A/N: Hi Everyone! Sorry that this is a shorter chapter. I wanted to set it up for what's coming next. I hope I everyone is enjoying this one…I know things have been fairly tame, but I wanted to spend some time building their relationship and the dynamic between everyone before we jumped into the more angsty stuff.

I love hearing for you guys, so let me know what you think :)

-Vanessa

Chapter 7: The Things They Left Unsaid

Elena sighed as she dropped her bag on the hotel bed closest to the bathroom, and kicked off her shoes. Shortly after the encounter in the bathroom of the pub, Elena made an excuse about not feeling well and they left soon after.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Damon questioned following her in, dropping his bag by the other bed, and locking the door behind them. "You've been quiet the whole way here. We can head back now, and still make it before midnight."

She forced a smile and turned to face him. "No, it's better if we just head back in the morning…sober. Plus, Jenna thinks I'm spending the weekend on campus anyways." She pulled the book out of her back and held it up for him to see. "I found this in Vanessa's office."

A surprised smirk grew on his face. "You stole it?"

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't steal it. It has my name on it…technically it belongs to me." She shrugged a shoulder, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I know I shouldn't have, but we might need it."

"You don't have to justify yourself to me. I'm a little proud of you actually. Guess I'm rubbing off on you." He uttered to himself amused, as he kicked off his shoes, and shed his jacket.

Watching him out of the corner of her eye, as she sat cross legged in the middle of the bed she claimed. "Is that supposed to be a good thing?" she laughed.

"No!" he chortled. "But it is reassuring that you're not afraid to go after what you want, even if you don't think you should." He added more seriously. Elena had to reign in the cynical laugh that threatened to slip. She wished that were true; here was what she wanted, standing right in front of her, but she was too afraid to take it; too afraid to even admit she wanted it. Her eyes followed him as Damon lowered himself, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Listen, I'm going to have to do things that may clash with what you think is morally acceptable…things that might disappoint you." He swallowed. "Like today…and I'm sorry about that, but I would do it time and time again because if it comes down to saving you or a hundred people…you know what my choice is going to be. And I need you to be okay with that." He pleaded softly, knowing he was asking a lot. What he valued so much about her friendship was that she was his voice of reason; she kept him in check when he needed it, but he also needed to protect her, and in doing so, he couldn't hold himself back.

Elena pulled her lower lip between her teeth, thinking hard about what he was asking. It meant having to bend her morals, it meant knowing that if it came to it, he would put her above everyone else. It meant that she had to be on his side, no matter what. If they were going to get through whatever was coming next, she had to accept this, but she didn't have to like it. She nodded. A ripple of guilt racked her body, knowing she was keeping something so important to her safety a secret from him; but Elena knew that if she told him about the meeting with the vampire in the bathroom, their pursuit of Isobel would be over, and she'd never know the truth.

Another part of her felt like she was also doing the very thing he was proud of her for…going after what she wanted; consequences be damned, and if he could ask her to accept his choices, then he would have to accept hers too.

Soon after, Elena got herself ready for bed while Damon took a shower, and she listened in the darkened room, her eyes wide and staring straight ahead, her back to the bathroom as the water turned off and the shower curtain peeled open. She couldn't help herself from imagining him in there; the water dripping off his chest, his raven hair tousled, the towel wrapped low around his hips. She slammed her eyes shut. Minutes later the door opened, and he silently padded out of the bathroom, and passed her bed to the table by the window. Her eyes peeked open, watching as he pulled at the blinds, looking outside with a small frown. He was back in his jeans, but his button up shirt was undone, revealing his chest and torso, beautifully illuminated by the moonlight.

Elena's eyes softened, as they raked over his body, appreciating just how stunning he was for the first time without feeling the mortification that usually followed. He hadn't noticed she was awake, as he quietly poured himself a drink from the minibar, before settling into the chair and resting his feet on the other chair across from him. He tossed back half the glass in one gulp, and when his tongue darted out to lick his lips, Elena inhaled raggedly, catching his attention. She quickly shut her eyes, feigning sleep, when he looked over. Although she felt the wave of embarrassment at being caught, a few seconds later her eyes shot open again, as if drawn to him like a magnet. He was staring right at her, his blue eyes holding her captive, as she shamelessly locked her gaze on his. Her heart rate picked up, and he must have heard this because a small frown creased his forehead.

Placing his drink down, Damon gracefully put his feet down and stood all in one fluid moment and walked over to lay down next to her. Now her heart was pounding against her chest and he tilted his head with concern. "You okay?" his eyes roamed her face.

She nodded. "I'm fine." She responded on a whisper.

"You sure…your heart's racing like a hummingbird." He prodded softly.

Elena rolled on her back, giving her some space to breathe. His proximity was too much, and her feelings were beginning to get the best of her. The overwhelming need to run her fingers along his jaw, to know the softness of his lips…it was suffocating her. "There's something I need to say."

Damon waited, observing her with worry as her chest raised and lowered with her labored breathing. "So, say it."

"I can't." her words choked in her throat as she kept her focus firmly on the ceiling and not the man laying entirely too close to her. Elena could feel the feather light touch of his breath on her cheek; a mix of whiskey and mint.

He rolled to his side to face her, leaning up on his elbow. "Whatever it is…you can tell me."

Taking a deep breath, she turned her head to look up at him. "You could have died today." Her voice wavered.

He offered her a tiny smirk and a little raise of his brows. "But I didn't."

Elena's lips tightened at his nonchalant response. "But you could have." She snapped back. "Why are you doing this, Damon? Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that you're here, but I can't help but wonder why you would risk your life protecting me when you could be anywhere else?" Today had been a close call for him; it wasn't just that he'd saved her life, it was that he was willing to put his life on the line to do so. If that arrow was three inches to the left, he'd be gone.

Damon reeled back, almost offended by her question. "Are you serious? You know why, Elena."

"I know you promised my parents…but is that the only reason?" She needed to know if she was the only one; if these feelings flowed both ways. There were moments when she would feel the tension between them, when she'd meet his eyes and see something flicker; a spark. When he would touch her, even in the most platonic of ways, and all the oxygen would be sucked out of the room.

"No, of course not. Yes, I promised your parents…I owed it to them for everything they did for me, but you also gave my life purpose." He swallowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. "I care about you. You're my friend." The air left her lungs in a deep sigh and her lips pursed ruefully as her gaze returned to the ceiling. "Why are you asking me this?"

Elena rolled onto her side and looked up at him from under her lashes; something wild and anxious reflecting in them. "Is that what this is? Are we friends?" her words trailed off breathlessly as her gaze darted over his face. The words slipped from her lips before she could stop them.

"Yes." He answered with a smile as if he was trying to reassure her. Did she think that he only here as her protector? One of his hands reached over to link with hers, hoping to ease her worry. They stayed that way for a long moment, while Elena's eyes fell closed briefly, trying to hide the blow his one word took on her heart. Damon studied her intently, reading her expression. When she looked at him again, something shifted, and he blinked in realization, releasing her hand. He was up and across the room in an instant. "I'm going get some air." He grumbled as he did the buttons up on his shirt. "I felt like something was out there earlier. Going make sure no one followed us."

She pushed herself up, panic rising in her as he slipped his boots on. Whatever she was feeling, he saw it…and now he was running. "Damon…" her voice was strained.

He forced a stiff smile, walking back over to her. "It's okay. Get some rest." He placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. "I won't be long."

She watched him go, knowing that she made a huge mistake. Had everything between them changed now? Did she just ruin their friendship? She threw herself back down on the pillow when the door shut behind him, buried her head under the covers.

…

Damn shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket, as he walked the perimeter of the hotel. He didn't know what to think about what happen back there; but the hurt on face, the deep furrow of her brow and the glassy sheen in her eyes had somehow been caused by him. It ripped at his heart, and for some reason that scared him.

In all the years he'd known her, he'd seen the best and the worst parts of Elena. He'd seen her happy, and silly, he'd seen her ball her eyes out, grief rolling off of her in racking sobs. He'd seen her full of rage, and at times directed at him, but tonight…whatever that was, he'd never seen before. It unnerved him. Was it her fear of him dying protecting her that brought this on, or something else? No…he didn't want to know. He didn't even want to think it.

After about an hour, he decided to head back, feeling more exhausted than he had in weeks. When he walked in, Elena was sitting up in bed, cross legged with the Petrova book in front of her. "Hey." She offered lamely.

"Hey." He slipped out of his jacket, dropping down to sit on the each of the other bed to take off his shoes.

Elena closed the book and turned to face him, letting her hands fall into her lap. "Damon about earlier…" she watched as he finished the rest of his drink that he'd left sitting on the table, before shifting to face her.

"We're okay." He started; his voice low but comforting. "We've been through a lot together, and no matter what I'll always be here for you. You are the one good thing that I've had to look forward to in my 170 years on this Earth. So yes, I will risk my life for you and I'll do it with a smile." Damon's brows pulled together and his lips twisted in a troubled grimace. "But the last thing I want to do is hurt you." He explained pointedly. "Do you understand?" He didn't want to think about that look on her face, or that dejected slant of her eyes…Damon didn't ever want to be the one to make her feel that way; he wasn't capable of giving her what she deserved, nor was it proper for him to even entertain the thought.

She did her best to keep her eyes from watering, and forced a feeble smile. "Yeah. I know." There was a lot that was left unsaid, and they were both grateful for that. If it wasn't said then they could easily pretend it never happened. Elena would shove those feelings deep down, and ignore them until they went away. Whatever she was feeling, she'd get over it.