A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*

The next morning found Damon at the boarding house. The vampire was in the library examining the device in better light but found his thoughts drifting to when he first met his untamed hunter.

New Orleans….1996

Mardi Gras was in full swing as Damon weaved through the throngs of partygoers. He always loved the Crescent City especially now with the impressive gathering of flesh and blood. His senses were in overdrive as Damon sought out his next meal. He long since mastered the skill of taking blood from humans without killing them and compelling them to forget. Usually Damon would tell them the headache and mysterious wound was from a wild night.

Now as he drew closer to the edge of the crowds, his keen sense of smell detected a powerful and alluring scent. The vampire's eyes shifted daring to expose his true nature and quickly he hid in the nearest alley. Damon took a moment to control his urge and concentrated on the sweet earthen hue. It was like nothing he had encountered yet and the powerful pull was difficult to ignore- it was akin to an addictive drug and Damon needed it running through his veins.

The vampire waited for the trail was growing stronger with each passing second as the human approached. Damon grinned and let his eyes shift and fangs extend ready to attack.

Brooklyn paused sensing the unnatural aura close by. It was a vampire but where she couldn't see with the tight packed bodies swirling all about. The hunter knew there would be more than one of the bloodsucking bastards – Mardi Gras was the equivalent to a candy shop for them. She darted through a gap between two cops, careful not to let them lay eyes on the stakes concealed in her pack. Little did they know the hunter was a silent partner in keeping the peace on this night of festivities. Her guardian, Markus DeTaurius, had connections here and informed them Brooklyn would there.

"Evening Brooklyn," the younger officer on the horse called out. Brooklyn turned and flashed a flirtatious smile towards him.

"Having fun yet?" She called out. The brunette shrugged with a lopsided grin looking like a twelve year old in the helmet and uniform.

"It's almost midnight then the fun begins," Brooklyn laughed and headed off. The young cop was privy to the supernatural and knew why she was there. She made sure he spiked the others' drinks with vervain to keep the bloodsuckers at bay. So far she had taken out four in the time she arrived about a week ago while some of her contacts took out another six.

Damon heard the soft melodic tone and smiled even further. A sweet innocent girl of about seventeen or sixteen would be delicious indeed. He remained pressed within the shadows listening to the methodic footsteps approach. The vampire couldn't wait to puncture the thin delicate skin and liberate the thick warmth that he was hungering for.

Brooklyn broke free of the crowd and slowed her pace until she was standing in front one of the old French style hotels. Bourbon Street was starting to quiet down as the cops made good on their promise to clear them all out.

Good, she thought as less witnesses was always a good thing. With stake held tightly in one hand, Brooklyn started towards the lone alleyway sensing the vampire's presence close by. Damon heard the rapid beating of her heart which sent shivers of excitement down his spine. Brooklyn swallowed the lump in throat and took a long deep breath- it was a way to calm her being before the violent storm. Her body started shaking and Brooklyn battled against herself to calm down. Why was she acting this way?

"Must be nerves," she shook it off before preparing to swoop in.

Damon could smell the tension coming from the human and prepared to pounce. Brooklyn crept along the wall and crouched against the railing waiting for the moment to show itself. Both vampire and human were like two springs- tightly coiled and ready to spring. It was the hunter who struck first.

Brooklyn lunged around the corner but Damon was ready for her and threw her against the wall. Brooklyn felt the air rush from her lungs but the hunter wasn't about to give in to the vampire. Damon flashed his fangs in the dim light but noticed she wasn't afraid.

"Your kind doesn't scare me!" Brooklyn snarled and charged. She dropped and swept Damon 's feet from beneath him tackling him to the damp pavement. The vampire was stunned at the swift fluid motions and found himself staring death in the face. Brooklyn raised the stake and thrusted it down but felt the ground beneath her vanish as Damon bucked his hips and launched her in the air. The hunter slammed against some trashcans spilling the contents around her. The stench of rotting produce and meat encircled them both as neither was giving in.

Damon sped across and pinned her against the wall. His grip was tight and slowly crushing her windpipe. Brooklyn struggled to breathe as her feet flailed beneath. Damon grinned at his looming victory and leaned in to reap his reward. But as the vampire's fangs brushed along the carotid artery he froze. Brooklyn sensed the shift in momentum as Damon slowly backed away and released his grip from her throat. The hunter watched with confusion in her grey eyes as the vampire backed away then vanished leaving her alone in the dark alley.

Present…

Damon stared at the device while thinking of that first encounter with the hunter. It was then he had begun to develop something for her but had refused to see it. He didn't have feelings for humans! They were a food source and nothing more!

"So what is it?" Elena appeared in the doorway with bag and clothes in hand.

"Don't know but whatever it is doesn't work," Damon shoved it in his pocket.

"Did Pearl say anything else about it?" Elena peered over his shoulder at the circular brass device.

"Nope, other than she thought she had stolen his vampire compass but turned out to be a mere pocket watch. Guess he was a crazy scientist after all," Damon paused before changing the subject to John.

"So have you talked to your uncle lately?"

"No," she answered shortly, "I've been avoiding him as of late and staying here at the boarding house most nights. Besides why aren't you over at Mr. Saltzman's?"

"I was going to head over there eventually," Damon flashed a brief smile as she hoisted her bag across her shoulder and headed out. He turned his attention back to the odd object when his phone blared beside him.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Damon, it's Ric," the vampire paused and smiled to himself. He hadn't heard from his other human in a few days.

"I was beginning to think you didn't like me anymore," Damon teased. Alaric shortly laughed at Damon's little joke.

"No that's not it honest," Alaric swore up and down, "Look I've been doing some digging on Elena's uncle- you interested?"

"What kind of digging?" Damon perked up, interested to learn more.

"I have an old friend from Duke who studied criminology when we were there together and let's just say he's become a very proficient digger."

"Did he find anything?" Damon paced aimlessly around the library anxious for news. If they could find something to turn the tables on John he would take it

"I had him run a check on John's cell records and he's been getting calls from a number – the same number that Elena dialed to get Isobel then the number was disconnected."

"Isobel knows John right we knew that," Damon wanted to scream at him to get the damn point but remained reserved and patient.

"Well after that he started getting calls from a new number and I had my friend run a geo-track on it and got the address- it's an apartment in Grove Hill."

"Isobel's in Grove Hill?" Damon was confused over what he was hearing. If Isobel was in Grove Hill that meant he could confront her about where Katherine was.

"I don't know. I thought we could take a look and see what we find."

"Perfect well give me the address," Damon said but Alaric quickly cut him off.

"What so you can go without me? No I don't think so!"

"Fine you drive," Damon growled in irritation, "Pick me up an in hour."

"Done."

Damon hung up and rubbed his eyes as Brooklyn appeared in the foyer. She looked tired despite the fitful rest she had the night before.

"Brook," the vampire hopped up as the hunter flashed a weary smile.

"I take it Ric's at the school?"

"As usual," his hands slid up the sides of her face drawing her in as their lips gently collided. They didn't break the tight contact between them for several seconds until Damon withdrew but stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Listen Ric and I are going to Grove Hill- may have a lead on Isobel."

"And you're going without me! No way!" Brooklyn immediately sprung to life.

"Brook….." Damon dropped his head and shook it. "I need you here away from this. Elena's going to be back shortly and Stefan's upstairs."

"What if it's a trap? What if you two fall right into the bloodsucking banshee's little claws then what 's gonna happen?"

"Brook please don't fight me," the vampire gently begged his hunter. He knew compelling her wouldn't work as the pendant dangled from her neck so another tactic was needed.

"Damon I can't just sit here while you and Ric run off to God knows what! I'm going with you and that's final!"

The hunter's stubbornness was tough to crack which left him with no other option. Leaning towards her, Damon slipped a hand behind her neck and pinched the small area behind her ear while his arm slipped around her slumping body. He watched as the hunter's eyes rolled up and back in her head while placing her on the couch.

"I'm sorry Brook," he whispered then kissed her lightly. Elena walked in to find Brooklyn unconscious on the couch with Damon hovering over.

"What happened?" Elena let the bag slide from her shoulder and hurried across the room.

"Don't worry, she'll wake up but she may be a bit pissed," Damon kissed her again before heading out to meet Alaric.

Perhaps pissed would tbe putting it lightly with the hunter...