The Lady Doth Protest Too Much

Policeman Klaus Mikaelson thought it was going to be a quiet shift until he comes across a cute, feisty blonde chained to a tree in protest.

"Save our park!" Klaus could hear the chanting wafting through his open window as he pulled up his police car nearby. The last thing he felt like on a Friday morning was a few college students who decided it would be a fun idea to stage a random protest. This wasn't his first one though and Klaus knew it wouldn't be his last.

He'd entered the Police Academy as soon as he finished high school much to the disappointment of his parents who thought he was wasting his impeccable grades and talent on what they deemed a thankless profession. Klaus was yet to understand how serving and protecting the community fit into that category.

He'd done the hard yards for a few years but knew that the promotion to Detective he'd worked for was within his grasp. So in that context he figured he could handle a few more protests if necessary.

The site before him wasn't unfamiliar. A group of young, idealistic and energetic people waving placards and chanting slogans he'd heard before. It was then his eyes rested on a particularly enthusiastic blonde shouting at the top of her lungs, her creamy cheeks flushed with excitement. She was beautiful and Klaus couldn't help but think she didn't quite belong in the angry sea of faces.

"This tree is set to be bulldozed tomorrow to make way for a car park," the responding officer filled him in as he approached. "We arrived on the scene an hour ago to find these eleven chained to the tree." Klaus nodded, before one of the protestors piped up.

"Officer!" The noisy brunette exclaimed. "This is uncivilised."

"I'm being uncivilised?" He asked curiously, his eyes straying distractedly toward the beautiful blonde by her side.

"This is about the environment," the blonde in question added. "Maybe that's a foreign concept for you."

"I know all about the environment," he shot back, trying not to imagine running his hands through those blonde waves. "I'm just not normally in the practice of chaining myself to it."

"Maybe if you did you'd understand our protest," she cried, her blue eyes blazing. Klaus didn't usually let himself get caught up emotionally in his work but she had well and truly piqued his interest.

"Well, by all means," he gestured. "Don't let me interrupt." She crossed her arms defiantly then huffed loudly for added effect.

Eight Hours Later…

"And then there was one," he whistled, taking in the site before him. A very dejected blonde with her eyes downward and slumped against the tree that she was apparently so desperate to save. The chain which once stretched around ten other energetic protestors hung lazily across her waist for an easy escape. If Klaus was being honest he felt sorry for her.

"Damn, I thought you'd left for good."

"I'm impressed your tongue is still as sharp after all this time," he chuckled, taking a seat on the grass nearby. "I was told everyone had packed up and left but thought I'd drive past just in case." Klaus had been surprised to hear about their departure and was disappointed he wouldn't see her again. Driving past the park was his last hope.

"Do you want a medal?"

"No, but I would like to know what happened to your friends and why they left you here all alone."

"They didn't leave me," she bit out, still refusing to meet his gaze. "I chose to stay."

"In a public park, at nightfall," he baulked. "Didn't your parents ever warn you about doing things just like this?"

"Could you spare me the lecture, I already have a mother for that kind of thing, officer."

"Being compared to your mother, I'm not quite sure how to take that," he uttered. "So, how about some food then?" He asked pulling out a burger from the brown paper bag he was holding. It was at that point she looked up, her eyes firmly trained on the food in his hand.

"I'm not hungry."

"Well, I think your body language is saying something entirely different," he teased. "That longing stare was a bit of a dead giveaway." She remained silent, obviously realising she'd been caught out ogling his burger. "Come on, I even brought you a cheeseburger, although after I ordered it I thought maybe you'd prefer tofu."

"Are you stereotyping me?"

"Perhaps," he acknowledged. "But between you and me tofu doesn't quite compare to a nice, juicy piece of steak."

"Don't bother trying to tempt me, I don't want anything from you." Caroline bit out, although her weary expression was telling him she was beginning to waver, albeit slowly.

"So, where did all your friends go then? Don't tell me you scared them away with that charming personality of yours."

"The last thing I need right now is your gloating," she growled, finally lifting her eyes again and holding his gaze without flinching. She was so stunning in that moment it almost took his breath away.

"So, where is the mouthy brunette? She was actually quite entertaining."

"Well, apparently Katherine decided doing the dirty with some guy was more important than saving this poor tree from its impending fate."

"Let me guess the long haired, blonde called Fern?"

"Leaf."

"Excuse me?"

"His name, it's Leaf not Fern."

"Same thing," he joked. "Well, I have to say I agree with your friend. Getting dirty that way sounds like a lot more fun than sitting all alone against a dirty tree."

"Funnily enough I don't really care what you think, officer." She replied rolling her eyes for extra effect.

"Way to hurt a guy's feelings, love," he joked. "And there's no need to be so formal, my name is Klaus." She glared at him by way of response.

Klaus had never struggled finding women, because most of the time they found him and he didn't have to make much of an effort. When he was younger he preferred it that way so he could have fun without being lugged with the pesky, emotional parts. If he was being honest Klaus realised it was because he'd never found a woman he liked enough, a woman that would challenge him. Caroline certainly had that headstrong quality about her.

"Okay, if you don't want this burger maybe you might change your mind after a cup of hot chocolate?" He asked, waving the thermos teasingly in front of her face.

"You brought me hot cocoa too?" She asked in disbelief. "To be honest the only thing I was expecting from you were handcuffs, not hot beverages."

"I didn't take you for the kinky type, but if that's what you want..." he murmured, cocking his left eyebrow and watching in interest as her skin flushed a healthy shade of pink.

"Oh I get it, this is your tactic," she said, finally regaining her composure.

"My tactic?"

"You turn up pretending to be all concerned and disarm me with cocoa and those dimples so I'll unchain myself."

"You have an interesting imagination," he quipped. "Number one, I can't help my dimples they have a life of their own. As for the hot chocolate, it's just a drink, love."

"Yes, a drink that will somehow convince me to surrender," she shot back. "And don't call me love."

"Trust me, if I wanted you to surrender I would have brought something a little stronger like vodka," he laughed. "What else can I call you when I don't know your name, love."

"It's Caroline."

"That's a beautiful name," he murmured, thinking how good it sounded rolling off her tongue.

"Oh please spare me," she drawled. "I only told you that so you'd quit with the fake endearments."

"Has anyone ever told you just how angry and defensive you are?"

"Has anyone ever told you to mind your own business."

"Fine, I get it. You don't want any," he muttered, removing the cap and pouring himself a cup of the steaming brown liquid. "That doesn't mean I can't have a drink though."

"By all means," she groaned, hitting her head against the trunk and closing her eyes in obvious frustration. They sat there for a while in silence Klaus wondering what he could say to convince her to leave.

"Surely you'd prefer going home to your boyfriend than being all alone in this park?"

"Is that your lame and not so subtle way to find out if I have a boyfriend?" She asked, peeling open one eye suspiciously.

"Maybe it is," Klaus conceded, not expecting her to call him out on the motive behind his question. "So, what do you think about that?"

"Well, it's lame," she muttered.

"I think we already covered that," Klaus reiterated, dryly.

"Even if I did have a boyfriend, it wouldn't change the fact I don't date people that try to restrict my freedom of speech."

"Last time I checked the First Amendment covers you on that one, love," he teased.

"For the love of God, just stop talking and being a smart ass. Go ahead and arrest me if you must, anything to stop this incessant yammering..."

"I'm having entirely too much fun to arrest you, Caroline," he chuckled.

"I'm glad someone is," she scowled. "I'm not going anywhere you know; I'm prepared to stay the night if that's what it takes."

"Well, what a coincidence because that's my plan as well."

"Oh now I understand," she said, the realisation in her voice. "Your tactic is to annoy me into surrendering."

"Was I that transparent?" He asked, flashing those dimples she seemed to like for extra effect.

"While your commitment to your job is annoying but slightly admirable you don't need to babysit me, Klaus."

"How can I go anywhere now you're finally calling me by my name? And as much as I'm committed to my job, I'm not even on duty."

"But," she stumbled momentarily. "That doesn't even make sense. Why are you here?"

"Let's call it avid curiosity and my annoying conscience. I couldn't forgive myself if you starved to death in this park all alone."

"So, what are you curious about?"

"Oh, so now you want to talk?" He asked, earning a dirty look for his effort. "Why are you here? Between you and me protesting doesn't really seem like your kind of thing."

"Chaining myself to trees?" She asked. "Why not?"

"Well, besides that scathing hostility you seem to possess in spades you don't seem like the criminal type."

"Hey! I can be badass when I want to be," she boasted.

"Just a little piece of advice for you, love, people that use the term badass are in fact not badass in the slightest." It was at that point her face relaxed into a huge grin and she let out a melodic laugh. Klaus didn't think he'd heard anything that beautiful before. If he thought she was stunning with a permanent scowl etched on her face she was absolutely radiant now. "Finally, she smiles."

"I'm too tired to keep up the act," she admitted, clearly defeated.

"So humor me, why are you here then?"

"Don't laugh," she warned pointing at him accusingly before continuing. "Kat was interested in Leaf and it sort of went from there I guess you could say."

"You did this for a guy?"

"Excuse me, she did it for a guy. I was just the dutiful best friend who came along for the ride. In hindsight probably not the smartest thing I've ever done in my life."

"You said it," he smirked. "So I guess the six-million-dollar question is why you're still here chained to a tree when the rest have given up and gone home."

"It's the principle of the matter," she murmured. "I didn't sit here all day to just give up when it got too exhausting or cold," she shivered involuntarily, rubbing her arms.

"Well I definitely have to give you credit for stubbornly sticking to your principles, Caroline."

"That's the one thing I do really well, unfortunately" she grinned. "Not sure it's always the best trait to have though."

"I could think of better ones," he agreed, removing his jacket and moving closer so that he could place it across her shoulders to ward of the chill. "Now, we can't have you dying of hypothermia if we're going to stay the night."

"You're seriously going to stay with me? Isn't that considered aiding or abetting or something?"

"I think you've seen far too many episodes of Law and Order," he smiled, leaning up against the trunk. "This tree is surprisingly quite comfortable."

"Try sitting here all day then you might not agree."

"Now that we've settled on a plan, how about some of that hot chocolate?"

"Fine, but just so you know I can't be swayed, even with copious amounts of sugar."

"You know that's what I like about you, love."