Thanks for not killing me after that. I know it was mean, but some drama is good, right?

You Are Love, you better bring Gerry back to me in good condition. Aw crap, that sounds dirty again, doesn't it? I just can't help myself.

Half of Something Else

Meg and Antoinette Giry sat in the waiting area at the hospital, Meg still somewhat in shock over what she had seen. She kept shivering even though her mother had wrapped her coat tight around her daughter. Nadir sat straight in his seat, staring out without being fully aware of his surroundings. They were like survivors of a tornado, not sure what to say or what to do. So they sat, and waited.

The police had seemed to take forever interviewing them afterwards. There was sure to be lots of news coverage, and the police wanted all the facts before the reporters pounced. A horde of the jackals were already waiting on the other side of the police tape, shouting questions, posing for the cameras and stating what little they knew. But it was a gold mine for them. The heir to the de Chagny fortune, the always elusive Erik Crawford, the high dollar Hotel Populaire, it was made to order for ratings. Some of them thought guiltily that if only the President had been there, it would have made stars of them all. That's how big this story was.

But the Girys and Nadir were unaware of what would be waiting for them in the next few days: the news stories, the reporters, the interview offers. All they saw was Erik pacing up and down the hallway, his formerly crisp white dress shirt covered in Christine's blood. Blood that got there from Christine trying to fight Raoul, trying to move his arm so that he wouldn't make his shot. She had rushed toward him, and in the chaos the gun fired twice. When the shots fired, the police fired immediately, and Raoul fell to the floor, dead instantly. Erik had struggled to sit up, still dazed from the punch he took, and he saw Christine lying on the floor, two gaping wounds in her abdomen.

Erik's shout mingled in the air with Meg and Antoinette's horrified screams. He grabbed Christine up in his arms, trying to find a sign of life. Then she looked up at him, touched his face, and spoke "Erik? Did he hurt you?" Then she passed out, and Erik yelled for the paramedics coming in to hurry.

That was hours ago. He wouldn't stop pacing the hallway. All Erik could think was that the woman he loved fought to save his life, and now she might be dying. He kept trying to find out something, anything, about her condition. All he kept hearing was that the doctor would be out to update him as soon as there was news. Erik wanted to shout at them that his whole world was lying on that table. He wanted to go in and watch every step they were taking to save her life. But all he could do was pace that hallway.

He looked up at movement, and saw a doctor coming towards them. He tried to rush to her, but found that his legs wouldn't or couldn't move. Erik could only stand there and wait to see if his world was coming to an end. Nadir noticed the doctor, and it caused him to snap out of his stupor. He came and stood next to his adopted son. He knew one way or the other, Erik would need someone to lean on.

The doctor got closer, and Erik thought he could see a small smile, a small glimmer of hope, on the woman's face; he hoped he wasn't imagining that. She spoke quickly "Are you with Christine Daae?" That snapped the Girys out of their haze as well, and they stood and moved to stand with the two men as Erik whispered hoarsely "Yes, she's my fiancée." The doctor placed a hand on his arm and said gently "First, I want you to know that we have her out of surgery now. She's in critical but stable condition. Christine's a fighter from what I can tell. She isn't awake, and you should know that it may take awhile. Her body needs to heal, so she will be remaining unconscious for some time. She's in a private room in ICU. There's a visitor rule, only 2 at a time. But you can go and sit with her, talk to her. It will be good for her and for you all to see her."

Nadir and Antoinette moved quickly to hold Erik up as he faltered slightly, shock and joy rushing through him. He steadied himself quickly and assured them he was fine. Nadir and Antoinette shared an eloquent look and he told Erik "We are going to go. I will bring you a change of clothes, and we will visit Christine later. But I think you should spend some time alone with her first." He patted his son on the back comfortingly and escorted the Girys out.

Erik walked into Christine's room, and for a moment he couldn't move. There she lay, tubes and machines all around her. She was pale, but she was breathing. Erik had a fleeting thought that as soon as she was well he was taking her on that honeymoon and keeping her in the sun. He pulled the lone chair closer to her bedside and took her hand. But when he tried to speak, he wasn't sure what to say. All the words clogged up in his throat. He finally spoke, tears streaming down as he whispered "Why did you do that Christine? Why did you try to fight him? You could have died. And I would die without you." He stroked her hair for a moment, and then words started to flow. He started singing them, stumbling at first but continuing in a soft voice, serenading his bride-to-be:

"On the night that we met
You told me you wanted
Something more from me
And it was all that I could do

I remember your face, like a child
The way that you blushed
The way that you smiled
And now it's all that I can do

And I wake up feeling new
There's so much more I never knew"

He continued, and the nurses outside all stopped and took note of this man, so large and seemingly intimidating in his mask, stroking his fiancée's hair and singing. They each had to wipe some tears away, and each privately resolved to do everything to help that poor girl get well, and make sure the reporters that were hovering outside stayed far away. But Erik didn't pay them any attention. He just focused on Christine's face, singing:

"So I think of all the years spent alone
It's like you're searching for something
To make you feel whole

Like you're half of something else
Like you're half of something else
Just a fraction of yourself

Don't take it so hard;
We did what we could
There were no easy answers
To be understood

It was all that we could do
We're the only ones who knew
Now all I think about is you

The way that you screamed
The way that you cried
The way that you wipe your eyes
And fall against my side
The way that you told
Told me I was wrong
And the way that you'd sing
When you'd hear a song

And the way that you answered
When you knew I was gone

Now I know that I'm blind
And that you're all I see
And yeah I know it's not clever
But I just want you with me

I'm only half of something else
I'm only half of something else
I'm only half of something else"

Erik meant every word of the song. He knew his other half was lying there before him. And all he wanted was to have Christine say his name, to know she was truly there with him.

The next morning Erik woke up rather sore from sleeping in that chair. He had fallen asleep with his head lying on the bed, still holding Christine's hand. He looked around and noticed briefly that Nadir had kept his word and dropped off a change of clothes. He quickly moved into the bathroom, changed, and splashed some water on his face. When he walked out a nurse was checking the machines. She nodded and smiled at Erik, took a few notes, and left. He moved back to his spot by Christine's side and looked out the window. He smiled as he saw the sunlight. "It looks like a beautiful day outside darling. You were right; the sun was going to shine on our wedding day." Then his smile fell as he wondered when they would have their wedding, when they would have their life together. He laid his face down on the bed and groaned. He lay like that for some time, until he felt Christine's hand moved subtly. He looked up and saw her eyelids fluttering. Then those blue eyes opened slowly and he heard the sweetest sound in the world: Christine's voice saying his name.

Ok, am I forgiven? I tried to make it right.

By the way, the song is by The Airborne Toxic Event. Weird name, but great song!

I have lemon bars and apple pie for all reviewers!