Wow, ya'll left some awesome reviews!

I'm happy Matt's out of the way too lol.

Now, here is the long awaited chapter!

Aka, Alaric will finally get to tell Elena what he started to last time!

Hope ya'll enjoy :)

The Manor was quiet as we all stood in the study.

I had just finished telling everyone what had happened, my shaky voice breaking.

Stefan's hand squeezed my shoulder in comfort I didn't deserve.

"This is all my fault," I cried.

Alaric shook his head, "No. This is the Mutt's, Elena. And they'll pay."

I stood, "Then let's go right now. They don't know that we know about the warehouse. There's a good chance that they've taken him there."

"Elena, wait," Ric grabbed me as I turned towards the door.

"No!" I screamed, "They have Damon, Ric! Kai wanted to talk to me, fine, whatever it takes."

"If you go, they could kill you," Mason reasoned.

"If I don't, they'll kill Damon!" I shouted.

How could they all just stand here?

"We have to do something!"

"We have to wait for them to make a demand," Alaric told me, "We don't know where the warehouse is. Damon does. And even if we get close to it, they are likely to spot us first, and Damon's dead on the spot."

I shook my head, "Not if I kill them."

Alaric was losing patience, "You aren't a killer, Elena, so what exactly do you plan to do? "

"Whatever the hell it takes to get him back!" I exclaimed.

When he didn't respond, I fell to begging, "Ric, please...we can't lose him...I can't."

Alaric sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Okay," he said, "Alright. But we do this smart. We all go. We create a diversion big enough to draw out all the Mutts. Then you and Mason go inside the warehouse, and find Damon. If they aren't there...then we wait for the call."

I swallowed, but nodded.

That was the best I was going to get.

The drive seemed to take forever, giving me too much time to think.

If Damon was dead...

No.

He couldn't be.

I shivered at the thought of never seeing him again, and pain swelled in my chest.

All this time, I'd been so selfish, because I knew he'd always be there.

Somewhere in the background, loving me.

I never considered the fact that he might not be one day.

It made everything else seem so small.

My anger towards him, the pain I'd carried, it was pointless if Damon was dead.

I choked on a sob, and Stefan's arm went around me, "He'll be alright, Elena."

I closed my eyes, "But what if he's not? What if we're too late? He's going to die thinking that I..."

I broke.

My chest racked with my tears, and I fell into Stefan's chest.

"Shh," he soothed me, "You have to think objectively."

"He's right," Mason chimed, and I looked over at him, "The Mutts want to take down the Pack. Enzo was a warning, but Damon...he's bait."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because the Mutt's know you'd come for him," Alaric answered, "and that I'd come for you both."

"If you want to take down a body, you attack the head," Stefan assured me, "It's Alaric they'll want to kill. Not Damon."

"But Kai hates Damon."

"But Elijah is still involved," he told me, "He'll be more rational. He'll know the real target."

I nodded, but felt only half reassured.

"Damon knows," Stefan told me.

I looked at him, "What?"

"That you love him," he promised, "Damon knows."

I squeezed his hand, turned my focus on the road ahead.

"Ric, hurry."

The car sped up, and I repeated in my head, over and over, "He's still alive...He's still alive..."

To my intense relief, we caught scents right off of the road that Damon had been talking about, and one of them, was his.

"He's here," I told the others in a low voice, as we walked through the woods, not wanting to chance them hearing the car.

The warehouse was easy to find, having Damon's scent to follow.

Alaric stopped us outside, with good reason.

The scents mixed here.

There were more Mutts than we had counted on.

A lot more.

But then I heard a cry cut through the air, and Mason grabbed me before I could burst in.

Damon.

He was alive, but in pain.

We had to be careful.

I fought my instincts down, and took a breath.

Then I turned to Alaric, waiting for his command.

"Change," he decided after a moment, "Then run about half a mile out, stretch Southwest, West, and Northwest, and howl. When they come, and they should come, it'll give the two of you," he looked to me and Mason, "The chance to slip inside, and get Damon."

We nodded, and the others began to strip.

"The second they follow, head back to the Manor. Don't stop. Elena," he tossed me his keys, "You take the SUV."

Alaric, George, Stefan, and Tyler Changed as quietly as they could, as Mason, and myself slipped through the woods, towards the clearing, where the warehouse laid.

It was easy to hide around the side of the building, some old crates cloaking us.

And the scents were so interlaced here, they wouldn't be able to sniff us out either.

We waited, Mason keeping a hand on my shoulder to restrain me, each time Damon cried out.

Come on, Ric...any minute now.

Then a howl pierced the night, then another, and another, and another.

A commotion broke out inside.

Loud yells, some arguing, but then the door blew open, and the Mutts poured out.

I recognized most of them.

Kai, three new Mutts, including the one who'd been at the apartment, then Markos, and Elijah.

"Wait," Kai demanded, listening, "It's the Pack. I told you they'd come for him."

"Bravo to you," Elijah replied boredly, "Now go take care of your mess."

Kai motioned to the others, and they set off.

Elijah turned, going back inside.

I listened for a second, after the coast was clear.

"Sorry about that," Elijah was saying, "Nasty business, this revenge stuff."

Damon's voice shot out, weak, but forceful, "I guess it's your turn now?"

"Hardly," Elijah replied, "I knew what was at stake here. I knew the casualties that would be involved, and Kol was always too rash. Though I must admit, since Kai has been a little obsessed with having your she-wolf, things have gotten...messy."

I looked at Mason.

"They're alone," I mouthed.

He nodded, "Let's go."

I didn't bother sneaking or hiding.

I walked straight in the front door.

"Elijah."

The eldest Mikaelson jumped up and span around, his eyes landing on Mason, then me.

He sighed, "Well, I suppose Alaric isn't a total idiot."

I ignored him as I looked past where he stood, to see Damon.

He was being held up by his arms, which were hooked above his head, giant metal barbs clasped around his wrists.

Blood ran from the entry wounds, and from other cuts across his bare torso.

His lip was busted, and there was a bruise on his jaw.

I swallowed, as anger took place of pain.

"I'm going to kill you," I hissed, "Unless you let him go, right now, Elijah, I swear to god, I'll rip off your head with my bare hands."

Elijah seemed impressed, "Feisty tonight...though no worries. I have little interest in holding hostages."

He lifted his hands to work a latch, and Damon fell to the ground, his arms free.

"Get him," I hissed at Mason, who obeyed instantly.

I kept my eyes on Elijah, "Why are you helping us?"

Elijah shrugged, "You'll have your hands full soon enough. And I prefer a fair fight."

I didn't have the time to read into his cryptic message, or the patience to stay and fight him.

Mason had Damon out the door, and the others would be back soon.

We needed to go.

With a final glance, I turned my back on Elijah, and ran out the door, following Damon and Mason's scents.

Outside, Mason was struggling to carry Damon towards the SUV.

I rushed to help, but we were soon cut off, as Kai stepped into our path.

"Well, well."

I froze, stepping in front of the guys, letting Mason support Damon's weight.

"Kai."

"I wish I could say I was surprised to see you," he sighed, "But I half expected this. Now, surely you know, I can't let you leave with him."

I growled, "Try to stop me."

"And let him bleed out while we're fighting? Great plan."

I casted a look back to Damon, who was rather pale.

He needed Alaric's medical attention, now, and Mason couldn't carry his dead weight alone.

I bit my lip, "Fine. Let Mason leave with him, and I'll stay. I'm the one you want anyway, right?"

Kai grinned, "There's a good girl."

"Elena, no," Mason argued, stumbling forward a little, in his effort to keep Damon upright, "Hell no."

Kai ignored him, "You have no idea, the plans I have for us, Elena. No rules. And you...you'll give birth to a new dynasty. A species, better, stronger than ever before. It'll be spectacular."

A familiar howl pierced the air, and Kai froze.

I smirked, "That's the Pack. Your time is up."

"She's right," Elijah stepped outside, and Kai turned to him.

"Let them go, Kai. We aren't ready to take on the Pack tonight. Live to fight another day."

A growl escaped the Mutt, but he turned back to look at us, "Fine...but don't think I'm not coming for you."

I hardened my gaze, "I'll be waiting."

We hurried to the car.

It was a fumbled rush to get Damon inside, then Mason climbed behind the wheel, as I ripped off my shirt, to use it as bandages.

Luck was on our side, and we reached the road without spotting anymore Mutts.

I shredded my shirt into strips, and tied them around Damon's wrists.

He smiled weakly, coming to, "It's good to see you, kitten."

I couldn't help but chuckle, "Shut up, and rest. We'll be home soon."

Damon nodded, his eyes closing, "Okay."

Mason threw a glance back as we hit the highway, "How's he doing?"

"Okay for now," I answered, checking his other wounds, "But Ric's gonna have to stitch him fast. He's lost a lot of blood."

"I'm going ten over the speed limit already," Mason noted.

I sighed, pushing Damon's hair back, as he faded in and out of consciousness.

"Make it twenty."

The vehicle accelerated, and I stroked Damon's head, whispering to him all the while.

"I love you," I said thickly, "Do you hear me? I love you. You can't die on me, baby, don't you dare die on me...We're almost there. Just hold on. You're going to survive this, okay? We always survive. Please. I love you."

I didn't know if he could hear me.

It didn't matter.

We got to the Manor at a record breaking speed, and as soon as Mason stopped, I threw the door open.

The others were already there, in the yard, and had even managed to pull shorts on.

Alaric rushed over, "How is he?"

"Alive," I hurried, "But he needs medical attention."

Ric nodded, "Help me get him inside. The rest of you, stay here. Keep watch, just in case we were followed."

The others nodded, and Alaric and I lifted Damon, taking him inside.

We placed him on one of the small beds, in the attic space we'd transformed into an infirmary a few years back.

Alaric set to work on Damon's stitches, as I found the pump and needle for a blood transfusion.

One benefit to our condition, all of our blood was the same.

"Here," I gave the end to Ric, as he finished the stitch.

I'd already pierced my own vein at the retrieving end.

Alaric took it, and slid the needle into a vein in Damon's arm.

As soon as it was secure, I pulled the pump, and started the flow.

And I didn't stop it until I felt lightheaded, and some of Damon's color had returned.

Alaric pulled the needles out, and cleaned the wounds.

Then helped me wipe Damon down, strip his jeans, a cover him with a blanket.

He was still unconscious, but his breathing was deep, and his heartbeat had picked up.

Werewolves healed faster than the average person, so he should be fine.

"Come on," Alaric pulled at me, "Let's go wash your hands."

I nodded, letting him lead me from the room, so Damon could rest.

I ended up in the kitchen, so I could scrub the blood from my skin.

A few minutes later, Alaric joined me, holding a clean shirt.

It clearly belonged to one of the guys, as it swallowed me when I put it on, but I wasn't complaining.

"I spoke to George's nephew, William Lockwood," Alaric told me, "He found the Mutt you left in the alley in New York. Good thinking. He and his Pack are cleaning the apartment there now. All traces of you will be erased. You friend, Caroline is still out of town for the weekend, safe and sound, and Matthew is in the hospital. He's fine, and so far, he hasn't said anything to the police about you."

"He won't," I said quietly, somehow knowing it was true.

Ric sighed, "You had to kill again...I'm so sorry, Elena."

I shook my head, "I'm not."

After drying my hands, I moved to the table, where Alaric joined me.

"I never should have tried to run from who I am. Who I need to be. I think it took almost losing Damon to show me how much I have at stake."

I looked up at him, "I never wanted to be an executioner. That's why I left Elijah and Kai alive tonight..."

"Kai found you?"

I nodded, "Elijah was going to let us leave, but Kai...he wanted me. I was going to stay in Damon's place, but the howls spooked him."

Alaric set his jaw, "What exactly does he want with you so badly?"

I swallowed, "Children."

Alaric did a double, "What?"

I sighed, "He said something tonight; that I would birth a new dynasty. A new species...I think that's his plan. Because I'm the only female werewolf..."

Alaric ran that through this mind, "It would certainly change things," he admitted, "All born wolves have human mothers. Your offspring, assuming the father is also a werewolf, would have no human influence to its DNA. The abilities that child might possess..."

I shook my head, "It doesn't matter. Kai has to know that I'd never give that to him. Especially after what he's done to us. To Enzo, to Damon," I shuddered, "I was ready to kill him, Ric. Him, and Elijah. I was ready to rip them apart, and I would have, if they'd fought me."

Alaric nodded, "I know. You would have done whatever you had to, to protect Damon...just like he did for you when you first came here."

I blinked.

His words didn't make any more sense the second time I ran them through my head.

"No," I corrected, "When I first came here, Damon bit me and almost killed me."

Had he forgotten that?

Alaric swallowed harshly, and shook his head.

"There are things that you don't know," he said quietly, "Things I never told you about that day."

My brows creased in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Alaric sighed heavily, "Elena, listen, when Damon brought you here...it was a very foolish, reckless act. He hadn't told me, so I wasn't expecting company. I had just gotten back...from a run. I was in the woods, Changing, and...you saw me."

I thought back to that day.

I thought of the way I'd felt, staring out at the forest edge.

Like I wasn't alone...like I felt something watching me.

"I didn't see anything," I said.

Alaric's expression was grave, "You know I couldn't have taken that chance."

I froze, as his words sank in.

"You...you were going to kill me? Because you thought I saw you Change?"

Ric's eyes were wet, "It was a necessary obligation. You know the Pack law...and I knew that Damon would fight me. I could tell he loved you, so much, even then. I sent him away, until after it was over...I never dreamed he'd disobey a direct order, especially for a human...I underestimated his feelings for you."

I pushed away from the table, and stood up, feeling sick.

"No," I whispered, "No, Ric, tell me this doesn't mean what I think it does!"

A tear actually welled in his eye, "I'm so sorry Elena...but it's the truth. Damon didn't end your life that day."

"He saved me," I choked, the realization dawning, "He knew that I was dead either way, so he bit me-"

"To give you a chance to live," Alaric nodded, and I shook my head.

"Why? Why the secrets? Why didn't he just tell me?!"

"Damon was always the faithful son. He knew you had to trust me, if you were going to survive," Alaric told me, "You wouldn't have, if you'd known the truth. It was easier-"

"To let me hate him so I wouldn't hate you?" I spat, my anger rising.

Everything I'd held against Damon for an entire fucking decade was gone.

All the rage had no foundation, and was being redirected to my Alpha.

"How could you?" I growled, "How could you let him carry that?!"

Alaric flinched, "I've fought with myself many times, not sure when I should tell you. Damon didn't want me to; made me swear that I wouldn't. But watching him hurt for you...you have to know it cut me, Elena. I love both of you like you were my own children...I'm sorry."

I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, as this revelation washed over me.

"So, all this time..."

Alaric was standing now, nodding as he walked over, "Yes, Elena. All this time, Damon has been the most selfless, trustworthy person you've ever known."

I swallowed.

Ric motioned towards the door, "Go to him. We'll finish this tomorrow."

I nodded numbly, somehow forcing my feet to move through the daze of my thoughts.

Oh god.

Damon.

The infirmary was dark when I entered, but Damon was easy to make out in the dim light that cascaded from the hall.

I stared at his face for a moment, forcing myself not to break down again.

He'd given up everything, so that I had a chance at living.

And I'd hated him for it.

Now, the little things he'd said to me in the past suddenly became less cryptic.

"I know you don't understand, but I really did do what I did because I love you."

A million flashes of conversations, I was finally able to see with the perfect vision of hindsight.

"Right. And you wouldn't disobey. It's not in your nature."

"You think you know my nature?"

"I'm so sorry, kitten. I can't even begin to explain."
"Explain why you bit me? I loved you, I trusted you."
"I know...I had to."

God, I'd been so horrible.

Every awful thing I'd ever said to him flew back through my mind, nailing me.

Especially the fight we'd had, just before he killed Kol.

"Damon, she begged him to change her! She begged him, and he still didn't! Because he didn't want to risk losing her. That's love!"

"I can't change the past, but I'm through apologizing for it. You have to decide if you can ever let it go, and I can't make you. But there's either something here between us, or there's not. Your decision."

Knowing the truth put it in an entirely different perspective.

He hadn't deserved anything I'd said.

And then I remembered what he asked Kol, after leaving me in the kitchen.

"This girl...do you picture a life with her? Do you picture a home? Maybe getting married? Did you imagine making children with her? Having the family you'd always wanted? Tell me, do you love her enough to share all of that with her? It must hurt, knowing you'll never have that chance."

It was everything that he and I should have had, could have had, if I'd only known the truth.

But no, in true Damon fashion, his loyalty had won out, and he carried the blame, even years after I no longer needed Alaric in order to survive.

The faithful son, Ric had called him.

But it was more than that.

He'd given up his chance at happiness, not only to save me, but to preserve the relationship I eventually built with Alaric.

Because he knew how badly I'd yearned for parental affection, even if I'd never admitted it.

He just wanted me happy.

I moved over to the bed, and crawled onto the mattress, careful not to jostle him.

I settled against his back, and gently wrapped my arms around his middle.

He stirred slightly, then his hand found mine. "Elena-"

I kissed the back of his neck, "I'm right here. I promise. I'm right here."

Damon settled back into the bed, his weight falling into me a little, his hand tightening.

"I'm not going anywhere," I assured him.

His drowsy voice drifted through the air, "Love you."

I smiled with teary eyes, "I love you, too."

Soooo, that happened lol.

Let me know what you think! ;)