A/N; Super quick update for you lovely people! I should have been decluttering my house more and cleaning up this weekend but I spent the time writing. Hoping to get the next chapter out quickly too if I can!

Multiple POV's to capture everything from different points on the island at the same time.

Enjoy and please tell me what you think!

Damon's POV

I had already climbed out of the cave and made my way over the rocks in the water before I felt that something was just not right. How could I leave her there with no protection? Maybe I should have had her stay with Enzo and Ric? But that cave was so much more in the open and they had no weapon either so it would have been a huge risk for her to be there too. It was barely big enough for three people to hide in.

Running my fingers through my hair I swallowed hard. Damn it. Was I doing the right thing?

I just stood there at the edge of the river and replayed all the options in my head. If she came with me that was also such a risk. There were still cons all over and every time we had left the cave something had happened to her or almost happened. I would not be able to live with myself if I put her in more danger.

But was she in more danger in the cave alone?

I leaned against the nearest tree, my eyes focused on the hidden entrance of the cave where my Beauty lay so peacefully and unaware that I had snuck out despite her pleas for me to not go. My head was hurting from how much I didn't know the right thing to do. My eyes closed as my head fell back against the rough bark of the tree.

I suddenly opened my eyes and raced back to the cave. There was one thing I could do…

My hands gripped the stones tightly, the mist from the waterfall making them somewhat slippery as I made my way down. I saw her still laying on our moss bed all curled up, her auburn hair framing her face. I pulled the blanket back up more covering her naked breasts and tucked in by her chin. She moaned softly and I already felt the ache of not being near her, holding her, my arms around her, my body pressed against her every curve. I wished I could kiss her again without waking her up. She moved her head, rubbing her lips together and I felt another rush of desire for her at watching her do that.

'No, not now' I told myself shaking my head to focus on why I actually came back down here. I forced my head to turn away from my sleeping angel and tiptoed to Ric's bag. I found what I needed and scribbled a quick note on a paper and laid in on the ground right beside her. Then I reached back in my jeans and pulled out the gun and put it gently on the paper.

It was the only thing I could think of to protect her.

This way she had the gun if someone actually found her here. No one knew where she was. I only told Ric and Enz where the cave was and even with them I wasn't completely clear to the location. Just that it was near the waterfall.

Standing back up, I resisted the urge to run my fingers through her hair once more. I uttered a silent prayer that I would make it back to her. I had to. And now I was taking more of a risk going out there without a weapon.

Was that smart? Probably not. But I needed to leave her with something to protect her.

Taking in another deep breath I backed away from her so slowly, not wanting to leave at all. I knew how scared she would be if she found me gone. I was bracing for another fight then for sure. But it was worth it to get us rescued. I could handle her anger at me...if it meant I could get her safe finally and help my brother put these scumbags back behind bars.

My gaze stayed locked on her as I backed up. Maybe I was trying to memorize how perfect she looked, sated with pleasure, in love and happy for the first time in so long. I didn't know why but I just couldn't look away. Her pain, the masks she wore had all been stripped away. We had broken down the walls we both had up to protect us from more heartache and loss. And we had done that together; faced those fears together.

Now she looked radiant, her skin flushed, her hair all sex messed from me never getting enough of running my fingers through it, her mouth curved in the smallest smile and her lips red and swollen from my kisses. Her face just reflected peace and contentment.

I wanted that look to never leave her.

I didn't want us to have anything between us ever again; no walls, no masks, no secrets, no loneliness, nothing. And I could give that to her. She was mine and I was hers and I could not believe how lucky I was. She trusted me to get her out of here alive and I was not going to let her down.

My throat was thick again with emotion and I forced the tears back, fighting the fears in my head of what could happen with me leaving her now. I shook my head again to clear my mind. I could do this! I had to. For all of us.

I quietly reached in her med bag and pocketed a syringe and vial of more morphine and the supplies for injecting myself in case the pain got too much again. Then with one more look back on her beautiful face I headed back up to the surface.

Ric's POV

I was so ready to get off this rock. Another night sleeping on the damn ground was really starting to wear on me. I was getting old. Mind you I didn't actually sleep...more like just laid there and waited for when we were supposed to leave to go meet Damon.

I could not stop thinking about Caroline and all she had already been through; how many nights Jenna and I had held her as she cried for Tyler or how often she would wake up screaming from another nightmare of her attack.

They never caught the bastard. He just seemed to fall off the face of the earth, stopped his rape spree and she was the last one that was attacked with the same MO. I knew Caroline hated that he had never been caught and even Tyler had such a hard time convincing her that she was safe. Never knowing what happened to the creep had her slowly losing her mind.

Tyler had been her rock and Jenna and I could see how much loving him helped heal her. It healed both of them. Tyler had lost his parents in a car accident a few years before they met and he had a spinal injury from the crash and almost lost the ability to walk. When the doctors saved his legs then he was determined to help others in their pain too. If he hadn't become a physical therapist maybe they never would have met.

I looked over and saw Enzo was waking up. At least he had slept most of the night. Damon had been insistent that he rest as much as he could. So I had packed up anything we used, had some more fish to eat and fruit before I slipped back in the cave to lay down more. I couldn't wait to get going. The night had just dragged on with not being able to get any sleep and being worried sick about Caroline.

I was terrified that this whole nightmare would break her beyond repair. She was already so fragile and emotionless; like she was the shell of the young lady I met years ago. She had been such a strong woman before everything in her life crashed down around her. She was in the Acapella group at college, loved the outdoors, rode horses in her free time and worked so hard on her studies to become a pilot. Her dad used to take her up in his little plane when she was just a child and it was always her dream to soar in the clouds like her daddy. Her dad had retired recently and yet he never stopped encouraging his only daughter to chase her dreams right up into the sky.

Her parents had been there for her too when she was attacked and through the death and grieving of her husband but Caroline chose to move in with us instead of them after she lost Tyler and her and Jenna became like sisters. She was a great aunt to our boy Ben too and I always wondered why her and Tyler had not had any kids. They had been married a few years before he got sick but I always wondered about that.

Enzo was sitting up now looking at me. "Morning," he yawned. I was glad he at least got some sleep.

"Morning to you. You ready to go?" He nodded to me and I passed him an open pineapple along with a bottle of water. He ate quickly, guzzling down about half the bottle and I think he knew too of the urgency of us getting down to that cave to be more protected. I knew Damon left Elena there alone too so we could not get there quick enough. I passed him a piece of fish and a few mini bananas yet too and I opened a granola bar I had in my bag to munch on while I waited.

Moving closer in the small space I helped him up and grabbed up my big bag of supplies to toss on my shoulder. I had found a walking stick the right size and handed it to him to help him walk. I knew the gunshot would probably still be tender with every step. He smiled in thanks at me and we headed out. I think both of us were in our own worlds of worry and so the silence was comfortable between us.

Picking up my own walking stick I found last night, I put my arms up so he could lean on me.

"Thanks mate," he smiled at me and I smiled back.

Then I heard rustling in the bushes ahead of us and lifted my stick up in front of me. Hell of a weapon I know, but I didn't have anything else. I pulled Enzo back behind the nearest tree to hide as a man came into view.

"St. John?" a voice said and I saw a gun in front of him, as the owner of the voice stepped out from behind the trees.

He sounded familiar and then I knew who it was. He had talked to me on the flight a couple times. "Captain Donovan?"

The blonde man nodded at me and holstered the weapon. "Captain Saltzman? You are still alive? Both of you made it out?"

We were both Captains, how weird. I wondered why he made it sound like a question that we survived since we were standing right in front of him. I nodded slowly, my eyes wide. Um yeah I'm alive. I took in that the captain had a sling on and he was nursing his one shoulder. "Yep, we made it out. What the hell happened to you?"

Matt, I thought was his name looked down at his arm. "Oh that was the Doc pissing me off," he muttered and I visibly saw Enzo scowl at him silently.

My dark haired companion was the next to speak, still leaned on me but I could feel his muscles tense as he faced this man. "Elena was only trying to get to the man she loved...that you nearly beat half to death!" he hissed at him.

Donovan looked surprised at Enzo's fury. "You mean Salvatore? He pulled my gun on me and held a fucking knife to my throat!"

Enzo glowered more and I held him back knowing he was supposed to take it easy. "All he was doing was protecting her!" he snarled out. "He thought Kai was going to hurt her so he did what anyone would do for someone they loved!" His eyes were burning into Matt's and I knew all he was doing was defending his best friend. Damon told me about his CIA connection but very obviously this douche standing in front of us was none the wiser.

Lifting my hand I stepped forward to come between them as Enzo had tried to lunge forward. "Hey, hey lets just focus on now and not on the crap that happened on the plane. Okay?" I saw both men nod silently slowly one by one.

The dark haired agent was still fuming but had backed off. "So how did you escape Donovan?" he hissed out."I know you were in the back with Damon and Elena because you needed her to fix your damn arm or you would have ripped them apart again and beat him more." His voice was dripping with contempt as he glared at him. "How did you get out of there? Why didn't you help the rest of us? I was nearly beaten to death by the cons too and you didn't give a fuck about the other guards?"

Wow we really didn't need this now. I wanted to get to Caroline. This stupid confrontation could wait. The way it sounded Matt had been beating up Damon on the flight? I missed a lot by being up in the cockpit.

Matt backed up more as Enzo again looked like he could leap on him. I held him by the shoulders and reminded him quietly that Damon needed him to take it easy and to remember his wife and baby. That calmed him instantly and he patted me on the back, smiling stiffly in thanks. I saw him take a deep breath and lean back against the tree behind him.

Matt looked just as upset though.

At least I could calm one of them.

"I didn't escape and just leave you all there," the blonde man answered. "I was unconscious when the plane went down. The last thing I remember is the Doc fixing my arm while Salvatore was sitting there eating and being treated like a god damn king."

Enzo growled under his breath and I shot him a warning look.

I saw the two men glaring at each other before Matt spoke again. "Why do care so much St. John? Elena's an idiot for thinking she loves him. He's a damn terrorist! One of the worst ones! And we were finally rid of him to the middle eastern prison at the end of this flight. I wish he had died in the crash and saved us the trouble of finding him to put his ass back in jail!"

Oh shit, not good!

I spun around blocking Enzo, knowing he would flip out at that statement. "Enough! Both of you. Not now! Damn it Enzo just keep it together, for Bonnie," and I lowered my voice more. "For Damon too. He needs you to be okay."

He was panting hard, his eyes wild and angry. He looked back at me and finally started nodding slowly again in agreement. I was pretty sure we were not supposed to tell just anyone that he and Damon were working for the CIA or I would have told this idiot how wrong he was right then.

I was so done with all of this and scowled back at Matt. "What the hell do you want?" I snapped at him, keeping Enzo back.

Matt shrugged nonchalantly. "I was walking looking for more fruit trees and thought I heard someone. Turns out I was right. I was hoping we could stay together. Safety in numbers right?"

"Not a chance," Enzo hissed at him, his eyes narrowing. "I don't trust you at all."

"I don't trust you either, but you both are stuck here too, hiding from the cons. We are all playing the massive game of live or die hide and seek." He leaned back on the tree behind him, crossing his arms at his chest looking almost casual. "I wouldn't leave my men to die. I woke up and Cade told me he got me out of there and dragged me to the beach. He was going to go back and to rescue more of the guards but there was fucking shark in the water that almost got us so he didn't dare go back."

"Almost got you...awe that's too bad it didn't," Enzo taunted him, his voice low, his fists clenching.

Donovan totally ignored the barbs thrown his way and wouldn't shut up. "We have been hiding out keeping out of sight and Cade has snuck around and taken out some of the cons already. He had grabbed a bunch of handcuffs before he dragged me out of there and more weapons and was shooting any con that strayed from the group that he could. Kinda like baby gazelle that wandered from the herd. He shot them in the knees and stomach to keep them down."

Matt actually laughed, giving me chills as he described the cruelty. "Then he let the assholes bleed out cuffed to trees whenever he could. He didn't dare go to the beach which is jackass central but any of them that were off by themselves he went after. In fact, " he sing songed with a higher lilt to his voice. "He split off from me earlier seeing another one heading up away from the river all alone."

I was happy that there were less creeps wandering free out there, but shooting them and letting them suffer, that made me sick. But then I did a double take on what he just said.

"Wait a minute. You said by the river?" I swung my gaze to Enzo and saw the exact moment that Damon's best friend understood too what I was asking. Oh no no no.

"Yeah he was wearing jeans and a hoodie just like yours and headed up towards the falls. I could see a handcuff dangling from his wrist so we wouldn't even need to use one of ours...now who do you think that was boys?"

Oh no. It couldn't be. Damn it! Enzo and I exchanged frightened looks.

"You ass!" Enzo snarled at Matt and pushed off turning toward where we were headed. "We need to go...right now," he said to me. Worry flashed across his face. Damon had to be okay. Glaring at Matt he looked barely in control of his rage. "We are fine here. Get lost Donovan."

"Whoa wait a minute. What is the hurry" Where are you going? Do you guys have a rescue plan?" Matt asked

Enzo whirled back around. "If we did, you aren't a part of it dick," he said deadpan and whirled back around before Matt could reply.

I was glad I didn't have to get between them again. But we really did need to get going. Damon was in real danger! But just as I said that Enzo spun again and got right in Matt's face.

"Damon is NOT a terrorist. He is innocent! And if that monster you call a guard went after him, he will have me to deal with!" Enzo was panting hard and I saw him stumble slightly as he backed up. "So if I were you... I'd be fucking praying he is okay."

The blonde guard looked incredulous at both of us but hardly blinked at Enzo's angry retort. "He's what? Innocent? They all say that. None of them are innocent. Salvatore is dangerous and he needs to be put down like the rest of those damn animals!"

Fuck not again.

I jumped up between them before Enzo could even react and I knew he would. But I made Damon a promise that I would keep him calm and get him to the waterfall safely and I was damn well going to do that.

"Put a sock in it!" I yelled right at Matt and shoved him in the chest.

I. Was. Done. and I knew I needed to protect Enzo from losing it again.

"Look Captain! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Damon! He and Elena saved our lives; mine and Caroline's when we would have drowned in that cockpit when the door jammed during the crash. He has done nothing but try and get us out of here! He dragged Enzo who had been shot out of the plane and across the water to get him safe. He helped us find a safe place to hide from the prisoners. He risked his own life when the cons could have captured Elena and me and did God knows what to us. He helped me look for Caroline when there was enemies all around."

I was gasping for air I was so upset, but I would rather it be me than Enzo and risk him getting a complication from the serum. "Damon's been shot trying to protect Elena and he does love her! Deep, forever love and she loves him too! One of the monsters almost raped Elena up on the cliffs yesterday too and it nearly broke him, he is that in love with her. He has done everything he can to protect all of us and you saying Cade is going after him…hell no. He doesn't deserve that."

I was furious and not finished as I saw Matt just staring at me.

"Damon is going to climb down the cliff where he and Elena got shot last night. It gutted him that she got hurt. He is going to get the satellite phone that the con had with him when he fell. All to get us rescued. He deserves a fucking medal for all he has done! We were going right now to shelter he found to wait till rescue comes. So don't you dare say he is an animal like the rest of them!"

I inhaled sharply again and kept yelling I was so upset at what this dick thought of Damon.

"You are going to come with us and call off your damn dog from his ass. And all talk about what you think about him is done! You are going to take us to Cade or you will be the next one tied to a tree bleeding out!"

From the corner of my eye I could see the proud expression on Enzo's face, as his lips curled up in a slow smile. Yep that was damn well the right thing to do.

Matt's eyes looked like they grew three sizes at what I said. His mouth hung open and he actually closed it without so much as a word back. I knew he could have pulled the gun on me too, but so far that did not look like the reaction he had to what I said.

I let out the breath a didn't realize I was holding and just stared him down till he looked away. I could not believe I did that. I hated confrontation and usually shied away from it in any case. I would be the guy ignoring the creep making eyes at my wife and not going to kick his ass.

This was not me. But damn did it feel good.

Enzo leaned in closer. "You are my hero Ric," he mumbled with a smirk. Hero? Wow.

Matt looked down avoiding our eyes as we waited for him to decide what he was doing. "Wait a minute you said a woman's name. Is she here? Cade and I ran into someone last night and she ran off when we tried to help her. We thought she would be safer with us."

"You what?" I said, feeling more anger building. I was reminded of the signs of a struggle at the river where Caroline had taken off from. These idiots were the reason she ran? I closed my eyes trying to rein in my anger.

Opening my eyes again after counting to 5 like my wife taught our son Ben and I glared at him. "This didn't happen to be at the river by chance was it? The girl going there to wash and clean up?"

Matt nodded just as slowly as before.

"That woman was my friend and she got captured by the cons because of you scaring her and making her run! She has already been attacked and nearly raped years ago and just as she was putting her life back together her husband died. So she can't take anymore. And you interfering just sent her running into the lions den!" I was livid and now I felt Enzo's hand my shoulder likely to calm me as I had done to him.

Forget it I didn't want to hear another damn word from his mouth. Caroline was trapped with the cons at the beach because of Matt and his buddy. I spun around and decided that whatever he did I was going to ignore him. I lifted my hand to motion him to take the lead. I just knew we needed to get to Damon and help him. But I didn't even know where he would be. I was supposed to meet him at the base of the falls but from there I had no idea.

Enzo started walking slowly behind me and we both ignored the dumb ass guard as he looked almost sorry as he held the gun up in front of us and we headed out toward the falls. I didn't even know if he was leading us to Damon but I prayed we would not be too late!

Damon's POV

I arrived at the cliff top just as the sun started peaking out from the horizon. The sky was still dark except for the thin sliver of golden light in the distance. I was already hating myself for leaving my precious fiance and at first had mentally talked myself out of going back to her every few minutes as I kept walking further and further away from her. Then the next mile or so as I forced my body to keep going I told myself that if I didn't see the phone down there right away I was heading right back anyway and had nearly sprinted all the rest of the way. I had still been careful of my surroundings but wanted to get there and back as fast as I could.

Standing where she got shot, I sucked in a shaky breath at the images flooding my brain. I could still hear her cries, feel her blood between my fingers as my hand had rubbed down her arm unaware of the horrific wound that she had gotten because of me. No, I couldn't think of that now. She was safe and warm and bandaged up in the cave. She was not crying in pain like I heard echoing in my head.

I needed to focus and get back to her. Digging around in the bag I pulled out the flashlight and walked closer to the edge of the cliff. It looked to be a near sheer drop below past a grassy incline just near the top of the embankment. I saw the waves crashing against the rocks at the base of the cliff and cringed at how close to had come to possibly being thrown off and onto those rocks when Kai had shot me and no doubt would have left me for dead to take Elena away from me. I wished I could see his body down there...just for the sheer satisfaction of it, but the tide would likely have pulled the body out with it.

Scanning the area, leaning more over and to my utter relief I saw a glint of metal shine back up at me. There was a narrow ledge down lower, barely visible from where I was but I could see the defined edges of the phone just hovering on the rock. Thank God.

I swung back around and looked for a place to anchor the rope from so I could make my way down. I could get down and back up quickly and be back to our cave before she even woke up. This could work.

The closest tree nearby looked to be plenty strong enough and I tied the rope to it making sure it was tight. I was about to swing the bag on my shoulder to climb down when the walkie buzzed again and Klaus' voice came through.

"Damon? Are you there? Did you get the phone?"

Picking it up I shook my hair from my eyes and pressed the button. "Yeah I'm here. I can see the phone from up top and am just about to climb down to get it. Did you get Caroline safe? And your brother?"

I waited for a reply while I unwound more of the rope and tested its strength. The morning air was chilly so I pulled the hood back up over my head, which seemed to keep my unruly strands of longish hair out of my eyes too.

"No. I heard Caroline in there begging Mason to let her go to the bathroom. I am right outside the fucking cave but I can't get to her. She is crying again and I think the bastard hit her again! I am going to kill him! I have no idea how to get them out of there without someone getting hurt or killed."

I held the walkie to my ear, while tossing the rope down off the edge and looked to make sure it went far enough. I could see it danging past the ledge by a few feet and let out a breath of relief. I did not want to try to tie ropes together and risk them coming undone.

Sighing, I realized that Klaus would not be getting here anytime soon and I would have to do this myself. My arm still felt weak from the bullet wound but I needed to use those muscles anyway if I had any hope of getting that phone.

"Well then radio me back when you do get them safe Klaus." I stood back up again stretching my aching muscles in my shoulder. All I needed was a few minutes. I dug in the bag and pulled out the water bottle I brought and took a long swallow.

"I'm worried if I can't kill him, Mason will come after Caroline. I barely stopped him from raping her by pretending to be Kai again awhile ago again. I will need to make sure she is safely hidden if we manage to get out of here," Klaus whispered through the walkie.

"She will be," I assured him. "I found an underground cave in the river down past the falls. It's literally tucked into the water and the river falls into the cave from above. It is totally hidden Klaus. She will be safe there. That was the only way I could dare leave Elena to come get this damn phone."

"Okay Damon, that sounds good. You won't regret it." Klaus' said, his tone sounding sincere.

My brows furrowed. "Regret what?" I questioned him warily.

"Trusting me," he replied. "Thank you for helping me keep her safe. Telling me where I can hide her Damon. I don't know how, but I feel something for her and we've only barely just met. She's been through too much."

I leaned against the tree after checking the rope once more. "I know she has Klaus. I'm sure she appreciated you caring for her." I remembered what Ric told me about her past and shuddered at what that poor girl had already lived through. He really did sound genuine in his feelings for her. I was surprised how much I really didn't know about this man even from working for him for months on our undercover op.

"Are you going to be okay, climbing down the cliff yourself Damon? How is your shoulder?"

Wow he sounded like a different person. He cared. Maybe everything else was a mask.

"Hurt like hell with every breath last night, but Elena gave me a shot of morphine and I brought another along if I needed it. So I'll make it one way or another. If you can get here to pull me up that would be great. But focus on Caroline first." I cringed already thinking of the pain I'd feel pulling my whole body weight down to that narrow ledge.

"Okay, I will get there as soon as I can. We can work together Damon. We are both agents and on the same side."

I knew he was right. "You just make sure that..." but I didn't get to finish my sentence as I caught a glimpse of something moving behind me! The figure was reflected in the metal casing of the walkie and I froze knowing it was too tall to be an animal. I heard a soft click and dove to the side behind the tree, spinning around at the same time. My training kicked in seamlessly and I threw the walkie at the threat using it as my only weapon in reach as I dove for cover!

I saw the bark of the tree just explode right beside me in a shatter of wood shards as I rolled back up to my feet! Without even looking I threw myself at the man, grabbing his hand and slamming his wrist still clutching the gun hard against another tree. He grunted and with two more slams of his wrist, the gun went flying from his grip. I instantly felt his hand around my throat as he jumped us forward and slammed my head against the trunk of the tree behind me.

My muscles screamed in protest of this sudden attack and I grabbed for the hands around my throat while kicking out at the man's shins. I caught a glimpse of his face as my vision started blurring and realized it was the guard Cade!

Damn it, like it wasn't bad enough that the cons were already after me for protecting Elena now this ass shows up again too!

I could hear Klaus' voice calling my name. He must have known something went wrong as I fought for another breath. The guards eyes were wild with anger at me as he squeezed harder. I started seeing spots in front of my eyes.

No this was not how I was going to die! Elena was waiting for me! My future wife needed me!

Out of the corner of my eye I saw long vines hanging down from the tree branches and I reached up fast, my hand darting past his head to wrap the vines around and around his neck as fast as I could!

His eyes grew wide, bulging in their sockets. I slammed my head against his and his grip on my neck loosened. Kicking hard, I pushed him away from the tree and pulled him down with all my strength, using gravity and my weight to tighten the vines around his neck!

Cade was gasping and choking as I held him down, allowing the vines to cut off his airway even more till he was slumped down, his grip on me releasing finally!

I collapsed to the damp grass, my head down as I took mouthfuls of air into my aching lungs. I coughed over and over and swallowed hard, the muscles in my neck strained to their breaking point. I rolled over onto my back and saw him hanging there from the tree, the vines wrapped tight around his throat. He wasn't moving. Was he dead?

Pulling myself back up, fighting all the aches and punches he threw at me I felt for his pulse. There was nothing. He was gone. I fell back down, my legs too weak under me.

"Damon!" the walkie crackled but it sounded full of static and I could barely make out his voice. "Damon,... happen...? ... you ...kay?"

I turned around to the crackling sounds and pulled myself along the ground more, till I grabbed hold of the walkie. "I'm..."

Oh shit I could hardly talk my throat was burning so bad.

I felt shooting pains in my head too and felt blood oozing from the back of my skull. I tried again to speak. "I'm...o...kay. Att..acked. He's..de..ad." I forced the words past the pain. My voice didn't even sound like mine. The walkie sounded as I bad as my voice did.

"I'm...com...g. Just...han...on." Klaus said brokenly through the walkie.

"Hurry, please." I felt dizzy, the pain overwhelming. I scrambled in the bag I brought ripping it open and grabbed or the tourniquet. Tying it up, I held it with my teeth. My hands were shaking as I could not stop coughing and sucking in more air as I ripped open the syringe and jammed it in the morphine. I had to fight with my eyes to stay focused long enough to find a vein and whispered a silent prayer that I wouldn't miss.

I almost forgot to let out any air from the needle before plunging it in my skin. The warm rush of fluid from the drug flooding my veins as I felt my eyes closing and everything went black.

Klaus' POV

What the hell just happened? I shook the walkie again, pressing it harder to my ear. I heard static on Damon's end and then it sounded like dead air. He had been attacked? By who? I felt so helpless waiting for Caroline to get out of the cave, knowing my brother was bleeding out and now Damon had god knows what happen to him up on that cliff!

I adjusted more knobs and tried again to hear him but there was nothing. I had moved back to the trees further away from the cave now rather than being so close, knowing I still couldn't do anything from there. My head shot up as I heard her cries again and this time they sounded louder and closer...

Sure enough I was right and Julian was dragging her by the arm up the sand and toward the trees where I was hiding. Caroline looked to have her hand over her mouth and wrenched her arm away from his grip on her, ran ahead and gagged and threw up violently, her hand clenched on a tree as she leaned over a few feet from me.

I circled around the outer trees as Julian came closer, cursing at her for running from him. But he stopped short of her, seeing her on her knees, throwing up on the ground. Julian was hissing his displeasure at her and I saw that he was shaking his hand, holding out his shirt and I saw the sleeve was dripping with liquid. Did she puke on him first?

The guard looked pissed and I sucked in a breath as I moved stealthily closer, my eyes riveted to him as I flicked my knife open. I inhaled sharply as I took in how bruised her face and shoulders were. My God that poor girl had been through so much already.

I could see tear tracks down her cheeks and her eye was swollen and bruises covered her pale skin wherever it was exposed. Her dress was torn and my gray t shirt I had given her to hide her body from the other cons was gone too.

Damn him! Mason was not getting off this island alive, I thought fuming!

I could see her lacy pink bra exposed as she leaned down, gagging some more. The hem of the thin dress she had on looked stretched like he had grabbed her roughly and torn it halfway down the middle.

Julian strode toward her, his jaw clenched in anger. I watched in shock as he grabbed her by her hair and wrenched her head up. "Stupid bitch!" he snarled. She whimpered in fear and I saw her swallow hard, crying out in pain.

I pounced, leaping on Julian, my arm up to stab him but he must have heard something and had darted to the side, avoiding my knife as we both tumbled to the ground. Caroline cried out and rolled away and I saw her curl up against a tree, her legs tucked up.

Wrestling Julian down as he grunted and glared at me, I saw the recognition in his eyes in the dim light as he realized who he was fighting. He leaned over as we rolled and he fucking bit at my wrist that I had the knife tightly clutched in!

I fought to hang onto it, rolling again and felt him slamming my hand against a stone on the ground till I released the knife. I felt another sharp pain hit my head and saw the rock in his hand as my head started throbbing and I could feel blood drip down my forehead.

Damn it that hurt!

Julian punched me hard in the stomach and felt the wind knocked out of me. I was scrambling to get the upper hand. Usually I could take out enemies with confidence but this creep was much stronger than he looked.

There was a small cry and I saw Caroline literally jumping on his back as he had me pinned under him and she was clawing and scratching at his face, her arms around his neck!

He lifted up and threw her off him and she landed against the nearest tree, her eyes fluttering open and closed. No!

I was furious as I heard her head hit the tree. Lifting up fast I pushed him off me to tackle him hard to the ground. My fist slammed into his chest once, twice and he fought back with a hard uppercut to my jaw that snapped my head to the ground.

Pain surged through my jaw as I saw stars. Julian's punch to my chest was equally forceful and I gasped out. I could hear Caroline's cries of my name, her voice shaking.

Everything was spinning as his fist connected next with my mouth and my neck whipped back. His hands were around my throat and he was dragging me up the trunk of the tree squeezing so hard.

Damn it! I had never fought this man and had no idea he had that kind of muscle! He was smirking at me as I scrambled with one hand to try to pry his fingers off my neck and the other reaching back to my gun I had hidden in my jeans. I wasn't going to risk shooting it with all the other cons so close by, but now I was thinking that dying was not the path I wanted to choose between the two.

My hand felt for the gun and its wasn't there! I dove back to try to pry his fingers off me as I started sinking in his grip.

Just then I saw Julian's face scrunch up in a weird expression and he sunk down to the ground! I felt his hands fall from my throat and I blinked rapidly to see a frightened Caroline holding my gun shaking in her hands…

Her eyes locked to mine before falling closed as she collapsed and I caught her in my arms. My own legs were too weak to hold me up as I felt myself falling with her. The gun slipped from her fingers as I cradled her in my arms.

My throat hurt like hell and I turned away past her shoulder to cough trying to get my breathing back to normal. I felt her small hands around my waist, her head buried against my chest as I held her tight. She felt so good in my arms. She had no idea how scared I was for her.

Caroline was sniffling and gasping to slow her own breathing as I ran my hands through her hair, trying to sooth her fear.

"You are okay. It's okay," I mumbled into her hair, holding her head to my chest. I could feel blood dripping down my cheek and I wiped it away, my head throbbing.

"Nic, oh my god," I heard her breath, her fingers tight around my waist. I shivered feeling her lips against my thin tank top. I could feel way more of her skin than I thought she was comfortable with. The one sleeve of her dress was ripped totally now and hung below her pink bra and I saw another tear more up the side of her leg exposing her slender thigh to my eyes.

I cupped her face tenderly and she didn't pull away. I could not believe she had saved my life.

Her eyes were puffy from crying and I smoothed my thumbs across her cheeks to wipe the tears away. "You're safe Caroline. I'm here. I promised you I would come back, didn't I?"

I saw her smile just a little through her tears and nod to me. "You did. You did come back for me," she whimpered, her fingers gripping the folds of my tank top tightly. "I was so scared Nic. I thought he would kill you!" Her voice was low. "I saw the gun on the ground and I didn't even think I just picked it up and aimed."

"You did amazing Luv. You saved us both," I smiled back at her.

But then I thought back. I didn't hear a gunshot. Hell, all the cons on the beach that were still yelling and cursing by the fire would have heard a gunshot. She must have done something else? The gun was still laying beside us but picking it up would have meant moving from her being in my arms. And I wasn't ready to do that yet.

"It jammed. Your gun." She confirmed my suspicions, breaking into my thoughts. "I just hit him as hard as I could." I turned and looked down at the guard and could see blood on the back of his head. She had got him good.

"You're hurt," she breathed out and I felt her hand on my cheek, wiping the blood away. Her eyes were so deep and so beautiful as she gazed at me with so much concern in them. Maybe she was feeling some of what I had been feeling for her.

"So are you baby," I murmured, brushing my finger along her swollen and bruised cheek. I felt a pain in my gut at how damaged she looked and must feel. But she turned away, her head lowering as my eyes locked on hers as I touched her. I heard a gasp from her lips and followed her eyes.

I saw her looking at him, maybe horrified at what she had done. I turned her head slowly back toward me with one hand and curled my fingers under the hair by her ears. "Hey, you didn't kill him, Caroline. Its okay. It would have been okay, even if you did. He was going to kill me and probably you too Luv."

She was nodding slowly at me as I explored more of her face. I traced my finger over her bottom lip and could feel her trembling as her blue green eyes studied me. I was so close I could feel our breaths mingling and felt her chest pressed so tight against mine. Her little pink bra the only barrier from her skin on me. I leaned my forehead on hers as my eyes fell to her lips.

Caroline tensed in that moment. I felt it instantly and she closed her eyes, turning her head to the side, still leaning it against mine. Her lips were in my hair as I heard her whisper so softly by my ear.

"Not yet Nic, please, " her tiny voice said, her breath warm on my neck.

I felt her heart pounding so hard and I didn't move as I processed what she just said. Not yet...meaning there could be a later? My mind was spinning with so many thoughts from all I was feeling.

She cleared her throat and pulled back from me and I sensed our moment was over.

"Your brother," she mumbled quietly. "I managed to stop the bleeding. I used your shirt to put pressure on it. He's not in immediate danger unless it gets infected but I did my best to help him and bandage it up." Her eyes found mine again, her look wary.

"Thank you Caroline, really." I nodded, grateful for all this beautiful woman had done in saving me and Kol. "I will get you out of here and come back for him. But we need to hurry. Damon might be in trouble too and we need to get you safe in the cave Damon has Elena hidden in."

I saw her sniffing again and she wiped her hand across her face as she pulled herself from my lap to stand up. I looked around for where I had left the walkie and picked it up to call my fellow agent to tell him I got her out of there and safe with me. I called multiple times and there was no reply. That was not good. Then I tucked the gun back in my jeans too.

Looking sadly as the torn dress I saw her pull it more around her to cover herself. I instantly took off my thin tank top and held it up, my eyes wide in the silent pleading of her letting me help her.

She did and held up her arms to let me slip it down over her shivering body. I didn't have anything else to warm her, but this was all I could do to help. Then I thought of the creep on the ground and turned to him and pulled his long sleeved guard uniform off him as well as his black t shirt.

Bending down I checked his pulse and looked back at her. "He will live Luv, you didn't kill him. He will just have a hell of a headache when he wakes up. I could just end him right now though if you want. It will be me not you." I shrugged into the shirt and then looked back at her.

"No," I heard her instant reply as she shook her head."Let's just get out of here." I draped the long sleeve uniform over her shoulders and helped her in the sleeves. Buttoning it up I looked back up in her eyes and was happy to feel that she wasn't shaking anymore. I gently lifted her silky blonde hair from the collar and let it fall down her back.

Nodding to me I knew she was ready. It was time to go. I curled my arm around her and we took off away from the beach.

Damon's POV

The ground was damp under my cheek from the rain last night as I stretched and looked around, opening my eyes slowly. I felt the little pieces of bark or branches cut my cheek as I turned my head. How long had I been out?

I sat up fast, cringing in pain. I knew the morphine had numbed most of my injuries but I still felt like hell moving at all, after being beaten again. I rummaged around in the bag for the watch Ric had given me the first night we were here. It wasn't too late. I had only been out maybe an hour.

The sun was shining brighter in the sky, the darkness fading away as I stood unsteadily to my feet. I could not waste any more time. I needed to get that phone and get back to my girl.

I swung the bag on my shoulder, tucking the walkie in it and looked around on the ground for the gun I had fought to get out of his hand. Where was it? I couldn't see it anywhere.

My head was pounding so I couldn't even remember if it had gone over the cliff in our struggle. I looked back over the edge hoping to see it. Having a weapon here would make me feel better about leaving Elena with my gun. I knew she would be furious at me if she knew I had left the cave without any weapon. I could definitely see more fights in our future but I knew we would make it through no matter what.

Grabbing hold of the rope I started climbing slowly down over the side and carefully made my way down toward the ledge the phone was resting on. I was grateful it wasn't windy and I could see it just laying on the rock. My hands were burning from the rope as I went as slow as I could without slipping, my feet tight around the rope too. The pain in my arm was pulsating as I gripped the rope so tightly.

I felt myself slip once and slid a few feet down the rope as I cried out and wrapped my legs tighter around it below me. Panting hard I didn't dare look down.

Curling my head in against my arms I shut my eyes slowly at how bad that could have been if I hadn't caught myself. It was far too steep with the exception of just the very top few feet of the drop.

I let out a huge breath as my foot finally felt the smooth ledge and as I lowered myself down to it. My muscles screamed in relief and I lay gasping and sucking in air leaning back on my hands on the narrow space. My legs were dangling down in mid air.

I did it. Halfway there.

I opened the bottle of water and took another long swig of it before I reached out and clutched the satt phone in my hand and actually kissed it I was so happy to have found it. I turned it in my hand and saw the back was damaged. There was dent in it, likely from when it fell unless it had been damaged earlier. I prayed that would not affect how it worked. It had to work.

As I was studying it I heard the static from the walkie again. I could barely make anything out. I pulled it out of the bag and held it up to my ear. "Klaus? Are you there? " I leaned my head back on the rock wall and waited for his reply.

"Dam..?" Came his answer almost right away, Shit the walkie was not working well at all.

"I'm here. I'm okay. Are you coming? Did you free Caroline?" My voice was so hoarse and I couldn't even recognize it. That monster did a number on my damn neck. I could talk but it didn't sound like me at all.

The fuzzy reply sounded like a yes but I could not totally make it out. "We..r co...ng." I heard. We? I really hoped that meant he had gotten her out of there. Ric had been so worried. I shook the walkie and twisted various dials trying to get any kind of better reception. Nothing was working.

I decided I couldn't wait for Klaus to get here forever. I needed to get back to Elena. I would have to climb up the cliff wall myself. I tugged on the rope to make sure it was strong and I stumbled back almost not catching myself from going off the cliff as I felt it loose in my hand. What the hell?

No no no that could not be happening! I tied it up so tight. What the hell happened up there?

I brushed more strands of my jet black locks from my eyes and squinted from the sunlight starting to spread through the sky as I looked up the nearly sheer rock wall. My hood fell down off my head, the wind ruffling my hair. Please no.

I pulled again and sure enough the whole rope came falling down in a pile on the ledge. Shit this could not be happening! What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Bending down I looked at the end of the rope that fell. It looked frayed like it had snapped or maybe rubbed on the ground too much on my way down. Damn it!

I leaned back against the rock wall, shutting my eyes slowly. The wind was stronger down on the cliff side and I felt it whip around as my fingers clung to the stones behind me. The surf was crashing below and I could see large rocks where the water raced through to rush up the sides and back down again in majestic strength. I couldn't go down. Hell no, it was way too far.

Slipping back down to sit, I pulled the walkie back out of the bag. "Klaus. I'm trapped on the cliff. The rope broke. If you get this there is more rope up by the tree. Get it, tie it off and toss it down please!"

I lay my head back and reached back in the bag for the satt phone. Maybe at least I could at least reach Stefan from up here. Klaus knew where I was and he was coming. I hoped that was what I had heard. I turned the phone around in my hand checking for anymore damage to the casing. It looked like it was just that one dent in the back. I turned it on and put it to my ear.

No dial tone.

No that is not going to happen! This damn phone was going to work if it was the last thing I did! I was pissed enough that I was stuck down here and could not take more things going wrong. All I wanted was to be back in her arms in our cave. I was so close. I had the way to contact my brother in my hand and it decides to not work!

Shaking it again I slammed my hand against the casing and then switched it off and on again. I nearly cried out in joy at the sound of that precious dial tone. Yes!

I pushed my hair from my eyes, tucking it behind my ears and pulled the hood back on again to keep the strands from distracting me. I quickly punched the CIA office number. I waited with baited breath for the switchboard woman to come on and gave her all my clearances. "I need to speak to Special Agent Stefan Salvatore. He will likely be out on an aircraft carrier in the ocean just off The Azores Islands."

I waited as the woman checked out my ids and then agreed to connect me. I was put on hold and sat there swinging my legs off the side of the ledge. I could not be more impatient to get off this fucking island.

Hearing another click and then some shuffling, a voice came on. "Damon? Damon is that you?"

God bless baby bro! It felt so good to hear his voice.

"Yeah Stef its me. I sound like death warmed over brother, but its me." I closed my eyes and just let the stress go of how badly I needed to contact him. I knew my voice did not sound like me at all so I hoped he would still know somehow."

I heard silence on the other side of the conversation and then some muffled talking. "Damon. Prove that its you for me please. I know you gave all the clearance codes but please."

I straightened up. Okay what could I say...something others on the island wouldn't know.

"Um, you and Lex were interrogating a prisoner and when he got dragged back to his cell you two got way too frisky on the table in the holding room after she had been gone on a mission for a month without you and neither of you realized that the bosses and I were still behind the window and the tech support had taped the whole..."

"Okay Damon! That enough," Stefan practically squeaked out.

I chuckled at the memory of the pure horror on my brother's face and the bashful but goofy smile on my partners, hiding behind his shoulder, her clothes all disheveled as Stef's boss burst in. She was so smitten by him it looked like she didn't care at all that they got caught.

"I still can't get over that my boss and his boss and you all saw that and that it was even recorded! I was mortified and you all never let me live it down." I heard Stefan gasp as he continued. "Oh my goodness brother. I have been waiting for your call. Are you okay?"

"We are okay. The cons smashed the phone I had and this was the first chance I had to contact you since. I'm literally hanging over a cliff on the edge of the island to get this damn phone Stef. The rope snapped and I am stuck here."

I heard his gasp before he spoke again. "You are where? You're on a cliff?!" I heard more voices on his end. Maybe he was trying to trace the location of the call. "Oh my God brother! How the hell are you getting back up? Do you need a boat or is it too high up? We could get a helicopter down to you."

I admired Stefan's determination to get me safe. "No, don't send a helicopter. Not till I can have Elena in my arms and know we are getting off this rock. I don't want to alert any of the cons to you coming yet."

I heard a resigned sigh from his side of the call. "Okay you are right. We need to get you all out of there. Can you get back up? Was someone coming? Why did you go out alone?" Stefan sounded like he was racing through possibilities not sure what was the best approach and had lots of questions. He worried about me all the time when we were growing up and he was the little brother. But it had been a long time since I heard him so concerned about me and it felt good.

"I am getting the satellite to hone in on your position. It might take an half an hour or so to connect and then we need to wait for confirmation from the higher ups here to see the feed. The government there is letting us use their satellite but they insist that everything goes through them first. But then maybe we can see where you are trapped to come get you safe, if you haven't gotten back up by then yet."

"Sure that makes sense Stefan. I know you are doing everything you can." I closed my eyes and knew as much as I had been working so hard to get us out of here, so had he.

"You bet your ass I am brother. Can you get everyone else up to the cliff maybe too?" he asked me.

Again I had to say no."No, I wish I could. Stef, Enzo's hurt. He was shot really bad and its a miracle he survived but he can't walk all this way. But don't tell Bon. She has enough to deal with, with delivering so soon. And no there was no one that could come with me and yes Klaus was coming last I heard. Our walkies are not very reliable right now. But we have a place we can all stay safe till you get here. I found a cave just a mile or so from the water fall and its hidden away in the water underground. We will be waiting there, all of us." Everything was just spilling out that I needed to tell him.

I breathed out forcefully, opening my eyes and squinting at the brighter sunlight. "I am so ready to get off this damn island. The woman that was held by the cons is safe and has been rescued so come and get us, please brother." I laughed, trying to sound excited. I was, but the pain in my shoulder was getting worse. I opened the bottle I leaned beside me and drank more water, feeling so exhausted from the climb down still.

I could hear Stefan sigh again."Oh I am so ready to get you out of there. I'm SO sorry that I've pulled away from you for so long. When I heard that your plane was missing all I could think of was that I hadn't told you I don't blame you for Lex's death. I don't Damon. I acted like I did, but I didn't."

I could hear my brother's voice choking up and I swallowed the lump in my throat too. How long I had waited to have this conversation and here we were having it miles apart, with me hanging off a damn cliff.

Scrunching up my face I held back tears wanting to fall. "I know you didn't Stefan. I knew you were just grieving and looking for anyone to blame. I was right there with her. If I could have saved her I would have. I would have died in her place Stef. I'm so sorry." It ached every time I thought about what happened; watching her die right in front of me.

I heard a sob and I leaned back on the rock closing my eyes again.

"You don't need to be sorry. You did everything you could Damon. I know you did." Stefan choked up again. "It just hurt too much to lose her that I just lashed out and couldn't go on. I still miss her so much. Everything is so empty without her."

Damn I wish I could be there right then to hug my baby brother. "I know Stef. I know you miss her. She was incredible and loved you so much." I sniffled too and wiped the back of my hand over my face.

Stefan coughed and cleared his throat. "I'm going to get you out of there Damon. I promise! I have a whole navy ship here and we are going to do this without losing anyone else."

I nodded, not realizing that he couldn't see me. "I like the sound of that brother." I smiled as I looked out into the open ocean in front of me. If I wasn't stuck here like this, I would have appreciated the gorgeous view more. But all I wanted was to get back to Elena.

My ears perked up as I was sure I heard a voice calling from high above. "Stefan I think Klaus is here. I'll call you back when I get up to safe ground. Just stay by the phone."

"Okay. You know I will. If anything changes and its not safe where you are hiding out, just radio me back. Be safe brother." I heard him say the last words softer and I knew he meant them with all his heart.

I got back on my feet and looked up to the clifftop. "Hello Klaus? Are you up there?" I cupped my hands to focus my voice. Bending to pick up the walkie I checked it, but this time I got nothing but static. It was been crackling since I threw it so I wasn't surprised if it shorted out. I was regretting more and more that I had used it against Cade when I was trying to outrun his bullets. But without throwing it I could have been dead.

I tucked the satt phone in the bag and made sure the walkie and anything else was safely inside. I took another big gulp of water and put the bottle back too.

"Salvatore! Are you down there?" a loud voice called out.

"Klaus?" I could hardly hear him and barely call out loud with how sore my voice was.

"I'm tying up a rope. Just wait for it and grab it. I'll help you climb up!"

I let out a huge breath of relief and saw the rope falling down toward me. I needed to find the strength to get up there. My shoulder was already burning and I think I had torn some of the stitches and felt some blood leaking through the hoodie. I could feel the morphine wearing off but I needed to push through the stabs of pain I was feeling already.

I wrapped it around my foot, holding on tight and pulled with everything I had grunting and fighting the pain in my arm to hang onto the rope with every bit of strength I had. I felt Klaus pulling too as I climbed closer and closer to the top. I was so relieved.

"I'm coming Beauty," I breathed out loud as I gritted my teeth forcing myself body higher and higher. "I'm coming…"

A/N:

Please check out the other amazing author's on here. Mariah April May just finished exams and can focus on updating more now. She has two amazing stories on the go. The Devil's Obsession is so dark and delicious and I know you will love it with all its supernatural mystery and depth into such a damaged Damon. Marry Me Again is full of laughs and fun and banter from our favorite couple as they race to keep Elena away from the evil man forcing her to marry him.

scarlett2112 Has a great story call November Rain about Damon trying to get a divorce from a very high profile and bratty movie star Elena. Its already got a lot of depth and just begun. Her story Eyes Without a Face is a journey into the past of Damon reading journals of a Damon that fell in love with his Elena back in the 1800's. Its tragic and painful and heart wrenching but so good!

These are just two of the talented authors on this site and I will post little mini descriptions of other authors in up coming chapters. Check out their work you won't regret it.

Florencia7, JustinaKorax, VitsAsh, deepwater 1978, Foreverfirstloves, LittleMissVixen are more of the talented ladies keeping Delena alive for you to escape real life and enjoy this beautiful ship!

Everything is coming together for them to get rescued. I hope you liked this chapter.

What did you think of Damon leaving Elena in the cave? Did he make the right choice? Ric's passionate speech to put dick Matt in his place? Damon's fight with Cade and him killing him? Caroline showing some major strength despite all she has faced? Should they have killed Julian before they ran? Did you want them to kiss? Damon getting trapped on the edge of the cliff? Damon and Stef's very over due talk?

Rescue is coming. Please be patient. Once they are off the island there isn't much more of this story left but I do have ideas for a sequel...

Sorry there wasn't much Delena here. They will be much more in the next chapter. Along with more flashbacks of Damon's recovery in the hospital after his surgery and Elena's thoughts

Feed the muse and please review. I love reading them and they make my day. Your thoughts push me to write quicker and the more I see you loving the story, the more I can't wait to update more for you!

Have a great day!