Chapter 28: Don't Turn Around

'Now I know that I'm not all that you got

I guess that I, I just thought

Maybe we could find new ways to fall apart'

/Fun, 'We Are Young'.

"What number is this?" Damon asked, watching Alaric and Darwin draining their glasses.

Kol shrugged. "I don't know ... 18?"

Nothing was happening. Alaric and Darwin hadn't said a word for more than half an hour. They kept staring at each other, but seemed to be having more and more difficulties with focusing.

"I have the time of my life!"

Finn came riverdancing through the kitchen, grabbed a fourth bottle from the kitchen counter and pulled off the cap. He leaned casually against the wall, humming and swinging his bottle back and forth.

"Now there's a man, who can hold his liquor, "Damon remarked.

Kol gave Finn a sour look. "I beg to differ."

"And I was being sarcastic."

Kol refilled Darwin and Alaric's glasses. "Twenty seconds, guys."

Alaric's eyes narrowed, while Darwin's widened. He was swaying a bit back and forth.

Kol checked the clock. "Now."

Alaric emptied his glass, but Darwin kept his hands flat on the table, seeming completely oblivious to what was going on around him. He kept swaying.

"Thorstar?" Kol frowned, putting a hand on his shoulder.

And Darwin subsequently slipped off his chair and landed facedown on the kitchen floor.

"Oh, happy day!" Finn smashed his bottle over his own head in a fit of excitement.

"I won!" Alaric jumped out of his chair, then slipped in a puddle of tequila and landed flat on his back.

Darwin patted the linolium. "Hey, am I laying on the floor or on the ceiling?"

(Break)

Sunday 13th of December, 4.12 in the morning.

A terrible scream ripped through the quiet Boarding House, and Kol woke with a jolt. Darwin was writhing beside him, his screaming getting more and more desperate.

Kol sat up, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Thorstar! Wake up, you are dreaming."

"Don't touch me!" Darwin's eyes sprang open, wide with fear and looking right through him. He fought wildly against Kol's hold. He scratched his nails down Kol's arms, drawing blood. "Let go!"

Kol shook him. "Thorstar! Please ..."

He heard feet running in the hall outside, and the door was slung open. Stefan and Elijah looked inside. "What is going on?!"

"I don't know!" Kol could hear the growing desperation in his own voice. "He won't listen to me."

"Move away." Elijah sounded as calm as ever in spite of the sudden awakening.

Kol grudgingly let go of Darwin and moved to the other side of the bed. Elijah sat down on the edge of the bed, putting a hand on Darwin's head. He immediately stopped squirming and his screams died out. He looked up at Elijah, confused and frightened.

"You're safe, North Star, "Elijah said soothingly, running his hand over Darwin's short hair. "No one can hurt you."

Darwin flung his arms around him, sobbing helplessly into his tshirt.

"What were you dreaming about?" Elijah asked, rubbing his back.

"I keep killing her, "Darwin mumbled, plaintively. "Over and over again."

Kol watched them, something twisting in his gut; a feeling he couldn't quite identify.

How similar they looked. How easy it was.

Everybody liked Elijah, even those who hated him. He always knew what to do and what to say and people trusted him. He was calm, honourable, and reliable. And Kol was ... none of those things. With him nothing was ever easy.

Kol rarely reached out to anyone and when he did, he did not take rejection well. The feeling in his stomach got flooded with anger and drowned, before he got the chance to dwell on it.

He left the room, pushing past a surprised looking Stefan and slamming the door behind him.

(Break)

Jenna was sitting at the kitchen table, twisting a handkerchief nervously in her hands. She kept glancing at the clock. 12.44. Alaric should've been here by now.

She sighed. But of course; he was always late.

Even though she had been expecting it, she still jumped when the doorbell rang. She took a deep breath to calm herself and went into the hall, opening the door.

Alaric was standing on her doorstep, looking well groomed and alert for once. His eyes were bright and met hers squarely.

"Hi, Jenna." He leaned in, kissing her lightly.

She smiled, her insecurities draining away. He obviously still wanted her.

"Jenna."

She looked over his shoulder in surprise. "Elijah! I thought you had left town."

He smiled at her, but somehow she knew that he was on edge. "I won't stay long, "he said. "Just wanted to return your books."

She stepped aside, allowing Alaric and him to enter. Then she noticed a third man, who had been standing behind Elijah, holding a box. He was tall and solemn looking with short, brown hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a white shirt and gray dress pants.

"This is my brother, Finn, "Elijah introduced him. "Finn, this is Jenna Sommers."

Finn nodded, politely. "A pleasure, Miss Sommers."

She smiled at him, but he did not return the smile ... Not out of rudeness, she guessed. Smiling simply did not appear natural for this grave man. She could easily believe that he and Elijah were brothers.

"Call me Jenna, "she said, stepping aside. "Come on in."

They went into the kitchen, Finn putting the box on the floor. She gestured for them to sit down at the table.

"I had Elena come by your apartment with some food for you yesterday, "she said, picking up her handkerchief again. "But she said that you weren't there."

"I'm currently staying at the Boarding House, "Alaric answered.

She frowned. "Why?"

"It's a long story, "he sighed. "But I'll tell you everything."

"How is Darwin doing?" she asked.

"Oh, better, "he smiled wryly at her, "he'll probably be back to work tomorrow."

She shook her head, walking over to the kitchen counter and picking up an envelope. She sat back down, handing it to Alaric. "I managed to finish on my own. Will you give him this? It's his pay check. And do tell him that I really appreciated his help."

Alaric turned the envelope over in his hands. "I'll tell him ... Now, there are things I have to tell you; about myself and Isobel. And Elena."

"Elena?" Jenna asked, surprised.

"I like your bracelet, "Elijah suddenly said.

Jenna smiled. "Oh yes. Elena gave it to me."

He held out a hand. "Can I see it?"

"Sure, "she took it off and handed it to him, but instead of looking at it, he simply put it aside. Then he put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes.

"You will believe every word, Alaric tells you, "he said. "And you will remain calm."

She blinked, finding herself nodding as if he had just stated an essential truth. Of course she would, there was absolutely no doubt about that.

"That really wasn't necessary, "Alaric said, sounding annoyed.

"It was for her own good and the baby's, "Elijah told him. "Her reaction, good or bad, will still be her own."

He stood up. "Finn and I will be in the living room."

They left and Jenna looked at Alaric, puzzled. "What is going on, Rick?"

He sighed, taking her hands. "Well, it all began years ago with Isobel's disappearance ..."

(Break)

Darwin woke slowly, shaking his head and feeling slightly dizzy and overslept.

He took his phone from the nightstand and checked the time. 1.24. He had slept more than 14 hours, no wonder he felt dazed.

Jumping out of bed, he took his jeans from the chair and pulled them on. Then he went down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Kol was sitting at the table, looking through the newspaper from the day before. He didn't look up, as Darwin entered.

"Goodmorning." Darwin opened the fridge and grabbed an apple.

Kol turned a page. "Whatever."

Darwin frowned, forgetting the apple in his hand. "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no." He folded the newspaper and slammed it down on the table.

"Kol ..." Darwin began, but halted as Kol finally looked up at him. The violent mix of emotions in those eyes, knocked the wind out of him.

"You pushed me away." He sounded matter-of-fact, not accusing, which did not correspond with the look in his eyes.

Darwin blinked. "When?"

"When you were having your nightmare."

"I'm sorry, "Darwin said, not quite comprehending how this could trigger such a strong reaction from Kol. "I was delusional. I didn't even know it was you. It didn't mean anything."

"You didn't push Elijah away."

"I ... "Darwin fought against the fog in his mind, trying to remember what had actually happened. He came up blank. "I wouldn't put too much stock in that, if I was you."

"Isn't it exactly the kind of situation that shows how you truly feel? Who you really care about?"

"You and I have known each other forever, "Darwin said, trying to get through to him. "You matter greatly to me. Nothing could ever change that."

"And still; it did." Kol got up and stomped out of the room. Darwin stared after him in shock, his mouth hanging open. He shook off his surprise and ran after Kol.

"Kol!" His voice was rising to a desperate yell. "When will you get this into that thick head of yours?! I came here to look for you! I risked my life - twice - to find you! I killed people, I let myself be blackmailed by Klaus for you! "

Kol was standing on the porch. He turned around to send Darwin a dark glare. "Yeah, well; things seem to have changed since then, haven't they?"

"What the Hell did you expect?" Darwin felt anger boiling inside him, rising up to match Kol's. "You kept me away from our family for centuries. You left me all to myself over and over again. Did you really think that I wouldn't eventually bond with other people? I'm not a pet, Kol. You can't put me in a cage and expect me to stay put for eternity."

Kol opened his arms in a despondent gesture, backing away. "Well, clearly you don't need me anymore."

"Yes, I do!" Darwin stamped his foot in frustration. "I always will, you know that!"

"No." Kol was still backing away, shaking his head. "No, I don't."

He spun around, walking down the steps and continuing down the driveway.

"Kol!" Darwin yelled, but did not follow him.

Kol glanced backover his shoulder. "Goodbye, Thorstar."

"Fine!" Darwin was fuming, angry tears blurring his sight. "You're right; I don't need you anymore! Walk away! See if I care."

Kol started running, picking up speed and soon disappearing from sight.

"What's happening?" Stefan was all of a sudden standing in the doorway behind Darwin.

"Kol is gone." Darwin brushed past Stefan into the hall, and stomped up the stairs.

"When will he be back?"

"He won't!" Darwin yelled slamming the door to his room behind him.

And there he stood, fighting for breath in a way he hadn't done since he had been a weak, asthmatic human. Sometime during the fight, his heart had started pounding in his chest, as if it were trying to break free.

Anger and frustration made his throat close up; he needed a release.

He grabbed one of his computers from the desk and threw it across the room. It smashed through the window with a satisfying crash.

But it wasn't enough.

He kicked the chest on the floor over and over again, splitting it to pieces and spilling the contents all over the room, he grabbed the pillows from the bed, tearing them apart; white feathers were filling the air. And he took Kol's sword, stabbing it into the bed over and over again until his arms felt heavy. Then he threw it aside, collapsing on the floor.

The anger had finally drained out of him, leaving him tired and empty. He felt something cracking under his knee and he picked it up.

It was the Shrovetide photo of him and Kol. The one Klaus had taken. The glass was broken and then; something broke inside Darwin.

He let out a despairing wail, putting his head down on the mutilated bed and crying; every strangled sob making his chest constrict painfully.

(Break)

"I think it's over now." Damon was leaning against the wall right outside Darwin's room.

Stefan sent him a doubtful look. "Should we check on him?"

"No,"Damon shook his head. "He might be dangerous in his current state."

"But we can't just pretend nothing has happened, "Stefan threw up his hands exaperatedly. "I'm not going to ignore him ..."

"And you are not going in there, either!"

They glared at each other for almost a minute, until Stefan finally looked away. "Fine. But I'm calling Elijah."

"Be my guest."

Stefan pulled out his phone, and Damon crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do you mind?" Stefan snapped.

"You can make your call downstairs, "Damon said with an air of finality. "I'm not an idiot; I know that as soon as I leave you alone up here, your going in there." He gestured towards Darwin's door.

Stefan huffed, walking past him. "Fascist!"

Damon sighed. "Well, I guess that's better than'dick'."