If you haven't noticed already "A Little Death" is also the name of a song by The Neighbourhood. I will be naming my chapters the names of songs by some of my favorite artists including The Neighbourhood, Lana Del Rey, and The XX. "Try" is by The XX. It's for Katherine and Stefan, but I think it also applies to Caorline's feelings for Klaus.

Chapter 1: Try

Katherine was dying. She would not last long. They had no time. What they needed was a powerful witch. They needed Bonnie Bennett to whip up some magical voodoo and save the day like she had numerous times before. But Bonnie Bennett was no longer a witch. She was the anchor. She did not belong with the dead or the living. And Katherine was dying with no witch available to help.

Stefan was devastated. Caroline could tell. And as disgusted as she was at the fact that him and Katherine had hooked up a day ago, she wanted to see him happy. He deserved happiness. After everything he had been through with Damon, Elena, and more recently Silas, he deserved this. He deserved to have hope-even if it was for Katherine, the queen of all things evil.

She knew that Stefan didn't love Katherine. Not yet. She knew his one, true love was Elena. But Elena was a blind, ignorant girl hung up on the bad boy. And if she couldn't see that her soulmate was Stefan, then Stefan would just have to find a new soulmate. Caroline remembered how Qetsiyah had said the dopplegangers had a way of finding each other. Maybe Katherine and Stefan were meant for each other after all.

Caroline hoped not, but she wanted Stefan to have the opportunity to figure that out for himself. Her best friend deserved love. And he deserved the chance to see if he could love Katherine.

And the bitch was dying.

Caroline could see the worry lines crease deeper into Stefan's forehead as he held Katherine's hand. Sure he hadn't forgiven her completely. Maybe he never would. But a part of him saw the good in her. A part of him remembered the man who used to love her. The girl she used to be. And the human she had become. Katherine Pierce had never been weaker, more vulnerable. She needed help.

Caroline was desperate. She would do anything to save this woman. Katherine did not deserve to live by any means. For hundreds of years, she had only caused pain and suffering. But now Caroline was determined to put as much effort into keeping her alive as she did with her friend Elena.

Think, Caroline, think!

They needed a witch. A powerful witch. Where could she find a powerful witch?

"Stefan," she called him over.

He looked up at her with a raised eyebrow. Regretfully, he released Katherine's hand and appeared beside Caroline.

"I have an idea. We need a witch. And I think I know someone who probably has a few who owe him a favor..."

She saw a flash of hope shine in his eyes for just a moment. "Who?"

She grimaced, "I can't believe I'm saying this...but a certain original hybrid who just might have a thing for me."

"Klaus?" Damon called behind her, skeptically. "You think Klaus, who hunted Katherine down for centuries, is all of the sudden just going to call up all of his best little witches to save her life?"

"Do you have a better idea, Damon?"

"Caroline's right," Stefan said. "We have no other options."

"Right, awesome. Let's just give the big bad hybrid a ring and leave her life in his hands. That sounds like a foolproof plan," Damon sneered, sarcastically.

"Actually, Damon," Caroline piped up. "I wasn't planning on calling..."

...

They had rushed to the airport and compelled their way onto the first flight to New Orleans. Caroline had booked three seats for first class. One for Katherine, one for her, and one for Stefan. Elena had wanted to come, but Caroline didn't see the need for it. Damon and Elena had issues to work out. Plus, they still needed to crack down on the Augustine Vampire crap. She compelled the passengers and crew to forget about Katherine's condition. Stefan had one hand encompassing Katherine's and one hand in a tight fist. His knuckles were white. Caroline stared out the window the whole plane ride. Her teeth were clenched. Her fingers were tapping against her armrest. Katherine did not have much time.

Caroline had thought about calling Klaus before just showing up. Then maybe he would have a witch ready to complete a spell to save Katherine. But the chances of Klaus doing Caroline a favor like that were slim. Especially if she wasn't in front of him begging. What could he do? Turn them all away? Curse Katherine to die? Caroline hoped he wouldn't be able to be that heartless. Then again, this was Klaus they were dealing with. He wasn't known for his kindness or his mercy or his heart.

The flight landed and Caroline bolted off of it. She tried to pass off the butterflies in the pit of her stomach as anxiety over Katherine, but deep down she knew it was anticipation for seeing Klaus again.

"Caroline!" Stefan called, carrying Katherine in his arms.

"Stefan! I'll find Klaus! Find a hotel or a hospital or something! Just get her some rest! I'll call you when I find him and figure something out. Okay?"

"Okay, and Care?"

She stared into his worry-ridden eyes. "Yes, Stefan?"

"Hurry. Please." he looked down at Katherine. "She doesn't have much time."

They went their separate ways. Caroline journeyed down unfamiliar paths searching for any sign of supernatural activity. She saw a few suspicious older ladies selling herbs and spices. She tried to nonchalantly refer to witchcraft, but the women quickly cut her off. Caroline was at a loss. She had no idea it would be this difficult to find Klaus. He was running the city, wasn't he? Wasn't he? She actually didn't know. She had assumed of course, but he had been gone for so long. Maybe someone else had stepped in. Maybe that's the business he was taking care of. Maybe he had scared everyone into silence.

What she needed was some serious luck. She continued scavenging the city, looking for any sign of vampires, hybrids, or witches. Eventually she just started asking people if they knew where she could find Klaus Mikaelson. Some people were genuinely confused, but she could see the fear rise up in some faces. Caroline wanted to press them for more information, knowing they had it. She didn't have the heart, though. She knew Klaus had probably terrified these people enough.

After over an hour of searching, she took a break on a park bench. She decided to start at square one. Where would she find vampires? Where would find their king? She knew that her kind were predisposed to bars. Perhaps she would find some daywalkers or nightwalkers there? She put her head in her hands. She really didn't know. And Katherine was still dying. Every second Katherine was dying. And that was one second closer to Stefan's heart breaking. Caroline had to think quick.

She started to get up to venture towards some bars near the center of town when something caught her eye. She spun around, her heart racing.

Please Review! Thanks for reading!

XO Jaci