A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*
"Brooklyn what are you doing here!"
Brooklyn didn't answer as she descended the steps and crossed the room. Her eyes never wavered from Damon's, keeping hold the cold traction shared between them.
"Brook," Alaric reached out towards her but the hunter brushed aside his hand, determined to get answers from her undead lover.
"Damon what are you doing?"
"What are you doing here Brook? You shouldn't be here."
The biting edge of the vampire's tone softened slightly towards the hunter as she stopped inches from his face.
"You don't have to do this," she shook her head.
"He will kill me the first chance he has," Damon snarled through gritted teeth.
"Damon you struck first," Brooklyn hashed back with equal intensity. "You're the one who stabbed him with the silver knife."
"Did you know he's working with Katherine?" Damon watched as Brooklyn's face collapsed in disbelief.
"No," she shook her head, "No because then Mason would be lying to me when he swore he wasn't hiding anything….."
Brooklyn shoved Damon aside and gripped Mason's arms until her nails dug painfully into his skin. Mason winced in pain as Brooklyn blocked out his whimpers.
"You lied to me," she couldn't disguise her feeling of betrayal. "You told me to my face you weren't keeping anything else from me! Why? Why Mason?"
Mason watched her eyes change from soft smoky hues to dark angry grey. Behind her, Damon leered over her shoulder as she confronted her friend.
"Brook I should've told you but…"
"Save it," she snapped. "You don't know what Katherine has put us all through do you! Katherine Pierce is nothing more than manipulative little bitch who will use anyone she can if it means getting what she wants. Whatever she told you it won't happen."
"She promised him you," Damon rested his chin comfortably on her shoulder. "Katherine said she would offer you up to Mason in exchange for the moonstone."
Brooklyn fought to practice great restraint but felt her arm snapping across and decking Mason square in the jaw. Tears streamed down her face as she straightened up but didn't back away. The anger welling within was too strong to ignore.
"Do you realize that you almost got Damon and Stefan killed? Stefan is my friend! And Damon! I love him!"
Mason looked up as the hunter made her heartfelt confession. She was in love with Damon!
"Yeah that's right," Brooklyn nodded, "I'm in love with a vampire!"
"How? Why?"
"You wouldn't understand," she sadly responded.
"And Alaric?"
A faint smile danced across her lips. "I'm in love with him too."
Alaric grinned from across the room as Brooklyn laid her heart out for all to see. Jeremy couldn't but help to admire the hunter for divulging her feelings like that. He secretly wished he could do something so bold like that.
"Mason how could do this? I'm your friend! I believed what you told me and that you were honest with me on everything!"
"Brooklyn listen to me please!"
"Why should I? Give me one good reason why I should!"
"Because you said you saw the good in me," he hung his head in shame.
"And I still do but what you did…" she waved her hand around, "What you did was unforgivable. How could you do that to Stefan and Damon?"
"It's kill or be killed Brook!"
"It doesn't have to be that way," the hunter shook her head. "On the full moon Stefan and Damon could steer clear of you and…"
"No way! Out of the question!" Damon snapped angrily. "There is no way I'm going to share this town with the fur ball! This is my town!"
"Damn it Damon this is why we're standing here now! You just had to prove some vampire macho crap and where did it get you! You were nearly killed!"
Alaric felt the sharp shooting pain race through his heart as Brooklyn's angst slammed against him like bolt of lightning.
"Damon for once in your life think of someone other than yourself!"
Damon glanced over towards Alaric who was crossing the room towards him.
"Ah come on Ric not you too! You can't be serious!"
"I don't condone what Mason did but we have to end this. Has torturing him brought you one step closer to Katherine? No it hasn't! This sick obsession of yours is hurting Brook. Look! Take a good hard look into her eyes and tell me you can't see her dying inside."
Damon forced his eyes up to Brooklyn's and caught the affliction that dominated her eyes.
"Damon please," Alaric beseeched the vampire. "Don't do this."
Brooklyn placed hand upon his shoulder and gently turned him towards her. Damon couldn't but help to stop and stare as she offered her own plea.
"I know what Mason did was wrong but tormenting him is not getting you anywhere. Please stop your witch hunt for me?"
It appeared that maybe hers and Ric's words were reaching the vampire for Damon stood and weighed his options. He could kill Mason and in return have Brooklyn probably hating him or not kill Mason and have him continue to hunt him down and possibly kill him the first chance he got.
"Sorry," he whispered quietly to his hunter. "I can't take the chance of him hurting you."
Brooklyn shook her head and dove towards the chair. She blocked Mason with her body as Damon halted right before her.
"No," she continued blocking his path, "I won't let you do this."
"Get out of my way Brook," Damon's eyes turned and fangs extended.
"You don't scare me," she shook her head.
"Damon don't!" Alaric reached for the vampire but Damon leapt forward knocking the chair over and taking Mason and Brooklyn to the ground. Brooklyn felt her body slam violently against Mason's, landing on top of his face and upper torso. The vampire fisted her shirt and jerked her upright and away from Mason.
"Don't try my patience Brooklyn," he growled dangerously.
"Damon," Jeremy lunged forward only to have Alaric grapple his arm and swing him back and away from the pair.
"Ric what the Hell?"
"Don't," he warned the teen. They watched as Damon's face returned to normal and his grip relaxed against the hunter.
"I can't and won't hurt you," he knew she may not believe him after he ruthlessly snapped her neck. "But I refuse to let him touch you."
He pointed a finger at Mason as his eyes turned dull and cold. Brooklyn knew he was serious but she refused to relent to her lover's anger. He was acting like a child in her eyes.
"And I refuse to stand here while you act like a 5 year old!"
Brooklyn turned around and looked to Alaric for help. "Ric…."
Alaric slid his hands along the sides of her face and gently stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. A sad expression darkened his face as he spoke bluntly to his hunter.
"I know you think of him as a friend Brook but he tried to kill Damon. He is willingly working with Katherine. Mason wants you and will rip us apart. Do you want that?"
"No I don't!"
Brooklyn looked to Mason who continued to gaze upon her with deep pleading eyes. She could feel his vulnerability bleed into her soul and wrap around her like a shroud. Chills shot down her spine causing her to shiver despite the protective warmth of the roaring fire. Her eyes were fixated upon the dancing ribbons of yellow orange and blue.
"I'd like to talk to Mason alone for a moment."
Alaric and Damon traded worried glances at her request.
"Why?" Damon firmly gripped her shoulders.
"He's restrained and won't do anything. Besides you'll be able to hear every word we say. I know you that well."
Damon didn't want to leave her alone with Lockwood but on the other hand Brooklyn did have a point. Mason was tied down and not exactly going anywhere any time soon.
"Fine," he folded and started up the steps. Jeremy followed but Alaric stayed behind.
"Are you sure you'll be alright alone with him?"
Brooklyn nodded and forced a weak smile. "Yeah I'll be fine."
Alaric could sense some uncertainty from her but kept his thoughts silent. The tension was running high enough as it was and there was no need to ignite the spark.
"Alright," he nodded and slipped away leaving Brooklyn alone with Mason. She waited until the door was closed before she spoke but knew it was futile with Damon eavesdropping on the other side.
"Please help Tyler," he beseeched the hunter. "I don't want him to suffer as I have."
"And we're gonna do what we can to stop him from experiencing the living hell you are now."
"Brook I never meant to hurt you! Please believe me."
Brooklyn dropped to his level and encased a hand with one of his. She felt the rough warmth of his hand run along her softer smaller one. Mason had a soulful but sad smile etched up on his lips.
"I know you didn't," she whispered. "But I nearly lost two very important people because of your actions."
"They're vampires Brook! In case you forgot werewolves and vampires don't make great neighbors. We don't exactly get together for barbeques and fireworks on the 4th of July."
"I'm well aware of that Mason but I thought you were above that."
Mason didn't respond and instead looked over towards the fire. He knew the hunter held his fate in her hands.
"Damon has made it painfully clear he doesn't want to share this town with my kind. He won't let me go."
"Mason don't think like that."
"No Brook it's the reality of it," he shook his head. "If you had not arrived I would be dead by now. Look I know I won't make it out of this house alive so please….."
"No," Brooklyn adamantly shook her head. "No I won't do it!"
"Please," he begged her. "Please end it; end my suffering."
Brooklyn looked away as her chest tightened and eyes stung with hot tears. She couldn't comprehend what Mason was asking of her!
"I can't," she turned around with streaks adorning her flush tinged cheeks.
"You have to," his voice was steady but mournful.
"Why don't you just leave? I mean you could go back to Florida."
"Wouldn't do me any good," Mason huffed, "Katherine will hunt me down and make me suffer if I run."
Brooklyn knelt down and felt his torment and afflictions coursing through him. He didn't ask for this and now he was staring Death in the face.
"I just wanted to say that you were a true friend to me," he spat up more blood. "You saw the good in me even now as I betrayed you."
"Please don't talk like that," Brooklyn wiped her eyes.
"I know you carry a gun. Please…..please do it."
Brooklyn started to sob quietly not caring if Alaric and Damon could hear her. Her heart was breaking over Mason's agony and heartache. She slowly traced her fingers along the waistband of her jeans until they came to rest on the comfortable form of her gun. One to the heart and one to the head would be would swift and merciful – something Damon wouldn't give him. Her fingers hesitated to slip the weapon from its resting place.
"I wish I could do something," she sobbed.
"You are," Mason nodded through his own tears. "I won't be suffering anymore. I won't hurt you anymore."
"I just can't!"
"Damn it Brook! Please!"
Brooklyn couldn't hold back and felt her emotions taking over. Mason wanted nothing more than to break free of his chains and offer her a warm embrace.
"Before you do it….I have one last request."
Mason watched as the gun hung by her side, like it was always meant to be there, a friend in times of war and times of peace.
"What is it?"
"To share but on kiss goodbye."
Damon wanted to charge in there but Alaric held him back. "Give him that much. Brooklyn is about to take his life and it's the least she can do to ease his pain."
The vampire cast a look at him before jerking his arm back and listening in.
Brooklyn weighed his last desire knowing it would anger her vampire. But Mason was helpless and he couldn't do anything to harm her.
"Alright," she replaced her gun. Mason inhaled her deep intoxicating scent, knowing it would be the last time he would be surrounded in such an aura. Her vanilla cinnamon wash danced gently across his nose while the rich earthen scent of her body saturated every fiber and cell of his being. Her rich smoky hues reflected sorrow and sympathy for him as the space between them grew smaller.
The hunter leaned in and carefully took his face within her hands. Mason smiled with gratitude as she gently pressed her lips to his. He gently slipped his tongue between her lips and teeth, shivering in excitement when he felt her relent. How he wished he could hold her tight even if it was for a split second. The carnal need within slowly rose to the surface, but Mason fought it off save for a lone tooth that sharpened to a perfect needle point.
Something to remember me by…..
The hunter felt a tiny prick as she drew back but didn't think anything of it nor did she notice the tiny droplet that sat on the tip of her tongue.
Mason sadly nodded as Brooklyn let her fingers dance across his face one last time.
"Do it…..I will never forget you..."
BANG! BANG!
Damon Alaric and Jeremy rushed in to see Brooklyn standing over Mason's dead body. Gunpowder hung heavily in the air as the hunter stared blankly at the man's limp body. One perfect circle tore through his chest as another had ripped the space between his eyes.
"Brook," Alaric called out as Damon rushed down the steps. The hunter stood frozen in place with only her tears of grief rolling freely down her face.
"Brook," Damon carefully plucked the gun from her fingers finding no resistance. "Brook look at me."
He turned her face to his and spotted the thin cracked lines that crisscrossed her eyes. Her chin trembled as she resisted the emotions that were bottled within. Damon saw how deep Mason's death was affecting her and realized his actions had perhaps gone too far.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. Brooklyn collapsed into his arms and slowly broke down.
"I didn't want to do it!" She wailed against his shoulder. Damon knew he had to share some of the responsibility but didn't reveal it to anyone.
"I know," he answered. Alaric gently pried her away and enveloped her in his waiting arms. Such a burden for someone to carry! Her soul was in mourning and heart shattered over the loss of someone she called friend. Her pain was greater than his when he learned of Isobel's deceit.
"Come on Brook," he gently led her away leaving Damon and Jeremy to clean up the mess.
I don't think anyone saw this one coming!
