Chapter 12

Klaus POV…

He had watched her go, not really surprised when she had chosen to jump over the balcony since it would get her away faster. He was angry; that much was for sure, but she had spoken with him honesty regardless of the fact he could have killed her right there. He knew he wouldn't kill her, but even telling her that she was his favorite he figured she would think the opposite. He looked at his mother as she turned to face him now that Caroline had left to see the disappointment on her face.

"Niklaus, I do so wish you would see that you do not need to make more hybrids; and you would release the ones you've already made. It would help the negotiations with the other group more smoothly if they saw our family willing to make a few compromises."

"On this I will not change my mind Mother. I cannot have a bunch of my hybrids wandering around uncontrolled; there must be order in them." Klaus replied as he moved to linger where Caroline had been standing and took in the scent she left behind. He hadn't wanted to hurt her, but he had snapped with her insistence on Tyler's behalf; the pup didn't deserve her in any way.

"I've seen much disappointment tonight. I asked that there be no violence and my wishes were ignored. That girl was the one supernatural person that, not only obeyed, but stepped in to stop the fight before it really began. You might as well have participated in the fight with the way you acted with her. I will be inside… do not let anything else start tonight." She warned and walked away. He could hear her begin talking to Elijah as he walked back towards his art room. His brother was letting her know he would deal with Rebekah and Kol and his mother saying she wished her children were more like him. He was glad the sounds of the dying party filtered through by the time he made it to his destination; not wanting to hear his mother praise Elijah anymore. Finn and Elijah had always been Ester's favorite sons, so it wasn't surprising that it was still that way after a thousand years.

He reached down and picked up the bracelet she had tossed down and laid it inside one of the drawers on his desk. Looking around the room at his artwork he replayed their conversations in his head; lingering on how she actually looked curious when she figured out he had done all the art in the room. Realizing his art was the only thing she had taken an interest in besides the horses outside he picked up a blank piece of paper; an idea already forming in his head on how to approach her again. He quickly drew her and the horse from earlier she had been admiring when she sought to escape from him and the party. When he was finished he debated on what to say to her since he wasn't going to apologize, but he didn't want her to think he would act against her. Writing out his thanks for her honesty he quickly set off out of the mansion towards her house.

When he got there he realized she wasn't home yet; no doubt checking up on all of her friends. He went inside, going straight to her room he thought about leaving the drawing on the nightstand like he had the jewelry box. When he noticed the nightstand drawer not full closed he pulled it open; not really ashamed of the fact he was snooping. He saw the jewelry box that the bracelet had been in so he pulled it and the ribbon out, closing the drawer back, and rolled his drawing up; placing it inside the jewelry box with a smirk thinking she would get frustrated thinking he had brought the bracelet back. Not knowing when she'd be home and not wanting to get caught snooping, he laid the box on her bed and took one last look around the room before he went back home. The guests had left by the time he made it back and he didn't bother checking to see what his siblings were up to before changing out of his suit and going to bed.

Next Day…

Klaus had woken relatively early and was content to just stay home and sketch the day away. He had been drawing Caroline and letting out a growl any time one of his brothers came near him to see what he was drawing. When Kol came in to pester him he turned the page and started drawing something else; ignoring his brother's attempts to fill the silence and boredom of the day with mindless chatter. When Rebekah came home he smirked knowing he wouldn't have to be the one to call her out on her late-night activities since Kol had spotted her. He sat there grinning as Kol hounded her about staying out all night and suggesting she had been with the quarterback; not faltering when she said she hadn't been with Matt. He couldn't help but chuckle when Kol called her a strumpet, but knew his brother was up to something when he said "at least she's having fun" before asking him to accompany him out.

With nothing else to do that day he readily agreed and put his sketchbook away while Kol and Rebekah bantered some more. He walked out ahead of him but not far enough to miss Kol compare the house full of men to Rebekah. Resisting the urge to laugh and draw Rebekah's attention to him he walked further outside. When they flashed to the grill they overheard Alaric and Dr. Fell talking about who the killer might be, suggesting it was a vampire. So he couldn't help but tell them not to blame his family just because they had a killer on the loose before he and Kol proceeded to make their way through the Grill's liquor supply.

He had hoped Caroline would make an appearance since it was the only place in town that served food, but as it grew dark outside he doubted she would show. He wondered what she had thought of his drawing and if she would be difficult to talk to the next time they ran into each other. He listened to his brother point out different women in the quaint little grill that would serve as food or pleasure but he mostly ignored him. They had their backs to the bar so they could keep their eyes open on any surprise attacks so when he saw her walk in he felt his excitement come to life; but she didn't even look his way and went straight to talk to the quarterback while he was working.

"Now I remember her from last night. She looks like a tasty little thing." He heard Kol comment and wanted to make things clear; she was off limits in every way.

"Say another word Kol and I'll tear out your liver." He said with a serious look and his brother quieted so they could listen in on Caroline and Matt's conversation.

Caroline POV…

She had spent most of the day combing through the cell with her father's belongings looking for his journal, and she knew her mom was working a double-shift so she decided to call it a day; and she wanted to make sure her mother ate so she had called ahead to have the food ready when she got to the grill. She walked in, not bothering to look around since she didn't want to linger; just pick up the food and get it to her mother. When she made it to Matt she gave him a small, tired smile and he chuckled before speaking up first.

"You look exhausted."

"Ah thanks Matt… you know I love when someone points out I look awful." She said in a whine, even though she knew she had still cleaned herself back up from going through her father's things; she still refused to go out in public looking like crap.

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it. I just think you should take a break… you've got a lot going on." Matt replied and she gave him a smile before taking a seat at one of the booths for a little conversation while she waited on her food.

"Well that's why I called it a night. I just wanted to get something for Mom to eat." Caroline stated as she placed her hands on the bar in front of her and saw Matt look towards the warmer where food was kept while waiting on its owners.

"Well it's ready. Any luck today?"

"No on both cases… my dad was a mastermind of hiding things; and the only thing I've heard was Stefan suspecting Meredith was the killer. She was there when he died and if anyone else had seen the look on her face they would understand why I say it wasn't her." Caroline ranted as she felt the day's frustrations come back out to play. She didn't really want to go over all of it again so she shrugged her shoulders while Matt began speaking.

"I don't know who it could be… but we'll figure out who it is Care."

"I know we will… and they'll wish they were never born." Caroline stated and had to stop herself from breaking the wooden bar under her hands; not even realizing she had moved to grip it.

"Want help?" Matt offered and she knew he was serious, but she didn't want anyone there when she got a hold of the person.

"I would think I'm quite adept at torture Matt." She deadpanned and raised an eyebrow daring him to challenge her statement.

"No one would doubt that… I'm just saying the rest of us might want to take turns too. Alaric would be dead if Elena hadn't finished killing him so his ring would bring him back. Your dad…"

"Don't Matt… if you finish that sentence Mom won't get her food because I'll be out trying to track again." She cut him off as she forced herself to keep calm against the emotions whirling around inside of her; plus it was useless to keep trying to track a scent that led nowhere.

"Sorry. Did you try tracking while a wolf?"

"I can't really shift inside the hospital Matt, but I can still track just as good in this form." She explained as she waved her hands up and down in front of her.

"So when do I get to see something besides your arm turn?" Matt asked and she gave a little laugh as she shook her head in thought, but then bit her lip to stop laughing.

"I don't know… Stefan saw though. I think I scared him a little." She finally answered once she had stopped laughing; but seeing Matt pretend to look offended made her want to laugh again.

"Why did Stefan get to see and not the rest of us?" He asked in fake hurt and she tossed a napkin at him.

"Because I'm trying to help him… and nothing scares a vampire like a wolf." She said with a laugh and he nodded in understanding while laughing with her.

"True… but you're good at it. I think your mom is wishing you would turn when she's at home sometime; she said you're cuddly and it's like when you were a kid and would crawl in her lap."

"I feel good when I'm a wolf… I can't really explain it." Caroline replied as she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head a little; she really couldn't explain how freeing the sensation was once she was fully a wolf.

"You don't have to… it's what you are." Matt said and she felt elated that there was at least one of her friends she didn't have to explain it all to.

"Exactly! Tyler couldn't figure out why I wanted to shift so much." She exclaimed with her arms out as she wanted to do a little happy dance that someone finally understood her; Matt was usually pretty good at understanding how her mind worked anyway.

"He took being a wolf differently though. He had to go through the transformations after he accidentally killed Sarah…" Matt tried to explain Tyler's problem with being a wolf, but she already knew what the problems had been.

"I was there I remember…"

"But he never wanted it and he still doesn't. You on the other hand never fought it; you fought the urge to make a kill but you embrace the rest of it." Matt pointed out and she let her head rest on her hands on the bar as she thought about what he had just said; she hadn't ever seen a reason for fighting it as long as she didn't kill anyone.

"Am I supposed to hate myself forever for being born a werewolf?" She asked as she raised her head back up and lifted her hands so she could still rest her head, but at a higher angle; she hated looking up from the bar.

"No… but that's the difference in you and Tyler; you don't hate that part of you and Tyler does." Matt explained further and as much as she wanted to feel bad for Tyler hating that part of himself, she knew there wasn't anything he could do to change it.

"It's his life… he needs to accept it because if he doesn't he'll just spiral and we both know how he does that." She said as she remembered how Tyler used to be before his father died.

"Yeah… I still don't like he dated my sister; especially when he was in jerk mode. You made him better."

"I didn't do anything… he got better when he didn't have his dad smacking him around all the time; telling him he needed to be on top of everything." Caroline countered as she shifted around on the stool; she wasn't comfortable talking about Mr. Lockwood.

"He was still a jerk then. You made him face it all and get over it; it's what you do." Matt pointed out as he wiped off the counter close to her and she brought herself away from the bar so he could continue where she had been resting against. She wondered if he was comparing their relationship with hers and Tyler's, but she shook it off; Matt hadn't been an ass before they got together.

"People only change when they want to Matt. If he hadn't wanted to change when we became friends then he wouldn't have." She argued her thoughts and Matt chuckled before stepping over to the warmer and picking up her bag. Seeing him get the food she stood and got her wallet out.

"That's true too. I guess I better get back to work and let you get your mom's food to her." Matt stated as he rung her order up and she handed him the money.

"Yeah… I might go talk to Stefan a while if he isn't busy; I'm trying to get him back under control with the blood."

"How's that working?" He asked curiously and she gave a little grunt as she twisted her lips in thought.

"Well I'm not Lexi and I don't think trying to put him back on animal blood would help him. So I'm getting him to control himself with human blood; I'm gonna have to re-stock my blood bags soon but I think it'll work." She replied optimistically and with every bit of confidence she had in her friend.

"As long as he doesn't start tearing people apart I think you'll get him there."

"Good thing we're vampires… it could take a while." She noted as she thought about how difficult it still was for Stefan; even if he didn't want to admit it.

"Good luck."

"Thanks. I'll see you later." She said as she picked up the bag with her mom's food in it and saw Alaric talking to Meredith so she wanted to stop over and say hi to them before she left. When she started walking towards them she heard Klaus' voice cut in and she nearly jumped since she hadn't been focusing on who was around so she hadn't noticed him until now.

"Caroline." He had said and she stopped and turned to see him and Kol lounging against the bar so she mentally prepared herself for what was likely going to be another spar.

"Oh… it's you." She stated half-sarcastically and crossed her arms with her mother's food still clutched in one hand.

"Join us for a drink love?"

"Hmm… I'd rather die of thirst, but thanks." She said sarcastically and raised her eyebrows before turning and continuing her path to see Alaric. She asked if they had heard anything new and told Meredith she knew the killer wasn't her as she heard Klaus and Kol speaking to each other about her. She heard Klaus asked Kol to agree she was "stunning" and Kol had answered she had looked good walking away from him. When she heard Klaus say he would take it as a challenge she excused herself from Alaric and Meredith to leave, hoping she could get out of there without having to talk to him again.

"Caroline!" She heard him holler from behind as she walked across the street. She didn't have to look back to hear him nearly get hit by a car; since she heard him tap on the hood with his hand. She wanted to laugh at him but kept walking away from him.

"Are you serious? Take a hint." She said when he had caught up to her and she turned to face him. When she finished asking she turned back around and attempted to walk away again.

"Come now, don't be angry love. We had a little spat; I'm over it already."

"Ah well I'm not." She said honestly with a little bit of bitchiness thrown in for effect.

"How can I acquit myself?" He asked and she stopped to turn and look at him serious.

"You and your expensive jewelry and romantic drawings can leave me alone." She replied and realized she had made a little slip and accidentally told him she thought the drawing was romantic. She inwardly cringed and was about to walk away again when he spoke up again.

"Take a chance Caroline." He said with a grin and moved towards the bench to sit as he continued. "Talk to me." He said and she was humored slightly to see him getting excited with the prospect of a conversation. "Come on, get to know me." He offered with a little bounce in his seat and she raised her eyebrows in disbelief at the most human behavior she had seen from him so far, but the next words out of his mouth gave her a challenge. "I dare you."

"Fine." She offered and went to sit but held up a finger so he would know she was serious. "But just for a minute because I have to get this food to my mom before it's cold."

"Perfect." He answered with a smirk and she sat down on the bench as far from him as she could but he turned and scooted towards her, defeating the purpose.

"So… what do you want to talk about?" She asked, not really knowing what he would want to discuss in his current mood; it was definitely something different than she had seen from him so far.

"I want to talk about you. Your hopes… you're dreams; everything you want in life." He answered and she couldn't stop the laugh that came out of her. He seemed to be almost desperate and she felt the need to make it clear nothing would ever happen.

"Just to be clear… I'm too smart to be seduced by you."

"Well that's why I like you." He responded immediately and she scrunched up her face but didn't respond for a few seconds.

"Have I mentioned lately that you're insane?" She asked when she couldn't think of anything else to say; he really had to be mental to keep trying when she had been adamant in saying no so much.

"I do believe you've said something along those lines every time we've spoke."

"Well it's still true." She stated before rolling her eyes and looking around; of course she thought she was crazy for sitting there and indulging him in that moment.

"If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go first?" He asked and it pulled her from her thoughts.

"I don't know… um… Egypt." Caroline replied after she thought about it; there were countless places she wanted to see, but she didn't really want to tell him about it.

"Why?" He probed further and it caught her off guard; most people would just move on to another question instead of asking for the reasons behind her answer.

"It seems interesting in class so I would assume it's better in real life."

"I'd think you'd enjoy yourself immensely there. There's a lot to see and learn about there."

"So I've heard." She replied as she remembered all the pictures she had seen in her geography books, but she heard Klaus ask another question and it pulled her away from her little daydream.

"Tell me something I don't know about you."

"I don't know everything that you DO know about me so that's a tricky one." She countered since it would be difficult to judge just how much he did know about her at this point; especially when he was a creepy stalker, she thought.

"Just anything I wouldn't read about it in public records."

"That's just creepy… do you have a file on everyone in town?" She asked before she could stop herself, but saw him laugh before he answered; he obviously didn't think his behavior was creepy or considered stalking.

"Just the ones I want to know about; there aren't many." He narrowed it down with a smirk and she rolled her eyes at him; he was definitely mental.

"Still creepy…" She insisted, but he cut her off with a chuckle before calling her out for not answering him.

"You're deflecting sweetheart… just tell me something different."

"Um… I'm twice as annoying and whiny when I'm drunk." She blurted out remembering all the times her friends had dealt with her and tried to sober her up before taking her home.

"What do you do for fun?"

"Hang out with my friends." She said automatically knowing the nights she and the girls would get together were some of the best days she could ask for. They would just munch on pizza and junk food, play games, and watch TV all through the night.

"What about when it's just you love?" He asked and she had to think for a minute before she answered that one.

"I stay busy… there's homework and all my club stuff to do so that's what I do when I'm alone." She finally gave up since she didn't want to list her short hobby list.

"What about art?"

"I'm not artistic at all. I can look at something and say if I think it's good or not, but I can't make it myself." Caroline admitted as she kept herself from looking at him; she hated saying she couldn't do something. In all honesty, she had once thought it would have been a fun thing to learn but after many failed attempts at making a decipherable picture she had accepted defeat; she hated failing at anything she did.

"I wouldn't have thought that."

"Why?" She asked seriously and turned to look at him again. He was only lucky she had been too embarrassed to keep any of her art pieces around or she'd show him how much she sucked at it.

"Not too many people can actually figure out the art pieces in my home are mine."

"It was just a hunch…" Caroline said quickly so he wouldn't read too much into it; which wasn't much to read into anyway.

"A correct one nonetheless love. Do you…" He started but stopped and she noticed his posture change. She looked around wondering what he was picking up on.

"What is it?" She asked when she saw him stand and looked around again to see if she could pick up what he was sensing.

"What did you do?" He asked and she looked at him curiously wondering what he was talking about as she stood from the bench.

"What are you talking about?" She asked but he grabbed her by her upper arms and shook her a little. She started getting scared and looked around to make sure they weren't seen but also hoping someone would stop him.

"What did you do?!"

"I didn't do anything. Stop it!" She said as she tried to tug herself loose as she looked around again, but he released her and turned his head back towards the Grill before uttering his brother's name and flashing away. She stood there for a second stunned before flashing to the police station and giving her mom her food. She made a quick excuse to leave before exiting and flashing back to the grill; checking inside before going back out and moving around to the back. She saw Elijah at the top of the stairs and walked to the side of him to see what was going on. She saw Kol and Stefan down on the ground with Klaus and Damon still braced for a fight. She knew she looked confused as she tried to figure out what was going on, but couldn't find the will to speak when she heard Elijah speak and say Rebekah would kill Elena if Damon didn't tell him where his mother was and that he had found a paper used in a spell to link all the Original siblings together.

She couldn't help but move to take a seat on the steps and run a hand through her hair. She was frustrated once again that her friends had made a plan and left her out of it. She was also worried that Klaus would kill them or her mother since he obviously thought she had known; her arms were still a little tender even with advanced healing. She looked down at Damon again to see him looking at her in challenge so she stood and walked right over to him, bringing her fist up to connect to his jaw before he could stop her.

"Next time you make a plan, don't keep everyone in the dark. You're gonna get somebody killed." She hissed at him as she kept from looking at Klaus; she was still angry about being grabbed like she had.

"Oh lighten up Blondie… no one's died yet. Besides… if we had told you, you wouldn't have been able to hide it; you can't lie worth shit." Damon replied and she resisted the urge to punch him again as she got right in his face.

"No one's died YET! Now you better fill me in on what the hell is going on because he just said Rebekah will kill Elena if you don't stop whatever it is." She pressed as she looked up at the clock to see how much time they had to work with.

"Ester linked her children together so she could kill them. She's got Bonnie and her mother with her and Finn."

"Why does she have Bonnie and Abby?" Caroline asked as her gaze fell on Damon again as she began to panic.

"They're witches… she probably wants their help to kill them." Damon answered, but he didn't seem to care about them at all.

"So Bonnie, Elena, and Abby are all in danger and you're just standing here?!" Caroline half-yelled as she moved closer to Damon and he at least had the sense to back up a little as she began cornering him.

"Hey! I'm only trying to fix a problem." He argued but she had already had enough; it was time someone did something. She didn't give him time to react before she shoved him against the side of the building and let her eyes change to show she meant business.

"Where are they?" She growled at him and saw him huff before looking at her like she was of no use.

"What are you going to do?" He asked sarcastically and she pulled him away from the wall to push him back harder than she had the first time; feeling a little better when the brick siding split.

"I'm getting Bonnie and Abby out of there…" She stated, but he cut her off and she glared at him.

"No you are not… you would only mess something up."

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" She screamed and she saw Damon flinch and look to Elijah to speak the location. She knew the witches at the witches' house wouldn't like vampire presences and heard the sound of whooshing to see the Original brothers gone so she stepped over and fixed Stefan's neck to wake him up faster. "Go Damon… they'll kill Bonnie and Abby." She said and watched him flash away as she waited on Stefan to wake up. It only took a couple minutes before he was up and she was filling him in on what was happening. So they flashed towards the witches' house and found Damon. She separated from them so she could look for Bonnie as she heard Ester talking to her sons about them being monsters; even though she was the one responsible for turning them into vampires.

Stefan caught up to her and told her to keep an eye open as they stumbled across Bonnie. She informed them that Ester was channeling all the witches in her line; both dead and alive. Stefan told her they would have to find a way to break the connection and Caroline felt a shiver of fear at what he was implying. He didn't make a move towards Bonnie but she could hear Damon say something before she heard a snap. She sucked in a breath and looked at Stefan to see that he knew what Damon had done as well. Outside she heard Ester begging for the witch spirits to not abandon her but she drowned it out. When Stefan led Bonnie out of the house she sobbed at the sight of her mother's body slung over Damon's shoulder.

Caroline ignored the Original's presence as she crouched down next to Bonnie and tried to comfort her while she was still sobbing over Abby's body now that Damon had placed her on the ground. She made sure Bonnie knew Abby would wake up and that she would help them as her friend shook. She knew Bonnie was in pain and didn't know if Abby would choose to finish transitioning or die, but she would try to talk her into being a vampire so her friend wouldn't lose her mother. When Damon tried to reach for Abby's body again Bonnie gave him an aneurysm until he backed away and Caroline released her to scoot around slightly and have her look at her.

"Bonnie we need to move her. You want her comfortable when she wakes up." Caroline spoke calmly so her friend wouldn't lose control of her magic and end up hurting them; and they really needed to move Abby's body away from the area.

"This isn't right… I just got her back."

"I know… I know. She'll still be your mother as a vampire though; if she chooses it. But one of them has to carry her back to your house; I'm going to carry you." Caroline continued to reason with her and saw her nod a little.

"Let Stefan do it please." Bonnie said and closed her eyes as near tears came down. Caroline looked over to Stefan as she pried Bonnie's hands off of her mother; only to have them wrap around her and momentarily immobilize her. She wrapped her arms around her friend as she looked to Damon and shook her head. Then she looked at the Originals to see them arguing amongst themselves before Damon got their attention.

"Have Rebekah let Elena go." Damon said to Elijah and she watched as Elijah called his sister to repeat the instructions. Stefan stepped over and gave Caroline a nod before lifting Abby over his shoulder and she pulled Bonnie further into her embrace so she wouldn't she what was going on. When Stefan was gone she pulled back from Bonnie and stood up, pulling Bonnie up with her. She was about to take off with her friend, but Bonnie nearly fell again since Caroline hadn't picked her up yet.

"Come on Bon… I've got you. I'm going to get you home." Caroline spoke soothingly as she tried to get Bonnie back to her feet, but ended up falling to the ground with her as she sobbed.

"Nothing's okay… and I... I just can't…"

"Yes you can Bonnie." Caroline insisted and pulled Bonnie's face up to look at her. " Listen to me… your mom is going to wake up soon. If she wants to finish transitioning then I'll do whatever I have to do to help. I'll get her blood… I'll show her how to compel someone; I'll teach her. She'll be okay, alright?" She continued as she hoped Abby would agree to finish the transition; even though she knew it would be entirely Abby's decision.

"Will you keep everyone away? I don't want to see anyone. And tell Elena I'm sorry but I need time before I see her again." Bonnie finally said when she got her sobs under control.

"Alright." She said as she lifted Bonnie up and glanced at Damon, giving him a nod, and flashing away. No doubt Damon hadn't left yet since it would have left her and Bonnie alone with 3 pissed off Original brothers, but she knew he'd leave after she did. She got Bonnie to her house to see Stefan waiting on the porch for them since he had already taken Abby inside, but he left without a word when they got on the porch; probably to get Elena if Damon hadn't already went to get her himself.

So she led Bonnie inside to where Abby was laid on a bed and went into the living room to give them some space. She decided to wait until Abby was about to wake up before she intruded; and wouldn't then if not for fear Abby might lose control and hurt Bonnie. When she heard a knock at the door she opened it to see Elena standing there trying not to cry. She knew it would be difficult to get Elena to leave so she took a breath and started to explain that Bonnie just wanted time before she would see her again. Elena kept begging her since Bonnie had been there for her after the death of Elena's parents, but Caroline held strong. She mentioned it was usually Bonnie that paid the price of saving her, but it was okay because Bonnie loved her; she just needed some time and space to sort everything out.

When Elena left she could hear Bonnie crying and wanted to go to her, but when she saw Bonnie leaning against the door to the bedroom looking at her she only gave her a nod. There wasn't much to do while they waited for Abby to wake up so she had Stefan bring some blood over in case Abby became a vampire. She didn't really want to think of what would happen if Abby didn't complete transition; she didn't want to watch Bonnie fall apart like she knew she would. When she was sure Abby would wake up soon she went back into the room she was lying in to wait with Bonnie. When a gasp was heard throughout the room she knew it would be a long night and she only hoped it wouldn't be as hard as she imagined it would be to get Abby to turn.