1Mystery in the Music

Chapter 3: Securities and Insecurities

Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera. Erik's body on the other hand….

Christine gasped. A mask. A man in a white mask. It was Erik. Erik Satie just saved her life.

"Give me a moment, Christine; I'll be right back to tend to you." Erik pulled the man into another alley. A few minutes later the man came out screaming, while passing Christine he yelled a rushed apology to her. Erik came out kneeled next to Christine, examining the damage she had experienced. She had scrapes on her arms and knees, and he could tell by the way she was acting, she was in shock.

"Erik! Why are you…I mean, how did you…", Then she fell into his arms, out cold with all of the trauma and shock she just went through finally taking its toll. Erik caught Christine and carried her to his apartment, which was a few blocks away. He started to run, her arms were starting to bleed heavily and he needed to get them cleaned.

When Erik reached his apartment, he unlocked the door, laid Christine carefully down on the couch, making sure he did not hurt her in the process, and went into the bathroom to get supplies to clean her wounds with. He sat in front of her on the floor and wiped away the blood with alcohol. It was a good thing that she was asleep or it would have caused her pain. He put ointment on the scrapes then wrapped them. After he was done, he realized he had failed to take his shoes off within all of the excitement, so he took them off and put them by the front door. Then he went to the linen cabinet to find a blanket. When he did, he went over to Christine and carefully draped it over her sleeping form.

Here she was, in his apartment. What now? Erik went into the kitchen to fix some food for Christine when she woke. Just as he was looking in the refrigerator trying to decide what to make, he heard a blood curdling scream coming from the living room.

"ERIK!"

Erik dropped what he was doing and ran into the living room, where Christine was sitting up with the most horrified look on her face. He came and sat next to her putting his arms around her.

"It's okay. Don't worry, you are safe. He can't touch you. Calm down, my sweet." Erik whispered soothing words in her ear as she whimpered in his. He started to rub his hand on her back, and it seemed to quiet her even more.

"Erik, I'm scared." She whispered, frightened out of her wits.

"Don't be. I am here, nothing will harm you. Not while I'm around." He said soothingly in her ear.

"You saved me." She whispered, realization finally kicking in.

"I couldn't let him touch you, let alone hurt you. I am sorry that it got too far. I should have been there earlier." He said, regretting his tardiness.

"No, you did the very best you could. Thank you so much."

"Christine, I wouldn't let anything happen to you. But now you must eat something." Erik went into the kitchen and came back out holding a tray with soup, crackers, fruits, and Sprite, which he set down in front of her. She looked at it, then back at him. "It's okay, Christine, Eat. It will make you feel better." He sat next to her and watched as she slowly brought a spoonful of soup to her mouth. She smiled after the first bite, then proceeded to eat a little faster than before, becoming extremely hungry.

"I don't know how I can ever repay you." She said after wiping her mouth with the napkin he had provided her with.

"You don't have to." He replied almost instantly.

Christine finished her meal and looked up at him. "Erik, may I ask you a personal question?" She said, not wanting to over-step her boundaries.

"You may, but it is my choice on weather or not I want to answer. So, by all means, ask away." He replied.

"Why do you wear a mask?" she just came out and said it.

Erik stiffened. He knew she would wonder about it. He thought for a moment and replied, "It hides my biggest insecurity."

"I understand." she said, not wanting to push him. After a moment of silence she said, "Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"May I stay here tonight? I'm too scared to go home." She asked, suddenly feeling like a little girl.

"Of course, let me go make up the bed for you. I will sleep out here on the couch, you can have my bed." Christine smiled as he walked into his bedroom to finish the room for her. She hadn't known Erik for very long, and here she was about to sleep in his bed after he saved her life and virginity. Christine looked down at her torn dress and sighed. She couldn't very well do anything in this dress anymore. She stood and went in the direction Erik left in. She went to the one open door in the hallway and saw Erik in it, changing the bed clothes. He stopped working and looked up when Christine entered.

"Christine? Is everything alright?" he asked, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Oh, yes. I was just wondering, do you have something I could wear? My dress is ripped, and…" she trailed off. Erik grinned at her child-like behavior.

"Of course, Christine." Erik replied. He got off of the bed and went to a drawer where he pulled out a t-shirt and night pants. He handed them to her and smiled apologetically. "My apologies, they are probably very large on you, but the pants have a drawstring. You can use the bathroom right over there to change."

"Thank you so much, Erik." Christine replied, very grateful to have him there for her in her time of need. She went to the bathroom and changed. When she came back out, Erik had the bed finished, and had changed into some night clothes himself. He was wearing black sleep pants and a white Hanes t-shirt.

"If you find you should need anything, don't hesitate to wake me." He said. Christine smiled and thanked him yet another time and crawled into the bed. Erik tucked her in and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Christine." He said. Christine then noticed that his voice had a calming affect on her, much like her Angel's voice.

"Good night Erik, see you in the morning." She said.

Erik went to the window, and before he left, made sure it was locked. He smiled at her one last time and left the room, leaving the door open. That made Christine smile, seeing as she couldn't stand sleeping in a room with the door closed. It was as if he had read her thoughts. She reached over and turned the light out and snuggled further under the covers of Erik's bed. She inhaled the scent and felt a very calm sensation wash over her. She loved the masculine smell that Erik had.

Christine heard Erik rustling about in the living room, then finally turning the light out and going to sleep.

O ERIK O

When Erik got into the living room after tucking Christine in, he checked all the windows and made sure that each and everyone of them were locked. Then he made sure all the locks on the door were locked too. He then made up the couch for himself. He put his pillow down and shut the light off. He laid there for a moment, then sat up and removed his shirt, hating to sleep in any clothing, but with Christine here, the pants would have to stay on, unfortunately.

AN: I hope you enjoyed that. The next chapter is going to have a bit of fluff in it. Please review. Thank you Shelby for doing a wonderful editing job! Cheer!!!

-Primadonnakate