CHAPTER 5

Raoul ran his fingers impatiently through his long blonde hair, "Doctor, may I see her now?" He asked.

"Yes, you may. She's just down the hall to your right." Dr. Necosi waved and pointed to a door, pen in hand. "We had to give her a sedative to help her relax."

As Raoul made his way down the hallway, he was caught on the shoulder, and spun around on his heel. "Ah, Madame Giry." Raoul acknowledged and bowed.

"My daughter, Monsieur Vicomte?" She asked sternly.

Raoul pointed and replied, "She's just down here. I was about to go in and sit with her..." he began, but was abruptly cut off.

"I shall see my daughter alone, Monsieur," she said, as she opened the door and quickly closed it behind him.

Raoul, defeated, sighed and strode back to the small waiting room.

Barely able to keep her eyes open and focused, Meg peered in front of her, "Maman?"

Madame Giry looked at her daughter with concern. "Shhhh, I'm here now, chéri."

Meg held onto her mother's hand tightly. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I know I shouldn't have gone down there to his lair, but Maman, Raoul, he saved me. He saved Christine! And you know what else? He saved The Phantom, but he says he didn't wish to do that. Raoul carried me all the way to the hospital. Can you believe that?"

Meg was speaking a mile a minute before her mother gave her a steely glare.

"Oh sorry, Maman, you know how my words run away with me." She blushed.

Madame Giry sighed and placed her hand against Meg's cheek. "Child, there will be time to talk once I get you home, but for now, get some rest."

Meg thought about going home and smiled. "I can't wait to get out of this dreadful hospital and back to my own bed!"

Madame Giry hesitated slightly before asking, "There is something I must know immediately. Meg, dearest, did you see The Phantom and Christine together and safe?"

Meg felt as if she were about to gossip like she often did in the opera dormitories. "Well, I know Christine went through the broken mirror. There was a passage there. And Raoul told the mob he had killed the Phantom…"

Meg gathered her thoughts as Madame Giry's hand flew to her mouth in astonishment.

"Do not worry, he is not dead, and the mob is no longer after him. I know he is an old friend of yours. Really, Maman, I don't know why you never told me that you were close to the Opera Ghost." Meg rolled her eyes at her mother playfully.

"Megan Giry! You've been looking amongst my personal things!" Madame Giry scolded.

Meg drew in her breath and exhaled, "No, Maman. I saw you one night as you handed his salary to him and he gracefully kissed your hand. I was frightened at first, but then I realized that I shouldn't be if he hadn't harmed you."

Madame Giry was slightly impressed and relieved. "Well, mon chéri, even amongst all your sneaking about and gossiping around the opera house, it seems I was still able to raise a very smart young lady." She kissed Meg on her forehead and then made her way toward the door. She turned to Meg and said, "I shall see you in the morning. Please try to keep your knowledge to a minimum dearest…"

Meg looked at her mother with surprise. "Maman! I may be a blabbermouth, but when it comes to Christine, she is like a sister to me. I will keep her privacy… especially for Le Fantôme!" She grinned.

Madame Giry raised an eyebrow in suspicion, as she reached for the doorknob. "By the way, Meg, you have a visitor... Le Vicomte de Chagny!" Madame Giry swung the door open and Raoul almost tumbled in.

He was able to compose himself and coughed to clear his throat, "Ladies." He bowed to them. He hadn't been at the door long. In fact, he had just barely arrived, having been impatiently sitting in the waiting room.

"Monsieur! I'm so glad to see you!" Meg blushed profusely.

A small grin crept onto Madame Giry's face. "I need to run off now and make arrangements for a new rehearsal hall for the girls."

Meg smiled at her mother. "Give my love to those poor ballet rats!" She giggled.

Author's Note
I'm using really basic French words every now and then. It shouldn't deter from following the story though. I gather most of you have read several fan fics already that use French, so I'm guessing no one will be too surprised with the usage here. -hugs-