He was forced awake by the constant ringing of his cell phone. Rolling on to his side, Damon blindly reached for his cell phone.
"Hello" he answered gruffly still half asleep.

"Damon, it's Carter." He heard from the other end of the speaker.

"Hey, what do you…"
" I need you to go check on Emily." Carter interrupted.

"Why, what wrong?" The rock star asked, now wide awake.

"I don't know. I talked to her earlier after working our shift at the Pizza Shack and she sounded odd. She said she'd call me back but she never did. And she's not answering any of my calls." Carter explained.

"Okay, I am on my way now. I'll let you know." Damon assured.

"Thanks man. I really appreciate it." Carter finished. Ending the call.

Knocking on her apartment door for the third time that night, Damon was beginning to feel annoyed. 'What the?' He thought.
Pounding again he got nothing. Ready to give up Damon stopped his retreat due to the door finally opening. What he saw next broke his heart. Emily stood before him in what looked like one of his old shirts she stole and a tear stained face.
Pushing the door back, Damon let himself into the living room and scooped her up into his arms.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he sat them down on the couch as she cried into his chest.

"Everything." She cried. Tangling her tiny fists in to his shirt. " I'm so tired. I have no energy anymore Damon between working and training …"

"Shhhh…." he soothed picking her up and taking her into the bathroom. Shutting the door behind them, Damon set Emily on the counter and went to turn on the shower. Setting the water to hot, Damon returned to Emily's side. Hooking his fingers under the hem of his shirt Damon pulled it off and let it drop to the floor. She was bare underneath. 'Goodness she was gorgeous.' He thought taking her in. He smiled at the little blush he saw color her cheeks.
Stripping his own clothing, Damon guided Emily to the tub; shutting the lights off along the way. Getting in first, Damon helped Emily settle against him in the dark. This was one of her favorite things to do when she was upset…and he would always do it with her. He held her as her head rested on his chest and the steaming shower head cloaked them with warmth. He felt her tracing lazy patterns into his chest as he stroked her in the dark.

"Thank you." He heard her murmur so quietly that he almost missed it.
He chose not say anything. Instead he just held her. A few hours later he moved them to the bed so that he was able to cuddle her. Both bare and slightly damp, Damon wrapped himself around his little mustang only to have her turn in his arms so she was able to face him. Lacing her front into his, their bodies became one.
Comfortable and sedated, they cuddled each other into the dark. Before falling into sleep that night, Damon heard her murmur,

"I love you." Into his neck. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, Damon instinctively whispered back,

"I love you more."
And then they were gone into dreamland .

Carter never received anything from Damon that night, but he was okay with that. Because hr found more comfort in knowing he was with her then what any phone call could ever bring.