The twitch of his fingers – the thumb of his right-hand skirting against his finger, fidgeting with the ghost of a ring that should have been there by now.
While Elijah parks in front of the house, Damon sits motionless for a few moments, holding his breath and taking in the sight of their house.
"It's perfect, Damon," Elena gushes as she squeezes his hand. Perched atop a perfect grassy knoll, the elaborate house looks like a real-life dollhouse.
"It was built in 1896 and is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places," Damon informs her and kisses her hair.
"The house has been painstakingly restored to its original glory—think loads of patterned wallpaper, gorgeous woodworking, and chandeliers galore. Yet it also has a host of modern features, like LED lighting, central air, and a solar power system," Their realtor remarks as she unlocks the front door.
"You'll see the impeccable landscaping when we get to the backyard. It has manicured law, shrubbed walls, and abundant local flora. And there's a gazebo built in Queen Anne style that sits right in the middle of it."
The woman smiles as she pushes the door open, letting them walk inside.
Elena gasps, her eyes wide with wonder as she takes it in. "Can we afford this?"
"We'll have to see if the owner will accept our offer. Keep your fingers crossed."
An awkward stillness falls over the air.
"Damon?" Elijah says softly.
"Sorry, I was thinking about the day we made an offer on the house. "God, it seems a lifetime ago." Although he's grateful to be out of jail, he feels uneasy about being here without Elena. She's his everything. His whole world.
"You ready?"
Damon expels a heavy breath and steps out of the car just as his father runs out of the house to greet them.
"My boy, you're home, finally." Giuseppe out as he pulls his oldest son into a bear hug.
Damon closes his eyes for a moment, remembering how good it always feels to have his dad comfort him.
"Let's go inside. I ordered some food. Klaus and Enzo are here with Grayson and Miranda."
"For the first time in a long time, I am hungry," Damon remarks as walks toward the door beside his dad.
Two weeks pass without a word. The Salvatore household has become a hub of activity for volunteers. Damon has slowly but surely depleted his and Elena's savings in a full-fledged missing person search. Klaus is the best private investigator he knows and Bonnie's husband Enzo is a police detective.
"Anything new?" Damon asks as he enters the house, having met with Elijah.
Miranda shakes her head. "But Grayson and Enzo are out checking out some tips to see if they lead anywhere. Most are garbage but how can we know unless they're investigated? The problem is that it takes away precious time and resources."
"I know, Miranda. Thank you for being here." Damon is about to sit down the doorbell rings. "I'll get that," he sighs.
Smiling at her son-in-law's perseverance and dedication she replies, "Don't give up, Damon."
"Never," he calls over his shoulder as he leaves the kitchen.
Opening the front door, he's taken aback by who's standing in front of him.
"Hi, Damon."
His jaw clenches as he demands an answer. "What are you doing here, Rose?"
"I heard you were out of jail...I came to offer my help."
"We have all the help we need to find Elena. Thanks," Damon starts to close the door but is stopped by her foot.
"I didn't know you were still looking for Elena. She's been gone for a long time."
Damon narrows his eyes and counters sarcastically, "Really? I didn't know."
Lightly touching the side of his face, she whispers, "Don't you think it is time you let her go?"
Pushing her hand away as if it's burning him, Damon grits out, "Elena is not dead and I will find her."
"If she's alive, doesn't that mean she doesn't want to be found? She left you, Damon, when are you going to realize that?"
Rage pierces Damon's soul as he stares at her. "You need to leave," he seethes and slams the door in her face.
"Damon?" Rose asks as she peeks through the door again. Not hearing any response, she can't stop herself from creeping up the stairs and entering the master bedroom. She grazes her fingers along the comforter and down the bedpost, feeling the engraving under her fingertips. She opens the top dresser drawer and runs her hands along the silk negligee cringing at the fact that Elena must have worn this for Damon.
"What are you doing in here? I told you to leave," Damon seethes from the doorway.
"I'm sorry," Rose replies sheepishly.
"Why are you in my bedroom, in Elena's drawer no less?"
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she says softly. "I don't know."
"I have spent every waking moment trying to forget that mistake."
Sauntering towards him, she taunts, "But...but you can't, can you?"
Glaring down at her, Damon replies coldly, "I almost made the biggest mistake of my life with..." He is cut off when Rose wraps around his neck and presses her lips firmly on his.
Damon pushes her away so hard she nearly lands on the floor.
With a salacious smile, she asks, "Why did you do that?"
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he storms as if hell itself has filled and turned his blue eyes black. "GET OUT OF HERE!" he yells. Striding toward her, Damon grabs her by the arm to drag her out of his room and down the stairs. He doesn't stop until he pushes her out of the front door.
"I don't ever want to see you again," he snarls as he slams the door closed. Leaning against it, he closes his eyes as he struggles to regain control of his emotions.
"What is it, Damon?" Miranda asks when she sees the state, he's in.
"I told Rose to leave and she snuck in. I found her in our bedroom." Damon fists his hand as a fresh wave of fury overtakes him. "I'm going to talk to Elijah about a restraining order."
"That's a good idea. We'll also have to make sure to keep someone at the door so she can't do it again. I came after you because you have a phone call."
Damon expels a heavy breath and follows Miranda to the kitchen.
Opening the door, he's curious when Elena doesn't so much as move. "What are you playing at?" he asks as he moves closer to the bed. Her face is flushed and she doesn't move when he gives her a nudge. Her skin is hot and her breathing is shallow.
"Fuck!" he shouts as his eyes dart around the room. He paces back and forth for he doesn't know how long before he makes a decision. Not knowing what else to do, he scoops Elena up in his arms and carries her to his car, laying her on the backseat. He jumps behind the wheel and careens out of the driveway with a loud screech of the tires.
"Please help!" A man screams as he runs through the hospital ER doors with a limp Elena in his arms.
"Bring her in here." A nurse leads him to an empty
He lays her on the gurney and steps back while the nurse checks her vitals. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I found her unresponsive and she has a high fever, she'd been complaining about headaches. I didn't know what else to do," he states. "Um, I have to use the restroom."
"The closes one is in the lobby. The clerk will let you back in," The nurse tells him without looking up.
The man nods as he leaves the room and makes a beeline for the exit.
"What do we have?" The ER physician asks.
"A man brought her in, said he found her unresponsive. He mentioned that she'd complained of headaches. Fever's 104.6," she explains as she inserts an IV and hooks her up to fluids. She quickly slaps some electrode patches on her chest and hooks her up to the heart monitor. "Sinus tach," she tells the doctor.
"What do we know about her? Allergies, medical history?" Dr. Gerard asks as he begins to examine her. "Get that man now!"
Running out of the exam room, Gia looks around the crowded waiting area and asks the triage nurse, "Have you seen the man who brought the unresponsive woman in?"
"Yes, I saw him run out of here like hell itself was chasing after him."
By sheer happenstance, Gia notices a flyer sitting on the desktop. Picking it up, she studies it for several moments before handing it to the other nurse.
Glancing at the flyer the triage nurse looks up. "You think this is her?"
Feeling the bile rise in her throat, Gia nods. "I'm sure it is. I need to get back to her. Call the number and tell them we have a woman here who matches the description."
"Okay," she agrees, picks up the phone, and dials, "Yes, I'm looking for a Damon Salvatore."
"I'll get him, hang on please," Miranda sets the receiver down and goes to get Damon.
"Mr. Salvatore. My name is Keelin. I'm the triage nurse at VCU in Richmond. We have a woman who was just brought in. She looks a lot like the woman on the flyer."
"You think this is Elena? Elena Gilbert?"
"I can't say for sure but she very much resembles the woman on the flyer."
"What's wrong with her?"
"Sir, HIPAA Regulations prevent me from answering that."
"I'm on my way," Damon hangs up the phone, grabs his keys off the hook, and dashes to the front door.
"Damon, where are you going?" Miranda asks, running after him.
"That call was from VCU in Richmond. A woman matching Elena's description was admitted. Call Elijah and tell him where I am. I can't go back to prison, Miranda."
"Of course, I will, but Damon go, but please don't get your hopes up. We have been down this road before, remember?"
Stopping outside of the doorway, Damon turns with tears in his eyes and chokes out, "I know, but…I have to have a little hope."
Nodding, Miranda wraps her arms around her body trying to ignore the hairs that are standing on the back of her neck. "Go. Please bring my daughter home," she whispers as he shuts the door behind him.
"Please…can you tell me where I can find this woman?" Damon asks breathlessly, handing the nurse Elena's picture.
"Mr. Salvatore, right?"
"Yes."
"Please follow me." She leads him toward Elena's exam room.
Damon's stomach lurches into his throat when he catches his first glimpse of Elena in so very long. If not for the slight rise and fall of her chest, he would believe she was dead. He doesn't know how it's possible to have so many emotions rising in him all at the same time. The euphoric feeling of seeing her after months of agony is overshadowed by the state she appears to be in.
"You'll need to put these on," the nurse points to the PPE cabinet and puts on her own gown, gloves, and mask while Damon does the same.
"Dr. Gerard, this is Mr. Salvatore," Keelin announces as she opens the door to let him enter.
Damon reaches the bedside in one long stride.
"How are you related to this woman?"
"She...she's my fiancé. Elena was taken so many months ago. I was tried and convicted of her murder."
"Her fever is down a bit after some Ofirmev. That's IV..."
"Tylenol. Yes, I know," Damon confirms. "I'm a doctor, too."
"As you can see, she's still unresponsive. We've drawn labs and done xrays. Her chest film is clear. Her lumbar puncture indicates meningitis. I'm waiting for an ICU bed for her."
"You're welcome to wait with her," Dr. Gerard slides a chair to the bedside. "Talk to her. Tell her you're here...How long has it been since you last saw her?"
Damon sits down and takes her hand. "Too many days to count."
"I'll give you a little privacy while I wait to hear an ICU room number from the hospital coordinator. If you need anything, please hit the call button."
"Thank you for helping her."
Dr. Gerard nods as he leaves the room.
Laying his head on her chest, he tries to maintain his composure but it's futile as his body begins to shake with convulsive sobs.
Sinus Tachycardia: Heart rate is faster than 100 beats per minute. Fever and dehydration can be causes of this rhythm.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. We had a med student throw his patient rounding list away in a minimart garbage basket. Yeah, he was toast.
PPE- personal protective equipment. Gown, gloves, masks, foot and hair covers, that kind of thing.
All of CosmicAdventurer's stories are must-reads. I can't pick a favorite, I love them all.
Chapter title: 'Feels Like the First Time' by Foreigner.
Thank you, all so much. Have a fantastic day.
