A/N: Hi guys, sorry for the delay in updating this chapter, I find I'm less inspired at writing this fanfic but will do my best to update it sooner the next time. I know how I want the next chapters to go and I think you'll like what's coming up.

Thank you all for your comments, love you all very much!

"Rebekah..." Klaus started. "Now don't do anything regrettable, love."

The growl that came out at the end of his warning did not escape his sister's ears and she chuckled at his frustration.

"Stop using that patronizing tone with me Nick" she spat.

"You're my baby sister, Rebekah, I'm only looking after you" he replied, turning his back to the group in front of him, shielding himself from their scrutinizing glares.

She couldn't believe that he could still foolishly think this was just an innocent quarrel that he could easily settle with words.

"You lost that right the moment you stabbed me for the nth time Niklaus. Mark my words, you are no longer my brother."

Her last uttered words cut through his unbeating heart like a sharp knife would of had. He composed his face in a stony mask, concealing the hurt he felt at his only sister's rejection.

"You are my sister Rebekah. I will always care about you..."

He heard her sobbing before the phone changed hands and Kol spoke.

"Brother, it's unbelievable how you still manage to affect her feelings, even when she has been swearing for the last weeks that she hates your guts and does not care what happens to you."

"Kol..."

If his younger brother had been in front of him right now he'd strangled him until he heard the bones in his neck crack under the pressure of his fingers.

"So a word of advice Nik, stop sending us your little soldiers because you will end up with a deceived army to boss around, yet again." With that they all heard Stefan's agonizing cries as Kol undoubtedly stabbed him with something. "Next time it will be in his heart. Take that as a warning."

Klaus heard Elena hold her breath at Stefan's exposed pain.

"Kol I swear to you..."

"Oh, and I also heard you let Tyler live. How very merciful of you. I don't recognize you Nik, your like a weaker version of your old self, very boring. It's a pity really, because you use to be so much fun."

Caroline held her breath knowing Kol was tempting his brother, she knew Klaus would not appreciate being called weak and it was her fault Tyler was still running around town.

"Kol, you will never cease to amuse me..." His brother had always been a pest, although now it wasn't done in an arrogant brotherly way, it was meant to hit hard.

"Another advice for you Nik" Kol cut him off, his tone now provocative. "I'd keep a close eye on your girlfriend from now on, things could so easily go wrong for her."

A low growl escaped Klaus' mouth as he turned to look Caroline straight in the eyes, a silent message seemed to pass between them. He would protect her at any cost and she knew it.

"Are you threatening her Kol?"

"Oh I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing and unleash your wrath on me dear brother... but you never know what terrible things awaits us in our future. Some are nearer and some further, that's the great thing about the unknown... we know nothing, it's so fascinating don't you think. So watch your back brother... and hers."

Kol hung up and Klaus stood there, staring at his phone in disbelief. His brother and sister were now openly at war against him, how did that happen? Of course he was not afraid of them, but he dreaded the fact that they were still going after Caroline now that their plan to use Tyler hadn't worked. The only thing he could do to protect Caroline would be to get rid of the menace, and the thought disturbed him deeply.

Caroline watched Klaus' tensed shoulders and she notice his struggle to remain calm. She was agitated herself after what she just heard, Stefan was in imminent danger and nothing led them to think the Mikaelsons would keep Matt or Shane alive. Plus Kol had been very clear about his intentions towards making her their next target.

"We have to find them" Elena cried out, bringing them both back to the Gilbert's dining room.

Elena was upset after the call had ended. Her heart had sank the moment she heard Stefan's howling. If he died now she'd never forgive herself for not having had the chance to properly explain herself to him.

Caroline stood up and walked to her friend's side, resting a reassuring hand on Elena's shoulder to try and calm her down. She had no time for self-pity, she knew, not when her friends lives were in jeopardy.

"For that we need to locate them" Caroline said, squeezing Elena's shoulder. She was as concerned for Matt and Stefan's safety, as her friends were. Even though she did feel bad for Shane she was on the same page as Damon on that one. She did not trust the guy and she certainly would not have jumped into a battle against two Original vampires for his sake alone, although now it seemed like she was destined to do just that, with them making it clear she was on their "to kill" list.

"Bonnie can't you do a locator spell to find where they are holding Stefan, Matt and Shane prisoner?" she asked.

"I could, I just need one of their belongings. I grabbed something from Shane's apartment but if I have something from Matt, it would reinforce the spell."

"Can't you use my blood to locate Stefan, like you once did with Jeremy's to find Elena when she was abducted by Rose and Trevor?" Damon asked, hope clear in his voice. It was time for them to move and find his brother. If Kol hurt him again he would personally rip the Original vampire's heart out. Even though he felt Elena's distress at finding Stefan, he would step down and let Stef have her if it meant his brother would be safe.

"As vampires I'm not sure that would work, when I used Jer's blood, Elena was still human. You and Stefan are dead, well technically anyway, so it wouldn't work."

"Yes well, that was when you used the pure magical powers of your ancestors that tapped into the magic of the earth" Klaus said in a bored way, leaning against the wall opposite the gang. He managed to put a façade up so they wouldn't notice the emotions boiling up inside him "but now with Expression, you can find whatever and whomever you want, I've seen it. Give it a try, you'll see."

Bonnie looked at him distrustfully. Was he testing her and her new abilities, knowing it wouldn't work but challenging her to do it anyway.

"Since when do you care what happens to our friends?" Jeremy asked skeptically.

"Oh don't flatter yourself young Gilbert, I don't give a hoot about what happens to Matt, but I do however have some kind of bonding with Stefan, even after he, along with all of you, betrayed me and let me to die at the hands of my hybrids not that long ago. But let bygones be bygones, I decided to forgive you all and help you in bringing this great happy family back together. So Bonnie, what's it gonna be? Are you going to try or not?"

Caroline saw Damon smirk before he started advancing on Klaus with his usual arrogant attitude.

"You know what would help us finding my dear martyr of a brother and your great shiny medieval toy, would be for you to give us a few drops of your blood so we can track your brother and sister down. This way we could be sure you and your siblings are not playing any tricks on us and luring us into a trap."

Jeremy smiled at Damon for challenging Klaus, he liked that the raven haired vampire wasn't impressed by his elders and didn't crawl to the floor to please them. He didn't appreciate being in the same living space as the Original vampire and his hands were itching for him to reach for his back pocket, where his stake was hidden, and plunge it into the Hybrid's chest. He suppressed his urges and crossed his arms waiting for Klaus to answer Damon's demands.

"How very audacious of you to request that of me. After all your attempts at killing me..."

"After you tried to kill all of us as well" Damon cut him trough.

Klaus snickered. "And I should trust you" he continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, "and willingly provide traitors such as yourselves with something as valuable and as worthy as my blood?"

Damon just looked at him and nodded. "Yup" he said.

"Then you are as thick as you look."

Caroline understood Klaus' reluctance to trust her friends, after all, he was right, they had done nothing to make amend of their previous actions, but the fact was that he hadn't either. He never apologized for his past attempts against Elena, Stefan, Damon and Bonnie's lives (and mine! she reminded herself). Unfortunately this was not the time to have such a discussion, time was not a luxury they could afford at the moment and they needed to concentrate their efforts into finding her friends and deliver them from their abductors. As she opened her mouth to ask him for his help she was interrupted by Damon.

"What ever happened to let bygones be bygones?" he asked smirking at Klaus.

"I don't hold grudges I only learn from my past mistakes. If my mother was still alive and so much as cared for my wellbeing she'd probably be proud."

"Klaus, please." Caroline spoke up. She walked up to him raising her arms in a submission gesture, he said he wanted to help, this was the opportunity to do so. "You trust me don't you? I swear to you that this is no trick, we need your help to rescue our friends, and ..."

"Find the Cure" Jeremy finished for her. "That is still your main preoccupation right now right, get the Cure and use it on my sister like we all want?"

Klaus glared at Jeremy, not liking the tone the young hunter was using.

"Ah yes, using the Cure, to then in turn use Elena to create a new Hybrid army..." Damon added.

Caroline's face fell, how stupid of her! She had completely forgot about Klaus' interest in the Cure. Of course he wanted it... to use on her friend to then drain her from her blood against her will.

"I can't believe how stupid I am!" she exclaimed.

"Caroline..." Klaus said. He was deeply concerned at her reaction and the thought that he'd just lost his last ally, the one he wanted by his side for always and forever, creeped up inside his head.

"I need some air, you guys figure out a plan and I'll give a hand with the realization of it."

Elena followed her to the front door and they stepped outside closing the door behind them.

Klaus turned to look at Damon, glaring.

"Well you must have loved that."

"You know what's great about this? Now if you don't want Caroline to hate you for the rest of your existence, you will not pursue your plan to use Elena to create more hybrids. You will let her live her normal human life and carry on with your own meaningless one."

"And how is that going to work out for you? The sire-bond is not broken yet, although you seem to think it is. When she becomes human again, she will no longer care for you and will run back into Stefan's arms and pledge she didn't know what she was doing with you. You will lose her. It was and will always be Stefan, not you. Your wish to sacrifice your own happiness to your brother's advantage is quite remarkable."

They both stared at one another, seizing each other out. If it wasn't for the promise he made to Caroline to behave tonight, he'd snap the arrogant vampire's neck without blinking.

Caroline was sitting on the porch staring at the night sky, spotting Sirius out of all the others out there. She was frustrated at Klaus but most of all she was furious at herself for falling for his charms without questioning her feelings further.

She could feel her best friend's presence behind her and she knew that would it have been her standing behind her, she would not have been able to hold her tongue, giving some kind of lecture on how blind she had been in trusting the enemy. She hadn't been careful like she said she would.

"I can't believe how stupid I am" she repeated. "I'm sure you would like to say you told me so..."

"No Caroline. I think your judging yourself too harshly" Elena said, sitting by her blond friend's side. "Love can make us see and believe things that others can't or won't."

Caroline scoffed at the word "love".

"I'm just a foolish, blondish, sorry excuse of a friend. I've put you in a dangerous situation tonight. Not only is Klaus still keen on using you as his personal blood bag once you're back to your old human self, but now he will be free to come and go into your house as please him. I'm so sorry."

"Caroline, stop this" Elena said frowning. "I'm not afraid of Klaus and I know now more than before, that he won't hurt me, whatever happens after tonight."

Caroline stood up and took a few steps away from Elena.

"How can you believe such a thing, we don't know what he's capable of..." she said, looking at the street lights.

Elena walked up to her friend and grabbed her shoulders so they would face each other. "He cares about you Caroline, and I think you made it pretty clear in there that you do not encourage him to use me in the future. So I believe he cares enough about you to at least postpone his plans."

Caroline looked up at her, tears swelling in her eyes, and I stupidly still care about him too, she thought.

"We need his help Care, if we ever want to see Stefan and Matt again, and if we want a less agitated Bonnie we also need him to help us free Shane. I don't care about the Cure if it means I'll lose them Caroline, you know that..."

"What do you say Caroline, are you willing to bury the hatchet?"

Both girls turned to see Klaus standing on the porch, how long had he been there? Caroline asked herself.

"I'll leave you two alone and see if they need me inside."

Elena left her friend behind and passed next to Klaus, giving him a warning look before she entered her house.

"Caroline..."

"Don't", she interrupted him. "don't try to sweet talk yourself out of this."

"I'm not trying to do anything like that."

"Sure you don't" she scoffed. "I can't shake the idea that you've been using me to get something out of all of this and it makes me sick."

"Get what? My family's rejection? You heard them like I did Caroline, they resent me. I have gone against them FOR YOU." he growled, unable to contend his frustration. "What more do you want me to do to prove that I am on your side. You are important to me."

"You don't know me!" she screamed at him, a soft sob escaping her lips. She wouldn't be fooled again.

"How can you say that?" he knew everything there was to know about her, he had compelled everyone in this puny town to tell him what they knew about Caroline Forbes. There was probably a few more things he would need to learn from her, more personal thing, but still her life was no mystery to him. And after last night, she must know he had worked hard to find out all those things about her.

"I have been nothing but kind to you and I could have ripped Damon's head off the second he defied me in there but I kept myself composed for your case! All I ever do is to be in your favour and you always seem to forget that that is the case. I should have compelled you to stay at your home instead of willingly letting you rush over here and spoil what could have been an extraordinary night for us" he bursted out.

"If you really knew me as much as you say you do, you would have known I would have never let you hurt my best friend. Ever!"

"Who said anything about hurting her? I plan on being very respectful..."

"By using her as a human blood bag and stealing her life-essence away from her every month or so? How very thoughtful of you" she spat. "And Elena would never let you use her blood to enslave innocent people."

"Are you really going to be like this after what happened a two hours ago" he said walking to her extending his right hand towards her.

"Don't you dare use that kiss as leverage to win back my favour. I will never let you hurt my friends or use them as your servants."

"Fine, I give you my word" he finally said, an inch away from her body, "I will never hurt the people that you love Caroline."

"Point is, you shouldn't hurt anybody. Period."

"I am not a saint Caroline, I am a Hybrid, an Original Vampire, I don't turn the cheek to betrayal or threats against me. And I will do whatever I have to protect you, I will show no mercy to those who promise to hurt or kill you."

"Is that what creating an army of hybrids is for? To help protect me? If so please don't bother... Enslaving innocent people for my advantage is not worth it."

"Creating new hybrids will permit me to create a new family, people who I will make sure, will never betray me. I will no longer be alone."

"You're not alone!"

"I'm not?" he mocked. "You heard my sister and brother, they hate me, they want nothing more than to see me miserable, or better yet, dead. I lost them, I have no one else."

"You would of had me!"

Caroline stared blankly at him, completely stunned at what she had just said. Klaus looked as surprised as she did which made her frown. She knew that, in some way, she wasn't being fair to him by lashing out on him like she did. She should not have presumed he was going to forget about his plan to create more hybrids, she should not have believed their current relationship would have been enough for him to be content with.

They were staring at each other's faces neither one of them making a move. Then all of a sudden Caroline felt a presence behind her. She spun around but there was no one there, still she could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching her at the very moment.

"What's wrong" Klaus asked, before smelling blood in the air. He raised his head to try to detect something else but couldn't figure out what it was.

"Someone's out there" Caroline said, her voice quivering. What if it was Tyler sneaking around and waiting for the right moment to jump on them.

"Let's go back inside" Klaus said grabbing her hand and dragging her with him. He would have investigated further but not before he knew she was safe with her friends to protect her. "I'll tell you what, I will do whatever you want me to do to help tonight, like I promised. I trust you, Caroline."

Klaus held his hand a few inches away from the map. His palm facing the ceiling, he took the kitchen knife Elena was handing him and with a slow deliberate movement, never breaking the eye contact he had with Caroline, showing her he was placing his faith into her hands, he cut his flesh and turned his hand quickly so the dark red liquid could fall before his wound healed completely.

Caroline watched as Bonnie started chanting, the second Klaus' blood hit the map and quickly two separate dots made their way opposite of each other.

They all leaned forward, intent to find the location of the nearest drop. The moment they did they stared at each other before Bonnie cried out "They're here!"

At that moment the front door flew open and they felt the wind shifting as someone moved at super speed and ended its run in front of Klaus.

"Hello brother"

A gunshot pierced through the night, making Caroline gasp.