Awake- Chapter 10

*Thank you to all readers and followers, please review, I love to hear your comments! Last chapter was a little introspective and slow-paced but this will now pick up.*

Once again, Elena was waking up in a different place without knowing how she got there. This time, she had the advantage of familiarity. Instead of waking up on the cold slab of the morgue, her awakening was more comfortable this time. It felt soft and she felt a short moment of peace and calm. She could smell before even opening her eyes a very not only the presence of but the overwhelming smell of Stefan. Yes she was in Stefan's bed, and for almost a second she had forgotten all the events of the previous night and thought she was simply enjoying a lovely reunion with the man of her choosing. And then, as she took a deep breath preparing to say good morning to Stefan, it came to her… Hunger!

"Stefan!"

"Elena, you are finally awake, how are you feeling? You passed out just after you transition and we brought you here so that"

"Stefan, I am really really hungry. I need to feed. I really need to feed. I don't want to but it's like I can't help myself." Said a both concerned and clearly starving Elena.

"Well Elena that is completely normal, but the cravings will get better I promise. I brought you some of my blood from small animals I caught in the wood. Here drink up."

Stefan barely got the blood bags to Elena that she grabbed them and proceeded to ravage its content.

"You see Elena, it will be difficult at first, but you can control the craving. I can teach you how to hunt and you will not need to feed on any human. I know this isn't what you wanted but I promise you, I will do anything to make this go as smoothly as possible."

"More!" Said Elena slowly raising her fanged mouth from the now empty blood bad with a thirst written all over your eyes."

"All right Elena, you had enough for now. It will be a slow process but we let's take some deep breaths and it will get better."

"I said, I am hungry." Said Elena with a much more insistent tone.

"It is ok, I understand" said Stefan as he put his hand on Elena's shoulder looking at her with loving and supportive eyes.

"I don't feel like waiting" said Elena with a malignant tone as she push Stefan aside and utilising her new found speed to quickly leave him and the room behind. It wasn't the first time Elena had rushed to Damon stash in the basement freezer, but she never thought she would be going there to ease her own urges. She passed through the living room now even noticing Caroline and Tyler (Klaus) asleep on the couch. Klaus had finally given in and now decided to enjoy the comfortable position he shared with Caroline to catch a little rest. It could after all be suspicious if he was found starring at the sealing, but the noise of a very swift movement woke them both up. The noise was followed by Stefan with an uncomfortable look in his eyes.

"Stefan what was that?" asked Caroline as she awoke in Tyler's arms.

"It is Elena, she is hungry, I tried to get her to pace herself but she just took off for Damon's stash. She knows it is human blood in there but she doesn't seem to care." Said and exasperated Stefan.

"Don't worry Stefan, you remember how I was in the beginning, at lease she didn't attack anyone. We will just need to be patient." Said Caroline as Tyler offered a little smile in sign of approbation.

"You are right; I just don't want her to have to deal with the guilt. I am going to go after her."

Stefan climbed down the stairs to find Elena with a pile of empty bags wondering if she even had time to breath between sips.

"Elena, don't worry I am here. It's normal to be this hungry. Now let's just take a little break. "

Elena suddenly looked up. She took her one look at Stefan who looked at her quite apprehensively. She looked at the floor where she noticed the growing pile. Could she have really drunk all that blood? Then, she took one look at her hand and they were completely drenched in the scarlet liquid she had pilfered without a care for the mess she made. At this instant, she only knew one thing, she needed to get out of here and faster than Stefan could even react, and she was gone.

"She gone" screamed Stefan as he ran back up to the main hall.

"We know we saw Elena run out" said Tyler still stretching from his sleep in a perhaps too nonchalant speaking tone.

"Stefan, we will help you look for her."

"Thanks Caroline"

Meanwhile at the Gilbert house

Damon had been sitting around not knowing what he should do. He was in no mood after the night events to go to the boarding house to deal with the new vampire couple of the year, yet he knew Elena may need him. Yet why should he go to her, she had made her choice, she should learn to live with it. Then again, he promised her he wouldn't leave her. He just wished for now he had somewhere he could go to clear his head, and for the moment his home wasn't really the place of choice. He just needed to get out of this town; he would just drive for a few hours and see where he ended up. Just as Damon grabbed his coat to leave he heard the back door open. With a few original still on the loose, he thought he better check that out but it was only Jeremy coming back from the hospital.

"Damon, is Elena here, how did things go? What is happening?"

"No Jer, she isn't here. She is at the boarding house with Stefan, Caroline and Tyler. The whole transition thing didn't go as smoothly as we wanted to and she passed out but she is fine now. I am sure she woke up by now and Stefan is teaching her the finer points of squirrel chasing."

"Thanks Damon, I will go over here"

"Now wait just a second little Gilbert, this isn't a really good idea. I don't think you are ready for what you might see there, and I know Elena wouldn't want you to see her like that. She will be confused and on the hunt for blood, this isn't the image she wants you to have of her."

"Damon, I get what you are saying but she is my sister, my responsibility. Now I did what she wanted me too, I went to see Matt and he is going to fine and I will go tell her that."

"Well of course that idiot Matt is going to be fine. Elena gets to be a vampire, but Stefan saves Matt and he will be just fine. Jeremy, just do me and your sister a favor. Elena has been through enough in the past few hours; the last thing she needs is the guilt of her jumping you are trying to kill you before the rest of the scoobie gang pulling her off you. Look Jeremy, I know we haven't always gotten along, and I understand of you blame me and Stefan for what is happening to your sister, but believe me. Give this a day or two; it is really what is best right now. When Elena gets a hold of herself, I am sure she will come and find you."

"Damon?"

"Ya."

"Could you go see her, I mean I understand what you are saying, but could you go tell her about Matt and tell her I want to see her."

"Jer, I don't know if this is the best thing right now"

"Damon, come on, I am stuck here, it's the lease you can do for me." Damon saw the worry in Jeremy's face and figured he could probably just leave a message along and at worst; he could pick up a few things so he could get a going on his little escapade.

"Alright, I'll head out. You should probably get some sleep. Even if it isn't now, Elena will need you and you better be nice and rested for it." Said Damon as he headed out the front door.