When Stefan finally calmed down Damon led the miserable boy to the kitchen. He hadn't eaten since lunchtime and it was now almost midnight. As Stefan stood eating Damon stepped into the hallway to call Lexi.
As the phone was ringing Damon thought back to when he had gotten the call from Lexi that Stefan had been de-aged. It had been back when Damon and Stefan weren't taking. Damon had been indifferent at first, pretending not to care. Lexi insisted that he come see his brother. When Damon arrived Lexi was a mess. Damon had told her that he could handle it, Stefan was his blood after all, but Lexi had protested saying that she didn't trust Damon alone with a baby. Thus began their partnership in re-raising Stefan.
Lexi: Hello?
Damon: Are you okay?
Lexi: Yes, I just couldn't stop thinking. What if something had happened to him on my watch? Sometimes I think that I forget that he's a child and not the same Stefan who was my friend.
Damon: …..It's not your fault, he knows better
Lexi: What if this is Stefan going off the rails again?
Damon: This isn't bloodlust though; this is Stefan being a bratty teenager.
Lexi: I guess you're right, I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Damon walked back into the kitchen and stood on the opposite side of the counter facing Stefan. After a minute Stefan began to squirm under Damon's gaze. He was suddenly very conscious of the fact that he had nothing to do with his hands.
"Tell me about today" Damon finally said
"Um, well" Stefan said. "I don't know what happened" and looking distressed he added "I'm sorry" in almost a whisper, not looking Damon in the eye.
"You had to know there was no way I wouldn't find out when Lexi realized you were missing. So why'd you do it?"
"I just want to do normal things"Stefan half-whined.
"You're not normal, and today you've managed to skip school, throw a tantrum, and then sneak out to drink with your friends in the woods, and yet you insist that I stop treating you like a child. I don't think you've ever acted more immature than you did today."
Stefan's eyes refilled with tears.
Damon sighed. "Why don't you go get some sleep, we'll talk more tomorrow" Damon promised.
Stefan stared determinately at the floor as he walked passed Damon and went up to his room.
About a half hour later Damon dragged himself up the stairs, he slowly opened Stefan's door. Stefan was laying facedown on the bed, with his shoes and jeans still on. Damon smiled sadly at his little brother. He quietly crossed to the bed and pulled off Stefan's sneakers. After covering him with a blanket Damon left Stefan's room, reclosing the door behind him.
