Stefan woke up to a weird smell. His memory was clouded, and he didn't remember much. He didn't even know how long it had been since he had last been awake. He tried sitting up, but the jab of pain in his upper stomach had him back on the bed, trying to hold back a sob of pain. He lost the fight. Silent tears made their way down his cheeks. He let out a sob and a cool hand was on his forehead in the matter of seconds. A face came into his view. A face of a woman in her 50's with wild, brown waves.
"Shush, baby. You're gonna be just fine. I'm just finishing up a remedy for you, and then I'll get you cleaned up."
The comforting hand disappeared from his forehead and the face to where he couldn't see her anymore. I whimpered from the lack of touch and even more from pain. Then he was touched again. This time the woman took his hand and removed it from where it was protectively guarding his wound. The woman carefully rolled up his white, wool shirt and took off the bandage. She started smearing something onto the wound. Something that made Stefan yell and cry out in agony. Soon another bandage was made, and the woman pressed a glass of water to Stefan's lips and urged him to drink. She then covered him to the shoulders with a white blanket. She stroked his hair kindly and tried to get him to fall asleep.
"Where's Damon?" Stefan gasped and struggled against her, trying to get up. "Where's Damon? I have to find Damon. He was shot. He has to be okay. I have to make sure he's okay. I have to find Damon. I have to find him."
The lady gently pushed Stefan back against the mattress.
"All you have to worry about is making a good recovery and getting some rest." She said kindly.
"No. No. Damon is out there. I have to find Damon. I… I…,"
"Shhh…" The lady shushed. "My apprentice, Jenaya, left this morning to gather information on your friend's well-being. I'm sure she'll return with good news."
"He's not just a friend. He's my brother. My best friend. We've never gone a single day without each other." Stefan argued, trying to sit up, but the woman forced him down. She circled her fingers around his head and saw him get more and more sleepy.
"No need to worry. Everything will be just fine." She whispered and Stefan fell into a deep sleep.