Here is my Christmas gift to you! A brand new story full of drama, suspense, and what else, romance...

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

A woman's scream caused Esther Mikaelson to still with the tea pot mid-air. Her eyes closed, and she sighed as hurried footsteps ran down the stairs, but paused outside the living room.

Esther opened her eyes, and turned her head to find a tall thin woman in blue scrubs shaking her head.

"I can't put up with him any longer. I'm sorry, Mrs. Mikaelson, but what your son needs is not a nurse. He needs a dog!" The woman shouted, pointing up the stairs, before turning to run out the door.

Esther opened her mouth to stop her, but groaned, and lowered the pot in her hands to the table.

"I gather he's done it again."

Esther nodded, and leaned back in the couch. "She didn't even last a week." She remarked, lifting her right hand to press the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

Elijah nodded, and sat down beside his mother. "Mother, this can't go on." He remarked, placing his arm on the back of the couch.

Esther sighed, and lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "I know, but what am I supposed to do, Elijah?" She asked, her head shaking on the back of the couch. "Niklaus needs someone to help him, and I can't not with the business up and going. Rebekah is in college. You have your own job." She paused, her voice holding her tired tone.

Elijah lowered his eyes, and turned his head to look at the doorway which he could see the bottom of the stairs. "I'll talk to him."

Esther looked relieved, and touched her son's arm. "Thank you, Elijah."

Elijah smiled, and leaned over to kiss his mother's cheek before standing up, and walking towards the stairs.

The long walk up the stairs made him reminisce of the times they used to run up and down when they were children, even after he left.

Elijah frowned, and stopped at the landing. Mikael, their father, left close to fifteen years ago, right after Henrik was born. He stated he couldn't handle it anymore. Not with a house full of children who resented him after they had witnessed his abuse of their brother and mother.

Elijah nodded. Mikael leaving proved what a coward he was, and how strong his mother truly was. Walking towards the door, which led to his brother's studio, he opened it, and entered with the smell of paint filling the air.

"If you're here to talk about that witch leaving, forget it."

Elijah sighed, and closed the door behind him. "You can't keep scaring them, Niklaus." He remarked, walking towards the man standing at the elongated windows which led to a balcony.

Klaus, a man in his early thirties, frowned, and folded his arms over his chest. "I don't need help, Elijah. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Niklaus, you haven't left the house except to see the doctor in three years. Everyone is beginning to think you are a hermit, which you are."

Klaus' jaw clenched, but he remained still in front of the window. "How can I go out into the world, if I can't see it, Elijah?" He returned, turning to face his brother, and Elijah had to lower his eyes as he saw the scars around his brother's eyes, reminding him of the accident that scarred the family. "How can I go out when I know I'll receive either scathing or sympathy looks?" He asked, turning to move to the familiar chair, he knew well.

Elijah swallowed, and slowly turned his head to look out the window. "Mother is worried, Niklaus."

Klaus sighed, and settled in the chair. "Mother always worries." He returned, lifting his right hand to brush his fingers over the welts beside his left eye.

"You know the reason, Niklaus."

Klaus sighed, and closed his eyes. Pain was evident on his face. "I know."

Elijah frowned, and approached him. "Headaches again," He observed, watching his brother carefully.

Klaus groaned an answer. "It's not as bad as usual." He remarked, lowly.

Elijah closed his eyes, and bowed his head. He couldn't stand to see his brother hurt. "This is why you need someone to help you." He replied, causing Klaus to turn his head, and let out a long sigh through his nose. "If not for yourself, then do it for mother. She'll make herself ill with worry if you don't have anyone here while she's out."

Klaus frowned. He hated hurting his mother. Everyone knew that. She was his weakness, but it was a weakness he couldn't live without. Esther was the one who understood him more than anyone. "Fine, but I make the final decision." He acquiesced, after a moment.

Elijah smiled, and bowed his head. "I'll let mother know." He remarked, lowly.

Klaus sighed, and leaned his head back, feeling the throbbing return as he closed his eyes. He heard the door close and he let out another sigh, this time filled with pain.

The headaches were bad, in fact they were getting worse every day, but he wouldn't tell the others. The only one he would tell was his doctor, and that man wouldn't tell another soul.

~XXX~

Her phone rang on her desk, and Caroline plastered a smile on her face. "Caroline Forbes," She answered, her voice sounding cheerful.

"Caroline, I need to see you right away."

She bit her tongue from making a groan. "Be right there, Mrs. Thomas." She remarked, placing the phone on the hook, before leaning back in her chair for a moment, and then stood up.

She had been working at the Nurse's management sector for a little over a year now, and she wished every day she could find a better job. It wasn't that she hated it, it was just…

Management wasn't her calling. She was good and efficient at her job, but nursing had been her life. Had been…

Caroline shook her head as she walked down the corridor of the hospital, and stopped at the door of her boss, and gently rapped on the door.

She entered when she heard the response, and smiled at her boss Mrs. Thomas, who was a gentle soul to only a few, and when Caroline's mother had passed away last year, Mrs. Thomas had been there to give Caroline something to get up in the morning to.

"You wanted to see me?" Caroline asked, slowly sitting down in the chair, Mrs. Thomas indicated.

"Yes, as a matter of fact." The older lady answered with a kind smile. "There is a patient coming for a check-up in the morning, and let's just say he has a reputation." She began with a frown on her face.

Caroline tilted her head to the side, and her mind began to formulate what could possibly cause Mrs. Thomas to begin with this.

"He scares nurses." Mrs. Thomas clarified, gently. "I don't know what he says to them, but several of them run at the sight of his name on the roster." She added, with a deep sigh. "I know you are no longer a floor nurse, but you are the only one I know who might be able to tolerate him for a short while." She concluded, folding her hands on the desk.

"Mrs. Thomas," Caroline began, shaking her head. "What exactly is wrong with him?" She asked, trying to figure out why the others were terrified of him.

Mrs. Thomas lowered her steel green eyes, and the frown was even more apparent. "He was in a car accident over a year ago, which killed one of his brothers and put one in a coma. It left him blind, and, according to his mother, left him completely unbearable to others."

Caroline bowed her head, and sighed. "He's one of those." She whispered, moving her eyes around.

"I'm afraid so. Now, I wouldn't ask, if I didn't think you could handle it, Caroline, but you are the only one who has had experience with patients like this."

Caroline nodded, and fiddled with her finger in her lap. "What time is his appointment?" She asked, lifting her head.

Mrs. Thomas smiled, kindly, and handed the file to her. "9 am."

Caroline nodded again, and stood up. "I'll be here." She returned, gently.

The older woman stood up, and smiled. "Thank you, Caroline."

Caroline smiled, and turned to leave the office, her mind wondering why.

~XXX~

She entered her apartment later that night, and sighed as she collapsed on the sofa. She felt a head on her leg, and she opened her eyes to smile at her husky, Christmas. "Hey girl," She greeted, petting the grey and white head of her baby.

Christmas leaned her head to the side, loving the scratch of her ears. Caroline smiled, and pulled her hand back. "What a day," She remarked, leaning back once again. Her free hand moved to her face, and traced the puckered scar on her left cheek. She sniffed, and noticed her dog had climbed up on the sofa with her, and rested her head on Caroline's leg.

Christmas was a loyal dog with a personality of her own. She was eight years old, and Caroline's best friend.

She had been there when Caroline had suffered from the accident that claimed her mother's life and scarred her. The weeks that followed, Christmas never left Caroline's side, letting her know that she had a friend.

Mrs. Thomas had actually sent someone to get Christmas from Caroline's apartment, and bring her to the hospital where Caroline had to stay to recover.

It was then Caroline had received the management job, so she would have a job when she fully recovered. It was a gesture Caroline would forever be grateful for, and made her realize just how loved she truly was.

Mrs. Thomas didn't have children of her own, so when Caroline arrived to work four years ago, Mrs. Thomas took her under her wings, and helped her along.

Caroline never would forget it.

Lifting the file from beside her, she opened it up, and began to read the contents. If she was going to meet the ogre of ward 5, she was going with backup.

"To bad, you can't go with me tomorrow, Chrissy." She remarked, as Christmas rolled her blue eyes, making Caroline smile. "I could use your bite." She added with another smile.

Christmas growled, and Caroline scratched her head. "I know. I'll be careful." She reassured her husky. "Now, are you up for dinner?"

Christmas responded with a bark.

"Well, then, let's get some food."

Christmas barked once more, and Caroline laughed.

Dogs truly were healers of the soul.

Please be kind!

I wanted to post this when I had one or more stories wrapped up, and since one is wrapped up, I figured I could post this.

Now, there will be some parts in here that you may not like, and some you may, hopefully, smile at, but you guys know me.

Again, this is my Christmas gift to you. This story will only be 20-25 chapters long, depending on the last few chapters. I have already written half, so you won't have a long wait on updates.

Next Chapter: Meeting the Ogre

Until Next Time...