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Worry still plagued her for the following days. Worry of Timothy finding his way to her after finding his way to her University. Worry of him making his way back to her mother. Finally, worry over the mysterious person on the other end of Bonnie's emails.

She never told Bonnie, but since the uneasy feeling, she asked Kol to discreetly investigate. Perhaps, she should have told Bonnie she did this, but she couldn't find the right words. What was she going to do if Kol found something? It was against the privacy laws but done under the radar, it wasn't so bad. Was it? Especially if it was for a friend.

She stared into space before her, holding the coffee mug with a firm grip. Her mind replaying the events. She should tell her friend, but what was she going to say? Maybe she should wait until they found something. Yes, that was good. Wait and then tell Bonnie.

She finished her coffee and placed the empty mug on the counter, resting her hands on the edge with her head bowed. The office was quiet today. Klaus and Kol were in court and the phones were silent. Caroline was thankful for the reprieve. The early morning had been hectic and only now had it slowed to a stalemate, enough for her to relax and breathe.

The ringing pulled her from the silence and she rolled her eyes before heading to the desk. Answering, she waited, listening to the heavy breathing on the other end. Her heart froze and chills ran down her spine. It couldn't be.

"Who is this?"

"Think you can hide."

She bit her bottom lip, her body shaking. "Who is this?" she asked again, keeping her voice steady.

"Tell Klaus that he can't hide from the truth."

Caroline tried to control her breathing. "What truth?"

"That he can't win."

She listened to the silence on the other end before lowering her hand to the phone's cradle. Controlling her body, she realized who had been talking. Klaus' present case was against some small claims lawyer, who was trying to make it big by representing a crook of a building inspector. Klaus' client had been working on the building and a section was faulty due to cheap materials and not enough posts to steady the balcony. The client's lower back had been damaged and he only wanted compensation and an inspection for the building. It wasn't a small claims court, but it was a small case, which could bloom into a huge fire if not settled, and apparently, they didn't want to settle.

The truth, Caroline realized, was the simple fact that Klaus would not get the settlement out of court, but he would still win. The evidence-backed him up, and Caroline knew he would not stop until his client had justice.

That knowledge made her smile and relax. Klaus would win his case. Of that she was sure, and Timothy hadn't found her. That gave her some peace.

But for how long? Oh, she shouldn't have pushed that question.

She needed a moment. Another moment, her body began to shake once more and her eyes blurred with tears. The knowledge of Timothy coming closer ate at her soul. She couldn't get it out of her mind. Her right hand touched her chest where the longest scar rested, and she bit back a sob.

What was she going to do? She couldn't run and leave everyone she loved. She couldn't hide. She didn't want to. She suffered too much at the hands of her cousin, she wasn't going to allow him to dictate her actions anymore.

She didn't know she had moved from her desk until she felt familiar hands touch her shoulders nearly an hour later. Her eyes blinked and she realized she was standing in Klaus' office, just staring blankly out the window.

"Klaus," she breathed, blinking to focus.

"Everything alright, love?" he asked, turning her. When he didn't see her at her desk, he wondered where she had gone, until he opened his office door and found her standing in front of the window, staring.

She nodded, before wrapping her arms around him, holding him close. He didn't ask why; he didn't want to push. He could feel her tension and knew the only comfort she needed was just to be held.

Guiding her to the sofa, he settled down beside her, and in a quiet tone, she informed him of the call.

"You thought it was Timothy," he deduced, after a few moments.

She nodded. "At first, but the voice didn't match his." She threaded her fingers through his. "I'd recognize his voice anywhere."

He didn't have to ask how. He already knew. After such an experience, it was hard to forget voices. He would never forget Mikael's.

"I should get back to work."

He hummed, playing with her fingers. "So, should I."

"We don't seem to be in any hurry."

He heard the smile in her tone and glanced down to see her smiling with a light shining in her eyes. "No," he responded, simply.

She giggled, placing her head on his shoulder. "You'll win, won't you?" she asked, with mild confidence.

Knowing she was discussing the case, he nodded. "Yes, the judge has already ruled the evidence can be admitted."

"I hope you slaughter that little weasel in court."

He chuckled, peering down into her eyes. "Little bloodthirsty, love?"

"He deserves it after scaring me, and no one threatens people I care for," she answered, strongly with a slight blush.

He smiled, tenderly, caressing her face. "Same goes for me, Caroline." He brushed his lips over hers, settling on the couch for a small break.

Both realizing their feelings were growing stronger with each passing minute and loving it.

~XXX~

"Tell me," Esther requested with a smile.

Klaus swallowed the tea and relaxed in his chair. "There isn't much to tell, mother," he began, glancing at the empty cup. "I've been working the claims case and that's it."

"I meant about Caroline, Niklaus."

He smiled at his mother's tone and nodded. "She's progressing."

"I figured she would with love and patience."

Klaus lowered his eyes. "I've never been a patient person, but with her," he trailed off.

"You find you are more patient than you realized."

"Yes."

"That's because you love her, Niklaus," Esther remarked, reaching across the table to grasp her son's hand. "You love her and patience come from that."

"She makes me feel like a hero, or that I could be."

"You are to her."

"I haven't done anything."

"You've listened and you've been there when she's needed you," Esther explained. "That's all she wants and that's what you provided. In her eyes, you are a hero just by being there."

"I've never been anyone's hero," he uttered.

Esther squeezed his hand. "Yes, you were," she began, gently. "The way you protected Kol and Rebekah from Mikael and tried to protect me. That was heroic."

"But it didn't stop him."

"No, but you did try, and I couldn't have asked you to do it."

"You didn't have to, mother," Klaus responded. "Mikael was a cruel man who didn't care about this family. I couldn't let him hurt them."

"And in doing so, you alienated your siblings."

"I had to. You know I did. If I got close to any of them, Mikael would have made the punishment worse."

"I know. He hated the affair I had with your father," Esther confessed, lowering her eyes. "Your father was a kind man, who would have loved you and the others like his own."

"You loved him?"

Esther smiled, sadly. "Very much. He made me feel like I could take on the world." She narrowed her gaze to his. "That's what love does. Gives you the strength to face the darkness and fight until it backs down."

Klaus lowered his eyes. He never thought of love like that, but as he considered the possibilities, he realized how right his mother was. Caroline made him strong. She stood by him, never faltering, only supporting him. She listened when he discussed the past, never judging, only caring.

"You've told her?"

Klaus shook his head. "I've told her most of it."

Esther lowered her gaze to her son's chest. She knew the scars he carried, physical and emotional. They were deep and hard to break. Yet, Caroline found a way to break through her son's defenses, even see the scars he carried, emotionally. "Perhaps, she needs to hear the rest."

He smirked, bowing his head. "In time, right now, we're just taking it a day at a time."

"Good."

~XXX~

Caroline knew something was wrong the moment Klaus entered the office. Rising from her seat, she started towards him, only to have Kol stop her with a touch. She glanced at her boss, and a worried expression crossed her face. She tilted her head, but he only shook his head.

Klaus entered his office and the moment the door closed a yell was heard and the sound of slams and banging caused Caroline to tense. Her shoulders shuddered with each sound, but her heart ripped at the cry of the man she loved in pain.

Pushing away from Kol, she approached the door and pushed it open. Ignoring Kol's pleas to let Klaus be, she entered his office. Eyes took in the sight of law books scattered, and the objects on his desk were swiped to the floor. His back was to her, but she could see his body shaking with rage.

She stopped a few feet away, wanting to comfort him, but knew the dangers of approaching a raging person.

"I won't hurt you."

She smiled, understanding his meaning. "I know."

He turned, leaning against the desk with his eyes blinking back the rage until mild anger and sadness mixed in the irises. She approached him carefully until she stopped beside him, leaning against the desk. His folded arms dropped with his right hand reaching to grasp hers. They stood in silence as the clock in his office ticked, reminding them of passing time. Not that they cared.

He breathed out, wanting to understand what was happening. Needing answers. Needing something to explain what was going on.

"What happened?"

His eyes closed. Releasing her hand, he stepped away. "Another case I'm working, as a favor," he began, bending to pick up a single book. "A friend contacted me, wanting me to represent him."

"For what?" She watched as he slammed the book back to the ground, but this time she didn't flinch.

He glanced at her, hoping he didn't scare her, but the urgency in her eyes made him relax. "His wife tried to have him killed. She hired a hitman, an amateur one at that."

"Why did she want him killed?"

"Because she was tired of him," Klaus answered with a scoff. "She ultra-religious or something and doesn't believe in divorce. At least that's what my friend said."

"And that got you upset?" she asked, hating the case already.

"It's the memories it brought up," he revealed, quietly, marching back to the desk and slammed his hands on the top of the desk.

Turning, she wrapped her hands around his arm, holding him tight with one hand while the other pushed to grasp his fingers.

"Mother wanted to divorce Mikael, even before she met my father," he began, softly. "He refused to divorce her. She tried so many times through the years after I was born and into my teens. He always refused." He bowed his head with his eyes closed. "One day mother and I were outside the mansion when a shot sounded out. I don't recall where it came from, but my mother pushed me to the ground. It took me a second to figure out what happened." His voice hardened with each word and Caroline's heart ached. "Mother had been shot."

"Klaus," she whispered, worriedly.

"The bullet grazed her arm, but it was enough finally to get Mikael out of our lives."

"The divorce," she concluded, gently.

He nodded. "It was a loophole in the marriage or something mother's father put in or arranged. If Mikael tried to kill mother, it was grounds for a divorce even if he contested it. He would lose."

"I'm sorry."

He sighed, breathing heavily. "It was a start."

She watched him with new eyes and picked up the subtle hints in his description. "He wanted you killed too, didn't he? The bullet was meant for you."

He nodded. "We found out he wanted mother and I both gone. I was the reminder that mother was happier without him and he wanted her wealth."

"But your siblings, they would have inherited the money too, wouldn't they?"

"Mikael had a will drawn up for mother. Everything would have gone to him."

She shuddered, leaning into his side. "That son of a bitch."

He smirked, glancing at her with soft eyes. "Now, Caroline," he remarked, teasing.

She shook her head. "Don't you dare," she began, raising her right hand to touch his face, stroking his scruffy face. "He was a horrible man, who tried to kill you and your mother. He deserves far worse."

His eyes blinked, savoring her touch. "I am sorry for scaring you."

"You didn't," she returned with a gentle smile. "I was only worried for you. I knew you wouldn't hurt me."

He breathed, deeply, turning to pull her into his arms. "I never would. It would be like hurting myself."

She felt the impact of those words deep in her soul. He was implying things he hadn't said aloud, things she knew he felt by his actions. Except now, he was putting them into words. It brought tears to her eyes at the beauty of his statement. Tugging his head down, she kissed him with a tender touch. Securing their unspoken love in the mess of the office.

~XXX~

Hours later, the main office door flew open with Bonnie running towards her with panic in her eyes. Caroline straightened until she was standing in front of her friend. Her hands grasped Bonnie's cold fingers and fear began to grip her soul.

"Bonnie?"

"A contact back home called me," Bonnie began, trying to catch her breath. "He didn't have your number, so he called me."

"What's wrong?"

Bonnie glanced around, trying to see if anyone was with them.

"Klaus and Kol had a meeting at the courthouse," Caroline explained, wishing Klaus was here for the moment.

Bonnie groaned. "Timothy was spotted in town."

"Mom," Caroline choked, gripping her friend's hands tighter. "Is she…?"

"She's fine now, but he took a shot at her," Bonnie explained, quickly. "Her deputies managed to scare him off, and tightened the detail around her. Caroline, my contact told me he's been prying into our records."

"He could find me," Caroline whispered, ghostly.

"They're tracking him now. As far as they can tell, he hasn't left Mystic Falls."

Caroline pushed away, her hands shaking as she grabbed a pen and paper. "I…I've got to get out of here. Is mom in the hospital?"

"No, she's back at home. You can call her."

Caroline nodded, grabbing her things. "I need…"

Bonnie nodded, understanding. "I'll take a cab home," she replied, handing Caroline her car keys.

Caroline smiled, faintly, passing her apartment keys to Bonnie in exchange. She needed to get out of here. Safely on the road, she called her mom, who reassured her everything was fine. She wasn't even nicked. The only damage was the pride of her guards who allowed Timothy to get close.

Even with the reassurances from her mom, Caroline drove further away. She needed to breathe. She needed air.

The tears fell down her cheeks, and her shaking hand tried to wipe them away. Her heart was shaking her chest. She should have called. That's what she should have done, but at the time, she couldn't think. Pulling up to the cabin, she shut off the car and practically ran around to the back. Her body shook with a hard force, as she fell to her knees in front of the waterfall. Her hands covered her mouth, and she tried to gather her courage.

She was so close. So close to breaking and her heart was so close. One tiny crack and it would shatter like glass. What was she going to do?

"You left."

The words echoed in her soul. Without opening her eyes, she collapsed in his embrace. "You followed," she whispered, brokenly. His body tightened against hers, and Caroline shuddered. "He almost got her."

He nodded against her neck. "I know."

Caroline pulled back and searched his eyes. "Why did you follow?" she asked, needing to know. Needing the strength and the courage which only he could give.

"You have my heart," he stated, simply.

She smiled, through the pain and tears. The light shined in her eyes. "And you have mine."

He escorted her inside, helping in the kitchen with careful hands. He left her only to put a pot of coffee on and returned to sink to the floor of the kitchen with his arms wrapped around her. "Today seems to be the day for comforting," she whispered after minutes passed.

He chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "So it seems."

"How did you know I was coming here?"

"You told Bonnie you needed some air. The cottage is still in the city, and the cabin is further out. I just figured this was the best choice."

"Reading my mind," she grumbled, tightening her hold on him. She waited for a few breaths before speaking again. "She's fine, but he still got close."

"I know."

"Sometimes I wish that I…that Timothy never existed and I wouldn't feel this…scared," she cracked, sniffing. "But recently, for some strange reason, I'm glad I endured what I did."

He stiffened, glancing down at her face. "Why?"

"Because it helps me to understand what you went through," she answered, raising her head to search his eyes. "If I hadn't gone through hell with my cousin, I wouldn't have known or understood the pain you went through. It's not the same kind of pain, but it's similar enough to understand." She licked her lips, placing a hand on his chest. "Hearing about the brutality causes sympathy, but going through it, changes things. You don't have sympathy for me. You share the same pain, as I do with you."

"I wouldn't have you experience that pain for all the world, Caroline."

She smiled a sad, tender expression. "I wouldn't have you experience it either, Klaus."

His forehead touched hers before their lips met for a moment. Holding her close, the tears she cried before were released once more only this time, it was the pain for them both that kept them flowing. She cried for them both, and Klaus understood and even shed a few tears for her.


Please be kind!

I hope you enjoyed it! I wanted to show how Caroline and Klaus are there for each other. I hope I succeeded.

Here is a sneak peek for the next chapter!

"How close do you think he is?"

Her question tightened his hold on her. "I don't know. The investigation in the email said the point of origin was in Mystic Falls."

She gasped, wanting to scream, to hit, to do something. "Mom."

"I contacted her and sent the information. They should have everything they need for a conviction soon."

"It won't stop him, Klaus."

He sighed. "I know, but it may slow him down."

"What are we going to do?"

He cupped her cheek and searched her eyes. "Fight, Caroline, we are going to fight."

Until Next Time...