Within Temptation

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A/N: Hey all. :) This chapter will hopefully make up for the shocker that was chapter 26!

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Within Temptation- Chapter Twenty-Seven

He leaned into her, kissing her forehead and trying to swallow down the regret that was lodged into his lungs. The regret of ever bringing Katherine back into his life and into Elena's. Because, it had cost him so much...Nearly cost him his business and most importantly, the woman that he loved.

"Elena, Katherine told me that she was leaving, going out of town for a while." Stefan commented, watching as her eyes grew and she shook her head.

"No…She's still here." Elena spoke out, in a barely there whispered voice that made him get up suddenly, holding her hand into his own as he leaned into her and whispered. "You need your rest. Please, I'm going to figure it all out. I promise you. I'm going to find her and if what you're telling me is true. I'm going to deal with it. I promise, Elena. I'm going to fix this." He told her, kissing the top of her head gently and turning to storm out of the room with his keys shaking in his hands. But, just as Stefan made it halfway to the door, he bumped into someone, which startled them both for a minute.

"I came as soon as I heard, as soon as your brother called me.. Is she okay? Is my sister okay?" He asked frantically, trying to look past Stefan's shoulder at Elena who was slowly starting to fall asleep again in her room.

"Not here, Let's talk outside." Stefan urged him, following him outside of the waiting room doors and to a small pond like garden that had a few koi fish swimming around in it and the backdrop of the sun going down over the hospital parking lot.

" You need to know something...I haven't told her yet. But, you're her brother and I think you should know how bad her injuries are. She was in a coma for three weeks and she had extensive damage to her stomach...They um...They…" Stefan began to admit, unable to even say the words out loud as he glanced up, looking into the eyes at the clean cut and saddened looking older brother of Elena Gilbert.

"They, what? How bad is it?" Jeremy asked him, running his hands through his hair and looking over at Stefan who looked pale and sick all at the same time as he finally mustered up the courage to uttered the words. "They don't know if she's ever going to be able to have kids, Jeremy...One of the bullets hit her lower than they first thought. It ruptured one of fallopian tubes and did a lot of damage to her uterus. The doctors are saying that they could fix it. Although, there are no guarantees that it will help her. And, it'll cost a lot of money. Also, since Elena doesn't have insurance- it would have to come out of pocket. Another thing is that it's just a hard procedure and with the damage that she's already suffered in her abdomen area. The chances of her making a full recovery from this is about a 50/50 chance." Stefan confessed, holding back tears in his eyes as he exhaled heavily and looked up at her brother.

"I'm sorry that we called you here under these circumstances. And, that you and I are meeting because of all of this. But, I needed someone here..Not for me. But, for her. She knows that she's not alone in this. However, maybe seeing you will help her. Jeremy..I.." Stefan began to say as watched Jeremy's hand lift up and he felt it being placed on to his shoulder.

"I know. But, I've always said that I'd anything for her and for Katherine. My relationship with my sisters has been really rocky and there have been times where I haven't spoken to them for months or longer. Yet, I still care about them, Stefan. And love them very much. They're my blood. So, whatever Elena needs. I'm here." Jeremey told him, placing his hand back into his lap.