Disclaimer : Characters owned by the people who make
Friends - no one is making money from this, least of
all me.
Rating: G at most. I�m a bit of a wuss.
Synopsis: After the one with the hypnosis tape Joey
wants to see how far he can go.
Spoiler - The One with the Hypnosis tape (probably not
called that but if you�ve seen it you�ll know the one
I mean.)
Pairings: Well who do you think - you�ve seen Friends
- who would you put together? Don�t say Rachel and
Ross or Monica and Chandler - I warn you I�ll scream.
Chandler had been acting pretty weird lately. But then
what was new?
Joey heard the sound of the self-hypnosis tape coming
from his roommate�s bedroom - he had to go in a look.
Chandler asleep... it was so cute.
Joey chuckled to himself as he heard the words of the
tape. �You are a confident woman...you do not need to
smoke.�
The next morning Chandler got out of bed and made
himself some herb tea.� Joey came out of his room,
rubbing his eyes like a little child.
�Hey what�s up? You making breakfast for me?�
�No.� Chandler said, affronted, �You can make your own
breakfast.�
�But I�m hungry.�
�So eat. Don�t be such a big baby.�
Sandwiches. That�s what Joey really wanted. Submarine
sandwiches. And for Chandler to do stuff for him -
that�d be good. He remembered the hypnosis tape and
decided to try something.
The next morning Chandler was again awake before Joey.
�Joey - what did you do to the tape?� Chandler asked.
�Hey - it was just a joke. So,�� Joey laughed, �you
going to make me sandwiches?�
Chandler shook his head.� �No my friend - I�m not that
easily swayed by the power of suggestion.�
Joey stifled a laugh and Chandler shot him a look that
made him realize he�d better leave it.
**************************************
Phoebe had just finished her set at Central Perk and
she had a date. Ross and Rachel were still on for
once, and had decided to go for a romantic stroll
through the city. Chandler asked them if they were
going to pick up any crack and whores on the way, but
they weren�t that amused. Monica had an evening class
on� �hygiene in the home�.
�You teaching it?� Chandler had laughed. Monica gave
him the look, so he shut up.
So it was just Chandler and Joey sitting with their
lattes waiting for something to happen.
�Hey why don�t we go play some racquetball?� Chandler
said enthusiastically.
�You don�t have a racquet.� Joey pointed out.
�I lent it to you.�
�My point exactly.� Joey shrugged.
�Well I�m bored. What can we do ? All our friends have
abandoned us,� Chandler grizzled.
�We could� do guy stuff,� Joey suggested.
�What�s guy stuff supposed to be? Can�t we just get
some more coffee?�
�Chandler - don�t be such a baby. And make me a
sandwich.�
Chandler laughed weakly, �yeah, good one - got me
there.�
�We don�t need the others. We�re the two amigos -
friends forever. What�s the matter - scared of me or
something? Why� can�t we just hang out - get some
beers. You and Ross are always doing stuff together -
why won�t you do stuff with me?�
Chandler stared at Joey. �I�m sorry Joe. I had no idea
you felt so strongly about it."
�Yeah - well there�s a lot you don�t know about me.�
�Yes I�m sure there is,� Chandler said patronisingly.
�No don�t do that. I�m not stupid you know - I do know
when you�re making fun of me.�
Serious for once, Chandler looked at Joey, �You mean
it don�t you - you think I�m hanging out with all the
others just to avoid you.�
�I didn�t say that, �Joey insisted, �although you do
like them more than me.�
�I do not!�
�You do too!�
�This is just ridiculous Joey - I don�t know where you
got this idea but it�s� just not true.�
Joey smiled, �Ok - we going to hang out together then?
�Cos I think we should go to the zoo.�
�The zoo?� Chandler knew when he was defeated.
*************************************
They�d seen quite a few monkeys trying to do it with
other monkeys, trees and any other objects that were
lying about. They kind of reminded Chandler of Joey.
From the zoo, they�d somehow ended up at an old
fairground on the outskirts of the city. They were
still there when the rides were switched off for the
evening.
�Ok Joe - I can see you can get a LOT of cotton candy
in your mouth - you don�t have to keep showing me.�
�Joey opened his mouth to show Chandler the pink goop
inside. He stuck out his tongue and made munching
noises.
�Enough - you�re like a little child ,� Joey took a
lump of melting candy from his mouth and stuck it on
Chandler�s cheek . He pointed and laughed as Chandler
wiped it away.
�Will you stop!� Chandler said, �what�s with you?�
�Hey don�t walk away - we�re having fun here.�
�Sure we are.�
�Chandler - are you not enjoying yourself?�
�I�m just a little tense, that�s all.�
�I�ll say.�
�What�s that supposed to mean?� Chandler snapped.
Joey looked a little shocked, Chandler immediately
felt he had to make it all better, �I�m sorry Joe.
It�s just life. It�s depressing me.�
�Aw - don�t be sad Chandler there�s loads. You�re a
great guy - everybody likes you. �
�I just feel so lonely sometimes.�
�How can you feel lonely ? You�re never alone.�
�It�s not so bad when there are people there - it
doesn�t sink in so much. It�s just after., Late at
night. Sometimes I wake up in a big bed. Alone. And it
just hits me. I have no one.�
�Chandler you don�t have no one.�
�Is that a double negative?�
Joey frowned, �No. What are you talking about? I�m
always there for you.�
�It�s not the same. It�s not what I meant. You know
what I mean.� Chandler sighed.
�Yes. I do know what you mean. I know exactly what you
mean. That�s what I�m saying,� Joey said quietly.
Chandler looked at him. The cotton candy had melted,
and although he was a bit sticky he looked ok. Joey
was the best. Out of all his friends Joey was the one
he�d� miss the most if they were all parted. It was a
shame Joey didn�t mean what Chandler thought it
sounded like he meant.
�No -�I mean it Chandler,� Joey continued. �I�m there
if you need me.�
�Not for what I need though Joe."
�I think I might surprise you,� Joey smiled. and moved
closer to Chandler. Chandler jumped away quickly.
�Oh no Joe - that�s not what I meant. You�ve
misunderstood. You�re a good friend - but that�s way
beyond� the boundaries of friendship.�
�But Chandler..�
�No Joey, no buts. Definitely no buts. That�s the last
thing I need right now.�
Joey stood there looking confused. �But I thought...�
Chandler melted slightly. �Joe - I�m sorry. I don�t
want this to come between us. You�re my best friend.
But not that...�
Joey pouted, �Chandler. Ii was just trying to help.
Now I�ve ruined everything.�
Chandler was feeling bad now. He didn�t want Joey to
be upset. The last thing he wanted to see was a sad
Joey.� �Joe. Don�t... we�ll just pretend this never
happened.�
�But it did happen. You can�t turn the clock back
Chandler. I just� wanted to make you feel better.�
�You did Joe - you did. You just went a little too
far.�
�C�mere,� Joey said.
�What?� Chandler looked sideways at Joey.
�If you hug me - it�ll be like it never happened.
Everything will be all right.�
�It will?�
�Sure.�
�Ok. If you say so.�
Chandler walked forward, Joey opened his arms and gave
him big bear hug. Squeezing him tighter.
�Love you man,� Joey�s muffled voice said.
Chandler said nothing. He just let Joey hug.
********************************************
The next morning Rachel and Monica came into to borrow
some milk.
�So what did you guys get up to last night. Anything
fun?� Rachel asked.
�Fun? No. What makes you think we had fun?� Chandler
said tersely.
�Okay. Sheesh I just asked,� Rachel shook her head,
�Joey - did you have fun?�
�What? Oh yeah - I had fun. I think Chandler got a
little scared of the monkeys. Hee hee - they were
doing it.�
�You guys went to the zoo?� Monica asked, bemused.
�Yeah - we went to the zoo.�
�Cool. What did you do afterwards?�
�Will you stop with the questions?� Chandler threw up
his arms and stormed back to his room.
�What�s the matter with him?� Monica raised her
eyebrows.
�Oh nothing. He�ll get used to it.� Joey said.
�Used to what?�
Joey shrugged.
�Ok. Fine, don�t tell us. We�ll find out anyway,�
Rachel took the milk and left. Monica followed.
After they left Joey gently tapped on Chandler�s door.
�You can come out now they�ve gone.�
Chandler opened the door and peeped out.
�Okay Joe. I�ll let you in, but you got to promise me
something..�
�Sure - I�ll promise.�
�We�ll just keep this to ourselves eh? We do enough
stuff as a group, maybe there are some things that are
too good to share.�
�Like sandwiches?� Joey grinned
Chandler smiled back, �Sure - like sandwiches.�
Joey stepped over the thresh hold of Chandler�s door
and stepped inside. He chuckled suddenly.
