Thanks for all the reviews guys! And here's chapter 17, without a month long delay! Enjoy, and click that button!
Nina
While You Were Sleeping
Part 17
Monica looked up as the door opened and the guard ushered in the figure. Monica continued staring out towards the prison yard, inactive this early in the morning. She didn't even know for sure who was visiting her, having only been told this morning that she had a visitor. Given the privileged use of the private room, Monica had assumed it was her lawyer, attempting to keep her up to date, but the slim female figure now walking in was definitely not that of her male, middle-aged lawyer. Squinting slightly against the harsh lights the prison service apparently thought were a good idea, she caught a glimpse of brunette hair, before the person was suddenly sitting opposite her.
"You have thirty minutes"
Monica nodded in the general direction of the warden as she exited the room, try as she might she couldn't take her eyes away from her visitor, from the person whom up until about thirty seconds ago she had assumed was her lawyer. But as Rachel stared across the table at her, a face she thought she would never see again was actually right there in front of her.
"Hey Monica"
Monica contemplated smiling, she really did. She wondered if it would be easier, quicker, and less painless for all involved if she smiled, sat back, and waited for whatever Rachel was about to say. Heck, she was sitting there because the entire world believed she gunned down her friends, Rachel included. This could hardly be counted as a social visit.
"What do you want, Rachel?"
Sure it sounded harsh but why shouldn't she be harsh? Ever since Phoebe had died Ross had practically forgotten he had a sister. He'd cut her from his life and pretended she'd never existed. He believed she was guilty, he'd as much as admitted it. And Rachel had stood by him through all of this. Had probably never batted an eyelash when he mentioned that he was never going to see his sister again. And now she was here, expecting Monica to … to what? To sit there and beg for her forgiveness for a crime Monica wasn't even sure she'd committed?
"Monica, please don't be like that … "
That wasn't even worth answering. If she'd cared she'd have called, she'd have let her know, somehow, that she was thinking of her. That she knew Ross was being an idiot, but she was letting him realise it on his own. That she knew Monica was innocent, that she believed in her. Instead she'd stayed away, pretended ignorance was bliss, and suddenly she wanted Monica to be civil to her?
"Monica come on, it's me"
But it wasn't. Not really. The Rachel she'd known would never have abandoned her when she needed her friends the most. She'd have stood by her the entire time. No matter what. She wouldn't have just ignored her for six months. Not the Rachel she knew. Monica continued staring straight ahead, not even caring that she was being rude. Not even caring that Rachel was growing more and more upset. It served her right for all the times she'd sat in her cell crying herself to sleep. She heard Rachel sigh, exasperated.
"Look, I didn't have to come here today you know? Everyone told me not to, Ross, your parents, your lawyer. They all said it was pointless but I thought you needed to … "
So Rachel was suddenly the martyr? The poor repressed victim who'd stood up for herself. She actually wanted Monica to congratulate her for coming to visit? What did she expect, a pat on the back and a little certificate? Rachel had ignored her for over six months and suddenly she paid a visit and she wanted praise? Monica didn't even blink when Rachel stood up and walked to the door. She didn't even care when she saw the single tear trail its way down her cheek. For all she knew, Rachel was playing the tortured heroine again. Monica only looked up as the door slammed shut, seconds after Rachel had uttered her final words,
"Joey died by the way. Just thought you should know"
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Standing outside the foreboding prison building Chandler felt himself shudder. Some part of him, buried deep inside, still couldn't accept that his wife, his one true love, his soul mate, was imprisoned inside that building. It was just so un … Monica. Without even realising what he was doing he began to wonder how she'd organise the plants dotted haphazardly around the yard. How she'd change the grey walls for something more inviting. He'd practically rearranged the entire front entrance before he realised why he was there.
Walking through the security gates he began practicing his opening. He wasn't even sure how he'd feel when he saw her; she'd been imprisoned for trying to kill him. She was on death row for God's sake. How was he meant to deal with that?
"Name?"
Chandler reeled off his details, now anxious to just get this over with. He still wasn't sure how he'd react, whether he'd want to cry or leap across the table and strangle her with his bare hands. But, he knew that seeing her would make him feel something, and then he could deal with that and move on. Close this part of his life because the one thing he was sure of, was that it was not Ihis/I Monica he was going to see.
"It's just through there"
Walking into the dimly lit room he blinked as his eyes adjusted. As soon as he could see clearly he saw her. Sitting on the other side of the table, he face buried in her arms. She looked up as the door creaked shut behind him and in the instant their eyes met he was sure of one thing,
His Monica was innocent.