Chapter Fourteen

As he made his way back to the hospital, Erik tried to recall what it was about Christine that made him lose sight of the one that he truly cared for. He supposed she reminded him in some superficial way of his own Christine and, selfishly, he tried to go back to get that one last taste of the obsession that haunted his past. In doing this he lost the one person he treasured the most.

I love you oh so madly
I need your love so badly

Oh my sweet Emma, forgive me. I love you too. I am coming, hold on for me.

I thought at last I'd found you
But other arms surround you.

Not any longer my sweet. I was a fool, an unmitigated ass. Only your arms will do.

If you'd surrender just for
A tender kiss or two
You might discover that
I'm the lover meant for you
And I'd be true

Oh, my heart. It will be more than one or two kisses. I will give you a lifetime of them if you will let me. I know you're the lover for me, blind idiot that I am. I burn for you, ache for you, long to hold you while you fall apart with rapture in my arms. Watch your eyes at the moment of your release. See you become the passionate creature you are on the inside, watch you grow heavy with our child. Oh, sweet heaven that would be.

So what's the good of all my scheming?
I know I must be dreaming
For I don't stand a
Ghost of a chance with you

Emma, you do! Don't give up on me yet! Je t'aime, mon petite ange!

Wiping his eyes he saw the lights of the hospital up ahead and followed the signs to the emergency entrance. An orderly showed him to the doctor's lot so he could park next to Ned's car. When he went inside a relieved physician greeted him. "I'm Dr. Grant, I saw your young lady when she came into the ER this evening. Dr. Evans told me you were coming back tonight."

"How is Emma?"

"Not very good I'm afraid. She has been running an extremely high temperature for several hours and goodness knows how many days before you found her. She has regained consciousness but is confused and delirious. She keeps talking about a mirror and time travel, oh yes and a ghost or something."

"Phantom?" Erik took a 'wild guess'.

"Why yes, I believe that was indeed the word she used. Was quite upset really, asking me to find Erik, I didn't know who she meant until Ned told me it was you."

"Can I see her, stay with her?"

"I'll see what I can do, go on in, third room to the right."

Erik walked quickly to Emma's bedside. Dear god was all that he could think. She was as pale and still as death. There were tubes hooked up to both arms and more to various machines. Her face was chalk white except for her cheeks where the pink of fever still dotted them. She moaned softly and instantly he was by her side. "Love, can you hear me? Open your eyes. Come on dearest." She moaned again and turned toward the sound of his voice but showed no sign of waking. Still he kept talking. He told her how he felt, how much he loved her. What a stupid fool he had been. He told her everything he loved about her, her hair and the hints of fire that showed him the passion that burned within her, her eyes and how they mirrored all of her innermost thoughts. He told her how much her body excited his, how he longed for them to be wed so he could be free to show her how lovely he found her breasts, her hips, her thighs. Finally he told her that he had been told by Ned that Detective Montoya had been unable to locate Chloe's parents and had given the go ahead for adoption. "You and I have the first chance mon amour, oh Emma, my own Emma come back to me." His voice breaking at last, Erik lay down his head on her bed and wept.