Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries.

Pairing: Damon and Elena

A/N: I would like to thank my reviewers. You've encouraged me to continue the story. I was going to end it at chapter one but I had a few requests to continue. I think the story is changing to adventure/romance not sure how to label it. Also, I'm new at writing so sorry if the story or conversation gets confusing. Please read and review. Let me know what you think but please be kind. :) Enjoy.

Elena lay with her head resting on Damon's chest listening to his breathing. She couldn't sleep…couldn't stop thinking about what they had shared that night. Damon held her and kissed her until they had fallen asleep on the couch by the warmth of the fire. It was too soon for more than that. She'd made her decision, but she was still worried about Stefan.

Stefan was gone and she had to accept that. He wouldn't be coming back to her the same even if he did leave Klaus's side. She was only beginning to realize what she felt for Damon, and there couldn't be more yet. He had known it too. Sensed, that she needed more time to let go of Stefan. She loved Damon, wanted him, but she needed time.

She had confessed her love to Damon. It had been a relief to tell Damon that she was hiding her feelings from him. Truthfully, she couldn't tell when her feelings for Damon had changed. When she admitted that he was right, he had held her and his kiss had revealed just how much he wanted her to love him.

He had promised to continue to look for Stefan. Told her that they would try to bring him back and slowly wean him from human blood, but they both knew it was a long shot.

Damon's eyes suddenly flew open as if something had woken him but the house was silent. He looked at her as he put his finger to his lips willing her not to make a sound. She nodded letting him know she understood. Before either of them could react, they heard "Well, well, isn't this cozy?" as Klaus appeared from nowhere. He stood in front of the fireplace with the flames outlining his figure, making him seem even more threatening. He had caught them off guard.

They scrambled to their feet and Damon moved quickly to shield Elena from Klaus.

"Klaus," Damon spat. "I don't believe you've been invited in."

"Oh but I have. Have you met our host?" he said as he motioned to a very angry Stefan lurking in the door way. Even if Stephan had lost his humanity, it was obvious that a part of him didn't like seeing Damon and Elena together on the couch. Maybe there was some hope for him.

"Stefan," Elena gasped.

Damon pulled her back behind him. "Stefan, you idiot! Why would you tell him about the one place I could hide Elena! No one else even knows this place is here."

Elena put her hand on his shoulder and said, "No one, except for Stefan on human blood. He doesn't care anymore remember?"

Damon glared at Klaus, "Why do you want Elena so badly? It's obvious that you have Stefan nipping at your heals like a new puppy. He would never give her up unless he is completely loyal to you."

Klaus gave Damon a warning look, "Because, I don't want you, Stefan, or the rest of your little friends getting in my way. He leaned against the fireplace and looked over at Elena. "Damon I know you've been looking for Stefan. That is not okay with me. It isn't Stefan that is the problem now. He's been playing his part quit well. I need Elena to keep you in line. You are a wild card. There's really no telling what you are capable of when you fly off the handle, going all out vampire. Elena is the key to Stefan's heart but she is your anchor too. It's obvious you are in love with her. I'm sure you would do anything she asked, even if that means bringing your brother back to her and watching her love him for eternity. You see, Stefan and I made a deal and he is going to stick with it." He glanced over at Elena, "even if I have to compel Stefan to kill you both."

Damon glared at Stefan. "I wouldn't even think about it brother," he warned as he clenched his fists at his sides. Elena stood behind him with her hand on his shoulder.

Stefan didn't speak. He didn't even look like Stefan. It was his body but his former personality was gone. It terrified Elena. It looked like he could lose control at any minute.

"Stefan?" she called his name. "Stefan it's Elena. You have to help us. You need to come home." He looked at her but it wasn't love that shone through his eyes but hunger…terrifying, unhinged, hunger. She shivered and stepped back behind Damon as his hand laced with hers giving a squeeze of reassurance.

Klaus spoke up, "Well it seems we have a disagreement to settle. You are meddling in my affairs and I don't have time to deal with you. I'll take Elena now. I've decided to keep her around since it will be in my best interest. Stefan won't cross me and the rest of her little friends will stay away as well, including the witch. The bonus is that you will be out of my way."

In an instant he was across the room and breaking off a wooden stake in Damon's chest. Elena screamed as Damon groaned and dropped to the floor. Klaus hadn't killed him. He hadn't needed to. The message had been delivered. Klaus was much older and stronger and there was nothing they could do about it. "Really, my dear, if you are going to run from me, the least you could do is offer me more of a challenge." Damon growled in anger as he spat, "maybe she would have if we'd known Stefan was going to rat us out."

"Oh don't be too hard on him. He really didn't have much of a choice. I can compel him to do anything I ask. Besides, your little blonde friend was a lot more helpful. Pity she couldn't resist my compulsion. Told me right where you were. I'll bet you feel bad about blaming your brother now don't you?"

Klaus walked over to Damon and pressed his foot on the stake. Damon cursed at him as the stake pushed deeper into his chest. "You should have left me alone," he said smiling down at Damon. "You could have had her all to yourself. I do hope that lovely blonde is around to help you again…oh that's right, I forgot, she can't help you now."

"Caroline? What did you do to her?" Damon's anger was building as he thought about what might have happened to Caroline.

Elena pressed her back to the couch as Klaus leaned over Damon. "Stefan help us," Elena pleaded with him her eyes full of tears. But there was nothing in his face that showed her he even recognized her. There was no remorse. In that instant, Elena knew she had lost him forever. He wasn't coming back to his senses in her lifetime anyway. In another hundred years he might eventually come out of his human blood trance but it wouldn't be when she needed him.

"Stefan, we are leaving now. Take the girl and tell the others to burn the house," Klaus commanded.

"No!" she screamed.

In an instant, Stefan was in front of her. He grabbed her arm and jerked her away from Damon dragging her behind him. "No Stefan stop!" she screamed as he pulled her away. "You can't do this to Damon. He's your brother. You don't want to kill him. Stefan you just gave up everything to save him why would you do that just to let him die! He turned to look at her and she slapped him in the face. "Wake up!" She screamed, but he just stared at her and pulled her after him again.

Stefan dragged her out the front door, calling to the others to burn the house. She heard the sound of breaking glass as burning bottles filled with fuel broke through the cabin windows. They were going to burn the house and Damon with it.

Damon rolled to his knees as he attempted to get to Elena. The pain was unbearable. He wouldn't regain his strength until the stake was removed from his chest, but he had to try. Klaus gave him a push with his foot sending him back to the floor. "I do hope you live through this. It would be a shame to break Elena's heart. After all, she's already lost Stefan." He laughed and walked away.

Klaus emerged from the house giving his instructions to watch the house. He didn't want Damon escaping the fire. Klaus looked at Stefan and compelled him to bring Elena once it was done. Then, he got in his car and drove away assured that Stefan would follow his command.

Elena was in a panic. She fought against Stefan trying to get away. Damon was trapped in the house. He was lying on the floor dying, Stefan was giving her to Klaus, and no one else knew she was in trouble. She didn't have a choice. Elena reached for her sweater pocket, pulled out the vervain needle she had grabbed as she packed, and stabbed Stefan in the arm. He instantly let her go and dropped to the ground. "I'm sorry Stefan," she said with tears in her eyes. She turned back to the house getting away before anyone could stop her. They wouldn't follow her into the fire.

"Damon," she screamed, as she ran back into the living room to get him. He was unconscious. Wake up she yelled at him as his eyebrows scrunched together. He looked at her and told her to get out.

"No I'm not leaving you. Just tell me what to do."

"The stake." he coughed.

"Damon I can't. It's buried in your chest."

"Get it out!" he groaned and managed to get out the words knife and kitchen.

The house was fully on fire and they were running out of time. The roof was starting to catch and they wouldn't be able to find an exit if she didn't hurry. She couldn't drag him out of the house. Klaus's men would just kill Damon and take her back with them.

Elena ran to the kitchen as a chunk of ceiling fell just behind her. She grabbed a knife sitting on the counter and a bag of blood from the refrigerator. She headed back to the living room and tripped over the fallen debris in her haste. She fell to the floor going down hard on her knees. Getting up quickly, she made her way to Damon.

"Go Elena, there's no time for this." Damon said as she leaned over him knife ready.

"And who's going to help me if you die? Now shut up and lay still."

"Yes Mam," he ground out as she stabbed the knife into the base of the stake and began wedging it out of Damon's chest. He let out an agonized groan as the stake came free. He looked down at the gaping hole in his shirt and chest mumbling how much Klaus was going to pay for that.

"Damon the house….," Elena coughed, as smoke-filled her lungs. She gave Damon and worried look. He wasn't going anywhere until he got some blood.

"We have to get to the hallway," Damon told her. She helped him up and he leaned on Elena as they stumbled into the hallway. She shoved the blood bag at him and ordered him to drink. The living room ceiling gave way and engulfed the living room in fire.

A/N: Let me know what you think. :) Will Damon and Elena get out? What do you think has happened to Caroline? Please review.