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: I want to thank all off you for reading, reviewing, alerting and favouriting. I heart you all so much. So this is the second instalment of this suddenly three shot... I totally caved and wrote a new ending. I personally blame Damon, he wasn't too happy about where I intended to leave him. He called me lazy and a few other choice names that I'd rather not repeat before I gave up and in and wrote the third part.

oOo

Unanswered

oOo

Dialing Damon

oOo

Rose swayed before crumpling to her knees on the hard wet concrete with a loud crack of breaking kneecaps. Her skin was ashen and her pulse thumped loudly in his ears. "This is your fault." She wheezed brokenly as she tried to stop the blood from seeping around the large stake protruding from her chest.

"I'm sorry; I didn't know." He pleaded trying unsuccessfully to move closer to help her. He glanced down at where his feet should have been, only to see that he had sunken down into the concrete up to his shins. A wave of panic rolled through him as he desperately tried to tug his legs free. The more he tugged the deeper he sank. "Rose! Help me!" He shouted the shrill sound of his own voice making him wince. When he glanced back up to see why the vampiress would not help him he saw nothing but thick darkness. "Rose?" It was a mere whisper this time as a deep ache clenched at his heart knowing he had lost her for good.

A cruel and throaty female chuckle drifted to him on a breeze smelling of sand, sun and brine. "Pathetic. So fucking gullible." The voice suddenly spat venomously before continuing its chuckling.

Damon turned as best he could sinking deeper into the dark depths of the thick concrete. "Who's there?" He growled reaching down for the fury boiling within him to cover his mind-numbing fear. "Show yourself." The demand caused the cruel chuckles to escalate into full blown malicious laughter.

The laughter bounced around on unseen walls, echoing round and round until there was nothing but an ear-piercing cackle growing louder.

"Stop!" His scream only added to the noise making his head spin and his ears bleed. Covering his ears he continued screaming for the noise to end.

Damon woke up with a start; bolting up to a sitting position. Large drops of cold sweat snaked their way down his heated skin. He gulped down large breaths of unneeded air into his lungs trying to regain his bearings. His clothes were soaked with sweat and blood; mud, grass and various other stains speckled his once immaculate black outfit. As he surveyed the unfamiliar thick pine forest that surrounded him he felt something vibrate lightly in one of his pockets.

32 missed calls

He unblinkingly stared at the display on his phone wondering how so many calls had gone unnoticed by him. He absent-mindedly scratched at the arm holding his phone freezing as he realized the stabbing pain from earlier was gone. Bunching up his sleeve carelessly he stared at the flawless milky skin of his forearm.

"... press 5 to listen to the message again..." Before the automated voice of his voice-mail had time to give him further instructions he anxiously pressed the appropriate button to listen to the fifth and final message waiting for him. The revelation that the bite hadn't killed him and that Elena had called him thirty-two times and left him five worried voice-mails wasn't helping his scattered thoughts in the least.

He listened to her deep shaky intake of breath before she spoke. "I just need to know that you're still alive." There was so much pain in her voice that it made his eyes well up. His idiot brother better not have told her he was on the brink of death. He had promised, although he did know how little that meant when it came to his saintly little brother. "I... I can't live not knowing if you are." At the sound of her sob his tears spilled over. He couldn't do this to her, but he couldn't very well call her and expect that she wouldn't ask why he wasn't there. His heart couldn't take lying to her any more than he already had.

"... to change greeting press 3, to listen to saved messages press..." His mind snapped back as the automated voice rattled off his options giving him the perfect out. Clearing his throat and testing his voice he listened to the instructions being given. "... press the pound key to end the message."

*BEEP*

"You've reached Damon Salvatore. Talk to me." He pressed the pound key and then relistened to his changed greeting phrase feeling somewhat pleased with it. She would understand and her mind would be eased and that was all that mattered.

Pocketing his phone he began his long trek through the unknown woods wondering how long he had left. It turned out that it was much longer than expected. The first dinky little town he had come upon was unknown to him and far worse than Mystic Falls upon first sight. It didn't matter to him though; he was only there to die somewhat comfortably anyway. He found his way to a shabby motel where he compelled the receptionist to give him a room and to leave him undisturbed for the rest of the week. Death had not come by then, in fact he felt better than ever if a bit parched and disturbed by his feverish nightmares.

He suspected that the daily messages left by the doe eyed beauty he cherished so much might have a bit to do with his cheery mood.

*BEEP*

"You'll never guess what happened today." The excitement in her voice sent pleasant tingles through his entire body. "Alaric got approved to be our guardian and he's moving in. We don't have to go into foster care! Isn't that great?" He grinned widely at the news relaxing further on the park bench he was currently sitting on. Good ol' Alaric had come through as always. There were few men as good as his friend and there was no doubt in his mind that he would do wonderfully with the Gilbert siblings. "Where are you Damon? When are you coming home?" He winced slightly at the sadness in her voice. He'd been gone for quite some time now and that time had been spent thinking and the thinking had led to some hard truths and realizations.

"Did you hear that?" She whispered suddenly and when he trained his ears he could hear the the faint voices of Jeremy and Bonnie in the background. "They're fighting again. I swear it's driving me crazy. All that power's gone to her head." She snickered softly obviously trying to avoid being found out. That had been a first; her not defending the witch. Considering the fight was with her baby brother he wasn't all that surprised. "Oh, did you hear what he said?" There was only the sound of her shallow breathing for several moments and it had almost lulled him to sleep before she spoke again. "I can't believe she refused to find you. I wasn't surprised when she refused when I asked, but this time it was Jer... and he had some pretty strong arguments." Damon however was not surprised by Sabrina's refusal, he was however surprised by the fact that BOTH Gilbert siblings had petitioned to her. He had after all broken one of their necks and force-fed the other his blood on two occasions. This only further steeled his resolve to stay away from his loved ones so that he wouldn't damage them more than he already had. "Come home Damon, we miss you." He waited patiently for her to cut the call as a lump formed in his throat. Maybe he should just go have a quick look and make sure they were OK. They wouldn't have to see him, he'd just pop by and make sure.

Yeah, just to make sure.

The quick look turned into downright lurking, he refused to call it stalking, it wasn't an everyday thing. Mostly he just made sure he was close enough in case something happened, which meant any nearby town would do. Now that he had seen her again he didn't have it in him to leave, but he did find the strength to go unnoticed. She was as beautiful as ever and apparently no longer with his brother... who was obviously more of a moron than he had thought.

He wasn't surprised at all when he heard of the blow-up between Bonnie and Jeremy after countless other calls sounding very much like that one. After it he despised the little witch even more than before and couldn't help but revel in the fact that the increasingly charming Gilbert boy finally saw the light. The fact that the boy had perfected a mischievous smirk of his own as well as a very particular brand of sarcastic wit made him feel quite proud. It was ridiculous of course, but it didn't escape him how much Elena enjoyed his antics that reminded him so much of his own.

*BEEP*

"Happy Halloween Damon!" The chorus of his friends voices singsonging sent a delicious surge of warmth through his chest. "Hey daddy, it's care-bear." Caroline was obviously drunk already making him chuckle at the new term of endearment she had bestowed on him. It wasn't the worst one he had had as a maker. He kind of liked it. "You're missing one hell of a party and Elena dressed up as vampire Carrie Bradshaw with fangs and smeared in blood and all... did I mention she's only wearing four inch stilettos, a man's shirt and a tie for a belt." She giggled and he could hear Elena in the background trying to get her phone back from the bubbly vampiress. It conjured up all sorts of wicked groin hardening images in his mind. "Funny thing; I think I've seen someone wear that exact John Varvatos black button-down and that powder-blue silk tie before. I wonder who it belongs to?" He rolled his eyes knowing full well what the boxes he had seen the Gilbert siblings fill Elena's car with before she left for Duke contained. His things, she had confessed to it after all... it was kind of sweet or utterly depressing... he was going with sweet. Actually it was really, really hot. He instantly regretted not having lurked around Duke last night in favour of drinking himself into a bourbon induced stupor back at his newly acquired apartment.

"Ass-face." Was Jeremy's disturbingly curt greeting. "You're also missing Care's very convincing librarian outfit. Although I've never seen a librarian look anything like that." The youngest Gilbert stated lewdly sounding far to much like himself or perhaps not quite enough. Damon chuckled mischievously at the thought of having corrupted at least one of the siblings. "Serves you right though. Oh, look at that Elena's being swarmed by the football team." The faux surprise and amazement in the boys voice did have its intended effect. Damon could feel the jealousy simmer just underneath his skin and he had to remind himself that he wasn't allowed to be jealous over someone he had no claim to... no matter how much he loved her. "Give me that. I am not being swarmed by anyone." Elena chuckled having finally gotten her hands on her phone again. His heart instantly warmed at her attempt to placate him, the girl was too good for her own good. "Don't listen to them, they're drunk." There were muffled protests on the other end that had him chuckling. "Besides Jer went as you; dressed in all black. He claims he isn't dressed up, but me and Care know better." So maybe he had corrupted both Gilbert siblings. Jeremy's huffing was drowned out by Elena's bubbling laughter sending him into a bout of chuckles of his own. "We miss you." The three of them singsonged before the girls air kissed loudly into the phone and hung up. They were happy. She was happy. He was doing the right thing by staying away.

After that particular call he stayed away from her for weeks at a time even though he was reminded of her open ended invite into her home daily. Fortunately for her... and him... he lurked around her most weekends torturing himself by watching guys flock around her in their feeble attempts to seduce her.

He was perched on the roof of the frat house she was currently partying at, honing his hearing in on her voice. It was a skill he had near perfected over the time he had been watching her. Her distinct laughter reached his ears. It wasn't a genuine bout of laughter, but a nervous and uncomfortable one which made him perk up and scan the houses surroundings.

He spotted her stumbling out of the front door with her phone pressed tightly to her ear. "I think I had one too many." She slurred into the phone as she zigzagged down the path towards the street.

Something was clearly wrong with her. He moved swiftly to the side of the house where a large bong was currently being passed around. It was lucky really since all sides of the house had people and him jumping down from the roof unscathed would not go unnoticed.

"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." Her legs were as shaky as jello and he had a suspicion that he knew what was going on.

He dropped gracefully in the middle of the pot-circle ignoring all the gasps and awe filled comments. She was the only priority at the moment. Stalking closer he watched as a grabby little creep tried to sway his 'Lena to leave with him. A burst of pride filled him as he listened to her brush him off, order him around and very convincingly pretend that he himself was on the other end of that call.

A murderous grin spread across his face as the little perv spotted him stalking towards them with his own phone pressed to his ear. The little shit let go off her instantly and she turned and waved him off and into the house. The guys heart rate had sped up so drastically that a heart-attack was imminent had he not gotten away.

"Lenny." A buxom redhead shouted worriedly as she ran towards Elena.

He saw her knees give way as her eyes rolled back and he was sure his heart wold have stopped had it been beating. Speeding forward, but not fast enough, he cursed himself for not having used the abilities having been given to him. Her head hit the pavement breaking skin. The scent of her blood hitting him had him in a frenzy. He would turn her in front of the gathering crowd if that was what he had to do to keep her alive... -ish.

"Lilly grab her phone." He ordered sternly scooping the unconscious mess of a girl into his arms. She weighed next to nothing.

"Who are you?" The red haired girl trailing after him asked.

He answered without turning around with a simple. "Damon." After having slipped her into the back seat of his beloved Camaro he unceremoniously bit into his wrist and forced a few gulps down her throat. It felt like he was right back to saving her from that damned car wreck before he stole her away to Georgia... except for the hysterical and frozen in place girl gawking at them. "Get in the car." He compelled irritatedly and thankfully the girl complied.

The next day after leaving her in the hospital he almost answered when she called, but he couldn't. It had been so fucking long; he had no idea what to do or say. "Hey, drove you to the hospital yesterday since I was far too late to save you despite having been lurking at the party you were at. Oh, and btw I totally wiped you're friends memory clean because I'm a coward." That was just not going to cut it.

After that night she would call multiple times in a row in the middle of the night. It always ended with a message of her whimpering and sometimes screaming in her sleep... at times she would be shouting his name. Every single day he listened to her messages asking him if he had come for her. He was causing her so much pain again and he couldn't stand it. Being the coward that he was he took the only out he could think of.

"... press the pound key to end the message."

*BEEP*

Inhaling deeply before putting on a faux cheery voice he started on his new greeting."You've reached Damon Salvatore as in saviour. Leave a message." She would understand... she had to.

The night after he had recorded his new greeting he found himself standing outside her apartment in the dead of night. He could hear her muffled whimpering from inside; he couldn't stand it. Within the blink of an eye he had picked the lock and swung the door wide open. He said an impromptu prayer to whatever deity might be listening, hoping desperately that her informal invite over the phone was enough to get him over the thresh-hold. To his delight it was.

His entrance was soundless and he had her necklace of in an instant before settling at the side of her bed. A momentary doubt of his intrusion was quickly quelled as she whimpered again before muttering his name. He closed his eyes and focused.

He spotted her glistening wet in the moonlight, her body bathed in it's own blood. The sweet aroma of her potent crimson wine enticed him to step closer. She swayed as more of her precious life-force seeped from the deep gashes in her flesh and pooled at her feet. She was a goddess in her own right. Unknowingly she had the power to sway any man may he be dead or alive... especially be he undead.

"Damon." She murmured, her warm brown eyes transfixed on the full moon shining in an unnatural shade of blue. The fear rolled off her in thick threatening waves of anxiety.

He approached her cautiously not wanting to frighten her. "Yes, 'Lena?" He kept his tone as soft as he could hoping to hear her heart-rate slow.

She kept her gaze on the moon. "Where are you?" Her voice was weak and broken. She'd have passed out long ago had this not been a dream.

"I'm right here." He cupped the side of her face making her look at him.

The eyes looking back at him stared vacantly back. There was no hint of the warmth he knew they possessed and no recognition at all. "Where are you?" She repeated her voice cracking and breaking as large tears sprung forth and tumbled down her cheeks, clearing a path through the ruby smears.

Pulling her into a bone-crushing embrace he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I'm right here, kitten, I'm right here."

She whimpered helplessly and spoke into his chest. "I'm dying." She sniffled and snuggled further into his chest staining his clothes with her delicious blood. "I'm dying and I don't know where you went."

Scooping her into his arms easily he wandered out of the clearing they stood in. "You're not dying love and I'm with you... always." Somewhere in the back of his mind a voice taunted that he was a fool and that he had only damaged her further by keeping himself hidden from her. Swallowing thickly and quieting the voice he forced the scene to change.

They were laying on a large blanket side by side, sand surrounded them on all sides and the sound of crashing waves sounded in the background. The sun shun brightly in a clear and cloudless sky.

She rolled onto her side and propped her head up in her hand. "Hey." She said softly. "Wanna play a game?" A small smile ghosted over her lips.

Rolling to his side he mirrored her position. "Sure. What game did you want to play?" He questioned smirking as her eyes roamed appreciatively over his toned body.

"Truth or dare?" She questioned with a cocked eyebrow.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'm going with truth because I'm too comfortable to move."

The grin that triumphantly spread over hear face was a touch frightening. "Where are you?" She repeated once more.

"I answered that already. I'm right here with you." He needed to push harder that's all. "Truth or dare? He asked lightly waggling his eyebrows.

It earned him a chuckle. "Dare." She answered expectantly, her doe eyes locking with his.

Figuring it was a dream and that no harm would be done he asked for the thing he longed for the most. "Kiss me." He could hear the plea loud and clear and he saw that she had heard it too, but he didn't care.

She scooted closer smiling shyly. "Are you ready?" He gave a sharp nod to her question and waited. She moved closer, her lips hovering only a breath away from his. "I miss you." She said under her breath before she closed the rest of the distance.

Her plump dusky-pink lips were soft and warm as they melted into his. The kiss was sweet and painfully tender.

At the sound of the rhythmic change in her heartbeat and breathing he broke of and hurried out of her apartment after clasping her necklace back around her neck. Locking the door he heaved a content sigh and strolled out of the building knowing full well that he would be back the next night.

He kept coming back listening for any sign of a nightmare and entering her home and dreams whenever he thought it necessary. As they grew more infrequent he reluctantly stopped his meddling. The dreams had however left him with grave doubts of his actions. He had been doing well for years now... he had been good in his own way. Maybe, maybe one day he would be good enough to try to deserve her.

Little did he know that him leaving her dreams would have an unexpected effect. Once his nightly presence disappeared she took it as a sign...

"... This is it Damon. I lo... no I can't." It was the eight time he listened to the message and he still couldn't make himself believe that she had almost said what he never thought she could feel. "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 and he broke all over again. What had he done? "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." He wanted to scream that it made a world of difference, but he was too late... too fucking late. "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?" As she sniffled he choked out a sob as his legs gave out and he crumpled in a heap on his living-room floor. She kissed into the phone one last time. "I miss you. Be safe." The call cut and for the first time in five years he dialed her number.

"This number has been disconnected. Please try again."

oOo

AN: Fear not there is another part left... so please feel free (or obligated) to click on the review button and write a few lines.