'K' this Elena/Bonnie scene is for you. Thank you for all of the reviews and encouragement!

Once in the house Stefan guided Elena to the couch and putting his hand under her elbow assisted her to sit. Then he lowered himself to his heels and studied her.

He softly put his hand on her arm and looked into her eyes.

"How are you?" Elena took a deep breath and smiled at him.

"I am fine."

"Elena, you do not have to pretend, it is okay to not be fine. In fact, no one is expecting you to be fine for quite a while."

"I am so sorry I was not here, I will never forgive myself for not being here to protect you."

She looked up at him.

"Stefan, it is not your fault."

She desperately sought for some way to re-direct the conversation; she was not ready to be talking about this yet.

She thought of asking him how his trip went, but it was too close to her situation.

"How about we go to the kitchen? I was about to have some soup."

He was upright in a second offering her his hand to get up off the couch. She ignored it, struggling to her feet unassisted, gritting her teeth through the pain. Her lower abdomen felt as if she were on fire. Every step or movement seemed to aggravate the pain. Grimacing involuntarily she instinctively put her hand on her stomach and took a steadying breath. Stefan eyed her with concern. Stepping closer to her and putting his hand on her shoulder he sighed.

"Elena, stop pushing me away. I want to help. I need to help. What are you trying to prove? Who are you trying to prove it to? To me? I know you are strong. To yourself? What you need to do is take it easy and take care of yourself."

Elena shook her head.

"Just, leave me alone, Stefan."

Shame and humiliation warred for dominance. She felt trapped and confined.

"I,I think I will go back to my room. I am not really hungry, but I do need some pain medication and am tired again. Will you please tell my aunt I am going to rest again? I think she is still in the kitchen."

Stefan nodded and turned on his heel, disappearing into the other room. She turned and made her way towards the stairs. Slowly, she trudged through the hall and up towards the stair case. Then Stefan was beside her.

"I told her you were going back to bed; I think she was not happy about it. I told her I was leaving for the night."

Not stopping to ask for permission he scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, holding her away from his body try and minimize her discomfort. He placed her on her bed and gently placed her head on her pillow. They heard steps on the stairs and Stefan disappeared through the window. Elena's aunt popped her head in the door.

"Stefan said you were not hungry and were going to bed. Are you alright?"

'I am fine, thank you. I am just tired is all, and rather achy all over. I think I will take some medication and nap again."

The door shut and Elena was in her room alone. She walked to the bathroom and opened the medication cabinet. She quickly swallowed two pills, and then looked around her. Almost involuntarily she shrugged out of her clothes and turned on the shower. She was not sure why she was doing this, it just felt right. She stepped in the stall and let the water wash over her. It felt good. She turned the warm water down, making the water cooler. She just stood there under the water, not moving except to turn the hot water off completely. She was not sure how long she stood there under the water; it was as if time had ceased to exist for her.

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Stefan stayed outside the window, he heard Elena go to her bathroom and turn on the shower. He chose to respect her privacy and not enter her room till asked. This noble resolution lasted for twenty minutes as he grew more and more agitated. Finally, unable to stand it any longer he slipped back into her room pacing back and forth as he waited for her to come out. He quietly rapped on the door. There was no response.

"Elena?"

There was no response so he opened the door, it was not locked. He quickly stepped to the shower, pulling open the curtain. Elena was sitting in the shower letting the cold water wash over her, she looked up at him, her teeth chattering.

"Please, do not leave me!"

Stefan had her out of the tub and wrapped in a towel in a second.

Elena, are you alright? What happened dear?"

"I,I was taking a shower, and then it just felt so good, the water washing over me, that I did not want to come out. Then, then, I was there, and was cold and so wet. I was frightened, so frightened and alone. And then, you were here."

She looked up at him, her eyes anguished, her breathing harsh and raspy.

She struggled to be put down and he set her on her feet. She clutched the towel close to herself. Backing away from him she stepped towards the door. He stood there and let her go. He could hear her rummaging around in her drawers for sleepwear.

She then got into bed.

"Stefan?" He stood beside her.

"Please, will you stay beside me tonight?" "Of course I will " said Stefan.

"Thank you, I do not want to be alone tonight…"

Elena sought for his hand, he took it and stroked it gently till she fell asleep.

In the morning he was still beside her. She stretched and yawned. She felt groggy and sluggish as she tried to focus on what had happened. Stefan looked at her.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did." She lied.

"I have good news for you, Bonnie awakened briefly last night and is being transferred to a regular room today."

He smiled, eyes pleading with her to be happy about the news.

She rubbed her temple.

"That is great, could I go see her?"

"I do not see why not. As long as you feel up to it."

"I am going to get some more medicine." She stood up, her tank top showed the bruises that were darkening her skin, and there were multiple locations that had to be sutured.

He looked away, trying to give her privacy. She walked to the bathroom and took a change of clothes with her. She came out later, dressed and ready to go down stairs. She grabbed a toaster pastry and cup of coffee. Her aunt greeted her and again gave her the news of Bonnie.
Elena said.

"I want to go see her after breakfast."

"That would be a great idea. I will take you in a hour." Her aunt promised.

Elena spent the time waiting watching TV. She could tell Stefan was hungry and sent him out to do his hunting. He objected, not wanting to leave her side, but she insisted.

In the hospital Elena forced herself not to think of where she was. Bonnie looked peaceful, like she was sleeping. But then, Elena reflected, she was. She turned to her aunt and asked for a soda, wanting to get a little time alone with her friend.

When she was alone she cleared her throat.

"Bonnie , It's me. How are you doing? I have been worried for you. What happened out there? Are you okay?"

Elena choked, tears coming to the surface.

"I miss you, Bonnie. I need someone to talk to. I do not know what to do or where to turn. Bonnie, where are you, I need your advise! I cannot even write in my diary about it, but maybe you, I think I could talk to you. Bonnie, I love you so much! Please Bonnie, I cannot lose you too, I have lost too much, too much already, do you hear? Please wake up!"

There was a slight stirring under the covers. Elena held her breath.

"El'a you get me out of here and you can tell me whatever you want… 'm not going to die or anything. 'Bonnie rasped.
"Bonnie!"

"Elena! You look horrible! Oh, God, it was my fault, want it? I could not get to you. Elena, forgive me, please!"

Now Bonnie was in tears. A nurse stepped in at the commotion and whisked Elena out of the room.

Elena dried her tears quickly. Not wanting anyone to see her weakness. When her aunt returned with the soda Elena requested to go home. She was exhausted now, and her mind fuzzy.

When she got home she stumbled up the stairs and into the bathroom. She was in pain and did not want to wait the extra hour till it was time for pain medication.

She took two quickly, ignoring the niggling voice at the back of her head that said this was wrong. Well, why not do something a little wrong? In fact, she had been so wronged by life it was about time she started to even up the score.

Then she picked up her diary.

Dear Diary. I survived the morning. I saw Bonnie and she spoke to me. I am so tired. I did not dream at all last night which was good. It was probably because Stefan spent the night with me after I asked him to. It was very nice of him. I expected him to say he could not. And I would not have blamed him.

I am so tired; it is hard to concentrate enough to write for some reason. I feel very spacey, it cannot be the medication can it? I just took it.

I am going to nap, maybe me being so tired is a form of PTSD or something like the soldiers have. I do not know.

I hope I can rest be…

Here the entry ended. Stefan slipped in through the window.

"How are you?"

"Fine, I took some more medication a bit early." She looked at him almost defiantly, daring him to object. He did nothing of the sort. He simply held open his arms with a look of invitation. Elena slowly walked into his arms. Her throat hurt. She wanted to cry, but tears never came.