Chapter 8

Before Elijah could answer, he had another visitor. The surgeon, Dr. Virginia Phillips, walked in and greeted both the patient and Damon.

"How does your leg feel?" the woman asked.

Again, before the patient could answer, two more visitors arrived, Hope and Gayle. They looked at Damon as he stood up from the chair, as a gentleman should.

It was Elijah who spoke. "Hope, you know Damon."

"Barely," Hope said. "Dr. Salzmann introduced us." She nodded at Damon who smiled at the pretty young thing.

"Gayle, this is Damon Salvatore. Damon, Gayle is attempting to decide whether or not to teach at the school," Elijah said.

"How nice," Damon said with a crooked smile at the teacher. "I hope you have nerves of steel. That was my home, but I wouldn't want to live there now."

To the doctor Damon said, "Hello, Ginny. I hear you did the surgery on this ex-vampire."

"Yes. I suspect you could help him heal faster and with less chance of complications."

"I'm sure I can. If he wants me to." He looked questioningly at Elijah.

The patient did want to heal quickly, but did he want to drink Damon's blood in front of this group?

"What's the problem?" Damon asked. "Hey, if you want to keep suffering, be my guest."

"I will accept your offer," Elijah said, nodding. He glanced at the people in the room, all of them watching him, waiting to see how he took the blood. None of them offered to leave.

Gayle had watched while Hope had cut her hand and held it to Elijah's mouth. Would Damon do the same thing? Was his blood any stronger than Hope's?

The man in question, who had sat back down, stood again and removed his jacket. He then rolled up the sleeve of his button-down shirt. He had no tie, but then again, he was not wearing the usual tee shirt. From his pants pocket he took a small pen knife and sliced into the skin over a good-sized vein in his arm. Since it was not an artery, it didn't spurt blood around, but it did bleed. Damon held his wound in front of Elijah's face.

"Bottom's up," he said as if he and Elijah were having a beer.

Elijah took hold of the man's arm and quickly put his own mouth over the wound. He didn't want blood dripping onto his bed sheet and his lovely hospital gown. The dark blood was barely warm since it was coming from a vampire. It also had a flavor different from Hope's blood. Blood, in general, was not distasteful to him and he swallowed and sucked more from the vein. Unlike Hope's blood, Damon's had the effect that was somewhat sexual. Elijah felt a certain part of his body start to respond. To hide this from most of the group, he bent one knee, raising the sheet a bit. Only Damon knew why he did it, and he smirked.

Elijah had two more swallows before the wound in the arm closed. He liked how it made him feel, although he didn't mention that. But then the wound in his leg started to hurt sharply. He winced and drew in his breath as Damon stepped back.

"What is bothering you?" Dr. Phillips asked with concern.

"My leg."

Damon spoke up and scowled at the patient. "Are you telling me that my blood isn't healing your leg? This is prime vampire blood, Elijah. If it isn't working, it's your leg's fault."

"There's an artificial vessel graft in there," the doctor said. "Would that make a difference?"

"Quite possibly," Elijah said through gritted teeth. "I have no idea how the graft is affected by the blood."

The doctor walked to the foot of the bed and lifted the sheet off the affected foot. She laid two fingers on the top of the foot where the artery pulsed. "So far you have a good strong pulse. The artery is not blocked."

"That is good news. The pain is easing." Elijah was really relieved because he still could envision needing to have his leg amputated.

The doctor covered his foot again and said, "I'll check back again in fifteen minutes."

Another person arrived and it was Elena. For a second, Elijah's heart skipped a beat. Even thought he had talked to her not long ago, this time the situation was different. Elena gave a wink and a smile to Damon and for that moment, she looked to Elijah like Katherine Pierce. Katherine, whom he had once loved. Katherine, who looked exactly like Elena. Luckily, they had different personalities. And Katherine was dead now.

Elena walked around the bed to stand beside Damon. She laid her hand on his shoulder and he, sitting in the chair again, put his arm around her waist. It was obviously a sign that he was telling everyone that the woman was his. Her stay was short because her phone buzzed and she had to leave to see another patient. After offering Gayle his chair, Damon also bid Elijah goodbye and he too left.

Gayle and Hope remained. The girl reached out and took his hand. "I'm so sorry, Uncle 'Lijah. I was so stupid."

"A bit reckless, perhaps. You did not mean to wound me and I am not angry with you. How are the students who were shot?"

"Everyone is going to be alright," Hope said.

"Good. Now, Gayle, what have you decided? Are you staying or leaving?"

"I told Dr. Salzmann that I would stay. Mrs. Flowers and Hope have shown me that, despite their supernatural situations, these are still kids who need some help and guidance. And occasionally, a hug. And what are you going to do once you are discharged from the hospital?"

"I do not, for the life of me, have any idea."

A/N As I have only seen a few episodes of "Legacy," I don't know if I want to get involved with writing about the students. Perhaps I should find something for Elijah to do away from the school. Any ideas?