"What's up?" Stefan answered his mobile irritably. He was not in the mood for his brothers' conversation. Although adjusting as well as could be expected to his brother and his exs' relationship the pain was ever present. Ever fresh. He raked a hand through his hair in exasperation as the voice of Damon explained briefly what Elena had felt during the night. And Damon too.

"I'm not sure. It wasn't, y'know, weird weird. It just felt as though something was wrong. Could it be Silas? Have you seen your doppelganger pottering around on a homicidal supernatural massacre rant recently?"

Flippancy. Pretty much the only thing Damon could do with style and panache. Stefan groaned, "I didn't feel a thing. I'll check it out with the others – I spoke to Matt this afternoon; Bonnie's flitting in and out of the other side – could it be that?"

He heard his brother hesitate. As if he had all the answers, Stefan sighed, "I - - don't think so. It felt more vamp, if anything. But if it felt vamp it could only be a disturbance with the Originals. They're the only people who could affect on such a scale." Damon surmised.

Stefan walked onwards, through the crisp autumnal night air. Pensively, he considered whether the line had ended. Whether Klaus had succumbed to the treachery inherent in Vamp politics. God, they could have only an hour to live. "Klaus?"

"No. No. Hell, bro, I don't know. You're the smart one. You figure it out. You got the family on speed dial?" Damons' tone was becoming bored, restless. Ready to cut loose the phone.

He paused outside the Mystic Grill coffee house. The lights were dimmed, but with his preternatural sight he could make out the interior through the glass. Still smell the exotic grounds of the coffee beans. So much of the world had changed since he had. So much still the same, "I might take a trip to the Appalachians. Check in with Tyler and Caroline. Honeymooners," He scoffed softly. His connection with Elena's friends ebbed and flowed – but the constant affection for Caroline's well being remained. That feeling of comfort, of sibling understanding – so similar to others he had known before, so different depending on her mood. A strong woman, with a strong will – why could he not of fallen in love with her?

Maybe it was the fact that he did love her, in a way he couldn't express which meant he could never be in love with her truly. One step out of sync. He shrugged – sometimes it was too early for metaphysics.

He dialled the number of Caroline's phone quickly. When had he last spoken to her? One week ago? Two? After the last of the Travellers had been forced from Mystic Falls each of the group had chosen within themselves to put some distance between the others. A safety mechanism – eventually they would all come back together but the days and nights had been so fraught, so emotionally long, that they needed time. And for vampires that time could be the longest still.

He heard the dialling tone. Heard the ringing and waited.

Caroline paced the bayou floor. Klaus/Wallace was watching her. A smile on his lips, full, upturned. She wasn't sure about that. Although not sinister, she wasn't entirely comfortable with the feelings they provoked.

The mobile in her jacket pocket began to ring. The vibration of it minuscule from where she stood on the other side of it. Looking up from her thoughts, she caught the gaze of Wallace.

"I should get that." She said, stronger than she had thought possible.

"Yes. You're finally becoming popular." He stated sarcastically. Lifting the small flip phone from her pocket he walked across the clearing. Thank you. He said inside her, handing it. Their fingers brushing. His eyes were soft with emotion. And for a moment, Caroline hoped that it would be Klaus. Hoped Klaus could provoke her natural antipathy because she was losing it towards her captor.

Wallace gestured at the phone, I think the phrase is Stockholm syndrome. Love.

And then it was back. She snatched it from his grasp in the last moment and looked at the caller ID.

Stefan.

"Hi, Stefan, everything okay?" Try to sound cool, she inwardly monologued to herself, stay together.

His voice was brisk. Comforting. Warm, and there was something else, something unidentifiable. It troubled her, "Yeah, Caroline, are you okay? Elena and Damon had a feeling something was up. I'm checking round. Making sure we're all...all right. Did you feel anything last night?"

Caroline turned herself away from Wallace. Although a futile gesture she knew. Was something wrong? Well...it depended. She tried not to probe the problem he had posed to her. The answer she had given and the implications it now held.

"Nope. Nothing. I'm fine Stefan. Just...hanging." Too bright. Turn it down a notch.

He hesitated, as if..compelled? Startled, she looked at Wallaces' face. He had his head in his hands. His focus on her. In her head she heard him.

Yes. That's true. And that is you, Caroline. You.

Stefan's voice faded into the background briefly. Time stopped. The air slowed. Blue eyes hazed with wonder glanced across and connected with Wallaces'. He took in a deep breath – at least, for a while, he would share his gift with someone else. And it would be his downfall, his curse and his cure. He put his hands up in warding -

"It is - - fleeting. It is part of what I have given you. Tell him to come to New Orleans. Tell him to seek out Klaus, but that you will meet him at the airport," Wallace frowned slightly, "I cannot compel you anymore. I can only ask. And – I thank you." He turned away from her.

Caroline watched as birds above in mid-flight were paused. There were no heartbeats to be heard as the blood had paused in each living creature body, "What have I become?" She stuttered out, "How can I restart – all this?" She waved her hand around in an arc.

"Just think it. You have become – who you needed to be. And, I'm sorry to say, love, that that cannot be undone."

Caroline concentrated on the sound of her own breathing; gradually time began to pass again. Liking winding up the hands of a clock, she imagined.

The confusion in Stefans' voice was clearly evident, "Caroline? Is everything ok? Are thing's really...fine?"

She breathed a little deeper. Steadied her tone and thought: Come.

Stefan became impatient on the line. His voice changed subtly – the warmth grew stronger, "Look, Caroline. I know things are fine. I'm coming to see you. Tell me where you are."

"New Orleans." Simple reply. Straight. She smiled inside, a small glow – perhaps who she needed to be was an improvement? She had improved being a vamp. Perhaps being the super vamp was an improvement still.

Wallace heard her thought. He grimaced – power. Power to control, create and destroy. Had he been right giving it to her? Sensing her inner self? Time would tell. She was strong.

"With Klaus?" He said raggedly. He had known that that is where the Master Vampire had fled. After Katherine...after Caroline. He wondered the spell that women had. Wondered at the romance men held for them and could never deliver.

"No...but I need your help. We have a..." She glanced across for Wallaces' assent. He nodded. "...Problem."