Title: Blood Is Thicker Than Loyalty

Summary: Elena is the only child of a Mob Boss and Damon is the unlucky lackey tasked with watching over her and she certainly doesn't make it easy for him. When secrets about the past bring them closer together, things start to get bloody.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

A/N: Well hello there, readers! Long time no see! The muse just wasn't cooperating and I had a few too many family emergencies but I finally finished this update and I think you'll be pretty happy to see a certain something finally being discussed and the introduction of a few characters. Now where did we last leave off?

Klaus is an asshole. John was killed. Elena's the head of the Gilbert Family. Damon was shot. And the Gilbert's are on the run. Now without further ado…

I have never seen him look so peaceful.

My hand brushes back his hair and I hear him sigh in his sleep. I could've lost him yesterday. All because I had to let Klaus see my face. Damon was against it and only agreed because I urged him to let me face the man who took my family from me and lied to me for my entire life. He always puts my safety first, but even Damon has a weak spot when it comes to me. More than a weak spot if I'm being honest. I knew if I pressed him enough he would let me. I can't help but accept some fault for it. Especially seeing him like this.

I lay down beside him, curling into his side. There's a whole bunch of people waiting outside for me to give orders to, but I can't think straight until Damon wakes up. I was forced out of this room while they worked on him long enough. I'm not leaving Damon's side again.

The hideout Ric picked is a collection of trailers nestled deep in the woods, off a beaten path and everyone is on lockdown until we find the mole. It secluded enough that we're not concerned about getting spotted. We ditched the four wheelers a few miles back and covered our tracks to the site. The moment we arrived I trusted Ric and Jenna with putting the people they trusted in charge of patrol and locking everyone else up in their trailers and stripped of outside communication until I can think of a plan.

This place reminds me of the home Damon and I left behind. The hideout that kept all of this at bay. Back to only twenty-four hours ago when it was just me and Damon and the mystery of all of this ahead of us. Part of me wishes we never left. The other part knows that I needed to be there. I needed to face all of this. We couldn't hide there forever.

Resting my head on his chest, I let my breathing follow his and let the strong, steady beat of his heart remind me that even though he's got a bandaged leg and a beaten face, he's alive. He passed out due to exhaustion and loss of blood. I didn't lose him. That's enough for me. It has to be.

I feel his arms wrap around me and I peek my head up to see his eyes blinking open. "Am I dreaming?" he mumbles, squeezing me more firmly.

"Oh, thank God! You're awake!" I jump and squeeze him, hugging him as hard as I can.

"Ow! Nope," Damon grunts. "Definitely awake."

I pull back in regret. My excitement at seeing him awake momentarily making me forget just how sore and hurt he must be. The swelling has gone down on his face, but there's still scrapes and bruises from where John's fist cut up his skin. "Sorry."

"Worth it," he smirks.

I move to sit up, but Damon holds me close and keeps me resting on his chest. "How are you feeling?" I ask, letting myself enjoy these few moments before we have to let reality back in.

"Like I was shot," he deadpans.

Frowning, I rest my hand on his chest. His heart is still going strong. "Yesterday was pretty scary."

"And you we're pretty brave."

Despite it all, I smile. "I kind of was, wasn't I?"

His fingers begin drawing lazy patterns against my skin. I try to make sense of them, but I'm overwhelmed by the feeling his touch brings out of me. There's a stirring in my chest, a quickening of my heart as it begins racing and a halting of my breath. It isn't until I hear his voice that I finally exhale.

"You saved a whole bunch of people." He stops, his head moving from side to side as he takes in the small cramped bedroom we're in. He passed out before we ever made it here. Nearly fell off the four-wheeler as we raced to safety. Ric was quick though, holding him close with one hand and driving with the other.

Somehow, they made it here in one piece.

"It's a trailer," I tell him. "A group of them in the woods."

"What were the losses?"

"Seven. Most we're from first few minutes."

Damon clears his throat and I sit up, grabbing him the glass of a water resting on the nightstand. He takes it and swallows a few gulps as I rest beside him with my one arm over his legs in a protective gesture. The blanket's covering his legs but I know Ric had to strip him down to his briefs to bandage up his thigh after they got the bullet out.

"So, what's the damage to me?"

"Well," I say, taking the now empty glass from him. I drag the moment on for dramatic effect, trying not to look at him so I don't give it all away. "You're going to be fine. Ric got the bullet out so after some rest you'll be back to normal."

"Do we have time for me to get back to normal?" he questions.

I take a beat, thinking about it. We're hidden, but for how long? Someone gave out the Gilbert's location and only after Damon and I had showed up. Someone within this group is in Klaus's pocket and once I know who it I'll have to deal with them. "I don't know. We're safe. For now."

"What's wrong?" Damon asks. Then he smiles, adding, "Besides your bodyguard being in less than stellar condition."

"There's a mole."

His eyes drop and he reached out for my hand, moving it from beside him to clasped in his own on top of his thigh. His fingers twirl my own, sliding our skin delicately along each other. My every focus is centered on the feeling. I've almost forgotten the words that I spoke before Damon responds to them.

"Then we have to find out who it is."

"We're—" My voice comes out to husky and rough and I clear my throat, starting over. "We're working on that.

Realization dawns on Damon and he looks at me, stopping his ministrations. "Are they waiting out there?" he whispers, tilting his head towards the door.

I nod. "Ric, Jenna, a few others."

"Then what are we doing? Get them in here."

Pushing aside my momentary hurt at his comments, I tell him the truth. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

I hate myself for how weak I sound saying the words aloud. I sound like a little girl. Like how I used to act when Klaus would come home late and I didn't know why. But this is different. Damon isn't lying to me. There's something real here. Something I can only hope he's feeling too.

His head leans forward, touching my forehead. We stay like that for a moment, inhaling the scent of each other and gaining strength from the other's presence. I wish we could stay like this. Just the two of us in this moment—our bubble—and never leave it. Never let anyone come between us and try to hurt us every again.

But we can't. That's not who either one of us are.

"I'm okay, Elena. I'm not going anywhere. I prom—"

I silence him with my finger on his lips. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

His eyes close in understanding, the tips of his lashes brushing the top of his cheekbones. My finger slides from his lips, tugging slightly on his bottom one. And there it is again. That thing building between us that neither one of us has given a name or a feeling to. At least not to each other's knowledge. Only this time it's different. Maybe it's the after effects of the adrenaline pumping through my system or the memory of Damon being shot and beaten playing on loop over and over again, but this time I wanted to change that.

I wanted to act on it.

I wanted to not feel the softness of his lip beneath my finger, but from the touch of my own mouth on his. To not have to wonder what he tasted like, but to have the knowledge of it from my own exploration. To bring reality to endless nights of dreaming of being in his arms. I wasn't allowed to think of Damon this way, but there's nothing stopping us now. No Klaus. No John. Nothing.

The only thing getting in the way of us now is each other.

The moment hangs there and I watch unmoving as Damon's eyes slide up and meet my own. The intensity there is enough to put my whole body on edge. Is he feeling it to? Is he waiting for me to cross that line? Somehow my hand has slid down to rest on his chest and I can feel the racing of his heart as his hand reaches up to cradle my face. I lean into it my face inching closer to his own; close enough that I can feel his breath against my face.

The moment to cross that line and change everything is right there. An inch or two away and there would be no going back, no returning to the life where he's my bodyguard and I'm his charge. And to be honest, this moment I just don't care.

"I'm really glad you're okay," I whisper, scared that speaking even one decibel louder will shatter whatever pull is drawing us closer.

He licks his lips, moving closer—a breath away. "Me too. I would've missed this."

I smile and lean in and then that's when someone decides to knock on the door.

Damon and I spring apart like two teenagers. It would be comical if I wasn't so mad. Damon's back against his pillow, hands folded innocently and I'm back on my feet, pacing along his bedside. A practiced look schools his features that I wish I could've mastered. It doesn't give away a hint of what was about to happen. My face on the other hand is seething.

"Who is it?" I call out.

"It's Ric."

I take a breath, trying to copy the same ease on Damon's face. It's not working. "Come in."

The door opens and I watch as Ric smiles at the sight of Damon upright. "Glad you're not dead."

"And leave you the responsibility of looking after Elena? Not in a million years."

Ric shrugs as he crosses his arms. "I'm not the one who got shot."

"Some might call that shot taking one for the team." Damon smirks.

"Have you seen your face?"

Damon laughs. "It'll make me look rugged. You on the other hand," he makes a disapproving sound, "you just look rough."

Ric barks out a laugh and reaches out to clasps Damon's shoulder. I don't know when these two got so chummy but the sight of it warms my heart. Maybe we could fit in here. I've felt a connection to Jenna from the moment we bumped into each other and with John gone, Jenna and Ric are all the family I have left.

"While I hate to break up whatever that was," I jeer, "What's going on Ric? I thought I wasn't to be disturbed unless it was something really important."

I catch sight of Damon turning towards me and the look of pride on his features. This being in charge thing is new territory but I've just decided to run with it. No matter how weird it feels.

Ric clears his throat and clasps his hands together in front of him. "We found the mole."

My stomach flips. "Who is it?"

"Do you remember Brian? He was in charge of watching over the cabin."

I nod. Brian was the one who rode back with John when the Mikaelson's attacked. "I thought he was in John's circle. John relied on him."

"He was."

Sitting down at the edge of the bed by Damon's feet, I ask, "What should we do with him?"

"I'm afraid, Elena, that's entirely up to you."

I chew on my lip and pace the room. It's not big enough for it to have any real effect, but the action makes me feel like I'm proactively doing something beside having a war inside my head. My response should be obvious. We need to dispose of Brian for betraying the family. It's what Klaus would've done. It's what John would do. But a part of me just can't reconcile itself with taking a person's life away.

John's final words come to me. You're the only one who can take the Mikaelson's down. These people around us don't know how to give up and they can help you. Just lead them.

I have to do what's right for the family. I have to handle this.

"I have two choices here," I start, finally facing Ric and Damon. They're looking at me expectantly, yet not at all in a way to make me feel rushed. They're just ready for whatever I have to say. "We either dispose of him now or use him to send a message."

"To Klaus?" Damon says. "In what way."

"Whatever Brian knows was what John would've had planned, but John isn't in charge anymore. I am. Brian doesn't pose a risk to me. We could punish him and then send him to Klaus. Then we hightail it out of here to the next location. Brian wouldn't know that, correct?"

"Correct," Ric answers. "John didn't trust anyone with the locations."

"And I trusted you," I point out.

Ric nods. "You can trust me, Elena. Jenna and I are both on your side. Your fight is our fight."

"Yet John didn't trust you enough with the hideouts," I remind him. "It was still your fight then."

"John had a lifetime of mistrust even in himself after your parents died. He blamed himself for not being able to protect them He was constantly second guessing everyone. Look at what he did to you and Damon."

I sigh, collapsing on the bed. "I just don't know what I'm doing and now I'm responsible for everyone. How am I supposed to lead them?"

The touch of a hand on my shoulder jolts me out of my self-pity. Damon is looking at me with understanding and something else. "You can do this, Elena. Just do what you feel is right."

Knowing Damon has faith in me and that regardless of what I choose he'll stand beside me, supporting me gives me all the confidence I need to follow through on my choice. I just have to keep these people safe until we work out our next plan. They believe in this fight enough to follow me here. I just have to be worthy of that trust. I have to trust my gut like Damon said.

"Okay," I say standing up. "Let's get Damon into the living room. I know what I want to do."

Everyone is looking at me. Everyone.

I've met them all—briefly, of course—when we brought Damon in. Besides Ric, Jenna and Damon there's Enzo the head of weapons distribution, Jesse and Caroline who are both my age and who deal with dispatching soldiers and money respectively, Caroline's mother, Liz, who is in charge of training and leads most raids and attacks, and Tripp and Wes who deal with loyalty to put it lightly. These are the people Ric and Jenna suggested to form my inner circle. Not that it'll matter since I'll mostly be confiding in Damon and Ric and Jenna to deal with everyone else.

Klaus only trusted family. That's one thing the two of us can agree on.

The more people involved in the loop the more of a chance for all hell to break loose.

"We're going to use Brian to send a message." I start off, my eyes scanning the room. I feel foolish and small, but I try to put some strength and power in my voice. I try to use the pain of finding out who Klaus really was to fuel some fire within me that will keep all these people on my side. Because without this army there is no way I can take down the Mikaelson's.

"What kind of message, Mistress Salvatore?" Tripp says.

Word seems to have gotten around about my decision to take Damon's last name instead of Gilbert. Though the "Mistress" part will definitely take some getting used to.

"We'll punish him for betraying the Gilbert Family. Surely, you and Wes can think of a few things."

"Might I suggest the removal of his tongue, Mistress Salvatore," Wes states. "It's a punishment befitting a rat."

"Do what you feel you must, but make sure he's alive to be delivered to Klaus. That's where Enzo, Liz and Jesse come in. We'll need a team to go with one of the distribution trucks to drop him off at the cemetery tonight. Klaus will visit with Camille in the morning and I want him to find Brian on her grave."

"It will be done," Liz promises, bowing her head. "May we be excused to get a team together?"

"One more thing," I say. "We'll be leaving here tonight. I don't want Brian to be able to give away our location so we'll be headed to somewhere more secure. Caroline, do you think you could make sure every one has everything they need for the trip?"

Caroline nods her head, excitedly. "Of course, Mistress Salvatore. Don't you worry about a thing."

"Ric and Jenna will be in charge of handing out directions and grouping everyone else up for the trip. Enzo, I'm asking that in addition to accompanying Brian to his final destination you put your second in charge of making sure all the weapons are moved."

"I can handle it," Enzo states. "And Jeremy will make sure the goods are all accounted for."

"Thank you," I reply. "I know this is a big change but I appreciate you all sticking by me. Jenna and Ric make sure everyone else knows they have an out should they want it."

"Um, Elena," Jenna calls out.

"Yes?"

She gives me a big smile. "They were all given that option at the barn before they were given the coordinates. Every single member chose to stay."

I try to hide the swell of my smile as I say, "Still, give them one final out. They were running for their lives back there and had just lost John. Now they would have had time to think."

"As you wish."

"That'll be all," I state. "See you all at the new base. You're excused."

Save for Jenna and Damon, they all take a moment to bow their heads towards me before exiting the room. I look towards Damon who stayed quiet on the couch the entire meeting and he's smiling. Jenna is practically beaming with pride. "I knew you could do this!"

She runs over towards me and envelopes me in a hug. I can hardly get out words she's squeezing me so tight. "D-do they rea-really have to c-call me M-mistress?"

"You're the Boss of a Family, Elena," Jenna says, pulling back and tucking back a strand of hair behind my ear the way a mother would. "It's a sign of respect."

"It's still weird."

She cradles my head. "You'll get used to it. There has to be a gap between you and the followers. Otherwise you'll never be able to lead them properly. They have to show respect."

"I guess," I say, still unsure.

Jenna drops her hands. "Let me go help Ric. We'll come and get you when we're done so we can drive over together. Thankfully, there's vans and trucks stashed here because there's no way Damon would survive the trek."

She gives a wink to Damon before squeezing my hands and reminding me once again that I can do this. That it's for my parents and leadership is in my blood. When she leaves, I'm exhausted and spent. I make my way towards Damon and kneel on the floor beside him.

Damon runs his hand through my hair. "It's supposed to be me kneeling to you, you know."

"Why?" I ask, taken aback.

"To swear my allegiance, my loyalty, my life to you. You're the new Boss now."

I shake my head. "You don't have to do that. It's not like that with us."

"Oh, is that so?" he questions, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Nope. I can't do this without you, Damon. I need you to not be my bodyguard anymore. We need to be equals."

He curls his finger under my chin. "Would you settle for me being your right hand?"

I chew on my lip. "Do right hands and boss's usually kiss on almost deathbeds?"

"Not usually. Though there was this one time I caught Klaus and Marcel—"

I shove his chest and he mocks pain. "It was a serious question!"

"And I was seriously shot! Be gentle with me." He rubs his leg, frowning.

Rolling my eyes, I say, "Be serious."

"I'm sorry. I will be."

My eyes drop down. "Do you not… I mean if you don't feel that way…"

"Elena?" Damon says, bringing my eyes back up to those piercing blue eyes of his. "Why do you think I undermined Klaus all the time for you? Kept your secrets, trained you? Why I looked into your past and got us out of there? That I needed to buy a place far away from the Mikaelson mansion before this all even started?"

"I… I don't know," I answer. Because even though I have my suspicions I need Damon to confirm them.

"Because for a few years now you haven't just been a charge to me. You've become a lot more."

"Really?"

Damon smiles, closed mouth and nervous, but he smiles. "Of course. I almost took Klaus on his promotion but when it came down to it I didn't want to lose time with you. That's when I purchased the house. The same night you ran off to that frat party."

"Why that night?"

He takes a deep breath and starts. "Because I knew one day you'd fall in love and I couldn't just stand by and watch that happened from the pool house. The day you chose someone was the day I planned on either becoming Klaus's bodyguard or going AWOL. When I saw you in bed with…that frat boy… I knew it was only a matter of time and I needed to start getting prepared."

"Why didn't you ever tell me this?"

"It's not exactly something I thought you'd want to hear. I knew we had already crossed the line in becoming friends, but more? I didn't think you ever saw me like that."

I let out a quiet laugh. "I remember crying in my room for days after Klaus brought you home. I had such a crush on you when I was little but you seemed so much older and so serious. I knew it couldn't be so I shoved it aside. It wasn't until we started training together that I realized it had started bubbling up again."

"And now?" Damon asks.

"Now… I'm scared because what if something goes wrong? What if we ruin this trying to make it more?"

"What if we take a chance and it becomes something really great?"

I smile at the hope and optimism in his tone. I'm already having this thing between us end while Damon is seeing everything that we could be. We somehow survived getting away from Klaus, getting shot, and being on the run? How could we not survive taking a chance on something good?

"Okay," I say, awkwardly. "Say I'm on board with this…Where would we start?"

"Well," Damon teases, "as much as I want to pick up where we left off before Ric the Dick interrupted us what do you say we get to this new base, get settled and get me healed and then we go out on a proper date?"

"With all of this going on you want to go out on a date?" I balk.

"Why not? Just because you're a mafia boss doesn't mean you don't deserve the works. We'll just wait for things to settle down first." He smirks. "Deal?"

"Who could say no to that? Deal." I smile. Then I get close to his face and drop my voice, sweet and sultry in a way I know will drive him wild. "I'd say let's kiss on it but…"

I jump up and ruffle his hair and walk backwards towards the kitchen.

Damon barks out a laugh and cringes in pain. "Touché, Mistress Salvatore."

With a wink, I turn back around and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. Just because he wants to wait until he's all healed doesn't mean I can't have a little fun torturing him. And I plan on having fun.