The enemy within 13

13

 

Lena closed the door of the cage behind him but she didn't lock it. She got used to leave it unlocked since the night three weeks ago when she did it for the first time. She was successful in getting the wolf under control and keep him calm a little bit. Once in a week she slept in her house to recharge her battery otherwise she spent her time with Eric. Their relationship was good even though they weren't so touchy-feely as before her betrayal. She focused on her task and kept her love burning deep in her heart.

 

Lena stepped to the cage and carefully opened it, looking in the wolf's eyes. She took a seat on the stairs to give him a space. He walked out slowly and step by step he made his way to her. She reached out her hand with an open palm.

 

„How are you tonight, my friend?“ she smiled trying to touch him when he stood in front of her. She almost felt his fur beneath her hand when he suddenly recoiled. „What happened?“ He stepped back, growling. „It's me, Eric. Please don't go away,“ she said in a low voice as he turned around, his eyes averted from hers. „Eric, come back,“ she stood up but he ran into the forest, disappearing out of her sight. „No. What's wrong?“ she descended the stairs and walked across the meadow. She stopped in the middle of it, seeing his glowing eyes among the trees. It reminded her of the time she didn't know him.

 

Knowing he wasn't the nice puppy like back then she made a move back to the stairs. She stopped when she saw him running right towards her. She fell down on her back as his forelimbs hit her chest, she banged her head against the stairs which made her see stars. He growled and his teeth sank in her left forearm. She didn't feel pain, nor fear, she was worried about him. She buried the fingers of her right hand into the fur on his head.

 

„Eric, don't... I love you and I always will,“ she looked in his eyes, squeezing his fur as if she needed to hold onto something. Then a huge lightning hit the sky, brightening the meadow. „The storm's coming. Eric, don't leave me alone,“ she felt herself weaken and in a moment everything around her faded to black.

 

*

 

Eric woke up, his face in the grass. He shook his head and rose up. There was Lena's motionless body lying on the stairs. He ran to her. Her eyes were closed, her face pale and there was blood around her left forearm. In the cage he quickly got dressed, ran into the house, took a clean towel in the bathroom and hurried back to her. He wrapped the towel around her wound, took her carefully in his arms and carried her to the car.

 

*

 

Lena blinked her eyes, seeing everything in a mist. Her head was aching, she felt heavy and tired. Someone's face emerged from behind the mist. She realized what happened.

 

„Eric?“ she whispered.

 

„Hi Lena, it's me, Danny. Do you remember me?“ Finally she focused her eyes on his face.

 

„Hi. Where is Eric? Is he OK?“ she tried to rise but he gently pushed her down.

 

„Stay down, Lena, please. Eric is alright, he's in the doctor's office,“ Danny smiled reassuringly.

 

„It's good,“ she breathed out, closing her eyes for a moment. Then she turned her head to him. „Why shouldn't I remember you?“

 

„You suffered a brain concussion, you know,“ Danny stroke her hand. At that point Eric walked in the room. „She's up,“ Danny looked at him over his shoulder and stood up. „I should go. I'll see you tomorrow.“ Danny left the room.

 

Eric pulled a chair for him to sit down next to Lena's bed and took her hand in both of his.

 

„Hi, my love. I'm so sorry for what happened. How do you feel?“ he looked at her.

 

„Tired but... I'm happy you're OK,“ she gave him a small smile. „When will they release me out of here? I'd like to go home.“

 

„I talked to the doctor. He said you suffered a concussion so he wants to make some tests. I'll take you home in the morning if everything will work out,“ he attempted to smile back. „But... Lena...“ She glanced at his hands and back in his eyes. „Your forearm, there's several stitches.“ She took a look at her left hand, lifted it and put it back down on the bed. „The wound was deep. It will take some time before it heals,“ he lowered his eyes.

 

She nodded slowly, recalling what happened. „I'd like to see it.“ At that point the doctor walked in the room.

 

„Hi Lena, glad to see you awake,“ he smiled and walked around the bed to stand on the opposite site where Eric was sitting.

 

„Hi Elijah,“ her face brightened as she recognized him. „I'm lucky you're here tonight. Eric,“ she turned to him, „he's Elijah, Eva's husband. He's a brilliant surgeon.“

 

„We already met,“ Eric responded. „I was in Elijah's office to talk to him.“ The two men exchanged looks.

 

„How are you, Lena? Your tests worked out, you can go home in the morning. But you have to be careful. You suffered a brain concussion and the wound on your forearm was really deep. You have ten inner and eight outer stitches. No tendons were damaged so you will be able to move your hand like before,“ he informed her, his face became serious. „But I'm not sure how much your skin will heal,“ he broke off for a few seconds. „I did my best but probably the scar will remain. It will fade out with time of course.“

 

„Thanks for your honest words. I think I can cope,“ she smiled faintly.

 

„You're welcome. I hate to lie to my patients,“ he shrugged. „And what about your head, it hurts? I can tell a nurse to bring you some pills to ease your pain. In any case you should get some sleep.“

 

„It does, but no, I don't want the pills, thanks. I hope the sleep will help,“ she said, furrowing her forehead.

 

„As you wish. I let you some privacy now,“ he looked at Eric. „Then turn the light off please and let her sleep.“ Eric stood up and shook his hand with Elijah.

 

„Of course. Thank you for everything, Elijah,“ Eric said, gratitude in his voice.

 

„You're welcome. Good night,“ Elijah gave them a small smile and left the room. Eric took a seat next to Lena again and she reached out her good hand to his face, stroking his cheek. Suddenly she realized something and her eyes became big as saucers.

 

„Wait, he said I can go home in the morning, right?“ she rose her head and grimaced as the pain hit her, lying her head back down on the pillow. He nodded. „What's the time?“

 

„It's half past one a.m. Why?“ Eric looked at her, confused.

 

„Eric! Open your eyes, it's half past one a.m. and you're here sitting on the chair, looking like a human being...,“ she had tears in her eyes, smiling. „You're not the wolf anymore,“ she whispered.

 

„You're right. I was worried about you so much that I didn't realize it at all,“ he took her hand and pressed a kiss in her palm. „Thank you.“ She saw moisture in his eyes before he averted them.

 

„I hope it's permanent,“ she squeezed his hand. Seeing her eyes started closing he stood up and turned the light off.

 

„I hope so,“ he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. „Sleep, my guardian angel. Good night.“

 

*

 

In the morning Eric took Lena first to her home and helped her to pack some needed things. Then they got in his car and he drove in the direction of his house.

 

„Eric, are you sure you want me to live in your house?“ she glanced at him.

 

„Absolutely,“ he nodded, fully paying his attention to driving. He stopped on the red light and looked at her. „You need someone to take care of you. You're injured and discharged from the hospital fifteen minutes ago,“ he winked, setting the car in motion again. She said nothing, just smiled faintly for herself.

 

Once in his house he led her upstairs into the guest room and put her bag on the table. She touched his shoulder when he started pulling her things out of the bag.

 

„You don't have to do it,“ she said softly. „I can handle unpacking my things on my own.“

 

„Good,“ he put what he had in his hands on the table and smiled tentatively. „If you need anything, call me. I'm going to prepare something for lunch, OK?“ He moved to the door when she nodded. He looked at her before he left.

 

When she finished unpacking she walked in the kitchen. She watched him move around the kitchen for a moment then she stepped closer.

 

„Do you need help?“ she asked. He finished what he was doing and turned his eyes to her. She could read in his eyes that their relationship has changed overnight. He looked at her as if he saw her for the first time. His indifference was gone, she felt as if he wanted to caress her with his eyes.

 

„No, thanks. Just have a seat, please. The meal is done in a minute,“ he pulled two plates out of the cupboard and she sat down at the table. „You must not do anything,“ he added. He put one plate in front of her and the other in front of himself.

 

„Wow, spaghetti. I love it,“ she gushed.

 

„Glad to hear it. You can eat it with just one hand,“ he put a bite in his mouth, looking at her every now and then. He put the dishes in the diswasher as they finished eating.

 

She walked on the back porch and descended the stairs. Then she turned around and noticed the bloodstains on them. She quivered and took a look at the cage. In the night she thought she wouldn't live to see another day.

 

„What are you thinking about?“ he asked, joining her. „Aren't you tired?“

 

„No, I feel good,“ she stroked her left forearm in the sling, looked at him and then at the cage again. „In the night I thought I'll die,“ she said, surprise in her voice.

 

„I see. It isn't a good memory,“ he lowered his eyes. „I don't remember much, Lena, but I know it was me who hurt you.“ She looked at him and stepped closer.

 

„I was the one who hurt you first no matter how different it was,“ she lifted her hand as if she wanted to touch him but she pulled it back. „I don't want you to feel guilty. You know it wasn't your fault,“ she stepped back and walked up the stairs. She stopped on the back porch and turned to him. „If your curse is really broken which we'll see tonight... we need to talk,“ she swallowed, knowing what she had to do and her heart clenched. She retreated in the guest room.

 

He stared at the door for a long time after she disappeared inside. She spent the whole day upstairs and he wondered why. He felt no anger anymore, on the contrary, during the night he made sense of many things. He spent all night thinking about her and their future when he was lying on the bed next to hers in her hospital room. He didn’t move one step from her since yesterday's night.

 

Five minutes after ten p.m. Lena went outside and found him sitting on the stairs. She felt unbelievably happy seeing his human form stand up as he heard her come. He stepped closer and took her hand.

 

„Lena, are you OK? I'd like to say thank you. You set me free,“ he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

 

„You're welcome,“ she got her hand ouf of his hold gently. „You're free now, Eric. You can let me go. You can find a woman that deserves your love. You don't need me anymore and it's OK. I understand,“ she stepped back.

 

„Lena? I... what are you talking about?“ he almost started stuttering. She moved across the porch and put her good hand on bannisters.

 

„I've done something that you can't forgive me. I understand you don't love me anymore. I know you feel guilty now and try to show me your gratitude for rescuing you from the curse. Don't do it, please,“ she dropped her chin to her chest. „All I want for you is to be happy. I won't stand in your way. I want you to make a free decision,“ she rose her head and turned to him. He stared at her in amazement. „Take your time. Give it a thought,“ she averted her eyes and was about to go inside.

 

„Wait,“ he spoke after swallowing a lump growing in his throat when he listened to her. „I thought a lot last night.“ She stopped in the doorway and glanced at him. „I was lying on the bed next to yours in the hospital, watching you sleep and breathe and I understood that I don't want anyone by my side but you,“ he took a deep breath before he continued. „Even though I was angry with you, indifferent, you always stood by my side. Evem more, you were able to admit your mistake. You never let me see how broken you felt. Anytime I needed help you were there for me. You took care of me, you cared about me. You're a strong and brave woman. You stop at nothing,“ he turned her to him. „I don't need to search for anyone else, Lena Gilbert, because you're the love of my life. And you are wrong because I already forgave you,“ he stroked her hair. „Don't talk about leaving me because I love you more than ever before. And I swear it's true.“

 

„I thought you can't love me anymore. I know I did a wrong thing,“ she shook her head, lowering her eyes. „I would have gone away a long time ago if you didn't need me. That's why I wanted to do it now when you're free.“

 

„And that is called true love,“ he lifted her chin to look in her eyes, welled up with tears. „You risked your own life without hesitation to save mine, to break my curse. And your endless love for me has set me free,“ he cupped her face and touched his lips to hers. „I want to spend the rest of my life by your side.“ Tears flowed down her cheeks. She put her good arm around his waist and buried her face in his chest. She felt his arms wrap around her and closed her eyes.