Meant to post this a few days ago, but the sight was down :/

Oh well. Here it is now!

Damon put Katherine into park, and took a look around, not able to bring himself to move a muscle yet.

Everything appeared the same as it always had.

A thousand nights, just like this, were imbedded into his very blood.

From the time he could walk, his parents had brought him here, let him watch the races, hear the fights, and experience the thrill of the rush time and time again.

He was four when he threw away every toy soldier he had just so his parents would buy him the collection of hot wheels he really wanted.

He liked to compare the toy cars to the real life ones he saw on the circuit, and when his father had finally let behind Katherine's wheel, while sitting on his lap of course, he was flying with the gods.

Valhalla was the dream back then.

His father had raced it four times and won once, forever making his Grim's scythe a legend.

Damon had always longed to do the same with his Crow.

This was who he was, when all else was stripped away...not the delinquent kid they'd tried to label him in school, not the bad boy all the girl's saw him as...but this.

A racer. A fighter. A Crow.

His father's son, without question, and that had been enough.

When Elena came into his life, however, things changed.

The love they found was explosive, toxic, addicting, and so damn consuming that they were completely blinded by it.

They fed off each other, pushed each other, tore each other up while sinking their nails in so deep they would permanently be scarred.

He couldn't see it then, how he was falling, and dragging her down with him.

They were on top of the world...he shouldn't have been so surprised when they lost their balance and toppled out of control.

But they had, and he'd done what he thought was right.

He cut Elena loose and made the reserve to serve his time with his head down.

Night after night, sitting in that cell, Damon wished the crash would have killed him.

Days seemed to drag like years and they were all the same; an endless cycle of staring at walls he couldn't escape.

He watched guards beat men. He watched others be raped by gangs of four or five at a time.

He'd been grateful for his particular skill set then, even if that first fight inside had landed his ass in solitary for a half a month.

But the silence, the time alone...it wasn't good for him; a man who had once been revered by everyone he came across simply for the tattoo on his back or the stamp on his car.

He'd made a name with his hands and what they could do, on a wheel or in the ring, and until those days alone, that had seemed like all there was to life.

And then they released him and the last thing he could imagine was racing again.

The last thing he wanted was to step into a circle where the opponent wanted him in pain.

He had wanted freedom though, so he took it.

Moved to the coastal south and hid away with a nice car, the sounds of the ocean his constant reminder in the mornings that he wasn't alone in a cell anymore.

Just alone.

Sure, there were women that saw his face, his ride, and wanted him.

But even after all the passage of time, even after the regret for what he'd put them through, Damon couldn't bring his heart to let Elena go.

She was the love of his life and was always going to be.

Through Enzo, he decided the choice he made was the right one.

His Hummingbird left the circuit, finished school to follow the career she'd wanted before he'd come in and turned her world inside out.

She had moved on and he had to let her do that.

He hadn't known, about the rest, and it turns out that hindsight's a cruel bitch.

And that left them here.

With him once again back on the circuit, once again racing and drawing blood all because of someone's greed.

At least this time, it wasn't his own.

Damon reached over and grabbed his phone, sending Elena a quick text to let her know how much he loved her.

Tonight was going to change everything; for the better or the worse.

Taking a breath and gathering all the strength in his body, Damon stepped out of his car.

Music exploded around him, hundreds of voices yelling, laughing, talking about cars; engines revved and exhaust filled the air.

These were the streets of his past. His childhood.

And tonight would be the last time he would compete on them, because he finally understood that there was more to his life than this.

He pushed through the crowd, most of the people getting out of his way until he reached the place he'd told the others he would meet them.

Of course, they were all there.

Mason. Enzo. Stefan. Tyler. Even Oscar.

"You're really going to do this?" Enzo was the first to ask, his expression half awed, half concerned.

Damon nodded, "Someone has to."

"You know we have your back," Mason told him, "Wherever you need us."

"I need you on Klaus's men," he had already thought this out, "They aren't going to be too happy once this starts to go down, and I'd prefer not to get shot tonight."

Mason grinned, "They won't know what hit them."

"But wait until I'm in the ring," he instructed, then turned to Oscar, "Do you still have Elijah's contact information?"

"Elijah Mikaelson? Of course," the man gave a nod.

"Good. Call him. Let him know what's going on. All of it."

From what Damon could recall, Elijah played by the old rules, and there was no way in hell he was going to stand for his brother selling out the circuit for drug money.

"What if Klaus doesn't take the bait?" Stefan asked with a frown, "He...killed Mom. I doubt he's going to want to advertise that."

Usually, Damon would agree, but he knew the King well enough that he recognized the man's shortcomings.

"Klaus is two things above all else," he told his brother, "Greedy and prideful. He has and is getting more of everything that he wants. So all he has left to worry about is is pride. His title as King. If I threaten that...he'll take the bait."

"Or try to have you killed," Enzo reasoned.

Damon smiled darkly, "That's what you're all here for, right?"

"Klaus has been out of the ring a long time," Mason reminded him, "But he was still good. Really good. Best that you remember that."

"I remember," Damon assure him, "And yes, I know he's skilled. He's also manipulative and smart. I don't plan on underestimating him. But this ends tonight, brother. One way or the other. It ends here."

Elena knew that this was probably the wrong choice, and heaven knows she'd made plenty of them lately, but this is where she needed to be.

"Mrs. Salvatore, please," Detective Saltzman ran a hand down his face, "I can't help unless you tell me where they're going to be."

"I've already told you that I will tell you as soon as I can," she reminded him, crossing her legs.

They were sitting in his office at the precinct, where she and Damon had decided she would wait for a safety measure, until he had Klaus where he needed him.

Caroline was in the chair next to her, at Stefan's bequest, and because Elena felt better knowing Klaus would have no leverage to use against them.

"You said Damon was going to give me what I need. What does that even mean?" Alaric pressed, his frustration ever growing.

Elena didn't really blame him.

Right now, he was just another pawn in the means to their end, but this was how it had to be for everything to work out.

"I can get every officer I have to scour this city until they find the race, if that's what you prefer," Saltzman stated, reaching for his phone.

"Oh, alright," Elena sighed, "I can tell you what Damon's doing. But I can't tell you where he is. Not yet. I will take you there when I can. But you have to give him time."

"Time for what?" Saltzman pressed.

Elena threw a glance to Caroline, who's blonde hair made her chest ache with grief at her missing partner in crime.

"Klaus wants to do the run on the same day as Valhalla," she told him, and it was clear that the detective was taken aback.

"That doesn't make sense. It's his race."

"His race that is going to take the fall as a cover for his drug run," she corrected, "That information you got. Klaus leaked it on purpose so that the police would be focused on cracking Valhalla instead of his other illegal activities."

Alaric cursed, "And I suppose Damon didn't trust me to not go after the race too."

"Damon trusts you as much as he needs to," she repeated her husband's words, "But Klaus serving up Valhalla...all of our friends, all the crews...his men...that's against everything the circuit stands for and Damon couldn't live with himself if he let that happen. Not after what Klaus did to Stefan, to Lily...to Rebekah."

"Damn it, Elena," Alaric hissed, "If Damon goes after Klaus, he's going to-"

"He's going to deliver him to you."

"What?"

Elena straightened, holding the man's gaze, "Damon is at the competition tonight and he's going to fight Klaus. He's going to win. Our crew are going to keep Klaus's men off of him while it happens, and they're going to give the rest of the crowd a heads up that the boys in blue are on their way. You're going to show up and arrest both Damon and Klaus."

"I am?" Alaric arched a brow.
"You have to," she insisted, "Public misconduct. Information on the circuit, whatever charge you want to lay down. But no one can know Damon's been helping you."

"Doesn't feel much like help at this point," he grumbled.

Elena's jaw flexed, "It is if you want the drug ring. Klaus will know Damon's pissed. He'll think Damon will flip on him for freedom, so he'll want a deal first. He'll give you what you need."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then he'll be in jail and Damon will still make the pick up. We have the date and time. You'll bust them there."

Alaric leaned forward in his own chair, elbows resting on his desk.

His expression was pensive, and Elena prayed she made the right choice in coming here; in trusting this man to be one of the good guys.

"I suppose it's coincidence that I'll have to choose between busting Valhalla or busting the drug ring," he said, though the hint of a smile was now touching his mouth.

Elena shrugged, "It's your call, detective. But that's why I'm here. If you want to know where Klaus is tonight, I'll tell you. Damon's going to give you a reason to arrest him. But first, I'll need to see that paperwork you were going to draw up, giving us and our crew immunity."

The man was shaking his head slightly, but his expression was amused, and perhaps mildly impressed, "Damn, doc. You really are one of them, aren't you?"

She ignored that, "So, the papers…"

Alaric chuckled without humor, "Yes, Mrs. Salvatore. I'll get you the papers."

"Caroline messaged," Stefan spoke up, as the group had maneuvered closer to the central action.

Damon turned toward his brother, "What did she say?"

Stefan glanced over the text, "Elena got the immunity papers from the detective. They'll try to give us a little time before heading this way."

Damon nodded while trying to swallow through the tightening in his throat.

This was it; what they'd been waiting for.

He found Oscar's gaze, "You and Tyler need to be sure to put the word out once me and Klaus are in the ring. I doubt the police are going to focus much on the bystanders, but I'd rather play it safe and get as many people away as possible."

Oscar nodded and Damon switched his gaze to Mason, "Keep an eye on Marcel. He's Klaus's right hand and the biggest threat once the fight starts. I don't think the others will do much without his command. But, just in case," his eyes flickered over to Stefan and Enzo, "Watch them as well."

Once everyone knew the part they had to play, Damon scanned the rest of the area.

There weren't many tall buildings tonight, and Klaus would want to be sure he had come anyway, so it was all a matter of finding where the King had set up shop to wait for him.

He caught view of Marcel first, closer to the line of pimped out cars, and knew Klaus would be nearby.

Time was up.

With a sharp exhale, he sent up a prayer and made his way to the fighting ring, some yards away.

There were two men inside of it already, but Damon didn't have the time to wait for them to finish.

Besides, the lack of intro music told him that this wasn't a champion match, but a score building one, and that made him feel a hell of a lot better about what he was about to do.

Breaking the unofficial civil code of conduct, he pulled himself up to the edge of the ring and jumped into it.

The noises around him, the gasps, the protests, the cheers, all fell silent as he came up to the first man and easily tossed him aside, to the edge of the ring.

When the opponent saw what was happening, he immediately halted, giving Damon a what-the-fuck-bro stare.

Damon simply held up a hand, until the DJ took note of the action going on.

"Ooooh," the voice came overhead as the music quieted down, "Looks like the Crow is ready for a challenge tonight! Never one to wait your turn for the blood, were you?"

The crowd calmed and some even laughed.

But Damon wasn't here to offer them a show tonight.

"KLAUS," he called out, his voice a sharp roar that made the other's fall silent.

It only took a moment, but soon they were parting as a group of men walked down the middle.

To Damon's relief, Klaus was spearheading them, the guarded look in his eyes a betrayal to the fake amusement plastered on his face.

"Damon. I'm glad you could make it," the King spoke loudly, "Though I don't believe you're scheduled for the ring just yet."

Damon narrowed his eyes at the man, letting the hatred he felt for him seep into the adrenaline pounding through his veins.

"There's a new schedule now," he told him coldly, "And you and I have some business to take care of."

Caroline watched as Elena signed the papers the detective had given her.

She listened as they discussed the way the evening would play out.

And the entire time, all she could think about was how normal this all seemed to the brunette.

Caroline's stomach was twisted into knots, nausea rolling around with the fear in her gut that was screaming that all of this could blow up in their faces.

She was terrified, and she had been ever since Stefan was put in the hospital.

What kind of people operated so far beyond the law that they would resort to these levels of violence, just to have their way?

And she didn't understand how it was possible to even get used to this sort of life.

She expressed this to Elena once they were left alone in the office, waiting for the go ahead.

"You never get used to it," the older woman admitted, "That's why Damon's doing this. To get us out."

"I didn't think it was this bad," she admitted, sinking further into her chair, "When Stefan first brought me around it...it felt like a bunch of guys trying to play fast and furious. But now...he was put in the hospital. His mom is dead. Rebekah's dead...I don't know how I'm even supposed to-"

She cut off, shaking her head, "He just seemed to love it so much. I don't understand."

Elena reached over and took her hand, squeezing her palm, "I know that it doesn't make a lot of sense, especially from the outside looking in. But this life...it's addictive, Caroline. Stefan did love it. Probably still does. Just like a part of Damon always will. A part of me. The difference is that we have had enough happen that we can recognize the danger as well. We know that there are things that matter more than the circuit."

Caroline considered that, then voiced her main concern, "Do you think Stefan will leave it behind? Like Damon is?"

"I think he will," Elena nodded, "They've both lost too much, and Damon's not going to let Stefan fall into the same pattern he's trying to get out of. Stefan's smart and he has you. I think a lot will change after tonight."

Caroline sighed deeply, meeting the other woman's gaze, "I feel stupid for even sticking around, but I love him. I can't walk away."

Elena smiled a little, though it was more sad than humorous, "Love makes fools of us all."

She didn't miss the way Elena's hand fell to her stomach as she said this, and with all the drama going on, Caroline had almost forgotten that she was pregnant.

"But it's also what makes all of this worth it," the brunette continued, "And if you really love Stefan, it'll work out. Somehow."

Caroline sighed deeply, "I hope you're right."

"So do I."

Damon had the crowd's full attention now. Every eye was plastered to either Klaus or himself, listening intently to the conversation, and the King was well aware of that fact.

"The only business we have," Klaus stated, "Is your preparation for Valhalla."

A few supporting cheers followed that, but Damon didn't take his eyes from Klaus.

"There's a bit more than that, your majesty," he spat with a nasty tone, "And I'm sure we can afford to give all the people here a good show, don't you think?"

More cheers.

"After all," Damon smirked bitterly, "It's been a while since they've seen their King fight in the ring."

Klaus was pissed now, clearly reading Damon's intent, but all that showed of it was the tightening of his mouth into a straight line, "Another time, perhaps. Tonight is about the final scores. But good luck to you, Crow."

Answering protests and cheers as Klaus began to turn away, and Damon knew he would have to do better.

"I didn't know the King ran from fights," he called out, falling back to the old goading tactic, "What's the matter, Klaus? Afraid I'll take your title? I mean, I don't blame you. I did out score you in your last competitive year, didn't I?"

As intended, his words had brought Klaus to a halt, and the crowds echoing "ooooh" was only more encouragement for Damon to get what he was after.

The King turned, arching a brow, "I think you're getting a little big for your wings there, Crow. You might want to reconsider your tone before I turn my attention to a much smaller bird."

The subtle threat to Elena ran fire down Damon's spine, and his next words burned with it, "If you're too scared to fight, I'm sure everyone here will understand. I just never took the King for a coward."

A murderous, betraying coward.

"You've dreamed of this for years," Damon's teeth flashed as he taunted the man, "So step into the ring, Klaus. Have a go at my wings with your own two hands, for once. It'll be the only chance you get."

The crowd waited. Damon waited.

Then finally, slowly, a smirk broke across Klaus's face and he strode forward, "Have it your way, Crow. We'll settle this by the old rules."

He was at the ring now, pulling himself into it as the people around them yelled their excitement.

Damon smiled just as darkly, his crow ring heavy on his middle finger, "It will be my pleasure."

I'm obviously not a law student and the only thing I know about police work is from SVU and google lol.

So forgive me if not everything is accurate on that front ;)

Otherwise, I hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know what you thought!