Caroline was applying mascara when her phone started buzzing on the sink counter.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Caroline? Hey, it's Stefan, I was wondering if you could come over, Elena is asking for you." Stefan responded.
"Of course! I'll be right over!" She retorted, closing her cell phone and taking one last look in the mirror before grabbing her purse and leaving her room.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Caroline knocked on the door of the Salvatore's house and let herself in before waiting for an answer. Damon was pouring himself a drink and looked up at her, "Of course, Caroline, come right in," he said sarcastically.
Caroline stuck her tongue out at him and continued past him, making her way to the basement where she heard Elena whimpering.
As she entered the basement she saw Stefan and Elena through the bars in the door leading to the prison.
"Oh my God," She gasped as she saw Elena with her head in her hands and Stefan with one arm around her.
"Let yourself in, Care." Stefan said, with an unconvincing smile.
Caroline let herself in and closed the thick door behind her, taking a seat next to Elena.
"Hey, how are you?" She asked, putting her hand on Elena's shoulder.
"I did it again." Elena whispered, "I bit someone, but this time he died. I killed him."
Caroline's eyes bulged as she looked up at Stefan.
"I tried to stop her, but Damon thought she could stop herself, he said to let her be strong-"
"But I wasn't." Elena interrupted her face still in her palms, "I let him down. I let all of you down."
Caroline hushed her and rubbed her back, "Elena, it's okay, everyone makes mistakes. You're new at this, you're going to make it through this, and you're going to gain control." As Caroline spoke she was looking at Stefan, their worried faces mirroring. They both knew what the other was thinking; they were both uncertain about whether Elena could do this after all.
"I killed someone, Caroline! He had a family and a life and now it's all gone because of me! I'm a monster!" Elena screamed, meeting Caroline's eyes for the first time.
"I killed someone once too, Elena. But I'm in control now, and it will never happen again. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?" She said, looking into Elena's bloodshot eyes.
"Or what you kill makes you stronger," Elena sighed, and Caroline started giggling. "Caroline! This isn't funny!" Elena whined.
"No, no, I know. I'm sorry." She said, biting her lip and rubbing Elena's back again.
"Can I interrupt?" Damon was leaning against the door frame.
"Sure," Stefan said, signaling for Caroline to follow him as he smiled at Elena and made his way out the door.
The two made their way up the stairs without speaking. They arrived on the first floor and Caroline followed Stefan to the bar.
Stefan poured himself a drink and turned around to meet an obviously concerned Caroline. "Damon really wants her on a human blood diet, thinks she can learn control."
"You don't agree." Caroline whispered, nervous over whether Elena and Damon were trying to listen.
"I don't know what to do. Sometimes I think if she was on human blood, her thirst for it wouldn't be so strong; she'd be quenched so to speak. But at the same time, maybe she shouldn't have it at all, that way it's a little less tempting. I just don't know what to do with myself. I want to help her, but it's so hard." Stefan said, looking up at Caroline with glassy eyes.
"Hey, hey," Caroline comforted him, rubbing his arm, "It's not your fault that that man died. She's going to learn, it's Elena we're talking about here, she's like the most caring person I know, she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She's going to learn."
"You think so?" Stefan asked, his voice shaky.
"Of course, Stefan, she has you." Caroline smiled at Stefan, "I wouldn't be where I am today without you, you were the best thing that could have happened to me during that time. If I can get through it, so can she, with your help, with our help."
"Thanks, Caroline." Stefan murmured.
"No, Stefan, thank you," she responded. The two smiled at each other until Damon interrupted at the steps.
"Hey, I think what she needs right now is some alone time." Damon said, "She says she'll call when she wants company. She asked that you stay, Caroline." He said as he walked up the stairs to his room.
"How long do you think that will be for?" Caroline turned to Stefan.
"I guess we'll find out," Stefan responded.
Caroline took a seat on the couch and Stefan poured her a drink before joining her.
"So, how's it going? With Tyler being gone and all." Stefan asked, handing her the glass.
"I know this is going to sound really crazy, but I kind of feel like he isn't gone." Caroline took a sip and continued, "I know it seems like I've lost my marbles, and maybe I'm just in denial about the whole thing, but I don't know, it's just this feeling I have."
"I don't think it sounds crazy," Stefan smiled, "I mean, hey, I thought we were all goners when Klaus died, but we're all still here." Stefan paused, "You're really strong, Caroline, I don't know if I'd be able to comfort my best friend if I had just lost someone I loved."
"Well, she needs me, and she's been there for me when I needed her." Caroline responded.
"Whose there for you now?" Stefan asked.
"I guess, I guess you." Caroline answered, "Bonnie's been M.I.A. and Elena has other things to worry about and so far you're the only one who has asked how I'm doing."
Stefan reached out for Caroline's knee, "Well, someone should be there for you, and I'm glad I get to be that person. How has it been going though, really?"
"I mean I miss him, and I've gone through a lot of tissues, but like I said, I don't really believe he's gone." Caroline shook her head at the thought of him being dead.
"Well-" Stefan began, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. "I'll get that," Stefan said as he put his drink down.
He leisurely made his way to the door and opened it. Caroline had her back to the door, but she heard Stefan take a sharp breath in.
"Surprised to see me, mate?" A familiar voice spoke.