A/N: I know Christine is a moron. Come on ladies, who did she choose in the actual story? I have always thought she was a coward and that was what motivated her to do what she does. You know, Erik really doesn't deserve her…perhaps I could add a new character for him to fall in love with? How does the feisty and daring Jema Moda sound? Just kidding. On with the drama.

Ch. 20 – The Threat Approaches

Six days in a household of nine people can contain a flurry of activity causing the days to fly by. However despite the fact that the activity level was high, Christine felt that the days were treacherously long. It was only Thursday, leaving three more days until Erik's return. She had finally sat down the write the letter to Robert and had sent it into Charleston with Stone this morning. The missive had indicated that she and Charles were both well and that they were anxious to hear of the current goings on at the de Chagny household. She was concerned about the fact that a return telegram would pinpoint their location to Philippe if he was searching for them. Stone had assured her that there were ways that they could prevent him from finding out her exact whereabouts and she left those details to him.

In the days that she had been with the Stones, she had become fast friends with Maura and now did not find it difficult at all to remember the children. Each of them already held a special place in her heart and Charles was overjoyed to have playmates. As an only child he had been deprived of the simple pleasure of companionship with other children. Christine loved to sit on the porch and watch the boys running around the yard while the girls sat next to her asking about her days as an opera singer.

The day after they arrived, she had asked Stone his feelings on teaching her to use a firearm. He had said that he wasn't surprised at her request and would surely help her to learn to defend herself. Each day he had patiently instructed her on the care and use of the revolver that he had always left with Maura as her way of protecting herself and the children while he was gone. Knowing that Maura had also taken the time to learn how to shoot was a comfort to Christine and after the initial discomfort in her arms from holding the gun too tightly, she settled into the lessons and became a fairly good aim after only these few days.

As the women were cleaning the dishes from breakfast, Maura continued the very subtle and tactful inquiry into Christine and Erik's relationship. She had slowly and patiently been dropping questions each day, amassing more and more information. Christine was impressed with the woman's gentle persistence. She recognized the traits that she had found so admirable in Stone present in his wife. She wondered which one had learned it from the other.

"Christine, you said that you and the Captain had known each other before the voyage. Yes?" Christine nodded her head in affirmation. "The girls have told me that you were a famous singer at the Paris opera, is that where you had known him before?"

"Yes," Christine answered. She knew it was cruel to not include an explanation, but she found it much more pleasurable to make Maura ask her for the details.

"I suppose it is possible to picture Erik in that type of setting. He seems to be a man of many talents?" Maura gave Christine a sly grin and turned back to the sink and the dishes.

Christine felt a blush rise to her cheeks at the woman's insinuation. "Maura!" she exclaimed. She had to admit that she loved the constant teasing banter that she had grown accustomed to with Maura. She assumed that this was what it must feel like to have a sister. Meg Giry had been the last friend that she had known and she hadn't seen her in eight years.

Feigning innocence Maura said, "What? Christine, what did you think I meant? I was merely suggesting that he was quite the well-rounded individual. Opera. Shipping. They are certainly different ends of the spectrum, don't you agree?"

Christine rolled her eyes at the other woman and was rewarded with laughter. "Erik is very versatile, no doubt. He was actually my teacher at the Opera Populaire. Since I was a child."

Maura dropped the dish that she had been washing back into the sink and gave Christine her full attention. "You've known him since you were a child?"

"Yes. Our relationship has…developed over many years." Christine sat at the table and gestured for Maura to do the same. She figured now was as good a time as any to confide in her friend. Hours later, Maura knew everything there was to know about Christine, Raoul, Erik and Philippe. She had shed a few tears for the woman sitting across from her as well as for the man that commanded her husband. It was obvious that this couple had struggled terribly to come together, and even now they had to continue to fight for their love.

As she embraced Christine, she said, "Christine, I know it's none of my business, but I think that you should tell Erik about Philippe when he returns on Sunday. The man has a right to know as soon as possible. Keeping him in the dark won't serve you well." She smiled at the other woman in an understanding way and returned to the dishes. Christine took the opportunity to go check on Charles and found him and the other children playing cowboys and Indians.

She knew Maura was right, she was being stupid and causing more angst to their relationship by not telling Erik everything. She determined that on Sunday she would tell him the entire story and trust him to do what was right.

As she stood watching the children, she saw Stone coming up the drive on his horse. She waved in acknowledgement and was surprised when he did not ride to the stables but directly to her. When he pulled up alongside of the house, his expression was grave.

"What is it Stone? Is it Erik? Is he alright?"

"I didn't have the opportunity to get to the ship. When I took the letter into the wire office there was a message there for you."

"How could that be? No one knows…" Icy fear clenched her heart. It could only mean one thing, Philippe knew where they were. With a trembling hand she took the correspondence from Stone and tore into it.

Madame de Chagny.

I regret to inform you that the Comte has been alerted to your whereabouts. Upon your departure, he used unscrupulous means to gain the knowledge that you had left for Le Havre. I followed him to the port town without his knowledge. He was able to ascertain the name of the ship that you had set sail on as well as their destination. He booked passage on a ship shortly after you had left, bound for Charleston. I pray that this letter reaches you in time and that you will be able to take Charles far away from there before he arrives.

I am so sorry Christine for allowing him to find you. Please forgive me.

Robert Bertrand

Christine finished reading and sank to the floor. She had gone ghost white, her eyes unfocused. Stone dismounted and reached for the note. He scanned it with concern and sat down next to her. "Christine?"

"Hmmm?"

"It's time to tell Erik." He helped her stand and led her into the house and to Maura. She could tell right away that something disastrous had happened and without a word took Christine to her room and helped her settle into her bed. After she had left the room to confer with her husband, Christine turned onto her side and willed herself to keep breathing.

Once he had given Maura the letter to read, Stone took it with him as he made his way back to Charleston. Erik had to be told immediately. He wasn't sure whether he should tell him the story or allow Christine to do so. He doubted that right now she was in any shape to relate the tale to Erik and decided to do it himself.

Once onboard the Fereshteh, he search everywhere for the Captain to no avail. The man was not on the ship. Strange, he thought, Erik should be here. The men could only tell Stone that the Captain had left in a hurry the day before and had not returned. Stone couldn't believe that Erik would leave without any instruction or explanation. He quickly assessed the situation and left a senior officer with a list of duties for the crew, assuring him that either he or the Captain would return shortly.

He disembarked and remounted his horse, pointing him in the direction of Erik's home. After pushing his mount into a full gallop, he reached Erik's federal style town house in a little under an hour. After giving the horse some water and settling him in the stables, he approached the front door and knocked. When several more attempts failed to rouse someone, he tried the handle and found it unlocked. Stone entered the magnificent entryway that was highlighted by the curving central staircase. He dashed from room to room, looking for a sign of his friend and was finally rewarded by the sight of the man's mask itself lying on the floor of the study. More urgently, he ran up the stairs to find Erik, calling out his name.

In the master bedroom he found him passed out on the floor. The room stunk of liquor which could be accounted for by the spilled contents of a whiskey bottle next to the man. Stone was baffled by the fact that not only had Erik deserted his duties, but here he was, completely inebriated. He had not known the man to drink more than a few glasses of fine wine in the past and certainly Erik had never gotten drunk in the years that Stone had served with him. He wondered at what had caused the man so much grief to send him into this state.

He attempted to pick Erik up and decided it would be easier to rouse him instead. However it was not an easy task, and Stone wondered if perhaps the man had put himself into a permanent stupor. After several tries, he was rewarded for his efforts as Erik moaned and began to stir. When he finally opened his bloodshot eyes, he fixed a deadly gaze upon Stone, not knowing who it was at first that had disturbed him. Without his mask and looking fit to kill, Stone found the Captain a horrific sight for the first time. He backed away from Erik, allowing him time to come to his senses and putting himself out of danger.

After realizing it was Stone in the room with him, he growled, "What the hell are you doing here?" Stone was no less disconcerted since Erik still had a murderous look in his eyes despite the fact that he knew there was no threat to him.

"Captain, why are you not onboard the ship?"

"I have decided to end my career. Would you like to buy a freighter, Stone?" he asked with sarcasm. It was apparent that the mass amount of alcohol that he had consumed still lingered in his system.

"What's happened, Captain?" Stone asked with trepidation.

"What's happened, Stone? Let's see. Well, I suppose all that has happened is that I have realized once again that I am nothing more than what my own dear mother saw me as. An unworthy monster. A foul creature of darkness." He reached for the overturned bottle of liquor and attempted to take a drink. Finding no contents he whipped the bottle at the closest wall, shattering it into a million pieces. Without a glance at Stone, he stormed out of the room and downstairs. He found another bottle of whiskey in the study and set about to empty it.

When Stone finally caught up with him, he stood silently and watched Erik drowning his pain. Finally he spoke, "I don't know what you are on about, Captain, but I think you might be under the wrong assumption."

"I don't think so, Mr. Stone. You see…I've been here before."

"What are you talking about?"

"Christine. I'm talking about Christine." His face looked suddenly sullen and he took another long pull on the bottle. "Darling Christine." This was not said with affection, but snarled out. "She has made a fool of me for the last time. The lying bitch!"

Stone was shocked at Erik's words. He had no idea what could have set the man off like this. Suddenly he had a thought, "Is this about Philippe de Chagny?"

Erik's eyes narrowed to slits and he walked toward Stone threateningly. "You know about this? You know?" For a moment, Stone believed that Erik was going to hit him, but instead the tortured man doubled over as if he himself had received a blow to the gut. "Get out of here Stone!" he shouted. "Get the hell out of here!"

Stone found himself being muscled to the front door and thrown out onto the porch before the door was slammed and locked. He sat in stunned disbelief at the events that had taken place this day. Confusion, misunderstandings, and lack of communications would be the death of them all he decided.

Knowing that Erik would never let him back in given his current state, he made his way back to the stables and mounted his horse. He headed back home to try and sort out the next course of action.