Hello again everyone! Wow! So many reviews and not even 10 chapters in—that is amazing! Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews and support, it makes me want to write more and more.
And don't worry, I haven't abandoned Safe until Then or Memories of Damon. I'll be updating those next. I just keep getting inspiration for this story—I have so many ideas for this one.
Enjoy and as always, please review. The more reviews I get, the faster I'll update : )
Chapter 7—Should We or Shouldn't We?
"Checks."
An abrupt voice startled Elena awake for yet the fourth time that morning. Groaning, she lifted her pillow and shoved it over her head.
Her lack of sleep last night was starting to get to her. She was used to sleeping in on days she was like this and to be repeatedly woken up every hour was severely getting on her nerves.
But she didn't regret it. She was able to help Damon; and for that, she was grateful. She wondered how he was doing this morning and if he was doing any better. Her thoughts also wandered to the night they had shared. She remembered being held in his arms and the feeling of completion it gave her. She hadn't dwelled on her own troubles nor was she reminded that she was in a hospital. Instead, she had helped a friend in his time of need; it was as simple as that.
The sound of the door creaking open broke her out of her sleepy thoughts. She heard footsteps leading toward her bed.
"Elenaaaaaaa," she heard Lexi singsong.
"Ugh….go away," she groaned. As much as she liked having Lexi as a nurse, waking her up when she had the option of sleeping in was just cruel.
"I think it's about time you got up," Lexi said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm too tired to be woken up this early."
"It's almost noon Elena! My God, what did you do all night?" Lexi laughed.
'God, if only you knew,' Elena thought as she threw her covers off and sat up in her bed, rubbing her tired eyes.
Looking up, she saw Lexi smiling at her. "Well, the cafeteria is serving lunch. I thought I'd wake you up so you could go have some. And don't forget your next session with Dr. Fell is this afternoon at three, okay?"
Elena nodded, watching Lexi leave the room. Looking at the other bed, she noticed that Shannon was gone. Ah well, she wanted to be alone anyway. Forcing herself to get up, she changed her bedclothes for jeans and a flannel shirt. Since fall was the season, it was a little chilly now.
She made her way to the cafeteria, but she really didn't feel hungry or like eating. She only hoped she'd see Damon there.
When she arrived, she noticed Klaus sitting, eating by himself. Smiling, she made her way over to his table.
"Klaus, how are you today?" she asked politely. He looked up at her and smiled.
"Elena! Wonderful to see you alive and awake today. By all means, have a seat," he indicated to the chair across from him. She happily complied.
"So, how are you today?" she asked politely.
"Just peachy. And trust me, I know you're just burning a hole in your panties wondering how Damon is doing. To tell you the truth, he seems better today. He woke up and pretended nothing happened last night. It was…weird," Klaus said with a confused look on his face before taking a bite of his green Jello. "This Jello is either lime or guacamole flavored." He said with a frown.
Elena stared at him, ignoring his last comment. "So…he didn't say anything about last night at all?"
"Nope, and I wouldn't expect him to Elena. He's probably embarrassed by his actions last night and won't want to talk about it. So don't push it, but he is doing well today. To answer your question."
She nodded her thanks. The two of them chatted for a few more minutes before she had to go to her appointment.
This would be even more thrilling than last time….NOT!
…
Dr. Fell's Office
"So Elena, how are you doing today?" Dr. Fell's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Elena shook herself back to reality. She had been waiting in the office for about fifteen minutes and her mind had wandered to Damon yet again. She wondered if he was okay and if she should go check on him later or not.
"Elena?" Dr. Fell asked again, giving her a look.
"Oh, ah, sorry," she said in a hurried voice. Dr. Fell continued to look at her with a confused expression before she cleared her throat.
"So Elena, how are things going? You seem to be adjusting here quite nicely."
She nodded.
"No episodes or suicidal thoughts again, I hope?"
"Nope," Elena said, popping the P letter in the word and keeping her eyes and head down, staring at the floor.
"Good. So I want you to know that I expect you to start talking to me soon about what caused the attempted suicide. What events brought it on, what thoughts were in your mind, etc. But for now I'm going to prescribe you a medication."
At this last comment, Elena's head snapped up. "What?"
"It's nothing too bad, it's just an anti-depressant. You'll be required to take it in the morning and evenings. The pill station is in the cafeteria and you'd better be there to take them," Dr. Fell spoke in a stern voice as she wrote something in her notebook.
"I'm…I'm not taking any God damn pills!" Elena said defensively. Forcing her to stay her to get better was one thing, but making her take pills that wouldn't do her a damn bit of good was crossing the line.
Dr. Fell looked up. "This isn't an option Elena. It's required and if you fight it then you'll be taken to the isolation room where they will be forced down your throat. The choice is yours. You're dismissed, thank you." And with that Dr. Fell dismissed her with a flick of her hand.
Elena sat there with her mouth opening to protest again, but shut it. It obviously wouldn't do her any good to argue, but she hated taking pills with a passion. And to be forced to take them made her tremble in fright. She didn't know what these pills would do to her or how they would make her feel…the thought alone made her sick.
…..
Elena lay on her bed in her room, staring at the ceiling yet again. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear someone approach the room.
When she heard the clearing of a throat, she turned her head.
Looking up she saw Damon leaning on the doorway. He was wearing a long-sleeved cream-colored shirt that opened slightly at the top with dark black jeans. He smiled at her in a manner that was so warm it melted her heart.
He shook his head to the right, indicating her to follow him before he left the room. Elena was confused at his actions at first but she followed him anyway.
He led them outside to the gardens once again. Once they reached the stone wall on the outskirts of the property, she saw a small bench that was obscured by some trees. Damon turned around, indicating for her to sit beside him on the bench. She happily complied.
"Elena." His voice sounded like silky velvet again. "I just wanted to say, um, thank you for last night. I'm terribly sorry you had to see me like that. But you really helped me. I don't know how to thank you." He smiled sheepishly at her.
She smiled back. "It was nothing Damon. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
"It sure as hell wasn't nothing, Elena. I was a wreck! I've been locked up in that isolation room before and it only makes me worse. I've been here for three years and usually its days before I calm down, but you managed to do it with just your voice! Very few people can do that, you know. So please accept my thanks. That was a really sweet thing you did for me." This time he took her hand in his, running his fingers along her own. Tingles spread in her body from the intimate contact.
"You're welcome Damon. Anytime remember?" she reminded him before she thought about what he had just informed her. "You've been in this place for three whole years?"
"Yeah. It hasn't changed much." She felt his thumb caress her hand as he looked down nervously. Obviously this was another subject he wasn't comfortable talking about. She decided to let it go.
Looking into his eyes, she felt herself get lost in him. Not just his beauty, but she could feel his soul tugging her own right towards him. The connection was unreal and totally unlike anything she had ever felt before in her life.
Damon brought one of his hands up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She wasn't certain but she thought she felt his finger stroke her cheek as it fell.
She cleared her throat as she felt blood rush to her cheeks.
As hard as she tried to fight it, she was developing serious feelings for Damon. And she was falling hard.
Damon smiled at her. Without warning, she felt him wrap an arm around her and pulling her close to his chest in a hug. Immediately she went into the hug, grateful for the warm and loving contact.
"So…what did you do today? I'm sorry I missed you earlier today." She heard his words and felt his chest move with his breathing.
"It was ok. Dr. Fell prescribed me with damn pills though."
Damon eyebrows rose up. "Exactly what medication is she making you take?"
"Some kind of antidepressant. I don't know exactly, but she says it's mandatory for my stay here. I really don't want to take them though. For some reason, I'm afraid they'll make me…different," she explained quietly, staring at her feet.
It was quiet for a moment. "You shouldn't have to take pills, Elena."
She looked at him. "I don't have a choice Damon. The nurses are required to watch you take the pills. You should know this, you've been here for a long time. The nurses watch you swallow them and if you don't, they'll lock you in the isolation room," she explained.
"I know, but there's a trick to pretending to swallow pills. Here, let me show you," he explained, taking out what looked like a blue capsule from his pocket.
"Watch and learn," he smirked before tilting his head and tossing the pill back in his mouth. Bringing his head back down, he opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out at her. She didn't' see any pills. Closing his mouth, he smiled.
"I don't get it…" He smiled again before opening his mouth again and there on his tongue was the blue pill.
"How…how did you do that?" she almost shrieked as he took the pill out.
"It's called tonguing. It's a skill patients have learned over the years. Most of us don't like taking pills that make us feel…yucky, for lack of a better term. So we do this—tongue em. It fools the nurses and they don't suspect a thing!" He handed her the pill. "Here, you try."
She looked at the small anti-sad pill in her hand. Without thinking, she took the pill and tossed it in her mouth. Using careful maneuvering with her tongue, she managed to get it under her tongue without much moving around and suspicion.
"Remember to pretend to gulp," she heard Damon instruct softly, so she did.
"Ok, let me see." She opened her mouth and stuck her tongue at him. There was nothing and she knew she had done a great job by the smirk on Damon's face.
"Congratulations, you are now one of us!" he smirked at her, giving her a high-five.
We'll learn more about Elena's past and thoughts in the next chapter. And something funny will happen next chapter too. Stay tuned : )
