Worried

They had had no luck with the hospitals.

'So that means she's okay,' Monica said.

'No it doesn't, it means she could be lying in a dark alley. She could be bleeding to death while I'm here drinking coffee.' Ross banged the mug down. He would have thrown it across the room but he still had enough restraint not to break his sister's things.

'Ross, we're doing the best we can,' Chandler interposed.

'We should be calling the police,' Ross said.

'I'll do that,' Chandler said. He looked at Monica. 'I'm wondering about Rachel.'

'Me too,' Monica said. It was now past midnight and they had already been back to check up on her several times. Maybe Rachel was staying out all night with a date... Joey said, munching on a sandwich,

'It's a bit like what Phoebe said before.' They all looked at him.

'What did I say?' Phoebe asked.

'A coincidence that Rachel's missing and Emily's missing.'

'Well they wouldn't be together, that's for sure,' Chandler said with a laugh, 'There's no way those two would be out there, painting the town red together.' Now everyone was staring at him and he laughed again, 'I mean guys really, you know...' he tailed off. All he was getting were blank stares.

'Well Emily was at Bloomingdales to see her uncle this afternoon,' Ross said, 'She might have met Rachel.' The room fell silent as each imagined this.

'Well they wouldn't have said anything to each other if they did see each other,' Monica said.

'No,' Joey said, 'But they might have punched each other out.'

'Joey!' hissed Monica.

'Emily would never do that!' Ross said. 'Neither would Rachel.'

'Emily landed one on you at the wedding,' Joey said.

'Don't mention the wedding!' Chandler said.

'If Emily hit Rachel, Rachel would have hit her back and so...' Joey said and then wilting under their glares said, 'It's only a suggestion.' Everyone looked away.

'Maybe they did get together,' Phoebe said. 'Maybe they're just having a really long chat in a constructive and positive way.' Chandler and Monica threw her a satirical look. 'Well it's just a suggestion,' Phoebe said, 'It's a lot nicer than some of the other things everyone has been saying this evening and since we don't know what's going and can't stop whatever is going on, then I'd rather think positive thoughts. Sometimes positive thinking is all you've got.' That silenced everyone for a moment. Phoebe had often had only her positive thoughts to keep her going on the streets.

'So,' Chandler said, 'We wait.'

'You guys don't have to stay with me. In fact I should really go home and wait for Emily there and stop disturbing you,' Ross said.

'No Ross,' Monica said, 'We should be together. I need to check on Rachel and you shouldn't be alone at a time like this.'

'There's no need for everyone else to staying up late though,' Ross said.

'No Ross, it's fine, we're all friends, we're all concerned,' Chandler said. 'We're not going to leave.'

'I might go home and get my ouija board, maybe we can find something out with that,' Phoebe said. The others shrugged. Anything might help.

The results of the ouija board were most unhelpful producing the word 'chocolate.'

'Chocolate,' Ross said with a sigh, 'Emily loves chocolate.'

'Maybe this is a good sign,' Phoebe said hopefully but no-one took her up on it. They'd ouijed until two. The lighting in the room was low. They had been sitting around a table and Ross got up to stretch his legs. Monica and Chandler had dropped their guard and it was a shock to hear Ross suddenly say,

'Hey, we're not ouijing any more and you're still holding hands. Why are you holding hands? Chandler why are you holding my sister's hand?' Monica had been about to let Chandler's hand go but Chandler held her hand firm, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.

'Because I want to hold her hand.'

'And I want to hold his hand,' Monica said.

'Who's holding your other hand?' Ross demanded.

'No-one.' Ross spun around to look at Phoebe and Joey. 'Are you two holding hands?'

'No,' they said. They could only have done that if their arms were three metres long since they were at opposite ends of the table.

'So,' Ross said, trying very hard to be calm but rapidly approaching the scream horizon, 'You're holding hands. You, my sister and you my friend. My wife is missing and so is one of my friends and anything could have happened to them, and,' he took a deep breath, 'You're holding hands! My wife could be, could be - something terrible could be happening to her and you've decided to suddenly get cozy!'

'Calm down Ross,' Joey said.

'Calm! How can I be calm! I thought you were concerned about me about Emily about Rachel and instead you're using this as an excuse to get friendly.'

'Now hold on!' Chandler said, his temper rising, 'We haven't "just getting cozy." Monica interjected with a tiny,

'Chandler - '

'No Monica, it's time he knew,' Chandler said.

'Knew what?! You're keeping secrets from me?' Ross demanded.

'With you acting like a burst water main who can be surprised?' Chandler shot back. 'I'm sorry we didn't tell you before Ross, but we've been seeing each other for a while.'

'Since when?!'

'Since London.'

'You've been seeing Chandler since London?' Ross demanded of Monica who just nodded. Chandler answered for her.

'Yes, and I care about your sister very much, and now that she's worried about her friend, your wife and you, I'm going to provide her with some comfort,' Chandler said. He was almost as angry as Ross but he brought himself under control.

'But you never date anyone seriously!' Ross said. 'You date girls and then you drop them.'

'Monica is special,' Chandler said. It was a big adventure for him to allow himself to get involved with someone and not run away but he was going to try it. The fact that she was also his friend would discourage him from being chicken.

'That's why every time Monica went out to look for Rachel you went with her,' Ross said. 'I can't believe you kept this from me.' The others looked at him pointedly and he sat down in defeat. 'Okay okay, so I was a little upset.' No-one rushed in to say, Oh not at all, perfectly understandable, we'd do the same. 'All right,' Ross said, 'I may have overreacted just a little.'

'We should call your apartment again,' Phoebe said after yet another uncomfortable silence.

'Oh my God,' Ross shot up again and grabbed the phone and started dialling. Despite the seriousness of the situation some of the tension dissipated, and Chandler took hold of Monica's hand again.