!

I'll admit I have neglected this story in the last couple of months or so and for that I do apologize. A: the ending is proving a massive struggle to write, but I am getting there. B: Currently looking after a very poorly mum and she's always number one! :-)

However I bring you Chapter 28. Nothing like how I wanted it to be for you guys, but hopefully it is better hehe. I hope all of you are well, and that you enjoyed the Season 3 Finale. Ultimately we have one up on Stelena... as always! Thank you writers!

And now.. on with the story!

ELENA'S POV

"Stefan did what! ?"

"Sssh!" hissed Bonnie, slapping her hand ungracefully over Elena's open mouth, "do you want to attract more attention to yourself than you already have?"

Before Elena could shake her head in response, Bonnie dragged them to the nearest place where they could speak without prying eyes and ears. Suitably, the library was right next to them and was almost always deserted at lunch time. It seemed Bonnie wasn't satisfied until she'd lead them into the darkest depths of the most boring book aisle where they wouldn't be disturbed.

"He actually went to attack Damon?" Elena said, cutting to the chase, needing to know what the Hell happened in classroom E6 that morning.

"Yeah he did. He was hysterical Elena, it was... "

Elena watched Bonnie try to fathom the words as she shook her head, "it was just crazy. He was adamant about you and Mr Salvatore and he didn't care who heard it."

Elena felt her blood curdle unpleasantly through her tiny frame. Stefan you stupid, stupid fool... she thought, closing her eyes and slumping against the dusty book case. Would this nightmare never end? It seemed she and Damon were constantly tipping over the edge of discovery. No sooner they were reeled back into comfort, their line was tugged violently yet again into danger.

"So what did Damon do to knock some sense into that idiot" Elena sighed, blinking across to Bonnie who began to bite her bottom lip, struggling to maintain eye contact. Oh.. I am not going to like what I'm about to hear.

"Isobel took Stefan away."

Elena perked up at this with alarm.

"What?"

"Someone, I can't remember who, they went to get a teacher and they happened to land on her. She didn't give anything away she just... I dunno.. came in and lead him away, cooing him like he was a little kid the entire time."

"She's going to poison Stefan's mind. I just know it. She's seen first hand how he's prepared to hurt Damon to get to me, she'll have him eating out of the palm of her hand!"

Elena was struggling to keep cool about this. No doubt Isobel will have come up with some ingenious plan to use Stefan against them. A pawn in her evil game. The feeling was unsettling and there were now two people who could strike at any moment and reveal all. And the fact Bonnie hadn't said anything to reassure her showed she was thinking the exact same thing. Elena palmed her hands together and pressed them to her lips, trying to keep it together, humming deeply, meditively through her lips to unknot her thoughts and think clearly.

But she couldn't.

Then she remembered... the log cabin keys in her bag!

"Give them to Damon. If he choses to run, at least he'll have somewhere to run too."

Alaric's words swept through her mind like silk. She hastily yanked open her bag, hearing the keys jingle somewhere inside.

"Elena what're you..."

"Here!" Elena crushed the keys into Bonnie's hand, "take these to Damon for me."

"A bunch of keys?" Bonnie said, raising an eyebrow.

"He'll know what they're for. I can't take them to him, you'll have to do it for me. He'll be safe." Elena said, suddenly feeling choked up.

"Elena..." Bonnie started, an ebb of uncertainly in her voice.

"What? What's wrong?" Elena said, feeling her blood curdle once more

"Nothing it's just... perhaps it's a little hasty having him runaway after this morning, after everything in these last few days, it will scream guilt."

"Or scream that he's an innocent man escaping to freedom!"

"But he isn't innocent is he! ?"

"Ssssh!" whispered Elena, mirroring Bonnie's actions earlier and clamping her hand over her mouth. They hadn't realized how loud they had gotten, anyone could have heard!

After a few moments of stuffy silence, Elena removed her hand. Bonnie seized the opportunity and placed the keys back into it.

"I'm sorry Elena, but I think right thing would be to stay put until it blows over."

"But Bonnie it isn't going to blow over. Isobel has Stefan now - Damon being outed is only a matter of time."

DAMON'S POV

"Just a little more to the left... perfect," Damon mumbled. With a less than graceful decent from the table, causing his chest to cramp in protest, Damon stepped back to quietly admire his handy work.

With slow and even footsteps, Damon surveyed the camera he had carefully hidden in Isobel's living room. The small device was hidden brilliantly in her bookshelf, on one of the highest shelves and certainly out of her reach. As he cracked a satisfied grin on his lips, he heard Isobel's footsteps boom along the floorboards from her kitchen. Damon casually acted as though he'd moved to collect the television remote from atop of the TV set as she entered. If the camera wasn't discreetly placed he'd have been fucked in resolving the matter. Thank goodness he'd managed it during the 4 minutes she was in the kitchen making them mojitos.

"Here you go baby," she smiled, handing him his drink.

"Not drugged is it?" Damon quipped.

She gave him a less than amused look, Damon cocked his head to the side.

"Sorry, " he added, "it just wouldn't surprise me"

He watched as Isobel eyed him cautiously, sneering at him over the rim of her glass as she drank.

"Quite a spectacle that was in your class today," she fired, while Damon fought back the uneasy frown that twitched at his brow. "Poor Stefan was a mess,"

"Yeah.. having someone leave notes in lockers about the ex-girlfriend who you're still in love with will do that to you" Damon retorted.

"Aren't you nervous about what I could have said to him... or showed him."

"Of course I'm nervous," Damon spat, "But I'm not going to give you the satisfaction. And you haven't said a word to him. If you had, the Sheriff would've already haul my ass into the back of a cop car by now."

Well that threw her off. Was she expecting him to be at his knees pleading with her to keep him safe? She would love nothing more. Damon shook his head and wandered aimlessly across the room, taking a large gulp of his overly sweetened mojito.

"Have you been up to something in here Damon?"

Shit...

Damon turned around to argue with her, but she was looking around the room, carefully studying her belongings. What did he say or do to make her catch him out like this? Damon shifted uneasily on his feet, hearing his breathing begin to shake as he watched her slowly wander across to her bookshelf. She looked over her shoulder, her dark eyes shining with malice.

"What are you getting at Isobel?" he said tiredly, hoping he sounded convincing enough to make her stop in her search for whatever she felt he had done. If she found the camera he was screwed.

He clenched his jaw as she looked back to survey her bookshelf. She was not buying his 'you're-overreacting-now-lets-curl-up-on-the-couch-and-watch-TV' bullshit. Damon froze as she began moving various books aside, even tossing some to the floor. As he helplessly stared at her hands crawl higher and higher towards the shelf where he hid his camera, it made him wonder... did she suss him out so easily because she had done the same to him? Did he unknowingly have cameras watching his every move in his apartment? The thought made his stomach drop.

Isobel's long, slightly bony fingers trailed higher until she was on her tip-toes. Surely if she had cameras in his apartment, she would have caught him out with Elena while she was away at her parent's. Why hadn't she used it against him further? Or perhaps it was a part of her plan to catch him out at the perfect time. Like if he ever chose to leave, of which he would be very soon. Does she know that he is leaving? If so, how? Through cameras in his home? Did John Gilbert or Mrs Lockwood let it slip? So many thought's and 'what if's' raced through Damon's mind. It was all driving him to breaking point.

Her fingers finally rested on the shelf where the camera laid. Damon did the only thing that would make her stop.

As her fingers were about to move the book which hid the camera, Damon marched across to her over-stretched body, spun her around, and kissed her square on the lips.

At first he felt her resist, his administrations catching her off guard. However she soon began to melt against his body, her hands finding his broad shoulders and sliding upwards to tangle into his dark hair. Elena would do this and it would catapult his body into full on passion. But with Isobel, it left him cold and disconnected. But this was working, she was pushing him away from the bookshelf into the direction of her couch.

She shoved him hard, causing his ribs to ache at the contact, more so as his back slammed against the back of her less than comfortable couch.

"Sorry, baby" she mumbled as she crawled on top of him. Damon didn't have the chance to say anything back as she crushed her lips against his, her tongue demanding entrance to his tightly closed mouth while her hands sloppily unbuttoned his shirt.

Her breathless kisses trailed from his lips, to his chin, nibbling their way down to his neck. Damon blinked open his eyes and craned his neck to look over to the bookshelf while he had the chance.

"Ah!" he gasped as Isobel bit his neck, momentarily looking down at her to make sure she wasn't looking at him. Damon glanced back to the shelf to see his camera was still in place and unnoticeable to the unfamiliar eye. He smirked at his victory, though was soon hurdled back to the present as Isobel writhed in his lap, her hair tangling into his face as she tugged his shirt down his arms.

"It's about time you gave in to me" she groaned, staring at him through her veil of hair as her hands got to work on his belt. "This was all you had to do Damon. This was all you had to do to stay safe."

Damon gulped down the heavy lump in his throat as the thick, groan of his zipper echoed through his ears. It dawned him that he would have to go through with this. No aches from his hand and ribs could save him now. But had he not acted those few minutes ago, he would have been kissing goodbye to his freedom. If he endured this, he'd be safe... for that little while longer at least.

But it didn't stop the massive weight of guilt that crippled his body. He turned his thoughts to Elena; imagining it was her crawling over his body, using him for her pleasure. Hot memories of this scorched into his mind, making the current situation bearable.

Isobel's fingers wrapped tight around his erection. Damon squeezed is eyes shut, resting his head back on the couch as he silently repeated to himself that he could get through this.

"See.." Isobel whispered, her tone childlike, disturbing Damon to the core. She stroked her hand slowly up and down his length. "I told you you would like me in the end."

"This is a natural reaction Isobel. This doesn't mean I like you" Damon growled.

"Careful Damon," she warned, slowly sliding down his body until he felt her sink between his knees. "It would still be unwise to upset me. Just relax and enjoy what I can give you."

Before Damon could respond she took him in her mouth. Damon felt no pleasure. She was not Elena. Only Elena had the power to make him feel. He kept his mind on her while Isobel hummed her mouth around his length, causing him shudder with hate, feeling totally violated.

"Are you feeling it, baby?" she asked, her hand now pumping his dick hard and fast. Damon refused to look, he just continued to remind himself on why he was allowing this to happen. He just prayed it wouldn't last much longer.

And his prayer was answered.

A loud knock on the door spooked Isobel between his legs. Damon used his moment of freedom to yank up his boxers and pants. Thank fuck for whoever was at the door.

"I'll get it," Damon stated, looking down at a bemused Isobel sprawled against the couch.

"No, I will!" she stammered from behind him.

The door knocked loudly again.

"Isobel!" came a muffled voice on the other side. Damon frowned. The voice was familiar.

"I'll get it. You're indecent" Damon bit back, glaring down at her like she was dirt on the bottom of his shoe. Buckling up his belt, he turned his attention back to the door.

Perhaps this would be the moment Damon would finally have something to use against her-

"I said i'll answer it," growled Isobel.

Damon didn't have a second to react as Isobel yanked on his right hand, making sure to twist the fingers, knowing it would hurt.

"AHH! YOU FUCKING BITCH!" spat Damon, not giving a flying fuck as he grabbed ahold of her by her forearms, ramming her against the nearest wall with the same force as if it were a man who'd picked a fight in a club with him.

"Get the fuck off me!" she hissed, trying to fight her way out of his vice grip. Damon was having none of it. If ever a chance was given to him to out Isobel, this was it. Clearly someone was at the door who she didn't want him to see. With a cold stare he watched her flail in his arms, weakening against his stronger hold. His hand hurt like a bitch, but he made sure he didn't show it. Any moment of weakness and she'd use it against him.

"Who is that at the door?" he ordered.

She refused to answer. Damon bit his finger nails into her arms.

"Ah! You're hurting me, dammit!"

"Who is at the door?"

"I'll reveal you for this, Damon. I swear that to-"

"Who's at the fucking door, Isobel! ?"

Damon was so close to her that the tips of their noses touched. Their breath mingled. A flash of fear glinted in her eyes as Damon held her stare. She wasn't going to say anything... and she sure as Hell wasn't going to keep him safe now.

...Like she would have done anyway.

Damon shoved her aside like a ragdoll and pursued to answer the front door.

He was too late. They were gone.

"Shit."

He quickly stalked out of the apartment, looking in every direction to find out who was so determined to see Isobel. His cerulean orbs desperately sought out for any possible figure. But the cold, winter darkness came out with nothing.

But he was almost certain that the muffled voice he heard was Stefan.

A loud slam of the apartment door behind him shocked his senses. It was almost like a gun shot, blasting out into the night. Damon turned and watched as Isobel hauled an overnight bag and her laptop into her car.. what the...?

"I'm going to my father's. It's my mother's funeral tomorrow."

What? She was just going to up and leave? It seemed careless and incredibly out of character for her not to warn him she was leaving so sudden. This was becoming one fucked up evening. Isobel was becoming more fucked up in the mind with every passing minute.

"Who was that at the door? Was it Stefan? Have you reeled him or some other poor kid into your little game?"

Damon barked his words over her shoulder, standing directly behind her as she messed around with things in her car. She was shaken. Scared, even. This was great leverage.

"You won't find out who that was Damon" she said with confidence, turning to face him...a ghost of a smirk curled on her lips. "Not until the right moment anyway."

Damon's confident gaze subtly faltered, and it was slowly replaced with his demonic glare that he reserved only for this woman.

"What?" he said darkly.

"I'll be back in three days time. I'll see you at the school Christmas dance on Friday night, baby. You've really overstepped the mark. Unless you've got an escape plan i'd get the running shoes at the ready Salvatore. I'm going to enjoy knowing how terrified you'll be."

Her hand tentatively reached out to stroke his jaw. The feather-like touch hit Damon like ice.

"Anything to say before I go?" she said, blinking up at him like she didn't know any better, her hands now resting on her hips.

"Yeah... yeah I have something to say" Damon said, taking a step closer. "Whoever it was that hurt you so, so badly in the past, to turn you into the sick, twisted bitch that you are today, he had one very lucky escape."

With each word he saw the devastation take hold of her, and a single tear to roll down her vacant face. Damon wordlessly opened the car door for her, narrowing his eyes, the look making her get into the vehicle without protest.

Tearfully, Isobel started the car. Damon felt a wave of relief spread through his body at the welcoming revs of her engine. As he took a step backwards to retreat to his own car, his eye caught Isobel rolling down her window to speak to him.

"Enjoy prison, Salvatore - if you make it that far..."

As the cold stab of fear knifed into his chest, Isobel quickly sped off down the street without giving him the chance to ask her what she meant - but deep down he knew exactly what she meant.

Isobel was far gone enough in the head to want to kill him.

ELENA'S POV

Elena anxiously watched Bonnie call Damon for the umpteenth time. As the last of the rings blurbed down the receiver Bonnie shook her head in acceptance that Damon would not answer this call either. Elena wrapped her comforter tighter around her body as Bonnie moved the phone away from her ear.

"Nothing," she confirmed.

"Something is wrong," Elena said as an awful feeling eloped her. "Something has happened, I just know it."

"Don't get yourself worked up 'Lena'" came the authoritative tone of Bonnie Bennett. "He's probably busy finishing work, cooking dinner, heck he could be in the can!"

"Bonnie!" gasped Elena, soon giggling and blushing, "ugh lets just do something to distract me. Anything."

"Hmm..." mused Bonnie, Elena watched her friend spring to her feet, heading into the direction of her wardrobe, "we need to dust off one of your amazing dresses for the Christmas party."

Oh.. Elena almost forgot about that. The thought of going made her feel terribly sick. All those eyes on her and not for the right reasons. With Damon there? And Isobel? Her Uncle John. Stefan! There was no way this evening could happen. There was no way she could go. She was still clinging on to the hope that Damon would be safe and out of Mystic Falls by then. But it seemed as the hours rolled by, the more they were grasping at straws.

Running away seemed like the only option.

"Elena!"

"Huh?"

"Back in the bedroom?" Bonnie rolled her eyes with a smile, turning back to assess the contents of Elena's wardrobe. Elena was impressed with Bonnie's attempts to keep things upbeat. She was making the impossible, possible.

"Right, okay" Elena rubbed her hands together, moving out of her nest of blankets to get down to business. "It needs to be something festive. I'm thinking red. Or green?"

"Caroline is going for green, as always. We don't want to you clash, so how about-"

"Your phone!"

Elena's heart sucked into her throat as she saw Bonnie's cell flash and buzz on her bedsheets. Like a startled mouse, Bonnie scurried over to answer it.

"Mr Salvatore?"

A smile confirmed that it was him. Elena felt the weight of world lift from her body and she could have squealed with joy. He was okay. He was safe!

She watched the various facial expressions cross Bonnie's features. Non of which confirmed anything for Elena who stood a few feet away, her hands clasped together as if they were in prayer. Elena continued to wait anxiously for whatever she was about to hear.

"Okay Mr Salvatore, I'll put her on the phone."

Elena didn't know whether to be excited or fearful of this conversation. She stared down at the phone in Bonnie's hand like it was a gross amphibian. But whatever it was, Damon needed her and she needed him.

She took the phone, smiled to Bonnie and wandered over to her window through force of habit, gazing out to the quiet street below as she raised the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Damon?"

"Hey there," he said, sounding relatively normal. Elena took this as a positive and smiled down the phone. "How are you Miss Gilbert?"

"Oh the usual; happy, sad, ecstatic, terrified" she replied in a poor attempt at a joke. She could hear the smirk playing on Damon's lips.

"Fun and games as always, huh?"

"Always" Elena said, sliding down to sit comfortably. She saw Bonnie quietly exit the room through the reflection of her window. Now they had privacy, Elena allowed the words the flow, "I'm so sorry about Stefan..."

"It's not your fault Elena. I've told you before - none of this is your fault."

"I know," she whispered, willing herself to keep it together. "It just feels like we've been knocked back yet again. Isobel must have told Stefan something, she wouldn't waste such an opportunity. I'm so scared he'll hurt you."

For some reason, Elena half expected Damon to have interrupted her by now, telling her she was overreacting... but he didn't. Infact he was deathly silent moments after she stopped talking. It unnerved her as she gripped the phone tighter to her ear. "Damon... is everything alright?"

"Yeah..." came his faraway response. A rumble of uncertainly shook Elena's heart. "Everything is fine."

He was lying.

"Damon what's happened?" Elena said.

"What's happened?" he said, his toning confusing her a little. "Isobel has left town for a couple of nights, that what's happened."

Elena could picture the cheeky arch of his eyebrow perfectly. Maybe everything was alright.. or as alright as they could get anyway.

"She has?" she perked.

"Yep" said Damon, popping the 'p' in all his glorified cockiness. "Fancy a sleep over?"

"But I have school tomorrow,"" Elena said playfully, "I'd hate to be late for class."

"Then we'd better make sure you're not late to bed," drawled Damon. Oh his voice did wicked, wicked things to her. "I'd make sure your family know you're staying at Bonnie's tonight."

"Oh I will,"

"Good girl," came his response. Elena could already feel the wetness of anticipation between her legs. "I'll see you soon Elena."

"You shall. I can't wait to see you"

"Likewise Miss Gilbert."

And with that he hung up.

As if on cue, Bonnie entered her room, poking her head through the crack of the door.

"Guess we're raiding your clothes for sexy underwear instead, right?"

Elena couldn't hide the smirk...

Hmm.. so will Damon be facing prison, freedom, or something much, much worse? After a smutty chapter 29 all will soon be revealed!

Thank you to those of you who review this chapter and have stuck with me through my update drought! I hope I won't be as long for the next one. It'll be before the Season 4 premiere I promise :-P hehe.

Anna xxx