Surprise (Damon)
Covering your tracks, by Amy Stroup
"Gotta a glimpse,
of the old you,
Just when I, had forgotten
what it looked like.
Hide and seek,
from our old guilt.
No, we all need to disappear.
See you covering your tracks,
will you ever come back?
See you covering your tracks,
will you ever come back?
I honestly miss you
Oh oh. I do."
Round about seven months had passed since my gaffe and my separation from Helen, and I had thoroughly drained my pain in alcohol. Sometimes I wondered if vampires could get addicted to alcohol. I had spent the past few days in a small motel near Richmond, leaving my room only to do laundry or find a new victim. I sedated myself with vast quantities of alcohol and the blood of willing victims. Although, that short before Christmas – it was only two days until Christmas eve - I didn't want to kill anyone anymore, it would've been too suspicious. I lay on my bed and gloomily stared a hole into the ceiling when my cell phone vibrated. A text from Elena appeared. ~Urgent! Come to the boardinghouse~ I texted back. ~Not interested~ I didn't have to wait long for her answer. ~But it's Stefan!~ I sighed, wondering what my little brother had done now. Eradicated Bambi? ~What's wrong?~ I replied. ~Werewolf bite~ I bolted up straight and stared at the display. Frantically, I typed again. ~Where's Klaus?~ I jumped up and paced on the spot until it vibrated again. ~Untraceable~ I plopped down on the mattress again and stared at my phone. My brother, in the same condition like I had been back then? He would ... die? ~I'm in Richmond, coming right away~ I replied and started packing.
Only fifteen minutes later I had finished my shower and paid my bill. It had been snowing on the mountain sides during the past few days and I would need longer than usual, even though the streets were ploughed. On the freeway, traffic was still easy but after Charlotteville, up in the hills, things got worse. When I exited for Washington National Park near Lexington, it started snowing again. The road was pretty windy and it was hard to stay on if one didn't know it, but I knew this road inside out. Not long before reaching Wickery Bridge, I saw a few cars halting on the roadside or lying in the ditch. There was ice on the road and right in front of me, a rental car still crawled along its way. How stupid to keep driving in this weather without knowing the area! Suddenly, in a turn, the car started sliding sideways on the ice and bumped to a tree with its fender. In slow motion the vehicle finally slid askew into the ditch. I stopped carefully and jumped out to look after the driver. „Hey, you hear me?" I yelled and rattled at the driver's door.
It gave way with a jolt and a woman fell right into my arms. Her hat covered her face and I lowered her carefully to the ground. Just now I saw that she was very pregnant. She moaned softly. "Ma'am, can you hear me?" I said and froze as I pulled her hat away. Helen! What the hell was she doing here? "Helen, wake up, " I whispered into her ear and patted her cheeks softly. Her eyelids fluttered. "Damon," she sighed softly. "I'm here, wake up, please," I urged her. Her mind seemed to remember my voice and she slowly opened her eyes. "Damon," she breathed and smiled brightly. My dead heart jumped. How I had missed this smile! "I'm taking you to Mystic Falls' hospital," I said and lifted her bridal style. "Wait," she murmured insistently. "Bag… important," she pointed towards her car. "I'll get it," I nodded and carried her to my car. Carefully I let her slide into the passenger seat and buckled her up. "Are you in pain?" I asked worried. "No… not really…," she whispered with a smile. I flashed back to her car, found her purse and a travel bag. Throwing both into the backseat of my car, I jumped in and pulled out.
She dozed next to me, only half-conscious, her eyes fixated on me with a smile whenever she opened them. „Helen, what are you doing here? In this weather and your condition?" I asked. She looked at me with a serious expression. „… searched for you, …baby," she whispered, her voice fading. She was on the verge of unconsciousness. „You've searched for me? And what about the baby?" I insisted. I wanted to keep her awake, she shouldn't doze off. Her hand searched for mine and I grabbed it quickly. „Yours…," she breathed. „What do you mean?" Vigorously she squeezed my hand. „The baby... it's yours." Her hand went limp and fell down while her head rolled to the side. „HELEN!" I shouted. She didn't react. I pulled over, left the engine running and unbuckled her. Then I pulled her onto my lap and caressed her face. „Helen, please wake up, please!" Her eyelids fluttered, but didn't open. I figured that I had only one option – to give her my blood. I bit my wrist open and held it to her mouth, letting the blood drop on her tongue. „Come on, darling, swallow it, please!" I massaged her larynx to trigger the swallowing reflex, but it didn't help. The blood was flowing down her throat, but she didn't react at all. I maneuvered her back into the seat and buckled her on again. Then I drove on the hospital like a madman. Thank God it had stopped snowing meanwhile!
Ten minutes later I halted in front of the hospital with screeching tires, jumped out and flashed around the car to lift her out of the car and into my arms. I kicked the door of the emergency unit open. „DR. FELL!" I shouted as loudly as possible. „DR. FELL!" She emerged from a room and approached me with surprise on her face. „Damon, what …?" I interrupted her. „Her car crashed, save her - please!" I begged her. She nodded. „In here," she replied and pointed to a room. „What's her name?" she asked when I lowered Helen onto a bed. „Helen Corey," I answered. „Of the Coreys who used to live here?" I just nodded. „How far is she?" she asked. „I don't know. Maybe six or seven months," I whispered. „Okay. Helen?" She patted her cheeks a little harder than I'd done it. „Come on, Helen, wake up. Your baby needs you, don't flag!" She tried again. „I gave her a little of my blood, but I'm not sure if she swallowed it at all," I explained while Dr. Fell continued checking on her. „Alright," she murmured. Then she opened the door and peered into the hallway. „TEAM 2 IN ROOM 1, NOW!" she yelled and turned to me. „Please, leave the room now, Damon. I promise I'll take care of them!" She looked pointedly at me and pushed me to the door while behind me the first assistants bolted into the room.
Outside, I fell into one of the chairs opposite the door. A few minutes later, my cell phone rang. It was Elena. „Damon, where are you?" she asked. „At the hospital." I noticed that I sounded exhausted. „What? What are you doing there?" she inquired. „Helen is here…" My voice broke. „What about Stefan?" I asked in return. „Forget about Stefan. Stay where you are, we're coming!" She hung up. I wondered what she was talking about. I didn't understand anything anymore and closed my eyes. Finding Helen like this, here and in this condition had thrown me totally off track. About ten minutes later, I heard hasty steps in the hallway and got up. „Damon?" That was Stefan's voice. Stefan? Shouldn't he be dead? I got up. „Damon?" Elena's voice. „I'm here," I said and they walked around the corner. Elena threw herself into my arms. „Damon, it's so good to see you again! What happened to Helen?" she asked. „You know her?" I said surprised. „Yes, I do. I'll explain later. What happened?" she returned. „I was close to Wickery Bridge when I saw how the car in front of me skidded on the ice and into the ditch. I just wanted to make sure that the driver was okay, and there she was. Elena, why is she here and why the hell is she pregnant? And why is Stefan still alive?" I looked at both of them with complete confusion. Stefan just grinned and Elena cupped my face. „Listen closely, Damon. I've met her down in Baton Rouge when I was there in October and she told me her story. I invited her and made up the story about Stefan to lure you here so that she could meet you." I frowned. „What story did she tell you?" I probed. „Damon, she said the baby is yours!"
I removed her hands from my face and grimaced. „Are you kidding me? It's impossible, and you know that!" I snarled at her. She just shook her head. „I can't say if it's true," she said and scanned the hallway to see if we were alone. „I just know that her cop friend, John, explained that her genetic profile is different from other human beings. She just wanted to see you again and tell you – that's all!" she whispered. I plopped down on the chair again. „She was adamant that I kept it secret, which could indicate that it might be true," she added, glancing at me and Stefan. „I've met John. He saved Helen's and my life back then," I whispered. Could it really be true? But why had she slept with me without taking precautions if she'd known what could happen? It didn't add up – something was missing here! I jumped up and paced on the spot, tearing at my hair. Suddenly, the door opened and Dr. Fell emerged. „Meredith!" I walked to her. „She's okay, Damon, and the baby is fine, too. Maybe she's got a slight concussion, but that's all. We'll x-ray her head and she'll stay overnight just to make sure. You did the right thing," she said with a pointed glance at me. „Go to her," she added, nodding into the direction of the room. I shook my head. „No. First, I've got to ask you something – in private!" I stated.
Dr. Fell gave me a surprised glance. „I'll go to her as soon as she comes back from the x-ray, Damon, okay?" Elena chimed in. I just nodded at her and followed Dr. Fell down the hallway to her office. „Damon, what's going on here?" she asked, but I interrupted her. „Meredith, I need to know if the Corey family has been supernaturally gifted. Is there anything in the chronicles?" She was my last hope. „I'd have to dig it up in my family journals. Maybe they made some notes. Why are you asking?" she replied. „I can't tell you, but could you take a look at it anyway?" I pleaded. She seemed a little confused, but she nodded. „Of course, I'll let you know. Are you staying for a while?" I shrugged. „I think so. Helen will probably stay at the boarding house later." She smiled. „Alright, I'll call you, but now – go and talk to her, dammit!" she ordered and pushed me towards the door. Slowly I walked along the hallway to the reception desk and asked for her room. On my way there I felt as if I had to push against a wall which tried to keep me away. In front of her room, I breathed deeply before I reached for the handle. I could hear her voice. „…knew he wouldn't believe it. God, how am I supposed to prove it?" She sounded desperate. „Don't you have any family chronicles? Most of the old-established families kept journals," I heard Stefan suggest. „My family didn't. My mother once told me that the Corey women passed their knowledge down to the next generation only by oral transmission. They thought it too dangerous to write anything down." What the hell was she talking about? I thought. Elena asked exactly the same thing and I waited eagerly for Helen's answer. „I cannot answer this, it is a secret. There has to be another way to prove that I'm telling the truth!" A thought crossed my mind and I opened the door.
„If you really mean it, would you agree to a validation by a witch?" I asked when I entered the room. She paled a little more than she already was, but she nodded. „Yes," she whispered. Our eyes locked. „I'll go and talk to Bonnie," Elena mused and pulled Stefan with her, out of the room. „Why?" she whispered as soon as we were alone. I stood at the foot of her bed, knowing exactly what she was asking. „Look at me, Damon. Tell me face to face why you didn't return," she demanded a little louder now. „You knew I would leave at some point," I replied and withstood the ire in her eyes. „But not like this! I had just that one request, you remember?" I breathed deeply. „Yes, I remember, but I also remember that I didn't promise anything," I returned icily. Her eyes widened a bit. „I know, I just thought…," she replied. „You thought what? That I'd fallen for you after three days?" I retorted snidely. Tears welled up in her eyes and I cursed myself for treating her like this. „And… the entry in your journal? You've lied to me at the pond?" she whispered strained. I didn't reply, I just tried to suppress my feelings. It had been my survival strategy during the past months and I didn't plan on changing it. Her lower lip quivered and she just nodded. „I get it. Please go now," she whispered and closed her eyes. The tears streamed down her face now and I couldn't stand the sight any longer. Standing next to the bedhead, I softly wiped her cheeks. „Don't," she sobbed quietly and averted her face. „Please, go," she repeated weeping. „LEAVE!" she finally yelled at me. I turned around and left the room.
„What have you done?" Stefan asked quietly when I passed him. „The right thing, I hope," I replied flatly and dragged my feet through the hallway like a zombie, heading for the parking lot. I plopped down feebly into my seat and leaned back, closing my eyes. I had to reject her. Not because her baby couldn't be mine anyway, but because she needed to stay away from me and my world. I pressed my forehead to the steering wheel and held on to it for dear life. Pain spread in my chest and I breathed deeply to keep my composure. I hadn't lied to her back then – I liked her - a lot. It was more than that – I had fallen for her, head over heels – I just kept denying it. I couldn't allow myself to feel it! Not if she needed to go back home alone for her own good! Suddenly the passenger door opened and Stefan sat next to me. I squinted my eyes quickly to hold back the tears and took a deep breath, leaning back in my seat. "You need a lift?" I croaked tentatively and stared straight ahead. "Elena stays with her and meets us later at the boarding house. Drive me home, Damon?" I nodded silently and let the engine rev.
At the boarding house, Stefan left the car first. He had remained silent on our way here. Fetching my bag from the backseat, I saw Helen's bags and collected them before I locked the car. Stefan waited for me at the door and held it open with a smile. "Welcome home, brother," he said. I gave him a short glance and walked inside. Things looked like nothing had changed. "We kept everything like it was down here. Your room upstairs is also still the same. We just renovated the guest rooms." I was impressed, but my nose told me that the house had been empty for quite some time. "You don't live here anymore?" I asked. "No, we moved to Richmond last year. Elena attends college there, but we come back for vacation and the holidays." I just nodded and went upstairs. My old room really looked like on the day I had left home. I let the bags drop to the floor and lay on my bed. Aah, it's good to be home, I thought involuntarily.
After a quick shower, I changed and headed down for a drink. With a glass of bourbon in my hand, I sat down in the library in front of the fireplace. Tomorrow, Bonnie would reveal that Helen just imagined that I was the child's father. I would ask her to go home and put her on a plane to New Orleans. Afterwards I would think about where to go next. "May I join you?" Stefan interrupted my thoughts. I pointed to the couch. "It's your home." He fetched himself a bourbon. "It's also yours," he replied. I grimaced something like a crooked smile and raised my glass. "Not anymore, little brother." He was silent for a moment. "You're in love with her, aren't you?" I didn't answer and took another swig. "I can clearly see what you're doing, Damon. You're rejecting her, hoping she'll turn away from you." I shot him a contemptuous glance. "Did you take psychology as a major?" I sneered. He shook his head. "I've known you long enough, Damon, that's all," he replied.
Suddenly, he leaned forward. "What if her story is true? What if this child is really yours? Are you still going to send her away?" he asked intently. I looked at him thunderstruck. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. "You don't even count on it at all?" he insisted. I just shook my head. Stefan smiled cryptically and emptied his bourbon. "Be careful not to miscalculate, Damon," he said and got up, walking away. In my head, my thoughts were swirling like in a whirlwind. What if he was right? What if I should really get this intangibly extraordinary chance? Suddenly I noticed that these thoughts were exactly what Stefan had counted on! To hell with him, I thought and jumped up. I flung my glass into the fireplace where it shattered to pieces and grabbed the bottle of bourbon on my way back to my room.