EDITED OCT22

"You sure about this love?" Nik asked as Brenna packed her bag.

"Yeah, of course, I am."

"It's a road trip Brenna," Nik said passing her the stuff she had laid out so she could pack it.

"I know. I want to do this. I need to get my brother, Nik. I need my brother."

"I know you do. You hardly left your room this past week."

"Sage is dead, Nik. I can't get past small talk on this phone with Kol. I need to see Jer and I promised him I'd pick him up. Besides, Damon kicked Stefan off the road trip for me."

"How generous," Nik mused and Brenna rolled her eyes.

"I can't bail." Brenna sighed and sat down next to Nik. "You know what they're looking for on this road trip right? They're going to use Jer to work out their sire line."

"I know, I've got it under control love."

"They're going to be so pissed when they find who sired their line," Brenna smiled at him before sighing and standing up. "Ok, so I'm going to go. I said I'd meet them at the boarding house in 10 minutes. A trip with Elena, fun. You know the last time I went on a trip with Damon and Elena it was a blast. I don't think it's going to be so fun this time around," Brenna said sadly before she grabbed her bags and left.

Brenna walked through the front door of the boarding house and ran straight into Stefan. "Damon!" she yelled as Stefan stared at her sadly.

"Coming, sorry," Damon said coming down the stairs. "Sorry little brother, I'm running interference," he said as he placed his hand behind Brenna and guided her away from his brother. "Get excited, we're flying first class."

"First class? Who'd you have to compel to get those tickets?"

"Why is that both of your assumptions," Damon scoffed. "So, big favour to ask," he said changing the subject.

"Seriously?" Brenna asked incredulously.

"We've got Ric locked in the cellar. He's really down, I was thinking a visit from one of the people he tried to maim might lift his spirits."

"How macabre," Brenna frowned.

"So?" he asked. "No pressure."

"I think I'm ready. It's been a couple of weeks."

"Here," Damon said handing her an envelope. "Ric wrote it. It's all his passwords, his will and his relative's details in case this doesn't go the way we want it to. He wants to make sure you'll be ok," he smiled at her softly. "I'll take your bag and pack it in the car."

"Thanks," she said handing him her bag. "Where's Elena?" she asked.

"Just finished talking to Ric so it's all clear. Meet you in the car," he said before walking off.

Brenna sighed before she headed down the stairs and into the cellar, she poked her head through the bars of the cellar door to see Ric sitting on a small bed staring at the ceiling. "Yo," she said nervously and Ric's head snapped to look at her.

"Hey," he said scrambling to stand up. "How are you?" he asked.

"Been better," she smiled shyly at him. "You still you?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Damon gave me your letter."

"It's just in case things don't go well. I don't want you to worry. Brea I…"

"I know," she smiled softly.

"I'm so sorry," he finished. "When I woke up and Damon told me what happened, that I… that I hurt you. That was the worst moment of my life." After a moment's pause, he added. "I'm sorry about Finn and Sage. When I cut those stakes I…"

"You cut the stakes?" Brenna asked shocked.

"I… yeah… I don't have an excuse. I didn't want them to be used. They were just meant to be an insurance policy. I'm so sorry. The plan was to hand over all the stakes and in return, they'd leave town for good."

"You knew what Stefan's mindset was. He's blinded by hate. He just wants them dead."

"I'm really sorry. I guess it was naive of me to think they wouldn't actually act on it."

"It was," Brenna snapped before looking down at her feet.

"You looking forward to getting your brother?" Ric asked to break the tension.

"Yeah," Brenna said smiling as she looked back up at him. "Nik swears to me he's in no danger here. We only sent him away for safety so it's time to bring him home."

"Elena thinks Klaus might use him as leverage again if he stays in Denver."

"He won't," Brenna answered. "Jeremy was never in danger. We just really needed motivation for Bonnie to unlink them. I'm not happy about Nik and Kol using him like that, but there was never any danger."

Ric smiled at her. "I believe you."

"I better go," Brenna said with a small smile.

"Hey, I know this may be way out of line but can I ask a favour, well two favours?"

"Yeah," Brenna nodded.

"Can you check on how Meredith's doing for me?" he asked and Brenna smiled.

"I have, she's going fine. She's working a lot, keeping busy. She's kind of in a similar boat to me right now, she doesn't blame you, but she doesn't know how to see you right now."

"I understand," he said sadly.

"The other favour?"

"You can say no, there's no pressure, but could you keep an eye on Elena and Damon for me? I don't want her making decisions she'll regret."

Brenna looked at him conflicted. "Have they been..."

"Yeah," he frowned. "I do not approve."

"Neither. That's gross."

"Thank you, Brea," he smiled. "Have a nice trip kiddo, say hi to Jeremy for me."

"Will do," she smiled. "Bye," she said walking away and exiting the boarding house and getting in the back of Damon's car.

"You all set?" he asked.

"Yeah, all good," she said opening her Moby Dick book and began reading.

"Hey," Elena said gently to her, but Brenna didn't look up. "Brenna, I…"

"Elena," Damon interrupted and Brenna glanced at him from the corners of her eye to see him shaking his head at Elena. Elena sighed before sitting back in her seat making Brenna smirk as they began their trip.

"I'm so excited!" Brenna squealed as they walked through the batting cages looking for Jeremy. "I just can't hide it!"

"You keep up this energy you'll pass out," Damon smirked.

"Shut up," Brenna laughed nudging him as Elena followed behind. "Do you think we'll make it to a hotel or somewhere tonight by 5?"

"What happens at 5?" Damon asked.

"I looked up the tv guide and there's a Duck Dodgers episode on that we love.

"Duck Dodgers seriously?" Damon scoffed.

"They used to watch cartoons together every Saturday and Sunday morning from 6 am," Elena smiled softly. "There he is," Elena pointed and Brenna squeaked and jumped into the air.

"Easy," Damon laughed.

"I can't wait!" Brenna said before running to the cage he was practising in and throwing herself at the fence and watching him take a swing at a ball.

"Next time we compel him, remind me to make him better at baseball," Damon mocked.

"No way, then he might beat me," Brenna smiled back at Damon. "Bestie!" she yelled, making her brother freeze and slowly turn around. "Dude you suck."

"Hey Jer," Elena laughed as she came and stood next to Brenna.

"Brea? Elena?" Jeremy asked.

"Jer bear!" Brenna yelled jumping up and down.

"No way," Jeremy laughed taking off his helmet and walking towards them, as soon as he caught sight of Damon his face fell. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Hug me, brother!" Brea yelled, copying the line from Drake & Josh.

"Alright, alright I'm coming," he said coming out from the cage.

"Attack!" Brenna laughed as she ran at him and jumped into his arms.

"Dude, it's hardly an attack if you announce it first," he laughed as he held her up.

"Shut up," she laughed.

"What's up with those two?" he whispered to her as he put her down.

"Stupid Mystic Falls vs the Originals drama, Ric says there's some underlying romantic tension. Makes me want to be sick," Brenna sighed.

"I don't want to…" he started.

"It's ok," she whispered back at him. "Help them, I don't want you having to pick between two sisters. Help them with what they're after. But don't help them kill them any of the Originals please?"

"Only if you're sure," he hesitated.

Brenna let go of him and he popped her back down on her feet as she nodded at him. "They're trying to work out their sire line. Remember how I told you how Sage died along with Finn?"

"Right yeah," he nodded looking at Damon and Elena.

"We need to know which Original not to kill," Damon said winking at Brenna and she shot him a glare. "Katherine sired us. Rose sired Katherine. All we need to do is find out who sired Rose," Damon said as Jeremy walked to put his bat away.

"So you travelled across the country to get me to talk to a dead vampire?" he asked.

"We travelled across the country because we miss you too damn much Jer bear," Brenna said as she picked up a bat and swung it in the air.

"Dead vampires redundant, but yes," Damon agreed.

"Well, I can't. I could talk to Anna and Vicki because I knew them." Jeremy said, putting away his helmet before turning to face Damon and Elena. "I never even met Rose."

"What good is you coming back to life if you can't talk to a ghost when I need you to?" Damon asked.

"The good is we get to torture him every day!" Brenna cheered before Jeremy snatched the bat out of her hands and put it away.

"You're so weird," he laughed at her.

"Rose spent a long time running from Klaus as well," Elena said. "She and Damon were close, so maybe we can use him as a connection," she suggested.

Brenna then whispered, "when she says close she means…"

"Ew," he groaned and she laughed. "Fine," he sighed. "So long as Brea's ok with it, but can we do this later? My friend just got here. And yes, Damon, I actually have some."

Brenna snorted. "Who'd want to be your friend? You're a loser. Wait, can I come with you guys?" she asked. "I've been stuck with these two all day and I've had enough."

"Ok, you're even weirder than normal," he laughed. "Besides, I don't want you hanging out with him, every time I turn my phone on and he sees you in the picture of us in my background he makes comments. I really don't want to watch my friend hit on my sister."

"Good comments?"

"Duh."

"I do have that effect on people," Brenna winked, flicking her hair with a smile.

"I'll call you when I'm done," Jeremy said walking forward to kiss Brenna on the cheek.

"No!" Brenna moaned and grabbed onto his arm as he stepped forward to kiss Elena's cheek. "Don't leave me with these freaks Jer!"

"My friends here, Brea. Fine, act cool and you can come," he relented as he continued walking forward, with Brenna walking backwards as she held his arm.

"Really?" Brenna asked with a smile.

"Jer?" Elena laughed turning around to face the two of them as they walked off.

"Yeah, act cool," he warned. "Hey, man," Jeremy greeted his friend. As his friend past him, Brenna felt him reach out and brush her hand.

"Dude!" she complained, yanking her hand away. Looking at the back of his head she frowned. Oh shit.

"Damon, it's Kol!" Elena cried panicked.

Brenna's eye's widened as she grabbed Jeremy and pulled him back further. Kol had lied to her. He'd told her he was back in New York. Before Brenna could say anything, Kol swung the baseball bat he was holding into Damon's side and Damon grunted in pain before falling to the ground.

"What the hell are you doing!" Jeremy yelled out as he went to move forward.

"No!" Brenna yelled putting her hand on Jeremy's chest to stop him.

"Jeremy get back he's an Original," Elena pleaded.

"Wait, what?" Jeremy asked confused looking down at Brenna as Kol walked towards them. Kol reached out to place his hand on Brenna's cheek but she flinched away, making his smirk fall. She was too angry to let him touch her.

"No hard feelings, mate," Kol said to her brother. "But we're not buds," he reached out to grab another bat. Brenna looked over at Damon to see him looking at her and then at the broken wooden bat. She knew exactly what he was asking and she frowned before nodding at him. "You know, I'll never get used to aluminium. But hey, at least it won't break," Kol said as he sauntered back over to Damon. Just as Kol went to swing the bat back down on Damon, Damon reached up and grabbed the bat, stopping the swing before reaching over to grab the splintered wood in the other and shove it into Kol's chest. As soon as Brenna saw she looked away and Jeremy rested a hand on her shoulder. He'd connected the dots and worked out exactly who this man was.

"Did you kill him?" Jeremy asked shocked.

"No," Damon groaned as he stood up. "But it'll give us a head start." He then reached over and grabbed Elena's arm and dragged her away. "Meet you at the car," he said before limping off.

"You ok?" Jeremy asked.

"I didn't know Jer I swear. He told me he was in New York. I had no idea."

"I know," Jeremy said gently while Brenna went over to his body and bent down next to him. "We can't leave him here," Jeremy sighed.

"We're not bringing him with us."

"I know, but we can move him?" Jeremy suggested.

"Yeah, yeah ok," Brenna nodded.

"The men's locker room? We could leave him in a shower?."

Brenna looked around to make sure nobody was watching. "Ok, we have to move him quick, before people see," she said as Jeremy moved forward and lifted Kol's body up. "You're stronger than you look," Brenna smirked.

"Help me," Jeremy groaned.

"Yep, coming," Brenna said as she grabbed Kol's arm and flung it over her shoulder so she could take some of his weight and they carried him into the men's locker rooms. "Where are the showers?" Brenna groaned.

"Over here," Jeremy said guiding them into a shower room. As they passed through the door, they accidentally smacked Kol's head on the corner.

Both of them froze as they looked at each other. "Oops," Brenna snickered.

"Here," he said as they laid him on the bench in a shower, only for him to slip off. "Try again?"

"Yep," Brenna nodded as they lifted him back up. Brenna then began searching his pockets.

"What are you doing?"

"He really likes gum," Brenna shrugged. "Want some?"

"Yes please," Jeremy nodded. Brenna pulled out a pack of gum victoriously and tossed Jeremy a piece. "Ok," he said leaving the stall. "You need to lock the shower door and then crawl under."

"Why do I have to crawl?" Brenna asked.

"You're smaller," Jeremy shrugged.

"Fine," Brenna rolled her eyes before shutting the shower door and locking it and crawling out from underneath. Jeremy then helped her up off the floor. "You and I could make a sitcom you know?"

"Yo, no chicks in here," a guy entering the locker rooms called out.

"Sorry, we're leaving," Jeremy grabbed Brenna's elbow and led her out. "He'll be fine," Jeremy assured.

"I know," Brenna smiled. "Let's just go to the car ok?"

"I got it," Damon smiled at Brenna as they grabbed their bags out of the car and he took hers.

"Thanks," Brenna smiled at him. "You're sucking up big time."

"Well of course I am, I need to."

"Why are we at a motel?" Brenna asked. "We flew first class couldn't we have stayed somewhere nicer?"

"For the record, she's the one who wanted to stop in a motel, not me," Damon said nodding his head towards Elena, who playfully glared back at him.

"So where are we?" Jeremy asked as he led the way to the room they were staying in.

"Corner of somewhere and nowhere, where Kol can't find us."

"I can't believe Kol was a vampire," Jeremy said sadly.

"Well, didn't you find it weird you made a friend so fast? Have you met you?" Damon asked sarcastically from the back.

"Not helping," Elena chided.

"It's ok Jer, you still have Matt and me," Brenna smiled at her brother.

"Great," Jeremy smirked at her and she shoved him.

"236, that's our room right?" Brenna asked turning to Elena.

Elena looked down at the keys. "Yeah, this is it," she said opening it. "This should work. Right, Jer?"

"Yeah it doesn't really matter," Jeremy said walking in after Elena.

"Hey," Brenna grabbed Damon's arm before he could go into the room.

"You ok?" Damon asked.

"Here," Brenna said pulling out her phone from her pocket. "Take it."

"Why?" Damon asked.

"If Kol does show up, I don't want to be accused of leading him to us."

"Brenna…"

"Damon, just take it, please."

Damon hesitated before taking her phone. "I know you wouldn't tell him," Damon said. "I saw the look on your face when you saw him today. You were mad. It wasn't exactly the face of someone in the know."

"He said he was in New York. He told me after he took the video of Jer for Nik to use and he heard about Finn that he left for our house in New York."

"You don't have to explain."

"I just wanted to come and get my brother," Brenna said sadly. "I know you guys want to use Jeremy to try to work out who sired your line and I'm ok with that. I just wanted to bring him home."

"Don't worry Brenna. I know you would never put your brother in danger. Keep your phone," he said holding it out for her.

Brenna shook her head. "No, give it back to me when we get back to Mystic Falls ok? Besides, I don't need it," she said before she turned and walked into the room.

"All right, Whoopi," Damon said entering the room after her and closing the door, putting down the bags before he began closing the curtains. "What do you need? Candles? Incense? Pottery wheel?"

"That's not how it works," Jeremy said rolling his eyes.

"I know, I know," Damon said walking to stand next to Elena as he took off his jacket. "They push from the other side, and you pull from this one."

"All right, you uh, you got a picture of her?" Jeremy asked.

"There are only two beds," Brenna said looking around the room. "How does this work?"

"Boys on one, girls on the other?" Elena suggested.

"No thanks," Jeremy and Damon responded.

"I'll share with Jer," Brenna said jumping onto a bed.

"So the picture?" Jeremy asked sitting on the chair next to the bed.

"Picture?" Damon asked sarcastically. "From what? Our trip to Disneyland? Come on, Rose," Damon called out. "You're not going to actually make us wait, are you? I know you're obsessed with me," he smirked as Elena groaned as she walked across the room to sit on the chair opposite Jeremy.

"All right, uh, tell me something about her," Jeremy asked.

"Um, well, she did this little thing with her tongue."

"Something that matters, Damon," Elena said cutting him off. Brenna looked at her carefully, she was jealous.

Damon looked down before sighing. "She spent her last day in paradise. Soaking in the sun and reminiscing about what it means to be human. And when death came she didn't fear it."

Elena frowned. "I was with her on her last day and she definitely wasn't in paradise."

"Didn't she kill three people?" Brenna asked. "And you guys told me to stay inside because she was going to go all psychotic murderer on me?"

"It was in the dream he gave her," Jeremy said. "She's here," he said sighing and leaning back in his chair.

"Oh my god, did she hear what I just said?" Brenna asked eyes widening. "I don't want her to haunt me, she already doesn't like me."

"She did hear and she wants to say she forgives you for everything. She understands how important family is and she'd never hold that against you ."

"Can she promise not to haunt me please?"

"Yeah, she promises not to haunt you," Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Is she lonely on the other side?" Elena asked, pacing around the table as Damon plonked himself down next to her on the bed.

"She says not to worry. She's happy."

"She still hot?" Damon asked and Brenna flung her arm out to lightly slap his arm.

Jeremy's eyebrows raised as Rose clearly made an inappropriate comment back. "She misses you," he said to Damon after a moment. Jeremy's eyes then widened and he flicked his head slightly to look at Elena. "She, uh, she misses all of you," he said, but Brenna could tell he was lying. "She was sired by somebody named…"

"Mary Porter," Brenna sang, cutting him off as everyone's eyes flicked to her.

"You know?" Damon asked.

"Duh, she was a bit of an original groupie."

Damon groaned. "Oh, scary Mary. Well, where is she, Rose?" he asked.

"Ah, she says to relax and she'll try to find out. She's gone," Jeremy said.

"Unless you know?" Damon asked Brenna.

"I have no idea where she is. Not long after she turned she couldn't control it and tried to attack me and they sent her away. Didn't keep track of her after that."

"I can't believe it," Brenna said as she pulled her head away from the side of the tv. "There's no DVD slot. How are we meant to watch Bambi, Jer?" Brenna whined as she sat back down at the end of their bed.

Jeremy was staring into space absentmindedly. "Guess we'll just have to skip."

"Blasphemy!"

Jeremy then looked over at Elena and back at Brenna before asking Elena, "so, what's up with you and Damon?"

Elena froze. "What do you mean? Nothing's up."

Jeremy began flicking through the tv channels and Brenna moved to sit down beside him so she could watch. "You sure about that?" he asked without looking at her. "Because even Rose said something."

"What did she say?" Elena asked nervously before the door opened and Damon walked in, which made Jeremy scowl, knowing he wouldn't be getting any more answers from Elena with him in the room.

"Everything ok in here?" Damon asked noting the tension.

"Yeah, it's fine," Elena answered quickly.

"Ok, well, I'm going to freshen up. You might want to get some rest. I'm sure Rose will make herself known when she gets back," he said as he walked to the bathroom. "Here," he said tossing Brenna a KitKat.

"Thanks," Brenna smiled before snapping it in half and handing Jeremy some. "Sorry only two pieces," she smirked at Elena.

"It's fine," she smiled which made Brenna scowl.

"I'm tired. We can't watch Bambi, let's just go to bed," Brenna said getting underneath the covers.

Brenna and Jeremy both sprung up when they heard the front door close and they looked over to see both Damon and Elena weren't there. "Kol?" Jeremy asked.

"No way," Brenna said shaking her head. "I'd know."

"How would you know?" Jeremy questioned.

"Intuition?"

"You didn't realise when he walked past us at the batting cages."

"Are we going to fight Jer?" Brenna laughed.

"Hey," Jeremy said.

"What?"

"Not you," Jeremy said holding up a finger to Brenna. "Rose knows where Mary is. Are you sure you're ok with them knowing?" he asked Brenna.

"I am," she nodded.

"You know who sired them, don't you?" he smiled.

"Of course," she smirked.

"It's Klaus isn't it?" Jeremy laughed. "He's the only one they really want to kill. That's why you're letting them go on their hunt. They're going to hate it."

"Oh big time," she smiled. "They won't be able to kill him. Maybe then this whole thing can just end."

"I really hope so Brea," Jeremy smiled. "Come on, let's go find them and tell them where Mary is," he said and they both got out of bed and popped on shoes and went looking for Elena and Damon. As they walked around the corner they saw Damon and Elena pressed up against a wall making out.

"MY EYES!" Brenna yelled and began rubbing them. "They're on fire, Jeremy, are my eyes on fire? I will never unsee that."

"Oh my god," Elena breathed out shoving Damon off of her.

"Rose found Mary. She lives in Kansas," Jeremy said awkwardly.

"Ok then," Damon said turning around and Brenna's eyes widened as she realised his shirt was hanging open. "Let's go," he said as he walked past them and back to the room.

Jeremy glared at Elena disapprovingly before walking after Damon to pack up.

"What are you doing?" Brenna snapped at Elena before following her brother back into the motel room. "Good thing we drove most of the way to Kansas already. The only way this car trip could get worse is if it was longer," Brenna shuddered as she and Jeremy began packing up their stuff.

"This is the address," Jeremy said as they all arrived at Mary's place.

"This place is spooky," Brenna said looking it up and down.

"Looks about right," Damon mused.

"Wait here," Elena said to Jeremy and Brenna before she and Damon made a move towards the house.

"Why, so you guys can make out some more?" Jeremy snapped after them.

"Oh my god, don't remind me. I'm trying to delete that from my memory," Brenna said rubbing her temples.

"Don't be a dick," Damon said to Jeremy. "Listen to your sister."

"Hey, you don't talk to him like that!" Brenna snapped at him. "Come on Jer, we'll watch Scooby Doo or something in the car. Mary and I didn't part on good terms, so I'm not going any closer to that house."

Jeremy sighed and gestured for Brenna to open the car door. "Thank you," Damon called before he and Elena walked off.

"I don't get what she sees in him," Jeremy grumbled.

"Honestly, neither," Brenna sighed. "I mean I like Damon, well some of the time, but Elena usually goes for nice guys, Matt, the old Stefan. Maybe she's finally rebelling?"

"You never rebelled."

"I rebelled a thousand years ago," Brenna said checking her ring to make sure it was still dull. She did not trust Mary.

"Did you know Damon and Elena had a thing going?"

"Well, I mean you know he's in love with her."

"Yeah," he nodded. "I knew that. I didn't know she had feelings for him though."

"I think when Stefan left she opened herself up to him a bit more. They spent the whole summer together. I don't know what to tell you Jer. I think it kind of snuck up on her as well. Ric asked me to keep an eye on them. I think he wanted to avoid whatever that was before."

"Well you failed," Jeremy smirked.

"Hey," she said shoving him.

"I'm glad you talked to Ric. I know he hurt you but…"

"That wasn't him Jer. I don't blame him. It's just that I… I have the memory of him attacking me. When he did it, I didn't know that there was anything wrong with him, so for me, when it happened, that was really Ric attacking me. That's why I couldn't face him. Because I was worried…"

"That you'd look at him and be reminded of how betrayed you felt," Jeremy finished.

"Exactly. I wanted to wait until I got over that feeling so I didn't resent him. Want to play tic tac toe?" Brenna asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah why not," Jeremy said getting his hands ready.

"Tic tac toe, give me a high, give me a low, give me a three in a row, bunny got hit by a UFO," they chanted.

"Dammit," Brenna groaned when she realised she lost.

"Haha sucker," Jeremy laughed before he grabbed her arm and placed his fist on it, "I win, you lose, now you get a big…"

"AHHH!" they both yelled out when someone knocked on the car window.

The car door closest to Brenna then opened and Kol appeared holding his hands up. "Relax darling," he smirked. "You might want to remove your hand though mate," he warned Jeremy.

"Why are you holding a bat?" Brenna asked spotting the baseball bat in his hand. "You didn't," she chided when she realised he must've used it to beat Damon up.

"He deserved it," Kol shrugged and Brenna frowned in slight agreement. "It would be really lovely if you'd answer your phone darling. Also, really, leaving me in a shower cubicle?"

"I gave my phone to Damon and would you have rathered we left you on the ground?"

"Nik, Rebekah and I have been calling all night."

"I was busy," she said, crossing her arms. She was not in the mood.

"Look can we talk darling?" Kol asked, moving his arm, gesturing for her to get out.

"No way," Jeremy snapped.

"It's ok Jer," Brenna smiled, kissing his cheek before getting out. As soon as she got out Kol draped an arm over her shoulders and Brenna used her arm to shrug it off. "Don't," she warned as they walked a bit away from the car. "Did they talk to Mary?" Brenna asked.

"They didn't exactly get the chance," he smirked.

"You bought her silence?"

"Well…"

"You killed her," Brenna realised.

"She deserved it, Elijah wouldn't let me kill her back then but I'm sure he won't mind now."

"I'm really mad," she said looking into his eyes.

"I know," he said touching her cheek, frowning when she slapped his hand away.

"You lied to me," she said her voice cracking. "You told me you were in New York. You didn't answer your phone when I called."

"I didn't want to lie. Nik and I knew you'd be madder if you knew I stayed in Denver. We figured telling you I went to New York would keep you calmer. I wasn't expecting you to come here. Nik was meant to keep you away."

"So you and Nik are in cahoots now?" Brenna asked incredulously.

"We were just trying to look out for your feelings."

"That's just… Kol," Brenna said grabbing his hands. "I understand you just lost Finn, and I know you're acting like you don't care, but you do. I know things are tense but please, now is not the time to start lying to each other. I spent the whole week staying at Nik's sad and lonely. I needed you and you were lying to me. That's not us, it can't be us."

"You stayed at Nik's?" Kol asked.

"Yeah," Brenna nodded.

"He told me you were staying at Matt's."

"Well that's what happens when you lie to me, you get lied to," she snapped. "Jeremy told me you were commenting on my picture on his phone."

"Yeah, I kept telling him his sister was hot," he smirked. "For what it's worth, even though I was pretending, your brother's pretty cool," he said before he looked towards the house.

"What?" Brenna asked.

"Elena and Damon are coming out," he said. "Look, you head home with them and I'll meet you at Mrs Flower's place ok?"

"Ok," Brenna nodded. "Hey while I've got you, you were invited into my Aunt and Uncles that Jer was staying with right?"

"Yeah."

"Can you grab the rest of his things? He only got to pack a small bag before Damon made us leave. It'll save them the postage of sending it back to Mystic Falls."

"Sure," he said leaning in to kiss her one more time. "I love you," he whispered before he disappeared. Brenna sighed and made her way back over to the car and got in.

"Sort it out?" Jeremy asked.

"Yep, and I even got him to go get the rest of your stuff from Denver. Like a personal courier service," Brenna smiled before they turned to look as Damon and Elena got into the front seats of the car in frosty silence. Brenna looked over and grimaced dramatically at Jeremy and he rolled his eyes. "Damon, can I have my phone please?"

"Sure," he answered monotonously passing it to her. "Your little Original was in there waiting for us."

"He can be an ass," Brenna shrugged. "He'll back off now though. If he doesn't, he'll have me to deal with."