A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*
Elena and Stefan glided across the floor as Alaric and Brooklyn appeared. The hunter smiled as she could see and feel just how happy her friend truly was. They were like two halves of the same soul finally connecting together completing the other as it always should've been.
"I could use that drink now," Brooklyn finally spoke up. Alaric lead the way around the dancers and spectators until the welcome sight of the bartender came into view.
"Coke and Bourbon please," the hunter asked, "And don't skimp on the Bourbon either."
"Hitting the liquor a little early aren't we?" Damon whispered. Brooklyn turned around shaking her head and waving off his concern.
"Nope," she took a drink savoring the sweet hints of Coke mixing with the starkness of the liquor. "We had a run in with Jenna and my isn't she just a peach."
Damon chuckled at her dark sarcasm but immediately went serious. "The mayor's here along with the town son."
"Where?" Alaric looked around with no success.
"Off in some hush hush meeting I would imagine," Damon rolled his eyes, "Like they can keep anything secret around me."
Brooklyn spotted Elena and Stefan heading away from the main room and decided now was the time to warn them.
"I'm gonna give your brother and Elena fair warning about John," she gulped the last of her drink down, "You two stay out of trouble."
Alaric and Damon exchanged sly grins as their hunter merely rolled her eyes and hurried off before she lost sight of the pair.
"Well just add it to the list of everything that's falling apart," Elena paced around the balcony.
"I know you didn't wanna hear that but you and Stefan needed to know. This just makes things even more dangerous for all of us," Brooklyn stepped in front of the agitated teen. "And I realize with a pissed off group of vampires running around it just adds another degree of difficulty," she laughed bitterly at her own words. "But I am ready to do anything and I mean anything to protect all of you- even Damon."
"What does the Council know?" Elena asked.
"Very little other than vampires are back in town with their "A" game. I'll do what I can to keep John off your trail along with the others. Most hunters will stake first and ask questions later and with the Super Friends it's no different."
"Thanks Brook," Stefan stepped forward wrapping his arms around the hunter.
"Don't even mention it," she waved her hands and smiled.
"Are you sure you can handle my uncle?" Elena asked.
"I've crossed paths with worse and John is nothing more than an arrogant jerk looking to make himself look good to the Council- even if it means shedding blood."
Stefan decided to usher Elena back inside where John wouldn't dare try anything- not in the presence of several hundred people. Brooklyn watched the vampire and his love hurry inside and looked around before heading towards the double French doors.
"Going somewhere?" John stepped out from the shadows. Brooklyn froze as he was blocking her path keeping her from going back inside. A smirk danced on his lips as he took several steps towards Brooklyn who didn't cower and stood her ground.
"You don't scare me John. I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work."
John chuckled and sighed before stopping a few feet from the hunter.
"Yes I do know the original Salvatore brothers are once again back in Mystic Falls after a rather lengthy absence. I also know that you have been privy to their little secret as well. With a town full of vampires I guess we'll have to thrown them in the tomb and light the place up."
"Leave them alone John," she warned him.
"Or you'll do what Brooklyn? Yes I know who you are- a hunter with a soft spot for vampires. I know all about the nest you spared in Oklahoma City three years ago or how about the time you allowed a vampire in Detroit to feed from you? Need I go on?"
"They want to be left alone- they have no desire to hurt anyone," Brooklyn fiercely defended her actions.
"Or so they claim," John spat in disgust. "So what's your excuse with the Salvatore brothers? I've noticed you're rather close with Damon."
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists tight against her sides. She was prepared to fight him but her chance would never come.
"You ask an awful lot of questions for being someone who's new in town," Damon growled. John spun around surprised at the arrival. Brooklyn stood rigid against the railing watching the tense standoff between human and vampire. John stiffened but didn't back down.
"It's John right?" Damon positioned his body between John and Brooklyn assuming a protective stance.
"You don't scare me Damon. I know what you are," John taunted, "So what are you gonna do huh? Kill me or maybe drain me dry and dispose of my lifeless body somewhere off in the woods?"
"Mmmmm…..it's crossed my mind ever since the day I laid eyes on you at the Council meeting. You know I could easily rip your throat out before a single sound could pass by your lips. But you you're not worth my time though you have a lot of nerve threatening my friend, John."
Damon laughed coldly which frightened Brooklyn as she knew John had signed his own death warrant. The vampire moved with lightning speed, snapping the man's neck and tossing his limp form over the edge. Brooklyn winced at the loud snapping and cracking but wasn't sad to see John Gilbert go sailing over the edge and smacking against the walkway below. She forced her body to twist around and look down at the body of John Gilbert. His neck was twisted all wrong while his arms and legs were sprawled out at odd angles.
"Brook are you alright?" Damon reached out and gently turned the shaken human around. Brooklyn swallowed down the fear that had risen along with the bile at the back of her throat and nodded at the vampire with short snappy jerks.
"Yeah I think so…..Let's get outta here," Damon draped an arm across her shoulders in a protective but also possessive manner and guided her back inside. No one threatened Brooklyn and lived to see the next day.
Alaric looked around for Brooklyn and Damon while avoiding the evil glares Jenna continued to shoot him from across the room. He could feel her eyes burning in the back of his head but ignored it as he spotted Elena and Stefan talking with Caroline and Matt.
"Mr. Saltzman is everything okay?" Caroline noted the darkened features on his face.
"Yeah I was looking for Brooklyn and Damon. Have any of you seen them?"
Elena and Stefan traded looks then looked at the teacher. "She talked to us out on the balcony but she was still there when we left," Elena offered. Alaric nodded and hurried off leaving the vampire and Elena to wonder what was going on.
"Is everything alright?" Caroline asked her friend.
"Yeah, knowing Brooklyn and Damon they're at the bar swapping stories," Elena chuckled light heartedly. Caroline shrugged and smiled as she took a drink of punch.
Brooklyn took a long drink of Bourbon hoping the liquid amber would soothe her agitated nerves. Damon counted this as the third drink she had since watching John Gilbert die at his hand. But he had to do it! The bastard had cornered her and threatened her and who knows what he would've gotten away with!
"Damon," Alaric called out as he crossed the dance floor. The furrowed expression on his face lightened as he spotted the vampire and hunter alive and well, though Brooklyn didn't look so well.
"Damon what happened?" Brooklyn motioned for another round and started downing her fourth round.
"John Gilbert- that's what's wrong but it doesn't matter anymore as he will no longer be a threat to anyone," Damon flashed a confident smile at his lover. Brooklyn kept quiet and finished off the last of her drink knowing her limit and called it good. Alaric placed his hands on her shoulders which trembled lightly and locked his eyes with hers.
"Brook are you okay?" Brooklyn forced a tiny smile to appear and leaned against his body. The scent of his cologne wafted through her nose and produced a surprisingly calming effect on her.
"I am now," she whispered.
"If I can have everyone's attention," Mayor Lockwood called out, "We're about to begin the countdown to Founder's Day by the traditional ringing of the bell. I would like to thank everyone for joining us this evening. It's a very special one this year- the 150th birthday of the town's founding"
Brooklyn bristled at the sound of the man's voice and felt those predatory eyes once again fixated on her. The hunter dared to narrow her eyes at the mayor challenging him to say something or make a move in front of Alaric and Damon. Perhaps it was the alcohol that flowed freely through her veins that empowered her as she stood there or the presence of the vampire and Alaric on either side.
"Now it is my honor to turn it over the town's favorite town member John Gilbert who will ring the Charter Bell," Brooklyn and Damon's heads snapped to the right as John stepped from behind the wall with a brilliant smile on his face.
"Damon what's he doing still alive!" Brooklyn asked in a low panicky tone.
"One hundred fifty years of community, prosperity and family. We take care of each other, look after each other. Protect each other," John stared directly at Damon who glared daggers back at him. "It's great to be home."
John turned and tugged hard on the rope heralding in the countdown to the Founder's Day celebration. Everyone applauded and greeted John along with the mayor but Brooklyn Damon and Alaric kept their distance watching them as they slithered through the crowd like two snakes.
I am soooo sorry for the rather late delay! Forgiveness please!