N: Hey guys, a new chapter's here. I am sorry that I can't give you longer chapters, but I barely have time to write short ones. If I were to write them longer, you'll have to wait a very long time.

It's not beta-ed so all the mistakes are mine.

Hope you'll enjoy and leave a review. The next chapter will be really interesting for Elena and we'll have some Stefan-Damon time going on.

Shadows

Only after Damon made sure he saw and talked to everyone at the meeting, he finally allowed Elijah and Elena to drive him to the emergency room. A way too young and way too beautiful doctor – in Elena's opinion – urged Damon through a pair of long, white doors and one of the nurses stopped Elena from following. She protested, telling her that she was his wife and she just had to be there, but the old nurse would have none of it. She probably had people like her in there all the time. Even though Elena knew she was just doing her job, in that moment she hated the nurse.

They waited for what seemed like hours for Elena, but in reality just about a half an hour had passed before Damon returned. A white patch was covering the wound, adding to his dashing looks rather than taking his charm away. He looked like one of those knights, accepting his duty and owning the wounds that made him stronger not weaker. Even though he acted brave, joking about his wound with everyone, when the old nurse handed him a painkiller, he accepted it without a second thought.

While Damon had been in the doctor's office to prescribe him some more pills to help him with the pain, Elena decided it would be best to call Damon's parents. On the news reporters tended to exaggerate and Elena knew that way too well. They were better off hearing about the accident from her, the way it actually happened. Like any parents, they insisted on talking to their son and Stefan had been the only one capable of keeping them calm until Damon came out of the doctor's office.

A bunch of reporters were waiting outside when they came out. "Let them take a picture of your blood-stained blouse," Elijah whispered in Elena's ear.

"You're sick."

"No, I'm just trying to turn a bad situation in our advantage. Believe me, it would make you look good too," he said, but Elena was way too tired and overwhelmed to make a comeback. After all, it was too late, the crowed was packed with cameras and reporters, and they most certainly got plenty of pictures of her stained clothes.

When they arrived at the hotel, Elena made it very clear that Damon will just relax and get his sleep without anyone disturbing him. Of course, both Stefan and Elijah protested, telling her that Damon needed to work on a statement. They said that after the accident, everyone would want to know what the candidate they might vote for is thinking. They were right of course and she knew that there was nothing that could stop the press from getting what they wanted, but another glance at Damon confirmed it. He needed to rest for the time being.

"I'm sure you'll be able to write the perfect statement with what Damon gave you. He doesn't want to press charges against the man that threw the bottle and he doesn't blame the factory or the organisation for what happen." With that said, she followed Damon in the elevator and into the hotel room.

The pill the doctor had given him at the hospital had kicked in and he was feeling light headed and sleepy. He changed his clothes, brushed his teeth and by the time Elena did the same, he was already fast asleep. When he woke up six hours later, Elena was not beside him. He maneuvered himself into a sitting position and that's when the shower noise stopped. His wife came out of the bathroom about ten minutes later, covered in a fluffy, white robe.

"All ready for you," she said. Damon wanted to take his time, stay there and watch her apply cream all over her body, watch her slip a pair of silky underwear on, but instead he practically ran in the bathroom like a coward.

When Damon finally came out of the bathroom, Elena was already dressed. She was doing her hair so when she heard the door she placed the brush on the small table and turned around. She gasped audible at the sight of him wearing only a long white towel around his waist and nothing more. His hair was still wet and he was freshly shaved.

"Uh…I tried changing it myself, but I seem to be rather clumsy," he mumbled shyly. It took Elena about two minutes to start processing what he said and realize that he was asking her to replace his patch. "Do you mind?" he asked seeing that she wasn't saying anything.

"No, no…I mean, sure, just take a seat on the bed," she said, making her way towards him. Damon did as told, handing her the tiny scissors, the cream and the white bandage. "Hold this," Elena handed Damon the tiny tube of cream after she put some over his wound. She cut a square piece from the bandage and handed Damon the rest along with the scissors. After she was done, Elena took a step back to admire her handy work. When she turned around, Damon hand grabbed hers, forcing her towards him. He stood up, tall in front of her. "Thank you," he whispered and kissed the palm of her hand.

"You…you're welcome," Elena murmured in response, she didn't trust her voce to speak louder. He let go of her hand, but Elena was left with a tangling sensation in the place his lips touched her skin. Putting on make-up turned out to be a challenge since her hands were slight trembling. After three failed attempts, she decided against the eyeliner and chose a darker color instead. She had just finished with the last touches when Damon decided to pull her out of her bubble.

"This dress looks beautiful on you," he said and Elena blushed slightly. She put on her earrings before standing up. Once she turned around, she noticed that Damon was dressed. He was wearing a classic, black tuxedo, but the simplicity of the outfit did not make him look less God-like.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I know I said some pretty hurtful things to you –"

"Yes, you did," she interrupted him.

"A part of it was because –" this time it was the knock on the door that interrupted Damon.

"It's seven thirty," Elijah yelled through the door. Frustrated, Elena just grabbed her purse from the table and made her way towards the door. Without a word Damon followed.

In the car Damon moaned every time the car would pass a bumpy road. "Take another pill, Damon," Elena said reaching in her purse, but Damon stopped her.

"No, I need to have my head clear for this," he said. They were having dinner with some very important political figures at a well-known ranch outside the town. Elena understood that he wanted to have a clear mind, but she hated seeing him in pain.

When they arrived there, for the first half an hour Elena was preoccupied appreciating the surroundings. It was a beautiful day, the sun coming up to shine upon the hills. They had been shown around by some sort of guide. Later they went onto a large room, where everyone had to find their name tag on the table in order to take a seat.

"Are you ok?" Damon asked concerned. Elena put up one of the best fake smiles and told him she was fine. "You barely touched your food," he observed.

The truth was that she was concerned. After their tour, they met the crowed and Elena spotted the tall man she'd seen before quite a few times. Her nerves were just about the limit. Damon had already been hurt while she was there, next time it could be a bullet that would kill him. She was going out of her mind with concern.

"I just need the use the bathroom," she said standing up and Damon followed. He only took a seat after she went out of his sight.

Elena splashed some could water on her face and used a pepper towel to dry it. She applied a fresh coat of lipstick and got out of the tiny room. On her way up, she looked outside, but the man was no longer there, maybe it was just her paranoia after what had happened with Damon the other day. She smiled, trying to calm herself. Just before she got the chance to turn around, she heard a soft, masculine voice in coming from behind her.

"Hello, Elena."