Emma decided this was an 'ask questions later' type of situation. Because while she couldn't figure out what use Alaric had from daggering Kol, whatever it was, couldn't be anything good. And with Klaus oblivious as far as she knew, Emma did the best she could on her own.

Silently, she followed after the teacher as he dragged Kol's motionless body towards the back exit of the Grill. Her mind was running a mile a minute, looking for an opening or any chance to pull that dagger out. However, as she watched him pull Kol past the threshold and out into the back ally, the sound of a conversation starting up made her aware of the time limitation.

"Here." Alaric grunted out, struggling under the weight as he continued to drag the body. And with Kol turned so he was facing her as she appeared at the door Emma didn't give it much of a thought as an idea sprung into her head.

"Tell the sexy doctor, good work." The two Salvatore brothers who had been waiting outside remained oblivious to Emma's presence until the last moment. And by that point, she had already rushed forward, her hand grasping the hilt of the dagger just as she felt someone push against her shoulder with a lot of strength.

She could feel the impact pushing her back, but instead of the surprise forcing her to release the dagger from her hold, Emma used it to her advantage. Keeping her tight grip on the dagger, she was thrown back by the push, and the momentum dragged the dagger out of Kol's chest.

She felt her back smash into the brick wall behind them, the breath knocked out of her and her lungs protesting in defiance as she slid down to the floor. Leaning against the wall she let out a string of coughs as she looked at the situation they now found themselves in. Stefan stood in front of her, obviously aiming to take the dagger she still held in her hand back. Emma knew she couldn't really fight off a vampire if he wanted to get something from her. And luckily, she didn't have to.

As fast as she could blink, a figure appeared in front of her, and Stefan's body was flung through the air. By the time he landed on the stairs behind them with a deafening crack, Alaric too had been pushed aside, and by now only Damon was left standing as Klaus glared at him in anger.

"I should have killed you months ago." Klaus sounded calm, like his mind was made up. Not really caring whether Damon lived or died, Emma instead pushed herself forward and checked on Kol. Already his face was turning to its normal colour as the sickly grey subsided along with the veins.

"Do it." Damon taunted back. "It's not gonna stop Esther from killing you."

Damon's comment had Emma's head snapping back to look at him. He couldn't be serious, could he? What kind of mother tries to kill her own children? She thought with Mikael gone they'd be done with that sort of business.

"What did you say about my mother?" Klaus asked, his tone dangerously low as he walked towards Damon.

"You didn't know I was friends with your mommy? Yeah, we have a lot in common. She hates you as much as I do." Damon continued to push Klaus' buttons without a single care. Even standing alone against an unkillable Original, Damon remained confident.

However, instead of debating whether the older Salvatore was stupid or dumb? Emma's eyes turned back to Kol as she felt him start to shift beside her. For a moment he looked disoriented and confused until he looked around and remembered what had happened only minutes ago. As his strength returned to him, Kol rose to his feet. His hands took hold of Emma's arms helping her up with him just.

At the same time as they rose, Klaus let out a low growl, ready to charge at Damon and end him right there. However, he never even got to deliver the first blow as a voice sounded from the top of the steps. "Leave him." Elijah's call made everyone turn to look at him as he appeared at the scene. He looked just like Kol, as if he too had been daggered only moments ago.

"Bloody hell." Kol muttered to himself, making Emma send him a worried look, unsure of what he was thinking. He didn't get a chance to answer her silent question as Elijah continued to speak.

"We still need them, Niklaus."

"What did mother do?" Klaus asked his brother, the fire in his eyes an indicator that despite the calm tone he was more than angry. "What did she do, Elijah?"

"She's linked us together." It was Kol who answered the question, more than familiar with the magic his mother must've used on them. He just couldn't be sure when. But seeing the state in which Elijah arrived, it was the only thing that made sense.

"You tell me where the witches are, or I'll have my sister kill Elena right now." Elijah threatened as he walked forward, down the steps and towards Damon. He pulled out his phone, ready to show he wasn't bluffing about it either.

Whatever deal Elijah had made with the Salvatores, Emma didn't much care for it. And seemingly, neither did Elijah himself as he changed the rules. It was enough to make all vampires abandon rebellious ideas of fighting and resisting. With enough incentive, Damon and Stefan gave in, giving Elijah the location of the witches he was looking for before both brothers disappeared from sight, taking Alaric with them.

"Come, brothers." Elijah motioned for Kol and Klaus to follow after him as he climbed back up the steps and into the square. Klaus wasn't far behind him. Only the youngest brother stayed back for a moment longer.

Catching his eyes on her, Emma let her hand rest on his chest as she gave him an encouraging push. "Go." She said in a reassuring tone. For a moment he remained standing in one place before Kol finally let his feet carry him away from her and he joined his brothers who remained waiting for him at the top of the steps. Within seconds, all three of them were gone, leaving Emma standing alone in the alley, trying to wrap her mind around everything that happened. So much for the Grill being a good place to hide out.

Emma sat on the couch in her living room, the sound of the TV tuning out the soft mechanical hum of the oxygen concentrator settled on the floor beside her. She was lucky to have come home only after her mother left for work. Coming up with an explanation for the oxygen wouldn't be a smooth task, it never was.

Despite the long day she had, Emma couldn't bring herself to go to bed and get some sleep. Whether it was residual adrenaline, or simply the worry over what was happening out there after Kol, Elijah and Klaus left, she just didn't feel even remotely tired.

And so, she was left frequently checking her phone, hoping for some kind of an update from Rebekah. However, the only message she received was a reply from her mother after she told her she was home. Even when in an argument, Emma knew there were certain rules she still had to follow.

Scrolling through some of the apps on her phone to pass the time, Emma completely zoned out for a moment. Because of that, the sound of the doorbell made her jump in surprise. With furrowed brows she removed her canula and turned off the concentrator before heading into the hall.

Somewhat wary as she wasn't expecting anyone this late into the night, she turned on the porch light before checking through the peep whole who was on the other side of the door. Once she saw his face, it didn't take long for the door to spring open as her questions started. "Are you okay? Did anyone get hurt? What happened?"

Kol's first response to the interrogation was a low chuckle of amusement. "Well Rebekah did almost torch Elena." He shared, pretending as if he were struggling to remember all the things that happened since they last saw each other.

"I'm sure she's not too pleased about the almost bit." Emma retorted, but soon after she got serious again. "What happened with your mother?"

"Oh, she just wants to rid the earth of the monsters she brought into it. But she failed." Kol tried to speak as if it was no big deal. Like it didn't bother him in the slightest. And yet, Emma saw right past that.

"Why are you here Kol?" She asked, unable to understand why he'd come to her house after the night he'd had. If he needed to talk, of course, she'd be willing to listen, but somehow, he didn't seem like the type.

"I actually came to say goodbye." Kol announced after a couple of moments, Emma's eyes widening in surprise at the information.

"Goodbye? Where are you going?" She questioned, her voice taking on a confused tone. If Esther had been defeated, then why did he need to leave?

"There's some business I need to take care of in Denver." Kol explained shortly. "But when I return, I do hope we can finish our game of pool. Maybe this time I'll beat you." He added on soon after, the smile now back on his face as he took another step forward, standing right by the threshold of the house he couldn't enter.

"Sure. Keep dreaming." Emma laughed gently. "I'm ready for a rematch whenever you are."

"Well then I'll be sure to hurry back. Wouldn't want you to miss me too much in my absence." The comment made Emma giggle again. It was amusing how he kept trying.

"Please do, I don't know how I'll survive." Emma teased, not even realising as she too stepped closer to him. By now there was barely any space between them, and yet, with Kol's inability to enter the house it still seemed too far apart even as she leaned against the threshold.

"Maybe try staying out of trouble while I'm not around to protect you." He teased back, making Emma let out a small scoff as she shook her head in amusement. If her memory served her well, it was her saving his ass tonight.

"I'm pretty sure I don't need someone to protect me." She pointed out confidently. Her eyes never left his, the look in them drawing him in further and further. It was hard to miss the way he glanced down for a single short second before returning her gaze once again.

"I think I might need a bit more convincing." Kol pretended to act unsure, but the flirtatious smirk on his lips made it clear they were no longer talking about Emma's safety. Not that they ever truly were.

"And how exactly can I convince you?" Emma asked, giving him a daring look as a playful smile danced across her lips. It was clear they both had something in mind.

Until that moment, Kol had of course noticed as they both continued to inch closer and closer to one another. And perhaps a gentleman wouldn't have been paying so much attention to the moment she stepped past the door frame. Kol, however, wasn't a gentleman. And so, once he was sure he could reach out to her without being pushed back, he didn't waste the opportunity.

In the blink of an eye, Kol's arms wrapped around Emma's waist, pulling her close and removing all the space that lingered between them. Instinctively, her arms went to his shoulders, one hand tangling in his hair as their lips met in an explosive burst.

It wasn't one of those romantic and gentle kisses, no. It was full of passion and need, releasing the tension that had been rising between them from the moment they met. And as she clung on to him, Emma realized that once she got a taste, she wanted more.

The moment was like a flash of lightning in a storm, both surprising and at the same time not. An explosion of light before things calmed down again. But you always knew the thunder wasn't far behind. And the same happened here. Because as they separated for a short second, both trying and failing to catch their breath, she said two simple words.

"Come in."