Hey, guys! Here's the next chapter – finally. My gosh, I am so sorry for the lack of updates! With that said, I hope you do continue to read and review. We're almost at the end of this one. Just as a warning, the rating is going up to M for the next chapter. : )

Oh, and in case you were wondering – yes, the ending of this chapter is supposed to be slightly awkward! ; )

Thank you for your continued support and happy reading!

Ice
Part VII: Convalescence

And when you look in my eyes
Please know my heart is in your hands
It's nothing that I understand, but when in your arms
You have complete power over me
So be gentle if you please, 'cause
Your hands are in my hair, but my heart is in your teeth
And it makes me want to make you near me always

-Jewel, "Near You Always"

"Damon," Elena murmured, pressing her lips against his neck. He had been sleeping lightly for a little over twenty minutes, but he was still in the same clothes: Stefan's leather jacket and what was left of his pants. She had removed his shoes halfway through his nap. He shivered, clearly still chilled from having spent hours in the cold, snowy clearing and his face was pale – deathly white. He needed blood, but his lack of interest in feeding spoke volumes about the way he was currently feeling toward that idea.

He stirred, turning into her slightly, reaching for her arm, almost as if to validate that she was still there. He was having a difficult time putting coherent thoughts and words into sentences; nothing felt real and he had never been so hollow in his life. But a part of him was okay with the fuzzy void that had settled around him, because he knew that if he fought it, he could make it to the other side and Elena would be waiting for him - just like he had always been waiting for her.

"Damon," Elena whispered again, brushing her fingertips along his cheek. "I ran you a bath - you need to get up, just for a little while. Here, I'll help you." She slid her arm under his back and pulled him into her. He looked so absent, so damaged, that it broke her heart. She vowed, again, that she would never be the one to cause that look in his eyes. He deserved warmth and love, and Elena knew that's what it was going to take to bring him back from the dangerous edge he was balancing on. She didn't know exactly what Klaus had done to him, but she knew that it would take him a while to recover from the emotional wounds. She would be his support system.

Damon allowed her to help him to his feet. He was nauseous and cold and he felt powerless, something that he hadn't felt since he had first been turned. He wasn't in control of his emotions and he knew how deadly that could turn out to be. He let her guide him to his bathroom and his senses were immediately overpowered with the scent of vanilla.

Elena turned to him, smiling sheepishly. "I don't know if you like bubbles, but it was just sitting there, so I assumed you did." She touched his lips with her fingertips before she chastely kissed him on the lips, still slightly unsure of the boundaries between them. He seemed distant and cold, but anyone would be after having gone through what he had endured.

Damon finally looked at her, blue eyes clear for a moment. He studied her, suddenly feeling completely vulnerable and unsure of himself. "Thank you," he said quietly, drawing her close to him, wanting to feel the warm solid body against the contrast of his deathly cold one. He kissed the top of her head and held her tightly against his chest.

He realized, as he stood there, letting the warm, steamy room relax his senses, that he was utterly frightened of not only what had transpired earlier, but of suddenly losing Elena. He tightened his grip on her, swallowing hard. He could never let that happen, no matter what the risk was to himself or anyone else.

Elena sensed his discomfort – she had always been able to pick up on feelings, especially his. "It's okay," she whispered against his neck. She felt like she had been saying that a lot lately, but it was the only thing she had to offer. She knew Damon would be hell-bent on protecting her, but she was just as determined to protect him – especially from himself.

Damon looked at the floor then, avoiding her eyes, suddenly very much wanting to get into the bath, to just think, and maybe sort through his emotions. Shame washed over him, though, as he realized just how drained he truly was.

"What is it, Damon?" Elena asked, touching his arm.

"Can you..." He gripped her tightly, swallowing hard. "Can you help me undress? I..." His body was so sore to the point that he could barely stand, and even though he was barely wearing anything, he knew that he would need some help. God, he was pathetic. He felt anger in his chest, the only emotion he had felt recently, aside from love.

Elena could feel the blush start from the tips of her toes and work its way all the way up to her face. "Yes, of course, Damon," she answered, voice slightly shaky. She pulled him close to her and leaned her forehead against his for a moment. She slid her arms under the leather jacket so she was touching his back, gently caressing him.

Damon sighed softly, relaxing a little at the feel of her hands on his bare skin. He liked it; he liked to be touched in this way because it showed him someone cared. He hated admitting it to himself, but he had not been touched enough like this in his life. He leaned into the simple caress, momentarily forgetting his anguish, and enjoyed the physical proximity of another human being without enduring extreme pain.

Elena pushed the jacket off of his shoulders and let it fall to the floor with a soft thud. She couldn't help but look sadly at his chest; she could see deep bruises, accentuated by the outlines of lingering cuts. She hesitantly trailed her hand from his chest to his stomach, feeling his powerful muscles flex under her fingertips.

Damon grimaced, but his expression quickly changed when Elena leaned forward and kissed his collar bone, then carefully moved her mouth down, kissing his chest. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment, as he tangled his hands in her hair, relishing the feel of her lips on that sensitive part of his body.

Elena lifted her head up again and placed her hand over his heart. She noticed, because she paid great attention to detail, a barely visible thin white scar in that same area. She didn't need to ask what it was; she knew it must have been from when his father had shot him. She vaguely recalled Stefan having one, too, but she'd always wondered how the mark had stayed there, given that they were turned into vampires. She kissed that, too, and then stood up straight again, placing her hands on his hips.

Damon sighed softly, gazing at her, as he finally felt the malicious feelings begin to fade away. He focused on her hands on him, enjoying the slight, almost foreign jolts of physical pleasure.

Her eyes never leaving his, she trailed her hand to the button on his ragged jeans and undid it. Next, she smoothly unzipped the jeans so that they hung slightly loose at his waist. Elena took a deep breath and pushed both the pants, and the black boxers he was wearing, down his hips, as he steadied himself, holding onto her shoulders. She felt his grip on her increase as he stepped out of the clothing that was now pooled at his feet, and kicked it aside.

Damon's breathing had become erratic, as it suddenly hit him that he was standing before her, completely nude. Vulnerability crept into his system, unlike anything he had ever experienced. There was nothing that could hide him from her now, not even clothing.

Elena extended him the courtesy of not looking at his entire body. Besides, she felt too shy in this moment to do so. Instead, she simply wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him close again, running her hands up and down the length of his back as she leaned her head against his chest. "I love you," she whispered against his skin, and she found herself questioning how one man could be so resilient, so beautiful, and so tragic.

Damon swallowed hard. "I love you, too." Saying the words aloud to her still felt foreign.

"Do you need help getting in?" Elena asked, blushing again when she realized that she could feel all of him pressed against her.

"I'm...I can do it," Damon stuttered.

They stood there for a moment before Elena kissed his cheek and said, "I'm going to shower in the bathroom down the hall. Please call if you need help." She gracefully stepped away from him, although her insides were shaking, and left Damon slightly stunned.