Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(Set after Season 4, Ep 10, “The One With The Girl From Poughkeepsie”)

Monica has been working at her dream job, Allesandro’s, for a little over a few weeks now.
Even after recruiting Joey to help her gain some authority at the restaurant, Monica still can’t get through to her subordinates. They continue to ridicule and taunt her. On her second day of work, one of the waitresses tripped her on purpose as she was walking in the kitchen causing her to spill food and ingredients all over the floor, which the janitor refused to clean, instead making Monica do it. Last week, one of her co-workers pushed past her with a hot pan, “accidentally” ruining Monica’s apron. Just a few days ago, they locked Monica out of the restaurant during their busiest hour and wouldn't let her back in. That’s not including all of the passive-aggressive insults and nasty looks she gets.

Monica is relieved when the weekend comes and she can finally relax for a day or two. She wakes up, groggy and sore. Having to pick up the slack for 15 people has finally caught up to her.

She wakes up in the morning, her head full of groggy sleepiness. She throws on some clothes to try to look nice and prepares to make her friends breakfast when they come by.

As she stumbles out of her bedroom, she sees Chandler eating at the kitchen table, dressed casually, reading the newspaper.

“Hey Mon, good morning.” Chandler says, with a slight bit of optimism.

“Hey.” is all she can muster. Looking down at the floor as she walks towards the kitchen sink.

“Wow, things that rough, huh? Are they still giving you a hard time at work? I thought you and Joey worked it out.” Chandler says, sipping coffee.

Monica walks over to the counter and looks for her own coffee cup.

“No, they hate me even more now, if that’s possible. I can’t sleep at night because I know what’s going to happen when I get to work. You know, yesterday, they mixed up my ingredients on purpose so I would serve a dish that tasted terrible. I don’t know what to do, Chandler. I can’t win with these people.”

Monica begins to fill a coffee cup with water, she knows she is going to need the energy for today.

Chandler’s heart aches for his best friend. He knows she deserves to be treated better than this by her colleagues.

Before Chandler can speak again, he hears a coffee cup shatter on the floor. He spins his head around to Monica at the kitchen counter, barely able to grip the edges of the counter.

Before he can get up, Monica faints and falls on the floor in front of the refrigerator.

“Oh my God! Monica! Monica!” Chandler calls out as he rushes to his friend's side.
Chandler grabs Monica by her shoulders, trying to shake her awake.

“Monica? Monica, can you hear me!?” The tone in Chandler’s voice has changed to worry.

Monica's eyes are fluttering, but she is unresponsive.

After getting no response from Monica, Chandler picks her up bridal style and carries her to the couch facing the TV. He then puts his ear by her chest to see if she is still breathing.

“Thank God.” Chandler says, relieved that she is still drawing breath.

Chandler grabs a blanket and pillow from the crest of the couch to prop Monica’s head up and keep her warm.

Chandler then picks up the phone on the end table. He knows for a fact that Rachel and Joey are not home.

“Ross, it’s an emergency, you need to come to Monica’s right now, she fainted and I need help, how soon can you get here?”

“Rachel, it’s Chandler, Monica fainted and I need your help, bring Phoebe with you.”

“Joey, as soon as your audition is over, come to Monica’s, call me back when you get this.”
—---------------------------

[45 minutes later]

Chandler has not left Monica’s side since he called his friends. He has been clutching her left hand with his and sitting between the space of the couch and the coffee table, hoping she will wake up soon.

Ross, Rachel, Joey and Phoebe rush in the door, the girls putting their new clothes from Bloomingdales on the kitchen table.

“Oh my god! Is she okay!?” Rachel asks, her hands intertwined by her chest.

“What happened? Is she hurt?” asks Ross, his big brother protectiveness kicking in.

Chandler finally takes his attention away from Monica.

“She fainted while I was talking to her, I think she is okay, she is still breathing, so.” Chandler says, the worry in his voice growing.

“How long has she been out?” Phoebe inquires. She starts poking through her bag, looking for incense, hoping that will help.

“Should we call an ambulance or something?” Joey finally asks.

“I don’t know, she is still breathing, I’m not sure.” says Chandler.

The others all notice Chandler holding Monica’s hand.

“Chandler, did she say or do anything that might have caused this?” Ross asks, concerned.

“Well, this morning when she woke up, she was telling me how the people at work have been giving her a very hard time. Ridiculing her, hurting her, condescending to her and what not. She looked exhausted.” Chandler says, his attention back on Monica.

“Jeez, what a bunch of asses. I thought she and I fixed this!” Joey says as he shakes his head.

“Can you guys please watch her for a minute while I use the bathroom?” Chandler says as he begins to get up and lets go of Monica’s hand.

As he does, he hears a faint voice whisper his name.

“Chandler, Chandler.” Monica whispers, her eyes still closed as she begins to stir on the couch.

The group turns their attention to Chandler and Monica.

Chandler gets back down on the floor next to Monica and takes her left hand again.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m right here.” Chandler reassures her.

Chandler can see Monica ease as she hears this.

“Well you're obviously her favorite, Chandler. Not too sure why you called us.” Phoebe says sarcastically.

Chapter Text

[Several Hours Later]

Monica awakes in a cold sweat. She can feel warmth around her and in her hands. She flicks her eyes open and adjusts to the dark of the apartment. The sun is nearly set, the dark orange light from the sunset fills the room. Monica goes to rub her eyes.

Only her right hand reaches her face.

She looks down to see Chandler, sleeping beside her with his head on the couch next to her and sitting on the floor. His hand still wrapped around hers.

“Chandler? Hey, Chandler?” Monica says as she attempts to wake him.

“Ughh what? Oh hey, are you okay Mon?” Chandler’s focus is instantly on Monica.

“What-what happened? How did I get here? What’s going on?” Monica asks as she scans the room.

“Well” Chandler yawns. “This morning you were talking to me, then all of the sudden, you collapsed on the floor. I carried you to the couch, and you and I haven’t moved since.”

Chandler looks down at his hand holding Monica’s.

“Oh sorry” Chandler lets go of Monica’s hand. “I was really worried about you.”

“It’s okay, I’m glad to see you so worked up over me.” Monica says quietly.

“Heh, well. You kinda scared me, so. How are you feeling? You’ve been out for a few hours now.” Chandler puts his hand up to Monica’s forehead to check her temperature.

“I feel terrible, my head is spinning, and I’m hungry.” Monica says, finally sitting up on the couch. “Jeez, what time is it? How long was I out?”

Chandler gets up from the floor. “Hold on, don’t get up, okay? I’ll get you something to eat.” He says as he pats Monica’s shoulder. “Let’s see, it was about 11 when you passed out, it’s almost 7 now.”

“Oh my god, that long?” Monica practically shouts, the strength coming back to her voice.

Chandler walks over to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator. Rachel and Phoebe made some sandwiches about 3 hours ago. Of course not forgetting to make Joey one. They stuck them in the fridge for when Monica woke up.

Chandler grabs the sandwiches labeled “FOR MONICA, HANDS OFF JOEY!” In Phoebe’s handwriting.

Chandler also grabs a Diet Coke from the bottom of the fridge.

He walks back to the couch and sits back down next to Monica, handing her the items in his hands.

“You’re so sweet, thank you Chandler.” Monica says as she accepts the food and beverage.

“Hey no problem.” Chandler says as he flicks the TV on and puts on a random station and puts the volume on low.

“Hey, where are the others?” Monica asks in-between bites.

“Oh, well, Ross, Joey, Rachel and Phoebe were here for a while. I called them as soon as I had you situated on the couch. Phoebe lit a few incense candles. She said the aroma would help. We were all pretty worried about you.”

Chandler sees Monica smile slightly.

“Anyway, they all left a while ago, I think Joey and Rachel might be across the hall eating dinner. They wanted to give you some peace and quiet.” Chandler says as he picks the blanket up from behind Monica’s back and drapes it over Monica’s shoulders.

“You didn’t leave though.” Monica says as she finishes the sandwich.

“Of course not, how could I leave when I knew you needed someone here? What kind of friend would I be if I left? Besides, the others figured I would be okay in the meantime. Rach and Joey are just a few feet away.”

“It’s okay, knowing you were here with me the whole time, it makes me feel a lot better.”

Chandler feels his heart warm.

“Well hey, that’s what I’m here for right?” Chandler says through a smile that makes Monica smile even more.

Silence envelops the room for a few minutes.

Monica finishes her food, then leans back against the armrest.

“Mon, do you remember what you and I were talking about before you passed out?” Chandler asks.

“Uhmm, no, not really, why?” Monica asks curiously.

“You were telling me about your coworkers at the restaurant. That they’ve been mistreating you and hurting you on purpose, trying to get you to quit.” Chandler says with a hint of sadness.

“Oh. Yeah. Right.” Monica says as she sits back up.

She looks down at the floor and rubs her shoulders. “Yeah, they have been doing that. I’ll get used to it.” Monica says, her voice breaking.

“Hey, hey” he says quietly. He scoots over on the couch and draws Monica into a hug.

She leans into it.

Chandler speaks up. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that, you’re a good person Mon. It’s not right. They’re treating you like that because you’re actually making them work and they can’t stand it. You told me you have been losing sleep over it. That you dread going to work because you don’t know what they’re going to pull next. It breaks my heart to hear what they’re doing to you.”

Monica can’t hide the tears now. She begins to sob as Chandler holds her.

Chandler waits patiently as Monica cries. Just holding and reassuring her.

Monica hugs Chandler even tighter now.

A few minutes pass until Monica calms down. She leans back and looks at Chandler.

“I-I’m sorry.” She sniffles.

“Hey, you have nothing to apologize for. It’s not your fault.” Chandler says as he wipes away her tears.

“I just don’t know what to do. I’m trying to make a good work environment, and all they want to do is make me quit.” Monica says

“I know Mon, I know.” Chandler says as he rubs her shoulder.

Silence again. Not awkward silence. There has never been an awkward moment between them since they have been living across from each other.

Monica blows her nose, then she and Chandler lean back against the couch.

“Let’s just watch some TV for a while okay? Let’s not worry about anything else.” Chandler says as he puts the blanket over both of them.

“Okay.” Monica leans against Chandler, he wraps his arm around her and she holds on to it as the TV plays another episode of “Three’s Company.”

-END FOR NOW-