Kalaric (Kat/Ric)

Legacies: Running Out Of Time

Summary: Set in 1x16 "There's Always A Loophole." Kat comes to help Hope deal after escaping a prison world, only to find that she has to help get The Triad out of the school first, as well as help save Josie's life. Can she save her? When the bite from the prison world catches up with her, can Ric set aside his despisement of her to save her? Can Kat be saved? What will ensue?

It was a beautiful day, as a human Kat entered the Salvatore school after escaping a prison world. Though injured from a bite on the arm, she kept her appearance as if she was fine. Especially, when she saw intruders in the school. Since she knew Ric was the head, she went up to his office, only to see a few girls in trouble with one of the intruders. Then she recognized who they were. The Triad. People that wanted monsters destroyed. She was a little late to stop him from shooting one of them, though. She still didn't hesitated to protect them, though. She always had a rule, after all. Never hurt children.

"Hey!" she said, making him turn to look at her. Then she stood between them and the guy. "If you're going to start pointing guns at kids, it's time for you to be taught a lesson." She then twisted the gun out of his hand, before knocking him out. Then she finally looked at them.

"Who are you?" Hope asked, surprised a stranger would help them.

"I'm Katherine Pierce. Your dad and Uncle Elijah liked to call me by my birth name, though. Katerina. I was your dad's enemy after he hunted me for 500 years, but I forgave him on my deathbed. I just escaped a prison world, but I looked in on those I care about when I wanted to, so you and I share that grief. Enough about that, though. Let's show The Triad that we're not to be messed with," Kat answered her. Then she looked at Ric's girls. "You just take care of each other. When The Triad is gone, we'll save your sister. It won't take long. I promise. And like Damon Salvatore and Klaus, I never break my promises," she told Lizzie. "Just get your sister to your dorm room and we'll meet you there," she added.

"Okay," Lizzie said, and Josie nodded, both agreeing.

They watched, as Kat left with Hope.

After they defeated The Triad, Kat went with Hope to save Josie. They then walked in. Kat then sat on Josie's bedside.

"I'm descended from Travelers. When I was in the prison world, I learned how to make my magic active. I can get the bullet out. Then Hope can heal," she said, before magically getting the bullet out.

After Josie was well, Kat leaned against a wall.

"Looks like she'll be fine. That's a plus. Ric better thank me. In the meantime, I should find somewhere to lay down. I didn't want anyone to worry when Josie was dying. After my daughter, kids have always come first."

"What's wrong?" Hope asked her.

"The prison world has mythical creatures there that can kill a human with a bite. I was bitten by a dragon. I don't know the time limit, though."

"Let's get you to my room," Hope said.

"I can get dad," Josie said.

"Good idea. You just might want to explain what happened. Ric hates me after the horrible things I've done," Kat said, and let Hope help her to her room.

As the Traveler descendant layed in bed, she could feel the poison spreading. As she felt that, she also felt weak. She also could hear Ric upset that she was back. Though she was weak and in pain, she looked at him to see him at the threshold.

"Alaric, you can be angry later. I saved Josie's life, so how about you help me? It's only fair," she said through the pain and weakness. "Please, help me. What use is it having humanity or being human if you don't help people in need?"

Ric looked at her, as she spoke to him. He hated her, but she had a point. So, after some debating, he decided to help her.

"Fine. I'll see what we can do," he replied, before leaving.

A couple hours later, she could feel a hand on her arm, though it didn't touch her bite, and could feel herself drifting towards the darkness, as she lay there with eyes closed. She couldn't even move. Not even for anyone talking to her. She was certain if she died though, that this time she'd be reunited with Elijah and Damon. No matter what, she still loved them.

"Katherine, can you hear me? We're getting the cure. You're going to be okay. You just need to stay with us a little longer," she heard Ric inform her. She assumed he was close, but because she could feel that she was close to joining the afterlife, it sounded far away, almost faint.

After they'd found a cure, Ric went to sit on her bedside, as Hope and his girls put it together. He tried to encourage her not to die, but he could tell that she was nearly there. She wasn't speaking to him like she usually did. She was paler than before too, and he could tell from watching her breathing that she was starting to have a hard time breathing.

"Come on, Katherine. You can fight this," he tried to encourage. He wasn't sure how much longer she had, though. He needed to know, though. He hated her for the horrible things she'd done, but no one deserved a slow death. So, needing to know, he put a couple fingers to the side of her neck, feeling for a pulse. When he did, it was faint enough that he could just barely feel it, but it was still there. "Keep breathing. It probably hurts, but you need to keep breathing. You hear me? I'm not letting you die tonight."

Half an hour later, the cure was ready, so he took it from Hope. He then gently lifted her head, positioning it gently back so he could make it go down her throat, supporting her head. She was in even worst condition. She was still alive, but quite limp with barely any color. He could tell that she was barely breathing. He hoped they weren't too late, as he forced the cure for the poisonous dragon bite down her throat. For some reason, he didn't like her so close to dying.

Come on. Don't you dare die on me, he thought. You saved Josie and stopped The Triad. Now, it's my turn to save you.

After a few minutes, the cure had been fed to her, so he gently layed her head back down. He then felt for a pulse, as the black veins disappeared, signifying that the poison was quickly disappearing. Then, with his free hand, he rested a hand on her chest, making sure she still had a heartbeat. It relieved him that she had a heartbeat, as well as the fact that her pulse was starting to strengthen.

"Is she going to be okay?" Hope asked from the doorway.

"Yeah. She'll be fine," he assured her. He then took his hands away.

When she woke up, she felt fine, letting her know that Ric had cured and saved her life, which relieved her.

She gave a smile, glad to have survived.