Darcy woke up in the early morning to screams and yelling from the guest room and she rushed there, seeing a sweat-covered Stefan pressed up against Damon's body, sobbing, gasping, crying and occasionally even begging. The poor boy was clinging desperately to Damon, repeating "No," over and over again. Damon shushed him and stroked his hair.
"What happened?" Darcy asked with concern.
"It was a bad dream. He has had them for a while." Damon said softly. "Would you mind getting him a glass of water?"
Darcy nodded and made her way to the kitchen seeing her parents making their way through the hallway to the guest room.
"What is going on, Darcy?" Her father asked.
"Stefan had a nightmare," she said and rushed downstairs to get a glass and some water. When she came back, she saw her parents in the doorway, observing but keeping their distance. She handed Damon the glass and he tried to pull away from Stefan but the boy refused to let go.
"I am still here, little brother. I need you to drink some water. You can let go. I will stay with you." Damon comforted, gently pushing Stefan's shoulders back so he could see his tear-covered face. He helped Stefan drink, then Stefan leaned into his embrace again.
"Darcy, would you please come closer?" Damon asked. Darcy nodded and walked to them. Damon grabbed her hand and brushed it against Stefan's cheek. Darcy frowned in concern and pressed the back of her hand against Stefan's neck. She looked at her parents.
"He's warm," she said. "Should we get a doctor?"
Darcy's mother stepped closer to them and looked at Damon to get permission to touch Stefan. He nodded and so she felt for a fever.
"He does feel feverish, but he doesn't seem very sick. We can get a doctor if the fever rises or if he has other symptoms."
They all agreed. Stefan closed his eyes and leaned on Damon's shoulders.
"Alright." Darcy's father said. "Let's go to bed again. Yell if you need anything, son."
Damon nodded and carefully laid Stefan on the bed again. Stefan had already fallen asleep. Darcy kissed Damon's cheek and went back to her room. They all slept without being disturbed until the morning. The maids of the family showed up for their shifts and Darcy's parents enjoyed the sun on their porch. Darcy walked to them.
"Stefan vomited on the floor but Damon is unable to stand up." She said.
"Can you get the poor thing down here and send a maid to clean?" Darcy's mother asked and Darcy nodded. She told a maid to help her with the vomit and they went to the guest room. Darcy helped Stefan downstairs although he stumbled every now and then. She lead him to the porch where her parents were. Darcy's mother brought Stefan into her arms and let him sit in her lap, resting against her chest. Her motherly concern comforted him and it was almost as being back in his own mother's embrace. She stroked his hair gently.
"I'm going to button your shirt down a little bit, alright Darling?" She asked and he nodded a little. She unbuttoned a few buttons.
"How old are you, my child?" She asked.
"16, ma'am,"
"Does anything hurt you right now?"
"My stomach hurts, ma'am. And it hurts when I breathe and cough. I don't feel like I can breathe properly," Stefan explained. He got upset and had to hold back tears but Darcy's mother sensed them and she held him tighter. She rubbed his cheek.
"Why are you so kind towards me, ma'am?" Stefan asked pitifully.
"You remind me so much of my dear little Thomas. He died when he was 14. I miss him so much. Having you here, reminds me of his presence."
Darcy came outside.
"Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Daddy. Good morning, Stefan." She said with a smile. Darcy's mother returned the smile.
"Darcy, you must fetch the doctor. Stefan's fever is higher, and I fear that he is getting worse every hour."