10. The Turning Point

Damon and Brayden were in the Salvatore's living room, with Damon looking out the window, while Brayden sat on the couch, drinking coffee.

"So any idea of where you both will go?" Stefan asked his brothers, entering the living room.

"I don't know, London, maybe" Damon replied, "See some friends".

"Or the Queen" Brayden interjected.

Stefan rolled his eyes at Brayden, "You both don't have any friends, Damon".

"You're right, Stefan, me and Brayden only have you" Damon said, "So, where are we going?".

"We, are not going anywhere" Stefan replied, "I'm gonna live my life as far away from you two as possible".

"Back at you brother" Brayden said, "You brood too much for my liking".

"Come on guys, we're a team, we could travel the world together" Damon told his brothers, "We could try out for the amazing race".

"Pass" Brayden said.

"Seriously, where are you both going?" Stefan asked, "Because we're not saying in this town".

Before Damon could reply back to Stefan, the doorbell rang.

"Thank god" Brayden said, standing up, and walking towards the door, no longer wanting to deal with his brothers.

"Brayden" Sheriff Forbes greeted, confusing Brayden.

"Sheriff, is everything okay?" Brayden asked, "Is Caroline okay?".

"Caroline's fine" Liz assured, "I was hoping to talk to you and Damon".

"Sheriff, what a surprise" Damon said, walking over to Brayden and Liz.

"Sorry to bother you both, but we need to talk" Liz said.

"Sure, come on in" Brayden said, stepping out of the way so Liz can enter.

"I hope you understand the secrecy Stefan doesn't know about this yet" Damon told Liz, after he and Brayden led her to the backyard of the boarding house, "And me and Brayden would like to keep it that way".

"Of course" Liz said, "Kids are too young to be brought into this".

"So, what can we help you with today?" Brayden asked.

"There's been another attack" Liz informed the twins, "A female victim, her throat torn out, completely drained of blood, it fits the pattern".

"I thought the whole vampire problem was taken care of when Damon staked the blonde" Brayden said, a bitter tone in his voice, which Liz didn't catch but Damon did.

"I'm thinking she must have turned someone" Liz said, "Or multiple someones, I don't know, the story for the town is another animal attack but I'm not sure how long we can keep lying to them, the council is in an uproar, we thought we were past this".

"So, uh, what do we do?" Damon asked.

"You're the only one who's taken on a vampire" Liz replied, "We were hoping you could tell us".

Damon and Brayden exchanged a confused look, both of them realised that there was another vampire in town, a vampire if they don't take care of, could possibly expose the Salvatore brothers for their true nature, something none of the brothers wanted.

***

"Thank you for stopping by" Damon said, as him and Brayden led Liz towards the front door.

"Let me know what you two come up with" Liz said, as Brayden opened the door for her.

"Will do" Brayden said, shutting the door once Liz was gone.

As soon as the door shut, Stefan speeded over to his brothers and slammed both of them on the door, "What is wrong with you two? You killed somebody?".

Brayden pushed Stefan away from him, "Don't touch me".

"A, don't touch me either" Damon said, "B, if any of us had, we wouldn't have been so obvious about it, and C, there's another vampire in town".

"That's impossible" Stefan said.

"How is it impossible Stefan?" Brayden asked, "Vampires are all around the world, why are you surprised there's another vampire in this town?".

"Well, who could it be?" Stefan asked confused.

"Ah, what do we care? We're leaving anyway, right?" Damon asked, knowing all to well both his brothers won't leave this town without making sure this town was completely safe for both Caroline and Elena.

"We're not leaving until we take care of this vampire" Brayden replied, "I'm leaving Caroline to keep her safe, she isn't safe if there's another vampire in town, we need to find he or she, and kill them".

"How are we supposed to find this person?" Stefan asked.

"Let the adults handle this stuff" Damon replied, as Brayden grabbed his keys to go to the high school, he needed to check up on Caroline, he needed to know she was safe.

***

Caroline stepped out of the school, her eyes immediately landed on Elena who was talking to Stefan, internally, Caroline breathed a sigh of relief, if Stefan was still here, that meant so was Brayden.

"Caroline".

Caroline looked infront of her to see Brayden walking towards her.

"Are you here to say goodbye?" Caroline asked, getting straight to the point.

"Not yet" Brayden replied.

Caroline frowned, "So you're still leaving?".

"I have to" Brayden replied.

"You don't have to do anything Brayden, but since you've already made your mind up, there's no point in me telling you anything" Caroline said, walking away from Brayden.

"Caroline, wait" Brayden said, holding Caroline's wrist and stopping her from walking away, "Please just wait, we need to talk".

"About what?" Caroline asked, "About how you and Damon both came into my life, for the first made me feel like there was people who cared about me, and then decided to leave me?".

"There's another vampire in town" Brayden replied, "Someone who me, Damon and Stefan know nothing about?".

"What?" Caroline asked.

"Your mom came to our house informing me and Damon that she found a body, of a girl whose blood was drained, and since it wasn't me or my brothers, it means there's another vampire in town" Brayden replied.

"And you have no idea who it is?" Caroline asked.

"Nope" Brayden replied, "It's either someone really idiotic, or someone whose trying to send a message, my guess it's someone idiotic".

"What are you and Damon going to do to catch this vampire?" Caroline asked, "Can I help?".

"No" Brayden replied, "I'm telling you this because I've always been honest with you, and I needed you to know, I need you to be safe Caroline, that's all I've wanted since I met you".

"You keep me safe" Caroline said, "I've always felt safe with you Brayden".

Brayden sighed, "I'm a vampire Caroline, you're never safe with me".

"That's what you think" Caroline snapped, "But since I've met you, I've never felt more safer, you can say you're leaving this town to keep me safe, but the truth is something completely different".

"What's the truth Caroline?" Brayden asked confused.

"You're running away Brayden" Caroline replied, "You're scared".

"I'm not scared" Brayden snapped.

"Then why are you running away?" Caroline asked, "Why not stay? I'll tell you why, because you're scared of the feeling we both get when we come near each other".

"I'm in love with Kaitlynn" Brayden argued.

Caroline gave Brayden a small smile, "I know you are, but you can't deny that there is something here Brayden, something that scares you, and instead of figuring out what you feel, you're running away from it".

"I need to go help Damon" Brayden said.

"Go ahead" Caroline said, "Walk away again Brayden, that's what you're good at anyways".

Brayden watched Caroline walk away from him, and even though every cell in his body was telling him to run over to her, stop her from walking away, Brayden didn't do anything, just stood there, watching Caroline walk away from him.

***

"So, what do I do now?" Caroline asked, standing outside an abandoned warehouse.

"Just wait, I'll be there in a minute" Damon replied.

After her and Brayden's talk at the school, Damon had called Caroline, telling her that he needed her help, which is how Caroline ended up at the warehouse with the vampire compass in her hand.

"Can you hurry?" Caroline asked, "I have things to do".

"You can give me that" Damon replied, coming behind Caroline, startling her.

"You scared me" Caroline said, giving the compass back to Damon.

"Oops" Damon said, not even slightly apologetic.

"So why did you need me to do this?" Caroline asked curiously.

"Because I interfere with the signal" Damon replied.

"Does Brayden know you asked me for help?" Caroline asked.

"Nope, he would kill me if he found out I involved you" Damon replied, "His on keeping you safe duty, while I'm on finding this new vampire duty".

Caroline sighed, "I know you and Brayden want to keep me safe, but leaving me isn't going to do that".

"I didn't think Brayden will leave you" Damon admitted, "I didn't think he had it in him to leave you".

"Well, apparently he does, you both do" Caroline said, walking away.

"Give him a reason" Damon called out, stopping Caroline from walking away.

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

"Give Brayden a proper reason to stay" Damon replied.

"I've tried" Caroline defended.

"Try harder Caroline" Damon said, walking towards the warehouse door, "Maybe tell Brayden what you feel for him instead of waiting for him to admit his feelings for you".

***

It was career night in  Mystic Falls High School and Caroline was looking at different brochures for journalism, when Brayden walked over to her.

"I see it" he said.

"You see what?" Caroline asked, not looking towards Brayden.

"You as a journalist" Brayden replied, "It will suit you".

"Are you here to plan your future or do you want something?" Caroline asked.

Brayden frowned hearing Caroline's harsh tone, "You're still mad?".

"Take a guess" Caroline replied.

"We won't have a future together, you know" Brayden said, "I'm a vampire, you're a human".

Caroline scoffed, "Another excuse".

"It's not an excuse Caroline, it's a fact" Brayden snapped.

"It is an excuse Brayden, you are listing all the reasons why we won't work, but how about the reasons we will?" Caroline asked.

"Name one" Brayden challenged.

"How about the fact that being with you makes me happy" Caroline snapped, "It makes me feel safe, it makes me feel wanted, it makes me feel loved".

"Caroline--".

"No" Caroline said, "If you're here to list all the reason we aren't going to work out, then you can leave right now, cause I don't want to hear it, and you can call that my stubbornness or stupidity, I don't care".

Caroline turned to leave, but Brayden held her arm, stopping her, "I didn't come here to argue with you Caroline, I'm just trying to look out for you".

"Why?" Caroline asked, "Why are you looking out for me? You're leaving, right? After you leave, I have to look out for myself, I might as well start doing that now".

Caroline removed her hand from Brayden's grip, and walked away from him, Brayden went to follow her but Stefan blocked his way.

"What?" Brayden asked, seeing his brother's worried face.

"I know who the vampire is" Stefan replied.

"Who?" Brayden asked.

"Logan Fell" Stefan replied, shocking Brayden, "And his here right now".

***

"Stefan, what's going on?" Elena asked, waking over to Brayden and Stefan, with Jenna, just as Logan walked over to them.

"Jenna, are you dodging me?" Logan asked.

"It's a form of self-preservation" Jenna replied.

"Um, Elena, why don't you and Jenna go somewhere else" Stefan said.

Elena looked between the brothers and Logan, and seeing the way Brayden was glaring at Logan, she realised something was wrong, so she nodded, "Let's go" she told Jenna, holding her hand and dragging her away.

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked Logan.

"You know, your brother asked me the same thing" Logan replied, "In fact, why don't we just skip past all that, who turned me, stuff, and get the answer that I want, how can I turn into a day-walker?".

"Where's my brother?" Brayden asked, ignoring Logan's question.

"Bleeding out in a warehouse" Logan replied, "Now answer my question".

"Damon, Brayden and me, are the only three that I know of" Stefan replied.

"But all three of you a very cagey on the how" Logan said, "Which tells me that there is a way, you know, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm quite the celebrity in this town, it would be very, very easy for me to expose you three".

"Go ahead, tell the whole town what we are" Brayden challenged, "And then I will murder this whole town, while making you watch, and then will rip your heart out right out of your chest, we are not going to tell you how to walk in the day, do whatever you want to, because we are older and stronger then you, there's three of us and so far, one of you, I wonder who has the upper hand here?".

"Don't ever threaten me or my brothers again" Stefan said.

Both Stefan and Brayden walked away, leaving behind a furious Logan behind.

***

"Logan Fell is a vampire" Damon told Brayden, through the phone, as both Brayden and Stefan walked outside, "And when I find him again, I am gonna destroy him, limb by limb".

"What the hell happened between you two?" Brayden asked, "Please tell me you didn't let a newbie vampire take you down".

"He ambushed me Brayden, with wooden bullets" Damon snapped, "I was shot, now I'm vengeful, just gotta find him".

"No need, me and Stefan did that for you" Brayden informed, "He's currently attending career night at the school".

"You're kidding me" Damon said, in slight disbelief.

"I wish" Brayden said.

"Why the hell is he there?" Damon asked.

"Trying to get me and Stefan to spill to him how he can turn into a day walker" Brayden replied, as Elena started walking towards the brothers.

"Well, I'll be right there" Damon said, hanging up.

"So?" Elena asked the brothers, "Anything you'd like to share?".

"No" Brayden replied simply.

***

Caroline stood in the parking lot, waiting to see if Brayden will come looking for her or not, she had just had an argument with her mother regarding journalism and now all Caroline wanted to do was see Brayden, but he was no where to be found, she tried calling him but he was on another call.

"Hey, damsel in distress, need a ride?" Logan asked, pulling his car infront of Caroline.

"Oh, my god, Logan Fell, Channel 9, is that you?" Caroline teased.

"I used to babysit you, Caroline Forbes, don't mock me" Logan said.

Caroline looked around to see if Brayden was coming, but seeing no sign of him anywhere, Caroline nodded, "I was waiting for a friend but looks like his not coming".

"It's not a problem, really" Logan assured, "It's on my way".

"Okay" Caroline said, sitting in Logan's car, "You know, this is fate".

"And why is that?" Logan asked.

"Because I'm interested in broadcast journalism" Caroline replied, "So can I ask you a couple questions?".

"Anything you want, but first, buckle up" Logan said.

"Okay" Caroline said, turning around to wear her seatbelt, but before she could, Logan slammed her head on to the glass window, knocking her out.

***

Brayden was walking with Stefan and Elena, "Shit!" he yelled suddenly.

"What?" Stefan asked confused.

Brayden looked down at his necklace that had just burned him and was now glowing.

"Why is your necklace glowing?" Elena asked confused.

"It's Caroline" Brayden replied, worry rising in his heart, "She's in danger".

Without hearing anything, Brayden took off running to find Caroline, while running he bumped into Matt.

"Woah" Matt said.

"Have you seen Caroline?" Brayden asked, panicking slightly.

"Yeah" Matt replied, "Logan Fell just gave her a ride home".

"Dammit!" Brayden yelled, running out the school.

***

"Where are you?" Liz asked, answering Logan's call.

"Your daughter has expressed an interest in journalism" Logan said, avoiding Liz's question, "I think it's important to foster young minds".

"What do you want?" Liz asked, fear rising in his heart.

"The satisfaction of turning your daughter into a vampire" Logan replied, stopping his car at an intersection.

Suddenly, Brayden speeded over to him and pulled him out of the car and threw him on to the floor, and Damon came and shot multiple wooden bullets at him.

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" Damon asked, as Brayden walked over to the passenger seat and picked Caroline up, "Get her out of here".

"Kill him" Brayden ordered, speeding away with Caroline.

***

Caroline groaned and slowly opened her eyes, she realised she was in her room, she tried to sat up, but someone pushed her back down.

"You need rest, don't get up".

"Brayden?" Caroline asked confused.

"How you feeling?" Brayden asked.

"Like someone shoved my head into a glass window" Caroline replied, slowly sitting up.

"I gave you a little bit of my blood" Brayden informed, "The small headache you feel should be gone soon".

"You saved me" Caroline realised.

"After putting you in danger" Brayden argued.

"You didn't put me in danger, Logan did" Caroline argued back.

"Because I provoked him" Brayden said, "God, if I wasn't worried about you, I would have staked him myself".

"So where is Logan now?" Caroline asked.

"Damon's taking care of him" Brayden replied.

"His killing him?" Caroline asked.

"He deserves it" Brayden replied.

"Brayden--".

"Tonight you saw how dangerous it is to be with me, right?" Brayden asked, "You know I can't help but provoke people, which in turns makes them want to hurt the people I care about, which before was only Damon, who can take care of himself, but if I let myself admit that I care about you, that I want to be with you, then I will be exposing you to all those people, and you deserve better then that".

"I don't want better Brayden!" Caroline yelled, "I want you, and you want me as well, please just admit it, please just stay, you know before you, I was always second, to Elena, to Bonnie, but when you noticed me first, looked at me like it was just us two in the room, you made me feel special, and if you leave me now, if you walk away, I don't know if I can deal with that".

"You've not known me for long Caroline, you don't need me" Brayden argued.

Caroline got off her bed, and stood infront of Brayden, "Stop, just stop pushing me away from you Brayden, please, it's too painful".

"I'm doing this for you Caroline" Brayden said, frustrated that Caroline won't understand, "For the first time in centuries, I'm trying to do right by someone".

"No" Caroline snapped, "Who are you to decide what's right and what's wrong for me? If you leave this town, if you leave me, it's because you feel guilty that you're starting to feel for someone that isn't Kaitlynn".

"Don't say her name Caroline" Brayden warned, turning his back to Caroline.

Caroline sighed, "I'm sorry Brayden, but I know what I want, it's you whose confusing, you're using excuses to walk away from me, Brayden, I--", Caroline hesitated, she didn't know if it was the right time, but she knew if she wanted Brayden to stay, she needed to tell him exactly what she felt for him, "Brayden, I'm falling in love with you".

Brayden looked at Caroline with teary eyes, "Despite knowing that I waited a hundred and forty five years for a girl?".

"Specially after knowing that" Caroline replied, "Knowing that you loved someone so much that you waited a century and over for her, it makes me want to feel that kind of love, when you love someone you give it your all, something every girl wants, something I've always wanted".

For a moment, Brayden just stared at Caroline, who had tears streaming down her face, she was scared of Brayden's reaction, Brayden stepped forward, he placed his hands on either side of Caroline's face and smashed his lips on to her.

"I'm falling in love with you too" Brayden admitted, against Caroline's lips, "And the thought scares me Caroline, I don't know how to love someone that isn't Kaitlynn".

"Let me teach you" Caroline whispered, "Let me teach you how to love someone else".

Brayden stared at Caroline, he took her face and once again placed his lips on to hers, he turned them around and slowly started walked backwards, towards her bed, as Brayden's knees hit Caroline's bed, Brayden fell on the bed, with Caroline on top of him.

Both Caroline and Brayden finally broke the kiss and started laughing, Brayden pushed Caroline's hair out of her face and admired her laugh, "I like hearing your laugh" he admitted.

"I always laugh when I'm with you" Caroline said, making Brayden smile.

"And I always smile when I'm with you" Brayden admitted, changing their positions, with Caroline now on the bed and him on top of her, he started kiss down her neck towards her collarbone, when suddenly the veins under his eyes started appearing, causing him to stop and look away.

"Brayden?" Caroline said, confused.

"You're making me lose control" Brayden whispered, hiding his face from Caroline.

Caroline cupped Brayden's face and made him look at her, "Don't hide from me Brayden, I don't want parts of you, I want all of you", Caroline traced the veins under Brayden's eyes, she slowly lifted her head and slowly placed her lips on to his, they broke apart, and the veins under Brayden's eyes were gone.

Brayden sat up and took off his shirt, he pulled Caroline up and removed her shirt, and kissed down her shoulder blade, he pushed her down on to the bed and started kissing down her neck, as their fingers intertwined with each other.

***

Brayden woke up when he realised someone was calling his phone, "What?" Brayden asked, not opening his eyes to see who was calling him.

"Where are you?" Damon asked, "I've been waiting for you for hours".

Brayden finally opened his eyes and realised he was still in Caroline's room, he looked to his side to see Caroline sleeping beside him, wearing nothing but his shirt, causing a small smile to come on his face.

 "I'm at Caroline's" Brayden replied, "Did you take care of Logan?".

"Someone else took care of him" Damon replied.

"What?" Brayden asked.

"After you left with Caroline, Logan told me that we are not the only one trying to get into the tomb" Damon replied, "He told me that there's another way for us to get to Katherine and Kaitlynn".

"Excuse me?" Brayden asked, sitting up, his movement causing Caroline to wake up.

"Brayden?" Caroline said.

"Go back to sleep" Brayden told Caroline, knowing she was still tired.

"Is everything okay?" Caroline asked, looking at Brayden's worried face.

"Did you ask Logan what the other way is?" Brayden asked, ignoring Caroline's question.

"I told him to meet me at Fell's church, but the Sheriff called me, thanking me for killing Logan" Damon informed.

"Someone killed Logan?" Brayden asked, "Who?".

"I don't know" Damon replied, "Probably the person who turned him".

"So how do we find out what's the other way to get into the tomb?" Brayden asked, making Caroline look at him in slight shock.

"That's why I called you" Damon replied, "You need to go to Georgia and meet up with Bree, she can tell you another way to get into the tomb".

"And why aren't you going?" Brayden asked confused.

"I've got things to do" Damon replied, "Plus Bree likes you more then me".

Brayden sighed, "Fine, I'll leave now, I'll see you when I get back".

"See you soon" Damon said, hanging up.

"So, there's another way?" Caroline asked.

"Yeah" Brayden whispered.

"Brayden, do--".

"I have to go to Georgia" Brayden interrupted, not wanting Caroline to finish her sentence, he had a feeling what her question was, and he didn't have the answer to her question, "There's a witch there that might be able to help me figure out how to open the tomb".

"Okay" Caroline whispered.

Brayden looked towards Caroline and frowned seeing her dejected face "Come with me" he said suddenly.

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

"Come with me to Georgia" Brayden replied, "It will be just for a day, I'll bring you back safely, I promise".

"Are you sure you want me to come?" Caroline asked.

Brayden nodded, "I've never been more certain".

Caroline smiled, and gave Brayden an eager nod, "I'd love to".

"Great, get ready then, we're leaving soon" Brayden said.

Brayden didn't know why he told Caroline to come with him, he just knows that seeing Caroline upset, didn't sit well with Brayden, he didn't want her to think that Brayden was done with her after spending a night together, he needed her to know that he meant everything he said to her.

It was also true that there was guilt in Brayden's heart, but it wasn't because he slept with Caroline, it was because Kaitlynn was still suffering in the tomb, looking at Caroline, Brayden knew who he wanted to be with, but at the same time he just couldn't leave Kaitlynn in the tomb.

***

Presenting 1x10 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Caroline's anger regarding Brayden's decision to leave Mystic Fall?

Thoughts on Logan threatening the brothers?

Thoughts on Caroline and Brayden admitting to each other that they are falling in love?

Thoughts on Brayden and Caroline going on a road trip to Georgia?