Misery Loves Company

By: Tracy Cook

Disclaimer: I do not own anything; these characters belong to the creators of Vampire Diaries

Pairing: Caroline/Rebekah

Rating: M

Chapter Ten

Don't Know What You Want Until It's Gone

Caroline paced around the Salvatore residence nervously, as she glanced around at all of her friends. She did not know what to make of the situation. Damon had compelled the kids at school who had witnessed the scene take place, Tyler was nowhere to be found, and Rebekah was resting in Damon's room. She had tried to think of anyone to contact that Rebekah knew, who would care enough to come and help or see her, but she could not think of anyone who cared. It was a rather depressing realization.

'If we had not become friends and something like this had happened… she would be here all alone… she would have no one. She would have died alone.'The thought caused her chest to ache and her eyes to water. Caroline had never noticed just how lonely Rebekah's life was. Just how desperate and empty she was.

"What's going to happen to her?" Caroline asked mid-pace, turning to look over at Damon and Stefan. If anyone would know, it would be them.

"She's going to die." Stefan stated nonchalantly. "The bite of a werewolf is fatal to a vampire."

She did not understand how he could act so heartless about Rebekah dying. "But, but she's an original. I thought that they couldn't die."

"They are capable of dying; they just happen to return to life afterward. So, she will either die a long and excruciating death and come back to life, or she will just die and not return." Stefan did not honestly care if she died; in fact he hoped that she would die. Rebekah had put Elena in danger so many times and she was a threat to all of them. If this killed her it would solve one of their problems.

Caroline ran her hands through her blonde curls in frustration as she stared over at him. She had always thought of Stefan as the brother who was more understanding and compassionate, now he sounded cold and despondent. "How can you sound so—so okay with this!?"

"Because, Caroline, I am okay with this." Her eyes widened at this statement. "If she dies, that is one less original we have got to deal with."

Elena looked between the two of them before walking toward Stefan. "I get it Stefan, but this is Rebekah. She is our friend."

Caroline was genuinely shocked by the choice of words that Elena used in order to sway the man; she had called Rebekah their friend. This meant that she was actually concerned about the original vampire's wellbeing. She flashed Elena a smile which was easily returned.

She may not fully comprehend why, how, or what sort of feelings that Caroline had for Rebekah, but she did know that her best friend cared about her a lot. It would hurt her to see Rebekah die and Elena was not willing to cause that pain, she knew what that pain felt like. The pain of losing someone that you loved and held close to your heart, they all did, and no one needed to die unnecessarily. She also knew what it was like to love someone that she shouldn't.

"Oh, come on!" Damon exclaimed raising a brow and walking toward Stefan and Elena. "After what? One night of braiding each other's hair and painting each other's nails? I hate to say it, but I'm with my brother on this one."

Caroline walked toward Damon. "Damon, she's just a girl…" She whispered with pleading blue eyes and a weak voice. "She isn't her brother; she just wants to be happy. She just wants to live a life without constantly running away from someone who is trying to kill her, she just wants to live." Her eyes had filled with tears and her voice was shaky, she could not believe that not too long ago she would have probably been agreeing with them.

He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I know that, but at the end of the day she's not JUST a teenage girl. She's an original vampire that could potentially rip out all of our hearts and it's not worth the risk."

"Not worth the risk!? She is worth the risk." Caroline growled out angrily before turning on her heels and heading toward Damon's room, pausing to look over her shoulder and tell him. "And, by the way, at the end of the day she is just a teenage girl who was forced into something that she didn't want, just like I was." With that she walked toward the bedroom where Rebekah was resting, she wanted to check on her and make sure that she was not too lonely or in too much pain. She had to help somehow.

"I don't recommend going in there! I've seen this before, it gets a bit messy." Damon told her with a smile. He feigned indifference, but Rose dying had really broken his heart.

"I can handle myself."

"Look, Blondie. She may not be able to really die, but you sure as hell can."

"I can handle myself." She stated once more with venom on her tongue as she glared at him. "I want to be there for her."

He rolled his eyes at her stubbornness and smirked, lifting his hands and telling her to feel free to go in. "As you wish, it's your funeral."

O

As Caroline walked into Damon's room she was consumed with sorrow. Her shoulders fell and whatever remnants of happiness and hope disappeared from her face, her eyes dulled and threatened to fill with tears. Rebekah was lying in Damon's large bed, curled up in a ball. Her body was shaking and her nails were digging into her shoulders to the point that she was bleeding. Sweat coated her sickly colored skin, she was letting out whimpering sounds, and where she had been bitten was a large red rash spreading along her neck and over the side of her face.

She was the image of pure misery.

Slowly, Caroline approached the side of the bed and reached out her hand hesitantly to hold onto Rebekah's hand. She did not know if she was crossing boundaries that she should not cross, nor did she care if she was. All that she wanted to do was to hold her hand and comfort the dying woman.

Rebekah's eyes fluttered open at the contact. "Caroline?" She asked in a strangled voice, it was difficult to speak.

"Yeah, I'm right here." She assured with a forced smile.

Rebekah did not let go of Caroline's hand as she forced herself into a semi-seated position on the bed, in order to stare directly into the younger vampire's eyes as she spoke to her. Chuckling humorlessly, she cast her eyes down at her chest and smiled through the pain, "That bloody mutt bit me?"

Caroline tried to find humor in the situation like Rebekah appeared to, but there was nothing humorous about it. She was dying and it was all her fault. "Yeah, he did. I'm so sorry." Her voice shook with emotion as she squeezed down on Rebekah's hand.

The original vampire smiled, feeling the added pressure on her hand. She glanced down at their connected hands and then back up at Caroline. "Why are you apologizing, love?"

"Because, if I would have just talked to him before all of this happened, then he wouldn't have overreacted. I just feel like it is my fault—I just—I don't want you to die, Bekah."

The shortened version of her name did not go unnoticed by Rebekah whose smile stretched, she loved that Caroline was holding her hand and that she was being so endearing and open with her. It was all that she had wanted. 'Too bad that I had to die in order to receive such treatment…' "Oh, sweet Caroline." She stroked her thumb over the top of Caroline's hand, watching with amused eyes as she shivered at the contact. "I am not going to die. I can't die."

"Yes you can die, and you will die Rebekah. A werewolf's bite is lethal to a vampire." She insisted.

Rebekah laughed at this, which earned her a glare from the other blonde who was not at all enjoying her attitude toward death. Still, when death became such a common occurrence, you got used to it.

'How can she laugh about something as serious as this?' "You're laughing?"

"Well yes, dear. You see, you are looking at this situation all wrong. I am going to die, of course, but I have cheated death so many times in my long lifetime. I will die and then I will return."

Caroline understood that she would return to the living, but from what she had heard from Damon about when Rose had gone through this, it was not going to be an easy death. "But, it is gonna be so painful." Her voice cracked with strain.

"It usually is." Rebekah pointed out.

"No, like, Damon and Elena said that it's really bad. You get delusional and start seeing all these painful things from the past, you feel like your body is on fire constantly, and you become dangerous to those around you."

"Dangerous?" She asked with a raised brow. Rebekah was well aware of her strength and the power that she possessed. If she were going to be dangerous than she wanted Caroline to stay as far away from her as possible, she could not live with herself if the beautiful blonde were to come to harm at her hand. She would hate herself forever if she killed her. The thought caused her stomach to twist and the urge to vomit to rise.

Caroline nodded her head weakly.

"You need to leave, Caroline."

Her blue eyes widened and she quickly declined. "What?! No way! I'm not going anywhere. It is my fault that you are in this situation and I want to be here for you."

Rebekah let out a frustrated groan and leant her head back against the bed as she stared at Caroline. "Don't be so stubborn Caroline. I will be perfectly fine in here on my own, I do not need you here, I do not want you here."

"But—" The words shattered her. 'She doesn't want me here?'

"—No, that is not what I meant. I want you here. I just cannot allow you to risk your life, I would not be able to live if I hurt you, or worse…"

"I'm staying." She stubbornly insisted as she moved even closer to the bed and pulled up the covers. "Now, scoot over."

Rebekah stared at her as if she were insane, but she could tell that Caroline was not about to change her mind on the subject, so letting out a sigh she moved over on the bed and crawled under the covers. Caroline crawled under the covers with her and moved closer to her in the bed. Her eyes were fixated on Rebekah's neck and the British vampire had a feeling that she knew what she was looking at.

Close up, she could see that the wound was not merely a rash. It was covered in bleeding blisters and gaping holes. It almost looked like acid was eating away at her perfect skin.

"You are making me quite uncomfortable with your leering, love."

"I thought you liked my leering." She teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"I enjoy it when you leer at me in a sexual manner, not in a disgusted manner."

Caroline scoffed at that. "First of all, I never stare at you in a sexual manner." They both knew that she was lying. Her arousal is what had gotten them stuck in this position in the first place. "And I am not disgusted, it just looks really painful."

"It is."

"Come here." She opened her arms signaling that she wanted Rebekah to move into her embrace. Rebekah stared at her warily for a moment; she did not want to accidently harm her while she was resting. If one of her many sadistic pasts returned than she knew exactly what she was capable of doing. Still, she moved closer to Caroline and rested her head against her shoulder and wrapped her arms around her waist. Enjoying the comfort and safety that she found being close to her. She loved holding her.

'This may just be my first pleasant death…'

O

Caroline was startled out of her slumber as Rebekah started screaming in her sleep. She quickly pulled back and looked down at the other woman, trying to understand what was going on. Her blue eyes were wide and she was staring right up at her, something was off though. "Get away from me, father! Leave me alone!" She shouted out pushing herself off of Caroline and climbing out of the bed. She backed herself against the wall and started shaking in fear.

The younger vampire hated seeing her in such pain. Quickly she moved out of the bed and approached her in an attempt to calm her down. She needed to remind her of where they were. "Rebekah."

"Stay away from me!" She screamed out, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Bekah, please, listen to me. I'm not your father, I'm—" Her voice was cut off as she felt a pressure around her neck. Rebekah was choking her and she could no longer speak, the pain was immense and she feared that the original would literally tear her head clean off of her shoulders any moment now. "Rebekah…" She managed to say.

"Rebekah!" Damon's voice interrupted the display, snapping her out of the illusion.

Rebekah blinked away the fogginess and hastily realized that she was staring into the pained face of the woman she cared deeply for, her hand was gripping her neck tightly and she was lifting her off of the ground. She had just been with her father, she did not understand. 'Wait… this must be the delusions she was speaking of…' She couldn't believe that she hurt her. "Caroline…" She whispered out before dropping her to the ground and watching as the bruises healed themselves.

'I bruised her…'

"God Caroline, I am so so sorry. I thought that you were…" Her voice trailed off as she knelt down on the ground beside her, tracing her fingers over the bruises that were no longer visible. "My father. I thought that you were my father."

"It's okay." She assured in a weak voice, still struggling to regain it after being strangled. Caroline moved toward Rebekah, but the original quickly pulled away from her, putting some distance between the two of them. She looked terrified to be anywhere near her and that upset her. "Rebekah. It's fine. You didn't mean to."

Rebekah glanced over at Damon and asked him, "Damon. Can you please take her out of here and watch over her?"

"Yeah, come on." He said, reaching out and grabbing Caroline by the arm and pulling her toward the door.

"I don't want to go. I want to stay with you, Rebekah."

"It is far too risky, Caroline. I will be fine in here alone, and out there you will be safe as well. Please, just go with Damon? It will help me feel better if I know that I cannot harm you." Rebekah insisted with a sad smile. She wanted the other woman to stay with her, to hold her like she had before, but she was not taking any chances. If she killed her then she would never see her again and that was not worth it.

Caroline nodded begrudgingly. She did not wish to leave, but Rebekah said she would feel better if she did. So, she allowed Damon to lead her out of the room.

O

Caroline was staring at the bedroom door, listening to Rebekah scream out in pain. She could feel Damon's eyes on her, yet she did not look at him when she spoke. "Was it hard for you to go through this with Rose?"

"It wasn't easy." He shrugged his shoulders.

She knew that he meant it. Damon did not get in depth with his emotions, he and Rebekah were actually a lot alike in that department, but he did still love and care for people. She could tell that he had cared for Rose and it broke his heart when she died.

"I just feel so powerless." She stared down at her hands and watched as tears littered them. She couldn't stop crying.

"Hey, look at it this way. At least your girl will be coming back from the dead. Rose is gone."

Caroline could not ignore the way that her body reacted hearing Damon call Rebekah her girl, it made her smile despite the tears. She liked the way that it sounded, even if it was confusing. "I just want to be in there. You know? To be there for her and make this easier on her, how did you do that for Rose?" She looked over at him.

"I controlled her dreams and took her to her favorite place in the world, that way she would be calm and happy when she died instead of sick and miserable."

"I could do that."

"She told me to watch you."

"Please, just let me help her Damon?" Caroline pleaded with a desperate tone and tears in her eyes. She needed to do something, anything, to make this easier on Rebekah. She could still hear her screaming in pain from the other room. "What would you do if Rose had told you not to comfort her? Would you have listened?"

He stared at her for a moment and then finally decided that she was right, he wouldn't have listened. "Fine, go in there. But, if you don't make it out alive I'm not taking the fall for you."

"Thanks, Damon."

O

Caroline stared down at Rebekah as she slept. She had managed to sneak in and pull the other woman on top of her without waking her up. Gently she traced her fingers along her cheek and down over her neck, playing idly with some stray blonde strands. The British vampire was shivering, but her body felt as if it were on fire. Her rash had consumed a good majority of her chest and neck at this point, and she was letting out soft whimpers in her sleep.

"Shh… shh… Calm down Bekah, I've got you." She stated softly, wiping the tears from Rebekah's cheeks. She looked so small and weak in her arms and it shattered Caroline. She hated seeing her in so much pain.

'I swear after this I am never letting anyone kill her again…'

It took a lot of power to manipulate the original's dreams, but Rebekah was allowing her to do so and it made it easier. Both women drifted into the dream world as Caroline continued to stroke her fingers through her blonde hair smiling as she realized where they were.

They were at a beautiful ball; everyone was dressed in luxurious gowns and dancing around the room. She was not with Rebekah, but she could see her across the room. She looked gorgeous. Dressed up in a beautiful dress and her blonde hair curled and done up. Caroline smiled at her and the smile was returned by the other woman as she crossed the dance floor and headed toward her.

Once she reached Rebekah, she held out a gloved hand to her and asked, "Would you care to dance?"

She smiled and placed her hand in Caroline's. "With you, love? Always."

Caroline pulled Rebekah's body against her own as they started to sway to the music. Rebekah rested her head against her shoulder and smiled against her neck, it seemed so real. She could feel her breath rushing against her skin and her scent surrounding her, it was intoxicating. She wished for a moment that this dream was their reality. Caroline wanted to always be this close to Rebekah. As they danced, the music started to fade into the distance and it started to grow dark and then everything disappeared.

Opening her eyes, Caroline stared down at Rebekah.

Her skin had changed to a blue-gray color and cracks lined her cheekbones, her body was heavier than usual, and her eyes were a brighter blue as they stared up at the ceiling unmoving. She was dead. For just a moment she doubted the power of an original, worrying that she would not come back from the dead. That perhaps a werewolf bite was different from a stake to the heart. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she stared at Rebekah's lifeless body, internally willing her to come back to life.

"Please, come back to me." She whispered desperately.

Suddenly, Rebekah's skin started to return color and she gasped out, sitting up in the bed and staring straight into Caroline's eyes.

"Caroline—" She started, but was interrupted.

"—you're alive!" Caroline screamed out, tears still rolling down her cheeks but for an entirely different reason. She had never felt so happy before. She just wanted to hold on to Rebekah and never let her go. "Oh thank god! I was so worried!" She exclaimed before holding onto Rebekah's cheeks with shaking hands, and leaning in to press an unexpected kiss to her lips.

O

Authors Note:

Thank you for all of your wonderful reviews, you all keep me writing! :) I love hearing from you. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter despite it being fairly depressing. Please do tell me what you think and leave me lots of reviews if you want me to get out the next chapter tomorrow. ;)

Thank you all for reading!

-Tracy Cook