whirlwind

Nine - War

She knew who this man was, and she fled. When she got to her car, she was almost blinded by the panicked tears in the corner of her eyes, fumbling with the keys before finally getting into her car, taking a short breath, not pausing to give herself time that she didn't have.

Flooring the gas, Cara quickly pulled onto the main road, fumbling with her phone in one of her hands, steering madly with the other. She first called Nicolas, to which he didn't even answer, leading her to assume that he turned off his phone. She then dialed Elizabeth, Alexander, and even the main number for the Callaghan House, hoping that one would answer. Sadly, they didn't.

At this point, Cara called Benjamin. He was out of town, and his phone went to voicemail, but at least he might be able to hear it.

"Ben, it's Car. Lucas, the guy Nicolas told me about, he found me. He knows who I am, that I'm pregnant, and — I have a really bad feeling, Ben. Please, call me. I need help, Ben," she murmured.

Her thoughts were taken away as she looked back to the road, seeing a figure standing right in the middle.

Out of blind panic and fear, Cara swerved into the other lane to avoid hitting the figure of a man which she only then realized had nearly brown hair.

That was when a loud horn came, and Cara remembered she was in the other lane.

A front of a car was the last thing that she saw as it sped towards her, and the last thing she heard was metal on metal, her own screaming, and her phone hitting the floorboard as it dropped from her hand.

The world went black as the car screeched and slammed into the rail.

•••

"Good to see you've returned to the land of the living."

Those were the first words Cara heard as she saw a bright light flash in her eyes. Her entire body ached and her head felt horrific.

When she opened her eyes fully, she saw that she was in hospital, and a nurse was standing above her, flashing her light in her eyes. "Could you stop that?" The girl snapped, shielding her eyes as she tried to sit up.

Upon further notice, Cara saw her parents sitting in the corner of the room, her mother on the verge of tears and her father looking emotionless.

What the hell had happened?

Cara then noticed Benjamin on the opposite side of the room, and she had never seen anyone look at someone with so much relief.

Everything single memory came flooding back at that moment.

Cara had been in a head on collision, and she was alive, but obviously not without damage.

Suddenly, she had a gnawing, sickening feeling spreading through her heart, poisoning her veins and infecting her mind. She turned to the nurse. She had to have known about the baby if she had checked Cara out. The baby that survived the car accident. My baby.

Instinctually, she covered her stomach with her hand, seeing Benjamin close his eyes as he exhaled deeply.

"You were lucky. The baby is okay."

All she could hear was a ringing in her ears, a warm feeling of relief. Thank God.

"Call him. Call Nicolas." Cara said quietly, eyes darting to Ben.

Her very first instinct was Nicolas. She wanted him here with her.

He gave Cara a brief nod, before exiting the room, presumably to call the father of her child, the man that she had fallen in love with.

Cara's parents didn't make conversation, and neither did the nurses or doctors. Good. She had no desire for conversation.

Then, after what felt like years, Cara heard an all-too familiar voice, muffled through the walls, but still exceptionally loud.

"Where is she?"

Nicolas.

"Where is she?!" He demanded, except this time louder and angrier. Cara knew he was right outside her door when she heard the nurse's voice.

"Mr. Callaghan," she soothed, Ben probably informing her of who he was. "Cara and the baby are alright. She's fine, a few cuts and bruises, and just a little shaken up." Pause. "She's been asking for you. She wants to see you."

He was silent.

The door opened, and her parents immediately looked, seeing a distraught and an upset looking Nicolas. Cara noticed her father move to say something to his enemy, but her mother stopped him as Nicolas' eyes fell to her.

Her emotion had to have been written on her face, because Klaus tilted his head, offering a hand to her.

"Oh, little dove." He murmured, and she ran into his arms without hesitation, feeling the warmth of his body against her as he held her and rocked her back and forth.

"It's alright, Cara. It's alright, love. We'll get through this, I promise you. We'll get through this, you and I. Together."

Immediately she burst into tears as he never let her go, never stopped her, simply continued to hold onto her.

Nicolas was silent, before scooping her into his arms, ignoring the protests of her parents and doctors who all called out saying, "you can't take her,' and 'shes not yours to take."

He paid no mind to any comment given, which Cara should have expected.

As soon as we were outside of the hospital, headed towards his car, her arms wrapping tightly around him, not wanting to let him go.

She buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes, holding onto him.

After a moment, he stopped, and she gently slid out of his arms as he helped her into the car.

"Come on, love. Let's get you home."