Elena looked like a deer caught in headlights. Her wide, brown eyes were filled with shock and Damon, being impulsive and having no ability to process thoughts, hovered over her, caging her tightly against the rough wall and did the only thing he could think of to make them seem less guilty.

He kissed her.

What happened in the next few seconds was both blurry and shockingly clear at the same time.

The clearness came from Elena. From the way her lips felt, soft and warm, under his. From the feel of her hair as his hands moved to tangle them in it. It came from the feel of her hands wrapped tightly around his neck. The way her body molded to his and the way her lips moved beneath his.

The blurriness came afterwards.

"What the hell?" Grayson exploded violently.

Damon broke his lips away from Elena's, breathing heavily but not moving away from her. She leant her head back against the wall, her chest moving rapidly. Her face was flushed and her eyes were bright and excited. Giuseppe stepped into the room, and for the first time, he wasn't taking things lightly. The creases around his eyes were crinkled with worry, and the deep lines settling in his forehead only indicated trouble.

"Dad." Damon said suddenly, and just like that the tension seeped out of the room. Damon Salvatore, however much he loved his father, hadn't addressed him as 'Dad' in years. Not in company at least. Not anymore. "Dad, what happened?"

Giuseppe sighed and sat down heavily onto one of the plush leather sofas. "Sit down."

"Giuseppe," Grayson started to say slowly. "Do you really think-?"

"Yes." Giuseppe cut him off sharply. "I've humored you long enough. I'm telling them both everything and if you try to stop me, so help me god I will cut you loose."

Grayson nodded once, accepting the authority in the other man's words and leant rigidly against a doorframe. Damon wound his way to another of the sofas, a hand resting gently on Elena's back. Grayson watched them both like a hawk, and despite his natural instinct to kick Damon's ass he knew the kid better than he knew his own daughter and he had watched him grow up from a good kid with his mischievous habits to a good man who was as loyal as he was dangerous.

"Start with John." Grayson prompted from the corner.

Giuseppe sighed. "John was in the Riot Bunch ten, eleven years ago and he quit to become a police officer. Give us a police officer with the know how of a M.C and you have nearly a sure fire way to get leads that will give us the upper hand."

Damon stared at his father steadily, not breaking his gaze. "You knew him." Giuseppe said to his son. "John Somers."

"John Somers?" Elena gasped, glancing at Damon for a split-second. "John's been helping you with this case?"

The three men stared at her incredulously. Elena shrugged. "I know him."

"John's the guy who knew who worked in the police dept.?" Damon snorted incredibly. "How many circles does this guy run in?"

"Enough to make him dangerous." Grayson said pessimistically.

Elena snorted quietly. "Sure he's got a wild side, and I knew he was in to bikes but he's not dangerous. He's loyal as hell."

"That's the point." Giuseppe said darkly. "Loyal to who?"

"They're crazy!" Elena said loudly when both older men left the room.

"They have a right to wonder." Damon said reasonably. "How many people could you say that right now you trusted one hundred percent?" Elena glared at him. "Answer the question." He demanded.

"You."

"And?"

Elena shrugged. "I don't trust many people."

"You don't trust Gray?" Damon said gently.

She shrugged and folded her arms over her chest. "Not exactly."

And he stopped. He stopped the questioning; he stopped trying to change her mind. He stopped and let her be. He stopped; he just stopped and watched her unfold, slowly letting him in.

"You're quiet." She noted as they subconsciously wandered towards the bike sheds.

He looked at her mysteriously and swung a leg over his bike, forgetting about his proper leathers and fastening his black helmet over his head.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Come on. We have research to do."

Elena grinned and grabbed her helmet and sliding it on her head. She sighed and she swung her leg over the bike. Somehow skintight jeans weren't a practical clothing option for her. At least she'd had the sense to wear flat shoes.

Damon's shadowy black bike raced off into the late afternoon sun with her following behind, the black of the paint job reflecting blue in the fading sunlight.

What seemed like moments later, she was staring at a warehouse illuminated by the soft glow of dimmed lighting.

"Research?" she asked skeptically, pulling up beside him, glancing momentarily at the scarce selection of bikes lined up outside.

He glanced at her, those ice blue irises smiling at her. He took her hand hesitantly and led her inside to the small bar set up at the back.

"Damon Salvatore." The bartender greeted enthusiastically. "You've not been down this way in months."

Damon nodded, smiling ever so slightly, tapping an irregular beat onto the worn wooden bar top. "You know I love it here."

Elena tuned out of the conversation transpiring between the two men and studied the large warehouse room. It was mostly empty, a few scattered groups standing idly around the room. The lighting was dim and flickering and the whole room had the feeling that more happened here that anyone realized.

"You don't usually bring women down this way, do you?" the barman asked chuckling. Elena brought her gaze back to meet the young barman's face. "Elijah." He nodded in greeting.

"As in Klaus?" she questioned, glancing at Damon who gave an almost invisible nod.

Elijah nodded and grinned at her. "Elena Gilbert." She introduced herself, studying Elijah's face to gauge his reaction.

"So there's more." He said, more to himself. "Grayson's daughter?" She nodded slowly. Elijah stared at Damon accusingly. "What brings you to our neck of the woods? Michael's been circling recently."

"Information." Damon said bluntly, abruptly standing up and leading Elena over to a small table situated near the edge of the dance floor.

Elena snorted and looked around the deserted bar. "You're getting information from here?"

Damon leant back in his chair, once again, tapping out a beat with his fingers. "Watch it come to life."

A couple hours and several drinks later, the place was electric.

"What is this place?" Elena asked, her eyes bright and captivating under the lighting.

"It's the Warehouse." Damon said leaning forwards so she could hear him.

Elena smiled softly at him without reason, and as quickly as the smile appeared it was gone, faded into her flushed cheeks. "Imaginative name, but what is it?"

"It's where you go." Damon shrugged. "You need something, you come here."

"And what's wrong with a regular shop?" she asked cheekily.

Damon smirked crookedly. "Okay. If you need something illegal, highly suspicious or dangerously obtained, you come here." He corrected, counting the options off on his fingers.

Elena laughed loudly, causing heads to turn in her direction. This was a place where faces were known in the crowd and the newbies stood like beacons.

"Why are we here?" she asked, leaning backwards onto the counter, looking so utterly untouchable he had never wanted her so badly.

"Information." He announced, gulping down the last of his drink and taking her hand. "Watch and learn."

So she did. She watched the ways he picked people out of the thrall and laughed charmingly with them, flirting his way into an easy target. She saw the way the second they let slip something useful he would excuse himself and disappear into the jostling crowds. She saw the way his frown deepened and he stalked off abruptly – but not before glancing around the room and locking eyes with her. In a way it worried her. It was like he was checking to make sure she was still there.

Elena gave up watching and stalked back to the bar.

"He shouldn't have left you alone." Elijah said good-naturedly. "This isn't the safest place for you to be." She raised an eyebrow without a word and drank another sip of her beer. She made a skeptical noise of agreement. "I mean it."

She put her bottle down and stared Elijah down. "Nowhere is safe for me." She said through gritted teeth.

Elijah gave up with her and sauntered down to the other end of the bar.

"Elena! Hi!" Came an excitable voice from behind her.

She turned round slowly, coming face to face with her friend.

"Caroline!" she said, genuinely happy to see the girl. While she classed Caroline as a friend to her, they hadn't had a chance to talk for more than ten minutes without her getting hit by a car or something equally dramatic.

Caroline surprised her with a tight hug. "I can't believe you didn't let me come to L.A with you." She pouted.

"It was kind of last minute." She replied chuckling.

Caroline shrugged. "L.A is L.A and I've never been."

"Hey Gilbert." Klaus interrupted pleasantly. "You're not here by yourself are you?" he asked frowning.

Both girls stared at him intently. "Why?" she said patiently.

Klaus shrugged and refused to answer. "He's over there." Elena sighed, pointing Damon out in the crowd. Klaus gave Caroline a sweet kiss on the cheek and disappeared to join his friend.

Caroline shook her head. "Something weird is going on."

"Tell me about it." Elena spat out angrily. "He refuses to tell me anything."

Caroline smirked. "He'll tell you."

Elena smiled half-heartedly. "I doubt it."

"I've known Damon," Caroline started, "way longer than I like to admit. Trust me when I say he'll tell you."

"He hasn't though. And why should he? No one else has." Elena frowned and ordered another drink.

"Because he likes you. He really likes you, Elena." Caroline said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

A few days ago, Elena would have laughed, but no, having experienced the way his lips felt on hers and the way her whole body had tingled she couldn't deny it.

"Oh my god!" Caroline squealed. "You like him!"

"It's complicated Car'." Elena said wearily, just before Damon wandered over and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Sorry." He murmured in her ear. "Caroline." He greeted dryly.

Caroline grinned widely. "Damon." She threw a wink in Elena's direction. "Bye 'Lena." And walked off in Klaus' direction.

"What was that?" Damon said amused, his arm still wrapped loosely around her shoulder.

"Just Caroline." She chuckled. Her laugh faded on her lips.

"Hey." Damon said gently. "What's up?"

"If I ask you something, will you answer me?" she asked quietly, looking him straight in the eyes. Damon sighed and tugged lightly on her hands so she was standing. "Why is everyone so worried when they see me alone?" Frankly, she was scared to know the answer.

"Not here." Damon replied simply, leading her out of the crowded room and into the cold night air. He glanced around quickly, and led her around a corner into a dark alley. She bounced up and down attempting to warm herself up. Damon chuckled and wrapped his jacket around his shoulder. She wrapped it around herself, inhaling the smell of him. "Why didn't you wear your jacket?" he asked curiously, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

"I forgot it." She said ruefully. She smirked at him coyly. "I got distracted."

He winked at her. "My distraction techniques are excellent." Damon looked her up and down appreciatively. He saw her way too often wearing his clothes, and every time it made him want her more.

Elena swallowed roughly, trying to focus on something other that the shocking blue eyes. Something other that the way his lips had felt on hers only hours ago. Something other than Damon Salvatore.

All attempt of focusing on something else was gone the second he leaned in to claim her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let him push her back against the wall. His hands found their way from her hair to her waist, pulling her as close to him as humanly possible.

He was like a drug. She'd had one hit and now she was addicted. She was addicted to his laugh, to his smile, to his eyes. She was addicted to his kisses and his touch. She was addicted to him.

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms tight around her waist. He refused to move his mouth from hers. He felt her smile at his insistence and he pulled away gently, looking her straight in those big brown eyes.

"What was that for?" she asked quietly, gazing up at him.

He pressed his lips against hers softly. "Nothing. I just wanted to."

She rolled her eyes and for the first time, she kissed him. "And I wanted to do that."

He loosed his arms and let her step back from him slightly. "Do you want your questions answered now?"

"Not particularly." Elena said dryly, stepping completely back from him and tried to stop a wide smile creeping onto his face.

"Tough." He stuck his tongue out childishly at her. "You ask, I answer." He threaded his fingers through hers and led her gently back to their bikes. "Meet me at the clubhouse."

Elena studied him, about to say something. Obviously thinking better of it she shrugged off his jacket is handed it back to him. Damon shook his head and gave it back.

"You'll freeze."

"So will you."

He sighed. "Tough."

She laughed lightly and put the jacket back on. "My way or the high way, right?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Damn right."

She pulled into the workshop and leant against her bike, eyes trained on the open door. She tried not to worry, there had been traffic on the way here, and Damon had once said he wasn't used to traffic, in L.A the traffic had been hell, and she'd been well used to cutting through. She turned around and wandered around to examine the other bikes around the shop. Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind her. She managed to turn around abruptly before a sharp pain erupted on her head and everything went black.

Damon cursed as he finally pulled into the Vagrant grounds. How hard was it really to navigate traffic? For Elena, it was apparently effortless; he had lost sight of her around half an hour ago when she expertly wound her way through the packed cars. He rolled into the open garage and frowned at Elena's discarded helmet lying on the floor and her bike left standing in the middle of the shop.

He hung her helmet over the handlebars and wheeled her sportster into line. After parking his own bike, he shut up the garage and retreated into the clubhouse.

"Hey Dad." He greeted his father as he walked into the study. He spoke quickly before Giuseppe could start going on about what he'd interrupted earlier. "Don't suppose you know where Elena disappeared to?"

Giuseppe stopped smirking and stared his son down. "She hasn't been in here Damon. I heard a bike about twenty minutes ago, no one's come into the clubhouse."

Damon froze. "I was right behind her." He groaned, running his hand through his hair while he fished out his phone with the other. "But she's better with traffic and got out before me." He called her number and held it to his ear, growling at the irritating message he received.

"Her phone's off." He snarled, jumping out of the seat and making his way towards the door. Giuseppe laid a hand reassuringly on his shoulder.

"She'll be fine." He said quietly. "It's the Vengefuls. They take hostages, and they wait until we know they have them before they do anything. They might send us a fruit basket."

Damon's eyes blazed. "This is Elena, Dad! Not some nobody who was in the wrong place at the wrong time! They want her dead!"

Giuseppe stopped Damon abruptly. "How do you know they want her dead?"

"I was at the Warehouse, I overhead someone say to their friend."

"What did they say, Damon!" Giuseppe asked sternly. "What did they say?"

He stared at his father bewildered as he recited the words that made his heart constrict. "She's the one they want dead. Word has it then won't drag it out this time." He said blankly. "I've been over it and over it. They didn't say any names, they didn't say anything useful."

Giuseppe grabbed his phone off the dark oak desk. "I'm calling Gray, you better go. He's pissed at you, and now he's going to be ready to kill someone – trust me."

"Where am I suppose to go?" he asked incredulously. "They could be on their way anywhere!"

"Damon!" Giuseppe said exasperated. "How many Vengefuls have you tracked down? Hundreds! If anyone can find her, you can. Not to mention that for once, you actually care about the person you have to find."

Damon shook his head. "You had to work it in there didn't you old man? You just had to make a comment."

Giuseppe shrugged. "You know I had to. Gray will be here soon, make yourself scarce. Call when you find her, Damon, for once. Don't just take her home and crash out with her. For god's sake, just let me know you're okay."

Damon nodded, and clapped his father on the shoulder. "I'll be fine. You're getting sentimental." He managed a small smile and he slipped out the door into the courtyard.

"Be careful you reckless idiot." Giuseppe ordered.

"Aren't I always?" Damon grinned. "Bye Dad!" he called over his shoulder as he ran fun pelt towards his bike.

Giuseppe watched as the black bike drove away, heading somewhere with complete confidence. Damon was good at finding people and weeding them out, he just hoped whatever feelings he had for Elena didn't endanger them both.

Elena opened her eyes blearily and blinked to clear the fogginess while trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her head. She sat up slowly, drawing her hair away from her face automatically and tying in up in a high ponytail. Her hand brushed past a sensitive spot and the world spun around her.

She winced as she pressed down. Her hand came away red. She stood up shakily and surveyed her surroundings, praying she say something – anything – that looked familiar.

She couldn't believe it. She was standing, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. There was only hard packed dirt and deserted side roads as far as she could see. She wrapped Damon's jacket tightly around her and fished out her jacket, almost crying when her signal dropped. Had whoever had taken her honestly just left her on the side of the street? Was that how people played their games now?

She sat down dejectedly in the dirt and held her head in her hands.

She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there, but by the feel of her muscles and the lightening sky she'd fallen asleep at some point and she'd been woken by the sound of a old truck running loyally not ten feet away from her.

"You alright there?" a kind faced man asked worriedly.

She looked up, barely daring to believe there was actually someone here. "What time is it?" she asked slowly, standing up shakily. She looked around panicking. "Where am I?"

The man got out his car quickly and walked over to Elena, hesitantly grasping her shoulders. "It's a little after seven a.m. and you're on one of the back roads leading west into Phoenix." He spoke slowly. "What's your name?" he asked gently.

"Elena." She said shakily. The man's presence eased her panic only slightly, she was still clueless to her whereabouts.

"Well Elena, I'm Ric." The guy said kindly. "Wanna tell me what happened?"

"I don't- I don't know." She began. "I was in the garage and someone hit me with something and I woke up here."

Ric's creases in his forehead deepened. "You have no idea who it was?"

She shook her head. "Why are you out here?" she asked suddenly.

"I don't like traffic. I've been out of Phoenix a while, I missed the back roads." He shrugged.

Elena calmed down slightly and a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her. It must have been around midnight when her and Damon had left the Warehouse. She looked around. How long had she been lying there? It can't have been too long.

"Look." Ric said wearily. "Frankly that cut on your head is worrying me. I can take you to the E.R or I can take you somewhere in Phoenix. We're only about an hour out."

"I-" Elena glanced at her phone. She still no signal and her battery was dying rapidly. "Can I can someone? They're probably losing their mind." She managed a small smile.

Ric handed her a phone. "You'll have to wait a bit. You never get enough reception for a phone call out here."

Elena nodded. "Okay."

"Come on. I'm not leaving you out here." Ric ordered, opening the passenger door for her. She climbed in and settled against the worn leather.

"Hey." Ric said, snapping his fingers. "Don't go to sleep, I know enough first aid to know that."

"M'kay." She murmured, trying to keep her eyes open as Ric sped through the dusty back roads way over the speed limit as the sun rose.

"We're about ten minutes out of central Phoenix." Ric said, shocking her out of her daydream. "Try calling, and if there's still no signal I'll ask that breakfast place is they have a phone."

She nodded blearily, fighting to keep her eyes open. She dialed the number she'd been desperate to call for hours and held it to her ear, hoping he would answer.

"Hullo?" came a weary, distorted, yet beautifully familiar voice from the speaker.

"Hey." She croaked out, smiling just a little bit.

There was as silence on the other end for a minute or so. "Elena?" Damon asked incredulously.

"Hey Damon." She said weakly.

"I- you-" Damon spluttered. "Where are you? I'll come get you."

Elena glanced at the breakfast bar behind her. "Outside some breakfast bar. Apparently we're ten minutes out of Phoenix."

The phone went deadly silent. "We?"

Elena cringed. She blamed lack of sleep and trauma for the stupid mistake. Not to mention the pounding in her head. "Someone gave me a ride."

"Elena!" Damon yelled. "People seem to be intent on killing you and you accept a ride of a stranger? For god's sake, Elena!"

"Yes I did accept a ride off a stranger." She said shortly. "I was an hour out of the city on one of the back roads, you idiot. I'm damn lucky he drove by-"

"Oh it was a guy too? This just gets better and better." Damon snapped sarcastically.

They both sighed simultaneously. "Look I'm sorry." He said quietly. "But I've been freaking the fuck out 'Lay." the nickname slipped out easily. "Can I come pick you up?"

She closed her eyes for a second, dozing for a few seconds. "I don't really know where I am."

Ric tapped her shoulder and muttered something. "Bree's, up on Sampson."

Elena mouthed a thank you to him and relayed the information to Damon.

"I'll be ten minutes max 'Lay. I plan on slaughtering the speed limit." He told her bluntly.

She chuckled weakly. "I can last ten minutes." She hung up and gave the phone back to Ric.

"Thank you." She told him sincerely. "I really mean it."

"I just did what anyone would have done." He said modestly.

"Nah. People would have just left me there." She pointed out reasonably.

"Oh whatever. It was nothing. I was heading this way anyway, and you were just sitting there. I had to help you."

"Well thank you." She grinned as wide as she could manage.

"Just promise me you won't end out on any more back roads? And get that cut checked out!" he said grinning. "I think your ride's here." He pointed to a car speeding along the road in the distance, definitely over the speed limit.

Elena sighed. "That's probably him. You're a life saver."

Ric chuckled. "Well if you see me around, come say hey." He told her just as a light blue car cam speeding around the corner.

"I will." She smiled weakly, desperate to go home and sleep.

Damon's car skidded to a halt a little way away from her, sending dirt flying into the air. He was out of the car and standing in front of her in moments. He cupped her face in his hands, studying her for any signs of damage. Luckily, her ponytail had loosened and it was draped over her throbbing cut. She wasn't sure what to do. She wasn't sure what to say.

Damon pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping his arms securely around her torso. Elena locked her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck.

"Thanks for picking me up." She murmured into his neck.

Damon, utterly surprising her, kissed her hair sweetly. "Anytime."

Sorry for mistakes, I just wanted to get this up. I'll go over it and correct in later. Reviews would be great, this could go in hundreds of directions. What would like to see? I'm open to pretty much everything.

POLYVORE: .com