Gabriel lays on his bed in the compound, still asleep like he was when Niklaus had first rescued him. He's breathing heavily, his body covered in a thin layer of sweat. His whole body is tense as though he's overwhelmed with fear. Klaus stands over him, as he talks to him his voice echos through out Gabriels head.

In Gabriels dream, Klaus pulls a sword out of his shoulder but a young Gabriel sprints away before Klaus can catch him. "I know you are locked in battle, however deep in your mind our mother has set the stage. Hear my voice."

In his sleep Klaus notices him twitching anxiously. "Our mother thinks she will win because she has left you alone, but you are not alone. Let me in. Let me help you like you've been helping me for a millennia." He puts one hand on his head and one hand on his chest, in attempts to gain entry into Gabriels mind. His body only goes rigid as if he's being shocked and he begins to seize. "Let me help end whatever torment she has forced upon you."

Blood starts to drip from Klaus but he starts getting glimpses of Gabriels horrible nightmares. He groans in pain as he tries to break though the barrier on Gabriels mind, but Hayley speeds into the room and rips him away from Gabriel in a panic. "What are you doing?"

Klaus stumbles back and is panting in exhaustion. Wiping the blood from his face he sighs. "I'm trying to enter Gabriel's thoughts to wake him. Esther's locked me out."

Hayley walks closer to Gabriels unmoving body and slightly tilts his neck. "Is this rash a side effect of the witchy acid trip he's on?"

Klaus frowns, not having seen it before and takes a look at the mark. "I haven't seen this since I was a child. Mikael would return home from battle more blindly temperamental than usual, and our mother would use the petals of a rare merlock orchid to put him to sleep. She would mend his mind with a spell, and then wake him with the roots of the same plant. If she has access to it now, then maybe it also grows in the Bayou. You stay here with your wolves and mind the fort." He orders.

Hayley rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "I'd rather rip your mother's head off."

He gives her a serious and firm expression in return. "Stay clear of her. I mean it, Hayley. She already got to you once. What would happen if Gabriel were to wake and find you a victim of her madness? Stay here with Elijah and Gabriel."

Albeit reluctantly she promises. "I won't go after her. I promise."

Klaus studies her face for a few moments to detect any form of her lying and when he doesnt find anything he nods, turning and leaving. Hayley turns back to Gabriel and takes a seat next to his body on the bed. Laying her hand on his cheek, she caresses it with a frown. "I've learned a few things from your mother. I won't go after her. I'll go after everything that she loves. I wont let her get away with hurting you." She whispers tenderly.

—

Klaus arrives back home and heads straight for Gabriels room. On the way there he passes Elijahs room and sighs as he notices him staring out the window. When he arrives in his room he sees that just as expected Gabriel was still heavily sleeping. He takes out the handkerchief Angel, his father, had given him and starts smearing the poultice onto Gabriels neck. "We were innocent once, Gabriel."

His voice echos into Gabriels dream where a young Gabriel is still running around the forest. He falls to his knees in a clearing, exhausted. "This bloodlust was forced upon us by our parents, turning us from prey to predator."

An adult version of Gabriel, covered in blood stares at a young version of Gabriel. Klaus appears in the woods besides young Gabriel and grips his shoulder comfortably. "We're the demons lurking in shadow. We are the savage villains in fairy tales taught to children. But, not for my child. Not for Hope. In her stories, we are knights in shining armor. Without you by my side, I don't think I can survive my own love for my daughter. Your love for her rivals my own. I need you. I need you, brother. The monster in me can only be challenged by the monster in you. Only together can we fight our demons and save our family."

In his dream Klaus hands a young Gabriel a stake and then leaves. Thunder and lightning clashes in the sky above the two Gabriels. Adult Gabriel lunges for him but young Gabriel screams at the top of his lungs and stakes him in the heart.

As soon as the stake was stabbed into his chest, Gabriel wakes up with a violent gasp. Both brothers stare at each other, shocked that he's awake. Klaus smiles and pulls his older brother into a much needed hug. Gabriel's whole body grows tense and Klaus warily backs up looking at his brother in sympathy.

—

Klaus enters Gabriels bedroom where he was throwing on his usual jacket holding a leather notebook in his hands, he looks conflicted and though Gabriel was going through his own mental trauma he turns to his brother after a moment. "What is it?"

Klaus hesitates. "I spent the day with my father. My real father."

Gabriels mouth drops in shock, leaning against his dresser for support he looks at his brother speechless.

He looks completely torn. "Esther brought him back from the dead, believing he could convince me to renounce vampirism. The thought of what I could be, had I been raised by him. Had I been nurtured. This was his."

He hands him the journal and Gabriel opens it, finding a sketch of a much younger Niklaus inside. He must have gotten his talent for art from his father, gabriel thinks.

"He knew about Hope." At Klaus' words, Gabriel snaps the journal shut and stands straight. "I wanted to trust him more than anything in the world. I- I wanted to, but... I couldn't be sure. And, I would never forgive myself if something happened to her because of my selfish desire for a father. So, I killed him. Without hesitation. I killed him."

Gabriel pauses to think of any words that could possibly comfort his little brother. "You killed him for Hope." He whispers. "And whatever innocence remains, we must protect at any cost. I only wish I were awake to take the burden off of your shoulders, little brother."

Tears drop from Klaus' eyes and Gabriel grabs his shoulder in a comforting manner.

—

Klaus leans against a chair in Gabriels room, who stands on the balcony looking at all the people outside. "Where is Elijah? He wasn't with me in the crypt so am I right to assume she didn't take him?"

Klaus looks down. "You are correct. But she did something similar that she did to you, to him. He was traumatized at first but claims to be okay now. How do you feel?"

"The worst has past. Though, I suspect the nightmares are far from over." Gabriel semi assures him.

" Well, gather your strength. After the message I sent Mother tonight, I expect hellfire to rain upon us imminently." Klaus informs him, hoping his brother was mentally healthy enough to help him in this war against their brother and mother.

"We need to make a move before she strikes." Gabriel sternly says.

Just then, marcel and Hayley appear in the door way looking smug. "Well, actually, moves were made while you were sleeping." Marcel announces.

Hayley smiles at Gabriel. "It's good to see you vertical. Marcel and I each left a gift for you in the ballroom."

Klaus looks at them curiously, they both follow the pair out into the ballroom. They find both Finn and Kol, wearing enchanted hand cuffs that prevents them from using magic. Cuffed to the balcony by their wrists.

Klaus looks highly pleased and Gabriel lets out a small chuckle looking towards his cheeky little brother.

Crossing his arms he leans against the banister. "I was wondering when they'd catch you." He laughs at Kol.

Kol looks at him incredulously. "Kidnapping? That's a rather unpleasant way to begin a family reunion!"

Klaus grins. "Well, wait until you see how we end it!"

—