Alive for the Fight

Jeremy had no idea where they were when they stopped. There were deep in the woods somewhere, but he had kept his eyes closed almost the entire time. Marcus put him down and was off. Jeremy ran to Stefan's side as he carefully laid Jenna down.

"Where are we?" he asked Stefan.

"North and a little East of town. From what Katherine's people were telling her, this is the opposite of the direction the trouble was coming from."

Jeremy nodded and pointed at Jenna. "How is she?"

"I don't know. She hasn't said anything."

Jeremy stared at his aunt. Her eyes were opening, but she didn't move otherwise.

"Where's Marcus?" he asked Stefan as he sat next to Jenna.

"Making sure there is no danger here. He's eager to get back to where Katherine is."

"They looked like they would do anything to protect Elena. Same with Katherine, I guess."

"Yeah." Stefan said. He was facing away from Jenna and Jeremy.

"And you?" Jeremy asked. "Are you loyal to Katherine?"

"Love and hate, Jeremy. Like you and Elena."

Jenna was trying to sit up now.

"Will this bring back the memory of what Damon erased?" Jeremy asked Stefan as he helped Jenna.

Stefan went to her other side to help. "I don't know. But if it does, there's going to be a fight. And I want to be there."

"Oh?" Jeremy asked. "Who would you root for?"

"Don't know yet. Let's just keep them both alive long enough for the fight to begin."

Vampires, Witches and Idiots

Elena didn't know how to act now. Something would have to change between her and Damon, something just to show that they were official. She had no idea what.

At least, for now, she could blame it on being afraid.

She looked at him as he looked at her. He was smiling, no sign of the fear she felt. Calm, so sure everything would be fine. She couldn't decide if it was comforting or maddening.

And there she sat, staring, wondering what to do. She was rescued by Bonnie.

"Elena, come and see the TV."

She and Damon were up instantly. He took her hand as they went, which caused her to smile. At least he knew what to do.

"What is it?" she asked Bonnie.

Bonnie just pointed. Several burning buildings in Mystic Falls, supposedly arson.

Elena stared at the TV for a minute before she could force herself to voice her question.

"Do you think that's because of me?"

Damon and Bonnie both wanted to assure her it wasn't, but neither spoke.

"We need to leave – get out of town."

"You know what Katherine said, Elena." Damon reminded her.

"I know. But it wasn't an assignment, it was her trying to keep me safe. And now I have to leave to keep Mystic Falls safe. I'm sure she'll understand."

"You going to ask her first?" Damon asked.

"I'm only allowed to use the phone when I'm in danger. Right now I'm surrounded by vampires, witches and idiots. I'm not the one in danger."

"Does she know what you call her helpers?" Bonnie asked.

Will the Fear Never End?

Alaric watched as Isobel removed a dart from a vampire, and then took the steps needed to kill it.

"I don't know what games you've been playing while I've been away, Rick," Isobel said as she handed him the dart before moving to another downed vampire, "but I'm impressed. I'd like in on this sometime."

"Do you prefer hunter or prey?" Alaric asked. She wasn't the old Isobel he wanted so much, but right now, she would do as is.

"With you? I'll play from either side."

Isobel handed him another two darts. She had destroyed one of them, but left the other.

"You forgot one," Alaric said.

"Oh. He's one of ours. I assume he'll be fine in a minute?"

"Sorry. About 10 or 15 minutes. But weren't two supposed to come?"

"Not from the same place. I think Katherine is spread pretty thin. Hopefully, the other will be here in a minute."

She had just finished speaking when the other vampire arrived. Alaric watched Isobel talk to him. The vampire picked up the one hit by mistake as Isobel spoke to Alaric.

"We're done here, aren't we? We should get moving."

"We are, but we can't just leave these bodies here," Alaric said as he followed Isobel to the outside.

"Call your Founder's Council to take care of it. They can do that, right?"

They both stopped short and gasped when they reached the outside. Three or four plumes of smoke were easily seen rising into the air.

"You weren't kidding when you said they would destroy the town to get to Elena," Alaric said.

"No. And we'd better find her before they do."

"Didn't you say she was at the Bennett house?"

"I did, and I'm sure she was. But one of the really scary things about Elena – no matter whose side you're on – is that she is rarely where she is supposed to be."

The Plea and The Price

Katherine was still at Elena's house, talking on her phone. She knew she had made a mistake – she had mistimed the attack and underestimated their strength. Another mistake with Elena, so she was doing what she had to.

"I know I am already in your debt, but you know that neither that one nor this one will go unpaid."

"I know. This is the Elena Gilbert I've heard of?"

"Yes," Katherine replied.

"And you trust her completely?"

"I trust her to do whatever I ask her to do, and to do anything she can to protect me."

"But I hear she is human, and yet so loyal to you?"

"She is human, and loyal," Katherine affirmed.

The phone was silent for a minute before he spoke again.

"Then I have something she could do for me. If you would loan her to me for a short time, both debts would be paid."

Not really a surprise. Katherine hesitated before asking "Would you protect her as I do?"

"If you loan her to me, I will make any arrangements you ask of me."

Katherine was relieved. "So help me keep her alive. I'm sure we'll be able to come to an agreement then."

"Some of mine are very close to you. They are at your service. They will be with you shortly. Others will leave now and arrive a little later, if needed."

"Thank you, Nathaniel."

Living the Life She Chooses

"Some of Katherine's vampires have left, Elena." Damon told her. "There's only eight now."

"Does that mean the danger is less?" Elena asked.

"It probably means she doesn't have enough here to do everything she wants."

"Then we need to go. We're turning into sitting ducks."

"Elena," Bonnie said, "if we leave, I'm not sure how much help I can be. I'm not sure I would be able to tell the city-burning vamps form the at-least-leaving-me-alone vamps."

Damon turned on Bonnie sharply. "Here's a clue. If they make any move towards Elena other than a protective one, take them out."

Bonnie glared back. "That much I know. I might want to do something before they get to her."

"Stop it!" Elena yelled at them. They did.

Elena sat in silence with them only briefly. "We've got to leave, and we've got to be seen by them, so they leave the town alone."

"You want us to go slow?" Damon asked. "Perhaps Bonnie has a spell that will burn targets onto our backs – just to be sure they don't miss us."

"Not helping Damon. I've got to do something. It will be dark soon and…" Elena shook her head and hit her forehead with her palm.

"They're setting fires in the daylight. From what Katherine said, they're not human. They must have a witch helping them."

Damon and Elena both looked at Bonnie.

"Not me!" Bonnie exclaimed. "All witches aren't good."

"Some would say no witch is good," Damon said.

"Best friend-in-law? More like worst enemy-in-law," Bonnie muttered.

"Stop it, both of you. That was a short honeymoon - and it wasn't even mine."

That made Bonnie laugh, Damon tried hard not to.

Now Elena was the one who was upset. "We need to get going."

"Where?" Damon asked. "Please tell me you know."

"Nope. Get used to it."

Damon shook her head as Bonnie laughed, then spoke to him.

"She told me that the bracelet meant you chose her. And I saw her choose you. You're in Damon."

"Yes I am." Damon confirmed. "I used to live the life I chose. Now I'm living the life she chooses."