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Chandler wouldn't be moved.

The nurses had tried for over an hour, alternating between pleading with him and threatening to get security, but Chandler was past idle threats now. His hand stayed wrapped around Joey's, holding onto it as tight as he could.

Eventually, the nurses succumbed to the inevitable and allowed Chandler to stay in the room, though they did manage to get the rest out, sending them home to sleep.

Ross was the last one to leave, lingering in the doorway, torn between helping the girls get home (Rachel seemed to be glued to his side) and Joey, who was still not moving in the bed.

"Chandler?"

It was the first words any of them had spoken for over an hour and the sound made Candler jump, his head rising enough to bang on the small table that rested next to the bed. Rubbing it fiercely he looked up, noticing that it was very late (or very early). The window set into the wall displayed nothing but darkness and the clock read 2:30. AM, probably. "Yeah, Ross?"

Ross couldn't seem to drag his eyes away from the sight of Joey, attached to a machine that was breathing for him, his head covered in bruises and bandages. "Take care of him, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll call if anything happens."

Chandler watched them go, letting his mind wander for a moment. If this had been a normal night, they probably would have ended up at the coffee house. Gunther would have kicked them out at eleven, them being the last persons there. Chandler would have been upset about that stupid entertainment center for half the night until Joey did something stupid to make it up to him.

Instead, Chandler lifted himself into the chair that rested next to the hospital bed. He carefully pulled his hand away from Joey, flexing his fingers which had fallen asleep somewhere between midnight and one.

The room was lit by two lights that never seemed to turn off. One was situated just to the right of Joey's bed, giving Chandler enough light to look at him.

He carefully pushed his chair closer to the bed, as if pressing nearer to it for warmth. Chandler remembered what the doctor had said. The coma, if it lasted more then 48 hours, would probably be permanent. Chandler couldn't imagine never talking to Joey again. Couldn't imagine being this close to him and never have Joey look at him again.

It was like that saying everyone was so fond of repeating, 'you never think it'll happen to you.' Comas…they were the things that happened on Joey's stupid soap operas. Not in real life. Not to his best friend.

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