A New Problem:
Beth turned when she realized there wasn't another body next to her. The light poked through the blinds, shining on Kol looking at a picture on her dresser. He was pulling on a shirt. He turned and smiled at her, sat besides her. "I didn't want to wake you until the last minute. You looked peaceful." He told her brushing back her hair, as she sat up. She gave him a weak smile. "Elizabeth? While I'm gone will you please stay away from my brother?"
Beth looked up at him curiously. She knew that they didn't have the best relationship, but she didn't understand why she couldn't see him. "Klaus? Why not?"
"He's dangerous, love. He doesn't think of anyone, but himself." He told her truthfully. "Trust me, I know from experience. He's done some things in the past, that I don't want to be repeated." He said darkly. It was there, that Beth felt that he wasn't telling her anything.
"I can't completely ignore him, Kol. He's been a friend to me. He's protected me." She squeezed his hand, but that didn't seem to comfort him at all. She kissed his cheek, quickly. "I won't be alone with him, but he wouldn't hurt me, Kol." He nodded, but he wasn't too sure about that. It wouldn't be the first time.
Kol pulled her closer to him. "I really wish you would come with me."
"I know." She said as she let him wrap an arm around her. It was that time to say goodbye, but neither of them could get it out. Goodbye sounded to final, like never going to see the other again. Luckily, they were saved by the sound of Beth's cell phone. "I should take this real quick." He nodded.
"Hello."
"El." She knew right away that it was Damon. He was the last person she wanted to talk to right now, especially with having to say goodbye to Kol soon. Kol let out a growl of annoyance when he heard Damon on the other of the call.
"I'm not talking to you, Damon." She snapped, standing up.
"Well, you better be cause Ric's in jail? He got arrested." He told her quickly before she could hang up on him. He knew that if he didn't get that out, right then and there, she wouldn't talk to him all day.
"He got what?" She asked worried. That wasn't like him, not anymore. She knew that he got into trouble when he was younger, but he wasn't like that now. "What did you do? What happened?"
"Chill, Sabrina, I didn't do anything. Dr. Hottie framed him for the murders around town. He's being detained. I'm on my way down now."
"I'll be down there in ten minutes." She said quickly before hanging up the phone. No matter Ric's part in what happened, she needed to help him, even if she had to deal with Damon. She looked at Kol, apologetically as she rushed to get clothes. "I'm sorry, I have to go down to see Ric."
Kol placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. I'll drop you off, before I leave. Anything to buy us some time, right?" He asked with a small grin and she smiled back, kissing him quickly before leaving to get dressed.
xxxxx
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, darling?" Kol asked her worried as he pulled up outside the police station. She was unusually quiet as they drove, too worried about Ric to really talk, but being with Kol just made her feel a little better.
"I will." She assured him with a small smile, as he pushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear. Beth swallowed hard realizing this was when she had to say goodbye. "Call me soon, ok?" He gave her a small smile and nodded.
"I will." He told her confidently. Kol gave her a slow chaste kiss before pulling her into his arms. He reluctantly pulled back, but not before kissing her head again. "Be safe, my love." Beth nodded and kiss him once more before getting out of the car, his eyes on her back. She walked straight into the police station, knowing that if she looked back, she'd be tempted to cry.
Beth saw Damon as soon as he came out. "Where is he?" She asked him.
"Well, good morning to you too, sunshine. I had a nice night, what about you?" He asked her sarcastically. She scoffed and rolled her eyes. He sighed, he knew that he would have gotten a worst reaction if Ric wasn't locked up. "He's locked up. Sheriff wont' let anyone see him." Her heart dropped at that statement. Damon actually looked sympathetic. "El..."
"You said Dr. Fell accused him right?" She cut him off. The last thing she wanted from him was a meaningless apology.
"Yeah, we can't do anything, unless you want Sheriff Forbes to arrest us." He warned her. She rolled her eyes and began to walk away. If she couldn't see Alaric then she had to find some way to clear his name. Damon pulled her back going.
"What are you seriously going to act like this? If you're looking for an apology you're not getting one." He snapped at her. Seeing her annoyed at him was one thing, but it made him frustrated when she'd barely talk to him. "I did what I had to."
She scoffed. "Of course not, because the decent thing to do would apologize for always putting a girl who isn't your girlfriend in front of your best friend. And don't deny it!" She snapped, in a whisper before he could interrupt her with his eye roll. "You always put Elena first! You proved it last night when you were going to kill them, knowing how I felt."
"Well, you fell for the wrong person, El! Klaus has to die, and your little boyfriend and his family were just collateral damage. I would do it again in a heartbeat. They're going to get you and Elena killed." He snapped back in a hush whisper.
"And what about me, Damon? When the time comes that I stand in the way of Elena being safe, is that when I'm collateral damage?" She asked him trying to keep the hurt out of her voice. Damon looked sad for a minute, and went to answer before she interrupted. "You know what, don't answer that. I'm positive I won't like the answer." Beth walked past Elena coming in, ignoring what every apologies she'd know she'd come up with.
Beth bumped into Matt as she was leaving. "Oh, I'm sorry, Matt. I didn't see you there." She apologized quickly. He gave her a small smile and waved it off.
"Don't worry about, Beth. No harm done. How's Mr. Saltzman? Is he okay?" He asked her worried. Matt was a good guy, she was grateful to have him as a friend, especially after Kol broke his hand. She let out a sigh and nodded.
"Damon said he's fine, but they won't let me see him." She told him sadly. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's ridiculous. Ric wouldn't ever kill someone, and he was stabbed himself! He almost died, apparently they're not taking into account. She needed to concentrate on being angry or else Kol leaving would really sink in.
"I know. I'm sure that the sheriff will release him soon. They can't keep him in there forever." He reassured her. She gave him a small thankful smile. "Hey, if there's anything you need, call me." He told her seriously.
She nodded. "I will, thanks, Matt." She hugged him, before walking away. For now, she didn't want to bring Matt into this before she had to, but she needed to talk to Meredith Fell, but something told her she would have to bring him up on his offer.
xxxxx
Matt worked on the lock to Meredith Fell's apartment as Beth stood right by him. After trying to talk to her and learning she was in surgery, she knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to get into her apartment to find something to clear Alaric. Finally the door opened. "You're awesome and I definitely owe you one." She kissed his cheek as they walked in quietly.
"Don't worry, you definitely owe me one." He joked with her.
She smiled. "Okay, so Meredith's in surgery, but I don't know how long for. I just want to find something to help Ric and get out of here." She told him seriously. They started searching from the dozens of paper sprawled out across the tables.
"Don't you think the police already combed through this place? She handed over everything she had." He said as he looked with her.
"I'm looking for evidence she didn't hand over." She told him.
"Are you sure it's her we should be investigating?" He asked her cautiously. He didn't want to make her angry with him, he knew that Beth was protective when it came to Alaric. He was like a father to her and she'd defend him till her dying breath.
She turned to him. "I know Ric, Matt. He wouldn't knowingly kill people, that's not him." He nodded, dropping the subject. She looked around as a thought came to her. "And I know Meredith's a Fell, meaning a founding family. Like Elena's family. Which means..." Matt followed her as she walked over to the closet. Opening it, she went to the back off it and knocking until she heard a hollow sound. "Skeleton in the closet. Just like all the founders."
Matt helped her take off the hollow covering from the back of the wall to reveal a box full of files. They went through them quickly. Beth recognized the names. "Brian Walter...Bill Forbes." She stopped as Matt held one up for her to see.
"Alaric Saltzman." He said.
He handed it to her and got closer so they could both look through it. "She has everything on him." Beth flipped through the file. It made her angry that she could have gotten all this information on him, just to frame him. "Medical record, she even has his old court documents." It wasn't news to her that Alaric had gotten into some trouble when he was younger, they didn't keep secrets from each other, but she didn't like Meredith knowing that.
"What's this?" Matt asked as he took a book out of the box. She looked at it and saw that it was a journal. He handed it to her and she went through it. It was one of Elena's old family journal.
"It's a Gilbert Journal." She stated as he started looking in the box again. "Why in the world would she have one of Elena's family journal."
"Hey, didn't you say that the medical examiner's death was between 1 and 3 am?" Matt asked her. She nodded as he showed her the page, making her gasp at what she read. Suddenly, they heard someone at the door. They exchanged a look before hurrying to grab the papers. They ran into the closet and hid her things before shutting the door.
They heard Meredith walk in and close the apartment door. Beth saw Matt going to say something so she quickly pressed her hand to his mouth. He nodded, staying quiet until they heard the door close the apartment again. Both let out a sigh of relief as Matt went to open the door, with Meredith on the other side. They exchanged a worried look, knowing it just got a whole lot worst.
xxxxx
An hour later Matt and Beth were now sitting in the Sheriff's office waiting for her to come. Beth, impatiently tapped her foot on the ground waiting and looked up when she heard the door open. Sheriff Forbes walked in front of them. "What were you thinking?" She asked both of them. Beth began speaking.
"I know we had no right, but-"
"No right?" She interrupted her. "You broke the law!"
"But we found something that clears Alaric." She argued. "It gives him an alibi in the Brian Walters murder." The Sheriff held up a piece of paper.
"You mean this?" She asked. Matt glanced at her. "It's a letter from the county coroner's office correcting the error in the time of death of Brian Walters. Meredith Fell received it today. She brought it to me several hours ago, full of apologies for accusing an innocent man." She snapped.
"Why would she have a copy hidden in her closet?" Matt questioned.
"I can't ask those questions, Matt." She said impatiently to them. "Because the very fact that you broke into her home to find it. Do you know how much I'm already protecting both of you?" Beth felt a twinge of guilt.
"We're sorry."
"Just...get out of my office and go home. Please." She could obviously see the hesitation in Beth's eyes on leaving Alaric there. "Alaric will be released as soon as the letter is authenticated. Go."
Matt nudged Beth and they walked out of the room."That was a close one." He noted.
"Tell me about it." She agreed as she saw Elena coming near them. "I'll see you later." She mumbled. She really didn't want to see her right now Matt would have stopped her, but he knew she was still angry with her. Beth walked passed Elena, ignoring whatever apologies, she'd know she'd probably have.
xxxxx
Beth stayed at Elena's even though she didn't want to, she knew she'd be worried about Ric too. She was in the kitchen with Matt, who was giving her the Gilbert journal, while she waited on the porch for Alaric. Beth was nervously tapping her foot on the porch step when her phone rang. She quickly grabbed it to answer it, hoping it was Ric, but it was from an unknown number. "Hello?" She asnwered.
"Seems like I finally got this bloody device to work." The voice was clear to her, making her smile for the first time that morning. "Sorry, I didn't call earlier, love. This phone, as you call it, is difficult to use." Kol told her. She could practically see the grimace on her face.
"No, it's...it's fine. I just didn't know you learned to use a cell phone." She smile in delight. At least she'd be able to talk to him, if she couldn't see him.
"Only for you, darling." He said with a hint of a smirk, making Beth smile. "How are you though, love? You answered and you sounded discouraged. Did something happen?"
She laughed. "You have no idea." And with that Beth launched into the story of her day, from the fight with Damon to almost getting arrested, to Alaric being accused, everything. To her surprised, Kol listened to every word she said, with an occasional word from his part to let her know he was listening.
"Kol?" She asked when he was silent for too long.
"I'm coming back." He told her quickly. "There is no way I'm leaving you there alone, after all that happened. I'll be there in a few hours, love."
"No, Kol! You can't. Damon is hell bent on finding away to kill Klaus, even if that means killing all of you. I have to find a way to break the link, but it's too dangerous for you to be here." She told him warning. She wanted nothing more than for him to be there with her, especially after her fight with Damon, but right now, it wasn't safe for him.
"Elizabeth, you almost got arrested."
"But I didn't. I'm fine. I'm safe, I promise I am, but you won't be if you come back, Kol. I want you too, but it's safer if you stay away." She told him. Kol, sighed knowing she was right, she was always right. "Hey, I'll be fine. I promise."
"Do you swear to be careful? I mean it, Elizabeth. Don't get yourself into any unnecessary dangers." He told her seriously and she nodded.
"I won't, but I do have to go now." She said sadly. "Can I call you later?"
"Anytime, love. I'm still working on the texting mechanism, but I'm sure I'll get there." Beth laughed at that, as the familiar ache grew in her heart. He was silent for a minute before sighing. Neither of them wanted to get off. "Be safe, darling."
"You too." She got out, as she hung up. She sighed as she opened the door to Elena's house. She was about to go sleep in the room that Ric had prepared for her, but as she climbed the stairs the door opened. She turned seeing Alaric walk in. Elena walked in, but before she could so anything, Beth ran into his arms. "Are you okay?" She asked him worried.
He kissed her head and sighed, happy that she was safe. "Yeah...yeah I'm alright." He promised. Beth sighed as he tightened his grip around her. For now, he was back. He was safe and that was enough for her.
xxxxx
Beth got changed into her pajamas and was now eating ice cream in the kitchen. Alaric wanted them to stay there tonight and she agreed for him. "Hey, I was going to make coffee." He motioned over to the coffee pot.
"Sure, thanks. I think I need a pick me up." She admitted.' He nodded and started making it, and sat next to her.
"Listen, I know you're probably angry for the part I played in killing Klaus and the others."
"Yeah, I am. I can't believe you would do that." She said to him. He sighed. He knew that this was coming soon. She wasn't going to blow up, because she was worried about him, but Beth wouldn't stay quiet for long.
"Beth, you have to understand that everything that I do, is to protect you."
"And so you immediately try and kill them?" She asked in a incredulous tone. "What about his siblings? They did nothing to deserve this. It wasn't their fault they were daggered, they were all going to die too." Beth knew it probably wasn't a good idea to mention her and Kol, especially if Damon managed to keep his mouth shut.
"I saw that Klaus could possibly get you hurt or worst and I wanted to stop that. I didn't think. I'm sorry. I just...I want you to be safe, sweetie." He said truthfully. Beth wasn't like his daughter, she was. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her, if he could help it.
"I understand, Ric." She sighed. He was just trying to protect her, like she would him. "And I will be safe, but please talk to me before we go to extremes, again. " He let out a sigh of relief. They usually didn't argue, and they only fought over stupid things and he wanted to keep it like that.
"Alright. I promise I will. Oh and the sheriff told me what you guys did. I appreciate you trying to help me, but I don't want you to get in trouble for me." He said seriously. "I'm the one who's supposed to look after you, even if I suck at it."
"You don't suck at it, you just do it differently. And how about we just agree to take care of each other? Even when the elder of us is doing something really stupid. We do it anyways." Beth smiled at him. Ric chuckled and nodded.
"Alright, deal." He said as soon as the doorbell rang. "I'll get that."
"I'll grab coffee." She said. After a few minutes of hearing talking, Alaric and Meredith came in. Ric looked in disbelief "What is she doing here?" She snapped over at the doctor. Ric put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Listen, I know what you said, but I was attacked too!" He reminded her continuing their conversation. Beth stayed by Ric's side. The last thing she needed was for Meredith to try and hurt him again.
"With your own knife. A wound that could have been self-inflicted."
"It's impossible. I would know if I were killing people." He said.
"Would you? Have you had any blackouts, instances of lost time?" She asked.
"No, he hasn't! You're crazy, Ric would never do this!" Beth defended him. That wasn't like him at all. All the evidence might have pointed to him, but she knew Ric wouldn't kill anyone.
"You're insane." Ric said, but not as demanding as Beth was. He sat down in a chair and Beth sat besides him as he took her hand.
Meredith: No, but I think you might be. You wear a ring that lets you cheat death, Ric. How many times can you die before it changes you?" She took a seat too, but Beth watched her. "I think you're sick and I want to help you. This had happened before, almost 100 years ago."
Beth looked over at Ric worried, he seemed to believe this, but it couldn't be true. It wasn't him. She knew that he wouldn't hurt anyone. She trusted him with her life, he wasn't capable of this. Suddenly , they turned and saw Elena in the doorway. She was holding up her family journal. The next five words to come out of her mouth, made Beth knew that it wasn't only going to get worst.
"Ric, I think she's right."
