Epilogue to Part V - Jenna

Alaric watched as Elena entered a car which held three vampires. He had done this kind of thing for her a couple of times before – drive her 30 minutes or so out of town and leave her in the hands of Katherine's vampires.

She had come back each time. She was fine, but it was hard for him to do. He had trouble leaving her at the mercy of these creatures he did not know and certainly did not trust.

She had asked him to do this – not every time she did something for Katherine, but a few times. And he wanted to support her. He knew it wasn't getting any easier for her and he had gone through some of the tough times with her. He cared about Elena and her aunt, so he willingly did what she asked.

It still wasn't easy to leave her alone with vampires, though, even though he knew she trusted them completely.

And he was willing to do the other thing she asked of him during these times – stay with Jenna.

So today, he returned to the Gilbert house to visit with Jenna Sommers while Elena was off doing Katherine's bidding. He arrived just after sunset. Damon and Stefan knew she was away, and they would be nearby, as Elena requested - just a phone call away. Elena was always worried about Jenna and Jeremy, so she took extra precautions.

It seemed a little silly to Alaric. It was Elena who was in danger. It was Elena who was alone. Still, he did as she asked.

It turned out not to be silly today. The door was open – forced opened. Alaric pulled his phone out and hit a speed dial as he entered.

"Jenna? Jeremy?" He called as he moved from the front door. He saw that the back door was open as well.

No one answered his call. When he reached the back door, he could see why. Stefan, Damon and Jenna were all in the back. Stefan was between Jenna and what looked like a vampire. Damon had two to deal with – probably human. One was holding a gun and a stake, the other just a stake.

Alaric went immediately for the human - the one without the gun, and he got to him. When he hit him, the stake was gone and the man was down. Damon went for the other human instantly and was shot. It slowed him down. Then the gun was turned on Alaric and the trigger pulled.

The vampire was immediately there, scooping up the human Alaric had knocked down. He was out of the yard instantly, followed by the shooter.

Damon went to Alaric. "Not good."

"Let's get them to Bonnie's," Stefan said.

Jenna was hysterical. Damon nodded. "We can't leave her here. You take her, I'll take him."

Damon, though recovering, was slowed by the bullet he had just taken. When he arrived, Stefan had already entered Bonnie's home. Jenna was standing by the door, not having calmed down much - stunned by the speed of Stefan's running and by what had happened to Alaric. Bonnie was next to her, trying to calm her.

"I know Elena trusts him," Bonnie said as Damon arrived with Alaric, "but I can't let him in. I won't invite him in."

Damon heard and stood glaring through the doorway as Stefan came to him and accepted Alaric. "Too late" Damon whispered to Stefan.

"I'll check on Jeremy," Damon said as he left.

Stefan entered with Alaric, passed the distraught Jenna and laid him on the couch. He concentrated and checked one more time before saying "He's dead."