Author Note: Sorry for the delay, new job and I really didn't want to rush these next two chapters.
Originally this chapter was the one I was thinking about putting some smut in since I had wanted to
when I first started this fic but I realized that it wouldn't have fit. So as an apology I'm writing a one shot-
which is almost done but it's called Guy's My Age. So keep a look out for that and let me know if it's okay. :)
Thank you again to everyone that follows, faves, reviews or just reads this. You guys are awesome!
The Other Side
"We are buried in broken dreams
We are knee deep without a plea
I don't want to know what it's like to live without you
Don't want to know the other side of a world without you"
-Ruelle
Surreal. That was her life right now. And any minute it would slide to the left, tipping her vision to the side and spilling her out into a sea of nothingness. And then she'd blink, bringing the world back into focus. She felt numb to what was happening. Like a dream state. She was back in Mystic Falls. In his house, of all places.
In a dream-like state, she walked through the door, her hand clutching the bottom of his shirt. Maybe this was all in her head, a fever dream of a dying woman. She unintentionally squeezed the fabric she had a death grip on, soliciting a glance from its owner. So it wasn't a dream. She loosened her grip just a bit.
Unaware of where they were headed, she blindly followed him up the stairs and down the hall. The room was dark, even after the lights were flipped on. Dark fabrics and dark furniture occupied the room. Somewhere in her mind, she realized that this must have been Klaus' room. It had his scent all over it. A painting caught her eye before she was taken to an adjacent room.
A huge bathroom laid before her. A claw foot tub. Two sinks. An impressive shower, it was the kind of bathroom she had always wanted. Or something her old self always wanted. Caroline shook her head, she didn't feel like herself at all. And she wondered if she ever would now, she was certain with time she would, but it felt so far away right then.
In her inner musings she hadn't realized that she had let go of her anchor to this world, he was over by the tub, now, starting the water. The sound filled her head with sheer terrifying panic. Memories she was fighting to forget rushed back to her. She crouched own the floor, ears covered, trying to stop her body from shaking. Trying to regain some of her composure that she once had. She felt her body start to shift into the unknown territory again.
How strange this whole venture back to Virginia had been for him. But he finally had her back in his reach. He would find out who was behind all this. He needed to find them and he needed to find out what was happening to Caroline.
After a minute of the running water, he realized Caroline hadn't made a noise. He turned only to find her crouched on the floor. Silently, he walked over to her. Resting a hand on her back, a rare show of comforting another. Her head shot up to stare at him. Her eyes were golden, large, dark veins crept out from her eyes. The sight pulled more than a few emotions out of his heart. "Caroline," his voice soft and soothing.
"What's happening to me?" She whimpered.
His heart clenched painfully, "I'm going to find out. I need you to focus on me, on my voice, you need to get control of yourself. Center yourself," he moved his hand from her back and gently held her face in his hands. He noted how small her face looked in between them. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching in his eyes for something he couldn't understand. She blinked rapidly, then closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again they were back to the beautiful blue orbs. "There you go, just breathe in." He watches as a shaky breath racked through her body before she blew it out in a slow stream. Almost mindlessly, his thumbs caressed small circles into her cheeks. He moved them down to her shoulders, "I will help you, Caroline. I can help you control this."
The woman before him nodded, grabbing his arms with a weak grip, she spoke, "Okay, I can do this." Gingerly, she stood up. Her eyes darted up to his with worry, "You won't leave me right?"
"Never." He wasn't surprised by his conviction, he had meant it. This nightmare they were in for the last month shook him to his core. And through it all, he realized that he needed to be honest with himself. He was afraid to lose her, and he didn't want to. He wasn't ready to give up the one thing that made him truly happy. Even if she didn't know the extent of her importance to him. He'd show her. Every day of his immortal life, he'd show her that she was important, that she was cherished.
The response he gave her seemed to ease some of her tension, "Good." She made to remove her dirt and blood encrusted shirt. If this had been any other situation, one where she had not been forced to endure countless horrors, he would have been happy with the idea of Caroline stripping her clothes off in his bathroom. But he was convinced that she wasn't thinking her actions through, and probably wouldn't for a while.
Before she got too far, he decided to leave the room, "I'll be in my room if you need me."
He was stopped by her vice-like grip, the strength she had used surprised him. He would have expected this strength from someone much older, like his siblings. "You can't leave me, you promised." Her eyes were glossy, pleading with him. He hadn't expected that. Before he could answer her, she continued, "If you leave I'll...I...I won't know what's-" She fought to explain herself, tears worked slow paths down her cheeks.
Without saying anything, he turned fully to her, brushed her tears away. "You won't know if I'm real? If this is real?" Her gaze fell to the floor but he knew that he had correctly pinned her reasons.
She was so broken, and that ate at him like nothing else did. He didn't want to admit that he was scared he wouldn't be enough for her, to help her. He needed her like she needed him now. And being here for her was the least he could do. It was the only thing he should do, really. He carefully removed her shirt. Like taking care of a wounded animal, nothing he did was without the utmost caution to her. He threw the clothes in a nearby waste bin.
Scooping her up into his arms, he walked to the tub and gently placed her in it. His hands gently rubbed away all the traces of that place and the forest from her skin. He refilled the tub when the water got too murky. Not a sound came from the younger vampire during. Her gaze was fixed on the faucet, at something he couldn't see. She remained in this state till he was finished. He grabbed a towel, she stepped out and allowed him to wrap her in it. When they entered his bedroom once more, he quickly found a pair of sleep pants and a shirt for her. She dressed mechanically. He noticed, though, that the whole time she was around him she was touching him in some way. Her hand would be on his arm, her fingers were laced with his or ghosting against his back. In all the times they were near each other he could count all of the ones where she had touched him.
He faced her, grabbing her hands in a gentle grip. He walked her over to the bed and sat her down on it. He knelt in front of her. "Caroline," his voice was soft but her head shot up as if he had yelled. At least he had pulled her away from wherever she had been. "Would you mind telling me why you won't stop touching me? Not that I mind, love." He smirked at her, hoping to find a small footing of their normal behavior towards each other.
And there it was, small and not as bright as he was used to, but she smiled at him. It left as fast as it appeared. She looked down again, "When I hallucinate, it's always you for some reason. You never touched me, and I couldn't touch you so that's how I tell the difference. If I let go..." She shook her head, leaving her sentence unfinished.
He gulped down all the emotions he felt at that. He had to be the one with impeccable control this time. He had to focus, for her. The thought that she only saw him sent him mixed feelings. "How bad were they?" He didn't know exactly why he was asking, maybe because he wanted to know just what he was working with, or maybe it was because he knew just how bad the hunter's curse was. He couldn't wrap his mind around how they had been able to weaponize the Hunter's Curse.
She breathed in, letting it out in an almost 'Caroline-like' huff, "Pretty bad, you- the fake you- would toy with my head, make me think you were really there, that you had come to break me out. You kept asking me why I did what I did, why I would sacrifice myself."
"You don't need to tell me, sweetheart," he kissed her knuckles. "I think you should rest now."
"You won't leave me, right?"
"I recall making a promise earlier," he pulled the covers away and motioned for her to get under them. "I tend to keep my promises." He sat down next to her. "And as for your dilemma of distinguishing what's real and what isn't, how about," he paused as if to think about what he would do. Smirking at her, he said, "anytime I see you, I'll kiss you. Then you'll know for sure."
Caroline giggled at him. And it sent a little thrill to his heart. Shaking her head she settled into his bed more, "No way."
He leaned in closer to her face, he could hear her sharp inhale at his sudden proximity. He changed his direction and placed a quick peck to her temple. "I guess we'll have to see won't we?" He watched her roll her eyes halfheartedly, the action made him hopeful that he was helping her somehow. Her eyes closed. He decided to indulge in something he had always wanted to do. Her hair was splayed out across the pillow, soft and shiny again. With one hand, he slowly ran his fingers through it, combing it out and caressing it in a soothing manner. She let out a contented sigh.
(Sorry, it's short didn't want it to run on with this next one though)
