Chapter 9

A/N: I know you guys probably thought this fic was dead, and I'm so sorry for taking so long to upload again. I have a couple of chapters written that I was being super OCD about, and I've been busy after graduating from college. Anyway, enough with the excuses. Hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Over the next few weeks, Bonnie met with Stefan and Caroline to figure out how they would track down Damon and try to turn his humanity back on with Bonnie's help. She had refused at first, but this was the best option they had. And Stefan had a nasty feeling that the longer they waited, the harder it would be. This time was different.

"This looks promising," Caroline was scanning a newspaper, sitting cross-legged on the floor of the boarding house. Bonnie peered over her shoulder. "There's been a string of murders in Nevada over the past few months. The cops there are assuming its poisonous snakes or something."

Stefan snorted at the lengths humans go to rationalize the irrational.

"I think you're onto something, Care," Bonnie said. She started a search on her laptop. "There were a ton of murders in Utah last month, too. What if Damon didn't stray that far from where we found him in California?"

"Wouldn't that be pretty stupid of him to do? Like, shouldn't he know better?" Caroline asked.

"He may not care at this point," said Stefan.

Bonnie looked at him. "Or he wants us to find him."

"So what are we gonna do once we do track him down again?" Caroline sounded nervous.

"We're going to have to shock him. Do something that will freak him out enough for him to feel something," Stefan said.

"Like what?" Bonnie didn't like the sound of this.

Stefan noticed the look on her face. "I think I have an idea. You may not like it, Bonnie, but it's all we've got. Once we confirm his location, we'll move forward with the plan."

Bonnie sighed. She doubted his plan would work, whatever it was. But what did she have to lose?

As she was driving home, Bonnie thought about how Stefan had referenced Damon's treatment towards her after the prison world. He'd said Damon had been different after she had finally returned. Her mind began to wander and she smiled, thinking about those days.

"Pancakes again? I'm gonna puke."

"Until you learn how to cook, Bon-Bon, don't hate." Damon was waltzing around the kitchen like a regular Martha Stewart, apron and all. "I'm just perfecting my already perfect skills."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. I think I'm gonna go into town and try to find something else to eat. Can I borrow your car?

"Now Bon, you know nobody can drive my car except for moi. What do I get out of it?"

"I'll spare you from frying your brain when I get my magic back," Bonnie said dryly.

"Uh-uh-uh. Not good enough." He looked at her more sharply this time. "What do I get out of it?"

She thought grudgingly for a moment. "I'll grab some blood bags from the hospital. I'm sure there's more variety there than you have in that freezer of yours downstairs."

"Fair assessment. Alright, you can borrow it. But I have to give you a lesson first."

"I know how to drive, Damon."

"I'm sure. But you don't know how to drive MY automotive beauty. She's delicate." He smirked.

She sighed. "Fine, but can we do it now so I don't starve? I seriously don't want any more pancakes."

"Suit yourself."

She followed him to the driveway and into the car. When they got in, he tossed her the keys from the passenger side. Then he started pointing and explaining.

"That's the ignition. You have to turn the key gently or it won't start. The gas pedal is iffy so be careful not to drive with a lead foot, if that's your thing…"

It was never-ending. Then, finally: "How about you drive a little down the road just so I can be sure you've got it."

Bonnie huffed and grumbled the whole time. She decided to fuck with him for being so difficult. As soon as she backed out of the driveway, she slammed her foot on the gas. They went flying down the road, heading for the Mystic Falls city limits.

"What the fuck, Bonnie? Slow down, you're going to kill yourself, or worse, my car!"

Bonnie laughed. "I'm sure SHE will be okay." She turned around a curve, skidding halfway off the road. They were lucky there were no other cars around. But Damon had had enough. He lifted her up, switching seats with vampire speed to try to regain control of the car. But it was too late. He had to swerve to avoid a tree, and as the car swerved again, Bonnie's head hit the dashboard. She was out cold.

As he pulled the car to a stop, he looked over in horror. It didn't look too bad, but he pulled her out of the Camaro and gave her some of his blood. When she woke up, she immediately started fighting him. "Let go, it's your fault you almost fucking KILLED me, Damon! Thanks a lot!" And on and on. But as she raged at him she noticed he was fighting back a smile. "What are you laughing at?"

"Sorry, Bon, but you're okay and honestly you're...Nothing, it's nothing."

"What? You think it's funny that I almost flew through your windshield after your 'lesson?'" He was just looking at her, still with that stupid almost-smile on his face. Then she realized how close together they were. She was practically sitting in his lap since he'd had to angle his slit wrist into her mouth. She jumped up and almost fell over again, still dizzy. He stood too.

The sun was shining in her eyes so she was squinting slightly, and still couldn't quite read his expression. She wasn't even angry anymore. She was just frustrated that he had extinguished her rage with a look.

"I'm sorry," he said. He sounded sincere. "I'd never want to hurt you, even though you might think I do. If you were gone...I don't know what I'd to. And not just because I'd be alone here."

For the first time, Bonnie realized that he meant it. He wanted her around. After that day, things were different between them. And it made surviving in the prison world a whole lot easier.

Bonnie wasn't sure if the Damon who had held her that day, and other days in the prison world was still inside his humanity-less body. But she knew there was only one way to find out.