The letter remains folded, untouched since the night before.  Its contents remain a secret to some, but to her, it was a nightmare.  How was everything she’s known, everything that was relatively the reason she exists somewhat be a lie?

She paced the floor for what seemed to be hours.  For the first time, she felt the overwhelming pressure Cassandra held deep inside.  Question after question, all possible scenarios, now on repeat inside her mind.  She seemed helpless for the first time, almost to the point of losing her self-control.   Anxiety had opened the door, and she was not ready for the visit.

 

“Cas, I don’t know what’s going on in there, but you can’t expect me to be the person you need me to be with this.  Why are you doing this to me?”

 

She gazed upon her reflection in the mirror, though the eyes staring back at her seemed sad and unfamiliar. 

 

“NO…Cassie..STOP!”  She screams sending a fist to the drywall.  She staggered back wincing with pain.   

 

“Cassie?”

 

A subtle voice was heard as footsteps drew near.  “Cas, are you okay?  I was about to knock on the door until we heard you scream.”

 

She turned slowly; a bit confused.  She did not recognize the girl standing there with the small child.  Dazed, she spoke while looking down upon her hand.

 

“Uh, ya..I’m ok.  Nothing a little needle and thread won’t fix.” 

 

She glares down upon the small child who seems to be staring at her bloodied hand.

 

“Does that hurt Auntie Cas?”  The little one pointed to her hand.

 

“Yes, but it will be ok.” 

 

She retrieves her hand from the child’s sight, tucking it carefully under her shirt.

 

“Cas, you don’t seem right, are you sure you’re, ok?  Sammy wanted to come see his girlfriend, so I thought I would bring him to you. “

 

By the time she finished her sentence, Vanity’s shirt had become soaked with her own blood.  The young woman gasps as Vanity stands in shock.

 

“Sammy, can you get Mommy Auntie Cassie’s phone right there please.  I am going to call your Daddy.”

 

The little boy reaches up and hands his mother the phone.  She dials and places the phone on speaker.

The phone takes a couple rings when, “S’up Crazy Ass?” was heard in the background.

 

“What?..No, Colton it’s Lily.” before she gets interrupted.

 

“Sammy is fine, It’s Cassie, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.  We came to visit and just as I was about to knock on the door, she screams out. We walked in and there is blood all over her hand and a huge hole in the wall.  I can’t get anything out of her, she is just staring at all the blood.  I am going to try and get her to the hospital.  Meet us there?”

 

Lily’s voice was cracked, she seemed more scared than worried.

 

“Ok, I will. When we get her settled, I think there are a few things we need to talk about.”

 

Colton drops the call on his end.  Lily places the phone in her pocket and walks up to Vanity.

 

“Cas, you wanna take ride with us?  Sammy wants to get ice cream.  Come on, we can take your car if you like.”

 

Lily was determined to get Cassie into the car.  After many months of schooling, becoming a travel nurse, she knew immediately what to do.  Once young Sammy was old enough, she would go back to school, with the help from Colton, and become a nurse.  It was always her dream, helping people.  However, her parents disowned her when they found out she was pregnant.  Being on her own at the age of 18, with no support, no family, she did what she had to do to try and save money.  

Cassie's shirt now covered all down the front with blood; Lily walks down the hall and retrieves a black towel and begins to wrap it around Cassie’s hand as she screams out in pain.  The three finally make it out to the car and off to the hospital.

 

Several minutes have passed, and Colton arrives at the hospital, upon entering the building, he hears a female screaming profanities just behind the curtain.  With a smile and a shake of his head, he knew the voice all too well, he continues to make his way over to Lily, and he notices his son being directed out from behind the curtain.

 

“Don’t you touch her.  You leave her alone or I will choke you out!”   

 

Little Sammy’s red face was angry, but the nurses could not help but to laugh.

 

Colton shoots a look at him as he stops dead in his tracks walking over to his mom.

 

“Thanks for bringing her here, Lily.  Are you doing, ok?”

 

“Colton, I just don't know what is happening to her.  I have never seen her like this before.  I don't know if I was more scared of her, or for her.”

 

From behind the curtain, you can still hear the arguing going on amongst the commotion.

 

“Miss Hurst, you must calm down and let us help you.” The tall, rugged male standing over Cassie’s body with a syringe in hand begins to plead with his patient.

 

“Stick me with that damn needle and I will castrate you with my teeth!”

 

She screams out while trying to fight off the staff who are trying to hold her down. 

 

“Sir, are you family?”  The nurse at the desk asks Colton as he steps back from the curtain, holding young Sammy’s hand.

 

“They need to sedate her, strap her down or something, they are trying to take her to Xray, from what the Doctor said, it appears she has shattered her knuckles, and she has lost quite a bit of blood, if they don’t get her hand set right and stop the bleeding, she may not be able to have full mobility in that hand again.”

 

Colton nods, handing Sammy to Lily and walks back to the curtain. He opens it up and walks over to Vanity. He leans down looking into her eyes and whispers.

 

“Vanity stop being a big pussy. Take the damn shot, get the X-ray, and stop being a pain in the ass."

 

Vanity's face lifts and her eyes are locked upon Colton's face, her blank stare was not that of her normal reaction, but one of sheer and utter fear.  With mixed concerns, Colton realizes something was off, even for Vanity.  A single tear formed in her eye and with a blink, began to fall down upon her cheek.  She exhales deeply, closing her eyes and lowers her arm out to him.

 

Colton blinks with a look of concern and takes her hand. He reaches his other hand and wipes the tear from her cheek.

 

“Look, it is going to be ok. You don't always have to be so tough. Let them look at you. When this is all done, we will figure this all out. I know we have had our issues, but family is forever.”

 

As Vanity's hand slipped out from Colton's, the doctor was able to sedate her.  After several minutes, Vanity was asleep.

 

"It is time, we need to set this hand.  We will take good care of her."

 

As the staff slowly wheeled the gurney down the hall Colton and Lily let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Colton, are you alright, what is going on?”   Lily put her hand upon his shoulder to comfort him.  She can tell he seems different.

 

Colton looks into her eyes. “There is a lot going on that you don't know. After she is taken care of, I think we need to have a long talk. If you are going to be around the family, then you are going to know everything.”

 

“You are scaring me, Colton.  Does this affect our son as well?  Should I not be letting our son around Cassie?"

 

Lily immediately moves Sammy’s body to the opposite side of Colton.

 

“No reason to be scared Lil. Sammy is fine, she would never do anything to him. She loves him more than our parents. It will all be ok, I promise.”

 

He reaches up brushing the hair from her eyes.

 

As the two shared a tender moment, a loud commotion can be heard coming from down the hall in which Vanity was just led.

 

"Sir, if you are not family, I must insist you let us pass, this girl needs our help quickly."

 

The orderly pushing the gurney anxiously speaks.

 

"Do you know who you are talking to?  My name is Damon Mikaelson, my family owns this hospital.  I demand you tell me why you are leading my fian..ex-fiance` down this corridor strapped down on this gurney covered in blood."

 

The tall figure of a man was seen in the distance, his black hair, bronze colored skin and Italian accent could be heard abruptly down the halls.

 

Colton's head snaps in the direction of the man's voice. His fists clench, and he starts walking down the hall passing by the people.  There he walks up to the man and grabs him, pushing him against the wall. Colton turning to the nurse.

“You can take her now. This guy will not be an issue anymore.”

 

Colton turns back and locks eyes with the guy.

 

“Thanks for coming back, Damon, you made my job a lot simpler.”

 

With Damon's back pushed against the wall, he lunges his body forward, breaking Colton's grip and shoves Colton back a couple feet. 

 

"Who the hell do you think you are, coming at me like this?  I simply want to know what is going on, I don't want to fight you, Colton."

 

Colton leans back and gets ready to take a swing at Damon, he pauses as he looks down the hall seeing Sammy and Lily looking at him.

Letting his arms fall to his side.

 

“Your day is coming Damon; your best bet is to get back on your jet and leave. There is nothing for you here. She does not need you.”

 

Colton turns and walks down the hall. He sits down with Lily and lowers his head into the palms of his hands.

 

Damon looks on, as Colton stepped away.  A Doctor is seen walking up towards Damon, he places a hand upon his shoulder and his head lowers.

 

"Mr. Mikaelson, I'm sorry, we did everything we could. Her injuries were too severe, your mother is gone."

 

As the Doctor is seen walking away, Damon's eyes focus upon Colton and the two sitting beside him.  He slowly backs away and begins to walk back down the hall in which he came.

 

Lily and Sammy both are seen with their arms around Colton's neck. 

 

“Daddy, who was that man?”

 

Lily pats the top of his head to get his attention.  She shakes her head to quiet the child. 

 

“Colton, it's going to be ok.  I.. We are here for as long as you need us to be.  Would you like me to call your parents?  I think they would like to know what's happening."

 

Colton looks at her and just shakes his head. “Seems like the smart thing to do, but let’s just wait till she is back, and we know what’s going on."

 

From down the hall, the nurses are wheeling Vanity back to the ER. She is seen in a semi upright position on the gurney and seems to have her eyes half open.  The man from earlier is seen stopping the nurses once again and shews them away as he stands at her bedside.

 

“Cassie?  Baby..talk to me, what's going on?  What happened to you?

 

Vanity turns her head in Damon's direction, her eyes still groggy from the medication.

 

 “Cassie?  Baby?  Who are you? Where is Colton?”

 

She tugs her arms not knowing she is strapped down, she looks nervous as she begins to shake her body, rocking the gurney she lays upon.  From up the hall, Little Sammy can see the commotion, he tugs on Colton's shirt to get his attention.

 

“Daddy, that man is back and over with Cassie again.  Can I go kick him in the leg?"

 

Colton looks up, not wanting confrontation in front of Lily and their son, but he takes a deep breath and slowly stands to his feet looking down at Lily. 

 

“Lil, how about you take Sammy and go make that phone call for me please.”

 

Colton extends his arm to Lily helping her to her feet as she begins to take Sammy outside.

 

"COLTON!!!!" was heard screeching from Vanity's bedside, it was as if Cassie's memories were back.  Damon tries to calm her, he places his hands upon her legs, trying to sooth her kicking.

 

"NO!!!!  PLEASE..NO!! STOP!!! COLTON!!!!!!!" Vanity cries out even louder than before.

 

Colton rushes in, pushing Damon to the floor. He stands between Damon and Vanity reaching behind his back and puts his hand on the handle of a pistol.

 

“I fucking told you to stay away from her. Haven't you and your sorry excuse for family done enough? I think it is time for you to leave or you are going to be downstairs in the morgue!”

 

Damon stares at the two confused, stands to his feet and takes a step back. 

 

“Colton, just what the hell are you talking about?  I just lost my mother man, What's the deal?  Cassie, Baby...it's me, it’s Damon.”

 

He swings his head to the side of Colton, trying to catch the eye of Vanity, who still is trying to free herself from the straps while in tears.

 

"Colton, don't let them do this to me."  I want to go home, take me home!"

 

Colton reaches over and starts undoing the straps. Never taking his eyes off Damon.

 

“Don't you worry Sis, no one will ever hurt you again, I promise!  Dad is on the way to take you home.”

 

Security is now on the route to the scene; Colton begins to wheel the gurney back to the room in which she was in before.  Vanity looks down upon her hand, noticing the thick cast like bandage wrapped around her blood-stained wrist.  She begins to shake her head, as if she is coming to her senses, realizing where she is. 

 

"What the hell happened?  How the hell did I get here?  Colton, answer me."

 

Vanity tries to lean forward; she becomes lightheaded and leans back down upon the gurney.  Two security guards are now stepping into the room from the outside of the curtain.

 

"Sir, you are going to have to come with us."  They look over at Colton, who just stares at them.

 

"What? No…He is not going anywhere with you!  He is staying here with me."

Vanity looks sternly at the two men.

 

"Ma'am, we have instructions to detain this man for assault on another person here."  

They begin to walk closer to Colton.

 

“I said, he is NOT going anywhere with you, do not force me to scream, I will own your badge by nightfall.”

The two guards look to each and slowly take a step back.

 

“It is ok, I will go.”

 

Colton begins to close his eyes as he notices his parents, along with Lily and Sammy walk in through the emergency room door.

 

“What’s going on here, Colton, you will do no such thing!”

 

Summer steps up quickly between the guards and her son.  Hunter steps up and tries to reach for her arm, but she turns to him shaking her head.

 

“Hunter, I do so love you, but not now..please!  Don't try and stop me.”

 

Summer nudges Colton to the side and she steps up face to face with one of the guards.

 

“Listen here fella, this is not my first rodeo with the law, should you try and touch my son or my daughter in any way, your friend here, will be escorting your dead carcass down the hall.

She points towards the other guard.  Lily looks over to Colton, as her eyes grow a bit wide, and she tries to shelter young Sammy’s ears and whispers.

 

“What's going on?”

 

Hunter, looking around, takes Lily by the arm and slides her behind himself. He takes Sammy and places him on the bed with Vanity.

 

“Little man, I want you to watch your aunt and your mom for a moment.”

 

Hunter is in a situation he is not normally in. This time he must be the levelheaded one. He is the one that must make sure this thing does not blow up and gets more out of control.

Summer remains within inches of the guard, and now Vanity.  She turns to her and whispers.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Vanity nods, as the two look down upon her hand. 

 

“Did he do this to you?”

 

She looks over to the guard.  Vanity closes her eyes, lowers her head and whispers.

"No.." 

Summer now looks to her again, this time with a stern glare and a deep exhale. 

 

“I will ask you this again, did HE do this to you?”

 

Summer glares hard, as if to coax her into saying something.  Vanity then smiles...

 

“Well... “

 

She pauses, she notices the guard's face, he is scared, he knows what the outcome could be if she agreed.  He then backs away slowly as he pats the other guard on the shoulder.  Vanity then looks over to Hunter, who is all but ready to snap.

 

“I can't.... I can't do it.”   She looks to Hunter and then to Sammy, who is desperately trying to console her.

 

Summer sighs, and glares over to the guard. 

“You may be able to walk out of here this time, but let me say this, Whoever that person is that said my son assaulted them, better hope I never see them, for one..the person must have provoked him, and two, they probably deserved it.  You tell whoever it is, that this family is off limits and anyone who dares to cross paths with any one of us, will get what's coming to them.  I promise you that.  Now you may leave before I change my mind and not allow you to.”

 

She steps over to the gurney, picking up young Sammy and holding him up in her arms. 

 

“Sorry Lil fella, Sass did not mean for you to see her like this, but no one messes with our family..ok?”

 

He smiles at Summer and wraps his tiny arms around her neck. 

 

“It's ok Sass, I was going to choke them out anyway.”

 

The two smile at each other as she kisses him upon the forehead.

 

She takes a look over to Lily with a smile.

 

"Thank you, for helping Cassie and for being here with Colton.  We are glad to have you as part of the family.  Everything I've said, goes for you and of course Lil man..You are and always will be a part of this family.”

Lily smiles and looks towards Summer.

” Thank you so much Summer, I've never really had much of a family growing up.  This means alot to me.”

 

Hunter looks at the family and lets out a small sigh.

 

“So, who the hell is going to fill us in on what the hell happened?  Cas has a cast on, little man is wanting to choke everyone out, and Colton is assaulting people.”  He says using his fingers in a quotation mark fashion.

 

“The only one here who isn't causing trouble is Lily and we all know she is the biggest troublemaker of us all.”

Hunter shoots Lily a slight grin.  She turns towards Hunter.

 

“Mr. Hurst, I may just be the biggest trouble maker..after all I did help make this bundle of trouble right here.  She smiles while pointing at Sammy and the entire bunch begins to laugh.

Summer shakes her head smiling over to Hunter.

 

“She's got you there...Mr. Hurst.”

 

She winks at him.  Hunter smiles and points over to Vanity.

 

“You ready to go or are you going to milk this little boo boo for all its worth?”

 

While everyone stands in the tiny room, the Doctor comes in with a stack of papers.

 

"Okay, Miss Hurst, you are free to go, here are your prescriptions and instructions on what to do when you get home.  I will need to see you back here in 6 weeks, we will do more Xrays to see if your bones are healing right, if you have any discomfort more than normal, you need to come in as soon as possible.  you've shattered every knuckle in your hand, they are beyond broken, and like I told your brother, if things do not heal correctly, you will no longer have full motion of your right hand again.  Do you understand that?”

 

Summer and Hunter both glare at each other, stunned by the news.  Vanity nods her head to the doctor and looks towards her parents.

While they begin to walk out of the room Hunter grabs Colton by the arm and pulls him back from the group. He looks at his son and quietly speaks.

 

“Okay boy, what the hell happened. You know how hard you must hit something to crush the knuckles in your hand?  Hell, I have broken my hand twice from punching people, but I have never broken my knuckles. What did she do?”

 

Colton looks at Hunter.

 

“I have no idea. I got a call from her phone, and it turned out to be Lily. She said Cassie was not acting right and there was blood all over the place. She asked if I could meet them here. I jumped in the car and got over here as quickly as I could. I don't know what is going on with her. It was Vanity not Cassie, but she was different. She seemed scared like a little kid. She held my hand and cried a little. Something is definitely wrong.”

 

Hunter stares at Colton trying to understand. He looks down the hall at all the girls and Sammy and just shakes his head.

 

“Well, this just keeps getting better and better.”

 

“We need to tell Lily. She is just so confused by today. I think she should know.”

 

Hunter just nods his head in agreement.

 

Everyone seems to be walking towards the door as a nurse, pushing a wheelchair, yells for them to stop.

 

"Miss Hurst.. Miss Hurst..stop, you must exit the hospital in the chair.  It's protocol.”

 

Vanity stops, along with Summer, Lily and Sammy.  The three women look at each other and smile.  All in unison they say.

 

"Fuck that chair..." and the four of them walk outside laughing.

 

With the entire family standing outside.  The first person to speak was young Sammy. 

 

"I'm riding home with Cassie; I will take care of you."  he looks up to her.

 

Colton and Lily just smile at each other. 

 

 “Of course we are bud, we are going to take her home.”

 

Vanity looks to Lily, then looks to Colton and smiles.

 

“You know what Lily; you ride home with Colton.  Lil man here can ride with me.”

 

They begin to walk towards her car.  She thumbs around with her good hand, searching for her keys.  Lily smiles.

 

“Looking for these?  How do you expect to drive Cas, you are in no shape to.”

 

Hunter steps up and reaches for the keys. 

 

“I got you Baby girl. now let's get out of here.”

 

Vanity slowly lets out a sigh, she knows if she is left alone with her father, Cassie will emerge.  He was the one person who could bring her out in any circumstance, and she knew Cassie was not ready for that. 

 

“Dad, I think I want Mom to take me home.  It's better this way.”

 

She lowers her head and takes the keys from his hands.

 

Hunter looks at her and nods. He leans over and kisses her forehead.

 

“Go with your mother little one. I understand who you need to be with right now.”

 

Hunter turns and gives Summer a small kiss and walks to his truck. He hops in, starts it up and with his hand out the window he waves as he drives off.

 

As everyone watches Hunter leave, Summer looks over to Colton as he opens his car door for Lily and helps her inside and shuts the door.  She smiles and looks at Sammy. 

 

“Ok Lil man, let's get you strapped in.”

 

She lifts him up and places him in his car seat; she buckles him in and closes the door.  She then opens the door for Vanity, who just glares down the road watching as Hunter's truck fades out of sight.

 

“Okay, Vanity..let's hear it.  I know there is something going on.  You just don't choose me over the old man.. What's really going on.”

 

She helps Vanity into the car and helps fasten her seat belt.

 

“Not now Mother..just trust me when I say it's better this way.  At least for now.”

 

Summer sighs as she closes the car door.  She walks around to the driver's side and gets in the car. 

 

“You know, I understand why you are doing this, but what I don't understand is why Cassie is allowing it.  I know my daughter, and if there was any chance at all for her to return to us, she wouldn't have allowed you to do that to her father.  Did you see the hurt in his eyes Vanity.  Not many people in this world have ever been able to hurt that man..but tonight, you managed to do just that.  I hope whatever it is you are hiding from us, from him...comes out soon.  I can't allow that to happen again.  Now, let's go home.”