A/N: As promised, a week later! I loved all your reviews. Thanks so much! Time for shout-outs!
DelenaLover44: Aw! Thanks so much! I missed you guys too! I'm so happy you loved it!
debs2000: LOLS! Thanks for the welcome! Alaric will help her escape, as shown in the prologue. In fact, we are reaching the prologue very soon. And Katherine did catch the hunter, as you will find in this chapter. Thanks so much for the review! Your last two reviews really gave me the smiles I need, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Rasha007: Thanks so much for your review! Don't worry; I've updated, and all the answers to your questions can be found in this chapter. :)
bellax0xchristina: First of, thanks so much for your review! It made me smile. And I love the predictions you made! All I can say is that you're onto something…thanks again!
MusicLover500: Thanks for the review for the last chapter. And thanks for saying you don't mind the long wait. Life's been very hectic lately, so it's been hard to find time to write. But I admire your patience. Thanks so much :)
Before we move on, let me just say this. A lot of you thought that Cooper is Klaus. He is not Klaus. However, I wouldn't dismiss that idea so quickly. Also, I want to thank all who prayed for and sent their wishes to my great grandmother! Hopefully your prayers won't be in vain.
I apologize firsthand for any grammar mistakes.
Disclaimer: Only this story is mine. No copyright infringement intended. So please don't sue."
Chapter 27: Stand By Me
She took in a deep breath. "Because that's what they do," she said in a small voice. She quickly glanced at the stairwell, where she could see Damon standing on the steps, using the banister for support. He still looked pretty weak. He had a serious look on his face as he watched her say her next words. "Because that's what vampires do. They drink blood."
The air in the room was so uncomfortable; it physically pained her to look back at her friends' faces. Each of their faces where a batch of expressions molded all together: shock, ridicule, uncertainty…and most of all, fear. "That so did not just come out of your mouth," Caroline whispered. "Elena…this isn't a joke. Tell us the truth!"
"She isn't lying," Damon said as he walked into the room. There was a slight limp in his walk as he made his way over to Elena's side.
Ric stood up abruptly and took a step forward as Caroline and Jeremy sat up in fear. Ric tried to ignore the small stumble he endured in the process. "Get away from her," he said in a slurring, yet menacing tone; the alcohol was still in his system.
Damon rolled his eyes. Elena took a step forward and held her hands up in front of her. "He's not a threat to any of us, Ric. Please."
"Are you kidding me?!" he bellowed. "Elena, get away from him! This is Salvatore; you know what he's capable of. You know what he's done!"
"Exactly!" She snapped back. "I know him, better than anyone else in this room, and if there's anyone whose judgment you should trust the most, it's me! Now I said Damon is not going to hurt us, and I meant it!" She turned to Damon. "Right?"
He glanced at her and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
Caroline shook her head. "I can't believe this," she breathed out.
"I wouldn't lie to you," Elena pleaded. "I wouldn't mess around, especially about something like this."
"I don't understand," Ric said slowly, shaking his head. "You're telling us…that he's a…vampire?" He paused. He glanced at Damon. "That's not possible. Are you kidding me?"
"But it is," she implored. "I know it. Believe me; I know how you all feel. I was practically traumatized for days when I found out. But I've known this for over a month now, and I can tell you that-"
"You've known for over a month?" Caroline glowered. "And when were you planning on telling us, then? When you see him chomping down on my neck for a midnight snack?!"
"Excuse me," Damon scowled. "Now I'm offended! I don't chomp! I bite; there's a difference!" He scoffed.
Jeremy shook his head. "Look," he stood up slowly. "We're all drunk, we don't know what we're saying, so we're-"
"I'm not that drunk," Elena snapped at him. "I know exactly what I'm saying." She turned to Damon. "Can you show them?"
Damon raised his eyebrows, understanding what she meant. "Elena…are you out of your mind?"
"Please," another tear ran down her cheek. "There's no escape from this. You can't compel them right now, and if we don't do something, they'll call the police, and we don't know where Katherine is, so we can't have her compel them," she whispered. "Please. Trust me."
Damon gave her a hard glare for a moment. She could tell that he was thinking about something, but because they weren't the only ones in the room, he bit his tongue. He kept his glare on her eyes as his pupils began to dilate. The dark red veins slowly started to appear.
"Oh my gosh!" Caroline gasped. "What the hell- his eyes! Look at his eyes!"
Ric slowly sat back down on the couch with an expressionless look on his face as he looked on. Jeremy was completely motionless. His face turned an inhuman shade of white. "Elena…" he couldn't finish.
Damon cleared his throat. He stood there in front of them all in his true nature, shameless and unafraid. "Is this proof enough for you?" He smiled.
After a long moment of silence, Alaric spoke. "Vampire," he winced upon saying the word, "or not, he's still dangerous."
"No he's not." Elena shook her head. "I'll admit it; he's done some bad things, but he's not all bad."
"Are you serious?" Jeremy laughed in spite of himself. "Are you telling us that this-this monster," he scowled in disgust, "has an ounce of goodness in him?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Elena stepped forward. "After all, Damon's the reason you're still alive."
Another silence loomed in the air once Elena spoke her words. Everyone's faces turned white in shock yet again, something that was beginning to annoy both her and Damon.
Jeremy spoke first. "What?"
Elena took another step towards him. "The night of the car accident," she said softly. "You were struck on the head. Mon died from the impact, but Dad was still alive."
"How do you know this?" Jeremy whispered. "How do you-"
"Damon was there," she answered. "He saw the car go down. By the time he got to you, you were conscious, Mom was dead, and Dad wouldn't let Damon save him unless he saved you first. He went in after you and saved you. By the time he got to Dad…it was too late."
"That's…that's impossible," Jeremy whispered, his voice breaking.
"You don't remember, but it's true. Think about it; your seatbelt was torn apart. Not even the police could explain how you survived. You were miraculously unharmed by the time you got to the hospital. He healed you with his blood, and because Damon's a vampire, he doesn't age, which is why he was there in the first place." She let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "It's some of his powers." She turned to Caroline. "I lied to you…that night when you needed a ride from the bar…a man tried to attack me." Caroline glared at her now not with shock, but with sympathy and regret. "Damon was there. He saved me." She took in a deep breath. "I know you all have a preconception of him, and I know that Damon has done many bad things; I'm not denying it nor excusing it, but all I ask is that you give him a chance. Please."
"Elena," Alaric sighed. "I understand what you're asking for, but you need to understand I-"
"This is too much," Jeremy said unexpectedly as he stood up and stormed to the door. "I'm tired of all these lies, all this bullshit!" He turned back at Elena briefly. "I always knew you were spending too much time over at the nuthouse with all those lunatics! Now you've become one yourself! Well, if it makes you happy, then fine!" He raised a finger and pointed menacingly at Elena's face. "But don't you dare bring mom and dad into this!" He stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him. The movement caused the house to shake, symbolizing his still-present anger.
Elena turned to Alaric. "Ric, please, I-"
"I'm going to trust you enough to get him back to the asylum before morning," Ric said in a low voice. "After hearing what I just heard, maybe I am too drunk to deal with this tonight. Goodnight, Elena. I'll call us a taxi, Caroline. Now that I think about it, it wasn't a good idea to drive here in the first place. " He turned around and walked to the front door. He stumbled a few times, but managed to walk to the front door and close it behind him.
Elena turned her attention to the no-longer perky blonde. "Care?" She was her last hope, the last one standing.
Caroline glared at her, then at Damon. Her face held an expression of fear and trepidation. "Elena…can I speak with you, please?" She paused and glanced at Damon. "Alone?"
Elena thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be right back," she whispered to Damon as she walked slowly out of the living room with Caroline. She clung to Elena's side like a terrified puppy, no doubt because Dam was not too far away.
Once they reached the end of the hallway, Elena turned to Caroline. "Just so you know," she folded her arms across her chest, "vampires have super hearing."
Caroline scoffed. "Look, I need to ask you something, something I suspected before, but I dismissed it then because I thought it was impossible…but now I'm not so sure. Are you in love with him?"
Elena looked her straight in the eye. "Yes."
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "And you think he loves you?"
"I know he loves me, Caroline," she retorted. "Why would you even ask me that? Just a few days ago, you were happy I was with someone."
"Well, that was when I thought you meant some human!" Caroline sighed. "I just…I just can't believe what I'm hearing! What I just saw!" She ran her fingers through her hair. "Elena…I'm not mad that you're dating a vampire. Trust me, when I was a teenager, I dreamed about having my own werewolf boyfriend. But…but this isn't television, ok? This isn't a movie! This is real life!" She pointed at Elena. "And you've seen what he's done! You know what he's capable of! He's a murderer! Don't forget where it is that you found him!"
"He's not perfect!" Elena hissed. "I know that! But just give him a chance, just like I did, and I promise you'll-"
"No. No, Elena, I can't. I can't do that. What you're asking me to do…Everything you just said in there…it's too much!" She turned around and started to walk out of the house.
"So you're going to walk out on me too?! After all we've been through?!" Elena shrieked from the top of her lungs. Caroline stopped a few feet before reaching the door. Elena saw her shoulders shaking; she was crying. "Don't leave me, Care," Elena pleaded as new tears ran down her cheeks. "Please."
Caroline shook her head for a few moments, unable to turn around and face Elena. Without saying a word, she wrapped her hand around the doorknob and pulled it wide open. She walked out without even closing the door and dashed down the porch steps to the waiting cab. Before she got into the cab, she gave Elena once last glance. Her cheeks where noticeably moist and cool in the night air, but it stung her with the hurt of betrayal as she watched Caroline climb in and close the door. It hurt even more as the cab drove down the road.
"Elena?" she heard Damon's voice behind her. "Are you alright?"
Elena shook her head. "No." She turned to face him and gave him a sad, tearful smile. "My brother hates me, my own best friend just walked out on me, and Alaric…" She shook her head again. "But I'll manage. I always do." She placed her hand over his chest, where the wound was only minutes ago. "I can't tell you how happy I am you're okay," she sobbed.
Damon wrapped his arms around her in a fierce, comforting embrace. "I'm sorry. I should have been able to compel them."
Elena shook her head. "It's not your fault your powers are acting up. It's Cooper's."
Damon nodded. "Speaking of the soon-to-be-dead human," he sighed as he grabbed a nearby jacket and handed it to Elena. "We're going to have to Bree's house. Katherine called me."
"She caught him?" She asked.
He nodded. "Him, and his little accomplice," he sighed. "I was right; he has a witch helping him. We should get over there. I'm in an interrogating mood."
"Alright," Elena nodded. "Let's go."
"Wait," Damon grabbed her arm. "Can we use your car? Remember, I'm still recovering; I can't blur us there."
"Yea sure," she grabbed her keys off the table and walked over to the car.
Damon POV
Within minutes, they were on the road, on their way to Bree's house. Elena sat silently on the passenger seat, staring out of her window, lost in thought. Damon occasionally glanced at her, silently wishing he had the ability to hear her thoughts.
An answer to her prayers: she spoke first. "When we were little," she spoke, "Caroline and I…at first we didn't like each other. She was too peppy for my taste, and she saw me as too aggressive. One day after school, two girls in our grade tried to jump her afterschool. She was naturally a target," she smiled as the cool wind hit her face. "I had to stay afterschool that day because I was bad. The teacher held me back thirty minutes after dismissal and called my mother to tell her. When she finally let me go home, I took the long way home, since I wasn't exactly looking forward to being grounded. And there they were," she closed her eyes. "Two girls, pushing Caroline around. I went nuts. These girls had a reputation or bullying, so I took the opportunity to give the girls a taste of their own medicine. I got a few bruises, but I won." She opened her eyes. "Caroline and I became friends after that. We made a promise to each other: we'd never leave the other's side. It was us against the world…no matter what or who came our way." She turned to Damon and smiled sadly.
He glanced at her. "She'll come around," he assured her. "Do you think she'll tell?" It slightly pained him to ask her, but he had to know, though he knew in the back of his mind that compelling them was still an option, whether it was him, Katherine, or Stefan that had to do it.
Elena shook her head. "No…I don't think so. Besides, I don't think Alaric would let her risk the integrity of the asylum. And I doubt anyone would believe her."
He reached over and grabbed her hand in an effort to comfort her.
"You know…I'm kind of happy I told them. It's funny though. There was always a small part of me that hoped that they'd understand…that they wouldn't walk out on me or hate me." She laughed in spite of herself. "That was stupid of me." She glared out of the window again. "Jeremy hates me," Elena muttered. "He always blamed me for what happened…and now, he's blaming himself as well."
"What makes you say that?" Damon inquired.
"I'm a psychologist, remember? I studied his reaction…" she drifted off.
"Your brother loves you. He's just been hit with something he didn't expect. We'll think of something, honey," he whispered. "Just hang in there."
She didn't reply; she didn't have to. He knew why she did it. After all, he knew all too well how living a lie could destroy a person.
A/N: Next chapter will be very eventful. I apologize if this chapter was too short. I will try my very best to update as soon as possible. Please let me know your thoughts!
