CHAPTER 7
Just before I write this chapter, I know nothing about medicine. Like at all. I tried googling some of the stuff for the later chapter, but so many of the articles had graphic pics so I dropped that plan in a hurry. Apologies for any mistakes I have made. Basically I just wrote what went with the fic (and that I have see on TV) nothing based in reality on the other word.
Bonnie turned back to Kol and she saw he was watching Rebekah with pride and love. Of all the things, she had seen of him this far, this was the most attractive. She had thought of Kol as just this criminal, who didn't care about anyone, but now that she saw him looking at his sister like that she was forced to reevaluate him.
Without giving it a second thought, she put her head on his shoulder and turned her whole body into his. Kol's reaction was reaction was instantaneous and he cupped her cheek. His thumb caressed her cheekbone. She looked over his shoulder and saw El Diablo was flirting with one of the scantily clad women that milled around the patio. Relieved that he was distracted she turned back to Kol. She felt warm and had a nice buzz going thanks to the alcohol coursing through her bloodstream.
Kol's eyes were dark and intense. It was like the heated looks she had received from him in the past, but somehow now it was more intense than before. She realized quickly why. There was a hungry, predatory gleam in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Do you know how incredibly beautiful you are?" he murmured in a low ragged voice that did things to her insides.
"Me?" she laughed. "I'm nothing special."
He hummed and his voice was rough. He pressed his lips to hers in a scorching kiss and pulled away. He put his hand on her forehead.
"You're clever doctor, but I'm starting to think you're blind. Don't you look in the mirror?"
"Of course, I do," she rolled her eyes again. "And my eyes are fine."
Her response was delivered in a snarky tone of voice that made him chuckle.
"I really rather fancy you."
"You're alright yourself, Kol."
"Alright?" he huffed. "Suppose I'll have to do better then."
That was the opposite of what she wanted him to do. At least the rational part of her brain that was still functioning didn't want that. The other part of her, the part that was a real woman with needs had other ideas. She closed her eyes and groaned. If she just hooked up a little more then maybe she wouldn't fall so hard for his seduction so easily.
Kol's tongue traced the seam of her lips and she gasped in surprise. She had been expecting seduction, but not this. He took advantage of her gasp and sucked on her bottom lip. The sensation sent a fire raging through her. He let go and pressed his lips to hers, he deepened it and their tongues swirled, vying for dominance.
Bonnie knew she shouldn't kiss him back, knew she should put the breaks on yet found herself unable to do so. It felt too good and she pressed herself closer instead. Her arms went around his neck and she pressed her chest against his. His body was firm and unyielding around her, he squeezed her so tightly, she thought he was trying to meld her into him.
Too soon, Kol pulled away with a groan and she clung to him. He chuckled and pressed his lips to the spot between her neck and ear. A shiver of excitement coursed through her and he ran his hand along her back.
"We should go somewhere more private," he murmured.
"Private?" she looked at him in confusion. "Won't El Diablo be suspicious you left?"
"Not after that scene."
Kol's voice was hoarse and it turned her on as much as his accent did. She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. She looked at him uncertainly caught between the desire to keep doing what they had been doing and to hang onto the last remaining thread of her sanity. The desire to go further almost won out when she imagined herself exploring Kol's body and having him explore hers. Her imagination was so powerful, she could almost feel him inside of her, almost feel their bodies moving together.
"We can just talk," he offered. "Nothing more than what just happened now, I promise, sweetheart. I just want to be alone with you."
His fingers caressed her hair. She wanted to correct him, tell him she was still doctor Bennett to him, but after that kiss it seemed futile. The line had been crossed.
"I suppose if you promise to behave," she said chewing on her bottom lip.
Kol was staring at her lips with a heated gaze and she blushed.
"I give you my word even if being a gentleman isn't my strong suit."
She rolled her eyes. "Tell me something I don't know."
That hardly surprised her when Kol used to come in to the infirmary, he was one of the worst flirts she had ever seen, which was saying something since she worked in a men's penitentiary.
Kol took her hand and led her to the back of the ranch.
Right behind the patio there was an area filled with tents. But not sleazy tents more like the sort of things people on Instagram when they went glamping or to the luxury tents at festivals. Bonnie herself had rented one of those with Elena and Caroline as well as half a dozen of their closest friends last summer. The trip had been an absolute nightmare with Elena and Caroline's friends getting on her nerves as they got into all of her stuff, drank so much they threw up in the tent and just generally were annoying.
The tent was nice on the inside filled with lounges and pillows. There were throw rugs to soften the noise and make it seem cozier. From here, she could still hear the noise from the party on the patio, but it was further away and she abruptly felt like she was alone in a little bubble with Kol.
The room felt charged with electricity and she could feel the heat coming off Kol. He was standing really close, his chest was almost touching her shoulder and when she turned around to look at him, she brushed against his body.
Needing to put some space between her and Kol before things got completely out of hand between them, she sat down on the lounge couch. Unfortunately, her plan backfired because Kol sat down right next to her. He slung his arm comfortably on the back of the couch and flashed a wicked smile that made her toes curl.
"If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
Now that was a loaded question if she ever heard one. Still, she had no problem answering it because there was only place, she wanted to go.
"Home."
"Home," Kol repeated and his smile vanished. "If you did go back it wouldn't be for long."
"Yeah, I'd get dragged off to jail," she sighed.
"Sorry about that."
"You should be."
"Well then it's a good thing I am," he flashed another heart stopping smile. "Where else would you go?"
That was a question, Bonnie had to think about. She looked up at the ceiling and tried to think of a place she wanted to go. Anywhere would do. She travelled a lot during her vacations. She lived modestly and could always afford to go anywhere she wanted. She had been almost every place she wanted to go. The only problem was, she usually travelled alone. But she couldn't tell Kol the one thing she wanted was a travelling companion.
"The Maldives maybe, I haven't been there yet."
"Do you travel a lot, doc?"
"Every chance I get," she admitted with a shy smile. "What about you?"
"Yes, with what I do it's best not to stay in any one place too long unless we have a proper safe house set up there, but even then our family home is the only truly safe house we own."
"That must be stressful," Bonnie said trying to imagine always living out of a suitcase. Never living anywhere long enough to call it home.
"Nah, it's not so bad, I get to see the world and if I ever tire of it, I can always go home. Of course, the way mother nags it's usually not worth the trip."
Bonnie laughed at that. Her Grams used to nag when she was younger too. She used to hate it and now she wished Sheila was still around to nag her.
"My Grams used to nag," Bonnie said with a sigh. "About everything. Cleaning my room, the boys I was dating, the way I wore my hair and my grades."
"You're a doctor, how could she have nagged about your grades?"
"They were too high. She always used to tell me to go out, have fun," Bonnie sighed again. "And now that she's gone, I don't know. Maybe I should have listened to her."
"It's not too late. Besides, life is more than studies and work, everyone knows that."
"I didn't. All I cared about was becoming a doctor and all of the people I could help once I had my degree. I thought maybe if I did all of that I would get my father's attention, but nothing worked. He isn't interested in my life and when I finally accepted that I kind of lost my way. That's why I took the job at the penitentiary, I thought maybe helping those, who needed it the most might help. That totally bit me in the ass by the way."
Kol chuckled. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, doc. You are on your way to a foreign country with a devilishly handsome man, who fancies you."
She glowered at him. "I didn't ask for this trip and you put my life in danger by escaping the way you did."
"It would have been way worse if my people had blown up the prison."
Bonnie shook her head and tried to hide her smile. She couldn't help herself, it all felt too crazy. She was at a party with no less than two criminal organizations. Both of whom, distrusted the other. She could easily be dead by dawn and she was a little drunk.
What did she have to lose? This was her last thought before she unthinkingly kissed Kol.
Unlike on the patio or any of their ill-fated kisses, Kol didn't hold back. And neither did she. The kiss was rough and passionate, melting her insides. And unlike all of those other times, this time, they didn't break apart after a few minutes.
Instead, Kol lifted her onto his lap so that she was straddling him. She could feel him starting to grow hard underneath her and she rocked into him.
Kol groaned and nipped at her bottom lip. She gasped and clung to his shoulder. His hands roamed her thighs, pushing her dress up higher. He kissed his way up her throat and nibbled on her ear. She moaned and arched her back, giving him access.
"You've no idea the things I've wanted to do to you since I first saw you in that dress," he murmured. His voice was low and husky, it did things to her insides.
Feverish with lust and with her mind firmly turned off, she started to unbutton his shirt. Kol's hands were on her upper thighs. His fingertips teased the edge of her panties and she mewled, rocking more firmly into him. His hardness pressed against her, making her damp.
One hand slipped underneath her panties. He stroked one finger along her damp slit and she whimpered. She gave up on trying unbutton his shirt. She buried her face in his neck and closed her eyes, riding the waves of pleasure that rocked her to her core.
Oh, this is such a bad idea, she thought. Yet she was unable to stop. All she wanted to do was keep feeling this way, keep having Kol touch her.
"Is this alright?"
Kol's question caught her off-guard. She drew her head back and stared at Kol. She blinked a few times and finally her alcohol soaked brain was able to process, he was asking for consent.
"Yeah."
That was all he needed to hear. He covered her lips with his and slipped his fingers inside of her. She dug her nails into his shoulders, feeling like she might explode the second he began to pump. She rolled her hips to meet his movements.
BANG!
Bonnie and Kol broke apart. She stared at him with wide eyes.
"Was that a gun shot?"
No sooner had she asked the question than bullets sprayed into the tent they were in. Kol grabbed her around the waist and threw her over the couch for shelter. The next instant, he was behind the couch with her.
Kol withdrew his gun from his pocket. He handed it to Bonnie and drew another from the other side of his coat pocket.
"Stay low the ground, try to make your profile as small as possible that way they don't have a proper target. And most importantly, stay behind me and cover me. Understood?"
Bonnie's hands shook, but she clutched the gun tightly all the same.
"Understood."
"Fantastic," he flashed a smile. "Can you shoot?"
"I can."
"Good," he nodded. "Because I promised you nothing bad would happen, which is a lot easier said than done if you can't carry your own weight. One last thing, do not shoot me."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. It was weird, but his sarcastic attitude was actually helping her stay calm.
Kol got to his feet and he gestured for her to follow him. They crept underneath the backside of the tent. There was no one there, but once they reached the other side, it was another story.
There was a full on action movie shoot out. El Diablo's men were on one side of the patio. They had taken cover and were firing almost nonstop at the other side. That was where Kol's people had taken cover and were talking strategy in between firing off the occasional shot.
Bonnie had to admit, things did not look good.
She saw an SVU with a driver speed up. She acted without thinking. She ran toward it, throwing the door open and using the element of surprise to drag the driver out. Once he was out of the car, she coldcocked him with the butt of her gun.
Then she jumped into the driver's seat. She turned the keys in the engine and drove toward the patio. She made sure to keep her head down low and screamed when bullets shattered the window. She kept driving forward blindly.
Bonnie only stopped the car when she heard Kol's shouts. Next thing, she knew they were all piling into the car bleeding and looking as haggard as if they had been through hell and back.
"Drive doc!" Kol shouted.
Bonnie didn't need to be told twice, she slammed on the gas and drove like the wind. There were shots firing into the back of the car and she just hoped none of the bullets hit the gas tank. She didn't want to die in a car explosion.
Bonnie drove in a blind panic, following Kol's instructions until they arrived deep into the forest that ringed the outskirts of the desert. By the time they arrived they had been driving all night and the gas tank sputtered out its last dying gasp.
"At least we ditched them," Sage said cheerily as she jumped out of the car.
She helped Stefan out. Bonnie had been giving instructions on how to tend to his wound once they got clear of the cartel.
"Ugh, but it's going to be hours before we make it across the border. Talk about a complication," Rebekah whined.
Damon groaned. "You broke my nose again, bitch."
Rebekah punched him in the nose and Damon screamed. At this rate, Damon's nose was never going to heal properly, no matter how much plastic surgery he had.
Exhausted, Bonnie got out of the car. She went around to the passenger side and pulled Kol's uninjured arm over her shoulder. She put her arm around his waist and led him to a spot that was fairly secluded and helped him sit down on the soft ground. She kneeled next to him and looked over his injured shoulder, Kol tried to push her away, but she ignored him.
"You're injured."
"I'm fine."
"Last time I checked I was the doctor not you so let me have a look!"
Forcefully, she shoved his hands aside.
Kol's injury was worse than she had thought. The bullet had grazed him, but it was deeper than she would like it to be out here with no medical supplies.
"What's the prognosis, doc? Am I a dead man walking?"
"Hardly," she snorted. Then grimaced. "Not if I have anything to say at any rate. The real problem is infection. When are your people coming to extract us?"
"Not before dawn."
Bonnie checked the time on his watch. It wasn't even midnight yet. At this rate, Kol's wound could become infected long before the helicopter arrived.
"Hm, I need something to sterilize the wound with."
"Here," Kol groaned as he pulled a flask out of his blazer's pocket. He flung the jacket back down on the ground. "Take it."
Bonnie accepted the flask and opened it. She sniffed it tentatively, smelled like scotch to her. Strong scotch. Well that was something.
"What were you doing with this?"
She asked the question to distract him pouring it on the wound. Mostly, because she knew it would probably hurt.
It didn't work, Kol cried out and cursed.
"Fucking hell, Bon. You could give a man some warning!"
"Sorry," she shrugged. "Sometimes, warning is worse."
"Regular Doctor Kevorkian. That's what you are, sweetheart."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "You are such a baby."
She picked up his coat. Using her hands and teeth, she tore open the lining. It was the cleanest cloth she could find and doused that in scotch too. Then she tied Kol's arm up with it as tight as she could.
"Am I going to die?"
"You asked that already and the answer is no."
"You really ought to work on your bedside manner, doc."
"You're the only patient I've ever had that's complained before."
"Grouchy," Kol rolled his eyes. With his good hand, he pulled Bonnie onto his lap. "Isn't that much better?"
"Not exactly."
Bonnie was putting on a show of being grumpy, but in all honesty, she knew it wasn't very convincing. She made sure to rest her head on his uninjured shoulder. She kissed his neck and wrapped her arms around his neck before closing her eyes in content. Kol's hand played with her hair.
"Thanks for the first aid, Bonnie my sweet."
"Anytime. Besides, if you die, I so don't want to be left alone with your people."
"Come now, they're not quite that dreadful."
"Yes, they are."
Kol laughed. He kissed the top of her head and she could feel him begin to relax.
"Suppose we'll have to find a way to pass the time."
He trailed his hand along her thigh suggestively.
"Seriously? You were shot and we're stranded in the middle of nowhere. And you want to...?" she trailed off, blushing.
"Of course, I do," his voice was rough and husky as he whispered in her ear. "Have you seen yourself in that dress?"
"Thought you didn't like it?"
"It's growing on me."
Kol nipped at her earlobe. She let out a gasp of surprise and pleasure before laughing to cover her own embarrassment.
"I know it's probably a little late to say, but we probably shouldn't cross that line."
Kol captured her lips with his. It was a soft kiss, he sucked on her lower lip and she moaned. He released it and burrowed his face in her neck.
"That's fine. Nothing more needs to happen," he gave her a gentle squeeze.
"How's your arm? Does it hurt? What's the pain level?" she fired the questions at him, going into doctor mode.
"I've had worse."
"That's not at all reassuring."
Elijah interrupted them before Kol could reply. Elijah stormed into the clearing wearing a furious expression.
"I just got off the phone with the organization. They're coming at dawn," he hissed.
"Then what's the problem?"
"The problem? The fucking problem?" Elijah exclaimed.
Bonnie had to admit, she was taken aback by the fury Elijah was displaying. It was unlike him to express any emotion at all from what she could tell.
"Yes, brother the problem."
"The problem is that you are so enamored with this girl you've entirely forgotten your obligations to this family!" Elijah shouted. "She is the reason The Diablos were suspicious of us to begin with! Her and all of the media attention she brought! Our parents believe like the rest of the organization that you've turned rat! That's why they didn't trust us! Because we have A FUCKING DOCTOR FROM THE PRISON WITH US!"
"Oh," Kol said. He helped Bonnie to her feet then got to his. "I can assure you Bonnie is innocent."
"Innocent? She is the cause of this! Now none of the cartels are going to do business with us. Hell, the entire underworld will shun us after the media attention surrounding this girl!"
"She isn't some girl!" Kol growled. He moved in front of her.
Bonnie decided now was a good time to stay quiet. She started to back away slowly. If the criminals decided to blame her for their problems, she didn't want to be anywhere near the situation. Neither did she like the condescending way Elijah called her 'girl' but once again, she didn't want to argue with homicidal criminals. And she felt a strange sense of relief that Kol was on her side. It made her feel almost safe, which was absurd.
"Yes, she bloody well is!"
"You had best take that back brother before things get ugly."
Bonnie took another step back. She could feel the tension in the air and she was sure Elijah and Kol were minutes away from getting into a fight.
"Get ugly? They already are!" Elijah said moving closer to Kol.
"If you had handled your end her face wouldn't be all over the press. From where I'm standing you've failed us, Elijah. Not Bonnie. You were the one with FBI contacts, who were supposed to lead them on a wild goose chase and keep things quiet in the media. Instead, our escape is all the press is reporting on and Bonnie's face is everywhere! And they are so incompetent they believe her to be complicit rather than a victim of circumstance."
"You're a blind fool and the two of you are going to get us all killed."
With that, Elijah strode away. But Kol still looked furious enough to do something stupid. Like go after him and finish the fight in a more physical way. He was actually about to go after Elijah when Bonnie caught his arm and turned him around.
"Stay out of this, Bonnie," he cautioned.
But for once, Bonnie didn't feel like being cautious. She was angry too.
"No, I won't!" she snapped. "This fight with Elijah is stupid. Seriously stupid and if you two don't get your shit together people are going to get hurt!"
Kol raised an eyebrow. "Hurt? What could you possibly know about the way we do business?"
"I don't, but I know you're about to do something super stupid like fight your own brother instead of getting some rest. Which by the way, you seriously need because you were shot, you idiot."
Kol groaned. "I get it, we're in mortal peril, but what's your point?"
"My point is," she said through clenched teeth because he was seriously trying her patience. "Is that all of your co-criminals are tense and scared. And when people are scared they do stupid shit like turn on each other. If that happens we are seriously fucked because a shoot-out in the middle of nowhere? I don't see any of us making it out of that alive."
"You might have a point," Kol said with a lopsided smile. "However, if any of them look at you sideways, they'll have to go through me."
"Yeah, well you're not much of an obstacle with your bullet wound," she rolled her eyes. "So would you please just rest while we wait for our way out of here?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Bonnie rolled her eyes at him again. But at least he was lying down again or sitting down. He leaned back against the boulder and closed his eyes.
He didn't look well. He was paler than usual, at least Bonnie thought so. It wasn't like Kol was tan to begin with. He seemed to be sweating. Suddenly nervous, Bonnie crouched next to him and checked his temperature. He felt warm, which was a bad sign.
"I need to check your wound."
"Just did that, doc."
"You're running a fever, it could be infected."
Bonnie checked his wound and saw it was an angry shade of red. The skin around looked taut and stretched where the redness continued.
"What's the verdict, beautiful? Am I going to die?"
Bonnie grabbed his watch and checked the time. Another two hours until dawn. If she was going to keep Kol alive, she needed help.
"Katie," Bonnie called and the other woman came rushing over. "Kol has a bullet wound and I think it's infected."
"Already?"
Katie fell to her knees next to Bonnie and started looking it over.
"There's no exit wound," Bonnie said. "I stopped the bleeding earlier, but it's - something's not right."
"Poisoned bullets," Rebekah said materializing from out of nowhere. "It's the Diablos' specialty."
Bonnie paled. "Poison?"
"Poison," Rebekah confirmed.
Without an antidote there was nothing she could do except make him comfortable. If it hadn't spread to the rest of his blood stream yet amputation might have been an option. Except, she didn't have the equipment and no sterile space to perform it. And she couldn't amputate his shoulder anyway so thinking about that was futile.
"Do we know what kind of poison?" Katie asked.
Bonnie took Kol's flask and poured some of the alcohol on his wound. It was more for sterilization than anything else, but it might help draw the poison out of his system. Depending on the poison.
"Something called -" Rebekah ran her hand through her hair and sighed. "I don't remember, but one of his men was telling me about it. Slow acting. Takes almost twelve hours to work its way through a system."
"Bloody hell," Kol groaned. "If I'm going to die I'd rather go quick."
"Shut up," Bonnie snapped. "That means you have at least another six hours before it reaches your heart. There has to be a way to slow it down or draw it out."
"We need an antidote," Katie said. "Do you know what's in the poison? It's chemical compounds, I mean."
Rebekah shook her head.
"You're thinking about whipping up a homemade antidote?" Bonnie said chewing on her lower lip. "I don't know – if we do it wrong, we could accelerate the process or make administering a cure when we do reach help more difficult."
"Bekah be a love and tell Elijah the plan has changed," Kol said pulling himself up straight. The effort it took looked painful, he grimaced and Bonnie tried to help him. But he brushed off her attempt to help. "We need that extraction now."
Rebekah disappeared in a flash.
Kol swiped the flask and had a long pull.
"Hey, we need that for your wound."
Bonnie snatched it back. Katie eyed the two of them with amusement. Bonnie blushed when she realized Katie saw the change that took place between the two of them in the past couple of days. Had it only been a couple of days? It seemed like a lifetime.
"I'm the patient."
"Then shut up and do what I tell you."
Kol looked gobsmacked. His jaw dropped open and he looked at Bonnie with a mixture of shock and amusement.
Katie laughed. "I'm sorry. I know you're mortally wounded and all, but you should see your face Kol."
"No one ever tells you to shut up, huh?" Bonnie said. "Because they should."
"I'm starting to think you're a little difficult, doc."
Bonnie laughed. She covered her mouth, she knew it was completely the wrong time, but she couldn't help herself.
Elijah and the others rejoined them. It looked as if Damon was arguing with Katherine.
"Why are you here?" Damon said making crazy eyes at Katherine.
"Because 'Lijah's my boyfriend," Katherine purred. She studied her nails and refused to look at him.
"Don't lie, Katherine," Stefan said. "We both know what a lying psychotic bitch you are."
"Oh, Stefan," Katherine sighed. "We both know I could rip to shreds and do my nails at the same time."
"Might I suggest the pair of you back away from my girlfriend and resist your inane urge to speak with her. Lest I be forced to curve that urge for you," Elijah said with a cold glance in the direction of the Salvatore brothers.
Katherine sauntered past Elijah. She tugged playfully on his tie and flopped down next to Bonnie.
"Is Kol going to make it?"
"If we can get him to a real medical facility soon."
"The team will be here in a matter of hours however, should we encounter trouble we may not make it out," Elijah said.
"Why not?" Bonnie asked.
Elijah's cold façade was starting to unsettle and enrage her. His brother was dying and he looked as if he could care less.
"Because they will not have all of the supplies and extra manpower that we had planned for in our original calculations."
"It's fine, Bon," Kol took her hand and squeezed it.
She sighed and gave him a worried look. He was looking worse by the minute.
"One hour," Elijah said and nodded to Kol.
For the first time, Bonnie thought she saw a flicker of emotion in Elijah's eyes. It was gone as soon as it came.
Damon was still scowling threateningly toward Katherine, but Stefan dragged him away.
"What's that about?" Bonnie asked in a low voice.
"Oh, that," Katherine scoffed. "Well you see when I was new the whole world of crime, I seduced both Salvatore brothers."
"And they're still bitter," Kol chuckled and winced when it hurt.
"Kol," she sighed. "You're going to be fine. I promise."
He put his arm around her shoulder and she put her head on his chest.
"Tell her about the Salvatores, Katherine. The tale of Damon's misery will distract me from my own."
"As you wish," Katherine winked at him. "I was bored and I can't ever seem to resist a handsome face. Anyway, I toyed around with them and then skipped town. I faked my death and Damon spent years searching for me. I guess I sent him down a dark road."
"You're her."
"Her who?"
"The girl - the one Damon blamed all of his kills on at his trial."
"That's me," Katherine smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary. "He was not happy when he finally encountered me on a job. I was alive and well. I was with Elijah at the time."
"That explains why he hates you," Bonnie said.
"I was bored," Katherine sulked. "And things hadn't ended well with Elijah. I'd made the mistake of double-crossing Klaus."
"To save your own life," Kol said. "Nik wanted to sacrifice her as a pawn in his attempt to conquer the Asian market."
"Oh my God," Bonnie breathed and turned to look at Katherine completely horrified. "Are you OK?"
"I'm fine," Katherine said with another brilliant smile. "It's all a part of what we do. Anyway, I made it up to the Mikaelsons and Elijah took me back."
"Only because you returned for me," Elijah said joining them.
"Well you are the only man I've ever loved."
"Well that's disgusting," Kol said with a grimace.
"Come along, Katerina," Elijah said. "We need to keep an eye on the perimeter. The doctor will stay here with Kol," Elijah looked straight at Bonnie. "I trust you know if anything happens to him, I will hold you responsible."
"Do not threaten her," Kol growled.
Bonnie fussed over Kol's wounds even though she had already done what she could for them. When Kol gave her a look of complete exasperation and attempted to pull her in close with his one good arm, she gave up. Instead, she curled against his side and settled for monitoring his temperature.
"You feel warm," she murmured biting down on her lower lip.
"Are you trying to tell me I'm hot, doc? Because I already knew that."
"I'm serious. How far away is the extraction team? You need surgery, real medicine -"
She would have gone on, but Kol interrupted. "I didn't know you cared, doc."
"Shut up," she mumbled and checked his temperature again. "If you die your brother will kill me."
"Purely survival then?"
"Yes."
Kol cracked a smile then laughed. "If that's the case, why are you glued to my side?"
"Because if you do die maybe I can use you as a human shield?" Bonnie said with a small smile.
Kol threw his head back and roared with laughter. He winced with pain when he accidentally moved his injured shoulder.
XXX
The truth was Kol was in a lot of pain. He had seen others reduced to shambles in similar situations. Screaming at the heavens, cursing and sobbing. If he hadn't been raised the way he had likely he would be as well.
Instead, he grit his teeth and rode the waves of pain as they washed over him. How long it was before he began to drift off, he had no idea. What surprised him was that Bonnie actually let him. She didn't appear bothered in the slightest by his desire to slip into oblivion. That was definitely a bad sign. He must be worse off than even he had known.
The sound of a helicopter roused him somewhat from his stupor. Yet he couldn't seem to fully open his eyes or move.
"What's -" he broke off unable to form the words.
"It's the venom," Bonnie murmured and touched his cheek gently. So gently, he was convinced it must be a hallucination as she was never gentle with him.
The helicopter noises and the wind had died down now or perhaps he had hallucinated them as well.
"Come along," Elijah said.
Kol felt himself be hoisted up before everything went black again.
When he came to he was lying on his back. Everywhere the light was too bright and he heard Bonnie's voice. She sounded angry and she was giving orders. Her voice had that bossy snap he had become so familiar with. There was a sharp piercing feeling in his arm and then everything went black again.
XXX
Bonnie had been forced to hand over Kol's surgery to someone else. The doctor onsite at the hospital in Mexico had deemed her unfit because of her personal relationship with Kol. When she had argued that really the only relationship she had with him was that he was a former patient, she had been close to getting in the room. Even if it was a blatant lie. Whatever Kol was to her now, he was no longer just a patient.
But then the doctor Hernandez had caught a whiff of alcohol on her and she had been sent to the waiting room along with Kol's family. Katherine was sitting between her and Elijah, sending Elijah threatening looks whenever he as much as glanced in Bonnie's direction. Over a decade later and Katherine still considered her a friend, Bonnie was touched.
Rebekah looked tense and paler than she should underneath her tan. Sage was on the phone barking orders and explaining the situation. It seemed like the second Sage was through with one call there was someone else she needed to deal with until finally she sat down with them.
Marcel, Thierry, Katie and the Salvatores had all gone on ahead after they arrived in Mexico City. Bonnie didn't know exactly where they had gone too, but Katie had apologized for the whole mess Bonnie had been dragged into before they disappeared. Likely so that Marcel and Thierry could keep an eye on the Salvatores. Bonnie briefly wondered why Stefan wasn't here with Rebekah, but that wasn't her business.
"The rest of the family is on the way," Sage said to no one in particular. "Any news from the doctor?"
Elijah shook his head. "No, not yet."
"What are his chances?" Rebekah said looking right at Bonnie. "And please don't sugarcoat it. We've already lost one brother – and I just want to know if I'm going to lose Kol as well."
Bonnie took her time answering. She had a lot of experience delivering bad news and she knew it was best to think about her words first.
"We got him here in time, but there could be more damage than I saw. Barring that if the doctors here are as good as Elijah says, he will make it."
"Is father on his way?" Rebekah asked turning to Sage now. It might have been her imagination, but she sounded almost hopeful.
"Sorry, kiddo," Sage said with a grimace. "He is in Japan trying to make a deal with the Yakuza."
"Of course, he is," Rebekah growled.
The ensuing argument between Rebekah and Elijah only served to make Bonnie tenser. She didn't want to admit even to herself, but she didn't want Kol to die. When she had told him she only cared for the sake of her own survival it had been a lie. The truth was Kol meant something to her. Exactly what she didn't know. And there was still a lot of rage left inside of her from what he had done. He had completely uprooted her life, but as much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn't.
"This could go on for a while," Katherine whispered. She took Bonnie's hand and dragged her away. "C'mon, doc. Let's get some coffee. Unless you think the hospital has something stronger?"
"Not unless you're planning to rob their drug supply."
Katherine looked thoughtful. "Well that's not a bad idea actually. Where do you suppose they keep the good drugs?"
"Kat!"
Katherine laughed.
They walked until they found a vending machine and got two cups of coffee. Fortunately, Katherine came prepared with the local currency. Because Bonnie only had twenty dollars on her and she was fairly sure the FBI had frozen her accounts unless they were planning on using them to track her and Kol down, which meant they were useless to her anyway.
Katherine led her to the nearest chairs and they sat down with their coffee. Bonnie sipped at hers and let it warm her. It was first then she realized she had been cold ever since Kol took that bullet. Fear and worry did that.
"How are you holding up?"
Bonnie was startled because Katherine was almost never serious.
"I'm fine, I think."
"It's okay if you're worried about Kol. It's also okay if you're not."
Bonnie's lips twitched upward. "I guess I am worried about him even if I am still angry with him."
"Can't say I blame you," Katherine said with a teasing smile. "I heard from Katie, you were kidnapped. But if he doesn't set you up somewhere, I will. Hell, my organization could use a new surgeon."
"And what am I supposed to do? Patch up assassins?"
"Well yeah," Katherine's smile was sly. "That and thieves as well as prostitutes, who double as spies."
"Prostitutes?" Bonnie's eyebrows shot up. "What kind of business are you running?"
"The kind where international secrets are best discovered in the sack. Well that and I do have some world class hackers working for me."
"No wonder Elijah's smitten. You sound deadly."
"I am," Katherine's smile was evil.
"What's going on with Elijah and Rebekah?"
"Oh, that," Katherine scoffed and waved her hand. "Rebekah thinks Mikael never pays attention to his children and I have to agree. Then Elijah does what he does best; make excuses for his useless family members. If you think he can excuse Mikael, you should see what he does for Klaus."
"The one, who tried to sacrifice you?"
All to gain access to a new market. It was low thing to do to anyone let alone his brother's girlfriend.
"Their brother. He's a psycho and I'm not just saying that. He's tried to kill me like three times. He's convinced I'm running a long-con on Elijah, which is why he was so fine with me dying when he tried to conquer Asia."
"I know you said you weren't earlier, but you used to tell me you'd never fall in love. So are you running a con?"
"No," Katherine snorted. "I'm actually in love even though I promised myself I was above it. And I was until I met Elijah."
"I'm happy for you in case, I haven't said it before."
"Thank you."
"And I'm really happy you're alive and well. Sort of well. Not sure how cool I am with this whole crime boss thing you're rocking."
"Excuse you," Katherine sniffed. "I'm a woman in a male-dominated field."
"I'll admit that's impressive. And who knows as crazy as things have been I might just take you up on that job offer."
XXX
It was almost nighttime again before the doctor returned. Bonnie tried to read his expression, but he was good at keeping his face neutral. She checked the time and realized the surgery had been longer than she had expected.
That did not bode well.
The surgeon Hernandez approached them. As one the group came to attention and looked toward him. Elijah got to his feet and it might have been Bonnie's imagination, but he looked threatening. She pitied the surgeon if it was bad news and then she realized she was in the same boat as Hernandez. If Kol died she was certain Elijah would kill her. Her only hope was that Katherine could reason with her boyfriend.
She waited with bated breath. As scared of Elijah as she was, she was lying to herself if she didn't admit she was genuinely concerned about Kol.
"We administered the antidote in time," Hernandez said. "He will live. But his recovery will be slow and he must remain here for a while."
"That isn't an option," Elijah said. "We must leave immediately. We have our own doctor."
Bonnie saw red when she realized Elijah was talking about her.
"You heard the surgeon," Bonnie said getting to her feet. "It would be irresponsible to move him. He could die from complications."
"You should listen to her," Hernandez said.
"At least wait a few days, 'Lijah," Katherine said.
"We are not risking Kol's life," Rebekah said and Sage nodded vehemently as well.
"We are risking all of our lives if we remain here," Elijah said.
"Just give us another two days," Bonnie said glancing at Hernandez.
"That will make a difference," Hernandez said. "As for whatever you are running from, please leave me out of it."
With that Hernandez left. Bonnie watched him go with a feeling of envy. What she wouldn't give to just walk away from the Mikaelsons and their insanity.
"You are just going to have to find a way to keep us alive for two more days," Sage said to Elijah and then her expression lit up. She glanced at Katherine. "I think I have an idea. Come with me, Kat."
Katherine followed Sage while Rebekah and Elijah watched curiously.
"Perhaps we should check on Kol now?" Rebekah suggested.
Elijah nodded. "Give us a moment, doc."
"Of course."
XXX
Kol felt woozy when he woke from surgery. He blinked and his mouth felt dry. There were spots in front of his eyes and there was a nurse monitoring his vitals.
"Katie?" he mumbled. "Where is Bonnie?"
"Do I look like Katie?" the nurse fired in rapid Spanish.
"Los siento," Kol said and he thought it was an apology.
He had no idea. Spanish had never been his strong suit. He spoke fluent Chinese, Japanese, German and Italian. However, he had never picked up Spanish.
"It's the drugs," the nurse said in English with a wicked smile. "How does your shoulder feel?"
"Pain free. This must be the good stuff."
"It is," the nurse smirked. "If I were you, I wouldn't linger. I know El Diablos' poison when I see it."
Kol pulled himself up into a sitting position. "This is his territory."
"Ci."
"Tell my family to get in here."
"For free? You aren't from around here."
Kol sighed. "There's two-hundred American dollars in my wallet."
"Already got them. What else are you offering?"
Kol chuckled. "I like your style. Now go on earn that stolen money and tell my family to get in here."
As it turned out it was unnecessary. The nurse hadn't even left the room before Elijah and Rebekah entered.
"Get a flight or a chopper booked, we are getting the hell out of here," Kol said.
"No, we aren't risking your life," Rebekah said.
"We are risking everyone's lives by staying here," Kol argued.
"Oh my God, you sound like Elijah," Rebekah groaned.
"Because Kol is sensible enough to understand what we must do."
"You heard him," Kol said. "I am the patient and I say we go."
"I'm getting Bonnie. Perhaps she can talk some sense into you."
"Bekah," Kol tried to protest but she was already gone.
Well he supposed it wasn't all bad. He would rather like to see Bonnie.
"You agree then?" Elijah asked. "Sage has some plan to ensure we are safe however, I think we should be safe rather than sorry."
"Agreed."
Kol hoped his agreement would circumvent whatever anger and arguments his sister was planning to make. Ones that would be all the more compelling with a doctor to back her up. However, the thing Rebekah failed to grasp was that his main priority was not his life. It was getting the job done. He would be fine, he always was.
Normally, he would say bring on the war. Even with Rebekah and Bonnie present, he knew no one was dying with him on the job. Especially, when all it took was to release the darkness inside of him. No matter how outnumbered he had been or how bad the odds were he had always come out on the winning end when he did.
The one exception was when he was arrested. But however, racist and incompetent the American police were they had plenty of firepower. Too much he would think.
"I'll make the arrangements," Elijah said.
Elijah took his phone out and started dialing. Unfortunately, for all of them Rebekah returned with Bonnie hot on her heels. One glance at Bonnie's face told him she was truly furious. It was the same expression she wore when a nurse or the guards did something that jeopardized the health of a patient. And now that rage was aimed at Elijah.
XXX
"PUT THAT BLOODY PHONE DOWN BEFORE I TEAR OUT YOUR LIVER!" Rebekah shouted.
Elijah did as she asked without a second's hesitation.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Bonnie demanded in a quieter yet no less angry voice. "Kol is in no shape to travel. Just like I told you earlier, moving him so soon could kill him!"
"Bloody hell, doc," Kol groaned. "We are in El Diablos' territory. Would you prefer it if we all die?"
"We are in a hospital," Bonnie said clearly appalled by the implication.
"One Sage can secure," Rebekah argued.
"How?" Kol questioned feeling doubt fill him.
"Oh, you will love this," Elijah stated sarcastically.
Rebekah shot Elijah a nasty look. "Sage that good for nothing commoner actually had a brilliant idea. As we speak she is calling in every available member of our organization."
"That will start a war," Elijah said.
"Too bad they are already here," Rebekah smirked.
Kol cursed.
Bonnie grinned. "And you aren't going anywhere until you're better. That poison is serious business and any complication no matter how minor could kill you."
"Fine," Kol said from between clenched teeth and Bonnie could see the pain it caused him.
"You just need twenty-four hours to recuperate and we can get the hell out of here."
Bonnie could tell Kol still wasn't convinced, but it was the best thing for him. She just hoped things didn't get too crazy or too dangerous in twenty-four hours. If there was one thing she had learned since the prison riot, it was that twenty-four hours was more than enough time for things to go to hell.
"Let's ensure this doesn't result in all our deaths," Elijah said and walked out.
Rebekah followed him, but not before throwing Bonnie a glance.
"Are you coming, Bonnie love?"
"I'm going to stay and keep an eye on Kol's vitals."
"I'm not an invalid," Kol complained.
"No, you're just a patient with a gunshot wound, who was also poisoned," Bonnie said and rolled her eyes.
"Good. Perhaps you can keep him from doing anything stupid?"
"I'll try, but that kind of sounds impossible."
"I'm right here," Kol said.
Rebekah laughed and hurried after Elijah.
Bonnie sat down in the chair next to Kol's bed. He looked fine. She had snatched his chart out of the container attached his bed. She skimmed it and checked his heart rate on the monitor. Everything looked fine, but he was still pale and he looked like he might still have a fever. It was listed in his chart. She touched her hand to his forehead.
Yes, he was still warm.
"How do you feel?"
"Fine. I'm on the good stuff."
She snorted and laughed. "But seriously, do you feel warm?"
"It's Mexico. Of course, I'm hot."
"The AC is on, could you please at least try to take this seriously?"
"I will when you take the threat to our lives seriously."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "That's a Mikaelson family problem. I'm a doctor not a mobster."
"Technically, I'm not a mobster."
"Not the point," Bonnie said and raised her hand. She checked his temperatures again and he was a little warm, but that didn't necessarily mean he was ill. It could just be a combination of the drugs, the surgery and exhaustion. "Are you sure you feel fine?"
"Yes, have you tried morphine, doc? It's wonderful."
Again, Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me recreational drugs are your thing."
"Not at all," Kol smirked and closed his eyes. "But since I was shot perhaps you could cut me some slack, gorgeous?"
"I'm sorry, I'm fussing. It's just -"
"I'm not out of the woods yet. I'm aware. The less hot doctor told me."
"Just try not die, alright?"
"Alright," Kol moved over and patted the spot next to him on the bed. "Now c'mere."
"You're supposed to rest."
Bonnie didn't even think she just held his hand.
"I'll rest much better with you right here with me, Bon."
Bonnie sighed and tamped down on a smile. Or at least she tried to. She suspected Kol saw right through her. All the same, she got on the bed with him. She curled against his side and put her head on his chest. His arm went around her shoulder and she pressed herself closer. Her eyes closed and slowly she drifted off to sleep.
Thank you to everyone, who has read, followed, faved and reviewed this fic! The fact that the kennett shippers are still going strong literally gives me life! You have no idea. Anyway, one more chapter to go and this fic is wrapped up *hides under desk*. Again, sorry about any medical errors. Let me know what you thought.
I'm fireismyelement97 on tumblr. I accept asks for kennett, bonkai, calbrina and nabrina one-shots.
- Izzy
Dear Pauline: Thank you so much! Lol, that guy was creepy right? I creeped myself out writing that scene.
Kennett4eva: omg I love your anon name. Thanks, one of my favorite things about writing fic is giving Damon what he deserves aka what he never got in canon.
Guest: Lol, I hope this filled your smut craving.