Chapter 18: Lies of Omission

"Gotta say," Jackson crossed his arms, leaning against the wall of Derek's loft, "not really impressed with how badass you guys are supposed to be. First, your brother gets tossed out a window like a rag doll, and now you get your ass handed to you by just one of them."

"He surprised me," Stefan rubbed his healed neck.

"Surprised you?" Jackson pushed himself off the wall. "I thought you had super senses like us? How could anything surprise you?"

"It might have been because I was focused on the four following behind us and trying to hold onto your friend. These wolves are stronger than those we've come across, but we can still beat them. Damon and Elena underestimated them because they assumed they'd be like our wolves. They had to use a surprise attack to incapacitate me. I felt its strength when he shoved that branch in my back and snapped my neck. Our kind is definitely stronger. Now that we know what we're up against, hand-to-hand, we can take them."

"Lot of good that does us now," Jackson rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me?" Caroline placed both hands on her hips. "But what have you done to help with any of this? Except sit here and complain every day."

"Why would she even leave?" Jeremy rubbed his face.

"Don't blame her," Isaac stepped forward.

"Guys," Scott lifted his hands.

"You said you had a witch that would find them," Jackson pointed at the hunter. "That was a week ago. Where is she?"

"I've told you," Jeremy lied. "She did a locator spell, twice. She tried every spell she could think of. They didn't work."

"Don't blame Bonnie," Caroline moved toward Jackson.

"If she's such a good friend of yours, then why isn't she here?"

"Why are you here?" Jeremy waved a hand at the boy. "It's obvious the only one you care about around here is yourself."

"And the only person you all care about is your sister!"

"Elena saved us," Isaac turned on his packmate just as Caroline echoed his statement.

"I almost died today trying to protect Erica!" Stefan stood.

"But they still got her!" Jackson rose to face him.

"Do you actually care? Or are you just scared you'll be next?"

"We're all gonna be next if you're our protection!"

The vampire and werewolf were nose-to-nose now. There were a few tense moments before Jackson scoffed and sulked away, hiding his fear with a wipe of his hand down his face. "Call your boss again, McCall"

"He already tried. He doesn't know how to find them."

"Call Stiles, then. Between you two, at least he's the one with half a brain." Jackson recovered quickly, finding a new, familiar target.

"He doesn't need to get involved in this."

"Now look who's scared!" The newest Beta shoved Scott's shoulders.

"We're all scared!" Scott pushed back. "It doesn't mean we should be ripping each other apart like this!"

"Always the peacekeeper, McCall. Do you even have a backbone?"

"I'm surprised you know what one is." Jeremy snorted from the sidelines.

"Shut up, Gilbert. You don't even know me."

"I know your type." Jeremy lifted himself off the wall. "All bark, no bite."

"Come a little closer, and I'll show you my bite."

"Ha. I don't know if you're flirting with him or threatening him. Either way, that just sounded really pathetic."

"No one asked you, Blondie."

"Only Damon calls me Blondie," Caroline stepped between the werewolf and the hunter, "and I barely tolerate it when he does."

"I can't believe any of you can tolerate anything that asshole does."

"Your friends tolerate you ." Caroline crossed her arms. "I don't see any difference."

"Guys, stop, please -"

"Scott's right." Stefan stepped forward. "Arguing isn't going to bring any of the people we care about back."

"Makes me feel better, Salvatore. How do you cope? Wipe out a small village?"

" Enough!"

Maybe it was the way the Alpha's eyes burned. Or the fact that his roar shook the very floor that they stood on. Or the table flipping and then flying against the wall. But they all fell silent.

No one spoke as Derek glared about the room before swallowing a growl and pushing past them all and out the door.

Scott made to follow until Caroline's hand met his shoulder.

"Someone needs to talk to him," he sidestepped her. "He probably thinks that this is all his fault."

"And someone will," Caroline nodded. "But not you. Not any of you."

"We're his pack," Isaac frowned.

"And you're also reminders of what he's lost, and what he could still lose if the Alphas keep coming after you. Besides, there's something else you can do. Stefan, do you remember where you were in the woods when they attacked?"

"I can take them there," Stefan followed her thinking.

"Good. Our senses are heightened, but your sense of smell is better than ours. Scott, go with Stefan. He'll lead you to where Erica was taken. I know it's a longshot, but maybe you can track the Alphas to where they're keeping our friends. Or, at least, get you close. Call Damon. You'll need the backup if you find them."

"They'll need more than that," Jackson stepped forward. "We're going too."

"Did I say this was a group discussion? One, you're terrified and the only reason you want to go is to prove you're not. And two, we aren't just going to hand over what the Alphas want. If they find something, they'll come back and we'll make a plan of attack. But if the Alphas find them , you're not going to be there to be taken too. You and Isaac will stay here with Jeremy."

"I'm not - "

"Jeremy, please. They're going to be in full-speed-tracking-mode. You won't be able to keep up. And I need someone here that'll make sure neither ofthem set one paw outside that door."

"Like he could take us," Jackson huffed.

"With his eyes closed," Caroline smirked.

"Derek should be going," Isaac shuffled his feet.

"Derek is too angry at the Alphas, and himself, to think straight if it comes to a fight," Stefan reasoned. "He'd get himself hurt, or worse. Caroline will talk to him. She's good at this sort of thing," he smiled at her, "trust me."

The group watched her go, Jackson huffing off into a corner.

"Jeremy," Stefan sighed, still staring at the door that Caroline had just gone through. "We need Bonnie. Not over the phone. We need her here."

"I know, but -"

"Elena is one of Bonnie's best friends. I can't think of a single reason that she wouldn't come rushing home if she knew Elena was in trouble. No one but you has talked to her."

"She - she's been busy."

"Bonnie is never too busy for the people she cares about. You know that. Caroline and Damon know that, and they're both two seconds away from figuring it out."

"Figuring what out?" Jeremy took a single step back.

"That you're hiding something."

"Wh - what?" Jeremy glanced beside him, but there was no help to be found in either Isaac or Scott's confused glances.

"I know there's something you're not telling us about Bonnie, Jeremy. There has to be. You've been lying. I'm surprised the wolves haven't picked up on it. Damon's too distracted to notice and Caroline trusts you."

"And what - you don't?"

"I trust, Jeremy, that you are a good person, a good brother, and a good friend. I trust that if there is something you know, maybe you're keeping it from everyone to spare them more hurt."

"Stefan, I'm not -"

"Jeremy, this is Elena's life at stake. You have to tell us, whatever it is."

There was something in the vampire's eyes then. They weren't accusing like Jackson's had been, or how Damon's would be. They were all soft, round edges, never leaving Jeremy's own. And somehow, Stefan knew. Jeremy could see it. Could feel it. It didn't matter that there was a ghost standing and shouting and pleading in the corner. It didn't matter that Scott and Isaac suddenly both wore painted pained expressions. All that mattered, were those eyes.

Because of course Stefan knew. The first vampire that Bonnie had brought herself to befriend, to trust. The same vampire who had "left town" that summer too. Left because his heart had been broken, and yet here he was, helping them. Bonnie hadn't had her heart broken by any of them. He was right. She would've come. She would've helped her friends. No matter what.

"She can't help us!" Jeremy's arms and voice threw themselves up before he knew what he was doing. "She - she can't , Stefan. Before - when - when she was working the spell that brought me back - something happened. It was too much. She can't do magic anymore. She can't help us." Jeremy glanced at the ghost with a sigh. "She doesn't want anyone to know what happened. Not yet."

"But the locator spells?" Isaac squinted, shifting from the silent Stefan to the subdued Scott.

"Other witches. Powerful witches, I promise. Bonnie has been helping me all this time, but she can't come back. Not now. Not when everyone is depending on her to fix everything. Not when the last time she - not with what happened when she brought me back. You weren't there, Stefan. It was - it was awful. Painful. I'm sorry. I - I'm sorry. She should never have brought me back."

Jeremy bowed his head, swallowing once, twice. Hoping that the lies of omission and half-truths were enough to fool the werewolves and vampire. Except that last part. That last part that he had muttered so low he wasn't sure he said it aloud. That last part that was all truth. A hand came against his shoulder and Jeremy lifted his gaze.

"Bonnie always makes her own choices," Stefan nodded. "I don't think there's a person or creature alive that could make her do anything she didn't want to do. Or stop her when she sets her mind to something. She chose to bring you back. And then she did it. You're alive. You're both okay, magic or not.That's what matters. Elena needs her brother. Mystic Falls needs its resident hunter. You're worth it, Jeremy. Your life, is worth it. We'll find another way. And we'll get Elena back. I promise." The vampire turned to face the room, straightening, hand still clasped on Jeremy's shoulder with no sign of letting go. "We'll get everyone back."

A/N: Yeah, the whole Bonnie thing starts to get a little unbelievable after a while, sorry. I changed my timeline around so the group has to stay ignorant for quite awhile. Just like I'm bending some of the other rules of the worlds to make this, just go with it - please?