Helping Elena

"I tried so hard to protect him. But it didn't work. I don't know what to do."

Elena was at the Salvatores', sitting at a table next to Stefan. Damon stood nearby. She was telling them about Jeremy and the demands he had made of her.

"What did you tell him you would do?" Stefan asked.

"I told him I would do it."

"You told him that?" Stefan asked.

"I can't have him looking for vampires on his own. He might find one."

"Exactly what do you plan to do?" Stefan asked.

"I don't have a plan. That's why I'm here. Maybe we can do something to scare him out of this."

"Maybe," Stefan said. He really was trying to help and was in agree-with-Elena-on-everything mode under the current circumstances.

"And exactly what has scared you out of this, Elena?" Damon asked. He had been watching her the whole time. He couldn't stand to even look at Stefan when he was near Elena. Damon could only describe him as pathetic.

Elena understood instantly. Stefan needed a little more.

"Surely when he sees something that scares him, that he is afraid of…"

"He's a Gilbert, Stefan." Damon said. "They have never been afraid of vampires. They have always just fought us. You've seen him. He's not afraid of me, certainly not of you."

Stefan was not willing to give up. "Everyone's afraid of something."

Elena shook her head. "Damon's right."

"You don't have to take his side just because…" Stefan said, looking at the bracelet.

Elena scowled at him. Damon just laughed.

"I have to do what he asks," Elena said. "I have to take him somewhere."

"Where?" Stefan asked. "It's not like there's a hangout, not since Pearl's house."

"Damon?" Elena asked, looking at him.

"Tell him that. He'll know from reading your journal that it's more about the vampires coming to you than you going to them."

"Will you talk to him with me? He said you've talked to him a little."

"Yes." Damon said.

"You don't want me to?" Stefan asked.

"No Stefan," Elena replied, knowing it would hurt him – again. "I don't want us to gang up on him. One vampire is enough."

Losing Elena

"He's getting worse," Damon said as they climbed into Elena's car.

"I know," Elena said.

"I know what it's like – Elena withdrawal."

"You never had me, Damon. Even though I pushed you away every chance I had – and you gave me many – you didn't have me to withdraw from."

"It still hurt."

"I know. Sorry. And knowing that makes this harder. But you didn't act like Stefan's acting now."

"I've never acted like that, and I never will."

"That I know. That I actually appreciate."

"And, you still see him Elena."

Elena had to laugh. "Yeah. And what a sight he is. I know he's better than this. Should I call Katherine?"

"Call Katherine? Why?"

"She scared me when I first met her. Maybe she can scare Jeremy."

"I thought we were past that. Afraid or not, you still stood face to face with her – even at her worst. I saw – I remember."

"Grasping at straws now." Elena said.

"And, anyway, are you in danger?"

"Damon, I know I told you about her getting upset at me and telling me that, but it was to…" Elena didn't finish.

"It was so I would do what I am doing now - keep your from abusing what she has given you."

"Yeah, I know. I won't call."

Following Elena

Jenna was working, so they had their choice of where to talk. They chose the kitchen table.

"I know he's a vampire, Elena," Jeremy said, "but this doesn't count. You need to take me out there somewhere." Jeremy gave a meaningful wave of his hand.

"I will, Jer. But you need to understand some things. One is that, here anyway, vampires don't just have a place. They come and go. I mean, Damon and Stefan live here, but it's just a house, a boarding house. Nothing unusual."

"I know. I read. But Anna was somewhere. Vicki was somewhere. We can go there."

Damon spoke now. "Anna was with Pearl and Vicki was with me – at ordinary houses. You live where vampires have been. Vampires have been at your school and parties. You've seen. You need to be more specific about what you want."

"I just need something, something to help me remember them. I'll never know if I remember Vicki right, and the only thing Anna gave me is gone."

"Jeremy," Elena said, reaching for him. "I understand."

"No, you don't!" Jeremy said, pulling away. "You have no idea what it's like to be alone. To be me. Yeah, you lost mom and dad like I did, but you haven't lost anyone else."

"I knew Vicky."

"You knew she was a mess. You didn't help her. You probably made fun of her like everyone else."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Elena, don't try to make this about you. You promised. If not to where they were, take me somewhere else. Take me to where you last saw some – you know, other than Damon and..."

"It wasn't romantic, Jeremy," Elena said. "They were killing people, so I tried to find them."

"What? The animal attacks a couple of weeks ago? And why would you try to find them?"

"I needed to see if it was vampires, and if it was, to try to stop them." Elena was surprised at how much she was telling him.

"Was it vampires?"

"Yes."

"And you stopped them?"

Elena shook her head. "Friends of mine. Including Damon."

"How did they stop them?"

"They were killed - destroyed," Elena said.

Jeremy looked at Damon. "I know Vicky was different from Anna. I read what you wrote, Elena. But why would one vampire kill another."

Damon spoke now. "Because they were threats to your sister. And they were threats to you."

"I know you don't care about me," Jeremy said to Damon.

"But I do," Elena said. "You have no idea what I've had to do to keep you safe. You and Jenna and others."

"Then tell me. Show me."

Elena looked at Damon.

"Some things are private Elena. You don't have to show him or tell him everything. Just take it in steps."

She was glad Damon was there. He was helping.

Elena spoke to Jeremy now. "I will do as you ask. I will take you to where I last saw other vampires. I will tell you what happened. But you have to promise to keep it a secret. Nobody else can know…"

"I know, Elena. I can keep this secret. You didn't know I knew about Anna until I told you. I will tell no one – even Jenna."

"Especially Jenna." Elena said. "She is one I can at least keep safe from all of this."

"Yeah," Jeremy said. "Because 'ignorance is power'". His look told Elena that he still had not forgiven her.

"I know you're still upset. Fine. But this is not about just you and me. It could put Jenna and others in danger. You have to promise me you will keep it a secret from everyone who I do not tell you was there. Otherwise, this ends now."

It took a few seconds, but Jeremy's smirk turned to submission. "Ok. I will keep it a secret. I promise.

"And if you can handle it, if you want to know more, I will tell you or show you more. OK?"

"OK. We're going now, right?"

Elena sighed and looked at Damon, who nodded.

"Yeah, now. Wouldn't want to put this off."