So, I'm Caroline?

Chapter 37 - Summer

Summer was. . Well, not really going anywhere. Convincing mom to move was difficult to say the least. Although, the deputy sheriff option did seem to perk up her interest in the suggestion a little bit.

Then there's the fact that it's apparently a small town, although it's been Niklaus that has been going over it with my mother. At the moment I'm not exactly sure where it will be exactly. Just that the town is small.

If not then I've been considering suggesting Japan since they have a really good hospital there that specializes in brain cancers and their treatments. Niklaus has also suggested Italy which I know my mother is strongly considering as well. But, moms a cop through and through. Which means that it could go any which way.

"Hey." I hear Damon say gently as he bumps my shoulder as he stands beside me.

Glancing up I give him a small smile and wrap my hand around his loosely as I lay my head on his shoulder while we watch the sun set.

After a few minutes of silence I feel him shift around a little. "Are you okay Care?" He whispers in my ear as he moves his arm to wrap it around my shoulders and pull me just a little closer.

"I'm worried." I admit quietly. "But, at least Bree found a way to bring Lexi back."

"Yeah, she really hates me." Damon says with a wince as he thinks about when Lexi slapped him.

I snort. "Well, yeah. You killed her." I tell him lightly as I kiss the side of his mouth.

"I apologized." Damon whispers half heartedly as he moves his mouth to mine and kisses me deeper.

"You shouldn't of done it in the first place." I retort back softly, looking down as my heart speeds up.

He lets out a sigh as he gently cups my cheek, causing me to look up at him, suddenly feeling anxious. "I know. But.. I just didn't care at the time."

Instead of verbally responding I nod my head. I understand that. He didn't want to care, it doesn't excuse it and it doesn't make it right. But it's the truth. I watch his blue eyes as he stares into mine and I smile sadly. Wrapping my arm around him, his hands move around me as I hold him close with his face in my hair.

I turn my head when we hear the crunching of footsteps. Glancing around we see Alaric walking towards us looking a bit haggard. The thing is Alaric has been struggling lately.

He rocks himself on his feet when he gets near us, looking paranoid and frustrated. "I can hear him."

That causes us both to freeze in place. "He's in your head?"

"Like a conscious?"

"He's angry." Alaric comments shakily as he looks down. "I've been trying - I - I - he's in my head."

"Why didn't you mention it before?" I question him as I remove myself from Damon's arms and make my way towards him.

"I just.. I couldn't. He, he doesn't." He says sounding worried. "The contract, he can't — but he wants to and he's fighting it. I can feel him fighting it Caroline."

I move him towards a cut off tree that he can sit down on and I ruffle his hair for a moment as I talk to him. My hand grazes the lock around his wrist. "I'm going to check okay? Theoretically it should of worked."

A deep laugh leaves Alaric as his hand quickly snaps out and wraps around my wrist as I go to back away. "Theoretically? Theoretically? Am I a test subject to you?" He asks me darkly.

Shortly after Damon is between us, his hand holding Alaric's wrist tightly. "Let her go Ric."

Rick chuckles again, his grip tightening. The only thing preventing my body from being thrown forward towards him is Damon between us. "What if I want to keep her Damon? You can't honestly think she's only yours."