[s7e7] The One With Ross's Library Book Instant

"Joey, you finally found a woman who can keep up with you and your first instinct is to run?" Rachel asked, exasperated. "Exactly! If she’s like me, she’s dangerous!"

Ross sighed, took his book, and checked it out himself. As he walked out, he realized that while the world might not be ready to worship at the altar of his dissertation, at least he knew exactly where it was: safely tucked under his arm, away from the wandering hands of NYU's amorous undergraduates. [S7E7] The One With Ross's Library Book

Determined to protect the sanctity of his contribution to science, Ross began a self-appointed "Dissertation Watch." He spent the next three hours lurking behind a cart of encyclopedias, pouncing on anyone who lingered too long near the 700s. He even brought a small velvet rope from his apartment, though the librarian made him take it down. "Joey, you finally found a woman who can

Back at the library, Ross’s vigil had taken a dark turn. He had fallen asleep against a shelf, only to be woken by a student actually reaching for his book. As he walked out, he realized that while

"She said I was a 'great pal,'" Joey reported later, looking uncharacteristically wounded. "I got 'palled'! This is what it feels like? It’s awful! I’m going to go eat a meatball sub in the dark."

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, the rest of the gang was dealing with a different kind of territorial dispute. Joey’s latest girlfriend, Erin, was actually liked by Rachel and Phoebe—a rare occurrence that terrified Joey.

"Aha!" Ross shouted, jumping up. "You’re interested in the migratory patterns of the Hadrosaur?"