Vampire Diaries Imagines

Nursing the Burden

The thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air as Alaric staggered through the door, the dark red liquid dripping from a fresh gash on his forehead and down his face. The encounter between him, Damon and Klaus had left its mark, both physically and mentally. His steps faltered but determination etched his features as he pushed his way through the threshold of his home. Ric knew this was the consequence of protecting the people he cared for and he would do it over again if he had to. No matter what it takes.

YN, his younger sister, sat on the couch, much engrossed in her newest book, heard the commotion and rushed over to where he now stood in the entryway. Her eyes widened in concern as she looked upon the state that her brother was in. With a mix of worry and determination, she rushed over to him. YNN's nursing instincts had taken over full force.

"Ric, what the hell happened?" Her voice was riddled with distress as she helped her older brother to stand up straight as best as she could.

"It's nothing, YNN. Just a little run in with Klaus is all," Alaric grunted, trying to play down the severity of his condition. But she wasn't fooled and could tell how much pain he was in just by taking one look at his face. He was not about to push this one past her.

"Sit down," she commanded gently, guiding him into the kitchen. With practiced ease, she grabbed her medical kit and meticulously began to tend to her brother's wounds.

As YN began cleaning the blood from Alaric's face, her touch soothing and gentle compared to the outlandishly violent blows that Klaus landed, a heavy silence hung in the air between the two siblings. The younger Saltzman couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at her as she worked quietly. Her brother was constantly putting himself in the straight and narrow line of harm's way and while she was skilled in her nursing profession, she often felt inadequate in the moments such as these.

Though he often said nothing during the many times he would sit to let her address his wounds, Ric could sense his sister's unease and felt the need to say something. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Are you asking because you just want to fill the silent void, or do you really want to know?" she questioned.

"Would I have asked if I didn't?" he countered.

YN sighed. "Times like this make me feel like some sort of burden to you and the rest of our friend group. I mean you're a hunter. Damon, Stefan and Caroline are all vampires. Got the werewolf in Tyler. Hell, Bonnie's a witch. I can't amount to any of that. All I can say I'm good for is when you're hurt, I can at least make you feel better and make sure you don't die of some sort of infection. Other than that..." she trailed off for a moment and shook her head. "I got nothing. And it kills me to even think about not being able to help you when you need it the most."

Ric's gaze upon her softened as he took in the words she spoke. He reached out and gently took the hand that was gently wiping the blood off his face and took the dampened cloth away from her. The gesture alone spoke volumes between the two of them. It was his way of telling her that she needed to truly pay close attention to what he was about to say. "YN, you're not a burden in any way, shape, or form. You're my sister and whether you think of it as such or not, you just being here for me, caring for me like you're doing now, means so much more than you'll ever know. I don't expect you to be anything like me or the others and you don't need to be either. You have your own strengths to get us through anything, your own way of helping us all out, and that is invaluable to me and the rest of them."

Hey eyes welled up with tears as the emotion of his words flooded her ears, a mix of gratitude and love filling her heart. "I just... I just don't want anything to happen to you and I'm not able to do enough to save you." she admitted.

Alaric cupped her cheek, a warm and reassuring smile gracing his lips. "I know. Trust me when I say I know the feeling all too well. But having you by my side in times like these is more than enough. You're not just my little sister, YNN, you're my rock. Your care and love mean everything to me."

YN resumed cleaning his wounds, her touch more assured now after hearing all her brother's reassuring words. As she worked, a sense of determination settled within her - she might not wield weapons or have supernatural abilities but her love and care for her brother and their friends was unwavering. No matter how little her talent, though no one saw her craft as little, it was always a strength the guided her in how to aid each and every one of them, no matter the circumstances.