Sorry for confusing y'all in the last chapter. Hopefully this clarifies things a little more. In case you're wandering it refers back to when Klaus first came into the story and when Elena originally came to seek Klaus' assistance, only with Stephan's help.

Wanted to remind you though, there is NO baby Hope on the way. As I mentioned in an earlier chapter there's not going to be any Klaus and Hayley baby making in this story.

I'm somewhat reluctant to seek Klaus out that night. Unlike other nights where Klaus avoids me, now I avoid him – putting off the inevitable. I'd given Elena my word, albeit a shaky and vague one, but the implications still rang true. I told her I'd talk to Klaus for her if not just mention her plea in passing, but something held me back from this simple task. Whatever help Elena needed was enough to turn Damon near to tears – this wasn't some silly favour, something serious was hiding in the midst and I felt like a fool for not being able to tell what it was.

After saying my good-byes to the crew at the Grill, slightly dim and quick to escape – Matt's reaction still plagued me even though he hadn't bothered to approach me the whole night – I start my way back to Klaus' home with dragging feet. I pay more attention to the cracks in the road and the flickering of the street lights than either of them warrant, but it buys time that I can spent not talking to Klaus about Elena's query.

My gut promises that only bad can come of this nonsense – you shouldn't have gotten involved, Leah – despite my gut never having warned me of possible danger before, I still listen to it and wallow in self-pity. What could go wrong? Well, Klaus could blow up and try to kill me again…then again, that could happen any time of any day – I don't see how Elena needing his help would cause him to hurt me. Then there's the off chance that Elena wants to donate blood for Klaus to create hybrids, I'd be cast out again, just I was with Sam – that can't be possible though, Elena's a vampire, there'll be no more hybrids. Just in case it's a possibility…what if Elena's being hounded by the Volturi? It would make sense that Damon wouldn't want Klaus protecting the woman he loves; then again maybe Elena needs Klaus' help to fight them. What if they encounter Jane? What if she kills them? Kills Klaus? Or if she recognises me and kills me?

I have to pause in my walking to shake my head and scatter those erratic thoughts. Don't lose your mind yet, Clearwater, there's no way Elena has anything to do with the Volturi. Why would Klaus even care about it, anyway? No one's going to die, you're over reacting.

"I'm over reacting," I repeat aloud, willing the words to calm the frantic beating of my heart and the sudden clamminess of my palms. "I am being stupid and over reacting."

"Over reacting about what, Ms Clearwater?"

I spring almost a meter into the air and spin around, claws at the ready, prepared to rip throats and tear limb from limb. "Who are you?" The snarl holds the resonating sound of a wolf's growl.

Dark eyes and strangely familiar cheekbones nearly cause me to miss the man's, no, the vampire's words. "Elijah Mikaelson, otherwise known as Niklaus' keeper," Despite the pleasant smile on his face his voice is dripping in sarcasm.

An answering snarl works its way up my throat. This brother, as the surname so implicitly supplies, seems nicer than Kol, but my gut is telling me that it's best I stay away from this Mikaelson. If he actually is who he says he is. I certainly didn't appreciate him calling himself Klaus' keeper. "Klaus doesn't need a keeper," I state implicitly.

Elijah doesn't stop smiling for a moment; he shakes his head as if exasperated. "You've know my brother for all of what, three months?"

"Two months, two weeks and three days," I grumble lowly, not meaning for it to be heard by the vampire. He gives no reaction to my whispering and I firm myself. "So what if I have? You've surely known him longer but I don't see you around at all."

This time Elijah laughs. My words really weren't that funny, I scowl. "Not my choice alone,"

I purse my lips, "Would it really be such trouble to spend a little time with your brother?"

"Yes, because he's bound to try and kill me, and if he doesn't someone who wants him dead will."

For several moments I think over his words. "Family is worth your life," If someone wanted to hurt Seth I wouldn't run away, I'd throw myself in front of the bullet.

The vampire gives me a curious glance, his smile sinking down into an amused smirk, much like Kol's. Ahhh, I nod to myself, I see why those cheek bones are familiar now…and the lips – yup, he's a Mikaelson, whether I like it or not. "Not all families are alike,"

I shrug, feeling rather annoyed that, 'yes this is Klaus' brother' and 'why the hell didn't I know he was here'. Not that it comes as much of a surprise to me; Klaus had said brothers, meaning more than one obviously. I'd simply assumed that the rest were gone, either dead as vampires so often happened to end up as or merely gone from Mystic Falls. I know Klaus hadn't given any effort into explaining his family tree to me; in fact all he'd done was inform me of his troublesome past with his parents. For all I knew, Klaus was an only child before I met Kol.

But I'm wrong. Here I am staring at cheekbones and lips and eyes that are strikingly familiar and at the same time shockingly different. There are more Mikaelson's in this town than I could possibly begin to handle. It makes my blood run cold.

"Most families don't alienate their victimised brother,"

Elijah's smile disappears and his brows hike up toward his hairline, "Is that what he's told you?"

I scoff, "He didn't need to tell me anything, I know loneliness and desperation when I see it." Regardless if he's mentioned his abusive father a few times and the uncaring mother too.

"Then you don't know Klaus," Elijah starts, "He exalts in making everyone feel inferior."

"I think I bloody well know him better than you." I snarl on impulse, he's just making me so mad. What right has he to say things like that about my soul mate? I drag in a deep breath, lifting a hand to ward of any words he may have, I shake my head, "I don't have time to listen to you prattle garbage, what do you want? I'm counting down from ten and then I'm leaving."

"Hah," Elijah looks pleasantly surprised and despite the seriousness on my face he smiles once more. "I merely ask that you remind Klaus of where I stand in Elena's assistance and that he should reconsider helping us."

I tense up, my curiosity running wild and my mind fighting to understand what he's saying. "Is this a threat?"

The vampire's smile stretches, "Possibly, but not." I narrow my eyes, I'm not big on riddles and I feel like this might just be one. "He has one loyal hybrid and a…wolf by his side; I don't think he's at liberty to prance around without considering the consequences."

I bare my teeth, about to retort something equally snarky and horrible, but before the words reach my tongue the vampire is gone. I know I'm fast enough to go after him, I could catch him easily, but my shoulders sag and I release a heavy sigh. "Certainly not your best night, Clearwater," I mock and try to twist my voice to sound like Klaus', "'Ms Clearwater, you look like shit', yeah, yeah, feel like shit too you pompous ass."

I huff out a depreciating laugh and stick my hands in my pockets, shuffling my feet. I'll be home soon enough, just can't wait for the inquisition, I think drily. Klaus has an astonishingly decent sense of smell. Well, he is a vampire and a wolf – makes sense somewhat.

I reach Klaus' house in no time and grumble in annoyance as I yank the door open. When no Hayley or Klaus immediately attack me I release a pent up groan. He's waiting for me in the study again isn't he? I mumble an unintelligible sound and drag my feet to the study door, before I can knock-

"Come in, Clearwater,"

I do as told, slinking into the room and eyeing Klaus from the distance, not willing to close the gap. Who knows what mood the hybrid is in. "Hey,"

"What did he want?"

"No 'How was work today, Clearwater'?"

"If I didn't ask, then I don't care for the answer. Now tell me what my brother said."

I scoff, "About the same thing as Elena, only with more insults and threats laced in."

An irritated sigh, "Can you elaborate?"

"Elena wants your help. I have no clue with what, she never said, seemed a little freaked by it. Damon was mad to say the least."

"Elijah, Clearwater," I roll my eyes at the snarl.

"I'm getting there, I'm getting there. Let me finish." I lean against the wall eyes focused on Klaus, "Anyway, he suggested you help Elena with her…thing, he also mentioned that with Hayley as your only hybrid and, I assume he meant me when he spoke about a wolf, that you should be cautious about how you choose things. A deliberate threat if I haven't heard one. Although I'm not entirely sure what he was threatening." I shake my head and I'm about to carry on when I look up and see Klaus' hands curled into claws and pressing against the desk. I hold my tongue and watch him, unease settling in my stomach and any lasting vestiges of turning this into nothing fading behind the minute pain wriggling in my chest.

For a long moment I stare at him, wondering just what's going through that confusing mind of his. My thoughts are interrupted by a shattering bang and I recoil as Klaus' desk groans and splinters fall to the ground. When his hands come down again I flinch slightly, but don't look away. It happens three more times and by the end of it, there's a twist of agitation welling in my chest. My brow wrinkles with force, trying to keep the possible anxiety away.

I should have expected this. Klaus has never responded well to threats before – the mere fact that it's his brother issuing it shows me how much worse it is. All I want to do is close the distance and pull Klaus into a hug, show him that not everyone's set out to hurt him. But I don't, I can't, I haven't got the courage or strength to do it. Not now. Maybe one day I'll be able to comfort him properly, but for now all I can do is help.

I push away from the wall, taking only a few steps toward the man. He looks a right vicious mess standing there with his head bowed and fists resting on the remaining pieces of his desk. There's ink and blood coating his knuckles, a discarded sketched crumpled and dirtied lying at his feet – Caroline again.

"Let's get your hands cleaned up." I say as softly as I can, feeling as if I were coaxing a wild creature from its den.

"They're fine," he snaps, his voice only partially raspy.

When last did Klaus feel comfortable enough around someone to actually cry?

Licking my lips nervously, I take another step forward, "I'm sure they are," I murmur sincerely, feeling like an ass for teasing him earlier. "But for my piece of mind? All we'll really be doing is washing off the ink," I cannot manage to say 'blood' right now, crimson's never turned my stomach this way before.

There's silence before Klaus lifts his head, his face a mask of cold indifference, "If you insist,"

"I do," I hum appreciatively and wait a moment before extending a hand, even knowing he won't take it. "Why don't we go somewhere else for that? A bit messy in here, isn't it?"

It feels like following a zombie from the study to Klaus' bedroom – a place I've never been before, but don't let myself look around or appreciate while I have a task at hand. I coax the hybrid to be seated and hurry to fetch a bowl of water and a cloth.

When I return Klaus is lying on the bed, an arm draped over his eyes. I don't question the sharp breaths he's taking, I don't have to, he tells me without my prompting.

"Hayley will be away for a while."

I freeze with the half wrung out cloth in my hands, drops dripping over my fingers to splosh in the water below. My mouth moves but no sound emerges.

"She's alive," Klaus says in a rasp, obviously interpreting my silence, "But she's gone,"

An age passes and I look down at the cloth, slowly I finish wrining it, "She…left?"

"She heard murmurs that there's a man that could bring back her family."

I nod slowly, not knowing whether saying that Klaus was her family was a good idea. Instead I bite my lip, "The sire bond?"

A snort, "She broke that ages ago, she just decided to stay."

I can't think of a single word to say. I mean I could say that she'll return, but that would be a lie, I do not know that. Or I could say again that I'd never leave him, only…it's not me he wants here. Hayley is his last hybrid. Hayley is his somewhat friend. Hayley is the one, not me.

"Pass me your hand," I state flatly, not sure whether I'm angrier at Hayley for leaving, Klaus for letting her or myself for feeling spite toward my friend for her presence.

A sigh and Klaus lowers his arm, his eyes focusing on the roof. "I told you it was unnecessary,"

My brow furrows and I feel my eyes sting, "Shut up, Klaus. Just shut up. Just because Hayley isn't here doesn't mean you get to go around mistreating yourself. She means a lot to you…but you mean a lot to me. You might not adknowledge my imprint, but it's fucking real to me, okay? Now let me bloody well wash the blood from your hands."

I think he's about to throw me from the room, but eventually his eyes drift shut and he extends his left arm, hand swinging limply toward me. "There are some splinters, you might need to use a tweaser if you are so adamant to do this."

I sigh, not really in relief, just a gust of air that had been blocking my throat moments ago. "Okay...okay,"

"Okay," Klaus replies and I swear that the rasp of his voice got worse.

I blink back forming tears, annoyed with myself and oddly wishing Hayley was there so she could pluck splinters from Klaus' hands instead. But she isn't here. And I've got to do it now.

"Okay," I whisper.

Klaus' lips move, but no words come. His eyes squeeze closed tighter and I pretend not to notice the moisture on his lashes.

Still not long, working my way up to the big number again. Hope you enjoyed it and will you please leave a review?