There was a boat, then a larger boat, then a plane, then a smaller plane. On the larger boat he had quietly talked with a man who slipped him a new phone and new passports. for the both of them. She sat in silence and looked out windows as day turned to night and then back again. He kept calling people he worked with, pulling strings and calling in favors to ensure they would be well hidden until Mikel's men could be dealt with. She heard him call Becca a few times too. He would look over at her, act like he was about to say something, but he never did.

They had just gotten off their last plane and were weaving through some jungle that circled the remote spot where the tiny plane had landed. Caroline didn't know what country they were in, or even which continent. It was so hot out it made her dizzy.

"Drink more water" he pushed a bottle towards her. Every one of the few words he spoke to her were short little commands. "sit." "over here." "seatbelt." "eat." She felt like his dog, helpless to do anything but obey his stupid commands.

The bumpy dirt road looked as if no one had driven on it in a long time, it faded into the long tangles of grass that surrounded it.

They reached a tiny shack in the middle of nowhere. He pulled her inside and locked the doors, checking every corner for possible intruders. He pulled at a false floorboard that revealed a metal panel with a number pad and a glowing green screen, he punched in some numbers and pushed fingertip on the screen, and it beeped. The panel slid aside revealing a ladder down into a dark passage.

"Down you go, love."

"I'm not going first."

"I have to seal it back shut. No point in being down here if we're just going to leave it open."

She grumbled as she climbed down.

It looked like some kind of bomb shelter, bare and utilitarian, mostly metal. There was a tiny twin size mattress propped up on some crates, a desk, a microwave on a shelf of canned food, and a shelf full of electronics. There were two doors. She opened one to find a tiny bathroom, then the other.

It opened into a large closet full of guns, grenades, machetes, and other scary looking things she didn't recognize.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He had made his way to the bottom of the ladder and walked up behind her.

She whipped around, startled by how quietly he snuck up behind her.

"No!"

"Fine." he shrugged, and started plugging in different devices.

She didn't expect him to give up so easily. Nik always knew when she was upset and he had a way of making it better. This new person didn't care.

"Just so we're clear, I hate you." She spat out.

"I just used every connection I have to get you halfway across the world to the safest place I could find. I sent your friends with my sister to keep them safe. I could have left all of you there for Mikel's thugs to pick off. I'm saving your life. You should be thanking me."

"Thank you, Klaus" She said sarcastically.

"Klaus?"

"Yes, On the rare occasion I decide to speak to you from now on, I'll be calling you Klaus. Because you're not the Nik I thought I knew. You lied to me about everything! You're a monster."

"I'm the liar? Caroline you made damn sure I didn't know about what you did for work either."

"That's not fair! I tried to warn you it was bad, and besides, I don't do much at all with our work."

"Thats right, you're just there for your looks and to run a few easy errands. What does that make you? Tell me Caroline, have you ever held a real job or do you just find men to pay your way? Was Tyler Lockwood the first rich man to hold you as his kept woman? If I didn't show up right when you lost Tyler, how long would you have waited to start fucking Stefan Salvatore to ensure you stayed kept in the lifestyle you're accustomed to? If you knew what I was and how much I make when you first met me, would you have been so rude to me that first day at the pool? Or would you have jumped ship faster and latched on to the richer man?"

"You don't know anything about me! I loved Tyler and I had no idea what I was getting myself into until it was too late. I dropped out of college to be with him. I had dreams of what my life would be, and I didn't get them because I chose him."

"You stayed with him for the money."

"I stayed with him because I thought he would kill me if I left. And because I love Stefan and Elena and Damon. I lost everyone when I picked Tyler! My own parents won't return my calls. Elena and the Salvatores, they were my only friends and I didn't want to lose them by leaving Tyler."

He glared at her. She was just telling him stories, trying to make it seem like he was the bad one when she was just as bad. Women don't end up being kept by men like Tyler unless they went after it. It was clear with the Gilbert twins that hunting rich men was a sport these types of girls liked to play.

"Were you in my room to take the bracelet? After that big show about not wanting expensive things? Tell me love, how long would you have stayed with me if I really was a paramedic? A week? A month? How long would you have slummed it with a commoner before latching on to another drug lord?"

She reached over and slapped him. He shot her an angry look and she flinched, expecting him to hit her back, but it didn't come.

"I was falling in love with Nik. I've never felt that way about anyone. I didn't want expensive things from him or anything like that. I liked him because I felt safe and protected and like he cared about me beyond what I looked like. Because I saw the pain he had gone through when he opened up to me about his past and I realized I wanted nothing more than to be with him and help him have a happier life. I wanted to stay with him."

"Stop saying him! I'm right here. You're talking about me like I'm someone else."

"You are. You're Klaus and I don't know you. Nik is gone. He wasn't real."

He looked hurt. She was furious that he had the nerve to act hurt after everything he did and said.

"It was real. Everything was real."

"No." she scoffed.

"Why don't you believe me?"

"You had pictures of me, notes about me. I was a job. You got to know me to get closer to Tyler."

"The first time I met you, it was because of the job. The plan was to get you to let me into the room so I could see it ahead of time and map out how I would get to Tyler. Either that, or get him to come out of hiding and confront me for hitting on his girl, because he did seem to like his privacy and that made it difficult to get close enough to kill him."

She glared at him.

"After that, I told myself I kept going to see you because of the job. I didn't want to admit that I actually liked you. But I did. Everything after that first time was real."

She just shook her head. "It can't be real when it also benefits your job. You can't like me and also use me to get close to a hit. It can't be both. You don't use people you really like."

"I could have left after I killed him. I didn't need to stay. I could have gone home and found my next job, but I stayed to be with you! Does that mean nothing to you?"

"You stayed to be with me? Is it some power trip, fucking the girlfriends of the guys you kill? Is that, like, your thing?"

"You weren't his girlfriend anymore at that point, if I remember your words correctly. And I didn't kill him until the next day."

"Right, That makes it so much better."

He opened his mouth to say something, but decided not to. He had been doing a lot of that over the past day and a half of traveling. There was nothing that could convince her. There was nothing to say.

Becca pushed her fingertip against the sensor. The gate would only open for her or her siblings, it was a safety measure Nik had installed.

The others walked though behind her. The house was a massive structure made of steel. Sheets of metal rolled down over windows and doors to seal the whole thing shut. It was a fortress.

She motioned for the others to make themselves comfortable while she finished her call with Elijah.

"Not you too, Elijah...Yes, I'm sure Nik made it all sound very scandalous, but lets not forget that you were shacking up with that Tatia girl when you were younger than me, and Kol's exploits put us all to shame ... It's a little bit funny, Elijah. You should have seen his face... he told you he thinks Stefan is inappropriate?... Because of his age, really? ...Baby sister my ass, with his hands all over some girl who looks like she could be my age and he's older than Stefan... He's so full of shit, just because I'm the only girl... No, it's fine... I'll be back in a few days, we're just laying low until Nik manages to pick off all of the people stupid enough to give their lives defending our dear departed father's memory... Because why would I be sad? This is Mikael. ... It'll be fine, Elijah, go to work, just be aware of your surroundings. I'll be back soon... love you too... bye"

She showed them around the house and made them promise not to call anyone and let them know their location. Rebecca didn't seem fazed at all by what was going on. It was a routine, something she had been through the motions of before.

"So we'll just stay sealed shut in here until Nik gives me the ok, and then you're free to go."

Elena was still getting her head around the whole thing. Rebecca had basically just told them that their lives were in danger because someone might have spotted them associating with her brother, but no big deal, he's just going to 'take care' of all of them.

"I want to talk to Caroline" she demanded.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "She's fine, she's with Nik"

"The same Nik we're waiting on to massacre a bunch of trained hitmen? Gee, I feel so safe leaving my friend alone with him."

Rebecca glared at her and looked to Stefan for help.

He looked uncomfortable to be stuck in the middle of it all "Becca, If you could just ask him to put her on the phone the next time you hear from him, they'd stop worrying."

"Yeah" Damon retorted "We'd feel so much better knowing the psycho killer holding our friend hostage hasn't killed her yet. Especially since we all know what he does now and it's probably only a matter of time before he comes here to pick all of us off so we don't spill his secret."

Rebecca was furious "Do you really think I'd allow that? I've already discussed this with Nik. You're all to remain unharmed as long as you keep your stupid mouths shut about what he does. He knows all about your cartel so it's not like he doesn't have something over your heads either. Your sleazy drug business is actually saving you."

Damon rummaged through the liquor cabinet, looking for something old and dark. He pulled out a dusty bottle and found a glass. "Excuse me, Rebecca, if I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth, but I'll be enjoying my probably last day on earth somewhere I don't have to hear you yapping in my ear."

Elena shot Stefan an apologetic look before running after Damon, who, if she knew anything about him at all, was looking for a bathtub to get drunk in.

Rebecca and Stefan sat on the big couch in the living room.

"They're over reacting, you know" She snipped.

"Wouldn't you?"

"Nik's going to fix everything."

"I hope you're right. I just got you back, this can't be over already."

"Hey" she said as she smoothed his hair "He's the good guy in this story, trust me. There are things I haven't told you about my family, about my father. Nik's not the bad one."

Elena wandered through the house. The place was big, but it was bare and cold. There weren't any photos or mementos or any personal things. There was plenty of nonperishable food and she was relieved to see clothes and blankets stacked in one of the closets. They had left all their things in the room and made sure they were payed up for the next few weeks. It would be better if anyone who checked thought they were still there.

She walked from one bedroom to the next, peeking in each bathroom. All showers. He would have stomped right past each of them, creature of habit and all that. Finally she found the one he was in. Damon's clothes were scattered all over the floor and there he was. He was pouring another glass as he pouted in his bubble bath.

"How did I know there would be bubbles?" She smiled.

"You know me too well" he grumbled, and took a long sip.

"Looking for company?" she offered.

"Like you even need to ask."

She made a little show of pulling everything off and sank into the hot water with him. He handed the glass to her and she took a sip, then handed it back to him.

He pulled her in for a deep kiss.

"If this thing gets ugly, with Nik and all, I want you to get out of here."

"Damon, don't."

"No. Listen to me. If he comes after us, I'll distract him and you run. You go straight to the police."

"I'm not going to leave you, and we don't do police."

"If he gets here and something happens, go straight to the police and tell them everything about my business. They'll get so much about me out of you that they'll give you witness protection for life. Even Nik wouldn't be stupid enough to come after you."

"I wouldn't do that, I couldn't."

"You might have to."

"But where does that leave you? Either dead or in jail."

"And you'll be safe. I will always protect you. It doesn't matter what happens to me if you're safe."

She just shook her head. "I can't do that. We had a deal. I go where you go."

He pulled her closer and hoped it wouldn't come to this. She would hate him forever if he forced her hand on this one, but even if she hated him, he needed to keep her safe.

Caroline stepped out of the tiny bathroom in a pair of the sweatpants and a t shirt he had stacked under the bed. It felt good to be clean after their disgustingly long journey, but she hated being in front of him with wet hair and no makeup, wearing his clothes that were far too baggy on her. She chided herself for caring what he thought of how she looked. It didn't matter what she looked like in front of him, because she didn't like him. Why did she keep having to remind herself of that?

He grabbed a towel and another set of clothes from under the bed and walked in to the bathroom for his turn to shower.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm in here" he reminded her, talking to her like she was a child.

She just flipped him the finger without bothering to look up at him. She found a book on his desk, a dusty old Russian novel, and she was pretending to be too interested in it to bother with noticing his presence.

Once the water started she put the book down and climbed into the bed. She was exhausted, but she didn't want to give him an excuse to get close to her. If he got in first she would be to stubborn to try to share it with him. Maybe he would just leave her alone and sleep on the floor.

He got out of the bathroom and saw her pretending to sleep, sprawled out on the middle of the little bed. She could be such a brat, but it only endeared him to her more. He picked her up and moved her to the side so there was room for him to get in next to her.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Sleeping" He grumbled.

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as she could feel his breath there. Who has a twin bed? Honestly, there wasn't nearly enough room for two people who didn't want to be smushed against each other. She started to get up, and reached for the pillow.

"Where are you going with that?" He looked amused.

"I'm sleeping on the floor. Theres no way I can fall asleep with you breathing all over me. Gross."

He just laughed and pulled her back down "You slept fine before, Caroline, just go to sleep."

She tried to get up but he locked an arm around her. "Seriously, Caroline, stop being a child. It's not like we haven't slept in the same bed before and there's no where else to sleep in this tin can."

She wiggled against him, trying to break free of his grip. She was too stubborn to just give in to him. She wanted to prove a point. He just laughed and held her tighter so she couldn't break free. He wasn't about to let her sleep on the floor.

She wiggled every way she could think of, but she couldn't break free of his grip, the more she tried to get away the tighter he held her to him.

"Feel free to keep doing that, I certainly don't mind" he murmured in her ear, his other hand pushing her closer to him by pressing on her lower stomach, fingers running alone her hip bone.

Caroline turned bright red when she realized what she had been doing. All her squirming had been essentially grinding against him and now there was something familiar pressed against her lower back. She gasped in surprise and tried to shift herself so it wasn't so noticeable, but it wasn't going away.

"That's not helping" He warned as she shifted around.

She was too flustered to find words so she just let out an annoyed 'hmmft' and tried to stay as still as possible and fall asleep. Just fall asleep and forget all about the hard length pressing into your back and how good it felt when he was inside you and how he kissed you and moved his hands all over you, finding everywhere you wanted to be touched while you could feel the heat of his body making you flush and how he looked right at you as your felt his tip slide into you over and over , prolonging the torture and how when he grabbed your legs that time against the bathroom wall you could feel him pushing up inside you right where you wanted it and how you came so hard you left claw marks on him back from gripping on and all you have to do to feel that good again is just move a few little articles of clothing to the side and wrap your hand around his... Stop it Caroline! No! Nik or Klaus or whoever he is is a terrible person. Cut it out. It doesn't matter how much you want to feel him push inside you or how much you love it when he roughly pulls you closer and pushes into you harder when you say his name and how good his possessive hands feel when they slide across your body, like he's claiming every part of you... No! Stop thinking about it.

Caroline continued her inner battle, feeling hornier than ever, begging herself to fall asleep so she could stop thinking about him. It was absolute torture, knowing how good he felt and being right there next to him but at the same time knowing it was wrong.

It took what seemed like forever, but she finally drifted to sleep.