AN: Thanks for the reviews!

CHAPTER 15

"What's something you hide from people?"

"Um…well, I'm more emotional that most people realize. They've thought I was happy in the most miserable times of my life, so…"

"Yes, and how do you treat people generally?"

"I'm nice to them if they're nice to me, which they usually are."

"And women?"

"What about them?"

"Well, you've been transported to the life of a man who's romantic life is rather…dramatic. Your lesson might have to do with something of that nature. Just tell me how you feel about women or love or whatever you associate with those things."

Nadir was the perfect therapist. The only things he was missing was a notepad and a brown leather couch for Gerry to lie on. They were in an empty office at the opera, which Christine and Gerry discovered a trapdoor entrance to. Later, they found the Persian.

"Well, if I have any problem, it's that I like them too much."

"What kinds of women are you drawn to?" Khan asked calmly, folding his hands. Gerry shrugged.

"I don't know, anyone I find attractive. Blondes, brunettes, thin, curvy, doesn't really matter to me."

"I meant the qualities of the personality," said Nadir.

"Oh. Hm…a sense of humor is great, everyone says that, but I'd rather be able to make her laugh than the other way around. Chicks who make me laugh usually end up as just friends with me. I don't like high maintenance after the first few dates but total pushovers aren't my type either. Independence is great…but I like knowing I'm needed. Ah, passion, lots of that! I like some drama. But not too much—"

"It seems you're extremely particular," Nadir interrupted. "Yet don't know what you want in the long term."

Gerry felt like he was being studied. "Yeah, maybe. What's wrong with that?"

"What is a common age in your time to be thinking about marriage?"

"You people are obsessed with marriage, aren't you?"

Christine sighed. "Answer him."

"Ok, well anywhere from early twenties to forties, maybe," guessed Gerry.

"So you're in your prime to be thinking about that….what are your thoughts on it?"

"I don't really have any. Never had to think about it, aside from my parent's divorce. I never met anyone I could see as someone I'd want to spend my life with—at least not since I was really young and EVERY girl I was lucky enough to date was 'the one'…So I just keep it casual, mostly."

"So how many casual encounters have you had?"

"Oh, way too many to count, definitely," Gerry laughed. Christine spoke up at this.

"What do you mean, casual encounters?"

Nadir looked down to his hands, looking a little discomforted. "Nights spent with women he is hardly acquainted with."

Gerry blinked. "Ohhh, one night stands…I thought you meant just dates or short term girlfriends. Yeah, I only had a few of those in college. Not that many."

Nadir obviously disapproved but said nothing about it. Christine didn't appear too surprised.

"Perhaps you should retreat back into your youth a little," Nadir suggested. Glancing at Christine, Gerry saw she had the same barely-there smile. He sighed, a little frustrated since he didn't see the point of this.

"And how exactly do I do that?"

Nadir nodded towards Christine. "You can practice with her."

/

Emmy felt accomplished when she arrived early to watch the chandelier crash without anyone asking her about the 'Gerry' situation or acting strangely because they knew where she had been last night (however briefly it was.)

Patrick approached her soon, friendly as always. After some relaxed small talk about the scene, he asked, "So, how's Gerry doing? Is he here?"

"No, not yet. He's pretty good. He was sobering up last night."

"Mmhm…"

Emmy frowned, noticing Patrick's skeptical, judging expression.

"What?"

Patrick glanced around quickly before leaning in and whispering, "I heard."

Heart jolting, Emmy snapped, "Heard what?"

"You know."

"No, Patrick, I really don't."

He rolled his eyes and sighed irritably. "I heard you two together. You know, trailers aren't exactly soundproof, and they tend to shake when—"

"WHAT?"

"Emmy, it's hardly legal! I wouldn't care if he was your own age—"

Suddenly, Emmy realized what he actually heard.

"Wait! No—I get it now! You heard him jumping on the bed…."

"Jumping…on the bed?" he repeated, obviously not believing her. "A grown man?"

'He was drunk, Patrick."

He thought a second then shrugged. "Good point."

The tough part over, Emmy leaned against the wall and laughed.

"I can't believe you thought…me and him…oh wow."

"I could hardly believe it either," said the actor, shaking his head as if trying to knock the ugly thought out of his brain.

Before she could think about her next words, Emmy blurted out, "He did kiss me though."

Patrick turned to look at her slowly, with an expression on his face like the calm before the storm. "What?"

Swallowing, Emmy looked down at her hands, quickly explaining. "Well, again, he was drunk. We were in the parking lot and he just randomly did it. I pushed him off and told him he couldn't do that and he didn't try to anymore."

Nodding slowly, Patrick crossed his arms. "Do you have any idea why he felt compelled to kiss you?"

"No idea, like I said, it was random."

He exhaled and looked to the side. "Weird."

"Yeah," Emmy agreed, hoping he would still believe her. A moment later, Erik popped up beside Emmy, in the same clothes he slept in. He looked like he definitely had one hell of a hangover.

"Hi Gerry. Had fun?" Patrick said with a forced smile.

"I don't remember if I did or not," said Erik.

"Really?"

"No," Erik smirked. "I remember. We had a duel. With…spoons?"

"Forks, actually," nodded Patrick. He looked slightly less uptight now.

Erik turned and looked around the huge auditorium set, admiring the sight of the grand, crystal chandelier sparkling in the lights all around the room. He had grown to like it a lot over the years of 'haunting' the opera. It was a pity he had to destroy it. But it had to be done.

"What about Don Juan?" Erik suddenly realized. "Won't they show the chandelier in that scene?"

"Um…" Emmy thought. "No, actually, I don't think so."

"What about the audience members then?"

Emmy and Patrick simultaneously gave Erik an 'are-you-freaking-kidding-me?' look. He felt stupid, but didn't know why. Finally, Emmy explained.

"They don't film the crashing with people actually under it, Gerry."

Erik rubbed his head, purposely exaggerating his hangover. "Sorry, my mind is still a little…off."

The other man nodded in understanding. Joel's voice started to echo from speakers in the auditorium, and everyone turned to listen.

"Alright, do I have my firemen? Yes, ok, just stand behind the curtain right there…no, not the one that catches fire! Are the pyros set? Ok, quiet on the set!"

Joel's voice was the last to be heard, as people had already quieted. Conceding this point, Joel nodded to the cameramen and then the crew above the chandelier, who counted down.

"Five! Four! Three…two….ONE!"

The chandelier came down at an angle, moving much slower than Erik remembered. It crashed loudly enough though, and flames burst up around the glittering broken glass, dancing over to the curtain and climbing up the crimson velvet fabric. Before it did any real damage, men with fire extinguishers rushed out to put out the fire.

"Good, excellent. Looked great from here, guys," said Joel pleasedly, then looked around. "Let's get our extras in here for the other shots now..oh, and Tommy, get me my coffee, will you?"

"Guess we're done here," Patrick said, rubbing his hands together. "That was kind of interesting, huh?"

"Yeah," Emmy agreed. (Erik thought the real crash was much more fun. People screaming in fear added to the effect.)

"See you later, Gerry," said Patrick. He headed out the door. Emmy turned to Erik, about to speak, but then they heard Joel.

"Gerry! Emmy! Come here, I need you."

They approached Joel, who looked at them with his usual half-closed eyes and tight smile.

"So Gerry, I know I keep telling you this while filming, so I'll tell you now instead—make it sexy tomorrow, kay? You too, Emmy."

"Sexy?" Erik wondered, then coughed and nodded. "Right. I know."

"Good," Joel affirmed. "And uh…take it easy on the booze. In fact, don't drink within the next 24 hours or more at least."

"Yes sir."

Joel turned to Emmy and smiled genuinely. "Emmy, darling, you've been wonderful. A big help, especially with taking care of our Phantom…"

Emmy beamed and Joel continued. "But tomorrow, play up the whole theme of innocence and womanhood and sexual awakening stuff we talked about. You've been great with the innocent part, but throw in some passion at your part of the song. Like try to shock us with it. Just don't jump Gerry, we don't need to see THAT much…."

Emmy chuckled. "Ok, got it."

Joel waved them off. "Ok, class dismissed."

As they walked off together, Erik finally asked Emmy, "What does sexy mean?"