So this one may be a wee bit darker than the last...
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Christine held her breath. She was holding Eriks head up so Nadir could unwrap the brace and see if the stitches could come out. Erik did not move a muscle, for fear of it not being healed and messing up. His mouth was a thin line of pain, as they decided to lighten his medication as to better maneuver him today. Even just lightening the dose Erik sweat and his hands shook with withdrawal in Christine's hand. They were definitely going to have to wean him off as soon as he was well. According to Nadir this was not the first time Erik had to go through withdrawal. She shuddered to think of what things probably got him addicted in the first place.
Erik tried to disctract himself by studying Nadirs face as bandages slowly slipped away. One hand in Christines, and another pressed as hard as he could against his churning stomach. He knew he could not puke for fear of destroying his throat. But oh how he needed to. He hoped that he was well enough to remove the stitches because that meant he could puke without muscle damage. If not, he did not know what he would do. All he knew is his stomach was on fire while out at stea in a storm, body aching, his ears were ringing, his skin a cold sweat, his eyes felt like they were pressing fists into his brain, and his throat, while not nearly as painful as it had been these past few months (which gave him hope) still ached with every breath.
Nadir finally unraveled it all and studied the stitches closely. Finally, They were rewarded with a smile. Christine felt like singing. Erik felt like curling up into a ball and never moving again. Nadir made fast work of removing the stitches and wrapping them. The moment Nadir leaned back in success, Eriks hand flew to his mouth.
Christine saw this and immediately grabbed a bucket that she kept next to the bed for emergencies. Without a second thought she held up Erik while he puked into the bucket, and emptied his whole stomach. His mouth tasted foul and the hole which was supposed to be his nose burnt with acid along with his newly healed throat.
Christine settled Erik slowly back against the pillows. "Nadir, could you be as kind as to fetch some water and maybe little bit of that throat soother?" Nadir bowed and hurried to his task. She grabbed a rag off the nightstand, and began to try and clean up Erik, rubbing his hand soothingly.
Nadir came back in and she gave Erik the water quickly. He felt like a dying man in the desert. Again. The water washed away most of the burn and taste, but still the acid ebbed at him. She then gave him the throat soother and it took away the bite. He still felt horrible.
"Nadir, do you think we can take the brace off a little early? I mean if the stitches are healed I am sure everything else is". The Persian cocked his head in thought. Then, upon looking at his friends miserable face, he nodded.
"But no talking until after he is off the pain medication. I would hate to strain his voice while he is throwing up on top of it all." She smiled gratefully and made quick work to remove the brace.
Erik felt slightly better with the contraption off. He never realized how stiff his neck was until it was off. Finally being able to move, he slowly curled up on Christine side clutching his painful stomach and shivering.
She sighed, covering him with the sheet, but nothing more as to avoid a fever. Nadir said watching her action "I suppose it is good then that he could take them out today. Would you like me to stay and help with this? This is one of the few things I have practice with, especially when it comes to him?"
She shook her head "You've done more than enough. But are there any major things I should know about how to… Help him deal with this?"
Nadir bit his lip and said "Well, You give him half, like we did today. You only give him that until he is stable. Then give him none and do this all over again. The second round, he might have more strength and be more persuasive and clever. Which is why when you get to that point, I will come by and take it all home with me, so he can't get to it. He will be very desperate. Very manipulative. But otherwise as you see him now. Oh and… Er" Nadir blushed, but Erik, who could still hear the Persian, waved his hand in consent. He knew what he was going to say, and with as bad as he felt, he really did not care.
The persian looked at his hands and said with mild embarrassment for his friend "He'll… need the bathroom, quite a bit. His stomach you see… Is usually even less of a fan of withdrawal than his mind."
Christine replied tiredly "I can handle that. He got a bit like that with his first bit of medicine. I take it, when he is… not himself and angry, I should probably keep the others out of the room?"
Nadir nodded fervently. "Yes. Definitely. Yes well. I think that is everything. He will probably be stable in a few days, enough for you to lower it down. Might take two weeks in all. He can talk when he is stable the first time, long as he doesn't when he is going through withdrawal. Contact me if anything happens. Me and Darius will be checking up in a few days. Probably Darius because he mentioned taking Asal and the boy out for dinner. And" Nadir chuckled a little "To see the ballet they are performing next week. I don't think Asal or Little D. have ever been to a concert. Well, I will see you sometime soon."
Then he left quietly. Erik was still shivering. She hated to see him so miserable again, and so soon too. Just last night he was fine. So she just went under the sheet with him and held him close, rubbing his back and humming sweet nothings.
About an hour passed before another wave of nausea hit. He still managed, much to his annoyance and surprise, to throw up as much as last time. When she pulled the bucket away, Erik felt something wet on his back. A blush flitted across his cheeks before another wave of nausea hit, and was barely captured by the bucket.
His eyes, so painful and confused, began to water in embarrassment. He tried feebly to push Christine off the bed, as to keep her from getting anything on her. She was confused, but stood. When she did she noticed the dark spot under Erik and nodded. She felt so bad for him, he must feel truly dreadful to be this way. He was almost as bad as when she first discovered him in the coffin months ago.
Without a word she picked him up and carried him to the bathroom. She then removed his clothing and put them in the hamper. After cleaning him, she sat a towel down under him and propped him next to the toilet, so if he needed to puke he could. Then she ran to get Asal to ask if she could change the bedding.
When she returned she found the toilet slightly stained and Erik dry heaving into the loo. She rubbed his back calmly. When he had finished, she picked him up and placed him on the loo and grabbed a bucket. She placed it at his feet as she held him up. Letting him rest his aching head on her shoulders. She stayed with him like that for most of the night. Every ten to thirty minutes he would dry heave, causing his stomach to tense.
It was when it came time for his half dose things got strange. It seemed he was having a moral debate with himself. When she brought out the needle, his eyes lit up, like a starving mans when he sees a fresh plate of food just for him. But then he saw Christines face, and his mind sort of snapped, and he got as far away from the medication as possible. He wanted the medication so badly, but also wanted to get well faster, and instead of halving it, he wanted to totally detox himself, so he could be with her faster.
Christine seemed to catch on. "Erik, you can take it if you need to. I know you are in a large amount of pain."
He was panting. But slowly he shook his head. "You sure you want to try quitting all together?" He nodded, and then gestured for his writing pad.
Hide it. Hide it all. I want to get this over with, even if it kills me. It won't. So hide it. Burn it. Destroy it. Before I rip in from your hands. NOW!
Christine, wanting to respect his thoughts and wishes ran from the room. She ran straight to Asal and gave her all of the morphine. Then she quickly scribbled a note explaining things to Nadir, then pointed and said "Darius and Nadir."
The Persian looked confused but nodded. She grabbed her son (she did not let him out of her sight after what happened in Persia) and went to her Uncle's.
Christine rushed back to Erik who to her great alarm, was swatting at his arms, even though nothing was there. Not wanting him to hurt himself she ran over and held his arms close to his body. He was too weak to fight but his legs seemed to dance slightly, kicking. She wondered why the hell he was reacting so violently to the removal of the drug.
When he finally calmed she asked, relaxing her grip slightly "How many times have you done this? Does that have anything to do with your body reacting so violently?"
He replied with violently shaking hands Probably because fuck me right? I'm the universal punching bag. And I believe the count is up to 9. I feel so awful… I regret sending it away.
"NINE TIMES! How are you not dead!"
Nadir But he had to stop for yet another wave of nausea passed over him. When he finished he grabbed the pad back Christine. I was wrong I can't take this. The bugs. Everywhere. My stomach. Please kill me. Get the drugs. Something. I can't take this
She knew this was one of those please Nadir mentioned, so she calmly replied "I can't. They aren't here, and you told me not to give them to you. I'm sorry love"
His temper was snapping like logs in hot flames Sorry? SOrry? God damn you woman! I trusted you! I need them!
"No Erik. You don't. We will get through this."
And how much longer before something else happens and I have to do this again?
"The rest of your life, because I won't let you do this to yourself again."
Eriks hand nearly broke the pen in half as he wrote Let me? LET ME? YOu will not-
But then another wave of nausea hit driving anger from his mind. When he leaned back up he wrote I am sorry. That was… God Christine. Why are there so many bugs? We pay Asal to keep the bathroom clean don't we!
"Love. You are seeing things.
Sure sure. You say that because you are trying to help her keep her job. Even though she let all these bugs in!
"Love, I am being honest. You are only imagining it."
How can I trust the word of a woman who rips off my mask in front of all of Paris to see.
That hit a nerve. And he knew it. And he was glad because he was mad at her for not keeping some morphine.
Christine looked like she had been slapped. She had to remind herself this was just him reacting over and over, to keep from getting up and leaving him in here alone. So instead she replied in a choked voice, swiftly hiding a single tear "Erik. I love you. You know that. And you know that you can trust me now."
Instead of anger he got sadness. And seeing that pained look in her eye, the look of guilt, his heart broke. His mind, though clearly in upheaval, Forced him to remember all she had been and was currently doing for him, without so much as a complaint. He bowed his head and wrote
Christine… I'm sorry. I want you to do something for me. You don't deserve to have me be… this way around you. To see it. I want you to do something for me
Dreading his reply she asked "What is it love?"
I want you to get Nadir and Darius. I want you to stay in their apartment until I am done with this. Nadir while I do care about, I can live with whatever I say to him. But you… After this, I don't think I could bare it if I did something truly… Monst-
He was cut off by the bugs he saw in his skin. Christine held his arms tight to his torso. Finally the episode past and she read the note. "Erik. I can't leave you like this."
How dare she, he was trying to give her a way out. He tried one more time I will heal much faster not worrying if I will hurt my angel. Please. For me.
She paused. The mere idea was repulsive. But then a thought came to mind. "How about a compromise. I get Nadir and Asal go with Darius. Nadir takes care of you letting me see you when You can handle it. But I am still here just in case you need me?"
He sighed, wincing a little at his throat which was not exactly happy with the constant stomach acid it has been having. But nodded. Christine smiled and kissed his head and ran to get Asal. After about fifteen minutes, to were she had to get a translated note from Erik, Christine finally got to tell Asal the plan. Asal gave the Swedish girl a hug and left to see her uncle and explain the situation.
Christine sat right back down next to Erik. Dreading this next week.
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So sorta happy sorta not. I mean, he got the stitches out, and once he is off the morphine he should be able to begin to speak. Same time, sucks to see the one you love go through something as hard as this. And I figure with Erik's personality, being on and off addicted to things like this would fit.
