A/N: I'M ALIVE! and I'll just jump right into the shout outs:

GrayWinchester007 - so glad you're enjoying my story! can't wait for more of yours! (she writes a SPN OC if anyone's interested! you should check it out ;) )

seetherfan77, Northernstar99, G-Baby8991, 96-not your average girl-96, Cassandra-Jayne, dumpweed, LMAmason, Calliope's Scribe, jessie-lee95, Clemences-are-so-sexy, bruneta chica, I'mClueingForLooks, JessyeJesigirl, rachelerhodes, RookieBlueFangirl48, twinkletin24 - THANK YOU ALL for your favorites and following! I appreciate everything you do, whether it be dropping a PM, favorite, follow, or review :)

if you have any requests/ideas/criticism, feel free to run it by me! flames in PM form only though.

for all my readers before this update, I've gone through all my older stuff and updated each chapter. mostly just dialogue here and there. not much has been changed that effects what's taken place. if you want to go back and read it all again, be my guest ;)

without further delay...

And if I only could make a deal with God
And get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building

If I only could...

*Running Up That Hill – Placebo*

"You turned her? Into a vampire?!" I asked, making sure to do so in a harsh whisper so only Damon could hear.

"No, I turned her into a bunny." He said, rolling his eyes.

"How can you joke about this?"

"Don't get all judgy with me."

"Why would you do this?"

"I needed something to entertain myself with until I got my daylight ring back from Stefan."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you were saving yourself from boredom." I spat out, grabbing my crutches and sliding off the bar stool. Damon grabbed my arm, the humor gone from his eyes.

"Unless you want to be next, I suggest you sit back down."

"There a problem here?" The bartender asked, walking towards us. Damon turned to answer him as I slipped out of his grasp.

I was just starting to climb into my SUV when I was pulled back out and the door was slammed shut. Not a second later, Damon grabbed my arms to keep me from landing on the ground.

"I knew it! I knew something wasn't right with you. I said it, didn't I? That you were a psycho and –"

"Enough!" The look on his face made me realize just how dangerous Damon could be. "Get in the car."

"Damon, please just let me leave."

"Not a chance."

"You said you wouldn't kill me."

"And I won't, but you're coming with me."

"Where?" I asked after swallowing the lump of fear that had been building in my throat.

"Don't ask questions, just get in the car."

I moved towards my Tahoe but Damon stopped me.

"Ah, ah, ah."

"But you said –"

"I meant my car."

He started to walk towards the driver's side of his Camaro, but I didn't move. He looked back at me with a glare of annoyance, holding the door open. In the next second, I was being tossed over his shoulder. He didn't set me down until we were next to the passenger door.

"I need my bag."

"I'll get it." He said, opening the car door. I let out an irritated huff and climbed in.

My backpack was thrown into the backseat as Damon shut his door and turned the car on.

"What about my crutches?"

"You won't need them." He stated, throwing the car in reverse.

Once I realized we were driving towards the woods, I'd tried again to find out where Damon was taking me, but all I got for an answer was that irritating smirk of his. I gave up and instead watched out the window as the town passed by. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, we came to a small bridge that turned into a long driveway, which led to an old estate-type building. The car came to a stop by the steps to the front door.

"Where are we?"

"This," Damon answered while nodding towards the building, "is the Salvatore Boarding House."

I gasped, feeling my eyes widen. Any previous negative feelings I'd had towards him had been replaced by shock and awe.

This was where he and Stefan lived? The place was huge!

Damon let out a small laugh at my reaction before getting out of the car and scooping me up. He set me down long enough to open the door to the house. Batting his hands away, I limped through the threshold and glanced down the hallway on either side of us before my eyes fell on the room in front of us.

Old pictures and lamps were neatly placed on small tables and hung on walls. A small dark wooden piano was close to the wall on the right side of the room, opposite an entryway that led into a sitting room. A couple of couches and chairs sat close to a fireplace directly ahead, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling.

"How about a tour?" Damon asked, picking me up again and heading towards the living room.

Room after room, Damon led me through the boarding house in a comfortable silence, only speaking when telling me what each room was. He completely bypassed an open door with stairs leading to the floor below us.

"What's downstairs?" I asked, staring into the darkness.

"Nothing. Just a normal, boring basement."

I had a feeling that the basement was anything but normal, seeing as these were vampires living in this gorgeous building, but I decided to let it go. If Damon had wanted to include the basement in his 'tour', he would have. I would just have to push my curiosity aside for now.

"Let me guess, all the bedrooms are upstairs?"

"Yep. Seven, altogether." He responded, stopping in front of the staircase leading to the top floor. Before I could even look up we were inside one of the mentioned bedrooms.

Nothing about this room was small. The bed itself was massive. King-sized, I figured. Underneath it was a giant rug. A huge mirror leaned against the wall on my right. Curtains hanging from ceiling to floor covered the entirety of the adjoining wall. They were open, revealing a set of double doors that led to a balcony. On either side of the doors were long, wide windows. In the middle of the wall across from the mirror was a large fireplace. An old painting hung on the side of it that was closest to the windows. Mounted on the other side was a flat-screen TV, at least fifty inches.

The last wall, the one directly to my left, had two doors. One was shut, but I assumed it was to a closet which was no doubt a large walk-in. The second door was open and showing an equally impressive-sized bathroom. I couldn't see everything, but I did notice a glass shower and giant standalone tub.

The room didn't have a whole lot of décor, just a few portraits and a few stacks of books here and there. A couple of dark brown leather chairs sat on the opposite side of the room, by the fireplace.

"Why does this room not surprise me?" I laughed, thinking about how badly I wanted to sit in that bathtub and soak for hours. He walked over to the bed and threw me on it, causing me to squeal.

"I really wish you'd stop doing that."

"But I'm not going to." He winked at me, walked over to a chest by one of the windows, pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, then joined me on the bed.

Once he'd filled the glasses about a third of the way, he handed one to me, drinking from the other. I took a sip and let the Bourbon burn its way down my throat. After another sip, I cleared my throat and stared at my hands while asking Damon about something I'd been thinking about on the way here.

"How does it work? Turning into a vampire?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Might as well, right?. Does it just take a bite, or is there more to it than that?"

"There's a whole process. You would need to die with vampire blood in your system, then drink human blood to complete the transition." He answered, taking my glass and setting it, along with his, on the floor. "Speaking of vampires and blood, I want you to drink from me."

"Excuse me?!"

"It'll heal your ankle."

"You expect me to drink your blood after what you just told me? Are you crazy?"

"You'll be fine. Just don't die in the next 24 hours." He said, before surprising me by extending his fangs and biting into his wrist. He held his arm out to me. "Go on, before the wound closes."

"Promise you won't kill me?"

"I'm not gonna kill you." He promised, rolling his eyes. Not very reassuring.

I took a deep breath before leaning towards him, then placed my hand under his and tentatively brushed his skin with my tongue. Instead of the normal bitter, metallic taste, it was almost sweet. A bit braver, I ran my tongue over the wound, gathering up some of the pooling blood just below his palm, pulling back just slightly to swallow it.

"Drink, Danica." Damon commanded, giving a short chuckle.

That was all the encouragement I needed. I brought my lips back to his wrist and started to suck on the skin, pulling the bright red liquid into my mouth. Damon let out a moan, low enough that I almost didn't hear it, and my eyes locked with his. A minute or two passed before Damon pulled his arm back. I watched as the bite disappeared, leaving behind no trace of the torn flesh other than a small amount of drying blood.

"Check your ankle." He said.

I rolled over, sat up, placed my feet on the floor, and rolled my left foot around while holding my breath. When I didn't feel anything, I bent down to take off the wrap before standing up and taking a slow step forward.

And again felt nothing. No pain. The mild sprain was healed, just like that.

Hiding my astonishment, I turned back to face Damon.

"Is that how my blood tastes to you?"

"What, no 'thank you'?"

"How rude of me. 'Oh, Damon, you're so wonderful! How can I ever repay you?'" I joked. "Better?"

Half a second later, he had me pinned on the bed, leaving me dizzy and breathless from the sudden movement. One hand was holding both of my wrists on a pillow above my head. The other was on my side, slowly pushing the bottom of my shirt up.

Before I could protest, Damon started lowering his lips to mine. Just as he was about to kiss me, loud music started playing from somewhere down the hall. He let out a low growl.

"Stay here." He said, freeing my hands and disappearing from the room. I exhaled a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

When he didn't immediately come back, I slid off the bed and walked over to the fireplace, running my fingers over the bindings of a pile of books that were stacked on top of the mantel.

A few moments passed by before Damon stepped through the doorway again. I could sense his foul mood almost instantly.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes and no." He responded, plopping down in a chair.

"What happened?"

"I thought it'd be a good idea to let Vicki get some fresh air."

"And?"

"And now she's gone."

"What? What do you mean she's gone?"

"She took off running into the woods."

"I have to go." I said, walking towards the door, only to be cut off by Damon.

"You're not going anywhere."

"I was supposed to meet up with Matt."

"Not happening. He's probably the first stop Vicki will make."

"Exactly why I should go! She could hurt him."

"Relax. Stefan went after her. I'm sure he'll find her and drag her right back. Besides, how much trouble could she get into, really?"

"Can I at least go home?"

"Nope. You're going to stay right here until Stefan returns with Vicki. Then you can leave."

"Bonnie's going to be at my house in an hour, Damon. I'm supposed to be getting ready with her for the school's Halloween party."

"Sounds like fun. I'll go with you."

"Oh, no you won't. Caroline will be there."

"Good! We can catch up."

"Damon..." I started in a warning tone.

"You're so cute when you try to threaten me." He smirked, sighing when I kept glaring at him. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"Don't really have another way there. We came in your car, remember?"

Damon pulled up in front of my house thirty minutes later. He'd been extremely happy when he found out that I was living next door to Elena. Probably so he could stalk us more easily.

He walked me to the porch, watching over his shoulder as I unlocked and opened the door. Once I stepped inside, I turned back to him.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" He asked.

"I'm not inviting you in."

"Dani..."

"No, Damon. This place is vampire-free and I'm going to keep it that way. At least for now."

"I'm not leaving."

"I'm not telling you to. You want to keep tabs on me? Fine. Do it from out there. Just don't let Bonnie see you, or she'll be pissed."

"Fine." He agreed reluctantly, narrowing his eyes. "Oh, BTW, I will be keeping an eye on you, so no detours on your way back."

The outside and inside of Mystic High were already full of students, teachers, children, and parents by the time I got there. My Tahoe was still at the Grill and Bonnie stood me up, so I had no choice but to let Damon drop me off.

"I still think you should let me come in with you, be your date." He mock-pouted.

"Not even if you had on a matching costume." I responded, using the little mirror in the sun visor to check my reflection.

"Your costume doesn't even make sense. A brunette Sandy? 'Sexy Cop' was a much better choice."

"I thought you said you've never seen Grease." I asked, raising an eyebrow at his comment. "Besides, I would have gone with one of the other costumes if someone hadn't made a bunch of suggestions about how we could use all the different props." I added, applying some red lipstick.

"And you'd enjoy every single one."

I scoffed at his brazen attitude. All kidding aside, my thoughts kept going back to being in his bedroom earlier, held down by his body. My skin felt as if it was on fire under his touch. I'd been so excited that he'd been so close and a second from kissing me. And oh, what a kiss it would have –

'Holy crap! NO! Do not think about him like that!' I mentally scolded myself. Wanting to change the subject, I grasped for something to say.

"How am I supposed to explain my ankle magically healing in just two days?"

"I'm sure you'll come up with something." He said, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and watching a group of teenagers climb out of a car. I recognized them from the cheer squad. "You know what? This whole 'waiting in the car' thing will be way too boring."

"Then don't. Go home."

"Nope, but nice try. I'm gonna swing by the Grill for a drink. I'll be back before you leave."

I shivered as I made my way across the schoolyard, wondering if 'drink' meant booze or blood. I soon pushed that thought to the back of my mind as my eyes scanned the faces of other students, barely registering the decorations everywhere. Finally I found Caroline and Bonnie standing together about thirty feet away.

"Dani!" Bonnie said cheerfully, throwing her arms around my neck. "I'm so sorry I didn't call. I got caught up with my grams and lost track of time..."

"It's fine." I responded, giving Caroline a quick hug as well.

"Didn't you break your ankle yesterday? How are you walking?" Caroline questioned me in a moment of rare perception.

"It was a mild sprain. No big deal. And, uh, I heal fast. Plus, I took some painkillers earlier."

"Not from Jeremy?" Bonnie asked, looking slightly horrified.

"Of course not! Though, not for lack of trying on his part."

"Cider for the ladies." Tyler interrupted. In each hand, he used his thumb and index finger to carry a couple glasses, a third being carefully held with the rest of his fingers, each one filled with a mixture of alcohols. He leaned closer to me, voice lowered as he added, "It's a Lockwood special."

"Perfect timing." I said, flashing him a smile and taking a cup. "I was just thinking I needed a drink."

"Ugh. No way." Bonnie declined. "Last year I was hung over until Thanksgiving." I held back a laugh as Tyler handed one to Caroline.

"Lightweight. I am going to drink until someone is hot enough to make out with."

"Good idea." I agreed.

"Sounds like a plan." Tyler said with a smile, clinking his glass against ours before taking a drink. Caroline and I both sipped from ours.

"So... Danica," Bonnie began, a sheepish smile spreading across her face that made my defenses go up. "I already know Caroline's type: guy. And I know Tyler's type: girl. What about you? What kind of guy do you go for?"

Feeling a little embarrassed, I evaded her gaze and took a huge drink from my glass. Desperate for escape, I tried to think about how to get out of answering her. Relief flooded through me when my phone started buzzing (unfortunately, my costume had no pockets, so it was tucked away in my bra). When I pulled it out, Elena's familiar face peered up at me.

"Um... I have to take this, sorry."

Slipping away from my friends, I slid my finger across the screen to answer the call.

"Elena, hey. What's –"

"I know everything, Danica, about Stefan and Damon. And now Vicki. And I know you know, too."

"Oh. I, um –"

"I don't have much time, Dani." She interrupted, voice strained with frustration. "She's here and I can't find Jeremy."

My head snapped up and I started looking for any sign of them. "Where are you?"

"I'm in the hall by the entrance covered in a Grim Reaper sheet."

I looked towards the school. "Okay, that's covering the door by where I'm at. Stay where you are. I'll be there in a minute."

I hung up and then excused myself from Bonnie, Tyler, and Caroline as quickly and politely as I could manage before practically running inside the school. Elena and I were concocting a plan when Stefan appeared, dragging a pissed-off Vicki by the arm.

"Thank God." Elena breathed.

"What's the matter?" Stefan asked.

"I lost track of Jeremy. I was worried."

"I'll try calling him." I offered, already hitting the number he was assigned to on speed dial, but the call went straight to voicemail.

"What's going on?" Asked a voice I'd probably be able to recognize anywhere. Matt had joined our little group. From the looks on Stefan's and Elena's faces, I'd bet money that he didn't have any idea what his sister had been turned into.

"Hey, uh, everything's fine."

Suddenly, Vicki's eyes lit up as she was hit with a new idea. She turned on Stefan, and her next words left me momentarily speechless.

"I told you to quit bothering me!" She yelled out softly, ripping her arm from his grip.

"No, Vicki. Don't do this." Elena protested, but it was too late. Vicki was already using the protective-brother card.

"Matt, he won't leave me alone."

"You need to back off, man." Matt said, putting his body in front of Vicki's.

"Matt, it's... it's okay." Elena attempted to reason.

"No, it's not okay." He responded, tone angry. He brought his attention back to Stefan as he stepped forward, getting in his face and demanding, "What the hell is your problem?"

I felt the slightest breeze on my left before realizing what had happened. "Guys. She's gone."

Elena ran off, and Stefan and I moved to follow her, but Matt grabbed Stefan's arm to stop him. Stefan grabbed fistfulls of Matt's shirt and shoved him against the wall, holding him there.

"I'm trying to help her!" He exclaimed, barely keeping his anger in check, before letting go and going after Elena and Vicki.

As much as I wanted to help them, one glance from Matt stopped me momentarily from doing so. He wore a look of frustration, anger, and confusion.

"What's going on, Dani?"

"I wish I could tell you, Matt. I really do."

"Then tell me!"

"I can't." I whispered, not even sure if he could hear me. "I'm sorry."

With nothing else to offer, I left him standing there, alone and upset. I promised myself that I'd go back for him once I was sure that Jeremy was safe.

After about ten minutes of searching, I finally caught up to Elena, but became worried when she told me she had no idea where her brother or either vampire were.

"Do you think maybe they left?" I asked, calling Jeremy for the umpteenth time and still not getting an answer.

"No, I – I don't know."

"Well, they're not in here. They might be outside..." I suggested, trying to think of where they would go. "Okay, here's the plan: I'll go out back and do a quick sweep of the Pit and the parking lot. You check the front. If one of us finds either of them, call the other."

"And if we don't find them?"

"We don't give up. We regroup and try again."

"Okay..." She agreed hesitantly, hating that we couldn't just know automatically where Jeremy was. I knew that because I felt the same way.

With one last promise to her that we'd find her brother, Elena and I parted ways. I pushed passed people as I made my way to the Grim Reaper entrance and back out to where I'd left my other friends. They weren't together anymore. Tyler was off with a small group of sophomore girls, Caroline was hanging on the arm of some football player I didn't recognize, but I couldn't see Bonnie.

However, Damon was hanging out by a cauldron of candy about twenty feet away.

'What the...?'

Actually, that could be useful. One vampire with enhanced senses would help us find Jeremy sooner than if it was just me and Elena. But two? That might speed up the search even more. If Damon would agree to help, that was.

Swallowing my pride, and ignoring the voice in my head wondering about Bonnie's whereabouts, I decided to give it a try. The worst he could do was say no.

Time to test out his super hearing skills...

"Damon," I began, keeping my voice down so no one around me would hear. "can you hear me?"

Immediately, I felt awkward, certain he couldn't hear me and that I was talking to myself. A second later, Damon's head turned and his eyes met mine. In just as much time, he was by my side.

"What's got you looking so frazzled?"

"I need you. Your help." I clarified when his lips turned up into a smirk. "Vicki's here."

"And...?"

"And we have to find her! Or at least find Jeremy."

"No, no. Elena has to find Baby Gilbert. Stefan has to find Vicki. We don't have to do anything, except have fun."

"Jeremy's my best friend."

"Careful, now. Don't want Quarterback to get jealous."

"You turned Vicki," I continued, ignoring him, "which makes her your responsibility, not Stefan's."

Any retort he'd been about to give fell short when Tiki came up to us, wearing a costume that revealed more skin than it concealed. The top was basically just a bra that tied in the front and was covered with a black button-up jacket, which hung open. She paired it with a red plaid mini skirt and thigh-high stockings and a pair of cute black platforms that were at least four inches high, making her long legs look impossibly longer. Her hair hung over her shoulders in pigtails.

Slutty Schoolgirl. How fitting, I thought, as I cleared my throat in an attempt to get Damon to shift his attention off of her.

"Danica!" She greeted, clearly faking her delight in seeing me. We didn't get along. At all.

"Hello, Tiki." I forced a smile.

"Should I put you two down for the Couple's Costumes Competition? Top prize is a $50 gift card of winner's choice." Upon her words, I noticed a clipboard and pen in her hands.

"Uh, no. We're not –"

"Yes, you should." Damon interrupted. "Damon Salvatore and Danica Williams as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson from Grease." He eyed the paper she wrote on.

"What was that about?" I asked him, eyebrow raised, as he turned back to me when she'd walked away.

"There's no way we can lose. We're the best looking couple here. And our costumes are unique." He winked at me.

"Yeah, except for two things: We are not a couple, and you're not wearing a costume." Though, with Damon's style of clothing, he really could pass as being dressed for Danny's character. White shirt, black leather jacket, dark jeans, black boots. All he needed was a touch of gel in his hair.

"She doesn't need to know that." His smirk was back in place, and his eyes shone with a mischievous glint. "Would you care to dance?"

Surprised by his proposal, I almost accepted. But then I remembered...

"Damn it! I have to go. I'm supposed to be –"

"Yeah, yeah. Looking for Gilbert. Go. I'll see if I can find him inside."

I let my eyes roam over the faces of everyone standing around before checking out the Stoner Pit. No Jeremy. No Vicki. I did, however, notice a couple slipping between two of the many school buses in the parking lot. I made it there just in time to hear Jeremy yell at Vicki to stop whatever she was doing.

As I ran down the line of buses to find where they were, I noticed a garbage can full of wooden planks. I grabbed a 2x6 board. A couple more buses later, I finally found them. She was about to attack him. I had to act fast. With no time to come up with a strategy, I did the only thing I could think of to get Vicki's attention.

"Hey, slut!" I called out. It worked. Vicki pushed Jeremy away from her... and then turned on me.

With the board as my only weapon, I waited until Vicki was close enough to smack her. Unfortunately, with my human strength being nothing compared to that of a vampire's, it hardly fazed her. Instead, she grabbed the plank and used it to pull me to her. Using her new power, she pushed me, sending me flying into a pile of wooden crates and garbage bags.

Stefan arrived at this point, throwing Vicki against the front of a bus. She pushed back against him and managed to make him fall back a few steps before disappearing.

When she didn't instantly show herself, Stefan glanced at me and then Jeremy. With an expression and tone of voice so intense and worry-filled, he looked back at me. "Go. Get inside. Go!" He yelled, grabbing my arm and nudging me forward a bit when I didn't move right away.

Clutching Jeremy's hand, I took off for the nearest entrance to the building. I managed to get the door open before I suddenly felt Jeremy being ripped away from me.

I didn't even have time to flip around before Vicki flung me away from the door. I hit the windshield of one of the buses, hard enough to crack the glass. Before I could bite back a scream of pain, I was grabbed again, this time smacking against the cold concrete. The taste of blood filled my mouth and my vision blurred.

"You're just as bad as Elena. You come to town, hit on my brother, make him feel things for you... and then, nothing. You string him along just like that whore did for fifteen years! And as if he wasn't enough, you have to have Jeremy too? He's mine!" She growled out before yanking me to my feet. I felt a familiar sting in my neck as her fangs broke through skin, not even realizing I was screaming until her hand came up to cover my mouth.

After what felt like an eternity, but in reality was probably only a second or two, she pulled back as sharp wood pierced through her chest from behind.

Gasping for air, she looked down at the makeshift stake, her right hand coming up as if to touch it. It wasn't until the stake was pulled out that I noticed Stefan behind her. A few tears rolled down her cheeks as Jeremy started calling out for her. Her skin changed to a sickening grayish hue before she fell the to the ground, dead.

My entire body ached from everything that had happened in the last minute or so, but all I could think about was making sure Jeremy was okay. I tore my eyes from Vicki's body to check him over as Stefan held him back. He looked fine, physically. The only wound I could see was blood slowly dripping from his lip.

Elena appeared in the doorway and took in the scene before her. Vicki lying on the ground, lifeless. Me, barely standing. Jeremy in tears and being held back by Stefan, who was in despair.

"Get him out of here." She half-demanded, half-begged.

When Stefan and Jeremy disappeared, I gave in to the pain and dropped to the ground beside Vicki, leaning forward long enough to close her eyelids. Elena joined me, a sob escaping her lips, and reached out to Vicki, pulling her hand back at the last second. Instead, she moved closer to me to help me sit up.

A few minutes passed, and then we heard footsteps. Between the reality of the situation, the growing agony from each wound, and fatigue from Vicki's attack, I couldn't muster enough energy to lift my head. I only knew from the boots who had joined us.

"You should go. I got this." Damon's usual flippant attitude confirmed as such. Under normal circumstances, this would've annoyed me. However, it took every once of my strength to keep upright, even though Elena's hold on me was doing most of the work. Until it wasn't anymore. She'd stood up at his slightly upbeat tone.

"You did this. This is your fault." She accused, words laced with fury.

"You confuse me for someone with remorse." He responded. This got more of a reaction. Elena attempted to push him, but he didn't budge. She drew her hand back, and he caught it before it made contact with his face. "None of this matters to me. None of it." The last part came out in a whisper.

"People die around you! How could it not matter? It matters and you know it!" She spat out, taking advantage of his turning towards Vicki's body to successfully slap him as hard as she could manage. He visibly held himself back from attacking her.

"You just pissed off a vampire. You need to leave." He told her, straining to keep his voice low.

She pointed at me. "Her wounds are bleeding."

"Yes, they are. And you. Need. To leave."

She started to back away, stopped, looked down at me, back up at Damon, and then back at me.

"Leave her." Damon said, before Elena could try helping me up.

"I'm not going to just –"

"I said GO!" Damon finally snapped, yelling at her.

With a sympathetic glance at me, and a look of pure hatred at Damon, she turned and walked away. When she was out of sight, Damon sighed as he knelt down and inspected Vicki's body before leaning over me.

"I told you: no dying."

Weak laughter bubbled up in my throat.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"I don't... I don't think I can even stand."

"Okay. First thing's first, I gotta move the body."

I made a mental note of my injuries while I waited for him to return. The worst pain was in my head and lower back, and I was pretty sure I had a concussion. Then, of course, the wound in my neck. There were probably more that I didn't even feel.

"Hey. Hey!" Damon's voice startled me into consciousness. I hadn't realized I'd drifted off. "You gotta stay awake, Danica."

"I – I know... it's just... so tired..." Darkness kept threatening to take over. It was difficult for me to focus on anything, let alone speak a full sentence.

I heard the shifting of rocks as he sat down, felt his arms wrap around my upper torso, and then more wooziness as he lifted me up to his lap. The sound that came after alerted me to the fact that he'd just used his teeth to tear into his skin.

This time, when he offered me his wrist, I accepted it without delay. Greedily, I gulped down the sweet healing liquid and didn't stop until he moved his arm from my mouth. Opening my eyes, I blinked a few times, letting them adjust.

All I saw at first was ice blue. Then the contrasting black of Damon's hair, followed by the rest of his features: his jawline, his cheekbones, his lips...

Lips which were so, so close.

"I need to check on Jeremy." I breathed out.

"Elena's with him." He groaned.

"I know, but I have to see him."

He let out another sigh, removing his arm from my waist so that I could sit up. In a flash, he was standing in front of me with a hand held out. I took it and allowed him to pull me to my feet.

"What are you going to do with the... with her?" I asked him.

"Well, we've gotta take her someplace remote."

"We? No, you have to take me home."

"I can't drive around town with a corpse in the trunk, Dani."

I flinched at the word 'corpse', but kept my ground.

"I don't want to be a part of this. It's bad enough that I'm going to have to lie to Matt and Jeremy about this. I'll find my own way."

"News flash: you already are a part of this. For once, just stop being difficult and do what I tell you to."

Reluctantly, I followed him to his Camaro. We drove a good half hour before coming to a stop on some hidden path in the woods. I opted to stay by the car while he took Vicki's body out further. I didn't bother asking what he did with her. I didn't want to know.

Stefan was sitting on a porch bench when we arrived at Elena's.

"They're inside." He explained before I could ask.

I walked over to him and threw my arms around his neck. "Thank you." I breathed in his ear.

Without another word to either Salvatore, I let myself into the house and headed up the staircase. Elena was leaving Jeremy's room.

"Is he sleeping?"

"No, he's awake."

"Can I see him?" I asked. She nodded, but didn't move.

"This is too much for him. He can't handle this, not after..." She trailed off. It didn't take a mind reader to know she meant the accident that killed their parents. "I don't know how to help him."

"I think we just need to be here for him."

"Is Stefan still out there?" She asked, voice grave.

"Yes." I told her, hesitating with what I said next, "Go easy on him, Elena. She didn't leave him any other choice."

I shut the door behind me as I entered Jeremy's room. He sat on the edge of his bed with his legs drawn up and his arms wrapped around his knees.

"Jer?" I asked hesitantly.

"Vicki's dead." He stated, almost robotically.

"Yes."

"She... she almost killed you."

"Yes." I choked out.

Finally, he raised his head and looked at me.

"What she did to you... I mean, I saw..." He paused. "You don't look like you went through it. Any of it. Aside from the blood."

He was right. Any damage done to my body had been fixed thanks to Damon, but my clothes were filthy and torn in some places. My neck had dried blood on it from Vicki's bite, and my arms and legs probably did too, as a result of being scratched up at some point.

"What happened out there? What... what was that?" He asked. The sadness in his eyes made my heart feel as if it were breaking.

I wasn't sure if Elena wanted Jeremy to know the truth about vampires, but I knew it wasn't my place to tell him. So I shrugged and walked around the bed, sitting down next to him.

Jeremy pulled me to him, crushing me to his chest and leaning back against the headboard. I wrapped my arms around him and just rested against him for an uncertain amount of time. Eventually, his hold loosened and I sat up enough to look at him.

"I'm so sorry, Jer." I whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek.

A knock sounded on the door. When I looked up, I saw Damon standing in the entry. My guard went up the second he opened his mouth.

"Elena asked me to speak with Little Gilbert, to... explain things." He said, choosing his words carefully.

"I'm not leaving him."

"It'll just take a minute."

A voice in the back of my mind told me not to trust him.

"It's okay, Dani." Jeremy whispered. His hand found mine and squeezed.

"Fine, but I'm staying." I said, shooting a warning glare at Damon. He only shrugged.

"All right, Baby Gilbert, listen up." He started, locking eyes with Jeremy. "You're going to forget what happened tonight. You weren't almost attacked, Danica wasn't attacked... in fact, you didn't even see Vicki Donovan. What you will remember is that you went with Elena to the haunted house at the high school, and you had a blast."

"What are you doing?!" I cut in once I realized what was happening: Damon was using compulsion. He turned to me, not breaking the connection with Jeremy.

"What I was asked to do. Got a problem with it? Take it up with Elena." He said, turning back to Jeremy. Fuming, I tore down the stairs and out the door.

"What the hell, Elena?" I yelled.

She stood up from where she was sitting next to Stefan. Her voice was small and wavered. "This is what's best for him, Danica. He'll never get past this."

"You're not even giving him a chance!"

"Didn't you see him? He's a mess."

"Vicki just died. You can't expect him to move on in an hour!"

"I know what's best for him. He's my brother. You're someone who's known him for two months. Back off."

"You're right. You are his sister, but that doesn't give you the right to take his memories from him! Did you even ask him if he was okay with this?"

Her look of chagrin was all the answer I needed.

"It's done." Damon said, announcing his return.

Elena went inside and slammed the door shut. I was still so outraged that I lashed out at the next person involved: Damon.

"I can't believe you agreed to this!"

"What would you have me do? Tell him the truth? 'Sorry, but your girlfriend had to die because she was an evil vampire and was going to drain you dry.' That would've made things so much better."

"Look, this was a long night for all of us," Stefan intercepted, "so why don't we just get some rest and discuss this in the morning?"

Remembering the last time I snapped at Damon, I decided to take Stefan's advice. The last thing I needed was to be on the end of another vampire's wrath.

So I swallowed my anger and crossed the short distance to my house, took a longer-than-necessary shower, and slipped into bed.