My heart just feels so warm when I see this. Elena does care about Damon, because she wants to prove to everyone else what she knows and has always known about Damon, that he’s a good person. In this episode she had Caroline questioning her feelings for Damon, not to mention everyone else’s unrelenting disapproval of him in general; so shes feeling the pressure. Elena knows the real Damon, the one who cares for her on unexplainable levels, the one who would protect her with no regard for his own well being, the one who loves her more than it seems possible. Elena knows Damon is not just a vampire, that he’s not just this blood sucking monster who haunts people’s dreams and nightmares, who destroys lives. She sees him for everything he is and more. She sees this Damon, but she wants everyone else to see it, not for her sake alone; but for his as well. Elena wants Damon to be happy, and by causing pain and making messes; it only makes people dislike Damon more which in turn causes him to shut his emotions down. I really truly feel like Elena is petrified Damon is going to shut all his emotions off and turn into who he was before they met. Elena wants him to hang onto his humanity.