Stockholm
Day One. 11:49am
They kept their eyes locked on each other's for some seconds. He was still drying up the sides of her face and she still rested her fingers on the bruise in the corner of his mouth.
"What's your name?" Damon broke their gazes.
"Elena, Elena Gilbert" she answered as soft as his voice was.
"So Elena Gilbert, next time you have a good idea, talk to me, okay? Even if I'm daydreaming" he finished drying up her face "Do you think you can sit down?" he asked and though she felt like the throbbing pain in her head could actually allow her to move she didn't want to leave the warmness of his arms. She didn't know what was going on. Maybe she was willing to do something crazy in her life because of her boring relationship with Matt. Maybe she wanted some action but was it only action to want to be in a criminal's arms?
Deciding that it wouldn't hurt more than the other guy had already hurt her she tried to have a little more of his arms around her. He hadn't move the arm from behind her back that was giving her balance and the one that he used to dry her face was then wrapping her body from over, as his hand rested on the back of his other arm. "I'm not sure" she lied.
"Okay, let's wait a little bit more, just give me a moment" he told her and she thought that her plan had backfired and he was going to leave her alone on the couch. But that was not what he did "She is awake, she will rest here and I will look for the blueprints. Do not move, do not do anything without talking to me first and that includes walking down to this side of the room" he spoke loudly enough for the other hostages to hear.
"I'm okay, guys" Elena also said to ensure that they would believe Damon "Just dizzy" she completed.
"Do you want to drink some water?" he offered with his voice low again and she could feel by the subtle motion of his arms that he was getting ready to stand up.
"Actually do you really mind letting me stay here with you a little bit longer? I know it is nonsense and I may even sound desperate and my boyfriend probably wouldn't be happy that I'm asking to be in another man's arms, especially when this man is involved in the robbery that made me a hostage but I'm afraid and I don't know why, but somehow you make me feel safe" she rambled, confessing her feelings at the moment but fearing his reactions she quickly added "We all feel safe with you around us"
"I'm sorry that you're here, I'm sure none of you deserves any of this and I hope you will get out safe and sound. I will do my best to make this as less traumatizing as possible" he looked at the scared and small girl in his arms and he was reminded of Kat.
"Can I ask you something?" she quizzed and he nodded "Why are you here? I mean it is crystal clear that this is your first time"
"Am I that obvious?" he flashed a smile, a grin actually and she felt her heart racing in her chest.
"I guess the unsteady hand while holding the gun actually gave you away" she mused but while he held her she couldn't think of anything unsteady about his grip. His arms were firm around her and she really felt safe in that moment, forgetting for a while the big picture of the situation they were in.
"I already worked on that" he admitted remembering that when he faced both of the criminals he had held it really firmly.
"But you still didn't answer my question" she insisted and his mind drifted back to Kat again.
"It's complicated" was all he said and she saw as he zoned out moving his eyes from hers, looking to the carpet.
"I really need more people. Almost all my guys are in jail, I know you will find the right guys for me" Joe's intimidating voice actually made Elijah weak in his knees. Surely Joe was a hot shot in the business and one of his biggest customers but he couldn't think of anyone to help him.
"I'm sure a lot of people owe you a lot of favors and some of them would really like to call it quits. I'll come by tomorrow to meet them" was all Joe said before walking away.
"Hey, man" Damon greeted Elijah after bumping into Joe on his way in.
Elijah looked up to the man in front of him. He had no problem with Damon until that moment when he paid a little bit more attention to the shirt Damon was wearing. Actually he was always wearing the gang's jerseys, jackets and pants. I'm sure a lot of people owe you a lot of favors and some of them would really like to call it quits, Elijah remembered of the words Joe just said.
"I found a way out for you and Kat and I know this will sound really bad but you're the perfect guy for the job" Elijah suggested even before he answered Damon's greeting.
"Anything for Kat. What's the deal?" Damon changed his tired expression to an alert one. He would really do anything for her.
"A robbery, a big shark is planning to steal a store within ten days and he needs strong and trustful guys, just like you" Elijah nodded his head towards Damon's shirt and he finally understood everything.
"A robbery? Are you crazy man? Do you want me to move from this nightmare to hell?" Damon retorted. There was no way he was going to be a robber.
"At least it would be your hell, not hers" Elijah knew the buttons to push. He knew that Kat would always be Damon's weak spot.
"I can't do it" Damon shook his head as he threw the money over Elijah's counter and turned around to walk away.
"2k won't make it, Damon, you know it and there is so much I can do for both of you" Elijah yelled but Damon ignored. There was no way he was going to worsen his already very bad condition. Kat's condition.
In the following day Joe went back and much to his surprise Elijah didn't have anyone for him. To say the robber was pissed off was an understatement. He threatened to destroy Elijah and his business if he didn't get him the men by the following day at noon.
Elijah had tried the best he could. He had contacted a lot of people but he knew he would be screwed if he recommended someone Joe couldn't trust. He needed someone trustful to be a good thief and there were only two guys that met all the needs and he was going to get the first of them in that moment.
Damon and Kat weren't living together yet but he knew where to find the twenty-three-year old woman. She was always at Damon's. She told him that she didn't want to move in with Damon because she didn't want him to control her every step because sometimes Damon could be neurotic, jealous and possessive but for Elijah it would only save her one more bill to pay as she spent night and day with the architect.
He knew both of them were there when he approached his house as he saw both cars parked outside. He would have preferred if Damon wasn't there but it didn't matter, he needed to get Damon to do the job. It wasn't as if what they had done wasn't already a felony.
He was lucky enough though. Initially he had planned to just attracting Kat outside the house and from there he would contact Damon but as the man was taking a shower when he arrived and Kat wasn't in her best shape everything turned out perfect for Elijah.
He took the weak and not totally conscious girl in his arms and left a note to Damon that he knew would close the deal in his favor.
Damon totally oblivious to what was happening in his living room let the water fall over his shoulders and tired head. He didn't know what else to do. It was only him and Kat against the world. He felt guilty for not realizing how she became fainter and fainter and more absent. He felt guilty because she had been disowned. He felt guilty because she was barely conscious on his couch. He felt guilty because he invested everything he had in college and in his gang. But nothing of this was more important than the sleepy girl. If only he knew it before.
He finished his shower feeling that he needed hours under the hot water to finally start to feel better but that wouldn't solve any of his problems so he decided to save his power and water bills, turning off the tap. He slowly got into clean clothes and walked out to talk to her. Except that when he arrived there it was too late.
You know I gave you all the chances I could but there is only so much time a man can wait. I've got Kat with me; I'll take care of her while you think about it. You know she is always safe with me, don't you? It is always a pleasure doing business with you. -E.
"I promise I won't judge. To be honest I'm just curious because you definitely don't fit in. I want to understand you" she moved her hand and reached for one of his that were still around her body.
"There is nothing there to understand. I needed the money" he tried to escape her questions which he achieved. And he was relieved he didn't have to lie to do it. He hated lies.
"I understand that you don't want to talk about it but if you ever want, I'll be here, okay?" she softly added moving her hand to his face and lifting up her body, kissing his other cheek "I already feel better, I will join the others" she explained as she detached her body from his grip.
"Okay" he let her go.
She stood up and before she walked away she looked at him "Thanks for letting me stay and for helping me" she moved her hand to where her head had hit the coffee table. A big bump had already formed and it hurt a lot but that was her least important problem that morning.
"Elena" he called out as she was about to turn the corner "Thank you" he told her when she looked back at him. She nodded and offered him a sweet smile and then turned around and quickly disappeared from his view.
His mind drifted to her again. It was always her. No matter how many beautiful girls went after him he never really paid any attention to any them. Surely he had his share of one night stands and a couple of girlfriends but Kat was a constant in his life, it was the only female presence he really needed, even if only by just being in the same room. Even when she was absent for weeks. Even when she ran away from him. Even when she abandoned him and only turned back weeks later.
But she was worth it. She was more than worth it and that was what he had focused onto while he turned to the open safe to look for the blueprints. The documents would be his last attempt to make everything work out for everybody. Well not really everybody because it was a robbery for God's sake but he knew he had to do it.
He had never seen so many papers. He had no idea why the manager kept so many documents in that safe. There were all sort of things related to the business, to the building and the store. Everything but the papers he needed.
"Think Damon. If you were the manager of this building, where would keep the blueprints?" Damon talked to himself as he opened another envelope but got nothing. "It doesn't really make any sense to keep it in the safe" he finally thought abandoning the huge object and walking to the table where Jessica and Elena had looked before.
He also took the opportunity to check on the hostages. Everything seemed too quiet. Elena had joined them almost thirty minutes ago and he had yet to hear a word from them. And from the rest of criminals as well.
"Are you sure you checked all the papers in his desk?" he turned to Jessica as he reached them. Much to his surprise they were all quiet and silent. He thought maybe Elena's incident and the girl they killed before proved to them that the best they could was to just obey their orders.
"Yes, twice actually" she answered with conviction as she was used to do such task as an assistant.
"Is there any chance it would be at one of the others' room? Maybe in the back-office rooms or I don't know, a file?" he questioned her, leading her to think about it for some seconds.
"Maybe in the accounting file" she thought loudly.
"Why would blueprints be in the accounting file?" Damon held a puzzled face. It made no sense.
"I don't know you mentioned file and that's the only one we have here" she shrugged off.
"I'll take another look here. By the way how many others rooms with documents do you have here?"
"This, the second line manager, who is not in LA this week and the accounting room" she explained and Damon just nodded having another idea.
He walked to the door, unlocking it and then putting his mask on "Donald, come here" he yelled and in no time the leader was there.
"Found it?" the bigger guy asked.
"Not yet. How are the negotiations going?" the architect answered.
The two men talked for nearly two minutes, both filling each other in about their ideas and plans though they had totally different goals.
The hostages were uneasy at the presence of the chief, especially because the guy would peek at them from time to time during his conversation, always holding a wicked smile.
Damon locked the door again, removing his mask and he could see the leader's presence had somehow affected the hostages, especially Caroline that was shaking.
"Everything will be okay" he told them quietly and walked back to the manager's desk where he would try for the last time to get the blueprints. That was their only chance if everything went as he imagined.
He opened and found out that the girls seemed to have looked at every singer paper as all were outside the envelopes and thrown all over the drawers but something soon got his attention.
"Jessica, you and only you come here" he yelled from his place in the main chair.
The girl did as she was told but unfortunately it wouldn't be as easy as he thought but he would find a way. He had to.
"Damon, we are thirsty" Elena's voice erupted through the room making Damon wake up from his deep thoughts. He couldn't believe he had finally founded the blueprints only to have it to be absolutely useless.
"Come here, only you" he answered.
"Take two glasses at a time and give them" he told her not really moving his eyes from the objects in his hands.
"Are those the blueprints?" she asked him while she filled the glasses and he nodded, showing his frustration.
"But it doesn't work" he threw everything over the desk causing Elena to jump startled by the sharp noise of the small laptop falling on the floor.
Elena didn't say a word and doing as she was told she took the glasses of water to the other side of the room until those that could actually be calm enough to be thirsty were satisfied.
Against her best judgment seeing that Damon was clearly irritated and frustrated, she decided to go where he was again; with the excuse she was thirsty too and hadn't taken a drink yet.
"Are you okay?" he asked while she drank her water as slow as possible "Hmmm?" was her question as she forced one more gulp. She wanted anything but to drink something.
"Your head, are you feeling okay?" he clarified and she only nodded, looking carefully at him "Are you?" she returned the question but he didn't understand it "What?" he asked.
"Okay?" she explained sitting on the couch she laid down on before.
"That was maybe our best chance. The SWAT team is outside and also the mayor but they won't do anything afraid that Donald will kill Ms. Forbes. He isn't helping them; he's not willing to release any hostage and had asked them for a chopper. It's only been two hours and they're still on base one and I don't trust Donald. If he feels that the SWAT team is trying to gain some time and think about a plan – which I'm sure they are – I'm afraid that he will take it on you" Damon revealed part of his conversation with Donald.
"And why would the blueprints help? I mean, if your plan is to escape using some door or window or even the air conditioning tubing chances are the cops will be just there waiting for you, I'm sure they got the entire building covered" she reasoned.
"Interesting how Donald hadn't thought about it when I suggested it to him" Damon chuckled shaking his head. The big shark certainly wasn't as big as Elijah said, but then again, that was Elijah's idea of big or maybe he had an idea of his own, just like Damon.
"So that wasn't your plan?" Elena was confused because the sarcasm in Damon's voice.
"Absolutely not but now it doesn't matter as we don't have them anyway" he showed his frustration again by sighing and running his big hands through his hair and then looking at her with his sweet, and at that moment also resigned, eyes.
"What was your idea?" she moved from the couch across him and leaned in the table really close to where he was sat.
"Why does it matter, it won't happen anyway" he shook his head slightly.
"So at least I would know that you're really a good guy" her voice was soft and she rested her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not a good guy, Elena" and his impulse was to shove her hand from his body but he couldn't do it.
"I dare to disagree. I had this feeling about you and my feelings never fail me" she subtly started to move her hand on his shoulder. It was almost unnoticeable, her fingers probably moved fractions of an inch.
"If I was I wouldn't be here, so I guess they failed you this time" he looked away from her. As much as the movements of her fingers were close to nonexistent he still felt them.
"Sometimes things are complicated" she used his own words as she dropped her hand from his body seeing it was making him uncomfortable instead of comforted. "Prove me right, Damon" she told him with conviction and she really didn't know why she was sure he had a good plan that could save everyone.
"Well you were spot on. I was going to check the air conditioning tubing but not to do exactly what you assumed…" he started and keeping his voice really low he explained all he had in mind.
"See? You've yet to fail me" she smiled softly.
"You don't know anything about me, about my life Elena. It's just like I told you, if I was a good person I wouldn't be here. If I was a good person I wouldn't need to be here" he stood up from the chair and moved to the small refrigerator to get him some water, if there was still any.
"I know enough to know your idea is very good and I just thought about a way to make it work" she offered him again her full smile.
He immediately looked at her and he didn't know what was better: that she indeed thought of something that would help or to see her beautiful smile.
AN: Another chapter. May is doing a VERY quick job with those chapters :P
So we're learning why he ended up there little by little. Now we know he was extorted but there is more.
Thanks for the reviews and alerts and clicks, you guys are amazing. Keep the reviews coming ;)
Thanks to my great beta May.
xoxo
Babi
