We Always Survive ♥ (A Damon and Elena Fanfic)

Chapter 4 - My Brother's Keeper

Stefan POV 12/26 6:30pm-7:00pm

Bonnie stands in a circle, chanting some foreign language. I wait impatiently until the trees finally clear the path. “Alright let’s go,” I immediately propose. We pile in the car and speed down the road, soaring over every bump and flying around every turn. We finally pull up to the lakehouse and see Elena on the ground. “No,” I murmur under my breath. The cars screeches to a stop and we immediately jump out, rushing towards Elena to see her holding Damon’s lifeless body. I scowl and look down, tears building up. Of all the times I wished my brother was dead, I never meant it. Seeing him dead right now is so unreal, I can’t process it. I brush my fingers through my hair, leaning on a tree. Bonnie and Caroline try to get Elena, but she doesn’t move from her spot beside him.

I compose myself and pull Elena away, holding her down as she fights me. “Elena. We have to go. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.” She continues to resist, but eventually gives up and falls to the ground in tears. Seeing her like this is almost as heartbreaking as seeing my brother dead. I never knew her extent of her care for him. I thought that maybe it was the sire bond, but it’s broken. He’s dead. I nod to Bonnie who has a syringe of vervain from Dr. Fell. Nearly all the town’s supply was burned in the explosion, but Meredith had a small reserve. She hands it to me and I hesitantly inject the vial into Elena’s back. It’s the only way to get her out of here.

Caroline carries her into the car and Matt takes Jeremy back inside. Damon’s body still lies in the pathway, exposed to the bitter wind. Slowly, I walk over and kneel beside him, letting a few tears fall. My older brother is dead. After all I went through to keep him alive, I couldn’t save him this time. I let him die. I let him down.

      I hear Bonnie’s tentative voice behind me, “What should we do with the body?” I decide to stay here with the body until Bonnie brings back a coffin. I can’t just bury my brother in the dirt, so I carry his body inside, laying it in the living room after Jeremy invites me in. Whiskey drowns the thoughts of him that overwhelm me as his body lies on the floor. I throw my glass into the fire and sit against the wall, closing my eyes and trying to remember, but also trying to forget.