CHAPTER 20

Elena felt like she couldn't move, her whole body trapped by some unseen force as Stefan's voice echoed around the room. Damon's eyes were so full of fear that she was sure that if he was human he would have had a heart attack by now. A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she looked down to see Meredith grab the abandoned syringe. Damon was practically convulsing with fear as Elena looked from Meredith to Damon. No. No more of this fear and torture! She rapidly grabbed Meredith and pulled her back towards her as both Meredith and Stefan shouted at her angrily. She knew what she had to do though as she shielded Damon from Meredith and fell to her knees before him.

"Sssshh shhhhhh shhhhhhhhhhh my sweet Damon." She cooed, with her best fake English accent. Damon blinked and stopped fighting Stefan as he panted, watching her. Stefan and Meredith froze but Stefan maintained the hold on Damon's back as they watched Elena.

"No more pain remember?" She was happy that she and Caroline had spent countless hours mock imitating Rebekah's accent now, as he relaxed into the bed and groaned, fear still penetrating his senses. "It makes me angry when you fight me lover, so behave." Damon nodded and closed his eyes. Stefan stepped back flabbergasted at Elena's solution. Clearly the short time Elena had spent captive had taught her how Rebekah had screwed with his head. Maybe Meredith was right. Elena knew more than he did and he needed her. Meredith congratulated Elena's quick thinking and Elena nodded, staying on her knees watching Damon as he calmed down.

"What the hell happened?" Stefan panted from the exertion, addressing Meredith.

"He was coming round when I came in to check his IV so I tried to quickly inspect his chest, but as soon as I touched him he went berserk." Meredith explained and Stefan shook his head in wonder.

"What now?" Stefan asked her and Elena finally stood up, wanting to be involved in the conversation as Damon curled into himself.

"He needs familiar things to comfort him I think. His favourite shirt, his brandy…" Elena started to think out loud when Stefan cleared his throat interrupting her.

"Don't you think you've done enough?" His tone sliced through her and she held her stomach as she felt it drop.

"Stefan, she's trying to help." Meredith reasoned and he looked to her.

"Fine." He relented before adding, "If I think that you being here is going to make him worse, you will leave Elena. He's my brother and I know what's best for him. Ok?" Elena nodded and looked down at her feet.

"Now we have to put the IV back in." Meredith sighed, trying to locate the pieces of her equipment. Stefan sighed too, envisioning another episode.

"I can get him to feed." Elena said in a small voice. They both looked to her.

"Well if you can do it without us having to slide tackle him again than I'm on your team." Meredith said warmly, giving Elena a reassuring nod. Stefan didn't look pleased but reached into the small fridge he had brought up earlier and handed Elena some blood bags.

"I think we need to start small, with things he understands." Elena explained and Meredith nodded at the logic. Elena turned to Damon and took off her boots, placing the bags down onto the bed and climbing onto it up to the headboard to sit. Stefan watched in confusion but she knew she couldn't explain to him what she was doing thanks to her compulsion. Damon looked up at the movement and frowned at her as though trying to figure out who she was. Elena considered doing her Rebekah voice again but she wanted to try and make him respond to her voice. If they were going to try and heal his mind, he was going to have to stop associating things with Rebekah. She patted the bed beside her and beckoned to him. He seemed unsure so she patted the top of her breast and opened her arms to him. His hunger replaced his human like expression and she held tight as she realised how dangerous this move was. What if he tried to feed from her like he sometimes did with Rebekah? She couldn't worry about that right now, they needed to get blood into him. He crawled up to her and lay in her lap like he was used to as Stefan and Meredith gazed transfixed. Elena reached for a blood bag and twisted the top off as she looked down into his eyes. He was like a baby like this, something they had to remedy soon otherwise he would be incredibly vulnerable and perhaps hard to control when he was back to full strength.

She placed the tube to his lips and he sucked it in, drinking. His eyes fluttered closed and she stroked his forehead. She looked up at Meredith and Stefan and blushed, realising how intimate an encounter this must be to watch. They both looked amazed and intrigued.

"How do we know she won't come back for him?" Elena dared to ask. Stefan shook his head as he watched Elena rock Damon slowly.

"She won't. I think she fell for him in the end and that's why she let me take him."

"She might be playing with us Stefan. We need to able to protect him." She held him a little tighter as she thought on the possibility of Rebekah stealing him again.

"She won't come Elena, trust me. I vowed to her that I would kill him myself rather than let him be like this." Both Meredith and Elena gasped at the same time in disbelief. He looked at them both sternly.

"He is my brother. I know what he would want."

Elena clutched Damon to her closely. It sounded as though Stefan hadn't made up his mind whether or not Damon could be saved and now he had revealed his end plan if he deemed it necessary. Elena was trying to think of something to say when Damon sighed peacefully and they all looked down at him. Elena became aware of his erection against her and she panicked. She looked up at Stefan in silent communication but he frowned, not understanding.

"Stefan, there's things I'm compelled not to tell you about what she did to him but I need your help right now and you're going to have to trust me." She said quickly as Damon tilted his head back wanting the next bag. She quickly twisted off the next tube, placing it into his waiting mouth and he was content once more.

"What's wrong?" He asked, trepidation clearly ringing in his voice.

"We need to leave because his body is acting on instinct." She gestured towards her and Meredith.

"What does that mean?" Meredith asked and Elena blushed, realising how embarrassing this would be to explain.

"He's been…used for weeks." She blushed hoping that they wouldn't need any further information but they exchanged confused and concerned glances.

"Stefan, you know how feeding is sometimes sensual…?" Elena trailed off and comprehension filled his expression as he finally noticed Damon's groin. Stefan stepped closer as Damon's hand came up to the side of Elena's neck to squeeze her into him.

"Ok, I think you ladies should leave now." Stefan said and Meredith exited the room with regret. Elena nodded and tried to pry Damon's hand from her neck. He let her go and she lifted his own hand to the blood bag so that he would hold it himself. It seemed to work and she slid herself from beneath him, lowering his head onto the pillow as he finished the bag. She stroked his forehead again. She didn't feel ready to leave him yet.

"Now Elena." Stefan said and she looked up to see his resolve face. She turned, picking up her boots and left the room, looking back over her shoulder just before she lost her view of him. Stefan had climbed onto the bed beside him.

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Elena had sat downstairs for hours listening out for any signs of distress from Damon. Stefan seemed to have it in hand and she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She knew they were close, despite the things Damon did to push Stefan's buttons, but right now she felt like an outsider and it didn't sit well. Maybe she should just go home? She thought on what Rebekah must be thinking right now. She had let Damon go rather than let Stefan kill him. She had known that there was some affection there, she just hadn't known how to use it to turn the situation round. It figured that Stefan would be able to, given his abilities to read people and manipulate them if he wanted to. When they had first met he had certainly spun her in a merry dance before Damon had blown the whistle and he'd had to confess his real identity. Damon had never pretended to be anything other than his self righteous, obnoxious self and she hoped that he could be again. When she had left him, he still looked like he had a little fight left in him. He had still known who she was, but he hadn't known her today and it terrified her. To think that he thought she was Rebekah, was repugnant in the least. Would she have to pretend again? Would she have to use some of the techniques Rebekah conjured to keep him tame while they tried to help him? She didn't like the thought of that, of continuing his 'training' even if it was for his own benefit.

She heard Stefan descend the stairs and she stood up. He looked bereft and she twisted her hands together nervously.

"He won't talk to me." Stefan mumbled, clearly upset and she went to him pulling him into a hug. "He's just lying there, staring at the ceiling."

"I'm sorry." She comforted. "He's going to get better Stefan, we just need to give him time." Stefan pulled back from her nodding solemnly.

"You saw what happened to him, you…were there." He corrected himself, not wanting to continually blame her for Damon's state despite the fact he knew she had taken part against her will. Elena gulped guiltily and looked down at her hands.

"How do we get him to talk?" Stefan asked her. Elena tried to think on what had happened to make Damon come round before. It had been when Rebekah attacked her and she had cried out. It had brought him back in an attempt for him to protect her, but that wasn't going to be sufficient this time. Perhaps if they bombarded his senses with things that would remind him of home.

"Let's try everything." She gave him an unsure smile and grabbed Damon's brandy. "What else makes him feel at home?"

"His bath. I can never get him out of the damn thing." Stefan commented, trying to think.

"Ok, what about his favourite smell?"

"That cologne he wears. He always douses himself in it so I know it's his favourite."

"Ok." Elena smiled starting to feel better about her plan. She took Stefan's hand and led him up the stairs to Damon. Damon was lying in very much the same position that he had been when she had first found him with Rebekah and it took her breath away. She bit her lip, trying not to think on it and approached him. He showed no signs of knowing either of them were there. She motioned for Stefan to run a bath and he moved off to do so as she climbed onto the bed beside Damon. She grazed his cheek with her knuckles. He blinked and she thanked the gods for some signs of life again. She had roused him before when she had cried and spoken to him.

"Damon, it's me Elena. Can you hear me?" She whispered and lifted his head onto her lap so she could bring the bourbon to his mouth. He blinked again and she placed the bottle to his lips. She tilted the liquid into his mouth but he let it glide over his lips and spill onto himself. She sighed frustrated.

"Please Damon have a drink with me." She implored but he didn't move. She had thought it might work but there was nothing. She held him tighter and leaned over him kissing his forehead. Maybe she should try talking to him more.

"I know you are in there and you're tired of fighting but I need you Damon. Stefan needs you. We love you so much. Please just fight a little more for me." He blinked again and she shifted so that she was facing him now and holding him to her. His face was so close and she felt the familiar pull of his lips as his eyes moved to look at hers. Was he with her?

"Damon?" She whispered as she cupped his face. "Please come back to me. I love you."

"What are you doing?" Stefan's voice interrupted and she jumped slightly turning to look at him.

"I was just trying…"

"I can see that. If he has been violated, don't you think that this is going to keep that going? Are you using her words as well as her technique now?" Stefan was angry and she could tell he didn't want her touching his brother. It was such a new and horrible development in his attitude towards her but she knew that she deserved it after what she had done.

"No, Stefan please, I…"

"I know you couldn't help yourself then but you can now. Stop messing with his head!" He barked the last part out and she shivered. She had never seen him like this and she was genuinely frightened of him. She sat up but felt a hand hold onto her. She looked down to see Damon staring up at her.

"Lena." He said and she smiled elated. Stefan was at her side in a flash, touching Damon's arm affectionately.

"Brother." Stefan said and Damon looked to him.

"Stefan?" He was confused but he knew them again. Elena felt like she could jump up and down in glee, still it was a baby step and she needed to remain vigilant.

"I'm here brother. You're home. You're safe." Stefan said gently.

"Bourbon." Damon mumbled and they both laughed relieved as Elena put the bottle in Damon's hand. He slowly took a gulp from it and sighed. Elena stood up remembering the bath and turned the water off. Stefan was stroking Damon's hair back from his forehead now as Damon drank more bourbon. She wished she could see them like this more often. No fighting or goading, just family. Stefan looked around to her, seeing the bath full and he took the bottle from Damon's hands. Damon grunted unhappily but allowed it. Stefan leaned over to lift him from the bed and Damon growled, making them both freeze. Touch was going to be a problem.

"Your bath is ready brother, just the way you like it." Stefan reassured but Damon scowled at him. Elena stepped forward and he looked at her.

"You wouldn't want to waste all the hot water and bubbles would you?" She wagered and he sat up not moving any further. She remembered that he often liked to drink champagne in the bath and she looked to Stefan raising her eyebrows before looking at Damon again.

"All those bubbles and cold champagne. Sure you want to waste them?" Stefan took the hint and blurred downstairs to retrieve some champagne and a glass. Damon licked his lips and began to get out of the bed warily. She knew he was expecting there to be a catch of some kind so she kept herself very still. He was still naked and covered in dried blood and she tried not to look too long. He looked down at the bath tub and placed his hands on the sides, skimming his hands over the texture and shape he remembered. His tub. He loved this tub. He looked at Elena expectantly and she was unsure why he was hesitating.

"In you get." She encouraged and he climbed in sinking back into his usual nook at the end. He closed his eyes and sighed. She smiled warmly with hope growing. He was talking. That was good. She turned to give him some privacy when she heard him sniffle. She turned back in surprise to see tears. He looked at her as though he was in pain, as though she had scolded him or something.

"What's wrong?" She cooed, coming closer and kneeling down to his eye level.

"Aren't you going to touch me?" He asked and she wanted to vomit from the indication. What was she supposed to say? She reached out stroking his forehead and he nuzzled her hand.

"Not without your permission." She said gently, thinking it the best thing to say to alleviate him.

"Please." He whispered and took her hand from his face, placing it in the water against his chest. She was so shocked at his movement that she didn't hear Stefan come in behind her until she heard glass break. She pulled her hand from Damon's and whipped around in shock as Stefan's face turned to stone. He had dropped the champagne flute on the floor and was staring at her, eyes blazing.

"Don't touch him." He growled and she stood up backing away.

"I didn't, Stefan I would never…" She babbled as tears fought their way to her eyes. How could Stefan think so badly of her?

"Are you still compelled Elena? What did she tell you to do-keep him fresh for her in case she wanted him back someday?" His words were so cruel and she held her chest as she tried to breathe through the pain. Could it be true? Was she hurting Damon all over again? That was all she seemed to be able to do lately and she'd promised herself she wouldn't do it anymore. Damon looked up at her shaken and she pulled herself together. She wanted to be here to care for him, but it was obvious that Damon would think that his job was still to pleasure a woman. She had to leave, again. She blinked away tears and nodded at Stefan, briskly leaving the bathroom.