I'm sorry for not updating for ages (well, it's felt like ages)! I've been catching up on sleep, now that my exams are over x3 Anyway, hope you enjoy! Actually, hope you even remember what happened in the last chapter :P

Chapter Eleven:

Was it possibly a harmless dream? Stefan didn't think so. Bonnie hadn't even met Mitsao. That woman was not someone you'd just dream about randomly.

Pacing restlessly around his room, he decided he needed to tell Damon everything. Surely he'd see things from Stefan's point of view, and act immediately?

He would show Damon the right thing to do: leave Mitsao.

It was the only thing to do. She was bad news.

Ears pricking up at the sound of the front door closing, he stood at the top of the staircase.

Yes, Damon was alone. Thank God. He hoped he never saw Mitsao again.

He wouldn't think of her again, at least, he wouldn't say/think her name. He hated it.

Walking to the kitchen, he heard his brother humming under his breath. Damon humming? In tune? That was a first.

Cautiously stepping in, he glanced around.

Where was he?

Stefan only had a second to hear the step behind him when a hand loosely wrapped around his throat, and an arm around his torso, preventing him from escaping.

Tensing, he felt rather than heard Damon's chuckle.

"Stefan, you really need to practice being a vampire more often. You never know, I might have been the stuff of your nightmares."

Inadvertently thinking of her, he tried to shift away from Damon, but couldn't.

"Okay Damon...you can let me go now."

"Hmm...I don't know. What do you say to a bit of training? Vampire style?"

"Um...I might be able to think better without the feeling of being trapped, you know?"

Still laughing, Damon spun him round and let go. "So it's a yes." It wasn't really a question.

Stefan scrutinised his face, trying to detect anything different - any after effects from being with her.

Nothing out of the ordinary...He still had that weird pleasant look.

Don't get him wrong, Stefan wanted Damon to be happy and he wouldn't even think of having this conversation if she wasn't a danger to anyone.

Wondering how he was going to start this, he found himself nodding. He wanted to please Damon as much as possible.

Clapping a hand on his back, Damon started to steer him outside.

Startled, he asked "What - now?"

"Ye-ah... That was the point. You're a danger hazard to yourself and - more importantly - me right now."

He asked "Where will I train?"

"Right here." In their backgarden.

"Oh." There was no one else there. "Who will I train with?"

Stefan turned toward Damon, but he was no longer there. This time, he heard the motion behind him and impulsively twisted, bringing up a hand to restrain a coming swing.

There was no one there.

Stefan's eyes darted from side to side. It could be Damon. It could just as easily be someone else...Was that a high laugh he could hear? Or was he hallucinating? He wouldn't take any chances. Besides, Damon wanted him to use his vampire skills -

With a wham he found himself flat on his back among the daisies. Ow.

Blinking rapidly to clear his head, he saw the profile of his brother crouching over him.

"Me, idiot. I actually thought you were getting good there, brother. But then you lapsed into this deep thinking mode which could give Edward a run for his money."

Stefan's breathing susbsided to normal "Seems you know all about him, brother."

Damon's amused stare became acidic. He stood upright and prodded him with his shoe. "Get up. You're making me look ridiculous, not even able to defend yourself."

Mumbling under his breath "You don't need me to help you there." Stefan slowly stood up and stretched. His back ached a little.

Ah well, he wanted to be prepared for her. If he was able to defend himself properly after this, what did a little bruising matter?