Here's another chapter for you guys. When we left off last, Damon was found and brought back to the hospital. He was totally out of it and didn't even recognize Elena when she saw him.

The big question now is: can Elena even look at Damon the same again or even forgive him for the horrible things she witnessed him do? Only time will tell…

Enjoy and as always, please review : )

Haven Chapter 21—Power to Resolve

Elena sat on the couch in the recreation room staring at the television screen. The rest of the patients in the room were watching I Love Lucy reruns. Elena wasn't even paying attention to it all and seemed to ignore the other patients in the room. Her mind was on one thing only now: Damon. Was he alright? What mental state was he in? Would he remember her? Where had he been for the past week and a half?

Over the past few days Elena's feelings became more and more torn. She had partly accepted the fact that she still loved Damon. To a certain extent. But she wasn't able to shake the scared memories she had of him at Kol Mikealson's place and how he bullied Kol to the brink of insanity. Damon's cruel words were exactly what caused Kol's death. Not to mention the uncaring and unbiased looks he had even after Damon himself saw Kol's lifeless body bobbing up and down in the tub. He simply didn't care as if loss of life meant nothing to him. He just grabbed the money and left her there.

Deep down, she knew the real Damon was still there. The one that was kind and sweet, the man that she fell in love with. But the evil Damon still lurked there. That's exactly what stopped her from going to Damon right then and there. He could take over Damon at any moment and that unpredictability made her more terrified than when she was in the car accident with her parents…

She was startled from her thoughts when she felt someone sit down next to her. She didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Elena darling, you need to take better care of yourself," were the first words out of Klaus's mouth.

"Hi I'm fine thanks, how are you Klaus?" Elena replied sarcastically, ignoring his question.

"Elena this is insane! For the past 3 days you've been in this comatose state that only one thing will cure you of."

Rolling her eyes, Elena scoffed at him. "I don't know what you're talking about Klaus."

"Really, love? Ever since Damon came back you haven't talked to anyone, judging by your eyes you haven't slept at all, in the cafeteria you never eat since you're always writing in that damn diary of yours, and I seem to constantly find you like this. Staring off into space. I have a feeling I know what's troubling you so," Klaus explained in a somewhat fatherly tone. Very unlike him.

Elena didn't know what to tell Klaus. She had been sworn to secrecy from Dr. Fell and couldn't tell Klaus everything she knew. She didn't know how to explain to him that she couldn't face it just yet. "I know he's here Klaus, and I quite frankly don't want to know where at the moment. I'm sure that's what you've come to tell me and that you have some sort of plan for the two of us to meet in secret. However, what I really want is the figure out a way to handle this and get better without any more interference. I've been in this hellhole since October and it's now March. I want to be out by May. How exactly am I supposed to accomplish that if I can't focus on anything else?!"

Klaus's eyes softened at her revealing thoughts. "I understand that Elena. Trust me when I say that no one in this room wants to be here, but they put us here for a reason. I'm already a lot better than I was thanks to my treatment here. Like you, I'm in the same boat. And as hard as it is to believe, Damon's come pretty close to getting out a few times. But every single time, something happens. But I truly believe that what he needs is someone to support him. And that's something that he's never had before, not even his family visits him."

Elena had to squeeze her eyes shut at the mention of Damon's so-called "family." Stefan sure as hell wasn't Damon's family—not after what he did to Damon. And what he caused Damon to do. If that was even a legitimate reason. "And what makes you think that I am the solution to Damon's psychological well-being? You didn't see him when we were away. The way he was acting, he was like a totally different person! You saw him when he came back. He probably didn't know who he was or anyone else. Even if he does get better, who's to say that he still won't get better?"

Klaus ignored her.

"I was talking to Eric, the nurse attending to Damon. He's been given some treatment shots to help him come to. I know you're secretly hoping for an update on his condition whether you want to admit it or not. He's been in an isolated room for days now."

Elena opened her mouth to respond but Klaus clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Just hear me out sweetheart. When Damon woke up the first time, the first words out of his mouth were 'Where's my Elena?' That can't possibly mean nothing to you now, can it?"

Elena's eyes softened. Now that was something she didn't expect to hear.

"I'm telling you Elena, all Damon needs to get better once and for all is to have the support of another person that cares for him. He helped you out when you first arrived here, didn't he? He's supported you from the get-go," Klaus said, looking her right in the eyes as if challenging her to contradict him.

When she was unable to form an argument, he continued.

He needs you and I know you need him. Do you think you can find it in your heart to forgive him? I may not have been there the night that everything went to hell, but I truly think both of you have a shot out of here. So, if I arrange for there to be no interruptions for tonight, would you be willing to see him?"

"I don't know Klaus, it's still very-"

"I'm not asking you to make your choice right away Elena, I'm just asking you to see him tonight. The two of you can talk. If it gets to be too much for you, we can go. All I'm asking is for you to give him another chance."

Elena was torn, but the look on Klaus's face as well as his words hit home alright. Maybe Damon was getting better? Who knew what the future could hold for them. But the fear was still very much there. Would she be able to handle seeing Damon after what he did? What "personality" would he have? Questions, questions, terrified fear, questions, fear…

"Alright. What time tonight?"

…..

Midnight, Elena met Klaus at the end of the hallway. He smiled at her—Elena didn't know why, she was just wearing her favorite pajamas.

Klaus indicated with his hand to follow him further down the hallway. Elena didn't even have time to see where they were going because he was walking so fast and it was so dark.

Finally, they reached a dimly lit hallway that appeared skinnier than all the other hallways in the building. Klaus put a finger to his lips indicating her to keep quiet. She followed him down the small hallway, almost tiptoeing.

They stopped in front of a door that only had a small square window. "He's in there Elena. Look at him for a minute while I get the spare key out."

Looking through the small square window, Elena's breathing stopped in her throat. It was a small room with no windows and only a dim light above. There on the bed in the room lay Damon, fast asleep under a soft white blanket. She saw his chest rise and fall peacefully as his even breathing was the only calming thing in the room.

Her brain was wracked with emotions seeing him again, so peaceful-looking. This was the nice Damon she was seeing now, but he was asleep. She couldn't possibly know his mental state like this—

Klaus nudged her from behind. "Just go in there, sweet pea. I'll be right out here. When you're done, just knock slightly. I'll keep the door closed for your privacy until then," he whispered to her, urging her forward. She heard the door unlock as Klaus fiddled with the doorknob.

Elena took a deep breath before stepping forward into the room. She shook slightly when Klaus shut the door behind her. Turning back to Damon, she saw that he was still asleep. Leaning down, she couldn't help but smile at his soft features. She had never seen him sleep before and he looked so young, carefree. There were no stress marks on his face, no hiding, nothing. He just looked well-rested. She couldn't resist running her hands through his now-straight and clean hair.

The opening of his eyes startled her. His cerulean blue eyes got wider when he looked at her.

"Elena? Is it really you?" he asked, sitting up slowly and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Elena could only smile softly at him. No use talking about anything right away. "Yes. It's me."

He turned back to her smiling before gently grabbing her shoulders and pulling her to him on the bed. Hugging her tightly to him, he didn't see her eyes widen over his shoulders.

"My God, I've missed you!" he whispered in her ear, kissing her head all over before reaching for her lips. At that, Elena retreated from him slightly. He frowned at her, giving her a confused look.

"What's wrong?" he asked, a look of hurt crossing his face. Elena was beginning to realize the worst.

"Damon, it's not that I'm not glad to see you. I am thrilled that you're back!" she said, caressing his face with her hand.

"Then why are you looking at me like I've murdered someone?" he asked, giving her a puzzled look but still moving into her comforting touch. She had a feeling he missed her touches and her voice. Already he seemed even calmer than before all of this happened.

Oh my God…he didn't remember anything, did he?

Elena continued, trying to stay calm. "Damon…you were gone for more than a week. You don't remember where you were?"

Damon's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? What do you mean…that I was gone? They brought me here and gave me shots. I don't remember anything before that. I remember being cold and alone… everything before that is a blur."

Oh no….

"Uh…you were gone for a few days, but you're back now. The point is that you're back and that you're safe," she attempted to smile at him. He slowly returned it.

Damon smiled before pulling her to him on the bed. "It's been torture not seeing you for these past few days…I thought it would never end. But it has!" he exclaimed hugging her to him again.

Elena actually found herself enjoying the feeling of his strong arms around her again. The past was forgotten as she enjoyed his embrace.

Laying down next to him, they gazed in each other's eyes before his started to close from exhaustion. She figured the drugs they had given him to help regain his sanity were having quite an effect on him.

The good thing was when she looked into Damon's eyes, she didn't see the terrible man he was the last time she saw him. She saw the good Damon, the good Damon.

Her Damon was back.

…

After making sure Damon had fallen asleep again (she held him and stroked his face and hair until his breathing evened out again), she knocked on the door indicating to Klaus she was ready to leave.

After opening the door and relocking it, they set out down the hallway side by side.

"So…everything went well, I'm assuming? You were in there for almost an hour," Klaus asked.

Elena smiled back. "Yes…everything is fine now. He'll be getting out in a day or two and we'll start fresh, although this time we're going to follow all of Dr. Fell's orders. With any luck, all three of us will be out soon. How's that sound?"

Klaus chuckled slightly. "Oh yes, sounds impressive. The three of us renting an apartment, me sleeping in the living room, you two fucking like bunnies in the master bedroom. Oh yeah, it will be a blast!"

For the first time in a long time, Elena actually found herself laughing. This night went from being horrible to actually feeling great.

Klaus went to his and Damon's room as Elena walked down the hallway to her own. She came to a startling revelation about herself that night—no matter how badly she hated him, no matter how much hurt and pain he had caused her, this was the Damon she knew. The Damon that she swore right then in that moment to protect and root for.

She would do everything in her power to help him through this. With his help, and her own, she and Damon could get out of here as brand new people. If she was able to help him. And hope that his evil counterpart didn't make an appearance again.

As she rounded the corner, she almost ran into a body in the hallway.

Lexi.

Lexi was standing there with her arms crossed giving her an incredulous look.

"Elena, are you insane?!"

….

So…what do you think? Has Elena forgiven Damon or is there still some doubt? Lexi knows that Elena went to see Damon. What is she going to tell her? Review!