Cooped Up

Elena paused as she stepped out of Bonnie's house. This wasn't getting any easier. She saw Stefan's car nearby, and headed towards it.

She was still a few feet away when suddenly a man – a vampire - was in front of her. He just stood there, looking at her. She was tired and upset - she glared at him.

"What do you want?"

Immediately, Damon was beside her. "I think he wants to be noticed."

"Yeah. Got that." Then she spoke to the vampire, "Tell Katherine to at least keep her goons out of sight."

She walked around him, he did not try to stop her. She climbed in the driver's seat as Damon sat on the passenger side.

"And I think he was hoping to see a little more fear." Damon added.

Elena let out a soft laugh. "I've dealt with you at you're worst. I'm dealing with Katherine now. Its going to take more that that. Ride with me for a bit?"

Damon nodded and Elena began driving.

"There's more around you know," Damon said.

"How many?"

"Three or four, maybe more. I can't be sure – we're stealthy, remember."

"Any around my house?" Elena asked.

"None I've seen. But I haven't seen Katherine and apparently she's there."

"She's just bothering me so far. I hope she doesn't start going public."

"Agreed. Any luck back there?"

Elena wasn't sure how to respond. "They're looking for a healing spell or something like that. If they find one, we'll try to find a different witch to cast it."

"And you think I'll sit still for that?"

Elena's heart sank. "Come on Damon. I know you've been friends with at least one witch – Bree in uh, in Georgia."

"Yes, and what did she try to do?"

"Damon, can we just take this one step at a time? If we find something, will you at least consider having someone other that Bonnie cast the spell?"

Damon leaned back and stretched his neck. "I really am feeling better today, Elena. Getting out, chasing someone … I mean something. Fresh air and fresh blood."

Elena was getting cranky. "Damon! Will you at least consider it? For me?"

Damon hesitated only briefly. "For you."

"OK." Elena said softly and pulled over. "I'm tired, I don't how long it's been since I've had anything to eat. Will you take me to get something?"

Damon smirked. "You do remember that you boyfriend and best friend are cooped up in a house surrounded by hostile vampires?"

"I remember."

Damon smiled as he exited the car to switch places with her. "Just checking."

Time to Stop

Elena returned to Bonnie's house in the evening ready to stay overnight. Stefan had agreed, reluctantly, to stay near her home instead. She remembered something she had forgotten to ask him.

"Did you see that vampire that stood in front of me this morning as I was leaving."

"Yeah. You looked like you handled it well. "

"Do you know where they are around here?"

"Some of them. Bonnie knows they're here as well. Are you sure you don't want me to stay here?"

Elena shook her head. "No. We should be safe as long as we're in the house. I'm more afraid of Katherine showing up at my house without me there."

"OK. I've got it covered. Elena, they have to stop soon," Stefan added, pointing at Bonnie and Alaric. "They've been at it for hours. They need rest."

Elena studied her best friend, reading intently, but obviously trying to stay awake. "Yeah. So do we."

Black Knight

It was getting close to midnight. Damon was fairly far from Bonnie's house, though he could see it clearly, when Isobel approached him.

"Well, well. Her white knight is here." Isobel said coolly. "Or is it her black knight?"

"Still threatening Elena, Isobel? You know what happened last time."

"Yes. I got what I wanted and a number of vampires burned. Strange that you're still alive. Yet here you are risking what's left of your life for her – just like you did for Katherine."

"She's nothing like Katherine." Damon retorted.

The other vampire laughed. "Oh dear. Damon Salvatore – my creator so to speak. Taught me so much, so much older than me, yet still so clueless about Katherine and Elena and women in general. She is exactly like Katherine. Either of them would do anything in her power to get what she wants. Right now Elena wants two Salvatores to choose from. Right now she wants everything peaceful, everyone happy, everyone to like her, no one to get hurt, no one to die. Sound like anyone else? But eventually it will change. Eventually she will change. Just like Katherine."

Damon glared at her. "It was a mistake to change you - one I should repair."

"Maybe you should, but you can't. Not right now anyway."

"Then take me out now while you can."

"Case in point Damon. You have no idea who's got your back." And Isobel was gone.

Witch's Realization

Bonnie was laying on the couch pretending to be asleep. Occasionally she opened her eyes just enough to look at Elena but she was hard to see in the dark. Was she asleep yet?

Bonnie had realized something about half way through the day while she was reading her books. Elena was scared, afraid. Very afraid. Truthfully she knew that Elena wasn't afraid of anything. She had stared down Damon when he was at his worst while she was bleeding. She had entered a tomb full of vampires without a passing thought, except for who she needed to get out. But Elena was afraid now.

And then, Bonnie began to calm down and to think clearly for the first time since she had the vision – the vision of Damon burying John Gilbert's body. She had been so filled with rage, with anger for this and so much that was done in the past that she had mistaken Elena's fear for arrogant self-righteousness. She should have known better.

But now what to do. This plan of Elena's or Stefan's or whoever was the dumbest plan ever. Did they think her spell books were public property? They were her family's heritage. Even if they did find what they were looking for, a witch's spells were so personal, it was unlikely another witch would be able to use it. And where would they find this other witch – the yellow pages? No, they would want Bonnie to find her.

As she sat there looking at books and thinking, Bonnie came up with a plan. Her powers were increasing. She could protect herself – she did not need vampires to protect her from other vampires. Her research had revealed something that might help, but she needed to somehow remove Elena's involvement. So she decided that she would go to Katherine herself. She would need to sneak out of her own home. It was getting close to midnight which was fine. She would be more powerful then anyway.

She glanced at Elena and decided now was the time. She arose as quickly and quietly as she could, went to her bedroom and prepared herself. Then she quietly slipped through back door into the night.

She knew Damon was in front of the house, though fairly far away. She spoke quietly, hoping he would not hear her. "I would like to see Katherine."

There were three near her immediately – two men and a woman. She said a spell under her breath and sent a small jolt towards one of the men. He felt it and froze.

The woman and the other man approached her.

"I just want to talk to Katherine," the witch repeated. The two vampires approached her carefully.

"She wants to talk to you." The woman said. "But you will need to wear this" she added, holding up a bracelet.

Bonnie's attention was on the man – he was getting too close, and she was preparing to repeat the spell. The suddenly, the woman was at her side. She had Bonnie's arm and before she knew it, the bracelet was on Bonnie's wrist.

"What's this?" She asked, trying to grab it with her other hand. The vampires were too quick. Each man had an arm now.

"If it works," said the woman, "it should block your power."

Bonnie was scared now. Her voice did rise "A bracelet?"

"We walk around in daylight." Isobel replied. "It's amazing what that girl can do with jewelry."

Bonnie tried a spell – speaking out loud. The bracelet was working and the vampires were taking her away from her home.

The Hatred

Elena was rudely awaked by a loud knock and the door bell. It took a second to clear her mind and realize that she was in Bonnie's house, on a chair near the couch where Bonnie was sleeping – or was supposed to be sleeping.

"Bonnie!" Elena ran from room to room looking for her friend while the knocking and doorbell continued. When she could not find her, she finally went to the door and turned on the porch light. The knocking stopped. Thinking herself safe from vampires, she tentatively opened the door.

"Isobel."

"Elena, you'll want to come with me."

"No I won't," Elena denied. "I won't ever want to go with you. Where's Bonnie?"

"She's with Katherine."

Elena gasped. "How did you get in to take her?"

"She came out. And you will want to come with me. She's alone with Katherine."

Elena was beginning to realize the seriousness of the problem. "OK, let me just call Stefan."

Isobel spoke louder this time. "Elena! There is no time. She is alone with Katherine. How long will you let her be alone with Katherine?"

"Damon?" Elena was shaking now.

"He will wake up in a few minutes, get his brother and follow my trail. Your friend is alone with Katherine."

"OK. Ok. What do I need to do?"

"First come out of the house."

Elena did.

"By far the fastest way for us to get there," Isobel said, "is for me to carry you."

Her daughter stared at her briefly, then nodded.

"You have no idea how much I hate you." Elena said as Isobel picked her up.

"Yes I do," Isobel said under her breath. Then louder she said "you might want to close your eyes."