Babysitting

I pressed my ear against Caroline's phone.

"Tell me you're not serious," Caroline said.

"I wish I weren't," my twin replied. "When we got back from looking for Jeremy, Shane and Bonnie were gone too. Shane needs Bonnie to cast a spell on Jeremy's tattoo in order to find the cure, and he managed to sneak them both out from under our noses."

"Well, where's Damon in all this?" Caroline asked.

"We had an argument. I thought he was just taking a walk, but then when we went to the beach, we saw signs of a struggle."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning somebody probably jumped him and then grabbed him."

"That Professor probably took it," I said. "I knew he was shady."

"No - I mean - he's not strong enough to take Damon on, even with the element of surprise. He must have someone, or at least a few someones helping him."

"It wouldn't surprise me with all of his connections," I told her. "I wish I could help."

"Well, maybe there's something you can do from home."

"Anything. Tell us," Caroline said.

"So Shane's looking for the cure. We think we can find him. We have pictures of Jeremy's tattoo, but we just can't translate the map."

"Unless you get the Hunter's Sword from Klaus," Caroline realised.

"Exactly."

"He'll never give up the sword," I heard Rebekah say.

"Yeah, but if anyone's gonna get him to give it up, it's Lucy," Stefan said.

"He will never give up the sword, not even for Lucy," Rebekah explained. "He's terrified we'll use the cure against him to make him mortal, and even if he wasn't, he wouldn't want any of us to derive a moment's worth of happiness from being human."

"Well, maybe he doesn't have to give it up," Stefan said. "I mean, Klaus is stuck in Elena's house by Bonnie's spell. He can't go anywhere. There's only so many places you can hide a three-foot piece of metal."

"We'll find it, don't worry. Just e-mail me photos of Jeremy's tattoo," Caroline said. "We'll find the sword, and I'll call you back."

"Thank you, Caroline."

"Bye." She hung up.

Klaus smirked. "Need my help with anything, love?" he asked us.

"Nope," I said and Caroline and I left the house to go find the sword.

After we found the sword in Klaus' attic, we went back into the house. Caroline got her laptop and had some print-outs of Jeremy's mark. Tyler held the sword.

"Well, if it isn't little orphan Lockwood," Klaus taunted. "Come to show how laughably impotent you are against me?"

"I'm just trying to help my friends find the cure," Tyler said. We sat on the couch and Tyler revealed the sword from under the blanket. "Found this in your attic."

"And you think finding the sword brings you closer to the cure?" Klaus asked.

"You tell me," he replied. "I was playing around with the handle on the ride over and I found this."

He unwrapped the leather at the top of the sword, showing Klaus how the handle turned. Klaus got up and approached Tyler.

"And what do you think 'this' is?" Klaus asked.

"It's called a cryptex," Caroline answered. "I've seen the da Vinci Code. You turn the different sides to the different symbols to get the translation on the other side. And with the magic of the internet, Elena sent over these." She held up the print-outs of Jeremy's tattoo. "So now all we have to do is cryptex away."

"We wouldn't stop you if you wanted to help," I said to Klaus.

"Right. Well, might I suggest using the magic of the internet to purchase an Aramaic-to-English dictionary from your nearest retailer," Klaus said.

"What's Armaic?" Tyler asked us.

"It's a dead language," I replied. "It hasn't been used since biblical times."

"Qetsiyah's native tongue, I'm guessing," Klaus grinned. "You know, even if you had the best dictionary in the world, it could take days to translate. Perhaps weeks. 'In bas so-teen-too ara-ma-eet.'"

"And what does that mean?" I enquired.

"If only you spoke Aramaic."

The pictures of Jeremy's tattoo and cards with the Aramaic symbols were scattered around the table. Caroline was translating it online.

"Okay, this is it. We've translated all the symbols on the tattoo," she said.

I groaned when I saw the translation. "'Passage inside... requires a young senator and a pretty flower'? Seriously?"

Klaus spoke the words that was on the sword in fluent Aramaic. "Requires a powerful witch and a hunter in full bloom," he translated.

"What are you doing?" Tyler asked, surprised that he was helping us. We all were.

"I don't need to tell you my reasons," Klaus said. "Lucy, bring my sword over here."

I picked up the sword and brought it close enough for him to read the symbols.

"'Silas rests on the far side, the means of his destruction at hand,'" Klaus read. He glanced at the computer screen behind me. "Turn the cryptex to the right." I turned it. "Stop. The top of the hilt reveals a key to a nautical map. Turn it to the left." I obliged and turned it to the left. "Now turn the other piece. There's something else."

Klaus spoke Aramaic again.

"What does that mean?" I asked. He smiled cockily. "Klaus."

"There's only one cure."

"Don't you dare mention anything about the cure," Caroline spat at Klaus.

He raised his hands up in defense and smirked. "I would never."

I rolled my eyes and called Rebekah. I put it on loudspeaker and placed it on the table.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Caroline. We have the translation of the tattoo. We're emailing you pictures of the map and instructions right now."

"Got it. Thanks."

"Actually, it was me," Klaus said. Caroline shot him a glare and I watched him warily.

"Nik, you helped?"

"You sound so surprised, little sister."

"Shouldn't I be? I mean - you don't want me to be human. You don't want any of us to be human. Why would you help us find the cure?"

"Maybe I finally realized the longer I stand in the way of what you want, the longer you'll continue to hate me. Perhaps I want my sister to finally know happiness."

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me a hundred times -"

"No more fooling. No more games. I hope you get to live, and die, as you wish."

"So do I."

"There is one more thing, Rebekah." Tyler, Caroline and my gazes all shot up to him. "There is only one dose of the cure. You need to find it first and take it. It's the only way you'll -" Tyler rushed to end the call.

"What the hell?" Caroline exclaimed.

Klaus smirked. "If they're all turned against each other, none of them will get it."

"But we can't use it against you if there's only one dose," I said. He didn't reply. "Oh, right, the thought of anyone having happiness kills you."

I looked around me to see that Tyler and Caroline had left. I followed them out to the porch.

"We won't let him hurt you. Stefan and Elena will bring back the cure," Caroline said.

"If they get to it first! And if they don't, Klaus kills me." He began to panic. "I need to get out of town to figure out how I'm gonna stay alive -"

"Wait, hang on, okay? Gosh! Before you get all doomsday-"

Tyler looked hysterical and scared out of his mind. "He's got nothing to lose, Care. His brother's dead, his hybrids are gone. All he wants right now is blood, starting with mine."

Caroline had tears in her eyes. "I'm not going to let Klaus run you out of town again, Ty," I said and they turned to me. "I'll fix this."

I stormed back into our living room. Before we got together, I was close with Tyler. We were best friends. I went through this boyish phase when I was the ultimate tomboy and Matt, Tyler and I used to hang out a lot. Then Tyler and I started dating and I broke up with him after my parents' death, we weren't as close after that.

"You can't kill Tyler," I said firmly. "You just - you can't!"

"Not only can I, I have to. I have a reputation to uphold. Moreover, I want to."

"Why are you so sadistic?" I asked, or rather shouted.. "Tyler has done nothing wrong-"

"He stole my hybrids from me!" he bellowed.

"No." I shook my head, getting my control back. "For the hundredth time, he freed them. They were your slaves! And then you killed his mother. If anything, Tyler should be the one who has to forgive you, not the other way around."

"I'm sorry, love," Klaus said seethingly. "I don't remember agreeing to a fair game."

I scoffed. "This is all a game to you?"

"What else is it? You can lose and die or you can win and survive. The strongest people win, the weakest lose."

"None of us are strong, Klaus," I said. "Not really. We all have weaknesses."

"Is that so?" he asked, grinning. "Then what's mine?"

"You're afraid of being alone," I replied. The grin fell from his face. "Of being abandoned and having no one. You think that because your father never loved you, no one else will. That's why you were so desperate to break the curse and make hybrids. You wanted loyalty. But most of all, you didn't want to be alone."

He didn't respond. I never tore my eyes away from his, I didn't back down.

"The least you can do is let him live away from here," I said.

"So he gets to live a happy life after he turned all my hybrids against me, after he tried to kill me, after he made it his life's mission to find the cure so he could use it against me -"

"No, he gets to try to live a happy life after you killed his mom," I interrupted.

"You and I are alike, Lucy," he said. I raised an eyebrow. "You like being in control. You like having the power to spare and save people. You love being powerful, strong, being a witch, you've only realised it, but it's what you've always wanted."

I stepped closer to him, so we were barely inches apart. "If we are so alike, then show me your compassion," I said. "Tyler's my friend. I don't want to lose him. I've lost too many people... Show him the mercy that I would show you."

"You would show me mercy? After all I've done?"

I nodded slightly. "Yes, because I see something good in you. And anyone who has good in them deserves some mercy."

Klaus looked thoughtful. "Mercy... for Tyler. Very well. Tell him to leave town immediately." He walked to the other side of the room. "And tell him to run and hide in a place I will never find him."

I smiled. "Of course." I turned around, about to go to the porch.

"Tell him that this is the mercy I extend for your sake... that I will give him a head start before I kill him."

I scowled and stopped in my tracks. I should have expected that.

I went out to the porch. Caroline jumped up immediately. "What did he say?"

Looking to Tyler, I said, "He said he'll give you a head start before he kills you. You have to go somewhere where he won't find you." Caroline's face fell. "I'm so sorry... I'll - um - I'll leave you to say your goodbyes to each other. I am so, so sorry, Tyler."

I sat on the swing on the porch next to Caroline and held her as she sobbed. "I-I love him, Lucy. He-he's going to forget me! I told him too, but-"

"It was for the best, Care," I said. "You're immortal. You two will find a way. This isn't the last time you'll see each other."

"I hope not," she whispered. "At least he's safe... kind of."

The front door opened and Klaus came out.

"The spells worn off," I stated.

Caroline stood up. "I'm gonna get home."

I nodded and gave her a small smile. She then walked over to her house.

"I fear something awful has befallen your friend, Bonnie," he approached me and I tensed up. "Don't worry, love. You'd know I'd never hurt you."

"You've done enough," I said, standing up.

"I've done more than enough. I've shown kindness, forgiveness, pity... because of you, Lucy. It was all for you."

I didn't reply. My heart beat quickened as I stared into his eyes.

"Thank you," I finally said, almost whispering. "For letting him go."

He nodded. After a few moments of silence he said, "Your friend, Caroline, said something today." I tilted my head. "Something that made me realise how deeply I feel for you. But I know you could never love a monster."

I tightened my lips into a thin line, contemplating what to say. There was nothing I could say.

He nodded his head and made to leave. I gripped his wrist impulsively and he turned around. I was breathing heavily and I had no clue what I was doing. I crashed my lips onto his and wrapped my arms around him. This is a mistake. This is a huge mistake. He killed Jenna. For a split moment I allowed myself not to care - to just do what felt good. And this felt good.

I pulled away and smiled. "Night, Klaus," I whispered before running inside, shutting the door behind me.

I couldn't help the giggle that erupted out of me the moment I shut the door.

A/N: Reviews? Which direction should I take this story? Should Lucy go to New Orleans or stay in Mystic Falls?