Hi there! I'm finally back! Here's chapter two, and there's a long author's note at the end.
Enjoy!
OOO
It had been two days since 'The Incident.'
Or, as Caroline liked to call it, 'The day her entire work life fell around her in shambles.'
Maybe that was a tad dramatic.
Dr. Douche-bag Dimples was still in her way all the time, either annoying her or spouting off stupid flirty pick-up lines. He seemed to get more and more attractive each time she saw him, which was supposed to be impossible, considering he was a fully-grown adult and was past puberty.
All in all, looking at Klaus Mikaelson's face every day just ruined Caroline's day.
She strode into the hospital, clutching a coffee cup in one hand, and a stack of papers in the other, barely managing not to let them fly away.
"Morning, Care," Bonnie said as she walked into the elevator. "You busy today?"
"I don't know. I'll check my schedule," said Caroline, frowning. "Did you need any help?"
"It's my and Enzo's second anniversary," said Bonnie, her eyes shining. "I was wondering if you could go shopping with me."
"I'd love to. Let me just check my schedule for today and I'll text you."
"Sure," said Bonnie, smiled, and got out of the lift as it opened, promptly revealing Dr. Douche-bag Dimples, who grinned at her.
"And there she is."
Caroline groaned. "Are you stalking me, or something?"
"Why would I?" asked Klaus, smiling at her innocently.
"Maybe it's because you haven't left me alone since the day you got here," she snapped.
Klaus shrugged. "I'm a bit lost, coming to a new place, and all."
"Oh, please. Am I the only one you can ask for help? There are loads of other people."
"Perhaps. But none of them are so interesting to talk to," he said, grinning at her. Caroline narrowed her eyes, turned heel, and strode out of the elevator, Klaus unfortunately behind her.
"Why are you always so mean to me, love? I haven't done anything wrong."
"Your entire existence is wrong," Caroline muttered under her breath. He laughed from behind her.
"Are you so intent on walking away from me that you missed your office?"
Caroline stopped in her tracks. Sure enough, she was standing next to room twenty, ad her office was eighteen. She growled under her breath and turned around, striding quickly past Klaus, who was unsuccessfully trying to hide a smile.
Infuriating asshole.
A boy looking approximately fourteen was sitting in front of her desk, looking apprehensive. A girl, probably the other child, was standing behind the boy, gripping her shoulder firmly. Caroline pasted a smile on her face and sat down in the chair, facing the family.
"Hi, Theodore Geller?"
"Yeah," said the girl behind him, staring at her in the eyes. Caroline looked at her. She seemed like the protective big sister, adamant on making sure her brother was alright. Caroline smiled at her politely and turned back to her papers.
"It says here that you guys transferred from New Jersey a few months ago. Age, fourteen. Diagnosed with hepatoblastoma five months back."
The girl stiffened, and the boy's hand covered hers, which was still sitting on his shoulder. Caroline, who was quietly observing this, turned back to the boy's file.
"Tumor in left side of liver, an inch and a half large. Third dose of chemotherapy to start in a week," Caroline concluded, watching the young boy, who was twisting his hands in his lap. She closed the file.
Looking at the boy, she felt a pang of sympathy for him and his family. To be diagnosed with cancer at such a young age…she just hoped she could help him get better soon.
"I knew Dr. Fell personally when I interned there," said Caroline, trying to put Theodore Geller at ease. "I'll be your doctor for the next few months, along with two more, and then after three months, we'll see if you need to be handed over to a more advanced team of doctors."
"I want the most experienced doctors for Teddy right now," said the girl, looking her squarely in the eyes.
"His condition is at the level where he requires the attention of doctors at my age."
"I don't care," said the girl coldly. "I want Teddy to get better soon, and the only way to do that is if he gets a better team of doctors."
"Izzy—" the boy started quietly.
"Be quiet, Teddy," the girl said furiously, turning back to Caroline. "My brother has had hepatoblastoma for the past five months. He's not getting better. I want him to get better. So, I would like him to get a better team of doctors."
"Unfortunately, that's not possible. There are other kids who are much more terminally ill than your brother. They need more care than he does."
The girl, looking livid, turned to Theodore. "Fine," she muttered, and took her brother's hand. "Fine, forget it. Come on, Teddy, let's go."
"This doesn't mean we won't take care of Theodore until he gets better. He has really good doctors," Caroline said, trying to reassure the girl. The girl pressed her lips together and turned to her brother.
"Teddy, go wait outside."
The boy nodded and walked outside, closing the door behind him. The girl turned to look at Caroline, a cold glint in her eyes.
"I don't want you to take care of Teddy. I want you to heal him. Get rid of this early death threat on his chest. Because I love him and I will not lose him."
"We're trying—"
"There's not a cure for cancer, Dr. Forbes," said the girl. "I may not be a medical student, but I certainly know that much. There's only different options for treatment, and many of them don't work all of the time.
Caroline got up from her chair, setting her papers down. "Scientists are currently trying to harness gravity. Did you know that, Miss. Geller?"
The girl stared at her, bewildered. "What in hell does that have to do with Teddy?"
"How old are you, Miss. Geller?"
"Nineteen," replied the girl, looking bewildered. "And it's Isabelle."
"What are you studying?" Caroline asked, looking for her card.
"What does this have to do with my brother?" she spat angrily.
"Can you please tell me, Isabelle?"
The girl breathed in heavily. "English Lit."
"So you wouldn't know that Newtonian scientists are currently trying to harness gravity as an infinite energy source."
"That's not possible," the girl—Isabelle—said distractedly, fiddling with the button on her shirt pocket. "Gravity can't be used as a power source. They're confusing forces with powers."
"That's the thing," Caroline said, shoving her hands in her pockets. "You're smart. Gravity can't be used as an energy source. Scientists are failing. But we still have alternative power sources, even though they're not available in such large quantities."
"Then what—"
"Up till 1990, gene therapy was thought to be impossible. Do you know what gene therapy is, Isabelle?"
"No," said Isabelle shortly. "I do English Lit."
"Gene therapy involves altering the genes inside the cells of your body to treat or stop diseases. They discovered this in 1990. It's an extremely efficient cure method for immunodeficiency. Basically, this was thought to be the impossible. Until it was discovered. And even if gene therapy isn't used, immunodeficiency patients still survive. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you, Isabelle?"
Isabelle Geller nodded reluctantly. "That Teddy has a chance of surviving even though there's not a definite cure for cancer."
Caroline nodded, and handed Isabelle her card. "My contact. The below number is for home, and the number above is for the hospital. You have my email address. Call me if you ever need to see me. I'm available 24/7."
"Thanks," said Isabelle, and grudgingly took the card from her. Caroline walked back to her desk.
"Dr. Forbes?"
Caroline turned to her. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
OOO
"Dr. Forbes?" came a voice through the door, and Caroline looked up.
"Yeah, Elena?" Elena was a dermatologist, transferred from Dallas two years ago, and Katherine's twin sister.
"Your schedule for today," she said, handing a folder to her. "Ric made it for you."
Alaric Saltzman was Elena and Katherine's uncle, who had taken care of her after they had lost their parents. Even though Kat was Elena's sister, they weren't that close.
"Alaric?" Caroline asked confusedly. "Why?" Alaric was the head of the oncology department. He didn't have time to make schedules. Elena shrugged.
"Who cares? But it must be something important, since Ric made them himself."
"Maybe," said Caroline absent-mindedly, turning the pages of her folder. She was scheduled to talk to the new arrivals in an hour at three, and Caroline felt a smile spread across her face.
She loved those meetings, it was a chance for her to fully interact with her patients. They might be kids, but they were going through an awful lot for their ages, both physically and mentally. All the pediatric doctors used to find some time in their hours weekly to hang out and talk to the children, and usually they used to have an hour to do so. Caroline usually visited the kids in the pediatric neurology wing with Bonnie, as there weren't many kids in the pediatric oncology department (and Caroline was extremely thankful that), but this time she would stay.
She suddenly felt her phone vibrate, and saw a text from Bonnie.
Bonnie: So, I was talking to Kat today after you left. We had breakfast together
Bonnie: And apparently, there's some new man candy here for you. In the hospital
Caroline groaned. She wished she could stitch up Katherine's mouth sometimes; she could never hold in a secret.
Bonnie: Tsk, tsk, Care, secrets? Really? I thought we were friends
Bonnie: Kat pointed him out. He's cute. You need some new action
Bonnie: Or dare I say it…old action? Kat also informed me that you both were a bit too familiar with each other
And then she actually had the nerve to insert a winky face emoji.
She hated Kat.
Caroline: You're being crass, Bon. Didn't expect that from you
Caroline: Well done
Bonnie: Nuh uh, don't change the subject. Is he really Mr. Caroline Forbes's first and last one night stand?
Caroline: Unfortunately, yes. Urgh, I don't see why he couldn't have been working anywhere else! I mean, did he just have to become a doctor?!
Bonnie: Why are you getting so hyper? Do you want to date him?
Caroline: UM OF COURSE NOT
Bonnie: I'm sensing a lot of tension and denial
Caroline: Last I checked you were a neurologist and not a psychologist
Bonnie: Just saying. Do you want to date him?
Caroline: What did I just say, Bon?
Bonnie: You said no in a very I'm-in-denial kind of way
Caroline: BONNIE
Bonnie: What? From whatever Kat told me, he doesn't seem that bad, Care. A bit snooty and snobbish maybe, but he's British
Caroline: I DON'T WANT TO DATE NIK
Bonnie: Nik, huh?
Bonnie: Kat said that his name was Klaus
Bonnie: Special nicknames?
Caroline had never hated smirky-face emojis more than that moment.
Bonnie: He's cute. Easy on the eyes
Caroline: He's a self-absorbed asshat! I don't like him!
Bonnie: Whatever you say, Care
Caroline: Why am I getting the feeling you're having your own thoughts about this?
Bonnie: Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong
Caroline: BONNIE
Caroline: SERIOUSLY?!
Caroline: I do NOT like Nik
Bonnie: Yet you call him by a special nickname
Caroline: Because he asked me to!
Bonnie: The heart wants what the heart wants, Caroline
Caroline: Oh my god, Bonnie
Caroline: Are you seriously quoting Emily Dickinson right now?
Bonnie: What does that have to do with anything?
Bonnie: Admit that you like him
Caroline: I slept with him ONCE! And it was supposed to be a one-night stand! The whole point is that you don't have to see the guy ever again! We don't even know each other!
Bonnie: Then get to know him, Caroline! He seems nice
Caroline: Why do you want me to date him so much?
Bonnie: You're over Tyler anyway, Care. He was an ass to you, and in a way, it's good that you caught him cheating on that girl. You have a chance now. This guy…Kat said that you guys seemed to like each other.
Caroline couldn't really contradict her statement; Klaus liked her, he had made that clear in the past two days, and she couldn't really deny that she wasn't the tiniest bit attracted to him.
Caroline: So I like him a little bit. So?
Bonnie: I knew it
Caroline: EMPHASIS ON THE LITTLE, BONNIE
Bonnie: How do you know you aren't lying? Especially after Kat reported that you told him that he was amazing in bed
She was going to strangle Kat.
Bonnie: I haven't even seen you two together, but by the way Kat was talking about you, I think I'll side with her on this one
Caroline: Good for you, Bon. I've got to go. Talk to you later
Bonnie: I'll hold you to that
OOO
"You're looking particularly happy today," Stefan observed as he sat down next to her at lunch. Caroline smiled.
"Gianna Colbert's starting to show signs of recovery."
"That's great, Care!"
"I know. She's been in here for three years now, it's time she started getting better."
"One of my patients started getting better today too."
"The one who has emphysema?" Caroline asked, taking the last bite of her pasta.
"Yep. Betty Schmidt, remember? The German one?"
"The one who thought Kat was your girlfriend?" Caroline snorted.
Stefan winced. "Yep, that's her."
Caroline snickered. "Kat went ballistic. I don't think I've ever seen her that embarrassed."
"Oh, come on, I'm not that bad of a boyfriend," Stefan protested.
"You once forgot your and Elena's anniversary."
"But we were going through a rough patch then," Stefan protested.
"Still doesn't make it better. Maybe that's why she dumped you."
"No, she dumped me for my brother," said Stefan, an irritated passing over his face. Caroline instantly felt bad for reminding him of the incident.
Katherine and Elena might be twins, but they were extremely different. Caroline loved Kat, she was her best friend, but Elena was a totally different matter.
To put it politely, Caroline tolerated Elena, and only because she was Kat's sister. Elena had a habit of flirting with both Stefan and his older brother Damon, sleeping with them, starting up a relationship with them, and then dumping one for the other.
The first time it was because she had met Stefan first, Damon.
The second time it was that she was happy with Stefan, but Damon just made her feel so passionate.
The third time it was almost the same excuse. If only I had met you first, Damon.
The fourth time it was that Damon made her feel more alive.
The fifth time it was that it was always going to be Stefan.
And the sixth time it was that Damon and I are the same, Stefan.
Honestly, couldn't she just choose? She didn't like Damon much, having met him a few times, and frankly, it was getting quite tiring, and Caroline always felt pissed at her every time for breaking Stefan's heart.
Four times.
Damon was a selfish ass, but even he didn't deserve to have his heart and feelings toyed with. Elena was like a butterfly, constantly flitting from brother to brother like a butterfly flitted from flower to flower.
Kat wasn't too pleased with her sister either when she found out what she was doing to one of her best friends over and over again.
Now, apparently, it seemed that Elena's flavor of the month was Damon. Again.
Caroline gritted her teeth and turned back to Stefan. "She isn't worth you, Stef. She's better with Damon."
"Yeah, whatever. It's fine," Stefan muttered, before brightening. "What's going on with your love life though, Care?"
"Can we please go back to yours?"
"Nope. What's up with you and Klaus?"
Caroline sighed heavily. "It's nothing. He just flirts, and I shut him down. And this goes on repeatedly. He just can't take a hint. Though I guess Nik's not one to give up easily. He's the type of guy—"
"Nik, huh?" Stefan asked, smirking. Caroline flushed. She was suddenly reminded of her conversation earlier that day with Bonnie.
"Klaus. I mean Klaus."
"You call him Nik?" Stefan asked, the I-knew-it look on his face Caroline hated so much. It really bugged her.
"It's complicated."
"I've never heard anyone else in this entire place call him Nik. Why are you suddenly the exception?" Stefan asked, unable to stop smirking. Caroline wanted to hit him.
"It's—it's nothing, I promise. I tried calling him Nik, but he went all, Oh, no, sweetheart, everyone calls me Klaus, but people I like call me Nik."
"Sweetheart?" asked Stefan, who was clearly trying not to smile.
He was failing.
Caroline glared at him. "That's not—"
"I knew you guys had special nicknames for each other," Stefan said, grinning.
"Seriously? That's what you took from that?!" Caroline screeched at him. "I do not like Klaus, Stefan!"
"I never said you did," Stefan grinned. "I just said you guys apparently have secret nicknames for each other."
"We don't—"
"I wonder what he calls you," Stefan mused, thinking. "Care? Nope, sounds too American. Carebear? Too childish. Caroline? Not a nickname. Oh, god, it's not anything inappropriate, is it? I don't want to know if that's it."
Caroline was tempted to say yes to get him off her back, but she figured it would probably make things worse.
Stefan snapped his fingers. "He calls you sweetheart, doesn't he? You said that before. That's it. He never calls anyone else that. You're his special nickname someone."
"Oh, shut up, Stefan," Caroline snapped. "So what if he calls me sweetheart? He probably calls every other girl that."
"Begging your pardon, love, but I think you'll find you're quite wrong there," said a familiar, toe-curling, accented voice behind her, and Caroline breathed heavily. She whirled around, accidently whipping Stefan in the face with her ponytail.
He probably deserved it.
"There should be a special song playing when you come over," said Caroline, narrowing her eyes. "To warn me that you're coming."
"You want to be prepared for me, do you?" Klaus asked, smirking. "To primp yourself up for my presence?"
"No, to warn me that you're coming. So that I can leave," Caroline replied scathingly, hoping he would take the hint and go away.
Being the asshat he was, he pulled up a chair and promptly sat down next to her.
"Now, why would you want to leave, love? I'm such pleasurable company."
Caroline let out a very un-ladylike snort. "Yeah, and so is Kat before her morning coffee."
"Pardon?"
Caroline couldn't help it; she laughed, he was so formal. He smiled at her, and he looked even more attractive in that moment.
"Get over me already, Klaus. I'm not interested. You're not the romantic type anyway."
"I'll take that as a challenge, then," came his simple reply, before reverting back to an indulgent smile, making her go weak at the knees.
"You guys are so cute together," Stefan muttered. "Makes me want one of those devils they call women again."
Caroline did hit him then.
OOO
"Hi, Dr. Forbes. You have your shift here today?"
"Hey, April. Yeah, I do. Is anyone else here?"
April nodded. "Yep. Some new guy. And, not to be unprofessional, but wow," she said, giggling. "Lucky you. Have fun!"
Caroline walked outside into the garden, bewildered, finding complete ruckus, and a familiar face inside.
"Daniel. There you are."
He smiled. "Hi, Dr. Forbes. Are you going to be here today?"
"Yeah, I am. I heard you started chemo yesterday?"
Daniel nodded forlornly. "It's not much fun. Dr. Greene said that I'll be losing my hair now."
Caroline smiled at him sadly. "Sorry about that, honey. But this'll help you get better."
"That's what everyone says," Daniel grumbled, and Caroline hugged him.
"It'll be fine. Hey, Dan, is there a new doctor here today?"
Daniel grinned. "Yep. He's with Annie and Lu right now."
Caroline felt a small stab of panic; Annie and Lu didn't take too well with strangers.
"Where is he?"
"I saw him at the drinking fountain last," said Daniel, shrugging. She smiled at him, and rushed off.
She wouldn't let this new guy upset Annie or Lu today, this was one of their rare days of fun. Lu couldn't do much since she was nine, and Annie's condition didn't allow her to get out and about much.
She spotted Annie and Lu, their pale blonde hair clearly distinguishable. Thankfully, they seemed to be laughing, Annie talking to the new guy, and Lu sitting in the guy's lap, making a chain out of fallen leaves and flower petals with a stick.
"Hi, Annie. Hi, Lu," Caroline said, smiling at them, not taking notice of New Guy.
"Hi, Dr. Forbes," said Annie, brightening immediately. "Are you going to be here?"
"Yep. How're you feeling?"
"Ok, I guess. Coming out here feels nice," Annie said, smiling.
"What, don't I get a hello, love?" asked a familiar, drawling voice, and Caroline jumped. She whirled around to see the guy whose lap Lu was sitting on. Lu waved cheerfully, then went back to her flower chain. Klaus grinned at her over Lu's head, and Caroline closed her eyes in frustration.
"Of course you'd be here. I thought I'll get an hour of peace without you bugging me, and you turn up here."
"I'm no American literature scholar, but I don't particularly think that is the way one says hello."
"Oh, go—"
"Children present here, love," said Klaus, smiling, tousling Lu's short curls. Lu watched them eagerly.
"Do you know each other? Dr. Mikaelson said he's new."
"We're acquaintances," Caroline said grudgingly, and Klaus's mouth broke out into a wider grin.
"Oh, joyous day. I have finally passed the stranger stage and entered into acquaintances."
"Shut up, Nik," Caroline snapped.
"Don't be mean, Dr. Forbes," said Lu serenely. "My mommy scolds my elder brother when he says shut up to Marc. Marc says it too, and then Mommy gets really mad."
Caroline gaped at her, then turned to Klaus. "Why are you here?"
"I got a note from Alaric saying that I could do this if I wanted to at three. He also assured me that you do this regularly and could help me if I needed anything. So I signed up."
"For the kids or to have an excuse to see me?"
"Why can't it be both?" he asked, smirking, and Annie laughed. Caroline fixed her with a reproving glance. Annie stopped, but looked like she was still trying to hold giggles in.
"Dr. Mikaelson was just telling us that he lived in London before coming here," said Lu, starting on a new stick of flowers, handing the previous one to Caroline with a for you gesture.
"I was telling them about visiting Buckingham Palace," said Klaus, gently snapping off the sharp end of the stick so that Lu wouldn't poke her eye out.
Annie sighed wistfully. "I've always wanted to go."
"Where do you want to go, Lu?" asked Caroline, looking down at Lu.
"Fairyland," answered Lu, picking a flower from a bush.
"Right," Klaus said, continuing. "I was also telling them about the legend of the Tower of London."
"It seems really interesting," said Annie, with wide eyes. "The nine ravens thing sounds cool."
Klaus grinned. "You'll get to go yourself soon, love."
"I hope so," said Annie, grinning shyly.
Caroline felt strangely pleased. Annie didn't warm up to new people so quickly, and neither did Lu. Klaus was good with kids, and she couldn't say that it didn't surprise her. looking at him, you wouldn't really think that he was the warm, parental type of person. Even Alaric had told her the same thing.
But Klaus seemed completely at ease with Annie and Lu, making them smile and laugh, distracting them when they got upset at the right times. She felt a small smile spread across her face, hoping against hope that Klaus wouldn't notice.
He didn't, thankfully. Annie abruptly turned to her in that moment. "Dr. Mikaelson said you both were friends. Did you know him when he lived in London?"
Caroline felt her smile slip away, to be replaced with a scowl. "Oh, he did, did he?
Klaus smiled at her guiltily, the smile doing something strange to her stomach, making a butterfly flock flutter around.
Stupid sexy smile.
"No, I did not know him while he was in London, Annie."
"You met him when he came here? Did you hang out at the hospital?"
"Oh, we didn't just hang out," said Klaus, smirking. "We—"
"Kids, Nik!" Caroline barked at him, picking a leaf out of Lu's hair. Klaus smirked, Lu looking politely puzzled.
"I'm not a child," Annie said indignantly. "I can handle it."
Klaus laughed. "You remind me of my little sister," he said, grinning at Annie, who blushed. Caroline looked at him strangely.
"You have a sister?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. Klaus nodded, a rare, genuine smile spreading across his face.
"Rebekah. Completely infuriating, of course, but very inquisitive about everything I did. But, of course, which sisters aren't?"
Annie grinned. "I have a sister too. Her name's Georgia. She's like that too.
They stayed there, talking about siblings and their respective families, Annie's face lighting up whenever she talked about her elder brother Rupert, and Lu smiling a toothy grin whenever her father was mentioned. A number of other children joined them later too, and quickly got into the conversation enthusiastically. There were only eighteen children in all, from the oncology department, but almost all of them were chattering away by the end of the hour.
Klaus walked beside Caroline on her way back to their floor, and Caroline found that she didn't mind.
"What about you, love?" Klaus asked, looking at her. "Any siblings?"
She laughed. "Nope. Only child. Family's a complicated thing for me."
He smiled at her. "I won't press. Thought it's the same with me. My siblings are scattered all over the world, and Mother and Father don't bother coming to visit."
Caroline didn't push him either; he had been nice enough to ask about hers.
"Do your parents live here?" he asked. Caroline nodded.
"My dad does. With his…family," she finished, not knowing how to complete the sentence. Klaus noticed her change in tone, and thankfully, didn't press.
"I see," he said, and Caroline snorted, the tension disappearing. Klaus looked at her.
"What?"
She continued laughing, which made Klaus smile too. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just that…you're so British."
This made Klaus smile wider. "Beg your pardon, love?"
Of course, this made her giggle harder. "See? That's what I'm talking about?"
"You're saying that I'm too formal?"
"Yes," she said, clapping a hand over her mouth to try to stop the giggles. He grinned.
"I thought girls said that British accents were supposed to be sexy," he asked playfully.
Caroline widened her eyes. "Oh, they are, believe me. But it gets funny when you get all formal."
"You mean when I say beg pardon or apologies or things like that?"
"Yeah," she said, nodding. "Nik, have you ever said the word yeah in your entire life?"
He frowned. "Not that I recall of."
She burst out laughing again, and two doctors turned to stare at her. "You did it again!"
"Well, I can't go around sounding like you lot, can I? I'll sound like some strange person who's trying to sound like a high schooler. I'll sound," he shuddered. "American."
"Oh, how horrifying for you," said Caroline dryly. "Especially considering that you now live in America."
"Sarcasm," he said, grinning. "That I can do."
She grinned at him, and he smiled back. "This makes you forget you're supposed to be hating me, doesn't it?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't push it, Nik. You're still an arrogant jackass."
He raised his palms. "Whatever you want, sweetheart."
She glared at him. "It's Caroline, Nik."
"Of course," he said, nodding diligently.
"Love," he added, grinning.
Caroline rolled her eyes.
Maybe not whole-heartedly.
The whole sweetheart thing was kind of cute, anyway.
OOO
She had coffee in the hospital with Bonnie in the evening the next week. They hadn't been able to see much of each other the last week, and they decided to have coffee together as a relaxing session. Bonnie was extremely tired, having performed a six-hour surgery half an hour before, but the moment she sat down, Bonnie burst out something she had obviously been wanting to say since she had seen her.
"Stefan pointed out Klaus Mikaelson to me in the halls yesterday."
"Oh, god," Caroline groaned. "Really?"
Bonnie nodded. "He's hot. Maybe even more than Enzo."
"I agree," said Kat, settling down beside them.
"Enzo wouldn't," Caroline pointed out. "How's it going between you two, anyway?
Bonnie beamed. "It's going great. I introduced him to my parents yesterday."
"That's nice," said Caroline, smiling at her warmly.
She and Enzo had been friends for five years, and were very close, so it was nice to see him and Bonnie happy. She had met Bonnie, Stefan, and Katherine when she was interning at Whitmore, and their friendship had cemented when they all officially started working here.
Bonnie nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! But you can't worm your way out of this conversation so easily, Care. I still want to talk to you about Klaus."
"Oh, no," said Caroline, burying her face in her hands.
"I said hi. He kind of turned out like you said he would."
"Tall, hot, and handsome?" Kat tried.
Caroline glared at her. "No," said Bonnie, who looked at if she was trying not to laugh. "Well, he was, but he was also kind of an arrogant ass."
"Ha!" said Caroline triumphantly. "See, Kat? I'm not the only one who thinks that."
"No, you're the only one who thinks he's tall, hot, and handsome, and also an arrogant ass," said Kat, sounding tired, taking a sip of her cappuccino. Caroline narrowed her eyes at her.
"I am not attracted to Nik."
"She said that while knowing she was in denial," said Kat, sounding bored.
"That's what I said!" said Bonnie cheerfully.
Caroline couldn't believe her two closest friends were ganging up on her.
"This isn't fair. You two are against me," she complained, all the while desperately racking her brain for a subject change.
"Well, that's a stupid argument," Kat snorted. "Care, it would be so much easier if you admitted you liked him. Everyone here knows so."
"Who does?" Caroline asked, fired up.
Kat yawned. "Me, Bon, Stefan. Elena, Ric—"
"Alaric knows?" Caroline screeched. "How?"
"My stupid sister tells him everything," Kat complained. "And I mean, everything. She once told him I had sex with Mason on his bed."
"Ew," said Caroline, wrinkling her nose.
"Thrice," said Kat, picking at her nails.
"Stop, Kat. Gross," said Bonnie. "But, Care, Kat's right. Everyone knows. It's been, what a week?"
"More than that," Kat said, looking Caroline squarely in the eyes. "And you guys have been getting closer, haven't you? Elena said that she saw you guys getting all cozy last night."
Bonnie jerked her head up, and Caroline hastily shook her head. "That's not it! He needed some help with his notes, and I offered."
"Hmmm," said Kat, sounding unimpressed. "If that's what you say. I still think you guys have something special. It's just untapped."
"We slept together once," Caroline said. "And yes, I was reluctant to work with him, but it turns out that's he's not bad once you get to know him."
"That's what Ric said," said Kat suspiciously. "But he's probably being nice to you cause he likes you. And because he wants to get into your pants. Lucky."
Caroline raised an eyebrow, and Kat ploughed on. "He's hot, but I don't like him that way. Plus, Mason and I had that break-up just two weeks ago, and I'm not sure I want to get into anything with anyone yet," she shrugged.
Caroline looked at her sympathetically. Katherine wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she really had liked Mason. And then he broke her heart by telling her that he liked someone else. Caroline knew it was wrong, but she felt mad at Mason, even though he seemed to be a nice guy.
At least he didn't cheat on Katherine like his dipshit nephew.
Bonnie smiled, cocking her head. "Looks like I'm the only one with a successful relationship now. How did that happen?"
They laughed. "You're the lucky one, Bonnie Bennett," Caroline said, grinning, finishing her mocha. "Me and Kat are just destined to be single forever."
"Nuh uh," Kat protested indignantly. "I don't do sad and lonely. I'll land some man candy sooner or later, I'm sure of it. He'll be nice and good in bed."
"Ah, Kat. Still so crude."
"I was born this way. My sister is the soft one."
"True," said Bonnie, taking a swig of her frappe.
"And the stupid one."
"Truer," said Caroline, while Bonnie looked at her reproachfully.
"And the bitchy one."
"No, I think you both got those genes," said Caroline slowly. Kat shrugged, unaffected.
"You're probably right."
OOO
Heyyy! I got past chapter two!
Liked the story till now? I need opinions on so many things. The Baroline friendship, the Klaroline development, and my own characters. Please review, it's the only way I can find out whether you guys like the story or not.
I'm sorry if my story is offensive to those who've had their own experiences with hospitals or oncology. If any medical terms are incorrect, please feel free to inform me in the review.
I'll probably be uploading the next chapter in a few days, but I'm not sure about that since I have my midterms going on. Anyway, a few of you guys asked which doctor each character was, so I'll tell you guys that.
Caroline and Klaus: Oncologists (cancer doctors) But Caroline works with kids, and Klaus works with both kids and adults.
Bonnie: Neurologist (brain and spinal cord doctor)
Katherine: Cardiologist (heart doctor)
Stefan: Pulmonologist (doctor dealing with respiratory system)
Elena: Dermatologist (doctor dealing with ski, hair, and nails)
Alaric: Head of Oncology department
Well, that's it! See you guys soon!
-Sophia