The elevator doors opened admitting Elena to the fourth floor. She stepped out to see Elijah pacing in front of the window. When he saw her he stopped to pull her in and wrapped his arms around her back.
"Elijah," Elena returned his embrace before attempting to pull back. "What happened? Where's Katherine?" Elena found herself trapped in his arms. "Elijah?"
"They thought she was you," he choked and slackened his grip slightly. "I thought she was you; until I saw the blue dress."
"What happened?"
"They wouldn't tell us," he took a shaky breath and tucked a curl behind her ear. "The hospital will only release that information to family."
Elena felt the colour fade from her cheeks as he continued. She could see the worry that had resided in his eyes, and she knew instantly that it was bad.
"She's still asleep," Elijah explained. He had finally realised her, but he still stood close. He looked into her fear darkened gaze. "She doesn't look good Elena, but her vitals are stable. The nurses did tell us that much."
"Where?" Elena whispered. She turned slightly to look down the hall and reached for his hand. He took it without hesitation and led her to the room where Nik and Caroline were waiting.
Her breath caught in her throat. Elena had to fight the lump before she could speak.
"Find the doctor, please." She gripped her boyfriend's hand tighter when she felt him pull back to search for the doctor. He shot a look at Nik and it was understood that he would go in search of the doctor.
Caroline stood to join him.
Elijah motioned to Elena to take a seat in the recovery room. They sat in silence for the next ten minutes while they waited for the doctor. Elijah gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
Every thirty seconds or so Elijah's eyes would search out Elena's face. The other half of the minute was spent gazing at Katherine. He couldn't stop picturing Elena in the bed; it was only her presence in the room now that kept him calm. Now she leaned over and he released her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders.
"She was fine yesterday," Elena whispered. She peeked up at him through her eyelashes. "She was fine?" Her dark eyes shimmered with moisture.
"Yes," Elijah gently squeezed her shoulders. "She was fine." He placed a kiss on the top of her hair.
"Elena?"
They turned to see Dr. Meredith Fell standing in the doorframe. She was watching them carefully.
"Dr. Fell," Elena breathed. "Are you Katherine's doctor?" She leaned forward to address her. Elena's side was still pressed firmly against Elijah. "What happened? Is she going to be alright?"
"Your sister was brought in last night – early this morning really – she was unconscious on arrival," Dr. Fell consulted her chart. Her dark eyes jumped between the twins. "She had a minor brain bleed which we evacuated. Her arm was broken in two places. And she has suffered multiple contusions and lacerations," Dr. Fell moved to check the monitors, and to shine a light in Katherine's eyes.
"How did she get here?" Caroline cut in. "Everyone thought she was Elena. Shouldn't someone have known that it wasn't her? Don't you have tests for that?"
"We had no reason to believe it was Katherine," Dr. Fell explained quietly. "She was brought in last night. The young man who brought her in said she was Elena Gilbert. I had no reason to doubt him?"
"Who brought her in?" Elena took Katherine's undamaged hand. "Who said she was me?"
"It was Stefan Salvatore," Dr. Fell answered before she continued with her explanations. "Katherine's vitals are stable now, and her pupils are responsive. I expect she will make a full recovery in the next few months. We're just keeping a close eye on the baby's heartbeat just in case."
"She's going to be fine?" Elena latched onto the piece of information she had been waiting for.
"Yes," Dr. Fell nodded once. "She should be just fine." She turned her gaze on Elena again. "Elena –" she hesitated before pushing on, "most of her injuries are consistent with domestic abuse, both physical and-and sexual. Her arm was likely broken in an attempt to defend herself. Do you know who she's been seeing?"
"No," Elena shook her head slowly. Blood drained from her face. "No, I'm sorry I don't."
"She should wake up within the next hour or so," Dr. Fell said on her way out the door. "I've notified the sheriff's office, and someone should be here soon to talk to you and her. They wanted to talk to Stefan first."
"Who's Stefan?" Nik questioned the room at large.
"He's D-Damon's brother," Caroline rubbed her arms to return some warmth to them.
"She's gonna be fine," Elena didn't notice when the doctor left. Tears were streaming down her face. Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Yes," Elijah murmured against her hair. "She is going to be alright." Without any warning Elena spun around to face him and her friends.
"Did she say baby?"
