Sorry everyone for taking so long but the holidays got me off track. Hope you had a nice New Years.
Hours had passed since Elena had returned to sleep her body drained of energy from the trauma of the last 36 hours. Damon sat with her watching her steady breathing unable to rest from the news of the poisoning despite the burn and ache in his eyes. Her fever was nearly broken now so Meredith had removed the cooling blankets and said she would check on her again later.
Sheriff Forbes had finally arrived to take a report on the incident. The sound of the door slowly opening caught Damon's attention immediately and he stood up to meet her as she entered the room. She whispered so as not to wake Elena. "Meredith filled me in on what happened. How is she doing?"
He looked over at Elena to see her shifting to her side in her sleep. He motioned to the door leading Liz out into the hallway so they could talk without disturbing Elena. "Once the antidote kicked in she started doing much better."
Liz was hesitant to ask knowing how delicate the situation was. "How is the baby?"
He gave her a serious look tilting his head to the side blinking slowly in relief. "We were lucky. I gave her some blood so the baby is fine," he said making sure to keep the sex of the baby concealed.
Liz let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Thank God. Elena has been thru so much she didn't need to lose this baby too." She could see the strain on Damon's face feeling sympathy for her friend. "I can't imagine what you must have been going thru. Do you have any idea who might have done this or why?"
Damon tried to hold back his anger and frustration. "I don't know for sure. It could be anybody given Elena's importance."
Liz frowned in confusion. She knew a great deal about the supernatural goings on in Mystic Falls, who the vampires and hybrids were and who was the most dangerous. She had been involved in a number of the cover ups when people had mysteriously disappeared or had been killed. She knew Klaus and his siblings were at the center of most things and that Elena somehow fit into the picture but she'd never been told exactly how. "You've never really told me the part Elena plays in all this."
Damon gave her one of his classic satirical smiles. "You know what they say Liz ignorance is bliss. The less you knew the better for everyone."
"Damon don't you think it's time I get filled in on things? How am I going to help if I'm always in the dark?"
He sighed knowing she was right. Damon had kept her out of things as much as he could but he knew by now he could trust her and frankly he could use her help. Telling her a little more wasn't going to make much difference to her. To put it delicately he said, "Elena is...special. These hybrids Klaus has, they're possible because of her blood."
Her face was laced heavily with a concerned yet quizzical look. "Her blood? I don't understand. What does her blood have to do with hybrids?"
"It's complicated but her blood is the only way they can be made. Elena is a genetic anomaly if you will, a replica of one of her ancestors. It only happens every 500 years so long as her family line continues to keep the cycle going."
"So you think someone tried to kill her to stop the cycle." He chewed his lower lip in serious contemplation nodding his agreement. Liz asked, "Who would do such a horrible thing? Klaus? I mean that wouldn't make sense if he wants these hybrids."
He took a deep breath then let it out slowly and rubbed the tiredness from one eye with his fingers as he yawned. "No, it wouldn't which is why he's off the list of suspects. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Klaus may be an Original thorn in our sides but this isn't his method of operating. It's possible it could be someone associated with Klaus maybe someone who wants revenge but I'm guessing it's broader than that say...someone who wants to purge the town of vampires and the like. Sound familiar?"
A look of recognition ran across her face as the horrible possibility set in. "You mean the council?"
Damon nodded. "The council is split about a truce with 'my kind.' Half are willing to negotiate but the other half want to exterminate us. Meredith said there was enough poison in Elena's system to kill both her and the baby. If someone on the council knows how important her blood is killing her would not only solve part of their problem but also send a message to the rest of us that they're in charge. They have the connections to pull something like this off too. Now Carol said Alaric didn't mention anything to the council about Elena but that doesn't mean they didn't find out on their own."
Liz asked, "Any idea where she might have gotten the tea?"
"She was pretty weak when she first woke up. I didn't want to drain her so I didn't ask but someone would have to know her routine to find the right opportunity to slip her the poison. She usually stops at Coffee Cafe on her way to school. I'd start with them."
Liz pulled out her notepad to jot down the information. "Got it. I'll check out the Grille and the campus cafeteria as well. If I can find out where she got the tea from I might be able to trace it back to whoever purchased it. I'm going to take care of this myself. I don't want to tip the council off about the investigation. I'll keep you posted." Liz gave Damon a quick pat on the shoulder in support.
"Thanks," he said as he grabbed the door handle to head back into Elena's room. Upon entering he found Elena awake sitting up in bed watching the fetal monitor and rubbing her hand gently over her stomach. She turned her gaze from the monitor to the door when she heard Damon open it.
"Hey you're awake." He walked over to her with a big smile on his face. Seeing her looking almost like her normal self was a relief. This ordeal had been a long emotional roller coaster ride.
Still somewhat weak she replied, "Yeah, I was just watching the monitor." She looked down at her stomach as she ran her hand over the small bulge then smiled back up at him beaming. "I can feel him moving again. He's really going to be ok isn't he?"
He sat on the side edge of her bed and grabbed her hand rubbing his thumb over her fingers lovingly giving her a half smirk. "Yeah, I told you he was. You know you should really listen to me more often," he said playfully shaking the forefinger of his other hand at her.
She smiled weakly at him teasing back. "Well you are always right."
He gave her another big sarcastic smile and nodded in satisfaction. "And don't you forget it."
Her weak smile slowly faded replaced by a more somber expression. She asked, "Did you call Jeremy?"
"Yeah, I told him not to come yet there wasn't anything he could do right now anyway. I said I'd let him know when you were awake."
Elena breathed in and let out a sigh in relief. The last thing she wanted was for Jeremy to worry. She'd already caused enough worry for one night. Looking down at their woven fingers she stroked her thumb over his hand in return. "I'm so sorry Damon."
"Sorry for what?" He knew what she meant but the idea that she'd done something intentionally to feel guilty about was absurd.
Elena's eyes flitted up to meet his showing the depth of her regret. "For almost losing everything you've been trying so hard to protect. I should've been more careful. I guess I just wasn't thinking."
Reassuringly he said, "Elena you drank a cup of tea. You do that every day without a problem. How were you supposed to know this time it was poisonous? It's not your fault." She down cast her eyes still feeling guilty for putting him thru the emotional drama. He squeezed her hand tighter. With resolute determination he said, "But from now on you aren't going to eat anything and I mean anything unless either you or I've prepared it. Or at the very least seen it prepared. I mean it. We're not taking any more chances."
She nodded in agreement. For the first time since she'd woken up it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't eaten in a long time. "Speaking of food I'm kind of hungry. What am I supposed to eat? I mean how do I know if it's safe to eat anything here?"
Before Damon could answer Meredith walked in greeting them warmly. "Well this is a good sign you're sitting up. Looks like the antidote is working." She walked over to the bedside with her hands in the pockets of her lab coat as Damon and Elena turned their attention to meet her. "So how are you feeling?"
"Better. I can feel him moving again," relief and excitement apparent in her voice.
"Good, that's a good sign. Sometimes it can take awhile for the numbness from the antidote to subside." Meredith looked up at the monitor above Elena's head studying the readings for a moment. "Your vital signs look good." They watched as Meredith walked around to the other side of the bed and fiddled with the fetal monitor. "Everything appears stable here too." Damon squeezed Elena's hand and half smiled at her. Turning back to look at them Meredith said, "I just checked your chart and your temperature is almost back to normal. Are you having any pain, chills or nausea?"
"No, in fact I was just telling Damon that I was hungry but I don't know what's safe to eat."
Meredith attempted to make light of the situation by cracking a joke at the hospital's food. "It's hospital food so technically nothing is really safe to eat. I'd definitely stay away from the meatloaf." They all cracked a much needed smile at her weak attempt at levity. "Actually I'm going to start you out on clear liquids. I'll go myself and grab you something from the doctor's dining room. If someone is waiting to try again they won't be expecting that."
Meekly as if she were asking to be released from detention early, Elena asked, "So any idea when I might be able to go home?"
"Not for a few days at least. The level of poison you had in your system was enough to put you at risk for organ failure. I want to continue to monitor you and the baby to make sure you're both completely stable before I send you home." She looked from Elena to Damon with a sense of sympathy in her eyes for all they'd been thru. "I'm sure neither of you want to have to come right back here."
Damon jeered, "Pfst, nooo," dragging out the 'o' for effect.
"Ok then I'm going to get you something to eat. The lab tech should be in shortly to draw some more blood. I'll be back in a bit."
Elena reached up to stroke Damon's cheek lovingly. "You look exhausted. You should go home and get some sleep." Sure he was a vampire and could function on less than the average human but she still worried about him. He always did his best to be strong for her and she wanted to make sure she took care of him in return. They wouldn't be alive right now if he hadn't been there to save them just like he always did. Not only had he saved her life countless times but he made her feel alive, he made her life worth living. She had no idea what she would do without him.
His pale blue eyes that typically glowed were now rimmed red and lined with dark circles. That was not something Elena was accustom to seeing on his beautiful, eternally youthful face. Obviously it had been far too long since he had fed to give him the much needed sustenance for his body to recharge. He gave her a sideways grin and a wink. "I'll be fine." His feeble attempt to assuage her concern was less than convincing. She'd known him long enough to be able to read his expressions and it was clear to her he was not 'fine.'
She leaned forward to capture a closer look at his haggard face. She placed her forefinger under his chin to raise his face up to meet her gaze. "Damon you're not fine. When was the last time you fed?"
He shrugged his shoulders trying to blow it off. "I don't know a few hours ago. Meredith slipped me a blood bag." The truth was it had been more than a few hours ago.
"That's not enough you must be starving."
"Elena I'm fine really. If I get hungry I can go feed on that 400lb guy I saw them wheel in the room across from yours. I'm sure he could spare a few quarts."
She tried to suppress a smirk. She didn't want to encourage his incorrigible behavior but sometimes she couldn't help herself. "That's not funny," she said yet he could hear the slight giggle in her voice.
He gave her one of his famous wolf in sheep's clothing brilliant smiles. "Come on it's a little funny."
She looked at him sternly folding her arms and raising one eyebrow. He could be so stubborn sometimes but she was determined to win this one. "Go home! You heard Meredith we're both stable. We'll be fine for a few hours while you're gone."
Whenever she gave him that tone he had learned it was easier to compromise with her than to fight about it. Besides as much as he wanted to stay she was right. They were both doing better and he really needed to eat otherwise his strength wouldn't up to par to protect her. "Fine I'll go home for a few hours on one condition." She looked at him expectantly. "You call Bonnie and have her come sit with you until I get back."
Elena whined, "Damon…"
Damon cut her off firmly saying her name with the same tone she used. "Elena...I'm not leaving you unprotected especially not after someone just tried to poison you. So either you call Bonnie or I'm staying."
She tilted her head up giving him a slight indignant yet victorious smile. "Fine, I'll call her right now."
An hour later, Bonnie arrived at the hospital. When she entered the room Damon was supporting a weak Elena walking back to bed from the bathroom pushing her IV pole next to her. The tray of liquids Meredith brought her combined with the IV fluids worked their way thru her system quickly like she had just chugged a gallon of water. Elena was glad to see that Bonnie could make it on such short notice. "Oh Bonnie thanks for coming."
Bonnie walked over and gave Elena a light hug being careful of her IV. "No problem." When they parted Bonnie still had her forearms resting against Elena's in a loose grasp. She looked at her sincerely, "I'm so sorry. I can't believe this happened."
Damon was still standing next to Elena ready to support her in case she lost her balance from the weakness. He didn't want to risk her falling so he intervened in their conversation before they could go any further. He urged Elena, "Come on you can talk to your little hearts' content later like after I leave. Right now you need to get back in bed."
She rolled her eyes at his overprotectiveness but she couldn't blame him under the circumstances. She quipped, "Yes dad."
He gave her an over exaggerated 'Ha ha' then said, "Now get back into bed."
Bonnie helped Damon ease Elena back into bed accidentally catching a glimpse of his rather large bulge that was difficult to miss thru those paper thin scrubs. She averted her eyes quickly before either noticed. She harassed Damon, "Wow you look like Hell. No wonder Elena called me."
Damon scrunched his face in a sarcastic smirk. "Thanks. As always your opinion means so much to me." Once she was settled in bed Damon stood there a moment reluctant to leave. He felt uneasy going home even with Bonnie there to watch over her. He rubbed his hands together fidgeting. "So I guess I'll be leaving." Elena smiled up at him pleased to see he was going to do as she'd asked and get some rest. Stalling he said, "Or I could just stay."
Both Bonnie and Elena said in unison, "Go!"
Damon frowned clearly not happy with their insistance. Finally he raised his hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok I'll go. I'll let Jeremy know you're awake. Maybe he can come by and keep you company."
Elena leaned forward to grab his hand reassuringly. "We'll be fine. I'll see you later."
He sighed heavily. "Alright." Her hand reached up to touch his cheek as he leaned down to give her a gentle kiss goodbye. Damon grabbed the bag of his blood stained clothes then turned back for one more uneasy smile before leaving.
Bonnie turned back to Elena. "Out of all the times you've been in danger I don't think I've ever seen him look that frazzled."
Elena frowned and nodded her agreement. "It's been rough on him. Thanks for coming Bonnie. I'm glad you're here."
Bonnie grabbed her hand and smiled back. "Me too."
Damon walked past the nurses' station to the elevator and pushed the down button. Waiting for the elevator he scanned around the desk checking for anything suspicious but finding nothing except the usual medical personnel using computers, discussing patients and making phone calls. For a moment he thought he caught one of the female staff staring at him but when he blinked his eyes she was once again occupied with her work. He shook the thought away. Either she was checking him out for some reason or he was imagining things as a result of his tiredness. The elevator dinged indicating it had arrived on his floor, the doors opened and he stepped in.
The elevator doors closed and a nurse at the desk raised her head up looking around nervously to make sure no one was watching. She walked down the hallway grabbing a cell phone out of her pocket to make a discreet phone call. When the recipient answered the nurse whispered, "I'm calling about the Gilbert woman. Her condition has improved."
Annoyed the man on the other end asked, "And the child?"
"Alive. I don't understand how. According to the dosage listed in the chart it should've been lethal to her."
He growled, distain evident in his voice. "Vampire blood."
Nervously she said, "There's more. Sheriff Forbes was here asking questions. I..I'm not sure how much she knows."
"I'll deal with Sheriff Forbes. You just make sure the doppleganger gets that injection."
A doctor walked by smiling at the nurse on the phone. When the doctor was out of earshot she whispered, "I don't think I can go thru with it. I can't kill an innocent child."
Thru gritted teeth the man said calously, "The child is not innoncent. She is an abomination and will serve to continue the cycle of evil that is plaguing this town. Need I remind you of our deal? Perhaps you would prefer the licensing board find out about your little narcotic addiction."
"No, please," the nurse pleaded desperately.
"Then you'll do as you're told."
She swallowed hard feeling her body shake at the thought that her entire career, her livelihood depended on killing a child. She tried to stall. "I'm not sure I can get close enough to her. Damon Salvatore has left but a young African-American woman is with her now. Between her and Dr. Fell she's being watched closely."
He pursed his lips in thought while he paced. "Probably the Bennett witch."
"So what should I do?"
He contemplated for a moment before answering. "First dispose of the injection. We don"t want any evidence lying around for the Sheriff to find. We'll have to come up with another plan of attack once they relax again. For now keep an eye on her. I want to know when she's discharged."
"Yes sir." The nurse hung up relieved she didn't have to go thru with the plan. She quickly scanned the hallway once more to make sure no one had heard her conversation before returning to the front desk to go back to work.
Damon pulled up in the driveway at the boarding house. He turned the Camero off, leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was so tired he could fall asleep right there. He hadn't wanted to leave Elena but now that he was home his bed was calling to him. He got out of the car and dragged himself into the house. He tossed the bag of soiled clothes on the floor in the foyer and headed to the basement to grab himself some blood. Not bothering to stop for a glass, he took three bags with him as he headed up the stairs ripping one open immediately and sucking it down. When the blood hit his lips it was like quenching a thirst after walking in the desert. Guess I was hungrier than I thought. He opened the door to his bedroom and was momentarily taken aback by the sight. He was so tired he had forgotten the mess he'd left behind. The blood on the bed had caked and dried to the sheets. He walked over to the bed and shook his head sadly remembering how helpless he felt. He started ripping the sheets off only to see the blood had saturated the mattress. He said out loud to himself, "Fuck it. I'll just replace the whole thing." He walked over to the closet peeling off the scrubs he'd been wearing and tossed them in the hamper. He threw on a pair of lounge pants and made his way out of the bedroom towards one of the other rooms to sleep.
There were 7 other rooms to choose from including Stefan's but the one he gravitated to was the room across the hall, the one they'd chosen as the nursery. They hadn't done anything to the room yet but Elena's antique rocking chair from her parents' house sat in the corner with the annoyingly large teddy bear Klaus had left them on it staring at him...again. For some reason seeing the bear this time gave him some comfort maybe because it reminded him that his son was still alive. Too tired to think anymore he finished off the last remaining blood bag before crashing face first onto the bed and passing out.