TRUTH II

The hospital lights danced before Phoebe's eyes. She grasped tightly on the bed railing, steadying herself. Her emotions were getting the better of her. She couldn't afford to lose it in front of Chandler. She had to stay calm for him. She took large slow breaths, calming herself down. Phoebe had thought life could not possibly unravel further than it already had. How wrong she was. She squeezed Chandler's hands tightly.

"Chan, have you told anyone else about this?" she said through shuddered breath.

"Just you, and I intend to keep it that way," Chandler muttered.

Phoebe tucked a lock of Chandler's hair behind his ear, "Honey, you need to tell someone. The prison guards, if they know, they'll transfer you to another prison. And the police, you can't let those sick goddamned… you can't let them get away with this, please," Phoebe stuttered, blinking back tears.

"I'm exhausted," Chandler sighed.

"Chandler, please, you've got to do something about this. You can't stay here, not like this," Phoebe pleaded.

"I'll ask for a transfer," Chandler whispered. Phoebe nodded vigorously.

"Ok, thank God, good, you can't possibly keep living with them, for your safety… Christ, for your own sanity! And what about the police, pressing charges?" Phoebe asked tentatively.

"I can't. I'm already in over my head with this court case. I can't deal with another one running simultaneously." Chandler muttered.

"Ok, but have you had a medical examination? Have you taken a rape-kit test? Because that's what they do, after that kind of attack, they collect evidence for trial. They file it away in case you want to prosecute. Chan, I know this stuff, I've been through the justice system before. So have you? Have been examined?" Chandler groaned, overwhelmed by Phoebe's questions.

"I can't deal with a second court case," he said hollowly.

"I can help you, Chan, whatever you need, I can do it. Just tell me what you need, Chandler, I'm 100% here for you," Phoebe insisted.

"What I need, is for you to stop harassing me, just give me one goddamned moment, alright?" Chandler snapped.

"Ok, I'm sorry. I just… I don't want you to look back on this and regret that you didn't punish them. Chan, there's a limited window of opportunity for these things. Once the evidence is gone, it's gone for good. I just don't want you to regret," Phoebe's voice quivered.

"And I don't want to stand up in front of a room full of strangers and announce every sordid little detail of how two men held me down and sodomised me! Is that so fucking hard for you to understand?" Chandler's eyes blazed with rage.

"Sorry, I'm sorry, I just know what the law is like, I've been on the receiving end of it. But I get that you can't bring yourself to… I understand completely, I do, but please, just please, tell me what to do. Tell me how to help you, I love you Chandler, just tell me what you need," Phoebe pleaded, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about this," Chandler insisted.

"Chan, you could really use Mon's support, she's your wife," Phoebe pressed.

"I mean it. You asked me to tell you how you can help me, and I'm telling you to promise me. Promise me you won't tell anyone. Not a soul, I mean it," Chandler said fiercely.

"Chandler, please, Mon loves you so much, she's always been there for you, let her-"

"Don't," Chandler interrupted.

"Mon's the toughest one of us all, and I really think you need-"

"DON'T PRESUME TO KNOW WHAT I NEED!" Chandler's voice boomed across the quiet hospital ward. Richard glanced up in shock.

"You haven't got a fucking clue what I'm going through," Chandler added through gritted teeth.

"Ok, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry…" Phoebe replied, her throat constricting with emotions. She felt like she was choking.

"And quit it with the apologies, the tears, the goddamn pity," Chandler snapped.

"Ok," Phoebe whispered sadly. Chandler knew he was being unfair to his friend, but he was in so much emotional pain, he had to lash out at somebody, anybody.

"Look, Pheebs, I'm going to ask to be transferred, but this telling people about it, taking it to court, announcing all the details, I can't do it. I swear to God I'm just not ready. I feel disgusting and pathetic, and I can't bring myself to put this on Mon. She's under enough pressure as it is. This would destroy her."

It's destroying me too, Phoebe thought to herself.

"I need you to promise me that you'll keep this to yourself, because that is all I'm asking of you," Chandler said emphatically.

Phoebe's breath shuddered. It tore her up, having to keep such a terrible secret. Letting those bastards get away with this went against her most basic instincts. Phoebe stroked Chandler's hair sadly.

"Ok, Chandler, I promise."

Chandler leaned back against his pillow, relieved. He felt a sudden urge to shut Phoebe out, he hated feeling this vulnerable, he needed her to leave. "Thanks… I'm glad you're here, but I need some alone time now, if that's ok with you," he said stiffly.

Phoebe kissed Chandler's forehead, and let the guard escort her out of the premises. As she stepped beyond the barb wire gate, pale, shaken and miserable, a dark thought snaked its way into her mind. Dipping her hand into her pocket, she pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Hi, I need to call in a favour," she said.