A/N Again, with the brief interruption. But thanks to ZodiacKlaroine for the review – mucho helpful. Now, I hummed and ahh-ed over this so we'll see how it turns out. Stories sometimes write themselves after a while. Bit of spoiler alert: so I'm setting up the Wallace/Klaus love triangle with the added super vamp Caroline. Stefan, obviously is making an appearance and I'm going to build more on the Marcel coup/ Coven take-over. Having now got up to speed on things series wise, I'm definitely bringing Katherine back – traveller style. So, yeah – thanks for reading. More reviews please! Mwah mwah, Susie P

"How the...what the...seriously?" Caroline looked around her. They were indeed at the airport arrivals hall. Busy-ness and life bustled around her. She looked down glumly at her clothes. Grim stained. Smelly. Then back up at Wallace, "Couldn't we have stopped by Gap, or something?"

He shrugged, gesturing to his outfit, "If we can turn things into life, or metal, do you really think that you have to stop by Gap any more? I've tidied myself up...perhaps, love, you'd like me to turn around while you do the same?" He gave another annoyingly rueful smile. His muscular lithe forearms crossed in front of him. It was true, she hadn't noticed but his clothes had changed. The faded denim jeans were now dark. The loose knit khaki top now a crisp white tailored shirt. He looked...whoa, Caroline, whoa, just because he's given you the greatest present of all time he's manipulated, connived and is totally using you. He's compelling you to love him, he's tortured, twisted the truth - - and he still hasn't told you his plan in full - - and he's hoping that you'll murder your potential date.

Seriously, I'm messed up...she shook her head, "Can they..see us?" She asked around, as if the flustered blush wasn't apparent on her face, the flush in her cheeks making Wallace hesitate again. Weakness, boy, weakness.

"Only if they choose to. I'd rather they didn't – you don't look exactly dressed for the occasion. Although I'm sure that's something you can alter." He said surely. He dismissed her briefly as he felt the thoughts of every person in the room...searching. He would be here. He would make a play. Bait and barter and bargain for freedom. He scanned the room, using his inner eye. Was it too early to channel her power? He didn't fully know what he had created by feeding her that night. Sharing blood and selves. It was...balance altering. Never had he forced a change on anyone. Never had he felt the need to share the loneliness that ate away inside. It wasn't in his nature to break out from his bubble without reason.

"Oh God, fine...I'll change into something. Will I be naked at any point? 'Cos even if they can't see me – I think I'd like to go into the ladies room." She glanced across at Wallace. Unlike the demons' she supposed existed. She felt nausea rise in her, an urgency to vomit within her gripped at her stomach, "I feel...weird. Really weird." Her stomach lurched, she gripped it tightly. Blue eyes beseeching, "What's happening?" Her knees buckled beneath her, she started to slip to the floor. Airport passengers around her walked by, un-noticing. Figures and people paled around her. Then she heard them - - the noise of hundreds of thought. Each individual broadcasting as loudly as if the television was on full volume.

Wallace was at her side in a flash, the distance between vanished as he placed his arms about her and hoisted her into his embrace. His eyes were clouded by concern and warning. Was this to be it? Was this to be one more travesty in the balance of world? In her, he had put nature into the unnatural. For even though he was a demon, unique amongst the whole of the world, his was a natural weighing scale in the scheme of things. He had married the two forces – and Caroline would pay for this.

She felt limp. Time drifted by, and sped up, the air whooshed around her head and focussing was an effort of will. Stefan...she called inside, help me please. Be here now. Be here now...she let Klaus/Wallace take her weight. She let herself slide into and out of consciousness as she sought some control. Her stomach lurched again and she vomited blood. A weak smile played on her lips as she met his gaze, above her own, "Good job I didn't do that whole clothing change-y thing. Oh God, I'm going to be sick again..." Her voice trailed off as she vomited again. Clotting masses on his white shirt. He walked with her in his arms to a bench at the side as people flowed around him. His attention solely on her.

She was burning up. Her head ached and her muscles screamed, she heard the sound of breaking bones and tears welled within her. Back to the torture...from beyond, she heard Klaus' voice. Heard him murmur sweet words into her ear.

"Be strong, love." With a rapidity he he not known before he was on the tarmac of the runway. Caroline limply in his arms. No medical doctor could cure her. No hospital would help. But he could not do this alone. He had created her, he had morphed her into this half life. And he had no idea how to help her further.

Stefan disembarked. His whole body attuned to life around him. He smiled at the air stewardess and took his luggage. Klaus had said he would meet him at the terminal gates. The walk through security was glass fronted. Open to the runway below. Reinforced glass, tinted only slightly.

He heard his voice. Heard too the painful note within it. Stefan, be here now...help me please. Damping down the frenzy within, he scoured the space ahead. Looking out, he scoured the space below and froze. His vision disbelieving. Could that really be Caroline? Floating limply above the ground? He frowned. Floating? He hadn't even been drinking on the plane. What was happening here?

She felt his eyes on her. Felt her head roll towards the runway concourse overhead. Why had he brought her out here? She was burning, in flames. And her bones were breaking. Over and over again. It was agony. Breathing deeply, rapidly, she lifted herself with all her might further into his embrace. Sought out the pulse at his neck, made to strike, to feed again. Pure joy. The nausea washed over her again. Slowly, Wallace peeled her face slightly back from his to see her fully.

"Hush, love, you don't need that any more. Feel the heat, get your energy from the sun around you. Gather it, love, gather it." he said the last two words with a subtle force. He needed her. He needed whatever strength she had. It possessed him.

Caroline frowned, "My fangs, what's happened to my fangs?" She screeched, as searing pain flung her arching back. He gripped her more, "Who the hell are you?" She spat at him in pain and confusion and hurt.

He brushed his lips across her forehead in reassurance, "Call me Wallace. But don't use it often." He murmured. The power of a name. Of a label. Had he trusted wisely, he felt so, in his gut.

Caroline snorted derision, "Wallace..? As in William Wallace? Scottish guy and all that?" She measured her breathing more. Tried to soak the heat from the air around her. Turned that pulse of fear into a worm of hope, grasping at the sunlight. For once, on her cool dead skin, "Please make it stop -" A spasm of electricity spun out of her, catching Wallace off guard. He looked round to where it was directed in time to see the pane of concourse glass shatter into fragments of crystal.

A man flew towards them. Stefan. He found the name. Sought the connection and made it. The figure flailed in the air, as he was pulled toward Caroline. Confusion – grief and anger on his features.

Wallaces' split second decision to reveal himself only made the animosity inside Stefan grow with the confusion. Confirming the antipathy towards his brother, Klaus. Wallace felt Carolines' energy – like a thread of jumper – unravelling in him. He cut bond and Stefan dropped down.

Caught in a crouch, Stefan flung compulsion at the confused bystanders. It would not be enough, it would hold the questions though. He considered his next move. Klaus had grown strong. Unbelievably strong over time apart from Mystic Falls. He wondered if he had hidden this power all along.

"Let her go, Klaus," He turned to the figure in front of him, "This isn't what we..." His voice died in his throat. He peered at Wallace, deepening realisation, "A doppelganger?" He didn't have to comprehend fully. He sprang at him, fangs open, shock and fear coursing through him.

Wallace moved with lightening quickness. Carefully re-settling Caroline in his arms.

Help Her! Wallace commanded in Stefans' head. He paused and clutched it, "What the..? Caroline?" The last word shot out of him, a bullet of anguish. As she lapsed finally into unconsciousness.

Today was not a good day to meet Klaus.

He driven fast through the crowded streets, until they spread out into the suburbs. He was never late for an appointment. Unless it suited him. Today was not one of those days.

He punched in the number of Stefans' cell impatiently, "Come on, Ripper, pick up." The tone cut out to voice-mail. Angrily, he slammed his fist into the steering wheel. Shaking it violently, his teeth gritted.

What the bloody hell was wrong with people? He didn't ask for much – unswerving loyalty; understanding, obeisance. How hard was that for people to give? The ride took, in his mind, forever. He pulled up outside the airport entrance and compelled the nearest onlooker to look after his car.

"Don't scratch it. Ride it. Or touch it. Kill yourself if anything happens to it. It's new." He growled. Before marching, determinedly into the arrivals hall.

The first thing he noticed was the essence of Caroline. His hackles rose inside. His nerves on edge. He kept it together as he weaved around milling people.

"I'm sorry Sir, but you can't go through there." A uniformed official put out a hand to hold him from marching through to the inner sanctum of the airport arrivals.

Klaus smiled grimly, "Look, mate, I am going through there. You aren't going to stop me. You're going to go over to that corner -" He gestured towards the furthest edge of the hall, his face inches from the startled and bemused official, "- And you're not going to come out. Ever." He motioned with his hand and the man walked dreamily across. His features glazed. Klaus sneered. Humanity. Who gives two hoots for Humanity when you can have power. You can make your own Humanity then, Salvatore. He derided inwardly.

Striding through the concourse opening he heard the blast; heard the glass implode. Felt the raw energy needed for it.

Marcel?

No. Not Marcel. Something else. Something more dangerous. More deadly. But what? And why? He broke into a run. Stalking fast along the floor, ignoring the bystanders who crowded his way.

The opening in the glass surprised him. He paused, his heart in his mouth as he looked down on the tarmac-ed ground. Caroline.

He staggered back, holding the edge of the opening, overwhelmed by his reaction. Saving her for the fourth time? He loved her. With a passion which transcended rationality. Wreaked with emotion, he hesitated. Watching the scene played out below him. Stefan – in mid flight toward.

Bloody Hell!

This was going to get complicated.