Thank you for reading and especially for the kind feedback - also to the "Guests" and Kamille King. :)


~ What the hell were you thinking?! ~

Guiseppe Salvatore struts into the med bay with the air of someone used to power, his head held high, chin like an arrow pointing at his eldest son and the kid's obnoxious sidekick - Lily's little pet-sailor. There's always something when it comes to these two, and today is no different. Here they sit, their legs up as some busy nurses attend to their shredded looking feet, and the brief flicker of sympathy he feels over remembering that same pain vanishes as soon as Damon looks up with his trademark grin.

The boy is all sky-blue eyes and cocky attitude, and for the umpteenth time Guiseppe has to wonder how that boy can be his, can be one of them. Even the sailor looks more like someone born for the sea…

~ Oh we're fine ~, Damon informs him. ~ Thanks for your concern. ~

Guiseppe has to fight the urge to snap back. Taking a deep breath, he folds his arms in front of him, baring his strong lower arms as he does. The too bright light in the room catches on the bracelets adorning his wrists, corals and pearls shining with vibrant verve. But Guiseppe doesn't even notice it anymore, doesn't see how Damon's gaze lingers on them for a moment too long.

~ I didn't ask whether you're fine ~, he says, coming to stand in front of the two young men, and it doesn't escape him how Lorenzo averts his gaze while Damon still grins at him as if he didn't have a care in the world. ~ That girl… Did you turn her? ~

Rumor travels fast in the kingdom. Damon doesn't seem surprised that his father knows, the grin still bowing his mouth upward in a way that makes Guiseppe angry.

What is it with that kid?

~ I don't know. ~

He's taken aback. For a second he thinks the boy just read his mind, but then he scoffs to himself when he realizes that Damon simply answered his question.

~ You don't know? ~

Damon shrugs, stifling a wince when the nurse wraps his left foot.

"I'm sorry," she mutters, "Almost done."

The smile Damon gives her in return is genuine, sending a sting through Guiseppe.

~ You gave her your blood, didn't you? ~

~ Father… ~

Damon's sigh sounds weary, making Guiseppe flex his arm muscles on instinct. The kid has the rare talent of getting under his skin, with the smallest, most innocent gestures.

~ Did you give her your blood, or not? ~

~ I did. Yeah. So what? She was dying. I saved her. ~

~ You turned her. Without permission! ~

~ Actually… ~ Damon's grin is so wide now that Guiseppe has to grit his teeth so as not to lunge at him. ~ I'm not sure I did. Right, Enzo? Word is still out on what really happened. She woke up right when the blood entered her system. So maybe I did turn her, but it's just as likely I didn't. ~

Guiseppe is at Damon's throat within seconds, clutching it so hard that the boy makes choking noises. Anger had won once again, as it always does. The poor nurses have jumped to the side out of instinct, but Damon - despite his lack of air - is still grinning, and… his friend has the audacity to grip Guiseppe's arm, hard.

~ Let go of me, sailor ~, he spits, shooting the kid a death-glare that doesn't seem to get through to him. These boys need to learn respect, that much is sure. And if nothing else, he's going to make sure they will. When he is done with them here.

"You let go of him first."

Kid doesn't even use his inner voice. Maybe because he never really learned how. Chuckling, he rolls his eyes. Lily and her projects… She's too lax. Or the kid is just a failure. Would explain why he's so fond of Guiseppe's sad excuse of a son.

With a huff, he turns to glare at Lorenzo, tilting his head. He takes his time, just staring at him for a moment. Then he sends out a telepathic probe so strong that the poor boy grits his teeth, his knees soon buckling, eyes rolling back into his skull as he fights Guiseppe's onslaught.

~ Father, stop. ~ "Stop!"

Damon's choked out outrage is not too surprising, neither is the way he tries to fight. The long time it takes his friend to finally let go of Guiseppe's arm and collapse, however, is. Maybe the kid isn't as weak and useless as he thought. Good to know…

Turning his attention back to where Damon is still dangling off his arm, his lips taking on a bluish tinge, a smile comes over Guiseppe's features before he lets go, allowing his son to take a few heaving breaths.

~ You should teach your friend some manners. Or tell your mother to do so. Otherwise… ~

~ Leave him alone, Guiseppe. ~

Damon is rubbing a hand over his throat, glaring at him, and now it's his father's turn to grin a cocky grin. Taking his son in - the still damp hair, the fresh set of clothes and bandaged feet - he clicks his tongue. The boy is too privileged, doesn't show respect. The only fights he's ever had to fight were those against his own flesh and blood. It's about time something changes.

~ Clean this up before it becomes a mess. Find that girl. ~

~ I don't know where she is. Plus, what does it matter? If she doesn't randomly manage to dive into the ocean before the next full moon - and I highly doubt she'll go anywhere near it again anytime soon - she'll be alright. No new "mermaid" for you to worry about. ~

The aloof expression on Damon's face makes Guiseppe want to smash something. Instead, he suffices himself with slapping the boy's face hard, splitting his lip. The sting it leaves on his hand is more painful than the flicker of betrayal in his son's eyes.

~ Find her, Damon. Make sure she stays out of the water. I don't need anymore Turned in my realm than I already have. ~ To underscore his point, he jerks his head in the direction of the slumped figure on the ground. ~ So you better make it work. I don't care how. But you are not welcome here anymore until I am assured the girl is no threat to us in any way. ~

~ Aw, come on. You're being ridiculous. ~

Damon chuckles, shaking his head. As usual the boy doesn't take him seriously.

~ Fix this and you can come back. If not… I'll see to it myself that you'll never set foot near the ocean again. - And… ~ He snorts with disgust. ~ Make sure you take this one with you. ~

Those are his last words, no goodbye, nothing. He merely turns around and stalks off the way he came. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Damon open his mouth as if he's going to say something out loud, a retort, an insult perhaps. But then he remains quiet, and Guiseppe leaves feeling slightly less irate. Maybe sending him away will take care of everything that is wrong with his realm: Damon, this potentially turned girl, and his wife's mongrel.

He sniffs, rolling his shoulders, his arms, breathing in the ocean air once he is outside. Then he walks over to the edge of the cliff and - with a deep inhalation - dives down. There is nothing the water can't calm. It can't fix all wrongs, but at least it can soothe them like it soothes him. And when it finally envelopes him like one large heavy blanket, he already feels much better.

Maybe there's hope still after all, for his peace of mind, for the people of the sea, even for Damon.


The hospital is bustling with people, a low drone of noises lodging in Bonnie's ringing ears as she sits on a bed, legs dangling off the side. She clutches the edge, her knuckles protruding white - until she feels a soft touch on the back of her hand, and when she looks up, Caroline's face appears before her, all tousled hair and soft smile.

"Hey."

Bonnie sighs, leaning forward into a hug.

"They let you go already?" she asks, and her friend nods, then grabs her hands.

"What about you?"

"They want to keep me overnight. Apparently I'm surprisingly healthy despite the accident, but the fact that I can't seem to remember a thing about how we even got to the hospital has them worried." She pauses, squinting at Caroline. "How did we get here, anyways?"

The sheepish look she gets in reply makes her frown.

"What are you not telling me?"

Leaning in conspiratorially, Caroline whispers into her ear, her hand still clutching Bonnie's.

"I don't know either. I remember us crashing into something, and the next thing I know… we're at the hospital, and…" She trails off, shrugging.

"And they didn't make you stay?"

The sheepish expression intensifies before Caroline looks away with an awkward grin.

"I may have… fibbed a bit? Told them we walked here, and some nice Samaritans gave us a ride at some point."

Raising her eyebrows, Bonnie takes her friend in, then scoffs.

"Samaritans, huh? And they believed that? - Why didn't I think of that?" She sighs, burying her face in her hands before peeking out at Caroline again. "I just wanna go home, Care."

"I know."

"Isn't it weird that we don't remember, though? I mean… what the hell happened to us?"

Caroline shrugs, then flops down on the bed, too. She's fidgeting a bit, and Bonnie's gaze falls on her hand that keeps playing with something. Furrowing her brow, she taps her friend's fingers.

"What's that?" she asks, making Caroline look up.

"What?"

"In your hand?"

"Oh…" A frown appears on Caroline's face, a lost expression coming over her as she unfolds her hand, a small object sitting on her palm. A button. Staring up at Bonnie, Caroline bites her lip, shrugging. "I have no idea where it came from. It was just there, and I…"

She holds it out, chuckling as her cheeks take on some color. It's a small button, a hint of iridescence making it shine, and Bonnie can't help but reach out and touch it. It feels cool and smooth, and reminds her of the sea - which is a peculiar thought. Scoffing to herself, she shakes her head. The sea and a button. She must have really suffered quite the concussion if she sees a connection that clearly isn't there.

"Maybe one of those 'good Samaritans' gave it to you," she jokes, making Caroline roll her eyes, but then they exchange a glance and both fall silent. The whole situation is too weird, their case of amnesia disconcerting.

Gnawing on her lip, Bonnie rubs her hands over her face. She's tired and achy, exhausted to the bone, and yet she can't lie down in this bed, can't shake the feeling that there's more to it all. She survived a car crash, she remembers that much, but everything after that is fuzzy. It feels unreal, and like she's missing more than just a few details.

Closing her eyes, she sighs, Caroline's hand gripping hers again.

"You alright, Bonnie?"

"Ya, ya, sure."

"I know what 'sure' means…"

Looking up, she rolls her eyes, then laughs anyways, pressing a hand over her chest as a sudden pain makes her gasp.

"You sure you're okay? Maybe I should get a nurse…"

Caroline trails off as Bonnie grabs her arm, shaking her head. She has no idea why, but she really doesn't want someone to come check on her again.

"I'm fine," she mutters, taking a few shaky breaths while her friend watches her with obvious concern. "Really, Care. I'm fine. Doctor said my ribs are bruised. Apparently in a way that suggests someone did CPR on me."

"CPR?! Oh gosh, Bonnie, but… how do I not remember something as important as that? Why didn't you tell me-"

"Because I'm fine, Care. Okay? And I'm telling you now. I know as much about it as you do."

Caroline's features soften, and Bonnie looks away, with her hand still absently rubbing the spot over her heart.

"I called your Grams, by the way. And my mom. They're on their way…"

Bonnie nods, a half-hearted smile crossing her features as she looks at Caroline before something else catches her attention.

A nurse is coming over to them, her expression all business. She's holding out a cup of water, handing it to Bonnie.

"Here," she says, shaking a small pill into Bonnie's hand. "Swallow this. It'll help with the pain. And then you should lie down, Ms. Bennett. Someone will come by in a bit to bring you upstairs."

"I'm really fine. Can't I just go home? Please?"

A small smile appears on the nurse's face, her features growing softer.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but we're gonna have to monitor you for at least 24 hours. It's standard procedure and I'd really advise against challenging me on this."

Bonnie huffs, shoulders slumping. Tilting her head, she looks up at the nurse again, ready to argue more, when a sudden zap of - memory? - makes her gaze get drawn to the cup of water in her hand.

Sweetheart.

Blue eyes, a wide grin, a young face, an air of something old, and water… cool, soothing, pulling her away.

"What are you doing?"

Startling, she looks up at Caroline, who's frowning at her in a peculiar way, then nodding at the cup in Bonnie's hand. Her other hand is half immersed in it, her fingers cold and wet. With a sheepish grimace, she pulls her hand out, watching droplets fall away before she wipes it on her leg. She can feel the nurse's gaze on her, can feel both the woman and Caroline exchange a glance over her head, and yet can't make herself look up, because… Why the hell did she just put her hand in a cup of water?

"Maybe you're right," she allows, her voice so weak it's not much more than a whisper. Then she puts the pill in her mouth, sips the water and downs it all quickly before pulling her legs up and onto the bed. "I better lie down for a bit."

As soon as her head comes to rest on the pillow, a sudden sense of urgency comes over her, the feeling of floating on water back stronger than before, and she grips Caroline's hand.

"Can you stay with me?"

"Of course!"

Caroline's smile is warm and familiar, the way she gently strokes Bonnie's cheek now making her relax the tiniest bit. She's just exhausted, right? Her mind is conjuring up random things in order to cope with what she's been through. That's all.

It has to be.

Closing her eyes, still clutching Caroline's hand, Bonnie forces herself to take slow even breaths, and think of something other than the water, and soon, soon sleep is dragging her down further and further, the whirls of it turning gray, steelblue, then greenish, ever murkier, until she's almost gone, almost asleep.

And then she sees him, the one with eyes like the sky, and she jolts back awake. She tries to sit up, but Caroline gently keeps her down.

"Bonnie. You really need to try and sleep!"

"Damon."

Caroline looks at her with concern, a mound appearing between her raised eyebrows.

"What? Who's Damon?"

"I have no idea…"

...