darkest timeline } { of late shifts and breakfast dates

[braveandstupid]

Derek: [so he happened to learn that Elena was working herself to death at the hospital, and had missed a few coffee catchups they had planned. So not to be deterred, and wanting to tell her about his progress with Sweets, he decided to be bold and show up at the hospital with some coffee and chocolate chip cookies. If she couldn't take a break, he could leave them with the nurses' station, but it was an effort to make sure she wasn't driving herself ragged]

Angeline: [and a tired, overworked nurse looks up at him with a sigh] Can I help you, sweetie?

Derek: Hi, I'm looking for Elena Gilbert. I wasn't sure if she was still on shift.

Angeline: [and at that she perks up, a curious look crossing her face] Oh, she's here. Are you a patient?

Derek: No, just a friend. Thought I'd bring her sugar and caffeine to keep her going

Angeline: Well, that's sweet of you. Let me call up and see where she's at. [and she'll pick up the receiver and make an announcement for Elena to call the nurse's station] What's your name?

Derek: Derek. Thanks.

Angeline: [and eventually Elena will call back and she'll relay the information and Angeline will nod and hang up] She said to just wait here, she's on her way down.

Derek: Thanks. [thinks, and holds out the container of cookies] Would you like a cookie?

Angeline: I would love one, sweetie but I'm trying to cut back. Thank you, though.

Derek: [and he just nods and then silently waits]

Elena: [and about ten minutes later, down comes Elena in scrubs and she smiles when she sees him] Hey! What are you doing here?

Derek: I thought you could use some coffee. Hopefully it is somewhat warm still. [he holds it out for her]

Elena: You are awesome. [she takes the coffee cup from him eagerly, before glancing at her watch] Can you stay? I have a break in my rounds.

Derek: I think I can rearrange my insanely busy schedule of nothing for you.

Elena: Excellent. Come on. [and she'll lead him towards the elevator bays] I know it's not your favorite but it's better than ten flights of stairs.

Derek: I'll be okay. [he will close his eyes and breathe slowly]

Elena: [she smiles, and she will even hold his hand if it helps] Good. [and onto the elevator they go and up to the roof]

Derek: [he is still relieved when they get there, and will follow her to wherever she wants to go] I also brought you some cookies to go with the coffee.

Elena: Oooh, yummy. [and when they reach the top, there's a small little rooftop seating area where the residents hang out when they have a break] Thank you.

Derek: You're welcome. You've been so busy that I figured if I wanted to get a sign of life, I needed to come find you myself.

Elena: [she laughs] I know, I'm sorry I've been so absent lately. I owe you a lot of makeup dates.

Derek: Dates? [because they were just two friends, right?]

Elena: Friend dates. [she doesn't mean to imply anything] Sorry, tired.

Derek: It's okay. You aren't overworking yourself, right?

Elena: [she shakes her head] No. It's just really long shifts, so I just go home and sleep and then get up to come back to work again.

Derek: That's... kinda sad. [there's a small smile]

Elena: Life of a resident. It'll even out when I start getting regular shifts.

Derek: Do they at least pay you?

Elena: They definitely do. Very well.

Derek: Well, at least it allows you to build a good savings when you aren't able to go out to spend any of it.

Elena: Exactly. But i do miss seeing other people than Caroline on occasion.

Derek: I will admit I do miss seeing you at the library.

Elena: [and that makes her smile] I've missed you too. I'm going to try and be better at it.

Derek: [he takes a sip of his coffee and nods] I don't mind if it is easier for me to come here to hang out with you.

Elena: You sure? There can be a lot of people in and out of here.

Derek: I know, but I'm actually learning that crowds can be beneficial to trying to blending in and disappearing.

Elena: So long as you're not trying to disappear from me, I guess that's not such a bad thing.

Derek: I'm not. You're one of the few I enjoy being around.

Elena: [and that makes her smile again] Good to know. Maybe on the days I'm working overnights, you can meet me here and we can have breakfast when I get off work?

Derek: I think I can swing that. As long as I don't have a session that morning.

Elena: Session?

Derek: I... took your advice and went to go see the therapist my sister has been wanting me to see.

Elena: [and she brightens] Yeah? Has it been helping?

Derek: A little. We're still feeling each other out, but he helped me deal with something between me and my younger sister, and having that air cleared has been good.

Elena: Good. I'm really glad.

Derek: That was my excuse for coming out here with coffee and cookies, you know. As thanks for the gentle pushing.

Elena: Well, you are very welcome. But you didn't have to buy me cookies for that. I was just trying to help.

Derek: I know. But I felt like doing it anyway.

Elena: Thank you, then. Both I and the break room will appreciate them.

Derek: [smiles, looking at his coffee a bit, not sure what else to talk about]

Elena: [that's okay, she picks up the slack without even skipping a beat, talking about working at the hospital and how she's getting along with the other residents]

Derek: [and he listens intently, asking questions when he thinks up them, but enjoying just listening to her]

Elena: [and eventually she glances down at her watch and sighs] And I have to get to work. But I promise I will text you with my schedule so we can make real plans.

Derek: Sure. [he takes a deep breath] Though I have to ask you something.

Elena: Shoot.

Derek: I just wanted to know where this thing between us was going. I mean, I'm really happy just being friends, but... I mean I don't know. I really like you.

Elena: [her smile softens] I really like you too. But ... I wasn't sure if you were ready for or wanted something like that.

Derek: Honestly, I don't know if I'm ready. I probably won't until I try. But you make me feel safe, Elena. I haven't felt safe since I was a kid, but you make me feel it.

Elena: I'm glad. [she pauses as she tries to figure out how to phrase this] Let's just take it as slow as you want to. We don't have to rush into anything, but if you want to try, I'm good with that.

Derek: I think that will work well. [he will smile up at her] So send me that schedule, and I'll see you for breakfast soon.

Elena: Sounds good. [and she'll walk him downstairs and as promised, a few hours later she'll text him her schedule]

Derek: [and he will check it against his therapy sessions and they have at least one a week that lines up well]

Elena: [which Elena will not cancel on and she will be waiting outside the hospital when he gets there]

Derek: [and he will walk up, hands in his leather jacket, smiling] Hey.

Elena: [turns and smiles] Hey. Ready to eat?

Derek: Yeah, actually. My appetite has been coming back.

Elena: Good. Then I know a place that makes great pancakes. [and she'll slip her arm in his to keep them walking together]

Derek: [for anyone else, he still jumped at the sudden touching. But with Elena, he didn't. He liked her touch. It was gentle. Soothing. Safe] More than just chocolate chip ones, right?

Elena: [she laughs] Yes. They have many a variety of pancakes.

Derek: Then show me the way.

Elena: [and off they will go to a diner a couple blocks down, one that's fairly empty because it's still early, so the breakfast rush hasn't come in yet]

Derek: [and that means the coffee is fresh, and the bacon isn't burnt] Smells nice in here.

Elena: Yeah it does. And the food is really good too. [and she will get them a booth, sliding in to the seat across from him with a nod] I come in here a lot, either for lunch or sometimes to pick up dinner for me and Caroline.

Derek: Do they even have to ask you for your order anymore?

Elena: Yes. Mostly because I haven't really ordered the same thing twice.

Derek: Trying out everything on the menu. Good plan.

Elena: Plus, it gets boring if you eat the same thing all the time.

Derek: [his mind went back to the Argents who fed him the same three meals for years, then nodded] Yeah, it does.

Elena: Order whatever you want. It's my treat, to make up for cancelling on you so many times.

Derek: [raising an eyebrow] You do remember I just told you I'm getting my appetite back, right?

Elena: I can handle it. I just got paid.

Derek: Alright. [but he will be good and not eat a lot. His appetite was returning, but his stomach was not used to matching it]

Elena: Good. So what have you been up to?

Derek: Same old stuff. Reading. Catching up on the world.

Elena: Thinking about transferring from catching up on it to being back in it?

Derek: I don't know. Some of the shit that's happened in the last few years...

Elena: Yeah, it's not ideal. But that's not everyone. [a beat] Think about it. If you haven't been in the world enough to go to the library, you wouldn't have met me.

Derek: True. [not that she knows just HOW removed from the world he has been... yet] But I do have to say, you are a definite bonus.

Elena: I am glad you think so, because I am pretty awesome.

Derek: [he grins at that, a brightness that hasn't been on his face in a long time]

Elena: [and that makes her smile wider] I think you're pretty awesome too.

Derek: Thanks.

Elena: You're welcome. And I think a lot of people out here would agree with me.

Derek: If I started to actually interact with them, right?

Elena: Something like that.

Derek: I'm getting there.

Elena: I know. And it's nice to see.

Derek: I can't hide in my bedroom forever.

Elena: Though it is a very nice bedroom.

Derek: You really did seem to enjoy the bed.

Elena: [her head ducks with a bit of a blush] Well it was very comfortable and Barry is very soothing.

Derek: Yeah, he has that purring people to sleep down to an artform.

Elena: I really didn't mean to fall asleep.

Derek: I know. But you obviously needed it, and I wasn't going to disturb you.

Elena: I think it was more the alcohol than me actually needing it.

Derek: Well, you also are a cute drunk.

Elena: I will take your word for it.

Derek: [grins and they get to order their food. Pancakes and bacon for the werewolf, please]

Elena: [and an omelet for the hungry doctor] I'm just glad I wasn't more wasted than I was because things could have gotten ... awkward.

Derek: Awkward?

Elena: I can be a little handsy? Not gross uncomfortable handsy, just ... really affectionate.

Derek: I'm sure Barry would have been fond of that.

Elena: Probably true. But ... you probably not so much.

Derek: [he licks his lips, looking at his hands a moment] Maybe. I don't know.

Elena: Which is why I'm glad it wasn't. And this is still zero pressure on my end.

Derek: Which I appreciate. But I don't know if you noticed, but I haven't jumped the last two times you've touched me. You didn't even warn me with either of them, but I didn't feel any fear.

Elena: I did notice that. But that kind of touching is different than other kinds of touching.

Derek: Oh, I know. Trust me. [sighs] I just... I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me.

Elena: I wouldn't. [that's a reassurance. then, after a minute] Do you want me to touch you? Absent of ... the related fears?

Derek: [and now his ears turn pink as he looks down, a sign of him blushing. He may be traumatized, but he is also still a guy]

Elena: [her lips draw to the side in a slight smirk, before she looks down at her food] Good to know.

Derek: I don't want you to feel pressured or anything.

Elena: To want to touch you?

Derek: [nods]

Elena: Why do you think I would?

Derek: I don't. I just don't want you to also think I'm expecting it or something. Even if you did, it's probably going to take time for me to get to like... intimate kind of stuff.

Elena: That's okay. I'm not going to try and rush you. But for the record, when you're ready and comfortable with it, I do want to.

Derek: [and he smiles again, looking down at his hands, ears red]

Elena: [and she smiles] Just let me know where the limits are, and I'll stay inside them. When you want to change them, tell me. I'll follow your lead.

Derek: [and he will nod, rubbing the back of his neck. And then he is rescued by their food arriving]

Elena: [and she will lazily chat over the food about work, changing the subject away from something so personal]

Derek: [and he will talk about his GED prep and he has two weeks before the scheduled test]

Elena: Good luck. Though I'm pretty sure you'll ace it.

Derek: I hope so. I think I have everything down at this point.

Elena: Good. I don't know if I'll have time to quiz you, but I'm sure that if you bribe Caroline with dinner she will put you through your paces.

Derek: I'll remember that. My sister Laura has been helping too.

Elena: Good. Sounds like you're headed in the right direction.

Derek: I'm still debating on if I want to try college.

Elena: Well, there are online classes to help you transition. Then you don't have to be on campus in class all the time.

Derek: True. But then I also have to think about what I want to be when I grow up.

Elena: Not right away. You can take the first year, take a bunch of classes, see what you like?

Derek: [wrinkles his nose, not liking the idea of taking classes just to take classes]

Elena: What? It's a tried and true technique, every college student I know has done it. I didn't actually start out on a med school track, you know.

Derek: What did you originally start with?

Elena: Journalism. I wanted to be a writer once. It was a thing me and my mom shared. But after they died, I kind of flopped around for a while, and I was taking a bunch of different classes for my general requirements and ... I stumbled my way into the pre-med program.

Derek: When did you feel like it was right though?

Elena: Halfway through one of my internships junior year? I was working at an outreach clinic and I was helping this patient who was struggling a lot with a recent loss, and I really connected with them. That was when I decided to shift my focus from general medicine to psychiatry. It felt like the better fit.

Derek: [smiles a bit] That's a good way to learn.

Elena: Yeah. But I'm surprised you don't like the idea. You struck me as the kind of guy who would always jump on the opportunity to learn.

Derek: I do like to learn, but I always aim for a goal in that learning. It gives you clear, defined objectives to meet.

Elena: Okay. Well, there are general requirements you have to study no matter what your major ends up being. Maybe in your 101 classes you can get a feel for which professors you like and see what higher level classes they're teaching?

Derek: That could work.

Elena: Then try that. But it's okay to not make a decision right away. College is for figuring all of that out - don't pressure yourself to have something pre-planned.

Derek: I don't like going into something without a plan.

Elena: Usually for a plan you have to do research, right? Think of the 101 classes as ways of figuring out the best course of action.

Derek: Alright, you don't have to keep trying to convince me.

Elena: Sorry. I didn't mean to be pushy.

Derek: I know.

Elena: [nods and she drops off for a bit as she finishes her food]

Derek: [sighs, poking at his food] It's been a long time since I was able to choose my own path. I'm too used to taking orders that I sometimes forget that I won't be punished if I don't do the right thing.

Elena: [she glances up at him at that, because that she can understand] Sometimes people forget that the freedom of choice can be just as overwhelming as it is freeing.

Derek: Overwhelming is a gentle way of putting it.

Elena: It can be hard to really pin down want too, I've found. Sometimes they can conflict in strange ways.

Derek: Fear is also confusing.

Elena: Because sometimes it can be good versus bad?

Derek: And sometimes fears are manufactured and it's difficult to know what to fear and what not to.

Elena: Do you have someone you trust who can help you navigate that? Aside from your new therapist, I mean.

Derek: My sisters. And you.

Elena: Then ask. Anytime. Text me and I'll try and give you the best answer I can.

Derek: [nods] Thanks.

Elena: Of course.

Derek: [and he is going to finish his meal and get a refill of coffee]

Elena: [and they'll chat for a little while and as they're walking back to Elena's apartment] I know this is going back to a subject that you weren't one hundred percent comfortable with, but I also want you to touch me too. It's not just a one way thing.

Derek: [he smiled at that] It is good knowing that. I may ask permission though just because consent is important to me.

Elena: Totally understandable. But I just wanted to be clear that it's a question I'm going to be okay with you asking.

Derek: Okay.

Elena: Okay. [and they reach the front of her place] And this is me. Do you want to come up for a bit?

Derek: [shakes his head] I have an appointment, so I shouldn't.

Elena: Okay. Then I will go get some sleep. I'll text you later, though?

Derek: I'll be waiting with baited breath.

Elena: [and she hold out her arms before leaning in to give him a hug goodbye]

Derek: [and he will hug her back, holding her firmly and taking in her scent with a smile to himself]

Elena: [she will linger in the hug for as long as he'll let her, because Elena is a hugger, before she pulls back and heads upstairs] I'll see you later.

Derek: Three days. I'll think of a good place for breakfast.

Elena: Good. [and up to her apartment she will go to sleep off her shift]

Derek: [and off he will go to his appointment with Sweets that we don't need to rp out if you don't want to]