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I realize that last chapter was a lot of talking – have no fear, action is here!

Disclaimer: I do not own TVD

Chapter Fourteen

And We All Fall Down

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2010

A black figure rushed towards him, shrouded in shadow. It was danger, it was evil and it swallowed him whole. When it pulled back, there was a stake in his chest. A white stake, and his blue eyes widened with pain and fear. He met her own eyes, reaching out to her. She ran forward, desperately trying to get to him, trying to take his hand.

His mouth opened in a silent scream, and he burst into red-hot flames, making him like the sun in the vast darkness they were in.

"No!" She screamed desperately. "Klaus!"

The black figure rushed towards her and suddenly she could see its face, its cruel, cruel face.

Mikael.

Caroline awoke with a gasp, her heart still racing from her nightmare. She was disoriented and her mind was still wracked with fear. It had been a while since she had had such a bad nightmare.

She still couldn't believe it; Mikael was awake. The past few nights she had been doing her best with what she had. Her friends were avoiding her completely, which was understandable, but also very frustrating. She just wished she had someone she could talk, someone not biased about Klaus or herself.

She wished she had non-Ripper Stefan back, he would have listened to her…

But, she was stuck on her own.

When she had learned that Klaus had killed his own mother, she had no idea what to think at first. After all killing your own mother? That just seemed cruel. But then she was reminded of the time that Stefan had confessed to her that he killed his father. She hadn't made any judgments then, so why now?

Maybe it was because she was looking for an excuse to be mad at Klaus. After all, anger was often easier than understanding.

Maybe it was because he had never told her. Maybe it was because he had lied.

That didn't matter now, however, it was not her place to make a judgment, not without all the facts. She had been too hasty with her feelings before. She may not have forgiven Klaus but she loved him, and she always would. She had to allow him a chance to explain what happened to her.

Besides, she knew well enough the emotional rollercoaster baby vampires were, add to that a werewolf's temper… It was not exactly the most stable of mixes.

So, despite Rebekah revealing the whole thing to her, she knew she couldn't allow Klaus' demise. Not when there were still so many questions. Not when she was still in love with him. She couldn't be a part of it.

It would be difficult though. Her friends, though still her friends, were not her allies at this point. She also knew that she couldn't tell Klaus… yet, that is. She would tell him only when she was sure. Just because she loved him, doesn't mean that Caroline was oblivious. She knew that Klaus would most likely react with violence, which would up with her friends being harmed. If it came to a dire point, however, she would tell him. She just hoped she could stop this before it happened.

The only person she could think of that might actually help her was Rebekah. Caroline knew it was rather a long shot, at least now. But, when it came down to it, her and Nik had always been close. They were siblings, and there were very few things that could completely break that bond.

Knowing her next course of action, Caroline made her way outside to her car. As she walked there, the sun shining on her back, she had the eerie feeling of being watched. On any other day she might've mistaken it for unfounded paranoia. But after centuries of living, she learned to follow her instincts.

She slowed in her walking as she felt a presence behind her. Without another thought, she turned, fangs bared, and attacked. She jumped the figure, trying to tackle him down. Her efforts were futile, however, when a vice-like hand grip her throat and held her up in the air. She choked painfully, and her hands fell away from the figure and to the hand around her throat, trying to pry his fingers off. She kicked at him but it had no effect. Her eyes roved around, trying to find her attacker's face.

When she did find it, she immediately struggled harder.

It was Mikael. Her killer Mikeal, Klaus' evil stepfather. Her heart sprung in fear and she forced her terror down, trying to calm down and think, damn it. Come on Caroline. You're not human anymore. There must be something you can do! Don't just do it for yourself. Do it for him, too. You promised you would keep him alive, you need to keep that promise.

Klaus' handsome face flashed through her mind. I wish I would've stayed with you, my love.

"Well, I should have expected to find Niklaus' little whore here, doing his bidding for him. He always was a coward." Mikael said scathingly, his face calm but his eyes displaying a manic insanity that made Caroline shiver.

"Mikael." Caroline struggled against him and he simply smirked at her, a cruel twist of the same expression she was so used to seeing on Klaus' face.

Klaus. Have to help him. She so wished she had stuck closer to him.

"You know, I had originally planned to use the doppelgänger for this… But you, my dear, will do so much better..." She felt his hand tighten amount around her throat and Caroline immediately realized that there was really nothing she could do.

I'm sorry...

Mikael pulled her closer and his fangs descended. The next this Caroline knew he was biting deep into her throat. She felt herself weaken, unable to do anything against it, no matter how hard she struggled. It was painful, more painful than anything she had experienced in a very long time. Just as she felt herself drifting, her mind muddled, Mikael's fangs receded and he held her up at arms length.

With one last triumphant smirk at her, he twisted his hand.

Snap!

Black.

Klaus was suspicious, and very much so. Stefan had called him earlier, claiming that his father was dead, that the doppelgänger had been the one to dagger him. Although Stefan had been compelled to tell him only the truth, Klaus was not stupid, he knew there were ways to get around it. Rebekah had confirmed it for him, but Klaus' cautious nature did not allow him to believe them quite yet.

Plus, there was the fact that he had yet to hear from Caroline, and he was sure she would've found a way to get to him, especially when something this big had happened. Caroline had just as much reason to celebrate Mikael's death, and she knew it was important to him as well.

Though she hadn't forgiven him, Klaus knew that Caroline was simply too kind, too good to simply keep such information to herself.

It made him wary of what awaited him here in Mystic Falls; it made him suspicious.

However, he decided to act as he normally would have, by throwing a big party. It was just a front, however. An excuse to allow the hybrids he had found all over the States after he returned from London to roam freely. They would be his insurance. He ordered some to take care of the Salvatore brothers should something happen to him. A few of his more trusted hybrids he ordered to search out Caroline. Things were not exactly well between them but, even after so many years, there was no one Klaus loved more than Caroline and he would be damned if he let something happen to her again.

If he let her down again.

Though it was hard to admit, Klaus was worried. If something had happened to Caroline… He wasn't sure if he could stop another attempt at his life… He wasn't sure if he would want to.

For now, however, he locked down on his emotions. Now was not the time.

He needed to play along.

For a little while.

So, here he was, at an obnoxious party in the Lockwood house that he threw to 'celebrate'. He had that feeling inside him that was warning that something was very, very wrong.

The world around her was a blur as she opened her eyes. She felt weak, weaker than she had in all her time as a vampire. She felt herself being yanked up from where lay, grabbed roughly and dragged away from the tops of her arms. She tried to take in what was around her but her head was pounding horribly and she could feel her muscles stiffen due to her lack of blood. Her skin was graying and she was sure she must have looked more undead than usual.

"Where are you taking me?" Caroline managed to choke out through the pain and weakness. Her head was lolling and she cursed herself for being caught again. She five hundred bloody years and she still couldn't seem to avoid trouble.

"Shut up." One of the men hissed back. His scent was odd, somehow wolf but not. It reminded her of… Of course. He's a hybrid. But why would Klaus send one of his hybrids to fetch her in this way?

Unless… Her memories of the night returned. Mikael.

She tried to get her stubborn limbs to move so she could escape but they weren't listening and it only caused her more pain. Through her haze, she realized that Klaus was in danger. She needed to get the hell out of there.

Wherever they were taking her didn't seem to be to far off because, soon enough, they came across a very familiar house. It was the Lockwood mansion. The place was full of commotion that Caroline couldn't differentiate between one voice and another. There was one thing she noticed when her eyesight sharpened, however.

It was Klaus and Mikael in the midst of what seemed to be a dangerous confrontation.

No, no, no… she thought, I was supposed to stop it… this shouldn't be happening…. No, no, no….

The men holding her pulled her forcibly towards the pair and Caroline immediately realized what her role would be in this. She was leverage.

Mikael's going to use me to hurt him. I can't let that happen.

She fought with all of her diminished might, but it was futile. Still, she couldn't give up.

"Damn, she's a feisty one." She vaguely heard one of the men holding her mutter as his grip on her tightened. She was brought closer and closer, even as she tried to pull back. Come on, come on, come on! Have to get out of here…

"The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me." Mikael's voice made a shiver run up and the next thing she knew the men shoved her towards the girl standing by Mikael's side. The girl, in turn, handed her off to Mikael and she fell into him, unsteady on her feet. The Original's hand went to the back of her neck roughly, holding her up viciously and making her look in front of her.

Klaus stared back at her, panic in his eyes. I am so sorry, Caroline thought.

"Caroline…" He reached out to her, wanting make sure she was all right, his eyes still on hers. He hesitated suddenly, hand clenching into a tight fist, blue orbs flickering to glance at Mikael. "Let her go." He growled at his stepfather, anger, no, rage, ringing clear in his voice.

"Now, now, Niklaus, you know that is not how this game is played." Mikaels replied and Caroline could feel the puff of his breath on the back of her head. She continued to stare at Klaus, trying to tell to stay back, to not fall for it. She couldn't bear the thought of her being the cause of his ultimate destruction. "Come outside and face me." Mikael's hand became a claw around her neck and she gasped in pain. She heard Klaus let out what sounded like an angry growl. "Or she dies."

"You wouldn't. You would lose your leverage, father."

"Oh wouldn't I? How quickly you forget, Niklaus. I would. I would do it so you would live forever, with no one at your side. Nobody cares about you anymore, boy! Who do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one. No one."

"You're wrong, Mikael. He has me." With renewed strength, Caroline drove her elbow into his gut as hard as she could, with the power of nearly five hundred years. It only caused Mikael's grip on her to loosen the tiniest amount, but it was enough. She broke free of his hold and ran towards Klaus, focusing on his surprised. His hand was reaching out to her again and she put hers forward. For a moment, she thought she would make it. He wasn't far from her, after all, she only had to move a few steps.

But living for nearly five hundred years was nothing compared to living for a thousand. Mikael grabbed her by the ends of her hair, yanking her back. His other hand went under her chin and pulled her head back, keeping his hold even firmer before.

"Perhaps, he does. But you, my dear, are nothing but a weakness." Mikael laughed cruelly, looking down at her. He turned to look back at Klaus, smirking. Suddenly Caroline felt a red hot pain in her back and she vaguely realized that Mikael staked her as she fell forward to her knees.

"No!" Klaus yelled out, his voice rough with panic and anger. Caroline had one hand on the floor, holding herself up. Her other hand went shakily to her lower back to where she could feel the stake protruding. It was agony but she managed to wrap her hand around it and pull it out, though she couldn't stop the pained whimper that made it past her lips.

"Now come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't kill your little whore." She heard Mikael say from above her. Still breathing hard and her vision blurry, Caroline looked up to Klaus, a protest already at her tongue, when she noticed a figure behind him. "Watch out!" She screamed, causing Klaus to turn around just in time to notice his attacker before a stake went into his abdomen and yelled out.

Immediately Mikael lurched forward and wrapped a hand around Caroline's mouth pulling her up to her feet once more. "You have been nothing but trouble to me," he hissed to her, fingers digging into her skin before he flung her into the courtyard in front of the house. Caroline hit the ground hard, her already injured back taking the brunt of the impact. She let out a small cry and rolled to her side, noticing the people standing around her. "Kill her!" She heard Mikael call out to them. In response, the man nearest to her dropped his fangs, and his eyes filled with gold.

Hybrid, Caroline thought, panicked. I can't let them kill me. I won't die! His bite… I have to make sure he doesn't bite me… Despite her mixed up thoughts, Caroline knew she had to move. So she forced herself to get up through her weakness and pain. She managed to sit up and scurry back just as they descended on her.

One hybrid was immediately on top of her, snapping at her with his teeth. Caroline clamped a hand tightly on his throat, keeping his teeth away whilst her other hand punched into his chest. She gripped his stuttering heart and pulled.

He fell dead on top of her but Caroline didn't take a single minute to contemplate it and, instead, pushed him off, getting herself to unsteady feet. She swayed slightly on her feet as the other hybrids circled her. There were too many, but Caroline wasn't about to go down without a fight. She only wished she could spare a look back, she needed to see what was going on with Klaus…

Two hybrids moved in at once but she was ready for them and she moved as quickly as she could, taking off one of their heads without too much trouble. The other one let out an angry growl and ran to her. Caroline just managed to move out of the way, snapping his neck in the process. She knew that it wouldn't kill the hybrid, but it would keep him down long enough for her to take care of the others.

She wasn't that lucky, though. Her body was weakening, and even the adrenaline that came with fighting for her life was waning. Right now she was barely faster than them, barely stronger. The wound on her back wasn't healing due to her lack of blood and she was still frail from having her neck snapped. After dispatching the fifth hybrid, the remaining three worked as a team.

Two went behind her and pulled her arms back painfully. She tried to kick at the other one but he only chuckled a bit and approached closer. He blurred in front of her and snapped her head to the side, exposing her throat. His fangs pierced the soft skin there and Caroline cried out in outrage and pain. She fought harder but the agony was becoming too much. Everything hurt.

Finally her body went limp. Her vision blurred.

She didn't hear the loud bellow of "Caroline!"

Klaus didn't dwell on the fact that he had just killed the man he had once called father. He barely spared his flaming body a glance. His eyes were focused solely on Caroline, or, rather, what his hybrids were doing to his Caroline. His heart stuttered with the force of his panic, and his mind filled with a bloody rage.

He was livid, even angrier at his hybrids than he had been at Mikael only moments before. He didn't even give himself the slightest moment to realize that he had just killed the man who had hunted him for a thousand years.

Instead, Klaus found himself growling with utter fury, his eyes filling with gold as his fangs pierced through his gums. In the next instant he was holding the heart of the hybrid who had dared to touch something that was his. No one was allowed to harm Caroline. Not his Caroline.

He made quick work of the two holding her, staking one with a branch he picked up off the floor and tearing the other one's bloody head off. He was so quick that Caroline hadn't even hit the floor yet when his arms went around her tightly. She was moaning in pain, mumbling, and the torn up sight of her sent a pang through his heart.

"Sorry, so sorry… Failed you… failed…"

"Sh, sh, love." Klaus whispered, stroking her hair gently as he inhaled her scent, relieved that she was alive, before both of his hands went to her cheeks, cupping them so she looked at him. "You did nothing of the sort. Everything will be alright now, sweetheart, no more harm will come to you." She seemed to comprehend him and nodded a little before leaning into him, knowing she was safe enough for her to finally rest. She whimpered slightly as the movement jarred to bite on her neck, causing Klaus to look down at her with concern. He moved some of her away from her neck, hissing when he noticed the wound.

He stood immediately, holding Caroline tightly in his arms. He wanted to get away from prying eyes. Stefan may have fought off Damon for him but he knew the elder Salvatore would not be pleased by today's turn of events; though the younger vampire wouldn't be able to do much to him, Klaus did not want to have to ward off another attack.

He was gone in an instant, Caroline still secure in his arms.

"It is almost over, love." Caroline barely heard the words as she laid down on something soft. She did not get to enjoy it, however, as her body was wrecked with sickness and injury. For a moment she could have sworn she saw someone other than Klaus. Someone that looked oddly like Robb… She had to shake her head to make him disappear. She was hallucinating, she must have been; Robb was gone now.

Through her hazy mind, Caroline realized that Klaus had slid behind her, and she now laying against his chest. One of his arms was around her waist, holding her upright. He held his other wrist to his mouth and bit into it before holding it in front of Caroline's mouth.

"Drink, sweetheart, you will die if you do not." The words were whispered roughly into her ear. Caroline could smell the sweet scent of his blood and did as he asked. She bit into his arm, enjoying the euphoric feeling of his drinking his ancient and powerful blood. Soon, it energized her and her eyes snapped open, more aware than before. She brought her hands up to his, bringing his wrist closer to her mouth whilst simultaneously holding his hand. She nearly moaned in pleasure as the blood continued to flow down her throat. Her pain was fading and she could the skin of her wounds sewing back together.

Once it was healed, Caroline managed to pull his wrist away from her mouth. She didn't let go of his hand, however, still holding tightly with her own as she settled her arm in her lap, intertwining her fingers with his.

"Thank you." She whispered, turning her head to look up at him and smile. He returned her look with a serious expression, his eyes with filled turmoil. He nodded before shifting away from her, gently taking his hand from hers. He moved to get off of the bed they were sitting on when Caroline panicked. She grabbed his arm, causing him to freeze and glance at her.

"No, stay with me." She found herself whispering. "Please. I don't want to be alone." She knew he consented when she able to pull him back into the bed. He watched her almost wearily but allowed her to make him sit next to her against the pillows. For a moment neither said anything. Caroline's hand was burning on his arm, tethering him to her. Hesitantly, she stroked her hand down his forearm until it reached his own hand. She took ahold of it, once again intertwining their fingers. When he didn't try to pull away again, she smiled and placed her head against Klaus' shoulder, comforted by his warmth.

Right now, she felt at peace. Like all of the worries of the world had faded into the background. Now, she was just Caroline. She wasn't a centuries old vampire. She didn't have to worry about what was coming next. She didn't even have to worry about her friends never forgiving her or about their next plan to kill the man next to her.

She had tomorrow for that. For now, however, she planned on spending a few guiltless moments with the man she loved.

"I missed you these last few days." She told him honestly, snuggling closer.

"As I missed you, love." Klaus said as he looked down at her. "But not just these last few days." His hand caressed her cheek for a moment as his eyes burned into hers. Caroline didn't say anything but smiled sadly, understanding what he was trying to tell her. When she nodded, he pulled away from her cheek but brought her hand to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. He smirked a bit at that noticeable shiver that went up her spine.

They spent a few moments in companionable silence. Theirs hands were now lying on his chest and Caroline could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat. Eventually though, she couldn't bear to keep quiet a second longer, too energetic from her infusion of his blood.

"Klaus, you're free." She told him, bringing up the significance of today's events for the first time. Mikael was gone, out of their lives for good. She smiled happily at him.

"I suppose I am." He replied, oddly monotone, his brow furrowed.

"What are you going to do?" Caroline asked, confused why he wasn't more… pleased about the whole thing.

"I think it is high time I wake my family, don't you?"

This made the blonde vampire's smile widen even more. "Let's go now." She exclaimed, moving to get off the bed. This time it was Klaus who stopped her from leaving as he pulled her back swiftly, causing her to fall on top of him, straddling him. She shifted so she was seated upright, only to find her face very close to Klaus.

"Sh, love, it can wait. What will one more day do?" Klaus said lowly, now looking up at her through his lashes, smirk at his lips.

Caroline took a shuddering breath. "I suppose."

They were silent again, for a while. Caroline noted the faraway look in Klaus' blue eyes, the deep-set pain that lay there. Without thinking, she brought a hand up to his cheek, turning his head so she could look him in the eye.

"You know what Mikael said about you is wrong… right?" She ventured, trying to gage his answer. "Klaus?" When he still said nothing, Caroline knew she had it. "You, know I may not have been around for… a while. But I care about you." Her words once again protested against Mikael's. "I always will." She leant her forehead against his.

His eyes darkened and suddenly her lurched forward and pressed his lips roughly against hers. Caroline was taken by surprise but soon overcame it and kissed him right back and with just as much ferocity. The kiss was one of desperation, or reassurance that the other was alive. Soon enough, his hands were in her hair, pulling at the roots, and hers were wound tightly around his neck, pressing their chests flush together.

Then, just as suddenly as he kissed her, he pulled back.

"Forgive me, love. I couldn't help myself." He stated, breathing hard. Caroline could still see that same darkness in his eyes and had to fight not to shiver. Instead she just shook her head ruefully and tilted her head to capture his irresistible lips again.

This time the kiss started off gently, tenderly. It made Caroline's heart ache with love. But soon enough, things grew heated again as she deepened the kiss, tasting his tongue with hers. Her hand travelled down to the hem of his shirt and she ripped it off of him. In response, Klaus hooked her leg around his waist and flipped them at vampire speed. He was now looming over her with a dangerous smirk.

He leaned down and kissed her again, his lips eventually trailing from hers as he kissed his way to her neck. His teeth grazed the sensitive spot at her throat and Caroline gasped.

"Wait, wait…" She suddenly said, abruptly aware of their position. Klaus picked up at his and looked at her questioningly. "I just… Can we just… stay together? I don't think I can… I haven't forgiven you… yet. It's been a long day and, I just, I don't know…" She rambled on, unsure how to explain her feelings.

Klaus stared at her for moment and then seemed to understand her and roll off of her, but not before placing another kiss to the side of her neck.

"What now, love?" He asked as he lay next to her, and Caroline turned her head to meet his eyes. She was honestly rather surprised at his answer, his calmness. She would have thought that he would be more volatile on a day such as this… but, perhaps he changed in the last centuries, but not just in a bad way.

"Can we just… rest?" She ventured hesitantly. His response was simply to lift the covers for her, a clear invitation. When she crawled under them, he stayed on top, creating a barrier between. A line.

For a while Caroline tried to rest but the space in between was killing her. Eventually she gave into her urges and laid herself on his chest, her ear over his heart. Klaus, for his part, did not seem surprised, and only put an arm around her shoulders, holding her closer. The blankets stayed between them, but even Caroline realized that they were a lie. They wouldn't keep them from each other.

For now, however, Caroline felt comforted and soon enough she was drifting off to sleep.

"I love you, Caroline."

She wasn't sure whether or not she imagined the words, but, either way, she went to sleep with a smile on her face.

I just want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter; I felt it was important to get this one right ;)

I was asked in the reviews why Caroline didn't mention to her friends the fact that the Originals' bloodlines would die with them if they were killed; this is for a very simple reason. Although Robb mentioned it to Caroline, none of them really have any idea about the sire lines or the extent to which they will affect the gang. Besides, this was just a very small part of what has been happening to Caroline, and even she can't remember every little thing. Hope that explains it!

The next update should be up within a week ;)

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!

RW