The Appointment

"I have to go, Damon," Elena said rising from the couch they shared. "And so do you."

They were at Elena's house. She preferred that to the Salvatore home recently when they weren't out doing something. She was avoiding Stefan – not hiding, just avoiding awkwardness.

"Why? Turning into a pumpkin? It's seven, not midnight."

"I know, but Katherine is coming. I need to be alone and in my room."

"She made an appointment? Has that ever happened before?"

"No," Elena said shaking her head. "And she hasn't been in my room for awhile."

"Mostly you talk to her by phone, right?"

"Yes. So I think this is serious. I think it has to do with what she calls the debt she has to repay."

"Nathaniel," Damon said.

"Yes."

"I should be here with you."

"No, Damon. This is pledge stuff, between her and me. You need to be gone, definitely where you can't hear. She'll know if you're not."

"OK," Damon said, knowing Elena would not budge on this. She took her relationship with Katherine very seriously. There were rules in place, whether Elena's or Katherine's he did not know, rules that said she would be alone when she received her assignments. She would talk to him afterwards, if she was allowed to.

"But you'll tell me, right?" Damon asked. "And you'll let me help?"

"Yes to both, if I can. But you know it's not really my choice."

She saw his expression, he never tried to hide it. This was not a new conversation between them. He was concerned knowing that she was sometimes sent to where he could not help her or even stay in touch with her. He was worried.

"Don't be like that, Damon. You know she hasn't let me down."

"I know she has, just not recently. And this is different. Whatever this is, I'm going to find a way to be there."

"I did not hear that," Elena said covering her ears briefly and smiling slightly at him. "I certainly am not going to repeat it. I will ask if you can come along."

Elena kissed him and started up the stairs.

"Go ahead and ask," Damon said smirking. "It won't change anything."

"Out of earshot," She said, pointing towards the door.

The Task

Katherine was prompt. Elena expected nothing else.

Elena waited in her room, recalling that Katherine's visits used to fill her with dread. That was gone now, but she was still nervous. Setting a time and coming in person were different.

Elena was looking at herself in the mirror, touching up here and there. She realized she was actually worrying about her appearance, something else that was new with Katherine.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. She hurried to open it.

"Come in, please." Elena said, greeting Katherine. Seeing someone that looked like herself walk through the door into her room affected her the same way every time – it was unnerving.

"Thank you Elena. It is nice to see you under calm circumstances."

"I like it better this way too." Elena said, motioning for Katherine to sit in a chair.

"Is it hard for you?" Elena asked as Katherine sat in the chair. Katherine gave her a questioning glance.

"I mean, is it hard for you to see me? It's hard for me to see you, like looking in a mirror. I just haven't gotten used to it yet."

"No, Elena," Katherine said. "It doesn't bother me at all. I don't think of you as a mirror. I still find it curious, interesting. But not hard."

Elena nodded her head and waited.

"It's time, Elena, time to assist Nathaniel as I promised. I think you knew this was coming. We'll leave the day after tomorrow."

"We? You're coming?"

"Yes, Elena. In this case, I will be with you. Not the entire time – you will need to go places that will not permit me to be with you, but I will be with you as much as possible and will wait with Nathaniel while you are doing as he asks."

"What does he want me to do?"

"He's trying to deal with witches, Elena. But these witches trust no vampire and he does not trust them. He would like you to act as an intermediary. Unfortunately, when you are with them, we will not be able to have any vampires with you. At least not at first. We hope that will change."

"Will I be alone? You've never sent me anywhere alone."

"The witches will not allow any vampire to accompany you. I do not have the right to ask her, but I think you should ask Bonnie to go with us. Perhaps the teacher as well."

Elena was getting uncomfortable and it showed. She was so used to having Damon with her, or others, or both. "I don't know if I can ask Bonnie to do that. I don't really even know what I would be asking her to do."

"I don't want you to be alone, Elena," Katherine said. "But I have no one else who can help me who is not a vampire. Neither does Nathaniel. You are unique."

"OK," Elena said, looking away from Katherine – down to the floor. "I'll ask her, I'll ask them both."

"From what I understand, Elena, the witches are not what you would call bad. They would mean you no harm."

"Then why would I be needed?" Elena asked, meeting Katherine's eyes again.

"Things have happened – like with Bonnie and Damon, though not that serious. Not yet. At least one of the goals would be to prevent that."

"Can Damon come?" Elena asked. She thought it was good time to ask since Katherine had mentioned him.

Elena thought she saw Katherine flinch slightly, but if she did it was quickly gone. Her expression was blank as she responded. "Yes. I am allowed to have four vampires with me. I will also bring Isobel and two others that have spent a fair amount of time around you."

"'Allowed'? He is imposing a limit on you?"

"He permits a small party to accompany you and me. It's not an invasion and he is a friend. We will need no more."

"Where?"

"It's better if you do not know that," Katherine said. "We will travel in the evening, meet with Nathaniel during the night, and you and whoever accompanies you will meet with the witches in the morning."

"What will I tell Jenna?" Elena asked.

"She knows you do things for me. Tell her it's for me and the length of your absence."

"I don't know if she'll understand."

"Would you like me to talk to her?"

"No!" Elena said quickly. "I'll explain somehow."

Katherine noticed that Elena was uncomfortable. "Let me know if you change your mind. I would be happy to speak with her. And I know this kind of thing is new to you. But you have done everything else I have asked of you very well. You'll be able to do this. And you will be safe there. I will be with you as much as possible. Nathaniel can be trusted."

"OK. I understand. I'll be ready," Elena said, managing a slight smile.

The Favor

"I'd like to do this alone, Damon," Elena said. At her request, he had taken her to Stefan. He was not, as she expected, in the woods or at his home. He was in public, at a table, alone, with only a drink.

"How alone? Across the room or across town?" Damon asked.

"The latter. Far enough away that I'll have to call you to come and get me."

"I don't know. Are you two on good enough terms?"

"Damon, don't. I went to you alone sometimes when I was with Stefan. I need to ask him this alone. Please."

"All right. But call. I'll be waiting."

"I will, soon" Elena said and pulled him in for a kiss before he left.

She spoke to Stefan only when she reached his table. "Stefan, can I ask you something?"

He nodded and motioned to the chair across from him. His expression was different from what she had seen for some time. Not hurt or pleading or anything like that. Maybe indifferent.

He didn't speak. He just looked at her, so she started.

"I've got to leave town for a couple of days – for Katherine."

Stefan nodded. "I've heard."

"Damon is going with me. And I'm worried about Jenna and Jeremy being here without me and those around me. I'm hoping you will be willing to keep an eye on them while we're gone."

"Of course. I am your designated watchdog. I always seem to find myself with Jenna and Jeremy – never with you."

"Stefan…" Elena started, but did not continue.

Stefan just looked at her. "Stefan what?" he finally asked.

"Please. You're the only one that can help me with this."

"You say that a lot Elena. We both know better. Damon could stay. Bonnie could do it, Alaric. Katherine would probably leave someone if you asked."

Elena swallowed. This was not what she expected. "Bonnie and Alaric Saltzman are coming with me. And it's Jenna and Jeremy. You're the only one I trust."

"I'm the only one that can help. The only one you can trust. I'm your only one, just not that way."

"Stefan, we've had this conversation."

"No, Elena. We had you telling me what's what. Now it's my turn. All I've heard is that I let you down, that I didn't help you when you needed it. But that's not right, Elena. I was there every time you asked me to be. I did everything I could think of to help you, to keep you safe. Yeah, for a little while, I got scared. I was worried I would lose you. And I did. But it wasn't because I didn't help you. I did as you asked."

He looked at her long enough without speaking that she said "You did" under her breath.

"For whatever reason, that didn't matter to you. I could tell that, and I was afraid. But I'm not afraid anymore. I have nothing left to lose. You're still here, and I'm your only one. I lost the last hand, but another hand has been dealt. I will do as you ask, Elena. I always have and I probably always will."

Elena winced a little, but said "Thank you. I will find a way to repay you."

"No, Elena. This is a favor for you, but it's more than just that. The danger in Jenna and Jeremy's lives is as much my fault as anyone's. I will keep them safe because you ask me to, and because I owe it to them. The only thing I want from you, the only thing I've ever wanted from you, you're not willing to give me right now. If that ever changes, you how to reach me."

Stefan left as Elena watched. She felt a twinge of emotion inside that she recognized.

"Oh boy," She said to herself.