A/N; Hey there. Hope you all enjoyed the Deleted Scene Delicious Damon. If you haven't read it yet, go take a look! I can do more fun island scenes like that too but I felt it was time to get on with the story.

Multiple POV'S this time again to give you a variety of the storylines at once. Keep in mind that I had said I had not planned to do any Klaroline ship in this story but just more leaning on each other since they both experienced pain and loss. But if there is enough interest I can make it more than it is. Just let me know.

Enjoy. This second night on the island will take a few chapters.

Rated M for language and frightening scenes.

Caroline's POV

Panting and gasping I did not know how I ended up in the same scenario again. Damn my bad luck! I whimpered as a branch hit my face and I felt its sting as I was sure it drew blood. But I didn't have time to check any wounds. More branches and bushes raked against the skin of my bare legs too. My feet ached as the broken ground poked sticks and hard stones into the soles of them as a ran.

I stopped for a moment to catch my breath, leaning over with my arms on my knees and sucked in air deeply, trying to calm down. I was so glad I had grabbed up my clothes before I got the scare of my life and almost got caught...

The first thing I noticed as I made my way to the river after tucking Enzo in tight and making sure the cave was hidden, was the cool breeze coming off the water. It felt tranquil and cool compared to the heat of the day. The sun had been out most of the afternoon except for a few light showers. I had been bored and tired of sleeping and having nothing to do while Damon and Ric and the doctor Elena had gone off to reach someone by phone, to hopefully get us rescued.

I had read and re read the only book I had brought along called The Holiday where two strangers switch houses and enjoy all the comforts of home away from their own. I nearly laughed at the irony of how completely 'not' like that it was here. Here I had eaten mostly fruit and had fish a couple times but I was dying for a real bed, take out and a fricking toilet. So the interest in reading again how these ladies were relaxing in claw foot tubs and drinking wine just made me jealous of them.

Nearing the edge of the river, my eyes darted around again to make sure I was alone. I had not heard any sounds on my way here and no island animals had made an appearance. I was thinking more this time and was determined not to get myself lost again, so I had taken a sharp rock and marked trees with long white lines to help me find my way back. I was quite confident that unless someone looked closely at it, it would just look like it was made my an animal and not a deliberate marking.

I planned to wash quickly and get out of there as fast as I could and back to the safety of the hidden cave. This island had too many night creatures and I did not want to run into any of the inmates either. I had been talking to myself off and on during the afternoon to weigh the pros and cons of leaving the cave for anything even peeing or hunting for more fruit. I had slipped out to climb a couple trees and enjoyed more bananas and a mango before eating some more fish Ric had left me. But I hated feeling gross and not showering or even having the simple luxury of brushing my teeth. So here I was at the river anyway, despite the dangers of going this far from the cave.

My head was hurting from looking around me the whole way there and I finally let out the breath I was holding as I hid myself behind a tree at the bank of the river. When I was convinced that no one had followed me I kicked off my slip on shoes and dropped the thin white shirt the mysterious man had given me on the ground.

I had worn it all night and could smell the deep masculine scent on it. The tear from where he had ripped it to give me a blindfold had come from the back, making it shorter there. It had been so nice to have an extra layer of warmth since I had stupidly only had the couple thin dresses in my carry on bag that I managed to bring to the island. Everything else was in my suitcase that was likely at the bottom on the ocean now.

Decking out the doctor in the red lace dress, when I could see so clearly how much the prisoner agent guy liked her was the highlight of my day. I had him drooling over how hot I made her look for him. It was fun to do that for other people... when I never felt that way myself.

But giving her that dress left me with little options for myself and this was my last clean anything and it was a dress too. I loved the silky fabric and how it fell so perfectly on me, hugging my curves. The teal blue made my eyes look so brilliant and bright. The spaghetti straps made it as cool as it could be in the heat and I felt like I was barely wearing anything. I pulled it over my head and tossed it on the ground. I opened the cheap paper packaging around the soap and I left the shampoo I had brought right at the edge of the water.

I dipped my toes in first. The water was still warm for evening. I shrugged out of my bra and scrubbed the soap all over it and rinsed it out before tossing on the ground by my dress. I did the same with my panties, that being the only way to launder anything here. I swiped the soap all over me and threw it back on the shore and then dove in deeper.

Oh the water felt so good and I swam further and deeper till I was floating and laid back looking at the stars. It was such a clear night with barely a breeze. I closed my eyes and just relaxed, letting the gentle rocking of the waves move me up and down.

I thought about Tyler and could find our star up in the sky. He had surprised me the last day of my rehab with a celebratory dinner out and a walk by the beach. He had set up a blanket and we laid back and snuggled and looked at the stars. He handed me a paper from the National Star Registry and he had a star named after me. He pointed it out right there as we lay on the beach and I was in awe of his thoughtfulness and how romantic he was. We made love right there by the crashing waves and I told him it was the most amazing night I had ever had.

It had felt so good just to lay and float peacefully that I had almost fallen asleep and then jerked my head back up from the water. I didn't want to stay out too long so waded back to the edge. I wet and rinsed my hair the best I could with the tiny little sample shampoo bottle. Ric had left them in the cave for me before they had gone on their hike and I was so grateful he was taking such good care of me. Something as little as shampoo felt incredible when we had barely anything on this island.

The water started feeling more chilly the longer I was in it so it was time to get back out. I pulled myself back up to the bank of the river and used the mans shirt as a sort of towel to dry off at least somewhat before I slipped my wet but clean panties back on and reached for my bra.

The next thing happened so fast, as I heard a voice and then instantly someone came out from behind the tree I had laid my stuff beside. I screamed not even giving him a chance to say anything. I whipped my hair out of my face and not even looking at him, I slammed my knee as hard as I could into his groin!

Sure enough it worked and he fell fast to his knees. I kicked up again and my knee connected with his chin and snapped it back as he fell groaning to the ground. I grabbed up my other clothes in one fell swoop, the dress, the man's shirt and my shoes, before I felt his hand grab my ankle. I screamed again and kicked him in the face and took off running the opposite direction of the river. I heard another voice too knowing there must have been two of them as I saw another shadow getting closer as I took off.

I was struggling to catch my breath and staring back into the darkness to see if the men were following me. My lungs ached from running so fast and once I had stopped, I realized I had no idea where I was running... Not again!

I was about to untangled my clothes to get my light pink bra back on but I heard more sounds around me and did not waste another second and took off into the night again. I felt one of my shoes fall from my arms as I ran but I didn't dare turn back. Were they still following me? I ran further, faster, ignoring the stabbing pain in my feet each time my feet hit the ground and more sharp rocks or sticks dug into my soft skin.

A branch whipped across my face again and I whimpered out loud in pain as I tasted blood on my lips. I swung my head back again to see if I could see them still following me and heard more noises, footfalls not far away.

The next second I slammed into a wall of heat, something hard and it nearly knocked the wind out of me. I looked up to see wide blue green eyes looking at me as a man gripped my arms in his strong hands. I was about to scream again as he covered my mouth with one of his hands and pushed me back fast until I felt my naked back scrape against the tree trunk. There was a hollow in the tree and he nearly lifted me while I tried to fight him.

"Stop it please. I'm not going to hurt you," he hissed, tucking us both in the little area out of sight.

I knew that voice...

My eyes were so wide staring at him, my breath coming out of me is rapid gasps as he kept his hand over my mouth. With this man's hands on me and since we had stopped moving, I was suddenly very aware that was wearing only my pink panties as I clutched the rest of my clothes to my bare chest. I didn't even have a way to use my arms to fight without dropping the garments covering me. The man pressed up against me so we were both tucked in the hollow of the tree, my arms trapped between our bodies.

"Let go of me!" I cried out, my voice muffled by his large hand still over my mouth. I was shaking my head back and forth. He spun himself so he was behind me still holding my mouth closed and I shivered as I felt his other hand slip around my waist holding my body tight. He pushed me toward the back of the tree both of us with our backs to the open area in front of us. I didn't even have any room to struggle in his arms.

"Shh! They will hear you," he snapped at me in a clipped tone. His voice was barely a whisper right beside my ear. I was quiet and I turned my head as far as I could, to see around him and caught a glimpse of two men racing past.

"She went this way. Hurry I thought I heard something over here!" one of the men spoke, almost standing beside the tree.

I looked up and back at the face of the man that had hidden me behind his body and we just froze as the two other men were standing so close. His blondish hair was falling on his forehead, his dark blue green eyes were narrowed and looking back at me, his expression pleading for me to stay quiet. I nodded to him, hoping he understood that it meant I wouldn't yell. He slowly released my mouth and I sucked in more air, despite my fear of still being trapped in his arms.

I heard the men's voices start to fade more as they must have moved away to keep looking for me another direction. As soon as there was no more sounds I started struggling again feeling very self conscious being nearly naked in this mans arms.

"They are gone. Now let go of me!" I snapped at him, my eyes hard on his. Instantly his arm around me dropped to his side and he lifted them both up in a type of surrender.

"You don't need to be scared of me Caroline. I won't hurt you," he said backing away. I turned around keeping my clothes in front of my chest as I leaned back against the inside of the tree.

"You know my..." I squinted in the darkness, having just the moonlight shining down to see him looking back at me, his hands still up at his sides. "Its you..." I said at last. "You saved me before."

Studying his face I saw him nod slowly. "You're right. It is me." But then his expression changed to what looked like frustration. "Why are you running away alone again in the forest? Why were you running from those guards?"

Guards? I heard him say. They weren't more prisoners? I was about to ask him about that when I saw him looking me up and down no doubt taking in my long bare legs and pink panties. I felt anger rising in my chest at the way he was perusing my body. "Turn around..." umm I didn't know his name.

"Nic, Luv," he said smoothly. "Nic Mikaelson."

"Okay.." I stuttered still seeing him ogling me. "Turn around Nic."

He smiled at me, his arms still up in mock surrender and spun on the heel of his black boots and stood the other way. "But you should hurry darling. You are very near the beach and there are more cons all over. We need to get you out of here and safe with your friends."

I listened to him speaking like he wasn't a threat himself. This man didn't look like a prisoner and wasn't wearing the prison orange jumpsuit, but neither was Damon. Dark washed jeans covered his long legs and he was wearing a tight gray v neck t shirt. I hurried to get my bra on and tried a couple times before getting the clasp done up. I was so nervous he would peek. I didn't know him from anyone, other than that he seemed to not want to hurt me and had helped me twice already.

"Did you need some help?" a chucking voice echoed. I could almost see the smile on his face.

I scoffed, still so nervous and trying to find where to slip into my dress so it was on right. "No I do not!" Pulling it down over me, I was as dressed as I was going to be. I debated wearing the shirt he had given me too but for now held it in my hand.

There was a moment of silence as I stared at his back and his hair curling down from his neck and the way his jeans hugged his ass. I shook my head at that. No way. Everything with Tyler was still way too fresh, I told myself.

"Are you decent Luv?" he called out, still turned away.

I sighed. "Yes. But stop calling me that." Changing my mind and I slipped on the long sleeved shirt of his, hiding more of my skin from his curious eyes.

He turned back to me and regarded me with cautious intrigue.

"I am not your Luv," I mocked his smooth sexy voice. "I'm not your anything!" My eyes shot fire at him and his surprised look back to me made me think I was being too harsh.

His face fell. "Okay...Caroline." I heard him concede, the teasing gone from his tone. "But we need to get you out of here."

"Why the hell are you helping me? Why didn't you let me see you before? What was the big secret?" I asked him realizing I had lots of questions for him and his behavior.

He moved closer to me and grabbed my shoulders. "We don't have time for 20 questions now. It too dangerous for you to be so close to the beach."

I pulled myself from his light grip on me and started stalking the opposite way from the beach. He was right, now that it was quiet I could hear more voices further away. I didn't realize I had run so close to more danger. I just wanted to get back to the cave. He looked to not be a threat to me and I watched him following behind me, his eyes scanning our surroundings as we walked.

"Do you even have any idea where you are going?" he asked me.

I spun back around and shrugged. "No, you just keep motioning that the beach is over there so I figured I'd start walking this way," I pointed ahead of me.

He suddenly raced forward and pushed me down and into a bush. I cried out and was ready to yell at him when I saw the look of pure panic on his face and I shut my mouth.

He spun away from me standing in front of the bush when I heard another voice. "What the hell are you doing over here Mikaelson?"

I sucked in my breath having no idea who it was, but seeing that Nic had rushed to hide me again from any danger.

"None of your business Mason," I heard him yell back at the guy who had just shown up.

"I was sure I heard you talking to someone?" the man Mason mused.

I was feeling more and more branches poking at me as I staying hiding in the bushes. My bare arms and legs had bloody gashes all over them and I held my breath the best I could to handle the pain. I turned my head to see if there was anywhere else I could shift my body to get away from the sharper sticks.

My breath just rushed out of my lungs as I saw movement in the dirt just beside me and I could not believe that I was seeing a long striped snake slithering closer and closer to me!

Oh shit no! I clamped my hand over my mouth and looked back through Nic's legs to see that that other man had still not moved! What could I do?! I saw the snake getting closer every second and I swallowed the scream building in my throat.

I had no idea what they were saying, the blood was pounding so hard in my ears. All I knew was that the man hadn't left yet and I couldn't stay hiding there.

The snake was almost to my bare foot and I tried so hard to stay still. I watched in terror as it slid right along side my bare leg as I was shaking despite trying to stay motionless. The snake started climbing under my dress and I jumped up screaming!

"There's a snake! Snake!" I called out and threw myself away from the bush and into Nic's arms as he spun around!

His eyes were wide and I knew I had made a horrible mistake giving away where he was hiding me but I couldn't handle it one more second. He pulled me back away from the bush and I saw the other man spring forward, literally dart his hand out and catch the snake by the tail and whip its head against a tree and kill it!

I let out a deep breath but I knew...somehow I just knew what I was facing now was way worse than that snake.

Elena's POV

I woke up hearing the loud screech of an owl outside the cave and my eyes flew open. My heart was pounding hard as I closed my eyes more slowly and relax my breathing. Damon shifted slightly and I felt him pull me in closer, his chest molded to my back as he curled the warmth of his body more around me. I smiled as I felt his nose nuzzling in deeper against my neck and lifted my hand to pull my hair back to give him full access to the curve of my spine. He moaned and I felt his lips resting just lightly against my skin, the heat from him just radiating to warm every inch of me. I felt his hand slide more around my waist cradling me in his arms as his breathing deepened again.

It was still dark outside and I hoped it was not nearly morning. I didn't think I could ever sleep alone again after the bliss I had found in Damon Salvatore's arms. I decided I now dreaded the morning light that would inevitably pull us to rescue mode and checking on Enzo and whatever else needed to be done. Finding more food I was sure too, since we did not know how soon Stefan would get here.

I just wanted to stay in Damon's arms as long as I could and wished the night could last forever.

His skin was so soft and I reveled in the feel of his strong body around me. Everything about him felt so perfect. I nuzzled in closer and I felt his one palm flex gently sliding down my side as he splayed his long fingers around my bare hip and massaged the skin in his hand tenderly.

"Mmm, baby," he groaned softly, his lips right against my neck. "You feel..." he yawned and kissed my throat more, his lips feeling like liquid fire on my neck. "So. Damn. Delicious."

I reached back and curled my fingers into the black strands of his hair at the nape of his neck and turned my head more, my lips finding his in a searing kiss. His body was already expressing how very awake part of him was and I wiggled my bottom a bit against him. "Again?" I said simply with a giggle, both of us knowing exactly what I was talking about.

"God, Elena," he mumbled into my mouth, his eyes barely open. I felt his hand on my hip pull me in harder against him and he pulled away from my lips to growl against my neck. "You're killing me woman."

I laughed at that and pressed more kisses to his jaw and his cheek.

"Need... sleep," he whispered, his head falling back down to the back of my neck.

"Then sleep baby. I'm right here," I assured him. His breathing evened out more and I smiled laying my head back down and pulling his arms more around me. I was happy to just let him sleep but for some reason I was very awake. My brain was racing through so much that had happened. I was reminded of how I felt in his arms the first time weeks ago...that first night at the hospital.

I stood up adamantly walking back to the only other nurse that was at the station. The others had all scattered as patient's call bells had rung or pages had gone off. The young red haired woman looked up as I put my palms on the counter in front of me, my breath even. I could do this. It was the only way. "I'm looking for Damon Salvatore. He was brought in with burns on his back."

The red head looked at me over her glasses, her eyes studying me. "And you are?"

"Elena Salvatore," I said without blinking. "I'm his wife."

The woman nodded to me, her expression softening. Maybe she was married too. I quickly switched the ring I had on from my right to the left hand under the counter before anyone might have noticed.

What was I doing pretending to be Damon's wife? But so far they seemed to have bought it. Maybe this way I could finally find out how he was doing.

"You will have to wait here Mrs. Salvatore. Your husband is still in surgery. It might be awhile before we have any more news. You might as well take a seat. It could be a long night." The woman turned back down to the charts in front of her.

"But is he okay? I mean right now? I heard he was burned really badly."

The nurse looked sadly at me and I felt tears at my lashes at the thought of him in so much pain. His shirt had been literally melted into his skin. I wasn't even faking anything to look like the panicked spouse and the tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I remembered his eyes on me.

His kisses.

The way he held me up in his arms against the wall.

I kept flashing through all the things that happened. It was still so vivid and I could still taste his kisses and feel his hands on my thighs, hear his desperate aching groans into my throat, the tremor in his voice.

"Damon," I breathed, my voice shaking.

"I know, Elena. I can feel it too."

"The pain, I can hardly feel it with you so close," he mumbled against my shoulder, his head buried by my neck, his hands running up and down my arms.

"Let me heal all your broken pieces like you are doing to mine. Let me put you back together Lena. I know you are just as broken inside as I am. I can see it," he breathed against my skin.

I felt shivers up my spine at all the memories of tonight.

"Yes ma'am he is okay. The doctors are doing everything they can for him. He isn't in any pain, I promise you." She passed me a reassuring smile and I smiled back shyly up at her, my tears slipping down my cheeks. I backed away nodding my thanks and hoping she didn't have any questions that I didn't know how to answer. I sniffled and wiped my eyes with the corner of my thick sweater. I turned to head back to the waiting area.

Sitting there I was already restless within a few minutes and I watched the doctors and nurses come and go from the big double doors that very clearly said 'Only Staff Allowed'. But I couldn't just sit there and wait. I was going crazy.

More memories of that night kept assaulting my brain.

"I can't risk you dying too Elena." He was full on sobbing now in my arms as I held his face in my hands as his tears slipped down his cheeks. "You are too precious baby, I can't let them hurt you."

I curled my sweater in between my fingers as I leaned my head back on the wall. His face, his smooth velvety voice was right there in my head as I closed my eyes.

"I want you," he whispered. "More than I have ever wanted anyone."

I shook myself from my memories again, feeling a shiver down my spine at how raw his voice was in that moment.

"I want you too Damon," I mumbled to myself as I twisted my sweater more in my hands. "I need you."

What the hell was going on with me? I sounded ready for the psych ward. I barely knew him and yet I felt like he was so much more than just a patient.

Standing up, I moved quickly to the doors before I could change my mind. I slipped between them, looking around to make sure no one saw me. I stepped toward the large windows in each of the O.R.'s. I pressed my head to the glass looking for him.

"Damon where are you?" I dared to whisper. I checked another window further down the hall and I gasped aloud when I saw that iconic jet black hair looking all tousled as he lay so still on the table. His eyes were closed, his dark lashes still and I leaned closer, my hands reaching out as if I would be allowed in there.

He was on his stomach, his head curled down to the side as I watched the doctors working, three of them all leaning over his back. He had been intubated for the surgery and strangely still looked peaceful. I reached up my hand to the glass wishing I could do more. I felt more tears slipping down my cheeks as I watched the doctors work to repair the horrific gashes in his upper back. It was brutal and I could see so much redness on his skin.

I knew I shouldn't be back here but I didn't care. I needed to see him. I watched as a scrub nurse met my gaze and I saw her pick up the phone, speaking quickly while looking at me. Within minutes I had been escorted away from the surgery gallery and told to stay in the waiting room. I hated waiting and I was so tired and I realized now too that I hadn't eaten much all day and it was really late.

Closing my eyes I curled my sweater around me like a blanket, but nothing compared to the warmth I felt in his arms. What was a prisoner doing to me? Did I really think anything more could happen between us? Why was I even thinking of a future with him?

I didn't even know if he would survive the surgery. Complications happened all the time. Sometimes patients didn't wake up after and no one knew why. Why the hell was I getting so attached to him?

Sleeping was not happening in the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. My mind kept going over more and more things he had said to me.

"You're important to me," he said, his eyes wide and pleading. He had been clutching the fence between us as he looked so deeply in my eyes.

"I care Elena. I mean Dr. Gilbert, I care so much that it hurts. I can see how much you are hurting."

"I care about you. I would never do anything to hurt you, or anyone."

I felt my breath getting faster again as I thought about that. He knew that I was hurting? He did care about me. This wasn't just some prisoner trying to cop a feel because he hadn't been with a woman in years.

"I promise you it is not what it looks like."

I could hardly breath I felt like my lungs would explode and I jumped up from the chair and raced across the floor slamming open the door to the patio deck. I held tight to the railing as I felt my stomach spinning so wildly and leaned over more towards the plants below and gagged and emptied my stomach till there was nothing left.

I had hardly eaten that day as it was, as everything he had said left such an impression on me. That morning when I stumbled onto the knowledge of him being a terrorist as well as him begging me to understand when he saw me running from the room. And then him calling me from the fence and his openness about his past and how much he wanted me to believe him. That what I believed mattered to him.

My hands were white knuckled on the railing as I leaned my head down between them on the cool steel and just shut my eyes again.

"Doctor Gilbert?" came a voice softly behind me. I pulled my head up, knowing my eyes were still streaked with tears and saw Enzo St. John looking sadly at me. I regarded him carefully wondering what he would think of how he found me. I sniffled and wiped my mouth on the edge of my sweater.

His face wore the most melancholic look and I saw something more there but I couldn't tell what it was. Right then I was so overwhelmed with my own mess of feelings that I didn't even care what I looked like or how inappropriate my tears for Damon were.

Enzo opened his arms to me without a word and I let out a sob and walked into his embrace. He wrapped me in a hug, and I felt more tears slipping down my cheeks as I lay against his chest. Neither of us said anything and I wasn't even sure what I would say or how I could possibly explain to anyone how confused I was. But he wasn't looking for explanations, at least now and was simply offering his sympathy without judgment.

I felt Damon moving more behind me and burrowing his head against my neck pulling me from my thoughts. Now I understood why Enzo was so understanding at the hospital. He was just as worried about him as I was. Likely more worried. They had been friends for years already. I welcomed his comfort that night without knowing the whole picture.

I sent up a silent prayer that Enzo would be okay. He had to be. He had risked his life for us, to save me from Kai. Damon needed him and I knew he had a wife waiting for him at home. He had to be okay.

Caroline's POV

I could feel Nic's arms around me as the other man stared at both of us. He put me back on my feet carefully, his eyes not leaving the other man's face.

"What do you have there Mikaelson? Were you just going to keep that little lady all to yourself?"

Nic backed us away from him at the same time as pulling me behind him. Something told me I could trust him. That he truly did mean to protect me. He had saved me from the other cons finding me before and kept me hidden when the guards had rushed by. Although maybe the guards could have helped me, but likely tried to hurt him, so that was probably why he had forced me to hide. And before he even turned around like a gentlemen when I was practically naked.

"Get out of here Mason!" I heard him hiss and his arms stayed back around me. I peered up at the man in front us, terrified of the way he was looking at me. I felt Nic bracing to race at him and could feel his muscles tightening fast and his foot planted in the dirt.

"Oh no, that is not going to happen. I watched you fight some asshole before to have the sexy stewardess all to yourself and you don't get this one too!" He pulled a gun from the back of his pants and I sucked in my ragged breath.

"You can have her when I'm done with her," Nic said with a wicked undertone to his voice and I felt a shiver up my spine, praying he was kidding. He was...right? Just to get the other guy to leave?

I saw the other man smile wider and wider as he looked at me, waving the gun back and forth.

Nic opened his mouth again, the lusty look still in place. "But I found her first, so I get her first."

My fingers clenched on his shoulders as I heard that. Oh God. Everything from that night was flooding back to me at breakneck speed. I could not go through that again. I saw Nic's hand lower as he stepped closer and I nearly gasped as I saw him pull a knife from his back pocket.

"Fine, I'll give you 10 minutes Mikaelson and then she is mine. But don't think I'm leaving. I'm not letting you out of my sight. I saw what you did to the guy to get little miss stewardess. You are not getting close enough to snap my fucking neck. He leaned back against the tree behind him and crossed his legs at the ankles. I heard him cocking and un-cocking the gun as his eyes were still locked on us.

Nic turned back to me with a wild look on his face. He had the knife hidden between us.

"What are you waiting for?" I whispered to him, the fear climbing in me at an exponential rate. "Can't you take him? Don't you have a gun too? Just shoot him."

Nic scoffed at me, shaking his head. "Yes Caroline I can take him, but he is too far away and he would kill me before I got close enough. He's not stupid." He rolled his eyes. "But apparently I am, cause I gave my gun to my brother yesterday."

"Well what the hell do we do?" I hissed out, more panic in my voice.

Nic held the knife out, the blade still tucked in. "You take it. I only said I would have you first so I could give you the knife. And then when I toss you to him after, stab him! Fast and hard. He won't see it coming."

"What?!" I cried out and he put his hand over my mouth. "When you what?! After, after what?"

Nic looked scared too. Maybe he cared about me? "I remember what you said about what happened to you Caroline. I promise I will do everything I can to keep that from happening again."

"You have like 8 minutes left Mikaelson! What the hell are you two talking about?" Mason leaned back off the tree and aimed the gun at us walking forward. "You better not screw me or I will kill both of you! I haven't had a woman in years and I am long fucking overdue!"

My eyes darted back behind him to Mason and I buried my head against Nic's shoulder.

Nic turned around. "I'm a man of my word. You will get your chance with her," he said confidently and I felt his hand run down my hair like he was trying to calm me when I was anything but calm. But thankfully Mason seemed relax to Nic's assurances and backed up.

I let out another trembling breath. "What the hell do we do?" I mumbled, my head almost against his. I was so scared I wasn't even aware how much faith I was putting in this man that was standing between me and someone looking at me just like the monster that tore my clothes with his knife as I lay on the cement on the campus grounds.

Nic's blue green eyes were wide, and soft on mine and I felt his thumb stroke down my cheek and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. He looked scared too at what could happen. "I think Luv, that you have to trust me...I am so so sorry about all of this. I don't know what else to do to keep you safe."

I was shaking my head wildly back and forth, my fingers gripping his arms hard. "No, no Nic, there has to be something else." I felt him pull my hand off him, force the knife into my palm and close my fingers over it.

I cried out as he pushed me against the tree, his hands wrapped around my bare arms, holding me tight and I saw I single tear slip down his cheek. "I hate this," he whispered to me and I knew he was telling the truth. His hands gripped the shirt he had given me last night and ripped it down the middle. A scream tried to come up my throat despite my gasping breaths, the fear nearly paralyzing me.

I was reeling in shock at everything. This could not be happening. Not again. There had to be something we could do! As much I wanted to slam my eyes shut, I forced them to stay open as I saw him bend down and palm my bare thighs in his hands, lifting me up between the tree and his hard body. I looked back at Mason and I saw I look of glee on his face and he even sauntered closer to us. He was enjoying watching us. That made me sick. I hid my face in Nic's shoulder wanting to block out the perverted man watching.

Nic bent his head to mine and somehow must have known what I was thinking. "Ignore him. Just focus on anything else." He was silent for a moment like he was deciding if he should say more. "Think of Tyler, Caroline. Go back to happier times." His eyes were dark in the moonlight and I saw another tear slip down his cheek. "I am so sorry. I promise I won't actually do anything worse than this. Please believe me."

This? Worse than what? I screamed in my head. And the next second I felt his hand snake up between my thighs and rip my lace panties apart! Even in my shock of what he just did to me, I saw him toss them behind him in Mason's direction.I shut my eyes so tight as a sob broke free.

My brain was telling me I should fight him but I was more scared of the other man waiting for his turn. As insane as this was, I wanted to stay in Nic's arms. Or better yet disappear all together.

I was crying louder now, tears streaming down my cheeks which was probably what Mason expected anyway in what was happening. But Nic's face showed me how deeply this was hurting him too. He didn't want to hurt me at all. He didn't have to say it, it was written all over the pained features of his face.

But there was something else there. An anticipation, a bracing of all his muscles for something. He lowered me to the ground, my bare feet hardly holding me up, I was shaking so much. He breathed a silent 'I'm sorry' and I felt his one hand around my throat. His eyes were still wide as I cringed, hearing him start to undo his belt with his other hand.

I could fight him off. I had his knife in my hand and I could snap it open and stab him.

But he wasn't who I was afraid of. Not even close.

His hand on my throat fell away as he buried his head by my neck again, the straps of my dress sliding in his palms down my arms as I saw him sneaking glances behind him. Mason had walked still closer and he bent down to pick up my torn panties.

Nic spun around in a half a second, leaping on him, both men crashing to the ground!

I barely knew what was happening! I was standing there frozen watching Nic slam Mason's hand on the ground to release the gun over and over as they both grunted and threw punches and kicks.

Finally snapping myself from my trance, flicked open the knife, raced forward and slammed it into the inside of his wrist as Nic held it down.

Mason screamed out and let go of the gun instantly and Nic punched him in the face, once, twice, three times and it looked like he was already unconscious. Four times and this time I saw blood spray from his mouth. Was he going to kill him?

"Nic!" I called to him feeling like I was falling and he stopped and turned to me. He caught me before I hit the ground and I felt his arms wrap tightly around me. I clung to him as my whole body was shaking. I needed someone, anyone right now as I felt like was going to lose it. The fear was overwhelming my senses and I scrambled for any semblance of comfort I could. No matter how foreign.

I barely knew him but he had been like a guardian angel to me. Maybe Tyler sent him to protect me. I didn't know. But right then all I knew was that we were okay...at least for now.

Elena's POV

I couldn't sleep. That thought seemed crazy since I was curled up in the warmth of my fiance's arms. Why on earth could I not sleep? There was so much going on that my brain just did not shut off. I should have been in the most peaceful sleep of my life tonight. I had slept alone for nearly three decades and now I was sharing the space with the man I loved. I knew I had Ian, who slept by my head every night since I had rescued him, but even that was nothing in comparison to the absolute heaven that was my Damon.

I twisted my body around more in to face him and gaze on his angelic face. He was my angel, my knight, my protector from everything that was against us. Sure I had saved his life too and I was so proud of myself that in my fear I did find the strength to react to what was happening to us. If I hadn't I wouldn't be laying here with him or ever again.

Tracing the moonbeams on his cheek with my finger and tried to memorize how beautifully peaceful he looked. His ice blue eyes were closed, his lashes like a plush blanket over each of them. He had little twitches in his face every so often as he slept. I watched his lips parted just slightly, full and pink and oh so kissable. But I knew how much he wanted and likely needed sleep. Who knew what the day would throw at us tomorrow.

His jaw was so smooth and angular, and I traced my finger down his cheek to tuck a raven strand of his hair behind his ear. He shook his head a moment later, his senses possibly aware of the slight touch on his cheek and it tumbled a bunch more silky locks down onto his forehead and almost into his eyes.

The visual of him like that, his eyes squinting slightly at the stubborn strands, made me think of our baby with dark hair like his daddy and big bright blue eyes. I would let his hair grow long, like Damon's was now, just to watch him squint at the hair in his eyes in that same adorable sleepy way.

It felt like we had just met and yet I could not wait to marry him and have a family... a real live family with him.

I was so glad he was relaxed now. His face wore so much worry when he was awake and he was constantly concerned with keeping me close, his eyes always watching for danger whenever we were walking around the island to make sure I was safe. I could only imagine how exhausting that must feel to always need to be on unending alert. A long sigh came from his lips as I was still studying his face. I nuzzled my head right up against his forehead and it brought me back to that night again.

Enzo had been there for me then just like he was there for Damon through so much. He was my rock in the crashing waves of the uncertainty, waiting for news. He didn't have to say much but just having him there, knowing I wasn't alone in my worry for Damon meant a lot. I wondered then why he seemed so concerned and more caring and protective of Damon than anyone else.

And now I knew. They were best friends. Even when I didn't know it, there was something there, a deeper caring that made we wonder. I remembered Enzo holding me without words, without a lecture of why I was there or anything. He was just there when I needed him...

"How is he?" Enzo asked me and I felt another rush of sadness as the thought of what happened to Damon. The softness in his look back at me made me think he really cared about Damon too.

"It was bad," I mumbled. "Some cons must have got him alone and they held him against scalding hot pipes, It burned his back so badly!"

Damn it, more tears fell unbidden down my cheeks and Enzo reached out and rubbed my arms up and down. I wiped the tears away again. "He's in surgery and all I know it that they are doing all they can for him and we will know more once he is in recovery. They say he isn't in any pain, but it looked so bad Enzo. His shirt was melted into his skin!"

I turned away from him and let the cool night air hit my face as I struggled to get my emotions under control. I heard a gasp and cursing from behind me before arms were around my shoulders squeezing them.

"He is strong Elena. He will make it." I spun around nodding silently, praying he was right.

"I snuck in to see him in the O.R. but they saw me and kicked me out," I told him.

"I know 'Mrs.' Salvatore. They told me when I got here that his wife was out here on the patio." His voice didn't betray what he felt about that statement and I wasn't sure what to say.

I opened my mouth in shock, trying to think of what to say to that but his slight chuckle relaxed me. "I uh, they didn't tell me anything so I..." I stumbled on my words, wringing my hands together with the edges of my sweater.

"It's okay Elena. I know you care about him. I do too. And we are going to be the only ones here so don't think you need to hide. Warden Shane sent me over to guard him once he is in recovery. No one else needs to know."

Wow, I was speechless at that. I just wanted to see him and know that he was going to be okay. I needed to make sure he would wake up.

"Let's just go back in and wait for news. Maybe they are looking for us by now." He led me back though the door and we sat back down together. I was glad to have someone else here that cared about Damon. Enzo had not been working at the prison long, but anytime I had seen him he was kind and understanding to any of the prisoners. He was the one too who carried Damon to the infirmary when he had been poisoned the night before.

We waited what seemed like forever and no matter how hard I tried I could not sleep. Finally a doctor came out looking around. I perked up instantly, praying it was news about Damon.

"Mrs. Salvatore?" the man said and I jumped from my chair and made my way toward him. He nodded at me.

"Is he?" I breathed out, my eyes wide and riveted to every facet of the doctors face, trying to get any kind of clue to what he was going to say. I felt Enzo come to stand beside me and I was grateful for his support.

"Mr. Salvatore is stable and did great in the surgery. He was just moved to recovery. He is young and strong..." The doctor kept talking about the debridement procedure and what meds he had been given and if I had been paying attention I would have understood every word. But everything after 'he is stable' was a blur to me as my mind raced. I needed to see him.

I saw Dr. Fell, I think he said his name was, staring at me and I nodded at him as he finished explaining Damon's condition. "Can I...see him?" I pleaded, my hands clasped in front of my mouth.

My face fell, as I took in the expression on the doctors face. "I'm sorry Mrs. Salvatore but your husband is a prisoner from Maxwell Heights and we have strict regulations for everyone's protection that prisoners are not allowed any visitors..." He frowned at me like maybe he wished it wasn't how it was. "Even family." Then he turned and walked away.

I felt my knees buckle. They wouldn't let me see him. Not even his 'wife' could see him. I wanted to scream. I felt Enzo's arms around me and he backed me up into a chair and I stared up at him.

"I know Elena. I know," he soothed me. "If there is anything I can do to get you in there I will try. I am so sorry. I have to go." He gave me one more pat on the arm and I watched him walk away. He stood at the nurses desk for a few moments speaking to someone and then turned back to shake his head again at me. Then he was led down the hall to the last room on the right. He peeked in the room but was back out a moment later and stood outside the door at attention, even slightly pacing back and forth. That was his room.

Damon was so close and yet so far away.

I knew I should just go home. There was nothing more I could do now. I stood up and started down the hall, past the desk to head to the elevator.

A door swung open in front of me and I gasped as I saw a doctors coat laying on the back of a chair in that room. I slipped in the door before I knew what I was doing and scooped it up as I scanned the room. There was no one there.

Beside the coat was a bright blue and teal scrub cap and brown rimmed glasses. I slipped out of my sweater and pulled the coat on and tied up the cap and put the glasses on. Eek I could barely see. I wrapped my hair up in a bun and tucked it as best I could inside the cap before slipping back out of the room.

Yep, I was certifiably nuts...for an inmate!

I had never done anything this crazy for any patient in my life. I headed back to the front desk and grabbed up a chart and strode confidently toward Damon's room. I flipped it open, pretending to be studying it as I gave Enzo a nod, hiding most of my face and stepped into the room. The door shut behind me with a hiss and I leaned against it, breathing hard. I had done it! Shy innocent Elena could now add crazy to her resume!

Stepping forward into the room I let out a shaky exhale, hearing the loud steady beeping of the heart monitor echoing around the room.

His heartbeat.

I ripped off the glasses preventing me from seeing basically anything, putting the chart on the table and took in the figure on the bed.

Damon was lying on his side, his back to the door. I saw the huge bandages on his bare back and hated again what happened to him. I didn't even know who had done it but I ached for the pain he must have felt and would be in now when he woke up. From what I saw at the prison those were third degree burns on his back.

I pushed myself to move closer to him. I saw so many tubes and machines in the room and when I turned the corner from the edge of his bed I saw him with tubes from his mouth and the oxygen under his nose and IV in his arm, wires connecting his heart to more machines, the blood pressure cuff and finger thermometer and I gripped the bottom railing to keep from sinking to the floor.

"Damon," I gasped out and sat down on the bed beside him. I smoothed a stray strand of his silky black hair from his cheek to tuck it behind his ear, careful to not jar the tubing by his nose. His hair was still damp and I knew it had to be from the shower where he had kissed me.

I could still practically feel his lips on mine and taste him in my mouth as I remembered him kissing me.

"Yes Damon, I'm right here. I'm okay." I saw him smile at my reassurance as his eyes closed in what looked like utter relief. I was totally taken aback by his next movements as his hands that had been on my face, curled back behind my neck and into my soaked hair as his warm lips just crashed into mine.

Shock was all over my face as I felt his lips massaging mine, his tongue sliding across the seam of my still closed lips and he let out a small moan as if begging for entrance. I barely knew what I was doing I was so lost in all the sensations of him. His breath against my mouth, his tongue teasing my lips, his fingers in my hair cupping my face, his hard body pressing me against the wall.

I opened to him and he breathed my name into the kiss as he hungrily delved in. Oh God, what was I doing? I felt his hot tongue, exploring every inch of my mouth, his lips hard on mine. He tilted my head going in still deeper sucking my tongue into his mouth as my hands clung to his shoulders and slid up around his neck playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

I blinked and shook my thoughts back to the present. I looked back to the door knowing Enzo was just beyond the closed door. I had heard something about an induced coma in the haze of my spinning thoughts while listening to the doctor. I recognized all the machines and knew that they were keeping him under to not expose him to the intense pain of the burns. I wanted to help him but I had no idea how.

I decided I didn't care if they caught me in here. What could they do besides kick me out? I cast one more glance to the door and laid down on the bed beside Damon. I nuzzled my head to his forehead and ran my finger across his bottom lip under the intubation tube.

"I'm so sorry Damon," I cried quietly. "I am here. If it helps. I'm here." I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. It was hard to make out just his scent when I was bombarded by the strong smell of hospital sheets and the distinct odor of bleach in the room.

I curled up, tucking my legs against his and found his hand to pull it gently between us. I heard the clinking of metal as I saw the hand cuffed to the metal frame of the bed. Another reminder of how wrong my feelings for this man were.

I kissed the knuckles of each finger and felt more tears at my lashes before lacing his fingers with mine. I stroked his hair back from his eyes and wished so desperately for him to open them. As wrong and as crazy it was for me to be here or for us to have been making out in the staff showers I knew I cared about him, a lot more than I even thought. I wanted to see those ocean blue eyes gazing at me with so much...dare I say love in them.

Did he love me? That thought hit me hard.

My hand went up again to trace down his cheek, cringing at the tube in his mouth. "I'm right here Damon. You are going to be okay." I closed my eyes and lay with my head against his. I was asleep before I knew it. Having been restless all night after he was taken away from me...now I was finally where I needed to be.

I knew everything about this was crazy. But right then, laying with him beside me, I didn't care. Not one bit.

Ric's POV

Blinking I listened again...there was a rustling nearby. I held my breath to hear it again and sure enough there was a sound of leaves moving, or dirt on the ground maybe. I pulled myself out of the deep sleep I was in and felt around for the flashlight. What the hell was going on?

I flicked on the switch, bathing the small cave in the dim light. With the fronds hiding us from anyone outside it was almost dark around me. I shifted the blanket lower on my hips and nearly jumped back as I saw movement under the blanket!

Was there an animal in the cave? A snake? I jumped up, hitting my head on the lower roof and cursed at the pain. Damn it I had already done that twice the night before whenever I went to check on Enzo.

Enzo

I pulled the blanket off both of us and shone the light down at where I had seen the movement. There was no wild animal anywhere. I sunk back down to a sitting position and shone the light around more. Then what had moved?

Then I saw it again, the sound startling me. I blinked a couple more times wondering if banging my head was coming with hallucinations.

Enzo's hand was moving!

Slowly I saw it drag along the dirt on the ground before relaxing again. I scurried closer and shone the beam of light at his face. His mouth was moving. His lips looked so dry. I hurried to grab the bottle of water and held closer to dribble some water on them. He opened his mouth as the water dripped into it and down the sides of his lips.

Thank goodness he was okay! I was so excited and I didn't even know the man. But I knew he was an agent too just like Damon and this man had a family waiting, just like my Jenna and sweet boy was waiting for me to make it home.

"Enzo?" I called out. He still hadn't opened his eyes. "Enzo can you hear me?"

I dribbled more water on his lips and this time he coughed. His eyelids fluttered and for a second he looked at me. "Who? Where's…" he tried, his voice so weak. "Where's...D?

I nodded to him. "I'm Ric. I was the pilot on the plane. Damon's okay. He's safe. He will be so happy to know you are awake."

Enzo's lips turned up in the slightest smile at that. He tried to sit up and I pushed him back down. "Easy tough guy. You were shot, like point blank and survived. You need to stay still."

He let me lay him back down."An..other.." and he coughed again. "Damon... needs to find..."

I was listening so close to his head, his voice barely a whisper. Another? Another what? Another way out of here? Enzo didn't even know where they were." But his eyes closed again and he looked to be asleep or maybe even unconscious. "Enzo? Hey buddy?" He didn't answer me. I checked his pulse and was relieved that it was slow and even. He was alive.

The wind whistled by cave, making the fronds dance in the darkness. Should I go out there and get Damon? I heard him say they were near the waterfall but I didn't know exactly where.

It was still the middle of the night but I knew Damon would want to know that his friend woke up. Should I go out there and look for them?

A/N:There you go another super late night here to finish this up. I hope you liked it. I was kind of nervous about the Klaus and Care parts and how people might react.

I'm also letting you know that I will leave my other series The Power Within that isn't finished yet and will finish it once this story is completed. I've had lots more readers for the other series but not a lot of response to finish it now. So as of now it will do that once this is near completion. I will also add many more stories to my post finale series as well so you will see much more there too I promise you. I just cant do it all at once and I am getting the most response here so this is where I will stay focused.

Next time: We get a peek at Stefan on the way to rescue them and his thoughts about everything. More with Klaus and Caroline and Kai has a demand he wants met. Damon and Elena do decide to go check on Enzo and that bestie reunion I am so excited for. Damon needs him big time.

Night all! Thank you for all your support and follows and favorites and reviews. It all inspires my muse to give you more quicker!