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. The fire department arrived, found and got Chandler out, however he's badly hurt and the medics are fighting to save his life.
Chandler is rushed to the hospital, the gang follow. Once at the hospital Ross goes to find out how Chandler is while Rachel goes to Monica and Phoebe and Mike go to see Joey. The doctor tells Ross he has good and bad news. The doctor explained to Ross that Chandler was in a coma and it is possible that he may never wake up.
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Ross stood in front of Monica's room trying to build the courage to go in, he had stayed with Chandler for about 15 minutes and when he didn't stir once Ross knew that he had to go and tell Monica, he knew that she was most likely going crazy with worry.
He took a deep breath and walked in.
"Ross how's Chandler?" Monica said immediately, her and Rachel were still sitting together on the bed however now Emma and the twins were also on there, their mothers holding them protectively.
Ross sat down in the chair next to the bed and took Monica's hand. She looked into his eyes; those powerful blue eyes were begging him to tell her that everything would be ok. He wished he could grant her that wish.
"Mon, Chandler is in a coma." He just came out with it, he had to get straight to the point otherwise he was going to breakdown – that he couldn't do, he had to be strong, not just for his sister but for the others too.
"Oh my god!" Rachel said. Monica stayed silent.
"Will he wake up?" Monica finally said in a small voice.
"They don't know, he has some swelling around his brain so once that has gone down they are going to do some tests to check for brain damage, then they can tell us more."
At the words 'brain damage' Monica let out a strangled cry. Rachel put her arms around her again but this time she shrugged them off and got up.
"I'm going to see him, he may wake up for me right?" Monica said hopefully.
"Possibly sweetie." Ross said, not wanting to dash any hopes. Monica picked up her clothes from the cupboard next to her and walked into the bathroom to get changed. She felt sick, her life was crumbling around her – she could literally feel her heart shattering into tiny pieces. 24 hours ago they were at the park, Chandler had gotten the day off so they decided to take the twins to the park. They were too young to actually play on anything but they wanted to do something as a family. A normal family, that's what they were and that's when it hit her – they may never be normal again, she could end up a single parent raising 2 children.
Her heart ached, she missed him so much already, and she couldn't begin to comprehend how to live without him. They had known each other since their late teens; he was her friend, her lover, her confidant, her husband, the father of her children – her life.
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They walked down the corridor to Joey's room, Ross holding Monica protectively, Rachel still looking after the children. They reached his room, knocked and entered. Joey was dozing on the bed while Mike was sat in the chair with Phoebe in his lap.
"Guys how's Chandler?" Phoebe asked; Joey opened his eyes when he heard Phoebe's question. Ross answered.
"He's in a coma." Joey sat up right, eyes wide in fear.
"But he's gonna wake up right?"
"They don't know." Ross replied quietly. Monica had her arms around Ross in a death grip and she was shaking, not only from fear of Chandler never waking up but also from anger. She couldn't be around Joey; like in the ambulance a thousand questions flooded her brain and right now she wanted to blame someone and Joey was the obvious candidate.
"I need to see Chandler." Monica said to Ross, pulling him towards the door.
"Wait Mon, can I go too?" Joey asked.
"NO!" Monica said forcefully, everyone was shocked, Monica had been so quiet since the fire that is surprised them where she'd found that obvious anger from. "I don't want you near him." And on that comment she let go of Ross and walked out of the room.
The others stood in silence and shock, Joey looked devastated. It was Ross who was the first to say anything. "Joe don't take it personally, she's upset and looking for someone the blame. We don't blame you. Look, why don't you guys stay here and let me take Mon to see Chandler first, let her be with him. I'm sure she'll calm down in a bit, then I'll come a get you."
Joey just nodded sadly and Ross gave a supportive smile to everyone then left.
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Monica hadn't waited for Ross to come out, in fact she didn't even think about Ross all she could think about was Chandler. She had managed to find her way to ICU easily enough and a nurse showed her to her husband's room.
Monica walked in and her hands flew up to her mouth in shock – he was so still, so pale. Just like Ross it had unnerved her to see Chandler lying so still, especially since he's normally a living version of the energiser bunny!
She sat down, leant over and kissed his foreheadd and stroked his cheek. Flashbacks started playing in her head again – London, telling everyone about them (or rather everyone finding out on their own!), Chandler asking them to live together, his proposal, their wedding and the day they got their children. For Monica it was her fairytale – the one that she had been looking for for years and years and all the time he was just across the hall.
Ross stood by the door watching her, watching the tears stream down her face. Suddenly she heard Monica whisper.
"You can't leave us Chandler, please, oh baby please – I can't do this without you, on my own I'm neurotic and obsessive but when we are together…" she paused, "we are perfect."
Ross couldn't watch it anymore, he had held it together all day and he knew he was near breaking point. Monica couldn't handle Ross breaking down at the moment and he knew that so he silently left the room. Ross walked around the maze of corridors until he found a quite corner, then he slid down the wall onto the floor and broke down.
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Author Note: Ok so I'm writing a couple of chapters a day here, but I need suggestions - I'm a bit stuck now so tell me what YOU want to happen... leave suggestions in reviews pls. The quicker you review the quicker I write the next chapter... Ohhhh don't you just love blackmail - hehehehehe
