Elena still hardly spoke to Damon. She wouldn't tell him what was on her mind, she just sat in silence. Truthfully, she had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but couldn't bring herself to do it just yet. She wasn't even sure how she felt right now. Damon is a vampire? Was Stefan too? What's worse even, was that now her best friend was dead also. The man back in the basement still never told her what was going on, or why they were targeting her, but just kept referring back to her father. He was a family doctor! What harm could he have seriously done to them to make them so vengeful? She thought about these things until they arrived in her driveway.

"Just give me a few minutes, I'll be back down soon then we can leave," Elena said.

"Take your time. Pack anything you'll need."

Elena walked into her former house. Everything was still the same. It looked like it always would, and now it would stay that way. It would sit here empty, gathering dust, until she could come back home again. She walked up the stairs and into her room. All of her pictures clung to the wall. Those reminded her of the good memories she had had. There were pictures of her and Jeremy, and her parents, even Caroline. Poor Caroline. Just thinking of all of the people she had lost recently made her want to break down right there in her bedroom floor, but she couldn't. She needed to stay strong and go somewhere safe. She needed to be protected, and right now, vulnerability was not an option. When things calmed down again, then she would allow herself to be as weak and emotional as she needed to be, but now was not the time for that. She had to push through.

Elena gathered some clothes and stuffed them into a small, black suitcase. She made sure to grab toiletries, hairbands, anything she could think of. She took a pillow off of her bed and a quilted throw blanket her mother had made. Before she walked out she even took down some of her pictures and tucked them neatly away into the front pouch of her suitcase. If nothing else, those pictures would help her stay strong for now.

She loaded her things into the trunk of Damon's car, but held onto her blanket. Surely, she would need to sleep soon once their road trip got started. She placed it in the back seat. Elena got back into the car, still trying to push herself back from asking any questions yet. They would be going a long way away, and there was no sense on making things awkward between them yet. Especially when they'd be trapped in this car together for god knows how long.

Damon started the engine up and headed towards town. Once they passed Mystic Grill, Elena thought of Matt. She wouldn't see him again, at least not for a long time. She would miss him too. Him and Jenna were the only things she was really leaving behind. Jenna. Oh, crap. What would she tell Jenna now? She might just have to tell her the truth. Well, sort of the truth. Maybe that she just had to get out of town for her own sanity. She needed to start fresh somewhere with less pain? Yeah, that sounded good enough. Elena decided that she would call her later, whenever they finally reached where ever it was they were going.

Damon stopped too soon. They had hardly passed Mystic Falls, and he was already headed down a long dirt driveway. The pulled up to this mansion like house and Damon got out. He motioned towards Elena to come with him. She accepted, but mainly out of curiosity of this place. She had lived in Mystic Falls her entire life and never before had seen this place, much less a house this extravagant even.

"Just because I'm a vampire doesn't mean I travel empty handed Elena," Damon smirked.

Elena cracked a small smile and went inside. She watched Damon go up the giant wooden staircase. She decided to just stay where she was and look around. It was a very traditionally styled house, for a mansion anyways. Aside from the kitchen, as far as she could tell, there were no modern extremities there. The living room was very elegant with it's thick, stone fireplace and seating all around. There was no TV, or stereo systems, or anything really that could be considered new age. Elena admired it, it was beautiful. She went and sat on one of the two leather couches by the hearth. She was done being nosey for now, she didn't really have the energy. A few moments later she found herself resting her head on her arms and closing her eyes. Damon came down to find her like this and sat beside her. He didn't want to wake her, she was so beautiful as she slept, but they had to leave. He placed his hand on her knee and slightly shook her.

"c'mon Elena, wake up we have to get going," Damon whispered to her.

Elena's eyes opened slowly. She was exhausted.

"I wasn't sleeping, I was resting my eyes," she grumbled.

"You were practically snoring," Damon smiled and helped her up.

He picked up his duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder. Elena followed him back out to the car and got in while he stowed everything away. She grabbed her blanket from the back seat and draped it around her body. She leaned against the window and shut her eyes once more. The engine was loud as it started, but then produced a calming rhythm that lulled her to sleep.

When she awoke it was still light outside. They were driving along a crowded highway.

"Where are we going," she asked groggily.

"Uh, not too sure really. I just started driving wherever the road would lead me and it looks like our stop might be Chicago. Seems far enough for now. What do you think?"

"Chicago sounds nice. I've never been there," Elena was keeping her response short.

She still didn't feel much like talking to Damon yet. Well, not small chit chat at least. She wanted to know more about everything. More about his "condition" more about those people, but she didn't know where to start. She didn't even know how to bring it up. She decided to just blurt out what came to mind first.

"Damon, you're a vampire," She said bluntly.

"Yes. I am," he responded.

"You aren't going to eat me are you," she knew she sounded silly, but it was a legitimate question.

"Ha, don't you think I would have done that by now if I were. I wouldn't go to this much trouble for a quick meal," Damon laughed.

"It's not funny. I don't know whether to be scared of you, or what. You haven't hurt me yet, but who says that won't change after you get bored with me. They-they told me how you were. How you were in love with Katherine, but when it came down to it, you would have let her get killed," Elena wasn't meaning to say all of this, but it came out anyways.

"Elena. Don't be scared of me. I wouldn't ever hurt you, and I won't ever let them, or anyone else for that matter ever harm you again. You can trust me on that. Katherine was a different story entirely. How much did they tell you?"

"They told me you were a vampire, and that eventually you would kill me if they didn't. Katherine told me all about your love story, and about how you abandoned her when she needed you most. She told me you were selfish, and cruel, and that's what she loved about you. That you could kill without mercy, or guilt. That you were what every vampire aspires to be. Evil," she caught herself on the last word.

"No, Elena, well some of that was true, but that was then, this is now. I would not hurt you for anything. Not even if my life depended on it. You are very special to me, I couldn't live with myself if I let anything happen to you. Katherine was just trying to get under your skin. I haven't been that guy for a very long time, and I don't intend on going back to that person. Please don't be scared of me," Damon begged.

He was a top predator, Elena knew that. He was dangerous, very unpredictable. He embodied everything that she should be terrified of, but she couldn't honestly say she was. Damon had saved her from Enzo and Katherine. He was taking her away and keeping her safe. How could she be afraid of him when he hasn't given her a reason to be yet? She realized she just needed to calm down about this. If she needed to get away from him, she would find a way to later. Right now, in her condition, she just needed to be cared for.

"When will we get to Chicago," she changed the subject.

Damon let out a small sigh of relief. It was over for now. The elephant in the room was gone.

"About another hour," he answered.