Salvatore Boarding House
Stefan is locked up in a cell in the basement. He is hallucinating due to the lack of blood.
*Woods 1864*
In a flashback, the town is capturing vampires.
"We have to get to the church. They're waiting". A man said.
Stefan to Damon, "Circle around that way. I'll distract them. Go". He then turned to the group of men. "Over here! There's another one! Quick! Help me!"
"Arm yourselves". Jonathan said.
The men follow Stefan. Only one man is standing guard over the carriage containing the vampires. Damon hits him and knocks him out. Stefan returns. Damon grabs the keys out of the man's pocket and unlocks the carriage.
"We don't have long". Stefan said.
"Katherine. Katherine". Damon called.
Damon and Stefan lift Katherine out of the carriage. They untie her and take off the muzzle that covers her mouth.
"We're going to get you out of here. Damon, hurry. Hurry".
Damon is shot at. He dies. Stefan rushes over to him.
"No! No. Damon".
"Come on. Let's go". The men said.
"Uhh!" Stefan groaned.
Stefan runs and grabs a gun, but he is shot down too.
Salvatore Boarding House/Woods 1864
Stefan is drifting in and out between the present and past.
"Stefan. Stefan". Damon calls.
"Stefan". Elena calls out.
"Uncle Stefan. Uncle Stefan". Grace called out.
Katherine/Elena says, "I love you, Stefan".
Katherine is taken back into the carriage in the past. Damon leads Elena out in the present. She looks through the bars at him.
Salvatore Boarding House
Elena, Damon, and Grace are in the cellar. Elena and Grace are watching Stefan.
"It's so hard to see him locked up like this". Elena said.
"No kidding it's like he's a caged animal". Grace said.
"You're the one who locked him up". Damon said to Elena.
"You helped". Elena said.
"I couldn't have him running around chewing on people. While the town was looking for vampires, now, could I?"
"It had nothing to do with you actually caring about him?"
"Your thing, not mine. Besides the only person I care about is Gracie".
They all then went upstairs.
*Quarry 1864*
In another flashback, Stefan awakes with a start. He opens his shirt and sees the bullet wound is gone. He also sees a ring on his hand and examines it. Emily is there.
"Katherine had me make that for you weeks ago". Emily said.
"Where am I?" Stefan asked.
"The quarry just north of town. My brother and I brought you here last night. We found you dead in the woods".
"Where's Damon? Am I...am I a...?"
"Not yet. You're in transition".
"But how? I..."
"You had Katherine's blood in your system when you died".
"No. I never..."
"She's been compelling you to drink it for weeks, Stefan".
"And Damon?"
"No compulsion was necessary. He drank from her willingly".
Stefan joins Damon by the river.
"I woke up last night. I didn't know where I was. I went to the church. And I watched them drag her inside. Then they set fire to it. And the whole church went up into flames. They killed her, Stefan. She's gone". Damon cried.
*Back to reality*
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon looks at the object which Pearl gave him, Elena enters the living room. Grace then skipped down the steps with her backpack.
"Did you ever figure out what that is?" Elena asked.
"Nope. Whatever it is, it doesn't work". Damon replied.
"Pearl didn't say anything else about it?"
"She thought she was stealing his vampire compass, but that was a pocket watch. That Johnathan Gilbert was a crazy scientist. Have you spoken to your uncle lately?"
"I've been avoiding him, actually. That, and I've been here most nights".
"So, you'll be here again tonight?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Yes". Grace said.
"Yes. You're a complete nuisance". Damon said.
"Heh. See you later". Elena said leaving.
Once Elena let Damon had put the device down and noticed something was wrong with his young niece. "What's wrong sweetheart?"
"I don't like seeing Uncle Stefan caged up like he's some kind of animal".
"Gracie I know it's hard to see him like that but this was the only way to help him".
"He wouldn't be there if it weren't for Elena".
"Grace you can't keep blaming Elena for it, she thought she was helping him".
"And look at where is he Uncle Damon".
"We don't have time for this get your stuff so we can go or we'll be late".
"I'm not going".
Damon has raised an eyebrow at his niece. "What do you mean you're not going?"
"I'm not going to school I don't want too, I'm gonna stay here with Uncle Stefan".
"Grace this is not up for discussion your going to school I let you miss one day and in my book one day is enough".
"I'm staying here".
"Look I may not have a lot of rules but one of them is you have to go to school it's the law".
"You could home school me, Lexi did it".
"Well I'm not Lexi and she's not here".
Damon didn't know where this change in Grace was coming from, he could handle many many things but fighting with a ten year old was something new.
"Please Uncle Damon I wanna make sure that Uncle Stefan is looked after".
"And he will be I'll be here and Elena is coming back, he'll be looked after sweetheart".
"Fine I'll go".
"I knew you would now let's go".
The two then leave the house and begin walking to the elementary school, as they were walking a woman was watching them from afar she had set her eyes on Grace.
"I will see you soon Gracie, soon". She whispered.
Damon kept a firm hold of Grace's hand as he looked around for any kind of threat. "Are you alright Uncle Damon?" Grace asked breaking him from his thoughts.
"Yeah I'm fine sweetheart". He kept glancing around, it was as if he felt another presence. They had finally arrived to the school and the whole time Damon hadn't let his guard down.
"Alright sweetheart go on and I'll see you after school".
"Ok, I love you Uncle Dean".
"Love you too sweetie". He kissed her head and watched as she skipped into the building. Once Grace had left his sight he began scanning the area searching for the presence but it was already gone. 'Whatever it was it's gone' Damon thought to himself. He then headed back home and the whole time the woman was watching him.
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon brings a bottle of blood for Stefan.
"Brought you something to eat...100% Stefan diet approved. You know what will happen if you don't eat. You'll get all rotting and crusty". Damon said.
"I'm not hungry". Stefan said.
"Of course you are. We're eternally hungry. Take it. The human blood should be gone by now. You want to explain why you're still in here. Feeling sorry for yourself? Come on. Drink up. Fine. Starve. What do I care? If you don't wanna do eat because of me fine I don't care but at least do it for Gracie. She can't lose you".
Damon enters the living room. His phone rings.
-Hello? Damon answered.
-Hey, it's Alaric Saltzman. Alaric answered.
-Before I hang up, how did you get this number?
-Ah, it's a mystery. Listen, I've, uh, been doing some digging on Elena's uncle. You interested?
-What kind of digging?
-I've got an old friend from Duke. Who studied criminology when we were there together. Let's just say he's become a very proficient digger.
-Well, did he find anything?
-Well, I had him run a track on John's cell records. He was getting a call from a number...The same number that Elena dialed to get Isobel. And then the number was disconnected.
-Isobel knows John. Whatever. We knew that.
-Right. Well, after that, he started getting calls from a new number. And I had my friend run a geotrack. Got the address. It's...It's an apartment in Grove Hill.
-Isobel's in Grove Hill?
-I don't know. I thought we could take a look and see what we find.
-Perfect. Give me the address.
-Oh, so you can go without me? No. I don't think so.
-I'm not going with you. You tried to kill me.
-Yeah, well, you did kill me.
-Hold on.
Damon is getting another call.
-What?
-I'm just grabbing some clothes, and then I'll be right over. How's Stefan? Elena asked.
-Extra broody. Hold on. He goes back to Alaric. -You drive. Pick me up in an hour.
-Done.
Damon hangs up. He goes back to talking to Elena on the phone.
-He won't eat anything. Damon informs Elena.
-He has to eat what's his favorite...Kind of, um...Elena trailed off.
-His favorite kind of what?
-Type of animal blood that he prefers?
-Ew. Gross.
-Heh. Your joking doesn't help.
-Helps me. Now, hurry up. I can't baby-sit all night. I have things to do. Oh I need you to baby sit Gracie later.
-I would say, "drop dead," but...
-Ha ha. Stefan likes...Puppy blood...Little golden retriever puppies with cute, floppy ears. That's his favorite.
Mystic Falls Elementary
Grace was at recess and when she wasn't looking the same woman was watching her, a smile had appeared on the woman's face.
"I'll see you soon Gracie, real soon". The woman muttered.
Grace was playing with a group of children and her eyes wondered over the gates of the playground, her eyes landed on the woman she had gotten a little freaked so she looked away and the woman ran away when she looked back the woman was gone. 'That was weird, who was that? I need to go home' Grace thought to herself. The ten year old then went to the nurse's office.
"What's wrong Grace?" The nurse asked.
"I don't feel so good". She said.
The nurse had then took her temperature and it was normal. "Your temperature's fine what seems to be the problem".
"My stomach hurts a bit I feel like I'm gonna throw up". Grace started to gag a bit to play it off.
"I'm gonna have you lay down and I'll call your guardian".
"Alright".
Grace had then went to go lay on the bed and the nurse had put a bucket beside the bed then got on the phone to call Damon. Grace was thinking to herself, 'That wasn't Katherine. If she wasn't Katherine who is she?'
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon was pouring a drink when his cell phone rang he sighed and answered it.
-Hello. Damon answered.
-Is this the guardian of Grace Salvatore? The nurse asked.
-Yes I'm her cousin, is something wrong?
-I'm the nurse over at the school and I have Grace here she said that she's feeling sick.
-I'm on my way.
Damon then put his drink down then super sped out of the house and got to the school in record time just as the same woman was watching him, 'So he's a vampire too? Well this should be interesting' the woman thought to herself. Damon made it to the front desk trying to keep calm.
"Can I help you sir". The secretary asked.
"Yeah I got a call saying my cousin Grace was feeling sick, I'm here to pick her up". Damon replied quickly.
"One second".
Damon was just ready to compel everyone so he can get his niece and get back home, just then the nurse came down from her office.
"How's Grace?" Damon asked.
"She's resting for now follow me". The nurse said.
Damon was trying to keep his calm the whole time as he walked with the nurse, once they got to the office Grace heard the door open but remained lying down.
"Grace your cousin Damon's here". The nurse said.
"Come on Gracie". Damon said.
He had gotten her backpack throwing it over one shoulder he then picked her up but before he left he signed her out, once the two were outside Damon had looked around to make sure nobody was around once the coast was clear he super sped back to the house and the woman was watching the whole time.
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon had arrived with Grace still in his arms he quickly brought her to her room and laid her in her bed.
"Alright Gracie I'm gonna make you some soup and get you some medicine". Damon said.
"Uncle Damon I'm not really sick". Grace admitted.
"What? Grace Marie do you have any idea how worried I was? What would posses you to do that?"
"Somebody was watching me".
"What happened Gracie".
"I was at recess and I was playing with my friends I was looking around that's when I seen her, it was a lady watching me I looked away for a second then she was just gone. I knew it wasn't Katherine I'd recognize her I didn't know who she was".
"Do you remember what she looked like?"
"She was about Uncle Stefan's height, she had long brown wavy hair, she had on a red t shirt, blue jeans, sneakers, and a sweater".
"You got all that from one look?"
"I got a good memory".
"Look sweetheart I'm glad you told me but next time she call me and I'll come get you the last time you were sick it did not go well".
"Sorry I scared you Uncle Damon I didn't mean too it's just I didn't know what else to do".
"Net time sweetheart just call or text me".
"Can I go see Uncle Stefan?"
"No Gracie he's still doesn't wanna see anybody".
"I bet he'll wanna see me".
Stefan is sitting on the floor of the cell. He has a flashback.
*Quarry 1864*
Stefan gets a pail of water. He brings it over to where Damon is sitting. They wash out their shirts with the water.
"I bet Johnathan Gilbert has told father by now. Wonder how he took the news that we're dead". Stefan told his brother.
"As if he cares. He betrayed us". Damon replied.
"He thought he was protecting us, Damon. He thought he was protecting this town".
"God. This sun hurts my eyes".
"It's part of it. The muscle aches, the sick feeling...Emily says it's our bodies pushing us to feed, to complete the transition".
"That's not gonna happen".
"Is that your choice, then? To die instead?"
"Isn't it yours? This was all to be with Katherine. But she's gone. I want it over".
Salvatore Boarding House
Elena goes down to the basement to see Stefan.
"How you feelin'? Damon says you need to drink that. You need it, Stefan. Can't survive without it". Elena said.
"I don't want to survive". Stefan said.
"What? Don't say that. What about Grace? She would be devastated if you died that would crush her".
"I'm sorry, Elena. No more. After what I've done, it has to end. I just want it over".
Elena is sitting in the living room and talking to Damon. Grace was in the kitchen having a snack once she was finished she had made her way out and sat next to Damon. She had laid her head in his lap as he began to stroke her dark brown hair back.
"He's just being dramatic. He's not gonna starve himself". Damon said.
"Why would he say that?" Elena asked.
"He feels bad about hurting that girl. It's a very typical Stefan martyr stuff. It will pass".
"Will it? Because he seemed to be in a lot of pain".
"Yeah. Well, that will pass, too, once he eats".
"When will that be? I don't want him to die". Grace said.
"He's not going to Gracie". Damon told his niece. He gently lifted her head up off his lap and put it on the couch.
"I didn't mean physical pain". Elena said.
"I know what you meant. Look, are you gonna be okay here if I have to run out? I have to go to an errand with the teacher".
"The teacher? Alaric? Are you two friends now?"
"I don't have any friends, Elena".
"Right".
"You should, um, you should stay up here. You shouldn't be down there by yourself. And Grace doesn't go down there either".
"But Uncle Damon that's not fair". Grace protested.
"We'll be fine". Elena assured him.
"You know...You're very trusting of him, given the circumstances". Damon said.
"So are you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be leaving".
"I won't be long". He then turned his attention to an upset Grace. "Be good, behave, don't give Elena any trouble, and stay away from the cellar".
"If I can't go see Uncle Stefan then at least let me come with you".
"Sorry Gracie that's not happening".
"But Uncle Damon".
"There are not buts Gracie, Alaric and I are doing dangerous work we can't be distracted".
"Alright".
"Atta girl". He then kissed her head and left out.
Once Damon had left it was awkward silence between Elena and Grace after a couple moments the ten year old spoke up.
"Elena I'm sorry".
"For what Grace?"
"For all the bad stuff I said to you, how I treated you, all of it. I was only looking out for Stefan, he and Damon are the only family I have left if people find out the truth about them they'll take me away. I hope you know that I was just looking out for him".
"I understand Grace and I forgive you".
"So friends?"
"Friends".
"Let's go see Stefan now".