Thank you to those who reviewed! Not that many last chapter...did you guys not enjoy the action? let me know! here's a busy chapter...

Elena walked up the sidewalk rather slowly. This was her second guess on where the person she needed to talk to would be; they hadn't been at their own home. While driving, Elena had noticed the lasting effects of the vervain, making her feel a bit weaker. But she couldn't think about that now. She had to focus on discovering the truth, no matter how painful it might be. With a heavy heart, Elena raised her hand and knocked on the front door. As the seconds went by with no answer, Elena grew frantic. But then she heard the door unlock, and it slowly opened.

Elena took a deep breath. "Bonnie." She tried offering her a small smile.

Bonnie seemed hesitant. "Elena? How did you know I was at my Grams?"

"I didn't. I went to your house first, but no one was home. This was more of a hunch."

Bonnie slightly nodded, but her eyes seemed guarded. "Well, what are you doing here this late?"

Elena knew this wouldn't be easy. Ever since she had transitioned, Bonnie seemed to distance herself from Elena.

"I need to talk to you, Bonnie. It's really important. Please?"

Bonnie thought about it for a moment, but could never deny her best friend.

"Sure, come on in." She attempted to smile.

Elena was relieved she did not have to ask Bonnie to invite her in. She found it frustrating to have to be invited into homes she had no problem entering since she was three.

Elena followed Bonnie into the living room, noticing an array of opened spell books dispersed around the room. She settled into a seat on the couch, while Bonnie chose a chair further away.

"So what's going on?" Bonnie questioned.

Elena nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"We have been friends since we were able to walk, Bonnie. I know a lot has happened over the past year that has strained our relationship, but I still see you as a sister." Elena began.

Bonnie seemed to relax a little. "Of course, Elena, you're still important to me too."

Elena smiled. "Good. Now I know what I'm about to ask you might sound crazy, but I need you to answer me honestly."

Bonnie hesitantly nodded. "Okay." She whispered.

"Did you find a way to put Klaus in Tyler's body?"

Bonnie froze. She seemed to be too stunned to answer.

Elena took that as confirmation, but needed to hear her say it. "Bonnie?"

"Yes." She quietly answered.

"Why, Bonnie?" Elena couldn't wrap her mind around it.

"Because you were all going to die, Elena! I had no choice. If I hadn't preserved Klaus, I would've lost my mom, and virtually all my friends." Bonnie defended.

Elena sighed. "I understand that you wanted to save everyone. But why did you never tell any of us?"

"I was tired of everyone controlling me. I was sure you would all have your opinions on the matter, and I decided it was time for me to make my own choice. So I did what I had to do." She concluded.

"But now what, Bonnie? He can't stay in Tyler forever! I mean, think about Caroline!" Elena's mind was going a mile a minute. And then she realized something. "Wait. If Klaus is in Tyler, then that would mean Tyler was in Klaus…but Damon said Klaus' body burned…so…does that mean Tyler is…"

"He isn't dead." Bonnie quickly assured. "At least I don't think he is. Yes, Tyler was in Klaus' body when Alaric staked him, but I had placed a spell on his body, preserving it."

"Then where is it?"

"It needs to be conjured back with a spell. And now Klaus is pressuring me to do it, but I don't think I'm strong enough." Bonnie dejectedly admitted.

Elena's heart filled with sympathy. Her friend had been dealing with the most evil person she knew for weeks now, and she had no idea. Elena crossed the space between them and knelt in front of Bonnie, taking her hand.

"You're not alone in this, Bon. We'll find a way to make it right."

Bonnie let a few tears escape her eyes before hugging Elena.

"I'm sorry, 'Lena. I've been so distant and I've screwed everything up again."

"Shhh. It's okay. You saved our lives, we should all be grateful."

They stayed in each other's embrace for a while, until the shrill of Bonnie's phone ringing made them both jump. She looked at the caller ID.

"It's him." Her voice was full of fear.

Elena squeezed her hand. "Answer it." And gave an encouraging nod.

"Hello?"

"Bonnie! Please tell me you've found a way to get me out of this hybrid body?" His voice was cold.

"Not yet, I told you I don't have enough power." Bonnie quietly said.

"Well, that's too bad, because your time is up. I want you to meet me at your ancestor's old witch house in the woods. You know, the decaying one? And when you get there, you better have found a way to bring my body back, or I will be more than happy to use my werewolf teeth to bite that mother of yours. You have an hour." And the phone clicked.

Bonnie let out a small cry. "I don't know what to do, there's no way to get enough power."

"Do you think your ancestors will help you?" Elena hopefully suggested.

She shook her head. "They hate Klaus. There's no way they would help me bring his body back."

Elena tried to think of any option. "Is there any way you can draw power from an object or a person?"

Bonnie's eyes filled with hope. She abruptly got out of her chair and ran over to one of the opened spell books. "That's it! There's a spell in here that allows me to fuse my power with the essence of another supernatural being."

Elena stood. "That's great, you can use me." She offered.

Bonnie continued reading, and her shoulders slumped. "Any supernatural being except for vampires. You know sometimes I hate how much witches despised vampires."

Elena shook her head. "Bonnie, I might be a vampire now, but I'm a still a doppelganger."

"Of course!" She paused. "Elena, the spell isn't supposed to harm the being, but I'm not sure what it'll do since you're still a vampire. And we will be linked. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Elena thought about it, but realized she needed to go through with it. She needed to help, for Caroline and Tyler's sakes.

"I'm sure."

Stefan leaned against the mantel, staring into the fireplace. He regretted letting Elena leave the moment she was out the door. But she had promised not to do anything risky, right? Who was he kidding? She always found a way into risky situations. Groans brought Stefan out of his reverie.

"Elena?" Damon's delirious voice called. "Elena?"

Stefan hurried to his side. "Damon. Damon, hey, it's Stefan."

Damon slowly opened his eyes, confusion filling them. "Stefan?" Confusion was soon replaced by panic. "Elena. Where's Elena?" His memory of the day's events came flooding back. He tried sitting up, but groaned at the pain.

"Easy, there. She's fine. Connor's dead. For now." Stefan kept a hand on his shoulder.

Damon furrowed his brows. "What does that mean?"

"Tyler came before Connor could kill Elena. He fed him his blood and snapped his neck."

"Huh, that's an interesting twist." Damon replied. He then scanned the room.

"Stefan, where is Elena?" He firmly demanded.

Stefan released Damon's shoulder and took a few steps away.

"She's not here. After I came and gave the two of you blood, she said she had to figure something out and left." He hurriedly explained.

Damon was on his feet surprisingly fast for someone who had just been shot in the head.

"You let her leave after being shot?" He grew angry. "So that she could 'figure something out?' And you didn't think that was a tad suspicious?" He was directly in front of Stefan now.

"She promised it wasn't anything risky."

Damon scoffed and was about to argue, but Stefan stopped him. "And she told me to give you this." He held the letter in front of Damon.

He eyed it curiously. "'Cause that's not ominous at all." And he tore the envelope out of Stefan's hand.

"I swear to God, Stef, if this is a 'goodbye' or 'just-in-case' letter, I will let the recently vamped, vampire hunter kill you himself." Damon threatened before stepping over Connor's body and walking out of the room.

Once he was in the confines of his own room, he sat on his bed, and ripped open the envelope. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before reading the first line, scared of what it would say.

Damon,

I figured there was no way you would believe Stefan, so I'm writing this to let you know that I'm okay. I won't sugarcoat it though; it was a close call with Connor. Luckily, Tyler stepped in just in time. But something about him didn't seem right. And then he said something that reminded me of someone else. I have a theory about what's been going on with him, but Bonnie is the only one who can confirm it. So, I'm going to find her and hopefully figure out the truth.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up. Seeing Connor hurt you the way he did was the hardest thing for me to watch, and it just confirmed how important you are to me. I never want to lose you. I can't wait for you to just hold me in your arms. That's why I will be back as soon as I can. Try not to worry too much. I'm taking a break from my role as damsel in distress. In the meantime, focus on what to do with Connor...I trust your judgment.

I love you.

Elena

P.S. –Don't be too hard on Stefan for letting me leave, you know how convincing I can be.

Damon released the breath he had been holding. At least it wasn't a goodbye letter—Stefan could live another day. But he was still worried, he couldn't help himself. Besides, he was never one to do what people said. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. He speed-dialed her number and hoped she would answer.

Elena was walking through the woods towards the witches' house with Bonnie when she felt her phone vibrate. She took it out of her pocket and glanced at the name. Of course he would be calling. She had expected him to the moment after he read her letter. Bonnie glanced at her.

"You can answer that if you want. We have a few minutes."

"Thanks." Elena smiled and stopped walking.

She answered. "Damon, hey." Elena happily greeted.

Damon closed his eyes at the sound of her voice. "Elena." He breathed. "Where are you?"

"First tell me how you're doing."

"I'm fine, besides the fact that I don't know where you are. Apparently worrying about you is the perfect cure for being shot in the head."

She cringed at the memory. "I'm fine, Damon. I promise. I'm with Bonnie now."

"And where is that exactly?"

"Stop worrying." Elena didn't want to give away their location, worried he would come and Klaus would kill him. But she didn't want to lie to him either.

Damon exasperatedly sighed. "You know that's just as impossible for me as it is for you, Elena. We're a team now…which means we need to be honest with each other."

It was Elena's turn to sigh. He was completely right. She couldn't hide things from him.

"Of course. Turns out my theory was right. Bonnie found a way to put Klaus in Tyler's body and preserved Klaus' body from Alaric's attack." Elena explained.

Damon's head was spinning. "Klaus is alive?"

"Unfortunately, yes. And he wants his body back."

Damon didn't like where this was headed. "Elena, don't even think about getting involved in this."

"I love you for looking out for me, but it's Bonnie, Damon." She softly said.

"I don't care who it is, Elena. We're talking about Klaus here. The person who was relying on you to be alive. He's gonna be pissed you're a vampire now."

"It'll be fine, Damon." Elena tried to reassure, knowing time was running out.

He was growing desperate, he needed to get to her. "Where are you, Elena?"

Elena decided she might as well tell him, and was about to answer, when Klaus appeared out of the shadows.

"I suggest you hang up the phone, or I will turn your romance into a tragedy before you can even bat one of those pretty eyelashes." He growled.

Elena did as he requested.

The other end was filled with silence. "Elena? Can you hear me? Elena? Elena!" Damon threw the phone across the room and ran his hands through his hair. He had a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. So much for no more damsel in distress.

Then his thoughts were interrupted by a loud roar from downstairs.

"What have you people done to me?"

only a few more chapters left! review :)