Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to The Vampire Diaries, TV show or books. However I decided to have a little play around with the characters (I would definitely like to play with Damon).
I would like to thank Leeloo87 for pointing out a major editing error in the last chapter, which has now been rectified. Fortunately it was not a spoiler.
I hope you all enjoy it.
Stefan returned from his visit to the church in Grove Hill, where he'd spent the day meeting the minister and congregation. He seemed surprised by the long faces of Bonnie and Elena, who were both in the parlor, waiting for any more news regarding Bob and Nancy. The fire was almost out, which was why Damon had come for a bath, and to clean up, ready to see Sheriff Forbes, who would soon be there to talk to him.
"What has happened?" Stefan frowned.
Elena swallowed. "The stables were set alight." she explained. "The fire has only just been put out, although some parts may still be smoldering." she said. "I've asked the kitchen to provide refreshments for those who helped tackle the blaze." she added.
"Where is Damon?" Stefan asked.
"He is upstairs, taking a bath." Elena told him. "He has just spent the last hour and a half putting the fire out with the rest of the men." she said.
"Was anyone inside the stables?" Stefan asked, his voice full of concern as Elena nodded.
"We think Bob Marshall and Nancy Green." Elena said as Stefan sat down and put his head in his hands. "How can this have happened." he cried.
"Rumors are abound, stating two men were seen running from the stables just before the fire started." Elena said.
"And the area reeked of kerosene." Damon added as he arrived from his bath with his hair still wet. He looked so handsome in that moment, he almost took Elena's breath away, however she had to pretend there was nothing between them.
"Brother." Stefan greeted Damon.
"Brother." Damon nodded back before turning to Elena and Bonnie. "Any news?" he asked.
"Bob and Nancy are still missing." Elena told him. "Her son says she's never out this late." she said. "And Bob hasn't returned to his home." she added.
"So unless they have run away together, we have to assume the coughs and screams that were heard inside belonged to them." Damon sighed, as the doorbell rang.
"That will probably be Sheriff Forbes." Bonnie said. "Would you like me to get the door?" she asked Damon.
"Please Bonnie." Damon smiled, although it was obvious he was tired and worried.
"I have asked the kitchens to provide refreshments for those who have helped put out the fire." Elena told Damon.
For the first time since Damon walked downstairs, he smiled a genuine smile. "Thank you sister. That was very thoughtful of you." he said as Stefan rolled his eyes at the comment.
Right at that moment, a man stepped into the room, followed by Bonnie. Elena guessed this must be the Sheriff who Damon had earlier mentioned. He was a stern looking man, who Elena guessed was probably in his late forties, maybe slightly older. He looked troubled, as he walked over to Damon and shook his hand.
"Sheriff Forbes." Damon greeted him without a smile.
"Mr Salvatore." Sheriff Forbes, nodded to everyone around the room. "Please call me Bill." he said.
"And please call me Damon." Damon replied courteously. "As you already know, this is my brother Stefan." he gestured to Stefan who stood up and shook the Sheriff's hand.
"Pastor." Bill nodded.
"Sheriff." Stefan replied, clearly deciding it was better to remain on an occupational name basis.
"And this is my brother's wife. Elena Salvatore." Damon gestured to Elena.
Bill walked over to Elena and bowed his head as Elena held out her hand. "Mrs Salvatore. It is a pleasure." he said as he greeted her, kissing the back of her gloved hand.
"Sheriff." Elena curtsied, and smiled a small smile.
"Now we have the introductions out of the way, who would you like to speak to first?" Damon asked.
"I will speak to you if you wish." Bill nodded.
"I will of every possible assistance." Damon said. "Would you like to speak to us individually in the study?" he asked.
"That would be perfect." Bill agreed.
"Would you like me to accompany my wife?" Stefan asked.
"That is not necessary." Bill replied. "I am sure she is quite capable of speaking for herself." he said, before he and Damon turned around and left, leaving Elena, Stefan and Bonnie alone together.
Stefan glared at Bonnie who scuttled out of the room, leaving Elena alone with Stefan.
"Where were you when the fire happened." Stefan asked in a low voice.
"Out riding as we planned." Elena replied. "Although we did set off earlier than expected. Damon's meeting was cut short, so we chose for me to try a longer ride and a canter. Damon said some of the congregation live a fair distance, so I need to build up my stamina and speed." she explained.
"Hmm." Stefan said. "So how did you find out about the fire?" he asked.
"We were downwind of the fire and could smell it." Elena told him. "We got back as soon as we could." she added, hoping her voice didn't betray the nervousness she felt inside regarding omitting a major detail about their ride.
"And the horses?" Stefan asked.
"I hear they are all fine." Elena said. "Bob had already turned them out and was with Nancy." she said. "They're using the other stables for the time being. Pluto is fine." she assured him about his own horse. Stefan had taken a carriage to Grove Hill instead of riding there as he'd stated that morning, a carriage would be better if there were rain later.
After that, Stefan fell silent, and Elena had no desire to speak to him if she could help it. Instead she sat and waited for either more news, or Damon to return. The latter was the first to occur.
"Stefan. Bill would like to see you next." Damon told Stefan.
After Stefan had left Damon turned to Elena and they held each other for a moment. Damon placed a chaste kiss upon Elena's head, before they broke apart.
"We don't have much time." Damon told her. "I told the Sheriff we were up at MacPherson's ridge." he said. "You know the place where we usually go?" he asked.
Elena nodded. "Why?" she frowned.
"Because I don't want our secret hideout being found." he whispered.
"I'll remember." Elena smiled. "At least I can describe it." she said.
"It is also downwind of the fire, but it would have taken longer to notice it as we are usually in the sheltered spot." Damon said. "I told Bill we had a picnic."
"I'll keep that in mind." Elena nodded, before deciding to ask about the issue with the stable lad. "Why didn't you want me to take Onyx to the stables? He could have panicked and hurt anyone else." she asked.
"Because if Stefan finds out, he is going to be angry, and may prevent you from riding with me again." he whispered.
"Oh." Elena raised her hand to her mouth, realizing how foolish she had been.
"Don't worry, the stable lad is probably glad you didn't." Damon looked up at her. "He's been paid quite handsomely to keep his mouth shut." he smirked as Stefan returned.
"Elena." Stefan said as she left to go to the study and speak to the Sheriff. Once there she relayed exactly the same story to Bill as she had to Stefan, although keeping the details of hers and Damon's time and true location a secret. He didn't ask her anything too difficult as she was almost telling the truth of what was needed for the Sheriff. Although the niggling doubt of lying to a man of the law did seep into the back of her mind. She just hoped god wouldn't punish her for it.
When Elena and the Sheriff returned, one of the senior yard hands was in the parlor talking to Damon. The fire was out, but the building had now completely collapsed. The timbers were still hot, meaning the retrieval of any bodies would have to wait until the area had cooled down. Bill would leave his deputy and five of Damon's men to guard the remains until morning, where it should be possible to search the rubble for any bodies.
As they were all exhausted from the day, it was decided to forego supper as it would be deemed inappropriate under the circumstances. Instead Elena went to bed, and Stefan followed her an hour later. She hadn't dared go to sleep, as she was expecting a beating for whatever reason Stefan might find. Instead all he did was curse, complaining nobody could ever get anything right. And with that he got into bed and fell fast asleep, leaving Elena wondering what he was talking about.
The next morning Elena came down to breakfast. Stefan and Damon were already up and waiting for her to join the. There was a stench of smoke in the air, however Elena was starving after not having eaten since the picnic she and Damon shared the previous day.
"I will be gone most of the day." Stefan declared. "I suspect it may even be dark when I arrive home. I have had word of the request of a memorial for Bob and Nancy, that is indeed if they are found to have perished in the fire." he said as they took their places in the dining room.
"Bill stopped by a little earlier, he said nobody had seen either of them." Damon said, sounding dejected.
"Where is Bill?" Stefan asked.
"He is with a few of the men who saw the perpetrators running away from the crime scene." Damon told him. "Hopefully we can find out if they're local." he said. "But I doubt it."
"Did Bob have any gambling debts or secrets for someone to do this?" Stefan asked. "You know what those folks can be like."
"No." Damon shook his head. "He was head of the stables and paid accordingly." he told him. "Never been late with his rent, I should know, I own the property. Heck, he even pays one of my scullery maids to clean for him once a week because he refused to let Nancy do it."
"How come they couldn't get out?" Elena asked. There were two exits to the stables. Surely if one was on fire, they could have run to the other." she said.
"Apparently two people were seen running away." Damon told her. "I assume they covered both entrances at the same time. Bob and Nancy may have been a little preoccupied at the time to notice anything before it was too late." he said sadly.
"Brother!" Stefan hit his hand on the table. "You should not speak of such things at the breakfast table, it is not proper." he said angrily as Elena flinched.
"Brother dear." Damon winced. "Bob and Nancy frequently ate in Matilda's stall, much to the delight of my horse as they would leave her an apple or two." he said. "You cannot see either entrance from her stall unless you are stood. I doubt they would have been stood while they ate. Do you really think I would allow improper behavior in a place where anyone can walk in at any time?" Damon frowned. "And do you really think Bob would disrespect Nancy in such a public way? I think not. It is you, dear brother, whom should not assume the worst in everyone."
"I've had enough!" Stefan rudely rose from the table. "Wife, brother." he nodded at Elena and Stefan respectively, before leaving the dining room.
Once he'd left, Elena sighed with relief. "Are you well?" Damon asked her gently, putting his hand on hers. "Did you take in too much smoke when we returned yesterday?"
Elena shook her head. "Thank you for your concern Damon. I am well." she smiled. "I am just saddened by yesterdays events." she said sadly.
"All of the events?" Damon asked with a smile.
Elena blushed. "We should not speak of such things at this time of tragedy." she cast her eyes down as the thought which crossed her mind occurred once more. "Damon, do you think they were going after Bob, or going after you?" she said quietly.
"What makes you think that?" Damon frowned.
"We were supposed to meet for the lesson around the time the fire started." Elena told him. "We only left early because your meeting with the bank finished early." she added.
"But how could anyone mistake Bob for me?" Damon asked.
"If they don't know you they might." Elena said. "He was white, with black hair. He was of a similar age and size to yourself." she continued with her fears. "If someone was given your description, and had never met you before, there is a chance they would not know he wasn't you. I would not expect you to be described as devilishly handsome, unless it was a woman who had requested the attack." she said.
Damon thought for a moment and frowned. "You may be right." he finally said. "But why would they do it while you could possibly be inside?" he asked. "If the person who committed this heinous act believed I would be there, they would expect you to be with me."
Elena's eyes widened with fear. Shed been so consumed with concern over the terrifying possibility of Damon being the target of the attack, that she hadn't considered she herself may have been the intended target.
"Oh my." Elena raised her hand to her mouth. "What did Nancy look like?" she asked.
"Long dark hair, very much like yours." Damon told her. "Although she was a little older than you, although not by much, maybe five years. Her husband died in the war not long after they married." he said sadly. "But do not fear Elena." Damon smiled. "It is only a theory. It could be horse thieves, or someone from my past trying to get revenge on me for something." he frowned, trying to think of anything he could possibly have done which would be so serious it would warrant killing him, however he couldn't think of anything.
"I'm scared." Elena whispered.
"I will protect you." Damon promised her.
"What if you are the target?" she asked.
"Well, either we stick together, or we stay far away from each other." Damon said. "I can only protect you a little from a distance."
"I could not bear to be away from you." Elena admitted quietly, to make sure nobody overheard what she said.
"Then we must be sensible." Damon said. "If we tell the Sheriff our suspicions, we would have constant protection." he said sadly. "But it would mean our rides would be chaperoned." he sighed. "But if it is true, whoever did it, knew about our planned movements for the day. There weren't many people who knew about what time we were meant to ride out." he said.
"Unless they accidentally told the wrong person." Elena suggested.
"It means it is someone we know." Damon frowned. "Someone close to us. Protection would be of no use. Not if the information came from an insider." he said.
"So what do you suggest?" Elena asked.
"Feed people misinformation regarding our planned whereabouts." Damon suggested. "Only you and I are to know our true plans. I believe that is the best way to keep us safe." he said. "For the time being, I think we should keep our thoughts to ourselves."
"I agree." Elena nodded.
Suddenly there was a knock on the dining room door.
"Enter." Damon called out.
Bonnie poked her head around the door. "Sorry to bother you Master Damon, Mistress Elena. But Sheriff Forbes is waiting for you in the parlor. He has some news." she said.
Damon and Elena looked at each other wearily. "Tell him we'll be right along Bonnie." Damon told her as Bonnie disappeared to let the Sheriff know. Damon turned to Elena. "Would you like to join me?" he asked. "It could involve you." he said.
"I would be most grateful." Elena agreed as Damon stood up and held his hand out to assist Elena. They left the dining room to join Bill in the parlor.
Damon and Elena greeted Bill in the proper manner before sitting down. Bonnie was asked to leave the room and to tell one of the maids to bring some tea. Once she'd left they settled down to business.
"What news do you have Bill?" Damon asked, getting straight to the point.
"Firstly, we found the remains of two bodies in the debris." Bill told them sadly. "We cannot identify the bodies for certain as they are very badly burned. We cannot even determine whether the bodies are of men or women." he said, as Elena put her hand to her mouth, and tried to hold back the tears. Although this had been anticipated, hearing the words was far more upsetting.
"Oh my goodness." Elena whimpered. "They must have suffered." she said.
"They were probably overcome with smoke before they burned." Bill assured her. "They would not have felt the burns." he said. "But that is not all." Bill told them. "One of your workers recognized the two men who were running away from the fire." he said. "It was the two who were in the tavern the night before causing trouble. They were brandishing money claiming they'd won big in a card game, although they wouldn't say with who or where." Bill explained. "I arrested them that night and held them in a cell to sober up. The names they gave me were John Smith and Tommy Jones of no fixed abode. I doubt they are their real names." he said. "But I'm getting some wanted posters drawn up right now. Enough people saw them to spot them right away. They won't come back here without being caught." Bill smiled.
"Anything else?" Damon asked.
"Kerosene was found at the scene." Bill told him. "It was clearly planned. Now you say Bob didn't have any gambling debts, but if they won big in a game..." he started.
"Maybe." Damon quickly glanced over at Elena as they both suspected it wasn't meant to be Bob. "But I've never known him gamble." he said.
"Well we can't rule it out." Bill said. "I'm sending my deputies to the neighboring five counties with the wanted posters. They won't get far." he assured them.
"Put a five hundred dollar reward on the posters." Damon told them. "I want them caught. They murdered one of my best men and the woman he was supposed to be marrying." he said angrily.
"Will do Damon." Bill tipped his head. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have other people to interview, to make sure the posters are a good likeness." he said. "I'll be seeing you." he said. "Good day Damon. Goodbye Mrs Salvatore." he nodded.
"I'll see you out Bill." Damon said.
"Goodbye Sheriff." Elena smiled as Damon led the Sheriff out.
A few minutes later Damon returned to the parlor. "Would you follow me to my study?" Damon asked as Elena nodded with confusion.
As they entered, Elena noticed the shutters were still closed, on top of that, Damon locked the door behind them.
"What is it?" Elena whispered.
"If anyone gets wind of our suspicions, or thinks the same thing, then we won't have many chances to be alone." Damon said quietly. "It might be a few days before we can go riding again, and I cannot stand the thought of not having you in my arms for that long." he told her as Elena ran into his arms, which he wrapped around her tightly.
"Me either." Elena whispered back as she nuzzled into his muscular chest, taking in his masculine scent.
Damon rested his cheek against her head. "We may have to use these small moments until we can return to the hut." he said. "And use them well." he added as Elena turned and looked up at him.
His blue eyes gazed into hers lovingly, causing Elena's hear to melt. She stood on her tiptoes and placed her lips against his. No tentative invitations were required this time as their tongues danced and rejoiced in the vague familiarity of each other. Her body took over and it's natural instincts overruled her head. Elena pressed her hips against Damon's, although she was unsure why. She struggled to resist unbuttoning his shirt. All the while she became consumed by their kiss.
Eventually they had to stop kissing to breathe. They rested their foreheads together.
"I love you." Damon whispered.
"I love you too." Elena whispered back as Damon's lips found hers once more.
This time however, Damon's mouth moved down towards Elena's chin and neck. She lifted her head to give him more access as the warmth between her legs grew with every touch of his lips on the sensitive skin on her neck. He walked backwards until one of the chairs hit the back of his knees and sat down, pulling Elena on top of him so she was sat on his knees.
Damon's mouth traced the line of her collarbone and continued down until it reached the neckline of her dress, where there was a feint outline of her small bosom. He kissed the small amount of flesh available to him, sending heat pouring between Elena's thighs, which was also beginning to feel damp, although she had no idea why. Damon looked up at her lovingly.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Elena quickly jumped off Damon's knee. Damon ran around to the other side of his desk to avoid anyone noticing the huge erection he had.
"Come in." Damon called out as Bonnie walked in. "What is it Bonnie?" Damon asked.
"I thought you should know. One of the suspects had been found Master Damon." Bonnie started.
"Great news." Damon smiled, but Bonnie cast her eyes down. "What is it Bonnie?" Damon frowned.
"They found him dead." she replied. "He was found with a bullet in his head." she said. "Sheriff says he hadn't been dead long as the blood was still sticky." she added.
"Damn!" Damon growled as he thumped his fist on the table, before trying to regain his composure. "Well, at least we know they were still in the area and the other one can't have gotten far." he said. "Has the Sheriff organized a search party?" he asked.
"I don't know." Bonnie shook her head as Damon stood up, the news quickly erasing any trace of the erection he had just been sporting.
"You stay with Elena." Damon instructed Bonnie. "I'm going to see the Sheriff." he said. And with that he left the room.
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Mandzipop.