Coming Home (part 11)

Chandler had to wait a few minutes with the others while Ross finished talking to Monica. Chandler wanted to start yelling at Ross for taking so long, but he restrained himself. He also wanted to start jumping up and down and dancing on the spot in a mixture of nervousness, excitment, relief and happiness, which he didn't bother to stop himself doing.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom, man?" Ross asked as he came out of Monica's room, looking much happier than he had earlier. Chandler ignored him as he hurried past Ross into Monica's room. She was looking a whole lot better than she had been less than an hour ago. She was no longer on a ventilator, and was half sitting up, propped up on several pillows. But she did look very tired and her injuries looked somehow worse on someone who was awake than someone who was unconsious. He slowed down about half way between her bed and the door. Someone, he guessed Phoebe, had closed the door, giving him and Monica some provacy.

"Hi," he said softly.

"Hey," she replied, although she still looked in pain. She smiled weakly, which made Chandler walk the remaining few paces to her bedside. He sat in the chair he presumed Ross had just vacated and let his hand hover a few inches above hers. He had reached out to hold her hand, then wondered if it would hurt her too much. She seemed to read his mind, reaching up herself to take his hand, then lowering it to the bedcovers, grimacing as she did so, but wanting to touch him. She didn't remember anything from the time she had stepped onto the zebra crossing. No one had told her anything about Chandler, Becky or Amy, and she didn't know if they had been on the crossing with her or not, although she kenw they had been out shopping with her. Seeing Chandler made her very relieved, because it allowed her to believe that the girls had been with Chandler. If he had been hit too, her children almsot certainly would have been, but because he was here, and unhurt, she could hope they were okay too.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered. She thought he wasn't far off crying.

"Becky and Amy?" she asked, her voice hoarse, but surprisingly strong. Her question made Chandler start crying. "Chandler, whats wrong? What happened to Becky and Amy?" she asked, almost shouting. He didn't answer, withdrew his hand and sat back in his chair, crying. He didn't want to be the one who had to tell her. He didn't want to have to see the hurt, shocked, sad look on her face when she found out Amy was dead. he didn't want to make her cry, or inflict any more pain on her, she was hurting enough already, physically, he didn't want to add any mental anguish on top of that. "Chandler?" she said again, trying to sit up, pulling against all the wires attatched to her, ingoring the pain. "Chandler?" He sighed and sat forward again. He couldn't bear to see her in more pain, so he decided he would have to tell her.

"Mon, lie back down," he told her, helping her settle against the pillows again. Her eyes were wide with shock and worry, anticipating what he was about to tell her. "Okay. Becky is safe and looked after on the children's ward. She is perfectly fine, just shocked and upset. They wanted to keep an eye on her tonight, but she was safe with me."

"And Amy?" Monica asked, her voice trembling.

"Monica, I'm so, so sorry. Amy died on the crossing with you," he said, biting his lip. Monica closed her eyes, fighting back tears, because she knew it would hurt her ribs to cry. "She died straight away, she probably wasn't in much pain, not for long anyway."

"Oh my God!" Monica gasped. She started to cry, unable to hold back the tears. Amy was dead? She had been with her, and now Amy was dead.

"Oh Mon," Chandler said, standing up and leaning over her to hug her as tightly as he dared, mindful of her broken bones. She squeezed him as tightly as she could, although doing so caused sharp pain to flare in her chest and stomach. "Mon, its gonna be okay, you know? We'll get through this," he said soothingly. She doubted if it would ever be okay again, but appreciated his efforts to comfort her.

"Chandler, will you promise me something?" she said, pulling stiffly away from his hug. He helped her lie down again without her asking him, and she smiled gratefully.

"Of course, anything," he said easily.

"If something happens to me, anything, promise you'll look after Becky for me?" she said. Chandler kissed her cheek.

"Of course. I would have done anyway."

"I told Ross that's what I want," she said, turning her face so he kissed her again, this time on the lips.

"Mon, I'm glad you're thinking of Becky, but nothing is going to happen. You're gonna be fine Mon," he said.

"How do you know Chandler? They haven't done a brain scan yet, they put it off so you guys could see me."

"You're awake, that tells us more than a brain scan ever could," he said softly.

"Chandler, I wish that was true. But the doctor said I could have hidden damage or something, anyway, they're not saying anything definate until after the scan."

"So when's it gonna be now?" he asked, refusing to accept that things might take a turn for the worse, even now.

"Tomorrow. that's the soonest they can fit me in. I think there's some technical problems or something, they're behind schedual," she added.

"Can we please talk about something else?" he asked. She looked at him, he looked like he might start to cry soon.

"Sure, I'm sorry," she said.

"Mon, don't be sorry. I know this is important to you. Its just I don't want to think about you not be alright," he said.

"Me neither. So how's Becky?" she asked, forcing herself to concentrate on the daughter she had left.

"Missing you like crazy. I've been with her pretty much since the accident. I mean, apart from when i've been with you," he said.

"Thanks. Will you, will you tell her I miss her too?"

"Of course."

"when can I see her?" chandler almost laughed. She sounded exactly like Becky.

"I'm not sure. When the nurses on the children's ward decide she's okay to see you, i guess," he said.

"When will that be?"

"I don't know Mon, i'll ask when I go back up there." She sighed. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I know Becky needs you more than I do. I just dont' want you to go," she said, not quite looking at him. He smiled.

"Me neither." They kissed again, and although the small movement hurt, Monica put her arms around him.

Chandler stayed until Rachel started knocking impatiently on the door. He smiled at Monica, kissed her one last time, then left, allowing Rachel in to see Monica. He wanted to go straight back up to see Becky, but Ross stood up as Chandler left Monica's room, and he realised Ross wanted to talk.

"Chandler, did Mon talk to you about Becky?" Ross asked.

"Yeah," he said shortly.

"You're okay with that?"

"Totally. I want to take care of Becky, not that I think anything bad is going to happen to Monica. That's what I told her."

"Just, you don't take my neice back to Ottawa, okay?" Ross said. "I mean, if anything DOES happen."

"Which it won't."

"Of course not. But if it does..."

"Becky and I will stay in New York," Chandler promised. The thought of returning to Ottawa hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Thanks man," Ross said, sounding very relieved.

"Hey, I was going to stay here anyway," Chandler said. "Well, I shoudl probably go up and see Becky."

"Hey, stay here if you want, I'll go see Becky. I would have before, I just wanted to talk to you," Ross offered.

"No, I want to see her. She was a bit upset about me coming down here in the first place. I should probably be the one to go up," Chandler said.

"Okay, well, I'll go see her later," Ross said. He was feeling slightly guilty that until now he had been so focused on Monica, he had forgotten his neice.

"Okay," Chandler agreed.

When Becky saw him again, she jumped down from her bed, ran over to him and threw her arms around him. Chandler picked her up and hugged her. A nurse came over, a different one to the one he had spoken to earlier.

"How is Mrs Burke doing?" the nurse asked.

"She's okay, she's awake. She's having a brain scan tomorrow, to make sure, but she's okay," Chandler said happily, speaking to both the nurse and to Becky.

"Woo hoo!!" Becky yelled and hugged him tighter. She looked happy for the first time since the accident. 'Wow', he thought, 'was it really just a few hours ago?'

"I'm glad to hear it," the nurse said smiling. "Becky, you can go see your Mommy if you want."

"Yay!!!" Becky shouted.

"Yeah, and now I'm deaf," Chandler joked. Becky was wriggling in his arms, making herself more comfortable. Chandler chuckled. "Can I take her down now?" he asked.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Becky asked.

"Okay. Not for long though," the nurse said, still smiling.

"Yay!" Becky said again.

"Thank God, that wasn't right in my ear that time," Chandler muttered.

"Yay!" Becky screamed, this time aiming for his ear. She laughed as he held his hand to his face.

"Come on you, before I go deaf for real," he laughed.

Phoebe, Joey and Ross were surprised to see Chandler return so soon, but they all grinned when they saw Becky. Phoebe and Joey were both slightly disappointed, they still hadnt' gotten to see Monica since she woke up, and now it looked like Chandler and Becky would see her next, since Becky probably had to get back to the children's ward.

"Hi Becky!" Ross said, plucking her out of Chandler's arms. She went willingly enough, very different to the clingy, frightened little girl that had arrived at the hospital. Chandler supposed that had mostly been fear about her mother, and now that it looked like Monica was going to be okay, Becky was more comfortable about being out of Chandler's arms.

"Are you guys here to see Monica?" Phoebe asked, trying not to sound selfish.

"Uh huh!" Becky said.

Chandler knocked on the door and stuck his head round.

"Hey, sorry Rach, but there's someone here who wants to see her Mommy," he said, grinning. Monica smiled back, and even Rachel managed a smile, although she wanted to see Monica for a little longer.

"Mommy!" Becky shrieked, as Chandler lifted her out of Ross's arms, into his own and carried her into Monica's room, where she struggled to get free. Chandler put her down on the bed next to Monica.

"Be careful, Mommy's still hurt bad," Chandler said warningly. Becky nodded seriously, and hugged her mother lightly.

"You call that a hug?" Monica said, hugging Becky back, fighting the pain. Becky needed reassurance that her mother was okay, not to be afraid of her breaking.

"You want me to leave you guys alone?" chandler offered, hoping Monica would say no, because he loved watching them together.

"No, please stay," Monica said. Chandler smiled and sat down in the chair by her bed. Becky stayed on the bed with Monica, trying not to jar her mother's broken bones, but wanting to be as close as possible. Monica winced as Becky accidentally kicked her pelvis, which was currently held together by an assortment of metal pins, and was her most painful injury. Chandler looked ready to take Becky off the bed, but Monica shook her head slightly. She wanted to be near Becky as much as Becky wanted to be near her.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Okay, no cliffhanger this time. Please review. Part 12 coming soon.