Disclaimer: Don't profit or own; please don't sue.
Summary: After the sacrifice Damon up and leaves without a word to anyone. Elena ends up having a relationship with his voice-mail since he never picks up... but is he listening?
AN: This is a bit of an experiment for me. At first I thought this would be a three part ficlet, but it turns out there are only two. I hope you enjoy... at least I had fun writing it.
oOo
Unanswered
oOo
Evading Elena
oOo
It all started innocently enough a week after everything, she still hadn't caught a single glimpse of him. As her mind started a journey it couldn't stop causing worries to bubble inside her and multiply she did what she'd always done when that feeling struck her; she called him. With each unanswered ring the worry rose and bubbled threatening to choke her from the inside.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. State your business."
*BEEP*
Elena let out an annoyed guttural noise not far from a grunt or whine, but not quite either. "Where are you Damon?" She sighed defeatedly and hung her head "Please just let me know that you're OK; that you aren't dead in a ditch somewhere. I..." She rubbed her eyes tiredly wishing he would have picked up so she could yell at him properly for disappearing without a trace. "Call me. Call someone Damon... anyone. Just let me know that you're alive and well."
She dejectedly hung up hoping that her phone would ring any second; his name flashing on her phone. It didn't. Like most nights after that fateful night she slept fitfully as her nightmares plagued her.
The unrestricted fear running rampant through her caused her to tremble and her jaw to tighten and clench. Her skin felt slick from her own blood that currently seeped relentlessly from the deep painful gashes that only recently covered her naked body. It was leaving her to quickly and she swayed where she stood. Where she stood; frankly she didn't know. It was dark, the moon was full and had an odd blue tint to it.
"Damon." She whispered with a ghost of a smile on her lips that only the comfort of his name could bring. The moon was the same shade as his crystalline eyes and was rimmed with as much darkness as his thick long lashes held. Her trembling slowly subsided as she focused on the memory of the man that always saved her, even when she didn't want him to.
She swayed again as her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. Curiously she peered down as the coppery smell of her own blood overwhelmed her. The crimson liquid had begun to pool around her bare feet and slowly make its way through the intricate pattern carved into the cold rock she stood on. Had she not been so terrified and faint she might have found it beautiful.
"It will all be over soon my dear." His voice was deceptively sweet and held a hint of pity that she knew he didn't feel. His large blue eyes that held a well practised warmth as did his dimpled smile made her skin crawl and caused her trembling to return.
Elena suppressed a shudder and tried to quell the waves of nausea that slowly washed over her. She tilted her head up to once again gaze at the moon and ignore the tall blond vampire that had caused all this. "Damon." She mumbled faintly as her eyesight and mind started to blur the images of the moon and his eyes into one and the same.
She heard him chuckle lightly and she wanted to run away and not stop until her lungs burned and her heart threatened to give out. "As you wish Elena." He said and she heard him snap his fingers.
There was the sound of heavy boots on gravel and something; someone being dragged. Once she heard the pain filled groan she unfortunately was all to familiar with, she instinctively lowered her gaze. "Damon." She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips at the sight of his marred body. He was covered in as much blood and gashes as she was and one of his arms seemed to have been pulled out of its socket and lay limply at his side.
He blinked sluggishly in her direction seemingly unable to focus his eyes. "Elena?" His voice was impossibly hoarse and held a note of confusion. The man that had been dragging him tossed Damon easily at her feet.
Her knees buckled at the impact of his body and she crumpled in a heap on top of him. "Hey." She mumbled into his chest.
"Hey." He whispered tiredly out of bruised lips into her hair.
She struggled to raise her head so she could look at him. "We're dying." She smiled a watery smile at him.
He closed his eyes briefly taking a deep unneeded breath. "I know."
Elena slowly made her way further up his body to lay her head on his shoulder. "You need to heal." She whispered in his ear as she brought her wrist to his lips. His fangs extended and pierced her tender skin and the world quickly faded with the pull of his lips.
Elena woke up with a start. It had all come far too close to... she couldn't think it. She quickly wiped away the tears staining her cheeks. She shakily grabbed her phone from her bedside hoping in vain that he would answer her desperate call this time.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. State your business."
*BEEP*
"I just need to know that you're still alive." She choked out into the receiver her voice cracked and faltered as the sentence came to a close and her mind wandered back to her dreams. "I... I can't live not knowing if you are." A muffled sob escaped her before she had time to hang up.
Like all other mornings since that night she started it by crying until she didn't have time for more tears. She shuffled into the bathroom that connected her and Jeremy's rooms. She showered and did everything else she needed to before she once again headed off to another day of mind-numbing lessons that were little to no help in the life she'd lived up until now. She continually checked her phone for missed messages or calls, but there were none. By the end of the day she was a mess of nerves and resurfacing fears.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me."
*BEEP*
Elena let out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Oh. Thank God you're alive." A laughter of relief bubbled out of her as tears began to stream down her cheeks staining them with mascara. "I was so worried. I was so afraid. I didn't know how much I'd miss your sarcastic ass." She wiped her tears and cleared her throat. "We miss you. I miss you Damon. Where are you?" She hung up and for the first time in days she slept soundly.
She continued her daily calls, each getting longer then the next. Although she always asked where he was she began to tell him about the things he was missing. She told him about movie night, school and dancing 'till dawn. She told him about Alaric moving in since Katherine was still stuck in his apartment, about Jeremy and Bonnie going out and about them breaking up. She slowly stopped writing in her diary as she told him more details of her days, thoughts and secrets.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me."
*BEEP*
Elena paced the length of her room back and forth agitatedly. "Gha! Why didn't you ever say anything?" She hissed heatedly raking a hand through her long dark hair. "I shouldn't have had to figure it out all by myself. You should have told me. Damn it Damon! Did you want me to hate you?" She stopped pacing and forced herself to take several deep calming breaths instead of throwing her phone across the room as she wanted to. "Why didn't you just say that you never intended to kill Jeremy? That you intended to turn him?" She sank onto the floor silently laying down on her back and staring at the ceiling. "He told me what you'd said right before..." She sighed heavily wondering what he might answer if he would ever choose to. "Do you realize that I forgave you before he told me? I think I might be a worse sister then you were a brother AND you promised Stefan an eternity of misery." She chuckled bitterly and closed her eyes willing the bitter feelings to subside. "Actually you turned out to be a pretty awesome brother. He was better because of you; because you pushed him... and saved him so many times."
Jeremy poked his head into her room from the adjoining bathroom. "Who are you talking to? Are you OK sis?"
She chuckled before speaking. "I'm fine Jer. Just having a talk with Damon's voice-mail."
Jeremy grinned and sauntered into the room snatching her phone from her. "Hey dickwad. You really should have told her. You know you should have... " Clearly he had been eavesdropping on her very private conversation... monologue. "Are you ever coming back? If not then I'm calling dibs on your Ipod and I cleaned out your closet. You had some nice shit and Stefan told me to help myself." He grinned wickedly before handing the phone back to Elena.
"It's true you know. He's wearing that black and grey striped shirt with the white collar and cuffs right now. He's gotten really tall." She sighed happily as she watched her baby brother make his way out of her room and down the stairs. "He misses you. We all do."
She giggled giddily. "So I have a confession. I might have stolen some of your things as well." She paused wondering if she should actually tell him what she'd taken. Perhaps if he got angry enough at them he'd come back. "Eh. I may have taken three button-downs, five or six t-shirts, a grey fedora which I constantly get compliments on, that dark blue cardigan I tried to steal that other time, your copy of Gone With The Wind, a fancy pen with your name on it... um, what else?" She tapped her chin lightly while she thought. "I may or may not have raided your photo-albums." She paused as her gaze lingered on three large photo-albums laying on her dresser. "I promise to just get copies and then put them back. Oh, I almost forgot I also took that stuffed crow and named him... no wait it's a raven. Anyway I named him Damon after you." She chuckled softly remembering the night she had finished most of his bourbon while jumping on his bed with raven Damon under her arm. She'd snuck into the house on a night she knew Stefan wouldn't be home. She'd made herself at home in Damon's room and slipped out with bird Damon right before dawn. She'd talked to his voice-mail while she stumbled home reminiscing over their road trip to Georgia.
Her gaze shifted to the crisp luxurious sheets currently covering her bed. "Err. This is a bit awkward. I kind of took all your bed linens." She blushed furiously not quite sure if she should have confessed that. "They were just sooo soft and I might also have taken a pillow... or two." She cleared her throat and coughed."OK last thing; I took your monogrammed silk robe and matching sippers. That's it. I swear I'll put everything back when you come back." She stated hurriedly as if he would suddenly start scolding her.
She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers and sighed softly. "I applied to Duke. I'm not sure I'll get in even if my bio mom was an alumni. My grades aren't really all that appealing. You know with all the running around and almost getting killed studying sort of took a backseat." She chuckled and rolled over onto her stomach. "I've gotta go. I miss you." She smacked her lips loudly in an air kiss. "Call me." She hung up feeling a bit better. At least she'd told him she forgave him even if it might not matter to him; even if he'd never hear it.
She kept calling and leaving messages for him never knowing if he listened to a single word. She hoped he did. Jeremy started snatching her phone more frequently mid conversation after that. Soon both Caroline and Alaric did as well; chiming in whenever they knew Elena was speaking to Damon. When she got accepted to Duke he was the first person she called. She cheered and squealed into the phone. The call ended with her giggling hysterically after lewdly suggesting he come visit her now that she'd know plenty of sorority girls he could snack on.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me."
*BEEP*
"Guess what? I just finished unpacking the last box of my stuff. I managed to get a small apartment off campus. You should see it. I wish you would." She sighed tiredly and ran a hand through her freshly cut hair. A whole year had passed and still no one had heard a word from him. "I cut most of my hair off today. I haven't decided if I like it just yet." She laid down on her new bed and snuggled into Damon's sheets which she refused to give back even after Stefan had realized she'd been the culprit. "If you want your stuff back you'll have to come here and get it." She sighed contentedly as her eyes stared to drift shut. "G'nite Damon." She air kissed into the phone. "I miss you." Her finger hovered over the end call button. "You're always welcome to come inside where ever I am... it's an open unending invite Damon; don't let it go to waste." She ended the call and drifted off into a calm dreamless sleep.
Duke turned out to be both worse and better then she'd thought. Her classes were impossibly hard, but she was surrounded by new and interesting people. She still called him every day to update him on her progress or failures and her new friends and enemies.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me."
*BEEP*
"I think I had one too many." She slurred into the phone while making her way out of a frat party. "I only had like three beers, but I feel dizzy." She stumbled out into the street. "You know I'm no lightweight. I feel kinda sick." She swallowed thickly. "Somethings wrong." Her voice cracked and she swayed and stumbled. "Damon. Something's really wrong." She said in a panicked voice.
"Hey you alright doll?" She heard someone say behind her.
"No. Can you go find my friend... Lilly." She turned to look at the stranger. He was standing far to close. "Red head in a green dress." Elena swayed again and fell into the guy. "Sorry." She mumbled.
"I'll get ya home hun'." He said gripping her arm uncomfortably tightly.
"No. Go get my friend please." She tried to pull out of his grip but couldn't. "Damon, you still there?" She said into the phone getting really freaked out. "Are you on your way yet to come get me? I wanna go home." Thankfully the guy let go of her arm then and she straightened up. "I'll wait for you. This guy is gonna go find Lilly." She stated and waved the guy to go inside and find her friend. "I'm gonna talk to you until she comes out so hurry up and get here." She slurred loudly as she watched the guy disappear into the party. "I think I'm gonna pass out Damon and she isn't here. I think someone put something in my drink." She shook her head to try and rid it of the haze that was slowly settling in.
"Lenny." Elena turned to see Lilly race towards her with worry etched on her face.
"I lo... " Elena started but never finished since she crumpled in an unconscious heap on the pavement.
She woke up in the hospital with a concussion and ten stitches on her knee and hairline. The first thing she did was ask if Damon had come when she was told that no one but Lilly was settled in the waiting room she didn't cry. She reached for her phone once more and only left a single sentence for a message.
"Why didn't you come?"
He of course didn't answer. Some weeks later Elena contemplated why Lilly seemed to remember next to nothing about that night except that she'd gotten Elena to the hospital, yet she didn't know how. She hoped he had come for her; saved her like he always had, but it could just as well be chock that had created Lilly's memory-loss.
Her nightmares returned after that night. They changed in character and became worse. When they woke her up she called simply to listen to his soothing voice, never leaving a message. She dialed and redialed until she fell asleep and his voice-mail recorded her fitful sleep.
Sharp pebbles were cutting through the marred skin of her palms and knees. She inched forward leaving a trail of crimson pebbles in her wake. She did so despite knowing he was enjoying her ill attempt at escape. His shadow loomed ominously over her trembling body. He was right behind her, she could feel the malice roll off him in bloodcurdling waves.
"Elena." He singsonged far too cheerily in his deceptively soft silky voice.
She whimpered pitifully as her deepest fears resurfaced and threatened to become reality. "Please." She knew her plea was falling on def ears and would never be taken under consideration. Crawling forward on shaky limbs she finally reached her destination. Feeling desperately for a pulse she wasn't sure she was conscious enough to find she slid her fingers clumsily over the the flawless ivory flesh. "Jenna." She whispered brokenly as tears stung behind her lids.
His footsteps were soundless despite the gravel as he moved to stand directly behind her. "It's a shame that she WAS such a novice. She could have become a great asset." The regret shadowing his words could have fooled most, but not her. She knew they were merely meant to mock her.
A single sob escaped her at the realization of the meaning behind his words. She swallowed around the ever increasing lump in her throat just as he delivered a sharp kick to her rear. Tumbling on top of her aunts cooling corps she lost her breath and consciousness.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me."
*BEEP*
She sighed exasperatedly and rubbed at her eyes to rid them of the sleep that still lingered there. "I can't sleep anymore. I guess you've noticed... or not." She chuckled bitterly and slumped back down on her bed. " Did you come for me? Was it you that got me to the hospital? I... " She trailed off, she needed answers he just wasn't giving. "I need you to let me know if you did or not. I don't want to be so afraid. I don't want to feel so alone." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I feel so horribly alone Damon. I miss you so very much." She kissed into the phone. "Call me." She pleaded weakly knowing there was little to no chance that he ever would.
She pleaded that way for a week before she received any sign.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore as in saviour. Leave a message."
*BEEP*
"Does that mean what I think it does?" She curled back under the covers that she'd just pulled back after waking. "I'm so glad to know that you're listening even if you don't want to talk to me. I wish you would though. It's been years Damon. What did I do? Why don't you want to talk to me?" She wanted to talk to him so badly. "Why did you just disappear after... you know?"
She swallowed thickly and decided on a topic change. "Alaric says that he's been trying to get a hold of you to invite you to his and Tara's wedding. Don't you wanna come? I'd like you to be my date so let me know. OK?" She absentmindedly combed through her tangled tresses with her fingers as she spoke. "It could be really fun you know. Go back and see how everyone is. Make an awkward speech to embarrass him. You know you want to." She chuckled at the mere thought of just how awkward Damon could make it. He was sort of the king of making others uncomfortable. She glanced at the time. "I better get up and get ready for class. Thank you for saving me. Again." She kissed into the phone and hung up.
Her nightmares became more infrequent after that morning. She still however dialed and redialed to listen to his voice until she fell into slumber and her soft rhythmic breathing was recorded after each time.
Once the Saltzman wedding rolled around Elena was a mess of nerves. The whole time she glanced anxiously around trying to find a head full of silky raven hair or a pair of piercing blue eyes. She didn't. She'd called him several times during the course of the wedding, holding out the phone so he could hear the vows being exchanged and during Jeremy's best-man speech that reminded her very much of Damon's dry wit and dripping sarcasm. She returned dejected to Duke for her last semester after her foster-fathers midsummer wedding.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore as in saviour. Leave a message."
*BEEP*
Elena slowly walked through her now empty apartment. "The last box is in the truck now. I'm leaving Duke. You never came." She sighed and settled onto the window seat in the living-room. "It's been nearly five years now and I think it's time for me to face facts. It's time for me to let go." The tears welled up and instantly spilled down her face. "I wont tell you where I'm going and I'll remove my sim-card as soon as I end this call. I wont call again." She swallowed trying to rid herself of the lump that had formed in her throat.
"There hasn't been a day since you left that I haven't missed you, but I suppose you know that already. What with my incessant calling." She chuckled bitterly. "This is it Damon. I lo... no I can't." She sucked in a breath and held it for a moment to calm herself. "I can't. If I say it then I'll break because you never came; you'll never come for me. It'll be too painful to say now that it's far too late." She sniffled. "I should have said it when I realized it, but I couldn't. You... no, I don't know if it would have mattered. Probably not."
She steeled herself for what was to come. She'd decided and she couldn't keep torturing herself anymore. "This is goodbye Damon. I hope your happy somewhere living a wonderful life. I'll move on now and stop waiting for you to come back to me. I hope you're with someone who loves you the way you should be loved and who you love in return. You mean the world to me, you know?" She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. She kissed into the phone one last time. "I miss you. Be safe." She hung up and removed her sim-card which she broke in half and reluctantly threw in the trash on her way out.
After that there was no way for him to reach her. Her friends and family had vowed to not tell him anything should he ever ask. She highly doubted that he would. She was wrong.
oOo
AN: Let me know what you think of my little experiment... please.