AN: Almost 2000 views. And 600 this month, already ... Anyways, one more 'Austin Powers' quote in this chapter. Can you find it?

Chapter 22: Hostage Situations

(Later that day ...)

"Please, listen to me!"

"No, there's nothing to talk about. I'm not giving Niklaus the moonstone."

"But what about Caroline?"

Elijah rubbed his temples. Darwin had been home for half an hour and hadn't given him a moment's peace. The boy was stubborn, which he already had proved several times, but also reckless. Now, if only he would think.

In fact, they all needed to think more and argue less.

"It's not my fault your friends can't keep themselves out of trouble even with us doing everything we can to keep them safe."

He knew he sounded heartless, but in truth, all he wanted was to keep his family safe and getting Niklaus closer to breaking the curse was out of the question. Caroline getting herself caught was unfortunate. He did like the young vampire, but in the end her life was a small sacrifice compared to the many people, who would die, if Klaus had it his way.

"We can't just let him kill her."

"No, and we won't, "Elijah tried to reassure him, "We will see, if we can find another way."

"We haven't got the time!"

"Yes, we do. Caroline is the only leverage, he has. He wouldn't hurt her just yet."

"Fine!"

Darwin did not look like he thought anything was fine, and Elijah's growing insight into the boy's compassionate, but slightly misguided mind, made him add: "And don't look for the moonstone. It's not in the house. Actually not even in this town."

Darwin didn't respond, but stalked out of the parlour. Seconds later, they heard the door to his room slam shut.

Elijah turned to his brother, who was seated infront of the tv and had shown no interest in their conversation whatsoever. "Kol, you know him better than I do. Is he going to do something stupid now?"

Kol shook his head. "Nope."

"And off the record?"

A grin, Elijah did not like, spread over Kol's face. "Oh yeah."

(Break)

Caroline sat up straight on the couch, her hands folded in her lap and her face frozen in an angry expression. She was quite uncomfortable and felt the urge to fidget, but refused to show any signs of impatience. Klaus apparently wanted to give her some space, and as a result neither of them had spoken for over an hour.

Finally, Klaus put down his scetch book. "Are you bored, love?"

"No, "her voice was dripping with sarcasm, "I am very much enjoying playing a leading role in your Bullshit Production."

He laughed. "Believe me, everything I do has a purpose."

"I do not doubt that, "she said, "I am merely repulsed by your Machiavellian approach to other beings."

"I am not completely unfeeling, Miss Forbes."

"No, your emotional range includes both smug and vindictive."

"You could give me some credit, love, you don't even know me."

She ignored his statement and changed the subject instead. "Have you been controlling my dreams?"

"No, why?"

She mentally kicked herself, realising that she should not have asked. She shrugged, trying to appear casual. "No reason."

She stared straight ahead, but she could feel his eyes on her, curious and amused.

"You've been dreaming about me, haven't you? "he finally asked.

She didn't answer, but this time she couldn't refrain from fidgeting.

"I've dreamt about you as well."

"You have?" She heard the surprise in her own voice. She had lost her righteous anger and now sounded vulnerable. She was looking at him, but his expression was completely neutral.

"Yes." He picked his scetch book back up and started drawing again without offering her any explanation and after a while, she gave up waiting for a full response and looked away.

They settled back into silence.

(Break)

Bonnie sat in an armchair in the Boarding House's Library, feeling a bit like a deer caught in headlights. She kept playing nervously with her hair. She could easily feel the intimidating presence of the four Originals. It hadn't felt quite as strong in the warehouse or the car ride home from Virginia Beach. Perhaps because she had been wounded, or the Originals had been weakened at that time. But now it was almost strong enough to make her feel queasy and she did her best to block it out.

A sudden cold gust of wind lifted her hair and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking at the windows. They were closed.

"Hello, sweetheart."

A scream caught in her throat, as she swiveled her head towards the sound.

Kol was sitting right beside her, close enough to touch her. She could have sworn that chair had been across the room from her seconds earlier.

"I'm sorry, did I frighten you?"

"Don't play dumb, Kol, "she snapped, "You meant to."

"Perhaps, "he leaned towards her, "Made your heart beat fast. It's very alluring, you know, the sound of blood pumping in human veins."

She tried to calm her racing heart, but couldn't. Adrenalin was pounding in her body, telling her to either flee or fight.

"Whatever you want, you're not getting it."

"Why not?" He moved even closer to her, "I can make you feel things you've never felt before. Things you never thought existed."

"Not interested."

He smiled, and only one word could describe that smile adequately; Wicked. "And yet, you are not moving away from me."

"I'm not afraid of you, Kol."

"Now, I know that's not true."

She swallowed convulsively. He was right; She was terrified. Elena had told her about his complete disregard for human life.

But he wouldn't hurt her, would he? Not with her friends in the house, not with Elijah and Finn bringing her here.

His eyes traveled down to her neck, and se realised with a start that he would.

His smile grew wider. "That's more like it. Your fear is quite intoxicating."

"Kol." They both looked up, seeing Elijah and Finn standing in the doorway. "Leave Miss Bennet alone."

"Of course, "Kol got up, seeming good-natured about his loss,

"It was just a bit of fun. I've been daggered for 100 years. I've got to see if my bits and pieces are still working."

"Do it some place else."

Kol left through the door in the other end of the room, the one that led into the parlour.

Bonnie exhaled slowly, finally getting her heart under control. "Thank you, Elijah."

"No problem, "Elijah's presence was warm and somewhat earthly, where Kol's was cold and menacing. It was very easy to trust the oldest Original. Not that he couldn't be immensely frightening when he wanted to, but he wasn't the type that enjoyed playing mind games. And neither was Finn. "You are probably wondering, why I asked you to come."

"Well, I figured it had to do with Caroline."

"Yes, of course, "Elijah moved the chair, Kol had been sitting in, until it was facing Bonnie without being too close to her, and sat down. Finn found a place to stand in the other end of the room, obviously not too happy with their company. "I'm sure we're going to need your help, if we are going to free her, but first I need you to do me a small favour."

(Break)

Darwin was tending to his plants in the basement, feeling unusually glum. Or maybe not that unusually, anymore. Over the past couple of weeks, he had been feeling gloomy or angry more times than in all the rest of his life put together. He guessed it stemmed from his lack of freedom and control over his situation.

He could feel vervain in the stuffy air, making his head spin a bit, but ignored it. He was seperating and replanting marjoram in small pots, having just taken it inside for the winter.

Damon was watching him work without much interest. "You are a funny mix between an ecological revolutionary and a desperate housewife, you know."

"I am not desperate, Damon, "Darwin said irritably.

"Oh please, you exude desperation."

"Well, so would you if no one ever listened to you."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, no one does, "Damon informed him drily.

Darwin straightened up, giving him an assessing look. "You're right. You're just as useless as I am."

"Normally, I'm all for Despotism, but that's when the power falls to me."

"Yeah, well some people seem to be drunk with their own power."

Damon smiled wryly. "So Kol is right; Dr. Crane has become Dr. Evil."

Darwin shook his head, wiping his dirty hands on his shirt. Damon went over to a plant, seeming to consider it.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Yes, it's my very own hybrid of Cannabis ruderalis and Cannabis sativa. It won't completely knock you out, but it's tough." Darwin regarded him suspiciously. "And you will leave it alone."

Damon then looked at the harvested, dry plants, hanging from the ceiling. "Just thinking, a few leaves in the Doctor's tea and this would be a much happier house."

"No, Damon."

"I was just thinking."

"Don't. It always ends badly." Darwin grabbed his shovel, "And putting it in tea won't have much of an effect, anyway, as THC is not very water-soluble. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get my rosemary."

He went up the stairs and into the hall, opening the front door, and subsequently slamming into an invisible barrier hard enough to fall backwards.

"Oh, he did not, "Darwin hissed, jumping to his feet and flinging the door to the Library open hard enough that it ripped off its hinges. He threw it aside. "What the Hell did you do?!"

Elijah looked at him without blinking, Bonnie looked slightly guilty, and Finn seemed to be rubbing a massive head ache out of his head.

"From the expression on your face I assume you already know, "Elijah stated calmly.

"What is this? Delayed retribution for breaking into Klaus mansion?"

"It's not retribution, it's precaution."

Darwin turned to the witch. "Bonnie, don't do this to me."

"I'm sorry, "she did sound like she meant it, "it won't be for long. Just until you've had time to cool down and come to your senses."

"Finn ... "Darwin turned to the last person in the room.

"No, Darwin, "Finn said in his usual composed tone, "I'm with Elijah on this one. In your current mood, you're a disaster waiting to happen. This house is swarming with your emotions."

"Fine, "he went into the parlour, stomping his frustration onto the floor boards, "Kol, Elijah has had me spelled in the house!"

"Uh huh, "Kol didn't look away from the tv for even a second.

"It's the most outrageous thing that has ever happened to me! Give me at least some reaction!"

"More outrageous than the time I compelled you to take off a piece of clothing every time someone said 'bait'?"

"I don't remember that."

"Well, we were ice fishing ..."

"Oh, dear Lord!" Darwin slammed his hand against his forehead, "Did you have to open that can of worms?"

Kol grimaced. "Thorstar, would you please take your emotional pollution elsewhere? You're ruining my concentration."

"You're watching Home Shopping, you moron."

"Yes, but it's quite a unique product."

"It's a singing fish!"

"I know, it's revolting ... Can I borrow your Mastercard?"

AN: Still not supporting the use of Marihuana ... Anyone remember the singing fish? What the Hell was that?