Rescue Me

A.N.: I can't write a coherent author's note at the moment, because I am dead from the sheer awesome that is every single one of you. This story has more than 300 follows, which blows my mind in ways I can't even comprehend. You guys are amazing, and I'm super stoked you enjoyed Kol's arrival.

Um, and okay. How freaking wicked was the winter finale? Was anyone else seriously turned on during Klaus' O Holy Night massacre? Or…am I just a creep?

But seriously. I'm so glad to see dark!Klaus make a return. As much as I love fluffy Klaus with Caroline, I think it's super important people remember that he's still technically a villain.

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"Always keep a quarter between your knees, Caroline. Trust me. It's a sure fire way to keep your ass out of trouble when the hormones start raging."

Her Grandma Ida's voice was echoing in her head, and Caroline was suddenly wishing she had paid more attention to her cranky old grandmother's advice when she was growing up.

If she had, she more than likely wouldn't be in the situation she was in now.

She could practically hear her grandma's "I told you so" from beyond the grave.

Caroline could feel the heat rise to her face the longer Kol—as Klaus had addressed him seconds ago—took in the scene before him with an almost gleeful expression. She didn't miss the way his smug, arrogant smirked seemed to spread the second his eyes dropped below her chin level, and she was reminded very quickly that she was half naked, on a couch, with the other Mikaelson brother.

Klaus seemed to come to the same conclusion, because in a flash, an annoyed growl was crawling its way through his throat as he shifted his position, shielding Caroline from his brother's wandering gaze as he reached down and scooped up her discarded shirt. He turned, shooting her an apologetic glance as he pressed the fabric into her hands. "Put it on, love," he murmured quietly, but insistently, his gaze turning back to glare at his brother.

Kol was completely unrepentant as Caroline pulled the wrinkled material over her head, straightening and pulling at it until she was sure she was fully covered, before running a hand through her tousled tresses in an attempt to tame the mess Klaus' hands had surely made. She let her hand run down the length of her face as she bit back a groan.

A chuckle from behind her finally made her turn, and she watched as the younger brother strolled further into the room, dropping the duffel bag that was perched on his shoulder to the floor with a loud thump. "What? No, 'Hello, brother. Long time no see. You look as dashing as ever!' Honestly, Nik, I was expecting a bit more of a warmer welcome from you."

Klaus scoffed, checking once more to make sure Caroline was properly covered—and trying not to be too disappointed at the disappearance of her delectable skin—before he rose to his feet. "Perhaps a bit more of a warning then, brother," he said, irritation lacing his words. "I think we both know what tends to happen when you go lurking about in doorways."

Kol laughed, his handsome, youthful face stretched out in a wide grin, and Caroline could easily see the younger brother in him. "Old habits die hard," he said, tilting his head as he attempted to peer around his older brother at her. "Though I can easily see why your attention was otherwise diverted from my grand arrival. Hello, darling. Who might you be?"

Caroline rose to her feet, clearing her throat as smiled self-consciously. "Caroline," she said, stepping towards him and holding out of her hand. She caught Klaus frowning at her motion from the corner of her eyes, his gaze traveling between her and his brother as he shrugged into his own shirt.

Kol's face brightened, and he grinned as he took her hand in his. "The same Caroline that's been such a thorn in Rebekah's side for months? Well, in that case, love, we have a great deal in common. I believe we'll be fine friends then," he said, raising her hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. He looked up at her, winking. "Emphasis, on 'fine.'"

Caroline laughed, shaking her head, even as Klaus came up to her side, encircling her waist with his arm and gently tugging her away from his brother's grasp. "That's enough, Kol," he muttered under his breath.

"Nik, please," Kol drawled, throwing out his arms at his sides. "I'm merely exchanging pleasantries with the lovely Caroline."

Klaus ignored him, relaxing slightly when he felt Caroline's hand slip into the back pocket of his jeans reassuringly.

The subtle motion didn't go unnoticed by Kol, who observed it with an arched brow. "Anyway," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Atlantic City was losing its appeal. And once Rebekah told me that the prodigal brother had already arrived to Mystic Falls, I knew I just had to come and join the pre-wedding fun." He grinned, looking at Caroline again. "Clearly, you already have a head start."

Feeling Klaus tense next to her, Caroline smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Sorry, but I don't really think you could handle our level of fun, Kol."

"Oooh," Kol crooned, laughing as he shook his head, catching the smirk that formed on his brother's lips. "Beautiful and a sharp tongue. That's quite a deadly combination there, love. I'm sure you keep Nik on his toes. Though really, sweet Caroline, you shouldn't make assumptions. For all you know, it's you who can't handle MY fun."

Caroline rolled her eyes, shaking her head as a smile tugged at her lips. "Okay, on THAT note," she said, pulling her arm from around Klaus' waist and looking up at him. "I have more phone calls to make. And your brother just saw me almost naked. So I'm going to take what little dignity I have left, and go do my Best She-man duties. So you two go…bond or whatever it is long-lost brothers do and I will talk to you later…okay?"

Klaus nodded reluctantly, much rather preferring to whisk her away and finish what they had started on the couch. But she raised her eyebrows slightly, offering up a small, shy smile, and he knew that their talk later would involve much more than just words and a shared annoyance of Kol.

Hands in the back pocket of her jeans, she turned, smiling politely at the still smirking younger Mikaelson. "Kol, it was nice to meet you."

He grinned. "Believe me, Caroline, the pleasure was aaall mine."

Scoffing, Caroline rolled her eyes, shooting Klaus one more smile before she made her way to the stairs, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face when she could clearly feel Klaus' gaze burning into her back as she made her way to the next floor.

Klaus stared after her, admiring the way her hips swayed in a way he imagined was meant to be innocent but only sent ravishing images of those hips rising to meet his racing through his head. It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to forgo a reunion with his brother and follow her up those stairs. But Kol's hand slapping down onto his shoulder followed by an amused chuckle broke him from his less than proper thoughts, and he turned his head to see his brother looking at him with an amused expression.

"Well, aren't you just the smitten kitten, Niklaus."

The complete and utter joy in the tone of his voice made Klaus roll his eyes and shrug off his grip, casting an irritated scowl over his shoulder.

"I'm merely making an observation, brother," Kol said, smiling. "After all, who knew all it took for my big brother to mellow out a smidge was some long blonde hair and a pair of amazing perky—"

Klaus whipped towards him, eyes narrowed. "Say another word and I'll tear out your liver."

Kol raised his hands. "Cheekbones, brother. Must your mind always go to that dark, perverted place?" He made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Shame on you, Niklaus. She's seems like such a sweet girl."

Klaus gritted his teeth, closing his eyes as he shook his head and turned on his heel towards the kitchen. "Come on, then," he muttered under his breath. "If I'm going to survive the next few weeks with you around, I'm going to have to be much more inebriated than I am right now."

Kol laughed, clapping his hands once as he quickly caught up with him, wrapping one arm around his shoulder and the other across his chest. "Just like old times, brother."

Even Klaus couldn't stop the smile from crossing his face.

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Four hours later, Caroline sprawled out on her bed with an exhausted sigh. And it wasn't the type of exhaustion she would have much rather experienced for the afternoon with a certain curly haired Brit.

No, instead Caroline had spent the better part of the afternoon dealing with caterers and florists and the man with the thick Russian accent that insisted the swan ice sculpture would go best with the theme of the wedding. And she couldn't even really dispute it, since Rebekah really didn't have much of a theme other than the term "perfection."

She'd rescheduled the dress fitting, set up a time to choose the appetizers, and somewhere in between managed to sneak a phone call to Stefan's partner at the firm to make sure his coming bachelor party wouldn't land him in hot water with the future Mrs. Salvatore.

She sighed, leaning back against her pillows as she closed her eyes and threw an arm over her face.

This day had been quite the adventure.

Wake up from mind-blowing sex, have a minor meltdown, continue with more mind-blowing sex, then proceed to fight with said sexual partner, discover startling revelations about each other, kiss and almost make up, then get caught half naked and panting by said sexual partner's younger sibling. Throw in her awkward five minute conversation with her mother cancelling lunch once more, and Caroline could safely say this day was a day that was destined to send her to an early grave from stress induced trauma.

Lying in the silence of the room, Caroline couldn't help but let her thoughts drift towards Klaus. As much as she hated it, she still had some misgivings about delving into things with him. Yes, she liked him. He made her smile and laugh in ways she hadn't in years. He made her feel beautiful and intelligent, and like maybe there was so much more out there for her to accomplish.

But he clearly was hiding more than he was revealing.

She couldn't help the sick feeling she got in her stomach when she thought of Klaus' father and the horrendous abuse he was sure to have suffered at his hands. All because of something that was completely beyond his control. It made her sick to think of Klaus as a small boy, living in fear that every action or word he spoke would invoke a wrath that left him terrified.

But she couldn't help but think there was more to it. Something other than his horrible childhood was accountable for the shadows in his eyes and the wariness with which he carried himself. Something he seemed so completely unwilling to share…

And even as she thought it, she realized the hypocrisy of her own thoughts.

The bed suddenly shifted underneath her, and she started, opening her eyes as she started to push herself into a sitting position. But then Klaus' lips were pressing to hers and his hands were pushing her back into the mattress, wrapping around her waist as his body slid gracefully over hers. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him closer.

"What happened to brotherly bonding," she asked, pulling her lips away from his, then smiling when he quickly set work to kissing down the column of her neck.

His breath ghosted against her skin as he laughed, his hands traveling teasingly down her sides to rest on her hips. "Bekah waltzed through the door and became Kol's new subject of torment." His lips drifted across her jaw, over her cheek, and up her to ear. "He's taken quite a fancy to you, love."

Caroline laughed, catching the possessive tone in his voice, and she shook her head, curling her fingers into his blonde curls as his lips continued their expedition. "Seriously? Your brother catches us half naked, with you on top of me, about to shimmy me out of my panties, and you're jealous? Really?"

"You're not familiar with Kol," Klaus replied, pressing his lips her shoulder. "He doesn't have any sense of boundaries. Can never get it through that thick skull when something's not his."

Caroline's fingers stopped their caress against his scalp, and she shifted slightly, looking down at him with a furrowed brow. "Are you saying I'm yours?" she asked, uncertainty on her face.

His lips stopped their gentle caress, and he slowly raised his head to meet her gaze, his face a mask of some emotional mixture she couldn't quite pinpoint. He stared at her for a long moment before leaning forward and capturing her lips in a slow, sensual kiss.

It wasn't an answer. It was barely an indication.

But it still sent a shiver down her spine.

Her hands traveled to the buttons of his shirt, quickly undoing the only two that held the material together. She pushed herself up, hands braced against his smooth bare chest, and she pushed, sending him toppling to the side as she threw a leg over his, effectively pinning him to the mattress. He grinned up at her, wrapping a hand in her hair and bringing her lips to his again.

Breaking the kiss, Caroline smiled as she pressed her lips against his throat, her mouth following the path her hands were leading across his collarbone and down his chest, her tongue darting out to trace patterns against his scarred flesh. She heard him let out a low moan as her lips traced the skin above his navel, and then her fingers were tracing the edge of the scar that had caused their rift earlier. She stopped, lifting her head to inspect in more closely, and then she was looking up at him.

Klaus' eyes were staring down at her , that familiar wary expression on his face. She sighed, letting her fingers graze the upraised flesh. "Where is he now?" she asked, looking up at him again. "Mikael?"

"Dead," Klaus replied simply, his finger absentmindedly playing with a strand of curl that rested against his hand. "A car accident, five years ago. He was drunk and drove into a guardrail." He didn't add that it wasn't a quick death, and that his so-called father sat pinned beneath the crushed metal of his car for hours before help arrived.

She nodded, biting her lower lip as she let that information sink in. Did it make her a horrible person to be relieved that such an evil man no longer walked the Earth? She looked at the scar again, noticing its length and obvious depth, and she couldn't help but ask, "How did he give you this one?"

She prepared herself for another deflection or argument, an outburst to show her just how uncomfortable he was with her questions. But instead he just shrugged, his free hand coming up to wrap around her hip. "He was disappointed at my complete inability as a 13-year old to change a flat," he stated, his fingers caressing the exposed skin between her shirt and pants. "He was drunk and had a tire iron handy." Her startled gasp was enough to make him freeze, and he met her shocked gaze.

"He hit you with a tire iron?"

Klaus stared at her for a moment, searching her gaze for that familiar flash of pity he had been so accustomed to as a boy, but instead he saw nothing but horror and concern for him. He shrugged again, once more continuing his ministrations against her skin.

"Do your siblings know? Your mother?"

"Elijah and Finn know. Kol, Rebekah and Henrik were blissfully kept in the dark. They knew of Mikael's distaste for me, but not the whole extent. Esther, on the other hand…"

He trailed off, and Caroline nodded, letting the subject drop. She hadn't expected him to answer her question, let alone the ones that followed. But she knew better than to press her limits. They were moving forward now. The last thing she wanted was to land two steps back.

"So people don't ask about the scars then?" she asked, her hands tracing patterns across his chest. "Rebekah or anyone?"

"I don't let people see them," he replied.

"Why not?"

He smirked, his fingers released her hair to brush against her cheek. "Why do you avoid returning to Mystic Falls?" he asked, watching her scoff softly and nod. "People look at them, and only see the scars."

Caroline nodded, shifting her weight so she straddled him completely, pushing herself up until her nose barely brushed his chin. "Yeah," she whispered softly, her lips pressing against the stubble on his jaw. "Well, maybe I just see the survivor underneath."

She spoke so earnestly, those words she whispered against his skin, and Klaus could feel his chest tighten. Never before had someone been so gentle with him. Her touch so light and yet it spoke volumes against her skin. Never had someone learned the truth about his battle scars and not looked at him with pity and disdain.

Never before had he ever felt so at ease with another person than he did with the blonde angel in his arms.

He shook his head slightly, gently reaching up and cupping the side of Caroline's face as he pulled her to him, crushing her lips to his. He felt her sigh against him, and he deepened the kiss, shifting their position until he hovered over her, her body pressed delightfully against his.

He whispered her name against her lips, his hands sneaking their way under her shirt to caress her skin, and he dedicated the next several hours to showing her just how much her words were appreciated.

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Blech. Blech, blech, blech.

Okay. This chapter was not one of my finest. But I kind of needed a filler chapter before we dove into the rest of the story. So forgive me. I know it's very blech, but I hope you enjoyed at least a portion of it.

Klaus is slowly but surely opening up to Caroline…but will she do the same?

Next up we have a Founder's Family gathering, more Mikaelson relatives, a few skeletons in all the closets that are just dying to make an appearance.

So, please review, let me know what you think, even if you think it's horrible and awful. I take all criticisms. Though if you tell me it was horrible and awful, I may just cry into a bowl of Ben and Jerry's until I update again. Which will be soon, to make up for the wait with this one.

Once again, feel free to stalk me on Tumblr: klarolineepiclove

Until next time, my lovelies!