Chapter Fifteen: The Brawl

Satine watched, in fear, the men go at each other like a pack of bulls. She slowly rose up against the wall and backed away into the alley. Satine sneaked a peak back at them and was pleased to see that Christian was winning. Being half happy and half worried, she walked off In search of sanctuary and help.

Her clothes were tattered and her hair and makeup were a mess but Satine didn't care anymore. She only cared about Christian. She hoped he would be okay. Satine came up to The Moulin Rouge. She fled inside and made her way around the can-can girls and back to Harold's office. She knocked on his door.

" Why, what's the matter cheery pie?" Zidler always happened to come up with silly nicknames for her which always made Satine laugh. Only she didn't laugh this time which let Harold know that something serious was going on.

"Harold, the Duke found me. He tried to hurt me but luckily Christian came and saved me. But now the Duke and him are fighting where Satie's garret is located. He needs help. I am sure he will die if someone doesn't help him." Satine was no longer crying but she gave Harold a look or sincerity and Harold knew he had to do something. He just didn't know what.

*******

The Duke chased Christian all the way up to the top of Satine's elephant. They were still fighting and Christian was able to get a few good punches out of him. People started to gather on the street to watch the men fight on top of the elephant.

"You sick dog, why do you constantly come after Satine when you know she doesn't love you?" Christian pushed the Duke.

" Because once we are married, I can have all the fun I want with my new toy," The Duke tried to punch Christian but Christian ducked right it time.

" Once I trusted you, once I thought you were a good man. Now that I know who you really are I despise you and you don't deserve Satine!" Christian slugged the duke and he slid close to the edge. Christian walked up to the Duke angrily. Panicking, the Duke got up, he had a long cut don't the side of his head. He was bleeding profusely.

"At least I can offer her things that you can't even afford. If you ask me then I would say that you're the one who doesn't deserve her!" The Duke came after Christian and grabbed him by the throat. Christian was beginning to feel dizzy and almost blanked out. He was beginning to feel light headed and was getting short of breathe. Then, just before he was sure he would die, a figure appeared by their side.

"Let her go Duke!" The voiced thundered across the midnight sky and then there was shot.

*******

Satine ran outside of the Moulin Rouge. She was trying to find Harold, who had ran out after she had told him what was going on. When she heard the shot her heart felt like it had stopped. She watched as a figure fell from the top of the elephant. She ran over to the group of people that surrounded the figure.

"Christian!" Yelled Satine crying as she made her way over.

Satine parted her way through the people. The figure was on his back and when Satine saw him there was so much blood that she couldn't figure out who it was. She gently turned the figure over and a sigh of relief brushed over her. She smiled and began to cry when she heard the sound of someone coming down the stairs. Satine turned to see her love, clutching his right side. He was out of breathe with bruises all over but other wise he was okay.

Satine grabbed him into her embrace and kissed his head.

"Christian, I love you. I am so glad you are alive." Satine said, crying into his shoulder. Christian had enough strength to grab her tighter to his body. He kissed her head.

"I love you too." They both started to cry. They held each other so tight.

" Where you the one that shot the Duke?" Satine looked at him, advising him to give a serious answer.

"No, I didn't. It was……as a matter of fact I don't know who shot him," Christian had his arm around Satine's shoulder and went into deep thought, with his hand on his chin, about who had actually saved him from the Duke. Then , from behind them, footsteps were heard coming down the steps. The group of people all turned to see a shocked Harold Zidler studying his gun as if the gun had shot the Duke all by itself.

Relieved, and yet worried, about what the police would do to Harold, Satine ran to Harold and hugged him. Harold didn't return the favor because he was still locked in thought.

"Why did you do it Harold? You know you are probably going to get arrested," Satine said, looking at him with serious eyes.

"I did it to…to …to save you of course." Harold said, smiling at her now. "I know I'll get arrested, but as long as you are happy now, well then, it was all worth it." Tears came to Satine's eyes. No one had ever treated her as kindly as Zidler did. She hugged him again and kissed him on the cheek. Satine wished there was something she could do for Harold, so that he wouldn't have to go to jail, but there was no proof that the Duke had been trying to kill Christian in the first place. The police came and assisted Zidler away.

Christian saw the hurt look on Satine's face and he desperately wanted to do something for her. He limped over to the chief of the French police and told him everything. The police agreed to a trial. When Satine saw that Christian had done that, for Zidler and her, She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was the best kiss Christian had ever had from her. He knew then that Satine was really and truly in love with him.