Alright another chappy's up. I know it's another short one. But I just can't wait to bring 'em out and I'm also an admirer of the short since I think it always helps the tension. Still I'll try to make them longer. It just felt like a cut at the end again.

I really love you're reviews. Thank you all so much! So I hope you enjoy the new one even if it's just a quickie :P

Hot and Cold

Elena's POV:

Finally, after what felt like hours, Elena managed to stop her crying. She felt exhausted. Sorrow had settled deep within her soul. Her heart aching and heavy in her chest. But now her sobs had subsided and she had no more tears left. Taking some deep breath she managed to push everything away again. Burying it somewhere deep in some dark corner of her mind and soul. Bracing herself for all the new horrors that'd be surely awaiting her again soon. Turning herself into the strong, stable and faithful girl everyone knew. Everyone expected her to be.

Slowly she forced herself upright again. The water had run cold by now and she was freezing. She turned off the spray and stepped out into the chilly bathroom. She toweled herself off and blow-dried her hair. She went through her stuff putting an a warm, rather large sweater she always been given by Jeremy when she'd been sick. Feeling very comfortable in it she'd hidden it between her usually more feminine nightgowns till one birthday Jeremy had given it to her completely. She also went for some warm pants, since she was still cold from the shower.

Once she was dressed she went up to Stefan's room. Just as she was about to reach the final step she stopped. Standing on the staircase with her left hand just above the door knob her breathing got heavy again. Tears she didn't think she'd left starting to form in her eyes again. ...Breathe! Just breathe!... She told herself. Closing her eyes she did just that and opened the door. The emptiness of the dimly lit room closing in on her instantly. The small lamp in the corner with its usual soft, warm glow just intensified the sharp outlines of the shadows. Elena stepped farther into the room, feeling herself being suffocated by the dark, cold place that had been her shelter once. ...I can't stay in here anymore... she thought with a sudden strike of clarity. Slowly, she turned herself around beholding to everything closely. The big soft bed that she'd shared with Stefan for so many and yet not enough nights. She'd snuggled up against his chest. Feeling save and loved. His favorite books filled with lyric, poems and stories out of times when he'd been around to witness them. His guitar. His antique dark wooden desk with his diary. Where he'd sat, writing with an old fashioned, silver-quill, down his every thought. The candles that were evenly spread across the shelves and cupboards, smelling of vanilla, honey and other spices. A scent that mingled with the solid smell of the close-drawn curtains, the old leather bound books, the period furniture and something that she couldn't define. Something that was simply...him. The scents mixing together into one fragrance that would forever be connected to her memories of them. A scent that was their life...together.

With a last deep intake of breath she took it all within her. Closing her eyes and recalling every memory she had of them. The good and the bad. Exhaling slowly opening her eyes again she stepped over to his wardrobe taking out everything of her that was left. She also took a book from one of the shelves that he'd once given to her. And some jewelry she'd kept in the commode. Looking up she was met by a pair of green eyes. Looking affectionately up at her. Stefan wearing his football shirt, wrapping his arms around her. They both happy and smiling into the camera. She stroked her thumb over Stefan's framed face feeling the cool glass surface of the photo. A single tear sliding down her cheek. "Bye!" she whispered softly. And without another glance she turned off the lights and left. Leaving the pictures behind. Leaving their life behind. Leaving him.

She went down the stairs and got into the hall turning into one of the other bedrooms. Finding it a little awkward realizing she'd never been in here before. She turned on a small bedside lamp next to another large, so Salvatore-boarding-house-looking, bed. It had also big wooden bedposts and nice, soft cream colored sheets. She put her belongings into a dresser next to the door. After closing the big curtains she got under the blankets and switched of the light. After thirty minutes of tossing and turning, she finally fell into a light, fitful sleep.

Damon's POV:

"Damn it" Damon's voice sounding uneasy. It had been over two hours that he'd tried to find some sleep. But he was simply incapable in getting his mind of things. Everything was just repeating itself in his head. Creating a rather uneasy loophole that he couldn't seem to break.

He turned on his side again this time facing the door.

Even though it was nearly pitch black in his room after he'd drawn the curtains he could still see every pattern the wood created. He thought about going down to get himself another bottle of, well any alcohol he could get his hands on really, but decided against it. It wouldn't make any difference anyway. He'd been there. At some point, he knew, even alcohol had it's limits. Especially if you were a well trained admirer of the red just as himself. He did not want to waste anymore of his precious supply of old-established booze. He was just about to turn again when suddenly he found himself sitting up in bed straight. Wide awake he listened into the silence. Didn't he just hear something out of the ordinary background sounds that was the old house? He strained his vampire senses. There! It was like... ...A whimper. Someone's crying...someone is... BANG A loud rumble interrupting his thoughts. ...Elena... it shot through his mind. He didn't hesitate. He wouldn't sit around and wait for reassurance. He'd get it himself. He quickly got out of bed and out of his room. He made his way up to Stefan's. Expecting her to sleep there as all the other nights. Considering it her room too by now. Then he heard it again. A soft little sob followed by some rattling noise that came from...his left? He lingered for a moment. Standing in the hallway like a cat waiting on it's prey to reveal itself. "...no...please..noo...mmmh.." another bumping. Damon had enough. Without further demur he stormed through the door on his left. What he saw caught him off guard. The sight before him nothing he'd expected. The sounds had been coming from Elena that was sure now. But she wasn't tossing and turning in the bed before him as he'd have expected. No. Elena wasn't in bed at all.

Elena was standing at the opposite side of the bed. Her back towards Damon. Her body was shaking and her hands were clawing at the planking in front of her. A mixture of incoherent sentences and whimpers coming from her. Damon stood in the door, frozen. But it only took him a few seconds to recover. With his supernatural speed he was behind her. Grabbing her fragile form and turning her body to him. "Elena!" he said firm but calm. She didn't react though. Damon had to bit back a gasp at the sight of her. Elena's face was contorted in pain. Her skin covered in sweat, her eyes pressed together tightly. Her lips quivering, forming some incomprehensible words. Her hair messy, sticking to her face in some parts. And she was cold. ...Freezing, her body is like an ice cube... "Elena" this time he shouted. "Elena wake up, you're having a nightmare. You have to wake up now." He shook her lightly and took her chin in one of his hands holding her body with the other. Slowly, very slowly Elena's eyes started to flutter. Her eyes out of focus and her gaze glassy. "That's it girl, come on." Damon said, stroking a strand of hair off her cheek. "Damon?" her voice was raspy. Sounding nothing like her. Now he really got worried. "Yeah its me! You're okay now. I am here!" he told her softly, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "What hap..happened? What...where am...Bonnie?...Damon he's got Bonnie...a-and Caroline and...!" her words drowning in a sudden outburst of heavy sobs shaking her hole body. "Shhhh, 'Lena listen to me!" Damon stopped her forcing her chin up to look him in the eye. "Bonnie's fine. They all are. It was just a dream. None of it is real. You hear me? It was just a nightmare. They safe. You're safe!" ...For now at least!... He couldn't stop himself thinking. Slowly Elena seemed to regain full consciousness, registering her surroundings. She looked at him, grabbing his forearms and holding on tight. Her legs seemed to give way beneath her and Damon didn't trust her balance. "Come on princess!" He said taking her in his arms bridal style, walking her to the bed. He sat her next to one of the posts so she could hold onto while he was pulling back the rumbled covers. But he stopped just as his hands touched the sheets. ...Jeez they're clenched. Wet as someone had dropped a bucket on 'em... He looked back at Elena's week form. He could see that she was still trembling all over. Trying to regain her composure by rubbing her own arms. He said next to her lifting her chin once more to turn her face to him. Looking more precisely at her now. Elena's gaze still glassy. ...She's fully awake now, she should be better now!... He wondered. His right hand came up to touch her forehead. It was just then that he realized how hot she truly felt. "Elena you're burnin' up!" "I'm fine really! Just a bit cold and still shaken. Really Damon I'll be okay. It's just...it all felt so real a-and I couldn't..." She paused for a moment taking a deep, steady breath "I'm just exhausted thats all. I'm gonna go back to bed and I'll be fine." She tried to give him a reassuring smile and failed miserably. "Yeah, you're fine my ass" Damon answered harshly. "And there's just no way I'm gonna let you getting back under those clammy sheets. Drifting off into another shitty dream while you're in here all alone. What are you doing here anyway?" He suddenly asked looking at interrogatory. "I..I couldn't..I did not.." She struggled for words. Damon's eyes went soft. ...Did not want to be in my brothers room after he left for good. Oh Stefan what did you do. How's she gonna go through this all again... he thought but said "I'll get it! No need to explain. It's fine. You don't have to get up there again if you don't want to. But as I said I am not leaving you here either. I'll make you a new cozy place where you can snuggle in, alright?" He told her looking at her with a soft yet firm expression that should tell her not to argue. She gave him another week smile "Damon. I am okay really...no need to get all.." "Get what? Overprotective. Yeah right you really should be used to that one. And I am not overprotective or worried either. In fact I couldn't care less about you're sleeping habits. But even though I am a smart-kicking-ass, strong as hell, old vamp, I do need my beauty sleep. And I won't get any if you're banging against the walls all night. Besides those plankings are really old and somewhat valuable...soo I'd rather like to keep you're fists away from them as far as possible!" He gave her a serious look. Elena just stared back at him. Her mouth opened a little. Her expression one of shock at those words. As he could see that she was ready snapping something not so lady-like right back at him, he gave her his best cocky grin he could manage. "Ahah don't say something you might regret later. I'm just being funny." His expression went serious again "You're the only person aside from my brother I truly, really do care about. Don't you no that by now?" He said solemnly, looking at her with a gentle brush of hurt in his voice. ...How could she not know, how could she ever doubt the only true feeling I have in me?... "I do! I am sorry Damon. Of course I know!" she replied as soft as a whisper biting her bottom lip. She looked up at him again and their eyes met. His stare getting more and more intense. His gaze drifting to her full lips and back to her eyes again. The air suddenly electrified and tense. None of them saying another word. No one wanted to break the tension the burning desire between them undeniable but still neither Elena nor Damon dared to make a move. ...Damn those lips...so full and begging to be kissed, these brown orbs holding my soul... He leaned in a bit closer out of sheer instinct. ...So close... Pictures of Elena being lifted in the air and slammed against a wall. ...Closer... Strong hands roaming her body. His hands. …Closer!... Lips caressing every part of skin they could reach of her. His lips. Making her moan in lust and... ...alright focus man. Not helping!...

"Good!" He suddenly said strangely chirpy, backing off and getting up. Facing the door he continued "I'll go and run a hot bath for you!" ...And a VERY cold shower for me... Turning around he looked at a rather baffled Elena. "But..." She looked at him inquiring. "How about getting you out of these clothes first?" He asked looking up at her grinning like a Cheshire cat, wiggling his eyebrows.

Uhhh...tensions, tensions. Wonder how that'll end up? Well keep reading and ! very important reviewing and the muse will be fed and happy. Thank you guys you're amazing. XX