Elena's POV

I watched him approaching the ring with uncertainty-he was staring at me, wasn't letting me out of his sight, even when this other, older guy was explaining something to him and Tom Avery jumped off the ring in order to maybe give him last instructions to just beat Matt as fast as he can and get this over with-I didn't know, I didn't care. All that mattered was that he was staring at me, confused, asking himself what was going on, why was I here-I read worry in his eyes and it surprised me.

It surprised me, because I was calm-here I stood, finally letting it all sink in, because now it made perfect sense-all those extra shifts he took so he would be free on Friday, when Tom Avery organized those games, all the bruises on his face and the ones that I've seen when I've tried to examine him after my brother's accident, which I didn't even end up finishing, all those times he wasn't even responding to Henry and Trevor, because he was too lost in his own thoughts, his bended posture, his bruised knuckles and last but most importantly-the sadness and defeat he carried with himself.

Oh, God, it all made sense and I have no idea how I haven't figured this out by now.

He lived in the worst neighborhood, he himself has told me after the first case that we had, about that boy who eventually died, that he must've got on the bad side of the guys there and only now do I realize he was maybe talking about himself.

No, I'm sure of it. He hasn't said anything, but I can see it-from the moment he got in here, his facial expression-that hatred once he finally looked over at Tom-he didn't want to be here. He was forced and it was killing him from the inside.

I had no idea why he had to be here-did he owe money? Did he just involved himself in something illegal and now there was no way of getting out? Or maybe the reason he was trying to steal my car was because Tom has told him to and he has failed, which is why we were all here right now? I was full of questions, but in that moment, I didn't hate him-I couldn't, not with him looking so broken. In this moment I looked at him at a completely different light-he wasn't a bad person. I guess deep down I knew this all along, it's just that I didn't want to admit it, not until now. I was trying to convince myself that he was a criminal-that he stole cars and fought with people out of some pleasure, but I was wrong. And I was sure I was wrong even if I had no idea why Tom Avery's making him fight or work for him-Stefan was just a boy. A broken and a very messed up boy, who somehow ended up here tonight.

And I was stupid enough to never realize that.

He was dressed in black shorts, which were a bit too big for him and the other man, who I heard they called Ric, was helping him put his gloves on, but he appeared strong and extremely tough-right then, I understood Matt doesn't stand a chance against him. My so called boyfriend had muscle, but he wasn't anything more special than any other high school quarterback-Stefan on the other hand-well he surely was spending time training and I tried to get rid of those thoughts in my mind pointing out how sexy he looked, because the situation was far more serious for stuff like that.

Matt got scared-I could see it in his posture, he took a few steps back, pretending that he's just saving his strength for until Stefan's ready to get up there, but with Tom's constant remarks about how he'll get his ass kicked in less than fifteen minutes, he has started sweating. Stefan on the other hand looked as if he's not even realizing where he was-there was something strange in his eyes, something I've never seen before.

A little before he got on the ring, Avery pulled him back and whispered something in his ear which made Stefan a little bit paler and he grunted unpleasantly. Ric patted him on the back supportively and gave him a warning look-as if he was afraid Stefan will try to argue with Tom. Then he hopped up, trying to look as enthusiastic as he can, but he wasn't, though I guess Matt was the only one incapable of seeing it-he was suddenly consumed by his fear-something I didn't expect him to show.

They started exchanging light punches, both not really aiming at the other one, both unwilling to get on with this thing. I think they spent more time running around each other figuring where to hit the other person instead of actually fighting until after what seemed like forever, Matt gained back his confidence and Stefan had no other chance, but to start responding.

Stefan's POV

When I saw her here, I almost wanted to just go to the other side of the ring, grab her hand and get her as far away as I possibly could. I had no idea what she was doing here until I realized she must be this guy's friend-the one that I was supposed to beat and just leave here.

Once she saw me, she didn't even try to hide her surprise-she covered her mouth with her hand and slightly gasped-it was almost inaudible, but I heard it and it made my heart clench-if Elena Gilbert had more sympathy for me of all people, right now, then I must be completely lost.

The truth is-I didn't care anymore. There's nothing keeping me on this earth anymore, not even my son. When I was holding him yesterday I realized that-he didn't deserve a father like me, he didn't have to grow up and live with such a monster like me, who was so weak that he let others order him to beat people up. There was no excuse for my actions-I was my own person, with my own will-I wouldn't let Tom Avery control me.

Ever since I beat this guy yesterday, I just couldn't live with myself. I was walking around the house like a dead man, drinking my brother's whiskey after I've put Joseph to sleep, not eating, not sleeping-nothing. I couldn't help but feel dirty, filthy, I didn't know what to do and both Damon and Lexi got extremely worried-first because I wasn't talking and second, because I've started destroying myself. I didn't want to feel anything-I just wanted it all to be over and I knew I was nowhere near it-on the contrary this was just the beginning.

From all I've heard about the Avery's, I knew that's what they do-they force people to work for them, because they owe them money, they first lie that once they pay the debt back, they'll be free and then they involve them in so much shit, there's no way of getting out-they make you do all those horrible things and then threaten that they'll just let someone kill you and drop you in a ditch somewhere.

I was a mess and I hated myself, but most of all I made the conclusion that I'm not going to let anyone else define me-let Tom beat me up and kill me.

Hell, let anyone else do it-how do I care? I couldn't see a way out anymore-this was too much and only now did I realize that Damon was right-I've involved myself in a bigger mess that I supposed. The only possible way to get away was if they ever get busted, but who even knows whether or not Enzo will succeed in catching these guys? He might use me like this for a year or more and then just let a rumor there's a rat in the Avery's house-they'll kill me anyway.

I didn't care. Not now-if I let myself, I won't be able to find enough strength and stand straight.

Before I got up to fight this guy, who by the way seemed scared and confused-not sure what he should do-I doubt he ever had to fight someone like this in his life, Tom ordered me to kick his ass and not pull the stunts from yesterday, but I was doing the exact opposite-I wasn't fighting good at all-on the contrary, I was letting him win.

Once he felt confident enough, that he might actually stand a chance against me, he began attacking and I was faking punches here and there, which however maybe wasn't that weak because I made his mouth bleed only two or three minutes after we've started this damn charade-I guess I didn't even know my own strength and its boundaries anymore.

Tom was at first angry and kept giving me deadly looks and then he started yelling.

"Salvatore get your head in the stupid game and just kick his ass!" he yelled just when the other guy punched me in the ribs, I think his name was Matt, I heard Tom mocking him earlier, but I wasn't paying attention since Alaric seemed disturbed by my behavior as well and was trying to encourage me somehow, though he didn't know it was a lost cause. I staggered and would've fallen if it wasn't for the ropes to hold on to-I realized I was on the other side of the ring-where Elena and this blond girl were observing me and Matt carefully and with fear from the eventual brutal way this whole game would end in. I swear, that I could hear her breathing and when I ducked in order to avoid Matt's punch, I turned towards her and gave her a confusing look as I whispered

"Get the hell out of here" she was surprised by my demanding voice and she took a step back, afraid of the realization that she has just made, which coincided with my own thoughts-this was going to turn into a huge mess and Matt wouldn't be the one to cause it.

Elena's POV

When I heard him whispering that to me I almost jump-I surely didn't expect him to talk to me-not now when Matt could overhear us and realize that we knew each other. I guess he didn't really care, there was something so different about him that day and once I met his green stare, did I realize that he wasn't trying at all-he didn't want to fight Matt, out of some reason and I knew my presence wouldn't be enough for him to act like this-on the contrary-he usually enjoyed pissing me off, so he would be glad to have the opportunity to kick the ass of someone I know, moreover-in front of me. Or so I thought before.

Stefan got back on his feet, but he continued being so reluctant and he let Matt throw a few punches at him, but he was so sloppy while doing so that it just confirmed my suspicions-he was trying to lose.

Tom Avery got extremely mad in matter of minutes-he kept yelling at Stefan, demanding him to just fight like he knows he can, he started running around the ring, calling him out, insulting him, but Stefan wasn't paying any attention to him at all-he was just letting Matt kick him or punch him and was responding only when he felt like it and even that caused Matt's nose to bleed as well as his lips-Stefan wasn't even trying and he was still the stronger one.

"Salvatore!" Tom began yelling again after another ten minutes of nothing but just punches here and there "SALVATORE!" he was out of his mind, but Stefan didn't even turn towards him and then Tom did something I didn't expect he would-he jumped on the ring, caught Stefan's hand and pulled him away from Matt.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, but Stefan just laughed at him which pissed him even more and so Tom punched him in the stomach. He was so strong, that Stefan fell down on his knees from then on it just went to worse.

"You think you can fucking pull these stunts at me? You think you're going to do whatever on earth you like?" he leaned down and continued punching him in the ribs and even though Stefan was laughing in this insane way just a minute ago, now he was clenching his jaw, trying to suppress the pain Tom was causing him

"When I tell you to beat someone you beat them, you don't oppose me, you don't fight me, you don't have a DAMN CHOICE!" he went on and now he was punching him everywhere, he was consumed by his anger and I suddenly got scared. Matt pulled away from them-he was leaning tiredly in the corner and the other guy who came with them, Ric, he jumped on the ring, scared for what Tom could do to Stefan while he was lashing out "You think you're smart? You think you can oppose me?" Tom continued and then he kicked him in the stomach and Stefan ended up lying on the ring-his face bloody, his eyes closed and he was…smiling. Still.

And then I realized-he wasn't even here, he was thinking of something completely different and moreover-he was expecting this-he knew Tom would lash out and he embraced it. He wanted to be beaten.

He had a dead wish-that's what I could read in his eyes once he opened them and turned around, just to the place where I was standing. It was as if he was looking for me, trying to tell me something, but he couldn't-there was blood coming out of his mouth and he tried to raise up and spit it all out, but Tom just pushed him back down and I heard his head hitting the floor so hard, that I wondered how he didn't lose consciousness.

"Tom, stop it!" Ric yelled and tried to pull him back, but Tom just shook him off

"No!" he yelled again and took a moment to give Ric a threatening look so he made sure not to interrupt them anymore "He needs to learn a lesson" he turned back to Stefan, who was now staring up at him, no fear evident in his eyes, none at all, while Matt, my good old childhood friend was breathing heavily and trying not to fall just from the mild injures he has acquired during this so pretended fight with Stefan, and we-Caroline and I, were holding him from both sides, wondering what will happen now. Matt was afraid to leave, cause maybe deep down he thought, that if he dared to do something right now, Tom will do the same thing to him.

"You're way too bold, way too brave" Tom's attention was back to Stefan and now he wasn't yelling, he was whispering, threatening him, but still the words echoed through the gym "And you forgot who you're dealing with." he raised his foot and at first I had no idea what he would do, I thought he would just stomp it back on the ring just so he could scare Stefan, but then his hard boot ended up on Stefan's ribs and then he repeated it, again and again and I heard his bones cracking up-he was breaking him, in the literal sense.

I don't know how it happened, but I found myself taking a step forward, wanting to just do something, but make it stop-Tom was going to kill him, he wanted to bend him, but in his anger he was going to kill him and Stefan was too prideful to just tell he's sorry and that it won't happen again-he was pulling up a fight and he was losing, but I was afraid he might pay with his life. And that's why I didn't realize what I was doing until I felt Ric's hand on my shoulder-pulling me back before Tom has noticed what was going on

"What do you think you're doing?" he whispered, afraid that Tom might hear us, but I knew he can't because he was too busy beating Stefan up

"Go!" he hissed "Go now before he has noticed!" he roughly pushed me away from them and I furrowed my eyebrows-I didn't want to leave Stefan here, not like this. I might not know him and I might hate him but something in me tonight broke-I had no idea what was going on in his life and all those insignificant fights that we had about stupid things, all those foolish teenager lines that we exchanged-God! Why was I such an asshole to him? He was fighting with the devil all along!

"Elena" Caroline called me and pulled me towards her and Matt, who was staring at me confused as to why I was even willing to intervene-a question that I was asking myself as well. "Elena, let's just leave!" Caroline repeated and tugged me again, but I couldn't tear my eyes from Stefan and Tom who was now ben over him and was hitting his face.

"You're going to listen to every single word I say from now on, do you understand?" he stopped for a moment and caught Stefan's chin with one hand, making him look him in the eyes. Stefan raised a bit and spat on Tom's black shirt

"Go to hell!" his voice was hoarse and barely audible, but his answer infuriated Tom even more. He pressed his other hand to his ribs, where he's been hitting him up until now, Stefan groaned painfully and Tom continued asking him the same question over and over again, but I couldn't see what was happening, not anymore, because Caroline was pulling me outside, making me help her carry Matt.

Hah! Carry him? He wasn't even that injured-I doubt he even had a bruise on his stomach or anywhere else except for his mouth while Stefan was lying on the floor over there, getting crushed in every sense possible.

Just before Caroline closed the door behind us, I turned around one last time, only to see Ric trying to pull Tom away from Stefan, wishing just to make all of this stop.

"What the hell was this about, Elena?" Matt asked me once I helped him get in the car and Caroline drove away "Do you know this guy?" I furrowed my eyebrows trying to play confused, not wanting him to know that I've seen Stefan before or more like..worked with him.

"I just wanted to help, that's all" I finally came up with at answer, just when he was trying to suppress a cough.

"I hurt" he admitted and I rolled my eyes as I held his head in my hands.

God, I was a terrible person-I am supposed to be compassionate, this is my friend we're talking about and yet I couldn't stop thinking about anyone else, but Stefan and what he must be going through right now.

"It's going to be fine, Matt. I will patch you up in a minute" I promised and indeed in less than ten minutes we were back to his house.

We put him on their fancy kitchen couch and I just couldn't live with myself in this moment-Matt was whining like a child every time I tried to clean his cuts or put some ice on his bruises-he's been like this ever since we were kids.

He would start crying from the slightest fall, even when he hasn't even hit his knee that hard, even when there was no blood and me and my brother used to be worried at first, but then we started exchanging smiles and waited for him to cry out until his mother came to pick him up.

I thought that this has changed-I mean the guy plays football now-they got lots of injuries there, but I guess I was wrong-he was whining and panicking that he might've broken his hand since it hurt him too much. Caroline sensed that I was getting impatient so she left before I've continued getting it all out on her.

"Ouch, Elena!" he complained again and caught my hand, so he would remove it from the cut above his eyebrow

"I have to clean this up, Matt!" I complained and he realized I was on edge, which I guess confused him even more. We remained in silence for a few minutes until I finished and decided to go back to the sink so I would clean my own hands, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him

"What is it with this guy, Elena? How do you know him? Why were you so worried?" he was demanding now and I hated this about him. When he couldn't solve something, he would catch my hand like this, pull me closer to him and try to scare me away so I would spill out. But I wouldn't now. I didn't want to.

"I told you that I don't even know him!" I responded quite hard and freed myself from his embrace. He quite honestly scared me sometimes.

"That's bullshit and you know it!" he raised his voice. Suddenly, he wasn't the whining kid from just a few minutes ago.

"Believe what you want, Matt, I don't give a damn." I responded and tried to act all cool and confused as to why he's reacting like this. I couldn't figure if he was jealous or if it was something else, but he had no right to treat me like this-we weren't even a couple, for what I knew, we only took benefit from one another.

Thankfully he gave up after I cut him off like this and luckily I had some painkillers, so I gave him stronger than the usual dosage since he wouldn't stop complaining about how it hurt him and in fifteen minutes he was fast asleep.

I couldn't do anything like this though. I kept thinking of Stefan-he surely would need someone to help him tonight. I knew he was supposed to be working tomorrow and I was going to the hospital as well, but I had this desire to see him and help him and I didn't know what to do. I doubt that he would even be able to get to his house tonight. Maybe this Ric guy will help him.

I was scared, confused, not only because of what has just happened, but because I never expected to feel this way towards him. When I saw Tom getting at him like this I was afraid, terrified even of what he could do to Stefan, because Stefan might've been stronger than Matt, but he was nothing compared to Tom-Avery could crush anyone and that's why I had no idea what condition Stefan might be in right now.

Why did I care so much? I hated the guy, we've been doing nothing but annoying each other and yet every time I thought of this, I was reminded of the moment he washed my face in the toilet or when he dived in to save my brother.

I kept thinking for the rest of the night and I barely caught any sleep. I drove off before Matt woke up and left him a note, saying when and how to take his pills and headed to work where my dad was a little bit angry at me for not coming home all night-he even scolded me and I felt worse than I already did, but I didn't really care.

The first thing that I did once I was free from my father's speech was to go check the work schedule and see if Stefan has sign himself in. Much to my surprise-he had. There was his signature-it was very uneven and barely readable but at least I understood, that he has come to work two hours ago.

I ran outside to check the ambulances-maybe he would be there, maybe he was drinking his coffee with Trevor and Henry and was trying to hide away his bruises. I was all of a sudden, full of hope, optimistic, that maybe he wasn't that bad after last night if he has found strength inside him to come here-Tom Avery hasn't completely crushed him and now all I had to do was find him and ask him about everything that's been going on my mind.

I wouldn't leave it like this, I couldn't-everything had to make sense somehow-him trying to steal my car, all those bruises, all those times he was so sad and broken and finally yesterday-when he has given up on living out of some reason. Why? He was just a seventeen year old boy-what was so terribly wrong in his life that he would let the biggest asshole on earth beat the hell out of him?

But there wasn't a single ambulance outside and I found it strange, so I went back in and asked the nurses around-they always knew what was going on-only to find out that they were all called, because of some incident in the car factory at the edge of town and many people were injured, which of course meant that we would soon be swamped with work.

Just when I've decided that I'll go back outside and went until they all go back, my dad called me in for help, then they drove all the injured workers-it turned out there was a fire and that complicated things even more. I kept getting out in the hallway, trying to catch a glimpse of Stefan, but I think my dad suspected something was wrong and tried to keep me close to him. Eventually, after three or four hours of doing nothing but bandaging people or listening to my father explaining things to me, he was called in for a surgery and I got back to his office, so I would change and get back home. I was hoping that when I go out now, I'll finally see him-I couldn't believe I spent my day waiting to see the person I hated most in my life. Or did I hate him?

I heard a knock on the door and furrowed my eyebrows but decided that it could be one of the nurses looking for my dad so I yelled them to come in.

"Elena?" when I heard his voice my heart clenched and I abruptly turned around. I couldn't see his face at first, not until he closed the door and turned back towards me-he was wearing a black hat, probably trying to hide that the right side of his face was practically bruised-he was dressed in his paramedic jacket and he was pressing his ribs with his left hand. He staggered a bit and leaned back on the door he has just closed

"Stefan!" I exclaimed and he looked at me surprised by my reaction

"I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone else I could go to." he took a weak step forward and I approached him, wondering what to do-my determination from yesterday has all vanished "Can you give me something for the pain? My ribs are killing me." he clenched his jaw, obviously trying to overcome some pain and I caught his hand

"Come on, sit up" I nodded towards the bed and he sat up slowly, trying not to prevent himself for feeling worse than he already was. He looked away ashamed once he settled down and I gently removed the hat from his head only to get a better look at his face-I moved his chin up and he had no other choice but to look at me. For a moment we remained like this in awkward silence and as I stared into his green eyes, I saw how crushed he actually was…and it broke my heart. Then my look moved up to the cut on his cheek and I gently touched it "That's gonna need stitches."

"I don't want any stitches" he pulled away and grunted displeased with the pain I've caused him "Just give me some pills or something, I have another shift in a few hours and I barely made it through this one."

"I can't just give you something, Stefan" I crossed my arms on my chest "Let me see how bad it is first" I ordered but he clenched his jaw again-Jesus, he was so stubborn

"No."

"Oh shut up and get over yourself." I started pulling his jacket away and he figured I won't let him get away with this, so he finally undressed himself-his whole right sight was blue and swollen and it continued up all the way to his shoulder. I was reminded of the way Tom was crushing his bones with his hard boots and I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling sick "Who the hell put this over there!" I exclaimed at the amateur bandage on his ribs and he sighed defeated

"Lexi tried to patch me up last night." he admitted and I was reminded of the blond girl on his doorstep, who was trying to talk some sense into him when we had come to his house with the police. I wonder what her reaction was when he made it back home last night. She must've been terrified.

"You mean your girlfriend? Well she's bad at it I can tell" I cut the bandage and put it away and went to give him some ice for the ribs "You know, you shouldn't even be walking right now?"

"I'm fine" he opposed "And she's not my girlfriend, she's just my friend-I didn't know you were the jealous type, Gilbert." he was joking. I couldn't believe him! He almost got killed last night and he was joking

"Now can you please give me something-I haven't slept all night." he continued once I didn't answer to his snarky comment

"Wanna tell me what was this last night?" I asked ignoring his comment as I pushed him back in order to finally make him lie down and started implying pressure on his bruised places only so I could figure how bad it all was. Much to my surprise he wasn't whining like Matt, he only clenched his jaw and grunted unpleasantly a few times.

"What's your deal with Tom Avery?"

"It's complicated" he finally responded after he was able to take a deep breath

"Is this why you tried to steal my car? He told you to?" I continued, not willing to drop the subject, though I could see he wasn't willing to talk about it. He slightly chuckled and shook his head.

"No, he didn't do that. It was all me." he admitted and I furrowed my eyebrows feeling even more confused "You were right, Gilbert" he spoke up after I pressed in a place where it obviously hurt him more and he tried to get away from my embrace "I am a horrible person, a criminal. All your thoughts, suspicions about me-it was true."

"But you wasn't there last night because you wanted it." I stated and sat on the bed next to him "You were forced. And all those bruises that you have, all those times you were taking extra shifts" I was trying to wrap my hand around it and was desperately looking for a confirmation of my words

"I've heard stories about the Avery's and those games they organize-you're a part of all this, aren't you?" the look in his eyes changed. He wasn't snarky anymore, he had no will to turn this into a joke-he was about to be sincere with me

"Yes." he looked away ashamed of himself

"And you're not doing it all willingly? They're making you. They've trapped you." I continued feeling more and more secure-I was right about most of it, I knew it.

"No, I'm not doing it because I like punching people in my free time, Elena." he raised his voice and I noticed how this is the first time he's using my first name after the accident with Jeremy. "Just fix me and let me go, please." he begged, but I shook my head

"There must be some way out of this." I continued stubbornly

"Elena, drop it for godssakes!" he was getting angry with myself

"I won't drop it!" I was pissed off now "He could've killed you last night! Moreover-you were letting him do it!"

"And how on earth do you care?" he raised up for a moment, but since his ribs hurt he couldn't sit right away and his hand ended up on the back of ice I've given him while his head crashed back to the pillow with his eyes closed-hiding away all his feelings from me "You hate my guts." he continued "And for what I know I kicked your boyfriend's ass last night."

"I care because I won't watch a seventeen year old boy get himself killed!" I avoided his question and he realized it.

Maybe it was because I couldn't admit it to myself-I cared about him. Out of some awful or maybe amazing reason, I cared for him and something inside me broke when I watched him like this-half of his body bruised and battered as if he has been to war and maybe this was one-his own personal war

"Say whatever you like, hell, lie to yourself all you want but you and I both know this-you wanted him to do all this to you last night!" I caught his hand trying desperately to drive his attention back to me, because he was avoiding me again, he was surprised by my touch and turned abruptly towards me

"I only want to figure out why?" he shook his head and much to my surprise he squeezed my hand back-there was such desperation in his eyes, like he was…stuck. He just shook his head, trying to tell me that he can't really talk about it and I sighed as I stood up disappointed.

I went away to search for a the painkillers and tried to compose myself after the moment that we shared

"You have four broken ribs" I stated after a few minutes of complete silence and I heard him let a light chuckle behind me

"Oh well, I deserve it." I wondered what he meant by it, though I didn't know how to ask him about anything anymore, feeling certain that he won't give me an answer "I bet your boyfriend was worse."

"He wasn't actually." I turned around and approached him again "And he's not my boyfriend, you should get your facts straight." I was back to being mean, because I was pissed off at him.

"Well I'm not seventeen anymore as well, Gilbert, so maybe you should check up on your details too" he was back to being sarcastic and I raised my eyebrow feeling confused for yet another time today

"I turned eighteen two weeks ago" that must've been around the time that the accident with Jeremy at the lake happened. I stuck up the needle in his arm a bit too roughly and he cursed me which only made me smile and feel bad at the same time.

"You should work on your attitude towards your patients, Gilbert" he sighed once I was done

"You asked for it, Salvatore" I responded and sat back next to him, waiting for the medicine to respond "You can't go to work now" I was back to being serious

"I have to. I need the money." he admitted

"But you can't.' I argued again, trying to show him that he doesn't have a say in this "I'll talk to Henry and Trevor and I'll figure some excuse for your boss."

"But-" he tried, I knew that he would

"Oh, shut up." I cut him off "The painkillers will make you sleepy. You can stay here for a few hours and then I'll give you a ride home."

"Gilbert, I don't want to-"

"Just stop fighting me!" I raised my voice as I stood up and decided to head to the paramedics now, before dad has figured something else he needs my help with. I was stopped from his weak grip on my wrist.

"Thank you." he mumbled sleepily-he seemed so tired, so broken. "You're a life-savior."

"Hey, you're the one who saved my brother's life" I gave him a warm smile and he responded with the same. This time his smile wasn't like the one last night-it wasn't insanely frightening-it was a broken, but kind one

"I owe you." I tried to leave again but he pulled me back once again

"Gilbert" he smiled as he took a deep breath "You're also the worst liar" he chuckled and let go of my hand and his own hung lifelessly from the bed.

He knew that I cared. He realized it just as I was realizing his dead wish last night.

A/N: Okay, let me clear something out since there was obviously some confusion after last chapter-Stefan didn't kill the guy, Tom Avery just made him beat him up. I wouldn't make him kill anyone, never had those intentions. He was just shaken up that he had to do it. Other than that-thanks for you continious support! It means a lot to me.