AN: I got stuck in the middle of this chapter and couldn't finish it for weeks. Hope it's not too disjointed!

CHAPTER 11

Both Damon and Stefan watched over the next several weeks as Elena tried to push herself farther than she was ready to go. It started subtly at first with her driving herself to school and back and other little things. But when Elena would do them, they could both hear her heart race far too fast and her breathing get much too shallow and her nightmares would be more vicious than ever. Stefan would attempt to talk to her, to reassure her that he wasn't upset but she either didn't believe him or felt even guiltier about it afterwards. Damon didn't try to talk to her; he simply showed up even when she didn't want him to.

One morning after a particularly brutal night of terror that had shaken both vampires, Elena found Stefan sitting in the living room drinking a glass of whiskey. He winced when he looked up and saw the dark circles under her eyes.

Elena curled up on the couch, her body tense as Damon went to the kitchen.

"Why do you wear his shirts?" Stefan asked keeping his voice only mildly curious.

Elena glanced down as if only just realizing that she had slept in one of Damon's button-downs as she did every night. "It smells like him," Elena said softly. "That makes it like he is right beside me, even if he isn't, and it helps keep me calm."

Stefan nodded at this as he watched Damon sit next to Elena and hand her a cup of coffee. At first Elena stiffened even further but after several moments, she relaxed and leaned into Damon's side. In that moment, she seemed more peaceful than she had since Stefan had come home.

"I'm going out of town again," Stefan announced.

Damon just looked at him but Elena asked, "Why?"

"Well, we need to figure out what is in the books I found," Stefan said. "And if it can help us. Since I seem to be making this situation harder on you than it already is, it's best if I try to work on the other problem we have looming."

"This is exactly what I didn't want," Elena said her voice trembling. "I don't want to chase you from your home or make you fight with your brother."

"We're not fighting," Damon said. "The only one who is fighting is you and you're fighting yourself."

"I'm so sick of hurting everyone I care about," Elena said vehemently. "And I'm sick and tired of being afraid all the time."

"You need to give yourself time," Stefan said. "And you can't do that if you're worried about what I think or feel all the time. Just do what makes you feel safe. That's all I want is for you to feel safe and happy."

Elena didn't try to stop the tears that coursed down her face as Stefan picked up a bag that he had prepared during the night. He squeezed his brother's shoulder once in understanding and support before he was gone.

"I'm sorry, Damon, I'm so sorry," Elena said over and over.

"I don't want apologies, Elena," Damon said. "I want you to stop expecting more from yourself than you'd expect from Bonnie or Caroline. If it had been one of them, you wouldn't be sitting here judging them for not being strong enough or for needing someone to feel safe. So stop doing it to yourself."

After several moments of silence, Elena said, "I never asked you…the day Stefan and I talked about why I feel safe with you. You never said anything about it."

"There wasn't anything to say," Damon replied.

"I called you vicious," Elena whispered refusing to meet his eyes.

"I am vicious," Damon said. "If you're worried you insulted me, don't be."

Elena glanced up and he saw the very real fear in her eyes. Damon had to work hard to keep his anger from showing at that.

"Why didn't it insult you? You've done nothing but protect and take care of me and I call you vicious!" Elena said. "It doesn't make sense."

"Because I am vicious," Damon repeated. He let out a sigh realizing he was going to have to actually talk about his feelings. "I am vicious and a killer and all the other things people say about me. You know that. The thing is, Elena, you know it and you aren't afraid of me. You've seen it and yet you trust me to protect you. You accept that part of me and no one else, not even Stefan, has done that since I turned."

Elena watched him apprehensively for several moments before Damon said, "Just say whatever it is, Elena."

She bit her bottom lip before saying, "I just…I hurt Stefan, I know I'm hurting Jeremy and Jenna, I'm probably hurting Alaric and Bonnie. I don't think I could handle it if I hurt you, too."

Damon shook his head and gathered Elena in his embrace, shifting so she was in his lap.

"I don't think you understand what a gift it is you've given me," Damon said softly. "Your trust, your acceptance of all of me, not just the fluffy bunny parts that remind you of my brother, but all of me – well that's an incredible thing for someone who hasn't had it in over a century."

"Are you just saying that so I'll stop being a pain in the ass?" Elena asked sniffling a little.

"Yes, Elena, I'm just saying it so you'll stop being a pain in the ass," Damon said with a smirk.

Elena smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I'll keep you safe," Damon whispered against her hair. "Even when you don't want me to."

Over the next week, Damon watched as Elena allowed herself to relax. She was still afraid, still had nightmares, and still refused to sleep anywhere but the boarding house, but it was clear she was easier around her friends and felt less guilty about needing him. However, Damon had another problem to worry about and it was beginning to seem like a far bigger one than he had originally anticipated.

The bikers did not leave town after the latest group had disappeared. Their numbers had grown. The original five had been replaced by ten and when the second group had gone missing, twenty more arrived and they were not being subtle about searching for their missing comrades. This was keeping the sheriff and deputies very busy and causing Damon irritation that he did not need.

"I think we should take them out," Caroline said adamantly.

Bonnie sighed and looked at Caroline as the blonde paced the living room.

"Caroline, we can't just go slaughter twenty-five people," Bonnie said calmly.

This was a repeat argument, one they'd been having ever since the larger group of bikers had arrived in town.

"So what? We wait until they actually kill my mom this time?" Caroline demanded. "Or until some other girl we go to high school with gets attacked in an alley?"

Elena flinched but she made no comment. Damon sipped his whiskey and watched the argument between Blondie and the witch for what felt like the umpteenth time.

"Caroline, I want them gone as much as you do," Jeremy said. "But Bonnie has a point. Questions will be asked if they all just disappear."

Caroline cursed under her breath causing Elena to smile slightly. It was a word she'd clearly learned from Damon.

"Then what are we going to do?" Caroline asked. "Because we all know they are getting out of control and it's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt."

"We send them a message," Damon said, speaking for the first time since the group had gathered in the boarding house that day.

"And how do we do that?" Alaric asked cautiously.

"We don't," Damon said. "Caroline and I do. We'll go to where they are camped out and…suggest they leave town."

"Suggest?" Bonnie asked but her tone was clear that she knew he intended violence.

"We'll be very persuasive," Damon said throwing Caroline a grin.

"No," Elena said quietly.

The entire room turned and looked at her.

"Why not?" Caroline asked.

"I'm not saying you can't do it," Elena said. "I'm saying it won't be just the two of you."

"You're not going," Damon said instantly. "You could easily get hurt."

Elena lifted a brow in query and said, "Are you going to let them hurt me, Damon?"

Damon shook his head and said, "Elena, there are twenty-five of them, at least. I can't focus on sending a message if I'm worried about your safety."

"I'm going," Elena said clearly. "I know where they are so even if you leave me behind I'll just follow you."

"It's not like we're going to try to take them all," Damon said. "We're just going to give them a warning and leave. There's no need for you to be there. Besides they're only human. What are they going to do – shoot me?"

"Getting shot still hurts," Elena retorted. "And what if they have wooden bullets? Or there are sharp sticks that they use as weapons?"

"Elena," Caroline said softly and waited until Elena met her eyes. "I won't let anything happen to him. I promise."

Finally, Elena nodded and said, "If either of you gets hurt, I will make both of your lives hell. Just so we're clear."

"Got it," Caroline said with a smile before turning to Damon who hadn't taken his eyes off Elena. "When do we go?"

"Sundown," Damon said.

"Wait," Bonnie said with a deep sigh. "If you're going alone…"

Elena realized immediately what Bonnie was going to try so she reached over and took Bonnie's hand in hers. Bonnie smiled slightly and closed her eyes before beginning to chant. After several moments, Bonnie began to slump over so Jeremy took her other hand. Bonnie's back straightened and her words got stronger. It was several moments before she opened her eyes and she blinked rapidly.

"Wow, that was…intense," Bonnie said.

"Are you alright?" Jeremy asked concerned.

"Yes, thanks," Bonnie said squeezing his hand. "You and Elena are like superchargers for my power."

"What did you do?" Damon asked suspiciously.

"It's a protection spell," Bonnie said. "It should keep anything from penetrating your skin, even wood. But it won't last forever. You'll only have about an hour after sunset before it wears off so don't waste time."

"Why would you do that?" Damon asked, his eyes narrowing on the witch.

"Because Elena needs you," Bonnie said simply. "And I'll protect Elena just as fiercely as you."

Damon nodded once at that and then turned to Caroline to work out their approach to the camp.