Chapter 22

Someone like You

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends

A/N: This chapter should have been the last one, but as usual I've had to cut it into 2, so as not to make it too long. I'm pretty sure there will be 2 more chapters before this fic is done...but with me you just never know...it could be another 20 lol

Thanks for all the brilliant reviews on the last chapter...I know I hadn't updated in a while, but I was pleased to see people were still reading. I hope this chapters just as popular :o) xxxxx

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Chandler and Phoebe sat snuggled up together, in the one scabby armchair that he possessed and they gazed longingly into each others eyes.

Their relationship was less than 2 days old, but yet it already felt so comfortable, like they had spent an eternity together.

"Mmm, this is amazing, isn't it?" Chandler pulled her tightly into his arms, with a huge grin on his face, he felt like the luckiest man alive. He had the woman of his dreams right by his side, and as far as he was concerned things simply couldn't get much better than this.

Her long blonde hair tickled at his face as she rested her weary head on his chest, but he couldn't bear to tear his hands away from her waist to swipw away the strands that were in his way.

"I know. I'd be happy to stay here forever, safe by your side." Her last comment made him sit up and tighten his grip on her.

"You're still scared that guys gonna come looking for you, aren't you?" He looked down to gage her reaction, and although she only gave a small shrug, he knew he was right.

Sadness and anger welled up in him. What horrendous things had that bastard done to her? To induce a fear so bad, that she felt terrified to leave his side. This was no man, this was a monster.

"sweetheart, as long as I'm here nothing bad is going to happen to you. I promise you of that." She nodded; trying to reassure him she believed his words, but a sinking gut instinct told her this wouldn't be the case.

She knew Tony well enough to know what he was capable of. He had tried to put the fear of God into her from day one, and it had worked. By telling her what would happen to her if she ran, he had made her scared for her own life, and the life of the one she loved-Chandler.

"If you run I'll hunt you down like the dog that you are, and I'll bring you back to were you belong....dead or alive!"

His words echoed around in her mind and she felt a shiver go up her back, like someone had walked over her grave.

She shook away her feelings of dread and returned her attentions to Chandler, who was now off in a world of his own.

She was about to start up conversation when the bedroom door burst open, startling her.

"Chandler!" Joey burst into the room dramatically, bending double to catch the breath he had lost in his sprit across campus.

"Hey Joe, where's the fire?" Chandler flashed his usual jovial smile, but concern was still evident on his face.

"No fire..." he stopped for a sharp intake of oxygen.

"It's Ross! You need to come quickly!"

He wiped the sweat away from his eyes and prepared to be on his way again. He was half way out of the room when Chandler stopped him.

"Whoa, slow down there Joe 90! What's wrong with him? Is he hurt?"

Joey shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. We broke into his dorm and we found him laying on the floor...he's taken a load of pills."

"What?" Chandler scrunched up his face in confusion. This didn't make any sense. He had seen his friend only the night before, and he had seemed perfectly happy as far as he could tell. Apart from the fight he had had with Jason. But that wouldn't be a reason for him pulling a stunt like this, would it?

What had happened in the last 24 hours to make him want to kill himself? It just didn't calculate somehow. This he would have to see with his own eyes to believe.

"Pheebs stay here, I'm going to check on Ross and ill be right back...okay?"

"But..." Before she could say any more he had made a mad dash after his friend, who was already sprinting down the corridor towards the stairway.

She stood in the empty doorway for a moment, staring into the deserted hallway then closed over the door. The room was so quiet with only her in it. She listened to the piercing ticking of the manual alarm clock sitting by Chandler's bedside, and the buzzing of the electricity seemed to intensify 10 fold. Every noise that normally couldn't be heard seemed now to be extremely loud.

Chandler had only been gone a matter of seconds, but already she felt vulnerably lost and lonely. She didn't want to be in this strange room alone. Being by herself brought back too many bad memories. Mostly of the horrors she had been subjected to in the last few weeks of her sad life.

She knew how crazy her reactions were and that she shouldn't been acting like a clingy sheep dog, following her boyfriend around every waking minute of the day, but her confidence was at its lowest and only with Chandler did she feel completely safe from harm.

She tried to shake away all her negative thoughts and come up with a few positives. Chandler wasn't that far away, and he wouldn't been gone for long, he had promised her so. But still as much as she tried to look on the bright side of things the fears kept returning.

"If I leave now I can get to him" She thought to herself and ran towards the door and into the hall.

It looked like a maze, with its numerous entwining corridors and doorways, but it was either carry on and find Ross' dorm, or return to Chandlers room-alone. She knew which option she preferred.

She walked, and walked some more, along the deserted 1st floor and in desperation she felt like giving up and admitting defeat...until she heard a set of footsteps approaching from behind her.

She spun around immediately, to be greeted by a smiling young guy whom she didn't recognise.

"Hey," He winked and stopped less than a foot in front of her.

"Oh, hi, "She tugged at her hair uncomfortably, hoping and praying for him to keep walking, but he didn't.

"Are you looking for someone? You look a little lost out here on your own."

"Well, yeah, I am, actually," She tugged at her hair again, this time feeling shyer than anything.

"Do you know where Ross..." She thought for a moment. What was his surname? She was sure Chandler had mentioned, but no matter how hard she tried to summons it from memory she just couldn't place it.

"I don't know his second name..." She blushed red, feeling slightly foolish.

"But he has a sister, Monica, his friend is Chandler Bing." She knew it was a lost cause. NYU was massive, with 10's of thousands of students. It was crazy to think this stranger would possibly know who she was talking about.

"Ah, yeah, you mean Ross Geller, right? Sure I know him, he's in my biology class...brainy big guy!"

"Great! Am I on the right floor?" She couldn't believe her luck...maybe things were beginning to look up for her, and about time too she deliberated.

"Aw, doll, you're not even in the right building. Ross is over in the opposite block, in the Rockefeller dorms. If you head out of the main doors it's the tall set of apartment's right in front of you." He pointed her towards the elevator and began to walk away, giving her a wave as he went.

She had known it was too good to be true. She must have been crazy to think luck was finally on her side...it never had been and never would be.

"Oh well!" She though, it's now or never. There was no time to stand about worrying about it....she would have to go outside sooner or later, and as much as it filled her with dread it had to be done.

Most people would be away home for the holidays anyway she tried to reassure herself, so she wouldn't have to panic about bumping into anyone....or so she thought.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

By the time Chandler and Joey arrived at Ross' room the paramedics were already there, loading his limp body onto a well used gurney.

"Oh, Jesus, look at him!" Chandler could hardly believe what he was witnessing...his friend laying before him, with an oxygen mask clamped to his face and a drip in his arm. Shock stopped him from breaking down, but for Monica, holding it together was not an option.

She held on tightly to her brother's lifeless hand as he was led quickly down the stairs and into the back of the waiting ambulance at the front door.

The three friends huddled closely into one another, the cool winter air wafting around then as they watched the scene unfold, like a bad film.

Joey held his girlfriend tightly in his arms as she sobbed delicately into his shoulder. She was terrified of watching her sibling looking so frail and helpless, but at the same time couldn't bear to tear her eyes away for fear he would fade away if she did.

"Which one of you wants to travel with the patient?" Monica jumped forward immediately, her hand still clasped in Joeys, she pulled him with her, needing the comfort of his loving touch...she let go reluctantly.

She stepped into the vehicle, turning around to make sure her friends hadn't disappeared in the last millisecond. Her face was a picture of anxiety, that both males instantly picked up on. This situation was alien to her, so much so she didn't think she had the confidence to do it alone.

"You go ahead, I'll be right behind you. Chandler can follow in the car to the hospital, if that's ok that is?" He turned to his friend, not wanting to assume that Chandler would be available to drive him.

"Of course it is,"

"Great, let's go then."

As the ambulance sped off at great speed the guys ran to Chandlers 10 year old, second had and clapped out Ford.

"I still can't believe this is happening..." Chandler drove the motor off in autopilot as his mind wandered off to his ailing friend in the white vehicle in front.

It all seemed like a big mystery. Like a secret everyone knew except himself. He was desperate for answers, but was unsure anyone could provide them.

"How did you find him? Did he call Monica for help?"

He listened intently as Joey recounted the whole story, from start to finish, starting from the unsettling sighting of Jack Geller.

"So, let me get this straight. You saw Mon's Dad from the window, and you both thought he was heading off to Ross' room?"

"Yeah, well he was heading in that direction" Joey didn't seem phased, but if anything Chandler was more confused than before.

After a minute of thinking it over he asked a question that was about to set the cat amongst the pigeons.

"Okay...so where is he now then, if he didn't go to see either Monica or Ross?" Joey thought about what Chandler was implying but couldn't give an answer. His eyes bulged out of his head as the realisation finally sunk in.

"Hmm, that's strange..."

"Yes, very strange."

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Ok, so not too much angst to finish on, but I can guarantee plenty of drama coming soon :o)

Keep reading and reviewing xxxxx