After sharing a look with Captain Shane, Damon wraps an arm around her shoulders and leads her out of the police station. Once he has her secured in his car, he skirts the hood and jumps behind the wheel driving directly back to his place. Whenever he has to stop at a red light, his eyes start to drift shut till she startles him awake with a jab. Glancing over at her, he can see that she's in a bad way too. She can't sit still, she's clenching her hands and rocking back and forth in the seat. Since there's nothing he can do for her till they get home, he continues driving, relieved when he finally stops the vehicle. Feeling like hell, Damon drags himself out of the car and then helps her out, linking his fingers with hers as they walk into the house.
It's quite obvious to him that she's needing something. She's pale, her skin is clammy, a light sheen of sweat is breaking out on her forehead. Damon can feel the fine tremor in her hands. Not wanting to leave the Methadone out for her to take at will, he goes into his bedroom to get her one. Stopping in the kitchen, he takes a bottle of water out of the fridge and then goes back to her. Taking the seat beside her on the couch, Damon extends his open palm for her to take the pill. Without meeting his eyes, she takes it from him and swallows it down. Judging by the visceral reaction she had to the man's corpse, Damon is certain that she's run into him before. When his throat starts to tickle, he breaks into a coughing jag then excuses himself to get a tissue. Covering his mouth, he coughs up a wad of greenish yellow stuff and after blowing his nose, he tosses it in the waste basket.
After washing his hands, he sits back down, cautiously laying his palm on her thigh. Her eyes immediately snap to his. "Do you want to talk about it, Elena? I mean it seems pretty likely that you've run into the man before." Shaking her head back and forth, she pulls away. No she hasn't seen that man before but she is feeling unnerved by a growing sense of dread that is beginning to dwell and burn in her mind.
Stung by the rejection, Damon nevertheless presses forward. "You know you can talk to me. We used to tell each other everything."
"I don't know who he is!" Jumping up, she starts to pace the length of his living room, her skin crawling as the need for heroin begins to burn out of control. Without realizing it, she starts rubbing the palm of one hand back and forth over the soft spot of her inner elbow. Biting down on her lower lip, she knows he's not just going to let her go. When that man's body drops into her head again, she shivers. She sensed not only fear but familiarity too... She doesn't know why, they're just her nightmares, that's all. And then for a moment, she's held captive by something else entirely.
"You know it's not that easy sweetheart," he smirks, lowering his zipper. After he kicks off his trousers, he stalks towards her. Although she tries to keep her knees locked, he's much too strong for her. "You want it, you have to work for it." Reeling back, he slaps her hard. Her nightmare is just beginning when he picks up the needle. She can see the amber colored ambrosia that she craves with such intensity that her heart starts to skyrocket. Using the needle, he taunts her, jabbing it in and out but never giving her what she needs. Her vision bleary from withdrawal, her fear begins to burn out of control when his tattoo appears to come to life, the snake's fangs, dripping her blood. Letting her legs fall open, she closes her eyes in a futile attempt to block it out.
Startled out of her reverie when she feels his hand on her forearm, Elena stares at it. Was that real? No, no it couldn't be, surely she'd remember an animal like that. It's all in her imagination, it has to be. Letting out a sob, she pulls away from Damon. Although he tries to offer her some comfort, she brushes him off. Struggling to keep her tears at bay, she starts to pace again. Feeling like a caged animal, it's like the walls are closing in on her.
"Elena, please calm down. The pill needs time to work."
"I don't want to talk about it. I don't know why I was screaming?" she snaps, her fuse getting shorter by the moment.
"Are you sure that's all it was?" Damon asks, not believing her for a moment. He wishes he knew why she is being so secretive. Dropping his face into his hands, Damon starts to cough again. His skin is hot and sweaty making him feel like death warmed over.
Rolling her eyes, she stops biting her fingernails for a moment. Looking at him intently, she huffs angrily, "Yes."
Knowing that he is nearing collapse, Damon scrubs his hand down his face and then gets up. "Listen, Elena, I feel like crap. Do you think we can call a truce for the night? I don't want to fight with you."
She knows that she'll be able to run as soon as he goes to sleep so she forces a smile then sits down beside him on the couch. "You really do look like shit. Maybe you should go to bed for awhile?"
"I'll just lay here," he says, lifting his legs onto the couch.
"If you're worried about me leaving, I won't," Elena screams, lying through her teeth.
Damon stares at her for several minutes not quite sure whether or not he can trust her. Inside he knows that he's being foolish because she'll do anything and say anything to get the drug but his body is on the brink of rebellion so he nods and gets up. Taking her hand, he pulls her into the bedroom with him. He locks the door in hopes that he'll wake up if she tries to unlock it.
"Seriously?"
"Humor me." His chest hurts and his head aches from coughing. After kicking off his jeans, he pull his tee shirt over his head and then he crawls into bed. With his eyes fixed on her, he stares until his body can take no more. Soon his eyes fall closed of their own accord and pull him into a sound sleep.
"Damon, it's beautiful." Her mouth is slightly parted as she runs her fingers over the shiny silver and diamond necklace.
"It's a David Yurman infinity knot. It's meant to say that I'll always love you, Elena."
"Damon?" she whispers. Leaning forward, she joins their lips in a quick kiss. Taking it from her hands, he fastens it around her beautiful gazelle like neck. Fingering the pendant, Damon runs his thumb over the top, a huge smile forming on his face.
"What?"
Dropping his lips to her ear, he whispers huskily, "I'm going to make love to you now and you're only going to wear this."
They both quickly divest themselves of their clothes. Instead of getting into it immediately, they relax in front of the fireplace. With Elena sitting between his spread legs, Damon wraps his arms around her, holding her flush against him. Dropping his face into her hair, he breathes her in, unable to imagine anything ever being better than this. The fire is casting a reddish orange glow in the room. The wood pops and crackles as the flames consume it making the room feel incredibly romantic. He presses a kiss to the top of her head and squeezes her a little closer. Tilting his head, he breaks out in a smile when he sees the smile that's lighting up her lovely face.
"You're so beautiful, Elena." He brushes his lips against her ear then begins to blaze a trail of heat along the curve of her jaw and down her gazelle like neck. Her moans are music to his ears. She shifts slightly so she can look into his hypnotic blue eyes. His own closing when Elena gently cradles his cheek with her hand. Raising her other one, she uses it to pull his mouth to hers. Their lips mold and slide against each other, melding together so perfectly that it feels like they were made for each other. With one hand holding her firmly against him, Damon uses the other to skim along her bare skin. When a mewl escapes her mouth, Damon thrusts his tongue inside, tasting her, loving her. As want turns into need, Damon feels her shift and in the next moment, he's pulling her on top of him. With a wink, she starts to massage his Adonis-like chest with her fingertips. She starts to lick and toy with his nipples, gently biting and tugging before soothing the sting with her tongue. While her mouth is engaged, she runs her nails down his abdomen, eliciting goosebumps.
Lifting himself up, he tenderly lays her on her back before latching onto one of her dusky pink nipples. While he suckles the one, his fingers tweak the other, stretching and pulling it till it's erect. Letting go of the one, he pulls the neglected one into his mouth. Damon suckles, tugs and teases her breasts.
"That feels so damn good," she pants, running her nails through his messy locks as his mouth works magic on her body.
"I want all of you," Damon whispers, staring down at her reverentially. The lust, want and desire he sees matches his own that is raging out of control.
"Yes."
Elena tightens her grip in his hair, using it for leverage to pull his mouth back to hers. The kiss is so powerful that he can feel the tingle all the way to his toes. Pulling apart, Damon feels a surge of lust when he sees her biting down on her bottom lip. Their hungry stares echo each other. Slowly and with purpose, he gently spread her thighs causing her body to erupt in chill bumps. Staring at her insanely gorgeous body with dark and heated eyes, Damon unwittingly licks his lips slowly and seductively.
"I want you inside of me, Damon," she breathes, her thighs clenching together.
Once more Damon gently spreads them, his lips finding hers before he begins to slither down her body, dragging his mouth along her smooth skin as he does. His own lust spikes when he hears the delicious sounds she's making when he runs his tongue along the length of her folds. Bathing her heated flesh with his lips and mouth, he uses his tongue to swirl her clit. Feeling her hips begin to buck and ride it, he moves lower, pushing it inside of her. He smiles against her core when he feels Elena weave her fingers into his hair and press his face flush against her.
With his erection painfully hard, he slithers up her body and takes her lips, letting her taste herself. Lowering his hand, he encircles his length and then sinks inside of her, stretching her gloriously judging by the way her lips part and her eyes fall closed. When he's fully seated, he stills, once more taking her lips in a languid kiss.
He moans aloud when he feels her body begin to tighten and clench around him. Feeling her begin to buck her hips, Damon starts to move slowly and torturously. When her body bows, her voluptuous breasts press firmly against his chest, the friction delightful as her nipples rub against his chiseled body. Completely enslaved in this moment, to Damon, it's like only they exist. Their whimpers, grunts and the sound of flesh meeting flesh form a delightful symphony. Damon would like nothing better than to listen to the sounds of their lovemaking night after night after night.
Feeling his belly begin to coil and heat up, he knows that he's close to what promises to be an explosive climax. When he hits that spot inside of her, she succumbs, detonating spectacularly going by the way her body arches and the lilt of her voice when his name leaves her lips as if in prayer. Dropping his eyes to hers, he fights to keep them open while he chases after his own release. With his chest heaving, he reaches it, his body bursting into a flurry of white heat and wildfire. Completely spent, he buries his face in the space between her neck and shoulder. She clings to him, her legs still loosely wrapped around his middle. When his body relaxes, he raises up, his lips claiming hers in a tender kiss.
Both exhausted, they fall asleep in each other's arms. Waking up a short time later, Damon finds himself alone, both Elena and the necklace gone.
Flying upright in bed, Damon wakes up in a coughing fit. It feels like he's going to cough up a lung. When he finally clears the wad of phlegm from this chest, he collapses back onto the pillows. It's then that he opens his eyes, finding the bedroom door wide open and Elena gone. Remembering his dream, he rolls over and pulls the drawer open, breathing a sigh of relief that the necklace is still there. He picks it up for a moment to run it through his fingers. But with a bigger challenge looming, he forces himself to get up. After calling her name aloud several times without a response, he searches every room. His fears are confirmed when he finds his apartment empty. Blaming himself for not trusting his instincts, a feverish Damon drops onto the couch. Raking his sweaty hair off of his forehead, he tries to think of what he should do but he's still feverish and not functioning on all cylinders so he does the only thing that pops into his mind.
Forcing himself to his feet, he goes to find his cellphone. As soon as he texts Brady and Bonnie, he drags himself to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Sitting down at the kitchen table, he drops his forehead into his hands. With his chest rattling, he gets up to see if he has any cold medicine in the cupboard. Of course not, he thinks to himself when he finds it void of anything useful. Leaning back against the counter, he stares straight ahead at nothing really. He could kick himself for believing for even a millisecond that she wouldn't try to leave. Walking into his bedroom to see if he has anything in the bathroom cupboard, he happens to notice the top drawer of his dresser open. Shaking his head back and forth, he hurries over. Seeing the keepsake box laying open, he tears the drawer apart but it's gone. The gold watch that his grandpa gave him before he died is gone.
"Damon, grandpa is very sick but he wants to see you."
"But I'm scared daddy," he whispers, his eyes darting towards the bed and back to his fathers.
"I know you're scared son but your grandpa wants to say goodbye to you."
"Where is he going?"
"He's an old man, Damon. I know it hurts but he's dying."
"Why?"
"Damon, everyone dies. Some people live to be old like your grandpa and others die young. Do you want me to go with you?"
Nodding, Elijah Salvatore takes his son's hand and leads him over to the bedside. He lifts Damon up and then sits at the foot of the bed himself, tears hinting as his father gives Damon his prized possession, his gold watch that his own father gave to him. Damon looks at it as if it's the most precious thing in the world. Holding it with reverence against his chest, Damon lays down beside his grand dad. Burying his face against his side, Damon closes his eyes and snuggles against his grandpa when he starts singing him a song.
Feeling shocked and betrayed, Damon nearly loses his footing. Picking up his phone again, he makes another call.
"Officer Salvatore, how can I help you?"
"Enzo?.. She ran."
Walking down the streets, her mind is a mess. Her body is rebelling, pain and nausea twisting and turning her stomach. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she feels the warm metal of the antique gold watch. She sees the 18K stamp on the case. Deep inside she knows she shouldn't have taken it. Her regret is short lived however when she justifies her actions by telling herself that it's his own fault because he should've had it locked up. Needing the drug more than she needs food or water, she happens to stumble upon a pawn shop and goes inside.
Hanging up the phone, Enzo tucks it back in his pocket. Since he makes good money, he has a nice sized apartment. It has three bedrooms, a nice deck overlooking a park, a large kitchen and a comfortably sized living, dining area. On his walls are reproductions of his favorite movie posters. They're framed and prominently displayed. He has Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Dark Knight and the 1931 original version of King Kong. On another wall is his bar and liquor cabinet. He also has a wine cooler tucked under the warm toned Oak bar top.
Enzo doesn't know what it is about that girl. For some reason, unbeknownst to him, he finds that he already cares about her. He doesn't like to think of her running on the streets where she's an easy mark for anyone with a stash and a needle. Surely some of them know she's a cop and would like nothing more than to exact revenge. There's no doubt in his mind that Lucy is fond of her too. She told him that she kissed Elena. He'd never admit it to her of course but he sort of envies the ease at which he saw the two women bonding. Sighing, he walks over to his liquor cabinet and pours himself a shot of bourbon. After swallowing it down, he looks up when he hears the door creak. Although he knows that he's going to have to go to look for the girl, he takes a moment to give his favorite girl a kiss.
"Listen love, as much as I'd rather stay here and entertain you, I have to go look for the cop."
"Elena?"
"Who else?" he says, pausing when his phone starts chirping. Pulling it out of his pocket, he answers it. "This is Lorenzo."
"Enzo, it's Bubba. There's a new girl in my bar. She's trying to hook up with a dealer. I thought you'd want to know."
"You take him aside and tell him that if he touches her or sells anything to her, he's dead... I'm on my way."
"Will do Enzo."
Blowing out a breath, he latches onto Lucy's hand, explaining everything to her as they hurry towards the stairwell in their quest to bring save Elena from herself.
As soon as he hears the doorbell ring, Damon hurries to answer it. Pale and sweaty with flushed cheeks, Damon stands aside so they can come in. After closing the door, he nearly does a face plant when he stumbles, landing on his knees instead. Brady and Bonnie each take an arm and help him to his feet. "Look we have to find her," he pleads, his eyes glazed and dull.
"You're not going anywhere. You'll end up in the hospital too if you don't take care of yourself," Bonnie scolds. Shaking her head at his stubbornness, she walks through his bedroom and into the bathroom. She digs until she finds the lavender bubble bath that she bought when she had to stay here for a few days when a water main broke in her place. Once she turns on the water, she pours a few capfuls in and then walks out to prod him to come take a hot bath. With Brady's help, they get him into the tub. Before Bonnie went to the police academy, she worked as a nurse's aide so it's not like she hasn't seen her share of men's anatomy. Damon is too out of it to care anyway. After they let him soak in the hot water for about a half an hour, they dry him off and put some clean pajamas on him. Although he starts to fuss, the protest dies on his lips when she pulls the covers over him. Already asleep, they decide that she should stay here in case Elena comes back while Brady goes out to look for her. They close the door softly and then go to the kitchen. Before Brady goes, Bonnie makes a fresh pot of coffee and some sandwiches. Sitting down, she picks up her cup and sips it slowly.
Noticing how she looks like she's miles away, Brady asks, "What's on your mind?"
"Why didn't you tell him about that Trevor guy, you know his possible connection to the Lockwood clan?"
"Because you and I both know that we never would've been able to keep him in bed if we did," he adds, raising an eyebrow at her.
"You're right," Bonnie agrees, then takes a bite of her sandwich.
Having left Lucy outside to watch the front entrance, Enzo strolls in through the back. Looking around, he hears her before he sees her. He can't help but chuckle a little at the way she's complaining that he won't deal with her. He stands back to watch her for a few minutes, curious to see how far she'll go and if the dealer values his life enough to heed his warning. When he notices her beginning to unbutton her blouse, he approaches the table. As soon as the man sees him, a look of fear washes over features.
"I didn't give her anything," he stutters, backing out of the booth.
"You won't ever give anything to her. She's mine and I take care of what's mine. Are we clear?" he asks, the pitch of his voice low and lethal sounding. The man nods animatedly and then makes a bee line for the door, his progress stopped when he slips in some spilled beer and lands flat on his face. Amused, Enzo starts to laugh.
Incensed, Elena's mouth drops open as she makes a move to go after the guy. But in weakened state, Enzo easily latches onto her. Dragging her out of the bar kicking and screaming, he swats her ass then throws her into the backseat and jumps in behind her. After slamming the door shut, he tells Lucy to drive. Withdrawing badly, Elena is shaking and curls up as chills wrack her body. As soon as Lucy pulls away from the curb, he reaches into the center counsel and pulls out a little bag. With firm hands, he pulls out a needle. He squeezes her skinny arm tight enough to make a vein bulge. Their eyes meet for a millisecond before he pokes the needle in and injects the weak dose of heroin. Closing her eyes, Elena relaxes into the seat cushion, pleasure surging through her with each stuttering thrum of her heart. Although he knows that she's too gone to pay attention, he says aloud, "You and I are going to have a talk. I can't quite work when I have to babysit you now can I?"
When Lucy looks over her shoulder for a moment, they share a look then Enzo settles into the seat and drops his head back, wondering what the hell he's going to do with this girl.
Huge thank you to Eva.
Hugest thanks to all of you too. I can't say it enough. You are all the greatest DE fans. Your support means so much to me. It's hard to put it into words.
Chapter title: 'Fox On The Run' by Sweet.
My friend 'deepwater1978' has a compelling story, "Love Me Like You Do". I'm sure she'd be thrilled to hear from some of you.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. This is a painful story but I promise you that the dawn will come.
Have a safe and fabulous day and or evening, depending where you are in this big world. Thank you all again.
