chapter 4

The air was thick, reeking of stale cigarette smoke, and Damon was aware of why he drank at the house; alone. Drowning in heartbreak, misery, and everything in between, Damon didn't want a flicker of emotion to escape from within the walls of the boarding house.

But today, along with a few exceptions, he felt a drink wouldn't show too much of his true self. It was just a few drinks, a perfect distraction from his confrontation with the little witch. Bonnie had successfully put a wrench in his plans, and he'd be damned if he lost his composure over someone so worthless and cunning. He worked too hard to let someone as insignificant as Bonnie ruin things.

Damon grabbed his drink from the pretty bartender, smiled politely, and drained half the scotch in one gulp, the alcohol burning all the way down. He closed his eyes, in a rare moment of broken down walls, and relished in the feeling. It were these rare moments that he pretended he was still alive and capable of experiencing the full effects of alcohol.

With scotch pumping through his body, it helped to tone down the anger he was feeling for Bonnie. But while it curbed the intensity, it didn't erase how much he wished the little witch was either dead or in another time zone.

"Looks like that wasn't the warm reception you were expecting."

The words startled Damon. They weren't words that Alaric would use. He was just a history teacher thinking he would become the next Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

"Bonnie Bennett is a bitch," Damon snarled, his eyes lingering on the shelves of expensive, aged liquor. "I wasn't expecting anything less than what she dished out."

Alaric shook his head and took a sip of beer. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated at the last moment; he knew the risk of pushing the vampire beyond his limits. The hospital had been enough of a demonstration.

"She's so different," Alaric reflected, remembering the old Bonnie he taught history to. "Without her grandmother, who's going to teach her control?"

And just like that, Alaric spoke the words that had been eating at Damon's mind for days.

"No one," Damon snapped coldly, suddenly furious that he couldn't voice his concerns so easily. "Bonnie can't be trusted right now. There's no one to guide her through this transition in her life. I'm not saying she's a villain Ric, but the power of magic has a strong hold on her. She feels different now."

"Or maybe the magic is bringing out how she really feels."

"Smart deduction," Damon muttered, waving down the bartender for another drink. He needed something with a little more bite - something like bourbon. "But now isn't the time to rely on maybe's and what ifs."

The bartender appeared, leaning forward, and exposing her cleavage at Alaric. For the past twenty minutes, she was hitting on him and laying it thick, but Alaric wasn't the type to play the field. Besides, if he had to play vampire slayer for Damon, it wasn't like he had the time to pursue his personal desires.

"Can I get you anything else, doll?" She drawled, in a silky smooth lithe as she slid Damon's drink across the bar top. It stopped right in front of him and he smiled.

"Another beer," was Alaric's disinterested response.

With that, he turned back to Damon who was sporting an amused look.

"The ladies love you," he taunted. "Isn't that cute?"

"They love fantasies," the teacher muttered uncomfortably, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "You know, those school girl fantasies."

"Oh I know," Damon chimed in. "But the question is why are you turning down a perfectly hot piece of ass, teach?"

"My heart belongs to another."

"Sickening and sweet. I should've figured you as the sappy, sentimental type. Tell me, is it your dear dead wife Isobel or the charming Jenna Sommers?"

"I'm not here to talk girls. I'm here to talk solutions."

Damon feigned hurt. "Aww, are you trying to get rid of me so soon?"

"Yes." Alaric sighed as the bartender set another beer in front of him. "I'm probably going to hell for siding with the wrong party. What am I thinking, anyway? Helping a vampire..."

"Well, if you were trying to win points to become the next Buffy, I'd say you're real behind. Probably in the negatives."

"Would you cut it with the pop culture references?" Alaric snapped, shooting Damon a look filled with malice. "I thought we were here to talk business, not to sit here and talk women."

"Well, you stared at her rack, Ricky. I was just making polite conversation about something that would interest both of us."

Alaric's shoulders slumped, showing defeat. "I'm not even going to respond to that, Damon. But I will tell you that you should tone down your excitement right now. Bonnie is outside, across the street, and she's watching you intently."

"I don't care about Bonnie," Damon snapped. Just the thought of her made his blood boil. He would rip off her head if he had the chance, but her powers would kill him before he reached her. "She's not stupid enough to do anything in public."

"...but if no one trains her, how can we say if she'll be smart or stupid with her magic?"

"We can't say." Damon stressed the words slowly. He couldn't count or rely on anyone, especially Bonnie. "But I'm very sure she won't hurt you or Elena..."

"Don't try and make me feel better." Alaric winced, taking a swig of beer before pounding it on the bar. "Forgive me if I'm a little out of sorts, Damon. The world of supernatural creatures hasn't exactly been easy for me to transition into, either."

"Excuses. All of you humans always have an excuse. Do you realize that?"

Alaric gave him a cold look. "I seem to know a vampire that uses his past as an excuse for his wrongdoings."

The teacher made a good point, but Damon wasn't going to tell him that. Instead, he flashed his cocky, signature grin and finished off the bourbon. "Now that I'm probably liquored up, Ric, why don't you tell me what was so important?"

"Jeremy called Jenna last night around 11." Alaric hesitated. "Jenna was upstairs, and I felt it wasn't fair that she was burdened with Jeremy. He sounded scared and weak. When I tried to ask where he was, the kid lost his nerve and hung up."And?" Damon waited. And waited.

"And that's it."

"Great job. I know exactly what I knew a minute ago. But I have to hand it to you, you sure know how to waste time."

Alaric sighed. "Listen, we didn't know if Jeremy is alive or dead. Now we know."

"Hello, Ric. Are you aware of the year? Jeremy overdosed with Anna's blood in his system. We can't rule out the possibility that he joined the dark side."

"Jeremy's not Anakin Skywalker turned Darth Vader. Quit it with the bad analogies."

"Ooo. The teacher is a little testy today."

"Testy doesn't cover it, Salvatore. If you want me help, shut up and listen."

"Who says I want your help, teacher?"

"Right now, it's not about what either of us wants, but what needs to be done. We both have people we care about and want to protect. Arguing isn't going to get either of us closer to an answer."

Damon propped his elbows onto the bar top. His mind was torn, unsure what his next move was going to be. And then there was Bonnie who put a kink in his plans. With a weighty sigh, Damon tilted his lead and looked at Alaric, showing for the first time just how tired and worn he really was.

"What do you propose?"

"Something you said gave me a great idea. Jeremy wouldn't leave home without his phone, right?"

He blinked. "Right. And?"

"Kids thrive on technology. Their cell phone is essentially an extension of who they are. So, why not track Jeremy's phone?"

"Great idea. Let me just run back to the boarding house and grab my tracking equipment."

Alaric gave him a warning look. "You're thick with the Sheriff. Make her an offer she can't refuse."

"The Sheriff is preoccupied, Ric. Plus, this is Mystic Falls not NYC."

"Hey, it was just an idea. If you have a better one, please do share."

Damon frowned, a sour expression on his face. "I hate it when you're right, Saltzman."

He dropped a few bills on the bar. Sliding off of the stool effortlessly, Damon gave the vampire hunter a slight smile. All in all, Alaric Saltzman wasn't terrible company.

"Try to dig up more information on Stefan and Jeremy."

Alaric frowned. "And how would you like me to do that, Damon?"

"You're resourceful. Put that history degree to good use."

And with that, Damon sauntered out of the front door. Just as Alaric said, Bonnie stood across the street, her eyes dark and dangerous and focused directly on Damon. The witch was proving to be of little use, and he was sorely tempted to find a way to take her out or remove her powers, but as long as the amulet hung around her neck, Damon knew that Bonnie Bennett was a threat that no one could afford to forget about.

He stepped onto the sidewalk, challenging her by staring hard.

"If you stay on your side, I'll stay on mine." He paused. "For now."

A light wind rippled through the downtown, blowing Bonnie's hair into a frizzy mess. Damon couldn't deny that she looked positively evil, ready to blast him into smithereens.

"Okay, okay," Damon added, wincing slightly, his hands raised in surrender. "Cool it with the special effects. Right now, I have bigger problems, and you're just delaying their resolution. Later, Bennet."

He rotated his hand in a half wave, but deep down, Damon knew there was a lot to fear.

Bonnie shared Emily's kindness, but their power was unstoppable and devastating in the wrong hands. As much as he tried to have faith in her because she was Elena's best and most trusted friend, he couldn't find himself capable of trusting her. Not even for a second.

The Bennett's had their own agenda.

Good thing Damon had his own.

X0X0

In two minutes time, Damon reached his destination.

The police station, for a Saturday afternoon, was surprisingly chaotic with officer running from cubicle to cubicle, dropping papers and sharing information. It was the kind of big city system that seemed out of place for such a small town.

His eyes scanned the back of the room where the Sheriff's office was. The door was closed along with the blinds. It was a bad time to burst into her office and demand a favor, but Liz Forbes was his last hope at finding Jeremy - Stefan too.

The chaos of people around him didn't even notice Damon. He walked straight up the middle without a single officer asking who he was or what he was doing. This lack of attention to detail was going to cost a lot of lives, Damon was certain of it. They were careless and too focused on all the wrong things.

Reaching the end of the hall, he lightly knocked on the door and let it fly open before a response was given. What Damon saw caught him off guard. For the briefest second, he felt a little bad for her, but the feeling disappeared as if it had never been felt.

Sheriff Forbes was strikingly pale. Her eyes were sunken in, and she looked as if she hadn't eaten in days. Elizabeth Forbes, for a human, wasn't half bad, but Damon didn't want to bring her closer to the truth about who he was. She was too engrossed and worried about Caroline. Getting any information or help out of her was going to be tricky, impossible even.

If he wanted results quickly, he had to play the sympathy card. And in order to be sympathic, he had to flip the switch off and let all emotions consume him. The whole idea was awful and likely to blow up in his face, but as Ric had stressed, there weren't many suitable options left.

"Sheriff." Damon smiled, slipping into the room. "I'm sorry to drop in on you like this, but I need your help."

"I appreciate that you're coming to me Damon, but now isn't a good time. With Mrs. Lockwood transitioning into the position of Mayor and Caroline still comatose, I'm afraid I don't have time." She frowned, looking guilty. "I'm sorry."

Damon slunk into the chair across from the Sheriff. He was probably too close, but if there anything he knew about Forbes, it was the love of her family.

"I wouldn't ask if it weren't important." He explained, watching as a small flicker of emotion danced across her features. "Jenna and Elena have been struggling with Jeremy."

"Vicki Donovan," The Sheriff cut in. "They were close. I don't know much more than that. Caroline and I never really talked much about our friends or social lives."

"I know this isn't normal protocol, but I was hoping I could ask for that favor."

"Now?" She eyed him warily. "Could this wait a few weeks?"

Damon, as cold and evil as he was, knew that he'd have to go to any lengths to find Stefan and Jeremy. Maybe it went against everything he was trying to show, but Damon knew he couldn't take on Katherine by himself. That is...if Katherine was really back.

"I wish it could, Sheriff."

A sigh of defeat escaped from between her chapped lips. "Jonathan Gilbert made a mess, Damon. The fire is under review by the fire department, and they'll know it's arson. What do I do? Say I knew that Jonathan went crazy? Somehow, I think both of us know that's not the right place to be."

Jonathan Gilbert. The elephant in the room. He was the reason things were more complicated in Mystic Falls. Now with the threat out there, vampires weren't safe. It was only a matter of time before they had to leave the town behind. Permanently. Forever. No looking back.

"Sheriff," Damon tried again, his lips curving into a tiny smile. "I understand you're not in the best position right now, but if you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

Liz shuffled through a high stake of paperwork - no doubt thanks to the disaster the Founders' Day event turned into. She jotted down something in the margin, and even when Damon went to look closer, she flipped the sheet of paper.

"What do you need?" She paused, eying him cautiously. "I'm not making any promises, Damon. But I'll bite. Tell me what you need."

"As you've noticed, Jeremy's had a really tough year - tougher than any teen in town. The night of Founders' Day, he took off and didn't tell anyone where he is. Jenna thinks he's spending time at my place."

She shook her head. "This should be reported."

"No," he cut in quickly. "He's scared and fragile right now."

Sheriff Forbes, inquisitive by nature, stared Damon down.

"Why are you so concerned with the Gilbert's? If anyone would be concerned, it should be Stefan. Yet, he's not here."

"Sheriff, I mean this in the best possible way, but why would you do a favor for Stefan? You don't even know him."

"Maybe that's true, but if I'm going to help, I need to know why anything that happens to the Gilbert's is any of your concern."

The Sheriff was obviously colder, more suspicious even. Damon wanted to slap himself for thinking he could swoop in, dazzle her, and get what he needed. That way was too easy. He knew the unpredictability of human emotions, and if he wanted to track down Jeremy before Katherine found him, Damon realized that he had to pull off a very convincing, loving human.

"Elena is my best friend."

Liz gave him a strange look. "Somehow, I don't think your brother would be happy to hear that."

"He knows," Damon added quickly. "And if Elena hurts, I hurt too."

"Damon..." The Sheriff trailed off. Her face twisted into guilt. "I don't think this is a favor I can concede to."

The words weren't a shock to Damon. He kept the frown and anger on the inside, knowing that Liz would be trickier to convince unless he gave her something in turn, something worth of all of the trouble.

"Sheriff," Damon grinned, showing his white teeth, "I think I have valuable information you might be interested in." He looked around the empty room and lowered his voice. "You know, about...vampires."

The Sheriff straightened, eyes wide and shining with fear. "I thought they all died in the fire."

"Unfortunately, I think there are vampires in town. Do you really think John Gilbert being targeted wasn't related to his hunt to kill vampires?"

"That was a stabbing. It's still under investigation. Our forensic team is still combing through the home and Mr. Gilbert for any evidence."

Damon gave her a pointed look. "I don't mean to step on your toes Sheriff, but vampires are still a threat. I have the experience to back me up. All I need is the go-ahead to track Jeremy and I'll tell you everything I need to know."

"Damon, in case you haven't noticed, the counsel is being eliminated one by one. I'm running out of people I can trust to run this investigation. If you really want to find Jeremy, I'm going to need your help. You're the most experienced hunter, and one of few I can rely on to get the job done right."

His hands dug deeply into his legs. He wasn't the type to bargain or consider, but if he could factor in Alaric's help, maybe they could locate Katherine faster. Damon knew he had to lure her out of town before she destroyed Mystic Falls. As much as a part of him still felt for her, he knew the undying love wasn't there anymore.

"I'll agree to your terms, but first, I find Jeremy. Then we can hunt."

Liz opened her mouth to speak but a knock on the door silenced whatever she was going to say.

Damon jumped to his feet, still smiling. His face was beginning to hurt from all the smiling, and he couldn't wait to scowl again. "Well, it looks like I've overstayed my welcome, Liz. I'll see you soon."

Just as the door opened and a deputy entered the office, Damon slipped out.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy The Vampire Slayer or any other pop culture references I've thrown in here like Star Wars. Also, just for the record, Damon is conflicted over the Bonnie situation because of the promise he made to Emily that the Bennett line would continue. So, this is not just for Elena's sake. When I edit this chapter, I'll add that in here.