Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing.

Note: Previously, in "Freedom isn't Free," Damon and Stefan take Kol to a warehouse near the docks, where Damon grills Kol about why his family is being targeted and Stefan puts in a "ransom call" to Mikael. When Mikael arrives, it is revealed that the Salvatore brothers have a bigger problem on their hands because Mikael has taken Caroline hostage.

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Docks – After Mikael's Arrival...

Mikael had a grin on his face as he noticed the looks of horror on Stefan and Damon's faces. To him, this was an easy victory. Who'd have guessed that kidnapping someone who worked in the District Attorney's office, who just so happened to be Stefan Salvatore's girlfriend, would be beneficial to him?

"You see, gentlemen," he said. "You're not the only ones with an ace in the hole. You use my son as leverage against me, I use this charming young lady as leverage against you. There's really no possible way that you can win this. Someone is going to make it out of here alive and it sure as hell isn't going to be you."

"Let her go, Mikael," said Damon. "Caroline is innocent, she has nothing to do with this!"

"No?" said Mikael. "That's where you're wrong, my young friend. Miss Forbes here has been part of this game since day one and..."

"That doesn't give you the right to use her in your sick little game," said Stefan. "It's bad enough your bitch of a daughter kidnapped my brother to get revenge on his wife, but you're a fool if you think I'm going to let you get away with this." He pulled out his gun, much to Damon's horror and aimed it at Mikael. "Why did you do it, you son of a bitch?"

"Oh, but I didn't," said Mikael. "I had help."

"Had help?" said Stefan. "What are you talking about?"

Mikael grinned sinisterly and nodded toward the thug standing behind Caroline. The thug nodded back and when he removed his mask, it revealed none other than...

"Tyler?"

Stefan was beyond shocked when Tyler revealed himself. What the hell was Mikael's game? And why did he involve Tyler, one of Elena's friends on the force?

Caroline let out a muffled scream when she saw her ex-boyfriend's face. It was bad enough that she was in this situation, but to find out that Tyler was working for Mikael? This was even worse than when she had caught Tyler and Anna making out.

"I don't get it," said Stefan. "Why would you work for a psychopath like Mikael?"

"He presented me with a business opportunity, which I couldn't pass up," said Tyler. "It may have meant betraying the people I was originally friends with, but hey, at least I'm getting good money. A hell of a lot better than what I was getting when I was working for the Special Victims Unit."

"He's a criminal, Tyler," said Stefan. "Just like Klaus, Rebekah, and Kol."

"Speaking of," said Mikael, interrupting them. "I'd like to offer you a little exchange. I'll give you Caroline for Kol. Then, we can forget this whole thing ever happened and you'll never have to see or hear from us ever again."

Stefan was still confused. This whole thing didn't make any sense to him. Looking at Tyler, he said, "What about the money that was stolen from the bank and hidden in the airport locker?"

"Oh, that was part of the game," said Tyler. "What, you thought this whole thing was a coincidence? This was planned, Stefan, all perfectly planned from the beginning. You and your brother were simply pawns, just like Caroline here."

"Does Elena know that you're betraying her?"

"Elena is too wrapped up in her concern about you, Damon, and her child to know what's going on," said Tyler. "She has no idea that I've been on the opposing team the whole time. For all she knows, I'm helping to catch the bad guys."

Mikael grinned as he listened to this exchange between Stefan and Tyler, looking toward Damon, who was standing by the chair Kol was tied to. "So, Damon, to reiterate what I said before, I'd like to make an exchange. Caroline for Kol."

Damon scoffed. "And what makes you think I'll agree to it, especially after what your family has done to me over the years?" He took out his gun and aimed it at Kol. "Then, after I'm finally free and able to live my life, I have to deal with the same shit again? You made one mistake, Mikael, you threatened my family, and when someone threatens your family, you're supposed to do something about it. Well, here's what I intend to do about Kol."

Before Mikael could protest, Damon pulled the trigger and shot Kol in the head, killing him instantly. With a smirk on his face, Damon then aimed the gun at Mikael.

"Any last words before you join him?"

"Nothing I say will change the situation so you might as well just kill me and be done with it," said Mikael. "That is what you're planning, isn't it? To put me out of my misery so that you and your precious family will live in peace?"

Damon's facial expression didn't change as he said, "You know what? You're right, nothing you say can change what's already happened, so maybe I will send you on a one way trip to the depths of hell, where you'll never bother anyone else ever again. And when see Klaus and Rebekah, tell them I send my regards."

With that, he fired, hitting Mikael in the head and then fired again, hitting him in the chest, making his death even faster. Stefan saw this and aimed his gun at Tyler.

"Your boss is dead, you son of a bitch," he said. "Now, let Caroline go before you meet the same fate."

Tyler didn't even flinch or give a verbal reply. Instead, he took out a gun given to him by Mikael and shot Stefan in the shoulder before running away, leaving Caroline where she was. Damon growled as he saw the traitor run, but decided to let him go, knowing that he'd be caught eventually. Besides, Caroline was more important. Throwing his gun on the floor, he went over to the blonde and untied her, allowing her to remove the gag from her mouth.

Once she was free, she went over to Stefan, embracing him. "You're going to be okay, Stefan. We'll get you to a hospital." She looked at Damon. "That goes for you too, Damon. You probably need medical treatment as well."

"No, I still have to take the stolen money back to the bank."

"Let me handle it," said Caroline. "You two need medical attention."

Damon shook his head and looked at his brother. "Your girlfriend is just as stubborn as my wife, Stefan."

Stefan smiled in spite of the pain he was in. "How's that for irony?"

"Speaking of," said Damon. "I promised Elena that I'd call her. I'll bet she's wondering what's going on."

Caroline nodded. "You can call her from the hospital." She held Stefan firmly in her arms so that he didn't fall, using the former gag as a torniquet to stop the bleeding. "Where's your car?"

"It's outside," said Damon. "I'll take you to it."

Caroline nodded and followed him out to the entrance of the warehouse, where the Viper was parked. She didn't bother asking how he got it, since such a detail wasn't important at the moment. What was important was getting to the hospital.

Once the trio was in the car, Damon gave the keys to Caroline. "Here, you drive."

Nodding, Caroline started the car and they drove away from the docks.

Note: Yeah, this chapter was kicking my ass, hence the delay. But, here's Chapter 10 of "Freedom isn't Free." Mikael and Kol are now dead, and Caroline is safe. Stay tuned!

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