Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Note: Okay, this is where I wanted to stop at yesterday but my eyes just wouldn't stay open last night. So, depending on how this is received I'll write another chapter before I head off to read other FF or sleep. If anything I'll be writing next weekend. As always, thanks for reading!

Chapter 32

About a week later, Jeremy left Damon's room—carrying a box—and let Damon enter. It looked like his typical room, but little things were missing; the things Bonnie had left lying around on the nights she stayed. Hair ties and clips, make up—not that she needed it—perfumes, a few items of clothes, a pair of sneakers, one of his pillows was even missing. He reckoned it was one of the ones Bonnie slept on. Jeremy sure knew how clean up. He thought as he walked over to his dresser, he frowned as he looked, he could've sworn Bonnie had once spilled some coral colored nail polish. He remembered he raised an eyebrow at her, she was really frantic about it but he waved it off, he kind of liked it, it reminded him she enjoyed doing stuff in his room other than making out and thinking of ways to help everyone. But now that stain was gone. Her hairbrush was gone too. Good thinking though, someone could've stolen it and used it for whatever potions or spells hair was needed for.

He sat on his bed, it no longer had any lingering smell of Bonnie, nothing did. It just smelled like freshness. Plain boring freshness. Allowing himself a minute to remember all the things Bonnie had once left behind in the room he got up, grabbed a bag from the closet but paused, laying on the floor was a bracelet hanging out of a box. It had a little heart on it. She saw it during one of their rare shopping trips he allowed to her to take him on willingly. It wasn't cheap, but Bonne's eyes got so big when she saw it that he couldn't refuse. Granted he had to wait until she walked off to secretly buy it. He was planning on giving it to her on their six month anniversary, he should've made it a three month gift. Or a 'just because' gift. Surviving six months seemed to be problematic. He picked it up and moved to the dresser, but paused again; then without giving himself enough time to stop he chucked the bracelet into the garbage.

"Hey, you know you don't have to go by yourself" Caroline said as he walked down the stairs, Caroline, Elena, Rudy and Jeremy all waiting anxiously.

"Yes I do" he said as he ignored their reluctance as he folded up his blanket. He had been sleeping on the couch every night. It was the only space available he wouldn't be reminded of Bonnie. And it wasn't like he had to sleep. "The lone ranger" he told the others without looking at them, he hated how they looked at him with such sympathy, such hopelessness. He had told them a little of what he planned to do, at least the parts that included Jeremy, in case Elena wanted to disagree. Caroline was the only one who whined, she hated not being able to help so he left her in charge of Stefan like stuff—like constantly calling to remind him of things he should and shouldn't be doing. He left Elena with the responsible of killing anyone who looked like they were on his trail or seemed to be in the works of hurting Bonnie, and also listening out for any information on that Felipe kid. Rudy was in charge of the house, disabling those not allowed in to not get in.

"Ready?" he asked Jeremy who nodded as the two of them switched phones. "I didn't tell Bonnie or Stefan we were switching so make sure you keep up my personality through text" he told him as Jeremy snorted.

"Is there a special app that makes everything you type sarcastic and cocky?" he asked as Damon gave him a tight smile and headed for the door.

"Not yet" he said before exiting the house and heading outside to his car. The only plus side to all of this was that he didn't have to worry about Rebecca, Matt, Tyler or any of those other annoying people to judge him.

Sitting in his car he looked over the list, he'd get the stuff he hid and bring that to Klaus for safe keeping. Then he'd finish up. Stefan sent him a text a few days ago—that was shortly after deleted—just mentioning how the shadows didn't seem to be following them. Nor had anyone really bothered him. There were a few lingering looks and a few squinty eyes but nothing that suggested they wanted to hurt anyone. It mostly looked like people were wondering why Bonnie wasn't with him.

He stopped at Bonnie's house first and headed straight to her backyard were Stefan had buried some stuff Grabbing the bag he counted everything—still there —he thought as he sighed with relief and headed back to his car. Next was the forest, he figured that stuff would be gone but was pleasantly surprised it was still there.

"Klaus," he said to whoever picked up.

"Yes Damon" he said in a causal manner. Damon tensed, he hated this prick.

"We're coming to drop off what we have before someone decides to set it on fire" he said as he got back in his chair.

"Is that safe?" Klaus asked.

"It's what we're going to do" Damon replied as he started the engine.

"Fine, I'll send you directions" Klaus said as he sounded like he was getting up.

"What, you don't want me to see your possie in New Orleans?" he asked somewhat jokingly as Klaus snorted.

"They're not very good company, they get especially touchy around witches" he explained as Damon heard his phone beep. Klaus must have sent the directions already. He wanted to say at least he wasn't bringing any witches but he needed whoever was watching to think he was bringing Bonnie. With any luck he'd catch the jerk in the act.

"We'll be there soon" Damon said before ending the call and checking the directions. It wasn't too long of a drive. Two and half hours away. He only assumed Klaus would be there at the same time, or he'd be forced to wait for him. That seemed more likely.

Another ugly abandoned house, Damon thought to himself as he stared up at the vomit green one story house. At least Klaus was doing a good job at not attracting attention, he thought as he went to the door, slowly twisting the handle and opening the door.

"Good to see you mate" Klaus said from the hallway.

"Early? You? Didn't know that was possible" he said as he walked in, Klaus smiled broadly but craned his neck a little as Damon stepped inside. "She's not here" he said closing the door behind him as Klaus's smile slightly faded.

"Let me guess, you still think I'm behind this?" he said as Damon shrugged. "And you plan to kill me and burn the ingredients yourself?" he said as Damon smiled. It would've been a good plan if he could've been certain it was Klaus.

"Bonnie's busy" Damon responded. "And I still think you know more than you're saying but I can't force you tell me, unfortunately" he said. "But, like I said on the phone, these are yours, safe keeping and all" he added holding out the bag. As he handed over the bag Damon's phone, rather Jeremy's phone, started playing some obnoxious song.

"I wouldn't peg you for ringtones" Klaus said humorously as Damon rolled his eyes.

"Borrowed phone, all part—" he paused as he saw Stefan's name pop up. "Hey, I thought you were being all smart and calling—"

"Someone flipped our car! I'm in the ambulance with Bonnie; we're headed to the hospital. Damon, Bonnie's hurt." Damon did not like the tone in his voice. "They caught on!" Stefan shouted as Damon felt as if he just got hit with a brick.