Damon stormed out the hospital; making his way back through the hallway he was so familiar with and out into the open air. He tried to ignore the dull thudding in his chest and the knot of unease shifting slowly in his stomach. He climbed into his car, pulling on the gears with a renewed ferocity. Flipping the radio, he tuned into the first clear station he could find, letting the loud beats drown out his conscience. As he drove through the interstates slaughtering any and all speed limits, he kept his mind free from Elena. He focused on the dust track roads he was taking to cut down the journey time; he focused on the gas level as it creaked closer and closer to zero. He refused to let his mind wander from anything other that the road, the car, and where he was going. He pulled carelessly into the driveway of his destination, stepping out of the car and slamming the door shut amid a haze of dust.

"Ric!" he bellowed, pounding on the rough wood door. "Open the fucking door."

Ric appeared through the frosted glass surrounding the door, stumbling slightly as he grabbed the door handle and pulled it open. "Damon." He said tiredly, leaning heavily on the doorframe. "It's six in the bloody morning. Someone better be dead." Damon shrugged. Technically, someone was dead; it had been ten days ago but still, it was linked – sort of.

"And I'm awake, which means you should be too." He said, inviting himself into the house and closing the door. Ric stood near him, rubbing his chin wearily with one hand as he blinked blearily, attempting to get a grip on the situation.

"And why are you here instead of with Elena?" Ric asked sleepily, moving sluggishly into the kitchen to turn on the only kitchen appliance he knew how to work. The coffee machine made its reassuring noises as Ric settled himself at the kitchen island, rubbing his eyes gently. "I thought you two were all feelings and shit."

"She's at the hospital." Damon said tightly, ignoring the stab of hurt slicing through him as he acknowledged that whatever he and Elena may have had yesterday was gone and completely destroyed as of about thirty-four minutes ago. "And you gotta get more sleep buddy."

"Why's she at the hospital?" he asked, absently filling his mug full of coffee and inhaling deeply.

"She got shot." Damon said, leaning against a wall. "That's not what's important."

"She was shot?" Ric said, managing to conjure up energy from somewhere as inject some emotion into his voice. "Where? When? Is she okay?"

"Twice in the chest twice, ten days ago." Damon relayed dully, crossing his arms looking completely bored. "There were some bad hours," he said quietly, remembering the helplessness he'd felt as Meredith told him one evening, in fewer words, that she wasn't likely to last through the night. He hadn't slept for more that a few minutes at a time until she dismissed her previous statement, well into the early hours of the morning. "But she made it through."

"Jesus. How did she survive that?" Ric said looking pale. He glanced down at his coffee and back up at Damon, looking slightly shell-shocked. "I think I need more coffee for whatever you're planning."

"I'm not planning anything." Damon denied guiltily. "It's not even related."

"So why are you here instead of with Elena?" Ric probed, staring the younger man down intently. "I know you and her have some weird thing together," he said mockingly. "So why are you here waking me up in the middle of the night instead of with her?"

"It's six in the morning." He stated, pointing out of the window. "It's light out."

"Answer the question, Damon."

"We had a fight. We don't have a thing anymore. It's done." Damon said bluntly, avoiding eye contact. "So can we drop it?"

Ric stared at his friend for a moment, taking in the bruise-like shadows under his eyes and the worn lines in his face and the haunted look still lingering around the edges of his eyes. He saw all these things; he saw the pain and worry etched deep into his face, and he still dropped it. He nodded mutely. "Why are you here then?"

Damon sighed, stretching his arms out in front of him. "I need to find my brother."

"Why? Stefan's young, let him go crazy."

"You don't want to know the answer to that." Damon said tiredly. "Can you find him?"

Ric groaned, leaning his head on his arms. "I hate you, Damon. It's six in the morning. I don't have time to track down your missing family members."

"Ric," He said carefully. "I need to ask him questions."

"What's so important it can't wait until he comes back from his little vacances?"

"Do you think speaking French makes you sound smarter?" he teased lightheartedly, raising his eyebrows at his friend. "You didn't even bother with the accent. Now you look like an idiot."

"Damon." Ric said shrewdly. "What's so important it can't wait?"

"You really don't want me to answer that."

"Damon." He challenged warningly.

"Ric." Damon mocked, running his hands through his hair. "Do you want to tell me about every detail of your undercover work?"

Ric scowled. "At six in the morning, you're lucky you're even getting coherent dialogue."

He rolled his eyes. "Let's say, my little brother has some explaining to do." Damon said evasively. "If you find him, let me know."

"What has he done, Damon?"

Damon sighed, leaning his head in his hands. "Sometimes I don't even know."

"Hey!" a bubbly voice said excitedly as Caroline exploded into the room in a blur of blonde hair. "How are you? I've been by a couple time-" she paused, looking around unsurely. "Where's Damon?"

"He left." Elena replied emptily, hoisting herself upright. "And I'm better." She shrugged slightly.

Caroline's eye's narrowed. "Why did he leave? He'd been here non-stop."

"Because I woke up I guess." Elena snapped bitterly. "I'm okay so he left."

"He just left?" she said, her mind rejecting the information. She supposed Caroline didn't get it either.

"We may have had words before he left."

Caroline rolled her eyes exasperated. "You two are going to kill me. When he comes back just force him to talk about it. He actually likes you; he'll listen."

"I don't think he's coming back Care." Elena said in a small voice.

"What do you mean he's not coming back?" Caroline exclaimed incredulously.

Elena shrugged, running her hands through the hair. "Something's been going on Care. He didn't even tell me what really happened; he told me his version. I'm stuck in a hospital with two bullet wounds in my chest and no idea how they got there! No one is telling me anything!"

"Ugh, tell me about it." Caroline griped. "Klaus is constantly working at the clubhouse. He's looking for something." She said cryptically, her green eyes sad, beautiful and sad. Caroline paused, a sly smile crossing over her features.

"Oh god, what are you planning?" Elena moaned, chuckling slightly, trying to ignore the dull throbbing in her chest.

"Klaus and Damon aren't the only Vagrants we know." She pointed out casually, her eyes flashed impishly and she clapped her hands together, laughing with excitement. "If our boys won't tell us anything-"

"Your boys." She corrected, absently cutting Caroline off. "Whatever was going on with me and Damon is over. He made sure of that." Elena said sullenly.

"So he just cut it off?" she repeated, her face blank. "Completely?"

"Yeah." Elena shrugging.

Caroline paused for a moment, clearly thinking things over. "That makes my plan even better!" she squealed enthusiastically. "When are you getting out of here?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Caroline grinned at her slyly, leaning her chin in her hands and batting her long eyelashes. "How do you feel about coming out with me tomorrow night?"

Elena snorted skeptically. "And how does this benefit us in any way?"

Caroline rolled her eyes. "We're getting Matt and Tyler to come have drinks with us." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Again," Elena asked laughing brightly. "What exactly are the benefits of that?"

"Okay you need a serious overhaul, 'Lena." Caroline sighed sadly. "Matt thinks you're gorgeous, he's been dying to ask you out. Give him some alcohol and he'll tell you anything you want!"

"I don't know Care…" she trailed off doubtfully. "That seems kinda harsh on Matt. He might get crazy drunk but he'll still remember it in the morning."

"It'll piss Damon off. Jealous Damon is my favorite Damon." She said, her smile roguish.

"Just what I need," Elena grumbled, her resolve waning. "Damon being pissed of at me. That'll be fun." She added sarcastically.

"Does that mean you'll do it?" Caroline begged, deliberately ignoring the sarcastic tone Elena was using. "Come on 'Len, it will be fun!"

"One drink." She agreed reluctantly, snorting at Caroline's excited smile. "I mean it, one drink."

Caroline threw her arms around her, laughing like maniac. "You're the best! It's nice having you around; I've been stuck with the guys for years." She griped irritated, but anyone could see the love she had for the guys she'd replaced her family with.

"One drink Care." Elena reminded her firmly.

"Yeah yeah, one drink."

"You've got to be kidding me." Ric said, a while later when Damon finished his account of what had been going on. It had taken nearly an hour of badgering, blackmail and manipulation on Ric's part, and several unfair deals but Damon had cracked and spilled his guts to his friend. "Giuseppe doesn't half skim over the details."

Damon shrugged, rubbing his face with his hands. "Tell me about it."

"So that's why you want to find him?" Ric clarified. "Why did you even let them go?"

Damon looked away from Ric's intense gaze and retreated within himself, the memories of that night replaying in his head for the hundredth time. Why had he let them escape? This could all be over if he'd just ran after them. But of course, he'd stayed and prayed that Elena would be okay. He'd stayed with her, and let her shooter run free. If more ways than one, all he did was put her in more danger. "You know why."

"No." Ric said dryly. "I really don't, so you better start talking."

"For god's sake Ric. You know why."

"Suppose I do; still doesn't explain why you're here and not there."

"I'm no good for her Ric." Damon said, finally letting a sliver of emotion creep into his voice. The tight regret edging around his eyes wasn't foreign to Ric; he felt it too when heartbreaking memories resurfaced in his mind.

"Isn't Grayson supposed to tell you that?" Ric chuckled lightly, pouring more coffee and laying his head on the counter. "You'll be the death of me Damon. I can safely say I haven't missed you morning people." He groaned, rubbing his face wearily.

Damon cracked a smile. "Drink your coffee." He sobered up slightly. "And he did tell me that." He admitted sheepishly.

Ric spluttered with laughter. "Grayson told you to stay away from his daughter?" He coughed slightly, clearing his throat. "That's rich. He's only one of the most hated people in Phoenix. The cops want him sent down, but of course, no evidence." Ric said grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"You seem so smug about that." He noted nonchalantly.

"Course I'm smug. Who do you think gets rid of the evidence?" Ric asked him incredulously.

This time it was Damon who exploded with laughter. "You? God, what don't you do?"

"Me." He confirmed grinning like a kid on Christmas day. "And I do everything, Giuseppe ropes me into it all constantly."

Damon smirked at his friend; he knew first hand how persuading his father could be. He caught sight of the clock on the wall. "I should go you know." He said regretfully.

"You should." The older man agreed, yawning widely. "Then I can get some sleep."

Damon stood up, smirking at his friend. "Call me if you find him." He reminded him quietly, his smile dying on his lips.

"I will."

"Damon. What the fuck is going on with you and Elena?" Klaus demanded the second Damon opened his apartment door. "Caroline just called me going on about what an ass you were. I thought you liked her, man."

Damon groaned and attempted to shut the door in his friend's face. "Go away."

"No." Klaus said stubbornly, storming into the apartment. "When did you last see her? I mean you two are practically joined at the hip."

"Go away." Damon repeated through gritted teeth. "It's none of your business."

"When your girl starts talking to Caroline – and Caroline never shuts up by the way –then it's my business when I start going deaf."

"She's not my girl." Damon bit out, folding his arms across his chest. "I saw her yesterday morning, no big deal." He groaned.

"You're a crappy friend you know, she got out the hospital this morning. And she is your girl Damon and you know it. Matt's had his eye on her since she got here, but the guy didn't make a move because everyone knows she's yours."

Damon's head shot up. "Matt and Elena?"

"No. Matt," Klaus paused significantly. "Then Elena, then you." he corrected.

"You sound so much like Caroline sometimes." Damon said shaking his head. "It's horrible."

"What can I say?" Klaus chuckled ruefully. "She grows on you."

"Not on me." Damon protested, a look of horror spreading over his face. "Why are you even here?"

"Because you fucked up with Elena and I know you're miserable."

"I'm not miserable!" Damon exclaimed defiantly.

"Damon." Klaus said patiently, looking at his friend intently. "You're miserable. So you're gonna tell me why you fucked things up with her then you're gonna go find her." he told him bluntly, helping himself to a beer from Damon's fridge.

"How the hell am I supposed to find her?" he gasped incredulously. "You do realize she likes to fucking run away whenever possible."

"Only when people like you make her." Klaus said knowingly, settling himself on the couch and opening his beer. "And she's out with Caroline at the Warehouse tonight."

"Oh whatever." He scoffed. "And you let Caroline go to the Warehouse by herself? You realize she's known for being the chief of police's daughter – not your girlfriend."

Klaus gestured dismissively with his hand. "She'll be fine." Damon rolled his eyes, sitting down next to his friend on the sofa. "Come on Damon. I know you feel like shit."

"I don't feel like shit."

"Are you seriously going to argue everything I say?" Klaus moaned. "Remember when I broke up with Caroline because I felt guilty that I was putting myself between her and her family; you, being the stubborn dick that you are, made me go make it up with her." He raised his beer bottle in salute. "Just returning the favor my friend, just returning the favor."

"I'm sorry, did you almost get Caroline killed?"

"Get over that. The Vengefuls want her dead, being with you will make her safer if it makes her anything."

"Okay, examples. Day one, she was with me, a car hits her. Few days later, we're in L.A, and you don't even want to know what almost happened." Damon frowned, ranting as he bitterly listed everything that had happened. Next, she's been knocked out in the clubhouse grounds and left to rot on a back road. Then, she gets shot, in my house, and is on the verge of death for almost three days."

Klaus scoffed, shaking his head. "Day one, you took her home and looked after her. Whatever nearly happened in L.A, didn't happen because you stopped it, right?" he questioned. Damon nodded reluctantly. "Next, she was knocked out in the clubhouse, that was hardly your fault – it was the Vengefuls and we know why now. When she was shot, it was coincidence it was in you house. Not everything is on you, Damon."

"If she hadn't been out with me that car wouldn't have hit her. If she hadn't been in L.A, nothing would have happened. If I hadn't taken her out, she wouldn't have been alone in the garage. She wouldn't have been shot if she'd stayed at the clubhouse!"

"Okay, stop." Klaus said exasperated. "Somehow, Elena has managed to get inside that pretty little head of yours and now you think she's better of without you." He nearly bellowed, trying to make his friend see sense. "Now, she's out at the Warehouse instead of at home doing whatever the hell it is you two do!"

"Klaus-" Damon started to say but Klaus quickly cut him off.

"Caroline says she pissed. She's got no idea what she did that made you stop it. Don't you get it? If anything she's the one who was putting you in more danger."

"Shut up!" Damon yelled at his friend. "I'll fucking talk to her!" Klaus sat back smugly in the leather sofa, drinking his beer with a slick smirk on his face. "That's my beer you're drinking." He told him dryly.

"You'll thank me for drinking your beer when you figure out that I'm the ultimate wingman."

Damon stood up irritably and slid on his coat. "Wingman? Who even says that anymore?" he griped continuously and he opened his front door, pointing for Klaus to get out. "Come on, I'm not hauling Caroline's drunken ass back to your place: you get your girl; I'll get mine."

"Caroline-e-e-e-e-e!" Elena cried happily, throwing her arms around the bubbly blonde. "I said one drink." She said, frowning slightly. "And now I've lost count."

Caroline squealed and threw her arms around Tyler's neck, smoothing his hair down absentmindedly. "Blame this one." She giggled, "He made us."

Matt chuckled and unwound Caroline's arms from around Tyler's neck. "Leave the poor guy alone Care." He scolded lightly, sitting back down at the booth they had claimed at the Warehouse. "How you doing?" he asked Elena concerned. "I heard you were in the hospital."

"Oh yeah." She said nodding enthusiastically, drinking another gulp of her drink. "I was shot. It was dead dramatic." She slurred drunkenly.

Matt's eyes bugged out of his head and he took her drink away from her. "Jesus, Elena, you shouldn't be drinking. When?"

Elena shrugged, massaging her temples. She was starting to sober up and she was not enjoying it one bit. "Eleven days ago." She said hesitantly after a lingering silence.

Matt's eyes stared at her in wonder. "Are you okay?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "I don't actually know what happened because Damon's a dick…"

"Woh-oh." Caroline said pacifyingly, patting Elena's head. "Ignore her. Damon's just not told her anything about anything that's going on." Elena furrowed her brow, looking confusedly at Caroline. Maybe she was the drunk one. When did she become the drunken one? She was never the drunk one. She carried on massaging her temples, determinedly clinging onto the remains of her buzz. She was not looking forward to coming down. "Yeah, so no one has told her anything, and that's dead unfair don't you think?" Caroline said seductively, winding a strand of hair around her finger as she stared at Tyler.

"Oh yeah." He coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat. "We figured Damon would tell you…" Tyler exchanged an uncomfortable look with Matt, and then began rotating the glass he was holding.

"Yeah, but Damon's a dick-" Elena said, hiccupping violently, sending shooting pains through her chest, sobering her up dramatically in the time it took her to blink. "Ow." She winced, rubbing the sore spot on her ribs.

"You okay?" Caroline asked quietly, mutely freaking out. "This was such a stupid idea. You literally just got out this morning…" Caroline broke off, looking like she was about to cry.

"No, it was a good idea." Elena reassured her, rubbing her shoulder. "It doesn't even hurt anymore." She admitted, semi-truthfully. There was still a dull hurt nestling in her chest, but somehow, it didn't seem related to a gun.

Matt was watching her carefully; his knowing blue eyes studying every inch of her face. It wasn't until Caroline dragged Tyler up to dance to seduce more information out of him; she was exceptionally talented on that front; that he asked her what was wrong.

"You should head back." Matt told her softly. "Caroline's been drinking so she hasn't noticed but you look miserable."

"I'm not miserable!" she protested, absently rubbing the aching spot by her neck.

"Those still hurt don't they?" He asked her quietly.

Elena shrugged, leaning her face in her hands. "Yeah." She admitted softly. "A little bit."

"Come on 'Lena, quit acting drunk and just do what you want."

Elena snorted, laughing lightly. "Do what I want?" she echoed grinning. She held out her hand expectantly. "I want to dance!"

Matt shook his head exasperated, a bright smile on his lips as he took her waiting hand and led her onto the dance floor, letting him twirl her around to the pounding beats. "One day I'll figure you out, Elena Gilbert." Matt promised her light-heartedly.

"I doubt it." She told him coyly, breaking away from the mass of jostling bodies and fighting her way back to the booth. She glanced around, catching sight of Caroline drunkenly draping her arms around Klaus, her beam a mile wide. She couldn't help but let a small smile creep onto her face at the look Klaus was giving her; he was irritated beyond belief, he was going to give her an earful when she woke up, but he was still looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world, and to him, she probably was. She turned back to Matt, slyly stealing his beer off of him. "One drink?" she pleaded taking a sip anyway.

Matt shook his head defeated. "Whatever I say isn't going to stop you, is it?"

She took a drink, leaving the neck of the bottle poised teasingly between her teeth as she shook her head. "Nah." She smiled, an easy smile slipping through her lips. "In the end of it all, you can say what you like, but it's not going to make a difference when it comes down to it." She told the blond slightly bitterly.

"Never pegged you for a pessimist Elena." A familiar voice said. She looked up briefly to see Damon smoothly sliding into the booth next to her. "Smart." He snorted. "It's not like you're on pain meds or anything." He took the bottle away from her and shoved it into the arms of a passing waiter.

"Oh the joys." Elena grumbled, rolling her eyes widely. "It's Damon." She said, putting as much sarcasm into her excited tone as possible. "Hey Matt, did you know that Damon is just the source off all my troubles?"

Damon groaned, resting an arm against the back of the booth. "We're leaving, you idiot." He said, hoisting her up gently by the arm, slightly surprised when she stood up willingly.

"Hey man, you can't force her to…" Matt protested weakly, gesturing at her.

"Pain meds and alcohol don't mix." He said patiently. "If she passes out here no one thinks twice and she dies; so I'm taking her home."

"Oh get over it." Elena said loudly, pulling her arms free of Damon's grip. "Why are you even here?"

"I need to talk to you." He muttered, avoiding eye contact with her.

Elena rolled her eyes and crossed her arms stubbornly. "Let me rephrase that, why are you here because apparently you being seen with me if going to put me in just so much danger?" she scowled, her brown eyes a turmoil of hurt and anger and sadness.

"I'm just going to-" Matt cleared his throat awkwardly, standing up and edging around the couple. "Yeah, bye."

"Come on, we're leaving." Damon said dismissively.

"Why do you care?" Elena said blankly.

"Just please." Damon sighed, hesitantly cupping her cheeks for just a moment. "I'll explain okay? Just let me take you home."

Elena sighed and she knew if any of her girlfriends were here right now they'd be yelling at her to tell him where to shove his explanation, but they weren't here and she was torn between the desperation in his voice and the worn, tired look in his gaze. She closed her eyes for a moment and nodded once, sliding on her jacket and walking past him, her hips swaying temptingly to the beat. Damon allowed himself a moment to appreciate just how gorgeous Elena truly was; with her long brown hair cascading down her back in loose waves and those endless legs looking even longer in the black heels she was wearing. He shook himself mentally, walking faster to catch up to him, a hand pressed gently on the small of her back.

They got outside and Elena paused, turning around slightly so he saw most of her face, just a glimmer of it hidden by the shadows. "I was right you know." She pointed out, a soft edge to her tone. He looked up, meeting her gaze with a silent question. She shrugged absently, opening the door of his car and sliding inside, not even looking his way until he was in the driver's seat. She blinked, her wide brown eyes looking like endless pits of emotions, where no one feeling was tangible amongst the host of others. She broke his gaze, looking resignedly out of the window.

She shrugged again, just a tiny imperceptible movement of her shoulders. "You left."