When the Fox Comes to Town

Chapter 9: Against the Dying of the Light

Caroline is finally out of surgery, has been wheeled into a private room but isn't allowed visitors yet. They don't say it, based on the body language of the doctors though they are not expecting her to pull through. Matt is still here having waited throughout the entire time Care was in surgery. I had left, gone to get something to eat along with coffee satisfied that the quarterback would remain on guard for my friend. Now that the cheerleader having made it through surgery I am simply waiting for people to leave prior to healing her a bit. Slow healing wouldn't draw too much attention but would ensure that my friend would remain alive.

Shortly after Caroline was placed in her room, Matt and I, having migrated from the waiting room to chairs under the windows looking into her hospital bed, Bennett walks down the hall. Seeing us she walks over asking, "How is Caroline?" Squeezing the blondes hand I respond to the witch "Not good." "What happened?" She questioned. Squeezing my hand back looking grateful for the support he explains, "We were driving and Tyler heard this noise and he got..." Bonnie interrupts, "A noise?" I turn to look at the baby witch. Did she have something to do with this? I wonder. Seething I listen as the Donovan boy continues with his summation, "He got this migraine or something and he lost control of the car and...I thought that Caroline was fine and then...and then she wasn't so..." Shaking off my anger, promising to deal with it later after my friend is safe, I notice Damon talking to Caroline's mother at the nurse's station. Eventually after getting the rundown of the Forbes condition the Bennett walks away from us toward the dull doppelganger, soon enough the dark haired Salvatore joins them. Eyes narrowed on the group I let them walk away as I try to get the quarterback to eat what I brought, knowing we were in for a long night.

Late into the night as I am waiting for Matt to fall asleep in the criminally uncomfortable visitor chairs, I notice Damon has returned to the hospital. Curious I watch as he slips into Caroline's room, leaving shortly after. Concentrating, I can feel my friend's life force grow stronger. Ahh, he gave her his blood. Well, I think, that is one way to heal her. Matt and I remain at the hospital throughout the night, moving between the waiting room and the chairs outside the Forbes hospital room. Sheriff Forbes checks on us and her daughter periodically but doesn't actually leave the hospital, instead having her deputies come to her as they work the investigation into the Gilbert shop fire and the Mayor's death. By the time the sun is up, the cheerleader declared strong enough to allow visitors. Having taken turns all night getting coffee for the both of us, the Donovan boy goes for our next caffeine hit coming back with the Bennett witch.

Caroline clocking her entrance to her room, exclaims, "Jersey Shore's on!" Winces as Bonnie embraces stating, "Careful, still a little sore." Exclaiming "Sorry," as she quickly backs off. The blonde cheerleading is quick to reassure the witch, "It's okay but they say I'm healing really quick." "Thank gods'' I tell her as Matt swoops in to kiss her announcing "my turn." As the baby Bennett starts to cry it reaffirms in my mind that she was at fault for the noise that caused the Lockwood boy to crash. Caroline bashfully expresses "Oh, isn't he cute? Why are you crying?" To which "I'm just happy you're okay," is the tearful response. Care not to let that stand emotionally exclaims, "Oh, I love you guys!" Causing the witch, quarterback and cheerleader to embrace each other in a group hug. Slightly disgusted, I remark, "I love you Care but I am not a hugger." Laughing, the three break up the hug.

Bonnie leaves shortly after taking Matt with her, so they can go pay their respects to the deceased mayor and check on Tyler. Finally alone Caroline turns off the television before turning to give me her full attention. We stare at each other before she huffs, almost whining at me in frustration wanting to know what happened aside from what she was told. Smirking, I begin to explain, "You were in a bad way," dropping into a frown as I remember just how close she came to dying. "I came across you just as the ambulance arrived," I continued, "I wasn't able to do much, just a little bit of magic to start the healing process and keep you alive until you got to the hospital. Matt went with you in the ambulance I followed behind in Tyler's car with him. I kept an eye on you so to speak while you were in surgery. If at anypoint you started to slip toward death I would have done something." I assure her as Care nods at me believing in what I tell her wholeheartedly. "but you made it through surgery. I was waiting for people to settle before healing you a bit more, the plan was to slowly heal you over the course of a couple of hours/days to make it believable." I pause for breath as the Forbes girl cuts in, "What happened then cuz obviously..." she trails off as gesturing to her upright in the bed.

Laughing slightly I continue on with my tale, "Damon Salvatore entered your room late last night leaving shortly after." I give her a significant look letting her process. I can see when the penny drops. "He gave me his blood," she says. I nod "He did. It healed you faster than I would have but you are still healing, it had a lot to do." I said gravely. "why would he do that?" She asked me shocked. I shrug "Not sure, don't really care." she was alive, that was all I cared about. "Something to note however is that your witch friend had something to do with the crash." I tell her "Bonnie?" "She was really shifty when she heard about what happened and was extremely relieved when she saw that you were okay. I would bet a grimoire that she was the cause of the noise." "Noise" "there was a high pitched noise, causing a bunch of people to drop in the square. Matt said it was the reason Tyler crashed the car." "What was it?" "Not sure, but there was a lot of death last night, mostly vampires. Notably the Mayor is dead." "I thought he was a werewolf not a vampire" "He was an untriggered wolf, wonder if that has anything to do with it." I theorize. "I heard it too," I mention to her. Caroline quiets down as she ponders everything I tell her. We watch more Jersey Shore, making fun of the horrendous food the hospital serves her. Eventually she convinces me to head home to shower and change knowing I wouldn't leave her alone for very long.

I am just finishing getting dressed when I feel it. My friend has died. My apartment starts to shake as I start to process what has happened. Enraged that someone dared to harm my friend. MY FRIEND. I struggle to swallow my anger enough to gain control. My first friend in decades and someone dares to harm her. Red tinges my vision as my pictures shutter on my walls. Deep breathes as I wind my magic back within my skin. I am sure if I looked in a mirror I would see my eyes flash as I endeavor to get myself restrained. Eventually, I am able to gain back my restraint. Breathing through my fury I leave my apartment heading to the hospital post haste.

I cannot eat, yet I consume the hearts of many, I have no purpose, yet I drive the will of vengeful men, I am no leader, though will lead you to hate, what am I?