As Klaus's blood began to circulate through his system, healing the werewolf bite Damon struggled to wrap his head around what Katherine had said and the events that had transpired before she entered. It was a swirl of thoughts and emotions, only the foremost easily decoded by the vampire they belonged to. A kiss by Elena's velvet lips…out of pity…and Stefan.
Then Katherine spoke once more and Damon felt the knife twist in his gut as she left.
Elena was more composed than he was. She grabbed her phone and Damon didn't even have to see it to know who she was texting and what the text message said.
Damon didn't say a word. He simply sat in shock, the lethargy from the rough day clear on his face. Part of him wanted to tell her that they would make it, that they'd been through so much already. But it was shoved away before he could speak. There was nothing they could do. And in the rush to blame someone, Tyler Lockwood came to the elder Salvatore's mind.
"Tyler."
The name trigged a response in Elena, her chocolate brown eyes gazed at him in panic.
"Damon," She started. "Don't you dare."
He didn't answer, simply picking himself off of the bed. He was drenched in sweat and he was tired, but that didn't matter to Damon. Someone had to be blamed for this. Tyler was Damon's scapegoat for the feelings of guilt that were tearing at his stomach.
As he headed for the bedroom door, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Not tonight. I can't stop you tomorrow morning, but please. Not tonight," She pleaded.
Damon sighed and moved her hand off of his shoulder, before climbing back into the bed.
"You don't have to stay," He mumbled, as a wave of sleep over took him.
Elena sat down on the bed beside him until morning.