'Katherine.' Nadia bent down and ran her fingers through Katherine's gray locks, pushing them away from her face. 'Katherine, it's me, Nadia.' Damon leaned in the doorway to the study, a whisky in his hand and an indifferent expression on his face. Katherine did not move.

'Mom' Nadia said, gently but more insistently.

Katherine stirred and turned towards Nadia, her eyes opening slowly. She grimaced in pain and closed her eyes tight again. She raised her arm to her head and gingerly felt the bruise on her temple.

'Ow' she groaned. 'My head hurts like a bitch.'

Nadia exhaled softly in relief. Moaning was a good sign.

'What did I tell you? Cockroach' said Damon to Nadia, gesturing to Katherine. 'Now, if you'll excuse me… you can take over babysitting duties.'

He turned and left the study. Nadia turned her attention back to Katherine. Katherine had her hand over her face and was squinting through her fingers.

'What happened?' she asked, groggily. 'I thought you left?'

'I came back' Nadia said, simply. 'Do you remember what happened to you?'

Katherine shook her head and winced again.

'We were talking on the phone..' Nadia prompted. 'You were going to come and meet me?'

Katherine took her hand away from her face and looked at Nadia.

'I remember I was on the stairs…' she said, faintly. She sounded so weak. 'I don't know what happened.'

'Damon said he thought you'd had some sort of heart attack. You fell down the stairs, hit your head' Nadia said, gently.

Katherine nodded and touched her head gingerly again.

'I'm glad you came back' she said, putting her hand out and resting it on Nadia's arm.

Nadia smiled, tears at the corners of her eyes.

'Of course I came back,' she said.

'Did you get the knife?' Katherine asked.

Nadia looked puzzled for a moment, but then realised what Katherine was talking about.

'Yes, I stopped by Matt's on the way over,' she said. 'But let's not talk about that right now. You need to get your strength back before we can do a spell like that.'

Katherine frowned. 'I'm fine Nadia, it was just a little fall' she said.

Nadia pulled the blanket up around Katherine.

'Shh' she said, tucking the edges in gently. 'You need to rest. I'm going to get you something to eat, ok? Maybe some of that kale shake you love so much' she smiled brightly, her eyes still a little teary at the sight of her mother so weak and vulnerable.

'Yuk' Katherine said sourly. 'That stuff is clearly doing me no good.'

'I'll see what I can come up with' Nadia stood and turned to leave.

'Nadia' Katherine said, weakly.

Nadia turned back.

'I'm really glad you're here'

Nadia smiled and tears pricked the corners of her eyes again. She blinked them away quickly and turned to leave. Katherine smiled and closed her eyes.