A/N: I don't own TVD...although that would be beyond awesome...

I have to admit that this is an unexpected fanfic. I totally planned to take a break, work on my own writing, and come back with my SE fiction in late January. Sadly (for me), but happily for you (I hope), this idea won't leave.

That being said, I have not done my standard obsessively-planned-out story arc. I will NOT update it overly quickly - probably just once a week until it is finished. I anticipate this story to be short - about 5 - 7 chapters.

For those of y'all who know me from , you know I wasn't overly pleased with BTLOTM. This is my view of... "What Should Have Been."

"Let. Go. Of. Me!" Each word was punctuated by Elena's fist striking his chest as she desperately tried to reach Stefan in the tomb. Damon never took his eyes off her. He couldn't change the situation, but he could allow her to vent her frustrations on him. Gradually, her heartbeat slowed and she took a shaky breath as the fight finally left her.

"Are you done?" He didn't really need to ask. He already knew. He stepped away from her - watching to make sure she didn't try to sneak past him.

She took one determined step in the direction of the tomb, and he again stood in the way of her path.

"Tsk! Tsk!" He shook his head as he signaled she'd made the wrong choice.

"Hmph!" Fire blazed in her eyes as she glared at him. He knew she was worried about Stefan, and he'd later discuss with his brother his annoyance at his choice to keep himself hidden, but he couldn't risk letting her get close to the invisible barrier. Elena turned and stormed out of the tomb, her chesnut-brown hair fanning behind her as she left.

The crunching of the dirt floor behind him announced his brother's presence even before he turned to face the tomb. "Stefan." He shook his head in disappointment. "What were you thinking?"

Katherine sauntered to the opening of the tomb and stood just behind Stefan - close enough that he could feel her presence yet not quite touching. The corners of her lips turned up in a satisfied smile.

"I couldn't let her keep Jeremy in here."

"Always the protector." Katherine's eyes looked Stefan up and down.

"I'll get you out." Damon glared over Stefan's shoulder at Katherine.

"No." Stefan shook his head. "I'll...deal with this." He reached out and leaned against the tomb wall. "Work with Bonnie - break the curse on the moonstone. And, Damon." His jaw tensed as he struggled for control. "Don't let Elena come back here."

Damon gave a sarcastic laugh. "Like that'll be simple." He looked sincerely at his brother. "I'll keep her away."

Stefan looked in the direction of the stairs. He took a breath and then locked eyes with his brother. "Take care of her."

Biting back the surly remark he wanted to utter for leaving him in such a hopeless situation, he nodded. "I will." With one last glance at his brother, Damon turned and mounted the stairs. He stepped out into the night and looked toward his car - the passenger's side door still standing open from when Elena jumped out of the moving vehicle. He made a mental note to chat with her about that when he realized Elena wasn't waiting in his car. Circling on the spot, he made a frightening observation. Elena wasn't here.

"Elena?" He called out softly - hoping Stefan was occupied and didn't hear him. "Come on, Elena."

Damn it! He'd been in charge of taking care of her for less than five minutes, and he'd already lost her. He hadn't been joking when he told Stefan guarding Elena wasn't going to be easy, but he didn't think he was going to lose her this soon.

"Elena!" When she still gave no hint of an answer, he stopped looking and let his hunter's senses take over. Keeping in tight control of his current hunger, he allowed his vampire nature to control him and seek out his closest prey which, unless he missed his guess, was Elena.

A soft heartbeat.

A deep sigh.

Leaves crumbling.

Damon forced himself back into his human facade as he walked in the direction of the sound. A few feet away from the clearing, he finally saw her and was struck by the irony of her choice of refuge.

Elena was seated on a mildly decayed tree stump. Rocking slightly back and forth, her gaze was fixed - staring into the nothingness of the night.

Damon couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu. It wasn't that long ago that he sat in that very spot lamenting the loss of the one responsible for Stefan's current predicament.

He walked to Elena's side and knelt on the damp earth. "Elena." He placed his hand on her knee. "Come on, we need to get you out of here." He stood and waited for her to follow.

She showed no sign of hearing him as she remained fixed in her spot.

He reached out and gently pulled her to her feet. "Stefan can hear that we're still here. He'll feel better if he knows you've gone home."

"You saw him?" Elena broke out of her almost-trance.

Damon nodded.

"Why wouldn't he come to see me?" She stumbled over a tree root.

He wrapped his arm around her waist when he realized she was less than steady on her feet. "I don't know." Add that to the list of things he didn't always understand about his brother's actions. "I think he was hoping it would be easier for you that way." He guided her in the direction of his car.

"But he's okay?" Elena looked at him with true fear in her eyes. "Katherine didn't hurt him?"

"He's fine." He shut the car door behind her. "I'll be back for you, Brother."

Jeremy was sitting on the porch swing as Damon pulled his car up in front of the house. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when Elena stormed off as Damon chased her down, but he was happy to see she'd returned in one piece.

The car had scarcely come to a stop before Elena had hopped out and was storming in Jeremy's direction. "What did you think you were doing? Why did you go into the tomb?"

Damon stifled a laugh as Jeremy actually took a step back from his older sister's tirade.

"I couldn't let her do it." His eyes looked like a sad puppy. "Elena, Bonnie's not strong enough. She hasn't told anyone, but all this magic is hurting her. I was afraid of what lifting the tomb spell would do. I thought I could do it, Elena. I was just trying to keep both of you safe."

That took the wind out of Elena's sails. She studied her brother's earnest expression. "I understand. Nothing today has really gone according to plan."

"That may be the understatement of the millenium, but in your case, I'm thankful for that." Damon followed Elena up the stairs. Elena turned and looked over her shoulder and glared at him - not wanting to be reminded about his interference with her plan. She reached for the door and walked into the house, slamming the door behind her with such force the windows shook.

"What's up with her?" Jeremy stared at the still-vibrating door. "Besides the obvious, I mean."

"Seems I thwarted your sister's brilliant plan." Damon took a seat on the porch swing. "I had to leave earlier today when Rose called to inform me that your sister was attempting to turn herself in to Klaus."

"She what?"

Damon leaned back and looked up at the sky. "Elena wanted to strike a bargain with Klaus. She'd turn herself in if he'd leave her friends and family alone."

Jeremy swallowed loudly. "But he'd kill her."

"She seems to be aware of that." Damon leaned over and held his head in his hands. He desperately needed a drink - blood or alcohol - he wasn't picky at this moment. Blood should have been the logical choice, but right now, he was leaning strongly toward just getting drunk. "Is Jenna home?"

"No. Ric's got her sleeping over tonight."

"So he knows what's been going on?"

Jeremy shook his head. "They came by earlier, and he saw the bandage. I think he figured something must have been up. He suggested the sleep over, and Jenna asked if Elena and I would be ok tonight."

"That's probably for the for the best." Damon stood and let himself into the house. He headed straight to the kitchen where he knew Jenna attempted to hide the good stuff. Reaching into the cabinet, he pulled down a glass. After pouring himself a drink, he looked at Jeremy and studied his appearance. He turned back to the cabinet and pulled a second glass down. Portioning out a smaller drink, he offered it to Jeremy. "How's your neck?" He cocked his head and looked at the red-stained bandage. "I remember how hard she can bite, and she wasn't hungry when I was with her."

Jeremy downed his drink in a single gulp. Those Gilbert kids certainly could hold their liquor. "I'm fine." He fingered his neck. "It doesn't hurt too much. I think I'm just going to go up and take a shower." He stalled for a minute and leaned against the counter as if he was waiting for something.

Damon realized what Jeremy was trying to avoid asking. "I'm staying here tonight. I promised Stefan I'd take care of her." He flicked his eyes toward the ceiling. "I'll sleep on the couch. She won't get past me."

Damon turned on his side, once again fighting the urge for sleep. The couch wasn't exactly uncomfortable, he'd slept in far less hospitable places, but he could still hear Elena moving around upstairs. He didn't want to risk even the slightest chance that she'd sneak out of the house without him realizing it. He was surprised when he heard her footsteps on the stairs, but not more surprised than she was to find him on the couch.

"What are you doing here?" She stammered as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Someone had to keep you out of trouble." He noticed she was wearing her pajamas. Thankfully, an escape attempt was obviously not on her mind right now.

She visibly bristled. "I don't need a babysitter."

"That's debatable." He studied her appearance. Not only were her eyes puffy and bloodshot, but they were framed by dark shadows. While the bickering banter was enjoyable, he realized this wasn't the time with it. He decided to take a softer approach. "Couldn't sleep?"

She wandered into the kitchen - not totally surprised when he followed her. She wrapped her arms around herself, and she suddenly looked much smaller than normal. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"It's one o'clock in the morning, and you're standing in your kitchen." Damon began to rummage though the pantry. He pulled out a handful of ingredients and walked to the stove.

Elena stared at him without really paying attention to what he was doing.

He casually stirred a pot until he dipped a spoon into whatever he'd been making. Satisfied with his results, he took a mug out of the glass-fronted cabinet. When he realized she wasn't really paying attention to him, he reached into Jenna's hiding place, withdrew a bottle, and poured an ample amount into the mug as well. He'd seen how well Elena managed her liquor. Tonight called for the strong stuff.

"Here." He pushed the mug into her hands.

Elena looked at it skeptically.

"It's hot chocolate, Elena. Have a sip." Damon walked back into the living room, hoping Elena would follow.

Elena tested out the drink. Invariably she burned her tongue on hot chocolate, but Damon had heated it to the perfect temperature. "It's good, but it isn't just hot chocolate."

He did his eye thing while looking at her. "Tonight I thought you needed something stronger."

Elena took a few more sips before her hands began to shake. Damon looked at her and realized tears were streaming down her cheeks. He took the mug from her hands before she spilled her drink all over the rug.

"All this is my fault." She didn't even try to dry her face. "Stefan's in the tomb. Jeremy was attacked. Bonnie's willingly hurting herself. Caroline and Tyler are going to be killed in some twisted ritual. And almost everyone else I care about is in danger. And it's all because of me." Her shoulders shook as she dissolved into wordless sobs.

This was a side of Elena Damon hadn't seen before. Here she was - also very much on the in danger list - and she didn't care. Today she'd willingly attempted to offer herself up in their stead, not caring about the consequences to herself. And, thankfully, she'd been unsuccessful. Damon didn't know what he'd do if something happened to her and he was left without her - even if she wasn't really his to lose.

As her sobs grew louder, he realized she was truly broken.

But he didn't know what to do with this Elena.

After everything she'd been through these past few weeks and months, she'd finally been given more than she could take. And he didn't know how to help. He reached out and pulled her to his shoulder, somewhat surprised when she didn't pull away.

"Shh." He stroked her hair. He desperately wanted to kiss her forehead, but he didn't want to do anything to cause her to leave his shoulder. "Shh..." Gradually, the pieces came together for him. No wonder she'd been so reckless today. She was desperately trying to fix something she viewed as her fault - something that had been set in motion centuries before she was born. "Elena." He pulled back and tilted her chin up so that she looked into his eyes. "This isn't your fault - no matter what you think. This is so much bigger than just being about you."

"But it is. I'm the sacrifice."

"I know that." And that knowledge stabbed him like a knife in the stomach. He wouldn't let her be the sacrifice. "But you didn't chose this any more than you chose to be born. And if you hadn't been born, I, for one, would sadly miss you." He broke eye contact with her before she realized just how much more than friendship buzzed beneath his comment.

He reached out and picked the mug back up. It was cold now, but the alcohol was still there. "Finish this."

For once, Elena didn't argue with him. She tipped the cup back and finished it in two more gulps. She was still sniffling quietly when the combination of hot chocolate, fatigue, and alcohol hit her system. Her eyes began to close and soon she was softly snoring on his shoulder. Her soft warmth caused a gentle ache in his side. He scooped her up and carried her up the stairs and into her room. He carefully placed her in her bed and pulled the blankets around her. Standing above her for just a moment, he trailed his fingers over her cheek before brushing a kiss on her forehead.

"I will keep you safe." He clicked her light off and returned to his place on the couch.