Authors Note

I am so sorry this update has been so late! Work's hectic, but the snow in England resulted in a day off & the production of this latest instalment. All your words have been utterly amazing, I know it was so frustrating Elena didn't say her piece, but please continue to let me know what you think – I appreciate every single review.

P.S. I stole a bit from Damon's confession to love to Elena, Season 2.

P.P.S. I only just read some of BadboysAreBest, mayghaen17 and SuchALittleMonster (I'm such a latecomer I know) but if you were ignorant like me, they are all amazing so check them out!x

Hold Hard

Elena POV

"Get the hell away from her."

The warning was hissed from a dark, shadowy alcove in the room, the person occasionally outlined by flashes of lightening that crackled from the sky. Stefan. Shocked and embarrassed, Elena fumbled for her jeans, pulling them up to fasten them close with trembling hands.

"I mean it Damon. Move away right now and this can be quick and painless."

Damon chuckled darkly, yanking her close by her waistband until she fit snugly under the crook of his arm. She didn't protest, sinking into his embrace further as she looked on with shocked eyes.

"And if I don't?" he countered back, raising an eyebrow in question.

In a flash Damon was ripped from her side and she slammed heavily onto the floor. She yelped, cradling her head in pain. First the arm, now the head, she thought dazedly. Would anything be left unscathed from this awful situation? Damon, Stefan, even her own life was at risk. Sounds of fighting reached her ringing ears, pushing her to sit up and stop it from escalating. But still feeling dizzy and disorientated, she could only watch as the two people she cared so deeply for were intent on ripping each other apart.

Stefan had Damon pushed up against the wall where she herself had hung hours earlier, slamming his fist repeatedly into his brother's face. Stefan paused only for a second, as if to gauge whether enough damage had been done. He seemingly got his answer when Damon spat blood at him and gave a sly grin.

"That all you got little brother?"

Damon gave an almighty shove, sending his brother flying into the dining room table and chairs. He didn't stop a beat, running over to where Stefan lay to rain hard punches to tender flesh with a terrifying accuracy. Stefan gave a groan, before extending his legs to powerfully kick Damon away. He stumbled back, allowing Stefan the chance to flip his body back upright.

The two scowled at each other, the atmosphere tense and almost crackling with static until Damon began to clap.

"Well, well, well little brother. You're faring much better than when we last had a bust up. New diet?"

Stefan stared impassively back, one hand tightening into a fist the only outward indication of his anger.

Elena gasped, her eyes wide. She realised at once what Damon was referring to. Not only were they fighting because of her, but Stefan had resorted to human blood. He had gone against his ethics, putting his self control and wellbeing at risk in a bid to stage a successful rescue attempt. Oh God, this is my worst nightmare come to life. She began to feel short of breath, panic rushing over her in waves that she battled to temper.

"Please stop this," she called weakly. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"A bit late for a conscience isn't it Elena?" Damon snapped.

Stefan frowned at his comment, his gaze flitting between Damon and her, trying to decipher what had gone on. She swallowed audibly. Was now the time to come clean about everything? She looked at Stefan, her eyes beseeching him to listen to her.

"I think we should try to calm the situation down a little, go back home and talk," she said, her voice shaky. Damon merely crossed his arms and cocked one eyebrow, whilst Stefan gave a sharp shake of his head.

"You've got to be kidding me Elena. You've been missing for weeks and I'm pretty sure your arm is broken by the way you've been favouring it. Don't tell me you fell down the stairs, I'm just not buying it. You're coming back with me, end of story."

Without Damon?

Without telling him about the text or how she really felt about him?

No, she thought resolutely. Despite him terrifying her earlier, she needed a chance to be honest with him and come clean. The urge to spill everything bubbled up inside of her, and she ached to be alone with him. Out of respect this was something that she didn't want to do in front of Stefan, but she would if she had too.

"Stefan can I just talk to –"

Damon interrupted her suddenly, a cheeky look on his face. "Missing? Elena hasn't been missing. I think you should check with her aunt and the school, she's on a family vacation working on a history paper." Elena was left open mouthed at that, relief raging through her body and easing the overwhelming anxiety she felt before. Oh thank God. Her fears were completely unfounded, her family safe and happy, oblivious to her sudden jaunt to a lake with an aggressive vampire.

If only I'd known that a few hours earlier and this could have all been avoided, she thought wryly.

Stefan gave a fierce growl and all of a sudden flashed in front of Damon, swinging his hand hard to meet his stomach. Damon sunk to his knees at the painful blow, giving a low moan. Elena gave a little shriek, hating the look of pain that flashed across his face. She stretched out a quivering hand, trying to get his attention before her vision was blocked by Stefan standing over him.

"That's what you compelled them to think, you son of a bitch," he snarled, his fangs sliding down. He turned to face Elena, his eyes filled with remorse. "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. Let's go." He gave a vicious kick to Damon's ribs and strode over, his gentle arms picking her up in a bridal like fashion.

"G-go?" she spluttered. "No, I can't – I want to stay with Damon!" she cried, squirming about in his arms to get free.

Stefan furrowed his brow, perplexed at her actions. "Did he compel you? I just knew he'd do this the moment you didn't have your necklace on – typical Damon. Don't worry we'll work something out, do a spell as soon as we get home. I'll kill him if needs be." He walked to the door purposefully.

Damon shot to his feet to block their way, his face serious and etched with slight panic. "Stefan don't. You heard the lady, she doesn't want to go."

Stefan ignored him, giving him a forceful push out of his. Damon quickly regained his balance and started for them again, but found himself rooted to the spot seemingly unable to move.

"What the fuck?" he bellowed angrily.

Bonnie peeked through the doorway, the Grimore in hand. Her worried gaze turned joyous as she saw him straining to come loose from the floor with no success. "I did it!" she babbled excitedly. "I didn't think I could, but I did it! Look Stefan!"

Stefan turned around to gaze at his brother, giving him one last disgusted look before turning away.

"You did good Bonnie," he said with a smile. She grinned back, before realising Elena lay battered in his arms and rushed up towards her.

"Oh my goodness Elena! Are you okay? We were so worried, but we got your message. We'll get you home as soon as possible and hit the hospital, just give us an hour or so..."

Elena screamed at that, feeling utterly frustrated. "Is no-one listening to me? I don't want to go home, I want to talk to Damon! I will be perfectly fine, Damon wouldn't harm a bone in my body."

Stefan gave a pointed to look to her arm and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, but that wasn't intentional. Just like you didn't mean to knock my head earlier."

Stefan looked suitably chagrined after that comment, but still gave a mutter that she would be going back to Mystic Falls – whether she liked it or not.

"Elena, what is wrong with you? Damon lied to everyone back home and kept you here for what-" she brushed Elena's hair back to reveal two neat bites "-to use you as a blood bank and plaything?" She threw her arms up wildly in the air to gesture her point.

"No he didn't! You don't understand, I just need to speak to him!" she cried out desperately, grabbing Bonnie's shirt. "Please."

Bonnie gave Stefan an incredulous look and he whispered in her ear. She nodded emphatically, giving a conspiratorial whisper back. "Don't worry, there's a spell that counteracts compulsion with the use of vervain as the main ingredient. Grams taught me."

"I haven't been compelled! Just put me down!" she screamed, battering Stefan's chest with her tiny wrists. She grew tired quickly and began to whimper, tears glistening in her eyes as she realised she was helpless.

Damon shouted at the sight of Elena's distress, renewing his efforts to get free with a frightening intensity. The muscles of his neck corded as he strained forward, fighting against the invisible hold on his body. "Don't take her away please, I'm begging you – I need her!"

Stefan didn't respond.

"Stefan don't do this! STEFAN!"

She wept harder at the tone of his voice, he sounded so worried and broken. She managed to catch a glimpse of him over Stefan's shoulder, his face pleading, arms outstretched as if he were reaching for her.

"Damon!" she called tearfully. Stefan pulled her back, grabbing a visibly shocked Bonnie away from the room to make their leave.

Damon POV

They're taking her away from you.

Her tear stained face broke him and he howled in protest. He felt like his insides were ripping in half and the only way to piece himself back together was to get her back. Both his body and mind felt incomplete, aching to hold her, hear her retorts, to see her smile.

"Elena!" he roared, catching a flash of long dark hair before Stefan swept her away.

He started for her anew, enraged at the thought of her with his brother. Got to get to her. He gritted his teeth and grabbed his leg using all his weight to get a leg free. With a cry he only managed to wrench his knee out of socket, but he barely felt the pain. Pain is good. He tried again, the bone groaning in protest but it was no good. He was well and truly stuck.

He heard a car rev then squeal out of the driveway at a rate of knots. His body felt like it was getting weaker as he heard Elena's heartbeat grow fainter as they drove her away from him. Resigned, he slumped to the floor, giving the invisible barrier one last ineffectual punch.

Well you've fucked it.

How long would this barrier hold him, he fretted. Would it be hours, days or goddamn months? He needed to get to her. They would be no chance of an overzealous neighbour such as Tom coming to check on the occupants of the house anymore – not after Susie had realised her husband's wandering eye.

If he was stupid enough to come around, I'd play dead until I got near enough for him to sink my fangs into the adulterous son of a bitch.

He sighed deeply. Even the visual imagery of Tom's mutilated body failed to stir any emotion inside him at all. Instead he stared intently at the last spot he saw Elena as if she'd magically reappear, unable to get the image of her stricken face out of his mind. You've caused this, he berated. You were far too rough on her, both mentally and physically. He pictured her cradling her arm and he felt sick at the thought – had he really broken it? He hadn't meant to. He had just been so unbelievably angry at everything he just wanted answers to try to understand why she went behind his back.

I don't care about that anymore. I'm ready to forgive her and make up.

Damon should have tried to see things from her perspective, instead of being so incredibly selfish. He'd effectively kidnapped her and forced her to be with him, skipping the normal dating formalities to jumping into bed and living together. Who wouldn't be overwhelmed and want to leave? Upon contemplation, he couldn't believe she'd stayed for so long without calling for help. And you said she was like Katherine. Great move, Salvatore. She was nothing like that bitch – she showed kindness and patience even at the most irrational of his moments.

The realisation came too late in the day.

Instead of growing angry and violent, he should have simply asked her point blank whether they had something worth keeping. If she had miraculously said yes, he would have promised the future wouldn't include whisking her away without her consent, or barring contact with men – however much he wanted to. Their relationship would be based on a foundation of trust, and more importantly love.

How clichéd, he thought wearily. He knew the depths of his feelings ran deep, to the point where he thought the infatuation with Elena had bordered on psychotic. But it had been the past weeks alone that had provided such blinding clarity. He was happy with her. She was so extraordinary, one minute she was softly chiding him to be nicer, the next eagerly running upstairs with a giggle as she prepared to undress him and have her way. God, he thought ruefully, she even managed to play him at his own game, re-writing the rules that merely enthralled him further to her multi-faceted nature. She managed to embody the three things he'd ever dreamed of in a woman, becoming his confident, his biggest support and his harshest critic.

She made me better myself.

And with this, he now realised he couldn't go back to the Damon of old, who took what he wanted whenever he felt like it. He would never be saint – nor would he want to be – but she had stirred so much in him it would be an insult to return to his troublesome ways.

A hoarse sob escaped his throat as he came to a decision in his mind.

He loved Elena Gilbert.

And it was because he loved her that he simply couldn't be selfish with her. She deserved someone that would listen to her wishes, even if it meant letting her go. He shuddered to think about how close he had come to forcing himself on her, despite her pleas to stop. He honestly knew he wouldn't have gone any further – but did she know that? In light of everything he had done, it seemed plausible that she would think he could commit the ultimate act of depravity.

He made a silent promise to her that he would never make her fear him again. She should have somebody in her life that cherished her, kept her safe and loved her gently, sweetly, like she deserved.

Suddenly Damon was pitched forward, hitting the floor with a thud. Lifting himself up, he experimentally extended his arms out to find whatever witchery toil and trouble that had held him was gone. Nothing stopped him and his arms moved up and down unrestricted and free from the restrains. Yet despite this revelation, he didn't move.

I want to though.

His body itched to race out of the house to Mystic Falls, to find Elena and kiss her so forcefully so that he felt complete again. He would brush her hair behind her ear and give her softly spoken compliment, watching her shyly duck her head and snuggle into the crook of his arm for a hug. He'd say something naughty and she'd give him a little slap as if to tell him off, before bursting into giggles...

Stop it, stop it, stop it! You have to stay away – for her. Haven't you done enough?

He couldn't leave until he could promise himself he was strong enough not to seek her out. Damon needed to take his mind off the thought of her, and replace it with something else.

He gritted his teeth and gouged his fingers into the wood flooring below him. Splinters stuck in his hand but he continued undeterred, ripping through the planks until he met old copper pipes that lived under the house. They were hot to touch – somebody must be having a bath – he thought dazedly. He didn't even wince at the burning sensation, putting his hands around one each to anchor him to the same spot.

Pain is good, he reminded himself as his skin started to sizzle.

It better be, because it's all I can feel.

Additional Note

"Hold hard" is another hunting term; often shouted by the Field Master meaning to stop and stay where you are. Damon's trying to hold hard, poor guy!