And a bonus chapter for ya:)
The beginning of December brought a mixed bag for Jenna. She had been contacted by one of her professors from school to give a guest lecture in the middle of January to her class. Jenna jumped on the opportunity, anything to keep her mind off how miserable she was. The weeks leading up to Christmas were painful for Jenna. Upstairs in her room, hidden deep in her closet was a box; in that box was Erik's Christmas gifts she had picked up. She tried to keep her mind on the festivities in her house, not wishing she were decorating a tree elsewhere…
Erik had not even noticed that November turned to December. Bringing with it the Christmas cheer, for everyone else. He had allowed his staff to decorate for the holidays, mostly because they had nothing else to do. He steadfastly ignored the garlands and bows that popped up around the house. The only reminder of the season lay in his desk, hidden away. The little velvet box had been tossed in there a few days after Jenna's departure. The treasure inside had been forced out of sight out of mind. The ring that Erik had so lovingly designed specifically for her was now nothing but a mockery of his feelings for her. He didn't have the heart to get rid of it, so he banished it to the depths of his desk, to forget.
As he grew increasingly agitated and irritable he couldn't shake the feeling of impending dread that had settled on him. The feeling of foreboding was one that he hadn't experienced since his days below the Opera when he was frequented by his 'attacks' he brushed the thought aside, seeing as how his last attack had been on the eve Christine had left him.
Jenna anxiously prepared for Christmas with her parents and sister. She was leaving the weekend after New Years to return to State College to do her guest lecture and catch up with some old friends that had remained in the area. Christmas eve came at last, Jenna enjoyed a quiet evening with her family, sitting by the huge fireplace talking and drinking Eggnog. For the first time since her return she finally felt some of the anguish lift from around her heart.
New Years came and went, nothing spectacular for Jenna. The weekend after New Years she packed her car and drove to State College, she checked into her hotel and slumped down on the bed. She hadn't heard anything from Erik, not that she had expected to but…
She shook her head, picked up her purse and left her room deciding to go find something for dinner.
Erik clenched his fist, and unclenched it as the tingling numbness spread down his left arm. He ignored it, continuing with his work. He worked well into the night; not noticing as the night drew on the numbness became worse. He stumbled out of the room, down the hall when the pain hit him. He fell to the floor, the pain blinding him stealing his breath away. He saw a haze of white and black, the pain surrounding him like a blanket that was suffocating him.
Henri heard him and came upstairs and blanched when he saw Erik, collapsed on the ground gasping for breath. He hurried over; Erik tried to push him away.
"Sir! You are ill, let me help!" he said sternly.
Erik was too weak to object, he managed to nod. Henri helped him to his feet; they managed to make it to Jenna's room to the bed before Erik's strength gave out. Henri got him in bed, Erik sent him away thanking him. Without thinking Henri picked up the phone, calling the one person who would be able to help Erik…
Jenna was just waking up when her cell phone rang, she groaned as she picked it up and answered it.
"Hello?" she asked, groggily.
"Mam'selle Jenna?"
She sat up hearing Henri's voice "Yes, Henri?"
"Oui…you must return here immediately!" he immediately started speaking in frantic French, Jenna had a hard time keeping up with him. All she got was Erik was sick, there was something wrong with Erik.
"Alright, I'm…I'm on my way…I'll get the first flight out I can…I'll call you with the details."
They hung up and Jenna threw clothes on, hurried to pack her stuff and checked out. She made record time getting home. She called ahead and told her father to book her the first available flight to Paris and to have her things packed and ready to go. She arrived at home, hurried through the shower and changed out of her sweats and rushed out the door with her hair still wet. They drove her to the airport, she barely made her plane.
She arrived in the middle of the night; she was relieved when she saw Bernard. "What happened?"
"We believe he had a heart attack…but he refuses to let anyone in his room…he refuses to see a doctor"
Jenna nodded "Alright, get me home…then find a doctor…preferably one with a private practice and not many clients…someone low key?"
Henri was anxiously waiting for her at the door. She rushed out of the car, she hadn't slept in 2 days but she was running on adrenaline and no end was in sight. Bernard left with his instructions to call her first thing in the morning.
"Is he in his room?"
"No Mam'selle he has been sleeping in your old rooms"
She paled; her leaving had affected him worse than she thought. She nodded, walking up the stairs, creeping into the room careful not to wake him. She closed the door softly and tiptoed over to the bed. He looked pale, his breathing shallow. He also looked like he hadn't eaten in quite sometime. She bit her lip, seeing him like this hurt more than she thought it would. She remembered him so strong, invulnerable. To see him lying like that…she felt the tingle of tears behind her eyes.
She sunk down onto the bed, feeling the movement Erik's eyes shot open. He looked around wildly, frantically. Seeing Jenna he closed his eyes like he was in pain.
"Another dream…it's just another nightmare…" he mumbled to himself tiredly.
Jenna fought tears as she leaned over "Erik? It's not a dream…I'm really here"
He studied her for a moment, before turning his head away from her. She reached out and stroked his masked cheek before removing it. His breath hitched in his throat as he held a hand over his ravaged face, trying to hide it from her. She moved onto the bed and pulled his hand away.
"Erik…please…you must feel much more comfortable without it on" she said softly, as though she was talking to a child.
"But…you're…no you left…you're not real" he cried out, tears coursing down his cheeks. The familiar clenching of his chest warned him to get control of himself.
Jenna let her tears fall freely, she took his hand and kissed the palm "I'm back, I came back. Henri called me, told me you were sick. He was worried, I came as soon as I heard"
He stared at her for a moment, before reality caught up with him. She was really there! Caring for him! She came back! Jenna watched as he cried, unsure of what to do. She laid on her side and gathered him into her arms. He let his face rest in the crook of her neck, crying as he held onto her tightly not wanting to let go. She kissed the top of his head, holding him, comforting him. She soon heard his steady, even breathing. He had fallen asleep finally. His arms around her waist holding her to him possessively.
Oh! How she had missed this! She had missed him more than she had let herself imagine. She placed a light kiss on his head before attempting to fall asleep herself.
Erik woke to a strange sensation, someone was holding him. His face was buried in honey colored hair; the scent of gardenias surrounded him. Jenna! She had returned to him, the events of the previous night came flooding back. She had returned to him…would she stay? Could he convince her to stay? He opened his eyes and looked at her, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He had tried so many times to recreate her beauty in his mind, but he never could.
Heaviness remained in his chest, his damned heart giving out like that! And after so long! He supposed this was a message to remind him that he still lived. Like he would be able to forget! He shifted slightly, but the slight movement woke Jenna up. She bolted up, looking around. She relaxed when she saw Erik looking up at her. She brushed some hair out of her face nervously. She smoothed her wrinkled clothes, looking back into Erik's golden depths.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Much better, I assure you."
She nodded "Bernard was going to look for a doctor, I know you hate strangers with a passion but Erik…you are sick…you need medical help"
"My dear, this wretched heart of mine has been like this for over a century…there is no saving it I'm afraid"
Her face fell at the very real prospect of losing him. He took her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on it.
"I believe this was just a…reminder to myself. That while I try to live as a ghost I am very much alive. I assure you my dear, I will be better in a few days"
"But Erik…"
He put a hand up to silence her, warning flashing in his eyes. "My dear, I wish to live out the rest of my days in peace, I will get no such thing from a doctor…"
She opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when she saw the muscles in his jaw tense…a sure sign he was getting angry. She nodded "Very Well…are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?"
He nodded "That would be fine…" he murmured before asking the question he wasn't sure he wanted an answer for. "How long will you be here with us my dear?"
She turned and looked back forever "I'm not sure…I didn't really think that far ahead." She turned and walked out the door, to get him some breakfast.
She walked downstairs, stopping only once she had reached the kitchen. She braced herself on the counter top, letting herself cry once she was out of earshot of Erik. Henri had approached her; he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She composed herself, standing straight wiping away her tears.
"I think something light for Erik…maybe some toast and tea"
Henri nodded and hurried to prepare it for Jenna as she composed herself. She didn't know how seeing him would make her feel, but now she just felt unsure…how should she act around him? Her first instinct told her to be loving, affectionate but she was afraid to. After everything that had happed when she left she couldn't let herself fall into the trap of familiarity until she knew how he felt.
Henri finished preparing the tray; Jenna picked it up and carried it upstairs. She helped Erik sit up, determined that he wouldn't see how his illness was distressing her. She set the tray on his lap and hovered for a moment. An uncomfortable silence enveloped them, she finally spoke.
"I think I'm going to get showered and change into some fresh clothes," she said, looking down at her wrinkled clothing.
Erik nodded, remaining silent. She nodded, deciding it would be a better idea if she showered in one of the other guest bathrooms. An hour later she returned, looking refreshed and not quite so frumpy.
