"Don't be fooled by the act," warned Rebekah. "You're smarter than that."

Cami inched the computer closer to her. "Act?"

"This 'my siblings are being mean to me' act Klaus is so adept at. He wants your sympathy. But the truth is, Nik's terrified we'll leave him for good."

"I see," Cami nodded, turning to Klaus. "I guess that's something we'll have to discuss in our next one-on-one session."

"There's nothing to discuss," Klaus said, pointing at Rebekah and Elijah. "You want to know my burden as the middle one? Ten centuries of protecting these fools from their own idiocy!"

"Well-intentioned, but I have to question your methods," Cami said.

"You mean the daggering?" Huff. "Don't look at me like that. It's clean, it's convenient, and it's for their own good."

"And not a little bit extreme, you don't think? What crime could possibly deserve such punishment, Klaus?"

He listed them off his fingers. "Elijah gets in the middle of something he shouldn't. My sister gets under someone she shouldn't…"

Rebekah looked furious. "As if you're so bloody blameless."

"What I do, I do with purpose, sister. It's logic, not lunacy, or God forbid, love."

Cami shifted her eyes away from Klaus, making a big scene of shuffling through her pages. Elijah, noticing, sensed his brother's comments had hit a bit close. "Forgive my brother," he said. "Unfortunately it appears he has taken your request for candor to heart."

Klaus of course found this disdainfully hilarious. "Typical. I do the right thing and receive only ingratitude for my efforts."

"And what gives you the right," said Elijah, "to decide how and when we should be…'protected' as you so graciously put it?"

"Power is about possession, dear brother. I hold the daggers, I make the rules."

"Then perhaps I'll speak with the witches about crafting a dagger with your name on it," spoke Rebekah.

Klaus shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time you've plotted against me."

Elijah looked to Cami, begging her to end the session early. He did have a point; she needed to keep a tighter rein on the conversation as the sole professional (and adult?) in the room.

"Okay," she agreed. "Let me take a moment to remind everyone that this is a safe, non-threatening environment. I can't allow you to antagonize each other. In fact, let's ban the word 'dagger' altogether."

"Wise," Elijah nodded, "though I presume my brother will simply choose another weapon from his never-ending arsenal of oppression."

Rebekah had to laugh at that. "Oh, you're no better, Elijah. You might not be able to stick a dagger in my chest but your self-righteous shaming is no less subtle."

"Rebekah said 'dagger,'" tattled Klaus.

Cami ignored him. She wanted Rebekah to keep talking. "It sounds like you haven't always been a fan of your brother's opinions," she said.

Rebekah laughed again. "Opinions? Elijah doesn't have opinions, Cami, not when he's always right. When it comes to the noble Elijah, it's never a suggestion, never just advice – it's an order."

Cami turned to Elijah, who clearly thought his sister was being dramatic. "Rebekah overemphasizing my dedication to her happiness," he said. "I only ever wish to guide my sister's behavior toward those endeavors which would benefit this family."

"That's code for 'overbearing big brother,'" piped Rebekah. "Put that in your notes, Camille."

Cami sighed. It was impossible, trying to keep the conversation fluent and civil at the same time. "Brothers are often protective of their sisters, Rebekah, especially younger ones," she said, with empathy. "I would not be surprised if Elijah believes he's trying to protect you from some greater evil."

"Camille is right," Elijah nodded. "I don't wish to see you get hurt, Rebekah."

"I'm an Original. There's not much anymore can do to harm me. So no need to –"

Rebekah grew so still for a second Cami thought the screen had frozen. "Are you still there?" she asked.

"Um…yes," she spoke up, suddenly on her feet. She kept looking off screen as if something urgent was distracting her. "Look, I have to go, Cami."

"Already? But I still have more questions and I hoped—"

"Exactly," said Rebekah.

"Is everything alright?" Elijah had leaned in. And Klaus loomed over the computer as well, considering the same, that perhaps something was wrong with his daughter. Hope had simply woken from a nap, but Rebekah found the brother's concern endearing.

"There's nothing to worry about here," she told them. "Continue helping Cami with her homework and don't worry a thing. About anyone. Later, Elijah - I'll call you."

The screen minimized and then went dark.

"Do you see that?" Klaus grumbled. "Not even a goodbye. I only exist to be yelled at."

Elijah sighed, rubbing his temple as he sat back in his seat. "Perhaps we should break for today, Camille. I fear the more of us you gather together, the less progress we are able to make."

"That seems to be the case," she agreed. "How about this? If you can get your mother in this evening then the two of you can have the rest of the day off."

"Fantastic!" said Klaus. He slapped his brother on the back. "Elijah can get right on that. Now if you excuse me I have some dastardly plans to get back to."

"Wait…"

Cami rose, closing her notepad and sticking her pen behind her ear. "I have one more request: I need to meet with your father too. There's no way I'll be able to pull this project together without speaking to him."

Klaus went a bit peaky. "Let Elijah be in charge of Mikael too."

Cami smiled gratefully. She knew she was asking a lot but every session so far seemed to circle around the Mikaelson parents. And even Mikael and Esther deserved to have their side of the story told.