The mission was supposed to be easy, or so they thought on route to capture Mikael. Rebekah insisted on tagging along and with much persistence from Ric and his sister Klaus and Caroline caved. More Caroline than himself but finding himself outnumbered by two of his favorite people was not something he enjoyed. They scale the side of the building stopping at the roof top to wait for the dark to settle in some more as they regroup.
Soon the night is covered in stars the four of them huddling in pairs for warmth Caroline thinks it might have been more romantic under different circumstances. Ric checks his watch and he sees it is almost time for the guard switch to take place. He nudges Klaus and points to his own watch. Klaus nods in understanding as they begin to make their way toward the ventilation shafts removing certain sections so that they all may enter.
Once they hit the main floor the group is on their toes in the dark passage ways when they hear movement. Ric is knocked out and Rebekah immediately runs in the direction of Nik and Caroline hoping to get to them before Ric's attacker gets her. She reaches the end of the hall spotting Caroline her eyes wide with fear as the blonde comes running towards her. She feels her ponytail being pulled and she cries out in pain absolutely pissed he dared touch her hair.
She elbows him in the ribs turning to face her attacker she hears a gun cock in front of her. Rebekah's brother finally making an appearance behind her attacker holding a gun to his head. "Stefan?" Rebekah cries disbelievingly as his hold on her loosens. "Come on becks, you always liked it a little rough." Stefan states pulling her head once again to face him directly. It's the last thing he does because Klaus shoots him. Klaus takes his sister by the hand along with Caroline trailing behind they re-track finding Ric still unconscious.
"Am I to be forever getting you out of these situations? Klaus asks him as he slaps the man on the face waking him instantly. Ric is about to comment when they look up searching for the spot where they hear clapping coming from. "Well done, Niklaus." Mikael greets them bowing to the ladies. "Ah yes my beautiful daughter. What a waste." he turns away from them facing the guards surrounding them, "Waste?" Caroline hears her ask him. "Kill them all." Mikael says placing his right hand in his pocket and walking towards the door to a waiting Esther in the car.
"Time to get physical," Caroline says standing from her crouching position by Klaus and Ric they soon fall in line behind her. No one notices when she picks up a steel pipe of the floor swinging and making direct contact with firstly the gun in the soldier's hands and then swinging back connecting with his jaw. "Run!" she yells taking off.
They speed down the halls of the eerily cryptic building the footsteps of soldiers spurring them forward as they jump past Stefan's bleeding body. "We have to go up," Ric says grabbing Bekah's hand and pulling her along making her match his speed. Klaus nods taking Caroline's hand in his as they run up the stairs making it floor by floor. "I didn't want to have to use this," yells Klaus as he drops a very special present down the centers of the rounding staircase.
They hear a boom and smoke rises t where they are as they reach their exit pulling the girls up first and then themselves. Klaus feels a hand on his arm and flips the guard over his shoulder removing his mask, "Trevor." He groans on the ground as Klaus makes his way back up following after Ric still unsure of what was happening. "Rebekah where is Katerina?" Klaus demands to know before he is even out of the air shaft.
"Nik, she died. Mikael killed her I don't know how but she is dead." She tells him knowing this cannot end well when she hears him punch the brick wall. "Let's go," he says grabbing his bag he tells O'Connor, "This is what you wanted right?" leaving a god-smacked group behind him as he shimmies down the rope heading towards their vehicle.
"What the hell Bekah?" Caroline yells once they are safely walking back to the car hoping Klaus is at least still there. "Katherine was the first person put under the protection of Niklaus. He's upset because he failed her. Why he even thought to ask for her now is beyond me." the girl says. Ric narrow his eyes as he thinks back to the vent, "He knew the guard that snuck up on us after you girls got out, called him Trevor."
"Trevor was her brother, if he's here then he's the reason she's dead not Niklaus. Let's go." Rebekah says breaking into a run quickly making it to the car. Ric and Caroline take the back seat both in conversation and physically because Klaus and his sister start arguing so fast they can't understand them. Caroline puts her fingers to her mouth letting out a loud whistle calming them, "Stow your crap." They both stop immediately looking out their own respective windows, "Now explain," she asks her tone gentle.
They start at the same time once more huffing at each other crossing their arms. "I'm so happy I'm an only child," Ric says beside Caroline and she silently agrees. "Klaus first." Caroline demands and Klaus turns on the car turning onto the dimly lighted street as he begins his story. "I met her when I was first starting out, she was alone. Her brother was getting into some shady things left her in our house. Eventually we got close." Klaus says clearing his throat. Ric pumps his fist in the air twice, "Nice," he mutters receiving a swat from Caroline.
"I talked her into my side, together we built up a case around my fathers under dwellings," Klaus explained "Trevor would tell his sister and she would tell me and so on and so on." Caroline made a whiny sound in the back and Klaus looked up into the rear-view mirror to see what that was about. "I'm fine I just must have cut myself on something," she says wrapping the palm of her hand with her scarf. Klaus pulls over, "Ric switch with me." he says turning off the car and getting out. Ric does as Klaus commands though not happily until Rebekah reaches over taking his hand in hers.
"I'm fine Nik," she tells him quickly giving up on fighting him with that look in his eyes. "Caroline will you just let me take care of you?" he tells her happy when she nods. He reaches under the seat pulling out the first aid kit fidgeting with the antiseptic his fingers fumbling. "Klaus relax, I'm fine. It's just a small cut." She rushes to console him her good hand holding on to his. "I can't," Klaus cries losing control her eyes widen he scared her.
"Why?" Caroline asks him. "Because I can't lose you. This could have been worse Caroline!" he says holding out her hand. "I love you and I can't lose you!" he lets slip looking up at Caroline smiling widely pain long forgotten. Rebekah gasps watching the scene play out hitting Ric on the arm he whines and she covers his mouth with her hand refusing to ruin her brother's moment. "You love me?!" Caroline squeals jumping across the seat to kiss him.
AN: Thank you AgathaN, your reviews make my day! happy reading all!