Chapter 36: Something for Nothing

Damon was jarred out of sleep by clattering downstairs. He stealthily padded around his room swiftly but silently, slipping on a pair of jeans and shrugging into a button up. He was cautious, as he moved to the staircase, wary of the intruder. The sound of stumbling and groaning filtered to his ears and his interest was piqued. As Damon made his way down the stairs and into the parlor room, he saw Stefan rummaging around blindly, holding his hand to his neck; blood covering his face, hands and clothes.

Stefan suddenly lost his energy, and collapsed into the nearest chair; grunting in pain.

Damon watched him with a concerned but apprehensive frown. It had been only a few hours since he was last here, and the man before him was not who left. Stefan was cocky and full of confidence and bravado. Now he was broken and helpless. Damon couldn't keep the taunting to himself. "What's the matter, Stef? Lose your favorite toy?" He crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway.

"Go away..." the younger Salvatore's words held no fire or warning. It came out hopelessly and hollow.

Damon pushed off the doorjamb and sauntered around to stand in front of his brother. "What happened to you, brother? You're a mess...you obviously deserve it but-"

"Tyler bit me." Stefan swung his eyes up at Damon, and they were still cold and empty, but a little glimmer was his tell that he was barely holding it together. "I'm dying...so go ahead." He threw his arms in the air. "Throw a victory party. I've been defeated!" He ranted on sarcastically.

The older Salvatore dropped into the chair across from him, his eyes wide and full of fear. Damon didn't even want to know what his life would be like without his little brother. Terror gripped his heart and he wanted nothing more than to pull him into a hug and reassure him...but Stefan wasn't in there. "Let's get you upstairs...okay?" he offered instead, giving Stefan's shoulder a squeeze.

He resisted at first, shrugging his hand off, but ultimately allowed Damon to guide him upstairs to his room; his arm slung over his big brother's shoulder, weakness and exhaustion taking over him.

...

She had no idea how long she stared at that text message from Damon

Tyler bit Stefan. He's at the house...I need you.

She didn't even remember the drive to the Boarding House. She ran through the front door and darted up the stairs, straight to Stefan's room. Elena stood in the doorway, staring on in disbelief as Damon sat in the sofa chair beside his brother's bed, watching as Stefan tossed and turned. Beads of sweat collected on his forehead but Damon was attentive with a damp cloth, dabbing them away.

"Really?" The flat tone came out gravely from Stefan's throat. "Come to rub it in, Elena? It's bad enough I have to die with Nurse Damon here, giving me a sponge bath...although, I'm sure you'd be better at it."

"Shut up." Damon snapped quietly. He tossed the towel on the chair as he stood up and walked over to Elena, both of them, walking back down to the parlor room. "Its progressing fast...I don't know what to do Elena." He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and Elena was quick to wrap her arms around him.

She soothingly ran her hands up and down his back crying silently. She felt for him and the pain he must be going through. "We'll figure something out..." even though she didn't believe it, she needed to reassure him in some way. She let Damon break down in her arms; he cried in anguish, gripping onto her like a lifeline.

...

They all sat around in the Boarding House as Stefan screamed and called out in delirium upstairs.

Jeremy paced. "Has anyone heard from Tyler? Why would he do this?"

"Because I told him to." Everyone's heads snapped to the new voice that had entered the room, and Caroline, and Damon took protective stances in front of Jeremy, Bonnie and Elena. "Good evening everyone! Seems my presence has shocked you." He drawled with a boyish smirk, he nonchalantly sauntered into the room with his hands linked behind his back.

Bonnie's eyes narrowed. "You were dead."

"And now I'm not. Surprise!" Klaus observed the room with a glint of satisfaction. They were terrified and miserable. "Don't worry I haven't come to kill you yet; that would be too predictable."

Caroline squared her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest. "Then why are you here?"

"You say that as if I'm not welcome, Caroline. As you remember, I welcomed you into my home." He was met with distain from every pair of eyes in the room. "I can save your brother." Klaus stated, glancing at Damon. He closed the distance between them, leaving tense space between the two Alpha vampires. "My blood will heal him right up."

Damon narrowed his eyes. "That's bullshit."

The Hybrid raised his brows and sped behind Caroline, gripping her neck with his large hand. The blonde tensed in fear trying to pry his fingers off with both of her hands. She cried, her eyes pleading for help. "Please..." He bit down into her shoulder and, ignoring her struggles and sobs. "No! I don't want to die!"

"You won't." He whispered in her ear, before he bit into his own wrist and brought it to her lips. "Drink, sweetheart." He encouraged. He turned her slightly and pulled the sweater off her shoulder, to show the healing wound he just created. "See...all better." Klaus crossed the floor back to Damon as Bonnie and Elena rushed to Caroline as she tried desperately to see the healing wound and cried in relief that her life wasn't over.

"Believe me now?" Stefan's cries of anguish echoed throughout the house. Damon could hear him rambling on as if speaking to Katherine and Klaus directed his eyes skyward, indicating he heard it too. "I could end his torment, Damon..." He whispered with a melodious inflection, tempting him with his words.

"Just like that?" Damon countered knowing it wouldn't be that easy.

"Come on Damon..." he grinned like the Devil he was. "I never do something for nothing."

Elena stepped away from Caroline to stand next to Damon, standing taller than she was next to the two men that towered over her. "What do you want?"

"Hybrids." He explained. "At first I thought that once I became a hybrid I could turn my vampire army into them as well. Turns out only werewolves can make that transformation. So...I experimented. Tyler was a perfect guinea pig. I fed him my blood, killed him and when he awoke he raided my stash of your blood." He looked at Elena, who suddenly seemed confused. "Tatya was generous enough to make a donation while you were slumbering. He drank every last bag and when he was done he went in search for more, killing an entire bar full of patrons...it was quite the site." He laughed. Elena looked away and swallowed hard, the vision of her friend turning into a blood thirsty hybrid plaguing her thoughts. "I tried it again, but without your blood...they die."

The brunette nodded. "You need more of my blood...okay."

Damon hung his head back and looked skyward in annoyance. "Will there ever be a day where you stop making stupid fucking decisions!?"

Elena turned on him. "Do you want Stefan to die, Damon? Because that's what's going to happen if I don't do this." She turned back to Klaus and gave him a hard glare. "I'll do it...but I have terms too." She stated strongly.

He smiled, intrigued and surprised by her bravery, "By all means...let's hear it." He opened his arms out to his sides grandly before linking them behind his back again.

Elena held her head high. "The way I see it we need each other. Obviously, you need me alive and we can't guarantee that our lives will be werewolf free forever. My blood for yours; whenever either of us need it. No questions, no loopholes...no backing out." She watched as Klaus observed her with apprehension. She caught his eyes. "I keep my word when I give it, Nicklaus." His full name rolled off her lips naturally. "Do something good for someone other than yourself...for once."

There was a long tense moment, and hope for saving Stefan was fading. "You have a deal Ms. Gilbert." His eyes swung to Damon. "It's too bad you'll have to watch her grow old and die...I'm sure the idea of eternity was looking appealing, wasn't it?" he couldn't help the smug look on his face.

"Go to hell." Damon snarled.

And Klaus raised his brows challengingly. "I'll see you there I'm sure." He gestured for Elena have a seat. "After you."

Incredulity covered her face. "Stefan is dying! Help him."

He simply shrugged his shoulders. "You made your terms, now I'm making mine. He still has a few hours." He pulled out his phone to send and text and a moment later Tyler walked in with a duffel bag. "Luckily I came prepared."

"Ty?" Jeremy stated confused. "What the hell are you doing, man?" Tyler said nothing as he stood next to Klaus devotedly.

Nicklaus chuckled. "He's doing what I told him to. He's sired to me. It's like compulsion...only stronger. Get her set up will you." He ordered and Tyler went about opening the duffel bag and pulling out an IV bag, and drip.

Elena sat in the chair staring at Tyler as if she was unfamiliar with the man in front of her, even though she'd known him her entire life. "I'm so sorry Elena...there's nothing I can do." He apologized genuinely.

And she nodded. "It's okay. Let's just get this over with." She had to look away when he stuck the needle in her vein.

...

The house was silent. Damon stayed close to Elena, making sure she was okay as the blood was drained from her. "I'm okay, Damon...you don't need to watch over me." Her voice was weak despite her words of comfort. "Go be with your brother." Elena placed her hand over his, where it rested on her knee.

"I'm not going to leave you."

"I'm fine...Bonnie's here. Stefan needs you right now." Elena encouraged, smiling lazily. Stefan's cries had died down and worry was taken over everyone.

Bonnie caught Damon's eyes. "I'll make sure she's okay." Damon reluctantly left, kissing her on the forehead as he stood. As soon as he left the room, her façade dropped. "Whoa...Elena?"

"I'm good...I just didn't want him to see me like this." She had lost at least three pints of blood and she honestly didn't know how much more she could take,

"You need to stop...you've done enough." Bonnie demanded with worry crowding her face.

Across the room Caroline looked out the window her right arm reaching over her left shoulder caressing the healed wound. She was traumatized with worry, regardless of the smooth skin there; she was terrified that it was only temporary.

"You'll live, love...no need to pout." Klaus came to stand next to her, observing the tense frown on her face with a boyish grin.

She turned to him, narrowing her eyes. "Does reveling in other people's misery make you happy? Because the only time you smile is when you're tormenting others...mainly my friends. I have one friend dying, one bleeding out, another friend is your hybrid whipping boy and you almost killed me to prove a point." She lashed out in a rush. Stepping closer to him, she whispered. "For a man who thinks he has it all you sure are pathetic."

Klaus' lips tensed and his Adam's apple bobbed. "For a woman who nearly died quite literally at my hands, you're awfully brave."

She canted her head to the side. "Well I'm tired of being everyone's pawn. You want to kill me? Do it...at least I don't have to stand here talking to you." Caroline taunted, but Klaus' laughter caught her off guard.

He pointed at her with a long finger. "I like you...you have a bit of fire in you, love." In that moment, there was a glint in his eyes.

"I'm not your 'love'." A sigh of relief expelled from her lips when Bonnie stormed over.

"Elena can't take it anymore." She held her head high. "Unhook her and save Stefan. Now."

They stared each other down for a long moment, a force of dominance between them and Bonnie was holding her own. "Tyler! I think Elena's had enough." His eyes didn't leave Bonnie's.

Caroline rushed over and was quick to bite into her wrist, feeding Elena as Tyler unhooked the IV from her arm. Elena gripped on, replenishing her body with the blood it needed.

Upstairs, Damon sat by Stefan's side, although his younger brother was so deep in his own delusions he wasn't sure if Stefan knew he was there.

"It's always been you Katherine..." he mumbled, his brows knitted in a deep frown.

Damon let out a sigh of sadness, wishing that the woman his brother loved, would have love him back. "You're better than her, Stef...you deserve better than her."

For the first time in hours, Stefan turned to look at him with clarity. "Do I?"

Damon leaned forward. "Yes..." his lips curled in relief at the breakthrough. "She wasn't healthy for either of us."

Stefan's eyes closed. "I'm tired Damon...I'm tired of being in pain." The exhaustion was clear on his face. "Make it stop...please."

"Klaus' blood will save you Stefan. He's here; he's just being a dick." Damon's voice raised an octave for good measure. "You're going to be okay, brother...I promise." Damon grabbed his hand, holding it in both of his own.

"No I'm not...I'm not okay Damon." Stefan reached up with a shaky hand and placed it on his brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry for what I did to you," His voice cracked as he tried desperately to hold back his tears. "for what I did to everyone. And I hope you can forgive me..."

Damon nodded. "Of course Stefan...we're family." His eyes were clouded with his own tears, and he smiled, a genuine smile.

"But I'll never forgive myself." Stefan watched as confusion creased Damon's face. "I love you brother."

"No...Klaus!" he hollered, hoping he's make it in time.

Stefan used the last of his strength to grip the wooden headboard above him and break off a makeshift stake. He used his vampire speed to ram the jagged piece into his own chest.

"No! Stefan..." he tried to pull it out but Stefan held it in place as the veins in his face turned black and the life slipped from him.

"I want this." Those were the last words that left his mouth, and he was gone. Damon pulled the stake out, as if it would make a difference.

Klaus sped in, but stopped suddenly when he saw the scene before him. Caroline was quick behind him rushing to Damon's side.

"Oh my God..." her hands covered her mouth as she watched Damon holding his brother in his arms.

No one knew what to do. Damon sobbed uncontrollably as everyone, including Klaus, looked on in sympathy. "Damon?" Elena's voice filtered in from down the hall. She walked in her jaw fell open. "No...what happened? What did you do?" she directed at Klaus as she rushed to Damon's side.

"I did nothing." He responded with distain.

"Exactly." She retorted, her face twisting in disgust. "You did nothing."

"It wasn't him, Lena..." Damon breathed in a deep and shaky breath. "Stefan staked himself." The words sounded impossible coming from his own mouth, as if he could believe his brother was dead, even though the evidence was there in his arms.

She shook her head. "No…why? Klaus was going to save him, we were so close."

He shrugged a shoulder helplessly, numbness creeping through him. "He didn't want to be saved." He stared at his brother for a long moment before standing and lifting him into his arms; carrying him as he did when Stefan was a boy and had fallen, scrapping his knees. Damon remembered how hard he'd cried, only ten years old; it was as if he was experiencing the worst pain of his life. Little did he know the series of unfortunate events that were to follow. He wished he could go back to those moments…the moments where he could put a band-aid over the wound and kiss it better, or tell him everything would be okay and Stefan believed him as if it were written in stone.

"What are you doing?" Caroline's voice was mousy and careful.

Damon swallowed hard. "I'm going to bury my brother. Excuse me." He was in an alarming state of composure, and everyone in the room was waiting for him to act irrationally, which ironically, would be rational given the situation.

He walked through the halls and down the stairs with blinders on. He ignored the reactions from Bonnie, Jeremy and Tyler, and exited out the front door without a word. Using his vampire speed, he found his way to the family crypt. Placing Stefan down gently, propping him up against the wall, Damon leaned against the wall across from him, and slid himself to the cold hard floor. If it weren't for the discoloration of Stefan's face, he would look like he was sleeping; head lolled to the right, lips slightly ajar and his body completely relaxed.

Damon had no idea how long he sat there, watching him; or how many silent tears had stained his cheeks. All he felt was alone.