Author's Note: HEY GUYS. I'm finally back! Almost two weeks... I know. But I have good news; I'VE FIGURED OUT HOW I'M GONNA END THE STORY. It's a big deal, I promise. This was a fun chapter, and the next one should be coming in about a week. Maybe now that I know what I'm gonna write it'll be a little easier to actually do it..

A big thanks to everyone who reviewed/favorite/followed God's Gonna Cut You Down! And if you haven't... Go do it!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.

Sunlight was just beginning to peek over the crest of the hill, illuminating the lush green grass. A sleek, black car sped down the road, tires crunching the gravel endlessly. Going at least twice the speed limit, the drivers eyes never wavered from the road.

Inside the car, Caroline was beginning to feel the gnawing ache of hunger in her gums. Sighing loudly, she glanced over at Stefan to see if her discomfort had any effect on him. He merely stared through the windshield, imperious.

Crossing her arms, Caroline slumped down in her seat and looked out the window. The landscape was desolate, but beautiful. Attuning her ears to the environment, she could hear heartbeats faintly pounding a few miles away. The young vampires mouth watered at the thought of blood, and she turned her full body to face Stefan.

"I'm hungry."

"Sucks."

"Do you want me to dessicate?"

Stefan didn't answer, just smirked and increased the speed. Caroline sighed loudly, crossing her arms and sinking poutily into the seat. Two feet away from her, Stefan answered her sigh with one of his own. She refused to look at him, staring instead out the window.

"Caroline." he said firmly. She still didn't look up, instead gazing at the passing trees and grass. All of a sudden, the brakes screeched and dust came hurling up from under the tires. The car's shiny black paint job was now marred with fine grains of dirt, a covering of grimy dust.

All of a sudden, the blonde felt a hand on her chin. Stefan placed his nose barely an eyelash length away from Caroline, roughly pushing her face towards his.

"We stop when I want to stop. You seem to forget that I'm not Klaus or Damon; I won't put up with your childish behavior. Now either shut up and enjoy the rest of the drive, or get out and hitch your own ride to California."

Caroline pulled her chin forcefully out of the other vampires grasp. With a murderous look, she found herself more and more inclined to take the second option. But Stefan had already put the car back in drive and sped away, churning up another cloud of dust in their wake.

"Look," she said after a few moments. "I came with you because I thought it would be fun. I figured we would be going to the beach, compelling ourselves a few meals. You know, fun stuff. But instead, I've been stuck with you for the last three days while we drive across the country. This isn't exactly what I signed up for."

"Then why did you come?"

"I just told you, I thought it would be fun. Causing trouble and partaking in a few bloodbaths with an old friend. But if you're going to be this bitchy, PMS-ing version of yourself, then just drop me off right here."

Stefan chuckled to himself, finally dropping the scowl that had taken up permanent residence on his face for the last three days. Caroline knew he could get extra broody, but this car ride had been nothing but long silences and boring highways. She was ready to tear out a few throats, stretch her legs.

"Oh shut up, Caroline." Stefan said, almost affectionately. "We're almost there. Only about two more hours. Then you can eat as many natives as you want."

This news made the blonde perk up. As long as their destination was in sight, she could handle her old friend.

"I just have one question." Caroline said, turning her body towards Stefan. He groaned, throwing back his head and tightening his hands on the steering wheel. Their first day on the road, Caroline had practically driven him crazy with all of her unnecessary questions. Ranging from where he had gone after Mystic Falls to where in California they were going, nothing seemed to be off limits. There was only one subject she hadn't touched; Elena. She knew it was still a sore topic for both of them, and had therefore said nothing.

"Fine," He grumbled, passing a car at almost double the speed limit. "What is it?"

"Why California?"

He sighed. It seemed like a question he didn't want to answer, but Caroline knew that he would have to tell her eventually.

"There's just... Just something I really need to do." He said carefully, avoiding her eyes.

"Like...?"

"What the hell did I just say?" Stefan said forcefully, increasing his speed. "Shut up, and sit back. I don't want to hear another word until we cross the state border."

Caroline crossed her arms again, pouting. But it was really only a show for Stefan's sake. Despite not being able to feel emotion, she knew logically she should feel excited. So she was content to ride on that knowledge until they crossed the California border.

Only seconds after agreeing to work with Damon for Caroline's sake, Klaus had gotten a call from a hysterical Bonnie. It only took the two vampires a short while to figure out what had happened.

After practically heimliching her location from Bonnie, the two men went to the old witches house in the woods. The spirits of the dead witches seemed to have gotten over their old hatred, because Damon and Klaus were able to get in with no problem. But what they found there stopped both of them dead in their tracks.

The house was trashed. Postively, absolutely destroyed. It seemed that after Caroline killed Jeremy, Bonnie had gone on a rampage, using her powers to take out her frustration on the blonde.

Tables and chairs were destroyed past any recognition, fires had been started all over the house. Doors were off their hinges, and multiple walls looked as though they had been hit with a hammer.

In the middle of it all they found Bonnie. She had long since stopped her destruction, instead sitting on the floor staring blankly at a wall.

"Bonnie?" Damon said, the first to come to his senses. "What happened?"

"She killed him." Bonnie answered, not looking at either of them.

"Who?"

"Jeremy. She... She killed Jeremy! She fed him her blood... and then snapped his neck."

Damon glanced at Klaus, worry for the blonde overflowing his expression. If the witch could do this kind of destruction to a house... What could she do to Caroline?

"Don't worry," the witch said, laughing humorlessly when she saw the look on Damon's face. "I didn't kill her. But I wish I had."

Klaus growled. "Be careful what you say, witch."

Bonnie's eyes flashed, and all of a sudden, Klaus felt the power of a thousand dead witches intent on his pain. He sank to his knees, roaring with pain.

"She killed the love of my life! I'm not afraid of you Klaus, not after what I've been through. That bitch doesn't deserve mercy, she doesn't deserve kindness. I hope for her sake she skipped town, because I swear if I ever see her again... I won't hesitate to kill her."

"Bonnie!" Damon yelled, taking a hold of her upper arms. Bonnie looked up from Klaus' writhing form on the floor, breaking his pain. "Where is Caroline?"

"Why the hell should I tell you that? She's done nothing but cause me pain since she's come back to Mystic Falls! I want nothing to do with her."

Klaus pulled himself off of the floor, lunging for the witch. Damon let go of Bonnie, fighting to subdue the Hybrid.

"If you don't tell us where she is, witch," Klaus said from behind Damon. "I will kill your boyfriend for the second time and be done with it!"

In an instant, both vampires were subdued and howling on the floor. Bonnie stood over them, rage and hatred blazing in her eyes.

"I'm not telling you anything. I don't even know where she went. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. She's not the person I knew, she's given herself over to the darkside!"

"She's your best friend!" Damon managed to get out, looking up at the witch. "You need to help us!"

"I don't need to do anything!" Bonnie screamed. "I told you I don't know anything. Now get out. Leave Mystic Falls. And never come back. Or I swear to God, I will find a way to kill all of you."

That had been three days ago.

Klaus and Damon had thought it best to leave, trying to pick up Caroline's scent before they left Virginia. They found nothing, no sign of the blonde at all.

The two men had stuck around long enough to compel Bonnie, who truly had no clue as to where Caroline had gone.

Pacing in a hotel room in Richmond, Klaus was just about ready to find a white oak tree to stake himself and be done with it. They were no closer to finding Caroline than they were in Mystic Falls, and their trail had gone stone cold. Tensions were high, and neither vampire were interested in dealing with the other.

"What are we going to do?" Klaus roared, practically ripping his hair out. Damon sat in a chair, with his head in his hands. Scrubbing his eyes with his palms, Damon looked up at the Hybrid. There was no hope in his eyes, just a distinct acceptance of the inevitable.

"What can we do that hasn't already been done? There's only so much compulsion and threatening we can do!"

Klaus just gaped at the younger vampire. "You cannot be serious."

"She doesn't want to be found, Klaus! So maybe we should stop looking."

Both were silent for a long time. Damon had just started to think that Klaus was just going to be done with it and stake him when the Hybrid's eyes lit up.

"We can trace her."

"What?" Damon said. Klaus was already digging in his pocket, looking for his phone.

"A witch. A witch can trace her. The same witch that can remove the anti-compulsion spell."

Almost immediately, Damon felt a seed of hope begin to unfurl in his chest. These past three days had been stressful, and tension filled. Neither had even considered the possibility of a witches help, as the only one who knew Caroline personally had wished death upon her.

"Claudia..." Damon heard Klaus say into the receiver of his phone. "I need a favor. I'll be in New Orleans in 16 hours. Be ready."

He hung up the phone, almost running through the door of their hotel room. Damon had no choice but to follow, pursuing the man who was so intent on saving a lost cause.

The second they crossed the city limits into Los Angeles, Caroline could feel Stefan relax. The air in the car was no longer thick with tension, just filled with the warm, California sun.

She looked over at her old friend and smiled, taking in the sight of the ocean behind him. California was beautiful, more beautiful than some of the other places around the world she had been. It was nice to be back in the United States, with American people and a plentiful supply of blood.

"Where are we going first?" Caroline asked Stefan, taking in the crowded sidewalk.

"A club in Santa Monica." Stefan answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

"A club? You don't exactly strike me as the booty grinding type, Stef."

"Well..." He said, pulling up to their 5-star hotel and getting out to hand the keys to the valet. "When in LA, I guess."

Almost an hour later, both Stefan and Caroline had made their way into a crowded nightclub. Despite their arrival to California, Stefan had grown increasingly more snippy. Eager to get away from him and quench her thirst, Caroline immediately made her way to the middle of the dance floor.

Within minutes, Caroline had lost herself in the music. She had always loved dancing, and had single-handedly organized most high school dances in her high school career. The lights, her good looks, and the music all combined to make her the flame, with every single male in the building acting as a moth.

Taking the hand of one of the many men dancing around her, Caroline drew him away from the crowd. Ignoring the hoots and catcalls from his friends, she pulled the nameless boy into an alley.

Pressing him into the wall, Caroline compelled the boy to stay quiet. The confused look on his face quickly changed to one of pain as the blonde sank her fangs into his neck. She had just begun drinking his sweet, warm blood when the door of the club banged open.

"There you are," she heard a voice growl. "Come on. We're leaving."

Stefan barely glanced at her prey of choice before pulling Caroline away. Stopping for a moment, he thought of something.

Snapping the neck of the boy, he let the body drop to the ground. Caroline looked up at him with blood trickling down her chin, furious.

"What the hell, Stefan? The least you could have done was let me finish my dinner!"

Stefan barely spared her a withering look before spinning on his heel, going back through the door and into the crowded club. Caroline had no choice but to run after him, almost tripping in her sky high heels.

Once they had passed through the club and were on the sidewalk once more, Caroline caught up to him.

"Stefan!" She yelled, grabbing his arm and spinning him around. "What is your problem? I wasn't ready to leave! I was having a good time!"

"I don't care. We're leaving." He shook off her hand, reaching for the keys in his pocket.

"But I want to stay!"

"I don't care. I'm practically saving you, anyway. No respectable man would ever take you seriously in that stripper dress and 'come fuck me' heels."

Caroline's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe what he had just said. Stefan just looked at her reproachfully, slamming the driver-side door. A second later, the expensive sports car roared to life. He revved the engine, a clear warning to get in the car, or else. Caroline just crossed her arms, staring stubbornly into the tinted window.

The window rolled down, revealing a murderous Stefan. "Get in the fucking car, Caroline."

"No! Not until you tell me what the hell is going on!"

He sighed, all of the fight seeming to leave him. For the first time, Caroline could truly see how old he was.

"Just get in."

Caroline still stared at him reproachfully, raising her eyebrows.

"Please Caroline? I'll explain everything when we get back to the hotel. I promise."

Caroline knew she shouldn't take the word of a bloodthirsty vampire with his emotions turned off, but one look into his eyes and she knew Stefan was telling the truth. There was more to this entire roadtrip than what met the eye... And she was determined to find out.

The second they stepped into their luxurious hotel room, Caroline spun around to face her silent companion.

"Okay," she said, crossing her arms. "What the hell was that?"

Stefan just sighed, rubbing his eyes and sinking on the bed. Caroline made her way over to her suitcase, wriggling out of her dress. She and Stefan had been friends long enough for him to see her in her underwear, and she no longer even cared.

"First ask me why we're in California."

"I asked you that in the car. You wouldn't answer me."

"Just ask me again, Caroline." Stefan said, an edge of irritation in her voice.

After she pulled in a hoodie and sweatpants, she climbed into her own bed. Closing her eyes, she relaxed.

"Fine. Why are we in California?"

"Because I'm looking for Rebekah."

Those five words were all it took for Caroline to tense up again. Even though her emotions were turned off and she couldn't technically feel fear or panic, she knew that those emotions would both be viable in this situation. However, she decided to be smart about this.

"Okay." She said, closing her eyes.

"Okay?" Stefan asked, gaping at the blonde.

"Yeah, okay. I don't care. You can go off and be with your Original girlfriend."

Stefan couldn't believe it. He had spent all this time and energy hiding his true intentions from Caroline, when she really didn't care at all. He should have seen this coming when she turned her emotions off, but his focus hadn't been on her at the time.

"But," Caroline asked from underneath the covers. "Why did we go to that club? Did you think she would be there?"

"Yeah... A guy I know told me she goes there a lot."

"Well don't worry," Carline said, yawning. "You'll find her.

"Yeah..." Stefan said to a now snoring Caroline. He gazed wistfully at the wall, letting all of the tension of the last few days leave his system. "I hope so."

16 hours and a lot of compulsion out of traffic tickets later, Damon and Klaus made their way into a grimy corner of New Orleans. Dirt and dust seemed to penetrate every inch of the dark street, and loud shouts were heard coming from every direction. Klaus didn't seem to care, his focus on a dark door tucked away between a bar and a strip club.

Both men slipped into a dark hallway, striding through another set of doors into a small, darkly lit room.

The room was exactly how Klaus remembered from almost three years ago, when he came to the same witch to have the anti-compulsion spell placed on Caroline. There was a wall entirely dedicated to grimoires, and another with shelves full of spices and herbs. It was a witches sanctuary.

"Klaus," A displeased voice said from a dark corner. Stepping into the light, a tall woman with dark colored skin became visible. She was beautiful, with black hair and warm, brown eyes. Eyes that were wearily trained on Klaus. "I can't say it's a surprise. Or a pleasure. What can I do for you?"

Klaus just smiled. He had known Claudia for years, and she was one of the best witches in New Orleans. She had know he would be back for her services eventually.

"Claudia, I'd like to introduce-"

"I know who he is. Damon Salvatore. You killed Bree, right?"

Damon felt uncomfortable. He knew of this witches powers, and killing her wasn't an option. They both knew how much they needed her for Caroline's sake. All of a sudden, Claudia's face split into a warm smile.

"No hard feelings. She was a right bitch when she wanted to be. I'd been looking for a way to kill her myself for years. Now Klaus, what can I do for you?

"I need a tracer spell. And then I need that anti-compulsion spell I had you perform to be removed."

Claudia laughed, raising her eyebrows. "Is that baby vampire giving you more trouble, Klaus? I'd like to meet the girl who's got the Original Hybrid himself in such a fluster."

Klaus said nothing, just glared at Claudia. She merely rolled her eyes, moving around the room fluidly to collect the herbs needed for her spell. She placed them on a table in front of her, along with a pin and map of the world.

"Unfortunately," she said, flipping through a grimoire. "I'll need the girl here to break the anit-compulsion spell. So we'll have to find her regardless."

Finding the spell she needed, Claudia glanced up.

"You wouldn't happen to have a personal artifact, would you?"

Klaus shook his head. Looking to Damon, he raised his eyebrows. Damon slowly nodded, pulling the picture of Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline that had been in her room from his jacket pocket. Handing it to Claudia, Damon avoided Klaus' eye. He could practically feel the Hybrid burning a hole in his skull.

"The blonde? You always did like the ditzy type, Klaus..."

Klaus just growled, narrowing his eyes. Claudia took the hint, beginning to chant and sprinkle various herbs over the picture. A pin on the map in front of her began to quake, moving slightly. Her frown deepened.

"It's not working..." she muttered, tightening her eyes.

"What?" Klaus said impatiently.

"The spell... It's not working. Did she have any contact with a witch before you lost her?"

There was a silence in which Damon and Klaus both cursed Bonnie's existence. Claudia's eyes popped open, surveying both of their expressions.

"I'm assuming that's a yes."

"Is there any other way to locate her?" Damon asked, glaring a Klaus and silently telling him not to rip the witches throat out.

"Unfortunately, no. If an untraceable spell has been placed, it can't be removed of over-ridden. It's impossible. Is she with someone I could trace?"

Klaus thought for a moment. Stefan and Caroline had seemed very close... And both had their emotions turned off. Both vampires had wanted to go to California, and it was Stefan who forced Caroline to turn her emotions off in the first place. If he really wanted to get back at his brother for taking Elena from him, then it would make the most logical sense for Stefan to take Caroline with him.

"Try tracking Stefan Salvatore." Klaus said, earning a confused look from Damon.

"No personal artifact, I'm assuming?"

Both men shook their heads. Claudia sighed, closing her eyes again.

"That's fine. I can do without, but I won't be able to give you an exact location."

She began chanting once more, but this time the lights flickered and dimmed. There was a viable energy in the air. The pin on the map zipped over to California, planting itself firmly in the Los Angeles area.

Claudia opened her eyes and immediately looked down.

"Well, there you are. Stefan is somewhere in Los Angeles. I can't give you a street address because of the lack of personal articact... but it's a start."

Both men were practically jumping for joy. After so many dead ends, a concrete location was known.

"Thank you, Claudia." Klaus said, a real grin stretched across his face. "We'll go collect the girl and bring her back here within a week."

"I'll be waiting." Claudia said, already putting her herbs away. She looked drained, as if the spell took a lot out of her. But neither had any time to register this, as both took off at vampire speed, ready to bring Caroline home.

The next day in California, neither Caroline or Stefan felt like being cooped up in their hotel room. Both of them wanted to go to the beach, and enjoy the sun.

"So," Stefan said, rolling his head back to face the sun's rays. "You don't care if I try to find Rebekah?"

"Not in the least," Caroline answered, digging her toes into the sand. "Why should I?"

"She's an Original. You don't have the best track record with the Originals."

Caroline paused for a moment. She hadn't considered the thought that Stefan would want her to stay with him once he found Rebekah. She had assumed that once the couple was reunited, she would take off again. Maybe to Europe, or a redemption trip to Barcelona.

"I probably won't stay with you. She and I... We don't exactly get along." Caroline said slowly.

"Oh." Stefan answered. It was a few moments before he continued. "You could try going back to Klaus, you know. He would take good care of you."

"Why on earth would I do that?"

"I don't know." Stefan said, annoyed. "Because he legitimately cared about you? Because he's clearly the better choice over my brother? Because he's the most powerful supernatural being in the world? There are a ton of reasons, Care. You just don't want to hear any of them."

Caroline felt like tearing her hair out. Why couldn't Stefan see that those were exactly the reasons why she didn't want to be with Klaus? He was selfish, impatient. He would never put her first. He caused death and destruction where ever he went.

"I don't want to be with Klaus. So long as my emotions are off, he'll be trying to get me to turn them back on. I'm perfectly fine the way I am. I don't need him. Or anybody, for that matter."

"I know Care, but-"

"Just drop it, Stefan! He never actually cared about me. He just liked the chase, and once he caught me, I'd be a good fuck. I'm not going back to Klaus or Damon. That part of my life is over, okay?"

"Fine! I was just saying."

Both lapsed into silence, and Caroline began to feel sleepy. The warm sun felt life perfection, and her eyelids had just began to flutter closed when she heard it.

"Ah, there you are Stefan. I'd heard you were in Los Angeles. But I didn't know you were with such... unsavory company."

And all of a sudden, Caroline felt like tearing her hair out all over again.

Looking up into the sun, she saw the Original bitch herself.

Rebekah was back.

AU: Only two more chapters, guys! So sad :( but I'm glad it's coming to a close. The ending of a story is always my favorite. And who knows... Maybe a sequel? ;)

Thanks for reading, remember to follow, favorite, and review!