Hey there! This was originally supposed to be one chapter, but it ended up being way too long. Bonus, you get two new chapters instead of one! :) Hope you enjoy.
Constructive feedback welcome.
To go or not to go? That was the question.
I fought against myself all morning. Since my eyes blinked open at the crack of dawn, I was at war within my own head. Even without Klaus in the same vicinity as me, he still managed to get under my skin in ways that I couldn't explain. I had cooked breakfast for Care and Tyler earlier in the morning. He was still grieving the loss of his mother, so I tried to be as helpful as I could. You don't know the loss of a parent until you've gone through it yourself. It was a different type of pain. One of which you can't explain.
"You sure you want to do this?" Care asked as she looked through the driver-side window at me.
I clipped in my seatbelt and gripped the steering wheel tightly, "Yeah. I just need to get a few things." I smiled, "I'll be in-and-out."
"Okay," She nodded, "Call me if you need anything."
"Promise."
I gave her one last smile before I pulled out of the Lockwood driveway and merged onto the road at the bottom. I watched her in the rear-view mirror until she was gone from my sight. My fingers tapped against the steering wheel the whole drive to Klaus'. My stomach twisted into knots at the thought of seeing him, of being in the same room as him, no matter how brief it may be.
Fifteen minutes or so later, I pulled into the large driveway and drove up to the top, stopping a few feet away from the door as I switched the ignition off and my car fell silent. The only thing to be heard was the rampant beating of my heart from within my chest.
"In and out." I said repeatedly to myself.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and climbed out of the car, locking it behind myself as I patted down my trousers and straightened my posture. As I walked over to the doors, I ended up standing at the foot of the stone stairs, staring at the large french doors, blankly; as I tried to work up the courage to knock on them. When I realised that I was stalling, I shook my head and walked up the stairs one-by-one. The last was more daunting than the next until I finally made it to the top.
My legs felt like lead. I raised my hand banged against the glass confidently...then I waited. A few seconds passed before Klaus rounded the corner and stood behind the door. He looked just as shocked as I was as he looked at me through the thick glass. He opened the door wide with a wavering smile.
"Jessica," His voice was soft, timid even as he blocked the entrance with his frame. He clasped his hands behind his back and elongated his torso as he cast his eyes over my frame. "It's nice to see you. "How are you?"
"I-" I cleared my throat, "I'm just here to get my things." I didn't want to partake in his small chit-chat. I folded my arms over my chest and avoided all eye contact with the hybrid. I just had to get in and out. In-and-out.
"Of course," He nodded and slowly backed away from the door to let me inside. I didn't miss the wave of disappointment in his facial features as I walked past him. It pained me, but I made quick work of rushing up the staircase and shot down the hallway into my room. I left the door open as I began to look through the drawers and placed my clothes into the duffel-bag which sat on top of the bed. I stopped everything I was doing and crossed the room towards the closet. A limp smile made its way onto my lips as I trailed my hands over the dress I wore from the decade dance. I was still hanging on the back of the door, just where I left it.
The memories from that night began to seep into my mind, but before it could consume me, I pushed them aside and cleared my throat. I grabbed my shoes from the bottom of the closet when I felt a pair of eyes, burning a hole in the back of my head from across the room. I refused to acknowledge him and continued to pack the rest of my things into the bag. Once the closet was clear, I moved over to the dresser and began grabbing my things from the top.
"You cannot ignore me forever, Jessica." Klaus spoke softly, leaning against the doorway.
"Try me," I snapped back quickly with a shake of my head. I swept my arm over the top of the dresser quickly, knocking the bottles and jars into the bag I had opened below before I crossed the room and threw it into a larger bag.
"Jessica," Klaus all but whispered as he appeared behind me, "Give me a change to explain-"
"No!" I shrugged out from his grasp as he placed his left hand on my shoulder, "You can't explain your way out of this one, Klaus."
"Well, how can I if you won't give me the bloody chance!" Klaus hissed.
"You killed Tyler's mom!" I yelled back and slammed the bag down on the bed. "Out of everyone in Mystic Falls, you chose the one person he loved the most. The one parent who he had left."
"He turned my pack against me-"
I scoffed, cutting him off instantly. "They weren't your 'pack', Klaus. They were your projects. Something to fill in the time A new thing for you to play with"I groaned, "It's like-like me with shopping."
Klaus couldn't help himself as he smirked at my comparison between the two things, but at that moment, I couldn't think of anything better.
"Don't smirk," I warned, "Now's not the time to laugh and make light of things."
He raised his hands, "I wasn't." He fought with himself to remove the smirk from his pink lips as he continued to watch me throw things into my bag. "Can we talk."
"No." I replied harshly.
"Just an hour," He pleaded, "That's all I'm asking for, love."
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly as my heart began to race.
"I-I can't Klaus," I sighed and zipped up the bags before turning around to face him, "I want you to leave me alone."
"Is that what you want?" He quizzed and cautiously took a step forward, "Is that what you really want?"
My breath caught in my throat as he closed the gap between us. I felt his warm breath sweep over my face as he looked down at me and placed a hand on my cheek, caressing it gently. I involuntarily leaned into his palm. The comfort and warmth it held was un-explainable. His scent intoxicating.
Just as I was beginning to slip back into old habits and let my guard down, I jolted back.
"Stop it!" I gasped and brushed my hair from my face. "Get out."
Klaus' face hardened, but he didn't put up any fight this time. Not even a niggle as he whooshed out of the room.
I blew a sigh of relief and threw myself on top of the bed the second he left the room. I caught the tears before they fell and wiped them away with the back of my sweater.
Who was I to tell him to get out in his own house?
No one, that's who. I just had to get the rest of my things and leave before I do, or say something I'll later regret.
"God, I'm such an idiot." I groaned to myself as I sat up. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I took a final look around the now empty room before I walked into the bathroom and retrieved the last few bits-and-bobs from the cabinets. Once I was back in the room, I quickly searched through the bags on my bed. "No...Where is it!?" I poured the bags onto the floor and kneeled down, throwing the clothes everywhere as I searched. "Fuck!" I yelled, slapping my palms against my thighs as I sat within the mess on the floor.
After I cleaned up the clothes once more, I made my way down the stairs in search of Klaus. Perhaps he knew where it was. I reached the bottom of the staircase and dropped my bags onto the floor before heading in the direction of the low crackle of a fire. The closer I got, the darker and warmer the space grew. The sound of Klaus' voice brought me to a stop just outside of the doorway.
"A bit ironic, you coming here for me to help," Klaus said lowly, "Weren't your friends just trying to bury me in a cement tomb?"
The pang of guilt struck me right through the heart.
"This is your fault," I heard Elena snap back quickly, "You started this when you forced Jeremy to kill those vampires."
"And now my little brat of a brother has gone and made things worse." I could hear the amusement laced in Klaus' tone as he spoke so calmly. "Well, he never liked Damon. I suppose I should do something."
"Call him off, Klaus." Elena begged, her voice slightly cracking near the end.
"You are in no position to make demands, love." Klaus spat.
"Do it." I said as I walked into the room behind Elena.
Both Klaus and Elena turned to face me as I made myself known. Elena was shocked, and Klaus was perplexed.
"Call your brother off, Klaus." I said once more.
"Much like your little friend here," He said as he pointed towards Elena on the sofa. "You, too, are in no position to make demands. Whilst I'd like the cure to make more hybrids, I do have other reasons for finding the cure, not the least of which is destroying it so you lot can't use it against me."
"Is that what you think I'd do?" I frowned as I dropped my arms to my side. "You think that I'd use the cure on you?"
His lips fell into a fine-line as he thought over my question. He'd clearly lost trust in me after recent events, but then again, how much trust did he really have in me to begin with.
When the room fell silent, Elena cleared her throat and broke the tension that settled in the air. "Whatever our differences, we want the same thing. Please, Klaus, I'm begging you."
He finally broke eye contact with me and smiled at the doppelganger. Then with a roll of his eyes, he reached into his pocket and retrieved his cell.
Kol was on the line seconds later.
"Little brother," Klaus teased, "Just two days home, and I'm told you've already gone and made a mess."
Kol laughed on the other end of the phone, much to Klaus' disapproval. "Come on, Nik. I was only having some fun."
"Those vampires were for my hunter."
"I'll make some more. There's no shortage of people." Kol replied cockily.
"Where's Damon Salvatore?" Klaus asked, cutting to the chase.
"I gave him a good and proper beating, just for old time's sake."
Klaus' eyes met mine across the room as I listened to the call. He shook his head, "Yes. Well, you've had your fun. Now let him go and come home. Avoid any more trouble, or you'll find yourself back in a box."
"Hey. No need to be nasty about it."
"On the contrary," Klaus grinned, "I find nastiness to be essential whenever my siblings try to sabotage me. Listen closely, Kol," Klaus' tone dropped down to a warning growl. "Stay away from the Gilbert boy. You understand?"
There was a moment of silence from the younger Mikaelson as Klaus awaited his reply. "Fine. I won't touch him. You have my word."
The call was hung up seconds later and slipped back into his pocket.
"Satisfied?" He asked Elena.
She nodded her head and stood from the sofa. "Thank you." She said in a small voice.
"How'd you get here?" I asked.
"I got a cab," She said in reply as she made her way across to me.
"I'll give you a lift back to your house, or wherever it is you were going."
"Thanks," Elena said with a smile.
"I'll meet you in the car," I said as I looked back at Klaus. "Give us a minute."
Elena looked between Klaus and I before nodding her head. "Sure. I'm just outside if you need me, Jess."
I dipped my head as she walked past me and left only Klaus and I in the room.
The light that shone through the door as she opened it to leave was slowly dimming as the gap slowly closed over.
"What can I do for you?" Klaus asked as he poured himself a drink by the crackling fire.
He knew something was on my mind. Hell, there were a thousand things on my mind, but one thing above all else as of this very moment.
"After that phone call, it seems pretty stupid now." I said with an awkward smile. He turned to face me, taking a small sip of the amber liquid in the glass as he awaited me to further elaborate. "When I was gathering my things, I seemed to have misplaced my favourite sweater. The black one with-"
"-The red ribbon." Klaus said quickly, finishing my sentence.
I smiled.
He remembered.
"That's the one." I tugged at the hem of my shirt as his finger lightly tapped the rim of the glass. Soothing my racing heart.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen it, love." Klaus said as he crossed the room towards me. "If I do, I'll be sure to give you a call."
"I'd appreciate that." I said.
I turned on the spot ready to leave the room when he caught my wrist and tugged me back.
"Klaus...please don't." I whispered.
"I need you to talk to me, sweetheart." The warm scent of freshly drunk bourbon washed over my face as he spoke. "You can't ignore me forever."
"I-I just need you to leave me alone, Klaus." I said and dropped my gaze to the floor.
"For how long?"
"As long as I say," I replied and pulled my hand free from his grasp. "Just stay away from me."
I rushed out of the room and grabbed my bags from the bottom of the staircase before I met up with Elena in the car. I had to calm my beating heart down before I got into the car with her. I wasn't about to relive what just happened there again. Not right now.
I dropped Elena off at her house before I made my way to my own and made headway by unpacking some of my bags. I was in a constant state of motion since coming back. Flitting from one house to the other and back again all within a short period of time was beginning to wear me down. I didn't even finish unpacking my bags before I quickly changed my clothes and headed back to my car.
I needed a break.
A change of scenery.
I decided to leave town that night. I let my mother know that I was leaving town for a day or two, and to let Caroline know as well.
I had to think things over.
I chose to keep my cell off for the break away. No one, and nothing was going to get in my way for the next day or so.
How bad could things get in two days anyway?
"I can't believe that Shane was behind the fire at the Young farm." I sighed as I spoke to my mom on the handsfree within my car. "I mean, I can, he's super shady and all, but still..."
"I know." My mom sighed, "Are you on your way home yet?"
"Yeah, I'm actually pulling into Elena's street right now." I said as I rolled my car to a stop outside of her house. "She left her wallet in my car the other day and I left before I had noticed."
"Did that small break away do you some good, sweetie?"
I bit my lip as I fixed the cuffs on my coat, "Yeah...sort of." I sighed, "It's just been one thing after another since I got back, mom. I needed some head space without something supernatural getting in the way."
"I haven't helped in that sense." My mom said in a low tone, "I should have been honest with you from the beginning."
"Mom, don't" I said, cutting her off, "I forgive you. I promise."
"Doesn't make it any less of a mess, Jess."
"I know." I replied and switched the call to my cell as I climbed out of the car. "I'm just going to drop this off at Elena's then I can meet you at The Grill. We can have lunch together when you get a break."
"I'd love that."
"Okay," I smiled, "I'll meet you there. Just message me when you're free."
"Will do, honey."
I ended the call and placed the cell back into my back pocket as I skipped up the steps towards the front door. I knocked twice before I opened the door and walked inside.
"Elena?" I called as I walked further into the house. I kept my gaze low as the door closed behind me and I walked further into the house, my head lost in my bag as I fished out her wallet. "You left your wallet in my car the other day."
As I walked further into the hallway, the thick stench of charred flesh struck my nostrils as I looked up from my bag and gasped.
"What the hell?" As I stood at the foot of a charred body in the middle of the kitchen floor, my palm smacked over my lips as Caroline burst through the back door and Tyler rounded the corner. "Oh, my god!" I gasped as Tyler's eyes widened. "What the hell did you do?!"
"Hey, hey!" Tyler motioned for me to calm down, "You need to calm down Jess."
"Calm down?!" I spat, "Don't tell me to calm down Tyler when there is a literal charred body at my feet!"
"What are you even doing here?" Caroline asked as she closed the back door quietly. "Mom said you left town."
"Yeah," I groaned, "For a day and a half and this is what I return to?"
"You're still here?" Caroline said as she turned her attention to Tyler. "What are you doing?"
"Gloating," He turned around and carried the glass and a large bottle over to the island counter in the middle of the kitchen by the body on the floor, and began to pour out the amber alcohol into the glass. He looked up to make sure the back door was closed before he spoke. "Why are you here?"
I held Elena's wallet up in the air, "Elena left her wallet in my car. I was returning it."
"You should leave." Tyler and Caroline said in unison.
"No chance," I hissed, "Not until someone tells me what the hell's going on."
As I approached Caroline, being careful not to step on the body on the floor, a soft voice spoke out my name from behind.
"Hello, Jessica." Klaus appeared at the edge of the living room, no more, no less.
As I looked at him, the realisation hit me. "It's Kol, isn't it?" I asked lowly.
Klaus dipped his head, clearly saddened by the events which took place here last night.
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you," he slowly nodded, appreciating my sincere sentiment.
I dragged my eyes off of his and looked back at the body of Kol who lay on the floor. My breath caught in my throat as I looked over his blackened body. He was almost burnt beyond recognition. A loud scoff pulled my attention away from the dead Original, and when I looked up, I found Care scowling at Tyler as he continued to pour himself another drink.
"Come home," Caroline begged him, "Don't stoop to his level."
"He destroyed my life," Tyler shot back at her, but not without throwing some visual-daggers in my direction before he faced Klaus. "I plan on being present for ever second of his misery until I can kill him myself."
I couldn't suppress the groan that escaped my lips at Tyler's taunt. I watched him raise a glass towards the Originals face before he downed the entire drink in one swift movement.
"Seriously, Tyler?" I groaned, "Haven't you threatened him enough times and failed for you to know better than to threaten him again?"
"You know what?" Caroline clapped her hands together, silencing the both of us. "You can gloat and multitask. This place is a disaster. Starting with a horrific burnt corpse."
I watched on as Caroline walked over to one of the drawers below the cabinets and pulled out a green tablecloth. She walked back over to Kol's body and began opening it up. Tyler and I broke our heated gaze as he walked over to Caroline and took the other end of the blanket and draped it over his body. Once Tyler and Caroline backed away, I walked over and kneeled down by Kol's head and placed my fingertips against his temple.
"I'm sorry," I whispered and pulled the cloth over his face. The least I could do was give him the smallest amount of respect after what had happened to him.
"Tyler's mother is dead, so is my brother," Klaus spoke with a soft tone and his eyes fixed on the three of us. "We're even. Call Bonnie and get her to let me out of here."
Care placed her hands on her hips, "I will never, ever, help you."
There was a shift in his eyes as he looked at me and pleaded silently for my help.
"The tattoo," I whispered, "Jeremy killed Kol, which unlocked the hunters map." I looked towards Caroline as she smiled small. "That's where everyone is? They've gone to look for the cure?" I turned back and faced Klaus as his eyes narrowed. "I-I'm sorry, Klaus, but I can't." I had to stand by my sister, brother and friends this time. The cure was their only hope at having a normal life again. There was no room for error this time. I couldn't risk it. "You'll just have to stay there until Bonnie's spell wears off. I'm sorry."
Klaus' brow knitted together as his face hardened. "How quickly you both forget the part where I saved Tyler from the misery of being a werewolf." His words stuck deeper than I ever thought they could. It was almost like he made it a point to shame what I was. What he made me. "Or the night your mother invited me into her home to save the life of her precious daughter." He turned his gaze on to me, "Your sister. Not to mention how many times I've saved your life from fatal wounds. How I saved your life from the history teacher my mother turned into a vampire who hunts vampires."
"Shut up!" I growled. My inner wolf was peaking her weary head out as I took a step towards Klaus. My eyes glinting gold as he taunted me. "You don't get to play the good guy. You killed Tyler's mother in cold blood!" I laughed bitterly, "Ohh, and let's not forget whose very house we're standing in right now. Elena's aunt Jenna. Do you remember her? Do you?"
Klaus' eyes followed my body as I began to pace back and forth. Itching with anger.
"Do you think because of the amount of time that we've spent together. That the amount of moments, and things we've gone through would make me suddenly forget all of that? God...I can't believe that for the smallest of seconds, a minuscule of a damn second, that I felt sorry for you. I had to leave town for a few days just to stop thinking about you!" I began to laugh once more as I clapped my hands together and bit down on the tip of my fingers as I smiled at him, "I can't believe that I thought maybe, just maybe that I could forgive you one day." I took a step forward and looked up at him, "You know what? I'm not going to stand here arguing with you anymore. Caroline was right about you. I should have stayed away. You aren't even worth the calories I burn talking to you."
Klaus' face hardened as the entire house came to a stand-still. No one breathed. No one dared move an inch as Klaus and I locked eyes. During my headed rant, I failed to notice just how close he and I had become. Enraged by my words, Klaus used his vamp-speed to grab a nearby wooden floor lamp and shattered its base off before he impaled me through the stomach.
I let out a loud gasp as my hands wrapped around the wooden object and braced myself. The screams erupted behind me as Klaus pulled me over the barrier and sunk his teeth into my neck, feeding from me for a few seconds before he let my body slump onto the floor.
"Now, that was definitely worth the calories."
It took me a moment to register what had happened, because of Klaus' speed. I had barely any time to react before I was laying on the floor in searing pain. The wooden spear sticking out of my stomach, or the oozing bite mark from my neck, It was hard to choose which one hurt more. I groaned softly as I wrapped my hand around the wooden spear before my head fell backwards onto the cold floor.
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Caroline screamed as Tyler held her back. She slid down onto her knees as we made eye contact. A tear dropped from my eye as she covered her mouth with both hands.
"C-Caroline..." I gasped lightly
"D-Don't move!" She called, "We're right here with you. Just don't move."
I watched as Tyler crouched down beside Care on the floor and forced her to look at him.
"Hey, hey." He snapped, "Look at me. Look at me. I can fix this."
"How?" Caroline looked at him. "She needs vampire blood to heal her. He won't help her!"
"I know," He yelled over her sobbing, "I'll fix it."
Caroline took a deep breath and composed herself the best she could as Tyler helped her back to her feet. Ty turned to face Klaus as he stood at my head, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"She'll die if you don't heal her."
"Okay," Klaus brought his wrist up to his mouth, but he hesitated and lowered his arm back down to his side. "Or better yet, why don't you come over here and heal her yourself?"
"D-Don't be stupid, Tyler." I warned from my drifting state. "He'll kill you the second you cross the barrier."
Tyler's jaw tightened, "I know."
"How about this then," Klaus raised his wrist to his lips once more, but this time he took a bite from the flesh. "Beg me to save her life. Both of you."
"Is this what you want?" Tyler scoffed, "To remind us that we're powerless against you? Fine. You win. I'm nothing. Now save her. Please."
"I'm sorry, mate. I didn't quite catch that." Klaus taunted him as he narrowed his eyes.
"Please." Tyler begged once more through gritted teeth.
"Please..."
"Please save her life." Tyler repeated.
I watched through narrow eyes as Klaus' lips curled up at the edges in sheer amusement. "See, now I think you're just telling me what I want to hear. I mean, you did call me pathetic earlier. And wouldn't it be more pathetic of me to help you now, knowing that hours ago, you announced your plan to kill me in a manner in which you're debating because you want it to have a certain amount of flair? I'm just asking."
Tyler's eyes turned a shade of red as they began to pool with tears. He shook his head, stealing a glance at both Caroline and I before he turned back to Klaus. "I'll be your slave again. I'll do whatever you want. Just help my sister."
"No." Klaus growled softly.
I decided that enough was enough and leaned up on my elbow to face Care and Tyler. I struggled to hold my weight for even a second, causing me to slump backwards against the back of the sofa.
"Y-you guys need to leave." I murmured through broken gasps.
"Jess, no-" Caroline said lowly.
"I mean it," I snapped, "Get out of here. P-please." I choked up as the tears began to trickle down my cheeks. "I don't want you to watch me d-die."
Caroline burst into tears as Tyler grabbed her by the shoulders and ushered her down the hallway and out the front door. I squeezed my eyes tightly as I could hear her loud sobbing slowly begin to fade out.
Moments after Caroline and Tyler left, the house fell silent. Only my raspy breathing was to be heard.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." Klaus whispered, and I turned my head away as he neared me. I refused to look at him. I whimpered lightly as he carefully reached under my legs and the back of my shoulders as he picked me off the ground and carried me over to the sofa. A gasp escaped my dry, cracked lips as my back connected with the soft cushions. "I can still save you," Klaus said lowly as he brushed the hair from my face. "If you're willing to forgive past indiscretions."
I shook my head as carefully as I could. "I-It's too late now, Klaus." My eyes finally met with his as I turned to face him. "If you had healed me when Tyler asked, then maybe...but not n-now."
"Then you'll die, and Tyler and Caroline will have learned their lesson the hard way. Like everyone else." Klaus said as he looked away in sadness.
"How could you do this to him? To his mom? To me?"
"I'm a thousand years old. Call it boredom."
"Bullshit." I winced, "I don't believe you."
"Fine," he mumbled softly, "Then maybe it's because I'm pure evil, and I can't help myself."
A small smile broke out on my face, "No," I said in disagreement and took a shaky breath, "It's because you were hurt. My words hurt you. Which means that there is a part of you that is still human."
Klaus approached me and took a seat on the edge of the coffee table beside me. "How could you possibly think that?"
I looked up at him through my lashes as I struggled to keep my eyes open for longer than a few seconds at a time. "Because I've witnessed it. Your ability to be human. To show compassion, to care deeply about someone other than yourself. To remember what colour my stupid ribbon is on my favourite sweater." I smiled to myself as I swallowed harshly, "I've caught myself wishing that I could forget all the horrible things you've done."
Klaus frowned as my eyes fluttered open, "But you can't. Can you?"
"Y-Your temper gets the better of you sometimes...most of the time, but I know who you are inside. I know that you care more about me than you want to admit. More than I-I want to admit. Anyone capable of love, is capable of being saved."
My back arched forwards as I felt the wooden spear inch closer to my heart and vital organs.
"You're hallucinating."
"Really?" I gasped as my eyes flickered shut and I relaxed into the cushions. "I'm s-so tired." Each breath I took was more painful than the last. The slower my breathing began to get, the easier it was beginning for me to let go. A shiver shot through my body as I was frozen to the touch.
"Jessica?" Klaus whispered then fell silent as he awaited my reply. I didn't reply. Instead, I fell into an almost blissful state as I felt the pain leave my body. "Jessica?!"
I jolted forward as the wooden object was removed from my stomach. Klaus sat me forwards on the sofa and snaked in behind me and bit into his wrist, gently placing it against my cracked lips. "Drink, sweetheart." He said in a low tone as he rubbed the red liquid against my lips. When he noticed that I didn't move an inch, he panicked and sat me up taller. "Jessica!" Klaus yelled. "Drink!" He forced his wrist tighter against my face.
The liquid flooded into my mouth and spilled out of the sides as I choked on the metallic, sweet taste of his blood. I slowly raised my hand and clasped it over his tightly bound fist which was wrapped around my chest, holding me in place. The warmth and oxygen was beginning to come back into my skin as I latched onto his wrist and began to bite down on my own. I fluttered my eyes open a few seconds later and glanced up at him. His eyes were glazed over, tear stained and red, much like my own.
Once the pain had subsided and Klaus fished out the remaining splinters of wood from inside my stomach. I relaxed against his chest as he held me tightly in his arms. As grateful as I was about him saving my life, I couldn't just forget what had happened minutes ago to endanger it in the first place.
"Jessica," Klaus started to speak as he reached down for my hand. I quickly stood from the sofa.
"Don't," I warned in a small voice, "Please don't. Not now."
Klaus stood from the sofa and slowly released my hand as I backed away over the barrier. Our hands fell apart back down to our sides as the space between us grew. Now on the safe side of the barrier, I looked back at him and wiped the tears from my cheek. I gave him a small nod of my head before I walked out of the house and stood on the porch. The cold air was a much welcomed advance as a gust of wind brushed through my hair and over my flushed skin.
"Jess!"
I turned to my right and grinned from ear-to-ear as I saw Tyler and Caroline sitting on the porch swing. They quickly shot to their feet and enveloped me into a tight bear-hug.
"Thank god you're okay!" Care squealed.
"How did you get him to heal you?" Ty asked as he backed off.
"I don't really know," I sighed heavily, "It's all a little hazy." I wrapped my hands around my stomach and winced, "You didn't hear anything that happened inside?"
Tyler shook his head and wrapped his arm over Caroline's shoulders. "I couldn't hear a thing over Care crying."
"Is everything alright?" Caroline giggled, "Well, not alright, but are you okay?"
I put my hand through the large hole in my shirt and smiled, "I want a shower. A change of clothes and something to eat." When I mentioned something to eat, I instantly thought about the lunch I was supposed to have with my mom earlier. "I was supposed to catch lunch with mom,"
"No, don't worry," Care smiled and held out her cell, "Mom messaged me, she said she couldn't get a hold of you, but she had to cancel. Something about more developments with a case she's working on the now."
"That's a relief," I sighed, "Can we go now? Please."
"Hell yeah!" Tyler smiled and Caroline looped her arm through mine as we walked down the steps.