Never Knowing

SUMMARY- Kol wants revenge and that means Damon is in trouble. Can Stefan get there in time? Will he finally understand that he cares? Very fast-paced. One-shot but read the bold, I may add another chapter.

Hey,

This is very fast paced. Like very, very. I'm probably going to re-write it, but this is how it's staying until I get time.

t.t.f.n.

…

Three letter words are often taken for granted. No-one thinks about them, they only pass through conversations like ghosts. We do not think it is possible for a three letter word to be overused and we are right. They are not learnt or memorized like longer words. They simply exist with only one purpose, to join one thing to another. As fillers, not meaning to be important and being quite successful at that. But that was how it started for him this time. His mind did not register the meaning of the word until it was too late. Possibly because he was not expecting company on that particular evening. Maybe because no-one begins these sorts of meetings with three letter words or expects them to begin this way. It's either silence and a sneak attack or a conversation slowly forming into an argument. This attacker however did not say anything other than a three letter word and yet it was the most terrifying thing to say at the time. Especially because the smile that accompanied it was twisted into a sinister and cruel sneer that would make the most ruthless killer shiver.

"Boo."

Damon barely had time to turn before he was thrown into the wall and a sharp piece of wood was driven into his side. He looked up and saw Kol, fangs bared, glaring at him. He definitely pissed off that Original. Slowly, doing his best not to wince, he wrapped his hand around the stake and pulled it out.

"Well, that is one way to say hello."

"You attacked me; I'm just returning the favor."

Kol lunged and even though Damon was ready for him this time he was still knocked into the wall again, this time with the Original's arm through his stomach. He gasped and doubled-over despite himself, clinging to the arm to try and control the pain. Kol brought his head down and whispered into Damon's ear.

"Hurts, doesn't it?"

Twisting his arm violently, the Original threw Damon across the room. He hit the wall with a sickening crack but Kol sped over and locked one hand around his throat before he could touch the floor. In less than a second Kol ripped into Damon's throat, tearing at the flesh. He stopped again almost instantly, spiting up blood.

"Vervain."

Damon managed a lop-sided grin despite his weakened state, unable to speak. Kol growled and sped to the basement, throwing Damon into one of the cells. The heavy door closed with a loud 'clunk'.

"Smile at that," Kol growled as he walked away. He started to leave but a thought crossed his mind and he stepped back into the parlor. It took him all of six minutes to clean the blood off the floor and walls.

With one last smirk, he left the Boarding House.

No-one would ever never know he was there.

…

Stefan didn't come back to the Boarding House until the next day, and when he did he didn't even begin to suspect any foul play. He barely thought about his brother at all.

The next day was no different. He came and went and simply thought that Damon was avoiding him. But even though he had dismissed thoughts of his brother's whereabouts instantly, the seed of doubt was planted and it started growing. Unfortunately for Damon, Elena managed to occupy Stefan's time for the remainder of that day.

After that Stefan started to get worried. He asked Elena first but she said that she hadn't heard from Damon since the night of the Ball. Alaric hadn't spoken to him since before that. He spent a few hours in town, checking the Grill and anywhere else he thought his brother might've been.

That night Stefan returned to the boarding house, fuming. He picked up a glass, but before he could poor himself a drink, smashed it against the floor. He took deep breaths to calm himself and without even glancing down at the mess, he made his way down to the basement, opening the fridge and taking a blood-bag.

On his way back he noticed something he should've noticed a long time ago. One of the cells was shut. He never closed the cell doors for no reason. He went back through his memories, trying to remember if he'd been the one to close the door. He came up with a blank and after dropping the blood-bag on a rusted shelf he walked towards the cell in question and glanced through the bars. He didn't see any-one, which made him even more curious. Slowly and with extra caution, Stefan pulled the latch and opened the door. He stepped into the cell, scanning the space. He didn't see anything at first and sighed, beginning to doubt himself. Maybe he had closed it? It wasn't that big a deal…

He turned to leave but stopped in his tracks. Damon was lying in the corner, curled up in a ball. His eyes were closed and a small pool of dried blood surrounded him, making him seem pale and small.

Stefan had never been faster in his entire un-dead life. He ran to his brother, turning him over and pulling him into his arms. He shook Damon violently, trying for some sort of reaction from his brother. He was surprised when Damon moaned softly. He could barely hear his brother breathing.

Stefan lifted his brother and ran into the parlor, laying Damon on the couch. He sped back down and retrieved his blood-bag, ripping it open as he ran. He kneeled next to Damon and tilted his head back, pouring a small amount of blood into mouth. Damon was able to swallow, but still coughed painfully. Stefan managed to get him to drink almost half the bag before he started to choke. He stopped immediately, hoping it was enough to keep his brother alive for now.

He cursed under his breath when he saw that his brother's neck wasn't healing.

Damon started to gasp softly, one of his hands clawing at the couch. Stefan brought the blood-bag back to Damon's mouth and sighed with relief as he started to drink on his own. It became more and more desperate as Damon slowly became stronger.

Stefan placed the empty bag on the floor next to them. He was glad to see some colour come back into his brother's face. He wiped a trail of blood off of Damon's cheek.

"Damon?"

Blue eyes opened and struggled to focus.

"Stef…"

"I'm here," he said softly, brushing back Damon's hair.

"Knew you'd find me," Damon mumbled, closing his eyes again. Stefan's heart wrenched painfully. It was then that noticed the gaping hole in Damon's stomach. He cursed again and ran down to retrieve another blood-bag. Damon drank this one just as eagerly.

"Who did this Damon? Tell me."

Damon only moaned, coughing slightly. He tried to bury his face in the pillow but the movement sent a wave of pain through his body and he cried out. He reached subconsciously for his brother, but Stefan had already left again, getting him more blood. Part of him was glad, he felt like his hunger was ripping him to pieces, but the rest of him wished Stefan would stay. Just so he didn't have to keep worrying that the door would open and Kol would walk through, grinning maliciously and planning to literally rip him to pieces.

But he was just so tired. He had held on for his brother. There was so much to say, but Damon could barely form words let alone coherent ones. He wished Stefan knew how hard he had tried. He wanted to tell his brother how much their recent arguments had hurt him, that he didn't really hate him at all. Funny how much thinking you could do while slowly starving to death.

He reached further, his eyes beginning to close again.

He had never needed his brother this much in his entire life.

…

The End

Kidding!

To die or not to die, that is the question for our dear Damon…

…

Stefan took Damon's limp hand in his own, shaking his brother.

Damon managed to keep his eyes open a fraction, but he was having trouble thinking straight. He only knew that his brother was here. That he wouldn't die alone. So when Stefan brought more blood to his mouth he shook his head, trying to be assertive but failing miserably. Still, Stefan saw the movement and started to argue with him, forgetting that he was in a critical condition and could barely understand half the words that were being spoken.

Damon used as much energy as he could to squeeze his brother's hand and Stefan stopped talking immediately, looking at his brother with scared eyes.

"Who did it?" Stefan whispered. He needed to know, no matter what happened.

"… K-Kol" The word was barely audible and left Damon short of breath.

"I'm gonna kill him!' Stefan shouted, ripping his hand away from Damon's and starting to pace the room. He was angry, but his anger was directed inward. He had walked past his brother for three days, left him starving and hadn't even cared. He did care. Brothers always cared.

"Stef…"

The weak croak brought him back to reality and he sat down on the couch, moving his brother's head into his lap.

"Come on… just drink a little more…"

Damon shook his head once, too weak to do anything more. He could almost see Stefan break apart. His eyes were beginning to lose focus so he closed them. The idea of seeing the world around him turn black made him shudder.

"Just stay…" Damon mumbled almost inaudibly, leaning into his brother. He felt Stefan's arms tighten and relaxed further.

But Stefan didn't want to let him go. He couldn't live without his brother. Damon had promised him an eternity and he was going to hold him to his word. He called to Damon again, begging him to open his eyes. When Damon made no move to respond, his heart sank and he buried his face in his brother's dark hair. He knew he was crying but he didn't care. He should have cared about more important things long before then.

Stefan felt Damon stir and brought his head back so he could see his brother's face. Damon's eyes were open, but they were un-focused and glassy. Stefan was only glad that his brother had heard him.

"Hey… you've got to hold on okay? Please…"

Although Damon was too out of it to register the meaning of the words, he still replied, his voice becoming dangerously soft at times.

"I tried Stef… I waited for you, don't… don't leave me alone again… please…"

Stefan felt the familiar pang of guilt run through him and cried harder.

"Never again. I promise," he whispered, brushing his fingers along Damon's cheek. "But you need to hold on. I need you to…"

Damon leaned his cheek into Stefan's hand.

"… I'll try Stef, I'll… I'll try…"

Damon's eyes closed and his face whitened further. Stefan could no longer hear him breathing, even with his enhanced hearing and that scared him. He didn't think he had been more scared in his life. Still, he rocked his brother slowly, whispering soothing nonsense.

As he looked down at Damon's pale face he vowed not to move until his brother woke up.

He never moved again.

...

Seems pretty final, doesn't it? I don't like to write after death drama. It's too… dramatic.

You'll just have to read the next chapter then. :)

t.t.f.n.

…again.