A/N: Did anyone see that Ian Somerhalder was voted sexiest beast? Hell yeah! Take that Rob Pattinson, lol. AND did you see the new pic for the third episode of the season titled "Bad Moon Rising." Hot. And I would like to randomly note that I love how they titled it as such because I have a chapter with that title…maybe they read my work. Haha. Not likely. It made me chuckle anyways. ALRIGHT, enough of me. Back to the story.


Elena didn't hear Stefan come into her room. She had called him what seemed like only minutes earlier with a brief sob ridden message to come to her house. Apparently he raced over as soon as he could as soon she felt the bed shift alerting her to his presence.

She had been lying on her bed all curled up when he gently conformed to her shape and held her close. "Elena…what's wrong?" he asked her softly, placing his free hand on her head and stroking her hair.

She composed herself a bit before she answered. "Everything. I feel like the only thing right in the world is that you're holding me right now," she said lightly. Then she sniffled and told him what had happened with Caroline.

"How did you hear about it?" he asked her curiously.

"Damon told me," she said miserably. She instantly felt Stefan tense. "He was talking to Mr. Saltzman about something and I guess he had heard it on the news and told Damon what had happened. I guess Damon thought I should know right away."

"I'm sure he was real tactful about it too," Stefan said stiffly. "Is that all Damon had to say?"

Elena closed her eyes, glad Stefan couldn't see her face. She didn't think she could ever tell Stefan what Damon did. No matter how mean he had been to her about the whole situation, she didn't need Stefan and Damon going at it. "Yeah…as soon as he told me I came in here and called you…I just can't believe she's…" but she couldn't say it. Admitting it would make it more real than she wanted.

"I'm so sorry this happened," he told her, relaxing again now that the conversation was away from Damon. "Do you need me to do anything?"

At this, she turned around so that she could face him. "Oh, this is enough right now," she said with a small grin. He returned her smile with one of his own and leaned in to kiss her.

It was weird kissing him after her encounter with Damon. It was familiar and comfortable and everything she wanted, but it felt off. She didn't know if it was because she was feeling guilty about what had happened or something else. Either way, she ended the kiss after a moment and rested her head against his chest.

Then taking a deep breath, she moved away from him and sat up. "Actually, there is something you can do…You can help me," she said earnestly. "I don't think Caroline's de….I don't think what happened to her was an accident and I want to find out."

Stefan brows scrunched together in concern. He looked like he was going to tell her something along the lines of, you need to rest or leave it to the cops. Instead, she headed him off before he spoke.

"I just need some sort of closure. I want to go downtown. Maybe visit the hospital. I want to make sure that this isn't somehow my fault," she said sounding upset.

"How could this be your fault, Elena?"

"If it was Katherine, then it was done to hurt me and it was done out of vengeance…I just can't sleep until I find out the truth…" she said. Then as an afterthought, she added: "But if you won't go with me, I'll go alone. I don't care if that bitch is out there. I need to know."

"I know you would go alone. It's how you are," Stefan said, shaking his head. "Of course I'll go with you. We'll figure it out Elena, but don't get your hopes up…and don't blame yourself either."

"Alright let's go then," she said, jumping off the bed. "Let me just go tell Jeremy I'm leaving."

Stefan followed her out to the hall and waited while she knocked.

"Jer?" she asked. When he didn't answer, she shrugged and opened the door.

"He's not here," she said confused. Then just in case, she walked over to his window, looking out to the driveway. "Ugh…but I have a feeling I know where he went."

And that idea made her remember something. Something that made her turn to Stefan with angry eyes.

"Before I forget, do you mind explaining to me the little conversation you and Jeremy had concerning a deal with a werewolf?" she asked angrily.

Stefan sighed, surprised that she had found out. "Do you want me to tell you about it now, or do you want to go downtown before any evidence, if any, fades away?"

Elena narrowed her eyes at him. She conceded with a sigh. "Alright, we go now. But just so you know, you're so not getting away with this one. You will tell me what happened with Jeremy," she said with a nod as she started down the stairs.


Damon wandered the town aimlessly. He had stopped a few times to compel a few willing ladies so that he could feed, but that was about all he had done. Well that, and stopping at a liquor store for some bourbon, free of charge. He still felt weak after all the blood he gave. Having "take-out" instead of his blood bags at home seemed like a good plan.

He couldn't get the image of Elena out of his head, both the one of her kissing him…and of the look on her face when he threw Katherine's name out there. He regretted it now, but what was done was done. So he did what he always did to cope with the feelings mumbling around in his head: he fed and drank. A lot.

He was surprised that his little wandering through town led him to the city hall building: or what was left of it. One side of the building still remained, but the back was all but gone. He could only guess that Elena's desperate plea of wanting to find out what happened subconsciously brought him here.

"This is ridiculous," he said, swiping his hand through his hair as he watched the firefighters putting their equipment away.

"I'll say…no one can burn down a building efficiently anymore, can they," Katherine said, appearing beside him. "I thought this town was good at burning things…"

Damon didn't even bother to react. He knew that if she wanted to start something, she would have done so already. He should have lashed out at her angrily for what she had done to Elena; for everything she had done, but he couldn't work himself into it. His little binge made him numb and he liked it that way. "Should I be surprised to see you here?"

She smiled at him, cocking her head to the side. "Wow. I'm surprised you're not trying to at least kill me or yell at me…but if you're wondering if this little fire was my doing, that's a no. If it was, there would be no building left and I'd have eaten at least half those fire fighters," she said with a chuckle.

"Then why are you here?" he said, turning to face her.

"I caught a scent on the wind…and then yours. Well, then I decided to see what you were up to," she replied.

"What kind of scent?" he asked curiously, trying hard not to examine her too closely. Although he wanted to attack her, a deep part of him still had some connection. And it didn't help that since he had just kissed Elena, he didn't want to even look at Katherine's face.

"You're curious about human affairs?" She said in surprise. "Well, I guess it's not so human this time around…smelled more like a werewolf was around. And I have a pretty good guess where to find the thing."

"How do you know it was a werewolf? I didn't think those things existed," he added. He didn't want her thinking that one was around; not if they were going to help take her down.

"I've run into a few in my time," Katherine said, probing his face with her eyes. "I don't know why you would just torch a building with nobody inside. Waste of time if you ask me."

"Were you here when it happened?" Damon asked curiously, seeing if she would answer truthfully.

"No…but I don't smell massive amounts of blood or burnt flesh, so I assume no one was involved. But enough of me and what I'm up to and blah blah blah…why are you here?" she asked, approaching Damon until she was a shoulder's length away.

"Oh, just getting a bite to eat. Getting some ice cream, giving children bad dreams…the usual. I actually wanted some smoked sausage, but they put the fire out before I got here," he said sarcastically.

"Uh huh," she said unconvinced. "So why aren't you angry at me right now, Damon? I figured that after I went after your love buddy you'd be out for my blood."

Damon narrowed his eyes at her. "If you haven't noticed, she's with Stefan, not me. Let him have his beef with you. I don't want to be bothered with his stupid affairs anymore."

She laughed aloud. "You expect me to believe that? That's funny," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "But ok. I don't mind not being attacked. But let me ask you one more question?"

"Go ahead, I've got nothing else better to do than to listen to your nonsense," he said, sounding bored.

"What is it like to have feelings like a human does again," she said, getting closer. "I mean, you made such a heart-felt confession to me that night on the porch. You care about this town… Elena…probably even Stefan. Apparently you're just mr .caring…doesn't it make you feel weak?"

Damon didn't answer, he just glared at her.

"Don't you want to feel powerful?" she said, poking a finger at his chest. "All those emotions can't be good for a person. It'll get you nowhere. Can you even feel anger anymore, or do you just like snuggling with kittens now? Are you turning into Stefan?" she asked with another jab at his chest.

In response, he grabbed her angrily by the neck as if to choke her. Seconds later, he brought his lips to hers hungrily and they embraced passionately. Katherine let out a small chuckle as he brushed his fingers through her curly hair and pinned her to a wall; never releasing his lips from hers.


Tyler's conversation with Jeremy was interrupted by the loud ringing of his phone. He read the caller id and answered hurriedly.

"Chloe," he said, letting Jeremy know who it was. "What did you find out about Caroline?"

But it wasn't Chloe's voice on the end of the phone. "Hello, Tyler," came a woman's voice.

"Who's this and why are you answering Chloe's phone?" he asked in confusion.

"This is Sheriff Forbes, and your sister has been apprehended on grounds of suspicion in my daughter's death, which you seem to know something about," she said with hostility in her voice, tinged with despair.

"What! On what evidence?" Tyler said angrily. Jeremy looked at him worriedly, not understanding what was going on.

"I don't need much…she just happened to show up at the hospital before anyone in town even knew what happened and…don't bull shit with me Tyler, I know what you and your family are….I may not understand what exactly happened tonight, but there will be dire consequences," she hissed at him.

"I don't even know what you're talking about…" Tyler started.

"MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD," she screamed at him through the phone. "Why don't you just own up to it? That's what you wanted, right? You wanted to send a message? Well it was received," she said, her voice almost breaking.

"I'm so sorry," Tyler said, almost breaking down himself. "But regardless of what you know about me, I swear on my father's grave that I had nothing to do with what happened tonight, nor did Chloe. You have to know that…."

"Well then you come down to the station and tell me that to my face, Lockwood. Either way, your sister is mine and if she tries to…escape," she said suggestively. "We won't refrain from using excessive force…You relay that to your brother as well," she said as she hung up the phone.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck…." Tyler started angrily, throwing his phone so forcefully against the wall it shattered.

"What was that?" Jeremy asked. "What's going on?"

But Tyler couldn't answer. Instead, he let the animal inside take control and he transformed.

Jeremy stood there, not daring to move. "Shit," he mumbled.

Tyler snapped his jaws at him menacingly, letting out a low growl.

"Whoa…easy. I'm not the one you need to be angry and growly at right now," Jeremy said nervously. "Calm…"

But he didn't get to finish before Tyler knocked him on the ground with a swipe of his massive paw, drawing blood. Jeremy let out a small yell. "Tyler get ahold of yourself," he said desperately, trying to shove him off him although it was useless.

Instead, Tyler just shoved him to the ground, pressing his snarling face closer and closer. Jeremy cried out, ready to strike.

Hope this chapter didn't disappoint. I was really really tired and almost didn't write a chapter today, but I forged on ahead not wanting to disappoint! But disappointment may be on the horizon. I will be away for the weekend for my Aunt's bday, so I will not be able to update again till at least Sunday night. So unless I work up more energy and write before I leave, I'm going to have to leave you hanging. Sorry! Oh and before I forget, the title of this chapter comes from the song Pain by three days grace. It suits Damon well. Anyways, enjoy and review. Cheers.