Chapter 28

Elena woke up an hour earlier then she normally did the next morning. Immediately as she got up her stomach was churning again. She rushed to the bathroom and turned on the sink before leaning down to throw up again. Bad enough Damon was in the bathroom with her listening to it last night. She didn't need him waking up to it this morning.

She crawled over to the shower and turned on the water leaving it sort of cool. She let the water run over her head for a long time before exiting. She wrapped one of Damon's huge towels around herself. He was still sound asleep; she was relieved for that. She gazed at his peaceful sleeping face for a few moments and smiled softly. She felt like she loved him more every single day. She tiptoed over to his closet and grabbed a water from his little minibar thing, before tiptoeing back across the room. She shut Damon's door quietly and headed over to her room to change.

She sent Jenna a text warning her she thinks she might have a little flu bug or something. Jenna was planning on coming by this morning to go over the case a little. She figured she should warn her. If she didn't catch it yesterday, she was bound to catch it today if she came over. Even though Elena was already starting to feel a little better as she sipped her water.

Jenna answered her right away, explaining she heard, and she would be fine. She had her flu shot. Elena winced at that. She didn't get how could someone voluntarily get a shot every year? She'd rather just get sick and suffer for a few days. The very idea of someone sticking a needle in her arm freaked her out. John had to literally hold her down when she was getting her immunizations in school.

She shuddered slightly putting it out of her mind. She slipped on a basic purple tee shirt and some old faded jean shorts. Summer had come upon them fast and it was already so hot during the day. She really needed to get out and do some shopping she had little to wear.

By the time she got downstairs her nausea subsided and her stomach was growling with hunger. She started on a pot of coffee as Jenna came to the door.

"Hey you're early." Elena motioned her inside.

"I thought I'd try to beat the media." Jenna said bringing a box of bagels and some files in with her.

"Ooh bagels." Elena greedily grabbed the box.

"You don't look sick." Jenna commented.

"I feel fine now. It was probably something I ate." Elena shrugged it off spreading a bagel with cream cheese and tearing into quickly.

"You got dizzy yesterday though to. Rick's all paranoid that he's gonna catch it." Jenna chuckled.

"I hope not, that man is a baby when he's sick."

Jenna went to pour a few cups of coffee for them and Elena had already started on her second bagel by the time Jenna came back.

"I guess you're feeling better." Jenna looked at her. "You got your appetite back anyway."

"You might want to give you stomach some time to settle down." She warned her when Elena reached for the coffee.

"So let's get right to it." Elena said.

Jenna sat down across from her. "I met the special prosecutor last night on a Skype call. She should be here in a few days. She's in Chicago right now."

"What is she doing there?" Elena asked.

"Digging." Jenna said.

"For what?"

"Anything and everything she can throw at him. Her name is Meredith Sulez. She's tough as nails Elena, but she's good, real good. She takes the system and the law very seriously. When someone who is supposed to honor and protect it, turns around and commits heinous acts, it really pisses her off. I get it. It pisses me off even more you're my friend. She will not stop until she sees justice served." Jenna said.

"I don't know about this." Elena said feeing uneasy.

"I know she seems abrasive, well she is, but she's a good person. She's been talking to your dad." Jenna said.

"My dad? What? How come you didn't tell me this?" Elena asked her head spinning. She took a slow sip from the coffee cup trying to overcome the shock. She had only talked to John briefly twice since the whole incident happened. His phone time was always limited. He said the whole prison was on extra security because of what happened with Craig.

"I just found out last night when I talked to Meredith. She thinks it's a major conflict of interest that Craig arrested your father in the first place, and she found several records of Craig ticketing and arresting your father even after you two were married." Jenna started.

"Yeah he harassed John all the time." Elena said. "Anything he could do to separate me from him."

"That's what Meredith assumed." Jenna said.

"What did you tell her?" Elena asked.

Elena hadn't told Jenna everything but she did give her the diary, the bad one. It had every detail in it and would be more clear and accurate then Elena retelling it anyway. Jenna came over the night she read it. She took Elena into the other room and just hugged and cried with her for a little while. It was actually a relief having another person who knew. Instead of making her feel exposed it made her feel supported.

"I didn't tell her anything, but Andie did, and it's a good thing Elena." Jenna said.

Elena sighed, she had forgotten about her frantic plea to Andie about Craig in the basement.

"She's taking it upon herself to investigate him further and if you choose to assist her. I think it would be a good idea." Jenna said. "You could even be due a settlement from the CPD. Don't forget you asked for help and swept under the rug."

"I just...look he's going to jail. I'm going to get a divorce if he ever signs the damn papers."

"One more day on that before I press it." Jenna reminded her.

"Anyway, Craig is going to go to jail for this, I'm free. I can't ask for more than that. I'm, not going to trial against anyone else or for anything else. I don't need all that justice. I just need my life. That's it." Elena said.

"But Elena...I think you should just consider what she has to say. Just consider it with a grain of salt and don't get your hopes up." Jenna said.

"Okay what am I missing?" Elena asked.

"She thinks she can get John out." Jenna blurted out.

"What!" Elena exclaimed her eyes wide. "When how?"

"Not anytime soon, and it's a long shot. I shouldn't have said anything. I just figured she would get you all pumped about it, so I'll forewarn you of what she wants to try to do. She's looking into your father and Craig's history. You're the missing puzzle piece, obviously." Jenna explained.

"I'll do anything," Elena said her eyes still wide. "Anything to help my dad."

"This is what I wanted to avoid." Jenna said. "Do not get your hopes up."

"How can I not?" Elena tried to stop herself from smiling. "There was never a chance before and now there is."

"It's a long shot at best. A very long shot." Jenna said in a firm tone.

"What is?" Damon came down and kissed Elena on the top of the head before walking to the counter to get coffee for himself.

"You look better." He studied her carefully as he sipped his coffee.

"I am way better, even more now, the special prosecutor is trying to get John out of prison." She couldn't hold the smile back; she knew she shouldn't be hopeful, but she couldn't help it.

"Elena." Jenna said warningly.

"What is she talking about, is this for real?" Damon asked.

"Not exactly." Jenna said slowly.

"She's looking into it." Jenna added quickly when Damon gave her a hard look.

"And you decided to get her all excited over basically nothing because…" He raised his eyebrows.

"Damon." Elena exclaimed. "Leave her alone I drug it out of her."

"Don't worry you guys. I'm not going to fall apart and get all crushed if he doesn't get out. I'm happy because there is some hope now and there never was before." She assured them.

Damon looked doubtful but nodded and sat down Jenna briefed him a little on what she and Elena talked about. Meredith would have more information for them when she came to meet with them.

"Oh yeah, my dad gave me a reprieve on the boarding house until after the trial." Damon said.

"He did?" Elena gasped.

"I know his heart actually beats." He laughed a little.

"That's good Rick was a little stressed." Jenna said.

"More like you were." Damon scoffed. "If I lose this place, he's moving in with you."

"The horror." Jenna mock shuddered and laughed a little.

"Why don't you guys live together anyway?" Elena asked curiously.

"Well Caroline…" Jenna laughed.

"I'm sorry." Elena bit her lip.

"Kidding…No it's just Rick was married before, he's not ready to go there yet. Besides we like having our own spaces, it works for us." Jenna said.

Jenna phones went off and she scowled.

"Shoot, I'm late for an impromptu meeting. I gotta go." She gave Elena a quick hug and rushed off.

Elena laughed a little and whirled around walking back over to Damon.

"How can she be late for an impromptu meet.." She felt her head suddenly spin and then the room went black.

Damon reacted faster than he ever had before. He wasn't even sure how he managed to fly across the kitchen and catch her before she hit the floor but somehow, he was able to slide underneath her at the right second. He fell to his ass with her tucked in safely in his arms.

She came to immediately rubbing her head a little.

"What happened?"

"You blacked out." He said picking her up. He grabbed his keys and she immediately started squirming.

"Where are we going?"

"Elena." He sighed. "You just fainted."

"No, please Damon." She begged.

"Why don't we go to the doctor's office, instead of the hospital would that be better?" He asked continuing his walk to the car. He was struggling to keep her in his arms. She was really starting to squirm and kick her legs, her face was panicked.

"Okay." He set her down ad kneeled at face level. "I'm not going to drag you or carry you into the hospital, but you have to go get checked out okay? Everything will be fine. I will be right there. I promise."

She started breathing heavily and she looked pale again. He took her hand and slowly walked her to the car with him.

She got in on her own, but her face was almost white, and she looked so terrified it was breaking his heart. He hated this but he had to make her go. She blacked out for god's sake.

"Elena what happened then isn't going to happen now." He said once they were in the car. "What happened to your mom happened in a basement, and it was an accident. "

"I know but all doctors make mistakes, do you even know how many fatalities happen in hospitals every day, because of human error?" She said wringing her hands.

"Please Damon; can't we give me a few more days?" Elena said her eyes wide she was gripping the side of his door handle white knuckled, and they hadn't even started moving yet.

"Did you know your uncle saved a teenage from a near fatal animal bite? No one thought she was going to make it, but she did." Damon said. "Her name was Amber, I think. Jer told me about her."

"Really?" Elena asked.

"Yeah actually for all the 'fatalities' you were reading about there are billions of stories like that too, Elena" He said.

"I know." She mumbled. "I'm just so scared."

"Just because they can't fix or cure everyone doesn't mean they can't fix and cure other things. You're better off going and finding out then getting worse and worse." He asked in a gentle tone he stroked her hair slowly and watched as the color started to return to her face.

"Will you stay in there with me?" She asked.

"I promise." He said.

"Even if they try to make you leave?" She asked.

"No one keeps me away from my angel." He winked and gave her a flirty smile. "You know that."

"I can't go to the doctor's office." Elena said. "It was Grayson's office."

"Okay then the hospital." He said, trying his best not to show his own concern and worry as he held her hand and drove down the road off the estate. The reporters seemed to spot her immediately and came rushing towards them.

"Fuck." He swore he forgot all about the damn fleas and Elena was with him. He was sure that word would spread like wildfire.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed wide eyed.

"Duck down." He said, she ducked down low in the seat just as a bunch of flashed went off. All he could hear was Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Morgan. He wanted to scream at them to stop calling her that.

"This is insane." Elena sat back up staring wide-eyed at all the people rushing at them.

"Get back down angel." He said.

She didn't move fast enough, and they started snapping pictures at her furiously. She closed her eyes and put her head in her knees and groaned about being so dizzy. He laid his hand on his horn and rolled down the window.

"You all have about 5 seconds to move before I plow you down." He yelled out the window.

"Damon." She groaned.

"I don't have a better way here, honey." He rubbed her back and sighed in annoyance as more people seemed to be coming forward.

"Call the security people." She suggested.

He nodded and paged Eric the head guy.

"I need help here man. I'm trying to get my girl to the doctor. I can't even get on the main road." Damon said.

"They're coming. Just stay down." He patted her back again.

Someone got up right next to the passenger side window and tried to snap her picture again. It took all his patience not to flip the guy off. Finally, he heard yelling and the security guards started backing the people up. He sped through the mess as fast as he could. Eric was behind him and he was relieved he didn't even think of having someone follow them. Several media trucks were behind Eric.

"They are all going to be going to be writing stories about how you rushed me to the hospital." Elena rolled her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"My heads still spinning a little, but I'm fine." She said softly.

By the time they reached the hospital he could see her anxiety was growing she looked really pale. Dhe was wringing her hands nervously. He was getting more and more concerned about her. Blacking out was not a sign of the flu as far as he knew, but he was doing his best to be casual to keep her calm.

"It's going to be fine." He said tucking her under his arm he started walking and she stood still. He backed right back up alongside her.

"What's up? Do your feet hurt I'll carry you in." He offered with a little smirk.

"No." She crossed her arms a little smile on her face.

"Did you forget how to walk? I think this concussion is worse than we thought." He continued peering down at her.

"No." She giggled a little this time, but still stood still.

"Well unless you know of some crazy trick I haven't heard of, the only way we're getting inside is if we start walking so…"

"Okay I'm coming." She relented and finally started moving. "I'm scared."

"I know." He said softly squeezing her against him he kept walking and she bravely kept going.

"It's okay, I get it more then you realize, but you have to face this fear Elena. You can't go through life afraid of going to the doctor. You can't put a fear above your health."

She nodded slowly. "I know, I'm just so freaked out. The last I went to the hospital was after Jeremy came and got me, you know after the attack. They had to give me a full examination and run all these tests. I was just so freaked that at some point I panicked and went hysterical, I think they had to sedate me."

"This isn't like that honey; this is a checkup." He assured her.

"What if there is something really seriously wrong with me?"

"Don't even start worrying about stuff like that right now." He said trying to keep his voice casual.

His heart was starting to race nervously. While was she was freaked out about doctors because of her mother issues. Damon was suddenly stricken with a horrible feeling of Elena getting sick like his mom and he couldn't breathe for a second. He took a few breaths he was letting her fear and paranoia start to get to him. He needed to just settle down. If she sensed him freaking out, she'd never be able to stay calm.

They finally made it inside and he brought her up to the counter and checked her in. Jenna had gone and got Elena a temporary state ID under her real name. The nurse had them take a seat and she sat there wringing her hands looking around. Her hands were shaking while she tried to fill out the paperwork, so he took it from her and finished it.

"It's not that bad." He said slowly. Who was he kidding, he hated hospitals to him they represented the saddest and hardest times of his childhood.

"Damon you hate hospitals too I know you do." She said.

"I do. Hospitals suck." He admitted. "We'll get through it though. I'm here."

She smiled weakly and took his hand. Finally, the nurse called her back. Damon went with her.

"You can't be back there with her." He tried to stop him.

"Yes he can. I won't go alone." Elena panicked.

"It's hospital procedure." The nurse said.

"Please miss, she's a little freaked out about the hospital can't you help us out here?" Damon asked giving her a puppy dog look.

"I suppose you can stay with for now. Just her until the doctor arrives." She finally relented.

Elena breathed a sigh of relief he followed her into the small room separated off from another room with a curtain. Everything was stainless steel and white.

"It's so sterile in here." She shuddered.

"The gown's pretty hot." He held it up and smirked at her.

"Why, because it's open in the back?" She laughed a little.

"You're being really brave." He brought the gown over to her and she sighed undressing quickly and slipping it on.

"Not really. I was acting like a child." She said blushing.

"It's okay this stuff freaks you out. I understand." He said.

The doctor finally came in, she was a tall pretty woman with dark blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. She had a tan complexion with soft features. She had a natural smile and soft friendly hazel eyes. She looked to be in her mid-thirties. Elena felt a sort of ease, a woman was always better for her in any situation like this.

"Hello there. I'm Doctor Crandall." She extended her hand.

"Elena." Elena took her hand.

"Doctor if you don't mind, she would feel better if I stayed in the room." Damon started.

"If she doesn't mind I don't." Dr. Crandall smiled. "So who is your normal physician?"

"I don't have one." Elena admitted.

"I see." She frowned. "When is the last time you saw a doctor?"

"Three years ago."

"Did you have a physical?"

"Yeah." She said quietly. "I had a full examination."

"She had to go after being hurt." Damon said giving her a look, the doctor took a breath and her eyes flashed with empathy.

"I'm very sorry." She said gently. "Were there any lasting injuries the doctors wanted you to be aware of?"

"No, I made full recovery." Elena said quietly.

The doctor looked over the chart notes Elena and Damon filled out.

"So you've been a little dizzy and nauseas?" She asked.

"She also threw up last night and she fainted this morning." Damon added. "That's what prompted me to bring her in."

"I think it's just a flu or something." Elena said.

"Well why don't we let me tell you if you're right?" Dr. Crandall joked.

"Okay." Elena smiled a little.

She handed her the thermometer and Elena tucked it behind her ear.

"No fever. Have you had a fever?" The doctor asked studying the reading.

"No," Elena said.

"Any diarrhea?"

"No." Elena blushed red and crinkled her nose, maybe she shouldn't have made Damon be in here after all.

"Headaches?"

"No not really but I get a little lightheaded sometimes." She admitted.

"Any cold like symptoms?"

"No." Elena said.

"She bumped her head a little over a week ago." Damon spoke up.

"Did you experience any ringing in the ears, or spots in your vision twenty-four to forty-eight hours after hitting your head?" The doctor asked.

"No, just a head rush when I stood up." Elena said. "The bump's gone too."

She felt around the back of Elena's head and nodded not seeming to find anything. He couldn't feel the bump anymore either.

"Have you been getting head rushes more often?" She asked.

"Um yeah I guess." Elena said.

"Any more fatigue then normal?"

"Yes, I've been so exhausted, but there's a lot going on." Elena said.

The doctor glanced at her chart and back at Elena.

"I'm going to have you lie back on the bed." She said.

Elena did as she said so far this wasn't so bad, she thought. She liked the doctor and she wasn't poking her with anything so she could handle this.

"I'm just going to press on your stomach a little okay?" She said in a gentle voice Elena nodded.

The doctor lightly pressed her hands on Elena's belly which felt very tender.

"Does that feel tender when I press here?"

Damon made some kind of strange noise from behind her. She wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeah." Elena said. "It's really tender there."

"Alright you can sit up."

"Is there any chance you could be pregnant?" She asked.

Elena's eyes shot wide open. "Yeah…" She stammered. "Is that what… are you sure?"

Damon sat down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. Her heart was racing in her chest and her brain was spinning she couldn't even process it. A baby? Damon's baby she felt a warmth sort of overtake her fears, she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes she wasn't sure what she would find there. She wasn't sure what to think, he had to be going nuts.

'No." Dr. Crandall laughed a little. "That's why we have to test you and find out. Are you late at all?"

"I've never been regular." Elena said.

"Okay well we just need to do a little blood test and we can find out right away." The doctor said.

"Ta..take my blood?" Elena stuttered.

"She has to test you, honey." Damon said his voice soft and soothing. "We need to find out. It's okay, it will be really fast."

"You won't even feel it." The doctor assured her.

"Just look at me." Damon said.

She looked into his eyes nervously, but he seemed so solid even now. She felt like the world was moving under her feet and he looked as assured and confident as always.

He mouthed, it's going to be okay, and she could swear there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Her heart fluttered a little, he was a guy and his girlfriend of a few months could be pregnant wasn't he supposed to flipping out?

"Okay we're all done." The doctor said and Elena gasped.

"I didn't even feel it." She said stunned.

"It seems worse in your head then it really is." Dr. Crandall said. "I'll be back with your results soon."

"Oh my god." She whispered.

"I take full responsibility for this..." Damon started.

"Uh Damon I think we both do." She corrected.

"I just mean, I get so caught up in the moment with you, I don't think, and now. "

"Neither do I." She admitted. "We never really talked about this."

"I guess we should have." He gazed at her and squeezed her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I swear to you I'll do right by you, no matter what."

"I know that Damon." She said softly.

"Elena you are the love of my life and hopefully my future. I would marry you yesterday and have a dozen kids if you wanted it. All I want is a life with you, but I never wanted it to get rushed on you like this. Just like Rick, you've been married before. I'm sure you empathize with him in not being ready to do it all over again. I just. No matter what I won't pressure you…."

"Damon stop," She cut him off. "I'm not Rick and we're not Rick and Jenna. What works for them wouldn't work for us. We need to live together, sleep together every night we need to be near each other. I don't feel like anything was rushed with us. I told you I'm going to love you forever. I am your future Damon. You're right only in that I'm not ready to be married again, but I will be someday. Am I ready to be a mother…no not really, but is anyone really?"

"No I guess not." He said, she took his hand and squeezed it. Staring into his eyes was like starting into the future and she could see it so clearly. Her earlier fears about being here seemed to have vanished completely.

"I know you would make a great mother." He smiled.

"I think you would be pretty awesome dad too." She said her heart fluttering a little.

"Is it okay if I say I hope you are?" He smiled a little wider and scooted closer to her.

"I hope I am too." She whispered smiling back at him.

After what seemed like forever. The doctor finally walked back in holding her chart and they both looked up anxiously.

"Congratulations Elena." She said. "It's positive. You're pregnant."

"Really?" Damon exclaimed he jumped up in excitement and reached for the chart as if he had to see for himself.

"It's positive see for yourself." The doctor confirmed

"It real, angel, it's real we're having a baby. " He murmured gazing at her in a way that made her heart stop.

"Oh my god," Elena gasped. "Oh my god, we're having a baby."

"I'll give you two a few minutes, and then I have some time to do a physical exam on Elena." The doctor smiled and left the room.

"We're having a baby." She said again tears of joy running down her face.

Damon cradled her face in his hands. "God Elena, I'm so happy right now. I'm going to be a dad." He smiled and started tearing up a little himself.

She felt her eyes fill with happy tears. "Me too."

"I love you. I love you so much." He crashed his lips down on hers and she kissed him back with all her heart and soul.