phew! once again, was meant to be a short chapter...eh, i should expect this to happen now. I had looked through my chapters and realised that, while i had quite a bit of Chandler and Joey moments, i didnt have as many as i desired, so i wrote this for...well, my own benefit, but im sure there are quite a few other people out there who enjoy Joey and Chandler's friendship..thats all it is! No slash! Oh, and while we are on the subject of romance, thank you for the review kristy, but there will be no Monica/Chandler...I'm sorry, but we see enough of our favourite couple on the show, and as much as i love them, i wanted to try something different. I will try to make it clearer that Monica know's she isnt going to get him, and will be very happy if Rach and Chan do get together. After all, the man she loves would be happy in that case. Thats not saying that Rach and Chan will get together though hehe...ive said too much. And i will bring in Ross soon to have that little talk...maybe! Enjoy! I love your reviews, please continue!
I do not own friends nor any of the actors but i wouldnt mind having Matt Perry in my care...or the other two guys for that matter!
Joey sighed in frustration, rolling over once more. The clock read 3:48am, and the red numbers seemed to be mocking him.
He had gone to bed reasonably early, hoping to catch up on some sleep. For over a week now, Joey had stayed up late, worrying about his best friend. But now that Chandler was finally getting some help, Joey had thought that he would be able to sleep.
Apparently he had been wrong, he thought as the clock clicked over to 3:49. Joey groaned in annoyance. He might as well have stayed up later and talked with Rachel and Chandler. Not that he had particularly enjoyed the talk they had been having.
Joey had been trying to get Chandler to open up for a while; to talk about his problems. Now that he finally was, Joey discovered that he found the subject unsettling. When he hadn't known, Joey was only able to assume what Chandler was going through, but hearing his best friend speak about the dreams in such detail, well it was something that Joey couldn't have prepared for. He had ended up muttering something about having an early audition in the morning, and then quickly went into his room and shut the door.
Joey had never been one to cry; worry yes, but not cry. It wasn't that he was afraid to show his emotions; he had at numerous times. It's just that, being the only male out of eight children, his father had brought him up to be all man. He cried on occasions, but not what you would call regularly.
But after leaving Rachel and Chandler, Joey had crawled into bed, and cried. Not big, heart wrenching sobs, merely tears trickling constantly down his cheeks.
Joey had never felt this useless in his life. His best friend was hurting and he couldn't do a damn thing to stop it. How had he thought that he would be able to sleep?
Chandler getting help didn't mean that Chandler was all better; that he was back to normal. Things would never be back to normal.
The tears had stopped hours ago, and yet Joey still couldn't sleep. His mind was going at a million miles a minute; something that was rare for Joey. The others were putting on this big façade; pretending that everything was alright now. He knew that they were just as worried as he was, and wondered if everyone else was lying in bed, eyes wide open. He wondered if Chandler was awake; terrified of falling asleep again.
Joey knew that everyone was worried that the dreams would continue. He didn't see why they should; Nicole was dead, it was over and done with. But Chandler had had the dream the night before; after finding out that she was dead. Who knew if he would have it again? Joey hoped to hell that he wouldn't, but deep inside he knew that the dreams would most likely return. It was like the world was against Chandler; as if God was playing a sick joke on him. Joey bit his lip at the thought of that.
Chandler didn't deserve this. He hadn't asked for it. But he had gotten it, and simple things that people took for granted terrified him. He was afraid to fall asleep, or to even close his eyes, knowing that the image of Nicole dying would be there to greet him. Chandler had told both Joey and Rachel that earlier that night. After Joey had gone to bed, he had heard Chandler and Rachel talking more about his fears, and that had just upset Joey all the more.
"Damnit," Joey whispered, tears springing to his eyes once more. The clock now read 3:54, and he was no closer to falling asleep. Nor was he closer to stopping his worrying.
Joey hadn't heard any noise from the room next to him all night. He knew that could mean three things; Chandler was awake, Chandler was dreamless, or Chandler was about to have a dream. Joey hoped to god that it was the middle option. Then maybe things would be able to get back to normal.
He strained his ears, listening intently to the silence that engulfed the apartment. He thought he could hear Chandler breathing, but it was possible that it was just the wind. Or in his head, Joey thought miserably. He was suddenly filled with desperation over Chandler; he had to know if he was awake or not. That way, if he did know, he could either talk to Chandler; comfort him if he was awake. Or he could go back to bed, content with Chandler's dreamless state, and hopefully get a little shut eye himself.
The time was now 3:59. Joey climbed out of bed and quickly made his way out into the lounge room. He silently made his way over to Chandler's door. The two usually slept with their doors closed, but because of the recent events, Chandler's was open. Joey's would have been too, if he hadn't gone to bed before Rachel and Chandler.
Joey could hear Chandlers breathing, deep and even. He peeked into the darkened room and saw that Chandler's eyes were shut. Joey breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God. Now he could go and get some sleep of his own, and then start getting things back to normal. Joey smiled, watching Chandler for a minute longer. He could only imagine what his friend would think if he opened his eyes right now. Chandler had never liked people watching him sleep, and had started to despise it after the whole Eddie incident. Joey couldn't begin to picture how creepy it must be; he had only ever woken up to find women looking at him, and he expected that. Joey's smile grew wider as he watched Chandler unconsciously itch his nose. Things were going to be okay, he told himself as he turned and walked back to his room. Things were going to be just fine.
The clock read 4:07 as Joey got back into bed, still smiling to himself. He was so tired, but he knew he could sleep now.
A low moan interrupted the silence minutes later. Joey's eyes snapped open, his stomach tightening at the noise. Shit.
An earth shattering scream followed moments later, effectively ruining the silence. Joey scrambled out of bed and ran into the room next door. Chandler was thrashing around in bed, his face and body dripping with sweat as the screams grew louder. Joey was horrified; he had been fine just minutes ago.
"Chandler! Chandler wake up!" he yelled, rushing forward and grabbing Chandler's arms tightly.
"No!" Chandler screamed, freeing his left arm. It lashed out, effectively hitting Joey in the face. He fell back, sitting there in shock for just a moment before leaning over Chandler once again.
"Chandler! Wake up!" he repeated, dodging the flailing arms as he shook his friends body roughly. Chandler stopped screaming and writhing suddenly, but his eyes remained tightly shut. A low guttural moan escaped his lips, and he arched his back as if in pain.
"Chandler?" Joey whimpered, on the verge of tears. It had never been this bad before. "Chandler!"
Chandler's eyes snapped open with a gasp, and he shot up in bed, panting wildly.
"It's okay," Joey soothed, rubbing his friends arm in comfort. Chandler looked at him for a moment, then leaned into Joey's body.
"I guess that answer's our question," Chandler panted as Joey wrapped his arms around his trembling friend.
"What question?" Joey asked softly. A hollow laugh escaped Chandler's lips.
"On whether or not the dreams were going to stop," he whispered, his voice hitching slightly. Joey held his friend tighter as the tears came once more. "Oh god Joey, I don't think I can go through that again!" Chandler sobbed into Joey's chest. "It hurts so much!"
"I know," Joey whispered, burying his face into Chandler's hair.
"When is this going to end?" Chandler whimpered. Joey didn't answer; he couldn't. He couldn't lie to Chandler, and pretend that everything was going to be alright. He knew now that that wouldn't be the case. Not for a long time anyway. Chandler looked up, smiling slightly through his tears; blood streaming from his nose once more. "Lie to me. Tell me that it's going to be okay," he whispered, his lips trembling. Joey smiled back, but it was forced.
"It's gonna be okay Chan," he said softly. Chandler smiled and buried his face into Joey's shirt once more.
"I got blood on your shirt," he said with a shaky voice. Joey shook his head.
"It doesn't matter," he whispered. Chandler nodded, clinging to his friend as if his very life depended on it. It was possible that Chandler thought it did. Joey looked down at his shaking, sweating and crying friend and his heart ached. This was a side that Joey never wanted to see of anyone, least of all Chandler. No one should be in this much pain, he thought as Chandler's grip on his shirt tightened.
Joey had never been one to cry, but for the second time that night, the tears came.
