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"Elijah," croaks Klaus.
The eldest original boasts a sly swagger, one that appears enjoyably cognisant at Klaus' expense.
"Good to see you, Niklaus. I hear you're busy."
Klaus looks askance at Steven and Elijah.
"Bring me up to speed, will you, brother," says Elijah, making his way to the wolf. He proffers a hand.
"Elijah Mikaelson," he announces. "You must be Steven?"
"I am," Steven confirms.
"Rebekah told me a wolf was involved in the reinforcement. Tell me, Niklaus, shouldn't you be spread out to cover more ground? Just look how easy it was for me to sneak my way in," Elijah rouses.
Klaus reins in on his growing annoyance, provoked by his brother's disparaging grin.
"Well, you must have slipped through somewhere between either of the Salvatore's territory. Luckily, we're scheduled to meet, and I can personally hold them liable."
"Good!" Elijah exclaims. "That means I haven't missed anything. To be fair, I arrived while Rebekah was on patrol. She informed me of her designated mileage and I merrily drove through town." He smiles. "Tonight, I felt like a walk. Such a beautiful night, albeit a little windy when I left the sheriff's office, but beautiful nonetheless."
Klaus surveys his brother, austerely.
"What business do you have with the sheriff?" he asks.
"Well, that all depends on what business you have with her daughter," answers Elijah, deadpan.
"Grab some popcorn and take a seat next to me, original big bro," taunts Damon. "We're all dying to find out what happens to these two."
"You're late," scolds Steven.
"Be a good little lapdog and eat your milk-bone quietly, preferably away from my foot so I don't kick your face in."
"Damon!" scolds Stefan.
Klaus glowers. "Where the bloody hell have you been?"
"Sorry," says Damon. "Brotherly spat, but you two know all about that," he jeers.
"Elena came to help, and Damon sent her back," Stefan explains.
"Well, I brought her back kicking and screaming," Damon adds, rocking back on his feet.
"So, I watched over both perimeters until Damon returned."
"Jeopardizing the operation!" admonishes Steven.
Damon looks nauseated. "Oh, what a kiss ass! Seriously, Toto, don't you have any pride or self-respect, or did Dorothy take it back to Kansas with her?"
Steven turns to Klaus. "Do we really need him? He's clearly unwilling and…"
"…and a supreme moron and a lazy sod. Yes, I'm aware," Klaus interjects. "Salvatore, it's your choice. You can either use this to your advantage—pretend you care about Elena's friend and she will find you irresistible for it, or you can kidnap your brother's girl…"
"She's not really my girl anymore, Klaus."
"And take her far away from this current threat, but beware, option two comes with fine print," says Klaus, ominously. "When I find you, I'll kill Elena right in front of you. Choose wisely."
"If you children are done quarreling," interrupts Elijah, "I have questions."
"No time," Klaus rebuffs. "We're going on our second night, Elijah, and we need to get the ball rolling into tomorrow."
"Well, it's our second night," says Damon, leaning to Elijah's side as though whispering. "He left to find Caroline on Saturday, and the two of them spent the better part of today riding horses under the sun while we put our lives on the line for Blondie."
"That's what Liz wanted," Stefan reminds him. "She wanted her daughter to have the day."
"Yeah, and who suggested it?" Damon persists.
"What the hell does that matter? We couldn't let Caroline cross back into town on her own," Stefan rebukes.
"Why not? She's a big girl."
"Klaus," pleads Steven. "Dismiss him!"
"With pleasure," says Klaus, twisting Damon's neck.
Stefan recoils from watching his brother drop to the ground.
"You really didn't see that coming?" derides Elijah.
Klaus draws in a long breath, looking up at the sky. "Full moon tomorrow, Steven. Maybe we should throw him into the woods."
"And that would be my pleasure," quips Steven.
"Look," Stefan says, dismayed. "He doesn't want Elena anywhere near this. This isn't about Damon not wanting to help Caroline. He's just worried Elena will be rash."
Klaus registers Stefan's words. They sound eerily identifiable. Klaus doesn't let the realization fester.
"Still, I want him out of my sight. We'll tell the witch to create a barrier along his lookout point. The least Bonnie can do is spell some of that radius, and you will take on what's left of your pitiable brother's area as well as your own."
"Niklaus," Elijah intervenes. "Surely the good people of Mystic Falls need access in and out of their town. You cannot cloak a barricade, and if memory serves, vervain is in the water supply. We can't compel them to forget they've driven into an imaginary wall."
"It's against super naturals, Elijah," Klaus says. "I'll call on Rebekah and we can discuss tomorrow's itinerary with her."
"Klaus," Stefan speaks up. "Let Damon resume his duty and add Rebekah to the border. We can use all the help we can get."
Klaus glowers, taking long, forceful strides until he's confronting Stefan.
"Get him out of here, Stefan. You have one chance to get him on task or next time, I'll rip his neck off his shoulders, or would you like that pleasure instead, Ripper?"
Stefan swallows. "You'll keep me posted about tomorrow?"
"I'll contact you."
"What about the full moon? It'll be dangerous around the perimeter, Klaus."
"For you two maybe." Klaus smiles, menacingly.
"May I suggest then that we all reconvene at dawn," says Elijah.
"You're staying?" Klaus asks.
"It's not totally obvious yet, brother?"
They watch Stefan collect Damon, hurling him over a shoulder. Klaus turns to Steven, gesturing him to return to his post, and is left ill at ease with being alone with his brother. He remembers the last time he saw him. Elijah had been withdrawn, sullen, and almost woeful. He transfers his weight to the other leg, frowning, until he's ultimately glaring at his brother.
"What are you really doing here, Elijah?"
"The sheriff has been patient with our family, Niklaus. When Rebekah said her daughter needed help, I wanted to support our sister's good intentions. You do understand that she plans to remain here if she's cured, and my wish is that Rebekah leads a simple, peaceful life. So, making amends with the people of this town is important to her and I want to encourage it."
Klaus bursts into a sardonic, incredulous laugh.
Elijah ignores it. "She was also happy to share that you have promised to help her locate the cure. I'm surprised to hear it, but if you plan to deceive her, Niklaus, mark my words, I will get in your way."
"Well, this makes a lot more sense—Rebekah performing good deeds for something in return. Nothing new there, and when the quarterback she's pinned her hopes and dreams on realizes nothing has changed, there will be a witch hunt against our very human sister!" Klaus' voice booms. "But what do I know. I'm just the selfish, evil brother," he says, seething. "She's supposed to want to help Caroline!"
Elijah recoils. Klaus watches him decipher his statement.
"Do you think so low of her that she can't succeed as a decent human being? She deserves happiness, Niklaus, whether we're successful or not in saving Caroline."
A quick jolt shoots through Klaus. Muscles in his jaw twitch as he bears the intense pulsating in his veins. He drops, sitting on his heels. Maybe it was her name, the images of her face attached to the sound of her name, the idea that his brother knows more about Klaus' connection to her with the growing fear that Elijah may turn jealous or revengeful. After all, Klaus has prevented his brother's happiness at all costs in the past.
"My Gods," utters Elijah. "Have I lived to see the day?" he says, approaching Klaus. "I'm asking you one more time, brother. Who is this girl to you?"
Klaus lifts his gaze from the dewy ground cover and exposed tree roots. Elijah watches, and the silence feels sympathetic somehow. It makes Klaus boil in both ire and humiliation.
"I remember her from mother's ball," Elijah continues. "You were positively captivated, Niklaus. You watched her all night, following her around the estate. You were entirely distracted, leaving me alone to investigate Mother's intentions."
Klaus rises. "You dare," he snarls. "You venture into convincing yourself that you alone saved us from Mother!"
"I'm attempting to understand what the sheriff's daughter means to you. I'm endeavouring to believe that karma, brother, has finally come to bite you in the arse," he hisses.
Klaus swallows, dropping his gaze once more.
"I'm struggling to believe that my brother is so beside himself with worry," says Elijah, "that he can't even plan for tomorrow."
Klaus moves in to strike him but retrieves instantly. He holds hard on his urge.
"Niklaus, since when are you low on plans or late to strategize? You sent them off tonight because you have no idea what to do."
"Watch yourself, Elijah."
"I'll tell you what you want to do. You want to stake her, cloak her coffin, and wake her when the threat is gone. Except, you can't do that because you'll kill her, and the fear is paralyzing you!"
Klaus lunges, seizing Elijah's neck and plows him against a tree. Elijah smirks, remaining infuriatingly calm.
"She's sick, you know—the sheriff. I was able to detect the tumor so I'm sure you picked up on the growth as well."
Klaus releases him. "Of course I know," he says, behind gritted teeth. "I'm not an amateur, Elijah!"
"I asked her about it."
"Now who gave you permission to do that? Does she even know herself!"
"Of course she does," replies Elijah. "One does not put so much thought before every movement, Niklaus. You've probably seen her around the others, but I imagine that's when she works the hardest at veiling the symptoms." Elijah sighs. "It's cancer."
Klaus rakes a hand through his hair. "I knew it," he groans.
"Brain cancer," Elijah adds.
Klaus falls back a few steps, his eyes glassy.
"I suggested she tell her daughter."
"No!" Klaus roars. "Caroline cannot become preoccupied with this, too. Her dead father is out to murder her, Elijah, with a pack of wolves. Moreover, her mother is dying. How the hell do you think this will help her?"
"I have a plan."
Klaus retreats.
"Why does it surprise you, brother? You wound me sometimes, do you know that, Niklaus."
Frustration keeps building up in Klaus. His exasperation breeds from feelings of incompetence and an unremitting yearning to return to Caroline.
"The sheriff mentioned the rogues were to hold off until her death," Elijah says, closing his eyes and pulling in what seems to be a needed calming breath. "I understand that some have decided otherwise, but if word goes out that she's close, then perhaps they'll postpone," he says.
Klaus processes Elijah's logic.
"We can send word through Steven that she's resigned from her position at work and has opted for in-home hospice until the cancer has run it's course. We'll have her doctor come around and nurses will stay behind, and with regular townspeople in and out, the wolves won't risk their own existence."
"We buy time," Klaus says, solemnly, "using Caroline's mother?"
"You know it makes sense, Niklaus."
"And what would be Steven's reason for suddenly contacting the packs?"
"For one, to warn them that the time is upon them to make Bill Forbes proud. The sheriff suggested that Steven act as though he came into town for something he believes is his right to have according to Caroline's father's undocumented wishes and is now bickering with the Forbes. Therefore…"
"Therefore he shall look piqued with them, too," says Klaus.
"Precisely!"
Klaus draws in a sharp breath, pain and fear collecting in his chest. He's feeling vaguely useless.
"Niklaus," Elijah says, supportively. A strong breeze picks up leaves around them. "Brother, meet us at dawn. I'll take your place here. Frankly, you need to see with your own eyes that Miss Forbes is still secure. Your head will be clearer after you do."
Klaus is rapt in eagerness to see her again but can't help weighing if it's the right call. He should say something appreciative to his brother, because he's again indebted, but his brain feels like it's drying in wet concrete.
"Go!" Elijah orders.
Author's Message: I know you've been craving more Klaus and Caroline, and it is coming up in the next chapter. Also, some quality time for Rebekah and Caroline is on the way, too. It just wasn't the right time to delve into K&C's complicated chemistry prior to this. It would not have been sensible or realistic with so much going on. Yet, as promised, the next chapter shall belong to Caroline, and Klaus pops in. I'll post when it's ready (hopefully by tomorrow night). Who knows, I may post a couple of chapters. Again, thank you for supporting this fanfic and I revel in the feedback. Keep it up! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU