Groaning, Damon spins around and when he does, his blue eyes meet her fiery brown ones.
Jerking away from Rebekah, Damon tumbles off of the stool and lands on his ass on the floor. Trying hard not to laugh, Rebekah helps him back up and onto the bench. Too drunk to even see straight, Damon doesn't put up any kind of resistance. Motioning for another drink, Damon sloppily waves his arm before dropping his face on the bar top and letting his eyes drift closed momentarily.
Despite feeling more than a little irate and after leveling him with a glare that could detonate TNT, Elena vows not to let those two ruin her evening. When she feels a nudge, she looks at Caroline and follows her and Brady to a booth. Once the girls are seated, Brady excuses himself to get something to drink. Unable to stop himself, he walks over to where Rebekah and Damon are seated.
"Brady," Damon slurs, "how are you, buddy?"
"I'm better than you from the looks of it boss," he adds, raising an eyebrow.
"Brady, do you mind? Damon and I are having a private little party. Now shush," Rebekah interrupts, gently pushing him away. Shrugging his shoulders, Brady gets drinks for Caroline and Elena then goes back to where they're sitting. Worried about Damon, he pauses to look over his shoulder for a moment before sliding back into the booth.
"What's going on with them?" Caroline asks, her eyes focused on a Elena.
"They're partying according to Rebekah. We can leave if you want, Elena?" Brady mentions, sensing the tension radiating off of her.
"I have no intention of leaving. We can have our own little party too," she retorts. "Yeah, I heard that. Rebekah can be rather loud sometimes." With her eyes firmly on Brady, Elena throws back her shot of Tequila and then picks up her beer glass to take swallow from it. Although she's having fun with her friends, she can't help but chance a look at him every now and then. The more she sees Rebekah's hands on him the madder she gets. Every instinct she has wants to wrench him out of her clutches. With the show Rebekah is putting on, Elena is doing a damn good job of keeping her distaste hidden. And despite how angry she is, Elena also can't deny how much it hurts to see him with someone else. When she feels a hint of moisture begin to form, she drops her eyes. After several seconds, Elena gets herself under control.
When Caroline toasts to the almost end of the fire season, Elena raises her glass, clinking it with the others. Putting the shot glass to her mouth, she happens to notice Rebekah and Matt's heads together but her eyes are still on Damon. Disgusted again, she swallows the tequila down, savoring the long slow burn that she hopes will make the hurt disappear for a little while.
"Callie, watch the bar for a moment. I'm going to help Rebekah to get him to her car," Matt says, using his head to nod at Damon. Laughing herself, Callie says, "No worries." Shaking his head, Matt walks around to where Damon is seated. Throwing his arm over his shoulder, Matt helps him to stand up.
"It's time to go, lover," Rebekah proclaims, hopefully loud enough for Elena to hear. Although she desperately wants to see Elena's face, she keeps her eyes on Matt and Damon.
"Come on, Damon. You're done for the night," Matt tells him, starting to lead him towards the exit.
"Wha..wh.. what?" he slurs, his blood shot, bleary eyes half closed when he looks at Matt. Rebekah leads them out, holding the door open for Matt as he drags Damon through it. As soon as they reach her car, she unlocks it and opens the door, letting Matt slide him in.
"Do you need some help?" Matt volunteers, his eyes scanning over her voluptuous form.
"Not tonight but perhaps you and I could get better acquainted sometime," she asks, running her nails down the curve of his jaw.
"I'd like that," Matt agrees. With a smile on her face, she slides into the driver's seat. Nowhere near sloshed like the guy next to her, Rebekah pulls out of the parking lot, waving goodbye to Matt just before taking off down the street.
Having seen the whole sordid spectacle, Elena is seething on the inside. With her fuse lit, her heart is galloping like a runaway stallion as anger and jealousy begin to burn hot and out of control. Closing her eyes for a moment while fisting her hands at her sides, she takes a few deep breaths. Although she feels the dagger twisting, deep visceral raw pain exploding, she tries her best to feign indifference by forcing a smile onto her face. Strutting up to the bar, she asks for a bottle of tequila. Having it firmly in hand, she marches back to her table, hands one to Brady and one to Caroline and pours them each a shot. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," she toasts, throwing back the shot without even cringing as it burns the back of her throat.
Feeling himself starting to become coherent when a bright beam of morning sunlight shines directly across his face, Damon throws his forearm over his eyes. At first, he doesn't want to open them, his body blissfully unaware of his surroundings yet. His mind is groggy and still stuck in that place between dreams and reality. The next moment he lurches upright when his blanket is pulled off at almost the same time that the curtain flies open. "Ugh," he groans, the sunlight blinding him and intensifying his already throbbing headache.
"Time to get up lover boy," Rebekah teases, quirking her eyebrows at his bare muscular chest. Realizing then that he's only wearing boxers, Damon flies off of the couch, stumbling over the coffee table and landing spread eagle on the floor. Unable to control herself, Rebekah bursts out laughing. Embarrassed, Damon drags himself to his knees and finally to his feet. Shaking her head, she hands him a bottle of water and three aspirin tablets. Quickly swallowing them down, Damon meets her eyes before turning around to look for his clothes. Seeing his jeans, he slips them on and then looks for his shirt.
Swallowing thickly, Damon drops back onto the couch to put his shoes on. "I should get to work."
"Aren't you going to ask me about last night?" she asks, trying to put on her best sultry voice.
"Did we, you know?" Damon asks, bracing himself for the worst. Between his head throbbing, his belly churning and his nerves alight, Damon looks at her, his eyes just short of pleading.
"Don't worry, lover, your virtue is safe with me." With a wink, she adds, "The kitchen is this way. You look like you could use some coffee."
"Oh thank Christ," he sighs, scrubbing his palm across his face. Standing up, he follows her to the kitchen. Pouring them each a travel mug full, she grabs her bag and then opens her front door, gesturing for Damon to walk out first. After making sure her door is locked, she leads Damon to her car.
"How did you get me here?"
"You know Matt from the bar, he helped me."
"I suppose my car is still there?"
"It is but I don't have time to take you there till later. We have to get to work," Rebekah adds, pointing at his watch with her index finger. Nodding, Damon takes a big slog of coffee from the mug, hoping that between it and the aspirin, his headache will soon lessen in its intensity.
Laughing at Rebekah's joke as he holds the door open for her, Damon thanks her for giving him a place to sleep last night. Whispering something in her ear, she smiles cunningly and gives him a shove. Shaking his head, Damon disappears into his office, hoping to lay his head on his desk for a few minutes in hopes that his head will stop pounding. Having had a front row seat to their little show, Elena is determined not to let him get a reaction out of her. Slamming her locker shut, she grabs her running shoes and heads outside to start running laps. Having also seen the whole exchange, Kol looks at Rebekah curiously. Winking at him, she turns around and puts her things in her locker.
"What exactly are you up to, cousin?" Kol asks, raising a skeptical eyebrow at her.
"Me? Whatever do you mean, cousin?" she asks coyly, flashing her shit eating grin at him. Walking away, she turns her head around at the door. Challenging him with a quirk of her brows, she quickly walks through the door and out into the backyard. Seeing Elena sitting on the picnic table tying her shoe laces, Rebekah walks over to her and starts doing some stretching exercises. "Hey, Elena."
"Hey," Elena answers succinctly, her voice void of emotion. Feeling both betrayed and wounded by her and Damon, Elena quickly finishes with her shoes and then gets up and walks over to the track. Feeling the need to show off a little bit, Rebekah goes into a run and does a tumbling pass of several somersaults. With Elena gawking at her, she explains that she has taken gymnastics since childhood.
Without saying another word, Elena takes off, running hard and fast without so much as chancing another glance at the woman. The fact that she arrived with Damon this morning, both smiling and laughing and although it's circumstantial, for Elena it's evidence enough that they slept together. Angry at herself for ever trusting him, she knows now that she can't stay at Fort Wainwright. With her head a whir, Elena realizes that she could talk to her grandparents about transferring to the Missoula smokejumpers for next season. And then she remembers her grandma cautioning her to think long and hard before making any life changing decisions. Still, it would be heaven to be so close and to really be able to get to know them. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turns her head, nodding slightly when she sees Kol as he's about to pass her. Having never been one to like losing, she picks up her pace even more and reaches the picnic table almost a foot length ahead of him. Collapsing onto the grass, she lays down, staring up the crystal blue sky.
Suddenly she yelps, "oomph" when a gregarious seven year old also know as Willow Salvatore plops herself down, straddling Elena's legs just above the knees. "Hi Elena," she squeals, smiling her big tooth-filled grin at her. Although her anger with Damon is still at def con ten, she loves Willow as if she were her little sister.
"What are you doing here?" Elena asks, sitting herself up. Looking around, she sees Damon and his mother talking at the building's entrance. When her eyes meet Damon's, even from this distance, her heart lurches painfully in her chest. She hates it that she still loves him and that her body betrays her by the way it still reacts so viscerally just at the sight of him. Hearing the little girl's voice, Elena turns her attention back to Willow.
"Mommy said she needed to talk to Damon."
"I'm glad that I get to see you. How are you?"
"I'm good. Mommy and me are shopping for school supplies. Can you come along?" she asks, her mouth slightly parted as she waits for Elena's response.
"Oh sweetie, I'd like to go with you but I have work. I need to be here if we get called to a fire."
"But can't you take that thing, you know that calls if a fire comes?"
"Not really, Willow. We have to be ready to go in minutes if we're called to a fire."
"I want you to come," she pouts, crossing her arms over her chest.
Hating that she has to disappoint her, Elena is grateful when she sees Mary walking towards them. "Hello, Elena. It's good to see you," she says, a big smile on her face.
"Hello, Mary and it's good to see you too. How are you?"
"Very well, thank you for asking."
Forcing a smile, Elena stands up, pulling Willow to her feet. "Mommy, I want Elena to come along."
"I'd like that too, Willow but I think Elena needs to be here," she starts to say when she's interrupted by Damon.
"I couldn't help but over hear.. um.. if you want to go with them, Elena, it's fine. I called the forest service, there are no fires. If an alert comes across, we can handle it."
"Please, Elena," Willow pleads, tugging at her tee shirt.
"What if I follow you with my car. That way if the pager goes off, I can hurry back here."
"That would be wonderful, Elena," Mary adds, smiling down at her daughter.
"Yay," Willow squeals, wrapping her arms around Elena's waist, giving her a hug. Unable to keep a smile off of her face when Willow grabs her hand and starts tugging, Elena follows her into the building so she can change her clothes. Watching her walk away, Damon's insides twist with raw visceral pain. He loves her with the intensity of a thousand burning suns. The pain he feels burns even deeper because he only has himself to blame.
"Are you okay, Damon?" his mother asks, tilting her head as she looks at him with concern.
"Not really... she hates me, mom."
Raising her hand, Mary brushes a strand of hair off of his forehead. "She doesn't hate you, Damon."
"She does," he adds, his eyes drifting to stare at something over his shoulder. Taking a breath, Mary palms his face, patting the side of his cheek gently. "Damon, she's doesn't hate you, she's hurt. You went behind her back to Ric. She loves her job and she excels at it. And I know that your heart was in the right place but you should have voiced your concerns to her rather than do what you did."
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Don't talk to me like that young man," she chides him before continuing, "Yes, I think you know that but it's not like you to just give up, Damon."
"I'm not giving up, I have to face the fact that she hates me."
"Stop that. Salvatore's don't wallow in self pity. You show that girl how much you love her and do what you need to do to make it up to her. I can't guarantee that she'll forgive you but you'd have a much better chance if you put some effort into it rather than just throwing in the towel."
"I've never been in love before, mom. I don't know what to do."
"Sure you do," she starts to say when she hears little footsteps. Turning her head, she sees her daughter running towards her.
"It's time to go, mommy," she squeals. Grabbing her hand, Willow starts to pull her towards the door.
Feeling a little slighted since she didn't even give him a hug, Damon kicks the dirt in frustration before going back inside to catch up on some fire reports that need completion.
Sitting in the café court in the mall, Elena and Mary enjoy a cup of coffee while Willow is keeping herself busy playing in the children's area. While keeping an eye on her daughter, Mary takes a sip of her coffee. Obviously distracted, she sees that Elena's mind is elsewhere.
"Elena, are you okay?"
Snapping out of it, Elena takes a breath when her heart starts pounding against his chest. Picking up her coffee cup, she takes a long pull before looking at Damon's mother. "I'm sorry, Mary. I know he's your son but it's over between us. I care about him, of course I do but.. it's done."
"He loves you, Elena. Damon is miserable too," she adds, giving Elena her complete attention.
"It's not about love, Mary, I love him too but there's so much more to it," Elena says, dropping her eyes for a moment. When she feels Mary pat the top of her hand, she looks up and continues, "Damon didn't trust the fact that I know what I'm doing on the job. And not only that, I shared a confidence with him and he used it against me. I can't just pretend that it didn't happen."
"What?" she asks incredulously.
"I told him something that I had never shared with anyone else and he betrayed that trust. Pausing to take a swallow of her drink, Elena glances over at Willow for a moment, smiling back at the little girl. Taking a breath and with her tummy twisting painfully at the having to say the words, she adds, "And besides, I think Damon has already moved on."
"No, Elena," Mary retorts, shaking her head side to side.
"I'm sorry, Mary but I really don't want to talk about it anymore."
"I won't say anymore than this, my dear, I don't believe that he's moved on at all. He thinks that you hate him."
"I don't hate him but that's the last I'm going to say about it."
Nodding, Mary gives her hand a squeeze and then turns her head, smiling when she hears her daughter's infectious laughter. When they finish their drinks, they move onto one of the children's stores to get her some jeans, tops and a couple of dresses. While Mary pays for their purchases, Willow looks at Elena. "Why are you sad?"
"I'm not sad, Willow. I'm happy to be with you."
"Uh uh," she protests, shaking her head.
"Why do you think I'm sad?"
"Because, you don't be with Damon anymore. He's sad too and I don't like it."
"Oh honey, don't worry about me and Damon. You don't need to think about adult things," Elena says, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But I want you to be by him again. I love you, Elena."
Feeling the knots in her gut tighten painfully, she forces a smile and pulls Willow into a hug. "I love you too, sweetie." With the little girl in her arms, Elena can't help but imagine what it would have been like to be holding her and Damon's daughter in her arms. Tears begin to prick at her eyes when she realizes that it's now an unattainable dream.
Dropping her purse on the counter, she reaches into the refrigerator, pulling out a Mike's Hard Lemonade. Twisting off the cap, she takes a long refreshing pull before pushing the fridge door closed. Leaning back against the sink, she runs her fingers through her hair. When she hears a knock on her door, she sets the bottle down and then pulls it open. Taken aback when her mother and Katherine barge right in, she shakes her head and pushes the door closed.
"Just where have you been? You haven't taken any of my calls? What's going on with you?" her mother demands to know, staring at Elena intently. Scrubbing her hand over her face, she happens to notice Katherine smiling like the Cheshire cat.
"What's with you?" Elena asks, her focus on Katherine.
"Since you broke up with that fine specimen of manhood, he's fair game wouldn't you agree?"
Although her words cut deeply, Elena isn't going to satisfy her. Without saying anything, she turns her attention back to her mother. "I don't understand why you need me at all these things anyway? Clearly, I always seem more of a burden than a benefit to you," she snaps, turning away quickly when she feels a scratch in her throat.
"Because you're a Gilbert and you need to attend these things. We have to show the world that we're a united front and that we all love each other."
"I'm not a Gilbert, I'm a Pierce," she adds, her voice firm and unwavering. "You have no respect for me or my career and despite you best efforts, I found them..."
"Found who? What are you talking about?"
"Peyton and Evelyn Pierce."
Looking at her like she's seen a ghost, Isobel asks, "What!? How?" This time it's her who's grabbing the countertop for support.
With her eyes darting between her mother and Elena, Katherine asks, "Who are they?"
"Never you mind, Katherine. Elena, I expect you to be at the house for supper Friday evening. Your father invited a couple of businessmen," she starts to say when Caroline enters the kitchen.
Stepping beside Elena to show a united front, Caroline glares at Isobel, saying, "You two can leave now. Elena and I have plans."
"This is a Gilbert family matter," Isobel protests, looking down her nose with disdain at Caroline.
"You know what? Caroline is right, you two need to leave," Elena agrees, walking over to the door, pulling it open and motioning for them to leave with her hand. Not one to accept defeat, Katherine adds, "I meant what I said about Damon. He and I are going to make a lovely couple, don't you agree, mother?"
Elena doesn't miss the look of disgust that washes over Isobel's face but just as she starts to open her mouth, Caroline interrupts, "Damon won't have anything to do with you, Katherine. Despite the fact that they're no longer together, Damon would never, ever take up with the likes of you." Stunned speechless cause no one ever talks back to her, Katherine's face distorts with rage. Without saying another word, she spins on her Louboutin's and marches out of the door, followed immediately after by Isobel.
"Thank you, Caroline," Elena says, giving her friend a hug. "I meant what I said, Elena, you know Damon would never hurt you by taking up with Katherine. You two may have parted but he still cares. Brady told me as much."
"Then why did he sleep with Rebekah?"
"He was very drunk that night. And obviously he was thinking with his little head but there is no excuse."
Unable to say anything, Elena points towards the stairs. "I'm just going to take a shower." Seeing how upset her friend is, Caroline gives her a hug, rubbing her arms up and down her back. When Elena feels her eyes beginning to water, she forces a smile before running up the stairs. When she finally reaches the solitude of her room, she flops face first onto the bed, finally releasing her tears.
In the calm, blue-sky morning, marred by smoke and flames as they lick high into the air, Damon launches himself from their Sherpa-360 aircraft. Despite Elijah cautioning him about staying off the lines, he had no choice when Ric showed up looking a little green having come down with the flu. Following Damon out of the aircraft are the rest of his team, Elena included. They guide their blue and white parachutes towards the spot that Mikael picked out. Suddenly a gust of wind sends Damon's body pitching sideways. Struggling, he adjusts his toggles to try to right his body. As he lurches towards the ground, he lands in a hard tumble. A little shaken up, it takes him a few moments to get his bearings.
Smoke jumpers are like paratroopers, dropping into fires so remote, the terrain often so rugged that it's impossible for ground firefighters to reach. Self-described adrenaline junkies and daredevils who stare down death every day, the jumpers call themselves Fire Gods, and they are, in fact, Olympians of a certain kind. They pursue wildfire like athletes pursue excellence in their chosen sports.
Using his compass and map, Damon works out their orientation in relation to the fire. Once they reach their destination, they get to work starting to clear away the fuel by chopping and hacking and downing dead trees. Always proud of his crew, they continue at their task by felling more trees and digging trenches which helps to extinguish the flames and embers which works to suppress the fire. Using ax, chain saw, shovel, and hand or engine-driven water or chemical pumps, the work till their backs ache and throats burn from the inhaling smoke and dirt. With his face covered in sweat and grime, he uses his shovel as an anchor, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks around at their work. Seeing Elena huddled with Kol while Brady and Rebekah are sitting on a rock, chugging water, Damon always breathes a huge sigh of relief when he knows they're all safe. When finished, they gather together their equipment and pack it out to the nearest access road for pickup which unfortunately is a few miles away.
Even thought they're exhausted by the time they get back, they all decide they need a drink. Damon can't help but stare at Elena when she leaves arm in arm with Kol. Their eyes meet for a millisecond when she looks over her shoulder for some reason. Unable to hold her stare, Damon drops his eyes and walks back into his office. As soon as he finishes his report, he jumps in his car to head over to their usual watering hole. Just by sheer happenstance, Rebekah arrives at the same time so they walk inside together. When Elena's eyes meet Rebekah's, the blonde smirks at her before linking her arm with Damon's.
Stopping in his tracks, Damon looks at her, shrugs his shoulders and leads them to the bar. Plopping down on one of the stools, he signals for Callie to give him a frosty mug of tap beer. After having a few beers with Rebekah, he spins on his stool. His mouth drops when he sees her dancing with some guy. Not wanting to watch, he tells Rebekah goodnight and heads for the exit. Wanting to provoke Elena so the two of them stop with their silliness, Rebekah walks him to the door. Just as he pushes it open, she grabs onto his leather jacket, stopping him in his tracks. With her eyes never leaving Elena's she presses her lips to Damon's ear, whispering only goodbye but Elena doesn't know that, she thinks to herself. When she pulls away with a beaming smile, Damon nods. Not having clue, Damon shudders then walks away, wanting nothing more than to sleep for about a week.
With her plot set in motion, Rebekah struts over to where Brady, Caroline, Kol, and Ric's nephew, Tyler are waiting. Having never met Tyler, Brady introduces them, telling her that he's been working in the states with the Redmond, Oregon smoke jumping team. Although he's cute, Rebekah has her sights set on Matt. Shaking his hand, Rebekah slides into the chair next to Kol. When Elena finishes dancing, she and the guy part with Elena walking back over to their table.
"Elena," Rebekah says, greeting her with another smirk.
"Where did Damon go?" Elena sneers, unable to control herself now that her fuse has been lit.
"Poor baby, we had a rough night. He needed to get some sleep to replenish his.. you know?" she teases, dropping her eyes to the space between Kol's legs. Knowing that she has Elena right where she wants her, she continues, "The things that man can do with his..."
Hurt and embarrassed and angry, Elena doesn't want to hear anymore. Grabbing her bag, she walks out of the bar and directly to her car. Feeling all the rage of a woman scorned, she ignites the engine and careens out of the parking lot. On a mission, she drives through town thanking the stoplight gods that she doesn't hit any on the way out of town. Pulling onto the highway, she rolls down a window and turns the radio on loud. Full of nervous energy, she slaps on hand repeatedly against the steering wheel. Although she's never been there, she knows where to go because Willow pointed it out to her the last time she took her home. With her high beam on, she slows down when she sees the driveway and turns in. Loaded for bear, she's not leaving till she gives him a piece of her mind.
As soon as she stops her car, she jumps out, slamming the door shut behind her. With her stomach roiling and her heart pumping so hard that her blood is roaring in her ears, she marches up to his front door and starts to pound on it. Having a moment of indecision, she stops knocking and begins to back away. Damon's dogs immediately start barking and scratching at the door. Barefoot and wearing only his jeans, Damon startles awake when he hears all of the racket. Shaking out the cobwebs, he drags himself out of the recliner and ambles over to the front door. Pulling it open, he's taken aback, mouth parted in shock when he sees Elena standing in front of him. After staring at her for several seconds, he finally finds his voice.
"Elena? What is it? Is something wrong?" he asks, looking over her shoulders for something, anything that would explain her being here. Staring at his perfectly chiseled flesh does wicked things to her, making her body tingle in all the wrong places. Silently cursing her body for betraying her, she tries to swallow down her lust by squeezing her legs together.
"How dare you flaunt your relationship with Rebekah in front of my face? Just because we didn't work out doesn't mean I want to see her throwing herself on you like a dog in heat. I certainly don't want to hear her version of your bedroom skills. I won't tolerate your disrespect, Damon," she seethes, her heaving breasts mesmerizing him. Feeling himself starting to harden, Damon turns around long enough to straighten out his jeans. When he turns away, her anger amplifies ten fold at his dismissal. Grabbing his shoulder, she forces him to face her. And when their eyes meet, Damon can't quite believe that she's real and standing in front of him. Closing the distance between them, he cradles her face. With his eyes darting between her eyes and her lips and back again, he surrenders to his desire and crashes his mouth to hers.
Huge, huge thanks to Eva. Love you dearly my best friend and sister.
Huge thanks to all of you as well. I wouldn't be here without all of you.
Chapter title: 'Hearts Burst Into Fire' by Bullet for My Valentine.
I hope to update ICEM again before the week is over. Watch for the prologue for "Phoenix Rising" to post soon.
Reviews are love.
Be safe and have a wonderful day. Until next time.