Mystic Falls - Saturday Afternoon, FHT

[need_no_moon]

It was a pretty quiet, but busy day at the garage. One of the guys had fallen ill and the boss had gone off to help someone out whose car had broken down. It meant that he had the place to himself and he could tune the radio to whatever song he liked instead of that old timer music the boss always insisted on. It was actually relaxing and he'd

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[puppywithatutu]

Same Day, A Little Bit Later

Even with the light blocked, Caroline still felt as if it was melting her skin. Her head hung forward as she focused on anything but the pain encasing her body.

"You should know, last night when I put you in here, I sat in that doorway and cried." She could hear her father talking but failed to have the energy yet to look at him.

"Dad, I'm fine like this. You have to believe me," she complained, finally lifting her eyes to meet his. "I don't need to be fixed. I...can't be fixed." She winced, knowing this was not what he wanted to hear and honestly, Caroline didn't want to be burnt again.

[daddy_bill]

It worried Bill that her disbelief would mess up the process, but she had to see that it would work. It had to work. Her death was not allowed.

"I've always taught you to try your best. I need you to try now, Caroline," he said, pulling out the blood bag and holding it in front of her, watching as she struggled and won the battle against the beast within. "See? Do you see that, you're doing it."

[puppywithatutu]

He sounded so happy that Caroline had to groan, even as she tried her hardest to fight the hunger. "I can't! Daddy, I'm starving," she croaked, struggling against the chair again.

[daddy_bill]

"I know you are, Care. Try. Fight the urge," he demanded, the bag dangling in front of her eyes. It was everything that she win this battle.

[puppywithatutu]

"Why?" she cried again, "Don't you think if I could be fixed I would've tried that? You have to accept me, Daddy. I'm still me. I'm still your little girl." Just more broken than before.

[daddy_bill]

"This is our only option, Caroline!" Bill pressed, his grip on the bag causing a little blood to trickle out. "I don't want to have to kill you!"

[puppywithatutu]

It was really bad timing with that blood bag and her hunger. Caroline felt her face change as she gave in to the hunger. "Daddy, I'm sorry!"

An instant later, the light was shining down on her once more.

[daddy_bill]

A few minutes later, when Bill could no longer take the sound of his daughter's cry, he shut the skylight and picked up the bag of blood. "Rest now, sweetheart. I'll be back after a while."

He stepped out of the room and turned to lock the big, steel door behind him.

[sheriff_forbes]

Liz had gotten over her fear and had moved on to anger by the time Jake had arrived, barefoot and shirtless oddly enough, and they'd made their way to the stairs that led to the old Forbes cellar under the station.

"Hello Bill," she said, training her gun on him and likely sounding more bitter than intended.

[daddy_bill]

Bill had walked right into that using this cellar. He never should have told Liz all his family secrets. Of course, he'd never expected her to bring the hulk of a boyfriend along. And shirtless at that. He was a strange young man. Bill chalked it up to some Native American thing.

"Put down the gun Liz, I know what I'm doing. Unlike you, letting her live in your house when you clearly know what has happened to her."

[sheriff_forbes]

"That's our daughter," Liz argued, angry enough that she was tempted to shoot the man. "She looks up to you and loves you."

[daddy_bill]

"That's why she will trust that I'm doing the right thing here, Liz! Let me do this. Not because she's a monster, but because we love her and want what's best for her," he pleaded, knowing the only way this would work would be for Liz to agree with him.

[sheriff_forbes]

Liz glared at him and nodded her head at large, shirtless boy beside her. "Jake, go get her."

[need_no_moon]

"With pleasure," Jake's voice was low, almost a growl. He kept his eyes on Bill as he hurried down the steps, his lips skinning back from his teeth as he grabbed the keys from the guy's hand and unlocked the door. He could smell blood, salt, vervain and burning flesh as he slammed the door open. He didn't think he'd ever get rid of that stink, but he ignored it as he saw Caroline, hunched forward in the chair. He moved too fast and his hands were shaking as he tore open the cuffs on the chair's arms.

He wanted to speak, reassure her or turn around and smash in her father's face, but his throat has closed up and he hardly even dared to touch her, scared that he'd hurt her.

[puppywithatutu]

There weren't words to express her relief at hearing her mother and Jake outside that door. It was like Caroline could finally give in to the exhaustion and relax, knowing they would take care of her now.

"Jake," she murmured, lifting her arms once they were free from restraint and pressing an injured hand against his shoulder. "He dropped my ring."

[need_no_moon]

It explained the scent at least and he pressed a shaking hand against her cheek. "I'll get it," he promised, but it took a moment before he could tear his eyes away from her face to look for the ring.