Thank you, thank you, thank you for still reading and sticking with me even though this is all kinds of different. I appreciate the theories and scenarios about who killed Olivia and what's going to happen with Bonnie and Damon. The last chapter ended with Stefan asking what happened between Damon and Bonnie…now we find out, what happened...
Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: They own it.
Three and a Half Months Before Damon's Arrest
"Welcome to Conquering the Courtroom, name please?" the woman announced curtly as Bonnie approached the Sign-In table.
"Bonnie Bennett," Bonnie stated looking around. Bonnie hated these things, but they were a necessary evil if she wanted to keep her license.
"Conquering the Courtroom huh? I thought you were one of the best Mystic Falls has to offer," Damon walked up next to her glancing over with those blues staring her down.
"That's what you think and I'm here because one of my law school professors is teaching the course and I need the credits," she placed her nametag on her jacket.
"Ahh, so you're the teacher's pet," Damon teased placing his nametag on his shirt.
"Do I strike you as someone who was a teacher's pet?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow while they moved into the law school auditorium.
"Someone who plays by all the rules? Nooo of course not, not you Bonnie," he followed her into a row and plopped down next to her in a seat.
"What are you even doing here?"
"Well Virginia realized that I was here and when they decided to allow me to practice, they kindly let me know that I needed to satisfy a couple of CLE credits—so here I am," Damon motioned around the room.
"I see."
"And what luck, we would be in the same class."
"Yes, what a coincidence," Bonnie smiled looking through the course materials.
Damon looked around the room and then leaned over to Bonnie whispering in her ear, "So when we break for lunch, you want to meet. I want to discuss a possible settlement with you."
Bonnie met his eyes with a confident smirk, "Now, you're speaking my language."
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"15% of Lockwood Industries with alimony payments of $15,000 monthly."
Bonnie rolled her eyes drinking her lemon water, "Negative," she responded once she swallowed the water.
"Bonnie come on. Tyler Lockwood is loaded. He made Olivia quit her job and be his wife. I think we are being generous by reducing our request from 25% to 15% ownership of Lockwood Industries and from $20,000 to $15,000 a month."
"I will tell Tyler, but I know he won't accept that," Bonnie cut into her chicken, "and you know that too."
Damon frowned, "We have to come to a settlement before we go before Judge Johnson again."
"We do, but you know the only way its going to happen is if you and your client come down a lot. Damon, Tyler is not budging. He will give her alimony, but not any percentage of the company. You know that."
"But you also know that she deserves a portion of that company, she supported him as a wife for three years."
"She wasn't in the gym," Bonnie mumbled.
"What?"
"Forget it," she flagged her hand, "not gonna happen, you and Olivia get together and come up with something else."
Damon sipped his iced tea staring at Bonnie for a few beats and then he spoke, "Why haven't you signed off on the forensic accountant's report yet?"
"What?" Bonnie choked on the piece of chicken in her mouth.
"Why haven't you signed off on the report? I reviewed it, everything looks like it checked out and matched the initial filings. So what's the problem?" Damon pressed.
"The firm has procedures we have to go through before anyone signs off on a document like that," Bonnie shrugged, "so when they are done having it authenticated, then I will sign off on it."
Damon watched Bonnie and the way her eyes fluttered, he knew that she was hiding something, he just wasn't sure what exactly, "Well ok, Counselor. I guess that's that. So are you leaving Richmond as soon as the CLE is over?" Damon asked.
"Actually, Professor Shane asked me to dinner after the class to catch up. I will catch the train back later tonight."
"What did I say, teacher's pet," Damon smirked.
"No, it's not like that."
"And Professor Shane looks rather young…are you sure he only wants to have dinner with you?"
Bonnie could feel her face turning red, which made her thankful for her natural tan, "What are you talking about?"
Damon broke into a grin, "Ahh…you do think that he wants more than dinner and something tells me that you are alright with that. You had a crush on your professor, didn't you?"
Bonnie's eyes widened, "No, I didn't."
"Yes you did and I bet he was all...We can't, you're my student," Damon rolled his eyes.
The fact that Damon was kind of right, made Bonnie even more embarrassed as she threw her napkin at him, "Leave me alone."
"Ahh, so I'm right. Well I guess I should also come to dinner and supervise, make sure everything is on the up and up."
"No you will not."
"Oh come on Bonnie, I can use some extra advice from Professor Shane too. Stop being so selfish," Damon stated in mock disgust.
"Fine, come to dinner and then you can drive me to the train station."
"Or back to Mystic Falls, I drove here."
"Ok fine, but no detours. I have a hearing early tomorrow morning," Bonnie answered.
"Well of course, wouldn't want Bonnie Bennett, Esquire to be late."
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Later that evening, Damon found himself watching as Professor Shane sang Bonnie's praises like a man trying to get in the pants of one of his former students, "Bonnie was one of my best students, she took the readings seriously and never once stumbled on an answer when called on," Professor Shane went on as he, Bonnie and Damon sat at a table in an Italian restaurant not far from the University where the class was held.
"And yet, I barely passed your class—so obviously, I wasn't that great," Bonnie mumbled.
Damon watched Bonnie and the professor go back and forth. Bonnie appeared to be going between being being flattered to being noticeably uncomfortable. The professor, on the other hand, seemed like he was completely in lust with Bonnie. Damon noticed the subtle Professor Shane's eyes drifted towards her chest or when he watched her lips as she spoke. When Bonnie announced that he was going to dinner with them, Damon definitely noticed a frown spread across Professor Shane's face. Guess he didn't count on the competition.
"So Damon, where did you attend law school?" he turned his attention from Bonnie to across the table.
"Columbia," Damon answered between bites of his pasta.
"Wow…Columbia? And you opened your own law firm from there?"
"I worked at a large firm for a year, it got old real quick and so I ventured out on my own. It's been quite lucrative and I prefer to take the cases that I want to and not the ones dictated by a firm," Damon remarked glancing at Bonnie for a moment who narrowed her eyes in return.
"That is one way to go. Be your own boss."
"Thank you Professor, that's what I've tried to tell Bonnie here…"
"Call me Atticus and yes, Bonnie, I'm sure that if you decided to go off on your own you would do well," Atticus focused on her.
"I'm fine where I am," Bonnie stared at Damon across the table as he winked at her.
"Oook…so Bonnie, how's your case going? That asshole attorney still giving you trouble?" Atticus asked digging into his pasta.
Bonnie froze with widened eyes as Damon smiled, "Wow. That asshole attorney, that's nice Bonnie," he feigned offense.
Atticus looked from Bonnie to Damon, "Wait, you're the opposing counsel on that divorce case?"
"Yes, I am and I can see that Bonnie has said so many nice things about me," Damon fluttered his eyelashes.
"That was in the beginning, when you first signed on," Bonnie stated through clenched teeth, "you are a tad better now."
"I think she likes me now Atticus," Damon winked.
Atticus chuckled, "Maybe just a tad bit more."
Bonnie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile.
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"So you and Damon, are you two dating?" Atticus asked while he waited with Bonnie outside of the restaurant following the dinner.
"What? No…no…no we certainly are not," she protested looking down the street for Damon to appear with his car.
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow, "I haven't been a third wheel since college, but I still remember what it feels like."
"Atticus, there is nothing going on between me and Damon."
"Sure, there is a chance that there is nothing going on with you where he is concerned…but he definitely wants to be more than a colleague."
"Well that's not happening," Bonnie stated.
Atticus gave her a doubtful smirk, "Bonnie, you were indeed one of my best students and I think you are a hell of an attorney and you are that because you can read people when you want to."
Bonnie smiled slightly as Damon pulled up in front of them, "Well Atticus, it was great meeting you," Damon held out his hand.
"You too and you will excuse me if I don't tell you good luck in your case, but I gotta root for my girl here," Atticus smiled shaking Damon's hand.
"That's actually a safe bet, she's not giving me an inch," Damon looked over at Bonnie.
"And I never will," she answered.
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During the two hour ride back to Mystic Falls, Bonnie didn't speak much as Damon allowed the sounds of his easy riding playlist to flow through the car's speakers, "So Atticus wasn't too bad," Damon spoke up.
"He was one of the most relatable professors, that's for sure," Bonnie stated looking out of the window, "it's funny, he said all of those things and I still kind of hard for me to hear them."
"Why?" Damon glanced over at her.
"I was a terrible law student my first year, it didn't click until the second semester of my second year honestly. My father just didn't understand. He hired tutors for me and he was determined to make me that star student. I did ok, but I was far from valedictorian," she chuckled.
"Did you want to go to law school or did you go because of your father?" Damon asked.
"Hmm…do you really want to know?" Bonnie cocked her head to the side staring over at him.
Damon met her gaze, "I do."
"I went because of my father. It was something to bond over and when he moved to DC, we grew apart for a short time until I told him that I was going to law school," she confessed. Bonnie actually surprised herself, this was the first time that she admitted it out loud to anyone, "but don't get me wrong, after law school—I fell in love with the law. I love what I do in a courtroom."
"I see and if you didn't go to law school and become a lawyer, what would you have done?"
Bonnie thought for a few moments. It had been so long since someone asked her that question, "I probably would have become a teacher. My grandmother's a professor at Mystic Falls University and my mom's a high school teacher. I would listen to them talk for hours about their days and it just seemed like so much fun. But I think I made the right decision, I can't imagine not being a lawyer."
Damon nodded, "I get it, do me a favor and google The Salvatore Center in Cove's Neck."
"Oook," Bonnie removed her phone from her purse and googled what Damon asked her to, "hmm…nice building."
"I designed it."
Bonnie gasped, "What? I thought you didn't sketch."
"I did. I made one sketch and my father became obsessed with me being one of his architects. I didn't like it, it was tedious and boring. That building was my first and last contribution to the Salvatore Architectural firm."
"So you decided to become a lawyer to piss of your dad."
"Hey, that was an extra bonus. I'm good at it. You maybe can't tell because you have totally knocked me off my game…"
"I knocked you off your game?" Bonnie asked.
"Not really, but I definitely didn't expect you to be as…"
"Tenacious, immune to your charms and your looks?" Bonnie supplied.
"Maybe," he smirked.
"You would be amazed at how much willpower I have, Damon," Bonnie sat back in her seat with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Trust me, I am," he looked over at her before turning back to the road.
The way his eyes focused on her hers so intently, sent shivers up and down her spine and tingles all over her body.
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After some light conversation about childhoods, Damon turned onto Bonnie's street. "So back home in one piece," Damon turned to Bonnie with a smile pulling up in front of her apartment building.
"Glad you decided to drive the speed limit."
"Well precious cargo and all that," he shrugged.
"You just keep it up," she shook her head.
He unbuckled his seatbelt, "Keep what up?" he asked leaning towards her and staring directly into her eyes.
Bonnie smiled, "Looking at me like that, flirting with me for starters."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Damon whispered while searching her eyes placing his hand softly on her cheek caressing it with his thumb for a few moments.
"Don't kiss me," she whispered in an almost pleading tone with his mouth inches away from hers.
Damon chuckled shaking his head and straightening his body, "Goodnight Bonnie."
"Goodnight Damon," she smiled back.
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A week later, Bonnie found herself lying down staring up at the white ceiling with her left ankle throbbing so badly that she was willing to take a scalpel and cut it off herself, "Bon, what exactly happened?" Elena rushed into the room and taking a seat to examine Bonnie's bruised ankle.
"I was late to a hearing and I slipped on the damn floor of the courthouse, someone must have dropped some coffee on the floor. It was so fucking embarrassing!" Bonnie threw up her arms, "and all of Kol's cop buddies were there begging to bring me here."
"Well one of them brought you here and made sure you were seen immediately," Elena offered helpfully.
"Yes and I know they told Kol, so he will be arriving at my place trying to take care of me. I'm surprised he hasn't shown up here."
"He must be busy, but I'm sure you won't let him take care of you," Elena stated scooting over to one of the drawers and taking out bandages, "now, I'm going to wrap your ankle and get you some crutches."
"You don't have to do that. I know you're busy," she protested.
Elena smiled, "Not too busy to help you out and we can talk a little. So I heard that you and Damon have spent some time together," she stated nonchalantly wrapping Bonnie's foot, "I know you said nothing happened other than the plane ride and some talking, but are you sure?"
"We've been to lunch a few times, attended a few CLEs…nothing serious. We're colleagues."
"Colleagues?" Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Friends, ok…we're friends," Bonnie declared before laughing with her cellphone beeping next to her, she glanced down to see a text from Damon 'So, heard you were auditioning for the Icecapades today at the courthouse :-)'. She let out a chuckle, 'Shut up'. Damon had a way with words and once again she was reminded how grateful she was that Damon did not witness her fall. He would never let her live it down.
Elena observed the smile on her friend's face following the texting and continued, "That's a good thing. So how's the case going?"
"It's going. I think we're close to the end, but Tyler's out of the country so he's holding everything up."
Elena shook her head, "Tyler sounds like a jerk."
"Either way, when he gets back…I plan to set up a meeting and work out a settlement."
"And then we will have a party because you're a partner?" Elena tightened the bandage as Bonnie grimaced.
"Yes, we will party," Bonnie grinned.
"You will be bandaged for about 14 days…depending on how your sprain heals and I want you to stay off of it as much as you can. Which means you can't stand up in court day after day."
"Elena, I have 4 hearings coming up."
"Ok…well I'm sure you don't have to stand up for them, I will give you a doctor's note…ok."
"A doctor's note written by the bestie, just like high school," Bonnie shook her head.
Elena winked with a smile, "So how are you getting home?"
"I called Grams, she will pick me up and take me home."
"Don't forget to pick up Ibuprofen, you will be in pain later tonight when the meds we gave you wear off."
"Got it, but you know Grams won't allow me to take any of that stuff when she's around, she will feed me some herbs and tell me to go to sleep."
"Oh Grams," Elena shook her head amused.
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After leaving the hospital, Sheila opened the door to Bonnie's apartment carrying grocery bags, "Grams, I know that you hate traditional medicine, but I want to have the Ibuprofen just in case," Bonnie hobbled into her apartment on crutches. The pain had subsided and she didn't feel as if she needed to remove her foot from her body anymore, so that was a plus for her.
Sheila removed the grocery bags from the totes and began filling up Bonnie's refrigerator, "Yes, yes, I know but I will make you something that will do the same thing and it will be natural."
"Right," Bonnie sat down carefully on her couch.
"Besides maybe this is what you need, you've been running all around at that firm over the last couple of years," Sheila sucked her teeth focusing on Bonnie lying on the couch. Her disapproving smirk prepared Bonnie for the fun that awaited her while Sheila began her complaints.
"Grams, that's what I signed up for."
"You or Rudy?" Sheila countered.
Bonnie grimaced, she should have known this would come. Sheila never liked Rudy for multiple reasons, but after the end of Abby and Rudy's marriage, her dislike turned into red hot seething hate, "Grams, please don't start in on my dad," she rubbed her temples feeling the migraine creeping up on her.
"I'm just saying, he tried to make you into his image."
"I like being a lawyer, Grams."
Sheila sucked her teeth again causing Bonnie to shake her head while her doorbell signaled the end to Sheila's rants, "Maybe that's Abigail, she said she was coming by when she had a break," Sheila headed towards the door opening it to find Kol on the other side, "Oh lovely, just what we needed today," she snorted.
"Hello Dr. Bennett," Kol stood up straighter. The truth was, Sheila Bennett scared the bejesus out of him, "I just came to see Bonnie."
"You can see her from the door," Sheila folded her arms blocking the doorway.
Kol chuckled nervously glancing over at Bonnie, "Grams, let him in. It's fine," Bonnie called from the couch.
Sheila moved out of the way as Kol walked in, "Remember what they say about me…I'm a witch remember," Sheila whispered to Kol before walking into the kitchen area.
Kol stared at Sheila with wide eyes as she left him in the middle of the foyer, "Kol, can I help you?" Bonnie brought him back to focus on her, while she shifted her body on the couch.
He shook his head to break whatever trance he was under and walked towards Bonnie, carrying a white paper bag, "I heard what happened today and I wanted to check up on you, I brought you some cookies from Ruthie's."
Bonnie glanced over at the bag, she could literally smell the chocolate chip cookies inside which automatically caused her mouth to water. Kol was definitely laying it on thick, but she wasn't that gullible, "Thank you, I'm fine," she stated.
"So what's going on with your ankle?" he sat the bag down glancing at her left leg.
"It's a sprain, I will be walking on crutches for a couple of days and I can't stand up in court."
"So you may have to reschedule some of your hearings?"
"Or sit down during them," Bonnie shrugged.
Kol grimaced, "At first, I thought something serious happened when Ric called me."
The fact that one of Kol's little spies around the courthouse called him, was enough to set her teeth on edge, but she was determined not to show it, "Nope…just a pretty bad sprain, Elena says that I will be fine in a couple of days. So there's really no need for you to check on me anymore."
"Bonnie…" Kol began and turned to look at Sheila who was pretending to busy herself in the kitchen as he lowered his voice, "I can be here for you. If you need someone to drive you to work…"
"I'm fine. I will call a car if I need help getting to the office or to the courthouse," Bonnie shifted on the couch.
"A car or the lawyer that you've been seen with? Olivia Lockwood's lawyer."
Bonnie turned to him, "What are you talking about?"
"Damon Salvatore, the new lawyer in town. People saw you two at lunch a couple of times, in the courthouse…"
"Yes, because we are working opposite each other on a case and need to work out a settlement. I wasn't aware that I was being watched by the good men in blue."
Kol's eyes widened a little until he recovered, "It's not like that. It was just an observation."
"Oh an observation, because it sounded like you were accusing me of something and even if we were dating or anything else it's none of your business."
"Bonnie, that's not what I was saying…"
"Kol, I'm fine. You can go," Bonnie cut him off turning away from him and turning on the television.
"Detective Mikaelson, would you like me to show you out?" Sheila called from the kitchen.
He stood up from the couch, "Bonnie, I didn't come over to upset you."
"Good to know," she mumbled.
"Come on Kol Honey, let me see you on out," Sheila walked over to the couch extending her hand towards the door.
Kol gave Bonnie one more look before following Sheila to the door. Once the door was closed, Bonnie heard Sheila mumble, 'Good riddens'.
"Grams, I wish he would just stop," Bonnie rubbed her hands over her face, "I've told him that it's over. We're not getting back together ever."
"Do you want me to do something to make him stay away?" Sheila took a seat next to Bonnie.
Bonnie met Sheila's gaze, which contained no trace of a smile, "No Grams, leave Kol alone please."
"When you told me he cheated, I was tempted to make him unable to ever get an erec…"
"Grams!" Bonnie gasped.
"Well he hurt my grandbaby," Sheila wrapped her arm around Bonnie, "and no one gets away with that."
Bonnie chuckled, "Thank you," she placed her head on Sheila's shoulder, "you have scared away every bad boyfriend, I've ever had."
"That's right," Sheila took Bonnie's hand in hers, "because you deserve someone great…god knows, one of us needs to find that person."
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"Well, well, well she finally answers the phone, I've been calling you all day," Damon adjusted his headset as his fingers flew across his keyboard finishing up a motion for one of his cases. He had waited a day to call Bonnie after hearing about her accident the previous day. As much as his mind told him to keep his distance, his heart was telling him something else. He didn't want to keep his distance, he wanted to be near her, talk to her, laugh to her and more than anything lately, he's wanted to kiss her.
Bonnie sighed tiredly, "I've been in and out of consciousness since yesterday. Elena prescribed me some pain meds and I've been taking them because my ankle was killing me a couple of hours ago."
"So no relief huh?" Damon asked reading the last line he typed.
"Not much until I swallowed two pain pills and now, I feel fine. I can't wait until the swelling goes down and I can actually walk on it."
"Well I give a mean massage if you want one," Damon offered, that sounded as if he was offering smore than a massage.
Whatever drowsiness Bonnie felt, instantly evaporated, "No thank you," she answered quickly.
He laughed. He could hear the swiftness in her voice delivering that answer. Over the past couple of weeks, it had been his pleasure to flirt mercilessly with Bonnie. Sometimes she indulged him and other times, she turned him down flat. Either way, he believed there was a part of her that thought about them, the night of their date and what happened afterwards, "Oh come on Bonnie, it would make you feel good," he lowered his voice.
"Somehow, I think you are offering much more than an ankle massage, Mr. Salvatore."
"Do you want more than that?"
"Dangerous territory Salvatore," she warned him.
"Of course, of course…well I just called you to make sure that you were ok. I missed you at lunch today," he replied taking on a serious tone.
"Aww, I'm sure that the waitress that always hits on you was happy to not have me there."
"I may have received a hefty discount without your presence," Damon turned around in his chair, "but it wasn't the same."
"Because we didn't banter about how you keep trying to settle the Lockwood divorce with nonsense counteroffers?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow.
"Because I missed you giving me those looks across the table that are a mixture of annoyance and want," he teased.
"Damon still flirting huh?"
"Well I can't help myself," he answered, "but you are ok, right?"
"I'm fine, if you don't count my pride."
"I heard every male within a couple of feet from you rushed to your aide."
Bonnie laughed and Damon grinned, he loved the sound of her laugh, "Who keeps telling you this stuff?" she asked.
"I have a friend at the security desk, so like I said…I'm sure that everyone rushed to your aide."
"Not everyone, but to answer your question…I'm fine," Bonnie smiled, "and thank you for checking up on me."
"Anytime Bennett," Damon paused. He wanted to say more to her, but he wasn't sure exactly what to say, so he closed his mouth, "yeah…anytime Bennett." He ended the call with that.
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A week later, Bonnie realize how good she had become at this sprained ankle. She had learned that she could balance on one foot, talk to Caroline on the phone and nibble on one of the cookies her mother brought her. Life was starting to shape up greatly. The fact that these cookies from Ruthie's seduced every taste bud in her mouth was embarrassing.
"So does your ankle feel any better?" Caroline sympathetic voice asked.
"Well it's been a week, so it feels better. I have truly mastered the whole standing on one foot and doing whatever I need to in the kitchen," Bonnie picked up another cookie and bit into it.
"You probably should try walking on it."
"I do a little, but I have a hearing coming up next week and I need to be able to stand for it. So I will save my trying for that," Bonnie taking a swig of milk.
"I still can't believe you slipped on coffee," Caroline stated slightly amused.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. She'd heard that at least a thousand times since the previous week. Her father, her grandmother, a couple of cousins, people at the law firm—she needed to get it tattooed on her forehead, "It's in step with my life, that's for sure. How was California?"
"Great! You know my dad, he spoiled the kids and me and Matt did absolutely nothing the entire time. It was almost like a second honeymoon."
"Sounds lovely."
"So did this push back the end of the Lockwood divorce?"
"No, because Tyler is still in London. He claims he will be home in a few days. I hope when he comes home we can wrap this up. This has been one of the most stressful cases of my career, including anything at the DA's office," Bonnie sighed.
"But you have to know that you will win this one. If not for the simple fact that you are good at what you do," Caroline encouraged her. Bonnie couldn't help but smile. Caroline was always the encourager and that's why she was the first one to get married and have children. She had the gift of being non-stop soccer mom. It could be annoying, but today Bonnie needed it.
"Thank you, I needed to hear that, but…you know what, nevermind. It's going to be ok. I'm worrying about nothing," Bonnie straightened up.
"Exactly and we're already planning your victory party, so keep the optimism going and stay off that ankle."
"Ok, I will," Bonnie nodded, "thanks Care."
"Anytime Bon and Josie is calling me because she has candy stuck in her hair so…"
Bonnie laughed, "Go check on your child."
"Call you later," Caroline ended the call in the middle of yelling at Josie.
Bonnie stood in the middle of her kitchen, leaning on the island and let out a chuckle. She loved speaking with Caroline, but she was thankful to end calls when the twins started their twin shenanigans. However, the conversation with Caroline did little to calm her anxiety. The truth was as the days went by, she became more and more nervous about the outcome of this Lockwood case. Fred was still investigating whatever he found in the forensic accountant's report and the longer he took made her uneasy. She didn't believe Tyler anymore. He had been so nasty during the proceedings, that she was convinced that he would hide whatever he could to make sure Olivia didn't get much. Every time she thought about what Fred could possibly find, her stomach twisted into knots. It was bad. The fact that Fred wouldn't even tell her until he was sure told her that it was serious and it would rip her case apart. But there was still a slim chance that nothing was wrong, but her stomach told her she was fooling herself.
Then there was the fact that she had plenty of time to think while she was healing and as a result, she'd given some thought to what Damon said. Ever since the law firm ordered her to take Tyler's case—she had a feeling of uneasiness. He was a crap client. There was no way she would've taken his case if she had a choice. He was an adulterer, he didn't care that he hurt his wife and he wanted to leave her with nothing. It was disgusting. He was disgusting. However, Bonnie knew that her future at the firm rested on this case and she was willing to suck it up. Had she given any thought to having her own law firm? At times. But it was always a passing thought. Her father offered her a spot at his firm in DC, but she wasn't interested in that. The last thing she wanted was to be under her father's watchful eye. That would be worse than where she was.
"Just get through this," she whispered to herself, grabbing her crutches and starting over to her couch, but was stopped by the sound of doorbell.
"Hold on…girl on crutches in here," she called as she walked over peering through the peephole.
"Bennett," he sung on the other side.
She immediately backed up as her heart crashed against her ribcage as she held her breath, hoping that he couldn't hear her breathing on the other side of the door. She wasn't expecting any visitors and she damn sure wasn't expecting him. Her hair was all over her head, she had on tiny shorts and her law school t-shirt that was at least two sizes too big. This was not the look to entertain a guest, especially this particular guest that sent her heart into palpitations.
"Bonnie, you already let me know your home," he called through the door.
Bonnie stood in the middle of the foyer balancing herself on her crutches, "Yes, I'm here Damon," she managed to spit out before opening the door to him. She wasn't prepared to see him and definitely not like this. He had cut his hair slightly, his crystal blues looked even bluer if possible and he was dressed down in jeans, a black t-shirt and a sexy smirk. Immediately, she forgot about how she looked and concentrated on keeping her body from reacting to his appearance. He looked downright sexy and also very forbidden leaning in the doorway. His eyes lazily traveled down her body to her wrapped ankle, "That looks like it still hurts," he winced.
"On occasion," she shifted, "umm…what are you doing here? How are you even here?"
"Well, I was tired of texting you to see how you were, so I stalked Stefan until he got Elena to give him your address to give to me."
"Ahh…," she nodded in understanding, "so you harassed my best friend for my address?"
"I did, but I brought you something," he held up a box tied with a string.
Bonnie raised her eyebrow, "Hmm, come in."
Damon grinned as he entered Bonnie's apartment. It was decorated rather nicely in a grey and pink color scheme. The apartment was very contemporary, he had to wonder if she designed it herself. There were framed pictures all around the apartment, along with various pieces of artwork. There were pictures of her parents, her grandmother, Elena, Caroline and her family. There was one picture in particular that interested him. It was on the mantle and it was a little girl who resembled tiny Bonnie in a ballerina outfit, "You?" he asked pointing to the little girl with her hair tied up tightly in a bun and wearing a bright smile on her face.
"Yes, my first recital," she hobbled up next to him. The way she spoke, it was if she was remembering how she felt in that ballerina outfit so many years ago. So innocent and happy. She continued, "My parents were so excited and embarrassing, but I swear it was the last time I remember them really loving each other and showing it," she hobbled up next to him.
"You were a cute little girl," Damon gazed down at her.
"And what am I now?" she found herself saying out of no where.
Damon cocked his head to the side. He had come to only see her, bring her the sweet treats, have a quick conversation and go. However, looking down at her and seeing how naturally beautiful she was—it made him want to throw away every rule they had come up with, "Do you really want to know? Are you ready for me to tell you that?" he questioned her as his eyes transitioned to a darker blue state.
Bonnie noticed the change in his eyes and she moved away from him, heading over to the couch, "So you came over here because your fingers were getting cramped?" she sat down as Damon followed.
"That and I need some help," he joined her on the couch.
"Help?"
"Yes, I picked up a few criminal defense cases…DUIs…nothing too difficult, but they are in front of Judge Hewitt and since you know the ins and outs of the Mystic Falls courthouse, tell me a little about her," Damon stated.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow, "You came all the way to my apartment to ask me about a judge. Oook…she's pretty good. She prefers that you reach a deal before you come before her. She doesn't necessarily like to make rulings, but she will if she has to and they're usually harsh. So if you can get with the district attorney before, that may help."
"So is she attractive?" Damon wiggled his eyebrow, "and is she single?"
"You are such a jerk," Bonnie hit him.
"I may be and I was kidding," he leaned forward with his eyes dancing, "I knew you would get annoyed."
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for the advice though. I did come for that, but I also wanted to see how you were doing. I was starting to miss my lunch partner and since we were stuck doing both of those CLEs those two weeks in a row, we formed a bond. I had to come and make sure you were ok."
"You were worried about me Damon?" Bonnie teased.
"Believe it or not Bennett, I do consider you a very good friend and one of the few people in Mystic Falls that I've spent time with."
"How sweet."
Damon looked down, "How's the ankle doing?"
"It's ok. A little better, I'm still using the crutches for the most part."
"Hmm, let me see," Damon stated.
Bonnie's mouth went dry as she suddenly became nervous, "What?"
"Let me see your ankle," he clarified.
"Why?"
"Because…trust me," he held out his hands.
"I don't know…"
"Bonnie give me your leg; what do you think I'm going to do?" he asked.
"You better keep it G."
"Of course," Damon stated as Bonnie lifted her leg and he placed her ankle in his lap, "I played soccer in high school, I've had a couple of sprains and I've been to enough physical therapists to know what to do," he began as he unwrapped her ankle, "it's not swollen…" he touched it lightly examining her it and Bonnie said a prayer of thanks that she had an everlasting pedicure and that she shaved her legs a couple of days before.
"Yeah, I've been staying off of it. Had some of my hearings rescheduled or got someone to go in my place this past week."
"I see," he stated as his hands massaged her ankle delicately.
Bonnie watched him work with as she rested her head on one of the throw pillows. This was definitely against the rules they had established for their friendship during the Lockwood case. However, over the past couple of weeks, she began to see Damon as more than the opposing attorney or the guy that she went on that internet date with. He was smart, he was funny and he had a personality that drew you in. She didn't hate their interaction, in fact she welcomed them. He could make her laugh and annoy her all in one sitting. They never spoke about the Lockwood case and when they did, it was mostly to coordinate potential dates for their two clients to meet up to come to an agreement. Outside of that, they were colleagues and they were friends. They spoke about their childhoods and family lives. What they enjoyed about their careers and what they hated. It had been some time since she clicked with someone the way she clicked with Damon. It kind of scared her, but she welcomed it.
"How does that feel?" he asked looking at her.
"It's ok," she shrugged with a smirk across her face.
"Ok?" he challenged her words resting his hand on her leg and staring into her eyes.
"Yes, just ok," she repeated matching his gaze.
Damon moved his hand up her exposed thigh and ran his hand slowly up and down setting her insides on fire, "My hands do many different things Bonnie and they are never just described as ok."
"There's a first time for everything."
"I see," he stated focusing his gaze on her, "you know Bonnie, ever since that night that you followed me out of my parent's gala, things changed between us. You don't want to say it and I understand, but I know that you feel it too."
She took an intake of breath as his hand left her thigh and she anticipated his next movement. He slowly pulled her closer to him on the couch, "Bonnie, I want you," he declared in a tone that immediately made her wish she could cross her legs easily, "I think you know that and have known that for some time. If you want me to leave, I will," he whispered.
Bonnie breathed out. His eyes were staring at her, almost staring through her. She knew what she should do, but she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to say it, so she did the only thing she could possibly do in that moment, she took a deep breath and placed her hand on the back of his neck. She stared directly into his eyes and in that moment, the want for him was unbearable. She closed the space between them with a kiss. Their lips caressed each other for a few moments, as if they were trying to learn each other's style. In one swift moment, Bonnie felt Damon guiding her to rest her knees on each side of his thighs. The kiss deepened as he moved her closer to him. She moved her head to the side allowing him access to her neck.
Damon could feel the intensity building. The last time he kissed her, he was able to stop and pull away—but this time? He didn't want to. He just needed the go ahead from her. He just needed her permission and he was prepared to lose himself in her.
"Bonnie..." he broke away from the kiss, "tell me to stop," he stared deeply into her green orbs searching for a signal.
She looked at him, "I don't want you to stop," she whispered.
Damon stood up from the couch holding Bonnie up, "Where's your bedroom?"
"At the end of the hall," she answered.
He nodded as Bonnie's lips met his neck, she was trying to kill him slowly. He closed his eyes for a moment breathing deeply heading towards her bedroom.
Damon gently opened the door with his foot as Bonnie continued to suck on his neck. He placed her on the bed gently as he peeled off his shirt and unbuckled his belt. She gestured to the nightstand next to the bed and he opened the top, removing one of the foil packages. Bonnie started to remove her t-shirt, but Damon gently touched her hand, "Let me," he whispered, lowering her down on the bed and slowly lifting her shirt up kissing her stomach, then the valley between her breasts and then finally taking one of the brown mounds in his mouth, flicking her nipple slightly with his tongue. Bonnie let out a passionate moan as he repeated the action focusing on the right side of her body. She wasn't exactly sure when or how, he got the rest of her clothes off but as she lie there naked, she was able to see the moonlight filtering through the window curtains and she was able to see his body. The abs adorning his stomach, the muscles in his biceps, the fact that he had the equipment to make her a very happy woman…he leaned down spreading her legs to the side, being careful not to jostle her ankle. She braced herself as he entered her, the sound she made as her body adjusted to his girth made him crack a smile. He took his time as they moved together in a rhythm. Being inside of her felt better than he remembered and being here with her like this again made him wonder how he was able to wait this long to be with her again.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered in her ear and then kissed her neck.
"Damon…god…this feels so good," she moaned holding onto him.
Their kisses, moans of pleasure and words of adoration filled the room as they bodies moved in sync. Bonnie held onto Damon as she felt him touching her in places that put her on sensory overload. She was sure her neighbors were hearing a show if there was any way her walls were too thin.
"Damn it Bonnie…shit…you're about to make me…" he withdrew from her for a few moments to gather himself. There was no way he was allowing this to end at that moment.
"Don't stop," she whispered touching his face gently.
Damon looked down at her and kissed her softly before entering her again, quickening his movements, "Damon…yes…yes!" she screamed as she felt her climax building, she dug her nails into his back as she felt her orgasm building and finally her body tensed and as she felt herself fall into an abyss.
"Yes, Bonnie…yes…Baby…oh…shit," Damon climaxed and collapsed on top of her, kissing her on the forehead.
They both lay in bed trying to catch their breath. Damon moved to the other side of the bed, before lifting Bonnie's leg to rest on his. There were no words spoken between them for a few moments as they both stared up at Bonnie's ceiling, "I don't regret that," Bonnie spoke up after a few seconds.
"Definitely what I wanted to hear," Damon stated.
"No. It's just that I don't regret that and because of our situation…I should, but I don't," she turned to face him.
"Neither do I. I didn't regret it the first time and I don't regret it this time."
"We have to do this right; we can't let what happened between us interfere in the case," Bonnie asserted.
"It won't, I promise you," Damon caressed her arm.
Bonnie nodded.
"Now are you going to kick me out or can I actually snuggle up next to you?" Damon wiggled his eyebrow.
Bonnie turned her head to look directly into Damon's eyes, "Kick you out…no…I'm not doing that, not tonight at least," she smiled as Damon leaned forward kissing her on the forehead.
A Week Later
Bonnie moaned passionately as she moved on top of Damon as he gripped her torso slowing her movements. He wanted this to last longer than the earlier moment in his kitchen when Bonnie first entered his condo. A week had drifted by since they gave in to the passion that had steadily built between them. He loved everything about her body and he couldn't deny that he was a little addicted to her. He leaned up to capture her lips in a kiss. They agreed to keep their relationship to themselves and there were rules. They were never allowed to discuss the Lockwood divorce or anything relating to it. It was pretty easy to do considering that they had other things to talk about and do when they were together. He missed her when she was gone and couldn't wait until she came to him again.
As he lifted her up and placed her below him, he settled in between her legs gazing down at her, brushing her hair away from her damp forehead, "Aren't you glad that you came?" he smiled.
"You mean a couple of minutes ago?" she kissed him quickly.
He grinned, "No Counselor.I mean, you coming over tonight. I didn't expect you to."
"Why…" she gasped as Damon went deeper, "would…you…think…that," she breathed as Damon attacked her neck with his lips, "Damon…I can't say anything if you keep…oh my god…doing that."
"Then we will talk later," he said lifting her legs up over his shoulders as she yelped and gripped onto the sheets.
BDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBD
An hour later, Bonnie kissed Damon softly on the forehead as the lay in his bed, "I'm going to heat up some of that leftover lasagna, do you want some?" Damon asked sliding out of bed stark naked and walking towards the door with no embarrassment whatsover.
"Umm, I will probably just have some of yours."
"Figures," Damon shook his head before leaving the bedroom.
Bonnie shook her head as he disappeared down the hallway, her ankle was healed and she had fallen into Damon's bed multiple times since then (and him in hers). The more time she spent with him, the more she felt like she was falling in lust or at least a very deep like. Their conversations about anything but the law actually refreshed her. They could just sit and talk about anything and sometimes nothing. She had no idea how much she missed just being with a member of the opposite sex, laughing, talking and having sex. Bonnie looked down at her hands, she knew that this wasn't something that she should be doing. She knew that it was a slippery slope that they were on and one false step could topple their careers. Her career. She had always played by the rules, but she didn't want to now. Maybe it was a rebellion, maybe it was the fact that she hated representing Tyler and maybe it was the fact that she had been preoccupied with thinking about what Damon's question as to why she didn't venture out on her own. There was no reason as to why she hadn't, but recently the question plagued her.
"Hey, so I actually heated up enough for us both and brought a glass of wine for you," Damon walked in carrying a plate, glass of wine and a bottle of water.
"And that's why I come back for more," Bonnie grinned.
"It's not my roguishly good looks?" he asked picking up lasagna on a fork and slipping some of it in Bonnie's mouth.
"Mmm…no its because of the lasagna," she smiled as he wiped some of the sauce from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
Well Bonnie and Damon's relationship definitely took a turn. A turn that may or may not have played a part in the demise of their relationship, Bonnie's career at the firm and Damon's predicament regarding Olivia's murder.
Please share your love/like for this chapter. I love reading your thoughts, theories and excitement!