Used to Waiting

"Absolutely not!" Maybe it wasn't a yell, but it was close.

"Last night you were all 'oh I'll go there with you Elena, might be some trouble, I'll take care of it for you'." Elena said to Damon as they stood outside her house. Alaric was waiting to take them to Bonnie's house.

"That was to protect you on the way and you know it. I am not going to let the wi…her … work her mojo on me. She doesn't like me and I don't trust her and you know that as well."

"Damon, please. Katherine will hurt Bonnie."

"You'll find that Katherine and I are on the same side on this. We're usually on the same side period. There's a reason I've tried to move heaven and earth for her."

Elena wasn't happy about being caught in the middle between the vampire and the witch, but she couldn't bear to lose either. "Damon, don't make me choose between you and Bonnie."

"Why not? Bonnie has made her choice. What's yours?"

"Damon…"

"Go there. Have your meeting. And come up with a different plan. She is not getting another shot at me."

"At least come and sit at the table with us. Hear the discussion and help."

Damon was still angry. "I'm not going to be in the same room with her, unless I have the drop on her."

Elena gave up. "What are you going to do then?"

"I'm hungry. Right now I'm going hunting. And then I will wait for you to decide. I'm getting used to waiting for you."

It stung, just a little. "What if I need your help? Will you still help me?" Elena asked tentatively, hoping she hadn't broken something between them.

"Anywhere but in her house. Anything but take her magic."

"How will I know where you are?"

"I'll know where you are. But just in case…" Damon held up his cell phone as he walked away.

How Stupid?

Alaric had seen the entire confrontation, but only heard bits and pieces. "I get the feeling I'm missing some information here."

"You just saw 'Plan A' blow up." Elena replied. She didn't continue.

Alaric glanced at her as much as he dared as he drove. She looked tired and worried.

"And 'Plan B'?"

"Working on it."

Alaric hit the brakes as a figure darted in front of them. Before he came to a stop, she was inside, behind them. He was able to pull over to the side of the road.

"I've gotta keep the doors locked when I drive," he said as he looked in the rear-view mirror.

"If you think it will help." Isobel replied.

Elena tensed slightly. They had not parted on the best of terms last time.

"Nice to see you again, Elena." The cold monotone was back.

"You said she didn't want to see me," Elena said to Alaric.

"I think what he meant" Isobel said, "was that Katherine didn't send me to talk to you."

"Then why are you? Isn't dangerous to go against her wishes?" Elena asked, tension was being replaced by annoyance.

"Her wishes for me do not concern you. The time for my part has not yet come. She does not forbid family visits."

"Yeah, she's big into family." Elena said. Then she expressed her frustration "Why are you working for her?"

"Why are you?" Isobel's icy tone remained.

Alaric tensed. "You're working for Katherine?" he asked Elena.

Elena remained fixed on Isobel. "She has leverage on me. But what can she have on you?"

"There are all sorts of leverage, Elena." Then she spoke to Alaric. Her tone changed again. "Rick - please. Take her and leave Mystic Falls. At least for a little while. Until things settle down."

"What?" Elena asked. "You're protecting me now?"

"It wouldn't be the first time." Isobel's tone was almost sad again.

Alaric spoke up now. "How can you say that? You threatened her."

"Oh, pay attention!" Isobel yelled, sounding frustrated. "I threatened blood and mayhem. I did not threaten Elena or you."

"That makes no sense." Alaric said.

"Actually, it does." Elena replied, her eyes still fixed on Isobel.

"Time is running out. You're going to see a witch that has incurred the wrath of Katherine. How stupid can you be?"

"It's loyalty, not stupidity." Elena said.

Isobel paused for a moment and returned to her normal, icy tone. "Loyalty has cost as much blood as anything. You have to choose a side Elena. You cannot side with both Bonnie and Katherine. You should both leave while you can."

The next thing they knew, the door closed and Isobel was gone.

Alaric stared at Elena. "You're working for Katherine?"

"I'm trying to keep Bonnie alive. Let's just go."

"Yeah. Going to the witch's house and the waiting vampire with the vampire queen's minion. How stupid am I?"

"I'm not her minion." Elena claimed as they left.

Books and Keys

Bonnie's door opened before they knocked.

"No Damon?" Stefan asked as they entered and went to the waiting table where Bonnie sat.

"He wouldn't come. Something about not wanting to be in the same room as Bonnie."

"We don't need him," Bonnie said bitterly.

"Actually, we do." Elena replied. "Katherine demands that he be healed before she'll leave you alone. I'm not even sure she'll do it then."

"Heal him? Undo what I did to avenge Grams and Vicki and who knows who else?"

"Avenge?" Elena shook her head in exasperation. "Are you doing this for revenge? They can't be brought back. All you can do is lose yourself. She will kill you for what you did."

"She might try, but she'll have a fight."

"At what cost, Bonnie? I'm here because she threatens my family and you. But that is not all she threatens. She says she'll destroy Mystic Falls. The town has caused her little but pain – she would like nothing better than to destroy it. And you're giving her a reason to."

Bonnie was silent but did not look convinced. Stefan and Alaric just stared.

Finally Bonnie spoke again. "I've thought about what you said, Elena. I probably should have thought it out a little more before going after him. But he got what he deserved. I don't regret it."

"If you were trying to send a message to Damon, you did." Elena was speaking calmly now. "It's no longer about him. It's about keeping everybody here alive."

"I don't know if I could heal him, even if I wanted to." Bonnie said.

"It doesn't matter anymore. He doesn't want you to try. He doesn't trust you."

"Then why are you here Elena." Bonnie sounded bitter again.

"Because we have to do something. The stakes are too high. Please help me figure this out."

Stefan decided to interrupt the confrontation. "Did you see Katherine alone, Elena?"

"Yes. She only came to me when no one else was around. She even made me send Damon out once."

Stefan shook his head. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to face her like that."

Elena could tell he meant what he said, but did not want the subject changed. "I'm dealing Stefan. Believe me, it is not me we have to worry about."

"What happened to Damon?" Alaric asked. "He looks fine."

"Bonnie misunderstood something and tried to kill him with a spell. It nearly worked." Elena explained.

Alaric smiled. "I could've watched that. But he's fine now?"

"No. He just looks fine. He seems to have his senses like hearing and his speed, but he can't take a punch."

"Handsome but can't bully anymore. Seems like a dream-Damon."

Elena shook her head. "Katherine doesn't agree. She wants the old Damon back and she'll do anything to get it."

"Except attack you." Bonnie said.

"Get over it Bonnie! This is your doing." The two girls glared at each other.

"What exactly did she say Elena," Stefan interrupted again, trying to calm things down.

"She said it would be hard for him to recover from a witch's spell, but she wants him back exactly the way he was before. If I can't get that, she'll come after Bonnie."

"Do either of you know of an instance like this in the past?" Stefan asked Alaric and Bonnie. "Do you know how or if a vampire can recover from this?"

"Never been interested in the vampire's recovery." Alaric said. Bonnie just shook her head.

"Maybe there's something in one of these books?" Stefan asked Bonnie.

"I don't know. But Elena said Damon wouldn't let me do it."

'If we can find a spell, maybe we can find another witch," Stefan suggested.

Bonnie stared at Stefan, not sure what to think. "I'll look."

"We can help," the vampire offered.

"No! Vampires can't touch them."

"Bonnie…" Elena began.

"They're charmed. Vampires can't touch them."

"I'll help – if it's OK?" Alaric said.

Bonnie nodded.

"We'll get through these. You two can see if there are any other options." Alaric instructed.

Elena nodded and moved to Bonnie's couch.

Stefan joined her and put his arm around her. He was disappointed when she didn't snuggle up to him. "You're tired. Could you sleep for a bit?"

Elena shook her head. "I don't think so. I'm worried sick. Isobel stopped us on our way here. She said I had to choose a side – Bonnie or Katherine."

"You're here Elena. Doesn't that mean you've chosen?"

"I don't think it's that simple. Bonnie was wrong, but I can't abandon her, I can't leave her to Katherine. I couldn't bear to lose either her or Damon."

Stefan understood, but was unsure. "There's no guarantee this will work."

Elena turned to look into his eyes. "It has to, Stefan – I can't think of another way."

"What else did Katherine tell you? Is there anything we need to talk about?"

Elena didn't want to think about that. There were bigger things to be dealt with. "Maybe sometime. She said a lot. I don't think any of it was a lie or false, but maybe you could tell me. Not now, though. I need to check on Damon."

Stefan pulled his arm from her and scooted away from her slightly. "Of course you do. And you need me to stay here." He was visibly irritated.

She let the gap between them remain, but held his eyes. "I know what it sounds like, and I'm sorry, but I need his buy-in on our plan. I am worried about him. You haven't seen him – he's not looking good. And though I am not sure Katherine would attack Bonnie if you were not here, I am absolutely sure she won't if you are here. That is one thing she told me that I believe."

Stefan relented and pulled his keys out of his pocket. "OK – do what you have to do – take my car. But come back soon."

"I will" Elena said as she accepted his keys and left.