It's just paranoia.

Still Gwen couldn't shake one thought. It ricocheted in her mind like a boomerang, I was the wolf's target. Walking along the sidewalk her eyes scanning around.

Gwen stops when her eyes land a familiar two story building. It's wrap around porch rails now metal instead of wood. Large windows framed by blue shutters. Matching the blue front door. Two columns support a balcony.

Gwen walks up the steps eyes coming to rest upon her art work, hand carved flowers. Gwen's mother was furious when she caught her. While Miss Norwood smiled "Why how beautiful," The next day she asked Gwen to copy it onto the next column.

Pulling out of the memories and seeing no cars. Gwen sprints to the backyard. Instead of a beautiful flower garden.

She finds trimmed grass and a stone fire pit surrounded by chairs. Force of habit Gwen reaches for her necklace. Only to remember she left it back on her dresser.

Hopefully my unwanted visitors stay away for awhile.

Softly Gwen speaks "Alexander," Nothing "You can come out its just me Gwen, Gwen Jordan."

"Gwen," She turns around at that tiny boyish voice. Alexander is still pale with dark rings under his eyes. He stares "I...I thought you were dead."

Alexander snivels "I'm sorry for not telling you," Gwen gets on her knees "Promise I'll start visiting you again," This revives a small smile "Teach you some new games."

Alexander grins and Gwen stays for a good hour. Back at the boarding house she runs upstairs. Immediately putting her necklace back on.

In the hallway voices distract Gwen from her plan of eating. She walks to Damon's open bedroom door and leans on the frame.

Damon back towards Gwen gently pulls Rose's robe away from her shoulder. Exposing the wolfs bite. A bunch of open sores and blisters. Veins and arteries in the bite looking blackened and diseased.

"I've seen worse," Damon gently covers it with her robe "Right Gwen?"

Gwen isn't surprised he address her, probably sensed me the moment
I got back "Yeah maybe drinking some blood would help speed the healing up."

"Good idea," Damon backs up "Just wait here."

Giving Rose a tiny smile she follows after Damon. Downstairs doubt flows out of her mouth "The blood won't help will it."

"Don't know not exactly a expert in this field," Damon replies as they enter the kitchen. He grabs a blood bag from the cupboard then his attention is back on Gwen "Ran into a werewolf this morning."

"What are you crazy."

"Relax no full moon which means no fur," He smirks "Anyway was at the mystic grill pretty positive she was the one who attacked last night."

"Did she admit it?"

"Nope," Before she can asks more he speaks again "Just call it a hunch," Damon comes to stand before Gwen "Hey would you be wiling to babysit for like an hour."

"I guess."

He dips his head back for a brief moment "Thank you, need some fresh air it's all gloomy as hell around here."

Patting her arm Damon heads up stairs. Within minutes Damon leaves with a chippy bye. Gwen decides to check in on Rose. A little surprised to find her in the library. Eyes wide she looks at Gwen.

"Who are you?" Confusion evident in Rose's voice.

"I'm Gwen your friend," She keeps a distance between them "let's go back to Damon's room so you can rest."

Before she can reply Elena's voice rings out, "Gwen."

Rose disappears in a flash, not good. Right as Gwen's mouth opens to shout, Elena yelps in surprise. Running upstairs she finds Rose pressing her against a wall.

"It's all your fault, Katerina," Anger clear is Rose's voice "You katerina, you did this."

Elena despite her frightened eyes keeps her voice calm "No Rose, Rose! I'm Elena!"

"You betrayed us!"

Gwen steps closer placing a hand on the arm holding Elena. Capturing Rose's attention and ready to use her power if needed.

"Stop! that isn't Katherine it's Elena," Rose stares in Gwen's eyes "Please remember."

Rose gaze sweeps back to Elena and she releases her. Gwen's hand leaves her arm.

"Oh my god Elena. I'm so sorry. I don't know what's happening to me," Rose looks at them both "I'm sorry."

Elena quickly shakes off her fear. Offering reassuring word "You're gonna be alright."

"My mind, I'm..."

Gwen cuts Rose off. Guiding her back to Damon's bed while speaking "Stay here and we will go get you more blood, it might help," Gwen tugs on Elena's sleeve. They head for the kitchen "Picked the wrong time to visit," She comments grabbing the last bag from the cupboard. Turning back to Elena Gwen lowers her voice to a whisper "Her bites getting worse."

Elena already informed by Stefan. Didn't question what bite, instead apologizing "Sorry to hear that, but I thought it was healing."

"It was at first but guess it didn't stick," Gwen doesn't mention Elena's suicide mission yesterday. Instead they head back to Damon's room, only to find it empty.

"Rose," Gwen calls out, eyes darting everywhere "Come on out remember we are friends," No reply "You take upstairs."

Elena nods and rushes up stairs. Like a chicken with Its head cut off Gwen runs around. Checking everywhere room. Until the basement is all that's left.

Where she finds Rose surrounded by empty blood bags. Fangs tearing into another one, must have been a hidden stash. Gwen gulps her nervous down, Rose's eyes snap to her.

Before she can from a plan Elena appears at Gwen's side "Did you..."

Gwen presses a finger to her lips cutting Elena off. Elena's eyes follow Gwen's right to Rose gasping.

Rose eyes bore into Elena a surge of anger emitting from them "katerina."

Yeah differently not good. Turning Gwen starts shoving Elena up the stairs "Go go."

There is no need to repeat Elena immediately races up the stairs, Gwen right behind. At the top of the stairs Gwen is flung back down by Rose. Her tender head flaring again as it smacks on the ground. Ignoring it Gwen is up and running again. Elena's terrified voice her guide.

She finds Rose in Stefan's room banging on the bathroom door "Please help me I know your not Katherine."

"Rose," Her whisper cause Rose to pause and look at Gwen.

"I'm so sorry."

Gwen steps closer "It's okay we aren't mad. Come on its best for you to wait in Damon's room."

Rose makes no protest as she leads her away. Elena cracks the bathroom door, peeking out. Gwen throws Elena a look over her shoulder. Elena nods and stays put.

After reassuring Rose that everything is going to be okay, Gwen walks out. Meeting Elena in the hallway. Kindly making a suggestion "Might be safer for you to leave."

"Are you gonna be okay by yourself?"

"Yeah besides Damon should...." Her words are cut off by Elena's tight hug "Ummm."

"Thank you," Gwen stares at Elena confused as she pulls back "For risking your life and saving Jeremy," Elena smiles "You are a good person."

Only on the outside "Not that big of a deal."

Before she can argue more, Rose rushes at them. Grabbing Elena around the throat and slamming her against the wall. Gwen slams a hand on Rose's back.

Sending her back into the bedroom with a gust of power. Unfazed and sporting full vampire face Rose stands. Ready to charge Gwen when Damon's voice breaks through.

"Rose, stop!" She rushes toward him but he grabs her and pins her on the ground "Rose, Rose! It's me, it's Damon. It's Damon"

Her vampire face disappears melting into one of anguish "Make it stop! please make it stop," Her words turn to wails.

Damon picks her up bridal style heading for his room, Gwen calls his name.

Damon turns to her " Just go. I got this"

Nodding Elena and Gwen head down stairs. Elena leaving with a shaky goodbye. While Gwen plops on the couch rubbing her forehead. Lies and guilt all pilling on her shoulders.

Elena's words echoing in her mind. Threatening to drown Gwen until she can't breathe. Out of the corner of her eye. Gwen spots Damon heading for the door. Roses body in his arms.

She springs up and follows "Hey are you okay?" Damon ignores her going outside, to his car. Placing Rose in his trunk "Damon!"

He turns to her "Not in the mood for talking, go away."

"I'm sorry about Rose."

"Just glade it's over."

Gwen cross her arms "Bull."

Damon moves a inch closer "What do you want to hear? That I cared about Rose? That I'm upset? Well I didn't and I'm not."

"You know it's okay to feel and let people see that."

"Go inside Gwen."

"No, not until you talk to me."

"Why dose it matter you didn't come back to share feelings."

Her eyes don't weaver from his "Because I'm your friend Damon and friends look out for each other."

The emotions flicker across his ice blue eyes. Too fast for Gwen to get a sense of his thoughts. A battle seems to be raging in his mind. While her own mind is fighting her heart. She wants to walk away turn her back on whatever friendship they still have. And if one was to examine that friendship.

They would find it riddled with words and actions that threaten to tear it all down. A tornado of thousands words and emotions mixed together. Until there is no telling positive from negative.

Gwen pleads, "let me be your friend again."

He closes the distance between them. Getting inches from her face "I feel okay and it sucks," he backs up "I think that's enough personal growth for one night."

Gwen stands there watching him pull out and speed off. Until she is alone in the cold night air. If he wants to run from everything why should I care?

Yet deep down she can't help but care. Gwen barley turns when her mouth and nose is covered by cloth. Strong arms hold her against their hard chest. Panic begins to cloud her mind and thoughts as the world starts to blur.

Her hands claw at any flesh she can get. No matter how much Gwen struggles. The attacker doesn't budge. You got power use it, the thought is sudden but clears her mind.

She slaps a hand onto the arm encircling her waist. Ready to use a curse when a chuckle and rough male voice stops her "Go ahead I always wondered what it looked like to watch Necromancers suffer from their own curses"

Shit he must have a protection totem. With no other option Gwen starts trashing and clawing again. Black dots creeping into her vision until all she can see is black.

************