A/N: Thank you for the AMAZING reviews, I'm floored, absolutely so. To Impress as you're not a registered member this is the only way I can reply, thank you for the review AND your suggestion, ffnet clumped it up as I double space but you're right, a few stars will do. I apologize in advance for Uri, he has major unresolved issues, is very creepy at times and not cuddly. I don't think he's very likeable, though I can't help loving him, a little.

After a request to see what my Uri looked like, I've attached a link to the end of this chapter!

~ Noa

2. A Bad Dream

I was fighting- But I just feel too tired - To be fighting - Guess I'm not the fighting kind.

Where will I meet my fate? - Baby I'm a man, I was born to hate - And when will I meet my end? - In a better time you could be my friend ~ Keane

"Last I saw her was Chicago, 1983, she knew where you were Damon," Anna gripped her mother tight, eyes never leaving his. "She didn't care, I'm sorry,"

Never had Damon been so determined as he was when he decided to bring Katherine back, he didn't care the cost and Mystic Falls could be human collateral for all her cared. He knew Katherine loved him; so he made the personal choice to become what she was so they could be together, that was enough motivation for him to do what needed to be done. For once someone had loved Damon and he wasn't gonna let that go for anybody.

But it wasn't true; none of it was or ever had been and Ana made that clear when he found her in the motel room with her mother. All that fire inside of him that burned for her, died slow and painfully in his gut, years of commitment and devotion and now he was just there in the boarding house alone. Damon already gave his life, lived over a century waiting to get it back and be with the woman he sacrificed everything for, including his relationship with Stefan but now she was gone he had nothing to focus on, live for, he had no purpose. Now he was just existing.

Stefan walked past the living room having to do a double take when he saw Damon lounging on the couch in a daze, though Damon would swap that descriptive for deep in thought. Since they'd found out Katherine wasn't in the tomb, since that night they'd sat in front of the fire in silence, Damon had gone on as normal, like he wasn't as affected as he first let on. The sarcasm, jokes and teasing continued, him threatening to eat half of Mystic falls continued and that smirk never left his face but the delivery was lacking passion, and when Damon forgot to be a monster, Stefan saw the old Damon, the one he'd forgotten existed and since the tomb he'd been seeing glimpses of a defeated, very lost soul, his brother. Of course once Damon realized where he was and who he was with he'd pull his game face out and slipped it back on.

Stefan stepped into the living room, placing his bag down by the door frame and Damon still hadn't noticed. "I was thinking I could come home straight after school, maybe...Damon?" He called, waving his hand in front of the older vampire's face.

Damon frowned, still deep in his own thought.

"Damon!"

The older vampire tilted his head, and turned to Stefan, rolling his shoulders back now irritated. "What do you want, pocket money?"

"I was saying, you know what it doesn't matter," Unzipping his jacket, Stefan pulled it off and crossed the room to pour them a glass of whisky. He never believed Damon was a complete monster, even though he'd told himself over and again like a mantra, it never really sunk in and now Katherine was out of the picture he was hoping something would show in Damon, like his humility and vulnerability for human life or even just for himself.

Damon stood up, a signature smirk warming his finely chiseled face. "What are you doing? Did Elena break up with you, because I told her we'd never work out,"

Stefan brought the glass up to Damon's face, ignoring the last comment. "Here,"

"Don't you have school?" Damon asked, brushing past him to pour his own drink.

"I'm lying low for a while, but I'm gonna go in late and check in on Elena,"

"Oh God, please tell me you're not staying to comfort me?" Damon clutched his chest. "What have the cows and goats done to you?"

"We're still brothers,"

"Since when?" He asked bitterly, before taking a swig of his whisky to recover. "You know what you're right Stefan, I need you, I'm barely holding myself together here," Damon crossed the room to stand in front of Stefan and placed his head on his brother's shoulder. "Please, hold me?"

Stefan pushed Damon as he burst into laughter and rolled his eyes, Katherine rejected Damon and no matter how adamant he was about playing it down, he knew better. He wasn't going to tell Damon 'I told you so' but couldn't help wondering where Damon's head was at, because he knew this was a big deal.

Damon strolled off, turning back to wave an accusing finger at his brother. "Oh, I get what this is. You want to make sure I'm good boy,"

"Whatever Katherine's done, you can't take it out on Mystic Falls, it's not fair,"

"Ah Stefan, Mystic Falls' local hero… You know I'm tempted to make you a special shirt, saying Sav-i-or Salvatore," Damon snorted as he walked past with the drink in his hand. "Later,"

The door closed and only then did Damon's smile fade, he placed his glass down and slipped his arms through his leather jacket before super speeding out the door. Stefan didn't even want him, couldn't show him genuine concern for longer than five minutes because he was too busy playing guardian to Mystic Falls. If Katherine didn't know what a good thing she had then that was her issue, he was gonna prove he was wanted, there was a time not too long ago where Caroline couldn't get enough and that witch, she played scared but there was always something in her eyes and it wasn't always fear.

***

"There there, no need to cry," The olive skinned guy said, stroking the tears away from the young woman's face and twisting his own as her nose ran. His hair was dark brown, almost black and stopped at his shoulders and while his face was handsome and his voice was velvet his eyes were pitch black.

He had an English accent and spoke slow and steady, even with the woman's constant whimpering and pleading. Uri simply smiled at her requests and left her to cry, giving Bonnie his back he paused and Bonnie found herself panicking as she was suddenly unable to move, even with the sickeningly strong feeling that he'd turn around and see her.

"Hello there," He said, turning to Bonnie with his black shiny eyes.

Bonnie sat forward, turning to find she was in bed alone but before she had the chance to panic she heard the toilet flush. Turning over, Bonnie settled back underneath the sheets and closed her eyes once more, she had the most odd dreams sometimes, though something about him was very wrong there also something very calling to her.

***

Bonnie stood in front of the mirror, coaching herself the way she imagined Elena had for their first day back to school but she'd been off a week already, and that was long enough, Bonnie knew if she didn't go back to school now, today, by tomorrow she wouldn't know how to. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her unruly curls away from her face and left the bathroom greeted by Elena's reassuring smile.

"Ready to go?" Elena asked as she joined Bonnie standing, she knew more than anyone how grating the words 'are you okay?' could be, especially when the answer was obvious. There was the answer that people wanted to hear so they could go on with their day guilt free, and then there was the truth, Bonnie wasn't okay and she wouldn't be for a long time.

Bonnie nodded meekly and followed Elena down the stairs and out the door to her car, she'd been staying there and luckily Aunt Jenner was more than willing to put her up. Elena wanted Bonnie where she could keep an eye on her, after waking up and losing her mind with worry to find Bonnie gone it was a relief to find her at Grams safe and sound. The trip seemed to drone on like a bad song, it was always the bad songs that stayed in your head while the good ones were harder to remember, and that was how the day felt before it even begun.

In real time, they were at school quicker than she'd prepared for and Bonnie wasn't sure if she was ready to pretend until she opened the door and was rushed by Caroline and Matt, she was almost relieved that the choice was taken out of her hands.

"Oh, come here," Caroline cried, pulling the petite witch into her arms.

Elena smiled but she found herself wondering what she'd done not to deserve the same treatment when she got back to school, was there a grudge between them she didn't know about? Sure she got a hug like Bonnie but there was a difference in delivery. Still, all the support being offered to her best friend outweighed whatever worries she had lingering around.

Bonnie peeled herself from the pretty blonde's embrace to put on her well rehearsed smile. "I'm fine, really,"

Matt stepped into Caroline's space, waiting for her to take the hint and move back a step for him to speak to Bonnie, and was appreciative when she did. "Hey,"

Bonnie looked up at him, she was ready to fall apart already and she hadn't even hit the halls yet. "Hey," She gulped. "I'm okay, Matt," Bonnie added with a quivering smile when she saw him trying to look deeper than the surface.

Matt nodded and put his arm around her shoulder. "Okay, but when you're not okay I'm here, I know you've got Elena and Caroline but uh, I'm your friend too okay?"

"Thanks Matt,"

"Let me walk you to class," Matt smiled down at her and gave her shoulder a squeeze when she nodded in response.

Caroline hooked arms with Elena and the two followed behind Matt and Bonnie. Stefan watched from behind the tree, unsure of how to approach the grieving witch as she hadn't spoken him since the funeral. He couldn't blame her for avoiding him, she'd pushed Sheila to do the spell so that they could get him out, and in return she lost her Grams, Stefan knew he could never make it up to her, nothing could compensate for her family.

***

Matt and Elena at different times in class looked over at Bonnie, neither was really paying attention and it wasn't something they'd discussed to do, it was just, well it was Bonnie and they had to watch out for her.

The day was almost over; it went along like a dream sequence where everything was incredibly surreal, the knowledge of Grams not being home where Bonnie visited religiously for a glass of lemonade and a chat hung heavy on everyone close to her.

For Bonnie, Alaric's history class went vertiginously with her Grams voice tuning in and out of her head like a bad signal, she could see Alaric's mouth moving but she couldn't hear him because she was too busy hearing herself make Grams do another spell. "I'm sorry,"

Alaric came towards her in slow motion, his eyes showing sympathy, she hadn't realized that she'd spoke aloud. Whipping her head around she noticed the whole class watching her, glaring into her like they knew what she'd done, like they all knew the only reason her Grams was dead was because of her.

"Bonnie," Elena said softly, as she reached out.

As Bonnie's vision blurred with emotion she started shaking her head vigorously, repeating 'no' in her head over and over again, their stares, their voices, their thoughts, she couldn't take it anymore. Her Grams was wrong about her, she wasn't made for this, she couldn't handle the pressure of being a witch with no-one to lean on or guide her.

"Bonnie are you okay?" Alaric asked as she rushed to her feet with urgency.

Elena stood too. "Bonnie, it's okay,"

Bonnie rushed out of the classroom and Alaric put his hand up to stop Elena going after her, once she was back in her seat he headed into the hallway to find Stefan in her path, he gulped hard as he pictured Stefan in his classroom, remembered the conversation, the threat. Bonnie wasn't in any danger, he'd seen her with Elena and Elena was Stefan's girlfriend.

The young vampire looked up at the teacher and gave him a nod, waiting for him to disappear back into the classroom before he focused his attention on Bonnie. He lowered his gaze so that they were eye in eye and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Bonnie..."

She looked ahead of him, tears falling soundlessly down her face. "I thought I could do it, Stefan."

"Do what?" He whispered.

Bonnie placed a hand over his. "I thought I would be okay, this morning I was ready to come to school and be normal, but I can't..." She looked into his eyes. "Can I?"

Stefan shook his head. "You don't have to worry about being alone Bonnie, you have your dad and Elena, and all your friends, you won't always feel this way,"

"I have to go," she muttered.

"Bonnie,"

"No, Stefan I need to be alone. Just, leave me alone," she said, pulling his hand away from her shoulder.

Stefan watched her run down the hall, and it was safe to say guilt was now plaguing him, though he wasn't the one who wanted Katherine out of that Tomb he still helped. And if it wasn't for him being with Elena they all knew that Bonnie and her Grams never would've helped in the first place.

***

Bonnie rushed right into Damon's arms, pulling back as soon as she realized it was him, he was the main reason her Grams was dead. She tried to divert from his path but was yanked back into his chest, she looked up at him, her green eyes showing contempt which didn't go unnoticed by the vampire.

He smirked in response, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

"Why are you here?"

"That's obvious, to see you Bonnie," He smiled. "Your grams was…"

"Don't ever talk about her,"

"Okay, let's talk about us," He said, moving closer and knowing full well he was making the witch cringe, among other things.

Bonnie pulled her cardigan together and crossed her arms over her chest, though jumpy she'd be damned if she was gonna show him she was still scared of him, after what he did, she would never give him the satisfaction again. "Just stay away from me, or I swear..."

Damon smiled, pressing his palms together and bowing. "Got it, stay away from you, fire kills," He watched her go only to turn back and find Stefan standing inches from his face. "For someone who only feeds on the furry, you're getting better at sneaking up on people,"

"What are you doing here, Damon?"

"Can't a guy out of the kindness of his heart just bring his little brother some lunch?" He answered, feigning utter horror at his brother's unduly attitude towards him. He tried not to laugh as Stefan looked down at his empty hands. "Okay, so I don't come baring gifts or Tuna sandwiches which I know are your favorite," He winked then. "But I do come baring potentially the worst news yet,"

Stefan watched Damon intently for a moment, and saw that his cockiness had calmed some before deciding that he believed him. "What is it?"

"Maybe a dozen bodies found in the space of a week,"

"Animal attacks?" Stefan asked, though he knew better.

"Animal attacks, vampire attacks, it's all the same thing, right?" Damon watched the space Bonnie had been in moments before, glancing back at his brother with a mischievous grin. "My money's on the grieving witch,"

"Damon,"

Tsk. Stefan was no fun. "The sheriff seems to think so, said she's been tryna get hold of me. Anyway I was bored, said I'd check it out,"

"Damon," Stefan said with a faint smile. "Mystic Falls' local hero,"

"Nah uh," Damon chuckled, waving a finger. "Mystic Falls is my sandbox, and you know how well I play with others,"

Stefan looked back as the bell rang and it wasn't long before Elena came running out with her chocolate brown hair blowing off her shoulders, almost frantic in her search for Bonnie until she saw the brothers.

Stefan turned to Damon. "Don't say anything, I don't wanna worry her,"

"Tsk tsk, secrets are never good for a relationship," Damon teased, leaning against someone's car with his arms folded.

"She's got enough to worry about with Bonnie,"

Damon shrugged, eyes a little wide that Stefan hadn't notice him not caring. "Whatever,"

"Hey," Elena said against Stefan's lips as she kissed him. "Damon," she added.

"Elena,"

"Have you seen Bonnie?"

"Oh yeah, uh she was just thanking me for giving her the best worst nightmares she's ever had," Damon interrupted, eyes rolling to the sky in thought. "Was that…yeah, that was it,"

"Her Grams is dead, Damon!" Elena hissed.

"His joking," Stefan said, standing in her way so that she could focus on him instead; he pointed over his shoulder to where he'd seen Bonnie rush off. "She went that way,"

"This is our fault, Stefan," Elena said, glaring at Damon who stood just behind his brother. "All of us," she empathised before kissing Stefan's cheek. "I've gotta go, I'll call you,"

"Elena," Stefan called, pulling her back for another kiss. "Be careful, okay? Don't stay out too late,"

"Yes dad," She frowned, sliding her hand down his chest and turning away to head after Bonnie.

"Bet you loved that," Damon smirked. "Yes dad," He mimicked.

"What did you say to Bonnie?" Stefan asked, mirthlessly.

Damon snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. "I'm seriously starting to wonder if you're bi-polar,"

"What did you say, Damon?"

"I didn't say anything, she was the one doing all the talking, or threatening, whatever she thought that was,"

"Leave her alone, I'm not asking you. I know you want to...lash out over Katherine," He paused as the muscles in Damon's jaw jogged. "But you have to move on, I won't let you punish Bonnie or anyone else,"

Damon found himself fighting to keep his anger in control, he wasn't going to let Stefan or Katherine ruin his day, today was about him having fun and maybe killing a vampire or two. "Tell it to Oprah," He said, deadpan. "Now are you coming or not?"

Stefan nodded slightly. "What's the plan?"

"When have you ever known me to plan anything, brother?" He glanced at Stefan, a small smile twitching at his lips. "We find these vampires and we end them,"

"Vampires?"

"One vampire? It's not likely,"

"You can feed on more in less time,"

"That's because I'm me," Damon exasperated, slightly offended.

"Either this guy is really hungry, or there is more than one and if there's more than one then..."

"Then Mystic falls in more than misdemeanour trouble," Damon wriggled his eyebrows.

"How many?"

"I don't know, two, three maybe,"

"Let's go," Stefan looked around, making sure no-one was watching before speeding into the woods.

"Oh joy, my brother has a superhero complex," Damon sped into the woods after him.

***

Uri stood in the middle of Claudia's living room, sighing with satisfaction as blood dripped from his paled lips and stained his brilliant white teeth. The power rippled through him every time he fed on human blood, his eyes were like black marble glistening in the light as he threw his back. A smile graced his full pink lips as he dropped the young woman onto the floor, Uri glanced over his shoulder at a horror-stricken Claudia who sat tied to the radiator with tear stained cheeks and a runny nose.

"Ah, the satisfaction," He sighed, wiping the blood with the pad of his thumb. "You really should try it Claudia, I thought Pink lemonade was good..." He slowly walked to the girl who'd stood behind him while he fed and held his hand up to her.

Claudia squeezed her eyes shut as the girl wrapped her lips around his bloody thumb and wiped the blood away with her tongue.

"Aw Claudia, you're such a party pooper. I promise to keep it strictly NC-17, oh wait, is that the highest rating?" Walking over to Claudia, Uri kneeled down in front of her, pushing frizzy curls away so he could see her face. "Laila is better off where she is, believe me love, do I look like the type to lie?" He smiled, swiping his tongue over his pointy canines. "You don't like this mug of mine do you?"

Uri stood up and relaxed his face and when Claudia opened her eyes again, the fangs and veins were gone and he was handsome again. "Thank you," she whimpered.

"Anything for you darling, after all you are letting us camp out in your home, not willing but still," Uri turned back to his people, the night crawlers, twelve men and women maybe more crowding Claudia Benjamin's living room. They stood encircling Uri with their heads down, heavily hooded and waiting for orders. Familiars, the ones who ran around, trapping their own for vampire's to feed on hoping one day they'd be turned into one too.

"As nice as uh, what was her name?" He asked, motioning with his head at the girl he'd just killed. As nice as the blood was, she wasn't the one he wanted.

Silence…

Uri looked up, taken aback. "No-one knows her name?" Biting down on his lip, Uri stepped forward forcing the others to take a step back. "Who brought her here?"

"I did," A voice from the back spoke up.

"Oh darling," Uri smiled as her voice quivered, he curled his finger at her, calling her through the crowd to stand before him. "You're shaking,'

"I just wanted to, I didn't mean...Uri,"

"Shh, calm down Julliet,"

"I just wanted to prove..."

"I said shut up," He said calmly, still jumping her out of her skin, "I should eat you, here and now but I think Claudia's heart might give out, so get out of my sight,"

"But Uri," Juliette continued, unbidden tears showing.

"Bup bup," Uri interrupted, placing a finger on her lips. "Go to him, now,"

"Please," She cried. "He'll turn me and then have me wait for the sun,"

"I have one rule, one, why is it so hard for you twats to remember, huh? Get a bloody name, it's polite...what are we, animals?" Uri looked back to Juliette and grabbed her close, tilting her head so that her neck was exposed, having changed his mind about what Claudia's heart could take. "Close your eyes Claudia, that's a good girl," He buried his razor sharp teeth into Juliette's neck, blocking her screams with his hand and then dropped her to the ground after ravaging her neck.

"Now is there anything that you don't understand?" He asked, smiling when he got a chorusing 'no Uri' "Brilliant, now go away and don't come back until you have what I want, no-one in Mystic Falls is safe, make it clear,"

Uri waited for them to leave, then slipped on his jacket and pulled his hair free from the band before slipping on his gloves. He was ready to leave when he remembered Claudia, turning back he smiled at her and pulled the scarf out of his pocket to tie around her mouth, again. "Now you be good, and I'll bring you something to eat, preferably already dead? Of course. Ciao,"

Uri slipped out of the door, shutting off the lights before closing it behind him and heading down the driveway to meet his treasure, his motorbike. Flipping a leg over he settled onto his baby and turned the key over, smiling as it roared to life, then he pushed his shades down from on top of his head. "Time to go meet some locals," Uri chortled, taking off down the street.

****

Bonnie helped Jenna wash up after dinner, and Elena used the time to call Stefan on the phone. She brushed past Jeremy as he brought his plate downstairs and headed into the kitchen; Elena frowned as it rung out to voicemail and went straight to redial.

"Watch out," Jeremy said, as he reached the door with the bin.

"Hey, Stefan," Elena took the bag out of his hand, shooing him away as she pulled the front door open. "Call me back," she walked down the end of the driveway and leaned the bag against the can when her phone rang. "Hello? Stefan, is everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I was hoping you would come over," Elena spun around as she heard her front door shut.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to tonight, Damon…"

Elena rubbed the back of her neck as the hairs stood viciously. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Elena, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm…being paranoid I guess," Elena's eyes quickly scanned her porch, and then she started rushing towards it when she tripped over her own foot, landing with a thud on her chest. "Ugh,"

"Elena!" Stefan yelled.

"I just fell, I'm okay." She choked out.

Three hooded figures appeared in front of her as she scurried to her feet slack jawed, one stepped in front of the other two baring his teeth and bloodshot eyes. Her heart started to race as she turned to run back to the house only managing to scream Stefan's name before she was yanked backwards by her hair.

"Elena?" Stefan called.

He ran to her house and was there in a flash but Elena wasn't, she was nowhere in sight.

~ Fin~

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Hope you enjoyed!