Hello everyone,

Wow! Thank you for all your reviews, I really enjoyed reading them! And as a result, they inspired me to write away and cook up another chapter nice and early for you. And again, as a result, this one includes PLENTY of Delena interaction. Enjoy!

Elena's POV

Elena made her way up the stairs towards the entrance of the club, stumbling and leaning against the wall on her way in a fit of giggles. She could feel Mike right behind her.

"Almost there," she heard him say. His hands latched onto her hips and with a squeeze, he began to push her up the stairs, forcing her to go faster.

"Not so fast" she laughed, scrabbling her fingers on the paint-chipped walls at either side of the narrow stair case.

Finally the cool, midnight air blew onto her flushed face and chest, cooling her down after her heated antics in the club below. Before she could get any sense of clear direction, Mike's arm was around her, leading them down the sidewalk in a drunken stroll, his arm heavy on her petite shoulders. The more they walked, the more it hurt.

"Feeling better now you've got some air?" he questioned, his face dangerously close to her own as she turned to face him. She smiled in a friendly manner, which caused his arm around her to draw her closer.

"Much better," she said, trying to stop, but Mike continued to lead them away "I'll be ready to go back inside in a minute," she assured him.

She noticed his brown eyes were glazed over with a look of desire, causing her stomach to jump with warning. She noticed, now in the brighter lit streets, that he wasn't as good looking as she thought he was. In fact he looked a little scary. It was harder to keep a smile on her face as she looked over her shoulder, realizing they were pretty much alone, away from the main crowds of people outside the club.

"How about we go to another bar? Or my place for a night cap?" he drawled, his voice low and suggestive which she didn't like one bit, even when everything else around her was a blur. Knowing she needed to regain some control, she playfully giggled and managed to escape out of his arms.

"I can't, I have to stay with my friends"

As she attempted to turn to head back, his hand that still held hers yanked her towards him, causing the tip of her toes to graze along the grovel of the sidewalk, making her wince in pain as she pushed her hands against his bulky chest.

"Mike, please, lets go back inside" she said, a hint of panic rising when she saw that was clearly not what he had in mind any longer.

"Oh c'mon, Elena, where's your sense of fun?" he said, a look of amusement etching on his face which made her feel sick, the large amount of alcohol in her system making her stomach twist violently.

"Mike, please" she begged, "lets just go back in-"

He grasped her forearms so roughly she yelped with the unexpected pain, and before she knew what was going on he was hastily pushing her backwards into the shadows.

"No, stop!"

His hand slapped over her mouth, causing her head to slam against the brick wall so hard Elena felt as though her brain rattled within her aching skull. His lust-hungry eyes glared at her as he warned her to be quiet, dragging her further into a tight, pitch-black side street which was almost completely out of view. Elena felt the hot tears trail down her cheeks as she struggled to breath through her nose. His clammy, salty-tasting hand was still clamped firm over her mouth while his other worked on hitching up her dress, his nails scratching against her delicate skin. She eventually felt the fabric glide over her hips, followed by a rush of cold air blasting over her now bare thighs and stomach. She screamed as loud as she possibly could through his hand, going into a blind panic as her eyes managed to see the movement of his hand unhooking his belt in the heavy darkness.

"Get the Hell away from her."

Elena snapped her head as far as she could to her left, seeing a blurred shadow through her tears at the entrance of the side-street.

"Walk away, man, this is nothing to do with you" Mike warned, releasing the pressure of his hand from Elena's bruising lips, thought never removing it completely as he told the stranger where to go. Elena silently hoped they would help, still sobbing uncontrollably through Mike's hand.

The dark silhouette took one step closer and Elena could tell Mike was seriously getting pissed off.

"Did you fucking hear me or what? I said this is nothing to do with you."

As Elena felt his hands greedily grab her shaking thighs to hoist them up around his waist, her saviour stormed forward and roughly pulled Michael away from her.

Elena collapsed to the damp ground with a painful thud. Through her onslaught of tears she looked up to find her saviour standing tall over Mike who he had thrown against the opposite wall, and was quickly regaining his composure. Terrified and struggling to string a single, coherent thought in her head, Elena shrunk back against the wall, unable to do much else.

The unknown figure stood in front of her, tall and strong, ready to protect her. Once Mike was back on his feet, she feared for the man who had come to her rescue.

"You asked for it" growled Mike as he lunged a fist forward.

Her saviour blocked the sharp move successfully. But only just. Elena watched as Mike swung forward with greater force, knocking his opponent into wall next to her, the pair almost colliding into her tiny body. Shuffling away in terror, she watched through her tumbles of dark hair as a fist connected to Mike's jaw. Once. Twice. The third time knocking him off balance.

Before the triumphant of the two could crack another fist against Mike's jaw, Mike scrambled to his feet, cradling his face as he made the split second decision to run for it. Shivering on the cold, squalid ground, Elena blinked through her tears as she watched the raven haired stranger who'd rescued her proceed to run after him.

She didn't know why, but when the dark figure turned back, unsuccessful in capturing Mike, she felt afraid. Unable to make out his face through her tears and the darkness, she feared he may have wanted her for the same reasons as Mike did. A quick fuck in the alley against her will. Overcome with panic, she began to tremble fiercely as she forced her shaking limbs to get her standing.

"N-no" she mumbled weakly, her back hitting against a long forgotten dumpster, the metal cold and hard against her spine. Sliding her palms against the greasy metal, she attempted to stand once again, only to find the man slowly crouching down to her level.

And all her panic seemed to vanish when she met those eyes.

"Elena.."

Warmth flooded through her body at the way he said her name. Through the pearls of tears that continued to fall, she felt a smile twitch at her lips.

"It's you..." she said breathlessly.

"What?" he whispered, having not heard her meek voice.

Without thinking, Elena threw herself against him. Wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and burying her face against the crook of his neck. She didn't think about whether he would respond or not, but when she felt his arms curl around her waist and pull her towards him, she had never felt more safe, protected and relieved in her entire life.

"Ssshh" rumbled his voice from his chest, "you're safe. You're okay."

Elena nestled her face against his neck, shakily breathing in his clean, masculine scent that radiated from his warm skin. Even though she was still quite intoxicated, every sense in her body felt heightened. The feel of her body moulded against his chest, her fingers grazing the material of his shirt at his back. The way his fingers gently curled through her mess of dark hair to sooth her raging nerves. She had all but forgotten that the man she was holding so close was her school teacher.

He drew back, and Elena momentarily pouted until she felt the pad of his thumb and fore-finger lift her head up by the chin so her face met his. She gasped, parting her lips at the sight of his magnificent face staring back down at hers.

"Lets get you out of here" he said, and she nodded silently in response, latching onto him once again as she felt him slowly pick her up to her aching feet.

Damon's POV

Damon couldn't begin to comprehend how relieved he felt to have found her. As he left the club he feared the worst, and that the son of a bitch who had tanked Elena up on alcohol had managed to take her back to his place to do God knows what. His eyes caught sight of a struggling couple in the distance and he wasted no time in advancing towards them, hoping to God it was Elena.

And now here she was, curling towards his body like a timid koala bear as he carefully walked them through the bustling night life on the outer-edge of Mystic Falls. He only wished he could take her home with him, where she'd be safe from harms way in his arms all night.

To Hell with how wrong it was. Damon just wanted to protect her.

Reluctantly, he began walking them back towards Factory.

"No don't!" she suddenly yelped, her tiny fingers grasping onto his black shirt so tightly he thought she'd rip it. "Please Mr Salvatore, don't make me go back in there."

Damon drew her back and held her at arms length, instinctively stroking a hand through her rich curls to tuck them behind her ears as she looked up at him with earnest. He knew if anyone saw them stood this way, that he would be in the deepest pile of shit.

But quite frankly, he didn't care.

"We're going to get Caroline and Bonnie, okay?" he began, his eyes never leaving hers as his hands gently cupped her heart-shaped face, "and then we're going to get you three home safely."

He watched her take in his words and she nodded in agreement. It wasn't like he was going to give her any other choice.

Damon began walking them back towards the club when he felt Elena's hand slide into his own, gripping his fingers with a vice like grip. He slowed down to look at her and she found it as an open invitation to lean into his body. He wouldn't mind, but again, if anyone saw he would be in serious trouble. Behind bars kind of trouble. But as he looked down into those traumatized eyes that stared at the passing world around them with fear he couldn't bring himself to move away. Instead he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and used his spare hand to hold her own freezing digits in his palm.

Within the space of ten minutes the police had arrived and had taken a detailed statement of the attack, Bonnie and Caroline had been retrieved and Damon was ordering the girls a cab home.

"Talk about a bizarre turn of events," commented Alaric, in between hiccups, while handing Damon his long forgotten leather jacket from the cloakroom.

Damon hung up his call and took his jacket without ever taking his eyes off Elena. She stood a few feet away, explaining the whole story tearfully to her friends who held her close.

"I'm gonna let them know about their cab, give them some money for the ride" Damon said, feeling totally wiped out while Alaric simply nodded with a bemused look.

As Damon soundlessly approached the highly emotional teenagers, Elena's gaze caught his and he felt his stomach jump at the look she gave him. One that said 'thank you.' He smiled warmly at her as she drew away from Bonnie's arms to face him properly.

"Your cab's ordered girls, should be here in a minute or two."

"Sir, you're a total hero, seriously, I mean... she could've been dead!" blurted Caroline in a high pitched voice.

"Thank you Caroline, I appreciate the hero compliment" said Damon, not quite knowing what to say when he was completely distracted with the way Elena smiled at him. "And I think you girls need to learn something from this, don't you think?"

"Oh my, we're never going to let each other out of our sight in a club again, are we?" said Bonnie.

"And you're going to wait a few years until you're legal to drink" Damon said sternly.

Apart from Elena, Bonnie and Caroline looked at him as though he'd just asked them to give up chocolate and hair products for a lifetime. He smirked and rolled his eyes.

"Okay maybe that's a little harsh, but still, be more attentive to each other."

"We will" Bonnie assured him.

Several beeps from a cab caught their attention.

"That'll be yours, ladies" said Damon, feeling sorry that he would finally have to see Elena go. "Take this twenty," he said, handing his money over to Bonnie who smiled her thanks.

"Thanks, Mr Salvatore!" Caroline shouted as she and Bonnie made their way over to the parked car.

Elena for some reason, hung on until they were both alone. She looked like she was about to say something, but was struggling to find the right words. Damon frowned when she saw her begin to shiver a little more, her bare and bruised arms shriveling with goose pimples. Without hesitation, Damon shook open his jacket.

"Take this, you're freezing."

He strolled behind her and carefully placed his most expensive piece over clothing over her delicate shoulders, his fingers stroking out her hair from underneath and fanning it over the cool leather. Her tiny fingers clutched onto the thick material, drawing it over her skin.

"Won't you be cold?" she quivered.

"Nah not me, I'm a tough guy" he joked, pulling a face and flexing his arms which made her do something between a giggle and a snort. It was adorable. "Just take care of it, it's my baby."

"I will" she said with a flutter of her eyelashes in the cold, blustery wind.

For a few moments he stood there feeling useless. He wanted to close the gap and hug her, hold her close, kiss her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her parted lips... a sharp pain snatched at his heart as he realized in that moment how much he had fallen for her.

For his student.

Damon swallowed the thick lump that had formed in his throat, now feeling sick and disturbed by his emotions that had him on Cloud Nine only moments before. He couldn't carry on like this. If this was the way he felt after a matter of days with having her in his life, what would it be like a few months down the line? It was time to put the barriers up, and keep them there.

"Goodnight, Elena..."

"G'night, Mr Salvatore" she said in a whisper.

She looked up into his eyes one last time, gripped her hold on his jacket around her body and quickly made her way into the cab where Bonnie and Caroline waited for her.

Damon Salvatore watched the cab leave until it was no longer in sight.

"So..." drawled the voice of Alaric Saltzman from behind him, "apart from the last hour, that was a pretty good night don't you think?"

Damon looked over his shoulder with the most exhausted look,

"I thought you said students don't go out around here, Ric."

And with that, Damon shook off the pained feeling in his heart, and in his fists, and proceed to figure out his own way back home.

Elena's POV

Monday morning came by a lot quicker than Elena Gilbert would have liked.

Then again, she was glad it had, because she was desperate to speak with Mr Salvatore.

But then again, what if he was angry with her?

So many thoughts raced through her mind as she brushed her hair in front of her mirror. But regardless of what she thought, she needed to return his jacket and would have to speak to him anyway. She sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulders and grabbing her school bag which contained Mr Salvatore's jacket.

"You're a little early aren't you?" said Jenna as Elena jogged down the stairs.

"Yeah i've got a meeting with my history teacher" Elena lied, taking an apple from the fruit bowl on the kitchen table and making her way to leave. She hadn't said a word about what had happened on friday night. Nor was she going too. She only hoped Mr Salvatore, heck even Miss Flemming, hadn't said a word to her uncle.

"Oh okay, see you later hun"

Elena smiled over her shoulder and left, power walking down the street to get to school on record time.

She decided it was best to return Mr Salvatore's jacket without the prying, questioning eyes of Caroline, Bonnie or the rest of her class for that matter. She made her best friends swear not to tell a soul about the incident. They promised, knowing Elena had enough on her plate already without adding to it. Elena opted for the beginning of the day, before her class with Mr Salvatore started to return his jacket. If she waited to give it back once class was over, she knew she'd have chickened out by then. A nervous breath escaped her lips as she quickly crossed the deserted road, drawing ever closer towards Mystic Falls High.

Elena felt unbelievably embarrassed about friday. It was incredibly stupid and naive of her to leave the club with an older guy she'd just met. That she now knew. What must Mr Salvatore think of her? Well.. exactly that, mused her brain; stupid and naive. That and would she have gotten him into trouble? One thing she clearly remembered about that night was the way she latched herself onto him like a magnet. He was her TEACHER. How could she be so selfish to put him in such a position? She realized she was going to be full of apologies as she walked across the empty school grounds. She made her legs carry her through the echoing corridors towards classroom E6, feeling her legs turn to liquid with each step she took towards the door.

Damon's POV

Damon sat back in his seat at his desk, hands clamped together in his lap, brows deeply furrowed while his mind went over the events that occurred on friday for the umpteenth time. Should he have done this, should he have said that? They were on repeat and plaguing his thoughts constantly. But it was a resounding fact that however he dealt with things, from holding her hand to holding her delicate frame against his, he would not have changed a thing.

And that scared him.

His eyes ghosted over to her chair towards the back of the classroom, imagining her sitting there in about an hours time. He hoped she wouldn't be nervous around him, or feel the need to shy away because of the whole ordeal. It crossed his mind that she probably wouldn't attend school at all. He can only imagine that she must have been incredibly shaken by her attacker, and then to be rescued by her english teacher of all people? Pretty overwhelming to say the least.

Aside from that he had to brace himself for further scrutiny from John Gilbert. Damon mentally kicked himself for playing back to John's snide little comments. He was his fucking superior for Christ's sake, why couldn't he just let it go? Just take things with a pinch of salt and carry on as normal? But nah, he just had to rise to it. Even after only being in the job for a single week and he felt he'd put his neck on the line.

And then there was Isobel. Jesus, the hazy memories of her trying to make a grab for his junk in the cab made Damon shudder. Hopefully she'd remember what a spectacle she'd made of herself and leave it be. Hopefully...

Unable to cope with these thoughts any longer, and with the tell tale pangs of a headache coming on, Damon sat up to make a move on preparing for his first class. He had to do something, anything, to take his mind of things.

No sooner had he picked up his pen, there was a light knock at the door.

"Come on in" he said tiredly, clearing his throat a little afterwards as he saw the door open from the corner of his eye.

When his guest didn't say anything, Damon looked over and was more than surprised to see Elena stood there.

"Miss Gilbert" he announced with the raise of his eyebrows. "What a surprise to see you here."

"Oh.. is it too early, sir? I'm sor-I'll go"

"No, no, not at all" he said, just as she was about to bolt it out of the door and down the hallway. "Please come on in"

He motioned out of his chair and leaned against his desk, smiling warmly as she slowly made her way towards him, playing with the strap of her bag nervously, finding it very difficult to make eye-contact with him. Damon sensed this immediately and decided to take the lead.

"So what brings me the pleasure of your company, Miss Gilbert?"

Elena's POV

Elena finally felt brave enough to look him in the eye, and there she found nothing of what she was expecting: no anger, no disappointment - in fact she was stood in front of the same, insanely beautiful man who had saved her two nights before. The invisible rope that constricted her body, finally released it's tether and she breathed.

"I just came in early to give you your jacket back," she said, juggling her eyesight between his engaging stare and her bag while she tried to open it.

When she finally slipped her fingers around the worn leather and handed it back over she silently wished she hadn't. He looked like he'd completely forgotten about it, and she had secretly enjoyed wearing it in her bedroom, inhaling his scent from the material that made her senses reel with comfort and warmth. She felt herself blush at the thoughts while she watched him take it from her possession.

"Wow, i'd actually forgotten about giving this to you" he smirked, "thanks for returning it so quickly."

"It's okay" Elena said, "and I... I also want to apologize..."

"What on earth for, Miss Gilbert?"

She didn't know why, but Elena suddenly found herself fighting back tears.

"For causing you so much trouble, for behaving the way I did. It was... it was completely out of order and... and I'm just sorry" she stuttered, feeling a heavy lump form in her throat.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Elena..."

Her heart almost flew out of her mouth when he drawled out her name in his deep voice. It got to her every, single time.

"That guy was a... excuse my French, but a complete dick who was taking advantage of an underage girl. The only thing that I'm upset about is the fact I didn't stop him as soon as I should have done."

Elena looked to him with confusion. He saw her and Mike together earlier in the night? Had he been watching?

"You saw us in the club?" she found herself saying, seeing the colour pale in his face for the slightest moment.

"I had seen you, yes" he admitted, his eyes never leaving hers. "I just hope that next time you go out with friends that you keep a closer eye on one another."

"We will, sir. I've just... I don't want to make excuses for myself, but I've been through a really tough time of it lately and I suppose I just... lost control a little. I'm not like that, I swear."

"I know," he said softly. Elena wasn't sure what his words were meant for. Did he know about her parents? Or did he know that she didn't usually behave so recklessly in a nightclub? She was about to speak, but he carried on, "I know you're a smart girl, and I suppose we all behave a little out of character when life throws a curve ball."

The tears were welling up again and Elena felt her breath shaking at the back of her throat. The look he gave her, so lament and understanding, his eyes bold and trusting, letting her know that he knew about her recent past. As hot tears spilled from her eyes and onto her cheeks she quickly tried to capture them, laughing nervously.

"I really need to stop crying in front of you," she joked.

"Don't be ridiculous" he smirked, which instantly made her feel better.

"I suppose my uncle told you, right?" she asked, but already knowing his answer. He nodded in reply.

"He said I should inform him if ever you're struggling in class."

Elena felt a shudder crawl up her spine and she looked away, hoping to hide her dislike for her uncle who pretty much left herself and Jeremy to cope without his emotional support when their parents died. But it was probably already clear to Mr Salvatore, after their confrontation in the faculty lounge last week, that her Uncle wasn't exactly on the top of her list of favourite people.

"But somehow I don't think you'd be happy if it came to that, or if I mentioned your whereabouts on Friday" she heard Mr Salvatore say.

"Honestly" she said, meeting his gaze dead on, "I would hate it."

He smirked again, so devilishly that it made her stomach twist with delight. She flashed him a coy smile herself, and glanced back to the floor.

"In that case if there's ever a problem, I'm here should you want to talk, Elena."

"Thanks Mr Salvatore, but I wouldn't want to put my problems on you."

"That I completely understand. But I also understand what you're going through."

Elena stopped to stare at him. She always hated it when people said that to her; that they knew, they understood her pain when they'd barely so much as have a goldfish pet pass away in their family. Yet the look her incredibly handsome english teacher gave her was different than any other when someone spoke those words.

"I know" he said, then to her complete surprise he reached out and took her right hand into his "...I get it."

After a few moments of silence, Elena curled her fingertips gently around his own and felt her heart bloom with adoration and affection for him. The way he was staring at her right now, so deep, enticing, it was both exciting and terrifying.

The feeling was fantastic - and she badly wanted to kiss him.

Damon's POV

Damon felt he'd probably just taken another step too far with Elena Gilbert. What was that he told himself on Friday? About putting those barriers up? He was doing a really shitty job of that one.

He squeezed her hand and gently let it go, though he wanted nothing more than to just drop those barriers once again, scoop her into his arms and kiss her pain and worries away.

And unless his eyes were cheating him, it looked like she wanted him to do exactly that.

"Uh am I interrupting?"

Damon flashed his head up to the door to find Alaric standing at the doorway, looking a little confused as to why Elena Gilbert was in school so early. Damon was quick to stand and clear his throat. He silently championed himself for letting go of Elena's hand when he did. Close one.

"Not at all Mr Saltzman, Elena arrived early to return my jacket from the other evening." Damon said, without thinking whether it was a good idea to bring the subject up. He just wasn't on it this morning at all.

Alaric stopped to think and he quickly remembered what had happened.

"Oh of course, are you alright Miss Gilbert?"

"I'm fine, thank you" she smiled, looking a little embarrassed. Damon silently thought to himself how adorable she looked when she was shy. But not wanting to see her more uncomfortable, Damon decided to put her out of her misery.

"How about you get to your tutor early Miss Gilbert and I'll see you in a short while?"

He made sure to flash her an apologetic look for having to cut their meeting so abruptly, but she understood, smiling in response as she proceeded to gather her belongings.

"G'bye Mr Salvatore."

Damon inwardly winced at her addressing him by his surname. It sounded so cold and detached, and he wished he could hear her say his name. He could almost hear the way she sounded, her voice soft yet husky as it passed her full lips... Suck it up, Salvatore. Get it together.

"Bye Mr Saltzman."

"Bye Elena. Oh, and could you remind Jeremy that it'd be a good idea for him to actually attend class this week?"

"I will" she smiled.

Wow. Damon just loved the way her lips... fuck!

With that she left the room. She'd been in there all but fifteen minutes and Damon was emotionally exhausted. He didn't know how he'd cope having her in his presence for a full hour when class would begin shortly. It was pure torture, and he knew was putting up a pathetic fight at keeping his walls cemented high into place, when all he wanted to do was knock them down, crumble and give in...

Sooo... what d'ya think? Please, please, pllllleeeeeease clickety-click on the review button and let me know! Your thoughts and feelings on this story are what spur me on to write more!

And just to clear up one, particular query in a recent review, i'd peg Damon to be around 26/27 in this story. No younger than that, but definitely in his late twenties. I find it so hard to pin an age on Damon. Anyone else feel the same way?

Anyway to wrap up, I hope to enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to reading plenty of reviews (hint-hint). Buh-byeeee xxx