A/N v. 2.0 – Ok guys, I originally uploaded this story a couple of days ago but FF did a fabulous job of messing up my format and I didn't catch it till it was too late. I want to thank everyone who read, favorited, followed, and reviewed the original upload but it was a mess and I couldn't keep it that way. My OCD simply would not allow it. So I'm reloading it now (hopefully with no glitches this time). Again, thanks for all the support and leave a review if it pleases you. - T
I've Got You
Her throat is raw, her tears dry sticky streaks on her flushed cheeks, her legs numb from sitting on the pavement for far too long, a single thought runs through her mind like a mantra as the pads of her fingers stroke her best friend's hair leaving her skin raw from the friction.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
She hiccups as she rocks back and forth, back and forth, Stefan's head cradled in her lap. In the distance she hears the familiar roar of an engine come to a stop and she'd probably hear the footsteps approach her if her brain would just stop.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
She hears someone crying, but she doesn't think it's her. She stopped crying seconds, minutes, hours ago. Now it's just hiccups and dry heaves and the constant mantra running through her head.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
Her hands tighten against Stefan as she spots a pair of black boots slowly coming towards her and she lets out a feral hiss, her fangs elongating as the boots stop far too close to her and Stefan.
"Caroline." She hears her name but the mantra won't stop.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
She sees someone crouch in front of her and she lets out another hiss in warning but then her vision comes into focus and she's sees that it's Damon kneeling beside her and Oh God, please make it stop.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
"I'm sorry," she chokes out. "I'm so so so sorry Damon. He was trying to protect me, I was fine, I didn't need him to protect me, I was fine. It's all my fault." Her jumbled words morph into a broken sob as she curls into herself, her blond curls cascading around her and Stefan.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.
"Shhhh, It's ok," Damon says softly, his hand stretching out slightly, but not close enough to touch her. "We're going to find Bonnie and she's going to fix this. Ok?" Caroline raises her head, her bottom lip between her teeth as she nods. Damon begins to stand, both arms outstretched now as he makes an attempt to take Stefan from her embrace.
"No!" she growls, pulling Stefan firmly against her. "I've got him," she says more quietly as she stands and carries Stefan to Damon's car.
Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead. Stefan's dead!
And it's all her fault.