So far…

Joey called the gang together to tell them some big news but he never showed up, Chandler went to his apartment to find him however he discovered a fire in the apartment.

Chandler and Joey were trapped in the burning apartment, Chandler's quick thinking got Joey out but before Chandler could follow he was overcome with smoke and collapsed in the bathroom, hitting his head in the process.

Monica called 911 and then the rest of the gang (including Mike) rushed up to the apartment where they discovered the only way out blocked by flames. As they started backing away Joey came running out of the apartment, Chandler never followed…

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Rachel held Emma tightly as tears started to form in her eyes – she couldn't believe this was happening. Not just to Joey but to Chandler too, she loved Joey, not in the same way that she loves Ross but Joey held a special place in her heart. The only womaniser she knew that had the kindest heart, he couldn't die – he had so much to live for.

Rachel paused her thoughts for a second and looked down at Jack and Erica, sleeping peacefully, they didn't have a clue that their father was most likely fighting for his life this very second, they didn't deserve this either. In fact none of them deserved this.

Rachel sighed and sat down on the curb, not caring about getting her clothes dirty on the pavement or the strange looks she was getting. She didn't realise it at first but she was silently praying, praying that they were ok, that their perfect lives were not destroyed.

Her prayers were broken by the sound of a siren – the fire department was finally arriving. They pulled up outside the building and started running around. Rachel stood up and approached one of the fire fighters.

"Excuse me; my 2 friends are in there, in Apartment 19 – I think that's where the fire started. My other friends went up there to get them – but no one has come down yet!" Rachel said frantically.

"Ma'am, we're going to do our best to get everyone out, but you need to move back, especially since you have children."

Rachel nodded silently, she didn't have the energy to argue, to scream at them to move quicker – plus she had to take care of Emma, Jack and Erica. She shifted Emma to one arm and managed to push Jack and Erica's buggy towards Central Perk – where she waited and prayed again.

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Ross was practically carrying Monica down the stairs; she was kicking and screaming in protest.

"LET ME GO ROSS! I need to get Chandler, we can't leave him!"

"Mon there's nothing we can do, we have to get outside or it won't just be Chandler stuck in here!"

Monica sobbed; Phoebe and Mike had their arms around Joey – who was still coughing – and were supporting him as they started to go down the stairs. Joey felt terrible, as soon as he realised that Chandler wasn't going to come out the door he had started to go back in to get his best friend, but he had been held back by Phoebe and Mike. Joey couldn't believe what was going on, all he knew was that he had been asleep, then cold water woke him up and Chandler was there. For a split second before chaos hit he had a flashback of when the 2 of them lived there. He thought Chandler was either trying to get him up for an audition he was late for or to stop him from snoring.

He missed those days.

At least he could reminisce with Chandler about them, now he may not even be able to do that.

Oh Chandler, he thought, why didn't we go out together? Why did you make me go first? You've got a wife, children – why didn't I force him to go first?

Joey felt selfish, but he was so scared and Chandler had seemed so together, like he knew what to do – he saved Joey's life but possibly at the expense of his own.

Joey was pulled from his thoughts as they met fire fighters on the way down.

"My husband is in apartment 19 – we couldn't get him out! Please help him – Please!" Monica begged the 2 fire fighters.

"Ma'am we are going to do our best, please continue down the stairs, the smoke is just as dangerous as the fire." They rushed past them and run up the stairs, they got to Joey's floor and it was practically engulfed in flames. They put their breathing masks on and started to make their way into Joey's. They hosed down the front door with water, putting out enough of the fire to enter the apartment.

While one of the fire fighters kept his hose on the fire the other scanned the apartment – no one. They started to check the rooms, Joey's first.

"Clear."

Then Chandler's old room.

"Clear here too."

Finally the bathroom, he walked over – knowing that it's the only remaining room and pushed open the door. There he was, lying on the bathroom floor; head bleeding where he had hit it on the bath.

"Chief – we've found 1 victim, male, mid-thirties, head injury, smoke inhalation. Call the medics."

The fire fighter lifted Chandler and put him over his shoulder and then exited the bathroom.

The fire was under control now and other fire fighters had come up to help. Chandler was quickly carried down the stairs.

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When Rachel saw Joey come out of the building she audibly made a sigh of relief – which lasted all of about 5 seconds until she noticed 2 things, 1) Monica's hysterical state, 2) No Chandler.

The friends walked over to her, grim looks on their faces, Rachel didn't even need to ask and couldn't even if she wanted to because they were interrupted but the fire chief.

"We need to get all you checked out by the medics, especially you, sir," referring to Joey who was still coughing.

"What about Chandler?" Monica sobbed.

"We've just got confirmation that someone has been found, he's being bought down now."

"Is it Chandler? Is he ok?" Monica rushed out.

"He was found in apartment 19 and we're not sure yet, he is unconscious, that's all I know." He replied with a sympathetic smile.

Before Monica could quiz him further a fire fighter came out the building while carrying someone over his shoulder. Monica instantly knew it was Chandler. He was gently laid on a gurney and a medic started to check him over. Monica and the rest of the gang ran over.

"CHANDLER!" Monica screamed.

"Ma'am you are going to have to step back and give us room so we can do our job ok." The medic said gently. "His name is Chandler right?"

"Yes, Chandler Bing, he's my husband." Monica said quietly.

"Ok… Chandler? Chandler can you hear me?" the medic checked his vitals, "Sam, get over here I ain't got a pulse!"

A second medic flew over with a bag and started CPR on Chandler. Monica would have collapsed in shock if Ross hadn't been holding her up.

"No," she whispered, "not Chandler, please don't take him away from me."

They all watched as the medic's desperately tried to save Chandler's life – a thousand memories running through their minds, they couldn't loose him…