Lying to Herself

Not related to the other group of stories. I just finished the 4th chapter of the new one, but this was so on my mind through it all I had to get it out.

This is my little tirade about the situation on the show after the first two episodes of the second season. Very childish of me to vent like this, so I apologize in advance. But I'm still going to do it…

After the ferris wheel…

"I don't want to see you," Elena said as she entered her room and saw Damon there.

"I know," Damon said. "I respect that. I won't stay, I just had to thank you for stopping Bonnie."

"She was wrong to do that, I'm not sure she's wrong about anything else. Maybe this is your fault."

"My fault? What exactly happened that was my fault?"

"Caroline is a vampire," Elena said.

"Katherine did that," Damon retorted.

"You tried to make Jeremy a vampire."

"He's not a vampire, Elena."

"But you tried."

"Do you know how easy it is to turn someone, Elena? I could have done it to you with a flick of my wrist. You were that close, and it was not hard to get you there. But you are not a vampire, and neither is Jeremy."

"Or maybe you were just trying to kill him." Elena was in full glare mode.

"Easier still. Twist of his head, no preparation required. I don't want him dead, Elena. Actually we're on pretty good terms now. Ask him yourself, if he's talking to you."

"Don't pretend none of this is your fault. Katherine is here because of you."

"No, Elena. Katherine is here because of Stefan. I don't know if he just hasn't told you, or you just don't believe him, but she's here for him. The games she's playing are for him. You, Caroline, and I are all a part of the game, but he is the prize."

"Don't say that. He wants nothing to do with her."

"It's not about what he wants, Elena, any more than its about what I want. It's about what Katherine wants."

"She's getting to you Damon, just like Stefan said she would. You can't let her do this to you."

"She's not doing anything to me she hasn't done before. She's not getting to me Elena. She can't anymore. Only you can."

"Now you're blaming me?"

"No blame, Elena. Just telling you what is. Katherine's here, and we have to deal. She'll lie and manipulate and hurt everyone and everything in her way. You can't face that if you're lying to me, Stefan or yourself."

"Now it's my fault and I'm a liar. I should have let you burn. I don't know why I stopped her."

"Yes you do. We both know. It's what I told you before – there's something between us. And if you don't face it, Katherine will be the end of all of us, except Stefan." Damon sounded a little bitter.

"It's time for you to leave."

Damon nodded and headed for the window. Just before he went though, she spoke again. "Stay out of my way and stay away from my family."

"Face the truth Elena, before it's too late." And Damon was gone.

-The End— of this little tirade anyway

There, I feel better. Not much, but a little.

I won't feel too much better until the show depicts Damon as someone other than a guy who can be slapped around and beat up by every human, vampire and witchy female around.

Surely it will change – and soon. At least Caroline is getting a bit more interesting…