Hey readers alright lets speed things up a bit.
And a quick mega thank you to anonymous reader, Victoria who was the only one to review the last chapter.
Thank you very much Victoria for your support! Nice name too, by the way.
Chapter 8, "Understanding"
On Come Home
Enjoy!
~Previously on Come Home~
Stephan glares at Damon, big green eyes searching and oddly Damon found them quite cute-reminds him of his Stefan when he's trying to seize up Damon.
His eyes then came to rest ahead of Damon, "L5, I think. Lucien Torres, came with me from Charleston...it's a dick then and now."
Damon smirks looking back at the cabin, seeing a red-head figure inside, "You're in luck, Stef. I know exactly how to deal with dickheads."
This just isn't his day.
But tomorrow will be.
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
~Winston Churchhill
Stefan Salvatore is not weak. He is not a small little boy that can be push around and around, not that boy that can fall and not get up to try again. He is not that type of boy who gives up after so many failing attempts.
Stefan J. Salvatore is not weak, not at all.
Because each time his falls, each time his fails, each time he can just lay there and not try it again; someone has always been there, just right behind him.
Picking him up, encouraging him to try again, building his confidence to do it again.
"Because no matter how many times you fall, I'll be behind you ready to pick you up." His savior says. "Promise."
Stefan looks behind him, only the stream of water echo's his silent plea. He turns back around continuing his silent trail deeper into the forest. He quickly reach the dry pit that once hold, a lot time ago, a big waterfall and just down without really thinking. He walks by the edge until he came across the narrow crack, slipping into it easily.
I am falling, Stefan realizes walking deeper into the darkness. I'm falling deeper and deeper yet where are you Dami. Why are you not behind me, catching me like you promise.
Why?
He steps into the clearing of the small cave, eying the crystal clear water in the small pool. Gingerly he sits on the edge, staring at the glass still water.
"You know why?
Stefan squeezes his eyes shut, the tip of his boot hitting the water sending disruptive ripples through the clear glass.
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 be together again.
He pops his eyes open, almost imagining his own eyes staring back at him and not his own green ones through the glass.
The Salvatore Brothers, inseparable!
The young Salvatore quickly scrambles up, no more intrigue by the beauty of the cave.
Until then hold on tight...
A small tear slips pass his lashes, he furiously wipes them away.
I will come back for you little brother...
"No you will," he hiss at the crystal blue water, a reminder of his eyes. "You'll never come back!"
I love you Stefan...
"No! No you don't! If you did you could have fight staying here! You never listen to Father! And now you do! You just did not want to stay," fresh tears fall down his red cheeks.
His not weak, not at all.
Until then hold on tight...
"No! No! NO!"
And wait till I get back.
"I'm waiting! I'm waiting but you're not coming back!" He is screaming now, angry at him, angry of his Father, of Emma, of himself.
He is not weak.
You're loving older brother,
He is NOT weak!
Damon..."
He's just broken.
~0~0~0~0~
It's been weeks since Jon Gilbert has seen his best friend Stefan. Every time Jon knock on the door of the Salvatore Estate asking for Stefan, Emma or someone else would shake their head saying, "Master Stefan is feeling ill and cannot be disturbed, sorry," and shut the door on him.
At first Jon didn't really think much of it. After all there is some common cold flying around Mystic Falls. So he left Stefan to rest for a week. After the week was over he decided a few more days wouldn't hurt.
After he just got bored playing with his sister, Amelia he figure by now Stefan should be fine.
Once again he found himself with a shut door and a sad but to the point explanation; "Master Stefan is still very ill and cannot be disturbed, sorry."
This time Jon Gilbert was not satisfied with the answer.
He stroll casually by the side of the house, through the kitchen way. He climb over the fence and speeds toward the kitchen. He attentively steps inside, seeing that the coast was clear-
"What are you up to, young man?"
Okay, so it wasn't clear.
Jon wince turning back seeing Emma glaring down at him, hands on her hips.
"Ahhh...I came to see Stefan."
"Master Stefan is not feeling well." Jon frowns, "Well I still want to see him, its been weeks since we've played together."
Emma too frowns, deep in thought before she kneels in front of Jon, "Mr. Gilbert you are friends with Master Stefan, right?"
Jon nods.
"I'll tell you the truth boy, Stefan has been very sad lately since his older brother left to the military."
A small gasp escape Jon's mouth, he knows Damon Salvatore-he actually wish he was his brother since he's always so fun and protective over Stefan.
"Damon went to war?"
"'fraid so mister."
Jon looks down for a moment before his brown eyes settle on Emma. "Where is Stefan? Can I see him?"
Emma stand up slowly, picking up a basket of clothes, "I don't know where he is currently. I think he went into the woods through the back yard."
Suddenly someone else came through the kitchen door, "Its alright Em, I'm back."
Jon smiles, "Hey Stefan!"
"Hey Jon! What you doing here?"
Jon steps closer to him, "Just came to see if you want to play something?"
Stefan looks back grinning but Jon can see it's fake and no shine came from those dead green eyes. "Sure, let's go outside."
The two boys walk side by side without saying anything heading over to the magnificent garden. Jon knows this garden was once belong to Stefan's mother, Eve. Hedges neatly trim make a barrier, almost making the place seem like a distant world, where dreams actually come true. The Salvatore garden is always full of amazing color: red, blue, pink, yellow, orange, purple and so forth.
Many flowers from bloody red Roses to Snapdragons and Hydrangeas. Stefan abrutly sits down of the first white bench, next to a patch of delicate Carnations and Freesias. The boys just sit there, in silence. Jon takes in a deep breath, "What's wrong, Stefan?"
Stefan blinks like he was just knocked out of a deep thought-and bothered for being disturbed. "Nothing, Jon. I'm fine."
Jon snorts, "Yeah right, don't lie to me Salvatore, I know you too well for you to try that stunt."
Stefan smiles lightly and Jon grins inside, Maybe there's still a spark left in you, kid.
"Its just that...from the time Damon went to war from right now I've...I've haven't receive a letter from him. A-And I'm worried but also mad cause he...he promise he'll write and he hasn't. I don't now anything of what's happening to him...a-and it scared me," Stefan breaths out.
"Yet am so angry at him. Why did he leave me? He never listens to Father, always doing what he wants and not giving a damn what others think! A-And all of a sudden he agrees to go? W-What's a matter with that! A-and he hasn't been thinking about me! I know for sure cause no letter came for me for weeks!
It's the middle of July now and its been seven weeks!"
He wipes a tear away furiously, standing up facing Jon. "I just hate him right now! How can he agree to this! To die! Do you know what's word on the street, eh? The Unions are coming closer to Virginia, saying there's a battle at Bull Run and the Confederacy is losing!
For all I know my brother could be dead! A-and I never got the chance to say a proper good bye!"
Stefan collapse in sobs on the bench, Jon immediately curls his arm around his shoulders, "Not talk that way! Not! You're brother is fine! You know how he is! Remember the time he fought with Kevin Lockwood's older brother, George? Right after he insulted you for "cheating" at the carnival?
Man! I've never seen anyone stand up to George Lockwood like that. You're brother was amazing! So much skill in fighting!"
Stefan sniffs, trying to hide his forming smile, "George couldn't get out of bed for a week."
Jon laughs, "See? You're brother is the fighting type and if he promise to come back, you bet your behind that he will! If anyone would, its him. Believe in him, Stefan. He knows how to handle himself...and you sittin' here sayin' you hate him ain't going to help at all! Beside what's that old saying?
No news means good news."
Stefan nods, "You're right Jon, sorry for bursting at you."
"Nawww its alright, I'm here for ya!"
"Master Stefan!" Emma shouts from the kitchen doorway running to them. Both boys spring up, alarm. "What is it, Em?"
Emma stops in front of them panting, waving a paper in the air. "M-Master Stefan a letter for you f-from the Confederacy Camp."
Stefan instantly grabs the letter from her grasp, he was about to rip the envelope to shreds but froze. Jon raises a brow, "Well? Aren't you gonna open it?"
Stefan turns to him with pleading eyes, "What if its bad news?"
Jon shakes his head, "Doubt it, knowing you brother. Beside if it was the news will be for you father not you. So open the damn thing already!"
"Language, mister Gilbert!"
"Sorry, Ms. Emma."
Stefan ignored them, tearing the envelope and opening the letter, at the same time hoping this is in fact a letter from Damon and not his superiors saying his death.
Stefan,
Stefan's smile instantly grew, he looks at Emma and Jon, "It's from Damon!"
Emma smiles while Jon pumps a fist in the air, "Yeah!"
Stefan turn back to the letter.
I know I haven't been keeping my promise in writing to you, I've been very busy and tired. Let me tell you from the beginning, eh?
Since the moment I stepped off the train with Jamie (you remember Jamie Forbes right?) I've manage to impress our Sergeant, Lightwood, shouting out a "Yes, sir!" when no one else did.
I got to admit it was terrifying the way he was seizing me out but I held my ground and ending up impressing him! Not mad for my first day.
Stefan shakes his head, his cheeks starting to hurt but the smile never diminished.
I also made some new friends and enemies. My roommate in the section has your name! But he spells it with "ph" and not just the "f" in yours. Stephan Sanders came from Charleston and so did my enemy, Lucien Torres who tried the first day to seizes me up.
Almost beat me to death, but Stephan help. Kicking the dick on the groin, it was hilarious! After a few days I've pretty much made a fool out of him during our dinner in the dinning tent. I've never seen a man go so red before!
I also saved a kid from getting beaten up from Lucien's little gang, Nathaniel Walker.
He's big but not the fighting type which leaves me wondering why in the hell would he be here for?
And why are you there, brother. Stefan couldn't help but to think it.
Anyway recently where's learning all about weaponry since we're the infantry meaning we're on foot and the first ones in battle. We were even given our rifle!
A M1851 .32-caliber it what I got.
I also manage to sneak in your Christmas gift-the small wooden dagger from our great- great grandfather from the Renaissance.
We run a lot over here, and it freezing! Sometimes me and Sanders have to cuddle to kept warm.
I know recent news back home is that the Union battle up at Bull Run, it looks like that's our first battle. Our General Thomas Jackson just said to us that we're leaving morrow for Bull Run. I know that you're still upset with me Stef and I don't blame you either.
But I'll be fine, I promise and the first chance I get, I'll write back again.
I love you fratellino, and I'll come back for you. Remember that.
Stay save Stefan and don't worry I'll be fine. I will.
Your brother,
Damon
I know its short but next chapter will focus on Damon's time in battle and Stefan coping. Just many one or two more chapters before the reunite. Hang in there!
Review please!
Thank you!