I am so sorry. You were so hurt, so bruised and battered I thought I would die. I thought you would die and I just...I've never cried so much in my life. I want you to know that I was never far from you. I kept watch over you and protected you and loved you. I want you to know that. I'll always be here for you. I hate that this had to happen to you, but maybe we can see some good in it. Now that we both know what not to do, we can avoid accidents like this happening in the future. You just need to be more careful, we both do. I've never known you to be so clumsy... You are the only good thing in my life, my future wife, mother of my children. I need you to care about your safety. Well, that's over now. In my worry for you I've nearly forgotten what the whole point of this was. I haven't even been able to focus on the plan, the one to finally bring us together. I think it's time to get back to that. Don't you? *

Alaric stopped when he saw Caroline sitting at a table alone in the Grill. It's been a week since she's learned about her mother, and everyone was doing their best to get her life back to a place that she can be alive in it again. Matt had been released days ago and was resting with his family down in Florida, Bonnie would be released today, and Caroline sat in a bar seemingly oblivious. Alaric has dealt with pain and death the same that Caroline was dealing with, and he knew that a week and some good friends were, unfortunately, not nearly enough. The first and most important step had to be made by Caroline herself.

"Hey. Mind if I join you?"

Caroline didn't glance up to see who was behind her. She'd known the minute he'd walked into the Grill, because she had smelled him. Caroline grinned ruefully. One of the perks of being a vampire. Another perk she'd have to shoulder in her life and live with.

"Seat's empty."

Alaric ignored her sarcasm and sat across from her. He studied her for a moment. She'd lost the sickly look she had carried around for days, and she'd gotten back some color.

"Bonnie's being released today. Doctors say she was lucky. The snow had cushioned most of the impact, so that combined with the airbag resulted in minimal injuries."

Caroline didn't respond, but Alaric knew she heard him. Knew she listened closely.

"Fractured wrist, dislocated shoulder, slight concussion, bruised ribs, and a mean gash on her head are about the worst of the injuries."

"You say she's leaving today?"

Alaric was careful not to let the satisfaction of her question show in his eyes. Concern for another person, a hurt friend, was a good indicator that they were slowly getting the old Caroline back.

"Yes. Jeremy's with her now. The kid hasn't left her side since they found her crashed car. I don't think he'll breathe again until this guy is caught."

"He loves her."

"yeah, he does." Alaric paused as he considered just how far he should push her. He decided to test the waters, "She misses you, Caroline."

Caroline shut her eyes against the quiet empathy in Alaric's voice. She missed Bonnie as much as her friend missed her. She just didn't know how to face her. Bonnie was going through so much pain, Caroline didn't want to add to it. What could she say? Hey, your stalker killed my mother, want to watch Gossip Girl? She shook her head as tears spilled unchecked down her face. She couldn't. She couldn't do that to Bonnie. To herself.

Alaric laid a quiet hand over hers on the table, "You're stronger than you know, Caroline. You know, even before you were a vampire, I always looked at you as being the strongest of all the kids?"

Caroline looked up at him.

"It's true. You were so vulnerable yet so sure of yourself. What you wanted. You faced life everyday with a determined smile and an indominatable spirit. Your recent change didn't affect those things in you, it didn't give you a new personality or sense of self. It didn't give you new strength. It simply made you aware of those traits that you already had."

Caroline was silent. And then she smiled, smiled and laughed until her sides hurt. Wiping at the tears in her eyes she looked at Ric.

"Why don't you let me buy you that drink, Ric?" *

Bonnie groaned and gingerly touched the bandage on her head. This was what she got for waking up too hard.

"Here, drink this."

Bonnie opened her eyes slowly, slowly or else they would fall out of her head, and looked up at Jesse Boldari. She nearly groaned a second time but bit it back and took a sip of the cup he held to her lips.

"Hm, what is it?"

"Just water and aspirin. It'll do wonders in the long run." Jesse looked Bonnie over. She was bruised but tough. Jesse smirked to himself, no car crash was going to get her down.

"What are you smirking about?" Bonnie asked sulkily.

Jesse laughed out loud, "You know, Bonnie, that is the first time I heard you whine?"

"Whine?"

"Yes, whine. Don't worry it's cute. And everybody gets one."

"I don't know what you think this is, Mr. Boldari, but you don't know me nearly enough to be insulting me."

"Tune your lips up like that long enough they're bound to get stuck that way. Don't worry, that's cute too." He was beginning to think that everything about her was cute.

"Are you laughing at me? I swear to god, Boldari, if you're laughing at me..."

"Bonnie! I would never." Jesse choked out a laugh as he ducked from the cup she threw, with amazing accuracy, at his head.

"Out! Get out! I cannot stand you! oooh!" Bonnie reset her covers angrily as she gave him her blackest scowl.

"Ok, Now you just look downright scary. Truce. Im sorry, I actually came here for a reason."

Bonnie took a deep breath and got up from the bed. She was leaving today and she didn't really want to admit how scared she was. The hospital had offered a sense of security she hadn't had since this whole mess had started. Stefan was still missing, but for the week that she'd been there, even the letters had stopped. No one was hurt and she wasn't worried. except now she was leaving the hospital and that bubble had burst. Bonnie closed her eyes. She didn't know where she would find the strength to face it all again.

Jesse stopped packing her things and looked at her for a moment. As tough as Bonnie was, even she had a point. and every emotion was written clearly on her transparent face.

"Bonnie.."

"Don't," She was mad, mad that she heard her own voice crack, mad that she knew that he heard it too. Mad was easier than scared so she focused on that. "You know what, Mr. Boldari, for a cop you fairly suck. You've been in and out of this hospital and my room all week and not once have you given me any new details on the case. You know, the case? The one with the crazy man stalking me? I'm laid up in the hospital, Some guard I don't know can't give me even the illusion of space, one maybe two people have been murdered, another attacked, and you come in here joking about my facial expressions. You've done nothing to help, and now I've got a best friend's mother dead, another best friend's boyfriend missing, another friend with amnesia and Jeremy in danger. What am I supposed to do? Huh? Mr. cop, do you have any answers?" Bonnie sat on the floor and cried. She hadn't been aware that all of that was in her, hell she'd cried so much over the past few weeks she didn't know she was capable of any more tears.

Jesse was quiet while she cried. He finished folding the shirt he had in his hands and packed it with the rest of her stuff. When he was done, he set the suit case aside and faced her.

"You're right. You're absolutely right, Bonnie. I'm a cop. Do you know what that means? It means that in the last week I've had two robberies, a domestic dispute, three car accidents, a missing child, and a public and very drunken brawl. I've got a dead sheriff and suddenly all of her responsibilities plus my own. The department has 3 deputies, one of which has been placed on 24/7 guard for your benefit. My day consists of Working with the Federal government on the case of sheriff Forbes, answering to the mayor and head of the Mystic Falls police department, working with payroll and human resources, dealing with daily grievances, and checking up on you and this case. I'm sorry that I can't give you my full attention like you and I would both like, but you have to understand that Mystic Falls operates on a much larger scale than just you and your friends. The hard truth is that there hasn't been a break in your case in over a week. and until there is there is nothing I can do about it."

Jesse stopped and looked at her. She'd stopped crying and he had her full attention. He wanted to say something that would take that haunted look out of her eyes. Tell her anything that she wanted to hear, but that was impossible. He'd acknowledged once the strength in her and he absolutely believed it. she would deal with this like she's dealt with everything else.

"Jesse."

"No, don't. We're both on edge and I had no right to speak to you that way-"

"Don't do that. I was wrong, Jesse. Look at me please." He did so, and Bonnie had the uncomfortable feeling of falling forward into his eyes. She stood to go stand in front of him. "I'm sorry. I've been so wrapped up in this thing-"

"And that's understandable, Bonnie."

"Please, let me get this out. You've been amazing, Jesse. I don't know anyone who would have done as much as you have for me. What kind of cop makes personal trips to deliver aspirin and water?"

"You know it's more than that, Bonnie." Jesse said it quietly.

Bonnie looked up at him and smiled a little sadly.

"I know." *

Jeremy huffed out a breath as he left the house. Bonnie was leaving the hospital today. He hated to leave her for even a moment, but he wanted the house to be absolutely perfect and comfortable for her when he brought her there. He had no doubt that she would give him trouble, more concerned about his safety than her own, but Jeremy wouldn't be budged. He'd bring her home kicking and screaming if he had to, but there was no way he would leave her alone. He'd have both Bonnie and Elena in the same house and that would be the best way to protect them both. It might also work if he told Bonnie that Elena could use some extra protection, and Bonnie being in the house would make him feel better. Jeremy smile to himself. That was just the sort of thing that would work on Bonnie. The sun streamed valiantly through the clouds as Jeremy made his way onto the sidewalk. He glanced at his watch, 2:15. Bonnie would be released at 3, which gave him plenty of time to make his way back to the hospital. Jeremy knew that Bonnie had relaxed somewhat in the last week now that things seemed to have calmed, but he hasn't. The hit after the calm was usually the biggest one, and Jeremy was wary of what came next. Bonnie was safe with the guard and Jesse Boldari, but he wouldn't relax completely until he was there with her. Jeremy looked over his shoulder at the sound of an engine. He didn't recognize the car, but the driver was approaching way too fast. Jeremy shook his head and kept walking. When he didn't see the car speed past he turned his head curiously just in time to see the headlights as they made a mad dash toward him. *

He watched as the drunk rollled over the hood of his car and fell uselessly to the ground. Giddy, he put the car in reverse, stuck his middle finger out the window at the jerk, and sped off. He couldn't wait to tell Bonnie that he'd finally gotten their revenge! *