A/N: Here is another update for you. I had time to write this weekend and finished it in 2 days! That almost never happens.
I think only 1 or 2 more chapters before the sequel.
I am in awe of over 930 reviews already! And more follows and favorites too. I would love to get to 1000 at the end of this story. You guys have been phenomenal and I am so glad you are enjoying this alternate world I created for our favorite couple.
Enjoy a much more peaceful chapter after so much high octane action...I hope you love it and it answers more unanswered questions you have had. Can't reveal everything yet but slowly things will tie more together...
I felt her forehead resting on mine, her body curled up as close as she could be, as the boat jumped up and down, racing through the water. I knew we needed to get away from that island as fast as possible with Kai saying that the Serbians were right there for him to deliver me to them.
None of us were in any shape to confront whoever might be so close. Enzo had not even questioned me and had sped away instantly at my order. He didn't even work for me but we trusted each other and I knew he would do anything for me, as I would for him.
My hand went up and tunneled through the soaking wet strands of my baby's hair as I turned us more on our sides facing each other. Enzo had helped us up from the floor of the boat as gently as possible, and I was careful to not pull on her wrist attached to mine.
I still could not get over that the cuffs that had stubbornly reminded me of being a prisoner were the very thing that saved Elena's life. And I was just fine being attached to her in any way and was in no hurry to get them off. No one on the boat had any keys, I'd asked, so I was determined to forget about them.
We now lay curled up together on the cushion of the seating area near the bow and Elena had the blanket pulled up over both of us blocking out the wind from our half naked bodies.
It was Elena that I was worried about. Her wrists had already been weak before Kai dragged her to escape the island and then too they had been cut up and bleeding from her hanging out of the helicopter. I did everything I could to accommodate her comfort, as awkward as any position was for me now so it didn't injure her bandaged wrist more.
Besides the metal cuffs, the thing I hated more was still being dressed in the damn prison orange. I had shed that persona when Ric gave me the change of clothes earlier before Kai stole them to pretend to be me to get close to Elena in the cave. I hadn't worn jeans for over a month and had been so grateful for Ric's generosity when he didn't even know me well at all yet.
Everything about being in the prison, the guards, the chains, the beatings and taunting I wanted to forget...everything except the woman laying against me right now.
I nuzzled my nose in her hair, breathing in her scent and closed my eyes. She felt perfect in my arms.
Right where she belonged.
Elena had cuddled closer and I heard a moan slip from her lips. She sounded content and safe and that was all that I wanted for her in the whole world.
Another shiver raced through her and I rubbed her arm back and forth with my free one to warm her more. I was worried she was going to get sick. She had been barely dressed for hours already and it had taken me so long before Kai's last attack to calm the trembles from her body by warming her with my own.
She had been wearing nothing but the navy button down that Ric gave us the day before and once Kai had ripped it apart, I offered her my thin white tank top, leaving me bare with the jumpsuit still tied around my waist. If I was honest with myself I had been shivering too and welcomed her body pressed to mine to warm us both.
The sky was still dark and cloudy for it likely being mid day but at least it had stopped raining. At first I had loved us dancing in the rain the night we made love for the first time. Her head thrown back, the water dripping down her neck and in trails down her body was mesmerizing. She spun out from my embrace only to curl back in under my arm, and lock her eyes with me as I lifted her in my arms to touch the sky.
That was how I wanted to remember the rain…
But now...seeing the darkness, the thick clouds, feeling the wind on my face, all I could see was her screaming and kicking...fighting Kai as he lay on top of her as he fucking carved his name in her skin.
It was raining then, the drops from the sky masking my own tears that I had been holding back with such deep resolve to be strong for her, as I watched her crying for me as he butchered her.
I had fought with everything in me to get to her and when I couldn't I held her gaze knowing she needed me to be there for her, even if it was only in that one tiny way.
My heart ached remembering the expression on her face, as she stumbled back toward me; the rain and blood dripping down her nearly naked body.
Rain did not mean love and dancing anymore as much as I wanted to cling to that memory and live there with her.
No, rain meant painful cries and tears and trails of crimson down her bare thighs.
Rain meant sadness and loss at the way she looked at me, thinking I wouldn't love her after seeing what Kai did to her.
Rain also meant the first and last time I hugged my brother after so long and I just could not even bring myself to dwell on anything about him.
I bit my bottom lip and fought back tears wanting to pool in my eyes. I had been trying to focus on her and her needs right then as I wrapped my arms around her the best I could, pulling the blanket tight around both of us. I needed to focus on something more powerful, more meaningful than the emptiness I felt in my heart at seeing that helicopter crash, knowing my brother was trapped inside.
If I let myself think of Stefan I knew I would be in no shape to be there for her and she needed me, SO fucking much right now after everything she had been through. I couldn't just drown in my own despair. I needed to be strong for her as long as I could.
Elena came first. That wasn't even a question.
But I realized that in thinking of something as simple as warming her body with mine, my mind wandered to the rain and then to her scars and her own loss and I found myself drowning anyway...just in a different ocean of pain.
She buried her face in the crook of my neck, her lips against my skin as she clung to me, her fingers tight around my waist. I shifted closer, my whole body flush with hers, every curve of her softness aligned with the hard planes of my muscles, shielding her from the rain, the wind, the splashes of water that leapt up over the bow and settled on our heads as I bent to press a kiss to her hair.
We didn't speak.
After she held me, saying how sorry she was about Stefan, there were no words. Maybe nothing either of us could say in trying to offer comfort would make any sort of difference. Words had totally escaped me with all we had been through. I had no idea how to tell her how deeply sorry I was for everything.
So I figured giving her the rest of me; my arms around her, my lips on her head, and my body soothing and warming her was all I could do.
We laid there, as the boat rose and fell, speeding a straight path to the aircraft carrier. Away from the island where the men that wanted to kidnap me had been waiting, and away from Stefan...
My God, Stefan...My chin trembled as I kissed her again, my fingers tangled in her wet hair. She was my strength now too and I had no idea if she knew how much her being in my arms was helping me as I felt like I wanted to fall apart inside.
Those final moments with Stefan went by in the blink of an eye and I didn't even have a way to hug him once more. I could barely think straight enough to say anything, knowing it was possibly the last things I said to him. I couldn't even remember if I told him I loved him.
Sniffling, I closed my eyes. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't. I wouldn't give up on my brother till I saw a body. The whole month that his fiance and I had been held in Serbia he had not given up on us.
I opened my eyes and even though my body felt like it had been through a blender, my heart was full of resolve that this was not the end for us. He didn't write us off; his bride-to-be and his only brother, and there was no way in hell I was doing that to him either.
But I knew how slim that chance of him surviving was. The helicopter went under so fast and flooded. There was no way without keys that he could have gotten out of the cuffs that quickly.
Tilting my head down I swallowed a lump in my throat, trying to ignore the bruises on her beautiful face. Thinking about Stefan felt like agony, but seeing my precious Elena tore me apart too.
She was so broken.
All I wanted was to heal her, all of her body, soul and spirit.
Everything in her was broken. She jumped at the slightest sound, clung tighter to my arms as Enzo revved the engine higher and cringed at almost any voice.
God, how could I ever make her feel safe again?
Her brown eyes were tightly closed and even in sleep I felt her nails digging into my skin. I had moved my arm just to get a kink from my neck before and her eyes had flown open, as she reached for me and wasn't calm till my arms were wrapped tight around her again.
The shirt Stefan had offered her, the one I had brought back with me from where we were held that month was draped on my girl's shoulders, trying to cover her physically when I knew she had barely blinked at it being open in front of Kai or even Mason later on the helicopter. She was acting like it didn't matter how they saw her; like she had already been raped and exposed and there was nothing left to hide, protect or treasure.
I smoothed her wet hair from her cheek as I gazed down in her tortured chocolate eyes. I could see the pain written all over her face and felt her body stiffen at another jump the boat made, landing hard back down in the water.
"Shh, I'm right here Beauty. You are okay. It's over. He's dead and you are going to be okay."
I didn't know how many times in had bent to whisper those words in her ear as we raced across the water. It had been my mantra for the first 10 minutes straight until it didn't seem to be helping at all and I focused more on holding her closer and keeping her warm; hiding her from anything outside of us.
God, she had been so strong in the helicopter and despite it spinning and crashing which I knew was already such a fear of hers, she had saved my life as Kai was pointing the gun he found under the seat at my chest.
I had thought he was out of plays, out of weapons and surprises against us. But no...he had one more fucking trick up his sleeve, falling beside the seat that the gun had flew under when we had fought in the helicopter before.
Elena though stopped him and stabbed him with the empty syringe and I watched him, gasping for air as she forced the air bubble in his vein. Everything had happened so fast that I had hardly moved as he spun her down and nearly got the syringe to her own throat!
My training kicked in despite the emotion of everything around me; the fear, her cries, my brother fighting the stall as we spun. I grabbed for Kai's ripcord and relished the pure terror in his eyes in the split second that he registered what I had done...
Watching his eyes flood with horror as he was ripped up away from us, kicking and screaming, I knew I had finally beaten the bastard. He knew it too and I gave him one last devil's smirk as his body was yanked up and out the door.
If had not been for her screams I don't know when I would have seen that Kai was trying one last fucking attempt to win...by taking her with him!
I jumped for her and struggled as we both pulled her hand out from his before his body was pulled up higher and higher before being torn apart by the blades of the helicopter. His scream was so ear piercing and then stopped so abruptly. It rained blood all down my bare skin a second later and I knew it was over. I cringed slightly as pieces of flesh I could see fell down out of the sky too as food for the sharks and fishes.
About fucking time.
Kai finally got what he deserved...and knowing he was nothing but fish food gave me great pleasure after the hell he had put us all through.
He had been ripped to pieces above us, but was it too late? After he had hurt her so much?
Curling her body closer to me, and letting out a breath that she was finally not shivering again, I prayed that I could undo what he had done to her. That I could love her through it somehow. I mumbled a prayer right then, that she had not gotten torn apart so much like he had in the blades, that she could not be made whole again.
Her breath was growing deeper as I felt her little exhales against my neck and I saw Enzo walking toward us. He sat down and leaned back against the railing as I watched him rub the bridge of his nose and close his eyes. His dark hair was matted with sweat and dirt too it looked like. He looked exhausted and yet was supposed to be going home to see his son being born and enjoy being a dad.
I sat up more against the side of the bench, still holding her tight against me. Her breath stayed slow and even as I shifted my arms to keep them from getting numb. "Enz?" I whispered, seeing Ric piloting the boat standing straight and focused at the wheel. He looked tired too but not nearly as much as I saw in my friends expression right now.
My bestie turned to me and gave me a half smile. He too was lucky to be alive and if I hadn't figured out that he had been given the serum I would have another friend I would have to tell of another tragedy.
I bent my head and rested a hand on his shoulder as his hands pulled on his hair. "She won't care about anything other than you being alive. You know that right? Bon loves you and won't hold anything you miss against you, as long as you come home to her. Believe me." My voice was firm as I nodded to him.
"Yeah, I know you're right," he agreed. "She said over and over that she was so glad I was okay. She doesn't even know how close I came to not coming home." Enzo shifted in his seat and stared at me. "But you...I just can't let you out of my sight can I, D?" His hard stare slowly turned into a smirk and I smiled back at him, both of us knowing how intense things had been.
"I thought it was over," I mumbled back and felt her shifting against my shoulder as Elena's head sunk down lower to my chest and her hand went higher around my side, to clutch more at the skin of my back. "I really did. I had no idea Mason snuck on board the chopper dressed as a damn marine."
Enzo leaned back in the seat. "You have no idea how I felt as I saw the helicopter hovering there as Ric and I were on the way across the ocean, with our escorts," He nodded at the two men at he back of the boat. "Seeing the marines falling from the sky D...Damn I felt ice in my veins, knowing you and Elena were up there. We chased after you guys right away and could barely keep up. I was glad that I had a decent shot from the boat at the angle we had."
"Thank God you did." I nodded at him, relief in my tone. "I couldn't believe it when I saw your red sniper light on the wall of the chopper Enz. Stefan saw it first and then I knew I needed to just do what I could to get Elena and me the hell out of your way. Kai was going to shoot me and thank fuck you shot first!"
"Stefan was up there? Shit, what happened to him? You didn't say anything. Did he not jump with you?" Enzo hit me with a barrage of questions, his brown eyes wide. "I thought it was just you two?"
"No," I confirmed sadly. "He was up there and interrogating Kai as the marines fell and they..." I swallowed another lump in my throat. "Stefan...he was...handcuffed to the damn pilot seat. And they threw the keys out the door to fucking tease him. The look on his face when he saw those keys go out the door...it was like he knew he was going to die." I hung my head, avoiding his eyes. "Damn it Enz, I felt so damn helpless."
I felt my throat tight as I tried to swallow again, my eyes narrowing slightly, hating even thinking about it. "You need to send someone back if there is any chance he made it. But I needed to get Elena safe because Kai said there was a team of the Serbian's there on that island that he was going to deliver me too. Just before you shot him from the boat, he was going to shoot me and let me fall my death on that island."
I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around everything. "It's a long story Enz. But Stefan could still be alive and in danger from the same damn people who killed Lex."
My buddy's eyes widened still more at that and I nodded slowly to him before he leapt up and used the radio to contact the aircraft carrier. I kissed Elena on the head again as I felt her moving around more but she thankfully stayed sleeping.
Enzo was talking fast in the boat radio to who I could think must be Elijah, the Director for M1 6. If there was any hope Stefan could be alive, someone had to get there soon. I would have stayed and dove in to look for him myself if I hadn't been handcuffed to Elena, but I needed her far away from anything else that happened.
The way she was clinging to me I doubted she would even let me out of sight. And if the Serbians were there, I was not putting Elena at any more risk. She needed to be safe and sound on the aircraft carrier and I had to trust someone else to go back for Stefan.
He sat back down beside me. "Stefan had thought of everything Damon. He had come unarmed and even revealed the first snipers to make Kai think he had outsmarted him. He didn't think Kai would kill the unarmed marines though. That was a risk they all knew they took when they stepped off that boat. Even the snipers were told not to fire on Kai unless they had a clear shot and they agreed to the risk of coming down to the beach for him to take them hostage too. Stefan and I had no idea he would kill everyone. He could have traded them for his escape and he just shot them all."
I nodded slowly listening to his explanation having no idea what they had all planned.
"Kai thought he had won and had no idea I was setting up to take them out when we planned. Stefan wanted him to think he had beaten him." He squeezed his temples again with his fingers as he continued. I knew headaches were part of the side effects of the serum after.
"The only thing that went wrong was the con shooting from the forest and Kai took that few minutes to get away and chase after Elena. Once he had her, I could see from where I was up in the tree that it was all over. I could have shot him as he ran but I was being shot at too from the con hidden in the trees. And then I saw you fighting Julian and I didn't think, but just shot him to save you too. Stefan had given both teams strict instructions to not dare shoot anyone that risked hurting your girl Damon. As much he hated it, he called the pilot to get him to land knowing Kai was threatening to kill her."
Wow, I knew Stefan had fought to get us out of there and keep Elena safe but I didn't realize just how much he risked to keep her safe for me. It left a stab in my gut that I hadn't save his fiance when he fought so hard for mine.
Enzo and I just sat back and were quiet as we saw the boat nearing the massive aircraft carrier. The sheer size of the structure was incredible and that Stefan had commandeered this kind of manpower to save us made me so proud to be his brother. We were escorted up by the marines that were standing guard at the back of our boat.
I hated waking Elena and wished I had the strength to carry her but that was just not possible now. I was limping myself from the wound in my leg and it hurt to put much pressure on it. Elena was startled by all the loud sounds and woke anyways only to cling to me tightly again.
"Baby can I? Do you want to?" I stuttered at not knowing how she might react to me touching her more intimately. But her shirt was still unbuttoned and right now she had the blanket open and didn't seem to even be aware of her state of undress.
She looked down and then back up in my eyes. "Huh?" She looked down and her eyes widened as she clutched the blanket around her again. "I uh, yeah Damon please help. I didn't even... I already feel so empty that I barely know what is going on."
I smiled sadly hurting more for her as I parted the blanket discretely and helped her button the shirt up as gently as I could.
"It's okay. I just thought after what already happened that you wouldn't want anyone looking at you at all. Not even me."
She opened her mouth to reply as I kept rambling. "I'm totally fine whatever you need baby. I want you to feel safe. So whatever I can do to make you feel safe just tell me...okay?"
She nodded again, her brown eyes wide and watery and I pulled her back in my arms as she reached for me. Lifting my arm over her shoulder I pulled her closer, tucking the blanket all around her as we made our way onto the massive floating army base.
An officer met us on deck and led us to the infirmary. He had offered stretchers or wheelchairs but I shook my head after she said she was fine walking and we made our way up past the tarmac and more helicopters and planes. It was awkward to walk with our opposite hands cuffed but I hoped it wasn't far. I hobbled along and was grateful that she let me lean on her too.
We were met in an inner hallway by Captain Fell who introduced himself and told us that a boat and chopper had been dispatched to the island where we crashed right away to begin the search for Special Agent Salvatore. They had divers along as well and would let us know as soon as they knew anything. I nodded my thanks before he turned and walked away.
Enzo and Ric followed behind us till we were led to a room, told to wait for the nurse and that the doctor on board would be with us as soon as he was done with his other patients. Several marines had been injured in the attack and had been rushed back here for medical care. I nodded, understanding and thanked him before he left.
Ric gave us a quick hug and said someone was already waiting on the flight deck to take him to the hospital where Caroline was in Portugal We both nodded to him and said our own thanks for everything.
I watched as Ric and Enzo hugged and I was so glad that my buddy had him as a support out there. I had trusted Ric to take care of my best friend when I couldn't and he had not let me down. Alaric had no military training at all and was simply a pilot, but he too had saved so many lives.
He had taken care of Elena, saving us both by letting us in the cockpit days ago and also gotten Elena safely away from the cons on the beach too. I owed him so much and hoped I could repay him someday.
"Are you heading back to the States soon too Ric?" I asked. He shook his head and said that Jenna and their son had already boarded a plane and would be brought to the hospital in Lisbon right from the airport by more CIA officers.
"I know Care wants to be there for the Klaus, and so I when I talked to Jenna she decided to fly here with Ty. He is only 2 and from what I heard, was already cranky on the flight. But this way we can be here for her too. I heard that Kol, Klaus' brother was found dead and I'm not sure with Nic in surgery how he will take that when he wakes up. Caroline wanted to be there when they told him and had promised Klaus she wasn't leaving."
I nodded to him, happy he would be reunited with his family so soon. I owed Klaus so much too. He was lying in the operating room because he went to try to save Elena from Kai when I couldn't. I was in awe of how many people had been there for us and we had been there for them too. Like a big family...something Elena needed so desperately after all she had lost.
We smiled and I hugged him once more as he said he was praying that we would find Stefan yet and to not give up.
Miracles happen.
I knew he was right. I was standing in front of a miracle right now. The very fact that the woman I loved and my best friend were alive and safe was totally that.
I just prayed God had just one more miracle left for my brother.
Enzo turned to me, smiling sadly at seeing the emotions warring across my face. He knew me so well and what I must be feeling. He gave me one more small smile and pulled me into a hug. "I'll see you soon Damon. Just breath. Love on her buddy and just breath. You need to see how far you have come and hold onto hope for the rest."
He was right and I needed to just breath. I clapped him on the back before I pulled back. "Be safe too buddy." He was already nodding, his brown eyes full of worry and I knew where his heart was right now too. "She'll be fine. Bon and your son. Just tell us as soon as he's born and send pictures!"
He nodded his agreement, his eyes reflecting more sadness in his forced smile. "I'm so sorry about everything you guys have been through and Stefan...god, D...I can't even imagine..." he trailed off.
I tried to smile once more and felt more emotion as I struggled to even know what to say. Elena must have seen me scrambling to respond and moved forward to my best friend and curled her arms around him as he hugged her back, the blanket still around her as she pulled him closer.
She rested her head on his shoulder as I saw more sadness flash across her features. "Thank you for everything Enzo. Right back to holding me in the hospital the night Damon was burned. I was a wreck and you helped me through that. He needed you so much in that prison and you were there for both of us. I didn't even realize then how much I already loved him then and now I know how much you cared too." I saw Enzo look choked up at that and run his hand down her hair as he hugged her.
There were tears at Elena's lashes as I stood back, still keeping my hand close enough to not tug on the cuffs more. "You have been there through everything with us and you have no idea how much you looking after him and me has meant," Elena mumbled into my best friends chest.
Enzo nodded solemnly back at her and I could see his eyes glassy. "I'm sorry I couldn't have done more," he replied and I saw him looking at her bandaged scars. He sniffled and we all just stood there at the doorway before he cleared his throat and smiled weakly.
"I'm so glad he has you Elena. Damon has needed love in his life for so long. Don't ever let that go. Don't let what that monster did to you destroy you. Trust Damon to help you through it. I've known him so long already and he would never let me down. He won't leave you or ever hurt you," Enzo assured her, making me so proud.
My girl nodded and turned to smile at me, leaning her head on my arm. "I won't and I will. He is everything to me too Enzo."
Wow, I could see my buddy was trying so hard to hold back tears. We had all been through so much together. Enzo has saved Elena from Kai and god knows what could have happened to her on the plane already when he was literally shot and would have died to protect us. He saved me too on the beach and in the helicopter or I would have been forced to jump and fall to my death and Elena would have been in Kai's hands now.
The nurse arrived, a middle aged brunette woman with short hair and a tired smile, her white coat swishing against her legs. I returned her silent greeting and she stayed back as she must have seen the emotion in our faces with our hugs goodbye. She was quiet and just stood near the wall patiently as Enzo said his goodbye.
I rubbed my arm more over Elena's, the cuffs on us clinking together as I kissed the side of her head. We were safe and she was going to be okay. I needed to believe that.
Enzo bent his head down to my girl once more, tilting his head toward me. "Keep him out of trouble at least for awhile, for me, K Elena? I can't worry about you guys and Bon and the baby too. I need to focus on them."
Enzo smiled at her and she told him she would and I felt her press her lips to my bare arm, squeezing my hand. Then he nodded to the nurse as he passed and left us in the hallway as he walked away down the hall and out the door and to his own family waiting for him.
The nurse smiled, shook my hand and introduced herself as Carol as Elena shook her hand as well.
I let the nurse by, before leading Elena in with me and walked us into the bright white sterile clinic type room. There were two single beds with a small table between them, medical equipment and shelves and supplies all over the room. A door that I assumed led to a bathroom was on the far wall as we made our way across the bright white floor.
My fingers were entwined with Elena's, the cuffs still keeping us together, as she pulled me gently to sit beside her on the one bed. We sat quietly as the nurse, flicked on a bright overhead light, hooked up I.V.'s for both of us telling us she was giving us more vitamins and painkillers as well as antibiotics too keep any infection we might have gotten from the island handled.
She eyed our linked wrists and while writing on our charts one by one said we could wait to change into the gowns once the we were unlocked. There was also clean clothes if we preferred on the shelves in the bathroom as well.
We were both quickly checked out, given physicals as privately as possible at my request while still being handcuffed together. I held the blanket up and turned away as Elena was examined. Carol had our gun shot wounds rebandaged as well as my stab wound on my leg and the cuts on Elena's stomach.
The sweet woman was quiet as I saw her barely react to the harsh jagged looking letters on my Beauty's belly. She had likely seen so much worse in her line of work but I was glad that she didn't gasp or recoil at all.
Elena was already so self conscious and had averted her eyes the whole time the cuts were visible. She squeezed my hand and had her head turned in against my shoulder as I whispered more promises to try to sooth her fears as we both saw how horrific the cuts were again.
Elena's bruises around her neck were next to be checked out from Kai choking her and the nurse said they were not too concerning as hadn't held her long and not even that hard as she had struggled. My girls wrist was indeed sprained and the nurse said the doctor would splint it for her when he came to check on them soon. For now she handed us an ice pack to put on it for 20 to 30 minutes and the doctor would see us before it would need to be iced again.
I was sure Elena knew all this but she seemed so exhausted that she was a great patient as a doctor herself and nodded smiling at all the instructions Carol rattled off.
The nurse checked out my bruises from the numerous times I had been strangled too and said she would keep and eye on it and let the doctor know. She bandaged up the cuts on my face and the shallow ones on my arms and asked various questions before smiling satisfied at our answers and offered us her well wishes and that she would check on us later.
We were to wait for the doctor now that she had determined by her examinations that nothing with either of us was life threatening as far as tests had been so far and drew some blood from each of us too. She had said I should get a CT and X-rays yet to make sure I had no internal bleeding from the numerous punches to my stomach. She wanted to X ray Elena's wrist yet too to make sure there was no more damage to any of the bones.
For now through we should just relax and wait for the doctor. The only one on board was still in surgery, operating on an injured soldier but would be here as soon as he could.
Offering her my thanks she told us that with everything we had been through we were really lucky. Many injuries could have been much worse. We were both also mildly dehydrated and malnourished but that was nothing the fluids in the I.V. couldn't help till we were going to try some food slowly in our weakened systems by possibly tomorrow or sooner.
We were left alone again but not for long. Elena was quiet as I helped get her comfortable on the bed and sat beside her as she leaned back and closed her eyes. It wasn't even half an hour and someone came in with a key to the cuffs and I saw her cringing more as her wrist was released. I pulled my I.V. bag closer to her side of the bed and stayed right by her side. There was no way I was going to lay in a different bed than her, even if I had the option to, unless she wanted me to.
She groaned again but bit her lip, turning away from me. Were the painkillers not working? What did she need? "Elena, you don't have to do that," I chided her gently.
She looked up at me sitting beside her with a curious expression. "Do what?" I saw her realize I was mimicking her as she had said the same thing to me back on the plane after I had been beaten.
"You know what." I lowered my eyebrows at her. "Thinking you need to be strong in front of me. If it hurts baby, tell me and we will get you more help."
She smoothed my hair from my eyes and smiled at me. "I'm trying to ignore any pain Damon. I just hate seeing the guilt in your eyes. I know it kills you even to look at me right now. Every scar on me, every bruise and every time I cry out, I know its tearing you apart inside. I can see it all over your face."
I was already shaking my head at her as she frowned at me in disbelief. "I will never stop looking at you baby. Yes it hurts me to see you like this. How could it not? My heart aches to see what he did to you when I couldn't stop him." I ran the back of my hand over her bruised cheek. "I hate that he made you suffer just to get to me. I wish I had magic healing abilities and could just take it all away baby. I would do anything to take your pain right now."
Raising a brow in thought I mused more. "Hell I wish I could make you forget everything too and only remember the good parts of being on the island with me. I would jump at the chance to compel all the horrible memories away."
She was quiet at that and looked deep in thought. I took that moment to slip to the bathroom and came back a few minutes later with a bowl of warm water and a soft white cloth. I pulled out soft cotton black and gray striped pajama pants and clean black underwear to change into, to rid myself of the prison orange finally. With the I.V. in I couldn't even put on a shirt and really didn't want to wear the flimsy hospital gown so I didn't even look for a shirt.
In that short time, my girl had managed to curl herself up almost into a fetal ball in the bed, the blanket tight around her. Even though she had nodded she was fine with me quickly going to the bathroom, those few minutes had already scared her as she said two men had walked by the closed door and made her nearly jump out of her skin.
I had heard her cry out as I was still changing and had never pulled clothes on faster as I flung the door back open and raced back to her, pulling my I.V. stand with me. She was shaking, curled into herself pointing to the door. I moved toward it and saw it had a lock and flicked it on, hoping that might help even a little before I retrieved the bowl of water and cloth from the counter to bring it to the bed.
I sat down and opened my arms to her and held her tight till I felt her body relax and she looked up at me with such a meek and sad expression. I knew the doctor would know more but I was almost sure she was suffering from PTSD. She had been through hell and came out the other side and now seemed a shell of her strong and confident self that I grew to love. This Elena was unhinged and jumped at everything and thought anything was a threat.
Kai had ripped her apart, mentally and physically and I now I was scrambling to help keep all her pieces together and bring her back to feeling safe again.
I motioned for her to lay back down on the bed if she wanted to and placed the bowl on the side table.
"I want to clean you up baby, if you want me too. You can wash yourself if you want. I can even go in another room for you to change. Anything you need."
She smiled softly at that and nodded almost eagerly for me to help her. So I lifted the blanket out from under her making sure it still covered her as high as she wanted as she settled against the pillows.
I was feeling better already, feeling the meds helping all my aches and pains. Even my wounds and ribs didn't feel too bad anymore or my throat. It was time to focus on her. She still looked like she was in so much pain, her fears still overwhelming her senses.
"Just relax Beauty. Close your eyes if you want. I'm right here. The doors are locked. I can help you relax and get all this dried blood off you. But only if you want me to touch you. Everything is your choice."
Elena cupped my face in her hands and I saw her cringe again at the movement. This time it was the I.V. wires tugging on her needle as she kept the ice to her wrist. She nodded to me, leaning her forehead on mine. "I do. I do want Kai's blood off me Damon. I'm not scared of you touching me. I feel like I can still feel him touching me. So yes, please help me forget and wash away the blood, please."
She looked near tears again and I wished I knew what else to do. How could I help her forget?
Lifting up the pillows more under her head I pulled one out to tuck under her knees too and helped her lay down and then sat down a fair distance from her. But her hands pulled me closer like I was her security blanket and at her encouragement I laid down too.
I would be whatever she needed as long as she needed...
The room was warm and even with Damon close to me I was glad I wasn't shivering anymore. I pulled the blanket higher almost to my neck covering me as Damon wiped the cloth tenderly over my face, cleaning off the mud and blood splatters streaking my skin. My body was pressed gently to his, at his side as I watched him breath in and out slowly.
It had been a non stop adrenaline ride the last few hours and I was glad to see him relaxing finally. He had been on such high alert to any and all danger the whole time on the island. I wondered if even when he was laying with me, he was really sleeping or still aware of sounds and voices then during the nights.
I tried to relax now too as I saw his head come up, his eyes seeking mine. I felt his fingers brush across the buttons on the shirt I was wearing. "Can I? Do you want me to? Or you?..." he trailed off and I realized he was asking for permission to help me change and so he could wash more than my face and neck.
Damon was scared that I didn't want him touching me? I think I needed his touch more than ever now. Not sexually but I desperately wanted to feel like I was still beautiful. That all his promises that nothing had changed between us in that way were true, when it felt everything else had changed in some way or another.
He had distracted me from my fears before with his touch and kisses. Our first kiss was when we were crashing in the plane. He knew it would help me then and I knew him being close to me now would help too.
I nodded slowly and helped him unbutton the shirt, shrugging it more off me and laid back. I trembled at the feel of his fingers as he pulled the fabric from my skin and brushed the soft cloth along my neck and down my collarbone. His light touches felt so soothing, so right, to erase the roughness Kai had treated me with.
My eyes opened just slightly and I took in his drawn and sad expression as he wiped the cloth over my throat. I knew I had huge hand prints on my skin from when Kai was strangling me and I saw the hurt in his eyes as he tried to wipe them away to no avail.
Lifting my hand, I cupped his cheek again, smiling encouragingly that I was okay. He smiled stiffly back and didn't say anything as he continued to brush the cloth over my damaged skin. There was so much pain in his eyes that I felt my own heart tug at seeing his despair.
Sirens blared through the silence around us and there was calling on the intercom, but so far no one had even walked past the door since he had laid me down and locked it. The only light now from the small room was from the window revealing the cloudy and dark afternoon sky.
I showed him how unhook the tubing on the I.V. just to slip the shirt past it so he could take it off and then reattach it without removing the needle in my hand. I felt colder right away with the shirt off but Damon pulled the blanket up more already noticing my discomfort and left to come back with the water in bowl warmer again before continuing.
He wiped the cloth around the strap of my bra and underneath it before dipping the cloth back in the water to ring it out again and resume his ministrations. He washed my shoulder in slow, gentle circles careful to avoid the bandaged bullet wound just a few inches lower. He skipped over the wound and I saw him bite the inside of his cheek.
I could practically hear the self loathing in his head.
This was the beautiful man that had stood punching the rock wall till his knuckles had bled, when we were covered in mud after he had seen Fredrick's hand print on my shoulder. Only on my shoulder…
The damage now was all over my body and SO much worse than it had been then, so I could not imagine his reactions to seeing more.
I debated stopping him and just washing myself off to spare him more agony. I wished I could shower even but with the various bandages on me, this make-shift sponge bath was the better option.
His beautiful blue eyes found mine and I saw so much trepidation on his face, like he was choosing his words so carefully right now. "Elena. I can... kiss you. On your skin, only if it would help. Your choice. I know you have said before how much you relax when I kiss you." He was stumbling on his words and I loved how tenderly he was thinking of my feelings.
I smiled and felt more tears at my lashes as I looked at his precious and timid eyes gazing back on me. "Please Damon. Kiss me. I don't want my skin to feel Kai's violent hands. I want to feel your soft kisses." And I knew I did. I wasn't scared of him in that way. His kisses soothed parts of me that I didn't even know anyone could.
He smiled back at me and slowly his lips fell lighter than a caress to the skin he had cleaned all along my neck and bare shoulder. I felt calmer, more peaceful despite all the hell we had survived at the warmth of his mouth on my skin. He kissed around the bruises on my neck and scratches on my shoulder, before pressing kisses around the bandage of my gun shot wound. Then he washed and kissed all along my other shoulder too, making sure no blood was left on me.
My eyelids fluttered closed and I lifted my head, exposing my neck more as he kissed his way up my jaw and across the swollen damaged skin of my bruised cheek. He was making me feel beautiful and safe and warm and protected...in such a simple way.
Wetness was pressed between his cheek and mine and realized I felt a tear slip from his eye. He was holding back tears just like I was. I felt like if I started to let go then I could cry for hours with what I lost and how so much had changed. I didn't want to let it in...not yet.
The cloth wiped away more blood and mud as his kisses followed close behind, warming the chilled and wet skin instantly with his touch. I was at least in these moments allowed a reprieve of how broken I felt. I melted into that feeling, that peace and allowed him to draw it out of me more.
Damon trailed kisses back up the other side of my neck before descending his lips down onto mine in lightest kiss I had ever felt in my young life.
My fingers sunk into his soft silky strands of ebony as I nuzzled my forehead against his. "Damon," I whispered fighting the tears but grateful that something was finally helping. I couldn't feel the fear as strong and it was...all because of him.
My eyes opened, needing to see him. Thanking him with the look in my eyes as I wiped the tears from my face. I was not ready to let it in. Right now I just wanted to feel loved.
I was met with such dark pools of blue, transfixed on me as his lips curled up in a soft and gentle smile. "I know baby. I know," he murmured softly. "I'm trying. I just want you to relax. If anything I do isn't what you want just say so. Please."
I nodded, I awe of his empathy right now. I didn't want him to think I was scared of him at all.
He pulled back, not even deepening the kiss but just using the same light caresses that he had peppered all over my skin.
Damon wiped the cloth more down my arm, catching some dried blood in the weave and wiping it away. He careful kissed around my bandaged wrist avoiding where he must have known it was so tender. I continued to hold the ice pack to ease the swelling and gripped it tighter feeling it almost slip from my fingers before he lifted it out of my hand to place it on the table.
He gently helped me to sit up, turning me so my back was to him as I felt the cloth trail along my spine from my waist to my neck. He wiped the warm water along the back of my shoulders, kissing the skin tenderly as his lips past it. The cloth went all over my back, just barely under my bra and then to my sides. His fingers did or his lips did not touch me there.
The cloth made smooth and wide circles all along my back up and down more as he dampened every inch of skin. He wasn't massaging but I already felt some of the tension leaving my tired and overexerted muscles, just from the warmth of the cloth.
Someone walked past the room again and I nearly leapt in the air again as I pulled the blanket up fast to protect me. It wasn't even cause I didn't want anyone to see me in just my underwear. It was because I didn't even trust anyone else here except Damon. Ric and Enzo had left and I knew Caroline wasn't here either. So the only person I wanted near me at all was Damon.
And damn it even with the door locked I still jumped. I hated how scared I was of everything. It was like once we were finally safe, everything inside me just collapsed in a tangled heap and I didn't even know how to function now.
He stood almost as fast as I jumped and spun around to be faced with an empty hallway beyond the locked door. The person had already past by and I sunk back down into the mattress.
"I'm sorry..." I mumbled, embarrassed as he turned back to me.
Damon put a finger to my lips and shook his head. "Don't be. You are allowed to feel however you want baby. You have nothing to be sorry for." His words reminded me of him saying that to me back on the plane too and even in the prison.
He sat back down and dropped his forehead to mine as I felt his fingers curl around my own on the mattress as he lifted my hand to his lips. His sad smile showed me how much this was all affecting me too. How could anything be normal again if I jumped at strangers just walking past the door?
His lips ran over each of my knuckles as warm ocean blue found worried brown. "Just promise me you will tell me what you are feeling." He curled a strand of my hair around his finger. "Don't hide from me...okay?"
I nodded and leaned my head back down and closed my eyes, pushing my thumb and forefinger into my temples. My head was pounding from everything, despite the meds in my I.V.
"I liked your kisses," I whispered, trying to pull us back to the mood he had created, making me feel so calm and soothed by his touches. His eyes brightened at that, sat back down on the bed and lifted the blanket off my one foot and started rubbing his thumbs into the sole.
My head fell back as I succumbed to the soothing feeling from the firm and gentle pressure. I was so wound up and so full of anxiety that I felt better at Damon doing something as simple as rubbing my feet. I could feel the stress washing away like the waves on the beach as I watched him take care of me.
His eyes were focused on mine and I smiled shyly at him as his magical hands on me rubbed higher up my calf and traded his fingers for the cloth to wipe off more blood and mud still smeared on my skin.
"Thank you Damon. It's helping it is," I said softly. "But are you sure you are okay? You don't need to rest?" He shook his head and I saw his concerned and tense expression dissolve into a gorgeous smile. I missed seeing him smile like that at me.
"I'm okay. It's worth it for you. Anything to help you feel better Elena. I will rest yet." He rubbed all the way to my knee and back down, undoing the tension in the muscles as I laid back. Then he was back down to the other foot and wiped it with the cloth and erasing what I knew was Kai's blood on my skin.
I loved how tenderly he was taking care of me right now and wondered what I ever did in this life to deserve such an amazing man. And to have found him in prison? It really was going to be quite the story to tell our kids.
Rubbing higher and wiping the cloth more over my bare leg, he silently asked me with his eyes again if he should keep going. I nodded again and pulled the blanket more off me and watched his face as he rubbed my other calf in his palms. He was so focused and was staring often back in my eyes to make sure I wasn't uncomfortable at all.
Damon pulled my legs down on either side of his waist gently as he bent one leg under him the other hanging down off the small bed I was laying on. The cloth was colder and I saw him warm it in his hands before he ran it along my thighs, wiping off all the blood that had dripped down from Kai cutting me.
He didn't touch me with anything else there. Not his hands or his lips, just like on my lower back and sides.
Just the soft cloth touched me now.
As he neared my stomach, wiping it along the sides of my body I saw his chin quiver and he quickly bit his lip. Tears pooled at his lashes and I saw him struggling with what to do.
Damn, how could I ever be with him again? All he would see was Kai's name engraved on my skin. But following his gaze, I saw that was not what he was looking at...
He was staring at the large dark bruises on my inner thighs...bruises the size and shape of hands...Kai's hands that were digging in my skin in such an intimate place as he had seen the bite mark Damon gave me.
Damon looked to be struggling to hold himself together seeing those marks on me and he silently washed my skin higher, still only with the cloth, his fingers not touching me anywhere intimate at all and washing along the sides of the large bandages over my cuts.
I sat up and cringed at more pain in my muscles and gently pulled his head toward me, and away from what he couldn't tear his eyes from. I wove my fingers between the strands of his hair, pulling his focus off my stomach and legs. My hand tugged on the back of his neck and I saw his mouth open and close, before he shut his eyes and a tear slipped down his cheek.
"You said I wasn't supposed to hide from you Damon." I reminded him softly of when he was begging me to be real. "So please don't hide from me either. Be real with me. Yell, scream cry, anything...but share it with me please." I stroked my hand down his cheek, wiping away the tear and bent my head to find his eyes.
Those beautiful blue eyes were dull and pained and I ached to see him looking at me like that.
Like I was broken.
Like he thought he broke me.
And that in turn was breaking him too.
His head fell in my hands and his eyes moved to stare down at my scars again.
"Talk to me Damon," I coaxed him. His head stayed down and I saw him tracing in the air above my damaged skin the shape of a "D" and then and "A" and I gasped as I knew he wanted his name on me and no one else's.
Why should anyone get any claim over me? I was his and only his forever.
His hands hovered over the marks on my thighs too, still not touching me, but hiding the hand prints with his own.
His eyes lifted and I felt the breath rush from my lungs at the depths of his gaze. "I..I" His voice was trembling as he blinked another tear away. "I'm so sorry baby."
I cradled his head between my palms and looked deep in his eyes. "You don't have anything to be sorry for Damon." I echoed what he said to me as he stared back at me.
His head then dropped to my chest and I held him as a felt him clench his teeth and I knew he was still fighting to tell me whatever he was feeling. He didn't cry more than those few tears but I felt him bury his head against my chest whispering more sorrys as his hands clung to my arms and then slid down around my waist.
I held him, my precious Damon and rocked him as we both grieved for what Kai had stolen from us. I didn't know when I would feel safe again without Damon, or not jump at every little sound, or hearing a helicopter's blades spinning or even be able to cross the street without running away from anyone I didn't know. He tucked his legs up and I felt him relax into my chest, letting me hold him and stroke his hair as I kissed the top of his head over and over.
Leaning us back down, he stayed curled up on my chest. We were both careful to avoid all the wires and tubing and bandages as I held him. We were quite the pair all damaged and broken together.
I didn't want to cry anymore but couldn't stop the tears from slipping silently down my cheeks and into his soft raven hair. No more words were spoken. Maybe neither of us knew how to say to the other how much we were hurting right now.
So I lay there, feeling his body rise and fall with each breath, as I tangled my fingers in his hair. His breath got deeper and slower as I realized he must have fallen asleep. His arms were wrapped gently around my waist and I swallowed my fear looking in front of me at the windows and locked door.
I could do it. I could just try to sleep even for a little while. Damon was like a shield around me, his body between me and the door. He hadn't blamed me or judged anything I felt or did. He was simply there just like he promised and that one thing soothed me more than anything right now...that he was here holding me and would jump up to defend me in an instant.
I closed my eyes, praying Kai would not be waiting for me in my dreams...
Elena cried out and nearly jumped out of my arms at the sharp knock on the door. How long had we been asleep? It was nearly dark outside now and I realized it must have been a few hours later. I blinked, lifting my head from her chest as I saw who must be the doctor on the other side. I stood up, and moved toward the door coming back to her the second I opened it.
The man stepped into the room and extended his hand to me introducing himself as Dr. Martin. He was a medium build, dark skinned man with nearly buzzed black hair.
"Sorry Agent Salvatore. I saw you both asleep awhile ago so I left you alone. With all you had been through you looked peaceful and I didn't want to disturb you. But I wanted to check in on you both before I headed back to the mainland and saw how your friend was doing after surgery. He is in recovery now, Agent Michaelson and I was told he had just woken up."
"That is great to hear," I replied sitting back on the bed and yawned after seeing her yawn a moment ago, as I felt Elena's arms around me right away. He agreed to keep me updated on any changes in Klaus' condition.
Dr. Martin asked us more questions and splinted her wrist saying we would get X- rays at the hospital on the mainland in the morning to make sure it wasn't any worse. He talked to me about symptoms to watch for from being strangled and the fights that I had too. He was concerned about bumps on my head and listed me things to watch for if it was more than a concussion.
I nodded to my doctor fiance and told him that with him and my own doc taking care of me I was sure I was in good hands. Everything hurt and I had a wicked headache but otherwise I was more concerned about Elena.
He told us to rest and he would be back to check on us later that night. We needed to let the I.V. do its job and get us stronger and prevent any infection from our wounds and that part would just take time. I smiled, thanked him and he slipped out the door.
I headed back to the bathroom and was back in a second, grabbing two t shirts. I offered her one that was mens size and fell to her thighs and she smiled and unhooked her I.V. again to let me help her pull it over her head. I did the same to my I.V. and pulled on a dark gray V-neck shirt before coming back to her.
It was merely a few minutes when the phone on the table beside the one bed rang loudly. I looked at her and she looked equally surprised at me. But as it kept ringing I lifted the receiver and held it to my ear.
"Damon?" the voice questioned and I recognized Ric.
"Yeah Ric, its me. Are you at the hospital? How is Klaus?"
"He's in bad shape but Care told me the surgery went well. He had a bullet lodged so close to his spine that they were worried about him being able to walk again. The doctor was going to check in on him soon and check his responses on his legs to see if he can feel anything."
I looked down beside me and Caroline gave me a weak smile. She was holding Klaus' hand and the blonde man had barely opened his eyes a few minutes ago.
"He is awake now and said a few words so that is a good sign," I said. "But I keep telling Care to get some rest. When I got here she was hunched over his bed as he was still out of it and I doubt she had gotten any sleep."
Caroline looked up at me. "I tried Ric but I couldn't stop thinking about him. He had been so out of it as he had gotten flown here from the cave before. I couldn't sleep till I knew he was going to be okay."
I tilted my head holding the phone out more. "Did you hear that Damon?"
"Yeah," came his reply. "Tell Caroline that we are praying for him too and the doctor said we would be heading there first thing in the morning. They splinted Elena's wrist and have us on I.V. meds for the night and told us we needed to rest."
"I will Damon. We will see you in the morning. We were told it could be touch and go over night here too and they are watching him closely to make sure there are no complications from the surgery."
Caroline was squeezing his hand as he blinked slowly and looked so weak. She ran a cloth over his head as I saw him offer her a small smile. She smiled back and I took in the tenderness of the look between them. Was there something going on with my friend and this agent? The way she was running her hand over his seemed so gentle and loving even.
Klaus closed his eyes again and Caroline laid her head down beside their entwined hands. I moved back more speaking quieter as I saw her eyes closing too. She had refused to go sleep in one of the staff rooms with beds so I had left her alone and now saw that she might be asleep, even in such an awkward position.
I pulled the phone closer to my ear. "Any news on Stefan?" I asked and I heard a long sigh on Damon's end of the call.
"No, nothing yet but I was told they would let me know what the divers found in the wreckage. But the longer we don't hear the less chance there is that he is alive."
I said my goodbyes and that Jenna would be here by morning too with our son and Damon yawned on his end of the call. Wishing them a peaceful night I hung up and slipped from the room. Klaus' brother had been here before too and said he would be back soon. They were air lifting Kol's body to the morgue there and he wanted to meet the helicopter on the roof.
The man had looked exhausted and emotional having been told one brother had died, as his other brother had been hours into emergency surgery when he arrived. I could not imagine how he must be feeling. Elijah had been pacing the floors, Caroline had said as they both had waited for the doctors to give them any updates.
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair and decided to ask the nurses where I could shower and clean up before my wife got here. They led me to a staff shower and in no time I had washed and dried off, got changed and sunk back in the other chair in Klaus' room. I finished off a cup of coffee that barely tasted like coffee and a sandwich I got from the cafeteria and set a warm cup and a muffin on the table in front of my friend.
Caroline was still sleeping, her head on the bed, her hand still in his as I saw her face finally look relaxed. I shut my own eyes and hoped to catch some sleep before Jenna arrived.
It had been a long day and felt like we had been on the island forever when it had barely been 3 days. But I could finally relax and was eager to see my family. I shut out the noises all around us from the intercoms and call buttons ringing and settled back more in my chair and fell asleep.
I placed the phone back down and saw that Elena was already snuggling in against my chest within seconds. I had taken the time during the call to wipe the cloth under the shirt all over my own skin as she rested beside me. She helped me wash my back but otherwise I left her to relax as I quickly cleaned off any more blood and mud on me that I could see. I could not wait to be able to shower soon.
Shifting us lower, I fluffed the pillow up more under my head. I was so glad that so far she had not woken up with any nightmares and the few hours of sleep I had too had been relatively peaceful at least so far.
I shut my eyes, and kissed the top of her head and she nuzzled in closer to me. Her breaths were deep and I wrapped my arms more around her and pulled the blanket up more. I heard the smallest contented sigh from her lips and was so grateful we were safe finally and in a real bed even. I had missed such simple things as being able to go to the bathroom and sleep in a bed.
Everything fell away, all the sounds around us, and movements of people past our door and I was alone with my thoughts. I thought we would have heard something about Stefan by now. I was scared to know what they would find. It would either shatter me more or bring me hope. Baby brother could not just be gone. Not after all he did to save us. Not after we finally put the past behind us and were brothers again.
But the longer we didn't hear, the less hope I felt. I rubbed Elena's arms more and heard her sigh again in her sleep as I felt my own sleep pull me under…
A hand stretched out and dug its fingers in the sand...
The wet and course grains ran between the fingers as the metal cuff glinted in the dim light of the day. The chain was broken, leaving just the cuff on his wrist as he pulled himself up further on the shore before collapsing back down and laid in the sand panting hard.
He held a gun in his other hand, gripping it tightly as he pulled his body away from the crashing waves.
His head lifted slowly as water rushed up under him from the tide coming in and he sputtered and coughed, spitting out more water, curling up from the pain in his body. He ripped the SWAT vest off him as it was so heavy with the water soaked in it and tossed it aside.
Crying out in pain, he turned his head to see a piece of metal sticking out from his leg by his knee. He slammed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth, dragging his leg and putting all his focus on forcing is other leg to help him crawl further up on the beach.
His forehead still held a gash with dried blood on it as he forced his green eyes open again, shaking his blonde hair from his eyes.
"Damon?" he rasped weakly, rolling onto his back. "Where...are you?"
A/N: I had many mixed reviews last time and lots of anger and disbelief that I had killed Stefan...I had never intended him to die and I hope that reveal helps you see that.
I hope you liked the tenderness and way Damon and Elena cared for each other in the aftermath of everything. There will be more with Caroline and Klaus and we will meet Elijah in the next one too.
PLease review and tell me what you thought. I am eager to hear your thoughts. And if any of you are on Twitter feel free to share your enjoyment of this story there too. There are always more Delena fans looking for more FF to read and enjoy.
Have a great week.