A/N: Hey all! Okay, this one is was requested by a Guest, whom I wish wasn't a guest so I could let them know that I've filled their prompt, but still! It's based on 3x05, when Damon saved Elena from the hospital.

It's just a little something about the car journey between the hospital and the Boarding House. I've had blood loss, and I think Elena should have exhibited a few more symptoms of the trauma she went through, so this is based on my experience, which I have to say was horrible. I wouldn't wish blood loss on anybody.

Prepare for comforting Damon and sickly Elena!

Disclaimer; I own nothing. Nothing you recognise, at least.

Apologies for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, I didn't proof read it.

He held her close to his chest as he walked outside. The night air was cool and she shivered in his grasp, curling herself closer into him. Damon twisted his gaze around the parking lot, but there was no sign of the original anywhere. He tightened his grip on her and hurried across the hard ground, every step echoing in his ears. Elena whimpered against his neck.

"It's alright." Damon murmured, voice soft. "I've got you."

He found his car and bent at the knee to open the passenger side door, then deposited Elena on the seat.

"I'm cold." Elena breathed. Damon ran his hands down her arms, smoothing the goose-bumped skin with the warmth of his palms. He reached an arm onto the back seat and pulled out a blanket for her. She nodded in appreciation when he wrapped it around her shivering form, but the move made the pain in her head intensify to near unbearable levels and she stilled.

Damon jogged around the car and clambered into the driver's side, starting the engine and turning on the heat. Elena pressed herself closer into the seat.

He drove a little recklessly, but the distance between the hospital and the Boarding House had never seemed quite so great, and within ten minutes Elena's body was shuddering violently and a sheen of sweat had coated her brow.

Her head was pounding, her heart erratic in her ears. Everything sounded muffled through the haze and her body felt too cold and too hot all at once. Her limbs ached with a heaviness she'd never felt before and she collapsed them, dead-weight, against the seat.

"How you doing there?" Damon's voice floated in, but she couldn't fathom her thoughts into a coherent reply, so she remained silent. "Elena?" She kept her jaw firmly shut, teeth clenched against a wave of nausea that had her stomach rolling. "Come on, answer me." The best she could do was moan in acknowledgement, because she thought she might gag if she opened her mouth.

"Hey," Damon said, and she felt the momentum of the car drop, "you okay?"

"Mm." It was a completely noncommittal noise that was up for interpretation, and Damon clearly didn't take it well because Elena felt the car roll to stop. His door opened, then closed again, and then cold air was blasting on her from one side and a hand cupped under her jaw.

"Open your eyes." Damon instructed, and she did as told. He swam in and out of focus in front of her. He turned her head slowly from side to side, then bent at the knee and knelt down beside her.

"Damon." She whimpered softly. Her face was pale and her stomach was curdling unpleasantly. She didn't even know why she'd said his name, but his face dropped into complete concern and he squeezed her hand.

"You feel sick?" He asked, and she was so thankful he could read her so well.

"Mhm." She nodded, mumbling. Damon stripped the blanket off of her and took her by the elbow, helping her from the car. She stumbled with him willingly, sock-clad feet aching across the asphalt. He stopped when they reached the edge of the road, pulling her into the grass and guiding her to a wall. She rested her elbows on the surface and breathed deeply through her nose. Her brain throbbed in protest.

"Think I'm gonna be sick." She said thickly, leaning her weight on the wall. Damon's hand brushed her hair out of her face and he held it between her shoulder blades.

"Take it easy." Damon instructed. She felt her stomach roll and a tremor spread under her tongue. She gagged and wretched, and after a few dry-heaves her stomach threw a pitiful amount of bile up her throat. She coughed around the taste, and Damon's hand rubbed the middle of her back.

"You done?" Damon asked softly. Elena shrugged, shoulders shaking. Her knees were trembling under her weight and she tried to convey to Damon that they were about to give out on her, but nothing left her throat but a small cry and she collapsed towards the floor. Damon's hands caught her hips and he eased down with her, settling her back against his chest.

"Talk to me." Damon said softly. Elena tried to voice her thoughts, to tell him that she couldn't see anymore, that her extremities felt numb, that her head felt like it might explode, anything to let him know just how bad her situation was, but she couldn't get the words to come.

Damon rearranged her against his body and she felt him move an arm somewhere above her head, and then it came back down again and he was pressing something warm against her lips. It was sticky and coppery and somewhere in the back of her mind she knew what it was and she knew she should drink it, but her throat was no longer co-operating and she couldn't clench the muscles to swallow.

"Come on." Damon said into her ear, and she could hear a hint of desperation behind the instruction. "Drink up."

His other hand came up under her jaw and tipped her head back, and after a moment she felt the slimy liquid slide down her throat. She coughed and lifted her hand to push him away, because the taste was making her feel sick again, but he nudged her away and kept her in place a minute longer.

The world around her slowly came back into focus; vehicles rushing past on the road, Damon's car pulled to one side, engine still running. Damp grass lay beneath her legs and a hard body supported her back. She swallowed around the lingering taste on her tongue. A hand rubbed her lower back gently and she sighed against Damon's soothing touch.

"I'm okay." She said instantly. He relaxed a little and she felt him push her forwards, and then he was standing and she was standing and then they were back in the car, a blanket around her shoulders and the hot air blowing against her sweat-cooled skin.

"You scared me there." Damon said simply, not turning to look at her.

"I'm sorry." She said. Damon shook his head and muttered that she didn't need to be, but it didn't stop her feeling a little guilty.

The car pulled up in front of the Boarding House and Damon, killing the engine, stepped out and slammed his door. Elena pushed hers open with shaky hands, and Damon was right there with her, lifting her from her seat.

"I can walk." She said feebly, but she was thankful he was carrying her anyway. A small smirk graced Damon's lips.

"You're not wearing shoes." He pointed out, and she resigned herself to his grip, sinking into him once again. He carried her down the halls and into the main room where a fire was already blazing in the hearth. He set her down in a chair and she watched the flames as Damon moved around. The sound of glass chinking filled her ears over the crackling of the fire.

"Hey, here's some bourbon. It'll help you forget."

A/N: And we're back to the episode! I hope this was okay, I just thought Elena was a little too chipper given the amount of blood Klaus took from her.

I know it's only short and very rushed, but there you go! Leave me a review and let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance :)

Much love,

Someone x