Sorry for the long wait! A few deadlines were due. But here it is, extra long! I hope you guys will enjoy!

Chapter 5

Caroline was staring out of the window in confusion. She had meant what she said to Klaus, when she told him she wanted to hear his stories if she wasn't going to be able to go to these places. She had genuinely wondered which places he was most fond of and why. When he had leaned in to kiss her, she had felt and inner urge to kiss him. It had felt as if she had been homesick for her entire life and was on the threshold to her house, her home. His warm lips softly caressing hers, his intense eyes burning into hers, his smell, his breath. She couldn't stand the feeling he was giving her, just by his mere presence. Being secluded in this car, no-one but them, made every feeling she felt enhanced by a thousand-fold. She was looking at his reflection in the window and could see he occasionally looked towards her. His rejection had hurt her, and for the first time ever, Caroline was realising that she had been having feelings for him even before this roadtrip from hell.

Every moment she had been within the same proximity, she had felt a surge of feelings, mixed emotions, of life and adrenaline pulsating through her body and mind. She always told herself that it was hate and disgust she was feeling. Maybe at first it had been. But he had found a way into her mind, he occupied it most of the time. She now realised she her mind had always wandered out to him, in the moments she wasn't thinking about anything in particular. She felt a blush colouring her face, when she thought about the fantasy-flashes she'd had. Little moments of her and Klaus together, like little annoying pop-ups on a screen. He had been nothing but gentlemanly towards her, since he actually got to know her as more than a means to an end, the end being Elena. The moment Caroline life as a human had ended, she hadn't felt like she deserved to live at all, until Klaus had shown her, by nearly ending her life, that she did have the will to live. This had given her her strut back. Although his ways are not right, he does seem to do his evil out of the most human reasons. Caroline thought about this for a moment. Loneliness, revenge, protection. He protected what was of value to him, or who was of value. He lacked the patience to protect them in a normal, friendly way. Instead, he didn't waste time and just, like in the case of his family, daggered them and locked them in a coffin. But still… protection all the same. Caroline sighed. She didn't know what to do with these feelings. She loved Tyler and still was willing to do anything in order to save him from getting hurt, but seducing Klaus would only mean her maybe actually falling in love with him. If she wasn't already there. She thought of a poem she'd read online that had reminded her of him, or at least the first strophe of it did.

"As I ponder'd in silence,
Returning upon my poems, considering, lingering long,
A Phantom arose before me, with distrustful aspect,
Terrible in beauty, age, and power,
The genius of poets of old lands,
As to me directing like flame its eyes,

With finger pointing to many immortal songs,
And menacing voice, What singest thou? it said;
Know'st thou not, there is but one theme for ever-enduring bards?
And that is the theme of War, the fortune of battles,
The making of perfect soldiers"

She thought about how she had thought about his flaming eyes, his beauty, age and power. She thought about how he was a phantom, constantly haunting her mind, and how she was waging war against him, internally. A feeling of melancholy came over her. She could never act on the feelings she was having. For one, she still had Tyler, whom she loved very much. Secondly, none of her friend would ever approve. A to finish it up, she didn't know how to forgive him for what he has done to her and her friends in the past. He had been living this life to long to be able to change. She turned her head and looked at him for the first time in hours. His hands tightened around the wheel, as his knuckles turned white. Caroline could feel the tension between them thickening. He noticed her looking, but didn't look back, although it seemed he had to make an effort not to turn his head her way. Caroline didn't know what she wanted to achieve by looking at him, trying with her willpower to make him turn his head, to look at her and see her, like only he seemed to be able to do.

See me, Klaus!

Klaus had mustered up all his strength not to kiss Caroline while his lips had lingered over hers. Since that moment, he wasn't able to think of anything else but her soft lips, of how her body had responded to his closeness, and of the confused look she had had in her eyes, when she realised she did want him to kiss her. She had been sitting in silence ever since. He had looked over to her the few moments he hadn't been able to contain himself. She was so far away in her thoughts he had played with the idea to touch her hand, just to get her out of the depths of her inner turmoil. The silence between them gave him time to think about what was going on, and what his next step was going to be. Tyler could be at the Appalachian mountains, but if he was not, those werewolves there could, under the right persuasion, tell him where Tyler could be hiding. Klaus never regretted much, but he did regret he hadn't killed Tyler along with all of the others hybrids. Instead of fighting Klaus, he had been a coward and had fled, leaving Caroline utterly defenceless. If he had killed Tyler in his moment of rage, he would have endured the hate of Caroline for the rest of his life as a consequence to his actions. But he would have felt justified in his actions and her hate it bought along. He could have accepted it. Maybe in a few centuries, her pain would have worn out, and they would have found a way to start anew. Now, he was calculating, he couldn't blame it on his emotions. If he killed Tyler, she would never forgive him, not in her entire existence. He had thought about that for a few moments. Thought about how her now slumbering feelings of maybe something other than hate and disgust would disappear in that instant, and how he would never be able to make her confused again, just by closing in on her. She would only feel hate, like Mikael had felt. To see the same hate in her beautiful eyes would be almost unbearable. Caroline had slowly, but surely made her way through to his heart. At first he was only interested in the reactions of shock and horror his little infatuation with Caroline had caused among her friends and herself. But in the past year he had been watching her, really looking at her, even when she didn't realise he was around. He had found a strong and altruistic women, smart but unwilling to show others just how smart. Caroline seemed to want so much to fit in, she didn't meet all her potential just so she wouldn't make anyone uncomfortable. She had so much love to give, Klaus was often taken aback by the goodness of her being. She seemed to be his complete alter ego. They were like yin and yang, only it seemed he only now started to realise how much he needed her. Thinking about it, since he had her around, he hadn't killed as carelessly as he had normally done. Unconsciously he had taken her feelings into account. She made him weak. Klaus felt a jolt of fear coming over him. A light panic struck. If she was his weakness, he had no choice but to take her life. He gripped the wheel of the car tight. There had to be another way. His life had been so easy up until now. If he felt someone was weakening him, or was in any way a threat, he'd kill them in an instant. This was is cognitive script, and it was difficult to change what had been his natural way of responding to a situation. Still, he hadn't killed her, yet, and he knew he wouldn't do it later. Not her. If he could only know to trust her. If he knew she wouldn't just take the mongrel's side. At that moment he felt as if Caroline called his name and he turned his head. The look in her eyes made him stop the car immediately alongside the road. He leaned towards her, cupped her cheeks, held her face and looked into her blue eyes. He saw she had surrendered.

Caroline mind was peacefully still as she felt Klaus' hands on her face. They were soft and warm. His flaming eyes looked into hers and she knew he knew. She could see the look in his eyes change and saw a little glitter of relief mixed with happiness. I want you to kiss me. Caroline thought. And as if she had said it out loud, he closed the distance between them and softly pressed a kiss on her lips. His lips were warm and Caroline could feel them wanting more, she wanted more. He pushed his lips closer and she parted her lips. Klaus softly let his lips part with hers and Caroline felt his tongue on her lips, on her own tongue. His hand moved to the back of her head as he clasped her hair softly, trying to pull her even closer. Caroline felt his other hand moving from her cheek, stroking down to her neck and collarbone, only to rest just above her breast. His kisses were soft, not like she had expected from a man so full of anger. It seemed like all of his darkness had vanished and there was only Niklaus left, the man who searched for a place in this world just like any other. He kissed her like he was clinging on to a rescuing buoy after an lifetime of drifting alone at sea. At that moment Caroline knew she wanted to be the person that rescued him. She could fix him, she knew it. She could bring his humanity back, because she could feel it there so strongly at that moment. She moved up to him, so his hand now touched her breast. She could feel him holding his breath for a moment and then kiss her with more urge than before. His hand closed around her and his thumb rubbed her nipple, that was hard and pressing through the black T-shirt she was wearing. Caroline held her hand on his chest, feeling his muscles. She felt at that moment total peace of mind, and only felt his warmth, his lips and his hands. As his thumb caressed her nipple she let out a little moan.

Klaus had felt a moment of happiness when he saw the look in her eyes. The feeling of her soft lips, her body, was enough to drive him over the edge, but there was still that voice in the back of his mind, telling him, this was a ruse. That she was trying to seduce him. She doesn't want you, she wants Tyler. She wants you to fall for her, so you won't kill her. At that moment Caroline moaned at his touch and he no longer could control himself. He pulled her to the backseat with him, so there was nothing between them as she faced him, sitting on his lap. He cupped her ass pulled her close so she could feel the effect she had on him. Caroline widened her eyes for a moment at the feeling, gasping for air. Her hand caressed his face, and with her fingers she drew a line from his ear, alongside his jaw towards his lips. Softly she kissed him and the kiss became more intense. Klaus wanted to feel her warmth and his hands sought her skin trailing from her ass to her back and under her shirt.

At that moment they heard a knock on the window. A policeman was standing next to the window. Caroline jumped off of Klaus at the sight of him and hid her face in embarrassment.

"Oh God!"

"I wish I could have hear you say that in a slightly different context…" Klaus whispered to her. Klaus pulled the window down and compelled the man to drive away and forget he ever saw them. Klaus looked at her still with her hand in front of her face.

"He's gone now, love. He won't remember a thing." He pulled her hands away from her face and to his worry, saw tears on her beautiful face.

She's regretting every bit of what happened. She loves that boy too much. She wás trying to seduce you, but can't go through with it, because she hates you too much. You disgust her. You are worthless, half-bred bastard, nothing. Klaus his mind was telling him the same things he was used to hearing from Mikael, After he had left his father, his mind had taken over Mikael's continuous harassments. Klaus his look darkened at his own thoughts and climbed into the front seat.

"You didn't seem upset when you were all over me, sweetheart." He was lashing out, he knew it. He started the car and hurried up the road. They were almost at the Appalachian mountains.

XXXXX

Rebekah was still angry for what Nik had done to her and was by no means prepared to help him in his newest plot to take over the world. After she had hung up Nik, she immediately called Kol and asked him if he was still around.

"My dear sister, I haven't left the state, I'm still sitting in the first stripclub I found on my way out. I've compelled all the women to do my bidding."

Rebekah could almost see the grin on her brother's face. "You're digusting, Kol. Now stop playing about, and go to the Appalachian mountains. Nik is on his way there, so if you are fast, you can compel those werewolves into taking him down. Do with him as you please."

"Are you that upset with him, Bekah? Has he finally done it?" Rebekah heard his genuine surprise.

"Do you want to get back at him or not?" Rebekah said, evading the question. "You have a few hours to get there, so I suggest you take a fast car." Rebekah hung up. Now, let's see what I can get out of Stefan and Elena about what has been happening. Kol will have his playtime with Nik, but in the end he'll not kill him. After all, we are family and family is most important.

XXXXX

The sun was still going to be up for a few hours. Klaus had taken the daylight ring and put it in his pocket.

"You just sit tight in the car. I'll be right back, either with your dear boyfriend, of with information about his whereabouts." Klaus lingered for a moment, looking at Caroline as if he wanted to say something else. Caroline didn't know what to do. She felt embarrassed about what she had allowed to happen and the feelings she was having for Klaus. He's about to kill Tyler, and you are dry humping him! She angrily said to herself. He is walking out of here to kill him! Do something!

"Why don't you let me come?" It was a stupid question, but she had to do something. Maybe if someone spotted them, they could warn Tyler.

Klaus looked at her with disdain and walked away. "I'll be right back, love, don't you worry about me."

Caroline looked at him walking away, as the sunlight hit his blond curls. The moment he was out of sight she started crying feeling utterly powerless. After a while she recomposed herself and started looking around, taking in her surroundings. She could see a small camp further down the mountain. He is probably massacring every living soul in that camp right about now. Tyler along with it. Why do I feel so much for such a monster? Time went by, and Caroline still didn't hear or see anything. She couldn't get out of the car, because the sun was still shining, but if would be gone for another hour or so, she would be able to get out, without the ring.

Caroline waited anxiously for the sun to go down. If I can get out of the car, what will I do? Go and look for Klaus, for Tyler? Just run away? As the last sunrays disappeared behind the mountains and trees, Caroline jumped out of the car. Okay, I have to find Tyler. Caroline crept towards the little campsite, when suddenly she heard a scream. Tyler! She thought, and she ran towards the sound, forgetting to be careful. As she ran she saw a cave, and heard chains rattle. This was probably where he'd been chained up, while changing over and over again to be unsired. She blasted into the cave, expecting to see Tyler chained up and being tortured, but found herself standing dead-still in a matter of seconds. There hang not Tyler, but Klaus himself with his arms chained up above his head, blood dripping down his arms.

Klaus had walked into the camp with an eerie feeling. It was too quiet. He had walked with care into the cave, when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Hello big brother"

"Hello Kol." Klaus didn't have to see him, to know. "What brings you to these parts of the world?"

Klaus was alert, and watched carefully how his brother stepped out of the shades. When Kol made a sudden movement with his hands, Klaus was so focused on his kid brother, he didn't hear the men approaching him from behind. They vervained him by sticking a needle in his neck. Kol'd compelled the werewolves to take him down and chain him up. He had been torturing him for hours on end now. Kol had succeeded to this once before, many centuries ago, and had been hurting him for days, out of revenge. Klaus had killed the women in Kol's favourite brothelhouse, because they had been talking to others about Kol and his family. Mikael had his spies everywhere and Klaus suspected that some girls had spilled the beans about Kol coming to 'visit' every once in a while. He'd done it to protect the family, but Kol had been infuriated. He'd tricked Klaus into a night out, and had taken him down when he wasn't expecting an attack. Klaus knew Kol wouldn't kill him, but he didn't have much time. As soon as it would become dark, Caroline would be gone, and he would never get another chance to… To what? He thought. To kill her? To kiss her? Let her get to know the real you? Klaus was conflicted about what he should do with her. At that moment Kol cut into his arms and his chest again with a knife dipped in vervain, so the healingproces was slowed just a little. Enough to cause Klaus real pain. He screamed, more out of frustration really. Kol laughed.

"I didn't think I could get a rise out of you this soon Nik! Marvellous!" Kol walked into the shades again, as he heard someone approaching. "Seems we are having over a guest."

Klaus looked at the entrance of the cave, and hoped it would be anyone, anyone but her. As Caroline ran into the cave, with a determined look on her face, she was stupefied when she saw Klaus hanging in the chains. Of course… She thought the scream was from Tyler. She wouldn't come for you.

"Well, well, well" Caroline looked towards the voice. Kol. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes."

Caroline felt hand grab her from behind, and holding her. "Bite…" Said Kol, and as she saw Klaus pulling at his chains in fury, she felt the werewolvebite in her neck. It hurt and she knew, that unless she drank from Klaus, she would be dead.

"No!" Klaus yelled. Kol looked up in surprise. "D'you not want her to die, brother?"

"No, you stupid ass! She is supposed to be killed in front of Tyler! You are taking my revenge away! Let me give her my blood." Klaus looked at Kol with rage.

"No, I'll just wait and see what will come out of this." Kol said with interest in his voice as he walked towards Caroline.

I hope you enjoyed! Next chapter Kol will be toying with Klaus and Caroline. Will this help them bond or drive them apart? Please review!

The poem is a part of As I ponder in silence by Walt Whitman.