Two chapter updates in a weekend and I'm spent!

I felt like I kind of owed you guys since I made you wait so long for an update.

Thanks to my Mingle (mimi and angel) you two are the best. Always ready and willing to see if my story makes sense.

Guest: "QUESTION: how Elijah knows Rebekah is hurt when they are not together, they didn't have cell phones or something so how he knows?" - I loved this question! And I had a feeling people would be wondering about this. No, I haven't gone off the delusional bandwagon and jumped forward a few decades. They don't have cell phones, and the Indians didn't send out a smoke signal either. LOL. You'll see how they found out about Rebekah. =)

Love you guys! And believe it or not, your reviews really are helping me mold this story.

Please enjoy, and as always, I would love a review of the chapter.

Chapter 9:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Cabin

"You goddamn, stupid, fucking piece of scum! You did this? This happened because of you!" Stefan launched off the steps of the cabin toward his brother. He tackled Damon to the ground and mercilessly started throwing punches at him. Damon covered his face. Punch anything but his beautiful face.

"Brother, stop," he tried to plead. It was no use, Stefan was beyond enraged. The woman that he cared most for in this world was laying in a crumpled mess. They never should've done that job without the Mikaelsons. They never should've risked their lives for some silly silver. Everything they worked so hard to obtain, and for what? So they could rob a man that they never had any qualms with to begin with?

Stefan threw one last punch and Damon sacrificed his left eye in order to gain the upper hand. He used the opportunity to grab his brother by the shirt and push him off. "Shit, Stefan, just calm down, would ya?"

"You don't get to tell me to calm down!" He launched for him again, this time Damon was prepared and threw a fist in to Stefan's stomach.

Stefan collapsed with his back flat against the ground. His anger moving toward grief as he thought of poor Rebekah lying in there with a gunshot wound to her stomach. "What were we thinking?" he whimpered, this time taking some of the blame off of Damon.

"We weren't thinking at all!" Lexi had remained quiet after the ordeal. She knew it was a bad idea, everyone knew that it was a bad idea. She let the brothers duke it out, because Lord knew it had been a long time coming. But there was no use on putting blame on each other. They all played a hand in the outcome. "You," she pointed at Damon, "raced off without thinkin'. And we all followed! What did we expect was going to happen? That robbery took months to plan. It would've worked perfectly if we had everyone with us. But, no, we let greed and pride drive us to this. And now Rebekah is probably going to die, unless we can get her to a damn doctor."

"We can't take her to a doctor, Lexi, we just tried to rob a fucking train! Unless you want us all to go to jail!" Damon spat.

"Well, maybe we can sneak her in to The Broken Gospel, Sage would..."

"Are you kidding? Sage would take one look at Rebekah and turn her away. You don't become a Madam of her caliber by taking in strays. Especially ones that walked out on her."

Damon was right. Lexi hated it when Damon was right. But none of them were surgeons. Elijah was the closest thing they had to a doctor, well his Native American beau was..."Oh, of course!" Why didn't she think of it sooner?

"Of course, what?"

"I know who can help."

"Who?"

"A doctor. Well a sort of doctor." Lexi knew this was a secret of Elijah's that needed to stay a secret. The only reason she even knew of Elena was because she was the trusted messenger after the Amarillo gig. He trusted her enough to retrieve Elena after Klaus was taken out. She wasn't about to betray him now. "It doesn't matter who," she told the Salvatores, "All you need to know is that it's someone who can help. Now, you boys stay here. Keep pressure on her wound." Lexi strode toward her horse, and quickly mounted. "Make sure she has plenty of water, and change her bandages every half hour."

"Wait. Why can't we take her to them?" Stefan asked.

"And risk moving her? I don't think that's a good idea." Really what she was thinking was, risk the Salvatores knowing about the Apache Camp? That just had bad written all over it.

"I'll be back soon, Stefan, okay? We won't let her die, I promise." Lexi shot out of their camp. Her horse's hooves gripping the soil and blazing a trail set for the Apaches. Hopefully, they're still there. Hopefully, they'll remember her.

(***)

Apache Camp

Klaus couldn't breathe. He could see them, all staring at him, waiting for him to react. Waiting for him to hit someone or smash his fist in to the closest object. But, he just stood there. He felt sick and panicked, not understanding what exactly happened. He watched Lexi's mouth moving as she explained the accident. He heard her say they followed through with the heist even though they weren't with them. He heard her say something about Damon leading them all anyway. When she said Rebekah got shot, he stopped listening. The sickening image replaying over and over, each time adding a new and violent way it could've happened. He fell to the ground, his legs no longer having the ability to do their job.

"Klaus? Klaus, stay with us," Elijah crouched down next to his brother. "We can't think the worst. We have to get Elena to Bekah as soon as possible. She needs us."

Elijah's soothing voice washed over him. Of course he needed to be strong. Panic, anger and most definitely revenge, can happen later. He nodded at Elijah and stood back up. "Go get Elena. Lexi, help me gather the horses."

"And me?"

Caroline's small voice came out of nowhere. What was he supposed to do with her? Bring her with them? Make her stay here? It was the better option. He needed to focus on Rebekah, and Caroline's presence would only distract him. Maybe he would send her home. There was no reason for her to be here any longer. Everything was shit and it didn't matter if she told her entire town who they were, if Rebekah died, it all would've been for nothing anyway.

"I think it's best if I have Lexi take you back to Mystic Haven."

Caroline blinked twice and shook her head. Was she hearing him correctly? "You want to...to take me home?" She wasn't sure why this felt wrong. Why suddenly she wanted to stay with him more than anything. Hostage be damned, she wasn't leaving.

"I think it would be best. You don't need to be here anymore."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. No, I don't want to go back to Mystic Haven. I want to stay here with you and your family."

"Caroline..." he started.

"No. Klaus, I'm staying with you." She wouldn't take no for an answer. She was a part of this now and he couldn't just shoo her away like some pesky insect. She just got them back in her life, and although they hadn't had the chance to talk about what that meant, she wasn't about to lose them again.

He nodded and couldn't help commending her bravery. She was strong and full of light, something their family could need a bit more of in that moment. "Stay here with Kol then," he seceded and turned to leave.

"Klaus," she said before he could walk away. He stopped but didn't turn around. "Whatever happens, remember that I'll be here when you get back."

She watched his shoulders fall, but it would be the only response she would get until they saw each other again. She would do her duty and stay with Kol, while the others helped Rebekah.

(***)

Elena found Caroline before she left with the others and informed her of Kol's condition. She gave her the necessary instructions on how to care for him. He needed to drink some concoction to help with the infection three times a day. She hadn't seen him at all since they'd been there, she had only heard he had an arrow pierce through his shoulder. As much as she despised the animal, she didn't think anyone should have to suffer that kind of pain.

The next morning she approached the tepee with two large Apache men. The tribe was kind enough to offer assistance, knowing that breaking the news to Kol wouldn't be an easy task. When she neared the entrance she stopped at the sound of talking inside. Was that talking or was it...giggling? She wasn't a doctor, but she felt like that sort of sound was the last thing to be expected from a wounded man. She placed her ear close to the canvas to get a better gauge on the sound. She heard the low rumble of a male's voice and then the soft lilt of a female voice, no, make that two female voices. What in the world?

Just then the canvas flap opened and Caroline was standing face to face with two young native girls. One placed a hand over her mouth to hide the wide grin displayed on her face, while the other pulled her dress up to cover her shoulder.

Scandalous! These poor girls, what did he do to them?

They scurried by her, giggling, and she rolled her eyes before entering the tent. She wasn't sure what she was going to find but was relieved to see Kol tucked under the blankets. Naked or not, she was relieve she wouldn't have to see.

"Caroline! What a pleasant surprise," he said through a wicked grin.

"I suppose those girls weren't here for medical aid?"

"Oh they aided me alright," he said and waggled his eyebrows at her.

"You're revolting," she responded and shook her head at him.

"And you're delightful. You would definitely make me feel better than those squaws ever could."

She ignored his not so subtle advances. "Here!" She handed him Elena's remedy. "Drink up!"

"Ugh, speaking of revolting, how long do I need to keep taking this shit? I'm feeling fine," he shrugged, "More than fine, actually." Caroline understood quite well what he was eluding to.

"Yes, I get that you're feeling much better, Kol. You still need to drink it."

He grabbed the small bowl from Caroline and began to sip it, a grimace wiping that smug smile off his face. "Awful." He said. "So, what do I owe the pleasure? Why are you here and not the lovely Elena? Elijah really hit the jackpot with that one."

Here it goes. He needed to know, as easy as it would be to just keep the news from him, she knew he would figure it out eventually. It would be better to hear it from her than someone else. "Kol, you need to know something."

"What's that, kitten? Have you realized that I'm the only man for you? Are we running away together tonight?" He purred.

She gave a small smile, which Kol found uncharacteristic. He suddenly felt a pang in his stomach and knew something was wrong. "Caroline..." he urged.

"It's...it's Rebekah," she began.

"What about Rebekah," he asked cautiously and swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

She neared him and took a seat at the end of his bed. His thick brows furrowed. "There was an accident, Kol, she was shot."

He sat up abruptly and started to lift the blankets. She placed a hand on his to halt him. "She's not here. There's nothing you can do, Kol. Just sit back."

"Fuck you!" He screamed. "Who are you to tell me about my family? Where's Elijah? Where's Klaus?"

"They've gone to take care of her. They took Elena and all we can do is hope and pray for the best." If she knew one thing about taming a beast, it was that you kept your voice quiet and level.

He wrestled away from her in an another attempt to leave. She didn't want to do it but he left her no choice, he was too strong for her to hold him down. She gripped his shoulder where the arrow made its mark and he let out a guttural scream. "You stupid bitch," he yelped and rolled back to his side, sucking air through his teeth.

She stood from the bed and widened her stance. "Kol there are two very large Apaches outside. They won't let you leave."

He stood to face her and Caroline winced. She waited for a blow from him. She had never been hit before, besides the unexpected wallop from the Indian that captured her, but before Kol could swing, his body swayed and he sat back on the bed. "What the hell?" he asked.

She let out the breath she was holding in. "I put a sedative in your medicine," she told him. "We couldn't have you injuring yourself even more by running off."

Kol wanted to fight. He wanted to smack the blonde bitch, but could barely muster the strength to lie back down. His mind grew heavy with thoughts of his sister. He felt helpless and worthless in that moment. "Rebekah..." was all he said before sleep finally took over.

Caroline walked over to the fire pit and began to stack logs. She would build a fire, see about preparing some food for him, stay there for the day until he woke back up and she would try again. He wanted his family, and that was understandable, and she would do her best to fill their shoes.

Please, Lord, she whispered, let her be alright.

Okay, I'm gonna take a little break now. I hope two chapters has been sufficient this weekend. =) So glad so many of you are taking a liking to this story. I'm excited for all of you to see what happens next!

Reviews are the fuel to the crazy little story. So please be so kind as to tell me what you thought of this chapter!

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