A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews and alerts. I have tried to respond to all of the reviews and I apologize if I missed anyone.
Chapter 11
Elena remained asleep the rest of the night and the Scooby Gang arrived bright and early in the morning. I retreat to my usual corner continuing to listen to her breathe waiting for the telltale signs of her waking up. We didn't have to wait long before her heart speeds up and she starts to shift on the bed.
"Hey, how are you feeling" Stefan asks gently moving to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Fine" Elena responds eyes darting around the room. It must be a bit daunting to wake up and have a room full of people just staring at you.
"Elena" Bonnie and Caroline cry out in unison diving at the bed. Stefan steps out of the way as the girls smother Elena in a hug. I forgot how shrill girls can be.
Caroline and Bonnie backed away and Jeremy moves in closer. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but just pulls her into a bear hug.
"It's okay, Jeremy. I'm okay." Elena says soothingly doing her best to hug him back. I observe her movements and I can see that she is sluggish in getting her arms around Jeremy. She is definitely weak and very thin. The length of the coma caused her to lose weight even with the supplements they were giving her.
"I'm sorry about before" Elena says quietly.
"Hey, you were out for a while. I can only imagine how overwhelming it was to have everyone descend on you minutes after waking from a coma." Alaric gives her a reassuring smile.
"I was in a coma? I thought that was what the doctor said yesterday. H-How long?" Elena asks looking around the room.
Everyone remains silent and drops their gaze to the floor. I just shake my head. "A little over a month" I tell her. No sense in lying to her or beating around the bush in telling her. I can hear her heart rate speed up and a brief sense of sorrow flits through my brain. Sorrow? I am ecstatic that Elena is awake and talking, where did that feeling come from?
"I was compelled wasn't I?" Elena asks as she meets my eye. Shit, there is the silent signal that she knows about me compelling her as well. I knew there would be hell to pay when I released the memory and the time to pay the piper will be soon in coming.
"Yes. We did a spell and managed to break all the compulsion and wake you up." Bonnie explained. Thanks witchy for giving me no credit for helping Elena. Well, it's probably for the best she doesn't know fully what I did and that I was meddling in her mind. She would probably be pissed that I had access to her thoughts and feelings, let alone seeing the fantasies. Fantasies that I will never, ever forget.
Elena is playing with the edge of the blanket and her face seems to be full of sorrow. Caroline and Bonnie must have seen her expression as they start chit chatting about school gossip and TV shows with Elena to distract her. Stefan keeps asking her if she wants anything and if she was holding up okay. I wanted to smack him and tell him to back off, but I leave him alone and in just sit in my corner and observe Elena and how she is handling everything and everyone.
The doctors come into the room mid morning to check on Elena and announce there would be more tests, but so far everything looks good for her. The doctor arranged for physical therapy to start the next day so Elena can regain some strength before being discharged.
"So, should we address the elephant in the room" Elena says adjusting the hospital bed so she is sitting up.
"Elena, we don't have to talk about what happened yet. We can wait until you're stronger." Stefan offers gently.
"No, we need to talk about it before someone gets hurt." Elena looks at me briefly. I know she means me hurting Tyler. I just shrug my shoulders before she turns her attention back to those around her bed.
"Elena, really, there's no rush. Let's wait until you're stronger to talk about it." Stefan moves to sit on the edge of her bed again.
Elena sighs. "Its Elena's call." I pipe up. Stefan glares at me and I smile in return. Alaric looks from Stefan to me and just shakes his head.
"Elena, it's up to you. If you're ready to talk about it, then we can talk about it, but don't feel pressured to talk before you're ready." Alaric reaches out and squeezes her hand. Oh, Alaric, ever the mediator.
"What do you remember, Elena?" Caroline asks giving Elena a supportive smile. Stefan just glares at her. Now I know what Elena meant about Stefan thinking she was a porcelain doll.
"I remember Tyler approaching me on the porch and being mad that I was thinking of" Elena suddenly stops and she looks like she's been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"I told them you were thinking of leaving for a while. No one blames you for wanting a break" Jeremy offers. Elena seems to relax a bit.
I close my eyes and put my head in my hands as Elena continues her recount of what Tyler did. I hadn't told anyone what I saw yet so this is the first they are hearing about it. "Oh, thanks. Anyway, he was mad about it and grabbed me. I hit him trying to get away. I don't know what happened but he let me go and grabbed his head as if in pain. In that moment he didn't want to hurt me. He wanted me to run and get away. I tried and obviously failed since I ended up here in the hospital. Something was definitely wrong with him. I tried to reason with him and he talked about himself in the third person a couple of times. Other times he seemed like he was fighting himself in a way." Elena takes a breath and looks around the room.
Stefan looks to me and then to Elena. "What do you think was going on with Tyler? Why did he attack you?"
"I think something or someone was controlling him. I don't think Tyler wanted to hurt me, but whatever was controlling him did. I was supposed to stay until they come for me" Elena admitted.
Shit, she's right. I was so blinded by focusing on Tyler's face and Elena's pain that I didn't see the big picture of what was going on. I did see Tyler stop a couple of times and try to let Elena escape. He also made that weird comment about controlling Tyler's feisty nature, as if the person speaking wasn't Tyler. This whole situation just got a lot more dangerous.
"We have to find him and help him before he hurts anyone or someone kills him." Why is Elena always so forgiving?
"You just woke up from a coma; let's focus on getting the human strong and healthy first." I quip staring her straight in the eye.
"Damon, we can't just leave Tyler at the mercy of whatever or whoever did that to him." Elena argued.
"Elena, maybe you're right and something did take over Tyler, but in the end his body was used to hurt you and may be used to hurt you again. There may be no choice but to kill him if we can't stop what controlled him. Plus he threatened to come back for you as part of some new evil plot." Elena is glaring at me with her stubborn 'let's do it my way glare'. I missed that glare.
"Damon" she admonishes. My name coming out of her mouth even when she is mad at me is pure perfection right now.
"Okay, Elena and Damon are arguing. All is right with the world." Caroline smiles and everyone laughs as the two of us continue our staring contest.
"Let's focus. We need to figure out what would have the power to take over and control a hybrid. We need to figure out why they needed Elena's blood and what the evil plot is that requires Elena so we can figure out who may be coming for her. Back to research mode." Alaric says. I can tell he is secretly happy to be doing research. Ever the teacher and scholar.
Just then a radiology technician comes into the room. "Pardon, the interruption, but I need to take Elena for an MRI."
I eye the person suspiciously. After the incident with the red headed nurse stealing Elena's blood, I haven't put much trust in the medical staff. "Caroline, Bonnie" I motion my head in the direction of the technician.
"I'll tag along to keep her company" Bonnie chirps to the technician.
"You're looking a little worse for wear, there buddy." Alaric looks me up and down.
"Buddy, really. That's almost as bad as 'dude.'" I scoff.
"You're pasty and you're eyes are half open. Elena's going to be gone for a while for the MRI. Take the afternoon off, go eat, feed or whatever, and get some rest. Nothing is going to happen to Elena with the room full of people." I open my mouth to object, but Alaric cuts me off. "If you leave now, you can be back here for tonight so the rest of us can go home and grab some sleep."
The hunger in me has been growing. Losing so much blood yesterday on top of so little rest the last month is making me fight a lot harder to stay in control. Maybe a few hours will do this gorgeous body some good.
"I'll be back in a few hours. Call me if anything happens." I take a look at Elena and give her a half smile as she talks to the radiology technician and nod my head indicating I'm leaving. She gives me a smile back and I head out.
Once back at the Boarding House I throw my leather jacket over a chair in the parlor and head over to the bar. I grab the bottle of bourbon and a glass and flop down on the couch legs outstretched. I pour some of the liquor into the glass and down the shot before pouring another. I set the bottle on the coffee table in front of me lying back on the couch resting the glass on my chest. Taking a deep breath I put my arm over my eyes and try to catch some sleep. Before sleep overtakes me, I hear the front door open and close.
I don't bother moving my arm from across my eyes. I can actually hear Stefan brooding. "Brother."
"Damon….I just want to say….. thank you….. for waking Elena up." I move my arm and see him standing a few steps away from me his arms crossed over his chest staring at me intently.
"Oh, Stefan, ever the predictable vampire. What's the 'but' in this little conversation?" I sit up.
"But, now that Elena is awake I want you to remember your place in all of this." Stefan finishes.
Oh, this is going to be good. "And what is my place? Lovvver….sex god….eternal stuuud?" I draw out each word. "Please do tell little brother." I take a sip of my drink and lean back my arms draped across the back of the couch.
"She's not yours Damon. She's been my rock all these months while I've tried to put my life back together. It's my turn to be there for her now." He states.
"So you've cornered the market on being there to support Elena, is that it? Alaric, Jeremy, Caroline, Bonnie, they've all have wasted the last month sitting in that hospital room because Elena doesn't need anyone but you." I scoff.
"That's not what I mean, Damon." He looks incredibly flustered all of a sudden. "I know how you feel about her."
I roll my eyes at him. "Not this conversation again. Didn't we have this conversation a couple of weeks ago in the hospital and a couple of months ago in this very room? You really are a buzz kill. Been there done that with the whole Damon has feelings for Elena talk." I mock.
"You don't deserve her Damon. Haven't you put her through enough? You destroy everything you touch. You'll eventually destroy her." Stefan growls through clenched teeth. "She just has too big of a heart to cut you out of her life."
"You should be grateful she has a forgiving heart, there Steffie boy. As I recall, it wasn't me that fed her blood and threatened to drive her off of Wickory Bridge. The same bridge where her parents died. I seem to also remember you not giving a shit when Elena begged you to give Klaus his coffins when Satan Klaus took out a hit on Jeremy because of your need for revenge. I can't imagine it felt very comforting to her to know that the man she loves couldn't give a shit about her own brother." I toss him a smug expression and sip my drink.
"Damon" Stefan growls and drops his arms to his sides fists clenched. I can see he wants to hit me and now I'm pissed. "Grow the fuck up Stefan. Neither one of us deserve her. We're vampires. Death and destruction are all we know."
"I know" Stefan admits sadly.
"We both know she deserves a human guy, a house with a picket fence, kids." Great, now I'm quoting Alaric. "But because of what she is, being born the doppelganger has thrust her into our world. It's her choice who she keeps in her life Stefan. I told you before, no hidden agenda here. All I want is for her to be safe and happy. To accomplish that I will do whatever is needed. I'll protect her, be her friend, I'll leave her the hell alone watching from afar if she asks, I'll even put up with watching her spend the rest of her life with you if that's what Elena wants."
"I don't trust you Damon" Stefan says.
I know he was turned into a vampire at 17, but he's 162 fucking years old, you'd think he could avoid the hormonal outbursts.
"The jealous boyfriend is not a good look on you Stefan. If you weren't such a brooding ass then you would see you've won. Saint Stefan won the girl, like always." I down the rest of the bourbon and slam the glass down on the coffee table. "Now, I'm going to bed. Since the saintly boyfriend can't stay the entire night in the hospital with his girlfriend, the evil dickhead older brother is stepping in to do protection detail. Or would you rather Elena be left along all night." Stefan just stares at the floor.
As I start to go upstairs I hear, "You kissed her."
Oh, good God. Really? "That was months ago Stefan." I blur to Stefan pinning him to the nearest wall. "Why are you trying so hard to make Elena into Katherine? Katherine destroyed us, Stefan. She fucking destroyed us. Don't turn Elena into that. Don't use her as wedge between us. Elena deserves better than that." Elena's fear of being Katherine keeps playing through my mind. I can still picture her ripping out my and Stefan's hearts. I can still feel the tears that I wiped from her cheeks she shed begging me to leave her alone so she wouldn't destroy me. I can still see the pain etched across her beautiful face as she told me that she had already destroyed Stefan. I won't let that become a reality for her.
"Yes, I care about her. Yes I kissed her because for one second, just one, I thought maybe she could care about me. Maybe for once I would have the happy ending. I get it Stefan. You're the good brother that sacrificed everything to save his dick of an older brother. I'm the evil brother that doesn't deserve to be loved, doesn't deserve to win the girl. The second you left with Klaus, I knew what my role was in all of this was. To be the friend and protector and nothing more. You need to remember its Elena that decides who she ends up with and from my perspective she has clearly chosen you so leave me the hell alone. We never have the jealous boyfriend discussion again because next time it will end violently. You don't trust me and my relationship with Elena, that's fine Stefan, but Elena chose you so you sure as hell better trust your girlfriend." I shout at him. For once I am trying to do the right thing and I still get punished. I slam Stefan against the wall then drop him and start to walk away.
"Elena and I" Stefan starts.
"What about you and Elena?" I ask looking over my shoulder.
Stefan shakes his head then blurs from the house. What was he about to blame me for now? Oh I don't care anymore. I need blood. I head into the kitchen grabbing a few blood bags.
I trudge back upstairs and collapse on my bed falling asleep immediately. A few hours later I wake still feeling pissed at my brother. I take a quick shower and change my clothes to get ready to head back to the hospital.
Elena's POV
Every part of my body feels stiff and weak. Having everyone here is getting a bit exhausting. I sent Alaric and Jeremy out to get some air. Damon and Stefan left earlier to feed. I feel like I can barely move. I guess a month flat on your back in a hospital bed takes a toll on your body. Caroline said they gave me blood. Normally I would object that they gave me blood without my permission, but I am at least spared the extensive recovery from the injuries the doctor described.
A nurse walks in and I have to fight the urge to run or fight. The memory of my blood being stolen will haunt me for a while. Caroline must have seen me tense up as she gives me a supportive smile.
"I don't know if you remember me, but I used to work with your dad. I remember him bringing you to the hospital sometimes, you're hair in pigtails."
"I remember, Nancy, right?" Elena asks.
"Good memory" she smiles at me. "I just need to swap out you're IV, is that okay?"
The entire hospital staff is probably scared of me now after what I did yesterday. "Sure" I respond trying to relax. Bonnie squeezes my hand.
"You know, you're the envy of all the nurses on the floor. That boyfriend of yours is absolutely gorgeous if you don't mind me saying so." Nancy looks off with a dreamy expression on her face.
"Oh, he's not really my boyfriend, well it's just, um, complicated" I admit. Technically, Stefan and I are not together. After everything that happened with Klaus I just need time to forgive him and heal. I also need to sort through my feelings for him as well as for…NO! I can't think about who else I need to figure out me feelings for because it just can't happen. There is a part me of that thinks I never really knew Stefan, but he still holds a place in my heart and he sacrificed so much that I can't not consider being with him, right? I just am uncertain if I can trust him again. Plus I thought Stefan having a romantic relationship while trying to get better was not right.
"Well, that man certainly cares for you. He hardly left this room the past month. He was here all night every night and most of the day. We even tried to send him home a few times but he wouldn't be persuaded to leave your side. I'm actually surprised he's not here now." Nancy chuckles.
I look to Caroline and Bonnie. "Stefan was here that much? I thought being in a hospital he wouldn't be able to control the bl-" I stop realizing I was about to say bloodlust in front of Nancy. I look at her quickly. "control his fear of hospitals to be here that much" I finish lamely.
Caroline opens her mouth looking like is she about to say something, but Nancy interrupts her. "Huh, Stefan? Why did I think his name was Damon? Whatever his name, those beautiful blue eyes are enough to get lost in."
"Don't tell him that. His ego is already over inflated" Bonnie says bitterly.
Nancy laughs. "The good looking ones always have big egos. Anyway, that blued man seems like a keeper. All done. I'll be back to check on you later." Nancy smiles and leaves.
I turn to Caroline and Bonnie. "Did Damon really stay here the whole time I have been hospitalized?"
"Oh, Elena. You know he did. He stayed here every night, usually by himself so the rest of us could get some rest. He's hardly slept in the past month." Caroline smiles.
"Stefan was here too" Bonnie chimed in.
"Yes, Stefan was here too, but he could only stay a few hours at a time. The blood was too much for him and he had to leave after a while." Caroline glares at Bonnie. "Damon is the reason you woke up."
"He woke me up?" I am shocked at this news. Bonnie indicated this morning that it was the spell that woke me up from the compulsion.
Caroline gives Bonnie another glare. "What's going on between you two?" I ask.
"Nothing, but Bonnie has more details to spill about the spell." Caroline crosses her arms and looks at Bonnie with a smug look on her face.
"The spell I did, it sent Damon into your unconscious mind. He somehow broke the compulsion which allowed you to wake up" Bonnie explains with a frown.
"Oh, God, I thought those were dreams." Images of Damon begging me to wake up flash through my mind. "He was covered in blood yesterday. I didn't know about the coma and I thought the blood had been from him trying to stop Tyler from hurting me. If I was in a coma for a month, how did he get hurt?"
"None of us know exactly what happened except that your subconscious kicked his ass. Way to go Buffy." Caroline jokes.
"He's hurt you enough, Elena. A little payback is okay once in a while" Bonnie offers.
"I didn't mean to hurt him" I am desperately trying to fight back the tears. "He sits by my side all this time and I nearly kill him?"
"He's fine, Damon's fine. He wanted to help you. He's back to his snarky self so no harm no foul" Caroline smiles.
I always seem to hurt Damon either physically or emotionally. It's not fair to him. I'm worse than Katherine.
A/N: Please review!