AN: So sorry guys! Super stressed right now. I've only posted once this whole month! Yikes! I won't stop writing this chapter until it's done, I promise. Really sorry about that.

Stefan's Point of View

"I'm not going to help you with your stupid hybrids!" Stefan yelled at Klaus for the third time.

Klaus grabbed Stefan's throat. "You will because you cannot go back on your word." He tossed Stefan to the ground and Stefan felt his back connect with the concrete floor. "You know I can kill all those you love in a split second."

"Can you?"

"You're not going to risk it."

Stefan didn't say anything. Klaus was right. There was no way in hell he would let Klaus anywhere near his friends or family. No one had any idea how to actually kill an original vampire. He got up off the floor and looked at Klaus in the eyes.

"So what do you say?" Klaus smirked. "Want to help me find a pack of werewolves?"

"You want me to help you create hybrids out of an entire pack?" Stefan clarified. Klaus nodded. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm a hybrid. It's not like a bite will kill me. And no need to worry about yourself, Mate. I'll just feed you my blood if I absolutely have to."

Stefan shook his head in disgust. "You are out of your mind."

"We're stronger than werewolves, Stefan."

"It's a full moon in three days," Stefan pointed out. "They're stronger now."

Klaus smiled. "Have a little faith in yourself. I don't need you to start having self-confident issues with yourself."

Stefan scoffed irritated. "You've got twelve years to change me."

"Right I do," Klaus smiled. "I just hope it's not all going to be for nothing. I heard Damon wasn't doing so well. You must have done quite a number on him, Mate."

Stefan lost it. Not thinking about the consequences, he grabbed Klaus and pushed him into a wall. "Don't say that. This is your entire fault. You're the one who fed me the human blood in the first place."

Klaus glared at him and punched Stefan in the face hard. "I would watch your tongue if I were you. I think you forget who you're talking to. Must I have to remind you?"

Stefan wiped the blood that was now flowing from his nose. "You don't talk about Damon at all in front of me."

"Just speaking the truth," Klaus said. "And I do believe I'm the only reason why Damon's even alive in the first place, and I'm not talking about curing him from the bite. You do know what I am referring to, don't you?"

He did. While Stefan was on the human blood, he had been so angry at Damon. Without his humanity, there was nothing stopping his hatred toward his brother over Elena. The only reason Damon was alive after Stefan had tortured him, is because Klaus had ordered Stefan not to kill him.

I'll get you out of this, Damon. Stefan sent the silent words to his brother. But at this point, he didn't know who would be saving whom.

Alaric's Point of View

Alaric headed downstairs early in the morning feel a lot more alive. For the first time in days, he had actually slept an entire night. He was headed into the kitchen to make coffee, but not before checking up on Damon of course. He was not at all surprised to see the vampire completely asleep.

Alaric looked at Damon carefully. He was still abnormally pale (even for a vampire) and still looked exhausted even while sleeping, but there was something about looking at him, that informed Alaric that the worst was over and that his friend should make a full recovery.

Making sure to be quiet, Alaric headed into the kitchen to make the coffee. He also made sure to make enough for the coffee loving Elena.

As the coffee was being made, Alaric headed back into the living room and sat in the chair across the couch just as he had done countless times recently. He found comfort in watching Damon rest peacefully and knowing that he wasn't in a coma like he had been a few times in the past week. He saw that there was still a lot of blood Damon needed to drink in the bowl on the table but he didn't think it was urgent enough to need to wake him.

He heard someone come downstairs and looked up to see Caroline, Bonnie and Elena heading down.

"Hey," Elena whispered. She motioned with her head for him to follow them into the kitchen. He obeyed.

"How is he?" Elena asked, once they were out of ear shot.

"Better," Alaric answered. "But he has a long road of recovery ahead."

Elena nodded. "We were going to head to the store," she said. "Stefan and Damon don't have anything here besides blood and scotch."

Alaric nodded. "Alright, drive careful."

Elena smiled. "Do you want me to pick you up anything?" she offered.

Alaric shook his head. "I'm fine."

Elena frowned. "Ric, you haven't been eating anything lately. With Jenna dying and Damon almost dying, you haven't been taking care of yourself. I'll pick you up something to eat and you're going to eat it."

Alaric laughed softly. "Fine, alright. I don't really care what it is."

Elena smiled and hugged him. "Just remember that you're important too, Alaric. We need you around," she whispered in his ear.

Alaric hugged her back. "I know, Elena. I promise I'll take better care of myself then."

Elena pulled away and kissed him on the cheek. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Yeah, can you stop by the drug store and pick up a thermometer? I don't think two vampires would have one laying around their house and I think it would be a good idea to keep track of Damon's temperature while he's recovering."

"Of course," she said. She, Caroline and Bonnie left, leaving Alaric alone with a sleeping Damon.

Alaric once again sat across from Damon when he began to stir. "Hey," Alaric said gently.

Damon opened his eyes and looked up at Alaric. "You look refreshed," he said hoarsely.

Alaric smiled. "I finally was able to sleep knowing that you would wake up in the morning."

Damon didn't smile back, instead he just looked away.

"What's wrong?" Alaric asked him seriously. He went over and kneeled beside the couch.

"Ric, I've been worried about you a lot lately," Damon admitted. "You look dead."

"Coming from a member of the undead," Ric shot back jokingly, but once again Damon didn't smile. He gave him a look that said, Alaric, I'm serious.

"I'm fine," Alaric promised Damon. "I don't know why people are worried about me when you're-"

"Don't bring me into this Alaric," Damon interrupted impatiently. "You need to take care of yourself. Promise me you will."

"Elena already made me do this," Alaric told him, rolling his eyes and getting up.

"Fine, but you have to promise me."

Alaric looked over at Damon and sighed. "Damon, I promise."