THIRD CHAPTER
When they reached the hospital, Stefan was carried away on a stretcher for an emergency surgery and then Damon sat in the corridor waiting for any news of Stefan. After several hours of waiting the doctors finally came out of the surgery and assured Damon that Stefan's condition had been stabilized.
Damon was so relieved on hearing that his baby brother was okay.
We are shifting him in the ICU, will keep him under observation over night. You should be aware of your brother's injuries. Please come in my cabin, the doctor said and Damon followed him to his cabin. Your brother has 3 broken ribs, he has a concussion, a minor fracture in the left hand and several whip marks on his back. Apart from this he has other injuries like cuts and bruises on several parts of his body. But we have managed to take care of all of them as although painful yet none of the injuries were life threatening.
After a pause which Damon took to comprehend the list of injuries his baby brother had suffered he finally spoke 'Can I see him?'Yes you can but make sure you don't disturb him and don't take too long in there as he needs rest. Doctor said with a smile.
Damon entered the room and saw that Stefan was lying on the bed. He was covered with a white sheet till his abdomen, above which he had a white bandage wrapped around his waist to support his broken ribs. He had a plaster in his left hand and a bandage on his head. He was wearing an oxygen mask and the IV needle was taped to the back of his good hand and tubes were attached to his bare chest. He could hear the constant beeping of the heart monitor.
Damon reached near his brother and sat on a chair beside his bed. He gently took Stefan's hand and stroked his little brother's hair. Damon for the first time realised that Stefan was indeed a human. Never in his life had Damon imagined that he will see Stefan like this lying on the hospital bed surrounded by all medical equipments, so vulnerable, so weak, so pale. His brother looked so humanly.
Damon sighed, 'I will never let anything like this happen to you brother ever again, I promise!'
Damon spent the whole night by Stefan's side. It was not until the next morning that Stefan started gaining consciousness and finally opened his eyes.
Damon was elated to see his baby brother finally awake. He never knew watching his baby brother's green eyes would be the best thing in the world.
Rise and shine baby bro! How are you feeling? Gave us all quite a scare ha! Damon said in his usual snarky tone but he couldn't hide the happiness in his voice.
Stefan's throat was very dry so Damon helped him sip some water and after that Stefan finally spoke, 'I am okay brother. I knew you wouldn't let anything happen to me. He said with a weak but reassuring smile. He continued
Damon, can I ask you something?
Anything little brother, Damon said with a wide genuine smile on his face.
Please take me home! Stefan said
Damon gently cupped Stefan's cheek and said, 'Yes, brother as you say. I will soon take you home! Damon said with a reassuring smile.
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The next 7 days were very tough for Stefan as he was not used to experiencing pain for such long time. But Damon never left Stefan's side and doctors also did their best to help Stefan make a speedy recovery.
And finally after a week Stefan was discharged from the hospital. Damon had brought him home and had made him comfortable in his room.
Stefan was sleeping in his room upstairs while Damon was sitting in the living area near the fire place and was dirking his favourite bourbon deep in his thoughts.
What are you thinking? Damon looked around to see the source of those words. Alaric was standing at the door; he came and sat on the sofa in front of Damon.
It doesn't make any sense, Damon said with confused expression on his face.
Now what Damon? What doesn't make sense? Alaric enquired.
Whatever happened with Stefan doesn't make sense Ric. Patrick wanted to take revenge from me for murdering his entire family. He wanted to inflict the same pain he suffered, pain of losing your dear one. Why would he kidnap Stefan, torture him and then sparing his life. Why would he do that? Patrick is not someone who will spare somebody this easily. Over the centuries all he wanted was to take revenge from me. Then why not kill Stefan, why would he spare him Ric, why would he spare me Ric.
Maybe you are over thinking it Damon. Maybe he only wanted to torture Stefan and make you see him torture your brother. Maybe that was his revenge!
I don't think so Ric. I don't think he will let it go this easily. I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about all of this. Something tells me he will be back to complete his revenge. Whatever he has planned I don't give a damn but one thing is sure I won't let him hurt Stefan again!
Suddenly the door bell rang. Damon opened the door and saw once again a gift wrapped box was lying on the floor. He brought it inside and opened the box to find a letter inside. He took the letter out and started reading it.
Hello again Damon! If you really thought this was the end of your woes Damon then I am glad to tell you that you are absolutely wrong. You thought I would torture little Stefan and then out of the goodness of my heart will spare his life! Damon you brutally murdered my entire family in front of my eyes. They were all I had got. You really think I would let you off the hook this easily. I am not done with you Damon. THIS IS JUST THE START OF MY REVENGE NOT THE END.
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You must be curious to know what exactly I have done! Well, well I have injected your brother with a serum in other words it's a slow deadly poison. No doctor or medical science in the world can neither detect it nor cure it! I am sure none of Stefan's medical reports detected any traces of poison in his body. Stefan your baby brother is all you have got right. The only family left! I will take him away from you Damon just like you took away my family. You will see him suffer Damon but you will be helpless, you will not be able to protect him Damon just like I was unable to protect my family. Your brother's painful screams will not let you sleep Damon. He will suffer just like my family did. I will make sure you watch your brother die slowly and painfully and you will not be able to do anything to ease his pain. And yes one thing I forgot to tell you Damon, the poison starts working exactly a week after its injected. I think you should be with you little brother Damon. Don't waste time Damon, spend as much time with your little brother as possible; he doesn't have much time left! My only regret is I will not be able to watch you and your brother suffer.
Anyways what's important is that YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE YOUR BROTHER.
HE WILL DIE SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY IN YOUR ARMS.
AND THIS DAMON IS MY FINAL REVENGE!
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The letter slipped through his fingers. Damon was too shocked to comprehend anything. Before he could think or do something he heard Stefan's scream. He rushed upstairs towards his baby brother's room.
He entered the room to find Stefan sitting on the bed clutching his stomach.
Damon immediately rushed near his brother's side. What's wrong brother?
I don't know. It's hurting Damon, it's hurting so bad.
Damon moved his hand up and down on Stefan's back to ease his pain. It will be okay brother. Try and relax.
Ahhhh! Stefan screamed clutching his stomach more tightly. Damn it! What's happening? Before Stefan could say another word he started chocking. I, I can't breathe.
Stefan! Damon pleaded, brother please. Damon wrapped his arms around his baby brother to comfort him but Stefan suddenly started coughing up blood and after a bout of 10 minutes he slumped in Damon's arms and his head fell on Damon's shoulder. Stefan had finally passed out from the pain.
Damon took a handkerchief and wiped the blood that was dripping from the side of his unconsciousness brother's mouth and placed a gentle kiss on Stefan's forehead. Then he laid him carefully on the bed and tucked him with a blanket. He looked at the unconscious form of his brother and said, 'It's okay brother, you will be fine, Damon whispered.' More than reassuring Stefan he was reassuring himself that he will not lose his baby brother. Damon wished it was all a bad dream but he knew very well that this was not a dream. He cursed himself. Stefan was in this situation because of him. This is not fair, why should his brother pay the price of his sins! He never felt this helpless in his life.
Then Damon took in a deep breath and said, 'No! I will not break, I will not lose hope. For Stefan's sake I have to stay strong. I will find a way to save my little brother. I will even sacrifice myself if it means Stefan will be alright! He gently laid Stefan on the bed and covered him with a warm blanket. He gently stoked Stefan's forehead. Hold on brother, I will not fail you. I will make everything Ok. This is your big brother's promise.
To be continued...
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