A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites. If I missed responding to any reviews I apologize. I do my best to respond to them all but occasionally miss some. This is another split point of view chapter. First up Elena then we finish with Damon. Happy reading!

Chapter 13

Elena's POV

The door slams shut behind Damon, the sound echoing around the room. I'm practically hyperventilating at what I just witnessed. I can't even process the angry welts that crisscross Damon's beautiful skin. Someone hurt Damon. All the awful things I've said and done to him since his return came flooding back. His modeling career, I threw it in his face that he screwed it up. Seeing his back, he obviously had to give it up. I was so entrenched in my own pain that I was a complete and total bitch to him. Ignoring the pain and sorrow dulling his eyes from their usual brilliance.

"Do you know what you're doing?" My head snaps to the side to see Alaric still standing next to me, stone faced. I forgot he was still here until he spoke. My voice seems to have left me and I can only shake my head, no.

Alaric's head drifts back to the door. "By his own admission, Damon is a dick. From watching the reactions of this town, I can tell that fact is not lost on anyone. But it took knowing him all of five minutes to see the pain in his eyes and the weight on his soul. To know that buried beneath the sarcastic wit and fuck the world attitude is ...well you've known him a lot longer than me. So you should know what is underneath the bluff and bluster." Each of Alaric's soft words hit like a blow to the body. This man who has only known Damon a few short years saw what Stefan and I, who've known him his whole life, missed.

All Damon's life, he's been seen as less. He's blunt and lacks any kind of a filter which most people can't seem to handle. He's the guy that when he walks into the room, everyone cringes waiting for the drama to unfold, but like a car accident no one tears their eyes away. This town is all about image and Damon just gives the middle finger to it all. His father hates him, the town scorns him, and girls use him either to get to Stefan or for his money. All he's ever secretly wanted was for someone to fight through his defenses, grab him, hold on and never let go. What did I do...I let go.

"You didn't grow up with him. Damon does what he wants, when he wants, consequences be damned. How would you have reacted?" Stefan challenges.

"I would have been pissed when he first came back, but I would have listened. Then I would either beat the shit out of him or welcomed him home depending on what he had to say," Alaric replies honestly.

The haunted look in Damon's eyes and his parting words replay like a loop in my mind. I may not have struck the blows that scarred him, but I know in my heart he suffered because of me. "He kept his promises," I whisper. Stefan reaches out and touches my arm, but I jump back as if scorched.

"He kept his promises," I say louder, almost hysterical. Deep down I knew the way he left was out of character. I was so lost and entrenched in my own depression it was easier to believe it. I needed an outlet for my emotions and making Damon the bad guy allowed me to hate him. Hating him was easier than missing him or grieving my father.

Bile bubbled up in my throat and I take off running up the stairs. I barely made it to the bathroom before the dry heaves start. My hair is gently pulled away from my face and there is a heat at my back as I lose what little food is in my stomach.

"You need to calm down Elena," Stefan says gently. "We've all suffered the last four years. You and I went through our version of agaony while he was he gone too. We can't take on Damon's pain as well."

I quickly rise to my feet and step towards the sink shrugging Stefan away from me. "Did you see your brother, Stefan? Those weren't paper cuts." Letting the water run, I splash some cold water on my face and rinse out my mouth. "He kept his promises, Stefan. Promises that he made to the two of us, which means whatever happened to him was for us."

"I'm sorry that happened to him, but we can't change it," Stefan says softly shoving his hands in his pockets as he studies his boots.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" I screech at him. "You're brother suffered something horrific and we have been equally horrific to him since he came back."

I can see his internal struggle in his body language. Tight, exasperated and ready to bolt. It's pissing me off. Stefan always wants to do the right thing, be seen as the good guy, but he doesn't like mess. He selfishly selfless. He is more than willing to wade in and help, but on his terms and with no blow back that may tarnish his image. Fixing this with Damon will be messy. It will be gut-wrenching, loud and things will get said that will hurt both sides. And there is no guarantee Damon will forgive us for how we've treated him. This is not a scenario where Stefan does well.

"We have to make this right, Stefan," I tell him gently.

Deep down I know how to fix things with Damon, give him what he deserves. He gave me the chance in the kitchen to mend the years of heartache both us have suffered before things got out of hand. I didn't take that chance and only dug myself deeper into my emotional morass. Life has broken my heart too often and Damon has the capacity to shatter it to the point where it would be unrepairable if things go wrong between us. That scared me into pulling further into my fortress of solitude continuing to fight any and all feelings related to Damon Salvatore. Letting my walls down means putting the futures of a lot of people at risk, because it means leaving Mason. Leaving Mason means Mason's promised retribution. Is taking a leap of faith with Damon worth risking so much for so many. I feel like am balancing everyone's future happiness in the palm of my hand and I could crush them all any second.

Damon's POV

Two items land on the bed while I'm throwing extra clips for my gun on top of my clothes in the open duffel on the bed. The first is Jeremy's sketch book/journal. Alaric must have picked it up during our tête-à-tête with Elena and Stefan. The second item is a folder. Alaric stands arms crossed over his chest. His chin dips towards the folder as if to say 'read it'. Zipping up my bag, I pick up the folder and scan it.

"Pulled a print from the laptop, scanned it and sent it over to Slater. Turns out Elena's supposed stalker is in the biz. Name's Connor Jordan. His office is in Richmond and he's been a PI a long time. I dug up information on his vehicles and the real estate he owns. If he's gone to ground, he's going to be hard to find." Alaric's tone is tense. I was hoping the trailer and its owner was a run of the mill stalker. Of course, that would be too easy in this stupid fucking case. He has to be a PI which eliminates any advantage I may have had over him. Guess we just have to play the game of who is the better PI.

Running over my mental checklist to make sure I have everything I need, I grab my bag and jog down the stairs. Looking to the living room, I see Alaric has made it our temporary command center. Multiple laptops, files and coffee cups are scattered around the coffee table and couch. He will be grumpy that he is stuck on computer duty and I get to be in the field. Being chained to a desk does not suit Alaric's personality, but time is of the essence so we need to split duties. Seeing as I'm in more need of hitting someone, I get to go into the field.

"Damon, about earlier. Do you want to talk about it?" Alaric asks gently.

"Talk about how the only man that ever acted like a father tortured me to make sure I stayed away from his daughter? Or how my oh-so-friendly torturers threatened to do unspeakable things to Stefan and Elena finally convincing me to leave town for good? Or how my brother and the only woman I have ever loved look at me like the devil incarnate? Nope, nothing to talk about," I reply sarcastically. There is so much shit I need to work through, but I won't. All of it gets locked down, maybe I'll ponder it when I've been drunk for about a month straight.

Alaric sighs behind me. "They were wrong, but give them a chance to show you they were wrong and are sorry." Fucking Alaric and his fatherly advice.

"Adopt some kids, Alaric. Maybe then your dad lectures won't go to waste," I tell him with a sarcastic smile. I know he means well so for once I won't bite his head off. He's the only one who gives a shit, best not piss him off too much.

"Biggest dick ever!" Alaric calls out as I open the door.

"Why, yes it is." I quip back before closing the door behind me.

Bag slung over my shoulder I jog down the driveway towards my Camaro. I stop short at the site sitting on the hood of my car.

"Now is really not the time, Elena." My voice is tight but I'm fighting to keep my face devoid of emotion. It's hard as she sits there elbows to her knees, eyes puffy and red, cheeks wet from crying. Normally I would do anything to stop the tears, but I can't. Not right now. I'm too raw and about to go in the field where I need to be sharp. Elena, Stefan and all our drama have to be a memory so I don't get my ass shot off.

"I'm so sorry, Damon. Talk to me, please." I want to cave at her pleading tone. Take her in my arms and tell her everything is fine, but what then? She still hasn't admitted anything to me. She still stomped all over my feelings and only guilt and pity have her here because Elena has too big a heart to live with the fact she hurt someone.

"You here for the pity party?" I throw out. I refuse to be her charity case that she has to fix out of pity and shame.

"This isn't about pity," she fires back.

"Are you marrying Mason?" Here's the test. Did she hear anything I said to her, will she put down her shields and admit for the first time in her life there is something more between us?

"He's threatened all of you. He'll ruin Caroline and Stefan's career and have you and Alaric thrown in jail." She admits pushing herself off the car and standing before me.

I bypass her and open the driver side door to the Camaro and toss my duffel in the back seat. Facing her, the V of the open door between us, a humorless chuckle escapes me. "For someone that has resented being controlled their entire life, you certainly like to play puppet master," I tell her, my tone sardonic. She recoils at my words. "We are all big boys and girls that big boy and girl panties, Elena."

"I'm not trying to control, I'm trying to protect!" she exclaims.

I can't help but roll my eyes. "Let me guess, Mason is threatening either Caroline's reputation or her loan for the party planning business." Elena gasps at the latter indicating it's the loan that is under assault. Doesn't take a PI to figure this stuff out. Caroline is loud and this town has no secrets.

"So it's the loan. Caroline's mom is the fucking Sheriff. All she needs to do is threaten the bank president with shutting down his son's little personal pot farm if they deny her the loan. Problem solved. As for dear little brother. Looks like he has a new sober sponsor and has only been high once since I got back." Probably doesn't need to be mentioned that his new lifeline is none other than Caroline. "If Mason wants to play dirty with the past, trust me, Stefan's got the goods to play dirty right back. As for me, I'm a PI. You don't think I can dig up enough dirt on Mason Lockwood that would make him scared to even jaywalk in front of me?" Elena just stares at me, eyes wide in shock at my words. For once in her life she needs to have some faith in those around her that we are not incapable imbeciles. Life is messy and we all stumble along the way. She just needs to be there to offer a helping hand to get us back on our feet instead of clearing every obstacle from our path.

Folding into the car, Elena moves to the open driver's side window. Pulling my gun out of the waist band of my jeans I lean over to place it in the glove compartment. "Where are you going?" Elena asks her voice wavering slightly. The gun must have thrown her for a loop.

"Lead on Jeremy. I'm here to do a job remember? Then we can all go back to our lives." Probably a childish move to throw her own words back at her, but what the hell. I am a child half the time.

"And you need a gun to track down this lead?" She is now squatting down at the window hands gripping the door.

Sitting in the driver's seat ignoring her question, I keep my gaze out the windshield and not on Elena. "Tell me one thing. After you gave me your virginity, did you really think we would just walk away and go on like two ships passing in the night?" I really don't have the time and mental stamina to do this anymore, but I'll indulge my curiosity with this one question.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her hands fall away from the door and start playing with hem of her sweater. "Yes," she whispers. "But, Damon…"

The derisive snort that I wanted to keep in check escapes interrupting her. "So that tells me one of two things. Either you think I'm an asshole that could have a one night stand with you of all people. Or, knowing how I feel about you, you did it anyways not giving a shit about how much it would hurt to have you walk away." Either option sucks, as it doesn't scream that she has warm, fuzzy feelings for me.

When she first hopped off my car there was a determination in the way she held herself. It's long gone replaced by fear. She was always fearless in the face of anything accept her own feelings. "I can't bear that I hurt you. Please tell me how to fix this." Elena pleads.

I want to scream at her, 'admit you feel something for me' or better yet, 'fight for me, prove you care for me not out of pity.' But I don't. I've revealed way too much already, tore open wounds long scarred over so they are now raw and freshly bleeding. My pride and ego can't take another hit. Her eyes are confused, she is biting her lip like she is on the verge of admitting something, but can't quite let it out. "Sorry Elena. This time I won't make it easy for you. If you want to fix things, you'll have to figure out how for yourself."

Throwing the Camaro in reverse I pull away from Elena who is left standing in my driveway, mouth agape. From the look on her face, she had more to say, but I refuse to wait any more. Pounding my hand against the steering wheel, I pray we wrap up this case soon as I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Sitting at a bar a couple of hours outside of Mystic Falls, I shove my phone back in my pocket. I'm ignoring another of the gazillion texts and voice mails that Elena has sent me since I left Mystic Falls. It's been almost three days since this hunting expedition started. My Camaro has become well acquainted with both Virginia and Georgia trying to track down the man that hopefully has some answers on why there was a trailer full of pictures of Elena in the middle of the woods. PI Connor Jordan has proven to be elusive, but last night he screwed up. Noticed a tail as I stopped at some no-tell motel in the middle of nowhere. Since then I've led him back in the direction of Mystic Falls.

That leads me to this smoky bar playing really bad country music and serving watered down drinks. I've been on this stool for hours hoping he would show up. Just as I'm about to call it a night Connor walks in. Tall, bald, mocha colored skin, tattoos visible all the way down his arm. He's heading right for me while trying to look like he isn't heading right for me. He's trying to be badass. I'll show him who's really badass. This should be fun.

As he saunters up to bar he gives me the manly chin lift before turning toward the bartender. I can see the two exchange a look. Interesting.

"Shot of whiskey. And one for Mr. Broken Heart over there," Connor says pointing a thumb at me.

He turns, leaning on an elbow on the bar. "You look like a man that could use a drink. The name is Connor." He flashes me a sly grin extending his hand.

So this the game. Befriend me, buy me a couple of drinks, and then take me out. Where is the fun in that? Reaching into the back pocket of my jeans, I pull out my wallet and toss a fifty dollar bill on the bar.

"My mom told me never to talk to the strangers." With that I brush past him heading to the back of the bar. I head to the bathroom, push the door open without actually going in, but veer off to the back door. Opening it just a crack, I slip outside. Once I hear him enter the bathroom and swear loudly, I circle the building so I can see my car but I'm still hidden in the shadows. It doesn't take long for Connor to race across the gravel parking lot coming to a halt next to the Camaro. He scans the area slowly and I see his shoulders slump in defeat. His back is to me and I'm guessing he is contemplating his next move. Reaching into my leather jacket I pull out and switch on my stun gun. Taking slow measured steps allows me to move behind him undetected. Placing the stun gun at his neck, Connor's body seizes before dropping like a stone still twitching.

"You weren't any fun to capture at all. You could have least put up a bit of a fight," I complain as I shove his body into the trunk of the car. I zip tie his hands behind his back, tie his feet and gag him before slamming the trunk closed. Feeling highly unsatisfied at the boring ending to the three days of bad booze, cheap motels, reading Jeremy's boring journal and no sleep, I head back to Mystic Falls.

An hour later I arrive at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town that Alaric texted me to use for our little 'discussion' with Connor. When I open the trunk, he is squirming and kicking to get free. Tossing him over my shoulder in a fire man's hold I plunk him down in a chair Alaric already has waiting for me.

Pulling out the gag, I flash him a smirk. "I assume we need no introductions."

"Do you know who I am?" He shouts at us.

"Yep," I tell him popping the p sound. "The guy that is about to explain where the hell Jeremy Gilbert is and why you have basically been stalking his sister for two years or be prepared to be breathing through a tube for the rest of your life."

"Damon," Alaric hisses at me in warning.

"Jeremy Gilbert? I have no clue where the fuck that kid is." Connor slowly sweeps his gaze from Alaric to me.

"Why are you looking for him?" He pointedly asks. There is something weird in his expression when he stares at me that is missing from his gaze when he looks at Alaric.

"Doesn't matter. You're telling me you've been watching the house, watching the girl and you have no idea what happened to him?" Alaric asks stepping closer studying Connor's face.

"That is exactly what I'm saying." Connor's head snaps back as my fist collides with his face. How in the hell could he have disappeared right from under his nose.

"Fuck! What game are you playing?" He hollers. "I don't know here he is and you know it wasn't my job to keep tabs on him."

I turn to Alaric not understanding Connor's last statement. I can see Alaric is confused as well, but trying not to show it. "What was your job?" Alaric asks his tone like ice.

Connor just stares at him in confusion. He looks between us for a moment before settling on me, his face morphing into a smirk. Moving directly in front of Connor his smirk never wavers. Raising my booted foot I rest the heel on the edge off the chair and slowly start to lower it. My foot makes contact with his crotch and he winces. Exerting more and more pressure, sweat breaks out on his forehead as his nuts are slowly crushed.

"Care to answer now," I ask the smirk having left his face and now plastered on mine.

Through panting breaths he begs me to stop but I keep on going until my foot is almost flat on the chair.

"Elena Gilbert," he screams. I immediately lift my foot but don't remove it. He pushes himself back against the chair as far as he can go. "My job was to watch Elena Gilbert and report back anyone she spoke to or had contact with," he tells us still panting.

"Why?" I demand.

"That was the job. Just watch and report." His breaths are still coming out in pants.

"Who do you work for?" I ask. This is the million dollar question.

His eyes sweep me up and down then briefly move over my shoulder to where Alaric is standing. "I don't know." He says slowly now looking me dead in the eye. There is an arrogance in his eyes that is bothering me, some angle he is playing that he has yet to reveal.

I glance briefly at Alaric, then without even thinking my hand seizes his neck and starts to squeeze. "Answer the fucking question," I growl my fingers digging into the flesh around his windpipe.

"I. Don't. Know." He rasps slowly. The air of smugness is gone replaced by the tang of fear emanating from him.

I squeeze harder and he is thrashing beneath me to get lose. So lost in inflicting punishment, Alaric has to pull me off. Connor is sucking back as much oxygen as his lungs will hold, wheezing as the finger shaped bruises already begin to form on his neck.

"Hurt me all you want. Won't change my answer. I-I have no idea who hired me. All the correspondence was done via text which traces to various burner phones here in town. I get paid on time and well and it's a way easy gig. The girl is boring as shit. Goes to school, volunteers for every town event imaginable, grocery shops for the elderly neighbors and works on Lockwood's campaign." Connor answers, his voice horse and his body now quaking in fear and refusing to look me in the eye. He's lying, but which part of his story is false I can't tell.

"How is Mason Lockwood involved? Saw you emailed some of the footage to him." Alaric told me that Slater managed to break into the laptop earlier in the day. Alaric only had time to go through Connor's recent emails but found some to Mason.

"I would think you would know all of this already being the crack PIs you are," Connor growled. I took a step closer and he recoils before he starts talking again. "My employer suggested I approach Lockwood and convince him he should be keeping an eye on his fiancé. I did as suggested and Lockwood hired me. For the past six months I've been getting paid twice for the same job. Sweet deal." Connor shifts in his chair waiting, I imagine, for the next blow.

We continued questioning him for over an hour. From what I can tell this part of his story is truthful. He knew all about Elena's plans for Colorado, Jeremy's secret account. All of which was reported out months ago. So none of it should have led to Jeremy's disappearance. If we can believe Connor, whatever happened to Jeremy even he missed it.

"What's in your kill file on Lockwood?" If he can't help us track down Jeremy, maybe he has the goods on Lockwood to get Elena out of this marriage.

Every good PI keeps a kill file on high profile clients. A file of dirty secrets in case the client ever tries to turn the tables and make us the fall guy for some nefarious dealings they have going on. Those files have saved both mine and Alaric's hides a time or two when a client was caught doing something illegal and tried to blame us for setting them up. Connor has been in the business a long time and with a client like Mason Lockwood, there is no way he wouldn't take steps to ensure his security and protect himself.

"Trying to save your girl?" Connor taunts.

"I highly recommend keeping your mouth closed and not poking the angry bear. I won't be held responsible for his actions," Alaric says angrily. This guy is even trying Alaric's saint-like patience.

"It's on my computer which you seem to have already hacked. Let's just say it makes for interesting bedtime reading material." Connor chuckles darkly. Gross, I can guess what's in that file now.

The feeling of relief that the last three days weren't a total waste lets the exhaustion creep in that I have been keeping at bay. Alaric senses it and offers to take care of our best friend. I have no problem letting Alaric take the dick back to his trailer where I'm sure he'll continue to probe for more information. Alaric has to also sense there is more to his story. Connor is definitely hiding something. Let Ricky have at him for a while so I can go back to Boarding House and attempt to sleep. I climb into my Camaro heading for my bed, praying that for one night t I will be nightmare free.

A/N: Sorry no official Delena yet. After the way Elena treated him she has to work for it a bit. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.