Something for Matt and Caroline. Possible spoilers. Sorry if Caroline is OOC.
Caroline needs to be taken care of. She's just that kind of girl who looks for a man to protect her, to support her, and there's nothing wrong with that. It just leaves her prey to men like Damon. Damon's a manipulator for reasons beyond her understanding and that hurts her. Obviously it hurt her enough to wind up here.
She wakes up in Matt's arms, warm and feeling safe. It's barely dawn, the sun only just creeping over the horizon. Caroline's a little alarmed to say the least and she has a killer headache, meaning she had a lot of alcohol. What did she- What did they-
"We didn't do anything." Matt stirs, mumbling under his breath as he wipes his eyes. "You had a lot to drink last night and I took you home." He sits up and looks at her. "Do you need anything?"
Does she need anything? She needs a lot of things, but she figures Matt's only referring to her hangover. "My head-"
"I'll go get you some water and some aspirin, okay?" Matt stands, stretching before he disappears from her room.
She stares after him and he returns a minute later, looking sheepish. "Um I don't know where-"
"Cabinet next to the fridge, top shelf." He nods and she slides back under the covers, using the sheets to shield her eyes from the sun.
"Here." She hears the clink of a glass on a night stand and then the shuffling of blinds. "It's safe to come out now."
Caroline emerges and Matt's smiling down at her, a little amused at her antics. "Thanks." She drains the water slowly, taking the aspirin quickly. "Where's my mom?"
"I don't know. I didn't hear anyone come in." He sits on the edge of the bed, moving the trashcan closer.
"You can go home if you want. You don't have to stay and take care of me." Secretly she wants him to; it's nice having someone to look out for her genuinely instead of just using her.
"I don't mind. Vick-" A sudden, sharp intake of breath and then he sighs. "Vick used to come home all the time like this. I kinda miss taking care of someone."
She had heard about Vicki disappearing and she had figured it was because of drugs; she wanted to say something, but what was there to say?
So instead, she pulls him into a hug; she feels his surprise, but he wraps his arms around her waist and holds her for a moment.
She doesn't know when she starts crying, but Matt doesn't seem to mind; he just pats smoothes her hair down and murmurs in her ear, silly little things that shouldn't matter, but somehow mean the world.
A cough from the doorway makes them pull away; Caroline's mother, the police chief, is here. Matt stands, scratching the back of his head.
"Thank you, Matt." It's a clear dismissal and Caroline knows she's going to get hell, but Matt smiles at her one last time before he leaves.
She hasn't felt that safe in a long time.