I'll Always Choose You

A/N: just had to try this idea out.

Disclaimer: no ownership, as always.

She regained consciousness with a slight buzz in her head. She shifted her head from her seat, her eyes focusing on the things around her.

„What's going on?" she whispered, confusion visible in her voice. She glanced towards Matt, who was at the wheel.

"It's the only way I was gonna get you in this truck," Matt said pointedly, momentary fixing her a glance and then back on the road.

It hit her then. "The tea," she began. "You drugged me?" Her voice rose a bit in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Elena, but you're right, okay," Matt began defensively. "You don't have any parents to tell you what's right or wrong, you've got me and Jeremy and a bunch of vampires fighting a war you shouldn't be in the middle of."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What the hell is going on, Matt?" she demanded in a strong voice.

"I'm getting you out of town, Elena," Matt shot back, leaving bewildered Elena staring at him. "It's the only way to keep you safe."

She looked at Matt as he was having some kind of conversation with her brother. Apparently, he was in this too.

"Got it, Jer," Matt simply said and hung up.

"We have to go back," she started in a steady voice. Matt only spared her a single look and said nothing. "Listen to me, Matt," Elena began again, her voice rising with importance of her words. He couldn't possibly be thinking that she would run off to safety while everyone else were left out in the open to die.

"If Klaus is the one that turned their bloodline, then they're all gonna die!" Her voice cracking at the end. Matt simply didn't respond, keeping his face expressionless. "We have to go back, Matt!" she yelled out with determination.

"Elena," Matt began.

"What?"

He gulped once and turned sideways to look at Elena. "Damon's not with them." He looked at her meaningfully.

She looked stunned for a moment, only a small sound escaping her mouth. "What?"

"He's a hundred miles out of town. I can keep driving to him… or I can turn around and go back to Stefan." He gestured behind himself, leaving Elena speechless. "It's your choice."

You have to choose.

Her heart skipped a dreadful beat, sending a cold shiver through her spine. Matt still kept looking at her, waiting for her command to go whichever way. She knew that she had to make the decision sooner or later, but she never imagined it would be something like this.

She should go back.

To everyone. To her friends. Family. Stefan. She should come back to them all. That's what Elena who had responsibilities to her people should do. But then he would be left all alone. As always. Forgotten, lonely, non-deserving.

But he did deserve to have someone in his life.

Matt noticed her uncertainty. „Do you want me to turn around?" he asked, seeking her eyes for an answer. She kept looking at him for a while longer when she gulped, turning her head around, towards the window.

„No. I can't leave him alone," she whispered softly. Matt merely nodded to her, understanding who the he was.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she expected panic to overcome her, but it never came. Ironically, her heart was at peace. This may have been one of her worst decisions ever made but she decided to abandon brain for once and let her heart lead. Because even if she did love Stefan, she did, he came into her life when she most needed someone...she also couldn't help thinking that if Damon came into her life first, would she still had gotten together with Stefan?

If only she met him first...

She just couldn't shake him off, no matter how much she tried. And in their last moments, she knew who she wanted to see most.

A few dozens of trees passed by when Elena finally put her hand into her pocket, taking out her phone.

„Who're you calling?" Matt asked softly.

„Stefan," Elena replied blankly, keeping her eyes on the object in hand.

„What're you going to tell him?" he asked. She locked her gaze to his for a moment but then broke the contact.

„I don't know," she whispered, lifelessly.

It didn't take long for him to pick up. „Elena?" His voice came through. Just from hearing his voice, she felt pain of guilt and something else, something new to her, filling her insides.

„Matt's taking me out of town," she said instead of anything else. There was not much to say, really. Even if there was a lot. She just didn't know what.

„I heard. It's alright. You'll be safe."

„No, it's not that..I don't care about being safe, you know better than anyone that I would go back right away if it was only that..."

After a short pause, his voice made her heart skip a beat. „Damon is there. So you heard."

„I love you, Stefan...but I just..."

„But you need to see him."

„Stefan, I-„ she broke off, collecting her thoughts. „If I could-„

„You should do what your heart wants, Elena. That's all I ever wished for you."

She pressed her quivering lips together, stifling the upcoming sob from escaping her mouth. „Thank you," she whispered, closing her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek.

„I never regretted loving you, you know. You always fought for me, even after seeing the worst of me."

She grimaced, as pain soared in her chest from his words. She clutched the phone close to her ear.

„You deserve to have your final moment with who-„ he abruptly cut himself short, taking a deep breath in. Elena waited for him, letting him have his moment, until he finally spoke again.

„Live well, Elena. For all of us together." With that, he hung up.

She let her phone stay near her ear for a while longer as she got her breathing under control.

„Elena? You alright?" Matt asked, concern in his voice.

„Yeh. I'm fine." She just nodded and picked her phone in her palm to deal another number.

After a few rings, it clicked.

"Let me guess, calling to see if the Grim Reaper's paid a visit?"

Her mouth twitched but she soon composed herself. "How are you feeling? Are there any symptoms?"

"Not yet," he replied casually. "But I'm sure we'll have a laugh when we find out that Klaus is a big, fat liar."

"Yeah, I'm – I'm sure we will," she breathed.

"Hey, where are you?" he asked her softly.

"I'm heading out of town, with Matt." She glanced to his side who nodded at her.

„Oh," Damon breathed. „Where to?"

„I'm coming to you, Damon."

She heard something a kin to astonishment coming from the other end. Maybe something like „Wha-„ escaped his mouth too, but she wasn't so sure.

Silence echoed on the other end of the line before he replied. „And the others?" he whispered, his voice sounding vulnerable.

„They're together. It's gonna be fine. Klaus lied. Nobody is gonna die. I'll see them later," she said with determination, desperately trying to convince others but herself the most. `

„Then why're you coming to me, if it's all a lie?" he asked her seriously. She bit her lip, unable to answer.

„You should go back to Stefan, Elena," he said in a low voice, giving her a chance to change her mind. Reassuring her one last time that he was alright if she chosen her family first. After all, that should have happened in the first place.

She let out a frustrated sigh, closing her eyes. „I'm not backing down now, Damon. I'm coming and you're not stopping me on this. Besides..." She looked out of the window. „It's too late for that now anyway. We're already halfway there."

After a while he said. „So I get the epic goodbye," he joked. A breathless laugh escaped her lungs at his words. „You're all gonna be fine, Damon." When he didn't answer. „You hear me? You're going to live."

At those words, he felt someone's presence in the room. He turned around just to see Alaric with a not so friendly expression on his face. He gave him a small wave. „Yeh," he breathed into the phone.

„How close are you?"

„I, don't know, hold on." Elena turned sideways. „Matt? How much longer?"

„At least twenty more miles," he replied simply.

„We're close. I'm gonna see you soon."

„Real soon..." Damon trailed off, his gaze never leaving Alaric's. „I'll meet you outside, Elena." His hand left his ear as he pressed the button.

"I see you're still pissed," Damon began, taking careful steps towards him. "I take it Goldilocks gave you the slip." He popped the "p". At those words Alaric rushed over towards him and punched Damon in the face.

"You too, Care," she said into the phone and hung up. Pain showing on her features.

"What now?" Matt asked.

She felt her eyes water. "It's Tyler, he um… he's…" she couldn't say more.

"Damn it," Matt exhaled, feeling helpless and angry at the whole thing coming at them. Suddenly he started hitting his fist against the seat.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Matt, Matt!" Elena yelled over him. "No. Stop it."

He just shook his head. "This isn't how our lives were supposed to be, Elena."

Alaric was going all out on Damon. He was beaten up pretty badly. Blood was running down his face. He threw him to the ground and Damon just stayed there, too shaken to move. He groaned, rolling to the side a bit.

"You're not gonna fight back?" Alaric asked him in a calm voice, but clearly finding the situation getting on his nerves.

Damon breathed in a few times before responding. "You're kind of invincible, Ric," he let out, grimacing from pain.

"Don't call me that," Alaric said in a dangerous voice and kicked Damon in the face in anger.

"We're not friends," he said pointedly, looming above him.

"We were," Damon said.

"Well, our friendship was part of the problem. It's what kept me weak," Alaric kept going, while Damon tried to sit up. "It's also why it took so long for the real me to break through and now I'm gonna break you," he whispered, leaning in to him. Damon only spared him a glance. And then he swung again, sending Damon backwards. A groan escaped his mouth as he just laid there, his eyes faraway.

He really wanted a moment to himself. Just a moment. But then his phone started buzzing, disturbing his any thoughts. He somehow managed to reach out for his pocket and pick the damn thing up. He crocked a bloody smile as he answered.

"Already missing me, brother?" he quipped. "But sorry, can you call me later? I'm a little bit busy right now." He breathed in and out, watching Alaric's intense gaze on him.

"Damon, you need to go down the road. Now!" Stefan yelled on the phone.

Damon quickly picked on his alarmed tone. "What's going on?" Pushing himself on his elbows.

"Rebekah backed out on our deal."

"What?" Damon exclaimed, grimacing at the thought.

"She's coming after Elena, Damon," Stefan said. Damon hitched a breath from the words. "She wants Alaric dead. And the only way to do that, is for Elena…" Stefan couldn't bring himself to say the words.

"To die," Damon breathed out. "Damn it," he cursed under his breath. He groaned as pain hit him.

"Damon?"

"I've got it, Stef," Damon said through clenched teeth and picked himself up from the ground. He hung up his phone.

"Finally decided to fight back? Bit out of shape already, don't you think?" Alaric challenged him.

"Change of plans, Ric," Damon said and straightened up, wincing as he stood. "Can't play with you anymore."

"Who's playing," Alaric only said and lunged towards Damon, sending them both flying. Just this time Damon shifted positions and slammed Ric's body below his. "Buddy, I really need you to calm down for me," Damon said while holding him down. "I don't have time for you right now. We can pick this up later if you want, but right now I have to go."

"You're only leaving here died," Ric said and slammed him on the ground again. Damon groaned.

"Elena's in danger!" he gritted through his teeth. He opened his eyes to meet a hesitant Alaric. "And if she dies, so do you," he breathed out. "So let me go, Ric." He locked his eyes with him for a moment and it may have been his wistful thinking but he could have sworn he saw a flicker of recognition spark in his eyes.

"I don't care about that anymore," Alaric said coldly, jumping out from Damon. He watched as Damon stood up, picking on his heavy breathing but the moment of distraction coming from outside was enough for Damon to lung at him with a metal stick, piercing him through.

"Then stick here," Damon said to him and speeded out of the room, leaving Alaric fall to his knees.

He crashed from one corner to another as he sped his way through, his body having not enough strength. The only thing still keeping him going was the fact that Ric was still walking on two feet. It could only mean that he was not yet too late for Elena.

"I need to call Damon, tell him that we're almost there, but my phone is dying."

Matt pulled out his own phone, keeping his one hand on the wheel. "Here. Use mine." He handed over his phone with the other hand, his eyes flickering towards Elena.

"Thanks," she said and left her gaze fall on the road. She took a sharp breath in, yelling out. "Matt, look out!"

Shocked from her outburst, he quickly turned his head on the road again just to see a figure standing right ahead of them. He swerved to the side, while trying to avoid hitting the body and send the truck flying into the woods, crashing loudly into a tree.

She groaned, her head lolling to the side. Her ears were ringing. She lifted her hand towards her temple only to find it wet. Blood. She winced when her gesture caused her body to move. It seemed she had more than a gash in her head.

She took several breaths, trying to open her eyes. „Matt..?" she called out.

No answer.

„Matt? Are you alright?" she tried again but still got no answer. She grimaced as she shifted her body sideways to look at the driver's seat.

„My god, Matt," she choked on her words when she saw Matt's bloody head resting on the wheel. She extended her hand towards his pulse point and couldn't find one.

„No no no no. Matt! Get up! Matt!" she yelled in frustration, forgetting about the pain of her body. She tried scooting over to him but then she felt a shift in the air and a ripping sound of her doors being separated from the vehicle. That could only mean that a vampire was behind her. She almost breathed out in relief. It must have been Damon. But the next words, froze her to place.

„I'm sorry, Elena. But they really gave me no choice." Elena turned around to see a blonde haired vampire looking at her in uninterested expression.

„Rebekah," she choked out. „You've got to help, Matt!" Elena raised her voice, gulping air as she spoke.

„Why?" Rebekah asked. „I'm the one who got you like this."

Elena couldn't believe her ears. „That was you?" she asked incredulously.

„My brother told me to run and I'm tired of running. But I can guarantee my safety if one person dies." She paused a bit to watch Elena's eyes widen.

„Alaric," she breathed out.

„Yeh," Rebekah agreed. „And that also means you," she said and before Elena could form a thought she felt something pierce her middle body with a heavy force. She gasped. Her hands came to rest around the object poking out of her body. She barely recognised it as a tree branch when she coughed up blood, making her lose air. Her eyes watered as she looked around into the cold night's air. Nobody was present. She glanced sideways. Matt's head was still resting on the wheel with no indication of recovery.

She reached out for him. „Matt, come.. on!" She nudged him on the shoulder. „Breathe!" she choked out with her last bits of strength. Her hand fell limp to her side as she took a shuddering breath in.

A sudden slam on the roof of the truck, made her heart jump out of her skin. With great difficulty she turned her head to the side but calmed down in relief when she saw Damon. He was looking at her with a funny expression on his face, leaning in towards her with his one hand on the top of the vehicle. She saw his mouth moving but she couldn't really understand what was he saying. She soon felt a strange feeling of lightness. It took her a moment to understand that she was being lifted up. The branch must have moved from the change in body position, because she hissed in pain.

„Damon," she exhaled, barely noticing that her head rested on his chest.

„I've got you," a soothing voice reached her ears.

„Matt...first," she breathed out. „He's n..ot..breathing..." Her eyelids starting to shutting down.

„Elena? Keep your eyes open," Damon commanded in a stronger voice. She only let out a breath of air from her mouth.

„Damn it," he cursed under his breath and took her out of the wooded area, out in the open, to lay her on the ground. Elena barely responded when he pulled the branch out of her body, only a small whimper escaping her lips.

He looked her over, his eyes trailing through her body to check for the total damage. He pulled his wrist to his mouth and ripped the flesh with his fangs, leaving a trail of blood rushing down.

„Elena? Can you hear me?" he asked her gently but with determination. One hand cupping her head another bringing his bleeding wrist to her. „I need you to drink this. Come on."

Her eyes were closed as a small sound escaped her mouth. „No," she protested weakly. „Matt. We need to save him. Matt."

Damon clenched his teeth, not letting her go. He brushed some hair from the side of her face. „Elena, focus on me. Look me in the eyes." He picked gently on her eyelids, urging them to flutter. It was hard keeping her eyes open but she forced herself to.

„You have your lung punctured, you need to drink some of my blood." He pressed his now, ripped-open-for-the-second-time, wrist to her mouth. She met his gaze, locking them in place until her lips closed over his wound, sucking on the liquid. With a bit of strength regained, she held his wrist in place with her own hand, feeling a rush of energy fill her insides with each gulp. Damon grimaced a bit. It wasn't doing him much good to lose so much blood now, especially with him so out of shape himself. He had to free his wrist himself, when he was sure she'll be alright. She pressed her lips together, then opening them again, breathing heavily as he laid her head down on the cement again.

„Okay. You're fine now." He stood up and sped over to the crash site again. Elena rolled on her side, trying to stand up. „My God, Matt!"

When she felt herself regain enough strength to stand up, she slumped next to Damon and Matt's laying still body.

Damon ripped his wrist for the third time that evening and put it against Matt's mouth. Only nobody was drinking anything.

„What's going on?" Elena asked, panic getting to her.

„He lost consciousness, he can't drink. Damn it." Damon grimaced at the laying body.

„We need to help him, Damon!" Elena half-shouted to him.

He didn't say anything, his eyes wandering over the body. Then he briskly picked Matt's head in his one hand and turned to Elena.

„Hold him up," he instructed her as she looked at him with mixed emotions, but complied. She held her friend's head in her hands while Damon put his two fingers of his other hand on Matt's throat, forcefully brining the liquid down his system.

She wanted to yell at him. To scream into his face for making such decisions for her. Matt could have died. He still can die right now! She felt her pulse quickening, blood rushing through her veins. She forced herself to steady her breathing to calm down as she watched Damon still working on brining her friend back to life.

„I warned you." His voice shook her from her thoughts. She trailed her gaze on his face just to come across his eyes full of intensity, staring right to her very soul.

„I'll always choose you. Before anything," or anyone, the unsaid word echoed inside the dark night. „Else," he ended, boring his eyes into her.

She felt her heart tighten, shortening the air capacity in her lungs. His gaze kept her trapped, unmoving, when a loud gasp of air escaped from the body laying right beside Damon. Matt blinked a few times, feeling lost and still gulping huge breaths of air to his lungs. Damon checked him out with concentrated expression.

„Matt!" Elena squealed, putting his head down on the ground. Damon retreated his wrist to take a better look at him.

„Elena?" Matt parted his lips, with his eyes half-closed. Elena took his hand into her both, a relief filled smile gradually appearing on her face.

„You're going to be fine, Matt."

to be continued...[depends on your response]

A/N: tell me if you want me to go further with this.