AN: I just wanted to say to the people who may be wondering; Quinn isn't dead (yet?) . Also, thank you again for the favourites, alerts and reviews. And thank you for reading :)


It had been an entire week since you left Sylvester's with Brittany and you had heard nothing from Quinn. You went to your father the second you returned telling him what had happened and demanding to know what he knew about the situation. He pretend to look sorry but you could see the anger in his eyes and the flush of embarrassment in his cheeks. He waved you away when he was unable to answer anymore of your increasingly difficult questions which only heightened your suspicion. He did, however, seem extremely pleased to see Brittany by your side. He smiled at her like she was a friend he hadn't seen in years but Brittany seemed afraid of him. It wasn't like him at all to welcome strangers into his home without questions and interrogations and although Brittany was from Sylvester's, it was still unusual for him not to speak with her to make sure she wasn't a threat.

You were down in the basement of the house where you liked to keep some training equipment; punch bags, weights and other things to help keep you strong and fit. You could do without them but exercising passed the long hours of lonely days. Now that Quinn wasn't here you had to admit that you did feel quite lonely and for some reason you got nervous and jumpy around Brittany. That's why when you were too focused on hammering into a punch bag to hear her coming down the old wooden stairs to the basement, you jumped when she tripped down the last one.

"Oops!" She looked back to the bottom stair laughing at it. "Hi."

"Hey." You pant, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the way you looked. Your hair was pulled back into a messy pony and the shorts and tank top you had on weren't very attractive. You knew you were sweating, even more so now that she was here. You found your hand coming up to wipe your forehead in an attempt to make yourself look slightly more presentable. She glided towards you, picking up the bottle of water you had left on a chair on the way. You couldn't help but notice that, like always, she looked like an angel. Her hair hung loose, covering her shoulder and tickling the blue polo shirt she had on. She was wearing shorts too and God help you, those legs. Bright green knee high socks with blue spots came up to cover her shins and although many people would say it was crazy, you adored the way she dressed.

"Thanks." You gulp taking the bottle she hands to you.

You had spent most of the week with Brittany talking and although you found yourself laughing at her wonderful humor you still missed Quinn. You had learned a lot about her and picked up on some things that she didn't tell you like, how she would secretly sing. Maybe she didn't understand that even though she was in the room next to yours on the third floor, that she was in a house filled with vampires who could hear her breathing if they listened close enough. It was something you had in common though, because you loved to sing too. Not that you got to do it much because of who you were but you wish you could.

"You've been down here all day." Brittany smiled brightly wrapping her arms around the punch bag and pressing her cheek into the side of it. Seeing her like that made your knees go weak. The thought passed through your mind before you could stop it and you knew you'd be thinking about it until it happened, if it ever did, but she looked like she gave great hugs. You knew it was stupid and not something someone like you should be thinking about but you couldn't stop yourself. "I was missing you."

You nearly gasp out loud at her honestly and the thought of her missing you when you were still in the same house. But you had found yourself missing her company too, if you were honest. No one had ever told you they missed you before, you suppose they were afraid too or maybe they just didn't.

"Sorry." She shakes her head quickly but she's still smiling.

All you can do is shrug, afraid of what may come from your mouth if you open it. Afraid that you will admit to missing her too.

"So you've been doing this all day?" She asks unlocking her arms from the punching bag and you almost feel sorry for it. She slips around to the left, her fingers trailing over it as she turns.

"Yeah."

"Don't you stop for a break? It's been like 6 hours." Brittany laughs lightly bumping her fist against the bag.

"Nah, I mean..." You know your probably about to say something stupid. "I have like...stamina."

Brittany ducks her head quickly to hide a smirk and you wish you could be inside her head at that moment. You wonder if her mind went to the first place your did, you wonder if her minds in the gutter like that. You guess it probably is and that just makes her all the more prefect.

"Not like that." You quickly shake your head, wishing you hadn't spoken as soon as you do because you've just made it worse. "Well, yeah like that 'cause..." You clench both your fists, not knowing how she can turn you into such a mess with a simple smile. You'd have shrugged the comment and smirk off if it was anyone other than her.

"I think you should stop." Brittany advises playfully and you nod your head, not saying anymore. You felt something change or move or loosen inside you, you couldn't quite explain it. But it was new and it was because Brittany had said that. It was an order, a playful one at that but still an order and you weren't used to being on the receiving end of those. You liked it.

You're mind's lost now, of course, because now you're thinking about that. And you're pretty sure she is too. It's not like it could ever happen anyway. You could never have sex with her, show her that side of you. God, you didn't even know if she was gay! You'd probably end up killing her. You want to, God knows you want to because she's the most stunning thing you've ever seen in your entire life but there's something more. That connection when you lock eyes, the way you speak so freely around her and the way your stomach flutters whenever you hear her heart beat. You get the feeling that sex would be something so much more with her if there wasn't the risk of breaking every bone in her body. You know your attraction to her isn't just a sexual one because you know that it'll never happen but still you want her, you want to know her, to talk to her, just to be around her.

"Anyway." You wipe at your forehead again, trying to distract yourself from your thoughts. "I'm done now."

"Okay." Brittany smiles. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

You gaze at her, trying not to stare at the same spot on her face for too long as you decide on your answer. Brittany could ask you anything, she seems bold enough to and if you can't answer you'll look stupid. If you do answer maybe she wont like what you say.

"Sure." You shrug thinking that you couldn't possibly say no to a voice like that, to a smile like hers.

"I was just wondering if you were...going to leave. Here, I mean. Are you going to look for your girlfriend?" Brittany blushed a deep red and you see her left ear, hair tucked behind it, turn the same colour.

"Girlfriend?" You shoot her a confused look but you know exactly who she means; Quinn. You want to smack yourself in the head when you remember the hurt look when she heard you whisper into the phone that you loved Quinn. Brittany had assumed and your chest tightened when you thought about Brittany thinking about that .

"Um...Quinn?" Brittany offered, the look on her face telling you that she though you'd forgotten her name or something.

"Quinn isn't...she's not my girlfriend." You quickly deny and it's the truth. You'd never enter into that type of relationship with her and Quinn would never want that with you either. "I don't have a girlfriend." You blurt out before you can catch your tongue.

"Sorry, I just thought..." Brittany tried to explain but you shrugged.

"Don't worry about it. You didn't know...now you do, so it's fine." You reply honestly and see the hurt leave her eyes but something lingers there and you remember her question. "And...no. No, I'm not going to look for her." That's all you say. That's all you know. You wouldn't know where to start and you'd have to drag Brittany with you and it would be dangerous. You knew if Quinn wanted to she'd return. You knew that like she had said, she was in trouble and someone was pissed at her. You wanted so much to know where she was, to help her but it was impossible to. Every time you thought about it, tried to plan in your mind how you'd find her, you're thoughts went blank and vanished completely.

"Cool." Brittany beams again and you melt a little at the gleam in her eyes. "So, do you maybe want to hang out?"

"Hang out?" You raise an eyebrow at her. You've never just 'hung out' with anyone. There isn't any point that you see to it. You never wanted to get to know anyone, to talk to them, to just be with them. Quinn and you didn't even hang out that much, it was mostly just business and sex. But you want to hang out with Brittany. You want to know every little amazing thing about her and you want her to know you too. For some reason, a reason you still can't understand, you feel safe with her, safe enough to tell her anything and everything. She probably knows a lot more about you than anyone else.

"We don't have to." Brittany's smile falls and you wish you weren't so stupid. "I just thought tha-"

"No, I want to." You rush out quickly not wanting her to feel sad for a second longer. You take a step towards her as you speak and her lips lift into a grin again.

"Awesome." Is her reply and then she does something that makes you freeze completely. She extends her hand for you to take and you know that it's something you probably shouldn't do. It would be different if you weren't in this exact situation because you've taken her hand before. You've offered her your hand to help her to her feet during some of the training you had been doing with her. The look in her eye is a curious one, an unsure one. You imagine you look the same. If you were to take her hand you'd blow a door wide open. You didn't know what the point in taking her hand was; she was going to lead you out of the basement to go hang out and people would see your joined hands.

Funny thing was, you didn't care. You wanted to hold her hand.

You shake your head slightly and then lift your hand and her lips tug into a tighter smile.

Before your hand touches hers, you stop dead. She looks at you hurt and a little confused. Your entire body tingles in anticipation; something's happening. Something bad. Before you can think anymore, you hear footsteps click towards the staircase of the basement and muffled voices. Before you can turn to Brittany to warn her, to think of how to get her way the basement door clicks open. Before you can say anything, 4 sets of feet trail down the steps.

Before you can grab onto Brittany's hand to assure her that everything if fine, when you yourself know that something is very wrong, she does it first. Her fingers wrap around your hand and she squeezes tightly and then lets go. You want to turn to her but you can't take your eyes off of the knees, now thighs, stomachs, faces that are appearing in front of you as they descend down the stairs.

Your lower lip trembles when you see the faces. The smirking, evil faces of the known leader of the rouge vampires and the group of humans who follow them blindly and the three other faces of the monsters of his pack of killers. You fear not for your life and safety but for Brittany's.

How they managed to get past the vampires in your home you don't know, you heard no commotion. You pray that no one had died.

You watch, controlling your fear and anger as he stalks forward, the three others stopping behind him, all staring not at you but at Brittany.

"Ms Lopez." He slurs, evil tongue darting out to wet dry lips. He grins at you, his grey eyes piercing yours, trying to look deeper. He's German, you already knew this and his accent is heavy even after all the time he must have spent away from his country in the years of his life. Like your father he wears a suit as if he is a business man and not a murderous vampire.

"Stefan." You breath heavily still containing all emotion. You know that man and your father has apparently been in communications with him, trying to control his vampires. They struck up a deal years ago but it never seemed to have actually worked. You'd never liked him but your father had some respect for him.

"Daddy told me I could stop by." He cooed playing with his collar, eyes still locked on yours.

He just gave you the opportunity to fake your confidence. You swallow, getting your mind into the right state and then you scoff. "I'm sure 'daddy' would appreciate you referring to him so formally." You smirk sarcastically.

He cocks his head to the left and then his eyes slip from yours to where Brittany is standing slightly behind you and slightly to right. You stop breathing when he does that. His eyes go back to your and he smirks as he steps forward.

Instinctively you step with him, coming up directly in front of Brittany shielding her from the evil that he is. Stefan doesn't move again but his lips lift into a disgusting smile that makes your stomach churn. You swallow the lump in your throat.

"Something special?" He sniffs waving a finger behind you at Brittany.

All you can think in that moment is; shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. You don't dare show it on your face because he'll see the weakness.

"Not particularly." You shrug and Brittany gasps softly. You hate how scared she must feel right now but if you make any moves to try and comfort her or let her know that you'll protect her they'll see that and they wont hesitate in ripping her throat out. At least this way, they think she means nothing to you. If they don't think she is of any importance to you they wont bother with her. That way when the time comes, and the attack you know must surely be coming happens, they'll focus on you and not her.

"I see." He murmers softly still grinning wickedly. "Problem is Ms Lopez...we're a tad peckish and we didn't come across any humans on the way down here and...I suppose if she means nothing then...you'll do a vampire a favor and hand her over, wont you?"

Something snaps inside you at that and the anger bubbles up in your stomach and throat and mouth. You want to rip him to pieces, crush him in your hands but if you attacked him the others would take Brittany. The look in his eyes, the way he looked at Brittany like she was important made you curious and suspicious. Did they really come down here to see you? Or was it her they were looking for? You honestly didn't know.

"We're going to cut this shit right now." You narrow your eyes at Stefan whos grin is still in place. "You want to come in here thinking you get to kill people who live on this property? I don't think so. Get your three ass kissing, dirty killers out of my house before I rip your throats out." You threaten confidently but inside you're a mess.

"I forgot about that fire in you Ms Lopez." Stefan clasp excitedly. "And normally I'd heed your warning because...I know you're perfectly capable of fulfilling that promise but...the thing is, we want her."

"You can't have her." You quickly spit out. Too quickly, you scold yourself.

"I thought she was nothing special?" Stefan asks innocently.

"She means nothing to me." You shrug and then bite your lips hard when Brittany gasps again. Her heart is beating so quickly, you fear it might thud out of her ribcage and you know the others can hear it too. "But you wont come in here demanding our humans and expect us to give them so willingly."

"If you wont give her to us willingly then we will take her." Stefan shrugs amused and your heart drops. You have no idea what to do because you can't defend yourself and protect Brittany at the same time. If you get hurt you can't help her. If they grab you, she's vulnerable. If you die, she does too.

Brittany stops breathing for a moment; she knows your both in trouble. She must think you really don't care about her. She must be so afraid.

"Boys." Stefan waves over at the three men standing behind him. They walk to him immediately and your eyes widen. This can't be happening. "Remember that Ms Lopez is not to be seriously harmed but do what you need to to kill the blonde."

Your face scrunches up at that. Three things cross your mind. The first, why are they to kill Brittany and leave you unharmed? You're the person they are supposed to hate most in the world, second to your father. If they had the opportunity to kill you then why wouldn't they take it? The second is; you can't protect her. You can't defend Brittany against four vampires, one particularly strong vampire and you know nothing yet of the others strength. She's about to die because you aren't strong enough. The third thing that crosses your mind is after you hear a terrified whimper from the girl behind you; shit.


AN2: Let me know what you think? :)