Here's another chapter. I had problems sleeping these days so I guess I used that time to write. And I had a sad time writing this particular one. I hope you...enjoy it? Maybe? Idk. XD

There isn't any Stelena here for obvious reasons but there shall be in the next chapter.

Thank you for the awesome reviews once again. You really have no idea how much they mean to me.

Have a nice time reading and let me know how you liked this one. ((:

Damon's POV

"Stefan" I gasped and hurried to his room. When I opened the door I saw him fallen on the ground, his hand on his knee, breathing heavily "Stefan." this time I almost yelled. He opened his eyes. I could see that it was hard for him to speak. He was in pain. I turned him around and tried to lift him up but he almost cried out from the pain.

"Damon"

"Shh, it's ok." I caught him up in my arms and took him to the bed. He was so light that I now realized he must have lost a lot of weight this past few months. Bonnie was already behind me with a concerned look on her face "Call the doctor." I spilled out "Now, Bonnie!" it took her a bit to get herself together and she hurried to get to the kitchen and dial the number.

"Damon" he let out again. It sounded like he wasn't just calling me but needed me to help him somehow. And I couldn't. I had no idea what to do to ease his pain so I just caught his hand cause I noticed he has closed his eyes, trying to undergo another attack of pain.

"It's ok brother. The doctor will be here soon."

"It hurts me."

"I know. Just a little more I promise" I decide to lift him up a bit and I sit so that he could lean his back on me. I noticed he was sweating, his shirt was practically wet. His breathing was slow and I could hear the wheezing sound his lungs were producing. Bonnie came in a minute and brought him water but when we tried to give him some he choked and started coughing.

The doctor came half an hour after that and I was pissed off because I couldn't bear watching him like that. Stefan asked me to let go of him but I didn't. I was so afraid that I felt like if I leave his side I might lose him somehow. A few times he almost blacked out from the pain and I swear in those moments when he squeezed my hand he could've actually broken it. That's how much he was trying to undergo.

Dr. Anderson was a very good doctor and he was very nice and honest with my brother. Stefan resented all of his previous doctors in Chicago but even he admitted after we first went to him that this one was "cool". While he was examining him this time he made me hold Stefan tight because when he touched his knee my brother would try to move around and get rid of him. He was like a hurt animal and we were touching his opened wound. He made him some kind of bandage and injected him with painkillers so he can finally get some sleep. Then we left him alone but with the door open. In case he somehow woke up.

I haven't felt so helpless since we found out he was beaten up and he might not survive.

Bonnie' s POV

I poured Damon a glass of bourbon and after putting it in front of him squeezed his shoulder and leaned down to kiss him gently on the check. He smiled lightly but almost didn't make a move. I haven't seen him that ruined since last year when he almost lost his brother. His hand was rubbing the back of his head slowly and I knew this was a way for him to calm himself down. He still hasn't touched the bourbon.

"What are we going to do with him, Bonnie?" he let a deep sigh out- What the hell are we going to do with him?

I shook my head trying to prevent my own tears from streaming down my face just as he was desperately trying to hold himself together.

"You heard the doctor. There's nothing we can do right now. We just wait for the infection to pass."

"And if it doesn't?"

"It will. You'll see. He's not easily giving up."

"He wasn't easily giving up when he had something to live for." he cut me off without actually trying to sound mean. I honestly didn't know what to say. More like- I didn't want to admit that he might be right.

"Go to sleep now. You have to work tomorrow." I urged him to go to bed. He looked awful and I couldn't bear seeing him like that.

"I don't want to leave him. He might wake up."

"I'll stay awake, you go now. It's almost four in the morning and you have to be out of the house in seven." he tried to oppose me again but I finally made him leave the kitchen. He drank up the bourbon and headed to bed but I saw him toss and turn a lot before he finally let the tiredness overcome him.

Stefan's POV

I woke up feeling a sharp pain in my knee again and at first I didn't want to open my eyes. I felt someone's hand in mine and instinctively squeezed it.

"Stefan?" my brother's tender and worried voice. I finally decided to face reality.

"Hey" I let it out more as a sight then a word. My voice was hoarse and I tried to sit up in the bed by I just didn't have the strength to do so.

"No, don't you dare try to stand up" he put me back and I hit the pillow again.

"What happened?" I couldn't recall everything except him holding me while the doctor examined me. I guess the pain made me delirious.

"When we came home last night I found you collapsed on the floor." he answered with anger evident in his voice "Do you feel better?"

"I'm fine, brother." I lied but closed my eyes so he wouldn't see how much it hurt me again. He knew, he's my brother after all, and squeezed my hand.-Is it morning?

"Dawn. I am about to leave for work, but Bonnie will be here the whole day and the doctor will come around noon to change the bandage and give you some medications. I'll try to ask for some free days till the end of the week."

"No, don't." this time I looked him in the eyes trying to convince him-You have to work now that I can't. Don't waste your free days for nothing.

"This is not nothing. You are my brother! I'm not leaving you."

I wasn't up to arguing with him right now so I let go of his hand and put it up my face trying to hide myself from the world.

"What is wrong with me?" I let it out maybe a little afraid of the answer. "Why does it hurt so much?"

"Because you have internal infection. You must've overworked yourself. Did you carry anything heavy lately?"

"Nope" I lied without facing him "I only worked sitting." I don't know if he bought it or not. I didn't have to guts to face him. "You have to go to the factory, tell them I can't work this-"

"I'll go, relax." he hurried to assure me.

"I don't want them to fire me."

"They are not going to fire you" he said and paused but I felt there was more to it and I wasn't wrong "but maybe you should quit."

For a moment we stared at each other in silence. Suddenly some heaviness appeared in the room and I felt as if I'm about to start suffocating. He couldn't do that to me. That was betrayal and I swear he could see it in my eyes.

"Damon," I spoke as calmly as I could "I am not going to quit" I tried to raise up but he stopped me again.

"Get some rest now. And don't try to stand up, you hear me? We'll talk about this when you get better." he was worried I could see it, but he couldn't deprive me from something that brought me so much joy. Moreover, work was the only thing that kept me sane most of the time. If I didn't go to factory I felt like I'm not doing anything with my life. I felt like…I am not moving forward at all. He couldn't just get that away from me. If it brings me pain then I'll just have to get over myself and live with it like I did up until now. My threshold for it just has to get bigger, that's all. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep but I couldn't. And I didn't manage to succeed in that task until the evening came by and the night surrounded every corner of the small room.

Before I finally dozed off I looked at the photo still standing on the bed cupboard.

Where was Anna now? Why wasn't she here with me? Or the better question-why wasn't I there with her, whenever she might be right now?

Damon's POV

In the next two days nothing changed in my brother's condition. It seemed like the medication weren't helping him at all up by now and I was starting to worry even thought the doctor warned us that it might take more time for them to show some effect.

Last night he woke up again, all delirious. I raised him up and gave him some water. His eyes were tired, sleepy, but he couldn't get even a few hours without waking up and trying to calm himself down and not wake me up. I always heard him though.

"It's ok, brother." the same words every time. I don't think even I believed them when I spoke them up. "Go back to sleep."

"I can't." he let out silently "I have to wait for Anna. She promised she'll come" his words stunned me and I realized that he was in this place between sleep and reality. That or the medications made him delirious.

"Stefan, Anna won't come."

"No, she promised. I just have to wait for her." his voice was so calm, so sure in what he was saying. There wasn't a shadow of a doubt that Anna isn't going to walk right through that door, kiss him and stay with him all night. I swear I was about to believe his own delusional words. Damn, I wanted to believe them so bad. But I couldn't. I knew the reality and in this world we were both currently living in Anna was buried in Chicago and a beautiful white stone marked the exact place on this earth where her body was lying peacefully, away from the cruelty and vanity of this world.

I never expected that something might hurt more than watching him in pain but that actually did completely ruin me. He has closed his eyes but he still hasn't fallen asleep. I looked up and saw Bonnie on the door. She smiled sadly and came closer to us, sitting at the edge of the bed. She caught my brother's hand and he opened his eyes.

"She'll come, Stefan." she assured him trying to keep her voice strong. "She'll come but you have to get some rest now, ok?"

He nodded slightly and tried to smile back at her. I could feel his body giving up on trying to stay awake. He was falling back. I stood up and helped him lean back on the pillows while Bonnie tugged him with the blanket.

When we closed the door of his room I realized my hands were trembling. She embraced my face with her hands and then hugged me tight while I calmed myself down.

Peter's POV

When Stefan didn't show up at school on Monday I was beyond surprised and maybe even a little worried. I waited him to appear after the second or the third class but he didn't. I tried calling him but no one answered so I couldn't help myself and decided to go to his house.

His sister-in- law-Bonnie opened the door for me and explained that he was sick. His knee was causing him troubles and he wasn't really up to seeing anyone right now because the doctor ordered to rest. She promised that if the next few days he feels better I can come but in that moment she send me away. I felt disappointed and helpless. Up until now he was always the one to help me and when he was in need and now I couldn't do anything. I cursed myself for not insisting on seeing him but maybe he really need some time to get better, without anyone interrupting him. And as far as I knew Stefan-he wouldn't want me to see him like that.

Those two days while he was gone I didn't drink a single sip of alcohol. I felt like I'll be betraying him if I do. And plus if I get wasted there will be no one to take me home. A few times I was on the verge of letting it all go and just get drunk so I can forget that my only friend was probably in severe pain and I couldn't even be there to cheer him up like when he did in our last phone conversation after the fight with my father.

Eventually on Wednesday when I went asking for ten-fifteen minutes for the billionth time Bonnie me in. I honestly didn't think he would look so bad. His face was very pale and he seemed to be in pain but he smiled at me and I did the same. We started talking a bit and I tried to cheer him up and make the whole situation as normal as I could. After a little while his sister-in-law appeared with a baby in her hands, that must have been his nephew and said she have to go out for a little bit that he's brother will be here soon and made me keep an eye on Stefan until she returns. Once she closed the door however Stefan tried to sit up.

"Come on." he said

"What?" I asked surprised

"You have to help me get up. I am dying for a cigarette."

"No, Stefan. You heard what she said. You shouldn't even move your ass."

"I don't give a fuck what anyone says-I need to smoke or I will kill myself. Come on-help me" he was already almost out of the bed and I caught him before he could fall down. He was dressed in shorn old jeans and I could see a big bandage on his knee. His white t-shirt was old and shabby and he wasn't wearing any socks.

"Stefan, not to kill your buzz or anything but it's cold outside." I said with my hand on his shoulder trying to keep him standing.

"First, hand me the crutches" he asked and I slowly stretched my hand to the end of the bed where they were leaned on "then that sweater over there "I let him go once I was sure he can support himself and tossed the cloth over his shoulders.

"Cigarettes?"

"Are you kidding. Of course I have. Why is this even a question?" I responded, pretending to be insulted by him even asking such a stupid thing.

We went on the front porch and once we settled down and lit up I could say he was looking a bit better.

"Thanks." he let out and I nodded understandingly.

"Your sister-in-law is gonna kill me." I tried to sound cheerful but the truth was that Bonnie really seemed a bit terrifying to me and she could definitely scold me for getting him out here.

"Don't worry, I'll tell them you tried to stop me" Stefan replied with his calmest voice. Like he doesn't care about that at all.

"So…" I didn't want to start the subject but I needed to know "What did the doctor say?"

"He said I have to make a trip to Atlanta."

"I'm trying to be serious here, Stefan" now wasn't the time for puns and he knew it.

"I am not joking, Peter" he spoke the words with some kind of sad honesty "He says that if I overcome this infection I should go there."

"Why so? Another doctor?" I was a bit confused

"Yeah, a better one. At least that's what this one claims."

"And what's the different about him?"

"Nothing." Stefan shrugged, clearly bored by the subject "I'm guessing he'll have the guts to cut me open unlike this one."

"Surgery?" I definitely wasn't expecting that "Really?"

"I'm not doing it, Peter. I'm just replying to your question."

"Does your brother know about this?"

"Not, yet. I asked the doctor not to tell."

We stood in silence there for a minute, smoking. I was wondering what do to here. I know he needed me to back him up but I had to do something to help him.

"Maybe you should go." I started

"Please, Peter. My brother is enough of pain in the ass."

"I am serious. Let's make a deal" I proposed. Suddenly I had this idea in my head. It was hard to convince Stefan to do something but if you bet him or make him keep his word he would do it just because his pride meant a lot to him "I'll try out for the team and if they accept me you'll let me take you to Atlanta."

"Peter." he started shaking his head and a light smile appeared on his face like he was trying to tell me " Yeah, nice try, but that's not happening."

"We won't tell your brother." he was still obviously against it so I continued persuading him "Come on. You don't want me to play for the high school team?"

"Peter, I don't want to go to Atlanta." he was being stubborn like a little kid

"Come on, you're not a coward, Stefan. Maybe I don't know you that much but I'm sure about that one."

"Dude, you don't get it" he was staring somewhere in front him. I could see his mind was somewhere else.

"Then tell me?" I was desperately trying to understand him. I knew he hasn't told me everything that he has been through in his life but I wasn't going to give up and let him stay like this.

"I've been cut around four times already and I don't plan on letting them treat me like a piece of meat anymore" his voice wasn't angry. He was just explaining me. "There is no point in that, pal. "

"There is." I raised my voice a bit, trying to prove him my point "That little kid I saw in there. What about him? He would want you to walk him, to carry him, to take him down to the park. He might even want you to be his best man at his wedding. And you wouldn't be able to do it because you're stubbornness prevents you. "

"Well the same goes for you, Peter." he finally looked me in the eye, his voice completely honest "You could play on a higher level, you have talent, but instead you choose to ignore all that and waste what you have inside you."

"Ok, you are right." I agreed after a few minutes of silence has passed and he has leaned back on the old chair. Judging by the look on his face my statement surprised him "That's why I think it's time for a change. I go to the try outs, get in the team and then take you to Atlanta. I've been there-you'll like it." I could see that he was struggling with himself. He knew I was right about the kid. I managed to find his weakness and I use it against him.

"Good." he finally let out. "But you need to do something else for me. Actually a few somethings."

"Shoot." I was relieved. Now I just had to train a little harder and it would all be good.

"First, you leave me this pack cause it seems like my brother has took my cigarettes away." I almost laughed out. He said it with such sadness as if someone has taken an ice cream away from a kid. I contained myself and nodded just to give him the reassurance he needed "And second you need to lie to Elena Gilbert."

"Elena Gilbert?" ok that was definitely new "Why on earth will I go talk to her?"

"You won't. But I'm guessing she might ask you where I am." it took me a few minutes to realize what he was talking about

"Really? You hooked up with her?" I couldn't believe it.

"I didn't hook up with her" he said a bit disappointed that I could even think that-She needed help. I just..tried to do something for her.

"Like what?" I admit I was curious

"It doesn't matter. The point is that she might ask you and you need to lie. I can't have her coming down here and seeing me like this"

"Well what am I supposed to tell her, Stefan? That you're lying on a beach somewhere completely satisfied by life?" I was getting a bit angry with him by that time.

"No, you tell her that the factory send me to work in Charlotte this week and that's why I'm not in school."

"Yeah and she'll believe me." he seemed to have thought about that but I still didn't think she'll buy this story

"No, you'll make her believe you."

"Why so? Why are you so desperate to hide this from her. Why are you even helping her in the first place?"

He just shook his head and I understood he won't tell me.

"Just do it. Please." he finally let out but I didn't respond. He knew I would of course. But I was conflicted. I couldn't understand what was going on here. Was he falling for her or something? Well I was definitely against it. Elena Gilbert was a bitch. A heartless one even and she would break his heart without even blinking her eye. She didn't deserve his help because for starters he was far better person than she ever will be. But I didn't want to express my opinion on the subject right now because he was bad enough.

After a few minutes I offered him to go back inside before his brother has come home and surprisingly he didn't argue with me, or maybe he just didn't have the strength to do so. I put him down on his bed and returned the crutches as they were before-leaned on the side of the bed. He thanked me and after a while dozed off. I never assumed that such a short walk can actually tire him but I guess I underestimated everything that was going down with Stefan.

He has told me that last year he was beaten up almost do death but he never revealed the true circumstances. He shared that he had to stay in the hospital for over a month and that cost all of his brother's saving just when the baby was on the way. He felt guilty, I knew it because he had admitted that too. He was trying so hard to compensate for everything he has done and at the same time he wouldn't be able to do it fully because he wasn't the same boy he used to be before it all went down.

I noticed the picture on his bedside cupboard and figured that must be the girl he said he used to love so much, but who passed away. He seemed so happy there and I caught myself comparing the guy on that photo with the slim, pale boy, lying helplessly on his bed, with his sad green eyes closed and his messy blond hair sticking up in different directions.

Are we both so fucked up that we can't find sense it life anymore?

Are we?

Stefan turned out to be right. Elena did came to me on the next day when I was smoking in the backyard after everyone else were already in their classes. Obviously she was skipping something too. I tried to act as surprised as I could and she seemed to be really embarrassed and even…shy? Which was a completely new side of her that I was seeing for the first time. But it looked like a lot of things in her life were changing lately. She didn't walk on the corridors with the confidence she had only weeks ago and she was definitely starting to lose her popularity. The only person who still hasn't abandoned her was Caroline but that was because I knew what kind of wonderful friend and person she could be.

I lied to her and I admit that I did a pretty good job. Stefan would've been proud of me. She seemed convinced and left almost immediately after we talked. The most interesting thing was that she didn't even had an excuse to ask me for him. She just came and wanted to know where he is. I didn't ask why and she didn't explain the reason she needed him.

Once she disappeared from my sight I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to neglect the sad feeling that consumed me within minutes.