Elena shuddered awake. A noise from outside had pulled her from her dreams. Glancing out the window, she could see two burning, red eyes glaring at her from the balcony.

"Stefan, Stefan," She whispered forcefully, trying to get his attention.

His eyes shot open, noticing the figure outside as well, but making no movement towards it.

"Shh, Elena, I know. Be still."

Caroline was still fast asleep next to Elena. Elena tried to be as still as possible, and made no sounds. She looked back towards Stefan only to see an empty chair now. She hadn't even heard him get up. Now she was pretty much alone, with these eyes boring into her. She could feel the menacing presence creep closer and closer to her. She shut her eyes tight, trying to pretend that it was not there. When she finally got the courage to open them, they were gone. There was only the night. The silence of the room was too soon broken by a guttural, demonic growl. Caroline stirred in her sleep, but still did not awaken. Stefan was still MIA. The eyes appeared in front of her again, only this time not intervened by the windows. The dark figure was now right beside their bed hovering dangerously close to Caroline.

"I told you I'd be back, sweet Elena. You can thank your father for this soon," the voice growled. It was very deep, laced with a thick English accent.

"Damon," Elena screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Stefan," She tried again.

Nobody was coming to her rescue. Had it gotten to them first?

Elena was shaking fiercely. Really shaking.

"Elena, Elena, wake up. You're having a nightmare," Caroline whispered to her, gently rocking her small frame.

Elena's eyes shot open. She was sweating, breathing had. Her heart was pounding like crazy. Everyone was sitting around her now. Caroline pressed a cold wash cloth to Elena's forehead. Damon's hand was gripping her cold, clammy one.

"Finally, you're back. We thought you were in some sort of coma, Elena," Damon said gently.

"You've been out of it, screaming for the last ten minutes. It's probably shock, which I totally understand. It happened to me too whenever I got into that fight last year. It lasted for days," Caroline stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah I don't think that's quite it Caroline," Stefan murmured. Caroline looked offended.

"Well then you tell us what's going on with her ," Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I think she was seeing something we couldn't. There was nothing here, I heard a small noise earlier from outside, and have been awake watching ever since."

"Yeah well I think Elena was just having an intense nightmare brought on by all of this stress."

Damon said nothing. Only continued rubbing the back of her hand softly. He seemed lost in thought, way out of any conversation Stefan and Caroline could be having.

"Does anyone care what I think," Elena sat up. All of them looked at her.

"I think someone, or something rather, is trying to get to me. In the dream it said something that bothers me. He said that I could thank my father for this soon. That was entirely new. I couldn't just make that up in my head from stress. I think it's trying to prove a point. That whatever this is, no matter what or where I go. It can reach me."

Elena blinked back tears at this sudden realization. She wasn't going to be safe until she was dead.

"Nothing can hurt you, Lena. I'm not going to let it," Damon was very confident in his words.

"Damon it's stronger than any of us, don't you get that?" Elena pulled her hand back. This was frustrating.

"Maybe, but I'll die trying to protect you from it,"

Elena had no idea how capable he was of handling this situation. She could never imagine the power he possessed. The less she knew about that side of him, and his brother, the better things could be for them both. For now, he needed to get away from all of them. Stefan knew it'd be back last night. Damon cold hear the man pace around outside last night for several hours. No matter how many times he went outside to kill the piece of shit, it would always dodge away from him and go back into hiding. Stefan should have done better than to let him get that close to Elena, to let him mess with her mind like that. Damon was furious.

"I need a drink," Damon stated.

"I'm going to the bar. Stefan you stay with them. I just need time to think," he finished.

"But Damon I-we need you here. Don't leave," Elena begged.

"I'll be back in a while."

That was all. He got up and walked out without another word to be said. Elena was hurt that he would just up and leave like this to go to a damn bar. Sure, go ahead and drink yourself to death while we are here being attacked by God knows what, she thought to herself. At least Stefan would stay here. Lucky Caroline, at least she found a guy who would stick around.

Stefan got up from the side of the bed and looked at Caroline.

"I'll be back, let me go talk to him. He's mad at me, not you guys. I promise, I'm not going anywhere," Stefan kissed her cheek and ran out after Damon. Elena just laid the wash cloth back on her forehead, and shut her eyes.

Outside Stefan caught up to Damon as he was getting into his car.

"So what, just leave them here? Come on Damon, you know what we are dealing with here."

"Yes, Stefan, and I'm very well aware that these bastards can't do anything right now seeing as it's daytime."

"What if they are like us. Did you think of that? What if they have daylight rings too? I can't take on a bunch of them by myself. Stay here."

"No, Stefan I didn't think that through, thanks for informing me. I'm not a moron. I'm going to the bar. Having a bottle of whiskey, or two, and then I'll be right back. Just give me some time," Damon lied.

"I can't believe you are doing this," Stefan sighed.

"Well I can't believe you let that creep close enough to Elena last night to get into her mind! Would you have tried harder if it was after that little blonde of yours? That's what I thought, brother. Now go back up there to them."

Damon turned the ignition and the car's engine roared to life. Elena could hear it from the bedroom. She rolled her eyes. He was still leaving. She was starting to convince herself that she didn't even care if he came back or not now.

Stefan returned to the girls.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I promise I'll stay here, even if I can't promise my brother will be back anytime soon."