Hello, my lovely readers. So, there is a lot of humor in this chap, but it ends on a sad note... On with the show...

Chapter 17: Keep Holding On

Elijah

Sharp, red flares went off behind Elijah Mikaelson's eyelids. Waking up out of a sound sleep; Elijah's hand went over his eyelids. He could feel dampness surrounding him. The odious stink of sweat left his pajamas clinging to him. He needed to get up, to get changed. Free hand going out, he found his wife absent from their bed. Wondering where Hayley had gone to, another sharp pain tore through him. Both hands now covered his face as he rocked on the bed. Hot tears blurred his vision and his breath came out in choking gasps.

"Hayley?" Elijah cried out. He pushed himself off the bedside as the pain subsided. He needed...

"Ahh!" Elijah cried. Another wave went straight between the eyes. He fell backwards and into his nightstand.

"Elijah?" Their door opened, emitting light from the hallway. He wanted to beg her to turn it off, but he could not speak.

Running to his side; Hayley knelt down. "Elijah? Elijah, can you hear me?" He nodded, but it took a toll, and he moaned in pain. He could barely make out her motions between his fingers as she stood up, moving around the bed. "Hello! I need an ambulance at 2121 King Louise Dr. It's my husband. I was getting a glass of water when I came upstairs. He'd collapsed. Yes. He's conscious and responsive. Thank you."

Seconds later, Hayley came to sit in front of Elijah. She placed a hand on his knee. "It's okay. Help is coming."

And it did come shortly afterward. The doorbell rang and Hayley got up to answer it. Two medics came upstairs to pull out their little devices to check his vitals. As if the one thing someone with severe headaches needs is a flashlight waved in their faces.

Hayley stood aside while these two strangers placed their hands on Elijah. He could not help but find the irony in their work. Loved ones told to not touch their family and friends while total strangers stripped them and placed needles in their bodies, poking and prodding. A laugh burst out of him and the medics gave each other a look.

"Sorry." Elijah uttered. At this moment a computer was making calculations as to how much this little visit would cost. Cold. Sterile. It made him laugh, again.

"Mr. Mikaelson-"

"Dr. Mikaelson," Hayley corrected the male medic.

The boy looked at Hayley and then at Elijah. "Sorry, Doctor. Can you tell us what happened?"

Elijah nodded. "I've been having headaches, with increasing frequency, and the pain is about an eleven. I was asleep. Then a jackhammer sliced into my brain, and I fell. Thankfully, my trusty nightstand caught my fall."

The female medic checked her portable BP machine. "Your blood pressure is a bit high."

Nodding, Elijah sighed. "Pain tends to cause the heart rate to rise."

"Have you been taking any kind of medications, for the pain. Or had a drink to dull it?" the boy asked.

Elijah shook his head. "Medication could only mask the signs and symptoms. Tomorrow, I am going in for a CT, to find out if this is a tumor."

The medics looked at each other, again. The female said, "What is it you do, Doctor?"

"Head of Neuro, at New Orleans Grace." Elijah nodded. "Not very useful at the moment."

The boy looked at his partner. "Should we bring him in, Toni?"

Toni shook her head. "He's stable. Responsive. What would you like to do?"

Elijah looked at Hayley. "I think I would like to sleep in my own bed. Tomorrow might be different."

Toni rose to her feet. "It was nice to meet you. Both of you. You have our number. If you need us."

Frowning, the boy got to his feet. "I think we should take him in..."

"Roman, he has a right to make his own decisions." Toni stared at Roman for a long moment. He shook his head before grabbed his equipment, zipping his bag, and marched out of the room.

Toni sighed. "Never work with your little brother. Never. That's what they all told me." She flashed Elijah a smile. "I wish you luck with your test." Gathering her bag, Toni nodded at Hayley and left the room.

With a long sigh, Elijah held out a hand to Hayley. She came to sit beside him. "It will be alright." He was talking to both of them. Hayley looked at him. He could see she was trying to hold tears at bay. Placing a hand on the back of her neck, he pulled her head down, to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Did I tell you how much I adore you, lately?"

"Nope." Hayley's voice was chocked and watery. Elijah nuzzled her cheek. "You could do that...next week. Next month. Next year. A decade from now. When we welcome our first grandkid, she said, leaning back. She smiled at him, her lips trembling. He pressed his lips to hers, stilling her.

Upon parting, Hayley helped Elijah back into bed. He laid down and closed his eyes. However, his mind would not allow him to rest. "I'm sorry, Hayley."

"For what?" Hayley asked. He felt her shift beside him, her hand laid on his arm.

"Because we were making plans for a family. For not finding you, earlier." Elijah turned his head and opened his eyes to look into his wife's. "If I leave you, so soon-"

Hayley placed her free hand over his lips. "Elijah Mikaelson, you're not going anywhere. Okay?" His brows rose. "I won't let you leave me. I will have to cross whatever barrier there is between the living and the dead. Then I will bring you home; where you belong." She smiled and Elijah smiled back.

"Very mythical of you."

Hayley nodded, snuggling up to him. "Ours is a mythical type of love. And I will always find you, no matter where you go."

Nodding, Elijah laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. He found himself falling into a deep, painless sleep.

Klaus

The call came early the next morning. One eyelid popped open and Klaus Mikaelson glowered at his buzzing cell phone. Usually, it was his daughter who woke him in the morning. His eyes squeezed closed and he attempted to ignore the incessant ringing. "Klaus, are you going to get that?" Caroline moaned. One of her arms flipped over to smack his arm and then she rolled back to her side of the bed.

Sitting up, Klaus ran an irritable hand over his heavy lids. He looked at Caroline who pulled her pillow out from beneath her head, pressing it to her ear. With a sigh, Klaus turned to the infernal device. He plucked it up. Seeing Hayley's name on the screen, he quashed the desire to rip into to whoever it was on the other line. He would wait until she mentioned a dinner party, or similar nonsense; then he would tell her off.

Thumb moving over the screen, Klaus lifted the phone to his ear. "Hayley, what is it?"

"Klaus. It's Elijah." Two little words that sent Klaus' world spinning. He knew from her tone that whatever else could come out of his brother's wife's mouth would leave him wanting to go in a room and shut the door tight. Not Elijah!

"He's going in for a scan. It starts in about half an hour. He didn't want to make a big deal about it. But I think it would be good if the family was here; when he gets out." She paused. "Sorry. I have to call the others. And Elijah thinks I'm making a quick coffee run." The sound of the dial tone made Klaus allow his phone to fall to the bed.

Caroline pushed her pillow away. Propping herself up with one elbow, she peered at him. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice low. He could not look at her. "Klaus..."

Shaking his head, Klaus slid off the side of bed. He made his way over to the closet. On autopilot, he threw the doors open and looked around. His hands rose to push dresses aside, until he found a summery, yellow frock. It reminded him of daffodils. He withdrew it and marched over to the bed. "You should wear this." He turned back. She would need a belt.

"Klaus?" Caroline called. "What's going on? Why do I need a dress? And why this one? It's winter."

"Then wear boots!" Klaus snapped. He found a leather belt and placed it over his arm before collecting a pair of black boots. They would have to do.

"Klaus!" Caroline cried as he turned to face her. "Seriously! Talk to me!"

"Elijah is having a CT scan. He can not come out with you looking like it's Christmas! Worse yet, his funeral!" Making his way around his wife, Klaus dropped the belt on the bed and the boots on the floor. He continued, "You need to shower. I will go and change Hope and feed her."

"No!" Caroline snapped.

Klaus whirled on his heel to stare at Caroline. "What do you mean: No! We do not have time to argue!"

Caroline nodded. "Your right." She walked over to him, turned him around, and pushed him toward the bathroom. "You need to go take a shower. Elijah should not be tortured by your woodsy smell. I can take a cold shower, change and feed our child while you dress. After all, you already picked my outfit."

Klaus nodded and went into the bathroom. He could curse the world with the water muffling it, and his tears.

~0~

Hope began to fuss as they entered the lobby of the Neuro Ward. Klaus had spent some time here. But Elijah was always with him. Together, they would attempt to comfort family members or bring much desired: "Good news." His heart pounded when he found his family sitting in the same seats as so many with less than pleasant outcomes had.

"Give her to me!" Esther called. His mother got up to walk toward him. At first, Klaus was too dazed to know what his mother was referring to. Then he looked down at Hope who buried a balled fist into her left eyeball. He handed his child to her grandmother.

Hope pressed her nose into Esther's chest. "Oh. I know, darling. It's all terribly stressful. Isn't it?"

For a moment, Klaus thought his mother was talking to him. Then he realized she was comforting Hope. She rubbed the girl's back as Hope opened her mouth and yawned widely.

Rebekah let out a groan. Her hands went to her middle. "She's not the only one who is over-stimulated."

A hand went to Klaus' arm. He turned to find Caroline behind him. "I'm going to go get us some coffee."

"Alright." Klaus nodded. He folded his arms over his chest. His brows rose when Kol came in. "You look like a funeral parlor attendant!" Rebekah called. She continued to rub her belly. "Enough with the somersaults, you."

"Probably trying to stage an escape." Kol came to take a seat two chairs down from Rebekah.

"Ha! He'll see his uncle and pop right back!"

Kol grinned. "Sounds painful, but karma is a bit-"

"Enough! Both of you!" Mikael pushed off the wall he'd been working so strenuously to hold up. He moved to stand over his children. "There is enough worry. No one needs the two of you turning this into a bloody circus. And... Kol, why are you dressed like that?"

Rebekah began to laugh, but a dark look from their Father made her close her mouth.

Kol straightened his tie. "Elijah picked it. For my interview. Here. Don't you remember?"

Mikael frowned. "Ah. Yes. What is it that you planned on wearing?"

Grinning, Kol slid down in his seat. "I had this tie-from my college days-with these tongues and-"

"No!" Their Father held up his hands. "I do not wish to hear more!"

"But-" Kol began.

The lobby door opened and Finn came in. He looked wrecked. "Am I late? We couldn't get a babysitter. Sage sends her love."

"Right." Kol rolled his eyes. "You could have stayed at home."

"Kol!" Esther gave Kol a warning look while Hope began to snore.

Kol rolled his eyes and slumped down in his seat. He closed his eyes. "Let me know when something interesting happens."

Klaus moved to take a seat next to Rebekah. "How are you handling all of this?" He glanced at his little sister.

"Dreadfully. You?" Rebekah looked to Klaus. In answer, he placed his head on her shoulder. To be honest, he could not bare the idea of a world without Elijah. His big brother had been there since the very beginning. There had not been a day that Klaus was not aware that his brother existed. And the mere idea that they were working on limited time... No. This would not be the end of their story. Hand going out, Klaus' fingers interlocked with Rebekah's, and they waited for their big brother to return to them.

Caroline

"Caroline, can you be a dear, and get us some of those cream cheese danishs, in the caf?" Rebekah inquired, with a hopeful look. This would mark Caroline's third run for something. But she did not mind. The Mikaelson's were worried. And she was one of them.

Kol sat up. "And a mocha."

"She is not your servant!" Klaus gave his siblings an irritable look.

"It's okay, Klaus. I will be back." Caroline slipped back out the door. She hated being on this side of the doctor-patient divide. Better to be in line, waiting for something food-like.

~0~

On her way back, with more coffee, a strawberry smoothie, and a bag of danish; Caroline ran into Josh Rouza. "Hi!" she cried.

"Hey!" Josh grinned. "Been on a shopping trip?" His brows rose as he eyed her full hands.

Shaking her head, Caroline whispered, "No. Elijah's in CT."

"What?" Josh's voice went a little too high. Several people in the hall looked up. "I mean: What?" Josh said softly.

Wiggling her fingers, Caroline waited for Josh to follow her down the hall. "He's been having headaches. So, he's getting checked out today."

Josh blew out a breath. "Well, I hope he'll be okay."

Caroline nodded. "We all do. Anything new with you?"

"Nope!" Josh said it too quickly. "I've got to go!" He tried to get away from Caroline. But she darted in front of him.

"Hey! You're lying to me! Best friend code says: Never lie to your BFF! Spill!"

Rolling his eyes, Josh sighed. "Aiden's going to kill me... We're planning on adopting. But it might not happen. I mean, we see you, with Hope, and she's so cute. We just really want to start a family!"

"Oh, my God!" Caroline cried. "If I was not weighed down by danish and caffeine; I would be hugging you now!"

"We don't know if it will happen..."

"Anyone who would not give you a baby is an idiot! You are kind, and good, a doctor!" Caroline shook her head. "We have got to talk. But right now, I have to get this stuff to my people!"

"Give Hayley my love." Josh moved away and Caroline hurried to get the snacks to her family.

Re-entering the Neuro lobby, Caroline found Hayley, Elijah, and Freya had come in. They must have good news because there were smiles and laughter. Rebekah got up. "Smoothie!" She pulled it out of the tray, took the lid off and began to drink it. Caroline dis not mention she'd bought it for herself.

"No tumors. No shadows. No clots. Just stress. A massive amount of stress!" Freya was saying. Her arms were crossed over her chest. "So, you three." She eyed Kol, Rebekah, and Klaus, "You have to learn to come to me, or Finn," Finn looked worried, "if you have a problem."

"But-" Kol began.

Freya ignored Kol. "Father, Elijah needs Medical Leave."

Mikael nodded. "He'll return, better than ever."

Elijah shook his head. "I don't think I need leave-"

"Yes, you do!" Freya snapped. "Hayley?"

"I'll keep him home." Hayley wrapped an arm around Elijah.

Feeling more relaxed, Caroline went to sit next to Kol. "Danish!" Kol cried. He leaned over to grab one out of the bag. Rebekah looked at them. Caroline pulled one out and headed it over. She leaned back into her seat. About to take a danish for herself, Caroline stopped when her phone went off. Curious, she removed it from her purse.

Hope lifted her head with a drowsy look and stared at Caroline. Waving at her baby, Caroline glanced at her phone screen. Damon Salvatore's name was on there. She wondered why he would be calling. Not that she minded, but... She was being silly. People call. It wasn't a thing.

Caroline swiped the screen and lifted the phone to her ear. "Hi, Damon. What's up?"

"Caroline... Are you sitting down?"

"Yes..." Damon's voice sounded heavy. Her heart squeezed. Stefan? Elena? Bonnie? As Damon continued to speak, Caroline felt the world slide away. Her mind stopped taking in his words. Her fingers loosened and the phone clattered to the floor.

Kol leaned down and grabbed it. "Kol Mikaelson here..." He looked at Caroline. After a moment, he got to his feet. "Thank you for calling."

"What is it?" Esther asked, rocking Hope who had begun to cry.

"Caroline's mother passed away. This morning. She had a clot that traveled to her brain. It was sudden. And painless..." Kol stopped speaking and sat down.

"Caroline?" Klaus called. But Caroline could not hear him. All she could do was think about the irony of today's drama as tears ran down her cheeks. It's never what you think...

Thank you for reading, faving, following, and reviewing. :)

Be safe,

-J