Morning comes in through the hotel window as Caroline's eyes flutter open she figures she's only slept a few good hours, she's very comfortable however not wanting to leave or move an inch out of her body pillow. She smiles because he's still here as he hand traces his bottom lip already missing him even though he's right here. She rotates to her right in his arms going for his hands latched together holder her to him and carefully she removes herself from his grasp. "That was easy," she thinks as she tip-toes over to get her luggage and the case by the couch. "Everything is in order," then she notices she still in her undershirt and barefoot looking up towards the bed from the door she sees her shoes. She races towards them sitting on the ground hating that they have laces at the present moment. Then she looks around on the ground to where Klaus could have thrown her sweater last night. After a bit she starts to feel nervous thinking about leaving it behind when she spot it sticking out of the blanket he is covered with, she slowly pulls it out but it's stuck, "Damn It Nik," she looks at him swearing she sees a smirk before she pulls the rest out and runs back to the door. "Good bye Nik," she whispers as she shuts the door walking towards the elevator luggage in tow.
He watches from the window as she goes after throwing on his own shirt and pulling down his sweater he sees her retreating form heading away from him. Klaus should have made her stay "But it wasn't time yet," he thought whispering, "See you soon love." He walks over to the bed pulling his shoes over to where he is seated tying them on smiling like an idiot for what he has in store, first he has to get home. Grabbing the case holding the real statue from under the bed that he placed there before meeting her at the museum he walks out of the room. He greets the front desk as he walks past heading out the hotel doors to the valet station. "My car," he says passing the young man his ticket it's brought to him and he gets in putting the case in the passenger side before driving off. His phone rings, "Mikaelson." He says and the other end responds, "Nik where have been? You can't be running off whenever it pleases you. You're still injured!" he laughs thinking of all he's done, "Rebekah I assure you I'm fine, I'm on my way home I just need to take care of a few things here." There's a pause before she asks, "And where is that, you have yet to answer." He answers hesitantly, "Rebekah, I'm in Russia." There is a silence before he hears the other end disconnect and he runs his hand over his face as he turns into the gate of their home.
At the airport Carline checks in for her flight, "Please enjoy your flight," the lady says handing her back all her paperwork. "I'll try" says Caroline as she picks it up and starts walking away toward the lounge, she has been bumped up in order to make the drop. Making her way there she thinks of him and a smile plays on her lips thinking about how she managed all of this and was alive to talk about it if she could. Sitting in the first class lounge she pulls the case onto her lap peeking inside for a moment before the trade takes place, she thinks, "One peek couldn't hurt." She looks inside automatically seeing what she wished she didn't, "Mother Fuc- " she whispers as a man taps her shoulder. She closes the case standing up to face the man standing by her. "I'll take that." He says as he pulls the case out of her reach walking away leaving her staring, "W-Wait." But he's gone off to meet the head of The Company to see how she did.
"I'm so screwed." She says aloud biting at her finger internally freaking out in her spot before reaching for what is left of her luggage. Then she sees him not to far away talking to one of the stewardess' she marches up to him poking him in the back to get his attention. "You did this!" she yells at him as the man turns but it's not Klaus. She's just mortified as she pats on his shoulder trying to apologize "Sorry sir, I thought you were someone else." He doesn't understand English however he just looks mad, she whispers "Oh great. Bye." The man walks away probably calling her all sorts of things and rubbing his back while Caroline awkwardly waves to his backside and pulls her purse closer to her body. As she makes her way to the line up a string of profanities leave her mouth mostly concerning Klaus. The people behind her think she might actually be mad as she starts to board the plane. She smiles at them noticing that the woman who's been looking over at her concerned and annoyed is going to be sitting next to her. She hears her say, "I always get the crazies." As she moves passed Caroline onto her window seat.
Klaus sits in Mikael's study staring out the massive window holding the statue in his lap with one hand keeping it in place, "What did she want with you? Don't get offended I was asking myself more than you old man," he tells the statue laughing at himself. "What's wrong with you Klaus you're talking to a statue." He gulps down the rest of his drink placing the statue on the desk as he refills his glass from the cabinet behind the desk, "Dad's good stuff." He whispers as he drinks it all at once. He hears movement in hall and doesn't understand why anyone would come here of all places outside of his family no one else came around. "Winston, who is here?" he demands as he walks out of the room the statue still on the desk next to the cup. "Ah sir, it was the wrong address. I don't know how they managed to get passed the gate." Klaus clearly was not convinced with this answer so he walks outside "Victoria." She stops in her track before she turns to face him "Hi Klaus."
Caroline can't manage sleep she feels like she has forgotten how so she watches the provided airline movie instead, "To catch a thief, how relevant." Waking the passenger next to her because she doesn't even bother to whisper anymore Caroline continues, "He's gonna be the end of me. I know it." Her fist lands on armrest. The passenger next to her mumbles, "If you love him then forgive him and let me sleep already." She grumbles an apology to the poor woman before asking the flight attendant for a cup of tea, maybe with vodka. The woman takes her order smiling strangely as she walks away. "I do not love him, she whispers a few minutes later, "I can't do that he bends me to his will as he sees fit like a puppet master. He pulls my strings and I dance! Well no more." She feels empowered with some liquor in her system damning his very shadow. "Shush woman, just have sex with him already. The feeling will leave." Caroline blushes offended and stimulated at once, this attraction to him has really been a nuisance since she met him.
She wakes to the intercom declaring landing is underway and something about safety with a seatbelt. She groans putting hers on, "Home finally." Landing takes place and Caroline removes her seatbelt standing and placing her bag on her shoulder before walking out. Holding her bag close she walks out passing security and into the lobby heading to the restroom quickly. On her way out of the bathroom she bumps into someone a man by the feel of it, "Oh I'm sorry sir. I didn't see you there." Looking up and pulling her hair out of the way she sees his face, she says, "Tyler." She pushes past him hoping he doesn't grab her or try anything but not giving him the chance running to the front damming her luggage to the lost and found. Anna and bonnie wait by the exit and she grabs both their arms pulling them out before he catches up to her, not that she knows he's chasing her. Just in case he is though.
Halfway through the parking lot she starts to hyperventilate, "Oh my God, can you even get asthma 'cause I think I am. Please run fast and get to the car." She says in-between breaths. They lead her to it fast knowing something is wrong more than they thought before. "Caroline. Sweetie what's wrong? Talk please," Bonnie says as they speed off, but Caroline doesn't hear her. "Sweetie you're scaring me. Talk." Bonnie pays the parking fee and bolts. Anna is in the back hugging Caroline, "Bonnie stop you made her cry look at her." She hugs Caroline tighter whispering, "It's okay, tell us when you're ready." She kisses her head as her hand smooth's her hair out trying to relax her. "Tyler…"she mumbles and Bonnie steps on the breaks upon hearing this, "What?" Anna flies forward yelling, "Bonnie road now," she nods speeding off once more "Tyler, Tyler was there in the airport." She's glad that she's sitting 'cause her body would've given out as she replayed seeing him once more wiping away a tear.
"Ow Klaus you're hurting me baby, you know I like it when the event calls for it but this isn't one of them." he lets go of her arm, "Were you always so crass?" she stands in front of him running her hands down his chest, "Thought you liked it. You sure weren't complaining when my hands were here." her hands reaching below his belt as Winston steps outside. "That's not what it looked like," pulling her away and standing in-between her and the door where he stands. "If you insist sir," he bows to Klaus before turning to her, "Ms. Victoria would you come in a moment." Klaus has no inkling as to what is going on as Vicki hugs him and steps into the house. "How does he know her?" he ponders as he stands for a moment before deciding to go in but then he hears a loud bang. Running inside he sees her on the floor dead and the gun in Winston's hand.
"I tried to tell her to stay away but the girl didn't listen, I had to do it master Klaus. I was sworn to." Klaus looks from her to him and demands to know, "Who made you do this Winston? Who made you swear? Why did you kill her?" Winston looks destroyed but dignified as his hand shakes, "She would have told you the truth sir, I could not allow it." Winston starts to back away from the room to avoid Klaus' next question. "What truth! Why does everyone think I'm better off in the dark!" he squats checking for a pulse and reaching for her hand, "She's dead now Winston, dead in this home. Like my mother." Winston comes forward raising the gun upward and bashing it into the back of Klaus' head with a loud 'whack'. He places the gun on the table by the door, "I'm sorry." He moves Klaus away from the blood still seeping from Vicki's body. "It had to be done," the woman's voice comes from behind him, "He will find out eventually but not now."
Winston nods his head to his mistress as he hands the gun to her then bows, "Yes ma'am," he says as he walks around her. She stands surveying the body of the dead girl with utter distaste for her, "Clean this up, Mikael is on his way, we don't need anyone else knowing about her death." She says waving her hand. Walking over to where Klaus is she whispers, "I'm sorry dear boy," as she walks to the office the gun still in her hand looking to see where the statue had been hidden only to see it from the desk and placing it back in the case. She walks out of the office with the artifact in hand walking up the stairs to her room to wait for Mikael's arrival. Klaus awakes in a dark room hours later he quickly realizes he's in the basement, "Get me the hell out of here Winston!" he yells to the silent room. Winston walks out from the shadowy corner and murmurs, "I'm afraid I cannot master Klaus," Klaus tries to shake of the ropes binding him to the old chair that used to sit in the kitchen, "Why in bloody hell not?" he reprimands hoping for answers but not willing to beg. "Orders." Is all he says before he unlocks the door and walks out of basement leaving Klaus to listen to the lock on the door. "Who gave the order? I'm in charge here!" he yells at the door knowing no one is listening.
"Caroline babe, we're here get out of the car, were going to be late," Tyler says as he gets out of his white truck slamming the door as he watches Caroline in the passenger side from the sidewalk. "Hang on Tyler I have to fix this," she says trying to cover the bruises that were forming on her arms since she forgot her cardigan at his house. He hits the window in frustration, "Well hurry up!" he says in an even tone before he starts to walk away. Seeing this she hurries up closing the compact and opening her door, "I'm done." He looks back at her getting out and walking around the truck before he grabs her hand pulling her, "I don't know why you try, you still look like shit," he says as the door opens. She follows behind him smiling happily as Elena hugs her and he walks off to shake hands with Matt. "Hey you okay there Care?" Elena asks as she steps aside to let Caroline in. "Never better." She says.
Caroline wakes from her memory, "I can't believe I ran away from that f-word today. And then I freaked out! What's wrong with me?" she started off strong in her statement but ended up mumbling the rest out. Bonnie pours her a cup of tea that has just been made, "Hey, it is okay. He caught you off guard. If you see him again you will be ready." Bonnie says as she hands her the cup and saucer before sitting on their couch next to her friend. She takes a sip before looking at Bonnie, "No, I won't be, I was at my worst this morning and I still let seeing him make me regress to that same girl. It doesn't matter what I do." Caroline puts the cup on the coffee table and stands as Bonnie says, "That is not true, you are strong. You have trained for years and taken so many classes to learn all sorts of things. You've lived your life, a good one I might add without him." She agrees for a second with her, "Bonnie I've done all that to not feel like I do right now, clearly I've failed. I wish Nik was here," Bonnie looks at her friend smirking, "Who's nick?" Anna walks in with a yogurt cup and spoon, "Kol's brother, Caroline insured a painting for him, why do want Mikaelson around?" she puts her hand on her hip surveying Caroline's answer. "Argh I didn't mean to say that outloud, and I don't want him okay. I just – I just I don't know what I'm saying can we talk later. I want to sleep I hate planes and foreign places, go." Caroline gets the words out though slightly muffled due to her hands unrelenting pressure on her face. The girls laugh and say in unison, "Yes boss." Before walking to their rooms and closing the doors.
AN: Thank you as always, any questions let me know!