Thank you SO MUCH for all of your amazing reviews guys, I still need to reply to some of them, I'm sorry that I couldn't update yesterday but here's the next instalment, the longest so far. Enjoy!
Stefan listened patiently as Elena told him about Isobel and he nodded keeping silent, letting her process the information and relay it back to him. He thought back to that night. They'd all been so frantic! The day had started out so normally, so easily, a regular Friday night. He'd called Elena, arranged to meet her at the Grill not realising that as Katherine had answered the call she was kicking one last piece of Earth over the fresh grave in which she'd buried them both.
He hadn't realised straight away. Hadn't made the necessary connections until an entire hour had passed after she'd met him. All Stefan had seen was an Elena that finally seemed to be coming out of her funk. Of course he understood that she was having a hard time dealing with everything that had happened on founders day. It would be a long and slow healing process but the issue was more than that, and somehow he knew that it had something to do with his brother; always his brother.
In the end it had all come down to one simple factor, Katherine wasn't wearing a vervain necklace and for the rest of his undead life he would never forgive himself for not noticing it sooner. But that was part of Katherine's charm, always one step ahead. She'd left just enough time to leave the threat of her return looming over all of their heads, but not as an imminent one; they'd become complacent. And once the penny had finally dropped she'd simply smiled mercilessly, leaning forward and getting right into his face before speaking.
"Hello lover, did you miss me?" and it had made him shudder because it was such an inherently Damon thing to say, and he'd never noticed before, how muchof Katherine was in Damon, how much Katherine had changed them. Both. The years had been so cruel and unkind that it had been just enough to make them forget what life had been like before…
Alaric had never explained how he'd known that they needed to look in the graveyard but at the time it hadn't mattered at all. They'd come rushing to help, all come rushing to follow his lead, and it had worked. For that Stefan owed Isobel; something that made him deeply uncomfortable.
"He's going to kill her Stefan" Elena said warily, regarding him keenly to see if the words effected him the way she thought they might.
"Katherine is dangerous" he stated simply for what felt like the thousandth time and she had to hold back the sarcastic "No shit Sherlock" from passing her lips.
"I know that" she said irritation seeping into her tone. God she was such a different person, so much darker so much more bitter, more and more she was becoming irritated by Stefan's codling and it made her feel guilty because she knew he was only doing it because he loved her. Truly loved her, "And you love him too" she reminded herself.
"I'm just saying that it needs to be done, because she's too dangerous to be kept alive" he swallowed, clearing the discomfort in his throat because even though he'd forced himself to believe that his love had only been part of her compulsion, the idea of her being dead to him, all over again stirred something within his chest.
"Then he's going to need our help. Katherine will kill him and I, we can't let that happen" she realised her mistake a little too late and an uncomfortable tension filled the room. Stefan looked down at his hands, standing.
"I'll call Alaric" he stated simply before leaving the room to fetch his phone from his bedside table. Elena let her head fall into her hands. This was only going to get harder, and for the first time since meeting Stefan, since falling in love with him, since everything she wondered if they would be able to make it though.
Her feelings of love for him hadn't diminished, but they were definitely changing. More and more she was starting to realise that this wasn't the fairytale boy-meets-girl, girl falls in love, they live happily-ever-after that she wanted it to be. She was growing up. Her situation forcing her to mature rapidly far beyond her tender years and things were most definitely falling apart between them, she just didn't know if she had the fight left in her to salvage their relationship whilst keeping both of their secrets; whilst keeping everything from Jenna; whilst dealing with the fact that her family was dead, and undead; whilst trying to keep the reaming living people she cared about breathing AND trying to fix the unfixable Damon.
And she was back to Damon. It was ridiculous how much she thought of him and whilst she was on the subject she'd decided that they couldn't make a plan without including him. She picked up her phone sighing before hitting speed-dial number one, recalling how she'd justified putting him first, Jenna second and Stefan last. It was simply alphabetically correct, it had nothing to do with the fact that when she'd been programming it she'd decided that in the case of an emergency he would be the one who could help.
"I know I'm all you can think about, but really? You only saw me 10 minutes ago" he immediately answered, smiling smugly to himself.
"And you're the one that picked up before the first ring was even done, have you been sitting there waiting for me to call? That's sad Damon, even for you" she replied quickly, hearing him laugh on the other end.
"Ah touché" and she couldn't help the tiny smile that was making it's presence known to her lips.
"Joking aside, you need to come back here, Stefan just called Alaric. We need a plan Damon you can't just go after her on your own" he made a noise that was something like a sigh.
"You know, I prefer to work alone. It suits me better" he said in that playful tone.
"No you don't! We've worked together before!" she exclaimed.
"And every time, someone ends up not following the plan!" someone being her. He'd had her there and she struggled to come up with a response, instead settling for the words she'd known had worked with him many times before.
"Please Damon" she implored. He remained silent, pursing his lips together as he thought of the pros and cons. He wasn't stupid, he knew he couldn't take Katherine on alone and seriously expect to survive, but he did not want Elena under any circumstances to get involved.
"Sorry, no can do" and with that he hung up. He actually hung up on her. Elena's eyes burned and her body tensed with frustration. She wouldn't give up that easily.
"Alaric say's he'll be round in about an hour" Stefan called from the pantry. Elena had made her decision.
"Ok. Look I'm gunna go home and grab some things quickly, is it ok if I stay here again tonight?" she asked, standing and folding the blanket neatly. Her ribs were still incredibly sore from the life saving chest compressions Damon had given her and she winced slightly at the movement.
"Of course" he said making a motion to go and get his jacket.
"I meant alone..." there was an awkward silence between them.
"If anything happens I'll call you, I promise I just need some time alone" she said walking over to him and giving him a reassuring hug. He sighed wrapping his arms around her gently before kissing the top of her head.
"Be careful"
"I will" she responded smiling her first genuine smile at him in a while, grateful that he hadn't pressed the issue any further. She grabbed her jacket and her keys that were by the front door sparing him one last glance as she left the house stepping out into the cool night air. Elena immediately made her way to her car a determination settling over her before she put the keys in the ignition and sped away.
Damon rolled his eyes as his phone rang for the third time in a row. She really could be a stubborn and annoying little bugger sometimes, ok well most of the time but this was something else. She was either in trouble, or she was pissed as hell that he'd hung up on her. From the number of calls he deduced that it was the latter so he continued to let it ring, and ring, and ring.
"Aren't you gunna answer that?" a woman asked, sliding onto the stool next to him. He bit back the sarcastic "obviously not" and took a calming breath schooling his features into a devilish grin.
"Ex girlfriend, she just can't get enough of me" he responded easily turning to face his newfound "company". She was a woman probably in her late 30s or early 40s who obviously took good care of herself. Those boobs weren't hers though he thought idly, he'd had hundreds of women like her this was nothing knew and she wasn't he prettiest thing he'd laid eyes on but she wasn't bad either.
She laughed, well giggled in response fixing him with a suggestive gaze.
"I can't imagine why" she said, turning her body pointedly towards his. He reciprocated her gesture and set the glass that was almost permanently attached to his hand down on the bar.
"And I can't imagine why your husband would let such a pretty little thing like you go" he responded inclining his head getting the desired effect she looked momentarily shocked before laughing it off.
"Am I that obvious?" she asked, brushing her hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture.
"No, but the tan line on your ring finger is" he said nodding his head towards the hand that was outstretched against the bar. She made an "oh" face before extending her hand towards him.
"I'm Melanie" he took the outstretched hand and brought it slowly to his lips, kissing the top of her hand delighting in the way it caused her heartbeat to flutter dangerously.
"Damon" he replied simply before continuing.
"As much as I hate to do this to you, I actually have to go; maybe we can pick this up some other time" he said suggestively hopping down from his stool gracefully not caring that she was trying to form a response before he grabbed his leather jacket and purposefully walked out of the Mystic Grill. Another time he might have stayed, might have allowed Melanie to take him home with her, would have had his fun before leaving her dry; quite literally. But as it so happened the one person he was trying to avoid had taken it upon themselves to walk through the door.
Elena huffed frustrated as her eyes scanned the throngs of people that were gathered in the Grill. Where the hell was he if he wasn't drowning his sorrows in a glass of obscenely strong alcohol? She looked over at the bar confirming that he wasn't there before storming out. There was only one place left to look; the woods. She sat with her hands gripping the steering wheel letting her inner turmoil eat her up. This was a bad idea; she should go home grab some things to keep up with her cover story go back to the boarding house and wait. That would have been the smart thing to do but Elena had never taken the easy way out. Why should she start now?
Elena shivered and pulled her jacket tighter, eyes wide and startled as she crept through the dense foliage. Why was she doing this again? She heard a twig snap and she froze. Ok it was time to leave; this had been a very foolish plan. She walked as quickly as her legs would carry her without breaking into a run aware that something was following her. She could feel it; whatever IT was lurking in the shadows just beyond her field of vision. It was playing with her making noises that would scare her, that would let her know unquestionably that SHE was the pray. She tripped slightly, as the noises got louder and closer. Oh god, oh god, oh god she repeated in her head her eyes darting to where she'd last heard it expecting a monster to come bursting out of the trees towards her.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed!" Damon spat incredulously from behind her and she could barely contain her scream as she turned abruptly and literally stumbled into his chest. He grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her picking up on her accelerated heart rate. Good. He thought. Maybe she'll finally learn her lesson.
"Well if you'd just answer my calls I wouldn't have to come looking for you!" she raged. He wanted to shake her; to make her realise that she couldn't keep doing this! Couldn't keep gambling with her life so easily.
"It's TOO DANGEROUS for you Elena, why don't you understand that!" he spoke practically shouting in her face leaning down so that his eyes were level with hers, the ire in his voice and his stance momentarily making her pause. She'd never seen him this angry; not with her.
"You sound like Stefan" she spat, and that had been the wrong thing to say because his expression darkened considerably, his grip tightening and she was beginning to feel a little afraid.
"Well isn't this touching" Katherine's spoke sarcastically disgust lacing her tone. Her voice pierced the night air clearly, sending a chill down Elena's spine. Damon immediately released her and stepped in front of her, using himself as a physical shield between the two. He forced his anger to drain away and allowed his features to fall into his trademark smirk.
"Isn't it just" he drawled narrowing his eyes, preparing himself for whatever she was about to do.
And suddenly Elena was no longer looking at his well-formed back, no. Instead she was looking at nothing, she whipped around in the opposite direction to see that they had moved, Katherine raising a curious eyebrow as she regarded them both. She was somewhat surprised that he'd been able to preempt her attempt at reaching Elena's vulnerable side. But there he was again blocking her path. Of course she could simply go through him; but there was no fun in that.
She tried again only to be met with is defiance for a second time. Damon tilted his head to the side that cocky smile sending a very clear and silent message; back off. Katherine held his gaze for another full minute marveling at the audacity of him. Surely he knew that if she wanted to hurt either of them she could and it would be all too easy for her? She smiled amusement playing at her features.
"Very interesting" was all she said, her tone sounding truly curious before she disappeared suddenly, back into the night almost as if she'd never even come. Elena didn't relax however; she was still on high alert as Damon turned back towards her giving her this look that just screamed, "I told you so".
"What the hell was that?" she breathed, un-nerved to the core.
"A game" he said simply. Holding out his hand to her in a gesture so un-Damon like that she'd stared at it at first, trying to understand what it meant. He waited patiently though, making sure to keep his expression neutral. To not betray the face that this was a test, a test to see how far her trust in him truly stretched. Even he was a little surprised when she decided to slip her tiny hand delicately into his, not a trace of disdain or distrust evident in her expression. He squeezed it slightly before setting a pace and walking them back towards her car. Back to safety aware of Katherine's eyes on them the whole way back as she followed from the shadows. Elena would never even know just how close they were cutting it, and he wanted it to stay that way.
He may have been the one following her earlier purposefully scarring her, chasing her out of those woods and away from any immanent danger without having to make his presence known, but the second he'd realised that he was also being followed he'd been forced to step in. Forced to save the day; again. Being a hero really didn't suit him he thought bitterly as he let go of her hand fishing her keys from her pocket without saying a word. She was too scared to argue with him right now so she obediently took a seat in the passenger's side.
When they'd walked into the boarding house Stefan, Alaric and Jeremy were already sitting by the fire. They all stood when they entered the room through the grand archway. Stefan fixing her with a distrusting stare that caused her stomach to knot.
"Damon saw me leave Stefan, he followed me home, just to make sure nothing happened" Elena explained carefully hoping against hope that Damon would just play along. He looked at her sharply; could feel his eyes burning holes into her before he stepped forward.
"That's me, I'm just your regular do-good guy; always helping out" he quipped. Oh Elena definitely owed him for this he thought giving her a smile that let her know it. She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, can we just get to the point?" she asked going and taking a seat where she'd been resting earlier. The rest of them followed suit until they were each settled.
"Stefan say's you want to kill Katherine?" Alaric spoke, addressing Damon.
"Sure, why not?" he spoke playfully his eyes glittering with mischief in the firelight causing Elena to fight back the urge to scream with frustration.
"Lets be serious about this, even combined we're not strong enough to overpower her" Jeremy spoke surprising Elena. They hadn't spoken much since the incident, the baggage between them preventing either from making an active move to clear the air. He'd grown up so much since he'd taken his life and seeing this new mature responsible side of him was new to her. She regretted being so angry with him that she'd shut him out then, as she watched him.
"We need someone that she trusts" he continued. Stefan frowned not liking where this was heading, Alaric stiffened and Damon… well he was only feigning mild interest in the whole affair.
"Isobel" Alaric spoke quietly. Jeremy nodded.
"If we can get her to arrange a meeting, or to at least get her out in the open then we might have a chance" Stefan spoke, his elbows resting on his knees.
"Alaric, maybe you could get a gun that shoots vervain, or even just a dart?" Elena asked hopefully, he nodded mulling over the logistics in his head.
"I can try" he responded, and Damon laughed, mocking them all and shaking his head.
"She'd know something was wrong the second Isobel asked her to do something; that is of course presuming Isobel isn't just playing us all which I highly suspect is true" he said annoyance creeping into his tone.
"Well why don't you come up with something better then!" Elena snapped meeting his icy gaze. He inhaled and pursed his lips slightly, the rest of the room looking on as the tension between them built to an almost unbearable level.
"Exactly" she muttered, finally dropping her gaze and leaning back into the sofa trying inconspicuously to relieve the throbbing pain in her ribs, she watched, as his gaze seemed to soften slightly as he regarded her and she saw something then; a flicker of churned up emotion passing across his devastatingly handsome face. He was onto her, he'd noticed that she carried herself differently, that she took shallower breaths because of the pain and he looked almost… guilty.
"Damon, it's our best shot. We should at least try it" Stefan said his expression stoic, he hadn't failed to notice whatever that little exchange was between them and he'd decided in that moment that it couldn't go on. It couldn't keep happening and he made a mental note to ask Elena exactly what was going on between them; just as soon as Katherine was dealt with.