Chapter 9

Silence was a serious illusion. Forget solace – it was just another way to make all the nerves, secrets and emotions erupt like a volcano. Spewing its hazard toxins into the world. Okay that sounded dramatic, even for Caroline but the silence that was buzzing between her and Stefan; was killing her! Well at least figuratively it was.

Stefan hadn't said a word to her when they had left the diner. He'd been a constant gentlemen and had escorted her to the car – simply because she was too weak and freaked out to stand on her own two feet.

"So…." Stefan decided that it was time to the break silence.

Caroline sniffed, a few tears were still stranded from her emotional outburst earlier and her throat was still burning with hunger.

"I don't know what happened back there. I haven't felt like that since I nearly killed Matt in the woods that time." She whispered so softly that Stefan had to pay close attention to her words to catch what she was saying.

Stefan nodded his head and took one hand off the steering wheel and gently placed his hand on top of her hand that was resting on her jean covered thigh.

"It happens to everyone Caroline. Even humans, we're not perfect. We're not meant to be perfect."

The warmth of his hand covering hers soothed her for some unknown reason. It felt like it belonged there – but he was just being Stefan. Warm, caring and compassionate Stefan. It meant nothing and she would be a fool to think otherwise.

"She just said something that made me realize that maybe I've been the one to blame with my failed relationships."

"You can't believe that. Matt and Tyler and whoever else you have dated just couldn't be with you, because they have their own failings that they had to come to terms with. I bet you were their light and they envied that because you have that light with in you and it comes so effortlessly. I mean you made it as a vampire. Not a lot of people would be able to cope." Stefan smiled softly and patted her hand before returning it back to the steering wheel.

"We need serious therapy. I'm supposed to be helping you and I'm busy having my own little ripper tantrum."

Stefan chuckled. "Well maybe we need each other. You keep me calm and I keep you calm."

Caroline nodded her head in agreement.

"Exactly. This is a two way relationship." She gestured between herself and Stefan.

"I guess it is." He couldn't hide the yawn that escaped from his mouth. His sleep pattern had been distorted ever since Elena had become a vampire.

Caroline who never failed in her observation skills; could see that Stefan was clearly exhausted.

"You want me to drive?" She offered.

Stefan's face paled instantly. No one drove his car besides him and he was raised in a time where a man was at the beck and call of a lady. He couldn't let Caroline drive; it just wouldn't be a gentlemanly thing to do.

"Um I was thinking maybe we should find a motel or something."

Caroline eyed him suspiciously.

"You don't doubt my driving skills do you?"

"No! It's just that we both need the sleep I think." Stefan answered smoothly, trying to conceal the real reason why he didn't want her to drive.

"I guess you're right. But please let it be an upscale motel. Not those ones in lame horror movies when there always seems to be something going bump in the night, and it isn't two honeymooners you catch my drift?" She asked.

"Yeah I catch your drift Caroline."

"And I'm sorry for my remark about Damon being your fault." Caroline said as she glanced towards Stefan.

Stefan gave her a small smile. "No worries. I over reacted. "

"Well come to think of it, I would have been the simpler choice. I'm not a doppelganger and I don't have a tortured background." Caroline teased.

Stefan smirked. "Yeah, I mean what the hell was I thinking?"

"I know right?" Caroline laughed along.

"I let you slip away. I should have put a ring on it."

"Oh my God. Stefan Salvatore just quoted Beyonce. There is something seriously wrong in the world." She laughed.

Damon could admit that he wasn't exactly telepathic when it came to the ladies department. Elena had been rather flippant with him since their run in with Stefan. Damon had wanted to go reason with his brother, he needed his brother to know that he hadn't counted on this happening. The last person he had wanted to hurt was his brother and he was no fool – human Elena had chosen Stefan. But since becoming a vampire, she had wanted him and he couldn't be certain if it was genuine or if Stefan was right, that her feelings where conflicted because of the sire bond between them.

However when he had went in search of Stefan, he had come up empty handed. Then Elena had informed him that Stefan and Caroline had gone off on a spontaneous trip. A trip that had nothing to do with searching for clues or finding leads. Just a simple and honest road trip. It had sounded fun and when he had proposed to Elena that the two of them should go on their own road trip – she had scoffed and had said that they couldn't. He hadn't tried to sire her into anything, so he had asked for her own opinion and she had given him her answer.

Damon groaned and ran a hand through his tousled black hair. He didn't know what do. His phone pinged suddenly. He reached for it and opened the text message.

Heard you're in Mystic Falls. I'm in town. We need to talk. P.

Damon dropped his phone as it landed with a loud thud. Things just got complicated.

An: I will be either be posting a new chapter on Thursday or possibly again next Monday due to real life disruptions. From next week onwards updates will be back to normal. Thanks again for the continued support. CC