A/N: I AM SO SORRY. I promised that I would update regularly but I have so many things to do. I have exams in a couple of days so I won't be updating any time soon. Sorry again but after that I have summer break so I will have all the time to write. I will make it up :). So here it is chapter 10 ( This Crushing Pain ). Finally! I want to thank all the people who reviewed the last chapter. It gives me joy to see that those people take the time for that. Also thanks to all the people who read the story but don't review. I understand how stressy and fast life is. If you can find the time please review.

P.S. : The part in italic is a 'dream'.

Chanou

x

/ / / / / / / / / /

"I think it's time Elena." Damon said when he walked into the house.

"For?" Elena asked confused and still upset.

"Time to tell us everything you know about Gaia, that's if you want us to have a chance to save Katherine."

Elena knew it was time to tell them, Katherine's life could depend on it. They all sad down and Elena told them what she knew.

/ / / / / / / / / /

"Exactly how powerful?" Stefan asked processing what Elena just told them.

"I don't know but I think she is very powerful because Katherine has a lot of faith in her."
All three they were surprised to hear this. It was almost unbelievable. Someone who was as old as the earth itself. At least they had some hope now even if they hadn't even met the person their hope depended on.

"Bonnie can you please try to contact Gaia again? I think she might be here faster if she knew Katherine is hurt." She asked it, hiding her pain.

"How Elena? I have nothing that is connected to Gaia."

"Everything is connected to her, she is as old as the earth itself."
They thought about it and knew it was the best they got.

She made everything ready. Bonnie took the note with the message written on it. (Katherine is injured and dying, please come as soon as possible).
Bonnie began to say words in Latin. Faster and faster until the paper burned up just like the last time. This time Bonnie's nose didn't bleed.

"You are stronger." Elena said happy that Bonnie was fine this time.
Bonnie smiled proudly.

"Thanks Bonnie." Elena said before she gave her a hug.

"I can't stay any longer. I really hope she will be here on time."
Bonnie said goodbye to everyone and then walked to her car.

Elena was exhausted. She had been up for just a few hours but it felt like she was awake for much longer.

"I'm going to lay down." The boys nodded understanding. They saw how tired she was.

"How long will it take for the pain to become unbearable?"

"Three days but it depends, can be sooner I think."

"Elena will be devastated if Katherine dies." Stefan said with pain in his voice.

"I know, so we will have to do everything to make sure she doesn't."

"I have to go home to get Katherine some blood. Look after Elena." Damon was already walking out the door when he said it.

Stefan opened the door softly and laid down next to Elena. He took her hand whispering soft words in her ear so maybe she could fall asleep.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Katherine felt it. She felt the pain increase. It felt like she was burning from the inside and the fire was growing stronger and stronger. Sometimes she hoped the fire would just kill her so it all would be over but then she thought of Elena and how she promised to keep her safe. She continued to fight the pain so the pain wouldn't crush her. Suddenly she smelled blood and she heard footsteps behind her.

Damon threw a bag of blood inside the cage. Katherine felt that she could no longer control herself, she tore the bag open and drank the blood. At first it felt like the blood was putting out the fire but than the fire only grew stronger. She wanted more blood. But the more blood she took the stronger the fire got. It was a doomed situation. She needed blood but the blood only made the pain worse. Katherine screamed out in pain. The scream echoed throughout the woods and ran down Damon's spine. Katherine wanted to stop but she just couldn't. She was a beast. Damon threw another bag of blood but didn't know it would hurt her more. Again she screamed and Damon didn't understand. Damon had to stop right now. Katherine tried with all her strength and pulled herself away from the blood.

"Damon stop, the blood makes it worse! Stop!" Katherine screamed and begged.
Damon took the blood bag away from her and just sat there so Katherine wouldn't be alone.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Elena woke from a scream, it wasn't close. But it gave her chills.
"Stefan." She whispered. She tugged at his arm and he was awake instantly.

"Stefan, what's that?"
Stefan knew immediately that it was Katherine.

"Elena, it's Katherine, she's in pain."
Elena jumped up. Stefan knew where she was going. He let her go just a second and then held her back.

"Stefan no,she is in pain, she needs someone."

"Damon is with her Elena."
Stefan couldn't imagine how much pain Katherine was in.

"We must help her Stefan, please do something."
A scream was heard again.

"We can't do anything, I'm sorry."

"Will it get worse?"

"I'm sorry." Stefan said and Elena knew what he meant.

"No no, she doesn't deserve this."
Stefan kissed Elena to distract her but it didn't work because she pushed him of her.

"Elena, it isn't your fault."

"Who's fault is it than? Why did the wolf came Stefan?"
He promised to always tell her the truth. He just couldn't lie.

"When Rose was bitten Damon went to Jules for the medicine but when she didn't say anything he threatened her. It was Jules, she wanted revenge. "

"Jules just wanted me? Katherine saved me?"

"Yes."

Elena knew that Damon didn't want this. She felt so much hate but she knew he just tried to save someone he cared about. She drove away the hatred. Again there was a scream heard.
Elena tried to get the sound out of her head but she kept hearing it over and over again.

"Elena maybe you should go home."

"No. I will stay."

/ / / / / / / / / /

Katherine screamed hoping the air she used would take some pain away. She just wanted the pain to stop. She wished she was dead, just so the fire would stop burning. Katherine turned around and looked at Damon.

"I can't do it anymore."

"No Katherine you have to keep fighting, she will come."

"It hurts so much."
Damon moved closer to the cage and took Katherine's hand. Katherine was startled by his touch.

"It's me."

"I'm sorry Damon, for everything, I'm so sorry."

"I know, I forgive you." He said the words Katherine wanted to here, She wanted forgiveness.

Katherine laughed happy to hear him say those words. The laugh sounded hysterical because it was mixed with so much pain. Tears were rolling from her eyes. She couldn't help it and right now she didn't mind. She just hoped it would all be over soon.

"Let me help you, I will try to take some of the pain away." Damon would try to do what he did for Rose. Katherine was much stronger but she was weak and he could only try.

"Elena." She whispered and he knew what she meant.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Katherine opened her eyes and saw she was laying under a big tree. She stood up and only saw miles and miles of grass. The sun was shining bright and she could feel a soft breeze brushing against her skin. And most of all the pain was gone. As if it hadn't even been there.

"Katherine." A beautiful voice spoke.

Katherine turned around and saw Elena standing against the tree. She was smiling. Katherine smiled back and walked over to Elena.

"I missed you." Elena said.

Katherine didn't say anything but just embraced her tightly.

Elena kissed Katherine's cheek then she pulled away and took Katherine's hand.

"Let's walk."

Katherine followed Elena.

They walked for hours, or so it seemed.

They didn't say anything but Katherine was just happy that Elena was here.

Sometimes Elena looked Katherine in the eye and smiled just to let her know she was here.

There was no end to the meadow but there was an and to this dream.

Elena stopped and looked at Katherine.

"I have to go now."

"Don't go Elena, please stay."

"I can't. Please just keep fighting against the pain. Gaia will come."

Elena's hand disappeared from Katherine's and it was like she flew away with the wind.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Katherine closed her eyes and when she opened them again she was back in the steal cage.
"I must go back now." Damon said.

"Tell Elena that I miss her."

"I will, just hold on Katherine."

/ / / / / / / / / /

Damon walked into the house and saw Elena sitting on the couch. When she saw Damon she jumped up.
"How is she?"

He just shook his head.

"She asked me to tell you that she misses you."

"Damon please let me see her."

"No."

"Damon please before she can't remember who I am anymore."

"I'm sorry Elena." He didn't want to do this but he had to do what was best for her.
Stefan also came into the room.

"Don't you understand. If I would be in that cage you guys would want to see me too. "

"That is different Elena, we are not so vulnerable."

"If you two are there nothing can happen."

"It's still no." Damon said.

"We just want what's best for you."
Damon calmed Elena down and took her in his arms not paying attention to Stefan at all.

"Elena listen very carefully. You have to let her go. She will die." He had to say it because she had to be ready for the worst.

Elena her eyes began to water. Before she knew it her hand slapped against Damon's face. Elena hit him hard and his face turned to one side. Elena just walked away and didn't look behind, checking if he was alright.

"I'm sorry that she shouldn't have done that."

"It's ok Stefan, I'm going home." He said irritated.

Stefan sighed. Why couldn't he and Elena just be happy without all the drama and sadness. Just like a normal couple. That was what Elena needed that is what every girl needed. A normal and peaceful life.

Elena came out of her room. "I'm sorry. That was wrong."

"I know, it's good Elena."

Elena rested her head on his shoulder. She breathed in his scent and that calmed her. Stefan took her head between his hands and kissed her. Soft and tender. Elena licked his lower lip and he opened his mouth. It is not long before they were merged into a passionate kiss. Sometimes they stopped but the kiss was long. Elena got her hands entwined in his hair and she thought of nothing. For a moment letting everything go. The kiss was just a distraction it didn't feel like Elena remembered. She thought maybe the reason was that she could only think of Katherine sitting alone in the cage.

Stefan felt the salt tears of Elena against his own skin.
He broke the kiss and looked at her. He picked her up gently and brought her to her room. She didn't fight it. She was too tired.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Elena woke up. Still wearing her clothes. She looked next to her and saw that Stefan was still asleep. She had no idea what time it was. Early in the morning she thought because there was already a bit of sunlight. This was her change. She took the blankets off her and tried to get up without too much noise. She walked to the door and opened it being as silent as she could. She looked around and saw that Stefan didn't wake up. She closed the door and opened the last door that was keeping her from Katherine and once she was outside she started to run. She was glad it was already light and she could see a bit. She kept running and running even when it felt like she had no air in her longs to keep her going.