AN: Yay this chapter is longer than the norm for me now! I feel so accomplished! Read on, those few and precious of you that do.

Chapter 6

Erik now spent eighty percent of his time following Christine from afar anytime she went outside, and the other 20 percent thinking or dreaming about seeing her again. From this, he learned she had a dog--a very big one at that--walked it regularly, jogged almost everyday at three in the park, liked to read in said park, and went on a LOT of dates with Mr. de Chagny. Needless to say, Erik did not accompany them at those times. He also found out that Christine worked at a girl's dancing academy, and sometimes he'd walk by it multiple times to catch glimses of her demonstrating for the students.

But then one night, he realized that his progress was comparable to that of a rodent on a hamster wheel.

This is ridiculous. I'm getting nowhere and getting nothing out of this. I need to make a way to meet her, or establish communication between us, or SOMETHING other than brainless gawking, he thought, disgusted with himself. At that thought of establishing communication, an image of a scene from When a Stranger Calls came to mind. Erik almost laughed at this.

No, I am not going to call her twenty times and ask if she's checked the children yet, or just wheeze into the phone. , he thought jokingly. But I will do something...something subtle, like any ordinary meeting between two strangers. I also need a way for her to remember me...to make her think she owes me, so she'll...well, CONSIDER certain things and not just walk away and forget all about me. But how?

Erik, as was his ritual, shadowed Christine on one of her dogwalks again, only this time, she went into a book store. And she left the dog chained to a tree outside...

A grin spread across Erik's face as he thought of a most brilliant idea.

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"I take it you like old-fashioned books."

Christine shrugged at the cashier's comment.

"I like most books--I was just in a classic-literature mood today.", she chuckled as the lady handed her the novels. She was surprised no one had demanded to know if Thunder was her dog outside. Chaining a dog to public property, even if only for a minute, was probably illegal, but totally harmless to everyone. Right?

Happy with her purchase, Christine stepped out of the book store and started towards the tree where she had left---

"Thunder?!"

He was gone, chain and all. Frantically turning around, eyes flitting in every direction, Christine started to panic. To her, it was as shocking as losing one's child.

Oh I knew I shouldn't have left him alone! But it was only for a minute! Oh nonononononono....how could he have run off? I tied him securely--what if someone unchained him? He's not a purebred, so he's not worth much if they sold him, so WHY? Oh poor Thunder...

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"Thunder. Hm. Maybe she named you after your bark."

The dog's only response was a blink.

"Certainly not your bite."

"Another blink.

"You're a very useful dog, you know that?"

Thunder stuck out his pink tongue and promptly rolled onto his back. Erik only looked at him with confusion before realizing what the canine wanted. Reaching a cautious hand over, he rubbed the soft belly of a very pleased Thunder. It had been surprisingly easy to unchain the mutt, take him to the warehouse, and definitely no trouble to keep him happy. In fact, Thunder seemed more than pleased to go with Erik, as long as he was regularly petted.

"Christine's probably worried sick about you--doesn't seem like you care too much."

As far as Thunder was concerned, who cared where he was or with whom? He wasn't hungry and he was getting frequent tummy rubs.

See, this will work out perfectly. Sure Christine will be deppressed a while, and I'll be depressed because she's depressed, and I'll have to deal with Thunder, but it'll all work out in the end...yeah...she'll be happy when Thunder's back, I'll be happy because I'll be with her, and the dog--well, he's always happy. It's all going to be good...at least I hope so.

AN: Okay, not as long as I had hoped, but still. A difference, I believe. And it's quite exciting, don't cha think? Review my darlings!