There was a rush of loud, worried voices as Katja began to come to. She wasn't sure what happened or why her head hurt so much or why she felt so sick. "…happened?"

"…fainted."

"…sudden…"

"…doctor?"

"…sick?"

"…upstairs."

"…okay?"

"…waking up."

Katja blinked the spots away from her vision as she was gently placed on something soft. Her family and Erik were hovering over her as she realized she was in her bedroom lying on her bed. "What happened?" she asked as she slowly sat up.

"You fainted," Fredrick explained. He turned to their parents. "Should I fetch a doctor?"

Her father nodded. "Yes," he said at the exact same moment Katja replied with, "No."

Instantly Katja and Dieter started to argue. "Vati, I'm fine. I promise. It was just the summer heat."

"What kind of father would I be if I didn't get a doctor?" Dieter demanded. "You fainted. I've already lost you once. I just got you back and I don't want to lose you again."

"Vati, I'm not dying," she said with a begrudging smile.

"Humor me Katja."

She shook her head. "I'm okay. Vati, I'm perfectly fine. I'm just tired right now. I'll be back to normal in the morning after I get some sleep."

"Katja…" It was the first time Erik had spoken. All he said was her name, but she could tell from his tone and the look in his eyes that he agreed with her father. He was worried about her. That had to be a good sign right? It meant that Erik cared about her. And if he cared about her, then he wouldn't leave.

"Please," she all but whimpered.

Finally she found an ally in her stepmother. "Katja says she's okay. She's not a child anymore," Brigitte interjected. "We'll compromise. If she's not feeling better by morning, we'll send for a doctor then."

"Yes!" Katja cried.

They turned to Dieter, who hesitated before giving a curt nod. "Very well; we'll discuss this further in the morning. But it's getting late and you need sleep." She nodded in agreement.

Her family filed out of her room to let her go to bed, but Erik paused at the doorway. His eyes betrayed that he was still bothered. She stood and walked up to him. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.

He cupped her face in his hands. "You need a doctor."

She turned away. "Don't. I'm fine."

"You collapsed."

"Erik, when you brought me to your home, I had been beaten, raped, starved and you didn't think I needed a doctor then," she argued. "Or when I nearly died from the morphine."

"I didn't get a doctor, but you certainly needed one," he replied. "But I didn't get you one then because I couldn't. Katja, you know that I'm a wanted man in Paris. I couldn't even leave to buy food without a hood to hide my face, let alone fetch a doctor."

Katja sighed. He could be so stubborn at times. She put her hand on his porcelain covered cheek. "Erik, I promise I'm fine."

For the first time since she had first seen his face, Katja moved to take his mask off. Erik caught her wrist and pulled it away before she could. "Don't," he whispered.

"All I want is to see you."

"No," he replied firmly.

"Your face doesn't bother me," she protested. "I love you, every part of you."

"You shouldn't. I'm not what you need."

"But I still love you." Katja could feel tears coming on. "Even if you don't love me."

"I never said I didn't love you," Erik whispered, caressing her cheek. "I never once said that I didn't love you."

A single tear slide down her cheek. "But you won't say that you do."

Erik shook his head. He looked so sad. "I…I can't Katja. If I do, I'll lose you, like everyone else I've ever cared about. I can't take any more heartache."

Katja kissed his good cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

He pressed his lips to her forehead quickly then backed away. "Get to bed. Your parents will be suspicious if I stay in here too long. It's not proper."

"Maybe we should tell them about us."

"Tell them what?" Erik asked. "Katja, there's nothing to tell. I can't stay here. Sooner or later I'm going to have to leave."

"Why?" she demanded. "Why do you keep insisting you have to leave?"

"Because I do." Erik suddenly became stiff and cold. He turned away and started to walk out the door, but paused and looked back. "Good night Katja," he said, his tone expressionless. She sighed in exasperation. Why did he do this to her?

A week later, Erik still wasn't convinced that Katja was feeling better. She hadn't fainted again, but she wasn't acting right. She was suddenly guarded and acting strange. Katja was definitely trying to hide something from them.

Right now, she was picking at her breakfast. The way she was playing with her food made it look like she had eaten a little, so the ruse worked on her parents, but Erik had yet to see any food actually go in her mouth.

Dieter and Brigitte left to go prepare the café for the day, leaving the two alone. "You need to eat," Erik insisted. "You may have fooled your parents but you can't fool me."

She shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten properly in a week. You can't starve yourself. You never put on enough weight from being with the gypsies. Katja, you're too thin to be doing this."

Katja crossed her arms. "I don't want to," she replied stubbornly.

"Please," Erik pleaded.

With a heavy sigh, Katja reluctantly ate a few bites of toast. "Happy now?" she asked.

"No," he replied. "You need to eat a proper meal."

"I'm not hungry," she repeated.

Suddenly she stood and ran out of the room. Surprised by her change of her behavior, Erik followed behind. He found her in the bathroom, losing what little breakfast she had eaten. "Dammit Katja!" he cried. "You're sick! How long have you been hiding this?"

She stood, her face deathly pale as she swayed on her feet. "I'm okay. I'm not really that sick."

"Yes you are," Erik snapped. "How long have you been hiding this?"

"A couple days," she murmured.

"How long have you really been like this?" His tone left no tolerance for anything but the truth. Erik was done with the games. He needed to know and he needed to know now.

Katja stared hard at the floor. "Since I fainted," she squeaked.

"What?!" Erik ran his fingers through his hair. "God, Katja that was a week ago! You unquestionably need a doctor if you've been sick that long."

"Where are you going?" she asked as he started to walk out the door.

"To get your parents. You need a doctor and quickly."

"No!" Katja cried, grabbing his forearm. "Don't tell them! Please! Erik, I'm fine!"

Erik shook his head. She whined in protest as he picked her up. Katja squirmed in his grip as Erik carried her to her bedroom and placed her on her bed. "I've kept your other secrets because you asked me to. But I will not with your health on the line."

He spun on his heel and left her as he headed downstairs. Erik hung in the back staircase until Brigitte saw him. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Katja's sick."