Arid deserts. Landmines going off. Blazing flames engulfing her and severed limbs adorning the golden sand, coloring it a sordid crimson.
That was all Caroline could see upon closing her eyes and it prevented her from falling asleep again. So she tossed and turned relentlessly, her mind continuing to venture in Klaus Mikaelson's direction. A man who had been put through the ringer, who was still haunted by demons Caroline couldn't even begin to consider, for they were like a dagger cleaving through her heart.
In order to keep busy, she finally stood up to prepare her luggage for their flight to Malibu. Moreover, she booked plane tickets for the both of them, before Klaus could even begin to protest. They were flying first class and it was her treat, however much it bothered the proud man.
With hours left to spare before the plane took off and, since there had been no sign of her 'boyfriend', a treacherous thought made its way: what if he'd left after all? Unfortunately, once the seed of doubt had begun to fester, there was no stopping it.
Precisely for that reason Caroline found herself outside her guest room, hand hovering in the air, reluctant to disturb Klaus for fear she might interrupt a brief, rare moment of peaceful slumber. However, the uncertainty was too much. If he'd indeed opted to break his promise and go, she'd rather know as soon as possible.
What was most surprising was that she did not care about the embarrassment his abandonment might cause among her acquaintances. All she worried about was him. His fragile equilibrium that she'd shred to pieces upon making him return to Mystic Falls.
So she knocked, first gently and, when no response came, a little bit louder, her heart pounding.
He's gone.
Inhaling as much air as her lungs could handle, the woman finally opened the door. To her bewilderment, the man was in the room after all. He had pulled a chair by the window and was gazing outside, eyes glazed over, clearly not aware of his surroundings. Wrinkles had formed around his eyes, eyebrows furrowed, his jaw tightly wound.
All in all, he appeared much older than she knew him to be. Older and exhausted, if one was to consider the purple bags under his eyes.
Slowly, the blonde began to approach him when memories of last night surfaced. Taking him by surprise was a mistake she wouldn't repeat if possible. Unconsciously, her hands went to her neck, absent-mindedly trailing down the angry bruises there. They didn't hurt as badly anymore, but the memory of running out of air, staring death in the face again, so soon, had come back and left her unwantedly weary of approaching Klaus when he was in such a state.
"Klaus?" she gathered her wits and made her presence known.
Immediately, his head snapped in her direction, clearly baffled by her being there.
Taking a few steps forward, the woman stopped right in front of him. "I wanted to let you know that I've booked us flights that leave for Malibu in a couple of hours." Seeing as he remained quiet, she rushed to add. "That is, if you still wish to come with me, of course."
If he'd decided that he wanted to leave, Caroline wouldn't protest. If he felt it best for him to get away from all this, she'd stand by and allow it to happen. Regardless of how much it beguilingly hurt her.
"Isn't that a question that I should be posing, Caroline?"
Her dismay must have shown on her face, prompting him to pointedly stare at the marks adorning her throat.
"Do you really wish to go on a vacation with the man who almost killed you last night?"
Hadn't they had this conversation before? Why in the world was he starting it again? Cursing her forgetfulness to cover up the black and blue blemishes, the woman took a second to wisely choose her words.
"Of course, otherwise, I wouldn't have offered. By now, you should know that not even the big, bad Klaus Mikaelson can force me to do anything I don't want to. "
"Perhaps not," he remained serious in spite of her light tone of voice. "But you can't deny that you, for some incomprehensible reason feel guilty and wish to make some nonexistent mistake up to me."
That was a spot on interpretation of her actions. All that lacked was a small detail: her confusing feelings for him. A wish to help heal some of those bleeding wounds that scarred his heart undeservedly, was guiding her.
"Klaus," she paused mid-sentence, deciding to be entirely honest. "You're right. I do feel somewhat guilty for dredging all of your past back up and for making you face Stefan again. If I had known even half of what I do today, I never would have asked you to come with me." Caroline could see that he was preparing to interrupt so she quickly resumed. "And although I might be a little weary in approaching you, should you have a nightmare, you need to know that I don't blame you for what happened. It wasn't your fault; you had no control over your actions and I could never hold them against you."
The sincerity with which she spoke was overwhelming. How could such a kind soul wish to remain in his dark presence? The answer laid in the question itself: she was too good to send him packing even though he deserved it.
"How can you still say this to me? Want me in your presence? Caroline, the people around me die, each and every single one of them."
The brokenness of his voice tore another piece of her heart. His suffering hurt way more than her bruises ever could. Hers would heal, but his would follow him around all of his life unless he found a way to put it behind him. Find something worth living for again. She wasn't naïve enough to even entertain the possibility that she could be that something, but she sure as hell could try to help him reach it.
"It's simple, Klaus. I want you with me because I don't think you're the monster you believe yourself to be, the cruel person that others make you out to be." Before he could get a change to cut in, she went on, "I've witnessed firsthand that there is good in you, that you feel things such as hurt and pain, perhaps even more acutely than any of us. I ask you to come with me so that I can help you find that part of yourself again, prove to you that you are more than worthy to have…" she paused briefly, "Good friends, who know the real you."
For a split second, grey eyes were transfixed on the woman whose features screamed that her words were truthful. Her small speech had had a completely unexpected effect on him. It had almost entirely convinced him that staying, even for a short amount of time, was the right thing. And it truly wasn't. It couldn't be.
"The real me would make you run for the hills, Caroline."
"Let me be the judge of that."
The conviction behind her words was enough to wreck his crumbling resistance so he found himself nodding. The beaming smile he received in return was more than enough to soothe his screaming conscience.
After telling him to be ready in two hours, Caroline left him to pack his belongings. Alone again, and with a much cooler head, Klaus went over his actions. Since last night, he'd pondered whether to go with the woman to Malibu or simply up and leave. The first option had almost no positive arguments save for one: Caroline and that weighed way more than all of the others combined.
However he hesitated, his mind had already been made up and there was no going back. Anyway, he wasn't sure he wanted to even if it was possible.
Five exhausting hours later, they had finally reached the luxurious hotel that would be hosting the wedding. Right by the beach, surrounded by palm trees and an enormous garden peppered with children carelessly playing there, happiness obvious on their sun-kissed faces. A marble fountain greeted the guests right before the entrance, a Greek statue giving it an air of ancient elegance. A bellboy appeared out of nowhere and with utmost politeness offered to take their bags for them.
"Thank you," she mumbled, not entirely comfortable with this level of attention. It wasn't like she spent all of her time in places this posh and elegant. Being a surgeon was too time-consuming for such distractions and she was too dedicated to her profession –saving lives- to put it second to something as fickle as traveling. Even if her heart secretly longed for it.
The interior of the hotel was even more breathtaking. Never before had Caroline seen such beauty –a mixture of opulence, but also great taste, nothing tacky, everything perfectly matched. From the polished mahogany reception desk, to the caramel glistening floors and to the roof, made entirely out of glass, allowing the sun rays to gently flood in.
"Welcome to the Sheraton Hotel. How may I help you?" A polite receptionist asked.
"Hello! My name is Caroline Forbes, there's a reservation under my name. I'm one of the guests at the wedding you're hosting 7 days from now. I had an emergency and had to come here earlier than specified on the phone. Is there any chance that you might have a free room?"
Crossing her fingers, Caroline waited with bated breath as the young brunette typed on her computer. With all things Klaus, calling here to check for availability had entirely slipped her mind. Anxiety grew with each passing second as she was becoming more and more convinced that they would have to search for another hotel.
Hazel eyes finally looked up from the screen, flashing a smile. "You're in luck, Ms. Forbes, we have just one more room available at the moment and it happens to be exactly like the one you had booked."
The tide had turned and Caroline had finally run into some good fortune.
"Thank you so much," she went to hand her credit card, but Klaus interrupted, instead pulling out his own.
"No, "she found herself protesting. "This is my treat. I really want to do this."
And she did. It was her way of beginning to make up her mistake to him. She had to feel like she was doing something right, helping him enjoy a week in which his demons would at least grant him some semblance of peace. There was nothing more she wanted than to help him. Even her plan to get back at Stefan had been completely vanquished from her mind.
At last, he withdrew his hand and accepted that she would be paying for their stay.
"Thank you, Klaus."
The receptionist was eyeing them with a wide smile on her face as she grabbed Caroline's card and in return handed them a keycard.
"Room 408. Brian," she pointed to the bellboy waiting at the elevator," Will take you there."
Not wasting another second, Klaus began to head in that direction, not deigning the polite receptionist worthy of anything more than a curt shake of the head. Not that Caroline could really blame him. Clearly he hadn't slept a wink and the memories from last night had to be still fresh, wrestling to come back to the surface.
"Thank you very much," the blonde flashed an apologetic smile at the flushed young woman. "Sorry for my boyfriend, he's just a little tired from the flight here."
"Oh, it's totally fine, I'm used to business men acting way worse than that. Besides, he seems nice and it's clear by the way he looks at you that he loves you."
Love?
No, this woman had it all wrong. Klaus Mikaelson barely tolerated her as a friend, let alone harbor those sort of feelings for her. He was just a good actor, like she'd noted before. Nothing more and nothing less.
But who was he acting for in this situation? Because that's what he was doing, right?
Her mouth immediately went to argue against the woman's false assumption, but stopped. People she knew and had deceived that Klaus was her boyfriend would be arriving in a few days. It was best to take advantage of the situation.
"I'm a very lucky woman," Caroline declared in the end, almost choking on her own lie. She was anything but in the romantic department.
"Indeed you are. I hope you enjoy your stay with us."
Flashing the beaming receptionist a final smile, Caroline went to catch up to Klaus. Both him and Brian were waiting for her, the lift's doors held open by their luggage. So heavy was it that she kind of felt sorry for the bellboy whose job was to carry it. Three of the four suitcases- the biggest ones- were hers. In her defense, she had to come prepared. The wedding loomed over her head and she had to dress to impress. The put-together Caroline was back and neither Stefan nor Valerie would be granted the power to vanquish her again.
Following Brian's lead, they reached their room and entered. Klaus took care of generously tipping the bellboy while Caroline soaked in her surroundings. Just like in the lobby, the floors were perfectly polished, an old, Persian rug reigning in the centre. The walls were a pristine beige that clashed with the raven wardrobe, whereas the bathroom was just as exquisite, made entirely out of white marble, with a crystal mirror and a bathtub large enough to fit five people.
Her next stop was the balcony. Two rocking chairs waited there, near an antique coffee table, but what was really breathtaking was the view. The entire ocean laid beneath her feet, the calming sound of waves crashing against the shore traveling all the way to her.
A swift shuffle of feet warned that she was no longer alone and a quick glance out the corner of her eyes confirmed it. Klaus had joined her and was mere inches from her.
"It's extraordinary," the blonde declared. "You can't deny the woman's great taste."
Try as she might, an ounce of hurt seeped into her voice. This place was so much better than what she'd prepared for her own wedding. Turning to entirely face the man, she found him struggling to find something appropriate to say. Perhaps he'd come to the conclusion that she was waiting for some comfort of sorts, but truth be told, she'd just about had it with the sympathetic looks.
"And that's perfectly fine. At least, we can enjoy this. I'm sure neither of us would have otherwise. Now," she stepped back inside and her eyes landed on the huge king-sized bed that appeared taken out of a magazine.
That was one problem she'd not anticipated. After having followed her inside, their current predicament seemed to dawn on him as well.
"You take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor," he immediately claimed convincingly.
Normally, she would have protested, but the events from last night were still too fresh. Caroline did not have enough courage to surrender herself to the realm of dreams, become that vulnerable while so close to Klaus. What if the night terrors returned and she couldn't reach him. It would be the end of her.
Still, it did not feel entirely right for him to suffer the cold, hard floor while she basked in the comfort of silk sheets, geese pillows and warm comforters.
"I…" she wrecked her brain for a better, fairer solution. "We could take turns on the bed," she tentatively offered, expecting his refusal.
And it came, in the form of a definite "Absolutely not." It had the air of an order and for the second time Caroline could catch a glimpse of Klaus Mikaelson, the soldier, the one who barked commands at his subordinates.
"Suit yourself," she went for the same authoritative tone, but failed. "But don't complain about your aching back after a week on the floor."
"I've slept in way worse situations, trust me," he seemed oddly amused by her behaviour.
That was probably true, now that she considered his past. However, while sharing a room with her, Klaus would sleep in the most comfortable way she could ensure. That in mind, Caroline began to scavenge the closet for any spare sheets or blankets, but came up empty.
Mumbling to herself and cursing posh hotels that lacked indispensible comforts, the surgeon was just about to go and ask for some when it dawned on her that she could not. In order for this charade to be kept up, they would need to be credible to everyone.
And that did not entail sleeping in different beds.
So she had to come up with a different solution. Marching to the bed, she grabbed one of the sheets and the blanket and extended them to him.
"For a makeshift bed," she offered apologetically that this was all she could offer and then extended one of the two pillows.
"It will do perfectly."
Like hell it will, but there was nothing more she could do to her utter frustration.
"I was thinking of going to explore the hotel and its grounds," Caroline paused briefly. "Would you like to come with me?"
A moment of hesitation followed her question. Once again, she found herself hoping that he would accept her offer. Choose the friendship extended to him instead of barely treading water in the sea of demons tormenting him.
Friendship was all she was hoping for.
The four-letter word the receptionist had uttered seemed way beyond the realm of possibilities to even consider.
"I," he looked to the floor, crushing her hopes. "I'm pretty tired and I'd rather rest for a while."
Of course he wouldn't agree. What had she been thinking? This was the man who'd nearly killed her, that was how haunted he was and she expected him to simply go for a stroll with her. Yet she had to find a way to reach him.
"Of course, you should take advantage and enjoy the bed before I commandeer it."
With that, she exited the room and allowed the disappointment she'd tried to hide behind a fake smile and a joke to wash over her.
How was she supposed to break through his walls if she couldn't get him to willingly spend some time with her?
Even her surroundings, the ones that had appeared to scream pure happiness and innocence had now been reduced to background noise, her thoughts drowning them out. Allowing her feet to guide her, she passed the buzzing restaurant and pool and headed down a path frequented by less people.
It seemed to lead to the back of the hotel, to a wooden building, like a shed. Nobody appeared to be there to restrict access to guests so she continued. As she got closer, animal noises reached her and upon setting one foot inside, she realized what it actually was.
A horse stable.
Unbelievable. One of the dreams she'd never gotten to accomplish had been learning to ride a horse or even see one closely and here she was. Suddenly, one of the horses neighed, drawing her attention to it.
An entirely black stallion was staring at her, its eyes eerily intelligent as if beckoning her to come closer, reading her uncertainty. Acquiescing to its demand, she stopped right in front of its fence.
"Hey," her hand wavered in the air before resting on the animal's mane. Another neigh, this time shorter was the response she got so she started to pet him, confidence growing with each move. "Good boy," she praised the clever horse that seemed to lean into her touch.
"Beautiful animals, aren't they?"
Startled, Caroline immediately turned to see who had spoken. Although, that was kind of pointless since she'd recognize that heavily accented voice anywhere.
Klaus.
"I thought you said you were tired," she couldn't help throwing back.
"I was, but I happened to see this place from the balcony. I had to see if it was truly a horse stable."
"I couldn't believe it either," she turned back to the animal and resumed petting it. "They truly are incredible creatures."
Klaus moved to stand right beside her, gaze transfixed on the animal. "I used to have one that looked just like him. An exquisite, pureblood stallion named Diablo. Whenever life got too much with my family, I would forget myself and all my woes while riding it. The best way to escape the wretched life I'd been handed."
Suddenly, Caroline wasn't focusing on the horse next to her, but on the man slowly opening up to her. Could it be that this was a chip in his armor? Klaus was oblivious to the pair of emerald eyes staring at him. His orbs were clouded, obviously lost inside memory lane.
"Riding is one of the few things I miss from my old life."
"Maybe," her voice was barely above a whisper, as if afraid to destroy the moment. "You could ride again. I could ask if that's allowed."
He hesitated for a few seconds, an internal battle waging inside him. Of course he longed to saddle up a horse again and feel the freedom he tremendously enjoyed while urging the animal to go faster and faster. What he feared was opening the gates to his heart too much, to the point where closing them would be nearly impossible. Still, he couldn't help himself.
A part of him continued to feel in spite of how much he'd tried not to.
In the time he spent debating himself, Caroline caught a glimpse of a hotel employee carrying a sack full of what she assumed to be horse feed. Without expecting an answer, she ran to catch up to the man and enquire whether he could ride a horse.
"Excuse me, sir," he stopped, turning to look at her. "Can the horses be ridden by hotel guests?"
"Of course, Miss. Do you need any help saddling up a horse or maybe need someone to teach you?"
Klaus certainly knew all of those things and wouldn't appreciate anyone interfering.
"No, thank you, my boyfriend is a pretty good rider," the lie about him being her boyfriend certainly got easier and easier.
After wishing her a good afternoon, the man went on with his work and she returned only to find Klaus in the same place.
"So," she made her presence known." Feel free to saddle up a horse if you wish to, I've spoken to one of the employees and we're good."
Before she could get another word in, he opened the fence and, grabbing the reins, guided the black horse she'd petted out. Without further warning, he placed the ropes in her hand and went to the back of the room.
What was he doing?
With a tug of the reins and a strong neigh, the horse started to grow restless in her hands. Aware that she should not let go, she grabbed even harder on the reins and also resumed running her hand up and down his thick, shiny mane. Immediately, the creature responded and calmed down, enjoying her ministrations.
"You're good with horses," Klaus interrupted, a brown leather saddle in his hands. "Have you ridden one before?"
"No. One of my dreams as a young girl was to learn how to ride. My father promised he'd teach me, but life got in the way. He left home, moved to another town and I guess he just forgot."
Bill had forgotten many of the promises he'd made, but lately he'd tried so hard to make it up and Caroline had forgiven him almost entirely. All that remained was the regret that she'd never gotten to experience things like being taught to ride a bike or a horse or how to drive a car. The things fathers did with their daughters.
"Would you like to learn now?" he asked while finishing mounting the saddle.
Was he serious? Would he really teach her? What if she was terrible at it? With her lack of coordination between her legs and arms, she could be a disaster waiting to happen.
"I promise I won't allow you to get hurt. We'll practice there," sensing her hesitation, he pointed to the area specially designed for the horse riding lessons.
He was so convincing and she was certain that with him as her trainer, nothing bad could happen. So she agreed. The corners of his lips tugged up at her response and Caroline witnessed one of his rare smiles while he guided the horse to the practice ring, closed the fence behind them and expectantly looked up at her.
It dawned on her that he expected her to climb on the saddle, but for a brief second fear took over. All she could see were images of fractured bones and vertebrae, should she fall.
Don't be silly! Klaus promised you'll be fine, her inner voice helped her snap out of it and gather her bravery.
Closing the distance between her and the horse, Caroline waited for Klaus's instructions. "Place you left foot here," he pointed to the stirrup while holding the reins, ensuring that the horse would not move. The woman obeyed, thanking God for her smart choice of comfortable clothes and a pair of flat boots.
"Now, grab the saddle here," he pointed to the front part of it. "And scoot over so that you are in an almost vertical line with the horse, aligning you other foot to the other stirrup." After she was done, he continued," Okay, I want you to try and hoist yourself up, I'll help you."
With that he moved a few inches so that he was right beside her, but also holding the reins short so that the horse wouldn't try to move away."
Having him as her safety net was all the insurance she needed since she was aware that never would he intentionally allow anything bad to happen to her. That in mind, Caroline gathered all of her strength and tried to climb up. The moment her foot left the ground, a firm hand helped push her up, ensuring that she mounted without problem.
"You're really good at this," she couldn't help exclaiming. "Have you done this before? Teach someone to ride, I mean?"
A sad look crossed his face, but it wasn't like those before. This time a nostalgic smile accompanied it.
"I have. My younger brother," the pure love laced in his voice left Caroline almost certain to know who he was talking about.
"Henrik, right?"
A shake of the head confirmed it. "We were inseparable, always protecting each other; he was like my shadow growing up, following me around, begging me to teach him things like swimming or riding a horse. Henrik was the only family member who stayed by me when my so-called father disowned me. The only one who had the guts to defy him for me."
There it was. The crack inside his walls. Finally, he was letting her in, somewhat.
"He sounds like an extraordinary person."
"He was," tears shined in his metallic orbs, but the happiness those memories brought was apparent on his expression. For the first time in months he'd been able to speak about Henrik. Not only speak, but also remember the good times they'd shared and not the image that had remained stuck on his retina- his mangled and broken body.
Caroline really was doing him good, bringing out a part of him that he'd thought had died along with those closest to him, but she appeared to be resurrecting it. She was shining some light into his all-encompassing darkness and he wanted nothing more than for these two weeks to never end. He longed to bask in her warmth longer, but for her safety he couldn't. So he would simply have to make do with what he had- this limited time was better than nothing at all.
"Are you ready to learn to walk the horse?"
"I am," she confidently replied.
"I'll hold the reins for now. I want you to gently squeeze the horse with both of your feet"
No sooner had he spoken than Caroline did exactly as told, giving him barely enough time to regroup and not drop the ropes. She certainly was an admirable, courageous woman who did not let fear get in her way.
A few laps afterwards, he'd given her the reins and taught her to go at a faster pace. Her posture was relaxed, like she had no care in the world. In a few words, she was a fast learner and what had been a scrutinizing look –fishing for mistakes or any signs of trouble so he could intervene- had now turned into an admiring one.
Caroline was unlike anybody he'd seen before. Kind-hearted, full of light, beautiful, but also tough, not afraid of a challenge, not afraid of him. Of how dark his soul truly was.
"Go, grab a horse of your own and let's ride together!"
Uncertainty only lasted enough for the sun to completely come out from under the clouds' siege, its light reflecting on her blonde hair. Like a halo. He couldn't deny her anything and she'd gotten a good grip on riding a horse. Yet she was only a beginner and neither of them could forget that.
"Promise me you won't try to gallop without me. Just go slowly while I saddle a horse for myself."
"I promise, stop worrying about me. I'm actually pretty good at this."
And she was. Better than Henrik or most of the beginner riders he'd seen, but that did not mean that she was prepared to compete in a race. Though he had no doubt that she would try, were she given the chance.
"Just be careful, please."
He all but ran to the stable to get himself a horse so they could both enjoy riding. Picking the first horse he came upon, Klaus got it ready in record time and sped out.
What if she'd fallen and hurt herself?
A breath he hadn't even realized he was holding was released when he saw that she was safe and sound, her back turned to him, gently pushing the horse on and speaking to it.
Her tender heart made her a natural, the animal sensing her good intentions and listening to her. Inexplicably, his heart swelled at the sight of Caroline, looking so happy and knowing that he'd contributed to that.
"I have an idea," the woman sharply turned to look at him. "I'll race you to that small, secluded beach and whoever loses gets to buy the other dinner."
Before he could protest, tell her that she was not ready Caroline had already taken off, passing by him with great speed and urging the horse to go even faster.
Mounting with lightning velocity, he took after her, shouting, begging to stop. However hard he pushed, she was still a good two hundred meters ahead of him, her head start too great to surmount.
Please don't let an accident befall her. Keep her safe, he prayed just in case someone was listening. Not that any of his prayers had been answered before.
Thankfully, they were nearing the finish line, the beach in sight. The relief was short-lived though because out of the blue, fireworks graced the sky. The loud sound startled his horse, which started to struggle against him, attempting to run from the danger he perceived and Klaus just about managed to stay in the saddle and calm the terrified animal.
Caroline, on the other hand, had no such luck. Her lack of experience ensured that she had no chance against the raging animal even though she tried pulling on the reins as hard as she could to steady it. The forces fighting against her were too strong and she succumbed to them, the ropes slipping from her hands.
Without anything else to hold on to, all sense of balance disappeared and, following another jerk, she found herself in a free fall. Bracing herself for the impact, the air was still knocked out of her lungs when her body touched the ground, pain erupting from her ribs and ankle which had landed at a weird angle.
The horse's hooves continued to patter and she saw her life flashing before her eyes when one landed millimeters from her head. It would have entirely crushed the bones in her skull. Miraculously maintaining her composure, she ignored the pain and rolled away from the animal.
"Caroline!" Klaus fervently jumped off his horse the moment it had calmed down enough.
Focusing on the scared animal for now, the man grabbed hold of the ropes and managed to stop its struggling. Not wasting another second, he sped to the woman lying on the ground. His heart stopped when he saw her there motionless.
He shouldn't have permitted this to happen. It was his fault. He never could protect anyone close to him. Cursed. It was as if he'd been cursed at birth- a hypothesis not that far-fetched if one took into account his conception details. After all, children always did pay for their parents' mistakes. But hadn't he paid enough already?
"Caroline, are you alright?" his hand cupped her head, holding it still as she groaned, clouded, forest green eyes looking at him. "Can you hear me? Can you move your legs and arms?"
Panic was clear in his voice while he waited for her answer with bated breath.
"Yes, I'm fine," she rasped out and attempted to stand up, but only made it halfway. Immediately, a burning pain erupted from her ribcage, a wave of dizziness shrouding her vision, a black veil covering it.
"Whoa, take it easy love. Where does it hurt?"
Love. There went that wretched word that had her heart doing somersaults. His voice was so warm; filling her heart with feelings her throbbing head could not wrap itself around. Only in the safe quarters of her room would she ponder on them.
"I'm fine, really. Just a little winded," she tried to play off her injury. For the second time she went to stand up. This time, she almost made it. The problem surged when weight was applied to her right ankle. A cry of pain escaped her lips before she could rein it in. It felt as if someone had stabbed her and was now twisting the knife.
Had Klaus not been holding her, she would have landed straight on her face. Diagnosing herself, she deduced that the fall had resulted in a mild ankle sprain. Tight hands were holding her upright, one wound around her hand and the other gently over her waist. The feeling of them on her body sent shivers down her spine.
The man was so close to her that she could sense his intoxicating smell invading her nostrils. Their heads were separated by merely two centimeters and the fall must have really messed with her brain because all it could process was how easy it would be to lean in and kiss him.
No, shock was clearly speaking now.
Shaking her head to snap out of it, Caroline concentrated on the man who had apparently spoken to her and was expecting an answer.
"Sorry, what did you just say?" she questioned without offering any other explanation. What could she have said otherwise? I was too busy contemplating kissing you.
Yeah, like that would go well with the man who appeared ready to run even at the prospect of friendship, let alone more. No, the fall had clearly rendered her delusional.
"I was asking if you want us to go see a doctor."
"No," she quickly responded, not at all keen on taking a trip to a hospital. "I'm fine; it's just a couple of bruises and a mild sprain. Nothing a day or two of resting won't heal."
Klaus still seemed skeptical, but after considering her job, chose not to argue. She appeared to be well, save for the ankle and the red hue covering her cheeks, making her look a tad feverish, but that was probably the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
"Lean on me and we'll slowly head back to the horse," he added in the end.
Caroline tried to do just that, but the first step was pure agony. Her battered bone could not stand even the slightest pressure, but determination not to appear even weaker kicked in. Toughing it out, she bit her lip and took another step. By now, she was already panting, eyes closed in an attempt to block it out.
"This is hurting you, isn't it?" Klaus immediately noticed.
She wanted to deny the obvious, but feared her voice would give her away even further so she shook her head. Not entirely convincingly because what followed was a heavy sigh and the feel of arms tightly wrapping around her as he literally swept her off her feet and into his embrace.
Taken by utter surprise, a loud yelp escaped her lips, her fingers immediately wrapping around his neck granting her some support in case she went tumbling to the ground again.
Although she seriously doubted Klaus would ever permit that.
"You can never admit to needing help, can you?" he exasperatedly asked.
"I was doing perfectly fine; we just had to take it a bit slower." Ungrateful- that was how her words had sounded and she realized it the moment they were out. "But thank you. This is better," her conscience and sense of right and wrong prompted her to add.
They came to an abrupt halt in front of his dirty white mane- Domino- Caroline had heard Klaus call her. "I'm going to help get you up here and then I'll tie the horses together so we take them both back. Will you be okay while I do that?"
Logic screamed that they were tame animals and what had happened to her had been a pure strike of bad luck, but however loathe she was to admit it, the incident had left her a bit weary of climbing back in the saddle so soon. Still, she was no crybaby and this was the most practical solution.
"Just hurry, will you?" was all she muttered.
Not waiting to be told twice, Klaus deposited her on the animal's back with the utmost care, mindful of her ankle, treating her like a porcelain doll that would break at any rough handling when the truth was that she was so much tougher than anybody knew.
Just not right now.
Sensing her unease, Klaus ran to the other horse and tied them together in less than a minute. Then, he approached Domino again and without previous warning, climbed behind Caroline, his hands wrapped around her torso, holding the ropes tightly, to avoid another unforeseen incident.
Just like before, the blonde's body responded to his nearness, vibrating at the feel of him holding her tightly against him, as she molded perfectly into him.
The way she unwillingly reacted to him scared her senseless. These feelings were more than unwanted mostly because she was sure that he could never reciprocate, but also because in a few days he would vanish from her life never to be seen again.
And having her heart broken twice in less than two months was a feat that not even Caroline Forbes wished to ever achieve.
"We'll be there soon," Klaus reassured, convinced that her reaction was owed to fear rather than mind-boggling feelings that both feared to face.
True to his words, they returned to the stable without another accident. Thankfully, a hotel worker was there and Klaus asked- more like ordered- him to take care of the horses.
To confuse her poor heart even further, he resumed carrying her all the way back to their room, ignoring the disdainful looks people were throwing them. The only one who seemed to enjoy their misunderstood display of affection was the receptionist who winked at Caroline meaningfully.
Caroline flashed a complicit smile under Klaus's furrowed eyebrow. This would be a mystery he would not crack. The man appeared to get the message because he rolled his eyes and continued.
Never before had a bed looked more alluring than now, her body longing for the soft mattress, but when Klaus laid her in it, she found that she missed his protective hold, musky smell and warm touch.
The bed never couldn't compete with Klaus Mikaelson.
With him entering the bathroom, Caroline expected their moment to be over, for him to retreat back to his silent corner. Like always, choose to be alone and miserable.
Only this time he didn't.
He returned with an ice pack wrapped around a wash cloth and gingerly placed it on her foot, after removing her boots.
It was like somebody had replaced the Klaus she knew and was familiar with, leaving in his stead a man used to taking care of others. Somebody without thousands of defense mechanisms. Afterwards, he went to the kitchen, making her think the magic had been broken for good this time, only to return with a glass of water and two painkillers.
Sitting down next to her on the bed, he handed them to her. "Is there anything else I can get for you? Some tea, maybe?"
Caroline wanted to ask who he was and what he'd done to Klaus, but refrained from fear of spoiling the rare occasion.
"I'm good, thank you."
His eyes flashed to her swollen ankle and to the bruises that were starting to come back to the surface, the thin layer of concealer starting to disappear.
"It wasn't your fault, Klaus," she felt compelled to add upon having understood his current train of thoughts. She was starting to sound like a broken record in his presence with this phrase, but it wasn't her fault that he seemed to want to carry the blame for pure bad luck.
If a meteorite collapsed on her right now, Caroline was sure that Klaus would find a way to blame it on himself.
"I was the one who got the brilliant idea to race you, Klaus. You couldn't have prevented this."
If I hadn't been near you, I could have, he wanted to say, but the fighting spirit in her emerald eyes stopped him. Maybe she was right. Perhaps he could distance himself from his past; just for two weeks perhaps he could allow himself the luxury of a normal life, without the hatchet of vengeance towering over him.
Maybe this game of cat and mouse of which he'd been a part of for the last years could take a break. He could be allowed a reprieve in which he could dream that his life was normal, that not everything he touched turned to ashes.
"You might be right," he finally ventured to say aloud. "This time it could be different," he reflected out loud.
Truth be told, Caroline did not understand much of what he was babbling and the pills she'd taken were starting to make her drowsy, but she could not help feeling optimistic in regards to Klaus.
Today could just have been the turning point. That moment in which he chose to accept her extended hand and come off the ledge from which he'd been dangling. Or maybe she was high on painkillers and adrenaline.
Clarity would come with sleep. There was only one thing left unsaid that she had to clarify now.
"I would have won that race and you know it. So you owe me dinner," she muttered through half closed eyes.
Klaus would have argued that she cheated and that nullified the race, but found he didn't want to. What he truly desired was for them to have that dinner together. To talk about whatever pleased her heart while enjoying the best food and to see her smile because of him. That were what his heart really longed for. And he would not deny it anymore. For two weeks he would try to go back to being the person he'd been before the blindfold had been lifted off his eyes.
Before he'd understood who the Mikaelson family was in reality. The monster he was groomed to be.
"That I do, Caroline. I do," he whispered before she fell asleep, not entirely sure she even heard it, but even if they'd fallen on deaf ears, these had been the most honest words he'd said in a long time.
He'd give whatever was building between him and Caroline two weeks before he'd squander it.
Two weeks of pure bliss before returning to the Inferno that was his life. Two weeks of Heaven before lowering himself back to Hell for good.
What he hadn't taken into account was how much things could change in two weeks.
Secrets could come out.
Lives could be turned upside down.
And people could die.
A/N: I'm really sorry that this chapter took so long, but I've had a lot on my plate with tedious exams to try and get into med school. Anyway, I've tried to make it extra long to somehow make up for the delay. Once again, I want to promise that updates will continue to come, but probably at a slow pace as I try to juggle everything I've got going on.
Now, I'd like to thank every single one of you who is still reading this story and adding it to their favourite/follow alerts and leaving reviews. They truly are the best motivators to write faster and better. So, if you have the time, it would mean a lot to me if you would, please, let me know what your thoughts were on this chapter as well.
Thank you, in advance, to those who review...
