CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BROTHERS IN ARMS

When a brisk knock on the door woke her the next morning, Caroline found herself in Klaus' arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck, his cheek resting against her hair. From the depth of his breathing, she could tell he was still sound asleep. There was no time to think about how lovely it felt to awaken in his embrace, for there was another knock.

"Klaus," she whispered softly, stroking his back. "Door."

He was wide awake instantly. She reckoned that a thousand years on the run from your creepy stepfather did that to you. It was actually strange that he hadn't heard the knock in the first place. He didn't release her from his hold but cocked his head and listened closely. Then he mouthed 'Elijah' and said quietly, "I'll be right there, brother."

Caroline closed her eyes. She was relieved it was just Elijah and not someone along the lines of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but… she was so reluctant to let Klaus go that she was actually a bit upset about Elijah's timing. Klaus held her silently for another moment, then released her and started to get up. No. I need more than that. She rose as well and put a hand on his arm. He turned around to face her, and there was something in his eyes she did not like. She cupped his face with her hands, smiled and mouthed, 'Morning'.

He was fighting the impulse to lean into her, she could see that. What had she done? Had she taken things too far when asking about Prelati and de Rais? Or when threatening to run off? Her hands dropped from his face and she took a step back, trying to hide her confusion. Taking a deep breath, she turned around, grabbed the first piece of clothing she could find and started to fold it, just to give herself something to do. All of a sudden, she felt Klaus' arms come around her waist from behind and she was pulled against his chest. She dropped what she was holding and covered his hands with hers. He pressed her body to his and she felt a flash of heat rush through her. "Caroline," he sighed so quietly she could barely hear him. Then she felt his lips on her temple and he was gone.

"Sorry to wake you, brother," Elijah apologized when Klaus opened the door. "I realize it is quite early, but we managed to catch an earlier flight out of Frankfurt."

"It is good to see you, Elijah. Where are Rebekah and Kol?"

"In their rooms. Well, Rebekah is. Kol left immediately after we arrived, and I reckon he has gone hunting." Klaus nodded and gestured towards the sitting area.

"Shall we order some breakfast, or would you prefer to go out?"

"If it is all the same to you, Niklaus, I'd rather we went out, as I have things I need to discuss with you. Rebekah can stay with Caroline."

The door opened, and Caroline emerged from her room. Klaus' jaw clenched at the emotions that were running amok inside him. He had been close to breaking down last night, but she had kept him sane. Then he had almost lost it again when she had taken him into her arms so determinedly, as if she felt the need to protect him. He could not cope. Never in his entire life had anyone held him like that. And never had he been this torn between what he wanted and what he needed to do.

"Hi Elijah," she smiled at his older brother, and even if her smile wasn't meant for him, it still made his heart flutter.

"Good morning, Caroline," Elijah replied gently, his eyes darting to Klaus. "I hope you are having a pleasant journey – as pleasant as can be expected under the circumstances, I mean."

"Yes, thank you. Norway really is an exceptionally beautiful country, and there have been quite a few breathtaking moments." Klaus could not have agreed with her more, but he refused to let his mind wander to the passionate kisses and intimate moments he they had shared over the last few days.

"Caroline, Elijah and I will be heading out for a while. Rebekah is in the suite across the hallway, and she will be over in a few minutes. Kol should be back within short as well. If you need to sleep some more, I will ask Rebekah to give you a dream."

"No thanks. I'd rather stay awake than have her make me dream of accidents at cheerleading practice, decade dance decoration dramas or binge drinking. She'll probably give me the biggest hangover in history." Klaus heard Elijah chuckle and forced out a tense smile. He quickly went to his room to change and was back even before either of them could start a conversation. Elijah's frown was not lost on him, and he forced another smile, knowing he was not really fooling his brother. Or Caroline.

"What is going on, Niklaus?" Elijah asked sternly when they were seated at a table in a rather large and busy café in the city center.

Klaus sipped his tea and did not look Elijah in the eyes. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Brother," Elijah said with exasperation in his voice, "pray do not insult my intelligence. Or yours, for that matter. Maybe we should start with the question why Caroline came out of the room I heard your voice from, and why the tension between you two could be cut with a knife. Did you…?"

Klaus shook his head. "No. Nothing happened. Well, not 'nothing', but I did not bed her, if that is what you were asking. She is still having the visions, which she had kept from me back in Mystic Falls, and I have found out that once I give her a dream, it supersedes anything the warlock plants in her head. Therefore, I stayed with her these past two nights."

"Are they still the same visions?"

"Except that she is no longer seeing Henrik being tortured but me."

Elijah's eyes widened. Then he rose abruptly, grabbing Klaus' arm. "Come with me."

Klaus shook off his hand, his eyes narrowing and the ever-present suspicion flooding his mind. "Where are we going?"

"I need to speak with you in private." He stepped closer and glared at Klaus, who was completely taken aback by the unusual urgency in his brother's voice. "Now." He walked out of the café. Klaus shrugged into his jacket and followed, frowning. Once they were outside, Elijah flashed off at top speed, and Klaus set off after him. They ran for quite a while until they had reached the top of a hill in the literal middle of nowhere. There was nothing around them for miles, no trees, no houses, no roads. Just the endless plain and the snow. Elijah planted himself in front of Klaus and gestured around them.

"Not a single being in the world can hear us. There is no one around. Just my younger brother and I." He paused and when he spoke again, he emphasized every single word. "What happened in Tiffauges all those years ago, Niklaus?"

All hell broke loose inside him. The tension that had gripped him ever since that first mention of Gilles de Rais' name in the alley, the years of forcing the memories down into the abyss of his dungeon, his fear for Caroline's safety and his ever growing feelings for her – everything erupted at once. With an outcry, he lunged at Elijah, sending them both flying through the air. Elijah was on his feet again immediately, seizing Klaus by the throat and smashing him into the snowy ground. Still down, Klaus kicked Elijah's legs out from under him, making him drop to his knees. They were both back on their feet within the fraction of a second, charging at each other simultaneously.

They were equals, shaped by centuries of battle, knowing each other inside and out, being aware that the both of them no longer had any weaknesses during combat. To a spectator, their fight would have looked like a carefully choreographed dance, with a spellbinding elegance emanating from their fluid movements. They seemed calm, even relaxed in their attacks. Only Elijah would ever suspect how desperately Klaus was fighting himself. He was not really battling his older brother, he was raging against his inner demons. Somewhere beneath it all, Klaus knew he should be grateful to Elijah for letting him take it out on him like that, but it was beyond him right now. Everything was.

It went on for hours. None of them tired, none of them relented, none of them said a word. Finally, when they stood facing each other again, Elijah spoke. "Is it quite enough now, Niklaus? We can go on for a few more hours, if it pleases you, but I do believe we both know it is a futile effort." He looked at Klaus evenly. "And I believe it is high time that you answered my question."

Klaus was about to fly into the next round of rage when Elijah flashed towards him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Niklaus," was all he said, his eyes kind and gentle. With a sigh, Klaus let his head fall back and stared into the clear blue sky. When he looked at Elijah again, he saw his brother was patiently waiting for him to say something. There was no curiosity in his gaze, no judgment. Just concern and wisdom.

"If it was bearable for me to tell you what happened, do you not think I would have done so centuries ago?"

"No. Not if you thought it showed a weakness or something else you would for some reason feel ashamed to admit to."

His brother knew him very well indeed.

"Suffice it to say that what happened was my very worst nightmare. It haunts me to this day, and for reasons passing understanding, Prelati is aware that it does. You came to my rescue back then, Elijah, and I never properly thanked you for that. Neither did I thank you for making them both pay when I was not able to. So thank you. But do not make me speak about the occurrences of that particular night, for I cannot bear to recount them."

"Brother, there is no need to thank me, and you know that. You would have done the same and more for me. But do give me credit for figuring out myself that speaking about the events of that night pains you beyond tolerance. After I found you and brought you home, you did not utter a word for three days and three nights. And when you finally did, part of who you were before was gone. I have only ever again seen glimpses of the old Niklaus, most of them in recent weeks. Do let me ask you this. How do you expect to ever overcome that nightmare if you do not speak of it?"

Klaus closed his eyes, praying for countenance. "I have managed not to let it boil to the surface for six hundred years and I am still alive."

"But you need to speak of it now. We need to find a way to bring down this warlock and whoever is helping him for good. Even more importantly, I will not allow you to let your inner demons impede this beautiful chance at happiness that is finally presenting itself to you. And yes, this time I am lecturing you."

He could not hide the despair in his voice when he answered, "Caroline cannot be drawn into my darkness, Elijah, ever."

"What makes you think your darkness is stronger than her light?"

"Darkness always is. You know that."

"I beg to differ. You see it that way because all you ever permitted to get to you was darkness. You never gave the light a chance because you still think you don't deserve it." Suddenly, Elijah grabbed both of Klaus' arms to shake him, and for the first time in centuries he really raised his voice. "Wake up, Niklaus! This wonderful girl wants nothing more than to allow herself to fall in love with you! For heaven's sake, let her!"

Klaus stared at his brother, wide-eyed. A tiny flicker of hope swirled through his heart. But… He shook his head frantically. "Elijah," he whispered, "I can't. Since we left Mystic Falls, it has just been the two of us, and it was perfect, apart from the visions of course. She made me laugh, and for hours at a time, she made me forget the world. But every time I let her in, every time I touch her, I am lost. One minute I want to push her away because I cannot handle the thought of being so exposed to her, the next I am craving nothing more than to be with her, even knowing that I can't. Not really. For how could I ever burden her with who I am? With what I am?"

"And who or what are you?"

"I am the Grim Reaper, as Damon Salvatore so aptly titled me once. But most of all, I am a man who is unable to do the first thing to keep his family safe." He flinched at his own words.

"Niklaus, who but you has kept this family safe for centuries?"

"Not all of this family."

"Finn? It was the path he chose and never your fault."

Klaus closed his eyes. "I am not talking about Finn."

"Niklaus, Henrik died even before we were turned. How were you supposed to protect him from that werewolf, being a human?"

"It was my duty! I failed! I failed my youngest brother whom I loved more than anything. It was my fault, Elijah! And I… I failed him twice." His voice sounded broken and desperate, betraying all the guilt that was welling up in him and that would never let him live in peace.

Elijah looked at Klaus in astonishment. "Twice? What is the meaning of this?" His eyes narrowed. "This has something to do with what happened in Tiffauges."

Klaus avoided Elijah's eyes. He was aching to share his pain, to have some of the weight lifted off his shoulders, but he knew he could never tell his brother. Once Elijah learned what he had allowed to happen, he would turn from him, and so would his other siblings. They would hate him just like his parents had, and the thought was so excruciatingly painful it made Klaus physically sick. He shook his head.

"It is of no consequence. But under no circumstances can Caroline be burdened with all that I am or am not."

"Why do you not let her make that choice? No, do not answer that – you'd rather make it for her so there is no chance she could even consider rejecting you. Do correct me if I am wrong." Elijah looked at Klaus intently. "Niklaus, you have never been afraid of taking risks. And the price to pay for happiness has always been fear of loss. Pay that price. It will be a hundred times worth it."

"When have you become an expert on love, Elijah?"

There was a pause. Elijah inclined his head and said, "Is that what we are talking about here? Love?"

Klaus' entire existence stopped for a second. He hadn't realized what he had said. Then he ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes. "Of course not. But… what… if it was?" He opened his eyes again to look at his brother. "What then?"

Elijah smiled broadly. "My first reaction would be to go to the nearest church and apologize to the Gods for ever doubting their existence." Klaus huffed but couldn't help a small smile. "Then I would tell you to just enjoy the feeling and do everything in your power to woo the lovely Miss Forbes in such a way that she won't know what hit her. But with you being your usual stubborn and suspicious self, things will never be that easy. So why don't we start by taking down the warlock – which by the way would be a significantly easier task if you were to at least rudimentarily share what happened – and then give you both the chance to find out what it is you want."

Klaus did not want to delve deeper into his feelings. He could not afford to. This conversation with Elijah was the most honest he had had ever since Tiffauges, and it was draining him.

"Let us return to civilization, shall we?" he said. "We still need to see someone at the botanic garden about the white oak." He turned around when Elijah spoke again.

"Two more things, Niklaus."

"What?"

"First – if you do not wish to tell me about it, then think about telling her. I do suspect you will find her much less inclined than you believe to despise you for whatever it is you think you need to be despised for. She is a brave, strong young lady, which I fathom to be one of the reasons you… fancy her." Elijah's smiled turned mischievous. "And secondly – I would very much like a sister-in-law. It is about time, young'un."

With that, he flashed off through the deep snow, leaving Klaus to stare after him, shell-shocked.

When the hotel room door opened, relief washed over her, which made her feel completely silly. They were the two most powerful beings on the face of the planet, but still…

She had been starting to get on Rebekah's nerves after a couple of hours' wait, fidgeting and restlessly pacing the room. It reminded her of the day Elena had been waiting so desperately for Damon to return. The Original had finally turned on the TV, and Caroline had forced herself to join her, watching a subtitled version of Meet Joe Black. Not a good idea… tears galore! And of course she cried, which was the precise moment when Kol returned, taking the opportunity to rib her mercilessly for being such a girl. Interestingly enough, however often she had seen that movie, she had never cried over Brad Pitt. She had always cried over Anthony Hopkins. Rebekah had wordlessly handed her a Kleenex, and Caroline had spotted a tear on the older vampire's face, which made her smile. Rebekah was just a woman after all, Original vampire or not.

So she was already in a state of heightened emotions when Klaus and Elijah finally returned. They looked like they had spent the last hours in the middle of a hurricane. Their clothes were torn, and even Elijah's usually impeccable hairdo was utterly disheveled. Before she could ask them if they had been run over by a caterpillar and where they had been all this time, Klaus' eyes narrowed.

"You've been crying. What is it, Caroline?"

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "It's nice to see you too, brother. And before you get all worked up, we were just watching Brad Pitt making every woman in the world want to meet death sooner rather than later."

"Brilliant choice of words, Rebekah," Elijah commented dryly.

Caroline looked at them warily. "And what have you been up to? By the looks of you, you were reenacting Apocalypse Now! Bad hair day, Elijah?" Rebekah burst into laughter at that, and Kol grinned widely. Even Klaus' lips twitched.

"I do apologize for my less than presentable appearance, Miss Forbes," Elijah chuckled amusedly. "I am aware that my looks may strike you as even more peculiar after spending hours looking at Mister Pitt." Caroline giggled, and Elijah smiled at her affectionately, giving his voice an extra haughty accent. "If you will therefore excuse me, I shall put all my efforts into the restoration of my usually impeccable appearance." He grinned. "Rebekah, Kol, we'll be making some inquiries on the white oak shortly, so if you want to join?"

Rebekah got up. "I'll just quickly go change." She looked at Kol, who slumped in the armchair. "And so should you. You look like a beggar."

"Which is preferable to looking like a harlot, as you do most of the time."

"There is no accounting for taste, I get that. You…"

Klaus cleared his throat. "If you want to kill each other, do feel free. But please do so outside. We will leave in ten minutes, and whichever of you did not get their neck snapped by then may come along."

Rebekah shot Klaus a dirty look and left, followed by Kol who sneered, "It is getting old, Nik. You should really find some new threats."

"How about I change your name to Prometheus, chain you to a mountain and let the eagles tear out your liver, day in, day out?"

"Wrong country, wrong legend. And you are not Zeus, however much you may believe yourself to be a bloody God!"

"Klaus. Kol." They turned towards Caroline, astonished. She returned their gaze fearlessly and said, "Much as I appreciate the banter, could you please not go for each other's throats right now? You are spoiling my Brad Pitt buzz!"

Kol laughed, and Klaus looked at her with an unfathomable expression. "Wouldn't dare, baby vampire," Kol grinned and finally left to change.

When they were alone, she looked at Klaus and asked, "What happened, Klaus?"

"Elijah and I had a little talk. That is all."

"Is it?" she demanded, but then she shook her head. The exhaustion was clearly visible on his face, and as much as she wanted him to open up to her, she did not want to push him over the edge. He had been close last night, and whatever had gone down between him and Elijah had had a deep impact on him. He needed a break.

"I will go change as well," she said and walked past him towards her room when his hand grabbed hers and he pulled her close. The way she instantly melted into his arms was almost scary. She had very slowly started to come to terms with the overwhelming physical effect he had on her – yes, she wanted him, and she knew she would end up in his bed eventually. She would never be able to resist his tantalizing allure for good. But this… Her need to just be there for him was growing, and she increasingly liked to find out about all the different sides to his personality. She increasingly liked him. She wanted to see more of carefree, playful Klaus, but she also wanted to discover the various levels of darkness within him. Everything about him drew her in, and it scared her.

"I have to change," she mumbled. He nodded against her head and slowly released her. She made her way to her room, and when she was almost there, she turned around. He was looking after her, and there was that pain in his eyes again.

"I am glad you're back. I was worried," she whispered. And saw the pain in his eyes increase.