``Elena? Elena! `` Damon's voice could be heard as he was running down the hallway. He swung the double metal door open as he entered with a look in his eyes she was never seen before. It was at once a sense of incredible relief and incredible pain. He quickly made his way his way to the autopsy table where she had been sitting and grabbed her tight. She was suddenly aware of Damon's presence in a curious way, one she had yet to experience. It was not his warmed or the safety; that, she had felt before. No, this was new. But she imagined almost dying could put everyone in heightened state of feeling and emotion. She had been unsure if she would ever see him again, with Alaric on his tail and her confession of her feelings for Stefan, she had been so scared she would lose him. Yet, there he was holding her so tight against him, almost shacking.
"I, … I thought we were going to lose you. I don't know what… what I would have done," said Damon with a small quiver in his voice. Elena could tell he was shaken, more shaken that he had ever been. She had seen Damon face death. She had held him as he lay dying. He had faced his upcoming doom with a calm and acceptance. But this, this was not the strong Damon she knew. He was dishevelled. There was a sense of lost in his voice. It reminded her of that expression of the unsaid which she noticed on Stefan's face only moments earlier. He slowly and reluctantly loosed his grip taking his hand to cup her face looking at her with deep concern.
"How… hum…how are you feeling?", his piercing blue eyes looking at her as if he expected terrible news.
"I fine Damon, a bit of a headache but I am fine. Stefan came and saved me and Matt, we are both ok," said Elena offering a loving look at Stefan who still looked as worried as ever.
Damon looked at Stefan with a look of both outraged and confusion as if he had some serious explanation to do.
"Damon … she … she just woke up…I" said Stefan who looked as if he wanted to disappear.
"Stefan I can't.. you have to… I can't believe you" Damon shouted as he grabbed his brother's shirt collar bringing him to his feet. Looking like he wanted to punch his brother into another dimension he suddenly remembered Elena starring at the scene with an incredulous look.
"Will you excuse us for just a second" said Damon to Elena as he led Stefan out of the room.
In muffled voices, Damon started to get into Stefan's face. "I left you to go take care of Elena. I trusted you would take care of her. You couldn't even do that. Look what happened. You saved him. You left her there."
"Damon that is what she wanted," said Stefan looking completely helpless.
"I don't care if that is what she wanted" interrupted Damon. "How did you let her out of your sigh? Why was she even on that bridge in the first place? I said I would never leave her again, that I would always choose her and I left her with you. Look what happened, I thought you could look over her. I … I … look what could have happened! What IS happening now!"
Has Damon was about to raise his voice above a very upset whisper, Elena joined them in the hallway with a very angry look on her face.
"Damon, stop that! This is not Stefan's fault. I told him to take Matt I decided, everything is fine, I am ok and Matt is in surgery so it is better that he went after Matt first. He would be dead and Stefan saved us both. Tyler is dead, so let not fight about what could have happened and focus on the fact that we are ok. I really have to go find Caroline," said Elena in one long breath.
"How… how did you… how did you hear that Elena," said Damon immediately regretting the words that came out of his mouth.
"How did I… Damon you were shouting!, said Elena confused by Damon's question.
"We should go find Caroline, she must be a wreck, and I have to go see Jeremy, he must be worried sick!"
"Elena, you were just in a car crash. Don't you think we should let you lie down for a while before you go running off somewhere," said Damon a little overwhelmed with the situation.
"No, Damon I am fine. I feel alright. With the rest of the original's looking for me and Alaric probably looking for you, we should get moving," said Elena pulling on Damon's sleeve.
"Stefan please talk some sense into her, it is better we stay here," said Damon
"No, hum… I think we should let Elena decide where she wants to go." Said Stefan who was clearly completely lost and did not know what to say or do.
"Stefan!", shouted Damon, but it was too late. Elena was already at the end of the hall way.
"Stefan!," said Damon making sure to whisper even more softly than before. "What are you doing? She has no idea what is happening. You have to tell her, you have to tell her right now. I know you don't want to lose her, but she needs to know. She needs to choose. We don't have much time. The symptoms will start any moment. Her hearing is already heightened."
"I know. I know. I just thought she may want to see Caroline and Jeremy. It may be the last time. We have a little bit of time," said Stefan with a profound sadness.
" Don't worry little brother, she won't leave us, well she won't leave you, but you need to tell her now", said Damon, as Stefan notice a different look on his brother's face as he said, she won't leave you. He had not known if Damon and Elena had spoken prior to the accident. Had she made her choice, Damon looked like he knew something he didn't know. But Stefan had no time to think about that at the moment. There was too much to say, too much to do and at the moment, they had to catch up with Elena who was moving with an uncharacteristic vigor.