Chapter 5: Structure

"How is he?" Elena rushed apprehensively towards Damon's bed where Caroline was applying a warm, wet towel to his stomach. If Caroline, the constant Damon critic who could never forgive him, was tending to him, he must've been in a really bad shape.

"He can't keep anything down," Caroline frowned, "and cleaning that kinda thing up is not my strong suit," she complained, standing up and stepping away from the bed to hug Elena tight in an apologetic manner and not letting go, sobs escaping both of them at long length, knowing that no matter how much they tried, they could not comfort each other enough to relieve their abject feelings. Alaric eyed Damon, the vampire's expression telling him that Elena's unfounded hopes to find Bonnie turning were indeed unwarranted.

"Elena," Caroline pulled away a little, "there's something I need to tell you. My mom...my mom's handling the situation and she said she will be holding nobody back anymore from blaming and hunting down the culprit. And she knows it was Stefan.."

Her best friend just nodded, not objecting, but turning her attention to Damon instead. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him," the older vampire winced and Elena wasn't sure if it was because of his apologetic words' implications or the pain he must've been in.

"I had to drive him back here," Caroline sighed, "and surely it was a good idea that it was in his car, not mine," she promptly remembered and went to get a basin from the bathroom to place beside him.

"You can't drink any blood?" Alaric sat down on his friend's bed, pointing out the gravity of Damon's situation.

"How long has it been?" Elena panicked.

"Since that night," Damon admitted reluctantly and they all knew which night that was.

"What can we do?" Elena looked questioningly at her guardian, hoping that he could provide the guidance she needed.

"I know someone back at Duke University who might be able to put me in touch with some other witches. Perhaps even Vanessa Monroe would. I'm going to try anyway," he headed outside with his phone.

Caroline looked sadly at her friend, but Elena was deep in thought, "where's the voodoo doll now? Maybe if we had it and pulled the sticks out, he'd be okay."

The blond shook her head and stepped over to the chest of drawers to lift a little black poppet held together with strong, red string, "I've already tried that," she passed the little stuffed doll into Elena's hands, who scrutinised it rather taken aback and goggle-eyed. With blue button eyes and raven feathers for hair it looked surprisingly reminiscent of Damon. The black fabric it was made of was shredding however due to the several holes on the torso, aftermarks of the wooden sticks.

"What if I sawed it together?" Elena suggested, "would that heal him?"

"Its not that you lack the skills of a seamstress," Damon narrowed his eyes at her, "because you do, but I don't see how my body feeling like its pierced through with pokers is going to help?"

Elena looked up at Caroline for her opinion, "do you think that'd be the effect instead?"

Her friend shrugged, "I'm better at needlework if you wanna give it a try?"

"Thanks Blondie, but no thanks, as much as it'd delight you," Damon rubbed his stomach, "sore enough as it is."

"I think Damon's right," Alaric walked back in, obviously had have heard the gist of the conversation, "you can't counteract magic with needlework. Vanessa was nice enough to give me a couple of names of who might have a decent witchcraft knowledge," he frowned, "although I seriously think it'll be hard to explain on the phone why some people who they don't know need to reverse a voodoo spell. One of them lives about an hour and half away, I think I'm gonna drive over and try my chances in person. Are you gonna be all right here?" He scrutinised the three. Damon was getting weaker by the minute not being able to digest blood, Elena focussed on him perhaps for the sake of not having to think about anything else and Caroline was gathering up soiled linen as if it would've been the most natural thing to do for a vampire beauty queen.

"Fine," Elena nodded, "just hurry." At Ric's exit, she took Damon's hand into hers, attracting his attention enough for him to open his eyes again. "Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?"

"I've been starved before. And worst case scenario, I'll just look like a mummy," he assured her.

"He suggested I rub his stomach," Caroline rolled her eyes, "which of course I didn't as I wasn't sure how much of that was sexed teasing given that eyebrow thing he did with it, but I wouldn't exclude the possibility that it might actually be of benefit," she shrugged, disappearing with the washing, "I need to call my mom."

Elena looked at Damon apologetically as if his torture was a direct result of her actions, which in a way, it was. She tentatively placed a hand on his abdomen, "I'm not hurting you, am I?"

Damon shook his head weakly and placed his hand on hers, "I'm so sorry Elena."

The young woman stiffened, not wanting to deal with what brought them into the situation. Perhaps he was apologizing for not being able to stop Stefan, for turning Abby, for something else, she didn't care. They had to get him back to health before. Without saying anything at all, she gently slipped her hand under his shirt and started rubbing his tummy.

Damon snapped his head towards her, "Elena. What are you doing?"

Elena became a little flustered. She wasn't sure if she would still do the same thing if somebody else was still in the room, "I'm just trying to help till we find something else. I'll stop if its no good."

"No, no, don't stop. It could help I guess, I don't know. Lets find out." So the girl continued shyly without looking him in the eyes, "uhm okay then," drawing circles with her palm and the pads of her fingers up and down his well defined abs with smooth and gentle touches. Her touch had always been magical to the handsome vampire, although at a plane that had nothing to do with physical pain. However, he seemed to visibly relax a little drawing a long breath and closing his eyes after Elena worked his stomach for a little while.

The long haired girl looked at him expectantly, "any better?" She winced in apprehension, hating so much that his trademark cocky grin was so thoroughly washed off his features.

Damon didn't answer, nor open his eyes. Elena swallowed in concern, trying to calm herself. He must've fallen asleep due to the weakness without blood. He looked so innocent and vulnerable it was breaking her heart. Scooting closer for a more comfortable position for her task, she decided it was best if she kept her soothing circles going till somebody could come up with some other idea of how to help as she had none.

Tbc