Part 54

"Would it be wrong or insensitive if I said, I feel like I'm babysitting?"

"Don't let Katherine hear you say that," Elena warned.

"Or Elijah," Bonnie agreed.

Caroline didn't even seem to hear them as she rattled on. "I mean really, we helped her change her clothes, and stood around to make sure she didn't pass out when she was in the shower." Bonnie and Elena gave Caroline a weird look.

"And all that, while Elijah watched us like a hawk," Caroline continued. "When I used to baby sit, you know, before I grew fangs...I remember, the kid's parents...they're always watching you."

"Katherine means a lot to Elijah, Caroline." Bonnie pointed out.

Uh, dugh!" "He's only super-protective over her."

"So, we're just doing our part to help out," Elena added.

"It's all we can do," Bonnie said quietly. Her mind seemed to be somewhere else besides the conversation.

"I get that, I do" "And I'm happy to help." "Even though, you know, she kinda killed me."

Bonnie and Elena stopped walking. Caroline moved her feet over the carpet, behind them, and they waited for her to continue. She'd been pretty quiet about everything. They were all working around the clock to help Katherine. But it didn't escape any of their notice that the situation was kinda weird and unexpected, to say the least. Bonnie stopped and thought about everything that had happened in the last year. It seemed like it should have been longer than that. So much longer. Sometimes she would just catch herself pausing and thinking, is this really happening?

"I guess it didn't turn out too bad in the end." Bonnie and Elena looked over their shoulders. Had Caroline really just said that?

"I never would have been able to take on Damon as old-me," she said proudly. "And it's not like I didn't own him," she continued, smiling like she knew a secret they didn't. "Three cheers for me!" she suggested.

"Right," umm…so, you're okay with helping Katherine then?" Bonnie asked. She really wasn't entirely sure what Caroline was talking about. Honestly though, she would have paid money to see that one. Caroline vs. Damon. It wasn't like Damon hadn't had it coming to him, but Caroline's wrath wasn't something anyone wanted to deal with. Obviously, he was still alive. Bonnie let a cat-ate-the-canary smile cross her face. Caroline's answer cut through her imagining of the scenario.

"I guess I am, " Caroline surprised herself by saying. "Weird isn't it?" she thought out loud. "We all wanted her dead, and now we're fighting for her life." All three girls took a moment and thought about everything they'd said.

Elena let out a long breath, but she didn't say anything. How had everything gotten to this point?

"So, how'd this happen?" Caroline asked them. She never had a problem voicing her thoughts out loud.

"The easiest answer?" Bonnie retorted. "I guess.." "And for the record, I can't believe I'm saying this…" "She's not the same." "Or maybe, she is "Katherine," but we know the whole story now?" She didn't sound sure of her words. "I'm not saying that anything she's done is okay." "But.." she paused and shook her head. Bonnie wanted to choose her words carefully. "We've been dealing with Klaus for…what, five, six months?" "She's been dealing with him her whole life." "I can kind of understand why she would do anything to stay away from him." "And she still hasn't escaped him." "Look at what he's doing to her." Bonnie raised her hand above them indicating where Katherine was probably in pain again.

"To both of them" Caroline added for Bonnie. Bonnie nodded sadly. Elena grabbed Bonnie's hand to add her comfort. "We all want Klaus dead," Elena said to support them.

"I never could have imagined it but, she's more than she seems." Bonnie confessed, shaking her head and biting at her cheek.

"We all are." Caroline said.

You know, I kind of wish, things had been different," Bonnie admitted.

"You mean if we'd had Elijah here from the beginning to tame Kitty-Katherine before we all decided she was psycho?" Bonnie smiled at Caroline's successful attempt to lighten a heavy conversation. It wasn't something that the three of them had talked about before. And they probably wouldn't talk about it again for a long time.

Caroline continued on and it was obvious that she was not letting the conversation go back to were it was. "Not sure how much help he is though," Caroline questioned.

"Meaning?" Elena asked, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

"He couldn't even conquer a sweaty shirt." "Which by the way, I'm pretty sure is his." "And how hard is it to let someone lean on you while they shower?"

"Caroline!" Elena said in a hushed shout. "I'm pretty sure Elijah wanted to respect her privacy." "Hence why he very-politely," Elena emphasized, " asked us to do it."

"Riiiggghhht…" Caroline drawled. She sounded like the villain in a film they'd watched together during one of their slumber parties. It had been so long since they'd had one. What would they have been like if things had just been normal? Well, on a Friday night, they would have been doing their nails, pigging out, and arguing about whether or not they could stand to watch Caroline's favorite movie for the thousandth time. Instead they were trying to save a vampire who wasn't quite a thousand, but might as well be with everything she'd been through.

"Sorry Elena, I don't quite buy the privacy pitch." "Have you seen those two?" "Do you really believe that they haven't…"

Bonnie listened to her two best friends talking. Elena was bright red, and Caroline was grinning. She was okay just listening at this point. She'd said what she needed to say. Besides, she wasn't eager to add anything to the current conversation topic. She really didn't think that was the case with Elijah and Katherine. It was more than that. She'd seen that over and over again.

"Caroline, it's really none of our business!" Elena defended. "And I really don't think that…" Elena turned to Bonnie. Her attention was focused elsewhere again. Bonnie had turned her head and seen Jeremy at the end of the hall. He was arguing, or talking to… or something, with something. Bonnie frowned when she realized WHO he was talking to.

"Bonnie…you okay?" Elena asked. She put her hand on Bonnie's shoulder.

"I'm fine Elena, but, I kind of…I need to talk to Jeremy." Elena nodded, excusing Bonnie from the awkwardness that was Caroline.

"…and did you see the way she was looking at him after he put the mojo on Stefan?" she said, half way in the middle of a thought.

"Caroline, as fascinating as this conversation is, why don't we talk about something else?" Elena suggested.

"Like what?" Caroline asked.

"Likkkeee…." Elena drawled out. "Follow me!" she said, waving her arm at Caroline.

Bonnie took another step towards Jeremy. He still hadn't noticed her and her frown deepened. She had almost gotten to him when she caught the end of Elena and Caroline's conversation. "Hey Damon!" Elena yelled. "Why don't you tell us about the time that Caroline kicked your…" Caroline's laughter cut off the end of Elena's question. Bonnie could only imagine Damon's face and she was almost sorry that she had to miss this one. A smile snuck across her face as she stopped by Jeremy.

"What's so funny?" Jeremy asked, finally noticing her. Bonnie ignored his question. "Jeremy…we need to talk."

"I think the peroxide has finally gone to your head, Caroline."

"Please! I can totally take you," Caroline reaffirmed. Damon ignored her satisfied smirk and went back to reading. They were all spread out, pretending to ignore the conversation that was the center of everyone's attention. Elena was unsuccessfully trying to hide her snickers. "Give it a rest, Elena." Damon advised, not even looking up from his book. He was feigning uninterest. But his irritation was obvious. Elena covered her mouth, trying to compose herself. It didn't work. She snorted through her fingers. After that she was just laughing and Caroline soon joined her.

"What's with the giggle-fest?" Tyler asked as he entered the room. Caroline turned mid-laugh to look at him and her eyes lit up. Tyler was hefting pizzas, carrying them with one arm. Caroline was hungry, as always.

"Have I told you yet today that I love you?" she asked innocently. Tyler pretended to think about it for a moment.

"Hmmm, not since breakfast," he replied, smiling. Caroline returned his smile and she gave him a quick peck before she grabbed the slice of pizza he was holding out to her.

Tyler grabbed one of his own, before he moved to the couch, throwing his arm around Caroline as she devoured her food. "So, what were we talking about?" Tyler asked propping his feet up.

"Caroline kicked Damon's ass," Alaric finally added his approval. He'd been biting his tongue the whole time. Damon quickly glanced up from his book, eyeing his friend. Tyler made a hissing sound through his teeth, shaking his head.

"My condolences Dude," he offered grabbing a slice of pizza. Caroline finished another piece and leaned her head into his shoulder, smiling at Damon. He glared at her before he directed his annoyance at Tyler.

"Thanks, Dude!" he said sarcastically, with not the least bit of appreciation. Everyone got there laughs out before they returned to their assignments. Half eaten pizzas were strewn about the room.

Damon smiled as he turned another page. He was annoyed. But more than his annoyance he noticed something else. There was a lightness in the room that hadn't been there the last couple of days. He'd chosen to continue reading and thought better not to comment on it. Too bad that members of their group were missing. A crisis always seemed to bring them together.

Bonnie caught Jeremy's shoulder as he reached for the door knob. Her eyelids felt heavy and the throb at the front of her temple was growing. She grabbed at the bridge of her nose, pinching the nerves there. The last thing that she wanted or needed was a headache. She closed her eyes, counting to seven and letting out a long breath. She opened them after a moment. Bonnie could keep almost anything at bay if she concentrated. The headache be damned. Yes, she hadn't slept much in the last two days. And she was far beyond constantly resisting throwing whatever grimior she had away from her exhausted arms when they yielded no useful information. That wasn't important right now.

"Jeremy please," she pleaded, tugging on his sleeve. Jeremy said nothing but he stopped turning the door knob. He was watching her, waiting for her to continue. At least that meant what she said mattered. It felt good to matter. All too often lately, she felt like the witch on call that was pulled out of whoever's pocket when she was needed. Usually Damon or Elena. She didn't mind helping whenever she could. She accepted the moment for what it was and continued her disapproval.

"There's only maybe, four days left…" she pointed out disheartened. She tried to hide it as much as possible. Her eyes filled with determination and pushed away the tears. "Elijah has not left Katherine's room for two days!" She took a step closer to him.

"Stefan's still not okay." "Elena's worried about him…and we need all the help that we can get!" She was more exhausted when she finished. No one said anything as the days passed, but there was a silent countdown no one voiced.

Jeremy sighed, gazing at Bonnie. She looked so fragile. Something that he knew for a fact she wouldn't appreciate him pointing out. She hadn't stopped pushing them all this time. He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. She tried to be so strong, for everyone, all the time. She didn't deserve that, and sometimes they didn't deserve her. Jeremy sighed again, wishing things were different. So many things had been ignored for too long, things they shouldn't ignore. Things that he had to acknowledge no matter how much he hurt those he cared about. He just wasn't ready to yet.

"So…just wait," she requested of him. Jeremy blinked and noted she apparently hadn't noticed that he'd let go of the door handle. He took a step back so she would notice this time and when he smiled he did so for her benefit.

"I'm sorry Bonnie..." It was true. He is sorry. She deserved better. Bonnie looked at him. Her heart hurt because it knew what he was apologizing for. She still wasn't sure if she wanted to jump into this right now. She didn't really have the energy.

When he spoke his voice was sad and she knew he truly was sorry. "I just, I don't know what to say to you.." There was a silence between them as Bonnie came to a decision.

"You don't have to say anything." Jeremy looked up, surprised. His eyes reflected relief. Even if she might be ready. He wasn't there yet. He would get there, sooner or later.

"I have my answer, and I won't ask again.." she finalized. She could appreciate that he hadn't lied to her, but he hadn't denied anything. It wouldn't have made a difference anyways. The truth was right there in front of her. Jeremy stiffly nodded his head, He looked guilty as he bit at his lip. Bonnie smiled as he did so. Sometimes she couldn't avoid noticing how youthful he looked. "I won't ask you again," she repeated. There was a hidden statement there. She wouldn't ask. She'd spoke her mind finally. The rest was up to him. "But, please stay…" She gave him a crooked smile.

"We really do need all the help we can get."

"And what made you think I was leaving?" he teased her. They both eased out of the uncomfortable conversation, forgotten, and into a simpler, more familiar small talk.

"I mean, I am standing in front of a door," he pointed out, holding his hand out between them.

"You are," Bonnie agreed.

"But it's not like I'm opening it," he smiled. Bonnie giggled and added her own smile. Jeremy joined her laughter and she hit his shoulder. She stopped laughing first and Jeremy frowned.

"Don't make this your fault Bonnie," Jeremy said as Bonnie started to walk back to the common room. "What?" she asked, whirling around.

"If we can't save Katherine.."

"We will," she interrupted him.

"But if we can't, " he continued. "Do not…make this your fault." "It's not." "It's Klaus's fault." "You're doing everything you can!" he insisted.

"I should have killed him when I had the chance," she said, gritting her teeth.

"Then you would of killed Elijah too…without him Katherine would have been dead months ago…and you wouldn't even be here," Jeremy finished, grabbing her hand. Bonnie hung her head, shaking it.

"Sometimes I forget that you're younger than me," she teased.

"I have my moments," he offered back. Jeremy smiled, but her own smile only lasted a moment.

"I'm so close Jeremy…" "I know I am..." "I just need more time," she insisted. He nodded and watched as the fire drained from her eyes. Bonnie hung her head again, and Jeremy said nothing as he wrapped his arms around her. Jeremy didn't agree or disagree with her. No one among them was ready to hear that there was a very real chance that they might not win this one. "It's okay," he soothed. He repeated it over and over again, rocking her in his arms. But he was never really sure she heard him.