Chapter 6: Showtime

"Where is he?" Elena sighed as she tried Stefan's phone again. She looked at the clock and saw it was almost 3:00pm already. She really needed to get to the hospital. Damon was downstairs with Jeremy and Alaric had already taken Jenna back to his place.

Elena saw Damon's keys to his mustang sitting the kitchen table and quietly strode over and grabbed them. Happy that the cellar was pretty sound proof she tiptoed out of the house and raced to his car. She felt a giggle rise in her chest as she took off down the a little more then elated about being able to get one over on Damon. No one was allowed to drive his car.

She started for the road when a figure standing in front of her stopped her. She stopped the car and cringed when she saw Damon glaring at her.

"Just what do you think your doing?" He asked opening her car door.

"I couldn't wait for Stefan anymore. I need to get to the hospital." Elena explained.

"You never thought about just asking me for a ride?" Damon asked raising an eyebrow.

"Stealing your car was more fun." Elena shrugged with a slight smile.

Damon laughed his eyes glittering slightly. "I knew you were a secret rebel."

"What can I say?" Elena smirked. "Now if you would please get out of the way. I need to get going."

"I don't think so." Damon said reaching in and unclasping her seat belt. Elena glared at him and he ignored her picking her up and removing her from the car.

He jumped into the driver's seat. "You coming or not?"

"Fine." Elena grumbled climbing into the passenger's seat.

"Is Jer okay there alone?" She asked.

"He just fed. He's fine." Damon replied. "Besides he doesn't have a ring. He can't go anywhere."

"Thanks for helping him." Elena said.

"No problem." Damon said pulling into the hospital parking lot.

The found Caroline's room quickly. Her mom, Matt and Bonnie were all sitting in the waiting area. They all looked like they had been crying.

"Damon, I'm glad your here." Sheriff Forbes said standing up and walking over to them. She

pulled him aside to talk and Elena saw Bonnie's eyes glare in her direction. Matt just looked miserable.

"So this is where you've been. Matt was here all night and I was here most of the night and all day. As our best friend lie in there fighting for her life. And here you are.. a little late because you were busy with Damon?" Bonnie spat out.

"You don't understand." Elena said tears welling in her eyes. "I tried to get here earlier. Something bad happened.. I'll explain later."

"Elena.. look at the company you keep." Bonnie said getting closer and whispering so Matt wouldn't hear. "Bad things are always going to happen."

She walked past Elena and stared into the window of Caroline's room. Elena felt hot tears slide down her face.

Matt came to stand by her. "She's got internal bleeding. The doctors haven't been able to make it stop." His face was broken with worry and sadness.

"I love her." he said gulping. "I never got a chance to tell her."

"You will Matt." Elena said chocking back sobs. "She's going to be okay."

He just shook his head and walked over towards Bonnie looking into the room with her. Bonnie put an arm around him and he relaxed slightly. Elena suddenly felt like she was on the outside looking in. She felt a strange loss and separation from her friends that she hadn't noticed before.

She felt Damon come up behind her. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"I can make her better." He whispered.

She knew what he meant. He could give her blood just like Stefan had done for Bonnie. When Damon attacked her.

"She won't turn?" Elena whispered.

"No I'll only give her a little it will heal her wounds." Damon said. "As long as she doesn't die with my blood in her system she'll be fine. She's in a hospital I think were pretty safe here."

"Okay." Elena agreed. "How?"

"You distract. I'll rescue." He smirked.

"How do I distract?" Elena asked looking toward Caroline's room where they were all standing vigil.

"Just tell Bonnie and Mark they need to go get something to eat or whatever.I can handle the rest." Damon said.

"His name is Matt." Elena muttered as she started toward them.

"It doesn't matter." Damon replied starting to the nurses station.

Elena returned from the cafeteria with Matt and Bonnie. Bonnie still seemed pretty angry but agreed that she needed her strength. Elena felt the strain between them growing and it worried her.

She felt a sense of relief when Damon gave her a little nod. Bonnie looked quickly from Damon to Elena.

"Did he?" Bonnie whispered.

"Yes." Elena whispered back. She glanced carefully at Bonnie but only found relief in her eyes.

"The bleeding has stopped completely. I've never seen anyone heal that fast." Elena overheard the nurse talking to the doctor who rushed in the room.

They all stood outside as Caroline woke up. She looked tired and sore but okay otherwise.

The doctor came out and gave them all the news that she was going to make a complete recovery. But they were going to keep her in observation for one more night. Elena could see Bonnie crying and felt her own tears start to fall again as they went in to see Caroline. Who was already starting to look like her perky self again.

"I'm going to fine you guys." Caroline said softly. Looking past them to Matt who looked so relieved and happy. Elena threw Bonnie a look and she nodded.

"We'll leave you two alone." Bonnie said winking at Caroline as she and Elena left then to talk.

"So..Blondie is going to make a miraculous recovery. " Damon drawled when he met him outside of the room. "Now you owe me one witch."

"I don't owe you anything." Bonnie spat. "You didn't do it for me."

"Bonnie." Elena sighed. "Caroline's okay. Let's focus on that right now."

"Right." Bonnie said clearing her throat. "So who stays tonight to make sure she doesn't die?"

"I will." Elena said."It's the least I can do. But I need to go back to the boarding house and talk to Stefan about something and check on Jer. Then I'll come back and sit here with her tonight."

Bonnie eyes fluttered and she looked less angry. "I'll stay with you Elena. I'm sorry I took my anger out on you."

"I understand and you were right. I should have been here sooner. You need sleep Bonnie I'll stay." Elena said firmly.

"Okay." Bonnie relented. "I'll stay until you get here."

"Again.. she's in a hospital what is going to happen?" Damon rolled his eyes.

Elena waited nervously for Stefan. It was already late evening and she was going to need to leave for the hospital soon. She had to try to clear the air first. She needed to be honest with him about her sleep walking theory. She wasn't going to start to lie to him now. He finally came home looking like he had been crying most of the day.

"Stefan?" Elena said softly looking worried.

"I'm losing you." He whispered looking broken and scared.

"No..Stefan. Your not." Elena cried softy. "I don't know how I ended up in Damon;s room. I must have slept walked.. I don't remember. But I would never cheat on you. You have to know that."

"I do." He said. "But.. now your story is changing... you were in his room then?"

"I guess.. so I think so. I don't remember." She said feeling frustrated.

"I want to trust you." he said softly. "But I can see how you two are with each other. The ease, the bond...you bring out a side of him that has been lost for 145 years. You admit your drawn to him. How am I not supposed to see that I am losing you?"

"We're just friends." She said meekly.

"Your more then friends." Stefan spat out.

"Okay.. but..I'm not leaving you for him." Elena started.

"Yet." Stefan finished for her his eyes hard and stony.

"I love you Stefan." Elena said her voice strong with conviction.

"I love you Elena." Stefan cried. "I want to fight for you but I don't know how. Because whenever I fight you on Damon I lose. I upset you and push you further towards him. My only other option is to ignore it and hope you don't leave me. It's miserable either way."

Elena's eyes widened realizing he was right. She did get upset whenever he fought her on Damon. But couldn't he just trust her? Maybe he had a right not too. Maybe he was seeing what she was trying to push away and ignore. That she was starting to fall for Damon. If separating herself from him was the only way to salvage things with Stefan maybe that was what she would have to do.

"I'm sorry I'm hurting you Stefan. I never wanted to end up in the middle of you two like her.I swear. I agree that the bond Damon and I have is more then friendship. But you have to trust me. I don't want to become Katherine not ever. Stefan if I feel like he's a threat to us I will separate myself. It's not possible right now with Jeremy and everything else. But trust me please." Elena begged.

"You need to ask yourself something Elena." Stefan replied his eyes pained. "Why are you determined to stay with me. Is it because you truly love me the most or is it because you don't want to be her."

"Stefan..." Elena said looking shocked.

"Don't answer that question quickly." Stefan warned. "It's something you may want to take some time to consider. I've been through this all before Elena. I love you but... as much as I love you. I can't go through that pain again."

Elena sighed as he walked upstairs. Looking at the clock and realizing she hadn't asked him for a ride and she couldn't now.

"Thought I would offer you a ride so you don't steal my car." Damon said walking into the room.

"Were you listening?" Elena accused.

Damon shrugged. "Morbid curiosity."

"Damon that was a private conversation." Elena said angrily.

"About me." He pointed out.

"I'm not discussing what you overheard with you so don't ask me to." Elena snapped walking out to his car.

"Elena.. " Damon started as he got in and glanced at her. "You wouldn't be her...she did what she did on purpose. Because she thought it was fun.. or who knows. She is completely selfish.. your not her. This situation is completely different."

"Your right." Elena said crisply facing forward and ignoring his intense gaze. "Because I love Stefan and I am going to stay true to him."

Damon sighed loudly as he pulled into the hospital parking lot.

"Call me if you need a ride back?" He asked.

"I'll call Stefan." Elena said opening the door and getting out.

"PMS much?' Damon muttered as he pulled away.

Elena felt a stab of guilt for being so rude to him but she was tired just so tired. She just wanted things to go back to normal to forget she had these feelings for Damon. To forget all of the bad things and just be normal again. But it was impossible. Stefan's words hit her hard and forced her to truly consider if he was right. She didn't want to face it. The feelings she had for Damon and the ones he had for her scared her. They represented something different then what Stefan did. Stefan was the safe choice.

The one who would mold himself to fit into her life. Damon would pull her away from everyone she loved. A life with him would mean the end of the life she had now. That very idea shook her and scared her and made her more determined to hold on to Stefan. Even though she knew deep down she was only hurting Stefan more in the end.

"I need to stop." She whispered to herself as she entered the waiting room to meet Bonnie.

"How is she?" Elena asked.

"Better, much better." Bonnie replied smiling. "She even made me go get her make up today."

Elena smiled thankful for one good thing. "How's Matt?"

"Good he finally went home to sleep." Bonnie smiled.

"Now you should do the same." Elena said pushing her out towards the elevator.

"You look upset." Bonnie said. "Do you want to talk? You said something happened."

"Not now." Elena sighed. "I'm just going to enjoy the solitude for awhile."

"Okay." Bonnie nodded turning to leave.

Elena spent most of the night writing in her diary. Trying to sort out her feelings and just get her mind together. Caroline slept peacefully. The hospital looked strange and empty. Elena felt a sudden chill and turned around but nothing was there. She turned back quickly and screamed.

An exact replica of herself was sitting in the chair across from her. She even had her hair straightened like Elena's and a similar necklace hanging from her neck.

"Stop screaming." Katherine snapped. "My ears are quite sensitive as you should know."

"Katherine." Elena whispered.

"Wow your bright." Katherine rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Elena asked feeling herself start to shake.

"I'm about to start the next phase of my plan." Katherine replied.

"What plan?" Elena asked.

"I'm making amends for a mistake I made a long time ago." Katherine replied.

"Which was?" Elena asked surprised at her confidence.

"You know." Katherine said. "Your making the same mistake right now."

"No I'm not." Elena said firmly.

"Don't argue with me I'm your elder." Katherine said. "You in love with Damon but your fighting it because you loved Stefan first. I've read your diary Elena. I know you.. your more like me then you realize."

"You read my.. how..?" Elena stuttered her eyes wide.

"Never mind that. You want to know why I'm here?" Katherine asked.

"Yes." Elena said crossing her arms.

"To get Stefan back." Katherine said simply. "Luckily it seems you love Damon. Its almost perfect, all you have to do now is go break up with Stefan and I'll pick up the pieces. You and Damon get your happily ever after. Everybody wins and no one gets hurt."

"No." Elena said. "No way I won't let you hurt them again. They are finally over you both of them. Damon spent 145 years searching for you. You didn't even care. You don't get to walk back in now and destroy everything!"

"Okay so your going to be stubborn?" Katherine asked. "Then.. you don't get a choice in how this goes down and I continue to play my games."

"What games?" Elena asked.

"Take your necklace off." Katherine demanded.

"No." Elena said.

"I can be in your friends room in seconds and kill her before you can even dial Stefan or Damon. Take off your necklace Elena." Katherine said her voice growing colder.

Elena shakily took the necklace off Katherine was in front of her in seconds.

"Your so tired. You just want to sleep. Sleep Elena. You wont be able to wake up until the man you love..truely love kisses you." Katherine said staring into her eyes. She watched as Elena nodded and her head lulled backwards.

Katherine picked up Elena's limp body and sped back to her house depositing her on the bed.

"We could have done this easy way." Katherine said pacing back and forth in Elena's bedroom."I was going to let you just make the choice give in. Put an end to it. But instead you are just determined to push me out and keep the triangle I created to yourself?"

"It doesn't work that way Elena. I want Stefan. I get what I want. So now I continue my plan to destroy the two of you. I will drive you apart and take what's mine." Katherine continued changing into the clothes Elena was wearing earlier.

She fingered her locket similar to Elena's but instead of vervain in contained a stone that was spelled to sound like a beating heart. Assuming Elena's identity would be easy. Being careful to make sure not to let her feelings show for Stefan would be difficult. She couldn't have a repeat of that amazing kiss on the porch or he would fall for Elena harder.

"I do care for you in some way." Katherine said looking down at Elena who slept peacefully. "You are related to me after all. Hopefully Damon will find you after Stefan and I leave. I do want happiness for him and you. If you would just stop being so noble.. and admit your feelings.. well whatever. Soon enough. If Damon kisses you and you wake up your going to know I'm right. You love him. I'm doing you a favor here."

She stared at Elena amazed at the innocent version of her own face for a few moments.

"It's show time" Katherine said looking into the mirror. "Elena Gilbert starring Katherine Pierce. Let the games begin."

"Damon can you come pick me up?" Katherine asked as he answered his phone. She worked hard on keeping her tone soft and innocent like Elena's.

"Thought you were going to call Stefan?" He snapped.

"I.. want to talk to you." Katherine said sounding unsure and nervous.

"Okay." Damon sighed. "I'm on my way."

Katherine nodded to Matt that she was leaving and he smiled.

"Thanks for staying with her tonight." He said graciously.

Katherine smiled at him. "It's the least I could do."

He reached in to give her a hug and Katherine could smell his blood pumping. She frowned wishing she would have had a little snack before she called Damon.

"You ready Elena?" Damon called from the corridor.

Katherine took a nervous breath and turned following him. She sat quietly in the car looking down at her hands.

"So?" Damon asked as he drove to the boarding house. "Talk."

"Let's just get home first. I'm exhausted." Katherine said smiling weakly. It wouldn't do any good if Stefan didn't hear the conversation.

"Did you think about what I said?" He asked his voice softening slightly.

Katherine kicked herself for having missed something and turned her face to the window.

"Yes." She mumbled.

"And?" Damon pressed as he pulled into the driveway. Katherine ignored him and walked towards the house. She could hear Stefan pacing upstairs in his bedroom and knew he could hear now.

"And." Katherine cried putting her head down in shame and looking up at him with calculated guilt showing on her face. "I'm falling in love with you okay. I have no idea what to do about it or how to stop it."

She saw Damon freeze and stare at her with such hope and awe that she almost took of running in the other direction to grab the real Elena and shake her. She heard a glass break and knew Stefan had heard. She looked into Damon's eyes replicating the slightly awed and doe eyed look Elena always gave him. Making sure not to notice the noise. She saw Damon flinch and knew he heard it.

She grabbed his face and pulled him down to kiss her. He kissed her back slowly seeming to be in shock as she heard Stefan come thundering outside.

"Get off her!" He screamed pushing Damon backwards.

"No Stefan." Katherine begged tears sliding down her face.

"How could you?" Stefan said his face close to hers. His face completely broken and twisted with sorrow. Katherine felt an overcoming sense of guilt and horror at seeing him broken.

"I.. I didn't mean for it to happen. Its just Damon and I we started spending more and more time together.. and I just started falling for him. I'm so sorry Stefan. I never wanted to hurt you." Katherine cried honest tears starting to fall from her eyes.

"You said you wouldn't ... you begged me to trust you!" Stefan yelled.

"Stop it Stefan." Damon said coldly coming up to them.

"Stay out of this. Its all your fault." Stefan snapped.

"You drove her into my arms." Damon sneered. "Just like you did Katherine."

Stefan's face fell and tears started to form in his eyes.

"No that's not true!" Katherine yelled suddenly. Both brothers turned to look at her. Their eyes waiting an explanation.

"This isn't your fault Stefan. It's mine." Katherine cried. "I was drawn to Damon from day one. A part of me thought your history was romantic. I should have been honest with you right away. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You what?" Damon asked suddenly his eyes boring into hers.

"You thought our history was romantic?" He asked coming closer.

"Can you blame me?" Katherine whimpered trying to sound scared.

"Damon what are you doing?" Stefan asked sounding worried.

"You think falling in love with the same woman as your brother is romantic? How about her dying or so you think and leaving you as a monster? Is that romantic? Or was it her actually being alive and not locked up in a tomb but ignoring you for 145 years.. please tell me.." Suddenly Damon's hand was wrapped around her throat. "What part of that sick and twisted little game is romantic?"

"Stop Damon." Katherine begged.

"Damon.." Stefan said trying to pull at Damon's arm. Looking nervous. "Calm down man."

"You basically just told us you wanted to repeat the twisted little triangle that bitch created. I want an explanation and so does Stefan." Damon growled.

"Please." Katherine begged.

"No see.. nope..that did not work." Damon smirked. His eyes bored ino hers. "It's Please Damon.. and her eyes say it at the same time as she does. Nice try though Kathy. Where's Elena?" Damon remarked tightening his grip on her neck.

"Back off Damon." Katherine said slipping out of his grip only to feel a stab in her side. She looked at Stefan who was gripping a vervain dart that was now launched into her side.

"I was going to use it on him." He grunted. "How long have you have been acting like her?"

"Just tonight and the night on the porch." Katherine admitted."I did it for your own good Stefan. She does love him and I love you. It was always you."

Damon glanced over at them anger in his eyes. "Your games end tonight bitch."

"They end when I say they end." Katherine snapped. "I'm the one who's got Elena. So I suggest you watch your tone when talking to your sire. I demand respect Damon!"

"You demand respect Katherine?" Stefan said looking angry. "After what you did to us? We didn't ask for this. Well maybe Damon did but under assumptions that turned out to be lies."

"You know how we figured it out? Elena hates you. She thinks you are the most evil bitch that has ever walked the face the earth. She would rather be miserable then ever be like you." Damon spat out glaring at Katherine.

"Well she is a ridiculous boring little high school girl. I happen to find our history very enticing. Though I admit I made some mistakes. I want to make amends with you Stefan. That's why I'm here" Katherine said turning to face Stefan.

"So you come here and mess with our heads again?" Damon asked.

"I love you Stefan." Katherine continued ignoring Damon. "I want you back. I won't leave until I get it."

Stefan's eyes fluttered bit at the passionate look she was giving him. Damon glanced at him and glared at Katherine.

"I'm not going to let you come in here and manipulate my brother." Damon said angrily.

"I love him."

"I heard you and I don't care. Where is Elena?" Damon demanded he looked angry and worried.

"Find her on your own." Katherine replied walking backwards towards the woods the vervain wearing off already.

"Stefan all I did here was speed up what is already happening. She could never love you the way I do, One because she's just a naive teen and two because she's falling in love with your brother. I've read her diary. It's true. So you can team up against me and what? Kill me? Drive me out of town?"

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "You know what happens next Stefan. You get to step aside when she ends up with him. Left all heart broken and alone. I'm here to give you an alternate ending. I hope you consider it." Katherine said before speeding off into the night. Leaving a bewildered Stefan and angry Damon staring after her.

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