Chapter 51 WHN
"Wait, what?" Caroline stared at Tyler, confused as he paced the room.
"Damon's human. The cure is in his blood." He said for the third time as her head spun.
"But, how?" She shook her head, lost for words.
"Does that really matter? Care, we have an opportunity. Roz said that when she was drinking from him, every bone in her body told her that if she drank enough she'd break the sire bond. If that's true, then we could all be free from Klaus."
"But, how much of his blood would you have to drink?"
"That's what we need to find out. We need to get to him and test it. If it does work, we could force that blood down Klaus's throat and maybe make him human again. Then I can finally kill that bastard." Tyler sighed and folded his arms, leaning back against her dresser casually.
Caroline grabbed her phone from beside her on the bed and rapidly typed in Elena's number.
"What you doing?"
"Calling Elena."
"What for?"
"What do you think? I need to know what's going on."
"Care…" He pulled the cell from her hand and hung up as it wrang. "Maybe we should leave Elena out of this."
"You know we can't do that Tyler. She's my best friend and Damon is…whatever he is to her. We can't just kidnap him."
"Care, this could be the answer to all of our problems." He said exasperated and she swallowed nervously. "Do you think for even a second that if the roles were reversed Damon would hesitate to grab me and drink me dry?"
She looked down at her hands and closed her eyes for a second.
"Of course he wouldn't. He doesn't give a damn about anyone but Elena. He wouldn't pass this opportunity up to get rid of Klaus and neither will I. I can't Care. I can't stand by and let him continue to use us all as slaves. I won't." He said resolutely and she sighed in torment.
She didn't know what to say. She knew he was right, but if Damon was harmed or killed, how would Elena and Stefan ever forgive her for her involvement in it? As much as Klaus was harmful and she hated him too, the thought of Tyler killing him made her feel unsure. Klaus was so different with her. She could see that there was more to him than the monster he played for everyone else. Should they really stand in judgement and decide that he should die? Wouldn't that make them guilty too?
Tyler watched as the wheels in her head turned and he put her cell back down on the bed.
"What I need to know, is if you are with me on this." He said and she absent mindedly looked towards the vase of flowers Klaus had left on her nightstand.
Tyler took them in, noticing them for the first time and he squinted.
"Where…?" He frowned and then he clicked and looked back to her in accusation. "He was here? He brought you those didn't he?"
"He just wanted to make sure I was ok." She defended weakly, blushing as she thought on this kiss they had shared, innocent as it was.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Tyler threw his hands up exasperated as his blood boiled. "Is that why you're conflicted?"
"What?" She frowned.
"Because of him? You don't want me to kill him do you, even though he's ruined my life, ruined the lives of all of the pack?" He shouted and she held herself as he shook his head.
"It's not that."
"Then what is it Care? What is this thing between you? Don't pretend it's not something because I've seen the way he looks at you. I'm not blind!"
"That's exactly what it is!" She raised her voice too. "The way he looks at me. I don't feel that way for him. You know that!"
"Then why aren't you excited about this? Why aren't you helping me get rid of him?" He demanded and she got out of bed and began to dress angrily.
"This has nothing to do with feeling for him, this is about how I feel for you! What will this make you, if you kill him? What will that do to you? Yeah, you'll get rid of him, break the sire bond and then what?"
"What do you mean?" He frowned.
"If you kill the most powerful, dangerous person on the planet, what will you want to next? Who will you want to conquer or avenge next? This isn't who you are Tyler. You're not a killer." She explained and they stared at each other in silence for a few minutes.
"If Damon's blood can turn Klaus human, then why not be satisfied with that? The bond will break, he'll be terrified and flee and we can get on with our lives."
"I can't do that when I'd know he was out there somewhere. He deserves to die."
"All I hear from you is hate these days. If you kill him you'll feel happy for a while but it won't change anything that he did to you. You won't feel satisfied forever and you'll find something else to fixate on."
"Fixate?" He gasped astonished she'd use that word.
"You do. He's all you talk about. I don't feel like I even know you anymore. Why can't you love me, more than you hate him?" She demanded and he softened and shook his head slowly.
"I do."
"No, you don't, even Klaus can see that. He uses it against you and you let him because you won't face that."
"Care…" He sighed, feeling lost and they fell into silence again.
"Stefan is my friend. Elena is my best friend. If I help you with this, Damon lives ok? Promise me." She said calmly and Tyler chewed his lip. "We shouldn't get to decide who lives and who dies Tyler. None of us should have that power."
He nodded begrudgingly and she turned towards her mirror to freshen up her makeup. He left the room slowly, annoyed and aggravated. He would try his best to keep her happy, but if Damon's death was necessary, he wasn't going to stand in the way.
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Rebecca talked constantly on the drive to New Orleans – little quips here and there about how ill fated the eternal love triangle Stefan, Elena and Damon found themselves in was. Elena did her best not to let it affect her as she grounded her teeth down.
"So what's the plan anyhow? Want me to hold her down while we torture the info out of her?"
"The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree does it?" Elena remarked, anticipating some scathing retort from her but instead Rebecca fell into a thoughtful silence.
Elena turned and looked at her in surprise.
"You want this cure because you can't handle being a vampire for more than a few months, Elena. Imagine how you'd feel after almost 1000 years of that." Rebecca said calmly and Elena bit her lip in contemplation. "I will do anything it takes to be human again. You'd do the same."
"No torture ok? All she wanted from the cure was to break a sire bond. If we promise to help her with that, I think she'll help us."
"Another sire bond huh? Stop the record already." Rebecca sighed bored. "Wait a minute, if Damon is human now then you don't have that pesky little problem anymore do you?"
Elena exhaled and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. She hadn't had much time to think about what that meant really and Rebecca was certainly not going to be her sounding board of all people. She opened her mouth to say as much when her cell wrang in her pocket. She fumbled around trying to free it from her jeans when it clicked off. She pursed her lips as she looked at the screen. Missed call from Caroline.
She plugged the phone into the Bluetooth connector.
"Call Caroline." She said out loud and the phone suddenly began to ring again. "Er, hello?" She said in surprise.
"Elena! Where are you? Have you found Rebbie yet?" Stefan's worried voice came through the cars speaker system.
"No…what's.."
"What's wrong Stefan?" Rebecca butted in, cutting Elena off.
"Damon's gone."
"What?" They both said in unison and looked at each other in disbelief.
"It was Meredith. She vervained me and managed to sneak him out. He's left his cell and I can't find them anywhere."
"Wait, why was Meredith there? Where the hell is Klaus?" Elena said hurriedly.
"It doesn't matter, we have to find him. Has he called you?"
"No…" She began when she was interrupted by a frantic Rebecca again.
"How could you let this happen Stefan?! He's a walking target out there!"
"Shut up everyone!" Elena shouted as she tried to breathe. "No wonder he ran, we've been circling around him like prized meat since we found out! He's scared Stefan and he's vulnerable. He isn't thinking like he used to, he's being driven by human instincts to survive."
"So, what do I do?" Stefan said worriedly and she bit her lip.
"He's not sure of himself, of his body. He's being influenced by fear all around him."
"Damon?" Rebecca laughed and Elena shot her a glare that dropped the smile from her face.
"His whole world had disappeared, everything he thought he knew, everyone he thought he could trust. He won't want to be near any of us right now."
"That explains Meredith." Rebecca murmured.
"Where would he go?" Stefan asked.
"Yes, come on Elena. You're his soul mate now aren't you?" Rebecca said sarcastically and Elena closed her eyes for a minute and took a deep breath.
"When you're scared for your life you think of two options – to fight or to hide. My Damon would never run and hide but he doesn't know himself anymore, he's being flooded with emotions. Meredith's human. He'll trust her intentions. She'll be the one he'll defer to I think. Try and find out if she has any other hideouts. Check out her family and please Stefan…hurry." She said and Stefan groaned anxiously.
"I'll find him and I'll protect him till you bring Rebbie back. I promise." He vowed and hung up.
Elena sucked in a deep breath and looked down to unplug the cell when Rebecca shouted in alarm.
"Elena!"
She didn't even see the other cars as they crashed into them and sent their car hurtling across the road like an empty tin can.
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It had been a dangerous and near miss escape but Meredith's Fell blood kicked in when it came to dealing with vampires and she managed to drug Stefan with vervain to knock him out and distract Klaus with some herbs she'd been experimenting with in her research into the recent werewolf population. She was a keen chemist as well as a doctor and she had managed to create the werewolf version of catnip. She'd known that some of the hybrids stayed on Klaus's property and all it would take would be a little disruption to attract Klaus's attention enough to give her and Damon an escape route. Stefan had turned out to be harder to incapacitate than she had hoped, since he had been taking vervain regularly so Klaus couldn't compel him and he had almost stopped them, grabbing at Damon as they crept out of the manor. Damon had had to lend him a swift kick to the side of the head to knock him out fully, which gave him an enormous amount of satisfaction despite Meredith's chastisement afterwards.
"Don't make me regret this Damon. My life is on the line now too." She warned as they drove as fast as they could out into the woods.
"Then why did you help me, if you're so worried?"
"Because you may be an unbelievable jack-ass, but you are my patient." She huffed and he gave her a crooked smile.
"Where do we go now?"
"My grandparents have an old cabin up in the hills. It's got a good position for keeping an eye on the roads."
"Your grandparents had a lookout?" He asked in surprise.
"We're Fells' Damon. Since 1864 we've always took measures to make sure we knew when danger was coming." She said simply and he nodded. "If there are people coming for you we'll be able to defend ourselves better from there. I know the land like the back of my hand and there are plenty of weapons."
"Cool." He said simply and leaned his head against the window, feeling tired.
His quietness concerned her and she kept looking over to check on him.
"Are you ok? You might have a slight concussion."
"I'm fine." He said and she chewed her lip.
"What's it like?" She asked after a moment and he closed his eyes and sighed.
"It's like walking around in a forest with a blindfold on and ear plugs in."
"That must be frightening for you."
"Hmmmn." He grunted and began to doze.
His head was thumping and he had never felt so tired. The steady drum of her car engine was hypnotising in its drone and he felt quite lulled by it. He fell asleep uncomfortable but pacified. When they reached the Fell cottage Meredith pulled over and looked across at him. He seemed so small and fragile, even though he didn't look that different. His skin was healthy looking, giving him rosy cheeks and red lips – which should have made him look like he was wearing makeup – he was so pale as a vampire, but somehow it just looked good on him. Perhaps this had been his look when he had been human so long ago. She didn't want to have to waken him but she wanted to check that his pupils weren't dilated and that they were responsive, just in case he did have a concussion.
She moved around to the side of the car and he awoke to the crunching of her footsteps on the leaves. She opened the door as he sat up and called to him gently. He jumped back in fear for a second until he narrowed his eyes at her. His eye sight was normally so strong, even in the dark, but now he struggled to see. It must feel like going blind to him.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." She said apologetically and he grunted and rubbed his eyes.
"Join the club."
"We're here. Let's get inside." She said.
He followed her out of the car and into the cottage, looking around as she turned the power on and lit the lounge. He shivered, his teeth chattering and held himself. The movement made him touch his teeth again as he pondered on why he'd done that and she chuckled at his confused expression.
"It's how your body staves off a low temperature Damon. You shiver to create more heat." She explained and he frowned. "I'll get some firewood. Put the kettle on."
She left to get some wood from outside and he looked around the kitchen. He cooked very occasionally and generally only when he was trying to impress Elena. He hadn't had to do it for a long time. He was still a little uneven on his feet as he stumbled around, opening cabinets before he found an old bottle of single malt whiskey.
"Yes!" He smiled relieved and grabbed it enthusiastically.
He sat down on the sofa, sneezing at the dust emerging as he threw himself down onto the cushions. Body fluids were gross. He took a swig from the bottle and swallowed, wincing as it burned its way down his throat. He closed his eyes and lay his head back into the cushions as he followed its descent down into his stomach with his mind. His head throbbed and he knew he probably shouldn't drink but he didn't care. He wanted something familiar and there was nothing more familiar than alcohol. Alcohol and Elena. Elena…
He opened his eyes and sat up a little straighter as he reached for his cell. Of course, he left it behind so they couldn't trace him. He gulped as he felt his stomach tighten. He frowned and held it in discomfort. He should call her and tell her he was ok. It felt strange to hide from his own brother and girlfriend but he couldn't help but feel like he couldn't trust them with his life. That was a very new and disconcerting feeling. He knew that Stefan would die to protect him, but Stefan's inability to control his urges was just as equal a danger to Damon's life as every other threat he faced right now. The only one he could trust was the one person with absolutely nothing to gain from him and that was Meredith. She didn't need to use him for any reason. In fact all that this association would get her was an untimely death if their plan didn't work.
He had no doubt that they would be found eventually. He just hoped that Stefan and the gang would figure out some way to stop the others coming for him, fight them off or get this cure out of him before anyone else was hurt. In the meantime he and Meredith would stay safe inside the cabin, as long as they didn't invite anyone in. He had to be strong because he knew Elena would come and she'd want to be with him, but it was too risky. It had to be humans only in here. He nodded as he pondered on it, almost laughing at the absurdity that he was one of said humans. Elena would understand. Stefan would take it harder.
He sat back again and drank more whisky as the sun set, scattering shadows across the ancient looking furniture in the room. This place looked like it had barely been used for decades. Meredith came in, closing the door with her foot as she carried some logs inside. Damon got to his feet to take them from her, only realising in that instant how stupid it was to make her go and get firewood but she shook her head.
"Sit down and relax. I'm stronger than I look."
"I bet." He smiled and she lay the wood into the hearth and began to light the fire.
Once she finally got the fire going she turned to look at him. He sucked another swig from the whiskey bottle and looked to her expecting to be chastised. She huffed in annoyance but stuck her hand out towards him, gesturing that she wanted the bottle. He grunted and begrudgingly handed it over.
"You shouldn't drink alcohol with a concussion Damon." She said and took a swig from the bottle herself.
She swallowed, grimacing and gave a cough as the fiery liquid travelled down her throat and he gave a chuckle.
"But…" She said, "…given the circumstances, I think we both need a drink."
She rose from the floor and sat down in an armchair across from him as she took another drink before handing it back to him. He accepted the bottle gratefully and downed the last of it.
"It shouldn't take long to warm up in here now. Are you cold?"
"I'm fine." He lied, trying his hardest to ignore the gooseflesh creeping around his body. It was like being invaded by thousands of little suckling insects.
"Hungry?" She asked hopefully and he shook his head.
She looked towards the fire and exhaled. He hadn't wanted to eat in the hospital either. She couldn't figure out why it was such a big deal. She'd seen him eat before when he was at the Grill – so why not now, when he actually needed it? She flicked her eyes subtly towards him and took in his pallor. The drive here had taken a few hours as they climbed through the mountains to the highest point. He must be hungry, especially with the pain in his head. She should really check the dressing. In the hospital his body couldn't cope at all with any wound healing. She had a feeling though that he wouldn't be up for an inspection right now.
"Well…" She sighed and stood up, "…I'm starving so I'm going to make some food. Sure you won't join me?" She asked hopefully.
She had a feeling that the best way to get around his stubbornness was to play on the new senses he had. Now that he was human, food was a basic necessity and his body would push him to eat even if he didn't want to. She had trouble with patients refusing to eat all of the time and she had her methodology.
"No." He said and lay his head back, closing his eyes.
She went into the kitchen and made a point of rattling around and using kitchen tools which would peak his interest. There wasn't much food here so she had grabbed a few things from her car that she'd loaded in there from her weekly food shopping, which had been abandoned in her trunk when Stefan had called to say where Damon was. She shook her head as she thought on that conversation. It had been obvious that Stefan didn't like that Damon was being held at Klaus's but he'd felt unable to do anything about it at the time. She felt bad for him.
She pottered around making the tastiest thing she could think of – chorizo with tomatoes, basil, tagliatelle and asparagus. The scent of the food filled the kitchen and lounge and she smiled to herself knowingly as she dished out two plates of it. She lifted one and walked through to the living room. Damon closed his eyes as though in pain as she sat down across from him. He wouldn't last long with the way his pupils had dilated at the smell of the food. She began to eat slowly, blowing on the food so that the smell would drift in his direction.
"You ok?" She asked, placing a forkful into her mouth and sighing at how good it was.
"Hmn hm." He chewed his lip and deliberately didn't look at her.
"How's your head?" She asked casually, making conversation.
"Still attached so far." He answered dryly and flicked his eyes over at her.
He returned to chewing his lip and ever so slightly placed a hand over his stomach.
"Do you want to call Elena?"
"No."
"No?"
"It'll just make her mad and she'll want to know where we are." He explained.
"You don't want her to know either?" She asked, surprised and he shook his head, touching the back of it carefully as he grimaced.
"Because of Stefan." She surmised and he nodded. "Don't you think you can trust her not to tell him?"
"I don't trust anyone."
"You're trusting me, aren't you?"
"I guess I am doc, but you are seriously lacking in fangs and the urge to squeeze me like a toothpaste tube for what's inside me."
"I'm sorry this happened to you Damon." She set her plate down on the table in front of him and leant forward seriously.
He looked towards the plate.
"I remember how scared Rick was when he thought that he didn't know who he was anymore." She said and he looked to her, his eyes wide and full of emotion. "When he knew about his other self taking over and hurting people, he just…he was so angry and lost. I know just how much your friendship meant to him then."
Damon swallowed and looked away from her face as he struggled not to become emotional.
"If he were here right now, he'd probably be telling you things that'd make you feel better. He'd be doing this better." She sighed and clasped her hands out between her knees. "I'm sorry I'm a poor replacement."
"I can think of worse humans to be locked away in a cabin with." He gave a small smile as his expression became one of gratitude and she smiled. "You're not so bad on the eyes either – now that my eyes are weak and blurry. If you were Rick right now I might be screaming."
They both chuckled and she stood up slowly.
"Well, I'm beat. The bedrooms are up the stairs and to the left. There should be clean bedding in the cupboard in the first room. I'll take the second room at the front just in case." She said and he nodded. "Try and rest. We'll plan in the morning."
"Meredith." He called as she walked away, heading towards the stairs. She turned back. "Thank you."
"For what?" She smiled.
"For being so…human." He finished and she smiled again and left him to take in the inviting smell of the steaming hot dinner in front of him.
She went up to the first room and decided to change the bed for him. It'd take her minutes to do so and she didn't want him to struggle with it, especially with his head being so sore. She'd sneak a peek at it through the night when he was asleep.
She took her time dressing the bed with fresh linen and dumped the old sheets into the laundry hamper. She could hear snoring coming from the lounge as she crept along the hallway and she smiled. She couldn't lift him upstairs and if he was able to sleep on the sofa soundly, maybe she should leave him there. She went back into the bedroom and pulled the blanket from the bed and tiptoed downstairs. She approached quietly, happily observing that he'd eaten the rest of the food from her plate and finished off the other she'd left for him in the kitchen as she'd been upstairs.
She came around in front of him, moving the used plates into the kitchen again and returned to him. She urged him down onto his side and he mumbled sleepily. She adopted her most soothing tone and he lay down on his side and curled into himself as she covered him with the blanket and tucked him in. He looked like a little lost puppy and she looked down at him for a few minutes. It was her desire to help and protect people when they were ill or afraid that had urged her to become a doctor in the first place and now more than ever, she felt the urge to remove all of his pain. She stroked his forehead free from hair gently, discretely checking the wound and gauze, before retiring up to her own bedroom for the night, locking all of the doors and windows as she went.
This house was full to the brink with vampire-orientated weapons and now that she had successfully cultivated the herbs that could drive werewolves into a frenzy to distract them, she felt ready for whatever might come. She was a Fell. She could protect her patient, even if it was from the people who loved him.
Bring it on.
