Okay, so this is a bit short, but the next will be longer. Holy crap, it felt like this episode took forever to come out. haha. I hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 35

Klaus poured a drink for both K and himself. She had taken a seat on the leather couch not too far from him. Her gaze was focused on something only she could see outside the window across from her. In truth she wasn't staring at anything in particular, just staring. Her mind was too full to take in anything new. There was so much to sift through.

"Here," Klaus said softly.

A glass of scotch came into her view and jolted her into reality.

"Thank you." She answered in the same tone as she took the glass.

Klaus slid into a spot beside her and sipped a bit of the alcohol. K did the same and went back to staring aimlessly when she had. Klaus could see something dominated her attention.

"Something the matter?" he asked.

K took in a long breath and slowly exhaled. She shrugged.

"I don't know." She muttered. Her eyes hadn't diverted from the window yet. "I don't know if it's paranoia or something else, but…" she paused. K didn't really have to tell Klaus that things didn't feel right. It was a sentiment she'd been expressing for weeks –months even- so he knew already. But K did turn to look at the man beside her. "Where's your mother?"

A wicked smile touched his lips. K wondered if she should have asked. Klaus chuckled proudly to himself and even took another sip of his drink before answering as though silently patting himself on the back for his plot.

"In a cell, of sorts, tucked away where she'll be safe." He said without meeting her eye.

"Something tells me," she began. Klaus looked up. "That's not the end of it. Did you leave her alive?"

"Life and death are a bit ephemeral, aren't they?"

"Meaning?"

Klaus took another long sip, in turn finishing off what he'd poured himself. Sinking into the couch, he propped his arm along the back and looked to the woman at his right.

"I left her with a choice." He said. "She can either live, or die. It's completely up to her."

K didn't have the ability to process any new information, so it took her longer than he expected for her to put his vague explanation together. Eventually, K began to wonder if what she was thinking was what he meant.

"Did you… turn her?" she asked. K even spoke as though she thought the question was ridiculous.

Klaus said nothing, but smiled wide and wickedly again. A brow began to climb high on K's forehead.

"You turned… you're mother… really?"

"To be fair, it's completely up to her whether or not she remains human."

"Well, look at you being proactive." She teased softly.

Klaus chuckled to himself again. It was a joke, but there was truth to it. K was surprised he hadn't murdered her outright. Then again, this particular brand of torture was more his speed. It was almost poetic and she was sure that was his point.

A weak smile remained on K's lips long after she lost focus on Klaus and turned to staring blankly at the floor. She pulled her legs up onto the couch and tucked them beneath her body to get comfortable while propping her right elbow on the arm of the couch and resting her head in her open palm. Klaus watched her until the smile faded completely and the blank expression returned.

"There's more." He said after a moment.

K glanced up to him out of the corner of her eye.

"What do you mean?" she asked under her breath.

"Something else is bothering you."

K didn't immediately speak. Instead she did something that surprised them both. Setting her drink on the end table, K scooted closer to Klaus and leaned against him. She let her head fall onto his shoulder and adjusted herself before becoming comfortable. When she stopped moving, Klaus let his arm rest against her shoulder. He didn't know what prompted the display of affection, but he didn't mind it either.

"You're entire family is alive, walking the Earth, they all want some form of revenge for something you've done to them, and you are more than willing to rise to the task." She said simply. "A sane man would leave and not bother with them."

A weak smile touched his lips.

"Of the many things I've been called, sane is not among them." He replied causing K to smile briefly too. He shifted enough he could look down at the top of her head. "Does that frighten you?"

She shook her head before answering, "No, but it worries me."

"Why's that?"

Their voices were barely above a whisper. There was no need to speak any louder with their proximity to one another.

"A wise opponent would use your proclivity for anger and revenge to lure you into a trap."

"I doubt I'll be so easily fooled."

K sat up to look him in the eye.

"So what happened with Davina was nothing more than a fluke?"

His jaw tensed at the mention of the little witch and it remained that way because he knew she was right.

"I assure you, it won't happen again."

K slowly nodded, but she felt it wasn't a likely promise. Both of them did, which was why Klaus didn't utter the word.

"Where's Rebekah's coffin?" she finally asked.

"The cellar."

K nodded. She pushed herself up and left the room. Klaus remained for a moment. He thought it an oddly kind gesture for K to retrieve the box. He stood shortly after and followed.

Klaus jogged down the steps lightly and found K standing in the cellar amidst the remaining coffins. She stared at them, but clearly had no idea who's was who's. When she heard him, she glanced up. Klaus simply pointed to the one in the center. Each took hold of a grip at the ends of the coffin and lifted it.

Together, they easily carried the hundred and fifty pound block of beautifully carved wood. They wove up the spiraled stairwell and onto the main floor without incident. K simply followed Klaus. He had the perfect place in mind for Rebekah to rest until they could place her back in her body.

After setting the coffin down, Klaus moved to retrieve his sister. He picked her up as tenderly as he could while K removed the lid to the box. He laid the blond within with the same amount of care. There was something sad about the scene. While they knew –hoped really- Rebekah would soon be reunited with her body, for the moment it was a shell. It was as though Rebekah was dead and Klaus was laying her to rest.

"Come on," K said as Klaus arranged Rebekah's hair against her pillow. He glanced up briefly. "We should go to bed."

He nodded hesitantly. It was clear Klaus didn't truly wish to leave his sister alone and exposed, but took solace in the fact that nothing could kill her and no one was foolish enough to try and steal her body from under his roof.

K stepped around the coffin and stood at the head of it waiting for him to join her. He hesitated. Klaus looked down to Rebekah once more and whispered his promise to keep her safe before joining K. He reached for her hand and was glad she let him. Side by side, they climbed the steps to the third floor.

On autopilot, Klaus headed to his room. It wasn't until he was to the door he realized K hadn't left his side. He was ready to ask if she planned to remain with him or sleep in her bed when he spotted Kol leaning against the wall at the end of the hall. It was obvious he wanted to speak with the elder brother. Klaus turned to K and silently told her he'd be back. K nodded and entered his room. He smiled internally before joining Kol.

"Something I can help you with, brother?" he asked. While he was being polite, there was a distinct tone that told Kol he didn't want to be there speaking to him.

Kol smiled smugly.

"The two of you look rather cozy again, thick as thieves."

"Is there anything else?" he asked shortly.

"I was just wonderin' if our dear little sister is safe."

"She's fine." He replied. Klaus turned and headed towards his room. "Goodnight, little brother."

Kol nodded to Klaus and disappeared into the manor.

When Klaus entered his room, he saw K standing near his bed with her back to him. She was in the process of pulling on one of his button-up shirts. She heard him and glanced over her shoulder as she buttoned it.

"Do you mind?" she asked.

Klaus did little more than shake his head.

"What's mine is yours." He told her with a smile. "Time for bed then, I take it."

K did little more than nod. Klaus felt himself smile and began to remove his own clothes. While he was exhausted, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment.