Stefan stood round the corner of the living room, listening into Elena and Damon's conversation. Stefan was itching to go in and say something, anything because he was sure this girl was going to be Damon's distraction. Just when they had to find a cure for Caroline, Elena came along and ruined it all. Damon had to stay focused but all he could think about was this new girl, Elena. Stefan peered into the front room and immediately noticed how Damon looked at her. For a split second Damon caught a glimpse of Stefan watching the two of them and looked across the room to him. What is it? Damon asked him through his thoughts.

We need to talk. Stefan replied.

Damon nodded and turned back round to Elena who was now drinking down her cup of tea, Stefan listened in as Damon told her he wouldn't be a minute as he had to leave. Damon made his way out of the front room and shut the door behind him as he became face to face with Stefan. "What?" He muttered. Stefan sighed and began, "So, she's awake?"

"Yes."

"So, what do you plan to do with her now?"

"Nothing!" Damon snapped, defending Elena's ground. "Damon, we can't keep her, you know that. She needs to go. We saved her and that's it!" Stefan struggled to reason with him.

"We can't just chuck her out. She can barely stand up let alone fucking communicate!" Damon yelled in his face.

"Well, teach her how to walk to the fucking front door then!" Stefan snapped back and suddenly Damon grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the wall, "She's fucking staying whether you give a shit or not!" Damon was strangling him aggressively, pressing him harder and harder against the wall. Stefan began to choke from the pressure of his hand that gripped around his neck.

After a long second Damon finally let go and Stefan collapsed down onto the carpeted floor, weakly. Damon watched him as he hunched over the floor, on his needs choking for oxygen. "Y-you..." Stefan choked, "You'll r-r-regret this, D-damon."

"I'd like to know when." Damon muttered, opening the door to the front door and slamming it shut behind him, leaving Stefan choking for air.

"Enjoyed that, did you?" Damon asked as he approached Elena.

"Yes. Very much, thank you." She replied with a satisfied smile as Damon carefully sat down beside her body. Elena reached out for the tray to take it bake to the kitchen but Damon suddenly gripped onto her wrist, stopping her. "Don't worry, Wendi will do that."

"Are you sure?" Elena ask, her eyebrows knotting together. Damon nodded in reassurance, "You're here to rest not work."

"Do you think you're capable of walking at the moment?" He added in question. Elena gave in a long second of thought, "I'm not sure but my legs are killing me."

"Ok. Just stay there and rest."

"No, wait. Will you help me stand? I want to stretch my legs. Try and walk."

He nodded and stood up to help her stand. He held his hand out to her which she gratefully took and he pulled her up on her feet. "Thanks." She breathed, as she gripped desperately onto his upper arms for support.

"No worries." He whispered and her breath hit his chest. A chill ran through his body, a feeling he had never felt before. Something about her made him feel worthy of showing kindness which was a very rare thing for him. He slowly begin to pull her forward, making her have to put one foot in front of the other in order to follow him. Her hands stayed gripped on his upper arms as he carefully repeated the pattern. He watched her legs move one in front of the other as they trembled madly beneath her shaking body. After her twelfth step she suddenly feel forward into his chest, he let out a gasp as he extended his arms immediately and caught her. She was breathing heavy as she remained in his warm arms which wrapped around her. "Sorry." She apologised. "It's ok."

"I understand." He added, slowly stroking her head. She felt a rush of comfort flow through her and she clung to him from the feeling.

"Would you like to take a shower or something?" He asked in a soft voice. She nodded with a shy smile, "Yes, please."

"I'll go run it for you."

"Ok." Damon helped her back down onto the sofa and walked calmly as he could, out of the front room as to be sure not to behave like the vamp he truly is. What would Elena say if she was to find out? The thought made him cringe as he ran upstairs and entered the bathroom. In slow movement, he turned the hot tap on, causing the shower to burst out with splinter of water, shredding down into the tub. He pulled the shower open so Elena could easily get in.

He ran back down stairs and walked casually back through the front room, across to where Elena sat on the couch. "Done."

"Thanks. Um, is an upstairs bathroom?" He nodded and thought about offering to carry her but the thought of being seen by Stefan or Wendi made him cringe. He wasn't that sort of person. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can do stairs..." she began. He spoke before she could add anything. "I'll carry you up." He spoke quickly and anxiously. His eyes were wild and wide as animals. Elena stared at him blankly for a long second and then eventually smiled. "Ok, then." She pushed the quilt off her and reached her arms out to him as he crouched down to her and slipped his arms under her body, rising her from the couch and pulling her tight against his chest. She released a tired sigh as he turned away from the couch, making his way out of the front room with her held tight in his arms. When he reached the stairs he felt his palm against his chest and for a second, his breath hitched at the contact. 'Jeeze, this feels intense', He thought. He had never experience such feeling before.