A/N: In case you were wondering where I got the title for this story, it's because of this chapter. As usual, thanks to all of you who read and review. Klaus and Dawn send their thanks. I'm still watching for reviews, so…
Chapter 10...Total Eclipse of the Heart
(Turn around) Every now and then,
I get a little bit lonely
and you're never coming 'round.
(Turn around) Every now and then
I get a little bit tired of listening
to the sound of my tears.
"You've been following me."
It was a statement, not a question. Dawn's voice shattered the silence, sounding abnormally loud. It sounded like a gunshot or a glacier cracking. Klaus was silent for a moment. He considered his answer very carefully. Only Dawn's hands shaking gave away the fact that she might have been nervous at all.
"You've been following me since I got here. Why?"
Her fingers tightened around his in a demanding manner. Klaus was impressed with her bravery; most women fainted when they saw him because they were afraid.
"Because you are different."
His own voice sounded completely alien to him. Dawn stood rigid, unmoving.
"I know everything that happens in Sleepy Hollow. I know of everyone that comes and goes. I felt your presence."
(Turn around) Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
that the best of all the years have gone by.
It sounded ridiculous to him. Dawn's presence was extremely strong and he was a little intimidated by it. Her fingers tightened around his and it almost hurt. It was as though she were piercing his soul with those dark eyes of hers, probing for any indication of falsehood. His own voice, his own words seemed inadequate for her. They were not to his liking, but he stumbled on, his speech steady but his brain faltering.
(Turn around) Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
and then I see the look in your eyes.
"They will never appreciate your strength, your stubbornness, and your bravery because you challenge them. You are not afraid to be different."
Silence overtook the woods again. Then, the beginnings of a smile showed on Dawn's lips.
"I may be a woman, but I'll never be a lady," Dawn said humorously, "they talk too much, don't eat enough, and wear enough ruffles to smother a full grown man. I don't give a crap about what society wants. Even where I came from and my attitude is considered normal, they still didn't like me much. But, that's just the way it is."
She settled down on the tree root beside him and the tension was broken.
"So, uh, you got a name? I know it's not 'Hessian' and I know it's not any variation of 'headless' or 'Horseman'."
(Turn around, bright eyes) Every now and then I fall apart
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around) Every now and then I get a little bit restless
and I dream of something wild.
(Turn around) Every now and then I get a little bit helpless
lying like a child in your arms.
(Turn around) Every now and then I get a little bit angry
and I know I've got to get out and cry.
(Turn around) Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
and then I see the look in your eyes.
He had turned to face her as she talked. As soon as she was done, his mind went blank. It had been so long since anyone used his name, it was hard to remember. It had been even longer since he gave anyone his name. Slowly, like a bubble from the bottom of a dark lake, it rose to the surface.
(Turn around, bright eyes) Every now and then I fall apart.
Every now and then I fall apart...
"I am Klaus."
Dawn took his hand and gave it a firm shake.
"I take it you already know who I am."
"Yes."
"Why do you keep following me around, really? Did you just have a good laugh when Ichabod was trying to teach me riding?"
Seeing that she wouldn't get offended, he smiled, not even trying to hide his pointed fang-like teeth.
"It's okay," Dawn said sarcastically, "I know you feel terrible for me. Really, you can say it. Flash still isn't that crazy about me. She tries to kick me when I walk by, even on days I do everything right."
Klaus chuckled. His laugh was surprisingly easy on the ears. Nearby, Daredevil snorted.
"I don't suppose that one gave you any trouble," Dawn commented, looking up at the inky horse that nearly blended into the shadows.
"No. We are a team. Even in death, he has not left my side."
"From the way you say it, you sound almost like that's rare for you."
And I need you now tonight,
and I need you more than ever,
if you would only hold me tight
we'll be holding on forever
and we'll only be making it right
cause we'll never be wrong
together we can take it to the end of the line
you're love is like a shadow on me all of the time.
She saw an expression of pain flicker across his face so fast that she almost doubted its existence. From somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted.
"It was. But, it does not matter."
I don't know what to do,
I'm always in the dark,
we're living in a powder keg
and giving off sparks...
"It does," Dawn insisted, "people weren't designed to be alone all the time. What kind of existence is that?"
"One fitting of all of the things I have done," Klaus mumbled, staring at her pale, slender hands, "of all the men I have killed. Of all of the others I have killed in the name of Lady Van Tassel."
I really need you tonight,
forever's gonna start tonight,
forever's gonna start...
There was a sharp edge in his voice at the mention of Lady Van Tassel. He stared at his own hands, remembering how much blood had soaked them.
"The last part was not your fault. The rest of it, I'm not sure about it, I wasn't there. There has to be something," Dawn said, "I have a hard time believing you're just a psychotic with a sword and a bad attitude. Even if that's what the legend says."
One upon a time, I was falling in love,
now I'm only falling apart.
There's nothing I can do,
total eclipse of the heart.
Klaus involuntarily cringed. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it definitely wasn't that. He honestly hoped she would suddenly get scared and take off just so that he wouldn't need to carry the weight of what she'd said.
Once upon a time, there was light in my life,
now there's only love in the dark.
There's nothing I can say,
total eclipse of the heart.
He didn't answer and stared off into the distance. However, Dawn's eyes did not move and it made him uncomfortable.
Every now and then I fall apart.
Every now and then I fall apart...
"Where is Flash?" he asked.
"At home, sleeping. I didn't bring her because she'd make too much noise."
"How are you going to get home?"
Dawn shrugged.
"I walked. I'm sure I can just go back the way I came. It's not really that far. Take two steps in Sleepy Hollow and you're on the other side."
He smiled again, liking her sense of humor.
"I will take you home."
Dawn tried to stifle a laugh and failed miserably.
"It's not that big of a deal," she said. He didn't understand what she was laughing at and it was getting worse. Finally, she gave in and told him.
"I suppose you're going to tell me that everyone and everything in these woods is scared to death of you and they wouldn't think twice about running? Been there, done that."
He shook his head.
"You should not say such things about yourself."
"But it's true," Dawn laughed, "I don't look like much, but I'm pretty strong. If all else fails, they're not going to drag two-hundred pounds around. I'm too heavy."
He decided not to down that road. Instead, he shook his head. Daredevil turned his head to look at her as they approached him. Then, he bent down so that it was easier for her to get on. Klaus climbed on behind her. She shivered a little when his cold armor touched her back.
"You should not be out so late," he told her, "it is too cold out here for a mortal."
"Bull. I've been out in twenty-degree weather before without a coat," Dawn argued, but she secretly agreed with him.
His breath caressed the back of her neck and his arms were protectively around her. It was nice to be riding a horse without doing all of the work. The sky was frosted with stars and brushed with clouds. The moon was still out. The trees stood black and motionless against the grass and leaves which now had a coating of silvery frost. The world seemed so peaceful, even when the man she both fantasized about and feared was at her back.
And I need you now tonight,
and I need you more than ever,
if you would only hold me tight
we'll be holding on forever
and we'll only be making it right
cause we'll never be wrong
together we can take it to the end of the line
you're love is like a shadow on me all of the time.
The ride ended much too soon.
"The door's locked, so I gotta go back up the tree," Dawn laughed, "I hope I don't slip."
Klaus looked at the window she was preparing to climb into, then at the tree, then at her.
"You came down that way? Why?"
Dawn laughed.
"Why? Because I didn't want anyone knowing where I was going. Katrina would have given me this motherly disapproving expression, Ichabod would have passed out, and I'm not sure what Masbeth would have done. He probably wouldn't have liked it and told Ichabod."
Klaus laughed.
"Ichabod is so easily frightened. It is a good thing I never had to go after him. He would not have fought back. I was always grateful for when the others fought back because I thought they had chances."
Dawn slid off the horse, but she took his hand.
"Listen to me," she demanded, surprising him yet again, "it's over. O-ver. Not your fault. You have to stop beating yourself up over that. It might not even be what you did holding you here; it's probably your guilt because you didn't do anything about it."
I don't know what to do,
I'm always in the dark,
we're living in a powder keg
and giving off sparks...
Silence.
"God, I sound like Dr. Phil," Dawn joked, then, remembering that Klaus did not know who Dr. Phil was, she gave him a short explanation.
"Thanks for the ride," Dawn said, "and thanks for letting me have the cape-thing that one day. And letting me use you as a pillow. I should get inside now. See you later."
He watched her as she scrambled up the tree, unafraid of the height. She disappeared inside for a moment, then leaned back out so he could see her face. He waved goodbye and they headed back to his tree.
Dawn smiled, watching them go before she closed the window.
I really need you tonight,
forever's gonna start tonight,
forever's gonna start...
She stripped and put on the nightgown. Most of the time, she slept in her underwear because the nightgown was way too hot, but it was chilly in the room tonight. She slid under the covers, smiling.
She likes you, Daredevil commented to Klaus, who had, once again, stretched out in the floor by the fire.
One upon a time, I was falling in love,
now I'm only falling apart.
There's nothing I can do,
total eclipse of the heart
Emotions whirled through his insides like a violent storm. Klaus had not felt this way in years.
She came to you, even though she was uncertain. Without Flash. In the middle of the night when she could have been attacked by a wild animal. She risked a lot and did not think about it.
Klaus was silent.
Now what are you going to do?
"I do not know," he answered truthfully, "the last to care for me was Hanne. My heart has been made of ice and stone since then."
A heart that does not beat can still be broken, Daredevil informed him, there are stronger things of this world than ice or stone, because even these can be broken, even melted.
He left his master to his thoughts.
Klaus got up and wandered to his bedroom. There, he undressed and slid between the blood-red sheets. He closed his eyes, but sleep did not come for a long time.
He was too busy thinking about Dawn.
He could still feel her firm grip on his cold hands. It seemed as though fire pulsed through her veins rather than blood; her hands were hot. There was fire beneath those dark eyes. He may very well have met his match. He'd always thought himself a force to be reckoned with, but his roughness, aggressiveness, and commanding demeanor paled in comparison to hers. Dawn was no mere lady, she was a tiger in a human's body.
At last, sleep overcame him.
Once upon a time, there was light in my life,
now there's only love in the dark.
There's nothing I can say,
total eclipse of the heart.