Darcy was a fast girl judging by her age, but she wasn't fast enough. By the time she had been able to get to Dr. Jones' house and back again, Stefan wasn't with her parents on the porch.
"Where's Stefan?" Darcy asked. Her mother gave a sad smile.
"He's with Damon in the guest room. He's doing worse, Honey."
Darcy, her parents and the doctor all went to the guest room, where Stefan was under the covers on the bed, seeming to fight for his life. He was gasping and whimpering, his body struggling to breathe and fight the fever he had. Damon was by his side rubbing his thumb over Stefan's temple soothingly. The doctor walked over to the poor, shivering boy.
"Say his symptoms again." He said putting his bag on the floor.
"Well, he's very feverish as you can see. He has complained of headaches, stomachaches and trouble breathing. We were concerned that he might have pneumonia." Darcy's mother said nervously. The doctor nodded.
"Well we'll see what we can do." He said. "You should leave. I will need him partly undressed and I wish to keep him comfortable."
Darcy and her parents nodded.
"I would like to stay, sir. I'm his brother. I can keep him company." Damon said and looked at the doctor, who nodded and allowed Damon to stay by Stefan's side. Darcy and her parents left, leaving them alone.
The doctor opened his bag up and pulled out a few objects. He first guided Stefan to lay on his stomach. Then he took his temperature, earning a small whine and instinctively moving from the boy. Damon held his brother's hand. A small gesture that calmed Stefan immediately.
The doctor cleaned Stefan up when the thermometer was done measuring. He then looked at Damon.
"Would you mind getting your brother's shirt off for me?" He asked and turned to his bag to prepare something. Damon gently lifted Stefan into his hold and helped him unbutton his shirt. When it was done, Damon let Stefan lean against him and gently stroked his hair and rubbed his neck.
"Okay Stefan. I'll need you to sit up. Then I'm going to listen to your breathing pattern." Dr. Jones said and Damon helped Stefan sit on his own. The poor boy looked so sick. Dr. Jones placed his hand on Stefan's chest and the bell of his stethoscope on Stefan's bare back.
"Just take some deep breaths for me," he said and Stefan tried his best, but breathing deeply didn't seem to be possible at the moment. He coughed dryly and gasped in a breath. Damon watched him sympathetically. The doctor moved the stethoscope around and asked Stefan to repeat his breaths.
"Alright. Now you can lay on your back and I will feel your stomach," the doctor said. Stefan laid back and Damon resumed the rubbing over his temple. The doctor pressed down on Stefan's stomach a few different places. At a point Stefan gasped and let out a cry of pain. The doctor removed his hands.
"Pneumonia is very similar to the flu," the doctor explained. "Stefan shows symptoms of both, but my diagnose is the flu. I think you should come downstairs and discuss the treatment with us."
Damon nodded and stood on his health leg, not putting weight on the broken bone. Stefan grabbed his hand tightly.
"Don't leave me," he begged, tears running down his pale face.
"I'm not. I'm just going downstairs to talk to Darcy about the best course of care for you." Damon soothed and pulled the comforter over Stefan's body. "Get some sleep, okay Brother?"