AN: Thanks for sticking with me this far guys! I really appreciate all of your reviews!

Elena

In the past two weeks I've done everything I can to avoid Damon. I claimed that I'm way too busy with stuff for the fundraiser to even think about getting together. But he pulls the best friend card, and I have to commit to a call or a text message every now and then.

He wants to know how I'm doing and how I'm feeling and he wants to talk about Katherine. Okay, yes, I'm being an awful best friend, but come on! Hearing the guy you're in love with talk about another girl isn't that fun, actually it sucks.

Since I woke up from my dream, I can't face him. I don't really know why. I think part of it is that I don't want to see him with Katherine, when I want him to be with me, and the other part is that I'm scared that I'll do something completely irrational, like kiss him or something. And good God do I want to kiss him. That dream was all too real, and my mind is going crazy over it.

I walked into work that morning with a head full of Damon. God! I need to shake him! Today will be all about work and putting the final touches on the fundraiser. As I moved into Klaus's office from the elevator, I noticed that Caroline's bubbly blonde head was nowhere to be seen. She's probably getting coffee or something. We had planned to get lunch again to discuss the Damon issue and anything else on our minds.

I love having Caroline as a friend, she's great, and I'm so glad that I met her. I passed the receptionist desk and into my own office, set my things down and began a quick e-mail blast for the various parties I had under my command. Everything was going perfectly, party wise. I just needed a date. I usually went to these things with Damon, as friends, but since I haven't spoken to him, I don't really know what his plans are. He's probably going with Katherine. Bitch.

I don't even know who I could ask. It's not like I have many friends besides Damon and Caroline, the first of which is dating a whore, and the second is another woman. No options there. Guys will show interest in me, but I've never been interested in anyone besides You-Know-Who. I'll just go alone. Wait. Caroline once told me that pretending to move on with someone else will help your chances with who you want to be with, in other words, make him jealous! But with who?

Liam! He's probably not used to formal parties, but I'm sure he has a tux, doesn't every guy? I'll go ask him at our lunch break.

A new e-mail pops up in my inbox, requesting the fax of the corporate owner, a.k.a. Klaus. Caroline should be back by now, so I can have her do the actual faxing. I grab the specific paper that he needs to sign, and open his office door. The second the air permeates the room, I hear whimpers. Curiously, I step the rest of the way in and see the unthinkable.

Caroline is shoved into the wall, her dress pulled up to her stomach, while Klaus forcefully shoves into her, his hand on her mouth. She's whimpering in pain, and my heart wrenches in my chest. Old Elena would back out quietly and pretend she saw nothing, but New Elena has no fear. Caroline finally sees me at the door, and her eyes connect with mine, filled with horror and heartbreak. I lose it.

I run over to Klaus and pummel his back with my fists, grabbing at his shirt to get him off of Caroline. She helps push him from the front, and with her help, I pull him off and out of her. He lands on top of me, both of us facing upward. I push him off, and look at Caroline, who is pulling her dress down over her legs.

"Go wait outside."

She hesitates. "But Elena…"

She's scared he'll do the same to me. "Go Caroline. I'll be out in a minute."

Once Caroline is gone, I turn back to Klaus, who is finishing off and tucking himself back into his pants. I can't contain my anger anymore, and I rush at him with fists flying. "You vile little bastard! You fucking asshole!"

He easily grabs my wrists and slams me up against the nearest wall, sending my heart into my throat. "Be careful how you speak to me, little girl." He sneers, before running his fingers down my cheek. I spit in his face, but he just laughs.

"You saw what happened with your little friend there. I'll warn you one more time."

His hands run down the front of my skirt and find the hem, moving up my bare legs. This is it. All dreams of first times and true loves goodbye. All dreams of a first time with Damon, gone. He's going to take it.

I'm itching to get him off of me, his hands are heavy and damp as they move to my underwear. I struggle, kicking my feet and using my hands, but my mouth is clamped shut and he is so much stronger than me. He unzips his pants, and thrusts one of my hands on his erection. This is so wrong. God, it's so wrong. He's everywhere, squeezing me too tightly, grabbing my breasts, hurting me. I scream into the hand covering my mouth. Stop! Stop! Stop! He rips my underwear, and moves into position. Oh god. Oh god, somebody help me! Stop!

"Don't act like you haven't wanted this all along. You knew that taking care of my business was part of the job when you took it." My eyes were wide, conveying the horror I felt. This was wrong. I'd never felt more terrified in my entire life, because the one thing that I had kept sacred was about to be forcefully taken from me instead of willingly given. Stop! Jesus, Buddha, whoever's up there, help me!

"Don't worry, sweetness you'll love it."

I close my eyes, hoping it will be quick. Picturing Damon's face, I whisper over and over against the hand holding my mouth. I love you. I love you. I love you.

I prepared for what I'd heard from friends, from books and magazines, the thrusting and the pain. But before anything could happen, I heard the intercom beep from Klaus's desk; he grumbled and moved to get it. The second he walked away from me, I made a mad dash for the door, but he caught me before I could get too far.

"Where do you think you're going love?" He held my wrist in an iron grip and dragged me to the phone with him. Clamping his other hand on my mouth again, he pressed me up against his body before answering the phone.

"Klaus Mikelson."

The voice on the other line echoed throughout the room. "Yes, Mr. Mikelson. Representatives from the Lockwood Company are here for your nine thirty and your receptionist is not picking up her phone. May I send them up?"

Klaus looked at me and then back to the phone. Yes. Let them up!

"Ask them to reschedule." He looked me up and down, my pencil skirt still bunched over my thighs. "I'm a little…occupied at the moment."

"Yes, sir." I heard her speaking to into the background of the phone while Klaus whispered in my ear. "Just hold tight. Don't want them thinking anything's wrong."

The receptionist returned to the line. "Mr. Mikelson, Tyler Lockwood is here himself, and he is demanding to have the meeting right now. You have kept them waiting for over thirty minutes already sir."

"Fine. Send them up." Once the line clicked off, he released the hand that held my mouth, but kept me close to his body, so uncomfortably close. I could barely breathe. "We're not finished here. Go out and pretend like nothing is wrong, and speak no word of this to anyone."

Shoving me toward the door, he pushed himself into his pants, and straightened up in the mirror. I stumbled a bit, before getting my footing again. Pulling my skirt down, I left the office and slammed the door. I leaned against it and took a deep, shaky breath. Oh my god. I immediately wanted to vomit with the thought of him touching me. Putting my head between my knees, I kept taking long breaths, trying to will his voice and his body out of my head. Caroline!

Looking up from my spot at the door, I saw her sitting on the floor with a dark haired man kneeling in front of her. I scrambled over to her, and wrapped my arms around her trembling form. "Caroline! Are you okay?"

All I wanted to do was break down with her, but I had to be strong. The man in front of us looked me straight in the eye. "Are you okay, miss?"

No. "Yes."

"I'm Tyler Lockwood, the…"

I interrupted. "…C.E.O. of the Lockwood Company. I know. I'm Elena Gilbert."

"I came into the office to find Ms. Forbes here, and she told me what had happened. I've called the police, and I'm going to make sure that both of you are safe." He said this all very calmly, like was talking about the weather. I'm sure he was just trying to keep us from going into hysterics, but it wasn't working. Caroline was fucking raped! I almost was! There is nothing calm about this situation! I wanted to scream, and throw things, and cry, and rip my skin off where he touched me, but most of all I wanted Damon.

Tyler continued. "I'm going to take you both home, and I don't want you to come into work tomorrow, okay?" Caroline nodded meekly and I followed suit. After looking at both of us for a minute, he pulled off his suit jacket and placed it on Caroline's shivering shoulders, hoping to warm her up, I guess.

"Let's go down to the lobby." He led us into the elevator and down to the first floor. Once we got there, we moved to chairs, and I pulled out my phone, pushing number two.

It rang three times before he picked up. "Hey Lena."

Damon. It was so good to hear his voice. "Damon…" My voice broke halfway through his name, and I could hear him tense on the other side of the line. "Lena! What's wrong?"

"Can you just come get me?" I remembered a similar conversation that we'd once had, way back in high school.

"Of course, where are you?"

I will not cry. I will not cry. "The office."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

After he hung up, I took Caroline's hand and stroked it with my thumb. She turned to me with teary eyes.

"Thanks," she whispered. "Thanks for stopping him."

I didn't say anything to that. She looked at me again, "Did he…you know?"

I shook my head quickly. Yes. "No, no he didn't."

She breathed a sigh of relief and rested her head against the wall. "It just happened so fast, you know? I just had to go in there to ask him something and then…"

"Shh, Care. It's okay. We can talk about it later okay?"

She nodded a little bit and closed her eyes. "Okay."

I watched as Tyler talked to the cops, and as they walked to the elevator. He sat down across from us, and just looked, like he didn't really know what to do. But who would in this situation?

What do you say to two girls that you just met, when one is crying, and you know one is lying and you're getting the man that attacked them arrested?

But then, my gaze caught something else completely, a man running through the doors to the lobby. Damon. And at that second everything went slow motion. He looked around frantically before his eyes found mine. He froze, and I stood up, and at the same time we catapulted toward each other. The second I reached him, his arms wrapped me into a strong embrace, holding me tight to him. The moment he touched me, I felt safe again, like nothing had ever happened. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck and inhaled his scent, trying to stay grounded, to not start sobbing. "Elena. Elena. What happened sweetheart?"

I couldn't even form words, so I just shook my head. My body started shaking and I couldn't stop it. Damon rubbed soothing circles on my back while he whispered into my ear, trying to comfort me. I heard Tyler's voice in the background of my own personal world.

"Damon."

"Tyler. What happened?"

"I think she should tell you that. Do you have her from here?"

Damon hugged me even closer to his body before answering. "I've got her."

With my head still in the crook of his neck, he picked me up, tucking me into him. He carried us out to the car, before laying me in the passenger seat, and getting in on his own side. I didn't say anything as he drove me home, I just sat there, physically unable to move or speak. Unable to breathe. All I could think about was hands on my body that weren't supposed to be there. I wanted to scream. Why me?

When we reached my house, Damon picked me back out of my seat and moved to the front door, unlocking it with his own key. He walked up the stairs and into my bedroom, laying me on the bed. After putting me down on my side, he crouched down facing me. His hand traced my face, moving stray pieces of hair out of my eyes. The second he touched me, I could breathe again.

"What happened, Lena?" He asked gently.

I took a breath. "I went into Klaus's office because I needed him to sign something for me. And when I walked in there, I saw him…" I didn't have the words.

"What did he do, Elena?" His hand cupped my cheek, and warmth enveloped my whole body with his simple touch.

"He was with Caroline, and she was against the wall and her skirt was pushed up and he had his hand over her mouth and he having sex with her and she was whimpering and trying to say no…" I was babbling now. It was all just coming out, word after word after word. "I pulled him off of her and told her to get out. And then he…" But I stopped speaking. I couldn't say what had happened, I couldn't. But Damon's face had gone very hard and still.

"What happened then, Elena?" He said in a cold voice. He's angry, and I hate it when he's angry. I tried to figure out what to say. He repeated himself. "What happened?"

I closed my eyes and decided to just tell the truth. "He grabbed me and pushed me against a wall and pulled my skirt up. He took off his pants and he…made me touch him." The warmth of Damon's hand left my cheek. I opened my eyes to see what had happened, just in time to see him punch a hole in my bedroom wall. "I'm going to fucking kill him! I'm going to fucking break his neck!" He roared.

"Damon!" He stopped yelling at the sound of my voice, but he was still shaking with anger. "Damon, they arrested him. It's okay." I was trying to reassure myself too.

"No Elena! It's not fucking okay!" He took a breath and came to crouch by my bedside again. "Lena. What happened after that?"

I wanted to die. "He told me that I wanted it and he was about to do it, but the intercom stopped him."

Damon looked relieved. "So, he didn't…?"

I shook my head. "No, he didn't."

He collapsed his head on the side of my bed. "I'm so sorry Lena. I'm so sorry."

I ran my fingers through his hair, "It's okay. There's nothing that you could've done."

"But if I'd been there…"

"Damon, it's okay."

He looked right into my eyes, and he got that weird look on his face again. Pulling the quilt from under my body, he then placed it on top of me. He shed his shirt, and climbed into the bed from the other side, bringing my body to his. I let him hug me too him and felt his warmth surround me. I'm safe. Klaus jumps into my mind for a minute, but I push him out easily, letting the horrors of the day evaporate while I burrow deeper into Damon's arms. I fall asleep somewhere between thoughts of "he's got great arms" and "this is where I belong".

AN: Thoughts? xxx

Song: Love Song Requiem - Trading Yesterday