Chapter 4

Damon threw some cash at the cab driver and walked up to the estate. He groaned in distaste at the overly large home.

"So Giuseppe." He muttered.

"Who's out here?" Stefan stepped outside looking alarmed.

"Just me bro." Damon grinned ruffling Stefan's hair.

"Do you know what time it is?" Stefan whispered. "You reek like booze."

"But I'm here." Damon frowned.

"You are." Stefan smiled. "Your actually here."

Stefan reached out to hug him and Damon recoiled.

"Whoa, don't go getting all lifetime movie on me." Damon scoffed. "I'm here to make sure all the finances are handled right and stuff."

"Your here to make sure you get your cut?" Stefan said looking angry.

"Well my trust fund isn't going to last forever,." Damon drawled.

"No your lying. It was Elena she got through to you." Stefan said crossing his arms.

"Please." Damon scoffed. "But she is a hottie. Met her tonight at the bar after her dad got me wasted."

"She is a good girl she's not going to be one of your conquests."Stefan said firmly.

"We'll see about that." Damon said his eyes glittering.

"She's not your kind of girl Damon." Stefan rolled his eyes.

"What kind would that be?" Damon challenged.

"I think we both know your kind." Stefan rolled his eyes. "The dumber, easier and drunker the better right?"

"And I was afraid we didn't know each other anymore." Damon smirked.

"Well that is not Elena." Stefan said. "But you know that already don't you? She got through to you. No on else has been able to do that."

"She didn't get through to me." Damon spat out in a mocking voice feeling irritated.

"Right so you just finally showed up right after she called you because..."

"I'm not here for him." Damon said his mouth firm.

"Please just don't make things harder on him." Stefan begged.

"Good to see you to Stef." Damon smirked heading inside.

Stefan followed him with a mix of emotions on his face.

Elena was exhausted when she got up the next morning. Getting woken up in the middle of the night two nights in a row took its toll on her. She chugged down her coffee on the way to the Salvatore's. She felt apprehensive and nervous about Damon being there.

She figured he would be sleeping most of the day away anyway. He was pretty drunk last night and after a long drive. She wasn't sure how she was going to tolerate his presence. He really irritated her but she knew how important this was. She didn't expect him to just show up like that. He defiantly surprised her.

Stefan was waiting for her outside when she arrived.

"He's passed out on the couch." He said.

"Does your father know he's here?" Elena asked.

"No I haven't told him yet." Stefan said leading her inside.

"He claims he's here to make sure he gets his cut." Stefan added.

Elena rolled her eyes at the sprawled out Damon passed out on the couch.

"That's a lie." She scoffed shaking her head.

"Caroline's mom is getting ready for the block party so I'll be gone all day... can you handle this?" Stefan motioned towards Damon.

"Yes Elena can you handle this?" Damon opened one eye and smirked boasting his chest out.

"I'll be fine Stefan." She said glaring at Damon and walking quickly to the kitchen to get breakfast and coffee going.

She could hear the brothers auguring in low voices and sighed heavily.

"What are you making?" Damon asked casually leaning against the door frame to the kitchen.

"Poached eggs and toast with some oranges." Elena said getting a pan ready.

"That's like hospital food." He scoffed.

"It's healthy and that's what he needs right now." Elena snapped irritably.

"He's dying Elena. Does healthy really matter at this point?" Damon asked his face remaining cool and calm as if saying his father was dying didn't mean what it meant.

"It..I mean." She stammered.

"Omelet with bacon,onions, and cheddar cheese." He suggested winking at her.

"Why don't you make it for him?" Elena suggested giving him a small smile.

"Is this what we're going to do?" Damon asked stepping close to her and staring down at her.

"What?" Elena asked narrowing her eyes.

"Your going to use my attraction towards you against me and constantly try to guilt me into making up with my dad?" He guessed.

"If your not here for your dad then why are you here?" Elena asked choosing ignoring the part about his attraction to her all together and his accusation of her using it against him.

"I need to wrap up the estate stuff, talk to his lawyers, plan the funeral, all the stuff the oldest son should do and not Stefan." Damon said casually watching her pour a cup of coffee.

"Your here for Stefan?" She said gasping as he took the coffee out of her hand for himself.

"It's easier for me. I'm detached." He smirked at her and grabbed another mug for her poured it full and handed it to her.

"I wouldn't need this if you would stop waking me up at 3 am." She muttered.

"Last night was your dad's fault." He said holding up his hands.

"How can you be detached?" Elena asked as the image of John flashed through her head. "He's your father."

"It's better this way." He said his face guarded.

"For you." She pointed out.

"Gotta look out for number one." He smirked.

"Your such a child." She muttered deciding on scrambled eggs not wanting to actually take his advice fully. She started cooking and attempted to ignore his glare.

"Actually Elena. I believe I am here taking responsibility for things." He said in a tense voice. "Do I get no appreciation for that?"

"Okay yeah that's good. I'm glad your here at least. But whatever grudge your holding is not worth it okay. That's all I'm trying to say." She said staring directly into his intense eyes. He felt like she could see right through him and it unnerved him.

"Don't start thinking you know me or something." He scoffed. "I told you I don't do guilt trips."

"That's a lie." Elena said haughtily. "Or else you wouldn't be here."

He stood back from her his face twisting in anger.

"Is that what you think?" He hissed. "That you somehow 'guilt-ed' me into coming here?" He sneered looking completely pissed. Elena wasn't sure what to say she didn't want him to just turn around and leave now to make his point. She stared at him and gulped at his intimating stare down.

"Well get over yourself nurse." He said in a low voice before leaving the room.

Elena took a deep breath as he left and somehow manged to calm herself down enough to fix Giuseppe's breakfast.

"Sorry for thinking you might be human." She said to herself as she started to carry the tray up to Giuseppe.

"Good morning Elena." Giuseppe greeted her cheerfully. "What smells so good?"

"It's real food." Elena laughed bringing over the tray and setting it near him as she went to open the window.

He was already digging in when she came back.

"I love eggs." He smiled taking a break to take his medications.

He went right back to his breakfast as soon as he was finished and actually cleaned the whole plate.

"Now this kind of food I have an appetite for still." He smiled. "My son used to make these omelets. My god they were so good..."

Elena was glad for half a second that Damon wasn't here to mock her for that one.

"He was a great cook." Giuseppe continued staring off. Elena changed her mind about her previous thought she really wished Damon could hear his father talk about him.

"Not that you aren't." Giuseppe said looking worried about her silence. "These eggs were delicious dear. I didn't mean to make you feel under appreciated."

"No, no I didn't not at all." She soothed him. "I never could quite grasp the omelet. It always falls apart on me." She admitted.

He laughed. "I bet you could get farther then me at it."

"I'll try one tomorrow." She promised.

She spent most of the day up there managing to successfully avoid Damon. The door to the study was shut all day. He must have been serious about wanting to make sure the estate was handled. It was nice for him to take those tasks away from Stefan particularly the funeral planning. But she just didn't understand how he could remain so detached.

Stefan, Caroline, Matt and Bonnie were all downstairs when she headed down to start dinner. She decided to make enough spaghetti to feed everyone and they all followed her into the kitchen.

"Is Damon still around?" Elena asked Stefan seeing a different car was now outside but the study was empty.

"He found a room to call his and holed himself up in it." Stefan muttered.

"Why come back only to act like a baby." Caroline scoffed.

"Is he really that bad?" Bonnie asked her green eyes wide. Matt stood next to her looking amused by the whole thing.

Bonnie and Matt had been good friends their whole lives they sort of fell into love a year or so ago and now were inseparable. Elena felt a kindred spirit in both of them. They were both really laid back. Bonnie was so beautiful she could be a model she had sparkling green eyes and mocha skin with long brown wavy hair. Her smile was perfect and could light up a room. But she didn't know it she was one of the most modest people Elena had ever known. Matt was a tall athletic blond with hazel eyes. He had a way of getting along with everyone.

"Trust me he is." Elena shook her head and started on the sauce for her spaghetti.

"What's all this?" Damon's voice interrupted their conversation as he strode into the kitchen. "Were you going to invite me to the party Stefan?"

"It's just dinner Damon." Stefan muttered. "No party."

"That's right Stefan isn't allowed to have fun." Damon said pointedly walking up behind Elena and peering down into the pan she was stirring.

"I could show how to make this without the jar." He said in a softer voice. She felt a slight chill down her spine.

"Maybe some other time." She said avoiding turning around to look at his cocky smirk.

"Actually father sent me out fishing all day yesterday." Stefan said crossing his arms. "He has been insisting I have more fun."

"So he's going senile already?" Damon asked.

Elena slammed the wooden spoon down on the counter.

"No Damon." She said her face flushed red. "He's realizing what is important in life. He's trying to make up for his mistakes and be a good dad. "

"He doesn't have enough time for that." Damon said his face expressionless.

"That's just insane." Bonnie exclaimed looking upset she had lost her grams recently and Giuseppe reminded her of that loss. "How can you be so cold and callous? He's dying!"

"We're all dying." Damon shrugged.

"You know what I think." Elena said taking a deep breath she stood and faced him staring into his eyes.

"Enlighten me." He quipped.

"I think you are just afraid. Your a chicken." Elena said crossing her arms and attempting to stare him down her heart was racing in anger.

"Ooh..I'm a chicken." He mocked her with a laugh.

"You are. You won't put the stupid past behind you and man up because your afraid to. You can't handle it can you? You can't admit your wrong and do the right thing because your scared too..." Elena finished with a smug look on her face.

"You have no idea what you talking about judgey." He said his face flushed. "I'm not scared. I'm pissed. You have no idea what happened between us."

"Does it matter now?" Elena challenged. "Does it really matter when there is so little time left."

"Stop trying to make me care Elena. I don't care." He said slowly drawing every word out.

"Your a liar." She spat out still holding eye contact with him. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"You know what Miss Gilbert maybe you shouldn't forget your just hired help around here." He said his voice hard and menacing.

Elena didn't even realize she was doing it until she heard the loud smacking noise as her hand slapped him as hard as it could across the face. Her eyes were lit up with rage and her hand stung from the impact.

He stood there holding his cheek looking shocked for a moment and then turned and left the house slamming the door behind him.

Elena felt herself get dizzy as she heard his car start up and take off down the driveway.

"Elena are you okay?" Caroline said holding her up as Elena leaned back against the counter and let out a huge breath.

"Yeah just fighting with him wears me out." Elena sighed Caroline brought her to the table and Matt and Bonnie took over on the kitchen.

"He can't fire you don't worry." Stefan said looking frustrated. "I should go after him and give him a piece of my mind he has no right to talk to you like that."

"It's okay I defended myself." Elena said staring at her stinging hand numbly. Did she really just do that?

"That you did." Matt laughed stirring the sauce as Bonnie got the noodles ready.

"I've never seen anyone get under your skin like that." Bonnie murmured.

"You don't think he's just going to leave now do you?" Elena asked Stefan hoping she didn't screw up for Giuseppe.

"No I think you really hit a nerve." Stefan said. "He'll be back."

Stefan had insisted on her going home early and getting some rest and she reluctantly agreed she was completely wiped out. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and groaned when she woke up again to a ringing phone.

"You're serious?" Elena snapped when she saw Damon's number on the screen a little after one am. "Is this your way of getting back at me? Making sure I don't sleep at night?"

"I'm stranded." He spat back. "I rolled my car into a ditch. I tried to call Stefan but I can't get through."

"Well helping you out of a ditch goes beyond my responsibilities as a nurse." Elena said laying back down. "I am just hired help after all."

"I'm sorry that was out of line." He admitted.

"Why are you so mean?" She asked then bit her tongue realizing she sounded like she cared she didn't care. She refused to keep letting him get to her so bad.

"You push my buttons on purpose." He muttered.

"No I..don't. I'm trying to help." She said feeling irritated that he made that seem like such a bad thing.

"Just please..I'm stranded here. I said I'm sorry about being as ass. Will you please see if John will help me?" He asked sounding irritated himself.

"Why should I?" Elena scoffed. "You shouldn't be driving drunk anyway."

"I wasn't..I'm not drunk." He snapped. "I've just been driving around all night and I swerved accidentally."

"If you want my dad's help he's at the grill. Call him yourself. But he probably wont help you. He doesn't like people that piss me off. He's is very protective of me." Elena bragged.

"I get that so maybe you could call him and ask him to help me?" Damon sighed as if he was talking to a five year old.

"Why should I?" Elena asked again.

"I could just leave." Damon said impassively.

"Really blackmail?" She asked feeling her face get hot again.

"Whatever it takes." He said in a light tone.

"I can play that game too." Elena said in a tight voice.

"No." Damon said.

"I haven't even offered my bargain yet." Elena frowned.

"It involves talking to my dad so no way." Damon said.

"Okay fine don't talk to him." Elena said.

"What?" He asked.

"Talk to me." She said walking over to her mirror and leaning on the dresser staring at her tired face.

"What are you taking about?" He asked.

"You have to agree to tell me what happened between you two and I'll get my dad to help you." She offered.

"What good is that going to do." He muttered.

"Me or your dad. Your choice Damon." Elena said feeling empowered.

"I always choose the hot chick Elena." He said causing her face to redden.

"Fine, I'll call my dad and have him call you." She asked keeping her voice even and calm.

"Wait I get something out of this too." He said. She could picture his smirk and glared at the phone in her hand.

"What do you want?" She sighed.

"Dinner and drinks." He said in a cocky tone.

"Forget it. I'm never going out with you." She said shaking her head.

"Well I'm not baring my soul to you over the phone or in that ridiculous house." He shot back.

"No date we can talk over drinks." She comprised. "Friday night?"

"Deal." he said his voice sounded strange all the sudden but she just shook her head and clicked off her phone. She hoped that wasn't a huge mistake.

She groaned and dialed the grill.

"Can I talk to my dad Eric?" She asked.

"What's up Elena?" John asked sounding worried.

"Can you go help Damon he got himself stuck in a ditch?" Elena moaned.

"You want me to help him or rough him up a little?" John asked.

"Help him please dad." Elena laughed.

"I kind of thought you would say that." John said quietly.

"What does that mean?" Elena asked her eyes wide.

"Oh nothing." John laughed. "Give me his number. I'll go help him. I think we need to have a little chat."

"No dad whatever your thinking no." Elena said her heart racing.

"I am not interested in him so don't you go making him think I am." She added when John was silent.

"Sure Elena." John said hanging up the phone.

Elena moaned and dove back into bed trying to will sleep to come.

Huge thanks again to everyone who's been reviewing and reading the story! I hope you liked the update. Please review! :)