AN: Thanks again to Raphs No. 1 Girl. I'm so glad you like it and I'm glad you like my writing! Thanks again to Michelle Salvatore (I love your profile picture by the way) for another great review. Haha, sadly, I had to look up the word riveting, but now that I know what it means, thanks! Disclaimer: If I were the owner, why would I be writing these?

Alaric's Point of View

Alaric kept his jacket pressed up against Damon's chest. "We have to move him," he said. He brushed back some of Damon's hair. "Damon," he said trying to get him to respond. He knew that it would be quite difficult to carry Damon out.
"What do we do?" Elena asked.
Alaric sighed. "I'm going to have to try to move him. But it would be a lot easier if he was awake." Alaric nudged him gently but there was still no answer. "He's out cold," Alaric said, shaking his head.
Alaric groaned and put his hand under Damon's back. Slowly, he lifted up the vampire. "Get the car door, Elena," he ordered. "I'm going to put him in the back." Elena nodded and ran ahead of him. Alaric slowly carried Damon out. "God, you're heavy," Alaric whispered to him. He knew he was just lucky that while Damon was sick, he hadn't been eating much, so he more than likely lost weight.
Alaric eventually got Damon to the car and he put him in the back. He was hesitant to leave him.
"I'll drive and you can sit back with him," Elena offered, apparently knowing what Alaric was thinking.
"Thanks," Alaric said, and got into the back with Damon.

They were just arriving in Mystic Falls. They'd be at the Salvatore Mansion in about ten minutes. Damon still hadn't woken up which made Alaric worry even more.
"Come on, Damon," he whispered. "You're going to make me carry you out of the car, too?" He brushed Damon's hair back again. In alarm, Alaric felt how warm Damon's forehead was. "Damn," he said softly.
"What's going on?" Elena asked.
"He has a high fever," Alaric explained. "I don't know if it's from all the vervain or if it's because he still was recovering from being sick when he was kidnapped."
"We're almost there," Elena said, sounding more like she was saying it to herself.
Alaric nodded and pulled his attention back on Damon. The vampire was more pale than usual due to blood loss and he was starting to sweat. Alaric was reminded of when Damon was dying from the werewolf bite.
"We're here!" Elena called back to him. Alaric looked out the window and saw them pull into the Salvatore's driveway. Elena got out of the car and opened the door for Alaric.
"I was so hoping you'd be awake by now," Alaric muttered. He once again put his hands under his back and lifted him up. Carefully, he got Damon out of the car.
"I'll open their house door for you," Elena said as she ran off. Alaric walked over to the Salvatore Mansion and went through the now opened door. He stepped into the living room and knowing there was no way in hell he'd be able to get Damon upstairs, walked over to the couch and lightly laid Damon on it.
"Elena go get some blood bags," Alaric ordered. "I'm going to get something to cool him down." Alaric walked out of the living room and into the kitchen where he grabbed a cloth and wetted it down with cold water. He went back into the living room and kneeled beside the couch.
"I got the blood bags," Elena said stepping into the room. She set three bags of blood on the table next to the couch.
Alaric nodded in acknowledgement but didn't turn his attention away from Damon. He set the washcloth on his forehead. Then he began to run the back of his hand down Damon's flushed cheeks.
"Ric?" Damon's eyes opened.
Alaric smiled. "I was starting to wonder if you'd ever wake up."
Damon glanced around. "How'd I get home?" he asked.
"Elena and I went to the cave you were in and brought you home," Alaric explained.
"How are you feeling?" Elena asked.
"Wonderful," Damon whispered. His voice was too weak to sound sarcastic. He closed his eyes only to open them quickly. "Stefen!" he said.
"Yeah, we know," Alaric said gently. "We want to find him, too. But we really have to make sure you're actually strong this time before we start looking for him."
"No, that's not it," Damon said. He looked at Elena. "He's really not the same."
"I know," she whispered, her voice sad. "Katherine told us.
Damon shook his head. "He's really messed up right now."
"You saw him?" Elena asked.
"Yeah, he's the one who did this to me."
There was a long silence. Alaric and Elena exchanged looks and Elena looked at Damon. "What?"
"He's lost all his humanity," Damon said. "He admitted that he wanted to kill me."
"But he didn't," Alaric pointed out.
"Because Klaus forbade it," Damon explained. "Elena, why did you choose me over Stefan?"
"How do you know about that?" Elena asked, sounding embarrassed and horrified.
"Stefan told me."
"Stefan knows? Oh, this is bad." She ran her hand through her hair.
"He's not really happy with either of us at the moment," Damon said, closing his eyes.
"You look tired," Alaric observed, brushing some of the sweaty hair from his face. "We learned not to push your body too far, so we'll talk about this tomorrow."
Damon nodded and it seemed like he was out in an instant.
Alaric turned to Elena. "Do you need me to drive you home?" he asked.
Elena nodded. "I don't really want to stay here. It would be weird since Stefan-"
"I understand," Alaric said softly. "No need to explain."
Elena sighed. "Thank you."
Alaric grabbed his keys and headed towards the door. He stopped, glancing back at Damon making sure he was okay one last time. "I'll be right back," he whispered, even though it was obvious Damon wouldn't be able to hear him. But still, Alaric felt the need to say it.

AN: Sorry, this one is sort of shorter than most. I had to end it somewhere though. Next chapter will be posted soon, don't worry.