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He watched as Caroline ran away. Thoughts of calling out to her, of stopping her ran through his head. But he didn't. His goddam ego getting in the way again.

He heard Shane, or rather Silas, appear next to him. He heard Shane / Silas talking to him, he even heard himself talking back, but not really responding. Thoughts of Caroline and how much she seemed to hate him still raced around his head. Then before he can really react he feels the burning pain between his shoulder blades. He heard Silas leave, he was alone.

He gasped for breath, trying to reach behind him to remove the deadly sliver of wood. He gave up eventually.

First thoughts of his family ran through his mind. He supposed that his siblings would be glad to see him dead. He decided that he would miss them, despite how much he wanted to kill them sometimes.

Then thoughts of the wonderful Mystic Falls gang ran through his head. He knew they would be glad to see him gone, or maybe not since they would probably die with him. But if they didn't die with him he knew they would still be glad he was dead. Tyler would be able to come back. Then, with Klaus out of the way, Tyler could finally be together with Caroline, he thought spitefully.

Again thoughts of Caroline ran through his mind. If only he hadn't forced Caroline away, he might not be here, he would be with Caroline, doing god knows what. Then he thought of just how stupid he seemed. For god's sake, he was the big bad hybrid. Everyone was supposed to be scared of him. When he said jump, everyone in their right mind asked how high. And here he was wrapped around the little finger of a bubbly, blonde, baby vampire.

It seemed utterly pathetic. But so very true.

He fell onto his side, gasping for breath. Wishing he was not alone.

As his vision started to blur a pair of booted feet appeared in front of him. A voice, a scent. Caroline. She knelt beside him, cradling his head in her lap and trying to remove the stake from his back. He felt it being pulled from him as pain streaked through him.

The last thing he heard was Caroline apologising.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean it. Please. Even you can be saved. Please don't go. I've lost too much already. I need you to take me to see the world…" She begged.

He smiled weakly at the irony of the situation. He was so used to saving her and now she was the one saving him, in more than one way. He closed his eyes, knowing he would be safe.