Stefan always felt terrible for the woman that Damon brought home, but for whatever reason he felt so strongly for this girl.
There was something special about her he just didn't know what yet.

"Hey there," Stefan whispered softly as he crouched down to be on the girl's level.
He did not get too close in order not to frighten her further.
She was still trembling on the ground on her hands and knees as tears trickled down her cheeks. She was too frightened to move.

"Can I please take that awful thing off your neck?" he asked her lightly.
She hesitantly nodded, but he could still see so much fear in her eyes and it broke his heart.

"I promise I won't hurt you. You are safe now, you are safe," Stefan cooed repeatedly as he slowly approached the girl.
She looked away from Stefan as he unclipped the collar from around her neck and snapped it in half.
Looking back up at Stefan the girl gave him a soft smile that quickly faded as the memories consumed her brain yet again.
You do not deserve anything she reminded herself.
You are a worthless slut who does not deserve anything good- all you deserved is pain.

"Let's go upstairs so we can wrap your arm, okay?"
She nodded her head but didn't move.
Stefan realized she was too weak to stand on her own.
"Would it be alright if I held you?" He asked her tenderly.
He needed to how close he could get to her without her getting scared.

She nodded again, so Stefan secured her in his arms and carried her up the stairs.
As he looked down at her all he could see was kindness and compassion radiating from her being.
Although her eyes displayed a sadness so deep that it could make anyone want to cry.
Whoever did this to her, whoever took the light out of her big beautiful brown eyes, deserves to go to hell.
Whoever could possibly lay a hand on the angel cradled in his arms does not have a heart.

He made his way into the bathroom and gently set her down on the counter.
He opened a cabinet and found some wrap that would help mend her broken arm.
As he came closer to her with the white wrap she began to whimper and desperately covered her neck with her good hand.
He quickly picked up that she thought he was going to use the wrap the same way his brother used the collar on her.

"Hey, shhhh," he cooed as he ripped a bit of the wrap off the tube and dropped the rest on the ground.
He began to put the wrap around his arms showing her what he was about to do to her.

"May I?" He asked and she nodded attempting to lift her arm up, but the pain became too much.
Tears began to fill up her eyes spilling onto her cheeks.

Cautiously Stefan got closer to the girl and wiped her tears away with the gentlest touch he could possibly give.
Instead of flinching the girl closed her eyes and leaned into his touch as he continued to stroke her cheek.

"I will never hurt you. I promise you are safe now, I promise," he whispered as he gently began to wrap her broken arm.
For some reason she believed him.
She didn't trust him yet but there was something about him that made her feel safe.
She doesn't remember the last time she felt that way.

She seemed so content while Stefan was wrapping her arm that he did not want to ask her any questions that might upset her.
Although he couldn't help but notice the numerous bite marks that plagued her skin.
He realized that many of them were old scars meaning they could not have all been from Damon.
She has already been exposed to the horrors of his world he concluded painfully.
How much has this girl really been through? Stefan wondered to himself as he was finishing up on her arm.

After he finished, she closed her eyes and leaned into his chest, giving him full permission to carry her.
The next thing she knew he placed her in a cozy bed and began to place warm blankets over her.
She looked into his eyes, and he smiled at the look of contentment on her tear- stained face.

"Thank you," she croaked out sleepily from under the covers.

"Of course," he whispered back kindly as he turned around and made his way to the sofa where he would be spending the night.

As the sun went down and the room became dark, the fear began to take over.
She started to shake under the covers, and she clutched onto the sheets for dear life.
He could come back at any minute she thought to herself as panic began to suffocate her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered how he touched her, how the pain in her thigh is still present from where he drank from her.
The humiliation and shame that came along with the collar.

Within seconds Stefan was right by her side murmuring words of comfort.
"Hey, hey, shhhh, shhhh" he cooed as he slowly approached her giving her time to protest.
When she didn't react, he sat on her bed and cradled her head in his lap.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she cried as he stroked her hair attempting to soothe her.

"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I've got you, I'm here. Go back to sleep sweetheart," he replied gently as he continued to rhythmically stroke her hair.

"No, no, no, no," she sobbed, "I- I do have to apologize. I am s-s-sorry that you ha-had to m-meet m-me. I am w-worthless and don't deserve a-a-anything. You just m-met me so you can't t-tell but I don't deserve to be l-loved."

Her words completely shattered his heart.
Who could have possibly told her this and made her believe it?
He softly cupped her face in his hands and let her calm down before he spoke.

"Hey, you are not worthless, and you deserve the world. I know I just met you, but I can already tell that you are kind, compassionate, and above all deserve to be loved. Never apologize again, okay? You have done nothing wrong," he said knowing his words will have little effect on her but hoping she will believe them anyways.

After a few more moments of Stefan stroking the girl's hair in his lap her breathing started to even out.
She was finally sleeping peacefully.
He lifted her head off of his lap as delicately as he could trying his hardest not to wake her.
After ensuring she was fast asleep, he made his way back to the sofa.
Although the second he stood up, she reached out and grabbed onto his hand.
She slowly opened her eyes and desperation filled her gaze.
"Stay," she whispered so softly he could only hear because he was a vampire.
He nodded as he climbed into the bed next to her waiting for her to make the next move.
She hesitantly moved her head next to Stefan's chest and cuddled up next to him.
She looked up at him before she whispered, "Am I bothering you?"

"No, not at all, you could never bother me. I am just so happy that you are safe," he said as he looked down at her and smiled.
To Stefan, he has never seen a more beautiful woman in all the years he has walked this Earth.
He wanted to show her what it is like to feel loved, but most of all to be loved.
She will only know kindness and love for the rest of her life, he vowed to himself as he melted into the woman sleeping in his arms.

"No one will ever hurt you again," he whispered to her as she slept, "I promise you; I promise."
And with that he eventually fell into a deep sleep knowing that she is safe in his arms.