so there;s been a lot of crap going on and right now, I can really use some love...

hopefully it'll help with my writers block... argh

... ...

I can be so mean when I wanna be,
I am capable of really anything,
I can cut you into pieces,
When my heart is broken.
Please, don't leave me. Please don't leave me.
I always say how I don't need you
But it's always gonna come right back to this
Please, don't leave me
How did I become so obnoxious?
What is it with you that makes me act like this?
I've never been this nasty.
Can't you tell that this is all just a contest?
The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest.
But baby I don't mean it,
I mean it, I promise

... ... ...

"Just, stay behind me and don't do anything stupid." Stefan hissed at her as they walked towards the Mansion. "If Klaus were to find out you were a vampire, he'll find a way to kill you, for good."

Kenzie sighed, knowing he was right. "But what if we have to fight our way out of there?"

"Then use the crossbow."

She had a small handheld cross bow he had given her. There was just a regular stake in it but if she had to, she could shoot and run.

"Just try and get Damon and get the hell out of there." He continued.

Kenzie grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "I'm not leaving you behind."

"Kenz…."

She glared at him before releasing his arm. "We're all leaving there. Hopefully nothing bad will happen. Hopefully Rebekah will listen to reason."

They fell silent as they walked inside the Mansion and Stefan motioned her towards one of the rooms. They stepped inside and Kenzie let out a small gasp, seeing Damon being held up by what looked like metal claw bear traps. There were still bleeding cuts on his chest, a pool of blood on the ground below him. He lifted his head, his eyes finding Kenzie before looking towards his brother.

"This was much different in my head." He mumbled.

"Damon." Kenzie whispered, rushing towards him as Stefan yelled out to Klaus, announcing their arrival. She went up on her toes, trying to free him but she was far too short and couldn't reach. She turned around to ask Stefan for help but froze when she saw Rebekah standing there, watching her, sadness in her eyes.

"Kenzie." She whispered.

The redhead stared at her, trying to remain calm. "Let him go Rebekah."

"I had to do this." The blonde told her, her voice pleading. "He used me, he pitted us against one another."

Kenzie had so much she wanted to say. She wanted to yell at the blonde, tell her she was the one who screwed it all up but she kept her mouth shut, staring stoically at the blonde as her brother appeared behind her.

"Oh good, a hero." Klaus announced, staring at Stefan before his eyes moved to Kenzie's. "And his little sidekick. What do you want?"

Stefan dropped the duffel bag full of stakes he was carrying. "I'm here to make a deal."

"Stefan, what are you doing?" Damon mumbled.

"Eight stakes made of white oak. The part of Wickery Bridge you forgot to burn."

Klaus turned to glare at Rebekah who shook her head in denial.

"That's impossible."

"Actually, it's not." Stefan told her. "Finn's dead."

"You killed my brother?" Rebekah ground out through clenched teeth.

"I helped." Kenzie announced.

"Shut up." Damon groaned as Rebekah turned to the little redhead.

"Why?" the blonde demanded to know. "I thought we were friends."

Kenzie gave her the biggest 'are you really that stupid?' look she could muster as she pointed to Damon. "You keep saying that. Yet you slept with the guy you know I still love not once, but twice, you keep trying to kill my other friends, then you kidnapped and are now torturing the man that I love. How can you do all that to me and claim we're friends. If we were friends, Rebekah, you'd ease up on all this a little more. Stop trying to ruin my life."

Rebekah's lower lip trembled but she stayed silent as Stefan stepped up to Klaus.

"Damon, in exchange for the last eight weapons that could kill you."

"And how do I know there aren't any more left?" Klaus wondered.

"Because there aren't." Stefan assured him.

"Let's be certain, shall we?" He stepped around Stefan and walked towards Kenzie and Damon. The petite vampire stepped in front of Damon, her chin lifted in defiance. Klaus grabbed her and tossed her aside like a rag doll and she went flying into the wall.

"Kenzie." Rebekah cried, rushing over to her.

"Leave." Klaus told Damon.

"No." He replied.

"Go on, leave." Klaus pushed him.

"Stop this, please stop this." Kenzie begged Rebekah, who was grabbing her arm and helping her up.

She nodded, turning to her brother. "Nik, he's my plaything, not yours."

Klaus grabbed Damon's head and forced the elder Salvatore to look at him. "I said, go. Home"

"No." Kenzie whispered, knowing he was compelling him.

Sure enough, Damon looked up, a look of determination in his eyes as he began to pull his hand through the bear trap, yelling in pain as he ripped through the flesh on his wrists.

"Stop this." Kenzie screamed as she rushed forward, stopping in front of Damon. She grabbed his face between her hands as she forced him to look at her, even as he still pulled hands through the trap. "Damon, stop, fight this, please."

"Go, Red." He whispered in between his pained grunts.

"Fight it, please fight it." She pleaded with him.

"Alright, stop, stop." Klaus yelled, a smile on his face. "Stop before you hurt yourself."

Damon relaxed, leaning into Kenzie's touch, but she was soon pushed away again and replaced by Klaus.

"Well, we can see that he can finally be compelled." He grabbed Damon's face again. "Now, minus the stake that's in my brother, how many more stakes are out there that can kill me."

"eleven." Damon gasped.

Stefan looked away in frustration, knowing they were screwed now. He looked at Kenzie, silently willing her to leave but he knew that even if she got his silent message, she was far too stubborn to leave.

"Eleven?" Klaus cried. "So not eight then."

"You really shouldn't have lied." Rebekah told him.

"I'll get you the other three." Stefan promised them.

"Yeah, that'll be nice. Or maybe because you lied, I'll just compel your brother to chew out his own tongue."

"Over my dead body." Kenzie hissed, picking up the crossbow on the ground and pointing it at Klaus.

He grinned as he turned to her. "That could be arranged and I would find it most enjoyable. You have been a bloody thorn in my bloody side, Mackenzie."

"You will not touch her." Rebekah hissed, using her supernatural speed to stand in front of the shorter girl. "You know she is off limits, Nik."

"She's trying to kill me." He argued.

"You know this won't kill you." Kenzie snapped. "Now let him go."

"No, I would much rather he chew his tongue out."

"What is wrong with you?" Stefan hissed.

"What is wrong with you?" Klaus yelled. "Do you really have no appreciation for me? I have given you someone to hate, to loathe, a target, for all of your anger so you don't have to turn it on yourself. I've given your life purpose, as your friend." He stopped and let out a small laugh as he walked past Stefan. "I really think you should be thanking me."

Stefan rushed him, pushing the Original against the wall as he held a stake above his heart. Everyone stilled as they watched the two and Kenzie's stomach clenched, wondering if he would do it and potentially risk killing them all.

"Step down." Klaus whispered. "Or all three of you die."

Stefan slowly relaxed, releasing the stake and letting go of Klaus.

"There, now you only have to get me the other two."

Kenzie turned to Rebekah, looking at her with pleading eyes and the blonde gave her a small nod, stepping up to Damon.

"Well, this is ridiculous." She announced as she released one of his hands. Kenzie reached out and grabbed him before he swung the opposite way and caused more pain. Rebekah moved to the other side and released him and Kenzie staggered under the sudden weight, making it look like she was struggling, even though she was having no problem holding him up.

"What are you doing?" Klaus asked.

"I brought him here, I get to release him. My rules now" The Original Sister told her brother before turning to Stefan "Bring us the stakes and you both get to live. Take your brother as a sign of good faith." She reached down and picked up the bag of stakes, moving to walk out of the room. She stopped to look back at Kenzie, sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kenzie. You are my friend and I will find a way to make this up to you." She turned and walked out.

Klaus looked at Stefan. "Bring us the stakes. All of them. Or I'll wage a war against everyone you love. Hope I'm being clear." He walked out after his sister.

Stefan looked at his brother who was staring at him, then to Kenzie, whose brow was furrowed in worry. Damon opened his mouth to speak but Kenzie shushed him as Stefan finally stepped forward and took his brother from her, leading the way out. They went out to his car, lying him in the back seat, Kenzie sliding in beside him as she reached for the blood bags she stored back there earlier for this very reason. Stefan got into the drivers seat, driving them back to the Salvatore Mansion as Kenzie opened up the bags and began feeding them to Damon. During the ride, she quietly told him what they had learned about killing the Originals and ending all vampires sired by that line and that was why they had given up most of the stakes. He listened, quietly for once, staring up at Kenzie as he drank the blood she offered him.

He was healing by the time they got back to the house and Stefan helped Damon up to his room. Kenzie promised to look after him and he nodded, leaving them alone. She grabbed some towels and went back to the bed, wiping up the blood as she finally let the tears fall.

"Don't cry." He rasped, one hand weakly coming up to wipe away a stray tear.

She shook her head as she continued wiping at the blood. "Why do you have to be so stupid?" She wondered. "Why do you have to get yourself into these stupid situations and almost get yourself killed. Why-" She paused and took a deep breath, wondering if she could really say what she wanted to, but at the same time, knowing there was no way she couldn't say it. "Why couldn't I just have been enough for you? Why did you have to go and do other stupid things that landed us here? Why wasn't I enough?"

"Hey." He whispered, groaning as he pushed himself into a sitting position. "Redbird, my little Red. You're more than enough for me. You, just you. Why can't you see that?"

"Because you have to keep kissing Elena and sleeping with Rebekah. If I was enough, you wouldn't have done all that. And now look at you."

"I'm sorry."

She shook her head, denying his apology. "You should be all healed soon. I should go home." She moved to leave but he reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Stay with me." He quietly begged her.

"I can't." She whispered.

"Please."

Kenzie wanted to be strong and walk away from him but she couldn't and before she knew it, she was lying down beside him, curled into his side as one arm came up and wrapped around her, pulling her close.

"You're everything." He whispered against her hair.

She didn't reply, squeezing her eyes shut to stop the new onslaught of tears

… … …

"So you need to find Rose." Katherine said with a sigh.

"Yes." Kenzie replied with a frown as she stared up at her ceiling.

"Something else is bugging you."

"What?" Kenzie asked, slowly sitting up.

"Come on K2. There's something else going on with you, what is it?"

Kenie sighed, standing up so she could pace her room. She had left the Salvatore house after only a few hours of sleep, not wanting to talk to Damon. He was still passed out and probably would be because she could only imagine that being tortured would take a lot out of you. She had gone home, tried to sleep, before giving up and calling Katherine, catching her up on what they had learned and coming to the conclusion that they had to trace back their lineage and figure out which Original sired them before they tried to kill anymore. At this point, a part of Kenzie was hoping it was Elijah as he was the only one she wasn't completely pissed off or annoyed with at the moment.

"Red?" Katherine tried again.

"Sorry." The redhead muttered. "I just- right now, I just really wish I could turn it all off."

It was silent for a minute as Katherine tried to comprehend what the younger vampire was saying. "Wait, are you saying you want your humanity off?"

"Sometimes, like now? Yes."

"What happened, Kenzie?" Katherine quietly asked.

She sat heavily on her bed as the tears started falling and her mouth opened, spilling out everything that had happened with Damon recently.

"You know, he's always been pretty to look at but not always great with the rational thinking." Katherine muttered when Kenzie was done.

"Why can't I make it stop?" Kenzie asked, wiping at the tears. "Why can't I just be done with him?"

Katherine sighed. "Because your emotions are intensified still. For all intents and purposes, you're still a newbie. And the only way to get rid of your feelings, is to turn it off."

"I can't." Kenzie sighed. "I'm too in control and it's buried too deep and no matter how much I try, I can't."

"Then you need to deal with your feelings for him. Maybe go find someone else to play with, that works too, ya know."

Kenzie let out a soft snort. "Yeah, too bad Elijah left. He has nice lips."

"You got it on with an Original?" Katherine gasped. "You little slut."

"It was just a kiss. He knows about me. There was this whole party, he invited me as his date, an injury that healed too quickly and well, he's got it bad now that he knows I'm not going to die by natural causes, ever. Then he left. So there goes that plan."

Katherine let out a small noise. "You can just leave Mystic Falls and come travel with me again."

"Nah, I want to finish school and go to college."

"Seriously? Becoming a vampire has skewered your brain in so many ways K2."

"Don't I know it." Kenzie replied with a sigh as she looked up to see Stefan standing there, leaning against the door with his arms crossed as he looked down at her in concern. "Look, I should get going, Stefan is here and he probably has some plan to go over."

"Wait." Katherine called before she could hang up. "Stefan's there. He can hear me, right?"

Kenzie looked up at him and he nodded as she answered Katherine.

"Good because this goes back to the whole Rose thing and I think it's better if you hear it from me, since it's kind of important. She won't be able to tell you who sired her, Rose is dead."

Stefan became more alert as he dropped his arms to the side and stepped into the room, staring at Kenzie in disbelief.

"Did you have a hand in it?"

"Of course." Katherine replied and Kenzie could hear the smirk. "Bitch came at me so I made sure to finish it. I had some help of course. But listen, there still might be a way, you just need the little Gilbert to help you."

"Technically, I'm the Little Gilbert now." Kenzie muttered, referring to her size.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, what?" Katherine asked, shocked.

"I'm surprised Jill never told you." Kenzie replied. "A Gilbert raped her, and out popped Cecilia. That's how she got the rings. It was equivalent to hush money. So I guess that like, makes us cousins or something?"

Katherine let out a laugh. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, kid. I meant Jeremy. He can talk to the dead, get him to talk to Rose. Keep me updated on well, everything. Talk to you later K2."

Katherine hung up and Kenzie lowered the phone, looking up at Stefan.

"What's up?" She asked.

He shook his head. "It still boggles my mind that you're such good friends with Katherine."

She shrugged. "I amuse her to no end, I guess. But you didn't come here to tell me how weird my friendship with Katherine is."

"No." He agreed. "I came to tell you that Elena is leaving to go get Jeremy and bring him back. Apparently Kol is watching over him."

Kenzie pursed her lips. "I guess this works out, she can get him to find Rose and talk to her, use his ghostly powers and such."

Stefan nodded, sitting on the bed beside her. "I'm sending Damon with her."

Kenzie slowly turned her head to look at him, clearly wondering if he had gone absolutely insane.

"I'm not crazy." He said in response to her unasked question. "But if I ever want to get back with Elena, I need to know the truth and I think you do too."

"You are crazy." She muttered, falling back onto her bed. "So we get to spend the next, however long they take to get Jeremy and talk to Rose, wondering just what the hell is going on? I'm beginning to think you're masochistic."

"I think all vampires are."

"And what are we supposed to do in the meantime?"

"Wait for Alaric's alter ego to pop up and tell us where the final stake is."

Kenzie sat up so fast that it took her a second to realize she used her vampire speed. "We don't have the last stake?"

"We all had one. Evil Ric decided to hide it, so yeah, we don't know where it is."

"And how do you expect to get it?"

Stefan sighed. "Wait for him to fall asleep and if worse comes to worse, torture it out of him."

"Oh right, because you torturing him would do wonders for your psyche." She groaned, tugging at her red locks. "Dammit Stefan, why don't you go with Elena and work things out and let Damon do it."

"Because Damon has a connection to Rose-" Kenzie glared at him but he ignored it. "-and you know it's better if they figure this out sooner rather than later. I don't like seeing you so hurt over my brother. You try to hide behind your anger but you're just not the same girl who moved here anymore, Kenz. You've changed, all because my brother sabotages anything and everything that's good for him."

"Of course I'm not the same girl, I was human when I came here." She quietly reminded him.

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "That's not what I meant. Have you ever stopped and truly asked your self what it is you want?"

"To finish school and go to college."

"You know what I mean." Stefan replied.

She sighed, giving his hand a small squeeze before releasing it. "Honestly? No. I'm too afraid to because I think I already know the answer."

He nodded in understanding as he stood up. "Well think about it and stop by the house later. You can help me with Ric if you want or help me go get the stake."

"I always did enjoy a good spot of torture." She wryly called after him.

He shot her a small grin before walking out of her room.

… …

It was late when Kenzie arrived at the Salvatore house. She had spent some time sleeping, some time meeting with the squad to go over their regional cheers as it was fast approaching, and some time worrying about Damon and Elena. Why? She couldn't even say. She should be done with him, once and for all. Besides, Damon and Elena's track record was shitty at best when those two were left alone. The chances of nothing happening between the two were slim and none so why should she waste her time worrying about it? The jackass hadn't even come to say goodbye before he left. Why did she still care?

Stopping to listen, she heard Stefan downstairs and pained grunts from who she could only believe was Alaric and she went downstairs to see Alaric on the all fours, spitting out blood as Stefan stood back, trying to control the blood lust.

"Don't back down now." Alaric taunted him, getting to his feet.

"no, no, no, no, no." Stefan whispered, trying not to look at him. "I can't, the blood."

Kenzie hadn't been noticed yet and looked around for a weapon, just in case things went south, fast. She found a piece of wood, a two by four, and picked it up, moving back to the room.

"Come on, you're past that."

"No I'm not." The Vampire denied.

"Then use it." Alaric told him. "Give into it. Try to kill me Stefan, come on."

"Not like this Alaric."

"Yes, like this." Her teacher yelled at him.

"Stefan." Kenzie quietly called his name and he turned to look at her, a stricken look on his face.

"Kenzie, I- I can't do it."

"Get out of here Stefan."

"No." Alaric cried. "You need to want to kill me for me to believe that you will."

"You're hurting him." Kenzie cried. "Stefan get out."

"NO." Alaric yelled. "Do it Stefan. If you want the answers from my darker side, than you're going to have to tap into yours." He stepped closer to Stefan who pushed himself as far into the wall as he could. "So don't back down, don't fight it, do it."

Kenzie moved up behind him, lifting the two by four in her hand as Stefan stared behind Alaric, his eyes wide.

"Then allow me." Kenzie snapped, swinging the board so it hit him in his side, moving him away from Stefan. She stepped forward and grabbed the older vampires arm, pushing him towards the door. "Just get out of here."

"No, what about you? I can't leave him in here with you." Stefan protested.

"Yes, you can. Alaric's going to learn just how far I'm willing to go to save you guys."

Alaric pushed himself up to his feet and came lumbering towards her and she gave Stefan another shove, gripping the board with two hands as she took another swing, giving it an extra bit of strength and sending him flying into the wall. She knew that if Alaric took the time to ponder her actions, he would quickly realize there was something different about her but Kenzie was fiercely loyal to Stefan and when she was loyal to someone, she would do anything in her power to help them.

Ric hit the wall hard, sliding down it and when he finally looked up at them, his expression had changed. He wasn't Alaric anymore, at least not the one they knew and this was punctuated with a sinister laugh.

"You're so weak." He told Stefan as he got to his feet. "Look at you. One of nature's most hideous creatures and you can't even get that right, you need to rely on the help from some little girl, who can't weigh more than one of my legs."

"You." Stefan whispered.

"Me." Alaric confirmed.

"Well, I'm slightly offended." Kenzie scowled.

"Where's the stake?" Stefan asked.

"You're worse than I ever was." Alaric started, ignoring his question. "Spineless, pathetic."

"Tell me where the stake is before I kill you." Stefan threatened him.

Another sinister chuckle. "You know you're all going to burn, ashes to dust."

Stefan stared at him for a minute before pushing Kenzie out of the room and locking the door from the inside, turning and rushing forward to punch Alaric repeatedly in the face. Kenzie ran for the bars, yelling for Stefan to unlock the door as he yelled at Alaric to reveal where the stake was. When he still didn't tell him, Stefan moved behind him, wrapping an arm around his neck as he ignored Kenzie yelling at him to stop.

"I'm going to kill you." He warned Alaric. "In three…"

"Alaric, tell him." Kenzie screeched, switching tactics. "It's not worth dying, just tell him."

"Two…" Stefan continued. "One." He tightened his hold when Alaric finally confessed.

"It's in the cave. Where no vampire can get it." His eyes drifted to Kenzie as he laughed. "I guess it's up to the little girl, if she can find it."

Stefan dropped him to the ground and moved over to the door, unlocking it and stepping out, locking it back up as he motioned for Kenzie to follow him. He went up the steps and pulled out his phone as he began typing out a message.

"How are we going to get it?" Kenzie asked as they stepping into the living room. "You know I can't-" She stopped, seeing they were no longer alone, Klaus and Rebekah standing there with smirks on their faces.

"That wasn't too hard, was it?" Klaus asked. "Rebekah?"

She nodded, walking past them and out of the room as Klaus went to go pour himself a drink. Stefan pulled Kenzie closer as they stepped further into the room to keep an eye on Klaus and the entrance way where Rebekah had disappeared through. No one said a word until she reappeared, one hand holding Alaric as she pushed him into the room.

"That's a little gratuitous, don't you think Stefan?" Klaus asked as he took in Alaric's face. "I would've been more gentle."

"I'm going to take him to the caves." Rebekah announced, turning to Alaric. "You're going to go inside and fetch me the stake and if you think you can hide, you're wrong." She turned away, only stopping when her brother called her back.

"Take the annoying redhead." Klaus instructed her. "If Alaric tries to pull something, she can look for you."

"I don't think he will." Rebekah said with a slight smirk. "There's no need for Mackenzie."

The girl in question looked at the blonde, wondering when she started using her full name.

"Take her." Klaus reiterated.

Kenzie looked to Stefan now, who nodded, motioning for her to go and with a sigh, Kenzie followed after them, wondering what the hell she was supposed to do if she had to go into the cave. Would Rebekah keep her secret? Or would the blonde break her neck for lying about it? She decided the best course of action was to stay quiet and see what happened. Maybe Alaric wouldn't be an idiot and would in fact get the stake. She let out a silent snort, knowing that there was a better chance of her magically getting into the cave, than Alaric giving up the stake.

She was so screwed.

She stayed silent though as they made their way to the cave, Kenzie trailing behind them, trying to look as disinterested as possible. No one spoke and she thought it was a little odd that Rebekah wasn't trying to talk to her but she was thankful for it because she needed to come up with a plan.

All too soon they arrived at the maze of tunnels, making their way through them until they came to the entrance of the cave. Alaric walked in, Rebekah stopping just outside, Kenzie right behind her.

"Do you have your ring on, Mackenzie?" Rebekah suddenly asked.

"Why?" She asked with a small frown, hit again by the oddness of Rebekah using her full name.

"In case things go awry, I don't trust him." She replied.

Kenzie sighed, but nodded as the blonde told Alaric to get the stake.

He moved across the cave, reaching into a crevice to pull it out. He looked at the girls before moving to lean against the coffin, the stake in his hand, a smirk on his face.

"Now why would I give you, the one thing that requires everyone to keep me alive?" He asked, eying the two girls.

"Are we bargaining now?" Rebekah asked, slight amusement on her face. "Fine, what's your offer?"

"There's only one stake out there, which means only one Original has to die." Alaric smirked at her. "Help me, and I'll make sure it's not you."

"Tenuous. Points for effort." She raised an eyebrow at him before turning to the redhead. "Mackenzie, please go get the stake."

"How am I supposed to wrestle it away from him?" the petite teen asked. "Like he said, I weigh as much as one of his legs."

"The stake. Now." Rebekah reiterated, not taking her eyes off Alaric.

The young Vampire let out a small sigh, knowing she was beyond screwed now but she stepped forward anyways, stopping in front of the invisible barrier, trying to think of another excuse when hands grabbed her head.

"What-" She tried to turn around to figure out what the hell Rebekah was doing when the blonde wrenched her neck. Kenzie had a split second to think how tired she was of this happening, when everything went black.

… …