Disclaimer: All rights go to L.J. Smith and the CW.

Hello Everyone. This story came to me when I was re watching Season 3 Episode 2 'The Hybrid.' I couldn't get it out of my mind so I had to write it. I hope you guys enjoy.

Damon

I feel my heart drop when I spot Elena in danger, that thing growling menacingly at her. I look around for an answer as to what I'm supposed to do. I don't think about my actions as I see the fear overtake her features. I need to protect her.

"Here doggie, doggie." I say mockingly. The wolf whips its head at me. I watch as horror spreads on Elena's face as she realizes what I'm about to do. Once I know I have its full attention.

I run.

I hear the hybrids panting and his footsteps stomping after me. I need to get this thing away from Elena and Alaric. I continue to run, dodging trees until I can no longer hear it behind me. I feel dread wash over me as I hesitantly walk through the dense forest, trying to make as little noise as possible.

I whip my head around as I hear the resounding snap of a tree branch breaking. I turn back around just in time to see the hybrid leap out from nowhere and tackle me to the ground. I leap up and pull my arm back, flinging my fist at the hybrid's bloody face. This just seems to anger him more as he starts to blindly swing at me.

I dunk, avoiding every fierce throw of his fists. I bend down and go for his legs; I feel a little excitement as his back slams hard onto the ground. The excitement is short lived as he kicks out with his legs and I feel myself go flying backwards onto the solid forest floor. I jump back up just in time to see him leap into the air. I lift up my hands to fling him behind me.

He comes at me again.

I hold my arms out, gripping him on the shoulders to stop his attack. I feel all encompassing fear take over my body as his teeth snap at my neck. I use all of my strength to try and fight him off, but soon I realize it's a lost cause.

This is one of those battles that are lost before it has even begun.

I can feel his spit hitting me on the cheek and neck as he closes in on me. I grit my teeth as I feel the familiar pain of teeth puncturing my flesh. I vaguely wonder if this is how it feels like to humans when a vampire bites them.

I feel his jaw lock as his teeth clamp onto my shoulder blade, tearing into the flesh viciously. The relief is overwhelming when his gruesome hold on me slackens and finally his teeth release my shoulder as the hybrid falls to the ground. I look up to see Stefan holding onto the guys' heart.

His face is horror struck as he stares at the wound on my shoulder.

"Damon…" He whispers as he drops the hybrids heart onto the dirt covered forest floor. Blood from the hybrids heart turns the light brown dirt, a dark brown that's tinted with red. I continue to stare at the ground, watching as the blood slowly makes its way toward Stefan's boot. I don't want to look into Stefan's pitiful eyes.

"I… I could ask Klaus… maybe he would give me more of his blood." Stefan chokes out, walking up to me to further inspect my wound. I shake my head back and forth, taking a step back from him.

"You and I both know he won't Stefan." I say calmly.

"I can at least try. I did not sell myself to him just for you to end up dead anyways." He growls out at me. I feel warmth fill my heart at Stefan's insistent to keep me alive. At least I know someone wants me alive.

"Stefan I'm not going to let you make another idiotic deal with him to save my life again!" I yell at him. Doesn't he understand that people need him more than me in Mystic Falls? I can tell that everyone blames me for Stefan's recent trip to the dark side. Hell I can even sometimes see it in Elena's face and that hurts.

I will not allow him to get away this time. I can smell the human blood coming off of him and I will not allow him to lose himself to the blood. No matter how much I want to deny it, he's my little brother and I need to protect him. If that means I have to die then so be it.

Also Elena needs Stefan and no matter how much I wish I was enough for her, I know I never will be. Everyone will be much happier with Stefan back and me gone. The world will be back on its axis.

"I won't let you die!" Stefan yells at me, I scoff at his stubbornness.

I already made peace with death the last time this happened. My only regret would be not bringing him back for Elena, so I'm not going to give up on trying.

"Stefan you need to go back to Mystic Falls." This time he is the one who scoffs at my words.

"I already told you before. I'm not coming back." His voice is calm, but I can hear the well hidden want in his voice. I know he wants more than anything to go back to Mystic Falls, to Elena. I can hear it in his voice and God help me if I'm not going to use it to my advantage.

"She's not going to give up Stefan and she's going to need someone there to protect her when I'm gone." I say while pointing to my neck. What I said seem to have set him off because his face becomes furious.

"I already told you. I'm going to ask Klaus for more blood!" He hisses out as he begins to turn around to probably head back to Klaus.

"I swear to God Stefan if you don't get your ass back to Mystic Falls then I will kill myself despite if you can get the blood or not." I shout out, desperate to get Stefan's attention. I need to bring him back to Elena. I can't stand to hear her sobbing in Stefan's room when she thinks I'm not there. The sound pierces my heart and I never want to hear her that heartbroken ever again. He turns around and scrutinizes my expression.

"You would never kill yourself." He says, trying to call my bluff. Luckily I'm good at concealing my emotions. I have the best poker face ever. I give him a challenging look; obviously I would never kill myself. If I knew Elena would be left unprotected I would never, but this seems to be the only way to catch Stefan's attention.

I know that if I do this, that if I get Stefan to go back to Mystic Falls then I will die. I just feel so guilty for putting him in this position in the first place that I'm willing to sacrifice myself to make things right again. Sadly the only people who will probably miss me when I'm gone are Stefan, Elena and Rick.

"Try me." I challenge.

They will get over it eventually though.

Elena will have Stefan and Rick well he will have his booze.

Hell I'm already dying anyways so why not make everyone happy with Stefan's return instead of making him go to Klaus who will surely deny him the cure and then take him away where we will probably never find him again.

This is the only alternative I can see.

I tell him as much and I watch as acceptance spreads across his face. Finally he sees it too, that Klaus would never give him the cure. He walks up to me and pulls me into a bone crushing hug. I clench my jaw as tight as I can, forcing myself not to cry.

Stefan doesn't hold back.

I feel salty tears fall onto my neck and slides down my chest, my black shirt absorbing them.

"Keep her safe brother." I say through clenched teeth, blinking rapidly as the tears threaten to fall down my cheeks.

"You're not coming?" Stefan blanches as he pulls away, looking at me as if I was dropped on my head as a child.

I shake my head back and forth.

"What about Elena and Alaric…" He trails off; I know he wanted to say 'what about me?' I sigh as I pull out of his embrace.

"I can't put her through watching me die again." Understanding washes over his face as he takes a step back.

"Just please don't tell her this time." I beg him. I don't need her to do some crazy kamikaze mission to get Klaus' blood. He thinks she's dead and I want it to stay that way.

"Say that I left to go travel the world, or to go sample sorority girls from other countries. Or better yet say that I joined Jersey Shore. Yeah I would fit right in with them. Having sex every night, getting drunk, going clubbing…" I trail off as I watch Stefan trying to fight a smile at my so called 'Damon humor.'

Immediately his smile drops and the reality of the situation sets in. There is no saving me this time brother. I quickly give him directions to Rick's car, trying to get him to Elena before he changes his mind.

He takes off like a speeding bullet; I don't hesitate to follow after him. I stand at the top of a hill overlooking Rick's car. I hide in the shadows as I watch Stefan make his way over to the car. It doesn't take long for Elena to jump out of the car like it's on fire and run into Stefan's awaiting arms.

I take a step out of the shadows as I see a smile the size of Russia spread across her face. I give a bitter smile as I hear 'I love you' being repeated over and over again by her and Stefan. I imagine myself in his shoes. I imagine what it would be like if it was me who she ran too, me who she was fretting over.

I watch as they share a fierce kiss in the middle of the field, I avert my eyes away from the painful sight and up at the billions of stars painting the black sky. Elena and Stefan are together again and Damon is on the side lines, forgotten about.

All is right in the world.

I let out a bitter chuckle as I realize Elena totally forgot about me and the danger I was in because of that hybrid. It's like she's not even worried if I got bit or not, as long as she has Stefan by her side nothing else matters.

I'm chop liver.

I sigh as Stefan leads her to the car and opens up the door to the backseat, the whole time she can't seem to keep her hands off of him. I feel panic set in as I catch Rick looking at me from his place at the cars hood.

I bore my eyes into his, trying to silently communicate with him. I narrow my eyes when he attempts to speak; I point at the bite on my shoulder and watch as realization dawns on him. He looks distraught, but luckily he says nothing as he gives me one last look and then gets into the driver's side and Stefan in the passenger seat. I look back over to Elena and watch her the whole time, begging her with my mind to at least inquire about me.

Yet not a word was spoken.

I watch as Rick starts the car and slowly starts to drive away. My heart drops the farther the car drives away. She must truly not care. I go to turn around when I hear her angelic voice speak out.

"Is Damon meeting us at the boarding house?" The happiness at her remembering about me is short lived when I remember that I'm not going to be meeting them at the boarding house. I'm going to be dead.

I don't get to hear Stefan's response as the car drives out of hearing range. Without further ado I turn around and make my way into the foliage. The stars disappear along with the moonlit sky. Shrouding my world in darkness, where I'm to die.

Alone.

The unsung hero.

A/N: Did you guys like it? I know it's sad. If I get enough reviews I might continue with this story since I have a few ideas. So if anyone wants me to continue then just leave a review.