Chapter 5

Please review? This chapter is focused mainly on just K/E. No worries- I have not forgotten about the upcoming trip for the 'fabulous four' (K/E and Klaus/C). Any suggestions about where they should go? Review and let me know!

In order news, I am very excited to say that I will be starting a new story (well, publishing because I've already started), which I hope to get up sometime in the next two weeks. It's been a blast writing it, and I've already got a good five chapters of written material.

It is a Damon and Elena, and will be rated 'M'. There are several twists I'm going to do!

Interested? If you want to know more, PM me and I can give some hints and answer questions.

Thank you!

Onto the story…

"What…why would she do this to you?" Elena held his hand tightly, tugging him into her house. Kol trailed behind. "Is that blood on your shirt?" Elena's eyes were wide as she took in his appearance.

He decided it would be best not to lie. "Yeah, it's mine."

Her eyes narrowed. Kol closed the front door for her, unwilling to meet Elena's concerned eyes. "She came and sought me out. She was channeling some of Esther's power, hence this," he gestured to his healing arm. He placed an arm on the small of her back, leading Elena into the kitchen.

"Why do you keep looking out the window?" Elena asked. She moved to the wall and turned off the lights.

Kol was impulsive but smart. His instincts were reminded her of a wild animal- on edge, but confident.

He looked at her with an amused expression. "No lights? Please tell me what you're planning."

Elena swatted him playfully, blushing slightly. "The way you're acting makes me feel like I need to be hiding! Should I be worried?"

He smiled. "I just want to make sure that I'm here should someone pay you a visit," he answered vaguely.

"And just how would you know 'someone' is going to pay me a visit?"

Kol scoffed. "Bonnie might be extra strong right now, but I'll always be stronger." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I got in her head. She's angry Elena. She's angry at you."

Elena seemed unfazed by this, and Kol guessed that everything the poor doppelganger had gone through had toughened her up to an extreme. Instead of worrying about her own future, she seemed concerned for the others. "Should I warn Caroline? We're still best friends."

"See, that's the thing, Elena- she's delusional to a point where she feels only pity for Caroline. But from what I've seen, Caroline is very suited to vampirism…but regardless, her anger is mainly at you. And our situation is just fueling that anger."

Elena sighed, mourning the loss of a friend. "I miss her, I do. But someone this angry…look, I get that she has a duty as a servant of nature, but she also has a duty as a best friend and Esther is manipulating her. And she's angry enough to let it happen."

"Why don't you go up to my room and rest for a little while? You haven't slept in days."

Elena giggled as Kol swung her around and carried her bridal style.

"Only on the condition that you come with me." He eyes were filled with affection, and other emotions that made Elena want to jump him right there.

Elena snuggled in closer to his chest, ignoring the dried blood. "Well then I don't think there's going to be much sleeping involved…" She gave him a sly grin.

He looked down at her. "I would hope not," he grinned, looking happier and less concerned.

Elena squealed as Kol set her upright and pulled her in for wild kiss. He hands were tangled in her long straight hair, and she took the opportunity to slip her arms underneath his jacket.

She pulled away, frowning. "Why aren't those bruises going away Kol?"

Had he been able to shiver, Kol would have as her slender fingers traced the multiple disfigurations. They were fading, but very slowly. And especially slow for an Original.

"She used magic to give me the bruises. Think of Bonnie as a witch on steroids," he tried to explain, "so everything was magnified."

Elena grew only more troubled by this. "But why didn't you stop her? Mentally you've got an unstable amount of Power, and physically…well," She swatted his arm at his teasing smile, "you're spectacular," Elena winked.

"To get inside of her head I had to give something to distract her. By letting her do magic on me, it gave me a bridge to her mind. First and last time I hope I'll have to do that."

"I hope so too. I'm going to text Caroline and tell her to stay put at your house. I know that you said that Bonnie wasn't angry toward her, but Bonnie is unstable and I won't let Caroline get hurt. Can you hand me my-" Kol was staring intently at the closed door, and his head was tilted to the side. His arms were tensed and ready to react, and she guessed his fangs would be making an appearance shortly at this rate.

He turned and faced her. Tiny veins were beginning to appear under his eyes, but that didn't have any effect on Elena. "Elena, move to the hallway by the staircase and open up that closet," Kol whispered. He didn't seem frightened, only annoyed at whoever was about to make their presence known.

His eyes pleaded with her to cooperate for once. "I don't want her to know you're here," Kol urged, pointing to the hallway again.

Elena froze mid-step, her blood running cold. Bonnie was here. "Okay, okay I'm going, but I can't hide forever- you taught me that!"

Kol rolled his eyes at her dramatics. "This is not hiding- this is observing. I want to see what she does."

"My car is outside, she's knows I'm here," Elena muttered as she opened the closet door.

She jumped as Kol's voice came from right beside her, "No she probably thinks I came and whisked you away," he closed the closet door after they were both in securely. It was snug, but one chair sat in the middle.

Kol stood standing in front of the wall that faced the front door.

Elena bit her lip, not wanting to sound stupid. "Can you see through that?"

Kol paused, unsure of how to explain this. "Yes and no. If I really wanted or needed to, I could, but that would really take a lot of Power. But there's ways around it, I can instead sense movement and positions. It's like I can see but only some things are maximized and non-significant things are lost."

"Oh." Elena was silent, her mind racing a thousand thoughts. They both heard the unmistaken sound of jingling keys. Shoot. Elena had forgotten that they all kept spare keys for each other's houses.

She looked up at Kol apologetically, "Oops."

Kol just smiled back, which was odd. "Trust me, she's not getting in."

"I love the cocky attitude and all, but if she wants to snoop she has a key."

"Did I mention I changed the front locks last night?" He leaned back, pleased with himself.

"You have excellent timing," Elena conceded.

"Of course I do. She's gone now, by the way."

Elena placed her hand on the door handle, ready to get out of the claustrophobic space.

"Don't you want to stay for a little?" Kol stepped forward playfully. "I'm intrigued by this seven minutes in heaven idea I heard about…"

Elena stood there- flushed and breathing rapidly. She shocked herself by what she said next.

"I'm told I'm a pretty good teacher."

In a flash, Kol had her pinned against the door, preventing her from moving. She loved it. Her arms encircled his waist and pressed them closer together. His mouth attacked hers with an unbridled passion, forcing Elena to keep up. She shuddered from the intensity and ripped off his jacket. Her hands roamed across his abs, traveling in every direction. "Elena…you're playing with fire…"

She removed his shirt in a flash. "You won't let me get burned." Though her tone was teasing, Kol could see the passionate emotions in her eyes. He was her protector. She trusted him. And he would not let her down.