Tyler stood in the woods just outside of view of the house. He watched everything with careful precision. Nobody from the house was going to get past him and his posse. He could hear Caroline's screams of pain.

He turned off any part of him that wanted to be there for her and comfort her. There was no room for both her and his need to keep the rest of their friends protected. He knew that if she were well that she'd do it exactly the same way.

Oh who was he kidding! Caroline would try to save everyone. It was just who she was. He had tried to be more like her. Maybe even succeeded at one time, but those times had changed. This was who he needed to be. This is what a true leader needed to do. He needed to beat Klaus at his own game and if that meant losing Care in the process… well, then, so be it.

He had gathered whomever he could in the area that would help – both vampires and werewolves alike. He wasn't picky. Both supernatural creatures would aid in the fight if need be. Some of them had even called their more distant family and friends to come and join them in setting up a form of protection for their town. It was an advantage that could be very helpful in keeping this virus contained.

As long as Klaus played nice, he had no doubt that they could keep this situation contained. They had to. If the virus moved to more than just those in the house, it could be the end of their race; at least in that part of the country.

Tyler rubbed his shoulder. It was stiffer than usual. He rolled it around in place for a few seconds before turning to look behind him at the vast forest. He had to hand it to Klaus for having the house farther away from town. That helped with containment and he wasn't going to complain by any means. Now they just had to keep random stragglers and Mikaelson friends at bay.

Caroline's screams coursed through Klaus's body like an icy river sending chills down his spine. He kept glancing toward the stairs. He wanted to make the screams stop and provide the needed comfort. He pulled his focus back to the situation at hand, but no amount of self-will would stop him from continually glancing at the stairs.

"Klaus, you're driving yourself crazy. Just go up and be with her." Matt gently coaxed the hybrid.

"No, we need to figure out how to save her. I need to be down here." He said stubbornly, but his pained expression failed at supporting his words.

"We got this man. You go be with her. If Elijah gets any information we'll come and tell you. I promise." Matt encouraged boldly. He had an element of trust in his voice that couldn't go away and he used it to his advantage.

Klaus wanted to argue with him, but he knew that he didn't have enough willpower to stick with it. Whether or not he wanted to admit it, he knew that Matt was right. He couldn't deny it. Without further waiting, he jumped up from his seat – nearly toppling over in the process.

Matt hurried over to hold the hybrid up. "Klaus, are you okay?" His eyes couldn't hide his worry for the man.

Klaus's face was contorted in pain. A bead of sweat had begun to run down his face. "Get me to Caroline, Donavon."

Matt locked his arm around the hybrid and pulled him up next to him. All those years of being in football practice and working out really had helped build up his muscle to fully support full-grown adults. Years of practice helping his friends after getting into fights or having more supernatural related problems had also helped. "I'll get you up there Klaus. You have got to work with me here though buddy."

Klaus used all of the strength he could muster to walk straight. It was taking a lot more focus to accomplish the small feat then he believed should be needed. He hadn't sat down for very long, but it definitely was making a world of difference. It was only a matter of time before he'd be in the same state as Caroline. He had to do everything in his power to make sure she was safe before being pulled down in that same dilapidated stage. It had been centuries since he had felt as powerless as he would soon be feeling or even as he did presently.

"Klaus, your eyes are glowing." Matt noted when he looked at him before slowly leading him up the stairs.

"What do you mean, they're glowing?" He growled at him. His breathing labored from even just the few steps that they had taken.

"It looks like you're turning, man." Matt described the phenomenon. "It's just like when you're angry and you're threatening someone. Like with Tyler earlier!"

"They shouldn't be doing that. The virus must be affecting my nervous system." He tried to keep moving foot in front of foot. It was beginning to be way too easy to stumble over each step. He had to let his body lean more on his fellow comrade.

"If it's affecting your nervous system brother, then it is moving faster than it had in Caroline." Rebekah stepped out of the room and stood at the top of the staircase. Her face reflected her deep-rooted concern. It was her brother after all who was being affecting by this. "Where is Elijah?"

"He's on the phone with a friend of mine. She might know who you guys are looking for." Matt said quickly. He took each step slowly for Klaus to keep up on.

"When I get my hands on whomever did this to me, I will extend the same courtesy for which I have had to go through." Klaus huffed out with each labored breath.

"Stand in line, brother." Rebekah said bitterly. "I have had to spend years trying to find answers to solving this problem. And I had to watch someone that I loved be tortured alive because of this – this scientist! So if you think that you will deal with him alone, you are very mistaken."

Klaus managed to pull a smile out and glanced up at her. "I will share the pleasure with you, sister."

Rebekah nodded her approval before stepping the few steps down to help pull him up to the room faster. "Let's get you comfortable Nik."

He bit back groan of pain. He had to find more to focus on to ignore it. "How is she doing, Rebekah?"

"She has a ways to go Nik, but I think she's going to get through this stage." She offered a bit of hope with a small, sad smile. "I don't know about after that, but she'll have some time to rest and be human before the virus will try to fight back again."

Klaus swallowed hard and nodded his understanding. "I will be with her through it all."

Rebekah gently rubbed his shoulder. "I know you will. You are a good man, Niklaus."

They had made it to the bedroom as she had told him that. Klaus could finally see Caroline on the bed. She looked relaxed and sleeping peacefully finally. An unexplainable relief spread through him. Seeing her in that state of not writhing in pain made him feel more at ease. He couldn't help but imagine them together one day and waking up next to her in that calm, peaceful demeanor. He would fight harder for that dream as soon as they made it through this affliction.

The duo helped Klaus onto the bed next to Caroline per his request. He pulled her as close to him as he could without disturbing her sleep. He looked up at his sister. "It's going through me faster than it was through her, Rebekah. If I go unconscious make sure I do not hurt her."

"Klaus…" Rebekah began to reassure him.

The intensity in his eyes and the rumble in his voice showed his seriousness. "Promise me sister that you will make sure that I do not hurt her."

"I promise Nik." She swallowed hard. She reached across the bed and over Caroline's body to run her hand over his forehead. A sigh slipped through her lips as she backed away from the two. She looked at Matt and walked out of the room.

Matt followed her out. "Rebekah?"

She sniffled, but held her tears back. "We don't have much time Matt before he's going to be in the same place as Caroline. He's already too far infected to fight. If we don't find a cure soon, we may not have the power needed to keep Tyler away from trying to kill them."

Matt looked away, letting the thought completely sink in. He pulled his gaze back to Rebekah and embraced her shoulders. "We will find a cure. We will save them. I promise."

Rebekah brushed a finger underneath her eye to stop a falling tear. "Do not make promises you can not keep Matt."

He kept his eyes locked on hers as he pulled her into a warm, reassuring hug. It was all that he could to comfort himself as well. She had family on the line, but he still had a close friend on that same line too. Things were going to get rougher before they got better. Hugs were the closest thing for comfort that they could possibly have until they either had everything or would lose everyone. Time would tell their fate.