Rachel felt helpless as she followed as Chandler was pushed along into the
emergency room. Trying to make sense of the information that was being said
about his injuries. She heard one of the doctors predicted a broken leg and
serious head injuries, everything else made no sense at all.
She was stopped from following any further and was left alone, her mind was swamped with thoughts. She couldn't believe it had happen, one minute he was there then the next he wasn't.
She dropped into a chair and put her head in her hands, rubbing her eyes, trying to stop more tears from rolling down her face.
"Rachel?" She heard the familiar voice of Phoebe reach her.
"Oh, guys..thank god, you're here." She cried as she jumped up and ran into Joey's and Phoebe's arms.
"What's happened?" Joey asked, "how is he?"
"I dunno.I really dunno, what's going to happen." She couldn't help as tears streamed down her face.
"Come on, everything is going to be fine." Phoebe predicted, who as well couldn't help the tears slip down her face once she saw Rachel cry.
"What if he isn't?" Joey asked, as he struggled to shallow the lump that raised in his throat.
There was silence, none of them knew what to say, hoping the others would say something comforting and reassuring but no one did. A small cry from Rachel broken the silence and Joey pulled both her and Phoebe into a hug, looking upwards at the ceiling with his own tears glisten in his eyes.
*~*~*
A smile was firmly fixed on Monica's face, nothing could ruining this for her. Everything her and Chandler wanted was coming true.
She opened the door to their apartment, expecting him to be there waiting, just like she had asked him to but she only saw Ross sat on the couch with Emma.
"Hey Ross." She called over, tossing her keys on the table, "Chandler here?"
"Monica." He said jumping up from where he sat.
"Do you know where he is cos I got something I really need to tell him." She cut him off.
"Mon.."
"I knew he'd be late." She said, still grinning not bothered about it.
"Monica. just wait a minute."
"What's going on?" She frowned with concern, noticing for the first time her brother's eyes were red and puffy, making him look he'd be crying.
"Mon, maybe you should sit down."
"Ross, what's going on?" She repeated, as she lowered herself slowly onto a kitchen chair.
Ross' mouth went dry, as he tried to think of the write words to break the new to Monica. He wasn't sure if he able to.
"Ross. you're scaring me." She told him, as she panicked slightly.never seeing her brother in this kind of state before.
"Okay..right." Ross stuttered, knowing he had to tell her. He kneeling down in front of her, "There was an accident.."
"An accident." She repeated confused.
"Mon, I'm so sorry."
"What? What's going on." Tears welled in her eyes, as she begin to fear the worst.
"It's Chandler."
"No.no.no." She cried.
"He was hit by a car." Ross continued, gripping on to her hand, "The guys have gone with him to the hospital."
"He's going to be okay though?" She could hardly dare to asked, Ross looked away. he didn't know what to say and he didn't her to see the tears of fear, "Ross?"
"I dunno.." Ross admitted, pulling her into a hug.
They stayed in that position for a couple of minutes. Monica let her brother comfort her, as she thought about what she had just heard. It couldn't be happening, not now, not know they had everything they dream of. She couldn't see her life without Chandler.
"This is Chandler, he's going to fine." She broke the silence, not wanting to face the possibilities.
"Yeah." Ross nodded, then stood up, "Come on, lets go and see him, yeah?"
*~*~*
Joey's eyes were transfixed on the wall in front of him. An hour and half ago, he was laughing and joking with Phoebe in his apartment, waiting for everyone to return from work so they could all go over for dinner that Monica always cooked. Now he was sat in the hospital waiting to hear if he's friend was going to live or die.
"How long they going to take!" Joey stood up angrily.
"Joey, calm down." Phoebe said.
"I just want him to be okay." He turned so he's back was to the girls, before adding tearfully, "he's my best friend.. He can't die."
"Don't think like that!" Phoebe practically yelled. She couldn't handle thinking about it. Her friends were the closest thing to a family she had. Chandler, Ross and Joey were like the brothers she never had and Monica and Rachel were most like her sisters then her real one was. She didn't want to think about one of them dieing.
"How can I not!?" Joey spun around, tear visibly in his eyes but he managed them from rolling down his face, "you saw the state he was in!"
Phoebe dropped back into her chair, defeated by Joey's statement. Silence reigned over them again. Joey looked at Rachel and Phoebe, Rachel had her head in her hands and he could tell she was crying because her whole body shook with grief. Phoebe stared ahead, deep in thoughts, a few tears slowly slide down her face.
"Come on, Chandler. Don't you give up now." The words were whispered, almost as a prayer. He'd hadn't uttered a single prayer since he'd left school. He never had any time for God. But now, now he needed His help more than he ever had in his life. Without knowing he was doing it, he muttered the words again.
"Guys?" They all looked up to see Monica and Ross rushing towards them, "any news? How is he?"
"We haven't heard anything." Phoebe told her, "but I'm sure he's going to be okay.."
She looked at Joey, half expecting him to have another out burst but he hadn't moved from leaning against the wall, with his eyes closed and his lips moving slowly and silently.
"Yeah, yeah." Monica nodded, reality hadn't hit her. "I know he will."
They all settled into the sits, except Joey, who reminded where he was. Ross sat between Rachel and Monica, his arm around his little sister's shoulders, protectively.
Monica had convinced herself that Chandler was going to be fine and there was nothing seriously wrong. She glanced up at Joey, wondering what he was thinking, every so often he would recite another prayer silently but none of the others would notice.
Rachel held onto Emma, as she slept in her arms. She knew that she should really take her home but she couldn't bring herself to live. Not wanting to miss out on any news, good or bad.
"Has anyone called his parents?" Monica asked, breaking the silence.
"Umm.. No." Rachel shook her head, "to tell the truth, I forgot."
"Do you want me to?" Ross asked her.
She was about decline the offer, thinking that it should be her telling his parents, she was his wife but she didn't think she could leave, just in case a doctor came.
"Thank you." She nodded.
He smiled sadly at her and squished her hand before standing up and going in search for a payphone.
He returned 15 minutes later and they still hadn't heard any news on how Chandler was.
"He's Mum, is on her way back from a tour, she said she'd get here as soon as.and I couldn't get hold his Dad, I left a message with his 'friend'." Ross told them, before adding, "I call Mum and Dad. they're on there way here."
"What?" Monica looked up for the first time.
"I'm sorry, Mon. I tried to stop them but Mum insisted.." Ross tried to explain.
"I can't believe this." Monica stood up and began to pace around, "I can't deal with her being here and criticizing me."
"Maybe it's a good thing they're coming." Rachel said, causing everyone to look at her, "I mean we can ask them to take Emma home."
"Yeah, that would be a good thing." Ross agreed.
"Alright."
*~*~*
An hour later they were still sat there, having heard no news. They all jumped up when a doctor approach them.
"Are you here for Chandler Bing?" He asked.
"Yes.yeah we are." Monica stuttered, the moment of true had come, "I'm his wife. how is he?"
"I'm Dr O'Connor," he told them.
"How's Chandler?!" Joey cut in sharply.
"Well, Chandler is suffering from serious head injuries. We had to operate to reduce the swelling." He informed them, "he also has fracture he's left leg pretty badly.. We may need to operate later..At the moment we have him under heavy sedation. We're supporting his breathing and if all goes well we'll slowly lighten the dose over the next few days and take it from there."
"So, he's going to be okay?" Rachel asked, hopefully.
"To be honest." The doctor started, "it's too early to say.I'm sorry."
"Can we see him?" Monica asked.
"Of course." He told her, "follow me."
They all followed him silently, none of them knew what to say. They stopped out a room and the doctor turned back to them.
"Like, I said, he's under heavy sedation and probably will not respond but it may help if he hears your voices, so talk to him." He told them and walked away.
"This is serious, isn't it?" It finally hit Monica, just how bad he was.
Ross nodded, slowly, he couldn't bring himself to say the words. They all put their arms around each other for a much need a group hug, but it didn't feel the same just the five of them.
"Come on, lets go and talk to him." Monica said.
Rachel was about to follow Ross, Phoebe and Monica in, when she noticed Joey was stood still.
"Joey. sweetie?" She reached out and touched his arm, "you not coming in?"
"I can't." He muttered, tearfully, shrugging to keep from having a emotional break down.
"Sure you can."
"I can't!" He shouted, she was taken about by his out burst "Oh, Rach. I'm sorry..I didn't mean that."
"It's alright." She hugged him, "I understand."
"I just can't go in there."
"Why not?"
"I can't stand hospitals." He whispers, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear, even though no one was around.
"You do?" She frowned, "but you was with me when Emma was born.and when Phoebe had her triplets."
"I know..but that's different." He told her, his finger began to rake through his hair, "I knew you wouldn't die."
"Joey! Chandler's not going to die!"
"You don't know!" He cried out, "that's what everyone always say! But people still die!"
Rachel was silent for a moment, watching him as tears streamed down his face and he shrugged to suck in any air.
"What's wrong, Joe?"
"Nothing!"
"You think I'm to believe that!?" Rachel asked.
"They said my Granddad was going to be fine!" He suddenly said, "they said he wouldn't die! The next morning my ma told me he die during the night."
"Oh, Joey I'm sorry." She said softly, "I didn't know."
"No, no one did." He leant against the wall, "Only Chandler. He's knows everything about me. he's the one I talk to. Who am I going to talk to now? Now that he's in there?"
"Me?"
Joey looked at her for a minute, before pulling her into a hug. "Thanks Rach."
"What are friends for?" She smiled at him slightly, "Look, I'll stay out here with you.."
"No. go be with him.tell him I'm sorry." Joey pushed her gently towards the door before she could refuse.
Monica looked down at Chandler, there was a tube down he's throat, lines in his arms, wires on his chest linked to machines and blood soaked stitches ran across the skin.
She slowly walked over to him and took hold of his hand. Ross, Phoebe and Rachel all moved to stand next to his bed.
"Chandler. Honey?" Monica said softly, not caring tears were falling freely down her face. "Chandler, you gotta wake."
"Yeah, come on. we need you." Ross added. He could hardly believe it. Chandler was his best friend, they had none each since college and now there was a possibility that he was going to die.
The only sound that was a made, was the machines beeping slowly, along with his heart beat.
"I love you." Monica whispered.
"We all do." Rachel added, pressing a tissue to her swollen red eyes. She was trying to stop crying but a sob escaped. Ross reached over and gripped her hand, for his sake as much as hers.
"You're going to be okay.." Phoebe told him, squeezing his other hand, "you gotta be."
Joey stood outside the door, his hand on the handle. He wanted to go in and be with his friends, he wanted to be there for Chandler. He took a deep breath before he prepared him to push open door when he heard the voices inside.
His friends were telling Chandler that they loved him and how much they'd missed him. Anger flared inside Joey, they had stood there and told him that Chandler was going to be okay but now they were in there saying goodbye to him, they had given up on him. He spun around and stormed off out of the hospital, tears burning in his eyes, he need to be alone.
"If you don't wake up, who's going to make us laugh?" Ross asked, "who's going to insult us with jokes?"
"Please Chandler, wake up." Monica begged, she brushed away some tears, "If you don't wake up, I won't give you that surprise!"
The four of them watched him, expecting some kind of response, hoping for some kind of response. Ross turned around, angrily. Cursing himself, for thinking like that. it wasn't some movie, it was real life.
Suddenly alarms started to sound, the beeping machines became quicker and louder.
"NO, Chandler!" Monica screamed, as medical staff rushed into the room.
"What's happening?" Ross asked, one of them.
"I think you should leave." The nurse told them.
"What's going on!" He demanded again.
"He's heart as stopped."
"No, no." Monica cried, as she was pulled out the room by Phoebe and Rachel.
Once outside, Ross pulled her into a hug. The only sound that could be heard was of the four friend's cries.
She was stopped from following any further and was left alone, her mind was swamped with thoughts. She couldn't believe it had happen, one minute he was there then the next he wasn't.
She dropped into a chair and put her head in her hands, rubbing her eyes, trying to stop more tears from rolling down her face.
"Rachel?" She heard the familiar voice of Phoebe reach her.
"Oh, guys..thank god, you're here." She cried as she jumped up and ran into Joey's and Phoebe's arms.
"What's happened?" Joey asked, "how is he?"
"I dunno.I really dunno, what's going to happen." She couldn't help as tears streamed down her face.
"Come on, everything is going to be fine." Phoebe predicted, who as well couldn't help the tears slip down her face once she saw Rachel cry.
"What if he isn't?" Joey asked, as he struggled to shallow the lump that raised in his throat.
There was silence, none of them knew what to say, hoping the others would say something comforting and reassuring but no one did. A small cry from Rachel broken the silence and Joey pulled both her and Phoebe into a hug, looking upwards at the ceiling with his own tears glisten in his eyes.
*~*~*
A smile was firmly fixed on Monica's face, nothing could ruining this for her. Everything her and Chandler wanted was coming true.
She opened the door to their apartment, expecting him to be there waiting, just like she had asked him to but she only saw Ross sat on the couch with Emma.
"Hey Ross." She called over, tossing her keys on the table, "Chandler here?"
"Monica." He said jumping up from where he sat.
"Do you know where he is cos I got something I really need to tell him." She cut him off.
"Mon.."
"I knew he'd be late." She said, still grinning not bothered about it.
"Monica. just wait a minute."
"What's going on?" She frowned with concern, noticing for the first time her brother's eyes were red and puffy, making him look he'd be crying.
"Mon, maybe you should sit down."
"Ross, what's going on?" She repeated, as she lowered herself slowly onto a kitchen chair.
Ross' mouth went dry, as he tried to think of the write words to break the new to Monica. He wasn't sure if he able to.
"Ross. you're scaring me." She told him, as she panicked slightly.never seeing her brother in this kind of state before.
"Okay..right." Ross stuttered, knowing he had to tell her. He kneeling down in front of her, "There was an accident.."
"An accident." She repeated confused.
"Mon, I'm so sorry."
"What? What's going on." Tears welled in her eyes, as she begin to fear the worst.
"It's Chandler."
"No.no.no." She cried.
"He was hit by a car." Ross continued, gripping on to her hand, "The guys have gone with him to the hospital."
"He's going to be okay though?" She could hardly dare to asked, Ross looked away. he didn't know what to say and he didn't her to see the tears of fear, "Ross?"
"I dunno.." Ross admitted, pulling her into a hug.
They stayed in that position for a couple of minutes. Monica let her brother comfort her, as she thought about what she had just heard. It couldn't be happening, not now, not know they had everything they dream of. She couldn't see her life without Chandler.
"This is Chandler, he's going to fine." She broke the silence, not wanting to face the possibilities.
"Yeah." Ross nodded, then stood up, "Come on, lets go and see him, yeah?"
*~*~*
Joey's eyes were transfixed on the wall in front of him. An hour and half ago, he was laughing and joking with Phoebe in his apartment, waiting for everyone to return from work so they could all go over for dinner that Monica always cooked. Now he was sat in the hospital waiting to hear if he's friend was going to live or die.
"How long they going to take!" Joey stood up angrily.
"Joey, calm down." Phoebe said.
"I just want him to be okay." He turned so he's back was to the girls, before adding tearfully, "he's my best friend.. He can't die."
"Don't think like that!" Phoebe practically yelled. She couldn't handle thinking about it. Her friends were the closest thing to a family she had. Chandler, Ross and Joey were like the brothers she never had and Monica and Rachel were most like her sisters then her real one was. She didn't want to think about one of them dieing.
"How can I not!?" Joey spun around, tear visibly in his eyes but he managed them from rolling down his face, "you saw the state he was in!"
Phoebe dropped back into her chair, defeated by Joey's statement. Silence reigned over them again. Joey looked at Rachel and Phoebe, Rachel had her head in her hands and he could tell she was crying because her whole body shook with grief. Phoebe stared ahead, deep in thoughts, a few tears slowly slide down her face.
"Come on, Chandler. Don't you give up now." The words were whispered, almost as a prayer. He'd hadn't uttered a single prayer since he'd left school. He never had any time for God. But now, now he needed His help more than he ever had in his life. Without knowing he was doing it, he muttered the words again.
"Guys?" They all looked up to see Monica and Ross rushing towards them, "any news? How is he?"
"We haven't heard anything." Phoebe told her, "but I'm sure he's going to be okay.."
She looked at Joey, half expecting him to have another out burst but he hadn't moved from leaning against the wall, with his eyes closed and his lips moving slowly and silently.
"Yeah, yeah." Monica nodded, reality hadn't hit her. "I know he will."
They all settled into the sits, except Joey, who reminded where he was. Ross sat between Rachel and Monica, his arm around his little sister's shoulders, protectively.
Monica had convinced herself that Chandler was going to be fine and there was nothing seriously wrong. She glanced up at Joey, wondering what he was thinking, every so often he would recite another prayer silently but none of the others would notice.
Rachel held onto Emma, as she slept in her arms. She knew that she should really take her home but she couldn't bring herself to live. Not wanting to miss out on any news, good or bad.
"Has anyone called his parents?" Monica asked, breaking the silence.
"Umm.. No." Rachel shook her head, "to tell the truth, I forgot."
"Do you want me to?" Ross asked her.
She was about decline the offer, thinking that it should be her telling his parents, she was his wife but she didn't think she could leave, just in case a doctor came.
"Thank you." She nodded.
He smiled sadly at her and squished her hand before standing up and going in search for a payphone.
He returned 15 minutes later and they still hadn't heard any news on how Chandler was.
"He's Mum, is on her way back from a tour, she said she'd get here as soon as.and I couldn't get hold his Dad, I left a message with his 'friend'." Ross told them, before adding, "I call Mum and Dad. they're on there way here."
"What?" Monica looked up for the first time.
"I'm sorry, Mon. I tried to stop them but Mum insisted.." Ross tried to explain.
"I can't believe this." Monica stood up and began to pace around, "I can't deal with her being here and criticizing me."
"Maybe it's a good thing they're coming." Rachel said, causing everyone to look at her, "I mean we can ask them to take Emma home."
"Yeah, that would be a good thing." Ross agreed.
"Alright."
*~*~*
An hour later they were still sat there, having heard no news. They all jumped up when a doctor approach them.
"Are you here for Chandler Bing?" He asked.
"Yes.yeah we are." Monica stuttered, the moment of true had come, "I'm his wife. how is he?"
"I'm Dr O'Connor," he told them.
"How's Chandler?!" Joey cut in sharply.
"Well, Chandler is suffering from serious head injuries. We had to operate to reduce the swelling." He informed them, "he also has fracture he's left leg pretty badly.. We may need to operate later..At the moment we have him under heavy sedation. We're supporting his breathing and if all goes well we'll slowly lighten the dose over the next few days and take it from there."
"So, he's going to be okay?" Rachel asked, hopefully.
"To be honest." The doctor started, "it's too early to say.I'm sorry."
"Can we see him?" Monica asked.
"Of course." He told her, "follow me."
They all followed him silently, none of them knew what to say. They stopped out a room and the doctor turned back to them.
"Like, I said, he's under heavy sedation and probably will not respond but it may help if he hears your voices, so talk to him." He told them and walked away.
"This is serious, isn't it?" It finally hit Monica, just how bad he was.
Ross nodded, slowly, he couldn't bring himself to say the words. They all put their arms around each other for a much need a group hug, but it didn't feel the same just the five of them.
"Come on, lets go and talk to him." Monica said.
Rachel was about to follow Ross, Phoebe and Monica in, when she noticed Joey was stood still.
"Joey. sweetie?" She reached out and touched his arm, "you not coming in?"
"I can't." He muttered, tearfully, shrugging to keep from having a emotional break down.
"Sure you can."
"I can't!" He shouted, she was taken about by his out burst "Oh, Rach. I'm sorry..I didn't mean that."
"It's alright." She hugged him, "I understand."
"I just can't go in there."
"Why not?"
"I can't stand hospitals." He whispers, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear, even though no one was around.
"You do?" She frowned, "but you was with me when Emma was born.and when Phoebe had her triplets."
"I know..but that's different." He told her, his finger began to rake through his hair, "I knew you wouldn't die."
"Joey! Chandler's not going to die!"
"You don't know!" He cried out, "that's what everyone always say! But people still die!"
Rachel was silent for a moment, watching him as tears streamed down his face and he shrugged to suck in any air.
"What's wrong, Joe?"
"Nothing!"
"You think I'm to believe that!?" Rachel asked.
"They said my Granddad was going to be fine!" He suddenly said, "they said he wouldn't die! The next morning my ma told me he die during the night."
"Oh, Joey I'm sorry." She said softly, "I didn't know."
"No, no one did." He leant against the wall, "Only Chandler. He's knows everything about me. he's the one I talk to. Who am I going to talk to now? Now that he's in there?"
"Me?"
Joey looked at her for a minute, before pulling her into a hug. "Thanks Rach."
"What are friends for?" She smiled at him slightly, "Look, I'll stay out here with you.."
"No. go be with him.tell him I'm sorry." Joey pushed her gently towards the door before she could refuse.
Monica looked down at Chandler, there was a tube down he's throat, lines in his arms, wires on his chest linked to machines and blood soaked stitches ran across the skin.
She slowly walked over to him and took hold of his hand. Ross, Phoebe and Rachel all moved to stand next to his bed.
"Chandler. Honey?" Monica said softly, not caring tears were falling freely down her face. "Chandler, you gotta wake."
"Yeah, come on. we need you." Ross added. He could hardly believe it. Chandler was his best friend, they had none each since college and now there was a possibility that he was going to die.
The only sound that was a made, was the machines beeping slowly, along with his heart beat.
"I love you." Monica whispered.
"We all do." Rachel added, pressing a tissue to her swollen red eyes. She was trying to stop crying but a sob escaped. Ross reached over and gripped her hand, for his sake as much as hers.
"You're going to be okay.." Phoebe told him, squeezing his other hand, "you gotta be."
Joey stood outside the door, his hand on the handle. He wanted to go in and be with his friends, he wanted to be there for Chandler. He took a deep breath before he prepared him to push open door when he heard the voices inside.
His friends were telling Chandler that they loved him and how much they'd missed him. Anger flared inside Joey, they had stood there and told him that Chandler was going to be okay but now they were in there saying goodbye to him, they had given up on him. He spun around and stormed off out of the hospital, tears burning in his eyes, he need to be alone.
"If you don't wake up, who's going to make us laugh?" Ross asked, "who's going to insult us with jokes?"
"Please Chandler, wake up." Monica begged, she brushed away some tears, "If you don't wake up, I won't give you that surprise!"
The four of them watched him, expecting some kind of response, hoping for some kind of response. Ross turned around, angrily. Cursing himself, for thinking like that. it wasn't some movie, it was real life.
Suddenly alarms started to sound, the beeping machines became quicker and louder.
"NO, Chandler!" Monica screamed, as medical staff rushed into the room.
"What's happening?" Ross asked, one of them.
"I think you should leave." The nurse told them.
"What's going on!" He demanded again.
"He's heart as stopped."
"No, no." Monica cried, as she was pulled out the room by Phoebe and Rachel.
Once outside, Ross pulled her into a hug. The only sound that could be heard was of the four friend's cries.