When I came to I was tied to a chair with vervain laced ropes, in my home. Damon was sitting across from me in his usual spot in front of the window, gazing out.
"You broke my neck." I said quietly. He took a big swig from his bottle and tore his eyes from the outside to look at me.
"You need to go back to Mystic Falls." he said finally. He looked worse than he had this summer, he put his hands through his unwashed hair and it stuck up where he touched it.
"What, no-" I began to protest but he shook his head.
"You're compelled to do what Silas says, we are lucky he ordered you to DRAIN the hunters and not KILL them, we need to get you out of here before he can easily come back and compel you. You're going to start drinking vervain, I've arranged for someone to escort you back. You can fill Stefan in on everything when you get there. Im sorry Grace, but your emotions are off, your attacking people, I'm," his voice cracked, and I saw something inside him crack too, his face was screwed up, and his eyes filled with water. He took a deep breath and I saw Jeremy decent the stairs behind him quietly. "I- I mess things up Grace, you were right the other day, I know you don't care right now, but I need you to hear this. I know Im a bad guy, I'm selfish, Im ruthless, and I do act like I only care about Elena, you were right the other day. You never would be like this if it wasn't for me, and your so loving, you care…" He took in a shaky breath and his voice cracked again as he said, "I love you, and your family, and Im sorry I did this to you. You're better than this, and worst of all, you would be involved if it wasn't for me." And he broke. Its strange to see someone you've always observed as older and wiser than you crack. A grown man cry, someone like Damon, who's always strong or angry but never sad. I think he was on the verge for a while, and now, it all poured out. A giant ball of pent up emotion intensified tenfold than any human dumped on him, and I wondered if his emotions were always off, and maybe now he had flicked them on. He put his head in his hands and wept like I had never seen anyone weep before. And that was what triggered my emotions back on, that moment, watching my Uncle hit rock bottom. And I felt my eyes well up with tears too.
"I love you too Damon." I said, letting a tear fall, and he looked up with his watery eyes, bloodshot, not from bloodlust but from crying, and he came to me and untied my ropes and wrapped his arms around me.
"Your emotions are back on." Damon said, and I nodded.
"Im sorry Jeremy," I said, looking at Jeremy, who was now walking into the living room with a smile. He hugged me too.
"It's okay Grace, Ive been compelled before. Its not your fault." he said, and I thanked him for understanding. It was then that the doorbell rang.
"Is that my ride?" I asked, and Damon nodded.
"Alright, well, I guess this is it…for now." I said with a smile.
"We'll see you soon," Jeremy said, and he smiled back reassuringly.
My bags were already packed by the door, and I grabbed them and opened it to reveal my ride. Stiles and Isaac.
"Hey." I said, awkwardly thinking about the night I had compelled Stiles to let me feed on him. "Look about the other night-"
He held up a hand, "I know, its okay, lets just uh, try not to talk about it." he glanced sideways and rubbed his neck where I knew the bite marks had been.
"Im here to make sure it won't happen again." Isaac said, and I lowered my eyes at him, he wasn't my favorite wolf, considering the time I had spent dying on his account.
"I've given Stiles enough liquid vervain to last until Mystic Falls, Stefan can give him more when you guys get there." Damon said.
I turned to him and gave him another hug, then turned away and walked out to Stiles' car. We got in and began the trip eastward.