It's one of the very rare occasions that Elena decides she's not going to work. Her new friend spent the night in her room and eventually her bed. At first she tried hanging one arm over the side and letting him snuggle against it but it grew uncomfortable very soon. Then the little guy's lonesome cries proved too much, she caved and picked him up to lay beside her.
When morning comes, much sooner than she'd prefer, she's sore and stiff as she tried not to move too much so she wouldn't suffocate him. She lifts the covers and there he is, deep in slumber, ignoring any sound or movement made by her. She uses her finger to smooth his shiny fur and gives herself a moment to remember a different cat with a coarser coat who often shared her bed. A sniffling sound wakes him up and an intense meow alerts her that he probably needs some food.
"Come on, let's get some breakfast," she wipes off the moisture from her cheeks, lifts the kitten with one hand and with her phone in the other, she pushes Enzo's name on the way to the kitchen.
"Morning Enz. Anything requiring my prompt attention?"
"Nothing that I can't manage, so no."
"I'm glad, I just called to tell you that I won't be coming in today."
There's a few moments of dead silence on the other end. She imagines the wheels turning in his head as he considers her reasons for staying home. He would be right if he's thinking it's because of yesterday, but not in the way he's imagining.
"Are you alright?" Enzo asks eventually, concern evident in his voice.
"I am perfect, okay? Really. I just need a day off," she knows he must sense her smile... she realizes that for the first in a long time, her answer to his question is genuine.
Damon wakes up surprisingly well rested. At some point during the night he managed to turn onto his left side. His body was so satisfied with this new position that the pain ebbed and he was able to sleep for several hours which hasn't happened for days. Immediately his thoughts turn to Elena and his birthday present... he hopes she overcame her shock and accepted it into her heart and home. He wonders where the little guy got to spend the night?
Perfect! He's jealous of a kitten?
His eyes fall on his phone, wishing he could just pick it up and give her a call, which is clearly not an option. Not until…
Which brings him to the problem at hand, the Jeremy Gilbert case. The very same one that brought them together also holds the potential to irreparably damage any chance they might still have. Would it be too arrogant of him to decide that he's going to close this case before the weekend? Of course it is, it would take a miracle for that to happen.
Or he could die trying.
Literally.
He shudders at the thought, his lingering aches serve as a painful reminder to how close he's already come to the debt that all men pay. This case needs to end before something happens that can't be undone. The feeling of urgency is different today, more intense than it was yesterday. And for once, it doesn't have anything to do with Elena herself. At least he doesn't think so. Carefully he shifts on the mattress and reaches for his phone.
Without further hesitation he messages Ric to pick him up and heads to the kitchen to make himself a much needed pot of coffee. He misses Luka's daily delivery something fierce. Just as he's about to take a seat to guzzle a cupful, his phone beeps with a new message. Thinking it's his partner confirming he's on the way, he opens it. Much to his great surprise, he's greeted by a 'selfie' of his little pal spread out on Elena's couch, his blue eyes shining, a paw attacking the phone. Then it beeps with yet another text. Damon reads:
"Meet Sherlock."
Suddenly he finds himself grinning like an idiot.
Much to her surprise, Elena's enjoying her day with her new love, following the curious kitten around the house. When Gibraltar died, she didn't think she'd ever have another cat but now, little Sherlock has filled the void. It's early in the afternoon, she didn't even give lunch a thought because her new friend is just too much fun. She felt pretty smug messaging Damon the picture earlier, or maybe it was... excitement? She hasn't experienced this incredible feeling in quite some time. While it's true that his failure to reply was a bit disappointing, perhaps she left him speechless which is a marvelous accomplishment in and of itself.
The doorbell pulls her out of her reverie. She looks at the kitten, currently spread on the carpet among different toys and pieces of cloth that she found for him to play with but Sherlock's deep in slumber, having worn himself out. He doesn't even stir when the bell chimes again. She quickly walks to the door wondering which of her friends felt the need to check up on her this time. Will they ever get it through their thick skulls that she's a grown woman, more than capable of taking care of herself?
"Elijah," she greets him, stepping aside to let him come in.
Elijah studies her expression for a moment, then gives her a cautious smile. "Good afternoon. I was in the neighborhood when my brother called so I thought I'd just stop by to see if there's any truth to the weird rumors that started spreading this morning."
"Why am I not surprised?" she rolls her eyes. "Kol called around 10, asking if I needed a lift although I'm pretty sure Enzo had already told him I wasn't coming in today. Kai lasted till noon, then he called to suggest lunch, which I politely declined. I should have expected them to summon you."
Elijah chuckles, relaxing as he sees she's clearly okay. "Okay, retract the claws. I didn't mean to disturb your solitude. I'll just be going..."
"No, as you're here you're welcome to have lunch with me but I must warn you that I'm not alone. Come, I'll introduce you." She turns to go back to the living room and Elijah follows, intrigued by her unusual attitude.
"If you're sure..."
"I am," she gives him a grin and Elijah thinks he's in some sort of an alternate universe here. However, the sight of a cute, little black kitten running to Elena for safety as soon as they enter the living room is the last thing he expected to find. Elena picks it up to rest on her chest, petting it softly.
"So..., this is Sherlock. My birthday present."
Elijah maintains his poker face but he's impressed, silently congratulating detective Salvatore as he's pretty sure this was his doing.
"Sherlock," he draws, "nice to meet you... So he's the reason you decided to stay home today? Can't say I blame you," he expertly grabs the kitten to take a closer look and Sherlock seems to be shocked as he's not even fighting it.
Elena laughs and without asking gets them each a Seagram's Cooler. "Follow me, I'll make something quick." They end up in the kitchen, Elijah sitting at the kitchen table with Sherlock on his lap, the animal's watching Elena's every move like a hawk honing in on a field mouse. Soon they each have a plate and are digging into the southwest chicken salad that she threw together. She even took the time to chop up a little bit of chicken for her new best friend.
"I have to say, I'm a little surprised. When Kol called, he said you almost turned him down on Saturday..."
"I know. Sorry for worrying you. I'm well aware I'm not the easiest person to get along with and especially not around my birthday. I'm fine now, I really just wanted to have the day off to get to know my little friend better," she adds, her eyes dropping to Sherlock when she hears a growl as he's tearing into his feast.
"I can see that," Elijah smiles and gets up. "Thanks for lunch. And your new friend here is a delight... I'll have to commend Detective Salvatore for coming up with the perfect gift."
"How do you...?
Elijah gives her a pointed look. "After all these years? Really Elena?"
"No! You may know me inside and out for the most part but you don't know detective Salvatore, so how did you know it was from him?"
"First of all, you forbade all of us from getting you another pet for years already, let alone any kind of a birthday present. And the name? The most famous literary detective?"
"Alright, I guess it's rather obvious. Can you please tell everyone that I'm fine and that contrary to popular belief, I do not need a babysitter? I'll come back to work... as soon as I find him one," she jokes.
Elijah laughs wholeheartedly and kisses her cheek. "Enjoy your day off."
She watches him slide into his car and drive away before returning to the living room, Sherlock on her tail.
"Can you stop the brooding?" Ric asks having to listen to his frustrated muttering for hours. Damon gives him a nasty look and keeps going through the same reports, which he's been doing incessantly.
"I would love nothing more than to never read another sentence but I can't shake the feeling that we're ignoring something important. He grabs a pen and starts writing frantically. "I left Elijah before eight. He called Enzo who in turn called Kol and told Elena and Kai before nine... That's when they probably left the club so they could be at Elena's by 9:30. Kol was alone after 8:30, Enzo after 9, Kai and Elena after 9:30 and Elijah after I left. All of them had plenty of time to catch up with me and..."
"Okay, Damon. We'll have to work on the time line, I get it. But you're still recovering and need to get some rest. Will you let me take you home now?"
Damon knows he means well and he must admit he's not going to close it overnight but he definitely doesn't want to rest or be bored to tears at home. However, he's in no shape to continue this for several more hours. His level of frustration is growing and he realizes it's his own traitorous body limiting his efforts. Ric or Luka don't deserve his flippant remarks or his short temper so he finally throws in the towel for the night. "You win," he grimaces, rubbing his sore muscles. "We can go over everything with fresh eyes in the morning."
"Again?" Ric mutters under his breath, raising his arms in surrender when Damon glares at him. On the way home they're mostly silent, Damon's trying to relax his mind and think positive thoughts.
Easier said than done when he feels like an incompetent ass.
Leaning back against the seat, he takes his phone out of his pocket to look at the picture Elena sent him this morning. He can't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting, Sherlock is certainly in good hands, he'll have to remember to reassure Stefan...
What would she say if he showed up on her door step?
For once he decides to throw caution to the wind and do what he wants to do. He owes her a response anyway. "Ric," he turns to his friend, "could you drop me at Elena's?"
Ric raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment which Damon appreciates. He can't explain it even to himself, let alone anyone else why he can't let it go. When his buddy turns into her neighborhood and her house comes in view, his body's finally able to relax.
"Now what?" Damon can hear her frustrated whine. The door flies open and he doesn't bother to hide his ear to ear grin.
Elena's momentarily left speechless, she did expect some sort of response from Damon but she certainly never thought he'd show up on her doorstep two days in a row.
"Good afternoon, Miss Gilbert?"
"Uuugh," she lets out an indescribable sound and stoops down to pick up the curious kitten. "Good afternoon, detective, to what do I own this... um... pleasure?"
"Well, I thought we had a date," he improvises. "Who messages such sexy pictures without expecting something..." Despite his teasing tone he holds his breath, bracing himself in case she tells him to take a flying...
Elena freezes for a second, before - to his relief - gives him a wicked grin. "Ah, I see, well I suppose you should come inside then," she steps aside feeling a little silly but excited nonetheless.
Damon tickles Sherlock's tiny head with the back of his index finger and is rewarded by a soft purr, the kitten however doesn't move from Elena's touch. Not that he blames him.
"I'm sorry for invading your privacy," he turns to her on the way to the living room.
"Wonders never cease, this is a first," she comments, raising an eyebrow but the tone suggest she's just teasing. She gestures for him to sit and hands him Sherlock so she can get them some drinks. "Bourbon?"
Damon bows his head. "Thank you."
Elena gets herself a Smirnoff Ice and joins him at the coffee table. "I have to thank you. For him," she looks at the kitten. "I honestly never thought I'd have another pet but perhaps... that was a mistake. He's adorable and fun," she adds to ease the moment. She hates feeling vulnerable and she's not yet willing to open up to him.
It's sad.
He wishes he could just be her friend, one that she could confide in but he's not. He doubts he ever will be. He's duty bound to pry her secrets from her, defile them and then use them to build his case against her and her loved ones...
"What is it?" she asks, watching him curiously.
Damon's head turns to her, he notices Sherlock's already curled up on her lap. "Nothing. I just... I wish things weren't this complicated."
Elena's breath hitches at his unexpected display of honesty. "I... well, no matter what I wish for, things always tend to get complicated, I expect no less quite honestly."
"Elena, no matter how much I complicate your life, believe me it's not personal. I hate that I can't even promise to back off and leave you and your friends alone from now on. But I can't... not until Jeremy's case is closed...
"I know," Elena sighs and is silent for a minute. "And I don't expect you to. It's just hard sometimes... you know, being on pins and needles, always expecting the other shoe to drop." This kind of honesty, she's not used to it. She desperately wants to change the topic but at the same time it fascinates her and she knows they need to talk at some point.
He wants to ask her about her birthday, the accident kept secret, the things that weigh on her but he knows she'll look at it as another interrogation, another half thought out excuse to get her at a disadvantage. Can they ever get past this?
So he gives her the only thing he can... honesty.
"I owe you an explanation, Elena. The truth is... I used to be an angry little boy..."
"So, you're saying you projected those feelings from your childhood, your belief that Katherine usurped your place with your parents? And you thought I did the same to my own brother?" Sherlock's back in dreamland falling asleep during their conversation leaning into her side, Elena absently petting his silken fur.
"I know how crazy it sounds... but it just felt so similar, I couldn't let go of that conviction. My step father was brutal sometimes and then one day, they dropped me off at Madam Sheila's place and relinquished their parental rights. I didn't know then that he wasn't my dad. Giuseppe and my birth mother, Lillian had an affair, he told me about it. He wanted to marry her but he was in the military and was sent to Germany. It all ended unceremoniously when he got a picture of me along with a 'dear john' letter. He searched for a very long time, he was almost ready to give up when by some twist of fate he found me. I had a chip on my shoulder for a long time, Elena, that's why this case felt so personal... I suppose your lawyer could file a complaint with Chief Jordan over my inability to be impartial while spearheading this case. I'm really very, very sorry."
"Don't be," Elena interrupts him, her voice noticeably colder. He averts his eyes, swallows the last bit of bourbon and tries to bring himself to take his leave, however Elena addresses him again.
"Tell me..."
He looks at her questioningly.
"How did you plan on getting home?"
"Well," he draws, making it a show, grateful for her effort to sail their conversation into less dangerous waters, "I didn't actually have a plan. Ric gave me a lift but..."
"Really?" Elena sounds surprised. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"It'd be nice if I could actually sleep in my usual position."
She gives him a look that he's not sure how to decipher, a mix of ... guilt and determination?
"Well, you have two options here. "I can give you a ride..."
He's about to protest but she raises her eyebrow and gestures for him to stay silent.
"... or, you can stay here. I mean, there's more than one bedroom in this house."
Damon's not sure if he heard her right. Is she joking? She actually looks quite serious and isn't trying to rush him into anything. He knows which choice he'd prefer but... is it appropriate? For once he decides to choose himself and he very much would like to stay with her.
"Actually, I do manage to rest better on the couch these days, half sitting, half laying."
Was that a spark in her eye?
"Be my guest. I suggest you call the pizza guy as I've already made one meal today and then we can have a movie night? I'll drop you wherever you need in the morning."
Elena carefully gets up so she won't disturb Sherlock and leaves to arrange their evening. Soon she's back with a blanket, fresh drinks and a phone for when they get hungry. Much to Damon's surprise she places herself at the other end of the couch and covers them both, or rather all three of them lightly.
If anyone would have told him this morning that he'd be spending the night with Elena, sharing a couch and a blanket... no, it sounds too crazy to be true.
Eva and I want to thank you all so very much. You keep us excited and motivated, without your support, we wouldn't be here.
Thank you Eva. I love you dearly.
Chapter title: 'Opened the Door' by Journey.
I did post the final chapter of 'The Night All Angels Cry'.
Thank you all again, you're the best there is in the DE fandom. Hope you all have a terrific day.