Damon had a great time at "The Nest" as he called it now. It was big, grand, luxurious, literally a palace. But what was better were the people inside it. Harry and Caleb were amazing. He totally clicked with Caleb, both were dry sarcastic, they were protective of their families and had a dark side which needed to be kept on a tight leash making them ruthless if crossed he also shared and respected Calebs desire to protect Harry. In terms of Harry, he was marveled, the wizard/vampire with emerald jewel eyes, which he could spend years staring into, had touched his soul. He felt a warm connection which he still couldn't explain but which he would spend serious time looking into.
He left The Nest around 6pm promising to bring Matt over soon and though he knew Harry would bring Matt to see The Nest with or without him, he still wanted to keep all that magical beauty to himself for a while before he shared it with his family. He felt at peace.
That didn't last cause two nights later he got a call from Elena that Caroline and Matt had an accident and he raced to the hospital. He then drove Elena home and they kissed. 'Maybe Harry was right?!' he thought happily.
MYSTIC PARK, MYSTIC FALLS – Elena waited for Harry in MYSTIC PARK, she called Stefan and Damon as well as Bonnie. A luxurious black and white Panther de Vil stopped in front of her. "Wow."
Harry jumped out, he wore jeans a dark blue plunging V neck sweater. "Elena!" He hugged his cousin. "Matt called me and told me what happened. We came as fast as we could." Elena looked and the drivers door, on the right side of the car, opened out came Caleb. "Elena this is Caleb, my brother."
"Hi." Said Elena. The young man was gorgeous in a white plunging V Neck sweater under a black leather jacket and black jeans. He wore a large 30 carat emerald cut red diamond ring on his right hand ring finger, with a small Potter family crest over the stone.
Caleb gave the girl a hug. "Nice to meet you at last." Elena smiled. "I'm sorry to hear about your friends."
"Thank you." said Elena. She gave Caleb another hug.
"Would you like us to drive you to the hospital?" asked Harry.
Elena nodded. "Yeah. But I'd like to check on Jeremy first."
"Why don't you sit in the front with me so you can give me directions." said Caleb.
GILBERT HOUSE – They got into the house. "Jeremy are you up?" They all heard painful grunting and clanging dishes. Harry and Caleb took out their wands as they followed Elena towards the kitchen.
Walking in they saw a man on the floor, covered in a pool of blood and a bloody knife near him. "Oh my!" gasped Elena. As she rushed over to help him, Harry and Caleb waved their wands closing the window blinds. She took the phone and dialed 911. "Hello…I need an ambulance to 2104 Maple Street."
John shook. "Behind you." He whispered.
They all spun around, there was nothing. Harry pointed his wand at Johns missing finger hand and chanted. "EPISKY PREVENTA." There was a quick snap.
"Did you heal it?" asked Elena.
"I only stopped the bleeding." Said Harry. "Healing magic has never been my strong suit."
"Can you stay with him?" asked Elena.
Harry nodded, she left the room. He grabbed a clean dishcloth from the sink and turned to the man. "Keep it on just in case. It should hold you until you get to the hospital." John didn't know who he was but he just nodded.
Caleb was in the hall, Elena met him there, he smelled something fishy, an undead presence, very old and experienced who knew how to cover their scent. In less than a moment there was a whoosh and they turned in time to see the front door close.
"Jeremy." gasped Elena. She led Caleb up the stairs. "Jeremy!" They ran into Jeremys room. He was asleep on the bed. "Jeremy wake up!"
Caleb pointed his wand at the boy and chanted. "RENNERVATE!" a small bast of energy hit Jeremy on the chest and immediately Jeremy was awake and gasping for air.
They heard the ambulance arrive, and the wailing sirens. As they wheeled John out Stefan walked in. He looked up to see Elena. "He can come in."
The ambulance official let Stefan pass and he ran up the stairs Harry was there. "What happened?"
"He said that someone in the dark gave him some blood, and then he took these pills, and now…I mean he looks fine, but then so do you all all and…" babbled Elena.
Stefan kneeled down next to Jeremy. "Come here, look at me?"
"Im fine." said Jeremy. "I feel exactly the same."
"Should I call a paramedic?" asked Elena.
"No." said Caleb. "It was a vampire. I smelled them in the hall, whoever it was they were very old and powerful."
"They could've used the compulsion charm on him." said Harry.
"He's fine." said Stefan.
"What?" asked Jeremy. "You mean I'm not a vampire…Damn it!" he complained.
"What?!" asked Elena. "You mean you wanted to turn?" Jeremy got up he wanted to leave.
"Jeremy." said Harry. "I'm so sorry about what happened tonight, but it's very important that you listen to me." Jeremy nodded. "With every passing moment, the vampire blood is leaving your system. If you try to kill yourself right now, you could really die." His tone was authoritative. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes." said Jeremy.
"Good." said Harry. He sat next to him on the bed and hugged him.
Elena turned to Caleb and Stefan. "What about the pills that he took?"
"He didn't take enough to die." said Caleb. "Had he done so my revitalizing charm wouldn't have awakened him and he'd be transitioning. The vampire blood is healing him of the overdose as we speak."
"Miss. Gilbert!" called a nurse from the hallway.
"I'll be right there." said Elena.
"You need to be in the hospital." said Stefan.
"But…" started Elena. She felt bad about leaving Jeremy alone.
"We'll stay with Jeremy." said Harry.
"I don't need babysitting." Jeremy argued.
"Oh yes." said Caleb. "If you're as reckless as Harry, you most certainly you do."
MYSTIC FALLS HOSPITAL – A few hours later, Elena left John in his room with Stefan who wanted to talk to him. Harry left Jeremy with Caleb back at the house and met her. They joined Bonnie at the hospital. "Bonnie. How's Caroline?" Damon joined them.
"She's weak." said Bonnie. "They don't know if she's going to make it."
"What?" asked Elena.
"Is there something you guys can do?" asked Elena. "Like a spell?"
"No I don't know how yet." said Bonnie.
Elena turned to her cousin. "Harry?"
"I don't know her symptoms. Plus magic is different here than from the wizarding world. I don't want to risk casting a spell that could have uncontrollable consequences and make her worse than she already is." said Harry.
Damon thought of something. "I can give Caroline some blood."
"No." said Elena. "No way."
"Do you know how dangerous that is?" asked Harry.
"That's crazy." said Bonnie.
"Just enough to heal her." said Damon. "She'll be safe in the hospital, it'll be out of her system in a day. She'll be better Elena."
"Do it." said Bonnie.
"What?" asked Elena.
"This is Caroline." said Bonnie. "We can't let her die." She turned to Damon. "Do it."
Elena sighed. "Stefan can you go check on Jeremy?"
"Sure." Said Stefan. He kissed her goodbye and walked off.
Jenna walked up to them. "Elena. I came as soon as I got your message. Hows John?"
"Where have you been?" asked Elena.
"A the fire department." said Jenna. "I had to fill out a report. I told you earlier."
"No you didn't." said Elena.
"Yes I did." said Jenna.
Elena shook her head. "No Jenna. You didn't."
"Yes I did." said Jenna.
"Oh…" muttered Damon. He started thinking, it was all clicking together. "You gotta be kidding me!"
GILBERT HOUSE – Harry, Damon and Elena walked into the house. They Stefan and Caleb standing in fight mode in the hall. Stefan looked at them. "Katherine."
"Jeremy?!" asked Elena.
"He's fine." said Caleb. "I gave him a sleeping drought in his tea and put up wards around his room, windows included. No one will ill intentions is getting in there."
"Did she say what she wanted?" asked Damon.
"No." said Stefan. "She said she fooled one of us at least. What does that mean?"
"She pretended to be Elena too when I showed up here earlier tonight." said Damon.
"I told Jeremy." said Elena. "I can't lie to him anymore."
"Are you alright?" asked Stefan.
"No. I thought with all the tomb vampires gone things would be better." Said Elena.
Harry looked at Caleb. "Looks like we'll have to get acquainted with the supernaturals in this town."
Caleb nodded. "I'm sure the library at The Nest has some books."
"Katherine was invited into this house." Said Elena. "That means she's been invited in. What are gonna do?"
"Move." said Damon.
"Very helpful." Said Elena sarcastically.
"Katherine wants you dead, there's zero you can do about it." said Damon. "You will be dead. But since you're not clearly she has other plans."
"We'll need to find out what those other plans are." Said Stefan. "What happened tonight when you thought she was Elena?"
"To risk another frown line forming on a very crowded forehead..we kissed." said Damon.
"And you thought it was me?" asked Elena.
"What do you mean you kissed?" asked Stefan. He was stiff as a board, both Caleb and Harry saw it.
"Oh you know, when two lips pucker and they go." said Damon.
Stefan whooshed over to hit him but Damon was quicker. Elena jumped in. "Stefan wait, he kissed Katherine, not me." She turned to Damon with a cold face. "I would never do that." Harry saw Damons face, it was heartbreak and sadness and rage, it all clicked in his mind. "We don't have time for this guys. John must know something, there must be a reason why Katherine tried to kill him."
"She's Katherine." said Damon. "She loves to play games and you're fooling yourselves if you think you're gonna find out what she's up to."
"We can go talk to John, Katherine was in contact with your mother Isobel so he might know something." said Stefan. He wrapped his arms around Elena and hugged her. "We should go by the hospital."
"I've got a better idea." said Damon. "I'm just gonna ignore the bitch."
"Is that smart? "asked Harry.
"If Katherine thinks she's being ignored, it'll lure her out." said Damon. "She'll make a move."
"Yeah? Then what?" asked Stefan.
"Stake her, rip her head off, something poetic." said Caleb.
Damon clapped. "Finally, someone who speaks English!"
LOCKWOOD HOUSE – Harry arrived with Elena, Jeremy, Caleb and Jenna. They were all dressed mostly in black, though Elena had a dark blue blouse, Jenna a brown one, Jeremy wore a plunging V neck black sweater under a black leather jacket and dark jeans. Harry wore an identical outfit except his sweater was charcoal grey. "Looks like whole town has turned out."
"Yeah well he was the mayor." said Elena.
"Why don't they save it for the funeral?" asked Jeremy.
"It's what people do." said Jenna. "The Lockwoods were here for us when we went through this with Jeremys dad. It'll be quick I promise, we drop off the food, pay our respects and go."
"In and out? Sounds like a plan." said Jeremy.
Harry noticed Damon looking at Elena. "You guys go ahead. I'll only be a minute." They walked in and he walked over to Damon. "How are you?"
"Great Harry." said Damon. "Just walking on sunshine, thanks for asking." He sipped his brandy.
"The offer for you to talk to me is still open." said Harry. "Ever since we met in the Grill. We're close enough friends now." He put his hand on Damons arm. "I really want to know how you're doing. I care."
Damon could feel the gentle honesty in Harrys words and it comforted him to know that there was someone out there, besides Matt, that did care. "I kissed Elena, I thought she kissed me back. Doppelganger high jinks ensued… How do you think I'm doing?"
"You're hurting." said Harry.
"I don't get hurt Harry." said Damon. He led them away from the house to a private gazebo not far from the back pond.
"No, you don't admit that you get hurt." said Harry. "You try to cover it up and then you explode and so something stupid." Damon looked at him. "Caleb is the same way." Damon took another sip. "Is she…are they the women you've been in love with but have only rejected you?" Damon looked out that the sunset and nodded. "Is Elena the woman you've been hurting so much over?" Damon nodded. "Be careful Damon. I know what it's like to have your heart broken and to be desperate for any form of release, no matter how violent. It corrupts you."
"You think Katherine is going to send me off the deep end don't you?" asked Damon.
"I think anyone is capable of snapping if pushed too far." Said Harry. "The unforgivable part is to snap and hurt the ones you love."
"What do you want me to do?" asked Damon. "What can I do with all this rejection and pain I feel inside that no one seems to care…" He was stopped when he felt a bug strong hug. It was Harry, he felt Harrys energy and kindness wrap around him and he just broke down crying. Harry held him quietly letting him get it all out.
LOCKWOOD HOUSE – Jeremy walked into the study and there was Tyler, drinking from a flask. After a cold 'the bathroom is down the hall' from Tyler, Jeremy knew the feeling, all he could do is be genuine. "I'm sorry about your dad."
"Todays been a big day of sorries from people who really don't give a crap." Said Tyler.
"I remember when my dad died I had a house full of strangers telling me what a great guy he was." said Jeremy. "Anyways, I know how hard all this is."
"In your case it was true." said Tyler. "My dad was a dick." He offered Jeremy the flask. "He won't mind. He's dead." Jeremy took a sip. He looked around the room. "These are all his awards and trophies. So much hardass insistence on being the best at everything and for what? He's leaving it all behind." He showed Jeremy around the room showing him the wards and trophies and metals, as they sipped the flask. They ended up in front of a photo of Mr. Lockwood, he was in his high school years well built in his wrestling outfit holding a huge trophy. "That was his favorite. He was tall strong and after that, everyone was after him."
"Well like father like son…" said Jeremy. "Everyone wants you."
"I'll bet." chuckled Tyler. "Even you." He put his arm around Jeremy and patted him on the back.
Jeremy chuckled along. "Yeah." Tyler looked at him without neither knowing who started they kissed. It was fireworks.
Tyler dropped the flask and wrapped his arms around Jeremys waist. He remembered seeing Jeremy walk into the study in his black plunging V neck sweater, that outlined his pecs and strong stomach, under the hot black leather jacket and the tight jeans. His cool smooth locks of hair, luscious lips and warm caring eyes. 'When did Jeremy get so hot?' he asked himself as he kissed. 'Fuck I could kiss him all day.' As Jeremy wrapped his arms around his neck they heard voices in the hall and that snapped them back to reality. "What the fuck man?!" he argued pushing Jeremy off and stepping back.
"I'm sorry." said Jeremy. "I didn't…"
Tyler picked up the flask form the floor. "It's cool man. It didn't happen and if it did…we'll blame it on the booze."
"Yeah." sighed Jeremy. "I better get back out there."
"Yeah." said Tyler. "I'll be out soon." When Jeremy left Tyler closed and locked the doors and proceeded to have a quick but wildly intense jerk off session and all his mind could picture was Jeremy.
***I haven't worked much with John Gilbert, I certainly haven't in SHADOWS, so 1) I'm glad he's popped in here and might pop in later in the future. He's difficult to read. 2) I love how Caleb and Harry take over the big cousin roles and step in to look after Jeremy. 3) Hate Katherine and I love the Damon/Caleb or as I call it, Daleb, dynamic when Caleb lists the many ways of killing her and Damon says "Finally, someone who speaks English!" Jajaajaja. 4) I loved how after Elena once again broke his heart Harry took Damon aside and, once they were alone, gave Damon the space to allow himself to break down in his arms. That was sooo touching. And finally 5) LOOOOVED the make out scene with Jeremy and Tyler or "Jyler" as I call it! Please review! Remember I'll be answering them in chapter 6.***