Chapter 36: Doctor Dearest

Kol, Jeremy and Darwin were playing soccer in the parlour, knocking over plants and breaking one porcelain figurine after the other. Normally, Elijah would've told them to take it outside, but he felt much better keeping them within his sight.

Especially since Kol had been told about Alaric and Jeremy's rings and now seized every opportunity to try to kill Jeremy in a vast variety of different ways, just to watch in fascination as the boy came back to life. He had already succeeded three times, one of them hairdryer in bathtub, which had filled the entire house with a strange smell that wouldn't go away.

Luckily, Jeremy had taken no offence, in fact he had even suggested a few creative ways for Kol to kill him. But that could not be said about his sister and aunt.

There were yelling, screaming, throwing of things and Kol making heartfelt promises, only to break them again five minutes later.

Elijah ducked instinctively as the ball came soaring over his head and knocked over a lamp.

He sighed. If he didn't find a way to get them out of the house, then this was obviously going to be a very long day.

(Break)

The waiting room was much to Darwin's surprise painted a pleasant green and gentle music was playing. Waiting rooms in Denmark were always white, filled with gloomy silence and a strong smell of medicin and disinfectants. This room had a faint flowery smell.

They were completely alone, Finn and Kol having decided to wait at the Grill, apart from the sour assistant at the counter. He guessed she had probably had the day off and then been called in at the last moment.

Jenna sat staring straight ahead, tapping her feet on the floor and squeezing Alaric's hand hard enough to turn her knuckles white. He grimaced with pain once in a while, but said nothing. They both looked like they were soldiers about to march off to war.

Well, Darwin wasn't the one, who had knocked up a woman he had known for mere months. No reason why he couldn't enjoy the colourful magazines. He found a Sears catalogue and looked through the electrics. He needed a new laptop, anyway. And maybe a digital camera? He would like to take some photos of his family and of course Alaric, Jenna, Jeremy and the Salvatores.

And maybe a new fridge? He didn't really need one and he didn't have the room for it, but they looked very inviting. American fridges were gigantic. They could make ice ... and probably also coffee and smoothies, do the vacuuming and possibly also his taxes. Some of them sure looked like they had a higher IQ than he did.

"Jenna Sommers?"

Darwin looked up, then did a double take. This man was shorter than he was, but probably three times as wide. He had what seemed to be a chronic smile planted on his face. Something about him seemed to make Jenna relax and finally let go of Alaric's hand.

"Dr. Stern?" Alaric jumped to his feet and shook the short man's hand vigorously. "I'm Alaric Saltzman. I'm the father."

"Of course, "the doctor's smile widened just a bit. "Call me James." He looked from Alaric, to Darwin and then finally at Jenna. "You can relax, we're just going to do a sonogram today."

"Right." Jenna sighed, getting to her feet reluctantly.

"I'll wait here." Darwin looked back down at the catalogue, but it was forcibly ripped from his hands and thrown aside.

"Oh no, you don't, "Alaric dragged him to his feet. "You are here for support. You are coming with us!"

"Fine, "he snapped, letting Rick drag him into the examination room.

"Here, Jenna." The doctor patted a leather covered couch. Jenna lay down, her head elevated.

This room was more like what he had expected of a doctor's office. White walls, posters of the inside of a human's body and a sinister looking, plastic skeleton. Alaric pulled up a chair, sitting down beside Jenna and taking her hand. The doctor sat at Jenna's other side, beside the apparatus with the small screen.

Darwin stayed two steps away with his back to a desk that was overflowing with vials, instruments and jars of lollipops.

The doctor was running the scanner over Jenna's abdomen with a look of concentration on his face.

She was biting her lip nervously. "How many are there?"

Dr. Stern gave her a quick smile. "Give me a second."

Alaric lowered his head as if in prayer and Jenna closed her eyes. There was a minute of silence, then the doctor cleared his throat.

"Right. There are two."

Jenna's eyes sprung open. "Two?! Not three?"

"No, "the doctor pointed to the screen. "There. And there." He moved his finger. "Their hearts are beating."

"Two is good, "Darwin heard Rick mumble. "Two I can handle."

Jenna looked fascinated. "Can you tell us the sex of the babies?"

The doctor shook his head, laughing. "No, it's much too soon for that. You're only nine weeks pregnant. Maybe around 16th week." He set the scanner aside. "We can't even hear the heartbeats yet."

"Elijah could, "she pointed out, but the doctor shook his head again.

"Elijah is more advanced than our technology." He got up. "Let me give you an flu-shot. There is a lot of that going around this winter."

He went to the desk, putting a hand briefly on Darwin's shoulder as he passed him. Darwin heard some clattering of vials. And as the doctor was about to pass him on his way back, he put a hand on his shoulder again.

And then much to Darwin's surprise, the doctor pulled the collar of his hoodie aside quickly and a needle pricked his shoulder. He was too astounded to do anything, as he felt a syringe emty it's contents into his flesh. He stiffened, expecting the pain of vervain to spread, but nothing happened.

"What the Hell?!" He gaped at the doctor, who calmly threw the empty syringe into a bucket.

Then he pointed at Jenna indignantly. "She is the one who's pregnant, not me!"

"I know, "the doctor gave him an infuriating smile, holding up another syringe. "This is for her."

"What the Hell did you give me?!" Darwin gave the man a withering glare.

Dr. Stern went to Jenna's side. "Don't worry about it."

"That's easy for you to say, "he mumbled, rubbing his shoulder. "Capitalist ..."

When they were finally ready to leave, the doctor stuck something in his hand, smiling brightly. "Forgot to give you this."

Darwin looked down at the yellow lollipop. "This is an outrage!"

"I'm sorry, did you want a red one?"

"I don't ... You ... I'm not ..., "he was too angry to form a sentence, "I'm so going to ..."

Alaric grabbed his hood, choking him enough that he couldn't finish the sentence.

"Thank you for your time, doctor, "Rick said pleasantly, dragging the furious, sputtering Darwin out with him. And luckily, Darwin was to angry to resist.

(Break)

Damon was having quite an enjoyable afternoon. Andie had left for work, Kol and Finn had taken Alaric and Jenna to the doctors, Stefan and Elena were in Stefan's room and Elijah was reading in the Library as usual.

Which meant that Damon had the parlour all to himself for once. And it was blissfully quiet, the only sound that of Jeremy opening and closing the fridge in the kitchen. (He had to talk to Alaric about that, anyway. That boy and Jenna were eating them out of house and home.)

There were no sounds of Finn singing drukenly and tap dancing down the stairs. Or Darwin and Kol yelling to each other from their seperate rooms or arguing over, who should control the remote. Or Stefan turning the music up to max to drown out all the rest of the noise. Or of course, the occasional banging sound that would come from the Library, when Elijah was alone in there. Damon hadn't asked him about it, but he suspected that the oldest Original was banging his head against the wall in frustration.

Most importantly, though; there was no sight of Alaric dragging his unshaven, red-eyed and sleep deprived body across the floor, sighing deeply with every single creaking step.

But soon enough, Damon heard the car pull up in front of the house and poured himself another drink to steel himself for what would happen next. And rightly so, as the door was slammed open hard enough for him to hear the plaster cracking.

Alaric's voice drifted into the parlour from the hall: "I have never seen anyone react so violently to a lollipop!"

"It was a very clear insult ... " Darwin answered sullenly.

Rick's voice rose to a yell. "No, it was a lollipop! The man was trying to be nice."

"Oh yeah?" Darwin was using his defensive tone now. "Then why the Hell did he stick a needle in me?!"

"Maybe the lollipop was to make up for that ..."

"If that was the case, then why didn't he give Jenna one?"

"And I actually wanted one." Jenna entered the parlour, pouting, with Rick and Darwin trailing behind her. "Hi, Damon."

Damon took a deep breath. "I may have no say in who and what lives at my house, but I will have quiet in the afternoon."

"Fine!" Darwin retreated to the hall and up to his room, stomping all the way.

Jenna yawned. "I'll go lie down for awhile." She gave Alaric's shoulder an affectionate squeeze as she passed him.

And then Damon and Rick were alone in the parlour.

Damon held up his glass. "Do you want a drink?"

Alaric shook his head. "No, I really shouldn't."

"Suit yourself, "Damon shrugged. "Where's Kol and Finn?"

Rick went over to one of the couches and sat down, looking tired but still more alert than he had in a while. "They decided to go to the Grill again after they had taken us home."

"Good riddance." There was a moment of silence, while Damon considered whether or not to ask, but in the end his curiosity got the better of him. "So, what was the verdict?"

"There were two, "Alaric answered, calmly.

"Double trouble, huh?" Damon frowned. "Tell me; are you relieved or in shock?"

"Relieved, "Alaric nodded, shuddering. "The mere thought there could have been three ..."

"But that would've been just like you, Rick, "Damon said. "You never do anything half-heartedly."

Alaric's eyes narrowed. "Damon ... "

"Relax, Rick, "Damon smiled disarmingly. "I'm just saying, If you are going to knock up someone, might as well do it right."

Rick shook his head in disgust."You're such a dick."

Damon held up his glass. "Here's to fertility!"

(Break)

Darwin didn't like his new room. It was too big. And the tv was also too big, the walk-in closet was too big and the bed was too big. He could feel neither the head, nor the foot of the bed. He was a small person and he liked small things.

And to make things worse, he felt sick; feverish and nauseated. Everytime he opened his eyes, the room started spinning, so he kept them shut tightly. It wasn't all that bad, he had to admit, but he hadn't been sick in over 30 years, which made it feel worse.

"I hate you, "he mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest, which didn't have the desired effect as he was laying curled up on his side.

"It's only been a few hours and your already sick, "Elijah noted from the doorway. "For a human it would take weeks. Interesting."

Darwin carefully opened one eye, giving him an incredulous look. "Interesting? You think this is interesting?"

"I mean, it shows that your system works a lot faster than a human's, "his father explained.

"I could've told you that, if you had asked me, "he closed his eye again, swallowing back a new wave of nausea. "What the Hell was it?"

"Just a regular vaccine."

"Yes, "he felt cranky and was rapidly becoming more and more irritated as well. "Against what?"

"Regular desceases."

Darwin sighed. "It doesn't work, you know."

"What do you mean?" Elijah asked.

"I don't become immune to illnesses, anymore. My immune system cannot create antibodies, but somehow it kills the viruses anyway." He paused for a second, taking a deep breath. "What's the point of this?"

"To see how you respond to it, "Elijah straightened from where he had been leaning against the doorframe. "The Doctor will check on you tomorrow."

Darwin huffed, having no desire to see that man ever again. "What's the purpose?"

"To understand just what you are, "Elijah told him with the patience of an angel.

"I already told you, "he snapped, unable to keep the irritation out of his voice anymore. "It's because of the dormant werewolf genes."

"That's very unlikely, "Elijah remarked. "In that case, Hanna would be like you as well, and she is not."

"You've talked to my mother?" Now both his eyes sprung open, immediately followed by a head ache and yet another wave of nausea.

"Yes, "Elijah confirmed. "Kol gave me her number."

Darwin closed his eyes again, grimacing. "I don't understand. Why is this so important to you?"

"Because you are important to me, "he answered in the same calm tone that he had used to answer all the other questions.

Darwin swallowed again. "I'll get back at you."

"How exactly?" Now there was a note of amusement in Elijah's voice.

"I'll throw up on you, when you least expect it!" Darwin nodded slowly, as if making a promise to himself. "And the doctor, too."

"I'll tell you what, "Elijah said. "If you still feel sick tomorrow, I'll let you. Deal?"

"Deal."

(Break)

Caroline woke in the middle of the night, her body trembling uncontrollably. She sat up in her bed, running her fingers through her long, blonde hair. She felt strangely awake, breathing fast as if she had just had a nightmare. But she had no memories of dreaming.

She hadn't had much blood, maybe she was just hungry?

She climbed out of bed, untwisting her oversized tshirt from where it had wrapped around her in her sleep. She went into the hall, taking a second to adjust her eyes to the dark, then walked soundlessly down the stairs, across the entrance hall and into the kitchen.

Klaus was standing by the fridge, it's orange light illuminating his face. He had a blood bag in his hand. Then he turned and they both froze as their eyes met across the room.

And there was something strange in those blue eyes of his. The expression was near unreadable, but behind that something was burning. Something deep and dangerous. And undeniably alluring.

Her body started trembling even worse and her heart ached.

Suddenly, he dropped the bag and in less than a second he had crossed the room, holding her in his arms. They stared at each other for what seemed like a short eternity, then his eyes traveled down to her mouth, and a puzzled almost helpless look crossed his face.

And then he kissed her.

Not lightly like the last time, but desperately as if it was a matter of life and death. Her head tilted backwards almost on its own accord and her mouth opened slightly in a gasp.

She felt his hands moving up her back and entangle in her hair, holding on so tightly it almost hurt.

In broad daylight, she never would've let him, but everything seemed different in the dark of night. As if the world was disappearing around them, until they were the only two people left. No dark secrets bleeding in the basement and no doppelgänger best friends, preparing to be sacrificed.

Caroline's senses were acutely alive, overtaking her reason and reducing her to her innermost, deepest desires. She bit his lip almost in a kind of frenzy, tasting his potent blood.

And her trembling lessened, then stopped completely as if she were a drug addict finally ...

... finally! ...

... getting her fix.

After awhile he pulled away, she made a complaining sound.

"What is it?" he mumbled, leaning his forehead against hers. "What is it about you that always makes me feel inadequate? As if I'm not worthy of you?"

"It doesn't matter, "she said, pushing aside the voices in her head that told her to run away. That this man was her enemy; a tyrant and a murderer. "Kiss me again."

He did and in that moment, they became just two people. Not the villainous, centuries old hybrid and the tenacious baby vampire.

But simply Klaus and Caroline.