Lucky Idiot

Elena was watching Damon talk to one of the idiots. As much as she tried to convince him that the direction didn't matter – that they just needed to leave town - he wasn't buying.

She shook her head and turned to Bonnie. "Too long. Can you see anything?"

"Not really, though I don't know what to look for."

"We've got to get moving." Elena said.

"Relax, Elena. He's just being careful – probably a good idea if what you think is happening is true."

"I'm just afraid someone will figure out we've left and try to follow."

"A minute ago you said we want to be followed."

"I just don't want anyone to try to keep us here. If Katherine's at my house, she could come here next."

Bonnie's eyes moved to follow Damon as he returned to them. "Well one way or another, sooner or later, she's going to end up where we are. And she won't like us leaving."

Elena turned to Damon. "Well?"

"He says Katherine thinks they're coming from the Southwest. I suggest we go to the Northeast. And there was a fire in that direction, so it may get us noticed, if that's what you really want."

"Fine." Elena said.

"They're really upset that we're leaving the house. They're not going to give us much room as we move."

"But they'll let us go and move with us, right?"

The vampire nodded. "They know you're not their prisoner. One will stay here. But the others will go with us, yes."

"Seven with us then," Elena calculated.

"Six," Damon corrected. "Another was called away."

Elena turned to Bonnie. "They'll be close Bonnie. Will that bother you?"

"Yes. But not as close as Damon."

"What?" Damon asked.

Bonnie spoke to Elena. "He's carrying both of us, right?"

"No," Damon said. "Find your own ride."

"Look, I know you're all big and bad and 'whoever gets to Elena has to go through me and no one is going through me'. I get it. But if something does get through you, I'm going to be right next to her. I have promises to keep. You'll have to take us both, or she rides with whoever takes me."

Damon looked at Elena for support.

"Just do it. We need to get out of here. I know it will slow you down, but it worked OK the last time."

Elena moved to where Damon could pick her up.

"Last time?" he asked.

"In the woods. Now kneel down and let her climb onto your back."

"Who was the lucky guy?" he asked as she did.

"Just some idiot." Then Elena realized just where she was – and what was lacking from the whole telling Damon her decision thing. "About time you took me into your arms. You're cue was when I first told you I would keep the bracelet." Then she kissed him.

"Seriously?" came a sharp reprimand from Damon's back.

"World's ending Bonnie. Grab a guy and kiss him. Don't let the moment slip by." She did it again.

"One more time and I'll cast a spell and zap him. I thought you were in a hurry."

Elena sighed. "Yeah. Northeast past the fire please, Damon"

Unanswered Questions

Stefan was standing near Jenna and Jeremy, waiting for Marcus, wondering how they would fare when the darkness came. He was startled when Marcus appeared next to him suddenly.

"We need to get them further in - farther from town," he said.

"Farther? Why. I thought they were Southwest of town."

"They were, or that's what we were told. But they, or at least some of them, have circled around and are getting close to us."

Jenna and Jeremy had seen that Marcus was back and talking to Stefan, so they went to them.

"How many?" Stefan asked.

"More than four," Marcus said. "Or do only two of us count?"

"Just two."

"At least they're staying in the woods," Marcus said. "The sun is on our side for now."

"We have to move again," Stefan told Jenna.

"What is going on? They didn't start a fire. Surely they've been caught by now." Jenna was frustrated from being pulled from her home, her questions ignored for so long, and being worried about Elena. And, though she didn't understand it, she knew what was coming. Being carried by Stefan, feeling the movement of the air, daring to open her eyes briefly sometimes, and feeling sick.

"They're gone, Jenna," Stefan said as he lifted her. "But they had friends. We need to move again."

Jenna closed her eyes and thought, again, that she was putting too much trust in Stefan. But there were no alternatives she could see.

The Darts

Alaric, Isobel and two other vampires arrived at the Bennett house.

"I thought security would be better," Alaric said as they reached the doorstep. "Shouldn't there be someone around Elena."

"A lot of someones," Isobel replied, "which means she's probably not here."

"Nobody's outside guarding or whatever?"

"One," Isobel said. "I know him. I'm sure that's why we reached the doorstep unchallenged."

Alaric opened the door and started to enter. He turned around when Isobel didn't follow.

"Aren't you coming in? You've been inside before, so I know you were invited."

"No. I promised her I would not return without her inviting me again, and I've broken enough promises today. I'll talk to the vampire they left behind."

Alaric nodded and entered. No one was inside, but nothing seemed amiss. They hadn't been attacked or forced to leave suddenly. Wherever they were going, it seemed to be willingly. He returned to the front door and found Isobel waiting for him again.

"No signs of trouble or fighting in there," Alaric said.

"I was told they were planning to leave town to try to draw whoever is setting fires after them. And I know whose idiotic idea that was. Typical Elena."

"Does he know where they went?" Alaric asked.

"He said Northeast."

"Then we aren't following because…?"

"Katherine's on her way here – to join us. Then I'm sure you'll get all the following you can handle."

Alaric nodded and prepared himself to wait when he was startled by Isobel.

"Rick!" she said pointing. "That vampire's not one of Katherine's."

Alaric quickly raised his weapon and fired a dart. The vampire collapsed and was immediately surrounded by Isobel and the two with her. Isobel held a stake ready.

"No!" she heard from behind. "He's with us!"

Katherine was instantly by her and over the fallen vampire, along with several others Isobel didn't know. "Is that the dart at work?"

"Yes..." Isobel replied tentatively.

"Can it be safely removed?"

Isobel reached down and pulled the dart out. "He'll be fine in about ten minutes."

"Let's go talk to your marksman. We need to let him know who's who."

"And me," Isobel said as she followed Katherine to Alaric. "He looked like a threat to me."

"Mr. Saltzman, we meet again," Katherine greeted Alaric. "That was the darts in action? Quite impressive."

"Do I need to apologize?" Alaric asked.

"No. Hopefully he'll tell Nathaniel what happened. How he was taken down so easily, but left to recover. It's best if Nathaniel and his have reasons to be careful should they find themselves here."

"Nathaniel," Isobel repeated. "I don't recognize anyone with you."

"No. Mine are chasing fires, watching certain houses, or with Elena – going Northeast, I'm told. We'll follow as soon as he recovers."

Katherine moved away from the others to answer her ringing phone.

Appearing calm until then, she was agitated when she returned. "Isobel, take two of Nathaniel's and find Elena now. They cannot leave town in that direction. Some of the enemy have apparently circled around to that side."

Isobel nodded and pulled two strangers with her as she left.

"What will we do?" Alaric asked.

"Wait for him to recover," Katherine replied, "gather more information. See what Isobel finds. Are your darts ready to go?"

"They are."

"Good. You will hit whatever I ask you to won't you?"

Fires, Vamps and Chants

"Stop, Damon," Elena said. "Let me down."

Damon let Bonnie drop off as he placed Elena carefully down.

"Is this where the fire was?" Elena asked.

"Looks like it." Damon said.

Elena looked at the six other vampires that surrounded her. They did not act alarmed.

"Has anyone even noticed us? Are we being followed or anything?"

"Not that I can tell," Damon answered. "Do you want me to check the building closer, see if I find anything?"

"Please – just for a second. I can't believe we haven't seen anything."

"I don't see anymore smoke – here or anywhere else," Damon said. "Maybe it's under control after all."

Elena nodded as he moved to the other side of the building.

A phone rang – Katherine's. Elena shook her head as she answered it.

"Hello?"

"Wherever you are, stop now! What exactly do you think you're doing?"

Elena shook her head. "Getting yelled at?"

"Oh, then your brain is working. Surely you can get it to bring you back here now."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't let them burn the town down because of me. I had to leave – get them to follow me."

"Elena, are you in our outside of town?"

"In," Elena confessed.

"Stay in. They are outside of town in the direction you're going."

"What? We were told…."

"I know, Elena. Stay in. Come back to Bonnie's. They're closer to you than I am now."

The vampires surrounding Elena closed in and became agitated as three large vans came to a stop near them. She didn't know how many the vans could hold, but she could see the two in the front of each van.

"Yeah," She said to Katherine. "So I see."

"Vampires," Bonnie said as she began to chant.