Chapter 10: A Third Party

The brunette was in a state of panic. What did she do? She was trapped in an elevator, VERY high above and the building was being evacuated. Pounding her fists against the steel doors, she shouted at the top of her lungs trying to alert someone. No, she was going to burn alive, she was sure of it. Looking around, she banged the button on the panel, coughing and looked around. The reason she hated elevators was starting to come to life, like her fears. Her fears of Stefan telling Damon, not being able to prove herself, fire, death and failing at love. She was Elena Gilbert, she could push through this. Banging at the door again, she screamed and kept banging the doors, not thinking about the pain. The numb feeling helped her through the pain.

"Help me! Anyone! Can you hear me!?" Elena shouted, looking around as dry tear stains were evident on her cheeks.

She was suffocating, she felt like all the walls were closing in. She knew she was claustrophobic but she never thought that this would happen. Poking buttons on the panel, she moaned in annoyance and looked around the elevator for a way out. The doors were sealed shut, god knows if the elevator was even on an actual floor. The hatch however was an option, but she wasn't a spiderman, she couldn't go anywhere from there. Rubbing her hands together, she kicked the doors as hard as she could, wincing in pain. Great, now a sore ankle! Pulling her phone out of her bag, she dialed Damon's number, putting it on speakerphone, but it cut off. Still NO service. She was screwed. Throwing her phone back into her bag, she looked around.

"Is someone in there?"
"Hello! Hello!" Elena called out, wide-eyed as she looked around, looking at the camera that came to life and began moving.
"Elena Gilbert." The woman spoke.
"W...what? Who is this? Who are you?"
"Someone that you'll be seeing very soon in the future no doubt."
"Tell me your name."
"Be safe Elena. I hope to see you soon."

A dead line filled the air as she went wide-eyed and the elevator powered up again, moving downwards towards safety. A tear of gratitude fell down her cheek as she leaned against the wall, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She was going to live another day thanks to the mysterious woman who happened to know her. As the elevator reached the bottom floor, it opened with a ding as she slowly stepped out, choking on thick black smoke that was engulfing the lobby of the building. What the hell had Stefan done to Damon's building? He was killing it.

Looking around, she held her hand above her eyes as she tried to see through the smog. She couldn't see the exit, it was covered. Walking in any direction, she held her hands out as she hoped for the best. Continuing to walk, she recognized that it had began to get brighter and opened her eyes, feeling like she was walking into the light. Taking a few more steps, she was out. Everyone was outside, screaming and making commotion as they surrounded the building. Coughing, she watched as a fireman lifted her, making his way to the ambulance as he placed her down beside it.

"No, I'm fine please. I don't need checked out." Elena told them, rubbing her forehead, needing to find Damon. Was he okay?
"Miss, we need to check you over. It's important." A woman told her, pressing her hand against her forehead, "You're warm honey."
"I've been overwhelmed! I was trapped in an elevator! Of course I am!" She told her, feeling sick, "Where's Damon? I need to find Damon."
"Honey, relax please." Pushing her down, she checked her blood pressure and pulse as Elena looked around, wide-eyed.
"I'm fine! I already told you!"

The woman gave her a stern look, pushing her down again as she continued giving her a good check over to make sure that there was no injuries that could later cause some dangerous circumstances. A concussion could be the worse scenario and that's not what anyone wanted. The brunette laid patiently, staring out as the building as she seen the firemen putting the fire out. Where was Damon? Was he okay? He had to be okay. After she gave her the all okay, she jumped up off of the table and got out of the ambulance, rushing about.

"Damon!" Elena called out, looking around she pushed through the crowd. Where would he be?

Looking around, she moved towards the front of the building again, worry radiating inside her. No, this couldn't be happening. Moving closer to the front, she gasped as she seen the raven hair, the pinstripe suit and the crystal blue eyes shining. It was Damon, he was here. He was out. He was okay. Pushing through people, she ran towards him.

"Damon!" Elena called out as he turned around.
"Elena!" He wrapped his arms around her tightly, lifting her against him as he inhaled, "God, I was so worried. Caroline called me saying you were coming to see me."
"I'm sorry. I should have said, I was nearly there, but the elevator stopped. I got stuck." Tightening her grip on him, she swallowed, tears gathering in her eyes.

"I thought you were still in there." Damon whispered in relief, squeezing her as he nodded at the cop he was talking too.
"I was so scared Damon. I thought that I'd never see you again." The brunette confessed, the tears spilling over.
"Nothing could stop me from seeing you again, nothing."

The brunette lay across the silk covered bed, her eyes latched onto the ceiling as she couldn't close them over. There was too much going through her mind. She didn't know what she was going to do, she was stuck, in a crisis. Pulling the covers up, she sat against the headboard, shivering and looked around the room, too many thoughts in her head. They were at a hotel, Damon took her away from his building after dealing with the officers and fire marshals. Penthouse sweet, AGAIN. Licking her lips, she looked over at the bathroom, hearing noise. He said he would go in and run them a bath, considering it had been a long day. The way Elena was feeling though, she would just get in a drown.

"Lena!" Damon called out as she slowly got up, dragging her feet into the bathroom as she looked around, smiling softly.

The bathroom was filled with candles, no light so it was just right and relaxing. There was soft music playing in the background as there were petals lying on the surface of the water. Looking at Damon, she gave him a soft smile, feeling emotionally drained. Giving her a soft smile, he kissed her forehead, needing no words as he tipped her chin, kissing her gently.

"Get in, relax, okay? I'll be back in a second." He told her, walking out.

The brunette slowly tied her hair up into a bun and pulled her pencil skirt down her legs, kicking it off to the side as she un-buttoned her blouse and threw it down with her skirt. Removing her underwear, she also dropped them to the side and got into the bath, sliding down as she let out a sigh, the heat touching her in all places she needed to feel it. A bit of a sting at first since she was so cold, but it was heating her to the bone and it felt amazing. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head to the side and listened to the music, falling into a sweet lullaby.

"Nice?" Damon's voice interrupted her thoughts as he entered the bathroom and closed the door over, hanging a robe up on the door.
"Very. I just...feel...numb." Elena told him with a whisper, opening her eyes as she shivered, "Will you join me?"
"I'd love too." Pulling his pants down, he kicked them to the side along with his boxers as he got in opposite her.
"I just...can't believe what happened. Your building Damon."
"Will be fine. I was more concerned about you, god, I thought you were still in there."
"I just about got out...somehow."
"Somehow?" Raising an eyebrow, he looked over at, running his hand over her knee gently.
"I don't know, I wish I knew. All I can say is. There is tomorrow." Giving him a weak smile, he laughed, returning it.
"There is tomorrow."

The brunette drained her glass of wine like a thirsty viper and looked over at the blonde, their mist of conversation in the ruins of Damon at the moment. Laughing, she poured another glass of wine and rubbed her arms, looking out the window as the sun set. It had been a couple of days since the incident at Damon's workplace and she hadn't seen Stefan for a while. He may think she's dead because she was in there. Boy was he in for a surprise.

"Hey, speaking of the Mr Salvatore? Have you seen his place yet?" Caroline asked interested, finishing her wine.
"I...actually haven't. He always brings us to penthouse view hotel rooms. Oh my god, has he got an apartment?" Elena questioned, wide-eyed.
"Oh don't be stupid. Of course he does. Maybe he just hadn't shown you it yet."
"Why not? Were...serious...ish." Letting out a breath, "What am I doing Caroline?"
"Falling into a deep trap?"
"Where there's no way out but down?"
"Exactly right." Caroline told her, pouring more.

Elena drained another glass of wine, thinking about the situation she had got herself into. What was she going to do? She was so screwed. Damon would hate her, Stefan wants to make her life a misery. She needed to tell Damon, end of. No more messing around. He had to know what happened and why he met her in the first place.

"You never told me. How did you get out Lena? You were stuck? In a burning building?"
"A women. On the...speakerphone, was talking to me. She knew me, she knew who I was."
"Wait, what does this mean?" The blonde asked, looking at Elena.
"This means...there's a third-party involved."

A/N: Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed :D

Shauna
xxx