Chapter 23: Quarantine

It was three days later and everyone was confined to the perimeters of the Boarding House grounds. It was too risky to go anywhere, and with Icarus able to shift into more than half of the house's occupants, no one was coming in. Bonnie's 'may-or-may-not-work' spell didn't work, although she promised to keep looking.

People were spread out all over the house. Elena, Damon, Bonnie and Isobel were researching all they could; Bonnie had her nose in the grimoire, and she practices spells, while Damon and Isobel argued about tactics and strategies and Elena sat there…staring at a book she wasn't reading.

She couldn't believe Jenna was gone. Jenna…sweet, innocent, carefree Jenna. Her name kept ringing in her ears like a siren. She was dead and it was all her fault. How could she live with that thought? She glanced at Damon who caught her gaze. She was so grateful for him. He handled everything, without question. The funeral, the paper work, the cost…Damon took care of, to save Elena from having to do it herself.

It was just her and Jeremy now. She was all he had. He had lost his parents, his girlfriends, his friends, and now his Aunt. She was afraid this was his breaking point. Elena's mind was going a mile a minute. We're going to have to move, we can't live in that house. I'll need a job, so Jeremy can go to college. Everything is going to change, gonna have to act like a grown up…I have to be there for him, Jeremy needs me.

"Elena." Damon's voice rang through her thoughts. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Elena followed him into the kitchen and he stared at her for a long moment. "You're worrying…you don't need to worry." He claimed stepping closer to her and resting his hands on her slim shoulders.

Elena shook her head. "I'm not worrying." She lied.

Damon smiled. "Yes you are…I can practically see the wheels turning in your head. You're worrying about what happens next, and you don't have to because I'm going to take care of it." He vowed softly.

"I can't ask you to do that, Damon. I-I just don't know…" she paused searching for the right words. "How I'm going to do all this!" she panicked. "How am I going to take care of Jeremy, where are we going to live-?" Elena rambled, her eyes jumping around the room wildly.

Damon put a finger to her lips to shush her. "You can live here." When Elena opened her mouth, Damon continued. "With Jeremy…you, me, him and Stefan can be one big happy." He said with mirth, before smiling reassuringly. "Stop worrying." He said again before kissing her sweetly with his full lips.

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Caroline peeking into the room, Jeremy had settled in. He was sitting by the window with his headphones on staring into oblivion. She wished there was something she could say, or do but she wasn't very tactful, nor had she lost someone close to her.

She moved away from the door, and back into Lucia's room. "Hey." She plopped herself on the bed.

Lucia looked up from her book. "Hey! How's the kid?" she asked. Usually the loss of someone, especially a human didn't affect her, but the heartbreak on the boy's face reminded her of pain that she'd gone through when Harper died.

"Not good. He's just sitting there, staring." Caroline replied sadly. She'd known Jeremy since he was a baby; he was like a brother to her, and the sight of him this upset broke her un-beating heart.

"Maybe we should erase his memory of this…make it easier on him." She wished someone could have done that for her.

Caroline's eyes widened. "No! Damon did that once, and let me just say that it didn't turn out very well." She disclosed shortly. "Ugh this sucks! I hate this sitting around doing nothing…I want to go out!" she cried throwing herself back on Lucia's bed.

The older vampire laughed. "Yeah me too…but Damon's orders, 'no one come in, no one goes out'." She mimicked in a deep voice, before jerking her head to the far wall. "Stefan's pacing his room like a caged animal. He never could stay in one place for too long…he likes his morning runs." Lucia stated.

Caroline sat up and looked at Lucia sitting at the head of the bed. "Maybe I should go check on him…" she hopped off the bed. "I'm really glad we're friends, I don't have many, you know, in my afterlife." She joked with a nervous laugh. Lucia smiled happily, and watched as the bubbly blonde sauntered into the room next door. She was happy that Caroline was her friend too, they had a lot in common, and she also seemed to be changing her brother into this smiling, fun, untroubled man.

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As Lucia had said, Stefan was pacing the room in restlessness, wearing jeans and a white beater, but stopped as soon as he saw her there. "Hi." She walked over to him laced her hands with his.

"Hey, feeling restless?" she asked knowingly.

He nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah, I never thought I'd consider my own home a prison." He hugged her to him, and inhaled the honey scent of her hair.

"I know…I hope this ends soon." She mumbled into his shirt. "I don't like Katherine being here…she lurks." She whispered.

Stefan nodded before kissing her forehead. "I know, but she's strong, and we could use her help." He claimed. "Speaking of, we should probably go downstairs and help plan retaliation."

Caroline pulled away and nodded. "Okay!" she planted a kiss on his lips. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix you a cup of blood?"

Stefan nodded gratefully. "Yes, I would love that. I'll meet you downstairs." He smiled fondly as she waltzed out of the room. He moved to his armoire, pulled out a hoodie and zipped it up. When he turned around he wasn't surprised to see Katherine standing there with her head canted to the side, her wavy locks tumbling off her shoulders.

"Still in denial, I see. Caroline, Stefan…really?" she mocked, giving him a disbelieving look.

Stefan didn't let her words affect him. "You don't even know her Katherine, Caroline is an amazing person…she challenges me." He smiled to himself.

She raised a brow at him. "Oh? And I don't?" she asked, placing a hand to her chest.

Stefan's face hardened. "You dominate me…there's a difference." Katherine was always pushing her rules and authority on him, even now.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms over her chest. "Whatever Stefan." She breathed out before smirking tauntingly. "Don't tell me you love her, there is no way you love her."

"No…but I could." Stefan started, and then he chuckled to himself. "It's not like we don't have enough time." All he had was time. And if he was lucky, he'd get to spend a lot of it with this girl that seemed to sit herself directly in his life, his room and his heart.

Katherine shrugged carelessly, looking at her nails. "She won't..." her eyes pinned him icily. "if you keep up this charade."

He shook his head in bewilderment, glaring at her menacingly. "I can't believe you, is that how this works? You threaten to kill my girlfriends if you don't get what you want?" he barked.

"I'll do what I have to, Stefan." She stated casually. "I killed her once…" she trailed off with a sly smile.

Stefan nodded contemptuously. "Good plan Katherine…killing Caroline is a great way of gaining back my trust." He threw his arms out to the sides in a grand gesture. "Kill Elena too, maybe I'll even love you again." He continued to mock her faking a giant smile.

Katherine narrowed her gaze but her lips turned up slightly. "I like this new you. Less tortured soul, more snappy sarcasm. Is Damon rubbing off on you?" she asked provokingly. "You know Stefan, this thing…" she gestured to the two of them while she slowly stepped closer to him. "Where you pretend you don't love me, it's getting old."

He crossed him arms and looked down at her. "Maybe you should stop trying."

She threw her head back and laughed prettily, pointing at him astutely. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? See, that way you don't have to admit that your feelings for me never changed…that you only loved Elena because she looks like me." She alleged using air quotations. Katherine threw him a dazzling smile. "Plus, why would I give up now when I'm so close to breaking you down?" She let her index and middle finger walk up his abs to his chest, but he threw her hand away. She chuckled, not taking it personally. Katherine held his gaze for a long moment before she sped out of the room.

Stefan sighed loudly. Why did she have to do this to him? Like his mind wasn't messed up enough as it was, Katherine had to come here to try and get him back, and threatening Caroline wasn't helping her any. Although he loathed admitting it, Katherine was partly right. If she stopped trying it was easier for him to stop wondering…wondering what it would be like to be with her again, to see what their long eternal life together would be like.

He shook himself out of his reverie, and headed downstairs.

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Caroline skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen when she left Stefan's room. She set about grabbing blood from the fridge and heating the blood up in two separate mugs. She turned to look at the entrance of the kitchen before he walked in.

"Hey Tyler." She smiled sweetly, before whipping back around and disposing of the empty bags.

"Hey…" he said uncomfortably as he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. He'd been feeling weird around her ever since the day he found out she was ill. Over the past few days he continued to apologize, knowing that even though she said it was okay, he felt he couldn't say it enough. "I'm so sorry I almost killed you. I feel like a dick."

Caroline turned around and walked over to him, rolling her eyes dramatically. "It's okay…for like the hundredth time." She giggled. "I'm fine now." Caroline patted his arm in a condescending way. "Just gotta remember to use more chains next time."

Tyler grinned gratefully. "You know Matt was right…you're pretty awesome."

The blonde beamed brightly. "Thanks. I know we haven't really been friends, but I'm glad we are now."

Tyler always noticed how beautiful she was, but he always thought she was too neurotic and controlling to even consider making a move. "Me too." In a bold move, Tyler tunneled his hand through her hair at the back of her neck and pulled her to him, kissing her eagerly.

She was so shock it took her a second to respond, pushing against his chest. "Tyler-" she started but didn't get to finish.

Stefan frowned in silent rage. "Caroline?" he questioned tightly.

She pulled herself out of Tyler's embrace and looked at Stefan with wide eyes. "Okay…at the risk of sounding totally cliché, it's not what it looks like." She promised.

Stefan blinked trying to calm himself down. He couldn't help but glare at the wolf boy though. "I hope not…cause it doesn't look good." He strolled into the kitchen and grabbed the mug of blood, draining half of it.

Tyler looked at both of them and made the connection quickly. "Are you guys…look I didn't know man." He claimed, addressing Stefan. He didn't want to get on his bad side. Tyler started to move past him but Stefan grabbed his arm and gripped it hard.

Stefan nodded once. "Let's just not let it happen again." He waited for Tyler to leave before looking at Caroline. She walked over to him hesitantly, unsure of what he was going to say to her. He held out an arm, welcoming her into his embrace and reassuring her that he wasn't mad. "Should I be worried?" he asked quietly.

She looked at him stunned, clearly not expecting that. "Not at all! Tyler's my friend, that's as far as it goes. I promise." When he seemed happy with her answer she gave him a playful grin. "You totally just got all 'protective boyfriend' on me. Uh oh…" her face fell a little. "I just put a label on it. I'm sorry, I don't want you to think that you have to be my boyfriend or anything although that is pretty much what you are, but I know how guys get all weird and stand-offish as soon as you use the boyfriend/girlfriend card and I want you to know that I'm totally okay with-" Caroline rambled quickly.

Stefan just watched her. It was so cute how she rambled on like this, be he had to stop her…without having to breath she could go on forever. "Caroline…" she stopped and looked at him expectantly. "Stop talking." He grabbed her face tenderly between his hands, and passionately kissed her.

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Alaric stood in the parlor alone. He nursed a scotch neat as he stared into the vivid flames. It seemed surreal that Jenna wasn't going to be a part of his life anymore. He never even expected to have the love for her that he did, but she took him by surprise.

She didn't crowd him, and let him do what he had to, to get over Isobel…and it was because of that Ric felt more drawn to her. Now she was gone…and both his loves were dead. One was still kicking though.

As if on cue, Isobel's heels clicked against the hardwood floor. Her hands were linked behind her back as she came to stand beside him in front of the fire. "Hello Ric." He didn't even look at her; he just took another sip of his scotch. "You haven't said a word to me since I got here." She looked at him inquisitively.

"I don't have anything worth saying." He replied flatly.

Her eyes swung to the fire. "I wish there was something I can say to make this easier for you…but I was never one for words."

Alaric huffed out a bitter snicker. "Yet you never stop talking." He drained half the glass.

Isobel's lips turned up in amusement. "You're mad at me…you have every right to be." She accepted respectfully. He felt he should know now…let him know that it was never because of him. "I was a horrible wife…I broke the promise I made to you." She stated sadly. "I was missing something; it was once I found it that I realized what a mistake I made." Alaric glanced sharply at her. "But I had already fallen down the rabbit hole, and the only way to protect you was to stay away." She reached out to him, touching his chest gently. "I'm sorry Ric…I never wanted this for you." Her head tilted to the side thoughtfully. "But you found it anyway."

He glared at her. "It found me. The only reason I know about vampires is because I was looking for you." She was the reason his whole life was upside down, but Alaric couldn't bring himself to hate her…because if she didn't turn his life upside down then he never would have come to Mystic Falls and met Jenna. "What do you want me to do with this information Isobel?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I just thought it was time you knew the truth. Anyways…I should be going. I'll leave you to…whatever it is you're doing." Isobel said flatly, losing what ever emotion was in her voice when she spoke earlier.

Isobel left the room, and let out an unneeded breath. She didn't want to see him hurting like this, even if it wasn't over her.

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Damon walked up the stairs two at a time. It was late and he and Stefan had been talking in the basement about Katherine. Stefan was confiding in his elder brother about the uncertainty of the emotions he felt on the matter. Damon offered his ear and his opinions, something he never would have done pre-Elena.

Now he headed to his room, where Elena was no doubt asleep. He quietly entered the room and rid himself of his clothes, slipping on a pair of black sweatpants, and sliding under the covers beside her. Elena immediately curled herself around him unconsciously, resting her delicate hand on his chest. Her eyes opened to gaze at him.

Damon stroked her hair lovingly. "Sorry I woke you."

"It's okay." She murmured. "What time is it?"

"Late…or early, it depends how you look at it. Go back to sleep." He kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him.

She shook her head against his chest. "I don't think I can right now…I keep seeing her lying there." Elena mumbled with a strain in her voice.

Damon didn't need to question who she was talking about, he just nodded knowingly, and continued to caress her softly. He noticed her breathing become quicker, and the small hitches coming from her mouth. She was crying.

Elena's cries quickly escalated to sobs, and then painful wails. She struggled to free herself from his grasp out of a combination of awkwardness and mortification, but Damon held her tightly, calmly whispering words of comfort in her ear.

"Let go of me, please." She whimpered out through her tears, pushing hard against his chest. She let her hair curtain her face, unable to show him how broken she was.

"It's okay, baby…just let it out. I've got you, just let it out." Damon whispered, rocking her in his arms. It broke his heart to hear her in pain like this but he knew she needed to let out the emotions that had been bubbling to the surface over the past few days.

Elena was pushing and pounding on his chest while simultaneously grasping at him. She wanted to be angry at him for making her let these feelings out, and showing him this side of her…the out of control part of her. She thought he would be uncomfortable with it…but he was the exact opposite. He totally got it; he understood her pain, and he held her as she came to terms with it. He let her take her rage out on him, pound on his chest and yell and cry and sob, and he never once tried to stop her. She needed this, and he was okay with it.

Once Elena's voice was too hoarse to cry anymore, and her tears had long dried out, Damon held her to him comforting feeling her heart pounding against his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair silently, kissing her every so often.

"I love you." She mumbled, close to sleep. "I'm sorry."

"Shh…don't be sorry, love. I love you too." He responded quietly. Seconds later Elena was sleeping soundly, and the room was quiet again. Damon stayed awake, watching for any sign of a restless sleep, and wishing that no more damage came to the slip of a girl in his arms.

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A/N: Thank you everyone for reading, sorry for the late update. Another long chapter for you…mostly setting up for the next chapter so sorry if it's a little slow.

To Lilith: I couldn't respond to your review because you wrote anonymously . Thank you for your constructive criticism, and believe be I've thought the same thing: "I've made this guy unkillable! What the hell am I gonna do?' well I do have a plan and I do think you will enjoy it. I wanted to address the comment you made about Icarus not just snatching Elena up and doing what he wants, but I would ruin it. It will be brought up in the next chapter if anyone was wondering.

Lol and that thing about the originals and the cave, I know it was a stretch but I wanted it to work…it would if they were confused lol. Bonnie, Caroline and Tyler were 'fake tied up', so it gave the impression they were meant to be sacrificed.

And lastly thank you again for your input I hope all your questions will be answered in the next chapter! Love you guys! Please review!