CHAPTER 5

The past hour had felt like an eternity, an eternity was pure misery. Every second felt like a whole year. It appeared as if the time stood still. Three more wounds one on the back; second on the chest and third just below the ribcage had appeared, every wound more painful than the previous one. Stefan kept screaming and continued bleeding in his big brother's arms. He kept slipping in and out of consciousness because of the pain. All Damon could do was bandage the wounds on his baby brother's body and hold him in his arms offering what little comfort he could.

Stefan's blood soaked shirt was a proof that Stefan had not much time left. He had lost a lot of blood and he was clearly in a lot of pain. He was lying on the bed covered in bandages; he appeared so lifeless, so broken. Stefan was fading, he was fading fast.

Stefan knew he didn't have much time left. He was in so much pain at the moment that the thought of death even comforted him. Embracing death seemed like a tempting idea at the moment than suffering such excruciating pain. Stefan wanted all of this to be over. He wanted the pain to just vanish somehow. He was tired now, he couldn't take it anymore, and he wanted to give up. He wanted to slip into nothingness where there will be on pain, no heartbreak and no suffering. He always felt that 160 odd years was a very long time and he knew he had lived for very long, humans couldn't even imagine living such long. And if he introspected he knew that although for most part he got nothing but pain, misery, guilt and heart break but he also knew that he had also found love, not once but twice. He also found some true friends like Lexi and Caroline who were by his side when he needed them the most. He even got the chance to meet his mother again and above all he even mended his broken relation with his big brother. He finally got his big brother back. He won't say his life was perfect, to tell the truth it was far from perfect but it was nothing short of an intriguing tale. He was an innocent 17 year old boy who had dreams and aspirations, he had a bucket list of things he wished from his life but he met a tragic end- he died and turned into the creature of night – a vampire, then he became a ripper and fell off the wagon. But once again life gave him another chance when he found her "ELENA' and instantly fell in love. It was like even in death he was alive, he was LIVING. He found love, he lost love, he changed, people around him changed, He never was able to fulfil that bucket list of things, he saw many ups and downs and that is exactly what life is. He had lived. STEFAN SALVATORE HAD LIVED. And now it was time to let go, let go of everything, every relation, and every person whom he held dear. He was ready, ready to leave, ready to embrace grim reaper- the angel of death with open arms.

Stefan, Stefan don't you dare give up, don't you dare leave me. Stefan breathe, please breathe and open your eyes. Stefan', Damon shouted. Damon was on a full panic mode as Stefan had stopped breathing. Damon didn't know what to do except call out his baby brother's name repeatedly. He was not ready to say goodbye, not yet.

He was tired and wanted to sleep. Stefan was ready to let go when he heard him. He was calling his name again and again. His big brother was calling him.

Damon was not ready to bear the pain of losing his baby brother. He had decided that he will turn off his humanity.

Stefan thought to himself,' No, I can't go, not now. I didn't even say goodbye to him. My big brother needs me. How can I give up if he isn't living up on me? How can I be so selfish?'Stefan with all his might took a deep breath and finally opened his eyes and said 'DAMAON'

Damon had shut his eyes and was on the brink of shutting it all off when he heard it, it was a faint whisper but he heard it. His brother had called his name.

Damon opened his eyed and his eyes met the green eyes of his little brother. Stefan had a faint smile on his face. He was still alive. He couldn't hold back the tears that fell from his eyes on seeing his little brother alive.

"You are Okay, I didn't lose you baby brother, you are alright.' He cupped Stefan's cheek and said with a smile on his face.

Stefan just hold on brother if not for you then for me. I know you are a fighter. Please fight a little longer and I promise things will be better. Alaric, Caroline, Matt and Elena are all searching for Patrick meanwhile Bonnie is still searching for some spell to counter the effect of this poison. Trust me brother, just hold on. Everything will be alright. This is your big brother's promise.' He gently placed a kiss on Stefan's forehead.

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Finally the sun rose but there was no improvement in Stefan's condition. Neither Alaric and gang had been able to track down Patrick nor Bonnie had been able to find a spell. All their efforts had been futile so far. Damon was becoming fidgety with every passing moment because he was aware of the fact that every passing minute he was getting closer to losing his little brother forever. He called Bonnie again,'did you find something, anything. Listen Bonnie we don't have much time. What the hell is wrong with you? You can't find a damn spell to cure Stefan. You know how much pain is Stefan in. He is suffering Bonnie. Why don't you understand damn it!

Bonnie calmly listened to Damon and then spoke, 'Calm down Damon. Venting out your anger on me will not solve anything. I don't want to lose Stefan either and I am doing everything in my power to find a solution. I have contacted every witch and have almost read all the possible book spells but all in vain. But I promise you Damon I am not giving up. None of us is giving up. You hear me?

But Damon, she continued,' you must know that there is a chance we might lose him. Bonnie had goose bumps when she heard herself say those bitter words. But she also knew that somebody must confront Damon, he couldn't run away from the reality. He had to accept it no matter how harsh it was.

'What the hell are you taking about Bonnie', Damon shouted.

But Bonnie cut him off in between,' Damon please listen to me. You have to face the reality. Stop being selfish Damon.'

Damon was agitated, 'How the hell am I selfish?' I am just trying to protect my baby brother.'

Bonnie continued with a determined tone,' you yourself said that Stefan is in pain. Damon your brother is suffering, he is in excruciating pain. Damon you are being selfish for letting him suffer like this. I just need you to know that the reality is Stefan is dying; he is dying a slow, painful death. As per Patrick he hardly has 6 more hours left. So far all our efforts have been in vain. If I were in your place and my brother was suffering like this in front of my own eyes then...

Deep down Damon knew what she was going to say but still he wanted to hear from her, 'Say it Bonnie, say it, then what?'

Bonnie took a while and then finally spoke, 'Then I would have freed him from all his sufferings. Instead of letting him suffer and die a painful death I would have killed him with my own hands Damon.' Tears were falling from her eyes but still she continued, 'you know why? Because unlike you I am not selfish to hold him back for my own sake and watch him suffer. I would have set him free Damon, free from all his sufferings and pain and if it comes down to it then you should do the same Damon.' And then without listening to Damon's response she cut the phone.

Damon was left stunned by what Bonnie had just said...

To be continued

Thank you again for the reviews. I am glad some readers enjoy reading my story. Trust me these review encourage me to keep writing. So thanks once again.

Also thanks for understanding that I can't update daily but trust me when I say this that I try my best to update it as frequently as possible as I myself don't like to keep the readers waiting for the next chapter.

I have already mentioned in the earlier chapters that no medication can cure Stefan or ease his pain. That is why the poison was not even detected in the medical tests in the first place.

Also Patrick is not really keeping an eye it's just that he knows what effect the poison will have and when on Stefan.

Happy reading