A/N: Shout out to Iansarmy, vanessa, Teamvampirebarbie22, clashcityrocker083, lateVMlover, Claudia, lateVMlover, DevilJolie, Hopelessromanticatheart26, jessnicole, and my guest reviewers - thank you! Thanks for the follows and favorites! You guys are the best!

Since I'd never been to Louisiana before, I didn't know how long it would take for us to reach Baton Rouge. Turns out it took about an hour and a half. I rode in the back with Rebekah who talked excitedly about the shops we'd visit, showing me photos of various things we'd see on her phone. That had Klaus shaking his head as he drove. I knew what he was probably thinking. Why show me pictures of things on her phone that I'd be seeing for real in a matter of minutes. But she was so excited that I didn't have the heart to say anything. Klaus' gaze found mine in the rear view mirror and he winked at me.

I did miss my phone. I'd ask Rebekah how to access the internet when we got back to New Orleans. I felt cut off from the world, from home.

As if I'd conjured it with my thoughts, Klaus' phone rang.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Damon?" Klaus asked.

I focused on the call, hearing Damon's familiar voice on the other end. "Well don't you sound perky today?"

"Just enjoying life, mate." Klaus told him, smiling. "What can I do for you?"

"Elena wants to talk to Caroline," Damon announced.

Klaus held out his phone for me, watching me in the rear view mirror as I took it from him.

"Damon?" I asked.

"Caroline?" It was Elena's voice.

"Hey! It's me."

"Caroline, what's wrong? We've been calling…"

"My phone got destroyed," I explained. "I got a call my first day here. It sounded like you but you were asking me about something Bonnie told both of us together and I was afraid it was Silas."

"I haven't actually talked to you or seen you since Klaus and Elijah took off with you at your mom's house," explained Elena.

Well, that proved I'd been right.

"You're okay?" Elena asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. The Mikaelsons are taking very good care of me."

"Seriously?" Elena sounded skeptical.

"Would I have gotten on the phone so quickly if I were chained in the dungeon?" I teased.

"Guess not."

"How are all of you?" I asked. "How's Mom?"

"Worried. I'll let her know I talked to you," Elena went on. "Silas hounded us, terrorized us all. And then all at once it just… stopped. I'm so glad we got to talk to you, Care, because Silas might be headed your way."

I swallowed hard at that thought, my hand moving up to my chest where he'd drove the stake in my chest and left me for, I thought, dead. He came to me as Klaus. I blew out an exhale.

"Thanks, we'll be on the lookout," I told her.

"He's still looking for Katherine, we lost her," Elena went on. "And he still needs to bring down the veil. Gosh, there's so much going on. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know you must have been upset to realize that Silas was in Tyler's head for a while. We think Tyler managed to get away from him though. It's a long story but at one point, Silas lost his psychic powers and Tyler was able to get away. He might be headed in your direction too."

Klaus' gaze met mine again and I know both he and Rebekah were listening to the entire conversation. Klaus' darkened expression told me what he thought of the possibility of Tyler showing up.

"Well, we'll deal with whatever happens," I told her, trying to sound braver than I felt.

"Be careful, Care," Elena said to me. "Keep in touch."

"I will," I promised, ending the call.

I handed Klaus his phone and sat back in the seat. Well, part of me was relieved that Elena thought Tyler had gotten away and hoped to see him again. Another part of me? Well, that part dreaded seeing Tyler. It left me wondering why. Was it because Klaus would immediately want to kill him? Or was it the distance he'd put between us all summer.

"You can't tell me you're not enjoying having a break from her," Rebekah said, frowning. She'd never made a secret of how much she despised my remaining best friend. And in a way, I understood where she was coming from. Rebekah had once loved Stefan but he was all about Elena. Then there was the time Elena daggered her to keep her from going to the dance…

"I actually didn't see a lot of her this summer," I admitted. "She and Damon were all wrapped up in each other."

"Well, if it's the witch Silas is after," Rebekah said, "and it sounds as if that may be the case, I just hope we reach her before he does."

"If he had," Klaus said, "I think we would know."

"So does Elijah have a back-up plan? Is that why he was being so elusive this morning?" Rebekah wanted to know.

"Possibly," he answered, parking the car.

Rebekah's face lit up and she smiled at me. "We're here."

Rebekah climbed out of the car on her side. Klaus was opening the door on my side before I could reach the handle. I took the hand he offered as I climbed out, noticing he was hanging on to my hand.

"I'll try not to be long, Caroline," he told me. His gaze locked with mine. "Do not leave my sister's side under any circumstances."

I had to chuckle at that. "That's exactly what Elijah said to me before we left."

"Did he?" Klaus smirked. "Anything else my brother wished to impart?"

I pulled the phone out the purse hanging on my shoulder, then put it back. "He gave me this. It has his number only programmed into it, to call in case of emergency, and I'm not to call anyone else."

"And you so easily agree to do what my brother says?" he asked, his expression hard to read.

"Well, yeah. He was a way of putting things that makes it hard to say no to him," I said and then immediately wished I could take back the words.

Klaus' brows shot up. "Does he, love? You have no problem saying no to me," he said suggestively.

"I didn't mean that and you know it," I told him, realizing he was playing with me and enjoying it. "But since you bring it up, there's a big difference between saying no to Elijah and saying no to you."

"And that is?"

Rebekah waited on her side of the car, grinning while she feigned reading something on her phone.

"His intentions are for my safety and well-being only," I explained. I poked him in the chest with my free hand. "I have absolutely no trouble telling you no because your intentions are…"

What was a good word?

"Scandalous?" He flashed those dimples, damn him.

I slugged him in the shoulder which only made him laugh at me.

"Involve hot hybrid sex?" he whispered, stopping me from punching him again by easily catching my hand.

Bringing my hand to his lips, he pressed a kiss against my skin. "Stay with Rebekah and I'll be back with you as soon as I can."

He released my hands and I nodded. "Okay."

Klaus pulled an envelope out of his jacket, catching it on his necklaces for a second before handing it to me.

"For you," he said. "Buy whatever you like."

I put up a hand. "I still have what I found in my mini-fridge. But thanks."

Smirking, he dropped the envelope into my purse before walking around me to his sister.

"Rebekah, she stays with you every second I'm gone," he told her meaningfully.

"Yes, Nik," she said as if the subject bored her.

We moved away from the car as he got back in and drove away.

Rebekah blew out an exhale. "Finally! Let's go have fun."

Her huge smile was infectious and I followed her up the sidewalk, pretty much caught up in her excitement. Hey, I liked to shop too!

By that afternoon, I was tired but in a good way. Baton Rouge was a beautiful city. Klaus had dropped us off in an area where there was a nice mix of modern shops and stores and small privately-owned shops that offered some unique things and antiques.

The biggest surprise was Rebekah herself. Gone was the thousand year old original vampire and in her place was a girl who loved blue raspberry slushy drinks, trying on hats and scarves, and all things girly. She loved pinks, things with lace, pearl buttons. I went right along, trying on things with her and laughing insanely at the poses we struck while Rebekah snapped selfies of us with her phone.

We'd gotten our nails done. I bought a few things with the money Klaus had left me in the mini-fridge. I found an antique charm bracelet that I couldn't pass up, a black lace bustier that I didn't need for any particular reason except that I'd always wanted one. And the cream-colored lace blouse? I couldn't pass that up. That was in the first shop we'd entered after lunch and when I first saw the two guys who had just walked into the restaurant.

I'd seen them one other time today, when we'd been in the novelty jewelry store and Rebekah had gotten a cartilage piercing in her left ear. They'd walked by the store twice, two young guys. Both were tall and muscular. One was blonde with big shoulders and gray eyes. He reminded me a little of Matt. The other one was totally channeling Tyson Beckford with his gorgeous smile, dark eyes and the body of a professional athlete. He'd winked at me as they'd passed by.

I just thought they were hitting on us, just a bit of fun. Until I spied them sitting on the other side of the posh eatery Rebekah picked out for dinner. The blond one was cutting glances at us every couple of moments. Rebekah didn't seem to notice because was losing patience with Klaus not returning her texts.

"Where is he?" Rebekah said. "I didn't think he'd be gone this long."

I knew from having a best friend who was a powerful witch how things could go. I found myself wishing we'd considered Klaus' situation a bit sooner. What if something had happened?

"I hope he's okay," I said out loud.

"Nik's fine. He always is." Rebekah studied me curiously for a moment. "Caroline, really, he'll be fine. The only thing we have to worry about is how successful his trip was. Nik can be a right bastard when things don't go his way."

I nodded, knowing that fact very well.

"Speaking of," Rebekah began. "How did things go with Nik last night?"

Something in her expression told me that she already knew. Something else in her face made me realize she wasn't sure I'd discuss it with her. Like I didn't trust her. I thought about Elijah's explanation of how his family was regarded. What would life be like for an original? Most would be afraid to be her friend or trust her because she of that status. Those who did try to get close to her probably just wanted something. Had she ever had any true friends?

I had no idea what life was like for her. But I knew all about loneliness, in a different way. We were doing girl bonding today, and Rebekah had turned out to be a lot of fun. We were getting along pretty well.

"I kissed him," I told her.

"You kissed him?" Rebekah smiled. "Who pulled him out of the floor after that?"

I had to laugh with her.

"Well, it did take him off guard," I admitted. "But it was just a kiss, it didn't go farther."

Rebekah nodded. "Niklaus has honestly managed to surprise me this time. Normally my brother is all impulse and desire, jealousy and rage. Someone comes after him, he kills them. He wants something, he takes it."

"But he's been in romantic relationships before," I threw out there before I could stop myself. Yeah, I was fishing for information on the guy from his sister. Considering who the guy in question was, that was pretty funny.

"Well, there was Tatia when we were still human," she explained. "She played him against Elijah the same way Elena plays the Salvatores against each other. Tatia was the only woman I ever saw my brother open himself up to. It was the only time I've ever known him to pursue or even want anything like romance."

And I was hanging on every word like a typical teen girl. Pathetic much, Caroline?

"Once we were turned, well, you know how Nik is. He wants love and loyalty more than anything else but he goes about it the wrong way. He's afraid to give up control and he doesn't trust. When someone disappoints him, he punishes them," she explained. "He's had relationships with women over the years but none of them have lasted. None of them ever meant anything to him."

"And then there's you," Rebekah's gaze searched my face.

What she'd shared with me made my happy in a way I wouldn't admit to. Still, I shook my head. "I'm a challenge, that's all. He sent Tyler to bite me once, just to demonstrate to Tyler who was the alpha male. He showed up at my house to cure me to gain my mother's support in his plans since she's the sheriff. He even told me that I was collateral damage. He's been interested in me since then but I'm pretty sure if I said 'Klaus, I love you! Will you be Rhett to my Scarlett?' he'd run for the hills or he'd kick me to the curb or something."

Rebekah looked thoughtful. "I think you're underestimating my brother, Caroline. There are moments when he's around you when he reminds me so much of the man he was before this curse. Before we turned, Nik always protected me when father got in his darker moods. If I angered father in some way, he'd take the punishment for me. He was so different then, so loving. It's probably one of the reasons I've stood by him all these years. We've always stood by one another and he's always kept me safe."

"Then I came to realize that he had feelings for you. He even came to save you from the town's council in Mystic Falls that time, leaving me behind in that van. I despised you for that, for stringing him along time after time. I was angry with him for letting you," Rebekah admitted. "But now that you've been here with us for a few days, I'm starting to realize now that you're not indifferent to him."

"I know, but Tyler –"

"Tyler isn't here and loyalty to him didn't stop you from kissing, Nik, did it?" Rebekah asked.

I didn't have an answer for that. She was right.

"Caroline, Niklaus isn't just the monster most of the world considers him to be. That humanity I speak of is still there underneath. I see it when he's with you."

"I know," I admitted.

Then I had to laugh.

"What?" Rebekah smiled but her expression was guarded.

"Would you have ever thought the two of us would be here? Doing girl shopping day? Talking about boys?" I asked.

"No, I guess not," she said. "It has been fun."

I raised my glass of wine and she did then same. "To us," I said.

"Cheers," Rebekah clinked her glass against mine.

Both of the guys I'd noticed were now looking in our direction. Something was up, I realized. Instinct told me they weren't here to hit on us.

Well, since were waiting on food and words from Klaus, I had to ask. "So how was your summer with Matt?"

Her face split into a huge grin at that. "Well, we –"

Rebekah's phone vibrated on the table, the name Nik on the screen.

"Finally," she said, leaving me there at the table so she dash outside and take the call, leaving the rest of her belongings with me.

Immediately, the Tyson Beckford guy got up and headed in the same direction. The blond looked my way while I tried to seem as if I didn't notice.

Crap! I knew Rebekah was an original vampire and super strong, but exactly how many times had I been told not to leave her side? Something didn't feel right. The two guys had been following us.

Grabbing our bags, I headed out of the restaurant. We'd been waiting for half an hour for our order anyway, it would just appear we grew tired of waiting. I walked out in no particular hurry, finding Rebekah on the phone and pacing back in forth on the walk in front of eatery.

"I realize that you're upset, Nik. Forget dinner then, just come and get us," she demanded.

I'd wanted to focus on Klaus' voice, to hear what he was saying on the other end of the phone, when I saw Beckford rounding the corner and heading straight for Rebekah. Using my vampire speed, I dropped our bags and I cut him off, pushing him against the restaurant's store front.

"You're where?" Rebekah practically yelled, still not noticing anything.

The guy grinned at me, putting up his hands in surrender. I wondered if I'd just done something stupid when someone shot up behind me and grabbed my hair in a painful grip. I yelled more in surprise than in pain, but it did feel like someone had set my scalp on fire.

"Caroline!" Rebekah called.

In the next instant, whoever had my hair, and I was guessing it was the blond guy, was gone. Beckford caught me off guard, grabbing me by the throat and switching our positions so it was me pressed up against the wall. His grip was painful and not human.

Vampires. Great.

I watched the blond guy struggle in Rebekah's grip but she was so strong. She kept him at arm's length while he flailed, trying desperately to use a full syringe swinging in his hand on her.

"Vervain," she said as if she were bored. "That won't work well on me, I'm afraid."

"So you're the original blonde," he said.

"Let her go," Rebekah ordered my captor.

"Not until you tell us what happened to some friends of mine," Beckford bit out, squeezing my throat tighter. I didn't need to breathe but I'd never not breathed, so I was panicking. "Robbie and Chelsea. Brother and sister. Ring any bells?"

I knew immediately who they were talking about. The vampires who had attacked me, who Klaus and Elijah killed.

"Honestly, no," Rebekah said. "But then I kill so many vampires you see."

"Marcel's got strict rules about how things are done in the city," the blond one warned her.

Still couldn't breathe.

"We're not in Marcel's city right now," Rebekah pointed out. "And if Marcel decides to be a little more courteous to me, perhaps I'll consider his rules."

The blond guy tossed the syringe to his friend, hoping to get the upper hand with Rebekah. "Vervain that one and we'll take her back to Marcel."

Of course, he meant me.

"The hell you will," I heard Rebekah growl.

Rebekah snapped the blond's neck, the moment Beckford shoved the syringe into my neck. Of course it was vervain and it felt like fire racing through my veins. The stinging brought tears to my eyes, flooding my body in pain, even as I began to lose consciousness.

As I slid down the wall, I spotted Klaus sitting in the car we'd ridden in, watching the entire scene with pure fury on his face. Why didn't he come help us? Why was he just watching?

Beckford trying to snatch me up but I fell back to the ground before I'd really left it. The sound of breaking bones and Rebekah's voice calling my name were the last things I was aware of.