~ "Present" Day ~

They stepped out of the airport into the blistering heat of Las Vegas. Elena could barely contain her excitement. She had never been here before, and the sight of slot machines and the oversized billboards advertising the shows in the airport thrilled her, whetting her appetite for more.

They got in a taxi line and were quickly out of the airport and on the Strip. Damon spared her a smile as he watched her press her face against the window like a little girl, staring at the people and the casinos whose names were legends she had only read about or seen on TV.

"Where to?" the taciturn cab driver asked.

"The Venetian." Damon drummed his fingers restlessly on the arm rest, beating out a staccato rhythm. He was nervous and on edge, craving a drink to settle his tense gut. He was still not sure bringing Elena along was the right thing. He didn't know how Stefan would react to her, and he wasn't sure who or what they would be running into. Vegas could be a tough town and if it came to that, this wouldn't be the first time he had to tuck his tail between his legs and hightail it out in the wee hours of the morning because he had made things too hot for himself.

The butterflies in the pit of his stomach came from the fact that he finally had a lead on his brother. Two years without a word. There had been suspicious 'animal' killings, but by the time he got to the scenes it was too late to confirm if it had been him. And then about a year ago even that stopped. Nothing. It was like he disappeared off the face of the earth.

He had never known Stefan to come out of a ripper phase without intervention, and he had guaranteed that there was no Lexi around to save him. At night, when Elena was fast asleep that was one of the many things that disturbed his rest. He had robbed his little brother of his guardian angel, and the guilt was overwhelming.

He had become frantic, fearing the worst while at the same time refusing to consider the possibility that his brother was dead.

He had even humbled himself and gone hat in hand to Klaus, begging for help. Klaus just smiled that infuriating, superior, insincere smile that showed his dimples and made Damon want to wipe it off his face with his fists. Caroline hadn't even given him the courtesy of a reply when he asked her to intervene with the hybrid. The look of contempt she gave him both angered him and made him feel small at the same time. Bonnie had flatly refused to help him track Stefan. She didn't come out and say it, but her eyes flickering between him and Elena clearly told him her sympathy was with his brother.

He had called everyone he knew, even friends of acquaintances, but after two years only one contact finally came through with any knowledge of Stefan. The details had been sketchy. Rumor was Stefan had been spotted here with an older vampire named Tara. That was it, nothing concrete, but it was the only lead Damon had, and he wasn't going to pass it up.

Now that they were actually here, Damon was conflicted. He loved Elena to distraction while at the same time her obvious, almost excessive adoration scared him. Elena, the human who had seemed to take delight in doing the exact opposite of what he said, was a vampire who followed his every lead, leaving him doubting that her love was real. Living with that constant uncertainty was sheer torture.

As they pulled in and got out, the cabbie handed over their modest luggage to the bellboy. They had packed light since most of Vegas was fine with casual wear. If they needed additional clothes they planned on picking them up locally.

Elena stood openmouthed as she stared upward at the decorated ceilings in the lobby. Damon couldn't help smiling at her awe. She caught him watching her and flashed him a big smile that lit up her eyes. "Go ahead. Call me a hick. I don't care. It's beautiful."

They spent the afternoon strolling up and down the strip, sampling drinks, wandering through the public areas of the big hotels, seeing the shows, sampling the excitement. Elena had to watch every show at Caesars and couldn't wait until it got dark so she could see the Pirate show at Treasure Island and the light show at the Bellagio fountains. They also prowled the side streets and small local businesses and casinos.

He was happy that she was so thrilled with this trip, but at the same time he couldn't shake an inner sadness. This was most likely the beginning of the end. He had to harden his resolve and unsire her. His failure or rather his delay in doing so had destroyed his brother's life and their relationship.

Damon wasn't wasting his time while they played tourist. Everywhere they went he kept an eye out for former contacts. Damon spoke to anyone he had the slightest acquaintance with, and everyone he thought was in the know, always asking if anyone had knowledge of his brother or a vampire called Tara.

He had just about given up when he remembered an old fling of his. She adored the Vegas life and was one of the few vampires who never changed towns. He inquired after her with better success and was told he could find her in Old Vegas. Late that night they set out for the older part of town.

He went up and down Fremont Street until he finally ran her to the ground at the Golden Nugget. She had made Vegas her home for the last sixty years by changing her name, her hair color, and her job every five years or so. She was proud of the fact that she had worked in every show in Vegas. A different hair style and makeup, a new name, and no one was the wiser. No one noticed the chorus girls. They came, got married, and left. She made friends with the new girls as they hit town.

The girl, a lively, buxom, currently dyed blonde with prominent white teeth was overjoyed to see Damon again. He greeted her happily as he, with some difficulty, unwound her arms and legs from around his torso. Damon was fond of her because while she clearly was attracted to him and welcomed him eagerly when he came to town she knew she was just a pleasant distraction for him. She cheerfully enjoyed him when he visited, and if she felt a twinge of sadness when he left she was too savvy to show it.

Elena, plagued with jealousy, was not very happy over the exuberance of the greeting. Damon, with an apologetic glance at Debbi, told her not to be jealous. His word was good enough for Elena, and she greeted the girl warmly.

The vampire, "I'm Debbi with an I," as she cheerfully informed Elena, was amused by the sudden change in attitude. She gave Damon a knowing smile. "Sired?"

Damon looked uncomfortable and switched the subject. "Let's get a drink and talk."

The three sat at a table and Damon quickly brought up the reason he was in Vegas. "Have you seen Stefan?"

Debbi frowned and shook her head. "I haven't, but doesn't mean he isn't here. Vegas is a little town for the insiders, but there's circles that don't mix. I know the lower, middle, and some of the upper echelons, but the upper upper?" She shook her head again. "Above me."

Damon frowned and took a pull at his drink. "How about a vampire named Tara. Older than him, but supposed to be a looker."

Debbi brightened, happy to be able to help Damon. "Yup. I recognize the name. Now she is part of the upper upper." She thought for a moment brow wrinkling in concentration. "If it's who I think it is, she's old, Damon, real old with powerful friends. You gonna wanna be careful around her if she's claimed your brother."

Damon shrugged it off. "You wouldn't believe the age of some of the vampire's I've messed with." A thought struck him, and he made a face. "Whatya mean claimed?"

Debbi expertly bit a lemon and tossed down a shot. She sucked in air as it hit her stomach and then grimaced. "The old ones are strange, Damon. Some of them are loners, but some of them gather – a group – um – maybe it's like they have a circle of friends – nooo – not friends – more like servants."

She cocked an eyebrow at Damon and waved her hands uncertainly. "Like maybe they were noble or something when they were human, and they like people obeying them. Just sayin – if she thinks Stefan is hers, she's not gonna let him go."

Elena looked concerned, but Damon just reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Where can I find this Tara?"

Debbi tapped her long polished nails on the table. "There's this high society fling tomorrow night. It would be her type of thing. You're gonna half to compel your way in." She looked them both over. "You can't go dressing the way you are now. This is a tux and gown event."

"Okay," Damon said. "Anything else we should know?"

Debbi grinned. "This is Vegas, baby. Bring money cause there's gonna be some high stakes gamblin."

Damon's look was pure mischief as he rubbed his hands together. "Nothing I like better than bettin it all on a long shot. Go big or don't go at all is my motto."

Debbi laughed and shook her head, totally amused by his bad boy demeanor. She borrowed a pen from the bartender and wrote some directions and information on a napkin. Elena got up and wondered over to one of the slot machines.

As soon as she left the table Debbi looked up, batted her fake lashes, and puckered her bright red lips to blow a kiss at Damon. "Stop around some time by yourself, and we can relive old times," she whispered.

Damon flicked her cheek gently and winked at her. "This is a business trip. Thanks for the help. Maybe next time."