[Please note that the only chnage I made to the events before 4x01 is that it was not Damon's blood which turned Elena. All will be revealed soon. Enjoy] - Rubaiyat

Chapter 1

My eyes flew open. Gasping for air, I came back to life.

"Elena?" A familiar voice said.

"Stefan? W-What happened? We were driving...I was coming back for you Stefan." For a moment his grim expression lightened, but a moment later it returned.

"Elena..." He couldn't seem to get the words out.

"Where am I?" I asked, not recognising my surroundings. The furnishings were plain, apart from the bed, the only furniture was an end-table with a glass of water on it. "Could you close those curtains?" My eyes felt a bit sensitive.

"You're in the hospital." He replied, before standing and drawing the curtains. "Elena, you were in an accident. Matt's truck went off Wickery Bridge."

Suddenly it all came crashing back. The sight of Rebekah in the middle of the road, the panic as we veered off the bridge and the calm serenity at the bottom of the river.

"Earlier, your injuries were worse than Dr Fell let on," Stefan continued. "She...treated you with vampire blood. When you died..."

"No, this can't be happening." I cut him off. "This was never meant to happen." Panic was rising in my gullet. Panic and fear.

"Elena...I'm so sorry." Stefan's dark eyes were clouded with tears.

"This is wrong. This can't happen. I can't be a vampire. Stefan-"

"Elena, please. We'll work it out, I promise you."

"How? How do you know that, Stefan? What can you do?" It came out with more venom than I intended. I could feel the tears flowing freely down my cheeks, and I hated myself for them.

"Elena." A sterner voice said from the doorway. Damon. His pale eyes were as piercing as ever.

"Damon, please, tell me it's not true. It's a mistake, isn't it? I can't do this. I can't-"

"Shh. You need to relax Elena." He said softly, sitting down next top me opposite Stefan.

"How can I when-"

"Just breathe, nice and deeply." He interrupted me again, laying a hand softly on my arm. I saw Stefan glance at him sharply, but he said nothing.

It was working. Slowly but surely I felt my panic and fear subside. After several moments I felt safe enough to speak without crying again.

"You aren't dead?" I asked them. "What about Klaus?"

"Dead. Alaric saw to that." Damon said. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Alaric. Oh God," I remembered that he'd been linked to me. If I'd died in the river...

"It's fine Elena." Damon assured me. "He wasn't Alaric anymore. Just psycho-vamp killer. It's for the best." He even managed one of his smirks. I felt myself smiling back despite everything.

"What about Tyler?" I asked.

"We...haven't seen him." Stefan said.

"Oh no...Caroline." I felt tears again.

"She'll be fine, Elena." Damon said. "Besides, one less hybrid isn't that big a deal."

"Damon!" Stefan hissed angrily.

"What? We have bigger problems now, Stefan. Elena has to feed."

"She has lots of time to decide what she wants to do next." Stefan hesitated.

"Decide? Are you out of your damn mind, brother? It's not a choice! I won't let her die the way you did!" Rather than get angry, Stefan just seemed to feel guiltier and guiltier.

"I...I know Damon. She asked me to save Matt first, and I did."

"And now look. Matt is alive and Elena is..." He stopped before saying it, but I knew what he was about to say. Dead. I was dead.

"Just...just go." I said. I had a headache and needed to think. "You too Stefan."

They continued to glare each other, but did as I asked and left. For a moment I sat there. The next, I was lying down crying again. Why can't I stop crying?

"This is your fault, Stefan." Damon said as they walked down the corridor. Both could hear the sound of Elena weeping from her room.

"I know, Damon. I know that! I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do now."

"Except let her feed."

"...Yes."

"Whose blood did Meredith give her, anyway?" Damon asked, and tiny glint of hope in his eyes.

"She doesn't know, it was an unmarked bottle."

"Unmarked? None of them are-"

"I know Damon. Just drop it, it doesn't matter, okay?"

"Fine, whatever you want, Stefan." He smirked his evil smirk. "You're scared it was mine, aren't you?"

"Shut up, Damon, just be quiet. Do you remember our deal?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't be an ass. Do you remember the deal we made? Before she chose me?"

"The one where whomever isn't picked leaves town?"

"Yes."

"I vaguely recall it, yes. Why do you ask, Stefan?"

"Because you need to leave, Damon."