Through the Darkness

Chapter 11: Adjustments

Once they made it back to the campsite, they gathered up everything and Klaus drove her home. There were no words spoken between them, just occasional glances and the feeling that being together felt right. All Cami could think about was getting out of her tattered and dirty clothes and into a nice, hot bath. She invited him into her apartment and encouraged him to make himself at home as she went into the bathroom to fill the bathtub. As she stripped down, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and gasped. The reflection took her off guard as she barely recognized herself. Her hair was disheveled, there were several bruises on her face and arms, cuts and abrasions here and there. It looked as if she had been in a war and the way her body felt seemed to validate her appearance. The confusion of everything that had happened to her life recently was written all over her expression and she suddenly felt angry and scared at the same time. Looking away in disgust, she got into the tub and tried her best not to fall. She struggled trying to wash, barely able to lift her arms. Suddenly, Cami felt the urge to sob, which quickly turned into fury as her physical limitations began to annoy her. As her breathing quickened, she began to furiously grab at her washcloth and soap, occasionally letting out a frustrated growl as each movement continued to hurt her.

"Camille? Are you alright?" Klaus was outside the door, his voice commanding, yet laced with concern.

Drawing her knees to her chest, covering everything she could, she replied, unable to disguise her frustration, "Klaus! I need your help."

He opened the door and stood by her side. "What is it, Love?"

"It's everything! I don't even recognize myself anymore! How could so much happen to me in such a short amount of time that has turned my whole life upside down? I can't even get this stupid thing open." Having given up on the washcloth, she now had the shampoo bottle and was fumbling with the lid until Klaus took it from her, opened it, and handed it back to her.

"You're exhausted, Cami. Mentally and physically, you've been pushed to your limits. You'll feel better once you've rested."

"What if I don't? What if I'm the one that needs therapy now? If I tell Vincent about all this craziness, he's just going to tell me I should have got out of New Orleans and stayed away from you and that's the last thing I want to hear right now! Never mind the fact that if it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have a fighting chance against Sean and I wouldn't have found out about all this Gemini crap!"

"You needn't worry about Vincent. He is nothing more than a pathetic excuse for a warlock who only cares about himself. He cannot help you." Klaus knelt down next to her and placed his hand on her cheek. "Do you trust me to help you?"

Cami looked into his eyes and managed to calm herself. She nodded.

He took her washcloth and began washing her back. Trying to lighten the mood, he commented, "If it makes you feel any better, I think you could have taken down that wolf without my help." He spotted a cut on her arm and touched it. "Does this hurt?"

"Yes," she replied through gritted teeth.

"And this one?" he asked as he found a large bruise on her back.

All she did was wince in pain.

"What about this one?" He started to touch a gash on her shin, but she slapped his hand away.

"Yes! Every damn bump, bruise, and cut on my body hurts! I am probably the clumsiest witch-in-training there ever was, okay?"

Klaus stifled a laugh, grinning as he looked at her. "I'm sorry to say this, Love, but you are probably correct in your assessment."

She found the humor in the situation and managed to laugh a little. The muscles in her back were still stiff and it pained her to laugh too hard. As if knowing exactly what to do, Klaus began massaging her back muscles. Then, she allowed him to bathe her only to a certain point, eventually asking him to leave her alone. He started to rise up, but she stopped him. "I wish everyone could see what I see when I look at you. You are one amazing boyfriend." She leaned over and kissed him.