From here things get...way away from canon, but I'll try my best to keep it show-like if you know what I mean. I have a plan...kind of. Plans are subject to change, though. As always, thank you for all the kind feedback and I hope you enjoy :-) Also, as always: No fowl, no harm.
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"Would you believe I'm having a bad day?"
Hayley screams as she doubles over in agonizing pain, clutching her stomach. She's curled up on a camping cot in the corner of an empty crypt. Her whole body is drenched in sweat and her matted hair sticks to her face, making her look like a crazed drug-addict in the throes of withdrawal.
The scream echoes loudly off the walls of the tomb, causing the other occupants of the crypt to wince.
Elijah whirls around on the five witches huddled in a group around a small fire. "Do something!" He motions agitatedly towards Hayley, who is still curled up in pain.
Sophie Deveraux, the ring leader of the witch-resistance looks up from the middle of the group and shakes her head. "Not until he does as he is told," she says ominously, pointing towards Klaus.
Klaus stops his pacing near the entrance of the crypt and sucks in a deep breath as he glares at Sophie then deliberately focuses his attention on Elijah. "Tell me again why I should care, brother?"
Elijah's face clearly shows his dismay with Klaus's apathy. "It is your child, Niklaus. The mother of your child is suffering."
Klaus loses the tenuous hold on his self-control. "She means nothing to me!" He makes a throw-away gesture towards Hayley.
Elijah raises a brow and steps closer to Klaus. "And what of the heir to your once and future kingdom?"
Klaus sucks in another breath, opening his mouth before he clenches it shut. His whole body stiffens before he breaks away with an incoherent noise of frustration, throwing his hands up as he storms out of the crypt.
He shields his eyes against the early morning sun as he stalks down the sandy path between gravestones and crypts. When he reaches the large iron gates at the entrance to Lafayette Cemetery, he leans against one of the sturdy cement pillars flanking them and pulls out his cell-phone, quickly presses a few keys and brings the phone to his ear.
The cheery tone of Caroline's voice comes through the speakers. "Hey, this is Caroline, I'm sorry I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message I promise I'll get back to you. Bye"
"Caroline," Klaus says hesitantly. "I promised myself I wouldn't call. Especially, after you asked me so sweetly for some time away from all the supernatural murk that tends to surround us."
He pauses, looking up across the cemetery in the direction of the crypt where he left Hayley and Elijah.
"But I really just needed to hear your voice, sweetheart. There are things going on down here that have put me a little on edge and I never even got to explain to you what happened. I thought I'd have it all resolved by now, but it looks like it's going to take a while."
He pauses again, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. "I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense, am I? Forgive me, luv. It's just been one of those days."
Klaus ends the call and shoves the phone back into his pocket before he straightens up and raises his chin, striding back towards the crypt with his head held high.
The sun beats down onto Mexico City from a cloudless sky, roasting tourists and locals alike in the busy streets of the bustling city center.
Matt wipes the sweat from his brow and holds up his cell phone to take a snapshot of Rebekah in front of the National Palace.
"You should lose the hat," he says with a smile as he walks up and shows her the picture. "It's just too much."
Rebekah grins at him, tilting her head back to meet his gaze from under the enormously wide rim of the floppy summer hat she's wearing. "You think so?" she asks with a giggle. "I think you might be right."
She looks around them until she spots what she is looking for. "Ah, hold on." She dashes towards a local girl not too far away and addresses her in flawless Spanish.
The girl is in her early twenties and wears a stylish outfit that will compliment the outlandish hat. She takes the hat with a laugh and a nod, thanking Rebekah before she goes on her merry way.
Rebekah jogs back to Matt and pulls a pair of sunglasses from her small purse, setting them on her nose. "There is that better?"
"Much better." Matt lays an arm around Rebekah's shoulder as they continue to stroll across the large plaza.
They are just passing an impromptu show of Aztec dancers in traditional costumes with large feather head-dresses when Rebekah's cell phone starts to vibrate inside her purse.
Rebekah stops to pull it out and looks at the caller ID on display. "It's my brother," she says with a frown.
"Klaus?" Matt's brows fly up in surprise as he takes an automatic step backwards.
Rebekah shakes her head with a confused expression on her face as she pushes the accept button and brings the phone to her ear. "Elijah?"
The last light of the day is still filtering in through the french doors when Klaus returns to his hide-away apartment across from the French Market.
As he takes the last couple of steps up the narrow wooden stairs, he comes to an abrupt halt just past the broken part of the iron handrail at the top.
Caroline is standing by one of the french doors, turning her back on the view to look at him. "So, what exactly is it that you were going to explain?"
Klaus is at a lack for words, standing frozen for another moment before he jolts into motion. "That's one hell of a conversation starter, luv." He heads straight for the bottle of alcohol and the single glass on the night stand.
He fills the glass, gulps down the contents and refills it before he looks at Caroline. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Can I offer you a drink?" He holds out the glass towards her.
Caroline snorts and rolls her eyes, but takes the glass from him anyway. "I didn't burn through thousands of bonus miles last minute for a shot of booze." She knocks back the alcohol and hands the glass back to him. "You said it was something supernatural."
Klaus refills the glass slowly, avoiding direct eye contact as he remains quiet.
She watches him carefully as she speaks. "And you said it has you on edge." Her eyes move over his face and body. "Anything that can set a thousand year old immortal hybrid on edge has to be really bad. So what is it?"
Klaus looks up at her for a split second, then abruptly moves around her towards the other side of the small area between the bed, the bathtub and the banister.
"Oh, my god," Caroline says slowly as she narrows her eyes. "What did you do?"
His chin jerks up as he meets her gaze directly, his eyes wide in surprise. "Who says I did anything?"
Caroline scoffs. "You have 'guilt' written all over your face. Now, what did you do?" She stresses each single word as she starts to close the distance between them.
Klaus inhales deeply and releases the breath in an explosive sigh. His expression is somber when he motions towards the bed. "You might want to sit down for this."
Caroline crosses her arms in front of her chest and raises her chin, not moving an inch from where she stands.
"Suit yourself," Klaus mutters under his breath.
He takes a sip of his drink and looks at her challengingly. "I screwed Hayley."
