AN: Thanks for reading, still no beta. Oh yeah that graffitti building in queens is real, called 5 pointz, near the 7 train. Doesn't anyone care that Finn was shot? Doesn't anyone care about Finn?! If that's how you feel I should just kill him off then! lol jk! Also, no hate mail please! I know the last chapt was a cliffy but cmon! sending me hate mail does not make me want to post the next chapter any faster! See you at the bottom.

Caroline hugged the backs of her arms as she stood outside the warehouse. She watched as the EMT workers carried Finn onto the ambulance. She watched Elijah, Kol and Rebekah standing together explaining to the police what happened. She looked up at the sky, the moon was already out and she wondered how long she had been taken.

"Miss, we should get you checked out" the emt worker said

"Sure, I'll ride with him" Caroline said as she got into the ambulance

She looked down at Finn who was staring at the ceiling. She didn't say anything and felt her head start to throb again. She was about to say something before her world became dark.

Elijah sat in a sterile hospital room. He looked over at his brother lying there lifeless. He had tubes, and machines hooked up to him. The surgery to remove the bullet from his side was successful but he had yet to wake up. Rebekah walked into the room handing him a cup of coffee.

"How is he?" Rebekah asked

"Still not awake. How's Finn?" Elijah replied

"Kol's with him. He's recovering" Rebekah said

"And Caroline?" Elijah asked

"She's being held here for observations. She's awake and wants to see Nik, but she's not supposed to leave her bed"

"He's still out there, free, waiting to make his next move" Elijah said

"I know. He was watching us the whole time"

Caroline was sitting on her hospital bed flipping through the tv channels. She was frustrated because she couldn't' leave her bed, and she couldn't see Nik. She didn't know what was going on. She didn't have her phone and there was no way for her to reach anyone. She didn't' know anyone's number by heart so instead she had the operator connect her to Salvatore Publishing and leave a message for Elena.

"Caroline!" Elena yelled as she ran into the room

"Elena!" Caroline hugged her friend

"I was so scared when I got the message. Where's your phone?"

"I lost it"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, they're keeping me here for observation and stuff. But they won't let me go see Nik"

Stefan and Damon appeared in the doorway. Of course wherever Elena went, those two were always going to follow.

"Are you alright Caroline?" Stefan asked

"Yeah, bumped my head" Caroline said

Damon walked into the room and picked up her chart and read it.

"Bumped your head into car window. Did you get brain damage blondie?" Damon asked

"Damon!" Elena yelled

"I just want to know if Nik's ok" Caroline said

"Field trip!" Damon said as he disappeared into the hallway

"I called Bonnie to let her know. Do you need anything?" Elena asked

"I'm fine, and don't go calling my mom, I don't need her to worry" Caroline said

Damon returned into the room with a wheelchair.

"Where did you get that from?" Elena asked

"Ask and yee shall receive. Field trip time. Please keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times" Damon said as he wheeled it closer to Caroline

"Damon she's not suppose to leave her bed" Elena

"Hmm, nurse Elena, I won't lie and say I haven't fantasized about that" Damon said

"Damon, this isn't funny" Stefan said

"Chill out bro. Cmon blondie, let's go see your boyfriend" Damon lifted Caroline out of the bed and put her in the wheelchair.

"Damon, this is a bad idea" Elena said

"Stefan go hold Elena's hand" Damon said

Kol walked into Nik's room with Elijah still sitting there.

"You should get some rest or something brother. You'll burn yourself out" Kol said

"He shot them, he shot Finn and Niklaus. What kind of father does that?" Elijah asked

"He's not our father. He's Mikael"

"I don't want to think about what would have happened if Finn wasn't there"

"Was Finn our surprise?"

"He was. He wanted to surprise you all, so we could be a family again"

"We are a family, we're all here"

Elijah's phone started buzzing again. He ignored it.

"Is that work?" Kol asked

"Probably, it's been buzzing nonstop"

"Maybe you should answer it"

"Niklaus is my first priority"

"He's not going anywhere if you haven't noticed. Go answer your phone. Get something to eat. I'll be here with him"

"Alright, I won't be gone long" Elijah said as he left the room

Damon wheeled Caroline down the hallway and flirted with a few of the nurses to find out what room Nik was in. He pushed her towards Nik's room. He pushed her through the doorway when Kol looked up.

"Caroline, what are you doing?" Kol said as he got up

"I wanted to see him. To know if he was ok" Caroline said

"You're not suppose to be out and about" Kol said

"Technically she's not, I'm just wheeling her around, it's like a toilet but with wheels" Damon said

"And you are?" Kol asked

"Damon, her friend. I bring donuts" Damon said

"And I thought you were just an orderly. You don't seem to stand out, and I've met a lot of people" Kol said

Damon rolled his eyes and pushed Carolie closer to Nik and left. Caroline reached out and touched his arm. There were so many tubes and wires coming out of him.

"Is he alright?" Caroline asked

"He made it through surgery. He hasn't woken up yet." Kol answered

"But he's alive"

"Yes, it takes a lot more to take Nik down"

Elijah checked his messages and saw a strange name. He knew it looked familiar. He called the number back.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Elijah Mikaelson"

"Yes, I am glad you called me back. I'm Duke Talbot's lawyer. I need to discuss your brother"

"What about him?"

Kol was sitting there watching Caroline talk to Nik.

"I'm not mad at you Nik, I just want you to wake up already. So I can make you cupcakes. Cause we both know you just want me for my cupcakes. I just want you to wake up so I can tell you that I love you too. Because it's not fair that you said it first and then passed out before I could say it back. At least you weren't running away screaming"

Kol leaned back in his chair and felt strange listening in this conversation Caroline was having with Nik. He got up and left the room, giving them a few minutes of privacy.

"Please wake up Nik. You're the only good thing in my life right now. You make me a better person, you make me happy. You make me less neurotic. And I don't want to do this without you. I just want to be with you"

"Miss you're not supposed to be in here"

Caroline turned around and saw the nurse standing there.

"Where did you get this wheelchair from?" the nurse asked

"I don't know?"

"Cmon, I'm taking you back to your room"

Caroline turned back to Nik.

"I'll be here when you wake up, sweetheart. I love you" Caroline said as she was being wheeled away

Nik's eyes slowly began to open. He looked around and saw he was in a hospital.

"Caroline?" Nik turned his head to look for her, he knew he heard her voice

Nik tried to move his hand and realized there was an IV jammed into it. He looked at his hands and saw there were tubes coming out of him. The machine started beeping faster. He looked around.

"Caroline?" Nik called out

A group of firemen walked into the hospital. They stood outside Nik's room. Caroline was being wheeled to Nik's room again by Damon who stole another wheelchair.

"What's going on?" Caroline asked

"They won't let us see Nik" a fireman answered

"Why not?" Caroline asked

"They say family only"

"What? That's ridiculous" Caroline said

"Beep beep, let the cripple lady though" Damon said

They reached the door where there was a guard blocking them.

"I just want to see Nik" Caroline said

"Family only. There was a threat on his life, standard protocol" the guard said

"But I'm his girlfriend. Let me talk to him" Caroline said

"No one but family goes in" the guard said

"Well can I talk to one of the family members then?" Caroline asked

"Cmon the lady's a cripple, she's no threat, if she passes out in front of you, you're liable!" Damon said

"Nik! Nik are you awake?!" Caroline yelled

Inside Nik was awake and heard Caroline.

"Caroline?" Nik said

"No Niklaus! You can't let her in" Elijah said

"Why not?"

"I've already explained this to you. Mikael is still out there. He's coming for you still. You cannot endanger her like this" Elijah said

"But I just want to know if she's alright"

"She is, she's recovering well. But we have to leave and go back to England immediately"

"Why?"

"I didn't want to tell you like this. The Duke, your father has been killed"

"What?"

"They say it was an accident, but it screams of Mikael"

"Are you certain?"

"Niklaus, I would never lie to you about this. He shot at you, you shot at Finn! He's incredibly dangerous. He has friends at interpol. He's coming after you, and you need to be as far away from her as possible"

"I can't just leave her, what if Mikael goes after her"

"He won't. He'll be after you, because once you claim the title of Duke, Mikael's pride will drive him to come after you"

"I don't want it!"

"Niklaus! For once think of someone other than yourself! Caroline is young and has a bright future in front of her. Don't drag her down with you. Mikael will follow you not her"

"But, I can protect her"

"Niklaus try to understand. Mikael only wants you. No one else."

"Then you should all leave me and let me go"

"We are family, we would never abandon you"

"I can't leave her Elijah! I love her"

"Then if you truly love her, then let her go"

Nik looked down and realized that for her own good he had to send her away. He had to stay away, far away from her. Mikael's rage would always be directed at him, and if she was with him, she'd be collateral damage.

"Nik! Nik!" Caroline yelled from the outside

Nik closed his eyes.

"Send her away, send them all away" Nik said

"You're doing the right thing" Elijah said as he got up and opened the door and closed it quickly

"Elijah! What's going on?" Caroline demanded

"Niklaus is not seeing anyone right now. He's still recovering. Please go back to your room, this isn't good for you health" Elijah said

"I want to see him!" Caroline yelled

"Yeah let the cripple girl see her boyfriend" Damon said

"You're not a nurse" Elijah said

"What gave it away?" Damon smirked

"Take her back to her room. No one is seeing Niklaus today"

Caroline was being discharged from the hospital. Elena had brought her extra clothes to change into. Caroline was feeling excited as she could finally leave the hospital. That and the fact that she wasn't wearing a hospital gown anymore. She put on her yellow sundress and slipped on her flip flops. She fixed her hair and put on some make up. Elena was in the bathroom as she was getting ready. She walked down the hallway to find Nik. She hadn't seen him in days. She wondered what happened. She made her way to his room and saw there was no guard this time. She smiled and opened the door.

"Nik!" Caroline screamed as she walked into the room

She was greeted with empty silence. His bed was empty. She looked around for anything.

"Nik?" Caroline walked to the bed and touched the pillow

"Caroline, what are you doing?" Elena asked

"He's, he's gone" Caroline said

"They may have moved him. I'll check with the nurse" Elena said as she went to the nurse's station

Caroline looked around the room, searching for anything of him. She felt the tears forming in her eyes. Elena came back and looked at her.

"Where is he?!" Caroline yelled

"He left yesterday. Against his doctor's wishes." Elena said

"He just left? Without saying anything?"

Elena went and hugged Caroline.

"It's going to be ok"

"No! He wouldn't leave just like that!" Caroline said as she ran out

"Caroline! Where are you going?!"

Elena tried to calm Caroline down in the cab. They went to his house and she ran to the door banging on it.

"Nik! Open up! I know you're in there!" Caroline yelled

The door opened. But it wasn't Nik, or Kol, or Elijah or Rebekah.

"Who are you?" Caroline asked

"I'm Bobby, I'm renting this house from Nik"

"Where is he?"

"Don't know, his brother dropped off the key yesterday and said I could rent it, which is good cause I really needed a place"

"I don't believe you!" Caroline pushed past him and ran into the house

"Nik! Nik! Where are you?!" Caroline ran into his bedroom and saw most of his stuff was still there.

She ran into his studio and saw his sketches and drawings scattered about. She picked up his sketchbook and looked at the last thing he drew. It was of her. She held it close to her chest and cried. She fell to the floor as the realization sunk in. He abandoned her. He left her. And he didn't bother to say goodbye to her, or give her a reason. She sobbed out. Elena placed her arms around her.

"Care, you'll be ok. Cmon, you're kinda freaking Bobby out" Elena said

"He left, he really left"

"I know, I know"

"Why? Why would he do that? He said he loved me!"

"Caroline you can't do this to yourself. Cmon we have to go"

Elena helped her get up and walk to the door. Bobby stood there and stared at her.

"You're the girl in all the drawings." Bobby said

Caroline only nodded.

"Look I don't know what happened, but Nik just dropped everything and left. He didn't bother to pack or anything. His brother said I could move his stuff into the basement."

"Which brother?" Caroline asked

"Elijah. Pretty sudden too. Like they were in a rush to leave"

"Did they say where they were going?"

"Back to England. Nik's a duke or something now. Go figure"

"What?"

"Said he had to claim his duke title or something. And then he quit too"

"Quit?"

"Quit his job, you don't quit this job, you either die in a fire or you take a desk job. If it's in you, you never leave"

"Nik quit being a fireman? But he loves it"

"Yeah, that's what I thought. But he just left it all behind to go to England to go be royalty or something."

"Elena I'm going to England"

"No Caroline!"

Nik was recovering in a hospital in London. He wasn't able to walk so he was being wheeled around. Elijah came in with another man. Nik was trying to pop a wheelie with his wheelchair when they walked in.

"Niklaus!" Elijah said

Nik looked over and saw the two and stopped what he was doing.

"You're not my nurse" Nik said

"No I'm not. I'm Duke Talbot's lawyer. I'm James Tennet"

"Pleasure to meet you" Nik said

"I'm here to read the last will and testament of Duke Talbot Fiennes. You have inherited his estates in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as his vacation homes in various countries. You also inherit his fortune and holdings, and his collection of military tanks"

"His what?" Nik asked

"Your father was a bit eccentric. He collected military tanks. He and his friends would drive them around his estate and play war games" James said

"How is that even legal?" Nik asked

"England is the only country in the world that allows civilians to own and operate military tanks on their own property. Your father made several friends and houses several different type of military tanks on his estate. All which are now yours"

Nik and Elijah were both stunned and speechless.

"The title of Duke now falls to you. The Duke had no other children or living relatives. Since you are his son, the title passes to you. No one has come

forward to contest it. There will be a formal ceremony of course which will be determined at a later date"

"Of course. Thank you" Nik said stunned

Caroline was frantically packing and searching for tickets to England. She wasn't sure where in England he was. She decided to fly into London and search from there. Caroline heard her phone ringing and knew it was Blair.

"Hi Blair" Caroline answered

"Caroline, are you alive? I heard you were in the hospital!"

"I'm fine now, they released me"

"Well then I'm giving you the day off then"

"Um yeah about that"

"And with your day off you can try to find Rebekah and ask her why she suddenly quit!"

"What?"

"Rebekah came in here with her brother who's a lawyer, and quit. She quit the agency in New York as well! And her number doesn't' work anymore! How can she quit?!"

"Breathe Blair! I'll find her and try to find out why"

"You need to get her back!"

"I'm flying to London to find out why!"

"Oh I like your initiative!"

"Look I'm trying to find out what the hell is going on"

"Alright, I'll give you a few days and then fly right back because I need to work on new designs for fashion week!"

"Ok Blair"

Caroline tossed her phone into her purse. She zipped up her suitcase and headed out. Elena walked into the apartment and saw Caroline.

"Where are you going?" Elena asked

"To find Nik" Caroline said

"Caroline, think about this for a second"

"What?"

"I don't want you to get hurt. He left for a reason"

"And I don't know what that reason is, I need to know"

"No you don't, don't do this to yourself!"

"I do Elena, I have to know, otherwise I'll just go crazy wondering"

"Then I'll go with you then!"

"What? What about work?"

"Screw it, I'm going, you're my friend and I haven't been the greatest friend lately"

"What about tweedle dee and tweedle dum?"

"They can hold down the fort without me"

"You're what?!" Damon yelled into the phone

"I'm going to England with Caroline to find her boyfriend" Elena said

"Do you realize how crazy you sound right now? He left for a reason"

"Well she doesn't know what that reason is!"

"No answer is your answer! Now you're just gonna embarrass yourself!"

"I don't care Damon. She's my friend"

"Well I don't approve of your vacation days"

"Then fire me! I don't care!"

"Elena!"

"I knew I should have called Stefan!"

"Ouch that almost hurt!"

Finn was laying in his hospital bed when Sage barged into the room.

"You said you would be gone for a week!" Sage said

"You know how these family things get" Finn answered

"You know I was a mess on the plane here. They told me you had been shot"

"Only in the shoulder"

"I'm glad you're amused by all this"

"Mikael was going to kill my brother. I couldn't stand there and do nothing"

"And look where that got you"

"I'm tired of running. And if we're going to stop Mikael we're going to do this together as a family"

"You were never big on family you know"

"I know, but at the end of the day family always comes first"

"How long you gonna be in here?"

"A few more days, then I have to do physical therapy"

"Fun"

Elijah and Nik drove to the massive estate. They saw several military tanks sitting along the side of the road. They reached the main house and Elijah helped Nik into his wheelchair. There were steps leading up to the house. Elijah groaned and had to drag the wheelchair up. They reached the door and knocked on it. The door opened and there was butler standing there, regal in his clothes.

"Hello, I'm Elijah Mikaelson and this is my brother Niklaus" Elijah said

"We've been expecting you"

The butler moved out of the way letting them in. Elijah and Nik looked up and around at the massive house. There were strange decorations and statues and pictures that decorated the room.

"This way please" the butler motioned

Elijah wheeled Niklaus into the sitting room and looked around. There was a portrait of the Duke hanging in the room.

"Is that him?" Nik asked

"Yes" Elijah answered

The butler returned with tea for them. He set the tray down.

"I am Niles, I worked for Duke Talbot for many years. The cook, Mrs Fiona is out at the market. The maid, Mrs Apple is clearing up the rooms upstairs. We were told by Mr Tennant that we were to be retained until the rest of the week"

"You knew him, my father?" Nik asked

"Yes, he was a bit eccentric to say the least"

"Tell me about him, please"

"You look a lot like him."

"Please sit"

"Talbot hated formalities as well. He never had a huge staff, just enough for him. He tried to cook once, but ended up setting the kitchen on fire. Hence why Mrs Fiona banned him from the kitchen"
Nik chuckled to himself. He himself had almost set fire to the kitchen in the firehouse once, when he didn't know how to cook. Niles looked at him and smiled.

"You have his smile"

Caroline walked along the streets of London with Elena. She didn't know where exactly to look. She ended wandering around aimlessly.

"Care, you know I love you, but maybe we should go back to the hotel"

"I can't give up. I'm not a quitter"

"I know you're not, but we don't know what we're doing here. We're just walking in circles"

"Alright. Maybe we should take a break or something"

They went into a nearby pub and sat down to get some food. The TV was playing the news and Caroline glanced up. She couldn't tell what the reporter was saying but she saw a picture of Nik and jumped up.

"Nik! It's him and he's on tv!" Caroline yelled

Elena turned around and saw Nik's picture on tv. She grabbed a waitress walking by.

"Excuse me, but do you know anything about the man on tv?" Elena asked

"He's some long lost son of a Duke. He's here to claim his title, there's a ceremony for him tomorrow"

"Where?"

"At the palace of course"

"I'm going to get my man!" Caroline said

I did not kill off Finn! See! No hate mail! This chapter was an obscene 15 pages, I had to break it up because it would have been crazy long. Can you see how evil Mikael is and he's not even in the picture right now! He's busy licking his wounds! And yes England is the ONLY country in the world where you can ride around in your military tank freely as a civilian on your own property. Random fact. XD