Chapter # 10:

Elena glanced over to see Caroline rifling through the cupboards in her kitchen. Her room mate had proposed popcorn and a movie and Elena couldn't come up with any better ideas. This way at least they wouldn't have to talk much.

"Is there anything better than fat-free popcorn and Gone with the wind?" the blond asked as she plopped herself down on the couch, snacks in hand.

Elena forced herself to smile. "Guess not."

She turned her eyes to the screen, though her mind was elsewhere. Where had Damon gone? To confront Stefan? That couldn't have a good ending. She wasn't sorry she had told him, she had realized that she needed to. But there really wasn't anything to be done about it, was there?

She was so caught up in her worry that she didn't notice the sidelong glances Caroline kept throwing her way every 30 seconds. Finally Caroline paused the movie and turned towards her, unable to hold it in any longer. "I know something happened between you and Stefan!" she blurted out.

Elena's head snapped towards her in shock. Had Damon told her?

"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone," Caroline promised. "But personally I think it's great. I always knew you and Stefan would end up together again."

Elena closed her eyes, shaking her head. Caroline thought she and Stefan were back together. If she only knew what had really happened. "No Caroline, you're wrong."

"Oh come on Elena, it's me. I've always known you and Stefan were an EPIC love," Caroline continued as if she hadn't heard her.

"Stop Caroline," Elena told her, getting up to put some space between herself and Caroline. Her friend's words were a painful reminder of the Stefan she once knew and the one that had hurt her.

But Caroline pushed on. "I mean he is such an amazing guy, and I always thought you guys were perfect for each other."

She couldn't listen to this anymore. She began to walk away but Caroline followed, relentless.

"I mean I know you care about Damon but Stefan really is the better choice," she insisted.

"You don't know him as well as you think you do," Elena replied, beginning to get angry.

"Of course I do," Caroline retorted. "Stefan is good, and kind and compassionate."

"Stop Caroline!" Elena yelled in frustration. "Stop talking about Stefan!"

"Why?" Caroline demanded. "You guys are meant to be and you know it. He loves you so much!"

"He raped me!" The words left her lips before she could stop them, before she could even think. Elena clamped her hand over her mouth as she realized what she had just said.

Disbelief crossed Caroline's features and when she spoke, her voice was cold. "You know I get that maybe you regret cheating on Damon and you feel guilty or whatever, but it's pretty low of you to blame Stefan."

Elena's heart sank. "I knew you would react this way," she whispered.

Caroline flinched, caught off guard by the hurt in her friend's voice.

Elena turned and began to run towards her room, desperate to get away.

"Elena, wait!" she shouted.

"Why?" Elena inquired. "You've made your feelings very clear."

Caroline grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn around. "Look I'm sorry, but what do you mean, Stefan 'raped' you."

Elena looked away from her friend, wanting to take back her words, unable to say anymore.

Caroline softened, though she was more confused than ever. Elena just couldn't mean what she was saying. "Elena, just explain it to me okay."

"I didn't want. . . I told him no. . . but he wouldn't listen," Elena mumbled quietly.

Caroline felt as if she had just been doused with icy water. "But Stefan wouldn't, I mean. . . what's wrong with him?"

"I think he turned his humanity off. . . I don't, I haven't really been able to think about the why," Elena whispered, eyes brimming with tears.

The reality of the situation began to dawn on Caroline as she took in her friends appearance. "Oh Elena, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want anyone to know, I just wanted to pretend it never happened," Elena replied, eyes still down cast.

Caroline embraced her friend, trying to offer her what little comfort she could. "It'll be okay, you'll get through this. And whatever's wrong with Stefan, we'll fix him. Or I'll stake him myself."

Damon strode into his home, eyes and ears open for any sign of his brother. It didn't take long to find him, Stefan was sitting on the couch, a book in hand.

There were no half drained sorority girls around, so it didn't seem likely that Stefan had gone all ripper. So maybe he was possessed like Klaus had done with Ric.

"Hey, you remember the time mom's locket went missing?" he asked. The answer was something only Stefan would know, so if he answered correctly.

Stefan paused, seeming to search his head for answers. "Right after she died. I took the locket and lost it and you took the blame when father found out. Then you spent days looking until you found it again because mom had told you she wanted you to give it to the girl you married one day."

Damon's heart sank. There was no way that anyone else would have known that. Maybe he's being compelled he thought, clinging to his one last hope that his baby brother wasn't responsible for the horror inflicted on the woman he loved. "Tell me you've been compelled, or that you're under some kind of spell or something," he said, searching Stefan's face for any indication that he was right.

But Stefan merely laughed.

The sound infuriated him.

"You drunk already?" his brother asked him with a smile.

Damon pulled his brother up by his collar. "Elena told me what you did to her," he hissed. "So you better have a fucking good explanation for how you weren't responsible or so help me god Stefan, I will stake you!"

Stefan shoved him off brusquely, walking over to the liquor. "I have no idea what you're talking about Damon."

"She told me you raped her," Damon spat out, his anger over the situation finally surfacing.

"She's lying," Stefan told him matter-of-factly. "I mean, I'll admit I slept with her but she made the first move. Besides it's not like you wouldn't have done the same."

"Elena doesn't lie," Damon bit back.

"Yes she does" Stefan retorted. "Open your eyes Damon, she's no better than Katherine. She's just bouncing between us like we're playing a game of hot potato. It was just a matter of time before she crawled back into my bed and you know it."

Damon lunged at his brother, enraged. Stefan side stepped him easily, grabbing a poker from the fireplace and impaling Damon with that.

Damon dropped to the ground, groaning in pain. Stefan knelt beside him, inches away.

"Where's your family loyalty brother?" Stefan asked. "You would attack me over the word of some slut that happily spread her legs for both of us?"

"You bastard," Damon sneered.

Stefan smiled. "You need to calm down Damon and think rationally. What's more likely? That I raped Elena or that she chose to be with me yet again?"

He rose, walking towards the door. "You mull it over," he called behind him. "But we both know what the answer is."

As the door slammed shut, Damon pulled the poker from his gut. He went over and poured himself a drink, his whole body shaking with anger. But the alcohol did nothing to quell his fury. He hurled the glass across the room , narrowly missing Jeremy's head.

"What the hell!" Jeremy yelled, ducking to avoid the shattered glass.

"What are you doing here?" Damon asked irritably.

"Nice to see you too," Jeremy replied.

"Seriously not a good time to piss me off," Damon told him.

"Fine, I'll make it quick. Bonnie contacted me this morning, Silas is free. The witches are sending her back to defeat him but you guys need to be on the look out."

Silas is back. The words echoed through his head as the realization of the truth dawned on him. "Oh no," he whispered.

"What?" Jeremy asked, confused.

Damon didn't bother to respond, rushing towards the door.

"What?" Jeremy asked louder. His answer was the deafening slam of the door.

Authors note: Hey guys, so this update took longer than usual but hopefully its worth it. Let me know what you think :)