Chapter 12: The Aftermath

A/N: This one's a little bit short because this one and the next one were originally one, but then I decided to split them.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Artie asked as Christine stepped out of the jeep at the station.

"Yes. Thank you for doing this," she said, rummaging through her purse. "Could you give this-" she handed him a sealed envelope "to Meg and this-" she passed him a freshly laundered handkerchief "-to Erik?"

"I have the feeling that you are making a tactical error," Artie said, tucking the items carefully in his pocket. "I saw you and Erik last night. You just need a minute to talk things out."

Christine shook her head.

"I think the situation is too far gone to be sorted out over tea," Christine said. "Please don't do anything about it."

"I promise," Artie said as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Good luck."

Christine gave him a small smile and a kiss on the cheek before grabbing her bag and running onto the platform where the train was waiting.

She kept her head down as she boarded the locomotive, trying to avoid being seen. Because of this, she didn't notice the tall man in a dark suit talking with the station master.

"There are going to be all sorts of trains coming in on Christmas Eve, from all over New England I expect," Erik was saying. "Do you think you can handle that?"

The station master nodded, jotting something down on his clipboard.

"I think so, sir. We'll have a traffic manager here."

"Very good. Remember, this is all off the record if anyone asks," Erik said.

"Yes, Mr. Destler," the station master said, giving him a conspiratorial wink. Erik gave him a curt nod and turned to walk away, when he saw Christine getting on the train.

"Christine!" He called, hurrying towards her. "Christine!"

She looked up from the doorway and turned to face him, holding onto the railings.

"Where are you going? Why are you leaving?" he asked, taking her hand.

"I have a job in New York. I have to go," she said.

"A job? Where?" He held her hand a little tighter, expecting her to pull away, but she didn't. In fact, she gave his hand a little squeeze in return.

"Goodbye, Erik. Good luck with the show. I hope it goes well," she said as the train began to inch forward.

"Christine, if I said something yesterday, I-I didn't mean it!" He said, distraught that she was leaving her family so close to Christmas because of him.

"Goodbye, Erik," she said, giving him an apologetic look.

"Please don't go, I was so busy yesterday I didn't know who I was talking to or what I was saying half the time. Don't leave now," Erik begged. He had never used such a pleading tone in his life with anyone.

Christine's nerves faltered for a moment and she almost stepped off the train, but her resolve stayed firm, forbidding even a toe to inch closer to the platform.

"Goodbye," she repeated.

Erik walked alongside the train as it started to pick up speed.

"I must have sounded like an idiot I don't-"

"Goodbye."

Christine took another step up on the train, pulling her hand away from Erik's slightly. Before it was fully out of his grasp he pressed a kiss to her gloved palm. She nearly jumped off the train for the second time, but she forced herself to stay put.

'Remember what he's doing to Artie,' she thought.

"I didn't mean anything- Christine-" he called. They had reached the end of the platform and he was forced to let go of her hand, watching as she faded off into the distance.

Back at the inn, rehearsals were continuing.

"Very nice!" Raoul called after he watched Meg and a dancer named John run through a number they had been having trouble with. "That was great! Take five everybody!"

Meg hurried into the wings, powdering her nose and taking a sip of water. She waved at an approaching Celia, who was holding something in her hand.

"What have to got there?" Meg asked her, setting the glass down.

"A letter for you," Celia said. "Christine gave it to grandpa at the station before she got on the train."

She handed Meg the envelope and hurried away.

"At the station?" Meg called after her. "Why was she getting on a train? Celia!"

The girl was already gone.

Meg hastily opened the letter, eager to read what it said as her stomach sank. She prayed it said she and Erik were running away together, as she hadn't seen either of them that day, but had a feeling that it didn't say that.

Dear Meg,

Like you said last night we always knew one day we'd break up the act. I didn't think it would happen so soon. It feels like just yesterday I met you in that little club. I kept coughing because I wasn't used to all the cigarette smoke, remember?

Raoul's a great guy and I know you'll make each other very happy together. Promise to visit. It think that will be easy if you come back to the city for good, but if not I'll try to visit you from time to time.

I have good news too. I was offered a job at the Garden Club tomorrow night. I know the offer was for both of us, but you're settling down so I'm taking the chance to make a name for myself in the city.

Give my love to all,

Christine

"Raoul!" Meg called, looking around for her pretend fiancé.

"What is it sweetheart?" he asked as he approached. She held out the letter and he took it, reading it quickly and looking up at her in shock.

"What do we do?" she asked, leaning against him. He put his arm around her waist and sighed, looking at the letter.

"We should tell Erik, when he gets back," he said finally.

"Get back from where? And tell him what?" Meg asked.

"He went to the train station this morning to make sure they were ready for everyone who'll be coming in for the show," Raoul explained. "Everyone in the division and their families."

Meg nodded. Raoul had explained the whole thing out the day before while they were making their lunches, before witnessing the blowup between Erik and Christine. She thought is was great idea and had said as much.

"And," Raoul continued. "I think we have to explain it all."

"All of it?"

"I think so. So he'll understand and go after her. He's going to New York tomorrow anyway. He can sort it all out with her then," he said.

"How could you do something so senseless?" Erik snapped when they told him. He had been very quiet while they told the story, explaining about how they had been trying to set him and Christine up, how they staged the engagement so Christine would feel free to be with him, and how she had taken the job in New York, which he already knew.

"Phony engagements and messing around with people's lives," Erik growled as he packed for his own trip to New York.

"You ought to be whipped or something. Both of you, but you especially," he said, pointing at Raoul.

"Golly gee, Erik. I only did it for your own good!" Raoul cried, standing up.

"Why? Because I'm a cantankerous, crusty, unhappy man?" Erik moaned in an over dramatic tone as he folded shirts.

"Exactly! And when you're unhappy, I'm unhappy. Erik, you know I-" He rubbed the arm and Erik shook his head.

"Don't even start with all that life saving bit," Erik snapped. "I'm not even sure you saved my life. I think I would be better off if the wall had fallen on me."

He gestured to his face as he said that and Raoul softened.

"Don't say that," he sighed, feeling bad for bringing up his arm.

"And you, her best friend," Erik said, turning on Meg. "How could you do this to her? Drive her from her home and family two days before Christmas?"

"I didn't mean to!" Meg wailed, the enormity of it all sinking in for the first time. "I only, well she's always been a little over protective, I wanted her to do something for herself."

"Yes, we wanted Christine to do something for herself!" Raoul piped up.

"Well that worked out great, didn't it? I'm going to New York to try to fix this mess you two made," he sniffed, and glanced at Meg. "You should consider yourself lucky. You almost got saddled with this nut for the rest of your life."

Meg let out a sob and hurried from Erik's room.

"Meg!" Raoul called and started to go after her but Erik stopped him.

"Leave the poor girl alone. You've confused her enough already," he snapped.

"You don't understand anything, Erik!" Raoul yelled.

"Damn right I don't after you mixed us all up," Erik shouted, latching his suitcase shut.

"Will you listen to me-"

"No, you listen to me," Erik said as picked up his coat. He he drew himself up to his full height and glared down at Raoul, who shrank back a little. "I have a job for you, if you can do one thing right."

"Try me," Raoul said confidently.

"The general watches Nadir Khan every night, right?" he asked and Raoul nodded. "I'm going to be on a nine o'clock. You can enlist all the help you want, but the main thing is, don't let him anywhere near that television set! You understand?"

"Don't worry about a thing, Erik! I'll keep him away from that tv even if I- I have to break my arm!" he cried as Erik put on his coat and hat and picked up his suitcase.

"Break your neck if you have to, just don't break anything valuable, alright?" Erik said with a smirk.

"You can depend on me!" Raoul called after him, grinning.