I'm so sorry! This chappie took a long time to post, because we were on vacation forEVER! It was cool, though... but I missed my PotO DVD... I couldn't take it with me! -sob- Anyway, I also missed my reviewers, of course! You guys are the greatest, and I feel so bad that I posted this so late! I'm so sorry, I hope y'all don't hate me! In conclusion, I'm way sorry, updates will be MUCH faster in the future! This chappie has... a surprise at the end... and, I'm not really sure what else... Just read it, and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I do not own PotO, only Jane and the doctor, and ... hehe, the little surprise at the end of the chappie...
It was late the next morning when Jane woke up. She didn't open her eyes for a second, but instead inhaled deeply. She sighed and smiled as the sweet aroma that could only be Erik's met her nose, and slowly her eyes fluttered open.
Jane's head lay on Erik's bare chest, and she listened in silence for a moment, loving the soft lub lub of his heartbeat. She laughed when she saw him twitch slightly in his sleep, his lips quivering once and his closed eyes squeezing together. Erik woke up upon hearing the sound.
"Good morning, Jane," he murmured, his heavenly voice resounding in his chest. Jane, her eyes half-shut, yawned quietly and smiled.
"Good morning, love," she whispered, leaning up and planting a kiss on his cheek. She made a movement to pull away, but he put one hand behind her head and brought his lips up to hers before she got far. Jane could feel her skin tingle as their tongues met, and she wondered if Erik felt it, too.
Erik, however, was lost in his own thoughts. He could hardly dare to believe that the events of the night before had actually happened, though he knew that they had.
"Jane," he breathed when their lips separated, "I love you so much. You are the only one to ever truly love me. Thank you for that, and for... last night." He reached out and brushed Jane's hair off of her right shoulder, then tenderly began to toy with the skin of her neck, using his tongue to get the reaction he wanted from her. Jane sighed and pressed a hand against the back of his head, crushing his lips against her collarbone.
"And I love you, Erik. More than anything," she replied. She turned his head and laid her cheek against the side of his face. Erik blinked back tears of love as he noticed that she laid upon his right cheek, the one that was deformed.
Erik closed his eyes for a moment, then finally opened them again. He let out a small breath of contentment, then sat up. Hunger gnawed at the inside of his stomach, so he reluctantly stood up. He walked over to his clothes as quickly dressed his bottom half.
"Jane, I shall set the table up. I know you must be hungry. Get dressed, and you can meet me out there," Erik instructed, leaning over to kiss Jane on the forehead. She nodded, then stood up herself. Erik allowed his eyes to sweep over her once before he left the room.
Jane took a few steps toward her wardrobe, and felt a sudden wave of dizziness pass through her. She grasped the slick wood of the wardrobe to steady herself, and all of the sudden, her head began to throb painfully. Jane groaned to herself, but pulled out a navy blue dress and slipped into it. She made her way to the door and stepped out into the hallway.
"Erik?" she called. She could hear him in the main room. "Erik, I think I need your help."
"What is it, Jane?" Erik asked, standing beside her moments after she had called to him. Jane raised her head to look at him, and he could see the sudden weariness in her eyes. She stumbled once, but Erik reached out and grasped her arm to keep her from falling. He hugged her close to him.
"Jane, are you alright?" he questioned, his eyes wide with concern.
"I... don't feel too good," Jane answered. Erik held her tightly with his right arm, but laid his left hand on her forehead, just as he had seen Madame Giry do to Meg when the young dancer was sick. Jane felt warm, warmer than usual.
"Oh, Jane, you're sick," Erik muttered. He picked up Jane's legs so that he could carry her. Erik's mind searched for options as he lowered Jane onto the bed. He didn't know what to do with her, for he had never been around sick people before. He had watched Madame Giry take care of Meg, but that had been years ago, and he couldn't remember what she had done.
"Jane, I don't know how to take care of sick people," Erik admitted after a while, "I don't know what to do." He thought harder, but could not think of anything that could help Jane. He needed help.
Madame Giry, he thought instantly, Madame Giry will know what to do. I have to find her. Erik bent down and picked up a pillow that had fallen on the floor, then straightened up and placed it beside Jane on the bed.
"Jane, I have to go find Madame Giry," he told her, "She will be able to help." Jane's eyes grew wide, and she grabbed his hand.
"No, don't leave me," she whispered, her eyes pleading with him.
"I have to, Jane. Madame Giry is the only person I can trust right now," Erik breathed. He offered Jane a comforting smile. "But I will be back as soon as I can, mon ange." He slowly uncurled Jane's fingers from his own, and she laid back, frowning slightly. Erik leaned over and met her lips with his, then left.
He wandered to his own room, put on a clean shirt and coat, then donned his cloak and strode to the main room. He picked up his mask and stuck it to his face, so that it would stay in place. With one look back at Jane's door, he stepped into his boat and began to propel it forward.
It took a few minutes of quick poling, but at last Erik reached the opposite dock that he had crafted for his boat. The second that the boat was secure, he began to run down the secret passageways. After a while, he had come upon the Opera Populaire hallways, and he searched for Madame Giry, hoping to find her soon.
"No, Jammes! Concentrate! Vous devez obtenir votre tête hors focale les nuages et ! (You must get your head out of the clouds and focus!) You arabesque three beats after the chassé!" Madame Giry commanded. Erik groaned when he saw that she was teaching the ballet chorus (or rather, perfecting their steps), but he stood in the shadows to wait. Little Jammes looked down at the ground, very much ashamed, but she nevertheless fell into step a second later.
Every minute that ticked off the clock only increased Erik's anxiety and frustration. What is Jane was in pain right then, and he wasn't there to make her feel better? After half an hour had passed, Erik decided that he couldn't wait a second longer.
"Madame Giry!" he called desperately, emerging from his hiding place. The ballet instructor turned around, irritated, but her eyes grew wide when she saw Erik.
"Erik? It cannot be..." she murmured softly in her heavy French accent, "You... I thought you were..."
"There's no time for that now, Madame," Erik spoke hurriedly, taking her hand, "I... Jane needs your help, now."
"Jane?"
"Mademoiselle Beaumont," Erik explained. Madame Giry narrowed her eyes in thought, trying to remember.
"Oh, God," she breathed when she realized who Erik was talking about. He led her swiftly away from the dancers, but she ducked into one of the empty dressing rooms and pulled him in after her, with a surprising strength, considering her age.
Madame Giry tried to shut the door behind them, but Erik stopped her. "There's no time for an explanation right now, Madame. Jane needs you. She is sick, and I do not know how to care for her. Please, she needs your help."
Madame Giry sighed and took Erik's outstretched hand. He opened the door wider and dragged Madame Giry into the hallway. She explained to the dancers that it was urgent, and she would be back soon, and that practice was over for the day, then she followed Erik.
He tugged hard on her arm, ushering her around countless corners and into the secret passages. It seemed to Erik that they couldn't get there fast enough, and he forced Madame Giry to speed up. Every second spent, to him, was one that Jane could be spending in pain. He didn't stop until they had come to Jane's dressing room, and even then he paused only long enough to slide the mirror open.
"Erik, slow down!" Madame Giry cried as he tried to make her go faster yet again. "I can only go so fast!" Erik turned to look at her, then quit moving altogether, allowing her to rest. She sat down on a rock to catch her breath.
"So, Jane is sick, is she?" Madame Giry inquired. Erik nodded. "Well, maybe now that I'm resting, you can tell me a little about what has been going on with Jane these past few days."
Erik's gaze fell to the floor, but he began to speak. After all, Madame Giry had listened to him when no one else would, when he was just a boy and she saved him from the traveling circus, had she not?
"I... couldn't help it, Madame. She was so like Christine. Her voice, her appearance. I... I couldn't help but-"
"You fell in love with her," Madame Giry finished wisely. Erik nodded, still avoiding her eyes. The old woman felt sorry for him, especially since he obviously seemed so guilty for even loving Jane.
"Yes, she was very like Miss Daae. I noticed it, too. Funny, but she seems like she could be very easy to get close to, almost like a daughter, and just like Miss Daae. Rather amusing that she also got Miss Daae's old dressing room. Made it an easy job for you, did it, Erik?" Madame Giry asked. He didn't answer her, but she understood. He had never been much of a talker, though she had always been ready to listen. She decided to let him stay silent and not prompt him to tell her more.
"Well, I look forward to hearing the rest of that story later," she remarked, "But now I think we should be moving on." Erik took her hand as she stood up and began to lead her again, being careful not to tire her out.
They reached the boat before too long, and Erik quickly helped Madame Giry in. He stepped in after her, grabbed his pole, and began to shove the boat through the water. Madame Giry was quiet, and sat on her knees in a very proper manner with her hands folded in front of her. It was the first chance she got to really think about Erik.
She had been so sure that he was dead (not that she wanted to him to be, though). On that fateful say when he had told her that he was going to die, she had barely suppressed her tears. What a poor, pitiful man he was, if he thought a kiss was all the joy life had to offer! Madame Giry's thoughts wandered to when Erik had taken her hand. He had been so nervous... so worried. She could tell by the look in his eyes, but also because of something else.
Erik had forgotten to put on his usual black gloves. To anyone else, this would have been a seemingly silly and meaningless detail, but Madame Giry knew Erik better. He always put on his gloves when leaving his home. Always. Not putting them on meant that he must have been in a real hurry.
At last, they reached Erik's home. He secured the boat and aided Madame Giry in getting out, then deftly led her down his hallway to Jane's room. He paused at her door and gave the wood two soft taps.
"Jane, I brought Madame Giry." He raised his voice just a little, then pushed the door open and entered her room. Jane had been asleep, but the sound of his voice woke her. Erik crossed the room and stood by her side, pulling Madame Giry behind her.
"Hello, Madame," Jane greeted, sitting upright in bed. Madame Giry nodded once politely, then sat beside Jane and gently put a hand to her forehead.
"Yes, you do have a fever, child," the old woman noted. She turned to Erik. "She will have to stay in bed for a while, but she needs someone to care for her. Yes, I know you couldn't, Erik. I meant me, or a doctor... but I certainly can't come down here every day. It would be impossible." Madame Giry paused and looked Erik in the eyes. "I think... I think it would be best if she came back with me, Erik."
Erik's face grew considerably whiter. "But... Madame Giry..."
"She will come back, Erik. She won't leave you forever. In fact, she might be able to stay in her dressing room. Surely you wouldn't mind that." Madame Giry never broke the stare between her eyes and Erik's. At last, he sighed.
"Of course... you're right, Madame Giry," he muttered. "When should she go?"
Madame Giry considered it for a second, laying her hand on Jane's brow again. "Now, or as soon as possible, I think. I can send for a doctor, just in case this is a more serious illness." Madame Giry looked Jane up and down, and suddenly noticed something troubling.
"Erik, what are all these cuts and bruises on her arm from?"
For one of the first times in his life, Erik grew genuinely nervous. He couldn't bring himself to say anything, though he knew that he should. Madame Giry, at first, wondered if the injuries were the doing of Erik himself, but then she glanced at his hands. His ungloved hands. Madame Giry shook herself and knew that Erik never would have hurt anyone he loved.
"We should leave now," Madame Giry advised, gazing at Erik with soft eyes. Erik nodded, and he leaned over to pick Jane up. She had been silent the whole time, and she looped her arms around Erik's neck and buried her face into his chest. He kissed the crown of her head lightly and waited for Madame Giry to get up.
Erik carried Jane, thankful that she was so light, because he felt that his heart was already a burden to carry. He set her down in the boat, and Madame Giry sat behind her.
Erik put only half of his effort into pushing the boat along, as he was still half-minded about taking Jane back at all. He wanted her to get better, but what if something happened? It had been Erik's experience that the world was a dangerous and cruel place.
"Here we are," he murmured when they reached the opposite dock, a tad unnecessarily. Madame Giry stepped lightly out of the boat, and Erik followed her once he had Jane in his arms. He held Jane tightly against his body, still wondering is he was making the right choice. Jane could tell that something bothered Erik, so she leaned up and planted a kiss on his neck, which seemed to comfort him a little.
At last they reached the back of Jane's mirror, and Madame Giry slid it open so that Erik would not have to put Jane down. He carried her over to the bed and laid her down upon it.
"I shall send for the doctor," Madame Giry whispered, "Just so that we can be sure that this is not a more serious illness. I'll be back soon." She was about to leave when she turned again and addressed Jane. "Miss Beaumont, would you like me to get Meg? I know that you two were friends, and she may be glad to know of your return..."
"That would be wonderful, Madame," Jane answered, "Please do. I've missed Meg." Madame Giry nodded and left, leaving Erik and Jane alone.
Erik leaned close to Jane, his worried eyes searching hers. "Jane, how do you feel?"
"I'm fine, love. I have a headache, but that's all..." She paused and smiled at him. "I love you, Erik."
"Oh, Jane, I love you, too," he laughed, a rather nervous air to his voice, and he bent down and brushed his lips lightly across Jane's cheek. She used one hand to gently caress his face, her mouth yearning to meet his. He did not disappoint her. It was a gentle, soft kiss, like silk running over their lip, but they had not time to make it more passionate.
"Jane!" Meg cried, opening the door excitedly and crossing the room to her friend's side. "Oh Jane, I missed you! I knew you were leaving, but I thought you would be back soon..." She laughed, and Jane gave her a friendly hug, wondering what she was talking about.
"How did you know that I was leaving?" Jane asked curiously. Meg gave her a slightly confused look.
"You left me a note, remember? You had to go to your grandmother's funeral?"
"Oh! Of course... I remember now. Sorry, Meg... I forgot about that..." Jane shot Erik a half-amused, half-accusatory look, and he suddenly pretended to become very interested in a rose in one of her vases. Eventually, Jane gave up in her attempt to try to catch his eye (as he was deliberately trying to avoid her gaze), and she turned her attention back to Meg.
"... And Monsieur Andre was only a little irritated when I told him you had left, but of course he thought you would only be gone a few days. In fact, we all did. No one expected you to be gone a little over a week!"
Erik shook his head and chuckled to himself. Mademoiselle Giry sure can talk!
Jane laughed, and Erik glanced at her. She was still very tired, but being with Meg sure was lifting her spirits. It must be a female thing, he decided, after listening to Meg and Jane talk nonstop for twenty more consecutive minutes. He soon found himself hoping feverishly that Madame Giry would come back soon, before Jane lost her voice, or Erik his own mind. It was to his great relief when Madame Giry did return, the doctor close behind her.
"This is the one, I presume?" the doctor questioned, gesturing toward Jane. Madame Giry nodded, and doctor looked Jane up and down once before retrieving a long object out of his black bag.
"Now, my dear," he began (Erik's eyes narrowed when he heard the young man call Jane "my dear"), "If you would be so kind as to sit up." Jane sat up, and the doctor continued. "This is a stethoscope, in case you haven't seen one before. I'm going to listen to your heartbeat."
The doctor leaned forward and put two ends of his stethoscope in his ears. He took the third end, which was shaped like a circular pad, and placed it over Jane's heart.
Erik's eyes opened wide, and he jumped up from the armchair he had been sitting in. He was about to protest about the doctor's hand being so close to Jane's breast when Madame Giry turned and gave him a threatening look.
"Let, the doctor do his work, Erik," she scolded, and Erik reluctantly sat back down, grumbling incoherent words under his breath. The doctor hardly seemed to notice the disturbance (Probably too concerned with where his hand is, Erik thought), and he listened for a few seconds to Jane's heartbeat.
"Well, that seems normal," the doctor noted, "But if you would please sit up, mademoiselle."
Jane stood up, and the young man slowly turned her back to him and began to untie the strings of her dress. It was all Erik could do to keep from jumping up and strangling the doctor. He watched as the young man undid the last string, then pushed the fabric to the side of Jane's back.
"No bumps, so it isn't measles or anything," the doctor murmured, seemingly to himself. He pressed a hand to Jane's abdomen from behind her, gently prodding through the material. Something seemed to intrigue him, but he said nothing. He gave Erik a curious glance.
"Are you this girl's husband, monsieur?" he asked Erik, gazing at him now intently. Erik was a bit taken aback.
"I... uh, well..." Erik couldn't quite get the words out.
"Not exactly," Jane spoke for him, offering him a comforting smile. He slightly turned up the corners of his mouth, but he still felt a little nervous.
The doctor nodded. "Well, then. This girl just has a fever, nothing serious." He was speaking mainly to Madame Giry. "So I suggest a lot of rest for a few days, and plenty of water. I find that tea also does no harm. Oh, and may I have a word, Madame?" Madame Giry nodded, and the doctor took her out of the room.
"What do you need, monsieur?" she inquired when the door was shut behind them. The doctor took a deep breath, as though wondering how to tell Madame Giry what he had found out about Jane.
"Madame, I told you that mademoiselle has but a fever, and she does, but I have a suspicion of something else. No, not necessarily bad," he assured, seeing the stunned look on Madame Giry's face, "It's quite early, very early, too tell, but I have a hunch that mademoiselle may be pregnant. I just wanted to give you an idea. If you would, please have her come to my office if it turns out that she is expecting a child."
The doctor paused for a little bit. "Her fever is just a regular illness, of course, for it is much too early for the child to be causing her to become ill. I just wanted to caution you, so that mademoiselle could take extra care of herself. After all, now that she is pregnant, she not only has her own life to be concerned about." The young man gave a chuckle, then picked up his bag and left, after bowing and thanking Madame Giry for her time.
Madame Giry stood completely still. Her eyes had already widened considerably. "Pre... Pregnant?" she whispered to herself when she was alone in the hallway, the stuttering most unlike her.
I just wanted to say something to PhantomAngel really quick! I could never hate you! Ever, ever, ever, ever! When your email gets back up, let me know, though! (HaHa get a yahoo email address, they rock!) I just wanted you to know that I could never hate you and, yeah, I'm sorry this update took so long!
HaHa so how 'bout them apples, reviewers? Jane is pregnant! How will she take the news? How will Erik? Will Erik even get the news? HaHa you'll have to wait until I update to find out! Oh yeah, and what role will the Ratcatcher's revenge play in all this? The more reviews I get, the faster I update -wink-. HeHe but seriously, I love you guys so much! You're all so cool, but I just had to reassure PhantomAngel, individual reviewer thank-yous in the next chappie!
Oh yeah, and what did you guys think about Erik getting jealous? Personally, I thought it was a nice comedy touch, but what did you guys think? Be honest! If you hated it, tell me! If you thought it was funny, please tell me! Anyway, until next time, reviewers!
AIM sn: smaug77785 IM me, people! Or email, if that's your style!