A/N: Please review. Your reviews are the fuel that keeps me going.

Four months later

Bonnie had been back in New York for about two months when Damon Salvatore approached her.

The first two months since she left Germany she'd gone to Virginia and stayed in Gram's house locking herself away from the world. It had been willed to Bonnie after her death and she was unwilling to part with it so she turned it into a sort of vacation home and rented it out occasionally with the help of Pearl Zhu, her Gram's lawyer. The house was the one thing she missed, her only connection to the town she grew up in.

Her dad had visited her a few times and they had dinner together. It was after he tentatively offered to set her up with a job at his wife's office that she snapped out of her hibernation and remembered why they spent time apart. His wife Rachel was all smiles and politeness but Bonnie knew she saw her as nothing but a mismatched puzzle struggling to be part of a family she didn't belong to. Their little twins, full cheeked and dazzling grey eyed looked more like Rudy than she did.

The next week she was on a plane to the big apple.

New York had been a good change of pace. She was out of the hotel business for now taking her talents to a specialty bookstore doing translations for rare books. When Bonnie returned back to the country she decided to stay away from the hospitality business for the time being. The thought of working behind a hotel desk made her chest feel tight and her throat squeeze shut.

The counsellor she saw told her it was a panic attack brought forth by trauma. She wanted to disagree but every few nights since she left Germany she would dream of Katherine lying on the hotel bed, throat cut and gushing over a file. The crimson red staining the words but leaving Trident international emboldened. Her eyes begging and blaming Bonnie for what she was not sure of. The horrible gurgling sound as she choked on her own blood. Those nights left Bonnie lethargic and shaky for the rest of the day nearly unable to function. Things were getting better or at least she hoped they would. The dreams were reducing in frequency and she could go a few days without remembering.

She was working through her lunch break when a knock came on the door of her small office. Her co-worker Sabine looked apologetic at the interruption. Sabine was sweet and polite. She was from New Orleans and the two of them bonded over being Southern gals in the East Coast.

"What's up?" Bonnie dropped her pen on the table.

"There's a man here to see you," She informed. Bonnies' brow wrinkled in confusion. She certainly hadn't been expecting anyone. She walked out of the office to see an unfamiliar dark haired man in a suit and aviators glancing around the isles with disinterest. Clearly not into books.

"Can I help you?" She greeted cautiously.

He turned to her, "Bonnie Bennett?"

"Yes?"

"Agent Damon Salvatore. I believe we have a mutual friend from the American embassy in Berlin. I have a few questions for you," He stated smiling. To give herself some credit, Bonnie managed to stay still. It seemed almost laughable that she expected to leave Germany the way she did without any repercussions. Four months was a good run. The other shoe had just dropped.

She blinked then turned back to check the counter. Thankfully Sabine had gone to the backroom.

"Not at my job please," Bonnie whispered pleadingly.

He nodded and she walked robotically out of the store not even checking to see if he was on her heels. If she was lucky he would disappear. Once they were safely away from any overly curious ears in front of an abandoned storefront next to the bookstore, he addressed her.

"There's no need to be scared. I really do have just a few questions for you," Agent Salvatore said stuffing a hand into his pocket.

Her bottom lip wobbled, "So you're not here to arrest me? I don't even know what agency you work for, how can I trust you?"

He sighed as though proving his credentials was a truly tiring piece of work. Bonnie decided at that moment that she didn't like him.

Apart from coming into her life and wrecking the calm she tried so hard to rebuild. He reached into his jacket and brought out a badge. It looked real enough.

"I'm with the CIA and I'm here Miss. Bennett because four months ago you gave Alaric Saltzman a file containing some very damning information," Agent Salvatore explained.

Bonnie still looked apprehensive so the agent took off his glasses to reveal piercing blue eyes, "I meant what I said. I'm not going to arrest you neither are you in any sort of trouble. At least not that I know of. I just want to ask you some questions. I spied a diner across the street on my way here. Maybe you'll feel better with a cup of coffee?"

She contemplated for a moment then nodded slowly, "In that case you're buying."

"And what made you come to that conclusion?" He questioned not hiding his surprise.

She shrugged, "If you really do work for the CIA then my tax dollars fund you. Therefore you owe me." He didn't try very hard to hide his amusement from then on.

The diner had good apple pie which Bonnie had two slices of. Agent Salvatore didn't have anything choosing the nurse a cup of black coffee through their entire conversation. She explained everything from the beginning with Katherine's entrance to the hotel till the news of her death and how she gave the file to a dumbfounded Alaric the next day before hastily quitting her job at the hotel and leaving Germany a few days after.

She scattered the crust on her plate with her fork, "I had to leave. Every night I just kept seeing her face and remembering how scared she looked. How determined she was. I couldn't look at that place the same anymore."

"Believe me I get it," Agent Salvatore said with a dejected look of his own.

Bonnie looked at him, "Agent Salvatore-,"

"Please call me Damon," He corrected with an easy going smile. She hated how easily she blushed from a simple smile like a naïve teenager. A side effect of her dormant love life. He was a pretty good-looking guy. There was a gold band on his finger so she made sure to leave her thoughts at just admiration.

She nodded, "Damon, what exactly is going on? I know what I read sounded pretty illegal but if you're here then it must be pretty serious."

Damon inhaled bracing himself for the amount of information he was about to dump on her. The diner was thankfully empty save a bored waitress more occupied with her phone than them far away near the stools.

He flicked his thumb against the rim of his coffee mug, "Klaus Mikealson isn't the magnanimous philanthropist everyone sees in the media. He's a criminal with ties that run too deep into everything bad you can imagine. Weapons, drugs, prostitution, you name it. I've been trying to build a case on him for five years yet nothing has stuck because he's far too smart not to dust his trail."

"Katherine called him the worst man in a world," Bonnie recalled.

Damon laughed humorlessly, "That doesn't even begin to cover it. He's ruthless and has no qualms hurting anyone to get his way." He couldn't help fiddling with his wedding ring. She noticed.

"I knew Katherine," He started hesitantly, "She was actually my sister in law." Bonnie's eyes widened at the confession then felt a wave of sympathy towards him. Sure, she'd been plagued by the event, but Damon had actually lost his family.

"How did she end up with him then?" She asked softly.

"Katherine had always been a wild child compared to her sister, my wife Elena," Demon explained with a faraway look "We hadn't heard from her in a few years when she resurfaced six years later working for him in some vague capacity. She loved it; the lavish parties, the exotic holidays and everything else he plied her with. It was around the same time I started to notice patterns with his businesses and certain activities linked to weapon trades. No one believed me at the agency because he's too smart to leave any visible breadcrumbs but I saw it all."

Bonnie took another forkful of pie, her attention rapt at his tale, "I reached out to her and she of course denied everything. I showed her the patterns but she still refused to believe me. I made a case to the agency but got shot down by my superiors multiple times. I know he's got a good number in his pocket. The last time I spoke with Katherine she told me to stop calling her."

A bitter look graced his handsome face. "Next thing I hear from Alaric that she died mugged in Germany and got some girl to give him papers about Trident international."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Bonnie said hoping her voice didn't betray pity. She knew exactly how it felt and hated it. No one needed pity. She needed him to know that she understood his pain and ire.

"Just another thing that bastard took," Damon growled. She didn't ask what else he'd taken before.

"How do you know he killed her?"

She couldn't help but ask. "From all indications with the police it did seem like a mugging gone wrong. How are you so certain?" it was a theory Bonnie obviously doubted given the sheer coincidence but she needed to be certain due to the scale of the accusation being levelled.

He glanced at her sharply, "Because he always cleans his messes that way. It's never overtly violent or flashy unless he wants to send a message. You saw him the next day. That's how he operates to make sure there are no loose ends." She recalled his blue eyes and how they seemed to burn into her skin. His two hefty bodyguards looked capable enough to grab a woman and slit her throat. She shivered at the thought.

Katherine had said that she wanted to do something good for once. Getting that proof to Damon was her last good deed.

"I checked up on the companies and Trident is linked to Klaus' company Hybrid. Shouldn't that be enough proof to take him down?" She questioned innocently.

Damon shook his head, "I'm afraid it's not that easy. Trident was sold to another conglomerate months before that deal, it just wasn't announced yet so technically there's nothing tying him to it. Plus it's one thing to write down a list of guns and another to actually find them. The buyer doesn't even exist on paper, it's all up in the air. Not to mention that no one at my agency seems to even care about pushing this further unless I bring hard hitting proof. But for something like that I'd need a man on the inside." The frustration in his voice was evident. Nailing Klaus had escaped him time and time again. Anyone else in his shoes would have given up but Damon was fueled by obsession, justice and more recently revenge.

"On the inside?" Bonnie repeated.

He nodded, "Getting close to him would maybe get me something of substance. He keeps a very tight circle though. Just his family and a handful of outsiders."

Katherine's face flashed once again in her mind. Her pretty cheekbones and seductive demeanor. Bonnie didn't know her as well as Damon did but she knew that the woman didn't deserve to die.

That night Bonnie read all she could about Klaus Mikealson over a dinner of fried rice and dumplings. He had four siblings, three brothers and a sister. One brother had died from cancer when they were younger. It was the reason he funded lymphoma research and had donated close to twenty million dollars for the cause over the years. His net worth was around thirty billion. He lived between London and New York. He graduated from Eton with a first class degree in Economics and Business Management and then went to the London School of Economics. He was divorced with no children. His ex-wife was one Tatia Petrova, a leggy former model. They were an attractive couple from the pictures she saw of them together. There were articles from gossip magazines mourning the end of their fairy tale romance while others were more focused on the paltry alimony she'd received after the divorce. It seemed one hundred thousand dollars a month was chicken change to a man like him.

She clicked on a video of him in 2015. It was a Ted Talk. He wore casual black jeans and a grey sweater turtleneck in some bastard imitation of Steve Jobs. He glided around the stage as though it were another possession of his. The man had charm in spades unfortunately. The audience soaked up every word he said, mesmerized and eager for more. He smiled that half smile of his again effortlessly explaining how financial security was tied to academic growth. Even though Bonnie could feel herself slipping under his spell, it was easy to recognize that he was a predator. His strength was not in large claws and jaws of steel able to test flesh but in words and gestures. The ability to manipulate others to do his bidding. To make them feel happy while doing it in fact. The next video showed him getting a humanitarian award for his work in Haiti and Kashmir. Bonnie felt her dinner threatening to eject from her stomach.

The next day she woke up to her laptop dead on her lap and her mouth dry. The plates from dinner were scattered around her. Damon had left her with his phone number in case anything came up. She studied the numbers unsure of what to do with them before getting into the shower. The cold spray was a welcome relief on her aching body.

For all intents and purposes, her part in this was over. She was free from this. But it didn't really feel like freedom knowing that what

Katherine had died for made no real difference. Klaus Mikealson wasn't in jail. Katherine Pierce was six feet under. The bastard was the only real winner here.

When she got to work Sabine was beaming far too brightly to ignore. So Bonnie had no choice to ask what got her so happy.

"Oh my niece Nadia just got into medical school," Sabine replied giddily.

"That's wonderful," Bonnie congratulated genuinely. She'd been treated to stories about Sabine's favorite niece since she started working there. She knew the girl had been waiting to hear back from Duke and Colombia. Sabine patted a copy of Faulkner, "I'm just so happy she's making a difference. She's going to really help people you know? I remember wanting to do that a long time ago before life got in the way,"

Her expression was wistful. It stirred something within Bonnie.

"We all contribute in our own way I guess," She said packing up their newest order to shelve leaving Bonnie alone with her thoughts.

Damon was enjoying the contents of his hotel room minibar when he got a call from Bonnie Bennett asking to meet with him. It had been three days since the time at the diner. His flight to Langley was the next day and he was looking forward to heading back even if he dreaded his next meeting in DC. Say what you will about New York but the city had character. All kinds flourished in relative harmony slash organized chaos. DC on the other hand, was basically a shark pool if sharks wore suits and breakfasted at the Roosevelt. Politicians and the likes. Dangerous people. Almost in the same league as sociopathic billionaires.

Her call was a surprise. His business with her was done as far as he was concerned. After the news of Katherine's death, he threw himself into work hoping to find something, just anything to nail down the Mikealson bastard.

Alaric was an old friend from the military. They had both served two tours in Afghanistan. Damon had decided to break off and enter the world of intelligence hoping to serve his country in another capacity. Alaric took the opposite direction and went into diplomacy. It was after the funeral when Elena had gone to stay with her parents for a while that he received the call from Alaric that a hotel manager had given him files from Katherine. At first it seemed too good to be true but the Intel had confirmed what he long suspected.

He went to Berlin but unfortunately the manager who got the documents had resigned shortly after. He looked into her and found nothing of real consequence about her. Normal jobs, no criminal record or suspicious associations. So he bided his time watching Bonnie Bennett before making a move. Her stay in Virginia before her subsequent move to New York.

He was convinced that she must have known something, anything. A final word or clue from Katherine. What he got wasn't nearly as satisfying but he took it as a sign that there wasn't more to look for. The poor woman was still shaken up by the experience months later.

Damon blamed himself for Katherine. Elena had told him time and time again that it wasn't his fault but she didn't exactly know the whole story. How it was his actions that had pushed Katherine away in the first place. The reason she left and found herself working for Klaus Mikealson in the first place.

There was a knock on the door. He jumped off the bed peering into the peep home before opening the door. Bonnie entered looking frazzled in a crème coat and pink flats.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you like this," She apologized. He noticed she was a very apologetic person.

Damon waved her off, "I gave you my number for a reason. What did you want to speak to me about?"

Bonnie glanced around the room taking in the decor. Nothing that wasn't expected from a Garden Inn.

She was merely stalling, unable to voice the mad thought that had come to her head.

"I want to go undercover with Klaus Mikealson."

Damon stared at her in disbelief before bursting into loud, obnoxious laughter. Bonnie pursed her lips together, irritated. "I'm serious."

"No honey you are not," He said patronizing "Because you cannot even begin to understand everything associated with what you just said."

"You said you needed someone on the inside. I can be that person," She argued.

His expression hardened, "I meant an agent with field experience and not a 26 year old bookstore translator. Do you have amnesia? You were there to witness what happened to Katherine and I assure you that she was not a girl scout. That man will smell out your weakness like a drop of blood and kill you for it. Is that what you want?"

"I have nothing to lose," She nearly shouted. Her talk with Sabine opened her eyes to a truth she'd been reluctant to confront. She had no one or nothing to lose. Bonnie had no mother; she only spoke to her father once a year at most. Her grandmother who was the only person that gave a shit about her was dead and gone. She had no friends. In other words, Bonnie was the perfect asset. All her life she'd been floating around merely existing. Looking for purpose that couldn't be found in hotel lobbies or corporate offices. Everyone should have the chance to do something great, something to make a difference. Perhaps hers was to stop a dangerous man from adding more chaos to the world.

Damon ran his hands through his hair in frustration, "Look, you're probably having a quarter life crisis. Go home, get a puppy, a boyfriend, anything to get your mind off this because I assure you that once you get in, there's no going back. This is a burden you cannot come back from."

"A burden you've been carrying for five years," She taunted. He bristled at the fierceness in her voice, "You said yourself that he brushes off the trail before you can get to it. What you need is someone to pick them off as he drops it. I can be that person."

Damon shook his head going to grab a mini bottle of tequila from the mini bar throwing it back. The sweet burn did nothing to help him deal with the obviously crazy woman in his hotel room. He dropped unceremoniously on the edge of the bed. Bonnie still stood stiffly.

He regarded her after a few moments of silence, "Even if I were to agree to this, tell me, how do you expect to get in? Last I checked you don't have any experience managing a multi million dollar company or working in one for that matter. What do you have to offer Klaus to let you into his circle?"

"His sister," She stated confidently. "I've read all about her." Rebekah Mikealson was the quintessential party girl. She was wild and rebellious but her brother kept a close eye on her. Damon could see the merit in such a plan as the girl had no real friends of her own. It was difficult with a brother like hers who scrutinized everyone around her to an uncomfortable degree until they ran away. Getting close to her could give access to the rest of the family. He couldn't believe he was entertaining such an idea.

"Ok let's say you two become besties for life, then what?" He challenged.

"Then we can plan further because at least we'll have an in," Bonnie persuaded. "I'm a clean slate. No attachments or liabilities. You need someone like me."

Damon rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. The absolute worst part was that it was so tempting. She was the perfect candidate to become an asset. It burned through him to agree, to take her offer and use her as yet another tool. His hatred for Klaus Mikealson had become a slow poison festering over the years.

Every failed attempt, every smooth evasion, every trapped skipped over added another dose. Like luck had been woven into his birth. The man skipped over bombs without effort leaving everyone else as mere debris in his path. Damon remembered the first instance that made his investigation begin.

A shootout in Colombia between the paramilitaries and cartels that he'd been sent to investigate since the agency was backing the paramilitaries. The collateral damage was the villagers who'd tried to run away for safety only to get cut down. He'd seen dead women and children piled up and burned. The smell of burning flesh penetrating his steel gut. The weapons used were sold by a non-existent corporation in Guam. After bouncing off-shore accounts he found one associated with a subsidiary of Hybrid conglomerate.

The subsidiary was dissolved long by then leaving nothing but shredded paper. His bosses refused to look further.

Not long after the Mikealson foundation donated ten million dollars to a charity that brought children affected by cartel violence to the States to set them up with adopted families and Piers Morgan called him a hero.

From then on he made it his life's mission to take him down. Damon had told himself that no matter the cost he would take whatever avenue he could with hesitation. Or so he thought. He'd never felt more conflicted until this moment where a young woman was willing to risk her life to help him.

"Damon," Bonnie walked closer and sat down next to him on the bed. Her body heat was welcome warmth from the blasting cold of the AC. She smelled faintly of lavender. "If we do this, you can avenge Katherine and take him down. I can have meaning in my life and actually do something good for once."

Damon sighed, turning to really look at her. He couldn't deny she was pretty. Clear caramel skin, startling green eyes and a sweet smile from what he'd been able to see. He twisted his wedding ring. This woman should have been curled up in the arms of some nameless loving man and sticky fingered children. Living a carefree life where the only concern was whatever mundane dinner or family visit she was planning. Not sitting next to him willing to pimp out herself for Uncle Sam. Not ready to sacrifice it all as though her life didn't matter.

"Bonnie," his voice was rough, "If you do this, there's no going back. Until that son of a bitch is tucked away in Guantanamo Bay your life might never return to normal. Is that what you want?"

Was it what she wanted? Of course not, but neither did she want the milquetoast existence she'd been merely enduring.

"Then I'll do my very best to make sure he ends up there," Bonnie spoke quietly but the determination was there. From where it came she wasn't sure but there it was.

Damon pinched the bridge of his nose standing up from the bed, "In about a week call me. If there's a way to make it possible then I'll let you know." Part of him hoped that in a week she'd come to her senses and forget about it. But the other half saw the glint in her green eyes and knew it was all for naught. She'd already made her choice.

A/N: the next chapter will be heavy with Klonnie.