DESPERATE CALL

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

A different take on "The Rager". Vampire Diaries belongs to L.J. Smith and the CW. Resides in my "Abused Stefan" reality as named by Stefan's Girl.

Klaus wasn't sure how far away he was from Mystic Falls when his phone started ringing. Now who would be calling me? he wondered. Not that he really cared, but he had to admit, he was curious. Not that he was ready to admit to anyone but himself. However, it didn't mean that he was going to answer the phone. So what if they needed his help? Let them stew. It would serve them right. A few seconds later, his phone chirped, letting him know that he had a voice mail. Giving in to his curiosity, he picked up the phone, went to his voicemail and pressed the button that would allow him to listen to the message.

"Klaus?" The Original froze at Elena's frantic tone. "It's Stefan. He's ingested wolf venom. A keg was spiked. He's freaking out. Please, Klaus…he needs you. We're in the Salvatore Boarding House," the newest vampire begged. Ripper, Klaus thought to himself. They had been like brothers back in the twenties and even though they weren't even friends anymore, the Original still had a soft spot for the young vampire. And if he had been infected by a wolf's venom, that meant his mind had probably gone back to his human days. The tires on his car let out a terrible squeal as he turned around and headed back the way he had come. He wasn't going to let anything to the boy. Not soon enough for his liking-though with the way he was driving, it was probably sooner than was expected-Klaus was back in Mystic Falls. He then drove down the familiar street to the Salvatore Boarding House, parking his car in the driveway and then hurrying in, following the sounds of Stefan's distressed protestations.

"Stefan, Stefan, calm down, Brother! You're safe!" Damon said, grabbing his brother's wrists to keep him from lashing out.

"No, no, no, no, no! I don't want to! I don't want to!" Stefan said in Italian, fighting the hold in fright. Damn it. He must be seeing his father, Klaus realized. No wonder he was frantic. In his mind, he was human again and at the mercy of a monster.

"Easy Ripper," Klaus soothed, coming to stand by Damon. Hearing the voice, Stefan froze.

"Who?" he asked in confusion. The voice wasn't familiar. It was British. They didn't know anyone who was British. Was it a friend of his father's?

"I'll do anything. I'll go with you, help you find a way to make more Hybrids…whatever you want," Elena said anxiously. She didn't like the idea of giving herself over to Klaus again, but for Stefan, she'd do it.

"No need for bargaining, Love. This one's on me," Klaus assured. With that, he sat on the edge of the bed, tearing into his wrist with his fangs and then putting the wound into the younger vampire's mouth, forcing him to swallow. Stefan let out a shaky breath.

"Nik?" he asked.

"I'm here," the other man assured.

"I thought…oh damn." Stefan's throat muscles constricted. The venom had made him hallucinate. He had thought-he had thought he was going to get hurt again.

"You're all right. You're amongst family and friends," the Hybrid soothed. Stefan looked at Damon and Elena who gave him soft smiles.

"I'm sorry," the younger boy apologized.

"Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong," the newest vampire stated.

"But I hurt you both."

"You were trying to protect yourself, Brother. We're not going to hold that against you." Stefan nodded and then reached for Klaus' hand and to the surprise of the younger Salvatore's brother and girlfriend, the Hybrid took the hand and squeezed it gently.

THE END