HIS FAVORITE PUNISHMENT

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Vampire Diaries belongs to L.J. Smith and the CW. Plot inspired by the fic "The Revelation" written Hellsleprechaunt by who has given me permission to run with the idea. Takes place during the episode "Disturbing Behavior" at the scene where they first come back to Mystic Falls. Starts out the same and then goes into my own idea.

Stefan awoke with a start and then looked around. Seeing Klaus sitting on a bench, he scooted back until he hit the wall.

"Just give me a chance to explain myself, okay?" he asked, trying not to betray his fear. If he could just keep the other vampire calm, everything would be fine.

"No need. I'm not mad. I'm just curious. Rebekah seems to think you're holding on to something: a piece of your old life," came the calm response. Stefan's eyes flickered nervously. Calm was bad. You never knew how Klaus would react when he got like this. "The thing is, she's got flawless instincts. Borderline supernatural. So I thought I would check it out," he continued, leaning forward. Stefan stared at him, unsure of what he would do. "See for myself what it is you've been hiding." He stood up slowly as Klaus walked over to the back of the van and opened the door, causing the younger vampire to wince and cover his eyes at the unexpected brightness.

"Welcome back to Mystic Falls, Stefan," Klaus stated. Oh, dang. This is not good, he thought to himself as he stared at some of the familiar inhabitants.

"I don't understand. What are we doing here?" he wondered, turning back to the other vampire.

"Now, now, Stefan. Do you take me for an idiot?" the other man chided, turning to face him.

"I've done everything you've asked. I've tortured, killed…all at your command," Stefan reminded.

"That's all well and good but Rebekah's feelings have never been wrong, so I'm going to give a chance to tell me what you're hiding. We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way," Klaus responded, taking a step toward him.

"I'm not hiding anything," Stefan denied. Klaus' eyes narrowed and he lunged at Stefan, knocking him towards the back of the van and then straddled him, pinning him to the floor.

"I gave you one chance to come clean, Stefan. You're not getting another," he growled. Stefan tried to struggle, but Klaus was too strong. The older vampire bit into his shoulder tearing the flesh, resulting in an agonized scream. "What are you hiding from me?" he asked.

"Nothing," Stefan answered. He was bit again.

"What are you hiding from me?" he demanded.

"I swear…I'm not hiding anything…please…please…" he begged. This was Klaus' favorite punishment for whenever he thought Stefan had gotten out of line and his shoulder was already bearing several bite marks.

"You're lying. I can hear it," Klaus snarled, gripping Stefan's shoulders.

"No…I swear…it's the truth," Stefan insisted. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. Elena, I love you, he thought to himself. Klaus bit into him again and Stefan let out an agonized cry. "Please…please…I'm not lying…please…"

"If you don't start telling me the truth right now, I will let you die right here." Stefan just panted. He didn't want to die of course, but if it was for Elena…well…that was okay with him. As if sensing what he was thinking, Klaus stared directly into his eyes.

"You are going to tell me the truth right now," he said, letting his eyes dilate. "What are you hiding from me?" he asked.

"Elena's alive," he answered. No, no, no, no, no! Elena! his mind screamed. Of course. That would explain why I can't make my hybrids, the older vampire thought to himself.

"There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?" he asked. Then, he tore into his own flesh and placed the wound into Stefan's mouth and he drank eagerly. As soon as the wound was healed, Klaus grabbed Stefan by the neck. Then, mercifully, Stefan knew no more.

THE END