shadylady21, KB22, Maiqu, TranquillityofPassion, Heart-Broken-In-Love, Bleu-Marine-2, and vdiaries1996 – Thank you all for reading and taking the time to review the last chapter! I am so glad you guys are enjoying it!

PREVIOUSLY:

"So what now?" Alaric asked seeming a little worried.

"I don't know. I would assume she is going to try to contact Katherine." I felt Elena tense up again. "Don't worry." I said looking down at her. "You will be safe, I promise." I could feel Alaric's eyes on the two of us.

"Well give me a call if anything happens."

Alaric walked back to his car. I opened Elena's door and then got in the car myself. The drive back home was silent. We pulled up to the house, when we walked in Stefan was sitting on the couch. He got up and met us in the foyer.

"Where the hell were you?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest.

Chapter 4

Silence fell between the three of us. After a few seconds Elena spoke up.

"We went to see Isobel." She said softly not looking directly at Stefan. Stefan came at me so fast I almost thought he had given up his fury friend diet. "Stefan!" Elena shouted furiously.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Stefan asked angrily.

"Stefan stop it."

"I was thinking that I could protect her better then you." I said as I threw Stefan off me and onto the other side of the room. Stefan slowly got up and ran back over to me.

"Would you guys stop I am fine!" Elena yelled, but both Stefan and myself ignored her.

"How could you put her in danger like that?" Stefan asked getting in my face.

"She was in no danger. I wouldn't let Isobel lay a hand on her." I said through my teeth. I hated that he thought for even a moment I could let something happen to her. I would protect her until someone put a stake through my un-beating heart.

"Stefan, it's fine. I wanted to go. He didn't make me." Elena said walking closer to him. She was defending me…to her boyfriend.

Stefan finally turned to look at Elena. "Elena, do you understand how dangerous this was?"

"I wasn't in danger." She said in a slightly aggravated voice. "I trust Damon." She said quietly. I was slightly shocked when I heard those words escape her lips.

"Elena…" Stefan said trailing off. I could tell he was getting frustrated with her.

"Stefan stop…Alaric was with us." As soon as she said those words I could tell that she regretted them. I know she had said it to try to calm him down but instead it made him even madder. Stefan wouldn't take it too well that we asked Alaric and not him to join us; even though Alaric wasn't really invited.

"Alaric? So did you invite everyone on this outing except me?" Stefan said sounding hurt. "Why didn't you tell me you were going?" He asked.

Elena and I both stood there in silence. After what seemed like forever Stefan quickly disappeared upstairs and slammed the door shut.

"Guess I will be sleeping on the couch tonight." She said softly as she walked towards the living room.

How could he just walk away from her like that; I could hear her heartbeat, she was obviously still nervous and scared from earlier tonight. If she were mine I would hold her in my arms all night so she would never feel fear. "You can sleep in my bed." I offered.

"I don't think…"

I cut her off. "I will sleep on the couch. It's my fault he is pissed with you…"

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yea." I answered simply.

"Thanks." She said quietly. I walked into the living room and towards the drink cart. But stopped and turned when I heard Elena call my name. "Um I don't know where it is." I said half laughing.

"Turn right when you get up the stairs and it's at the end of the hallway." I called back to her.

"Oh, and it isn't your fault he is mad at me Damon."

I heard her walk up the stairs and down the hall. I poured myself a drink and took a seat on the couch. I zeroed in my hearing so I could hear every one of her breaths. I heard her pull back the comforter and blankets, I heard her climb into bed and sink into the pillows. I heard her take a deep breath in; like she was taking in my sent from the pillow, but she was probably just trying to calm herself down so she could sleep. How I wish I could lay next to her, stroke her soft skin, run my fingers through her hair, wrap my arm around her pull her into my chest and feel her body mold against mine…but no, she was Stefan's.

The next morning I shot my eyes open. Alaric was standing over me kicking my right foot to wake me up.

"What do you want?" I said in an aggravated tone. "And what you just walk in to people's houses?" I asked as I slowly say myself up.

"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" Alaric asked in a confused tone.

"Stefan and Elena had a fight. Seems he wasn't too keen on our little…adventure last night. I let Elena use my bed." I stood up and made my way over to the drink cart.

"Aw well that was very…nice of you." Alaric said as he took a seat on the sofa.

"Is there a particular reason for your visit this morning? Or did you just miss the pleasure of my company?" I asked before taking a mouthful of my drink.

"Is Elena still here?" He asked wrinkling his forehead.

I paused before answering. I listened for her heartbeat. "Yup." I said popping the 'p'. "She is still sleeping.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I can hear her heartbeat." I paused. "Why?" I asked in a half confused half worried tone.

"I was driving through town about an hour ago and I saw…well I guess I saw Katherine."

I looked down at my drink and dumped what was left in the glass down my throat. "Well I guess I was right. She called Katherine." I paused. "Where did you see her?"

"In front of the park." Alaric answered.

"Well good morning princess." I said not looking away from Alaric. Alaric turned around to face Elena.

"Good morning." Elena said with a small smile. She looked back and forth between me and Alaric. "Is everything OK?"

"Alaric saw Katherine this morning in town." I said looking up at her. I looked back at Alaric. "Do you have your fun vampire weapons with you?"

Before Alaric could answer Elena chimed in. "Wait, you aren't going after her." She said. Her heart rate was increasing.

"Of course we are." I said simply.

Elena let out an extensive sight and stomped off into the kitchen. I stared after her with a blank expression on my face.

"See…she cares about you." Alaric said quietly with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and followed her into the kitchen. I heard Alaric laugh after I had left the room. "Everything OK Angel?" I asked with a smirk.

"Damon, be serious. You can't actually think it is a good idea to go after her."

"Well, going after her is the best thing we can do to keep you safe. And I do think keeping you safe is a good idea so…"

"And your safety?"

My safety…she was really concerned with my safety? "I can take care of myself." I said trying not to sound confused be her question.

"Katherine is older then you…which means stronger."

"Yes I know the facts about vampires believe it or not." I said sarcastically.

"Stop messing around." She said. She was getting frustrated with me but I didn't understand why. She couldn't possibly care that much of what happens to me. "And what am I supposed to do? She doesn't need an invitation to get in this house, do I just wait here and hope she doesn't come waltzing through the front door and kill me."

"No. Of course not." I said in a quiet voice. I absolutely hated that she was scared. "We can bring you home…or Alaric's house so Katherine has no reason to go near Jenna and Jeremy." I offered.

I heard footsteps and turned around. Alaric was standing behind me. "You should probably wake Stefan so we can get going."

"Yea." I turned back to look at Elena but she looked away from me and bit her bottom lip. "We are going to drop off Elena at your place first; if that is OK." I said looking back at Alaric. He nodded his head. "I'll go get Stefan." I headed out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.

"Are you OK?" I heard Alaric ask Elena.

"I am fine." Elena said a little too harshly even for angry Elena.

I reached Stefan's door and heard Elena making her way up the stairs. Not bothering to knock I swung open the door and walked in.

"Rise and shine little brother." I said loudly. "We have a visitor in town."

"Go away Damon." Stefan said half asleep.

Just then Elena stormed through the door. She didn't say a word. She made her way over to Stefan's dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a purple t-shirt then walked out of the room. I brought my attention back to my brother.

"Stefan this is serious." I said in a more urgent voice. "Alaric saw Katherine this morning." Stefan's eyes shot open wide and stared at me in disbelief. "So come on. We have to drop off Elena at Alaric's before we can go…hunting." I slapped Stefan's leg and walked out of his room. I went back down the stairs. Alaric was in the foyer waiting. "Stefan will be down shortly."

A few minutes later Elena came down the stairs dressed and ready to go. She planted herself at the corner of the staircase and crossed her arms over her chest. Stefan followed a few seconds later. Both had terrible expressions on their faces. Stefan's I got but Elena…I just didn't understand why she was so angry.

"OK are we ready?" Alaric asked.

"Yup. I'll drive." I said grabbing my keys and heading out to my car.

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