I don't own The Vampire Diaries, I'm just a fan :)


Perplexed

Chapter 8


"You will need to speak to Bonnie about the spells she will need for Michael." Klaus said to Elijah who nodded. They'd been sitting chatting for over an hour and Elijah was shocked at how normal Klaus was behaving. It was very obvious that he'd turned his emotions back on and even more obvious that he only wanted Caroline back. There had been several points in the previous centuries where Elijah was sure that his brother was a lost cause. Evil. Nothing good left in him at all. He'd actually missed the man he was currently talking to.

"I will but if this is going to work, she needs to make sure the Salvatores don't get involved. Damon ruins all the plans." Elijah said and Klaus nodded.

"I will text her since she is with him at the moment." Klaus said as he got his phone out. He didn't notice Gabriel awakening as he sent a text to Bonnie telling her to vervain or incapacitate Damon as it was too important to risk him being an impulsive idiot. Klaus was surprised that he was enjoying Elijah's company. He hadn't in a long time. He put his phone away then noticed Gabriel looking at him confused. Klaus opened the cooler and fished out a blood bag.

"Gabriel." Elijah said and Gabriel turned his head to look at him then sat up.

"Elijah. Niklaus." He said then he remembered and turned to look at Klaus annoyed. "You daggered me!" He said and Klaus sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry." He said and both Gabriel and Elijah looked surprised.

"You are sorry?" Gabriel asked shocked and Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Yes." He replied. "I didn't actually want you dead." He muttered then his phone beeped and he pulled it out. Bonnie agreed to incapacitate him. "Bonnie will make sure Damon isn't an issue." Klaus told Elijah who nodded.

"Helen?" He asked shocked when he noticed her. "You pulled her dagger out? But you hate her." Gabriel said confused.

"I don't hate her. She's just extremely annoying and I am not looking forward to her waking up at all." He muttered. "Here, drink." Klaus tossed him a blood bag. Gabriel had only been daggered for 23 years so he knew what it was.

"How long? What year is it?" Gabriel asked.

"2012." Elijah replied and Gabriel scowled at Klaus.

"23 years!" He yelled.

"If it's any consolation, Helen has been daggered for two centuries. She is going to be far more annoyed than you." Klaus pointed out.

"Where's Rebekah?" He asked.

"Driving the truck." Klaus replied.

"Hello, Gabriel." She called and he snapped his head to the voice.

"Hi, Rebekah." He replied. "Why are we in a truck?" He asked confused. "Why is it decorated?" He asked and both Klaus and Elijah chuckled.

"I should have just recorded our conversation it seems." Klaus said to Elijah who smirked.

"It was Klaus' girlfriend's idea." Elijah said to Gabriel amused and his jaw dropped.

"You have a girlfriend?" Gabriel as shocked. "You?" He asked and they laughed.

"Okay, it seems we are going to have the exact same conversation all over again." Klaus rolled his eyes. "Long story short: I'm in love with a girl called Caroline. Michael has her. I need to get her back. I will do anything you want provided that the deal ensures Caroline and Rebekah's safety forever from the three of you. I will tell you how to kill me if you help me." Klaus said and Gabriel's jaw was practically resting on his lap.

"Have you... turned your emotions on?" He asked cautiously as he noticed a big difference in the way Klaus was speaking.

"Yes." He nodded and he looked shocked all over again. "So has Rebekah."

"Nick?" They heard Rebekah call.

"What?" He asked.

"It will take us two days non-stop driving to get there. That's too long." She said and he nodded as he thought about that.

"Stealing a plane will be too obvious." Klaus said.

"Helicopter?" She called back and Klaus was surprised he hadn't thought of that.

"Good idea. Can you look it up? Because this is taking too long." Klaus agreed.

"Yeah, I'll tell you when I find something." She replied.

"Cheers." He replied.

"Where are we?" Gabriel asked.

"Nevada." Klaus replied. "We need to go to Virginia to pick Bonnie up then on to Pennsylvania to get Caroline." He said.

"Nick, we could get a private jet to Virginia because otherwise we'll have to stop every 500 miles or so to refuel if we get a helicopter." Rebekah called. "We can get a helicopter in Virginia." She said and Klaus scowled at nothing in particular for being so far away from her.

"What's the number of the private jet company closest to us?" Klaus asked her. She called out a number and told him they were close to Vegas airport. He dialled the number and asked for a plane to be ready as soon as possible regardless of the cost.


They parked the van in the airport long stay car park as they could come back for it later. He took the picture of Caroline out of the drawer and Elijah and Gabriel saw him stare at it for a few seconds before he put it in his pocket. He grabbed a few things from the truck as did Rebekah, including the blood cooler and Rebekah took some clothes for Helen to put on since she was wearing a very old dress. Elijah and Gabriel were shocked to see her with black hair. Klaus threw Helen over his shoulder then they made their way out onto the tarmac. They had to compel their way on since none of them had passports and obviously there was a still dead Original over Klaus' shoulder.

Elijah had spoken to Bonnie and informed her of some spells and that they were flying to Virginia to pick her up. Klaus and Elijah hadn't brought up breaking the curse to Gabriel yet. On the plane, Klaus and Rebekah sat next to each other and Elijah and Gabriel sat across from them with Helen in the middle. Gabriel was shocked at the difference in Klaus and Rebekah. They were nice now. It was weird. About half way into the flight, Helen woke up. She immediately tried to lunge for Klaus but Elijah and Gabriel grabbed her arms and forced her to sit down.

"What are you doing?" She asked the two of them annoyed.

"We're on a plane so you can't fight Niklaus at the moment. Wait until we land." Gabriel said to her and Klaus and Rebekah chuckled at his last comment.

"A plane?" She asked confused.

"Yeah, you've been daggered for 239 years." Klaus said unapologetically. He really couldn't stand her. Her face changed in anger.

"239 years! Are you insane?" She yelled at him.

"No, I just don't like you." Klaus said to her and both Elijah and Gabriel shot him a look.

"She won't help if you say things like that." Elijah pointed out and Klaus shrugged.

"She'll get to kill me. I can say whatever the hell I want." Klaus replied and Helen looked at him confused.

"Kill you? What are you talking about?" Helen asked.

"I want to make a deal with the three of you but obviously you took ages to wake up so I've already told them about it." Klaus said to her pointing to his brothers. "If you help me I will give you what you need to kill me, provided that the three of you ensure Rebekah and Caroline's safety." He said.

"Why would you do that? Who's Caroline?" She asked.

"She's the girl I love." Klaus said and Helen's jaw dropped. "And it seems we are doing this again." He rolled his eyes and Rebekah giggled.

"If you remember, I was shocked too." Rebekah pointed out to him and he smirked at her.

"Yes, well, whatever." He chuckled.

"What is needed to kill you?" Helen asked him as she tried to contemplate the fact her evil brother was in love.

"When the daggers were made for you four, a separate one was made for me." Klaus said and they all looked shocked. "But it only works now because I broke the curse." He said and Gabriel and Helen's jaws dropped.

"You broke it!" Helen exclaimed and he nodded.

"Yes, I am a hybrid now." Klaus said and they looked stunned. "But my dagger is different than yours. Mine is permanent." He said and they looked surprised.

"You can't let them kill you." Rebekah said to him grabbing his arm and he saw how upset she looked and he shrugged.

"It's Caroline, Rebekah. I really don't care if they kill me as long as she's safe." He said to her sincerely and Helen looked at him with true shock. Sure, she'd never gotten along with him but he was still her little brother. And yes she was pissed but she wasn't sure if she could kill him permanently. Especially when it seemed his emotions were turned on finally. He turned back to look at the other three. He pulled up his leg then from his boot he got out a little satchel, opened it and took out a dagger. They saw it was different from theirs. "This is it." He said to them. "I will give it to you if you help me get her back from Michael." He said.

"And how are we supposed to trust that?" Helen asked him and he sighed. He put the dagger back in the satchel, closed it... then threw it to her and it landed on her lap. The four of them looked at him in shock that he would make himself vulnerable first.

"Now you have it." Klaus said to her. "Elijah has all four of your daggers." He shrugged. "But Helen, if you attempt to kill me before I get Caroline free, I will bite you." Klaus warned her.

"Bite me?" She asked confused.

"Werewolf bite." He said to her and her jaw dropped.

"So you can still kill us without daggers." She said to him distrustfully.

"I can, but I won't." He said.

"And how do we know that?" She asked.

"Well, I have been a hybrid for nearly nine months and I haven't bitten you so why would I do it now when I need your help?" He asked her like she was stupid and she shot him an annoyed look. He had a point.

"We will have to kill all the werewolves." Rebekah said and Klaus smirked at her.

"I'll give you some blood, just in case." He said to her and she smiled at him softly.

"Blood?" Helen asked him.

"My blood is the cure for a werewolf bite." He said to her and she looked shocked.

"Speaking of blood, I'm starving. Where are the humans?" She asked. Rebekah had the cooler beside her so she opened it and took one out then handed it over to Helen. "This is blood?" She asked and the four of them nodded. "Rebekah, why is your hair black?" She asked and Rebekah giggled.

"I coloured it black." She replied.

"That is possible?" Helen asked surprised.

"Yes." Rebekah smiled. "The difference in the world today will shock you." She said. "It was definitely a shock for me." She said.

"You were daggered too?" Helen asked surprised as Klaus and Rebekah seemed really close.

"Yes, for 90 years." Rebekah shot Klaus a look and he chuckled.

"I already apologised for that." He pointed out to her and she laughed.

"Yes, I know, Nick." She said. "Can't this blasted plane go any faster?" She said annoyed. "We need to get to her." She said biting her lip and Gabriel and Helen looked at her confused.

"You care about her too?" Helen asked her confused and Rebekah nodded.

"Yes, I love her too. She's my best friend." She said and they looked surprised.


They landed into Virginia and Klaus stole a car for them. Elijah and Rebekah went to go get a helicopter sorted and Helen and Gabriel went with Klaus in the car to get Bonnie. Klaus was not pleased about Helen going with him but he was too worried about Caroline to say anything about it and she wanted to keep an eye on him. He pulled up to the boarding house just as another car did. Helen and Gabriel were shocked to see the doppelganger get out of it. They could hear her heartbeat. She was human. Klaus hopped out of the car and was about to say something to her but she motioned for him to be quiet with a finger on her lips then pointed to the house and mouthed 'Katherine' and he smirked. Helen and Gabriel were shocked that Klaus allowed the doppelganger to survive.

Elena walked over to the door and opened it then Klaus followed her inside. Klaus saw immediately that Katherine was standing there with her back to him and he was highly amused. Bonnie and Stefan looked up at him and it caused Katherine to turn around and her eyes widened and she took a step back.

"Klaus. How... how did you get in?" She asked shocked and he shrugged.

"I would have thought over 500 years of being a vampire would have taught you about the invitation rule." He said to her and Stefan chuckled a little as did Bonnie.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in fear.

"Fixing your mess." Klaus replied. "You see, by releasing Michael, you have seriously pissed me off." He said and her eyes widened further. "But I would do anything for Caroline so I think I will take her suggestion with regards to you. She is so kind hearted after all."

"What do you mean?" She asked confused.

"You no longer have to run from me, Katerina. I have zero interest in hunting you. You are free." He said to her and she looked shocked. So did Bonnie, Elena and Stefan.

"Really?" She asked in disbelief and he nodded.

"Mmhmm." He said.

"That was Caroline's suggestion?" She asked shocked.

"No, I haven't gotten to that part yet." He smirked and she looked confused.

"Why are you taking Caroline's suggestion?" She asked confused and he looked at her amused.

"You haven't heard?" He cocked his head to the side.

"Heard what?" She asked confused and he chuckled.

"I'm in love with her." Klaus said to her and her jaw dropped.

"What?" She asked shocked and he smirked.

"But I pissed her off so I have to stay on her good side." He said and Katherine looked at him in disbelief that Klaus would want to stay on Caroline's good side. "So as much as I would no doubt enjoy torturing you for centuries, I've got better things to do with my time." He said to her.

"Then what's the suggestion?" She asked confused and he looked at her amused then his face changed and quicker than anyone could track, he bit Katherine on the neck and she gasped.

"She suggested I bite you and let you die the horrible, miserable, haunted death that a werewolf bite brings." He said and he saw the fear all over her face. Stefan, Elena and Bonnie's jaws were dropped.

"No, please. I'll do anything." She pleaded.

"Nope." He shook his head. "Oh and I know I haven't got a clue what happened to him but Tyler Lockwood's blood won't heal you." He said amused. "So you have fun with that, Katerina. Bonnie, are you ready to go?" He asked her and she nodded. Katherine darted behind Elena and grabbed her head.

"I'll snap her neck then you won't be able to make hybrids." Katherine warned him and he sighed.

"Katherine! No!" Stefan exclaimed and Bonnie looked worried. Katherine bit into her wrist and forced her blood down Elena's throat while Klaus watched bored.

"I don't care about the hybrids anymore, Katerina. I will not heal you, regardless." He said to her and everyone looked shocked. Especially Stefan, considering Klaus had dragged him around the country trying to figure it out. Gabriel and Helen had been listening from the car and they were shocked that Klaus didn't give a crap about making hybrids. Klaus thought about it and realised Caroline would be annoyed at him if he let Elena die. "Though Caroline will be annoyed if the doppelganger dies... Fine, if you let her go, you can have this..." He said then bit into his wrist and held it out. Katherine let go of Elena and darted over to his wrist and just before she reached it, Klaus snapped her neck and she fell on the floor unconscious with a thud as his wrist healed. "Silly, Katerina." He shook his head. "Stefan, I would put her in the cell if you don't want her massacring the town." He said to him and he nodded. "Bonnie, can we go now?" He asked her and she nodded and walked over to him.

"Where are the other Originals?" Bonnie asked him curiously as she pulled her jacket on.

"Elijah and Rebekah are getting a helicopter and the other two are in the car." He pointed to the door. "But Helen is extremely annoying so don't let her bother you." He said and Bonnie was kind of amused by that.

"Bonnie, be careful." Elena said to her as she hugged her.

"I will." She agreed as Klaus walked out the door. "I'll call when it's over." She promised. "Make sure Damon stays in that cell." Bonnie said as she hurried out after Klaus. She noticed that the front seat was free so she jumped in and closed the door.

"Bonnie, that's Helen and Gabriel." Klaus said as he started the car.

"Hello." She said to them and they greeted her back. "Are we really going in a helicopter?" Bonnie asked him and he nodded.

"This has taken far too long already. It's the fastest way." He said.

"What is a helicopter?" Helen asked.

"You'll see when we get there." Klaus muttered.

"Well, excuse me, but I have had a dagger in me for over 200 years. I don't know these things!" Helen exclaimed and Klaus sighed in annoyance while Bonnie was shocked at that.

"Why didn't you go with Elijah? You are so irritating." Klaus said annoyed. "I should have just left you daggered." He muttered.

"And then you wouldn't have my help." She said to him.

"You're only helping so you can kill me. Don't pretend you're doing it for any other reason." Klaus said and Helen scowled at him. Bonnie was shocked at that. Shocked that Klaus was going to die to save Caroline.

"Can you two stop arguing? You're giving me a headache." Gabriel mumbled.


They were in the helicopter and Bonnie looked around her. She was sitting in-between Helen and Gabriel and across from her were Elijah, Rebekah and Klaus. She was sitting with all of the Originals. It was highly surreal. She knew that Rebekah was doing this for Caroline but internally she was shocked that the other three were doing it because Klaus was going to let them kill him. She wasn't exactly a fan of Klaus, but considering what he was doing to save Caroline... she couldn't really hate him either.

Caroline had slowly opened up about Klaus and Rebekah and she knew that Caroline was in love with Klaus. She knew that Caroline adored Rebekah. She knew that if Klaus died, Caroline would be heartbroken. Internally she was kind of worried that with Klaus dead, none of them would be safe as Klaus' love for Caroline kept them all safe from the Originals. She'd been shocked when he protected Elena despite not caring about the hybrids. He'd done it for Caroline. Bonnie felt highly confused as to how she should be feeling about Klaus. He'd done a lot of terrible things but so had Stefan and Damon yet she cared about them. After everything Caroline told her, she knew Klaus had turned his emotions on so he was different.

She thought about when Elena had been in trouble... two vampires and a witch came to her rescue. And with Caroline in trouble... the five Originals and a witch were coming to her rescue. It was kind of epic in a way. Kind of romantic, if you didn't think about the torture part. Bonnie was trying hard not to think about the fact that Caroline was being tortured as she had to stay focused on her magic. She couldn't be useful and be a bumbling mess. She could be a bumbling mess once Michael was dead.

She'd been watching Klaus and he was beyond agitated. He was impatient and it was obvious that the closer they got to her, the more nervous he was getting. He just wanted to get her to safety. Bonnie was shocked at how deeply he cared about Caroline. Bonnie noticed that he kept staring out the window and she saw his siblings were all watching him carefully. Rebekah kept trying not to tear up. They truly cared. Bonnie saw it.


The plan was that Klaus was going to go to the tomb first. He was practically immortal so he couldn't be hurt by Michael's lackeys. Rebekah's job was to get Caroline and run. Bonnie and Elijah were going to be involved in the magic part as Elijah would tell her what to say and do. Helen and Gabriel were going to continue what Klaus started. They were there purely to kill any others around. The plan was to trap Michael in the tomb then it would take the five Original's blood to kill him. It was a spell from a long time ago. It was the only way to kill him. Klaus had drained some of his blood into three vials just in case Michael managed to kill him before the others got to Michael. He gave Bonnie a vial and Rebekah two vials. He told Bonnie that the vial was for Caroline, just in case she ever needed it in the future but under no circumstances was it for Katherine. Bonnie agreed. Rebekah had two because one was for her and one was to be given to Michael. She was the only sibling Klaus trusted so that's why she had it.

The helicopter landed and Klaus surprised Rebekah by giving her a hug then in a flash he was gone. Klaus ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the tomb. There were vampires everywhere. He killed any he encountered. He burst through the tomb doors and he saw her. He saw Caroline. And her body looked like mulch. She was unconscious and every part of her skin was streaked with blood. Every part of her skin on her legs, arms and torso was covered in gashes and burns. Klaus had never seen anything so horrifying in all of his life. He rushed to her because he couldn't help it. He couldn't see Michael which surprised him. He covered Caroline with his jacket because she was naked, then he picked her up and made a break for it. He ran and ran and he was shocked that he managed to get back to the helicopter without seeing Michael. Rebekah and Bonnie burst into tears at the sight of her. Klaus couldn't focus on it yet. He'd be a mess later.

Klaus lay Caroline down in the helicopter then compelled the pilot to hover in the air until Klaus radioed him to come back down. The helicopter took off and his siblings saw that Klaus was beyond livid. Once the helicopter was up in the air, Klaus took off back to the tomb. He'd been unable to kill Michael as a vampire, but he wasn't a vampire anymore and he'd never felt fury like this in all of his life. People were capable of things they could never imagine in deeply emotional situations. He re-entered the tomb and Michael stood there looking amused. Klaus lost it.

Rebekah, Helen and Gabriel got to the tomb in time to see Klaus literally ripping Michael apart. He ripped his arms off. He ripped his legs off. Michael was shocked.

"You took the wrong person." Klaus said to him eerily calmly then... he ripped Michael's head clean off. Klaus stood there in shock that he'd just killed Michael. By himself. Michael had been created to kill the Originals. Klaus had a fleeting thought that he was totally pissed he didn't try this first instead of un-daggering Helen, but it was done. Why dwell?

"All the surrounding vampires are dead." Gabriel said unsure of what else to say. Klaus just nodded. He looked down at Michael. He'd been on the run from Michael for such a long time. And now he was dead. He turned on his heel and walked straight out of the tomb past his siblings and got the radio out and told the pilot to fly back down.

He ran back to the helicopter and once it landed he jumped inside and opened the cooler he'd brought with him. He sat on the ground and held Caroline in his arms across his lap. He opened a blood bag and pressed it to her lips. She was so hurt that her body wasn't healing. He had to reposition her so that the blood flowed down her throat. When the bag was done he threw it outside then opened another one and did the same. He hadn't even noticed the return of Rebekah, Helen and Gabriel. He was too focused on her. Elijah and Bonnie were in the tomb using magic to disintegrate Michael's body to ash. Helen and Gabriel were shocked that he could go from being maniacal, ripping Michael apart, to gentle while he tried to heal her. They saw his face and how he was guilt ridden. He held her so gently, as if he was afraid the lightest touch would damage her further. They saw how much he loved her.

"Won't she heal faster on fresh blood?" Gabriel asked and Klaus finally looked up.

"She won't be able to stop." Klaus said to them then tossed the empty bag out and opened another.

"So what?" Helen asked confused.

"Caroline refuses to kill humans. She would be devastated if Nick let her kill someone to feed." Rebekah said to them.

"She's a vampire." Helen said like they were stupid.

"We don't kill to feed anymore either." Rebekah said to her and Helen and Gabriel's jaws dropped.

"Even you?" Helen asked Klaus shocked and he nodded then turned back to look at Caroline.

"Rebekah? Did you bring any extra clothes?" Klaus asked her and she nodded then grabbed her bag and pulled out loose trousers and a sweater.

"That's all I have." She said.

"Help me dress her, will you? She'd be mortified at being just covered with my jacket." Klaus mumbled. Rebekah unfolded the trousers then gently eased them over Caroline's blood covered legs and pulled them up to her waist then Klaus moved her so Rebekah could get the sweater on her then she zipped it up and Klaus threw his bloodied jacket out of the helicopter on the ground. Caroline's skin was healing slowly and Klaus fed her bag after bag and every few minutes, he pulled up the sweater to look at her stomach to see if the wounds were healed there yet. After about twenty minutes of that, Bonnie and Elijah reappeared. Klaus didn't give a crap if the others were watching him. He just wanted Caroline to wake up already. Rebekah was sitting next to them and she had Caroline's hand in hers and she was willing her to wake up too.

"Is she going to be okay?" Bonnie asked Klaus nervously and he nodded.

"She'll heal." He replied but his eyes never left Caroline's face.

"We should get going." Elijah said and Klaus nodded absently then lifted Caroline up and he sat down on the flight seat instead of the floor while he manoeuvred Caroline with him. Bonnie sat next to him and Rebekah sat across from him. He was still feeding her blood bags and he nearly did a happy dance when her face changed. The other Originals got into the helicopter too then Elijah instructed the man to fly them to Mystic Falls. About twenty minutes into the flight and two blood bags later, Caroline's eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was Klaus' face and he looked so relieved.

"Nick?" She whispered and all the others snapped their heads to look at her.

"You're safe now. He's dead. I'm sorry it took so long." Klaus said to her and she smiled softly and she was so weak. Her hand moved up slowly and it was obvious it took a lot of effort for her to do it but she put her hand on his cheek.

"You know as soon as I feel better, I'm going to kick your ass, right?" She whispered to him and he smiled at her. Gabriel and Helen were shocked at her saying that and at how fondly Klaus looked at her when she said it.

"I know." He nodded.

"Caroline? Are you okay?" Bonnie asked her worriedly and Caroline moved her head a little and she saw Bonnie.

"Bon?" She asked weakly then she saw Elijah and two other vampires she didn't recognise. "Elijah?" She asked surprised but her voice was so weak that it sounded like more of a squeak.

"Hello, Caroline." He nodded to her and she looked surprised considering he was supposed to be daggered.

"Hi." She replied.

"That's my brother Gabriel." Klaus pointed to him. "That's Helen but she's a pain in the arse." He pointed to his sister and they were surprised when Caroline shot him an annoyed look.

"That's mean, Nick." Caroline said to him and he sighed.

"It's not mean if it's true." He said to her.

"It's still mean." She said and he rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, Helen." He muttered and they were all dying to laugh at how Caroline had him totally whipped. "Happy?" He asked her and she smiled softly.

"Ecstatic." She winked at him and he smirked. "Hello." She waved weakly at Helen and Gabriel.

"So you are the woman that melted the ice heart of the evil brother?" Helen smirked at her. "Are you alright?" She asked.

"I'm okay." Caroline said to her. "But he's not evil, nor icy." She defended and Klaus smirked at her for being protective and they all chuckled at the ballsy little vampire having attitude even after being tortured for almost five days.

"Duly noted." Helen smirked. She liked her already.