Review responses:

Linkan201: I don't really have a plan for any pairings with Amelia yet, however, it is more than likely I'll be doing Sarah/Elena (or Sarena) since a lot of people that review this story are asking for it. The only problem is I'm cruel, and plan on doing this as a slow burn (Cue evil laugh). But there a few bits here that should imply where I'm going and keep the idea of them as a couple in the forefront of your mind. And thanks for the support, hope this chapter lives up to the story thus far.

I made it on time this week! Yay! Originally though, this chapter was also meant to be one full episode...but then things got a little out of hand at a certain point...you'll probably be able to tell which point that is. But the overkill stuff I put in really works and I'm sure some of you guys are really going to love it! So leave a review to tell me whether you love or hate me now and I'll see you guys next week for the next chapter!


Chapter 19: Secret Intentions


In Sarah's opinion, it was a horrible idea. Beyond horrible in fact, down right stupid, idiotic and bound to bring them nothing but trouble. But when had her brothers ever cared about her opinion in regards to their ridiculous plans. They admitted it wasn't the best option, but they needed to get the moonstone, Sarah had understood that. What she didn't understand was why they needed to get it right now. Wait a few days, maybe a month. Then send someone in to get it. There was no hurry. Klaus didn't know where they were, or more precisely where Elena was, he probably didn't even know she existed, since they'd killed the one person who might tell him. Regardless though, her brothers refused to wait – and since she was hardly about to let them go in alone – she followed them down in the tomb below the remains of Fell's Church.

"Can I just say–"

"What you've been saying for the past hour?" Damon cut in as he looked over his shoulder, smugly grinning at his sister before he rolled his eyes, turning away from her frown. "No, you can't," Damon finished as he continued on down the stone steps.

"I just don't see the need to rush. If we wait a few weeks she'll desiccated and then we can kill her easily and get the moonstone," Sarah pointed out, looking back over her shoulder, hoping Stefan would support her. He didn't like this either, but his need to help Elena outweighed his distaste for Katherine.

"And what if she's desiccated already, we'd have wasted all that time wait for nothing," Damon argued over his shoulder as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Sarah glared at him in response. He knew damn well how unlikely it was that Katherine had desiccated already. She was old and had been full of blood when they threw her in the tomb. It could take weeks for some vampires to desiccate to the point that they couldn't move. Katherine would definitely still be up on her feet, and worst of all, she'd still be able to talk. "Now come over here and give me a hand," Damon said as he made his way over to the left side of the stone they'd left to cover up the tomb.

"Please, like I'm going to help that bitch in anyway," Sarah declared as she folded her arms, refusing to move from where she was stood by the stairs.

Damon rolled his eyes before then looking to his more cooperative brother. "A little help." Stefan then let slip a grin before taking the right side of the stone and helping Damon move the thing aside. Once they had it lifted up off the ground, the two brothers then backed out, away from the entrance to the tomb, and sat the large stone aside against the wall. With the stone removed, Sarah stepped over to join her brothers, stood behind them as the three peered into the darkness of the tomb.

"Please…" came a weak yet familiar voice, its user still hidden in the dark. "Come on in," Katherine then finished as she stepped around the corner and into view. She was notable different to the last time they'd seen her. Paler for one thing, hair no longer done up, its products haven worn out, leaving it straight, much like Elena's. She'd also thrown off her high heels, leaving the dress on as it was the only thing she had to wear. Annoyingly though, she still had that smug aura about her, despite her circumstances. "There's plenty of room for all of us."

"I'd rather poke my eyes out," Damon replied with a smug grin back at the ghostly looking woman.

Katherine purred, "But they're such pretty eyes."

"We're here for the moonstone," Stefan explained.

"Feel like tossing it over?" Damon added.

"Tell you what," Katherine began, making her way down the hallway towards the Salvatores, patting the wall as she did. "You get your little witch to hocus pocus me out of here and you can have whatever you want."

"Well I want you dead, so how about we cut out the middle man and you just go ahead and get to work on that?" Sarah suggested.

Katherine chuckled at that, though it sounded dry, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing against one another. "Still keeping up that act are we, Sarah?"

Sarah scowled back. She knew it was pointless to try and play this game with Katherine, she always won, always tricked you into doing what she wanted. Even so, Sarah couldn't help the need to retaliate, to run in there and kill her right then and there, even if it did mean she was trapped for the rest of her life. It might just be worth it for those precious seconds between Katherine being alive and dead. Luckily though, her brother spoke up before Sarah did something she'd probably end up regretting. "I thought you liked it in here. Nice and safe where Klaus can't get to you."

"I've had time to reconsider," Katherine admitted, her voice croaking from the lack of fluid.

"Meaning you're hungry," Damon guessed accurately.

"I'm starving," Katherine declared as she stepped into the light, now right at the entrance to the tomb but unable to take that last step out. "And dirty."

"It suits you," Sarah snapped with a sarcastic smile.

Typical Katherine though, she couldn't just take the insult and just get mad. No, instead she had to smile back. Holding up the moonstone, Katherine locked eyes with Sarah, ignoring the brother on either side of her. "Tell you what, Sarah, I'll hand over this pretty little rock right now, if you come in here and join me."

"Not happening," Damon answered before Sarah even had time to process.

"Was I talking to you?" Katherine growled, rolling her head towards the eldest Salvatore.

"None of us are joining you in there," Stefan added, Katherine's gaze moving over to him next.

"Fine," Katherine sighed. "I'll just hold onto this until you make up your minds. Now remember, your options are; let me out of here, or come in and join me." Her gaze then returned to Sarah, smirk growing as she started to back up into the tomb. "Can't wait to find out which one you pick." With that the shadows then took over her face, her body swiftly following before she stalked off further into the tomb.

"Do you want me to say 'I told you so,' now?" Sarah sighed out once Katherine was gone.

"Hold on, nothing's gone wrong yet," Damon argued as he turned to his sister. "We expected this, and since plan A–"

"You mean plan naive," Sarah corrected mockingly.

"Since it didn't work," Damon continued. "We go onto the back up plan."

"Before we do though, we should tell Elena what we're doing," Stefan pointed out, hands going to his hips.

"Agreed," seconded Sarah.

"Jeez. All right, fine, let's go and get this pointless update over with," Damon grumbled before heading out the tomb with his siblings behind him. From there it didn't take them long to reach Elena's house, where she then answered the door, frowning when she saw all three Salvatores stood on her front porch so early in the morning.

"Hey, can we talk?" Stefan said uneasily, stood up front with his brother and sister behind him.

"Why?" Elena asked uneasily.

Stefan looked back to his siblings, unsure of how to start. Damon looked back with much the same look before then nudging his sister in the back, earning a glare in response. Sarah then turned back around with a roll of the eyes, answering Elena since apparently her brother were unwilling too. "We went to see Katherine."

Lowering her head slight, Elena stepped aside, saying, "Come on in," as she did. Once inside, the Salvatores told her everything that had transpired during their meeting with Katherine that morning, before then moving onto why they even needed the moonstone.

"According to Rose's friend Slater, there's a way to destroy the spell that Klaus wants to break," Stefan explained, leaning across the island in the kitchen while Damon stood nearby, passing an orange between his hands. Elena was stood in the archway and Sarah was leaning against the wall near her, letting her brothers do most of the talking.

"No spell, no doppelgänger sacrifice. Ergo, you live," Damon said confidently.

"How do you destroy it?" Elena than asked, scratching her neck as she did. From her position Sarah's brow lowered slightly, eyeing Elena from across the room.

"By releasing it from the moonstone," Stefan answered.

"How do you guys even know this is gonna work?" Elena asked skeptically as she stepped towards the island.

"Because we have a crafty witch on our side," Damon answered.

"You discussed it with Bonnie," Elena sighed, almost disappointedly, although Sarah was the only one who seemed to notice as Stefan continued on eagerly.

"She agreed to do anything she could to help us."

"It's Katherine who has the moonstone. She's not gonna give it to you," Elena pointed out, finding the obvious flaw in their plan.

"We're gonna get it from her," Stefan said simply.

"Well, what he means to say is, we will pry it from her cold, dead hand if we have to," Damon said cheerily as he paced around the room. Both still oblivious to what Sarah had already worked out. She remind quiet though, so that Elena could hear everything before they proceeded.

"Bonnie just needs to find a way to release the seal long enough for us to get in, get the moonstone, and get out in time for her to return it," Stefan explained.

"Wow… I mean it sounds like you guys already have it all planned out," Elena said, in that same disappointed voice again, yet trying to sound grateful. Like a disappointed child on Christmas day who got the wrong brand of shoes compared to the ones they actually wanted.

"Yep, we're awesome," Damon said as he waved his thumbs towards himself and his siblings across the room.

"Except for one thing," Elena began as she leaned down on the counter.

"You don't want us to do it, do you?" Sarah spoke up, all eyes going to her. Both Stefan and Damon quickly broke out into frowns, eyes flicking in confusion between their sister and Elena. Elena held her gaze the longest with Sarah before finally nodding in acknowledgement.

"Yes," Elena answered before then looking back to Stefan and Damon, the two who seemed to be objecting this the most.

"What are you talking abut? Elena, we don't have a choice," Stefan said after sharing several confused looks with Damon.

"What about Klaus?" Elena argued as he leaned over towards Stefan, her hand going to his.

"We'll find him right after we get the moonstone," Stefan answered.

"Is that before or after he kills everyone that I care about, including all of you?" Elena argues, hand leaving Stefan's as she gestured to all the Salvatores.

"Elena, if we can de-spell the moonstone, we can save your life," Stefan stressed.

"I know," Elena said as she stood up, stepping back from the island. "Everyone keeps saying that," she sighed before walking out the kitchen, passing Sarah who's eyes followed the human out. Meanwhile, Stefan and Damon continued to share bewildered looks, right up until Jenna walked in. She quickly came to a stop though, after passing Elena in the hallway, she turned to find the three Salvatores in her kitchen.

"Well…this all looks very serious," Jenna said with an awkward chuckle as she looked around the room. Stefan at least offered the woman a smile in response. Damon however rolled his eyes at the ignorant woman before storming off into the living room, using it to get around Jenna before then cutting in behind her and existing through the front door. Stefan followed suit, mumbling a hello before then also leaving.

"Did I say something wrong?" Jenna asked with a lowered brow, thinking back over her words as she turned to Sarah.

"No," Sarah reassured with a smile as she pushed off the wall, joining Jenna by the island. "Everyone's just a little tense about this school project we have to work on," she explained, or rather lied. "Don't worry, we'll work it out," Sarah then added when Jenna looked like she might ask more questions. But after that she merely nodded, pouring herself some coffee before taking that first vital sip of the day. "So…get up to much last night?"

Several droplets of coffee flew from Jenna's mouth before she managed to close her lips, coughing internally as she patted her chest. As she did Sarah just watched with a teasing grin, unsure if the red on her friend's checks was from her choking or her embarrassment. Eventually though, she did manage to swallow her first sip, sputtering for a moment before she sat her cup down, leaning against the island with both hands.

"Who told you," Jenna asked in a level voice without meeting Sarah's eye, which only made the vampire's smile grow.

"A little birdie," Sarah answered before Jenna let out a laugh and Sarah joined in. "So how was it then?" Sarah asked once the short lived laughter died down. It was then Jenna finally turned to face her, uncontainable smile meeting Sarah which only made her own one grow as she eagerly awaited Jenna's story. She needed to hear about a good simple love story at the moment, especially after her own setbacks in that area of life.

"Spontaneous," Jenna finally came out with, blushing as she did. "One minute, we're just sitting on the couch watching a movie, sharing popcorn, and the next I was all over him." Sarah laughed in shock at that. "I mean I was like an animal," Jenna added before joining in on the laughter. "Then we were on the floor, making out, and suddenly…" She fell silent. Lips coming together in a fond smile as her gaze drifted off into the past. A few seconds, then she was back, frowning as she turned towards Sarah once more. "Hold on, why am I telling you all this," Jenna said as she straightened up, pushing back her hair as her hands framed her face. "Your in high school for crying out loud."

"Maybe," Sarah agreed as she too straightened. She then reached over, placing her hand on Jenna's shoulder. "But I'm also your friend." Jenna smiled at that, almost finding it cute. "And if that's to hard for you, I could always drop out and make being your friend a full time gig? Pay better be good though." And with that the two started laughing once more.


As she made her way over, Scarlett watched as Tyler shot layups by the basketball hoop set up in the parking lot. After a couple though, he backed up to the edge of the key that had been drown with chalk and then threw the ball up towards the hoop. Only it hit the rim, recoiling off towards Scarlett who caught it firmly in both hands as she continued on over to Tyler.

"Nice catch," Tyler said half heartedly as Scarlett threw him the ball.

"Thanks," Scarlett said with a small smile.

"Wanna play a bit before class?" Tyler asked, motioning to the hoop with the ball before bouncing it over to Scarlett who caught it once again.

"Actually, I was thinking we could talk first," Scarlett said, bouncing the ball back as she offered him an uneasy look.

"About what?" Tyler asked, catching Scarlett's unsettled tone as he held the ball.

"The full moon," Scarlett answered sheepishly. They'd been dancing around it since they last met, not really talking about it but saying they would. She was nervous in truth, which was odd considering it was Tyler who aught to be scared to all hell, seeing as it was him who was going to forcibly be changed on the next full moon.

Tyler looked down, bouncing the ball a few times before holding it firm once more. "I just think we should come up with a plan and–"

"I've got a plan," Tyler cut in, looking Scarlett right in the eye before taking a shot and sinking the ball. Only to then let it bounce off towards the grass carelessly.

"Care to share?" Scarlett asked, folding her arms.

"Not really," Tyler answered with a shrug, as he bent down to grab his bag.

"Well, how am I supposed to help you if you don't tell me your plan?"

"Look," Tyler said as he met Scarlett's gaze once more. "I get you feel you have to help and all, but you don't. You don't have to deal with this…full moon thing, so don't worry about it. I've got it under control," Tyler explained carelessly before turning to walk off.

"Hold on," Scarlett called out, following Tyler until he stopped and turned around to face her. "I want to help." Her face then contorted as she continued. "I kinda think I need to help you." Tyler screwed his face up as he eyed her in response. "I think it might be a werewolf thing. All this empathy is driving me insane," Scarlett groaned, managing to get a chuckle out of Tyler.

"I hear you," he sighed.

"So you gonna tell me the plan or what?" Scarlett asked once more.

"What plan?" Caroline asked as she jumped up to Scarlett's side, morning smile on her perky lips.

"His full moon plan," Scarlett answered before Tyler could send her away. Although with his mouth already open, he turned from Caroline to Scarlett, before then sighing as he closed his mouth.

"It's honestly amazing you kept this a secret for so long. Seeing as you all just blurt out key phrases like 'full moon,' every five seconds," Tyler groaned as he shook his head. Looking over his shoulder at the passers by to make sure none were eavesdropping or giving them stranger and questioning looks.

"Do you need any help with your planning?" Caroline asked eagerly.

"No," Tyler answered firmly.

"Oh, so you have a plan?" Caroline asked eager to hear it.

"Yes," Tyler answered, only to stumble over his mouth when Caroline and Scarlett continued to stare at him, waiting for him to go on. The pressure quickly got to him and he eventually caved, admitting, "It's more of an idea than a plan."

"Well that's okay," Caroline said enthusiastically. "I can fix that easily enough."

"I don't need your help," Tyler stressed with a smile that was meant to be confident, but instead came across as uneasy. "Or yours," he added with a look to Scarlett. The two women shared a look, both folding their arms and turning back to Tyler, who quickly shrunk in on himself under their joint gaze.

"She's the only other werewolf in town, and therefore your only coach. As for me, I'm student vice president, head of the prom committee, not to mention I single-handedly organised this town's clean up campaign. And you're really gonna turn down our help?" Caroline said skeptically.

Tyler stared at her for a moment, before looking to Scarlett who had the same knowing look. As if they were his parents looking down on him for trying to do something on his own when he clearly needed their help. "All right, fine," Tyler sighed out in defeat, finally accepting their help.

"Why didn't I just ask you for help with this in the first place?" Scarlett asked aloud as she turned to Caroline.

"God only knows," the vampire said with an eye roll before the two women made their way around Tyler and into the school. He turned, watching them go as he stared after them in complete bewilderment. One second they were offering him help, the next they were leaving him alone in the parking lot while they argued about how to help him. Pulling his bag up over his shoulder, he then jogged off after the other two supernaturals, before heading into the school to get through yet another school day.


Elena wasn't a fool, even if she knew several people who would call her one for coming here. But she's been unopposed in leaving Mystic Falls and there was no way for anyone to track. She'd made sure of that, to the best of her ability, providing everyone with fake alibis as to where she was. It was for the best, she knew that. She had to keep reminding herself that, otherwise she'd never be brave enough to go through with it. Thankfully the urge to protect the ones she loved was beating strongly with her heart. She only hoped it held up until this was all over. After that…

She shook the thoughts aside, deciding it was best not to dwindle on it. If she gave herself up, she'd get to make some reasonable demands, demands that would be granted without any bloodshed. All she had to do was keep reminding herself of why she was doing this. To save them. To save them. She repeated in her head over and over. It wasn't goodbye, not yet. By giving herself up she was assuring that.

Seeing Rose having stopped up ahead, Elena herself came to a stop on the last step, watching as Rose banged her fist against the apartment door. "Slater? Slater, it's Rose. Open up!" the vampire called out, resting her fist against the door as she waited for a response.

It had been easy enough for Elena to manipulate Rose into getting what she wanted. She might not have met many vampires without daylight rings – at least not many that wanted to talk to her, rather than kill her – but she imagined that the idea of a daylight ring was a distant dream for most of them. So when she offered Rose the chance to get one, it had been exactly what she needed to convince the vampire into helping her out. She hadn't told her everything obviously, she wasn't stupid and neither was Rose. She just needed to take it step by step. Always remembering why she was doing this.

"He's not home, sorry," Rose finally said, turning to Elena with a not so sorry look as she shrugged.

Elena shook her head, refusing to give in at the first minor bump. The stakes were too high to pull a stunt like that. "No. We didn't come all the way out here for nothing," Elena said firmly. When Rose stood firm, refusing to offer up the obvious solution, Elena gestured with her eyes. Looking from Rose to the door. With a sigh, the vampire gave in giving the doors a forceful shove as Elena stepped up to her side.

The doors swung open like they'd never been locked, revealing a wide open floor plan, broken up by a few walls here and there. If it was lit properly, Elena imagined it probably looked rather nice, but this looked like modern Hollywood's idea of a vampire lair. The place was caved in darkness, curtains drawn, giving the place an eerie vibe. One that suggested something might jump out at her at any moment. She really should be used to it by now, but even so Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, once again doing her best to be brave.

"After you," Rose said carelessly as she gestured into the room. Cautiously, Elena stepped in, doing her best to stand like she'd seen Sarah stand so many times before. Ready for a fight, determined to put one up if she had to. Not that she'd live long if she fought, she just needed enough time to explain herself and then she could move on.

Once she crossed the threshold, Rose followed, far more casually than Elena, who was still in her copycat fighting stance, that was probably wrong if she was being honest with herself. "Slater?" Rose called out as she began to over take Elena who was being more cautious with her steps, eyes constantly scanning the darkness. As for Rose, she headed straight through the apartment, unaware of Elena who'd slowed to a stop behind her, waiting for her human eyes to adjust to the lighting.

When her eyes finally did adjust, she got a better look at the apartment, and could see there was little threat in it. In fact it was rather homie, in a simple since. Modern, but not flashy. Probably something he compelled himself whenever he decided to settle down in Richmond.

Spotting the staircase, Elena's eyes focused on it as she waited for someone to descend. She was assuming someone was here, the vampire they were after had to be. Where else would he be during the day. As she'd been lead to believe, he didn't have a daylight ring, meaning that he'd have come back home before the sun rose, or be trapped wherever he was until sun set. So by that logic he be here, trapped in his own comfy personalised home.

"I don't think he's gonna be much help." Rose's voice suddenly broke through the silence of the apartment, bring Elena's gaze over to her. She was further along through the room, standing before a doorway into an adjoining room. Elena broke out into a short sprint, stopping as she ran in front of Rose. Then as she turned to look into the room, a mixture of irritation, disappointment and sadness left her in the form of a sigh. Before both her and Rose, lay the body of a dead vampire. Slater, as Elena presumed.

Rose quickly made her way into the room, grabbing Slater's body and moving it out of sight. She might be able to compel them out of any breaking and entering issues, should any neighbours came nosing around. But one sight of a dead body and the whole building would be alerted to their presence with a loud scream. And one vampire was going to struggle to compel an entire building by themselves before the police got involved, and then that became an even bigger problem that neither Rose or Elena wanted to deal with. So while Rose was dealing with the body, Elena made her way further into the apartment, moving towards the one thing that had caught her eye in the darkness. A computer.

It was an impressive set up with two keyboards and several monitors, all of which were showing the same wavy pattern across the screens as they waited to be turned back on at the flick of a mouse. As well as the two keyboards, the large black desk was covered in paper. Some single sheets, some stapled together, some held together by paper clips and other stored away in plastic sleeves. Quickly Elena started picking at various pieces of paper, searching for anything that might help her find who she was after.

When she heard Rose walk up behind her she looked back, just to confirm it, and then went back to glancing over the papers. "Looks like whoever blew up the coffee shop found him and killed him for his information," Elena said as she put down a few selections of paper and picked up another handful, flicking through them for anything that stuck out.

"Yeah, probably to stop him from helping people like us. The guy was a vampire almanac. Knowing too much information just bit him in the ass," Rose explained for behind Elena, before she began walking over towards the long scarlet curtains that blocked out the sun. While she was doing that, Elena continued to search the desk, throwing another collection of papers back down on the desk. Useless, the lot, with no mention of her or what she was after. Then she saw something, something that stood out. A photo, one of the vampire they'd found in the apartment and of a young woman.

Before she could study the photo any further, white light blinded her, bouncing off the photograph and hitting her directly in the face. Her free hand quickly began to shield her face before she lowered it, eyes still squinting as she looked towards the window. The window with the open curtains that Rose was standing directly in front of. "What are you–?" Elena managed to get out, still recovering from the blinding light that had hit her eyes.

"Tempered glass," Rose answered as she pushed open another curtain. Once she did she turned back to the window, standing in front as she looked out into the brightly lit world. "U.V. rays can't penetrate," she then added, standing casually as the light shone upon her, skin not burning despite the lack of a daylight ring.

For a moment, Elena just stood, watching Rose in mild awe. Taking in the look on the vampires face. Despite having something few vampires had, she still wanted more. Elena could imagine hundreds, if not thousands of vampires that hadn't looked out into the daylight for centuries, and yet her Rose was doing just that. Looking out into the bright world without getting burnt, and yet still unable to touch it, to interact with it. It must be like looking at a photo. Seeing what everyone else saw but unable to touch it, to go there. Cut off from so much. Elena could see that in Rose's eyes, the gratefulness for what she could see right now, but also the longing for more. To step out that window and live in that world. A world of light.

"And that worked out so well last time." Elena swung around at the voice, where as Rose just looked back, surprise passing across her features when she saw who was standing before them. Elena however, had a bit more of a dear in headlights look, staring back at those green eyes, identical to the ones she'd fallen in love with. In someways she could see those same green eyes in her. Sarah Salvatore. Who was stood in the doorway, staring at them both, a biker helmet grasped with one hand at her side.

A second passed then she advance, making her way into the apartment and towards Elena. Green eyes locked with her own brown. Elena stepped back, finding the desk met her as she stumbled into it, hands going back and managing to catch the edge as she stopped herself from collapsing. No sense in looking like anymore of a fool than she might already. Taking a quick breath, she reminded herself that there was no reason for Sarah to be completely aware of what she was up too. She might have an idea, or she might just assume what Rose had, that she was here to get information. Which wasn't technically a lie.

"So do either one of you want to tell me what's going on and why you're here?" Sarah asked in a more demanding than questioning tone as she stopped a few steps away from Elena. But even so, Elena felt like she was right in front of her, the vampire's big green eyes bearing down on her in that intimidating way, demanding answers. Was she compelling her? Elena wasn't sure. It almost felt like she was. Either way she had to answer before Rose did and try and get control of the situation. She needed this to go her way, otherwise she might lose any chance she had of saving the ones she cared about.

"We came here to get information," Elena answered as firmly as she could, doing her best not to let her voice shake and give herself away. It was hard though, not to give in under Sarah's gaze. But she stood her ground, refusing to let her friend discover her true motives. She'd just react like all the rest, get mad and drag her out with some excuse about what was best for her, when it was Elena that was trying to save them all. "How'd you even know we were here?" Elena then asked, trying to turn the tables on Sarah and keep the spotlight off her, for as long as she could.

"I followed you on my bike," Sarah answered, holding up the helmet in her hand as her eyes widened with the obvious. "I saw you two sneaking off back at the house so I followed," Sarah then explained as she glanced over at Rose who looked away, more embarrassed than ashamed. But Rose wasn't the one Sarah had a problem with. Rose was an old vampire with superior strength and speed and knowledge. Elena was the fragile little human who always needed protecting. That's why Sarah's gaze landed back on her. But it wasn't like Stefan's, or even Damon's for the matter, were they would both look at her like she was a sheet of glass. So easily broken unless they stepped in to save her. Sarah looked at her like a person, a friend. A friend she cared about and wanted to help.

"Now, I'll ask again, what are you doing here?" Sarah repeated, eyes locked with Elena's.

Again Elena wondered if she was trying to compel her, even though she had her vervain necklace on. She stared back for a moment, lips parting as she tried to work out Sarah's angle. Studying those green eyes for any sign that she didn't believe what she'd originally said. Then it donged on her that she hadn't actually answered Sarah's repeated question yet, something she ought to do to avoid suspicion. "I told you, we came here to get information on Klaus." It came out a little fast, and Elena knew she'd mucked it up when Sarah continued to stare at her, those impossible to read eyes staring back into her own.

With a sigh, Sarah folded her arms, helmet still in hand as she gently flicked her raven hair from her face. Once she had, she met Elena's eyes once more, carefully watching them as Elena watched Sarah in turn. "The truth, please."

The statement threw Elena, mostly because of how casually it came out, how simply certain it was when Elena had been so sure she'd been doing a good job of hiding her intentions. Once more her lips parted, eyes giving her away as she began to frown, unable to control her face. Her mom had always said she'd make a terrible poker player. "Sarah…" Elena began with her weak, on the spot, defence, but Sarah cut her off already knowing where she was going.

"You're posture's closed off, indicating you're anxious. You're fighting the urge to fold your arms, probably because you know that'll be seen as defensive, which you're being. You've blinking every few seconds since I walk in, more so than usual. Your lips are tight and…" Sarah listed off before unfolding one of her arms and reaching forward, placing the tips of her fingers against Elena's neck. As they connected Elena began to feel the pulse of her heart in her ear, her cheeks flaring slightly at the invasion of her personal space. "Your heart rates increased," Sarah concluded, fingers dropping from Elena's neck as she refolded her arms comfortably. "All indicators that you're lying to me."

Elena started back in awe, glancing down at herself before confirming everything Sarah had said. She then looked back up, still in shock at Sarah's own body which gave nothing away. Other than the hint of disapproval, which was more so because she was being lied to, rather than knowing what Elena was up too. "So, the real reason you're here?" Elena continued to stare, still in marvel at Sarah's detective abilities. She knew vampires had heightened senses and could pick up on things that ordinary humans couldn't, but that had just been insane, to get all that so quickly and after only a few seconds. Was Sarah really that good? Or was Elena just that open that you might as we be reading a book when you looked at her?

It was a few moments before Elena finally found herself, recovering from Sarah's lecture on how to spot liars. She glanced over at Rose, seeing her still stood by the window, gaze averting every time someone looked her way. Seeing as she wasn't getting any support there, she turned back to Sarah. She could be straight with her, right? She wasn't like Stefan or Damon. And if she could convince Sarah then Rose would go along with it surely. It was obvious she wasn't going to be able to lie her way out of this, or offer something up that would deter Sarah from questioning her, like she'd done with Rose. So after taking a deep breath, she answered her friend.

"All right, I didn't get Rose to bring me here so I could find out more about Klaus… I asked her to bring me, so I could give myself up to him."

"What?!" both Sarah and Rose exclaimed.

When a frowning Sarah then glanced over at Rose, the older vampire quickly shifting into defensive mode. "I swear, I didn't know anything about this," Rose declared as she held up her hands.

"She's right, she didn't," Elena testified as all eyes landed back on her. "I tricked her into bringing me here. But Sarah… I have to do this."

"You're an idiot, you know that right," Sarah pointed out as she leaned over to Elena. A none to pleased look in her eyes.

"So I'm an idiot for trying to save my family and friends?" Elena snapped back rhetorically.

"Yes, you are," Sarah agreed with a hiss.

"Come on, Sarah. If it was your friends, your family, can you honestly say you wouldn't do the same?"

"That's different," Sarah snapped.

"No, it's not!" Elena argued. "I love my family, Sarah. I love yours. I love my friends too, and I don't want to see any of you die for me. Not when I can stop it."

"Except you don't know if you can stop it," Sarah pointed out. "For all you know, he's going to take you and kill us all anyway just for kicks."

"But he won't know about any of you if I give myself up here, away from Mystic Falls, away from all of you," Elena explained, pleading in her soft brown eyes.

"Well that's just backfired hasn't it, because I'm here now, and this, is over," Sarah declared firmly, green eyes now blaze with anger.

"Sarah…please," Elena begged, voice lowering, softening as she continued to plea. "Just let me do this. Or even let me find out what I can. Let me learn about Klaus, the ritual, how we can find him." She could see Sarah backing down ever so slightly, maybe she could get through to her if she kept going. "We'll just look around here. Go on the computer, take the hard drives, see if there's anything that can help us, in any way." She then closed the gap between herself and Sarah, placing her hand on the vampire's shoulder, catching some of her raven hair as she did. "I'll take it slow," Elena said sincerely as she met Sarah's eyes. "I promise."

She knew she'd made some progress when she saw that Sarah had begun to chew on her lip. Come on, please, just give me a chance. A chance to save you and everyone else. Elena prayed silently to herself as she stared back into Sarah's eyes, willing her thoughts into her friend's mind, trying her own form of compulsion. Then with a sigh, Sarah finally said, "All right." Elena began to smile, but quickly hid it when Sarah continued with, "But we're taking it slowly. And this doesn't mean I agree with this whole self sacrifice idea of yours. We'll be talking about that at length later." It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it was a start, and at least she was being giving a chance. Something that neither of the Salvatore brothers would have given her. For that reason alone she was grateful it was Sarah who had followed her and not her boyfriend or Damon.

"Thank you, Sarah," Elena said in pure sincereness as she smiled tenderly back at her friend.

"Just start your search, I'd like to leave as soon as possible," Sarah said halfheartedly as she waved towards the desk, wondering off as she found a chair to throw her helmet down on. While she was doing that, Elena turned back to the computer, beaming at her reflection on a job well done as she shook the mouse. One of the screens came to life, showing a wavy black background with a profile picture and a password box beneath.

"Any luck?" Rose asked as she walked over, standing behind Elena with Sarah who had also returned to the desk.

"It's password protected. I can't get in," Elena explained disappointedly.

"Then this is pointless, let's just go," Rose said, who's heart clearly wasn't in it now that she knew she'd been tricked and what Elena had been planning to do all along.

Elena had been about to put up an argument when they heard a noise from behind them. The two vampire turned at supernatural speed, so fast that their backs were already to Elena when she turned around. Peering past them to see if she could spot what caused the noise. There was nothing but an empty apartment ahead of them.

"I've got her, you go and search the place," Sarah instructed Rose who nodded before proceeding over to a set of double doors. As she did, Sarah made sure to keep herself between the doors and Elena, who stepped over to the side so she could see past Sarah as Rose reached for the door. Taking both door handles, she pushed them open, looking into another room when she started to frown. From where they were stood, Elena and Sarah couldn't see anything, other then Rose's reaction to what she saw.

"Alice?" Rose said aloud before a screech of sadness filled the room and a young woman came running out, crying Rose's name as she threw her arms around the vampire. Elena looked to Sarah who looked back with a frown, before both turned their attention back to the woman who was clinging to Rose like her life depended on it. Sobbing hysterically into Rose's jacket as the older vampire rather carelessly comforted her, patting her on the back as she rotated them both around, so that she could see her two friends. She indicated with her eyes to what looked like the kitchen and mouthed, "Give me a minute." Sarah nodded in turn before taking Elena's hand and leading her into the kitchen, where they waited while Rose attended to what was presumably Slater's girlfriend.


Scarlett had to fight the urge to move things along, to pick up the pace and take the lead. But technically she'd never been to the old Lockwood cellar before, and that was obviously where Tyler was leading both her and Caroline. The blonde vampire probably knew it too, only she was more engaged in general gossip with Tyler, trying to take his mind off things. Shamefully Scarlett started to actually pay attention once Caroline moved onto the topic of high school romances. When she was single, she hadn't cared about any couple around school and frankly laughed at some of the idiotic things she'd seen couples do around school. However, now she was one of those couples. Holding Jeremy's hand, sneaking kisses in class. The old Scarlett would hate her.

However, the light toned conversation took a more serious tone once the topic of Matt was brought up by Tyler, prompting Caroline to press on while Tyler and Scarlett did their best to keep up with her. "Matt's bumming pretty hard," Tyler explained as they caught up to her, finally slowing down enough so that it could appear that Tyler was leading the way. Even when gossiping like a pathetic high schooler, Caroline was still always thinking. She really was a lot more bright than Scarlett, or many other people, gave her credit for.

"I know. It's better this way," Caroline said, doing her best to sound firm and assertive. But you didn't need to be a werewolf to know she was hurting. Scarlett wasn't envious of Caroline's position, and while Jeremy knowing her supernatural secret came with its own problems, it meant she could still be with him rather than having to push him away.

"I get it," agreed Tyler solemnly as the trio continued on through the woods.

"You do?" Caroline asked, skepticism seeping into her voice. And rightfully so, it wasn't like he'd gone through what Caroline was going through, he'd only just recently turned into a supernatural.

"Yeah. You can't be honest with him," Tyler said sadly as he ducked beneath a low hanging tree branch while Scarlett made her way around the trunk before joining up with her two friends once more. "Plus it's not really fair to be with someone and not really let them know who you are," Tyler added as he shared sorry looks with Caroline, who seemed genuinely grateful for his sympathy. "I guess Scarlett's lucky in that sense," he then declared, both turning to glance at Scarlett who was on the far left of the line the trio had formed.

"Yeah, must be nice, having Jeremy already knowing everything," Caroline added. Whether it was intended or not, Scarlett caught Caroline's look and couldn't help but look away from her friends. It wasn't the time or place, so Scarlett couldn't imagine that Caroline was deliberately bringing up the fact that she'd slept with Mason. Even so, she couldn't help but think about it, the one moment she'd let Jeremy down, when she'd lost all control and done something so shameful. He knew all her secrets sure, just not the one she was too scared to tell him.

"It is," Scarlett then admitted, turning her head to look at both Tyler and Caroline. Forcing her thoughts of betrayal to the back of her mind. She smiled softly, showing them she was genuinely happy, but also hinting at the effort behind it all. "But ever since he found out, it's like he's always trying to prove himself to me. To show that he can keep up with me, help me no matter want. Even if it means risking his life."

"I can understand that too," Tyler admitted as they walked, the old Lockwood cellar appearing just head from in-between the trees.

"Yeah, well, I think it's ridiculous," Caroline said in agreement with Scarlett. "He shouldn't be doing all this just to protect his masculinity. He should be doing it because he loves you."

"I think it's a bit of both honestly," Scarlett admitted with shrug. "But even so, I'm starting to worry he might get hurt. I don't mind him helping, but only if he's not taking stupid risks and being careful. It's nice that he wants to stand by me through all of this, to protect and support me. But I'll love him whether he does those things or not."

"Sounds like you need to sit down and have a long hard talk with him," Caroline stated, this time with an intended look that was unmissable.

Missing the point, Tyler pressed on, pointing to the ruins that lay ahead. "Right over here. There's a cellar that goes to our old property," Tyler explained as they all stepped into the clearing where what was left of the old Lockwood house remained.

"We know," Caroline said casually as they walked around to the entrance. "We've been here a couple of times recently," Caroline explained as Tyler and Scarlett looked to her. Tyler with a questioning frown and Scarlett with a wide eyed warning. "You–You know. When looking for a safe place for Scarlett to turn and for me to drink blood in privet," Caroline quickly fired out, which seemed to be good enough for Tyler as he shrugged it off. He then pulled out a flashlight and made his way down the steps into the cellar below. Scarlett hung back a for a second though, sending Caroline warning look, telling her to keep her overactive mouth shut, before both then followed him down.

Once inside, Tyler turned on his flashlight, shining it ahead as they stepped into the darkness. "I'm guessing this was where Mason was heading the night he turned. It's this way," Tyler explained as he shone his flashlight down the stone walled hallway. He led the way, Scarlett and Caroline following, before they arrived in an open room with iron bars cutting off a section of the room. A iron gate acted as a door to the separated area, which hung lazily open, and around the room were old rusted chains that had been pinned to the walls. Left as a reminder of what this place once was.

Scarlett couldn't help but shudder at what might have happened down here. What people might have gone through.

"Did Mason tell you about this place?" Caroline asked quietly, stood alongside Scarlett as she nervously looked into the room. Though Scarlett was pretty sure that Caroline wasn't creeped out for the seem reasons she was. Sure, it wasn't the sort of place she'd willingly hang out at, being who she was in the high school social scene and all, but this place was were her mother found out what she was. She might not remember now, but from what Scarlett had been told, she wouldn't be surprised if this place brought up some hard memories for her to swallow once more.

Tyler didn't notice the nervous body language of either though, busy looking around with his flashlight before answering Caroline's question. "Mason bolted before I triggered the curse, but I found these." He shone the flashlight over to the wall of the cave, near the iron barred off area. When he walked over, Scarlett followed and so did Caroline, once she snapped from her haunted memories.

As they closed in on the wall and Tyler focused his flashlight and Scarlett saw what he was showing them. A series of claw marks along the wall. Deep claw marks, ones that easily could have come from a werewolf. She was doubly sure of that once she ran her hand over the marks, finding that her fingers easily followed the lines of one of the claw marks. But they couldn't have all come from Mason during the last full moon, as Caroline pointed out, "They look old." And they were, possibly centuries old too. After all the Lockwoods had lived here for generations. And if the werewolf curse was passed down through the family then it would hardly be surprising that they'd want to have a place to lock themselves up when they had to change every month.

Looking at the rest of the room, Scarlett saw all you would need to keep something like a werewolf tied down for the night. But like the claw marks it was all old. The rusted chains, bolts and the iron bars around the room, were more coated in brown and orange moss than solid iron. Caroline was bang on the mark, it was all old. Maybe the werewolf curse hadn't popped up all that much in the recent generations of Lockwoods. Thus there would be no need to keep the place in order, and they probably saw it as a waste of money to seal it up, which was fortunate for Tyler.

"I'll need to get new chains I reckon, but the bolts could still hold," Tyler explained as he kicked a rusted chain, the metal clanging and echoing around them before he then grabbed onto the bolt it was attached too. He gave a pull and the thing didn't budge. A good sign, considering he now had a little werewolf strength in him. "I think that's what this place was used for. Full moons."

Scarlett had already come to the same conclusion, but at the same time couldn't help but murmur out, "If not something worse." Tyler and Caroline both caught the meaning and everted their eyes. For a while none of them looked at each other, all trying to block out the frightful images in their heads that made them all shudder. But while they were all looking around the cave – just so they didn't have to look at each other – Caroline spotted something.

"What's this?" she said aloud, marching over as Tyler and Scarlett watched her go. She hunched over by one of the iron bars, pulling something out that was hidden behind a rock in the wall. The rock slid out, bouncing off the floor with a rattle like sound as it rolled over itself. They barely noticed it though, more focused on what Caroline had in her hands now. Something wrapped in a white cloth.

"I have no idea," Tyler answered, the three walking towards each other as Tyler shone the flash light on Caroline's hands. All watching as she began to unwrap the cloth. Inside, she found a black leather book, which she handed over to Tyler while keeping hold of the cloth.

Scarlett knew the answer to her next question before she even asked it. She could smell him on it. Even now, after his death, Scarlett could still recognise his scent. "Was it Mason's?" Caroline asked, watching Tyler as he began to flick through the pages. A fresh wave of guilt hit Scarlett then, remembering everything that had happened with Mason, from how they woke up together, to when Damon killed him. It hadn't been right, and lying to Tyler wasn't right either. Smelling Mason's scent made Scarlett realise this. But she kept her mouth shut, because that was the safe thing to do. As she'd pretty much already learnt, morality didn't come into many decision making processes when dealing with the supernatural. It's about survival. And right now, the best way for everyone to survive, was for Tyler to be kept in the dark about what really happened to his uncle. Even if it meant he felt like Mason had abandoned him.

"August 31st," Tyler began to read from a page he'd stopped at in the black book. "My body is changing. I'm edgy, angry, impatient. I get so mad, I black out and forget what I say or do. I'm not myself, not since Jimmy's death. What's happening to me?" With a frown, Tyler flicked further ahead, pausing only to look up at the two girls staring back at him, listening intently.

"He chronicled everything," Tyler said before looking back down as he turned another page, stopping as he stared on in worry. "The full moon is tonight," he read, and Scarlett knew why he was worried. This was about to give him an insight, better than one she could give him. Her first experience was so much of blur she barley remembered any of it. She remembered the pain, but since mastering her change and growing resistant to the pain it brought, that pain from the first one didn't seem as bad. But Tyler was like Mason. Unable to get used to the change as it only occurred once a month. Meaning what Mason wrote down would count for more than Scarlett could ever say about her own experience. In fact Mason's description would probably be more accurate than her own memory about how painful her own first shift was.

"Well, does he say what happened?" Caroline asked impatiently when Tyler didn't say anything.

Finally snapping from his frozen thoughts, he mumbled before then flicking though a few more pages, trying to find his answers. He reached the end of the book, and found an SD card tucked away on the last page by a piece of sting that held it in place. Pulling it out, Tyler looked it over before looking to both Caroline and Scarlett. Both equally confused and curious as he was.


After being in the kitchen for so long, Elena eventually felt the need to do something. She just wasn't comfortable standing around waiting for Alice to stop crying. She did eventually, but only after Elena had started making some tea. Sarah just stood against the counter, arms folded as she patiently waited for Rose to come back in. Eventually she did, right as Elena was pouring the tea.

She took the seat next to Elena and opposite Sarah, looking back to the doorway to make sure Alice was still where she left her before she began to whisper. "She found him a few minutes before we did," Rose explained, whispering so that only Elena could hear with her human hearing, while Sarah had to use her supernatural to do so.

"How is she?" Elena asked as she settled the pot of tea down, having poured four cups.

"Overreacting," Rose stated. "Big time."

Sarah and Elena frowned, confused to Rose's sudden lack of empathy. "Her boyfriend just died. There's no such thing as overreacting," Elena said defensively.

"Those tears are for her. She didn't care about Slater." Elena frowned, head tilting as she waited for Rose to explain. Sarah was pretty sure what she was talking about though, having had a few 'Alices' come after her in her own time. "She was only dating him long enough to see if he'd turn her," Rose elaborated for Elena as Sarah nodded slightly in understanding. As for Elena, she pondered what Rose had said for a moment before taking one of the cups of tea and heading towards Alice.

With a sympathetic smile, she offered the older girl the cup. She took it, sniffling as she did, while Elena took the seat next to her. "Thank you," Alice said. She didn't drink the tea though, just held it in her hands that trembled ever so slightly with grief. Grief over a missed opportunity as Elena now understood it. "You look really familiar," Alice said suddenly, staring at Elena as if trying to place her. "Did you know Slater?"

"Not personally, no," Elena answered. "I just knew that he kept detailed records of all of his vampire contacts and I was hoping that he could point me towards Klaus.

Alice snorted, subtle rolling her eyes. "Doubtful. Klaus doesn't want to be pointed at."

"Do you know Slater's computer password?" Elena asked, leaning towards Alice.

"Are you seriously asking me that right now?" growled Alice as she turned to Elena with a glare. "I just saw my boyfriend with a stake through his heart."

"I understand that. Do you know his password?" Elena repeated, not so sympathetically, now knowing that Alice was just playing hard to get and being stubborn. Sticking to a fake story so that she didn't look like the manipulative woman she was. As predicted, she went on the defensive, snapping at Elena before proceeding to ignore her. But Elena had picked up a lot since being introduced into the supernatural world, and while she was never the most manipulative of people, she could definitely sway people into doing what she wanted. Especially if it helped her save the ones she loved.

She glanced over to the kitchen, eyes connecting with Sarah's as she watched the interaction unfold from opposite Rose, who was still seated. It was a simple plan, but it was what Alice wanted more than anything, and she'd do exactly what they wanted until she got it. Turning back to Alice, Elena asked, "What if Sarah turned you? Would you show us the files then?"

Alice quickly agreed to the deal, and after some pleading with Sarah, the vampire agreed to give Alice her blood once, and only once, she'd done everything she could for them. She then made a miraculous recovery over her boyfriend's death, wiping off her tears before striding over to the computer with the others following her, stood behind as she logged into the computer. Then they hit another road block, as when Alice tried to access Slater's files, a message with a big red 'X' popped up, saying the files couldn't be found.

"Someone's been here. The hard drive's completely wiped out," Alice informed them, though continued typing regardlessly.

"Yeah, probably whoever killed him," Rose pointed out dryly while Elena ran a disappointed hand through her hair.

"Luckily for you, Slater was paranoid. Everything's back up on a remote server," Alice explained as she brought up another password screen.

While Alice was dealing with that, Sarah grabbed Elena's arm, bringing the girl's attention over to her. "Next time you want to offer up my blood to a complete stranger, ask me first alright," Sarah warned, a none to pleased look in her eye.

"Sorry," Elena apologised sincerely, before then whispering, "But it's not like you have to give her your blood. She only needs to think you will." Sarah stared back, a little shocked at Elena's words before the girl shrugged, walking over and leaning over Alice's shoulder as she worked away.

"She's learning fast," Rose said with a grin to Sarah before the two closed in around Alice and Elena to see what happened next.

"Kristen Stewart," Alice said after guessing Slater's password and gaining access to his backup files. "God, was he obvious."

"These are all leads to vampires?" Elena asked, watching as Alice scrolled down the page full of file folders, all labeled with a different name.

"Slater was obsessed. Almost as much as me," Alice said with a grin as she looked at all the names that could potentially give her what she wanted, if Sarah backed out on her.

"What about that one? Cody Webber," Rose asked as she leaned over next to Elena. Alice obliged, clicking on the folder to reveal dozens of messages that had been exchanged between Slater and the vampire. "They exchanged dozens of emails about Elijah," Rose pointed out after a quick scan with her eyes over the message titles.

"I could call him," Alice suggested. Elena then picked up the phone, handing it to her.

"Tell him that we're trying to send a message to Klaus," Elena began before pausing as Alice began to type in the number. "The doppelgänger is alive and she's ready to surrender."

"No!" Sarah snapped firmly.

"Oh, my God, I knew I recognised you," Alice exclaimed as her eyes lit up, staring at Elena like she was a living legend.

Before she could say or do anything more, Sarah snatched the phone out of Alice's hand, pointing it right in her face when she turned to protest. "Listen to me, send this guy so much as a winky face, and I'll kill you, without vampire blood in your body." She then threw the phone down onto the desk, where it almost skidded off and onto the floor. "Don't contact him," Sarah said, ramming her point home as she glared down at the suddenly fearful human.

Sarah then turned her sights onto Elena, the anger from before having returned. "You and I are going to have a little talk," Sarah declared, grabbing Elena's wrist before dragging her away from the computer. "Rose, watch her," Sarah threw back to her friend. The older vampire nodded while Elena struggled against Sarah's hold, but she had no chance of breaking free from her vampiric strength.

Dragging her into the kitchen, Sarah shoved Elena towards the counter top, before turning and closing the doors so they could talk in privet. She then swung around, finding Elena leaning back against the counter, having used it to stop herself from falling over. "My mind's made up, Sarah," Elena said as she folded her arms. "I'm doing this."

"Like hell you are," Sarah snapped, attitude clear in her voice as she gave Elena a look that said 'over her undead body'.

"It's my life," Elena stated simply.

Sarah clenched her fists, venting the frustration before she broke something or punched Elena for her recklessness. "What happened to taking it slow?" Sarah asked, voice raised as she reminded Elena of what she'd agreed too.

"I can't afford to take it slow. My family's lives are at stake," Elena explained, back to pleading once more. "I'm just doing what everyone else has done for me."

"Which would be?" Sarah asked.

"Saving them," Elena answered firmly, because she was. She was giving up everything to save them, because it was her only chance at doing so. Everyone of her friends had saved her at some point already, now it was her turn to do it for them.

"You're kidding, right?" Sarah scoffed. When Elena shook her head, Sarah rolled her eyes, groaning as she ran a hand through her raven hair. "You do realise none of them died trying to save you," Sarah then pointed out.

"It doesn't change anything."

"What am I supposed to tell Jenna then?" Sarah threw out along with her hand before it slapped her thigh.

"The truth," Elena answered, prompting Sarah to let out another frustrated sigh. "I'd rather she know the truth than die, Sarah."

"Are you even thinking about how this will affect everyone?" Sarah snapped angrily. Unfortunately, Elena got a lucky out of the that question, the doors behind Sarah opening up before she could have a chance to answer. Sarah wheeled, glaring as she came face to face with Rose and her worried face.

"We have a problem," Rose said in a tense voice, before Alice strode in past her and then Sarah, heading right for Elena with a big joyful smile.

"Cody is on his way, and he really wants to meet you," Alice declared, thinking she was now finally going to get what she wanted. Boy was she wrong.

Turning on Alice now, the naive girl continued to smile as Sarah grabbed her from behind and yanked her away from Elena. Shoving her against the wall, Sarah hissed at Alice, exposing her fangs and bloodied eyes as she shouted, "I told you not to send that message!"

But like the idiot she was, she just smiled like a maniac, thinking she was about to get Sarah's blood and all this was just part of the theatrics. "I can't believe it's finally happening," Alice squealed.

"I'm not giving you my blood, not after you did exactly what I told you not too," Sarah snapped, deliberately letting her vampire features fade, just like Alice's hopes for turning.

The girl's heart and face snake into disappointment, then depressed realisation for the second time that day. "What… But you…you said… I did everything you wanted!" Alice cried out as she burst into tears once more. Sarah was an inch from killer her then. Here she was trying to save her friend from her own stupidity and then there was this cry baby that wasn't getting her own way and kicking up a fuss about it. She was lucky all Sarah did was shove her towards Rose, telling her to take her away.

Rose obliged, dragging the frantic girl out before pulling the door shut behind her as Sarah turned back to Elena, hands on her hips as she exhaled deeply through her flared nostrils. "We're leaving. Now," Sarah declared, marching for the door and expecting Elena to follow.

"Just give me a chance to talk to this Cody guy," Elena begged, and Sarah did a one-eighty before striding back over to Elena and squaring up to her. Green eyes ablaze as they leaned in towards Elena.

"I already gave you a chance, remember. You said you'd take it slow and we'd get information on how to contact Klaus and then leave. Only you seemed to forget the leaving part and now we've got some of Klaus' goons heading here now," Sarah growled, annoyed at herself for letting Elena play her. It was so unlike her, to abuse her friendship and to manipulate both Rose and Alice. It was the kind of thing Katherine did. And for the first time since she'd gotten to know Elena, she saw the first sign of a potential Katherine within.

"Come on, Sarah, you know how it will go once we get back. The others won't let me contact him for anything and will then go out of their way to make sure I can't contact him at all. This might be my only chance to do it and save everyone else."

"Which means giving yourself up," Sarah pointed out, the obvious flaw in this otherwise great plan.

"And I've told you, I'm okay with that," Elena stressed.

"Yeah, well I'm not. And after all the little lies you've spun today, I'm done listening," Sarah declared, her glare saying all it needed to about how angry she was. It seemed to have been enough to shut Elena up, so Sarah turned, striding once more towards the door and again expecting Elena to follow.

"What would you do if it was your family?" Elena blurted out.

Sarah froze mid step, foot hanging above the ground before it gently settled down. Elena never expected an answer, but the goal had been to get Sarah to think. To put her in Elena's shoes. And because of her intense rage and snapping mind, Sarah had the answer in her head before she could think more logically. And the answer was she'd do the same. That was what her basic instinct told her. She would sacrifice herself to save her family and friends. True it'd mean missing out on being with her family, but she'd rather die than lose either of her brothers, and by extension her family. It'd never be truly whole if even just one of them died anyway.

With that answer in mind her anger quickly left her, realising she would have done the exact same as Elena if it meant saving her brothers. How could she drag Elena away from this, when like she said it might be her only chance to save her family and friends. It was stupid thing to do, but it was the kind of stupid thing Sarah could relate to. Giving yourself up for your family. It made perfect sense.

As she turned slowly back around, her muscle relaxed, gaze lowering before lifting to meet Elena's hopeful eyes. She knew she was going to regret this, knew Elena would just push again. But if it was her that stood there, instead of Elena, trying to save her brothers, and Elena stood in her place, she knew Elena would give her the same chance. She knew how much her family meant to her, just like Sarah knew how much Elena's meant to her. They'd both already lost so much in terms of family, and were just clinging onto what remained, for as long as they lived. Willing to die if it meant protecting that.

With a sigh, Sarah said, "We'll wait here for them." Elena's eyes lit up in a thank you as the corners of her lips turned ever so slightly into a grateful smile. "But you're not going anywhere with them. We arrange a meeting with Klaus, and that's it. Nothing more," Sarah made clear. Elena nodded, but didn't say anything, which in truth Sarah preferred. Frankly she didn't want to hear anything else Elena had to say right now. She'd already used that mouth of hers enough for one day.