Rescue Me

Chapter 19

Stefan could hear the muffled sound of water running as he slowly awoke, streams of sunlight peeking through the blinds warming his face. He sighed, shifting his head on the pillow, his brow crinkling when he caught the sweet aroma of fresh coffee near his vicinity. Cracking open his eyes, he spotted Bonnie sitting against a mound of pillows, raising a steaming mug of coffee to her lips while holding another in her hand.

"Morning," she smiled, holding out the extra mug to him as he pulled himself into a sitting position.

He returned her smile, settling back against the headboard as he reached for the coffee. His gaze traveled from the empty spot between them, where Caroline had drifted off to sleep sandwiched between them, to the closed bathroom door across the room.

"She's been up for a couple hours," Bonnie said, watching the concern spread across Stefan's face.

"How is she?"

Bonnie shrugged, taking a small sip of her coffee before cradling it in her hands. "She's Caroline," she smiled. "She's persevering. I don't think she's really giving herself the time to think about anything other than the wedding today." She watched him nod, bringing the steaming mug of coffee to his lips and humming contentedly when the hot liquid passed his lips. "She took a call from her mom a few minutes ago. Apparently news of Tyler's arrest hit the airwaves late last night, but she's managing to keep the details under wraps. At least until after the weekend is over."

Stefan looked at her. "Is that all Liz said?" He found it hard to believe that after such a reveal like last night, the woman wouldn't want to set things straight with her daughter.

"I think it's all she could manage. I could tell from Caroline's end that Liz is still having a tough time with it all. I mean, it's a lot to take in." She sighed, looking at Stefan as he stared down into his mug. She shook her head, her gaze traveling to the bathroom door. "I hate Tyler for this. For doing this to her. I mean, how could he just..."

Stefan nodded. "I know," he said quietly, sighing. "Tyler ruined a lot of lives that night. But...no matter how angry I am at him...I knew, Bonnie. I knew and I didn't say anything. I'm no better than him."

"You're right," Bonnie said, raising her eyebrows when he looked over at her guiltily. "Come on, I'm not going to baby you. Stefan, this could have ruined her life. And it did, for five years. I love Caroline, but she made a stupid decision. And as a friend? As someone who loves her? You should have stepped up if you knew she wasn't going to put herself before everyone else."

Stefan stared down into his coffee, the rich dark liquid sloshing against the sides of the mug as he gently swished it in his hands. He knew the words Bonnie were speaking were true. He'd found himself asking the same questions over the years. If he loved Caroline so much, how he could simply go along with her plan. How he could watch everything around her crumble, all because of her deluded love of Tyler.

"You all made a bad decision. Granted, Tyler's was based on purely selfish reasons while Caroline did it out of love and thinking-foolishly-that it was the best thing for everyone. And you...you were respecting her choice. And in any other situation, that would have been so great...but in a way you damned her, Stefan. I know you did it because you love her. But it was still a bad, stupid decision." She smiled softly then, shrugging a shoulder. "But you're not bad, stupid people. You're Stefan and Caroline, two of the best people I've ever known. And I still love you both, just as much as I always have."

Stefan felt his lips tugging up into a smile, and he lifted his head, sliding his gaze over to her, nodding. "Always the voice of reason, Bonnie Bennett."

She grinned. "Someone has to keep you idiots in line."

They'd been so engrossed in their conversation-or, more accurately, Stefan's reprimand-that they hadn't noticed the water to the shower cutting off until the bathroom door flew open. They both jumped and turned, watching as Caroline waltzed into the bedroom in a cloud of steam, her wet hair pinned back on top of her head with a black hair clip, a knee length purple bathrobe cinched tightly around her waist.