Fear- Part II
Warnings: mild language, hints/talk about adult situations that may be offensive or unsettling for some readers.
Reader Discretion is Advised.
"Caroline, sweetheart, if you can hear me, I miss you. I really, really miss you. I need you to open your eyes, love. Just open your eyes and I'll be happy. You can even yell at me if you want, just…just please wake up." Klaus felt tears welling up in his eyes, so he clenched them shut, willing the unbearable pain in his chest to go away.
It was ten in the morning and Klaus had been up all night awaiting news on his beloved. Three hours ago a tired doctor had emerged to say the surgery was complete, but swelling in the brain had occurred when they tried to stop the bleeding and Caroline had slipped into a coma. They were unsure of how long she would stay that way, and there was a possibility she may never recover. Their hopes were the swelling would go down and she would reawaken, but they wouldn't know until they could do scans, which couldn't happen until the swelling went down.
All that was left now was waiting.
Klaus hated waiting. He wanted his Caroline to be curled up into bed with him as they watched television or talked about their day. Hell, he'd even watch a whole season of that wretched Bachelor show she loved so much. He'd even listen to her swoon over Sheen, Shane, Sean? Just so long as her eyes would open and he could hear her voice.
He'd even listen to her complain about that Tiara girl she hated on that show. Every week she would be an emotional rollercoaster, happy one minute, and then fiery rage the moment the brunette girl with the "sparkly" personality came into the scene. He would kill for that moment again.
He refused to believe this was the end. It was impossible. Even Hitler's reincarnation deserved better than this. And Klaus was almost positive he hadn't been Hitler in a past life.
But until his love returned to him, he would wait. He would stay by her side and wait. He had to be grateful for what he had right now. She was alive. She had survived the surgery. She had survived long enough to even make it to the hospital.
Yes, that's what Caroline always did. Focus on the positives. It was one of his favorite things about her.
"Klaus, please don't be upset. It's not a big deal." Klaus just kept his hands gripped tight on the wheel. Their reservations had apparently never been made at the restaurant, even though he'd specifically told his secretary to call and confirm.
It was Caroline's birthday and he wanted hers to be special. It was her first birthday she'd had since they had gotten together and he wanted to make every single one special.
And now their night was ruined. To make matters worse, it was pouring outside with thunder and lightning making the night seem ominous.
Every single plan Klaus had made for today had fallen through and he was feeling like the world's worst boyfriend and a complete failure. What kind of guy couldn't spoil his girlfriend on her birthday?
First he had been called in for an emergency at work, one of their clients had not received some paperwork and were subsequently upset, then the head of another company had shown up for some "appointment" that had never actually been made.
When he had finally returned home, he had given Caroline the diamond bracelet he had bought her, only to find out the jeweler had messed up the sizing and broken one of the links, so when he put it on Caroline's wrist, it had fallen off.
Now their dinner had been ruined and Klaus was pretty sure he was lost in the wooded country of New York. They had had to venture outside the city for this particular venue, and the rain and storming winds had apparently set him off course.
Damn it.
And now Caroline was looking at him with pity, trying to comfort him on her birthday.
What a disaster.
"It's not fine. This is your birthday, and everything I planned to make it special has gone to hell. How does that make me look? How are you supposed to stay with someone who's a failure at such things? I didn't forget to pick up milk, I screwed up your birthday, Caroline."
"It is special, Klaus." Klaus hit the brakes at her quiet words. He was almost certain he hadn't heard correctly. Her head had been turned to the window when she had spoken, but now she was looking at him with a questioning gaze.
"What did you say?"
And then she smiled her brilliant smile that had captivated him. Even in the darkened car with only the dashboard's lights illuminating her face, she was radiant. It was as if she carried her own light inside.
"I said it is already special. It's the first one I've had with you. That in itself is special. And you cared. You actually tried to make plans and do something with me. Do you know how amazing that is?" Caroline laughed a small, broken laugh. "Klaus, my mom was sheriff. She basically worked every birthday and holiday. She might have remembered in the morning, but we never celebrated it. My dad did all that stuff, or at least he did the few years he was there. But then he walked out to start the life he always wanted. I never got any parties or gifts. The closest I ever got was Matt's cards. He was the only one sweet enough to even think about it. But you? You went above and beyond, and that's all that matters to me. I already love being with you. That's enough for me."
Klaus smiled at her, and felt a little bit better. But he still wanted to do something special. "Say, love? What's something that happens in those romance movies you love so much that you've never gotten to experience yourself?"
Caroline matched his smirk and looked outside at the depressing weather. "Well, I've never been kissed senseless in the rain before…"
And as their lips met and the rain soaked them both through their coats and formal wear, lightning lit up the sky and thunder applauded the couple all alone, lost in the backwoods of New York.
Klaus really hoped he didn't have to wait too long. When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
Klaus looked at Caroline lying on the hospital bed, IVs and tubes running in and out of her body, and a machine breathing for her. Even her golden locks were hidden behind layers of gauzes wrapped around her head from the injury and subsequent surgeries. As he held her hand between his own, he realized there was bruising around her wrist, as if they had been held down in the struggle. Very disturbing and nightmarish theories began running through Klaus' mind.
This stranger on top of his girlfriend and holding her down as she struggled beneath him. His size too great for her petite body to overpower. Fear making her shocked into silence, and her feeble attempts at fighting back her only option.
Had she been hoping for him to walk in? Had she been trying to delay what was inevitable until he got there? Had he disappointed her by not coming to her rescue when she needed him most?
Oh, God. What if he had?
No.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
There was no way, there was no way such a thing could have happened to his sweet Caroline.
Jumping up, Klaus rushed from the room to the nurses' station. "I want to speak with the doctor."
The nurse on call knew the patient he was referring to, because she was the only one who had been brought into the ICU. She quickly paged the attending doctor who came through the metal doors minutes later.
"How can I help you, Mr…"
"Did he touch her?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but-"
The doctor was cut off as Klaus lunged at him and slammed the doctor against the wall, "I asked you a question and you will do well to answer it! Did. He. Violate. Her?"
"N-no, the rape kit came back negative, there were signs he tried, but was probably interrupted before he could do anything."
Klaus' grip loosened as security came rushing through the doors. They halted as the doctor subtly waved them off. He was aware of the stress the man in front of him might be under, and while he would admit he was scared at first, the boyfriend of his current patient hadn't truly harmed him.
"Are you sure? How do you know?" Klaus' eyes met the doctors, pleading for reassurance.
The doctor sighed, and against his normal policy responded in a hushed whisper, "There was some bruising on her upper thighs and on her arms. Along with what you reported we believe he pushed her back into the table and tried to hold her down. Once she began to lose consciousness from blood loss, he tried to violate her, but she still tried to fight, hence the bruising on the thighs, but then we suspect he heard you approaching and rushed out. So if anything, you saved her."
Klaus sighed and felt some of the tension exit his body in the form of carbon dioxide, a wave of fatigue rising in its place. "Thank God."
Klaus knew he could deal with whatever other consequences came from the attack, but the thought of that being his Caroline's first experience was too much. His love deserved to be worshipped and loved and for her first time to be everything she always dreamt it would be.
He couldn't stand the thought that she was lost in darkness, believing the would-be rapist had been successful.
Klaus turned from the doctor and re-entered Caroline's room. Because she was in a coma, she had a room to herself. So Klaus sat in isolation, the only company he had was his coma-stricken love and the constant beeping of the machines keeping her alive.
"I'm so sorry, love. I wanted last night to be special, sweetheart. I was going to tell you I love you. Do you hear me, Caroline? I'm in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Come on, love…isn't that enough to make you wake up?" Her face blurred as salty tears formed in his eyes.
Oh love, I need you.
It was really awful when you were upset and the one person who could ease your suffering was also the reason for your grief. The two had always been each other's antidote for depression.
Klaus stormed from the elevator as it reached the floor of his penthouse. Clenching his keys in his hands until the gritty metal cut into the palms of his hands he paused as he rounded the corner and saw a certain blonde standing at his door.
Immediately the anger at his incompetent employees vanished and his shoulders lifted as the stress disappeared. Who cares if that one file went missing? It'd turn up eventually…
His brightened mood diminished as he noticed his girlfriend's demeanor, arms crossed, hair tousled, white shirt stained with some liquid stain, and eyes blazing.
"Did I forget a date, sweetheart?" He was almost positive they hadn't had any plans. Even with how busy and crazy work was, plans with her were always something he made a mental countdown for. Like a student waiting for the weekend. He would anxiously await the moment he would get to see her bright eyes, radiant smile, and bouncing blonde curls.
"No! I just, I wanted to talk to someone and ugh! The nerve of that woman! I've had the absolute worst day ever!"
His confusion turned to concern and then amusement. His sweet Caroline was quiet sexy when she was pissed.
Realizing no true harm had fallen on her, he smirked as he unlocked the door to his home and swept his arm in a gesture for her to enter.
"I mean, I worked my ass off and was she grateful? No! Not even the slightest. She yelled! She yelled at me. And you want to know why? Because the font looked too small. The font! The freaking font looked smaller. But was it? No! It was right, but she didn't yell that to the whole office! All they heard was that I was incompetent and obviously a natural blonde-umph"
Klaus had grabbed Caroline into his arms and smashed his lips to hers. She responded immediately to the kiss, wrapping her arms around him and forgetting exactly why she had been mad before.
Knocking on the door ripped Klaus from his memories. Turning his head to look, he saw his slightly disheveled-looking brother standing in the doorway. Of course the eldest brother still looked impeccable in one of his signature suits, but Klaus was sure he spied a little wrinkle in the pants, which Elijah never had.
He must have truly rushed here.
"How is she?" Klaus sighed and turned his gaze back to his sleeping beauty, "She made it through the surgery, but swelling occurred in the brain and she…slipped into a coma. They're not sure for how long."
"It may not be that serious, Niklaus. Sometimes patients come right out of them. Have you talked to her? I read an article once saying the family members talked constantly to their loved one and he came out of it within a few weeks."
"Yes, I've been talking to her. But I don't want to wait, Elijah. I want her with me now. I want her safe with me at my penthouse. I want to see her curled up next to me at night and wake up to find her next to me."
"Sounds like you care for her. I must say, she is a true beauty, even given the unfortunate circumstances. Caroline, isn't it?"
"Yes, doesn't it suit her? I always thought her name suited her, like if I had to picture what a Caroline might look like, I would picture someone as beautiful and full of light as she is."
"Well, regardless, I am happy to finally lay eyes on the girl who performed the impossible."
Klaus glared at his brother. "What are you going on about?"
"She made you love her. Do you not see the significance of that? I believe if world peace should be obtained it would have to be by her hand. I mean, anyone who could make you fall in love…well they must be quiet remarkable."
"Watch yourself, brother. My patience is nonexistent at the moment. And watch how you speak of her. She's more than remarkable. So much more."
"Well, well, well, look at what we have. Our favorite doesn't-believe-in-love-because-I'm-too-famous brother, sitting in a hospital room for a piece of tail," a new, very familiar voice sounded from behind Elijah.
Elijah grimaced at his youngest brother's lack of tact. "Kol, now is not the time-" The plastic chair Klaus had previously been occupying scraped across the floor as Klaus jumped up and stormed to Elijah.
Their youngest brother peeked around Elijah's shoulder and gaze his middle brother his most mischievous smirk. "Kol," came Klaus' growl.
"Oh, relax Nik, I was only joking." Looking past his brother to the figure on the bed, his gaze softened as he saw the bandaging and bruises.
"I'm sorry, Nik, Elijah failed to mention how serious it was."
"You never gave me the chance brother, you spent the entire ride here talking about yourself."
Kol rolled his eyes at his eldest brother. He'd been telling him he had extended his contract with Tampa Bay. He would be their starting centerfielder next season. It was a big deal after years of hard work to make it to the MLB. All three brothers were busy with their own lives, and didn't communicate much with each other. But in times of need, they all came running. They were still blood after all.
"What are you doing here, Kol? How did you even know?" Klaus asked, his anger fading and a lethargic, tired feeling taking over. He righted the chair to once again sit next to his beloved and fell into it as he snatched her hand back up.
"Funny thing it was, Nik, I happened to be bored, and called Elijah who then proceeded to tell me that he was catching a red eye to come visit you. Said someone you knew had been admitted. Curiosity caught me, and I caught my own flight and met him at the airport. So, who is this pretty little thing?"
"Watch it, Kol. Her name is Caroline."
"And what is she to you?" Kol was intrigued; he'd never seen his brother like this. It was really the only reason Kol had come. When Elijah had said Nik's girlfriend had been hurt and Nik needed them, Kol swore he felt his heart stop. Had his brother really fallen for someone? If he had, Kol needed to meet the angel, and thank her.
None of the siblings talked about their younger years. Their home life had been quite miserable, despite the façade they put on for the rest of society. But Kol couldn't complain, if anyone had been singled out by their alcoholic of a father, it was Nik. Even when Kol had purposefully done things to get into trouble, Nik was the one who got beat, so Kol tried to fade into the background.
"Worthless! That's what you are, you little shit! Worthless!" A six-year-old Kol peeked around the corner and watched as their father backhanded Nik causing him to fall to the ground. Before the ten-year-old could get his bearings he was lifted back up by his hair and smacked again. Kol flinched with each hit, silently begging for Nik to just give in, apologize and cry. It would be over sooner.
It was always the same. Something would set Mikael off, and he would begin to scream and rant at Nik. After smacking him around enough to break his spirit, Nik would give in and cry. Tears would set Mikael off again and he would get even more violent. Once he had tired himself out, he'd leave Nik in whatever state he'd been beaten into, forcing the child to nurse his own wounds.
Kol felt his eyes sting as blood began to pour down Nik's nose. But Nik had been receiving this abuse for years, and it would take more than this to break him. But Kol didn't want to watch. He stepped around the corner into the hallway, directly behind a table that held an expensive-looking lamp. His tiny hand reached out and pushed the lamp, his heart stopping as he watched it fall and shatter onto the hardwood floor. Mikael whipped around and saw his youngest son standing there.
Instead of seeing the love for a brother, he saw a traitor in Kol. He was determined to break that too. "Now look what you did, boy. You're ruining the rest of my children." Mikael glared at Kol, but his words were meant for Niklaus.
Nik just looked up at his younger brother through swollen eyes, they widened in fear for his brother, afraid Mikael would target him. Nik was prepared to take the beatings, as long as the rest of his family was left unharmed.
"Kol, back up." Mikael's voice left no room for argument.
Seeing the larger man looming above him, Kol took a small step back. Then he watched as Mikael drug his brother over to the shattered lamp, and ground his face into the sharp pieces littering the floor.
Kol couldn't watch and ran from the room. When some time had passed and he was sure his father had left, he went back out to find his brother. He found Nik perched on the sink in the bathroom, trying to remove the embedded pieces from his skin. With tears in his eyes, Kol stepped into the room and looked up at his brother. Nik noticed his presence, and smiled down at his baby brother. "It's alright, Kol. It'll be fine. Don't you worry."
But even in his young years Kol knew his brother wasn't alright.
It was the last time he tried to interfere.
Kol shook his head to clear away the memory. Yes, there family had a dark past. But they each dealt with it in their own way. Elijah thrust himself into his work with international business law. Nik started his company and built his own empire. Kol had followed his passion of baseball and focused all his energy there. And their baby sister had been focusing on school and working on her fashion line. They weren't the perfect family, but the four siblings were close when it counted.
"Bekah's going to be cross she was left out," Kol pointed out. He didn't like serious silences, they unnerved him and forced him to think about things he'd rather not.
"I'll step out and call her." Elijah excused himself and left the room.
"So how did you two meet?" Kol smiled a little as Nik's face lit up and his eyes softened in adoration. He watched as his brother's gaze fell to the girl in the bed. He listened intently as Nik went on and on about Caroline Forbes.
After hearing story after story, Kol was convinced that the brother he thought could never love had finally found someone to warm his heart…and his bed.
Elijah returned and said that he left a message for Rebekah, for she hadn't answered her phone. So the three reunited brothers sat in silence. Each hoping the blonde would wake up.
"Does she have any family? Should we be trying to contact anyone?" Elijah asked after a while. Klaus' heart warmed a little as Elijah showed his allegiance. When they were younger, their relationship had strained. Elijah was six years older than Klaus, and so he hadn't been around much for the abuse. Mikael had never really raised a hand to him, because as the oldest, Elijah had always tried to please his father. Klaus resented his older brother for a long time for abandoning them. Klaus could have left too, but he refused to leave his baby brother and sister behind. He knew Mikael would turn his violence on them if he left, and as their older brother, he refused to stand by and allow that to happen to his younger siblings. He wished Elijah had felt the same.
Eventually they had reconciled, but Klaus still felt a slight distance from the person he had always idolized. As if he could never truly trust Elijah was on his side.
"A mother and father. But she doesn't speak with her father. I left a message for her mother, but she's a sheriff and spends many hours on the clock. The office said they'd let her know, but who knows?"
Both Kol and Elijah picked up on Klaus' tone of resentment when he spoke of Caroline's mother.
"Already at odds with her family, Nik?" Kol joked.
"No, I've never met the woman. I dislike people who hurt Caroline, and even though she'll never admit it, I know Caroline has been hurt by her workaholic attitude."
Kol and Elijah's eyes met. Elijah raised an eyebrow in a silent question to his youngest brother. Kol nodded slightly.
After a stint of silence, Kol walked to his brother and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright, Nik. It'll be fine. Don't you worry."
Yay! We had lots of Charmed fans! Yes, the answer was Charmed, the first show I ever started following religiously. Hope you liked this second installment.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a doctor, so some of the medical stuff is probably wrong. But I do know head injuries are complex and unpredictable, and this is fanfiction so bear with me.
Let me know how you felt, what you thought, maybe what you want to see, or think will happen? I just like feedback.
New trivia: I put a quote in from one of my all-time favorite movies, can you guess which one? It's a few years older than me, but it's a classic with a very famous scene in a restaurant.
P.S. Only 1% of you reviewed after reading chapter one. Can we at least increase that to 1.5% or 2%? Even if it's just a smiley or a frowny face. Let me know how I'm doing! Did I make you laugh? Cry? Scream? Smile? Smirk? Grimace? Frown? Say WTF?
