Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries, but I do own the awesome Tru Camilla-Davis.

Behind The Gray

Chapter 28: Taken Under Her Wing

"Katerina", I whispered. Pain, that is all I felt as I fell to my knees, my mind felt as if it was slowly exploding, I tried focusing on Katerina, but my vision become darkened and blurred. Slowly and painfully my memories started flooding in, until I was consumed with emotions and I slowly fell into unconsciousness.

(Serena Flashback)

I watched as Keterina consumed the life of another innocent man, "Why must you be so barbaric?" I asked her, handing her a white cloth handkerchief to wipe away the blood around her lips. "And why must you, sister, be so dull", she teased. "Because dear Katerina, being dull is the safest option for us, you do not wish to see me act like you, now do we?" I said hoping she wouldn't implore the idea any longer. "Always so secretive, my dear Serena, but one day I will be able to see that, oh, so fun side, you have been hiding from me", she smiled, as we continued on our way. "We must find a household to stay with, for dawn is almost upon us, and not all of us are a day walker as myself", I teased slightly. "Well, Serena was that you trying to be humorous, God help us, we will have to work on that", she responded with enthusiasm. "Well, at least I will be entertained", I muttered to myself. "Oh and entertained you will be, sister", she smiled as we made our way into town.

(Present)

"Oh, Dear sister . . . wake up", I heard Katerina whisper, as my eyes fluttered open, "Ugh, are you really calling me sister?" I asked, sitting up, I was no longer in the woods, but a bedroom and it was definitely not mines. "Well, what should I call you, don't really know if your Serena, Tru, Kassandra or whatever wackjob personality you have in there", she rolled her eyes, and laid next to me in bed. "Oh, dear Katerina, I will always be entertained by you", I smirked, "Well, I'm glad you have your memories back", she muttered. "Yup, and just don't think because I have some fondness for you now, that I won't rip your heart out", I hissed as I gripped her neck pinning her to the bed's headboard. "Now, now, let's not get too emotional now", she barely stuttered out. "Now, Katerina, you will answer me this, where you the one who killed my father?" I growled, "No I swear" she murmured out. "You know you cannot lie to me", I told her, as I stared into her brown eyes, "Did you kill my father?" I commanded her to answer me. "No", she whispered out. My grip loosened, as she gasped out for air. "Thank you, Katerina for being truthful . . . but that does not mean I'm going to forgive you for all you have done", I told her as I walked towards the door. "Serena . . . Tru . . . just don't leave, I've been searching for you", she pleaded, which was strange because this is Katerina I'm talking about. "If I can forgive you for orchestrating the whole fell's church fire, you can forgive me", she said catching my attention. "Ugh, God, your voice is so annoying . . . but you're in luck seems as the people I care for have betrayed me", I shrugged my shoulders. "Oh, yeah, the whole Damon and Elena thing", she smirked. "You little bitch that was you, wasn't it?" I asked, of course it was her, but it made no difference. "Well, guilty as charged . . . oh, come on, I did you a favor, we all knew it was always going to come between Damon choosing you or Elena, and now I helped you see what a monumental waste of time he is", she said, "If I weren't so pissed at this moment, I would staking you . . . let's get this right", I paused, "Don't speak of Damon like that again, or I'll swear I will kill not only you, but the toy you've been playing with", I warned, indicating towards the boxer briefs on her floor. "Fine, but don't tell me you're going to run off back to him and forgive him", she sighed rolling her eyes. "Now, Katerina I would think you would know me better than that . . . now I'm starving", I smirked, "Well, I do love this Tru, no offence but Serena was rather boring . . . how bout we get a little bite", she smirked. It's annoying how much Katerina has not changed.

"See . . . when I hear 'I'm starving', I automatically think blood, not burgers", Katerina scoffed as I took a bite out of my bacon cheese burger. "Well, we all can't just be blood sucking monsters, now can we?" I muttered out with a mouth full of burger. "Well, this coming from the monster that took out three campers a few hours ago", she said rolling her eyes. "Yeah . . . see. . . about that. . . let's not speak of that", I said snatching a handful of Katerina's fries. "So do you have any suspicions about who may have killed him?" Katerina asked breaking the silence. I nodded, "Well, you didn't do it, so that's all I know now". It couldn't have been the tomb vampires, they were all dead by that time, someone must have arrived to Mystic Falls after, but who? I was taken away from my thoughts as my cell rang. I looked down and saw Sherriff Forbes' on my caller id.

"Liz", I greeted her. "Tru? Where are you? Are you okay?" she asked, clearly worried. "Yes, I'm fine", I replied calmly. "We all have been looking for you, I'm so sorry about your father we managed t-", I cut her off, "I'm fine, just had a small bre- . . . just had to come to my senses, I left to track down the Vampire that did this . . . I hope I didn't cause you any worry", I said, biting into a fry. "Tru, you have no idea how worried we were", she said, 'we'. "I will be back to Mystic Falls in a few hours, and I will arrange everything for my father's funeral", I told her, "You need to know something Tru . . . the mayor was killed in the fire at the Gilbert's old office, so Carol Lockwood arranged to have a wake for both your father and Richard Lockwood", she paused, "and there's something you must know, Caroline was in an accident today, she's in the hospital", she sighed. "Everything will be fine . . . I promise Liz", I reassured her before I hung up the phone. "We need to go", I told Katerina as I stood up, walked towards her car.

We weren't that far out of town so the trip back only took about less than three hours, the whole ride back I couldn't help but think about, what I was going to happen next. Dad and I had always talked about what we would do in case of his death, but I never thought it would actually happen. I mean I knew we were always in danger, but I always thought I would be there to protect him, and now everything has changed. She had managed to park the car, I turned to look at her, "If you're here to cause problems, don't, I'm warning you, Katerina, do not hurt my friends, am I being clear?" I asked her. "Trust me, sis, I won't hurt the people you love", she smirked making me roll my eyes, "Yeah, don't believe you", I told her as I got out. "Tru", she called out my name, "Stop it with the whole Katerina, thing, it's getting on my nerves", she smirked as she drove away.

I checked my watch as I walked through the hospital doors; it was 6:15 in the morning. I wandered around the halls looking for anyone I could recognize when I saw Matt sitting in the corner, dozing off. I walked quietly and sat down next to him, poor thing looked exhausted. "Matt", I whispered nudging him a little. He slowly opened his eyes, "Tru . . . where have you been? Everyone has been looking for you", he said quickly waking up. "I'm guessing you've heard the news about my dad?" I asked, he gave me a sorrowful nod. "Well, enough about me, how's Care doing?" I asked, "Well, she was pretty bad earlier, but she's healing really well", she replied cheerfully. "That's great, I don't think I would be able to handle it, if anything bad ever happened to Care, love that girl", I said giving him a small smile. "Do you think I could be able to sneak in and have a look at her", I told Matt, "I don't think I can be able to handle the rest of the day without knowing that she's fine", I said walking towards her room. "I'll distract the nurse", he said walking towards the nurses office, I watched as he started some sort of conversation with the nurse, I walked into Caroline's room, hoping she would be awake. "Caroline?" I whispered as I reached her bed. "Tru, you're here?" she slightly smiled. "Well, of course, you don't think, I would let you stay here alone and have all this fun", I teased as I sat down on the corner end of her bed. "So how are you feeling?" I asked, yeah I know stupid question, but it has to be asked. "Stupid questioned", she smirked, I knew it. "Now, manner's Miss Mystic Falls", I teased.

"I can't believe I almost lost you", I whispered, as I focused on her. "Well, the good thing is that you didn't lose me today", she smiled. "Yup, I think I would go crazy if I did, I mean who else, would bluntly criticize me", I teased her. "Yup, well that's what I'm here for, and since you love how blunt I am, how about you finally fess up", she told me, yawning a bit. "Fess up about what?" I asked her. "You're hiding something, so tell me", she tried to pry. "My dad died", I whispered out. "What? How?" she said shocked, "in the same fire that took Mayor Lockwood's life", I lied to her, I don't think she would be able to handle the truth right now, or would she. I looked into her eyes, as they began to water up.

"I lied, well, not about my dad's death, he did die, but a Vampire killed him", I told her the truth. "What?" she asked, "I'm telling you the truth, Caroline, there's so much you don't know about", I said, hoping she would believe me. "You're lying", she announced. "No, I'm not Care, I'm telling you the truth, I love you too much, for you to be risking your life here in Mystic Falls, without knowing the truth", I told her. "Okay, exactly how drunk are you?" she asked, I rolled her eyes, "Any other day, I would probably say black out drunk, but today, I'm sober and telling you the truth", I told her. "Yeah, I'm not believing this", she said shifting in her bed. "Care, look at me, would I ever lie to you about something like this?" I asked her, "There's so much everyone has been hiding from you, Care", I sighed. "Then tell me the truth?" she asked.

(An hour later)

"So you're telling me, Damon and Stefan are Vampires? And technically you're some sort of weird hybrid mutt?" she asked, "Well, I wouldn't call myself a mutt", I said rolling my eyes. "Okay, and Stefan killed you?" she whispered to herself. "Yes, but I don't blame him, and you shouldn't either", I told her. "The ass killed you, why wouldn't I be mad at him, that creep of a Vamp killed you", she practically yelled out, "Care, shh, you're gonna get me kicked out", I whispered trying to calm her. "Look if you should be mad at someone be angry at Damon", I said trying to get her attention. "That ass, I can't believe he used me as a human blood bag", she hissed, "And you I can't believe you dating him after what he did to me". "Whoa, calm down Barbie, take a breather", I told her. "Okay, fine", she paused and took a deep breath, "fine, I'm calm". She turned and looked at me, her eyes awkwardly focused on me. "Do you love him?" she asked. ". . . yes . . . but everything is a little more difficult than that", I sighed. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Last night I walked in on Damon and Elena, I mean Katherine . . ." I sighed, "Well, long story short, bastard cheated on me, and now I'm pissed", I said. "That asshole, remind me to circumcise him when I get released", she announced in anger, which only made me laugh, "Remind me to never get on your bad side", I joked. "Seriously what's wrong with you, the Tru I know would have ripped his heart out already", she said. "Oh, trust me that anger is locked away for the time being, just waiting to be unleashed", I chuckled.

I was slowly starting to become nauseous, and I sighed in realization on what Jenna had told me last night, "Some things wrong?" Caroline asked, "No, it's not", I lied. "Don't lie to me, you're the only one who's told me the truth so far", she pleaded. "How do you tell someone, something, extremely life changing?" I asked. "What do you mean? How life changing?" she asked. Should I tell her, I mean I have to sooner or later, it's not as if I could tell Katerina, that's the last person I needed to tell, even though she might know if this has ever happened in my past lives, I mean from what I remember as my life as Serena this definitely didn't happen. "Umm . . . it's nothing", I said giving her a weak smile. "Nope, you are not leaving until, you tell me", she warned. "Trust me Caroline, you don't want to know", I told her, which only increased her curiosity. "Come on, I mean how bad could it be, it's not like you're pregnant or something", she joked. Awkward, and here comes the silence. "Oh, shit", was all she could say before one of the nurses walked in carrying Caroline's breakfast. "Excuse me, ma'am, you're not allowed to be here, visiting hours aren't until nine", she told me. "Well, Care bear, I'll see you later", I said awkwardly and left.

I was leaving the hospital, when I ran into Liz. "Sheriff, I just came from seeing Caroline", I told her. "Visiting hours isn't until nine", she replied. "Well, that wasn't going to stop me now", I smirked. She cleared her throat and embraced me in a hug, "Okay, well, I swear I'm okay", I told her. "Come, on, Carole Lockwood wants to see you", she said, I followed her to her car and got in. I chuckled as I noticed something, "What's so funny?" she asked, "if only my dad could see me ridding in a squad car in front instead of handcuffed in the back", she laughed, "I only arrested you once", she said rolling her eyes. "Do you mind if, we can stop by my house, so I could get something to change and maybe shower?" I asked her, "You don't have to sweetie, Damon and I brought some of your stuff over to my house", she said, I quickly turned to her, not understanding why. "Your dad and I always had an agreement, if one of us perished in any way, the other would take care of our children", she said, "Liz, you know very well, I can take care of myself", I said. "I know, but your father just died I know you are a strong woman, but come on Tru, you aren't that strong, you need someone in your life, and the best that I can offer is Caroline, and trust me, Caroline would be thrilled", she said giving me a sweet smile. "Hmmm. . . using Caroline to win this argument, that's cheating", I grinned, "fine". "Great, because I was already taking you to go get changed at our place", she said, as I noticed we were parked in front of their house. I followed behind her as we walked in and she showed me over to their guest bedroom, which I guess would be mines now. I walked over to the bed which had my suitcases laid on top, I thought It would be best just to pretend to be the grief stricken, innocent, defenseless daughter. I grabbed my most sensible black dress and laid it out. I quickly showered, changed and got ready, I was finishing the last touches when I heard a knock on the door, "Tru", Liz said opening the door, "Damon is here he-" I cut her off, "I really can't see him right now", I said, as my eyes slowly watered, I tried turning before she could noticed, but by her nod I could tell, she had seen my reaction. Damon was the last person I wanted to see, "I'll tell him, you're a little too busy, we'll be leaving in a minute". I searched for my phone, and texted the first person I could think of, 'meet me at the Lockwood's, need someone to keep me sane'.

We had arrived at the Lockwood's before anyone else had, which actually made me a little relieved, I knew that in a few hours, Tyler and I would be moved with people giving us fake sympathy. I walked up the pathway to see Tyler standing at the doorway. "Hi", I told him awkwardly I never did know what to do in this sort of situations. "I'm sorry about your dad", he told me, "Yeah, I'm sorry about yours too". Liz came up to him and embraced him in a hug and I used that opportunity to escape the awkwardness, sadly I was greeted by Carole Lockwood. "Carole . . . I am so sorry", I told her as I noticed her bloodshot red eyes. "My dear, don't, you are the one who needs the attention, I'm am so sorry about your father, he was a good man, a true hero", she added. I gave her a small smile and glanced around the room. "So from what, everyone in town knows Richard and my father both died in the father, trying to rescue people from inside", I asked her. "Yes, that is the story we have told them". I watched her eyes water up, I wasn't sure of why Richard Lockwood was affected by the Gilbert device, but I knew that pain in her eyes, and I couldn't help but feel sympathy. "Carole, I promise you I will find out why Richard was mistaken to be a Vampire, I promise you", I said reassuring her. "Thank you, Tru, I know you are a powerful woman, I know what you have done for this town and I thank you, I truly wish you wouldn't have to go through this pain, you do not deserve it", she muttered out, "and you and Tyler do not deserve this loss either", I replied. "Tru, may I ask you a favor though?" she asked, I nodded, "Will you take care of Tyler, I know he is hurting, and you are the only one that can relate to him right now", she gave me a pleading look, "Of course I will", I told her.

I noticed as people began to arrive and thought it would be the perfect time to help out Tyler. I walked over to the entrance and stood next to Tyler. "If you become to annoyed with everyone's fake sympathy, I would gladly take your play", I whispered to him, as we both greeted a family. "Thanks", he chuckled, "Just trying to make today as amusing as possible . . . can't stand all that doom and gloom", I told him. "I know what you mean . . . I mean my dad just passed away and I can't find an appropriate way to-", "grieve", I answered him, he nodded, "Yeah". "Trust me, It'll be doom and gloom for a while, but we all grieve differently, but of course the best way always involves my friend Jack Daniel's", I smirked at him as he chuckled. "Oh, I have that covered already", he smirked back. "Well, live it up, because these next couple of days, you will have an invisible get out of jail free card plastered on your chest", I added. "So where's baby Gilbert?" he asked, "Don't really know, and don't really care", I answered bitterly, "Hmm, I see there some trouble in paradise", he teased, I rolled my eyes, "Why must everyone think Jeremy and I are dating?" I asked more to myself than him. "No one thinks your dating, everyone knows you have Damon Salvatore's property written all over you", he smiled, I sighed as I remembered exactly what had happened, and how I'm eternally screwed now. "Well, I've managed to wash that off recently", I sighed. "Oh, Sorry, I didn't know you guys, broke up", he apologized, "Can't really break up if you were never together . . . and I can't be with someone who hooks up with someone I consider a sister", I muttered. I realized exactly what I have given away, as I looked up at his surprised expression, "you mean Elena?" he questioned, but before I could make up a lie, I noticed Damon walking towards us, Tyler glanced at him, and understood, "sorry, I have to go . . .", "Hide", he answered me, I nodded and walked off to the nearest bathroom. I entered and looked the door behind me, "come on, Tru, you are stronger than this", I told myself as I tried to calm down, I replayed the scene clearly in my head, from the first time, Damon had told me he loved me, when we first made love, and seeing him kiss Katerina who at that time he thought it was Elena, anger filled me at the very thought. I found myself caressing my stomach, "I'll make sure daddy will pay for what he had done to us, I promise you this", I told the microscopic life growing inside me, is it microscopic, yeah I really don't remember anything from health class which is ironically is why I'm this situation, well, somewhat I mean, how did I know I would be the only living being that would be able to mate with a Vampire, I mean it's not like I awoke up from my years of hibernation with a do and don't list. Though I really wished now, that I was smart enough to die with one, okay, now I'm just rambling aren't I? Okay now who am I asking? Oh, God I think I'm slowly going crazy. . . Okay, no I'm not going crazy, I'm just trying to ramble in my thoughts so I don't have to face everyone out there, and by everyone I clearly mean Damon in particular.

"Oh, suck it up, Tru", I told myself, as I opened the door, finding almost all of Mystic Falls here, I scanned the room and thankfully no Damon in sight, I walked back to Tyler who was still greeting everyone, and that's when I saw Katerina walking up to him, I breathe a sigh of relief, "Hello Elena", I smiled as Tyler greeted her, Tyler glanced at me and back at Katerina or Katherine whatever she wanted me to call her now. I gave him a reassuring look, and mouthed out, 'I'll be fine', as Katerina and I walked towards the living room. "Katerina, shoot I mean Katherine, I see you got my text", I told her. "Yeah, and now I'm really regretting the whole bringing you back into my life, you're smuttering me", she smirked, I rolled my eyes. "So where is your ex", she smiled, "Don't really know, and I don't really want to know", I told her, "Just don't ruin Elena's reputation, well, I mean more than you already have, unless you forgotten you somewhat look like her", I smirked back at her. "Fine, I'll be on my best behavior", she promised, "Yeah, something tells me that's not going to happen, just don't hurt anyone", I warned her. My stomach suddenly crapped up, as I rushed to the nearest bathroom, damn, occupied, I looked back as Katherine watched me closely, I walked through one of the halls and quickly grabbed one of the flower vases and hurled into it, not really caring if anyone saw, but thankfully no one but Katherine saw. "What?" I asked her. "Well, that was . . . gross", she said cringing a bit. "Oh, screw me", I spat at her, "Oh, Sweetie, I think someone already did", she smirked. Oh, God this is the last thing I need, I watched as Bonnie walked up to me and Katherine, I really wasn't in the mood, so I left both of them as Bonnie had made it closer to us.

I was walking through the crowd of people when someone pulled on my arm, I was so ready to swing when I noticed it was Jenna, "Jenna", I smiled as she embraced me in a hug. If it was any other person, I would normally shrugged them off, but I needed this right now, I mean this was Jenna, she had always been the mother I wished I had. "Tru . . . I'm so sorry", she told me, as I heard her voice weaken, I glanced up towards her face, and saw the tears streaming down her face. Damn it Jenna. "I don't know what to do", I broke down into her arms, she was the only one who really knew how I was feeling she had seen everything, she knew what I was going through, and as much as I wanted to stay strong and hate forever, I needed this, I needed this time to break down. I was slowly becoming a monster, I had just lost my dad, the only person I had in my life, my only family, and now I was stuck with the horrible realization, that I would be responsible for a life other than my own, and the person I trusted enough to let into my heart, abused it and shattered it into a million unfixable pieces. I didn't know how long we had both been in this vulnerable state, but I would assume it was long enough to catch everyone's attention, including the attention of a certain raven haired, blue eyed bastard. Our embraced finally ended and we slowly separated, I watched in fear as everyone finally decided to come up to me and give me their condolences. It was such a slow and painful process, as they all told me how great and wonderful doctor and man my father was, but they would never know, the real good he had actually done for them they would never know the real man he was.

I stood there in silence just nodding as people blurred in front of me, Damon caught my attention as he slowly made his way over to me, my heart racing with every step he took towards me, "I can't do this", I muttered out, as I ran out into the back area, not caring who I rushed passed or the fact that Damon had been calling my name as he followed me. I finally stopped as I reached an empty bench style table, as my eyes watered and tears streamed down my face. "Tru", my heart fluttered at the voice. "What do you want Damon", I hissed at him, not turning around, as my hands gripped the edge of the table. "I-I", I cut him off, "What, you're sorry for what you did, is that it", I spat at him. I turned around as I felt his eyes, scan my face. "It's not what you think It was", he said, I chuckled, did he really think I was an idiot.

"You really think I'm that stupid . . .Damon . . . I was there, I watched everything, whether or not she was Elena or Katherine the only bit that matters is that you thought she was Elena, I told you once already I will never be second best Damon", I yelled at him, my anger was finally returning to me. "So that's it, you're just going to give up", he questioned me. "Are you being serious, you're asking me this . . . I was willing to give up anything for you Damon, hell I had already given up everything for you, I love you, Damon, and I will always love you, but you have literally killed any chance for us", I told him. "Don't say that", he scoffed. "Why would I deny the truth, Damon, I am not you", I spat at him, "What is that supposed to mean?" he growled. "It means, how long have you been pining after Katherine, to only have your heart ripped out, yet I stood there every step of the way, as my heart ached for you, because Damon I have been in loved with you since, the first time, I heard your voice, saw your face, felt your presence, since 1864, and I have never stopped loving you, not when you chose Katherine over me back then and now, but there's only so much a heart can take, and I've had enough", I said as wiped the tears off my cheeks. "Tru, please, don't-", "Let's face it Damon, as much as I want your love, I will never be her for you, and I have to realize that", I told him.

"Don't act as if all you've done is sacrificed for me", he scoffed. "Are you kidding me, Damon, that is all I have done, since I've met you, I have given everything to you, my heart . . . my soul . . . me", I whispered not able to yell anymore. "Yeah, you gave me that, oh, so special gift of yours, you weren't even the best I've had", he spat at me. I gasped out, as if his words had just knocked the air right out of my lungs. "Tru . . . I-I'm so s-sorry", he tried to say, everything else was a blur as he was binned to the tree in back at him, a branch sticking out from him stomach, "Katherine", I whispered, as she growled at him. "Don't you speak to her like that", she hissed. I saw the confusion in his face, as I started blankly at him, trying to process his words, which were like daggers stabbing my heart. I stood there motionless. "Sis, we have to leave", I heard Katherine say, I couldn't move, my heart ached too much, every breath I took, felt like my last. "Tru, we need to go", she said as I felt tugging on my arm. I didn't say anything, I didn't move, I just stared at him, tears still streaming down my face, the last thing I managed to see what the hint of remorse on his face, as Katherine blurred both of us away.

A/N: I really hoped you guys like the chapter, I know it took me a while to write, but I've just been lazy lol Shout out to: GuestX11, SomebodyWhoCares, Infinity wolf, ILoveYou1978, Bluetoast, rimmalewis, kirstensmith745, ADORATIO, Tvdlover87654, Stephanietorres195, gilbertlove101, VisionInWhite, Lisadavic for commenting you guys are awesome and thanks to all those who have favorite and followed, you guys make my day. Anywho, I will update soon, next chap will be Damon POV with a little of Tru and Stefan bonding for all those who have asked for more, anywho Enjoy =)