~ Bringing out the dead - Conversations & Consequences ~

Disclaimer: I do not own TVD only the twisted plot.

Had to write this after seeing TVD S.3 E.13 because it left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was going to be a single chapter but then the muse ran away with it. I want to complete and upload it before next Wednesday. Fingers crossed I will manage to do it.

When routine bites hard,
And ambitions are low,
And resentment rides high,
But emotions won't grow,
And we're changing our ways,
Taking different roads.

Then love, love will tear us apart again.

And there's a taste in my mouth,
As desperation takes hold.
Love, love will tear us apart again.

Joy Division - "Love will tear us apart"

"Ah, you were right about Elijah. Un-daggering him was the smart move." – Stefan admitted begrudgingly.

"Wow! Actual acknowledgement of a job well done! You are going soft Stefan." – Damon replied snarkily.

"So, I guess I shouldn't thank you for saving me from Klaus." – Stefan said to his brother.

"Shut up." – Damon spat back –"You don't get to thank me until I pay you back for all of those times you saved me."

"You could have left me there." – Stefan said stopping in place - "Klaus would have killed me and you would have had Elena all to yourself."

Damon looked at his brother annoyed. His phone buzzed and Elena's name showed up on the screen but he didn't answer. This was not the time.

Stefan looked at his brother trying to understand his actions.

"I didn't do that on your account."

Stefan sighed deeply and looked at his brother.

"I love her Damon."

"So do I." – Damon replied bitterly casting a last look at Stefan as he turned to continue towards the boarding house.

Stefan took a deep breath and followed falling silently in step alongside Damon.

The brothers walked side by side through the dark forest, the rustle of leaves the only sound in the lonely night. These woods had seen these brothers weave through them many times before. These woods stood watch as the brothers lived, grew, laughed, cried, loved, died, hunted, killed, evolved, devolved, fought and loved again. Had it been a person, the woods would have cried in pity for the two siblings. They had endured so much pain and loss in their existence that they were not able to also realise what they had gained or the treasures that never left them.

That they loved each other was obvious to anyone that cared to look under their thin pretenses. Underneath their eternal bickering, unresolved issues and excessive sarcasm laid a love too deep to be killed. Damon and Stefan brotherly bond meant they were each other's soul mate in the journey of their existence. They were two halves of a whole, and maybe Katherine, despite her wicked and selfish ways, had been the one the closest to uncovering that truth.

Damon and Stefan reached the boarding house as the sunrise started to make its sleepy entrance onto the sky's stage. Damon breathed deeply and sat on the wall by the front door observing the spectacle unfold. Stefan took a seat next to his brother eyes firmly set on the horizon line.

"Remember that first morning after we died?" – Stefan asked Damon quietly.

Damon sighed as his lips turned up into a small smile. – "I remember."

"You hated me then…"

"I was angry with you… You led Katherine to her death and with it you killed my heart." – Damon sighed more deeply – "Hating you was the only way I could survive once you turned me." - he said with clear resentment.

"I know… but I could not let you die…" – Stefan whispered and chuckled without humor –"Seems like this is the only constant of my existence…I cannot let you die."

Damon let out another humorless chuckle.

"I can't let you die either…That's why I had to come back for you tonight…" – Damon said looking to his side – "That's why I always have and always will come back for you…"

"Thanks Damon."

"Don't mention it." – Damon replied as he leaned his head back soaking the gentle morning rays that caressed his beautiful skin.

"Damon…"

"Man you are clingy."– Damon moaned amused –"You are not getting any more "love you bro" confessions out of me Stefan."

"I can live with that." – Stefan said chuckling himself –" But seriously…"

"Seriously?" – Damon groaned.

"Yes… Did you mean what you said?"

"About what exactly Stefan?"

"You really love her? You really love Elena?"

Damon looked at his brother through narrowed eyes.

"You know. I was the one that spent every day since Katherine was locked in that tomb pining for her and trying to set her free. You on the other hand, were over her sorry ass before the cinders of Fell's church were cold even if you claimed to love her "oh so much". So between us, I have far more cache when I say I love someone than you do baby bro."

"You really do love her…" – Stefan gazed at Damon with wide eyes.

"No shit Sherlock." - Damon looked at his brother slightly annoyed.

"I had hoped…" – Stefan started to say but shook his head and stopped

"What? What had you hoped?"- Damon snapped annoyed.

Stefan sighed and pierced his lips.

"I had hoped it was just a complex rouse to get under my skin…"

Damon guffawed.

"I hate to break it to you baby bro, but not everything I do revolve around torturing you." – Damon smirked at him evilly – "Even though I do enjoy riling you up, my love for Elena was and is completely out of my control and has nothing to do with my wicked scheming ways."

Stefan was lost in thought for a few minutes, trying to organize the contrasting feelings and ideas crowding his mind.

"What are we going to do?" – he finally said.

"Well, I don't know Stefan." – Damon replied annoyed –"Why do you always expect me to have the answers? I thought that the whole point of evil Stefan was that you now could think for yourself." – Damon snorted.

Stefan ignored the jibe and carried on.

"We can't both love her…"

"Apparently we can't both not love her either." – Damon said with a small sad voice.

"If she chooses one of us, do you think the other can survive?"- Stefan asked in a croak.

Damon looked at his brother…the pain that was breaking him apart was also there in Stefan's eyes.

"No Stefan… not this time…"

"Do you think we can walk away from her? You know…to keep her safe like Klaus suggested?" – Stefan asked pathetically.

Damon huffed frustrated.

"Considering how well that worked for you baby bro… I am going to have to say no to that one too…"

Before Stefan could ask any more questions Damon stood up and walked towards the front door.

"I'm tired. I need to drown my sorrows and sleep my sorry ass into oblivion." – Damon said completely deflated –"We can talk more after that. Unless by some miracle we both wise up overnight." – Damon wiggled his eye brows at his brother making Stefan laugh despite himself.

"Thank you Damon."

"I told you…Don't mention it."

Damon walked into the boarding house welcoming the sombre interior and the cool temperature. He could hear Stefan behind him but he didn't look back as he made his way to his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

As Damon poured himself a large dose of his favorite whiskey he heard Stefan's door close down the corridor.

The night had left Damon feeling emotionally exhausted. First the tour de force with Klaus and Elijah with Stefan acting in his best bratty behavior, then their confessional which led him to ignore Elena's call and finally the heart to heart he had had with Stefan just now… It was too much drama for one night.

Damon sighed heavily. He knew he should call Elena but he simply didn't have it in him to talk to her right now. The girl had to be able to make it through one night without needing to be saved from something, so he would look into her tomorrow. Tonight he was going to soak his soul with his other love, alcohol…

How did I do? :) Reviews are *always* appreciated! xoxo