A/N: Thank you for your comments, my friends, I love you! Okay, here's another chapter for you.

Chapter sixteen

The subordinate male protagonist...

"...getting better. The vervain effect is wearing off. But I still don't think he'll be fine any time soon..."

"Give him time, Stefan. You know Damon, he needs to drown himself in bourbon. Then he'll be normal again."

"No, Elena, I really don't think so..."

Damon slowly opened his eyes and immediately Stefan's worried face appeared in front of him. But his brother's figure was blurry and though Stefan was saying something Damon couldn't understand a word. And he didn't want to understand. His head was heavy and he couldn't remember anything.

Poisoned with the vervain, Damon was in his own world now. While Stefan was desperately trying to help his brother and comfort Elena. Elena barely talked and just prayed silently. As well as Caroline, Tyler, Jeremy and other Bonnie's friends who unlike Damon knew Bonnie wasn't dead yet. No, she was in a coma. For several hours already that felt like an eternity.

But Damon in his stupor didn't feel anything. He didn't understand anything until his mind played another trick on him.

It was like the strangest dream ever. Damon was lying on his bed. With his eyes wide open he could clearly see his surroundings. But he couldn't move, he felt paralyzed.

He heard footsteps and the next moment the door burst open.

"Okay, I'm ready now and waiting desperately for your precious opinion!"

There she was in a lovely navy dress, with her hair pulled up. She was beaming and that bright smile made her look almost unbelievably beautiful. Damon felt cold.

Still smiling, she came closer and said, "Of course, I won't. It's a bridal shower. No one behaves at the bridal shower."

It sounded like she was answering his question which was weird because he didn't say anything. He couldn't even move his lips, or any other part of him for that matter.

Bonnie sat next to him.

"And you always tell me you can hold your liquor. Look at you now, having a hangover like a normal person!"

Beyond weird. Damon's mind was slowly awakening as this phantom Bonnie continued the strange one-sided dialogue.

"Listen to yourself, Damon Salvatore is corrupted by his little brother. Ok, I have to go now or Elena will kill me!"

There was another pause; she laughed, looking at him adoringly and kissed his hand. Her touch was so warm.

"Just sleep it off. I promise I'll be back soon. I love you!"

Damon flinched. Scared of something he couldn't even remember, he made an attempt to grab her but the moment he was able to move her image had disappeared.

Being awake now, Damon heard someone pacing around the room. He raised his head and saw the familiar silhouette by the window.

"Stefan," Damon whispered.

Stefan winced and turned to him.

"Damon..." he spoke, his voice hoarse with worry. "Damon, are you ok? Say something."

"What happened?" Damon said and his own voice sounded foreign to him. "Where's she?"

His brother was in front of him now. Damon blinked, wondering why he felt so weak.

Stefan was watching him cautiously.

"She's at hospital," he said mildly. "Her father is back in town, he put her in a hospital..."

"She's alive..."

"Damon, she..."

"I couldn't hear her heartbeat," Damon said, suddenly remembering. "I thought she was dead..."

"Yes, her heart stopped beating for a minute," Stefan forced himself to say. "But Lucy did something and..."

"Did Lucy save her?"

"She... Look, you need to talk to Lucy directly," Stefan said unhappily.

Damon slowly raised to his feet. He could barely feel his body; it was like he was recovering from serious injury.

"Damon, don't do it again," Stefan said heavily. "Don't retreat into yourself like that."

Damon stared at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"When I found you, you were very bad. I know you love her but... you have to let her go."

"What?" Damon said groggily. "You've just told me she's alive... And why the hell do I feel like this?"

"I gave you a shot of vervain."

Damon wanted to roll his eyes but his reflexes were not very good at the moment.

"Thank you, brother..." he said acidly. "You were afraid I'd go slaughtering people like a maniac?"

"I didn't want you to harm yourself."

"Get me blood. "

Slowly, Damon came to the window and looked out.

"It's cloudy," he said blankly. "Looks like a storm is coming."

"It's your fog."

"You think so?"

"Damon, Bonnie is in a coma!" Stefan exclaimed impatiently.

"Give her blood," Damon said coolly. He didn't take his eyes off the view outside.

"It's too late."

"No, it's not if she's still breathing!" Damon snapped.

"Damon, go and say good bye."

Damon turned around, ready to shout but something in Stefan's face stopped him.

"Just go to the hospital," Stefan muttered and added almost soundlessly, "I'm sorry."

The vervain in Damon's system made him weak and lightheaded. When Stefan said he would drive him, Damon didn't argue. He was telling himself he didn't care about anything. But the moment he crossed the threshold into her hospital room his dizziness had vanished.

He thought if he saw her lifeless again, it would be like a punch to the gut. He would go crazy. But he was wrong. This time he didn't feel angry. Instead he felt hollow and lost.

She didn't even look like Bonnie. That person that was lying in her hospital bed seemed tiny and helpless. Weak. His Bonnie was anything but weak.

Lucy was there, she sat in the chair. She didn't quite resemble herself either. When Damon and Stefan walked into the ward she greeted them, without showing any dislike. Obviously, last days events had eased her temper.

Stefan was silent and Damon frowned, avoiding looking at Bonnie.

"Isn't it a bit early to mourn?" he said, curtly. "Just give her blood, Stefan!"

"Her heart will soon stop working," Lucy said bleakly. "Maybe, tonight."

Damon huffed impatiently.

"A bunch of morons..." he went to Bonnie's bed. "I'll do it."

"It won't heal her," Stefan said. "We tried it. Caroline, me... It just doesn't work."

"Does her body reject..." Damon muttered but Stefan interrupted him.

"It simply doesn't work."

Damon gulped and clenched his teeth.

"Okay, here's another plan," he said, his arrogance back. "If she dies with my blood in her system — "

"It won't bring her soul back," Lucy said, clutching her forehead. "She won't even become a vampire. The spell she did... It broke her. Why did she?.."

"Because she's stupid," Damon said spitefully. "Stupid little liar..."

Stefan gave his brother the look of disapproval but said nothing.

"Come on, you're a witch," Damon spoke, looking at Lucy. "Think of something."

"I can't use the power that brings souls back," she said, standing up. "I'm not Yuichi."

Damon froze.

"Wait, but someone else can! So find..."

"What do you think I've been doing while you were getting drunk!" she snapped. "Real Itako are very rare even in Japan! It's a natural gift, not a spell you can learn!"

"His father..."

"His mother actually," Lucy said, running her fingers through her hair. "She's dead... She died using her power..."

She looked extremely upset but Damon felt so disappointed and had no compassion for her.

"Lucy," Stefan spoke softly. "Let's go downstairs and grab some coffee."

She nodded and before Damon could do anything he was alone with unconscious Bonnie. He grimaced at Stefan's obvious maneuver. The last thing he wanted now was being alone with her. He remembered his anger.

"I'm paying with my sanity," he said, annoyed. "Because of you."

He turned his head slightly and looked at her face. It still felt like watching a complete stranger or even worse — a broken doll. He could understand what Lucy was saying. Bonnie wasn't here anymore. It was just her body.

Damon inhaled deeply and came closer to her. She was lying still like a statue. He reached out towards her face but before he could touch her his fingers curled into a fist. Damon leaned over her and said in a furious whisper, "You liar. Traitor. You promised me. And now... You made a fool of me."

He waited and waited. But she didn't wake up to reassure him.

Damon hoped everyone would just leave him alone. After his visit to hospital he came home and acted the way he always did. He began his bourbon ritual. His anger was his salvation. Though he understood it wouldn't last long he felt better being angry at Bonnie.

And then Elena came on the scene. He was in the living room when she walked in, with a solemn expression upon her face.

"Damon, I need to talk to you."

He poured his glass full once again and said nonchalantly, "If you want to talk about your brother, better save your breath."

Elena frowned. He gave her a leering look and swallowed a gulp of his drink.

"What do you want?" Damon asked crossly. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital? Clutching your best friend's hand? Waiting for her heart to stop beating? That's what you do, right? People who care?"

"Stefan is worried sick about you," she said mildly.

"And here you are," he saluted her with his drink. "To save my soul."

He took a big gulp, his eyes fixated on the fireplace. Her presence made him feel bitter.

'You can't save me, Elena. You never could. It doesn't even matter what you say. All I see is pity in your eyes.'

"Damon, Bonnie was my best friend," Elena said fiercely. "You can't imagine what I feel."

Damon frowned.

"Was? Burying her already?"

She didn't flinch, her eyes were dark and filled with grief.

"If I could do something..." she whispered. "Anything... You have no idea... I would better die myself..."

"Save it," he cut her off. Contempt colored his voice. "Why would I care?"

She lowered her head and said slowly, "I know you love her. I can see it. Am I wrong?"

He watched her as the wheels in his head were turning. The moment he realized he loved Bonnie he stopped comparing her to Elena. Maybe, deep inside he was afraid he would still choose Elena. The girl who was supposed to be his true love. He was willing to sacrifice Bonnie for her sake. The thought almost made him shudder and he got angry at himself. Elena, perfect and saint Elena who always pushed him so hard to be human.

And Bonnie... He remembered the way she always talked to him, remembered dancing with her, all their moments together... Being around her was always so natural. All this time she was so close and he was chasing after someone else. Why?.. Because of some stubborn forced unrequited love. Surely, at this point he couldn't tell that Bonnie was madly in love with him. But she could love him. She began to love him. He knew it.

Damon stood still, fighting the tight sensation at his chest. Losing her wasn't an option. He loved her. Now he couldn't even remember the time he didn't love her. When he held her it was always like she was his and his only. With Elena and even with Katherine he felt like a thief. That feeling could be thrilling sometimes but it always led him to loneliness and bitterness.

Looking at Elena right now made him silently admit it. Not only his love for her but even the habit of loving her was gone. Not because he had lost his hope; truth be told, you could never lose hope with Elena. He simply didn't want her anymore. After all Elena was right. Whatever he felt for her was just a silly dream. A dream not even worth remembering in the morning.

"Damon?" Elena said quietly.

"You are right," he said slowly. "I love her... I love her more than anything... And I should have told her that."

"Damon, what can I do?.. Just tell..."

But he didn't listen. He put his glass down and walked outside.

Damon was like a sleepwalker when he entered her room. Seeing Bonnie motionless was as good as losing her over and over again. He came to her bed and took her hand in his. It was barely warm.

"You promised me," he said once again but his voice was different now. "You... You wouldn't break your promise, it's not like you... I mean, you're supposed to be honest and everything..."

He looked at her face but it was lifeless so he forced himself to stare at her hand that he was gently holding.

"I don't know if you can hear me," he said in the barely audible whisper. "Either way you never listen to me... But I can't let you go... I told you, no matter what it costs me, I won't lose you. I..."

His voice trailed off and he closed his eyes fiercely.

"I love you," he said, squeezing her hand. "I know it, I have no doubt anymore. I love you so much, do you hear me? So please, Bonnie..."

He choked on his own words. And what was he supposed to say? Come back? Wake up? Don't leave me? How stupid. How childish. He felt so helpless.

He kissed her but her lips were still cold. Damon never had much faith in fairy tales. He didn't believe in the saving force of love either. At least, his love was never enough. But it was his Bonnie and to get her back he would believe in anything.

'I will do anything,' he thought, pressing his face to her cheek. Short time... They had together so short time, it was unfair.

His tears were falling upon her face but Damon didn't care. He was broken. The minutes were passing by as he sat there leaning over her, his fingers caressing her face. Bonnie didn't react. And he could barely hear her breathing.

Damon looked out the window and saw the sunset. His eyes narrowed slightly. A strange and desperate thought suddenly brought his hope back. Slowly, he straightened up and took his ring off his finger. Then, without any hesitation, he put the ring in Bonnie's hand.

"I want you to have it," he said hoarsely. And his eyes flushed. "You judging little... you like to save everyone, right? So wake up. Wake the fuck up and save me before the sun rises."

He raised to his feet, being almost amused by his own courage. Somehow, probably irrationally, he was sure now she would wake up.

"Take your time, Bennett," he said and walked out.

He didn't feel like going home so instead he went to Bonnie's place. There he was entertaining himself with checking out her stuff. Until he found her diary.

Down the hall of the hospital was walking the vampire. His hair was perfectly combed and he wore a nice leather jacket. He was listening to his iPod and the nurses, as they passed him, could hear the song playing in his headphones. It was unmistakably sung by Brian Adams.

I wanna be your t-shirt when it's wet

I wanna be the shower when you sweat

I gotta be the tattoo on your skin

Yeah lemme be your bed baby – when you climb in

I wanna be the sheets when you sleep

Let me be the secrets that you keep

I gotta be the spoon – ta stir your cream

I wanna be the one that really makes you scream

I wanna be – your lipstick when ya lick it

I wanna be – your high heels when ya kick it

I wanna be – your sweet love babe - ya when you make it

from your feet up to your hair – more than anything I swear

I wanna be – your underwear

Humming under his breath, the vampire entered the ward and saw a young nurse there. He stopped and slowly took his sunglasses off.

"Excuse me, sir?" the nurse said. "I'm afraid visiting hours are over."

He came to her and smiled charmingly.

"You want to go downstairs and take a long coffee break."

She nodded, gazing at him.

"You didn't see me here."

"I didn't see you," she said obediently.

"Good," he reached into his pocket and took out a box of cherry drops. "You want some?"

She shook her head slowly and he shrugged. "Okay then. Off you go."

The nurse walked out of the ward and the vampire closed the door behind her. Then he turned around to see a girl lying in her hospital bed. Bonnie Bennett looked fragile and lifeless. It was obvious, she wasn't recovering, but slowly dying.

He frowned at the thought, approached her bed and put his iPod and sunglasses on the bedside table. His cold hand covered hers and he whispered something under his breath. And soon enough the quiet sound of small bells ringing filled the room.

"Wake up, Bonnie. You're gonna be late for school."

Bonnie was floating. She couldn't see or hear but she started to remember who she was. Some invisible power was pulling her up. Soon enough she saw a glimpse of light and heard the bells ringing. Bonnie flinched.

I love you... I know it, I have no doubt anymore. I love you so much, do you hear me?

Her eyes were burning from tears. She remembered how to breath and now she was gasping for air. She wanted to scream, to shake off the dream, she wanted to say that she did hear him.

Damon's face flashed before her and she opened her eyes.

At first, her vision was blurry. She blinked away her tears and saw the white ceiling. Bonnie frowned, turning her head slightly, and in the next moment she went rigid.

Yuichi was sitting in front of her. His elbow was on the arm of the chair and his chin in his hand.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said cheerfully.

Bonnie was completely disorientated. She breathed heavily and her eyes were as big as saucers. Yuichi raised his eyebrows.

"Don't give me that look. I promised I would haunt you. And I have to tell you, my lovely, sweet and gorgeous future cousin-in-law... I'm so mad at you!"

TBC

A/N: As you can see, LaKessy, you were right :) All hail Katherine.

Dear readers, I suppose you have already realized I'm a sappy writer :). Not a manipulative one. And! I know what would be Yuichi theme. Work your magic by Dima Koldun. Yep.

Next chapter will start with a Dumbledore talk. Get ready!:)