A wooden stake can be a handy thing for a girl to have by her bed. Elena Gilbert wasn't sure how she'd kill a vampire or even if she was capable, but she felt reassured knowing she had the resources readily available should she find herself in a sticky situation. Okay, yes, it did scare the crap out of her that she actually needed weaponry in her own bedroom but better safe than sorry.

She felt the cool breeze come in from her window when she remembered that she went to bed with her window closed and locked. She slowly wrapped her hand around the stake. Once she had a firm grip, she shot up in bed to see her uninvited visitor.

"Woah, tiger. Don't hurt yourself." Elena didn't need to turn the light on to see him. She could hear the smirk in Damon Salvatore's voice.

"Knocking, Damon. It's a trend that's been developing the last few centuries. Get with it."

Damon switched the light on for her. "I like the element of surprise."

"I don't."

"Well, clearly. Keeping a stake under your pillow at night?"

"Maybe."

"The more important question," Damon plopped himself on the side of her bed, "is why are you keeping a stake at the ready?"

"Katherine."

"She won't come back for you. You've never had any relations with her, and she'll probably want to keep it that way."

"What if she does? She certainly didn't take a liking to Uncle John."

"You're protected Elena. You have me and Stefan and even Bonnie would be willing to help you if you were ever in danger when we're not around."

"But what happens when none of you are around? When I go to sleep at night—"

"We're here. Me and Stefan, we take turns on guard at night."

"Which means you're worried about something. You think I need to be guarded from something."

"You want the truth? I don't know what Katherine will do. I don't know her anymore. Neither does Stefan or anyone else. We're pretty sure that she won't hurt you. But we know that pretty sure isn't good enough. This is an extra precaution."

"So, always at night. One of you is always here at night? Always?"

"Yes. Always."

"You don't leave?"

"Not until you go to school."

"Okay," Elena said. She knew that a vampire was a much better weapon against another vampire than an average girl with a sharp piece of wood. Elena's relief turned to suspicion, "Why did you come in here tonight? Do you come in every night?"

"I heard you tossing and turning. I thought you could use company if you were just going to stay awake all night."

"Oh."

"Think you can sleep now that you know you've got your own personal vampire secret service on guard?" Damon stood up from the bed.

"Yeah, I think I can."

"Good." Damon headed for the window.

"Hey Damon?"

"Yes, Elena?"

"Could you stay in here while I sleep?"

Damon closed the window. "Yeah, I can do that."

A/N: Let me know what you think!