Disclaimer: I do not own any of the GH or TVD characters.
Elena's POV
I smiled contentedly as I was laying against Jason, watching reruns of Supernatural, though we doing more talking than watching. "I'm sure you have better things to do than babysit me." I commented, hoping he wasn't staying because of my breakdown.
He patted my hand, his head tilted to side brushing the top of my head. "There is nothing better than this." Jason said. "Anyways, I overheard it was going to be your birthday Saturday. How do you feel?" Jason asked, wiggling out of his leather jacket. He then tossed it on the nearest chair.
I sighed dramatically. "I'm going to be an old woman!" I teased, pleased at the small smile I got back.
"I think I see a couple of gray hairs." Jason teased, plucking at my hair. I swatted his hand away, giggling.
"I'm more grateful, than happy I get to see the big 18. It sucks that I have to spend it in the hospital, but I won't complain." I said, content.
"Your parents and I are planning a small dinner to celebrate in one of the conference rooms. I hope that will be okay." Jason offered, watching brighten smile on my face.
"I would love that, but I don't think it will be small at all. In such a small time, I gained a whole clan." I remarked with a smile. Before Jason could answered, his name was called out.
"Jason… oh hi." I looked to my right to see Dr. Quartermaine slow down in her tracks. She gave me a hesitant smile, looking between Jason and I, looking torn on what to say.
"Hi, Dr. Quartermaine. How are you today?" I smiled as smooth down my hair.
" I'm doing well. How are you? Is there anything you need?-" Dr. Quartermaine rambled, but Jason spoke up.
"Monica, would you like to be properly introduced to your granddaughter?" Jason asked, Monica giving him a smile in return.
"I told you the dinner wouldn't be small." I joked, Jason shaking his head at me. "Monica, this is Elena Gilbert and Elena, this is Monica, my mother." Jason introduced us. I shook her hand as when she offered it to me.
"It's nice to meet you." I offered, smiling. She smiled back at me.
"You look so much like Alan, especially when he was younger." She commented observing me, pulling her hand back.
"Alan?" I questioned, looking back to Jason for the moment, then back to Dr. Quartermaine.
"My late husband, your grandfather. Your eyes remind me of his." Monica commented with a sweet smile.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Dr. Quartermaine. I wish I could have met him." I said.
"I as well, but it has been years since his passing. Anyways, how is your recovery? I heard about the terrible incident... " Monica asked in concern, small crinkle appearing on her forehead.
"I'm improving well by Dr. Drake standards, I might be able to get out of the hospital soon." I said.
"I can't believe he got pass, but to assure you that we are going over our security protocol, improving them to make sure this never happens again. I feel so responsible." Monica urged with sincerity, taking hold of my hand.
I shook my head, discouraging that train of thought. "This no one's fault. What that man did… he would had figured out another way if I wasn't in the hospital. I'm glad it happened here versus him attacking me if my brothers were present. I'm just grateful for that." I said, squeezing her hand.
"Definitely have to see the good in things. I wish we had more time to talk, but unfortunately I have a board meeting to attend to. I hope we have another time to talk to each other again." Monica smiled.
"I would love that. You should come to my birthday dinner tomorrow. It will be a chance for everyone to get to know each other." I offered.
"No, I wouldn't want to impose." Dr. Quartermaine shook her head softly.
"You wouldn't be imposing. At least stop by for some cake. You can't say no to cake, that would be plain rude." I teased, pleased at the youthful smile that was returned.
"I definitely wouldn't want to be rude. I would love to. Tomorrow it is then." Dr. Quartermaine said her farewells before moving on. I looked to Jason, who looking off in the direction his mother went, before he turned back my way.
"That went better than I expected." Jason commented, ignoring my raised eyebrow at his statement.
Elizabeth's POV
It was now 8:30 p.m., the end of my shift. I sighed in relief, my body trying to adjust to long hours again. I filed my patient's files, leaving them organized for my replacement. I grabbed my purse from the nurse's station and headed to Elena's room to see her before I went home.
I knocked on her door. "Elena, it's Elizabeth. Can I come in?" I announced, waiting for a response. I was met with silence, so I peeked my head in, clearly hearing the shower run. I walked in towards the bathroom.
"Elena, it's Elizabeth. I was just checking on you before I go home." I talked louder than normal, so she could hear my voice, but still there was no response. I frowned, deciding to open the door since the curtains are white and wouldn't be able to see anything anyway.
I cracked the door open and popped my head into the bathroom, stunned as to what I saw.
Elena was curled up, naked on the shower floor, hot water pelting her, but she was shivering as if submerged in cold water. Her eyes were wide open, pupils dilated. I dropped my bags outside the bathroom and ran over to the shower. I turned off the shower, then snatched the nearby towel to wrap Elena in.
"Elena, can you hear me?" I asked, hugging her to my body. Her shivers vibrated through my body.
"Yes, I can hear you." She whispered, grabbing onto my hand. The fear laced into her voice made my heart drop.
"Can you tell me what happened? How did you end up on the floor?" I questioned, caressing her head.
"Sometimes… I just have weakness in the limbs, so I just collapsed onto the floor, but the water was spraying onto my face… it felt so real. I literally felt stinging of the cold water against my skin and all I remember was just sinking, lungs burning from exertion." Elena murmured, then covering her face as she curled more into herself and cried. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Sweetie, you've been through a traumatic experience. You might have healed physically, but there wounds that we cannot see sometimes." I whispered, sniffling trying to hold back any tears that surfaced. " Let's get you up from this cold floor." I mumbled.
"I can't… my legs are too weak. I'm exhausted." Elena mumbled, trembling fingers grasping at the towel that was wrapped around her.
"Okay, let me go grab someone to help." I laid her gently as possible against the shower floor again. I moved to getup, using the sink as a lift. I moved in strides in the hallway, trying to find a nearby nurse.
I yelped as I ran into Sam, scaring the life out of me as she had a similar reaction as me. "Oh my, Sam! Don't do that!" I grunted out, my heart racing.
"What are you even doing here? I thought you were on medical leave." Sam commented, looking me over. I ignored the urge to roll my eyes, but I suddenly remembered why I was out here.
"Sam, can you help me? Elena collapsed in her shower and-" I started to ask, but she cut me off.
"Yeah, is she okay?" Sam asked with concern as she followed me back to the room.
I sighed as we entered the room. "Physically, yeah she is. Emotionally and mentally, far from it." I retorted as I went back to Elena's side, who was slipping into a sleep, but jerked awake when she felt my touch.
"Elena, Sam is here to help me get you off the floor. Okay?" I spoke to her, but I don't think words even registered from her daze look. "Sam, you grab her legs and grab her around the chest." I ordered as Sam and I moved into position.
I looked to Sam, giving nod to signal to start lifting. We hoisted Elena up in unison and Sam set off walking backwards, heading out of the bathroom as I followed. We made to the bed, where Sam laid Elena's bottom half across the bed and met me on the other side to help adjust her.
"Can you hand me her underwear and pajamas, please?" I asked as I went over to close the blinds on the room. Sam walked over to the counter to grab what I asked for.
I went to dress Elena in her night clothes, giving a thankful nod to Sam as she helped me with dressing her. It took the both of us close to ten minutes to get her dressed and tucked into the hospital bed.
"Should I call someone?" Sam asked, stepping away from the bed, observing Elena from her spot.
"She's physically fine. Brain gliomas cause weakness of the limbs. At this point, Dr. Collins would be more beneficial to Elena, but I'm going to let her sleep for now. She's… going to be okay." I murmured, rubbing at my eyes. I sighed deeply, looking back over to Sam.
"What are you doing here so late? Everything okay?" I asked as I retrieved my cell from my bag. Nikolas' name was flashing across the screen. I let it go to voicemail, turning my attention back to Sam.
She squirmed in her position, contemplating on saying anything. "Actually, I was hoping to catch you before you went home, but it seems that you have your hands full at the moment." Sam countered, moving her hair behind her ear.
I couldn't think of anything that I could have done to antagonize her lately, so I was surprised she wanted to be in the same room, let alone talk to me. "Don't look so surprise, Webber. I come in peace." Sam sighed loudly as she followed my lead to sit down in the nearest chair.
"I'm glad. I don't have it in me to put up a fight." I laughed softly, seeing the slight smirk on her face.
"I don't make it a habit to kick a dog while it is down." Sam snorted, before continuing. "Look, we probably will never be best friends, but Jason has been really happy spending time with Jake and Danny. Even I can't deny it is bringing a smile on my face to see those boys together. And with this going on… I see it weighing on him, even if he acts like the tough marshmallow that he is. Staying up late, reading articles about cancer and treatments." Sam said, leaning against her arm.
I could have said some generic answer or kept quiet, but I looked over to Elena. I knew this… anger wasn't healthy. It wasn't necessary for either of us. Life was soo short and the relationship that I have with Jason is good, better than whatever we had in the past, but I knew my animosity went deeper than Jason. "Sam, I hated you for the longest until it was just disdain. I know I was no saint when it came to the situation with Danny, but what you did with russians and the shooting in the park… I never wanted to kill someone that bad before. Believe it or not, I'm really in a good place in my life. Something I always wanted, something I would have never had with Jason. Look, the both of us have lifetime ties to Jason and that will never change." I said.
"I can accept that, but don't act like you weren't competing me, undermining Jason and I relationship." Sam defended, crossing her arms.
I refrained letting out a deep groan. "I can accept that, but can we be adult enough to accept that my former relationship with Jason and your relationship with Jason is different. We both tried to compete and compare, but what we didn't realize is that we loved Jason in our own way. Our own special connection and no matter how much we tear each down, it doesn't change that Jason loved us in his own way. I can honestly say that break from Jason was the best thing to happen, because I could finally appreciate Nikolas and what he was promising me and I'm sure for Jason it was the same." I smiled, knowing I meant every word.
