Into The Hills

Chapter 22

Stefan's POV

I wake up a little, from the nightmare, thanking God Damon wasn't there, my vision is kind of blurry, and I rub my wrists, not used to being without handcuffs, yet.

I see I am in a bed, it's really comfortable and it makes me want to fall back asleep, but I see Elena come in wearing a white dress, her long brown hair down in a braid, she looks as beautiful as she did when I last saw her, I feel my lips upturn into a grin, as I see her.

She must think I'm still sleeping, because she kneels over me, with ointment, putting them on my cuts with a q-tip.

I close my eyes, exhausted, but I try to fight the sleep quick, wondering if she's going to say anything to me.

Her braid end brushes against my nose, as she tends to the cuts on my forehead.

"Oh, Stefan, you're such a mess." She chides me, while touching my cheek.

You don't even know the half of it, I want to tell her.

Her hand is warm against my cheek, and it sends shivers down my spine, I wish I could open my eyes and see her, but I'm sure her brown eyes are full of compassion.

I feel the wet q-tip under my nose, tending to the cuts there, and I want to reach my hand out, and grab her by the waist, and put my lips on hers, but I feel myself finally stop fighting sleep and fade away from the world again.

I wake up, the light burns my eyes, as I open them, groggy.

"Hey, brother." Damon says, looking at me, and I rub my eyes with my hand, yawning lightly.

I look at Damon, he looks fine, with his red cheeks, and blue eyes twinkling, that I'm finally up, but I see his hands shaking, slightly.

"Damon, where am I?" I mumble, yawning again, I was so exhausted, and frustrated.

"You're at my house, Elena was here.. but she just left.." He explains, slowly.

So I wasn't dreaming.

I stare at him, and he puts his hand lightly on mine, out of comfort.

I'm grateful for it, but I'm still mad at him.

"Damon, I didn't need you to bail me out.. you just got fired, for fucks, sake." I say, lightly, trying not to show my anger to him.

"I did what I did." He replies calmly, and I can tell he doesn't want to talk about it, so I grumble low, and roll my eyes.

"Eat your soup." He scolds, and hands me the soup bowl, I see it's chicken noodle, my favorite, the smell of broth makes me stomach grumble more, in fact I don't remember the last time I ate anything.

I sit up, weakly, and Damon sets the soup on my tray, his face patient as he watches me, reach for the spoon.

My fingers grasp around the spoon, but it drops from my hand back into the bowl, I cuss silently, and go to lift it up again, I don't remember what the doctor said about my motor skills but I do remember he said they'll gone for a few days.

Hadn't it been a few days?

I reach for the spoon again, panic sets into my chest as I realize I can't hold the spoon, oh God, was I fucked up? Was I going to have to depend on everyone now? God was really punishing me if that was the case..

Damon gently reaches for the spoon, and holds it out to me, I watch as he looks at the metal spoon and then in my eyes, his blue eyes waiting for me to take it.

I wrap my fingers around the spoon, and sigh in relief when I'm able to hold it.

"You must have just been sleepy.." He explains.