A/N: Sorry. I've been terrible with the update. I had company over for a long time and couldn't leave them to go work on the story. That and when I had free time, I was reading other books and getting lost in their worlds instead of focusing on my story. Well that and I was working on my other FF that I'd been neglecting for a really long time. That being said, here is the next chapter!

OH and can I point out vampire diaries totally stole a line from me, lol. Different characters, but same example:

Stefan: "What does he have that I don't?"

Elena: "Right now? My respect."

See… I totally had that line months ago ;) WOO!

When Rick got to the kitchen he was met by a mischievous smirk from Isobel and a cold shoulder from Jenna. He tried to ignore them both and instead focused on Caroline, who was standing in the kitchen looking a mess.

"I heard Caroline was…" Bonnie said, coming into the room with James. She stopped as she took in her state.

"What happened to you?" she said, going over as if to give her a hug, but Caroline held her hands up.

"You do not need to be touching me right now. I'm like burnt and bloody. It' gross," she said with an eye roll.

"Why did you try to go out in the sun?" Bonnie asked in confusion.

"I wanted to leave the house after I found out what Stefan did. John let me borrow his ring but somehow he had the wrong one or something and I burned up as soon as I got off the porch," she said in exasperation.

"He let you borrow his ring?" Jeremy asked in surprise. A part of him was disappointed that John hadn't been the one to experience what Caroline had, but another side was a little relieved to know they had one more person, at least, on their side tonight.

"Never mind that, what did Stefan do?" Alaric asked with a wave of his hand.

Caroline sighed and took a seat at the table. "I'll tell you all that I know and add a bit from his side."

She was surprised that she was able to get through it without crying, but she managed it and was met by mixed reactions at the end.

"Where is he now?" Alaric asked, speaking up first.

Caroline shook her head. "Your guess is as good as mine. He dropped me off and then drove out of here. I honestly don't know what he's planning. I just know he's freaking crazy."

"This can't be good," Jenna said, slumping over the counter. "I thought he was on our side and now he's…"

"This doesn't mean he's completely gone dark side on us," Bonnie said after a while. "He made some mistakes, but I think no matter what, he still wants to protect Elena."

"Umm, not when he was all like, "she's as good as dead to me," and looking all pouty," Caroline commented as she started pacing the room. "I'd say he's done trying to help and I say good riddance to that son of a …."

"We still need him to help us," Tyler interrupted. "My sister is tied up out there and it's bad enough I need a babysitter. This town needs all the help it can get…. I say we find him and either get his help….or take him down."

"Tough words coming from a wolf who can barely keep it together," Isobel replied snidely. "What do you suppose we do? Go ask him nicely what his plans are?"

"We call Damon or something. Ask him what's going on. We need to figure this out soon," Tyler said, glaring at her.

"Or we could just do a locator spell and find out where he is. Then you can see where to go from there," James suggested.

"See, I knew there had to be a reason you were here," Isobel replied.

"OK, so me and James will find him. Then…I think we should call Damon and have him track him down," Bonnie said, making as if to leave the room.

"No, I think Damon is the last person on earth Stefan wants to run into," Caroline said, stopping her pacing. "They were pretty angry with each other the last time I saw them and I don't think he can help him right now."

"Fine. Me and Rick will go. After we're done with that, we can go stake out the courthouse for the she wolf downtown," Isobel said. "And if he doesn't listen to reason, well….well let's just hope it won't come to that."

"I don't think you'd be convincing or helpful," Jenna said with a grimace.

"It's the best bet we have right now…Now get on it already you two," Isobel said, lightly shoving them out the door. "Let's get it together now before we all fall apart."

Rick followed them, glancing back apologetically at Jenna, but she looked away purposely and instead focused her attention on Jeremy.

"We might as well go to the Lockwood's to get Tyler ready, then," she said eagerly.

"Jenna I really don't think…" Jeremy began.

"I'm going. I'm just grabbing some knives and stuff just in case…be ready in five," She said, slamming the door and heading to the living room where Jeremy knew she kept the silver.

"What should I do then?" Caroline asked in surprise as the kitchen dwindled down to her, Jeremy, and Tyler.

"I'd say call Elena up so she doesn't worry about what happened to you," Jeremy said as he glared at the door Jenna left through. "And tell her what we're all doing. She needs to know. Then you can decide what you want to do."

"I personally hope you can help them take Katherine down. She deserves to die for all of this," Tyler said sternly. "If it wasn't for the full moon tonight…."

"I'm stuck here until the sun goes down anyway. So I have until then to decide, alright?" Caroline said with a sigh. "I'll go make the call then."

"Good luck, whichever way you choose," Tyler said as she went to leave the room.

She paused and looked at him seriously. "Thanks. Stay safe."

Taking a deep breath, she left the room and got her phone out, her mind still racing as to what she should do.

"I can't believe he just took off with Caroline," Elena said in shock. "She must be freaking out…I hope he doesn't…he wouldn't hurt her, would he?"

"I don't think so," Damon said after a minute. "He may be hopped up on human blood, but he still has his humanity in there. If he wanted Caroline out of the picture, he would have taken her out already."

"Well that's comforting," Elena said, hugging herself.

"I don't think we can trust him for tonight," John said shaking his head. "Maybe I should go with you, then, instead of going with Jeremy."

"Then who's going to make sure he's safe?" Elena protested.

"Relax. I wouldn't want John here watching my back in the woods. I'm not suicidal," he said with his eyes narrowed. "I trust Stefan will still help us, but even if he doesn't, I'm still strong enough to at least have a fighting chance."

"And you said you weren't suicidal…" Elena said, her eyes shooting up in worry.

"We'll figure this out, Elena," Damon said calmly. "But until then, I think you should go home."

"What!" he exclaimed.

"It's the safest place you have from Katherine and Klaus," he explained. "You didn't think you were going to be out wandering the woods tonight, were you?"

"I am not staying behind," she said in offense.

"You either stay behind on your own, or I'll compel you myself," Damon said threatingly.

"You wouldn't," she said, grasping her bracelet protectively.

"I would," he replied with raised brows.

The tension was broken when her cellphone went off.

"It's Caroline," she said with an angry glance at Damon. "And I'm coming."

With that, she left the room to talk to Caroline.

"Nice job there," John said rolling his eyes.

"I didn't see you stepping in to help," Damon said with a sigh.

"I want you to head over with Elena to her house and make sure she stays there by any means necessary," Damon said seriously.

"Oh so now you want me to compel her?" John said with raised brows.

Damon rushed to him in seconds and pinned him hard against the wall. John gasped out in surprise and pain, still feeling his injuries healing up.

"For once in your life I want you to do something that makes your god damn existence meaningful," Damon said with wide eyes. "You keep your daughter safe and if that means compelling her or tying her to her bed, you do it or so help me I have no more use for you."

"What's going on?" Elena asked in surprise as she came back into the room.

"John needed his spine put back into his back and I was just helping him out," Damon said, releasing him from his grip.

"Well we're gonna need everyone in one piece," Elena said, eyeing them suspiciously. "Caroline called. She said Stefan dropped her off and that Bonnie and James are doing a locator spell."

"I didn't think James gave a crap," Damon said in surprise.

"Well that's not all," Elena said.

She quickly told them what Caroline had to say about everyone parting ways and Isobel's plan to track Stefan down.

"I don't trust that bitch, why would we start now," Damon said in anger.

"Alaric will be with her," Elena replied. "Maybe he can help, cause let's face it, if he sees you he will want to go round."

"I agree with Damon, though," John said slowly. "Isobel is only ever out for herself. I don't trust her to help Stefan in any way."

"Then I go," Elena said firmly.

"What?" John and Damon said at the same time.

"Maybe I can talk him down…no hear me out," she said, holding her arms out. "He wasn't going to kill me or anything. He was angry and struck out, but I know Stefan. He would never do anything to put me in danger."

"Did you forget you have a target on your back that basically says kill me?" Damon said, his nostrils flaring. "You are the last person I would let near him, Elena."

"And I'm also the only person who can calm him down," she said, grabbing Damon's hands in her own.

"Please. I need you to trust me on this. If you let me do this….I'll stay home and I won't try to leave. I'll even let you compel me to stay," she said earnestly.

"I need a moment with Elena," Damon said, turning pointedly to John. "Go hideout till the sun goes down and the fun begins.

John gave him an angry glance, but left them alone.

When he was gone, Damon took Elena in his arms and hugged her.

"I'm going to be alright, Damon. You can't just lock me up and hope for the best," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I can try," he replied.

Sighing, she pulled away and looked him in the eyes. Then slowly she leaned in, bringing her lips to his. The response was instantaneous. He met her eagerly, his hands leaving her shoulders to rest at her waist and pushing her closer.

After a minute they broke away, Damon reluctantly moving off first.

"You trying to persuade me?" he said with a sly smile.

In response she gave him a quick kiss and looked him deep in the eyes. "I'm showing you that I trust you and that I want you to do the same. I love you."

He stroked her hair and kissed her back. "I love hearing you say that."

Before they knew it, they were collapsed onto the couch, Damon on top of her and kissing her passionately. Elena's hands were entwined in his hair as he trailed kisses down her neck. She gasped in surprise as she felt him playfully nibble at the back of her neck.

Soon he took her wrists in his hand and pinned them above her head. Her breath hitched and she smiled up at him and started kissing his chest. He stroked her hands gently, and before she could figure out what he was up to, he had her bracelet unclasped.

"I love you Elena, but I can't lose you," he said seriously, still keeping her wrists contained.

"You need to listen to me carefully," he said quickly, his eyes dilating as his voice took on a commanding tone.

Her face registered shock and betrayal before it went blank as he began to talk.

"You will take John with you to your house, no stops, and you will keep yourself locked up there safely," he began. "You will not invite anyone in and you will not leave unless I tell you to. If Stefan tries to come in, you will inject him with vervain and call me. You will not go with him."

Elena repeated his words in a trancelike state.

"I love you," he said sadly. "I can only hope you forgive me for this later, but you wouldn't listen no matter what I said."

Giving her one final kiss on the lips, he got up and went to find John.

"Suit up, John. You're going with Elena," he said as he barged into his room.

John raised his brows in surprise. "You talked her into it?"

"Something like that," he replied back, throwing the bracelet at John. He hissed as it burned his hands.

"Leave that behind for Elena to put on before you leave," he said sternly. "And grab a blanket to throw on yourself for the car ride."

Ten minutes later, Elena was in the driveway, Damon standing at the front to see her off.

"I'll see you later. I promise," he said to her sad eyes.

She nodded her head in response, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I better," she said as she drove off.

"I'm sorry that I'm not a better father," John said as he stayed crouched in the back seat of Damon's car.

Elena didn't respond but kept her eyes on the road.

"My brother…he was always the better man. He was the perfect son, brother, husband…I knew he would raise you right, and he did," John said sadly. "So I don't regret leaving you with him; I regret never knowing you more or being someone you could look up to as well."

"I did look up to you when I was little," Elena replied slowly. "But then it was like you didn't care anymore and you barely were around."

"I'm sorry…"

"I'm tired of your apologies," Elena said suddenly. "The past is the past. The best we can do now is trust each other and move on from there….I don't hate you. I can't say I love you, but I can say that right now, we're ok."

John shook his head in agreement. "Thanks for that, Elena."

"Just promise me you will try your best to keep Jeremy safe tonight," she said earnestly. "I know neither of you are happy with each other right now, but we are all still family. We can't go tearing each other up from the inside."

He was about to respond, but he was cut off by the sound of Elena's brakes.

"What's wrong?" he said in surprise.

"No, I can't…I'm not supposed to stop," Elena murmured frantically, but she also sounded scared.

"What is it?" John said, moving the blanket off a bit to see what was going on.

"It's Katherine," she whispered, grabbing the wheel and hitting the gas as if to go again.

But before she could say more, he heard glass breaking and Elena yell out.

"Get off me," she said, kicking out.

"You're coming with me," Katherine snarled.

"No," John yelled out, trying to grab Elena and keep her inside

He leaned forward and roughly pushed Katherine's arms out of the car. His arms and face burnt as the sun poured in. Although it was slowly beginning to set, it was still enough to do damage.

"Drive," he urged Elena as he fought off the pain.

She pushed on the gas, but Katherine wasn't giving up. Soon she was on the hood of the car, reaching in for Elena from the roof. The car began swerving as Elena tried to fight her off, but it was hard as she began to be pulled out.

Taking a deep breath and making a fast decision, John opened the side door.

"No matter what happens, keep driving till you get home," John said quickly. "I love you Elena."

Elena had no time to react. Seconds later, he launched himself out the side and onto the roof, taking Katherine out and rolling onto the side of the room.

Elena screamed out in horror and sadness as she watched them struggle on the road, smoke slowly rising from John's body.

"No!" she cried out, tears streaming from her face. She wanted to stop, but she couldn't. Instead she sobbed quietly as she took in the sacrifice John had made for her.

OMG, tonight's episode was amazing! OMG! It inspired me to finish my chapter. Again, sorry for the wait, but here the chapter is for you. It's tying everything up now and bringing people where they need to be for the finale. Review and enjoy. Title is by Mads Langer. Cheers.