N: Hi guys, so the next chapter will be the last one and it will be set a few month into the future. I am happy to inform anyone following "Target: Love" that as I post the last chapter for this, I will return to write that one.
So it seems that everyone thinks Stefan is the one wanting Damon dead. Let's see if you are right.
So we pick up where we left off, enjoy and review!
Bang Bang!
Elena's heart almost stopped at the sight of the two police officers entering the room. She thought she will have more time, she thought Damon will give her a chance to defend herself. Maybe she should've ran away when she had the chance. She was smart enough to be able to start her life somewhere else where no one would ever find out who she was or what she'd done. Being a journalist was her passion that she inherited from her father, but it wasn't the only thing she was good at.
"Mr. Salvatore, Mrs. Salvatore, we are sorry to bother you," the youngest officer started as the other one pulled out a few pages from a yellow file. Elena let go of the breath she'd been holding since the men entered the room. If they addressed her as Mrs. Salvatore than that meant they didn't know, they were not here to arrest her after all.
"What can we help you with officers?" Damon asked. He took a quick glance at Elena as if he was letting her know that he will keep her secret for the time being.
"Unfortunately we haven't been able to catch up with Mrs. Salvatore's attacker. We were just wondering if she could answer a couple of questions that would assist us in catching the culprit."
"My wife's just been in an accident, I am sure you can understand if she refuses to answer any questions until she has recovered," Damon said politely. Even though his tone was calm and polite, Elena knew that he meant it and he will allow nothing less than for the two officers to leave her alone.
"Of course we understand. The last thing we want is to create more distress for you mam," the older officer said smiling apologetically towards Elena. "The doctor told us Mrs. Salvatore is awake and her injuries are superficial, that is the only reason we came. It will only take a minute."
"It's alright Damon, I don't mind answering a few questions," Elena said before Damon got the chance to protest. "But I am afraid I will not be of much use. The only thing I remember is that the car was black. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to register anything else. I had just gotten out of the parking lot when the car came straight towards my car." She was lying of course, but she was afraid that if she told the police everything she knew Damon's killer might rush to finish the job. There was no power on earth that could stop Elena from doing everything she could to try and save Damon's life. It wasn't all a lie, the car had been black. She also knew that the same car had been following her to Alaric's place, she knew the mark of the car was a Nissan Altima and that the driver had been a man.
"Anything you tell us could be useful. Mr. Salvatore, if you could wait outside," the older officer suggested, but instead of walking towards the door, Damon took a few more steps towards the bed.
"I am afraid that's not an option," he said. "It's either I stay or you go back to your station and wait until my wife gets released and is ready to give a statement," he continued seeing that the police officer was ready to protest.
"We have no problem with that if Mrs. Salvatore agrees_"
"I would prefer if my husband remains with me, but like I told you, I don't remember much."
***Lucly13***
After the police officers left from her hospital room so did Damon, without a word. Apparently Stefan had wanted to see her but Damon forbid anyone to disturb her, telling them she was sleeping off a pain killer.
The next day the doctor came in early to let her know she can be released if she wants to. Elena sighed the papers as soon as she could. The Election Day was 24 hours away, it was crucial for her to stay close to Damon. After she got dressed she found a public phone and called Alaric to let him know she was alright. Alaric tried once more to convince her to let his friend in the FBI help and after a brief fight in which Elena stood her ground she assured Alaric she will call from the hotel and hung up. She was preparing her bag to leave the hospital when a soft knock on the door interrupted her. Elena pushed her hand deep in her bottom compartment of her bag and only after she got a good feel of the small gun she yelled: "yes."
"It's me, are you decent?" came Damon's voice from the other side. Elena pulled the zipper and told Damon to enter.
"Thank you, for not saying anything to the police," she started as soon as the door closed behind Damon.
"I didn't do it for you, I did it for myself and my family. They have been through enough, they don't need this. Plus, I will not do anything to jeopardise this. I might actually win and this sort of scandal will start my career in a bad place. I made up my mind, I will divorce you just like I was planning to divorce Katherine. Your punishment will be to live the rest of your live as Katherine Salvatore, as a political figure's ex-wife." Elena swallowed loudly but said nothing. "I see you're already packed," Damon pointed towards the bag now resting by the edge of the bed.
"Yes, we can go, I signed everything already," Elena confirmed.
"Alright, I'll get the bag."
"I got it." She walked towards the bed and let out a moan of pain as she picked up the bag. She dropped it at her feet and grabbed her belly taking in short breaths to calm herself.
In a blink on an eye Damon was beside her. "For Christ's sake Kat, you don't have 35 stiches in your gut for nothing," he said as he bend to pick up the bag. He realized his mistake right away and placed the bag on the bed turning his attention towards Elena. "I'm sorry, I guess I am not used to your name," he mumbled.
"It's alright, I understand," Elena said breathlessly.
"Are you alright, you want me to call for a nurse or something?" he asked and she shook her head.
"No, I will be fine," she lift her shirt to reveal a long white bandage. "See, all clean," she looked up and saw Damon intensely staring at her bandages. As if hypnotised, he raised his hand and touched the edges of the white bandage, slightly touching her skin with the tip of his fingers.
Damon cleared his throat a few times before speaking. "I came alone," he said and Elena's eyes opened wide in confusion. "So that we can talk as I drive us to the hotel," he continued. "I know you haven't told those police officers everything that happen to you in that car accident, I need you to tell me all what you know," he said, he picked up the bag and took a few steps toward the door. He stopped just before he reached it and turned towards her. "Are you alright to walk to the car or you want me to get you one of those wheel chairs?" he asked.
"No, as long as you don't expect me to run there I will be alright," she said and as if she was trying to prove a point she straightened up and walk towards him.
***Lucky13***
Elena was putting on her earrings when the door burst open and Elijah stormed in with a huge grin on his face.
"It's Klaus on the on the phone, he wants to congratulate the new Senator," he announced pompously as he handed Damon the phone.
Damon smiled at everyone in the room, winked at his daughter and took the phone from his campaign manager. "Damon Salvatore speaking," he said, his voice clear, impeccable, giving away nothing of the emotions Elena could see on his face. "Yes, thank you," he pause for a few moments. "I will," again Damon took a break to listen the person on the other end talk. After a few more exchanges of 'thank yous' and 'I will do my bests' Damon said good bye and hung up, handing Elijah the phone.
"So I guess that means I won," Damon said softly.
"I always knew you can do it brother," Stefan said shaking Damon's hand.
"No, we did it, together, I couldn't have done it without you brother," Damon hugged his younger brother then he allowed both his parents to congratulate him as well as Caroline – who had been sober since Elena yelled at her – what seemed like years ago – and Rebekah who told Damon that she could've told him a long time ago he would win because he was hot and charming and all the women will vote for him. As he was giving his mother a tight hug, Damon's eyes found Elena's and she knew exactly what they were saying. His eyes were telling her that she was crazy and that obviously everyone in the room was happy for him and certainly no one wanted him dead.
"I need you all on stage in ten," Elijah said pushing his way towards Damon again. "Change your tie Damon, please!" he ordered and Damon let out a laugh.
"Campaigning until the last minute."
"You bet," he turned towards Elena. "Katherine, wear some sunglasses or a hat, you look like you haven't been sleeping in days," he said and Elena smiled and put on a pair of glasses that were covering half her face. She knew she looked bad, she'd seen herself in the mirror and no makeup could make her look better. The truth was she hasn't been sleeping in days because every time she closed her eyes all she could see was Damon lying on the floor, blood gushing out of a big chest wound.
"Actually, Katherine is not going to come with us on stage," Damon announced and when he saw Elijah ready to protest he asked him to step outside.
Elena's pale face became white. She was counting on being there beside Damon. No, he couldn't do that, Elijah would surely not allow that. On the other hand Damon could use her recent accident as an excuse.
Just a minute later the door opened and Elijah told everyone except Elena to follow him so that the sound people can attach microphones on them before going on stage even tough just Damon, Stefan and Elijah will be wearing mics.
"I am sorry you are not feeling well Katherine," he said and closed the door after everyone went out.
Elena waited few minutes then she grabbed the phone.
"Elena is that you, I can barely hear you?" Jeremy's voice came from the other side after Elena had asked to talk to Jeremy Lovejoy.
"Yes, Jer it's me, I need a way to get back stage," Elena yelled.
"What? Why? Wait, why aren't you coming out on stage with the rest of the family? Elena the man we've seen before, he's here too, close to the stage, are you sure you don't want me to call the police?"
"I don't have time to explain. Damon found out I am not Katherine, he doesn't want me there. Where's Ric?"
"He did? Well, at least you are not in jail. Ric's on his way, stuck in traffic or something. I am here with Tyler and Danny. Look just take the right exit from your room, it should take you towards the stage faster than the elevators. Tell them you are Katherine Salvatore and it's been a mistake or something, I am sure they will let you pass."
"Alright, keep an eye on everything for me!"
"Elena!"
"Yes."
"Be careful," Jeremy said. Elena knew there was ore he wanted to say. There were a few things she wanted to say to him too, but there was no time and they both knew that.
***Lucky13***
Jeremy had been right, the stairs had taken her right beside the stage. She told the guards who she was and they let her through. She was just stepping on stage when she noticed the young blond man pulling a gun out of his big bag of balloons. Damon and his parents were already on stage and she just saw Stefan catching up with her.
"Hey, I thought you are not feeling well_" he started but Elena interrupted him.
"Stefan, I need to get to Damon, please now! And call 911!" she yelled.
Stefan didn't say anything, apparently he had decided to trust the urgency.
"Guys, let's make some space for the Future Senator's wife, shall we," Stefan yelled and a few of the crew members moved out of Elena's way.
"Damon! Damon!" the last thing Elena remembered was the crowed yelling Damon's name, a sharp pain in her shoulder and a lot of blood.
***Lucky13***
"I thought the wife was supposed to stay out of it, Salvatore."
"She is not the wife," Giuseppe Salvatore answered.
"Giuseppe Salvatore, you are under arrest for conspiracy and attempted murder of your son Damon Salvatore, you have the right to_"
"He's not my son," he interrupted.
"… remain silent, anything you say can be used against you in the court of law," the officer continued.
A few steps away a tall man with white hair was approaching.
"Special agent Damon Arcciano FBI."
"I thought you were dead Damon," Giuseppe said as the officer was handcuffing his hands.
"So you thought you will kill my son! This man belongs in the custody of the FBI," he pulled out his badge and ID and the officer moved away a few steps. "I have been on to you even since you recruited Katerina Petrova. I thought you forgave Antonia, that's why I stayed away from her."
"Forgive? You were my best friend!"