Damon was pissed off when I told him I was returning to the Cullens' after I took another shower. I still felt fine, but I knew it wouldn't last long. I was already hallucinating, and last time I tried to kill Damon thinking he was Aro. It was not safe. As I prepared a bag, he started to go and on that if it was about feeling guilty because of Connor and the cure, it didn't matter. That just reminded me of that failure, which would lead to Klaus' anger and lack of cure, both for vampirism and werewolf venom. I gripped the drawer tightly, and bit my lip. Damon stood behind me, and put his hands on my shoulders.

"We will find another hunter" he said. "Everything will be fine"

I shook off his hands, finished stuffing clothes into the bag and pulled black skinny jeans and a long-sleeved draped top.

"Why are you always running from me?" he snapped watching me.

I slipped on my ankle boots and looked at him. With a sigh, I walked to him, cupped his face and kissed him softly. I pulled back, staring into his eyes and he eyed me with confusion. My hands slipped from his cheeks, down to his neck and chest.

"I love you" I whispered.

He frowned, his hands gripping my hips tightly. My hands fell on top of his, trying to pry them away, but he pulled me to him. His lips crashed down on mine, his arms wrapping around my waist, his hands resting on my ass, and pulled me tightly to him, my whole body pressed against his. I relented to the kiss for a moment, gripping his hair as I always did. But I knew it had to be over. I pulled back a bit, but he tightened his arms around me pressing his lips to mine forcefully. I put my hands against his chest and tried to push him away, but he was determined, probably to make me break down and give in to his charm, to the lust, to the love.

But not this time.

I pulled back once again, turning my face away, but he didn't stop, kissing down my neck.

"Damon, stop" I said quietly, I pleaded.

"I'm not letting you go this time" he growled against the skin of my neck.

He nibbled on my neck and I feared he would pierce the skin and drink. I had venom coursing through my veins. I pushed him away with all my strength and sent him flying across the room.

"I said, stop" I said.

He looked at me incredulously, and I grabbed my bag and left the room. When I got to the parlor, Caroline and Stefan were there. She was sitting, nursing a glass of bourbon, her eyes red from crying and Stefan seemed lost on what to do. When she saw me she snapped up, looking at me with pleading eyes. I relaxed my posture a bit and she rushed to me, sobbing and hugged me tightly.

"I don't know what's going… Could you fill me in?" Stefan asked worriedly.

I shook my head.

"Let's take a walk, Care" I said softly.

She nodded on my shoulder, and I guided her out of the house, into the car I had borrowed from Alice, and drove to the next town. She stayed silent almost the entire ride, just staring at the landscape and silently crying. When we got to the town, her eyes went to the bag at her feet, and she looked at me.

"Where are you going?" she asked quietly.

"Catching a break" I mumbled.

"Oh. With Tyler?"

"What? No!" I frowned at her.

"Sorry… He… left town, so I thought you might be going with him to keep an eye out for him…" her voice broke at the end of the sentence.

"Caroline, I'm so sorry"

"He told me he had left for me. To break the sire bond for me" she mumbled.

"I really don't know what to say, Care… I don't know what happened. Klaus was the one that revealed it…"

"He enjoys seeing people suffering, he enjoys ruining people, things" she scoffed shaking her head.

"I really don't think it's about that. He…" I sighed shrugging.

"What?" she asked curiously.

"He was really mad at Tyler, he really seemed angry at him for this. For hurting you" I said glancing at her and she was frowning. "I know he's crazy, he's Klaus, for god's sake!" I chuckled. "But he's infatuated with you, as crazy as it sounds"

"Well, he can shove his infatuation up his ass. I hate him" she said and looked out the window. "Because of him Tyler went to the Appalachians"

"If we are going to play that game, it's my fault Tyler is a hybrid… It's your fault he was at high school prank night… It's Katherine's fault for changing you… Damon's for involving you in this at all…"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it" she said. "I know no one is to blame but Tyler, he did this… But I… Ugh, Klaus is infuriating! How can he not see that he is like the last person on earth I would think of dating?"

I parked the car outside a hotel and turned off the engine. Caroling looked around and frowned at me.

"I'm going to stay here for a couple days… Would you take the car back to Alice for me?" I said quietly.

"Do you want company? I could use a break as well" she gave me a weak smile wiping her cheeks.

"Well, you have a BMW with the tank full, and Alice keeps money in the glove compartment, so… You could go anywhere you want" I said. "I'm sure no one would mind"

"But you?"

"I would like to stay alone for a bit… Have my head only to myself" I smiled.

I got out of the car, we said goodbye, and even though she seemed hesitant to, she took the keys and took off, but in the direction of Mystic Falls.

I had to suffer it all again. The burning up, the thirst, the hallucinations, the chills, the pain… This time was even worse, and it seemed to be faster as well. But I couldn't tell, hidden in the forest, miles away from population, I had blackouts and lost track of time. I know my phone rang several times, almost constantly until it ran out of battery, and to me it seemed to ring for two days. I sat against a tree, my hands in my ears, trying to block out the sounds even though I knew they were all in my mind, the forest was always silent. I opened my eyes and saw Jeremy standing over me, he was talking but I couldn't hear him. Slowly, I lowered my hand. He crouched, giving me a smile, and eyed me.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Jer…" I croaked.

My throat burned from its sudden use, reminding me of the thirst. I lips were dry and I smacked them together, swallowing hard.

"You'll be okay" Jeremy said and cupped my face.

My eyes fluttered closed and I smiled weakly. His heartbeat filled my ears and his scent hit me like a train. My eyes snapped open, completely red and with veins popping around them as my eyes locked on his wrist. So close…

"It's okay" he said putting the wrist closer to me. "You need it right?"

I nodded, my fingers wrapping around his forearm, and I let my fangs elongate as I pulled his wrist to my mouth. My fangs sunk into the soft skin and flesh, tearing the veins and blood flowed down my throat, quenching the maddening thirst almost instantly.

"Because you're a monster, you can't help it" he said resignedly.

I looked at him, into his dark brown eyes and I saw life vanishing from them. I let go of his wrist, frowning at him and my eyes went to his other hand. He was holding a stake.

"Don't make this harder" he said.

I turned to flee and felt pain in my stomach as he staked me. I gasped and held on to the three to keep from falling face first to the ground.

"You're a monster, and I should have killed you a long time ago"

His voice had changed and I turned around to see Connor.

"You're dead" I mumbled.

"Are you sure? Weren't you hallucinating?" he cocked an eyebrow at me.

I frowned, trying to think back at that night.

"How do you feel knowing you ruined the only way to get the cure?" he taunted. "You've ruined your friends' possibility of happiness…"

"Shut up"

"And you got yourself killed. Was it worth it? Having my blood in your hands, my heart in your hands. Was it worth it all of this?"

"Shut up!" I snapped.

I grabbed him by the neck and snapped it. He slacked in my hands, and I gasped as I stared at the face I cupped. Jeremy.

"No" I whispered as I dropped him. "Jeremy?"

I looked at his hand. His ring was gone.

"No. No, no, no!" I cried. "NO!"

I gripped my head as pain coursed through my head and screamed at the top of my lungs as if it would bring my some kind of relief. My voice broke and the burn had only grown stronger. Tears burned tracks down my cheeks.

"Bella!"

"Bella?"

"No! Jer!" I cried.

"What happened?"

"She's hallucinating"

Someone touched me and I opened my eyes. Jeremy's body was gone. Elena, Stefan, Caroline, Damon and Edward were there. Damon hand went from my arm to me cheek and I flinched, jumping back into a defensive crouch.

"It's us, calm down" Damon said softly.

"Jeremy?" I mumbled.

"Ahhn… home" Elena said confusedly.

"You're lying" I snarled. "You are all lies!"

"Bella, it's been two days" Caroline said softly. "This is the venom talking…"

I turned and ran. I didn't even make a mile before someone grabbed me by the back of my top and pulled me back, making me crash into his chest. I struggled as cold arms wrapped around me and I saw something sparkle.

"Bella, calm down" Edward said in my ear, trying to hold me down.

"Come on, let's get her home" I heard Stefan say.

Damon wrapped his left arm around me and grabbed my right arm with his right hand, in a tight grip. Edward did the same on my other side, and they started to drag me through the woods for what seemed as an eternity. The hallucinations never had gone that far… What did this mean? That the venom's effect had reached its peak? Or was it real?

"Bella, stop!" Alice screeched as I fought her.

"I think it's enough" Caroline sighed. "At least she isn't all muddy anymore"

I grabbed the towel Alice wrapped around me and ran to the other side of the bathroom, crouching. Alice looked at Caroline with eyes full of emotion and I fought the tears. If this was real, Alice would be like this… But was it?

"I'm not going to do anything, Bella" Esme said from her corner. "Look, just, rest, get some sleep, alright? We won't touch you…"

My eyes didn't return to normal. If it was the extreme hunger or the paranoia, I couldn't tell. She grabbed my muddy clothes from the floor and gestured to a pile of new clothes. Alice and Caroline hesitated but followed her out. I slouched on the bathroom floor and whimpered at the burning. It was everywhere. It was like going through transition all over again. I took another shower and leaned against the tile wall as cold water fell on me heated body.

"Nice"

I spun around and saw Demetri sitting in the counter, watching me with a smirk. I grabbed my hair.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" I yelled.

He chuckled and suddenly Damon burst into the bathroom. He looked around frowning, and when his eyes settled on me, confusion was replaced with worry and desperation. He took a towel and approached me slowly. When I was within his reach, he wrapped the towel around me and I gripped the edges tightly. He brushed his knuckles against my cheek softly. He extended his hand to me in an invitation, but his eyes were begging me to accept it.

"How do I know you're real?" I whispered.

He took both my hands, ignoring as I flinched. His skin felt ice cold against mine. I hated it. He held my right hand to his chest, right above his heart and the other, he laced our fingers together before pressing the back of his to my chest. The towel had started to fall, but his eyes stayed in mine.

"Feel that?" he asked quietly.

I felt his heartbeat against my hand, and I started to shake my head. It didn't prove anything. He put more pressure against my chest and then I realized our slow beating hearts were in sync.

"It's me" he said.

I nodded hesitantly, and he tugged me to him. He wrapped the towel around me again, and took another, gently drying my hair. He wrapped his arms around me and took me to the bedroom. He laid me down on bed, and sat beside me, giving me a blood bag. I took it greedily, and ripped it open, desperate to stop the burn. Except it tasted like dead blood and I threw it all up. Damon cleaned everything up and watched as I laid down against the pillows with a tired sigh. My eyes were fluttering closed even though I fought against it, and I felt a wet towel wiping my forehead, followed by his soft touch before I fell into darkness.

"Maybe she'll recover, like Rebekah" I heard Elena say.

"Does she look like she'll get better?" Damon snapped.

"I'm sorry"

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"I… You looked like you might need company, a friend…" she said softly. "I want to be here for you, you've been there for me so many times…"

"I need her" he said.

Silence followed and then light footsteps leaving the room. She had left.

"Damon?" I croaked.

"Hey" he said scooting closer to me.

"What day… How long?"

"You've been really strong, it's been almost three days since the explosion" he said and I felt him caress my arm, his touch no longer cold, but normal. "You've been doing great, the fever stopped"

"I'm… cold" I mumbled.

He covered me with a thick blanket and I smiled, opening my eyes with all strength I had.

"Distract me, please… I… The pain really… sucks" I said out of breath.

He blinked a few times, glanced away and when he returned his gaze to me, he gave me a forced smile.

"Stefan told me what you did for Barbie Klaus" he said.

"Hm…"

"You really are too compassionate" he chuckled mirthlessly.

"Has Klaus returned?"

"No"

"She should get out of town" I mumbled.

"She already did, that night. She called you several times, I got her voicemail for you, I hope you don't mind" he said.

"Oh… no. What… did she say?"

"She… Ahn, she ran, and was sorry for leaving you with Klaus. She said you were right, that she would be forever thankful, and that at least on her part you were her friend" he scoffed lightly. "She went to Forks… The tribe has received her well considering… Of course, she told them there was a cure, and she was looking for it"

"Jake must be happy" I smiled.

"He is" he mumbled.

I closed my eyes again, and he pulled me close to him, my head resting on his chest and his face in my hair. He inhaled deeply and breathed out shakily and his body was tense.

"I want you to be happy…" I whispered.

"Shhh"

"No, Damon" I sighed. "Please, listen"

"Rest" he retorted.

"I can see… her feelings for you also magnified and… If she can make you happy, don't let me keep you from that. And if not her, someone else…"

"Bella, don't" he choked out.

"Move on, Damon" I croaked. "Don't hold on to a ghost"

"Shut up, you'll be here with me, you won't be a ghost, ever"

"I love you… so please, listen"

"No"

"So, stubborn" I smiled weakly.

"Learned from the best" he said quietly.

"Klaus…"

"I really hope you didn't expect my heart to go soft by this" Klaus mocked.

"Get out" Damon snarled.

"Damon, he can…"

"I will not, love" Klaus interrupted Caroline. "Two times in less than a month is a bit too much. Besides, she killed the hunter, which I told her not to do"

I blinked my eyes open, and my sight was a bit blurry before focusing on the two figures standing at the end of the bed. Caroline had her eyes red once again as she looked at me and Klaus had his bored look as he shrugged.

"I suppose you don't want Elijah owing you anymore" I chuckled weakly.

His eyes turned to me and he gave me a smirk.

"No, sorry, darling" he said.

"Good. Because owing something to you fucking sucks"

His smirk vanished for a moment and then his lips turned into a tightlipped smile.

"Can you go now?" Damon said emotionlessly.

Klaus nodded and stepped back. Caroline grabbed his arm and gave him a serious look. He frowned at her and then looked at me. I closed my eyes again, feeling Damon tense beneath me.

"Please" Caroline cried. "She's my friend… And yours, admit it"

"Caroline" Damon said impatiently. "Leave!"

"Leave them, Damon" I whispered and opened my eyes again. "Let me have some fun with their love quarrel a bit" I joked.

Klaus clenched his jaw as he looked at me, and then looked away.

"Please" Caroline begged once more.

"Leave it, Care, I'm… okay. It doesn't even hurt that much anymore…"

"Bella, no" she said quietly.

"Everything will work out, right, Damon?" I mumbled closing my eyes.

"Stay awake and it will… I just know this is a scare" he chuckled. "You'll be fine"

I nodded the best I could and relaxed against Damon. His arms tightened around me. A familiar soft smell filled my nostrils and Damon tensed as if ready to leap forward. The sound of glass clinking against metal was heard as I felt Damon move. I guessed it was his ring against glass when glass touched my lips.

"Drink" he said softly.

I obliged and drank the warm, sweet liquid I recognized as Klaus' blood. My eyes opened and I saw Caroline had thrown her arms around his neck and was thanking him excitedly as he stood awkwardly, his wrist still bleeding, before he wrapped an arm around her waist. I lowered the glass and took a deep breath. I still wasn't alright, but I could feel the pain vanishing slowly. Damon pulled me to a hug, and I sighed against the crook of his neck happy it was all over. I looked up again to thank Klaus and Caroline when something caught my eye. Connor, sitting in the armchair across the room.

"C-Connor" I whispered tensing.

Damon pulled back frowning and I gripped his hand tightly. No, this couldn't be, the hallucinations had stopped hours ago and I had just taken the cure…

"Yes" Klaus said. "About that…"