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They were thankfully still in Virginia; Mystical Falls was still a good distance away and Elena and Damon both needed something to eat. They tried hitch hiking once they found a highway.

"People just are not trusting anymore," Damon muttered, as the hundredth car passed them.

Elena chuckled. "There's a town a couple miles up; we'll get what we need there."

Since they emerged from the cave neither one of them had spoken much. They hadn't really met each other's gaze either. Things felt awkward and there was tension. Being out in the real world where she could see his intense blue eyes boring into her soul.

They found a typical small town diner that was mostly empty with a couple of regulars. Elena quickly ducked into the bathroom to assess the damage. The mirror held an appalling image of dirt and blood smeared all over her hands and clothes. Her hair was tangled and her face was smudged with cave muck and a little bit of blood. She washed her hands and face and grabbed a bunch of paper towels to clean herself up as best she could. She briefly wondered if Damon was doing the same thing or if he was off compelling dinner for himself.

Once she was as freshened up as she could manage she headed back into the dining area. Damon was near the back in one of the booths where the rest of the diner wouldn't be able to get a good look at their condition. She slid into the wooden booth facing Damon.

"I ordered you a cheeseburger," he said.

Their gazes finally met; Elena couldn't take the intensity of his eyes and looked away. "Thank you," she said. "Did you…manage to get something to eat?"

"I'm getting a burger too," he said casually.

Elena gave him a look. "I should call someone. I need to know what's been going on in Mystic Falls. We should get someone to pick us up."

"You mean Stefan," Damon replied.

"Who would you call?"

He raised a brow. "Ghostbusters?"

Elena sighed. "I'm going to find a pay phone and try Stefan." She slid out of the booth and just as she was about to head toward the back by the restrooms.

Damon grabbed her hand. "Elena, don't."

She looked at their joined hands and turned her gaze to his. "What's wrong?"

"I tried the house and Katherine answered." Damon pulled his hand away and Elena found the warmth he left behind practically burned. "And his cell phone went straight to voicemail."

Elena sat back down. "That doesn't bode well. I can call Bonnie."

"So the witch can light me on fire again, no thank you."

"Then who, Damon? Caroline? Matt? Tyler? Jenna? Is there anyone that doesn't hate your guts?"

Damon looked away and stared out the window. "Call the witch."


Elena felt a stab of guilt as she headed to the payphone outside. It was practically habit to be harsh with Damon. There was a time when she trusted him. The flash of Jeremy crumbling to the ground after Damon snapped his neck. It was hard to trust someone that took rejection in a way "bad" doesn't quite prepare you for.

"Hello?" Bonnie's voice filled the receiver.

"Bonnie, it's Elena."

"Oh my god, Elena. I've been so worried. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Is everyone okay in Mystic Falls?"

"Oh, Elena. Jenna's in the hospital. They're calling it an animal attack. Stefan is missing in action and so is Caroline. Jeremy is okay; he's been worried about you too."

"Is it Katherine?"

"She's been going around town acting like you," Bonnie replied.

"Bonnie, I want to take her down. I'm not going to allow her to ruin my life anymore. I'm with Damon…"

"Damon?" Bonnie sneered. "I figured he was the one helping Katherine."

"She threw us in a cave. I'm not sure what she wanted to happen, but we're out and we need a lift."

"Can't Damon find his own way home?"

Elena sighed. "Bonnie, please just call a truce with him. We need him. I-I need him."

Bonnie was silent for a moment. "Okay. I'm on my way."

Elena told her where they were and then she went back into the diner.


She slid into the booth. "What's our game plan?" Elena asked.

"Game plan?" Damon turned his attention back to her.

"Will you help me kill Katherine?"

Damon raised his brows and smiled. "Why I do declare, Ms. Gilbert…" he said with a strong Southern accent. "If I say yes, does this mean we're going steady?"

"Damon."

"Elena," he returned with a mocking voice. He sighed when she just stared at him with this look of expectation. He hated that look; it always made him do something noble. "Yes, I will help you kill Katherine. I think we're going to need backup. Do you think you could get Caroline on our side?"

Elena shrugged. "I'm not sure. Katherine manipulated her for a couple of months; she didn't know which way was up. Not to mention that she's not so keen on you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a terrible vampire. Well, I'd hate to break it to ya, Elena, but you had your chance to stake me in the cave. I don't think I'll be making it that easy again. Assuming that Katherine hasn't turned Stefan into her love slave, we'll have him for backup I'm sure."

Elena glared at him.

"Easy, tiger, I'm kidding. I'm sure she's just got him tied up in the basement or something."

The waitress brought them a couple of sodas and their burgers.

Damon stole the pickles from her plate. "What is your grand plan anyway?"

"Find her and kill her."

Damon looked at her. "This is Katherine we're talking about. If it was as easy as just putting a stake in her heart, someone would've done it already. Do not underestimate her. You need a plan; we need a plan."


Damon's thoughts kept drifting back to the confessions in the cave. She admitted to feeling something for him. It took everything inside of him not to kiss her or bite her. She chose Stefan, and he didn't want to betray his brother either. He would kill Katherine and celebrate by putting Mystic Falls in the rearview mirror.

Elena came and sat by him on the rock by the side of the road.

"Bonnie should be here soon," she said.

Damon muttered, "Wonderful." He tried not to look at her.

"You're awfully quiet," Elena said.

He gave her a faint smile. "I think we've talked enough," he replied.

They waited the rest of the time in silence for the Bennett witch to pick them up.

Bonnie arrived in record time. She jumped out of the car and ran to Elena. "I'm so glad you're okay." Bonnie squeezed Elena.

"What's been going on in Mystic Falls?" Damon asked.

"Katherine has been running around destroying everything. She's pretending to be Elena."

Damon looked at her. "Stefan?"

Bonnie shook her head. "I haven't seen him. I honestly haven't wanted to be anywhere near that psycho-Elena-wannabe."

"How am I going to explain this one away?" Elena said.

"I'll compel everyone," Damon said nonchalantly. "Now, can we please get back so I can kill that bitch?"

Bonnie looked at Damon. "I'm in."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Let's just go."

Once they were in the car, Elena kept drifting in and out of sleep, exhaustion taking over. Damon slumped down in the back seat catching Bonnie's gaze in the rearview mirror.

"I know you're disappointed that I didn't fade away into the night, but I think that we could use your help to take Katherine down." Damon kept his voice low.

"My powers don't affect her, remember?"

"You're a powerful witch; I'm sure we can figure something out," Damon replied. He sat up and glanced over at Elena. She was sleeping soundly in the passenger side. He leaned close into Bonnie. She leaned away from him. "I think I know how we can take Katherine down."

Bonnie sighed. "How's that?"

"I will get her into a pre-arranged place and you can light the place on fire. You're good at that." He smiled humorlessly at the memory of the fire crawling up his legs. Not one of his favorite beatings he'd taken over the last year.

"How are you going to trap her here?" Bonnie asked.

"I'll stay with her. She won't suspect a thing."

"You'll stay with her?" Bonnie asked. "If the place is on fire won't you…"

"Burn to the ground?" Damon shifted back and slumped back down. "That's the plan."

"And Elena?"

"She'll be safe. The whole town will be safe. Aside from the Lockwoods running around howling at the moon. And the poor forest animals that Stefan feeds on. Other than that…" Damon glanced at the back of Elena's head. "It stays between us," he said.

"Why would you do this?" Bonnie asked.

He turned his gaze to the window and watched the moonlit scenery pass by. "Sorry, witch, I've done enough confessing for a lifetime."