TRIBULATION

chapter ten / hospital

The glisten tears streamed off Caroline's ivory skin as she clundge onto a random sink in a random public bathroom. Her light whiteish dress binded to her skin as a second layer of protection. She exited the bathroom, her hand tightly gripping her bag as the light breeze swifted on to her. Caroline had found herself sitting on a bench as she placed one of her ear buds on for music; as it was her sense of comfort.

She had parted earlier in the morning, with Bonnie giving her a big hug and her leaving Bonnie a bunch of instructions for leaving peanut with her. Her legs began to bounce as the anxiety radiated off of her fragile body.

Her mind thought about how last night Klaus just held her as she sob and dropped her off; no words exchanged but they were not needed as they had this weird connection and form of understanding.

"Boarding number 1125 to Manhattan, New York."

Caroline glanced down at her ticket to confirm that was her ride; she stood up as she walked into the train handing her ticket and sat at the end with a big window on the side. She placed her bag on her right side, shifting herself to a better position.

She realized that she really had never been outside of her town, well once but she was a child and barely recalls the memory. So, she found herself excited. Now, she might be a vampire immune to many things, but she is still a teenage girl with not much life experiences, so she thought it was okay that she felt nervous and scared for going somewhere that is not her home.

She lets out a wince as she may have lied to her mother saying she will stay at Bonnie's place for awhile when in reality she will be in another state. Regardless she leaned back as her head had tilted up as she observed the ceiling. Music coming in from one ear as the other did bud was not place in, so she can keep her surroundings in check.

Shutting her eyes for a moment; enjoying the peace that endures from the music, as she needed this. A moment for herself to have a change of scenery; is not bad if there was Bonnie or anyone joining her but she needs to do this herself.

A place to grow and heal alone in the world. Because in order for her to heal or even possibly love someone, it needs to start with herself. Cautionary that feelings are being arise out of nowhere; like the way Klaus had mingled into her life.

Deep down she knows he will never hurt her but a part of her is still in that process of healing. She remebers aridly telling Bonnie of wanting to get revenge but she won't. Because that is not who she is, no matter how much pain she inflicts on Damon or him being gone; it won't make her nightmares go away.

Maybe there needs to be a form of attribution but it starts with herself not him. Even when she comes to mellow land with herself; she knows that pain or anger won't, be let out on him; because that is not who she is.

No matter how much she wants to kill him, hurt him; that is not who she is.

He won't get to destroy who she is. He will pay in time, maybe it slips out and someone decides to hurt him but for her; is more of healing on the inside. He won't ruin her or anything; the world is a scary place and she knows deep down he will pay and it won't have to be herself; who does something out of who she is as a person.

She knows if she tells Bonnie she will do it but she did not want anyone getting blood in their hands for her. Maybe just maybe she could tell someone and they will handle it but she wants to have a deep conversation with him.

Caroline opens her eyes, glancing at the window realizing they still have not left. She will let those thoughts go away, because right now she just wants to get to new york and visit Ali and give him a big hug. She wants all his wise old tales and his dry sense of humor.

"This seat taken?"

The blonde shifts her gaze from the window to the familiar curly blonde man with a slight small smile placed on him. Caroline furrowed her brows in surprise as she takes her earbud out, "Klaus what are you doing here?"

Klaus shrugs as he sat across the blonde instead right next to her to have a better view of her. A smile placed on him, "Just a trip out to New York."

Caroline let out a chuckle, "Really the same time as me? Also you seem more of using your private jet than taking a train like everyone else?"

Klaus raised a brow like a smirk, "What am I not allowed to take the train much less go to New York?"

Caroline shook her head with a soft smile. She knew he meant well but there are certain things she has to herself rather than relying on anyone. She sighs, "I can take care of myself."

Klaus nodded with a tight expression on him, as he knew she could. Caroline is not someone to win or some damsel waiting to be rescued; the young vampire is strong and refuses to be seen otherwise.

But he couldn't stay away even if he wanted to. The original hybrid nodded, "Of course you can, love. I just thought it would be great for you to have a travel parther."

Caroline sighs but nods anyways, "Perhaps you could be some form of entertainment."

Klaus lets out a stifle chuckle at the blonde girl. He studies her for a bit, noticing the lack of sleep as the under-bags are a sign of that. Now they may be vampires; but it still works well with taking care of themselves (drinking blood.)

Something he noticed that she lacks of. She has an amazing control for such a young vampire yet he still notices that sometimes her distaste for drinking blood. Just like at the dinner she had the same reaction with human food.

Caroline Forbes is a mystery that he wants to unravel. But she had these walls, even though she could be easily read at moments; there were others times were she just left him completely surprised. She has this light in her but also a certain darkness.

He noticed her little yawn as she placed her head against the window. Klaus chuckled a bit, "You can sleep, sweetheart. I will let you know when we are there."

"Thank you," murmured the blonde vampire with her eyes shutting as darkness consuming. If the blonde were awake she would have noticed the look of adoration that flash through the original hybrid.

𐄁𐄁𐄁𐄁𐄁𐄁𐄁𐄁

"Caroline wake up? Come on love.."

The blonde vampire fluttered her eyes open, as she was welcomed to the sight of Klaus staring above her. She blushed a bit, grabbing her bag, throwing her earbuds inside. Klaus had grabbed her hand, leading her out the train to the city, all while ignoring the butterflies in her stomach.

It was quiet between the two as they walked side by side as Caroline admired the tall buildings surrounding her, the busy people trying to get their daily work done. While admiring the livity of the city, Klaus had been staring at her every small movement of adoration in her eyes.

Klaus nudged her a bit, "Any reason you are here?"

Caroline snapped out of her thoughts as she furrowed her brows a bit, "Yes. To visit someone, I think he is staying at the general metropolitan hospital."

Klaus nodded as he watched her take out her phone searching up the directions. Caroline's eyes brightened up, as she glanced, "Okay so we aren't far away."

Without thinking she grabbed his hands as they both eventually made it to the hospital. Caroline went to the hospital but she avoided the main entrances cameras of the building which Klaus noticed. He smirked a bit, she is smart.

Caroline made it to the front desk with Klaus standing behind her, "Hello. I'm here to visit Ali Castle."

The nurse nodded, typing in her computer. The nurse grabbed two visitor passes handing to them, "Here you go. Go to the elevator on the second floor, then turn right to room 215."

"Thank you," mumbled Caroline, handing the other pass to Klaus. They both entered the elevator, following the nurse directions as they found the room. Caroline gently knocked as both her and Klaus heard a soft voice, "Come in."

Caroline let out a shaky breath as she opened the door, staring at the lonely hospital room but stopped as the old man, in a hospital bed, with ivy tube placed in his arms. The old man stares the familiar girl, "Kid! You made it."

Caroline lets out a laugh walking closer to him as he tries to sit but Caroline helps him as he wraps his fragile arms around her. Ali patted her back, "Oh kid, it has been so boring. I miss you."

"I miss you too," murmurs Caroline, pulling back, wiping her tears off. She noticed Klaus awkwardly standing behind her as she lets out a chuckle, "Ali this is Klaus. Klaus, Ali."

Klaus waves at the old man but Ali waves at him, "Come here young man."

Klaus all nervously walks to him as Ali gives him a hug which Klaus stiffens at but pats the elderly man he leans away, "Nice to meet you."

Klaus turns to Caroline with a soft smile, "I'll wait outside the room," Klaus turns to Ali, "Is very nice to meet you sir."

"You too," mumbled Ali. Klaus exists offering Caroline a smile. Caroline grabs a chair as she sits down, narrowing her eyes, "Now what happened for you to be here?"

Ali waves her off, "Is nothing kid. I'm old, remember? I fell off the stairs and got hurt easily."

Caroline narrows her eyes knowing he is not telling her the full truth and she has this feelings is because of her he is not saying the full truth. Caroline sighs as she mumbles, "I'm a tough girl, Ali."

"Of course you are. The toughest and strongest girl, I know," mumbled Ali with a proud smile on his face. Caroline laughs as tears escape her blue orbs, "Then tell me the truth."

The eldery man sighs, as he knew how much this was going to hurt her, "Leukemia."

Caroline shuts her eyes gripping the chair handle. The blonde girl opens her eyes, "How long?"

Ali grabs her shaky hand as he smiles at her, "Six months but less since I decided not to take the chemotherapy treatment."

Caroline's eyes widened, "What? Why?"

Ali smiles at her as he tightens his fragile hand on to her, "Because it's time for me. I don't want to go through all that pain. I am ready to go, kid. But I could not leave without giving you advice one more time or without saying goodbye."

Caroline nods understanding his choice as she recalls their last conversation about how they all come on earth, to achieve their purposes. Some live longer and others don't. She remembers mentioning to Ali over a pay-phone about her true identity and him being all giddy and excited.

Ali yelled at her as he told her with the exact words, "I knew these types of things exist." She remembers laughing at him as he was the only one who accepted her for being a vampire when she first turned. But she knew this is something he would not want and she respected it.

Truth be told she loved being a vampire but there is something so comforting about being human and growing old around your loved one. She lets out a chuckle, "You are right about the advice part."

Ali chuckled at her, gripping her hand, "Of course I am. I know you kid, like the back of my head."

Caroline grips his hand softly, knowing Klaus can hear her but she found herself not caring as she was here with the comfort of Ali. The old man who saved her life, who became an immediate important adult figure in her life. Someone she can compeltey tell everything to and let her choose her own decisions in her life and helps guide her.

Caroline sunk into the chair she was sitting, "I finally have come terms with everything and all the anger, sadness, disappointment, fear is all gone. Well I'm just a bit angry but earlier today I thought about how I wanted to get revenge, but I don't anymore."

Ali tried to sit up as he groaned out of pain, Caroline was going to help him but he waved her off. His soft brown eyes stared at her blue orbs, "Of course you don't. Because you are not that type of person, kid. If everyone in the world ran around trying to get revenge, what type of person would that make you? Many so focus on trying to get back at someone instead of realizing that all you need to do first, is to heal within yourself."

Ali let out a chuckle, "Now revenge could be fun and maybe could help but only if it is in your heart to do it. Now let me ask you a question?"

Caroline nodded at him as he questioned her, "Back to the time it happened. Do you feel that if you had not been kind to him, he wouldn't have assaulted you?"

Caroline stays silent, processing that question. She asked herself that many times, if she was not despaerte or made a move on him, would things have been a different story?

Or even if she ignored him, will she still be victim?

Caroline turns to Ali, as she shakes her eyes, "I don't know."

Ali wipes her tears away as Caroline leans on to his soft touch. Ali gently grips her face, "What that man did to you has nothing to do with you or your kindness. Because listen to me carefully, it is absolutely not your fault."

Caroline stood up hugging Ali as she sobs onto him. Ali soothes her, "It was not your fault. Do you understand?"

Caroline pulls away, nodding, "Yes I do. It just feels so good to hear it from someone else."

Ali grips her hand, "Leave that town, kid. Finish school here, in New York."

Caroline chuckles, "So I could visit you all the time?"

"That and you could bring me some of your chocolate chip cookies," mumbled Ali with teasing smile on him.

Caroline chcukles as she nudge him, "I think I will, Ali."

Ali smiled at her, "I am so proud of you kid."

Caroline bent down to kiss his forehead, "Thank you, Ali. I will see you tomorrow."

Caroline grabbed her bag exiting the room as she heard Ali yell out for her, "Bring the cookies."

"I will," mumbled Caroline, smiling at him one last time as she shut the door. She gripped her bag, sighing, hoping maybe Klaus was not on this floor, hearing the conversation but to her luck she saw him standing, his eyes darkened with rage.

Caroline sighs, as she walks to him hoping he will not bring it up, "Hey! Ready to go?"

Klaus did not say anything as he grabbed her hand and the blonde stayed quiet as she exited the hospital heading to the city. They walked in silence until they arrived at this building, where they headed inside a room.

The blonde girl entered, setting her bag on the counter staring at the penthouse in awe, the big windows with the beautiful city in view. Caroline walked toward the window with a soft smile on her as how the simplicity of the buildings with beautiful city lights could be so beautiful.

The blonde girl turned around to see Klaus sitting on the couch with his fist clenched. Caroline gently went to sit next to him as she sat down next to him, her hands placed on top of his clenched fist. Klaus unclenched as he squeezed her hand, shifting his gaze at her.

"Who?"

notes

THOUGHTS?!?

okay so first i was like caroline will get revenge but as i am re-watching tvd, i realize that is not who she is. caroline is strong person who rather not hurt him (damon) and just go she live her life away from him!

now i plan on damon paying (by the hands of klaus) but i thought he won't die. because one caroline won't allow it and two is also very realistic?

the sad truth is that many victims don't get the justice they deserved and even though i can have damon be dead it won't change the fact of what he did or the pain on her.

it would be more of bittersweet ending, if that makes sense?

anyways caroline totally lives in new york and is completely thriving!

on another note i was rewatching daredevil and the punisher and i miss kastle so much!

karen page and frank castle are like the mcu version of klaroline!

makes sure to stay safe