Reality Sets In.
Post-finale, Mondler, Chandler and Monica start to struggle financially with the unexpected twins.
Set 6 months after the finale.
Continued from Part 1…
Chandler stood up and leant over to the printer when he suddenly became dizzy. He held onto the edge of the desk while he tried to steady himself, it felt like his skin was on fire, he started to shake and spots danced in front of his eyes. He stumbled around his desk and leant on the wall for support. He started to cough which made him feel even more dizzy and sick. Finally his body won the battle and he coughed one last time, this time it ended in him being sick over his floor, the dots eventually blacked out his eyesight and the last thing he remembered was falling into oblivion.
And now the conclusion…
He was on fire.
Chandler moaned; his forehead had beads of sweet dripping down it. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus. He head was fuzzy and he didn't know where he was, he body was so heavy and the only thing he heard was his heart pumping in his ears. He took a deep breath in and tried to focus, he saw a dark object on front of him, as it was coming into focus he realised it was a desk. When the dizziness stopped him feeling sick he tried to move his arms. They felt like lead weights, it took him what seemed like a lifetime to move his arms and struggle to lift himself up, he then managed to pull himself to he knees before he needed to stop and rest.
While he caught his breath he tried to get the rest of the room in focus, his memory started to come back and he remembered that he was at work in his office.
The proposal.
Chandler turned his head to the printer on the other side of the room and saw the thick pile of paper on top; he had to get it to Steve that was his only thought. He wiped the sweat of his forehead and used the side of his desk to help him pull himself to his feet. He felt terrible and now had admitted to himself that he was sick and needed to go home, and now that he had finished the proposal, early, he could go home and let Monica fuss over him. He just needed to pick up the proposal off the printer, put it into the empty file on his desk and go give it to Steve.
How could such a small task seem so huge?
He stumbled over to the printer, picked up the paper and then stumbled back to his desk. He watched his shaky hands fumble and push the papers inside the file. The room was spinning again and Chandler knew he was going to pass out again, he moved as quickly as he could around the desk and collapsed in his chair. He gave in and picked up the phone.
"Hello, Bing Residence." Monica's voice came over the phone.
"Mon," Chandler said quietly and weakly.
"Chandler? Are you ok?" Monica said concerned.
"No Mon, I don't feel good, I'm gonna come home but I don't think I'm up to driving."
"Chandler stay there, I'll get Joey to come and pick you up."
Chandler sighed in relief. "Thanks Mon."
Next Chandler phoned Steve, "Sir, I've finished the proposal but I feel really sick so I'm going to go home. Is that ok?"
"Sure Chandler, I know how hard you've been working over the last couple of weeks. Leave it on your desk and I'll come and pick it up."
"Thanks Sir."
Chandler hung up and slumped back into his chair, he didn't even have the energy to get downstairs; he just hoped that Joey would come up and help him.
When Monica put down the phone she immediately called for Joey.
"What's wrong Mon?" Joey said concerned.
"That was Chandler, he's feeling worse but doesn't think he can drive home, could you go and pick him up please?"
"No problem Mon."
As Joey grabbed Monica's car keys and ran out the door Monica slowly sat down, she was really worried about Chandler, he had been insisting that he was okay for days now but she knew when he was lying, plus it was really obvious. He was really pale, coughing and spluttering, she watched him push around his food for the last couple of days, barely eating a thing for fear of being sick, yet he kept working, pushing himself to breaking point.
Joey parked outside Chandler's building and quickly jumped out the car. He briskly walked into Chandler's building and asked at reception for Chandler's office. He found the lifts and pushed the button for the 21st floor. The ride up was antagonising slow, the lift beeped and opened at Chandler's floor. Joey walked out and went in search of Chandler's office.
Chandler was still slumped in his office chair half awake, his fever had risen and he was becoming delirious, he kept seeing his office covered in flames and the heat made him catch his breath, then he'd blink and the flames would be gone. The pounding in his head was steadily getting worse, he tried to lift his arm and pick up the glass of water on his desk but he didn't get further than a few inches. His arm dropped back down zapped of all energy.
And then the fire returned.
Steve had enough for one day; he turned his computer off and picked up his coat and briefcase. He locked his office door and decided to stop by Chandler's office to pick up his proposal. Chandler had continuously excelled in his position, thus Steve expected his proposal to be at his usual high standard and so he was eager to read it.
When Steve walked into Chandler's office he discovered his colleague slumped in his chair, barely conscious. He rushed over to Chandler and tried to rouse him; he moaned quietly and opened his eyes slightly. Steve watched Chandler try and focus, he was incredibly pale and had a light layer of sweat covering his skin.
"Chandler can you hear me?" Steve asked.
As Joey turned yet another corner he heard someone say Chandler's name. He followed the sound into a nearby office. He found Steve, who he knew was Chandler's boss, shaking Chandler trying to wake him up. Joey rushed over.
"What happened!" Joey asked.
"I don't know; I came down to pick up Chandler's proposal and found him here like this. He called earlier and said was sick and was going home, I assumed he'd left already."
"No, he didn't think he could drive so I'm here to pick him up. Can you help me get him to the car?"
"I think we should call a doctor." Steve said.
Joey disagreed, "no, the whole family's had it, he'll be ok, he's just been working hard so he's sick and exhausted." Joey explained. Steve relented and helped Chandler up putting his arms over their shoulders and Steve and Joey supporting Chandler around his waist.
By the time they made it to the car, Steve and Joey were basically dragging Chandler, who was delirious at this stage, along. They gently put him in the passenger seat and clicked his seatbelt into place.
"Thanks." Joey said.
"Your welcome, tell him to get well soon." Steve said and stepped back as Joey got into the driver's seat.
Joey started the engine and put his seatbelt on, he glanced at Chandler, who was now mumbling to himself, and his worried frown deepened. Joey turned his attention back to the car and drove off, he needed to get Chandler to Monica, and she'll know what to do.
Monica hadn't moved since Joey had left, suddenly one of twins started crying which shocked Monica out of her frozen state. She briskly walked up to stairs and checked on her babies. She picked up Erica, who was the one crying, and rocked her gently.
"You miss Daddy don't you?" Monica said quietly. Erica returned a whimper, "yeah, I miss him too." A tear rolled slowly down Monica's cheek.
Knock knock.
Monica's head spun around, she quickly put the now sleeping Erica back into her crib and rushed downstairs and flung the front door open. But rather than Chandler and Joey, like she'd expected, stood Ross and Rachel.
"Oh it's you." Monica said disappointed.
"Jeez, thanks Mon, nice to see you too." Rachel said getting huffy. She walked past Monica with Ross in tow.
Monica sighed, "sorry Rach, but I'm expecting Chandler and Joey, Joey went to pick him up from work, he's feeling worse." Monica sat back down, getting more worried since they'd not come back yet.
Just as Monica went to sit back down there was another knock at the door, Monica rushed back and opened it.
Joey stood there, trying to hold up Chandler with one arm and the other raised to the door to knock again. "Chandler!" Monica exclaimed and rushed forward to help Joey. Ross and Rachel went to the couch and rearranged the cushions to make room to lay Chandler down. Rachel lifted the blanket, which was on the back of the couch, and held it ready to lay it over him.
Meanwhile Joey and Monica had been gently pulling Chandler over to the living room, Ross and Rachel stepped back while they laid down Chandler's limp body. Monica rushed to the bathroom and got a thermometer, she put it in his mouth and a damp cloth on his forehead. Monica sat next to him stroking his face, after a couple of minutes she pulled out the thermometer and checked it. 103.5, wow that is high.
"Guys he has 103.5 temperature." Monica whispered.
Ross walked over and knelt down next to the couch. "Try and wake him up." He told Monica.
"Chandler, sweetie wake up." Monica shook Chandler's shoulders but he remained asleep, Ross leant nearer and studied Chandler's face. "Mon he's breathing is shallow and distressed; I think you need to call a doctor."
Monica quickly walked into the kitchen to call the doctor, Ross stayed by Chandler's side. He turned and looked up at the others.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Joey asked. Ross shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to say either way.
They stood in silence, watching Chandler. A few minutes later Monica walked back in the room. She was shaking; Ross stood up and walked over to her.
"Mon what did the Doctor say?"
Monica took a deep breath. "If his temperature doesn't go down in the next 30 minutes, we have to call an ambulance." Monica started crying.
"Hey, hey," Ross said taking her into his arms. "Don't worry Mon; it's just a really bad case of the flu ok. Let's take his temperature again."
Monica knelt down and slipped the thermometer into his mouth. She studied his face, his cheeks were flushed and he had a permanent frown on his forehead. She gently placed her palm on his forehead, he still felt very hot. After a few minutes had passed to took the thermometer out of Chandler's mouth and let out the breath she was holding when she saw it had dropped to 103 degrees.
"It's dropped." Monica said.
"Ok I think it'll be best if we get him into bed." Ross suggested.
Ross and Joey pulled Chandler up and he moaned in his sleep. They gently moved him upstairs and into the bedroom. Monica rushed forward and pulled back the covers so Ross and Joey could lie him down.
"Can you get me a wet wash-cloth, a glass of water and some aspirin please?" Monica asked Ross and Joey.
Ross and Joey left the room, Monica stripped Chandler down to his boxers, his skin had a fine layer of sweat on the surface, and he started tossing and mumbling incoherently. Monica sat next to him and ran her fingers through his hair.
Ross and Joey returned with the wash-cloth, water and aspirin. Monica placed the cool cloth on Chandler's forehead while Ross put the water and tablets on the side table.
"I'm gonna stay here and watch him." Monica said without taking her eyes off Chandler.
"We'll stay and take turns Mon and help with the twins." Joey said.
"Thanks you guys." Monica said quietly.
Both Joey and Ross gave Mon a supportive hug then left her and Chandler alone.
Throughout the evening Monica barely left Chandler's side. He tossed and turned, mumbling every now and then. He woke up briefly, but was very disorientated and dazed, he complained about feeling sick and Monica rushed out of the room to get a bucket for him. When she returned Chandler was coughing violently.
"Oh Chandler." Monica said softly, she walked over to him and passed him the bucket. He coughed for a few more seconds then was finally sick. Monica winced and rubbed his back gently, she was sad that he was feeling this bad and so worried. When he was finished Monica took the bucket and went to empty it. When she returned Chandler was drifting back to sleep, Monica roused him gently.
"Honey, you need to take some aspirin." Chandler half-opened his eyes and slowly pushed himself up on his elbows. Monica handed him 2 aspirin and the glass of water, he swallowed the tablets then collapsed back into bed.
"I'm cold." He whispered, Monica pulled the covers over him then placed her hand on his head. He was still very warm, she decided to take his temperature again before she checked on the twins and got into bed next to him.
As the night went on Chandler got more and more restless, he woke up 2 more times to be sick and then after, when there was nothing left in his stomach he started to cough more and heave every hour or so.
When morning came around Monica woke up to Chandler coughing again, much worse than the previous night, she sat up with him rubbing his back trying to sooth him but the coughing just got worse.
"Mon…" Chandler struggled to say, "I… can't… breath… right." Chandler started panicking.
Monica turned Chandler's face towards hers.
"Chandler look at me." Chandler did so, "now calm down, breath through your nose and out you mouth."
"I… can't." Chandler said.
"Yes you can. Breath with me Chandler," Monica tried to stay calm, Chandler didn't need her panicking. But inside she was freaking out. "In… and out." Monica breathed with him. "In… and out. That's it honey."
When Chandler had calmed down Monica helped to prop him up in bed so his lungs weren't restricted. She got him a glass of water and stayed with him until he was starting to fall asleep again. Then she crept out and went downstairs. When she entered the lounge she found Joey lying on the couch with the TV still on. Ross and Rachel had left late the night before since Joey said he would stay and help Monica. Monica walked over to Joey and shook him gently.
"Joey wake up."
"Whaaa…" Joey yawned. "Hey Mon, how's Chandler?"
Finally the tears came. "Oh Joey he's getting worse, he can't breath right!"
"Oh Mon," Joey pulled her down to him for a hug. "Maybe you should call the doctor again?"
Monica nodded and stood up to go and get the phone, before she did so one of the twins started crying.
"Mon you go and sort out the twins, I'll call the doctor and check on Chandler."
Monica smiled gratefully and walked up the stairs. Joey got the phone and doctor's number then walked upstairs to check on Chandler. He knocked on the bedroom door and then slowly walked in when he didn't get a response. Chandler was still lying half-sitting on the bed; his breathing was laboured and looked terrible, worse than the night before.
"Chandler?" Joey said. No response, Joey walked around to Chandler's side of the bed and shook him gently, "Chandler wake up."
Nothing, Joey studied Chandler for a few minutes, his breathing was getting more and more laboured and shallow, Joey shook his head with worry and called the doctor on the cordless phone.
Monica was changing the twins when she heard Joey yell out for her. She gently placed her babies back into their cribs then rushed into her and Chandler's bedroom. She found Joey standing next to Chandler, fear in his eyes and he was giving out their address to someone on the phone. When he hung up he turned to Monica.
"Mon I talked to the doctor, he told me to call an ambulance." Monica let out a cry and flew at Chandler. She cradled Chandler and sobbed.
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AN: Okay so sorry for the delay, this has been written for a while I just haven't had a chance to upload it. It was gonna be only a 2-parter but I'm stuck at the moment so all suggestions greatly received andthis will be concluded in chapter 3.
PS: I finally passed my driving test and have bought a car, now that THAT worry is off my chest I can start finishing all the unfinished fics I have on my laptop and start posting them. Yay!