Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 4: Alaric Is The Only Observant One

Authors note: now we get to see what Alaric was up to when Damon was being tormented by his father. Hope you like it :)

Alaric's POV

When I turned back around to face Damon, I found myself staring at an empty stool.

At this point, a million thoughts where rushing through my head.

What Had Damon so freaked? Surely he wasn't drunk. And the look of horror in his eyes. It was something I have never seen before. Not while he was dying and not when Klaus broke the curse. This was the point where I got really got concerned.

"What's up Rick? You look like you're seeing ghosts. Hey, where'd Damon go? Is something wrong?" Matt asked a flurry of questions without even pausing to take a breath.

"1 I don't think I'm the one seeing ghosts. 2 I don't know where the hell Damon went. 3 you talk too much." I stated whilst getting off the stool then heading to the exit without stopping to chat.

I didn't know what the hell was going on with Damon, but I needed to see if I was the only one who noticed.

When I got out in the parking lot, I shouldn't have been surprised that Damon left is such a rush, that he left his car. Oh well, that car meant a hell of a lot to Damon, so I knew he would come back for it.

Now to start the little hike to the boarding house. The walk there was less than exciting. The most amazing thing that happened was that I sent out a text to Stefan, Elena, Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Tyler. Yup. That was the most exciting part.

Maybe I was a little drunk. But no time for that. I have a friend who is currently missing and acting (or going) crazy.

As my thoughts came to an end, so did my little stroll.

Without knocking, I walked into the boarding house.

I wasn't surprised that everyone was there already.

"What's this about Rick?" Stefan asked with what Damon would call broody face #26.

"Yeah. All you said in the text was that it was urgent. And where's Damon?" Elena piped in.

I let out a long sigh.

Apparently I am the only one who cared to notice.

"That's why I called you here. Haven't any of you noticed how strange Damon's been acting? I think there's something going on that he won't tell us about." I explained.

But of course someone had to cut in.

"Why wouldn't he tell us?" Caroline asked.

"Well. Maybe he's been lead to believe that none of you would care. I mean, the way you people treat him. Really, I love you all like family, but even I can see that no one here gives him the benefit of the doubt or trusts him! Seriously, one death in a town FULL of vampires and everyone immediately accuses Damon." I started on my slightly drunk rant and everyone looked guilty, knowing that what I was saying is true.

Then Caroline just had to make it personal.

"Well, how do you expect us to treat him after everything he's done?"

I couldn't suppress my eye-roll.

"Well, for one, you could let the past be the past. Or is that a thing that all of you reserve for Stefan? Look at me. I have been killed by Damon. Yet now he's my best friend. You blame Damon for everything he's done in his past. Yet, when it comes to Stefan's past, you're all willing to let it go, just because he didn't do it to you."

I crossed the parlor to where everyone else was at.

"Look. Damon has done some really bad stuff in his past. But so has Stefan. So we should do what we would do if it was Stefan. We should help him." I could see that I got them at least willing to try.

"Rick, you still haven't told us what's wrong with him." Elena said in what I've come to know as her peace making voice.

" I think he's seeing things. Or losing his mind. Or maybe even both. We were at the grill and he saw something behind me. He looked horrified. I turned around and nothing was there. When I turned to ask him, he was gone. Just up and ran away. We need to help him. I've never seen him look that way."

Everyone nodded in agreement then turned around when they heard the front door open.

Damon was there giving us all a curious look.

Then it changed, and he turned on his heel and went upstairs.

When they all turned back to me, I could tell by their looks that they wore, that they had seen Damon's expression change.

"We have to do something. Fast." I said while putting my hands on the couch In front of me.

They all nodded, speechless.

I just hung my head, and tried to think of a way to help my friend.