Wanted

Chapter 30

Erik woke up in the middle of the night coughing, he had been coughing the past few days but never this bad. He sat up in bed and tried to be inconspicuous about the coughing so he wouldn't wake Christine. She would surely be worried about him even though it was just a simple cough.

Just as he was thinking this, Christine sat up and turned to look at him. She quickly began rubbing his back to try and ease the coughing. The coughing finally subsided and Christine got up to get him water.

Christine returned back a few minutes later with a glass of water in her hand that she handed to her husband. "Small sips." She instructed as Erik slowly lifted the glass to his lips.

He set the glass on the bedside table and laid back down. "Are you alright, darling?" Christine asked worriedly as she got back in bed. Erik nodded and closed his eyes to fall asleep.

When morning finally came, Erik slowly sat up to his throat hurting badly. He wouldn't tell Christine though. She would make him stay home, but he had work to do.

He got out of bed and began getting ready for the day. Christine came into the bathroom as he was adjusting his bow tie in the mirror. "How are you feeling?" Christine asked, Erik just leaned down and pecked her lips.

"I'm fine." He said and the lie was evident in his voice. But Christine knew there was no point in arguing. So she got herself ready before waking up Gustave and getting him ready. He could mostly do it by himself, but he still needed some assistance.

After breakfast, the Destler's made their way upstairs. Gustave sat in the front row in the auditorium holding his stuffed bear that Erik had gotten him. Christine and Erik made their way to the stage to start rehearsals for Mireille.

Erik told the cast what they would be doing before taking his place behind the music stand. As he conducted he began feeling light headed. He lowered his hands as another coughing fit started. The cast stopped singing and Christine ran forward and rubbed his back.

"Meg, can you get him some water?" Christine asked the blonde dancer who was practicing pirouettes off stage. Meg quickly scurried away to do as she was asked, returning a few minutes later with a glass of water and Madame Giry with her.

"Christine, I love you." Erik choked out before his world went black and he passed out. Christine felt his body go limp as he fell to the floor, her following suite. Christine immediately checked for a pulse and sighed in relief when she felt it.

Christine ordered somebody to send for a doctor, just as James and Nadir came running in. "What happened?" Nadir asked calmly as he kneeled beside Christine.

"He had been coughing last night, and then during rehearsal he started coughing again and he just passed out." Christine explained as she continued to stroke Erik's forearm.

It was then that Gustave looked up and noticed his father lying on the ground. "Is Papa okay?" He asked as he climbed off of his seat. Christine looked at her son and tried to give off a smile.

"Darling, Grandpa James is going to take you to Papa's office." Christine said and James walked over to Gustave and scooped him up. Gustave cried and reached for Erik.

"Papa! Papa, I love you!" Gustave yelled and Christine stopped trying to hold in tears. Nadir placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

A few minutes passed in silence until the doctor came into the auditorium. He quickly walked onto the stage and kneeled with the small group. "I am Dr.Moreau, now if you could all please move out of the way, that would be appreciated." The man said and Nadir, Meg, and Madame Giry all moved aside.

Christine, being the stubborn woman she was, refused to move from Erik's side. "Madame, we need to move him to his home. Where would that be?" Dr.Moreau asked.

"Downstairs. I'll show you there myself." Christine said and she stood up as Nadir and the doctor lifted Erik up and followed the women downstairs. When they arrived the men laid Erik down in the master bedroom.

"I'm assuming you're Monsieur Destler's wife?" Dr.Moreau asked Christine and she nodded. "Well, I'm going to run some tests to see what the problem may be. Has he shown any signs of sickness over the past few days?"

"He was coughing last night, but other than that he's been fine." Christine said and the doctor nodded and continued to examine Erik.

"He's not in a coma which is good. He's just unconscious. He should wake up soon." He assured Christine. The rest of the group had gone to sit in the living room, so Christine went to join them.

They talked for a while but Christine kept worrying about Erik. It was clear to everybody because she was anxiously tapping her foot. Finally, the doctor walked out and everybody immediately turned to look at him.

"Madame Destler, may I speak with you?" Dr.Moreau asked and Christine slowly rose from the couch and followed him to the hallway outside of the master bedroom. "I have some bad news." Upon hearing this Christine's breath caught in her throat.

"Is he alright?" Christine quickly asked.

"Your husband has pneumonia."

Cast:
Erik Destler ~ Ramin Karimloo
Christine Destler ~ Sierra Boggess
Nadir Kahn ~ Nadim Naaman
Meg Giry ~ Daisy Maywood
Madame Giry ~ Liz Robertson
Gustave Destler ~ Hadley Karimloo
James Destler ~ Michael Crawford
Dr.Moreau ~ Derek Klena