Hey guys! Yay! Another chapter! This one is a tad bit more boring, sorry, but I felt it was necessary. I'm glad you all like my story so much! Thanks for all of the support and reviews. I love you all, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I get a good review from someone.

As they made their way up to Nicole's room, Erik received odd looks from the nurses and doctors that were hanging around her door. Elsa forced them to separate with her body as she went through, leading Erik into the room.

Raoul and Danielle had been sitting there with Nicole the whole time. Now she was resting against her pillow, eyes closed as she breathed softly in her sleep. Lately, she could get so exhausted from a simple conversation. She just didn't have the energy for anything anymore. Once Erik and Elsa had entered, the door was immediately shut again, which made Raoul and Danielle quickly look to the two entering.

Upon seeing the masked figure, Raoul shifted uncomfortably in his seat. As said before, the Vicomte and the Phantom still were not on good terms even though Christine had broken off the engagement with Raoul. Things would always be tense between the two, and they both knew it, so Raoul tried to stay out of Erik's way as much as possible. The scar that was left on his upper arm that Erik's blade had made on that cold day in the graveyard nearly a year ago reminded him about how he could be hurt and how Erik could bleed him to death in a moment's time if he wished. Indeed it was a wise thing to stay out of the Phantom's way.

Danielle stared in awe at the tall, dark and handsome man that had just entered into her presence. She had to look twice actually to make sure it was really him standing just across from her.

"Would you all please leave the room while I work?" He asked, not harshly, but in a gentle tone. He didn't want to offend anyone while he was there. As Elsa began to leave he spoke up in protest, "Oh, not you… I may need you."

Elsa paused and slowly stepped her way back over to her sleeping friend's bedside. Erik slowly began to examine the girl. Nicole was a hard sleeper, so she wouldn't notice a thing. He didn't touch her, not once, he just stood hands behind his back the whole time, bending over and looking at her once in a while. Eventually he stood up and scribbled something on a piece of parchment in black cursive. His hand writing had such a flourish to it, absolutely beautiful. He handed the scrap of paper to Elsa, "Will you go and get those things for me?"

She nodded and ran out the door, down the many flights of steps and into the kitchen, running into the cook on the way in. "Bof! What are you doing in here, mademoiselle?"

Elsa gave an innocent smile to the overweight man before handing him the piece of paper, "Would you be so kind as to let me have those things?"

"Parsley, basil, oregano, boiling water, and… a cup? Why, mademoiselle, would you need all of this?"

"My friend, the one who is sick, another friend is helping her and, well, he needs these things apparently… I don't know why, I just know he does. Please? Can you get them for me? I would like for my friend to live," She responded to the cook's question, politely, as she always was to her elders.

After a moment of thinking if he had the three herbs, he nodded, disappearing into the back before re-entering the kitchen with the necessary things. "I will boil your water for you and call for some one to bring it up to you. I hope your friend gets well, mademoiselle." A gentle smile from the cook and Elsa was on her way again, climbing the steps to her friend's sick room again.

Raoul and Danielle were standing outside the door, talking between each other in soft whispers so that they would not disturb the ill. Elsa had not even noticed them on her way out, she had been so focused on just getting those ingredients that could possibly save her friend. "Will," she was speaking to Danielle, "In a few minutes can you run down and get the water? Thanks."

Danielle opened her mouth to ask on how Nicole was doing and what Erik was doing to her, but the door had slammed shut just before she had gotten the first annunciation out. Raoul raised his brow as Danielle darted down the steps, eager to help her friend. He then poked his head in the door, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Erik was currently crushing the ingredients with a mortar and pestle. "Come in, Vicomte," he sighed, "Just don't touch anything."

Raoul narrowed his eyes at the Phantom. He did not enjoy being treated like a child, but he only came in and leaned against the wall beside the headboard on the side that Elsa was on, not wanting to be within a meter of Erik at the moment. He was the Vicomte of Paris for crying out loud! Not a mere child on a sugar high that wanted to push over every piece of pottery in the Louvre.

Elsa snickered at the obviously perturbed de Chagny who had crossed his arms and was now glaring at Erik with an evil eye. She only wished Nicole was awake to see the look on his face and poke fun at him for it.

"You can wake her up now." It was as if Erik had read her mind. She gently shook her friend, and with help from Raoul, finally got her into a sitting position, which instantly woke her up.

Nicole glared at Elsa for disturbing her rest, but most of all, for sitting her up. Nicole was the brawn of the trio, and she hated being rendered helpless and needing assistance. She was by no means angry at her friend though, she understood. They all wanted her to live, and to do that, she needed assistance.

Danielle then burst through the door, holding a pot of freshly boiled water from the kitchen. She put it on the nightstand before standing beside Erik to watch him work, not even paying attention to the other two and her woken friend in the room. The Opera Ghost was there, sitting beside her. Jade green eyes set on his work that was fueled by pale hands. Then there was that ivory mask that concealed his deepest secret. How could one side be so beautiful and perfect, but the other be so scarred and distorted to where he had to conceal it. It was almost as if his face was stuck in purgatory, the place where heaven and hell got confused with each other. There was a definite yin-yang to it all.

He gave a small growl when the hot water accidentally spilled on his hand when he was pouring it from the pan and into the cup. Then went in the mixture of herbs, and he stirred them together, turning it into a smelly, thick, green liquid. Erik's hand turned Nicole's face from the quiet conversation she, Raoul and Elsa had been engaged in while they waited. He lifted the cup to her lips, and she did all that she could from vomiting in the bucket again from the horrible stench.

Unwillingly, her mouth opened as the repulsive drink was forced down her throat, giving a burning sensation all the way down. Again, she did all she could to keep from throwing up into the pail beside her, which had been cleaned, mind you. Once it was all gone, Erik took the cup away and put it on the nightstand, picking up his things before exiting the room in silence. He did not want thanks, he did not want anything from them, he only wanted for Elsa to have her beloved friend live another day.

Aww... he cares! Phantom to the rescue! I'm gonna make a Super Phantom comic strip... lol. I'm joking. I can't draw very well. What did you guys think? Oh and yes, I know I don't indent... I dont like the look of indentions, they are just... bleh.. and take up space, ya know? Anyway, yes, review please!

3 Your lovely Vicomte/author,

R.C.
Nicole
Fizz
Whatever you want to call me.