Sorry that I took so long! :(
*hopes you'd been waiting* :P

CHAPTER 7

Things aren't always what they seem.

Elena and Caroline were busy convincing themselves of it as they drove to Bonnie's house. They figured they'd just go over, ask Bonnie the truth. When she'd tell them, everything would be fine and they could peacefully go back to hunting the vampires trying to kill them. Right?

This was what drove them out of the house at 6 am.

"You know Bonnie, Care. The second Damon or Klaus speak rudely to her; she'll shut herself from us, too. She won't tell anyone anything unless asked nicely. You know her."

"But still, it is dangerous you know. And if they find out, they'll kill us." Caroline shifted uneasily on the bed as she glanced up at the clock. 5:15.

"I could always—"

"Oh, shut up Elena. You know I'm not going to let you go alone. Besides, she's my friend, too. I want to know."

"Thanks Care." Elena smiled. "Set the alarm for 6."

Caroline was trying to be as careful as she could. Though it was unlikely that anyone would be up and about right now, they had still taken a stake, vervain, and on Elena's insistence, pepper spray. 'You never know', she'd said.
Elena was fast asleep when they pulled up in Bonnie's driveway.

"Come on, Elena. We're here." Elena groaned and both of them hopped out, trying to be as alert as possible.

"Should we ring the bell?" Elena asked.

"I don't know. Which sounds better, ringing the bell at 6am or climbing through the windows at 6am?" Caroline thought it was an obvious choice.

But Elena thought otherwise. "If there's any surveillance here or anyone else at the house, they'll be alerted."

"Okay, tree climbing it is." Caroline handed the weaponry to Elena as she started climbing a tree next to Bonnie's window. Elena kept watch. Caroline peeked through the space between two curtains. The bed's perfectly made, she thought. What the hell?

"Elena, I'm going in. You stay here. If you don't hear from me, get help."

"Why what's wrong?"

"The bed's not slept in. Seems like hasn't been for days."

"Care, Bonnie might be in danger. I need to see this."

"No, Elena, this is too dangerous for a human."

"No. This is too dangerous to be done alone." Elena had made herself heard. She climbed the tree with Caroline's help, and they both quietly entered the bedroom.

"Stay behind me." Caroline whispered and raised her hand to halt Elena's upcoming protests. "Not now!"

They tiptoed across the room. Elena entered the bathroom as Caroline stepped into the hallway. The bathroom looked unused. The towels were fresh and dry; there was dust on all the toiletries. Elena frowned as she went back.

Meanwhile Caroline had walked towards the other bedroom on the floor. The same scene as the previous room presented itself. Bonnie hadn't slept in her room, and neither in this one. Where was she? Caroline looked in the bathroom. There was something different, something wrong. She'd been here so many times before. She could sense it. But she couldn't put her finger on it. Something about the smell, maybe? Caroline started sniffing.

What is this? Come on, focus! What is the smell…
Caroline was still thinking when she heard Elena scream. …werewolf!

Caroline ran across the hall and down the stairs. Instead of barging in, she peeked through the door.

"Ahhh, so this is the famous doppelganger. Mm, looks appetizing. Shall I take a bite?" Elena was looking at the man with hatred and anger in her eyes. Caroline stood frozen.

She quickly grabbed her phone and began messaging Klaus.

Battery low, her phone chirped.

"Who's there?" Caroline didn't know whether to run or stay. She was going to be caught no matter what. "I said WHO'S THERE!" She flinched. Fear ran across her mind.

"Show yourself or the doppelganger pays! I'm not bluffing!" Elena screamed as the man pierced a knife into her arm.

"No, don't. I'll be fine." Elena sobbed.

"You bi*ch! Shut up!" He was about to plunge at her chest when Caroline stepped in.

"NO! Don't touch her or I'll kill you."

"Oh oh oh. Vampire, I see." He walked over to Caroline. He smelled her and touched her face.

"Don't touch me!"

"Ah, feisty. I like it."

"Where's Bonnie?"

"Oh, your little witch friend? Let's just say, she's alive."

"Don't you dare hurt—"

"—Careful, dear. You do realize that your life is in my hands, right?"

"Shut up or I'll—" He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up.

"You'll what?" He threw her across the room. Caroline banged against the wall and slid. Broken fragments of several things tore into her skin.

"Elena wakes up at like, 9. How is she asleep till 11?"

"Let it go, Damon. They've both had a long night. Who knows what time they slept?" Klaus said, assuming Elena, too, slept at 5 o'clock when Caroline did. Damon sat down, paying heed to Klaus. He was still for about almost 2 minutes.

"Nope, I'm going to check."

"You'll enter a girls' bedroom without their permission?" Klaus looked genuinely shocked. And irritated. What if he saw Caroline, you know…

"Fine, I'll knock."

"But—"

"FINE, I'll close my eyes."

"Damon—"

"—No, I shall not eye Caroline naked. Okay?"

Klaus grunted, almost in agreement.

"But if she's like that when I enter, it's a different story entirely." Klaus glared as Damon trailed off.

A few minutes later, Damon came running back.

"They're not in bed!"

"What do you mean they're not in bed?"

Getting the vervain seemed slightly dumb now. As it had been used on Caroline herself. She was lying next to the sofa. She'd been beaten and vervained. Elena tried bargaining with the werewolf.

"You know Klaus will kill you if he finds you."

"I am aware."

"So how about you tell me where Bonnie is and let us go, and I can get Klaus not to kill you."

"And to think I thought the other was the blondie. What makes you think he'll listen to you?"

"Oh. He'll listen all right." They were eying each other suspiciously when they heard a car pull up.

"Yoohoo?"

"Damon." Elena sighed with relief. The man walked out of the room.

"If you try anything stupid, I'll kill you both in an instant."

"Anyone home? Elena? Caroline?" Klaus' voice rang across.

"Caroline, they're here."

"We have to signal them before they leave."

"How?"

"Help me take off my jacket, its soaked in vervain. I know what to do." Caroline carefully took off her jumper, making sure she didn't disturb her wounds. She looked around and ran to the side window. If the werewolf saw her, she would be dead. But it was worth a shot.

"When I yell, you run to me." she said to Elena and she nodded in understanding. "KLAUS!" Elena grabbed Caroline as she ran. Caroline's plan was stupid, she knew. But now Damon and Klaus knew they were here. She would run upstairs with Elena. That would buy them time. But that was about it.

"Caroline!" Klaus yelled and she exhaled. She suddenly felt as if she'd been holding her breath the whole time.

They ran to Bonnie's room, with the man close at their heels. Caroline immediately shut the door.

"Wolf's bane, dammit! Why didn't we bring wolf's bane!" Caroline puffed as she helped Elena out the window and onto the tree. She was almost out when the werewolf barged in.

"Saving your friend? How very noble of you." He threw Caroline across the room and started fidgeting with the door.

Meanwhile, Damon went around the side as Klaus was trying to break in through the front door. Luckily Damon saw Elena and began helping her down.

"Caroline, she's still inside!"

Klaus entered the house. He began searching for Caroline and it didn't take ong before he'd found her room. He grabbed the handle and it burned!

"Aaaah!" Klaus yelled as he backed off. The doorknob and locks had been laced with vervain.

"You were trying to be smart, eh?"

"No, I'm sorry, no." Caroline sobbed as she felt part of the bedside table tear into her skin.

"Shut up, filthy vampire! There's no place in the world for you."

Klaus barged in. His hand was red and burning, but he didn't care. He grabbed the werewolf by the collar and a fight ensued. The werewolf was strong, but not stronger.

Damon had managed climbing through and entered. He helped Caroline up, realizing exactly how weak she was. He entered the fight, and soon the werewolf was overpowered.

Klaus was ready for the kill, but Damon told him not to. They'd need him later. Damon carried the body outside as Caroline stood there' trembling.

"This is possibly the stupidest thing you've ever done."

"I'm sorry." Caroline shook and her knees wobbled. Klaus wrapped his arm around her and under her knees and picked her up.

"Don't be. It's also the bravest."

The journey back to the Salvatore house was silent, apart from a few bickers by Damon and Elena.

"You both are so incredibly and mind-numbingly dumb!"

"Shut up, Damon!"

And so on.

They reached and everyone climbed out. Caroline had regained colour and some of her strength.

"I'm heading to bed." She declared. Klaus didn't want her to be alone. He didn't want her to have any nightmares. Klaus had now realized that the pain he felt when Caroline was hurt, the jealousy he felt when she wasn't with him but someone else, the happiness he felt when he held her, wasn't a joke. It was real. And although he was scared as hell of the feelings, he didn't want to be.

"Come with me." He said and took her hand. Damon and Elena looked baffled, as did Caroline. They walked to his room, next to which Matt was still asleep.

Damon and Elena were downstairs.

"Which cell in your brain stopped functioning and led you to doing this?"

"Damon!"

"What?"

"Ugh, shut up." Damon and Elena glared at each other. "But Damon…"

"Yeah?"

"Where's Bonnie?"

Caroline lay down with her head on his chest and dozed off. He just lay there, quietly. Just enjoying the moment while it lasted.

Sooo? :D

Anyway, I'm going to be unraveling a few things soon. Finally thought it out a bit.
:)