So sorry I haven't written for ages! Literally, I've not had the time! And, I've got a new obsession - SMALLVILLE! Tom Welling! 3 I'm going to read all the Clark Kent fanfiction I can find :D Any of you Smallville fans? By the way, TheFictionist, I am waiting for an update PLEEASSEEE!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, yes I agree, Mitsao is plain evil ;)

Chapter Fourteen:

Aching pain in his head and spine. Confusion. Where was he? Trying to open his eyes but failing. Twitching his fingers. Pain.

"Stefan?" Damon.

At the sound of his voice, Stefan's eyes automatically opened. Ow! The bright light hurt his head. He could see a dark, blurred figure to his left, but avoided looking at him. Blinking, he tried to clear his head.

"Thank God. What happened?" Hands gently shook him.

Trying to sit up, he was aware that he was on the couch. He twisted to face away from his brother.

"It was..." The name was on the tip of his tongue, but the whole previous conversation came flooding back.

"Who did this?" Damon's voice was hard.

Stefan had to think quick. Should he obey her? And what better time than now? He couldn't do that to Damon!...But he had to. To protect him, until he could destroy her. So now was the time.
Cringing inwardly at the scene to follow, Stefan abruptly got off the couch, turning his face away from his brother. He made his voice as distant as possible.

"It was nothing."

"What? You lying on the floor looking battered isn't 'nothing' and you know it. Who did this to you?"
Stefan could see that Damon wouldn't let this go and he knew what he had to do. Hurting himself and Damon wouldn't be easy.

All the mental and pysical pain, worry, confusion, hate and envy Mitsao had inflicted upon him came bursting out: "YOU DID!" Shouted Stefan still with his back to Damon.

"Don't be ridiculous, I was at -"

"Yes, you were at Mitsy's place. And I don't mean now, have you forgotten our CONVERSATION earlier? Am I such a tiny part of your life, you can just shove me to the side and do whatever you want? You never listen to my opinion, you don't value my opinion and I'm sick of it. Completely. I tried to talk to you earlier, and look how that ended - you swanning off doing whatever you want - as usual - and me left here -" He couldn't carry on.

Slience. He wanted to turn around. He wanted to take it back. But...He couldn't. Still there was silence.

Without making a sound, Damon appeared in front of him. His features were completely masked. As usual. He said in a neutral tone "Look Stefan, I see there are some issues with Mitsao here, but we can -"

"No." It was easier when Damon put on his poker face. Stefan could almost believe he didn't care. "Mitsao isn't the reason for this. She's just made me realise that I - I don't want to live here... with you, anymore..."

Instant surprise flitted across Damon's face. Stefan could tear his eyes away. Maybe Damon really did care about him, more than he let on, and would listen about Mitsao? Why was Stefan obeying her anyway? Who was she, to come barging into their life? This wasn't right, this was absurd. He would speak out, he would defy her. He needed to...
- But wait. He wouldn't let her give his brother a 'hard time', not with her stange powers. He needed to leave for Damon's safety.

Realising he'd just been standing there, he rearranged his features to hatred and rushed up to his room, shoving things into his bag. Not before a quick detour...

"Stefan..." Was that a plea in his voice?

"Stop it Damon! Stop pretending you care! You never have. I bet it was all a pretence last time in Mystic Falls too, wasn't it?"

A fist loomed in Stefan's vision and thumped him across the face. Steggering, he tripped onto his bed. Maybe he went a little too far...

"WHAT THE HELL! You want to know what I lost in pretending to care about you? My...Katherine. So I see what is happening. Did you want me to give up Mitsao for you too? And now I'm not, your whining? What a pathetic baby. Even when you're hundreds of years old, you act like an idiotic baby. Idiot.
Get out."

Stefan blinked, momentarily stunned. He knew he was going to leave anyway, but to be told to, so forcefully...

"What are you waiting for? Get out! I don't care where you go. I feel sorry for Elena now, I wonder what she's getting into. I'll see if I know, after marrying Mitsao in a few weeks time - "

"No! You - you can't -" This was all wrong. Marriage?

"Shut up." Damon looked murderous. "Get. Out."

Stefan helplessly looked around for anything else but found nothing worth keeping. All his resolve had dissolved in the heat of Damon's speech, Stefan disheartedly went down the stairs, not without a rough shove.

Damon's voice driften down from the top when Stefan was at the door. "I don't ever want to see you again. I want no memories of my lousy family, and if I ever do lay my eyes on you..."

The threat went unspoken. Stefan took one last lingering look at his brother, but found no comfort from his expression, which was no longer masked, but no better.

Walking through the door, he was going to close it softly, but it was wrenched from his grasp and slammed shut.

With the echo of the door fading away, Stefan took something out of his pocket. It was the card Damon had earlier, in the kitchen. It said 'To my lovely Damon, my adress and key for you to come always: 4 Maple Eoad, Mystic Falls'.

Stuck with cellotape was the key. Stefan made a strong resolution to himself in his head.

I WILL SAVE YOU BROTHER, WHATEVER IT TAKES.