Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Author's Note: Thank you everyone who continues to read this story! I do appreciate it and Enjoy Chapter 24!

Chapter 24

(Erik)

It had been three days…three days of quiet. Even though Jasmine's fever had broken she was extremely fatigued afterwards. So fatigued she had barely spoken two words since that night…both to William and he said it was just delirium talk. And so I sat beside her the entire day afterwards, but after that William insisted we just let her rest. And so I did.

While I think William's intentions had been to get me to rest as well, unfortunately that wasn't the case. I couldn't let my mind wander for too long because it tended to find its way back to that night. Either it was my conversation with Christine, or holding a burning Jasmine in my arms. And then of course there were those dreams that had haunted me all my life. I was in no mood to contend with those.

(William)

It had been a long few days, and the only upside that I could see from it was that it had been decently calm. Jasmine's fever never returned and despite the fact she was so exhausted she really did seem better. She had been coherent when he went up to check on her today, but she had still barely been able to mutter that she just wanted to sleep.

No, for him there was something else that was bothering him. Erik had been awfully quiet the last few days, despite the fact he had to tear him from Jasmine's side so that he could rest. I didn't want to pry but…I wanted to know what happened between him and Christine. He had looked worse for wear when he had come out of his meeting with her. It made me wonder what had been said between the two.

"William?" Rebecca said coming up beside me.

"Yes?" I said putting on a kind smile.

"Can I go see Jasmine?" she said simply.

I hesitated for a moment but finally gave in smiling, "Go ahead. She's still very tired though so try to be nice and quiet."

She merely nodded her head as she raced upstairs. In all the craziness I had forgotten that she had not been able to see her yet. I about doubled over though as a hacking cough ripped through my chest and just about knocking all the air out of my lungs. Dammit, I couldn't help but think as it turned into another fit…there was no way this was happening this fast. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and it Erik holding out a cup of water to me.

I nodded my head in thanks. "Drink it slowly," he said sitting down across from me, "or else you'll just end up choking on it." I did as he said and slowly the fit subsided.

"Does it become worse during stressful situations?" Erik asked simply.

I shook my head with a grin on my face, "Hard to tell…as of late it seems like my whole life has been a stressful situation."

Erik could not help but crack a smile at that one. "Did Rebecca go upstairs?" Erik asked.

I nodded my head, "I forgot she hasn't seen her yet."

"As did I," Erik sighed, "There's been too much going on as of late."

I nodded my head trying to figure out his mood right now. He seemed tired, and probably had not taken my advice to rest at all. But then again was any mood safe for me to ask about Christine?

"Did you sleep at all?" I asked carefully.

Erik leaned his head back sighing, "No. I'm almost too afraid to sleep."

"Afraid the world will end if you do?" I asked playfully.

Erik chuckled, "Oh how I wish it were that simple. If I had a clear explanation as to why my insomnia has been bad over the years I would have no problems sleeping. But it seems that sleep only finds me when I have a calm frame of mind, and let's face it," he said looking at me, "none of us have had that as of late."

I merely nodded my head, "Agreed."

(Jasmine)

I sighed as I heard the gentle murmurs of people talking below. I had been so in and out of it the past few days that I was not entirely sure what had transpired in that time. I briefly remember William coming in at some point, but I didn't remember Erik being there at all. Although I could hear his voice so clearly in my mind, I didn't know whether to believe he had actually been there, or if it had been part of the delirium.

I heard the small footsteps outside before she even entered the room. I sat up forgetting that I hadn't seen her since I had gotten sick. She must have been so worried. "Jasmine?" she said probably surprised to see me sitting up.

"Hello darling," I said holding out my hand. But she ran into my arms her arms wrapping around me and not about let me go. "I'm sorry," I muttered softly.

"It's not your fault," she said quietly, "You couldn't help that you got sick." I smiled to myself knowing that was the truth, but why didn't it feel that way?

"How is everybody?" I asked diverging away from that line of conversation for now. "William came in to check on me at some point right?"

"William and Erik," Rebecca said simply, "Erik was here for the first night you were sick, and he didn't want to leave. But William insisted he needed to rest. He looked so sad Jasmine, but I'm not sure why."

Why did I have a feeling I knew why he was sad? "Did his guest leave?" I asked simply trying to keep as much emotion from my voice as I could.

"She did," Rebecca said, "It was while you were still really sick. As soon as he heard you were sick though he went to your room."

(Erik)

We sat there in awkward silence for a while. I could see all over his face how he wanted to ask me about Christine. And I bet anything if I were to go upstairs now, that Jasmine would have that exact same look on her face as well.

(William)

I knew I wasn't hiding anything from him. He was able to read people so easily, that I didn't know why I just didn't say it to him. But I knew why, we had come to such good terms as of late. I was just afraid that bringing her up would completely shatter that peace.

"You can ask me you know," Erik said quietly.

I looked at him thoughtfully, "Can I really though? Is it really any of my business to ask you?"

Erik grinned, "Since when has that ever stopped you Wiliam? If I remember correctly, when we first met you didn't give a damn about how I felt."

I shook my head, "I think we both can agree that things have changed since then. We both respect each other a lot more since then. And besides," I said sighing, "I don't think I have the right to ask you about what happened first."

Erik sighed, "Unfortunately, I think you may be right about that."

(Jasmine)

She had laid down in my lap, and slowly her breathing had turned to that of sleep. Poor thing, must have been worried just as much as everybody else. I felt guilty that my main thoughts hadn't been about her as of late, but why did I get the feeling that wasn't a problem with her?

The truth was that I couldn't stop wondering what words had passed between him and Christine that night. I kept telling myself that he was still here, so he must have finally parted ways with her. But I still had this feeling deep inside me that it was so much more than that. Everything it seemed with us was more complicated than it should be.

I heard the door slowly creak open, and I wondered if that door hadn't creaked that I would have heard him enter at all. He paused probably noticing the sleeping sister in my lap.

I heard another pair of footsteps enter the room, "I can take her," William said heading in my direction.

I wanted to say that was not necessary, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't want to talk to Erik alone. So I simply nodded my head and waited until his footsteps disappeared into the hallway. I sighed as I felt his hand on mine, his hands shaking ever so slightly. I had to admit it caught me completely offguard.

(Erik)

Damn my hand was shaking…and with the one person who would be able to pick up every emotion from my slightest touch. The truth was I nervous and unsure of where to begin. A small smile lit her face as she said, "Erik." It was then I found myself leaning forward and kissing her gently on the mouth. She tensed at first but then she slowly melded into me as well.

When we separated she shook her head, "Are you trying to distract me?" she said softly.

I smiled back nervously, although I forgot she couldn't see that, "What if I am?"

She smiled back, "Then I would say," she said softly, "don't stop."

I was taken aback at first when she said that, but I saw in her eyes that she wasn't as eager to talk about it as I was. So how I could not agree to that request. I leaned forward kissing her again my hand slowly stroking her neck. She leaned back onto the bed arching her head back and I gently kissed her neck as she did. My hand slowly moved down her side and then…she grabbed my hand stopping me.

She cringed at the thought of stopping me but she said, "I'm sorry."

(Jasmine)

"Dammit," I thought to myself. I wanted this just as much as he did, but I didn't want it to happen because we both were confused and unsure. This almost felt forced just because we had been in an emotional state a few nights before.

(Erik)

"Don't be sorry," I found myself muttering. Even though I wanted it also, I could see that both of us were not in any state emotionally for this.

"I told her to go," I said softly. She looked up at me her eyes unsure.

"What?" she said softly.

"Christine," he muttered, "I told her to go. The moment she walked through the door and for a moment I paused, and then I told her to go. Most of that night was spent trying to get her out of the door. It seems she was a little more attached then even she herself was aware."

(Jasmine)

It was what I had wanted to hear…beyond all belief it was what I had wanted to hear. So why didn't I feel a little more satisfaction when he said it? My uncertainty must have been showing on my face because he asked, "What's wrong?"

(Erik)

I had thought some sort of relief would be on her face when I told her. "I'm sorry," she muttered, "it's just that…can I really blame her for being attached. The rumors said that you knew her since she was a small child Erik. I think whether she wants to or not she is always going to be attached to you. You are an essential part of her life, and she is a major part of yours. I wouldn't blame you if you had a few doubts."

(Jasmine)

The words came out so quickly that I didn't really have time to process them. I had just told him it was okay to miss her, to feel a sense of belonging with her. His hand had tightened on mine as I spoke those words to him. I cringed at thinking about what I had said to him. "I am so sorry," I said again.

"Stop saying your sorry," he said simply, "You can't control what you don't know about."

I was taken aback at that. I had expected the usual frustration from him. "I think its time I told you some things about me," he said softly. "You have trusted me and told me so much," he said softly, "I think its only time you get the whole story for me." He paused before saying, "But I'll only tell you when you're ready to hear it."

I slowly took a breath and then I reached out and squeezed his hand comfortingly, "I'm ready." I heard him slowly get up and head to the door and close it. I felt his weight return to the bed and then he said, "So…where do I begin?"

TBC

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