A/N: So here's part three it takes place just after Caroline's twenty second birthday and four months after Sam left for collage. And because I didn't say it I need to now Caroline does know about his family business plus she hasn't talk to him in say a year or so.
A/N: and a very special thanks to silently tearful for this story probably wouldn't have been born without you. Thanks for the idea you fed my plot bunny she was hungry. And to Dee for liking my story you have no idea what it means to me, to know that you like this story it is my new baby. also I am so sorry for the long wait…I've had some…problems. I've been dealing with them but I've had a hard time of it. Any who there is just one more chapter to go and I'm done.
Suggested Listening: Tangled up in you By: Aaron Lewis and Surprise, Surprise By: Brett Dennen
/Still Tangled Up In You/
Caroline hummed to herself as she pushed the book trolley down the fiction aisle loading the shelves with the new books Mr. Morgan had just bought. She loved this section more than the others there was nothing better than immersing herself in a good book and ignoring the world around her. Today she had too much on her mind to really pay any attention to her work. She would have lunch with Tyler a quick stop to Mrs. Mitchells house to pick up Jeremy's homework then off to the boarding house for a chat with Damon - she was really looking forward to that, heavy on the sarcasm- then off to Elena's for some research and dinner and a movie with her and Bonnie.
They hadn't had a girl's night in a while and she missed hanging out with them. Busy schedules equals busy lives and all that. She checked her watch eleven- thirty time to check out. She looked around her eyeballing the aisles but she didn't see Mr. Morgan anywhere. The old coot was always stepping out on her. "Mr. Morgan!" She shouted. "I told you I don't like it when you do that." (She knows that it is why she does it.) He scolded her as he came up behind her making her jump at least a foot in the air. He didn't mean anything by his scolding he was smirking when he did it. He once told her he liked being alone but if he had to share anyone's company he was glad it was hers. She decided to take that as a compliment. "I have to go now Mr. Morgan." She says hiding her smile behind a book. She loves the old man there was a sweet man behind all that gruffness.
"Mhmm," He murmured smirking as he looked at her handy work, "Going to see that young man of yours?" eyeing her a bit slyly, she looks down at her feet her cheeks flaming. "Tyler isn't my man Mr. Morgan, he's just a friend." he made that mhmm sound again she hated when he did that. Tyler was not hers just a good friend but as the old man liked to point out she did spend an awful lot of time with him. Who could blame her after Matt, Tyler just seemed to be there for her. He understood her, understood that she was a different girl than she was in high school. Tyler had changed to he wasn't that jerk that used to bully people. She liked to thank Jeremy for that something happened between them over the summer something Tyler still won't share. Well whatever happened she liked the new Tyler she could talk to this guy and sometimes…sometimes, she really needed someone to talk to.
"Well have fun then…" He paused and looked at her from the corner of his eye. There were those time when she thought Mr. Morgan new things that he really shouldn't. "You need to have more fun." yes well what was she supposed to say to that. She did have fun she just didn't go out and party and she stayed as far away from the river as she could possibly get. It hurt to go there and hang out at the old tire swing; she gained too many of her memories of a certain someone there. Sad isn't she cant even think his name not after a year of no contact. It hurt and she couldn't help but blame herself had she said something to make him stop calling her? Was it her fault?
"What ever it is my dear, it is not your fault." See it was things like that that made her wonder about him. "Whatever, I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Morgan." She murmured a smile creasing her features; she leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. Feeling a bit better after that she practically danced to her car, she liked feeling happy and today she felt lighter than air. For some reason she was feeling giddy today a bit light headed like something in her life was about to drastically change but that was silly wasn't it. Her life had been going the same way for years now with little to no change so why did she feel like it was all about to go a different direction today.
"Seriously Care how can you eat all those bacon cheese fries and still have room for a salad?" Tyler asked her as she ate another fork full of the leafy goodness that was her salad. The Grill made awesome salads oh and bacon cheese fries can't forget those. She shrugged as she swallowed and said, "Dunno just so good." he gave a mock shudder at her choice in food, "It would be one thing if you put a little bit of ranch on the salad, but no, you have smother it in Catalina." She looked up at him, her surprise evident. "How do you know what salad dressing I like?" he smiled at her with that charmingly crooked grin of his the one that made her heart flutter a bit faster. Seriously, should she be feeling that way about one of her best friends? "You're my best friend Caroline I know more about you than you think I do." he stated looking at her with his deep brown eyes, blushing she looked down at her plate. Crap! Well now, maybe she did like Tyler a bit too much. "Yes…well what's a girl to say to that?"
She frowns as she pulls up to the boarding house Stefan isn't here, he's out with Alaric and Elena, their off doing some more pretty heavy research in Isobel's office. They will be back later but in the mean time since no one else was here this particularly unpleasant job was left up to her. Damon was…well Damon he was snarky asshole that pushed everyone away so they wouldn't care anymore even if he still did. When he wasn't to busy pissing her off he was making her care. He wasn't all bad he loved Elena to distraction and was willing to do anything to keep her safe. How could she hate him for the very same action that she herself was willing to do. Something they were all willing to do.
Now she didn't really think it would actually come to that. Katharine was a class a bitch but honestly Caroline just thought she was here to stir up trouble for Stefan, Damon and her look alike Elena -she thought as she shut off the engine to her beloved Ford and walked up the walkway to the door- she hoped at least. Sighing she knocked on the thick ordinate wood and knocked again when he hadn't answered a few minutes later. By the time, he actually did open the door she had considered banging on the door and screaming at him like a fishwife. "About time!" she snapped, brushing past him she walked into the living room leaving him to stand in the doorway a scowl marring his face.
He always seemed to scowl theses days and unlike with most people it did nothing to intimidate her, she knew that annoyed him. She smiled at him with a dazzling smile as she sat on the overstuffed couch. She loved this couch hmm wonder if he will let her have it. "No," He murmured pouring himself a glass of amber liquid and one for her as well. "What?" She asks confused what was he saying no to? "You can't have my couch." He says his crooked grin out in full force as he hands her the glass. "Mhmm," she takes a sip from the glass and sighed at the burning in her throat. She loved bourbon. "So what brings you here Barbie?" Rolling her eyes at him, she twisted her lips in a scowl. "I really wish you would stop calling me that." he just laughed managing to convey without words how that would never happen.
"Anyways I came here because," He cut her off with a wave of his hand as he plopped down lazily on the chair across from her. "You came here to ask me about Katharine or maybe it's about that hexagon thing you have going on for you." what the hell was he talking about? What hexagon thing? "Excuse me?" he sighed a very put upon sound. "There's Matt, you and Tyler, then there's mysterious guy, you and Tyler. I'm not stupid enough to believe that Matt could even stand a chance against that guy, but Tyler…"He broke off and laughed a little. She didn't like the sound of that laugh it sounded like someone's heart had broken. "Now he could give him a run for his money. Then there's me, Tyler, you and this guy see a hexagon."
She rolled her eyes at him geez he had obviously had to much to drink today. "Really Damon you don't want to talk about Katharine but your very willing to put my love life -or lack there of- under the microscope." his smile was small sincere and a bit patronizing. It set her teeth on edge. "Caroline, you don't know what your in the middle of do you?" no she obviously didn't, okay so she loved Matt and on some level Tyler but only as a friend a snort sounded in her head and that little voice that tells her when she's lying to herself makes itself known. Yeah right love Tyler just as a friend mhmm sure.
But, what about the rest? De…He wasn't coming back and she wasn't pining over a man she would never see or hear from again. She did not love Damon although on some level she was smart enough to admit that she could have if only things had been different. And, he was right Matt didn't stand a chance against De…him. It was like comparing a winter's storm to a summer's breeze they were two completely different beings. Now Tyler and De…him…well that was a different story all together Tyler and him were more evenly matched. God! She felt like she had a horse race in her head. Matt in last place but still fighting Damon, Tyler and…the other one all in the lead trying to break away. "Enough!" She barks tossing back what was left in her glass trying to wash away her own thoughts, "Damon…please tell me what you know about Katharine." he smiled in that way he has when he knows he's gotten into someone's head. Thankfully, he nodded and let the subject drop.
She left an hour later her head pounding as she drove to Elena's house. Jenna met her at the door Elena wasn't home yet to bad she really could have used someone to talk to. However, Jenna being Jenna saw that pulled her into the kitchen where they attacked a pint of ice cream and commiserated over men. She liked Jenna always has and since she took over the raising of Jeremy and Elena when their parents died she had found herself growing a bit closer to the woman. She was like the older sister she never had. Soon Elena came home looking somber with Stefan and Alaric right behind her the research began. They all had dinner together all trying to wash away any somberness she basked in the love Stefan had for Elena the budding love Jenna had for Alaric. Alaric was…he was a good man took her under his wing when she had been young and floundering and he was good for Jenna.
Girl's night had been a bust. Bonnie had to bail and Elena just seemed a bit to distracted so after Dinner Caroline had left. Stating, "I'm going home and go to bed." Stefan had smiled at her with that all knowing smile. "Yeah Damon has that effect on everyone." she frowns a little at the memory. She did not know why but she didn't like when he talked that way about Damon. There was just something about the older Salvatore brother that just begged her to defend him. He looked so lost and broken -he thought he hid it well…he doesn't- Damon had suffered. A lot from the things she had learned, Katharine had used him, learned that she had never really loved him only after he had practically destroyed his own life and all for her. Damon loved deeply to the very center of his heart the very core of who he is gotta respect a man that could love like that.
Sighing she took out her key and unlocked the front door to the bookstore. She like using the front way the back that was centered in an ally scared the crap out of her. What with all the new vampires that were released from the tomb still running around with silent and sure steps she walked through the darkened bookstore towards the steps that led to the apartments up stairs. There were just two hers and Mr. Morgan's and like that silly old man it was just the way she liked it. Sighing she unlocked her door she had never been more than grateful to be home. Gripping the books in her arms tighter and slipping her purse off her shoulder she flipped the light switch on, she put her keys into the little bowl by the door and walked into the kitchen/living room/dining room/bed room. Her apartment was a studio so all the rooms were on big room.
She laid the books down on the counter and turned to the fridge. Opening it she grabbed a bottle of water, cracked it open and took a sip just as an oh so achingly familiar deep -deeper than she remembered- gravely voice murmured from behind her, "Caroline." it took her so much by surprise she almost spit her water back out. Steeling herself before turning to look at him, she took several deep breaths. "What…what are you doing here?" she whispered. She had meant to sound strong, confidant but that all went out the window when she actually saw him. His left arm was in a makeshift sling (knowing him he probably did it himself) a gash over his right eye -that was in bad need of stitches- and a dark purplish bruise in one corner of his mouth, her hand quivers as she brings it to her mouth. "De…Dean what the hell?" She asked she started to move towards him as if his center of gravity pulled her to him. At first, they were slow, hesitant movements but then she gained speed and before she knew it, her hands were all over him searching him for some unseen injury.
"I'm fine," He murmured on a sigh, his free hand coming up to cup her shoulder. It was a content sorta sigh as if he knew he could finally rest that he was some place safe and could finally close his eyes for more than a second. She snorted, "Yeah, 'cos you look so fine." she practically spat. Fine her ass he was so not fine! Pushing him towards her couch, she got a really good look at him. The sling was makeshift but a good one the bruise wasn't so bad -she had seen worse on Jeremy- but that gash was going to need some stitches.
He watched her as she huffed all the way to her kitchen mumbling something along the lines, "stupid males come to my house broken and bleeding!" even though it hurt he couldn't help but smile. "What are you smiling at?" She snapped as she walked back to him a first aid kit in her hands. "Nothing…it's just good to see you." he murmured shaking his head. She has no clue just how good it is to see her smiling -well mad at the moment- green eyes her full lips and that goodness that just seemed to radiate from her center. She seemed to deflate at that her eyes going all soft, "this is going to hurt." she whispers the antiseptic doused cotton ball poised over his brow.
"Its okay." and it was he knew she would never hurt him. He hasn't seen her since they were seventeen hadn't talked to her in a year and yet he knows her so well. She crawls into his lap he had to tell himself that she was just trying to get at the gash better that it didn't mean anything. Why would it? Their time together had been over long before it even had a chance to start. She couldn't still want him…even if he still wanted her. She had to have moved on. A small part of him snarls at him throws up accusations that he really doesn't want to hear. Well you would know that if you could have bothered to pick up a phone, but no, you couldn't do that could you? "Why did you stop calling me?" She says her voice whisper soft. She doesn't look at him keeps herself busy with fixing him up.
"I…I didn't want to hold you back." she looks at him then a scowl marring her features. "What a load of crap that is." it is a simple statement no heat behind it none that he can hear that is. "Excuse me?" she ignores him and he has to make himself still when she stabs him with the needle. By the look on her face it wasn't an accident she was smiling to widely for it to have been an accident. "You did that on purpose." he accused albeit a little petulantly. She just smiled as she stitched.
"Tell me something Caroline…" He said a while later they sat on the couch her at one end him on the other he wanted her closer but for the first time -in ever- he didn't know how to go about that. She looks at him her eyes cloudy with something he couldn't put a finger on. Was she remembering that day so long ago when she had asked the same question? He was. "…Anything."
She had no clue what he was going to ask her probably something along the lines of the same crap he fed her while she was stitching him up. (Or tried to at least.) She didn't know why he was here why he chose her place when there has to be other places for him to go. She had agreed to tell him anything it was the same question she had asked all those years ago. "Why did you move here? Why aren't you still with your mom?" huh well how to answer that without sounding like a lovesick idiot or tell him the complete truth behind her choices. There were some secrets that weren't hers to spill but there were always hers. She could tell him her big secret. But how would he react?
She took a deep breath, well if she was going to do it, now was the time. "Well I moved in here because things at home were, um, escalating." well that was a good start. "And um, well you see there was this accident and I was in the hospital and…and I was…oh hell!" she snapped jumping off the couch her hands in her hair. Could she really do this could she really tell him what she was now what she had become? "Caroline, just tell me." Dean murmured from his spot on the couch. She could trust him, she told herself, she could trust him she knew she could. "I'm a…a hunter, Dean. I hunt vampires." to her utter surprise, he burst out laughing. The bend yourself in half and slap your leg kinda laugh.
She had just told him her big secret the one thing only her closest friends knew about and here he was laughing his ass off! "Dean Winchester! You wanna tell me what's so damn funny!" she snapped her hands on her hips. She had to wait for his laughter to die down before he could speak and even then, he had a time of it. The jackass.
"Sorry princess, really…I am. But by the… the way you were talking I was expecting a bit more than 'I'm a Buffy chick now'." She huffed and puffed all the way to her bed where she sat down -admittedly- like a petulant child. What else can one expect when her big secret has been revealed and the person you told it to just laughs? "Oh blondie don't be like that." he said getting up and shuffling his way over to her bed. She felt bad in an instant she knew he was hurt and obviously more hurt than she had first thought. Despite still being angry, she reached up and helped him to sit down. "I didn't mean to make you mad it's just that I was expecting something more. You always were so dramatic Caroline." If he was trying to win her over, he wasn't doing a very good job of it.
"I am not dramatic!" She snapped.
"Mhmm, of course not," he murmured patting her knee.
She rolled her eyes and was about to peel his hand off her leg when he gave it a squeeze, she looked up at him into his bright green eyes with the golden flecks. Once when they were young and stupid before they even had a chance before whatever this was had even a running start she had thought that she could drown in those eyes of his. (Some things never change.) Once she had felt all tangled up in him as if someone were to look at the two of them they couldn't tell where he ended and she began. Sitting here with him now, with his hand on her knee, her eyes locked onto his she thinks it might still be true. "I left because of you." She blurted out, he looked shocked taken back by her words. "If you came back," She hastened to add so he wouldn't feel bad about her choice. "If you came back I wanted a place where you could find me and we wouldn't be bothered."
He sighed and ya know what she really didn't want to hear what he had to say so she cut him off, "You need some sleep. Take my bed tonight and I'll take the couch."
"I'm not taking your bed from you.""And I'm not going to argue with a stubborn ass. Just lay down and go to sleep."
"I need help talking my boots off." He murmured wagging his eyebrows making her laugh. He maybe an ass but he was lovable. "Fine." she said kneeling down in front of him and unlacing his boots. She pulled on off and then the other, sitting back on the bed she undid the makeshift sling and helped him take off his shirt. "Its not broken is it?" she asked worriedly her eyes never leaving the bruised arm. "Nah, it'll be better in a few days." she nodded mentally adding that he wasn't going anywhere until he was in better shape. Her breath hitched and she turned away when he took his pants off and she wondered when she became so prudish. When he was settled she walked over to her closet and grabbed an extra blanket and pillow, making herself a bed on the couch she settle herself down and tried to sleep.
The next day she woke up early with a crick in her neck -stupid couch- but still determined to go to the store. She rarely ate at home so she didn't have any food in her fridge. That is if you don't count water and soda. She walked over to her closet and saw Dean sprawled out on his stomach his injured arm at his side and the other one under the pillow. She smiled at the sight he made he looked so sweet while he slept all those lines of worry that were etched into the hard planes of his face were gone making him look peaceful. Even if she was pretty sure there wasn't anything peaceful about Dean Winchester. She dressed quickly and dashed down a note telling him where she had gone.
"I know Bonnie, yeah but I cant today. Because something came up." she murmured opening the door and walking past a smiling Mr. Morgan. She waved -difficult since her hands were full but she managed- at him and walked to the back of the shop juggling the phone and a bag of groceries. "Uh huh, lunch really does sound great Bon but I cant not today." honestly she felt bad she really did want to spend the day with them but she had unexpected guest in her apartment right now and as much as she wanted to spend the day with her friends she wanted to know what was going on with Dean. He seemed so -lost is the word she was looking for here- something. Sighing she opened her door and almost dropped her bag and the phone.
Standing there in the middle of her apartment was Dean in nothing but a towel his toned and tanned body glistening. Golly he was good looking. "Um Bonnie I have to go I'll call you later. Will do bye." she hung up her phone and turned away from him and that smirk that was plastered on his face. Oh man really! What had she gotten herself involved in? "What's the matter Forbes like what you see?" He asks, she can hear him walking around but she cant see where he's going since her back is to him. "I don't know what you are talking about!" she snapped violently shoving a box of cereal into the cabinet. "Mhmm," she was going to ignore him that was her plan and she was sticking to it. She pulled the eggs out of the bag and put them beside the bread and grabbed the bacon.
This was her first foray into cooking, there was a reason she ate out a lot, hopefully it wont be to bad. She grabbed a bowl and cracked a few eggs managing to not get one piece of shell in there -woohoo for her- mixed it up and poured it into the frying pan. She had a pack of bacon sizzling in the other pan. Well so far so good right. Dean -fully dressed- sat down at the counter and watched her work, giving the place a homey feel. She of course wouldn't trust that feeling Dean had a way of blowing her out of the water, leaving her on dry land gasping for breathe like a fish out of water. By the time she was done she had a few minor burns and one burned piece of bacon the rest was edible she just hoped it tasted good.
They ate in silence -something she wasn't used to- and when he was done she watched him move his arm around. He had taken the sling off so it must not be that bad right. "Where's your brother and dad?" she blurted out instantly regretting her question the minute she caught his eye. He looked torn, hurt in the way a person could when the people closest to you have hurt you in the worst way possible. Knowing Dean like she did -which admittedly wasn't all that well but close enough- it had meant they had left him. "They left you didn't they." it was something she and him had in common, both of them had been left by people they had cared about. Whether purposely or not it had the same effect. Abandonment issues suck.
"Yeah, Sammy he left for collage. Got a full ride to Stanford." despite the hurt that laced his words she could hear the pride shinning through. He was so proud of his brother, whenever he talked about him it was there that -fatherly- pride for his smart as a whip baby brother. "What about your dad?" she asked pushing away her plate. She wasn't hungry anymore. He didn't answer her for a moment choosing instead to pace back and forth his bare feet slapping on the floor, finally he stopped, sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "He was so mad," he said after another long moment. "So mad that Sammy wanted to go his own way. He…he said things, things that cant be taken back."
he heart hurt for him for this proud man that stood in front of her bearing his soul and the pain his family had caused him. She could understand that, her father had died leaving her with a mother whose grief made her cold towards the only child she had. The one that reminded her so much of the husband she had lost. She had a feeling the same thing was going on here with him. She had seen pictures of Mary Winchester she was a beautifully vibrant looking woman. With soft green eyes that showed the goodness of her soul. She had always thought Dean looked like his mother and if she thought that then you can bet his father did as well. "He left not to long after Sam did and…I haven't seen him since, only talk to him when he has a job for me."
In that moment she hated John Winchester, hated him for what he has done to Dean the one that stayed the one that wouldn't leave. He had a chance you know. Just before he had dropped out and had gotten his GED he had gotten his own offers from collages but he had declined them burned them after he opened them. It made her sad that his family could treat someone that was so loyal to them so badly. Sam got a pass he was young and didn't want this life but John, yeah not so much. "Dean I'm…" she started but stopped what could she say to make this better. What could she possibly have to say that could make any of this better? Not a damn thing that's what.
He spins around on the ball of his foot his eyes lit up with an idea, "Come with me Caroline," he says suddenly so suddenly she almost fell off her chair. "What?" she asked because she couldn't have honestly heard him right. He couldn't be asking her to with him. Could he? "Are you serious?" he walks over to her taking her hands in his, "Deadly." well alrighty then. A smile breaks out curling the corners of her mouth. How could she say no to that? "Okay…okay lets do this then."