Timeless.
Chapter Nine.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries.


Sticking her head out of the door ever so slightly, Elena glanced around. There was no movement. Most of the deputies had gone, and Elena could hear the only two that were still there mooching around in the office. She stepped out into the hallway, a cold chill spreading across her body. Vampires rarely felt the cold, but something about this place made her shiver. It may have had something to do with the fact that she had been a prisoner here herself. She turned back to look at Damon, who nodded, urging her forward. She flashed him a small smile - so small he almost missed it – and continued on.

Damon pulled the door shut behind them. If they were going to do this, they were going to do it properly. He knew that if they left it open and someone walked past, it would look odd. No, they were going to cover their tracks. It was the best way to ensure that no one noticed they were there, and they could get Caroline and Klaus in and out without someone getting killed in the process. The door creaked slightly and Elena turned around with panicked eyes. They both froze, listening for any signs of movement. When it was clear that no one had heard, Damon pulled the door the rest of the way, hearing a click as it shut.

"Come on," whispered Elena and she began to walk down the corridor, towards the office. Moving carefully but quickly, the pair made their way through the building, passing multiple rooms with open doors. Dim lights illuminated the corridor and Elena was able to see all the way down to the open door. The door lead through to the cells, and just off that was the office. Elena took a deep breath as she began to worry. This could go horribly wrong and they could all end up being killed. She wanted to help Caroline more than anything, but she was worried that her being there could endanger her more. She was so deep in thought that she jumped when she felt Damon take her hand in his.

"It's okay," he said, obviously noticing the way she had tensed up. "I'm right here."

She turned her head and looked at him. His bright blue eyes were soft as he stared at her and she felt like for once, she could actually trust him, a man. After all Jon had put her through, she had never put her trust in another man since. She had become hostile towards men and she knew she had. That was why when she first met Klaus, she knew he wouldn't be good for Caroline. Men never were. Caroline still believed in love, but not Elena. She knew better. Yet as she stood here, staring at Damon, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she could let herself care, just this once. He smiled softly at her and pushed her forwards slightly, staying close behind. She smiled to herself as his hand remained in hers the whole way. They reached the door and glanced inside. Bright lights made Elena squint and she looked around, looking for any sign of movement. She spotted a deputy immediately, standing close to the cells. She shot backwards, bumping into Damon who didn't stumble at all. He remained solid as a rock. He pulled her towards him and pressed them both against the wall, out of sight.

"What is it?"

"There's a deputy," She whispered, letting out a breath. She was fully aware that her back was pressed up against Damon's front. She felt herself blushing, something she hadn't done in decades.

"What's he doing?" He asked her, his lips close to her right ear. A shiver ran down her spine but she ignored it. She didn't feel this way about him. Just this morning they were bickering like usual! Elena leant forward slightly and peeked into the room. She could see an older looking deputy standing around, watching over Caroline who lay almost motionless in her cell. She couldn't see Klaus, but she figured he was probably the same. She moved back, out of sight once again.

"He's just watching her,"

"Can you see the other guy?" Damon asked her and she shook her head. Almost as if It was planned, she heard a voice calling through from what she assumed was the office.

"Paul?" called the voice and Elena watched as the man in front of Caroline's cell looked up. "You want anything to drink? I'm going for a soda.."

"No," he shook his head and watched as the younger man walked out of the office. "I'm good."

"Suit yourself.." he said and began to wander towards the door on the far side of the room. Elena's breath hitched in her throat. She turned to face Damon and he nodded. This was their chance. They both peeked their head through the door and watched as the younger man walked in search of the drinks machine, his older colleague wandering back inside the office.

"Go and open the cells." said Damon. "I'll distract the deputy." He let go of her and went to head off after the younger deputy. Elena grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop.

"What about the other one?" Her eyes were wide. Elena shook her head. "Don't leave me, Damon, I can't do this alone-"

"You're not alone, Elena. Trust me." Damon cupped her cheek with his hand and her eyes widened even more. "Go and find the key and get them out. I'll be right back."

Then he was gone.

Elena took a deep breath and stepped into the room. She looked over at the cells and she could see Caroline lying on her back, her chest moving up and down rapidly. Klaus didn't look much better, but he could see her. He went to speak but she put a finger up to her lips and shook her head. She glanced at the office door once more. When she couldn't hear any movement, she began searching for the keys. Her eyes scanning the tables and the hooks, she finally came across them on one of the seats. Picking up the large key-loop with three chunky keys on, she rushed over to Klaus's cell door, pushing the key in the lock. She winced and let out a small hiss when her fingers touched the lock. Her fingertips were burning but she tried to push the pain from her mind. The lock was obviously soaked in vervain just like the bars. She watched as Klaus struggled to his feet, his eyes tired and worried.

"What are you doing here?" mouthed Klaus and Elena simply shook her head, trying to concentrate on unlocking the lock. She winced once again, her fingers on fire as she jiggled the key in the lock. She knew she was rattling it a little loud, but the pain in her fingers was unreal.

"Hurry up," whispered Klaus, trying to be quiet. Elena looked up and gave him a dirty look.
Could he not see she was struggling here!?

Elena ignored him and continued, sighing in relief when the lock clicked open. Wrapping her hand around one of the bars, she gave a tug and the cell door slid open. Elena let out a yelp of pain and she immediately let go, not wanting to burn her hand any more than she already had.

"Go and get Caroline," Elena told him, pulling the key from the lock. He nodded, shooting out of the door. She knew she had been loud, but at least if Klaus got to Caroline, everything would be fine.

Klaus grabbed the key from Elena, before rushing towards Caroline. He jammed the key in the lock, trying to block out the pain and began to twist the key.

Elena was about to help him when she heard movement. She looked over to the office door and spotted the deputy walking back out towards them. He stopped dead when he saw her, his eyes wide.

"What the hell.." said the deputy and he reached into his holster for his gun. Elena snarled and the veins under her eyes began protruding, his fans descending. He raised his gun in the air, pointing it at her. With dark eyes, Elena began to rush towards him. She was stopped in her tracks however, when she saw a dark figure tackle the deputy to the floor. She jumped backwards at the sound of a gunshot and she realized it was Damon who was now pinning him to the floor. She didn't get much of a chance to help him, however, as pain began spreading through her chest.

Elena gasped and looked down, seeing blood dripping down her shirt.

"Elena!" She could hear Damon calling her name, but she simply dropped to the floor and clutched at her chest. It was then she realized how much trouble she was in.

She could hear everything around her, almost in slow motion. She heard Damon snap the deputy's neck, she heard Klaus's skin burning as he fumbled with the lock - she could hear everything.

Elena let out a cry of pain and tears began to drip down her cheeks. She stared up at the ceiling, trying to think of anything else but the pain. Feeling the wooden bullet scraping against her heart, she clawed at herself, knowing there was no point. She couldn't get it out. The vervain-laced bullet was burning her insides. She was in absolute agony.

A dark shadow blocked her view of the ceiling and she suddenly realized that someone was kneeling down beside her.

"Elena.." said a voice and she recognized it straight away. "Elena, can you hear me!?"

"Damon.." Elena managed to gasp out.

"Oh, thank god." mumbled Damon. "Move your hands, I've got you."

"Damon.." said Elena. "Damon, my heart.."

"I know, Elena," He said and he took one of her hands his his, holding it tight. "Stay still, I'm going to get it out."

Elena fell silent for a moment as she stared up, her eyes blurred. She could feel Damon pulling at the bullet and she suddenly cried out, the pain to much to bear.

"Stop! No, you have to stop-" She screamed and he sighed, his eyes filling with worry.

"I know it hurts, but you have to let me do this!"

"Damon.. I-I can't!" shouted Elena, her eyes screwed shut as the pain filled her entire body. Damon squeezed her hand tight and hoped that would be enough. She couldn't give up now.

"Yes, you can! You're Elena Gilbert! You're strong and brave and you throw a hell of a punch! You can do this, Elena, I promise you! Just squeeze my hand.."

Elena began to cry, something very unlike her. She squeezed Damon's hand tight and clamped her teeth together, ready for the horrific feeling she knew she was about to have. Damon looked at her terrified and pained face and took one single deep breath before he began pulling on the wooden bullet. His fingers burned as the vervain soaked in but he didn't give up. He wasn't going to give up on her. He twisted the piece of wood in his fingers, feeling it scraping against her heart. He scrunched up his face and with one swift tug, he managed to pull the bullet free. Elena gasped for breath, finally able to breath again. Her chest heaved and her head span around, dizziness consuming her. Damon's fingers were still burning as he threw the bullet on the floor, out of the way. He felt Elena squeeze his hand once more and he looked down at her.

"Are you okay?" asked Damon and she slowly nodded her head.

"Thank you.." gasped Elena, a small smile starting to appear on her face. She was extremely pale but he could overlook that, she had just had a bullet in her after all.

"It's fine-"

"No, I mean it, Damon," Elena said. "Thank you,"

They stared at each other for a moment, for the first time realizing what had just happened. Elena's chest was heaving up and down and Damon fell back onto his backside, relaxing.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Damon and she nodded once again.

"What did you do to the other deputy?"

"I knocked him out," He shrugged it off. "Nothing sinister, sweetheart.."

Elena let out a small laugh and Damon joined in. It was the first time since they had met that she hadn't screamed at him for calling her sweetheart.

"Elena?" A female voice croaked out and Elena shot up, although Damon tried to keep her down, knowing she needed to recover.

"Caroline?" She called back and she looked over at the cell that was now open. Caroline was sitting up, staring over at her with wide eyes. Klaus was holding her, his arms wrapped around her back, almost helping her to sit up. Elena had no doubt that if Klaus wasn't holding her, there was no way Caroline would be up and looking at her right now. She had been shot with so much vervain, there was very little chance of her being mobile. Her eye was black and swollen where she had obviously been hit and Elena felt herself cringe. She had never seen Caroline in this state before. They were strong both together and alone and they had never been forced into a situation like this. Elena pulled herself up off the floor, feeling her insides starting to heal up. She stumbled over to the cell, doing her best not to touch the bars.

"Elena," mumbled Caroline, smiling at her best friend as she stumbled closer. "Are you okay?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Elena laughed lightly and fell to her knees beside the blonde. She was still in pain, but nothing would stop her from seeing her best friend. She pulled her close and hugged her tight. She was so glad nothing had happened to her.

"I'm okay, just a little beat up," said Caroline, the side of her mouth curling upwards.

"This is my fault, Care." replied Elena but Caroline shook her head.

"No, it's not! It's not your fault at all, Elena!"

"If anyone is to blame here, it's me," Elena looked up at the sound of Klaus's voice. "They were after me, Caroline. You got caught in the crossfire."

"I wasn't going to let them take you-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we really have to get out of here," Damon cut in and Elena realized he was right. The other deputies already knew about them. They had to leave now and get a good head start.

"He's right," said Klaus, nodding his head. "We need to get back to the house."

Klaus got to his feet and scooped Caroline up to his arms, one hand under her legs and his other arm curled around her back. He held her close and she snuggled into him. Elena looked over at Damon who was holding out his hand for her. She smiled and took it gladly, allowing him to help her to her feet. The two continued to hold hands as they followed Klaus out of the building.


Sorry about the shorter chapter!
I'm kind of disappointed with my writing in this one, but I really wanted to get this out for you guys!
I hope this is alright for you.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think! :)
-Dreamer