Showdown
(Caitlin)
I didn't know if I should cry or laugh. I had teased him more than once that the contents of his pockets could match the contents of a woman's purse. He just grinned at me. "Let's get you out of here", Stefan interjected and motioned at us to follow him back to his car. Damon put his arm around me and pulled me with him. I was tired, physically and emotionally. This was just a bit too much to take in. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had just lost all my belongings! Damon opened the passenger door for me and I slipped into the seat. Closing my eyes I heard him start the car. All of a sudden, I felt something cold and hard being pressed to my temple. "Don't even think about using magic", an icy voice grumbled into my ear. My eyes flew open, but I didn't dare to turn my head. "Komarov!" Damon growled aggressively. "Let her go. This is just between us." The other just clicked his tongue. "Follow them", the Russian ordered, ignoring Damon's protest, and pointed his free hand towards Stefan's car. "What do you want with me?" I whispered, terrified. "I saw him giving you his blood after the fire. If I kill you now, well, you know what will happen, right?" Feeling his hot breath next to my ear, I just nodded with a gulp. I would come back in transition. Damon followed Stefan onto the highway and we drove for a while. "Call your brother, boy", Komarov suddenly demanded. "Make up a story and exit towards McAlpine." Reluctantly, Damon took out his cell phone. "Hi Stefan, Caitlin forgot to check something with the cops … we will turn around and see you later, okay?" He rolled his eyes. Obviously Stefan wasn't buying it. "No, it's alright. Just take care of my car, okay? See you later, brother!" He hung up. "Well done, boy. Exit here", Komarov demanded.
(Stefan)
Irritated I looked at my phone for a second. Something was definitely wrong. "What's going on?" Elena asked. I looked into the rear mirror. All I could see was Damon and Caitlin in their car. There wasn't a third person, but somehow I got the feeling that they had been kidnapped. "Damon just told me that they need to go back to the cops." Her eyes went wide and she turned around. "Why?" she asked bewildered. "I don't know, but Damon just said something strange. I should take care of his car …" I replied. "Oh my god!" Elena exclaimed. "What?" I asked. "The exit they just took. It leads to the shipping port …" she said. I growled. "Komarov!" He must've taken them hostage. "Let's follow them", I said and took the next available exit. "Why would Damon do this?" Elena mused. I just shrugged. "Why do I care for your life?" I murmured and made my way back through the streets towards the shipping port. "You think they're threatening Caitlin?" Elena asked. "I think someone's in the car with them and Damon won't risk Caitlin's life." I cursed loudly when I had to stop because of a road construction site. Unfortunately, there was no way to turn around and we just had to wait until the lights turned green. Impatiently I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. "Come on, come on", I growled. "Calm down, Stefan. Damon knows we will help them. He will find a way to stall for time", Elena tried to comfort me. "I just hope you're right", I murmured and hit the gas pedal hard when the traffic light finally turned green.
(Damon)
I could've slapped myself for not thinking about the car. I should've checked it first, but now all I could do was to follow his orders and hope that Stefan got my hint. I exited the highway and crossed the locks, heading over to McAlpine and its warehouses. Caitlin didn't move one muscle, she was completely frozen in her seat. Even if she would use magic on him, his finger on the trigger might be faster and she knew that she couldn't risk it unless she wanted to come back as a vampire. Komarov was determined to take his revenge. "Stop behind the last warehouse. I guess you remember the place, don't you?" he taunted. I gritted my teeth. "You want to repeat your little butchering session?" I replied and finally stopped the car behind the building. "Depends", he said and urged Caitlin to get out of the car, his gun always pointed at her temple. "On what?" I insisted and got out too. "On how willing your little girlfriend is to spare you pain." Caitlin jerked in his grip. "You've gotta be kidding me", I growled. "Shut up", he barked at me and motioned at me to enter the warehouse first. Inside I saw five of his henchmen, obviously vampires because the only heartbeat I heard was Caitlin's. It was beating frantically fast. "Shackle him", Komarov commanded and three of them gripped me, dragging me to the chains they had used on me before while the other two aimed their guns to my chest. "Let me go", Caitlin demanded and struggled to get free, but he just held her tighter. Komarov just laughed. "Now, this is the kinda spirit I like!" I saw her gritting her teeth and looking desperately at me before she turned to face him. "I'll do whatever you want", she said to him. "No!" I shouted.
(Caitlin)
I heard Damon shout, but I ignored him and concentrated on Komarov. He wanted me? I could use that to my advantage, but I needed to make sure that Damon would be safe meanwhile. "What do you say? Let's go to your office box and have a little fun, hm?" I tried to tempt him, giving him my most enticing smile. His eyes narrowed and he scrutinized me. "Why the sudden mood change?" he demanded to know. I shrugged. "I want out of this. Did you really think a powerful witch like me would pick the first available vampire? I prefer to side with the strongest bad boy in town, and right now that's you, not him." He still hesitated. "You want proof?" I asked. Komarov nodded. "I'm curious to see how you'll try to convince me", he sneered. I turned around and walked over to Damon and his guards. "Let me talk to him", I said and pushed their guns away. They looked at Komarov, but he just nodded. My heart constricted at the thought how much I would have to hurt him to make this real for the Russian, but I needed time. "What are you doing, Cait'?" Damon whispered quizzically. "I'm saving my life, honey. Don't look so sad. It was nice while it lasted, but it's over now." I played my role well and it worked. The hurt look on his face spoke volumes. I leaned forward to his ear. "Just think of Bonnie", I whispered almost inaudibly and stepped back. He frowned, still not sure what to make of my words, but I turned around with a faked smile. "Give me the gun", I said to one of the guards. Komarov grinned. "I think I know what she wants. Let her", he ordered him. I took the gun from his hands and turned to Damon. "Sorry", I said and aimed at him.
(Damon)
"What are you doing, Cait'?" I whispered confused. I wasn't sure what to make of her actions. "I'm saving my life, honey. Don't look so sad. It was nice while it lasted, but it's over now." She said it with such conviction … Was she trying to stall for time? Or had she really changed her mind? I couldn't believe it, but I felt hurt anyway. She stepped forward and leaned into me. I could feel her breath at my ear and closed my eyes for a second. "Just think of Bonnie", I heard her whisper. Bonnie? What the heck …? I thought, but then I got it. She was planning something! When she aimed the gun at me, my eyes widened though. Crazy girl! I thought. She wouldn't shoot … or would she? Suddenly she spun around and fired at the armed guard. At the same time my shackles came off by magic. She had faked it! Oh my god, I had almost believed her show! She used her magic on Komarov now, forcing him to his knees while I fought the guards, but somehow Komarov managed to lift his hand with the gun and pulled the trigger. "Nooo!" I cried and rushed to her, but it was too late. The bullet hit her and she collapsed on the spot. "Caitlin!" I brushed her hair from her face and she looked apologetically at me. "Go, get him", she urged me while blood seeped heavily through her shirt. He had shot her in the stomach! If she died now … Suddenly there was an uproar behind me and I turned around. Stefan and Elena had arrived, fighting the five guards now and Komarov was nowhere to be seen. I bit into my wrist and held it to Caitlin's mouth. "Drink, quick!" I commanded. She did and I felt pleasure surging through my veins while she eagerly sucked my blood. Until a gun appeared in my field of view. "Put her down", I heard Komarov growl. Caitlin let go of my wrist and I carefully lowered her head to the floor. "It'll be my pleasure to kill both of you, right now", he added and put the gun to my forehead. In that moment, I exploded with rage. He had almost killed my girlfriend, more than once, and I had enough. Jumping up and knocking the gun out of his hand was one fluid movement. Then I crashed him into the crates behind him, punching and kicking him.
(Elena)
I had just finished another of Komarov's minions when I heard a loud roar from where Damon was tending to Caitlin. Komarov must've sneaked up to them and now I saw his gun flying through the air and Damon tackling him like a crazed tiger. Caitlin still lay on the floor. "Get to her!" Stefan called and I nodded. He could take the last two guards down himself. I had noticed that they were weak, probably younger than me. Maybe this was Komarov's failure, not confiding in older, more experienced vampire minions. I wasn't going to waste one more thought about this and ran over to her. "Caitlin, are you okay?" I asked breathlessly when I saw the large bloodstain on her shirt. "Not sure", she croaked. "He's given me blood twice today", she whispered. My eyes widened. Would it help? I had no idea, I hadn't come across something like this before. I watched Damon battle Komarov with a fierceness I had rarely seen before. I knew the Russian was much older, but at the moment Damon had the upper hand. "Help me sit", Caitlin whispered and took my hand. I supported her upper body with my arm. She bit her lip to stifle a moan and squinted her eyes. Anxiously she watched the men fight. Stefan had just finished the last guard and rested, leaning on a crate. I could see a knife sticking out of his stomach and he clutched at it, pulling it out with a pained groan. I was torn between staying with Caitlin and wanting to be at Stefan's side although I knew he would be fine. Caitlin had a frown on her face, and I looked at Damon. Komarov had him pinned to a wall in a vicious grip. It looked like Damon was losing this fight, but suddenly the Russian went completely still before he fell to the floor. Damon stood over the dead body with a bloody heart in his hand. "Never underestimate me", he gasped coughing. With a relieved sigh Caitlin closed her eyes and her body went limp.
(Damon)
I punched his face and his body with all my strength, crashed him into the wall more than once, but he was a lot stronger than me. However, I was a lot angrier than him. I let my rage fuel my strength and I almost had him near the gun I had been aiming for, but then he tricked me with some sucky martial arts movement and pinned me to the wall by my throat. I tried in vain to get rid of his hands around my throat. He was slowly crushing my larynx, grinning at me like a madman. "This is for my brother", he whispered and tightened his grip even more. A gargling sound left my mouth and while I was starting to see stars I decided to try one last move. With all remaining strength I could muster, I rammed my right hand into his rib-cage and ripped out his heart. The surprised look on his face told me that he hadn't counted on this. His hands came off my throat and I coughed, filling my lungs with air while he fell to the ground. "Never underestimate me", I gasped and breathed in deeply. "Caitlin! Wake up!" I looked up and saw Elena softly slapping her cheeks. In a flash I was at her side. "What happened?" I asked. "She lost consciousness a few seconds ago", Elena said with a worried frown. My breath hitched unvoluntarily and I lifted Caitlin's shirt. Her wound had closed and I relaxed a little. "The bleeding stopped", Elena said. All I could hope was that there were no intestinal bleedings. "I'll take her to the next hospital, you look after Stefan", I said and lifted Caitlin's limp body into my arms.
I placed her in the car and drove back into town. On my way I called Joe. "Joseph! I need a hospital you can trust!" I told him. "My god, what happened?" he asked. "Caitlin, she …." I couldn't continue. "Alright, alright … calm down … Where are you now?" he asked. "McAlpine locks." I heard him huff. "Take the 64 east, switch to 65 south and follow the signs to the Jewish hospital. Ask for Dr. Rosenberg. I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes!" He hung up. I drove as fast as I could without having the police stopping me. I could still hear her heart beating which helped a little to ease my fears. The drive to the hospital was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. When I finally arrived, I carried Caitlin into the ER and saw Joseph and Bernice already waiting there for me. "Come with me", Joe said tersely and pulled me into one of the rooms without another word. A female physician waited there. "Dr. Rosenberg. And this is?" she asked, nodding at Caitlin. "Caitlin O'Brien", I said and carefully laid her down on the bed. The doctor lifted Caitlin's shirt and inspected the wound. "It's healing. I know what you are, so why are you here?" she asked. "Because she lost consciousness after I gave her my blood the second time today." She just raised an eyebrow. "She got shot … please, Dr. Rosenberg. She must live!" I was about to lose my nerves. "I'm not sure what her body will make of it, but we'll do our best." She turned around and spoke into a phone on her desk. Then she covered Caitlin with a cloth that looked almost like a shroud and started to wheel her out of the room. "Wait! Where are you taking her?" I intervened. "We'll try to get the bullet out and make sure that she doesn't suffer from an internal bleeding. You wait here." She turned around and wheeled the bed out of the room. Joe held me by my arms. "You can trust her, Damon, please", Bernice said softly and touched my face. Numbness spread through my body and I fell into the nearest chair.