Here we go ppl! Chapter 4 is up. I made a minor spelling change that I hope doesn't throw anyone off. A reader politely informed me that I've been spelling "Stefen's" name wrong this whole time. So it is now spelled right. Oops! Oh well, enjoy chapter 4!
...
About an hour later, Bonnie appeared in the hallway with Jeremy behind her. "So I think it would be best if we all spent some time away from the house. I called Caroline and Tyler; they said they'll meet us at the grill. You guys down?"
Elena and Damon had spent the past hour hashing out a plan of attack. They had mutually agreed that it would be best for them to leave the next morning. Damon decided a compromise was in order. If he was going to take Elena away from the happenings in Mystic Falls, then he should at least give her time to tie up loose ends. After all, neither of them knew how long they would be gone or how far their search would take them. What neither of them could agree on was how to break it to the gang. With Jeremy practically comatose, they couldn't figure out a way to round everyone up without initiating panic. After all, when a group meeting was called, it usually meant something was going down. However, Bonnie had provided them with an opportunity. Though Jeremy didn't look himself, he was up and put together. A meeting at the grill was just what they needed to break the ice.
"We're down Snoop Dogg. Meet you there?" Damon picked up his jacket which he had laid on top of Elena's sweater.
"I'll call Ric too... Though I'm sure he's already there, if not half in the bag already." Elena was sure he would appreciate being kept in the loop. Since Jenna's death, he had spent every waking hour at the grill, drowning his sorrows in Whiskey.
"Hey if you guys get there first, can you get the booth at the back; away from the windows?" This was the first time Jeremy had spoken. They all turned to him with on odd look on their faces. "I have a headache, that's why I had my curtains closed." They continued to stare, taken aback by his odd request. They always sat at the same table, near the middle of the restaurant.
"Okay Dracula. If you say so; but if we're going to sit on the dungeon half you have to put your hood down. You're starting to look like your old self. I hated that little shit..." Damon stopped himself. There was no need to go there but all of the sudden he was seeing red.
"Jesus Damon, settle down. What's wrong with you?" Elena couldn't make sense of his comment. It was completely opposite to the way had been acting all morning.
Damon looked at the floor, unable to explain himself. It was something only vampires could understand. He needed blood, human blood. And not from a bag this time, he needed it from the vain. He had been denying his instincts for so long now, it was making him irritable. All of the sudden he felt antsy; ready to leave. "I'll meet you in the car Elena."
He walked past Bonnie and Jeremy towards the door. Bonnie was staring daggers at him, her attention at high alert. Jeremy was completely oblivious to the exchange that just took place. Instead, he was staring into the kitchen; where Anna was swivelling back and forth on a chair pulled up to the center island. She blew him a kiss before she let out an ear piercing scream; engulfing in flames and then vanishing all together.
...
Damon and Elena arrived at the grill shortly after Caroline and Tyler. Damon led them through the maze of people, past Caroline and Tyler who were sitting at their regular table; towards to back of the grill.
"Back here guys." He called over his shoulder to them. "Nosferatu wants to sit in the dark because the sun gives him a headache."
As Damon shimmied into the booth, Elena grabbed him by the arm. "Look, I don't know what your problem is all of the sudden but take it easy. We don't even know what's wrong with him and it's unfair for you of all people to tease him about being sensitive to light." She scolded under her breath.
This shut Damon up fast. He had seen the assertive side of Elena, found it comedic even at times but this was different. When she was defending her loved ones, she was a force to be reckoned with, and even he admitted he was being a bit of a dick.
"Ew. Vampires can get headaches too? I have been staked, sprayed in the face with vervain, hell; I've been shot point blank in the head but I have yet to experience a self occurring headache." Caroline was slipping into the booth now with Tyler behind her. "Please tell me it's an old age thing because I have a LONG ways to go before I get to where YOU are."
"Damon's not the one with a headache Caroline, it's Jeremy." Elena replied. Caroline looked relieved.
"Well good! So it is still a human thing..."
"Speak of the devil. Hey guys, over here!" Tyler waved across the bar to Bonnie and Jeremy.
Bonnie walked towards the table, Jeremy behind her. She scanned the bar, looking for any sign of Alaric. "Elena, did you call Ric? I can't see him up there anywhere."
"Yeah I called him in the car, he didn't answer. Maybe he's sleeping; he probably had a late night." As she said this, her stomach growled loudly. Everyone turned to her except Jeremy, who was watching his surroundings intently. "Well that's attractive," she joked, looking around for a menu.
"Let's get lunch." Damon smirked. He would give anything to feel hunger that way again. Instead, he had to put up with a consuming fury every time his cravings kicked in. He looked around the grill now, assessing his surroundings. Teenager, Teenager, Matt (off limits according to Caroline), teenager, Ms. Lockewood, cute waitress, washed up drunk guy at the bar...his gaze flickered back to the waitress. She made eye contact with him, flirting with an unknown danger.
"DAMON!" Elena repeated for the third time. His head whipped around the face her. His eyes were bloodshot, his gaze intimidating. Caroline, understanding what was happening immediately interrupted:
"Damon," When he didn't look at her she said it louder. "DAMON." When his eyes flickered to hers she continued, "Elena was just asking if you'd share some mozza sticks with her."
He slowed his breathing, absorbing the question. He could feel the blood draining from his eyes. How far had he let himself get this time? "That's all you're having?" He knew she was hungrier than that.
"No. I just said I was getting the clubhouse, but that I wanted mozza sticks too. I can't eat both, not by myself." What was going on with him? He had looked terrifying. His face reminded her of that night, weeks ago when he had bitten her. She had forgiven him but that didn't stop Damon from looking much more intense and dangerous than Stefan did during the change. It was the stuff her nightmares were made of.
"Yeah. That sounds good actually. Let's do it." He said with a reassuring smile.
...
They spent all day at the Grill. Tyler and Caroline played several games of pool with Damon and Elena. Bonnie had opted out because Jeremy wasn't in the mood to play pool. While she tried to keep Jeremy into the game and the conversation to keep him from being isolated, it proved to be a difficult task. His attention often wandered to other things. He watched people intently, almost as if he were trying to eavesdrop on a private conversation. The rest of them noticed this but didn't understand the change. They didn't see what he was seeing. They didn't hear the voices of the dead whispering secrets meant for only him.
Damon was finding it easier to focus while Caroline was around. It was nice having someone who understood; another vampire. Whenever his attention wandered, she was right there; demanding his full attention so he didn't get caught up in his fantasies of bloodlust.
Elena tried to ignore these little exchanges. There was something unspoken between the two vampires; something she longed to be a part of. She shook her head then, trying to rid herself of the jealousy she was feeling. The sooner we're on the road, the better, she thought.She wanted to focus on the task at hand; she wanted to throw herself elbows deep into the search for Stefan. But she had to admit; she was being naive if she thought her developing feelings for Damon would go away. Especially given the large amount of time they were about to spend together. She looked up at Damon, catching his eye.
Neither of them were in any hurry to tell the gang about their plans. They were having fun after all; why spoil it for everyone? Besides, Ric wasn't even there yet. Both of them made a silent pact to wait; at least until they were all together. But then the door opened, revealing a very dishevelled and tired looking Alaric. Damon turned back to Elena. Pact over, it was time.
Without even looking their way, Alaric scanned the wood looking for a place to sit. His eyes settled on a bar stool, furthest away from the door, from everyone. He started towards the stool, oblivious to the gang's watchful stares.
"Excuse me everyone. I will go summon the Saltzman." Putting down his pool cue, Damon sauntered towards where Ric was sitting.
He was all too focussed on the glass of Whiskey that just came his way to notice Damon's arrival. He heard someone sit on the stool next to him, hardly giving any notice until he heard Damon's voice:
"You know, you can lose your teaching licence for this. Everyone has a right to a drink now and then, and everyone has the right to have a breakdown now and then. But to combine those two things AND put it on display in such a public place? Ric...now you're just playing with fire." Damon knew his tone was mocking, but he needed to get his attention. "I bet, that if you continue on this very fragile path to destruction, you'll lose your job AND possible custody of Jeremy and Elena in no time."
"Fuck off. I don't care what you think or what anyone else in this town thinks." He wasn't surprised Damon knew about him applying for custody. What didn't Damon know? "Just leave me alone please. I would like to bask in my own miserable existence without your company."
"No can do Ric. Elena and I have news, BIG news. We need you to join us down by the pool table. Preferably before the..." He stopped, mid sentence. He watched across the bar as Andy Star walked into the Grill.
Perfect, he thought. This is exactly what he needed.
...
OH damn. Ric dropped an F bomb. I am aware this would never happen in the show but I think Ric is entitled to a bit of foul language. Losing his Isobel and now Jenna too is taking a toll on him.
Something intense is about to happen between Damon and Andy. You'll find out soon. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love having the control!