Thanks for all the reviews! I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas! We had our first white Christmas for years so I spent all day in the snow! (Who says I'm mature?!) but anyway, after this there's only 2 more parts, so review and get me past the 100 mark!

Mwah!

Nina

While You Were Sleeping

Part 20

Monica stared around her cell and prayed with all her heart that she would never have to see it again. She knew that was unlikely, how often were convicted murderers sent free, just like that? Never. She knew there was new evidence but her lawyer was keeping her in the dark, saying he didn't want anything to get out before he was certain. But there was someone else. Someone else they blamed. Monica wished she had a clue as to who it was, even a memory of the coffee shop on THAT night, a small snippet, a snatched glimpse of a stranger. Nothing came to her, nothing ever would. She had accepted that now. THAT night was just a black spot in her mind, she knew it always would be. All she could hope was that her remaining days passed quickly. Only twelve more months and it would all be over. She'd be free. In spirit at least.

"Miss Geller? If you'd like to follow me please"

Monica nodded as she began the slow walk to the police van, which would take her to the courthouse. It was a route she knew like the back of her hand. In a corner of her mind she wondered if Chandler would be there, if she'd finally get to see him again. All visits, except those of her lawyer, had been banned for the past few months. Depriving Monica of her one last cling to mankind. She knew Ross wouldn't be there, why would he be? To him she was already dead, this was nothing to him. She was nothing.

"All rise for the honourable Judge Simpson"

Monica stood up and glanced around the small room. No one she knew was there. Not a soul. No one in this world ever cared about her anymore, she was sure of that now. If she was released, who would be there to greet her? An empty bed and the obligatory cheque to help her get her life back. The life she no longer had.

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Chandler jolted awake as the phone rang, piercing the first real dreams he had had in what felt like years. Kicking the dog from under his feet, he began cursing as he searched for the phone in amongst the mess he hoped would soon become his life. Snatching it up he resisted the urge to yell into the receiver,

"Hello?"

"Chandler? Finally! It's Rachel, Rachel Green. I just wondered if you'd heard about Monica's … "

Chandler spoke over her, shaking his head and waving his hands, not caring that she couldn't actually see him. "No I haven't, and Rach? I don't want to." He heard her sharp intake of breath and cut her off again, not wanting to hear what she had to say. "I know it sounds harsh, I really do, but I need to move on. I can't live the rest of my life wondering about her. That's why I'm out here Rach, away from everyone. I need a new start, a fresh start. I just don't always like that that means leaving you guys behind. But I have to. Please don't call me again." He paused, wondering if that was too harsh, before adding, "Goodbye … " as he hung up.

He glanced down at the phone, torn as to whether he wanted it to remain silent, or whether he wanted it to burst to life, Rachel's voice on the other end telling him that he could never get rid of them. They were his friends and they loved him.

It didn't make a sound.

Fighting against the tears he grabbed the lead from the arm of the chair and whistled to the dog, now asleep in front of the TV.

"Come on boy. We're going to get our life back"

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Monica watched as the young women took to the stand and began speaking, each word echoed with fear.

"I'd know Mr Tuler for a number of years, we used to work together. I always knew he had a … a thing, for Miss Green. I laughed about it with the other girls, it was just a bit of harmless fun. Then when Mr Geller began dating her he became obsessed. He loved her, but he hated Mr Geller even more"

"Miss Kelly," Monica's lawyer interrupted, "Is it your belief that Mr Tuler was the one who opened fire on the night in question?"

Monica watched, her lungs now daring to work, as she waited. The girl nodded, and Monica believed, for the first time in years, that maybe, just maybe, she could have what remained of her life back.

The rest of the trial passed in a haze of witnesses, each one confirming G … Mr Tuler's obsession with Rachel, his deep hatred of Ross. Everything was clicking into place and Monica began to believe that maybe she was innocent. Maybe none of this had been her fault. Maybe the past year had never happened. Maybe if she just stepped outside, just a toe, then maybe Phoebe and Joey would be alive again. Maybe Rachel would be pregnant, Ross glowing with more pride than anyone thought possible. Maybe she could be herself again, have everything back that she thought she had lost forever.

Maybe all that could be hers again, maybe. Maybe people would understand now. Maybe the jury would believe her this time.

They did.