Damon:
Having had very little sleep last night, I'm more than a little bit cranky by the time I arrive at the hospital. After taking a few minutes to refill my coffee mug, I take the stairs and go into the doctor's lounge to get my stethoscope and put my lab jacket on. Taking a deep breath, I take the stairs and run down the ER to see if I can help out.
"Damon, I was just about to page you. We have two incoming. Motorcycle accident involving a man and a child," Dr. Fell informs me.
Blowing out a puff of air, I ask, "ETA?"
"The chopper is about thirty minutes out."
"I'm going to run up and check on a couple of my patients. I'll be back before they arrive," I tell her before turning on my heels and stepping into the elevator. When I arrive on the fifth floor, I march to the nurses desk to grab Mr. Adam's chart only to find it not there. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I notice that nurse looking through it. Unable to control my sarcasm, I bark at her. "It would be nice to be able to have my charts available when I need them."
Clearly seething, she glares at me, eyes aflame before getting up and shoving it into my hands. "Here you are Dr. Salvatore," she sneers.
"Just who do you think you are taking that kind of attitude with me?" I demand to know.
With her face mere inches from mine, she tightens her lips before railing at me, "I'm a professional too and I expect, no, I demand to be treated with some respect."
Puffing out my chest, I stare right back at her before stepping back to put some distance between us when I feel my dick twitch. Damn this girl is full of fire! I give her one last look before taking the chart and walking down the hall to my patient's room.
Elena:
That man is so infuriating. I don't know where he gets off treating me like I'm inferior to him. He has another thing coming if he thinks I'm going to allow him to treat me with such disrepect, I think to myself as I walk down to the cafeteria to get one of my patients a bowl of canteloupe.
When I finally get home that evening, Rose is waiting for me. "Miss Elena, I need to talk to you."
"Where's Jeremy?"
"He's already had his bath and is sound asleep. I think he wore himself out at the park today. That little man is such a sweet boy," she tells me, smiling.
"I know he is. Thank you for taking him to the park. He loves it there so much, especially that fort that he can climb on," I smile, thinking about my baby.
"What did you need to talk to me about Rose?"
"My sister is having cancer surgery next week. She lives in Montana. I need to go up there to take care of her. I don't know how long I'll be gone. I told her that I'd need to give you time to make arrangements for Jeremy's care before I can come. I love you both but she's all I have left of our family so I just feel I need to be with her."
"Oh Rose, of course I understand. I'll call the hospital day care tomorrow and see if they have room for Jeremy. Thank you for giving me time to find someone or someplace to take care of him while I'm at work. Do you have any idea how long you'll be gone?"
"Actually miss Elena, I'm considering moving out there for good. I haven't definitively made up my mind yet but I'm leaning in that direction. I'll miss you both but Giselle is my family."
After taking a deep breath, I force a smile on my face and pull her into a hug. "I understand. If you decide to come back, please let me know. Jeremy loves you and so do I."
Wiping a few tears from her eyes, she hugs me back. "I'll keep in touch so you know of my plans. Goodnight, I'm going to go home now."
Walking her to the door, I tell her goodnight. After I watch her drive away, I close and lock the door.
Damon:
It's been a quiet day at work so I'm able to get off early. My sister works in the ED as a health unit clerk. She doesn't get off for a couple of hours yet and her husband Matt is out of town for business purposes. Caroline is only eighteen months older than me so we've always been close. When she asked me to pick up my niece, Annabelle from the hospital day care, I couldn't refuse. I love that little girl. Aside from my mom, Annabelle and Caroline are the only women who've ever held a piece of my heart. I guess if I'm being honest, Ivy did too at one time.
Having been born the year after our mother died, Annabelle is named after her. Mom passed away after battling colon cancer for three years. She fought a very hard and indeed a very courageous fight but didn't quite make it the finish line. I think about her almost everyday.
"Uncle Damon," she yells when I step into the day care building.
"Hey kiddo," I say, lifting her into my arms when she comes flying at me.
"Let's go sign you out. Mom will pick you up at my house when she gets off work, okay?"
When she nods, I put her down. She takes my hand, leading me to the office. As we walk through the big play area, I'm surprised to see that nurse that I've butted heads with a few times.
She's squatting, holding a little boy in her arms, pressing kisses to the crown of his head. When she looks up, our eyes meet for a several moments before she stands up and takes the little boy by the hand, walking in my direction.
"Hello Dr. Salvatore."
"Um, hello Elena. That is your name, right?"
Laughing softly, she nods. "We need to get going. Have a good evening."
"You too," I utter, turning my eyes to watch the two of them walk away.
"Who was she Uncle Damon?"
"That's just a lady I know from work. Come on, I need to sign you out so we can go."
"She's pretty," Annabelle tells me.
"Yes, she is," I reply, smiling when I think of how she wouldn't take any guff from me that day and yes, she most certainly is 'hot'.
Once I get Annabelle signed out, we drive home. After putting a movie on the DVD player for her, I start making us some supper. Macaroni and cheese with hot dogs is her favorite so I usually make that for her when she's with me. Caroline doesn't like hot dogs so she doesn't get them at home very often. Uncles are supposed to spoil their nieces. She has no memory of Stefan as she was just a toddler when he disappeared. I'm so grateful Dad wasn't babysitting her the night Stefan lost his mind. If he had turned his rage on her, she would not have survived. I just hope for my dad's sake and Stefan's too that he's once again the brother I used to look up to.
When we're done eating, Anna helps me to load the dishwasher. She grabs my hand pulling me into the living room to watch the cartoon network with her. Rather than watch the dumb cartoons kids watch nowadays, I put a Disney DVD in the player for her. I swear I've seen every Disney princess movie one hundred and ten times but she enjoys them. As she watches 'Cinderella', my mind drifts to Elena. I like her spirit. I'm normally not a bad guy, we've just had a few run ins when I've been stretched thin as far as patient load. Although I know absolutely nothing about her personal life, the fact that she has a little boy doesn't really upset me. However, if there's a dad in the picture, just that thought feels strangely disconcerting, although I don't remember seeing a ring on 'that' finger.
I'm aroused from my thoughts about her when I hear the door of my house open and close. "Damon?"
"We're in here Care."
"Mommy," Annabelle yelps, running to wrap her arms around her mom's middle.
"Did you have something to eat?" she asks her.
"Uncle Damon made my favorite. Umm Umm, hot dogs," she says rubbing her little tummy.
"Hot dogs, Damon? Really?" Caroline remarks, shaking her head.
"Hot dogs are good. Aren't they Annabelle?"
"Yes they are uncle Damon," she says, bobbing her head up and down.
Raising my eyebrows, I cross my arms over my chest, "See."
"You're incorrigible," she scoffs but tries to hide her smile. "Sweetie, you can watch the movie a little longer. I want to talk to Damon for a few minutes, okay?"
"Yes mommy."
She motions me to go into the kitchen with her head. Once we take a seat at the kitchen table, she asks me about dad. "I talked to him a couple of nights ago. He said he'd wait to see Stefan till you and I could be with him. Caroline, I'll never get that picture of him in pool of blood out of my mind."
"Me neither. I'll call him when I get home to see if he's had any more contact with him. Do you work tomorrow?"
"No, I'm taking Pops to the golf course."
"Oh, he'll love that. We're so lucky to have a grandfather who's still so spry. Give him a hug for me."
Nodding, I take her hand. "Indeed we are. Listen about dad, I'm worried about him."
"I know, me too. At least you got him to promise not to meet with him alone. Dad keeps his promises. He won't go without us. I just really hope that Stefan is the brother we used to know and love," she says squeezing my hand.
"Me too, sis. Me too."
"I better get Annabelle home and into bed. She'll be cranky tomorrow if she doesn't get to bed soon. Thanks for picking her up. And little brother, I kind of melt over the fact that you spoil her. But if you tell her I said that, I'll kick your ass. I still can you know!" she teases.
"I don't doubt that one bit sis," I laugh as I walk her to the living room. "Goodnight little girl," I say, pulling Annabelle into a hug.
"Night, night uncle Damon. I love you," she tells me, waving goodbye.
"I love you too."
Papa and I walk down the fairway to the ninth hole. He's beating the shit out of me today. "Where's your head today, Damon?"
"It's obviously not on this game," I chuckle.
"I would say not. How's work?"
"Busy. I'm only one of two trauma surgeons employed by the hospital. It's been crazy busy lately."
"Take care of yourself. Have you met anyone?"
"Papa, you ask me that every time I see you. I just have no desire for a relationship right now. I tried that once, I'm not going down that road again. Or at least not for a very long time."
"Damon, you're too young to be so jaded about romance," he scolds.
"Maybe, but you had grandma. She was it for you. I thought Ivy was that person for me. I was completely in love with her, but she didn't love me back. She's a good person, she wasn't cruel, she didn't cheat or do anything underhanded, she just didn't feel the same way about me. Why should I put myself out there again only to be made the fool a second time? Besides, I don't have any trouble finding a date. Can we drop it now, please?"
Rolling his eyes, he turns to me. "I really hope you find someone like your grandmother. She was a great lady."
"I know Pops. Come on, it's your turn to tee off," I reply, handing him a tee and a golf ball.
After rounding on my patients this morning, I stop at the nurse's desk to tell one of the nurses that the patient in room 521 can be discharged from a surgical standpoint. Elena is the only nurse at the desk. She has her head in the computer, typing away. I clear my throat hoping to get her attention. When she looks up at me, I smile at her.
"Um. Mr. Morgan in 521 is okay to be discharged from a surgical standpoint. I did make a progress note to that effect so Dr. Thomas can see it when he rounds."
"Thank you Dr. Salvatore. I'm sure Mr. Morgan was happy to hear that."
"Yes, he was. So Elena, I know we got off on the wrong foot but I was wondering if you'd have a cup of coffee with me sometime?" She looks at me for a long moment before finally answering me.
"Just coffee?"
Smiling, I shake my head, "Yes, just coffee."
"Okay then. Let me know when."
"Are you free now?"
"No, I'm sorry. I'm the only one here. The others are on their lunch breaks. Maybe later?"
"Sure. I'll come back later today or do you work tomorrow?"
"I do."
"Good to know. I'll get back to you. I need to get back to the ED. You have a nice day, Elena."
"You too," she replies before turning her eyes back to the computer.
Elena:
After I pick Jeremy up and get him settled in bed, I crawl into my nice hot tub full of bubbles. Putting in a big garden tub was the one change I made to this house when I bought it. It also has whirlpool jets to indulge myself with. Picking up the bath pillow, I put it behind my neck so I can relax and unwind. As I scrub myself clean, I can't help but think of Dr. Salvatore. It should be illegal to look that good. I couldn't help but notice his firm, tight, jeans clad ass when I saw him pick up the little girl at the daycare that day. I wonder if she's his?
Closing my eyes, my hand drifts south beneath the cover of the bubbles, stroking myself to release as I daydream about that sinfully handsome man with royal blue eyes and inky colored hair.
Happy Easter. I love Damon's Grandfather. It's always, always the case that Damon is jaded because Katherine cheated on him. I would like my stories to be different so I try to come up with different scenarios. Thank you all for the reviews, follows and favorites. A big thank you to Eva for helping me with this and all of my stories. This will now settle into a weekly update schedule. Please do take a look at 'Breathe' and 'Pieces of Eight'. I hope you all have a wonderful day and a wonderful week ahead. See you next week.