Wow…just wow. So many reviews… I should go away for a month more often :D Just kidding! I don't have the money to do that :| sorry it's so short – but everything I wanted done in this chapter is here… (And I've been preparing for NaNoRiMo X-X so I'm hyperventilating, but seriously, I just found out I have asthma. Ha haaa...Jokes on me :"D )

It makes sense, somehow. Klaus and Caroline. Caroline and Klaus. Then again, it doesn't make sense; nothing about this makes sense. Caroline wasn't interested in Klaus when I met her and as far as I'm aware she's still madly in love with Tyler. That clearly makes no difference to what I saw though.

With a low whine, I duck my head and lick my paws. It's a therapeutic, bruised-ego move, but probably better than ripping heads off. Like Klaus does. Another low whine utters through my snout.

The unease from earlier continues to trickle down my spine – yet, even in lupine form, I have enough control to stop the impending need to grab Klaus and scent mark him into eternity arrives. He isn't mine to keep and protect, no matter what the imprint says.

My tails sweeps over the ground, bouncing back and forth over the carpet and probably leaving behind a wealth of fur that'll be a nightmare to clean away later. It's a dilemma I'll face when I have to though. Currently I have other things to ponder.

All that is left of my dress is a measly shoulder strap. I should have ripped the clothing off before bursting into wolf-form, but I hadn't so I'll have to live with the remnants of Alice and Elena's kindness in scraps. Internally I morn the soft fall of fabric – despite it's less than pleasant memories.

It's been two hours – a ridiculously short time, which feels much too long honestly.

Klaus should be back in an hour if my biological clock is accurate and if I recall the party's times correctly. That is if he comes home at all. My spine ripples, hair standing on end. Claws dig into the carpet, ripping the fine seams as my nose twitches at the air. Best not to think that way.

Down the lane, there's a crunch of gravel. Footsteps. It's slower than a vampire's unnatural speed, but too fast for a human. I push myself up, heart rising to meet the occasion; somehow I know it's him. The scent is mixed up, but it's him. Matching the pace of steps, I make my way out the room and to the top of the stairwell. My tail curls around my back legs when I sit, waiting. What i plan on accomplishing by doing this, I don't know, I just hope the answer will come to me upon Klaus's arrival.

When the door swings open, I'm watching from the second landing: the exact place Hayley had stood weeks ago smirking in wolfish confidence. Tonight though there is no smirking, no friendly banter or insults woven into compliments.

Tonight Klaus looks as cautious as I do when his gaze snaps up to me. Granted I don't look my best – but the glare he passes in my direction is insulting.

What truly makes my heart freeze though is how he looks.

The change takes over halfway down the stairs. I stumble to his side on human legs - bare body be damned - limbs still trembling from the phase, but my eyes bugging in my head as I pause before him. My hands hang in the air, "Blood,"

The Original curls his lip, baring crimson soaked teeth. "You have a eyes don't you?"

My nose twitches in response, uncaring of the cynicism melting from Klaus's lips. My fear outweighs his rotten attempt at an insult. A fraction of the tension leaks from my shoulders – he's not mortally wounded if he can be an asshole about it – yet my brows remain knitted.

Not his blood. Not Klaus's.

I lick my lips. Unintended images of massacred hybrids fill my head. "Whose?" My breath is a mixture of dread and relief.

Klaus – in the process of wiping crimson onto his pants – cocks a brow and smirks, the edge lost in his pained eyes. "Nose not at full function, Clearwater?"

"Whose is it?" I snarl, lowering my brows and chin simultaneously. I'd much rather hear about the body count from him than the locals at work tomorrow night.

The hybrid sighs, dropping back against the door. A moment passes in silence, only our breaths break the air. Klaus rolls his neck and ends up resting his chin on his chest. "Kol," my stomach cramps, I don't know what to say. "And Tyler Lockwood,"

"Tyler," the word tastes bitter and poisonous in my mouth, I spit it out in disgust. Yet as I stand there I wonder what question would be more appropriate, which Klaus would deem more important. My hands sink to my side; I make my choice. "Is Kol…is he okay?" 'Alive' doesn't seem appropriate at the moment.

"He's not dead, if that's your concern." Klaus lifts his head, the beautiful depths of his eyes mirroring the concern he would not display in his tone. "Off somewhere licking his wounds most likely,"

"That's a wolf thing." I point out, not sure how light hearted this should be. "Kol isn't a hybrid, now is he?"

"Brilliantly put," Klaus turns his face, lips tipping down at the corners.

My hands itch to comfort him. "And Tyler?" My eyes snag on the blood drenching the vampire. "Is he licking his wounds?"

"One cannot lick one's wounds when one is dead,"

I should be ashamed at the reprieve those words give me. As it is, I fight the smallest of smiles at Klaus's victory. This is no time to be cheering, Leah. Yet, judging from his expression, the Original does not feel the same delight I do. I suck in a sharp breath, mind working overdrive. "Caroline, did she – was she-"

"She's alive," he doesn't sound overjoyed at this either and I gap in shock.

"And?"

"Apparently there was a ploy for her to lead me where no humans would be harmed." I bite of the image of Klaus and Caroline kissing; if he doesn't mention it, I won't either. "She had me alone and distracted, Tyler arrived in the midst of…well, bad timing for me." My hands flutter at my sides, curling into fists at Klaus's misted gaze. "I was sure there weren't any daggers left in Mystic Falls."

"A dagger? The white oak? The one that can kill you?" My voice raises an octave.

"Yes, that one."

"You're alive though; it…didn't work?" It's supposed to be a statement, because obviously it didn't work, Leah; yet the innate fear that Klaus would slowly decay and crumble into nothing before my eyes was too daunting a possibility to dismiss. If there was one thing all of this has taught be, it's that nothing is too far fetched to be real.

"I just beat Mr Lockwood to the punchline." His lips curl and he shakes his head. "He really thought he could kill me. Fool."

My hands continue to quiver, fear still eating at my gut. "Where's it now?"

Klaus freezes and stares at me. His eyes seem like ice, his lips firm and unforgiving. There's an unspoken hurt in their position. "Somewhere where no one will ever find it."