Sorry for the cliff hanger, but it wouldn't be me without a few of those! Thanks again for your support even through the tough times. To answer AmandaSophia yes Jessica Sykes is completely made-up, I didn't think it was nice to slander any real actresses. Now chapter 22…
Collision Course: Chapter 22
August 19: Los Angeles, California
Klaus was lying on the golden sand, the clear blue waves lapping at his feet. He could see palm trees above him swaying gently in the breeze. He looked around the deserted island feeling completely at peace, he only wished there was something else to complete this perfect picture.
He looked further down the beach his breath hitching in his throat at the sight of her. Caroline was walking towards him her feet ankle deep in the water. She was wearing a skimpy white bikini her skin glistening in the sunlight, her blonde waves swinging by her sides. Klaus gulped nervously, impatiently waiting for her to reach him. He felt himself stirring knowing just how close she was to making all his wet dreams come true.
Caroline stopped before him in all her perfection. She looked him over slowly with her big blue eyes sending shivers of anticipation up his spine. She bent down slowly her eyes not leaving his. He leaned over running his hands softly through her blonde hair then moving downward slowly caressing every inch of her creamy skin. She moaned in delight at his touch.
Klaus pulled her towards him greedily needing to have her lips on his. He closed his eyes feeling her soft lips brushing against him and groaned desperate to have more than just her lips on him. She began peppering kisses over his face then started to lick him slowly.
"Comet!" He heard a loud voice calling. He wondered who the hell Comet was and what he was doing on this deserted island with him and Caroline. "Comet stop that!" He heard that name again. Her licking became faster not to mention wetter; Klaus suddenly came to realising that it wasn't Caroline at all but a very excited canine.
He jumped up scaring Comet in the process. The Labrador started to bark animatedly thinking it was some sort of a game. He wiped his wet face as Comet's owner came racing over.
"I'm so sorry." She cried in absolute embarrassment. He noticed a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "Do I know you?" She asked slowly.
"I don't think so." Klaus mumbled standing up quickly and walking off before she realised just who he was. He looked in the distance at the Santa Monica Pier in all its glory remembering just how he'd ended up there. He wiped the residual sand from his shirt and patted down his hair self-consciously. He knew he needed to make a call but wasn't looking forward to it.
He grabbed his phone noticing numerous missed calls wondering what had happened. He put the phone to his ear waiting for the call to connect. After a few rings he answered.
"Well how nice of you to finally call me back." He fumed.
"Damon I'm really not in the mood." He growled rubbing his throbbing head. "Can you just come and pick me up, I'm near the Santa Monica Pier."
"What the hell are you doing there?" He hollered. "Actually no don't tell me. I'm on my way but only because I don't want you making a scene." He disconnected before Klaus could say anything else. What the hell had come over him this morning? Klaus shook his head and sat back down on the sand his hangover well and truly setting in.
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"Get in." Damon snarled as he pulled up alongside his dishevelled client.
"Nice to see you too Damon." He muttered making himself comfortable in the passenger seat.
"What have you done Klaus?" Damon asked almost scared of the answer.
"Well I got drunk and passed out at the beach dad." He grumbled feeling like he was talking to an angry parent and not his manager.
"Please tell me sleeping with Jessica Sykes wasn't part of that."
"Uh no, how stupid do you think I am Damon?"
"Very stupid Klaus considering you were seen leaving the Ivy together in the same car." He shot back. "It was all captured on film; Entertainment Tonight and TMZ are having a field day with that footage."
Klaus felt sick realising just what he'd done. He could have kicked himself for being so stupid, not to mention so drunk. He was so angry when he left home and was determined to write himself off, he just never thought it would end this way.
When Klaus had seen the cover of Variety at the airport he had struggled to contain his jealousy. He had never felt overcome by so many emotions at once; ranging from anger to bitterness then ending with a large dose of hurt. He knew it was probably just a coincidence but Klaus couldn't help feeling like Tyler was who she wanted all this time and he'd just been a fleeting distraction.
His confidence had taken a nose dive since England. He had put himself out there only to get it thrown back in his face. Klaus had never told anyone he loved them and probably never would again considering her adverse reaction. He knew he was drunk and had been an idiot but he hoped she would forgive him. Klaus could barely look in her eyes the next day he was that humiliated. He wanted to apologise but he was still so hurt from her rejection that he couldn't bring himself to do it. Klaus knew it was immature but his immediate reaction was to act out defensively.
He left his house the night before choosing to hit the hotel bar at the Roosevelt then headed to the Ivy where he'd run into Jessica. Klaus knew she had a thing for him and he should have just walked away, but she made him feel wanted. It was childish but it was something he hadn't felt in a long time and wanted desperately to feel it again, even if she was the wrong person.
She had flirted mercilessly the whole time unable to keep her claws off him. He entertained her for a while but she started to grate on his nerves so he attempted to leave. Jessica offered to give him a lift home, an offer he wished he'd never taken her up on, but he did. If he'd been more with it Klaus would have declined knowing it was just a publicity disaster waiting to happen.
"Okay yes I was very drunk and very stupid and my judgement was clearly off but I didn't do anything, you have to believe me Damon." He pleaded with his friend.
"Okay fine but how did you end up with Jessica of all people?" He asked dubiously.
"I ran into her at the Ivy, we had a few drinks then she started to get all touchy feely." He shivered at the memory. "I told her I was leaving then she offered to give me a lift home."
"Well that was stupid but it doesn't explain how you ended up at the beach and not home where you should be right now." He growled trying to ascertain just what happened.
"As we were driving she started trying to, um, instigate things. " Klaus winced thinking about her tasteless attempts to massage his crotch. "I told her no, yet again, then she started to get really upset."
"Upset?"
"She was hysterical saying how much she loved me and all she wanted to do was make me happy." He said his eyes wide. "I tried to calm her down then she starting ranting about what a bitch Caroline is and how she doesn't deserve me."
"Woah, I always thought Jessica Sykes had that crazy stalker bitch vibe going on." Damon said knowingly.
"Yeah well anyway she got so upset and began driving erratically. I tried to take hold of the steering wheel but it was too late and we ended up veering off the road." He said pausing momentarily.
"And? Come on don't keep me in suspense." Damon cried impatiently.
"Well I tried to talk some sense into her but she shouted at me to get out." He said shaking his head. "Then she screamed off in her car leaving me stranded at the beach."
"So why the hell didn't you go home?"
"Her behaviour really sobered me up and I realised if I tried to get a taxi or flag down a passing car I'd be tomorrow's news." He said realising he was exactly that. "I just sat on the beach to try and clear my head then I must have passed out."
"Well that certainly wasn't what I was expecting to hear." Damon muttered. His phone rang loudly interrupting the moment; he looked at the caller ID and connected. "Bonnie."
"Have you got that arse in the car yet?" She seethed into the speaker.
"Yes the arse is present." Klaus said meekly.
"Niklaus how could you?" She cried angrily, yep he was in big trouble. "Of all the absolute brain dead and immature things you've ever done this takes the cake and I thought your drunken Vegas wedding was your limit."
"Bonnie I didn't do it." He whined. "Does nobody believe me?"
"Well excuse me if I just assumed considering your colourful history of doing really stupid things." Bonnie hissed.
"Look long story short Bonnie." Damon interrupted. "Klaus ran into psycho Jessica at the Ivy she got touchy feely so he went to leave then she offered him a lift home which we all know he shouldn't have taken then on the way home she tried to um attack him then they ran off the road and she kicked him out of the car and left him stranded at the beach the end." Damon said catching his breath.
"Wow I usually hate it when people omit punctuation, but that was nice work Damon." Bonnie said obviously impressed. "Psycho Jessica hey?"
"Yep that's what I'm calling her now." Damon chuckled.
"Yeah I've always hated that bitch." She snapped. "This doesn't mean you are forgiven Klaus."
"I know Bonnie." He muttered she never let him off that easily.
"Klaus you're still an idiot and even if this was innocent the media are out for blood." Klaus nodded dreading the onslaught.
"Well he can't go home; the media are already camped outside." Damon said. Klaus felt his stomach clench realising poor Caroline was probably trapped inside and it was all his fault. "I'd offer to take you to my house Klaus but the media aren't the only ones wanting blood." Klaus nodded fearing the wrath of a very feisty brunette publicist.
"Drop him here Damon, the media haven't appeared on my doorstop, well not yet anyway." Bonnie sighed. "Although I'll warn you I have a very mad Gilbert here too." Klaus shook his head was everyone angry with him?
"Okay will do." Bonnie disconnected quickly obviously busy trying to work out her next move to repair his latest disaster.
"I really should go home Damon, I need to see Caroline."
"No Klaus the media can't see you like that. Speaking of which I've got a change of clothes in the back; you're definitely going to need them." He said taking in his friend's bedraggled appearance.
"Damon I mean it." He growled.
"No Klaus you can't." He cried. "Look I was with Caroline when we first saw the footage and she was pretty upset and said some things."
"What did she say?" He asked inhaling sharply.
"I'm sure it was just in the heat of the moment but…"
"Just say it."
"She said she wanted a divorce." Klaus felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He knew she would be angry but never to this extent.
"Fine take me to Bonnie." He hissed feeling completely devastated by what he'd just heard.
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"I can't believe these people have nothing better to do with their time." Klaus yelled standing up unable to watch the television anymore.
"Of course you can believe it." Bonnie said shaking her head. "How quickly you've forgotten the aftermath of your little drunken Vegas wedding."
"No need to be quite so sarcastic Bonnie." He sniped. "If you remember this time I actually did nothing wrong."
"That's debatable Niklaus." She snapped using his full name again and Klaus knew it was probably best just to shut his mouth.
"So what exactly is the plan?" Jeremy asked from the couch watching the two of them spar back and forth. He had relaxed considerably since Bonnie explained the whole situation.
"Yeah Bonnie what's the plan?" Klaus asked helplessly.
"We need to nip this in the bud." She said pacing back and forth like a caged animal. "I'm going to get straight onto Jessica's publicist so we can issue a joint statement and hose down any further speculation."
"Oh yeah because I'm sure she'd be willing to admit she attacked me in a fit of lustful rage." Klaus muttered.
"Well of course she won't but I happen to know a few things about sweet little Jessica that she wouldn't want the media to know about." Bonnie said her eyes lighting up excitedly.
"Oh really what is it?" Jeremy asked eagerly.
"Well if I told you that would ruin my plan but let's just say it involved a kinky threesome in a sleazy Russian motel. There may have also been a duck involved." She said her face serious.
"What!" They both cried in utter amazement.
"It was a joke you gullible idiots." Bonnie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Although what she did is still pretty sordid." She said smiling devilishly.
"Come on you can't leave us hanging like that." Klaus whined looking to Jeremy for support.
"Hey if you want this to work you have to trust me and that means I can't reveal all the juicy details."
"Maybe you could, you know, have a chat with her Jeremy and let me know later." Klaus whispered to the brunette next to him.
"I heard that Niklaus, don't think you're even close to being off the hook." She scolded. "Now just leave it to me boys." She said charging out of the room like a woman on a mission.
"God she's hot when she's blackmailing people." Jeremy said shaking his head in wonder.
"Yuck Jeremy she's like my sister." Klaus moaned in disgust. "Am I going to have to give you the talk?"
"I hardly think you're the best person for that job considering this recent display of fine behaviour."
"Yeah you're right, I'm pretty certain everyone hates me at the moment." He murmured. "I have about ten voicemails from Elijah that I'm too scared to check; Matt sent me a rather descriptive text message with about a million expletives and god knows what your sisters are going to do when they get their hands on me." He shuddered.
"Oh Katherine apparently wants to start by ripping…"
"No please stop, I can't take it." He cried in horror. "Your sisters scare the hell out of me if you hadn't noticed."
"They scare me too Klaus but really deep down their completely harmless."
"Really?" He asked.
"Nah they're absolutely terrifying. I just hope you live long enough to tell the tale."
"Great and they aren't even my biggest problem." He mumbled thinking about his angry wife and how hurt she was.
He wanted nothing more than to explain things to her himself but she hadn't been answering her phone and there was no way he was getting to his house anytime soon given all the media interest. He felt sick thinking about how much he'd upset her, enough to want a divorce. Even though the eventual plan was to divorce Klaus never thought it was actually real, until now.
"Look at least Damon has set my sisters straight which means everyone else should know by now, including Caroline." Jeremy said like he was reading his mind.
His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. They looked at each other unsure of what to do; Bonnie rushed past in full publicist mode to see who was there. Klaus felt his heart racing wondering who was at the door.
"Pizza's here." Bonnie called out and Klaus smiled in relief, before he had a chance to look up he felt something hard knock him backwards and onto the floor. He laid there unable to move at first he was in such shock.
"I've wanted to do that for years." She cried triumphantly. His vision slowly righted itself revealing a very satisfied Rebekah Mikaelson.
"I should have known." Klaus growled still slightly dazed as Jeremy helped him up from the floor.
"Well I was actually going to punch you but Bonnie wouldn't let me." Stefan said frowning in his direction. Klaus looked at her hopefully maybe she wasn't that mad anymore.
"Yeah I suggested Rebekah should do it instead so as not to leave a mark, we can't have the media seeing that." She teased.
"This is just great, I did nothing wrong people, how many times do I have to say it." He huffed.
"Yeah well we didn't know that straight away so it was all the pent up anger from before." Stefan growled.
"Plus that felt so damn good." Rebekah said rubbing her hands together in glee.
"Thanks little sister." He snarled. "Bonnie why the hell did you have to invite her?"
"Well I needed an experienced bitch and who better than Rebekah Mikaelson?" The blonde beamed at what she deemed to be the highest compliment.
"I heard the words Jessica Sykes and blackmail and really couldn't resist. I've always hated that bitch."
"Okay then girls let's get this plan in motion, I would like to stop being the most hated person in the world."
"No need to be so bossy Niklaus." Rebekah drawled. "Come on Bonnie let's get down to some dirty work."
"Jeremy can you come and help us, we might need someone not quite so vindictive to balance us out." Bonnie said smiling at her boyfriend who followed them out of the room.
"Remember Jeremy I want all the details." Klaus called out referring to Jessica's indiscretion.
"What did Jessica Sykes do anyway?" Stefan asked curiously.
"That's the million dollar question Stefan." He muttered. "So um I guess thanks for not beating me up."
"I came this close Mikaleson." Stefan shot back obviously still slightly upset. "Then when I found out what happened I calmed down, albeit slowly."
"Have you spoken to her yet?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah she's pretty upset Klaus."
"I know Stefan; I just want to be able to explain myself." He said in frustration. "I hate being locked up here when I should be with her right now."
"If it's any consolation she hasn't totally given up on you."
"How do you know that?" He asked his voice rising, maybe there was still hope.
"Well I called her straight after it happened and tried to completely hammer you but she wouldn't let me." He said. "I wasn't sure why at the time but maybe she has more faith in you than you think." Klaus felt his heart soar hoping that maybe he was right and he still had a chance to redeem himself. The one thing he knew for sure was that he didn't want a divorce and he had to tell her that right now.
"I have to get out of here." He said urgently. "Tell Bonnie I'm sorry but I have to speak to Caroline."
"Klaus stop you can't go out there the media will crucify you." He said placing his hand firmly on his chest so he couldn't go any further.
"Stefan surely you understand how important this is, I mean it's Caroline."
"I know man but right now you have to stay put and let the experts handle it." He said signalling towards the war room where Jeremy, Bonnie and Rebekah were holed up.
"I can't believe my professional reputation is in the hands of my little sister." He muttered earning a whack from Stefan.
"That's my girlfriend you're talking about buddy." He said puffing his chest out proudly.
"Now that is something I will never understand." He uttered in disbelief.
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Klaus walked in the door quickly slamming it shut before the media could take any more photos. He never understood why one wasn't enough and they had to keep snapping away incessantly. He was hoping their reaction from his latest stunt would discourage him from acting out again, but he wouldn't hold his breath. The house was deathly silent and Klaus wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not.
Their joint statement had been released. He hoped it would put the rumours to rest but knowing the media they wouldn't be giving up anytime soon. Klaus had a feeling he wouldn't be starring in any movies with Jessica Sykes again, not that he minded. He wasn't sure if she had agreed to the statement because of blackmail or if she was just deeply embarrassed by her behaviour the previous night.
Klaus knew Elena had been with Caroline most of the day and had kept her informed about what was happening, at least it meant he didn't have to repeat himself for the hundredth time but he had no idea what he could say to make everything right. He walked into the kitchen, the silence really starting to bother him. He looked out the large bay window and into the backyard noticing a lone figure swimming in the pool. He gulped nervously, this was it. He closed the door behind him and approached the pool, his stomach in knots. He picked up her towel almost as a peace offering.
Caroline surfaced and wiped the water from her eyes before finding herself face to face with him. She was clearly unsettled not expecting him to be waiting there. She swam over to the edge and pulled herself from the water.
Klaus felt his jaw drop as she walked over towards him a strange sense of déjà vu coming over him. Caroline's white bikini was barely covering her creamy breasts, the water droplets were running down her cleavage, over her toned stomach and dipping towards her pelvis. He swallowed nervously too scared to follow them any further downward.
She looked at him strangely, obviously waiting for him to relinquish her towel. Klaus smiled sheepishly and handed her the red fluffy red towel wishing he could be the one to wrap it around her amazing body.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"So." He said feebly. He was struggling with what to say anyway and having her standing before him in that bikini was doing him no favours. She frowned at him obviously confused by his weird behaviour.
"I'm sorry." He finally bit out. "I never meant to hurt you." He noticed a dark shadow cross her beautiful face.
"Yeah well I guess it's too late for that, and you thought I was going to make a fool of you." She murmured knotting the towel around her tightly.
"I wanted to be here hours ago so I could explain everything myself but Bonnie had me under house arrest." He rambled. "I did try calling but I guess you didn't feel much like talking to me." She looked down avoiding his gaze.
"I was stupid and drunk last night and with me that seems to be a common combination of late." He continued to ramble while she stayed silent. "I wasn't interested in her and as soon as she became too friendly I cut her off." He shivered at the unpleasant memories. Caroline still wouldn't look at him which was throwing him off.
"I was stupid to let her give me a lift." Caroline nodded in agreement continuing to look at the ground. The Caroline Forbes he knew would be screaming at him by now. He placed his finger under her chin and noticed her wince at his touch. He retracted his hand immediately.
"Caroline, please talk to me." He pleaded as she began to walk away towards the house. "Oh come on can we please talk about this." He cried in pure desperation. She finally stopped obviously trying to work out what to say.
"What so we can just have the same discussion all over again?" She asked. "You were drunk and angry and stupid. Klaus that's all I ever seem to hear from you."
"I was but I didn't do anything wrong Caroline."
"Klaus it isn't always about right or wrong sometimes it's just about being mature and dealing with things like an adult."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning maybe if you didn't get so angry and hold onto so much bitterness and resentment you wouldn't end up in situations like this."
"I'm not really in the mood to be psycho-analysed right now." He baulked.
"There it is the typical Klaus Mikaleson response. I'm not psycho-analysing you." She cried. "God you're so bloody defensive, it's like your automatic reaction when things get too personal."
"I'm sorry I don't like sharing my business with everyone Caroline." He shouted. "We can't all be as perfect as you."
"I'm far from it, trust me, but at least I deal with my problems not just head to the nearest bar to drink away my troubles." She said the tears welling in her eyes.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"That there are other ways of dealing with your problems that don't involve alcohol or sex." She cried her tears threatening to fall. He could tell she was referring to what happened in England.
"Like what? You know seeing as you seem to be the expert on this."
"I don't know Klaus maybe talking things through with someone might be a good start." She shot back in utter frustration.
"And who would I talk to Caroline?"
"Elijah, Kol, Damon, Stefan or I don't know maybe me." She said whispering the last part.
"Since when do you care about me so much?"
"Since always you idiot." She cried in desperation. "I was so worried about you last night; I thought you were hurt and lying in a ditch somewhere." Her tears finally broke free streaming down her cheeks. Klaus looked at the amazing woman in front of him not believing how much he'd put her through.
"I'm so sorry." He murmured sadly wanting to gather her in his arms and hold onto her forever. "I've been so caught up in my issues I didn't realise how much it was affecting you."
"Yeah well now you know." She mumbled.
"God I've been such an idiot." He groaned.
"Finally." She said wiping her tears. "I've only been waiting three and half months for that admission."
"So what do we do now?" He asked nervously.
"Honestly I have no idea; I've been struggling with that all day."
"Um I heard you wanted a divorce, is that still the case?" He asked hesitantly his voice breaking slightly. She paused momentarily obviously trying to gather her thoughts.
"No." She said quietly and he released the breath he was holding. "I admit it was the first thing that ran through my mind when I saw that footage though."
"I can understand that considering how damning it all seemed."
"Then after a while I realised I was judging you just like you judged me about those photos with Tyler."
"Yeah the media certainly have a way of twisting things for their benefit."
"So I think if we're going to stay married for now it's important we stop judging each other before we know the whole story. You know I think there might have been a book about that." She smiled slightly watching his face light up at the mention of his mother's favourite book.
"You've got yourself a deal." He replied smiling genuinely for the first time all day.
"So friends?" She asked hopefully. Klaus felt his stomach sink thinking he wanted to be a lot more than friends with Caroline but after everything he'd put her through that day it was all he could really hope for.
"Friends."