Coming Home (part 9)

Someone, Chandler didn't know who, had called an ambulance, which arrived within a few minutes. Chandler stood on the sidewalk, holding Becky, watching as they loaded Monica and Amy onto stretchers and put them in the ambulance. He rushed forward and asked if he could go to, saying he was Monica's boyfriend, and this was her other daughter. The paramedics let him, and on the way asked him all sorts of questions, some he knew, like her date of birth, others like her blood type, he had no idea.

Becky refused to let go of him the whole time. She had quietened a little, and all he heard from her were occassional choked up sobs. Her small hands clutched Chandler's bright blue shirt as she burried her face in his shoulder. Chandler held her tightly, even though her hot body was getting heavier by the minute. He knew he couldn't let her go, even if he thought she would have released her grip around his neck.

At the hospital, he asked a student nurse to call the rest of the gang. He gave her the number for Ross and Rachel's apartment, assuming that they would all be there, and if they weren't whoever was there, would call the rest. Meanwhile, he sat out in the waiting room, with Becky on his lap, staring over the top of her mess of dark hair. She had stopped crying now, and he was wondering if she had fallen asleep when she lifted her head and looked at him. her sad face made him want to cry as well. Her tears were red and tear stained, her dark hair that was exactly the same shade as Monica's, clung to her cheeks.

"Chandler?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"Yeah sweetie?" he said, stroking her back.

"Where are Mommy and Amy?"

"I don't know," he said honestly.

"They're gonna be okay, right?" she asked. Chandler hated that he could hear the doubt in her voice.

"I don't know," he said again.

"I want my Mommy," she said quietly.

"Me too," Chandler agreed, holding her tighter.

"Chandler?" Ross asked, as he and Rachel came in and saw Chandler and Becky. Rachel automatically tried to take Becky, to give Chandler a break, but the child wouldn't let go of Chandler.

"What did the nurse tell you?" he asked quietly, gently pushing Rachel's hands away from Becky. He didnt' want to have to tell them stuff the nurse had already told them. It was hard enough without having to say it for no reason.

"That Monica and Amy were hit by a car. Are they okay? Chandler?" Ross asked panicking.

"I have no idea," he said dully.

"Chandler! You were there! Was it like a major disastor, or a tiny thing?" Ross demanded.

"I'd have to go with the first one," he admitted reluctantly. Ross froze.

"They're gonna be okay though, right? They're not gonna die or anything, right?" Rachel said hopefully. Chandler shrugged.

"I wish I could say they're gonna be fine. I want them to be okay, more than you could know. But I saw the crash. I still see it everytime I close my eyes. And I can't tell you that I know they're gonna be okay," he said, then had to stop suddenly, because he was afraid he was going to start crying.

"I'm gonna go find Monica's doctor," Ross said and wandered off.

"So how you doing?" Rachel asked, sitting next to Chandler.

"I dont' really know," he said. "Right now I'm just trying to be strong for Becky."

"Poor kid," Rachel said.

They sat in silence until Ross returned with a doctor. Rachel wanted to talk to Chandler, to help him open up a bit, but he obviously wasn't in the mood to talk, so she kept quiet.

"Hi, I'm Dr Granger. I'm sorry no one talked to you earlier. I understand you're friends of Monica and Amy Burke, is that right?" he said.

"Uh huh. And this is Rebecca, Monica's other daughter," Chandler said, for the moment not even caring that the doctor had reminded him that Monica's last name was Burke.

"Are they gonna be okay?" Ross asked the doctor.

"Maybe you should come with me," the doctor said. He started to go into a side room, where they could have some privacy. Chandler almost demanded to know right then and there, but he realised that there was no point everyone in the waiting room finding out what had happened, so he followed, still carrying Becky, who hardly moved in his arms. Once the door was closed behind them, the doctor sat down heavily, and motioned for the others to sit on the couch. They all did so, too much in shock not to. "Mrs Burke was thrown into the air when she was hit by the car. She is currently in theatre, having major surgery. She has six fractured ribs, two broken legs, a cracked collarbone, a crushed pelvis, as well as extense internal injuries, which are causing a lot of bleeding, which the surgery is trying to control," the doctor said. Ross wanted to kill him in that moment. how could he stay so calm? He was talking about Monica, Ross's little sister, as if she was some sort of speciman, not a real person at all. Chandler stiffled a sob against Becky's soft hair, which the little girl barely even noticed.

"I saw the crash," he said. "I knew how bad it was, or I thought I did. But you haven't told us yet whether or not she's gonna live."

"Right now, we don't know anymore than what I've just told you. We think she may have some head injuries, but we're not sure yet. Once she gets out of surgery, they'll take her for a scan," the doctor said.

"If she doesn't have any head injuries, will she recover?" Rachel asked.

"I'm afraid I can't talk about 'what if's. At this stage, nothing is ever certain," Dr Granger said.

"What about Amy? What about my niece?" Ross asked in a choked up voice. The doctor sighed. He had known he would have to tell them, and by telling them about the mother, he had just been trying to put it off.

"I'm afraid Amy died almost instantly," he said gravely. Chandler gasped and hugged Becky tighter. Rachel let out a sob, then covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes widened. Ross just stared at the doctor.

"Amy's dead?" he asked, not really believing it. "She can't be dead. I mean, she's only two years old."

"I know. Its always tragic when something like this happens, especially to someone so young," Dr Granger said.

"Can I see them?" Chandler asked.

"Of course. We'd actually like to check you over too, since you saw the accident. We'd just like to make sure you haven't had any after effects, shock for example."

"Shock? The woman I have loved for longer than I ever thought I could love anyone could by DYING, I SAW her get hit by a car, and you want to know if I'm SHOCKED!" Chandler exclaimed. "Anyway, Becky was there too, you don't want to check her over."

"Becky? This little girl saw her mother and sister get hit by a car?" Dr Granger asked. He had treated many victims of road traffic accidents, some even worse than this. But his heart still went out to the little girl sat almost motionless in the arms of some guy who claimed to love her mother. She couldn't be more than four or five years old, and she had seen something adults would hate to see.

"Yeah, she was with me," Chandler said.

"Well we'll definately want to keep her in overnight. Where's her father? Mr Burke is it?"

"Um, he actually died a few months ago," Rachel said after a few seconds, since neither Ross or Chandler seemed able to talk.

"Well who is Becky's next of kin?" the doctor asked. The other three three looked at each other, all with blank expressions.

"I don't know. I'm Monica's brother, but I think she would have told me if I was her..." Ross trailed off.

"Her in case of emergancy person," Rachel filled in, remembering the time Monica had brought her to the hospital when she hurt her foot.

"Well, could you go get Becky some things, she shoudl stay overnight in the children's ward, where we can keep an eye on her." Ross nodded, glad to have something useful to do. Then he remember he wanted to see Monica, and he didn't dare leave her in case something awful happened.

"What about Mon?" he asked.

"I'll go get Becky's things," Rachel said generously. "You guys stay here."

"Thanks Rach," Chandler said gratefully.

"Can I see Monica?" Chandler asked as soon as Rachel was gone.

"Of course. But uh, I don't think its a good idea for Becky to see her just yet," the doctor said.

"I want Mommy," Becky said sleepily.

"I know sweetheart," Chandler said soothingly.

"Well, no one can see her until she's out of theatre, which will be at least another couple of hours, so long as there's no complications. I'll have a nurse stay with you until you can see Monica. Although you can see Amy now, if you want to."

"Yes," Chandler said firmly.

"And the child?" the doctor asked, nodding in Becky's directed.

"I wanna see Amy," she said firmly, tightening her grip around Chandler.

"Okay honey, we'll see her soon," Chandler promised.

"Are you sure thats a good idea?" ross asked.

"Ross, she was her sister. I think Becky has a right to see her, just like she has a right to see her mother," Chandler said in a voice that said clearly he wasn't in the mood to argue. Becky was going to see Monica and Amy. And that was that.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Okay, I know that wasn't the best place to leave it, but I'm tired! Please review.