A/N: Hey people, I'm back! Here is the first chapter of the SEQUEL to "In Another Life", but it isn't quite what it started out as. For instance I know now (after being derailed by the wonderful review from cassie – thank you!) that this is a Stefan/Kat story. Therefore this first chapter is more of a stand-alone, one-shot to show Elena's rescue from her descent into madness and because of that review, Tyler Lockwood is now in this chapter! There will be more dialogue and character interaction than the last story, because this one was never supposed to be just a one-shot. Quick timeline: Elena is eighteen and so are Stefan & Tyler (a year younger than Damon & Caroline). The time in this chapter is December of 1862, Ellie's daughter Mira is five months old (born July 1862) and Matthew was reported dead in October (E&M were married in July of 1861 {at seventeen: not gross child marriage, I promise!} and he went off to fight a month later). That is when Ellie broke down. This chapter was inspired by a song called, "Misunderstood" by Better than Ezra. You know the drill, your thoughts in exchange for mine. Enjoy!
The Favor, Part 1
"Stefan, I know you are confused as to why I wished to meet with you. But I am in a desperate situation and I need help. As you know, Damon wishes for you to 'look after' me so I thought you were my best option." Caroline was already out of breath and she had not even gotten to the heart of the matter yet. Stefan wanted to laugh, but he could tell from the desperation in her voice that this was a truly serious matter.
"All right Caroline, tell me what it is that I may do for you on this rainy December evening." Stefan felt uncomfortable now that he had offered help, without knowing what was even wrong in the first place. Damon had made him promise less than a month ago though, and he would never break a promise to his brother. So he would just stand here, hoping she would say something, feeling like a true idiot.
"My parents and Meredith moved away yesterday for good, if you will remember. They told everyone that Elena, Me and little Mira would be living with Uncle Allen. I am there with Mira but Elena is not." She choked off, but then determined to finish, she continued with her story. "Mother and Father were at a loss of how to help Ellie with her grief. She was laying in bed, immovable both day and night. She no longer looked at her daughter or anyone else. Food and bathing are but a memory in relation to her. Ellie is just so grief-stricken she cannot recover. So, two months ago they sent her…to Williamsburg."
Caroline continues to speak in that horrified voice, but after she says the word 'Williamsburg' Stefan has heard all that he needs to. He knows now with every fiber of his being where Ellie Donovan is being held. Eastern State Hospital is in the nightmares of every child who hears the name. Infamous for deplorable conditions, the Hospital is supposedly the 'best' in the state. Not that the families care about living conditions when getting rid of the embarrassment is such a relief. Matthew Donovan would be absolutely enraged to know that his wife had been sent to such a place.
Ellie was not the first Donovan to be in the asylum. Matthew's older sister, Victoria, had disappeared when she was sixteen and they were thirteen. No one was ever officially told where she was taken, (the story was relatives in the East took her in) but they all knew. Matthew was absolutely devastated, as he loved her fiercely. Stefan thinks he never really forgave his parents for pushing his poor, consumptive sister out of the way so he could have an "untainted" future. This would kill him. As Matthew's best friend and almost brother-in-law to Ellie's sister, Stefan is now resolved on one thing. He will bring her home again. He is not the only person who needs to be involved in this though.
Tuning back in to Caroline's words he manages to catch the very end of what she is telling him. "…so I really hope that you will help us. I would have asked Damon, but Mother and Father forbade me to tell anyone. Now they are gone, but so is he. Therefore I can use all of the help I can procure for a rescue mission. Uncle Allen will not go against Mother and Father directly, but he will shelter her if we bring Ellie home. Are you with me for this?" She unleashed the most pleading look in her green eyes, the one she saved for extreme emergencies. Stefan had seen it before and knew even if he had not already decided to help he would have caved in at that look.
Stefan once again held back laughter, which was not quite so hard when he reminded himself of why Ellie was in need of rescue. So he just did the only thing left that he could do. "Caroline did you even need to ask? I was one of Matthew's closest friends while we were growing up and I would do this for him, whether or not Ellie was your sister. And help is not in short supply because you have missed someone who will be very willing to help."
He looked at her, waiting for the notion he had gotten to be thought of by Caroline. The moment she realized what he meant by 'extra' help, he could swear that he actually witnessed her eyes light up. "Tomorrow morning I will go at dawn to the Lockwood home and enlist his help. If all goes well, the journey to Williamsburg will begin by nightfall and we shall be there in the afternoon on Thursday. Then another day will be needed for the return excursion. I will need to inform Giuseppe that I am to be away; that is the only thing that might block our mission." Apprehensive he gazed at her.
For a moment a frown creased Caroline's otherwise perfect complexion. Then it was gone as if it had never been there and she had the most wicked of smiles in place of it. "Stefan, you leave your father to me. He adores me and would probably believe me if I told him I was planning a trip to the moon. And I honestly think we should involve Kat in our plans. I am going to need help cleaning Ellie up presentably enough before we return to Uncle Allen's. Heaven only knows what indignities and filth my poor little sister has suffered thus far." Caroline began to exit the sitting room, presumably to go visit with Giuseppe and help Stefan break free for the amount of time needed. Stefan had one final question though.
"Do you honestly think that we can help her return from such a dark place? I honestly hope so for Mira's sake, but what if we cannot? Caroline I just do not want your hopes to raise up so high they plummet down and crush you when they land." Stefan was determined that while attempting such a thing, they needed to be realistic of the possible outcome. Caroline while not of quite the same importance to him as she was to Damon, was still precious to his heart.
She was the sister he always wanted and someday might have – if he could keep her in one piece until Damon returned. She may appear dainty and fragile, but Caroline did not have a retreating personality by any means. Caroline was a troublemaker, even though not by actual design. Not that lacking design prevented heaping amounts of serious trouble from following her. It had been that way since they were children and now with Damon away, Stefan felt like this would harder than ever. She had not exactly proved him wrong as of yet.
The determined set to her face would have broken a far stronger man than him. Nothing would infiltrate her happy expectations unless she herself allowed it to. Caroline would crush it if it did and Stefan's words were no less than an enemy spy. "I will not concede defeat until she is in her grave and I absolutely can do no more for her. Ellie has always needed my help and protection, only I have learned from my mistakes. No longer will I coddle her; she will be made to fight for herself and be strong. She has to if she is to make it. Maybe our other third party can help with that particular portion of this assignment." The mischievous twinkle returned to her eyes and she turned again to the door. Leaving the room, Caroline made sure that Stefan had plenty to contemplate before the following morning when it would all begin in earnest. The things you do for family, he thought, shaking his head with self-deprecating amusement.
All that night Stefan found it impossible to attain comfort. Tossing and turning in his bed, with sleep defying him, eventually he decided to give up. He tried to read, but that did not work either. At about four in the morning, Stefan gave up in disgust and retreated to the stables. Visiting his horse, Folly, always made his mind feel more at ease. No matter if he was dealing with his Mother's death, or his brother's departure – or even this insane 'rescue' mission one thing was certain. Folly would bring him back from this stupor he finds himself trapped in.
An hour and a half after going into the stables, Stefan felt infinitely calmer than he had in longer than he could remember. He had not felt this calm since before the war had broken out and split the country apart. Now dawn was breaking and it was finally time to ride over to the Lockwood home. Stefan just hoped that he could count on Tyler for his help. It should be a sure thing because Tyler had always loved Ellie and Matthew had been his closest friend other than Stefan. They all looked out for one another, but since Matthew's death Tyler had been on edge and a somewhat unpredictable, loose cannon.
As he was riding into the dawn, Stefan felt free for the first time in what seemed to be forever. He did not know if he would ever comprehend how Caroline was so easily able to convince his Father to allow him a few days of freedom. He did not really care to figure it out – any way he looks at it this is definitely something to be grateful for.
The ride passes quickly and it only takes about fifteen minutes before he reaches the white columned monstrosity that his friend calls home. It is really not that much larger than his own home, but it always sets Stefan on edge with its showy looks and the pristine upkeep it boasts. Not a single leaf or plant stalk, flower or bench is an inch out of place. It unnerves Stefan more than he can verbalize. But he must press on. This is not the time to wonder at the ugly lawn ornaments, he will save that for later.
Tying his horse to the fence post right at the beginning of the lawn, Stefan strides across it and up toward the main house. He knows at this early time of morning Tyler will be in the house taking breakfast. More likely than not, his Father will be sleeping off a hangover from the saloon and his Mother will have spent the evening visiting someplace. Reaching the front door, Stefan raises the knocker. But before he can lower it to the wood, the door is flung open. Tyler looks as though he slept even worse than Stefan – he did not realize that was humanly possible.
Scruff covers his face and it appears that he has not shaved in a couple of days at least. Tyler is beginning to smell unwashed, which is a feat seeing as people do not bathe every day as a normal event to begin with. Stefan has not seen him since a couple of weeks after they received the news about Matthew and Tyler's hair is over-long, reaching his shoulders almost. His eyes are sunken into the sockets, making him appear gaunt and ill. He was prepared to see some unkemptness but nothing of such disgraceful proportions. Stefan supposes that this makes the rescue mission a double endeavor. Caroline can never ask anything that will turn out to be an easy favor to grant. It always has to be something that needs a couple of miracles to fix the problem. This is a very good example of a serious character flaw; he is already marking this mentally to warn Damon when he returns. In the meantime business must be settled, easy or not.
"Stefan, I most definitely was not expecting to see you on this fine December morning. Should you not be at home, helping Giuseppe oversee your investments?" Tyler says this with a mocking tone in his voice and a slightly manic light in his eyes. If this is what you want, fine, Stefan thinks to himself. We will just have to get straight to the crux of the problem. This is not an attitude Stefan can afford to allow Tyler to convey any further. It must end now.
"Tyler this is a matter of grave importance. Caroline needs our help rescuing Ellie from Williamsburg. She is handling Matthew's death even worse than you are, so their parents sent her to that awful place. For all we know she could be dying. We are all aware of the horrible things that happen in institutions, especially that one. Allen will take her in, according to Caroline, if we can bring her home. Will you assist me? We must ride out immediately if we are to make a timely journey."
Tyler does not bother to answer Stefan, but instead shoves past him, running wildly for the stables to the right of the house. The front door is left hanging open with Stefan gazing after him startled. Well, that answers the question firmly enough, Stefan thinks wryly. Running the opposite direction to his horse, Stefan has just mounted Folly when Tyler comes flying toward him, Goddess (his horse) pulling the family's buckboard wildly behind her.