Chapter Text
Tap, tap, tap, went the therapists pen. Three taps, three scraps against the paper in her hand, three clicks of the pen's cam. The therapist did everything in threes. Whether this was meant as a copying mechanism for her patients, or for herself she did not know. She didn't quite care either, the noises only aggravated her now sensitive hearing.
A sigh was heard, the sound escaping the older woman's throat with a rasp. With another three taps against a piece of paper the therapist stated, "Your sister spoke to me before our session started." A pause, silence waiting to be filled by a reaction from the patient. "She mentioned you have been having night terrors. Is there any reason I did not learn of this information from you?"
Again, silence was the only answer that the therapist was met with.
The elder woman cleared her throat, the sound seeming loud in the near silent room. The only other sound to be heard was the air conditioning running, clicking along as it had every summer.
"Miss Gilbert," The woman uttered. "I cannot help you if you refuse to allow me to. I am here to help you through this trying time-"
For the first time since the session had begun, she decided to throw her therapist a metaphorical bone, "You know, when I dream is the only time, I find myself able to see." She shifted, her short dress brushes against her legs with the movement. "And in those few moments it is truly wonderful. I am able to see my siblings' gleeful faces, and my parents-" She lets out a hollow laugh, "Oh God, I get to see my parents again. Even if they aren't truly real and are only in my imagination."
The therapist's pen scratches against the paper, alerting the Gilbert sibling to the notes being jotted down. When the silence resumes the therapist, Dr. Johnson, mummers. "Go on, dear."
The young girl fidgets against the leather seat once more before she restarts her explanation, "Every night, it starts off the same. Memories of smiles, and laughter surrounded me." A shiver runs down her spine as the thoughts of her nightmares run rampant through her mind. "But every single time the narrative shifts into that night, the last night."
"Verena-" Dr. Johnson starts, before back tracking. The relationship between the doctor and her patient had never been close enough for them to call one another on a first name basis. "Miss Gilbert, we have spoken about this being a possibility. The last thing you saw, before you became blind, was the sight of your dying parents. I have already prescribed you medication for this scenario, though you refuse to take it." Verena hears as the pen is sat down onto the clipboard Dr. Johnson had been using it to write on. "I fear these night terrors will only get worse if you continue to refuse my help. Please, tell me what you need me to do to help you."
The doctor had worked with this young girl for over a year, and while the two had made some groundwork it was not nearly as much as the doctor had hoped to accomplish in that time.
Verena hesitated, her mouth parting before snapping closed multiple times. Before she got the chance to voice her answer an alarm rang out, alerting the two that the session had expired.
"I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today's session; I hope in the next session we will be able to burrow deeper into what is occurring in these dreams." Dr. Johnson voices.
Verena is quick to push herself off of the leather couch, her chest beginning to feel constricting the longer she thought about her dreams. She needed to get out of this office, she needed Rhys. She didn't bother to say anything as she stormed towards the door. Over the countless sessions she had done she had managed to gain a vague layout of the room and oftentimes managed to escape it without the help of others.
Clasping the cool metal handle in her hand she hears Dr. Johnson call out, "I'll see you in two weeks Miss Gilbert!"
The young girl merely hummed her response as she tore the door open. Verena marched down the hallway, her pace slower than it had been leaving the therapist's office. The staff was notorious for changing around the items they stashed in the hallway to the front desk. Verena has had her fair share of accidents due to those items. Especially since they did not allow animals, even if they were guide dogs, into the back offices. Mostly a personal choice of her therapist, as she was apparently allergic to dog hair. Although she did own a cane, Verena outright refused to use it. Much to her sister's chagrin.
The second she made it to the end of the seemingly endless hallway, and into the front of the building she was able to hear the soft taps of Rhys paws as they padded against the ground. The sound of tingling followed, coming from the tiny bell she had placed around his collar.
Verena placed her hand out, waiting to feel the softness of her German shepherd's fur. Just as anticipated she feels Rhys nudge his silently damp nose into her outstretched hand. The dog allows her to grasp onto the leash connected to his harness, as she places soft loving pets atop his warm head.
She had gotten Rhys a couple of months after she had gotten out of the hospital, as Jenna could not be there to guide her where she was going all of the time. Rhys was just barely two years old at the time and had yet to have a permanent name. In the end Verena had gone with the name Rhys because of her love for the fictional character Rhysand in A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Verena might not be able to do a lot of the things she used to love doing anymore, but luckily she was able to keep her love of reading. Even if she could only listen to audiobooks now, instead of being able to read words off of a paper herself.
"Let's go baby Gilbert," Damon Salvatore snarked. "I've got places to be, friends to hang out with."
The young Gilbert shook her shock off, not having expected Damon's presence at the therapists office. Elena had been the one to drop her off, and she usually stayed in the waiting room the whole hour. There have only been a few times others had to pick her up.
With a snort Verena blurts out, "What friends? My sister?"
"Words can hurt you know." Damon remarks, leading the way outside. "Your sister isn't my only friend; I have other grown up friends."
Verena motions for Rhys to follow after Damon's retreating footsteps as she retorts, "I pity those who are forced to call themselves your friend."
There was no response to her words, though Verena could practically feel the burn of the scathing glare he was no doubt shooting at her. It only made a smirk grow on her face as he led them to his car.
It took them both a few extra minutes to get situated into the car, mostly due to Damon's reluctance to let a mutt into his car. His words, not hers. Once they were both sitting comfortably on his leather seats, with Rhys resting against her legs, Verena questioned. "Where is my sister anyway?"
"Her and Rose-Marie decided to spend the day together." He grunted. "Leaving me on babysitting duty."
Verena aimed a glare in his supposed direction at his last remark. She was sixteen years old, not an invalid. She did not need to be babysat, no matter what her sister thought. "I'm shocked she wanted to hang out with her at all."
Damon was quick to jump to Elena's defense, just like he always did. "And why is that?"
"I'm blind, not stupid Damon." Verena tapped her leg in tandem to her cutting words. "Even I can feel the tension between you and Elena. I just highly doubt my sister would want to associate with one of your many conquests."
"Tension? Did Elena say that?" His voice seemed to trail off the more he spoke, as though he was getting lost in thought.
She scoffed, already knowing where this was heading. Every single time she met Damon, he would pry for information. It was as though he lived for the drama. Especially when said drama involved her sister.
For a brief moment the car was only filled with the sound of whatever pop song was playing on Damon's radio. Leaning her head back against the cars seat Verena sighed. She did not wish to go back to a silent house, she hated it there. Now that her parents were dead the house just seemed quiet to her. Elena would always disappear for days at a time, and her twin brother was rarely ever at home. Choosing to stay at friends' houses.
Verena on the other hand didn't have that novelty. She had lost all of her friends when she became blind, and having not been inside an actual school since certainly didn't help her socially. She was trapped inside a house that did not feel like a home, had not felt like a home in years.
"I'm hungry." Verena blurted out suddenly, breaking the silence.
The sound of a signal light clicking into action is heard before Damon responds, "Okay." The single word is drawn out.
Petting her hand against the back of Rhys neck Verena clarifies, "Can we stop somewhere to eat?"
"I'm sure you have food at home." Was the Salvatore's retort, his tone sounding similar to the one her mom used to make when Verena asked her the very same question.
"Elena always takes me out to eat after an appointment." No, she didn't. It was rare for the two of them to eat together at the dinner table. Much less at a restaurant. Hoping to get what she wanted Verena utters, "Please Damon."
Gradually Damon relents. Whether it was because he believed her lies, or because of her pleading tone Verena didn't care. All she knew was that she was getting fast food.
~*~
Verena did not end up getting fast food.
Just as Damon had pulled them into a parking spot right before The Mystic Grill, Rose called. Verena couldn't make out any of the words, but based on the young woman's tone of voice it sounded apologetic. Although she couldn't conclude what she nor Elena could have gotten into in Mystic Falls that would deem such a response. This town had all of two places to create havoc at. The Mystic Grill and the Lockwood's. Though only due to their excess number of alcoholic beverages available. To deal with the Lockwood's it was a necessity.
Verena winced just thinking about Carol and Tyler Lockwood. Carol Lockwood was a character for sure. She was overbearing and demanded everything to be perfect. It was no wonder Tyler was such a dick all of the time. Verena was sure she would be too if she were to be in his shoes.
Before she knew it, they were pulling into her driveway. No food in hand to fill her aching stomach.
"Alright Bambi, on you go." Damon revved the engine in time with his statement.
Rolling her eyes Verena hopped out the car, Rhys already pulling her towards the front door. Likely ready to be given a treat as he always was after an outing.
Damon called after her as he began to pull out of the driveway, "Don't leave the house tonight, Verena!"
Before she could even ask why she heard the sound of tires squealing, and then he was gone. As though he had never been there at all. That man always left in such a hurry.
Placing her key in the lock Verena twisted it, essentially locking herself out instead of letting herself in. "Fuck." She cursed. Jeremy left it unlocked again. Her brother would be the death of her.
Finally getting the door open she called out, "I'm home!"
The young girl always made sure to announce her presence. There had been far too many times she had walked in and heard her siblings doing something she would rather not hear. Especially Elena. That girl was loud. Sometimes Verena hated her sensitivity to sound.
Not hearing anyone yell back to her she assumed Jenna hadn't made it home yet. With a sigh she swept into the kitchen, causally unhooking Rhys from his harness on the way. Once inside the kitchen she grabbed the German Shepard a treat for all of the hard work he had performed today. Now it was her turn to eat.
Opening the fridge Verena reached inside, feeling for any takeout containers. At this rate she didn't care if they weren't hers. If anyone asked where their food had gone, she would just blame it on Jeremy.
Her search was lacking. All she had managed to find was a few condiments, a jar of something that smelt awful, and a bottle of what she assumed was wine. As usual the fridge was unstocked.
Jenna as sweet as she was could not cook for the life of her. Nor could she manage to keep a fridge stocked. In her defense no college student had that ability, much less one that had suddenly been thrown into motherhood with the lives of three teenagers now her problem to deal with.
Ignoring how her stomach rumbled with hunger she shut the fridge. Reaching down to pet Rhys on his head Verena stated, "Looks like it's just you and me tonight Rhys."