DISCLAIMER: I of course have no rights to the Vampire Diaries nor any of the characters in the show.

Things could not have gone more wrong. Well actually yes they could but at the moment they were all still alive despite the fact they were all separated and running for their lives having fallen back onto what had to be Plan D of the "The Sacrifice" master plan. The teams had headed in different direction hoping to separate the remaining pursuers while taking different paths back to the Boarding house, which had become the 'Safe house' since it had been transferred to Elena's name and she had taken up residency there. Even though Elena would have preferred him with her Stefan was in the team with Bonnie and Jeremy. She knew Bonnie and Stefan would do their best to keep them all safe and Jeremy did have that handy ring, however this did not belay her concern for them. Of course her full concern was with her own team at the moment as they stumbled away from the now burning Witches house and through the forest. She being the Petrova Doppelganger and being the main target and therefore had two vampires with her the hope being that they could keep her safe enough till they got back to the boarding house. However considering that her vervain necklace had been taken from her and she had just witnessed first hand the devastating effect that an original's compulsion had over her supposed protectors she could not say she was feeling entirely secure. This feeling was of course exemplified by the fact that the reason they were currently stumbling through the forest and not running at full flight was that one vampire had been poisoned with a vervain dart upon their exit. It had helped brake the compulsion but now was a major hindrance.

Caroline stopped and leant Damon against a tree as Elena steadied him and gathered her breath. Caroline herself was injured a red patch on her shoulder indicating where the misplaced stake had pierced her. She was looking over her shoulder listening intently trying to identify if the Vampires and Werewolves following them were anywhere close.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked Caroline though her eyes were on Damon. He was pale and perspiring as the poison made its way through his body. He was barely conscious and she could not remember ever seeing him this weak before.

"I'm healed already Elena, I'm not the one we need to worry about." She said softly though Elena heard her clearly. She glanced at Damon against the tree. "Its no use we won't be able to anyone at this pace."

Elena wrenched her eyes away from Damon to send an intense look at her friend. "We are not leaving him here to be killed Caroline."

"Elena at the moment you're the one that needs to be protected. Damon would not want you to sacrifice your life for his."

She was really getting sick of everyone telling her that basically her life was worth more than everyone else's.

"What's the point in surviving if everyone I care about dies!" She shot back viciously. "I'm not leaving him."

"I can't carry him and protect us too." Caroline shot back getting as frustrated as her friend in the situation. It was not as if she did not like Damon, he had his moments it was just this was a life or death (real death) situation. However the stubborn set of Elena's expression told her she was fighting a lost cause. She threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine, well then you have to help him so we can move quicker. I don't have what he needs anymore."

Elena's eyes widened for a moment as Caroline's implication set in. Almost instantly she felt like slapping her head in stupidity for not realizing what he needed sooner. Of course he needed blood it had helped Stefan after being tortured it should help Damon now. She had not hesitated with Stefan so why was it she hesitated ever so briefly now before making her decision.

"Right!" She stated and moved her position closer to Damon as she raised the sleeve of her top. "Caroline this might attract them to our presence if they aren't already onto us."

Caroline nodded and moved further away from Elena both to keep guard and because she did not really trust herself to be to close around fresh blood and not react. Elena put one hand behind Damon's head lifting it from the tree and held her other arm up to his mouth. He revived slightly however his eyes were unfocused and she was not sure he knew what was going on. However his lips seemed to form her name.

"Come on take what you need Damon." She begged lifting her wrist closer to his mouth.

His eyes fluttered closed again his head leaning back further as well as turning away almost as if he were rejecting her offer. Elena could not help her initial reaction which was to feel slightly slighted. Sure he would dine on any bimbo he came across due to boredom or hunger but god forbid he took her blood when he really needed it. However her second and more rational reaction took precedence the fact that turning down blood was so anti-Damon she could not help but wonder if he worse than they thought.

Undeterred by the first reaction Elena adjusted her position again and grasped the blade of the small knife she had tucked into her belt. It was not much of the weapon but it was all she had managed to grab in the chaos of their escape. Of course it more than suited her purpose now. She winced slightly as the blade cut into her hand. When she felt the blood beginning to trickle she raided it to Damon's lips basically forcing him to take the blood.

"You need this Damon. You promised to protect me. You can't do that if you are dead."

She was uncertain whether it had been the blood or the words that finally affected him but when his eyes snapped open they were red, the blood rush was upon him. His hands turned to manacles locking her arm in place so she could not move it even if she wanted to. His mouth moved the wound on her hand obviously not flowing enough for him. She bit her lip to keep from crying out when his teeth pierced a vein in her wrist. She thought she was used to the sensation by now having given Stefan a daily dose of her blood for a while now. However there was only once where he had taken more than a mouthful and from what she could remember it had been quite painful. She would not call this painful but she would not exactly call it pleasant either. She lost track of time had it been seconds, minutes, hours. She started to feel light headed and her vision swam. Surely that was enough. She leant her head against the rough bark as dizziness overcame her.

"Damon . . ." The word was a weak plea as her eyes closed. Just before she drifted into unconsciousness she heard Caroline curse.

"Crap, here they come."

Authors Notes: As stated in the summary this is my first VD fan fic. It was a story I have had running around in my head and I had to get it down. I haven't actually watched half of the second season though I think I've gotten the gist of things from what's on the internet ;). I apologise if there are any glaring mistakes. I don't have a beta reader but have tried to go over things several times to pick up errors. Of course there are probably more than a few still in there. But let me know what you think. I have a lot more coming and will hopefully get the next chapter up tomorrow.