Three to go…

Arriving back at the boarding house Damon could sense all was not as tranquil as he remembered leaving it…he looked at Melissa and Tom and then back at Stefan and Caroline…"What am I missing here? Did you all have a fight after I left? Was it about me?" He waited for a response but none was forthcoming and so he moved on…he didn't much care anyway, he gripped the hand of Elena as though fearful that to let it go would mean letting her go all over again and she didn't seem to be in a hurry to move away from him either. There was a great deal of comfort to be had from holding the hand of the one you love when you are at a loss as to what is going on around you. As Elena took stock of her surroundings and those present, Blake moved to the side and suddenly Bonnie's face came in to view, taking Elena by surprise. She didn't know what had happened back at the tomb but she had assumed Bonnie must have died if she was awake and to see her standing there, very much alive was overwhelming. For a moment it crossed her mind that she might be hallucinating, maybe it was a side effect of being asleep so long but she desperately wanted it to be true. She squeezed Damon's hand tight enough for him to notice and then realise what Elena must be thinking and so he reassuringly gripped her hand back and moved towards Bonnie. "It's ok" he whispered…"it's really her and she's fine". Elena beamed with happiness and rushed to embrace Bonnie.

Bonnie and Elena left the others for a moment to exchange stories and offer forgiveness for imagined slights inflicted on one another and then to laugh about how each of them had the same unnecessary fears that what had transpired in the past would permanently damage their friendship. They were both relieved and happy to realise that for each of them to have the other back, was a gift beyond imagining and they were both extremely grateful for it.

Damon caught Blake throwing him a smile that recognised how powerful his love for Elena was and how glad she was that he got back safely and surprised by this he reciprocated by acknowledging her affection with a smile of his own and a gentle nod of his head.

Melissa and Tom moved together towards Stefan, Caroline, Damon and Blake as Bonnie and Elena re-joined the group. Damon's eyes unexpectedly shone bright blue once again and he seemed to be listening to a distant sound as he tilted his head as though trying to adjust for poor sound quality. He was distracted and distant for a moment as Elena moved close. Melissa offered a startled warning to Elena to stop. As Elena didn't know anything about Melissa she was not inclined to listen to anything she had to say regarding Damon but she was very concerned about what was happening to him. She did not heed Melissa's warning and continued to approach at an increasing pace towards Damon. Melissa caused Elena to stop abruptly by entering her mind and taking control…her sudden shift in equilibrium was detected by Damon and he responded instantaneously by breaking that mental connection with HIS mind. Melissa was a little taken aback by the level of power and control he had exerted over her but at the same time she was a little amused by it and she felt almost proud of him…even though he had directed an attack of sorts at her he was defending those he loved…again, and this showed her a side of him that she had doubted existed and she was quietly pleased that he had come so far.

"What the hell was that?" said Elena, totally confused. "Are you alright?" inquired Damon sincerely. "I'm fine…just a little bit confused as to what is going on. Who is that?" she motioned with her head discretely towards Melissa and then became transfixed on Tom. Damon nudged her and her head moved slowly back towards Damon, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. "Damon?...What's going on!?" He took her hand in his and with his other hand he turned her head so that their eyes met and with his new found Chanul power he transferred all the information of the last few days to Elena and her eyes flashed momentarily as if in receipt of a new data file.

"Whoa… that was totally…weird. How..? Elena paused… "Never mind...what happened to you a moment ago? Your eyes…"

"I can feel Silas getting closer and he knows we're all together now…I say we just get out of here, he's not looking too good and I'd say his mood matches his looks right about now."

The concern on Stefan's face was obvious…"What? We can't just leave now. Silas will keep coming after us and eventually he would catch us. We can't leave Damon."

Damon looked at Stefan and indicated through his facial expression that it was something he thought was quite possible. Stefan stepped towards him, hoping to appeal to his better side but after the initial move forward he became stuck, held in position and unable to do anything.

"Enough" stated Melissa and Stefan was released from his stasis. He gasped and fell forward. Damon held his hands up and backed away. "That wasn't me." He looked over at Stefan and asked "You OK brother?" Stefan just looked at him with anger and disappointment in his eyes.

"It was you Damon…you're losing control of the Chanul power you still have. It became an extension of you…your thoughts."

"Well how can I get rid of it…I'm not losing Elena again and look at us, how are we going to defeat Silas and his goons…he's got an army of them."

"To be honest with you, I don't know how you still have them. Any residual power should have gone hours ago. We'll have to get the others now…we'll split up in to three groups; each group gets one of the others. I'll be in touch with you all through a psychic link; if we move fast and then regroup at the old house in the woods we can be ready before he attacks. If everyone plays their part, we can all walk away from this…we can.

Tom took Melissa's hand and gently pulled her towards him as he slowly moved away from the others. She did not resist and followed his lead to the other room.

He placed his hand so gently on her face…he knew her mind and heart too well now and she knew that he knew. She took a shaky breath and her eyes welled with tears…one escaped and raced down her cheek. Tom wiped it away with his Thumb and pulled her in close to his chest, his arms reaching around her like a shield. She held on tight as though to let go would be to die. "Do you think they know?" she whispered. "No, Lissa…you kept it very well hidden from them. Now I understand why you were getting so upset with Damon, you had to use extra energy to keep tabs on him, to keep him safe and to protect the others from his recklessness…energy you needed to keep me out of your mind." He released his hold on her body and moved away just far enough to lift her face to show her that they are together now, no matter what…for good or bad…live or die. "You don't need to protect me anymore Liss." His eyes teared as he thought of her pain and awaited her acknowledgement of his statement. Until she did he wouldn't be sure of her commitment to him and he could still lose her. The gaze between them lasted only a fleeting moment and yet was filled with love and understanding and utter devotion.

"OK" uttered Melissa. "All in then"

"All in" replied Tom with a half-smile.

Whilst the couples had branched off to reassure one another and affirm their love Blake had moved out of the immediate vicinity to deal with a problem of her own. She hadn't been feeling too well but was afraid to alert the others or ask them for help because she still felt isolated and vulnerable. She found a quiet area at the opposite end of the house and thought she would take a minute to gather her thoughts and grab a drink or something. Her body had other ideas however and her legs weakened beneath her, her heart began to race and beads of sweat formed on her brow. She fumbled along the passageway disoriented and afraid eventually stumbling in to an alcove where she came to an abrupt stop. From a crumpled heap she forced herself in to a more dignified and comfortable sitting position. Her body was now soaked in sweat and she couldn't think straight. Panic crept in to her thoughts and she prepared for the worst, fearing she was returning to death…no one to hold her hand or comfort her as she passed from this world. As she resigned herself to this parting of ways a lone tear trickled down her beaded face.

Suddenly she felt herself moving, being pulled away from the wall and she was helpless to stop it or to call out for help.

"Blake? Can you hear me?"

"Lay her down over there…get some water and some ice if you have it"

"What's happening to her…she's burning up. Why didn't she say anything?"

In her confusion she could hear voices…they seemed familiar but she couldn't remember where she was or who she was with. She was powerless and the fear was growing. Then… a hand on her head and a sensation of coolness that was comforting along with a voice that offered a sense of protection and safety.

"It's OK Blake, just relax and slow down your breathing. You're OK…" Damon's reassuring words helped ease Blake's breathing and gave the group some breathing room of their own to help her.

"She is gonna be OK right?" asked Damon addressing the room.

Caroline rushed over with some ice and water and indicated that she had no idea with her silence and fretful demeanour.

"Melissa…do you know what's happening to her? Is it Silas?"

"No Caroline, I don't think it's Silas. I think it's Blake. I think she's breaking out."

"Are we supposed to know what that is? Breaking out? In a rash?"

Melissa smiled "No Damon…In to something quite extraordinary I think"

"Anything that starts with 'in to SOMETHING' is never good"

"She just needs to sleep for a while and she'll be fine." Melissa placed a gem in to Blake's hand and she became calm and at rest. "We'll give her as much time as we can and then we have to move."

Taking the opportunity that Blake's condition presented, Caroline approached Melissa and asked for a quick word.

"What is it Caroline?" inquired Melissa. Moving closer and out of ear shot of the others Caroline asked "what you said before, about Stefan being tied to Damon and him not knowing why…I'd like to know what you were talking about."

"That was something for Stefan to know if he chose to. I shouldn't have mentioned it, I was unsure of how to get through to him and I used poor judgement by bringing it up the way that I did. I'm sorry but I cannot discuss it with you." She turned to leave Caroline and as she did so she saw Stefan standing there with his arms folded leaning against the corner of the door. "I'd also like to know what you meant by that."

Melissa motioned for Stefan to come forward and take a seat. "Very well, she said…I will tell you of the magic that binds the two of you so tightly that nothing of this worlds making could break"

Melissa told Stefan that when he and Damon were first made in to vampires there was some very bad blood between them. This stemmed from the circumstances that created Damon, and Stefan bowed his head in shame. At this point Melissa took Stefan's hand and reassured him that he should not feel shame because they were both victims and no man would have control over his actions when first turned. Stefan appreciated the sentiment but it offered him little comfort. She continued, "When Emily Bennett made the daylight rings for you and Damon, she also entered into a pact with him that he would always protect her descendants. However, she could see how betrayed he felt by you for what you had done and feared that his anger would eventually consume him, leaving her family more vulnerable. When she herself was betrayed by Katherine, she felt she had no choice but to create a spell that would ensure her families continued survival. If Damon was to play a part in this then he would need to keep the bond he had shared with his brother. To do this Emily used ancient magic to tap into the power of Qetsiyah and knowing of the Salvatore history and familiarities of the two of you, she designed the spell to strengthen the bond between you whenever you uttered the word 'brother' to one another. Whether it was in rage, love, disgust or fear…that bond would see the two of you defend and fight for each other no matter what."

"All this time it's been that word that has kept Stefan going back to his brother?" Caroline uttered out loud but only meaning to think it.

"No…that's not why…Damon and me, we ARE brothers and I love him, no matter what…That's not a spell…it's not what's kept us together."

The spell WAS cast Stefan and you will always run to his defence as he will to yours. If you would like I can sever the mystical bond that exists between you and you will both be free to choose for yourselves. If the brotherly bond is truly strong enough it will keep you together. Caroline's face seemed to light up and she looked at Stefan expectantly. Stefan didn't seem to take the news quite so well and walked slowly away to be alone.

In the past, Damon's eves dropping techniques had always served him well and kept him informed of everyone's little secrets but on this occasion he had regretted listening. His mind raced as he conjured every memory he could of times when he and Stefan should have walked away from one another over a despicable deed one of them had perpetrated on the other and he knew what Melissa said must be true. For the first time in a very long time Damon experienced something he couldn't explain…he was confused, unsure of himself and vulnerable. He felt totally exposed and was uncertain of how to proceed…with anything. He literally began to shut down, he was overwhelmed and half stumbled in to a chair. His shoulders fell forward and he lowered his head in to his hands. The thought of losing Stefan was too much for him to bear. Stefan was his only family, his strength in dark times and his salvation in others. What would he do if he was alone? How long could he hold on to Elena with Stefan out of his life? His world was crumbling and his heart was breaking.

Melissa immediately senses the shift in Damon's emotional state and approaches him to offer counsel. When she's close enough to see his face she knows there may be more trouble ahead than they can handle. "Damon?"

"Go away…leave me alone…give me some space"

"OK, I will, but first…could you look at me?"

He whipped his head towards her angrily…"What?"

One by one, the others moved closer with startled looks on their faces and concern growing for Damon and themselves. Damon's face was covered in veins, similar to the look of a vampire but not quite. There was a blue glow pulsing through his veins and even Melissa was at a loss to explain this one.

"What's wrong with him?"

"What's wrong with me? Well, I don't know Bonnie, let's see, your great great…whatever, cast a spell to keep Stefan in my life and some psycho is trying to kill us all, we're holed up here with lots of the same people and my brother is gonna leave me…and…I need him."

Damon tried to get to his feet but was unsteady and was struggling to find the words to express himself. "Damon, you need to focus…you're losing control again." "I need blood…"

"Damon…brother" "Don't say that!" yelled Damon "It means nothing…It…" before he could finish Melissa had induced a state of unconsciousness to protect everyone.

"Oh great…now we have two people out, will he be Ok, can you help him?" asked Stefan frantically.

"His power is definitely tied to his emotional state and clearly he knows about the enchantment placed upon you both. You know him better than anyone…what are the chances he can get control?"

Everyone looked at Stefan, including Elena who was nervously biting her lip. "Seriously? It's Damon…there's very little control on a good day. I'd say we're in a lot more trouble than I thought."

"Ummm" rousing from her sleep Blake spoke up…"We're not in trouble, Damon will get control, he just needs some time to centre himself, and he thinks he's lost his anchor…his tether to sanity, but he will do it."

"How can you possibly know that?" asked Tom from the back of the room. "I saw it…I know that sounds weird but I just know, he'll be fine."

"What else do you know Blake?"

"I know we have to get the others now…there's no time to waste and we all have to be conscious to do it…so…you had better wake Damon up and take a step back."

"Maybe we should wait just a bit longer…did you see his face?" said Bonnie "he does not have control."

Damon stirred on the floor, Melissa had lifted the suppression on his mind and he got to his feet, momentarily forgetting what had transpired. He looked around at everyone looking at him and uttered "Oh…yeah…wow, sorry about before…I was feeling a little blue."

"Not funny Damon" expressed Elena as she moved forward throwing Damon's arm over her shoulder to help him.

"Damon" Stefan moved forward but sensing what was coming Damon cut him off and said "don't mention it brother…he paused after saying 'brother' and wondered if it would ever hold the same meaning for him again…I just need to feed and I'll be fine."

"We need to talk about what happened"

"Time for that later!" Damon said flippantly as he walked away…secretly hoping there would never be a later.

Melissa, Tom and Blake were going to retrieve 'Katherine', Bonnie, Damon and Elena were going for 'Amura' and Caroline and Stefan were going to secure 'Tatia' and then await the others to revive her. Blake had informed them that they had exactly two hours to pull it off or one or more of their groups would be compromised and everything would have been for nothing.

The whole group were amazed at how well Blake was handling things now, since she had developed this ability to know the future she had removed many unknown variables and was able to offer stability where there was once chaos and doubt. The group needed this. How she had come by these abilities was unknown for now and no one was asking the question…they were all just grateful for a little help.

E lena took a long look at the assembled friends in front of her and taking Damon's hand tightly she declared that it was time by saying… "Ok, let's get this done…three to go and two hours to do it…no problem at all, let's bring everyone home."