AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, new follows and favourites:)

This chapter is dedicated to tvdspnislife.

Chapter 40: Manhunt

(Saturday the 26th of December 2009)

Elena woke to a ground-shaking snore. She sighed irritably, looking down at Jeremy, who was in a deep sleep on the daybed beside her. They hadn't slept in the same room, since they were young children and kept sneaking into each other's rooms at night to huddle together like newborn kittens, but all the other habitable rooms in the Boarding House were occupied.

'Stefan doesn't snore like that, 'she thought wistfully, grabbing her cell phone from the bedside table to check the time. 7.06 and at the same time, a text message from the Sheriff came in.

She immediately felt a stab of pity and then guilt. Elizabeth Forbes had been a wandering ghost of a woman, ever since Caroline had disappeared. She had gone about her daily business mechanically, as if none of it mattered anymore and now it had just been Christmas and Elena had forgotten to pay her a visit or even ask her, how she was.

She sighed, opening the message.

Sheriff Forbes said: Hi, Elena. I'm home. Miss U. Can U come by? xoxo Caroline.

Elena stared, a whole mess of emotions running through her; surprise, disbelief, joy and finally suspicion.

I said: How do I know it's really U?

Nothing happened for a minute, then came a new message.

Sheriff Forbes said: Seriously? The first guy, you ever kissed, was Eric White in sixth grade. Ew!

Elena let out a relieved laugh, then glanced quickly at Jeremy, who rolled over on his back still snoring almost merrily.

I said: Will be there as soon as possible. xoxo

She jumped out on the floor, grimacing at the coldness. She went into the large walk-in closet and dressed in jeans and a purple sweater. Then she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her, and ran down the stairs.

"Good morning, Miss Gilbert, "she heard Finn's voice coming from the kitchen. She put on her shoes, grabbed her jacket from the coat rack and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. Finn was standing by the counter with a bottle of water in his hand. He seemed sober; his eyes were guarded, but at the same time slightly amused. He gave her a charming half-smile.

"I'm going to Caroline's, "she said, slightly out of breath with excitement. "She is home."

"That is good news, "Finn said, but then raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's safe to go on your own?"

"Oh ... "Elena blinked, then remembered her situation and smiled sheepishly. "I guess not."

Finn gave her a thoughtful look. "I can go with you, "he offered. "I have nothing else to do."

"Thank you!" She pulled on her jacket. "But are you, you know?"

He laughed. "I'm sober." He took Elijah's car keys from the kitchen table and threw them to her. "Just a moment. I have to leave a note for the others."

(Break)

Raised voices rose up from below and Darwin woke with a start. The way the sunlight fell through the window told him that it was late in the morning, almost noon.

He crawled out of bed, dressing in his clothes from the day before and making his way downstairs. The entire household except for Finn and Elena were gathered in the parlour. The tension was thick in the room. Stefan and Damon were locked in an argument barely a foot apart and everybody else were watching warily. Not Kol of course, he was smirking.

"We can't just do nothing, "Damon spat. "We should hunt them down and bring her back."

"I am not saying we should sit idly by, "Stefan was frowning irritably. "But we should consider our options, not just spring headlong into action."

"What is there to consider?" Damon glared angrily at his brother, who gave an equally angry glare back. "Do you trust Finn? Do you trust any of them?" He gestured toward the other two Originals.

Darwin crept over to Elijah, who had a look of stiff attention on his face as he watched the Salvatore brothers.

Darwin poked him lightly in the ribs. "What is going on?"

His father handed him a piece of paper, keeping his eyes fixed on Stefan and Damon. Darwing quickly read the note:

I've taken Elena out of town. Do not search for her. If you know nothing, you have nothing to tell Niklaus.

- Finn.

"I do not like this!" Darwin didn't know, he had spoken out loud, very loud, until he realized everybody was staring at him. Then he felt slightly embarrassed. "I just mean ... this note is not really telling us anything. Nothing about his intentions or whether or not Elena has left with him willingly." He bit his lower lip. "I have to agree with Damon. I don't trust Finn on this."

Elijah gave him a searching look. "Why?"

Darwin got the mental image of Finn reading 'Harry Potter' in the Library and recalled his words:

"... In the end, the goal may justify the means as humans say."

Darwin shivered. "Call it intuition, "he said simply.

Elijah sighed, rubbing his forehead and Darwin knew he was thinking everything through carefully. The Salvatore's had stopped their argument and everybody's eyes were resting on the eldest Original. Whether or not they trusted him, they had all come to depend on his leadership, grudgingly in some cases, but still enough to always hear him out and in most cases respect his decisions.

He finally looked up at Jenna and Jeremy. "You are Elena's family, "he said. "You should make this decision. Not me, not Damon nor anybody else."

Jenna and her nephew exchanged glances. Her face was streaked with tears and she was breathing deeply in an attempt to control her emotions. Alaric reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"All I want is for Elena to be safe, "Jenna finally said, making her choice. "And I don't see her ever being that in this town. For now, I believe it's better if none of us no where she is."

"You cannot mean that!" Damon exploded. "There is no way, I am ..."

"It's not up to you!" Stefan interrupted, glaring at his brother wth angry tears shining in his eyes. The tension in the room was building to an almost unbearable point.

Damon snorted "Apparently, I am the only one here, who cares about Elena's life!"

"No, you only care about yourself, Damon, "Stefan gave back accusingly. "And someday, your selfishness is going to get her killed."

Damon drew back a fist to punch his brother in the face and Stefan did nothing to sheild himself, didn't even flinch.

"Go on, hit me!"he said instead, his voice hoarse with emotion. "If that makes you feel better!"

Slowly, Damon's hand unclenched and fell down by his side. He stared at his brother for five long seconds, then spun around and left the parlour, stomping up the stairs and slamming the door to his room shut behind him.

Darwin let out a deep breath, he didn't know he had been holding and to his surprise, he felt his heart pounding hard in his chest. He didn't even know that he had turned it on.

The tension in the room lessened considerably and Stefan almost collapsed in a chair, while Jenna sobbed in Alaric and Jeremy's arms. Darwin felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Elijah's eyes that so strikingly resembled his own.

"I can see that you don't like this, North Star, but Elena's family have made their decision, "he told him, kindly. "We must honour that, you hear me?"

Darwin nodded. "Yes, father." He felt a lump in his throat, once more glancing at Jenna's sobbing and shaking form.

Elijah grabbed Darwin's chin and turned his head until he was facing him again. "I have to go, "he continued. "I want you and Kol to keep everybody here until I return. Can you do that?"

"Of course, "Darwin stated, flatly. He clutched the note in his fist and it crackled between his fingers.

"Very good." Elijah rested his hand on Darwin's neck for a second, then he was gone.

Darwin stilled his heart, blinking rapidly to fight down tears. He had no right to despair. He had never loved Elena, never even cared much for her. But Finn meant the world to him and he could not, would not ignore that.

He felt Kol's presence move up beside him and heard an almighty sigh. "God, I hate babysitting."

"Good, "Darwin said through clenched teeth. "Because you and I are leaving."

(Break)

"What an unexpected visit, "Klaus poured a drink and offered it to his brother, but Elijah shook his head.

He glanced at the woman in the black dress, standing unmoving in the door to the living room. "Does she have to be here?"

Klaus grinned. "Now where are your manners, brother?"

Elijah snorted dissmissively. His courtesy seemed to decline in this particular brother's company and he felt no need to humour Niklaus. After all, he wasn't here to make a deal, he was here to make a threat. He looked around the large room. "What have you done with Caroline?"

Klaus shrugged. "I sent her home. I had no further use for her."

Elijah tried to catch his brother's eyes, but Niklaus looked away. "Well, I'm suprised you didn't kill her, "he said.

"I got what I wanted, "Klaus finally told him.

Ah yes, the moonstone.

"And where is Rebekah?"

"She's with a friend in Chicago, "Klaus drained his glass, giving Elijah an impatient look. "But tell me; why are you here?"

Elijah glanced at the woman in the doorway one more time, wondering if her black attire meant she was some form of domestic ninja. He shook off the thought. "Elena is no longer in this town and none of us know, where she is."

"Then get her back, "Klaus set his mouth in a hard line. "You have you ways."

"I won't."

"If not people will die, "Klaus stated, pouring himself another drink. "Like I have already told you. And I will start with the lovely Hanna."

Elijah said nothing, simply kept staring at his brother.

Klaus soon felt uncomfortable with his brother's lack of reaction. "As you may remember, she is in my possession."

"Oh, I remember, "Elijah moved into Klaus personal space, causing his brother to take a step back in alarm. "But my son doesn't. And I am here to let you know that if you ever use his mother against him in any way whatsoever, I will destroy you."

Klaus opened his mouth, but Elijah answered his thoughts, before he had spoken them out loud.

"Believe me, I will find a way."

(Break)

Kol sat in Bonnie's living room, thinking the mysteriousness of witches was going down hill. He vividly remembered Ayana's house from his youth. The various amulets, (some carved from animal bones, other made of bear teeth,) hanging from the ceiling, the dead toads, the strange bitter-smelling concoctions and the multi-coloured gemstones. His mother had kept some of the same things in her 'special' room.

But Bonnie's house was totally devoid of anything witchy, except for the thick grimoire on the coffee table in front of her. The walls were painted in a light green hue and the bookcase was filled with literary fiction and photos of a young Bonnie, her friends and her father. None of her mother, he noticed.

"And you want me to make a tracker spell?" Bonnie's eyes wandered between Kol and Darwin. They showed a mix of interest and mistrust.

Darwin nodded. "We have no idea, where Finn has taken her."

Bonnie rubbed her nose with a finger. "Isn't Finn supposed to be the ... well, the good one if you can say that about any vampire?"

"I just have a really bad feeling about this, "Darwin told her, shaking his head.

Kol tapped his foot in a cheerful rhythm on the floor, humming an old tune.

Bonnie sent him an icy stare and he winked at her. "What about him?" she asked.

"Just here for support, "Darwin assured her. "He will not be a problem."

It had taken them awhile to get Bonnie to invite Kol inside. In the end she had on Darwin's word and honour, but that didn't mean she trusted Kol one bit. He had kissed her hand like a gentleman by the front door, and then pinched her thigh on his way around her in a very crude fashion.

"Alright, "she finally gave in. "I need to find a map. Any idea how far they have gone?"

"Probably not far, "Darwin said. "They just left this morning."

Bonnie got a road map over Virginia and a knife from the kitchen. She unfolded the map, placing it on the coffee table.

"These are Elena's." Darwin held out the car keys to Bonnie, but she shook her head, grabbing the knife.

"It will be a lot easier, if I use your blood to track Finn."

She took Darwin's hand, but Kol interrupted. "Won't it be better to use mine?" He held out his own hand.

Bonnie looked at it as if it might turn into a cobra and lunge at her. "No, thank you."

"Come on, "Kol coaxed. "I'm Finn's brother. We are more closely related."

"Fine, "Bonnie snapped, testily. She let go of Darwin and took Kol's hand instead, making a larger cut in his palm than what was really necessary.

She held his hand over the map, letting his blood drip on their current location. The cut soon healed, leaving only a small puddle of blood. Bonnie grabbed Kol's hand between both of her's, starting to chant quietly.

Kol recognised some of the words, but he had no idea what they meant. Instead he focused on the blood now moving over the map, leaving a trail behind. And then it stopped.

Bonnie opened her eyes, meeting Kol's for a second. He gave her a lazy smile, one that usually drew women to him like horny sailors on leave to a cheap brothel, but she stared back, completely unimpressed.

Then she looked down at the map. The blood hadn't moved far. "Charlottesville or close by, it would seem, "she said, looking slightly confused. "Why would he stay so close to Mystic Falls?"

Kol and Darwin exchanged a look, but neither answered.

Instead, they got to their feet. "We should move on, "Darwin said quickly. "When we get close enough, I'll be able to feel his presence. Thank you for your help, Bonnie."

She gave Darwin a hug the doorstep. "Be careful."

Kol couldn't help himself, but pinched the back of her thigh one more time.

She immediately turned around, giving him a resentful look. "Nice to see you again, Kol, "she said, smiling tightly.

He blinked. "Why?"

She finally snapped and kicked viciously at his legs. "Get out!"