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Chasing An Outcome

Chapter 5: Heartfelt Reunion Tough Conflicts

Kol frowned when he saw Klaus following him out the compound. "I don't need you with me. Get lost."

"You may not need me but I'm going with you regardless."

Kol pushed him against the wall. "Don't test my patience right now Nik. I don't want you anywhere near Davina."

"I told you that I had nothing to do with that," He reaffirmed. "I wanted her to live. For you. I ordered Freya and Elijah to look for another method. I swear this to you on my daughter."

The statement caused Kol to pause. He didn't know Klaus' daughter at all, to be frank he hated kids, but one moment of seeing them together was enough to know that there was nothing Klaus valued more than his daughter. He wouldn't use her lightly. So if he was giving him his word like this then, that meant...

Kol released his grip. "Don't slow me down."

An enormous relief and elation filled Klaus. "I assure you I won't." He led Kol towards one of the cars. This wasn't having him back but it was a start. He loved Kol despite what his younger brother may think. And he loved Marcel as well. There was no way he would lose either.

Once on the road Klaus' phone rang. It was Freya telling him the location.

"Well?" Kol asked after he'd hung up.

"I know where she is. You'll be with her soon I'll make sure of this."

Kol couldn't contain his nerves. The unanswered questions were pounding in his head. What was she doing? How in the world had she survived? Why was she with Vincent? Why hadn't she gone to him first? She couldn't possibly think he was involved, could she?

His eyes clenched shut. The thoughts were tormenting him. It wasn't until Klaus spoke that he lifted his head.

"Huh?"

"I said we're almost there." Klaus replied before glancing briefly at him. "Freya was able to track them. It seems they're at their destination now.

Kol scoffed. "So she can do something right. Amazing how good results are when you use force."

"I know this isn't easy for you. And I know you have a great deal of anger towards—"

"Don't start Niklaus," Kol cut in. "I may not hold what happened against you but don't overestimate yourself. There is nothing you could do or say to ever make me overlook this. My ties with them are done. And once I find Davina you and I will be done as well."

Klaus kept a calm face but in reality the more his brother spoke the more he broke. All he could do now was cling to the small, rusted thread of hope. He had to. He had to believe that no matter what he would remain Kol's older brother.

The rest of the ride was silent and no more words were spoken until they began arriving at their destination. They had to walk the rest of the way as Davina and Vincent had apparently walked deep into the bayou.

"Where the hell are they?" Kol growled as he scanned the area.

Klaus ran beside him. "Kol we shouldn't run in blindly. Lucien could be here."

"The last time I listened to you lot Davina almost got sacrificed," Kol retorted. "We're doing this my way Nik."

"Wait," Klaus said, halting him with an arm to his chest.

"I'm not—"

"Listen!" He added. "No noise. There's no one here."

"What the hell is that?" Kol suddenly said as there was smoke coming into view. Only the worst came to mind as he rushed forward.

To hell with precaution! Davina could be in danger. The guilt he felt after he thought she was sacrificed had been eating away at him. It was like poison, killing him slowly. Except he was a vampire and he would have burned with that guilt for all eternity. But not now. Because she wasn't dead and he had to make sure she didn't die.

They approached where the smoke was coming from. It was quite a lot filling the air.

"The' devil happened here?" Klaus wondered aloud. His eyes narrowed as something was apparently inside the smoke. "What's that?"

Kol turned to where Klaus was pointing. He furrowed his eyes to focus on the shape starting to form beneath the fading layer of smoke. He was starting to see a figure now.

Come to think of it... it looked very familiar.

The hair. The black shirt, like the one worn under a brown jacket by her. The smoke cleared enough for him to finally get a glimpse of all he needed to see.

Her face.

He gasped lowly and the next thing he knew his legs were moving of its own volition.

"Kol!"

He paid no attention to Klaus' voice. His heart was hammering against his chest. He could hear his panting reverberating in his eardrums as he got closer.

Now he could fully see her.

She was on her knees, falling slowly towards the ground. Her eyes were closed. She looked drained of energy, as if she'd just finished something strenuous.

"I'm Kaleb."

"Davina."

"Cool name."

Memories flashed before his eyes.

"...We can do anything can't we? Please? I love you Kol Mikaelson."

"Well in that case, you best kiss me before I go."

The fucking distance felt like it stretched for miles. Why was it taking so long to bloody shorten?

"I never doubted you for a second Davina Claire."

He caught her right before she collapsed unconsciously onto the ground. Almost out of habit his arms encircled her. His heart was doing somersaults; his breathing was in quick succession. Without another thought he dipped his head and pressed his ear over her heart, not caring that with his vampire nature such a thing was unnecessary.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

There it was. The sound of her beating heart. The sound of her very alive heart.

That was when the tears fell.

He held her against his chest; burying his head on the crook of her neck; one hand cradled her head while the other was on her back, pushing her closer. All of his pain, anguish, and relief, was pouring out in sobs. Sounds of her breathing and beating heart collided together like tidal waves inside his ears, making for the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.

She'd passed out from exhaustion and there was dirt underneath her fingernails, making him wonder what had she gone through.

"I'm here love," He whispered against her cheek. His tears refused to cease. "I'm here now."

Klaus had caught up, effectively choosing to slow his pace when he heard the sound of Davina Claire's heart. This moment belonged to Kol and no one else. Upon closer inspection though, he noticed another two bodies lying on the floor. One of them was the ex-regent and the other he had no clue. It was a completely naked man lying curled in a ball, underneath him was what looked like markings. Had some spell taken place here?

"Kol, look."

Kol lifted his head -but absolutely refused to release his hold under any circumstances- to see Vincent and another man lying on the floor. "What the hell?"

Those markings? He'd certainly seen them before.

It dawned on him. The lack of clothes, the symbols around the man, the apparent exhaustion in both Davina and Vincent. He'd witnessed a similar experience.

"Nik... This is a spell used to bring someone back from the ancestral plane."

"Come along Kol," Klaus said. "We need to move. Now."

Kol scooped Davina onto his arms.

All Davina saw at first was a slit in her vision. In the gap she could make out a ceiling and some cobwebs. Was she in her old attic room? Wait... she was in the bayou with Vincent wasn't she? She'd brought Nathan back right? Oh God, Nathan.

Her eyes shot open and she sat upwards. "Nathan!" Instantly she regretted the outburst when her entire body ached. Her whole muscles were sore. Was this how marathon runners felt?

"Davina?"

She froze. That voice? Slowly her head turned to her right to meet a pair of worried eyes. "K-Kol?" Was this real? Davina had begun questioning what was real and what wasn't a lot lately.

He took one of her hands in his. "You're finally awake."

Finally? How long had she been out? Her heart skipped a beat. Marcel was fighting Lucien wasn't he? Was Nathan in one piece? And Vincent? He'd collapsed right before her eyes before she blacked out herself right after.

Davina began pushing off the bed, ignoring the agonizing pain. "Let go!" She shouted when he pushed her back down easily.

"It's okay Davina, it's me! I won't hurt you," He pleaded desperately. "Please love, I didn't have any part in that!"

"You don't understand I have to see Nathan! Where is Vincent!? How long has it been? Tell me!"

Kol pulled back, a broken-hearted expression painted on his face. Wasn't she happy to see him? Or... did she blame him? Was she afraid of him now?

At that moment Klaus walked in with Vincent.

"Vincent!" Davina cried happily. "You're okay! Where's Nathan? Is he okay?"

Vincent managed a smile. "He's okay Davina. He's been resting downstairs but don't worry he'll wake up soon."

"What about Marcel? Have you heard from him?"

"He's okay as well," Vincent answered. "Lucien knocked him out cold but thankfully some of The Strix pulled him out before things could get ugly. I'm sure he's probably awake by now; no doubt looking for you. Think we had a bit of luck but we're all in one piece."

"I see," She said as tears welled up in her eyes. "That's such a relief." A few droplets fell before she wiped them away. "How was Lucien able to beat Marcel? Shouldn't they be equals now?"

"I'm not sure Davina. But I think it has something to do with the ancestors. Remember, they're backing Lucien on this and intend on killing anyone who stands in the way of their goal."

"Vincent, we need to see Marcel and find out exactly what happened."

At this Kol couldn't remain quiet anymore. "Are you crazy? You can't go back out there Davina! I won't allow you!"

She blinked. Oh... right, Kol. Suddenly she was all too aware of the presence of the two Original brothers in the room. All these events were moving much too fast for her liking. Everything she'd actually been able to do had been nothing short of a feat.

"What happened? Who is that man you were with?" Klaus asked from his spot.

Davina glared at him. "I don't owe you an explanation."

He sighed. "Fair enough love. But if not me then at least explain it to Kol. He's been devastated by everything that has occurred." With that he gestured the door to Vincent whom took the hint.

"I'll let Marcel know where we're at." Vincent said and excused himself, leaving Davina alone with Kol.

"Why didn't you come to me as soon as you were brought back," Kol murmured with his head down. "You didn't think I had anything to do with what happened, did you?" The hands he had resting on his lap gripped the fabric of his jeans. "I swear to you that I didn't know they would do something like that; that they would dare do something like that."

Davina could practically feel the sadness radiating from him. "I didn't think you had any part in it."

Kol leveled his gaze with hers.

She could see the vulnerability in him. He was hanging to her words for dear life, making her fear that he might actually break should she say the wrong thing. "At first, I thought they were possessed by the ancestors." The still very vivid memory making her body quiver. Now that she wasn't in any sort of movement it all came rushing back to her. It was unavoidable now. She'd been inches away from having her soul crushed. There would have been nothing left of her. "But then I realized how wrong I was. The sound of Marcel's neck being snapped," Davina buried her head in her hands. That particular memory making her feel sick. "I'll... I'll never get that sound out of my head."

The newfound hatred Kol felt for them began resurfacing as he listened. He was about to climb onto the bed and hold her. What she said next stopped him right as he was standing.

"I kept hoping you'd return."

This shattered him. All that time she'd been holding out for him to come to her aid. And he never did. Not only did he kill her but he as good as sent her to the lion's den himself.

"I begged her. I begged her Kol. But it was useless." She spoke into her palms. "It was cold. So very cold. But... just when I had all but resigned myself to my fate," The image of Nathan came to her mind; almost instantly her trembling began ceasing and her shoulders began relaxing. "I was saved. Just like that."

"It was the man I saw you with wasn't it?" Kol muttered with his head hung low. Someone else did what he could not do. Someone else held the title of savior in her heart. He'd never felt so insignificant in his entire life. All she went through, suffered through, to bring him back and he was unable to do even a fraction of that for her. He truly was the worst.

"Kol," Davina said, getting his attention. "The name of the man who saved me, who rescued me from that pitch black hell, is Nathan. Kol he's my father."

"Your what!?"

"My reaction too. Actually, pretty much everyone I've told."

"Who else knows?"

"Besides you I've only told Marcel and Vincent." Davina exclaimed. "After Nathan saved me we went on the run in order to dodge the ancestors. I lost consciousness then, and when I woke up Nathan explained everything to me. The witches had him killed because he was trying to prevent them from using me in the harvest ritual. Before dying he managed to consecrate himself which is how he ended up there. We decided we needed to stop the ancestors once and for all; and that meant stopping Lucien as well. Since Nathan consecrated himself I swore to him that I'd bring him back the second I got the chance. So I reached out to Vincent and he brought me back."

"Vincent brought you back?"

"Yeah. He told me about the serum he gave Marcel. He also told me what Marcel was planning on doing. So with the help of Vincent I was able to send him a message."

Kol paused to remember the sudden halt in Marcel back at the compound. So that was what had happened.

"Once I was reunited with Marcel we headed to where Nathan died, so that I could dig up the ring he buried. That's when we ran into Lucien."

Kol could swear his heart rate sped up.

"Marcel told me to go and that he'd hold Lucien off. I didn't want to do it." Her voice lowered and she bit back the trembling. "I didn't want to leave Marcel. But... But Nathan had been found by the ancestors and needed to be saved. So we got to where he was buried and started the spell. It took everything Vincent and I had to get it done. We blacked out right after. It's not like I purposely ignored you Kol. And I'm sorry I gave you the impression of thinking I blamed you for what happened."

"No," Kol shook his head. "Never apologize to me Davina. I don't deserve it. I'm the one who's sorry. This happened because of me. No one else."

Davina was about to say something but was cut off when the door flew open. She felt a gust of air and heard the sound of a loud bang on the wall. Her eyes widened when she saw Marcel had Kol by the throat.

"How dare you get near her?" Marcel shouted. "You've got a death wish?"

"Stop Marcel!" Davina yelled. "Let him go!"

Reluctantly Marcel let him go, making sure to toss him by the exit. "Get the hell out. And take your brother with you."

"You think I wanted this to happened!?" Kol retorted, getting on his feet.

"I don't give a damn what you want." Marcel replied coldly. "All Davina got from meeting you was nothing but hell. She's shouldered all the pain and suffering you caused her. You have been nothing but a burden to her. It's all you've ever done for her. You're her curse."

"Marcel!" Davina cut in. "You're out of line!" But one look at Kol and she knew the damaged had been done.

Klaus came in at the ruckus. "What's going on here?"

"Good that you're here," Marcel sarcastically said. "I was just letting Kol know where the exit is. I'm sure you know it too."

Anger bubbled inside Klaus when he took in Kol's broken state. "You know perhaps some damn gratitude would be nice! It was Kol and I who found Davina Claire and brought her back here to safety!"

"Your God damn brother and sister put her in that situation! And you have the nerve to ask for gratitude?"

At that moment Vincent rushed inside. "Davina, he's awake!"

Davina willed herself out the bed, ignoring the worried calls of Marcel and Kol. Stumbling a bit in the process she made it downstairs. "Nathan?"

"Over here."

There he was. Standing with a nervous smile and his hand raised up in a stupid, awkward wave. Those damn tears were persistent. How had she not exhausted them by now? She could feel them threatening to escape again as he began speaking.

"What should I say? I- I dreamt of this moment. I want to hug you so badly, but," His eyes watered. "I don't think you'd be comfortable with that. After all I've been nonexistent haven't I? I wasn't there for you during your suffering. I have no right to ask you for that. So can we... shake hands for now? If you'd like." He noticed her head was down and her shoulders were shaking. "I'm sorry! I made you uncomfortable didn't I? Man I'm the worst dad ever! Just forget I said anything Davina. You don't need to—"

Davina threw her arms around his waist, causing him to stop his sentence. She finally gave in and sobbed into his chest. "I'm so happy you're okay Nathan."

His own tears fell as he wrapped his arms around her. The last time he had done so was nineteen years ago. He sniffed. "You know, the last time I held you Davina you were crying." He smiled through the tears and somehow held her closer. "Nothing has changed you know."

Davina pulled away and held his gaze. "Come on, there are some people I want to introduce you to."

She led him back to her attic room where the group was waiting with concerned looks. Firstly she gestured to where Vincent was standing. "This is Vincent. He's the one who brought us both back."

"Good to finally meet you," Nathan said as he shook hands with him. "Thank you for helping to bring Davina back."

"Hey I'm just glad it worked." Vincent replied.

Next she beckoned Marcel and smiled. "This is Marcel, the man who's taught me everything I know; the man who saved me from the harvest and changed my life forever. He's family to me."

Nathan wasn't ignorant to Marcel. He'd been connected with Davina and heard their reunion. Something she must've forgotten while reuniting with what he guessed was the most important person in her life. Had he been the one to save her he would have been that person for Davina; the one she loved the most; the one she looked up to. Mentally he berated himself for feeling bitter. Truth was he actually felt grateful for his presence in her life. Who knows how the witches would've used her if Marcel had not save her that day.

"Thank you," Nathan stated seriously. "For being with Davina and taking care of her. Thank you for simply being there for her."

Marcel nodded. "Trust me, I'm the one who's grateful."

Davina finally looked to the two brothers. "This is Kol and his—"

"This is Kol?" Nathan asked in surprise. He stepped closer to inspect. "I saw you, in the ancestral world. I thought they killed you!"

Kol turned to Davina with a questioning glance.

"He saw the day the ancestors tried attacking you." She answered before turning to Klaus. "This is Kol's brother, Klaus. To be fair, I'm sort of indifferent to him."

"There's no need to be all harsh now love, but it's a proper definition of our relationship I suppose."

"If this is the Kol Mikaelson you were talking about then that makes him and his brother a part of the Mikaelson family," Nathan said before frowning. "I thought you said they were your enemies Davina?"

"Kol isn't," She exclaimed, earning a relieved smile from Kol. "I get along with him. In fact he's my..." She paused. Perhaps telling him that he was sort of her boyfriend would only be awkward. To be honest she wasn't quite used to calling Kol that. It felt a bit weird. "He's someone really important to me."

"You've surrounded yourself with some interesting characters Davina," Nathan chuckled lightly. "To say the least."

"Wait until I introduce you to Josh."

Author's Notes

With everyone reunited the plan for taking Lucien and the ancestors down can now commence. Will they be getting along? Not quite.