Chapter Two:

Closing the door to the house quietly, Stefan gave a huge sigh. Finally, Marian was gone. It was a relief when she finally told him to stop outside a dingy flat, and got out the car. Not without a final farewell kiss. He supressed a shudder. He wasn't going to get very far with Damon. He'd probably say it was for fun. Very funny...

Treading quietly to the living room, he noticed the TV was lit. Did he leave it on? He couldn't remember.

Feeling more tired than usual (Marian took the life out of him - no pun intended.), he didn't bother to switch the light on, and walked around the sofa, slouching on the left hand side. Something was nagging at him about the TV, but he was too sleepy to care. His eyes started to close.

"So."

With a cry of alarm, Stefan leaped up off the sofa, crouched and whirled around to see someone occupying the right hand side.

"Yes, I do live here too, you know."

Damon. Who else? HIs face was lit up by the TV screen, and it was faintly amused. Patting the sofa, Damon smiled. "Come, little brother, sit!"

Slowly settling himself back on the sofa, he peeked at Damon sideways. How could he not have noticed him? If Damon didn't want to be noticed, then he was up to something... He was staring at the screen, wearing his usual black attire, his aura full and pulsing.

Well, obviously. Marian had a full body.

Breaking the silence (The TV was mute) Stefan asked "What are you doing up?"

Damon turned his head a fraction towards him. "It's like you don't want to see me, brother." Stefan tried to detect a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but couldn't find any.

"Well, you're usually sleeping at this time..." Trailing off, he realised his mistake.

"Very observant, aren't you? Yes, I am usually sleeping at this time, but I seem to have been rudely awakened by an intruder in my head, and I came downstairs to ask my dear brother if he knows anything about it...?" Now there was a definite trace of the old Damon. Oh well, Damon would be Damon.

Swallowing slightly, Stefan kept his mouth shut. But it looked like Damon wouldn't. "So, how was Marijuana - or whatever her name was?"

Stefan glanced sharply at his brother. Should he bring the matter of the 'kissing' incident up?

Trying to judge what mood his brother was really in, his attention drifted to the TV. Now what was so special about the TV? It was on Channel 3. So what? He thought to himself.

Shaking his head, Stefan said "Marian was very...enthusiastic..."

Damon nodded. "Any...particular enthusiasm...?"

Stefan sighed. "She kept trying to kiss me."

It was evident to Stefan that Damon tried - and failed - to supress a snort.

"Damon! I knew it was you!"

"What was me? She obviously took a great liking to you. And, in my opinion, I think you should marry her instead of Elena. Did you see the amount of blood her body held...?"

"I didn't notice." Stefan said stiffly. He continued to glare at Damon. Finally, Damon returned his gaze with a smirk of his own. "Oh come on Stefan. Liven up! You should come with me to the nightclub tomorrow night. It'll be good!"

When Stefan started to protest, Damon gripped his arm, cutting him off. "When was the last time you had a 'treat' - as you like to call it?"

So what Damon really wanted was for Stefan to drink. Human blood.

"Damon," Stefan tried to sound forceful "You know I drink a good enough amount of animal blood - for any vampire."

"Yes bu -"

"And I love human blood as much as you do, I just like to have it occasionally. Why spoil the dessert?"

Stefan was held in Damon's scrutinisation.

"When did you last have...dessert?"

Stefan opened his mouth to say something witty but stopped short. Damn, he beat me. "Um, on Saturday 22nd May. That sweet Antonia girl. Her blood was exotic."

Damon's eyes clouded over. "Yes, it was... Anyway, that was two weeks ago. So you're coming to the club with me. Tomorrow night."

All of a sudden, Damon looked like he wanted to get out the room. And fast. What was up with him? Damon was never fidgety.

Once again Stefan's eyes were drawn to the TV. Channel 3... What was so importa-? Stefan blinked. Turning his head slowly to the right, he noticed Damon had got up and was edging slowly away. "Damon..."

Damon smiled tentatively. "Yes?"

"Why is the TV on Channel Three?"

"I was watching," Damon's eyes flickered to the screen "Um...Teletubbies..."

Stefan didn't stop to think how ridiculous that sounded. "But I was trying to get to Channel 999 from 1!"

Damon hurried over. "Hey, hey, look, you still can. I have found a much better and easier way than what you - and countless other humans - were doing." Taking the TV Remote, Damon went to Channel 1.

"Look." He said and went back one. Channel 999. "See?" Proudly, Damon turned to his brother, only to disappear in the blink of an eye as Stefan lunged for him.

"DAMON!"

Faintly, (Damon must have gone a long way), Stefan heard him declare "God, no one appreciates my genius!"