Chapter 4

"You what?" Dean asked with a surprised look on his face as Sam glanced up at him. Elena put the icepack down on the table as her hand became too cold to hold it before she rubbed her hands together for warmth.

"The cure." Sam said and looked in to her eyes as she glanced at him where he kneeled in front of her. She nodded and put a hand over her marked neck. "You took it."

"After my bestfriend, and Jeremy's girlfriend, Bonnie, killed Silas with the help of the witch that had created the immortality in the first place, the cure was left unused, and Stefan and Damon wanted me to have it since I had only been a vampire for a year. The cure doesn't just cure the immortality, but also sets you to the age you would be. So I took it." Elena said and looked up at Dean who eyed her up and down. "I think his hunter instincts still think I'm a vampire or they recognize me as my doppelgänger, Kathrine."

"Wait, you have a doppelgänger?" Dean asked and his forehead wrinkled as Elena nodded her head.

"I had, or I was hers. Anyway, Silas killed her and she was a vampire. She killed Jeremy." Elena put her head on her hand while massaging her temple. She was tired and hungry, but most of all, she was tired of having this kind of a life. Always danger and new things wanting to kill her or the ones she cared about.

"We can't leave Jeremy here and he's too dangerous for you to take him with you home." Dean said and uncrossed his arms before he stood up straight.

"Elena, do you have a safe place that's far from people? That cabin you mentioned earlier?" Sam asked and looked up at her. Elena nodded and swallowed before Sam stood up in front of her.

"Yeah, we can go there. We've trained there before and the nearest sign of society is a little road shop two miles from it." Elena said and looked up at them. Dean clapped his hands together and looked at Sam.

"Great! Let's grab the kid and leave before the vamp gets back." He said and received a nod from Sam as they walked out of the kitchen with Elena following them, but she didn't go down to the basement with them. No, she went to the wooden dresser in the hallway by the front door before she opened one of the drawers and pulled out a set of keys. After looking through the set for the right key for minutes, she finally found the one she was looking for. A silver key with something like a little black cap on it and an alarm button hanging from the chain rested in her hand before she put it in her pocket. Suddenly, she heard Sam and Dean come up the stairs from the basement and Elena's heart jumped in her chest of nervousness. She leaned against the dresser with her hands clutching the top of its smooth surface as Jeremy came to sight from the basement door. He didn't see her right away, but when he did, he froze in his step. Elena was afraid to move as Sam and Dean came up behind him, but they also froze in their place and Elena was even afraid to breath. All of a sudden, Jeremy took fast steps towards Elena, no emotions in his face at all just like before. The guys grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him out of the house, kicking and screaming, and it hurt Elena more than anything, too watch her brother when he didn't recognize her. She bit her lip as the tears stung at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them free. No, she had to be strong, not just for herself, but for her brother as well. Elena turned around to the golden mirror behind her and just looked at herself. Her straight brown hair parted at the middle so it framed her face with the big brown eyes and small pink lips. The mark around her throat had lost a little of its color, but it was still partly visible above the neckline of her sweater.

"Hey, you ready to leave?" Sam asked as Elena studied herself in the mirror and startled her. Her eyes darted to him and exhaled when she saw it was him. A little humored smile formed on his face as Elena nodded with a very idiotic expression on her face when she pretended that he hadn't scared her.

"I shouldn't be in the same car as Jeremy." Elena said and bit her lip with a guilt rising in her again as Sam just realized that it might be the best idea to have them together.

"Yeah, maybe that's not good idea." Sam sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought. "We can drive and get you later if you want or we'll drive you up first." He came with a few other suggestions, but Elena shook her head before she pulled out the key from her pocket and dangled it in front of him. "What's that?"

"Come." She said with a playful smile on her face as she reached out for his hand. He grabbed it without hesitation, which surprised Elena in a very pleasant way, before she dragged him after her in the other direction of the kitchen. They walked through the long hallway, through another little library like room and in through a door that was at the end of a narrow little hallway before Elena let go of Sam's hand and pushed on a light-switch on the wall beside them. The whole room lit up with bright white light and revealed old fashioned cars after cars throughout the whole room. Sam's eyes widened in surprise and walked over to one of the cars with the biggest smile on his face. Elena put her hands on her back and followed after him as he looked at the cars in admiration.

"Wow!" Sam said as he passed the metallic blue car that once belonged to Damon when he was still around. He stopped and touched its hood like it was a baby which made Elena laugh as she walked past him to the passenger seat. He looked very excited and confused as she threw him the keys to the car and she opened the passenger door.

"You coming?" She teased and sat in before she closed the door beside her. Sam quickly got in beside her in the front seat and stuck the key into the ignition. The car started with a roar and Elena hit a button on the dashboard that suddenly made the garage door in front of them roll up. Sam looked over at Elena with a smile as she leaned back in the seat when they drove out of the garage and towards Dean's car. It had started to rain outside and the water poured down on the windows as they pulled up beside Dean who was seated in his own car with Jeremy in the backseat.

"I leave you alone with her for a few minutes and suddenly you've got a new car?" Dean asked with a tiny little smile on his lips after he rolled down the window to talk to his brother. Sam looked over at Elena before he gave Dean a smile, but avoided meeting his eyes before he rolled up the window again. Dean started to laugh inside the car, but Sam drove away.

"What happened to the guys who lived in the house?" Sam asked after a two hours of being stuck together in the car. Dean was driving behind them with Jeremy and it pained Elena to think about her brother. Her feet were on the dashboard of the car as she leaned against her seat and watched the rain pour down the windows. The radio played a sweet tune that filled the silence that had been between them up until now.

"They left." Elena said, still looking out the window and her hands twinning together of boredom. "Stefan is traveling the world with his girlfriend, Caroline, and Damon is somewhere out there as well. I haven't talked to Damon in a long time, but I occasionally get postcards from Caroline though. They don't know about the thing with Jeremy."

"Why haven't you told them?" Sam asked and glanced over at her as he was driving with questioning in his eyes. Elena shrugged and looked down on her hands which were placed in her lap.

"I don't want them to stop living their lives just because of us." Elena said and sighed before she looked straight ahead, out on the wet road. She desperately wanted to call Stefan and Damon so she could ask for help, but she knew she couldn't. "We can get through this. We did once and we will again, but the problem is that Stefan and Damon helped Jeremy last time." Her heart had sunk completely in her chest, not feeling that much hope, but she was not going to give up on her brother.

"Hey." Sam said and moved his right hand from the steering-wheel before he placed it onto Elena's. His eyes were fixed on the road, but she could feel that he wanted to help as his hand squeezed hers lightly. "We are going to do our best to save Jeremy, okay? We won't leave until you've got your life back." Elena felt the tears press on the back of her eyes again, but she blinked hard before they could actually escape.

"Thank you, Sam." She said, almost in a whisper as her voice broke. He gave her a smile, but didn't remove his hand. It lay in her lap, tangled in her own, while he drove and Elena had to admit that she didn't mind it at all. Somehow it felt…right, deep down, she knew. "How about you? Any struggles with your brother?" Sam chuckled and shook his head as he quickly squeezed his eyes shut for a second.

"So many." He said with the most childish grin on his face, but it made Elena smile too. "When we were younger, our dad was always out hunting and we saw him just a few days in a week, maybe even a whole month, so when Dean was 10 and I was 6, he had to cook for me and stuff. He had to have made up a hundred different meals with melted marshmallows on them."

"Ew! Really?" Elena said with a disgusted face, but still smiled to Sam who laughed while nodding. "That…that is…wow!"

"Hey, I was 6! Everything with candy was good!" Sam defended himself and Elena couldn't do anything else but to laugh at him. "Okay, you're turn. Tell me something about yourself."

"Technically, that wasn't about you." Elena said and tried to make a serious face that ended up with a half-smile. Sam rolled his eyes and nodded with a serious face.

"Okay, I have been beaten, possessed, killed, thrown, chased and lost my soul, but first when I sprained my elbow, I finally got a vacation." Sam admitted and Elena started at him in absolute disbelief which made Sam smile that warmed him all up inside.

"Seriously? You've been possessed? I mean…wow." Elena said and looked out the window in front of her again. "Okay, something about me." Elena thought about it for a few seconds before she turned in her seat and looked at Sam. "I've got a few. I can't cook. I can literally burn water." Sam laughed at her and glanced towards her as she

"Yeah, I'm not the best at cooking either. That's why I always make salad." Sam confessed and Elena laughed again. That's how they continued the rest of the 1 hour trip, laughing about each other's childhood and facts about themselves, until they finally pulled the muddy driveway up to the big wooden house that Elena had spent so many summers at when she was a kid, far from any sign of civilization. It was still pouring outside and the dock behind the house was almost completely covered with water as the lake had risen.

"Stay here until we've got Jeremy secured in a room inside." Sam said and squeezed her hand before he let go. Elena felt the warmth that had been around her hand for the past hour suddenly disappeared. "Do you have the key?"

"No, but it's a spare key just under the roof of the shed that's beside the house." Elena said and nodded towards the side of the house that wasn't visible from where they were.

"Okay, you get that and we'll get him inside s soon you've opened up?" Sam suggested and Elena nodded before they both went out of the blue car. Elena hadn't brought a jacket or anything that could cover her, so the rain sunk into her clothes and her brown hair got darker and wet by the water as they stood by the car as Dean came towards them. Neither Sam nor Dean had anything that could stand water either so they were as completely soaked as she was.

"So, we're just gonna lock him up in a room until we can what? Train him like a dog?" Dean asked confused and crossed his arms. Elena had to be honest; she didn't really know either, because this wasn't like last time at all.

"First we have to keep him away from Elena." Sam said as his long hair fell into his eyes and drops of water poured down, so he pulled a hand through his hair, making it look like he had short hair for a second. "Is there a room we can lock from the outside?" His eyes moved over at Elena who was shivering beside them.

"Ehm, yeah, first bedroom up the stairs. First door on your left." Elena explained with a shivering voice. Her body was ice-cold and wet as the water dripped down from her and onto the ground.

"Okay, hurry and get the key." Sam said with a little smile as she nodded and walked towards the little wooden shed beside the house. It was just out of sight, so she couldn't see the others anymore when she reached it. Wood blocks were placed outside the wall that were meant to be used as fireplace wood, but had now been inhabitant by spiders and whatnot. Elena cringed by the thought of spiders so she shook it off and reached up under the roof outside the door, her hand searching for the little hole in the wood where the key lay, but all of a sudden, she was pulled backwards. She didn't have time to react before she lay on the wet grass on her back. At first Elena thought she had slipped, but then she saw someone standing beside her totally emotionless.

"Jer, please." Elena begged as her eyes were steady on her brother. A little change happened in his face, like he suddenly recognized her, but it disappeared as fast as it came. Elena crawled slowly backwards, but Jeremy quickly grabbed her leg and hauled her back. Kicking and struggling, she screamed for Sam and Dean as her brother bent down and grabbed one of the wooden pieces that were stacked beside them. It was sharp at the end like a dagger and Elena remembered it was one of the stakes she and Jeremy had left there in case of emergency. He grabbed her by the throat again and lifted his dirty, wet hand up into the air and looked her in the eyes like he was saying goodbye without words. Elena couldn't breathe or move anymore, too afraid, so she closed her eyes as tears rolled down from them, ready to die, but suddenly, Jeremy's hand was gone and running footsteps came from both sides of her. Quickly she opened her teary eyes and saw Sam and Dean run up beside her.

"Elena! Are you okay?" Sam said and fell to the grass beside her, taking her into his arms which were completely wet from the pouring rain. Dean came on the other side of her and sat down as well before pushed strays of hair out of her wet face with ice cold fingers. She couldn't speak, just held on to Sam for her bare life, tears running freely down her eyes, silently. Sam stroked her hair and held onto her shivering body as Dean looked around.

"Where the hell did Jeremy go?" Dean asked with an angry voice. He was right; Jeremy was gone, disappeared like smoke.

"He ran into the woods when we came, I think." Sam said and carefully gripped Elena's waist before he helped her up so she could stand. She was shivering and she barely had any feeling left in her fingertips because of the cold. "We have to find him, Dean." Dean stood up as well and nodded before he looked up at Elena whose cheeks were red and teeth were clattering together.

"Let's get her inside first." Dean said and Elena nodded gratefully. Dean's hair was dripping with water and so were the rest of him, but none of the brother's seemed cold, not like her. Elena turned around to the shed and reached up in under the roof. After struggling with actually feeling something in her fingers, she finally found the key which she barely managed to hold on to, so she handed it to Dean. Sam put an arm around her as they walked to the entrance of the wooden cabin, trying to get some warmth into her freezing body.

"You need to find Jeremy." Elena said between her teeth clattering and put her arms around herself. Dean looked back at her as he walked to the front door and unlocked it.

"We will, but right now, we have to get you dry and safe. We don't even know where Jeremy is." He said as they finally walked into the cabin which was much warmer than the outside. Dean tossed the key at one of the kitchen counters before he went over to the fireplace, starting to make a fire. Sam closed the door behind them as Elena walked up the stairs to the second floor to her parents' former bedroom. The familiar wooden hallway filled with family pictures and other stuff they had left there made Elena feel at home as she walked into her parents' bedroom. Her mother's perfume smell welcomed her as she walked to the dresser by the big bed and looked through the clothes that were left until she found her mother's cozy grey sweater and a pair of black jeans. With a sound of relief, Elena pulled the hair-tie out from her hair so her now wet hair spilled down around her shivering shoulders. Quickly she got out of the wet clothes and slipped into the new ones with the feeling of warmth and her mother surrounding her, For a minute she just stood there, looking in the mirror, trying to remember her mother the best she could; her smile, laugh, just the simple things, but it was harder now. After shaking of the mesmerizing thoughts, Elena looked in the dresser again and pulled out two of her father's flannel shirts before she headed back down the stairs. Dean had gotten the fire lighted and was standing by the couch talking intensely with Sam as Elena quietly walked down the stairs, but stopped when she heard her name.

"I know you want to help Jeremy, but we have more to do than just babysit!" Dean said with frustration his voice and eyed Sam as he nodded and squeezed his eyes shut for a minute. "The vamp that escaped is much more dangerous than some kid."

"Not to Elena." Sam said and put his hands up in a quick movement. "Jeremy would try to kill her the second he got a hold of her, Dean. If we go after the vamp, what will stop him to go after Elena?" Elena swallowed hard and clutched her fingers around the shirts in her hand. They were silent for a little while, the tension rising and Elena was about to go down the remaining steps of the stairs, but then Dean started to talk again.

"You care about her." He said, not like a question, but like a confirmation. He crossed his arms as Sam looked away, not replying. Elena's heart fluttered and she held her breath, scared to move. "Sam, you know..."

"Yes, Dean! I know! It's too dangerous!" Sam snapped and closed his eyes before he running his fingers through his long hair with a sigh. He turned away from Dean who nodded slowly. "I know that there can never be anything between us, but I…I can't help it. She is… I can't even explain it." He let out a frustrated and pathetic laugh before he turned back around to his brother. Dean looked down at the floor with a tiny smile on his lips as Elena walked down the remaining steps, pretending she didn't hear anything, but inside, a strange feeling had awoken.

"Hey, I've brought you some dry shirts." Elena said with her eyes on the clothing in her hands. "I don't know if they'll fit, but I guess it's better than being dripping wet." Sam turned around as she walked towards them with a look of surprise when she looked up at him with a shy smile while she handed him one of the shirts. He slowly took it without taking his eyes from hers. Elena felt her cheeks turning red so she quickly looked away and handed Dean the other shirt.

"Thank you." Dean said when Sam remained silent. Dean pulled off his t-shirt so he was bare chested and Elena groaned before she quickly turned around, her back turned to them.

"Mind giving me a heads up next time?" Elena said as she crossed her arms and could literally feel Dean's smirk on her back. She shook her head and looked down at the floor, waiting until they were dressed.

"Afraid you will find me even more attracting?" Dean teased and Elena rolled her eyes, didn't bother to answer. "Okay, you can turn around now." Elena turned around, but quickly sucked in air when she saw Sam stand there half-naked with his chest bare. He didn't seem to understand what happened before Dean started to chuckle. Sam had just placed his wet clothes over the back of the leather couch and was holding the red flannel shirt in his hands as his eye landed on Elena who looked mesmerized at him.

"Dude!" Sam said and looked over at Dean who put his hands up in defeat. He winked at Sam before he walked backwards towards the front door. Sam glared at him the whole way, but he didn't feel angry or mad at all.

"I'll be in the car." And with a vicious smile too his brother, he disappeared out the door in the blue flannel shirt. Sam looked back at Elena who eyed Sam with big eyes and her jaw had dropped a tiny bit. Sam looked at her with a curious look and a smile before her eyes met his and she quickly shook her head before she looked away.

"I'm sorry." Elena sighed and cleared her throat. Sam smiled to her as he pulled on the flannel shirt, a little amused with Elena's reaction, but his heart also jumped in his chest when he saw the shy little smile form on her lips.

"It's okay." He reassured and started to button up the shirt. Elena looked at him as he did it, studying him like he was something completely alien. He glanced up at her with, still with a smile on his face and this time Elena smiled back. "We'll be back later." Elena nodded as she tilted her head when Sam opened and closed his mouth, like he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind. He nodded and walked towards the front door, leaving Elena alone in the cabin.


Hope you enjoyed this chapter!