I have to say that this is my first Delena fic, I apologize if I don't get the character quirks just right, please review though, plans for this to be a one shot but depending on reviews might consider writing more.
Standing there in the living room of the Salvatore boarding house, Elena tried once again to side step Stefan. She knew that she would not be able to out maneuver him but she still had to try. She had to see Damon, period. Looking up at him with a look of hope in her eyes. "Please Stefan.. I won't let him out.. I promise.. " Running her fingers through her chestnut hair pushing it out of her face and groaned with a soft sign of defeat when Stefan reached around and turned her physically towards the door.
"Elena I can't you know that if he tells you to let him out you won't have a choice…" turning around she pulled herself out of his grip and held her hands up in defeat. "Fine… think what you will about the sire bond… but if he doesn't talk then he can't ask me to do anything…" Pushing by him Stefan grabbing her arm with a little more force than he probably wanted. "Elena… I really don't want to hurt you… stay away from Damon." Elena turned and stared him down ironically resembling Katherine at this point. "if you want to stop me.. you'll have to hurt me.. and you wouldn't" daring him with her eyes to make his move.
It became apparent to Stefan that this was going to end one of two ways, she would see Damon on her own terms, or his. Sighing he let her go "fine but I'm going with you.. make sure he doesn't ask you to let him out.." Elena moved quickly down the hall to the Salvatore cellar. Looking through the grates till she found the one he was in. Turning to Stefan when she saw the condition Damon was in. "What did you do to him?" working the lock the best she could since in the panic to check on him she wasn't able to properly open the door. Stefan stepping in front of her and standing against the door "look it's the only way to weaken him since we have no vervaine, otherwise he'd be out of here in a heartbeat." Pulling the door open letting her go in "remember he asks to come out.. I'll lock you both up.."
Elena nodded as she walked in and went to his side sitting down lifting Damon's head in her lap and soothing her hands through his hair "Stefan could you get a damp towel so I can at least clean the blood off of him, maybe a clean shirt please?" she realized it was a lot to ask since she knew that this was Stefan's way of coping with her and Damon's relationship. Without an answer just a whish she looked up through the grate seeing that he sped off vamp style and came back almost as quickly. Stepping in without a word handing her a shirt with a bowl of water a white washcloth floating on the surface of the water. She knew that he wouldn't be long, he didn't trust her with Damon. He never did.
Elena took the bowl and sat it at her side setting the shirt aside as she started to clean Damon's wounds. She had to admit she was glad that he wasn't conscious seeing as he had passed out shortly after Stefan left him. Carefully stroking the towel down the dried patch of blood on the side of his temple where Jeremy had tried to slow him down by shooting him. Dipping the towel into the lukewarm water she continued up into his hair.
Stefan stood outside in the hall the door wide open keeping an eye on her watching every touch she and Damon shared. If this had been a few months ago, she would have spared Stefan's feelings and wouldn't have rubbed this in his face but at the moment she didn't really care.
"you know what you did was really stupid." Carefully moving out from under his head setting his head down and then moved on her knees beside him lifting the shirt up over his chest using her vampire strength she started at the hem of the shirt and ripped it up the middle then moved up to his shoulders slipping his arms out of it. Moving back to the middle of his body and cleaning the dried blood from his body. "you really did a number on him." Calling over her shoulder knowing Stefan was listening.
"Had to be done" he sat on the stairs and crossed his legs watching her through the door.
Rolling her eyes at him "yeah I'm sure.." stopping her actions as Damon started to stir and cough. Moving up to his head lifting him off the floor a little holding him up so that he could get his bearings right.
"shh Damon, it's alright.. you're okay" softly stroking his hair as she sat beside him he looked over at her "Elena.. I'm so sorry" Damon confessed through his feeble attempt at breathing. "look Damon don't talk too much okay. Save your strength." Pulling back when he was able to sit up on his own continuing to clean him up.
"Jeremy…" Damon asked Elena putting her fingers to his lips and quieting him down. "he's fine. He knows you weren't yourself and we're working on Kol." Careful what she said knowing the situation with Stefan and Rebekah.
"for now that will have to do" Looking at him as he nodded "here put this on." Grabbing the clean shirt she helped him put it on. Careful as he winced his arms coming over his head as she helped slide it down his body. "Lay down, rest I'll be back tomorrow." Leaning him back carefully as she leaned over and placed her lips on his softly kissing him whispering "I love you, whatever you do, remember that." Pulling back softly stroking his hair back as he closed his eyes. "that's it just rest" sitting by his side as she watched making sure he was asleep before she pushed herself to her feet and grabbed the blood soaked shirt and washcloth taking the bowl of water with her looking to Stefan and just walking by him as he went to relock the door. Walking her way down the hall straight to Damon's room Stefan close behind her. Calling over her shoulder "see everything's fine, didn't have to babysit either one of us. Now if you don't mind I'm going to clean this up then head on home." Stefan throwing his hands up in defeat "as you wish" leaving the room heading back to his.
Elena looked around the bedroom and sighed.. this was not how it was supposed to be. Sighing as she walked into Damon's closet and grabbed one of his button downs and changed into it moving to climb into his king sized bed she curled in a ball on his side and surrounded herself with his scent so she could be comforted by him in some way. She hadn't lied to Stefan, she was home… wherever Damon was she was home.