AN: Last chapter, guys! It has been fun! But there is really not anywhere else I can go with this. :/ I really hoped you liked it, and if you did, you should check out my first one: As I Lay Dying with a Friend (If you haven't already) Thanks to a guest reviewer; I'm glad you like Alaric in this! Also, thanks to Michelle Salvatore again! It has been fun, but don't worry, I'm starting my 100 fanfic challenge now-well actually already, and so you'll see a lot from me! I'm doing mine off of Damon and Alaric (of course) and who knows, there might be some Damon torture!... Okay, knowing me, there definitely will be in at least 10 of them. HaHa! Thanks guys! Enjoy this last chapter!

Alaric's Point of View

Alaric turned around quickly and walked into the living room where Elena was glaring at Stefan. He opened his mouth to say something, when Elena's hand struck Stefan's cheek. Hard. The strength was surprising for Elena, and even as a vampire, Stefan must have felt some sting.
"Alaric!" Elena yelled. "We have to get him away from Damon!" She turned to face him, and Alaric saw the panic flash in her eyes. She looked at Stefan and in a low, dangerous voice, she said, "you stay away from us, Stefan."
"Elena-"Damon began, trying to sit up.
Elena moved in front of Damon, her back facing the eldest vampire. "Don't move."
"Elena, "Damon said again, the weakness in his voice not hiding the desperation. "It's okay."
Elena finally shifted her gaze off Stefan. She glanced at Damon. "What part of this is okay?"
"His humanity is back," Alaric stepped in. "He was out of it when he hurt Damon. He wasn't in his right mind?"
"And you trust this?" Elena breathed out astonished. "Vampires can't just regain her humanity." She turned to Damon. "You should know this - you're a vampire."
"Elena it wasn't a sudden action," Damon explained, exhaustion in his voice. "Strong feeling for a certain someone helped him regain it."
Elena looked back and forth between Damon and Stefan, when finally her gaze stuck to Stefan. "I get it now," she whispered.
Stefan was silent. The red mark on his cheek from Elena's slap was still visible, and Alaric found himself mentally chuckling at the strength Elena has hidden inside. But suddenly, it became serious when Damon started coughing violently. Everyone was by his side in a second.
Once Damon caught his breath, he waved everyone away. "I'm fine," he said. Alaric wasn't sure he believed him.
"You should be way better by now," he stated. "I've been feeding you blood all day."
Damon shook his head. "I'm fine, Ric," said. Alaric looked Damon, still not believing him. He looked into his eyes and saw past everything. In the depths of the blue, he saw pain and misery. But knowing Damon would kill him if he did otherwise, Alaric kept to himself.
"What we really need to be worrying about, is idiot Stefan making his stupid deals," Damon continued.
Elena glanced at Stefan. "What's he talking about, Stefan?"
Stefan didn't look at her. Alaric guessed he wasn't sure how to answer.
"Two years for two days," Damon explained for him. "He gave two years there for two days here."
Elena's eyes widened at Stefan. "What? Why?"
"I owed it," Stefan had said for probably the tenth time that day. Mostly to Damon, but also I owed it to you, too."
Elena looked at him sympathetically. "I know why you did it, and I know it was the right thing to do but-"her voice broke off.
"It was not the right thing to do," Damon cut in. "It was stupid."
"Damon-"Stefan was apparently growing exasperated. He stopped as Damon began to cough again. His body shook with each violent one. Alaric, who had been closest to Damon, reached him first. He could feel the concern on his own face as he held Damon's shoulder in comfort.
Stefan and Elena who were also both by his side exchanged worried glances. When Damon was done, he was gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" Alaric asked. He knew the answer was no, and he knew Damon would say yes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Damon lied making Alaric sigh.
"Damon," he began. "You're going to have to tell us what's wrong if we're going to help you get through this."
"I don't need help," Damon snapped.
"Damon, Alaric is right," Stefan said. "Before your pride gets you really hurt, tell us what's wrong."
Damon laid back down on the couch in defeat. "I don't know what's wrong to be honest. Everything just hurts."
Alaric looked at Damon sympathetically.
"It's late," Stefan announced. "We all need some rest." He glanced at Damon. "I don't want you to have to spend another night on the couch. I'll help you upstairs."
Damon nodded, but once he tried to sit up, Alaric saw him go pale and he looked like he was about to collapse. Stefan moved toward him and wrapped his arm around Damon's waist. "Are you alright?" he asked his older brother.
"Fine," Damon lied again. But Stefan didn't say anything. He just nodded and before Alaric could blink, he already had Damon upstairs.
"What happens next?"Elena asked surprising Alaric.
He glanced at her. "I have no idea."
Stefan was back downstairs. "Alaric, do you want to stay in one of the guest bedrooms?" Alaric hesitated. He glanced outside. He nodded. "Yeah, thanks. But I'll call Jeremy to let him know."
Stefan nodded. He headed upstairs, Elena right behind him, and Alaric assumed they were going to be staying in the same room. "No sex, guys!" he joked. Elena turned around and raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Taking charge, Ric?" she asked smiling.
"I'm your guardian now," he said laughing. "No sex until marriage."
Elena pretended to be upset. "Bummer, because Stefan and I were totally planning on having vampire slash human sex while there were two other people in the house." She and Alaric said goodnight and Alaric pulled out his phone.
Jeremy answered on the third ring. "Alaric?"
"Hey, Jer it's me. I'll be staying at the Boarding House tonight."
"Is Damon alright?" Jeremy asked with genuine concern.
"He might not admit it, but he's in bad shape. He was still slightly ill from the bite when he got taken. I think the illness instead of getting better, is slowly coming back due to his injuries and lack of blood."
"Is there anything you guys can do?" Jeremy asked.
"I've been feeding him blood when he was too weak to do so himself, but he really isn't doing to good."
"Alright, well thanks for letting me know," Jeremy said.
"Later, Jer." He and Jeremy hung up and Alaric put his phone back in his pocket. Grabbing a glass of blood, he headed upstairs to Damon's room. The door was shut, and Alaric opened it.
"Damon?" he called out.
He heard a grunt in response, and Alaric stepped inside. "Good, you're awake. I want you to drink one more glass of blood before you pass out."
Damon tried to sit up, but was obviously struggling with the effort. Alaric helped him and he propped him up against the headboard. He put the glass up to Damon's lips and Damon drank. He frowned as he saw how slowly and hesitantly he was drinking.
"Are you feeling alright?" Alaric asked.
Damon just shook his head and Alaric put the glass on the bedside table. "Where's the bin from the last time you threw up?" he asked himself out-loud. He found it by the bed. "If you need it, it's right there." Alaric said, pointing to it.
"This is like a really bad case of déjà-vu," Damon said.
Alaric laughed. "You're telling me. Only this time you're not dying, and you're not as sick as you were before."
"Still feel like crap," Damon admitted, closing his eyes.
Alaric smiled sympathetically. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me." He stood up and walked to the door. "My room is right next to yours. Yell if you need anything."
Damon grunted and Alaric took that as an answer. He said goodnight and left the room.

AN: I'm suddenly inspired. So, that wasn't the last chapter! You're welcome. Haha! Thanks! Next chapter will be up soon!