A/N: Wow, thanks for all of the reviews!

Ahomelesspirate: I try really hard weith the last lines of each chapter… sometimes, like the last one, I've thought about it from the start of the story. I had to have some happy in the story… they are both alive because they both have a reason to live…

Hidracones: I agree with you about things just… 'happening' I wanted to make it believable and I hope I achieved that.

Undermyangel: You're ahead of me again. This chapter is about Philippe! Lol I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope it answered some of your questions.

Queensarah: I like angst so I couldn't tell you which way this will go… thank you, as always, for the review. The line you quoted was me making sure Erik was Erik… he may be nice but he's not soft.

Emmakins: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you like it though I'm sad to say it is definitely drawing to a close. There will be two maybe three more chapters.

Modesty: Thank you for the reviews and I'm sure that you'll update in your own good time. These chapters have been written for a while which is why the updates have been so quick in coming.

Angelofmusic: I think it's important that Erik has other people and not just Christine. Rather than handing him over, Philippe remembered what Erik had done for him… thank you for your reviews.

Pertie: Thank you for your review and I'm very glad that I didn't disappoint you.

Nabira: Thank you for your review… I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. I'm just sad that it's nearly finished.

Did I miss anyone?

Chapter 57- Sane in Insane Places.

Raoul walked into the room quietly and stood by the side of the slim bed, glancing down at the bandaged face of his brother. His red hands were on top of the covers, the nurse had just taken the bandages off to let the sores breath before she returned to put fresh on. He looked like raw meat.

Raoul searched his consciousness for guilt, some feeling for his brother, who was all but dead lying in front of him.

He found none.

His hazel eyes looked at Philippe from head to toe and back up again, the sight didn't make him wince or wish to look away, it simply made him shake his head. He was surprised to feel so little sympathy for someone he had grown up with, someone who was really his own flesh and blood. But Raoul was a good man, at heart, he was a good man and in his eyes Philippe was not. Raoul supposed that he had received what he deserved although it was not a deliberate fate.

He pulled up a seat and sat on it next to the bed, it was hard to work out if Philippe was awake or asleep because his eyes always looked closed and his breathing was always a wheeze. The manager of the hospital walked in and Raoul stood, extending his hand for the man.

'Jerome Buckley,' he said, his voice was calm and even. He had caring eyes and a soft hand, which Raoul shook firmly. 'Vicomte de Chagny, I apologise that we haven't had the opportunity to meet sooner. I'm so sorry for what has happened to your brother, I'm just glad that no one else was injured in the barn fire.'

'Thank you,' Raoul said nodding. 'It's a pleasure to meet you.'

'I just need to get the details of the fire correct for the paper work, if you wouldn't mind, victome?'

'Please, call me Raoul,' he said, sitting back down as Jerome pulled up a seat next to him.

'Okay,' he said and pulled a pen out of his pocket. 'I understand the fire was in a barn you own on the outskirts of Paris, is that correct?'

'Yes,' Raoul said.

'Just tell me if any of these details are incorrect,' he said. 'I won't keep you for long.'

'Of course,' Raoul nodded. Jerome began to write on his pad of paper.

'The officials who were sent with Philippe to the hospital stated that they had rushed to the incident, controlled it and found your brother near to the exit,' he said slowly. 'There was no other person involved and Philippe was simply closing the barn up for the evening. He had lit a light at the entrance to the premises which had fallen over while he was checking the barn.'

Raoul nodded to assure Jerome that so far the details he had been given by the Government officials were correct and that it was alright for him to continue reading and writing.

'By the time he got back to the centre of the room from the back, the front area was viciously ablaze and spreading rapidly due to the hay, is that right?' he said, looking at Raoul.

'Yes, as far as I know,' Raoul said. 'All I can tell you is the information I was given by the people who investigated the incident.'

'I understand,' Jerome said. 'If I may… he tried to run to the back of the barn but he had locked it so securely that there was no possible escape, by which point the fire was spreading all around him.'

'That seems about right,' said Raoul, with what he hoped looked like a sorrowed smile.

'Eventually, from what the Government doctor has said, smoke inhalation took over and he passed out?'

'Yes,' replied Raoul, shaking his head.

'The thing is…' Jerome said and Raoul held his breath. 'I think it may have affected some of your brother's… brain cells…'

'How do you mean?' Asked Raoul, genuinely confused. Jerome looked at him and thought for moment, as if trying to decide how would be best to phrase what he was about to say.

'Well,' said Jerome. 'He keeps… saying that the Phantom did it… you know, the Phantom of the Opera…' Jerome paused before looking at Raoul apologetically. 'Of course you know, I'm terribly sorry… perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it.'

'No,' Raoul said quickly. 'No, please don't be sorry. I'm glad you told me.' He stopped for a moment and then glanced at Jerome thoughtfully. 'What is the best course of action for this?'

'He gets very excitable,' said Jerome. 'I think, well, I think it possibly best that we keep him sedated.'

Raoul stared at him before nodding.

'I think that's probably best,' Raoul said gently. 'I witnessed the Phantom's death myself.'

'Yes,' said Jerome, nodding in understanding. 'As did a lot of the Parisian community.'

They sat there looking at Philippe's figure under the soft blanket for a moment and again Raoul searched his heart for guilt.

Again there was none.

'Please tell me to stop if I am being insensitive,' Jerome said quickly. 'But I'm… curious about the Phantom of the Opera… I realise, monsieur, that this isn't one of your favourite subjects but if you could do me the favour of at least telling me what he was like… I would appreciate it.'

Raoul looked at the manager carefully.

'I mean…' Jerome began. 'If you don't mind… was he just a normal man?'

'He was…' Raoul began. 'He was nothing like a normal man, monsieur.'

Raoul could see from the look on Jerome's face that he believed that Raoul was referring to the Phantom's famous face… or the fact that he had murdered many men. He was, of course, incorrect.

Raoul was referring the phantom as nothing like a normal man because that was the truth… he really was nothing like a normal man.

He far surpassed many normal men that Raoul had ever met, both in intelligence and ability to astound.

And also, in his ability to love.