Ahhhh! I'm so glad you guys enjoyed the sacrifice. Sorry for the lack of Dalex, but for once this wasn't about them. I'm sorry that Jenna and John could not survive, but I have some big things planned for the rest of our characters! I hope you enjoy this! Thank you!
Season 2 Episode 22 As I Lay Dying
I was comfortable in black. I always had been. It made me less noticeable, and I was all for blending into the crowd. But today… today black was a sign of something else. Instead of being antisocial, my dark attire was a sign of my mourning. The death of a friend, and the death of my father.
"Here." Mom said as she clasped a necklace around my neck. Her eyes were swollen from her crying, although she wouldn't admit that she had done so. She didn't know the details about the death of both Jenna and John. She was told that it was a freak accident and both perished. She had been careful around me, barely speaking so as to not set me off. But I hadn't cried.
I was told that John had linked his soul to mine and that he died to save my life. I didn't cry. When Damon gave me John's ring, I didn't cry. Even when I found his suicide letter addressed to me I didn't cry. I hadn't even opened it.
"You sure you don't want to go?" I asked mom, looking in the mirror. I wore the black dress that I had worn to the Lockwoods the first day I met Elijah. I bristled at the thought of him. After his betrayal of us, and the way he escaped with Klaus… I didn't trust either brother, regardless of my connection to both of them.
"Yes, I'm sure." Mom said, smoothing out my dress. "I don't know think I will be able to hold myself together…"
"Mom…" I said, pulling her to me and letting her cry into my shoulder. She had just got him back, and then he left her again. I squeezed her tight. "I don't have to go."
"You should." Mom replied, pulling back. She pushed a piece of hair out of my face, looking at me with tears on her cheeks. "He was your dad."
"Yeah." But I didn't say anymore. She gave me a pat on the shoulder and a kiss on the cheek before she went out of my room. Caroline was picking me up in a few minutes. I stared at the letter John had left me that sat on my desk. I began to reach for it, but my hand retracted. I wasn't ready to open it, not yet.
I looked in the mirror once more before I heard the car horn. I stepped out of my room, my mom kissing my cheek again before she let me go. I solemnly walked to Caroline's car, slipping into the passenger seat. Mom blew a kiss to me before she waved, signaling for Caroline to drive away.
"How are you doing?" She asked. I shrugged, and she dropped the conversation there. I didn't know what I was feeling. I felt… numb. There was nothing that jumped out at me as a certain emotion, not sadness, or anger, just… nothing.
We arrived at the cemetery, stepping out of the car together. A ghost of a smile graced my lips when I thought about how I used to cut through this cemetery to get home. I remember the last time I did it, it seemed so long ago. That was where everything began, when Elena had spoken to me. This all started right here, and yet everything ended here as well. Caroline and I walked toward the Gilbert plot where two large mounds of dirt sat next to Miranda and Grayson's head stones. I felt my stomach do back flips.
Elena was the first person I laid eyes on. She stood in front of the grave, staring blankly at them. I saw the tears on her face, and wondered why she had worn make up in the first place. Caroline and I slowly approached. Jace was there, standing next to Alaric. He gave me a small wave and I did the same. His green eyes shifted back to where John was buried.
Elena stepped forward, four roses in her hands. She placed one on John's grave and one on Jenna's. Jenna seemed to be the hardest for Elena, and she started to cry harder when she placed the rose onto her grave. She then placed two where her parents laid and then she stood. I could hear her breathing become irregular, and I knew she was breaking down. I stepped forward, latching my hand onto hers and gave her a tight squeeze.
She looked at me, her brown eyes sad and full of tears, but I did not cry with her. I just held her hand and willed her to keep it together. She mouthed a thank you to me and I nodded. I felt eyes on me, and looked over my shoulder to where someone stood off to the side.
Damon was not with the crowd, he was off on his own, his hand in his pocket and his other arm hanging by his side. He was staring at me, eyes searching my face. I gave him a small smile to which he returned. It took everything in me not to run to him for comfort, but I forced myself to stay put. We were still broken up, and the only thing I knew was that he might harbor feelings for Elena. Even with everything that happened, I couldn't bear to face him.
We all paid our respects before we turned toward our cars. I passed Damon, glancing at him for a fraction of a second before Caroline led me away. I was silently grateful to her because I knew that if I spoke to him then I would start to babble and right now I needed to be strong. I couldn't show him my weakness. I needed him to think I didn't need him.
"You ok?" Caroline asked me when I was in the car. Again, like her first question, I shrugged.
Damon watched as the blonde took Alex away. He wanted to explain himself, tell her that this whole thing with Elena was just a ruse to protect her, but then he looked down to his injured arm. Was it worth it? If he told her then he would just have to break her heart yet again, telling her that he was going to die. How could he do that to her again?
"We're going to head back to the house." Stefan said when he approached. Damon turned around to face his brother.
"I think I'll skip the coffee and tea cakes." Damon replied bitterly. He would prefer to be alone, letting himself wallow in his self-pity.
"Damon, they need us right now." Stefan said. "She needs you right now."
Damon knew exactly what she Stefan was referring to. That she was Alex, and Damon knew how much she needed him. She didn't look sad, not like Elena had. But she was much better at hiding her emotions then her half-sister. He didn't know if she was honestly not sad about John's death or she was just putting on a good face. Either way, she needed to be surrounded by the people who loved her, the people who cared. He should have been there for her.
"And then what's the plan, Stefan? The curse is broken." Damon said. "How does one go about killing an all-powerful wolf vamp and his two-faced older brother?"
"I have no idea." Stefan replied. "Listen, I know you and Alex are on the fence and stuff but-"
"I'm dying." Damon said, cutting his brother off. Stefan stopped speaking, his mouth agape as if he hadn't heard him correctly.
"What?" Stefan asked. Damon stuffed his hands into his pockets, cringing when a sharp pain shot through his arm.
"Tyler Lockwood bit me." Damon replied. He pulled up his sleeve to show Stefan, who took his wrist to examine the bite. "It's actually more of a nip, really, but there it is."
"We'll find something." Stefan said hopefully. "A cure."
"There is no cure Stefan." Damon replied. He thought about Rose, how she had reacted to the bite. The pain, the hallucinations… Alex almost died that night that Rose attacked her. Damon winced.
"We kept Elena human, right?" Stefan said. "We brought Alex back from the dead! We found the way when there was no way."
Damon smirked a bit at his brother's determination. Even after everything Damon had done to Stefan, his little brother was still looking for a way to save him. It hurt Damon a little, how much Stefan was willing to risk for him, but then again Damon could see himself doing the same.
"You want to do something for me?" Damon asked. Stefan nodded. "Don't tell Alex. She's been through enough."
"But-"
"Brother." Damon said sternly. Stefan quieted. "Don't tell Alex."
Stefan hesitated but nodded. Alex didn't need this looming over her. Besides she would be better off without him anyway. She could have a family, someone who could love her truly. She deserved that. Damon squeezed Stefan's arm as he passed, his expression tormented.
It had been two days. Two days since the ritual, and the full moon. Elijah had been following his brother the whole time, hiding the bodies of the unfortunate people that Klaus had come by. Elijah was not one for feeling for human life, but he would lie if he said that he agreed with Klaus' animalistic behavior. The hybrid in question was just waking up, now in his normal form.
"You've been busy." Elijah said. He threw some trousers at his brother. Klaus smiled, standing with the pants in his hands.
"That was amazing." Klaus mused. "How long has it been?"
"Almost 2 days. Full moon came and went." Elijah explained. "You remained a wolf."
"I can change at will, then. It's good to know." Klaus said pulling up his pants. "I remember every single kill."
Elijah narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, I've been cleaning up your little mess along the way." Elijah replied. Klaus smiled.
"Just like old times, brother." Klaus said, clapping Elijah on the back. Elijah jerked away. He still was wary of Klaus. He had his chance to kill him, and he did not. He wanted his family back, even if that meant betraying the bonds he had made.
"You've had your fun." Elijah said. "I believe we have a bargain."
Klaus chuckled, pulling on a shirt.
"That's right. Now, what was it again? Oh, yeah." Klaus said. "Wait. I remember. That's it. You wish to be reunited with our family."
"You gave me your word, Niklaus." Elijah reminded him.
"What kind of brother would break his bond?" Klaus asked. "Even though you did try to kill me."
"I could have." Elijah warned. "But I didn't."
"And now no one can, not even you." Klaus said, a silent warning in his tone. "Relax, Elijah. All is forgiven."
Klaus then put on his jacket, turning to his older brother. He turned serious.
"Alexandra… she is dead?" Klaus asked, not able to hide his full sadness. Elijah furrowed his brows. Klaus had never succeeded in saving the guardian, no matter how hard he tried. With each of them, he felt that same pain of the death of his other half. And Klaus had killed Alex that night.
"She is alive." Elijah said, making Klaus' head snap upward. "Her father sacrificed himself for her."
"How sweet." Klaus said and smirked. Elijah knew that smirk and he shook his head.
"She will never join you Niklaus." Elijah warned him. Klaus set his jaw. He knew that Alexandra was not his biggest fan right now. As much as he wished he could have the bond he shared with Alissa once more, he wasn't sure of what that would take. Alexandra would not willingly join him, at least not yet.
"You need to lighten up." Klaus said. "Think positively."
"Where are they?" Elijah asked, referring to his family. Klaus chuckled.
"I'll bring you to them soon enough." Klaus said before he turned and walked away.
"I'm not going." I told Caroline. I was currently sitting in my bed, a wide array of chocolates on my bed. I had drove my sorrows in sweets and romantic comedies. Mom told me it was the quickest way to mend a broken heart, however I hadn't had that much luck. Mostly, I thought about Damon. Sometimes I would think about Klaus, and how angry I was with him and Elijah, but mostly I thought about Damon.
"You have got to get out of this house." Caroline said, looking at my mess of a room. She then flicked a piece of greasy hair. "When is the last time you showered?"
"Before the funeral." I mumbled. Caroline gagged and I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, I'm trying to watch this."
"Coyote Ugly are you serious?" Caroline asked as she picked up the DVD case with a disgusted face.
"It's a classic." I whined. Caroline then turned off my TV causing me to let out a loud, unladylike noise that told her of my annoyance.
"Come on, they are playing a real classic in the square." She said. "I made food and we are going to meet up with Elena and Jeremy."
"I don't want to." I said, hugging my pillow to my chest. I wanted nothing more than to sit in my bed and gain a few more pounds from the endless amount of calories I was taking in. I never thought I would be that girl that dropped everything for a boy, but on top of that I was also dealing with the fact that a murderous vampire werewolf hybrid was on the loose and my father was dead.
"You still haven't read this yet?" Caroline asked, picking up the letter John had written me. I shrugged.
"I just… haven't brought myself to do it." I said. She laid the envelope down on the desk before she sat on my bed and took my hand. She was giving me a sympathetic smile and although I just wanted to be alone, I appreciated her concern for me.
"You need to forget about all of this." Caroline said, giving my hand a squeeze. "Forget about Damon, forget about Klaus, about John… all of it."
She was right. I hated to say that she was right, but she was. Sitting in my room and sulking about all of this wasn't doing me any good. It was just making everything worse.
"Fine." I mumbled. She squealed happily, clapping her hands together with glee. "Let me shower first."
"Please do." She said, wrinkling her nose as I got up. I took my pillow and hit her, causing her to grunt at me, but still she laughed.
Once I was showered and presentable, she took me to the square where they were setting up to show Gone with the Wind. Some people were even dressed up for the occasion. I shook my head a little at that. Caroline found Elena and Jeremy, sitting down on a blanket. They didn't look much better than I did.
"Hey! There you guys are." Caroline said, sitting down with her basket. "Who's hungry?"
I followed suit, sitting in between Caroline and Jeremy. Elena smiled at me and I did as well. After this whole thing, we had a mutual understanding. Our father had passed, saving us in the process. On top of that, the bond between us was stronger than ever. I thought that it would be severed completely when she died, but when she came back, I found that I was in tune more with it. I could feel the bond, feel it move between us. It was a weird thing to think about.
"Are we really doing this?" Jeremy asked. I could see he had been crying, and his hair was a mess. I fought the urge to comfort him right then.
"Yes, we are really doing this. We are going to take a page from Scarlett. We made it through the war." Caroline said. "I know you guys went through hell, and my mom knows I am a vampire, so basically it's like Atlanta has burned. And yet, in spite of everything, we persevere."
"Alright." Jeremy said, looking in Caroline's picnic basket. "What are we eating?"
"Something good." Caroline replied with a smile. We ate what Caroline had packed, and honestly she wasn't wrong when she said that it was good. I told her she did a good job, to which she whispered that she purchased the sandwiches at the store. I rolled my eyes.
Jeremy and Caroline eventually dove into a conversation about Caroline and Matt hiding out from Tyler on the full moon and how Matt was determined to kill his best friend. I shifted over to Elena, who was currently picking at some grass.
"A penny for your thoughts?" I offered. She looked up to me and met my gaze. She then smiled weakly before she looked back down to the grass.
"I'm fine." She said. I scoffed, making myself comfortable beside her.
"You know I can tell when you are lying right?" I asked her. "I guess it's a sister thing."
Elena chuckled and the two of us fell into silence. There was something between us… something that no one else could understand. We had both died and come back. Our biological father was dead, and it seemed like the bond between us was even stronger.
"Is that John's ring?" She asked. I looked down to where she pointed, seeing the bulky ring hanging from a chain around my neck. I shrugged.
"Yeah…" I said, gripping the ring in my fingers. "I don't know… I just… He gave it to me."
Elena nodded, understanding what little I said. As much as it pained me to say that John had affected me, he had done just that. He was my father after all, and everything he did he did to protect me. He gave up his life for me… what else could I ask the man to do?
"I miss him." She said. "And Jenna…"
"I know." I said. "I'm sorry."
She nodded sadly.
"Do you?" She asked. "Miss him?"
"I… I don't know." I admitted. Elena looked at me quizzically. "I spent so much time hating him… it's weird to say I miss him…"
I stared at her for a long minute. She licked her lips, seeming to be at battle with herself. She picked a long piece of grass and tied it in a knot.
"I mean… he and Isobel… they weren't my parents." She said. "Miranda and Grayson were. And yet… all four of them are gone… and I miss them all."
I nodded. It made sense. John was a part of me. I had bonded with him. I had come to know him. I dare say that I came to care about him.
"This sucks." I muttered. Elena nodded in agreement.
Damon lay on the cold, unforgiving floor of the cell that Stefan had put him in. In an attempt to make sure Damon didn't do anything rash, his brother tossed him inside the locked cell so he couldn't get out and hurt anyone else or himself. Damon was silently grateful, Damon didn't want to hurt anyone, especially not someone he cared about.
The bite had gotten significantly worse in the mere two days since he had gotten it. He was in pain, the toxin that a werewolf bite held coursing through his body. He ached and on top of that, the hallucinations had started. He began with seeing small things, memories of people and places he had been, but now they were coming in full force, memories in great detail replayed in his mind. Some were about Katherine, some about Stefan, a few about his childhood, and even one about Elena. However, the ones about Alex were the ones he treasured the most.
"I love shots!" She yelled once at the top of her lungs. Damon turned, laughing at the way she was stumbling around. He was trying to get her to loosen up, but now he realized just how drunk she really was.
"I thought you didn't drink Gilbert." Damon said to hands gripping her waist. He half expected her to push him away, but instead she leaned into him.
"That was before I found out how fun it was!" She said, twirling around. She stumbled, falling back into the waiting arms of Damon, who chuckled at the clumsy girl.
"Maybe you should hold off for a little bit." Damon said. "Or I might have to carry you."
"I'm not drunk." She insisted. Damon chuckled again, setting the girl up straight. She had a glazed over look in her eyes and Damon knew that he would get a lecture about this from Stefan if he found out. But what Stefan didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"One day with me and you're already an alcoholic." Damon said with a smirk. She leaned forward and poked him in the chest.
"You, my friend, are a bad influence." She giggled. "That's ok. I want to be bad."
"No, no you don't." Damon replied.
"Yes I do!" I replied. "I'm tired of being the troubled artist who shuts herself up in her room. I want to be daring!"
"Pretty girl, you don't have a daring bone in your body." Damon said with a chuckle. He could see the way the fire ignited in her green eyes and he found himself licking his lips. Alex was a pretty girl, hence the nickname he gave her. But, he just couldn't see her taking a risk even if she had to.
"Oh yeah?" She asked, gripping his shirt. Damon looked down at her quizzically before she pulled him down to her level. He was surprised when she placed a big, sloppy kiss to his lips, but he wasn't complaining. Damon wasn't surprised very often, but Alex Gilbert had successfully surprised him.
Damon smiled at the memory of their first kiss. He hadn't expected her to be so bold, even with the alcohol in her system. It wasn't the best kiss, and neither was their second, but they were still good memories to him, because they were with her. Alex knew him, she saw the real him. She didn't want to change him. He wanted to change for her. He wanted to be better because of her. Not because she made him, but because she deserved the best.
Damon looked down at the bite, wincing when he realized that it had gotten worse.
Stefan showed up after the group finished their meal, but he didn't look like the normal Stefan. He looked concerned, determined, like he was on a mission. He barely even said hi before he took Elena off to the side.
"What's wrong?" She asked, eyebrows furrowed. Stefan looked over his shoulder. Caroline was paying close attention, but Jeremy and Alex were not. They were talking about some art convention and were too engrossed in their conversation to notice.
"I wish this could wait, but it can't." Stefan said, turning back to Elena. "Listen, um, the other night when Damon was helping Tyler, something happened."
"What happened?" Elena pressed. Stefan took in a deep breath.
"Tyler was starting to transform, and Damon was bitten." Stefan said. Elena's jaw dropped. Her eyes then flickered to Alex, who was looking at the two now with interest. Elena took a deep breath to calm herself down so Alex wouldn't worry.
"Is… is he going to…" She trailed off, not knowing if she could finish the sentence. She just lost two more people she cared about, she didn't think she could lose a friend especially one like Damon.
"Yeah." Stefan said. Elena continued to breathe deep so Alex wouldn't suspect anything. "It's not over. There might be a cure, but I have to find Klaus to get it."
"No." Elena said, shaking her head. "He will kill you."
"No, he had the chance to kill me, but he didn't." Stefan said. "Whatever Damon's done, whatever has led him here, I'm the one that made him become a vampire in the first place, so if there's a chance for a cure, I owe it to him to find it."
Elena pulled him into a hug, knowing full well that this could be the last time she could ever see him. She pulled back and kissed him passionately.
"I should tell Alex." Elena said. Stefan shook her head.
"Damon doesn't want her to know." Stefan said. Elena opened her mouth to protest. "If I can't get this cure… what will that do to her?"
Elena didn't say anything. She knew he was right. Looking at Alex now, if she lost Damon… she would be ruined. She would break down. She would lose it.
"Just let me try before we tell her ok?" Stefan asked.
"Ok." Elena said, embracing him again. "Please be careful."
"I will." Stefan replied. They kissed again and then he turned and walked away. Elena turned back to Alex and forced a smile. She smiled too, but she knew that Alex was suspicious. She then looked to Caroline who had heard the whole conversation and nodded. Then Elena went on her way to the Salvatore house.
I was getting a little impatient. Elena had disappeared and she had not answered my texts. Something was up, I could tell because both Caroline and Jeremy were acting weird. Bonnie had joined us and she was even acting anxious. They were very jittery and obviously keeping something from me.
"I love this movie." Caroline mused. "Don't you love this movie?"
"It's great." I replied sarcastically. I hadn't been paying much attention to tell you the truth. I had been too focused on what I didn't know and what was going on more than I could pay attention to the movie.
Suddenly Jeremy's phone rang. He picked it up, Alaric flashing across the screen.
"Alaric, hey." Jeremy said. There was a long pause. "She went to go see Damon. I thought that's where you were?"
I furrowed my brows at the sound of Damon's name. Jeremy sounded concerned and by the look on Caroline's face I was beginning to think this was bad.
"What's going on?" I asked. Bonnie shrugged but I didn't quite buy that she was completely in the dark. I was at my wits end at this point.
"Ok, we will find him." Jeremy said, hanging up. "We've got to go."
"What's wrong?" I repeated, standing up with the group.
"Nothing!" Caroline replied. "Why would you think there was anything going on?"
"Because you suck at keeping a secret." I said, hands on my hips. Jeremy stood up, less frantic then Caroline was. "What's going on?"
"We have a problem." He said. I urged him to continue. "It's Damon."
I crossed my arms over my chest, not speaking so they could continue their explanation. Caroline had this sympathetic look on her face, one I was a bit nervous about. What was so wrong with Damon that they had to hide it from me?
"He's… sick." Jeremy said. I furrowed my brows.
"Vampires don't get sick." I replied. Jeremy shook his head.
"They do when they have been bitten by a werewolf." He said. I felt my stomach drop and my face went pale.
"What?" I asked, hoping I had heard him wrong. My breathing was starting to become erratic, and I could feel the anxiety rip at my gut.
"Tyler bit him, the night of the full moon." Caroline said, taking my shoulders into her hands. "But listen Stefan's finding a cure-"
"There is no cure!" I shouted, getting glances from people surrounding us. "He's dying!"
"Alex, calm down." Jeremy said in a calming voice. "It's all going to be ok."
I shook my head taking a step back. Damon was dying. I remembered Rose, how she became something that wasn't her, how Damon had to kill her out of mercy because of how she was in such pain. I shook my head wildly at the thought.
"Alex, just breathe." Jeremy continued, stepping toward me but I pushed away from him. I turned on my heel and ran. If Damon was dying I had to find him. I had to tell him I loved him… I had to tell him how much he meant to me. I had to find him.
I started looking through the crowd frantically, trying to find the dying vampire that held my heart in the palm of his hand. I then started to think, what if I was too late? I had been too late when Klaus killed Elena, thankfully she came back. Damon… I didn't think he would be so lucky. I felt the angry tears fall down my face as I pushed through group after group of people trying to find him. I had to find him. I just had to.
"Damon!" I called out. "Damon! Damon please!"
I received no response, just a bunch of people staring at me like I was crazy. I held back the scream I wanted to let out. I was so angry, so frantic, I didn't notice when I ran into someone and the force of it knocked me to the ground. I looked up, about to apologize when I saw who it was.
"Damon!" I yelled, throwing myself into his arms. He seemed off balance and he didn't wrap his arm around me. I pulled back, looking down at his wound. It was bad, much like what Rose's looked like. I held back a gag.
"Alex?" Damon coughed, voice husky. I met his gaze, smiling up at him when I realized he recognized me. "Alex I-"
He was cut off by the loud coughing that erupted from his throat. He then choked on blood, a big glob of it falling to the ground. I reeled back as he threw up the dark red liquid. He straightened up and caught my gaze again.
"Who are you?" He asked suddenly. I felt my stomach drop. He was staring at me like he had never seen me before. I reached forward, taking his face into my hands so he could look me in the eyes.
"Damon… it's me." I said, tears in my eyes. "It's Alex…"
Damon stared at me like he had no idea who I was. It broke my heart. He was starting to pull away when in a last ditch effort I pulled him to me. I placed a kiss to his lips, trying so hard to make him remember who I was, if only for a fraction of a second. I was not the one to pull back, Damon pushed me off him, quite roughly.
"Who are you?" He repeated. "Where's Katherine?"
"Katherine?" I asked, the name burning my mouth. "Katherine is with Klaus."
"Klaus?" He said. He turned eyes scanning the area. "I have to find her."
I ran for him, pulling him by his arm to a stop. I gripped at him tightly, forcing him to stay. He was still much stronger than me, but he was so weak, it was easier for me to make him stay.
"Damon, listen to me." I said. "Katherine doesn't love you. I do."
"Stop!" He yelled, pushing me against a post. His hands gripped my arms so tightly I thought I would bruise. I let out a cry of pain.
"Damon, it's me!" I yelled at him. "It's Alex!"
"I don't know you!" He yelled back at me through his teeth. I could see that in his anger his vampire form had come out. I pushed down the fear I had and stood strong.
"You do know me." I said calmly. "I'm your pretty girl, remember?"
Damon stood there, his fangs glistening in the moonlight and his blue eyes looking tired and so confused. I started cooing at him, trying to soothe him to come back to me. I felt a few warm tears fall from my eyes, and Damon wiped them away. He met my gaze once more before his face turned back to normal.
"Alex?" He said. I let out a breath of relief. He released his hold on me and stepped back. "Alex… I'm… I'm so sorry."
"It's ok." I said, stepping forward. "Come on, we have to get you out of here."
He allowed me to take hold of him, leaning on me the whole way. Eventually, Jace found us and he helped me put him in the truck so we could drive him back to the house. Our hands never left one another as we made our way to the boarding house.
Jace and I shuffled Damon upstairs, placing him gently in his bed. He was beginning to sweat profusely, and I had to wipe it away with a damp cloth every now and then. He was dead asleep, but I knew he was alive by the slight rise and fall of his chest.
"Is he going to die?" Jace asked me. I nodded. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." I replied. Jace looked a little uncomfortable, so I told him that he could wait outside. He told me that if I needed him he would be right down the hall. I didn't think I would need him. I could handle this. At least, I thought I could. I sat there, with Damon for about an hour before his eyes blinked open.
"Alex?" He murmured suddenly. I looked down to his blue eyes, shining up to me. I smiled. "Get out of here. I could hurt you."
"You're stupid if you think I'm going to leave you." I said, wiping the sheen of sweat from his forehead. "I'm not leaving."
"Get out of here." He order again. He then let out a loud shriek of pain, and I rushed to his side. I cradled him to my chest, much like a mother would do to a child. I soothed him until he stilled.
"You're going to be ok." I told him. He coughed again. "I'm not ready to let you go yet."
He chuckled slightly, leaning into me. We were silent for a long time, and I thought he had gone to sleep. I dabbed at his forehead again but stopped when he reached for my hand. I let him take it, watching as he pressed small little kisses to the tips of my fingers.
"So romantic." I mused, trying to keep the air light in the room. I didn't want him to be afraid. I wanted to think positively, but as the time passed and the longer Stefan didn't come back with a cure, the more anxious I was becoming.
"I am pretty charming." He said. I let out a small laugh. "You will be ok."
"What do you mean?" I asked, eyebrows furrowed. He didn't answer, he just stared at my hand for a long time before he looped our fingers together.
"When I'm gone." Damon finally said. "You will be ok."
"Too bad you're not going anywhere." I said, trying to make myself believe it. "Stefan will be back."
"Of course he will." Damon said, as if he was trying to appease me more than he was trying to appease himself. "Then we can have hot, wild make up sex."
I let out a giggle, blushing at the thought. I wet my lips, thinking about how we never had gotten to that step. He had never even told me he loved me, and now we would never have the chance.
"You know I don't love her." Damon whispered. I looked down at him.
"Who?" I asked. Damon shifted, snuggling closer into my chest.
"Elena." He replied. "It was all a lie."
I felt my heart soar at the statement. For days I thought that he was conflicted between feeling for me and feelings for her. It turns out there were no feelings for Elena at all. I had to bite back a smile.
"I wish you would have told me that sooner." I said. He chuckled.
"Me too." He agreed. We were silent again, and I was content to just sit there and hold him forever, but we would never get that forever. Damon was dying, he was going to die here as I held him. I quickly wiped away a stray tear. I had to be strong for him. I didn't want him to be scared. I wanted him to be a peace.
"I love you."
My eyes widened and I looked down at the vampire who was laying on my chest. His eyes were barely open, and his breathing was shallow. I thought I was hearing things until his eyes met mine.
"What?" I asked. He smiled weakly.
"I love you." He repeated, this time louder. "I thought you should know."
I couldn't hold in the tears that fell then. They were tears of happiness yes, but also of sadness. The first time he told me those three words, and he was dying. I leaned down and placed a small kiss to his lips.
"I love you too." I said. He smiled, laying back down in his original position. Eventually, I started to sweat. Damon was fast asleep and I laid him down on his pillow. I wiped at the tears, biting my lip at the fact that Damon had finally said I love you to me. Damon loved me. He really loved me.
"Is he ok?"
I looked to the door to find Elena, who was looking over Damon frantically.
"Elena?" He murmured. Elena went to his side pushing sweaty locks of hair out of his face. I realized then that she needed to talk to him, and I didn't need to be there for that.
"I'll give you two some time." I said. Elena smiled, thanking me silently. I gave one fleeting glance to Damon before I stepped out of the room. I walked down the hall, down the stairs to the parlor. Jace sat on the couch, wringing his hands.
"Hey." I said, leaning against the door frame. He looked up at me.
"Hey." He replied. "You ok?"
"I've been better." I answered honestly. I sat down next to him, seeing his concerned face.
"He's running out of time isn't he?" He asked. I nodded, swallowing back the tears. Jace put his arm around me, pulling me to his side. I took in a shaky breath. Jace then pulled back, taking my chin in his hand. He forced me to meet his gaze and I was lost in those jade green orbs.
"Whatever happens…" Jace began. "I'm going to be there for you."
I nodded again, hugging him tightly. He held me, and I didn't know how long for, because we broke apart when the door flew open. Katherine stood at the door, a smirk on her face.
"Katherine?" I questioned. She popped her hip out and put a hand on it. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for someone to invite me in." She said nonchalantly. When neither of us moved she huffed. "Come on we don't have much time."
She held out something in her hand. It was a vile, with some sort of red liquid inside. My eyes widened and I pushed Jace forward.
"Invite her in." I said. "She has the cure. Invite her in!"
"Katherine would you like to come in?" Jace asked begrudgingly. Katherine smirked, stepping inside the invisible barrier, her heels clicking against the floor.
"Thank you Jason." She said with a sneer. "Come on."
We followed her up the stairs and down the hall toward Damon's room. When we stepped inside, I was shocked at what I saw. Elena was lying next to Damon, her lips touching his. I felt my stomach drop.
"Well this is awkward." Katherine said. Elena jumped back, jolting off the bed and away from a surprised Damon. I stood there, staring with my mouth wide open. Elena stared at me with wide eyes.
"Look what I've got." Katherine said in a sing song voice. She looked to Elena. "I thought you were dead."
"I was." Elena replied, looking down at the ground ashamed. I felt Jace grip my arm, an attempt to keep me upright or from attacking Elena I suppose.
"Well, by the looks of pretty girl over there you will be soon." Katherine said, popping open the vial and put the edge of it to Damon's lips. He swallowed it. "I owed you one."
"Where's Stefan?" Elena asked. Katherine stood up straight.
"Are you sure you care?" Katherine asked. I thought I was going to be sick. The only thing keeping me upright was Jace's firm grip.
"Where is he?" Elena repeated, not daring to look at me. If she did, I didn't think I could handle it.
"He's paying for this." Katherine replied, holding up the vial. "He gave himself over to Klaus. I wouldn't expect him anytime soon."
"What do you mean he gave himself over?" Jace asked. Katherine turned solemn.
"He just sacrificed everything to save his brother, including you." She said to Elena. "Well, it looks like it will be two girls fighting over you now Damon. What fun."
"For the record…" Damon said, handing me a drink. "She kissed me."
"I know." I mumbled. "I just… still can't believe she did that."
"Well, I am pretty irresistible." He said, taking a swig of his bourbon. I took a sip of the one he gave me and held back a gag. "Besides, she thought I was dying."
"And that gives her the right to kiss my boyfriend?" I asked, a bit outraged. Elena had left long ago, thankfully. I could barely look at her without feeling angry, sad, upset and…. Disappointed.
"So I'm your boyfriend again?" He asked. I looked up at Damon with a disapproving frown. "Don't read into it. It was like… a goodbye kiss."
I shook my head. As much as I wanted to believe that it was completely innocent, the shameful look on Elena's face was all the proof I needed to know it was anything but. I risked my life for her, and she went and kissed my boyfriend. I just… didn't want it to be true.
"Are you ok?" I asked. "I mean… with Stefan and all?"
Damon's jaw set and he downed his drink.
"He risked everything for me." Damon muttered. "I've got to find him."
"We will." I promised, setting down the drink and walking over to him. I wrapped my arms around his torso and gazed into his eyes. He looked much better compared to how he looked before. I grazed my fingers over where his bite was.
"That kiss meant nothing." Damon whispered to me. I didn't reply, I just continued to look at his healed arm. "Hey."
I met his gaze. His expression was serious, one that he didn't get a lot. Usually, it was playful banter with us, but when he got this expression I knew he meant business.
"It meant nothing." He repeated.
"I know." I replied.
"I promise." He said.
"Ok." I nodded.
"I love you."
I felt my lips part and I stared into his eyes. I would never get enough of hearing him say that. When he said it before, I had been mystified, saddened by the idea that he would die. But this… this was different. Damon wasn't dying, and he didn't have feelings for Elena.
He loved me.
I trailed my hands up his arms, over his chest and down his abdomen. When my nimble fingers reached the end of his shirt I tore the fabric up over his head and tossed it to the floor. Damon seemed surprised by my actions, and growled with pleasure as I trailed my fingernails over his skin. I began kissing his pale chest, down to his happy trail and back up. His eyes were glazed over with lust.
Upon seeing that look, I was sure mine mirrored his, I threw my own shirt off. His blue eyes snaked over my torso and met my eyes once more. In a heated pause, we both began to breathe erratically before our lips met in a steamy kiss.
"Are you sure?" He asked against my lips, feeling the exposed skin of my belly. I smiled against his lips. Leave it to him to make sure I was ok.
"I'm positive." I replied. That was all Damon needed to continue.
Hands were all over, and clothes were going missing. I never stopped him, and he didn't either. Neither of us said anything, the only sounds were our wild breathing and the moans that echoed through the room.
"I love you." He said again, kissing me full on the lips. I placed my hands on his face, making him meet my gaze before I smiled.
"I love you too."