Stefan & Elena VI

Stefan drove Elena home from the hospital the next morning, Jenna and Ric were bringing Joey home later on in the afternoon. They were only a few minutes from the hospital before Elena turned to him.

"Okay now spill it."

"Elena, you're not going to like this." Stefan hesitated.

"Probably not, but your going to tell me, I can take it."

"Yesterday when I went home for a shower John broke into the house. We fought and Isobel tried to stake me, I spun and she accidently staked John.

"Oh no, is he, is he dead? Is that what you didn't want to tell me?

"Elena I honestly don't know the thing is. I swear I saw Isobel give him blood as she ran out."

'So you think he may be dead or a vampire?"

"Yeah I do, and I think they're both going to be pissed and out for revenge."

"This is a lot to take in." Elena was pretty shell shocked by the barrage of information.

They were quiet on the rest of the way home each absorbed in their own thoughts.

Caroline and Tyler met them at the boarding house. Stefan had the house rebuilt after the fire that had destroyed Katherine and Klaus. The new house was almost an exact replica of the old one with a few subtle improvements.

One of which was a panic room located in the basement, in case Elena needed it if they were attacked. The other room in the basement was a carefully constructed cell in case they needed to hold a supernatural prisoner. Tyler had used the cells design to make a transition room for him in the old Lockwood mansions basement. The bars and the design could withstand him in wolf's form.

Tyler was finally beginning to accept himself as a wolf, though none of that had been easy for him. He and Caroline shared a genuine friendship; she had become his anchor during the early days of transformation. The problem that had arisen was that Tyler wanted more and Caroline wasn't ready to further their relationship. There was the issue of a werewolf bite being deadly and she was still half in love with Matt. The latter problem had broken Matt and Tyler's friendship. Making a tense situation very strained. For now Tyler was on Damon and Stefan's side as far as protecting the town.

They all worried though about a time when his loyalties could change. For now he seemed content to be with Caroline so they all took it one day at a time.

"The house is all clear, Caroline announced as they helped Elena out of the car and into the house.

'We did a couple of laps into the woods too, Tyler announced as he followed Stefan inside with the bags there was no scent of anyone."

"Thanks, Stefan said as the set the bags in the living room."

"I appreciate you helping us out, with Isobel and John involved it makes it doubly hard."

"Yeah man, sucks to be you right now, but hang in there we'll get'em" Tyler said waving to Elena as he and Caroline left.

"That is a twisted relationship Elena said as Caroline and Tyler left."

"Yeah I know, glad they're the ones figuring it out."

"Now about our little situation, Elena we have to discuss this. I can't just stake your biological parents."

"I know that, even if it is a thought, Elena's smile didn't reach her eyes."

"I'm hoping they can be reasonable, I'm not ready for another bloodbath, especially not involving my parents."

"I know, Stefan said as he wrapped his arms around her."

Jenna knocked on the door and came in carrying a sleeping Alexis, followed by Jeremy and Joey.

"Where's Ric?" Stefan asked.

"He went to help Damon with an errand, they said for us to wait here." Jenna said darting a glance from Elena to Stefan.

Damon, Bonnie, and Ric….

"Ric, I want you to take the compass Bonnie and I will stay about 250 yards away, so we don't interfere with the signal. Text me when you get a reading, Bonnie was able to pinpoint the area where we believe Isobel and John are but not an exact location, so stay alert."

"You got your toys with you? Damon asked.

"Locked and loaded, Ric smiled."

"Boys and their toys, Bonnie said twirling her hair."

"Well we can't all be judgey little witches with magical talents; Damon said grabbing Bonnie around the waist and planting a smacking kiss on her lips."

"You are so paying for that later, Bonnie warned laughing."

"Children! Ric said in mock disgust back to the job at hand."

"Right, Damon said letting Bonnie go reluctantly, the look in his eyes promised her they weren't done."

"Be careful Ric, Damon said getting serious.

"Always, Ric said walking into the woods away from Bonnie and Damon.

Ric walked for about 10 minutes before the hand on the compass stopped pointing stubbornly backward. It began to spin and flicker before finally setting on a westward setting. Ric text Damon the general direction and then kept walking.

About a 100 yards in he felt the skin prickle on the back of his neck, there was no sound in this section of the woods no birds called to each other. Even the wind seemed hushed, like it waited breathlessly for the next event.

The needle on the compass spun crazily and no matter which way Ric moved the needle continued to spin. He text Damon and Bonnie to come and sent them his direction.

Ric moved to the left and fell over a soft mound in the leaves; an arm had been dislodged from under the leaves. Ric pushed the leaves away from the persons face and sat back on his heels.

"Matt, Bonnie gasped as she and Damon came up on the place where Ric sat stunned in the leaves.
Bonnie, put two fingers to what was left of Matt's carotid artery. His body was still warm, but Bonnie felt nothing stir beneath her fingers. Almost desperately she bit into her wrist and forced blood into Matt's mouth. "Nothing happened; there was no response at all.

Frantically Bonnie began CPR chanting between breaths praying a d begging God not to take Matt.

The images of her, Elena, Matt, and Caroline playing together in kindergarten swam before her eyes. Matt was a good guy it wasn't his time to die, not yet. After what seemed an eternity Damon stopped her.

"He's gone Bonnie, Damon said softly.

She shook her head tears of disbelief streaming down her face. Damon wrapped his arms around her.

"We're taking him back! Bonnie said.

"He deserves a proper burial, not being thrown under some leaves like garbage."

The compass in Alaric's hand spun again and stopped pointed directly opposite of Damon.

"Hello Ric, No kiss for me." Isobel pouted

"Not this time, Ric said as he fired the stake hidden under his sleeve.

Isobel spun away but not completely unscathed, the stake's tip grazed her skin and ripped her shirt. Moving with preternatural speed she took off running with Damon, Bonnie, and Ric chasing behind.

They searched everywhere but Isobel had vanished, even the scent of her blood had faded on the breeze. Trudging wearily back to Matt's body they were all lost in their own thoughts.

Reentering the clearing they saw the disturbed leaves but no sign of Matt, the only thing that remained was a torn piece of fabric. It fluttered restlessly in the breeze, looking as though it wanted to leave too.

"Why the hell would she take him? Ric asked

Bonnie and Damon shared a look that clearly said they didn't want to know the answers.

To be continued….