MYSTIC FALLS 9 JULY 2016

Dear Diary,

I can't believe it.

My world has been turned upside down.

Firstly, Stefan was dead. My fiancé was dead.

Secondly, Damon came back to town. The man I have been hoping to see again in the last ten years is now living under the same roof as me.

Thirdly, Damon and I kissed. Not once but twice. And we slept together.

Fourthly, Stefan was involved in some illegal activities with a mob boss.

What is going on? Why is my world so crazy?

Stefan had somehow been involved in some illegal activities for more than a year. Stefan was supplying drugs to a drug dealer. Stefan took a lot of money from a drug dealer and hid it somewhere.

This sounds so crazy.

Stefan was the golden boy since high school. The Stefan I knew was kind, compassionate, noble and honourable. He came into my life at a time when I needed someone, he was there when Damon was nowhere to be found.

Speaking of Damon…

I have never gotten over him. I probably never would. He had haunted me for the last ten years. He got under my skin like a sliver of wood that's always a little bit raw and irritated, never working its way out again.

I'm such a horrible person, aren't I? Stefan died less than two weeks ago and I was already in bed with Damon. I was supposed to be grieving for Stefan. But I didn't.

I'm starting to hate myself. I really do.

He couldn't sleep again.

He got up and went into the living room to contemplate the view from the windows.

It hurt.

When Stefan and I were together he used to let me make my own decisions. He trusted me. That's what I liked about Stefan.

Did she think that he never trusted her? Did she think that he would never let her make her own decisions?

He was trying to keep her safe. Didn't she understand?

He still hadn't recovered from his gut-twisting reaction to her suggestion that she set herself up as a target. His palms got sweaty just remembering it. He had lost his brother to a cold-blooded killer. No way he was going to lose Elena.

A chill blew down his spine with icy breath. What would Marko do to the fiancée of someone who had betrayed him? Especially if he thought she had something that belonged to him? Damon didn't even want to think about it.

He heard her footsteps on the stairs, but he did not turn around until she spoke.

"Damon? What are you doing up so late?"

He did turn then, and saw her at the stairs, a wraithlike figure silhouetted by the soft glow of a night-light.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to wake you. Couldn't sleep."

"You didn't wake me. I couldn't sleep either."

"Is your head still sore?" he asked. "Do you want more pain killers?"

Elena shook her head. "I'm okay."

"It's late now. You should go back to bed."

"Are you thinking about where Stefan would have hidden the money?"

"Don't get involved in this, Elena," he said quietly. "Don't."

She moved to stand in front of him. "No. Stefan was my fiancé. I need to know," she said. "My curiosity got the better of me."

Damon looked at her for a long time. "We have information provided by the undercover agents proving that the supply of drugs came from Mystic Falls Hospital." He paused for a brief moment before continuing. "Stefan and Luke were the suspects."

She caught her breath. "How long do you think they were involved with Marko?"

He shrugged. "More than a year. Could be longer. The DEA has been tracking Marko's operation for at least a year."

"I have heard there are many cases of doctors illegally selling prescription drugs to dealers and addicts," she whispered.

Damon nodded. "Stefan was the head of Emergency Department of Mystic Falls Hospital. Luke was his assistant. They could easily get their hands on the drugs."

"If Stefan and Luke had been supplying the drugs to Marko, then why did he kill them?"

"Our sources tell us they took the money but didn't give the drugs to Marko."

"How much money was involved?"

"Two million."

"Good God!"

"Stefan and Luke were dumb enough to think they could steal from Marko and get away with it," Damon went on. "A stupid and silly mistake."

"It was Marko who broke into the house the other night?" she asked. "He wanted to look for the money."

"Yes," he answered. "But they didn't find it. That's why he still thinks you have the money."

A chill went down her spine. "I don't know anything about the money."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Because I know you."

Elena exhaled deeply. "I still can't believe Stefan would do something like this. I thought I know him."

"Think so?"

"What are you trying to say?" she questioned resentfully.

"People change."

"But this is Stefan we are talking about. I don't believe he would change."

He shrugged again. "Maybe sometimes people did not actually change. Maybe you just never knew who they really were."

Elena tried to digest the information, her overwhelmed brain struggling to acknowledge the fact that Stefan was involved with a drug dealer. But the notion was so surreal that she wasn't sure how to react.

"Is it true, Damon?" she asked Damon in a tremulous voice. "Is it true?"

Damon looked at her. "I don't want to believe it either, Elena." His voice was raw. "But this is the truth."

There was a long silence. The night settled more heavily around them.

"Do you have any idea where did Stefan hide the money?" she asked, breaking the silence inside the house.

Damon shook his head. "DEA had combed through every inch of the house and can't find the money. We have checked Stefan's bank account as well but nothing comes up. He must have hidden it somewhere."

"I didn't notice anything different with Stefan's finances recently." Her mouth twisted in a humourless smile. "But I guess I missed all the clues with Stefan and Luke. I was a fool."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Elena."

She looked at him and said nothing.

"Let me help you, Damon," she said after a while.

"No," he stated flatly. "It's too dangerous."

"It's the only way to hunt down Marko."

He frowned. "You were nearly killed the other night. I'm not taking another chance."

"But you saved me."

"That's not how I remember it."

"That's exactly how I remember it," she said. "I know you will keep me safe."

He ached to reach out a hand out and pull her into his arms. To fight it, he clenched his fingers tightly. "Elena…"

She put one hand on his arm. "Damon, I know you want to nail Marko. So do I. Let me help you. Please."

His eyes went hard and flat, as though he didn't want her to glimpse the emotion behind them.

"I have to speak to the DEA first," he said curtly.

She nodded, amazed at how her world had taken on such a sinister tint.

"But you have to follow my instruction," he warned. "You are not allowed to do things on your own."

"I will do whatever the DEA wants me to do. I won't interfere, if that's what is worrying you."

He cut her a sideway glance as he turned around. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"If you and I hadn't met ten years ago, you would still fall for Stefan, right?"

"Damon…"

The ache in his gut intensified. "Don't bother to answer. I understand. Good night, Elena."

With that, he walked to the stairs and headed back to his bedroom. The agony filling in his heart and soul was so strong. It was like a hot, heavy ache inside him, worse than a hundred knife wounds.

x x x

MYSTIC FALLS 27 APRIL 2006

Dear Diary,

I feel awful this whole week. And I have to share it with someone.

Something is going wrong with Damon and me. I don't know what to do.

He hasn't called or texted for the whole week. What is going on?

I can't bear the thought of losing him. I'm falling in love with him.

No, not falling. I'm already in love with him. I'm well on my way, have tumbled much too far down to claw my way back up to safer ground.

I had sent him a few text messages in the last few days but there was no reply. What's Damon doing? Where is he?

This sounds completely crazy. I know his career is important. It is his job to hunt the bad guys. But is hunting the bad guys more important than me?

Maybe I should call him. But I don't want to sound desperate and needy.

I didn't know how I got through the past few days.

I miss Damon, I miss him, I miss him like crazy.

Elena was seriously having a bad day.

She hefted her backpack to make it sit more solidly on her shoulder. She was late to her biology class.

For the last week she hadn't really been herself. She hadn't been able to think clearly or concentrate on anything but Damon. She had forgotten to hand in her assay this morning. Mr Tanner wasn't pleased. Stefan, who was in front of her, looked as tense as if he was going to leap out of his chair any minute. Matt gave her a "are you okay" looks and Caroline looked very concerned. Elena didn't know how to explain except to say she was sorry.

Exhaustion tugged at Elena's body and her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten properly this whole week. Her appetite was gone. Food tasted like cardboard.

She stopped abruptly as the hall started to tilt and her vision blurred. Oh, damn. Her hand reached out to grip the wall to steady herself as her brain whirled and her body trembled. Dizziness made it impossible to function, to advance any further. Damn it. She should have taken the time to eat.

"Elena!" She heard the low, no-nonsense baritone filter through to her foggy brain. It was Stefan. She recognised his voice.

Shaking her head, trying to clear her vision, Elena willed herself not to pass out on the hall as her body swayed precariously, preparing itself for the fall.

"Christ, you look like hell!" Stefan's voice, impatient and husky, broke through her hazy mind, and she felt a pair of solid, muscular arms come around her as she was lifted against a solid, rock-hard chest.

Warm…so warm. Instinctively, she snuggled into the heat of the sturdy, heat-producing form, trying to use the body heat to unlock her chilled muscles.

She rested her spinning head against his broad and solid shoulder. She wanted to tell him she was okay but she didn't have the strength.

Moments later, she was gently lowered to a comfortable bed and covered in a warm comforter that eased the chill from her body. Her shoes were removed roughly and dropped to the floor. She opened her eyes and tried to focus. Struggling to sit up, she found herself pushed back down onto the pillows by strong hands on her shoulders. "Don't move. Not one inch."

"I'm fine. I was just a little dizziness," she argued as she tried to sit up again.

"You are not fine," Stefan barked. "The doctor is here to see you."

"Doctor?" Alarmed, Elena focused on another man who lurked behind Stefan. "I don't need a doctor."

"Too late. He is here. And you are being checked."

"I can refuse," she answered hesitantly, her gaze finally meeting the green eyes of Stefan.

"You won't," he told her in a warning voice.

"Young lady, I heard you have been sick. I'm Dr Simms. Let me take a quick look at you." A kind, middle-aged face approached her. Elena let out a relieved breath and gave the jovial doctor a small smile.

"I'm fine. It has been a long day. Just a little fatigue," she assured the physician, wanting to run away from this humbling situation as soon as possible.

Stefan stood behind the doctor, his arms crossed and his expression concerned.

Elena let the doctor do his exam. Dr Simms was kind and efficient with a bedside manner that had her smiling as he chatted absently during his evaluation. He gave her commands and asked the standard questions. She answered his questions as briefly as possible, wanting to get the exam finished and get out of there.

Dr Simms stood with a congenial smile as he completed his exam. "You need rest and food. It doesn't sound like you sleep or eat properly." The doctor's smile broadened. "Typical of us medical folks. It may have been a while ago, but I still remember medical school." After a pause, the doctor asked professionally. "Any chance you could be pregnant?"

Elena's eyes shot to Stefan's face, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Did Stefan really need to hearing all of this? His eyes locked with hers and his body seemed visibly tense as he waited for her answer.

"No. Absolutely no possibility," she answered with a timidity that was usually not part of her personality. There wasn't a chance in hell that she was pregnant. She and Damon had kissed but she had not slept with him.

The doctor breezed over the subject, instructing her to rest and eat properly.

Elena thanked him and gave him a tremulous smile before he left the room.

"Where am I?" she asked as she glanced around the room.

"This is the sickbay near the gym," Stefan answered. "Caroline is in the class but I will let her know you are okay."

"I want to get back to class," she said. She sat up quickly, too quickly, and the room rotated for a minute before her head cleared. God, she was as weak as a kitten from lack of rest and lack of food.

"You are sick and you are going home," Stefan told her sternly as his dark eyes swept over her and he grimaced. "I'm going to drive you home."

"I don't want to miss any class," she argued.

"You are going home now. I already called Aunt Jenna and she is expecting you." His expression was disapproving as he helped her out of bed. "You are taking tomorrow off as well. The principal is aware that you are sick."

"But…"

"Don't argue! This discussion is over. I'm going to take you home. Aunt Jenna will make you something to eat and you will eat it. Then you will go to sleep." Stefan maintained his hold on her as he drew her up. He balanced her body against his as he picked up her backpack, then swept her into his arms and carried her out of the building.

When he had settled her into his car, Stefan climbed into his seat and started the car. She sighed and leaned back against the seat. She was so tired and so damned weak right now. All she really wanted to do was bury herself in her comfortable bed and sleep until she wasn't tired anymore. How she had hoped it was Damon next to her right now. She missed him.

He drove without undue speed, and, when they reached Elena's yard, he cut the motor and got out of the car without speaking. He didn't allow her any time to protest but carried her into the house.

Aunt Jenna looked anxious and worried but Stefan reassured her that Elena would be fine after she had some rest.

He deposited her on the twin-size bed that she slept on.

"What can I do to help?" he asked. "And don't give me that crap about not needing my help."

She looked up at him and gave him a fleeting smile. "Thank you, Stefan. You have already done a lot."

"You scared the hell out of me," he whispered. He grasped her hand in his and stared deeply into her eyes as his thumb traced a hypnotizing circle in her palm. The combination of his caress and his penetrating stare made Elena uncomfortably warm and she forced herself to pull her hand from his. He released it immediately.

"Why don't I get you something to drink?" He went out and shut the door behind him.

Elena sighed and leaned back against the pillow. Where were you, Damon? She thought. Do you know how much I miss you?

She looked up as she heard the clink of glass-on-glass and saw Stefan coming into the room with a tray in his hands.

"I don't know what you like," he grumbled as he put the tray on the bedside table and handed her the mug. He sounded cantankerous over the fact that there was something he didn't know. "Tea. Drink. I thought you might like some tea and toast. If you want an omelette or anything else, I will ask Aunt Jenna to fix it for you. I didn't think you would want a heavy meal."

"This is perfect," she said taking a sip of the scalding tea.

"Aunt Jenna said you like toast with butter."

"Yes, I do," she said accepting the plate that held a yummy looking toast, as he took away the mug.

"Is something wrong, Elena?"

Swallowing a bite of the delicious toast, Elena's eyes jerked up to his face in surprise. "No. Why did you say that?"

He shrugged and diverted his eyes. "You…you haven't been yourself lately."

"I'm…I'm okay," she stammered. She couldn't let Stefan know Damon was the reason she hadn't been herself lately. "I guess I'm worried about the end of semester exams."

"You are smart and hardworking, Elena. You have nothing to worry about," Stefan reassured her. "You will pass with flying colours."

"Thank you," she told him sincerely as she handed the plate back to him and he set it on the bedside table.

"You need to eat. And sleep." He touched the dark patches under her eyes softly with his index finger. "I have never been close enough to see how tired you look."

"I didn't eat much today," she murmured lightly, feeling warmed not only by the food, but by the concerned frown on Stefan's face. "I will feel well enough to go to school tomorrow."

He handed her the mug of tea. "Don't even think about it. Finish that and sleep."

Too tired to argue, Elena downed the tea and gave up the mug to his waiting hand. She would deal with everything later. Her eyes were drooping and exhaustion pressed on her body like weights. She needed to close her eyes.

Snuggling under the quilt, Elena sighed and rested her head on the pillow. For the first time in years, she felt comfortable and…safe. It felt good to know that Stefan cared. It felt good that Stefan was around. It was somehow…comforting.

With that strange thought rolling around in her mind, she slept.

x x x

MYSTIC FALLS 9 JULY 2016

Damon held his phone away from his ear and waited for the dust to settle from Alaric's explosion about renegade agents and botched investigation. Even with a good foot between the phone and his ear, Alaric 's aggravation rang out loud and clear in the morning air.

"You don't check in for days," Alaric barked," and then when you finally do, it's to tell me that Marko nearly kidnapped her. You should have informed the DEA earlier. Let's get Elena Gilbert into protective custody."

"I didn't inform you because I don't want Marko knows the DEA is involved," he said when Alaric paused to take a breath. "If Marko knows the DEA is involved it will be harder for us to hunt him down."

In the years, the DEA had become increasingly aware of Marko's organisation, but they could never find any evidence that would stick. Marko had an uncanny ability to slip through any trap the DEA set for him.

Not this time. Marko would definitely want to get his money back. Damon swore he would catch Marko and put him away for a long, long time.

"What's the progress, then? Have you figured out where she hid Stefan's money yet?"

"Elena didn't hide anything."

"How can you sound so convinced?"

"I can't explain it," he admitted. "She says she doesn't know where they are, and I believe her."

The line was quiet for a few moments. Just when Damon thought he had lost the connection, Alaric finally spoke. "I don't know Elena Gilbert but I do know you. You have always had better instincts than any agent I have ever known. If you think the woman is a pawn in this whole thing, I have to trust you."

"But Marko still believes she has the money."

"That's why we should get her into protective custody."

"She will not agree to it," he said gruffly. "Elena will not agree to it."

"Marko will not give up," Alaric said. "She will be in danger. But the DEA can protect her."

He knew it. It was exactly what he should do, leave her safety in someone else's hands and move on to the next job. But the idea left a sour taste in his mouth. "She is safe here at the moment. I will make sure she is safe. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"I can't say I'm happy about this, Damon," his friend saying, "but I suppose I will have to trust you know what you are doing. You have to hurry up."

"I know."

"We can't waste more time on this."

"I know."

Alaric cleared his throat. "Elena Gilbert is not bad to look at. I'm sure that's a fact that wouldn't have escaped the eye of a sharp DEA agent like yourself."

He felt a muscle in his jaw twitched. "It's business, Alaric. Strictly business."

Alaric snorted. "Right. If you say so."

"I do."

"Is she the one?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Is she the one you fell in love ten years ago?"

"Mind your own business, Alaric," he warned. "Stay away from my private life."

A whistle whispered from Alaric's mouth. "I see why your past relationships didn't last. She is hot."

"Just shut up. I will let you know if I find something."

"Fine."

When the conversation was over, Damon pressed the end button on the phone, shoved it back into his pocket and then swore, long and viciously.

He was running out of time. Marko would strike again and he couldn't let this happen again. He had to get to Marko first. But he didn't have the first idea where to go from here.

His mood didn't improve when he came downstairs and found Elena getting ready to go to work. "What in the hell do you think you are doing?"

Elena jerked up at the sound of the booming voice, her foot only halfway into her second shoe. "I need to get to work."

His expression was disapproving. "You can't. You are injured."

"I'm fine. It's only a minor injury. Besides, if we need to find out where Stefan had hidden the money, I need to get to work."

"You are injured and you are staying here," he told her sternly. "You are not going back to the hospital."

"If Stefan didn't keep the money at the house, I suspect he may have hidden it in the hospital."

"You are not listening, Elena…"

"No, Damon. You listen to me." Her voice was serious. Dead serious. "We need to find out where Stefan had hidden the money. We need to stop Marko. He might still be getting his supply of drugs from the hospital."

He looked at her. "You are serious about this, aren't you?"

"I know what I signed up for, Damon and I'm all in."

"This can be dangerous, Elena."

"I know but I'm still going to do it."

There was a long silence.

"Okay, fine," Damon said after a while. "But we need to have a plan."

"I agree."

"You and Stefan had been together for a long time. You knew him better than anyone. Do you have any idea where we can start looking for his secrets?"

"Maybe," Elena said. "All the doctors working in Mystic Falls have a locker."

"A locker?"

"Yes. Management has asked me to clear out Stefan's locker but I haven't got onto it yet."

"Maybe this is where he hid one of his most important secrets," Damon said.