A/N: I know it's been awhile. But really as much as I ship my Klaroline it frustrates me to high heavens that my OTP may never come to fruition with these two being deliberately kept apart in two different shows with no chance of cross-overs.
I hope to get some more follows and favorites for this story to aid me moving forward. Thanks to the encouragement I get on twitter, I finally was able to complete this chapter. You may do the same by following me on my (fanfic) twitter account: lollipopsays. I would really love the interaction.
As usual I do not own anything and all the mistakes are mine.
Read on and spread the love.
FANATIC
Chapter 4
"Hey Care!" Rebekah greeted.
"No Stefan today? Or is he at the office?" Caroline looked past Rebekah.
Rebekah launched herself into the couch beside Caroline, "Damon happened. That brother of his," rolling her eyes, "had to babysit two drunken lunatics for half the night. I try, I bloody try, he's Stefan's brother after all….but sometimes, it's impossible. Thank God you found that out early on. You and Damon…that would have been a disaster!"
Caroline patted Rebekah's knee, "shot that down before that happened, he just wasn't really my type."
Bekah eyed her friend, "well, I know someone who's more your type…I see the way you watch my brother. I have eyes you know!"
Caroline rolled her eyes, "I have nothing but utmost respect and brotherly love for Elijah, I swear."
'And you deliberately left out my other brother, the one you make gooey eyes at," eyeing her knowingly.
"I do not! Seriously, I don't! Caroline Forbes does not act like a lovesick pathetic fangirl," she defended indignantly.
"Who's a lovesick pathetic fan what?" Klaus asked frowning as he entered the room.
Caroline gave Rebekah dagger looks but Rebekah chose to humor her brother "fangirl. We are just taking about a girl we know, lusting after some guy. The thing is, I think the guy feels the same way too. They are just both dense enough or just plain stubborn for their own good. I reckon it would make a great plot for a movie. Girl meets boy. Boy saves girl. Girl and boy live happily ever after, bloody rom-com blockbuster, if you ask me."
Caroline threw a throw pillow at Rebekah, eyes almost popping out mouthing silently, "what the hell!"
Klaus ignored the topic altogether with a wave, "you," pointing to Caroline, "and me in the gym, right now, I suggest an outfit change first," eyeing her shorts and tank top, "preferably something to cover those," pointing to her legs. "You need basic self-defense training and I'm the man for the job. See you in 5 minutes at the gym," as he strolled out the room without a backward glance.
"It's a little creepy, the way you two chose to flirt with one another. It's even creepier when one of them is my brother. But give the man some points for creativity, I'd like to there but I have a feeling my brother would want your hand to hand experience to be behind closed doors so, come on," pulling Caroline up. "The least I could do to push this along is to help you pick out the perfect outfit to distract brother dear."
"I will come from behind and grab you, remember what I told you. Don't freeze up," Klaus told her.
"Easy for you to say….you're even nastier than a drill sergeant," Caroline grumbled.
Klaus used her distraction to grab her with both hands around her waist. Caroline froze for a moment before her instincts took over, flailing around like a grounded whale.
'That was not what I taught you," Klaus told her disentangling himself from her.
Caroline crossed her arms breathing heavily, "I'm useless, might as well just stand in the middle of the street and have my stalker just do what he wants with me then."
Klaus moved into her personal space within seconds, "don't ever say that, never!" starting to shake her with uncontrolled anger for a few seconds before he realized what he was doing and let go of Caroline abruptly.
Caroline stumbled but recovered, rubbed her shoulders that had clear marks of Klaus' hands making Klaus inhale deeply before he stepped back toward Caroline this time gently cupping her face.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I know it's not an excuse. Just don't say you're useless…because you're not. You're not," Klaus was mesmerized by the green pools of Caroline's eyes. He instinctively leaned in until he was about an inch from Caroline's lips pausing for a few seconds before he backed away.
In the meantime, Caroline had closed her eyes in anticipation of the kiss and was confused to have thin air occupy Klaus' space a few seconds after. She opened her eyes and asked herself, what just happened. Why did he back away, she eyed Klaus who was now wearing out the carpet of the gym while rubbing his hands on his face.
Caroline stepped toward Klaus but he suddenly stopped pacing to put a hand out to stop her, "I'm sorry, I should have more self-control, shouldn't be taking advantage you."
"No one is taking advantage of anyone Klaus if I want this too," Caroline responded.
Shaking his head, "no," stepping back to face her, "I should be guarding you, keeping you safe, nothing else."
Stepping back to Klaus, Caroline reached out a hand to him, "Klaus…"
Klaus ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, I can't do this," turning his back to her and walking out of the gym.
During the next three days Klaus had fixed the assignments of his team so he spent the shortest amount of time with Caroline, and always in a group, never alone. Kol and his team had also arrived so Klaus had spread out the assignments allowing for a 3-man day and night team and a 4-man mobile team who travels with her if she should have to leave the confines of her home. Kol was heading the 3-man day team. Enzo now headed the 3-man night team which included Jeremy Gilbert and Marcel Gerard. Klaus had chosen to head the mobile team that included Matt Donovan and new reinforcement Alaric Stalzman and Bonnie Bennett.
But today, everything had been blown to hell. Stefan had failed to mention to them that although he had cut a tour short and said no to a new movie, Caroline was due to do a press tour for the opening of a new movie in the next two weeks.
As much as the security team had argued in favor of her safety, the studio wouldn't back down. The only concession they gave as that they were willing to foot the bill for her security team or provide another security team for her so therefore there should be no problem with proceeding forward.
Stefan and the attorneys had tried and failed to defend their position and were now left with no option but to meet with a contingency of the studio to arranged the revised schedule and the security plans.
Klaus and Kol together with Elijah who had flown back from London when he was given the news, were all gathered together with Stefan and Katherine at the entrance of Caroline's home about to depart for the studios for the meeting.
Alaric, Matt and Bonnie entered the first SUV. Elijah together with Stefan and Katherine road in the last SUV while Kol drove the SUV in the middle with Caroline and Klaus seated in the back. While Klaus was glancing outside the window, focus on the road eyes scanning the road for any threat. Caroline just kept her undivided attention on Klaus. Noting that Klaus was in the kind of mood that left no doubt that he was the opposite of happy at the demand of the studio.
Knowing how thin his control on his temper was at the moment and the possibility of him going ballistic if the studio in any way at all decided to ignore the advice of her security team regarding her safety, Caroline moved closer to Klaus tentatively reaching out a hand to touch his hand that was currently fisted on his lap.
"Hey," her hand above his.
Klaus ignored her and removed his hand from under hers repositioning his hand on the back of the leather seat in front of him.
"Seriously! That's how you're going to act," Caroline huffed.
Klaus shook his head then rubbed his face before he faced her, "this shouldn't be happening. You shouldn't be forced to do this…..this movie. How can that be more important than a life, your life!"
Caroline faced Klaus completely lifting then folding her legs so they where in front of her, her knees touching his thigh. "It's not that simple. There are millions of dollars involved not to mention hundreds that may be put out of jobs if this movie isn't shown on schedule. We made a commitment to do the press junket way back, nobody thought a stalker would stall any of the schedules we already had mapped out as early as six months ago."
"I need you to follow the security plan to the detail. This needs to be stressed in the meeting," Klaus started to put his hand on her thigh but midway realized what he was about to do and stopped.
Caroline reached for the hand that stopped midway and brought it to her lips, her eyes on him. Kol was looking at the interaction interestingly from his rear view mirror vantage with a frown. He had heard from Klaus' team that Klaus was acting a little strangely in this operation. Curiously, he hadn't thought it was a girl that got his brother unhinged, even better a client. That was just so not like the brother he knew so well. But the interaction, the unspoken words, all the signs where there, this one was getting to his brother.
"I can see you Kol," Klaus growled at him.
"I have eyes," was all Kol said.
"Well use your bloody eyes and direct them forward, we are in the middle of a mission," came another growling response.
Caroline laughed heartily, "you know he's your brother right, not your minion."
"That's right, tell my brother off!" Kol cheered.
"I swear to God Kol, I don't know how you survive our missions with all your body parts still attached to you," Klaus told Kol.
"Just doing my little brotherly duties and pissing you off," Kol rejoined.
Adjustments had again been made with the teams guarding Caroline. Kol and his team now included Donovan and Alaric. They were the mobile team with Caroline during the day. Enzo and his team which included Gilbert and Gerard took the night shift. Bonnie took care of base control including feeds and internet searches as well as liaison with the FBI and police for leads. Heading the whole operation was Klaus himself.
While Klaus and Caroline had maintained a status quo on their non-relationship during the last few days, the start of the press tour brought renewed tension between them.
Klaus was careful not to overstep the boundaries but at the same time made the effort to always be by her side wherever she was going to be which now brought him to her side as they were getting ready to alight the SUV to walk the red carpet.
The paparazzi where at full force tonight, all cameras trained on Caroline from the time the SUV had stopped to the time she started to walk the red carpet, her arm wrapped around Klaus. Caroline had insisted it be that way.
The proximity of both of them allowed for several photographs to be taken of them together, again giving of the air of being more intimate than they really were. At one point one of the TV crews had asked her point-blank about her relationship with the man who was all but glued to her hip.
Looking down at Caroline through his darkened sunglasses, he saw a ghost of a smile on her lips before she said, "I'd like to keep this one private."
"Baby doll, we meet again. Missed me much?" Tyler Lockwood smirked at her, eyeing her from head to toe as he walked toward her in the red carpet.
"Eww, Tyler. Never did. Never will," was Caroline's response rolling her eyes.
The paparazzi had started to scream at this point, most if not all of them shouting at Caroline and Tyler to pose together.
"Let's give them what they want baby girl," grabbing her hand to get her away from Klaus then placing a tight grip around her waist with one hand while the other waved to the paparazzi.
She heard Klaus growl and about to take a step toward Tyler but the look Caroline gave him made him pause. "Let's just give the press a minute for pictures. It's better this way." At the same time, Caroline was trying to loosen Tyler's grip on her waist.
"She's right man, wouldn't be right to keep her for yourself. Fine piece of ass this one," referring to Caroline, "don't worry man, I don't mind sharing. She didn't mind before, she wouldn't mind now."
Klaus took to steps toward Tyler before Caroline intercepted him by wrapping her arms around Klaus, "hey," sliding her hands to cup his face, "hey, he's not worth it. He's just a douch."
Klaus tried to push her away but she pressed herself further into him, "he's just provoking you. Besides, Tyler and I where never like that," turning partly to Tyler, "I would rather jump off a cliff than be with that," waving a finger at Tyler.
Turning back to Klaus, Caroline whispered, "there's only one person I'm interested in…and he's right in front of me."
Klaus sucked in a breath, "Caroline….." he started.
The whole scene had the paparazzi in a frenzy. There was obvious tension between the starts of the movie, Tyler and Caroline and a third man who some recognized as the same man photographed with Caroline a few days ago in another press conference.
Fortunately, the director and his team together with the other actors decided to enter at the next moment and interrupt whatever Klaus was about to say.
"Oh good, Caroline, Tyler, you are both here," he glanced beyond Caroline, "who are you?" the Director asked looking at Klaus.
Caroline was about to respond but Tyler interrupted, "the boyfriend. Are we allowed to bring boyfriends to meetings now, I didn't get the memo."
Caroline kneaded her temple about to speak again but the Executive Producer whispered something to the Director's ear then the Director glanced at Klaus again before nodding back to the EP, "it's fine," waving a hand to both Caroline and Klaus, "why don't you join us then," looking at Klaus before he directed everyone to take a seat so they could start.
Caroline mouthed a silent thank you to the EP who was one of a few people briefed by the joint task force which included the FBI and her security team so she was aware of who Klaus was having met him in that meeting. Although the EP herself was a little confused about the territorial stance of the head of security toward his client, she did not say anything.
The EP briefed the main actors of the movie that a press conference would immediately follow the meeting prior to the shoot.
By the end of the press conference, Klaus was highly strung. Not only due to the location of the press conference which was outdoor and quite a challenge to secure but also because her co-star Tyler was deliberately insinuating to the press that Caroline and he had something going in the past and he was looking forward to renewing the special friendship as he put it.
Thankfully the other actors, including a senior actress who was to play the part of Caroline's mother in the movie tried to make the press people focus on the movie. It was toward the end of the press conference that a question from one of the reporters referenced her stalker and Klaus in particular.
"Caroline, any update about your stalker?" the reporter asked.
Caroline sucked in a breath at the reminder, "ah, none. I'd rather focus on talking about the movie if you please."
"Let's talk about the guy you kissed during your last press conference, you never did answer the question, is he the new boyfriend? I can clearly see, as can the others that he is here," pointing to Klaus on the side, "tell us about him. This will be a lot easier if you just shared some info with us."
With an apologetic gaze at Klaus, she faced the reporter, "I'm sorry, it's something I would like to keep private at this time."
"I'm up for some competition," Tyler grabbed the mic.
The reporter picked up from there, "you willing to fight for Caroline?"
"I don't think this guy is competition at all, not really Caroline's type don't you think?" I mean, hello!" referring to himself as he spoke to the reporter.
"So Caroline," the reporter continued. "Will your boyfriend make an appearance on opening night as your date?"
Caroline looked to the side again giving Klaus a speculative look before she answered the question, "he's been beside me constantly. I don't think anything will change between today and two weeks from now, so yes."
From their vantage in the side of the stage area Kol teased his brother, "your girl has you wrapped around her finger, never thought you'd really go for the celebrity type but if you ask me, you picked a good one."
Klaus narrowed his eyes on his brother, "how many times should I tell you that there is nothing going on. There is no Caroline and I. It's strictly business."
"Whatever floats your boat brother. Like a said, I have eyes. In this case, action speaks louder than words," Kol shrugged at his brother, "besides, it more than obvious that the girl is into you too."
"You and Bekah clearly have too much time on your hands if you have time to stick your noses in places they don't belong," Klaus told his brother frustrated now at constantly having to deny what was between him and Caroline.
"Ha, so Bekah's on your case too. This is our sister we are talking about, the one who despite the lack of actual training has an actual knack for almost always being right," Kol snickered at his brother.
"Bloody hell Kol, just do your job. Check on the others, the press conference is just about over."
Kol just marched backwards with his hands up as he continued to taunt his brother silently.
As Caroline was exiting the venue of the press conference, the paparazzi and fans crowded around her, she was used to it and normally it was just fine. But this time the combination of flashbulbs, eager questions from reporters and the fan frenzy escalated to something nearing a stampede and a few seconds later Caroline felt tugs and hugs as people broke through the security barrier.
Caroline started to feel nauseous and felt the first signs of a faint beginning and she quickly called out Klaus' name for what she thought was several times until Klaus was finally able to shield Caroline completely by wrapping her completely inside the circle of his arms, her chest pressed tightly against his as he whispered her name to get her attention back.
"Caroline, you're safe, I'm here. I'll take care of you. I'll have to lift you," Klaus continued to whisper.
Someone touched Klaus' arm and he was relieved to see his brother Kol was beside him, "just a few more steps brother. We got your back. Alaric is ready and waiting behind the wheel, let me shield you."
Finally, Klaus had Caroline inside the SUV again but because Caroline still felt the trauma of the situation she refused to let go of Klaus, instead she made herself somehow smaller as she further leaned her body into Klaus who had his arms wrapped tightly around her as she sat on his lap with her head tucked under his chin.
Klaus rubbed her back soothingly, "hey, I'm here. I'll take care of you. I won't leave you."
Caroline moved her head so her lips could touch Klaus' neck, she always felt calmer when she smelled the scent of Klaus. It was uniquely his and she just breathed him in.
"You're safe. I'll take care of you."
"Will you stay with me tonight, I don't want to be alone," Caroline weakly told him.
"You won't be alone tonight, I'll take care of you. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe, do you understand what I'm saying?"
Klaus pulled Caroline back from his chest a few inches to check on her and was surprised to see that she had fallen asleep in his arms. He tightened his arms around her again and continued his soothing motion on her back thinking this girl was going to be the death of him.