TVD: Beyond the pale moon

"What the hell, Vicki?!" Tom shouted, glaring back at her grinning face in the rearview mirror.

Vicki crawled out from the back seat and plopped down beside him, her knees tucked up to her chest. "I did exactly what you told me to," she said, unbothered by his outburst. "I hid the books. Then I came to check if you were okay. I get that he's your brother and all, but I don't trust him."

Tom exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead as he muttered, "I told you to stay at home for a reason. I can't babysit you while I'm out here."

Vicki's grin faded, and she turned to stare out the windshield. Her voice softened. "I'm sorry, okay? It's just… not fair. I haven't…" She trailed off, then looked at him slowly. "You can drop me off if you want. I'll go back."

Tom glanced at her, his expression unreadable. He shook his head, his voice resigned. "I… Fine. You can come with me. But don't cause any trouble."

Vicki's grin returned, and she nodded, giggling softly. Tom sighed, gripping the wheel tightly. The tension in his chest didn't ease as he muttered under his breath, "Let's just hope this doesn't turn into one of those trips where someone dies."

The road stretched out before them, shrouded in early morning mist. Pale sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees lining the highway, illuminating the glistening asphalt. For a moment, the world felt calm. Quiet.

Tom glanced to his side, Vicki was asleep. He was following, Damon's car, its headlights cutting through the fading fog. Everything had been going smoothly--until it didn't.

A sudden screech of brakes shattered the stillness.

Damon's car lurched to a stop, and Tom slammed his own brakes, his heart hammering. He threw the car into park and jumped out. Vicki woke up from the commotion and looked at the scene unfolding in front of her.

Elena was already out of Damon's car, looking pale and confused. She staggered, her steps faltering. Before she could collapse, Damon caught her, steadying her against the car.

Tom jogging toward her. "How are you feeling?"

She groaned, one hand pressed to her stomach. "Fine." Her gaze drifted over Tom's shoulder, narrowing as she spotted Vicki in the car. Her eyes widened in disbelief before settling on Tom, blazing with fury. "What is she doing here?"

Damon raised an eyebrow, glancing at Vicki. "Interesting choice of travel companion," he muttered.

Tom sighed. "She snuck into my car when I was trying to help you last night."

"Why?" Elena demanded, her voice sharp.

Damon leaned casually against the car. "Thought it'd be a nice change of scenery," he said, smirking.

Elena's expression darkened. "I wrecked my car, people are going to worry about me. I can't be here," She turned her back "Tom?"

Tom rubbed the back of his neck, struggling for a response. "I know, Elena. I wish we could take you back right now, but we're already there."

"Besides," Damon interjected, his tone flippant, "I'm sure all your troubles will still be waiting for you when we get back. If you want to go back, that is."

Elena's eyes narrowed at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Damon smirked, but the tension in his posture betrayed him. "Just saying, you might find this trip enlightening."

Tom shot Damon a warning look, but said nothing. Elena turned back to him, her voice low and desperate. "This is kidnapping."

Damon laughed. "Bit melodramatic, don't you think?" He ignored the scowl from Tom.

"Look, we're here for a reason," Tom said firmly. "I know this is overwhelming, but it's important. You know it is, Elena. Otherwise, I would've sent Vicki home too."

Damon leaned in closer to Elena, his tone suddenly darker. "And just so you know, your little trinket? The one that keeps me from making you very agreeable?" He tilted his head mockingly. "It's not here. So you might want to think about that."

Elena's hand flew to her neck, her breath hitching as she realized the truth. She glared at Tom. "Aren't you going to do something about this?"

Before Tom could respond, Elena's phone buzzed in Damon's hand. He held it up, smirking.

"Give me my phone, Damon!" Elena snapped.

"Oh look, it's your boyfriend~" Damon showed it to her and tossed it to her, but when she refused to answer, he sighed dramatically and pressed the button himself. "Elena's phone~," he drawled.

"Where is she? Why do you have her phone?" Stefan's voice demanded from the other end.

Damon grinned. "Elena? She's right here…" He looked at her giving her the phone to talk but she didn't want to, "She doesn't wanna talk to you right now… any message?"

"If you touch her, Damon, I swear to God--"

"'So touch Elena?' Fantastic, I'll get right on her, I mean to her… you have a great day too, brother," Damon cut him off cheerfully before hanging up.

Tom pinched the bridge of his nose. "Was that really necessary?"

"Kinda," Damon replied, his grin unwavering.

Elena turned to Tom, her eyes pleading. "Tom, I want to go home. Please."

Tom hesitated, then stepped closer to her. "Elena, listen to me. I know this is a lot, but we need to do this. You need to trust me on this. I promise you'll be safe, and we'll leave as soon as we're done."

Elena hesitated, studying his face for any hint of a lie. Finally, she groaned. "Fine. I'll come with you."

Damon clapped his hands together. "Excellent!"

She glared at him. "I meant him, not you."

Tom shook his head as he opened the car door. "Vicki, back seat."

"What? Why?" Vicki groaned, crossing her arms.

"Because you're a stowaway, and because I said so. Now move."

Vicki huffed dramatically but climbed into the back, muttering under her breath. Elena slid into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her.

Tom exchanged a glance with Damon, who raised an eyebrow. "Make it any more obvious, Damon," Tom muttered under his breath.

Damon smirked and walked back to his car without another word.

The drive continued in tense silence. The trees began to thin as they approached a small, sleepy town. Elena finally broke the quiet, her voice subdued. "Why are we going to meet a witch?"

Tom kept his eyes on the road. "Do you want the real answer, or the one that'll keep you calm?"

"The real answer," Elena said, folding her arms.

"The witch might know how to shed some light on our vampire tomb problem," Tom said bluntly.

Elena frowned. "Why would you help Damon with that?"

Tom glanced at her, his voice dry. "You'd rather he try this on his own? With all of us completely in the dark?"

Vicki leaned forward from the backseat. "So you're going to double-cross him?"

"There's no need for that," Tom said calmly. "Once he gets Katherine out, he'll be too busy playing love-struck puppy to bother anyone else."

Elena stiffened, her voice barely above a whisper. "Katherine."

Tom sighed, gripping the wheel tighter. "For what it's worth, I really wish he'd told you about her before you two… you know."

Vicki tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What's he talking about?"

"Please, can we not talk about it?" Elena snapped, glaring out the window.

Vicki leaned back, shrugging. Tom glanced at Elena, his tone softer now. "I wanted to tell you, Elena. But how was I supposed to explain that my brother's girlfriend looks exactly like his psychopathic ex who kills people for shits and giggles?"

Elena said nothing, her jaw tightening.

Tom's voice dropped to a murmur. "And besides, I've learned my lesson. Meddling in other people's relationships is why I ended up like this in the first place."

Elena turned to look at him, studying his face as if searching for answers. Finally, she looked away, her voice quiet. "How much longer until we get to the witch?"

Tom glanced at the dashboard. "Not long now."

The faint strains of "Livin' on a Prayer" played on the radio, filling the silence. Tom let it play, but the tension in the car remained, thick and heavy.