Elena:

As soon as Damon has the keys in one hand, I grab his other and practically drag him out to the parking lot. Unlocking the door, I nearly dive inside, excited to get there as quickly as humanly possible. Damon is shaking his head with mirth at me but I know that he understands how important this is to me. Sliding into the driver's seat, he buckles his seat belt, ignites the engine and pulls out into traffic. When we reach the highway, the traffic is heavy so we have to slow till we can successfully exit onto the interstate.

"Damon, please hurry," I blurt out, sitting at the edge of my seat as he drives across town.

"Elena, I'm sure Brady would love nothing more than to give me a speeding ticket. He'd never let me hear the end of it."

"You're right. I'm sorry for being pushy."

"I know, Elena and I'd rather get you there safely than right now if you get my drift."

"Yes, thanks for coming with me."

"You're welcome," he adds, squeezing my hand.

"When you're in a hurry, nothing goes right," I sigh, staring at the road illuminated by our headlights ahead of me.

"Relax okay?"

"That's easy for you to say. It's been so long."

"I know that, Elena. I'm really happy about all of this."

"I know you are," I start to say when I see the sign for our exit. "Slow down, don't miss the exit."

"You're hilarious you know that, right?" he laughs, putting on his blinker and exiting a few minutes later. Sitting at the edge of my seat, I'm almost out of the car before he even pulls it to a complete stop. After stepping out and locking the car door, he places a hand on each shoulder.

"Calm down, sweetheart. We're here." With that, he drops his arms, laces his fingers with mine and leads me inside. Stopping only to ask the person at the desk if he's in his room, I drag Damon behind me almost as if he's a cartoon character with his legs in the air while I'm speeding down the hall. When I reach our destination, I pause and take a breath, meeting Damon's eyes. Although it's not the first time that I came to visit, it'll be the first time that I know with certainty that he'll be aware of my presence.

Suddenly a plethora of images fills my mind. One is me clutching Kol's bloody body to mine, holding him close. And then I see my bloodied clothes and hands again. It's like I'm back in that moment. Needing a minute alone compose myself, I walk down the hall a few feet, close my eyes and just breathe. It should've been me that laid in a coma for so long. Shaking my head, I scrunch my eyes together and try to force this from my head. I know full well that Kol will scold me for even thinking such thoughts.

Already knowing me so well, Damon waits for me at his door. With my conceding nod, he walks over and pulls me into his arms, caressing my back with his palms. I don't know how much time has passed when he steps back, reaches into his pocket and offers me a handkerchief.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Elena. I want to be here with you. And I understand completely how very important he is to you."

Swallowing thickly, I nod again, link my hand with his and once again we step in front of his room. Facing him once more, I clasp the handle and when I see Damon nod again, I push the door open. It's only when his eyes meet mine that my tears fall with renewed vigor. Rushing to his bedside, we wrap our arms around each other.

"My God, I thought you'd never wake up. I mean, your doctors said that it was a possibility and you can't know how devastated I felt after that. I'm so happy that you're here in this moment with me right now. It's truly a miracle," I blubber, my whole body shaking under the weight of all the emotion that I'm feeling right now.

"I'll leave you two alone for a moment," Damon says, giving my shoulders another squeeze. Too focused on the fact that Kol is no longer trapped in his coma, I don't say anything but I hear when the door squeaks. Finally getting control of myself, I ease back and stare into his eyes.

"It's so good to see you too, Elena," he says, his voice a little weak sounding. We join hands and I just stare at him for a few moments. When I realize that I'm alone here, I look around and ask him about his family.

"Where are your parents?"

"I sent them home to get some rest. They were literally running on fumes. The doctor told me that they've been here day and night since they moved me here."

"Did they fill you in on who did this to you?"

"They said that Mason was arrested for Ben and Amber's murders. Do they think he's responsible for what happened to me too?"

"Yes, Brady thinks that I was the intended target because of the Bradley case. I'm so, so sorry, Kol, this should have been me."

"Don't you ever say that again," he says, glaring at me. Sighing, I reach up to cup his face for a moment. Our connection is so strong.

"You said that Mason has been arrested?"

"I did. He tried to kill Damon too. We caught him at the scene actually."

"Seriously?" he asks, his mouth agape.

"Mason injected him with this drug that causes paralysis. I don't know how but somehow we reached him in time to save his life."

"He's okay now, right? I mean he's here with you."

"Yeah, he's good."

"So Elena, is there a reason that you're here with Damon?" he queries, raising an eyebrow teasingly at me.

"There is. He and I are together, Kol," I explain, bracing for what may be a harsh reaction.

"You're with him as in romantically?"

"Yes, I'm in love with him, Kol. I sometimes can't believe it myself."

"Wow, I did miss a lot," he jokes, smiling at me. "But you know what? I kind of had a feeling about the two of you. If he makes you happy, I'll support you all the way."

"He does, he really does." Unable to help myself, I loop my arms around his neck a second time and give him another hug. "But enough about me, how are you really, Kol?"

"The doctor tells me that I'll probably have some short term memory loss. I may have to carry some kind of a reminder with me from now on. You know like if I have an appointment at a certain time or place, I'll have to set a reminder on my phone or I'll forget about it. That's scary, you know?"

"I understand. I'm here, I'll always be here for you."

"I know you will. I love you, Elena. You're my best friend forever and always."

"I love you too, Kol," I start to say, pausing when I hear the door open again.

"Come in, Damon," Kol says, gesturing with his arm for him to walk inside.

"I'm glad you're awake, Kol," Damon says, extending his hand towards Kol. I can't keep the big ear to ear smile off of my face when my dearest friend takes Damon's hand, cupping it between his.

"Thank you for taking care of her, Damon. I just want her to be happy," he says, his eyes drifting to mine and then back to Damon's.

"I'm completely captivated by this beautiful woman, Kol. I'd like for us to be friends too but that means no more hiding Achilles in my office," Damon jokes, before stooping over and dropping a kiss to my crown.

"I'd like that too, Damon. But listen, it's late. You two should get out of here. Even though I've been Sleeping beauty for the last several weeks, I am tired."

"Alright, we'll go but I'll be back tomorrow. Is there anything you need?"

"Yeah, bring me a Mt. Dew Live Wire and a Big Mac with a large fries."

"Deal." After giving him one more hug, I stand up and take Damon's hand. Just as we reach the door, I let go of Damon and run back to the bedside to give Kol a quick kiss.

"I love you too, Elena. Now get out of here."

"Bye, Kol," I add. When Damon extends his hand again, I lace our fingers together, drop a kiss to his lips. After stealing one last glance at Kol, the two of us leave the room leaving Kol to get a peaceful night sleep.

"Are you ready?" Damon asks, his hand pressed against my back when the two of us walk into the courtroom to take a seat. The place is actually packed. Mystic Falls finest are providing crowd control because outside it's simply a zoo. There are barricades up so the people that really need to get into the courthouse can. Looking up, I feel my stomach twist when I see Meredith sitting in the row right behind Mason and his attorney's on the defendant's side of the room. I'll forever to be grateful to her for saving Damon's life. If I was still in my hate Damon phase, I still wouldn't have ever wished for his death. Even under that circumstance, I still would've done everything I could to save his life. I just can't imagine the despair Joe, Katherine and James would be feeling now had Mason been successful in killing Damon.

"What are you thinking about?" he whispers, his gaze focused intently on me.

"Just Meredith," I whisper. If not for her, you'd be dead."

"I love you," he mouths, squeezing my hand. In the next minute, the hushed roar of the crowd quiets completely when Judge Beale enters the courtroom. After taking his seat, he calls the court to order. Focusing his attention on Mason, he address him.

"Mr. Lockwood, you are being charged with two counts of murder in the first degree as wall as two counts of attempted murder. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty by reason of insanity, Your Honor," he says, stoically.

"Unbelievable," I mouth to Damon, completely disgusted that he's even attempting an insanity plea. This man is cold and calculating and knows exactly what he's doing."

Judge Beale eyes Mason over the tops of his bifocals for a moment before looking through the paperwork. Looking first to the defense table and then to the prosecution table, he orders Mason to be examined by the appropriate people to determine if he's competent to stand trial. As soon as the proceedings are complete, the Judge bangs the gavel and announces that court is adjourned for now. Standing up, we exit the courtroom, running right into Brady as soon as we step through the double doors.

"Were you expecting him to plead insanity?" I ask, staring at him.

"Honestly, Elena. I think he'll do anything, disparage his victims, whatever he needs to do to save his own skin. He's despicable," he says softly, watching as a shackled Mason exits a side door surrounded by guards to take him back to jail.

"He is," Damon adds, shaking his head. After we visit with Brady for a little while longer, we tell him goodbye to head back over to the TV station to prepare for this week's broadcast.

Damon:

Since Kol is finally awake and on the mend, Elena drove over to the rehab hospital in Richmond to spend the day with him. Although I miss her, I know how important he is to her. The last thing I want is for her to have to choose between him and me. I won't put her in that position. With my head buried in my work, I don't notice anyone approach till I hear a knock on my door. Looking up, I'm a little surprised to see Aimee Bradley and her parents. Standing up, I immediately invite them in and pull out chairs for all three of them.

"Damon, we just wanted to thank you for all that you've done to bring justice to our children."

"Mr. Bradley, of course. It was something I had to do. Their story literally consumed me. How can I help you today?"

"Tell him, Aimee," her mother says, smiling at her daughter.

"I didn't know anything about that key till I saw it on your show. I honestly forgot about it but your show triggered a memory. I had it on the top shelf in my closet behind some other things."

"What do you have, Aimee?"

"Um.. Ben gave me this," she begins before pausing for a moment to reach into her bag. My eyes almost pop out of my head when I see the small metal lock box. After she hands it to me, she continues, "He asked me to keep it safe and to not tell anyone about it. I don't know who sent you that key but it wasn't me. I thought that maybe it might fit?"

"Wow," I utter, my eyes focused completely on the box. Stunned, I run my fingers over the metal and lastly on the lock itself. The shape is correct but whether it'll fit or not remains to be seen. I'm really speechless here.

"Thank you for bringing it to me. I have the key in a locked drawer in my desk but I think we should get Detective Williams to come over here before we try to open it. I don't want to contaminate any evidence that may be inside."

"I.. I never thought of that."

"I'm just so grateful that you remembered that you had it."

"Me too. I hope there's something in there that will help to put him in jail or land him the death penalty," Mr. Bradley adds. I can both see and understand the rage he feels towards Mason Lockwood.

"That's my wish as well, Mr. Bradley. I'm going to give Brady a call." As soon as he nods, I pick up the phone, telling him that he needs to get to the station as soon as possible when he picks up.

"Damon?"

"It's important, Brady." Before hanging up, he tells me that he'll be here shortly.

"He's on his way. Can I get you any refreshments? Soda, water, coffee?"

"Sure, Damon. Coffee would be nice. Aimee?" Mrs. Bradley asks.

"I'll just have a bottle of water," she adds, smiling shyly at me. Nodding I leave my office to get their drinks. While pouring some coffee, I hear Brady's voice. Turning around, I set the cups down to shake Brady's hand.

"What is so important?"

"The Bradley's are in my office. They brought me a locked metal box. Whether it's the box, I don't know but I have the key. I wanted to get your opinion before opening it."

"If it is our box, I think we need to take it to the station so it can be opening by one of our crime scene technologists. It'll need to be dusted for fingerprints and whatever is inside to be taken into evidence. You can come with me if you want to observe the process."

"Absolutely I want to but we need to talk to the family." Giving me a nod the two of us walk back into my office. Once I hand them their drinks, Brady explains the process to them. He answers their questions and after assuring the Bradley's that he'll keep them in the loop, they excuse themselves to go home. Immediately after, Brady and I take the box and my key over to the police station. Knowing I need to give Elena a head's up, I stay outside, telling Brady that I'll be right in as soon as I talk to Elena. Unfortunately, she doesn't pick up so I text her a message. Sticking my phone back into my pocket, I suck in a breath of air and go inside, chomping at the bit to see what secret is held within the box.

Elena:

Elated to be able to spend time with my friend again, I asked the nurse if I could take him outside and push him around on the beautifully landscaped grounds of this facility. Saying that it would be good for him to get some fresh air, she asks an orderly to help him into a wheelchair. We stop at the nurses desk to let them know where we'll be in case his family would come. Having stopped at McDonald's before I got here, I hand him the sack while I get behind his chair to push him. Unable to wait till we get outside, he digs into his French fries, thanking me with a mouth so full of food that I can barely understand what he's saying. I don't even care, I'm just ecstatic that he's awake and knows who I am and that I'll do anything in my power to help with his recovery.

As soon as he finishes, he turns to me. "So Damon, ha?"

"Yeah," I smile. Lost in my thoughts, I don't say anything else until I feel his hand on my knee.

"What made you change your mind? I mean before I ended up here, you were livid, blaming him about having to give up your anchor job."

"I know. He had nothing to do with that, Kol. And he apologized for the sins of our youth," I laugh, lacing my fingers with his.

"I've never seen you so happy. I like seeing you so bubbly but tell me, what was the big moment?"

"It was right after you got hurt. Damon left his father's bedside to come to me at the lake house."

"What do you mean, he left his father's bedside?"

"Oh that's right, you don't know. Maybe you don't remember but he got called away from the studio the night this happened. His father got a new heart. He just got home from the hospital himself. As you can imagine, Damon is relieved and grateful beyond words but I know he feels bad that someone had to die so that his father could live. He told me that he wants to thank that person's family if they'll agree to meet with him and Joe."

"Wow. That's something to take in. Who knew Damon Salvatore would turn out to be a nice guy?"

"Certainly not me," I laugh, leaning against him. When I see him yawn, I get up and push him inside. Once the orderly gets him back into bed, I pull up a chair to sit with him, holding his hand till he falls asleep. After he whispers goodbye, I tell him that I'll be back to visit real soon. Staring at him for a few moments, I thank the powers that be for my good fortune, drop a kiss to his forehead.

"Goodbye, Kol."

"Bye, come back soon."

"I promise I will. And I'm going to bring Damon so you two can get to know each other better."

"I'd like that. Drive carefully."

"I will," I add. When I reach the doorway, I turn around once more, blow a kiss and then step out of his room. After stopping at the nurse's desk to give them my number, I tell them to have a good day and head out to my car, enjoying the breeze against my skin as I look for where I parked.

Wanting to talk to Damon, I pull my cellphone out of my purse. When I look at it, I palm myself in the forehead when I see that the battery is dead. As soon as I get in the car, I hook it to the portable charger . By the time I pull into my apartment parking lot, my phone is fully charged. It's only then that I see Damon's text. Although I'm exhausted, I pick up my phone and call him back.

"Hi Damon, you called?" I say, a yawn escaping distorting my words.

"Hey sweetheart. You sound really tired."

"I am. I had a great afternoon with Kol but I'm just so tired."

"Why don't you take a nap? As soon as I'm done with Brady here, I'll come over. If that's okay with you that is?"

"Of course, I'm kind of in the mood to share a bubble bath," I tell him, my voice suddenly husky sounding.

"Keep that thought. I'll be there soon. Bye now." When I hear him end the call, I stuff my phone in my pocket and go into my apartment. Dropping onto the couch, I fall asleep almost as soon as I close my eyes.

When I start to become coherent again, I raise my eyelids, smiling when Damon is who I see when I open my eyes. Just as I start to sit up, I become aware of a delicious aroma.

"What are you cooking?" I ask after pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Nothing fancy, just some spaghetti. Are you hungry?"

"I am."

"How was your day?" I ask, leaning my head against his shoulder.

"I wish you could've been there, Elena. The Bradley's came to see me today. They happened to have in their possession a locked box that Ben had given to Aimee for safekeeping. She forgot that she had it, only remembering when we showed the key on our last show."

By now, my mouth is practically on the floor. "Well, don't leave me hanging. Did the key fit?"

"I didn't want to compromise any would be evidence so Brady and I took it to the forensic technicians at the jail."

"I love you, Damon so don't take this the wrong way but if you don't tell me right now, I'm going to swat you. Did the key fit?"

"It did fit."

"Damon!"

"There were pictures of the two of them together. Amber looks to be completely enamored of the guy. There were also some letters allegedly from Mason promising her that they would be together as soon as he could end things with Meredith. But you and I both know that know that he would never even consider divorcing Meredith because of his political ambitions."

"Oh Damon, my heart breaks all over again for Amber. I'm sure she believed every word he said to her."

"I'm sure you're probably right. From what I've been told, she was rather naïve."

"Yes, she just wanted someone to love her. She never dated in high school. Mason was probably the first guy that paid attention to her."

"And as such, she probably hung on his every word."

"Yes, Damon. I'm sure she did. Were the Bradley's there too?"

"No, they went home."

"I'm stunned, Damon. Mason needs to be held accountable for this. I hope that Judge Beale won't let him out on bail."

"I agree, Elena. He'd probably make a run for it. To Mexico or some other country without an extradition treaty with the states."

"I think so too." It's like we're both in our own little world for a few minutes. I snap out of it when I hear Damon ask me a question.

"How did your visit with Kol go?"

"It was great. He practically swallowed his Big Mac and fries whole," I laugh as it replays in my mind.

"I'm so happy that he's back so to speak."

"Me too. I told him that I would bring you with me next time."

"I'd like that. You know, I'm not really hungry right now. How about you?"

"No, I'm too excited to eat. Why?"

"Well, Miss Gilbert, I seem to recall you mentioning something about sharing a bath?"

Kol lives! Thank you so much, Eva, my sister, my best friend, my confidant.

And a sincere thank you to all of you. It means so much to me that you're interested in my story.

Chapter title: 'I'll Be There for You' by The Rembrandts.

Please remember to review. They are the life's blood to a writer.

I just got home from work so I'm going to sleep for awhile. Be safe, vigilant and as always, please enjoy your day.