Hey, guys! Okay, first, I have to thank all of you for your wonderful reviews! I still can't believe you guys said those kind words about my story. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my story and on top of that to alert, favorite and review!

Oh, and thank you to Delusionalklaroliner and Writedreamlie for being my awesome betas.

"What?! No!" Katherine immediately slapped Caroline's hands away from the GPS. "Are you crazy? This is what I get for trusting people!"

"What are you talking about? You still don't trust me." Caroline straightened herself and pried Katherine's hand away from the GPS when she saw her attempt to redirect their destination. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" Katherine fired. "Did you miss all the times I told you about a psychotic hybrid hunting me down for over five centuries? You did know I was talking about Klaus, right? And you do know that Klaus is staying in New Orleans, right? I highly doubt you just wanted to go there for the parties."

"I was aware of all those things, Katherine, which is why I asked you to trust me."

"Caroline, I did not break every sin in the bible just to run straight back into the lion's mouth five centuries later... or in this case- the wolf's mouth."

"Katherine, I promise you: I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. You are my only chance at getting Bonnie back. I would never do anything to jeopardize that."

Katherine slammed her foot on the brakes, causing the car to come to a harsh halt.

"What are you doing?" Caroline questioned.

Katherine turned to the blonde. "First of all, someone once told me that your word means nothing until you keep it... and so far you've done nothing to show me that I can trust you."

"Are you kidding me? I just saved your life! I nearly died trying to get in between you and Silas, you ungrateful-"

"It's not enough!" Katherine interjected. "I saved the Salvatore brothers' lives. I'm the reason that they're still alive today, and yet... what did I get the second I walked back into town last year? Oh, yeah. You tricked me into walking into a trap so that my ex-boyfriends could double team me so they could drive a stake through my heart just to make little Elena comfortable again. One good deed does not make you my savior."

"Wait, what?" Caroline furrowed her brows in confusion. "No. You do not get to make me the bad guy in this situation. You brought that on yourself. You were gonna-"

"Not kill Elena?" Katherine smirked. "That's exactly what I did. I never had any intention of killing Elena."

"You threatened me and Matt. You tormented all of us. You didn't give us a choice."

"Yes, Caroline, I threatened to hurt that boy if you didn't plant ideas into little Elena's head about the ugly reality that was her relationship with Stefan. I'm a home wrecker; therefore, I deserve death, right?"

"You know it's not that simple."

"I do know, Caroline. I know that the reason I ever gave a damn about you and your friends was because I didn't have a choice. You can call me selfish or narcissistic, but the truth is that... I don't want to die."

Caroline's hard expression soften at Katherine's words.

Katherine continued. "You can cringe and judge me all you want, but everything I've ever done since 1492 was to ensure my survival. I don't know about you, but when the universe gives you the choice of sacrificing three strangers- people you owe nothing to- in exchange for not only your life, but your freedom along with it, you don't walk away. I would make that choice every single time and never look back."

Caroline sighed. "Okay, fine. We all had our reasons for doing what we did."

"Some of us were more justified than others..." Katherine said innocently.

"Don't push it." Caroline narrowed her eyes at her. "I understand why you're hesitant to go to New Orleans-"

"Hesitant? That implies that I'm actually considering going anywhere near that death trap."

"Katherine, please-"

"No!" Katherine got out of the car and slammed her door shut.

"Where are you going?" Caroline hauled herself out of the car, holding her injuries as she followed Katherine, who was storming down the road the way they came. "If you keep walking in that direction, you're bound to run into Silas."

Katherine stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Caroline. "Well, at least if Silas gets me, I won't have to worry about my organs being stolen and being put into a box as a trophy for finally killing me."

"That's not going to happen." Caroline stopped in place as she winced. "I'll protect you. I swear."

"How are you going to stop a one thousand year old hybrid from doing the thing that he's waited centuries to do? You can barely walk." Katherine crossed her arms over her chest.

"Can you just trust me on this?"

"No. I trusted Elijah to help me get my freedom and look where that got me. I'm standing in an empty road at midnight as a weak mortal with an injured baby vampire, trying to decide whether a two thousand year old witch or a one thousand year old hybrid would give me a better death. If Klaus's own brother couldn't get him to spare me, what makes you think that you can?"

Caroline opened her mouth to speak, but she fell to her knees, wincing again as she felt a wooden bullet scrape against her ribcage.

Katherine tried to avert her eyes as Caroline attempted to suppress her cries. "Oh, quit whining." She walked up to Caroline and forced her to sit up against the car.

"What are you doing?" Caroline breathed through the pain.

"You're a mess and I can't stand hearing you complain about the bullets. Besides, if you're going to protect me, I'm going to have a lot to teach you, and I can't teach you if I can barely have a conversation with you before you collapse." Katherine lifted Caroline's shirt high enough to examine the bullet located in her rib cage. Katherine dug her fingers deep inside Caroline's flesh, causing her to cry out. The entire experience was excruciating; Caroline's body contorted and she dug her nails into the pavement. The scenario was so reminiscent of her experience with the werewolves that kidnapped her; it felt like she was reliving the event all over again. Once Katherine successfully removed the bullet, she repeated the same motions on the bullet in her thigh.

"Done." Katherine shook her now bloodied fingers, tossing the bullets into the grass.

Caroline let out an exasperated breath, watching her wounds rapidly heal. "Thank you." She flashed Katherine a small smile.

Katherine offered Caroline her hand and she took it, allowing Katherine to pull her back to her feet. "Don't thank me. You are my survival guide, so you are going to take me to some tropical island where no psychotic immortal being would even think to look." Katherine turned on her heel and slipped back inside the car.

Caroline smiled a sarcastic smile to herself. "Right. I almost forgot who I was talking to." She walked back over to the car and opened Katherine's door.

Katherine gave her a confused look. "Um. In case you forgot how a car works, this seat is already occupied. You get shotgun." She pointed to the seat next to her.

"Yeah, about that... I thought about it... and I've come to realize that I'm a vampire and you're human-"

"Did you just realize that? Gold star for Caroline." Katherine pretended to clap.

Caroline gritted her teeth. "Which means that I'm in charge. I am running this show. I get to make the decisions and you are way too paranoid for your own good. I get that you hate Klaus and you have every right to, but the only we way that we both get what we want is to team up with him."

"If you think that I'm getting anywhere near that casket hoarding, deranged lunatic, then you're just as dumb as you look," Katherine spat.

"Actually, I don't believe that you'll come with me to New Orleans," Caroline informed her.

"Really?"

"No... well, not willingly." Caroline's eyes dilated as she stared into Katherine's brown eyes. "You're going to sit in shotgun and you're going to go with me to New Orleans without any complaints. Do you understand?" She watched Katherine slowly nod her head before she released her from her compulsion. "Good."

Katherine's foot shot out, the heel of her black pumps taking out Caroline's knee and setting her off balance. "Yeah, right!" She bolted in the opposite direction until Caroline appeared in front of her. "Caroline..."

"Sorry, Kat." Caroline grabbed onto the back of the doppelganger's head and slammed her forehead against the vehicle. She watched Katherine's limp body fall to the ground.

Katherine groaned as she felt her head throb; she shifted in her position and tried to feel her head, but she couldn't move her hands. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to see her hands bound together with rope. "What the hell?"

"Oh, good. You're awake."

Katherine's eyes shifted over to the driver's seat, where Caroline was steering and humming to the music that was coming from the radio. Katherine looked back and forth between her restraints and the perky blonde sitting next to her. "You bitch! You knock me out and then you tie me up? I'm your prisoner now?"

"You wouldn't have to be my prisoner if you'd just listened to me," Caroline told her.

"What? You mean take your advice on the most memorable way to commit suicide? Caroline, I don't want to go." Katherine pleaded with her eyes.

"Katherine, I'm telling you: Klaus won't hurt you."

"Why not?"

Caroline paused for a moment. "Because I'll ask him not to."

Katherine raised her brows and stared at Caroline for a moment before bursting into hysterical laughter. "Oh, my God! That was pretty funny! You had me going for a second." Katherine's smile gradually dissipated when she saw the serious look on Caroline's face. "Oh, dear God, you're serious... Caroline, are you insane or are you just stupid?" Caroline rolled her eyes. "This is your big plan to save both of our asses? Wow! Why didn't I think of that? I should've just asked Klaus not to kill me five hundred years ago. That would've saved me a whole lot of trouble, don't you think?"

"You don't even know what you're talking about-"

"You're right, Caroline; I don't. So why don't you enlighten me? Why are you so fixed on this idea that Klaus Mikaelson of all people would do anything for anyone when he doesn't get anything out of it? Why do you trust him?"

"Because... he saved my life... on multiple occasions when he didn't have to. He respects me and I respect him, and he gave Tyler his freedom."

"Who?"

"The werewolf you tried to offer to Klaus," Caroline bit out.

"Mason?"

"His nephew!"

"Oh, right," Katherine remembered. "Wait, what? Klaus gave a traitor their freedom back? Bullshit! Klaus doesn't forgive and he doesn't forget. What did the wolf do to him?"

"It's a long story..."

"Caroline, if you don't tell me, I will sing like Queen Latifah through the entire car ride and my vocal range is not that high. Oh, and if you plan on knocking me out again, just be aware of concussions."

Caroline grimaced at the thought. "He tried to kill Klaus, okay!"

Katherine's jaw dropped. "I kill myself and I spend the next five hundred years of my life on the run, fearing every second of every day will be my last. Some teenager attempts to kill Klaus and he gets to walk free... what the actual fuck? You're joking, right? Klaus doesn't let things go. The only person I've seen him forgive outside of his family is Stefan, and Stefan's been like his brother since the 20's. How? Caroline, tell me how." She grabbed onto Caroline's sleeve.

Caroline hesitated, giving her an innocent look. "I guess... Klaus thought Tyler had better purposes alive than dead."

Katherine scrutinized her. "So he just so happened to spare your boyfriend out of the blue?"

"Honestly, I have no idea what goes on in Klaus's mind."

"Is there anything else you'd like to say to me?" Katherine raised an eyebrow.

"What else would there be to say?"

Katherine shook her head. "And you wonder why I don't trust you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know that you're having a secret love affair with Klaus!"

Caroline slammed on the brakes, causing both of them to fall forward against their seat belts. "What?! Who told you that? Was it Damon?"

"Damon knows?"

"What? No! No one knows anything because it's not true."

"Then, how come your first instinct wasn't denial?"

"I was driving and you caught me off guard. Where did you get this idea?" Caroline continued driving.

"I found the bracelet."

"You what?"

"Oh, yeah, and the painting's in my back pocket."

Caroline spotted the parchment paper peeking out of Katherine's jeans and snatched it into her hand. She unraveled the scroll and was once again in awe as she gazed at the familiar painting. She cleared her throat when she noticed Katherine analyzing her. "You went through my things! How could you?"

"I was bored. It's not like I was searching for your souvenirs from your rendezvous with Klaus."

"Nothing happened between me and Klaus!"

"Then, tell me the truth. Why did Klaus let the werewolf go? And don't give me any bullshit about Klaus having a moral epiphany. I know you had something to do with it, Caroline. Now tell me."

"Fine!" Caroline sighed. "... He's my friend."

Katherine's mouth hung open for what seemed like hours. "Who's your friend?"

"Klaus," she said slowly.

"Stop the car," Katherine demanded.

"What? No, I'm not gonna stop the car."

"Well, you're going to have to kill me then because I refuse to sit in the same car as a traitor."

Caroline cocked her head. "You are overreacting."

"Overreacting? You are friends with a mentally disturbed hybrid. Did you not think that was worth mentioning? When were you planning to tell me? When his stomach acid was in the process of breaking down my torso?"

"I didn't tell you because I knew that this would happen. I didn't want you to think that I was helping Klaus murder you or something."

"Well, I do think that and binding my hands together is not helping your case either." Katherine gestured to the restraints around her wrists.

"Listen to me: I need you to save Bonnie. I killed twelve witches to save her life. If you think I'm gonna let Klaus lay a finger on you, then you have no idea who you're dealing with."

Katherine gave her a nod of approval. "Look at you, killer. Twelve people... I'd call that a massacre. Looks like Klaus's 'friendship' is paying off. I wonder what Elena had to say about that."

"She said nothing because at that time she was too busy not giving a damn about anything or anyone."

"Elena doesn't care about anyone but herself. Shocker. Well, now that Elena is a functioning self-righteous bitch again what does she think about this new 'companionship' you have with Klaus?"

Caroline turned her eyes back to the road.

Katherine smirked to herself. "Oh, my God. She doesn't know, does she?"

"Can we just drop it?"

"Fine." Katherine turned her head to the window. "So how was the sex?"

"Katherine!"

"It's a reasonable question."

"I told you that nothing happened."

"Oh, spare me. What kind of an idiot draws a freaking painting for a woman and proceeds to buy her a diamond bracelet if he wasn't getting anything out of it?" Katherine shook her sleeve until Caroline's bracelet slid down her arm.

"You stole my bracelet?!" She grasped Katherine's wrist.

Katherine shrugged. "I haven't worn jewelry all summer because I can't afford it, so excuse me if I wanted to wear something nice."

Caroline ran her hand across her face. "How did I end up getting stuck with you?"

"You're just mad because you don't wanna talk about your lover."

"My lover?" Caroline raised her brows. "Klaus is not my lover. We are not lovers!"

"Why because you haven't made love... yet?"

"Yes, that's why- wait... shut up!"

Katherine giggled to herself. "Caroline, don't be naïve. Klaus doesn't have a single genuine bone in his body. If you actually think that he cares for you, you're mistaken. I don't care what he told you when you were rolling around in his sheets; he's a liar and a manipulator."

"Well, that must mean he hasn't told me any lies because I have never gone anywhere near his sheets."

"Look, I don't care if you prefer his couch or his Persian rug. I get it. He's hot and he's fascinating, and you're not the only girl to ever fall for his charms. Klaus says and does a lot of things but the one thing he can't do is fall in love. It's just not in his nature."

"You know, a lot of people could say the same about you. I never said that I wanted Klaus to fall madly in love with me. He's my friend and for now that's enough."

"For now? Like you might change your mind later?"

"As in for now, unless he does something to screw it up like change his mind and kill Tyler. Despite what you think, I know exactly who Klaus is and what he's capable of. Trust me, I've had an ongoing war with myself about this for the past few months."

"So you admit that you've thought about this? You and Klaus?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because right now you are all I have and I don't need Klaus's dick clouding your judgment."

"OH, MY GOD!" Caroline screeched as she slammed her foot so hard against the breaks she was surprised her foot hadn't pierced the vehicle. "What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with you? You're sleeping with a guy who has a fetish for coffins. Who does that?" Katherine accused.

Caroline groaned as she stepped on the gas again. "Why do I even bother? Okay, since you refuse to listen to anything I say. Yes, Katherine I 'slept' with Klaus and it will never happen again."

"I knew it!" Katherine rejoiced.

Caroline shook her head at Katherine. "Are you happy now?"

"No, I'm furious!"

"Seriously?! What more do you want from me?"

"Klaus is dangerous, don't you get that?" Katherine pressed.

"Of course, I'm aware. Don't you think it's a struggle to know that every day?"

"Yet, you feel safe with him?"

Caroline stared at Katherine for a moment. "I don't know."

"Caroline, listen to me: Klaus can't be trusted. You'll only end up getting hurt. My survival instincts are never wrong and they are screaming at me to not get anywhere near New Orleans."

"Katherine, if Klaus wanted you dead so badly why did he just sit around Mystic Falls and hang out at the Grill when he could've spent that time hunting you down? From what I've seen, you haven't really been his main priority lately."

"Oh, please. Klaus is a master manipulator; it's all just a mind game. And by walking into New Orleans I'm basically delivering myself to him and playing right into his hands."

Caroline raised both her brows. "Wow… and I thought Klaus was paranoid."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "First rule of survival: always know who or what you're running from whether it's starvation or a psychotic hybrid and never underestimate them. If you're going to protect me, you have to be smart, Caroline and right now you're not thinking with your brain."

Caroline threw her head back in frustration. "Do you think I want to drive all the way over to New Orleans with you? If you think I have a choice in this, I don't. Klaus is the only person that I can turn to. He's done some terrible things to my friends and me, but he was there for me when it counted."

"He conveniently swooped in and saved the day? That doesn't sound like it was planned at all," Katherine stated.

"You are impossible!"

"No, I'm just telling you the truth. Can't you see that Klaus was only being nice to you because he wanted something from you…? And you gave it to him good," Katherine snickered. Caroline shot her the dirtiest look she could muster. "Don't feel bad. You're still young and naïve and still believe that the world is filled with lollipops and unicorns. That's why I'm here: so I can teach you how to never get fooled like that again."

"You mean like teach me to be afraid of my own shadow. Gee. I can't wait," Caroline spat.

"It's better than getting used by a man who couldn't give two shits about you. You'll thank me for this later."

"And you'll thank me later after we kill Silas and you continue running from Klaus."

"I don't care what you do to me, I'm not letting you take me to Klaus."

"Oh, yes you are," Caroline said in a monotone voice. "As long as I can use you to resurrect Bonnie, you go where I go and I'm gonna go see Klaus."

Katherine gritted her teeth as she shot daggers through her eyes at the blonde.

Caroline looked up ahead on the road and spotted a motel sitting on the corner of the street. "We should probably call it a night. Besides, I don't think I could stand hearing another word about why you don't want to go to New Orleans."

Katherine flashed her a sardonic smile. "Klaus."

Caroline crawled into bed after brushing her teeth. She picked up her phone from the nightstand beside her bed. She could see Katherine out of the corner of her eye staring at her from her own bed across the room. She noticed how low the battery on her phone was, so she knew that she needed to make this a fast call. She pressed the phone to her ear after she found Klaus in her contacts. Her phone beeped irritatingly and she realized why: no service. "Seriously?"

"Well, we are in Tennessee. It's a lot more countryside and a lot less big city lights which means a lot less telephone lines," Katherine smirked.

"I don't know why you think this is funny. If Klaus sees you before I can tell him not to kill you, your chances of living are greatly reduced."

"Well, that's not really my problem since I'm not getting anywhere near him."

Caroline tugged on her lip with her teeth as she thought for a moment. "It's okay! When we get there, I'll just make sure that Klaus is in a good mood before he sees you. Hopefully, I can distract him long enough so that he can quell the urge to kill you while I explain why he doesn't want to hurt you."

"Distract him? By... flirting with him?"

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Somehow I find it hard to believe that Klaus would forget about a five hundred year old vendetta if some cute girl batted her eyelashes at him. Klaus is conceited, but not enough to let an opportunity pass by for attention from some girl he screwed."

Caroline pretended to pound her skull against her bed frame. "What I wouldn't give for a bottle of Tylenol right now."

"Why do you need Tylenol? You're a vampire," Katherine reminded her.

"It's not for me! It would be preferable if you took the whole bottle," Caroline retorted.

"If you cut these ropes, there's a chance that I might get slightly more tolerable." Katherine held her bound wrists up. Caroline raised a brow at her suspiciously. "I promise I won't try to stake you in your sleep," Katherine smirked.

"How about you tell me about Elijah… and then we'll talk," Caroline countered.

"There's nothing to say about Elijah. Now cut these ropes!"

"You've been so concerned about what Klaus would do if he saw you, but you've barely said anything about his brother. Shouldn't you be happy that you're gonna see him again?"

"Happy for what? Elijah dumped me for Klaus! If it hadn't been for Klaus, Elijah would be here with me right now. I would still be a vampire, and me and Elijah would've built a life away from Elena, away from Klaus, and that would've been my happy ending. Elijah was it for me and Klaus stole him right from under my nose."

Caroline offered her a small smile. "If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one who had their boyfriend stolen by Klaus."

Katherine was confused for a moment before she realized what Caroline was talking about. "I thought you said that he let him go."

"He did. The only problem is that that was over three months ago. I haven't seen Tyler in person since. He was supposed to go to college with me and Elena, but he never came. He just gave me a bunch of lame excuses about helping a wolf pack."

"You know, over the centuries I've seen and done a lot of things. I've seen countless people fall in love- most of the time it was with me- but I know for a fact none of those men would put a pack of smelly wolves over me. I know what love is... and that's not it."

Caroline crossed her arms. "Well, you don't know me and Tyler."

"Right," Katherine scoffed. "You're not the typical high school sweethearts who break up after fifth period. You're that one couple who go to college together and get married and have ten kids, right? Oh, wait- he didn't even make it to the first day of school and you can't reproduce and that whole 'til death do us part' doesn't apply anymore, does it?"

"No relationship is perfect, okay? I don't have time for this. I have to make a plan for how to get to New Orleans in the least amount of time." Caroline slid off her bed and walked over to a table in the corner of the room. She grabbed the map and the pencil that was sitting on top and began drawing their route.

Katherine came up behind her and peeked over her shoulder.

Caroline pointed to the map. "We can cut through Arkansas and be in New Orleans before sundown. It's a nine hour drive, so lay off the water because I don't want to stop for a bathroom break every ten minutes."

"I'll take it under consideration." Katherine flashed her a sweet smile. "Well, I guess it's time for bed which means…" Katherine held her bound hands to Caroline expectantly.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot." Caroline grabbed onto Katherine's arm and pushed her onto the bed.

"Hey!" Katherine complained. "What the hell are you doing?"

Caroline grabbed the thin blanket from the opposite bed and tied Katherine's wrists to the bed frame. "Rule number two of survival: trust no one."

Katherine's jaw dropped, unable to believe that this baby vampire was using her own logic against her. "I hate you."

"Well, it's a good thing I didn't decide to go on this road trip to make friends. Don't be mad because you can't handle what you dish out."

"You said you'd cut these ropes if we talked about Elijah-"

"Correction, I said we'd talk- and I don't wanna cut your hands free. End of discussion."

"You know what? You and Klaus deserve each other! You're so alike I can't even believe that I didn't realize it before!"

Caroline hopped on the bed and nudged Katherine to the other side to make room for herself. She pulled the covers over both of them. "Can you just shut up and go to sleep already? I tied you to the bed frame; I didn't throw you into a dungeon. Relax."

Katherine slammed her head against her pillow. "This isn't over."

Caroline sighed as she stared at the ceiling for what seemed like forever, replaying the conversation she had with Katherine, unsure of what to make of it.