Chapter 10: The Realization

~Trinity's POV~

Was I dead? In hell? I could still feel the knife against my skin as Katharine continued to slice into me. I knew it wouldn't be long til I died of blood loss, if I hadn't died yet, but would I still feel the pain? I'd heard that you lose all feeling everywhere when you die, but is it true? I struggled against the pain, and I could hear all kinds of voices screaming out to me to wake up. I didn't wanna wake up, I was scared of what I'd wake up to...what if I was in hell? Or what if I woke up and there was nothing but a black void that I would be forced into? What if there was nothing there at all? Am I alone? I felt terrified to do anything, besides just lay there.

"She's calmed down," I heard, and it was clearer this time, like it was right beside me. I moved my hand, and felt something warm move in response.

"Her breathing has returned to normal...what's going on? Is she dreaming?" a female voice asked.

"I don't know, maybe," a different voice answered. I moved my hand again, and I received the same response. I found I could move my head, and my legs, and my arms. Nothing hurt, at least not as much as it had before. Katharine had disappeared, and I was alone in the darkness. I wanted to scream out, but couldn't find my voice. What if nothing came out?

"Damon...Dean, are you guys out here somewhere? I'm lost, I don't know where I am...please...somebody, anybody, help me find my way," I found myself saying. I heard feet shuffling. Something grabbed my hand, softly, and held it in theirs. I knew all I had to do was open my eyes, but I was still afraid of what I'd find if I did. The only way to find out is to do it, I convinced myself. I squeezed my eyes shut, and then tried it. At first everything was blurry, and I couldn't really see anything...except a really bright light. I recoiled at the light, and blinked my eyes closed. I heard a voice that was angry.

"You said there wouldn't be any side effects to the blood you gave her," it said.

"Dean, she's been asleep for forty-eight hours, she's gonna recoil from the sunlight, its normal, every human does it when they get used to the darkness for a certain amount of time. Elena, can you close the blinds?" a softer voice asked, quietly. I could tell the blinds had been closed, because it grew darker. I tried again, and it was easier this time. I opened them fully, and slowly looked around the room, expecting to see Katharine and...Damon.

"Damon!" I called, and found myself sitting up on a bed. Damon rushed to me, relief and concern on his features. He knelt down in front of me, and took my hands into his.

"I'm right here, shhh, I'm right here," he said, softly.

"Katharine-"

"is gone, its over," he said. I threw my arms around his neck, and laid my head on his shoulder, when I realized we weren't alone. I looked around, and saw Dean, Stephan, Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline all standing in the room, all wearing relieved expressions on their faces. Damon gently leaned back, and took my face in his hands.

"You've been out for almost two days, pretty much," Stephan said from the corner. I rubbed my eyes, some things still blurry.

"Trinity," called a voice I'd thought I'd never hear again. I looked up, and saw Dean in front of me. I stood with help from Damon, and fell into Dean's arms.

"Guess I have to work on the mechanics," I said, sarcastically. He laughed, and took me into his arms, holding me tightly against his body. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and closed my eyes as I took in his scent, the best scent in the world. I held his head to my shoulder, and whispered, "I love you," in his ear. He clutched me tighter.

"Dean, can't breathe," I said, even though I was enjoying this. He let go, but kept my hand. "Alright, who wants it next?" I asked. Elena was next; she came to me, and gripped me tightly.

"Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded, and wrapped my arms around her tiny waist.

"I'm okay," I said, and I could feel the tears trying to escape their ducts. Then Bonnie and Caroline were next, and they smiled at each other when they backed up. Then it was Stephan's turn, and he smiled as he clutched me into a bear hug.

"Thank you, Stephan, I know you helped to save me, I'll never forget it," I said as I backed up. I looked around, but Damon had disappeared. I found him out on the porch, looking out at the pink sky as the sun rose.

"Guess its my turn for the Hallmark moment," he said when I approached him. I chuckled, and walked closer to him. He didn't turn to face me when I was right there. Only when I laid my hand on his shoulder, and rubbed across his back did he turn to face me. I wrapped both arms around his neck, connecting at the back, and joined my lips with his. He didn't pull away. In fact, both of his hands were on my hips in a tender grip when I pulled back.

"Damn, I should rescue you more often," he said, a grin spreading across his face. I chuckled at his comment, and looked up into his eyes.

"Damon, I never died, I know everything that happened. I know what you almost did, and I know that it was you that pulled me out of there, I know that you gave me some of your blood...and I know that it had been your lap that I was laying in in the Impala, which means I know it was you that carried me upstairs. You saved my life, Damon, and not once did you give in to your vampire; you didn't turn me, and I knew you didn't want to or you would have. Do you know what all of this tells me?" I asked him. He shook his head, and I shook my head, chuckling.

"It tells me that you were telling the truth when you told me you had feelings for me. I know that none of that could've been easy on you, but you did it, Damon. In fact, I do have something to tell you, something that I was going to tell you earlier, but we obviously got...distracted as you can tell. Damon, you told me that you had feelings for me, and at the time I didn't believe you, I thought you had been trying to come between me and Dean. And I know that I told you that it'd always be Dean...i can't deny that there's something similar between you and me. I also have feelings for you, Damon, and I've been waiting for hours for the chance to tell you that I feel the same way. The only problem is..." I said, sighing. He closed his eyes, and bowed his head. "Damon?" I asked.

"I know, its okay. I know you still love Dean, I didn't want you to choose between the two of us because I figured it'd be Dean. Hell, we did that with Katharine, and look how that turned out," he said, looking to the horizon before continuing, "I just wanted to let you know that you always have that other option," he said. I stroked his cheek, and he took my hand, and held it to his chest. "I guess you guys will be leaving soon, huh?" he asked, a hint of sadness in his voice. Sighing, I nodded.

"Dean loves the open road...he loves that Impala; its his baby," I said, smiling and rolling my eyes. Hearing footsteps behind me, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Damon stood up, and stepped in front of me, protectively. Dean peered around the corner, and spotted Damon in front of me in a protective stance. He raised his hands in a defensive position.

"Relax, its just me," he said, lowering his hands back down to his sides, and came closer. Damon excused himself, and walked inside. Dean laid his hand on my shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Hey," he said.

"Hey, how are you? I was a little worried about you," I told him. He gave me a look, and smiled.

"You were worried about me? I wasn't the one who was captured and almost killed by a psychotic vampire," he said. I chuckled, and looked out at the horizon.

"Are you alright?" he asked. I took a deep breath, and looked at him, those green eyes almost blue in the sunset.

"Yea, I'm okay, just tired," I replied. He nodded, and the small grin disappeared. "Dean, I know what you're thinking, what happened wasn't your fault," I said, taking his hand into mine. He looked into my eyes, and it broke my heart to see the pain in his eyes, that I had to look away.

"I almost lost you, I thought I had," he said, the sadness in his voice overwhelming. I bowed my head, and looked down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I told him. He took me in his arms, and held me tightly. For the first time in two days, I felt safe. A part of me wanted to leave as soon as possible, but I had friends here. Friends who I cared about, friends who cared about me. I leaned back to look into his eyes, and smiled.

"When do we leave?" I asked him. He looked over my head, and then back down at me, and sighed.

"We have some time; we can hang out here til we have a new case, so I can get to know your friends better, as long as its not like meeting the parents...I don't do parents," he said, and grinned. I shook my head and laughed, and took his hand to lead him back inside.