Damon POV:

My face grew tight with hatred for that bitch, Katherine, who had caused Elena and all her loved ones so much pain.

"Tonight," Elena promised in a deadly quiet tone, and it was sick of me, but it made my dick go half-mast at her blood-thirstiness.

"Yes," I uttered, still trying to convince my dick to behave itself.

We both looked at Stefan who had yet to give his opinion. With a sigh, he leaned forward, looking around, before resting his chin in his hands thoughtfully.

"We have no plan," Stefan spoke lowly, looking between us.

"Here's a plan-I find her and rip her into edible-sized pieces and cure world hunger," I growled, grabbing Elena's hand protectively to let her know that I was on her side.

"If we go after her blindly, with guns blazing, she will see it coming from a mile away," Stefan countered more calmly than expected.

I glared at him thoroughly to let him know that I didn't appreciate him second-guessing my girlfriend when she wanted to do something, but Elena interrupted me.

"Stefan's right, Damon. We have to be smart about this," She decided, gently squeezing my hand to take away some of the pain of being embarrassed in front of her former soul mate.

Even though I was annoyed and frankly feeling rather vengeful at being reproached by Elena taking Stefan's side in front of me, I breathed evenly and dropped back in my seat like I didn't care. This issue was bigger than whatever twisted love orgy was happening at the moment.

"So, we make a plan. Then we kill her," I suggested drearily, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I felt another squeeze on my hand and realized that Elena wanted me to tone it down, but when I looked at her for reassurance, she was staring straight at Stefan, which actually did not reassure me at all.

"We'll need Stefan's help," Elena whispered, looking over at me apologetically.

I knew this would suck for me, somehow. I felt the hammer preparing itself just before the fatal blow came.

"How?"

"I think Elena wants to continue with Katherine's original plan," Stefan spoke with clarity, and I realized that he knew exactly what my girlfriend was thinking when I was still in the dark about everything.

"Like hell! No way!" I scoffed, shaking Elena's hand off of mine.

"Damon, if we pretend I'm still compelled, then Katherine will assume nothing's wrong," Elena insisted, trying to touch my bicep soothingly, but I swatted her hand away.

"You'd just love that, wouldn't you, Stefan? You'll finally get her back in your bed," I sneered, flashing my fangs at Stefan in warning.

"Is your pride worth more than her safety?" Stefan snapped, leaning even closer and invading my space.

"Guys! We're in a hospital! Now, cool down or go home and fight there. I'm done with the drama," Elena exploded, standing up and angrily striding away, likely to go back to Jeremy.

Instead of following her, I pushed Stefan back as he went to follow her. Surprisingly, he seemed more in control than me, possibly because I was way angrier than he was.

"I'm not trying to sabotage your relationship," Stefan sighed, stepping back and giving me space.

"That's not what it seems like," I growled, stepping forwards.

When we were inches from each other, I let out a deep growl and puffed out my chest to let Stefan know that I was threatened. Much to his credit, he let his head fall to his chest in defeat, so I stepped back. Finally feeling like I could think, I ran my hands through my hair in desperation. That's great. I had pissed off Elena who was already on the verge of a mental breakdown after witnessing her only brother stab himself in the neck in front of her. I was just so afraid to lose her...

"Are you sure Elena didn't get injured?" Stefan inquired softly, trying not to send me into a spiral of rage.

"Yes, I already checked," I replied with a clipped voice.

How could he think I could be so careless about her safety? Even as Jeremy was dying on the plush carpet of her bedroom and Elena screaming her goddamn head off, I was frantically checking and then rechecking her for any injuries from the pocket knife.

"There was blood on her face, though, and I thought-,"

I nearly threw my hands up in the air in exasperation. Obviously Stefan had not been listening to Jeremy and Elena's earlier conversation. For fuck's sake! How many times did we need to cover this? Elena and I were sexually active and kinky as hell! It wasn't a big deal!

"It's period blood, brother," I explained with a clenched jaw and raised eyebrows.

His face morphed into confusion and then indignation.

"On her face? What is wrong with you?" He accused in genuine disgust.

Despite his squeamishness, I wanted to make him even more uncomfortable. Possibly payback for earlier.

"Oral sex, Stefan. That's what I was doing. I know this is a new concept for you."

"Did she-?" He started, but I couldn't let him talk about my girlfriend having an orgasm, because if you talk about something, then you've seen it in your head, and I didn't want my girlfriend to be in my brother's head anymore.

"No, she didn't," I finished impatiently, pinching my nose in irritation.

"Then why were you doing it?" Stefan inquired, clueless as ever.

"Because she deserves it!" I answered immediately.

"Okay...?" Stefan murmured, still perplexed at my answer.

As I went to turn and leave this foolishness and to find Elena so I could grovel, I felt Stefan's hand on the cuff of my jacket.

"Actually, Damon, I have a plan, but I don't know if you'll like it," Stefan spoke lowly, indicating with his head that we should go someplace more quiet to talk.

"Alright. Let's finish this," I vowed, letting him lead me away from the waiting room and into the gathering shadows of the night.