A/N: Sorry about the wait. This chapter gave me lots of grief in pulling together all the pieces I had set up from previous chapters so it took way longer too get out and I hope it made sense.

Scared and excited about what you will think. Multiple POV's again to try to help you understand the events the best way possible.

Elena's POV

The warmth that I was already accustomed to was not there when I woke up. I had only laid in his arms a few times in as many weeks yet and now I could feel the coldness of not being against him. He made me feel so safe and protected. Even from the first night at the hospital as I snuggled up on the bed with him, laying my forehead against his I felt that soothing peace.

Peace I had been looking for, for such a long time.

Peace I had not had with any other guy in my life.

Turning around I reached out for him, thinking he had just merely moved further away from me in sleep, without meaning to.

"Damon?" I lifted my head, my arm around my bare chest keeping the soft blanket covering me from the chill of the air as I sat up fully. "Damon?" This time my voice took on a much more worried tone as I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision more. Where was he?

My eyes scanned the nearly dark cave. There was light filtering in from the open ceiling over the water. But the soft lull of the falling water did nothing to calm my pounding heart. Every second that I could not find him made it slam harder against my chest. I could feel my head hurting too from all we had been through and the stress was likely getting to me.

"Please Damon. Please," I begged, my voice nearly an octave higher as my head spun to squint into all the corners of the cave. I didn't even know what I was begging for...

For him to just appear from behind a rock? Or to climb down from the surface having just needed to go to the bathroom? Or that he had been diving underwater and would pop his head up from the edge of the underground pool?

As much I wished so desperately that one of those scenarios were all that it was, a part of me just knew after our fight that he had actually left.

By now I could already feel tears at my lashes. I didn't even care anymore that he had left. I wasn't mad at him. I just needed him to come back, I told myself.

As I clutched the blanket to my naked body I decided that I would not berate him for leaving, for taking such a huge risk with his life and our future. I knew all he wanted to do was get us out of here. That even in fighting with him only a few hours ago, he was doing the right thing.

But I could not stand the thought of losing him and that was what made me crazy.

I didn't know I could love someone so much as to literally feel crazy at the thought of them risking their life and never seeing them again. I never understood it when I heard people say they were crazy about someone. And now I knew…

Wrapping the blanket more around me I raced back and forth checking every inch of the cave, behind each rock and in all the dark corners. I knew it was ridiculous to do that. If he was here he would have called out to me, run to me and pulled me in his arms at the first sign of fear in my voice.

I could see in his face how much any pain I suffered just destroyed him inside. He was always so strong and extremely smart and could react under pressure. I'd seen how hard he had fought for me in the last few days. It was like a raging monster was caged inside him and was only set free when I was in any danger. He had the animal chained up so tight within him and yet that didn't scare me at all. I knew he would never hurt me.

But even seeing his devotion to Enzo last night in the cave when he was awake and how he had talked to his brother already, I knew he would fight like hell for them too.

Opening my mouth I tried once more, praying and begging that somehow he would hear me.

"Damon, baby… I need you," I whimpered and moved to sit back down on the mossy bed. The blanket swished against my bare legs and I heard a crinkling of paper by the ground. I looked toward the sound as I wiped away a tear that was wanting to fall. I needed him to be safe and something in me just felt so scared that he wasn't; that he was hurt and he needed me.

There was a piece of paper on the rock floor right near where I would have been laying. I gasped out seeing the gun laying on top of it. Oh God! Damon left without the gun?! I opened the paper and hurriedly read the note.

Elena,

Baby I am so sorry, but I had to leave. I know deep down you do understand and know that I would never leave you unless I had no other choice. I hated our fight….our first fight and I wanted nothing more than to stay...with you, curling you up in my arms. There is nothing like that feeling.

So I had to leave and I will get that phone and fight like hell to get back to you. You are my world Elena.

My everything.

Please, please don't hate me for leaving to save you.

I was sniffling and feeling tears slipping down my cheeks now. I could feel his pain as he wrote and knew how much he meant every word.

The gun is for you. I couldn't leave you without any protection. There are more bullets in the bag. The knife that Fredrick had too I had put in your jeans yesterday already once you were asleep. Just stay safe Beauty and I will do everything to get back to you.

I love you SO much

Your Damon

I choked on a sob and looked back at the entrance to the cave as I finished the letter and folded it up, hugging it to my chest. Looking around for my clothes, I dug around in the bag and found more that Caroline must have tucked in there. I slipped on a pair of black lace boy shorts and put on my red bra. I stepped barefoot over to the wall where Damon had ravished me last night, and picked up the black button down shirt to slip it over my shoulders and pulled on my jeans too.

Waking up now I knew he had done that to stop our fight, to get me to relent. And his talented fingers and tongue had more than made me forget what we were fighting about in the moment.

Now though despite the pounding in my head...now I was very alert and all I wanted was to go to him, to find him and bring him back to me.

But he had wanted me to stay here. I knew that. I should stay here and wait for him….But what if he had run into one of the cons? What he was hurt? What if he needed me?

Oh God, I shut my eyes and didn't know what to do.

Walking back over to the gun I lifted it and felt its weight in my hand. I knew how to shoot. Every since the riot before I had started working at Maxwell Heights I had known if I was going to take the job I needed to know how to protect myself.

So...I had taken a self defense class and shooting lessons and had been given special clearance by the warden to keep a gun in a locked box in my office. It hadn't even taken much convincing and I knew it must have been because of what happened to the previous doctor. I never knew what they did to her but I shivered at the very thought of Kai and Mason and Brady and what they were capable of back then. All three of them had been in solitary for months after that incident so I knew it had been bad.

I opened the gun and saw the three bullets. Damon said there were more and a rummaged in the bag and pulled out another 3 and slid them into place and spun it closed again. I felt in my pocket and sure enough the knife was there just like he said.

Letting out a huge breath I tucked it deep in my front pocket and leaned back against the rock with the gun in my lap. I was okay. I was protected and Damon had done everything he could to make sure of that. And as much as I wanted to race out of here and find him I knew he would want me to stay put.

"Damon, please hurry back to me baby," I mumbled into the cool air. My eyes were riveted to the rocks at the entrance of the cave. Enzo and Ric should be here soon too. He had told me they were coming.

More and more light was streaming down into the cave by now. How early was it? I opened and re read the letter again before tucking it in my back pocket. He had to be okay. I was having mental conversation with myself about going out to look for him and had to force my body to stay put.

My mind was racing with all that could have happened to him. I felt like I was going crazy with worry. Aside from that night when Damon was burned, I hadn't worried like this since Anna had been rushed to the hospital in premature labor over a month before she was due and then put on bed rest. My brother had been so scared for her and the baby and I remembered just laying in bed and praying, scared that she would deliver so early. When her labor stopped we all were so thankful.

I started rearranging all the medical supplies in my bag and took more antibiotics, some pain killers and found a bag with fruit in it. I was wiping the pineapple from my chin, remembering being in his arms and Damon licking down my chest at the pineapple juice when I heard sounds and saw in the next second someone was climbing down into the cave!

My heart was racing as I grabbed for the gun and leveled it at the figure in the distance. I heard a groan as he fell down past the last few rocks.

"Damon!" I cried out and saw clearly through the misting water the hoodie and his dark washed jeans. The extra bag Ric had given him fell from his shoulder as he sunk to the ground at the base of the rocks. "Damon! Baby I'm here." I called out, dropping the gun to the moss bed and jumped up and raced to his side.

His head was down and I saw more blood on his hoodie. He was groaning again.

"Elena," he gasped out. His voice sounded so hoarse. "Elena, it hurts."

"You're bleeding Damon," I cried out.

I knelt down beside him, lifting him up more from where he had curled up on the ground and started tugging up his hoodie. He grabbed my hand. "No. Morphine first, please," he begged me.

"Okay, okay. I'll be right back." I kissed his head on top of the fabric of the hoodie and raced back to the bed and grabbed up my med bag. I was back in a few seconds and tried to get him to lay down more on my lap so I could get the tourniquet on. He groaned again, the muscles in his throat tight, his hand was massaging his temples and I could see him cringing more in pain.

"Baby, do you have a headache too? Concussion?" I worked quickly, pulling up his sleeve and got the needle ripped open and filled the syringe. He was nodding his head.

"Fought Cade..." he gasped out and coughed. "Slammed my head and choked me... Throat like hell. Feels like its getting worse every minute. Long hike back was too much." He coughed some more as he kept pressure on his head with his fingers.

Looking down at my love in my lap I saw the huge bruises around his throat. No wonder his voice sounded so weak. I was surprised seeing the marks that he could talk at all. "Oh honey I am so sorry."

The medicine looked like it helped almost right away and I felt his muscles that were so tense as he laid on me, relaxing finally. I wrapped up all the garbage and tucked it in a side pocket of my bag while he pulled himself to sitting and leaned against the wall of the cave. He pulled the hood up more on his head and shivered. Was he getting sick?

I sniffled and realized that my nose was feeling stuffed and wondered if I was catching a cold from us being out in the rain and getting soaked a couple times the last few days. I raced across the rock floor and grabbed up the blanket I left on our mossy bed and bent to wrap it around him. He looked so weak and I didn't want to move him unless he wanted to.

It was still so dark in the corner of the cave. The beams of light were falling down further away from us as more slivers of dim light filtered into the cave. His head was down and he looked exhausted and I thought I could see sweat dripping down his neck. His one leg was bent as the other stretched out in front of him as he leaned his head down against his chest.

I crawled closer and climbed into his lap and felt his good arm come around me, pulling the blanket around both of us as I buried my head in his neck. I sniffled again and my nose was so stuffed I couldn't even take in his scent. We really needed to get off this island before we risked getting more sick from the unhealthy water and the bullet wounds and limited food choices.

My hands were up by my face, my fingers wrapped around the thick fabric of his hoodie. I clutched him tighter, being careful to lean more on the side not against his bullet wound. I still needed to check out why it was bleeding yet too. I probably needed to restitch the wound. But right then I was content just to be held and moaned as I felt his hand stroking down my hair and further down my back.

Damon coughed again and nuzzled me and I felt his nose rub against my head. "It's okay Elena. I'm here."

He was here and back in my arms. I felt him press a kiss to my hair as his hands were running up and down my sides before slipping under the thin black button up. I lay against his shoulder feeling the warmth of the pads of his fingers on my skin. I felt all the worry just melt away as I lay in his arms finally.

Enzo's POV

Almost there.

This climb had been a bitch.

I had no idea how weak my body would be after the serum. I had never taken it myself before and only heard of it saving other agents lives. It was a last resort and carried a quite a degree of risk. I was so glad to be alive and almost home finally. My hand went up to tug on the chain around my neck and twirl my wedding ring between my fingers.

Damn I missed her. Getting out of here could not happen quick enough for me.

If we hadn't crashed I would have been home by now. Damon could have been given immunity and we could have both been with our families. I knew underneath the pain Stefan had been holding so tight to, that he really didn't blame his brother for what happened to his fiance. From everything Damon had told me about his time in Serbia there was nothing he could have done to save her. I had been there for him the night he came back and I saw how much it ripped him apart to have lost his partner and the love of his brother's life.

Now here he had done everything to get me back to my Bonnie. I was literally living the song she hated most in the world. I was over the ocean and all I wanted was to get back to her. 'My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean.' She loathed that song ever since she was a kid and told me quite a few times since I'd known her. I could just imagine laughing and telling her that I thought of her not favorite song all the way out here.

Leaning against a tree I stopped to catch my breath. I was following Captain Ass Donovan as he held his gun up and led the way. Ric was walking beside me and helped me over any uneven ground and I was happy he was there to remind me to take breaks and go slow. This man really did care and I was grateful I wasn't alone with the selfish guard.

"You okay Enzo?" I lifted my head to see Ric studying me. I nodded and pushed back off the tree and kept moving. Ric hadn't said anything else to me and I knew he was worried sick about his friend. We had stopped a couple times to take a break and my body just wasn't what it was normally like right now. I worked out and could sprint across fields and up and over fences. I was always aware of my surroundings and alert to the smaller changes in the environment.

Now though, it felt like I was walking under water. I could see and communicate but everything felt heavy and my muscles were not cooperating with me. I just wanted to get there and yet my body seemed to have resorted to slow motion.

I knew it wouldn't last. It was just the effects of the drugs wearing off but it could still take another day at least to be back to normal. And with everything that was going on, I hated that my buddy could not rely on me like he was used to. We always had each others backs and could jump to the others defense in split seconds.

Damon was one of the best agents I knew. He knew how to think fast on his feet and make impossible decisions with amazing results...most of the time. He was very attune to others suffering so that could be both a blessing and curse in our line of work. He cared deeply and now I could see the way he loved Elena just consumed him.

He was always thinking of innocent lives and how his choices affected everyone around him. Sometimes that emotional involvement could put others at risk but often he saw and empathized with people and could rescue them without casualties, could talk them down from doing something dangerous, or could have them face a fear themselves and change the course of a case by his inspiration of them.

Lexi too had been the perfect partner for him. She balanced out his emotional depth with her hard stubborn bad assness. She looked harmless, which was perfect for missions and men never saw her as anything of a threat. But she could best Stefan in a fight and had taken Damon down hard to the mats more times than he had ever beaten her. She had fire and matched Damon's caring and compassion so well when they dealt with missions together.

Damon could be like steel when he needed to be with criminals, mafia and he knew how to work things in his favor. But he could be so soft with the witnesses and innocents, the mothers, and children, families that were caught in the crossfire. He was brilliantly talented in keeping anyone safe the best ways he knew how.

I knew that Damon always did everything he could to keep me safe and how he had managed to keep Elena alive and away from all the danger on this island I was in awe of. I sucked in a breath just thinking about it. I would likely have had a heart attack if Bonnie had been here in her condition, with so many murderers and rapists so close. She was my world and I could not imagine fighting like Damon had to, to keep the woman he loved safe.

And we still were not safe yet. I knew he had left her in the cave to go and get the sat phone so he could contact Stefan. I wished I could walk faster, push myself more without risking anything happening to me, just to make sure my best friends girl was safe.

"We are almost there buddy," I heard Ric comment as he tipped a bottle to his lips and took long full swallows. He handed it to me and I nodded, thankful for the water to sooth my dry throat. Matt had just stopped a bit ahead of us but didn't say a word. He actually had kept quiet since Ric had yelled at him about everything Damon had done and just led us toward the waterfall.

I nodded at Ric and passed the bottle back to him. I could hear the pounding of the water nearby and was ready to keep going and get to the cave Damon was talking about.

It was maybe another half mile or so before we stepped into the clearing and saw the surging water falling from high above us, giving off a light misting in the dim light of the early morning. The power of it was incredible to see and I looked up, wiping the mist from my face.

Collapsing down on a large rock at the base of the falls I leaned back closing my eyes, and concentrated on slowing my breathing from the long hike. I looked around seeing the sun starting to peek out from the horizon.

Damon had said he was meeting us here at dawn, so where the hell was he?

Just then I heard a rustling in the bushes nearby and saw Donovan already whipping his gun around toward the sound...

Elena's POV

I needed this. I had been so scared that my Damon would not have made it back to me. Laying against his strong chest just allowed me to breath again.

Feeling alone was still such a trigger for me. I hated being alone at all.

My tiny apartment was always a buzz with something. I had the TV on or music or had every damn light on just to make sure that I felt like I wasn't alone. I had even slept with the light on or white noise or the TV on ever since the accident.

The prison was never quiet and as scary as it was to work there, I liked that there was always noise. Always people running around, calls on the intercom, guards making rounds, gates slamming. Somehow that helped me function. I sometimes would stay in the infirmary over night and sleep in the staff room just to avoid going home to my empty apartment.

Ian was there and truthfully he was my only motivation to ever go home. He needed me as much as I needed him. Otherwise there was nothing in Jeremy and Anna's place that comforted me at all.

Only memories and pain and loss lived there.

But ever since this flight and being in Damon's arms; him comforting me as the plane took off, I felt a sense of peace with nothing but him.

I smiled to myself as I lay against him and played with his one hand, rubbing back and forth on the finger where I had given him his ring. I was marrying him! I could not believe how madly in love I was and realized I would never need to be alone again. My arms around him tightened as I pulled him closer and shut my eyes, just so glad he was okay.

"Elena?" I heard his hoarse whisper, his lips against my hair. "What's wrong, baby?"

He loved calling me baby. Every time any of his precious endearments left his lips I felt a little rush of emotion, and love race through my body. I loved him calling me Beauty. It was my favorite pet name he had for me. I was his Beauty and he was my damaged and lonely Beast.

We were made for each other. We fit.

I had never heard of Beauty as an endearment before but I loved its uniqueness. I knew I loved Damon so much that he could call me anything and I would love it. Probably even cheesy pet names like Muffin or Sweetums which very sound makes me cringe...but coming from him I would still probably love it.

He had called me angel and baby and his Elena and his girl too and it was still hard to wrap my mind around being any of those things for a man as amazing as Damon.

My Damon must have sensed my zoning out and sat up more with me still straddling his lap. "You okay?" he repeated, his voice so crackled. I had not realized that I hadn't answered his previous question.

I shook my head to clear the fog as I leaned back down against his chest, still playing with his hand and rubbing where his ring was, even though I couldn't see it.

"Yeah, of course I'm okay. You are here and that's what's important Damon. I was just thinking of all the affectionate names you call me, Beauty being my favorite. I mean I read Black Beauty as a kid so I always thought it sounded great for horses but the more I have fallen for you the more I realize how similar we are to Beauty and the Beast and I love it."

I was rambling just glad he was back and as safe as I felt in his arms I didn't want to fight and bring up him leaving me. Not yet.

He nuzzled my head and felt his hands rubbing up and down my shoulders and arms. "Me too." He coughed again. "Damn it, my throat sounds like shit."

"Then just stop talking Damon. Just hold me. That is all I need in the world is to be in your arms." I buried my head more against his strong chest and felt his arms come around me.

"I...missed you," he rasped out weakly and felt his nose nuzzling down on my collarbone, pulling the fabric aside more to press kisses in a path to my shoulder.

I could hardly think straight and my stomach felt it was spinning from the worry and fear I had that he wouldn't come back. I could feel my head pounding now too. His kisses were a pleasant distraction from both those sensations. "I missed you too," I murmured softly. But then I thought of rescue again.

"Damon are they coming? Did Enzo and Ric find you? Are they meeting us here."

He nodded. His voice was still so hoarse. "They..." he coughed again, leaning away from me to regain his breath. "They should be here soon."

"Then should we leave? Meet them up top?" I asked. I couldn't remember what the plan was. I had been hiding how much the gun shot hurt last night and had not heard everything Damon and Ric had planned.

I felt him put a finger to my lips and his whole body stiffened and he coughed again before he answered me. "They know where we are," he breathed out, his head down against my shoulder to cough more, sounded like almost gagging and clear his throat. I couldn't imagine the pain of being choked like that.

He tugged the shirt further off of my shoulder and I felt warm wet kisses in each place he uncovered, his two day old stubble brushing against my soft skin.

My leg brushed against something hard on the ground and my eyes opened to see the white casing of the satellite phone beside him. He had gotten it?

I straightened up, staring in his eyes but could hardly make out his features in the dim light. "Damon! You got the phone! Did you reach Stefan? Is he bringing the army? How soon can we get rescued?" I had been so wrapped up in him making it back to me that I had totally forgotten to ask if he was successful in contacting Stefan.

His hands fell from my body and he leaned over to reach for the phone. "Yes," he gasped out. More coughing followed and his whole chest shook as I was pressed against him. "He's coming."

Damon's fingers squeezed his temples again and I hoped the morphine was working. He had fought Cade? That guard was so strong and I always thought the inmates were scared of him.

His head fell to my shoulder again and I felt his lips on the hollow of my throat.

"Still so dizzy, Elena. This helps" he mumbled and I felt more kisses. I knew I should check his wound too and make sure it wasn't getting infected. He lifted his head leaning in toward me and I placed a finger on his lips before they touched mine preventing him from kissing me and distracting me from making sure he was okay.

"You already distracted me before Damon. I'm not falling for that again. I need to check your wound. It looks like it is bleeding. We can't risk any infection, baby. You are too important to me." My head was hurting more I could barely think straight, but I knew I needed to help him however I could.

He groaned again in more pain and I wondered if the morphine wasn't enough to mask the pain of his injuries. I dropped my hand from his mouth as his head fell back down to my neck. Maybe kissing him or holding him would help. He had helped me with my fear when the plane was crashing. But first I needed to repair his stitches.

"Okay." He gave in and I was glad he was letting me help him. I curled my fingers under his hoodie and started pulling it up to lift it over his head but before I could pull the hoodie up and over his head he squeezed my hands gently.

"Just hold me, baby please?" His voice was still so weak, yet I could hear the ache in his tone. "For a minute?"

I let out a deep resigned breath and laid my head down on his shoulder that wasn't caked in blood. "Okay Damon, okay. Just for a minute."

I heard a sigh of pleasure from him and we laid there in the darkness as I felt him snuggled in closer, slipping his fingers under my shirt and running them up and down my bare back soothingly. My head was still hurting and I welcomed any way he was relaxing me.

Enzo's POV

I jumped up from the rock and pulled Ric with me behind the nearest tree, my back pressed against the rough bark.

Matt cocked his gun. "Come out!" he yelled in the direction of the sounds. A man stepped forward, his own gun raised and I saw a woman nearly curled up behind him. She had bruises all over her face and looked like hell.

"Captain Donovan?" I heard the man say but before he answered Ric cried out too.

"Caroline! Oh my God are you okay?" I saw Ric motioning to Matt to lower his gun as he took a step closer to them.

"Ric! I'm okay!" she called back to him and I saw her trying to get past the man than was in front of her. But he had his arm out, keeping her back behind him.

Her own hand went around his arm and he turned his head to her, his eyes looked soft as he looked back at her. "Nic, its okay. Ric is a friend." Ric had come out from behind the tree and was nodding to them and started moving closer.

I watched her move past him slowly and then run to meet Ric in a huge hug. She shut her eyes and was holding him so tightly. It was amazing to see that she was alive. She looked beaten up but I prayed it hadn't been worse than that. I knew how worried Ric had been all night. I leaned back and smiled, happy that at least something had gone right.

I had missed so much and some of the things Damon had the others had been through sounded terrifying. But I was relieved that rescue must be close. I studied the man that was watching Ric and Caroline. Nic she had called him…

At first from the haze of my lack of focus I hadn't recognized who he was. I watched her look up at him as she and Ric were hugging and he smiled almost bashfully back at her. He was one of the cons on the plane. And then I knew...this was the man that had nearly killed me!

Moving quickly I got in front of him and shoved him hard with my walking stick against his chest. "You bastard!" I screamed at him. "You tortured that poor stewardess. You fucking shot me!"

Klaus nearly fell back and lifted his hands up, maybe showing he meant me no harm, his finger off the trigger of his gun.

"No, it wasn't like that. I was protecting you and her! I saved your life!" Klaus yelled back at me as I shoved him again. The woman Caroline had jumped between us and I already felt Ric holding me back.

Klaus made no move to fight me back and the blonde had her arms curled around him pulling him back too as she shook her head at me. She wanted me to back off.

But this creep had tortured that poor innocent pregnant woman! It scared the hell out of me to find out she was pregnant, just like my Bonnie. I had felt sick to my stomach as I saw him point the gun and press it against her small baby bump.

Sure I knew that he had saved me. He had shot me and gave me the serum to save me from Kai killing me.

But what he did to that woman…

"I do..my boyfriend and I'm...I'm pre...pregnant, please," she begged, her hands going over her belly protectively.

Oh no. I just shut his eyes slowly feeling terrified by the thought of taking that away from this woman. I had to do something!

I saw Klaus pick up the gun from the table beside him and run the muzzle of it down the terrified woman's cheek, to her neck and down to her belly and he held it there as Jules cried out in fear for her baby. "How far along are you luv?" he mumbled against her ear as her body shook.

The woman, shut her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks and I could see the gun pushed against the smooth dress and I could see a baby bump there. Not much but it was there.

"4 months," she whimpered, her head down. Then she screamed as Klaus threw her against me, nearly toppling me over as I stopped her fall with my hands still behind my back. I was whispering to her over and over that I was so sorry.

Klaus laughed looking back at Kai and then to his brother Kol and they all shared a wicked look before Klaus held the woman by the back of her neck right up in my face and slid the gun back down to Jule's stomach, pushing it into her side. "Last chance St. John. The baby or Damon."

I pulled myself out of my thoughts as Ric grabbed for my shoulders. I wrenched my body out of his grip and I saw him shaking his head at me too. He was telling me to relax and I knew he was right. I lifted my hands and nodded at him. "I'm okay Ric. Thanks."

He released his firm grip on me as I turned my head back to Klaus, venom in my tone. "So were you protecting her too...running your gun down her body and threatening to shoot an unborn baby!?"

Klaus opened his mouth but didn't say anything. I turned to see the shock on Caroline's face and she pulled her arms back from him instantly. This was obviously news to her.

"You did what Nic?!" I heard the woman sound like she was choking on a sob. He then turned to her. She was just as upset as I was.

He stepped forward toward her and she took another step back. His hands were up at his sides as he shook his head and his eyes darted to each of us before settling back on her. "It wasn't like that. I just needed them to trust me. I need the other cons to believe I was one of them. It was all an act."

Caroline looked furious and I stayed back seeing the Pandora's box of emotion I had just opened.

"You threatened a pregnant woman. You hurt Jules?" She was glaring at him as he backed off even more. She looked like she likely knew the lady too.

"I didn't want to Luv. Believe me please," Klaus begged her.

He was scrambling for words and after what I saw him do; making Jules cry, grabbing her by the hair, threatening her with death and killing her baby, I was glad he was getting some pay back. Right intentions or not, that was sick and wrong.

"My wife is pregnant...Klaus," I told him. I saw him shift his focus back to me. "She is due any day now. You have no idea how hard it was for me to see a woman in that position, a woman in any position...begging for her life...for her baby's life. She thought you were going to kill her!"

"I know, I know and I'm sorry," Klaus said instantly. "I hated scaring her."

I had reached my boiling point. My body was trembling, my glare like pure ice. "You hated it? You looked like you were getting off on it!" I spat at him.

And before the thought had barely passed through my brain, I swung out, punching him in the face and snapped his jaw back! He fell down disoriented against the tree behind him and slipped down to the ground.

Panting hard I leaned back.

I did that for Bonnie.

For Jules too and now was kicking myself that I let my anger get the better of my head when I needed to take it easy. With my brain in such a fog I wasn't thinking clearly either. I couldn't wait to get out from under the cloud the drug had me under.

Caroline had cried out and knelt by Klaus' side as he held his head and I saw blood drip down from his split lip. Served him right for how he terrified her.

He wiped the blood from his lip and looked almost sadly up at me. "She's safe. I got her away twice from the damn cons at considerable risk to me. She is hiding out near here, with food and water. I just needed them to believe I would kill her baby. I never would have done it."

I sighed. Listening to his explanation, it did make sense. "Well I guess we will never know now will we? Seeing as I told you what you wanted to know before it got worse! Don't think you got some kind of redemption in my eyes for saving Caroline after how you hurt that poor woman and threatened her baby.

"I wasn't asking for anything from you. I'm just trying to do the right things here and keep everyone alive."

I knew he was right but I still hated how he went about it. He stayed leaning up against the tree and I saw a trail of blood on the back of his head too. I had got him good.

Ric came up and to my amazement offered him his hand and helped Klaus up to his feet.

"Thank you for saving her," Ric nodded at Caroline and squeezed her shoulder as she stood beside them. I saw Donovan walking further away and it looked like he was listening for something. Was someone else coming? "How did you get her away from the beach?" Ric said to Klaus.

I was listening but also watching Matt as he was concentrating and tilting his head, cupping his ear.

I heard Klaus clear his throat. "Caroline actually saved my life," he told Ric. "She tried to shoot Mason and ended up having the gun jam and then she knocked him unconscious with it."

Klaus smiled at her and Ric. Wow. She saved him? I was impressed.

"Wait your gun jammed?" Ric replied and Caroline nodded. Klaus got it out of the back of his jeans and opened it up and dumped the bullets in his hand.

"Yeah, no idea how that happened," he said as I watched his face change from confusion to shock.

"Thank God you got away." I called out. I was relieved for her and despite her looking so weak and beaten, she forced a smile to her lips. Caroline nodded at me and she winced at the bruise on her cheek. "Wait a minute. Where's Damon? Didn't he say to meet us here so we could get to the cave he found?"

No one was answering me. I looked up at Klaus and stepped closer as he lifted a bullet between his fingers. Caroline came closer to him, her hand running down his arm. "What's wrong Nic?"

Klaus looked like he had seen a ghost… "Blanks...why the hell are there blanks in my gun?"

Blanks? I had no idea… It looked like his mind was racing and fear building with each gasp of his breath. What the hell did that mean?

"Guys, I found another one," a voice said and I turned to see Matt motioning us to follow him. I stepped forward toward him, my legs still a little weak from the serum and the long walk. Another what?

I was right behind Klaus and Caroline and Ric and stepped past the thick covering of trees into a small clearing just along the river. Caroline gasped out and I hurriedly pushing past the branches to see what they had found.

There was a man in an orange prison jump suit, bound to the tree behind him. He had a white tank top that had some blood soaked into it around his head. He was grunting and kicking his feet.

I remembered Matt saying that his buddy Cade had been capturing prisoners and tying them to trees to bleed out. It looked like he caught another one.

Matt was already creeping forward, his gun raised. The man was struggling against what looked like handcuffs around his wrists tying him to the tree. I was glad one more con had gotten captured. One less dick to have possibly find us before we could get rescued.

I moved closer, my heart pounding and saw Caroline holding tight to Ric's arm as Klaus too crept up to the bound man and stood at his other side of him. Captain Donovan nodded to him and knelt beside the man and slowly untied the knot on the back of the tank top around his head. He unwrapped it letting it fall.

I nearly had a heart attack right there as…dark raven hair fell down from being tied up in the tank top and ice blue eyes looked around wildly with absolute terror.

Oh my God!

"Damon?!"

Damon's POV

I blinked rapidly seeing nothing in front of me but the white cloth covering my head. I had been kicking and grunting trying to get free and then froze as I heard voices coming closer. I squirmed more, feeling the cuffs digging into my wrists.

Then the next second I felt the fabric pulled from off me and I blinked at the sudden light in my eyes. The gag was making it so hard to breath and I swallowed mouthfuls of air as I felt it removed and fall to rest around my neck.

"Elena!" I gasped out. The horror of what I knew could be happening right fucking now nearly stole my weak breath from my lungs. I saw Enzo bend down and he pulled the gag off from around me and grabbed at my shoulder. His eyes were wide with shock but I had barely registered it comparing to the fear that was growing exponentially each second that I thought of what he could be doing to her. No, no, no!

I cried out at the pain of fighting the cuff again, hating again that I was trapped and she was in danger. Horrible danger.

I thought back...

I fell down onto the soft grass at the top of the cliff, panting hard. I knew I had torn at least some of my stitches and could feel the warm blood seeping from the wound and through the thick fabric of the hoodie. I was so relieved that I was on solid ground again and not hanging off the steep drop-off. My eyes had been closed in exhaustion as I struggled to catch my breath.

The sound of a low chuckle made its way to my ears and I heard a loud click of a gun cocking echo in the thin air. My eyes flew open as the laugh grew louder.

Fuck I knew that laugh...it couldn't be...but it was.

I shook my head, forcing myself back to the present. Donovan was there. I had thought he was dead. I would have been fine if the dick stayed dead but here he was alive and well when my baby could be...I didn't even want to think about it now or I felt like I would have a panic attack and be no use to anyone.

I tilted my head up to stare hard in his surprised face, flipping my dark hair from my eyes. "Get me the hell out of these! I have to save her. He was going right to the cave! He knows. Oh fuck, he knows where she is!" I rambled off so fast at him, my brain feeling like it was racing at breakneck speed. I shook my arms again. "Now Donovan! For once in your damn life do something right! Get them off me!"

My buddy leaned down beside me as I was still fighting the cuffs, not caring that the metal was hurting me. I felt his hand tighten on my shoulder and my wildly cast eyes locked on his. "Enz, he's alive. He's going to hurt her! I need to get there. He thought of fucking everything!"

My head ripped me back again to the top of that cliff when I saw him...

I felt the steel muzzle of a gun against my temple and I blinked more to focus on the figure that had just knelt down beside me.

No! I had to be dreaming. This was just a nightmare...just like the last one when Elena had been held at gunpoint and I watched her die in my arms.

But the gun was shoved harder against my head and knew with glaring clarity that I was awake.

The monster opened his mouth, the wicked smile making my blood run cold. "Nothing to say to me...Pretty? Nothing?"

No! I had to stay focused now I screamed in my head as my fear flooded my veins like a tidal wave.

Enzo was staring open mouthed at me...I saw the look of shock before recognition flashed in his brown eyes. I knew the second he figured out exactly what I was talking about.

"Kai? Kai's alive?" Enzo breathed out.

I nodded at him and felt a tear slip down my cheek. My voice was still so weak and hoarse from being choked and I fell into a coughing fit as Enzo dropped down at my side. He looked as devastated as I felt.

Another voice joined our conversation. It was Klaus. I saw him racing toward me and holding up his gun. "I shot him...he fell."

But he didn't fall...

I gagged at his sick nickname for me again and swallowed hard as I looked up at Kai leaning over me. He had the gun digging into my head and I shut my eyes, just waiting for the bullet.

No gunshot echoed and he merely laughed again. "Get up Pretty. You think I would just end you right here? I should just toss you back off the cliff like Michaelson did by shooting me… No, no, no. This right here...is just the beginning of the fun I'm going to have with you and the Doc."

His words sent chills down my spine as I saw his eyes looking glassy with lust as he stared down at me. I turned my head to avoid his hard, sick stare.

I sat up more, shifting my body ever so slightly away from the sheer drop of the cliff behind me. Squinting up at him, he looked like he had no wound on his chest. Only the bullet I had pumped into his shoulder while we were still on the plane. But even in my dizzying state I knew I had seen him fall last night. I didn't imagine that.

Tilting my head up to him and tried desperately to swallow my fear. "How the fuck are you still alive?" I snarled out. Everything was hurting like hell from the climb up and I knew I was no match for him like this.

Klaus had thought he was saving us, saving his brother. I nodded to him, knowing all that and more. "But they were blanks...Kai tricked me," he mumbled. The shock evident on his face.

My blue eyes blinked fast to keep more tears at bay as I nodded to his understanding. "He tricked all of us."

Kai laughed again.

I hated that laugh.

It was the sound of a psycho on the brink of insanity and he knew it. "Oh yeah...about that. You see, I knew that it was only a matter of time before Mikaelson double crossed me for threatening his brother. And when I found that hot blonde I knew I had a plenty of ways to get his cooperation..."

I grunted and lifted my hand to my shoulder and could feel the sticky blood on it before looking back up at him.

"I gave him the gun he used last night and I found blanks in one the guards packs...always be prepared!" He laughed an octave higher, his eyes wide, a huge smile on his face. He made a face at me.

"So...when I saw him aiming at me and heard him actually fire the damn gun, I acted. I fell off the edge of the cliff and landed only a few feet down and hid behind the bushes in the darkness. I thought I was dead when I fell off the cliff. But I couldn't just let that bastard know that his bullets did nothing.

However fate smiled and I only fell a few feet and was able to climb back up after you all left. If I had fallen a little further I would have slipped off the sheer side and fallen to the rocks below but lucky me, I didn't!"

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head.

Fate smiled? Fuck.

Damn him, that his miserable existence wasn't smashed on those rocks far below. He was like a damn cat with 9 lives!

I saw Caroline come closer too, fear all over her face and Ric was there holding her by the arms. "Thank God you got her safe Klaus, but Elena...oh God, my girl…"

I glared up at Kai as I watched him still holding the gun on me but walking back away and I sucked in a breath as I saw him pick up a piece of rope and walk back to me. What the hell was he going to do to me...or Elena? I was fucking terrified.

"So you dropped the rope when I climbed down?" I questioned him, swallowing the giant knot in my throat. Maybe if I kept my cool and kept him talking I could figure a way out of this. But I couldn't let him tie me up more.

Kai grinned at me. "I did. I would have left your ass to rot on that cliff if I hadn't needed this." He grabbed my bag from where it had fallen beside me and held up the phone I had just risked so much for.

"Yes. You see when I fell...it fell much further than I did and I knew it was the only way we were getting rescue coming. So, I waited to see who would come back here and get it..."

Damn it. I had left her to come get that damn phone...My baby was alone in the cave! Oh god no!

I looked back at Enzo my expression pleading with him that he tell me this wasn't really happening. That someone would tell me they found Elena and had already killed Kai.

But no one said anything. The silence was even worse and my mind was ripping back and forth through all the things the monster told me before he left to find my girl. Matt was looking through his pockets now. Did he not have a damn key to free me?

Kai cocked his head toward me as he spoke. "I heard everything you said to Klaus on the walkie before you climbed down. And you don't know how hard it was to resist stealing the morphine you had in your bag for me. But I couldn't tip you off that I was here."

The gun was raised and I saw him pointing it at my heart as he came back to me. He was keeping his distance and not letting me get close enough to jump him, even though I doubted I had the strength to do anything like I normally would have as an agent. I could feel more blood seeping from my wound with each shaky breath I took and the loss of blood was making me feel even weaker.

"Get up now Pretty. Get back from the fucking cliff. I'm not going to give you the chance to throw me over again," he hissed out at me. I saw him rip Cade's shirt open and tear it off him before tearing it in more pieces, the gun still in his hand, his eyes locked on me. I knew I wouldn't be able to get close enough before he shot me.

I reluctantly dragged myself on my knees on the ground to where he was motioning me with the gun till I was leaning against a tree further in on the grass. My eyes were like fire up at him as I groaned at the pain of moving my shoulder. "Just kill me you bastard. Why prolong it?"

"Why?" Kai smirked at me. "Oh I can think of quite a few reasons why...there is no fun in just killing you. Not after how long it took me to finally get to you, Pretty. I'm going to take my fucking time with you and you will wish I killed you right here and now. So get up!"

I tried to get my feet under me and pull myself up to standing. Kai still stayed quite a ways back and grabbed up my bag and swung it on his shoulder, pushing the gun in my back.

"Where are you taking me?" I stumbled but caught myself before I fell back down.

"Oh nowhere special...just a little cave in the river, under the water, where a certain lady is waiting for you…"

What the...I whirled around instantly, full of adrenaline and grabbed for his throat as we crashed to the ground. No way in hell was he touching her! I started to squeeze with one hand as my other held the gun back and slammed it against the ground. Kai was gasped for air and I screamed as I felt his other hand dig into my wound and tear at more stitches before I felt the gun crash against my head. I fell to the ground beside him, writhing in pain.

I needed to go to her. She needed me more than ever before!

Enzo squeezed my shoulders more, his expression so solemn, offering me his support. I felt myself hanging on the edge of sanity as rebellious tears I was trying to hide slipped silently down my cheeks. "He'll destroy her," I whispered, feeling bile in my throat.

I could hardly believe this was happening…

"NO!" I yelled at Kai, fighting the pain rushing through me. "No! You leave her alone!" I cried out and felt him spin me on my stomach, sitting on me. He grabbed my arms wrapping the ropes around behind my back to tie them tight before dragging me back up to my feet.

Blood was dripping from my head and trailing down beside my eye, making a wet sticky path down my face to my lips. He stuffed something in my mouth and felt him tie it up with another piece of fabric, gagging me.

He laughed again. "Nice try Pretty...I told you I heard everything...I heard you telling Klaus where to hide his sweet little lady friend with 'my' Elena. I knew that he was a long ways off yet, rescuing her from the beach...I stole the gun I've got right now from your fight with the big ass guard still hanging there dead." Kai mumbled as he pushed me forward. "You thought it was Mikaelson that pulled you up off the cliff didn't you?"

I didn't answer him and kept stumbling forward which was much more difficult with my hands tied behind me.

What the hell could I do? What was he planning? Why oh why did I tell Klaus where he could hide Caroline? I had no fucking idea that anyone was listening! All I had wanted to do was help get the woman safe after she had been through so much. But now I was putting my precious angel at risk too, just because I had helped Klaus with Caroline. Damn it, this could not be happening!

He didn't say more for most of the way back toward the falls and my mind was grateful for the silence. I focused on concentrating, trying to think of anything I could do to stop him before we got there. What the hell was his plan? To drag me down there at gun point and kill me in front of her?

I saw us pass the falls. There was still so little light in the sky as the sun was almost hidden by the thickness of the trees around us. I prayed he did not know where to go at all. I had literally fallen in the cave and I knew how well hidden it was.

Maybe she had already woken up and seen I was gone and raced to find me. Maybe she wasn't in there at all? I prayed that was true. I could at least hope, couldn't I?

Kai was looking weak himself, sweating and I could see his skin was flushed. I knew I had shot him a few days ago. Maybe it was infected and killing him by now.

But then my head snapped up. He had said he needed her. I had heard him before. She had the medical supplies to treat his wound. Maybe that was why he was so hellbent on finding her?

I turned behind me to see him scanning the river as we walked away from the falls. Shit, I knew we were so close to our cave! Then I heard a little whooping laugh from him as I felt him drag me closer to the water and held the gun to my temple again.

"I found it Pretty...something tells me you left something very precious asleep in that cave..." he sing-songed at me and my eyes widened at seeing the little hidden entrance and the rocks we used to climb down.

I started struggling more in his grip, grunting against the gag, trying anything to warn my Beauty that he was so close. I fought his hold on me and almost turned around before I felt the gun again hit my head, this time near the back and I nearly collapsed as my vision swam. No! Elena!

Kai spun me around and we started walking more away from the cave and back toward the falls. Was he going to leave her alone? No that would be way too easy. What the hell was going on?

Once the powerful rushing water was in view again he pushed me down and slammed my back against the tree behind me. "This is your stop Pretty..." I felt him untying the ropes from my hands and then he stood back up in front of me, leveling the gun at me.

The next second he cringed and pulled his t shirt and tank top over his head. The gun was still up as I lay against the tree in front of him. My eyes grew wider as I saw him shrug out of the orange jump suit and tossed it at me. "It's finally time to shed this prison persona," he laughed indicating his jumpsuit. "I kinda liked it. Made me feel all wack shack crazy wearing it...but its time to upgrade. Don't you think, Pretty?"

He pointed to me, ignoring that I refused to answer him. "Take it off!" he demanded.

Holy shit what the hell was he was doing?

I froze, seeing him lick his lips at me. Was he wanting?...But no, the next second he motioned me with the gun. "Give me your hoodie and jeans, now!"

I was still not moving and he stepped closer and dug the gun in my wound against my shoulder and I cried out in pain.

"Do it now or I drag your girl here and shoot you right in front of her!" he snarled at me.

Fuck, what the hell could I do?

So slowly I pulled the hoody up and over my chest, wincing at the dried blood that was ripping at my skin as I nearly tore it off. I tossed it at him and then went for the button of my jeans. I could see how he was looking at me and it made me sick. I slipped the jeans down my legs and threw them at him too.

Walking closer I was still not able to say anything with the gag in my mouth and not sure if he would shoot me if I took it out. But I took the chance and as I strode forward in nothing but my boots, socks and boxers as I pulled the gag from my lips.

"Take me Kai...you know you want to." I felt like I was living my nightmare when I offered myself to him to save her. And now reality was crashing in and hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Kai swallowed hard as I advanced on him, the gun still leveled at me. I moved right up to let him press it against my bare chest, as more blood dripped down my lean muscles. "C'mon Kai. Put the gun down and play with me..."

Dear God, I felt like I threw up in my mouth and forced it back down, as I felt the gun wavering just slightly as he had it pointed at my heart. Kai moved back behind me, dragging the cold metal of the weapon around to my back and running it along my muscles.

Everything he was doing, how he was looking at me was scaring me more and more.

But then I felt him grab me around the neck and squeeze me in a choke hold. I felt his head right against mine, his breath on my skin.

"Nice try..." he whispered, before everything went black…

I woke up jerking myself up and tried to move, but my arms were tight around my back with the cuff that had refused to come off my wrist. I felt the rough bark of the tree against...what? I looked down to see I was wearing the bright orange jumpsuit and t shirt and could feel the gag back in place. What the hell?

Kai was standing up in front of me as I saw him pull the hoodie I was wearing down over his bare chest. He was wearing my jeans too. "Thanks for the offer Pretty but I don't want you...not anymore...not when I could destroy you by finding your love and being you...taking her from you..."

I inhaled sharply as I heard his sick intent. He wanted to 'be me' and hurt her? Oh no!

"Now lets see if I have everything. It's play time and I am going to see how far I can take this charade of being you and having a very willing partner."

He lifted his hand and held up each finger as he counted off on them as he spoke. "I know you love nuzzling into her hair, and kissing her head...I can hide my lack of hair like this..." And he slipped the hood up over his shaved head."Boots are the same. I'll be bringing the sat phone and get the doc to give me some damn morphine for this pain...what else?"

I was fighting from behind the gag and rubbing it against the tree but he had tied it too tight. The cuffs were biting into my wrists again too.

"The only thing I can't take is that damn handcuff...but I doubt she will ask about it. She was probably so scared being left all alone that all she will want is to be with you..."

My eyes were like saucers and I felt more dizziness overwhelm me. I had left her down there tucked in the blanket...naked after I had pleasured her...NO!

Fuck no this could not be happening! I felt like I could have a heart attack, my blood was rushing so fast in my ears. I grunting again from behind the gag.

"The fun is about to begin...just one more thing..." And I watched him in utter shock as he placed his hands around his own neck and squeezed harder and harder. I saw him struggle for breath before gasping out and doing it again and again. What the actual fuck?!

He released his throat with a grin and I saw dark bruises all around it...just like I had.

"There, all done. Hair hidden, voice hidden," he rasped out, his voice sounding so hoarse, just like mine. Oh God no!

"Time to go. I mustn't keep the lady waiting..."

I screamed through the gag and fought and kicked out at the ground with all my strength but it was no use. I was not going anywhere.

Elena! I cried out in my head. Oh God baby...I felt the tears start to run down my cheeks and my eyes pleaded with him one more time as I felt him wrap his partially bloody tank top around my head before tying it up. I couldn't see anything and was gasping so hard for air feeling dizzy in my panic as I heard him walk away. My eyes closed and I leaned back against the tree. I tried to control my breathing as I just lay there not being able to see anything in front of me.

He was coming for her and I couldn't do a damn thing to save her.

Not this time...

Elena's POV

I felt strange. Something wasn't right. Like there was this sense of dread underneath the joy of Damon making it back to me and I couldn't explain it. I felt his mouth go lower down my throat as he kissed me. I hated the pain in my head, the throbbing and I could hardly concentrate on anything else. The morphine must be wearing off from me too.

Barely able to think, I hoped the painkillers I took would kick in soon. I couldn't take more now. I could hardly pinpoint it but it felt different when Damon was kissing me. I had gotten so used to his touch already and the way he was kissing down my throat and across to my shoulder was different.

I pulled back, or rather tried too. I needed to look at his wound. I had given him the minute like he asked. But he wasn't letting go…his hands after running up and down my back had slipped back out and held my wrists tight when I tried to back away. I felt tears at the corner of my eyes at his grip.

"Damon, you're hurting me. Stop please." His lips stilled for a brief moment before I felt him let go of my wrists. But the next second he pulled my shirt off my other shoulder, kissing across my collarbone and down the valley between my breasts.

Maybe he hadn't realized he was holding me so tight. But he had let go so I didn't make more of it.

My hands went down his arms and I felt the fabric of the hoodie was damp and his skin clammy. My fingers probed around both wrists and sucked in a breath as I realized the handcuff he had been trapped in since the plane had gone down was gone!

I ran my fingers under the hoodie more and sure enough it wasn't on his wrist. But how?

Before I could open my mouth he grabbed the back of my head and crushed my lips to his. The second I felt his lips on mine there was no more doubt…

I tried to pull away feeling him palm my one breast in his hand and his rough touch shook me to the core of my being. I could feel it in his kiss more than anything. This wasn't Damon...oh god…

But I couldn't let on that I knew. I felt my breath racing from my lungs as I tried to calm down. I moaned, pretending that I liked it rough when inside I was screaming. Oh my god, where was Damon?

The man's head lifted and I studied the look in his eyes. My hands were shaking as I tried to hide how scared I was in his arms. There was no weapon anywhere close by was there? I fought the darkness to see him...and eyes thin as slits stared unblinking at me... I wanted to scream. I knew it before I saw his face more clearly. No, he couldn't be here!

It was still so shrouded in the corner of the cave and I could barely see him in the shadows but it was him. I nearly gasped when his eyes darted down toward where I was feeling my fingers around his wrist and I pulled my hand fast away from them like he burned me with his suspicious gaze.

He growled low in his throat not sounded like my Damon would at all. Did he know I knew? He scared me as I felt him drop his head back down and resume kissing the hollow of my neck, his other hand kneading my breast roughly on top of the lace of my bra. I tried so hard to stifle a whimper and looked around wildly for any kind of weapon to use on him. I felt sick to my stomach from his rough and far too intimate touch. He was panting like a tiger ready to pounce as I felt his breath against my skin.

I finally remembered the gun...it was on the moss bed on the other side of the cave... I swallowed hard and forced another moan as his hand started traveling lower slowly unbuttoning my shirt one button at a time till it was hanging open.

"Damon," I nearly squeaked. "I'm feeling a headache so I'm just going to go and get some painkillers that I left in my other pants over there..." I shakily pressed a kiss to his forehead and started to stand up. I was breathing hard and was about to step out of his embrace.

His body tensed up all of a sudden and he yanked me back down hard into his lap. I squealed in pain, trying to get away when I heard his voice fall to a terrifying whisper.

"The one fucking thing..." he whispered icily. "The one thing I couldn't duplicate...and the bitch finds it."

I pushed back, trying to slam his head with mine and he darted to the side fast. He grabbed my wrists roughly with one hand, holding them tight above my head. "The damn handcuff gave me away right?"

"Where's…where's Damon?" I whimpered out, terror gripping me and turning my veins to ice.

I heard a low chuckle. "Oh wouldn't you like to know kitten...all I can tell you is he is not here...and I am..."

"Kai…" I breathed out my whole body shaking. "Please, don't hurt him." I was begging and completely terrified for him. What had happened to Damon?

I felt dizzy, faint, like I just got hit by a truck. I struggled in his iron grip on my wrists as I studied his eyes in the dim light.

I could see the sick smile, the face of a monster, as the clouds must have parted in the sky and more light flooded the cave. His eyes raked up and down my body as my chest was heaving from breathing so hard as the fear grew.

"Kai please...tell me where is he..." I pleaded again.

"We aren't talking about him," he snapped at me, with biting in his tone. "Aren't you happy to see me..."

I turned away from him as I saw him lick his lips, his hands still holding tight to my wrist and his lower body blocking me from barely moving an inch.

"Oh C'mon. You aren't surprised even? Couldn't I pretend to be lover boy really well...you were clueless at least at first, right?" He grinned at me. "Hide and seek is over...I found you and you figured out I wasn't your boy toy...what to do?"

I wrenched myself out of his grip on my wrists and fell back, crawling further away as he stood up and started to walk toward me, licking his lips.

"Where are you going kitten? There is no where to run..." I was crawling backwards away from him, feeling the rough stones against my bare palms. I needed to get to the gun...He kept moving closer like he had all the time in the world.

"DAMON!" I screamed out, praying for some miracle to bring my love running down into the cave and ripping apart this monster. But Kai stepped closer again and I saw him click his tongue at me slowly.

"Uh uh uh. Damon, isn't coming...He's a little tied up right now," he smirked at me, shaking his one finger at me, his eyes glinting with wickedness.

"Its just you and me Doc...and think its time to play doctor with the doctor...just like I laid awake and imagined having you every fucking day I was in that prison. Are you ready for your check up Doc? I sure am.."

A/N: Cringing...Okay I'm bracing for the hate from this chapter.

I had planned this bait and switch since I first started writing this story. They did this kind of thing with Katherine in Season 1 finale and also with her on the island stealing the cure. Silas also pretended to be Shane before we found out Shane was dead too.

I had been building up the fear of Kai for the whole story and some of you sensed that he wasn't dead and that something would happen to Elena. All I can say is trust me as an author to get you to the happily ever after. It may get dark in the next chapters but trust me to bring them to the other side of it.

I couldn't just leave it with no massive confrontation of the bad guys before being rescued, then all the build up and fear would be anti-climactic.

I'm eager to know what you thought of everything. The more responses inspire the muse to get the next chapter out to you quicker. Its the only way I know you are still liking my story. Lots of you said you were tired of the romance so this is as far from romance as we can get.

Rescue is coming. Can Damon get free to save her? Kai seemed to think of everything and had Elena fooled and Damon had no idea he was still alive.

I will try to update within a week, maybe sooner depending on the response to this chapter to not leave you hanging too long with such a dreadful ending here. I hope you don't hate me for how I planned this to go.

Thank you so much for all the thoughts and reviews and favorites and follows to my story. I'm proud to help keep the DE fandom alive in through fan fiction.

Till next time!