...
Eight months went by. It was an awfully long time to be without your partner, especially if you had been separated from her for over three years before that already.
They had only had so many weeks with each other, before Grayson Gilbert had taken Elena away from Damon again. But this time, he had a purpose. He was determined to find her, even if that meant tolerating and working with Malachai Parker.
He was not going to let himself go again. He was not going to do something stupid for once. Stefan was not around to pick up the pieces and keep him in check. But he didn't need Stefan.
He needed to be strong for Elena. And he was.
Granted, it may have all looked a little differently had it not been for their secret little dream connection.
Grudgingly, Damon had to admit that he had Kai to thank for that, since the obnoxious little douchebag had been the one to figure out how to use whatever power was making some of their dreams a little more lifelike than was desirable.
He had almost suffered another heart attack before that had happened, but thankfully he had gotten away with just a warning by his doctor this time.
"You need to avoid all stress, Mr. Salvatore. If you can't do that at home, I'll get you a spot in a rehab clinic," the doctor had offered, or rather threatened, and Damon had quickly assured him he'd be extra careful from now on.
Bonnie had been the one to get him to the hospital, and back. It had all happened within the first few weeks without Elena, without Enzo, and they had clung to each other like two drowning people clinging to a piece of driftwood.
If one of them went down, they both would.
But that hadn't happened. Instead, she brought him back to the Armory, where they had all started to hang out most of the time. With one noticeable exception. Matt Donovan.
Damon sighed as he thought about it. He had no clue what exactly had made him do it - it was probably because of Elena, like everything good he did - but he had offered Donovan to take care of the bar for him, be his manager, while Damon was busy searching for his girlfriend. The kid had actually agreed.
So here they had been, the few of them that worked together, and he had casually mentioned how he had had another one of "those dreams," when Kai had wanted to know more.
Damon had been hesitant to tell him anything, but had done it, anyways. Full disclosure. Anything and everything might help to get Elena back.
Kai had been fascinated. Dreams that came true! If only the outcome would have been a little nicer. But then he'd put his hands on Damon's head, Damon had tried to swat them away like annoying flies, but Kai had already been done with whatever it was he was doing.
"This is interesting," he had remarked. "A dream corruption spell. Works different for everyone. I'm assuming at some point in your lives, you and Enzo might have had a close connection. Similar experiences? Otherwise it'd be strange why the two of you seem to be the only two with that kind of repercussions."
Damon had glared at him. He was not going to share his Augustine time with Kai and give him fodder to mess with him later down the road.
"You could say that," was all he had admitted.
Kai had raised an eyebrow at him, but hadn't said anything to it. "Anyways," he'd gone on instead, "the good news is, I think I can use the power of the spell to help you guys make a connection. If - and this is a big if - Bonnie is willing to let me enter that psychic plane of hers."
She'd scrunched up her face and had said no. Just like that. No. It had taken Damon a while to persuade her to give it a chance.
"I know it's asking a lot," he'd agreed as she'd said that that was her safe space, her connection to her Grams - whenever she was lucky enough to see her - and a direct way into her mind. He had understood her reluctance, but if Kai said there was a chance to somehow see Elena, or have a "connection" to her, whatever that meant, then he had to give it a shot.
In the end, Bonnie had agreed. He had promised her he would be right there with her and protect her with his life if Kai should try anything.
But he hadn't. He had delved into Bonnie's mind for just a minute or two and had emerged with another happy grin, leaving Bonnie with a bloody nose and a headache and Damon angry and worried.
Kai's happiness was getting on Damon's last nerve.
"What did you do to her?!" He'd hissed.
"It's done," Kai had announced, matter-of-factly. "You should be able to communicate with them in a dream state."
Damon had been skeptical. "Just like that? We dream, we see them? No more almost dying?"
"No more dying, no. And yes. Technically it's that easy. I used Bonnie's psychic plane to make a connection. You'll be able to meet them there; but… sorry, Bonnie, I had to use up a little of your magic to get it done."
Kai had shrugged apologetically, then grinned. He could have used the giant amount of magic he had siphoned from Katherine, but instead he had stolen Bonnie's.
"Hey. I didn't steal it. Consider it payment for a huge favor."
Damon had stopped being so angry as soon as he saw Elena in his dreams the first time…
...
She looked so beautiful. So… her. It ached him to see her and know she was somewhere else. Yet here she was. She was running toward him, running until he caught her in his arms, whirling her around, kissing her.
"Damon, is this… this doesn't feel like a dream. Is Bonnie-"
"She and Kai did a thing," Damon muttered into her hair. But she shoved him away to see his face.
"Kai, as in Malachai Parker?!"
"Yup. That's the one," he replied, and explained what all had happened since she'd been forced to leave with her dad.
She had tried to explain to him where she was. But her dad wasn't stupid and kept her in the dark about a lot of things. Hiding her away. Keeping her and Enzo separated. It had only gotten worse from there.
Every tiny bit Elena told him, Damon would suck it all up and try to glean information about her whereabouts. He and Bonnie would sit and go over everything in the mornings. But Bonnie was becoming less and less available lately. Something was going on with Enzo, and his - and thus her - sleep patterns were getting more and more irregular, just when Damon had thought they were finally getting somewhere.
She'd mentioned a new motel. And something about it had sounded slightly familiar. She had talked about going out to get ice from the machine, like in the movies. Because it was hot. She said that her dad was getting a little more lax, allowing her or her mom to leave the places they stayed at for a couple of minutes every so often. She had slowly gotten him to trust her that she was over it all, over the 'past grievances' as he had called them, and ready to move on. There had been talk about getting an actual place. Which was good.
It meant they would finally stay in one spot. Maybe long enough for Bonnie to locate them. She had worked tirelessly on a spell with Kai. They just needed a little something to go off of and then...
It had taken eight friggin' months. But finally, Damon had real hope again.
That motel… the ice machine had had graffiti all over it. Elena had especially liked the tiny little Hello Kitty with a Joker grin that someone had drawn with red and black marker.
Damon knew who that "artist" had been.
...
While she was still angry with Kai for stealing her magic, Bonnie was secretly relieved he had given her this: a chance to see Enzo, a chance to touch him and feel him as if he was really with her, and that on a daily basis.
It was not like what she had had before, where it had taken her forever to see him for just a few minutes and then she had not been able to do it again. No. This was more stable, and it was worth all her magic. She would do it a hundred times over if she had to.
At first, he had just looked pale and tired, like the last time she had seen him, back at the Salvatore home. That had slowly gotten worse. She had wanted to know what was going on, but he had been reluctant to tell her. She couldn't let it go, though.
"I'm here for you, babe. Please, please let me help you somehow. Let me be there for you," she'd urged him. Begged.
He'd looked at her with his clear eyes, so sad, so… pained, and whispered, barely more than a rasp, "He's rebuilding the Society. With me. I can't…" He had taken a deep breath, looking away. "Katherine made it so I can't fight anything he does."
Freaking Katherine. Bonnie had bristled at the mere mention of that name. She had felt so powerless, so upset for him. She had clung to him even more as he had continued.
"There's always someone messing with me, huh? I'm just so fucking powerless that I had to let him chain me up again. I could not fight. And there he's just grinning and so pleased with himself." He had paused and looked at her. He'd wiped away the tears she hadn't been able to keep at bay.
"I'll find you, Enzo. I'll get you out."
He'd tried to smile, but it had looked so broken. "I can't do this again, Bonnie. Seventy years… I can't..."
She'd needed to give him something, something to lift him up. She'd been worried whether it was the right thing. Whether he'd be happy at all.
"You won't have to," she had said. "I will find you, and I will reverse that spell. I need you babe, and…" she had bit her lip, then put her hands against his chest. She had felt his heart beat. "You're gonna be a dad, Enzo. We'll… we'll have a baby."
She had felt his heartbeat start picking up, she'd seen the surprise in his eyes, a smile had spread from the corner of his mouths and -
He'd been pulled out of their conversation then, unable to say anything, and she hadn't even been able to give him a hug.
The next time they had spoken, he had been so incredulous and so very excited about the news. But other than that he had looked tired and withdrawn. Every consecutive time, it had gotten worse; until at some point, he had told her that they had started experimenting with sleep deprivation and he wasn't sure how often he'd even be able to see her anymore.
It was all to do with a whole slew of "experiments" - their euphemism for torture - and there was a twist.
…
Before he had told her, he had looked more broken than she had ever seen him. She'd been terrified for him, for his mental health, and for his life all this time, but that moment, she had panicked.
"What is it, babe? What's going on? What did they do to you?" She had asked, because she couldn't keep it in. She was too worried.
He had remained quiet for a long time. She'd seen his throat work, his jaw muscles, as he had clenched and unclenched his teeth.
"Enzo… you can tell me anything. You know that, right?" She had wanted to make sure… she remembered how it had eaten at him what he and Damon had done while under the spell of the siren. And the other things he'd done in his life, as a vampire. Maybe they were forcing him to do things, bad things, to others. "I won't leave you. Ever," she had said again.
"I'm… not human anymore," he'd eventually breathed, and she hadn't quite understood at first. Not looking at her, he'd continued, "They turned me into a vampire again. To compare certain reactions." He'd paused. "And because that way they can go further without fearing I die..."
Her heart had broken for him then. To think what he'd suffered through, it was unbearable. She needed to get him out of there.
"I know this is not what you wanted, love," he'd told her, tears in his eyes. "You've sacrificed so much. So many times. - I wanted to be human for you. I wanted to give you at least that: a normal happy human life. And our baby… But now I can't do that anymore. I'm so sorry."
She'd held him then, and whispered reassurances. "All I want is to be with you, Enzo. I did dream about us living together happily as humans, yes. But the part that matters is the together, babe. And we will get that. We will…"
Still, she had cried when she had woken up, alone. For his sake. And for hers.
...
From then on, their "meetings" had gotten more and more sporadic, much shorter. But always full of love.
At some point, she had asked him whether he wanted to try and turn his humanity off.
She couldn't bear for him to endure so much pain.
"I'll bring you back. I did it before, I could do it again," she'd promised.
But he had looked at her intently for a long moment, then explained, "I've gone years without doing that, love. Because you can't hang on if you got nothing to live for. - I got you, Bonnie Bennett. Without my humanity, without you I would not be able to hang on anymore. You keep me going; you and our baby."
She hadn't asked again.
…
The last time she had seen him, he hadn't spoken at all. Only a small smile had crossed his lips and she had felt his soft touch against her stomach.
"We're on our way," she had informed him. "Damon went with Alaric to get you and Elena. We think we finally know where you are. And Kai and I are so close to breaking the spell!"
And then the dream had abruptly ended.
...
When they had found Elena, Damon had gotten his second epic moment with her. He'd called out for her as soon as their car had stopped at the motel parking lot.
And she had come running. Wearing just an old pair of jeans and a pretty shapeless crew neck t-shirt, she'd still been the most gorgeous woman, the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.
They'd hugged, they'd kissed, embarrassing Alaric a little bit, and later her mom, who had at some point quietly poked her head out the door. But he didn't care. Neither did she. This time, it was all about the here and now, and them.
But every moment had to end…
Elena had told him about her dad being away often, and that she had no idea where the new Society was located, and where Enzo was kept. They hadn't seen each other in months.
Damon had pressed his lips together, fighting the urge to hit something, break something. They had to find Enzo. Soon.
He knew he would have to call Bonnie, but he really really didn't want to. She was 37 weeks pregnant and he honestly worried that any bad news might bring on contractions.
A pregnancy should be a happy event in a couple's life, but poor Bonnie had to go through it all alone while shouldering the worry about her baby's dad, and trying too hard to reverse Katherine's obedience spell. As if that wasn't bad enough already, she had to work with a man that had made her life hell for a long time at some point.
Damon was right, of course. Bonnie was desperately upset. She had told him she would come out there to help find Enzo, but he had pretty much forbidden her to come. He'd argued that Enzo wouldn't want her in danger and that he was acting as both her and Enzo's best friend so he had to keep her safe.
When he'd finally hung up, Alaric was already on his way to get Elena's dad. She'd told them that he worked at the local hospital - his day job - and the men had silently agreed it best that Elena didn't come with, because Alaric was prepared to use all means possible to get the location of the Augustine Society out of him.
Damon had wanted to come, but Alaric had thought it best that he kept his distance.
"Elena will need you on her side, Damon," he'd told him, "You can't be the one to do to her dad what might be necessary. Because despite everything, Grayson is still her dad."
"She'll need you to get through this all, too, Ric. I mean, you guys pretty much played family at one point. What if she feels betrayed by you?" Damon had argued.
But Ric had smiled at him.
"Damon. Sometimes you gotta do things for your family to keep them safe that might be tough and that might alienate you from them. Better it be me than you."
And with that he'd sat back in the car and driven off, leaving Damon to go back inside the motel room to help Elena and her mom pack up and leave.
Ric was to call him as soon as he knew where Enzo was, and Damon impatiently waited for some news. He was not good at waiting around.
...
The hospital was pretty ordinary. For some reason, Alaric had anticipated something a little different. Creepier. But this was a normal hospital. And why wouldn't it be? It was not a part of the Augustine Society, it was really just a typical clinic.
He chuckled to himself. The stress must have been catching up with him. Dealing with his dysfunctional patchwork family and at the same time helping Damon and Bonnie was probably taking its toll. He saw the bad and the supernatural in every corner lately.
Right now, though, he had to focus on finding Dr. Gilbert, before the man got wind of the fact that they had already found Elena and her mom.
Being able to hug Elena earlier had felt ridiculously relieving. Like a daughter coming home after a very long time - which kind of was the case…
"Excuse me," he said upon finding the first person that looked like they worked there, "I'm looking for Dr. Grayson Gilbert?" He started reciting the elaborate story he'd come up with to persuade people that Gilbert was his wife's physician, but the woman didn't even care.
She raised a hand to stop him after just a few words. She checked her pager and didn't even look at him when she said, "Third floor, to the left. doctors' lounge." And off she went.
Well, that was easy.
He got there after just a few more minutes and knocked lightly on the half open door before entering. Better not give the man a chance to run for it. But he also didn't want to scare any oblivious innocents.
The room was almost completely empty. Only two chairs were occupied, one by Grayson Gilbert, the other by an older white haired man. "Can I help you?" The man asked. Elena's dad didn't even look up.
"I'm here to speak with Dr. Gilbert." Alaric decided to go the direct route. Now he'd gotten Grayson's attention. He had probably recognized his voice. He rose up so quickly that his chair almost fell back, but he caught it with a swift movement of his arm. Good reflexes. Ric hoped he wouldn't have to fight the man, but chances were dim.
"What are you doing here?" Grayson asked rather unfriendly, then turned to his colleague, "Roger, can you give us the room for a moment?"
"Are you sure?" Roger must have sensed Alaric's hostility, but Grayson nodded and the man left anyways, with a few distinct glares in Ric's direction.
"What are you doing here?" Grayson repeated. Alaric walked over toward him, slowly.
"I'm sure you've guessed by now. I'm here to bring our friends back. We already got Elena." He saw her father react ever so slightly. He couldn't quite rein in his shock and anger at the news. Good, Alaric thought. "And now you'll tell me where Enzo is."
They were both silently assessing each other for a long moment; Alaric wished he knew what the other man was thinking. When Grayson wasn't forthcoming with any information, Alaric lightly tapped the gun he'd hidden under his jacket, in his belt. He'd dealt with many a threat and had used many a weapon. A run-of-the-mill revolver wasn't usually something he used, but it was perfect for a human.
"I'll give you Enzo in exchange for my daughter," Grayson said, but Alaric shook his head.
"Not how this is gonna work," he informed his opponent. He wasn't here to barter. Grayson seemed to weigh his options, he shot a glance at the door, but Ric shook his head again. "You can't get out without me shooting you first. And trust me, I will. I want an address. And you'll be coming with me. - If you want a chance to see Elena and your wife again, you'll do as I say."
Grayson Gilbert was many things, but certainly not stupid. His only chance was to give Professor Saltzman what he needed - or make him believe that that was what he was doing - and then try to use a moment of surprise to his advantage.
In the end he therefore just sighed and gave him the address. Even though there was no chance for him to warn his associates there, or take any precautions. He had to go with it.
He knew the professor wouldn't hurt Elena. But he also knew that he'd go through with his threat to keep her away from him forever. He wasn't ready yet to let that happen. Not after he'd already missed so much of her life. She was the reason he did all this. Protect the world, make it a better place. For her. For Jeremy, too. And one day, his grandchildren.
...
"I hope you tied him up real good. Ricky-boy," Damon spoke into his phone while driving and barely heard Alaric's "Who do you think I am? Of course I did" through the rain and rumbling of the road.
He'd hotwired an old Mustang at the motel parking lot. Elena had pointed out the nice big van right next to it, but he'd scrunched up his face and given her a disgusted "nuh." A Salvatore didn't ride in a soccer mom car.
"Principles," he'd told her and she'd shaken her head. But he'd gotten a smile out of her, and that, in turn had made him smile.
It was just so good to have her back. After Bonnie had told him that she and Kai had finally just managed to break the spell, they had been free to go without any danger of Elena being forced to go back to her dad. And just in time, too, because Alaric had told him the address to Elena's dad's secret Society.
So they were now all on their way there. Alaric had wanted Damon to stay away, keep Elena safe. But Damon also had Bonnie to look out for. And deep down, hidden away for most of the time, sat a guilt he still had to pay off to Enzo.
This time, he wasn't going to leave his friend behind. But he also wouldn't leave Elena alone.
...
The building they found at their destination didn't look anything like the Whitmore place had looked back then. It was a boring 1960's style office building, a few stories high - but likely also at least one or two stories deep. They'd parked their car a little out of sight, in case they'd need it later, as back up. Alaric's vehicle was already parked right in front of the building, not even trying to be inconspicuous, because chances were Enzo wasn't exactly up to walking a long way, and with them all being human, there was no way they'd be able to carry him very far.
They had to make it out. That was all. They had no idea how many people worked with Elena's dad, and he hadn't volunteered any information in that regard. Alaric had apparently hit him over the head in frustration at some point, and knocked him out - but Damon had kept that information from Elena. She didn't need to know that.
It was all so easy. After everything he'd expected something a little more challenging. But there was no one in the foyer, just empty hallways left and right. Elena was right by his side. He had considered having her wait in the car, but he needed her in sight, and so he'd opted to take her with him instead. She probably would have put up a fight otherwise anyway. A fight he'd probably have lost.
Finally he saw Ric, who was holding Grayson Gilbert by the arm. Elena flinched when they were closer.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Grayson asked, sincerely concerned, but Elena backed away from him, into Damon's arms.
"Am I alright?! No, I'm not, dad. You kidnapped me and held me hostage for eight months."
"Elena," he tried, but she wasn't listening and spoke over him, "but at least I'm back with my boyfriend now. - And what is this? You really started all this again?"
She was furious, and so very hurt. Damon tightened his grip on her, to give her a tiny bit of comfort.
"I had to, Elena," Mr. Gilbert tried, "You'll one day understand that. This is all so much bigger than just us-"
"I think this is just a super creepy obsession with poor Enzo that you've got going there," Damon interrupted, sparing Elena having to reply, "but let's not dwell on that. This has been going on for well on too long, and, frankly, I call dibs on our dear Englishman, seeing as I've known him for some 50 years or so longer than you. I'd like to have him back now please."
Damon's tone was chipper, but it didn't show in his facial expression. His eyes were flickering dark, his eyebrows raised.
Grayson looked at him. "Let Elena go."
"She doesn't want to go, don't you get it?"
"Let her at least…" he wavered, "she doesn't need to see this."
"I've been a prisoner of the Augustine Society for a bit, dad. Don't you remember? Damon spent five years there - don't you think he told me a lot about what was going on? I don't need protection from this. But maybe from you."
He had stayed noticeably quiet. He had hung his head briefly, then stood up tall again, pointing. "Elevator, one floor down."
"How many people are here right now?" Alaric tried again, as he shoved the other man forward, and into the elevator.
"I don't know. Not many."
"If you don't know the number, estimate; geez. Give us something to work with here. You don't want Elena to end up in danger, do you?"
He shot Elena a glance, hoping she knew that he'd never actually use her as bait. She raised her eyebrows, her eyes widened, but she nodded ever so slightly.
It worked, her dad started being more cooperative. "Two, three. Around this time of day there's usually not much traffic down here."
"How many prisoners?" Elena asked. It was just a whisper. She didn't really want to know… but they had to.
Her father looked at her, a defeated expression on his face. "Usually around ten. The number…" he swallowed, "fluctuates. Enzo should be in the third room on the right."
…
And that was exactly where they found him. Restrained, and tied up to a metal table, eyes closed, wrists and ankles a mass of oozy red and broken flesh. His neck, his throat looked just as bad, and across his ribcage and down by his hipbones his bonds were sunken deep into the flesh.
Damon swallowed hard. He gave Alaric a look and gestured for him to get Elena away. She didn't need to see this.
Hearing Damon tell her stories had been one thing. Actually seeing what was done, was an entirely different story. He heard her protest, heard Alaric gently talk to her as he chained her father to the pipe of the metal sink situated against the wall.
Damon zoned out. He had to focus, he had to focus on getting Enzo out.
"Enzo," he said as he quickly approached his friend. He didn't stir. Damon turned around to face Grayson Gilbert. "I'll need his clothes."
"In the cabinet by your left," the man said. Damon couldn't be sure whether he was still planning anything, so it was best he'd hurry.
"Enzo, it's Damon," he said softly, but got no reaction. If it was even possible for him to get any more worried about his friend, he just did. "Come on, man, we gotta leave. I'm here to get you out. To Bonnie. She really needs you. The baby will be here any day now, and she needs you there!" he implored the unconscious vampire, and finally saw a first flicker of eyelids.
He was busy getting Enzo out of his bounds, every so often shooting a glance over to where Elena's dad still stood with his hands tied tight.
"We'll have to call her as soon as we're out. Bad signal down here, otherwise I'd have her talk to you right now."
The next thing he knew was that Enzo had shot up and grabbed him by the throat, eyes dark and shuttered. Damon was choking.
"You're not gonna leave me behind at the last moment, are you?" Enzo suddenly rasped, his voice so hoarse and raw, it was nothing more than a harsh breath. He cocked his head a little, then gave the smallest of smiles and let go.
Damon touched his throat, testing. "Good to see you, too, Lorenzo," he said, then added, more serious and very quietly, "And no, I'm not gonna leave you behind again."
Both men exchanged a long glance.
Then Damon tossed the clothes at his friend and told him, "As much as I love to admire your physique, it's time to put some pants and a shirt on. We gotta go get you home to your girl. Katherine's spell is finally broken. And you know Bon Bon, she'll never forgive me if she hears I kept you to myself a minute longer than strictly necessary while she's home getting ready to pop out a mini-you."
Enzo rolled his eyes at him, but didn't say anything other than, "Is she… okay?"
Damon's features softened. There was no trace of his usual cocky attitude as he assured him, "She will be. Once you're home. Now let's get you out."
As soon as Damon moved, however, Enzo finally had a clear view of the rest of the room, and of Grayson Gilbert waiting in the corner.
Damon thought the man was lucky that the vampire was very weakened. Otherwise he would have killed him right away, he was sure of that. And Damon wouldn't have tried to come between them, he knew that too.
As it was, Damon watched his friend clench his teeth and avert his gaze as Damon helped him to slowly walk over to the door, where Damon found himself stating, "If I remember anything, you must be starved. You should probably feed before we head out…"
Grayson glared at him, alarmed, angry. Panicky. "You won't let-"
Damon shushed him, grinning wide and shrugged apologetically, then looked to Enzo.
"Hungry?" he asked.
Grayson tried to get away, he tugged hard at his chains. This couldn't be happening. His subject… all of his work… This could not be how it ended.
"Enzo, listen," he tried, but there was nothing he could say or do, and suddenly there was this sharp pain and he thought of Elena, Jeremy, Miranda, as he felt his limbs grow weak and he knew he was dying.
And then just as suddenly it stopped. He got jolted up and stared, wide eyed, at the dark vampire in front of him, his face a mere inch from that of the other man. Enzo was eying him, like a predator his prey.
The scales had tipped, Grayson was no longer the one in power. But he was also not dead yet. He tried to reach his bleeding throat with a cuffed hand, but it wasn't quite working. The blood had stained his collar, was dripping down his lab coat, but then the vampire shoved his wrist at him, his garish looking open wrist, and Grayson's stomach revolted as he was forced to taste it in his mouth.
"It'll help you heal," Enzo said, not quite grinning, but with a curl of his lips, "I won't kill you. But remember this moment and know that I could have. And that I will, if you ever come after me again."
Damon frowned at him. He had expected… something else. He'd been prepared to break the news to Elena. But it was good that he didn't have to.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Enzo was still staring at his tormentor. "I'm the better man, Grayson Gilbert. The monster is better than the human. - I want to do better by my child than you did by yours." And with that he finally broke his stare and started limping out the door.
"So long, Papa Gilbert," Damon said and waved before he easily caught up with the now grimacing Enzo and let the vampire heavily lean on him.
...
Enzo was leaning against the car.
Alaric and Elena were with her dad, Damon waiting for them by the entrance, giving him privacy.
He held Damon's cell phone against his ear, waiting for her voice. His body hurt so bad he could barely stand, but the blood he'd taken from Grayson Gilbert was helping to slowly mend him. At least physically.
"Damon, if you don't tell me right now that you got Enzo-"
She sounded so absolutely furious. He had to smile.
"He got me out, love," he breathed, and he could hear her choke back a sob.
She spoke the next words through her hand. He could even see it right in front of him. "Enzo? Are you… please tell me you are okay…"
"I'm fine, love, and I'm coming home."
"You're coming home. Oh god, you're really coming home. I… I love you so much, Lorenzo St. John, and I can't wait to tell you that in person."
"I love you, Bonnie Bennett."
...
Thank you so much to "Guest" and ironcrusher for voicing your feedback in a review. Consider this one to be dedicated to the two of you!