Cookies to you all!

Chapter 17

Erik ran and scoped up Cat. She was cold. Fear ran up his spine. Over and over in his tortured brain a voice was screaming, No! No! NO! NO! NO! Holding her tight to him he ran down the tunnel to the boat. He placed her in it, and quickly rowed to his house. Once inside, Erik placed her on the couch, and like the first night he found her, plied blankets on her. He was almost to the point of panicking, and that was not good for him. Making the same powder, he poured it down her throat. Cat didn't move. Erik then went in search of a really strong medicine, a white powder that came from poppies of the East. After administering it to her, Erik unlashed the silver vile of meds from her neck. Unscrewing the lip, he poured out her heart meds, only to find then gone.

Anger washed over him. She had been taking her meds every morning. He saw her. Unless...she had been faking it. Erik looked down at her. Color was coming back, but she still looked so weak. Erik sighed and say down on the couch with her, pulling her small body close.

XxX

Cat woke up warm and safe. She keep her eyes closed, but let out a " Hmm," her chest felt sore, like some one had punched it over and over. She snuggled down further into the warmth. She started to fall asleep until she heard a slight thumping. Her brow furrowed and keeping her eyes closed, turned her head toward the sound. It got louder. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Cat opened her eyes. She saw that she was on the couch, and that an arm held her close. She leaned her head back and green eyes met gold ones. "Erik," she whispered.

Erik tightened his hold on her. Relief was flooding his mind. She was awake. He had almost lost her last night. "Cat, tell me something, why do you enjoy not listening to me and enjoy scaring me?" His voice was soft, but it was warmer, more heated. Uh oh.

She flinched a little, "Meaning?"

Erik's yellow eyes flashed, "I mean child, you are out of your heart meds. When did you run out?"

"A week ago," Cat winched, knowing what Erik was about to do.

"Hmmm, I would like to ask you, what you think you are trying to prove? Not telling me that you were out of them. You have a heart problem, ma petite." Oh yeah. That was familiar. Pure, Erik heat. Temper, temper, Phantom, my love.

"It's not that kind of a heart problem," Cat said trying not to rise to the bait. He was being bossy again.

"And what sort of problem would it be, my brilliant darling?" Oooooh, now that was just sarcastic.

She turned to pin him with her eyes, "The kind where sexy intelligent masked men don't worry their heads about it if they don't want to have a fight first thing in the morning."

Erik's arm tightened around her like a vise, not hurting, just holding her firmly, "What kind of heart problem, Catherine?"

Well, since he put it that way, "I have an electrical short that sometimes makes it beat really fast and I have viral damage to one of the ventricles. I take medication to help it 'push', I live with it, I feel fine, (sometimes,) I know you mean well, Erik but I am an adult, please don't start a fight over something this ridiculous."

She squeezed his hand in what she hoped was a loving manner.

"Your health is not ridiculous, ma petite. I care about you therefore I am going to be concerned and ask you about why you do something so obviously idiotic.

Shit.

"I see.

Erik felt his temper rising at an alarming rate. She was being courteous, polite even, but just barely. Defiance was written all over her body language and her attitude. She had a heart problem and she was not giving it one thought.

"Cat, I have told you that I am not accustomed to repeating myself," Erik began levelly, keeping his voice pitched in a soothing, velvet tone, "I care about you and I am going to enquire about your well being and take issue when you do not take care of yourself properly. That includes addressing your continuation of this ridiculous refusal. Is that understood?"

"Clear as crystal," Cat agreed, her own voice carefully neutral.

"I know it just means you care about me." She added obediently, her eyes properly wide and astonished.

Erik sensed the storm coming when those wide eyes solidified to emerald glass, but he wasn't experienced enough with relationships or women to avoid it and fly around, "Then do as I ask." He still wasn't smiling.

Kissing his hand, she rose before he could restrain her, and looked down at him, "Erik, we just went over this. I've been over it with the doctor, May-Ling, Mother, Father and my brothers. I am not going to repeat myself either. Drop the subject please. I don't want to fight with you."
There.

Erik stood up and extended his hand to grasp her chin gently, tipping it up so she would look him in the eye, "What did your doctor say, Cherie? Tell me exactly."

Crap. Erik carried more power and authority in his softly spoken order than her meanest, roughest teacher in past classes. He made her feel like she was ten again. Safe, protected, cared for. Loved.

Cat tried to bolt around him but Erik caught her gently and pulled her back. To her surprise he was laughing as he swung her up in his arms and held her tightly to his chest, kissing her hair, chuckling all the while.

"Mon Cherie, if only you understood how much you truly are loved."

When she struggled, he put her down, wrapped his arm around her and tucked her beneath his shoulder, "You will go to bed, and stay there," he added when she striated to open her mouth," but, ma petite, we are not through. Not by a long shot. We are simply stoping it for now."

Still chuckling, he guided her to her room like she was a little child. Just like that he had shut her down. Made her feel cared for.

Goddammit, he scared the shit out of her.