Thanks for the kind words yet again. My apologies for yet another cliff hanger, I just can't help myself. I tried to get this one up a little quicker than usual, so I hope you're still following me. Anyway without further ado, onto the next chapter.
Chapter 21: Political Persuasion
Klaus walked out into the dark car park towards his car shivering slightly at the unusually cool air for this time of year.
He produced his cell phone and switched it on hearing several loud chimes indicating multiple messages. He consulted the screen noticing there were also multiple missed calls. His thoughts immediately flew to Caroline.
Klaus realised something must have happened while he was away from the hospital. He didn't want to turn off his phone but under the circumstances thought it was best, although he really should have learnt his lesson after the last time. He dialled a familiar number waiting for it to connect.
"It's about time you returned my call." Elijah growled into his ear.
"No hello or anything, it must be serious." Klaus said hoping the news was good. "Is Caroline okay? Is she awake yet?"
"You know I'm not sure you deserve an answer Niklaus." He replied tersely.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He asked wondering what had gotten into his older brother.
"Well while you've been wining and dining journalists…"
"Woah hold on! What are you talking about?"
"Oh I think you know what I'm talking about. Does the Lincoln ring any bells?" Elijah asked. Klaus inhaled sharply not expecting his brother of all people to know about his earlier visit there with Hayley.
"What do you know about it?'
"Just that you were seen there with a certain Times Journalist, one that I stupidly thought you didn't like."
"I don't." He scowled.
"Yet you still found time to have dinner with her while Caroline was lying comatose at the hospital."
"I left the hospital for her if you recall." He muttered through gritted teeth, what the hell did his family want from him? "And you didn't answer my question, is Caroline okay?" Elijah was silent obviously wondering what to say.
"She's awake."
"That's great." He smiled thinking how all he wanted to do was look into her beautiful blue eyes. "I'm on my way."
"Well I'm not sure Caroline feels that way."
"What does that mean Elijah, damn it stop talking in riddles." He fumed losing patience fast.
"She saw you Niklaus."
"She saw me where?"
"With Hayley at the Lincoln, you were caught on camera by Washington Confidential Niklaus." Klaus was silent for a moment processing what his brother was saying.
"Please tell me…" He started before Elijah interrupted.
"She saw you." He reiterated for his benefit.
"It's not what it looked like." Klaus explained hoping his brother would understand.
"Well it looked pretty damning, especially given how much you supposedly hate her." He said. "Caroline's pretty upset, which is completely understandable."
"She's got it all wrong, you all do." He babbled nervously wondering how he was going to explain himself.
"Look right now I don't care Niklaus, I have to see how Katherine is doing, she's pretty mad."
"I know but I promise I'll explain everything when I get there." He disconnected jumping into his car and hoping that he could fix the damage that had already been done.
Klaus hardly noticed the scenery rushing past him he was so deep in thought. He couldn't believe Caroline had seen them together, when he agreed to go out with Hayley he never imagined this would happen. His mind wandered back to how it all started.
"Senator what are you doing here?" She asked curiously her brown doe eyes wide and expressive. Klaus froze momentarily trying to work out how to explain his presence at the hospital.
"Hello Hayley." He said slowly trying to buy some time. "My sister, Rebekah, is actually here. I've been visiting her."
"Oh I hope she's going to be okay." She smiled sweetly.
"She will be." He replied confidently. "And what are you doing here at this time of night?"
"I heard the terrible news about Caroline Forbes and I came down to see if she was okay." Sure you did he thought
"Yes I did hear something about that, it's terrible news." He said thinking just how awful it all was, and what a nerve she had even showing up at the hospital.
"It is." She agreed nodding her head vigorously. "Actually I'm glad I ran into you." She said pausing momentarily obviously trying to work out what to say. "I'm sorry about that story we ran on Tatia."
"Really?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes really." She stuttered. "I should have asked you for comment before running the story."
"Well there is always two sides to a story Hayley. I thought that was the first thing you would have learnt in journalism." He shot back trying to conceal his disdain.
"Yes well obviously I made a mistake." She replied feebly. "Maybe I could take you out for a drink and you could tell me your side of the story."
"To be honest that's the last thing on my mind if you must know." He replied testily, thinking how little he cared about clearing his name right now with everything happening to Caroline. "Now if you'll excuse me."
He began to move away thinking just how much he despised her before he heard her speak again, her tone suddenly very different.
"Well I was trying to be nice about everything but I guess I'll just have to come out and say it." He turned on his heel, her sudden change in attitude intriguing him. "I know Senator."
"Know what?" He replied inhaling sharply, did she know about him and Caroline?
"I know why Rebekah is in hospital and I know why Caroline is in hospital, funnily enough there's a common link." She said smugly. "Alexander." Klaus remained calm not wanting to give anything away.
"Obviously I don't want to reveal my sources but I saw the police report detailing his attack on your sister." She said obviously trying to get some reaction out of him.
"So what you're going to write about that monster attacking my sister?" He growled thinking she really must have been the devil.
"You don't think very highly of me do you Senator?" She asked arching her eyebrows innocently.
"Well given past experiences do you blame me Hayley?"
"No I suppose not but even after I found that information I wasn't going to write about it." She said. "Although today's events have me very curious indeed."
"Well as much as I'd love to chat I have to go." He said trying to end their conversation before she reached her conclusion.
"I was trying to understand why your brother in law would shoot Caroline."
"I don't know, maybe because he's a crazed maniac." He muttered.
"Well it seems to be too much of a coincidence if you know what I mean?" She asked. "Unless of course there is something going on with you and Caroline Forbes?"
"That's ridiculous Hayley." He drawled trying to act casual. "Now if you'll excuse me." He said trying to get away from her for the second time.
"Well I have witnesses to prove otherwise." She said mysteriously. Klaus briefly wondered if she did have witnesses or was just making it up to catch him out.
"Caroline is a journalist, we have a working relationship just like you and I have, or had until you wrote those lies about me." He spat trying to divert the conversation away from Caroline.
"Well how about you take me up on that offer of a drink. I know you and Caroline would do the same, then we can talk about what really happened."
Klaus faltered not sure what to do. He knew he didn't want anything to do with Hayley which meant not going anywhere with her. At the same time he was worried about what she did actually know and whether refusing her invitation would result in another front page splash.
Klaus knew how much this would hurt Caroline and that was the last thing he wanted to do, especially given her current condition. Klaus inhaled deeply knowing what he had to do, he'd go with Hayley, convince her nothing was going on and then be back in time to see Caroline open her beautiful eyes.
"Why not?" He said. "I could do with a drink." Her smile grew and Klaus knew he had done the right thing, well he hoped so anyway
Klaus came to a standstill at the traffic lights, tapping the steering wheel impatiently wishing he was there already so he could explain himself to Caroline. After everything she'd been through the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, he just hoped it wasn't too late.
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"Of all the idiotic things my brother has done." Rebekah seethed pacing back and forth in the hospital room.
"Calm down Beks, it not good for you to be getting so worked up." Stefan reasoned. "Anyway we don't even know what happened."
"Well they looked pretty cosy." She cried the image of her brother and Hayley filling her mind. "Seriously this is typical of Niklaus, things start to fall in place and he has to mess them up."
"You don't know he messed anything up."
"Maybe but it doesn't look good, you have to admit that Stef."
"No it doesn't look good." He soothed trying to allay her concerns. "What I do know is how he feels about Caroline and this thing with Hayley just doesn't make sense."
"Yeah I suppose you're right." She relented. "Especially after that article she wrote about Benjamin. I just don't understand what he was doing and why he looked so comfortable with her."
"It's television Beks, they can make anything look sordid." He said knowingly. "I think it's best to just wait for him to get here and explain himself."
"You seem way too calm." She observed.
"It's in my nature." He said shrugging his shoulders. "Trust me I'm surrounded by all these neurotic women, I need to have these skills to deal with you."
"Neurotic hey?" She asked arching her eyebrows.
"Yes, try working with Bonnie, Caroline and Katherine. If they ask me one more time what a guy wants I might scream." He vented earning a laugh from Rebekah. Stefan looked at her happy to see her face light up and the melodic tone of her chuckle.
"So Stefan what do women want?" She asked curiously.
"Well in summary I'd probably have to say a tall and handsome Mikaelson." He joked. "Although in your case I'm not quite sure."
"Well you've got the tall and handsome part right." She smiled. "Plus he has to love basketball and pineapple."
"Oh really?" He asked kinking his left eyebrow. "I never took you for the pineapple type."
"Well truthfully I'm not but there's something kind of cute about it."
"Well anytime you need cute I'm here." He said his expression softening at her remark. "I'm, um sorry about before, I didn't mean to rush you."
"I know." She said lowering her gaze. "I know what I feel for you Stef but it's hard to get past everything I've been through."
He reached forward taking her hand and squeezing it affectionately. "I know Beks and I want you to know I'll be here for you, whatever you need and however long it takes." She felt her cheeks flush at his sweet gesture.
"Thanks." She said her voice husky from his confession. She had never loved anyone but him and just wished they hadn't wasted so much time apart.
"So I'm bored." Kol drawled walking into the room and interrupting their moment. They looked at each both trying not to roll their eyes.
"What happened little brother?" Rebekah asked finally tearing her eyes away from Stefan.
"The girls are gossiping." He sighed. "I can only take so much."
"What because you're not the centre of attention?" Stefan asked.
"No." He said his exasperation clear. "I think they are going the extra mile trying to take Caroline's mind of you know what."
"Hayley." Rebekah growled. She even hated the sound of her name.
"Yep, they are doing everything to get her mind off her but if you ask me Caroline isn't convinced."
"Well I don't blame her." Rebekah said. "Any word from Niklaus?"
"Elijah said he's on his way." Kol said. "I can't wait to hear his explanation for this."
"You and me both." Rebekah murmured.
"Hey aren't you supposed to be his siblings?" Stefan asked. "What happened to innocent until proven guilty?"
"You didn't grow up with Mikael obviously." Kol said. "Anyway I never said I don't believe him, I'm just waiting to hear his side of the story."
"Well let's just wait and see." Stefan said confidently. Even though they hadn't been close for a few years he still felt he knew Klaus and the Klaus he knew wouldn't have done that if he was in love and by all accounts he was head over heels for Caroline.
Stefan hoped it was true because if not he was pretty sure he'd kill him. They'd become close over the past months and Stefan knew she deserved the best, especially after everything she'd been through.
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"He's on his way." Elijah said feebly wondering if anything would take the stormy look from the brunette's face.
"Great when he gets here I can kill him." She cried.
"He said there's an explanation Katherine."
"I can't see what explanation he could have for that." She cried. "I saw the footage they looked pretty friendly Elijah."
"I know but we need to wait and see." He said hurriedly. "There could be a very simple explanation for all of this."
"What?" She asked through squinted eyes. "That he went out for a cosy drink with that nasty piece of work while his supposed girlfriend was lying comatose in a hospital?"
"You need to calm down."
"I need to calm down?" She asked. "You weren't there to witness my best friend, who coincidentally had just woken up from a coma, seeing the person she hates most canoodling with her boyfriend."
"I realise that Katherine." He said. "I have no idea what she must be thinking but we need to believe that there was a reason for this."
"Like what exactly?" She cried.
"After that story she did on Benjamin do you really believe that Niklaus would be stupid enough to fall for her charms?"
"Hey I have no idea how the male anatomy works." She scoffed.
"You can't think he would be that easily swayed."
"Well who knows?" She asked her protectiveness for Caroline kicking in.
"I know Niklaus has his faults but I don't believe he would do this." He explained. "I've never seen him in love until he met Caroline."
"Well he has a funny way of showing it." She muttered.
"I understand you're mad but you need to calm down."
"Oh I need to calm down." She countered. "Seriously if you say that to me one more time."
"You do Katherine, you're being unreasonable."
"I should have known really given you are related." She accused. "We were getting close and then you turn around and start dating other women." Elijah gasped in shock wondering what had made her bring that up.
"I only dated because you rejected me if you remember." He said through gritted teeth.
"I didn't reject you."
"As much as I don't want to re-live things all over again that's exactly what happened Miss Pierce." He shouted his hurt well and truly showing. "You ran out on me."
"Well it probably never would have worked anyway." She blurted out.
"You know what? I think you're right Miss Pierce." He cried. "I would never be with someone so guarded."
"I'm guarded." She shot back. "You are the epitome of guarded."
"Well even so maybe that's why we're not meant to be together."
"You know what, fine." She hollered. "I have an upset best friend to deal with right now so if you'll excuse me." She stormed off not even bothering to turn back.
Elijah was upset, his breath ragged from their impromptu fight. He couldn't believe after everything that'd been through the past few days it had ended like this. Katherine Pierce may have been upset but she had no right to speak to him like that. Elijah realised it was best to cut his losses now before he got even more hurt.
He turned on his heel suddenly feeling claustrophobic, desperate to leave the confines of the hospital. He had no idea why he'd bothered to stay there this long.
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Klaus tore through the streets desperate to get to the hospital the evening's events with Hayley running through his mind.
"So want to tell me what's going on?" She cooed scooting over in the booth so she was closer to him. He had already moved to the other side of the booth and had nowhere to go, he was stuck. Klaus cleared his throat thinking how much Hayley unnerved him. He knew he had to act like he was enjoying himself although it wasn't going to be easy. He smiled albeit uneasily.
"I told you before Hayley there's nothing going on." He replied trying not to sound as annoyed as he did right then.
"Well why do I have people telling me otherwise then?" She asked cocking her left eyebrow.
"You keep referring to all these sources and witnesses yet you haven't named any."
"Well given I want to keep them as sources naming them would defeat the purpose Senator." She drawled placing her hand dangerously close to his on the table and staring into his eyes deeply.
"Well I've already told you we have a working relationship Hayley so I'm going to leave it at that." He said dismissively her line of questioning rubbing him the wrong way.
"Here I was thinking you were going to open up to me." She pouted. "I thought we were starting to be friends again." He arched his eyebrows the use of the term friends not sitting well with him.
"Well I think being friends would take a lot of work especially after everything that's happened Hayley."
"I know and I'm willing to do everything I can to make it up to you." She said. "Starting with Tatia."
"I told you I'm not interested in talking about that." Dredging up the past was definitely not what he felt like doing right now.
"Well unless you'd prefer to talk about Caroline and this connection with Alexander and Rebekah?"
Klaus knew he definitely didn't want to talk about Caroline or Rebekah or Alexander for that matter. If this was the only way of getting her off the trail then he'd have to do it. He cleared his throat preparing to tell her what transpired in England.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Stefan paced outside the hospital waiting for Klaus to get there. He thought it might be best to meet him out front before he had to face the angry mob of women inside.
He knew there must have been an explanation but wished Klaus would hurry up so everything could go back to normal. Well as normal as their lives could be what with Alexander still on the run.
Stefan balled up his fists, thoughts of that maniac making him furious. He thought he couldn't get any angrier after what he did to Rebekah, but now with what happened to Caroline he was livid. Both were going to be okay eventually although Stefan was worried less about the physical damage and more about the emotional damage he'd caused.
He had never seen Rebekah so scared in his life and all he wanted was to tell her she never had to worry about Alexander again. First they had to find him. He looked over towards the spot where he shot Caroline, the shivers running through his body as the memories flashed through his head.
"Stefan." Klaus cried waking him from his trance.
"Well if it isn't the man of the hour." He said shaking his head, then noticing how visibly distraught he seemed.
"Don't you start; I've already had a scolding from Elijah." He growled. Stefan nodded thinking just how unpleasant that would have been knowing the eldest Mikaelson.
"Hey I'm not starting anything. If you must know I've been defending you to everyone, I just hope I did the right thing." Klaus' face softened happy to have a best friend like Stefan at that moment.
"Thanks man." He replied sincerely rubbing his eyes and thinking just how tired he was. Klaus could probably count on one hand the number of hours sleep he'd had since returning from England. "So Caroline's going to be okay?"
"The doctors seem to think so considering how quickly she came around." Klaus nodded thinking to him it felt like an eternity. "So as much as I want to ask what happened, it's probably best you get your butt in there and explain yourself to Caroline."
Klaus sighed thinking about what he was going to say. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her unnecessarily after the trauma she'd been through. He looked up at Stefan thinking it couldn't hurt to keep her waiting another five minutes while he collected his thoughts.
"Hayley found me at the hospital and all but told me she knew there was something going on with Caroline."
"How did she know?"
"Hayley says she has sources, although she wouldn't name them."
"I'm a journalist and even I know that's a pretty old trick to get someone to confess." Stefan replied knowingly.
"Yeah well that's what I thought so I played it down but she wouldn't give up." He said his frustration obvious.
"So how did this lead to drinks?"
"She offered to take me out, make amends for her story about Benjamin." He said. "I thought if I was nice to her then she'd give up on this Caroline thing."
"Yes very nice, according to Rebekah you two looked very cosy."
"Hey that was all her, I nearly fell off the chair trying to get away from her she was that over friendly."
"So basically trying to help Caroline has pretty much backfired on you." He said shaking his head.
"No need to rub it in man." He grumbled. "Although I have no idea how they managed to film us together."
"According to Katherine that show can sniff out a possible scandal from a mile away." He said quoting the angry brunette.
"The Lincoln is usually pretty discreet though. I've known Rudy the owner for years and trust me I've held some high level secret meetings and its never aired on television before. That's the main reason I suggested it." He said still wondering how they were caught.
"Well I think that's the least of your worries Klaus." Stefan said gesturing towards the hospital where Klaus knew a very angry and upset blonde was housed.
"Yeah tell me about it." He muttered knowing he had to face the music. "Wish me luck." He strode away without hearing Stefan uttering behind him.
"I think you're going to need it man."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Klaus walked down the hall madly trying to search for the right words. He knew he'd done nothing wrong but could imagine how Caroline was feeling, he knew it would be the same if he saw her with another guy.
He approached the door the thoughts cluttering his mind. He needed to calm down. Taking a deep breath he knocked quietly at first then, when he didn't get an answer, he tapped louder.
The door flew open and Klaus was faced with a very grumpy brunette. He gulped loudly not expecting her pissed off best friend to greet him at the door.
"Hi Katherine." He said quietly. She looked at him completely unimpressed before turning around to face Caroline.
"The jackass is here Caroline, I can kick him out if you're not up to it." Klaus ignored her comment instead looking around Katherine his face breaking into a smile at Caroline's gorgeous but annoyed face. He never thought he'd get the chance to look into those beautiful blue eyes again.
She cleared her throat and Klaus could tell she was nervous. Even with her hair slightly rumpled and connected to all those machines she still looked stunning. Klaus held his breath hoping she'd let him explain.
"It's okay Katherine." She relented her voice raspy. Katherine sighed loudly and walked back towards the bed giving her friend a hug.
"I'll be right outside." Klaus heard her say before walking out of the room and almost knocking him over in the process. She was pretty strong for being so small. Klaus smiled wearily at Caroline and walked in having to stop himself from gathering her in his arms and showering her with kisses.
"Hi."
"Hello." She replied shortly not making eye contact. He sat on the bed determined to make her listen. Klaus put his finger under her chin and pulled it upwards so she had no choice but to look at him. "Klaus please don't."
"I know what you saw but there's an explanation Caroline." He said quietly his eyes never leaving hers.
"How exactly do you explain that?" She scoffed swatting his hand away from her face.
"I was sitting here at your bedside when Kol told me Hayley was hanging around. We didn't want to raise her suspicions so I decided to leave just until she'd gone. I was going to come straight back."
"Yet somehow you managed to end up having a cosy drink with the woman who betrayed you." She spat.
"She was in the hall when I left making it pretty hard to avoid her."
"That doesn't explain how you ended up with her at the Lincoln Klaus." She sighed in frustration.
"She thinks something is going on with us." He said quickly making Caroline look up in surprise.
"What makes her think that?"
"She said she has sources that have placed us together, although I think she only said that to get a reaction from me."
"So what you decided to take her out because she might know something, even though you said yourself it was probably just a ruse to get you to confess?"
"That and the fact that she knew Alexander was not only responsible for hurting my sister but hurting you too, she thinks there's a connection." He said hoping he was getting through to her.
"Ah she didn't think maybe it's the fact that he's a maniac?" She asked incredulously. Klaus chuckled thinking that was his exact response when she raised it with him earlier. "I don't really think this is a laughing matter."
"No of course not." He said somberly thinking how insensitive that seemed after everything she'd ben through. "That's just what I said to her but she wasn't giving up easily."
"No that doesn't seem to her thing." She drawled.
"She suggested a drink to smooth things over after the whole Tatia thing."
"I'll bet she did." She muttered.
"I didn't want you to end up on the front page of the paper so I said yes." Caroline looked at him suspiciously almost like she was deciding if he was telling the truth or not.
"Okay even if I believe you, why did you look so friendly with her?"
"Trust me it was all an act Caroline, it made my skin crawl having to pretend. I was just trying to take the attention away from us." She was silent for a moment obviously processing what he was saying.
"So what now you've gone out she's just going to let it go?" Caroline asked.
"Honestly I have no idea when it comes to Hayley, she's completely unpredictable." He said shrugging his shoulders. "I think it's best just to placate her for now just in case, I can handle it."
"Yeah well she's clearly obsessed with you." She gulped.
"Well lucky for you I'm a taken man." He said smiling slightly. "As long as you'll still have me that is." He noticed her face soften slightly, his words obviously having the desired effect.
"Seeing you together really hurt Klaus and it's already been a pretty lousy day." She grumbled. Klaus manoeuvred himself so that he was lying next to her and softly stroked her hair.
"I guess by trying to protect you I just made things worse." He murmured into her hair. "I'm so sorry, especially after everything you've been through."
"Well yes you did." She agreed. "Have you noticed that all we seem to do is apologise to each other?"
"How about we agree to stop apologising and just be happy together?"
"Sounds good to me." She said smiling genuinely for the first time. "I just hope we can do that with crazy Hayley and Alexander on the loose."
"Alexander will get what is coming to him, even if I have to kill him myself." He growled his anger returning with full force. First his sister then Caroline, he was going to pay.
"You won't be doing any such thing mister." She implored placing her hand on his chest.
"I almost lost you because of him Caroline." He replied looking into her eyes his voice thick with emotion. "After everything he did to Rebekah I don't think I could hate him as much as I do now."
"Yeah well leave it up to the police, promise me?" She pleaded with her eyes
"Fine." He said wondering how exactly he would do that but he was willing to try anything for her.
"Not sure if we can fix the Hayley problem that easily." Caroline sighed.
"As soon as you're out of here and things are back to normal." She gave him a look which said things were far from normal. "Okay normal isn't really our thing I'll admit."
"You think?" She laughed despite everything. "So what are we going to do when things are slightly normal?"
"I am going to tell the word that you're my girl." He grinned pulling her closer.
"What about the consequences?"
"We'll work all of that out when it happens Caroline. " He said. "At least it will neutralise the Hayley threat and we won't have to appease her any more."
"I couldn't agree more." She answered. "I'm sick of hiding everything, I want it to be out in the open, even with all the consequences."
"Well at least we agree on that." He said pulling her closer and nuzzling into her neck affectionately. "Just don't ever think about leaving me again."
"I wouldn't dream of it."