Mad World

Chapter 1

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8th season. Maybe slightly cliché. Maybe an overdone idea at some point in time. I don't care. Hopefully, I have my own spin on it. It came to me during a neurology class I was taking a year and a half ago, and I started the first few chapters then (I just looked, and I started in April of '09 to be exact, lol). AAAAND, I realize that I have ten million fics going right now, but..well…I'm in a bit of a Randler-related-rut, writing-wise (50 or so hour work weeks don't help with the writing thing…), so…here's the Mondler everyone has been begging me for the past few months. And by months, I mean well over a year. I will hopefully get to finishing all of my fics eventually; life should be calmer in January. And this fic, in particular, won't be too terribly long. Under ten chapters.

Oh, and the title is like the title of the song…the version sung by Gary Jules/Michael Andrews, like in Donnie Darko/every tv drama there is, though, not the Tears for Fears version. It's just so hauntingly beautiful :)

Man, I base a lot of fanfic titles on song titles. Can't help it; I love music.

Reviews are much appreciated, as always :)

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"Hey, what time are we supposed to be at your parents for dinner tonight?" Chandler asked Monica, still tying his tie as he emerged from their bedroom. Though he really didn't mind Monica's parents, and had learned to more than tolerate them other than Judy's belittling of Monica, he would much prefer spending the evening alone with his wife.

Wife; that word still made him smile a bit giddily.

"Six," she replied, pouring a cup of coffee in the kitchen. She was still in her pajamas, hair piled on top of her head, and that alone made him smile wider. He always thought she was gorgeous, but there was just something about Monica in the morning that made him want to drag her back into the bedroom and say to hell with work for the day. "Want breakfast?" Monica offered.

"No, I have a meeting this morning," he gave her a quick kiss on the lips as he pulled on his jacket. "I can't be late. Although, I might be able to leave a little early," he pondered out loud, taking a drink of her coffee.

"Hey," she playfully hit his arm, grabbing the coffee mug back.

"Sorry, don't have time for a whole cup," he smiled in apology before kissing her again, this time a bit longer.

"Work? Meeting?" Monica asked, pulling back.

"Eh, I can be late," he gave her another quick kiss before pulling back. "I'll call you after my meeting?" he stated more than asked, and she nodded. "Love you," he added, grabbing his briefcase as he walked out the door.

"Love you, too," Monica said after him, shaking her head as she sat down with her coffee, picking up the paper. She only had to work the lunch shift today, so she had plenty of time to get ready. Too bad Chandler had a meeting this morning; the rainy day outside would have made it a perfect day to spend together in bed.

~.~

Monica literally ran down the city streets, though it was still drizzling, knowing that was probably faster than taking a cab. She immediately realized the mistake in that logic, though, as she was working the lunch shift. So, it was, in fact, lunch time, which meant the streets were crowded with people on their lunch breaks. For the few blocks, she dodged in and out of people and umbrellas.

Rachel had called her. Because Joey had called Rachel. Because Chandler had never actually changed his address, so, to the world, he was still living with Joey. Which is why he would have the same phone number as Joey. Which is why they called him and not her.

This was actually good, Monica told herself, because she had been at work, not at home. She hadn't even wanted to take the phone call since they were so busy, but at the words "Rachel" and "emergency," she had. Because of this, she also had assumed it had something to do with Rachel and the baby and hadn't quite braced herself for what the news actually was. At the words "Chandler" and "accident," she had begun shaking, the phone slipping from her hands as she received the details. The waitress next to her who had originally answered the phone picked it up and got the rest of the information from Rachel. Thinking about it, Monica realized it must have scared the poor girl. Monica didn't behave like that. Monica was the strong, boss, leader-type. Not the breaking-down-at-work type.

However, when it came to Chandler, she was definitely the breaking-down-at-work type.

"Monica," Joey yelled in relief, seeing her approaching the hospital.

"Joey, what are you doing out here? What the hell happened? How is he?" Monica asked, continuing through the hospital doors, not missing a step or pausing for a moment. Joey followed.

"They won't tell me how he is, Mon. They won't tell me anything because I'm not family," he admitted, following her. She was a woman on a mission, and rightfully so. "But, bus hitting a cab? That doesn't sound so good…"

"No, it doesn't," she hit the elevator button, biting her thumbnail, a habit that she had broken years ago but still showed up from time-to-time when she was nervous.

"Rachel should be here any minute. And Ross," Joey put his hand on Monica's shoulder, trying in some way to comfort her. "I haven't gotten a hold of Phoebe yet, though."

Monica nodded as they entered the elevator, and Joey hit the floor number. Monica looked down at her feet, trying to keep herself from panicking anymore until she actually knew something, anything. She was not the panicking type. She was a getting-all-of-the-facts type. She quickly followed Joey off the elevator, over to the receptionist.

"Mr. Tribianni, as I said before, I can't tell you anything about your friend's condition," she sighed as he walked up.

"I'm Monica Bing," Monica stepped in front of Joey, "I'm his wife."

"Have a seat, Mrs. Bing, I'll page your husband's doctor."

"You can't tell me anything about him?" Monica leaned forward on the desk. "Something…Anything?"

"I'm sorry," she smiled sympathetically. "His doctor should be here any minute, though. Go, sit down," she motioned to the waiting area. Monica lingered by the desk for a moment, finally giving in and retreating to the dimly lit waiting area at Joey's insistence as he gently grabbed her arm.

"If he's fine, she could have just told me that, right?" Monica asked Joey, voice shaking as she sat in one of the dull, stiff chairs. "Right?" she repeated, and Joey shrugged. "She wouldn't have to get a doctor. She could have just told me he is fine and that I can see him," she leaned forward, elbows on her knees, face in her hands. "Just, tell me he's fine, Joe?" she looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"I can't…I don't…" Joey placed a hand on her back, not sure what to say. He hated seeing Monica cry. Out of everyone, she was supposed to be the strong one. Seeing her break down like this, he felt like he needed to take over that role, because as much as Chandler meant to him, he meant a million times more to Monica.

"Mrs. Bing?" Both Joey and Monica leapt to their feet as a doctor entered the waiting room.

Monica squeezed Joey's hand, bracing herself for the worst.