He didn't scream. Didn't scream, didn't yell, holler out in pain or promise retaliation. He simply stared. Stared into the eyes of his torturer with deadly promise. Stefan Salvatore was a vampire at his weakest point, shot full of Vervain and chained tight to a chair, and yet his attacker shivered in fear. there was nothing to suggest that Salvatore could actually carry out that silent threat, but something lived and breathed in him that was dangerous and malevolent, and he had no doubt that should even a small hint of an opportunity present itself, he would be a dead man. The torturer smiled to himself. He was looking forward to the challenge. He was looking even more forward to the day when he could hand his little wildflower the perfect bracelet made entirely out of Vampire's teeth. *

Tyler Lockwood paused outside Jeremy's door. He couldn't be sure exactly what his point was for being there, what he would say or what he wanted to accomplish out of this visit. Bonnie was one of his close friends, he's known her all her life and looked to her as someone to protect. Even as they rarely spoke, Tyler knew he would die for Bonnie. Such was the bond of their little group. Since the incident with the massacred hand found in her bed, Bonnie had received two more letters. Each one more lewd, more disturbing than the next. Bonnie never said a word when she delivered them, simply announced to the group that she had gotten another letter, handed it over, and went back to Jeremy. They were random and found in random and personal places: Her bedroom, her car seat, in her purse. Whoever this person or persons was, they were close enough to do damage should they feel the need. A fact he knew constantly had Jeremy on the edge. His friend hadn't left Bonnie's side since she began getting the letters, and even now Jeremy could hear his voice behind the door. He gave a soft raft, and waited.

"Tyler. Hey, Bonnie just got up. Come on in."

Jeremy looked a little worn, and Tyler put a hand on his shoulder in solid solidarity. He could imagine how Gilbert felt, if someone were doing to Caroline what was being done to Bonnie he could't tell how he would react.

"What up, guys. Caroline's with Elena at the hospital visiting Matt, and Damon went to check up on Boldari, thought I stop by here and see how you were doing."

Tyler looked at Bonnie. She looked tiny on Jeremy's queen sized Mattress and very feminine against the harsh colors and unmistakably masculine room.

"I appreciate you checking up on me, Tyler, but it's not necessary. I'd much rather we had as many people as possible trying to figure this thing out. Jeremy's bad enough, he's like a papa bear."

Tyler supposed Bonnie wanted to sound firm and exasperated, but when she looked at Jeremy he could have sworn her expression looked entirely too pleased...

"You look too long at a picture you start seeing things that aren't there. I figure the best thing to do was take a step back and gain some new perspective. I wanted to see you, anyway."

Bonnie smiled at him and combed her fingers in her hair with impatience, "You're right. It's just driving me nuts. I want my hands around this guy's throat."

Jeremy choked out a laugh, "Blood thirsty wench."

"It's why you love me."

Tyler watched Bonnie and Jeremy smile at each other and cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.

Jeremy smirked at him, and Tyler scowled. Smug bastard, he had almost forgotten what a little punk Gilbert was.

"It's actually good you've stopped by, Tyler. I was hoping to get a word with Boldari myself."

Tyler waved him off, "By all means. But be warned, the guy's a menace."

"You're going to talk to Jesse Boldari? I don't know, Jeremy. Tyler's right, the guy's a bit of a tyrant. He's liable to consider you a suspect just for showing up."

"Are you worried about me?"

Bonnie smiled and Jeremy felt the warmth run through his blood. He didn't need to hear it, Bonnie had that little adorable line of worry in between her brows that usually meant she was contemplating how to save someone...him. Jeremy made his way over to her.

"I'll be fine. I've had my fair share of run-Ins with the law. They don't scare me."

Bonnie didn't know why she was worried, why she still cared too much, but she did. And because it was too much like the way it used to be between them, she automatically shut down.

"Just be careful."

Jeremy saw her shut down and bit off a sigh. One small step at a time. He smoothed the line between her brow, saluted Tyler and shut the door on his way out.

There was a small silence once Tyler was alone with Bonnie. It was weird, they were close friends, and before most people he knew, Tyler considered Bonnie one of his best friends, but they had rarely had a moment between just the two of them.

Bonnie smiled at him to ease a bit of the tension. He was so tall, not as tall as Jeremy, but he was well built and the muscles gave him the illusion of even more power. Bonnie felt oddly safe in his company and she rarely felt that way these days unless she was alone with Jeremy.

"You look tired, Tyler. How has Caroline been taking everything?"

Bonnie wished she could be there with her friends, but she couldn't risk it. Too much was depending her her involvement with other people, and had he not been so stubborn, Bonnie would have insisted that Jeremy keep more of his distance.

"I think we're all a little tired. You know Caroline, she a little fighter. She's pushing through and staying strong for Elena and Matt, but she's definitely worried. Every day that goes by without word from her mom puts a little bit more stress on her shoulders."

"Haven't the autopsy people got anything yet?"

Tyler shook his head, "We should know in another day or two. If we're lucky, sometime today."

Bonnie shut her eyes against the pain. so much death, so much destruction. How many more would lose out on their lives before this thing was over?

"I can barely stand it, Tyler."

Tyler had to strain to hear Bonnie, her voice was so low. He didn't answer her, he didn't know how. The both glanced up when the front door slammed open. Looking at each other for a split second in utter fear, Tyler finally sprinted into action and rushed out the bedroom fully prepared to protect Bonnie using any means necessary. He stopped short when he saw Caroline. Her hair was wild, her clothes rumpled. Her face was read and splotchy, and she had tears in her eyes, liquid streaming from her nose. Her breaths came in short gasps, and Tyler was afraid she would have an attack right there in the hall. He rushed down the steps to meet her and was shocked when she collapsed in his arms.

"Caroline-"

"My mom! Tyler!" Caroline spoke in between great sobs, "My mom!" *

Jeremy studied Jesse from outside his office. The guy seemed too pretty to be a cop, but to each his own. Jeremy didn't quite feel safe with entrusting the safety of Bonnie to this guy, but that was an assumption based purely on looks and he felt he was above that. He took a breath and made himself open the door.

Jesse glanced up from the papers he was studying and leaned back in his chair when he saw Jeremy Gilbert. This was the second time the kid had surprised him, and he was rarely surprised these days. Looked like he had underestimated him.

"Jeremy Gilbert. I get the honor of two visits in one day? Lucky me."

Jeremy smirked at him, he appreciated when he met another smart ass.

"I'm not here to go over the same stuff you've been over with Damon, I can get the gist of it from him. I'm here to talk about what you've been doing to ensure Bonnie's safety."

Jesse quirked a brow, yes, he had definitely underestimated the kid. Jesse waved his hand at the empty chair across from him.

"You should probably be more concerned for your own safety, Gilbert. Based on what I know about the case."

"I am. Trust me I'm not being stupid, I know to take some precautions. I'm banking on the killer perceiving me as less than a threat and therefore would underestimate me and give me time to get to him before he got to me." Jeremy looked Jesse right in the eye when he said it, and Jesse couldn't help but respect him for it.

"I'll admit I'm surprised you were even aware anything was going on, Gilbert."

"I'm always aware when it comes to Bonnie. Her safety is the most important thing to me."

"Me as well."

"No offense, Mr. Boldari, but you barely know her. Calling every once in a while to check up on her isn't going to help. This nutcase leaves personal notes to her in private places. He's gotten too close."

Jesse nodded and sat up a little in his chair. He couldn't wave the kid off like he had been prepared to do.

"To be perfectly honest with you, Gilbert, I like Bonnie. She's a brave girl, strong. I want to find this fucker who has been messing with her life, and I want to do it with little to no harm to her. But this is Mystic Falls, not LA. I'm afraid the best I can do is a call every now and then to check up on her. As it stands, this isn't the only case on my table."

Jeremy held himself back. He had to remind himself that while Bonnie came first to him, he had to concede to the fact that Boldari had to protect the town on a much larger scale.

"You can be sure, Boldari, that I won't be leaving Bonnie's side. But I'd like to ask for a deputy to be placed on guard for her until this thing is over."

"We cannot afford-"

"I'm willing to pay for the time and expenses of whoever you place on her."

Jesse chuckled a little and shut his eyes. He rubbed his forehead in aggravation. This day was getting longer and longer.

"I'm afraid your restaurant paychecks aren't going to be enough to cover the salary of a deputy for personal use."

"I have a trust fund with enough funds to retire the entire department should I wish it, Mr. Boldari. I'm simply asking for one deputy."

Jesse looked at Jeremy Gilbert, really looked at him, and had to acknowledge for the third time in less than an hour that he had been completely off the mark with this kid. Definitely someone it would be a mistake to underestimate.

Jeremy nodded at him and rose to leave.

"As long as we understand each other." *

Bonnie my Bonnie, skin as soft as snow...Bonnie my Bonnie oh how you'll never know...Your eyes so bright oh how they shine ...Bonnie my Bonnie...One day you shall me mine. He laughed a little has he lifted the small hammer to smash against the vampire's teeth. He flinched but still didn't make a sound. The killer smirked at him. One tooth down, 10 more to go...*