A/N: This is a joint fic between me (Megan) and Chloe. Some of you might know us as EmmaGellar and rrlobster on FriendsCafe.
Disclaimer---They'e NOT ours. We really wish they were…but….um…they're not.
Rachel couldn't remember what was going on as she came in and out of consciousness. Nothing was visible to her, all she knew she was laying out where all the vagrant people made homes for themselves to live at. She felt like her whole body was swarming right at her as the bustle of went on ahead with life without her.
"Why haven't they found her yet?" Monica cried out as she paced the apartment. "It shouldn't be taking this long, they're professionals! She could be------," Monica stopped and even more tears ran down her face. She hadn't cried this much in ages.
"They're looking for her, Mon, don't worry, it's all gonna be ok. Rachel's fine, she's tough, she'll be fine…" Phoebe rambled on in an effort to comfort Monica, which didn't work since Monica wasn't really listening.
Suddenly the door burst open and Ross, Emily, Chandler, and Joey ran inside. Phoebe had called them and told them what was going on.
"Have they found her yet?" Ross asked urgently. Phoebe shook her head silently.
"Maybe I should call them." she said, reaching for the receiver.
Rachel slowly opened her eyes as she felt a jarring shock of pain go down to her lower abdomen. All she knew was that she was in a lot of pain. Around her, the world seemed to be going about it's usual business, like any other day. Suddenly it like fire went out to her whole body as she just lay there, and went into a deep slumber, her body as motionless as steel.
"Thanks again, we'll hope to hear from you real soon" Phoebe said, placing the receiver yet again back in its cradle.
"What'd they say Pheebs?" Joey said gravely.
"The police said they've been on the lookout for a matter of hours, but still nothing," Phoebe answered, trying to hold back the tears. Monica wasn't so successful and burst into tears.
Ross went over and let her cy on his shoulder.
Suddenly Emily spoke up. "You know, I think we should let the police take care of this from here on out, they are the best in this sort of business ."
Chandler just looked at her and thought, "What is she thinking, is Emily crazy, our dear friend Rachel is out in this major city alone, something terrible has happened to her and she could even be….dead." He couldn't stomach of even imagining this, and quickly washed the horrible thought away.
"Emily sweetie, if you're tired, why don't you go back to my place?" Ross suggested, putting his arm around his fiance. "I'd like to stay here with the others for a while." Ross didn't really expect Emily to want to go. She obviously would want to stay with him.
"Yeah, I think I will go back," Emily said. Everyone stared at her. She didn't seem to notice.
"OK, bye honey," Ross said to her, giving her a peck on the cheek and a long hug. He was doing this automatically, and inside he was wondering why Emily didn't want to stay. It was Rachel for heaven's sakes…she could be dead and all Emily cared about was herself? Maybe they weren't so perfect for each other as he had thought.
Once Emily had gone, everyone was quiet for a little bit. Ross finally broke the silence.
"This is all my fault," Ross said.
"No, no it isn't," Monica said, coming over to Ross and putting her arm around him. Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey nodded in agreement with Monica.
"Yes it is," Ross said. "She went out alone because she was upset about me and Emily. If it wasn't for our stupid engagement, none of this would have happened. And why was she so upset, anyway?"
"I think she still loves you, Ross," said Joey quietly. It was the first time he'd spoken in a while.
Around eleven in the evening, a man and his wife were walking by, and happened to notice an unconscious body lying in a dark alleyway. In horror they ran over to the alleyway.
"Oh my god, is she dead?" the wife said. Her husband bent down over Rachel.
"I can feel a pulse," he said in relief. "But I don't think we can get her up."
"I think we need to get an ambulance here." the woman said, holding onto one of Rachel's lifeless hands.
"I'm on it Jade!" the woman's husband said as he pulled out his cell-phone.
Jade turned and spoke. "Don't worry hon, we're going to help you."
Later in the night Ross was having trouble sleeping. He tossed and turned as he tried to sleep.
"Oh my god………… Rachel no!", he screamed out in the dream. Soon he heard his sister running into his room. She had come home with Ross, and was trying to get some rest on his couch, while Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler stayed at her apartment in case they heard from the police. Emily had gone back to her hotel where she was still staying, saying that she would come over to Monica's first thing in the morning.
"Ross, honey, are you ok?" she said, coming over to comfort him.
"Rachel…I got to find her, I can't sleep knowing I caused all this on her," Ross said, choking up.
"Sweetie please don't blame yourself for any of this," Monica said, near a whisper.
"I'll try," he said hoarsely.
"Listen, I can't sleep either, how about we go back to my place? Everyone's still there in case we hear something from the police," Monica suggested.
"Just let me get dressed," he said, getting up. Monica nodded and went out of the room.
As Ross opened his dresser, he noticed on top an old picture of Rachel, back when they were together, smiling up at each other. Tears trickled down his face. How could this have happened to Rachel? He just couldn't live with himself if she died. It was all his fault that she was in this situation, no matter what anyone said.
But there was another reason Ross was upset. He wasn't sure that he could live without Rachel. Looking at that old picture had made him even more sure….he still loved her.
A/N (again lol): Well there's chapter 2 for ya…hope you enjoyed it! Please review! Chapter 3 will hopefully be up in not too long, as long as Chloe & I don't get writer's block…
