I want to thank all my reviewers for your encouragement and the good things you've had to say about my story. As I stated in my profile, my Erik is based mainly on the work by Susan Kay, as are many stories. But my Erik is also of my own making. The future is a new frontier for Erik, so to speak and these are my own ideas about how he might respond to the things and people he encounters. I'm glad that my Erik is in keeping with how he really is. Don't be afraid to tell me if I get off course with him. Feedback is very important to me. To take care of business, the characters of the Opera belong to ALW and any resemblance in this story to actual people, places or events are purely coincidental. Now, back to the story! Enjoy, my dears!

CHAPTER SIX

Please don't let me piss my pants… The words went round and round inside Brad's head. Make your choice, Erik had hissed and was waiting only inches away for an answer. What was he going to do? It wasn't that he didn't like Erik; he did. In spite of Erik's volatile temperament, Brad enjoyed his sense of humor and intelligence. Wait a minute! He just admitted to murdering people and now he's threatening you. What are you thinking? Another part of his brain said, "What choice do you have at the moment?"

Erik was enjoying the play of emotions that flitted across the doctor's face. He has no idea how transparent he is. Erik kept the mirth inside. It was crucial to his existence that he sway Bradley to his side.

He breathed a bored sigh and drew back slightly. "I'm waiting, monsieur. Dr. Stepanik will be here soon. What is your answer?"

Brad wet his dry lips and swallowed. "You're really a murderer?" His eyes begged Erik to answer in the negative.

Erik nodded instead. "Yes. If you're referring to the act of taking a life in general, then yes." Erik held up and index finger as though he were a professor instructing his class. "But, in my defense, there were extenuating circumstances that will take too long to explain RIGHT NOW!"

"Ok, ok! I'll help you! But the next time you decide to manhandle me I'll call the police. What do you want from me?" Brad pushed away from the wall and walked unsteadily to the chair, sitting down heavily.

Erik allowed himself a chuckle, his good humor coming back to him with Brad's capitulation. "You call that small embrace being manhandled? Ha! Tell me; are all modern men such… wusses?" Another phrase he'd learned from TV.

Brad rubbed his sore neck and scowled at Erik. "What do you want from me?" he repeated his question, choosing to ignore the insult.

Erik came to stand before him and held out his right hand. "It's simple really. I desire your friendship. I've never had a friend before and find that I am in sad need of one. And I need someone to teach me about this world. You can do that. And I in return will be the most interesting friend you have and perhaps teach you how to use the lasso. Do we have a deal?"

Brad narrowed his eyes and clasped Erik's hand. "Deal. But let me give you a few words of advice. Friends don't strangle friends, got it?"

Erik nodded and they shook on it just as Dr. Stepanik opened the door and flipped on the overhead lights, causing the other two men to blink in the sudden, harsh light.

"Hi, Dr. Edwards, Erik." He clapped Erik on the shoulder. "Ready for the big day?" he asked with a broad smile.

"More than ready," Erik assured him. Butterflies danced in his stomach and his heart rate increased. He was finally going to see his new face.

Stepanik grew serious. "Now I have to warn you. There's still some bruising and swelling that will be visible. I don't think you'll need anymore major surgeries, just maybe a few minor touch ups. So keep that in mind when we take the dressing off."

"Yes, yes, of course. Can we just get on with it already?"

Delores popped her head in the room. "All ready, doctor?"

Stepanik laughed and turned to her. "You'd better get in here so we can get him undone. He's going to have a coronary if we don't."

Dr. Stepanik instructed Erik to sit on the bed so he could reach his head. Delores handed him a pair of scissors and he began to cut through the gauze wrapping. Erik could hardly sit still, he was so excited. He tried to calm himself by counting how many times the doctor took the bandages around his head, but it didn't work very well.

Finally the last strip of white material fell away. Dr Stepanik turned his face this way and that, examining him with a grim expression. The cool air felt so good against his skin. His face had been wrapped up for so long that he'd forgotten how good it felt for it to be uncovered.

His eyes shifted to Delores, whose mouth hung open, then on to Bradley. His stormy eyes were wide and a smile was beginning to turn his mouth upwards. Erik looked back at Dr. Stepanik. "Well? How do I look? Were the surgeries successful?"

A grin spread across the plastic surgeon's face. "I think you're going to be very pleased. Why don't you go have a look in the mirror?"

Look in the mirror. Memories surfaced in Erik's mind from long ago when his mother had forced him to look at himself. He'd never forgotten the first time he'd seen his horrible, monster's face. What would he see now? A sudden fear froze him to the bed and he shook his head slightly. The feel of someone taking his hand startled him and he looked up to see tears shining in Delores's eyes.

"Come with me, Erik. You'll like what you see, I promise," she said thickly, giving his arm a tug.

He rose and followed her into the bathroom where he let her pull him in front of the mirror over the sink. He kept his gaze trained on Delores.

"Erik, look. You can trust me, honey. Go on. You've been waiting for this your whole life. Don't wait any longer."

He understood her meaning. She was the only one who knew the whole story of his life and totally believed him. She'd spent many hours listening to him pour out his hurt, frustration and anger, holding his hand and comforting him. She hadn't judged him, hadn't shrank away in terror and disgust. She'd become very special to Erik and he did trust her. Completely. If she said that it would be alright, it would be so. He steeled himself and turned his head to the right.

His brilliant blue eyes reflected the light, standing out in a face that was a stranger's. The first thing he noticed was his hair. It was a rich, sable brown and it covered his entire skull instead of just little wisps of white sticking up at odd places. It was slightly wavy and fell to his chin. He touched it with his fingers amazed at how real it felt. He gave it an experimental tug, wincing at the pain the action caused in his scalp. It was attached! His gaze moved downward over a high, proud forehead and fine manly eyebrows that matched his hair. He made the muscles in his face lift his right eyebrow and it actually arched. These twin lines of hair made his strange eyes stand out even more. It was at this point that Erik caught sight of his nose.

"I have a nose!" he shouted. "Delores! I have a nose!"

Delores half laughed half cried, "Yes, you do, Erik. And it's a very nice nose, too."

His hand was shaking as he felt the new part of his face, barely laying a finger on it lest it crumble and the illusion would be gone. It was a very fine nose, straight and true with nicely shaped nostrils and a patrician quality. Like royalty, Erik thought. He admired his nose for some moments, hardly daring to believe that it was true, before he noticed his mouth. Each new part of his face was a major discovery, as thought he were finding buried treasure. Where his lips had been whitish and thin before, now they were a masculine pink and had more fullness to them. A nice mouth indeed.
"Go ahead, Erik. Smile. Please?" Delores prodded, fascinated and overjoyed for her favorite patient and friend.

Slowly, Erik pulled his lips back over his teeth- his teeth! They weren't horsy and yellow any longer! "By God! My teeth-they're white! And so beautiful." He smiled for real, mesmerized by the effect of his eyes crinkling and his teeth flashing at him. "Ha! And my skin. It looks so normal, so real! How did you do this? What kind of magic do you possess, doctor? I see what you meant about bruising and redness and so forth," Erik said, touching the red blotches that appeared periodically. There were black and blue marks under his eyes and on his cheeks. But that was nothing compared tothe wayhis face had been.

Dr. Stepanik was now standing next to Erik. "They will fade over the next couple of weeks. You won't have any need to shave. We couldn't replicate facial hair and we let your hair the same length all over so you could get it cut and styled the way you want it. I really don't see anything that's going to need attention at this point, but I want to see you back in two weeks for a check up."

Erik turned to look into the surgeon's eyes. "Back? What do you mean?"

Stepanik chuckled. "Unless Dr. Edwards has any objections, I'm releasing you from the hospital. Discharging you. You're a free man, Mr. Giry. A very nice looking free man, if I do say so myself."

"You should say so. This is all your doing. I don't know how to properly thank you for giving me a face that I can show in public." Erik's eyes grew brighter with emotion.

"Well, it wasn't all me. The foundation was there. The bone structure was very good, as you can see by the shape of your cheeks, forehead and jaw. I just finished what Mother Nature should have when you were born. It was all there, just waiting tobe broughtout." He turned and left the bathroom. "I'll send you my bill, don't worry," he said with a laugh as he turned to Brad. "So you gonna spring him?"

Brad nodded. "I don't see why not. He's not having any adverse reactions. So, if you think he's ready, then I have no objections."

"Good. See you in two weeks, Erik. Take care of that new face. I'll leave a complete set of instructions for you." He gave them a wave and headed out the door.

After allowing himself a few more moments of gazing in the mirror, Erik turned to Delores and grabbed her in an unexpected embrace. "Thank you for everything you have done for me. For being my friend and listening to my rantings. You are a rare gem, m'lady." He released her, bowing low and pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.

Delores's face turned pink and she giggled like a schoolgirl. Erik heard Bradley clear his throat.

"Uh, Erik?"

"Yes, Bradley?"

"I see London, I see France, I see way more than your underpants. You might want to stand back up," Brad informed him with a grin.

Erik straightened slowly, making sure to gather his gown behind him. He wagged a finger at Bradley. "Careful what you say to your new housemate, sir. You never know what pranks I might pull to exact my revenge."

"Dr. Stepanik is an artist, Erik. You're gonna have to beat the women off with a stick. You could be a movie star. And I don't go around looking at men, but damn!" Brad said. Then Erik's words registered in his brain. "Wait a minute. Housemate? What are you talking about?"

Erik arched a brow, enjoying the feeling of knowing that it looked at he intended it to look. "Well, you are my friend, aren't you?"

Brad rolled his eyes. "We're back to that again? Yes, I'm your friend. So?"

"So, friends don't let friends be homeless now do they?" Erik spread his hands in a placating gesture. "Besides it would be temporary. Just long enough for me to find my own housing. I can hardly stay with Delores, now can I?"

Brad gave a low groan. "You're a tricky bastard, aren't you? You know how to wrap people around your little finger. Fine, you can stay with me." Brad held up a finger. "Just 'til you get your own place. Deal?"

Erik grinned and laughed softly, relishing this small triumph. "Deal."

Trepidation skittered up Brad's spine. He felt as though he had just made a deal with the devil. Or something worse.