Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.
A/N: I'm just so shocked by all these reviews I'm getting for this story. Whenever I check my e-mail and I find I have a few more, I do a little happy dance, because you all are just too cool.
I'm starting to realize that this story is going to be long. Or, the chapters will be pretty big. Joey and Phoebe don't make entrances until much later, and now it sadly seems they're only going to really be in towards the end of the story. I'm trying my hardest to fit some things into the Friends universe, and according to the show, Phoebe and Joey weren't around yet while the other four were in college.
XXX
"Rachel!" Amy called, spotting her sister down the hospital hallway. She had been getting some coffee for herself.
"Amy! Oh, how is he?" Rachel asked, panicked. Ross stood beside her.
Amy glanced at Ross. "You look familiar."
"It's Ross, Amy," Rachel told her, annoyed at not getting an answer.
Her sister tilted her head slightly. "Oh! Right! The non-boyfriend."
"How is he, Amy?" Rachel repeated.
Amy began down the hallway, and Rachel and Ross had no choice but to follow. "I'm not really sure. Mom is talking with a doctor right now, but she's been with him for awhile." She checked her watch. "Well, not gonna get my homework done tonight."
"Oh please, like you'd do it anyways," Rachel said, rolling her eyes as the three sat down in some chairs. "Did you hear from Jill?"
"No, she's probably at a party or something."
"Oh."
They waited for another ten minutes in absolute silence. Ross tapped his fingers against the armrest on the plastic chair he was sitting in, not sure what to say or do. He hadn't been inside of a hospital in years.
"I'm gonna go try to find someone who might know something," Rachel said suddenly, standing up.
Ross almost asked if he could go with her, but decided to let her go alone. Now he was left with the youngest Green girl.
"So," Amy started, sitting up a little straighter. "How old are you?"
"I'm almost twenty-two."
"So like, you can get alcohol legally."
"Uh, yeah."
"That's cool."
Ross couldn't believe how painful this was.
"So are you like, dating my sister or not?"
"I'm not."
"Oh. Why not?"
"Uh, just… because we've never really considered it before I guess."
"Oh." Amy gave him a once-over. "Maybe it's your hair. It looks kind of greasy."
"Thanks, Amy," Ross mumbled, sinking further into the chair.
They were quiet for another eight minutes. Ross checked his watch. He hadn't even realized how late it was.
Rachel appeared beside them. "I couldn't find Mom," she told them, slumping into the chair beside Ross. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Amy watched them with some interest. Ross figured she was so bored that she was actually considering her older sister's love life.
Heels clicked along the floor and all three glanced down the hallway, spotting Sandra coming towards them. She paused in front of the small group. Rachel looked hopeful.
Her look vanished when her mother shook her head solemnly. "There wasn't enough time. They can't do anything."
Ross put his arm around Rachel's shoulders and felt her take a shaky breath. "What? So that's it?"
"Yes," Sandra replied simply, turning away from her daughters and shielding her eyes with a hand.
The whole thing felt so surreal to Ross. He glanced at Amy, who seemed to be processing this information slowly. She sat up and stared straight ahead. Beside him, Rachel kept drawing strained breaths.
She finally buried her face in the sleeve of Ross's jacket, his arm still around her shoulders.
Ross tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling.
XXX
Her best friend's father was dead.
Monica glanced around at the many people dressed in black who had attended the funeral. Everyone had gathered back at the Green house following the service. She was now standing with her parents, who both looked morose.
Ross came over to his family, carrying two cups of water. He handed one to his mother, and one to his father.
"Thank you, son," Jack said, placing a hand on Ross's shoulder.
Ross shrugged. "No problem, dad."
Dr. Green had passed away in the hospital the day after he and Rachel had rushed over. That had been three days ago. He and Monica had gone home Sunday night along with Rachel, but the two siblings had gone back to school Monday morning so they didn't miss too much class. They'd returned yesterday afternoon for the wake.
Jill had still been MIA Sunday morning, so Rachel had actually driven to her college to bring her younger sister home. She'd gone with little protest.
Ross spotted Rachel across the room, standing with an older woman who looked to be a relative. She caught his eye and sent him a 'save me' look, so he walked over to them.
He made short conversation with the woman before she took her leave of the young adults. Rachel leaned heavily against Ross's side.
"You okay?" he asked, knowing it was a stupid question but asking anyways.
"Yeah, I guess. I just want this to be over," she answered honestly.
Ross rubbed circles on the small of her back as they stood there. It was another one of those times he longed to be not only her supportive friend, but her loving boyfriend. But, he concluded, now was not the time.
A shorter guy their age with brown hair walked over to them. Rachel stood a little straighter, but kept close to Ross, which he had to admit pleased him somewhat.
"Hey, I'm really sorry for your loss," the young man said, shaking Rachel's hand. "You probably don't remember me."
Rachel took in his appearance. "Um, no, I'm sorry, I don't."
"It's Barry. Barry Farber? We went to camp together. Our parents are friends."
"Oh!" Rachel said, remembering the boy from summer camp who would follow she and her friends around. Her parents had always said he'd end up being her husband one day. Rachel was so glad it hadn't turned out like that. "Right, yeah. Thanks for coming."
"Well, it was only respectful. Your father was a good man, and a good doctor. I'm actually planning on becoming an orthodontist, myself." Barry seemed pleased by this.
Ross watched the man in front of him, uninterested. The only reason he was still standing there was because Rachel was still leaning on him, which meant she needed him.
Barry was still talking. "So I figure, I'll just take over my father's dentist office and make it an orthodontist office. Clever, huh?"
Rachel nodded. "Very," she replied, not caring.
He seemed to finally notice Ross, and extended his hand. Ross shook it quickly. "Barry Farber."
"Ross Geller."
Barry turned back to Rachel. "So maybe you and I could-"
"You know what, I'm sorry, but I have to go check on my younger sisters," Rachel interrupted, longing to get away from this man.
"Right, of course," Barry nodded.
Rachel looked up at Ross. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I'll… well, be around. Send Chandler on over if you see him, I could use his bad humor."
Ross cracked a smile at Rachel's statement. He could see the old her breaking out of the shell she'd built around herself three days prior.
"Alright," he replied, kissing the top of her head. He'd always liked that they could be affectionate. Of course, he just wished the affection were more than just friend-type things.
Barry watched her go, obviously eyeing her little black dress and picturing something in his mind that Ross wanted to drain out.
"So, are you uh, dating Rachel?" Barry asked carefully, setting his gaze back on Ross.
Ross was about to reply the standard 'no', when he thought, if he said yes, would this guy leave Rachel alone?
He chickened out. "Uh, not really." Not really? What does that mean?
Barry eyed him. "Uh huh."
"Alright, well, nice to meet you," Ross said, nodding a little and turning. He intercepted Chandler on his path to the drinks.
"What's up?" Chandler asked.
"Rachel's looking for you," Ross replied.
Chandler smirked. "Well, glad to see she's finally realized she wants me."
Ross rolled his eyes. He was about to comment when he noticed something. "Hey, uh, that thing on your face is gone."
"Oh, uh, yeah, I shaved it off," Chandler said, stroking his clean-shaven chin.
"I thought you loved that thing."
"Yeah, well, not… everyone loved it," Chandler shrugged, then disappeared to find Rachel.
"Right…" Ross glanced after him, then shook his head and went to find his sister. He accidentally bumped into Barry. "Oh, uh, sorry," Ross apologized, despite the fact that the shorter man was giving him a glare.
"Yeah, yeah," Barry mumbled, and kept on walking, taking a long gulp of whatever he was drinking.
He walked past Dr. Green's study and saw that the door was open ajar. He was about to close it, when he heard ripping coming from inside. Ross peeked, and saw Sandra Green angrily ripping up some official-looking documents and throwing them in the trash.
What is up with everyone? He asked himself of all their weird behaviors.
XXX
A/N II: For some reason, I had felt the need to kill one of the characters off, so I decided, Rachel's father had that heart attack on the show, so he was the obvious choice. Plus, I could never kill off Jack or Judy, and I need Sandra for a bit of drama later in the story. Who loves forshadowing?