But Was it Funny?

Elena nervously descended the stairs and approached Alaric. "I need to return something. Would you give me a ride again?"

"Elena, don't you think you are taking too much advantage of him?"

"No, it's OK Jenna." Alaric interjected. "I don't mind. And I'm sure you'd like me to keep an eye on Elena."

Jenna gave him a bit of a nod and an "Mmm, ok."

'OK', Elena thought, '1st part done. Get him to come with me.' Aloud she said, "thank you."

"What's going on?" Alaric asked a soon as they we outside. "Did you talk to Stefan?"

"No. Katherine. It seems she got caught without her necklace – the one that protects her from sunlight. We're taking her another that she left on my desk."

"On your desk?"

"Yeah. She said she was going to ask me to keep it in a safe place…just in case."

They were driving by this time. "So she's stuck inside until dark. You know Elena, if there was ever a time to try to take her out, it would be now."

"And exactly how would you do that?" Elena asked, not sure if he was making a lame joke or was at least partially serious.

"We…you could lure her to the door and then we could pull her outside."

"You wouldn't get her to budge before your neck was broken. And I intend to honor my pledge to protect her. You'd have to go through me."

Alaric gave her a strange look. "I was kidding."

"Good." Elena said not sure if she completely believed him. "No bounty on your head tonight."

The Reason

"Why are they after me?" Damon asked Katherine as they waited for Elena to arrive.

"They're brothers. Apparently you did something to their family 75 or so years ago – in Boston. They want revenge. Didn't you hear this?"

Damon scowled. "You didn't have a brick wall between you and them. And I was concentrating on you or Elena or whoever."

"So you don't deny what they say you did to them."

"I did a lot of things. But 75 years ago? Why now?"

"They've been watching you. Although you are not as strong as Pearl was or as I am, you are stronger than they are – when you are at full strength. They know you've been severely weakened by a spell. They think they can take you now."

"But why Elena. What did she do?"

"They have visions of her being tortured while you lie there watching and slowly burning. Something about that's what you did to their family. They know she means something to you."

"Why would they think that?"

Katherine laughed to herself softly before answering. "Do you really have to ask? I've only been here a few weeks and I've seen how you two act around each other. Especially you around her. They've been watching you for some time."

Damon shook his head. Had what he done put Elena in danger?

"And they may have been misled by a couple of kisses."

Damon glared. "I've never kissed Elena."

"Are you sure about that?" Katherine was kind of smirking. It was hard to tell.

"You led me on. You wanted this, this whatever it is between us."

"I'm not going to deny that Damon. The question is what do you want?"

They were staring, or was it glaring, at each other when they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Katherine opened the door just enough to leave the sunlight out. Elena actually moved to stand between Katherine and Alaric while giving her the box.

"Just a joke" Alaric said under his breath – which drew a brief glance from Katherine.

She opened the box and pulled out a small bracelet which she placed on her right wrist. She then carefully stretched her left hand into the sunlight and left it there a few seconds.

"Not trusting the maker, or me?" Elena asked.

"I trust you both. Still, I always have a spare, just in case. And this is my spare. You can't be too careful."

The Plan

The group moved to the kitchen to plan their next move.

"So what do we have?" Katherine stated. "Stefan is AWOL. Where is he anyway?" She asked Damon.

"When Elena, or you or whoever brushed him off this morning, he got upset, so he went hunting. If he wants to be left alone while hunting, he turns his phone off."

Katherine shook her head. "No Stefan, but we have Damon who's at what? 50%?"

"Or more." Damon said, glaring.

"Or more, but most effective when in sunlight, for now. And we have Mr. Saltzman, who I understand has taken out a few vampires himself. He might be most effective in sunlight as well. And we have me. I am now back to full capability and really upset about how they treated me."

"And we have me." Elena added.

"And Elena. And we're up against two vampires – at least one of which can walk in daylight."

"Do you know where they are going?" Elena asked.

"I think so. It seems they're setting a trap for Damon. They hope to capture him and bring him here."

"Then it's a daylight attack," Damon said. We can find them and take them out before they know what's hit them. We should get moving."

"You mean find them and let me take them out. And I will – I will personally rip their heads off. But given the circumstances, Damon, I think we need to talk to them first."

"What circumstances?"

"One of them walks in daylight. I don't recognize him. Who else do you know that does that? And what if they are not alone or told someone else about your current weakness. We need to talk to them."

"I'm fairly sure they won't feel like talking once they know we have them."

"True. So they will think they have us – or rather you."

Damon didn't look thrilled. "You know they're stronger than me. You want me to turn myself in?"

"No. But we will set our own trap, which will be sprung when they spring theirs." Katherine found herself laughing at the sentence she had just created.

Again?

Katherine was alone with Elena. Damon was off to find, but hopefully not be seen by the vampires. Alaric was waiting in his car for Elena. He would drive her home and stay there, ensuring no one unknown would be invited in.

"You didn't quite do all I asked of you in the last couple of days, Elena, but you came through when I needed you. I am grateful."

"I'm glad I could help. And I'm sorry you were taken."

"I'm glad you weren't taken."

"What were they going to do with me?"

Katherine shook her head. "You don't need to know that. I do have one more request of you, though, and this matter should be concluded."

Elena looked at her, trying to read her expression. As usual, she couldn't. "What is it?"

"I need for you to pretend to be me. And I'm sorry, but you'll need to remove your necklace."

"My vervain? It's all I have."

"It wouldn't have protected you from their plan. It only makes it harder for them to control you. And I'm sorry to say this, but if there is a problem tonight, it won't be because they're trying to control you. Damon and I will protect you from them."

The Promise

Elena had left with Alaric. She would wait at home until they were ready to spring the vampires' trap.

Katherine went to the hospital to see Bonnie.

"Elena." Bonnie smiled as she saw her coming. "Is Stefan not with you?"

"Not tonight. How are you?"

"I'm feeling much better. Getting stronger."

"I'm glad," Katherine said as she moved to touch the bracelet Bonnie hated so much.

Bonnie watched, surprised, as Katherine lifted Bonnie's wrist with one hand and ran the fingers of her other hand over the surface of the bracelet. It came off, though Katherine continued to hold Bonnie's wrist and the bracelet.

"She let you take it off?" Bonnie asked, staring at Katherine.

Katherine nodded her head. "Can you feel your power returning?"

Bonnie closed her eyes and concentrated. She noticed that Elena had not released her wrist, but ignored it. She felt a tingling of power and began a soft chant.

Suddenly Bonnie sat up straight and tried to pull her wrist away. The bracelet was immediately back in place.

"Katherine!" Bonnie exclaimed.

"Yes."

"Why are you here? Does Elena know?"

"I'm not here to hurt you Bonnie. I'm here to talk."

"About what? And since when do you use my name when talking to me or anyone?"

"Bonnie, I do not excuse what you did to Damon. I will never accept it, but I have your promise it will not be repeated. However, I also know that you have, somehow, become Elena's best friend. You have earned her respect. I have thought about it, and I have decided I can also afford to offer you some respect, in the form of using your proper name. I hope you will accept it as a sign of the respect I have for you – because of Elena."

Bonnie nodded slightly.

"Because I have your promise to leave Damon and Stefan alone, as well as Elena, I am prepared to remove the bracelet and return your power. But on one condition."

"Which is?" Bonnie asked suspiciously.

"That you use all of your power to protect Elena. I will ask nothing else of you, and I will leave the issue of whether you help Elena when she asks between you two. But I must insist that you protect her with all of your power against anyone or anything that threatens her."

Katherine paused, seeming to give Bonnie a moment to think about it. "Will you agree to this?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I need a yes or a no."

"Yes. I will protect Elena against any threat with all of my power."

Katherine nodded and removed the bracelet.

"And if I think you're a threat to Elena?" Bonnie asked.

Katherine started to leave the room. "Think what you will, but consider carefully before you act. You were present when Elena swore an oath to protect me."