CHAPTER 2

Caroline had been fed some of his blood and she was resting peacefully on his bed. But he saw that the wounds were taking too long to heal. Then a terrible thought struck him. What if any bones had been dislocated? When they grow back, they will grow in the wrong positions and pose a permanent problem. He needed to make sure.

"Caroline?"

"Yeah?" She answered dreamily, eyes still shut tight.

"Sweetheart, this will hurt a little." He reached over to her shirt. Actually, his shirt. He had taken the trouble of changing her into some fresh, and his, clothes. Honestly, he smirked, it hadn't been much trouble. He began feeling her rib cage to check for any disparities. He noticed that one bone had been positioned a little above another. He had to fix it.

"What are you—aaaaaah!" Caroline screamed in pain.

"Shh, shh. It's over now." He heard her sobs and made his way over to the other side of the bed. He lay down next to her. Whether unconsciously or not, he didn't know, but Caroline moved closer to him. She clutched his shirt and sobbed into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her as he felt her lose the grip. She fell asleep.

He had been asleep for quite some time himself, when he felt her move. She squirmed under his hold and he dreaded that she may have come to her senses and realize it was him who she was wrapped around. But that wasn't the case. He looked down at her and saw her eyes closed, but her expression worried and scared.

"No, don't touch Elena. Please! Noo!" She was having a nightmare.

"Caroline, wake up. It's only a nightmare. You're safe. You're with me." Klaus gently shook her and she seemed to relax. She moved closer into him and he knew if he had had a pulse, it would be racing now. Her head buried in his chest, she entangled her legs in his. He could feel her chest moving up and down against his. But then sleep took over. Neither of them woke to the buzz of their cellphones ringing with calls from Elena or Damon all through the long night.

Morning came. The sun shined through the curtains that tried fruitlessly covering the windows. Caroline woke up.

She was used to sometimes waking up with someone next to her. Not that she used to do this sleeping around often. But this time it wasn't the usual human who developed a crush on her after seeing her somewhere.

This time it was the Original Hybrid.

She surprised herself by not jumping or screaming or accusing Klaus of rape. She just looked at him, and at how innocent and non-murderous-y he looked in his sleep. And of course she didn't fail to notice how good his body looked, his shirt was unbuttoned. She didn't realize when she had started smiling, and neither did she realize when his eyes fluttered open. Their legs were still entangled and their chests aligned. Their faces were inches apart.

"Morning, sunshine." Klaus, as cheerful as ever. "How are you this fine morning?" Caroline's face fell as she was reminded of last night. Klaus noticed and immediately reproached himself. He lifted her shirt.

"What are you doing?"

"Relax, Caroline. I have no intention of stripping you early in the morning. Just checking on the wounds, is all."

"Oh, I'm s-sorry. Where are the rest? Elena, Damon, Matt?" Caroline began sitting up and reached for her phone. She saw the missed calls and numerous messages.

"They are safe." Klaus got off the bed and walked over to the bedroom door. Caroline hadn't needed to text Elena that she was okay. Elena was going to find out anyway.

Klaus opened the door and there stood a familiar figure. The scene in front, Caroline in bed and Klaus in an open shirt presented itself to him.

"What the fuck?"