Chapter Three: Roommates

"You've lost your mind," I said, staring blankly at my father.

"Come on Ash. Damon really isn't that bad," my dad said, trying to convince me to stay a while longer.

"Dad," I groaned. "He's a nightmare!"

"Well thanks sweetheart," Damon smirked from the kitchen where he was making himself his third drink.

"And he's an alcoholic," I exclaimed.

"Ash, please do this for me. I don't know what's going on with my head but I need you here," he pleaded.

"Fine," I caved. "But he," I said pointing to Damon, "stays at least ten feet away from me at all times,"

"He'll behave," my dad agreed. Behind us Damon let out a chucked and continued to nurse his drink.

"So are you staying here too," I asked my dad. He had to be close if someone was going to keep an eye on him at all times.

"Yup, your dad's on lock down," Damon said, walking over to sit next to me on the large leather couch.

"I'm really looking forward to that," my dad sighed.

"Relax Ric, you'll get time off for good behavior," Damon laughed.

"Really," I snapped at him. "Do you have any tact?"

"None what so ever," he chuckled. "Now, how about you and I go take a walk through your dad's place and see if we had find anything the killer left."

"Lead the way vampire," I said.

"You really got to let that go," Damon said seriously, opening the front door for us. "It's not like I can change anything about that."

"Wouldn't like you anymore if you could," I told him. "So how are we going to catch the bad bad killer?"

I could have burst out laughing after seeing my father's jaw drop and Damon's eyes flare in anger. Living him with for a while might be fun if I get to mess with his head on a regular basis.

"Like hell," Damon exclaimed. "You're not getting involved in this. Just leave it to the big boys and well have your dad's name cleared in a few days."

"Ash, I'm not going to but you in danger. You have to stay out of this," dad pleaded.

"So you want me to stay in Mystic Falls but you don't want me to get involved in anything," Asher stated. "Please tell me someone else sees the madness in that plan," she exclaimed.

"Babe's got a point Rick," Damon admitted.

"Don't call my daughter babe," Ric snapped.

"Plus there's also the deal with the rabid hybrids running around town," he added.

"Damon will look after you," Alaric decided.

"Trusting your only kid to a vampire – great parenting 101," I said, rollling my eyes.

"So this is your place," I asked, setting into her father's small apartment.

"Yeah, this is home," said dad.

I walked around; taking in the place my father had called home for more than a year. I closed in on the bedroom and gently pushed the door.

A blood curling scream left my lips when I stepped in.

"Ash," dad called out, rushing over. .

"Oh great," Damon scoffed, taking one look into the room.