A/N – As always, I do not own the CW/TVD characters or canon story. I'm simply using some for fun and a stepping stone for my ideas and my story. Enjoy and please review. ;-)

TVD – Bonded for Life, Chapter 20

Silas was physically weary from all the driving and the stops along the way and yet he knew his immediate mission would reenergize him. He was trying to not get ahead of himself in thinking the light was finally at the end of the tunnel. He needed to pace himself. He also needed to build up his strength and stamina. He wasn't like these vampires from Mystic Falls. Whatever spell created these ageless beings that lusted for blood, hunted human prey like dogs, and had super hero strength and speed, it was not the same spell Silas had created 2000 years ago.

Yes, blood was required to keep him eternally alive and he was well on his way to accomplish this first task of many. But he did not have the same hunger as the vampires; in fact, he didn't consider himself a vampire by any definition of the word. Silas acknowledged that their strength and speed was quite handy and potentially a challenge. Despite the fact that he lacked these super-hero abilities, he saw little concern. He would easily outwit these lesser creatures.

Silas could compel humans, but he had little else in common with his would-be cousins. More importantly, he had psychic abilities, which grew over years of entrapment, boredom, and a healthy dose of desperation. These talents did not from the blood or at least not the blood alone. Perhaps any human with enough intelligence and time could acquire this skill. Well, maybe any Traveler could, or maybe not.

Silas felt nostalgic recalling how he'd had a head-start in his first life, his human life. At the tender age of six, he'd read his mother's mind causing her to squeal in delight at her gifted child. He'd actually done it earlier than he could remember but no one, he included, had realized exactly when it happened. The moment it was identified by his mother he remembered like it was yesterday. He'd been engrossed in a new game when suddenly his mother had picked him up and spun him, danced about the room and laughed joyously. He was oblivious as to why she was so happy. She had only just asked him to wash up and bring water for their evening meal.

It took a moment until another thought was read and his mother smiled broadly. Her thoughts were talking to him, asking him, telling him, "You beautiful, beautiful boy! I didn't say it out loud, but you can hear me, my darling. Yes?" He answered his mother nodding and out loud since he'd been punished before for not answering loudly enough for his parents to hear. He touched her lips wondering why his mother's mouth wasn't moving with her words. She just smiled and kissed his fingertips.

Silas smiled at the memory. It had taken a year or two more to fully grasp that his previously perceived, all-knowing, all-powerful parents couldn't hear him the same way he could hear them, even if they tried really hard. They had always seemed to know what he wanted so he'd just assumed they were all communicating the same way. From that day forward, Silas was never again punished for not responding and in fact anticipated his parent's needs even more just so he could revel in psychically feeling their appreciation. He felt abundantly powerful to please his parents so much, and later, to please his women beyond their belief. During his teen years and his later captivity, he realized he was able to leverage his skill in more mischievous ways.

The skill of compulsion manifested after his immortality spell was executed and then cultivated over time in combination with the psychic abilities. Silas had the cursed luxury of time in the cave to contemplate and hone the use of these unique talents. Perhaps the strength of his compulsion was possible for any vampire if driven to it or just anyone gifted as he was. Silas pondered the times when he made the largest advances in his abilities to control others thoughts and actions, to have them perceive the actual presence of people known to be dead. These times involved more blood, sure, but in particular, the blood coming from many sources and not weighted toward any one human donor in particular. Something about the balance and diversity was beneficial.

There were a number of years, decades even, when different mining companies engaged in draining the island of its resources. Those were the good years if there could be good years in captivity. More than once, he'd conned multiple groups to offer their blood to see their lost loved ones. He'd even had a near success in getting a professor, rather like Shane, to stage his release from the caves. The resulting frustration when he failed nearly drained Silas of all will to ever try again.

Hundreds of years later, Silas saw his first vision of a hunter. Silas couldn't tell if he was dreaming or if this vision was real. The idea that a hunter would be near, near enough to affect his mind, was both foreboding and elating. It had been too quiet for too long on the desolate island and Silas' mind struggled to emerge from the long stupor. Could he control the hunter? Would he have the strength? Would this mean hunters were chasing someone who was trying to find and free him? Or was it just that the hunters wanted to force the cure on him and finish Silas once and for all? Was his vision even real?

Silas focused on opening his mind, desperate to sense any presence. He felt nothing despite his efforts. Hours, or it could have been days, into trying, desperate to not miss an opportunity, Silas reeled as a hoped for victim appeared and fell twenty feet plus into the mine. Like prey in a spider's web and bleeding from his gashed knee, human energy of panic radiated to Silas. Reading this lesser mind, Silas would have gasped if he wasn't a solid mass of stone. Being so weakened and trapped, his body could not even vibrate in anticipation but he imagined licking his lips like he could taste what was to come. It couldn't be more perfect. This was not a hunter. This was a believer of sorts; a desperate soul that was searching for Silas to petition him to resurrect his dead wife and son. It was better than sex, as they say.

Arriving at his next stop, Silas concluded his recollections. Shane had proved incredibly useful, supplying diverse donors, sacrifices, a brilliant but pliable witch, and more. Here he was, Silas, his actual body, free and closer to his goal than ever. Smiling at how everything was coming together, Silas, once again projecting another's likeness in place of his, set in motion his final step in his plan to acquire copious amounts of broadly sourced human blood.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"What does that mean?"

Any one of them could have asked the question, but of course it was Caroline. Bonnie glanced around the room and repeated herself. "He's here. Silas. In Mystic Falls…or nearby…"

Everyone drew in a little closer. "You mean physically, alive and well, you've seen him?"

"Sort of…"

"Bonnie Bennett!"

"Caroline!" Elena said to shut her up.

"Yeah, Blondie, put a sock in it," Damon added and then was smacked on the arm by Stefan who still had his eyes on Bonnie.

"He hasn't shown himself to me in the traditional way. He's been…pretending to be or making it seem like he's Professor Shane. I don't know if he's in Shane's body or if he can just make me think that's who he is."

Stefan came closer. "How's that possible, Bonnie? Is he human?"

Bonnie was relieved at the logical approach Stefan took with his question. "That is just what I thought, so I made sure to touch him. He was human. At least I thought he was. But if he was able to make me just think he was Shane, why couldn't he make me think he was human?"

"Then why are you questioning it? Why didn't you just think it was human Shane?" Damon asked.

Bonnie turned to Damon, "Exactly how I was thinking. But his personality was off. It was more…more…ego, like crazy ego. He was all animated and excited. When he talked about Silas, it was like he was on an ego trip talking about himself in the third person. Remember how he didn't want any vampire blood to help him heal on the island but as soon as we were at my house, he's all healed, or at least his pants were because there was no more blood on them. He caught me noticing his no longer bloodstained pant leg and tried to make me believe he'd changed without my knowing and quickly changed the subject." Bonnie was growing increasingly impatient making them believe. Standing she summed up her closing remarks like a prosecutor. "Shane was injured, didn't sleep at all on the way back, so how did he suddenly have strength and stamina when we got back here and everyone else was exhausted?"

A short but healthy pregnant pause settled in while Bonnie's question hung in the air until a quiet and seemingly obvious answer was given by Elena. "Blood. The human variety."

Bonnie pointed directly at Elena. "Exactly! And then you know what he started in on? He went on and on about the last step, the next twelve sacrifices he needs to complete the resurrection. He's Shane, picture him, even more deluded than usual, almost like he's high, coke'd up, all thrilled and needy about completing another dozen murders and when I hesitate, he's got me backed against a wall assuring me that in no uncertain terms I will help him kill twelve witches."

It was quiet for a moment. "Bonnie?" It was Rebekah. "As I recall, on the island, you took a rather severe blow to the head." She held up her hand to stifle any rebuttal from the little witch. "Hear me out, love. Isn't it possible that you are misreading the situation? I'm just saying, be sure. You've really thought this through?"

Bonnie hesitated but only briefly. "I have thought this through. I may not know what exactly Silas is doing but I'm telling you, Shane did not come back with us. Silas did. He hasn't once brought up his dead wife and son. He's only talking about helping Silas, him, become mortal so he can join his long lost love and how right it is that we, he and I, do this, together."

Standing and moving to the scotch, Rebekah said, "I believe you." Bonnie looked relieved.

"Why?" Damon asked. Rebekah of all people was the least trusting, if perhaps only second to him.

"Because I saw Shane on the island, near the camp."

"Yeah, so, we all did."

"No, Damon, I don't think you saw Shane, at least not after you left the caves. But I think I did."

"We were together…on the way back…when…how?" Damon looked in pain from the ridiculousness of Rebekah's claim.

"It's not that important, Damon." When it was obvious the others would like to hear her answer, Rebekah continued. "When Shane came walking into camp with Bonnie I was suspicious. I had seen him on our way back. He was too injured to have made it to the camp but then arrived with Bonnie."

"You were going to leave him there, weren't you?" Damon asked with a smirk.

"I think I did leave him there," she said back.

"You left him. You left him to die…on the island…alone." Bonnie said. "You know if you hadn't, maybe we wouldn't have brought Silas back with us!"

"Wait a second, you are assuming she's right and that Shane did not come back with us," Damon pointed out.

"I'm making a reasonable point. When Bonnie and he entered the camp, remember I was going to heal him up. I was closer than you two," she said indicating the brothers. "There was a moment when I thought it was odd that I didn't smell blood from him and then suddenly I did. It was very odd, not like the wind just carried the scent to me, it was like it wasn't there, then it was and really strong. Then when he didn't want mine or any vampire blood to help him, I just, well let's say it was woman's intuition. I knew something was off."

"Great, so we are supposed to trust in women's intuition and an Original?"

"Shut up, Damon." Again, a smack from Stefan along with the immediate chastisement.

"You are supposed to trust me," Bonnie said looking to her friends and avoiding the frenemies. Stefan still looked puzzled. His arms were crossed and his brow furrowed. "Stefan, you trust me, right?"

"Yes, of course, I was just…"

"Brooding."

Stefan didn't even bother to glare at Damon but just slightly rolled his eyes and sighed. "I was just thinking, if Silas did come back with us, as Shane, it would mean he could make all of us see him as Shane, right? Why would he just appear as Shane? And if he does appear as others, how do we know who and when…?"

Everyone looked at each other, eyes glancing from one to the other. The paranoia was palpable.

"Nice way to rally the troops, Stef, way to raise the morale," Damon said from the safety of the bar, out of Stefan's reach. Everyone else tried to ignore Damon's snide remark.

"I'm supposed to see him later. He said he was going home and to his office and to expect him tonight to help me prepare for the next spell. How he thinks he's going to find twelve witches, I can't imagine."

"Bonnie, you can't go through with killing twelve people!" Caroline was shrill as she assumed the worst.

"I know that, Caroline, that's my whole point. I'm freaking out here if you haven't noticed. I don't know what to do. Shane was supposed to be helping me with my magic and now, I don't know what to think, what to do…Was everything Shane did up to now really helping? Was it actually making me less in control? Who knows!?" The fireplace suddenly roared higher and the front door and two windows flew open making the lush curtains blow inward. Bonnie looked close to tears, angry and embarrassed by her lack of control.

Elena, unusually quiet throughout this discussion, stood and walked to face Bonnie. "You are going to be fine. Look at me, Bonnie, breathe. Say it."

"I'm going to be fine. Yes, I'm going to be fine." A few more deep breaths and the fire had eased back to its previous flickering and all signs of weather pushing inside ceased.

"Ok, now, Bonnie,…we have a different fire to make happen, ok?" She smiled trying to calm her friend. "Let's do this one at a time, shall we?" Bonnie gave Elena a tight smile in thanks for calming her down. "Caroline, let's us girls go get a few things to save for me. Stefan, you've got the rest covered." Stefan nodded to her. "Good. Let's go." Taking Bonnie's arm as they left, Elena said, "Maybe we can make a sundae before all the ice cream gets melted tonight at my place." She smiled lightly at Bonnie and Caroline and led them from what would become her new home, officially, tonight. She called back to the others, "We'll be back."

Caroline gave a look back to the remaining team somehow expressing 'holy shit' before she closed the door behind them. Whether it was meant for having dodged a bullet getting Bonnie to calm down or the soon to be burning Gilbert home, or the whole Silas debacle, it didn't matter. Either way, craziness was hitting the proverbial fan again in Mystic Falls.

Once the door closed firmly behind the trio, conversation started again.

"What else do you know about Silas that you haven't shared with us yet, Rebekah?"

The question was sharp and sudden. Snapping her glare at the presumed aggressor, Rebekah was quick to rebuke Stefan. "That was uncalled for."

He sat across from her in an effort to dial down the confrontational tone. "Sorry, I don't mean that you were withholding anything purposefully, just that there may be more you know that would be useful now even if it wasn't earlier. Like, how does Silas appear as Shane? Anything in the stories of old that could explain it?"

Rebekah looked deep in thought. "I can't think of anything off the top, but I'll try. It was supposed to be a fairytale or a ghost story kids would use to frighten others. What about going to Shane's office? He was supposed to be the Silas expert."

"We could go later, after he's left to see Bonnie, if he even really did go to Shane's office." Stefan stood before continuing. "I have to handle Jeremy's body first."

"Good, we'll check it out later." Rebekah smiled mildly and went back to pondering what Kol had told her about Silas.

"Great, so you two are going to be a regular Dick meets Tracey," Damon said while securing the windows and curtains back to his liking.

"And what are you going to do to help?" Stefan asked.

"Oh, you know me, Stefan. I like to keep the home fires burning, well at least at the Gilbert's. Maybe I'll stop by the Bennett's later to ensure that home doesn't burn down."

"You can't get in the Bennett house."

"No, brother, but I my super spy hearing sure can."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Stefan drove past the Gilbert home, circled the immediate neighborhood, and then parked a few blocks away. Elena's and Caroline's cars were still in the driveway. It had been a few hours and he'd hoped they were nearly finished. He texted Caroline and was told hang on; the girls were finishing up.

He closed his eyes for a few minutes trying to ignore the aroma of death emanating from the trunk of Damon's car. The larger vehicle was needed since the Porsche was not suitable transportation for his cargo. The keys were still in the ignition and the radio was playing softly.

Picturing her belongings, he speculated on what Elena would choose to keep from burning in the fire. Would she keep the same kinds of things he would? If her emotions were indeed off, would she miss important possessions later? He gave a little snort. Heck, she may mourn the entirety of this plan later never mind not saving some trinket or picture. This whole idea of the fire wrenched in his gut but intellectually he knew it would work. He would just have to stick it out and move on. Tragically, they had bigger issues to deal with like Silas, the cure, and Elena's emotions versus the disposition of Jeremy's body. Again, his gut churned. Life shouldn't be like this, he thought.

Another ten or fifteen minutes went by and Stefan was almost going to leave. The last thing he needed was to raise suspicion as to why he was sitting a few blocks away from his girl's home, never mind if anyone noticed the smell. Then again, without special sensory skills, the cold dead body in the trunk should go unnoticed. A dog-walking pedestrian passed by uneventfully, just a bark or two, as Stefan had pulled over but no one else had passed by since.

Finally, texts flew between Caroline and Stefan. The girls were on their way out to load up the goods. Stefan would wait for the three girls to leave and then bring Jeremy inside. If Elena did want to say a last goodbye to her brother, the least they could do was not have her witness him lugging in and laying out the body he'd manipulated awkwardly into the trunk. After the girls cycled in and out, each making multiple trips, Elena emerged and handed the last carton to Caroline, the master organizer making everything fit.

"There, see, we got it all in." Caroline closed her hatch with a modest smile of accomplishment.

"You guys should go. I'm supposed to be with Stefan tonight, remember? Staying over at the boarding house and thus not aware of the f-i-r-e."

"Wait, we have to bring your things to Stefan's," Caroline said indicating the boxes in her car.

"Whenever, sure, just drop them off. I can take it from there."

"We can help!" Caroline chimed in. "Besides, it's Stefan's room. I mean, come on. You need some help in that mess. Sorry, I know, I know, its organized chaos…" Elena gave her a bit of a sheepish look. "But…you want to be alone with Stefan, got it. Never mind."

"You could come with me, Care. I could use the company waiting for you-know-who. Help keep me focused and f-i-r-e free."

"Sure, great." Caroline sounded relieved to have a clear purpose for tonight. She took steps to her vehicle and Bonnie took her cue to follow. "You'll be right behind us, Elena?"

"Actually, no." Caroline and Bonnie stopped short. "I should stay and say good-bye, you know. I'm sorry, Bonnie, I should have asked…Did you want to see him?"

Bonnie stepped back to Elena. "No, it's ok. I said my goodbyes already when we were getting him home." Solemn nods where shared all around. "I'll see you later, k? You're ok, right?"

"I'll be fine, Bonnie."

"Are you sure we should go?" Caroline asked.

"Stefan's waiting." The girls looked surprised. "He's down the street." Elena gave a slight nod in his direction indicating the car. "Unless it's Damon and then he's really early."

"No, it's Stefan," conceded Caroline coming closer. "We didn't want you to have to, you know…with the body and all…"

"It's ok. I get it. I'm sure he was waiting for us to leave, but I'm going to stay. You guys, go on." The two friends made their way back to Caroline's car, glanced back, got in and left.

Stefan hadn't seen Elena notice him as he sat parked on a shade-darkened patch of asphalt. He'd closed his eyes for a few more minutes trying to ignore the aroma of death emanating from the trunk of Damon's car. He opened his eyes when a car started in the distance. Caroline and Bonnie were leaving. Elena was looking directly at him and waiting. She gave a subtle come hither nod of her head and turned to walk back into the house.

Stefan started the engine, waited until Elena was inside, and pulled into the Gilbert driveway just as a text came through. Elena had wanted to stay to say goodbye. Was that a good sign of emotion from Elena? Stefan was hopeful. Leaving his purpose in the car for now, he ventured to the door where Elena let him in. She took his hand and led him to the kitchen. "I was just going to have lunch and by lunch I mean O neg or something. Care to join?" she asked as she used her other hand to open the fridge. She sounded tired.

"Sure."

She pulled out two blood bags of different types. "Your choice."

"I don't want a full bag and I know which we both prefer. Why don't we share?"

Elena pondered this for a moment, took the better flavored type to the microwave, as well as the other bag, but only heated the one, for now. "It's ok, you know. I can handle it," she said with her back to Stefan and tapping for a bit more time on the input panel. "I wanted to stay and say goodbye."

"I just figured you'd be back a little later, maybe."

"I've already seen him bloodied and battered, not to mention his neck snapped. Seeing you bring him in isn't going to traumatize me."

Stefan watched her while trying not to seem overly curious of her emotional state. The microwave dinged its merry chime, possibly for the last time ever. Elena popped the top from the straw-like tube and took a swig to check the temp as he rejoined Stefan leaning against the island. Leaning against him and holding it for him, she offered him his share of the blood bag. Watching his eyes and his lips as he slowly sucked in the warmed liquid, Elena licked her lips. He'd taught her to do the same, to savor the taste and thus take in less. "You know," she said then slowly took another sip before turning the bag back to Stefan. "Your lips are just…so…mm." She sidled her hips against his leaning into his body. He finished his next sip and slowly licked his lips all while watching her eyes. Elena slowly took another generous helping as she too gazed upon her lover.

"I seem to recall a time when you told me I had girly lips." She smiled at his teasing much as she had then.

"No, you twisted my words…I said girls would kill for lips like yours…" Elena took another drink. Stefan declined further offers to partake. Elena sipped at the remainder of the bag and turned around to lean her backside against Stefan. Her head tipped back against the crook of his neck as she drank, savored. She knew he'd wrap his arms around her to hold her in place and smiled satisfactorily when he did. It was quiet for a few minutes as she slowly nursed the blood bag to the very last. Elena tipped her head to give him a sidelong glance. "One last sip. You sure you don't want it?"

"No thanks." She finished the bag still looking up at him, the angle leaving a drip on her lips, perhaps on purpose. She paused slightly before licking it off hoping he'd do it for her. He smirked and she smiled, caught. He leaned down and first brushed his tongue across the fullest part of her mouth and sealed it with a sweet kiss. Elena, hummed a light sigh in response and faced forward again.

"Elena, are you sure you are ready for this?"

Confusion flushed across her face. "Ready for what? More kisses like that would be great…"

"I meant bringing in Jeremy and later, the fire…"

Elena stood but didn't move far. She simply turned to face Stefan looking serious and erudite. "Relatively, yes. I'm ready. I'm not in denial if that's what you are thinking. But I wouldn't mind just a bit more time with just you and me here. A lot of our relationship happened here. Remember the time you tickled me to death on that couch?" He nodded and gave a soft smile of recollection. "Or how about the times we studied at the table, or cooked dinner, well you cooked…" She took his hand and slowly started to step through the house. "The powder room, I'm sure you're thinking what I'm thinking." She squeezed his hand and gave him a knowing glance which translated into a not so subtle international sign for hot sex.

Stefan followed easily all the while wondering if this was all an act but hoping it wasn't. Elena wouldn't be walking down memory lane this way if she didn't have her emotions on, would she? She'd led him to the stairs, citing more remembrances along the way. Landing on the first step, she turned to him, again serious, still holding his hand. "Come up stairs with me, Stefan. I want to remember loving you in my room. Please."

He understood that it wasn't just to remember, that this was an invitation to love her now. He could not say no to her. But he did have concerns. She could see it on his face. "Look, I know you are worried. But I know what I'm doing." Stefan wondered if she'd guessed his suspicions and if she was telling him that she had turned off her emotions. It was a dangerous game to play if she had, if she thought she could just flip them back any time without changing her mind along the way. "Let's make a memory for our last day in this house, one that will outweigh, you know…I just want to be with you. You're the one that is getting me through all of this."

As they went upstairs, she was back to citing old memories about their time together in her home. If she was playing him to get him into bed, she was doing a superb job.

(A/N Yes, yes, you'll get to read the next scene and I won't leave you hanging for as long I did for this last update.)