A/N: Happy New Year everyone! :) I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and had a safe holiday! I hope this year brings you all happiness and good things! Here's another chapter for ya!

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Because of You" – Kelly Clarkson

Guest: Thank you, doll! I'm sorry about the confusion. This is an all human fic. So glad that you're enjoying it so far! :) Don't worry. There will be no shortage on Klaus! :D

~*.*~
'Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you, I learned to play on the safe side, so I won't get hurt.
Because of you, I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me.
Because of you, I am afraid...'
~*.*~

Chapter Fifteen:

My hand flew to my chest and I jolted awake with a gasp. My eyes flew open and I tried to pinpoint where I was. I'm in Klaus' room? Had it all been a dream? Please, let it have been a nightmare…

I tried to sit up and winced. My chin trembled and I felt hot tears begin to well in my eyes. It was real. It actually happened. Damon actually showed up… I didn't think that he would do something so soon… Why can't he just leave me alone?

I slowly pushed myself until I had inched into a sitting position. God, everything hurts. I peered down my body and tried to see what kind of damage was done. My wrists are bruised, where he had me pinned. My stomach feels tender and swollen. I'm not ready to look under my shirt to see how bad it is, yet. My jaw hurts and it feels like I have a migraine from hell.

I remember going to get the onions for Kol. I remember… I grimaced as I tried to make sense of my choppy memories. It's coming in flashes. I can't make sense of most of it. I remember some of the assault, but some of it just isn't there.

"Nik just let me see her. I need to see that she's alright." Kol's voice filled my ears. I looked over at the doorway to Klaus' room and I saw Klaus and Kol staring each other down. What's going on? I know they don't always get along, but I've never seen them like this before.

"Haven't you done enough?" Klaus' voice was chipped and his fury was obvious. Kol's face fell. He doesn't look like his normal, self-assured self. He looks pained, like he's been beating himself up about something. "She wouldn't be in this mess, if you had done a better job protecting her." He growled.

"Nik, I didn't know. I never would have let her go, if I had known. She wasn't gone long. It happened in minutes. As soon as I heard her scream, I went to find her. He was already gone. I'm sorry. I don't know how many more times I can say it. I feel terrible." Kol defended himself. My stomach filled with knots. It wasn't Kol's fault. It's not like he was the one who attacked me. Why is Klaus blaming him?

"This never would have happened, if I had been there." Klaus disagreed.

"Do you really think that Damon would have had the nerve to attack her, if you were there? None of us thought he'd have the balls to attack her here." Kol countered.

"I'll never forgive you for this, Kol." Klaus told him, quietly. I saw Kol's face broke and I pulled myself out of bed, with strength I didn't know I had. I padded over to them and I put a hand on Klaus' arm, before stepping in between them.

"Stop," I rasped. I winced at the look Klaus was giving Kol. It was murderous. I shivered and inched closer to Kol and let my hand drop. He must have noticed, because his gaze softened. "Do you hear yourself?" I asked him, darkly. "It wasn't his fault. Stop it. I won't let you talk to him that way. He doesn't deserve it. He's your brother, your family. Don't talk to him like he's the one who did this. Don't you dare?!" I hissed at Klaus. I couldn't suppress the rage or the protectiveness that was bubbling in my chest for Kol. Klaus is putting the blame on the wrong person and it's not right. Kol looked almost nervously between me and his brother. "I don't blame you. Thank you, for finding me." I whispered, my voice starting to go out. Kol nodded.

I gave him a tentative hug, careful not to press too hard or for too long. He placed a kiss on my cheek, before glancing at Klaus. I let go of Kol and repressed the urge to lock myself in the bathroom. I don't want to be touched right now, but Kol needed to know that I didn't blame him for this. I hate confrontation. It makes me sick to my stomach, but I couldn't just let this happen. I clasped my hands together and realized that I was shaking. I brought my eyes to Klaus, but couldn't still my trembling.

"I'm sorry, Kol." Klaus apologized, quietly. Kol's eyes grew wide, but he nodded. Klaus' jaw was clenched and he was obviously still angry, but he was trying to make amends, even if it was just for my benefit. Kol looked at me and I could tell that he wanted to say something.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry, darling. I won't let it happen again." Kol apologized and gave me another quick hug, before leaving. I started to walk to my room. Klaus followed behind me.

"You can stay here, love." He told me. I shook my head and kept walking. I wrapped my arms around my middle and tried to hold it together long enough to make it back to my room. It's my safe place and I just want to be alone, right now. "Bonnie, stop." He tried, again. I sighed and turned around to face him. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." I breathed. I couldn't look him in the eye, so I settled for looking at my feet.

"I didn't mean to scare you, sweetheart." His voice was soft and sincere and it reminded me that he's nothing like the man that haunts my nightmares. I wish that it was as comforting as it used to be. Damon's attack shook me. He reminded me just how vulnerable I was and that scares me. The fact that he can still get to me terrifies me. I'd give anything to stop feeling like this and to never have to feel like this again. It feels like he's breaking me all over again. "Do you really want to be left alone?" He asked me. I bit my lip and tried to process his words.

I kept replaying what happened at the market, over and over again in my head. Everything that happened is all coming back to me. Why didn't I just call out for help? Why didn't I scream? Why did I freeze up? Why am I so scared of him? Why do I always feel so small and helpless against him? Why am I never strong enough? Why can't I just escape him? Why does he keep doing this?

A sob broke through and my body shook. I was vaguely aware that I was sinking to my knees, when Klaus' arms went around me. He sat on the ground with me and held me as I lost control. He peppered the top of my head with kisses and whispered sweet reassurances in my ear. I clung to him, like my life depended on it and he let me.

I don't know how long we stayed there for. He let me cry myself out. I felt exhausted, when I was finished. He wiped my tears away and kept his arms around me. I nestled closer to him and leaned against his chest. I wasn't ready to move. I didn't want to leave him. He picked me up and carried me back to his room. I stared at him, after he laid me back down on his bed.

"The doctor needs to check your injuries, sweetheart." He told me, quietly. I nodded, numbly. He stroked the side of my face with his thumb and I leaned into his touch. He feels so warm. I can't stop feeling so cold.

I fell asleep while I waited for the doctor. I must not have been out long, because Klaus thanked him for getting there so quickly and tipped him handsomely for his time. I tried not to focus on what the doctor was doing, while he poked and prodded me. I did my best to answer his questions, thankful for his professional demeanor and his kind bedside manner. He told me that I have a concussion, but I suspected as much. I have to take it easy for the next few weeks. I have severe bruising in my stomach and a cracked rib. The doctor also said that I have a shiner, a bruised jaw and a bruised throat. Damon kept hitting my face in the same spot. I'm not surprised that half of it is bruised. He did the same, while we were together.

The doctor didn't stay long. He gave me a few prescriptions that had already been filled. He gave Klaus strict orders on what I needed and Klaus promised to give me the utmost care.

"I want to take a bath." I whispered. It hurts to talk. I don't remember Damon grabbing my throat, but it all happened so fast and I was out of it for a while. Klaus just nodded.

"I'll draw one for you." He offered. I touched his arm and hesitated. "What is it?" He asked me. I remembered what Damon had said about Rebekah.

"Rebekah," I breathed. "Can she come here?" I asked, taking a break to swallow. "Damon told me to send his love for her…" I swallowed again. "I want to make sure she's okay." I finished. I couldn't look at him. Klaus touched my chin, gently, and tilted my head up, so I had to.

"He won't touch her. I won't let him touch you, again." He vowed. "I don't think any less of you, sweetheart." He promised. "I'm sorry that this happened to you." He whispered. This is so hard. All of it is so hard. I had come so far before and now… I'm trying so hard not to let him ruin that… I felt fresh tears blaze down my cheeks. Klaus looked at me, cautiously, before engulfing in his arms. I let him hold me and I let myself be held. I basked in the feeling. He's so respectful and it helps. "He will never change what I feel for you." He told me. "Do you hear me?" He asked. I nodded, against him. "You mean so much to me. That will never change." His words weighed heavily on my heart. "I… " He stopped, but I knew what he was going to say and I knew that I felt it, too. "I don't expect anything in return, because of my feelings for you... I want you to know that. I will never hurt you, because I care for you."

I knew that he meant it. His love isn't cruel or polluted. It's pure and unwavering. He put his life and his family's reputation on the line to help a complete stranger. He didn't know me, when he offered to help me. He didn't owe me anything. He's been so much more than I could ever expect or repay him for. He's still trying to help me save myself. I'll forever be grateful for that and I can't help but love him for that.

He let go of me and kissed my temple. "I'll retrieve Rebekah for you." He told me, as he started to pull away. I knew that if I didn't say it now, that I might not ever have the nerve to say it again and I didn't want Damon to take this from me, too. I took a deep breath and forced myself to look him in the eyes.

"I love you, too." I whispered. He froze and stepped closer to me.

"You don't have to say it." He told me, like he was afraid that I would take it back.

"I know." I breathed.

"This changes nothing. You have my word. I will never rush you." He gave me his word.

"Thank you." I told him, quietly. I looked up at his lips, before placing a chaste kiss on them with my own. "I need some time."

"You have as much as you need." He assured me. I nodded, stiffly. I can't shake the overwhelming sense of relief coursing through my body, despite the dread that today has given me. "You can have time, but I won't let you push me away." He let go of me and I chanced another glance at his eyes, before dropping my gaze to the floor.

"I'll try not to." I told him, honestly. It's the best I can offer him. I can't lie, not to him. I don't want to.

He looked at me warmly, as pulled out his phone. His fingers flew across his screen, before pocketing it. I let him walk me back to my own room. I saw Rebekah waiting for me. She gave me a tentative smile. Klaus went to the bathroom and started a bath, like he said he would. I didn't move, while he was in the bathroom. He didn't take long. He dropped a kiss on my cheek, before walking over to the door, to give us our privacy.

"I do love you, sweetheart." He said, with the ghost of the smile that he always saved for me, before disappearing. Maybe Damon hasn't broken me, after all… Maybe.

~*.*~
'Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you, I learned to play on the safe side, so I won't get hurt.
Because of you, I try my hardest to just forget everything.
Because of you, I don't know how to let anyone else in.
Because of you, I'm ashamed of my life, because it's empty.
Because of you, I am afraid...'
~*.*~

A/N: Reviews would be lovely.

Lots of love,
Anneryn