Oh How Strange (Part Four)
Walking into her apartment Caroline's feeling pretty good about what she's accomplished. After a brief fight with Klaus (which had consisted of her talking and him pacing, occasionally bristling and growling) post-breakfast he'd agreed to stay behind while she took care of a few errands.
While out Caroline had managed to check a bunch of thing off her list of things to do before she and Klaus left on their witch hunting road trip tomorrow. A little compulsion ensured that Caroline's boss didn't mind a sudden, abrupt vacation (not that she'd be thanking Rebekah for the suggestion any time soon). Her snotty coworker had been there, had been incredulous when Caroline informed her that she'd be taking off for a couple weeks. The woman had looked positively shocked, and more than a little pissed, when Caroline had breezed out of the office, her time off secured.
Caroline really did love being a vampire.
With that taken care of she'd moved on to something fun: shopping.
First stop: outdoorsy stuff. Not her favorite, and she was probably a little rusty, but Caroline knew the basics. She'd figured some supplies – a cooler, some camping gear – would be smart. There was plenty of space in Klaus' ginormous SUV for just in case items and some of the locations Rebekah had programmed into the phone she'd left in Caroline's keeping were nowhere near anywhere populated. After purchasing the gear she'd headed to a fancy schmancy pet boutique downtown (rationalizing that Klaus would expect the best, would probably be highly offended if she brought home a bag from Target, and he was footing the bill). She'd almost gasped out loud when told the total but had handed over Klaus' card, walking out with everything she would need to seem like a responsible pet haver to anyone they happened to come across.
A quick trip to the grocery store for bottled water, some portable snacks for the road and steaks (plus salad things for her) for dinner and Caroline had figured she was set.
After unlocking the door she's just about to call out a greeting to Klaus, kind of surprised that he hadn't come out to meet her (she'd assumed he'd be impatient, would want an update of her progress since it's not like he could accept a call on a iPhone at the moment. They'd tried and touch screens just weren't made for paws).
Caroline's setting the bags down when she realizes that something is… off.
There's someone in her apartment. The apartment that's currently harboring a weakened version of someone with a whole lot of enemies. Not a good thing.
She doesn't even think about it. Caroline drops everything in her hands and whirls, fangs dropping, hands ready to tear, only to pull back abruptly when Bonnie stands up from her couch in alarm, "Whoa! Geez, Care. It's me. Calm down."
Caroline takes a deep breath, and closes her eyes, letting her vampire features recede. She offers Bonne an awkward smile, "Sorry!" she chirps. "You surprised me. I thought I was meeting you at your house after dinner?"
Bonnie's home base remains Mystic Falls. Caroline's in Richmond, close enough that she can help out with the ongoing rescue Elena mission but far enough away that she can beg off when she needs to.
Something she's been doing more and more, much to Damon's displeasure. He could suck it, Caroline thought. She weathered his snarky quips, tossed back her own. Didn't bother trying to be nice like she once had. Elena wasn't around to make the effort for. And Elena had wanted them to live so Caroline was giving it her best shot.
She'd even been thinking about doing some travelling, getting further away from the never ending Mystic Falls drama. Caroline had been thinking Europe but she supposed a road trip wasn't a bad start. Even if Klaus was tagging along.
Bonnie's watching her curiously, head tipped to the side, "I needed to get out of the house. Thought I'd surprise you and make you take me out to that great Italian place we went to the last time I was here. Plus, your message was kind of cryptic. I was a little worried."
Crap. Caroline had tried her best to avoid that.
She bends to pick up the bags she'd dropped when she'd lunged, hoping to buy herself time to gather her thoughts. Caroline tucks her hair behind her ear and tries to listen for Klaus. She picks up his heartbeat first, the quick tempo of his current form, coming from the next room.
He must have made himself scarce when Bonnie had let herself in. Part of the deal had been that no one else could know the specifics of Klaus' condition.
Bonnie's wandered over to help and she looks puzzled when she peeks into the bad from the pet store, "What do you need this stuff for?" she asks, tugging out the leather collar Caroline had picked (she'd kept it simple and classy, despite the opportunities for hilarity a couple of the options had presented. She'd promised to try to make this whole situation as pain free as she could for Klaus, and she meant to keep her word).
"Gift," Caroline lies, taking the bag from Bonnie and tucking it away. "One of my coworkers just got a puppy with her boyfriend. Kind of a trial baby, I think. We all went in together to get her something."
Bonnie nods, seeming to accept the story and Caroline mentally sighs in relief. "That's going to be a very stylish dog," Bonnie jokes.
Biting back a hysterical giggle Caroline heads to the kitchen to stow the groceries. "Well, the giftee is a little… particular."
Understatement. Klaus probably killed minions when they screwed up the dry cleaning.
Bonnie has trailed her into the kitchen and she watches Caroline open and close cupboards, "So what's that favor you needed? Enzo mentioned he'd seen you. Said you'd run into an old friend? He was annoyingly cryptic."
Ugh. Caroline makes a mental note to have words with Enzo. That was not keeping his mouth shut.
"I wouldn't say ran into…" Caroline hedges. Klaus had technically been hand delivered, after all. And she'd only spoken to Rebekah. "But I've agreed to pitch in with said old friend's teeny tiny problem. And I was hoping you'd help me out."
"Caroline…" Bonnie begins, tone hard and suspicious. "How teeny tiny a problem are we talking? And exactly what old friend is dragging you into their mess?"
She's been busying herself with the groceries, avoiding Bonnie's eyes, but she knows that's not going to fly any longer. Caroline faces her friend, leans against the counter. "It's nothing I can't handle Bonnie. I promise."
Bonnie doesn't seem comforted. "And the friend?" she prods.
Caroline decides to just rip off the band aid, "Klaus."
Bonnie blinks for a few seconds, her mouth agape. "Klaus? Since when do you talk to Klaus?"
"Since yesterday," Caroline informs her, lifting her chin defiantly. "Well, kind of," she adds, after a moment. Technically they hadn't actually talked, had they?
"And what, he just called you out of the blue and demanded you do his bidding?" Bonnie's voice has risen, the pitch nearing shriek territory.
Caroline winces, "No, it wasn't like that." She decides to avoid mentioning that Rebekah had been the one doing the demanding. And the threatening. "Look, he has a situation and things in New Orleans aren't great so I got drafted. It's not that bad. I can't tell you much. I did get him to agree to help us out with Elena."
"We don't need his help," Bonnie spits.
Caroline rolls her eyes. She's no stranger to stubbornness but surely Bonnie could see the advantages? "No offense, Bon, but what could it hurt? We haven't gotten anywhere in years. Klaus has got to know all kinds of witches we don't. I'm sure he's got stacks of grimy old magic books too."
"Elena didn't want us sacrificing things for her. What do you think you bargaining with Klaus is, Caroline? Cause it seems like a sacrifice to me."
"What do you think you doing nothing with your life but combing grimoires and babysitting Damon is, Bonnie?" Caroline shoots back. "Is that the living Elena wanted you to do? Cause I don't think it is. And, for the record, I agreed to help Klaus before I asked for his help. So it technically wasn't bargaining. It was me helping out a friend. I only asked about Elena's curse when I thought about asking you for help."
Unfortunately, Bonnie's still stuck on the friend part. "Friend?" she repeats, disbelief clear. "Since when? Klaus is…"
"Totally evil, the devil incarnate, a very bad guy, blah blah blah. I know all that, Bon. I'm not asking you to like him. But Klaus has come through for me when I asked him for things. I think it's only fair if I do the same. And there's the whole if he dies I die, Damon and Stefan die thing, too."
Bonnie seems to be wavering, her expression softening at the reminder. Caroline pushes a little further. It's dirty, but she's never claimed to be a saint. "I think it would kind of suck for Elena to wake up with everyone she loves dead, don't you?"
"Low blow, Caroline," Bonnie accuses, but there's little heat to it.
Caroline fights back a triumphant smile, knowing she's nearly won, "I'm not even really asking you to help him. Just… help me while I'm helping him. Please?" Caroline wheedles, doing her very best pleading eyes.
Bonnie attempts to resist but Caroline can see her resolve crumbling. Finally, she throws up her hands, "Oh my god, fine. If you're going to be an idiot, and I know what you look like when you're set on something, I will of course help you. Stop looking at me like that. What do you need?"
Bouncing on the balls of her feet Caroline claps her hands before speeding around to envelop Bonnie in a hug, "Nothing major, I promise. Let me go change and we'll go get dinner, okay?"
Bonnie returns the hug, "You're definitely buying now," she grumbles.
Caroline's not about to argue. She's totally going to use Klaus' credit card and splurge on the wine.
She's a little tipsy when she returns home the second time. The wine had been good. Caroline kicks off her heels when she crosses the threshold, debates picking them up and decides not to bother. She hears a door creak, and then the rapid pitter patter of little canine feet.
Klaus is looking up at her, head cocked to the side, and a sobering wave of guilt crashes over Caroline, "You must be starving. I am so sorry." She'd put down water for him after a rushed whispered conversation while she'd changed (after she'd demanded he turn away). "I bought steak earlier. I'm guessing you want it rare, huh?"
He bobs his head, in the way she's come to recognize as a nod.
"Okay. Well, then that won't take long!"
Klaus follows her to the kitchen and Caroline pulls out one of the chairs. He pauses, before making the leap and jumping on to it. Caroline resists the urge to compliment him on the effort. Klaus would not appreciate any 'Good boys!' from her. A second hop and he's on the table, settling down so he can watch her as she cooks. She hears a thumping noise and glances over, notes that he's stiff and that his ears are perked up, his tail beating against the table.
She's pretty sure that's what murderously impatient looks like in his current form.
"Bonnie's onboard," Caroline tells him, digging out a skillet. "She's going to spell me a couple of bracelets. Said they'll mark me as a friendly. Not all witches will care but I figure it's better than nothing. We'll run over there and pick them up tomorrow and then leave from Mystic Falls. You'll have to camp out in the car while I talk to her."
He lets out a huff, annoyed but grudgingly accepting. Caroline works quickly, humming to herself. She goes easy on the seasonings, still not sure that Klaus should be eating steak but she wasn't about to suggest they break open a can of dog food. Things had gone relatively smoothly today. She'd like to keep it that way.
When it's done she cuts it up into manageable chunks and plates it, setting it down in front of Klaus. He eats carefully, chewing individual pieces. Caroline busies herself with her lists, crossing off things and scribbling in more ideas.
It's harder to focus than it should be. She's a little alarmed by how easily she's accepted this situation. She might not have been totally happy with her life as it was, had truthfully been finding it a little dull. Still, she had a routine. Caroline liked routines. Klaus had blown in, shot it all to hell, and she has no idea where she's going to be next week, what she'll be doing. And she isn't even mad about it. Caroline's been given a problem, and she's determined to solve it. Is certain that she'll do whatever it takes to get Klaus back to normal. She'd told herself that she'd forgotten all about him, that Klaus had never meant anything to her, but it's looking like that was a lie.
She hears the plate scrape across the table, Klaus' signal that he's done. Caroline put it in the sink to deal with tomorrow. It's not that late, still light outside, but they'd planned on getting an early start in the morning. "I'm going to shower," she tells him. "And then I'm going to bed. If you stay out here while I'm getting ready, and don't try to peep at me – which, by the way is super creepy since you're a mini werewolf right now – I won't complain if you try to sleep on the bed. Deal?"
Klaus hops down from the table and heads to the plush area rug, sitting down and watching her expectantly. Caroline supposed that's the best answer she's going to get.
She's awoken what feels like shortly after she'd drifted off. Her bed shudders, unfamiliar noises filling her silent room. Cracks and pops, a low whine. Disoriented, Caroline sits up, tugging the covers up to her chin. Klaus is writhing on the bed next to her but he seems… bigger. Closer to what she imagines is his full size when he turns.
A werewolf was about the last thing a vampire wanted to find in her bed.
Scrambling from it Caroline goes for the window – a drop of a couple stories is nothing, and a better alternative than letting a werewolf loose in her building, should Klaus give chase. Throwing open the curtains she's greeted by the sight of the moon, round and bright and obviously full. "Shit," she mutters, cursing her own stupidity. She really should have checked the moon phases at some point during her research. She'd long since lost the habit of keeping up on them and they were definitely pertinent. Chancing a glance over her shoulder she pauses, because it looks like Klaus is still changing. The fur seems to be receding, his limbs lengthening as he shudders and the groans of pain are lower, sounding almost like words.
Wary, Caroline takes a couple steps back towards the bed. Her caution was unnecessary. She can see an expanse of pale skin, the tattoo on his shoulder, and soon his hands are tearing at her sheets. A final shiver racks Klaus' body before he stills with a groan. He doesn't move for several long moments, his breath coming out in harsh pants. Caroline's just reaching out to touch him, an instinctive need to soothe, when his head turns towards her, eyes slitting open. "Well," he manages, voice a hoarse scratch, "that was certainly unpleasant. Even more so than usual."
She pulls back, twisting her hands together anxiously, "I don't understand. Did something happen? Did the spell break?"
Klaus rolls his neck, seems to consider her question. "I doubt it. From what I recall of the wording…"
He pushes himself up, and Caroline's eyes trace the movement of the muscles in his back before she can tell herself to avert her eyes. Hadn't she just admonished him for perving?
An amused little smirk tugs at Klaus lips but he thankfully doesn't comment on her ogling. He pulls a sheet over his lap as he arranges himself against her headboard, and Caroline glues her eyes to his face. The had business to discuss. "The wording?" she prompts.
"I believe it's a reversal, of sorts. I'm in this form on the full moon, that other one for the rest of the month."
Ugh. Freaking witches.
Caroline's just about to begin spewing her annoyance but the grin that curves Klaus' mouth gives her pause. There's a teasing glint in the way he's looking at her, and he reclines slightly, perfectly at ease, nude and in her bed. He surprises her though. "Thank you, Caroline," he murmurs, soft and sincere.
"I… you're welcome," she manages to stammer.
Something wicked sparks in his blue eyes and Caroline braces herself. She remembers that look all too well. It had preceded some pretty spectacular dirty talk that day in the woods. His voice dips tauntingly, "I have to admit that this was a more what I had in mind when I imagined being in your bed. Tell me, have you ever thought of me here, love?"
Yeah, he's totally sleeping on the floor.
