Damon Salvatore slowly opened his eyes to the dimly lit, unfamiliar room. He let out a groan when he tried to get up. His body was aching and his right hand was tied to a metal bar with a vervain rope. He tried to remember the events that lead to here, but his head was foggy. When his eyes finally adjusted he realized he wasn't alone. Her blonde head was slumped over so you couldn't see her face, but he knew who it was.

"Caroline." he whispered. "Hey, blondie."

She made a small noise as she slowly lifted her head. She opened her eyes and jerked back at the sight of the tiny cell they were locked in.

"Damon? Where the hell are we?" she asked running her free hand through her hair.

"I was hoping you knew."

As if on cue two men entered the room.

"Ah, they're awake." the taller one said.

"Which one should we take for questioning first?"

"I was thinking the blonde." the first guy smirked.

"No." Damon instinctively shouted. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"They think they deserve some answers." the second guy laughed. "Should we give them the satisfaction?"

"I think we'll let them suffer first. Now, get the blonde." the taller of the twe was clearly the leader.

"Don't hurt her!" Damon struggled to get free, but it was no use. The two men took Caroline to a different room. He tried to use his vampire hearing, but was too weak. All he heard was Caroline's screams.

After what seemed like hours the shorter guy brought Caroline back in. She was barely conscious. "Don't worry, you're next." he snickered to Damon before leaving the room.

"Hey, you okay?" he whispered to her when she began to move more.

"I will be. They wanted names of other vampires." she explained, sitting up a little straighter. "They have to be Tripp's guys. They must want revenge."

"Uh, pretty and smart." the leader said bursting through the doors. "Tripp died at the hands of your friend. He was trying to protect this world from monsters like you, we're only finishing what he started." The guy entered the cell and crouched beside Caroline. "Since this one refused to cooperate," he said moving hair away from her face.

"Don't touch her!" Damon growled.

The man turned to Damon then. "It's you're turn."

Tears escaped Caroline's eyes as they took Damon away. She was afraid for him and for herself. Just like Damon she couldn't remember anything. She had no idea if anyone even realized they were missing yet.

A few hours after they brought Damon back in the shorter guy brought them each a very small cup of blood. "Can't have you dying before we get our answers." he said before leaving.

"Here, take mine." Damon pushed his cup toward Caroline.

"Damon, no. You need blood as much as I do."

"One of us has to be stronger. It's the only way we'll make it." he explained.

"Then you take mine."

"Are you kidding, Stefan would kill me. Just drink it, blondie."

Caroline hesitated, but sucked them both down quickly. "Thank you."

Damon just nodded.

Another full day passed, and once again the two guys tried to get names out of Damon and Caroline. Once again they refused and were left blooded and weak. Damon again insisted that Caroline take his blood. He felt the need to protect her. Not only because she was his brother's girlfriend, but because she was Liz's daughter and even though she acted tough she could break as easily as the rest of them.

"Damon," Caroline looked over at the older Salvatore, "I just want to thank you for being there for my mom during her last moments. Since I wasn't, I'm glad it was someone who cared about her."

"You were the last person on her mind, Caroline. Never forget that. And don't beat yourself up about not being there, you didn't know. She wouldn't want you to live with that regret. She died knowing how much you loved her."

A tear rolled down Caroline's cheek. She knew Damon was right. "Thank you for what you said at the funeral."

Damon nodded. "Caroline, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For how I treated you when I first came back. I took advantage of you and you deserved better."

"It's in the past, Damon, We were both two very different people."

"Yes, but that doesn't make it right."

"No, it doesn't." Caroline admitted. "But you're not that Damon anymore. I forgive you."

Those three words made Damon feel like a weight was lifted off of his chest. He realized how much he needed the forgiveness of Caroline Forbes.

The two were awoken by the sounds of fighting. Then Stefan came through the doors and with one tug pulled open the door to their cell. He immediately went to Caroline. He flinched as he untied her.

"Are you okay?" He asked with concern as he planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Damon needs blood." Caroline replied.

Just then Bonnie ran in and went right to Damon. She untied him and put her wrist to his mouth. "Drink."

"Are you crazy, Bon Bon. I could take too much, I could hurt you. No way." Damon tried to refuse, but Bonnie insisted. She reassured him that he wouldn't hurt her.

Since Damon was taken care of, Stefan turned his attention back to Caroline. "Let's get out of here."

Back at the boarding house Damon poured himself a glass of bourbon. "How's Caroline?" he asked as Stefan walked into the room.

"She's resting. She told me what you did for her. Thank you, Damon."

"You'd do the same for Elena or Bonnie." Damon answered taking a drink.

"Yeah, what's going on with that?" Stefan asked with eyebrows raised.

"We don't have time to get into it tonight, Brother. Besides your girl needs you. She's been through a lot."

Stefan nodded and went up to check on Caroline.