerfully, but gently moved people out of his way. Scanning the room, studying the face of ever well groomed woman in the place that he came into contact with, until he found the one person he was there frantically searching for and the same person he so dreadfully wanted to avoid.
"Pheebs!" He ran towards her plastic disguised as leather chair by the window and urgently grabbed her arms, pulling her quickly to her feet.
He yanked her towards the door he had just entered as violently as he could without seriously hurting her, but she dug her feet into the carpeted flooring, demanding and explanation for his sudden crazy behaviour.
"What the hell are you playing at Chandler?! Have you finally lost the plot!" he ignored her venomous tone as best he could and continued to haul her along behind him with all the strength he could muster, which wasn't a lot at that precise moment.
If he could just get her out and onto the street where everything would become clear to her then he wouldn't have to find the courage and words to explain that her daughter was lying on the road seconds away from death.
"Chandler! If you don't tell me this instant what you're doing then I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurt you!" She didn't really mean it of course, but she was getting scared and absolutely mortified into the bargain. He was causing such a commotion that everyone had turned their attention from the uproar happening in the street and was now focused on the tug of war going on between them.
The immense rain almost instantly flattened her newly styled hair as she was dragged against her will into the wild winter weather.
"Please stop this, you're hurting me!" her whimpering plea fell on deaf ears...he couldn't stop now, they were just feet away.
As they drew closer he let her hands go, giving her one last push forwards. His job was done. He had done just what Monica had asked of him, but he could no longer bear to watch...it was all too painful.
All thoughts of Chandler had now left her and her focus was on the events unfolding before her very eyes.
It all seemed to be happening so far away, like a dream. She could hear the voices, and see the people, but it wasn't, couldn't be real. Could it?
The ambulance-the taxi-a baby. Her baby!
"Summer!" Phoebe immediately ran forwards, her heart pounding in her chest, breathing suddenly becoming like the most difficult thing in the world to do.
"You can't go near there miss!" A petite, blonde policewoman encased Phoebe in her surprisingly strong arms as she tried in desperation to get to her only daughter.
"But that's my baby, she needs me!" She had never felt so hopeless and numb in her entire life.
"There's nothing you can do. The Doctors are with her doing the best they can" The strangers words seemed so harsh, but she was right. There was nothing Phoebe, or anyone for that matter could do. It was too late for help.
"We're losing her!" The paramedic threw the oversized paddles onto the tiny girls chest, covering the majority of her torso.
"No!" Phoebe pushed against her captor with all her mite. She had to hold her daughter and no one was stopping her. As she broke free and ran forwards she heard the words she dreaded most.
"She's gone"
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Next Chapter: Who's to blame for summers death? Can Phoebe ever forgive Joey? Who will be there to give her a little more comfort than she needs?!
Remember to review :o) Mwah
Accidents happen
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends
A/N: Its been a week or two since I've updated this one, so I decided to get my finger out and get this chapter up. It's a bit of a transitional one...with Phoebe's POV on the accident. The next chapter will be much better and much more detailed. There's a lot more angst to come! :o)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The window began to steam up with unwelcome condensation due to the clammy weather from outside and the boiling hot heat from the hairdryers inside the salon.
Phoebe reached out her hand and vigorously rubbed it across the huge glass pane, making herself a visible clearance so she could keep an eye on the street.
"Oh, my God, was that lightening I just saw?" Rachel held on tightly to her seat and coward backwards towards Monica for unconscious protection.
Before anyone could answer the deafening and unmistakable rumble of thunder echoed and confirmed her worst fear. She jumped up as quickly as she could and moved herself as far away from the window as was strategically possible.
"You guys should move too...it's really not safe to sit by a window during a thunderstorm!"
Monica followed Rachel over to where she was now standing in the corner of the salon by the coat rack, but Phoebe remained exactly where she was, much to Rachel's horror.
"Phoebe!" Rachel's eyes almost popped out of her head as she exclaimed her friends name in disgust, finding it hard to believe she was foolish enough to stay seated.
"Oh, Rachel, calm down! It's perfectly safe. The odds of being struck by lightening while inside a building are like a million to one. I have more chance of winning the jackpot in the state lotto than of being..." The sudden sound of screeching horns and metal smashing violently together stopped her mid sentence, making her stomach churn and almost lurch into her throat.
The whole salon fell eerily silent for a few seconds while everyone digested the situation, before they joined in their synchronised mumbling, each offering up an explanation as they fathomed out what had gone on outside.
"See! I told you both no good would come of that storm! I knew it was dangerous!" Rachel huddled closer into Monica and pushed her towards the door
"Mon, go see what happened."
"Why do I have to go? Can't you go yourself!"
Because...well, because, you have better eyesight!" She threw her hands up; knowing her excuse was pathetic and no one would believe it.
Monica drew her friend a dirty look and edged herself towards the open half wooden, half glass door, where a crowd had by now gathered, both inside and out of the hairdresser's.
She pushed herself forcefully through the mass of bodies' struggling until she finally made her way out onto the sidewalk.
So many people had gathered it was hard to make out exactly what was happening, or who was involved, but she suspected it was something to do with the bright yellow taxi which was strangely positioned across the roads two lanes.
Her eyes drifted down and rested on the cabs front wheels, where a tiny set of legs were visible. She clasped her hands tightly across her mouth to stop her from vomiting and swiftly turned her head away so she could no longer see the disturbing vision in front of her.
The roaring siren of the ambulance grew audibly closer and soon she could see it's flashing blue light beaming in the distance, growing brighter, and becoming almost blinding as it neared.
It came to a screeching standstill and immediately the paramedic rushed from the back, towards the taxi that was less that 5 feet from a terrified Monica, dropping their bags of equipment onto the sodden tarmac in great urgency.
She was transfixed by the sight of the heroes at work, trying desperately to save the little person, tragically trapped beneath the vehicles wheels
It made her want to run-run back to the safety of friends.
But before she could bolt she heard a familiar voice that was nearby calling her name.
"Monica!" Chandler spotted his wife standing on the opposite end of the street and instantly made a dart for her, leaving Joey alone in his despair.
He couldn't stay with him like this any longer. He needed Monica's comfort now more than anything else he could imagine. He needed her arms to be wrapped around him, to take away the agonising pain that was breaking his heart in two.
This was exactly the kind of situation he just couldn't cope with...not like she could. Monica had the reasoning and maturity that he so desperately wanted, but lacked.
If anyone could make everything ok Monica was the one to do it. He had to believe this for the sake of his only God daughter...the apple of his eye.
"Chandler?" She knew it was him even although his cries for her were dulled by the street noise. She stood on her toes, frantically trying to make herself taller than her normal 5 feet 4 in order to see over the massive crowd of heads that towered above her.
"Chandler, where are you?" Panic was now beginning to set in. Claustrophobia engulfed her as the strangers drew closer to her, invading the tiny piece of space she had created for herself, banging into her as they tried in vain to get nearer the accident to satisfy their need for gory gossip, making her feel almost invisible and extremely uneasy.
"I'm here!" He stretched his arm out as far as it would go and managed to barely touch the top of her shoulder. He pulled himself towards her, ignoring the cries of "Hey, watch where you're going!"
He bundled his wife into his strong arms and fully intended never to let her go.
She welcomed his warm embrace and the familiar scent of his aftershave that transported her back to a happier time and place.
"Are you okay sweetie?" As her head rested in the crease of his shoulder she felt his body shudder and tremble uncontrollably as though in spasm.
She reluctantly yanked herself away, needing to see his face, and she almost wished she hadn't.
Her worst fear was confirmed. Tears ran the length of his cheeks as he sobbed freely, for once not caring who was watching.
"What's wrong honey?" She couldn't believe her eyes. Never in her 15 years of knowing him had she seen him get in such a state. Chandler never, ever cried. He was a self confessed unemotional man, but here he was, on the verge of becoming hysterical.
He desperately wanted to tell her as she was clearly still in the dark as to who was involved in the accident, but the tears had allowed a lump to form over his vocal chords, so as hard as he tried no words would leave his mouth.
"Shh, take it easy. One word at a time" She clasped her hands patiently on his wet cheeks and waited on his answer.
"The baby!" He took a deep breath, choking back his tears.
"The baby!" He could say no more. Instead he lifted his hand and shakily pointed to the car's wheels, where the paramedics had now set up their equipment and were battling to save a life.
Monica quickly spun around and again met with the sight of the child's lifeless feet. What was he trying to tell her! He wasn't making any sense.
She remained fixated, hoping something obvious would jump out at her, and it did, much to her horror.
The sudden realisation of what he meant hit her like a ton of brick to the stomach. Her body halved in two as she bent forward, vomiting onto the pavement in front of her before she could stop herself.
The baby's boots were the exact pair she had bought for summer in the Bloomingdales sale just a few days ago. She had fallen in love with them the minute she had seen them on display and their huge price tag was no deterrent-only the best was good enough for her favourite little girl.
She wiped her mouth and brushed away her own tears. Within seconds she had found an inner strength she didn't think she was capable of, but there it was, urging her to carry on and not crumble into an uncontrollable mess. Her husband and friends needed her to be strong now more than ever.
"Chandler, go get Phoebe!" Snapping into controlling mode was her own coping mechanism, and Chandler, fully aware of this complied with her wishes.
He rushed through the salon's door, and like his wife had to do earlier, powerfully, but gently moved people out of his way. Scanning the room, studying the face of ever well groomed woman in the place that he came into contact with, until he found the one person he was there frantically searching for and the same person he so dreadfully wanted to avoid.
"Pheebs!" He ran towards her plastic disguised as leather chair by the window and urgently grabbed her arms, pulling her quickly to her feet.
He yanked her towards the door he had just entered as violently as he could without seriously hurting her, but she dug her feet into the carpeted flooring, demanding and explanation for his sudden crazy behaviour.
"What the hell are you playing at Chandler?! Have you finally lost the plot!" he ignored her venomous tone as best he could and continued to haul her along behind him with all the strength he could muster, which wasn't a lot at that precise moment.
If he could just get her out and onto the street where everything would become clear to her then he wouldn't have to find the courage and words to explain that her daughter was lying on the road seconds away from death.
"Chandler! If you don't tell me this instant what you're doing then I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurt you!" She didn't really mean it of course, but she was getting scared and absolutely mortified into the bargain. He was causing such a commotion that everyone had turned their attention from the uproar happening in the street and was now focused on the tug of war going on between them.
The immense rain almost instantly flattened her newly styled hair as she was dragged against her will into the wild winter weather.
"Please stop this, you're hurting me!" her whimpering plea fell on deaf ears...he couldn't stop now, they were just feet away.
As they drew closer he let her hands go, giving her one last push forwards. His job was done. He had done just what Monica had asked of him, but he could no longer bear to watch...it was all too painful.
All thoughts of Chandler had now left her and her focus was on the events unfolding before her very eyes.
It all seemed to be happening so far away, like a dream. She could hear the voices, and see the people, but it wasn't, couldn't be real. Could it?
The ambulance-the taxi-a baby. Her baby!
"Summer!" Phoebe immediately ran forwards, her heart pounding in her chest, breathing suddenly becoming like the most difficult thing in the world to do.
"You can't go near there miss!" A petite, blonde policewoman encased Phoebe in her surprisingly strong arms as she tried in desperation to get to her only daughter.
"But that's my baby, she needs me!" She had never felt so hopeless and numb in her entire life.
"There's nothing you can do. The Doctors are with her doing the best they can" The strangers words seemed so harsh, but she was right. There was nothing Phoebe, or anyone for that matter could do. It was too late for help.
"We're losing her!" The paramedic threw the oversized paddles onto the tiny girls chest, covering the majority of her torso.
"No!" Phoebe pushed against her captor with all her mite. She had to hold her daughter and no one was stopping her. As she broke free and ran forwards she heard the words she dreaded most.
"She's gone"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Next Chapter: Who's to blame for summers death? Can Phoebe ever forgive Joey? Who will be there to give her a little more comfort than she needs?!
Remember to review :o) Mwah