Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries. If I did, I would be a bajillionare and would not be in debt up to my eyeballs because of college.

Authors Note: IMPORTANT TO THE STORY So I don't know if any of you watch True Blood, but I am going to be borrowing a concept from that show for my fanfic. In True Blood, when a human drinks the blood of a vampire that vampire can forever feel that human's emotions (well when they are really strong that is i.e. when they are in danger). Also in True Blood, the human becomes physically attracted to the vampire, but I am not using that aspect for my story. So for this story, I am going to use that and twist it to where, like the sire bond, sometimes this True Blood blood sharing thing happens. Not often, but it does. And of course it happens to poor little Damon and Elena. If people are confused just let me know and I will try to describe it better. Basically it is the rareness of the sire bond mixed with the emotional connection of the True Blood blood sharing. Sorry for such a long note. I love you all and hope you enjoy this chapter! I am writing it instead of my homework that is due tomorrow lol. Don't forget to review! Love ya!

"Well too damn bad!" Damon screamed. He strode towards Elena until he was inches from her face. "You are not dying on my watch!"

"God! I can't even decide when I die. You think you can control every aspect of my life just because you are in love with me? Well guess what, that is not how it works. It is my life, Damon!" Elena screamed back furiously, sick of Damon thinking he could order her around.

Damon backed up, obviously hurt by Elena's words. After just a moment of pain, though, he put on his emotionless face and spat back, "If it wasn't for me, you would be dead! Stefan sure as hell isn't going to come along to save you!" He got close to Elena's face again and said, "You should be grateful that I stick around to save you every other day. I could leave you here, alone and unprotected and you would be gone in a week."

"Then leave! I don't want you here if you are going to treat me like a damsel in distress that isn't worth your time. Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up completely naked and bloody again. Getting possibly raped? Must be a Tuesday!" Elena screamed to Damon. Every word was seeping with anger, fear, and most of all sadness.

She began to tremble and cry, letting all her fear and frustration coming rushing out. Every time she thought of waking up in Damon's arms, beaten and bruised, she was in pure despair. It wasn't just the last time. How many times had she woken up or past out in his arms? How many more times would she before one day she was just gone? Faded away and forgotten by all of those whose lives she put in danger. How long would it be before she was laid to rest with her mom, dad, and John in the Gilbert family plot? Her guess was somber; six months, maybe less.

Moments after she began crying, Damon gripped Elena into a tight hug and just held her. They stayed like that, Damon caressing Elena's back and Elena softly crying on Damon's chest, until Elena ran out of tears. She continued to rest in his arms for a moment, before Damon cleared his throat and said, "Maybe when you're mascara isn't so smeared we can continue this," trying to lighten the mood.

"Thank you," Elena said.

"If all it took to make you feel better was to hold you while you cried, I would be a much happier man."

Elena inwardly smiled. She knew it was wrong to be happy knowing that Damon cared so much for her, but she didn't care. He loved her and he wanted to help her. Right now that was what she needed seeing as Stefan didn't seem to give two shits about her and he wasn't going to be her rescuer any time soon.

"Elena?" Damon said, after a couple minutes of silence.

"Sorry, I was just thinking."

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"We are standing in a mansion and all you have to offer is a penny?" Elena teased. "I was just thinking about how glad I am to have you in my life. You were right when you said if it wasn't for you, I'd be dead."

"I was just being a dick when I said that."

"Doesn't mean it wasn't true. Ironic how I used to think you were the Salvatore to fear and Stefan was the Salvatore to love. Now the roles seem almost reversed. Just goes to show you don't really know someone until you have hit rock bottom and you look around to find them gone."

Damon's heart slammed into his feet when Elena said this. She loved him? Is that what she was saying? Of course not. She loved Stefan and that was that. It would always be Stefan. But somewhere deep down, Damon felt the tiniest sparks of hope.

"As much as I hate to say it, he didn't abandon you voluntarily. I know that he has no reason to deserve your forgiveness, but he would still be here, right by your side, if it wasn't for Klaus' compulsion." Damon said this, not because he wanted Elena to run back into his brooding brother's arms or because he wanted to push her away, but because it was the right thing to do. And if Elena taught him anything in the time he knew her, it was to do the right thing even when it is the last thing you want to do.

"I need to see him. Maybe if I talk to him, tell him how much I love him and forgive him, maybe I can get through to him. You're right, Damon. Maybe he was really looking for me, he just made it seem like he wasn't. I can't believe I have been so selfish. I gave up on him."

"I don't think that's a good idea. He is under Klaus' compulsion and we have no idea what he is capable of. And my guess is that he's high on human blood right now. I'm not. It wouldn't exactly be a fair fight if it came down to me needing to protect you," Damon argued.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing. That is what we have been doing for days. We have to go help him," Elena argued back. "Please, Damon. If I can get through to him, maybe things can get better."

Damon knew that Stefan was too far gone. He knew that the compulsion would hold no matter how many "I love yous" Elena threw Stefan's way. Elena was naive and it he knew it would bite her in the ass, but the hope in her beautiful eyes was too much for Damon. He would walk through fire if she asked him with that look in her eyes. So despite his knowledge that this was a terrible idea he said firmly, "I am going with you or you're not going."

"Thank you, Damon," Elena said, her voice making Damon's insides melt. He lived to hear those three little words, full of appreciation and joy. But damn did he hate the horrible consequences they almost always had.

ONE DAY EARLIER

"Just stay inside. I will be back in thirty minutes," Damon said. And then he was gone.

Elena was so angry with herself. How could she do that to Stefan? He was always there for her, staying strong for his true love. But times get a little tough and Elena lunges at the other brother like a Katherine mini me.

Guilt ridden and ready for a shower, Elena turned towards the bathroom and screamed when she saw a shadowy figure in the corner of the room. Her first instinct was to run, but she was frozen with fear.

"It's funny how you preach morals, yet here you are, almost fucking your boyfriend's brother. Tisk tisk, Elena."

"Stefan is that y-" Elena started to say. But halfway, she was thrown against the wall, hitting her head hard.

"Hi honey. I'm home." Stefan bellowed.

Elena felt blood, warm and thick, trickling down her head. She didn't have time to think about the pain that was flooding her body before she was picked up and held in the air by her throat.

"You think you can do that and get away with it? I'm watching you, Elena. Always. Every time you sleep, every time you take a shit, every time you throw yourself at my brother like a desperate little whore. And believe me when I say, I am not too FUCKING pleased with your recent actions!" Stefan screamed in Elena's face. He then dropped her, letting Elena hit the floor.

Elena was trembling in fear and pain, barely breathing. Her vision was getting blurry, along with her thoughts. The only prominent thought she had was that she needed Damon or else tonight might be her last.

"Damon!" Elena tried to scream, though his name came out as not much more than whisper.

"That is precisely the reason you are in this mess with me right now. You think you can just call on Damon whenever you please? You think he can be your knight in shining armor whenever I'm not eating bunnies?" Stefan asked angrily.

"Somebody, help!" Elena yelled, her voice getting louder with each cry.

"I am trying to fucking talk!" Stefan yelled, and kicked Elena in the gut, quieting her cries.

"Anyway where was I? Before I was rudely interrupted? Oh yes, I remember. You cheated on me. You know, Elena, I don't take well to two timing sluts, so I can't let this one slide. I think you need to be taught a lesson."

Stefan picked up a barely conscious Elena and threw her down the first half of the stairs. When she landed with a thud, and didn't make a sound, Stefan bit his wrist and forced it onto her lips. "Sorry, Elena, but I want you awake for this. You can't learn a lesson if you are unconscious or dead."

After just a couple seconds of feeding her his blood, Stefan picked Elena up and carried her into the main entrance of the Salvatore Mansion. Elena was conscious now, but still in excruciating pain. Stefan had given her enough blood to take away the numb of the shock but leave the pain.

"Please stop, Stefan. I'm begging you," Elena whimpered in pain.

"Not until you have learned your lesson."

Elena didn't understand Stefan. But when he threw her on the ground and started ripping her clothes off, she knew what he was about to do. She started to scream and fight him back with every ounce of energy she had left, but it was like fighting a cement wall. And what happened next was worse than anything she could ever imagine.