It may have been a while since this was updated, but no, the story is not over yet. I am still here, as is Peachie X with her wonderful Beta. Heck, we're just getting started...

Whatever She Needs

Sarah was relieved that the trip had taken very little time. She really had nothing to say to Katherine, and the vampire did not speak to her.

The witch was not very comfortable during the drive, though the vampire had always been at least civil to her, except for their first meeting when Elena had nearly been killed by her aunt. She was glad she had not seen that side of Katherine since.

They pulled first into a driveway, then to a garage of an average house. She was relieved to be out of the silent car and led into the house. It was fully furnished. There were several other people around – she assumed vampires, though she could not really tell.

She was led into a room with three beds, two of them had vampires lying on top of the covers. She recognized the signs of a vampire that was hit by a spell and immediately moved to the one that looked worse than the other.

Sarah knew Katherine was behind her, watching. She almost wanted to turn back and look at the vampire, but she had been taught better. This required her complete concentration.

The blonde witch felt some satisfaction as the vampire under her hands started to respond to her spell. Though it had been years since she had done it – at least before she had tried to help Jeremy earlier, she was immediately comfortable with the process. She remembered everything. She felt even more satisfaction when she heard Katherine's gasp of surprise.

"It's true."

Sarah nodded, but stayed in place, concentrating on the task at hand. She left the vampire when he looked normal and moved to sit up.

She saw Katherine move towards him as she moved to the other hurt vampire. She actually was curious about how Katherine would react, what she would do with or say to the recovered vampire. It wasn't hard to push that out of her mind and concentrate on the new task, the new spell. Again, it was what she was taught. Do her job and leave the vampires to themselves.

As she moved back from the second vampire and watched him sit up, Katherine was next to her.

"Amazing. I never knew it could be done. I'm in your debt again, Sarah."

The witch managed a smile and a nod in response.

"Have you done this often?" The vampire asked.

Sarah turned and faced her. "I guess. I was taught the spells when I was eight. I couldn't really do anything else for the vampires we served – they didn't want an eight year old making decisions, but they could take me to the injured ones that were hurt like this and have me heal them. It was most of what I did for four years, before we got away."

"Can you tell anything about the witch who did this?"

"From my healing spells?" Sarah asked. "No. I've never noticed a difference in the way the vampires act or what the spells do."

Katherine looked a little disappointed. "Will you do it again if needed?"

Sarah nodded, turning to look at the vampires who were now up and staring at her, though not speaking. "Do you run into witches a lot?"

"No, but this may not be the last time you're needed tonight. Since you'll be with Elena, I can reach you if we need you."

"Whatever you need." Sarah replied. "Can we go back to Elena's house now?"

The vampire smirked briefly at the witch's obvious discomfort, then pushed it away. "Yes." She led the witch back to the car, though she motioned for several other vampires to join them.

What He Wouldn't Do (She Hopes)

"Will you take Bonnie home now?" Elena asked Stefan.

She had been told that there were several other vampires outside now, and she was eager to get rid of her ex and best friend before Sarah returned. She knew they would fight her if they learned what she had planned.

"If witches really did save you earlier, are you sure you want to be without one?" Stefan asked.

"Sarah will be back soon and Bonnie's tired."

"I'm OK, Elena." The witch said.

Elena was having trouble hiding her annoyance. "Well I'm tired. I'd like to rest and just be with my family for a little while."

"It's still early," Stefan noted. "a lot could happen."

"They won't let anything near me Stefan, you know that. Please, let me spend some time with my brother."

Stefan looked over to Jeremy who was sitting nearby, paying attention, though he did not react.

"All right," the vampire finally said, looking at Elena as he moved towards the door. "but you call me if you need something."

Elena quickly agreed. "I will, and thanks for coming tonight."

Bonnie looked briefly at her best friend, but followed Stefan outside. She didn't look very happy.

Elena closed her eyes and let herself relax into the couch she was sitting on, until she felt Jeremy sit next to her. She stayed in place, but opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Are you really OK, Jer?"

"Fine. I mean I felt something hit me when it happened and it hurt. But the next thing I knew I was lying down, Sarah had her hands on me and the pain was gone."

Elena's relief was visible as she nodded. "I'm sorry about what happened."

"That's the point," Jeremy said. "you want me to stay out of this but it still happened. You need to let me help, Elena. This is not just about you – it affects me and Jenna as well."

"Keep your voice down," Elena said, glancing around, afraid Jenna would hear. "I don't want you involved. You could get hurt."

"You have been hurt," Her brother challenged. "so have I now. Do you want Jenna to be next?"

Elena shook her head, irritated. "No. Of course not."

"Let me help, Elena. I heard you in the bathroom, running water so the vampires wouldn't hear. You're up to something – you and Sarah."

The sister was starting to glare at her brother. "She's a witch, Jeremy. She can help."

"I'm your brother. I'm not letting you do this alone. Or do you want Jenna to find out?

Elena wasn't sure how to react. "You wouldn't."

Her brother gave her a look meant to tell her he just might do it.

The glare changed to desperation. "We can't put this burden on her, Jer. It's too hard for her already."

"Then let me help."

Elena couldn't speak. She just stared at him briefly, then buried her face into her hands.

The Witch's House

Stefan's phone rang as he drove Bonnie home.

Damon did not give him the chance to speak. "Are you with Elena?"

"No. She kicked Bonnie and me out. I'm taking Bonnie home."

"I'm about ready to go. Can you get the witch to come with us?"

Stefan looked over to Bonnie who was looking at the road ahead. He was about to speak when the witch yelled in surprise.

"Stefan, stop!"

The vampire immediately hit his brakes, looking ahead. A figure was in the road in front of him.

He hadn't stopped in time, but the vampire in the street had managed to move out of the way. Bonnie spoke before Stefan could. "That's the vampire that's been hanging around me."

Stefan knew there was a vampire staying near her, he also knew she didn't like it. He had no idea why it would be stopping them as they approached her house.

The vampire was waiting at his window by the time he rolled it down.

"There's someone in her house."

Stefan looked over to the witch. "Should there be?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. The vampire could tell she was upset. "My dad shouldn't be home for hours."

"It's a woman," the vampire outside of the car said.

"I don't know who it would be," Bonnie said, a worried look on her face.

Stefan spoke into his phone which was still in his hand. "Damon, get over here – to Bonnie's house."

"Bring her here." Came the annoyed reply.

"Someone's in her house Damon. If it's related to what happened to Elena…."

"I get it. On my way." Stefan heard Damon say before he disconnected.

Not Needed

Elena heard the doorbell and was quickly up to answer it. By the time she made it to the front door, Jenna was opening it to Katherine and Sarah.

Jenna looked at Elena as she came to the door, relieved she would not make a mistake about the vampire's identity again.

"Did it work?" Elena asked Sarah, motioning for them to enter.

Sarah smiled and nodded. "It did."

Elena was relieved. "Thank you. Are you OK?"

Sarah nodded again. "It's not that hard. It tires me a little, but not for very long."

Elena noticed that Katherine had not entered. "Are you not coming in?"

"No. We need to start moving."

"Did you hear from the vampire that was following them?" The girl asked.

"No. We probably should have, but no. We can track him, though."

Elena nodded as the vampire spoke to Sarah. "Whatever happens, you'll stay with Elena?"

The witch nodded. "I promise."

"Keep your phones on, both of you. We'll call if we need anything."

Jenna finally spoke. "Why would you need them?"

The aunt's face showed that she was not happy about the situation.

Katherine responded dismissively. "We shouldn't."

She turned to leave, but then turned back, speaking to Jenna again. "There will be vampires very close to your house. Anyone who approaches it will be challenged. I hope you weren't expecting visitors."

Jenna shook her head, then turned to Elena.

"Sorry," Elena whispered to her aunt as the vampire closed the front door behind her. "We'll be upstairs if you need us."

"OK. Get some rest." The aunt responded, still obviously unhappy.

Elena started up the stairs followed by Sarah and, she noted with a sigh, Jeremy.

The Trust

He knew the delay would upset Stefan, but Damon didn't care. There were two vampires and a witch there. They should be able to handle whoever was in Bonnie's house until he joined them.

His priority was Elena. Though he planned to pursue her attackers while she slept, he was going to check on her before he left. After all, Stefan could be right, it could be related. They could be at both the witch's house and at Elena's house. He just had to be sure.

He was a little relieved as he parked nearby. There were four vampires in her yard, very close to the house. They knew him, which he knew was the reason only one approached him as he moved to enter Elena's room.

"I'm not staying." He said softly to the other vampire. It just nodded and returned to where it was before.

He could see Elena had Sarah and Jeremy with her. He really couldn't believe it, but he was starting to trust the blonde witch, or at least starting to trust her to protect Elena.

He was tempted to pause and listen to them before making himself known, but he didn't have time. Still, they were engrossed in their conversation enough that they did not notice him until he spoke.

"Three."

They gasped and looked at him questioningly.

"That's the number of dead people that would be here if I wasn't such a good guy." He looked at Elena. "Is no one watching your back when I'm not with you?"

"We expected some help from the vampires outside." Sarah retorted.

"Don't. You already know your kind can get through them."

"Damon," Elena interrupted. "did you want something?"

The vampire met her eyes. "A warmer greeting."

Elena nodded and spoke to the others. "Can you give us a few minutes?"

"Sure," Jeremy grinned. "Sarah can tour my room."

"I was there earlier." Sarah noted, though she was smiling a little herself as she rose to follow him.

"No one else this time, though" The brother said, entering the shared bathroom.

"Don't be afraid to zap him." Elena called before turning her attention back to the vampire.

"Are you all right, Damon?" Elena asked. Damon could tell that the concern on her face was genuine.

He nodded as he sat next to her on the bed and pulled her into a hug. "Yes. You?"

She pulled back enough to look into his eyes. "Yeah, but I didn't get hit by a spell. Sarah can help you. She helped some of Katherine's…"

"You know what I think about taking a witch's mojo. I'm fine, Elena. I'm worried about you."

"At least rest tonight," She said, leaning against him again.

"I'll rest." He said, thinking it wasn't a complete lie. He would rest, when it was done. "You rest."

"OK. You know I love you, right?"

"I know. I love you too." He hadn't meant it to sound like it was a good-bye, but it did. Maybe, she wondered. She pulled back to look into his eyes again.

"Damon, you are going take it easy tonight, right?"

"Yes. Just like you."

He watched her carefully as she nodded without flinching. Maybe she was telling the truth.

"Stay with the witch."

"Sarah." She corrected. She really wasn't sure why he would say something like that after everything he had said before. "Now you trust her?"

He held her eyes as he responded. "Now, I need her to be who you think she is."

"She is, Damon. I would trust you to her, I'm glad you trust me to her."

The vampire looked into the eyes he loved, pulled her close and kissed her. He could have stayed there forever, but witches and vampires were waiting. So, he left her to the witch and the baby brother.