A/N: What am I doing? I have not the time to be doing this.


Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of TVD. I do own one/two in this story however.


A New Threat

"Bonzers! Heller!"

Bonnie jumped with a start, her stress balls falling to the ground due to the immediate lack of concentration during her meditation. She did this to calm her nerves. Humans squeezed stress balls to relieve themselves; witches made them levitate while squeezing them simultaneously with their mind. It was like taking and releasing deep breaths. And now that she lost her sense of meditation she went back to being anxious. She wasn't sure where the anxiety came from but perhaps it was nature's way of telling her that something unpleasant was going to transpire.

The young adult stared at her front door of her small apartment before the interrupter of her peace and solitude started knocking loudly again, "Boonnzerrkkiieee!"

"I'm coming!" She raised her hand and unlocked her door, letting it fly open to let her fellow witch friend in.

"Did I interrupt something?" The woman waltzed in with a box of books that smelled of age. Her long braids were pulled up into a messy, and seemingly heavy bun while the loose braids stopped at the small of her back.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes slightly, despite the grin on her brown face, "You can't tell, Taylor?"

Taylor rolled her deep brown eyes and waved Bonnie off, "With you? There's no telling but hey look, I found some old books at a thrift store. They're in Latin. Fun, fun, fun."

"They're Grimoires?" Bonnie asked, turning back to face her blank television that she used occasionally. She wasn't much for watching TV. Sitting with her legs folded and her hands in her lap, she went back to focusing. She didn't bother clearing her mind. Having Taylor in the vicinity would prove that impossible to do.

"Not sure yet. I just love old books."

"You're such a thrift-shopaholic," Bonnie mused, her stress balls floating about her.

Taylor huffed, setting the box down on Bonnie's table and glaring at the balls. One after the other flew across the room, "At least I enjoy my money."

"We don't make much with our little Paranormal Investigation business so I'm sure you don't have money to blow," Bonnie regarded Taylor, bringing the stress balls back around her.

"You're wrong though," Taylor opened a book and skimmed through the pages. "I dance."

"What?" Bonnie lost her train of focus, gaping at the other witch. "Like…stripping?"

Taylor snorted, "No. Go-Go dancing."

"Difference?"

"Oh," Taylor sat the first book down and picked up a thinner one, her brows furrowing towards the more experienced witch, challenging her, "I know that tone. That's the 'I'm judging you Tae, you know you can do better' tone. Should I sit down to better prepare myself for an unnecessary lecture?"

Bonnie opened her mouth to retort but decided against it.

Taylor seemed satisfied, continuing her skimming of her new books. The two fell silent for a minute before Bonnie spoke again, "When did you start?"

"Start what?"

"You know what."

"Dancing? A couple of weeks back."

"…well…as long as you're careful…" Bonnie turned back around. After a moment she turned to Taylor again, frowning, "You know vampires are attracted to places like that…right?"

"That's for every night intended joint in the world Bonnie. I know. In fact—I think it's a splendid opportunity. At least while I'm there I'm staking out for vampires and…ridding them if they step out of line," Taylor seemed pleased with herself. It sounded as though she had done it once or twice in those couple of weeks.

"I know you're an adult…but I'm just concerned. That's all."

Taylor smiled to Bonnie, finishing the last book she brought in, "You wouldn't be Bonnie if you weren't concerned. Anyways—Do we have any new cases?"

"Nope."

"Oh that's dreadful. We should advertise more."

"We're in the phonebooks…"

"Bonnie. No. No one uses phonebooks anymore. My God. Are we not on the nets? Tell me we're on the nets."

Bonnie frowned, "…"

"Oh this business of ours is going into shambles."

"Na-unh! Taylor! Be more supportive!"

"Supportive is not getting us anywhere. I'm being honest."

"Well I don't need your honesty at the moment."

"I think you do Ms. Bennett," Taylor pulled out a seat and reopened a book, furrowing her brows, "And you have the nerve to judge me dancing? Disappointed."

"I just don't want to make it that easy for our…enemies…to find us. We're using my small apartment for the business Tae. Of course I'm a bit hesitant on giving my house phone and address for the world, wide, web to see."

Taylor shrugged, "You have the power of a hundred witches. I don't think your enemies would want to even bother being in the same building as you, let alone your apartment, anyways."

"It just doesn't hurt to be careful," Bonnie huffed, making it clear that that was the end of that conversation, refocusing on her stress balls.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Taylor rebutted lamely.

After a couple of moments, Taylor brought up a simple, "You're already in the phonebooks…real name and business name. And you can google your number online…and still be found."

"Shut up Taylor."

"I'm just saying—"

"Okay, okay, conversation over."

And like a cue, there was a harsh knocking at the door. The two women exchanged looks before the knocking continued, more loudly than the first.

Taylor focused on the door, squinting slightly, "Dark…deadly aura…."

Bonnie stood to her feet, approaching the door, "Anything else you can pick up?"

"Bon-Bon…open up and let me in~"

"…Damon?"

"Who?" Taylor sat up more alert. "You know him?"

Bonnie swallowed excess saliva before biting down on her bottom lip. She then, for a second, debated on whether or not she should answer the door or not. She put a spell on her home to make sure that no one, including those of the supernatural, could hear that she was inside or not. This, included Damon Salvatore.

"So predictable. I know you're there, witch."

She opened her door with defiance but making sure she didn't cross the threshold, "Damon."

He hadn't changed a bit. That wasn't saying much either…considering he's still a bloodsucker.

He mirrored her, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe with that familiar cocky smirk of his, "Bonnie~"

"What do you want? And how did you find me?"

"We," he pointed at her and then to himself, "Have a connection. Where ever you go, I follow."

"Bull."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I have my ways."

"I told you," Taylor called as she got up from the table and stood behind Bonnie to examine Damon. She whistled before continuing with her previous statement, "Your name being in the phonebo—"

"Don't rub it in," Bonnie looked back at Damon, that anxious feeling reminding her it was still present. It must have tried to warn her about her old…semi-ally.

"Can't I come in?" Damon asked pleasantly, his charm evident and sure.

"No. You can tell me what you want right where you're at."

He gave her an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes for extra emphasis on how annoyed he already was, "You can't be serious. After—what—five years you still can't trust me?"

"Do I need to remind you that you nearly killed me once? That alone gives me enough reason to be a bit cautious of letting you in my apartment. You do have a tendency to trespass."

"Oh get over it."

Bonnie raised a brow, "Normal people don't get over almost getting killed, Damon."

"That's just it," he widened his eyes at her with a smirk, "you're not like 'normal people'. Now, please, let me in."

"No."

Damon glared at her, "Bonnie. I'm serious."

"And what makes you think I'm not?"

"Bonnie, you trusted me with your life. Decades' Dance ring any bells?"

Bonnie's jaw tightened, her head rising slightly as she held his intense stare. Taylor opened her mouth, "You entrusted him with your life, Bonnie? A vampire?"

"And you are…?"

"Taylor Borne. Pleased to meet you."

"Another witch?"

Taylor nodded, giving a coy grin of her own as she turned on her heel to get back to her books, "That's right. Another one."

"Before you leave me here with this impossible woman, could you convince her to let me in?"

Taylor looked at him from over her shoulder, "I could try. But I'm sure you know Bonnie better than I do…if she made her decision to talk to you through the doorway then…that's just the way it's going to be hm?"

Damon rolled his eyes, turning back to Bonnie, "We're above this. You have this place soundproof right? Whether you're secretly enjoying this little banter in your judgy, holier-than-thou brain of yours or not, I can't tell you what's the problem out here. So, please. Just let me in."

Truth was, she did enjoy poking fun at the fact that she had the power to invite him in or not. He hadn't changed a bit, but according to him, though he didn't have to outwardly say it, she hadn't changed much either. That kind of bothered her.

Bonnie let out a breath, "No funny 'Damon' business of any kind. You do not put a violent hand on Taylor what-so-ever, and you can't pull an Edward Cullen and drop in my room at random to watch me sleep or wait for me in the dark or—"

"The fact that you would even suggest that I would act like such a pathetic wimp of a vampire is offensive," Damon interrupted, glaring.

Bonnie shrugged before stepping aside, "You can come in."

"Thank you," Damon said dramatically as he walked in and took a look around.

"So Mr…" Taylor tapped her chin in thought, "Salvatore… is it? What brings you here?"

"No offense but I'm wanting Bonnie's help, and Bonnie's help only. I don't trust strangers right away."

Taylor chuckled, "Fair enough."

She stood, ready to go into Bonnie's room before she stopped her, "No, stay. I trust you."

"Not surprised," Damon muttered under his breath before he plopped on Bonnie's sofa and looked up at the woman.

"So what do you want Damon?"

"I need your help."

Bonnie raised a brow, "And out of everyone you chose me…to help you?"

His eyes didn't leave her form, "I'm taking that as a 'no'."

"I didn't—I was only wondering."

Damon sat up, "If I came to you, looked all over for you, that means I need you. I'm not like the others that decides that whenever shit hits the fan, go to the local witch. You're capable of helping me…and you're one of the few I trust. You and I can fix this…just say you'll help me."

"In-tense~…" Taylor sing-songed under her breath.

That's Damon. He was always intense.

"What is it Damon?"

"I'm being haunted."

"Again?"

"Well…yeah. But you know how Katherine was a doppelganger and Elena is her doppelganger?"

"…yeah…?"

"Well, the original…Katherine look-a-like…the one before Katherine…is the one haunting me."

Bonnie blinked, stunned, "Oh…"

"And she's a witch."

"…oh…"

"That's psycho and wants to kill all that is supernatural while having 'the life she never got the chance to live'…in other words she's trying to come back to life."

"That's impossible. That would require dark magic," Taylor mused.

Damon lounged back, "Yeah. She said that. But she thinks since there's Katherine and Elena out there she can just take over one of their bodies…forever."

Bonnie's throat grew dry.

"And she's preferring Elena's…" Damon started.

"…Because Katherine is a vampire and nature won't allow for a vampire to also be a witch…Elena is human…therefore she can still have her powers…" Bonnie finished.

"Bingo, Sabrina."

"Why didn't you just tell me that Elena was in danger?" Yet, again. "I was wasting time arguing with you about inviting you in we could have already made plans to go back to Mystic Falls!"

"I just wanted to see if you'd let me in…without me bringing up Elena or Stefan. Call it a test of trust and where we stand," Damon shrugged calmly.

"Well your little test, cost us time," Bonnie was already going to get her jacket and keys.

"Well if you hadn't left Mystic Falls in the first place then we wouldn't even have this conversation, Bennett."

That was…a bit unexpected.

"I—don't try to warp this all on me. You probably did something stupid that opened the door to the Other Side and started this entire mess."

"There you go again. Always finding some way to blame me."

"Because it's always your fault, Damon."

"As entertaining as this lover's quarrel is, we got a supernatural homicidal ghost to bust," Taylor interrupted, packing her books back into her box.

"Who said you get to come?" Damon questioned though it really sounded like he said, "You're not coming. At all."

Taylor put her hands up in mock surrender, "Oh, we got a bad ass over here. You're dealing with a witch that's talking about placing her soul in one of her doppelgangers while pushing their soul out. Sounds pretty strong. You two might just need my help. Since this kind of thing is sorta my specialty. And c'mon, I feel as though I have to be there to stop you two from killing and arguing with each other. You know, the mediator."

"Thanks but no thanks. Three's a crowd."

"Taylor is coming."

"Ugh, fine." Damon gave Bonnie an exasperated huff while Taylor chuckled.

"Is Elena in town?"

"Nope. Not Barbie, or Ric. Not even Stefan. I stayed back."

Bonnie gave him a look of sympathy; "You're…all alone back in Mystic Falls?"

Damon gave her an amused look, "Don't sound too sad, Bon-Bon. Wouldn't want me to think you care…unless you do~"

"Leave it to you to make it impossible to try and be concerned."

"Aww. If you really want to make up for me being all alone you could…" he looked her over, smirking devilishly and bouncing his brows.

"You're unbelievable."

"You didn't say 'no'."