Damon can't help but notice there's some distance between Elena and her brother in law today. But it's nothing he can put his finger on other than the fact that their chairs are further apart, no hand holding and she's leaning away from him. Brushing it aside for now, he starts to explain why he asked them to come in yet again.
"Mr. Mikaelson, you said you gave your wife a diamond encrusted pendant, do you remember the last time she wore it?" Damon notices the way Elijah is staring at him.
"She had the necklace on that morning. I remember her back was facing me, she was by the sink when I walked into the kitchen. When she turned to say good morning, the sunlight hit the diamonds reflecting rainbows around the room. I remember telling her how pretty the effect was. We had breakfast together, I said goodbye to her and my kids, then I left."
"As we told you, the Huntington PD - retrieved two necklaces one at a private residence and the other in one of their local pawn shops. They faxed these pictures," he spreads them out, do you recognize them?"
"Yes, that one's identical to the one in the picture I found in her closet," Elena looks at Damon, still maintaining an arm's distance from her brother in law.
"And yes, this is identical to the necklace I gave my wife. Katherine's had an engraving 'N N' on the back for Noah and Nadia. If that's there, then this was hers," Nik affirms and looks at Elena before quickly turning away.
"Have you found out anything about this "Wes" character?"
"Katherine loved to write letters, they were more personal. I went into my closet and dug these out of a shoebox, I forgot I had them. I didn't find anything with his name on it but there's one of them," she pulls a small stack out of her purse and thumbs through them, handing it to Damon when she finds it. "It has a hospital letterhead."
"Was she ill that she would've been a patient?" Damon asks, his eyes perusing the VCU Health header at the top of the page.
"No, she wasn't. That's the first thing I thought too and I specifically remember asking her. She said she knew someone who worked there," Elena explains, keeping her eyes only on Damon.
"Excuse me, did you say VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia?" Elijah's eyes snap to Nik's.
"I did," Damon hands it to him.
"Our brother, Finn is a hospitalist. This is where he works," the older Mikaelson brother explains.
"Okay, that's quite a coincidence. Was he working there at the time the letter was written?" Damon asks, pointing out the date Katherine wrote.
"Yeah, he's been there for several years already," Elijah confirms, handing the letter to Damon.
"Do you mind if I keep this for now, you have my word that you'll get it back?"
"If it helps, sure," she nods, a smile on her face, happy that she could help a little bit.
"You can go, I'll give the Huntington PD a call and ask if the diamond pendant has the 'double N' engraving on it. If it does, I'll ask them to fax a photo it," he looks at Nik. "We'll be in touch," Damon walks to the door to hold it open for them. When Elena passes him, she nods, Nik and Elijah shake his hand.
Following them out, he again picks up on some tension between Elena and Nik Mikaelson, she's keeping her distance from him, instead walking beside Elijah. When they reach the automatic doors, Elena turns around and comes back.
"Was there something else?" Damon asks, as she closes the distance between them.
"I know this may sound silly but I had a really intense dream of Katherine, she said "Wes" and then I woke up. You have to find him."
"We will, Elena," Damon assures her.
"I'm trusting you," she stares into his blue eyes, momentarily losing herself in them. Snapping out of it when someone nearby drops something, she nods, turns on her heels to catch up with the Mikaelson brothers but this time steps in beside Niklaus as they exit the building.
Damon pounds the sand as he jogs along the beach. The ocean shore lies jagged, the rocky outcrops - a torn piece of paper where they meet the rushing waves. The shore is everything at once, every sense bombarded in a way that brings his mind to elevated thought. Eyes open there is every shade of blue before him, every shade from white to browns and greys at his feet.
The ocean's music takes command of his ears with crashing waves and the cries of the gulls. The pebbles push into his soles, shifting as his body leans more to one side or the other. Between rock and wave, he stands intoxicated on the breath of mother earth, of nature and all the wonders she holds. The seaside is a graceful arc of sand, glittering under the summer sun, a place for a placid ocean to lap. The waves roll in with a soothing sound, the salty water a brief flurry of sand.
He slows down to take a breath, bending over, his hands on his knees when he hears his name. Standing upright, he shades his eyes with his hand and his heart thumps when he sees Elena swiftly walking towards him, her breasts bouncing in the red halter top she's wearing.
"You mean you actually have some time off?" she smiles at him.
"It is Saturday, I do take a day off now and then."
"Why do I think that's a rare occurrence for you?" she arches an eyebrow.
"I can't deny that," he chuckles, "Um... would you want to get something to drink or...?"
"I would like that but I can't today. I need to get home. My aunt and uncle are babysitting and they need to drive back to Houston."
"Elena, when this is all over, would you consider going out with me?" he asks, hoping she isn't going to shoot him down.
"I'd like that, Damon."
A huge smile begins to form on his face. "I'll hold you to that." he winks at her.
"You better. Before I go, did you find out anything new?"
"The Huntington police are sending the necklaces here via Fed Ex. As soon as they arrive, I'll call you. Search your mind, see if you can remember anything about this Wes. Something that may seem insignificant to you could perhaps be very important to us."
"I will, I have to go," she starts to walk off. "I'm looking forward to our date," she calls over her shoulder as she jogs away, kicking up sand with each pound of her feet against the beach.
"Goodnight Allie," Damon pulls up her covers then leans over to kiss her forehead.
"Night uncle Damon. "Can we watch Ariel tomorrow before mommy and daddy pick me up?"
"Sure," he winks at her. "Go to sleep now," he switches on the nightlight then walks out, leaving her door ajar.
Tired himself, he showers, slips on a pair of pajama bottoms then crawls into bed. After flipping off the bedside lamp, he pulls the covers up and flips onto his belly, letting sleep consume him.
He lifts her into his arms to walk towards the bed. After setting her down, his eyes lower to the red halter top she's wearing. Tracing a finger slowly down her chin to her waist through valley between her breasts, his heart pounds at her sharp intake of breath.
"Do you know what I liked most about this top when I bought it for you?"
Elena's eyelids flutter shut as Damon brings his hands up to caress the tender flesh of her breasts beneath it. "No..." She gasps when he takes her nipple between his thumb and index finger and rolls it gently. "What did you like about it?"
"I liked the idea of how good it would feel when I ripped it off you..." Elena's eyes pop open when Damon suddenly hooks his fingers in the string that holds it together and pulls. The top floats away from her body like a feather as he tosses it aside.
"...Like that."
Elena's breathing becomes more erratic as he strokes his hands lazily up her belly to palm her bare breasts, her nipples hardening into tiny buds at his ministrations. She wraps her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in the hairs at the nape of his neck as he gently strokes the back of his fingers aground the outside edges, the tops, and closer to her nipples.
"Touch me, Damon," she whispers in a husky voice, rubbing her hips against his. "Please..."
"Where?" He pauses a millisecond then lowers his mouth to trace a circular path around her swollen tips with his tongue. "Here?" He draws back and runs his hands up and down her bare back. "I want to taste all of you..."
He lowers his head again and draws the nipple of her right breast into his mouth, first suckling then nibbling gently - smiling against her flesh when she moans loudly.
Tossing her head back, Elena arches into him to bring her breasts closer to his talented tongue.
"Damon..." she breathes and he shifts his attention to her left breast while bringing his hand up to continue to work the right one. He lets go of her long enough - earning another groan from her - to strip off the shirt he's wearing, scattering buttons as he does. When he pulls her back against him - even closer - the feel of her breasts against the hard planes of his chest prompt Damon to grind his rock hard length against her soft flesh.
He kisses her again, long, drugging ones. With their mouths sliding together, Damon becomes aware of the gathering moistness between her legs. With a quick flip, he has her on her back and surges inside, nearly losing his mind at the exquisiteness that is Elena Gilbert...
Beep - beep - beep sounds his alarm. Still in the throes of sleep, Damon blindly reaches over to turn it off. His fingers fumble around, pushing it out of his reach so with a sigh, he throws back the covers and turns it off. Feeling his morning wood, Damon shifts quickly when he hears the padding of little footsteps only moments before his door flies open and a little girl jumps on his bed.
"I'm hungry," Allie bounces excitedly, her nightie flying up and down until he repositions himself and gets out of bed. Grabbing the little girl, he throws her over his shoulder and carries her into the kitchen to make her some breakfast.
"Elena, can we talk?" Nik knocks on her bedroom door.
"I suppose we should," she opens it, lets him in then crawls back into her bed, pulling the covers up over her breasts.
"Look, I'm sorry I kissed you. Yeah I had a little too much to drink but that's no excuse. I look at you and someone who can fix my problems and be a mother to my kids... and well, you've been so good to me, defending me to the police and you've been a godsend to us. I just..." he drops his eyes, looking down at his clenched hands. Several seconds pass before he looks at her again. "Can you please forgive my lapse in judgement?"
"I care about you, Nik... as my sister's husband, not as someone I'm romantically interested in. I love Noah and Nadia but I won't be their mother, I can't. Maybe someday you'll find another woman but that girl isn't me. And to answer your question, yes I forgive you."
"Thank you, Elena," he reaches over and squeezes her hand. "I should tell you, I talked to Ric and Jenna. I'm going to go to Houston and stay with them. They have more room and I don't want to risk our friendship, should I ever lose my mind again and come on to you a second time."
"You don't have to go," she looks at him with those big brown eyes.
"Yeah, we do. I think it's for the best and I suspect you know it too. And don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at Ranger Salvatore."
"There's nothing between us," she protests but can't stop her cheeks from turning a rosy shade of pink.
"I know that but I don't want to stand in the way if..." he stands up and walks to the door. "Goodnight Elena. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight," she sighs while reaching over to turn out the beside lamp. Snuggling down under her covers, she closes her eyes in hopes Katherine will come again. Although she knows the chances are less than zero, she hopes that somehow she'll find something that will help to identify her sister's mysterious ex lover.
Elena comes home to a quiet house since Nik and the twins moved out. Although she misses them, she can't deny the solitude is a welcome change. After dropping her purse from her shoulder, she sets it on the table then reaches into the refridgerator for her jug of orange juice and pours herself a cup. Leaning back against the counter, her eyes land on the photo she found in Katherine's closet. There's something about it that she just can't put her finger on. And when she looks at some of the other ones that she has tacked on the refrigerator, it hits like a ton of bricks. It's a professional photograph.
Dropping her glass in the sink, she grabs the photo, her handbag and runs out of the house, jumps into her car and heads for downtown to see Damon. It's late by the time she gets to his office - she can only hope he's working late.
With the photo securely in her hand, she runs into the building and rather than wait for the elevator, darts into the stairwell, climbing up three flights of steps in mere moments. By the time she reaches his suite, she's nearly breathless but not from exhaustion, from anticipation that this could be something important. Fisting her hand, she raps hard on his door, relieved when she hears his voice.
"Damon," she squeaks as soon as he pulls it open.
"Elena, what are you doing here this time of day?"
"I think I found something. Remember this picture?" she holds it for him.
"Yes, that's the one you found when I took you to the house," Damon takes it from her.
"Damon, it's a professionally taken picture. I'm so stupid, I overlooked it before, I don't know, I guess the shock but look at the bottom right corner, it's the name of a photography studio."
"Elena, you're a genius, this might be the missing piece." He cups her cheeks and then, his lips are on hers, and she doesn't have time to react because his tongue's dipping into her mouth. His hands are on her waist, bringing her flush against the length of his hard body and then he pulls back. "I've been wanting to do that since we met."
"Me too, Damon," she brushes her lips with the pad of her fingers. Then suddenly, he cradles her face in his hands, joining their lips again. As his mouth moves with hers all she can feel is the connection, that feeling of falling deep and fast. As his tongue dances languidly with hers, she wants the kiss to never end... but it has to.
"When this is all said and done, I really want to get to know you better, Elena. I don't know about you but every time you're close, I feel something strange and confusing yet exciting too. I would very much like to explore that with you."
"I'd like that," Elena nods and takes a step back. "What are you going to do with the photo?"
"I'm going to call the studio first thing tomorrow and see what they can tell us. Who paid for it? Did she make the appointment alone, did someone come with her, are there other pictures in this photo session?" Damon looks at his watch, "It's late, I'll walk you to your car," he sets the photo on his desk, follows her out of his office and into the parking lot. When they reach her car, he opens the door after she unlocks it, allowing her to slide in. "I'll let you know if I find out anything. Goodnight, Elena."
"Night," she starts the engine, pulls the door closed and drives away while Damon watches till her taillights are no longer visible in the distance.
"Gerard Photography, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I'm Damon Salvatore of the Texas Rangers law enforcement. I'm calling from Galveston. I have a photo here that was taken at your studio and could be an important clue in an investigation I'm involved in. I was wondering if there's someone I can talk to about that?"
"Hang on, I'll get Marcel," the girl puts him on hold, leaving him to listen to elevator music.
"Ranger Salvatore, this is Marcel Gerard, I am the owner of this studio."
"Thank you for taking my call, Mr. Gerard. I'm working on a homicide case. I have a picture of our victim taken at your studio. I'm hoping you can tell me about it?"
"A very small number of my clients are very secretive. Yes, I'll help if I can but I'd like you to get a warrant - if for nothing else than to protect my business. I've worked very hard to build it to what it is today."
"I'm going to throw a few things in a bag and I'll be in Richmond as soon as I can. Thank you for your time, Mr. Gerard."
"No problem, I've always wanted to meet a Texas Ranger," the man laughs and hangs up.
Damon grabs his hat and briefcase then hurries out of his office after telling his secretary his plans. As soon as he's outside, he pulls his sunglasses out of his lapel pocket, slips them then trots down the steps. With his eyes on the asphalt, he walks right into Elijah Mikaelson.
"Excuse me, counselor?" Damon steps back and raises his hat.
"I'm headed to Virginia to talk to my brother Finn about Katherine. Maybe he knows something - maybe he doesn't but I want to satisfy myself about that letterhead."
"I'm headed to Richmond as well to follow a lead. You need a lift to the airport?" Damon asks as they walk into the parking structure.
"Actually yes, I took a cab," Damon unlocks the car, they both slide in and with a rev of his engine, they're on their way to Scholes International Airport to catch a flight to Virginia.
Huge apologies again. My family has had 3 weeks of hell. Friday evening my sons were assaulted and my car vandalized. Matt ended of bruised with 3 staples in his head but again Morgan took the brunt of it. Kid nearly bled to death only a couple weeks ago. This time these assholes took a crowbar to his face, shattered his nose and caused a brain bleed. He had to be sent by helicopter to a bigger hospital. My mom died brain dead from a bleed - the result of a fall so as you can imagine, I about lost my mind with worry.
Tremendous thanks to all of you and to Eva. Our fandom has some really great people in it. Also Happy Birthday wishes to heyitskarma. I wish I could put a cake emoji here.
Chapter title: 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Next week will hold a surprise or two ;) barring any other unforeseen craziness.
Have a terrific day and a wonderful weekend. We'll see you next times