Title: New Life
author: Cindy Ryan
timeline: Originals: Between Fruit of the poisonous tree and Bloodletting. SH: Between Sanctuary and The Golem.
pairings: Klaus/Hayley, Ichabod/Abbie preship
Summary:With her bond with the witches broken Hayley makes a life changing decision. Can she really break her ties to the Originals and start a new life?
Packing only a single suitcase Hayley Marshall crept down the stairs of the large house. It was just before sunrise in New Orleans. If Hayley made it to the garage she knew she's have a fighting chance. She had to escape the craziness around her if not for her own sanity for her unborn child's future. A few minutes later the werewolf's right hand closed around the metal door handle to the garage. Hayley opened it wincing as it creaked. Trying to sneak out in a house full of vampires with superhearing was insane but Hayley had to 'd risk whatever punishment was coming if she got caught; but Hayley had a good feeling she wouldn't.
Stepping into the large garage Hayley surveyed her options. Finally she spotted a surprisingly practical black two door sedan in the middle of the row of cars. She grabbed the matching keys from a nearby hook on the wall. With another listen to the house Hayley moved forward. Vampires weren't the only ones with superhearing. Still she was amazed she'd gotten this far. Quickly Hayley unlocked the sedan and slid inside. She placed the suitcase on the seat next to her. Starting the engine Hayley reached up and activated the garage door opener. Technically Hayley wasn't stealing the car; it was for family use. After all Elijah was constantly telling her she was family. She figured she might as well take advantage.
Hayley backed out quickly and shut the garage door. She listened once more and heard no movement in the house. She put the car in drive and floored it. Hayley wanted to put as much distance between her and New Orleans as possible. As Hayley drove away she glanced back one last time at the grand house. She felt a twinge of sadness and remorse as she thought of Elijah. He would be angry at her leaving but Hayley hoped he'd understand and be able to keep Klaus in check. As soon as the thought crossed her mind Hayley dismissed it with a shake of her head. Elijah would never understand her leaving his protection. She'd have his wrath to deal with along with his siblings. Hayley would deal with it when the time came; for now she just wanted to escape.
Reaching the gate at the end of the driveway Hayley thought she was home free. Then she spotted him, a vampire, one of Marcel's daywalkers. He was a young man with brown hair and a thin build and was standing by the left side of the gate. Their eyes met briefly and Hayley saw realization flicker across the daywalker's gaze. She gritted her teeth and gripped the wheel tighter. So much for an easy getaway. The vampire walked in front of the gate and turned to face Hayley's car blocking her path. Knowing he was already dead didn't make what she was about to do any easier. Not slowing Hayley pressed the accelerator all the way to the floor. The little sedan sprang forward hitting the vampire square in the chest sending him flying to the right. Hayley knew she only had a precious few minutes before the pursuit would begin. She had to make every one of those count.
Ichabod Crane stared out the window of Abbie's motorized carriage as they drove through Sleepy Hollow. Due to the early hour not much of the city's population was stirring. Abbie had picked him up to go to breakfast before shift. He knew she was trying to lift his spirits and he appreciated it. Still the not knowing what happened to his son haunted Ichabod. He had tried to reach out to Katrina in his dreams but to no avail.
"Crane."Abbie Mills prompted softly.
"Hmmm?"Ichabod replied distractedly.
Abbie reached over and placed a gentle hand on Ichabod's left shoulder before returning it to the steering wheel.
"We will find out what happened to your son, I promise."Abbie stated.
Ichabod nodded not trusting his voice.
"We're almost there."Abbie commented a moment later. "This place has the best pancakes in the county."
Ichabod returned his gaze to the window. He wasn't hungry but would attempt to enjoy the meal. The substance would be needed to provide them with the strength to face what was to come.
Five blocks from the Original's home Hayley ditched the sedan. She had also gotten rid of plan A and went to plan B. Getting out of the sedan Hayley smiled seeing her luck turn in her favor. Despite the early hour a cab was coming down the street. The werewolf flagged it down and the vehicle pulled over to the curb. She opened the door and climbed in settling the suitcase next to her.
"Where to?"The driver asked.
"Airport and hurry."Hayley replied as she shut the door.
The older white man smiled. "Late for your flight?"
"Something like that."The werewolf replied as she glanced out the rear window.
The street was deserted of traffic and Hayley didn't see any people. However, she'd spent enough time in New Orleans to know there was always somebody watching. Hayley could only hope that her good luck continued.
Elijah Mikaelson fought to focus on what was happening before him. His thoughts were on Hayley trying to figure out why she would leave and where she would go. Elijah had to concentrate on the here and now to prevent his brother from needless bloodshed. Not that Elijah would miss any of Macel's crew but the odds of them having useful information were slim at best.
The sound of another vampire neck being broken and the body flung aside reached Elijah bringing him away from his thoughts. They were in the large dining room and Klaus had assembled all of Marcel's group along with the former slave himself. Rebekah was there also standing by the windows away from the activity. As always Rebekah had tried to intervene and save Niklaus from himself. However as Elijah was realizing there was no saving their brother from his demons today. Klaus had been enraged to come home and find Hayley missing as Elijah had been. At first they thought the worst that she'd been taken then the daywalker had told his story and the pieces began to fall together.
"I will ask this once more."Klaus bellowed his voice echoing in the large room. "It is now obvious Hayley has been planning this. She made arragements, phone calls. One of you must have seen or overheard something."
The vampires shook their heads negatively.
"She's your girl, Klaus."Marcel began in a strained voice rubbing his neck from where his sire had grabbed him earlier. "Hayley's smart she learned from you. She picked a good time to make a break for it. After the party the night before none of us..."
"That is not good enough!"Klaus roared as he advanced on his protege. "She is one person; one heartbeat...two heartbeats in a house of none. No one noticed..."
Marcel straightened and stood to face Klaus. "You can blame us all you want, Klaus, but the blame lands on you. If should have protected your family better; treated her better..."
"NiKlaus, no!"Rebekah shouted at her brother''s side so fast she was a blonde blur.
Elijah moved forward as well. Klaus had Marcel in a vicegrip pinning the younger vampire to the wall. Niklaus's eyes were black and veins were starting to show near his eyes as the vampire emerged.
"He failed."Niklaus stated simply applying more pressure to the younger man's throat.
"We all failed Hayley."Rebekah replied inching closer. "We didn't give her reason enough to stay. That is not Marcel's fault."
"Our sister is correct, Niklaus."Elijah commented solemnly. "Hayley left on her own free will. The answers to finding her are not here."
After a long tense moment Klaus finally released Marcel tossing him to his crew. The other vampires caught their master and gently lowered him to the ground. Without another word Klaus turned and stormed out of the room.
"Did you have any idea?"Rebekah inquired as she and Elijah hurried to catch up to Klaus.
"No."Elijah snapped allowing some of his control to slip. "I wouldn't have allowed NiKlaus to talk me into that business trip to Paris if I had. Marcel is right Hayley has been planning this. She knew our travel plans she knew the right time."
"Even with the deal with the witches broken she's still in danger, Elijah."Rebekah commented worriedly.
"We'll find her."Elijah promised.
Once at the airport Hayley got a ticket on the first flight out. She didn't care where it was going. She used her own identification. It didn't matter if Klaus tracked her this far. Once she got to her new destination Hayley could use the fake ID she had obtained. Hayley glanced nervously around her and at the schedule tv screens as she hurrried through the crowded airport. The ticket clerk had assured her the flight was on time. Still Hayley knew she wouldn't relax until she was seated on the plane and it was airborne.