Hello again readers, thank you for all your wonderful reviews!
Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long.
Chapter 5 on Come Home.
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~Previously on Come Home~
A splash and coughing sounds answers him, Damon blue eyes widen, "Stefan! NO!"
He runs over to Stefan, by the riverbank, Stefan manage to grab a branch but the current is to strong, he cannot hold on much longer.
"Damon!" Stefan manages to choke out through the water.
"Hold on Stefan, I'm coming."
Damon slowly descends next to Stefan, with one hand he grabs hold of a tree branch, testing it strength before stretching his other hand to Stefan. "Come on Stef. You can do it, reach for my hand with your left hand. Come on that's it."
Stefan grunts, stretching his hand toward his brothers. "Almost there!" They both stretch, they're fingertips brush together until they hear a crack.
The branch, Stefan grabs on is breaking. "Ignore it, come on!" Damon urges. Stefan nods, he moves closer. Damon almost has a hold of his palm when the branch snaps.
"No!" Damon reaches out quickly, manages to pull Stefan out and push him to the safe side of the riverbank.
Yet he himself slips and crashes straight into the water.
"Damon? Damon! DAMON!" screams Stefan, clutching himself.
But Damon did not resurface.
"A brother is not just your friend,
He is the one you share your deepest secrets with;
The one who can read you,
In and out,
Cover to cover
And can never lie to you.
Ever."
The green-eyed brother stares intently at the raging waters he, just a few seconds ago, was held captive by. His small heart is bounding uncontrollably, his breath became irregular, getting harder and harder just to squeeze in oxygen.
His mind went blank the second he saw his older brother fall into the waters.
"D-Damon?" he whispers, his whole body shaking from the cold and fear.
His eyes flicker over to the spot his brother fell into, his attentions moves to any type of moments by the waters. But nothing but the current growls at him.
Oh please, no. Damon please come back!
As if God himself heard him, the next instant there's a eruption of water, and a dark bob cracks up to the surface.
Damon.
Stefan's eyes widen, he scrambles to his feet trying to get closer to him but not so much that he falls again. "Damon! Damon, answer me!"
Damon didn't reply back, instead the current gently pushes him tot he river bank, there he lays, unresponsive.
Stefan runs toward his brother, he shakes Damon furiously.
"Damon! Wake up, don't pretend with me, Damon! It isn't funny!" He cries desperately wanting his brother just crack that proud grin, opening his mischief eyes and laugh at his little brother's he didn't he stays immobilize in spot. His features are paler than usual, and his skin feels cold.
"No!" Stefan yells. He brushes his bangs out of his pale face. "No, please! I don't want to lose you! I love you so much, brother!"
"Master Stefan! Master Damon!" cries voices from up top the river bank, Stefan breathes in heavily, he cracks a desperate smile, "Over here!" he yells, cupping his hands in front of his mouth. "Over here, please hurry!"
Behind him, Stefan hears heavy steps, crunching over the fallen brown leaves, he looks up through his teary eyes and lets out a breath of relief. "Ben! Ben, over here."
A large middle age man steps out into the river bank, he sinks out in front of the brothers. "Master Stefan! Are you alright? Oh!" He didn't even let Stefan answer (though in shock he probably wouldn't answer) when he yanks Damon from his laps on to the ground, "Master Damon!"
Ben places his hands on Damon's chest pushing down hard. Stefan frowns, Why is he hurting him?
"Ben! What are you doing? You're hurting him!" He tries to shove the man away but with his hand, Ben pushes him. "Take Master Stefan away from here!" He order the other men, hovering around.
Big sturdy hands halt Stefan up. Stefan screams and kicks at his capturer but the grip is strong. "No! Damon! Damon wake up! Please!" he cries, desperately trying to reach his brother.
"M-master S-Stefan stop...m-moving!," grunts the man holding him. "No!"
Then a loud gasp erupts follow by coughing. Ben smiles, "Master Damon!"
Damon coughs up the remaining water, he cracks open his eyes and whispers, "The o-one and o-only."
The men burst into cheers, some laugh and patting each other in the back. Damon grins, he slowly tries to stand up.
"Damon!"
Damon head snaps up where his name was called, he say Stefan smiling at him. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come here!" Stefan runs toward his brothers waiting arms, locking his arms around his neck.
Stefan buries his face alongside Damon's neck, inhaling his scent. Damon smiles, he gently rubs his wet locks, "Its alright Stefan, I'm fine. We both are fine."
Stefan pulls back just enough to see his older brother's eyes, "We are, right?"
Damon kisses his nose, giving him a small smile, "Of course, we will always be alright."
~0~0~0~0~0~0~
Damon walks gently into Stefan's bedroom. He grins seeing his younger brother dead asleep with only on foot on the bed the other on the ground and his covers laying on the floor.
"Ah Stefan, you're gonna catch a cold," he whispers placing his left leg on the bed and gently rearranging the covers to wrap around his small body. He stares at Stefan's sleeping form, he look much more peaceful than he was moments ago.
On the ride back to the estate after the major swim they took, Stefan didn't want to let go of Damon (which was fine by him) until their Father ordered to speak with Damon alone. No matter how many times Damon crooned him he's going to be there-he wouldn't let go!
Emma had to make a special tea for him to relax and fall asleep.
Damon sighs, sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands on his hair.
Giuseppe punished him for Stefan's little episode, blaming Damon not to know who to handle the news to Stefan-and for not taking care of him as a older brother should.
On that moment, Damon only saw red, he straighten himself up from the unnecessary beating, lock arms with Giuseppe and met him eye to eye.
"Do not tell me how to be a brother for Stefan when you yourself had never been a father to him! And you will never ever hit me-or Stefan ever again!"
Giuseppe met his son's glance with his own fury. He yanks Damon's arm sending the teen crashing to the wooden desk.
"You ungrateful sinister child! How dare you talk that way to your Father! You're nothing but a pathetic incompetent fool, Damon! Stefan does not need leadership from you...he needs a man to look up to...not a devil's child like yourself." Then to finish it off, he slaps Damon hard across the face.
Even now Damon can still feel the stink of the slap imprinted on his face. His blue eyes gently flicker back to his brother. He gets up slowly, stepping closer to his brother planting a small kiss on his forehead. Even after this and Stefan's plead not to leave, Damon has too.
Of course the choice he made will affect Stefan and himself but Damon can't help to wonder what's life over the borders of Mystic Falls? He only left Mystic Falls when he was five, when his Mother wanted him to visit some relates up north.
The carriage ride only lasted a few hours, but those few were a thing of wonder for Damon. He loves exploring new places and ideas...after all he is known to be curious.
One last look at Stefan's sleeping form, Damon walks briskly to his own room shutting the door. He notices right away the Confederacy bag the generals gave him on his bed, just starting at him. Without a second thought, Damon opens the bag and flips it over, dumping down the context on the bed.
A clean darkish grey uniform with all the buttons and straps, a hat with he same color, a small black booklet, and another envelope.
Damon's fingers hover over the seal envelope for a second, he didn't want to read what it has in store for him...yet then again, somewhere inside of him does. He carefully picks up the envelope, eying it slowly before tearing the side taking out the folded paper.
Mr. Damon Miguel Salvatore,
Thank you again for joining our cause for freedom, to fight for out country. You do us well, I hope.
In this letter here are your arrive schedule of a carriage which you shall go to the train station toward camp.
In here you will find your ticket, paid and ready.
Pack lightly into the bag you received-things only necessary. You may take a photo or two if you prefer.
You shall leave your home with your uniform on and ready at five o' clock sharp to catch the train at 5:30 a.m.
My deepest thank you for your bravery,
General Thomas Jackson
Damon sighs, dropping the letter on his bed. Kicking off his riding boots, he jumps on his bed making the stuff jump too. He stares at the white ceiling, deep in thought when his bedroom door opens.
"Oh, Emma its you." Damon breathes out, expecting the worse. Emma smiles at him, "My child," she walks toward him wrapping her arms around his body pulling him close. "How I wish this would not happen to you."
"You and me both, Em." He mumbles. "How's Stefan? When I went he was asleep."
"And he continues to slumber, Damon." Emma coons him, running her hand over his dark locks. "In the morning I shall see how he is."
Damon slowly breaks out of the embrace, sitting up straighter. "Em, I'm leaving at five tomorrow...I'm not sure if I'll be able to say goodbye to him."
He gets up and walks to his dresser, "I have to pack, anyway Em."
Emma sighs, rising from the bed she places a comforting hand on Damon, "There are other ways to say goodbye to him, child. Write a letter to him or shall I tell him?"
The eldest Salvatore sighs, pulling open the drawer he grab some clothing before dumping it on his bed. "I-I'll write to him. Thanks Em, but I want to be alone for awhile, I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Emma nods, "As you wish Master Damon."
Damon chuckles a bit as Emma walks slowly out of the room, closing the door behind her.
A few minutes pass when Damon was done packing. He pick out a few light stuff and two warm jackets (one leather, his favorite.) He shakes his shoulders and arms hoping it will reveal some of the tension that has been adding up since the start.
Now to write Stefan a goodbye letter.
He settles down on his desk, paper and his quill (originally his mother's) and came up blank.
How do you start writing a goodbye letter to your little brother?
It must have been hours that have pass by before Damon writes the first sentence.
Dearest brother of mine,
By the time you are reading this is because either you woke up to see this letter or you search the whole house for me.
Well this letter is a goodbye letter.
I know that you didn't believe me when I told you Father signed me up for the army and I don't blame you either. If the roles were reverse...I will probably do the same.
He pauses a moment, searching for the right words.
The things you heard about the upcoming war is all true. The people need someone to protect them...and I'm doing the same.
I'm protecting you, little brother. Because you are everything for me, everything!
I love you so much Stefan and I know this is really hard but have hope.
I will be back! We will be playing in the gardens, making jokes, prank on Emma and the others once again! I promise.
You know why?
In the early morning, with the sun barely touching the clouds, Damon walks quietly into Stefan's bedroom.
He smiles seeing his little brother fast asleep. he slowly reaches out to move a light lock form his face and kisses his forehead.
Because I'll come back for you and only for you. You are the reason why I will fight my way through this...so we can me together again.
The Salvatore Brothers, inseparable!
"I love you brother," Damon mumbles holding back tears. "I will always be with you, always."
He kisses Stefan's forehead one more time before setting the letter on his dresser.
I know you crying (do not try to deny it either Stefie)
And I know you are upset and no, this is not a prank...I will miss you so much.
I will write to you every chance I get.
Damon sneaks one last glance at Stefan before shutting his door and walks away.
I love you Stefan, never forget that and I will come back for you, only for you little brother.
Until hold on tight...and wait till I get back.
You're loving older brother,
Damon
Tears fall down Stefan's pale cheeks that morning, he drops the letter, his hands shaking furiously. "No, no, no, no..." He whispers, clutching his chest. A immense pain burns within him, making it harder and harder to breath. He runs out of his room into Damon's.
"Damon! Damon I know you here! Stop playing tricks on me!"
No answer.
Stefan breaths heavily, searching around his brother's room. He then runs down the stairs into the main entrance of the Salvatore Estate toward the kitchen. Emma, sitting still with her hands on her head on the table, jumps as the door exploded open.
"Stefan-"
"Where's Damon, Emma! I can't find him anyway a-and he left me a letter saying he...he...oh, gods where his he!" Stefan then crashes to the floor in tears, helpless sobs escape him. Emma immediately goes to his side, cradles him up in her arms.
"Shhhh Stefan, calm down child and let me explain."
Stefan shakes his head furiously, tears still slipping down. He bits his lips from keeping a sob down. He yanks himself form Emma and runs out the door.
"Stefan! Stefan, child!" Emma yells right after him.
But Stefan didn't care, he runs to the front of the house toward the path leading to town, he runs furiously; heart pounding in his chest.
"Stefan!"
Stefan ignores Emma's pleas, "Damon!" He screams out. "DAMON!"
Though in his heart, Stefan knew...its brother is just to far away to hear him cry.
End of Chapter I hope you all enjoyed it. Damon left so meaning this story will probably end soon. And sorry for any grammar or spelling errors!
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