"No!" Elena screamed as she collapsed at her brother's side. She picked his lifeless head up off the floor and cradled it in her lap. "What did you do!" She shouted up at Damon without even looking. She couldn't look at him, not after what he just did.

"Would you relax?" Damon replied calmly, leaning his back against the frame of her door.

Elena took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes up towards him. "Relax?" she sputtered, unable to say anything else. She was so angry, she could barely breathe.

A figure rushed to her side; it was Stefan. "What happened?" He glanced up to Damon. "What did you do?"

"Nothing."

Stefan frowned and looked at Jeremy. "Nothing? Damon, you killed Jeremy."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Three… two… one…"

Jeremy's eyes flipped open and he gasped for air. He coughed for a moment before sitting up and looking around. His eyes rested on Damon. "You killed me," he said, looking back down at his body. "Am I a…"

"Vampire? No. Sorry to disappoint." Damon pushed himself off the frame of the door and bent down. He reached for Jeremy's left hand and threw it on the boy's lap. "Still just a lonely boy I'm afraid."

Elena shut her eyes and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She ignored Damon's presence and ran her hand over Jeremy's cheek. "Are you okay?" She and Stefan helped him to his feet.

"Wait," Jeremy said under furrowed brows. "This ring protected me?"

Damon winked at him. "Bingo."

Jeremy looked at his hand and made a fist. He shook his head from side to side, clearly fighting frustration. His shoulders sank before he marched off to his room.

Elena glared at Damon, who didn't even flinch. "How could you do that? What were you thinking?"

Damon crossed his arms and stood. "I was thinking," he said, leaning into her, "that he wanted to be a vampire."

Elena narrowed her eyes. "No you weren't, Damon. You were thinking of a way to hurt me for rejecting you."

Stefan raised an eyebrow and glanced curiously from his girlfriend to his brother. Rejecting him? What had he missed? He folded his arms across his chest, waiting for Damon's answer.

The sarcasm dripped away, leaving Damon's face vulnerable. "You always seem to have the answers, Elena. Answer this: will your brother be so lucky next time?"

"Get out," Elena spat.

"Happy to," Damon groaned before disappearing.

"Wait," Stefan said, cutting him off at the front door. "What the hell is going on?"

Damon narrowed his eyes. "Move."

"Not until you tell me what the hell just happened."

Damon took a breath and smiled impatiently. "Move it, little brother, or lose it."

Stefan shook his head. "So what… you're gonna shut down again? You're gonna leave me hanging again?" He sighed and rested his hands on his brother's strong shoulders. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you and Elena right now, and I don't think I want to know, but you can't just walk out of here and never look back. I know you want to keep her safe."

Damon bit his bottom lip and shook Stefan's hands off his shoulders. "No, you see, that's where you're wrong. I'm done protecting her Stefan. I don't care what happens to her." He pushed past his brother and rested one hand on the doorknob.

Stefan let out a frustrated laugh and turned to face him. "I know you don't mean that. I've heard this before."

"Maybe," he replied, turning once again. "But this time I really mean it. I'm done, Stefan. I'm done caring about her. You know what I realized tonight? She may not be as twisted and maniacal as Katherine, but they are more alike then you think."

Stefan shook his head. "You're wrong."

"No, I'm not," Damon said, wagging his finger in Stefan's face, his own face flooded with anger. "She's a liar and a manipulator; she's just like Katherine. The only difference is Katherine owns it. At least she admits she's a bitch. Elena… she's putting on this façade, and she's lied to so many people that she actually believes she's a good person!" He paused and looked at his feet before shaking his head. "I'm finished Stefan," he continued. "You're on your own with her. Good luck."