He had just gotten off the phone when a notice flashed across his laptop. There was noise in the room down the hall. He knew the room was rented out for the month, but he didn't expect the girls to be back in it so soon.

"Elena? Elena please pick up. Please."

Caroline's voice. Something was very wrong. The voicemail recording started and she hung up the phone. She dialed again.

"Stefan? please be ok. Stefan?" but she had gotten another voicemail message and hung up again.

She was crying, and she was all alone in the room. If it was anyone else he would leave it be. This did nothing to further the plan and he hadn't even thought of an excuse for knocking on her door. But this was her, and somehow she was different.

He knocked on the door. He could hear her footsteps pause as she looked through the peephole, and then the sounds of the locks unclicking.

His eyes went straight to the nasty bruise on her face, then he saw the marks on her neck as well. Without thinking, he pushed his way into the room and pulled her into a tight hug. She didn't fight it, she clung to him and sobbed into his shirt.

He pulled one arm away to close the door behind them and sat down on the bed. She sat next to him, than to his shock, she pulled herself into his lap and clung tighter to him, sill crying.

He didn't know what to do with her. He was used to being around women who kept their emotions hidden. He had never seen Emily cry. Becca hadn't cried in front of him since she was a child. His sister was still an important part of his life, but she was nothing like that scared little girl he pulled from under the bed ten years ago. He kept his romantic relationships short and never got in too deep. He couldn't stay in one place for long or tell them what he really did for work, so what was the point?

Some of the people he killed cried and begged for their lives before he ended them. But that was work, he felt nothing.

For the first time since he carried Becca out of their house he looked down at the person crying on him and felt a pang of empathy. He stroked her hair and murmured reassuring words in her ear, feeling the rage building inside him. He wanted to take out whoever did this to her. He didn't care if the Salvatore brothers were his client. He would end them if they were the ones who did this.

"Who did this to you?"

She tried to answer but couldn't. She just kept crying.

"It's ok, you're safe with me. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

She looked at him, dazed. Was she dreaming him? He reached down to wipe her tears away and she flinched when his finger grazed the raw bruise.

He winced when he saw her react like that, he hadn't meant to make it worse. Slowly, cautiously, he leaned down and kissed her cheek, just far away enough from the bruises to avoid hurting her. Her hand caught the back of his head and her fingers combed through his messy hair. He had pulled away from her cheek and now his face was just inches away. She tilted her chin up and her eyes started to flutter closed. She was dying to know what it felt like to be kissed by him.

The lock clicked. Someone was sliding a key card into the door. He reached to his side but realized his gun was still in his room. There was a knife in his pocket, that would have to do.

Caroline pulled away from their almost-kiss at lightning speed. She turned around to look at Stefan standing in the doorway. He had a split lip, but otherwise seemed fine. He rushed over to her and she hesitantly sat up, putting a few inches between her and Nik.

Nik remembered that he wasn't supposed to know who Stefan was, and that while Stefan had hired him, he didn't know what Nik looked like, since they only saw Emily in person.

"Stefan, oh my god, Are you ok?"

"I'm fine Care. He's knocked out for now. We're going to take care of you, it's gonna be ok."

He looked over at Nik. Why was there a stranger in her room? "Who the fuck are you?"

"Uh. I'm Nik, a friend." he said lamely. "Are you the boyfriend?"

"No. The boyfriend is the one who did this to her."

So Tyler had attacked her. Was it because he found out about Nik being around her? Had someone seen him carry her though the lobby? Did her friend Elena tell him how they behaved in the bathroom that night? He was suddenly very very happy about his job assignment. This might be his most satisfying kill yet.

"Ex-boyfriend" Caroline spat.

"Ex-boyfriend" Stefan repeated, smiling "Good for you Care." He gave Nik a warning look. Nik could tell that he was very protective of Caroline.

Stefan pulled out his phone to call Damon, but it went to voicemail. "Damn it Damon! We have a situation here. This is serious. Call me back." He looked hesitantly at Nik, wondering who this stranger was and if he could trust him alone with Caroline. He wasn't convinced.

"Here" he shoved the bucket at Nik "Go get some ice for her."

Nik looked over at her and she nodded. It was ok. Then he walked out.

"Care, I'm so sorry I didn't get there faster, Are you ok?"

"Fine." she grumbled, wiping her tears away. "He was sleeping with someone else."

The look on Stefan's face was more guilt than surprise.

"You knew? And you didn't tell me? Did the others know too?"

"Care, I'm sorry. Damon and I knew, but we didn't want to lose you, we didn't want to be the ones to tell you."

"The whole time?"

He nodded. "Elena didn't know. I swear."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just couldn't. Business stuff. I'm sorry Caroline, I really wanted to help you find out yourself. I kept trying to drop hints."

She shrugged. It didn't matter now. Tyler Lockwood was as good as dead to her after what he just did.

"Care, who's that guy?" He was suspicious. What if it was someone Tyler's associates had sent? What if he was from a rival group and he was trying to kidnap her for ransom or something?

"He's just the sweet guy who keeps showing up. He was the one who fixed up my knee. I said Elena did it because I didn't want Tyler to find out about him."

"You don't know him, he could be anyone. He could be dangerous."

"I don't think he is, Stefan. But he's too nice to get wrapped up in all this. I'll try to get rid of him" she said sadly.

Stefan wasn't convinced.

Nik arrived back in the room and darted over to Caroline, wrapping ice cubes in a napkin and pressing them gently to her bruises. Stefan picked up one and held it to his own lip. He watched uneasily as the strange man tended to his friend's wounds. Caroline was the best friend he had since Lexi. She used to be their other partner, years ago, but she had died in a deal that went bad. Just recently he was able to trace it back to Tyler. He had been scheming against them the whole time. Stefan was angry that Tyler had struck again, but he was relieved that Caroline was alive, and he knew that it would all be over soon. They just had to make the phone call to let this 'Emily' woman know it was time and she would send her man in.

Caroline leaned into him as he pulled her closer to look at the bruises on her neck. Nik traced each one lightly and then carefully dabbed at them with some ice wrapped in napkins.

She shivered as the ice melted. A few drops dripped down her neck before he could wipe them away. When he saw her shiver he thought maybe she wanted some space, so he started to back away and put the ice down, but her hand rested on his. She snuggled against his side and looked up at him. She trusted him. If only she knew.

Elena woke up to feel Damon's arms wrapped tightly around her. There were pieces of a 'sexy nurse' costume strewn around the room. She must have been napping for hours, the sun looked like it was starting to set. She felt him stir next to her.

"Nurse? Did you come over to bring me more jello from the cafeteria? I think our physical therapy session went really well, but if you're looking to go again..."

She smiled and reached over for her phone to check the time.

"Damon." her voice was deadly serious.

"What is it?"

"I have eight missed calls from Caroline and Stefan. And a bunch of texts."

He scrambled over to the nightstand. "Shit. Me too. you call her, I'll call him."

He knew what Stefan went to talk to her about that morning, and hoped the calls were just about Caroline being sad about realizing she wanted to break up with him. He hoped she wasn't impulsive enough to go and do it without telling them first.

He got Stefan on the first ring. "Is she with you? Good. Is she ok? What do you mean sort of? No we're not in the penthouse, we stopped at a place that was closer to the stores. What? I'm going after him. This has gone too far. I think it's time to call that Emily person."

Elena was scrambling to get dressed. She had just gotten off the phone with Caroline and she looked worried.

"You go see her, I'm going to find Tyler."

Elena stormed into the room, and went straight to Caroline, hugging her. She looked over to see Nik. "Oh, good. you're here."

Stefan raised an eyebrow.

"Stefan, Nik is like a paramedic or something, he'll be good to take care of her- oh god your lip looks awful!"

"You should see the other guy" he joked.

Eventually things calmed down and they decided to put on a movie and order some room service. Nik and Caroline were sitting on one of the beds while Elena and Stefan sat at the two chairs at the little table in the room. Elena was stealing Stefan's fries and joking with him as he rested a cold beer bottle against his swollen lip. A plate of food rested on Nik's lap and he alternated between trying to feed Caroline a burger and checking on her bruises. He was joking with them all, telling a funny story about the worst bruise he ever got, trying to make her feel less self couscous about the purple-red marks all over her neck and face. Even Stefan was laughing, and he wasn't glaring at the newcomer anymore.

There was a knock and Stefan answered the door. Damon walked in.

"Well he's gone. He's not in the room, but his stuff is still there so we know he'll be back." he turned to Caroline. "How you feeling, Barbie?" but before she could answer he noticed the man sitting next to her. "Uh, who the fuck is this?"

"Damon, meet Nik. He's a friend and he's been helping me out a lot today. Be nice."

"I'm always nice" he said to her sweetly, then he turned to Nik "So you just happened to show up when our little Barbie was in need? A new friend, is that it?" His tone was accusing. He didn't think this guy showing up was a coincidence.

"I met her yesterday, My room is down the hall, I heard her come into the room today and she sounded upset, so I went to check on her." he replied calmly.

"Right." Damon replied, clearly suspicious, but he turned his attention to his girlfriend and brother.

"Shit, Stefan, thats one nasty fat lip."

"It's my battle wound, brother, all in the name of defending our sweet Caroline's honor or whatever."

"Yeah, Stefan's in one fist fight and now he's a war hero." Elena joked.

"There's gonna be another war if you keep eating all my fries" he retorted. he turned to Damon. "So I'm not the only single one in our little group anymore."

"Are you referring to the lovesick puppy making eyes at Caroline, because he is so not in the group."

"No, you idiot. Caroline dumped Tyler."

Damon gave her an impressed look. "Well done, Caroline."

She smiled a little. "It did result in this" she replied, motioning to her face.

He gave her a soft look. "Never mind that. We're celebrating tonight. Caroline is a free woman!"

"I'm not going out looking like this" she replied. How embarrassing. She didn't want to step foot in public again until the bruises were gone.

"Then we'll party in here. You can even invite your new friend to join, if you're not sick of him already. Obviously, our business partner is not invited to this party."

Caroline smiled.

A few hours and bottles of champagne later and Caroline was dancing on one of the beds along with Elena and Katherine. Katherine's boyfriend stood there awkwardly trying to make conversation with Damon, who looked bored by him.

Nik was surprised by how easily he got along with Stefan. They actually had a lot in common. He used the identity he had constructed, using half truths and little bits of his real life. It was easier than going with a full out lie and it was more genuine. It turns out they both spent part of their childhoods in Mystic Falls, Virginia, although Nik had only been there a year before moving back to England. They followed the same sports teams and liked the same brand of scotch. Damon came over to join them after Katherine's boyfriend had to leave to take a call.

"Well that one won't last much longer. I've had more interesting conversations with coma patients."

"It's a good thing Elena doesn't tire of men as quickly as her sister" Stefan retorted.

"Like anyone could ever be tired of me" Damon boasted.

Katherine pulled the other girls into the bathroom. Damon motioned to them walk by as Stefan poured each or the men another glass. "Why do they always insist on doing that?"

With the door shut behind them, Katherine flipped on the hair dryer to muffle their voices.

"Elena and I already discussed it and we've decided that you should totally get with Nik tonight."

"Elena!" Caroline objected.

"Twin thing" she shrugged. She and Katherine could have full conversations just with looks and facial expressions.

"You're single, he's hot, he totally played doctor for you twice already, and you know getting laid is the best way to get over your asshole ex."

"Not going to happen."

"Why not?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Have some fun, Caroline" Elena suggested.

"Do you need a condom? I have one in here somewhere." Katherine was going through her purse.

"No! I do not. Ugh! You two are a bad influence. Theres no way I'm doing that. Nothing is going to happen." Caroline walked out of the bathroom.

The twins weren't convinced. They decided to at least give her the window of opportunity.

Elena picked up the last full bottle of champagne. "Hey, Nik Can you help me open this?"

He went over to help her and Katherine stole his seat with the boys.

"Stefan, what's that in your cup?" She leaned seductively over him and grabbed his glass to take a sip. Elena could get Damon out of the room, but she was in charge of Stefan. She did have fun that time in Rio, she wouldn't mind another night with him. Stefan just rolled his eyes.

"Katherine, I can pour you your own glass."

"But it's more fun drinking from yours" she purred. He ignored her and grabbed another cup. She would have to change her strategy.

Elena had pulled Damon from his chair to dance with her and she was drinking straight from the bottle. Klaus watched the two of them dance with a faint smile. These people were criminals like him, yet their lives seemed more normal, happier. They had been together for several years, yet they still had fire and lust. Elena whispered something in Damon's ears that made his eyes open wide with shock. He searched through his pockets for their hotel key, anxious to get back to the room.

Damon handed Nik the bottle and watched Elena dart across the room to say goodnight to the others. Damon pointed over to Elena.

"That girl is a tornado, but I love her."

"You're a lucky man." Nik replied. It was true, he hated to admit it, but he wished he could rearrange his life so he could have something like what the two of them shared. He looked across the room at Caroline. She was laughing and joking with Stefan and Katherine. She was so beautiful. Haunted by the life she lived, so close to such dangerous people, yet she still had a sweetness to her that was so out of place in the world they both traveled in.

Damon glanced over at the others. He was well aware of how Nik was looking at Caroline. "Listen. I should't be saying this, but I know a guy who can kill you and make it look like an accident. I don't know what your deal is, but if you do a single thing to hurt her, I will make you disappear."

Nik just looked at him, stunned. He wanted to laugh because, well he was that guy Damon claimed to know, but he just nodded and watched Damon and Elena exit.

As soon as they were gone, Katherine started acting very drunk. She was stumbling around the room and slurring her words, but Nik caught her giving Caroline a wink. He sat down and watched, curious to see where she was going with that.

Katherine announced she was going back to her room.

"You can't walk all the way to the west tower by yourself. You're sloshed." Stefan protested.

She swayed a little bit as she stumbled to the door. "Watch me."

Stefan looked anxiously over to Caroline, he didn't want to leave her alone with this guy. They didn't know if they could trust him. But Katherine was going to get herself killed, she'd probably end up stumbling out in traffic or something. So he reluctantly left the room to chase after her.

The second the door closed she became very aware that the two of them were alone, and it made her incredibly nervous.

He was looking at her from his seat at the table, his feet propped up and a drink in hand. She was pacing around the room, pretending to clear up cups and bottles that were strewn around. She edged closer to him and his hand caught her wrist. He stood up, never letting go, and his other hand traced alone the bruises on her face and neck. He wanted to tell her that he would kill the man who did this to her, he was only waiting on the call, but she couldn't know who he really was.

She was looking up at him, amazed by the tenderness in his expression as his hands traced her bruises. How did someone like this find his way into her crazy life? And why did she feel like she needed to hold on to him? He made her feel safe and cherished, things she never felt with Tyler. Tyler had attacked her, after over a year of her following him around the world. This guy just met her and he was already taking better care of her.

Nik knew what she was going to do before she did it. Before she even knew she was going to do it. Her eyes gave her away. He leaned in so she wouldn't have to reach up so much and he felt her lips touch his. She was hesitant, barely brushing against him, and she immediately pulled away.

Caroline was shocked. What had she just done? She didn't mean to actually kiss him, but she felt herself doing it and couldn't stop. She was looking up at him with wide eyed shock.

He knew the polite thing to do was to excuse himself, leave the room and let the lady figure out her feeling on her own. But he had never been a polite man, and there was no way he was going to leave her here alone.

His hand was behind her neck and his lips met hers again. This time he wouldn't let her get away so easily. He kissed her again, and felt her arms wrap around his waist, pulling him closer. He pushed against her, kissing with more force and she responded by pulling his lower lip into her mouth and gently sucking on it. His tongue traced along her lips and she let him in, playfully battling him with hers.

He felt her hands slip under his shirt as she pulled it off. If you insist, sweetheart.

Her hands raked against his skin and he was desperate to feel her flesh pressed against his. He hastily pulled her shirt off and ran his hands down her back, pulling her closer. Their kisses were getting rougher and more urgent as he felt her shaking hands go for the button of his jeans. He had hers off in an instant and he pulled her a few steps away from the pile of discarded clothes they were standing in.

Her eyes met his, their expression unreadable. Was she afraid? nervous? lustful? Please let it be the last one.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

She nodded yes, biting her lip.

He kissed down her neck as his hand traveled down her body, caressing over the fabric of her underwear. She let out a surprised gasp when she felt his other hand unhook her bra, and she let it drop the the floor. His kisses were trailing back up her neck, close to her ear. He moved his mouth over the edge of her jaw and found her lips again.

His hands roamed all over her body, needing to know every inch of her. She had the softest skin he had ever felt. When his hand moved across her chest he could feel her heart beating fast. Please don't be afraid, he thought, it would break my heart if you were afraid of me.

"Tell me to stop, and I'll stop" he whispered.

He kissed along her neck again, sure she would soon come to her senses and tell him to stop. But she didn't. She moved closer and ran her hands through his hair.

A finger hooked under the elastic of her underwear and was sliding towards her core. His hand maneuvered around the elastic as two fingers pushed into her and his thumb made contact with her most sensitive spot, moving in light circles.

"Don't stop. Please, don't stop."

She was shaking and letting out soft little noises. He could feel himself strain against her. She must have felt it too, because she was pulling at his boxer briefs, getting rid of them so she could wrap her hand around him. It felt like heaven, but he couldn't wait to get something else of hers wrapped around him.

He pushed her back onto the bed and saw the moment of self consciousness as she tried to cover up a bit by crossing her arms across her chest.

"Don't do that" he said, pulling her arms away "You're so beautiful" kissing down her chest "I want to see you" and he was pulling the last remaining scrap of fabric off of her.

She arched her back and let out a moan as she felt him enter her. Every move he made was making her body react in the best ways. She met each of his moves with her own, and locked her eyes on his. He was shocked by what she was doing to him, no one made him feel this good. He felt his mouth hang open as she bucked into him sending waves of pleasure thought his body. He couldn't hold out much longer.

She was gripping on to him harder, and letting out shallow little breaths. He moved faster and pressed harder into her until she was screaming out his name. Just a few more thrusts and he exploded with pleasure, holding on to her for dear life because nothing could be better than her in that moment.

"Wow" she whispered as their bodies parted and she curled along his side.

"I completely agree" he murmured back, already starting to drift off to sleep.

He felt her breathing even out as she fell asleep at his side. This was usually the part where he slipped out, never to be seen or heard from again, but he wanted nothing more than to stay in that bed with her as long as possible. Visions of a naked breakfast in bed with her were the last things to cross his mind before he fell into a deep sleep.

The room was dark and silent except for the sounds of their breathing and the hum of the air conditioner. The clock on the night stand blinked 4:12 a.m. A sharp noise rang out and woke him. He looked over to her, and she didn't stir. He pulled away from her to reach his phone before it woke her up.

He carefully slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom to answer it. It was Emily.

"Clear." it was his signal to her that she could talk freely, that no one was listening in.

"I got the Call from D.S. The L. job is a go. He'll arrive in the penthouse alone at eleven a.m. today. The door will be left unlocked at 10:15."

"I'm on it." he snipped, and hung up.

He found the notepad on the dresser and left a message for her. He wanted to stay and be there when she woke up, but there was a lot to prepare and only a few hours left.