Ummmm, I apologize ahead of time. We all know how life is...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie - Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen - Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long, brown hair)

Ms. Jennison- Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 19

Tuesday was a trying day for Erik. He had phone conferences all morning and web conferences in the afternoon. He never left his house.

As a result, he did not see Christine at all on Tuesday. Wednesday turned out to be no better, except that he actually made it to the school.

The fire inspector, food services inspector, and the building inspector all showed up to pull unannounced inspections of their respective areas; Erik spent the entire day catering to their every whim and making small talk.

In the end, the school and the staff earned very high marks in all areas and Erik was proud of his people.

He only saw Christine in passing on Wednesday as the inspectors scrutinized her area and gave her praises – she smiled beguilingly at him as they passed through, and Erik felt himself being drawn in.

When the inspections were over, he went back to Christine's office to ask her to accompany him to dinner, but she had left early because Meckenzie was sick.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Later that night, Erik reflected on the events that had taken place in his life over the last several weeks. He had not been this open with another human being in years – no one besides Karen and Vince.

How had she managed to worm her way into his life? He had so efficiently erected a wall around his heart and nothing had penetrated it.

Then, unexpectedly, Meckenzie touches a spot in him that no other child had ever managed to touch – and then her mother ends up being the epitome of the kind of woman with whom he longs to spend his life.

"When did I lose control, Indigo?" Erik asked the feline as she wound around his legs, begging for his attention. "Now that she's in my life, I don't want her to leave it."

Indigo glided into this lap and began pawing and purring, she fed off his moods, and knew he was feeling disconnected with himself…he was reexamining every decision he had ever made in his life.

It was Wednesday night, and Erik had barely seen Christine at the school. He found himself looking forward to her unannounced visits and perky conversations.

'You're just setting yourself up for heartache, you fool.' He spat to himself. 'Why have you let her do this to you?' He ran his hand through his thick hair and then removed his mask.

He stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom and stared at the reflection before him. For twenty-three years, he had lived with this sight. The last skin-grafting attempt had left him even more scarred and embittered – causing his heart to shrivel up inside him.

He didn't see the hard, solid plane of his chest with the perfect amount of black hairs spattering its broad expanse. He didn't see the slender, masculine curve of his waistline or the flat perfection of his abdomen. He didn't see the narrow hips that announced the long, powerful legs of an athlete. He didn't see thebrilliance in his green, long-lashed eyes or the luscious fullness of his mouth. He didn't see the manly beauty of his flawless, unmarred features or the sexiness of his thick, soft hair.

"This is the reality of what you are, old man." Erik spewed at the image in the mirror, "You're a grotesque, pathetic imitation of a man. Whatever Christine Daae is feeling for you, she will realize the ugly, hard truth and all will be as it was."

The jagged scars and mutilated flesh of his right side mocked the unmarred side with cruel intensity. He would never be normal – never. How could he expect any woman, especially one as beautiful and vibrant as Christine, to bind herself to him in any way, even as a friend?

Rage coursed through him at the atrocity of it all. He was suddenly intensely angry. His anger was centered on his own inability to rise above his circumstances and accept what he was; his anger was focused on the loss of his parents and brother all those years ago – why had they abandoned him? His angersettled on Christine and Meckenzie, resenting themfor putting the desire back in his heart for love and acceptance; two things he thought he would never have.

He inadvertently caught a glimpse of his reflection again and the hatred pulsed through him like venom.

As if sensing his need for a reality check, the phone rang, dragging him from his tantrum and causing him to calm down.

He abruptly picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Erik, it's Christine…I didn't know who else to call." She cried.

Erik heard the panic in her voice and felt his heart jump in his chest, "Christine, what is it?"

"It's Meckenzie…I couldn't wake her up to make her take her medicine – she was completely unresponsive…they flew her to Grace Memorial."

Erik felt the bile rise in his throat, he wasn't one to panic, but he felt it closing in on him.

"They wouldn't let me fly with her and I need to get to the hospital, but I am in no shape to drive."

"Stay there, I'm on my way."

Erik hung up the phone, dressed quickly, and drove to pick up Christine.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Vince's cell phone rang and Vince answered. They had barely been home twenty minutes. He looked at the caller ID and knew who it was.

"Hello Erik."

"Uncle Vince…you and Karen need to meet Christine and me at Grace Memorial."

"What happened?" Vince asked, hearing the urgency in Erik's tone.

"It's Meckenzie."

Vince fought back the panic that was rising in him. What could be wrong?

"We'll be there."

Karen heard the despondency in his voice and stood in front of him with concern on her face.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Meckenzie is in the hospital; Erik knew nothing more than that." Vince told her.

Karen picked up her purse and followed Vince out the door; tears were inching down her cheek as she thought about the fear that must be gripping Christine.

"What hospital are we going to?" Karen asked, trying to lighten the moment.

"She is at Grace Memorial." Vince stated, looking at Karen with concern.

Karen knew that Grace Memorial was the trauma center for the East side of Boston, but it was also one of the top children's hospitals in the country.

TBC

Grace Memorial is a made up hospital, a figment of my imagination - I know nothing about Boston, it's just one of those places I have visited in my dreams.