Chapter 16
Notes: well, it seems some readers liked the first part of this so I decided I would try and write the next one! For completing understanding this you must've read the 15th chapter!
Enjoy babes, this is yours, you asked for It! Xx
/
Only when she arrived home Katherine remembered she had gone to Elijah's house in her car, therefore, after leaving the taxi behind, the brunette growled with her own poor excuse of a memory.
"Great!" She cursed as she entered her family home.
"Morning!" Came Caroline's merry voice from the kitchen.
Before Katherine could run up the stairs she sighed and directed herself there instead.
"Morning, Barbie,"
Caroline offered a sympathetic smile and a mug to which her friend nodded thanks to.
"Why you're here so early?"
Caroline turned from the stove to face Katherine again "never left, actually," shrugging she went back to her previous cooking.
"Hm,"
"Don't you 'hm' me Katherine!" She spat turning around a spatula in one hand and the other in her hip "what was that all about last night?"
Katherine clicked her tongue "ask Elena," she said matter of factly
"You two really need to work on that, though,"
"I already did Caroline! I went to fucking therapy Elijah insisted so much I attended at that time, I'm okay, I'm just not okay with my sister screaming in front of all our friends that I ruined her life and that I'm to blame for every wrong her life carries!"
"Okay, I get it!" Caroline circled the counter "I really do, I'm here for you, okay?" She tried slowly
"Where's she by the way?"
"Damon's,"
Katherine rolled her eyes, it was a shame Elena hadn't chosen Stefan instead. Good for Rebekah, though.
"Jeremy?"
"At Anna's,"
"Why the hell you're here alone then?" She wanted to know. Not that she minded Caroline's presence or people alone at her house, but she thought she was here for her sister or something.
To that Caroline opened her signature smile saying "I'm here because we're going shopping and manicure and after that drinks," she pointed fingers as she spoke
Katherine was ready to deny her but she beat her to that "what were your plans for today anyway? Stay lonely at home replaying shit your sister told you and in the end make stupid decisions as of screwing the first male that crosses your path?"
"I'm single just so you know, and feminism exists so I have sexual freedom," the brunette said matter of factly
Caroline rolled her eyes "feminism should shoot you in the head for letting my brother in law down, worse so, still having feelings for the man nonetheless,"
Katherine started to walk back to the staircase "you're insane, all that bleach you use in your hair is making you go nuts," she pointed to the head to emphasize
The face Caroline made almost made Katherine loose the step as she climbed up, the blonde downstairs.
"I'm naturally blonde,"
"Then it's your boyfriends paints that are doing that," she shrugged and Caroline followed her up both entering Katherine's bedroom.
"Oh shut up little bitch, I know you since kindergarten, also I was there for the 'I'm in love for the first time and it's Elijah' phase" sitting on the bed as Katherine changed into shorts and oversized shirt Caroline pointed out. When her friend left her closet she made a face though "you're not going out with me wearing that!"
"Why?" Katherine asked looking herself in the mirror, unworldly she had agreed with her friend's proposal and Caroline smirked before granting her an answer.
"Hey, if you don't mind I'd like my friend back, that one sexy bitch that goes out with heavy make up and skinny jeans, also that corset that makes her boobs look great,"
Katherine laughed shaking her head and went back into her closet.
"Better?" She questioned dressed just as Caroline has suggested slash summoned.
She hummed her approval as she got up from the mattress.
As her friend put on some make up, the blonde faced her through the bathroom mirror.
"When are you gonna stop being difficult and go back to Elijah? Really, the guy worships you and the ground you walk, also he's handsome as fuck, I can say he's family, - almost, he's filthy rich, responsible, and you said so yourself 'best sex ever' then why?" Again raising her fingers as she pointed out
"It's complicated" sighing she said applying some lipstick
"I only see pros, tell me about the cons,"
Katherine turned to her best friend "I'm not ready Caroline, he means a lot and I don't wanna hurt him by being a selfish bitch! Are you satisfied now?" She raised her voice leaving the bathroom to take her purse.
"No!" Caroline went to her "by saying that you're being a selfless one Kat, oh my god, don't be so stubborn and waste the time of your life! It can be too short and-" she suddenly stopped and faced her friend "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"
"I know, Care…"
Letting out a heavy sigh Caroline shook her head and smiled.
"Let's go! We need a girls day of debauchery,"
Chuckling both girls left the house.
/
"So now what?" Katherine inquired as they gathered their purchases and left yet another store.
Caroline seemed to think for a brief moment, checking the time on her smartwatch.
"Now…" she started as they crossed the street to her car. "We go back to my place," she opened the vehicle and they left their things in the trunk. "Hail a cab and gonna have many, many, many drinks,"
Katherine laughed with her saying and nodded as they entered the blue beetle.
After getting ready at the blonde's, taking a ridiculous amour of selfies, listening to lots of Taylor Swift dancing around the room, both girls were ready to put the show on the road.
Katherine chose a little black dress, deep red lipstick, her trademark, and the highest hills she could've bought, as of her friend went in red dress, black sandals and a much more natural makeup.
"Is Klaus joining us?" Katherine asked as they waited for their car to arrive
Caroline shook her head in negative
"Unless you want to change plans, this is a one hundred percent girl's night"
Katherine smiled at that. The duo always tried to make those happen, but sometimes college and work got in the way and they had to postpone it again and again, they had finally got the chance to see each other properly last night when hell had broken loose, thanks to her sister.
"Just the two of us is fine by me," shrugging she went on "Caroline, have Elena ever mentioned anything about Tyler?"
As they entered the car Caroline finally gave her an answer "what about him?"
Katherine rolled her eyes because evidently the blonde knew exactly what she was referring to.
"Did he force Elena to something? Yes or no?" She spat
Caroline bit her lip "I shouldn't be the one to explain that," she whined and Katherine stared.
"But you will! I need to know! She told me something once but I was drunk, it was truth or dare night or something,"
"You two should discuss that,"
"Caroline," the street lights the only thing illuminating them as the car traveled the city to the club. "Please,"
Groaning she said "he tried, but Stefan arrived before anything could happen, okay?"
Katherine was furious with Tyler and for what a pig, an excuse of a human, being he was. If she was calculating correctly, at the time they were still in high school Elena was still dating Stefan. If she also remember right, for what Elena mentioned it was before their parents deaths, at some party Tyler threw, but he did that a lot…
Her head was running with dates and situations, she was so confused.
"Was it the last year of school?" She asked her voice failing on her
"Katherine-"
"Answer it Caroline!" The driver looked over his shoulder but said nothing
"Yes!" Exasperated she said, she didn't want to be involved in that, Elena should be the one telling her that.
"Was I there?"
"What?" Caroline was puzzled what did she mean by that?
Katherine let the air slowly out of her nostrils "did she go there because of me? I insisted she should? Did I asked her to go?"
"Where? When?" Caroline raised her arms in confusion "Katherine, you're not making any sense, like at all!"
"Stop the car!"
"What?!" Came the drivers voice and Caroline's.
"Stop it right at this moment or I'm gonna jump from it!" With the threat the driver is going ame to a stop and Katherine didn't even waited for it to totally do it before getting out.
"Katherine!" Caroline screamed for her getting out of the cat herself "what are you doing?!"
But the brunette didn't grace her with a response, hailing the next cab passing by and vanishing from Caroline's sight.
Arriving home, she found Jeremy and Anna in the kitchen laughing, they stopped though when they caught her somber expression.
"What happened Katherine?" Her brother asked leaving his stool and going for her "you're shaking… are you alright?"
Katherine shook her head staring at the hardwood floor. "Where's Elena?" She was almost choking
"At Damon's, why?" He tried to pry something out of his sister but she was already heading out. "Katherine, wait! What's wrong with you?!" He asked worried, Elena was usually the one he expected those reactions from.
Katherine scoffed, her hand wiping a lone tear from falling.
"Our selfish sister, that stupid little bitch, she is what happened!"
Jeremy was out of words but the person that came through the door wasn't.
"As if I haven't learnt all my bitchy tricks from you, right sis?"
Katherine turned around so furious she would've launched herself at the straight haired twin if Jeremy hadn't held her upper arms.
"You are so fucking selfish Elena! You made me feel like shit! While I wasn't even there! I never made you come! I neve-" her voice faltered and she took a deep breath controlling herself "what Tyler did… he deserves prison, even death for trying something so despicable as that, but you!" She pointed a finger at Elena that had her eyes watering "you made me believe you were only there because of me! I was with Elijah that night! I never even considered going to that stupid party!" Her breathing ragged she paused before lowering her tone "the night mom and dad died, was the first I attended that year, it had already happened…"
Her sister didn't say anything.
"Wh- why would you make me believe I was at fault?" She wanted to know.
"He thought it was you…" she whispered and they almost didn't get it.
It was all so fucked up. When would her life ever stop being so?
Facing the side table by the door, she caught glimpse of Jeremy's jeep's keys. Taking those in a flash almost, she left the house, with her siblings calling for her right behind, but she didn't paid them no mind, opening the car door with violence she started it and drove out, tires squealing as she went.
As her foot heaved on the gas pedal, with one hand she held the wheel as the other wiped the tears that fell freely now. She didn't know exactly where she was going but when she noticed, she was already at the highway, her sobs engulfed the car and her vision blurred with tears as she wondered why she was going through this.
Why she's been so wronged? Why her mom wasn't here to hold her or why her dad wasn't here to take her some place so she could forget about everything?
Why Elena had to be that way? Why Tyler was after her that night? Why that was falling on her lap?
She felt like screaming and scratching the surface of her reality. She didn't want to be there no more, she wanted an out, now! She wanted peace.
She wanted to be alone, at the same time she wanted someone holding her saying everything would be okay…
Listening to a loud honk, her eyes went bloodshot as she almost encountered a truck coming her way, averting the bigger vehicle, Katherine's car got out of the road and her scream was caged inside her chest without the chance of freeing itself before the Jeep hit on a tree.
/
It was already late when Elijah heard his phone ringing. After a long and lonely Sunday, the least he wanted was to be disturbed at this hour, he had an early start tomorrow after all.
Looking over at his cell at the nightstand and seeing it was his soon to be sister in law, Caroline, he ran a hand through his face before answering "yes?" Frowning he adjusted in bed "what? Calm down Caroline," he listened to what she had to say but his head didn't to process it correctly.
"Where?" He waited for her to breathe "pass it to Niklaus," he waited a heartbeat "where is she?"
"Brother, they said-"
"Where?" Asked through gritted teeth
As soon as his brother blurted the address he was out the door.
At his arrival, the first person he saw was Caroline, the blonde was shaking while being hugged by his brother.
"Niklaus!" He exclaimed striding purposefully to his family, then he noticed Elena and Jeremy were also there. "Talk to me,"
Kissing the top of Caroline's head he said "we don't know much yet, but-"
"They found her outside the windshield…" Caroline told him terrified.
Elijah's breath caught on his throat, suddenly the air wasn't enough and the room felt like a cage closing on upon himself. He felt his hands trembling and anxiety creeping in.
Imagining the love of your life battered and completely hopeless after a car wreck was something that never crossed his mind till that day, and the mere thought of her lifeless body dripping blood, her bright chocolate eyes full with the shadow of death was suffocating.
"Where is she?" He demanded.
"In surgery," Jeremy walked to them while Elena sat back head in her hands.
"Everything is repeating itself!" The younger twin suddenly said getting on her feet.
Caroline whipped her head in her direction "it's not! Katherine's not dying okay?!"
Elena scoffed "you don't know that, Caroline!"
"I do! And she's gonna be fine because she's freaking Katherine Pierce!" She said matter of factly cleaning up her tears only to give others place.
Resigned, Elena went back to her seat and waited for her boyfriend to arrive. She felt so bad for everything and as if all that mess was her fault.
The night had already turned into daylight when the doctors came to talk to them. Damon had arrived with Stefan and Rebekah, and Anna was also there, arriving a couple hours prior.
"How's Katherine?" Caroline inquired before anyone could say anything.
"Her case is a true miracle, she had multiple traumas, head, chest, pelvis, we may need to come back because we put her in a coma in order for her body to proper recover,"
"May I see her?" Came Elijah's voice from behind the group. He sat sleeves rolled up, creased clothes, the complete opposite of what he always presented himself.
"You may, yes, although we won't be able to take her from the coma state just yet, the next forty eight hours are crucial,"
He nodded his understanding and followed the team of surgeons through the halls till they reached Katerina's ICU unit.
Elijah's eyes glistened to the sight of his Katerina hooked to multiple machines, the sounds of those creating a sinister melody he could never forget.
Her skin was pale and bruises were forming themselves to the extent of her body. Where he looked there was a red rash, cuts, purple circles and sutures, it was like his personal hell.
The staff had left him alone, and entering her room completely he broke down, he couldn't even reach her bed, his legs crumbled from under him making him touch the ground in pure agony, sobs shaking his whole body while his mind couldn't conjure a way for her to be out of there.
The reality hit him as a ton of bricks would, it broke him to the core and made him regret every moment he hadn't spent with her until now.
He felt hopeless, all his influence, power, money, knowledge was useless in this situation he felt numb as well as energized with pain, he couldn't convey not touching her no more. He needed reassurance, he needed to feel life coming from her somehow, and that was when he touched her.
Her cheek, as he had so many times before, the pads of his fingers grazing the deep cuts there, then her hair, he caressed it with upmost care aware of the wires she was linked to. His thumb touched her lips, they held a purple hue to them, still he curved down to touch them with his, it was chase, just a touch, not lingering for he knew he would have time for that after this nightmare was over.
/
When she regained consciousness for the first time after the accident, Elijah was there to welcome her back. His brown eyes were the first thing she saw, they shone with the realization his Katerina was finally back to him.
"Around the clock care?" She half asked half spat as she and Elijah stared at the doctors.
They had talked about it with him days back, but now that Katerina was gonna be released from the hospital, after two months of torture, it has became real, and it seemed she wasn't approving of such.
"No way! I can fend for myself,"
Elijah rolled his eyes but smiled "it's refreshing to see your stubbornness remains intact, my dear,"
She glared at him. "I need a nanny then?"
Before the doctor could respond Elijah did "you're staying with me, of course,"
"Am I?" Surprised she asked
He nodded humming his affirmative, seeing her opening her mouth to protest he spoke "that's final, Katerina,"
And it was settled, but it didn't prevent her from complaining all the way till they reached his condo.
When they crossed the threshold, Katherine in his arms, they had yet to arrange physiotherapy and she refused to ride in a wheelchair, the apartment exploded with screams of "welcome back Katherine!"
"You're behind that, Caroline?" She questioned as they advanced inside, Elijah depositing her gently on the couch.
Caroline came hugging her so tightly she lost her breath for a moment.
"Omg I'm so happy you're here with us!" She smiled from ear to ear while hugging her bestie once more.
Katherine laughed and blinked rapidly to dispel the tears. She promised herself she wasn't crying anymore, not any time soon at least.
Rebekah came next with Stefan offering her a dual hug. Her brother was next, taking her off of her seat from how tight he squeezed her.
"I love you, and you're forbidden of pulling a Toreto on us like that ever again, okay?" He put her back down "also, you own me a new car," everybody laughed at that
"I almost died," she said matter of factly
"So what? Now you're among the living and is gonna buy me a new one,"
"You can have hers, instead, she isn't driving it for a long time," Elijah offered and threw him the keys to Katherine's sports car.
"'Lijah!" She indignantly exclaimed
He shrugged nonchalantly
/
Leaning on the doorframe to his guest room, Elijah examined Katerina as she tried getting out of bed.
She hadn't noticed him yet, for she was too busy sitting up, letting out grunts all the while, and moving her legs with her hands in order to set her feet on the ground.
He would let her have at least the ounce of independence. It couldn't be easy losing part of your movements.
Although when she tried to stand, and lost balance, he rushed and was by her side, holding her in place in just one instant.
"I caught you," he stated while balancing her, his hands on her waist.
Passed the scare she looked up at him and half smiled "god, I hate this," she blowed a loose lock from her face
One of his hands went to remedy that, setting it behind her ear carefully.
"You shall make a full recovery in no time, Katerina," came his assurance, sensing she was losing the strength on her feet, in a swift motion he had her bridal style in his arms.
She rolled her eyes "you're loving that aren't you?" Her arms circled around his neck nevertheless.
He offered her his most sincere smile "can't say I'm not,"
She half laughed shaking her head dismissively.
"Where to?"
"I'm hungry and I want to leave this place even for an hour or two," she was tired of the glass walls and neat furniture. She liked Elijah's place and its s décor, but she needed fresh air.
He nodded his understanding and started moving to the kitchen area "first we're going to feed you, then I'm going to take you some place I'm sure you'll approve,"
Puzzled she asked "where?"
He deposited her on a stool and started gathering ingredients around, Katherine his attentive observer.
"It's a surprise,"
/
Turns out he took her to the beach.
Katherine almost squealed in excitement while Elijah took her to the warm white sand. The sun was almost at its golden hour, so the place was bathed in a orange hue so calming and refreshing she felt her giddiness melting down giving place to looseness while he set her on the towel.
They sat in silence for a long time, just admiring the sun setting, his arm around her shoulders while she leaned into him, her head in the planes of his chest, his hand sporadically caressing her hair.
He kissed the crown before speaking "I haven't told you that, but I promised something while you were in a coma," she looked up and waited for him to go on "that I would always be there, to catch you, and that I wouldn't be apart from you anymore," averting his sight from the horizon, he looked down at her face "I intend to keep that promise, Katerina, I won't be leaving you, even less so after you're healed,"
She smiled her eyes glistening she sniffed, stupid medicine conducted emotions.
"Elijah I-"
He shook his head interrupting her "I'm not granting you a choice in that matter," his face was serious but the ghost of a smile appeared in an instant.
Katherine took a deep breath, her eyes fixed ahead, her hair blowing lightly grazing Elijah's shoulders and upper arms. His embrace felt warm and comforting, she wasn't afraid of them, or the feeling his declaration aroused, no. She was afraid of herself. Afraid of her actions towards their relationship. In the end, she would screw everything up as she always did…
As if sensing her thoughts, Elijah moved her hair to the side, pairing his head beside hers, the phantom of his low voice whispering in her ear.
"I'm not letting your fear speak louder than your feelings, Katerina,"
She side looked at him, a small smile spreading on her face.
"No turning backs?" She spoke her eyes focusing on his own.
"No running from me any longer," he stared down at her plump lips, those were not in their finest coloration, but much better than they were a couple months back.
She was recovering and he was happy to be a part of that process.
She was the first to make a move, Elijah almost chuckled when her hands circled around his nape, his palms went to her face, savoring the kiss after so long without it.
The possibility of losing her a lone and terrifying memory now.
They'd be okay.
He wasn't going away, neither was she.