A/N: Thank you for all the reviews and follows. This chapter focuses on Matt, Caroline, and Bonnie and a little bit of Lea. As always sorry for any errors you notice when reading. I hope you enjoy anyways.

Chapter 5

The chairs of the Lockwood mansion fill as another Founders Council meeting starts. Rudy moves through the aisle until he finds an empty seat next to Chris and Jeremy. "How are both of you doing?"

"I'm doing good Mr. Bennett. Just trying to find a way to enjoy my job." Chris answers first, as Jeremy answers next.

"I wish Sheriff Forbes would have warned me before handing me this job. It's not bad just these delinquent little kids." Rudy remembers seeing Jeremy when he was in high school after his parents died. It was rough on the kid and he had made some bad choices but he had become sort of a problem child for his Aunt Jenna.

"You mean like you were when you were in school?" Jeremy bobbed his head understanding what others saw in him so long ago.

"Thank God I'm not like that anymore. I don't know how people stood it."

"Patience is key." Rudy lets him know, looking back to the woman beside him he opens his mouth, "Is your job really getting you down?"

"Yeah but what can I do?" She shrugs it off as if it's no problem just another thing in her life she has to suck up and take.

"Damon's hiring bartenders and waitresses at his club." He gives her an idea and can immediately see her face bend. While her boyfriend eyes him, smile on his face waiting for her to answer.

"Work for Damon. I'd have to be crazy and desperate. I'm not there yet." Rudy laughs understanding the strength it would take to work for him.

"Well I was just letting you know. In case you changed your mind." Rudy notices everyone is settled and Matt is getting ready to speak.

"I won't." she whispers, and then turns her attention back to the front.

Matt looks over the small crowd of people all looking to him. He didn't know how he got to be in this position but he was doing his best. Jeremy had told him it was because he cared about people. Not just those closest to him but those he saw playing at the park or sitting in light traffic through town, the everyday people who had no idea what was out really there. He wondered could everybody in this town still be naïve. They had to know it was something wrong with the town. People went missing every other week or the fact that they had the highest fatality rate in the state.

That was until a new fresh group of people revived the Founder's Council with him and Jeremy in charge. Everything had gotten better. It took a few years of course but everything now was under control. Vampires and other paranormals who stayed cooperated. They knew that Mystic Falls was fine as long as no one broke any rules. Their one rule, no one dies. If they broke the rule well the council would handle the situation the best possible way. Whether it was kicking them out of town or staking them in the heart, most of the time they weren't that nice. Which let all the supernaturals know that "If you don't fuck with us, We don't fuck with you."

Damon was the spokesperson for the supernatural's, seeing as he was the only one in the founders council who was supernatural. He didn't like being called that but Matt didn't care. Damon had a lot of things he didn't like why not add that to the list too.

But there was something new coming. He felt it in his bones, something bad was coming to Mystic Falls and he might not be able to rescue the town if it came to it. So lately when he got a warning about something he threw all of his energy into it until he found out all he needed to know. It bugged the hell out of Damon, but everyone seemed to think it was better to be safe than sorry. So that's what he did, until a few weeks ago when he heard rumors about a coven of witches close to town.

He hadn't actually witnessed any. He didn't know how to tell who was a witch. Sometimes he wished he could talk to Bonnie. She would help to the best of her abilities. There were many times when he thought about giving her a call, but he wouldn't dare. He knew why she left this town and he didn't want to drag her back in no matter what. So he would choose any option besides calling Bonnie and practically beg her for help. Besides the only person who had her number was Mr. Bennett and he wasn't going to bring his baby back into this mess either. Not unless he didn't have any other choice.

Recently it was looking that way. With the few dead bodies they found in the past week it seemed all his work had been for nothing. The numbers weren't too high for the townspeople to notice but he did. So maybe now he was standing on his last leg. Maybe he could just ask for hints on how to pinpoint a witch.

He finishes up the things he needs to let the council know about before dismissing them. He sees Rudy talking to Jeremy and Damon and eases over to them. "Hey Mr. Bennett, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure."

"I was wondering if you could give Bonnie a call and ask her how to recognize when a witch is present."

"I don't know Matt. I don't really discuss anything witchy when I talk to her."

"I know it's probably a lot to ask but I don't have a lot of options left here. Unless you know any other witches?"

"I could help you with that." Damon enters the conversation and both gentlemen know he was eaves dropping the entire time. "What, like you don't expect me to listen in."

"Damon do you know someone or not."

"While Bonnie happens to be my favorite witch, I've met plenty of them in my years. I'll give the closest one a call. See if she can repay me."

"I would appreciate that."

"Whatever I can do to help." He says sarcastically, causing Matt to roll his eyes.

"Just call me and let me know what happens." He nods and leaves Rudy and Damon to themselves. He doesn't get why Mr. Bennett hangs out with the man. While everyone else wanted to stake in his sleep.

"That was fun."

"Really or are you just saying that to get me to stop looking at you every two seconds?" Stefan takes a sigh of relief.

"The second." She smiles, ashamed that she has to ask him. "Honestly Care. I really did have fun. It reminded me of being back at home."

"You think about it often?"

"I have my moments where I go back but not as much, you?"

"I think about it every chance I get. I didn't end on the best terms with anyone really." Stefan's heart wants to feel sad for her and it does. Being someone who has made plenty of mistakes he can't be that angry with her for her reason to leave her friends. He knows she feels terrible about it so he doesn't ask her questions like why. He's just there for her. "You know lets change the subject if that okay. Thinking about it makes me depressed."

Agreeing with her the two continue their walk to her estate. It's silent but it's not a bad thing. He likes when he can be with his friends and doesn't have to say a thing. Just be there. It's relaxing. Looking over to her he sees her scratching her arm again. "It still hasn't healed yet?"

"It comes and goes."

"I've seen you scratching it a lot." Stefan is concerned and he wants to help her.

"I promise Stefan it's not a big deal. I saw a witch and she gave me a remedy. It should be gone soon."They make their way up the front porch and into the house. Going to their separate rooms they say their good nights.

Once Caroline closes the door behind her she goes to her nightstand looking at the empty bag the witch had given her a week ago. This had been her fourth one, yet the scratching wouldn't go away. The bruise had appeared on her arm far longer than she let Stefan realize. It had started as a small marking on her upper arm and had grown in diameter as time went on. She had done everything possible to find out what it was, but witch after witch said they had never seen anything like it. Even though they always offered her some type of remedy, having no idea what it was. At the beginning she seemed hopeful but none had worked and it only seemed to make the mark continue to spread. Running the warm bath water she stood in the mirror taking her shirt off.

Telling Stefan that the scratching was getting better gave her a false sense of hope because he had believed her but the red and purple bruises on her arm told a different story. Following the blend of violet and crimson up her arm she traced the contusion growing above her breast and on her abdomen. Turning at a slight angle she can see it is now starting to spot on her back. "You might be in bigger trouble than you think, Caroline."

Lea sits on the stool in the kitchen watching as her mom pulls the fresh chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. "You did a good job honey."

"I know. They smell really good."

"Now when you finish eating your cookies. You take your medicine and drink you milk okay."Bonnie takes off the oven mitts, and then moves to place the cookies on a plate.

"Yes Mommy." The young girl smiles waiting for her mother to hand her a cookie. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Lea. Mommy loves spoiling you." Lea giggles as Bonnie places two cookies on her plate. Sitting next to her daughter, she loves these moments where she can see the joy in her daughter's eyes. It seemed that as of late Lea wasn't feeling that great. She spent most of her time sleep or daydreaming. Bonnie had even got a call from school saying that her daughter had an imaginary friend named Sarah. Of course Bonnie had asked her daughter about it but Lea didn't want to talk about it.

Bonnie's first thought was to get it out of her however necessary but she didn't have that type of relationship with her Lea. If she needed to say something to her mother she would say it, whether it is a serious or silly situation. Lucy and Abbie had told Bonnie not to worry about it because little kids had imaginary friends. It was normal and hearing the word normal had eased her mind a little. But she knew that Lea wasn't normal. She was special. So the worry only grew back.

"Does chocolate grow on trees?" Lea asks. Bonnie glances at her to see the brown stains on her fingers from the gooey chocolate.

"Yes it does."

"Can we plant one in our backyard? Then we can have chocolate whenever we want." Amused at her request, Bonnie begins to explain.

"It's not sweet when it grows. They make it sweet by adding things. It's actually kind of bitter." Scrunching her nose, lea looks confused.

"Oh well we just have to buy it from the store." She comes to the last piece of chocolate chip cookie, savoring it as she chews. "All done."

"Good now take you medicine." Showing disgust on her face, Lea looks to her mom.

"It's so nasty. Do I have to take it?"

"Yes sweetie. We go through this every night. You need it to make you big and strong." Sighing in defeat she places the pill in her mouth chewing, and then quickly taking a sip of milk. "See how easy it is. It'll get easier."

"You say that but my mouth does not agree." Smiling Bonnie helps Lea off the stool.

"Alright now. Its time for bed."

"I don't have to go to school tomorrow. "

"No but we are going to have a busy day. And we girls need our beauty rest." Following Lea upstairs to her room Bonnie turns on the light in her room.

A mellow green room, that Bonnie had allowed Lea to choose for herself, illuminates the otherwise dark area of the house. The young curly headed girl hops on her bed, waiting for her mom to tuck her in. Sitting on the edge of the bed the witch sees her daughter is settled in. "You ready."

Cheesing hard Lea vigorously nods her head. Bonnie starts to sing, "I love you. You love me…"

The little girl takes over, "Were a happy family."

"With a great big hug and kiss from me to you." Bonnie kisses her forehead after saying the last word. "Won't you say you love me too?" Lea lays her head back as her mother raises the quilt to the bottom of her chin.

"Good night baby." Heading to the door Bonnie gives her one more look before turning out the light and pulling the door almost closed.

Lea can feel the sleepiness hitting her, until she feels a draft. Moving the quilt away from her face she sits up and looks around. Her head stops in a dim corner, where her night light barely reaches. Getting out of the bed she goes to the corner. "Sarah? You shouldn't be here. If my mommy sees you she'll send you away."

Lea continues to stare into the corner. She looks back at the small slither of light coming from the hall. "Okay. We have a busy day tomorrow. So I can't stay too long." Walking into the corner the presence of the young Bennett fades away.

A/N: Just to sum up the chapter. Matt feels something is coming, Caroline hasn't shared how dire her little scratch really is, and Lea has an imaginary friend taking her places. Up next everyone has their reasons to go home.