Stefan couldn't help being amused that Damon was still stuck as a human. Okay, that made his brother infinitely more vulnerable, but watching him sulk about it was kind of hilarious. He hadn't been in Lawrence that long, honestly, but from what he had heard from others, this whole power mix up was likely to reverse itself eventually. In the meantime, he was enjoying a good chuckle at his older brother's expense.
With so many powers all askew, Stefan had volunteered to step in and help with the graveyard patrols. He wasn't normally a part of those teams, but with so many people either losing their native powers or gaining new ones they didn't understand or know how to control, it seemed right to offer the extra help. You definitely didn't want any temporary baby vamps greeting the refugees. That could get... messy. So it was Stefan who stuck close to the graveyard this morning. He'd been up with the sun, enjoying the view as it rose over the trees. Strictly speaking, he hadn't really been to bed yet, but that was a small detail. The important thing was that he had a (wholly unnecessary, he though) icer tucked into the back of his jeans and a comms device in his ear. The transportation device he didn't completely understand was on his wrist, so he didn't necessarily have to stick close to the graveyard, but he did, anyway. He found being here somehow peaceful.
When a familiar blonde approached the gate, Stefan's face broke out into a big smile. Against all odds, Caroline had become one of his best friends. She'd been gone for more than a month and he'd missed her terribly. Seeing her again - or someone who looked like her - filled him with joy. That feeling only lasted a moment, though, as he took in her bloodshot eyes and tearstained face. A closer examination showed some telltale puffiness that accompanied the other obvious signs. Caroline had been crying. He hesitated for the briefest moment, wondering if it was him. He knew he'd hurt her, not long before coming here. She'd been so furious with him, actually, that she hadn't even invited him to her Friendsgiving. If she was from that time, those tears could very well be his fault.
Man up, Salvatore, he chided himself. If he was the reason she was crying, he needed to confront it and apologize, not run away. That was where he'd gotten into trouble with Caroline to begin with, by running away after they lost Damon and Bonnie. Instead, he steeled his nerves and approached his friend.
"Caroline?" he asked her cautiously. He wanted to hug her, but he held back, knowing that if she was actually upset before of him, such a gesture of affection was probably going to get him smacked.