I'm so, so sorry for not updating in awhile guys. Finals are kicking my butt, literally. So now that I'm almost done, I thought I'd update : )

Last we left off, Damon and Elena officially became a couple. Then she heard a warning resonating in her head—Be Careful.

Enjoy and review please : )

Chapter 10—The Continuation of Talking

Damon was waiting for Elena the next morning in the recreation room. Elena couldn't help the smile that donned her face when she saw him. When he looked up at her, he smiled back. Despite seeing him at his worst while crying, she liked his smile the best. It lit up the room. And her world.

He was dressed in his usual black clothing. She wondered if he owned any other color besides that. He looked like a young Johnny Cash, as if he literally was going to a funeral. But black always made his blue eyes stand out even more.

Elena walked over slowly. She made a point to dress somewhat nicely. Despite the fact that they were in a mental hospital, she still wanted to look nice for her new boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

The name still brought strange thoughts to her mind. She was never used to the idea of belonging to another human being, even Matt at the time. Just thinking that she used to date that loser made her quench in disgust. But then she remembered what Damon did for her yesterday and it didn't hurt nearly as much now.

"Hello Elena. Did you sleep well?" he asked her as she sat down next to him. She saw him eyeing her hand and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"I slept just fine Damon. How about you?"

"Like a baby," his eyes met hers again. Leaning forward he whispered, "I wish I could hold your hand, but one of the nurses or other patients might catch us."

Frowning, she nodded her understanding. She understood perfectly. If anybody else found out about a "problematic" patient relationship, they would be torn apart. They would either be kicked out or thrown into different hospitals. Neither option sounded good.

So in order to be together, they had to keep a low profile and only see each other at designated times.

"Your hair is wet. Bath day today?" Damon asked her, putting his head in the palm of his hand in a casual way.

"Yeah. Every other morning is a bad morning," Elena explained. She hated bath days. All the girls had to go through this, but it was still humiliating.

She remembered the first time she bathed in the hospital:

She was led to a room by Lexi herself, which was down a long, light hallway. When they reached a door, Lexi unlocked it and signaled to Elena to enter first.

The sight confused Elena. In the room were multiple bathtubs attached to different taps. They were spaced along the walls. At the end of the room, she saw a girl she didn't recognize naked in the bathtub with a nurse sitting beside her.

"Strip. I'll fill a tub for you," Lexi commanded.

Elena's head jerked up. What? She was going to have a bath in the same room as the other girl?

"Unless you want your clothes to get soaked, I suggest you strip down now," Lexi said once again, filling a tub with warm water.

"I have…I have to be naked in the same room as another girl?" Elena squeaked, horrified. She was a girl who liked her privacy and this just mortified her.

After another Lexi insistence, she was forced to strip right down. She didn't dare look up at the other girl and prayed she wasn't being watched. Lexi made sure she was settled before leaving the room.

Quickly getting into the tub, she brought her knees up to chin, hiding in her own shame.

Lexi came back and handed her a bar of soap as well as a razor. Grateful, Elena took both. After soaping up her legs, she was about to shave them before she looked up. Lexi was sitting in a chair watching her intently.

Bringing her leg back into the water, she gawked at Lexi. "Are you seriously going to watch me?"

"Afraid so. Its regulations. Some of the girls who are suicidal will try doing anything with a sharp object, especially a razor," Lexi explained.

Elena sighed. This couldn't be more humiliating!

Deciding to suck it up, she soaped her body up. After rinsing, she decided to just get it over with. Grabbing the razor, she quickly shaved just the lover part of her legs. There was no point in shaving all of it now. Who would notice?

Lexi helped her wash her hair before handing Elena a towel. She tried drying herself as quickly as she possibly could.

After she and Lexi left the room, the only thing Elena could feel was absolute shame in the whole event.

…..

Elena hated talking about her first few days here, especially that story. But she had been getting more okay with it over the past few weeks. And she made sure she was extra clean today. She wanted to look nice for Damon.

"You think you have it rough? I can't tell you how many dicks I've seen that…well…let's just say aren't that pretty," Damon shuddered in memory.

Elena giggled when she saw Damon smile at her.

Their little moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Turning around, Elena the biggest male nurse she had ever seen tapping his foot impatiently.

"Oh Drake, I was expecting you. When the fuck is my checkup?" Damon laughed at him. Elena kept her mouth shut, horrified that he would deliberately piss this guy off!

"Now, it's now Damon. You said you would be in your room," the nurse Drake spoke in a hard voice.

"Well, I had better things to do," Damon explained with a smile and wink at me. When Drake left the room (making sure Damon was following him first), Damon turned around and whispered "See you later" before heading down the hallway.

That left Elena to herself. She was a little disappointed now that Damon was gone, but decided she needed someone to talk too. Someone she felt she needed to talk to.

Out of obligation.

….

Sitting in Dr. Fell's office, Elena sat nervously awaiting her arrival. It was her appointment day and she just wanted to get this over with.

The door opened as Dr. Fell seemed to just stream her way behind her desk. Elena was amazed at her speed.

"So Elena, how are you feeling today?" Dr. Fell said, leaning back in her chair.

"Just fine actually. Better than fine," Elena smiled.

"Could another patient have anything to do with this?"

That made Elena look up. Masking her shock, she continued as if nothing had sent her heart racing.

"Damon has been very helpful. He and I talk about our different problems and he's been helping me overcome my fears and feelings."

Dr. Fell made a noise in her throat. "I see…."

"Are you taking your meds daily?"

"Yes," Elena lied right off the bat. She had been tonguing them over the past two weeks and had never felt better. Damon once again saved her in the most interesting way.

"Good. So are you ready to talk some more about your reasoning for trying to commit suicide?"

Elena sighed. She had been dreading this. But if she wanted to understand why and be able to get out sooner, she had to come clean. At least about a few things in her past.

And if things went accordingly, maybe she and Damon would get out at the same time? That would be the most wonderful thing that could happen to them! Then they could finally be a couple without worrying about everybody watching them.

"Okay ummmmm….where do you want me to start?"

"How about your past and current friendships? Do you have many girlfriends?"

"I used to back in high school. Now not so much. Bonnie was my childhood best friend. She and I did everything together. She had to move when her parents got divorced last month. She told me we would text and talk all the time, but the minute she left I haven't seen nor heard from her since."

Dr. Fell nodded. Elena couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw a little sympathetic look on her face before she masked herself yet again.

"Any others?"

"I used to have a friend named Caroline. I thought she was a good friend…until I caught her with my ex-boyfriend on our little outing yesterday. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be talking to her anymore or him."

"I see…do you have anyone else you can talk to? Anyone else that you can just be yourself around, joke with, talk about your problems?"

Just Damon. "No one."

"Elena, I think part of your problems started with the death of your parents a few months ago. I read that in your file. Since then your life has just been one downslope after another. Your parent's death, your friends abandoning you, the feelings of helplessness. These are all common feelings Elena. You're not alone. Understand?"

Elena could only nod. She had a point.

"I think we're making progress. Your next session will be in a few days. Until then, try to relax. Go out to the garden more; I know its cold, but we are having a beautiful winter. You should try to enjoy nature more. That seems to help a lot of patients."

Elena stood up and nodded at Dr. Fell before exiting the room. Well, that wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it was going to be.

As she walked down the hallway, she was suddenly grabbed from behind with a hand clapped over her mouth!

Struggling with all her might, her culprit took her into a nearby broom closet. Her heart almost burst when she turned around and saw that it was none other than Damon. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he smirked at her.

"God dammit Damon, I almost had a heart attack! I was afraid another patient was going to have his way with me!" She stopped, trying to catch her breath, clutching her hand to her chest.

"Believe me Elena, no one is going to hurt you. I mean, never again. I will always be there to stop everyone else from hurting you ever again. I promise," he gently cupped her chin and lifted her head to look into his eyes.

She nodded. My God, those eyes of his! She could look at his beauty all day and never get enough.

"I didn't mean to scare the living daylights out of you. Am I forgiven?" he asked, pouting his bottom lip.

Elena couldn't help but giggle. "Yes Damon, you're forgiven."

"Good, because I've been wanting to do this all day! I've thought of nothing else since last night." Damon brought his lips down to hers, stopping any conversation.

Stars erupted before her eyes as she felt fireworks erupting all inside of her body. Damn, Damon could really kiss. His soft lips forced hers open for better access. His tongue met hers in a fiery frenzy. Elena had never French-kissed anybody before but she assumed this was it! And it was fantastic!

At that moment, Elena knew she had found her home away from home. There was no one she could be with or connect with more than Damon.

Well, except in one more way.

It seemed like hours passed before they broke apart, breathless.

"Wow…." He said first, completely out of breath.

"Yeah…wow…"

"Elena, I've never felt this way about anybody before. No one."

Elena shook her head. "Neither have I Damon. Ever."

"I know that we've only know each other for a short time Damon but…I think I'm starting to really fall for you. I've been falling ever since I first saw you," Elena whispered, looking into his blue eyes for his reaction.

Damon's eyes looked startled. She thought she saw a hint of sadness in them before he too smiled in response.

"I think I am too Elena. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met in years! Falling in love with you has made me want to live again."

A memory of Damon's bad night flashed before her mind. He had told her that he was a bad man and that something happened that was his fault?...

She pushed that memory away before kissing him again, wrapping her arms around his neck for support in the enclosed space.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed in there. All they knew was they were in their own personal heaven where no one would disturb or judge them.

This was what they both wanted and needed.

….

So, what do you guys think of the update?