A/N: I hope this chapter answers some of your questions! I'll try to have the next chapter up maybe this weekend. I'm going to try and get some of my other stories updated, first. Thank you, SO much for taking the time to review! Seriously, it's so nice to get home from work and read them!

I DO NOT OWN TEEN WOLF, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Four:

Liz arrived, just as we were leaving. I had just finished packing a bag, when she and Deputy Parrish found us. Thankfully, Stefan helped me get dressed and was a complete gentleman about it. I was still shaking, as we drove to the hospital. I couldn't stop. I knew that Damon would make good on his promise. There's no doubt in my mind – that's what scares me the most.

I thought that if the secret got out, that I would feel relieved – like some huge burden had been lifted. That couldn't be further from the truth. Right now – I just feel panicked.

As Liz escorted me and Stefan through the hospital, I tried to ignore the mass of pitied stares. I didn't want their pity. I didn't need it. That's the last thing I want. Now, I just feel like some dirty secret that everyone is going to start gossiping about. It makes me want to run and hide. Being paraded through Damon's workplace is making my skin crawl. I didn't want to be here and I definitely don't want his colleagues to be the ones to treat me.

I can already hear their whispers. They're not even trying to be discreet. Their voices are all filled with doubt. They keep going on and on about the fact that Damon is such a great man and he would never do a thing like this. They claim that I have done something to provoke him or that I probably deserved it.

It didn't matter that I was only in my dress from earlier and my arms were bare, because I didn't have time to put on a sweater. It didn't matter that part of my face was swollen, my wrist was broken, my arms were covered in bruises, or that I was walking with a limp. None of that mattered, because they all saw what they wanted to see. Damon was the victim, even though he was my abuser. And it was my fault, because they would rather believe that I asked for it and blame me, than tarnish the reputation of one of their beloved doctors.

"Bonnie?! Oh, my God! I couldn't believe it, when they told me… What happened to you?! Did he do this?!" Meredith exclaimed, as she made her way over to us.

"I don't want to talk about it." I told her, instead of answering her questions. I know that they are probably the first of many, but I really just can't right now. I can barely keep it together, as it is.

"Okay, yeah, of course." Meredith accepted what I said, without any hesitation. "He should be in jail." She fumed, more to herself, than to anyone else. "Come on. I'll treat you. I would rather I do it, than anyone else. Some people here have absolutely no class and can't keep their ignorant mouths shut. You don't need to hear any of their bias right now."

I let Meredith take control of the situation. I trusted her to do her job and stay professional about it. Liz didn't leave my side. Stefan and Deputy Parrish waited outside the examination room.

I lost track of how many tests they ran. Liz took pictures and I tried to ignore how exposed I felt. It seemed to take hours. By the time they were finished, it had been decided that Caroline, Stefan and I would be staying with Liz for the time-being. I was exhausted, but I still couldn't sleep. Stefan, Caroline, Derek and I all had to go to the station to give our statements.

I didn't understand why everyone had to be dragged into this, but Liz told me that everyone who knew anything about the abuse had to give statements. She said it would help the case. She got a judge to issue an order of protection. No one has seen or heard from Damon, since he left last night.

I stared up at the ceiling in Caroline's old bedroom. I couldn't sleep, even though I was beyond exhausted. My mind was working on overdrive, going a million miles a minute. I'm petrified of what will happen, when Damon finds me.

I keep going over and over everything that happened. How could everything go so wrong, in such a short amount of time? I don't want to die. I really don't. I may not know how to get myself out of this situation, but I do know, with every fiber of my being, that I don't want to die. There is one truth that I keep coming back to – if Damon can't have me, he'll find a way to kill me. And that… that shook me to my core.

After a few hours, I gave up on trying to sleep. It didn't matter how tired I, or my body, was. It just wasn't happening. I had too much on my mind. I was too on edge to relax.

I changed into a clean pair of clothes that Caroline had left out for me, of hers – clothes that wouldn't remind me of Damon. It was just an old t-shirt and a soft pair of cotton shorts, but it made all the difference.

The walk to the kitchen seemed to take ages. I wasn't used to walking around with so much skin exposed. It's nerve-racking. The collective sharp intake of breath, when I walked into the room, let me know that I looked as bad as I felt. I suddenly wished that I had left my hair down, so I could hide behind it.

"Are you hungry, Bon? You should really try and eat something." Caroline was the first to break the silence. I shook my head. I really don't think I can stomach food, right now. Just the thought of it, makes my stomach tangle into knots. "Please? Just a little something?" She tried again. I just shrugged. "I'll make you some toast." She decided. I just nodded.

My eyes wandered around the kitchen and landed on Derek. I didn't even realize he was here. He's staring at me with an overwhelming intensity. I hugged my arms around myself, trying to cover up.

"Are you cold?" Derek asked me, noticing the shift in behavior. His voice was soft and filled with concern. He held my gaze and I Couldn't look away. I nodded, instead of answering him. He took off his Henley, revealing a sleeveless undershirt underneath. He handed it to me, wordlessly. It took me a few moments to accept it. I put it on carefully, trying not to upset my ribs or shoulder. Doing anything without hurting seems to be impossible.

"Thank you." I whispered, still trying to figure out why he would give me his shirt. It smells like him and it made me wonder if he's always smelled this good. It's strange smelling another man and wearing his clothes. I can't remember the last time that happened.

"It looks better on you, anyways." He replied, gently. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I played with the sleeves, before deciding to roll them up, so they weren't so ridiculously long on me.

"Um… I didn't know you were coming by…" I blurted out, lamely. Derek gave me a ghost of a smile.

"I just wanted to see how you were holding up… You know, considering." He replied, just as awkwardly. I nodded.

"Here's your toast, Bonnie. Stefan and I are going to run out and get a few things for dinner. Mom should be home soon, too… Will you be okay?" Caroline asked me. I knew what she was doing. She's trying to give me time alone with Derek, so we can talk. She probably things that it'll help. Maybe she's right and maybe it will, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to talk about, what she wants us to talk about.

"I can stay, until you get back. If you want?" Derek offered, looking at me, as if trying to read my body language. I cursed Caroline in my head, but nodded anyway.

"Okay," I gave in. Caroline beamed.

"Make sure she eats – okay?" She told Derek.

"I will." He assured her.

"Thanks!" And she was off. I sat down at the table with my plate. Derek followed suit.

"Caroline told me that she talked to you about my past. I wanted to clear the air, because I didn't want you to feel like I was upset that she shared that with you. It's not really something that I advertise, but it's not something that I hide, either. I understand why she shared that with you. I know that my situation doesn't put me in your shoes, but if you ever need someone to talk to… someone who can kind of relate to what you've been through… I'm around and I won't judge you or hold anything you tell me against you." He explained.

My knuckles were white, because of how tightly I was holding onto the seat of my chair. It's not what I expected Derek to say. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say to that… I'm not sure what I want to say.

"I… Okay." I breathed. He nodded and nudged the plate of toast closer to me. I started picking at it, but not really eating it. "I can't eat this – if I do, I'll be sick."

"Just one bite?" He tried. I nodded and did as he asked. As soon as the toast hit my tongue, I felt my stomach start to churn. I pushed the plate away, as soon as I swallowed the bite. Derek seemed satisfied.

"Thank you." He said, quietly. I nodded. "What do you want to do until they get back?" He asked me. I gave him a meek shrug.

"When I'm well enough… would you still be willing to give me those self-defense lessons?" I asked him. He seemed relieved by my question and the fact that I was still interested.

"Of course," he replied, without any hesitation. "I'd be happy to."

We ended up making small talk until they got back to the house. The more time I spent around Derek, the less awkward I felt around him. He's surprisingly patient and doesn't seem to mind my skittishness or my constant internal struggles. He promised to keep coming by to check on me. I tried to tell him that it wasn't necessary, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He kept insisting that it wasn't any trouble.

We were watching some movie in Liz' living room, but my eyes kept flitting over to Stefan. I couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to Damon's threats. He seemed to pick up on it, because he paused the movie and moved to come sit next to me. I froze, involuntarily. Caroline had fallen asleep on the floor and Liz had gotten called back into work, so it was just us.

"What's wrong, Bonnie? And don't tell it's nothing, because you've been staring at me for the past house." Stefan confronted me about my wandering eyes. I bit my lip nervously.

"Earlier last night… Damon said some things… things about the two of you growing up…" I struggled to explain. I kept losing my nerve. Do I really want to know if there's any truth to it? Would I be able to look at Stefan the same way, again? I don't know if I can handle knowing… I don't know if I can handle not knowing either.

"What did he say, Bonnie? You can tell me." Stefan's voice was so sincere. I can't believe that he's anything like his brother.

"He said that the two of you liked to – and have in the past – share women. He implied that's what would be happening last night. He told me that it didn't matter is I wanted it or not… but he was lying, right?" My voice broke and I lost the ever-losing battle of holding my tears back. I couldn't bear to look at Stefan, afraid of his reaction.

"Bonnie… I'm not going to lie to you. My brother and I have shared women in the past. But you have to believe me, when I tell you that I had no intention of sharing you with Damon last night. I respect you too much to even consider something like that, without talking to you about it first. There is a reason that we stopped sharing. Damon got greedy. He liked to inflict pain more than pleasure. I've never understood that about him. I never understood how the two of you were together. You've always been so timid and sweet. I never even considered that there was a possibility that Damon was hurting you. I wish that I could have done something sooner. I understand why you never said anything, but I promise you that what my brother did to you hasn't made me think any less of you, as a person." Stefan promised. He wrapped his arms around me, tentatively. I crumbled in his embrace and let my emotions consume me.