AN: Here is chapter two! I hope everyone likes it! I don't currenly have any reviews on this story but I would really like to know what all you readers think so far... I don't really want to reveal where I'm going with this yet and I am curious to see what you think is going to happen. Also there are some easter eggs in this chapter where I refer to other things that I have read and or watched in the past and I will give recognition in my next author's note if you guess where any of them are from! Enough of my rambling, enjoy chapter two!
Chapter 2 The Airport
Damon through the duffel in the backseat of his Camaro and made sure Elena was comfortably seated on the passenger's side with his cell phone in hand before blurring to the driver's seat and flooring the car. Elena was unfazed by Damon's reckless driving and was calmly telling Alaric that she and Damon were going on a bit of a vacation. She couldn't tell him all the details or even if he was going to hear from her again in the immediate future but he seemed to pick up by her stressed undertone that it had something to do with Klaus and he didn't ask any questions, only telling her to take care of herself.
Meanwhile Damon made it to the boarding house in record time and was just about to open his door and blur into the house when Elena touched his arm.
"Why are we here? I thought we were headed straight for the airport to make our great escape?" Elena looked really puzzled and her face was just too cute so he laughed.
"Unless you want Klaus to find us by my credit card trail because I had nothing but a black button down and jeans to wear, I thought it would be best to make a detour for a few moments to get some other clothes. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go frantically pack enough clothes to last me until that hybrid jerk is finally dead." And with that he blurred up to his room leaving Elena in the running car.
Damon was back in the circle drive with a bag slung over his shoulder in less than five minutes.
"Could you make sure that I stuck your passport in your purse? I don't have time to get you a fake one right now and not having one would be an incredible inconvenience," he smirked and tore out of the driveway toward the highway. Elena dug through her shoulder bag and retrieved the passport and marveled at Damon's ability to not only think ahead but to do it without her knowledge.
"So where are we going to be incognito? Please don't say the Amazon rainforest." Elena made her dislike of the wet and wild jungle quiet clear with the frown on her face. Damon laughed.
"Do you really think that the Damon Salvatore would be caught dead in the middle of a disease filled forest? No internet, hunting and foraging for food, your lack of knowledge of my preferred lifestyle is almost offensive." His eyes glinted with mischief.
"Are you just going to keep up the banter or are you going to put me out of my misery and tell me where exactly you plan on hiding me away?" Elena glared at his impish expression and proceeded to cross her arms and wait for his response.
"Now where would be the fun in that?" Elena slapped his arm, "Ow! I'm trying to drive here! That was uncalled for!"
"No it was, you were being your smart ass self again." and with that Elena turned away and stared out at the passing landscape. Her mind began to run through all the possible places that Damon could be taking her, but none of them seem quite right for the predicament they were in. All she knew was that it was warm and isolated. She was fighting an internal battle about leaving her childhood town behind. Her rational side told her that it was for the greater good and in her own best interests, but she couldn't help but be saddened by all the people she loved that she was leaving behind without a proper fair well. On the other end of the spectrum she was somewhat excited for the new adventures that were just around the corner. She had never left the country before and had always wanted to travel, but she never thought it would be under these circumstances. She let out a sigh and decided that she wasn't going to let Damon see that this was more difficult for her than she let on earlier in her bedroom. It was one less worry for him to not have to talk her out of a funk.
Damon let her sort out her emotions in her head and continued to focus on the road for the next several hours. He knew that when she was angry it was best to let her cool off a little before trying to make amends. He also knew that Elena might be lashing out at him because she was under stress from Klaus yet again and needed to let it out. He was not only a big boy but a vampire so he could pretty much handle anything that she threw his way. He looked for the nearest exit sign and saw that they were almost to the North Caroline boarder. He wanted to take the first flight out of Raleigh-Durham International. He didn't want to go to an airport in Virginia because it was too easy for Klaus to call a hybrid and dispatch them to every major airport in the state. He saw the sign for Dansville and decided to tell Elena that they had about an hour and a half before they had to ditch the car and get plane tickets to his yet to be determined exotic location. He let Elena believe that he had a spot picked out because he didn't want her to worry more than she already was. His plan was to look at the outgoing flights board and then compel someone at the ticket counter to get him on the first flight that was leaving within the next forty five minutes. Security wouldn't be an issue either for the obvious reasons and they wouldn't be checking any of their luggage. As soon as the plane hatch closed and they started to taxi for take off Damon would be able to breath again. There was nothing else going on in his head at the moment besides getting Elena and himself on the next flight out of the country as smoothly as possible.
"I know you still might be fuming over there at my snide comment, but we are about an hour and a half away from the airport and I need you to be ready to make a run for it as soon as I park the car. We need to get to the ticket counter and out of here ASAP because I don't know if Klaus knows you are gone yet," Elena looked at him and immediately saw in his eyes that he was sorry and was just trying to lighten the mood a little with his snarky remark.
"Okay," she smiled a little at his caring expression, "You are forgiven by the way. I'm sorry, I over reacted a little. I trust you and I was just trying to have a little bit of control but I realize that you are just trying to keep as much stress off me as possible and I appreciate it." Damon was amazed at how good she had gotten at seeing through his comments and remarks. She saw right through the sarcasm and straight to his true intentions.
"You know that I always will put the stress on myself before I even consider burdening you with any of it," He smiled one of his very rare but breath taking true smiles and turned back to the road.
They continued to make small talk as they approached the exit for the airport. Elena was a little more relaxed and was beginning to get used to the idea of hiding away for a while. I mean what girl wouldn't want the super sexy Damon Salvatore willing to do anything and everything to keep you safe and happy? Elena smiled to herself as Damon asked if she was hungry or needed anything before they got on the plane for the third time in the past hour.
"Are you sure you don't need me to get you a bottle of water or a granola bar? Maybe you want some coffee or an ice cream?" Elena cut him off.
"Damon look at me," She waited for him to make eye contact before continuing. "I am fine. You don't need to worry about me so much. I really do love that you care this much but I feel like you are stifling me with your concern. You will be the first person to know if I need food or anything else. Don't stress yourself out anymore than you already are worrying about little things."
Damon let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "You're right Elena, I'm sorry. I know that this is hard on you and I just want to make this as painless as possible. I really do care, like a lot." A small smile was playing at the corners of his mouth as he pulled into a parking spot in the crowed airport parking structure. "Alright lets get this crazy show on the road!"
Elena smiled and opened her door to go get her bag out of the trunk, but Damon was already there and effortlessly hoisted both heavy looking bags over his shoulders and started to walk toward the elevator at a quick pace. Elena dashed to catch up and made sure that she had her passport, and all electronics within easy reach for security check in. Damon pushed the button and with a ding the elevator doors opened and he ushered her inside with his hand casually resting on the small of her back.
As the doors were closing he tensed. "Whats wrong?" Elena asked as her mind began to run through possible scenarios that could be happening.
"Before the doors closed I heard a conversation from what sounded like two of Klaus' sired beasties. From the snippit I heard they are here to be on the lookout for you, but I don't think they know you're here already and I want it to stay that way." He began digging in her bag and pulled out a hoodie. "Put this on and the sunglasses in your purse and take my hand. We are going to make it look like you had a rough night and have a massive hangover."
"Damon! Really is that the best you can come up with? If that's the road you want to go why don't I just barf on your shoes to make it look realistic? Sometimes I wonder what your mother would think of you..." But despite her grumbling Elena did as he said.
"Sorry princess but that's all I can come up within the minute and a half until we are thrust back into the mass chaos of a busy international airport! Do you really want to know the other option that I thought of in that time frame? 'Cause let me tell you being a hungover party girl is definitely the better of the two." And with that Elena thrust her arms through the sleeves and put on the hood as well as the dark sunglasses without another word just as the door slid open. Damon took her hand and started to guide her through the sea of people that all seemed to be in a hurry.
They made it to to ticket counter without an issue but Damon was still as tense as ever as he tried to be patient with the stupid tourists that asked all the same questions. Using his exceptional hearing he was also scanning the crowded room for any sign of the hybrids. Elena was standing slightly in front of him, so that he shielded her from view, and was trying not draw attention to herself or have a panic attack.
It was finally their turn at the counter and the woman with a forced smile and too much make up asked Damon what his flight number was or how else she could help him today. She seemed to pick up on the fact that Damon was the leader of the two and didn't even acknowledge Elena. Or it just could be the fact that Damon was the most attractive man that she had helped in a very long time and she couldn't help but swoon a little.
"Yes," Damon said staring into her eyes and putting her under his spell...literally. "What is the next flight out of here that goes anywhere in the South Pacific besides Australia?" She hesitated a moment and then told him that she would check the computer.
"There is a flight leaving for New Zealand in an hour. That is the only one for the next three hours sir."
"Perfect," Damon smiled at her with false sweetness. "Book me two tickets on the flight in business class under the names Luke Brandon and Amanda Valentino and two tickets on your next flight to Brazil under the names Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert. Use this card for the first two to New Zealand and this one for the Brazil flight."
"Will that be all toady sir?" the woman asked.
"No, I need you to forget this conversation and us and if anyone asks you why you bumped two people off the New Zealand flight you tell them that you have no idea."
"Okay sir. Here are you tickets for Oceanic Flight 143 to New Zealand. I hope you have safe travels and enjoy your vacation!"
"Thank you so do I. Come on Amanda lets get you some soda for that upset stomach of yours." And with that Damon and Elena made their way toward security.
Damon compelled them past the check point without so much as a scan or pat down. "I don't think that they would let me keep the nine bags of human blood that are currently residing in this duffel."
They made their way toward the international departures gates at the far end of the airport, Damon holding Elena's hand and walking slightly in front of her while Elena just tried to look slightly nauseous and like she was fighting a pounding head ache. "Luke," "Amanda" said, with slight strain Damon turned toward her. "Look over toward the coffee kiosk. I think we might know him," she hissed through clenched teeth. Damon turned ever so slightly and then picked up his pace.
"Don't look at him and keep up the "partied to hard" act just like before. We are almost at the gate, when we get there we are sitting as close to the tunnel entrance as possible and I will compel the people there to let us board first," He looked at her for a moment. "We will get there unharmed but if an "incident" were to occur before that happens then I need you to run and get back to the car any way you can while I distract. I slipped my keys in your purse when we were in the elevator. And whatever you do... don't you dare look back. Got it?" Elena knew that he was dead serious and this was one of a handful of times that she had ever seen him so set on her doing what he said so she nodded. Then over the PA system it said that the boarding time for flight 143 was moved up due to a cancellation of another flight out of the same gate and first class passengers were to begin boarding. "Finally something good happened to us for once!" Damon smiled a little.
Fifteen minutes passed as they wove through the crowded corridor trying to remain unseen by the hybrid that had started to walk the hallways scanning the crowd. Another call went out over the PA stating that all business class and couch passengers should begin the boarding process. Damon sped up ever so slightly. They manage to get to the gate for flight 139 to Sydney when Damon tensed. Elena drew a breath and turned to look over her shoulder as casually as she could. Someone was making their way through the crowd at an alarming rate. Damon immediately flashed Elena onto his back piggy back style and blurred the rest of the way to the gate for their flight not caring who saw. His only concern was getting Elena and himself onto that plane. Lady Luck was smiling on them today because they had a decent head start and made it to the check-in counter before the hybrid even realized that it was Elena that Damon was leading through the airport. He had been sent to look for either Damon or Elena boarding a flight and had not expected that they would actually be together. From what Klaus had told him it was more likely that Damon would send Elena to the nearest airport to Mystic Falls and he would try to lead them on a wild goose chase using a decoy Elena, but for once Klaus was dead wrong. Damon stopped at the desk and compelled the man there to scan their tickets and allow them to board. Elena broke into a run down the tunnel as Damon waited for the scanner to process their tickets. With a bleep the tickets were processed and Damon tore down the tunnel.
"Hello sir so glad you made it we were just about to close the door for take off. Can I assist you in finding your seat?" the stewardess smiled and waited for his reply.
"No thank you but you could help me with something else though," he waited for her pupils to dilate as she slipped under his control before continuing. "I would like you to close the door now and tell the pilot that we are ready to take off." She nodded and moved toward the cockpit to relay his message.
Damon made his way up the aisle scanning for Elena. When he spotted her their eyes met and he nodded. She let out a breath of relief, they had done it. He made his way over to their seats and placed their bags in the over head compartment. Damon dramatically dropped into the seat beside her and smirked as if to say, "I told you I could get you away".
"Thank you Damon. I owe the fact that I am here and not enslaved to Klaus right now all to you. There is no way I could ever match what you have done for me but I'm going to try my hardest to in some way." Elena looked almost happy as she took his hand in her small one.
"Your welcome Elena. Besides if you were gone my life would be boring and I simply can't have that! I like to keep challenging myself and you always seem to be the source of those challenges for some reason." He chuckled and looked out the little window. "It looks like we're moving."
Elena looked out through the plexiglass at the tarmac. "Yup getting ready to leave into our next great adventure." Little did she know that it was not going to be the one she expected to happen.
