Chapter Twenty-Two: Innocence

Caroline couldn't sleep and she wouldn't be able to sleep until Klaus was out of that jail in where he was currently rotting in. How could it be that they still hadn't found anything that claimed his innocence.

Caroline couldn't just sit here and let the temporary sheriff do his job. How long did Klaus had to be stuck there in that poor, lonely jail cell? He and Caroline were meant to be together. He couldn't be in that cell.

She was still with Madam Pearl, Klaus insisted that the whore house was the safest place for her. She wasn't a whore anymore, she just worked nights as a waitress to pay for her room. But right now it was closer to 3 am and the saloon was closed and Caroline couldn't get any sleep.

Jesse's house. Caroline couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it before. She could go to Jesse's house maybe she would find out clues or at least something that would prove Klaus's innocence and Klaus could leave that horrible jail cell.

Caroline quietly got out of bed and put on a simple blue dress and her slippers. She quickly checked to see that no one was in the hallway or that Madam Pearl was not up and left the saloon.

The streets of the town were empty and Caroline felt a chill go down her spine. What if she was attacked? Or killed? Caroline put her fears behind her. She needed to do this for Klaus. He would do the same things for her.

Caroline walked as fast as she possible could, trying to remember everything that Madam Pearl and Klaus had told her about Jesse. Caroline knew that Jesse lived in a little cabin by the schoolhouse.

She finally made it and Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. She had finally made it to Jesse's house now she only needed to get what she was looking for.

Elena was grateful that at least Damon was a deep sleeper, he hardly woke up unless Bloody Mary herself was screaming and for that she was grateful. Elena didn't want to wait until tomorrow. She wanted, no she needed to get to that whorehouse tonight.

Elena quickly and quietly dressed in one of her oldest and most conservative dresses and put on an old bonnet. The last thing that she needed was for one of the men over there to think that she was also a prostitute.

She quickly left the small room that she had been sharing with Damon (Damon didn't trust her enough to let her stay by herself) and left the room. Elena was just glad that the whorehouse was closed enough that she didn't have to worry about getting robbed or worse.

The whore house was not like the one that belonged to Madam Pearl. This whorehouse was in terrible condition and there were a few broken glasses at the bottom of the stairs leading to the whorehouse.

The music was so loud that it only added to Elena's nervousness and it didn't help that a few men were punching each other over a games of cards. But Elena forced herself to go inside. After all it was her sisterly duty.

The whorehouse smelled of cigar and cheap beer and she could feel herself blushing as she watched one of the whores start sucking on a man's cock even though were dozens of people around her. Some of them were even cheering them on. Elena could feel herself blushing and she felt dizzy because of all the lights.

"Can I help you, sugar?"

An older woman carrying two beers asked her. She was wearing heavy make up and there was a purple bruise on her cheek. "Yes," Elena cleared her throat trying to be brave, while at the same time looking sorry for the woman. "I'm looking for Jeremy. Jeremy Gilbert. Someone told me that he was here."

The woman paused for a bit and studied Elena closely. "Wait a second, dear." Elena stared at her feet for a few seconds trying to avoid at the people around her. A second later the same woman appeared this time with two men who were bigger than Damon and who had large scars over their cheeks and were sunburned. The woman seemed to give Elena an apologetic look and left.

"Hi," Elena said feeling brave. "I am looking for my brother, Jeremy Gilbert. Have you see him?"

"Yes," the man with blond hair said. "Little runt came to our town a few months ago. Though of himself as a man. Ran up a huge gambling debt. He promised that he would pay us back, but the lazy ass never did any work. Had to shoot him dead in the head like a dog, but that's what happens when you don't pay your debts. Your brother learned the lesson the hard way, little lady."

Elena's face paled and she felt like she was going to burst into tears. "He-He's dead? Oh my god, Jeremy is dead?"

The man next to her snorted. "That's what he said, although Tim little Jeremy never paid off his debt."

"I reckon you're right, Greg." He grinned at Elena. "You'll do just fine, sweetheart."

Elena screamed and tried to get away, but Greg slapped her.

"Elena!" Elena managed to tilt her head and saw that it was Damon. He looked furious. He yelled at Greg and Tim as he helped her up. "What the hell is wrong with you? Leave her alone!"

Greg snorted. "We're not talking to you, so best step away-" he tried to get Elena but Damon punched him across the face causing Greg to become even angrier. He grabbed the gun that he had strapped to the side of his pants and aimed it at him, delivering one shot in the stomach area.

Damon paled as he fell to the floor, blood spilling all over his shirt. "Damon!" Elena cried as she went towards him and cradle him in her arms. Through the corner of her eyes she saw as Tim and Greg ran away. "Damon, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, you're bleeding! Somebody help!" Some of the blood was getting on her dress.

"Elena," Damon said slowly as he closed his eyes.

One of the men who apparently own one of the mines felt sorry for her and helped Elena take Damon back to the hotel, but he warned her and told her that there were no town doctors and that Damon was too delicate that they couldn't move him.

Elena then decided that the best course of action was to get Elijah here. He was the closest doctor there and it shouldn't take more than an hour to reach Elijah's house probably less if Elena hurried.

She made the owner of the mines and the woman who owned the hotel promise that they would take care of Damon and then she had rushed out of there and towards Mystic Falls.

By some stroke of luck she had managed to get to Mystic Falls in under an hour. She pounded on Elijah's door and called out his name. Much to her surprised a sleepy Katherine answered. "Elena? What are you doing here?"

-End of Chapter Twenty-Two-

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