Having spent the weekend buried chin deep in his files, Damon's not in the best mood when Monday morning rolls around. With Luka riding shotgun, he merges southbound on Interstate 580, leaving Reno behind. With half an hour, he's pulling into the small town, slowing down so he doesn't get busted for speeding by a local cop.

Virginia City is a historic town of about 1000 people. Driving at a leisurely pace to be able to glance at house numbers, he pulls alongside the curb, stopping the vehicle when they arrive at 130 S Q Street, the Donovan home. Damon and Luka are just stepping out of the car when they notice a young man standing at the gate. He looks at them in a rather unnerving, unwelcoming really, way. He doesn't even spare them a greeting, he simply holds the gate open without uttering a peep.

Walking side by side, Damon and Luka jog up the steps and onto the porch, the blonde following behind. He pulls the door open and gestures for them to go inside. Luka takes a look around, the place is shabby-looking, almost in a state of disrepair but it is clean. The owners must have to dig deep into their pockets to make ends meet but from doing his homework, he knows they're not on a verge of bankruptcy. Yet.

Damon's not sure what to do, look for her or just stand there looking like idiots. He sighs internally when Mrs. Donovan comes into view as soon as they respectfully nod their heads to greet her.

"Call me Kelly," she offers them her hand to shake, she sniffs, her eyes already glassy. Damon suspects she's been fortifying herself with a whiskey, she confirms it wordlessly when he gets a whiff of her breath.

"Detective Salvatore, Damon Salvatore and this is Luka Martin, my assistant."

"Shall we?" the guy from earlier gestures to the living room, his frown deepens when he looks between the detectives and Kelly.

He's probably her son.

"Mrs. Donovan, ehm, Kelly, we're here because we're working on a murder case. We think there may be a link between our victim and the club Vicky worked for. I don't know if you're aware that she filled out a missing persons report...?"

"Jeremy Gilbert, yes, I'm aware. I always told her..."

"Mom, please," the gloomy young man lets himself be heard for the first time. "Let the detectives talk, they're not interested in your crazy conspiracy theories."

"On the contrary," Damon quickly interrupts, "I'd like to hear everything about the club or anything that Vicky said or did. What may seem insignificant to you may be that one piece of evidence I need to solve the case."

"See Matt, they're here for us to tell them what we know, so please let me." She turns back to Damon, as she's quickly decided he's the most interesting man in the room. "As I'm sure you know, Jeremy Gilbert is brother of The Jungle's owner, but he didn't work for the club. He's... I mean was, he was my daughter's boyfriend," she pulls a Kleenex out of the box on the end table and blows her nose loudly.

"He wasn't her 'boyfriend' exactly," Matt addresses Damon directly. "They were sleeping together, occasionally and she always hoped they would be something more."

"How can you talk about your sister like that?" Kelly protests.

"It's true mom, they came to hear the truth. Sugar coating it serves no purpose and neither does bending it."

Damon has a feeling that the tables have turned, somehow he stopped being the one in charge of this conversation. "So, they were seeing each other during the time that Vicky worked at The Jungle?" He needs to ask his questions carefully, "How long did it take her to realize that Jeremy went missing?"

"It's been a long time, Detective Salvatore. If memory serves, I think it was about a month from the time she last saw him till she filed the report. She said that he had a lot of irons in the fire and he would simply vanish from time to time but he always came back. When he didn't come back that last time, she went to the cops. Afterwards she felt guilty for not realizing that something was very wrong sooner. She beat herself up about that."

This time Matt just nods and Damon writes down a few notes.

"Kelly, your husband... he isn't here?" Damon was expecting that both of her parents would be here. He gives Luka a questioning glance to which he responds with a shrug of his shoulders.

"He's not my mom's husband, he's her boyfriend. Peter Maxwell is mine and Vicky's father," Matt offers and Damon tries to keep his face impassive. This family is actually more broken, beyond losing their daughter. It probably failed a long time before Vickie took her last hit.

"Did Vicky ever talk about Miss Gilbert and Jeremy's relationship?"

"Vicky brought him here once, he wasn't real talkative but when Vicky brought up his sister, he went on a tirade about how she was given the reigns of the family business and he was pushed."

"From what we've been able to surmise, he had really no say in the day to day business of The Jungle club," Luka offers, sharing a look with Damon.

"She said they hated each other. Her boss didn't like it when he would show up at the club. He had a room there but almost never used it. It was unfair and wrong that Jeremy didn't get his share. Their parents should have divided their assets fifty/fifty. Vicky said that the club's bodyguards threw him out too many times to count. She also mentioned that he didn't take it well that he was on the receiving end of such deplorable treatment from his own sister."

Half-sister actually...

Once again frowning, Matt walks outside with them, stopping when they reach the gate.

"Matt, take my card," Damon starts, handing the business sized card to him. "If you can think of anything in connection to Mr. Gilbert's disappearance or his relationship with your sister, please call me. I'd really like to speak to your father too so if you can give me an address or a phone number, I would appreciate it."

"Peter doesn't know anything, he was never here," Matt retorts defiantly but takes the card anyway. When Damon reaches for the gate handle, he speaks one more time. "Detective Salvatore?"

Damon turns back to him.

"Do you think... someone murdered her?"

"Why would you say that?" Damon asks carefully.

"I don't know, the investigation... She reported his disappearance. They never found him. And then she just... died? I know she was a junkie, sort of and danced half naked in a night club but... she was a good person and she was careful. She wanted to get better. All she wanted was a nice little house with a husband and a couple of kids."

"From what I know right now, it doesn't look like there is any connection, Matt. Jeremy Gilbert's body was discovered quite by accident about two weeks ago. It's been all over the news in Reno so I'm not sharing anything confidential... From the state the body was in, it appears that he's been dead the whole time."

Matt is astounded. "And you're saying this is just a coincidence?"

"It may be, it may not be," Damon responds calmly. "Matt, if we were to consider the possibility, what motive would anyone have to silence your sister? Yes, she reported Jeremy's disappearance, but no one at that time could pinpoint when exactly he went missing. Several weeks had passed before anyone started looking for him. The fact Vicky told us was irrelevant, it could have been anyone."

"But she was the only one who had an idea of when he vanished," Matt looks confused. "It was after his birthday party. He was at the club that evening, causing a little trouble for his sister but not much. He and Vicky spent the night there... in his room. I remember that specifically because she called, saying they had something planned and that she wouldn't be home that night. It wasn't unusual, I mean she stayed with him often. The unusual thing was that she called at all, usually she just didn't come home. That's probably why I remember..."

Damon feels his gut churning. "Are you absolutely certain about this? She never told the police and it didn't come out afterwards either." Luka can feel Damon's stiff posture and knows what's happening is big.

Matt nods unaware of what he just revealed. "Yes. I have no idea why she didn't tell the police anything other than the fact that he was missing. It doesn't make any sense...?" he frowns.

No it doesn't... unless she deliberately concealed the information.

Elena wakes up from yet another nightmare, her heart beating its way out of her chest. She looks around bewildered. It takes a minute for the fog to lift and for her heart to stop pounding against her rib cage. She sits up and drops her face into her hands, threading her fingers through her long tresses. It was just a dream, the same one that is still haunting her even all these years later.

Why did she sleep at the office again? Oh, that's right, after the charity event on Saturday, she spent her Sunday at home, mostly sleeping and kicking back, doing absolutely nothing but watch old movies and eat junk food. But by the time evening arrived, she was starting to feel a little restless and maybe a little guilty so she called Kol. He promptly picked her up and delivered her safe and sound to the club. She decided to just spend the night, after all there were several important matters that required her attention, including two phone calls that she couldn't postpone. Some letters needed her signature and she needed to sign off on several orders for the club and if that weren't enough, Enzo interrupted to announce that there were a few VIPs downstairs.

She rolled her eyes which earned a chuckle from him and stepped into the private elevator with him to make an appearance and mingle with their guests for awhile. In a city that never sleeps like Reno, she retreated back to her office after telling Enzo to go home. She has staff to take care of matters during the night. Ever the loyal friend, Enzo stayed, telling her he'd be in his office across the hall if she needed him. Then she plopped down and spread out on the couch. Despite her best intentions, she fell asleep only waking up now. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head when she looks at her Rolex, ten o'clock already. She's really late this morning.

Fortunately Mondays at the Jungle are less chaotic than usual. Still she knows the restaurant is already busy preparing for the lunch crowd. When she hears the familiar sound of a vacuum, she crimps her brows. They should have been done cleaning the club hours ago. Yawning, she stands up, stretches her limbs and then walks over to her coffee machine to make herself a strong pot of joe. She steps over to the window to take a look outside. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and the sky is bright. She sees lots of folks walking on the sidewalk below and across the street. When she hears a clanging noise, she looks at her closed door. Someone should be here to look over things. Her question is answered when Enzo peeps into the office. Finding her awake, he raises his finger and steps back out. Several minutes pass before he walks back in, this time carrying pastries and coffee. She chuckles, pointing at her coffee that's percolating.

"This coffee is better anyway," he retorts, handing her a tall cup full and a prune Danish.

"Uumm," Elena moans, chewing the flaking goodness. "You are a lifesaver Enzo. Thank you."

Enzo gives her a tight smile but she knows he's happy with her reaction. What would she do without him? Where would she be without her close circle of friends and associates? They all play a vital role in keeping both her safe and The Jungle running like a well-oiled machine.

"Come. Sit. Have breakfast with me."

Enzo nods and takes a seat in the armchair, across from Elena. He helps himself to a delicious looking croissant.

"I wanted to ask...um... how are things with Bonnie? Kai mentioned... I noticed too...?" she's not sure how to finish the question. Enzo's no fool though.

"I'm not sure. She's... angry that I never seem to have enough time for her. That the club is and will always be my priority. I offered I'd try to find a balance that will work for us but she said she doesn't have time anyway. Maybe there's someone else?" His face is impassive but Elena knows him well, he's not alright at all. Is he jealous? Or just generally concerned?

"Oh Enzo, I'm sorry. I know you work too much... I can be selfish sometimes, you need to tell me when you need to make yourself priority, if you need an extra day off.. promise me you will?"

"Sure, Elena, it's not a problem, really. You know I live to make your wishes come true?" he half jokes.

Elena laughs shortly, "I know. But it isn't right. I monopolize your time. You deserve a life too but I do appreciate all you do for me. Thank you."

They finish breakfast in comfortable silence. She knows how lucky she is to have him on her side.

"So, knowing the exact date changes things?" Luka's focus is more on Damon than driving, who admonishes his young colleague more than once to keep his eye on the road so they don't end up in a ditch or worse...

"Of course, the timeline has been vague since the very beginning. If it was Jeremy's birthday, we now have a date to go on and there's no way that Elena wouldn't remember it which means she's lying. Even if they weren't close, they'd still know when each other's birthday was. Birthday's are a special occasion for most people. Another thing I'm curious about is why Vicky left out that vital piece of information."

"It's weird," Luka gives it a thought. "As if she wanted... I don't know."

"Go on," Damon encourages. "Even if it's not the best theory, it could lead somewhere else."

"Well, as if she wanted to alert authorities but didn't want them to know too much?"

Damon nods, silently encouraging the boy to continue. "Why would she do that?"

"To show the killer or killers that she had the goods on them, that if they weren't willing to negotiate, she would spill her secrets? Blackmail perhaps?"

"Very good, Luka, that's possible. Let's pretend that you're correct for a moment. If she was attempting to blackmail someone, that alone could easily have gotten her killed. These people play for keeps and she probably got in way over her head. The stakes are high in this game and the people involved wouldn't think twice about getting rid of a problem like Vicky. It's not hard to kill a drug user, they just have to make it look like an overdose. With all of that said, she had to get the drug somewhere..."

"Unless she was murdered and the killer brought it with him or her?"

"You're right, Luka, if it was simply an accidental overdose, we may have something in her file, a reference to a dealer. In some clubs, the seedier ones in town, finding a dealer is as easy as buying a pack of chewing gum."

"What do we do now?"

"We are going to the station to pick up Ric. And then I'll find out if we can make an appointment to have a few words with the always enigmatic Miss Gilbert."

After finally putting all of the fires out, Elena has Kol drive her home so she can shower and change into some clean clothes. She could have showered at work, she has an en suite, rather luxurious bathroom in her office. She took it upon herself to install a deluxe shower but she needed to get out of the building for awhile to clear her head. Kol loves to show off his favorite toy, a BMW Z8. The car, along with his lead foot makes for a fast drive. She rolls down the window and lets the wind blow in her face.

"Do you want me to stick around or should I go back to the club after I drop you off?" Kol finds her eyes in the mirror.

"What? No, stay. I just want to take a quick shower and find something...," she pauses to look at her attire, "more presentable to wear. Help yourself to a drink... just don't get drunk."

"You're no fun."

"Ha ha, if you get drunk, I'll be stuck out here with you," she teases, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Alright...," Kol winks at her, "I wouldn't mind being stuck out here with my favorite boss."

Elena shakes her head at his antics and leaves him in the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later she finds him plundering her refrigerator. "Don't let me interrupt."

"Sorry boss," he elaborates his mouth full. "I can't work on empty stomach."

"Of course, I wouldn't dream of asking you to."

Kol grabs the rest of the sandwich and heads for the door. "Okay boss, we can go."

Elena follows him smiling, this brother has no seriousness in him, unlike his older brother.

When they park in front of the club again, they notice three familiar figures.

"I don't believe this!" Elena mutters under her breath.

"Should I slow them down?" Kol utters without looking at her.

"I'd be most grateful if you did," she smirks. "I don't think they saw us. I'll go in through the restaurant. You can keep them busy for awhile, at least long enough for me to prepare myself for this round. Detective Salvatore is like a rabid dog."

Before the three men notice Kol approaching them, The Jungle's owner is already safely inside the building.

After being given the run around for a good twenty minutes, when they're finally allowed to enter Elena's office, Damon can already feel the tension in the air, the atmosphere thick with suspicion. He takes a look around, there's St. John, the secretary Luka's fond of, another guy from security who exchanges looks with Kol and not to be left out, Parker sneaks into the room right behind them. Uncharacteristically though he remains standing in the background. And of course there is…

"Good afternoon, Detective Salvatore."

Elijah fucking Mikaelson. Damon nods at him impassively, although he's boiling inside. How in the hell did he get here so quickly? He turns around to look at Kol, who gives him a smirk and a small bow. Of course... baby brother ran interference just long enough for Elijah to arrive. Fucking unbelievable!

"Alright people, I'm here to speak with Miss Gilbert. Whoever's not Miss Gilbert… ergo everyone else, please leave." He watches, his temper begs to be heard when not that many people actually move to leave. Kol shares a look with his brother then reluctantly departs. Parker catches Elena's eye and is the last one to slip out of the room. Enzo looks at him defiantly.

"This is my office."

Damon raises his chin defiantly. "Fair enough. We'll move into Miss Gilbert's." And as expected…

"I'll join you," Elijah offers with a phony smile on his face when his eyes meet Damon's.

"Naturally," Damon mutters under his breath and Elijah's smile widens, taunting him further. He fucking hates this guy.

"Luka, stay here. Keep an eye on Mr. St. John and Miss Bennett. The rest of us…," he gestures his hand into Elena's office.

Once inside he closes the door and they all sit at the table, Elena and Elijah on one side, Damon and Ric on the other. Before they can start, Enzo comes inside with a fresh pot of coffee, cold water bottles and some snacks. Elena thanks him and watches intently till he exits the room. As soon as the door closes, her eyes meet Damon's, "Please, help yourselves." She takes a bottle for herself and leans against the backrest. "Now, Detective Salvatore, no beating around the bush. Why are you here... yet again?"

She's different, from how she was at the charity event. Closed off and distant. She didn't say much, didn't reveal anything substantive on Saturday, but he still has a feeling that the Elena he witnessed then is a completely different woman than the one he's sitting opposite of now. With the kids around, her eyes sparkled, she was clearly in her element. Does she enjoy working with and for children? He can't help but believe that he was lucky enough to get a glimpse of the real Elena. Inexplicably, he finds himself missing her. Could it be that she has to keep up appearances in front of Elijah?

"Miss Gilbert. We talked to Vicky Donovan's family. They are certain that she knew exactly when your brother went missing. She didn't reveal it at the time though so our information is second hand, but these people are the ones who knew Vicky best."

He waits for a second but it's clear that she's not playing ball today.

"Miss Gilbert…?" he stresses.

"What? Was there a question there?"

Damon mentally curses. "Do you think it's possible that she could have known exactly when your brother disappeared?"

"I have no idea. I was her employer, not her confident and I wasn't her friend. She didn't tell us anything," she looks at Elijah who happily takes over.

"Miss Donovan didn't talk to my client. And you just admitted, she didn't reveal an exact date to the police. Anything is possible so she may have told one of her co-workers here but you're going to have to ask them yourself. When did you say that Jeremy supposedly disappeared?"

"I didn't. According to her family she was certain that Mr. Gilbert went missing the day after his birthday. He celebrated it here at the club, they spent the night in a room here, one that he had at his disposal."

"November 6th," Elena supplies. "Yes, Detective, he had a room here. He occasionally spent the night. With his… girlfriends," she adds, her voice dripping with disdain.

For some reason, Damon feels offended by this slip of a girl who pretends she's playing in the big leagues. On her brother's behalf no less. Obviously Jeremy made some poor choices but he was also abandoned by his own family, people who were supposed to support him, guide him, teach him right from wrong. She has no right to judge who he did or didn't spend his time with. That's why he speaks more steeply than he probably should.

"I didn't ask you about his moral profile Miss Gilbert, you clearly aren't the right person to be answering that question." He realizes his mistake right away but she's driving him bat shit crazy. Elijah raises his eyebrow, Elena narrows her eyes and is very difficult to read right now. Even Ric gives him a side glance.

"Ehm… what I wanted to ask, do you remember that evening? Vicky said he caused some trouble."

"He always caused trouble, Detective," Elijah takes the word again. "It was not uncommon for security to remove him from the premises. Do you remember his birthday party?" he turns to Elena.

"Not particularly, no. It's been five years. My brother didn't need to play the birthday card to have a party, Mr. Salvatore. He came here to meet with his self proclaimed clients and no, I didn't then and I don't now know who they were. I didn't care. What I do know is that they were lowlife's, the sort of people that we try to keep out of this club. You should probably talk to Kol. He'd have been alert if Jeremy was here to party. Or perhaps Kai. He has an uncanny ability to always know what's happening here."

"We'd certainly like to speak to your employees. Did you happen to remember if you spoke to your brother that evening?"

"Detective Salvatore, I just told you I don't remember that evening. How do you expect me to answer something that I have no recollection of?"

He's getting under her skin, he's certain of it. At first she remained stoic, not reacting to the date but now... now she seems both upset and infuriated.

"I would think since Jeremy went missing immediately after that night, if we're to believe Miss Donovan's recollection, it seems to me you'd remember the last time you saw your brother alive." he pauses to let his words sink in for a few moments. "We're trying to solve a murder here, it's routine to question the next of kin." Damon's pretty sure she doesn't buy his polite tone considering the piercing look she's giving him.

"You know what, Detective? I think we're done here for today. You always insinuate things about me and my relationship with him but you never say it out loud. You expect me to spill my guts... Well, you're going to listen to and hear me now.. I'm not interested in doing your homework for you. Instead of harassing me, shouldn't you be examining the place where his body was found? Or question the people that are living there? Or perhaps speak to the freaks he hung around with? Why are you always harassing me?"

Why isn't Elijah interfering now, a change of tactics perhaps? She's quite riled up... And Damon goes for the kill.

"You are mistaken, Miss Gilbert. You don't seem to realize that you have no choice here. This is an official investigation of a murder, your brother's specifically and you'll have to talk to us whenever I deem it necessary. If you have a problem with that, I'll get a subpoena and go through your club with a fine tooth comb."

Infuriated by his insolence, Elena doesn't even blink when she moves into position and stands toe to toe with him. "Who do you think you're speaking to, Detective Salvatore? I'm not some mind numbed robot who is going to cower in the corner. The last time I looked this was still America! I have Constitutional rights, you cannot force me to say anything. And I'll also remind you that you're a guest here... I'm not scared, you arrogant, insufferable bastard. I don't care if I'm here or at the police station, I can make your investigation as difficult as I please. Am I supposed to stay put and just take whatever mood you happen to be in on a certain day? You've been trying to get a rise out of me since the first time we met. Congratulations, this time you succeeded gloriously. I've had more than enough of you right now."

"Miss Gilbert..." he starts but she cuts him off before he can finish.

"I don't have to say a word with or without my lawyer present," she pauses ever so slightly to share a look with Elijah. "And I'm sure you must be getting tired of conversing with him. You will talk to me with respect and you will not threaten me. If you truly believe I'm Jeremy's killer cuff me and take me downtown."

With her chin raised in defiance, she extends her arms, offering him her wrists. "Either arrest me right here and now or back the hell off."

Damon can't believe how he allowed this chat to spiral out of control so badly. For a moment he forgets there are other people around them and he has a feeling she did too. What shakes him the most though is how good it felt. She's magnificent, fiery and full of passion when she lets go with such fervor. He's also surprised by the way Elijah just watches and makes no attempt to stop her.

Under any other circumstances, he imagines how he would love to end up horizontally with her as a way to pleasurably release some tension. He quickly shakes his head in an attempt to get the smoldering image out of his mind.

"Miss Gilbert, I don't have time for your games, I'm simply doing my job. This is your brother we're talking about, I would have thought that you'd want to help find his killer…?"

"Cut the crap detective, you and I both know you are well aware there was no love lost between Jeremy and me. It's no secret that we didn't get along. I know the fact that he's dead and I'm very much alive puts us at odds... It isn't rocket science to see whose side you're on.

"I'm not on anyone's side, I am simply trying to solve your brother's murder."

She narrows her focus in on him. "Don't think for even a second that you can best me at this game. I can see right through you so don't take me for an idiot."

"You needn't worry about that, Miss Gilbert..., I'd never underestimate you," he stands up while speaking and walks to the door. When he opens it, he's met with three shocked faces, it'd be funny, really, if the topic, namely murder wasn't so serious. Enzo quickly moves to the side, leaving room for him to exit.

"Enzo, the detectives are leaving, please see them to the door...," Elena gives instructions, she's calmer but her face is still tense. Damon notices Enzo's concerned look and Elijah's calming hand between Elena's shoulder blades. Damon gives her a small bow and without making another sound, he leaves the room.

Ric and Luka are right behind him, followed by St. John. They're officially being escorted from the building.

"You need to stop this, bothering Miss Gilbert, she has enough on her plate."

"Yes, murders are inconvenient like that," Damon serves him with a decent dose of sarcasm.

"I don't think it's appropriate, detective, to joke about murder. If you would just stop harassing her..."

"Not gonna happen, St. John. If there's something here waiting to be found and my gut's telling me there is, I'll be her fucking shadow. So trust me when I tell you, I'm nowhere near done with her yet."

"You're so brave, barging in here to intimidate an innocent woman," he flashes a stony look at Luka. "You should probably keep an eye on this one, he's a little too ambitious for his own good." He tips his head slightly then turns around and walks away, leaving the perplexed detectives standing at the door.

"What's with the animosity?" Damon asks curiously when they're outside.

Luka just shrugs, "I... I may have stolen his girl."

Damon and Ric share a look then turn back to Luka with new respect.

"What?" the boy's confused.

Ric laughs while patting him on the shoulder. "At least one of us has a personal life."

I need to remind everyone that this story is the definition of 'slow burn'. You're all the best, there are really no words to THANK YOU all enough.

Thank you, Eva. Love you.

Chapter title: 'Between Two Fires' by Paul Young.

Many dear friends have DE stories in progress: They're all very talented writers. Florencia7 completed: A Thousand Miles & a Hundred Years. Justinia Korax: The Things She Felt When He Was Gone' is a completely BRILLIANT rewrite of S3. Salvatoreboys4ever: Captive of Her Beauty is nearly complete. Mariah April May: The Devil's Obsession and Marry Me Instead. She's taking some much needed personal time.

VitsAsh: Stumbling Upon. Starlight So: All Through the Night and Northern Star. Short on words: Scars Beneath the Surface and A Wonderful Lie. TheLittle MissVixen: Just Another Girl and What Might Have Been. AfterSundown: In My Life. Amazing Aisha: Marriage Built on Lies and Changing Fate. schattentinte: When Love Meets Pride. Moonstone369: You Become. deepwater1978 is only just back with "Doing the Right Thing" These wonderful ladies are among many others who are keeping the dream, the legend that is Damon and Elena alive and prospering.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend and thanks again.