Chapter four

Damon knocked on Elena's door and waited for her to answer. This was going to be a test and it was pass or fail. If he couldn't be alone with her and not try to steal her from his brother he wasn't going to stay. He'd find a way to talk Alexandra into leaving. He didn't think it would take much. He started entertaining ideas about where they could go. He wondered if there were places he could take her, things he could show her. Then the door opened and Elena was standing in front of him. He knew he could never leave the moment he saw her smile.

"Thanks for coming." Stefan said, standing behind the girl, and instantly Damon's attention was taken off of Elena's dark eyes and brought back to his brother.

"No problem. Not like we can have you out there teaching her. Unless she's really into jigsaw puzzles. Which reminds me; you and I need to go out a few more times to reinforce that self control thing." Damon knew Stefan had a problem. Neither of them had been trained really. They'd had to feel their way on their own.

"Yeah, we can do that." Stefan said. "Not my idea of a fun evening but I'm sure we can find something else to do to make up for it."

Damon chuckled. "We'll close down the bar, play pool, and make a night of it. I'll let you know when I'm free."

Stefan gave him a perplexed look. "Since when do you check your schedule?"

"Since I have a girlfriend," He said "Don't you check what you have planned with Elena?"

"That was fast." Stefan said.

"You are actually dating my French teacher." Elena said shaking her head.

"Alex and I have history. Don't worry this isn't some crazy rebound make Elena jealous scheme. "He said rolling his eyes. "Come on. Let's go. I know this great club in the next county over. We can work on your ability to compel while we're at it."

Stefan watched as Elena and Damon left. He had plans of his own. It involved finding out as much as he could about his new French teacher and why she was with Damon. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his brother happy, he did. He just wasn't one to trust anyone he didn't know. Not anymore.

He knew where she was living. It hadn't been hard to sort out. Especially when their lawyer had brought over more paperwork for Damon regarding the property he had just bought. Stefan wondered why he had done that instead of just moving her into the house with them. There was something Damon was keeping from him about this woman and he just hoped that it wasn't going to bite them all in the ass later.

Stefan could still remember playing in those woods. He had chased Elizabeth Lockwood and her sister Sarah through these woods while Damon had been at war, the summer before Katherine had shown up. He remembered his father taking him hunting with Mr. Fell and his two boys not far from the site of the church. Fell's church it had been called then and there had been some speculation about whether there would be another town springing up around it. He wondered how different things would be if it had.

He turned down the long road leading to where the church had once stood. He couldn't decide if it was ironic or fitting `that a Salvatore now owned the property. Another turn this time down the long drive that led to the house. He knew she saw him coming, he could see the shadow in the window as he parked the car.

He was surprised that she stepped outside with two coffee mugs. She set one on the table between the two porch chairs and motioned for him to join her. There was a time, back when he had been human that he could have imagined his brother sitting on that porch with just such a woman, enjoying the quiet when the day was done. Now he just couldn't see it. Damon had become too urbane.

"Hello." He said as he got out of the car and approached the porch. He knew that for what it was. She was willing to talk but she wasn't going to invite him inside. He sat down in the offered chair and picked up the cup of coffee. He made note of the gloves she wore but didn't think much of it. It was getting cooler in the evenings and long thin fingers chilled easily.

"Hello Stefan" She said. "So I am going to hazard a guess and say you are here to ask me questions you should be asking Damon."

He laughed quietly and picked up the coffee cup. "Guilty as charged." He admitted. "I'm just worried about my brother. You can't fault a guy for that."

"Well I could but it wouldn't be right." She said smiling. "So what is it you want to know?"

"For starters what do I call you? You say Alex but I hear Damon call you Sacha." He shrugged "Vampire ears and plaster and lathe walls."

"That's all the more reason for me to be glad to live out here instead of with you two." She blushed a little. "You can call me Alex. You don't know me well enough to call me Sacha."

"Alright, Alex. I'll keep it formal and all in French, modern French, "He added with a winning smile and she could see then they were definitely brothers, "in the classroom. But outside of school functions, I'm not a kid. I'm not going to act like one. Damon is all the family I have. You can understand my concern when there is suddenly a new apparently serious relationship going on and I don't know anything about it."

She couldn't tell if he was trying to explain himself, or make some sort of power statement. Vampires were always tricky until you got to know them. She decided to not sort out which it was. Just go with the assumption that both were possible. "Of course, " She said, "you also need to understand that he's in a difficult position. "

Stefan took a drink of the coffee, blissfully free of any additives whatsoever, and gave her a quizzical look.

"I've known Damon a long time. This isn't our first fling. It won't be our last. " She told him, although she wasn't about to tell him how long she had known his brother. "I know about the animosity between you two. I know about Katherine. I know about Elena." She said. " He is trying to give her space to get used to the intensity of vampire emotions while dealing with his own intense emotions. He doesn't want to leave because he doesn't want to lose you again when you've just started getting along. Personally I think right now he needs something separate from you. He needs a relationship that has never been touched by you…"

"I never intended-" he started and stopped when she held up her hand.

"I never said you did." She told him, "Doesn't change the fact that it's happened, now does it."

Stefan sighed and shook his head "No. "He had to admit that much. He couldn't deny their history of competition for the same woman. "At the risk of sounding rude, and I don't mean it to be, but what are you?" He asked.

She smiled. "A woman, "She said laughing. "Why do I need to be anything more?"

"Because the first time I saw you, you looked to be in your mid 40s. You've lost ten years somewhere along the way. "He said. "You speak a dialect of French that was already changing when I was a boy. Damon doesn't feed from you, and he always feeds from his women."

"No he doesn't." She said. "He feeds from his toys. His juice boxes with breasts. He does not feed from his women. But you haven't been around to witness that I don't think."

"No. I haven't." He admitted as he finished his coffee. She'd dodged the question and he supposed he'd have to accept that for now. "Be careful." He told her as he stood. "Katherine is out there and she gets strange ideas about things, especially me and Damon. "

"The average vampire isn't known for being emotionally logical. When they are its time to pack up and head for the hills." She said with a shrug. "I can handle Katherine."

Stefan noticed something in her eyes when she said that, and he was certain it wasn't jealousy. "Are you a hunter?" He asked.

Alexandra had to think about how to answer that. She had answered him truthfully even if a little vaguely so far. She saw no reason to shift gears now. "No." She said slowly. "I can … but I don't."

Stefan nodded. "Okay." He said "Thank you, for the coffee and for being honest with me."

"You're welcome." She said rising to her feet and offering him a gloved hand. Instead of shaking it, he took it in his and bowed over it in an old world gesture. She raised an eyebrow and nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Good evening, Alex." He said backing away then turning to head for his car.

Alexandra picked up their coffee cups and went inside, laughing softly to herself. Well that was different, she thought. She wondered what Damon would think about it when he got home. She had a feeling they would have a lot to talk about. Strange how easily those words formed in her head. When Damon got home.

"You've done well." Damon said smiling. He shouldn't have been surprised that Elena had been a natural at compelling people to do things. It had taken a couple attempts to get in the club without ID because she was nervous and didn't believe that she belonged inside. But he wasn't going to beleaguer the point. She was new. He'd seen fledglings take a lot longer to get the hang of it.

Once inside he sat her down at a table with a bottle of whiskey between them.

"Alright, drink it up." He said filling the shot glasses in front of them. "One thing you do not want to be is overwhelmed by the hunger when you go out there to feed. You need to be in control. Not the blood."

"Now how is it you learned that and Stefan didn't?" She asked. "I've never really understood that."

Damon shrugged as he downed the shot and motioned for her to do the same. He didn't know why but alcohol took the edge off of the hunger. "I don't know. Sometimes I think it's just been his way of punishing himself for losing control the first time, when he killed our father. Not that I blame him. I mean he killed us first it was only fair." Damon said then filled their shot glasses again.

Elena gave him a long suffering look.

"What? He shot us. I tend to take that personally." He downed the shot and tried not to spend much time actually looking at Elena's face. "I don't know what causes a vampire to become a ripper. I know that sometimes the violence is like a drug." He wouldn't be telling her this if she hadn't transitioned. "It takes the edge off of the pain and the anger. The blood can sometimes trigger the violence. You smell it, you hear the beat of your prey's heart, you smell their fear and then you strike. We're predators Elena. Do not ever forget that. No matter what mask we wear we're the top of the food chain, and the people around us, they're the next link down. "

"How can you be so callous?" She asked incredulously.

"I'm not callous, Elena." He told her rolling his eyes. "I'm a vampire. So are you. You are used to a degree of separation from your food. You buy meat in the store and that's fine because you never had to look the cow in the eyes before you ate her. "Damon said. "But it was still a cow. You might think they are adorable with those big brown eyes or whatever, but it's never slowed you down when it came to a cheese burger. The bagged blood is vampire fast food. You can't guarantee that it's always going to be available. Sometimes you have to get your food on the hoof. So you had better shift things around in that head of yours little girl because people are cattle."

She downed another shot. "Is that what you think of your new girlfriend? Is she a cow?"

Damon choked on his whiskey.

"I'm serious is she a cow? Was I a cow before I was turned?" Elena demanded, her indignation and anger glowing white hot and on the verge of out of control.

Damon looked her in the eyes, his features tight and controlled. "Keep your voice down. " He said sternly.

"No." She said loudly. "Not until you answer my question."

Damon took one last hit of whiskey, promising himself that Stefan would buy him a case after this. He was going to need it. He thought about it a second then took another long drink off of the bottle then grabbed Elena by the arm and pulled her out into the parking lot, shoved her against a lamp post and pinned her there by the throat.

"When I tell you to do something you do it." He growled. "This isn't you and me out for a good time. We don't do that anymore. This is me teaching you to survive. Do you understand me?"

"Yes." She managed to choke out, yet she still glared at him as he removed his hand.

"No, Alexandra isn't a cow. I wouldn't want to be the idiot that suggested the possibility where she could hear either." He sighed. "And you know how I feel about you," although he hated admitting it now. "But yes, humanity in general are cattle, unless you prefer the juice box metaphor."

She rubbed her throat. "Fine, I'm sorry I yelled."

Damon didn't believe her. He didn't care if she was sorry or not. It was just part of how things were when you're a shiny new vampire. Caroline was the smoothest transition he had ever seen. He'd hoped that she would rub off on Elena. He'd have to talk to her later about helping out with the girls training. Caroline had been a natural. Elena however was unfortunately more like his brother than he liked at the moment. He did not need a repeat of Stefan's first few weeks.

"It's alright. You're… emotional. I get that. Get it under control." He said probably more gently than he should have.

"That great coming from you, Mr. Self Control," Elena said without really intending the words to come out of her mouth. She didn't want to fight with Damon. She didn't. But she couldn't help it. Just being near him drove her to distraction, and she was hungry. God she was always hungry now.

He shoved her back against the light post. "Tone it down. "He knew this was a bad plan. The only worse plan he could think of was letting Stefan teach her. Stefan wasn't sure of his own control, there was no way he could teach someone else to control it. She was making him dominate her and that wasn't what he wanted.

"Is everything alright over here?" It was a man's voice.

Just what Damon needed a hero out to save the damsel in distress. "We're fine." He said holding Elena still with one hand.

"Is that true miss? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She said although her tone was full of restrained anger.

"You know, I got a bad feeling about this. Why don't you step away from your friend here and then you tell me you're alright. "

"You really want to walk away right now. " Damon said. He wanted Elena to be in control of herself before letting her feed. He didn't want to have to clean up the mess. If she killed the first time out she'd be insufferable. She'd be worse than Stefan.

The stranger grabbed Damon by the shoulder and attempted to pull him away from Elena.

"Or not," He said "Can't say I didn't warn you." He held Elena with one hand and pulled the would-be hero around to where he could look him in the eyes. *Do not move* he compelled. And then frowned, glanced at Elena and sighed. "Fine," He said. *Don't be afraid* he added.

Damon let go of the man who obediently stood perfectly still. "Now, come here." He said pulling Elena around to stand in front of her prey. "You have time, all the time in the world right now. You don't have to do everything perfect the first time. But if you calm down, and stay in control, you can feed without killing anyone. "He said calmly, now that he had her full attention.

"Not what I expected out with you." She admitted taking a deep breath. "What do I do?"

Damon stepped closer, and gently touched the man's throat. "Here, bite here, but gently. Don't worry. I'm here. "He said touching her hair in spite of himself.

Elena nodded nervously and stepped closer, her features shifting and blood teeth elongating. She glanced at Damon one last time before sinking her teeth into the stranger's throat.

"That's it. " Damon said softly. "That's my girl." He let her feed only having to admonish her to calm down once. "Okay, ease out. " He frowned when she didn't respond "Elena" He said sharply, still nothing. He slid his hand between her and her prey and grasped her throat. "Enough." He said. "Now ease out."

This time she listened. She was breathless, looking between Damon and her prey. She wanted more. Wanted to finish him then move on to the next then the next…

He didn't trust her to be able to compel effectively. To get in without an ID, or make someone see what she wanted them to see, sure, she could manage that. To rewire someone's memories? Not yet.

"Okay, pal. " He said looking into the man's eyes *you've had too much to drink. You don't remember anything that happened after leaving the bar. You're going to go sleep it off in the back seat of your car. You can go now.*

He watched as the man walked away and let himself into his car to sleep it off.

He looked to Elena. "That is why you can't freak out in public. How I live my life doesn't matter. I'm not teaching you to be me. I'm teaching you to be better than me, more careful than me." He said cupping her face in his hands. "Do you understand that?"

"I'm sorry." She said, instinctively leaning into his touch. God she had missed this, just being with him, near him. She knew that she wasn't supposed to feel this way but she did. Even now she loved them both. It didn't matter how much she loved Stefan, she loved Damon too.

Damon stroked her hair, "God Elena…" He rested his forehead against hers. He wanted to pull her hard against him, to kiss her, make her his in spite of his brother. In spite of… he pulled back. "This is enough for one night."

He drove them back to town in silence. He was angry with himself. He should have been able to resist her charms, especially when she wasn't trying to use them in the first place. He pulled up in front of her house and parked, but didn't turn the car off. "We got off to a rocky start but you did good tonight. It'll go better next time." He told her.

"You should come inside. I know Stefan will have questions." She said "He misses you. "

"Yeah he says that now." Damon said laughing quietly.

"Damon, please. Just for a few minutes. I don't want to be the reason you two split apart. "

"Elena, Stefan and I had problems long before you came along. Besides, we're fine. We're just both busy." Damon said.

"You're coming inside." She said.

He frowned a moment and sighed. He took out his cell phone and turned it back on. It had been off for the hunting expedition such as it was. There were no messages from Sacha. Nothing he could use as an excuse to hurry out to her place right away. He turned the car off. "Okay but only for a few minutes. The three of you have school in the morning." He teased, "And I do not want to be in trouble for keeping you up too late. I have it on good authority your French teacher is a hard ass. "

"Has one you mean." Elena said getting out of the car and waiting for him to join her on the sidewalk.

"Have you been looking at my girlfriend's ass? There's hope for you yet." He teased back.

Stefan met them on the porch and Damon wondered if he had been watching for their return out the window, worried about them being alone together. He knew he would have been if the situation was reversed.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Stefan asked as he led the way back into Elena's house.

"She's new." Damon said shrugging."Her first feeding went well. We did the whole I compel them and she feeds thing this trip. We're working our way up. Just needs to work on the emotional control "He said "Or maybe I just bring out the anger in people."

"He was going on about the whole food chain thing and I got angry and couldn't control it. We ended up fighting in the parking lot." Elena said honestly.

"Yeah… it's hard the first little while to keep it under control I know." Stefan said.

"You should spend more time with Caroline. " Damon said. "I think she could use a friend right now anyway. "

"Is that you actually being compassionate?" Elena asked. "This new girlfriend must be having a hell of an effect on you." She teased.

"I'm a dick, not a complete bastard." Damon said grinning.

"Speaking of Alex," Stefan said "I have a confession to make. I went to talk to her tonight."

Damon shrugged "Okay. What did you two talk about?" He asked, amused by it really. Stefan was dying of curiosity or he wouldn't have gone out there.

"You know, I'm not really sure. The only thing I managed to find out was that she manages to politely not invite people in, makes great coffee, she's not a hunter, and that this isn't the first time you've hooked up with her. "

"You've gotten more out of her than most then." Damon said grinning. "I'm impressed. "

Stefan smiled. "I like her. I'm still trying to figure her out, but I like her. You wouldn't care to enlighten me on the subject would you?"

"Nope" He said, blue eyes twinkling. "She wants you to know she'll tell you. Don't bother trying to compel her, won't work."

"You don't feed from her, you don't compel her… " Elena said. "She's actually your girlfriend isn't she?"

"Yes. And I plan to keep this one alive thank you very much so no involving her in anything. Ever. I mean it. She's off limits." Damon told them. "I'm out of here. She's waiting up. Thanks for telling me. I'd have found out anyway but this way it doesn't feel quite so behind my back."

"I didn't mean it that way. " Stefan said.

"Never crossed my mind, Brother, I'll see you tomorrow. "Damon said and walked out the door and back to the car. He drew in a deep breath and let it out. He'd gotten through the evening without anyone dying or kissing. He could almost write it off to a success.

He texted Alex that he was on his way back to her place. When he got there he was pleased to find her seated on the porch waiting for him with a bottle of her best bourbon on the table between the chairs. "Now that's a welcome sight. Come here you." He said and smiled as she went to him and folded her arms around him.

"How did it go?" She asked softly.

"I almost blew it. I'm sorry. But I almost lost control" he admitted.

"Almost isn't the same as did." She told him. It hurt a little, not that she was going to show it. She loved him. She knew what he felt wasn't real. She knew where his heart lay. She picked up the bottle. "You want to have this out here or in the tub?"

"Do you even have to ask that?" He asked and grinned as she picked up the bottle with one hand and pulled him after her into the bathroom with the other.