A/N: Here it is!
I am not sure if I have posted on here yet, but I do now have a Tumblr also: blog/tvdvampirekat
I am looking for those of you who can create images or GIFs for any of the stories I have written. One person has already done so with Stefan, Elena, and the kids. I think they are fantastic and I would love to see your creativity and share them with the other readers! So, if you enjoy creating and are a fan of these stories, please let us see your talent! The images/GIFS can be of one character, a few, favorite moments, etc. : )
Okay, on to the story …
Stefan wasn't sure how long he had been sitting with his head resting against the table at the police station. Maybe an hour. Maybe two. He stopped watching the clock after a while. Every tick of the second hand made his heart constrict a little more. Every tick of the second hand was a constant reminder that Elena was suffering. Every tick of that damn second hand was a reminder that he had failed her.
"Mr. Salvatore?" a stern voice said. Stefan hadn't even heard anyone enter the room. "I'm Detective Moore. I've been assigned to your wife's case" he said, taking a seat across from Stefan and opening a folder. "I'm pretty much caught up on the situation, but I have a few more questions for you" he stated.
Stefan lifted his head and laughed inwardly. "Situation" he repeated. His Elena was no longer a loving, beautiful person. She was a situation.
"I understand that there was an encounter between you and Mr. … Derrick Adams earlier?" he asked. "At Roadside Bar?" he clarified. Stefan knew where this was going. "Let me be frank with you Mr. Salvatore. Derrick's lawyer can come back and go after you for assault charges" he said. "So, why don't you tell me exactly what happened" he said, hinting to Stefan to come up with a better story. Like, Derrick had come after Stefan first and Stefan had acted in self-defense.
Stefan sighed and leaned over the table to get a closer look at the detective. "Derrick" Stefan said slowly. "Kidnapped my niece and now has my wife hidden somewhere to die" he stated. "Derrick, is a low life, waste of space. So you want to know what really happened?" he asked, testing the waters before he dove right on in. "I found him at the bar. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him outside. And then, I beat the living shit out of him" he finished without batting an eye. "And while you are sitting in here, questioning me, my wife is out there somewhere, struggling to stay alive" he pointed out resentfully.
The detective tossed his pen aside. "I'm trying to help you Stefan" he reminded. "I am very well aware of what is happening to your wife. And I can assure you I have the best team in there talking to Derrick right now, trying to get the information out of him."
"If you'd let me in his room, I'd get the information out of him" Stefan said confidently.
"Damnit Stefan!" the detective snapped. "Pain and fear will not get Derrick to talk. Don' t you see that? He doesn't care if he lives or dies. All he wants is to see others suffer. He wants Elena dead. He wants to see you hate yourself more than you already do" the detective pointed out. Stefan blinked, feeling that constricting feeling in his chest return. The detective ran a hand through his hair, frustrated with himself. "We will get Derrick to tell us where she is" he stated. "We've contacted his family and they are on their way. Maybe they will be of some use" he finished before getting up and walking out.
Stefan laid his head back down on the table and closed his eyes. He was so tired and the harder he fought to stay awake, the easier it was to give in. He just hoped that Elena was being stronger than he was right now.
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Elena sat against the cold, hard wall, her legs spread out before her. She had spent the past half an hour checking every inch of the room, seeing if there was any possible way she could escape. As it had turned out, Derrick had done his research. He had chosen a room that she could not get out of. Rather than expending the rest of her energy, she decided to conserve it.
Her eyes were closed. Her head was screaming at her, begging for her to do something to stop the immense pain it was feeling. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since the night before. She hadn't gone to the bathroom either, refusing to go in the corner of the room. She was too civilized for that. She was uncomfortable and miserable.
But she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. Thoughts of Stefan, memories of him were taking over. The good, the not so good, and everything in between.
Like the moment when she had first met him. The first time he had said her name, followed by a lame pick-up line about getting her phone number. The first time she had caught a glimpse of that to-die for smile. And how much the way he looked at her had made her hate him instantly.
Elena smiled at how hard she had tried to hate him. When he was the most loveable person she had ever been with. Sometimes he was obnoxious. Most of the time, he was needy. But the moment he had committed himself to her, he hadn't disappointed her. He had loved her unconditionally.
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Stefan tossed away the other half of his sandwich, having no appetite yet again. It was almost 8 PM, meaning Elena was going on her first full day of being locked away by herself. Derrick still wasn't talking. Therefore, Elena was still in danger.
His phone rang and he slowly fished it out of his pocket, seeing that it was Katherine's number. She was the last person he wanted to talk to right now, but maybe she was giving him an update on Lily. "Hello?" he answered, less motivated than he usually was when answering.
"Uncle Stefan!" came a bright and cheery voice from the other end of the line. "Did you find Aunt Elena yet?" she asked.
Stefan closed his eyes for a moment before answering. "Not yet" he finally answered. There was a long, silent pause that broke his heart. "What did you do today?" he asked, taking her from the heartbreaking reality to something a little more care-free.
"Mommy and Caroline took me shopping" Lily told him, her bright and cheery voice back. "Then we got ice cream, but Mommy wouldn't let me put all the toppings on like you do" Lily said, and he could hear the pouting in her voice. "She only let me pick two" she sighed.
Stefan smiled for the first time that day. "I bet you picked gummy worms and sprinkles" Stefan said.
"How did you know?" Lily asked, completely shocked.
Stefan smiled again. "You've been eating gummy worms and sprinkles since you were two" he reminded her.
Lily giggled. "No, I think you are just a really good guesser" she told him. How Stefan wished that were true. Because then he could guess where Elena was and put this whole nightmare behind them.
"Was the ice cream good at least?" Stefan asked.
"Uh huh" she replied. "But then, when we left, a bird pooped on Mommy's new purse so she threw a rock at it and missed. Then she said bad words" Lily informed him. "She was really, REALLY REALLY mad at that bird, but I thought it was funny" she said before falling into a fit of giggles. It was the best thing he had heard all day.
"That is really funny" Stefan told her. The detective made his presence known, signaling to Stefan that he was needed. "Lily, I have to go okay. I'm really glad you called. I miss you" he said, wishing that he didn't have to let her go.
"Okay Uncle Stefan. I love you" she said, not bothering to wait for a reply before she hung up.
Stefan smiled as he hung up too. Then he turned to the detective. "Anything?" Stefan asked. He knew the detective and the team had been interrogating Derrick all day.
The detective shook his head no. "But Derrick wants to talk to you" he informed. Stefan stood up immediately. "I told him no" the detective stated. "After your last encounter with him, I don't think it would be a good idea."
"Maybe he will tell me where Elena is" Stefan stated desperately.
"No, Stefan, he won't. He wants to play games. He wants to get you all fired up" the detective told him.
Stefan shook his head. "I want to talk to him: Stefan said. "Maybe I can get something out of him. It's worth trying, because right now we have nothing" he reminded.
The detective shook his head. "This is a bad idea. But you're right. We have nothing" he stated. "You will have a window separating you two. I will ask that you have your privacy" he sighed. Maybe Derrick would be more willing to talk if it were just Stefan and him. Stefan nodded and followed the detective.
He was seated on one side of a window and waited for Derrick to be brought in. "Don't get your hopes up, kid" the detective said as they waited.
Derrick was brought into the room on the other side of the window. He took a seat and smiled when he saw Stefan. The officers stepped out of the room. Stefan took notice of the damage he had done earlier that morning. Derrick's whole face was black and blue. "It's pretty bad, huh?" Derrick said, taking notice of Stefan staring at him. "You got me pretty good."
Stefan clenched his right hand, feeling the urge to hit him again. "I suppose after so many times of turning Elena's face black and blue, you needed to know how it felt" Stefan replied, keeping his tone neutral.
Derrick half smiled, half laughed. "Sometimes, you have to show a girl her place" Derrick informed him. "Having spent a few days with Elena recently, I can see that you let her walk all over you" he added.
Stefan's face hardened. "Most people treat their dogs better than you treated Elena" Stefan countered. "She's a beautiful, intelligent, passionate young woman. She doesn't need to be told her place."
"You really love her, don't you?" Derrick asked, cocking his head to the side for added emphasis to his curiosity. "It's too bad that all she loves about you is your money. That's really your fault though. You buy her everything she wants and let her spend all the money she can" Derrick reminded him.
The detective was right. All Derrick wanted was to get Stefan fired up. The trick was to not fall for it. "Does it bother you, Derrick? That I can buy Elena nice things, and you can't?" Stefan asked, turning the tables on him. "Does it bother you that I am successful, and all Elena can see in you is failure?"
Derrick slammed his hand on the counter out of anger. "I am not a failure!" he yelled. "Elena never wanted any of that before she met you. She never needed money to be happy. All she needed was me!" he spat vehemently at Stefan.
"All she needed was you?" Stefan asked. "Then why the hell aren't you with her right now, Derrick?" Stefan questioned, raising his own voice slightly.
"Because you ruined her" Derrick answered, calmly this time. "You turned her against me. She doesn't want me anymore" he said, sounding defeated.
"Do you love her?" Stefan asked, his voice soft. He hated even asking the question. But the goal was to get Derrick talking so he could find Elena.
Derrick closed his eyes. "Yes" he sighed. This gave Stefan hope. Hope that Derrick would break down and tell him where Elena was.
"Then you don't want her to die" Stefan told him. "She's scared right now. She's probably wondering why you would want her to die. You need to make this right, Derrick. You need to be able to tell Elena how you feel. How much you love her and how you made a mistake leaving her" Stefan said sadly.
Derrick was staring intently at Stefan now, his eyes almost glazed over from what Stefan thought were tears. Derrick's hands came up and covered his face in frustration. Then he shook his head. "I do, I do love her" he said, crying now. This took Stefan by surprise, but he was going to go with it. "I love Elena" he repeated. "I left her in that house because she doesn't love me anymore" he cried, taking huge breaths to calm himself.
House. Stefan leaned forward, determined to learn more. Elena was in a house. "Is she in the house you wanted her to live with you in?" Stefan asked.
"She's going to die" Derrick said, breaking down even more. "She's going to die" Derrick repeated.
"Where is the house?" Stefan asked, any patience in him, now gone.
Derrick's hands left his face suddenly. It was like Stefan was staring at an entirely different person. One full of zero remorse. "You're tricking me" he said, wiping angrily at his tears. "You don't really care about me and Elena. You just want to find her so you can be with her" he said.
"Derrick, please" Stefan said, fearing that he would lose what he was so close to gaining. "Tell me where Elena is" Stefan nearly begged.
"I'd rather she die than be with you" Derrick spit out at him. He stood, ready to go back to his cell.
"What do you want? Name it" Stefan said, standing as well and leaning closer to the window. "I will get you the best private lawyer money can buy. When you get out of here, I will give you 12 million dollars" he added. "You can disappear and do whatever you want. Please Derrick, just tell me where she is" he repeated desperately.
"I'll never tell you, Stefan. Not for all the money in the world" Derrick said, an evil grin spreading slowly across his face. There it was. The lack of empathy was back. Stefan had lost. "I hope she suffers" Derrick finished, signaling to the guard that he wanted out.
"You son of a bitch!" Stefan yelled, banging against the window as hard as he could. "Tell me where she is, Derrick! Tell me! Damnit tell me!" Stefan demanded, continuing to bang on the window until two officers grabbed him. "Let go of me!" Stefan yelled. He shrugged the officers off of him and stormed down the hallway. He glared at the detective, not wanting to hear any of it. "He's got her in an empty house" was all he said on his way out the door.
"Stefan?" Damon asked when his brother went outside.
"She's in a house. An empty house by herself!" Stefan yelled. "I'm checking every damn empty house in this area" he told him, walking towards Damon's car.
Damon was hot on his heels, yelling for Alaric along the way. "Stefan!" Damon said, grabbing his arm.
"Don't!" Stefan warned, spinning around and facing his brother. "I am going to find her. Don't try and stop me."
Damon sighed. "I just wanted to suggest that we rent two other cars and split up. Between the three of us, we can cover a lot more area" Damon said.
Stefan nodded. "Fine" he said, getting in his brother's car. Alaric hopped in the back, not too sure what was going on, but ready for whatever he needed to do.
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Elena had no idea what time it was, or what day it was now. She had fallen asleep and when she woke up, hadn't bothered to move from her position on the floor. She had been dreaming about Stefan. A happier moment between the two. Just before they had gotten married.
The movie had just ended – some sappy love story she had begged him to watch. It hadn't taken much convincing since she had kissed him just before saying "please".
He had shut the T.V. off when the movie ended, but neither of them had bothered to move, too comfortable where they were. Him sitting behind her, in the perfect position to kiss her shoulders and her neck. She leaned against him, closing her eyes and loving this quiet moment between them. When the phones were not constantly ringing with reminders about this and that for the upcoming wedding. "You sure you want to marry me for real?" Elena asked. She felt his fingers slip under her shirt, gliding their way up and then back down slowly.
Stefan kissed her neck. "I already put the deposit down on the catering. Too late to back out now" he said.
Elena swatted his leg and she felt him smile against her shoulder. "I see how it is" she said, attempting to get up. She had laundry to do still.
"No" he protested, wrapping his arms around her tightly to keep her from getting up. "I'm excited to show everyone else how much I love you" he said, trailing his lips away from her ear and placing a soft kiss on the back of her head. "I want them to be jealous that I have the sexiest, funniest, smartest, most loveable wife anyone could ever ask for."
Elena giggled softly. "That's a good answer" she told him. "I'm pretty lucky" she said, grabbing his hand in hers and intertwining their fingers. "To have found someone who loves me the way you do" she finished.
Stefan brought their intertwined hand up to his lips and kissed her hand. "I love you so much" he whispered into her ear. "I'm always going to love you."
Elena smiled, turning her head slightly so he could kiss her. Eh, the laundry could wait. "You make me really, really happy" she told him honestly. "Thank you, for everything. I love you, too" she said, giving him another sweet, slow kiss.
"I'd do anything for you" he told her, rubbing his thumb across her cheek. "Come on, let's go upstairs" he said, smiling against her lips.
"You're tired?" she asked playfully.
"No" Stefan said, standing with her. He wrapped his arms around her and walked upstairs with her. When they got to their room, Stefan pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. "I want to lay in bed with you" he whispered, kissing her hair. "And make love to you until we both fall asleep" he whispered in her ear.
Elena closed her eyes and sighed. "I think I like the sound of that" she smiled, leaning her head back.
"I thought you would" he smiled, slowly dropping his hands and peeling her shirt up over her body slowly. Elena turned around and did the same to him, tossing his shirt on the floor. Her hands slowly went to rest on top of his shoulders and she leaned up and kissed him.
Sometimes, she considered herself to be the luckiest girl alive.
But not right now. Not when she was on the cold, hard floor, alone and feeling worse than she had in a long time. She missed him. She missed his so badly. She missed his stupid jokes and his silly grin when he was thinking about sex. She missed the way he would hold her when she was upset and kiss her when he wanted to remind her without words just how much he loved her.
She needed him. She needed him so damn much right now that it hurt. The pain of needing him was far greater than the pain from her injuries.
The first tear slid down her face as she brought her legs up and curled into a ball on the floor. More tears quickly followed. "Stefan" she whispered. "Stefan, please help me" she cried softly before shutting her eyes tight and choking back her sobs.
A/N: So? What did you think?