Inspired from this image of Damon and Elena from episode 2x22 As I Lay Dying. http:/28(dot)media(dot)tumblr(dot)com/tumblr_ll3906wUpy1qc45p4o1_500(dot)jpg

She smelled like coconut and lime. Her thick brown mane timidly danced among the breeze of the wind. A wild determination blazed through her irises, distracting anyone that really looked at the dark circles under her eyes which resulted from a lack of sleep. Her body stood rigid as the hole in her heart grew bigger.

She was in a silent state of shock.

She thought she would be able to move on with life after her parents.

Then she lost Jenna.

She couldn't imagine a world - her world, her life - without Damon. Despite their problems and her anger towards him because of his recent actions, she still wouldn't let him go.

"Damon…" She breathed out. "You should be resting."

They were in the backyard of the boarding house. They were completely alone.

"What's the point?" Damon muttered darkly. "Even if I wanted to, the bite won't let me rest." Damon was faced away from Elena staring into the darkness.

Elena signed. She didn't want to get into an argument. She didn't have it in her. Damon had ways of triggering her wild side. She was still numb from losing Jenna and if things got heated, she was sure to lash out, and do something she would regret.

Damon continued on. "You saw what it did to Rose, Elena. It will happen to me too. I can feel it."

"So that's it? You just give up? Damon Salvatore gives up? I don't know if I should be surprised or disappointed. Why not just take a stake to your heart right now? Like you did to Rose?" Elena spat.

The silence that surrounded them turned eerie and the tension lingered like a blazing fire.

"I had thoughts about that." Damon's voice got darker. He turned around and faced Elena. He was devoid of emotion, his switch was off.

Then Damon lifted his hand which encased a homemade stake.

Elena gasped as tears immediately pierced her eyes. Damon could hear her heart rate speed up.

"If anyone is going to take a stake to my heart it's going to be you. I wouldn't have it any other way."

A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Damon's face and for a moment his eyes closed.

"You were right, I should be resting." Damon's hand started shaking and he lost his grip on the stake. The stake cluttered to the ground and Damon followed.

Elena took action. Her wild side had finally been triggered. She moved as fast as she could for her human abilities and caught Damon before he could fully crash. She put her arms around him, pulling him close. The side of his head was directly against her chest, and their bodies molded together. Elena ran her fingers up and down Damon's back as a sign of comfort.

After a few moments Damon smirked.

The wolf bite was deteriorating his body and his mind, but he wasn't over the edge yet.

For the first time since he was human was able to use an illness to his advantage.

He just wanted to be in Elena's arms.