When I Grow Up
Chapter 9. - Keep Your Enemies Closer
"Where's Caroline?" Nik was eating his smiley faced pancakes Elena ended up making due to Caroline running out crying. Nik was a bit restless since Caroline's departure but it was sweet how he asked for her all the time.
"She'll be back soon, she just went for a walk" Elena rubbed his arm in friendly way before taking a seat with Stefan and Rebekah. They whispered while Nik was in the room "Blondie has been gone a long time don't you think?"
"Why Damon ? Is that an ounce of affection your showing?" Stefan asked sarcastically
"Shut up Bunnie Boy"
"Enough" Elijah jumped in before Rebekah made a snarky comment adding to the immaturity level. "Damon you can go with me and help me in finding Caroline. The rest of you keep an eye on Niklaus and put him down for a nap"
"Rebekah and Damon began to laugh" Rebekah stopped when she seen Elijah glare at her and Damon howled louder
"Am I amusing you two? Do you realize Caroline may also be in danger and by acting like two immature howling idiots, I am wasting my time scolding you like children instead of locating Caroline?" Damon's smirk dropped and Rebekah frowned "Now get a move on"
"Miss Forbes. Rise and Shine" Mikael taunted Caroline as she was beginning to come round after the vervain injection. She jerked trying to free herself but the vervain laced rope was burning her skin the more she struggled. "Now Miss Forbes, let's get down to business shall we ?"
"Screw you" she roared at him only to be backhanded across the face.
"Although I have been here for two weeks, I have become quite acquainted with the modern-day language and that sort I will not tolerate. Now if you behave and help me, I will let you go." She watched him, the tears threatening to fall but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. That would mean he had won. She wouldn't cry no matter how painful it was now, she would not cry, not a single tear. Her thoughts were interrupted when he slapped her again "I said are we clear ?"
"Yes" she muttered.
"Now why are you protecting that little bastard my wife tried to pass off as my son?" Mikael crouched down to her level
"He's just a child. If your wife hadn't of spread her legs, no that's wrong. If you weren't such a domineering tyrant and actually paid your wife some affection and attention she wouldn't have gone off with another man. Niklaus was just brought into this mess because of you and your wife and you know what, I'm glad. Despite what he went through, he grows up to be strong, he protects his family and he has people who love him and respect him. I love him and he loves me" Mikael seemed taken back during Caroline's speech but grew angry. Where he was from women were not allowed to talk back to men, if they did publicly they would be punished at home for their actions. Usually this punishment was a bad beating. That was the old way and since Mikael was old fashioned in his ways, Caroline was making it worse for herself but she didn't care.
"You just crossed a line Miss Forbes" he said standing up a dampening a stake with vervain. "I hope you have a high pain tolerance because this is going to hurt" he smirked as she thrashed around her eyes watching the stake. "Now let's see how long it takes for your friends to come find you" he then stabbed her leg with the stake and the pain from the stabbing and the vervain was too much. She let out one big scream.
"Caroline?" Elijah knocked on her front door. They had checked everywhere in town bar her house and the woods. "Blondie, come on. Nik is asking for you." Damon teased. The heard footsteps coming to the door expecting it to be Caroline.
"Damon, Elijah?" Sherrif Forbes looked confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Is Caroline home Liz?" Damon asked Sherrif Forbes who he considered a friend since he got to know her since he moved back to Mystic Falls.
"Caroline hasn't been here since she left last night. She called me saying she was staying at your place with Elena and Stefan, they were helping her with Nik." her eyed widened "Nothing happened to that kid Damon, did it?"
"No, Nik is fine." Damon said
"Then where's Caroline?" Sherrif Forbes asked Damon angrily
"Liz I think you need to sit for what we're about to tell you" she looked between the two male vampires before allowing them to enter her home. She sat and listened to Damon and the odd part Elijah added in. She couldn't believe her ears, Caroline was in love with this man that caused to much trouble and heart ache over the past year. "Liz, we think Mikael might have her. He came back when the spell was cast. Until this witch Michelle casts the spell to send Baby Mikaelson back and the real Klaus comes back, Mikael is still a threat.
Liz got up and paced the room. "Does he love her? Klaus I mean?"
Damon nodded and Elijah spoke up "For a thousand years Miss Forbes, I haven't seen my brother more in love with your daughter than any other woman for a really long time. He shows compassion and kindness all because of your daughter. So to answer your question Miss Forbes. My brother is in love with Caroline"
Liz sighed "Trust Caroline to go for the bad boy and create some fairy tale romance" Damon smirked because it did sound like Caroline.
"I don't mean to sound rude but we really should get moving, I know Mikael and he doesn't half do things by waiting around. He'll torture her first before approaching us for a compromise" Elijah said and Liz was scared for her only daughter. Elijah received a text on his phone and showed Damon.
"Liz go to the boarding house and look after Nik until we get back. Send Stefan, Rebekah, Elena and Bonnie. Michelle is here. It looks like were getting Klaus back sooner than we think" Liz took her car and headed to the Salvatore Boarding House as Damon and Elijah sped towards the Lockwood Cellar.
"STOP PLEASE" Caroline cried out in pain the more Mikael stabbed her with the stake. She pleaded with him but he just laughed and continued torturing her for his own amusement. "Stop, I can't take it anymore" she sobbed a few tears falling from her eyes. She now felt a sense of what Nik suffered during his childhood and part of his adulthood living with Mikael.
"Giving up so soon?" Mikael smirked. "You gave up one hell of a fight for a young vampire, I'll give you that. All you need to do is contact your friends to hand over Niklaus and I'll free you" he said as he sat in front of her.
"NO" she shouted.
"Well there goes you're last chance Miss Forbes. You might as well enjoy your last few breaths because I'll kill you and then kill Niklaus" he grinned evilly
"MIKAEL" Elijah roared as he flashed forward throwing him from Caroline.
"Elijah. I hear your my son all grown up" he stated with a smile "You seem more promising than Niklaus" he spat out.
"Mikael you are the reason Niklaus is the way he is. You beat him from the time he could barely walk and disown him over mother's actions. Your anger should not have been directed towards mother nor Niklaus only yourself." he said as Mikael stalked forward. Elijah was distracting him so Damon could free Caroline.
"Watch it Elijah" Mikael was angered with his sons words "I'll not have you speak to me this way"
"Incase you are forgetting Mikael, I am a grown man who has seen this world and people like you come and go more times than I can remember and they never last long" Elijah spat at his father "You disgust me Mikael. You claim to want us and that you loved us but yet you beat out mother, your wife and you beat your children and when you found out about Mother's indiscretions your took it all out on Niklaus beating him a mere inch from his life on multiple occasions. You are no father of mine and neither are you fit to be one or a husband."
"SO YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME ? NIKLAUS HAS BRAINWASHED YOU." Mikael roared
"No father, you are the reason we turned our backs on you, not Niklaus" he said as he grabbed a rock and hit him over the side of his head.
"Why didn't you kill him?" Damon looked pissed as he came back into the Cellar. Caroline was safe but not awake. "Caroline is not waking up"
"To complete the spell he must be alive Damon" Elijah said as he bound his father's body with rope and carried it to the car. Caroline was passed out on the back seat so Elijah threw the body in the trunk. He eyed Caroline as Damon drove the car. The young vampire was unconscious for far longer than expected.
"She's been through a lot. She's been tortured more than once before and she always bounces back but the physical healing takes longer each time. She's stronger than she looks" Elijah nodded surprised by Damon's words. They pulled into the drive of The Boarding House with Liz standing with Nik holding her hand. Rebekah, Stefan and Elena never made it on time to help. Elijah had it sorted. Liz let go of Nik as Damon carried Caroline into the house. He took her upstairs when Rebekah took Nik in her arms. She found it strange holding her older brother and comforting him "Caroline" he whimpered
"It's okay Nik, Caroline is going to be just fine" she told him as he snuggled into the crook of her neck
"I want Caroline" he cried more.
"Elijah why isn't she waking up?" Liz asked the eldest original.
"I don't know Miss Forbes, she is healed fully. Maybe she just needs a bit of time" Liz stood along with Damon and Elijah watching Caroline for a few moments. Rebekah stood at the door with Nik in her arms. His little tear stained face was unbearable to watch as he looked over at Caroline who lay lifeless on the bed.
"I'll stay with them, he wanted to see her" Rebekah told Caroline's mother who was being supported by Damon and Elijah who looked slightly uneasy by letting a young child see the state Caroline was in.
"Rebekah he shouldn't be in here" Elijah told her
"I want my angel Caroline" he croaked out "Please Lijah" Elijah was about to protest but Liz spoke up "Elijah let him, we don't know if she'll pull through or not" he nodded respecting Caroline's mothers wishes. "Rebekah you can leave him for now, he's used to being around Caroline on his own. Let him have a moment with her" Damon said as Rebekah took one last glance back as Nik climbed onto the bed at sat a mere 2 feet away from Caroline holding her hand in his.
"Michelle is here" Elijah said as he left to greet her. The room was silent. No one knew what to say. It was strange, Caroline was healed but she wasn't waking up. Elijah then came in with a young woman in her late twenties, she was briefed on the latest situation so her bubbly nature was contained.
"Where's Klaus?" she called him as she knew him
"He's upstairs, give him a few moments before we do the spell" Elijah said and Michelle nodded in agreement.
"While were waiting I need both Elijah and Rebekah's blood, just a small bit in this little jar right here and when Klaus comes down a little from him, I have the spell here" she said as she laid out a little spread of candles and powder on a small table.
"Caroline" Nik whispered "Please wake up, you promised not to leave me" he began to cry again as he curled in against her. "Please Angel Caroline, please wake up" Nik whimpered when he didn't see her moving
"Niklaus, it's time. Remember what we talked about?" he nodded. Elijah had explained the situation to him earlier as best he could.
"She said she wouldn't leave me" Nik cried
"And she won't, she'll always be with you" Elijah took Nik in his arms and carried him to the door.
"Wait" Nik cried as he thrashed in Elijah's arms. He set him free and watched as Nik ran back to Caroline, scrambling to get up onto the bed. He then whispered "Goodbye Angel Caroline" before pecking Caroline on the cheek and a little tear falling in it's place. He ran back to Elijah diving into his arms and cuddling him close.
"Good boy Niklaus, you're a good boy no matter what our father says" Elijah hugged him
"I'll miss her Lijah"
"I know and we'll miss you" he told him as he descended the stairs. When he reached the parlor he gave Niklaus a pat on the back before setting him down "Are you ready little brother?"
"I'm ready big brother" he smiled up at him, his eyes puffy and face tear stained from crying. Elijah held his hand as they walked in to meet Michelle.
"I'm Michelle and you must be Niklaus" Nik nodded shyly gripping Elijah's hand. "Are you ready?" she asked him. Nik nodded and let go of Elijah's hand and looked around the room. He sat cross legged in the middle of the setting Michelle set up and began to chant. He smiled at everyone before getting out 'goodbye' as his little body faded away. Damon still held Liz, Stefan held Elena. Bonnie and Matt got filled in last minute while Elijah, Rebekah and Michelle stood together. They waited a few moments when modern day Klaus appeared in viking clothing with his hair slighly longer than usual and a clean shaven face.
"NIK" Rebekah dived into his arms "You're back" Klaus looked relieved to be home well to be back with his siblings. Elijah had a smile across his face as he brought him into a one arm hug slapping his back.
"Good to have you back Niklaus" he smiled.
"What exactly was I sent back to that time for?" he asked angrily "And where is Caroline? She has some explaining to do" he said as he collapsed holding his head. Flashes of the past few weeks came back to him. He seen himself as a child and how Caroline cared for him and protected him, even the embarrassing things she did for him like bathe him after peeing on her floor and then the last image of himself crying over a lifeless Caroline.
"Where's Caroline?" he asked with tears in his eyes. Elijah hesitated but Klaus shouted "WHERE IS SHE?"
"Upstairs" is all Elijah got out before Klaus sped out of the room.