Fandom: Phantom of the Opera
Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own *insert fandom name from above*... All I own is an overactive imagination.
Summary: AU. I shoved the POTO characters into a hospital setting. Slash btw, as though I write anything but.
Warning(s): slash, AU
Pairing(s): Erik/Raoul
Word Count: 4,652
A/N: Well, this is chapter 7 of 10 and I had been planning to finish by this month but that goal's been shot to hell. Blame the fact that I thought I was going to be able to finish Reluctantly Willing this month as well. I guess more overlapping stories to follow in July.
Story note: More drama ensues. I think I love Christine (shocking) in this fic.
o.o.o.o
Garnier Hospital – Disease
By: Lucifer Rosemaunt
o.o.o.o
The pain had lessened to a manageable level by the time Christine came to speak with Erik before her shift ended. However, even though the pain had lessened, the self-righteous anger he felt towards Raoul had remained.
Upon entering the room, Christine gave him a disapproving look. Said look was becoming rather common, appearing whenever he made Raoul feel bad, which happened more often than not. It was annoying enough that Christine seemed to know exactly what was being said in their conversations, but she also always had something to say about it, which made him even more disinclined to appreciate her input. He chose to ignore the look, confident in the fact that he'd been completely in the right in their most recent argument. It wasn't as though she could intimidate him when he was in the comfort of his own bed. She didn't have any goons with her either, so there was little she could say that could faze him.
"I ran into Raoul in the hallway," she said.
He replied blithely, "I gathered." He liked even less the fact that Raoul spent so much time speaking with her.
"He said he's had enough for today." She glared at him and Erik glared right back even though he knew it would be pointless to do so. She wouldn't see it. He realized that she hadn't moved into the room any more than necessary to avoid the door hitting her when it closed. As much as she could scold him and pay others to deal with him, she was still just as frightened as everyone else, still just as affected by his voice if he so chose – even though he'd stopped trying to chase her away. She simply hid it better, and he almost hated her for being afraid.
She continued angrily, her hands on her hips, "He won't come back today. In fact, I doubt he's coming back tomorrow either or the day after that. What did you do?"
His response was immediate. "I didn't do anything."
"Then," Christine stated pointedly, "why did he ask that another doctor look after you?"
"What?" Erik tried to sit up but failed to make it very far before his arms gave out. "He requested another doctor?"
Christine nodded grimly. "Yes. He requested another doctor."
Erik looked away from her to gather his thoughts. As far as fights went, theirs had been rather tame, barring the fact that Erik had managed to bring his family into the conversation. He'd been rather conscious to avoid doing that so far, but it couldn't have been that damning. He'd wanted Raoul to leave the room, not stop being his doctor. That wasn't fair. Erik now expected physical therapy. He now wanted to live what could pass for a normal life. He wanted it only because of Raoul and now, he suddenly decided that he was going to leave him? Raoul wasn't allowed to do that. Erik wouldn't allow it.
"What? No, 'I'm not going to let another doctor see me' again?" Christine asked.
Her mocking didn't go unnoticed, but Erik didn't react to it. He was still thinking about Raoul. He replied absentmindedly, "That goes without saying."
"It may be too late. With the way you constantly treat him, I'm rather surprised that he's stayed with you for this long," she said, turning towards the door. Making sure that he couldn't see her face, she grinned to herself.
"Wait," he called after her, "You said that you'd convince him to stay as my primary physician. We had a deal. I told him about the bandages."
Schooling her features, Christine turned to look at him rather unimpressed, "And we saw how well that went. You barely told him anything."
"And you?" Erik accused.
"I've told him the barest of facts, as you well know," she scoffed, "He doesn't know why you're here. Nobody else knows why you're here, Erik, or why you only see me or him. In fact, everyone thinks you're still in love with me."
Erik scoffed right back at her. "With your bedside manner? I'd rather…"
"… have Raoul?" Christine cut him off.
He glared at her again. "Why do I deal with you?"
"Because you need food and you did love me at one point," she stated confidently.
Erik tugged the hospital blanket up a little higher, muttering to himself. That was in the past, something they never spoke of because Erik didn't see the point. They both knew what had been wrong. "And you would've never really loved me."
Christine gave the barest of nods. She'd accomplished what she'd set out to do. Turning to leave the room, her hand was on the doorknob already when Erik ordered, "I want to see him again."
Her back straightened, and she opened the door stiffly. Frowning, Christine replied without looking over her shoulder, "I don't see the point. You're not making any progress." She knew that was a lie. Raoul had been more than overjoyed when Erik had agreed to do physical therapy. "It's best if you just leave him alone." Something she knew would not happen if Erik had his way, and she couldn't think of a time when he hadn't gotten his way. She left before he could say anything else.
Erik stared at the door in disdain; he wanted to follow her, maybe chase down Raoul and demand answers, but he couldn't. It was frustrating to know that glaring was the only thing he could do in his current state, and the bandages did well to cover that up. He had no way of finding out what was happening with Raoul or even a way to contact him. He'd long since given up on all means of communication. Erik stared at the door, almost willing anyone to come in so that he could order them to go drag Raoul back into this room. It was only after a few minutes that he gave up that effort so that he could process what Christine had just said.
He would never admit that he spent the whole day going over her words and their argument trying to figure where it had all gone wrong. He was sulking, and he knew it. He rarely allowed himself such weaknesses, and the only reason he allowed himself to do so now was because he was alone – though that was hardly a change. He was alone and Raoul wasn't going to visit him.
He just couldn't believe what had happened. He'd actually managed to push Raoul away enough so that he was actually going to stop visiting. Raoul, the doctor whose empathy was annoyingly acute. Raoul, who looked pained whenever he was in pain. Raoul, who looked so earnest when he offered his help. Erik just couldn't believe it.
It should be good that Raoul would stop bothering him. It should be good that Raoul finally realized that he didn't need anything else besides this room, the liquid food, and the meager company that Christine provided. He didn't need solid food, walking, or massages. He didn't even want any of that. He just wanted to waste away in this bed; he'd already lost his old life. He'd lost everything that had been important to him then. He would've been fine too, if only it had been a few weeks ago, if only he'd never met Raoul in the first place.
o.o.o
Raoul hadn't thought the charity event could be that bad, except it was. He looked at his empty champagne glass in confusion. Where had all the champagne gone? He looked up, searching for the nearest waiter to ask him and saw that the dining hall was practically empty, only a few guests, his family, and the busboys moving about. He was sitting alone at a table in the middle of the room, but no one was talking to him. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or worried that he'd done something wrong. He brought the champagne glass to his lips to drink and stared at the empty glass again. Where had all the champagne gone?
Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet before steering him to a far corner of the room. Raoul watched the room go by, tilting the glass over to see a drop of champagne fall to the floor.
"Raoul," Philippe whispered, extracting the glass from Raoul's grasp.
"Philippe!" Raoul smiled widely.
Shushing him, Philippe placed a hand over Raoul's mouth. "Speak softer, brother." He didn't remove his hand until Raoul nodded.
"Softer," Raoul whispered.
Philippe frowned. "Are you alright?"
"I think so," Raoul patted himself down, checking to see if he had any broken limbs. "You're the doctor. You tell me." He giggled and lurched forward, grabbing onto Philippe for support. He relaxed against him. "Is the party finally done?"
"Thankfully." Philippe glanced around the room to see if anyone was watching them. Luckily, no one was paying the slightest bit of attention on them.
Sighing, Raoul asked, "Why'd dad have to do that?"
Philippe winced. "I'm sure he thought he was doing you a favor," he lied. "Doing it for your benefit." Philippe was certain that was the last thing on his father's mind, but he wasn't about to tell Raoul that.
"Making jokes about me and my hospital to his friends?" Raoul pulled away from Philippe just to pout at him properly, "They were laughing at me and calling the new administration useless idiots."
"I know," Philippe patted Raoul on the shoulder. "You know he's proud of you, right?"
Raoul sniffled. "They all look down on me and it's because of him. If he just said that he's proud of me, they would all agree."
Philippe didn't try to argue. Arguing with drunks never got him anywhere, and neither did arguing against a true statement.
"He even introduced me to that girl," Raoul continued, gesturing flippantly, "Carlotta, I think. And to her rich family. I guess he thought I could at least marry well since I wasn't a good enough doctor."
Philippe had seen that as well. Raoul had been doing admirably throughout the dinner, taking his father's cruel joking and his friends' laughter in stride. Raoul even managed to be polite to Carlotta, whose laugh could be heard from well across the room. It had even made Philippe wince; he didn't know how Raoul managed to laugh along. Philippe hadn't heard any complaints and everyone seemed rather charmed by the youngest Chagny. He was undoubtedly proud of Raoul.
"I don't feel well, Philippe," Raoul leaned backwards against the wall, hitting it with a thump.
"I'm not that surprised," Philippe grabbed his arms to steady him, "You drank a lot."
"No…" Raoul's legs buckled and Philippe barely caught him before he slid to the floor.
Feeling his forehead, Philippe slung Raoul's arm over his shoulder. He'd thought his brother had felt a little hot. "You're sick. Why didn't you say anything?"
"I was supposed to be here," Raoul explained, "I didn't want to disappoint you."
Philippe replied immediately, "You could never disappoint me."
"I did good?" Raoul's voice was so soft almost fragile. Philippe wished he hadn't convinced Raoul to come to the event, knowing the evening was the source of that tone of voice. It was too late for that though.
"Yeah. You did good." Making a decision, Philippe headed towards his car. "I'm taking you home."
"Home-home?" Raoul could barely get his legs to listen to him, but for his brother's sake, he struggled to stay on his feet.
"No," Philippe said, "yours."
"But this weekend…"
"You're sick. You should be in your bed. You know how you get when you're sick." He mentally added that they both knew how their father got when he was ill. "You need to stay in your own room and not move at all. I should've known you weren't that drunk. You need sleep and I'll visit you tomorrow morning to see if you're well enough to spend the weekend with us."
Raoul mumbled his assent, allowing his brother to lead him.
o.o.o
Even with what Christine said, Erik had waited: all morning, during lunch, and well into the evening to see if Raoul would show regardless. He had been treating Raoul rather poorly, and keeping secrets from him was probably detrimental to their doctor-patient relationship. Maybe Christine was right about putting forth a better effort. Maybe it would be enough to convince Raoul to stay as his doctor. Erik wasn't sure. But even after all that waiting, Raoul didn't come, and not having anything else to do, Erik fell asleep disappointed and angry.
He shifted uncomfortably in the bed. It was hot, and that was odd considering the air conditioning in the hospital was quite strong. He tugged at the blanket but it didn't move. Opening his eyes, he glanced down to see Raoul half-draped on his bed. He could tell even though Raoul's face turned away from him and his blonde hair was in a messy tangle everywhere.
"Raoul?"
There was no response.
Erik lifted his hand, torn between shoving Raoul off the bed completely and simply trying to wake him. Instead of doing either, he cautiously placed his hand down on the pale smooth skin that his eyes had been drawn to at the nape of his neck. His eyes widened when he felt how hot Raoul was.
"What are you doing here, idiot?" Erik muttered to himself.
"Erik?" Raoul raised his head up, his eyes only half open as they tried to focus on him.
"Go home, Raoul." Erik reprimanded.
"But," Raoul paused, lips actually quivering at Erik's harsh tone of voice, "I came here 'specially to talk t'you."
Staring at him for a moment, Erik asked, "Are you sick or drunk?"
Raoul looked up at the ceiling in exaggerated thought. "Both. But more of the sick thing than the drunk one. Or versa vice."
Erik rolled his eyes and even though he'd wanted the contrary all day, he said again, "Go home, Raoul. Sleep whatever it is off."
Raoul pouted and looked very close to tears. "M'sorry." He clutched Erik's hand with both of his and Erik was actually not surprised when Raoul's eyes did begin to tear. He was annoyed that he was more concerned with his illness than anything else. Raoul's hands were even hot. Erik wondered what temperature he was running.
"You need to know," Raoul blurted out. "You are a bother. Or worth a bother. I bother. Bother? That's a funny word." He chuckled.
Erik actually let out a short bark of laughter before he could contain it. He was almost glad he hadn't been able to contain it when Raoul looked at him so hopefully. He understood what Raoul had been trying to say. It was impossible not to when their argument had been the only thing on his mind since Raoul had left that morning. Erik sighed, disappointed with himself. He couldn't even bring himself to be angry. Deciding that he would just be angry when Raoul was coherent enough to remember it, he gave Raoul's hands a little squeeze in response.
That seemed to be a sign to Raoul to continue talking. "Y'see. There was this family thing and they were mean to me. Mean," Raoul practically wailed, clutching at Erik's hand even tighter. "I had to go and then this weekend was supposed to be with them too and then you were mean to me, too. I don't think I'm going."
Erik decided that Raoul definitely needed to sleep whatever he'd drunk off. He wasn't making any sense. "Going where? I thought you asked Christine for another doctor," he said slowly.
Raoul tilted his head in confusion, "For this weekend. It's why I scheduled our session for next week." Before Erik could process his words, Raoul stared at him wide-eyed and proclaimed rather suddenly. "You remind me of the invisible man. It's scary to think that you won't be there if I take the bandages off."
Allowing himself to follow Raoul's subject change, Erik promised himself he would try to figure out what Raoul was talking about later. He replied, "It's scarier when you see what's under the bandages."
"What's wrong with your face?" Raoul asked innocently.
"Something you don't want to see," He replied honestly. "No one wants to see."
"But I do," Raoul used one hand to point at himself. He shrugged, "I'm going to see you naked anyways."
"Naked?"
"Massages, Erik. Massage. I'm a massagers, massoo," he dropped his head forward onto the bed in an effort to remember the word, mouthing the word massoo.
"Masseur," Erik replied when it became obvious Raoul was not going to get it. He glanced at the one hand that was still holding onto his own.
"Yes!" Raoul raised up their hands in victory. "Massoo."
Erik corrected, "Masseur."
But Raoul was continuing. Tsking, Raoul grinned, "Massages but no happy endings."
Erik smirked. "Really?"
"Yup. That's an extra charge, but I do get to see you naked." Raoul smiled at him, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Erik smirked, glad that Raoul wouldn't be able to see it. He said seriously, "Then, isn't that rather unfair?"
Raoul paused to think about that. "D'you want to see me naked?" He moved to stand up but Erik stopped him, tightening his hold on Raoul's hand.
"No." He could just imagine what Christine would think if she walked in on them with Raoul naked. He very well wouldn't be able to look Raoul in the face again once he was better.
"It is cold." Raoul sat back down and laid his head on the bed, finally releasing Erik's hand. "And I'm tired."
They were quiet for a while, Raoul just trying to think through the haze that seemed to be his mind at the moment, and Erik splitting his attention between his hand, which was still warm, and Raoul.
"Why me, Erik?" Raoul said, the words almost completely muffled.
"Why you what?"
Raoul lifted his head only slightly so he could look at him, "Why am I still here?"
Erik retorted, "Because I can't physically kick you out of my room."
"I just don't understand," Raoul continued as though Erik hadn't spoken at all. "What is it about your bandages that made you react like that? Why do you let me stay when no one else has? Am I special?"
Erik looked away from him. Raoul had his face turned toward him and though his eyes were a little bloodshot, they seemed too focused.
"You don't understand," Erik stated. His bandages were the only things that kept Raoul in the same room. It was his last defense. No one wanted to see his face. Not anymore. Christine had only seen it a few times before Erik refused to let her experience that again. He'd been able to see how affected she'd been. He changed his own bandages now and refused to be seen as some kind of freak show. "You don't understand," he repeated.
"And you're not explaining it," Raoul replied.
"Does it really matter?"
"To me it does. Because I want to know; I want to help. Because it could mean that one day you'll be able to just suddenly decide on a whim to scare me away like the others. I already know: head trauma, burns, bruising and scarring." Raoul counted off his fingers.
"Hearing it and seeing it are two completely different things."
"I'm not going to stop being your doctor. I'm a doctor. I've seen everything; you can't scare me away. Why can't you tell me what happened? Why I'm still here?" Raoul pouted once more before turning his face towards the bed and moaning. "I don't feel too good."
Erik actually didn't know what to say in response. It wasn't so much that he was actually worried about a doctor's opinion. He knew that doctors had probably seen worse. Erik already knew what his life was going to be like. He knew that there was constructive surgery or other ways to cover up his injuries, but he didn't want any of that. In a way, the accident had been a blessing in disguise, driving away everyone and everything that had been shallow aspects of his life. And he hated to think how it had driven away everything. No, Erik wasn't worried about a doctor's opinion. It was Christine and now Raoul that he worried about, not as nurse or doctor. Erik cursed under his breath at Raoul.
Raoul muttered, "I wanna sleep."
"Then go home," Erik placed a hand on Raoul's head, nudging slightly, "How did you even get here?"
"I walked."
"You walked?" He repeated incredulously.
"Needed to see you," Raoul admitted, "Needed to talk."
"Find Christine to bring you home," Erik suggested half-heartedly, "She should be here."
"Okay."
Raoul didn't move, and Erik didn't suggest that he leave again. He pretended to look around the bed, already knowing that there was no way to call Christine from his bed. He'd broken the call button for the nurse's station long ago. Instead, he settled for waiting for Christine to arrive on her own. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Tentatively, he moved the hand that was on Raoul's head to the nape of his neck again. Raoul muttered a thank you before falling sleep. Erik followed soon after.
o.o.o
Erik woke when he could no longer feel Raoul beneath his hand. He looked up to see Christine and another man in the room.
Seeing the movement, Christine moved to his side, "Erik this is Philippe, Raoul's brother."
Erik scrutinized him. The man did have some of the same features as Raoul, who was currently unconscious and draped over Philippe's shoulder.
"Is that the best way to carry him?" Erik asked with a scoff.
Christine grinned. That was the point she'd just been trying to make. "He's going to throw up on you. Why don't I get you a wheelchair?" She asked before leaving the room.
Seeing nowhere else to place his brother, Philippe lowered Raoul back into the chair, gently lowering his head onto the bed. "So, you're Erik," Philippe said conversationally, "I've heard about you."
"I've heard nothing about you," Erik replied, which was partially a lie. He hadn't heard anything from Raoul, but he'd heard enough about the eldest Chagny long ago from the papers. The man was supposedly brilliant.
Philippe grinned sadly, nodding. "Of course, I'm sure he doesn't talk about his family much." Looking down at his brother, his features softened. He found himself saying, "I thought we'd lost him for certain this time."
"Lost him?" Erik asked, and Philippe was a little surprised to hear the worry in his voice.
Unsure if he should tell Erik anything, but needing to explain his brother's behaviour, Philippe said, "He moves and talks a lot when he's ill, even when the words don't come as easily. It doesn't make much sense." Philippe held his tongue on the fact that his father was really to blame for Raoul's behaviour. He'd drilled it into his head that a little temperature meant nothing. It was odd considering his father would never tell his patients the same thing, but his children, well, they were above illness. They were supposed to keep working hard when they were sick and of course, Raoul did. Raoul kept moving even though his body needed to shut down. "Usually, he's not very good with locks in this state, so when I left him at home, I thought he'd be alright." Philippe had returned to Raoul's loft with medicine he'd bought only to find the door unlocked. He panicked and tore through the building and the neighboring areas. He was just about to call the police when he thought to call the hospital first. Luckily, he managed to get a hold of Christine who found his brother.
Erik didn't realize when he began to thread his fingers through Raoul's hair, but Philippe did. He narrowed his eyes at that. He was confused at the patient's apparent possessiveness towards his brother. It seemed incongruent with how Raoul spoke about him and the arguments they'd had. Whatever the situation though, it would be best to keep him away from such a character. He was certain that he knew the patient almost as well as Raoul did, considering that much of what Raoul knew was simply conjecture: about the other doctors, the rumors, and of course, his voice. Philippe could almost understand what attracted Raoul to it after hearing it.
His brother should know better though. So to help him along, Philippe commented, "He had a bit too much to drink at the charity function on top of his fever."
"It was that boring, hm?" Erik responded, even though he obviously didn't care to know the answer.
"There was this girl there that Raoul didn't have the courage to speak with, so he drank." It was more like Raoul hadn't wanted to speak with Carlotta, so he drank, but it was close enough to the truth for Philippe. "You know, a little liquid courage. You should've seen him, blushing and everything. In fact, I haven't seen him that nervous since he wanted to ask Christine out."
The door opened with Christine pushing the wheelchair in.
"Right, Christine?" Philippe asked.
"Right what?" She looked at him distrustfully.
"Raoul blushed so red when he first asked you out."
Christine looked from Philippe to Erik, particularly noting Erik's hand in Raoul's hair before narrowing her eyes at Philippe. "Yes, but he'd also barely turned ten at the time."
Undeterred, Philippe added, "He told me how ecstatic he'd been to see you again."
Seeing Erik tense at the mention, Christine shook her head. "He'd been happy to have a friend in a new place." Before Philippe could continue, she said, "Perhaps you should get Raoul home."
Seeing the pointed look from Christine at the statement, Erik reluctantly pulled his hand away.
Philippe was about to say something else, but decided against it. He moved Raoul to the wheelchair with enviable ease then inclined his head towards Erik. "It was a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure was all mine, I'm sure," Erik replied sarcastically.
She frowned at Erik before following Philippe out the door to walk him to the elevator. "What was that?" she asked.
"What?" Philippe tried to act innocent for just a second before saying, "You saw the way he touched Raoul."
"His hand was on his head," she defended making it sound insignificant even though she knew it to be anything but.
"He was being possessive, and I think you know that." Philippe accused. He paused to look her in the eyes; she didn't look away. He continued, "You know doctors and patients are not supposed to get involved."
"Erik isn't quite a patient in this hospital." She added, "And they aren't involved."
Philippe narrowed his eyes at her. "You know more than you let on."
Christine shrugged and continued walking. Philippe followed.
"I know what Raoul knows about him," she replied.
"And more." Philippe lowered his voice when they neared the nurse's station, "That man shouldn't be let near my brother, much less touching him."
"Your brother is a grown man who can decide whoever he wants to treat. Why are you being so protective?"
"He was touching Raoul and he's a patient," Philippe responded, "That should be enough to be protective. I have his best interest in mind."
"Just like your father?" Christine asked pointedly.
The elevator chimed, doors opening. Philippe let out a harsh breath, "I don't trust that man, and I don't want Raoul to get hurt."
She inclined her head at Raoul, "Then talk to him about it. See what he thinks about the situation. Why don't you ask him if anything's happening?"
Philippe punched the button for the ground level.
o.o.o.o
End chapter 07
A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!
Chapter Review: Christine is playing matchmaker and what does she know about Erik that the rest of us don't? Tricky tricky. Philippe was kind of being a jackass though. A little protectiveness isn't that bad though. I mean, he doesn't think Raoul's gay. :D Anyway, what's with Raoul talking about Erik to everyone, right? What about patient-doctor confidentiality and all – in his defense, he doesn't know anything about his illness and Erik isn't taking any medicine/treatment, so basically, he's just spreading gossip. :)
