When Elena awoke, it was to the horrifying sight of Damon coughing up blood. The frightening sound of his choking had made her transition from sleep to being wide awake very quick. "Damon!" She didn't know what to do, but she rushed to his aid all the same. Her eyes were wide and her body shook with worry and panic. Damon warded her off by swinging his hands around in front of him as he crouched down, violently hacking up blood. Elena ran into the bathroom and wet a face cloth, then came back out and wiped the blood off of Damon's face by force. For some reason he didn't want her to touch him. She couldn't understand; all she was trying to do was help him. He pushed her back, a low growl humming in his throat.
"Elena, stop." He moved out of the room so quickly, his action was nothing more than a blur. Running after Damon was like chasing a ghost.
"Damon!" She called out into the big house. She had a feeling he was somewhere inside, hiding. "Damon!" She shouted again, her voice trailing off into the silence that filled the empty places all around her. She sat down on the bed, hoping he would come back soon. When an hour passed and he still did not show up, she kicked her shoes off and stripped down to her tank top and boy shorts. She climbed under the covers, making herself comfortable in his bed. His scent covered the pillow and the indentation of his body was still slightly imprinted. She felt closer to him this way; wrapped up in the thing's he had touched, face close to the thing's that most smelt like him. It was almost teasing; like she could not really have him because he was nowhere to be found. With thoughts of Damon, and only Damon, running through her mind, Elena fell asleep once again.
