At Second Glance

Under a different alas FBI Agent Klaus Mikaelson aka Nik Martin strolls into a bar around 2pm on a Friday afternoon to meet a woman he believes works in the prostitution ring that he has been working on for the past couple of months to shut down with his undercover agent Marcel and partner Stefan. Grabbing a drink and taking the seat at a table near the right of the door as they had agreed to meet this way. He suspects she tells her clients where to sit so she can scout out the potential of the client. If they are wealthy, poor, or possibly look like an undercover cop. Right now he is dressed in dark jeans, with a dark grey henley. A few buttons opened at the top and his favorite necklaces around his neck. Klaus knows he dresses like this when he is off duty but he has always hit it off with the female population and believes the odds are in his favor. Ignoring the suggestions from a fellow FBI agent to wear an expensive suit.

Taking a drink of his bourbon he leans back in his chair and stares out the window thinking about how his life is going. He arrived to the bar thirty minutes early and he realizes that was a mistake; too much extra time to think. Sighing to himself he realizes that he does not want to ponder his relationship with Camilla at the moment. Instead focusing his attention on this woman he was meeting soon.

The woman did not want to send him a picture or speak on the phone at first. Her only means of communicating was through a series of texts from a number he had checked out. It was a dead end since it was a burner cell. Klaus knew from one of his sources that this woman was someone who was very guarded and hardly made face to face contact with the person she was meeting at first, but her reputation was top notch apparently. From his source all her clients were left extremely happy with her and often rescheduled meet-ups with this woman. Meaning she had a tight client-tell list to work with, where she didn't expand her prospects all that often, and that made it even harder for him to be added on. It would appear this prostitute wasn't a greedy one; which is very odd in such a line of work.

Glancing at his watch he has ten more minutes till his 'date' arrives. Glancing around the bar to take note of his surroundings. Three older gentlemen are talking about sports, a couple in a booth on the other side of the door, two gentlemen sitting at the bar watching TV, and a blonde woman down at the far end talking to the bartender. None of them catches his attention, which is a good, all things considered. None of them look like they could be a pimp, or any type of bodyguard. Does this woman have any means of protection since she seemed to be in high demand but have only a certain amount of clients? How many clients does she have if she doesn't just take every offer? Perhaps this woman is more clever than he thinks. If she has a tight group of clients who always come back and pay her quiet well then why would she need to always take new ones. Making mental notes to consider when he gets back to his office to jot down.

Listening to his surroundings he realizes he has been only hearing the blonde woman laugh but he can't hear any actual dialogue between her and the bartender. Seems she talks in a soft tone but her laugh is too, heavenly? No, her laugh is too addicting to not want to look at her again. His eyes take a second glance at the woman; taking note the long wavy blonde hair that flows from her head down to the middle of her back. Wearing a dark blue tight dress that comes just to above her knees. Paired with a skinny black belt, and matching black heels. Very business professional.

With her right armed propped up on the bar she tucked a curl behind her ear and then glanced down at her watch. Trying to be smooth Klaus looks at the TV and notices out of the corner of his eye her surveying the bar. Smirking to himself because he does see her eyes rest on him longer than usual. Ah yes, my choice of wear was a good idea. Any other time and before he was in a relationship Klaus would have went and wooed the blonde into his bed. He was never one to be in a committed relationship until his older brother Elijah insisted he get out of his womanizing ways and set him up on a date with a fellow coworker from his job. Thus how he met Camilla and ending up in a relationship.

Turning back to his bourbon, trying not to finish it in hopes the woman will walk in at any moment. He doesn't want to appear like he has been here long or too eager. Checking his phone for any communication he realizes his only texts are from his girlfriend. Choosing to respond that he will be home late due to work and not to wait up, he sends the text. Sliding his phone back into his jean pocket Klaus leans up on the table and stairs at the window taking in the people passing by. Hopefully the woman hasn't already passed by when he was taking in his surrounding of the bar. Feeling his phone buzz in his pocket he goes to get it out when a voice decides to interrupt his movements.

"Hello," says the blonde woman from down at the end of the bar.

Under different circumstances Klaus would be silently overjoyed that a woman of such lovely beauty would have such confidence as to come over and attempt a conversation with him but like most of his life it would seem it isn't at a good time.

Trying to give an apologetic look at the woman Klaus says, "I'm sorry, unfortunately I am meeting someone here."

With a smirk and a raised eyebrow the blonde woman replies back, "Is that so?" Shifting her clutch into her left hand, she reaches out to the chair to pull from the table and takes a seat.

"I'm very flattered at your bold move, love, but I'm meeting someone important and wouldn't want to give her the wrong impression if she was to come in here and see you sitting with me." He says with a small smile, "So I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Sitting her clutch down on the table, she turns to the bartender and nods at him for a drink. It would seem she comes here a lot if the bartender knows what to get her drink wise from a simple nod.

Blonde, beautiful, and bold. Groaning to himself Klaus can't believe his luck today. Of all the days and places for a gorgeous specimen to sit down in front of him and he has to turn her away. Kol always said when your not single all the ladies will be more interested in you.

Attempting to say something again but the words get stuck in his throat at the serious look she is giving him, and what comes out of her mouth next makes Klaus's stomach drop.

"There are three flowers in a vase."

That is the cue the woman he was supposed to meet up with would ask him. A way to identify if they were both meeting the correct person.

With a shocked expression on his face Klaus responds, "The third flower is green."

A dazzling smile graces her smooth lips and teeth that are too perfect to not be on a poster for a dental company looks back at him. "It's lovely to meet you Mr. Martin. My name is Caroline."

This can't be the woman who works for the prostitution ring that him, Marcel, and Stefan have been working on for the past couple of months to infiltrate and take down. This woman in front of him does not appear to be someone who would be working in such a profession. Trying to get his composure together Klaus straightens up in his chair and returns the smile.

"Hello Caroline it's lovely to meet you."

Klaus had originally planned to use his American accent that he could pull off to meet the woman, but since he talked to her in his normal British accent at first he has to just roll with it and hope she doesn't question anything.

Looking in to her eyes he notices that the smile has reached her blue eyes. Eyes that are looking back at him with a soft expression. That's unusual.

The bartender sits down a cocktail for Caroline. "Mate, do you want another?" Asks the bartender with a British accent. How many British people are in this city?

"Yes, thank you." With the bartender going back to get him another drink Klaus looks back at Caroline. Glad that his alas he gave her was one of a successful painter created by the FBI so if any background checks was done on him she would find that Nik Martin was very successful painter but a recluse in the art community. Trying and failing while stumbling over his words like he is a teenager in high school, "Uh..the weather is nice today."

Surprisingly Caroling does not cringe at his topic of conversation, but with a little laugh she keeps the smile on her face and waits for the bartender to sit the drink down and walk away.

"It's alright Nik if you haven't done this before. No reason to be nervous." Taking a sip of her cocktail, "Just relax. I would like to discuss the terms of our arrangement and let us just enjoy this first day of getting familiar with each other. This way in case either of us is not comfortable with the other then we don't have to continue seeing one another. Does that sound reasonable to you?"

"Sounds perfect, sweetheart." Klaus responds with a smirk. Sounds more than reasonable if Klaus is being honest with himself. The way she is holding herself and looking at him is not what he had in mind when meeting a prostitute but he knows there is 'classy' ones out there but never has he heard of one having such grace when speaking.

"Wonderful. Now lets start discussing our arrangement." Pulling out a small pad and pen from her purse Klaus notes that she has very few items inside. A pair of keys, some lip gloss, and a cell phone. Guessing the cell phone is the one she used to reach him he wonders if that particular device would have more evidence on it, but decides against it. This woman is put together in a way he wasn't expecting. Why in the world does she have a pad and pen? Is she going to take notes on what I prefer in the bedroom?

"Can I ask what you will be writing down?" Klaus asks while noticing she has placed her cocktail in front of the pad. Even though the glass is small it has obstructed his view of whatever she could possibly be writing down.

"Just some notes. It helps me to organize everything and make sure were on the same page. Now I would like to —"

Deciding to interrupt her and lean up forward to get a better view of the pad Klaus smirks at her, "I would think that you wouldn't need to take notes, love. Do you have too many clients that you can't keep up with who is who?"

"First off, we will not be using terms of endearment. Secondly, I have learned that it helps to keep notes on my clients for a better perspective on them and their life."

Taken off guard, and curious, Klaus shrugs his shoulders. "Fine by me, Caroline. Would you like to discuss payment?" Why would she need perspective on my life?

Trying not to show her disappoint at such a question, Caroline straightens up and takes a good look at Nik Morgan. Noticing his sandy blonde hair, probably would have some curl to it if he let it grow out more, a five o'clock shadow, nice shirt, and incredibly handsome face. She can't help but also notice how his shoulders are tense, the hint to dark circles forming under his eyes, and a look she can't quite place in those blue eyes of his. Nik is more than likely not comfortable with meeting her just yet. Caroline decides she will let him somewhat take the reins of this conversation.

"If you would like to discuss payment first that is fine, but typically I set a day, time, and place for the first month with my client to make sure we can meet every week at the same time and place." Leaning back and placing her hands in her lap Caroline gives a small smile his way. "I do this first because once the details are set, I cannot change them afterwards. I do have a schedule I like to keep. I do not rearrange my schedule for my clients. Then after all that is settled I like to get to know my client, find out how I can help them, and then we can discuss payment."

"How you can help them?" Klaus is absolutely confused now.

"Yes Nik, that is why we are meeting. I know often with my patients they do not like to be upfront about why they are choosing to see me but eventually they get comfortable enough with me so I can help them." Caroline says with a smile on her face. She has gotten used to her patients wanting to start with small talk first then get into the heavier subjects that might be effecting their personal lives either emotionally or physically.

Has she made me? Does she know I work for the FBI? Klaus wonders while trying not to let his nervousness show through. He has never blown a cover before and he refuses to let this blonde goddess be the first. Perhaps she is using some form of code right now, trying to sound like a psychiatrist or some other form of doctor, just in case someone is listening. Or I have blown my cover and she knows exactly who I am? "And how exactly are you going to help me, sweetheart?"

"Well first I would like to talk about you. Your hopes, your dreams, anything in life that you desire and would like to change for the better." Caroline smiles while grabbing her pencil to make a few notes on her pad. "This is why you have decided to meet with me Nik, I know that typically people would go to a Psychiatrist with a degree, a fancy building office, and with nice sitting rooms, but I have found that meeting like this and deciding where my patient feels most comfortable can help them in the long run with being more truthful—"

"Do you take me for a fool, Caroline?" Klaus can not believe what this woman is telling him right now. There is no way that his information is incorrect. This must be all some kind of ruse or some sort of joke. Marcel has been undercover for six months with the criminal organization. Has he been compromised? He is after all the one who found out about the prostitution ring, and made contact with someone who gave him Caroline's information. Looking at her wide eyes Klaus is starting to get a little agitated. "Your a Psychiatrist without a degree? This must be some kind of joke."

Trying not to take his comment as an insult Caroline squares her shoulders and attempts a small smile. "No, I do have a partial degree, but this is not a joke. I'm not quite sure why you would think this is a joke since you are the one who reached out to me for help."

Blinking and taking a long drink Klaus just looks at Caroline. Everything she has said so far doesn't seem like she is lying, and Marcel up to his knowledge, has not blown his cover. So what is really going on here?

"So you are telling me you are a Psychiatrist, that wants to help me, and that is all there is to this?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you Nik. I'm a Psychiatrist, I want to help people, and this is how I do it. What more did you expect?" Caroline now has a confused expression and a little bit of uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. Sophie is the one who asked her for this favor with meeting her friends friend. Maybe this was a bad idea. She knew she should not have agreed to Sophie's request. This is not typically how she meets with people who become her patients.

Scoffing Klaus leans closer to Caroline while she starts to lean back from him. "I do not like being made a fool sweetheart, and I will defiantly not be made by one as beautiful as you." Trying to sound stern Klaus can't help the smirk that comes on his face when he notices a lovely blush creeping up her cheeks. "So I'm guessing Marcel put you up to this, then?"

Trying to ignore his beautiful comment with those dimples Caroline decides that he is deflecting. "I'm not making a fool of you and I will not let you to the same to me. Sophie is the one who reached out to me —"

"Sophie?" Klaus says while not trying to show surprise. Sophie is the woman Marcel met the first day he was undercover. She even set him up with meeting one of the Lockwood's, the men who work closely with the leader of the criminal origination that they have yet to find out a name or alias of, and decides maybe this isn't some joke after all.

"Yes, Sophie. She told me about her friend Marcel and how he wanted to find someone to help his friend who was having a lot of issues but was a recluse and didn't know how to meet people. She thought with the way Marcel described you that you would benefit from my help." Deciding that this meeting wasn't turning out like she was expecting and Caroline starts to gather her things. "It would seem this is a mistake."

"Wait sweetheart," Noticing Caroline's glare at that he knows that he has to make this right somehow. "Uh, I mean Caroline. I did not mean to imply that I was making a fool out of you. Your friend is right about how Marcel described me." Making a mental note to find out exactly how he described him for later Klaus decides that he needs to salvage this conversation because his gut is telling him that this woman with fire in her eyes and a body to die for is somehow connected to a criminal organization, and he wants to find out how and why. "I'm not exactly used to this and I apologize for coming off as a jerk. Please," Klaus reaches over to grab her wrist, "don't leave."

Glancing down at his hand on her, then looking back at the sincerity in his eyes, Caroline gently pulls her wrist from his grasp. "Apology accepted." With her pageant smile on, Caroline grabs her purse and stands. Noticing the look of concern flash across his face at her leaving she simply laughs and motions for Nik to stand. "There is a park two blocks down. How about we take a stroll, go over our schedule for the future, and allow me to get to know you. Let me find out how I can help you, Nik."

Klaus smiles while standing. "I'd really like that, Caroline."

Klaus knows that he has somehow found a link to the criminal element of this city, but he never expected it would come in the form of a beautiful woman. One with so my light around her, and yet has surrounded herself with darkness. Wherever this path may lead him he knows in his gut, in his heart to be more accurate, that he will help Caroline find her way out of the darkness before it swallows her whole.

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Well this is my start to a series one-shots that pop into my head. I hope you guys liked this first one! I'm not sure how many I will do but I look forward to hearing your reviews on this first one.

If anyone knows where the reference, "There are three flowers in a vase." Comes from, kudos to you!

Until next time sweethearts :)