Chapter 2

The Doctor continued performing Stefan's physical exam.

"There aren't broken bones in the arms, nor in the ribs, nor in the legs" the doctor confirmed. Marie nodded and sighed in relief, but she was still worried about Damon. When the doctor was done on checking and confirm that Stefan wasn't really serious blow, he let Cordelia lead him to Damon's room.

Stefan tried to stand to follow the Doctor and Cordelia, but his mother stopped him

"You stay in bed, young man" Marie told her son. "I'll go see what the doctor says about Damon's condition.

"But the doctor said I'm O.K.!" Stefan said grumbling, "And it's my fault that he beat both of us up."

"Oh well... let's go," Marie said resigned, "as we walk to Damon's room you can you tell me why the fight was about?"

"John had taken Clementine's doll and he throws it to the river, I take the doll out from the river and then John got angry and told me not to mess with him that what he did wasn't my business... but I had to give Clementine her doll back. And suddenly he punched me and I punched him back after that was on me punching me in the face and chest. I was fainting when I heard Damon coming and he grabbed him away from me, then I remember nothing until I woke up in my bed, with you by my side."

When they got to Damon's room, the doctor and Cordelia had already awakened him. The doctor checked Damon's eyes in the same way he had checked Stefan's, then he began checking Damon's head. "It seems that there is no visible damage in his eyes and there aren't facial or head broken bones." He said Marie, sighed really relieved. When he continued the physical checking of Damon's body he noticed the bruises on his ribs and when he walked away in response to the pain caused him by being touched that area of his body, the doctor said "However I cannot say the same of the rest of the body seems to have broken ribs, young man" turning to see Marie who had a very worried face.

"I can only recommend to put a bandage in his chest and made him rest, he must have all the rest a twelve-year-old child can withstand,"Dr Janes said, looking into Marie's eyes, who just nodded.

At night, Giuseppe came into the house like a whirlwind. "What is it that about my children got into a fight?" he screamed.

"What, my love?" asked Marie coming out from Damon's room to whom she had brought dinner.

"I've asked… What's that about my children got into a fight?" he shouted again.

"Low your voice the children are asleep," she said beginning to get angry. Therefore Giuseppe figured out that the two children had actually gotten into a fight.

"No son of mine will go around looking for fights without rhyme or reason, as if they were drunks coming out from the saloon!" Giuseppe shouted.

"They are children, and don't tell me you were never like that, Giuseppe! If you knew their version of the events sure you'd understand!" she shouted back.

"Sure it is Damon fault!" he shouted again.

Marie hated when Giuseppe spoke about Damon in that way. And she couldn't help noticing that Giuseppe brought a bottle of bourbon in his hand.

Marie grabbed the bottle from Giuseppe's hand, "Do not talk about my children like that! They did the right thing and I think you've had enough."

Giuseppe hit the bottle of Marie's hands, then slapped her in the face. "Do not defend that evil's spawn that is not even your son!"

"Do not you dare to say he is not my son, Damon is just as son of mine such as Stefan is!" She screamed, her face red with anger. Then he grabbed her by the neck and pinned her against the wall. Throwing a photograph of himself with Marie, Damon and Stefan to the floor.

"Do not talk to me in that way! I am your husband and you have to respect me! And I'll beat that monster until I get tired!" He yelled throwing Marie to the floor, and he continued walking to his room.

Leaving Marie crying in the hallway right next to Damon's room. How could he do this to her? She thought he loved her. Those thoughts crossed his mind several times. What Giuseppe and Marie hadn't realized was that a 12-year-old Damon had seen it all. After he was sure that his father had gone to his room, Damon left his room, ran to Marie, embraced her and cried with her.

A few minutes after that "Damon, my son must go to sleep, remember that the doctor said you had to rest" Marie told Damon with her eyes full of tears. "I'll see that when your father is sober, he calm down and he won't beat you up as he threatened." She said in a calm tone, kissing the boy's forehead who was looking at her with sad eyes.

Damon nodded, although he got back into his room, he didn't go back to sleep, he waited for some time, the time he thought was enough to Marie had gone to her room to sleep, he grabbed a blanket and tiptoed toward the stables. He saddled, Ténèbres, his horse and went to the forest where surely no one would look; determined to stay there until his dad calmed down.

The next morning when Marie awoke; the rain fell heavily over Mystique Falls. Marie dressed, she left her room and went to check how the boys were and she realized that Damon wasn't there.