Enjoy :)

The birds woke with the first light of the day, as did I. A groan escaped my parted lips as I rolled over in bed, stretching all my limbs until I was satisfied. I was happy as my skin was returning to normal now that I had rested. I still wasn't sure as to what was truly going on with my body.

Repairing the events of yesterday together in my head as I washed the previous days events away in the shower, two names rang through it like bulldozers. Stefan and Klaus. Everything came flashing back as I scrubbed at my skin under the running water. The mountains, the fight, the running… the hybrids.

He actually did it. Klaus managed to create a hybrid. Well, he did until Stefan gutted it.

That isn't going to go down well.

I rolled my eyes thinking of the repercussions if Klaus were to come back here now that he had his hybrids. We'd all be in danger. I just knew it.

As I finished drying my hair, a knock at the front door drew my attention. I pulled the towel tighter around my body and walked down the hallway as the knocking began to get louder and more impatient the closer I got.

"Hang on!" I yelled as I turned the handle to the door. I wasn't at all surprised to see who was relentlessly banging on it, "Hello, Damon." I greeted as the door opened. He was leaning against the white wooden pane, a coy smile on his lips.

"Morning." he smiled as his eyes began trailing down my body. I tugged the towel a little tighter, causing him to chuckle lightly.

"What do you want?" I asked impatiently.

"How would you feel about another road trip?" his hands clasped together, his index fingers touching and pointing in my direction.

I sniggered, "Over my dead body." I made the attempt to shut the door but Damon's foot stuck inside the frame, halting my effort.

"Rude." He frowned.

"Damon, the last time I went on a 'trip' with you… I was nearly wolf bate, not to mention so were you." I turned around walking back into the house and Damon followed closely behind, catching my wrist as it swung in the air.

He jolted me backwards into his body; I scarcely had time to catch my towel before it fell to the ground.

"Come on… we're going to get Stefan." He smiled.

"I highly doubt that. You heard what he said last night, Damon." I reminded him of Stefan's clear demand not to follow him again, but Damon was having none of it.

"Look, you don't know my brother—"

"You're right, Damon," I cut him off before he could finish. "I don't really know your brother. So, tell me again why I should put my life on the line again, I may add, for your brother?"

He looked at a loss for words as he thought over my choice of words in this matter.

I was right; I didn't know them all that well.

"Elena's coming, and I might need your help, Jess." He spoke softly, his hands on my shoulders keeping me near, keeping my attention from wavering from the subject. My skin began to nip as the breeze from outside brushed through the door as we stood in the hallway.

God, why can't I say no to people?

I nodded, "Okay, just… let me get dressed." I looked down at my body covered in my towel and he nodded. Damon removed his hands from my shoulders and took a step back as I pulled the towel round my frame tighter.

"Thank you." He called from behind me as I walked back towards my room, "Ohh, and by the way, you could have kept the towel on. Just sayin'" I heard a laugh erupt from deep within as I reached my door.

"You've just fucked it. I'm not coming!" I yelled as the door slammed shut behind me, shaking the wall that it sat in the centre of.

"Get you outside in 5!" Damon called back.

A small smile appeared on my lips, I had almost forgotten about last night's events, almost.

I pulled on a pair of black jeans, a red tank top and my leather jacket to accompany it. I slipped on my boots that sat by the door before grasping my keys from the bowl at the same time before locking up the house.

On the road for the second time this week, Damon and Elena sat up front as I lay across the back seat reading a book in comfort as they bickered. I tried to drown out there nattering but as I was reading my book, Damon's arm swung into the back seat and smacked my leg.

"Jess, hand me that book in from the back." Damon said and he stared at the road in front. I picked up a red leather book from the floor and placed it in his hand.

"Read this. Paints a pretty little picture of Stefan's first experience in Chicago." He offered the book to Elena who refuses to take it.

"It's Stefan's diary. I'm not going to invade his private thoughts."

"You need to be prepared for what you're about to see."

"I've seen Stefan in his darkest periods. I can handle it."

If only you knew, Elena.

Damon opened the diary and rested it on the wheel before reading a page from it.

"Here's one. March 12, 1922. I've blacked out days. I wake up in strangers' blood. In places I don't recognise. With woman I don't remember." He turned to Elena, "Ahh! I'm shocked! Stefan's not a virgin?"

I laughed causing Elena to snatch the book from Damon as he smirked, we shared a smile in the rear-view mirror again as he continued down the long, empty road.

As we parked Damon's car in a parking lot somewhere in Chicago. Damon, Elena and I made our way up a bustling street on the hunt for Stefan's old apartment. I walked a few paces behind them as I looked through shop windows as we past them. I stilled as I saw a beautiful dress inside the window of a lovely little boutique store. The satin fabric clung to the mannequin in the window, calling to me like a siren. I just had to have it. I placed my hand on the door handle ready to enter when a hand snatched it off.

"What the hell!" I moaned as Damon tugged me away from the door, "I was going in there."

His brow furrowed as he looked at me in annoyance, "We're not here for a shopping spree!"

"I don't wanna be here at all!" I shot back. Damon didn't reply, instead he just dragged me away from the store and down the street, people looking in our direction as he done so. "Damon! Let go of me!" I fought against his pull but he was relentless.

I gave up and walked alongside him, making a mental note of the store for later. I wanted that dress, and I was going to have it. One way or the other.

As we approached a large set of block buildings, we entered through the front door, passing some people on the way. Walking up the many flights of stairs, I was glad that I was in good shape, otherwise I would have called it quits after the third flight.

"Stefan could have lived anywhere in Chicago and he chose this?" Elena's distaste for the building was duly noted as we stopped outside a beat-up white door.

"There used to be an all-girl high school around the corner, but it shut down for attendance reasons. Weird." Damon mocked and I rolled my eyes.

"If you're trying to scare me into giving up and going back, it's not going to work." Elena snapped. Damon rested his index finger against his pert lips.

"Shh."

As he broke the lock, the door swung open and we had a full panoramic view of inside. We entered one after the other, I was last in so I closed the door behind us.

"Hate to burst your bubble Damon. But I don't think anyone has been here in years." I said as I looked around the room. Thick dust coated all the surfaces in the apartment.

"He obviously hasn't been here." Elena added.

With a roll of his eyes, Damon spoke, "Tour is not over yet."

He walked towards a wall shelf panel next to a refrigerator, put his hand to the edge of the panel and pulls. It swivelled open to reveal a dark back room. Damon motions towards it, walks inside, and pulls a hanging cord to turn the dim-light on. Alcohol sits on the shelves on the back wall inside the small room.

"Shocker… a hidden room." I mocked with my hands in the air in pretend shock as I took a seat on the counter.

"Shut up." Damon moaned as he waved me off in dismissal.

"Stefan hid his alcohol. What a monster." Elena sighed. Clearly just as annoyed as I.

"Look harder." He told Elena.

She did, and she was horrified by what she seen.

"It's a list of names."

"Mm-hmm."

"These are all his victims?" Elena asked in shock and Damon nodded.

"Still handling it?" Damon spoke, his fingers doing inverted quotations as Elena turned around, her face screwed up.

"What were you doing in the 1920s? Paving the way for woman's liberation?"

Damon smirked, "I was around. Chicago's a big city. Stefan was a cocky-ripper-douche. But I could avoid him and still indulge in a few Daisy Buchanan's of my own."

Now in a state of disgust, Elena walked away from the hidden room and towards me at the counter. Damon headed for the door.

"Uhh, where are you going?" I asked and sprung off of the counter.

"His old stomping ground." He replied.

"I'm coming with you." Elena pushed off the counter also.

"No," Damon turned around stopping her in her tracks. "You stay here with Jess and whip up an actual plan. I'll come back when I find him."

"Wait," I interjected, "You came all the way out here to Chicago, and you don't have an actual plan?"

Damon shrugged and left the room.

"Ass!" I moaned and Elena agreed.

An hour or two had past, or longer, I'm not entirely sure, I'd lost track a while go now. Elena lay on the bed which was in the apartment as I harmlessly wandered around, looking over the names which were written on the wall in the hidden room. I opened a bottle of malt which sat on a shelf in the small room.

"Don't mind if I do." I blew the dust off the bottle and opened it. It smelled divine as the fumes passed through my senses. I took a small sip from the neck of the bottle, wincing as I swallowed. It was raw, but delicious. "Want some?" I asked offering Elena a sip. She denied as she swung her legs over the bed with a gentile shake of her head.

"No thanks." She smiled.

I shrugged, "Your loss." I said as I took another drink from the bottle.

"Some of the stuff in here, Jess. Its jus—"

I quickly flailed my arms in the air before rushing across the room and slamming my hand against her mouth, placing my index finger against my lips.

"Shh."

My hearing was in hyper-mode as I focused onto the voices that were approaching closer and closer. I steered Elena into the small, hidden room and pulled the door over, as if it was never touched. I pressed my body up against hers as we crammed into the tight space. Hidden.

Well, hopefully.

The door to the apartment was forced open with a bang, and in walked Stefan and Klaus. I could feel Elena tense behind me as the footsteps approached.

Then he spoke.

"What a charming little homestead. Do you feel that? Is anybody here?"

Fuck!

I could smell him. Klaus. I could smell him like he stood right in front of me. I always had good senses, but this was getting out of hand.

His thick British accent sent chills through my body as he spoke with such confidence and poise.

We were well and truly fucked.

The footsteps got closer and closer in the apartment as my own heart was beginning to match Elena's, who was holding her breath behind me.

"It's been vacant for decades. People must break in all the time. Why'd you bring me here?" Stefan's voice was full and heavy. He sounded tired and pissed-off. Elena shifted a little behind me as she heard his voice travel though the apartment.

"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood… I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual."

I gazed upon the list of names on the wall in front of me and there it was. Liam Grant. His name was mixed in with the rest on the stone wall.

"To write it down." Stefan confirmed.

"And relive the kill… over and over again." The door to the hidden room which was masking Elena and I was now open and in the entry stood Klaus. I could scarcely see his arm holding the door open, as I shuffled back a little more. "You believe me now?" Klaus continued.

Stefan entered the small space, his eyes gazing over his 'kill list' before he turned in our direction. He stood motionless as I shook my head, silently pleading with him to stay quiet about us. I felt Elena peer round my arm, Stefan locked eyes with her.

He thought hard for a moment before speaking. "Look what I found." He called into the apartment.

I felt my skin begin to burn as I looked at Stefan.

He really had gone.

As I prepared myself for what was inevitably about to come. Stefan reached inside, grasped a bottle of malt which I had drunk out of not 30 minutes earlier, and backed out into the apartment.

"1918. Single malt." Stefan stood still in the doorway.

"My favourite." Klaus spoke, "Let's go find someone to pair it with."

The door to the hidden room slowly closed over, immersing Elena and I into darkness once more. I listened until I could no longer hear their footsteps patter against the wooden floor boards.

"Okay… I think we're good." I slowly opened the door and peered out. The entryway to the apartment was once again closed and the rest had been untouched. I walked out and blew a sigh of relief, as did Elena once she emerged.

"How did you hear them coming?" Elena gasped as she caught her breath.

I looked at her puzzled, "You didn't hear them?"

She shook her head.

"I must have been listening closely then." I shrugged it off. "I think it's about time you called Damon, don't you?"

Elena nodded and pulled out her phone, then we waited.

An hour had passed and the day was now becoming night as we waited. I was laying on top of the counter as Elena was once again sitting on the bed. Footsteps emerged from the hallway, and this time, Elena heard them too. She stood from the bed, a vervain dart held tightly in her fist.

The door opened and in walked the wander himself.

"Finally! I called you an hour ago!" Elena gasped and headed straight towards Damon. He was unfazed by her annoyance and simply tossed a brown paper bag in her direction.

"Make yourself presentable. I know where Stefan's going to be tonight." He took a seat on one of the four chairs by a small table as Elena and I looked on in disbelief.

"I told you that Jess and I were practically discovered by Klaus and you're worried about what I'm wearing?"

Damon groaned, "I had an hour to realise what a bad idea it was to leave you two alone, process it, and move on." His chest fell as he looked her over, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Yeah."

"Okay, good. Get dressed. You're all road-trippy and gross."

I laughed as I swung my legs back and forth on the counter edge.

"So you know where he'll be?" Elena asked hopeful.

"Yes. With Klaus." Damon sighed.

I hopped off the counter and walked over to them, my arms folding over my chest as I looked at Damon in apprehension.

"How exactly are you planning on getting Stefan away from Klaus?" I asked and he smirked.

Ohh, good god, what was he thinking?

"You'll distract Klaus and we'll deal with Stefan."

I felt the hairs on my arms stand all the way up to my neck.

Was he serous? No, he can't be… can he?

"You're ridiculous!" I smirked. Lightly tapping my foot on the floor, "How about you distract Klaus and I'll be on standby in case Elena needs me?"

"Trust me," Damon walked closer to me and handed me a small black bag. "Klaus will much prefer you, Jess."

I looked at Damon through narrowed eyes. The bag which I had clasped in my hands was light in weight, and the fabric inside was deep and rich in colour. I opened the bag more to reveal the treasure hidden inside.

I grinned from ear to ear as I pulled out the satin fabric. "Is this… is this the dress I wanted earlier?" I asked in slight disbelief.

Damon smiled, "You tell me." I placed the dress back into the bag and pulled Damon in for a hug, draping my arms around his neck as I perched on my tip-toes to accommodate his height. His arms crossed around my body and I could feel the heat radiating from him as he breathed.

"But, why?" I asked as I stepped back. Then it hit me.

Ohh, fuck no!

I laughed awkwardly, "No! No… and NO!" I handed him back the bag and walked a few steps back.

"Come on, Jess! We need you to do this." Elena looked at me, her pleading eyes slightly glazed over from recent events. I thought it over for a few moments under the headed gaze of Damon Salvatore.

"What do I have to do?" I asked as I snatched the bag back from Damon in defeat.

On the plus side, I get this free dress.

"What are you smiling for?" Damon asked confused and I awkwardly laughed.

I cleared my throat, "Nothing. You were saying?"

"I'm thinking we'll only have a five minute window to work with, but with you being the distraction, I'm hoping for more leniency. All you have to do is keep him occupied long enough for Elena to talk to Stefan."

"And what are you going to be doing whilst I probably get bludgeoned to death by a hybrid?" I asked sarcastically. Damon sighed audibly and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'll be keeping watch over things. Making sure Elena's safe and that you're not getting 'bludgeoned' to death by Klaus. If it gets too much, I want you to get out of there as quick as you can. Okay?"

I nodded, "Okay. I'll do my best." I reassured him… and myself.

This is going to go horribly wrong, I can feel it.

"Thank you, Jessica." Elena smiled. Her smile held a flicker of hope and some fear for what tonight may bring. I mustered up a small smile, already feeling drained before tonight had begun.

I entered the small bathroom within the apartment and slipped off my clothes and placed them into the bag which held my dress. I looked over the dress, my fingertips grazing over the deep, satin fabric, causing a smile to fall upon my lips. The deep red color of the dress was enthralling to say the least. I stepped into the opening and pulled it up my body, causing me to shiver as it traced up my thighs. Once it was in place, I zipped up the back of the dress with ease and pulled up the straps on my shoulders. I blew a sigh of contempt as I looked in the mirror; the dress was marvellous and hugged every curve of my body wonderfully. I shook my hair free and let the natural waves do their own thing as my light blonde hair draped over my shoulders. My complexion and hair colour really brought the dress together as the complimented one another perfectly.

I emerged from the bathroom and grabbed my leather jacket off the stool and pulled it on and slipped my ankle boots onto my feet. Damon rounded the corner and whistled.

"Well, Miss Forbes, don't you look lovely." He grinned and I laughed as I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr. Salvatore." I curtsied and he smirked.

"Shall we get this party on the road?" he clapped his hands together as Elena joined us in the living room.

As we pulled up at the bar with a large neon sign saying 'Gloria's' the bile in my stomach began to bubble deep inside as the car came to a halt a few feet away from the entrance.

I don't know if I can do this.

I tugged on the fabric of my dress as it stopped a few inches above my knees. My palms were becoming clammy, my skin was heating up and my breath was starting to catch in my throat. Damon's voice was the one thing that brought me back to earth in the moment.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"I said are you ready?" Damon looked in the back of the car where I sat. I nodded and opened the door. Stepping outside, I was glad there was a chill in the air tonight as my skin was on fire at the prospect of having to be in close proximity to Klaus once again. The last time we were together… he knocked me unconscious and 'killed' Elena on an altar. I don't know how tonight was going to go, but something inside me said 'wrong' in huge letters.

"Everyone know what they're doing?" Damon asked. Elena nodded and I took a sharp inhale before nodding as well.

I followed Damon up to the door and stopped outside as he went inside for a few seconds before emerging again. A few moments later, Stefan walked outside and followed Damon into the clearing in the car park. He looked at me concerned as they passed by.

I took a few deep breaths before mustering up the courage to go inside the bar. As I rounded a wooden separator panel... there he sat. His back facing towards me as his elbows rested on the wooden bar, a bottle of beer lightly held between his fingertips as he drank from it.

I can't do this. I need to leave, right now!

I screamed to myself over and over again, but I was now walking forward, further into the bar and closing the space between Klaus and me. My body was doing one thing and my mind the other. I don't know which one was betraying me more

Just walk away. Turn around and walk away!

Before I knew it, I stood a measly two bar stools away from Klaus as he took another drink from his bottle. A coy smile crept across his face, and I stopped breathing altogether. As he turned to face me, his eyes were gleaming and a sudden glint of gold passed over them for a split second as his eyes fell upon me.

Then he spoke,

"Hello, love."